Just back from the Minnesota State Fair, or the Great Get Together as they call it. File under 'good times'. If you have not had the pleasure it is 20% Ag, 20% rides and shows, and 60% fried food. With a little beer drinking mixed in... As in many fairgrounds there were various approximations of the Tilt-A-Whirl. The Sizzler, Tornado, Whirlwind... all work on the same chaos premise to trick the brain, as rotating arms move across a moving plane. Minnesota native Herbert W. Sellner invented the Tilt-A-Whirl in 1926, in nearby Faribault (of mill and blanket fame). More on that town later...
It is not enough to fry everything though. It must be on a stick. This is for convenience of vendor as much as consumer.
MN Dairy Assoc. has some pretty hip design work going on. Drink all you can from an overhead spigot (into your cup) for $2. Once you stand down you are done.
Down in beer alley the night was young so not too much music yet, but this wireless-guitared dude and his buddy were good value. Having fun, letting loose and why the hell not. It's 11:30. AM.
Cheese Curds. The 'fried' is implied and understood. New to me [East coaster - ed], curd is die sized lumps of barely cheese; milk with rennet but whey removed. Not aged. Imagine nuggets of mozzarella sticks but not stringy. And no bread crumbs. Totally acceptable.
RW&B cap
Topo Designs chambray shirt
Ollo clip
Chippewa walking boots
Outsiders-style denims from Crawford Denim
Sis-in-law drove from Seattle to MN through Yellowstone and picked up this bandanna map
The weather in MN was not-hot thankfully. Low 70s. A couple of stalls near the arena would stamp out a belt for you with MINDY, or 10ENGINES, or whatever you wanted. The counter seats by the ring are open to all by the way... get close.