Milwaukee Avenue: When Citizens #Resist

Earlier this week a friend and I explored the length of Milwaukee Avenue in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. In a city where an avenue can stretch for a hundred blocks, Milwaukee Avenue is just two blocks.

I was struck by the rows of small houses built on lots that are a quarter the size of typical Minneapolis home lots.

The houses were built by a real estate developer in the 1880's in response to the large influx of working class people to Minneapolis. They were built economically to maximize profit, but with a consistent architecture that includes some flourishes. They look stunning when you look down the avenue and take the street in as a whole.

Travel Gear: Carry-On Backpack

I love to travel with just one piece of luggage: a backpack small enough to carry on to flights.

Earlier this year, I decided it was time to buy a new backpack. The final impetus was a flight I would be taking from Miami MIA to Lisbon LIS, Portugal. I would be traveling with only a carry-on, but I was concerned my backpack might not quite meet TAP Air Portugal’s stringent requirements. If I was forced to do a gate check, I would be out $180. This would hurt, as I had snagged a ticket for $100 plus the usual fees for the 8-hour journey.