Never had the chance to try the breakfast, but I liked the old sign. Photo by Mark Baker.
This retro theater and cultural center is now in the heart of the city's main Somali neighbborhood. Photo by Mark Baker.
Like Bob Dylan, Edward Hopper is another name that's been haunting me on this trip. This painting was from the Walker Art Center. Photo by Mark Baker.
See the Hopper in this? Photo by Mark Baker.
My favorite picture from the Walker Art Center was this painting of a barn in upstate New York by Georgia O'Keeffe. Photo by Mark Baker.
Two girls take a break to admire yet another disturbing painting by David Hockney at the Walker Art Center. Photo by Mark Baker.
One of my first meals in town was a 'Juicy Lucy' at Matt's Bar & Grill in South Minneapolis. It's essentially a cheeseburger but the cheese is injected into the meat (not placed on top). I eventually recovered. Photo by Mark Baker.
At Matt's, I was dining out with an old friend, Alex, from the Prague Post. It was great to catch up with him over a "Juicy Lucy." Photo by Mark Baker.
Just a random street shot from downtown Minneapolis heading over toward the Warehouse District. Photo by Mark Baker.
Wandering around in the Cedarwood-Riverside neighborhood not far from downtown. Photo by Mark Baker.
A glimpse of downtown on a stroll from the Walker Art Center. Photo by Mark Baker.
The LynLake Brewery, one of around 100 tap rooms around town, was hopping on my visit. Photo by Mark Baker.
The rooftop drinking area of the LynLake Brewery had an actual ring of fire. I could see myself hanging out here. Photo by Mark Baker.
One morning I traveled over to St Paul to meet another old friend from the Prague Post, Monte. He suggested we meet for breakfast at the Uptowner, a great old diner with amazing hashbrowns. Photo by Mark Baker.
On a walk through St Paul. I didn't get the chance to eat here, but it looks like a classic '60s' steakhouse -- my kind of place. Photo by Mark Baker.
On one evening, I had dinner with my old Lonely Planet colleague (and LP Romania co-author) Leif and his girlfriend, Liz. He suggested we try Somali food and that's what we did. This is his enormous plate of food. Photo by Mark Baker.
The view of the Mississippi River and the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge that crosses the river from downtown over to the University of Minnesota on the other side. Photo by Mark Baker.
A view of St Paul's historic Irvine Park neighborhood. St Paul is filled with really beautiful homes. People here sometimes say: "date Minneapolis but marry St Paul" and I can see why. Photo by Mark Baker.
Beautiful old houses in St Paul's historic Irvine Park district. Photo by Mark Baker.
A lone hotel standing in the neighborhood between Loring Park and downtown. Photo by Mark Baker.
A cool '60s high-rise in downtown Minneapolis. These buildings always look right off the drawing board and take me back to those optimistic post-war decades. Not sure I would enjoy living here. Photo by Mark Baker.
Just another pretty neighborhood, this one close to my Airnbnb in the Uptown district. Visiting a city always brings out the inner real-estate agent in me. I wonder how much these babies cost? (And how many books I'd have to write to buy one?) Photo by Mark Baker.
The best thing about Minneapolis (much better than the weather) is all of the cycling trails. This one stretches out for miles along an abandoned-converted railroad corridor. Photo by Mark Baker.
At Minneapolis St Paul International Airport and ready to fly back to Ohio (via Pittsburgh). This research trip is a wrap!