I don't know what happened. I had a perfectly good article published, but when I went to fix a typo in the title – poof!  The text and photos were gone.  I was waxing on about the WPA art collection at the Wiesman Art Museum on the U of M Campus . . .

WPA Art.

I was telling you about how Melanie and I came around a corner of the museum and there, smack dab in front of us, was a powerful piece of historic WPA art. This art seems especially important to me today as we watch the same kind of economic decline that took place in the 1930's happening now.  In an effort to ebb some of the suffering taking place throughout the country, the FDR administration introduced the New Deal to the country, employing citizens with infrastructure projects, and in this case, artwork with which to record this important era in U.S. history.

Down and out during the depression.

The New Deal wasn't perfect. It has its critics, but it did put people to work.  The one thing we know for certain, if you give money to people who need it, it will find its way back into the economy post-haste.  It will trickle up in a way that we can never count on wealth to trickle down to the rest of us.

Melanie admires an amazing art display at the Weisman.

Of course, someone like me can think deep thoughts for a just so long before thoughts of food and other notions start niggling. After a stop at the museum gift shop, Melanie and I hit Dinkytown where we tracked down the Loring Pasta Bar.  I can honestly say I did not have high hopes of having a dining experience like the ones I had years ago when I ate at the Loring Park Cafe located on the edge of Loring Park.  But guess what.

Table Setting at the Loring Pasta Bar.

They did it.  The proprietors managed to pack all the ambiance I knew and loved at the old Loring and shipped it into the new space. Loring times ten. Fantastic.  The bathrooms are worth a trip to the Loring all by themselves. Such folly.

Chocolate Souffle.

We ordered the chocolate souffle for dessert and it was served with a flourish by a bartender who took great pains with its presentation.  Yum-ee.  I've already discussed a return visit with Big Carl who enjoys things that are out of the ordinary.  I think that's why he likes me.