State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Walking Back to the Car

Friday, August 30, 2019

Another great visit to the fair under our belts. It's always fun to be at the fair after dark to enjoy the lights and it was great to spend some time with Mike and Charisse as it's been a few years since we've been to the fair with them. I love the walk back to the parking lot after dark. It's peaceful and dotted with strings of lights and all in all just rather romantic. 

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Cattle Barn

Friday, August 30, 2019

Love visiting the moo cows. We checked out a cow getting a trim.  The above photo shows Mike looking on. 

 We talked to a young woman from Stevens county who leases a cow to take care of as a part of 4-H.

The cattle barn is a massive place. Just be sure to watch where you step. 

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Horse Barn

Friday, August 30, 2019

Out behind the animal barns looking toward the Midway.

After eating, the four of us ventured to the animal barns. On our way there I told Mike and Charisse the story of my encounter last year with a passing cow who seemed to think I was the bees' knees. We went in the front entrance of the horse barn  and we passed through on our way to the exit we noticed there were fewer and fewer horses in the stalls. Dale said, "Is there a particular horse you're looking for."

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Blue Moon Diner

Friday, August 30, 2019

You can see Dale waiting for our food in the center of the photo.

We arrived at the Blue Moon Diner for sustenance. Dale ordered a veggie burger and I got some pepperoni pizza. While we waited Charisse went to search for fries and pop while Mike got a beer. The Diner was showing North By Northwest which would've been fun to see. 

The food was great, by the way. 

I've always loved looking toward the Midway in the early evening hours and seeing the sun go down in the west. 

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Arrival

Friday, August 30, 2019

Last day of workshops before the kids arrive this coming Tuesday. I got as much done as I could today but I don't think you can ever be 100% ready for the first day of school. Late this afternoon Dale and I headed back to the fair for our second visit of the year. En route I said to Dale, ";salkdfj;asldkf." He responded, ";alkdfjj." Awww!! What a perfectly gorgeous day. As we walked onto the grounds at the north entrance I decided I'd be okay with heaven being the State Fair on a day just like today. 

Seventy-two degrees, low humidity, beautiful blue sky, fluffy white clouds. Who could ask for a better day for the fair. 

We met Mike and Charisse at the north end plaza around 6:15 or so and ventured forth to to find some food for Dale and me. 

Fair 2015 - Visit #1: Away We Go...

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Last weekend Mike and I set up a date for me to join his family on a trip to the great Minnesota State Fair. I’ve been looking forward to it all week and today’s the day!

The weather always changes during the second half of August from the hot and humid days of high summer to the warm and less humid days that are typical now. Evenings have changed from warm to pleasantly cool. When this happens in mid-August, shortly after my birthday, I catch myself saying, “Feels like [State] Fair weather!”

Today had that definite fair time weather feel. I drove over to Mike and Charisse’s house around 3 pm. On the way over I heard MPR reporting that the Black Lives Matter protest near the entrance to the fair was just finishing up. The event was peaceful and went without incidence.

Charisse’s three sisters were in from out-of-town to make the trip to the fair with us. It was nice to meet Cathy, Cindy, and Char after having heard about them over the last few years. Mike and Charisse’s daughter Shay accompanied us as well.

As last year we did the park-and-ride deal again. There are numerous free lots in which to park located all over the metro area. Once parked, chartered, air-conditioned, Greyhound-type busses pick you up and deliver you to the gates of the fairground. The bus ride is free as well. Charisse bought our admission tickets in advance at Cub Foods (a locale grocery store chain) so we didn’t have to wait in line to buy tickets. Slick.

Fair 2015 - Visit #1: Hazy Day

Saturday, August 29, 2015

After the horses, the gals and I crossed the street to look at cowboy hats. Cathy actually purchased one. I got a Diet Coke Charisse then texted Mike with our location. As we waited we saw the sun through the hazy sky, eerily beautiful due to all the wildfires out west. Also, we saw a number of horse teams ride by as we waited here.

Third Visit 2014 - Crazy Maze

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Didn't go in the Crazy Maze but I had to show Dale where Charisse and I got the video footage we texted him from my first visit this year.

4-H

During my first visit this year I learned that Charisse had been in dramatics through 4-H as a kid. She stopped by the 4-H booth and got this button for being an alumni. My college friend Brian was involved in 4-H dramatics as well.

According to Wikipedia:

"4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with the mission of 'engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.'  The name represents four personal development areas of focus for the organization: head, heart, hands, and health. The organization has over 6.5 million members in the United States, from ages 5-21, in approximately 90,000 clubs."

First Visit 2014 - Zumba

After some poutine and while making our way through a crowd we stumbled upon a Zumba demonstration outside of the Education Building. Shay really seemed to enjoy it. So did a lot of other folks who were trying to follow along. Above, Charisse gets her groove on.

First Visit 2014 - Obnoxious Balloon Man

While on the Midway we noticed one of those obnoxious balloon men beckoning people to come to an attraction called the Craze Maze. Dale hates these things and I decided I'd get some footage of one to text to him to show him what he was missing. He wasn't able to be with us today due to a work trip.  Mike took Shay on a ride while Charisse and I went to get some drinks. On the way back to the Midway we stopped to get what you see above.

First Visiti 2014 - Edina Marching Band

After finally making it through the gates and while searching for Mike and Charisse, I came across this marching band from Edina. A bit cloudier than I would have liked the day to be but the silver lining is that is wasn't as hot.

First Visit 2014 - Ticket Line

I was able to meet Mike, Charisse, and Shay inside the fair after waiting in line for about 20 minutes for a ticket. Although warm and a bit sticky outside, it was far from a horrible ordeal and it allowed Mike and Charisse to get a beer under their belts while they waited for me. 

First Visit 2014 - Park & Ride

I met Mike, Charisse, and Shayla at their house around 1 p.m. and then drove with them to the Park & Ride at the old Ford plant site in Highland. It was all as easy as could be - no parking fee and no fare required for the bus. We were dropped off at the new West End area where we found the ticket line to be unreasonably long. The three of them had already bought their tickets in advance so there was no wait for them to get in. I however, needed a ticket. I told them to go on ahead and get a beer and that I'd meet them inside after I obtained my ticket. 

First Visit 2014 - And I'm Off

Off to meet Mike, Charisse, and Shayla at their place and then on to the fair...

State Fair 2013 - International Bazaar

When we stepped out of the Food Building we found ourself nextdoor to the haunted house. Kids dressed up as Michael Jackson, Jason Vorhees, Freddy Krueger, and an evil clown, etc. were doing the Thriller dance in the front yard of the haunted house.  When they finished dancing they tried to act fierce and  scary to lure people in.  There was something comical about seeing these monsters boogie down and get their groove on (which they did quite well, by the way) and then quickly transition to fright mode. We next headed to the International Bazaar where I noticed these Day of the Dead figurines. Charisse found a chartruese Scandinavian sweeter and Shayla stocked up on a few mermaid dolls at the Hmong booth. Mike, who recently picked up an additional job, joked that he now knew where his extra money would be going. Shortly After this, Shay and her friend conked out so Mike and Charisse had to get them home. It was fun spending time at the fair with them for a second year in a row.

Sate Fair 2013 - Meeting Up with Friends

We found Mike and Charisse and their daughter Shay, who had brought along a friend, at the Fine Arts Building and decided to get some beverages. We stopped by O'Gara's. I got a Grain Belt Nordeast for Dale, white wine for Mike, and a hard lemonade for myself. Charisse got herself some water as she was quite dehydrated.

State Fair 2013 - Arrival

All the old anticipation was there. I had a professional development meeting today downtown and was thinking about the fair throughout the whole thing. They let us out a little early so I headed home and got Athena on a walk. When Dale got home we fed Athena earlier than usual and then left for the fair around 4:30. We drove city streets throu downtown and then eventually connected with Larpenteur Avenue and then parked in the Larpenteur Avenue lot. I texted Mike and Charisse to let them know we had arrived. They said they were at the Fine Arts Building so we headed that way.

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

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.