Hardware rhymes

Stop by the Ace Hardware on Lexington Ave in Roseville for free popcorn and clever rhymes.

A Ghostly Tale

This has been a hard couple of years for small businesses. I've started collecting what a friend of mind calls 'ghost signs' - signs belonging to businesses that no longer exist. This first ghost sign is from a lovely former used bookstore in Dinkytown. Inside the store there was a bird that greeted you, a cat that purred at your feet and a very friendly but laid-back dog. And they all seemed to get along just fine.

The Official Warming House of Grand Avenue

Normally I find official sponsorships a little bit silly - I mean, does the NFL really need an official cold medicine? Anyway, I think this sponsorship makes sense since Grand Avenue is a really awesome place to hang out and in this weather you do need a warming house. Try the guac there too.

Love letter for lazy arsonists

I'm sure this sign is posted to satisfy some sort of law but I'm a little confused. If I were someone who had a key to this building, wouldn't I already know that the fire protection is out of service? If I had a key and I didn't know and a fire started inside the building that I couldn't put out, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't wait around to see if the fire protection could put it out. If I were someone looking to break in to this building, I don't think I'd care about the state of the automatic sprinklers. And if I were a policewoman and/or firewoman I'm pretty sure I'd have to run into the burning building to save someone even if the sprinklers were out of service.

So all I can figure is that this is a love letter for arsonists. And a lazy arsonist at that.

Free Head Exam

Balking at the hourly cost of a psychologist? Get your head examined at a jewelry store in Rosedale instead. (Yes, I know the bars are down in the photograph. What can I say? We closed down the mall. We're crazy like that.)

This is My Therapy

I'm thinking we'll all need some therapy if the race for the governor isn't settled soon.

Happy Halloween!

The area code is 651 - in case you're in need of Halloween makeup.