Pulling a barge down the Mississippi River in Winona in September 2015.
WINONA IS A RIVER TOWN. A college town. A place of history, historic buildings, memorable businesses. And more, much more.
My award-winning photo taken at the Lakeview Drive Inn. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo 2014.
I’ve savored homemade root beer at the iconic Lakeview Drive Inn in Winona.
Bloedow’s Bakery is located at 451 E. Broadway St. in Winona. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo September 2014.
I’ve tasted a bacon-topped, maple-iced long john from Bloedow’s Bakery.
Worn, vintage business signage always catches my eye.
And I wish I’d had time to duck into Sloppy Joe’s Liquor to grab a beer and maybe a sloppy joe, if the sandwich is served there, and to hear the story behind the bar’s name.
I shot this scene of The Penguin Zesto in September 2015.
The same goes for The Penguin Zesto. What’s with that name? The drive-in was closed when I visited Winona. No ice cream for me on that September day. Only questions. I always have questions.
Winona has some lovely old homes, this one photographed in September 2015.
FYI: Check back tomorrow for another post in my series from Winona.
© Copyright 2016 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Penguin Zesto has me wondering as well.
I’ve determined through brief online research that other “Zesto” ice cream shops exists. Not Penguin Zesto, though.
Bloedow’s Bakery is a great little shop; there are many others in Winona. I’ve spent a lot of time in this river town. I still have friends that stayed on to live there after collage. I can’t wait to see what else you’ve uncovered.
My final post will feature river shots.
That Home – WOW! – Great Captures 🙂 I am like you in wondering how places come up with their names and signage. Happy Week – Happy Exploring – Enjoy!
I always want to get inside those magnificent old homes. In Faribault, most aged houses of that size have become apartments.
I find it hard when these grand homes become apartments, but at least they are being lived in and not sitting empty and falling apart and going to waste.
I feel the same.
I love the names of the old-style ice cream/custard places. Penguin Zesto — love it. One of our favorites was in Michigan: the White Pigeon Freeze. Why would anyone freeze pigeons? (The town name is White Pigeon actually.)
That would explain that odd name for an ice cream shop.
I haven’t stopped at either Zesto but DH says the malts are excellent!!! Of course Bloedows is known as the bakery that cause the local (Winona/LaCosse) demise of Krispy Kreme!!!!! CanNOT beat a Bloedow’s product!!!!!! Now……I’m needing one and TX is a long way from Winona!!!!!
Krispy Kreme? What’s that? Tongue in cheek here. Maybe Bloedow’s ships.
Actually they do!!! But I’m holding off for a return treat!!!!!! LOL!!!!!
Well, there you go, if you can’t wait until you return to MN.
Who drive past that?
It wasn’t open when we were there. 😦
Bloedow’s is so yummy, any small town bakery pulls me right in!!!. Many of these sites bring back memories of times we went to visit my daughter while she was attending WSU. Such a beautiful town!
That’s how we got to know Winona also, when our eldest attended college there.
All of these photos are lovely but that house. WOW!!!
I know. Wouldn’t you love a tour?
I’d like to sit and knit in front of some of those windows
Oh, that would be lovely.
I love that beautiful old home on the street corner. What beautiful architecture. And the photo of the Ford car is fabulous, Audrey xx
Thanks, Charlie.
Quaint is the first word that comes to mind.. Brings back the feeling of the “Good Old Days” for sure.
I often long for the “Good Old Days,” although I’m sure those days also had their issues. We tend to see the past mostly through rose-tinted lenses.
Seems to me I wrote something not too long ago along those same lines I think it was called “The Good Old Days”