OT--State Fair

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: thegreatwent

The MN State Fair. Good times, used to live on N. Pascal Str. parked cars on the lawn for $5.00 and sell kool-aid to people on their way into the fair. Good money as a kid . When the fair wasn't in session it was a great place to sneak into and just wander around. Good times.

I tell folks where I used to live about the Fair, and they just picture a big open field. Not the WPA-built, beautiful Art Deco permanent buildings, the street grid (Dan Patch Avenue!!!), Machinery Hill, the Midway, the judging coleseum ("She has a good dairy leg, well-develped circulatory system, and a very feminine walk. A blue ribbon for sure, son."), and the Grandstand. (They took out the racing track a few years ago. No more car races or harness racing. But still, good concerts.)

We had old friends up from Richmond, VA last year. They were stunned, amused, and delighted. It is a little like a time machine, but that's a good thing. Especially these days.

[AW1Steve]

Haven't been to a state fair since my teens. I couldn't make it to the Iowa fair, but we are going to try the Nebraska fair. Problem is it's further away then the Iowa was. They used to have it in Lincoln , but now it's in Grand Isle. But we'll try. [:D]

Can't go this weekend. Offutt AFB is having it's air show, and beside's it's my 29th Anniversary. [8|]

[thegreatwent]

(They took out the racing track a few years ago. No more car races or harness racing. But still, good concerts.)

NOOOOOOO!!!! One of the first fairs that I distinctly remember included going to the Grandstand for a stock car race. Followed by a Helen Reddy concert and fireworks. Talk about mixed messages[:D]

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: thegreatwent

(They took out the racing track a few years ago. No more car races or harness racing. But still, good concerts.)

NOOOOOOO!!!! One of the first fairs that I distinctly remember included going to the Grandstand for a stock car race. Followed by a Helen Reddy concert and fireworks. Talk about mixed messages[:D]

Helen Reddy!????[&:] Not the Australian feminist from the 70's?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Haven't been to a state fair since my teens. I couldn't make it to the Iowa fair, but we are going to try the Nebraska fair. Problem is it's further away then the Iowa was. They used to have it in Lincoln , but now it's in Grand Isle. But we'll try. [:D]

Can't go this weekend. Offutt AFB is having it's air show, and beside's it's my 29th Anniversary. [8|]

I think at the Iowa fair they carve a whole full-sized cow out of butter. Bigger is not always better, however. Seeing a princess in a ski parka inside the cooler while you're eating ice cream in the 99 degree pavilion is part of the experience.

I imagine that Nebraska's is good too. Anywhere with lots of grain and lots of farm critters makes for a good fair.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Haven't been to a state fair since my teens. I couldn't make it to the Iowa fair, but we are going to try the Nebraska fair. Problem is it's further away then the Iowa was. They used to have it in Lincoln , but now it's in Grand Isle. But we'll try. [:D]

Can't go this weekend. Offutt AFB is having it's air show, and beside's it's my 29th Anniversary. [8|]

I think at the Iowa fair they carve a whole full-sized cow out of butter. Bigger is not always better, however. Seeing a princess in a ski parka inside the cooler while you're eating ice cream in the 99 degree pavilion is part of the experience.

I imagine that Nebraska's is good too. Anywhere with lots of grain and lots of farm critters makes for a good fair.

We'll see. Maybe sometime in the next 2 or 3 years I can catch your fair. [:D]

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: thegreatwent

(They took out the racing track a few years ago. No more car races or harness racing. But still, good concerts.)

NOOOOOOO!!!! One of the first fairs that I distinctly remember included going to the Grandstand for a stock car race. Followed by a Helen Reddy concert and fireworks. Talk about mixed messages[:D]

I actually like(d) Helen Reddy. She had a very throaty voice to this 16-YO at the time. And I was never afraid of feminism. I saw it as the opening of the field of play that my father never got.[:)]

They hadn't had car races there in awhile I think. There are a number of smaller tracks around the metro now, and the grandstand track was pretty small. They did do a massive re-vamp of the whole grandstand about four years ago. Concrete stairs, new heads, new seating, much safer, better sight-lines. I think it seats about 17,000 for a concert. I don't know the whole concert schedule, but I know they have Kelly Clarkson, Weird Al Yankovich, Rush, the BoDeans, Kiss, and Tim Mcgraw. And Garrison Keillor does "A Prairie Home Companion" as a concert every year now.

I saw that Boyz II Men are playing the free Leinie Lodge bandshell this year. How the mighty have fallen.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: thegreatwent

(They took out the racing track a few years ago. No more car races or harness racing. But still, good concerts.)

NOOOOOOO!!!! One of the first fairs that I distinctly remember included going to the Grandstand for a stock car race. Followed by a Helen Reddy concert and fireworks. Talk about mixed messages[:D]

I actually like(d) Helen Reddy. She had a very throaty voice to this 16-YO at the time. And I was never afraid of feminism. I saw it as the opening of the field of play that my father never got.[:)]

They hadn't had car races there in awhile I think. There are a number of smaller tracks around the metro now, and the grandstand track was pretty small. They did do a massive re-vamp of the whole grandstand about four years ago. Concrete stairs, new heads, new seating, much safer, better sight-lines. I think it seats about 17,000 for a concert. I don't know the whole concert schedule, but I know they have Kelly Clarkson, Weird Al Yankovich, Rush, the BoDeans, Kiss, and Tim Mcgraw. And Garrison Keillor does "A Prairie Home Companion" as a concert every year now.

I saw that Boyz II Men are playing the free Leinie Lodge bandshell this year. How the mighty have fallen.

Oh, I liked her , but she just doesn't seem the sort of person I'd see at a state fair. Any more than I'd expect the NY symphony or the Boston Pops! [:D]

[Schanilec]

 From the television show Coach:
 
Note from coach Judy: "We are women hear us roar."
 
Return note from coach Foxx: "We are men her us laugh."

[thegreatwent]

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: thegreatwent

quote:

(They took out the racing track a few years ago. No more car races or harness racing. But still, good concerts.)

NOOOOOOO!!!! One of the first fairs that I distinctly remember included going to the Grandstand for a stock car race. Followed by a Helen Reddy concert and fireworks. Talk about mixed messages



I actually like(d) Helen Reddy. She had a very throaty voice to this 16-YO at the time. And I was never afraid of feminism. I saw it as the opening of the field of play that my father never got.

They hadn't had car races there in awhile I think. There are a number of smaller tracks around the metro now, and the grandstand track was pretty small. They did do a massive re-vamp of the whole grandstand about four years ago. Concrete stairs, new heads, new seating, much safer, better sight-lines. I think it seats about 17,000 for a concert. I don't know the whole concert schedule, but I know they have Kelly Clarkson, Weird Al Yankovich, Rush, the BoDeans, Kiss, and Tim Mcgraw. And Garrison Keillor does "A Prairie Home Companion" as a concert every year now.

I saw that Boyz II Men are playing the free Leinie Lodge bandshell this year. How the mighty have fallen.




Oh, I liked her , but she just doesn't seem the sort of person I'd see at a state fair. Any more than I'd expect the NY symphony or the Boston Pops!

Well what can I say. Minnesota is a special place. As an example the capitol was known as Pig's Eye after a squatter who started a distillery near Ft. Snelling. A catholic priest came by and horrified by the distillery and the communities name. The priest supposedly said something along the lines of "Pigs eye arise like Saul and become St. Paul". Thus the name henceforth.

Many people are also surprised to hear that the largest official mass execution in U.S. history occurred in Minnesota as a result of the 1862 Dakota uprising.

Minnesota's history is stranger than fiction, 10,000 lakes and so much more.[:)]

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: thegreatwent

As an example the capitol was known as Pig's Eye after a squatter who started a distillery near Ft. Snelling.

From WikiPedia"

"There are conflicting sources as to Pierre Parrant’s exact history before settling in the Minnesota Territory. However, most sources indicate that he was of French Canadian origin and born near Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, in or around 1777.[2] For most of his adult life Parrant made his living as a fur trapper while working for a company called McKenzie and Chouteau.[3] During his days as a fur trapper “Pig’s Eye” Parrant, so called because he was blind in one eye, would start to gain a somewhat dubious reputation with law enforcement. This is most likely due to his dabbling as a part-time bootlegger.[4] With the onset of age and the decline in the fur trade Pierre Parrant began seeking new endeavors to earn a living. His search for new opportunities would bring him to a fledgling new settlement near a military outpost called Fort Snelling in the Minnesota Territory."

There is, or was last I shopped for beer, a brand of that beverage named for the gent. It's not great, not bad. Good grilling-out beer.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Razz

Too bad our county fair is 3x

There's a reason I left the Great White North.

Surfing, Sking, and a Grand 'ol fair.

I'm probably one of the few folks here that have been to the CA, TX AND MN state fairs. IMO, CA's is the least interesting of the lot.

[thegreatwent]

Mr. Parrant and Paul Bunyan were both parts of growing up in MN. [:)]

[Bullwinkle58]

Okay, I had to look for a few extra pix. I won't over-burden the group with my joy in all things Fair-ish.[:)]

The Boar Sign:

[Bullwinkle58]

And the boar:

[Bullwinkle58]

The Butter Queen cooler:

[Bullwinkle58]

Close-up of that day's carving:

[Central Blue]

geez -- now I have an insatiable hankering for carny food, breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches with lots of mayo, candy apples, cotton candy, cinnamon buns, dill pickles, all that stuff except the free milk.

Minnesota has a great state fair. I went three times when I was going to college down the street.

Iowa has a good fair, and they do have the butter cow.

Went to the Cal fair once. Slightly larger than the one in Sonoma county.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

And the boar:

How can you tell it's a boar and not a sow? [8|]

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

And the boar:

How can you tell it's a boar and not a sow? [8|]

Envy?[:)]