R Street

Race St. Race is a play by David Mamet that premiered on Broadway in December, 2009. Race follows three attorneys, two black and one white, who are  offered a chance to defend a white man charged with a crime against a black woman. Mamet has said that the "theme is race and the lies we tell each other on the subject."  (from wikipedia)

Raleigh St. The street was named for Sir Walter Raleigh (c. 1554– 1618). He was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, politician, courtier, spy, and explorer. Here is the first stanza of his poem, The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd: If all the world and love were young, And truth in every shepherd's tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee and be thy love . Thy can be my hero

Ramlow Pl.

Ramsey St. Alexander Ramsey (1815 – 1903), for whom the street is named, was the first territorial governor in Minnesota. Another Alexander Ramsey is Calvin Alexander Ramsey, an Atlanta playwright and children’s author. He wrote the historical fiction children’s book about the Green Book which was a travel guide for African Americans during segregation. Ruth and the Green Book was published in 2010. The Ramsey County Library serves all of Ramsey County, Minnesota. This writer appreciates all the services the library offers and hopes that the carbon version of books continues to be available to readers. The manager of the Shoreview branch, Eilenne Boder, passed away unexpectedly in 2015. She was  a wonderful friend, librarian and supporter of all things literary. May her memory be always for a blessing.

Randolph Ave. Randolph Caldecott (1846 – 1886) was a British artist and illustrator, born in Chester, England. The Caldecott Medal was named in his honour. The medal recognizes the preceding year's most distinguished American picture book for children.

Rankin St. Ian Rankin (born 1960) is a Scottish crime writer, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels. For a short while, prior to 2012, he had been neighbors to J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame..

Ravoux St. Van Gogh's table at the Auberge Ravoux by Alexandra Leaf and Fred Leeman (published 2001) portrays the culinary history of the  last home of Vincent Van Gogh, through letters, engravings and postcards.

Raymond Ave. Dolphus Raymond is a character in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  (born 1926) and published in 1960. Raymond Carver, Jr. (1938–1988) was an American short story writer and poet. He was married to the poet, Tess Gallagher (born 1943) Raymond Chandler (1888 –1959) was an American novelist and screenwriter.

Reaney Ave. James Reaney (1926 – 2008) was a Canadian poet, playwright, librettist, and professor. Reaney won Canada's highest literary award, the Governor General's Award, three times and received the Governor General's Award for Poetry or Drama for both his poetry and his drama. Here’s the first few lines of his poem, Gift: Existence gives to me What does he give to thee? He gives to me:  a pebble He gives to me:  a dewdrop He gives to me:  a piece of string He gives to me:  a straw Pebble  dewdrop  piece of string  straw

Red Rock Rd. “"Red Rock," after which the original town of Red Rock was named, (now Newport, Minnesota), was a boulder that was sacred to Native Americans who left many offerings at the boulder, perhaps including blood. The boulder was moved many times around the Twin Cities by whites and the boulder traveled as far as western Hennepin County, but was finally returned to the Newport area (however, not to its original position). The boulder now resides in front of the United Methodist Church in Newport. (from a 1997 posting on the website maintained by Kevin L. Callahan, Anthropology Department, University of Minnesota)

Reserve St. Russell Banks (born 1940) is an American writer of fiction and poetry. He is the author the novel, The Reserve. Banks has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Return Ct. The River, also known as The Return and Hatchet: The Return  is a 1991 young adult novel by Gary Paulsen (born 1939). It is the second installment in the Hatchet series, but third in terms of chronology with Brian's Winter serving as an alternative second book.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was only 39 when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. He had been in Washington, D.C. to lead the Poor People's Campaign. This author was 15 at the time and camped out with thousands of others across from the White House in Lafayette Park supporting the campaign with our presence. Dr. King's left a rich legacy of writings in his sermons and speeches as well as his Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

Rice St. Named for Henry Rice (1816–1894). He was instrumental in the establishment of Minnesota as a state. He is the one honored with a statue in The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol. Sadly, there is no poem at the base of the statue as there is on the Statue of  Liberty. This author protests and announces a contest to set in stone a poem at Henry’s feet. In absence of a poem we will mention this book: Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty, published in 2013 and written by Linda Glaser. Rice Street is the main corridor north through the North End neighborhood of Saint Paul. If this book makes this author his first million then he is going to realize his dream of opening North End Books and Poetry on Rice Street.

Richmond St. Richmond Lattimore (1906 – 1984) was an American poet and translator known for his translations of the Greek classics, especially his versions of the Iliad and Odyssey.

Ridder Circle Named for Bernard Ridder (1916-2002), publisher of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. No matter your political views, the daily newspaper in carbon form is a privilege of free speech. Read it!

Ridge St. Hawk Ridge: Minnesota's birds of prey by  Laura Erickson with illustrations by Betsy Bowen is a picture book about birds of prey in Minnesota. Laura Erickson maintains a very attractive blog dealing with bird watching. You can find it at lauraerickson.com. Betsy Bowen has lived on the North Shore of Lake Superior for thirty years. She has a studio in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Hawk Ridge is a bird observatory in Duluth, Minnesota. You can visit it at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 3006 Duluth, MN, 55803.

River Park Plaza

Riverview Ave. Seasons of the Mind is  a spiritual guide written by Rabbi Bernard Raskas (1924-2010). Rabbi Raskas was the rabbi at Temple of Aaron in Saint Paul for many years. He was trained as a Reconstructionist rabbi which meant a slightly more liberal theological view than the Conservative movement at Temple of Aaron. He was the rabbi when the synagogue relocated on Mississippi River Boulevard in Saint Paul. Synagogues traditionally are situated so the worshiper is facing east when praying. Rabbi Raskas was able to convince the congregation to slightly alter the orientation of the synagogue so the worshiper is actually facing southeast.  In addition to liberalizing the congregation the orientation gives a riverview of the Mississippi River when standing outside the building.

Riverwood Pl.

Rivoli St. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck was made into a film. Directed by John Ford, it  premiered at the Rivoli Theater in New York City in 1940.

Robbins St. Merle Robbins (c.1912-1984) was the inventor of the card game UNO. There is a  battery-operated version of the game with cards being shot out at random. Great fun in a classroom.

Robert St. Robert Frost (1874 – 1963) was an American poet.  He seems to have sadly fallen out of favor in these modern times. Here is his poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”: My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Robie St. Robie Harris is a children’s author. She is particularly notable for being the author of several children's books about childbirth and human sexuality, including It's Perfectly Normal and It's so Amazing, two of the American Library Association's most-challenged books of the 21st century.

Roblyn Ave. The Night Before Christmas in New York is a 2013 children's book by Roblyn Herndon and Betty Lou Phillips.

Rockwood Ave. Worms Are Gross! by Leigh Rockwood is a 2011 science book for children. Great fun!

Rogers St. Fred Rogers (1928 – 2003) was an American educator, Presbyterian minister, songwriter, author, and television host. Rogers was most famous for creating and hosting Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001). His sweater is in the Smithsonian Museum. The rumor about the sweater being used to cover tattoos is simply a rumor.

Rome Ave. Tosca is an opera by Giacomo Puccini. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on  January 14, 1900. The work is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June, 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples's control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy.

Rose Ave. La La Rose is 2004 children’s picture book by Satomi Ichikawa. It’s about a young girl's stuffed rabbit who gets lost in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, France.

Ross Ave. Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross; c.1822 – 1913) was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and during the American Civil War, a Union spy. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom is a 2006 children’s book by Carole Boston Weatherford (born 1956).

Rowe Pl. Nicholas Rowe (1674 – 1718), English dramatist, poet and miscellaneous writer, was appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 1715. Here is his poem, “Brave.” The brave do never shun the light; Just are their thoughts, and open are their tempers; Freely without disguise they love or hate; Still are they found in the fair face of day, And heav'n and men are judges of their actions.

Roy St. Arundhati Roy (born 1961) is an Indian author who is best known for the 1998 Man Booker Prize for Fiction-winning novel The God of Small Things.

Russell St. Bertrand Russell (1872 – 1970) was a British philosopher, writer, social critic and political activist. In 1950 Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for the wide range and significance of his writings.

Ruth St. The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize is awarded annually by The Poetry Foundation; the foundation also publishes Poetry. The prize was established in 1986 by Ruth Lilly (1915 –2009) . The prize honors a living U.S. poet whose "lifetime accomplishments warrant extraordinary recognition"; its value is $100,000. The foundation set up by Ruth Lilly through the Poetry Foundation also allows non-profit organizations to apply for a grant which would promote poetry. Go for it.

Ryan Ave. Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff  (born 1935) is a children’s book about a 12 year old girl named Nory Ryan who lives through the first year of the Irish potato blight of 1845.

Ryde St. Ryde is the main town on the Isle of Wight, a British island in the English Channel. Lewis Carroll of Alice in Wonderland lived there while working on his book.