Summer Continued

My Olympics-watching led me on a search for South Minneapolis bars with large screen TV's this week. Since I typically make an effort NOT to go to these places, I had no idea where to look. Luckily, Ryan introduced me to the large flat screens of Pepito's on Wednesday. The TV watching atmosphere was so good that I went back again with Emily, Meg, and Kara on Thursday. I'll be back next week to take Em's advice and try the Mexican Margarita.

In non-Olympics news, the end of the summer is here for our office interns. I always think that for us year-round workers, summer doesn't really end until the weather turns cold around October, but it was nice to celebrate with some half-price ($5) cocktails at Saffron's excellent happy hour (New to Me) with Mark, Amy, Tab, Amber, and Dan. Each drink was a beautiful color in a perfect glass. I think the Mediterranean Sunset won for color, Cuban in the Middle East for the tall highball glass, and No Name Drink for strength. Tab recommends the Saffron Rose. They have pleasant outdoor seating, excellent service, cloth napkins, constantly filled glasses of ice water, and tiny plates of decent food ($3.50). Try it.

Beijing 2008

On 08.08.08, I turned on my TV to watch something other than DVD's for the first time since the 2006 Winter Olympics. Although I've never been particularly into watching sports, I love the Olympics. I like the idea of all of the world coming together for one purpose, learning factoids about obscure events, and always the human interest stories. Did you see the great one about the 33 year old gymnast who saved her son by moving to Germany? It may be 2 weeks before I do anything else new! 

New to Me events of last week:

Saturday: In Okoboji, selected Mrs. Lady's Mexican restaurant based on number of cars in the parking lot. Not happy to find meat sauce on my broccoli and cheese enchilada.

Sunday: Enjoyed new patio at Acadia until the rain finally came. 

Monday: Bought a cart-full of organic canned food for LHB's design team to practice Canstruction.

Tuesday: Bittersweet at the Varsity Theater - loved Shana Halligan's mermaid dress and the venue.

Wednesday: Drove to Crookston and back. In one day. By myself. Luckily, had a sweet rental car.

Thursday: Kara was visiting Eden Prairie from Portland. A long drive to the burbs but was surprised to find a decent restaurant with yummy mojitio's at least: Wildfire.

Friday: Like I said above, not much new since i turned on the TV to watch the amazing opening ceremonies. Gotta run - human interest story on Michael Phelps...

Guest Blog

This week I returned to the New to Me project with enthusiasm. Week in review:

Sunday: Learned how to make cornbread in an iron skillet on the grill - yum

Monday: Finally got around to doing something I've been meaning to try for years: the Walker's Summer Music and Movies. All the urban hipsters collected in Loring Park to listen to live music and whisper through old black & white films.

Tuesday: Angie and Marisa obliged me in trying a new restaurant before attending "The Government Inspector" so we selected Harry's Food and Cocktails. Let's just say that sometimes it is best to stick with old favorites.

Wednesday: For dinner before the (horrible) Twins v. White Sox game, Angie and I selected Matt's Bar after reading a recent detailed description in an email from my mom:

"Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, food critic for Minnesota Monthly and also a Carleton grad, had written about all the best hamburgers in Minnesota. She wrote about Matt's Bar, "Matt's has been making these well-charred, unspeakably delicious Jucy Lucys, the best in the state--the best, no doubt, in the world--since, legend has it, 1954." Matt's is at 3500 Cedar Ave. so we drove over there from 2600 Park Ave. and ate Jucy Lucys and French fries in a very crowded small bar. Looking around, we seemed to fit in with the rest of the group. They don't use plates but wrap the hamburgers in paper. The fries were in a plastic basket. We drank natural lemonade in a bottle. According to the menu they do serve grilled cheese so you could go there with friends who like hamburgers. The middle of the hamburgers is filled with cheese which melts and with the first bite leaks out so is rather messy. We satisfied our hunger and had another nice outing."

I did enjoy my grilled cheese while watching the others devour Jucy Lucy's. Maybe my mom will start blogging too?

Thursday: Neither the Walker nor Solutions Twin Cities is New to Me, but Solutions for the Other 90% was a great new event. The presentation by Jeffrey and Alissa for our own group, Architecture for Humanity MN, even inspired me.

Friday: Took the day off and headed to Okoboji for our annual retreat at Sarah's cabin. Had a decent dinner at a new Boji restaurant: Kazarelli's. Their card states their Dock GPS (N 43 22.562 W 095 10.729) but no website. Fun to try a new place and a new beer: New Belgium's Summer Wheat - very nice and I thought I didn't like wheat beers! Now to relax some more...

NEW York

This week I went on a work-sponsored trip to New York City where there were many New to Me opportunities! Click here for my photos.

Top 5 highlights:

1. Superheroes Fashion and Fantasy exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - included Christian Bale's sweet Batman costume from The Dark Knight.

2. First time for me at the Whitney Museum of Art where I was very excited about the exhibition of Buckminster Fuller's innovative work - he was pushing sustainability and humanitarian design long before anyone else.

3. Viewing 5 New York photographers' interesting work at the Public Library's Eminent Domain show. Check out the subway train cars by Ethan Levitas and the Chinatown family images by Thomas Holton. I might be inspired to map out the Minneapolis borders in a study similar to the borough edges, nyc project.

4. 100% organic dinner at Gusto Grilled Organics near Union Square. Wine was delivered to our table by the liquor store down the street. Loved watching all of the street action from the outdoor patio.

5. Twins v. Yankees game at the final season in the current Yankee Stadium.  Twins lost (it is an intimidating place for the away team), but I still loved experiencing the place before they move to the fancy new ballpark across the street. 

Not New Two

I'm thinking about reducing the scale of this project. There are certain places I just love to go (especially in the summer), and I may just need to try a new thing at the old place. Last week:

Sunday: Bastille Day at Barbette was new to me. Jonna, Ed, and I enjoyed the lovely day and great people-watching.

Monday: Celebrated Tab's first architecture exam being over at Cafe Maude. I love the atmosphere here. Continued my mission to find the best macaroni & cheese in Minneapolis by trying out Maude's fancy version. Not my favorite.

Tuesday: Nothing new here. Was at St. Cloud Zoning Board trying to get approval for a facility for homeless chronic alcoholics. They voted it down for the third time in three years. A hostile place, St. Cloud.

Wednesday: Barbette again. Perfect place anytime of year, but I especially like sitting at the outdoor tables. Tried the field greens instead of my usual favorite fondue. A nice salad for a hot night.

Thursday: Hmm, think I'll skip this one.

Friday: Another Twins game, but the New to Me highlight was attending the pre-game BBQ fundraiser for People Serving People with Tab, Jeffrey, and Rich. Tab had Tony Oliva sign her shirt!

Not New

Although I am really excited about the New to Me project, I have been breaking the rules left and right. Everything i did this week was NOT New to Me. I'll get back on track soon. Summary since the last post:

Tuesday: Fish and chips at Brit's - possibly the nicest outdoor patio space in Minneapolis. Did try one of my friend Mary's samosas which was new to me and excellent.

Wednesday: Happy hour at Amore Victoria - great place to have a cheap drink at an outdoor table but the food is unbelievably horrible. Green olive pizza at Dulono's to make up for it.

Thursday: Tin Fish at Lake Calhoun. Makes you think that Minneapolis is paradise (for a few months). Kate and I absolutely love the stuffed grape leaves. Huh, just looked up the website and see that it is a chain!

Friday: Became a regular at Namaste Cafe. 

Saturday: Saw 'Sex and the City' for the second time. Funny, sad, happy-sad, I cried for a second time.

Vacation in Minneapolis

Fourth of July may be the best time of the year in Minneapolis. I love being in the city when most people are out of town. For those of us who stayed, the weather was exceptional for a holiday weekend. Had 3 days off from work and house projects and enjoyed my vacation in the city with my old friend Jen and new friend Jenn. This New to Me project is only sort of working. I'm finding that I have a lot of favorite things that I don't want to give up in favor of anything new! So here are my Top 5 favorites that may be New to You and my Top 5 New to Me things of the last few days:

New to You:

1. Artichoke dip at Pizza Luce - vies with Loring Pasta Bar for the best art dip in the city.

2. Canoeing on the St. Croix - only an hour outside of the city and you can experience Nature.

3. Mill City Farmer's Market - not as big as the FM on Lyndale but under the cool space of the Museum train shed.

4. Namaste Cafe - only my 2nd visit and already a Favorite. Go there right now!

5. Butterfinger Glacier at Liberty - reward for walking there from my house.

New to Me:

1. Birchwood key lime pie ice cream at Izzy's - worth the drive to St. Paul. Every day.

2. Friedlander photography exhibit at MIA - loved the streetscape photos, could have skipped the nature scenes.

3. Urban bean coffeeshop - good atmosphere and modern design by architect friend's architect wife.

4. 10 second film festival at the Soap Factory - interesting but outdoors and too buggy despite the tiki lamps.

5. East Hennepin location of Punch Pizza - lovely courtyard seating. Pizza makes me want to go to Sicily.