This Sunday, I'll be hosting the third (and final ?) tour of the epic cycle of "public stairs" walking tours that began so dramatically with a group of 200 people climbing and descending the stairs of Cathedral and Crocus Hills and the bluffs of formerly Pleasant Avenue.
This time we venture to the East Side, to walk the staircases of Swede Hollow, Railroad Island, and Arlington Heights. One of these staircases, in fact, is the precise public staircase that inspired my fascination with public stairs ten years ago when I happened upon it while canvassing for Al Franken's (remember him?) campaign for Senate.
Here's what I wrote at the time, upon the discovery of a unique set of public stairs in the jungles of East Saint Paul:
The neighborhood had a really contained feeling, so that walking down the street felt like lounging on an old and threadbare couch.
The little divots along some of the streets meant that there were entire houses that had no paved roads, only little paths running through little hollows that enclosed space like a forest cave. These places feel like the end of the world, but the sidewalks are flexible, and bend and waver to meet the needs of feet. Stairs pop up like wildflowers, and sidewalks carry on.
Join me at the corner of Case and Payne for a roughly four (4) mile walk through the streets, sidewalks, and public staircases of the East Side. Let's hope it doesn't snow this weekend.
What: Walking tour of public stairs (past and present) of the East Side
When: Sunday 3:15pm for a few hours
Where: Meet at the corner of Case and Payne. Likely route map, for the curious.
Why: Because they are there
Who: Anyone ambulatory
[An 1898 picture of the hollow follows. Note the stairs at bottom left.]
