Drug Store Democracy

I haven't actually experienced the spectacle myself, but I've heard and read about Schneider Drug's (@ 3400 University Avenue, in Prospect Park in Minneapolis) legendary stature among hardcore DFLers. Drug store by day, town hall by night, Schneider's plays host to candidate nights and heady political discussions--full of debate. According to an NPR story last year, the drug store's pharmacist, Tom Sengupta, a native Indian, organizes and moderates the meetings. It is expected that if you are a DFL candidate running in MN, you'll make a stop at Schneider's and sit in the hot seat for hours being grilled by party activists, academicians, and other political heavy weights. So the next time you're heading east on University you can feel assured that democratic debate is alive and well in this small, nondescript drug store.

Messy Urbanism

St. Paul and Minneapolis are blessed with what I'll call "messy urbanism." When urbanism is messy, you get great places like the Overflow Cafe on University Avenue, in the Minneapolis neighborhood of Prospect Park. The cafe abuts a business park and what appears to be an impound lot. And behind those buildings lie the towering grain silos and railroad tracks--remnants of our agricultural/industrial past.

Messy urbanism brings us the sleek, modern, Miami-looking Bookmen Stacks. These lofts are tucked between freeways and old brick warehouse buildings in the northern edge of Minneapolis' warehouse district.


Messy urbanism isn't afraid of disrupting order. It puts new next to old; modern next to traditional; industrial next to residential. This is the organic way that cities grow. It gives us the opportunity to discover surprises in the most unlikely places. It keeps things from being boring. Bring on the mess!

Image: Grain elevators, Martha Duerr
Image: Bookmen Stacks, citylifetour.com