The Great Minnesota Get-Together

(Sky Ride and Space Tower)

Pictures from the happiest place on earth (is it horribly Minnesotan of me that my happy place only exists for 12 days out of the year? Somehow I sense Garrison Keillor could make a monologue out of that. . .). In total, I made it to the Fair three different days while I was home. In addition to my normal haunts, two definite highlights of this year were the special programs regarding the Minnesota Sesquicentennial, and the free Brandi Carlile concert at the Leinie stage (she played at least half an hour's worth of encores!).


(The Midway at Night)

Definite lament: the Disneyfication of the International Bazaar. The old bazaar felt like an actual open-air market in another country - crowded lanes, crowded stalls, tamped dirt walkways, etc. The new one is more user-friendly in that it's bigger overall, has wider lanes that are paved with concrete, and a roof over the center. But it's sterile, like an Epcot version of an international bazaar. And, much like the rehab on the food building a few years ago, this too drove out a lot of the smaller vendors (gone were the Vietnamese egg roll people, and also the Hawaiian ice folks, and where there used to be 4-5 different Hmong groups selling needlework, now there is only one).


(The Search for the Great Pumpkin continues. . .)

A wide variety of food, both on and off a stick, was consumed. And yes, I tried the pig lickers (chocolate-covered bacon), but only because the friends I was with wanted to get them, so they bought and we all ate a piece. It's not the worst thing I've ever eaten (the lefse dog last year was definitely a poorer choice), but I have no desire to ever eat it again.


(Princess Kay butter sculptures)

Hopefully next year Adri and Burki will be with us for the Fair! Adri was thoroughly indoctrinated into Fair culture during her visit six years ago, but we still have to introduce her new hubby to the time-honored traditions and bizarre rituals of the Great MN Get-Together!


(Brandi Carlile at the Leinie Bandshell)