Minneapolis; Early 1960s; My Early Drinking Days Re-lived

Note. All these places were there and still are very much in operation.

June 18, 2005.

John Hamilton Dinsmore

Photographs by Don Olson, 2005

Zeta Psi, 1958 – 1962

I lived on the second floor, at the corner. Zeta Psi is at the corner of University Avenue and 19^th Avenue SE. This is where I dwelled…partied…drank…where others took drugs…where I lost my Zeta Psi drinking mug…my Zeta Psi pin…my virginity…and that’s only the beginning.

Al’s Breakfast, 14^th Street SE Dinkytown

The owner and founder, Al Bergstrom, died in 2003 in a nursing home. He was worth a lot of money. Al’s Breakfast had 14 seats. At one time or another I sat in all of them for breakfast. Always the same breakfast. Corned beef hash and two poached eggs on top. The only place in town that could do it. The price, with coffee? Eighty cents.

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