Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday - Meet Xerxes

ALPHABE-THURSDAY

Our class today celebrates the letter " X "

The letter " X " being well, rather rare (try walking around one of the oldest and grandest cemeteries in Minneapolis, see photo below) and I dare you to uncover one tombstone with the surname beginning in "X"
before the sun sets! 




After much thought I remembered one of my favorite places to uncover buried treasures, that happens to begin with an "X" just a couple blocks from here.


May I introduce, Xerxes Avenue, a hearty street which begins in Burnsville, Minnesota and carves ever so crookedly through Bloomington, before continuing throughout south Minneapolis; where a major freeway takes a slice right in the middle of it.



Many streets or avenues where I live have more than one name, and  some have several.  Xerxes Avenue (runs north and south) is also called County 31.  Yes, it can be confusing to out-of-towners.




Xerxes Avenue, is a mixture of mostly business or residence.  It's earned the honor of having an exit at several freeways around town, and yet it remains the quieter, less traveled destination than other more popular spots.


A mile from that freeway sign, almost hidden in this thriving urban quaintness, there's a bridge on Xerxes Avenue that innocently interrupts your journey so one can enjoy Minnehaha Creek.



Of course I stopped, just so I could catch a couple of photos for your pleasure. There are houses on both sides of Minnehaha Creek.  But you couldn't tell by these pictures.


Xerxes Avenue offers an incredible cornucopia of rustic appeal in a some what jumbled existence throughout such a friendly town.

Just up the road we'll stop again for a bit of shopping!  50th and Xerxes, where you can get an oil change while you dine, or shop, and if you're really all about a good day of chores there's, Linden Hills Laundry (a great place to bring those large items for an over-sized washing machine.)



Or you can just visit an endless selection of antiques and vintage styled clothes, in one of the shops.






Doesn't he just call out to you?


This darling little bear cried, "Please take me home with you!" He's described as an old British bear, and the cost of his fare home of $69.00 American dollars was a bit more than I wished to pay; so he's still waiting for a new home!


The name quirky for any shop on this corner, arrived from within "hunt & gather" and that's the honest truth!

Like who doesn't want to own their own special rocket ship?

Seriously though, we just can't spend all day here, while the sun is blazing an incredibly painted scene so bright and vivid just for us.



Xerxes Avenue has houses that range from medium sized to mega McMansions, but they also feature along the avenue.....



The most incredible cottage like styles springing up here and there........it's as though you're traveling through a Dickens's story, if you stop and pay attention. 




Minnesota is known for having over 10,000 lakes, and Xerxes Avenue is one of those streets where, all roads lead to a lake.




Lake Calhoun, where Xerxes Avenue comes to a sweet ending, and features spectacular views of downtown Minneapolis over yonder. 

But if you want to continue on a bit more of Xerxes you can pick it up again on the other side.  It zig-zags a bit through the north side of town and ends within the city of Brooklyn Park.   




A fitting place to bring Xerxes Avenue South to a stunning end.  Don't you agree?






Here's a descriptive article from Minnesota Monthly (a bit old) but very informative about the quiet unassuming 50th and Xerxes shopping experience where all things are quirky, or rather, a self-proclaimed sobriquet of an urban styled "antique capital of south Minneapolis."


http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/November-2008/50th-and-Xerxes/



If you care to follow along with Jenny's faithful bloggers at Alphabe-Thursday, to view more or post your own please hop along with us!  You won't be sorry!

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/05/alphabe-thursdays-letter-x.html

25 comments:

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I love the name Hunt and Gather for a shop. Brilliant! Great little visit to someplace I will probably never see in person...

Thanks!

Gattina said...

Strange name for an avenue, which offers such a variety. A very interesting post !

Lmkazmierczak said...

Lovely post. Enjoyed your "slant" of all your photos. Thanx for sharing♫♪

FilipBlog said...

Very hectic in the atelier. Good pictures.

Greetings,
Filip

Leovi said...

I like these photos, definitely a nice place.

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

What a cool name for an Avenue! Those cottages look lovely! It all looks so picturesque!

storybeader said...

thanks for the tour! I went to Minneapolis-St. Paul on business last year and totally enjoyed myself. What a mixture of pleasant views and things to do. Xerxes is a wonderful road! {:-Deb

Galen Pearl said...

X is a challenging letter. But not for you!

Judie said...

Karen, you are just a total gem! What builder came up with Xerxes Avenue? He was a genius of a man who was conflicted about his calling! This is the perfect "X" post on soooo many levels!!

To the Toy Box and Beyond said...

very nice tour I would love to go shopping in those shops although I fear they would be out of my price range. Who pays $69 for a teddy bear???

The Poet said...

Hello.
What a lovely place. I wish gas prices and air fare were cheaper so we could discover the many beauties of our cities and towns. Wonderful shots! I like your header too. Thanks for sharing.

I am inviting you and your friends here to Blog Hop Saturday! this Saturday May 5th. Hope you can join the fun!

Xanthippe

Annesphamily said...

This is a terrific post! I like all the beautiful photos you share and the name of the street is perfect! Grad post today! Have a great weekend!

Unknown said...

"21 Wits, by Karen" has been included in this weeks Sites To See. I hope this helps to attract many new visitors here.

http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2012/05/sites-to-see.html

Steve Gravano said...

Such a a cool name. The road I live on has three name tow official and one unofficial. County Road 39 is an extension of Sunrise Highway and of North Road. Some address owners use one name others use another. We use County Road 39 at the request of the post office, but one of our utilities sends us a bill to North Road.... it gets here. Beautiful tour, thanks Karen.

21 Wits said...

Thanks for all your wonderful comments...this is truly an awesome eye opening adventure along Xerxes Avenue South, and I never even mentioned anything on Xerxes Avenue North!

21 Wits said...

Jerry E. thanks for visiting, and for the mention, anyone taking a visit to Xerxes and it's offerings will be pleased that they did! It's so awesome to share this place!

21 Wits said...

Judie, Xerxes was named after a Persian King, although later rumor has it (wrong, but funny) that it was named after Billy-Bob a monster truck driver!

Jenny said...

Hunt and Gather! I want a shop! I want to name it that! I want it to be on Xerces street and X can mark the spot of my cool store!

My husband is off to a meeting and I'm just doing a little blog visiting from my teensy little laptop in my glorious San Antonio hotel room!

Thanks for a cute link to the letter X. Sorry blogger is making you crazy, too!

Hugs and A+

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

What an unusually name for the street, and quite interesting many photos!

Lola said...

Visiting from Mrs Matlock’s, thanks for stopping by and look forward to *seeing* you again soon!

Great post – great captures!

Have a good weekend.

Jo said...

oh I just want to shop at Hunt and Gather, what a fab name for a shop!!! and what wonderful photos you have for us!

Teresa said...

What beautiful pictures you've taken along this street. Great X post!

Vicki/Jake said...

Thanks for the comment on my post, which brought me here, which made me smile:) I love that cottage and could live in it..then shop all day on the X street...

I have family on my mom's side living in Minnesota..somewhere. Maybe someday I'll go look for them and find all these cute little shops:)

VBR said...

What a wonderful way to see other places. Your photos are lovely. I especially like the one of the bridge, that serpentine squiggle is great!

Stafford Ray said...

Ref: The rocket. Where does all that stuff go when the shop closes? :-)
Have not been to Minnesota, so your pics and comment are a delight and an education!