The Great Minnesota Get Together
They say that the Minnesota State Fair is the grandest of them all and, after our trip there today, I say they are right! Renowned as the biggest state fair in the country with some estimations running 1.7 trillion people (or maybe "million") passing through the turnstiles last year alone. Whatever the number, it just continues to be great (despite the fact that Kelly Clarkson is apparently too good for us.)Little known fact, 108 years ago to the day, then Vice President Theodore Roosevelt first uttered his famous phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick" (look it up) at on our very own Fairgrounds; several days later William McKinley was shot and "Teddy" became our 26th president. Today, we remembered this historical event by carrying a Thick Cut Bacon on-a-stick.
Our gastronomic tour included the following stops (in order):
1. Pronto Pup (not to be confused with a Corn Dog)
2. Bacon on-a-stick
3. Tom Thumb Mini Doughnuts (f'ing delicious)
4. Cheese Curds (as good as you remember)
5. Hotdish on a stick
6. Scottish egg on a stick
7. Cone of Sweet Martha's cookies with a glass of cold milk.
Yes, #5 and #6 proved to be the two worst back-to-back decisions since the Twins let Hunter then Santana leave town. Literally put a bad taste in our mouths but when you're at the Fair. . .
In between meals we went to the Midway and played various games, rigged to no end but fun nonetheless.
As for the people watching - not sure the last time you've been around that many Minnesotans in all of their Minnesota-glory but it ain't pretty. It's like a jort convention broke out at an Oak Ridge Boys concert. The increased number of people who are TFTW (Too Fat To Walk) and are now riding taxpayer-funded motorized scooters is noticeable.
Overall, it was great to get together with Minnesota!
3 Comments:
That bacon on a stick looks so good! The hotdish on a stick and the Scotish egg not so much. I loved the comment under the pic regarding the hotdish that it lacked cream of mushroom soup and fried onions therefore should not be considered a hotdish.
BS looks like he should own his own landscaping company.
September 3, 2009 at 3:25 PM
This is BS ghost-posting as Jan, right? Guessing from the picture (which I recognize as being in front of the DNR Building) (also, sweet Twins lid), obviously. The writing style seems ever-so-slightly different, too.
I'd love to find the State Fair inspired e-mails Stanch and I put together 7 or 8 years ago trying to quantify the intricate correlation between socioeconomic status and the ratio of over/underweightness between members of couples. We may have even put a graph or axiom together at the end of it all. Our souls are forever decayed from the exercise.
Anyway, I'm jealous y'all had the chance to go this year. I went back 5 years ago, and realized that hot weather and a 6-month pregnant wife really shouldn't deter one from attending the Fair. Although she was more than ready to go home after a couple hours, so was I. When I was a kid, I'd spend that much time at the UofM sports booth alone. That was back when the basketball, football and hockey highlight reels were worth watching, though, I guess.
I miss those Sweet Martha's cookies. Cheese curds sound good, too. The batter's so nice and salty.
September 3, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Joint post on the Fair (written post-FFL draft.) However, unless otherwise objected to, I'd like to give BS provisional rights to FTLOSBW (please respond on related poll.)
RTS - the "Hotdish on a stick" had a cream of mushroom dip that came along with it. As gross and as unappetizing as it sounds.
MCA - we hit the Gopher booth (some nerds were out front doing a demo of their 'robot' that apparently can walk up a set of stairs - NERDS!) and we bathed in the Maroon and Gold.
Best t-shirt (aside from the tons of 'Favre Vikes' apparel) was "I'm an Infidel" worn by a guy who would wear that shirt. We also saw 15 year olds dressed as hookers (gentlemen, I had my daughter with me, I cringed - welcome to middle age.) Oh, and we strategically stayed away from the barns - turns out bunch of H1N1 cases reported today with kids doing 4H. It's a different world.
September 3, 2009 at 8:13 PM
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