Shush.

I spent last week in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. We were ostensibly there for the Public Library Assocation conference. I met my wife in a public library (or rather, she scoped my holds and decided I was cool and maybe even smart enough to risk talking to), but this kind of thing has long interested me, anyway.

As some readers know, in my spare time, I'm currently an at-large docent with the Library of Congress. (No, really, I've escaped! With a laser pointer! Mwah-hahahaha! Now empty your pockets and look at that architecture over there! Look at it! NOW! Can you guess what style that is? I SAID, what style is it, fool?!? Do I have to shine this little light on your kneecap? I'm not afraid to use this, cause your ignorant ass just might learn something! And surely you have more than five dollars on your broke ass. What do you think that's going to get you in the gift shop, sucka?) Incidentally, the LOC is opening a brand new visitor experience on April 12th.

Regarding architecture, the Twin Cities' own Guthrie Theater was recently honored with a prestigious award for its designer. I was able to see that as well as other landmarks around the area, including the Fitzgerald Theater, where A Prairie Home Companion is broadcast live. And let's not forget the striking, realtively new Minneapolis Central Library.

I did find time to visit the exceptional Walker Art Center (the "Worlds Away: Suburban Landscapes" was my favorite) as well as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. In my opinion, the latter has both ancient and contemporary Asian collections worthy of comparison to any DC or New York galleries.

Oh, yeah. There's some big shopping center out there, too.