Little Village Branch

A warm winter day to visit the new (2011) library in the Little Village neighborhood on South Kedzie.  This library is spacious and bright inside, with a fairly large one story footprint with windows all around.  It is right next to a fire station that was also newly designed along with it.  Small local store fronts across and down the street at Cermak.

This is a gold LEED certified building, with an outdoor area of benches and plantings right outside.  They have a parking space for low energy use vehicles, and one for electric cars only.
This is the first library I have visited with Rahm Emanuel's name on the plaque in the doorway,  it's an end of an era of library expansion with the former Mayor Daley now out of office.

Library staff seemed laid back and relaxed, and I heard spanish being spoken by staff and patrons to one another.  Lots of spanish books and materials for check out, but the shelves are still not filled.
The new book section only had 5 or 6 books available.  The newer libraries seem to take a long time to fill in their collections.   This is the first I have seen of the new computer set up, with many available and most used by patrons.  I saw an accessible computer with a large specialized key board too.  Nice children's and teen section, seemed filled with kids reading and chatting.
Nice vibe here, and well used.

Richard M. Daley West Humboldt Branch

Welcome sign for the newly dedicated West Humboldt library.  It was at the busy corner of Kedzie and Chicago Avenues, on this sunny day loaded with guys in suits, cars with drivers, and lots of security. Just as it should be since it was the first time that our former Mayor, namesake of the library,  and our new Mayor were together at an official event.
A beautiful light filled one floor LEED certified building, with a large children's area, and a teen center filled with computers.

Rahm spoke very humbly about Daley, and the legacy of 59 new and revamped libraries, he has left for the city.  The connection of community enhancement, with access to cutting edge architecture, facilities, and books was evident in the groups of children delighted with their new space. Mayor Daley talked about how families can learn and grow by accessing the sparkling resources. I spoke to James Warren, the NYT writer who has covered the Chicago beat, including the Daley library renaissance. His take on the dedication here.

Don't miss the reading garden outside with native plantings and a bio swale on this very urban corner.

Dunning Branch

This is one of the city's newest library branches, nestled in a quiet street next to an elementary school,and dedicated by Mayor Daley during his last week as Mayor.  I was lucky enough to be at the ceremony, you can view his remarks and listen to the amazing support his tenure brought to the library community.
This has a smaller footprint, with one story, lots of natural light, and LEED certification. It has a reading garden with a lovely space to sit outside. Busy on the 2 occasions I was there, the children's corner was bright and inviting.  I had to renew my card and it was done easily by the staff at the desk.

Oriole Park Branch

The Oriole Park Branch is another new addition to the CPL newest 50 library buildings, LEED certified, in a quiet cul-de-sac across from a large playground and Park District facility.  Beautiful inside with murals below the clerestory windows that bring in light, even on a very cloudy, rainy early spring day.
The mural paintings by Elaine Pawlowicz, highlight the cultural demographics and historical elements of the  Northwest side Oriole Park community.
Busy, and full of patrons this day, it has a welcoming and sunny vibe.
The kid's section was substantial and  separated from the main room with a cozy batch of small tables, book displays, and media.
You can find "classics" in their own section, with multiple copies of literary works and Library of America editions. I have never seen this way of shelving the literary canon separate from a fiction section.  Better check with some of my library geek friends to find out how commonplace this may be.

West Town

Brand new library branch on West Chicago Avenue in the old Goldblatt's building opened officially on September 11.  I missed Mayor Daley by a few hours on my visit, so the place was buzzing even later in the day.  A wonderful article in the NYT about the Mayor's amazing commitment to improving neighborhoods with updated and engaging library branches highlighted this 54th newest space.
West Town is a lovely one story place, on a bustling section of Chicago Avenue.  Friendly librarians and multiple computers fill the space.  At this moment, the collection is still sparse, as most of the books are completely new.  The stored books from the closed Eckhart library were stored in the basement of the Legler Branch, which suffered a flood in June, so those books were not available to transfer to West Town.
Make sure you stop for wonderful pie at Hoosier Mama Pie just across the street.  A beautiful new library and pie, what a combo.

Galewood Montclare Revisited/Sayre Park

The charmingly unkempt old storefront on Grand Avenue is no more for the Galewood library branch.  Apparently, CPL was leasing the space and when renegotiating the terms, found that the owner was in arrears on taxes.  This caused a quick scramble for new temporary digs, which landed in the Rutherford/Sayre Park field house.  It is a tiny little space, with a few shelves and tables-- but it's there for the community to browse and use for book pick up and drop off. 

The park itself is worth a look, a brand new playground was just dedicated this summer and includes a lovely garden space, and great play equipment with a water spray area and a train theme. 

It could be a very family friendly library branch to pick up a few books, and play on the new playground.  Here's hoping the community gets the full library soon, and that the temporary shelter is just that.
Limited hours for this sub branch, and no Saturdays should be noted.

Harold Washington Library Center Revisited/Side of Giant Eyeball

In a tiny area right next to the library and the el tracks, is the new sculpture in town. Well worth a visit on its own, but great when heading to the library as well.  Pritzker Park is a little slice of public space, connected to the library by a ring of author quotes on the concrete ledges.
The giant eyeball is a great addition.


Visited the HWLC this time to check out the voluminous 7th floor fiction department.  It's hard to grasp the enormity of the collection until you spend time in specific areas. It feels like every piece of fiction is there, on the shelves, in multiple copies!! This isn't the popular library on the first floor, which is always busy and has a short selection of the most current fiction, non fiction and multi media.  That's for a quick shop.
The 7th floor is for finding something you can't get anywhere else.  They do a beautiful job of keeping straightened shelves, so that things are where you expect them to be.  Just a few wonderfully curated displays, with a twist.  I saw an elegant selection of books by Beryl Bainbridge who died in July-- and a display of books that fit with the summer adult reading promotion, 2010 Reading is Art-Rageous. In some libraries, fiction is set up all over the place so that you are tempted like you are in a book store- but I'm annoyed when that means you cannot find something because it's facing out on some random end cap.
At the HWLC fiction department all is where it should be.

St. Agnes Branch Library (New York City)

First in a series of occasional traveling posts, highlighting Carnegie Libraries.

  This Upper West Side branch is a charming example, built in 1906 as a result of the 5 million plus dollars Andrew Carnegie donated to provide 2500 libraries throughout the world.  There are 1600 of them across the United States, and about 40 still exist in Manhattan.
The St. Agnes Branch underwent a complete renovation in 2007, and reopened in February of 2010 to the delight of the Upper West Siders.

When I visited, it was a warm summery day, and the entry has a beautiful old staircase, with a first floor children's area, filled with light from the hallmark Carnegie bay windows.  It was not filled with kids, though I think New York children might have still been in school last week.  It was warm inside, but the refurbished rooms were filled with books and though it was a narrow space, there are 3 floors.  Manhattan's smaller building footprints must account for the design.

Chicago has a begun a new chapter in building more than 50 brand new library branches, and while there are many spectacular examples, there is something about a historical space in a Carnegie libraries that can't be replicated.

Manning Branch

In the shadow of the United Center, home to Bulls and the Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks, stands the Mabel Manning Branch.  Skyscrapers to the east, refurbished Madison Street and the United Center environs surrounding it, the place has a calm and friendly vibe in its one story boxy construction. It was just after 2PM on a week day and there were students in white shirts and blue pants using the computers and quietly looking at books and chatting. Must have been on their way home from the elementary school just behind us,wearing the uniform required.The Bulls have "adopted" the library and provide funds for a computer room and software.
It was quiet on Madison Street, I know this stretch underwent big changes  before the United Center came in, and the library's namesake, Mabel Manning, was a community activist helping to guide the process.  Known as the "Mayor" of the west side, she lived on Hoyne Avenue, and planted flowers in the empty lots surrounding her home.
The library has a cyber-navigator to help patrons with computer training, and a teacher in the library who is there to help students on week days after school.
Visit and find out more about Mabel Manning, check out the United Center, and wait to see what is going to happen to the new construction still waiting for buyers.

South Halsted, Bridgeport and Canaryville

On the snowy first day of spring visited 2 branches in the bungalow belt near the old stockyards.   On the way there, took a very short detour to see the old Stockyard Gate from 1865.  Standing in the midde of an industrial park, fronting rail tracks, it stands as a reminder of the neighborhood that thrived with the cattle and beef trade starting in 1865. Just a few blocks away is the Richard J. Daley Branch.  A blocky brick front faces the street, and keeps it closed off from busy Halsted. It was filled with patrons on this blustery Saturday--with the new shortened hours that the entire system started in January--Saturday still remains as a full service day (9-5). I saw a Cybernavigator helping a gentleman send an email to Oprah, and the Census had a table with someone to help folks with any questions about filling out their form.  A piece of art,"Halsted Street Wall Relief", over the check out desk mirrors the neighborhood outside the doors.

Canaryville Branch is one of the newer libraries that have been part of the city's amazing renaissance of building to improve access to media and books, and to provide community gathering places. It is the smallest of the new group, and has a little reading garden off to the side.  It is on a very quiet stretch of 43rd street, and seems to be a charming, quiet place.  I found the One Book, One Chicago selection for check out there, the only place I have found to have so many copies out and available.  It is an Irish story, and this neighborhood was, and is still an Irish place.

Water Works

What a wonderful idea, the newest branch of CPL in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, just steps from Water Tower place and inside Chicago's original water works pumping station. It is a tiny postage stamp of a place, sharing space with the Visitor Center and First Slice Pie cafe (which wasn't open yet when I visited). Though the selection of popular books is very small, I did find the very newest Marcia Muller mystery so you may be able to see the newest books on the shelves. Any book or media from the whole system can be found online and sent to this branch for pick-up, giving the residents of the Streeterville and North Loop a convenient place to "library". A fireplace and comfortable seating for reading, computing, and snacking are set up for visitors too. I can't wait until First Slice opens so that I can enjoy a shopping/pie break in this historic building.
Kudos to the CPL folks for opening a new space.

Beverly Branch

This newest of the 53 libraries built in Chicago, is a lovely sunny space for books and people.
I looked for a few things in the craft and cookbook sections, and found Molly Wizenburg's memoir/cookbook. Also saw that TC Boyle's new book, The Women, was in but couldn't find it. It took some time to get in line, and then be pointed to another staff for help and after a few false starts, she said, oh- it might be in the back, we haven't put up the entire collection as it didn't all fit when the library opened? But she did find it for me, and was helpful, if rushed.
I was surprised that any mention of the special "green" features of the library were not highlighted anywhere in the space. I saw that it was LEED eligible, meaning that features to reduce energy use and special construction techniques were used. Seems like that would be something the Daley folks would want to tout, especially with the great new building plan for community libraries.
Check out staff were a bit officious about the line, so I think supervisors haven't quite jelled yet in the new space. It wasn't that busy, so graciousness was a totally reasonable expectation.

95th Street at that spot is just turning from a lower income neighborhood, to the upscale Beverly. Going a short way West and South, you will find some gorgeous old homes on manicured properties, with hills and curvy streets. The trees are old and provide a shady canopy over meandering sidewalks. I found a Starbucks on 103rd and Longwood

that was rebuilt from an old Christian Church reading room-the Church itself had been turned into condos next door.

Worth a visit to see a neighborhood library with all the trimmings and a small town feel in the heart of south side Chicago.

West Addison Branch (Closed on November 25th, 2009, and will be replaced by new Dunning Branch)

On my way home from auto emission testing, asked my  gps to find the closest library .This little store front on the north west side popped up.  It's the smallest branch I've visited -maybe the tiniest one in Chicago?  It doesn't feel like the city - it is the Northwest side, 5o's style in this neighborhood.  An Italian American club across the street- not too sure what that is.  The library is one  store in width, and feels jammed with books, and tables and displays.  Not too much space to move around, but busy and friendly.  It was the first day of the Summer Reading Program for kids, Land of Lincoln Readers, and the place was hopping with people trying to figure out how to register.  My library card is in danger of expiring, so I couldn't check anything out until I get that taken care of.  It looked like the selection was sparse, the new book section was a table top shelf of maybe 2o books?  This used to be a bookmobile stop, and then something called a sub branch. With the new web presence of CPL though, you can have the entire giant library at your request and send any book to whatever library you want as a request.  Makes this rag tag branch into a full service option.

Harold Washington Library Center

It's June and I'm back on my journey to visit as many of the neighborhood branches as I can, and enjoy the ambiance of the surroundings. To kick off the new season, I wanted to revisit the HWLC - it is considered the largest public library in the world! I had a wonderful invitation from Karen Danczak Lyons, Deputy Director, to have a tour. She had checkout out this blog, so we spent a few minutes talking about the wonderful place as she showed me some of its special collections and exhibits. There is so much in the building, I can only suggest you visit and see for yourself. But a few highlights are the popular library on the first floor, the welcoming children's library, miles and miles of bookshelves, and many staff to help find what you are looking for. Computers, music practice rooms, thousands of newspapers and periodicals, and of course books.
First and foremost, it is a place for books, and we can be proud of that.
Oh, the owls, don't forget to go outside and take a look.

The 80th Branch/A Virtual Techno Library

My visit this week is to the CPL website, where you don't have to get out of your jammies to get almost all of the benefits of a stop at your favorite library.

Last week,I was lucky to participate in a conference called Echicago, at Dominican University. The purpose was to bring together academics, practitioners, and government folks around the issue of improving acccess to technology in our communities. Our Chicago Public Library is one of the major providers of technology for people all over the city who use the computers in the branches, avail themselves of free wi-fi with their own laptops, try out play away books ( just like an audio book), and get some training as well. I learned about a group of young people, called Cyber Navigators, who will be at some libraries to help patrons learn about and use computers.
But the easiest way to find out some amazing things about books and media, is to visit the CPL website. It's been totally revamped and has so many things to read and explore, you'll feel like you are wandering through a large building-- with corridors to rooms full of surprises.
Try out some links for downloadable media and find books and music that you can download for a 3 week check out period. You can search for any book you fancy, and then put a hold on it, both for downloadable and real paper books. Calendars full of book clubs, author talks, and seminars of all kinds are on display.
If you don't know what you feel like reading or listening to, there are suggestions and a blog with ideas for you.
The only thing missing is a great cup of coffee, but I guess you can go to your kitchen and get a snack while you surf this lively and surprising 80th branch.

Midwest Branch (Closed) Replaced by West Town Branch 9/2010

It's the first week of official spring, and its snowing in Chicago. I'm on my spring break, so I want to check out a new library branch, and renew a book that's almost overdue. I had a trouble finding this little storefront in the snow, its right off the Western/Chicago intersection, but so tiny, it's not readily visible. The branch is probably the smallest I've been in yet, but a sort of cozy jumble of current books, a few computers, library materials and a front desk as you walk in. The clerk did not immediately understand that I was returning 2 books, and renewing one- but after some round and round, we figured out what we were trying to do. I did notice as I was driving nearby, a lot with a sign stating "future home of branch library", so this community is probably going to have a new building in a few years, to replace the Midwest Branch.
9/2010  Addendum, apparently the replacement library is in the old Goldblatt's building and is called West Town.

I'ts hard to know if this is Ukranian Village West, Humboldt Park, or West Town, but whatever the name it's a funky area where you can find almost anything. I stopped for a snack at the Star Lounge Cafe a few blocks west of the library. It looks like an old bar turned coffee shop with great caffeine products and baked goods from Southport Grocery. It was warm inside as the last snow of the season gently floated outside on Chicago Avenue.

Ekhart Park Branch (Closed) Replaced by West Town

 This temporary library has been closed and the collection has moved to the brand new West Town Branch, dedicated on 9/11/2010. Watch for a posting soon.

Little gem inside a beautiful prairie style park district building on Chicago Avenue in Ukrainian Village. This is a small collection, inside a wing of the Eckhart Park District field house. It's only been a branch since 2005, when the original storefront across the street no longer wanted the library. I am guessing the upgrading of Chicago Avenue in this location, provided the landlord with a better tenant? Though community members may wish for a bigger, dedicated branch library, this tiny facility has charm and a cozy bright atmosphere. Hand painted cornices and brick walls make for a fine place to read and relax.
The wafting scent of chlorine is subtle, as the space is connected to the Ida Crown Natatorium, an indoor pool from the original park built in 1905. You can work out, and find a good read on the same visit. There was also a good selection of books for sale for 50 cents-- the libraries weed out good stuff for you to take home, and no worries about overdue fines.
Across the street, is the Swim Cafe, good coffee and sandwiches along with a lively view of Chicago Avenue Street life. I had a perfect view of the wacky Chiditerod while enjoying my latte and egg sandwich, teams dressed up with decorated grocery carts running through the icy streets scavenging for required items along the way. Always something fun to see near a library.

Avalon Branch

Another beautiful new library, on that wide commercial thoroughfare, Stony Island. If you're not a south sider, Stony is probably not a street that means anything to you. But I grew up 5 blocks, from 87th and Stony and it was the major way to get to somewhere. It speeds quickly north to Hyde Park, and still has the soaring street bridge that gets you onto the Skyway. It flies over 79th Street, where you can still see the moorish tops of an old movie theater and 50's Sears store. It looked so much the same that it was startling. You can see Ace Live Bait and Chicken, Ribs and Fish right down the street-- with the skyway up above.
This is a wonderful branch, with a little garden outside with benches that face the side street, and plenty of light and books and books. I was so happy to see it there, so much nicer than the small dark place a few blocks up that was my childhood library, now an empty storefront. Even then I loved to go there, but I can imagine how much we would have adored this place.
I explored the surrounding streets, going past my old house and school and driving back North on Jeffrey Boulevard into Jackson Park. It was an old route, one that I still sometimes travel in deep dreams.
This will be my last update for awhile, fitting that I went last to the site of my first library visits. I'm back at work, and will only be able to visit randomly. I still hope to see all the CPL Branches, it just may be awhile.

North Austin

Went to do some library business, return books, renew books, and find Spook Country by William Gibson. It was listed as available at the North Austin Branch on the 5700 West block of North Avenue - since it happens to be the nearest CPL to my house- off I went.
It's one floor, with a children's side and the adult area. Pretty small collection of fiction but I found the book I was looking for, and a few more new books of note. This branch had a large collection of fiction and non fiction that was marked with a label to indicate African American content or interest. The books without that designation filled about 2 standard library bookcase sections. I saw a few people chatting with the clerks and talking about books they enjoyed. When I wanted to use the online catalog though, I was directed to a computer without a mouse or keyboard, and another library employee had to find one and attach it- at that point the computer had to go through its set up routine, and I didn't feel like waiting. Not sure if noone uses the catalog, or it was just a problem for that day? Seems like that's basic equipment to have operational.
That stretch of North Avenue is like a ribbon heading east into Chicago and Lake Michigan, and then all the way west to the end of suburbia in Geneva. It's a workaday library on a commercial avenue- no frills, but gets the job done.

One Day, Two Storefronts

Theodore Roosevelt Branch
I was surprised to find this one on Taylor Street, on the near west side. I had just had breakfast at Sweet Maple Cafe- a wonderful spot on a Monday morning, and was heading to visit a library in Bronzeville. I decided to drive East on Taylor Street to check out the area on my way, when my eyes saw the familiar cpl logo and I pulled over in front of Al's #1 Beef. It's a small storefront with 2 floors, a building owned by UIC that was supposed to be a bank. In 1993 the library opened after a long history in the neighborhood.
Small, but friendly staff, with a collection of chinese books as well as spanish speaking clerks. I've been reading some books in the City of Big Readers Adult book club, and turned in my documentation of 2 books read, and got a travel mug with that logo.
The librarian congratulated me as well!



Chicago Bee Branch
Heading through the near west and south sides to this small outpost on the edge of the IIT neighborhood on South State Street, I passed the Motor Row Historic District full of construction but still sparsely populated with businesses and restaurants. This branch is the former home of the Chicago Bee, an African American owned newspaper published from Bronzeville. The building is an art deco smash with all the details preserved. You really have to give kudos to the preservationists, the library folks, and the bronzeville neighorhood for working together to repurpose this into a community center. The library interior seems all new, but the storefront windows look out onto a State Street that has an open vista past the el tracks to Cellular Field. Many of the surrounding buildings are gone, leaving empty prairie lots to the south and west.
It's a small collection of books and a few computers, but quiet and welcoming. A photo installation by Carrie Mae Weems would be easy to miss, but is a beautiful series of 5 indigo photographs with etched comments- another gem of national significance.

Legler Branch

Legler Branch library is in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, on Pulaski surrounded by scruffy or vacant small business properties. It's an imposing sight on a sad stretch of road. This library was the first regional library in Chicago, built in 1923, a jewel for the west side. It's named after Henry E. Legler, the first proponent of a major expansion of branch services. He instituted a plan for an extensive expansion of neighborhood libraries and said, he wanted to bring "library service within the walking distance of home for every person in Chicago who can read or wants to use books." This spirit is still alive in Chicago, with its program for building and rehabbing over 50 libraries in the last few years.
The interior is filled with marble staircases, high ceilings with art deco skylights, and separate adult and childrens rooms. The adult room has a large african american history collection, and was lightly filled with adults using the computers. A small room off of the adult collection has a significant mural from 1934, done by an artist for the WPA. The restored mural Wilderness,Winter River Scene, is by midwestern artist, R. Fayerweather Babcock. The mural depicts Father Jaques Marquette and 18th century Native Americans trading by the river.
.
Unfortunately, when I asked at the front desk, the clerk didn't know anything about the mural, and directed me to the 2nd floor where a local artist had a canvas from 1994. I did go back down and was then shown the small room where the WPA mural was,surpised that there was no signage. The staff was friendly, but the sad emptiness of the children's room made it feel like it wasn't the community hub it could be. On a very hot August afternoon, it would have been a quiet cool place for kids to enjoy.

Conrad Sulzer Regional Library

This is one of 2 regional libraries in the city, the only ones that are open on a Sunday. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, right across from a large park, with many folks walking and playing in the shadow of the library. Unfortunately, coming inside revealed a jumble of an interior, without a clear way to find what you were looking for. The first floor has a large video department, with a separated area for check out, and harried looking clerks
I was looking for a particular title, for my book club, a memoir, so I searched awhile for a lookup computer, and when I wrote down the call number, I went upstairs to find it. I found a worker, and asked for help finding it, as the shelves were arranged in a way I wasn't familiar with. Apparently the CPL uses the Library of Congress classification system which has a series of letters and numbers for non fiction instead of the Dewey Decimal system used by many public libraries. When I asked, she told me I hadn't written down the letters for the book, and directed me to another person to look it up. We laughed at my lack of experience with the system. The next person was downright rude, and told me haughtily, that this system has been used for 25 years in the CPL and acted like I was an idiot. I can't understand how a person whose job is to assist the public can have such a snotty attitude. Not appreciated. Made an already iffy experience into a completely negative one. How can one library branch feel so different from another? Is it staff, architecture, leadership of the head librarian? This branch has so much going for it with its gorgeous building and environs, why is it so tatty and unpleasant inside? Maybe big is not always better.

Austin-Irving Branch

Read. Learn. Discover. New library, with lovely light, and art. Its 2 stories warm and comfortable. The City of Big Readers books highlighted, with a book discussion set for August for one of the selected Chicago centric titles by Ward Just. I asked the librarian and he produced the book for me, with a due date of longer than 3 weeks, because the book "is due the evening of the book discussion". What a great concept.

Public art appears in a windowed bay . Jason Messinger is the artist. Very appealing. I enjoyed my time in this branch, I was on my way to babysit for my 11 month old grand nephew, and found some fun caldecott medal dvds. I found out that you also take out and return movies to any branch in the system, free for a week.









I think I'll go to the book club discussion coming up, I would like to revisit Austin-Irving.

Toman Branch

The original entrance for this blended branch of old and new on Pulaski and 26th, smack dab in the middle of the 26th street commercial corridor. The old portion of the library dates from 1923 and is named after a politician of the times. It has beautiful brick work, and a fireplace inside.



The soaring new entrance here, attached to the older building. What a wonderful way to preserve its history while making the library an inviting place for the community to meet and access all the perks of a contemporary space.
I found this by mistake, on my convoluted route to Midway airport to pick up my daughter for a visit. I was looking for a different library branch on Archer, but as I was driving saw the old brick out of the corner of my eye and quickly pulled over. I even found the new Harry Potter available on the day after its release, as well as a selection of foodie related books. It was a wonderful collection, and friendly workers-- speaking spanish and english alternately as needed. Some public art on the walls, and filled with folks using the computers, reading, and relaxing.

Minneapolis Central library field trip

Stunning light and glass new central library in downtown Minneapolis. Surrounded by crumpled old ashphalt parking lots and buildings from the era of the grain and river trade that made Minneapolis into a city. Inside it's a bright atrium with multiple stainless steel levels, glass elevators, and spectacular places for reading, working, and watching others do the same. Cesar Pelli designed the building, and it's all about that. Putting a world famous design into downtown, bringing visitors who love architecture, and computers for everyone to use. Book lovers may be disappointed, but designphiles won't.

I was visiting my daughter, who lives here now, and celebrating the opening of Common Roots Cafe in uptown on Lyndale. It's a place full of light that is cozy and sleek at the same time. Great eats with Peace coffee, and beer on tap, plus bagels. Wonderful folks behind the counter making fresh food.