Valerie – Page 86 – Valerie's Voice

Young Quinlan Department Store

After we walked out of Macy’s Department store on Saturday afternoon, we continued down the mall to the majestic, limestone “Renaissance Revival” Young Quinlan building. When looking online for information to use in a previous post I discovered there is a “mini-museum” of Young Quinlan’s memorabilia in the building so we checked it out.

We entered the store, which is now Hudson Jewelers, on 9^th and Nicollet. It’s very beautiful inside, as well as outside, with a wide staircase leading to the mezzanine level that was a part of Young-Quinlan. We rode the elevator with the original “door handle” that I remember was operated by a white-gloved woman back in the day. We got off on the 2^nd floor where there were poster displays and cases filled with photos, boxes and old merchandise. The store opened in this building in 1925, the year it was built, and closed its doors for good in 1985.

My photo didn’t turn out well of this original door handle in the elevator.

Here are excerpts from the displays which we found very interesting.

“Minneapolis in 1894 was still a town on the edge of the prairie with a population of 190,000 people. Nicollet Avenue was lit with gas lamps and paved with red cedar blocks.

Two young and ambitions retailers, Fred D. Young and Elizabeth Quinlan, conceived the daring idea of opening an exclusive store for “ladies’ ready-to-wear.” At the time there was only one other store like that in the country, in New York City.”

“The building was designed by the renowned New York architect Frederick Lee Ackerman. It was built for the then-staggering price of $1.25 million.”

“Opening day drew a crowd of over 20,000 0people for Elizabeth’s “housewarming party.”

“The first day, they sold out of their entire inventory of coats, capes, mantles*, wrappers*, and gloves.”

“With its Old world grace and elegance, it quickly became a landmark in the heart of the city.”

*Mantle: a loose sleeveless garment worn over other clothes. Wrapper: an article of clothing worn wrapped around the body.

A French artist (Rateau) created a symbol for Elizabeth’s Minnesota business. Originally nude, the artist adorned the Lady with pearls to appease Elizabeth so a more modest Lady became Elizabeth Qunilan’s symbol. The plaque of the Lady can be seen on the Ninth & Nicollet Mall corner of the Young Quinlan Building.

I’m thinking I’m missing the old grace and elegance that we no longer find in the department stores in our shopping centers and outlet malls.

Macy’s in Downtown Minneapolis

We spent Saturday afternoon in downtown Minneapolis. It is not a frequent outing for us but my husband suggested we go visit Macy’s before it closes. It was a great idea. I have fond memories of the store. In high school, my girlfriend and I would often take the bus downtown for fun and explore Dayton’s, the name at the time, and ride the elevator to the 12^th floor to use the bathroom which seemed unique and elegant to us. We would have fun looking around on all the floors but not buying anything.

And for a short while I worked downtown Minneapolis and I would go to Dayton’s on my lunch hour so I had some familiarity with the store back then.

Always elegant Dayton’s/Macy’s…first floor.

I do remember buying my first purse at Dayton’s when I was in junior high. It was a navy blue, leather purse on Dayton’s first floor, just off 7^th street entrance. I’m pretty sure I paid $6 for it- which was a lot of money at that time. In my mind I can still see it on display. I have always liked purses so maybe that’s why it stands out in my memory.

On Saturday we parked in the 7^th street ramp, walked trough Macy’s shoe department to the elevators. I wanted to go to the 12^th floor to see the bathroom (I knew we missed eating at the Oak Grille since closed for good a month ago) but I didn’t know the 5-12 floors were closed off for good. So we got off the elevator on the fourth floor where there was a huge “garage sale” of all behind the scenes equipment and props…including those from the flower shows and Christmas displays. Everything was still expensive, even at the sale prices, but it was fun to look around.

These props greeted us as we got off the elevator on Macy’s 4th floor.

I was surprised to see how many people were shopping. We walked around the floors that were open to us and I took a couple of photos inside and out.

Although I never shopped there much I will miss Macy’s (still Dayton’s in my mind)…especially the flower show in the spring and the 8^th floor Christmas display.

“Jacob Marley” from my favorite Christmas story, The Christmas Carol.

The Nicollet Mall is under construction right now so the statue of Mary Tyler Moore was not in its usual place. The mall will never be the same again…hopefully something will move into the beautiful building that has been an anchor in downtown Minneapolis since 1902.

Winter is Back!

On Wednesday I was sitting out on our deck in the bright sunshine and almost 60 degree temperatures, reading a book, hearing birds singing, and no snow in sight. Last night it started to snow… and it continues…you can see the amounts piling up. Although you can’t see the snow flakes falling in the photos, it looks like we are in a snow-globe.

Last Night’s Sunset

Yesterday afternoon’s sky was full of interesting cloud formations and concluded with a beautiful sunset.

February Heat Wave

It was 56 degrees when we went for a walk in St. Olaf’s grasslands on Saturday. The path was a little wet in places but it was great to be out in the open prairie. We sat on a bench for a while to soak up some sunshine. After our hike we went downtown and there were people out everywhere…enjoying this Minnesota winter heat wave. Most of the snow has melted because of several consecutive warm days, and the forecast calls for these temperatures to continue for a few more. Will winter return?

On these nice days I turn down the heat in the house and open windows to let the “sneezes” out! The fresh air smells so good.

I remember last year we had a couple of warm days and we went on a bike ride in February. Is this the new norm?

Valentine’s Day Dinner

Years ago, when our boys were young we started a Valentine’s Day dinner tradition; heart-shaped French Toast. I’d buy a loaf of day-old bread, use a cookie cutter to cut out the heart shapes – saving the crusts to feed the ducks at the pond near by- make French Toast batter to dunk the bread and cook them up.

Then along came electric heart-shaped waffle makers (I have very fond memories of eating heart-shaped waffles at my relative’s homes in Norway.) I bought a waffle maker and switched to heart-shaped waffles for Valentine’s Day dinner, which I continue to make each year even though it’s just the two of us now.

This year, when I was up north at my uncles paging through a magazine, I found Norwegian Waffle recipe that looked good. I wrote down the recipe thinking it might be similar to the recipe they use in Norway. We decided to try it on Valentine’s Day.

In the morning I checked the ingredients and had my husband stop to pick up a couple we didn’t have on hand, and I stopped at the co-op in town to get cardamom ( maybe the secret ingredient??? ) However, I was so excited to try this recipe that I didn’t pay any attention to the quantity it makes until we had already started the batter, and then we decided it was too late to turn back. Well, four cups of milk and four cups of flour, one and a half sticks of butter plus additional ingredients, makes a lot of batter! We could have had the neighborhood over! We laughed.

We decided to make up all the waffles and freeze them…hopefully they’ll be tasty toasted.

Try It, You’ll Like It

It worked for my friend and I to meet in Wisconsin for a couple of days to take time out to visit in person, and to hear stories of her journey thus far, after her son’s death in December. God blessed our time together and it was very good.

We always enjoy our dinners out (breakfasts are usually in the hotel). The first night a dessert option caught our attention: Salted Caramel Bourbon Bread Pudding. The listed ingredients were bread pudding, caramel sauce, topped with candied pecans and salted caramel ice cream.

I mentioned to my friend that I had never tried bread pudding. I never thought “bread pudding” sounded appetizing. My friend however, likes bread pudding and explained how she makes hers and encouraged me to try it. This flavor sounded tempting, to both of us, but we were full from our fish tacos so we decided to come back another night to try it.

We did go back. The bread pudding portion was large (we shared) and it was delicious! We savored every bite.

A Carnegie Library

The Northfield Public Library is a Carnegie library, built in 1910 with a most recent addition in 2016. A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929 – 1,689 in the United Sates – and one in my town.

I use our library often. I’ve been in a book club for several years now and rarely do I buy a book…I borrow it from the library. And when we go on road trips I borrow books on CD to listen as we speed down the freeway, or ramble on the back roads. And sometimes it’s nice to borrow movies instead of rent them.

Libraries often have inviting spaces to sit and read a book, magazine or newspaper, or relax and enjoy the quiet and/or write. But I don’t really take advantage of those spaces. It is too convenient for me to go on-line, order a book, movie or CD, have the librarians gather what I’ve ordered and notify me when it’s ready for pick up. What a great service. I walk right in to the holding shelf, self-check out, admire the lovely space, then leave. Someday I may just have to stay and enjoy.

I stopped by the library yesterday to pick up another book on tape…an old term I still use … it’s actually a book on CD. I am leaving on another road trip and look forward to listening to someone read to me as I drive along, passing the hours until I reach my destination.

History Lessons

Into the woods, heading towards Loon Lake.

Our time with my aunt (87) and uncle (my father’s brother, 89) was delightful. We enjoyed staying in their beautiful home on 150 acres in northern Minnesota. The farm, with lake shore, was very picturesque with the clean, fresh fallen snow covering the fields, and lake.

We did some snowshoeing on their property, took a walk down their lane to pick up the mail, helped fill a wooden trough with corn because my uncle feeds six deer each day, and filled two large bird feeders outside their kitchen window, but mostly we visited. After catching up with family talk we spent hours reminiscing of days gone by, focusing on their lives but including tales of my father, who passed away when I was twenty, and my grandparents who came over from Norway. These history lessons come alive when told from a personal perspective and we listened intently to the stories. We asked questions and they in turned asked questions of us to show their interest in us too…it was a very special time as we slowed down our lives to be with these fine folks.

Young At Heart

We are heading up to my aunt and uncle’s farm on Bay Lake in northern MN. We haven’t seen them for over a year. My uncle turned 89 last September. We look forward to visiting with them, my only living aunt and uncle. Below is a story from a summer visit with them in August, 2012.

*****

I am sitting here on the deck, breathing in the fresh air, hoping it infuses me with the youthfulness around me. I hear loons calling and the water fountain gurgling and look out to see the sun slowly exposing the field where eight cattle are leisurely grazing.

My uncle, age 84 11/12 (85 next month) has embarked on a new adventure this year. In order to keep his land deemed agricultural he bought eight steers and is fattening them in his field. Not only that, he adopted a new puppy too, Max. And did I mention he plays tennis three times a week?

We came up for a weekend get away before the busy fall season. My aunt and uncle are my relatives still living who have known me since I was born. It’s always fun to come up to their lovely home on Bay Lake.

Yesterday afternoon they arranged to take us on a pontoon ride with some friends of theirs. It was a glorious sunny day with blue skies and wispy white clouds. We climbed aboard the boat and the skipper (Jack) and his wife (Jean) maneuvered the boat away from the dock and we were off on a leisurely ride along the lake shore of Bay Lake, admiring cabins, seeing other boaters and skiers, and getting quick glimpses of loons before they dove under water.

Back on shore their friends invited us to stay awhile. She showed us her lovely garden and picked a stunning white and violet dahlia for me. We ate snacks and then headed back to my aunt and uncles place. On the way back we find out this very hospitable, lively couple are both 87 years old!

As we drove up the lane to my uncle’s place we are greeted by two strategically placed plastic penguins that my uncle found in the pool-house and placed playfully in the yard.

Oh to be young, like 85 or 87!