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Explore the Opulent Overgrowth

Pic posted September 24, 2023

Good Vibes only in the cheerful channel @TwoDots


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2023 Great Minnesota Get-Together

Posted September 14, 2023

It’s only been ten days since the end of the 2023 edition of the Minnesota State Fair, but I’m already missing it (and looking forward to next year). I went three times this year and loved every minute of it (except for the shorts emergency – more on that later). We finally got to cross Duran Duran off the concert list and continued the tradition of having all four us there on Labor Day ❤️.

This was not a big new food and drink year for me, but I did try a few:

  • Lime Time Cider (Sociable) – LuLu’s Public House
  • Candy Apple Hard Cider (Sociable) – Giggles’ Campfire Grill
  • Porkette Breakfast Sandwich – Peters Hot Dogs
  • Cheesecake Curds – LuLu’s Public House
  • Galabao – Union Hmong Kitchen

We also wanted to try the raised donut from Peachey’s Baking Co., but there was no way I was waiting in that line outside the Eco Experience building (which we heard people saying was a two hour wait). Here’s a picture instead:

We liked the cheesecake curds and had those twice. The galabao was spicy and good (the lines this year were long, but moved fast). I loved the breakfast hot dog from Peters. Our friend Mike highly recommended the lime cider, but it didn’t knock me out. The candy apple one had a literal apple slice that they poured caramel over, so that was interesting. Still prefer regular Duluth Cider over anything else right now.

This year was really all about the classics for me: had the onion rings and French fries three times each, ate a bunch of pronto pups, visited the corn roast twice and had some black cherry Lift Bridge and Sweet Marthas multiple times. I have to say, the inconsistent pronto pup experience during the pandemic special events has now unfortunately translated over to the big show – not every one this year was consistently excellent.

We picked up the annual button on the first day (not our favorite design, but still free from all info booths now) and I grabbed one of the History Walking Tour brochures (which were very well designed). Next year I intend to do the entire walk, get the stamps and collect the free prize. We also need to pay more attention to the animal barn schedules, as we didn’t get to see any animals in the poultry barn until the last day (and most of the chickens were already gone).

This was the first year for new CEO Renee Alexander and I hope she was happy with the end result (even if there was only one record-setting attendance day this time – 164,741 on the first Friday). I love watching that page every day of the fair and hope to see the big record get broken again one of these years. If they keep doing the spring event (which was fun with the Milk Run), it might be awhile before the regular fair breaks that mark again.

And as for the shorts emergency? Well, I was wearing some light tan shorts when we went to the dairy building for malts. I went to sit outside on the stone wall next to the Haunted House, but did not see the melted chocolate ice cream there and had a dark, gooey mess in an unfortunate location on the back of the shorts. Thankfully Colleen was able to find a vendor in the dairy building selling clothes and I was able to discretely get to a bathroom to change into a new pair.

Victory!


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Summer Holiday

Pic posted September 13, 2023

It’s been an absolute dream! – Good vibes only in the Cheerful Channel @TwoDots


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Mouflon’s Capricious Flip

Pic posted September 9, 2023

YOU WON! (Ooh, sorry for shouting—wouldn’t want to cause a rockslide…) #TwoDots


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Northland Still Life

Pic posted September 9, 2023

CK found this at Joy and Company in Grand Marais – love it


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Link: The Boy and the Heron

Linked September 6, 2023


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Don’t know how that happened

Pic posted August 30, 2023

199th in the world after finishing so late in the day seems highly suspect #TwoDots


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These are fun, Fare Ware

Pic posted August 28, 2023

Think I might buy the green T-shirt with the 1972 design


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1599 was a rough year

Pic posted August 20, 2023

The last hour of a great exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Caravaggio’s ‘Judith and Holofernes’ now heads back to Italy


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Bon Voyage

Pic posted August 14, 2023

Set sail for (fancy) adventure aboard the Lavish Liner! @TwoDots


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Michael Birawer @ CHS Field ✅

Pic posted August 13, 2023

Very fun to meet one of our favorite Minnesota artists today at the Saints game (Saints lost 8-6 to the Louisville Bats in a rain-shortened game).


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Char’s Caldera Flip

Pic posted August 9, 2023

That Flip victory was fire! @TwoDots


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Ramparts of Reverie

Pic posted July 31, 2023

Lighting up the heavens. Every brick a dream. @TwoDots


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The Sylphic Cascades

Pic posted July 24, 2023

Float along the Sylphic Cascades, fall into a faiyland. @TwoDots


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The Magical Marketplace

Pic posted July 7, 2023

In the Magical Marketplace, all wishes come true @TwoDots


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Rana’s Ribbeting Flip

Pic posted July 4, 2023

We fawned over Ninth Birthday Flip! #TwoDots


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Level 5000

Pic posted June 29, 2023

9 YEARS + 5000 LEVELS = TWO DOTS. WE’LL SEE YOU AGAIN AT 6000! @TwoDots


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Highland Park neighborhood artwork 🐿️

Pic posted June 24, 2023

Love these guys in a newly landscaped yard just down from the new Centro/Everywhen Burger Bar


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Visit the Splendid Souk

Pic posted June 22, 2023

It’s your cup of tea @TwoDots


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The Jolly Juicery

Pic posted June 18, 2023

We’re serving sunshine by the glass in the Jolly Juicery. @TwoDots


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Dottie’s Diner

Pic posted June 12, 2023

Nothing’s finer than the waffles at Dottie’s Diner! @TwoDots


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State Fair Artwork Released

Pic posted June 11, 2023

Love this seed art design by Liz Schreiber – can’t wait to see the original in person this year


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Ninth Birthday Flip

Pic posted June 8, 2023

We fawned over Ninth Birthday Flip! #TwoDots


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Funky Rhetoric single from Lee Oskar

Pic posted June 2, 2023

Single from the forthcoming Lee Oskar album, She Said Mahalo, coming in September


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Your Dream Stream

Pic posted May 30, 2023

Level up with Player 1 Studios – Your dream stream is waiting for you @TwoDots


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