Friday, October 31, 2014

1904 Mansion - Rehab Addict - St. Paul, MN

This beautiful house, located at 986 Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota, was featured on season 5 of DIY Network's "Rehab Addict."

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Lake William - "Beautiful Girls" Filming Location - Shorewood, MN

Lake William in Shorewood, Minnesota was used for the ice fishing/ice skating scene in the film "Beautiful Girls." Above is a still from the film showing Willie arriving at the lake. Below is the same spot in October of 2014.

The above still from the film shows the ice skating rink on the lake. Below is where the rink would have been as seen in 2014.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Jerry's Car Dealership - "Fargo" Filming Location - Richfield, MN

The car dealership Jerry worked at in the movie "Fargo" was torn down and the Best Buy Corporate Headquarters was built in its place. Above is a still from the film and below is what that same location looks like in October of 2014. You can find it at 7601 Penn Avenue South in Richfield, Minnesota.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Moonlight Mile Bar (Interior) - "Beautiful Girls" Filming Location - Minneapolis, MN


Located at 501 Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis, the Nomad World Pub was used to shoot the interiors of the ficticious Moonlight Mile Bar in the film "Beautiful Girls." Above are two stills from the film which show the interior. Below is the Nomad World Pub in October of 2014. From what I understand, the seating booths seen above are no longer there.

Monday, October 27, 2014

King of Clubs - "Fargo" Filming Location - Minneapolis, MN


The King of Clubs bar was used as a filming location in the beginning of the film "Fargo." The bar has since been demolished and a building used to house HIV patients has been built in its place. Above are two stills from the film. Below is the same location in October of 2014. You can find it at 929 Central Avenue Northeast in Minneapolis.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Grumpy's Bar - "Joe Somebody" Filming Location - Minneapolis, MN

There are reports online that the karaoke scene in the film "Joe Somebody" was filmed at the Grumpy's Northeast location in Minneapolis. I visited that location and found it to be a false statement. With the help of the amazing Grumpy's staff, they directed me to the downtown location, which is located at 1111 Washington Avenue South. Above is a still from the film and below is the same location in October of 2014. The stage in the corner is very small, but it is there.

The above still from the film was taken from Joe's perspective from the stage. Below is the same spot standing on the stage in 2014.
The Grumpy's staff at both locations treated my like royalty. In fact, an employee working at the downtown location was an extra in the film during this scene and showed me how everything was set up for the film, including the room used as Tim Allen's dressing room. He said it was a 14-hour shoot for a scene that took up approximately three minutes in the finished film. Also, be careful when you park downtown. I managed to get a $42 parking ticket while visiting this location.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Davita Dialysis - "Fargo" Filming Location - St. Louis Park, MN

The hit film "Fargo" used an Embers restaurant for a scene during production. The restaurant has since been torn down and Davita Dialysis was built in it's place. The address is 3725 Wayzata Blvd. in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Above is a still from the film of characters Jerry and Stan exiting Embers. Below is where the restaurant would have stood, taken in October of 2014.

Jerry and Stan stop in front of the restaurant to continue their conversation. Above is a still from the movie, with I-394 behind Jerry. Below is the same spot in 2014.

The shot above with Pennsylvania Avenue South behind Stan; below in 2014.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Central Middle School - "Drop Dead Gorgeous" Filming Location - Wayzata, MN

Central Middle School in Wayzata, Minnesota was the building used for the beauty pageant in the film "Drop Dead Gorgeous." The address to the school is 305 Vicksburg lane North. I visited the school during MEA break, when I knew no students would be around. Above is a still from the film and below is how it appears in October of 2014. This is the main school entrance.

Just inside the main entrance is the lobby used for filming. Above is a still from the film; below in 2014.

If you go through the lobby and turn right down the first hallway, that is the hallway used for the girls' dressing room in the film. Above is a still from the movie and below is the same spot in 2014.

The auditorium is also in this school, as seen in the above still. A Central Middle School employee saw me walking around and taking photos and threw me off property. She wouldn't even let me see the auditorium but I did get her to admit their auditorium was used for the film.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Edina City Hall - "Fargo" Filming Location - Edina, MN


Located at 4801 W 50th Street in Edina, Minnesota, Edina City Hall was used for the interior shots of the police station in the 1996 film "Fargo." Above are two stills from the film. Below is City Hall in October of 2014. ‎

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Jacob Wetterling Abduction - St. Joseph, MN

Jacob Wetterling was an 11-year-old boy who was kidnapped on Sunday, October 11th, 1989 near his home in St. Joseph, Minnesota (which is a suburb of St. Cloud). Today marks the 25th anniversary of what has been known as one of the most infamous child abductions of all time. The case has not been solved and Jacob has not been found. This posting is to promote awareness so Jacob can perhaps someday return home. His family has never given up hope.

All of my photos below were taken in September of 2014.
The St. Joseph Veterinary Clinic, formerly known as the Tom Thumb Convenience Store, was the location Jacob was headed to rent a movie before the abduction.
This is the spot above where Jacob was abducted between his home and the store.
The image above is a shot down the street where Jacob lived. To respect their privacy, I didn't want to go directly to the Wetterling home and start snapping photos.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Space Aliens Restaurant - Albertville, MN

This outer space-themed restaurant can be found at 11166 CR-37 in Albertville, Minnesota.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Wagner Bros. Orchards - "Drop Dead Gorgeous" Filming Location - Jordan, MN

Above is a still from the film "Drop Dead Gorgeous." This was used at the exterior for the funeral home. Below is the same location in October of 2014. Wagner Bros. Orchards can be found on the east side of Highway 169, just north of Jordan, Minnesota.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Giant Fish - Clarks Grove, MN


You can find this monster right off of I-35, on the west side of the highway in Clarks Grove, Minnesota.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Marine Garage - "The Cure" Filming Location - Marine on Saint Croix, MN

This location was used at the bus station that Dexter's mom waited for him to arrive, as seen in the above still from the film "The Cure." Below is the same location in September of 2014. You also catch a very small glimpse of this location at the very end of "Grumpier Old Men." You can find this spot at 180 Judd Street in Marine on Saint Croix, Minnesota.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

5th Street South - "Angus" Filming Location - Stillwater, MN

Near the corner of Olive Street West and 5th Street South, looking south on 5th Street South, in Stillwater, Minnesota is where a scene was shot showing Angus riding his bike home. In the above still, Angus turns to his left and that is where his house is supposed to be. In the below photo I took in September of 2014, everything is still very similar. However, there is nothing around that area that could possibly resemble Angus' home.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Willie & Marty's Houses - "Beautiful Girls" Filming Location - Stillwater, MN

In the 1996 film "Beautiful Girls," Willie and Marty's houses are right next to each other. In real life, the same thing. Above is a still from the film as Willie arrives home. Below is the same spot in September of 2014. Willie's address is 1337 2nd Street South in Stillwater, Minnesota. Only the exteriors of Willie's house were shot here.

Around the side of the house is where Willie sticks his head out the window during the "Romeo and Juliet" scene. Below is the same spot...the window is the one above the door awning.

Right next door at 1341 2nd Street South is Marty's house. Above is a still from the film with Marty outside building a snowman. Below is the same location in 2014.