Tea and Spoon : Minneapolis 2023
Good evening LJ readers,
how are things? I : am back! from a recent trip for which I had a chance to take to Minneapolis with my friend John. It was our first time going! (and indeed, only the 2nd trip where it was just John and I, as opposed to with our friend Brian as well).
* Thursday
J and I flew out on separate flights (which, ironically, both landed within the same terminal) at different times. I got into town earlier so caught a ride share to my hotel (Quality Inn and Suites, room 107). I picked it in part as there was a Wal-Mart and some other stores within walking distance. I headed out to pick up some food (my room had a fridge and microwave), then texted with John once he arrived later, after relaxing with a candy-corn-scented bath bomb. At Wal-Mart I found some new food tastes : coffee-flavored M & Ms and also kiwi-flavored ice cream.
When J was picking up his rental car, it turned out that one of the only vehicles left in the lot was a 2023 'retro' version of a circa 1978 White Dodge, heh. Far out! John was quite amused by this the whole trip.
* Friday
Today was "Mall of America" day. About seven or so minutes from the hotel was this great giant business, with about 450 (yes, 450!) stores across 3 floors (plus a 4th floor with a movie theatre and a few other non-stores). The center area of the mall was literally an amusement park, as well. I had had an opportunity to research in advance some of the places for which I had hoped to visit, and was able to nicely visit all of them (except for the Crayola Experience, a whimsical crayon-based sort of interactive center, but I instead took the time to walk the whole mall, rather than do some of the mall plus this).
In the afternoon we relaxed @ the Minneapolis equivalent of my 'summer house', heh (i.e. RH). John liked driving the unique car and found a waterfall park about half an hour outside of town. As Garrison Keillor says of the area surrounding Minneapolis, it really is a collection of small, 30-60,000 residents, self-contained farm towns. Vermillion falls was quite pretty - and nice weather, too!
* Saturday (part 1 of 2)
Today was "city day". In the early afternoon we headed out to the well-apportioned Minneapolis Institute of Art, the main museum downtown. Free! Plus $10 parking, heh. Lots of rare works by people : Rembrandt, Fra Angelico, George Tooker, even a Caravaggio on loan. Other galleries dedicated to Native American art (with the question : "Should this be in a museum?" thoughtfully asked), a moved room from a mansion originally in France, even a photograph / video gallery of male physique were nice surprises.
After that we went to the Basilica of St. Mary, the first 'official' basilica in the US. Large, and quite pretty! Traditional European design with glorious stained glass, alcoves etc. From here it was on the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, with about a dozen large outdoor sculptures - including the 'famous' MN one of the cherry in the spoon. It was $4 to park, so John nicely dropped me off and literally drove around whilst I took a few pictures.
* Saturday (part 2 of 2)
After this we continued to Northeast Tea House, a small local business specializing in impossibly-rare teas. I had looked online in advance and hoped to try two of them, but indeed their limited stock + last year's menu online meant they alas had neither of my original ideas. However! I did try two different ones - a very similar sheng tea (made from tree bark), as well as a purple tea.
From here we drove (all of these places were close together) to a 'quirky' Starbucks. This one has two stories! We sat upstairs and I drank my teas while J ordered some from here and drank his. I was nicely all done with everything on my 'list', so mr. John found a place he liked - a discount grocery outlet! haha. I found some instant, non-expired brown rice for 99 cents a box, which was a good deal.
In the evening J did a "Market Force" restaurant review. Since it was so close to RH, he dropped me off there again to relax for a bit whilst he did that for a half hour or so.
* Sunday
Today was "nature day". An original plan was for us to head north from the hotels to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, then swing back to the Ikea by the airport for lunch before boarding our flights back home, but John was hungry so we swung into the Ikea first. Amazingly, the 10th (!) store for which I myself have had a chance to visit.
The free admission CPZ & C was, not surprisingly, quite crowded (it was a holiday weekend!). Nicely, John literally dropped me off in front of the conservatory while he himself drove around to another, less-crowded area by a lake and relaxed. After looking at some pretty flowers and water features - both inside and out - J came back, picked me up and took me to the Other side of the lake at which he was just on, where we relaxed and watched those people pedal 'swan' boats around. After that we headed to the airport and, back home!
It was great visiting a new town! Plus, nice weather too. For a gallery of 9 pictures, one may click here ~
Okay. Have a good night!
Take care,
* Geoff
how are things? I : am back! from a recent trip for which I had a chance to take to Minneapolis with my friend John. It was our first time going! (and indeed, only the 2nd trip where it was just John and I, as opposed to with our friend Brian as well).
* Thursday
J and I flew out on separate flights (which, ironically, both landed within the same terminal) at different times. I got into town earlier so caught a ride share to my hotel (Quality Inn and Suites, room 107). I picked it in part as there was a Wal-Mart and some other stores within walking distance. I headed out to pick up some food (my room had a fridge and microwave), then texted with John once he arrived later, after relaxing with a candy-corn-scented bath bomb. At Wal-Mart I found some new food tastes : coffee-flavored M & Ms and also kiwi-flavored ice cream.
When J was picking up his rental car, it turned out that one of the only vehicles left in the lot was a 2023 'retro' version of a circa 1978 White Dodge, heh. Far out! John was quite amused by this the whole trip.
* Friday
Today was "Mall of America" day. About seven or so minutes from the hotel was this great giant business, with about 450 (yes, 450!) stores across 3 floors (plus a 4th floor with a movie theatre and a few other non-stores). The center area of the mall was literally an amusement park, as well. I had had an opportunity to research in advance some of the places for which I had hoped to visit, and was able to nicely visit all of them (except for the Crayola Experience, a whimsical crayon-based sort of interactive center, but I instead took the time to walk the whole mall, rather than do some of the mall plus this).
In the afternoon we relaxed @ the Minneapolis equivalent of my 'summer house', heh (i.e. RH). John liked driving the unique car and found a waterfall park about half an hour outside of town. As Garrison Keillor says of the area surrounding Minneapolis, it really is a collection of small, 30-60,000 residents, self-contained farm towns. Vermillion falls was quite pretty - and nice weather, too!
* Saturday (part 1 of 2)
Today was "city day". In the early afternoon we headed out to the well-apportioned Minneapolis Institute of Art, the main museum downtown. Free! Plus $10 parking, heh. Lots of rare works by people : Rembrandt, Fra Angelico, George Tooker, even a Caravaggio on loan. Other galleries dedicated to Native American art (with the question : "Should this be in a museum?" thoughtfully asked), a moved room from a mansion originally in France, even a photograph / video gallery of male physique were nice surprises.
After that we went to the Basilica of St. Mary, the first 'official' basilica in the US. Large, and quite pretty! Traditional European design with glorious stained glass, alcoves etc. From here it was on the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, with about a dozen large outdoor sculptures - including the 'famous' MN one of the cherry in the spoon. It was $4 to park, so John nicely dropped me off and literally drove around whilst I took a few pictures.
* Saturday (part 2 of 2)
After this we continued to Northeast Tea House, a small local business specializing in impossibly-rare teas. I had looked online in advance and hoped to try two of them, but indeed their limited stock + last year's menu online meant they alas had neither of my original ideas. However! I did try two different ones - a very similar sheng tea (made from tree bark), as well as a purple tea.
From here we drove (all of these places were close together) to a 'quirky' Starbucks. This one has two stories! We sat upstairs and I drank my teas while J ordered some from here and drank his. I was nicely all done with everything on my 'list', so mr. John found a place he liked - a discount grocery outlet! haha. I found some instant, non-expired brown rice for 99 cents a box, which was a good deal.
In the evening J did a "Market Force" restaurant review. Since it was so close to RH, he dropped me off there again to relax for a bit whilst he did that for a half hour or so.
* Sunday
Today was "nature day". An original plan was for us to head north from the hotels to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, then swing back to the Ikea by the airport for lunch before boarding our flights back home, but John was hungry so we swung into the Ikea first. Amazingly, the 10th (!) store for which I myself have had a chance to visit.
The free admission CPZ & C was, not surprisingly, quite crowded (it was a holiday weekend!). Nicely, John literally dropped me off in front of the conservatory while he himself drove around to another, less-crowded area by a lake and relaxed. After looking at some pretty flowers and water features - both inside and out - J came back, picked me up and took me to the Other side of the lake at which he was just on, where we relaxed and watched those people pedal 'swan' boats around. After that we headed to the airport and, back home!
It was great visiting a new town! Plus, nice weather too. For a gallery of 9 pictures, one may click here ~
Okay. Have a good night!
Take care,
* Geoff