MN State Fair 2011

I do have quite a few recipes to review, but Cooking Light is being a bit slow about getting September's recipes on-line so I'm holding off until I can post the directions.  In the meantime, I shall regal you with Monday's trip to the Minnesota State Fair!

It was boring.

Now, in the Fair's defense, we actually went down for the last concert of the year: Train, Maroon 5 and Matt Nathenson.  We got the Fair area at 3p in the afternoon, found one of two open spots in a park-in-walk (yeah, it's park-n-ride, but we don't have the patience to wait for the bus on either end, so we walk.  Saves us $12) and made our way to the fair where we saved another $24 because some really nice lady just gave us her tickets.  Sweet!

With absolutely beautiful weather the fair was simply bursting at the seams, but things were definitely wrapping up.  Our favorite venue, the barns, were closed and the last of the critters were being bundled up for the trip home.  A lot of the radio talk show places had finished or were in the process of finishing. We wandered around for about 2 1/2 hours, noshing on our favorite fair food: deep fried cheese curds, pronto pup, corn dog, frozen banana, and, Martha's Bucket of Cookies.  I had to ask that they don't top it off so tall so I could put the darn lid on after we ate a few. 

Cookies safely stowed, wandering satisfied, we meandered over to the Grandstands and sat for 45 minutes till the gates opened.  Much to our dismay, our seats were obstructed view.  Not kidding.  Big ass I-beam right in the middle of the stage.  Grumble grumble.  Nice to advertise that one shmucks.  The mother with her two teens was also thinking the same - LOL! I noticed she didn't give up her unobstructed seat for her kids!

Matt Nathenson from San Francisco was on first.  Good band.  Some original and some re-makes.

Maroon5 was up next.  I fully admit I live under a rock because the sold-out crowd, which seem to be comprised of about 50% young screaming teens and college girls, elicited such a collective outpouring of delight by using said young lungs that we quickly realized this was no mere "opening" band, but one in their own right.  How 'bout that?  A double concert.  Really good show. 

Train closed the concert and the 2011 MN State Fair.  Which is who we came to see.  Happily, the ladies next to us let the hubby and I know that the folks next to them had departed and unobstructed seats were open.  Hooray!  Train did a good show, lots of interaction with the audience, lots of talky-talky, and wow, does the lead singer have a set of pipes.  I wonder how many mic's he burns out?  Personally, I thought Maroon 5 had the better stage show.  Probably because I've listened to the Train CD so much I had some preconceived notions.

So, boring Fair.  Great concert.  Uneventful 2 1/2 hour drive home and hit the hay at 2a.  Now to go fetch my hounds from Pookie Camp.