Meet me in Minneapolis

Modern Art in Minneapolis: Spoonbridge and Cherry

Just got back from Minneapolis tonight, and what a trip it was! I just sat through 13 miles of parking-lot-esque traffic on I-90, so forgive any loopiness.

First off, can I say that although Burt has a much longer route to his school than I did to ISU, I am much jealous of the scenery and sights along the way in Wisconsin, Land of Kitsch:

Here is a fantastic moose (presumably of cheese?) at the Black River Falls stop on 39-94-90. Awesome. This is an entry that Dave made in his journal from that day:

5-27-06 - 12:30 p.m. - Black River Falls, Wisc.: Stopped for gas & lunch, encountered group of 50 dirt bike & ATV enthusiasts surrounding 20-ft. statue of mouse with cheese. Giant orange moose in background. Asked about biking event at cheese shop, learned "event" was Memorial Day. All doubts that we are still in Wisconsin are now erased.

Yes, there was a MOUSE with cheese and a MOOSE of cheese. These cheeseheads really know how to do their queso.

Then when we arrived in Minneapolis, Burt treated us to some Ethiopian dining and a tour of his U of M campus, complete with dead things!

That night, we also got some tasty ice cream at Grand Ole Creamery, which Burt recommended. Wow. What an ice cream cone. We could not get a good picture of us enjoying the stuff - but here's one we enjoyed just the same:

Yesterday (Saturday), after an Indian buffet coma, we visited the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, where I oogled at works of Chuck Close, Yves Klein, Frank Stella, and Mark Rothko. The above cherry sculpture is found in the sculpture garden just outside the art center.

Then, as much shopping as we could handle at the Mall of America, where each of us bought some token of our visit, but nothing too big. (Me: Some jewelry; Dave: McAfee Security software on clearance; Burt: A "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" postcard.) Who knew they could fit a whole amusement park inside a four-story mall?

Then, luckily, we were also able to catch Dave's cousin, T.J., and his wife Brenda, for a tasty lunch near their home!

So, thanks goes out to Burt, our gracious host, and to T.J. and Brenda, for being able to have lunch with us on such short notice! It was a great way to spend a long weekend!