MN State Fair!
posted June 26, 2015 12:48 PM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Fri September 4 at 1:00 PM, MN State Fairgrounds - Ball Park Cafe
Minnesota State Fairground - Agriculture/Horticulture Building, 1265 Snelling Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, USA (Map & Directions)
Now that the food has hit the front page, it's hard to deny that the end of summer will come eventually. Shall we go to the fair? Yes, yes we shall!
The Doodle has spoken. The Day of the Fair shall be Friday September 4th. The Time shall be 1pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm thinking that having a whole group of us attempt to explore the fair together would be kind of a pain, so maybe we could meet up for lunch/beers somewhere on the grounds?

I generally try to take a vacation day so that I can go during the week during the day, but I understand that might not work out for everyone. But in case it does... I propose 1pm on Thrifty Thursday (August 27th).

What say you good people?
posted by sparklemotion to Meetup (45 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite

I say yea, and will gladly request an afternoon off.
posted by Frowner at 1:00 PM on June 26, 2015


I will be in town the last Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of the fair (September 4th through 7th), and I'm definitely going to go to the fair, but you don't have to plan around me!
posted by Juliet Banana at 1:10 PM on June 26, 2015


I usually take the afternoon off on a weekday to go. I'll have Mrs. Clinging and the Wreckages in tow and I'd enjoy a mini-meetup if we can make this day work this year.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:12 PM on June 26, 2015


I'll go! I love the fair!
posted by triggerfinger at 1:35 PM on June 26, 2015


Difficulty: School starts Aug 24 for Mpls... fair starts Aug 27. For those of us with kids in the Mpls schools, it would have to be a weekend.
posted by caution live frogs at 1:36 PM on June 26, 2015


Also, fyi the concert that night is Def Leppard, Styx and Tesla.
posted by triggerfinger at 1:40 PM on June 26, 2015 [3 favorites]


I will be there in spirit. And by "be there in spirit" I mean one of you please text me photos of all the foods.
posted by griphus at 1:53 PM on June 26, 2015 [2 favorites]


The butter chicken samosas are only available during the first half of the fair (they have a booth share with something else) in case that influences the decision.

(August 24, really? Two whole weeks before Labor Day? That's crazy.)
posted by Flannery Culp at 3:56 PM on June 26, 2015


I tend to prefer weekday / skip work fair, compared to "watch the sands of my life ebb slowly on a Saturday" fair.
posted by gregglind at 6:02 PM on June 26, 2015 [2 favorites]


The best day for me would be Friday, Sept 4th or maybe a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Thursdays are generally a no-go for me because i work the late shift.

I haven't been to the State Fair in ages. I'm there - if the scheduling works out!

And yeah, a late Labor day this year helped contribute to the crazy early start date for Minneapolis Public Schools. I feel bad for the kids in the older buildings that don't have A/C.
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:15 AM on June 27, 2015


I'm game!
posted by ian1977 at 2:17 PM on June 27, 2015


I'd love to go! If it is an afternoon, I may not be able to make it (don't have a lot of vacation time at my new job yet), but I will see what I can do!
posted by heurtebise at 3:13 PM on June 27, 2015


August 27 works for me. I'd love to meet all of you!
posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:02 PM on June 28, 2015


I'll try to be there! I still have to find out when/if my friend(s) are going, but I could probably try to make the MeFi meetup on the 27th (or elsewhen) either way.
posted by a car full of lions at 10:44 PM on June 28, 2015


I'd love to meet mefites at the fair. Hopefully I'll have a job by then, so I'm a maybe depending on that. :)
posted by MsDaniB at 9:16 PM on June 29, 2015


Yes, I'll try to make it! Maybe we can try to schedule via a doodle as we get closer to the actual dates?
posted by antonymous at 7:04 AM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'm a solid maybe. I think we have the daughter of a German friend staying with us all August; we'll definitely be taking her to the State Fair if the dates overlap, and if I can combine that with introducing my wife to some Internet Wierdos, that's even betterer! My pony will have truly come in.
posted by chazlarson at 12:16 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'm definitely going to kill at least a day at the fair this year. I'll pick the day that lines up with this event, if possible.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:03 PM on July 7, 2015


I could make that work.
posted by Makwa at 9:04 PM on July 7, 2015


Should we pick a date for this pretty soon? Or are we going with the 27th?
posted by paper chromatographologist at 6:30 AM on July 24, 2015


I just need to confirm Mr. Motion's schedule for the 10 days of fun and then I'll post a doodle with dates -- it's look like the 27th is the most popular for now though.
posted by sparklemotion at 9:07 AM on July 24, 2015


And.... it turns out that we can't do the 27th after all.

I've created a doodle here with few options dates. Whichever one has the most "yes" votes by 10pm this Sunday August 2nd will be the chosen one (even if it's the one I cannot attend b/c that's my own damn fault).

For simplicity's sake, lets say the time would still be 1pm regardless of day chosen.

Vote. Vote like the wind!
posted by sparklemotion at 11:15 AM on July 27, 2015


The link isn't working for me. Is it possible to post the proposed dates here? I want to get a for sure date so I can take the day off work.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:03 PM on July 30, 2015


Scratch that, I finally got in and voted! I prefer a weekday (fewer crowds) but can do any day that works for the most people.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:20 PM on July 30, 2015


I'm the dork who can only come one day, due to being out of town and work obligations. However, I may be working a booth at the fair, so maybe it will coincide with the day we all end up choosing.
posted by heurtebise at 7:44 PM on July 30, 2015


Ok, 9/4 it is.

I chose Ball Park Cafe as the location because I know that it has Beer and Seating and Shade. I'd be willing to entertain other meetup points between now and the actual event.
posted by sparklemotion at 3:23 PM on August 3, 2015


Dag. I totally forgot to vote on this. Sounds good to me, though!
posted by TrishaLynn at 8:55 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]


Yay! Fair time! My family owns a booth out at the Fair, so I'll be there the whole time. Unless there's some sort of mechanical failure that needs immediate attention, I should be able to join everyone.
posted by ochenk at 3:10 PM on August 5, 2015 [1 favorite]


Just accepted a part-time job offer and I will be late because the job ends at 12:30 pm every day, but I will be there!
posted by TrishaLynn at 4:03 PM on August 24, 2015 [2 favorites]


Friday September 4th is MPR Day at the Fair. Here are some picks for live entertainment that day (all free except for Prairie Home at the Grandstand)
Black Diet are playing The Current's stage in Carousel Park at 4 p.m. They're a garage-soul outfit, a great band.

Kenny Neal is a good blues guy, he's playing at the Leinie Lodge at 1 and 2:30 p.m.

And you can hear real-deal reggae from Innocent Reggae Band at the International Bazaar Stage on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m..

Garrison Keillor rounds out MPR Day with A Prairie Home Companion at the Grandstand; the musical guests on the show are the Steep Canyon Rangers — a good bluegrass band, Steve Martin plays banjo with them sometimes — along with singers Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele, and Christine DiGiallonardo

posted by sparklemotion at 11:58 AM on August 26, 2015


Dara calls out the top 5 new foods.

The Heavy Table takes on 59 food items and sparks a stikka related controversy.

Everyone agrees that the samosa sauce is on fleek.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:06 AM on August 28, 2015


Sorry to hear that, odinsdream! I hope you make it to the fair on a different day!
posted by sparklemotion at 1:34 PM on August 28, 2015


Of course MPR put a GoPro into the DNR pond.
posted by sparklemotion at 1:34 PM on August 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Dang, I'm tempted to ditch work and drive up in the morning. Been that kind of week.
posted by desjardins at 6:12 PM on September 3, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'm so excited for the fair tomorrow! I went on a reconnaissance mission last week and can report back that the tikka on a stikka, bread pudding and sweet corn ice cream are indeed the business.

desjardins, come and see us!
posted by triggerfinger at 6:51 PM on September 3, 2015 [1 favorite]


Took the day off, will try to be there. I live close enough to walk, and was thinking of walking in in the morning to beat the heat and humidity for at least part of the day.

When/where are the meetup points?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:05 PM on September 3, 2015


Have fun, guys! And bring water bottles.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:14 PM on September 3, 2015


1pm at Ball Park Cafe.

Nerd 2 and I just boarded the bus so I won't be checking mefi anymore.

I'm reachable on Twitter though: same handle. See you there!
posted by sparklemotion at 7:08 AM on September 4, 2015


Have fun everyone! I won't be working the Fair until tomorrow morning, so I won't be able to make it today.
posted by heurtebise at 7:42 AM on September 4, 2015


We are in position. Standing table. Look for tall black lady in green shirt.
posted by sparklemotion at 11:01 AM on September 4, 2015


Ir
posted by sparklemotion at 11:08 AM on September 4, 2015


I wandered off and lost everyone. If I don't manage to connect up again, it was great to see everyone.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:11 PM on September 4, 2015


We're still here if you want us to meet you! I'll send u a memail.
posted by triggerfinger at 2:57 PM on September 4, 2015


Thanks to sparklemotion for organizing this!

Peeps, it's parties at Paisley Park all weekend if you want to extend the party!
posted by gregglind at 6:04 PM on September 4, 2015 [1 favorite]


Yes, thank you sparklemotion! It was SO FUN. You all are a good crew! Looking forward to our next meetup at the movies!

What's up at Paisley Park, gregglind? I'm kind of intrigued.
posted by triggerfinger at 7:11 PM on September 4, 2015 [1 favorite]



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