Paisley Park Studios is where the Great Purple One (Prince) occasionally recorded. Something akin to the Willy Wonka Candy Factory, its status is continually a subject of mystery. I worked on a commercial here once, shot in the large sound stage area. Prince has thrown after-parties here sporadically in the last decade. Apparently, there are a number of rooms off-limits to nearly everybody, including a worship area since Prince is reportedly a devout Jehovah's Witness.

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This local landmark, located in Prospect Park, is allegedly the inspiration for the Bob Dylan song, "All Along the Watchtower." Dylan lived in the Dinkytown area nearby before he moved to New York.

Known affectionately as "the Witch's Hat", the former water tower is opened for one day a year to the public for amazing views. Many artists have covered the song, but Dylan has noted Jimi Hendrix's radical reinterpretation.

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Before the St. Paul Civic Center was torn down to make room for the Xcel Energy Center, it was the setting for the ultra-cheesy and thoroughly lovable "Dancing in the Dark" video.

From wikipedia: "On June 28, 1984, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, actress Courteney Cox and 200 extras filmed the Brian De Palma-directed music video for 'Dancing in the Dark' at the arena, one day before Springsteen's 1984 Born in the U.S.A. Tour formally opened at the arena."

Bruce!!

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Greg Graffin went to elementary school here. I know it's weird, but it states it in the forward of his book, "Anarchy Evolution."

If you aren't familiar with Graffin, he is the polymath lead singer of Bad Religion/ accomplished solo artist/ professor of paleontology and evolution/ outspoken advocate of atheism/ person who it would be fun to have a beer with.

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Legend has it, the Ramones were driving around in St. Paul and were trying to find a place to eat. They drove by Cretin-Derham School, and imagined a dance there. Hence, the "Cretin Bop" on the album Rocket to Russia.

From Hey Ho! The Ramones Anthology by David Fricke: Joey Ramone said, "Cretin Hop came from when we were in St. Paul, Minnesota. We went some place to eat and there were just all these cretins all over the place. And there was a Cretin Avenue, where we drove into the city."

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