My fondest memories are along the five miles of Lake Street that carve across south Minneapolis, bringing life to every avenue and street it crossed.

As a child, I fondly remember fishing with Dad down at the river. And at the other "end" I've wonderful memories of Mom taking us to the beaches of Calhoun on hot sultry summer days. In between these two sites exists a lifeline that thrives almost four decades later for me.

We always lived just blocks off Lake Street. I had my first soda sitting at Kresges' fountain, the five and dime at Hi-Lake Shopping Center, where we bought pet turtles and fish and talked to the caged birds. We shopped regularly at Sears, entering the "back door;" somehow we always made it to the candy counter and bought caramel corn, candy, and nuts.

As kids we rode our bikes to White Castle and Bridgeman's and our family occasionally ate at the Red Barn at 34th. Oh, and Porky's drive-in at 21st; unbeatable malts, burgers and fries with a little toy prize!

At twelve, when Pearl Drops first came out, I biked over two miles to Butler Drug, on Bloomington, because only they sold it. At that same intersection I once dropped an envelope full of money; passersby helped gather Mom's deposit.

These are just some fond memories of an old place with an ever-changing landscape of people making new memories. I've moved back home after 25 years in the suburbs and am now creating more memories. Our church is just off Lake and we habitually eat at restaurants up and down this thoroughfare. We shop along Lake Street and enjoy the Lagoon and Uptown Theaters. Just walking along Lake Street, from the river to the lakes, is energizing.

Lake Street - living memories; make some!

Photograph: Lake Street East, View from Thirteenth Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota Historical Society