It is about time I introduce my neighbors to the wired world. I absolutely love this neighborhood. It is very diverse (young, old, rich, poor, brown, black, red and white) and it is very pedestrian-friendly. There are parks, churches, stores, homes and libraries.

Clockwise from the upper left:

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is immediately to the south of our shop and we share an alley. It is a massive brick building and looks to have had several additions over the years. It is one of only three Reconciled in Christ (RIC) Lutheran congregations in Southern Minnesota, which means it welcomes everybody, regardless of sexual orientation. Way cool.

Directly across the street is Christ Episcopal Church. This is one of the oldest churches in Red Wing (150 years!) and also one of the most active. I have come to know several of the members and I am very impressed with the level of activism and community involvement. Again, another very open-minded congregation. Honk when you see Lottie out tending the lawn.

The Sheldon Theatre is actually just on the other side of the Episcopal lawn. The Sheldon is the jewel of Red Wing. It is a city-owned live theater and was built in 1904. Our building was originally located where the Sheldon is now and was moved to accommodate the construction (our building was Charlie Wah's Chinese laundry at the time...more about that in a future post). The Sheldon is part of the cultural core of Red Wing.

Across from the Sheldon is the Red Wing Public Library (kitty-corner from us). This is an anthill of activity. The Red Wing old-timers (of which there are many) long for the old Red Wing Carnegie-Lawther Free Library, which was a marble pillar building and very grand in stature, but only 3,500 square feet. The current library was built in 1969 and is over 27,000 square feet. I like the current architecture, horizontal limestone with a copper top that has a beautiful weathered patina. It is very 1969, but will probably never be loved like it should because of the building it replaced.

Right next door to us is a commercial building with rental apartments above (our building is on the extreme left in the photo). Dirk Griffin has the insurance agency on the corner and is also in the salt water fish business. He is into it. Chris's Cuts is a single chair barber shop, $14 cuts. Chris has a very loyal clientele and people flow in and out all day long. Kent Laugen is an attorney and is next to Chris. Kent has a focus on family law.

Finally, I need to acknowledge the neighbors directly above us, and that would be the squirrels who live in the black walnut tree that towers over our shop. The squirrels were here before we arrived and they make sure I know that. They enjoy dropping things on my head when I am sitting outside the shop and then they taunt me.

The Sales Department and Marketing Department both said it isn't. The Accounting and Operations Departments were not so sure. You be the judge.

There were no complaints. Mostly these kind of events are about meeting our downtown neighbors and learning more about them...and getting rid of some things in the process is the bonus. The first two items to go were items that I only reluctantly sold, because of sentiment more than anything else. But hey, if it has a new home and somebody else can appreciate it, so be it.