Paul Merrill is the man behind our first weekly Tumblr pick: Stuff about Minneapolis, an awesome mishmash collection of photos and other “stuff” relating to our fair city.
Why did you decide to start Stuff about Minneapolis?
Stuff about Minneapolis really started out with the intent of sharing my old “stuff” about Minneapolis (postcards, ephemera, etc), and going out to take some “Then and Now” pictures. But when I would go out to take these pictures around the city, I would always seem to find something else interesting that wasn’t my intended target, like a forgotten mural or a vodka bottle sitting on a pack of cigarettes on Hennepin Avenue. So I deceided to share the little odds and ends of the city that I would find, and not stay strictly historical in my content.
How long have you been doing this for?
Almost three years.
What is your favorite post of all time?
It has to be the “Rich Will Wanket” real estate ad. I wasn’t sure if it was real when I found it, and I thought it was bit goofy but I posted it anyway. That post was quiet for a couple days and then just exploded across the web. Turns out the ad was real, and the guy had been fired for it just a few weeks before.
What do you think of Tumblr as a blogging platform?
I enjoy very much the ease with which I can post, and easily “reblog” photos or other items that are relevant to what I do at Stuff about Minneapolis. I think everyone has a blog inside them, and Tumblr has everything set up so all you have to do is find something you like and want to share, and you can do that by just hitting a button.
What are some of your favorite Tumblrs?
Listing favorite Tumblrs is tough because you always forget to name someone, but here are three that I really enjoy:
Andy Sturdevant
Chase Turner
Erik Henricksson
What do you love about Minneapolis?
I guess it would have to be the general sense of civic pride that people have for Minneapolis and the Twin Cities. Historically, we have never been a people to brag about who we are, or talk about all the great things the Twin Cities have to offer, but that has all changed now. Now, people are using Tumblr and other networks to sing the praises of Minneapolis, and talk about all the parks, bars, art, and community involvement we have here. We are finally truly proud of who we are and what we do, and we are starting to shout it from the rooftops.
