Busses and Bargains at the Fair

You’re probably way ahead on this – you’ve got your woodworking entry polished, selected the recipe for your to-die-for soufflé and have combed and clipped all of the press coverage of new taste treats.  It’s State Fair time!

Time to get practical now -   The earlybird bus bargain tickets went on sale July 20^th – buy before August 25 at $4 –kids four and under still ride free.  Buy a group ticket and get four round-trip rides $15.  Buy online or get information about sales outlets at metrotransit.org/statefair.

Shutter service operates throughout the Fair, August 25-September 5.  Rides are every 15 minutes from some sites, every 30 minutes from others.  You’ll find a full list of park and ride to the Fair sites on the website.

If you just can’t wait – or you want to practice bus riding, know that Metro Transit is offering free rides to three art fairs the first weekend in August, August 5-7.  Pick up and drop off at the Loring Park, Powderhorn and Uptown Art Fairs.  Download a pass at http://metrotransit.org/artpass

Presses Keep on Rolling at the Great Minnesota Get Together

Geezers and geeks alike have a chance to capture the sounds, the smells and the stories of Minnesota’s newspapers at the Minnesota Newspaper Museum.  You’ll experience the process of mid-1930’s era news production when Linotype, letterpresses, and a maze of mechanical and manual tools kept Minnesotans up to speed on everything from the weather and the economy to matters closer to home, including weddings, funerals, births and out-of-town visitors.  Scores of volunteers, including many retired newspaper men and women, are more than pleased to demonstrate, explain and even share hot off the press souvenirs with all comers – especially the young who’ve never seen a working letterpress or elders who stop to reflect on the influence of Minnesota’s vital newspaper industry in their lives.

The Minnesota Newspaper Museum, opened in 1985, reflects the commitment of newspaper leaders to their profession.  Earlier this summer past presidents of the Minnesota Newspaper Association pooled their resources, including their normal mileage and pre-diem allowances, to make a generous contribution to the Museum.  Their largesse echoes the spirit of Bernie Shelrud, publisher of the Maynard News, who kick-started the Museum;  in 1984 Selrud sold his letterpress shop and all of the equipment so Minnesota State Fair-goers could remember and learn about hand set lead type and the mechanics of getting the news readers to throughout the state.

This year the story of the Museum and the work of letterpress printers are part of a film being produced with Legacy funds.

Stroll through Heritage Square to the far end where you’ll be treated to a lively learning experience, a great chat with a printing pro, a copy of the day’s newspaper produced right before your very eyes on a letter press that rolls 9-8 every day of the Fair.  Free and open to all, whether you can still smell the ink of the morning’s paper or whether you depend on Twitter for the news that matters.

MnKnows – and you will too if you learn to use the tool

In an earlier era, when time and finances were in greater supply, Minitex, a multi-state network with national and global links, put on a great show at the Minnesota State Fair – a well-staffed welcome to Minnesota’s libraries of every sort.  Today, as information and communications technology redefine the profile of libraries in general and of every library as a local portal to ever-expanding resources in myriad formats.  Today, Minitex shares its tools, strategies and expertise in new-fashioned ways.

For starts, Minitex is promoting a “dig deeper @ your library” tool  that starts with MnKnows.  Tackle your information excavation by digging with this indispensable tool tidily encapsulated on a handy bookmark.  The mine opens to reveal these treasures:

The MnLINK Gateway where you can  place requests for materials – books and a whole lot more delivered to your local library and access to electronic books and journals online.

ELMS, the Electronic Library for Minnesota, an essential guide to online articles and electronic books – try it before you get lost in the everyday search engines.

Minnesota Reflections, a treasure trove of photos, documents and maps related to Minnesota history

AskMN where you’ll find  real-time answers from a real live librarian available 24/7..

Research Project Calculator – a planned approach and a persistent reminder that, whatever the task, there is an approach that involves planning, persistence and an occasional prod from the deadline watcher.

MnKnows – Dig Deeper@Your Library

MnKnows is provided by Minitex, an information and resource sharing program of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the University of Minnesota Libraries

Midtown Global Market Eateries at the Minnesota State Fair!

Manny Gonzalez at work

In case you need enticement to take in the Fair more than once, take the culinary route.  Though the diversity and abundance of ethnic delicacies are too much to survey – much less consume, here’s a taste sampler from the Midtown Global Market guaranteed to perk up the laziest taste bud.

In an interesting arrangement that allows all of the tenants to keep the home fires burning while they staff the Fair concessions, MGM restaurants will take turns at the International Bazaar

·         La Loma Tamales proffers their signature pork or vegetarian tamales (2/$5) through Monday, August 30^th.

• Jakeeno’s Trattoria serves their cheesy risotto on a stick ($6). They will also be bringing back their pear and gorgonzola salad with candied walnuts ($5) for $5 and their prosciutto wrapped asparagus (2/$5)   Jakeeno’s  will be at the MGM booth August 31 through September 3.
• Manny’s Tortas covers the MGM booth September 4-7.  Manny’s blends a non-alcoholic pina colada served in a fresh pineapple ($7) to wash down their classic tortas ($5) each.  Manny’s tortas, Cuban, chicken or vegetarian sandwiches, are replete with cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion, avocado, jalapenos, refried beans and chipotle pepper mayo.

Three other Midtown Global Market businesses will be located in the International Bazaar throughout the twelve days of the Fair.

• Holy Land Grocery and Deli dishes-up authentic Middle Easternfare;
• West Indies Soul Food features traditional Caribbean food;
• Fiesta in America offers an assortment of Mexican candy.

Outside the International Bazaar fairgoers won’t be at a loss for munchies.

Manny, who obviously just can’t get enough of the Great Minnesota Get Together, will be hawking his tortas in the Food Building throughout the Fair.

The Produce Exchange will feature their popular “Big As Yo’ Face” sweet and juicy peaches in the Agriculture Building, across from the entrance to the International Market.

Also in the Agriculture Building Salty Tart bakery will serve their award-winning macaroons.

Bon Appetit!

Kramarczuk’s at the MN State Fair

Kramarczuk’s is “back with a vengeance” in the words of Ordest Kramarczuk who recalls that his dad had a booth at the Great Minnesota Get Together back in 1963.  This year the Kramarczuk family and crew are frantically feeding Twins fans at Target Field.  They’re also back at the Fair.  They’ve collaborated with long-time friends Stephanie and Mike Olson who operate the Blue Moon Dine-In Theater. The Blue Moon is the exclusive vendor of Kramarczuk’s delectable brats, Polish and andouille sausage.   Ordest Kramarczuk is quick to note that all of Kramarczuk’s sausage, is made locally from farm-fresh pork.  Freshness is guaranteed because all of the sausage, made in limited quantities, is sold within just 48 hours.

The Blue Moon Dine-In Theater  has an extensive menu including what Steve Olson describes as an “awesome breakfast.”    It’s West of the Grandstand at the Southeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Chamber Street.  They’re open 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. every day of the Fair.

When they’re not vending their prize product at Target Field, Ordest and his son run the family business.  the iconic butcher shop/restaurant at 215 Hennepin (near University Avenue) in Northeast Minneapolis.

How to get to the Minnesota State Fair

As I write it’s just 24 hours and counting till the gates open at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair.  Be still my heart.  Though more about the Fair precedes and will follow this post the pressing issue of the day is getting there – especially getting there without squandering money better spent on bacon-on-stick, a kufta kabob or the Turbo Bungy.

Behold the bus:

• Check out the State Fair Express service – nonstop to and from the Fair from Express parking lots 8:00 a.m. to Midnight. Closer P&R lots are free.  Far flung lots ($5) operate throughout the metro area and the burbs (some operated by MVTA and SouthWest Transit).  Park ($5)  Hop on the bus, hop off at the Fairgrounds gate and look with pity on hot and hapless families stuck in traffic.  Insider’s tip:  Go to the MTC State Fair site – enter your address and the omniscient system will show you the parking lots closest to you.

• Regular bus routes are another option — Route 960, a State Fair special, runs frequently from Nicollet Mall. – Route 84 goes North-South on Snelling while Route 3 runs East-West on Como.

Bike or cycle:

• There are three free secured bike parking areas on the fairgrounds – Check Gate #6 (Como and Snelling), Gate #2 (Hoyt and Snelling and Gate #15 near the West Dan Patch Transitway Gate.  Open 6 a.m. to Midnight.

• Cyclists may also park, lock and ride the bus free from some of the Park & Ride sites.

• Motorcyclists can pay $5 to park 6:00 a.m.-midnight for $5 at the secure lot near Gage #7 in Como.

No bicycles or motorcycles may be operated on the fairgrounds during the Fair.

Accessible parking:

A parking lot for people with disabilities and their companions, including wheelchair-accessible transportation to and from the Fair, is located at 1039 DeCourcy Circle, East of Snelling off Energy Park Drive. The bus stop for the wheelchair-accessible Park & Ride is at  Como Loop Gate #9.  Lots more information about accessibility to all of the State Fair on the state fair site, email accessibility@mnstatefair.org, call 651 288 4400 or TTY 651 642 2372.

When in doubt, check it out:

The Minnesota State Fair and Metro Transit websites are treasure troves that will answer just about any question a Fair-goer can pose.   Everything you ever wanted to know about the Great Minnesota Get-Together – schedules, times, fees, competitions, entertainment and food you’ve never imagined is  online or call 651 288 4400. A great resource is Metro Transit’s TripPlanner service – online or call 612 333 3733 (TTY 612 341 0140).

The Minnesota State Fair – Resources for Kids

The Minnesota State Fair is only a couple weeks away – while that suggests an end to the Summer of 2010 it also marks the beginning of endless days of 4-H exhibits, art, technology, people-watching and, oh yes, food. Every Minnesota kid ought to be in mental and physical training for the experience. Debra Frasier, this year’s Artist in Residence at the Minnesota State Fair, has provided some sensational tools for kids and families to get in gear.

For starts, Frasier has published a wonderful new book, Fabulous Fair Alphabet, a whimsical look at the marvels of the Great Minnesota Get Together. A State Fair regular, Frasier has captured the wonders of the Fair in photographs on which the delightful illustrations in the Fabulous Fair Alphabet are based.

Frasier has also designed a Fabulous Fair Alphabet game card. Game cards are downloadable. They will also be available at all State Fair Information Booths and through the metro area’s public libraries in advance. Throughout the Fair. game participants may stop by the Fabulous Fair booth in Baldwin Park “Alphabet Forest.” win prize ribbons for the Fabulous Fair Alphabet game and for vocabulary collection. The goal is that “everyone goes home with more words than they brought!”

A highlight of every day at the Fair is the mid-day Parade. This year the Fabulous Fair Alphabet Queen will be in the parade, ready to join in singing the ABC song which Frasier commissioned from Minnesota folkies The Lower 48 to accompany her State Fair video.

Finally, the original illustrations for A Fabulous Fair Alphabet can be viewed at the Bailey House. Visitors are invited to the meet the author/illustrator Debra Frasier and to purchase an autographed copy of her book. Proceed will support the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.