Difference between revisions of "Coney Island Restaurant"
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− | A curious survivor of St. Paul’s obsessive (and often destructive) urban renewal projects, the Coney Island operates in two turn of-the-century structures that were once a mainstay of St. Paul’s urban landscape. The little buildings now hide in the shadows of looming neighbors. | + | |
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+ | | A curious survivor of St. Paul’s obsessive (and often destructive) urban renewal projects, the Coney Island operates in two turn of-the-century structures that were once a mainstay of St. Paul’s urban landscape. The little buildings now hide in the shadows of looming neighbors. | ||
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Minnesota’s cold climate prohibited a year-round outdoor cruising, and either major city did not have the population to support a sizeable gay underworld like those in Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. Instead, the Twin Cities queer populations met in “straight” places. | Minnesota’s cold climate prohibited a year-round outdoor cruising, and either major city did not have the population to support a sizeable gay underworld like those in Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. Instead, the Twin Cities queer populations met in “straight” places. | ||
Outright communication or signs of interest received no less that expulsion from the establishment or, in severe cases, a visit to the Ramsey County workhouse. To avoid suspicion, queer people used codes, or secret body language and keywords that only those “in the know” understood. Codes were evident across the Nation, and varied regionally. | Outright communication or signs of interest received no less that expulsion from the establishment or, in severe cases, a visit to the Ramsey County workhouse. To avoid suspicion, queer people used codes, or secret body language and keywords that only those “in the know” understood. Codes were evident across the Nation, and varied regionally. | ||
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+ | [[Image:Svc_coneyi.png]] | ||
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+ | <small>'''The Coney Island's building is presently vacant. Image courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio.'''</small> | ||
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In Minnesota, a surefire method of communication involved a pack of upturned Pall Mall cigarettes. If one man was interested in another, he placed the pack in the other’s eyesight. The object of desire, in turn, would either observe the gesture without a second thought, ignore it, or respond with verbal code. The infamous line is “are you a friend of Dorothy?” referring to the Wizard of Oz. Other phrases were likely uttered, yet these passed with the people who used them. | In Minnesota, a surefire method of communication involved a pack of upturned Pall Mall cigarettes. If one man was interested in another, he placed the pack in the other’s eyesight. The object of desire, in turn, would either observe the gesture without a second thought, ignore it, or respond with verbal code. The infamous line is “are you a friend of Dorothy?” referring to the Wizard of Oz. Other phrases were likely uttered, yet these passed with the people who used them. |
Revision as of 22:44, 17 March 2010
448 N. St. Peter Street, St. Paul
A curious survivor of St. Paul’s obsessive (and often destructive) urban renewal projects, the Coney Island operates in two turn of-the-century structures that were once a mainstay of St. Paul’s urban landscape. The little buildings now hide in the shadows of looming neighbors.
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The Coney Island's building is presently vacant. Image courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio. |
In Minnesota, a surefire method of communication involved a pack of upturned Pall Mall cigarettes. If one man was interested in another, he placed the pack in the other’s eyesight. The object of desire, in turn, would either observe the gesture without a second thought, ignore it, or respond with verbal code. The infamous line is “are you a friend of Dorothy?” referring to the Wizard of Oz. Other phrases were likely uttered, yet these passed with the people who used them.
This page is still under construction. -SVC
Part of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: 100 Queer Places in Minnesota History, (1860-1969), (1969-2010)