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Bill Lindeke

Bill Lindeke is a lecturer in Urban Studies at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Geography, Environment and Society. He is the author of multiple books on Twin Cities culture and history, most recently St. Paul: an Urban Biography. Follow Bill on Twitter: @BillLindeke.

New book invites exploration of old Twin Cities spots

“Oldest Twin Cities,” is a fun guidebook to the Twin Cities’ quirky history. “I like to say ‘Oldest Twin Cities’ is old-world history meets modern-day relevance,” author Julie Jo Severson said. “I don’t think of myself as a local expert or a local historian, I’m just somebody who’s extremely curious.”

photo of st. paul's mickey's dining car closed down during the pandemic

Need a new year’s resolution? Try walking. 

A recent study looking at cell-phone data from millions of people around the world found that the U.S. ranks poorly when it comes to everyday walking. The average American takes just about 4,700 steps each day, a count that has surely declined since the pandemic and its work-from-home revolution.

Frogtown neighborhood sidewalk

More housing is the only way to fix our downtowns

“People downtown, their mood is different,” explained Calgar Kisa, working the week before Christmas at his downtown Minneapolis boutique. “It’s depressive. They don’t have a shopping mood; they have a working mood. They’re just busy, and say ‘I need to go home for the kids.’ I feel nobody can survive downtown in the retail business.”