Columnist | Variety

James Lileks is a Star Tribune columnist. 

Lileks, a Minneapolis resident since 1976: "I've never repeated myself once. I don't like to say I write a 'humor' column, since that's subjective. What might be amusing to me might leave you poker-faced. Let's just say my columns are not intended to be taken seriously." He also writes "Streetscape" pieces, which detail the delights and errors, past and present, of the Twin Cities urban environment. He's the author of four novels, four pop-culture "humor" books on vintage subjects and two collections of columns. "People who like my stuff will probably like lileks.com, and those who don't are probably grateful for the heads-up, and will avoid it," Lileks says.


Lessons from the semiannual closet purge

No one is sentimental about socks.


Help wanted: Rule the world

These are hard times for secret societies, it seems.


Lileks: My gazebo may have squatters

Red-breasted North American Squatters, at that.


Lileks: How to write a one-star review

Some people are never satisfied, so why not be one of them?


Lileks: What's the cost of self-checkout?

We no longer can make inane chit-chat with cashiers.


Lucky for us, fortune smiles on Minnesota

Survey says that this is the second luckiest state.


Don't fret text losers, help is on the way

Is the color of your messages an insult?


Lileks: True Minnesotans appreciate the benefit of miserable work

Storm brought us snow, ice and — most important — a chance to build character.


Parking ramps are ugly — but we need more of them in downtown Minneapolis

What if any new ramp could be designed to enhance the city, not just store cars?


Lileks: Is the undie swap dirty dealing?

Store will trade old underwear for a new pair.