12-12-12

Dale and I took this ride during the 2012 State Fair. It's the first time I've ever been on it. Fancy that.

Summing It Up

In today's Star Tribune, fair spokesperson Brianna Schuette said this about the Minnesota State Fair:

"It's something that people can come back to every year. There's going to be something new, they know there's going to be something that feels like home and it bookends summer before the kids go back to school and the weather gets cool."

State Fair 2012 - Attendance

State Fair attendance hit 1,788,512 this year. The record was set in 2009 at 1,790,497 which is a difference of just 1,985 people.

State Fair 2012 - Labor Day

Well, it's Labor Day. That means it's the last day of the Fair for 2012. I'm really disappointed that we didn't make it for a second visit but I guess there's always next year. Here's to the Minnesota State Fair for 2013!

Note: The above picture was photo shopped to look like a painting from I shot I took at the Fair on August 24, 2012. Looks pretty good if I do say so myself...

State Fair 2012 - Amy

We walked by Amy Klobachar's booth and I noticed that although there were a few people working the stand there was not a single person gathered outside it. Dale said that Amy had literally left just minutes before we walked by and the crowd was dispersed. Here's a photo I found of a busier moment with Amy speaking from the booth. Amy Klobachar is the daughter of former Star Tribune columnist Jim Klobachar. I read his column growing up.

State Fair 2012 - Plans Cancelled

Dale and I had planned to go to the fair tonight. I was disappointed to find myself not feeling well after school. Because of this Dale and I decided not to go. It would have been a beautiful night to be there. The weather is gorgeous and tonight is a blue moon. The last one until 2015.              Photo taken 8/24/12.

State Fair 2012 - Ticket

State Fair 2012 - Ya Just Never Know Who You Might Run Into...

State Fair 2012 - Cereal Killer Ice Cream

This was on my list to try this year and try I did. How was it? Fantastic! It was made up of vanilla ice cream and topped with Honey Nut Cheerios, bananas, and caramel. Divine.

State Fair 2012 - Vote No

There's going to be a marriage amendment on the ballot this fall. The amendment would define marriage as being "between one man and one woman." Mike, Charisse, Dale, and I all noticed that there were a lot of Vote No signs on sticks being used as fans around the fairgrounds. The fans were mini versions of the lawn signs a lot of folks around town are displaying in their yards. The DFL booth had a couple of the actual lawn signs and are pictured above. Displayed in the crop are exhibit is the seed art that is also pictured above. We couldn't find the actual Vote No booth.

State Fair 2012 - Space Tower Part 2

Mike told me that one of his old neighbors in the neighborhood where he grew up was the owner of the Space Tower. Mike's friend Andy used to work at the attraction as a teen and said he got to ride it as much as he liked.

State Fair 2012 - Space Tower

I really wanted to try the Space Tower this year as I've never been on it before.  Mike, Charisse, Dale and I, sat under a giant umbrella near the base of the tower to eat some food. When we were finished I mentioned that I wanted to give it a go but changed my mind pretty quickly when Charisse mentioned that there is no air conditioning on it and that there really is no air flow. Being it was hot and humid I decided I'd wait until another visit. 

State Fair 2012 - More Photos from the Cattle Barn

State Fair 2012 - The Cattle Barn

It was fun to have Mike and Charisse's daughter Shayla, and Shayla's friend Jessica along at the Fair. I don't think I've been to the fair with elementary aged kids since I was a kid myself.  Now, Charisse says the girls have always loved going to see the animal barns in previous years, but this year when she asked them their response was "No, it stinks in there." This response was not surprising since the girls are just entering their pre-teen years. Their attitudes changed however when they adjusted to the smell of the cattle barn and saw how cute the baby cows were. Clarence (pictured above) was the youngest of all the cows having been born on July 30th of this year. The girls found him to be pretty cute. I did too.

State Fair 2012 - Creative Activities

I generally don't make it to the Education Building since I'm surrounded by all things educational a good percentage of my waking hours, but Mike and Charisse wanted to go so I decided to tag along. Shayla and her friend Jessica wanted to go to the Creative Activities Building which is right next door. I can't remember the last time (if ever) I went there. Lot's of interesting things like quilts, miniatures, other crafts, but also baked goods and other foods. The cakes and honey pictured above looked particularly delicious to me.

State Fair 2012 - Second Food Stop

The scone with sausage gravy from the French Meadow Bakery was EXCELLENT! Absolutely delicious and it's not even on a stick! Dale and I are going to the Fair again this Friday. I want to get this again. It was THAT good.

State Fair 2012 - Minnesota Apples

Another attraction in the Agriculture/Horticulture building is the Minnesota Apples exhibit. I'm always drawn to them because they look so pretty and good to eat. This year I bought a tall cold glass of apple cider. After all the salty food I had been eating and a high during the day of 90 degrees, it was much needed. It was quite delicious too. 

State Fair 2012 - First Food Stop

My first food stop? Mini-Donuts, of course! The Tom Thumb brand are my favorite. Photo of crop art found online.

State Fair 2012 - Crop Art Part 1

There's so much to see and do at the Fair that I don't always get to all the things I like. But if there's one thing I've done consistently every  year though, it's crop art. I love the kitschy fun of it all.

State Fair 2012 - Crop Art Part 2

Crop Art

State Fair 2012 - Crop Art Part 3

Crop Art

State Fair 2012 - Crop Art Part 4

crop art

State Fair 2012 - Vintage Seed Bags

Vintage seed bags displayed near the crop art in the Agriculture/Horticulture building.

State Fair 2012 - The Giant Slide 1972 - 2012

I haven't been on the Giant Slide in about 40 years. I decided to give it a try again this year. Dale and I got tickets and made our way up the stairs to the top. As a six year old I remember it feeling like I was having the air knocked out of me as I went over every bump. As a 46 year old it was just plain fun. Forty years was worth the wait!

Photo taken Friday August 24, 2012

State Fair 2012 - The Giant Slide

Ya just gotta see it to believe it.

State Fair 2012 - The Giant Slide

Oh, what fun!

State Fair 2012 - Dale's Blog

The following is from Dale's blog. He posted this on August 23:

"...now we're entering the high holidays of the Minnesota calendar. The Minnesota State Fair. I've written before that if you are not from Minnesota, or a state that has a really big state fair, the state fair thing is kind of.... incomprehensible. I know because being from Colorado, the state fair never ever crossed our minds and no one I knew ever went."

"The Minnesota State Fair, however, will draw close to 2,000,000 people this year -- 40% of the population of the state. The fairgrounds are in St. Paul (well, a small suburb named Falcon Heights, but whatever), so it's easy for metro area folks to get there and the fair and big city are a draw for people from the rest of the state. The fair has animals galore, farm machinery displays, 4-H displays, a whole building devoted just to dairy and dairy products (along with the butter sculpture of Princess Kay of the Milky Way - don't worry, if that doesn't make sense, I'll post a picture soon), lots of beer gardens, political speeches, and midway rides. But most of all - food. Most of it on a stick. There are always new entries into the food category. This year someone is doing deep fried butter on a stick."

"I just threw up a little in my mouth."

"I'm much more of a french fried potato kind of guy and the newest french fried potato entry this year is  this:"

"The picture isn't great, but it's poutine - french fries with gravy and squeeky cheese curds. I've had this in Canada many times and I'm surprised it's taken this long to make its way to the States. Just the thought of this is giving me a head rush. Well, we're going to the fair tomorrow, and, to bring this post full circle, I think I'll precede the visit with a good long workout. Because damage will be done. And I don't even care."

State Fair 2012 - Dale

Dale joined us all  a couple of hours after I met Mike and Charisse. Mike's friend Andy joined us a little bit after that. Dale and Andy both got gyros. Later, Dale picked up some poutine which he had been dying to try since he saw Charisse's Facebook post about it a day earlier. He was sweet to give me a taste. We both loved it. I love this picture because Dale looks so sweet (which is true) and also because he looks like he's having so much fun (also true).

Photo taken Friday August 24, 2012

State Fair 2012 - O'Gara's

Mike, Charisse, and I stopped at O'Gara's. They got some beer and I got some black-cherry-hard- lemonade type thing. It all went down pretty well, I think. Hey, everyone needs a little liquid sustenance on a hot day at the Fair...

State Fair 2012 - Skyride

Didn't ride the Skyride this visit but got some video footage of it. Sadly, it doesn't look as good on Blogger as it does on my computer.

State Fair 2012 - Meeting Mike and Charisse

I only had to work half a day today as a compensation for the school open house last night. I took the opportunity to get to the State Fair. I left work about 2 p.m., hopped a bus on Cedar Avenue heading for downtown, tranfered to an express bus I caught at 7th and Nicollet and soon found myself deposited near gate 9 at the Minnesota State Fair. It was hot but gorgeous otherwise when I got there. I met my friends Mike and Charisse along with their daughter Shayla who had brought along her friend Jessica. 

2012 Minnesota State Fair

The Fair started today!

State Fair 2012 - Getting Set Up

The Fair starts tomorrow and I'm sure they'll be ready. They always are!

State Fair 2012 - Ye Old Mill

I found this photo on Facebook today. The boats are being loaded one by one at the Ye Old Mill ride at the Minnesota State Fair. I have NEVER been on this attraction and my understanding is that it's one of the oldest things at the fair. Maybe I'll have to try it this year.

Coming Attraction 2012 - Luminarium

I'm interested in seeing the new luminarium.

Food 2012 - Classic Walleye Roll

There's even more food I'd like to try this year.  Pictured above is the Classic Walleye Roll. It's fresh walleye served chilled with Minnesota wild rice and minced celery.  This one's offered by Giggles' Campfire Grill which is located at Cooper Street and Lee Avenue.

Photo is from the Minnesota State Fair.

Food 2012 - Scone with Sausage Gravy

Another food that's new this year that I'd like to try is the scone with sausage gravy.

The following is from the Fair's website:

"Scone with Sausage Gravy - A buttermilk scone covered with traditional southern gravy and sausages. French Meadow Bakery, located on Carnes Ave. between Nelson and Underwood streets."

Photo is from the Minnesota State Fair.

2012 Official State Fair Commemorative Art

Official 2012 State Fair commemorative art done with colored pencil by St. Paul artist, Joe Heffron.

Food 2012 - Cereal Killer Ice Cream

New food items for the 2012 fair were recently announced. The Cereal Killer Ice Cream from the Blue Moon Dine-In Theater sounds worth trying simply because their ice cream last year was so delicious. 

The following is from the State Fair's website:

"Soft ice cream that tastes just like the milk left at the bottom of your breakfast cereal bowl. Featuring two flavors - one sweet and chocolatey and one honey and nutty. It's served in a bowl with a little milk creeping up the sides and topped with dry cereal. Two fruit toppings available: banana caramel and strawberry balsamic."

I might just have to try both.


Photo is from the Minnesota State Fair.