Gotta respect the drive-by. - Oz

So, today I'm heading from the Twin Cities to Eau Claire to La Crosse to Rochester to the airport so I can fly home to Chicago.

Why? you may ask, because that sounds a tad ridiculous.  Well, because this week we're kicking off a series of press events to raise awareness and support for more public transportation, specifically more high speed rail in the Midwest.  And we have events today in Eau Claire and La Crosse. 

The press events go well (enough) and I manage to take 45 minutes to explore the riverfront in La Crosse.

Pretty.

Now, here's little history on the La Crosse and the Riverside International Friendship Gardens (which we manage to stumble upon). 

La Crosse is in southwest Wisconsin, right along the Mississippi River and the border with Minnesota.  In my opinion, this is one of the prettier parts of Wisconsin.  I like the bluffs.  La Crosse was named (back in the day) by Lt Zebulon Pike because he saw a group of Native Americans playing a game with sticks that reminded him of la crosse from his home continent.  Crazy huh?  Wikipedia coming through again!  Explains this sculpture in the park though.  I was wondering.

Did you know La Crosse was the original home of Kwik Trip?  huh.  And in 2007 La Crosse's tap water won the 'Best Tasting Natural Water' Award.  There was a taste competition and everything.

More pictures from the riverfront:

The Riverside International Friendship Gardens are pretty cool.  Different parts of the garden represent different international 'sister' cities of La Crosse.  So there's a Russian Garden, a Chinese Garden, a French Garden, etc.   I think my favorite was the Chinese Garden - big surprise.

 

Deal with my going. - Buffy

My grandfather loved Twins baseball.  I have so many memories of listening to the games on some crappy old radio.  Really, my whole family loves baseball.  When I was a kid there were a couple years when my mom and I had season tickets to the Twins.  Those were fun.  I caught a foul ball once that Kent Hrbek hit.  That was cool.   The major complaint of most baseball fans, at least most Minnesota baseball fans, is the Metrodome.  I kinda love the Dome - my high school football team played in the state playoffs in the Dome.  I once got to watch a Gopher-Badger game from one of the sky-boxes at the Dome.  I mean, I have a lot of quality memories of the Metrodome.  But apparently, it's not great for baseball - the ball gets lost in the ceiling.  And - here's the big one - it's inside.  Baseball is better outside.

Or so I'm told.  This summer Minnesota fans everywhere rejoice with the opening of Target Field - the new home of the Minnesota Twins.  Finally!  An outdoor stadium for baseball in Minnesota.

My uncle Brian has been living in Georgia, just outside of Atlanta for years now.  Long enough to become a Braves fan.  A defection that seems to have been more readily accepted by the family than my allegiance to the Green Bay Packers.  Maybe because I'm closer so get home a bit more often...time with Brian is too precious to spend it bickering over sports teams.  Or not.  Who knows?  But all this has led us to today.  The Braves versus the Twins in the new OUTDOOR Target Field and we're all going.

All of us.  My uncle Brian flew up for the game (he's bravely, or stupidly, wearing a Braves t-shirt).  I hopped a plane first thing this morning.  My mom, grandma, uncle Brad, aunt Stacey (she's stacey anne, i'm stacey lynn - it's confusing for newcomers.  but not as confusing as the three brians.  oy.), cousins Whitney, Paige, and Jordan, Jordan's girlfriend Kaitlynn, cousin Sarah and aunt Kathy. 

Half the family picks me up at the airport.  The first thing I note is the fact that despite the sunshine I left in Chicago, here it is raining.  And according to weather.com on my handy dandy lilacberry it's going to continue to 'shower' All.  Day.  Long.  Awesome.  Who's missing the Dome now?  Huh?

Oh well.  We meet the other half of the family outside the entrance.  We've decided to get there early for two reasons.  First, because we want to explore the new stadium.  Second, apparently they're handing out straw cowboy hats to the first thousand fans for some reason or other.  I donate my hat to one of the family not in attendance, my cousin Lisa's little boy and my godson Terran.  But it is drizzling so I buy a baseball cap.  Go Twins!

Check out some of the action from the game!

And some of my family!

Aunt Kathy.

Uncles Brad and Brian

Aunt Stacey

Grandma - still cute.

Cousin Paige.  She's going to love this.

Despite the weather, we have a blast.  Sadly the Twins lose (boo hiss).  But the new stadium is pretty cool and we do it right - brats, beer, peanuts. 

The next day I head over to Maple Grove to see my dad, stepmom, brother and sister.  Monday I attend a couple of campaign events in Wisconsin for work but before I fly out Monday night, my mom and I stop at Carlos O'Kelly, where my cousin Jordan is now working, and let him wait on us.  Fun.

Oh, Land of 10,000 Lakes.  I still love you.

Here. I don't do work. - Cordelia

324 Days to go: 309 Things to Do: Day 33 in Chicago

57. Brunch at Milk and Honey
58. Haircuts at Strange Beauty Show

Vacation!  We took a vacation day, Allison, Emily and I.  Well, a stay-cation day.  It's the beginning of the World Cup - which Emily is VERY excited about.  It's summer.  And I'm leaving town tomorrow to head to Minnesota.  So, why not take the day off, watch soccer, and drink all day in the sunshine?  I couldn't think of one good reason, so that's exactly what we did.

Kick off is at 8:30 - so we meet at Milk and Honey 1920 W Division  for breakfast before the game.  Milk and Honey is a cute little cafe with soothing colors inside and a nice patio outside for a light and quick breakfast.  I had the yogurt and granola with fresh fruit.  Cairo brought the New York Times and we all had a lovely breakfast.

Immediately after breakfast, we cross the street to the Small Bar - the hottest spot in Chicago to watch the World Cup.  No really.  Somehow, the entire city knows that this is where the real soccer fans go.  ESPN even comes to interview fans.  

They've set up a couple TVs outside so folks sitting on the patio can also watch the games, but with the sun's glare it's not long before we move inside.  Emily gets interviewed twice.  Due in no small part, I'm sure, to the fact that there are only a handful of women in the entire bar and we have some of the best seats in the house.

I'm not going to lie.  At some point during the afternoon, I get so tired I'm a little concerned I'm going to have to go home and nap.  On vacation!  Luckily, I order a coke and the little jolt of caffeine is just what I need.  At some point during the games, LuCinda joins us - she's in the middle of packing in order to move into a new apartment, but takes a break to play a bit. 

I feel like what I'm about to confess next is an indication that despite all evidence to the contrary I am, in fact, an adult.  Oy.  At this point we decide to use our VACATION day to go get haircuts.  Which, to be fair, I desperately needed to do - but still.  Using up valuable vacation hours on practical purposes - I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Luckily, we went to Cairo's hair salon, Strange Beauty Show 1118 N Ashland.  Turns out - it's kinda like a party!  First, the tables have fun cheesy magazine picture collages and glitter.  We all know how I like glitter.  Second, they serve you cans of PBR while you are waiting and during your cut.  AND they have nintendo.  The old school kind.  I played Super Mario Brothers for the first time in I-don't-even-know-how-long.  Shocking how much of it comes back to you.

And my hair looked pretty good.  Although I think I'll stick to my regular salon.  They don't have nintendo but they make my hair look AMAZING.  ;)





323 Days to go: 307 Things to Do: 33 Days in Chicago = 32 new experiences

I'm a rebel. - Willow

 326 Days to go: 310 Things to Do: Day 31 in Chicago

56. Lunch at Plymouth's Rooftop

Mary Grace is in the office today!  Yay!  So we decide to grab some lunch. 

Plymouth's 327 S Plymouth Ct is one of the first places I discovered when I moved to Chicago.  When the weather is nice they have an excellent covered rooftop with full bar and menu, but there's also a bar in the basement with excellent happy hours - free appetizers!  And it's wicked close to the office.

I've never actually gone for lunch, but the rooftop is always crowded.  I order one of their signature salads and a margarita.  The view isn't the best - most of the rooftop overlooks a parking garage next door, although the Harold Washington Library is right there.  And during the summer, they have a mist machine that constantly sprays which keeps  you cool, but I thought the constant misting was a little extreme.

325 Days to go: 309 Things to Do: 31 Days in Chicago = 30 new experiences