53 Comments:
Easy. Sign My Jacket Guy and Afro Bill. Bill's not crazy per se, but he's definitely a curious local.
»» Submitted by yepnope at 3:37 PM on May 13
Well, I don't know if she's there or not anymore, but there was an old crazy lady on 24th and Pillsbury that scared the bejeebus out of me.
She had huge crazy hair and would grow her nails to the point where they curled.
She'd walk up on parking cars and tap those nails on the glass while asking for change.
»» Submitted by »»» JACC at 3:40 PM on May 13
I like the old beauty queen in St. Paul.
»» Submitted by mb@work at 3:40 PM on May 13
Tay Zonday
»» Submitted by john612 at 3:48 PM on May 13
There's a dude that walks down Excelsior Blvd toward the McDonald's singing at the top of his lungs that's hilarious.
In Stevens there was the mangy crackhead that would scream "Lamont" up at my building on 1st Ave.
Cane Man from Lyndale and Lake. Here he is busting into a Neutrino Video Project scene.
Sign my coat guy is still around??? Wow.
I don't know any local crazies... I hope that doesn't mean I'm one of them!
»» Submitted by jane_ at 3:54 PM on May 13
Does crazy just mean any guy who might have asked me if I could please spare some change for two years at various spots along Hennepin?
»» Submitted by kevin at 3:56 PM on May 13
"crazies"? seriously?
»» Submitted by »»» geoff at 4:08 PM on May 13
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info
»» Submitted by »»» geoff at 4:08 PM on May 13
The late Tiger Jack was a little crazy, but in a way that Saint Paul embraced. I miss the old guy.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 4:09 PM on May 13
I met my new favorite crazy last night at the self-service package mailing machine at the SLP post office. She told me how depressed she was because her mother gave her up for adoption, and don't I know what it's like when your mother gives you up for adoption, then asked me for twenty bucks. When I refused, she whined, "why are you so f-ing mean?"
Then she asked me for five dollars.
I stlil said no.
»» Submitted by »»» josie at 4:10 PM on May 13
there was a guy playing electric guitar at the bus stop on lyndale and 22nd this morning. anyone see him?
»» Submitted by »»» imagreen at 4:23 PM on May 13
sign my jacket guy is so late nineties. my all time fave is the Bible Thumper by the Victoria Secret in uptown who relocated to Franklin after bra's started to appear behind her.
She does this thing where every time she say's the phrase "he is CALLING you Hooome" she glare's longingly at the sun.
*sigh*
lmao
»» Submitted by »»» Kal at 4:23 PM on May 13
I'm with Geoff.
Talk about offensive.
Show some fucking respect, they are not zoo animals, they are people with real debilitating problems, who are unable to lead a normal life. It's no different than pointing out a retarded person.
»» Submitted by really? at 4:26 PM on May 13
....I'd feel better about this if we were celebrating local characters (for lack of a better word) rather than making light of the mentally ill....
Has there ever been a mnspeak discussion of the standup bike guy who rides up and down Nicollet Mall? I think the Downtown Journal interviewed him a few years ago, but I can't find the article.
We've discussed, Bill Grimes, the dude with the feather in his afro before. Also Scott Seekins, who I saw rocking the cream-colored suit at Barbette on Mom's Day. It's nice to see people like them out there doing their own thing, IMHO.
»» Submitted by mike s at 4:28 PM on May 13
Also, if your talking about people who do zany things, I think "eccentrics" is the better word.
If you're talking about people with mental illness...as someone with a mental illness...it's just not that fun to talk about.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:30 PM on May 13
does anyone know dan berg? aka baddanno?
also is afro bill aka the dinkytown dude who always has books and drinks coffee at the kitty cat klub?
»» Submitted by waynophone at 4:34 PM on May 13
I always feel a little sad whenever I see a MnSpeaker out in public. They look so lost and confused with out the presence of a keyboard and the constant din of their mother yelling at them to clean their rooms.
»» Submitted by Some Guy at 4:41 PM on May 13
Nice work, Some Guy.
Even better than "eccentrics" is "people with a case of the sillies."
Alright here goes....My fave crazy is in fact fairly normal I believe. He sits on the corner of W. 78th and cahill in edina waiting for a ride I believe. He has long hair and always wears blue(work uniform?) sometimes he rides a bike down w. 78th but usually just sits on the corner waiting for a ride....I call him Hesher Man cause he listens to headphones and there has to be some crazy metal playing on that walkman.
Also I like the guy in uptown who wears the crazy colored suits (green, purple, maroon) from the eighties and carries a briefcase always.
»» Submitted by RL at 5:01 PM on May 13
They look so lost and confused with out the presence of a keyboard
The Rat can take his keypad with him. It's wireless. He just sets it down and start typing.
Freaks some people out.
»» Submitted by The Rat at 5:03 PM on May 13
Haha, I definitely recognize bright colored suit guy, and I ran into sign my coat guy on Mother's Day. I love all the local characters. Especially when you're used to seeing them, say, on campus and then you spot 'em in Uptown shortly thereafter.
»» Submitted by zelltron at 5:05 PM on May 13
His middle name freaks people out, too.
See below.
»» Submitted by The Hussein Rat at 5:08 PM on May 13
Oh, you CRAZY mnspeakers and your uptight political correctness!
It's happy hour. Relax.
Seekins totally budded ahead of me in line at the deli at the Wedge last week.
»» Submitted by tinnie at 5:25 PM on May 13
That old man at the park near Galooney's... the walking dude... his name is Jim. He's a nice guy when you catch him on a good day.
»» Submitted by »»» acalhoun at 5:29 PM on May 13
Very good point, Geoff.
I used to see the stand up bike guy downtown a lot, and one day I saw him on his bike out at the MOA. This was before light rail or even the bike racks on busses.
This morning I saw an older guy by the Graves hotel in clean but scruffy street clothes, with a backpack, a thick southern accent and a basketball. Walking, talking, bouncing the ball. Seemed like he was in a good mood and made me smile too.
»» Submitted by jane_ at 5:31 PM on May 13
I would give anything for a more "exciting" mental illness. The problem with me is that I have full insight into how I'm fucking my life up, but I'll keep doing dumb shit anyway. Nobody thinks, "Oh, how eccentric and crazy!" when I'm at the grocery store in my pajamas buying pudding after having not showered for days with my hair in a messy bun. Or maybe they do.
Depending on the pajamas, I probably wouldn't think you were even very strange. I'd figure you had a bad cold or were running on no sleep from crying babies and this was your one break.
»» Submitted by jane_ at 5:42 PM on May 13
I would not give more for an exciting mental illness. I'd give anything not to have one though.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 5:42 PM on May 13
For all of you that live outside the city... I miss Jimmy in Excelsior
»» Submitted by »»» jolson00 at 5:50 PM on May 13
Yeah, if I could be normal I would, but if I couldn't, I'd rather just be much further "gone." (Though I've been in-patient with people who've got it much worse than me, and it made me realize how lucky I actually was.)
I met my new favorite crazy last night at the self-service package mailing machine at the SLP post office. She told me how depressed she was because her mother gave her up for adoption, and don't I know what it's like when your mother gives you up for adoption, then asked me for twenty bucks. When I refused, she whined, "why are you so f-ing mean?"
Then she asked me for five dollars.
I stlil said no.
You must have taken a wrong turn from work and become disoriented. That was actually last night's budget negotiations.
»» Submitted by kevin is out of breath mist at 6:07 PM on May 13
I met a great crazy at one of my previous jobs, as a newspaper reporter.
She walked in on a Saturday afternoon (a day notorious for calls and visits by nutcases, she wasn't the first) saying she was the end time prophet Moses, who was about to divorce her husband, the end-time prophet Eiijah. I might have those turned around.
I listened for about 20 minutes to quite a harangue. Told her I'd take it up with the editors.
Couple months later, I see her again. Except now, she's gotten a job as a telemarketer in the Circulation Department.
She walked by with the head of circulation. She looked at me. I looked at her.
I thought to myself: Should I tell the head of circulation about our Saturday conversation.
Naaah......!
»» Submitted by The Rat at 6:49 PM on May 13
At no point did consider this a list of necessarily homeless and/or mentally ill people. Nor would roller skate guy.
»» Submitted by champs|rt53 at 7:11 PM on May 13
Who's your favorite local crazy?
every girl i've ever dated.
»» Submitted by cubbie at 7:13 PM on May 13
A few weeks ago, I was at the Loring, and Bill was there. I talked to him once years ago. We have literally shared the same haunts for 25 years. As I walked by and went into the bathroom, the only thing running through my head was, "I really have to f****** talk to that guy."
I didn't. And I didn't feel good about it.
I moved a few years ago, but when I lived around Lake Hiawatha, there was an elderly woman who walked in the street -- well, not in the street per se, more like on the edge of the street, next to the gutter but not quite all the way to the curb. She wore a scarf over her head and a full-length fur coat, 365 days a year. And if you made the mistake of pointing out that the sidewalk would be safer, you'd get an earful.
Still, I'd love to be out walking every day at her age -- the fur coat and the in-the-street part just made her seem a bit eccentric. Anybody know if she's still on the scene?
»» Submitted by PD at 12:46 AM on May 13
That old man at the park near Galooney's... the walking dude... his name is Jim. He's a nice guy when you catch him on a good day.
I used to live across the street from that park and saw him all the time. I never talked to him but we often exchanged smiles. He didn't really strike me as crazy.
The church lady that used to be at Henn/Lake was always good for an early morning laugh.
I haven't seen any crazies in my new neighborhood, just lots of drunks and creepy metal scavengers.
»» Submitted by jimn at 9:19 AM on May 14
I don't think Jim is crazy, either. I've always thought of him as some time traveler observing our society from an inconspicuous disposition. Sometimes I even thought of him as some sort of full-body vapor apparition because he seems to exist untouched by society.
»» Submitted by »»» acalhoun at 9:27 AM on May 14
When I lived in Kingfield, there was a dude who walked by (along Grand Ave.) singing Elvis tunes. He actually sang them rather well. And rather loudly.
He was my second favorite part of sitting on the front stoop when I got home from work. The most favorite was the fancy ladies.
»» Submitted by »»» nateek at 9:33 AM on May 14
I live on Jim's daily route. I see him walking past my living room window nearly every single day... back and forth... back and forth... always with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. I've heard him talking to himself on more than one occasion, but I can't judge that as I also tend to do that at times. I've never spoken to him.
»» Submitted by RMJ at 9:49 AM on May 14
Yesterday I had a shocking moment when I saw the colorful suit guy on Hennepin in Uptown without a colorful suit on and without his briefcase. He was just in shorts and T-shirt... I nearly gasped out loud.
»» Submitted by corky at 10:10 AM on May 14
My favorite eccentric skyway denizen is someone I've come to know as "giant, tight clothes wearing, fast walking, mullet and sunglasses guy"
I first noticed him about a year ago int he IDS center and was so mesmerized that I did an immediate u-turn to follow him and enjoy the reactions of others in the skyway.
Please, please someone else tell me that they get a kick out of this guy - here's how to recognize him.
1. GIANT - the dud is big - probably 6'6" - 260 lbs
2. TIGHT CLOTHES - His jeans are about as you can get them without risking severe male mooseknuckle. The pants are hiked extremely high and are cinched at the waist. He's usually wearing a tight white shirt that strains uncomfortably to contain his admittedly large biceps.
3. FAST WALKING - man, trailing this guy inconspicuously is a real chore. He's big to start with, but on top of that he takes awkwardly GIANT steps too. I thought about putting on some rollerblades and trying to clip a rope to his belt loop so he could just pull me along.
4. MULLET AND SUNGLASSES - Yes, he also has an orangish bleached mullet and wears what I believe to be Top Gun style Aviator glasses.
Anyone else know who I'm talking about???
»» Submitted by must...follow... at 10:16 AM on May 14
No idea Must... follow, but I'm very entertained by your description!
»» Submitted by corky at 10:50 AM on May 14
must...follow, I totally know who you are talking about. I started seeing him in the skyway this past winter, usually Gaviidae or Wells Fargo. Dude struts with major authority. Your description is spot on.
»» Submitted by »»» jtd at 11:51 AM on May 14
Must... follow: The guy is a favorite in the skyway. He has the unofficial nickname of "Brock Sampson", the eponymous Zep-lovin', mulleted badass from The Venture Brothers cartoon.
I had heard he hasn't been sighted for some months. Have you seen him lately?
»» Submitted by »»» teucer at 12:01 PM on May 14
All I've got is crazy Mary AKA scary Mary at 50th and Penn or thereabouts.
colorful suit guy works out at the Uptown YWCA...his work out clothes aren't as fun as his suits.
»» Submitted by cfrz at 1:03 PM on May 14
jtd and teucer - thanks for making my day.
That Brock Sampson picture is almost spot on - bwaaaa.
A couple of tweaks ought to do it....yep, here we go:
My favorite other skyway haunt is the guy with extreme eyebrows. He's a little chubby, beard, wearing a 3 piece suit usually - nothing exceptional about him until your gaze settles on his...OMG LOOK AT THAT DUDE'S EYEBROWS...seriously dude...WTF! In what I can only imagine is a morning ritual involving womens hair rollers and a small vat of mustache wax, this guy has crafted his 1 1/2 inch eyebrow hairs into a forehead protecting quaff resembling something from a topiary garden. I swear that they even appeared to be feathered on one occasion.
»» Submitted by must...follow... at 1:36 PM on May 14
My favorite Minneapolis eccentric, straight out of 1988, passed away a few years ago. If you grew up around the lakes you could not have missed this white-bearded dude, cruising around the lakes at all hours. He would ride his rusted ten-speed no-handed for extended distances, jutting his hands out, one forward and one back, pumping them in a wild, groovy motion like "walk like an egyptian." Whoom whoom. whoom whoom. With this spacey smile.
Southwest journal wrote him up when he passed....
Does anyone remember him?
»» Submitted by I went to Anthony Junior High at 6:27 PM on May 14
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