Recent content from James Lileks
Four ways to save Minneapolis: Demolish City Center — or most of it
The 1980s blank wall of a building fails to offer what a vital city center needs: connection.
Lileks: Ranking the downtown trees
Do people still think of downtown Minneapolis as a holiday-decoration destination?Possibly not. Without a Holidazzle — and I mean the old-style, with the incandescent parade…
Lileks: Let there be light (if you have the password)
Me, January 2023: "Ha-ha, future self, I'm just jamming these Christmas lights in the bin in a big wad, knowing it will take an hour…
A ferocious fire in 1982 destroyed a Minneapolis bank but left a Charles Lindbergh plane unscathed
The Northwestern National Bank Building, full of tall columns and grand marble, was completely lost.
Lileks: The Christmas catalog season is a gift all its own
The mail brings a sheaf of catalogs every day, and they all fall into one of several categories.
In praise of proper punctuation
I have finally learned to let go of punctuation while textingYou, on the other hand ... Keeping doing this ... Stop itLet me explain. A…
Lileks: Ratings aren't enough — now stores want your video praise
Wife: "We need bleach." Me, shifting instantly into instinctive hunter-gatherer mode: "I will venture out and secure some bleach." Later, at the store: I am…
Lileks: It's too late to argue about daylight savings time
We will revisit this in the spring, have the same conversation, and change nothing.
Lileks: A toast to the enchanted land of Beer World
I wish I could visit Beer World. I only know what I see in the ads, but that's where Beer World exists. It is a…
Lileks: Pillow-piling and other tactics in the battle of the sexes
The very name of the sham pillowcase tells you it's a lie.
Lileks: What if the most evil being in the land of Oz was your aunt?
Growing up with the Wicked Witch of the West.
Lileks: The once prestigious briefcase has lost out to backpacks
They're more practical, but lack structure and purpose.
One of the ugliest buildings in downtown Minneapolis will likely be demolished. Should we care?
The YWCA sticks out like a sore thumb. But it is an example of a certain style of architecture.
Lileks: Need to cut costs? It might be easier than you think
What if just asking works everywhere, and we don't know it because we never think to try?
Lileks: It's time for a new Halloween candy
We have become complacent and stagnant, and a national initiative to regain our confectionary edge is needed, stat.
From Monty Python to WWI: Michael Palin's new book resurrects his long-lost great uncle
The prolific actor, comedian, writer and producer has created the silly and the sublime.
Lileks: Does your dog understand you better than your partner?
The relationship between dogs and humans is not about ice cream and TV.
The University of Minnesota's Northrop Mall is grand — but it could've been glorious
Cass Gilbert's original plans called for a European-style plaza leading to an open-air theater, a botanical garden and a small harbor.
Lileks: It's time to bring back 'elevator music'
Perhaps we'd be a less jangly society if vapid mood music was the norm.
The fair is over but the stuff we bought lives on
We are at the point in September where we regret, or celebrate, our State Fair impulse purchases. One year I was watching this guy make…
Who were the Miss Downtown Minneapolis winners and what did they do?
For years, young women were selected to serve as civic champions, winning mink coats and accolades in the process.
Lileks: The boomer skills have outlived their usefulness
Sometimes you see a link to an article headlined "50 things Boomers Did That Are Useless Now," and you cannot resist. You know you will…
Lileks: Has your phone's speech-to-text sap cotton wurst?
I know the technology is amazing, and we take it for granted — but I'm convinced it's broken, and I'm not alone.
Instead of new foods, the State Fair needs more welcoming entrances
How about a giant gopher? We know just where it should go.
Lileks: Don't love the Minnesota State Fair? You're not alone.
Here are six reasons you may not want to go.
Lileks: A star is born ... well, not even close, actually
We're all acting, a little. Our early years are full of auditions.
A Minneapolis block may hold a world record for churches
The four houses of worship in Northeast have long histories.
These new Minnesota State Fair attractions join our old fair traditions
Additions abound, but most of us go to the fair to do (and eat) our favorite old things again and again.
Lileks: There's no clean break when you're cleaning out a grown kid's room
You're either a saver or a tosser.
Lileks: Some gigantic notions about a Minnesota 'Titanic' sequel
The Titanic wasn't the only sinking ship in the sea.
Lileks: Why don't we ask for refunds at the movie theater more often?
My seat was behind a railing that cut through the view of the screen.
Lileks: Three cheers for our ugly mutts
The honor of our dogs has been sullied, and this cannot be allowed to stand. Or sit, and stay. A survey by Mixbook Photo…
Lileks: 'Barbie' movie brings back sweet memories for this dad
I don't speak Barbie, but I associate the character with some of the happiest, simplest days a dad can have.
Lileks: Mustard in Skittles is the devil's work
Skittles candy is releasing a new flavor: mustard. Why? What sins have we committed to deserve these sadistic confectionary combos? This is the point where…
Lileks: Think extra crunchy cookies are good? Then rock on
This might mean new warnings on packages: This product was processed in a facility that contained nuts, granite, milk and marble.
Lileks: Taco Tuesday is now for everyone
Taco John's has been fighting to hold the copyright to the term "Taco Tuesday," but now they're letting it slip from their tired grasp.…
Lileks: We'll return to our regular yard work right after this message
A video cannot possibly presume all the ways in which you might make a bonehead mistake.
The best bridges in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the story behind each
More than a city of Lakes, Minneapolis is a city of bridges. We have so many that we have spares, like the Third Avenue and…
In 1906, it was full steam ahead for Lake Minnetonka's Big Island Park
The amusement park promised carousels, roller coasters and modern luxuries.
Lileks: Summertime, and the complainin' is easy
In old newspapers, "drought" is often spelled "drowt." It suggests that readers were confused by the proper spelling and thought it should be pronounced "dro-you-ghet?"…
Lileks: Credit cards are getting coy and cagey
I was unaware my card was capable of astral projection.
Lileks: An ordinary day and extraordinary memory
It was Father's Day, too many years ago. The best gift possible: Time together and a memory made.
Lileks: Feeling the rhythm of the trash bins
Every sensible person has wondered: What if I am right, and the whole world is mad? What if I see things as they truly are,…
Lileks: With Vision Pro, Apple wants us to focus on the big picture
It's like a big TV, except it's strapped to your head and follows you to the bathroom on commercial breaks.
Lileks: New stop-sign law deals blow to non-bikers' superiority complex
Without opportunities for silent disapproval, we're at risk of losing our ability to be passive-aggressive when it really counts.
Lileks: We're going to miss you, May
There's so much May, and there's never enough.It's one of those jumbo months, 31 days — who could ask for more? All of us. It…
Lileks: AM car radios are fading out
News item: Some carmakers are dropping AM radios from their new models because electric cars interfere with the signal. Your reaction: Gosh, what's next to…
Lileks: His attempts to grow grass are like a salute to male pattern baldness
Our columnist declares war on the weeds in his lawn.
What we learned from our own high school graduation speeches
Our columnists recalled the advice they dispensed to their peers decades ago. Do they stand by their words?
Lileks: It's the opening of skeeter season — does anything keep them away?
Let's consider our options.
A turning point in learning to speak the Minnesota code
Spring is here, it's ours, and we're going to savor all 17 days of it.
Great cities have great fountains: Here are the 6 best in the Twin Cities
Admire turtles, gargoyles, cherubs and more.
Lileks: Seeking lessons from a BBQ Dad
A Craigslist ad went viral the other day, and for good reason: A group of young men wanted to hire a "BBQ Dad" to…
Lileks: If stores incorrectly post a low price for an item, is it OK to make them honor it?
Adventures in the check-out lane come with a moral dilemma.
Lileks: The Post Office regrets to inform you ...
Anyone keeping track of the precipitous decline of civilizational standards can add this to the list: The other day I received a piece of mail…
Lileks: Is the airport taxing Minnesota nice?
Add the hospitality tax to high prices and it's downright inhospitable.
Lileks: Happy birthday to a chattering millstone
That techno-marvel in your hand? It's 50 years old.
Lileks: Kiosks are killing the fast-food clerks
What's better: a day filled with irritating human encounters, or one where every transaction has the rote, sterile perfection you get when dealing with a well-programmed machine?
Macy's furniture store in Edina is facing the wrecking ball. It's not a big loss.
The 1970s "earth-sheltered" building has fans.
Lileks: What's Minnesota's most popular nightmare?
The most recent survey of the world's nightmares boils them down to two categories: snakes and teeth falling out.
