Irish Sandwich

Dropped Stella off in the sign shop at the junction of Como & Stella St. at 6:45 am and the traffic was already building.

The Simpson Street parking facility map has changed this year as Mom & Dad have upgraded and downsized to one new vehicle.  I get preferred parking in the garage now!

I snapped a picture of the super secret parking plan too!  If you don't get on the list early, you might lose out!

First day selfie,!

I missed the opening of the gates, but still got to the fair around 8:00 with Mom. We had to stop and get a schedule and get our sunscreen, admiring the lovely boxes that Stella assembled!

I lined up to get my "Friends of the Fair" swag bag, only to find out, the donation we made to the foundation this year went to the History & Heritage campaign, so I just got a calendar.  I decided to just make my donation for next year on the spot, and then I got my coupon book!

Mom settled into her Gazebo for her shift as a "Friend of the Fair and I took off for parts unknown.

 I was on a mission to find Tipsy Pies!  Walking towards the food building I heard a "Hi!" and snapped a picture of this lovely lady working hard and moving fast already at 8:15am!

I found the Tipsy Pie crew next door to the Lefse stand on the south wall of the food building. Sara had just left for an appearance on a news channel.  So I chatted, got a little back story and got my first Tipsy Pie.  "Bapple" which I thought was just for boozy, blueberry apple...is really this "apples and wild blueberries baked in a honey stinger mead from Winehaven, with a honey wine glaze".  I just know it was a great breakfast!  I wanted to tell the people in the really long line at the cinnamon roll booth to go get a Tipsy Pie instead!

I walked through the Ballpark, but the curtains were still drawn and no one I knew was in sight.  I would check back later!

I decided to go see if I could catch a glimpse of Sara on the news, and as I walked toward the station at about 8:30 am I saw this line for footlong hotdogs.  It was going to be a record setting day!
When I reached the news station, Sara was already gone, but the crowd was participating in a dance contest to the Taylor Swift song, "Shake It Off".  It would not be the only time this day that that song would get stuck in my head!

I quickly made my exit up the Dimitri's Gyro path back to the Food Building.  On my way, who should I run into but another hard working friend, Dan, owner and chief operator of another favorite stop Juanita's Fajitas.

He was toting a cart full of plants for his patio seating area.  He said, and I quote, "it's never all quite done on day one".  I would get a better understanding of that as the day rolled on!

At the top of the path with a lovely view of the Ball Park Cafe there I found "The Bench!"

There was one lady sitting on it that I promptly displaced as I asked to take a photo!  She offered to take a picture of me, but I just wanted the bench.

I headed back to the food building and Sara had returned. Earlier I was so eager to eat my Tipsy Pie, I failed to get photo record of the data and statistics for the blog. This time, I got a pic with Sara and her absent mom Norma. whose crust recipe she uses.

I knew there had to be something special about the crust!  On a side note I returned later to get a question answered for a friend and I was told that Tipsy Pies, while made with local wine and beer, once cooked, have no more alcohol content that you would find in vanilla extract! Child and AA friendly!

Buildings had just opened so I found myself in the Merchandise Mart looking for anything new.  Nothing new really, but I still covet the "By The Yard" outdoor furniture (some day) and then I found the Gator Smooth booth.  This is a "60 second pain relief lotion" that I became a believer in a couple years ago.  One bottle lasted almost two years, until we found it was the only topical treatment Stella found to work on a systemic itchy rash caused by the adhesive on bandage tape that developed on her legs this spring.  I was the first customer, and they were having "day one issues" with the cash registers...it took seven people to figure out how to ring up my sale. I quickly decided a cash transaction was best with a "keep the .17 cents change" response!  I hope the issues resolved for them quickly!

I rounded the corner and ran into more friends from church!

Joel shared his secret State Fair snack with me...a honey crisp apple from his backyard, and a homemade bacon caramel...He told they need to be eaten together for full taste effect!  I was full of breakfast pie, so I promised I would enjoy it later!

I picked up a couple State Fair Christmas ornaments, only to realize as I was paying, that this is not the place that so graciously helped me out last year.  (At the end of the 2014 fair,  a friend (Lynn) posted her new found ornament on Facebook, it was too late for me to find my own, so I did some research and found the vendor information and called them and they kindly sent me five ornaments COD in time for Christmas!) I paid for these ones from Callister's Christmas, a store found at MOA.

She assured me that these State Fair ornaments would not last long and they would not be for sale at MOA.  I vowed to head to the West End and patronize the other ornament shop!

I got a text message from Steve & Karla with their location and told them I would try and meet up.  I mentioned that I wanted to see The Willis Clan at the Bandshell at 10:00 and we decided to meet there.

I decided to check out Creative Activities before the crowds moved in...whoops too late!  I could not believe the number of people that had already filled the grounds by 9:00am.  

There is a beautiful Sailboat in the entry way and as I moved inside the first quilt to catch my eye was this beautiful rendition of the Kiss by Klimt. (one of my favorites!)

I found some beautiful cookies,

quilt squares on a stick the theme this year is great entertainers at the fair.

 I heard four ladies discussing cakes and what makes one better than the other, how some judges prefer a crack on the top, so flipping the cake can sometimes hurt your point score....and all the things they will try next year so they might get a ribbon.  Some of these ladies must be entrants, since one lady asked the other "Do you get your cake back?"  She said no, but I wanted to tell her that, in fact, the staff of the maintenance, grounds crew and sign shop get to eat all the "losers".

I shot through the vendor annex of Creative Activities and watched Larry the Swiss peeler hawker,  a true State Fair entertainer. I asked him and he told me this was 30th year at the fair!

I saw the my wine slushy friends but it was only 9am...I'd be back later!  There are few new vendors back there, but nothing on my "not to miss" meter.

It was almost show time at the bandshell, and getting close to snack time, so I used my first coupon and got a bargain footlong hot dog for $4.00!

I forgot my water bottle. (I know REALLY??) so I would be taking full use of the Culligan Water services today!

There were lots of seats open for the Willis Clan show and I found Steve & Karla taking in all there was to see and do at the fair.....

I did not realize the show did not start until 10:30, but it turns out we were in time for the opening Flag Ceremony and the declaration of "Official Opening" of the Great Minnesota Get Together,  Never done that before!  Three flags were raised, American Flag , the Union Jack and the Australian flag in honor of the visiting groups from these places that are learning about how to run the best fair in the world!   The Willis Clan led the crowd in a goose bump producing National Anthem.

Jerry Hammer, General Manager of the fair, opened the event and he walked out on stage and said (I kid you not) "Here's the deal....."   He is my people.  The fair was declared officially opened and we settled in for a great show.

Stella and the sign shop crew made the "now appearing" signs weeks ago for the bandshell and when I sat down I noticed the sign holders were empty!

I texted Stella and she informed me that her boss was on his way with them, but nobody checked before today and the sign dimensions they were given were 1/2 inch off.  She had to trim them all so they would fit!  Halfway through the show, the signs appeared!

The Willis Clan is an Irish family band composed of 12 kids and Mom performs with them.  They dance, sing, play great instruments and are free concert not to be missed.  They perform every day at the Leinie Bandshell at 10:30 and 11:45.  The shows are not the same!

We walked over to the Gazebo to see Mom and Michael & Kathleen showed up!  This is a great photo of us all, but all it tells me is I really need a better bra!!

After the show, we walked into the Ag/Hort Building.  I told them the African Violets are on display today and tomorrow, but I wanted to see the Gladiolas this weekend!  Karla told me she has African Violets that came from Grandma Olga's plants.  Glad she got them and not me.   Karla & Steve went on their way, as I was too easily distracted by shiny objects and plates on walls,  they would never get things done if they stuck with me!

I wanted an Apple Cider Freeze and had my dollar ready, but beware people!  

The freeze is now $1.25!!!  The line was 30 people deep and since I did not have a quarter or anything smaller than a $20, I left empty handed.

I walked into the Crop Art display to find a line of people starting at the entry point, waiting to see the art.  I am no fool.  My Mother's wise words ringing in my ears "go to the left.." I veered down the other side and walked into the display backwards, snapping a few pictures as I could, of the funny. Beautiful, political and politically incorrect

I will be back on a slower day to get a better look.  I did see the marriage proposal in crop art and wondered if it was real and then saw the news story about it later!  She said "Yes" apparently!

I got a few pictures of the center floral displays.  This year my favorite is the Assistance Dogs display.  

The "Make -A-Wish" sparkling tree is beautiful too.

There is a new plate wall in the "Food" Wing of the AG/Hort

  Not sure it's purpose, but I was a little disappointed to find there was no Red Wing or Frankoma Pottery plates on the wall.  The stuff of my childhood.  I think this plate with wheat and blue flowers might have been one like Grammie Kelsey had.

I got a text from Stella letting me know she was on the grounds working on her first sign installation run and we could meet at the Admin building around noon.  I found her, her "gator" cart and her supervisor Jordan working hard!  We stopped to chat with Jerry Hammer and I told him the story about the first time Stella missed the fair, she was two and a half and had a fever. Randy told me I could't take her to the fair.  I told him he could stay home with her, and I went to the fair!   Jerry said he might use that story next year at the opening ceremony!  LOL

We found Don & Carol lunching at The Peg

and then as we waited for Stella's ride back the sign shop, we took some fun pictures.  I sure miss having her with me to do this all day!  She does not.

After Stella and parted ways,  I waited in a very long line to use the restroom right inside Gate 5.  There is no "going to the left" in a bathroom line...one must be polite and wait.  This line was indicative of the crowds growing today!

Steve had graciously given me his extra water bottle.  I filled up at Culligan and walked straight down the hill to the West End.  I was hungry for lunch so I got myself a Hot Waffle from the West End Creamery.

Seemed like a good choice!  I looked for Sarah at "I Like You" and I saw her daughter Talulah working hard, but I would stop another day.  I was happy to see the shop so busy!

I found the Holly's Christmas shop and got this years ornament. I was able to give him a personal thank you for fulfilling my order last year!

I knew Kathleen & Michael were here for Trader Joe's Day at the fair and were participating in a scavenger hunt.  I remembered they needed a picture of the historic map with original buildings in it. When Jerry Hammer spoke to us at the Set up day on Sunday, he told us that cities are spending millions to tear down and build new, better buildings, and state fair is spending millions to preserve the old ones!  I am grateful!

 The Eco Hall and Fine Arts are original State Fair structures, as well as the Grandstand.  The history rich environment is part of what makes the fair so special!

I took the obligatory pictures of the log cabin

and I found the placard stand thanking people who donated to the History & Heritage campaign, which is where our money went, just apparently not a enough money to get us on the board!

It is STEM day at the fair and I went to look for anyone I might know at the Boston Scientific booth.

(I did not) This year it was amazing to see all the booths!  It has grown double from last year!  Robots, and experiments, puzzle and games.  It was really impressive!  My friend  Martha works at The Works and they had a fun activity building with dots and sticks!

The place where Stella used to make lego walls to withstand a flood or Tsunami had a bone splint experiment this year!  How much pressure can your stabilized bone withstand.

Too bad this stuff is only a one day event.

I already had 12K steps on my pedometer and my feet were a little sore (even with the new walking shoes) so I decided to take a chance on the Sky Glider to get to the north end.  Lines...again.  I don't ever remember waiting in a line down the sidewalk outside the ticket booth to get on this ride. I got to read ALL the rules as I waited.  

Clearly they have been sued for knee damage.  I got a round trip ticket, hoping against all hope that I would not get stuck again this year.

The ride was uneventful.  There was already a bra deposited on the roof of the Little Hands Farm shed.  I wondered if the ride staff drops it, to just get it over with, as if to thwart a stripping free for all on the ride.

The Giant Sing Along is celebrating five years at the Fair.  

As I departed the Glider, I could hear ABBA blaring and as I looked at the new sign board (that I wonder if Stella made) I see "Shake It Off" is a new one added this year!  It was playing as I left the area, stuck in my head once again!

I walked past the Kemps Cow booth where Stella Stella did make the signs and tried my luck at winning a cow.  No Luck.  There is a second chance option this year by tweeting your picture.  I might need to figure out how twitter works now....

As I approacehed Randall Ave I realized the parade was in motion!  Stella was possibly going to be riding shotgun in the Princess Mary Kay float.  I asked a parade watcher and she informed me I missed it.  I found out later, she was too busy to leave the shop.

I walked the edge of the crowd and saw the Eden Prairie marching band coming up the street!  A shout out to Heidi and her family as her last daughter heads off to college after many years being a part of this band family. 

I had a few minutes before my shift at the Forest so I popped into the Fine Art building.  I got to see a few cool things and get a picture of the artist studio signs that Stella made, before the parade ended and the building began to flood with people. 

I checked out "Math On A Stick" and there are LOTS of fun activities for kids.

 A family could spend hours just in Baldwin Park, between the Giant Sandbox, the Math , the entertainment and the Alphabet Forest!

The Coke display this year is offering free sample cups of Coke Zero.

 I asked and it contains aspartame (which I am allergic to and should be avoided anyway!)  So no feee samples for me.

I got to the Forest and donned my apron and immediately went to work in a very busy photo booth!  I not only forgot a water bottle today, but I also left my special name tag and the "hashtag" sign I made at home on my table.  My phone was dead and added a charger to the list of what to bring tomorrow and messaged everyone and turned it off.

 I love to see kids reading here!

The crowd thinned out a bit and I got a few minutes to relax on a bench in between photo shoots.

I was done working at 6pm and was feeling tired!  I turned on my phone briefly to message Stella I would meet her on a bench at 7:30 outside the Admin building.  It might just take me an hour and a half to walk down the hill!

The old Gloria Dei Lutheran Church booth has been replaced by tpt Public Television.  I want to get a picture in the canoe!

 I got a chance to walk through all of the Education building and was too early for the 6:30 St. Thomas bag distribution, but there will be more days.  There is a booth promoting "Diff-Abilities" where a blind artist created this beautiful work of art.

I did not have to do a college research tour this year, so the the Education stop went quickly!  I checked out the new fall catalog at the Pampered Chef booth and found a few reasons to have a party this fall!  I stopped by the Wine Slushie shop and the gal remembered me.

 Just got a small shot, but it was enough.  Any larger and I might have tipped over!

I was early, and found a bench in from of Admin and realized I was a little hungry.  I remembered I had the special snack that Joel gave me early in the day!  It saved me and eaten together the bacon caramel and apple were really tasty!

With no phone power I just sat and watched people for a bit.  Shortly, I saw Stella appear on the horizon!  She needed a short rest and filled me in on her busy busy day and then we were off in search of dinner.

We agreed that the Ball Park cafe was our destination for a protien base before dessert.  We walked up and got a table, and ate a great cheeseburger and enjoyed my first beer of the fair.

 It is sort of sad that I sit in the mecca of craft beer and can only drink rice beer made by the good people at Anhueser Busch.   It'll have to do!

Mom showed up unexpectedly with an ear of corn, and joined us for a bit.  Stella, having only been on the grounds for a short time all day, wanted to have a treat.  I told her I wanted a destination plan before we moved, and she decided on a brownie!

Gaelic Storm was the Leinie Lodge Bandshell Tonight show and we found a bench at the back and sat for a song.  We were all pretty tired and Mom was afraid she might fall asleep on a bench, so we decided to call it a night!

I started and ended the day with Irish music....with quite a bit sandwiched in between!

Winner of Best Dressed today was this couple! 

Best inflatable so far 

And BTW, the Minnesota Highway maps are new! Found in the Education Building 

Carry On!

Polka Dots!

The day started a bit cold and blustery but volunteers kept coming and in our coats and sweatshirts we started the Alphabet Forest assembly!

It was fun to see many faces I knew from last year!


Many hands made the jobs get done quickly.  I started by finding water for all our cleaning bottles and buckets.  The 4H building was locked up tight so I ventured over the Machinery Hill bathroom complex.  Trying to fill spray bottles under an hand wave automated faucet was challenging (but the water was nice and warm!)  Instead I found it easier under the ice cold drinking fountain!  

Youth assembled the bean bag toss,

People were stringing up letters in the trees

and all surfaces got a paint touch up and yellow polka dots applied!

I helped with the photo booth noodles and letter rack assembly, repair, sort and clean up.  As I cleaned all the letters, I remembered that last year we talked about having a hashtag (#) and at (@) symbol in the noodle photo booth, By bringing it up, I found myself with a job before Day One!  My goal is to make the Alphabet Forest go viral!

Once that job was done it was lunch time.  We had a lovely pot luck lunch under the trees just as the sun came out and warmed us up a bit!  Jerry Hammer, the manager of the State Fair came to talk to us about our role in making everyone's State Fair visit, a special one, and shared some fun facts.

 Apparently the Minnesota State Fair has more visitors per day than any other attraction in the world!  Walt Disney World, including its hotels, golf courses and theme park complex is the listed as the highest annually attended attraction in the world, with 52 million visitors a year, or 142,000/day. (according to uscitytraveler.com).  The Minnesota State Fair averages 152,000/day.  I like that statistic!

After lunch I moved on to securing and squaring up tents that held fast in the storms we had yesterday!  I added the decorative flags and banners and then helped get everything stashed away and covered, ready to be pulled out for Day One!

Debra Fraiser, the creator and brain trust of this place, with pictures in her head and helping us with how and where all things belong, presented me with a name-tag.  In the early years, she handmade these name-tags for her volunteers and decided to give this one to me, for my dedicated service last year and continued service this year.  I felt pretty special!

For anyone coming to the fair, my volunteer shifts will be 3-6 every weekday (except Friday Sept 4th) and the only weekend day I am volunteering is Sunday Sept 6th.  Getting Stella packed and ready for college take precedence this year over my fair schedule!

I LOVE the fair, but I love Stella more!

Here is all the information you need about the Alphabet Forest and remember you can download an alphabet game card before you come and then end your state fair visit at the forest to fill out any remaining words you could not find, ring the bell and win a blue ribbon!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Tasty Taste!

It was a beautiful night and the biggest "Taste" yet!  I heard between 1100-1200 people were in attendance and more food and games than ever before!  I knew it would be busy when I exited from southbound Snelling onto Como Ave and I got in the end of a line of cars entering Gate 7.  I figured I had made a good navigation decision as I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the line of cars behind me going under the bridge and back east on Como Ave!

I parked and hiked up the hill and joined Mom & Dad and some friends David and Cindy in the International Bazaar.

They claimed a table and bench space upon early arrival.  Armed with my taste plate and "the only fork you get, (so don't throw it away!)", I started my food adventure!

Walking down the far outside wall, I found the Corn Roast, new to the Taste this year!

Next was Duke's Poutine with turkey gravy over cheese curds and French fries, but I decided to let someone else try that!

David ate the Poutine!

 I grabbed an ice packed fresh lemonade and skipped over the line at Bayou Bobs (not interested in sauté Gator) and found Sara's Tipsy Pies!

Oh my! My new favorite food!  They are flaky crusted hand pies made with local beer and liquor. I tried the "Bapple" (blueberry apple) and Salted Caramel Finnegan's Apple and they were so delicious! What's more is I like Sara's story and will support her business venture!  I am not an advertiser in my blog, but this is worth a link! Sara's Tipsy Pies

I moved on down the wall and found Mancini's and they offered up Porketta Pig Wings and this year's new food is Mini Chocolate Chip Canolli.  The Pig Wings are great but the Canolli was  just OK, but there are lots more delicious desert options!  (I'd rather have a mini-donut!)

The line was quite long for Peter's Hot Dogs, Dino's Gyro's and the Global Market.

 I rounded the back end making my way back to our table, I found Lulu's Public House booth with the new Mac & Cheese cupcake and next door was the Sausage Sisters offering of Chicken Fiesta Sausage Hot Dish!  I filled up a secondary plate!

 Since I arrived a bit late, I felt I was behind the rest of the team!

Mom had eaten and was already playing Midway games and returned to the table with her winnings!

The Mac & Cheese cupcake garnered some Oohs and Aahhs from the group.  It was quite large so we all had a bite.  It was tasty, but I feel like it shares the quality of cheese curds, that once you have eaten lots of it, it feels heavy and hinders continued food consumption....like a rock in your stomach.

The Sausage Hot Dish was spicy and good, but is something I would make for a pot luck, not seek out at the Fair.

Corn...well, corn.  Mmmmmm just goodness salted and dipped in butter.

I waited in line to get a beverage and I saw the Sweet Martha stand....I decided white wine went best with cookies.

Returning to our table I recruited help in gathering cookie cups to put in my baggie to bring home to my family.  Just a piece of advice for cost conscious cookie consumers.  Upon returning home, I poured all the cookies into last years empty cookie bucket.  Seven cups of cookies barely filled the bucket ( and they were cold)  By my calculations, it is a much better value, to find some friends and buy a bucket...don't waste money on just a cup.

A new donor at the Taste this year is the Midwest Dairy Group.  They are what makes the Dairy Building, the Dairy Building. We got to try their new Salted Caramel Puff Corn Shake.  I was just going to "taste" it, and I quickly found the cup empty!

 It is a vanilla shake topped with puff corn and drizzled with caramel sauce.  Good thing they gave a coupon for a free one during the fair!  It was yummy!

I had consumed many sweet things and decided I needed something salty.  Mmmmm....more corn.

The lines were shorter for food and the crowds around the Midway games of skill grew!

Dad tried the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings from West Indies Soul Food, and said they were OK.  I wanted a Peter's Hot Dog!

I started filling up another plateful with a plain old Peter's dog, Chicken Tikka on a Stikka from Hot Indian Foods at the Global Market.

 (I did not try the Kimchi 'n' Curry Poutine, but my friend Sonja said it was good)  I picked up a Gyro from Dino's and a mini Lingonberry Ice Cream cone, that I had to eat as I walked.

I picked up a slice of Minneapple pie and headed back to our table. I have to say, the Minneapple Pie was rather mediocre.  Go get a Tipsy Pie in the food building!!

Tipsy Pie!

This year there were so many people I knew at the event!  I ran into Greg & MaryJo, Colleen & Dave, Lisa & Paul.  Behind us at another table were some of the Simpson Street crew, Bartley & Sonja and some newer neighbors Nils & Jennifer, I met for the first time!

(don't know who took this pic, but it's great!)

The Postiglione's  (who are MY neighbors) donated their 1919 Root Beer for this event and I had a nice chat with them!

Because there were so many people to talk to and catch up with, I didn't get around to eating all he remainder of the food.  I ate the hot dog and most of the mini ice cream cone, tried the Chicken Tikka (very good!) and then packed up the rest to take home.

I made my way home shortly after Mom & Dad, but some of the group, stuck around for a ride on the Space Needle!

(photo courtesy of Sonja Mackey)

 Lots more great food than last year, more games and prizes and many more people.  The More the Merrier!

Next year, I need to remind Margaret & Gayle to get tickets and come along!