Hiya, hound dogs and adventurous canines, and welcome once again to Sioux City, Iowa! Today the beans have returned to the town that made 5 foot tall rodents famous two years ago with Prairie Dog Quest. Since having the town littered with giant vermin was such a smashing success, the Sioux City Art Center decided to once again decorate the streets around town, only this time with dogs.

But these aren't just any ordinary ol' mutts, kids - Nope, these hounds are modeled after none other than Merriweather Lewis and William Clark's famous canine sidekick, a Newfoundland named...Seaman. (Now, now - let's be grown up about this...)

Seaman the Newfoundland was bought by Captain Lewis for the then-tidy sum of $20.00, and most likely stuck with the Expeditionary team for their entire trip, from their Pittsburgh departure on August 30, 1803 until their return in 1806. (Too bad he couldn't earn any frequent-walker miles...) It's said that Seaman helped the crew with their hunting along the way, and acted to save his human companions from bears and buffalo. How exactly he did this we don't know, but the frijoles suspect he may have played loud disco music until they left.

Anyway, the beans salute Seaman the dog, for being such a good companion to L & C, and for not marking every tree from here to Oregon...

So let's get on with meeting the local renditions of this most famous canine, shall we? The pup on the left is "Security Dog", who is sponsored by a local bank. He looks like a cop dog, except for the stack of gold bars he's sitting on. As for the hound with the beans on the right, well - I have to admit that I didn't write down his name. But never fear - the beans have nicknamed him "Spot". True, he doesn't look like your traditional Spot, but it's not like he's gonna come when you call anyway...

If you notice at the bottom of the pedestal there are four little metal brackets sticking out -- well, this is so that they can bolt the puppies to the ground to help prevent them from "running away", like a couple of the prairie dogs did, thanks to gangs of hooligans. The beans thought this was a good idea - nobody likes to see a lost dog sign, and we suspect that four locks drilled into cement will work much better than a leash ever would...

Here the beans show you how the Discovery Dogs started out - plain, white, and generally boring. But thanks to some mighty talented artists (and some deep-pocketed donors, who kicked in the $2,200.00 to sponsor a puppy), each of the 58-inch tall dogs have been painted, primed, glazed, veneered, and undercoated, and are now ready for their premiere runway appearances.

The beans briefly thought about going psychedelic, but why bother? They're already beans in black, and you can't get much more stylin' than that...

As previously mentioned, Seaman is here in town as part of the Lewis & Clark Sesquicentennial celebration. It was 200 years ago this summer that L&C, their crew, and of course their faithful furry friend made their way up the Missouri River, stopping for a while in the area where Sioux City is location due to the sickness and eventual bucket-kicking of one of their corp members, Sgt. Charles Floyd. (Sgt. Floyd has a street and ballpark named after him here, as well as a monument, which I joked about once. You wouldn't believe the number of e-mails I've received over the years correcting my ignorance...)

Fortunately for all, Lewis & Clark did press on and finished their exploration - otherwise, the end of the civilized free world as we know it would end right here, and believe me - nobody would want that.

This friendly pooch is named "Dreamer", by Tyler Clarey. He sits out front of the Sioux City Art Center, and what exactly it is that he's dreaming about is anyone's guess, but the beans suspect it's probably either about Milk-Bones, chasing cats (if he could only get off that pedestal!), or what it means to be the world's only tie-dyed dog.

Why not, indeed? The beans wanted you to see the inscription on the side of Dreamer doggie - they thought Mr. Shaw's words were perfectly fitting for a 6-foot tall puppy statue as well as a 6-inch tall can of traveling vegetables, don't you agree? Ah, if only good ol' George B. had been around long enough to pose with the frijoles... just imagine what we would've written about them!

This is Press Dog, who sits out in front of the offices for the Sioux City Journal, the local daily newspaper. As some of you are aware, I write a weekly freelance column for the Journal (it runs every Monday, in case you're curious), but they've never given me a cool press pass to wear... Lucky dog. Actually, it's probably wise that they don't - the beans and I would probably abuse the privilege and use it to get backstage at concerts more often. (It's not for me, you understand - the frijoles are just a little star struck, that's all...)

Now, I have to admit this photo just about got me and the frijoles into a whole lotta trouble... It seems that there was a maintenance jockey washing the Journal's parking lot about 40 feet away from me who didn't appreciate my being so close to their prized statue, and he let me know his displeasure in a loud and rather unfriendly voice. But c'mon, it's a can of beans and a camera - it's not like I was taking a crowbar to it... So I was sure to snap my pic and get us the heck out of Dodge in a hurry, before Mr. Janitor-On-A-Rampage could turn his fire hose on me. Luckily, everything came out okay - I got my pic, the beans had some quality time, Press Dog is safe and sound, and Mr. Bitter Custodian went back to his highly skilled position of hosing the cement. Isn't it nice how well things work out some times?

On a much brighter note, the beans next met up with "Jefferson D. Dog", who is obviously modeled after Thomas Jefferson, the guy who sprang the cash for Lewis and Clark to make their little jaunt through no man's land.

The beans liked this statue a lot, and are now in search for a powered wig that will fit over the top of their can. Wouldn't that be cool? Then they too could dance down the street. "Here comes the beans! Here comes the beans!" (With apologies to Sammy...)

This is Play Dog, who sits in front of the local offices for the Boys Club. Is it just me, or does Play Dog appear to be painted by the Partridge Family?

Since Play Dog was so downright playful, the beans thought it was only appropriate that they balance on his nose. Who knows - this may be their big break into the circus! It sure beats being shot out of a cannon...

This fall the Discovery Dogs will go up for auction, which will hopefully raise big bucks for the Sioux City Art Center, and give a few lucky people a very interesting conversation piece to put in their rec rooms. The beans thought about bidding on one, but it's cramped enough inside their can, what with the newly installed hot tub and all...

Still, they highly recommend that you visit the Sioux City Art Center online and pick up one of these limited edition dogs for yourself. (And yes, they do have smaller models available for those of you who can't squeeze one of these through your front door.) Just like a certain can of veggies, a Discovery Dog would make a perfect pet. They don't shed, they don't bark, and let's not even begin to mention not having to scoop the yard in the dead of winter...

Finally, the beans stop by Sioux City's Historic 4th Street district (a tourist-friendly block of shops, restaurants, and bistros, tastefully anchored on one end by an "adult novelties" shop and on the other by a strip joint - classy, aint it?), where they found this unquestionably polite dog, "The Great Spirit Is In All Things", by Harry R. Gray. Of course, since this puppy is surrounded (literally) by bars and restaurants, there are indeed many spirits in this area...

But do the beans have spirit? Yes, they do! The beans have spirit - how 'bout you?

Anyway, the frijoles had a good time hanging out with Siouxland's dogs, and hope that all of you have a chance to come see this unique exhibit before it makes its way back home.