Twin Cities Fun: The Minnesota State Fair!

While I didn't actually play Minnesota State Fair Bingo or Minnesota State Fair T Shirt Bingo, this year was full of all the requisite things one wants to see (and eat!).

Rival Big Ten football teams have trophies that they pass around depending on who wins The Big Game any given year.  This is Floyd the Pig, the trophy passed between University of Minnesota (that's the big maroon and gold "M" behind me) and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.  And yes, once upon a time, the pig exchanged was actually a live pig. 

Today was the day to see awesome pants at the fair.

100 years of Ye Old Mill!

The Governor and the Mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis, taking the first ride of the year.

Spotting a Princess is another bingo-worthy event.  

While taken in the middle of the fair grounds, this looks like it could be at any campground in the state.  Proof that there are pockets of quiet away from the people, you just have to find them!

Nature's engineer!

The Grandstand

It was also STEM Day at the Fair, so we stopped by the Farnsworth booth to say hello!

So many people!

Carving Princess Kay of the Milky Way out of butter!

This is a representative sample of the approximately 85 head-in-frame photos mom made me take throughout the day.  Unfortunately, glasses make most of them a tad tricky, one's head just doesn't fit.  Oh well.  Still fun.

Twin Cities Fun: Brooklyn Rider Concert

The concert was held at the Historic Stillwater Courthouse.

Veteran's memorial

Three of Brooklyn Rider's four members are from Minnesota, and they've been coming back to the homeland for the past ten years to put on the Stillwater Music Festival.  Sadly, this is the last year, but I really do think there's room for many more concerts here.  The salon-style concert with the audience surrounding the quartet was so fabulous. There's something about chamber music being played for a small group of people that just makes it feel so alive. I really think there should be more of them.

Twin Cities Eats: The Freight House

Right on the St. Croix River, The Freight House is located in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Chicken salad and sweet potato fries turned out to be a sweet dessert version...the fries were tossed in brown sugar and cinnamon, and there was a marshmallow dipping sauce.  The sandwich was served on cinnamon toast and there was both pineapple and dried cranberries in the salad itself.  I'm all about sweets, but I really was expecting a more savory entree.

The wine, however, was a good foil to the sweet.  I just wish I could have had a few more glasses!

All smiles!

Our view!  Rough life, huh?

Twin Cities Horn Club

Every Monday this summer, I've been a part of a horn choir -- we're an all-ages group of anywhere from 20 to 35 French horn players that sit together in a room for two hours and play music.   It's a blast (pun intended!)

For more information, check out their page on facebook and on their website.

Twin Cities Fun: St. Paul Saints Game!

On a gorgeous day, the Twin Cities Horn Club went to play the National Anthem at the St. Paul Saints game!

Little League players tossing around bowls in the outfield.

Ever wonder what the Saints prop closet looks like? 

Their mascot is a pig.  Named Mudonna. 

Ready to go!

Look at that beautiful field!  

(Also--my brother's condo is the big red brick building in the upper right corner, right across the street from the field)

Our seats!

Happy to munch our nachos and pretzel!

On the way to the Green Line!

My first time on the Green Line. It was awesome.

A busy day out and about

First, an early morning informational interview.  

Next, breakfast at Sun Street Breads!

After that, finally getting my hair cut.  It's only been a year and a half.  No big deal.

Next, a networking event hosted by Life Science Alley at the University of Minnesota!

I met my first headhunter!  And some other interesting folks.

And of course, the last event of the day was playing the National Anthem at a St. Paul Saints Game! (see the next post for more).