City leaders haven't gotten far in their effort to rehab Nicollet Mall, but back in September 1968, the commercial and office strip of downtown Minneapolis was still a curiosity. Minneapolis Tribune photographer Earl Seubert created this photo essay for the Picture Magazine, under the headline "Put down at high noon." An excerpt from his introductory essay: "in fact, anything to perch on is fair game for sitters at high noon on the Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Once put down, the sitters often people watch. Boys look at girls. Girls look at boys. Older folks watch the younger set's mini skirts and wonder where it will all end."