North by Northwest

Don’t let the large, lingering snowbanks or the (melting) ice on the lake fool you, it really felt like a warm spring day Saturday! More and higher resolution pictures here.

Now that it’s mid-spring, winter is finally melting away…

Everyone was out enjoying the wonderful weather.

Dogs aren’t afraid of the ice

Even dogskateboarding (summer form of dogsledding)

Playing some lawn games (croquet, bocce ball, block throwing/stacking)

Just waiting for the ice to melt.

And, of course, there were still some brave kiteskiers out on the lake

Historical note about the first dwelling in Minneapolis, built by two missionaries on the east side of Lake Calhoun in 1834.

Minneapolis skyline

Cool treehouse in St. Louis Park

More here:

Springtime at Lakes Calhoun & Harriet

This weekend I had a chance to watch see what kind of outdoor sports folks around here like to do. I wasn’t planning to stop at Lake Calhoun, but when I saw all the kites I decided to see what was going on. Here I found a bunch of people snowkiting or kiteskiing/boarding or whatever they call it these days plus even more spectators and joggers. Several groups were on site giving lessons and renting equipment. Lake Calhoun is located just southwest of downtown Minneapolis. Apparently, motorized vehicles are prohibited on this lake.

This dog was getting a lot of extra exercise pulling the skier.

Outdoor water leak in the winter in Minnesota.

More pictures of Lake Calhoun here:

Snow-kiting on Lake Calhoun, 2008-01-26