My 38th consecutive Minnesota State Fair is in the books. Our family had a great time last Sunday–perfect weather, my oldest daughter and I ran our first Milk Run 5K (39:07), we ate great food and I left with money in my pocket.

Food this year included all of the usuals:

• Pronto Pups
• Cheese Curds
• French Fries
• Danielson Onion Rings
• Sweet Martha’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Mac and Cheese on a Stick
• Turkey Sandwich

Picked up our yearly button at the admin building and checked out the great Birawer State Fair print in the fine arts building. Lots of walking, rides and fun stuff (as usual).

More pictures coming soon…

How could I not eat here? Quick overnight trip to Marshfield, Wisconsin with the family (my wife had meetings at the Marshfield Clinic). Stayed at the Marshfield Holiday Inn and had a blast in their nice pool area with three-story water slide. Driving back this evening…

Arrived back from the latest trip to Los Angeles last week and felt totally exhausted. I’ve got one week to recover, then it’s back out there again.

A few notes from this trip:

I’ve been working my way down the South Bay–first trip I stayed in Manhattan Beach, second time Hermosa Beach and this time Redondo Beach. My co-worker and I stayed at the Best Western Sunrise Redondo Beach Hotel, which was very nice, but a little pricey for this type of hotel. The location was great, the room was in good condition, the staff was friendly and the breakfast buffet was convenient. Unfortunately, the free in-room internet access didn’t work, but it did work in the lobby. When I told this to the front desk worker, he apologized and offered me a $50 gift certificate for a future stay. Well done.

I got out for a couple of six mile runs along the beach in the mornings. I ran from the Redondo Beach marina up the Strand through Hermosa Beach and out to the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier. From there, I ran along the beach front itself back to Redondo, dodging the waves and birds. I left by 6:30 both days, so the crowds were light. Very fun run that I hope to do again next time.

Speaking of next time, I’ll be spending it at the new “company” apartment in Redondo Beach. Located about four blocks from the ocean, the two bedroom apartment will make a nice home away from home for future visits. It will be great to not spend all that time looking for good hotel deals.

Restaurants this time included In-N-Out Burger, Sushi Casa Arigato in Redondo Beach and Uncle Bill’s Pancake House in Manhattan Beach. LOVED Uncle Bill’s–reminded me of Key’s, except by the beach. Manhattan Beach as a town is probably my favorite spot in the South Bay. Definitely need to spend more time there in the future.

On the last night, Jake and I drove over to Knott’s Berry Farm and took advantage of the half price after 4pm deal. I wanted to do the Chicken Dinner Restaurant again, but it was either that or go in the park. We did stop at a “Chicken Express” window, but it was nowhere near the same quality as the real restaurant.

The log ride was closed for renovation and the Xcelerator shut down before I got back there to ride it, but I did get in a few rides. Rode the GhostRider once right away (and again before we left), then did the Calico Mine Ride, followed by the old school Montezooma’s Revenge and the jaw-compressing Silver Bullet. Knott’s really seemed much larger when I was kid, but it’s still worth a stop every now and then.

Big gap in posting since Grand Marais because it seems like I haven’t stopped moving since then…

Here is a shot from the balcony of the HSRA Los Angeles program director’s home. And no, she doesn’t own the place (HSRA schools are not the place to make that kind of money). Very nice house and very nice dinner the first night we were in town. Thanks Jenn!

The L.A. school project is coming along, but there is still so much to do. One more return trip in the next few weeks will hopefully wrap it up.

I’ll upload some new pictures to the photo gallery tonight and will attempt to write more the next few days.

Finally made it to one of my “7 in 07” restaurants–Chez Jude in Grand Marais. Or as my daughters called it, Chess Dude.

We started off with the Lake Superior whitefish cakes balsamico with lingonberry horseradish sauce appetizer, which I got almost everyone to try (our family is not known for experimenting much when it comes to food). My father order the fish & frites (cod), while my mother order the sandwich special–a wild rice burger.

The girls were happy to see they had a kids menu and both ordered a hot dog. This was no ordinary kids dish, however. The presentation was perhaps the nicest I’ve ever seen for a kids meal: three-sided plate with the hot dog on one corner, fries stacked in a little shot glass (like a blooming flower) and a wildflower in the third corner.

For my meal, I choose walleye prepared in parchment paper over thin-cut potatoes in lemon sauce. The presentation on this was also superb–they even brought a scissors to cut open the parchment. Along with the fresh squeezed lemonade (with my own replacement flask), it was a great meal.

We shared two desserts, the French apple frangipane tart with cr?®me anglaise and caramel drizzle and the maple blueberry creme brulee with coconut haystack. The kids meals also came with Moose Tracks ice cream cones.

The setting at Chez Jude is charming and we had a table on the outside porch. Great views of the harbor and the weather was perfect for being outside. Highly recommended.

This was the first time I’ve been in Grand Marais for the Dragon Boat Races. We didn’t watch much of the actual competition, but it was fun seeing all the people practice.

Now in it’s fourth year, the event raises money for three local non-profit groups: North House Folk School, North Shore Health Care Foundation and WTIP Community Radio.