Nov 4, 2009 5:01 PM
If you’ve been to the Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America, you might have wondered -- how on
earth did someone come up with this idea and turn it into a reality? You
may not have realized that the person who was behind the Rainforest Cafe is
here in the Twin Cities and, in fact, has an extensive set of ideas just
waiting to come to fruition. Or at least to come to a restaurant near you, but
the concepts are already developed and being fine-tuned in a series of
warehouses in Golden Valley.  Meet Steve Schussler, founder and CEO of Schussler Creative. The company’s motto is
“Inventions, Ideas, Contraptions and Dreams,” and boy, does Schussler Creative
live up to that. I recently had the fun of touring their office and warehouses,
getting an advance view of restaurant concepts already up and running, and
several more in the making. It just goes show, you never really know what
awaits you inside a nondescript suburban warehouse. Rainforest
critters aren’t the only creatures that have attracted Schussler’s attention. Among
his offerings is a restaurant at the Disneyworld Animal Kingdom in Florida called Anandapur Yak and Yeti, serving pan-Asian food.
Also associated with Disney is the T-Rex Prehistoric Family Adventure .  Developing
the T-Rex concept lead to an unexpected partnership between Schussler Creative
and the Build-a-Bear
company.  A smart move on their part, the Build a Dino now
accounts for a large part of retail sales at T-Rex. But Schussler Creative
isn’t only about Disney. In Pennsylvania, hot dog fans can find their favorites
at the Hot Dog Hall of Fame.  It doesn’t have to be a completely new concept, after
all, Schussler is the force behind the revamping of the old Wagner’s Drive-in
into the new Galaxy Drive-in in St. Louis Park. (Note to dog
owners -- your canine friends are not only allowed, but welcome and eligible
for a free ice cream cone, or you can purchase a mini burger just for them.)
Come summer, get your snow cones at the Drive-In from the Jolly Trolley, a
vintage snow-cone truck.  But there are so many other designs Schussler is
developing that don’t have a location, yet Schussler continues to pour his time
and considerable talents into working them out. For example, what Harry Potter
fan (or MagiQuest fan) wouldn’t love to have a meal at
the Sorcerer’s Kitchen (currently the staff meeting room for Schussler
Creative)?  Cozy up to the bar at Aerobleu.  This
jazz bar is based on a fictional Parisian bar in the 1940s, a concept Schussler
discovered after finding replica posters advertising the original (but not
real) Aerobleu. Or check out the Asian concept, Zi.  Complete with millions of dollars worth of antiquities
purchased from China. But I think my hands-down favorite is the
one that took the concept of “ice bar” to an entirely new level.  The Polar Ultra Lounge, a fully contained ice building
with ice couches, ice chairs, and an ice bar, well-stocked with very cold Grey
Goose vodka. And the ice changes color. That’d be well worth bundling up for. What
else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night
WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
Oct 28, 2009 8:28 AM  Do
you know what special event occurs this weekend, just as it does every year at
this time? No, I'm not talking about Halloween—I'm talking about NaNoWriMo:
National Novel Writing Month. The brainchild of Chris Baty, NaNoWriMo is
celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and how it's grown: from
just a few guys joking around in San Francisco to nearly 120,000 participants
worldwide in 2008. The goal is to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of
November. Quantity, not quality, is the goal. What's this got to do with
Minnesota? Plenty. Minnesota has a highly active NaNo community, especially in
the Twin Cities, which has nearly 2,000 participants registered for this year's
event. Part of NaNo involves getting together with other writers for "write-ins,"
where the would-be authors meet up, usually at a coffee shop, and work
together. (In fact, there's even a 24-hour write-in scheduled, with writers
moving location every three hours).
So
for this week's column, it seemed like a good idea to give suggestions of local
coffee shops (in no particular order) where writers might be seen, working
feverishly, from Nov. 1-30. If you see a group? Consider buying them a cuppa
joe or a cookie. Much caffeine and sugar is needed to fuel this venture. And if
you're a writer? Please be respectful of the coffee shop—help them stay in
business by buying something while you're there and not taking up tables for
hours while other paying customers are waiting.
East
Side
Nina's
Coffee Café (165 Western Ave No, St. Paul, 651-292-9816) is a NaNo tradition
and frequent spot for write-ins. It doesn't hurt that it now shares a building
with Common Good Books.
The
Edge Coffee & Tea (2399 University Ave W, St. Paul, 651-641-1656) is a cozy
spot with delicious lunch options.
Gingko Coffeehouse is a popular
spot—sometimes so popular that it's hard to find a table. Persevere.
If
you're near downtown St. Paul, stop by Black
Dog, in Lowertown. Bonus: they're open later than most downtown St.
Paul coffee shops.
You
can combine a trip to Como Park with a visit to Java Train, also known for its good
in-house foods.
Brewberry's
(475 Fairview Ave So, St. Paul, 651-699-1117) is truly a neighborhood hangout
and favorite.
Cahoots
Coffee Bar (1562 Selby Ave, St. Paul, 651-644-6778) is not only a great
caffeine spot, but they also host periodic poetry readings. Call for upcoming
events.
West
Side
For
literary landscapes, it's hard to beat the Coffee Gallery at Open
Book. Open Book is the Twin Cities' literary headquarters, home of the
Loft, Milkweed Press, and the Minnesota
Center for Book Arts. Plus they make great soup.
On
Lyndale Ave., Common Roots Café has not only a solid
roster of coffee drinks, but food prepared from local, organic ingredients.
Anodyne Coffee House on Nicollet has
house-made baked goods to enjoy with your java.
Another
perennial favorite is near northeast's Wilde Roast Cafe, named after the
ever-literary Oscar Wilde.
East
Lake St. is home to Blue Moon Coffee Café, which has the
added benefit of being open until 11 p.m. daily.
Open
even later are the Spyhouse Coffee Shops, on Hennepin and
also on Nicollet. Midnight is the closing hour daily.
Near
the University of Minnesota's east bank campus is Over Flow Espresso Café. Check out the
yummy sandwich menu.
Personally,
one of my favorite writing and java spots is out in Chanhassen: School II Bistro. Spacious, quiet
(usually), and wonderful roasted tomato soup.
What
else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night
WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
Oct 21, 2009 10:02 AM As the cliché goes, how time flies -- it’s been a full year since I
started writing the Wander Minnesota column (oh, hey, WCCO? If you need my
address to deliver that Dom Perignon, let me know). I hope you’re enjoying it
-- I know I’m enjoying writing it -- and to celebrate, I’m going to do some
occasional new features besides the usual listings of places and events.
Periodically I’m going to take a closer look at something new or interesting
around the state, starting today with a new attraction that opened last week at
the Mall of
America. MagiQuest is the brainchild of a group called
Creative Kingdoms, which wanted to find a way to take the parts of video games
that kids find attractive and translate them into a larger framework -- one
which require players to be on their feet and moving.  It doesn’t hurt that there are elements of Harry Potter
thrown into the mix. When you arrive at MagiQuest for the first time, you have
to choose a clan (since I was feeling rather princess-like, I
chose Majestic), then you pick your personal wand and your character’s name and
register. Here’s the thing: the initial fee to get in seems high, especially if
you're bringing multiple children, but once you’ve gotten the wand, it’s yours
to keep, and you can use it in subsequent visits, which brings the cost down. Also
note: if you just want to follow your kids around and not play, you can simply
be a Magi Guide for $4.99. That said, I’d recommend trying
it out. When I first went in, the space seemed simplistic.  A very Dumbledore-esque magi teaches you how to play,
and he’s always available at the “Stone
Circle” (a central core to the game with computer
screens) to guide you on your quest. Your wand acts like a video game
controller would; you use it to activate your quests, get information, and
acquire the steps to complete each quest. The quests are devised of several
clues that require you to travel around the MagiQuest space, searching for the
answers. Some are easy -- and some are not.  Before I knew it, I was stalking clues like a crazed
person, waving my wand at any particular landmark that might have any chance at
the answer. Now, here’s the next cool thing about this: because the wand is
specific to you and you keep it, on return visits you can pick up where you
left off, rather than having to start over. Sir Loin the Vegetarian, who acted
as guide for us, noted that as time goes on, new quests and adventures will be
added so that the game will not be repetitive. Here’s the one I want to do:  Do I even have to confess that the boys who were with
me made far greater progress in their quests than I did?  Of course there’s a shop, where you can buy
accessories and even costumes for younger children.  We had a great time. The boys even worked up a sweat,
running from clue to clue and quest to quest. Advice: wear comfortable shoes --
you’ll be on your feet a great deal and consider playing along. Or send
grandparents; there were lots of those there this weekend, having a jolly time
chasing their young Magis around the realm. What else is
happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO
newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
Oct 14, 2009 2:18 PM 
While the jury's still out
on what kind of weather we're going to have for Halloween this year -- on a
Saturday, no less -- there are myriad opportunities to explore the scary and
not-so-scary aspects of the annual fright fest. Who knows --
maybe ski season will be upon us by Halloween this year. But just in case that
doesn't come to pass, Buck Hill Ski Resort in Burnsville presents Frightmares at Buck
Hill, open weekends (and some weekdays) through Halloween. Visit the
Orchard Manor Dead and Breakfast, the Fright Factory, the Bellharm-Lovejoy
Asylum, and the Haunted Hollow. Live music on weekends -- but is it really
live? Shakopee's ValleySCARE, known during the summer as
Valleyfair, kicks it into high gear for the Halloween season. Open Friday-Sunday
(and Wednesday and Thursday this week, Oct. 14-15) through Nov. 1, you have the
choice of gentle Halloween fun during the day (think trick-or-treat trails and
coloring contests for the young ones, as well as the children's rides) to more
intense events after dark (seven haunted attractions). Rides are available as
well for those who find roller coasters more terrifying than any old ghost or goblin.
Valleyfair season pass holders can use their pass for admittance. Also
in Shakopee is the Trail
of Terror Fest, offered Thursday-Sunday through Oct. 31. Haunted
hayrides. Indoor maze (3/4 mile). Bonfires. The Halls of Horror. Hypnotists.
Mechanical bull rides. A multi-course Phantom's Feast (reservations strongly
recommended). A 3-D circus and Phobia Frights. This one is for the serious
scare fans. Star Limousine Service offers a wise
variety of Halloween-related services this year: they'll take your kids (and
you) trick-or-treating to safe neighborhoods; to costume contests at various
clubs across the Twin Cities; on tours to haunted houses and other trails of
terror; and even to haunted hayrides -- all in style. The Minnesota
Historical Society is always a good bet for a unique take on a
holiday, with several special events planned. (Call ahead, as some events
require registration.) Shadows and Spirits of the Capitol takes place Thursday-Sunday evenings at the State
Capitol, which will be lit similarly to its early days and where "ghosts"
of the past tell visitors stories about the Capitol's history. The
Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Elk River will offer evening performances of Reader's Theatre: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
on Oct. 23-24. What better place to enjoy this scary tale than a historic farm? The
James J. Hill House is the perfect site for Victorian Ghost Stories, offered Oct. 18,
25, and Nov. 1. Costumed guides tell stories of haunted St. Paul mansions, as well as stories by
Edgar Allan Poe and the Brothers Grimm. Could be too scary for children under
10. At the Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe hosts Nick
or Treat. Forget dealing with the unpredictable Minnesota October weather. Take a hike to
the MOA for costume parties, trick-or-treating, and special "ghostly"
photos. If all of this isn't enough for you, then venture
out to Anoka, which bills itself as the Halloween Capital of the World. They
take Halloween very seriously. A two-week celebration includes parades, Ghosts
of Anoka walking tours, wine tastings, costume contests, a 5k run, live music,
and a Spooktacular Carnival. See Web site for specifics. What
else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night
WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
Photo courtesy of Buck Hill. Oct 7, 2009 9:21 AM
 School’s barely started, but it’s already time for that first long
weekend of the school year, with the upcoming Education Minnesota’s
Professional Conference weekend (formerly known as MEA). Parents who have just
adjusted to having kids gone all day will suddenly have them home for two extra
days next week (Oct. 15-16). Maybe they’ll be too exhausted from following the
Twins odyssey over the next week, but just in case they’re not, here are a few
suggestions for fun things to do. Enjoy the colors of the season.
The Minnesota DNR Web site offers a frequently updated fall color update, so you can easily find where
the colors will be the most brilliant next weekend. Note: it’s also a good time
to check one of Minnesota’s
72 state parks, as the DNR is offering a “try before you buy” promotion. You
can buy a one-day pass for $5, and if you decide during your visit to buy the
annual pass, your $5 will be deducted from the annual fee of $25. Go
swimming. The Waterpark of America will be open the evening of
Oct. 14, as well as all day Oct. 15-18. Word to the wise: if you’re not staying
at the adjoining Radisson Hotel, plan to arrive early -- hotel guests get first
priority, and overflow crowds will be turned away. Get your
scare on. ValleySCARE,
known during the summer months as Valleyfair, will be open evenings Oct. 14-16, and
all day Oct. 17-18. The evening adventures may be too much for younger kids,
but the daylight hours have some milder Halloween-themed fun. Sneak
in a little education. Take the kids to see the Science Museum’s
Titanic exhibit.
Older kids may appreciate the accompanying film more than younger kids, but
nobody will pass up the opportunity to touch an “iceberg.” Explore
the state’s history. The fine folks at the Minnesota State Historical Society have plenty of
plans for the education weekend, including a kids’ scavenger hunt at Ft. Snelling,
additional hours at the James J. Hill house, extended hours at Split Rock
Lighthouse, apple butter-making day at historic Forestville, and the popular
annual Shadows and Spirits of the State Capitol tour on the evenings of Oct.
15-16. Find your way through a pirate ship maze. Severs Corn Maze
will, weather permitting (call ahead if the weather looks dicey), be open Oct.
15-18. This year’s maze, shown on their Web site is a pirate ship. For little mazers,
there’s a hay bale maze, a corn pit, live animals, pumpkin slinging, a giant
slide, and food and entertainment. What else is happening in
our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where
you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
Sep 30, 2009 9:03 AM

It's almost October, and the weather is (finally) feeling
like fall. No wonder that harvest festivals are popping up everywhere. These
festivals run the gamut from single-day, ingredient-themed festivities (such as
pumpkins or apples), or celebrate a more general harvest theme; some are
strictly entertainment, others raise money for good causes. What follows is
just a sampling of what you can find over the next couple of weeks.
Deephaven's Church of St. Therese has one of the metro area's
largest fall church events with its annual Oktoberfest. Events kick off Oct. 3 with
a family fun run, blessing of the animals, a polka mass and brat dinner; Oct.
10 is the big day, with a kids carnival, silent auction, a polka band and
Boogie Wonderland, and plenty of food and beer. Pinehaven Farm takes the harvest festival
concept very seriously -- but in a fun way, of course -- by celebrating the
harvest every day through October. Mini-train rides, pumpkin patch, peddle
tractors and trike tracks, magic shows, Halloween parties and even a pumpkin
cannon. The folks at the Minnesota Historical Society wouldn't
let an opportunity like harvest season pass by without exploring it. At Historic Forestville, Oct. 3 is Harvest
Day, with demonstrations of old-time farm implements and farming techniques,
apple-cider pressing, quilting and grain fanning. There will also be free
pumpkins for kids. On Oct. 17, Forestville will have Apple Butter Day, making
apple butter the old-fashioned way -- in hand-pounded copper kettles over open
flames. Johnny Appleseed Days will take place
Oct. 3-4 in Lake City. But it's not just about the apples -- there's a chili cook-off,
a kids pedal tractor pull, scarecrow find, a craft fair and a farmers' market
and food. The first two weekends in October, apples are the star at
Afton
Apple's Apple Festival. Enjoy a hayride, pick some apples, watch
cider being pressed and munch on apple-based goodies. Oct. 10 is the day for Aurora's Pumpkin Fest. Craft and quilt shows,
clowns, food and even stagecoach rides will be offered. A "harvest" festival of a different sort is
held in Middle River. Goose Fest features goose-calling contests,
live music, parades and food of all sorts, including Uffda Tacos. Williams celebrates Potato Day on Oct. 10 with a parade,
a potato cook-off, live entertainment and a dance. (No mention if they match
Barnesville's annual tradition of mashed potato wrestling.) What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out
the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly
segment, Finding
Minnesota.
Sep 23, 2009 3:04 PM  The weather may be unseasonably warm yet, but the calendar tells us it's
fall. There are so many things to do around the metro—and the state—this time
of year: you can go apple-picking (here's a good resource for apple orchards); enjoy
the colors of the season (the Minnesota DNR is offering its annual fall foliage
reports here); and you can join in the fun at
one of the state's multiple fall festivals. One thing fall brings to Minnesota is a big crop of art festivals,
which makes sense when you think about it—Minnesota itself will be showing its
finest artwork this fall, so why not complement it with other media? The Upper
Minnesota River Art Crawl, also known as the Meander, offers 45
artists spread out over 33 studios throughout southern Minnesota. Can't beat the scenery. The cities of St. Peter, Mankato, and North Mankato join forces for River Crossings: an Art Fair in Motion,
this year scheduled for Oct. 3-4. Visit the artists in their own habitats and
enjoy live music, improv, and poetry readings. Stillwater not only has a beautiful landscape, but it has an art and
jazz festival combined. The Fall Colors Fine Art and Jazz Festival
offers an outdoor art show, live music, and plenty of food. Another art crawl of the semi-annual variety takes place in St. Paul
Oct. 9-11. The St.
Paul Art Crawl features art created by nearly 300 diverse artists and
exhibited in their personal workspace and galleries, wine tastings, and live
music—a great way to enjoy a leisurely weekend. Another outdoor art festival in a scenic locale takes place Oct. 10-11
in downtown Red Wing. The Fall Festival of the Arts presents more
than 100 juried artists in the equally scenic town of Red Wing. Head north, not just to enjoy fall colors, but to take part in the
First City of Arts Studio Cruise in Bemidji, taking place
Oct. 16-18. Visit artists' studios and enjoy evening performances at the Art Center. Using I-35W South as a starting point, wander south through the state,
with stops veering off into Northfield and down
through Owatonna,
for the South
Central Art Tour Oct. 24 and 25. Artists will have their studios open
all along the way for a fine weekend of slow, artful wandering. What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m.
Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding
Minnesota.
Sep 16, 2009 4:21 PM
 This week's
column is by St. Paul freelancer Kate Havelin,
author of Best Hikes of the Twin Cities, a Midwest Book Awards finalist. Her Minnesota
Running Trails: Dirt, Gravel, Rocks, and Roots won the Midwest
Book Awards' Best Sports, Travel, and Recreation Book in 2007. She'll be giving
a trail talk at St. Paul’s Merriam Park
Library on Wednesday, September 16th at 7 p.m. For more details, check Kate’s website. Minnesota
has more miles of Mississippi River than any other state, and no city can claim
more miles of the Mississippi than St. Paul. A good place to start your Capitol City Mississippi
tour is in downtown, at the Science
Museum. Just inside the
door, you can explore the Mississippi
River Visitor Center, where you’ll find gallons of information about the Mississippi River and Recreation Area. The 72-mile stretch of river in the Twin
Cities is a national park—a treasure like the Grand Canyon
and the Statue of Liberty. The visitor center is free and open daily, with
programs, videos, and games. Before you leave the Science Museum, check out its marvelous
Mississippi River Gallery, which includes an authentic towboat perched on a
balcony 75 feet above the river. Visitors can play the Virtual River Pilot
video game to find out how well they could navigate a tow load of barges
through St. Paul’s
bridges. And don’t miss the museum’s
wall of windows overlooking the river. When
you’re ready to start walking outside, head to St. Paul’s Upper Landing, just
south of the Science
Museum on Shepard Road and Eagle Street. Pretty
sculptures and fountains decorate the riverfront landings here. Head west along
the paved Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail hugging the river and you’ll see the
six-story St. Paul Municipal Grain Elevator, which reminds visitors that this
river was and still is a working river. Continue west along the riverfront and you’ll
pass the 1920s era
Island Station Power
Plant. As you continue along the trail, you’ll see Lilydale and Harriet Island Regional
Parks across the river. You
can choose to stay on the Samuel Morgan Trails
or walk, bike, or drive across one of St. Paul’s many bridges to get to Harriet
Island and Lilydale. Kids may want to explore Harriet
Island’s playground, but this riverfront park is probably best known for being
home to the popular Padelford river boats. If you want a snack, meal, or drink, step aboard the River Boat Grill, located at Harriet Island’s East entrance.
About
a mile west of Harriet Island, sits Lilydale Regional
Park, where, if you
you’re up for a hilly hike, you can climb dirt trails,
past
clay pits where bricks used to be mined and fossils are still found to the Bruce
Vento Scenic Overlook. From the overlook, visitors can look down at Pickerel Lake and perhaps catch site of an eagle
or heron. Hundreds of species of birds depend on the river, which is an
important migration corridor. Whether you wander through
Lilydale and the Big Rivers Regional Trails on the south side of the river or
stay north on the Samuel Morgan trail and Shepard Road, the Mississippi River in
St. Paul is rich with birds, boaters, barges, and more. About two miles west of
downtown St. Paul, just west of 35E, is the south entrance to Crosby
Farm Regional Park, one of the Twin Cities’ largest remaining sections
of floodplain forest. Volunteers with the Friends of the Mississippi River are restoring a
prairie at Crosby. Crosby hums with people,
year round, from dog-walkers and anglers to birders and cross-country skiers. Of
course, you don’t have to spend the day in St. Paul
to get to know the Mississippi.
After all, here in the Twin Cities, the river defines where we live. To learn
more about where to see eagles, other parks and recreation areas along with
maps and activities, check out a Mississippi River Visitor Guide. What
else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out WCCO 4 News at 10 every
Sunday night, where you can learn more in the weekly segment Finding Minnesota. Finding
Minnesota Sep 2, 2009 11:36 AM
This has been a gorgeous weather season for the Minnesota
State Fair, and the crowds have taken advantage of the temperate
climate to visit the Fair in droves. Last night I visited the Fair on a
picture-perfect evening, and the place was full of amiable fairgoers, all
enjoying the last gasps of summer -- all but those who live in school districts
that started up this week. Even with two trips to the Fair, it's hard to get it all
in. I gave it my very best, though: I love to visit the Creative Activities building, because
as an amateur knitter, I like to see what I can only aspire to someday in the
future.
 There's always live entertainment going on somewhere.
Last night I listened to pop, salsa and Native American music, and watched a
bit of square dancing.
 As a dog lover, I had to stop by the Pet Center and check
out the dog agility demonstrations.
 And as a confirmed klutz, I had to watch in awe as young
men on skateboards do things I will never, ever do.
 My kids rode the Sky Glider, and I didn't -- but I loved
watching it.
 I remember the days when my kids were young enough to be
entranced by this.
 The Minnesota DNR has an impressive exhibit
made entirely of abandoned items dug out of rivers.
 There's the Haunted House.
 It amuses me that a big selling point for the Haunted
House is this:
 The Mighty Midway takes on an entirely different
personality as the sun sets and the bright lights start to shine.
 But the Giant Slide keeps going, day and night. Because
when is it not fun to ride down the
Giant Slide?
 I just got back, and already I wish I could go again. Yup
-- I'm a confirmed State Fair addict. What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out
the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly
segment, Finding
Minnesota.
Aug 28, 2009 1:03 PM
The Minnesota
State Fair got off to a ripping start on Thursday, with bright blue
skies and plenty of sunshine. The economy may still be unnerving, but that didn't
stop people from turning up in droves on opening day to enjoy the state's
biggest festival.
 Here's the thing about the Fair, and why I love it so much: it really
is for everyone. Pretty much every demographic group was in attendance, and
many of them swinging buckets full of treats from this long-time Fair favorite:
Sweet
Martha's Chocolate Chip Cookies. (I'll be posting more Fair food
finds at my Web site, A Closer Look at Flyover Land.) Where to start on a busy beautiful day at the Fair? For my family, it
was breakfast, followed by an amble down the street towards the Mighty Midway.
Along the way, we stumbled across Mr. Good Question himself, Jason DeRusha.
 The Midway was fully up and running, and pretty well packed by 10:30
a.m.
 We're not big into rides -- but we do love the Midway games.
 And hey, not everything on the Midway needs a ticket to participate.
 There's a wonderful exhibit of gardens across the Fairgrounds,
especially by the Horticultural building. You can pick up a map with details
about the gardens at the information centers.
 What's a Fair without a parade, especially a parade with a princess?
 Not to mention the miracles taking place at the Miracles of Birth
Building. Here's one just waiting to happen:
 It was also a perfect day for a ride on a river raft.
 I've barely finished my first trip, and I'm already counting the
minutes until I go back next week. What's your favorite thing to do at the
Fair? Leave a comment! What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m.
Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding
Minnesota.
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