Land of Opportunity

Never let anyone tell you that Minneapolis/Saint Paul lack for things to do. In fact, there are so many events coming that it’s difficult to squeeze it all in.
Starting this week, it’s the Great Minnesota Get Together in Saint Paul – The Minnesota State Fair, Aug. 27 – Sept. 8. I’ll go on Friday morning [...]

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Nature Valley Grand Prix Culminates in Stillwater

The 11th edition of the Minnesota Bicycle Festival and Nature Valley Grand Prix ended today in Stillwater, Minn. Under clear skies (thankfully) and warm temperatures, thousands of spectators lined the now infamous Chilkoot Hill to watch the pro men and women battle in their respective races.
For the women, Kristin Armstrong hung on to a 12-second [...]

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The Graduate

It’s official: My oldest child has graduated from high school. Her commencement address was remarkable (see short clip below). I’ve included a couple photos of her as seen on the Target Center jumbotron talking to 600 of her peers and an audience of 3,000 parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends.
Here’s the introduction and first couple minutes [...]

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Friday Fun Haus

It’s Friday. It’s also the Friday before the three-day-long Memorial Day weekend. Fun ensues.
Tonight, endless options include taking in Alison Scott at Redstone in Minnetonka.  She’s also playing a gig at The Dakota jazz club in Minneapolis on Saturday night, which is a great venue but likely sold out by now.
Saturday entails road-tripping to Albert [...]

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E tan e epi tas

My 18-year-old daughter, a senior at Maple Grove Senior High School, graduates on June 7. In a few weeks, wings will spread and she’ll transition from a child student to an adult preparing for the start of her college experience. Wow. Where did THAT time go?
Several years ago, in her Freshman year, she spoke to [...]

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La Chaya Bistro: Make Me A Regular

I’ve never been a regular at any bar, restaurant or other such establishment. Why go back to the same place for the same food on the same plate over and over again?
But last Saturday we chowed at La Chaya Bistro on Nicollet Ave., and people, let me just riff for a minute. After my first [...]

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Minnesota Bike Festival – June 10-14

The Southwest Journal reports on the upcoming Minnesota Bike Festival.
Click here to see that newspaper’s coverage.
Take note, three-time Nature Valley Grand Prix champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Kristin Armstrong, has confirmed she will ride in the 2009 NVGP as she readies herself for the 2009 World Championship Time Trials and Road Race in September. The [...]

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Selfish Promotion or Fair Play?

The Nature Valley Grand Prix is a bootstrap kind of event. It was founded by someone interested in creating awareness about the cycling community in the Twin Cities. It’s grown to become a major contributor to Children’s Hospital and the pediatric hospice and palliative care unit managed by Children’s. A pro race that brings in [...]

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Nature Valley Grand Prix New Uptown Minneapolis Course

The venue change from downtown to Uptown Minneapolis for Stage 4 of the 2009 Nature Valley Grand Prix should result in a very popular race becoming even more appreciated.
Here’s the map of the race course. The race will tee off after work on Friday, June 12 and will include separate men’s and women’s races – [...]

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Keys to Key West

The South Beach of Miami and Key West held a varitable cornocopia of sites to see. We arrived on the front end of Spring Break, which meant plenty of youth, energy, martinis, mango margueritas, and Cuban pork (with black beans and yellow rice).
Best takeaways of 96 hours out of Minneapolis…

Exit and bulkhead row seating
No winter [...]

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