transplanted.chicagoan

RedBull Crashed Ice, St. Paul, MN

2012-01-14T21:14:00.001-06:00

Wow! Big crowd, big course, and big cajoñes for anyone that raced it. RedBull pulls off another breathtaking event.

Schubert's Old Fashioned Cafe & Bakery, Mt. Horeb, WI

2012-01-03T22:05:00.001-06:00

I had the chance to check out this great traditional diner in the quaint downtown business district of Mt. Horeb, WI (after peeking into the only retail location for the Duluth Trading Co.). If you want to slow down the pace of life and enjoy some comfort, stick-to-your-ribs breakfast, lunch, or dinner fare, stop by for sure. After my lunch of this chicken fried steak, I had no room left for their daily homemade pie (and other tasty treats)...my mistake, it looked amazing.

Last Ride of the Year

2012-01-02T17:15:00.001-06:00

Shot from the beach, but definitely not swimming weather...only in the low 40s.

I-80 Truck Stop, Iowa

2011-11-22T18:49:00.001-06:00

The world's largest truck stop is not to be missed, especially if you need some animal themed clothing...

Bryant Lake Bowl, MPLS

2011-11-13T02:57:00.001-06:00

Not too many places left in the US to drink/eat in the front and find 8 lanes in the back. Really fun start to an evening. If you ever have the chance to go, do it!

Bradstreet Crafthouse, MPLS, MN

2011-11-05T18:39:00.001-05:00

Hand-crafted, stiff, pre-prohibtion era drinks and great small plates like this grilled chicken ban mi sandwich make this relatively new spot in the Graves Hotel a place to check out.

Cheeky Monkey Deli, St. Paul, MN

2011-11-01T16:47:00.001-05:00

A very interesting and unique menu of fresh sandwiches, great homemade kettle chips, but if you see the cinnamon bread pudding, do not miss it!

Mall of America, Bloomington, MN

2011-10-30T19:26:00.001-05:00

In my first real visit it sure lived up to it's billing for things to see...but didn't seem that big.

YoYo's Maple Bacon Donut, Minnetonka, MN

2011-10-27T08:46:00.002-05:00

Now THIS is the healthy way to start the day!

A sure sign of Fall (no matter how short)...

2011-10-22T14:47:00.001-05:00

... Grab a hot apple cider at Annodyne Coffee Shop in MPLS' Kingfield neighborhood. Fall in a warm mug.

Thought of the Day

2011-10-14T10:37:00.001-05:00

The universe is 14 billion years old; Whatever is bugging you, it ain't a big deal.

Direct Current Stream, Sep/Oct

2011-10-04T11:52:00.001-05:00

Sep/Oct 2011

Bon Iver site sample

James Vincent McMurrow site sample

Jayhawks site sample

Washed Out site sample

the Head & the Heart site sample

The Rosebuds site sample

Viva Voce site sample

Jeremy Messersmith site sample

Iron & Wine site sample

The Yuck site sample

Jessica Lea Mayfield site sample

Amos Lee site sample

And don't forget, Dessa's new album, Castor, The Twin, drops today. Signing at Electric Fetus in MPLS if you're nearby.

This is all possible by listening to The Current, 89.3FM, and streaming worldwide at www.thecurrent.org

Hennepin Ave Pedestrian Bridge, MPLS

2011-10-01T19:47:00.001-05:00

Is yarn hot?

2011-09-29T17:40:00.001-05:00

Why yes it is. These pop-up yarn art things are pretty common here. I find them intriguing.

Appleman Cycles, MN

2011-09-24T20:12:00.001-05:00

Attending the Minnecycle show today, I was afforded a great look at some local MN frame builders. Appleman seems to fill the bill well for a unique/boutique carbon frame.

They had this great looking complete track bike and an equally swell looking complete road bike. Check 'em out.

WNBA Fever, catch it!

2011-09-23T10:19:00.001-05:00

Play as hard as the men's game, just a lot less dunks. The Lynx Western Conference Finals, Game #1, was a great night.

Why Meetup in MPLS Sucks

2011-09-21T08:46:00.001-05:00

These are the most recent new meet-ups for MPLS that I got in my inbox, based on user-defined choices, or so they would have me believe. The suck part comes in when I'm a single guy that moved here on my own... or they just suck on their own merits.

New Meetup Group: Let's Make a Collective Theatre Company!‎ [stab me with a prop knife!]

New Meetup Group: Twin Cities Packers Fans‎ [puke]

New Meetup Group: The Minneapolis Viking Offiser's Club‎ [barf]

New Meetup Group: Laughaholics‎ [who doesn't love to laugh!!!!????]

New Meetup: Make New Friends Meetup in Minneapolis‎ [hard to get the gumption to go alone]

New Meetup Group: 1001 Things You MUST try BEFORE YOU DIE!!!! [nah, KMN]

New Meeting New People Meetup in Hopkins‎ [wha?!]

New Meetup Group! Meetup St Paul /Maplewood Divorced Men [It hasn't gotten this bad/sad yet... and St. Paul is far anyways and I'm not divorced]

New Meetup Group: Married Twin Cities Couples over 50 [I'm bookmarking this one for damn sure!]

YoYo Donuts, Minnetonka, MN

2011-09-15T09:37:00.001-05:00

Already granted numerous awards in the local press, these did not disappoint. I'll have to go back for their $2 Maple Bacon Bar.

You can do everything by bike...

2011-09-14T10:02:00.001-05:00

... you might not believe this one, if it didn't have pictures!!!

Goto: http://www.copenhagenize.com/2011/09/cycling-with-contractions-to-hospital.html

Great idea...

2011-09-12T17:43:00.001-05:00

... in theory, but I can adjust and try again. This is a small size Blizzard from DQ. I thought I could get it home in the water bottle cage, not quite. I had to stop a couple times and drink the melt. Perhaps the best part was the DQ counter person who helped me pick out the Chocolate Xtreme mix, and to show me how blizzardy and extreme it is, handed it to me upsidedown. Not a drip...til the ride home.

(yes, the bike was rinsed immediately upon getting home)

Glenview Dairy Bar, get some!

2011-08-31T21:51:00.000-05:00

Medium Dreamcicle Cone, tasty!

Quote of the Day

2011-08-11T08:38:00.001-05:00

"Inside each of you is an inexhaustible well of grit, guts and determination...And when the time comes when you are suffering and want to quit – and that time will come – you will reach deep inside that well of grit, guts and determination and find the will to keep going. And to do that remember that you are better than you think you are, and you can do more than you think you can."

- Ken Chlouber

How I Spent My Summer, Part IV

2011-07-31T13:19:00.001-05:00

Bryant Lake Park, MN

2011-07-30T15:12:00.001-05:00

This one's got a full-on frolf course too

New Game - Rate the Awkwardness

2011-07-29T12:48:00.003-05:00

The game works like this -

I will share a story with you and you will rate the awkwardness based on a scale of 1 - 10. 1 being the least awkward something can be; think of when you're walking up steps with no one around and you step one extra time for a step that's not there. It's kind of weird, but no big deal. 10 is the most awkward rating on the scale; I would equate this to having seen your parents be amorous, horizontally. I certainly never have, and I suspect most people haven't (or won't admit to it), but I'm pretty sure we can all imagine that this would be a most awkward occurence if there ever was one. So, with the awkward Rating Scale out of the way, we move to the story and then you can rate the awkwardness in the comments of the post.

>>>

Yesterday evening I had the chance to have dinner at a friends house. I hadn't seen this family or been at the house in over 6 months, but it's usually a fun time. And this evening was no exception - the food was very good, the company entertaining, the wine smooth and all in all a very good night. This friend and her husband have two young boys, a 3 year old and 21 month old. They are pretty energetic youths and this night was no different. By the end of the evening, about 8pm, they were sort of winding down and wanted to do something they do often, "dump truck races".

It sounded like something fun to me and I soon realized what this game entailed. The boys literally race toy dump trucks (think Tonka truck) around their dining room table. There's carpet on the floor that resembles the race track, the dad announces the racing and gives the boys the "ready, set, go" commands, and the mom just generally cheers them on. A pretty clever game as not only do the kids really love it, it wears them out just that last little bit before bed time. Very smart.

So, all seemed well to me as they started this process, when I heard a whisper or two from the boys about... "naked time". Yep, like some kids are known to do, these young lads get naked pretty often. So, once the first utterance was heard about being free from clothing, the clothes came off both boys within three steps in the dining room as the lined up their racing dump trucks.

So there I was, hadn't seen the family in months, slightly inebriated from wine with dinner, about to watch two boys run around their living room totally nude. I didn't think I could make an exit without offending or giving them the idea that nudity is wrong... so I just stood there and watched, and laughed. At one point, I even started using an annoucer voice and started them off. Must have started the "race" a dozen times in about 5 minutes. The races aren't too long and no one ever seemed to be the actual winner either. Of course, we were all winning at that point. Well, they must have ran around the dining room table about 50 times, totally naked, bent over a small toy dump truck. The most interesting part was when someone came to their front door. Mom opened the door to see who it was and the littlest boy just walked right up to the door, in his b-day suit. How unique must it have been for that visitor to see a 21m old come to the front door totally naked.

We all had fun and maybe it's actually only my own feelings on nudity that I was dealing with... the boys sure didn't seem to care one way or the other.

"On your Marks ... Get Set ... GO!!!!"

Shady Oak Beach/Fishin Hole, Hopkins, MN

2011-07-27T09:07:00.001-05:00

How I spent my summer, Part III

2011-07-26T15:27:00.001-05:00

Tilia, 2nd Trip

2011-07-16T19:06:00.001-05:00

Fish Taco Torta - very good.

How I spent my summer, Part II

2011-07-09T17:17:00.002-05:00

How I spent my summer, Part I

2011-07-09T17:16:00.001-05:00

The perfect gift...

2011-06-25T15:50:00.002-05:00

- Requires the giver make an extraordinary sacrafice (not necessarily financial, could be time or skill)
- Requires the giver only wish only to please the recipient
- Should be a luxury, something the recipient wouldn't normally buy for themselves
- Should be appropriate to the recipient
- Should be surprising, yet...
- ...Should be one that the recipient desires

The new I-35W

2011-06-12T20:26:00.001-05:00

They now light it up at night

Jungle gym?

2011-06-12T07:42:00.001-05:00

They didn't have these when I was little... or rubber mulch

Tilia, MPLS

2011-06-03T20:21:00.001-05:00

Is your commute killing you?

2011-06-02T08:29:00.001-05:00

You may want to find out here:

http://www.slate.com/id/2295603/

It's worth the short read, but somehow I think we all knew it was true.

Plate of the Day

2011-05-28T00:40:00.001-05:00

Please note that I stopped at the red light to take this pic. Seemed like a funny country themed F150.

How do you spell tasty?

2011-05-19T19:48:00.001-05:00

Redstone American Grill, check em out.

Reading is fundamental.

2011-05-16T08:28:00.001-05:00

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Difference between Italy & USA

2011-05-04T10:22:00.003-05:00

An American professor was on sabbatical in Rome. Everyday through his kitchen window, he observed two stone masons dutifully building a wall. After 6 months, the wall was nearly complete. The professor introduced himself to the masons and told them how much he admired their beautifully made wall. He also explained that in the States an army of guys would have finished this work in two weeks. The professor wanted to know how the masons were able to make any money since it took them so long. Where upon the dumbfounded masons asked the professor, "how do YOU make any money if the wall is finished in two weeks?"

Pic of theDay

2011-05-04T10:22:00.001-05:00

Pic of the day

2011-04-30T18:53:00.001-05:00

Quote of the Day

2011-04-27T12:47:00.001-05:00

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

- Theodore Roosevelt

Maple Love

2011-04-20T12:07:00.001-05:00

After the year and a half it took to finish the first quart, it was time for a second. So good, especially when it's still snowing in April.

Top match.com Headlines

2011-04-02T15:54:00.001-05:00

There are some real beauties women use for headlines on match.com.
The headline is the quick bit of text you have to grab the potential suitors attention, like...

- Slightly Used; No Box      [sounds attractive, but no]
- Not getting rid of my 773 area code      [ok, this almost worked on me]
- hi      [very catchy - how did you come up with this gem?]
- No, honey, you can't steal a cop car      [I have no words, well, except the ones I wrote here]
- "Cake or death?" " Cake please."       [Death please]
- Wanna do a crossword puzzle with me?      [do I have to?]
- Looking for the Sparkles      [is Sparkles really capitalized? What is sparkles? Look elsewhere]
- Hi      [notice the subtle capitalization of the 'h', sure to pull in would-be suitors... but did she copy that other girl?]
- Is it my turn yet?      [I don't know, I'll ask the teenager running this ride]
- Love to laugh      [wow, that is a unique trait that really draws in the boys]

Those are all direct quotes, I couldn't make this stuff up.
I only wish you could all see the photos too.

Quote of the Day.

2011-03-22T14:32:00.001-05:00

"The problem today is how to be persuasive when we ask our kids to struggle. This is the key to everything. Cycling isn't a sport like others, it's not a game: it's sacrifice, sweat and blood. With the bike you can find treasure, but to stimulate a child to look for it is more and more difficult. How do you get them to understand the value of labor?"

"Because today we live by playing, even as adults. Playing with mobile phones, sending millions of useless messages, we play games on the computer, in front of the television and on the internet. Football is a game that pulls well in a society like this. Most other sports are games. Cycling is something profoundly different: It is a way of life."

Alfredo Martini, Interviewed in Cycling Pro, May 2010

Bing

2011-03-16T16:12:00.001-05:00

I'm sure Microsoft is trying to rescind this vanity plate

quote of the day

2011-03-16T08:18:00.001-05:00

I was coming home from kindergarten--well they told me it was kindergarten. I found out later I had been working in a factory for ten years. It's good for a kid to know how to make gloves.
- Ellen DeGeneres

[I would see her live in a heartbeat]

Quote of the Day

2011-03-10T08:21:00.001-06:00

There are lots of ways of being miserable, but there's only one way of being comfortable, and that is to stop running round after happiness. If you make up your mind not to be happy there's no reason why you shouldn't have a fairly good time.
- Edith Wharton

Quote of the Day

2011-03-09T08:04:00.001-06:00

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.
- Frank Tibolt

D.C. don't need cars!

2011-03-07T23:15:00.001-06:00

Uh-oh

2011-03-05T17:19:00.001-06:00

Maybe the trendy side of bike culture (as opposed to the spandex side) had finally jumped the shark after seeing it incorporated into the displays at the Gap. Yes, you heard correctly, the Gap. Ah well, maybe more bikes will get bought after you get your khakis.

Sears.

2011-03-05T17:16:00.001-06:00

As a kid some of the best days and some of the craziest days happened at Sears (my dad worked for them for 20 years). The middle part of today got pretty exciting. I don't own tons of tools, but I understand the attraction.

Why Aren't You Married - Tracy McMillan

2011-03-02T18:43:00.001-06:00

A female friend of mine sent this to me and I thought it was interesting and thought-provoking enough to re-post it here.

Enjoy.

_________________________________________

You want to get married. It's taken a while to admit it. Saying it out loud -- even in your mind -- feels kind of desperate, kind of unfeminist, kind of definitely not you, or at least not any you that you recognize. Because you're hardly like those girls on TLC saying yes to the dress and you would never compete for a man like those poor actress-wannabes on The Bachelor. You've never dreamt of an aqua-blue ring box.

Then, something happened. Another birthday, maybe. A breakup. Your brother's wedding. His wife-elect asked you to be a bridesmaid, and suddenly there you were, wondering how in hell you came to be 36-years-old, walking down the aisle wearing something halfway decent from J. Crew that you could totally repurpose with a cute pair of boots and a jean jacket. You started to hate the bride -- she was so effing happy -- and for the first time ever you began to have feelings about the fact that you're not married. You never really cared that much before. But suddenly (it was so sudden) you found yourself wondering... Deep, deep breath... Why you're not married.
Well, I know why.

How? It basically comes down to this: I've been married three times. Yes, three. To a very nice MBA at 19; a very nice minister's son at 32 (and pregnant); and at 40, to a very nice liar and cheater who was just like my dad, if my dad had gone to Harvard instead of doing multiple stints in federal prison.

I was, for some reason, born knowing how to get married. Growing up in foster care is a big part of it. The need for security made me look for very specific traits in the men I dated -- traits it turns out lead to marriage a surprisingly high percentage of the time. Without really trying to, I've become a sort of jailhouse lawyer of relationships -- someone who's had to do so much work on her own case that I can now help you with yours.

But I won't lie. The problem is not men, it's you. Sure, there are lame men out there, but they're not really standing in your way. Because the fact is -- if whatever you're doing right now was going to get you married, you'd already have a ring on it. So without further ado, let's look at the top six reasons why you're not married.

1. You're a Bitch.
Here's what I mean by bitch. I mean you're angry. You probably don't think you're angry. You think you're super smart, or if you've been to a lot of therapy, that you're setting boundaries. But the truth is you're pissed. At your mom. At the military-industrial complex. At Sarah Palin. And it's scaring men off.
The deal is: most men just want to marry someone who is nice to them. I am the mother of a 13-year-old boy, which is like living with the single-cell protozoa version of a husband. Here's what my son wants out of life: macaroni and cheese, a video game, and Kim Kardashian. Have you ever seen Kim Kardashian angry? I didn't think so. You've seen Kim Kardashian smile, wiggle, and make a sex tape. Female anger terrifies men. I know it seems unfair that you have to work around a man's fear and insecurity in order to get married -- but actually, it's perfect, since working around a man's fear and insecurity is big part of what you'll be doing as a wife.

2. You're Shallow.
When it comes to choosing a husband, only one thing really, truly matters: character. So it stands to reason that a man's character should be at the top of the list of things you are looking for, right? But if you're not married, I already know it isn't. Because if you were looking for a man of character, you would have found one by now. Men of character are, by definition, willing to commit.
Instead, you are looking for someone tall. Or rich. Or someone who knows what an Eames chair is. Unfortunately, this is not the thinking of a wife. This is the thinking of a teenaged girl. And men of character do not want to marry teenaged girls. Because teenage girls are never happy. And they never feel like cooking, either.

3. You're a Slut.
Hooking up with some guy in a hot tub on a rooftop is fine for the ladies of Jersey Shore -- but they're not trying to get married. You are. Which means, unfortunately, that if you're having sex outside committed relationships, you will have to stop. Why? Because past a certain age, casual sex is like recreational heroin -- it doesn't stay recreational for long.
That's due in part to this thing called oxytocin -- a bonding hormone that is released when a woman a) nurses her baby and b) has an orgasm -- that will totally mess up your casual-sex game. It's why you can be f**k-buddying with some dude who isn't even all that great and the next thing you know, you're totally strung out on him. And you have no idea how it happened. Oxytocin, that's how it happened. And since nature can't discriminate between marriage material and Charlie Sheen, you're going to have to start being way more selective than you are right now.

4. You're a Liar.
It usually goes something like this: you meet a guy who is cute and likes you, but he's not really available for a relationship. He has some condition that absolutely precludes his availability, like he's married, or he gets around town on a skateboard. Or maybe he just comes right out and says something cryptic and open to interpretation like, "I'm not really available for a relationship right now."
You know if you tell him the truth -- that you're ready for marriage -- he will stop calling. Usually that day. And you don't want that. So you just tell him how perfect this is because you only want to have sex for fun! You love having fun sex! And you don't want to get in a relationship at all! You swear!
About ten minutes later, the oxytocin kicks in. You start wanting more. But you don't tell him that. That's your secret -- just between you and 22,000 of your closest girlfriends. Instead, you hang around, having sex with him, waiting for him to figure out that he can't live without you. I have news: he will never "figure" this out. He already knows he can live without you just fine. And so do you. Or you wouldn't be lying to him in the first place.

5. You're Selfish.
If you're not married, chances are you think a lot about you. You think about your thighs, your outfits, your naso-labial folds. You think about your career, or if you don't have one, you think about doing yoga teacher training. Sometimes you think about how marrying a wealthy guy -- or at least a guy with a really, really good job -- would solve all your problems.

Howevs, a good wife, even a halfway decent one, does not spend most of her day thinking about herself. She has too much s**t to do, especially after having kids. This is why you see a lot of celebrity women getting husbands after they adopt. The kids put the woman on notice: Bitch, hello! It's not all about you anymore! After a year or two of thinking about someone other than herself, suddenly, Brad Pitt or Harrison Ford comes along and decides to significantly other her. Which is also to say -- if what you really want is a baby, go get you one. Your husband will be along shortly. Motherhood has a way of weeding out the lotharios.

6. You're Not Good Enough.
Oh, I don't think that. You do. I can tell because you're not looking for a partner who is your equal. No, you want someone better than you are: better looking, better family, better job.
Here is what you need to know: You are enough right this minute. Period. Not understanding this is a major obstacle to getting married, since women who don't know their own worth make terrible wives. Why? You can fake it for a while, but ultimately you won't love your spouse any better than you love yourself. Smart men know this.
I see this at my son's artsy, progressive school. Of 183 kids, maybe six have moms who are as cute as you're trying to be. They're attractive, sure. They're just not objects. Their husbands (wisely) chose them for their character, not their cup size.

Alright, so that's the bad news. The good news is that I believe every woman who wants to can find a great partner. You're just going to need to get rid of the idea that marriage will make you happy. It won't. Once the initial high wears off, you'll just be you, except with twice as much laundry.

Because ultimately, marriage is not about getting something -- it's about giving it. Strangely, men understand this more than we do. Probably because for them marriage involves sacrificing their most treasured possession -- a free-agent penis -- and for us, it's the culmination of a princess fantasy so universal, it built Disneyland.
The bottom line is that marriage is just a long-term opportunity to practice loving someone even when they don't deserve it. Because most of the time, your messy, farting, macaroni-and-cheese eating man will not be doing what you want him to. But as you give him love anyway -- because you

NYC by Mouth

2011-02-28T17:53:00.002-06:00

Did you ever spend an extended time with your grandparents as a kid? Like you were dropped off for a week or more during summer vacation? Well, I did. One of the things that struck me about "old poeple" at the time was how much they thought about food - planning, eating, discussing. Of course now-a-days, food is a huge topic in our lives, on TV, and in our cities. I also find myself thinking about trips and visits to places in terms of - "Which restaurant is the best for ____?" or "What should we do for dinner on the last night in town?"

It is with that in mind that I offer a list of foodstuffs that I had on a recent, two-night trip to NYC.
- 1 $17 dirty martini - I know, the price, but it's NYC... and it was good
- 1 hot-from-the-pan traditional English popover - this was pretty dang good and fun to try in "real-life" after seeing it on TV
- 1 wonderful, almost spring-like, Bib lettuce salad with a mustard vinagrette
- 1 hunk of NY strip steak - too crusty for my taste, but great sauces along with it
- 2 glasses of a very nice Malbec HERE
- 1/2 of a very simple and tasty Apple Tart with cinnamon ice cream
- 1 bite of a peanut-butter chocolate cake concoction that the table next to us insisted we try - no joke
- ~5 vodka-sodas (tonic has sugar you know)
- 1 egg, ham, potato & bagel breakfast delivered to the apartment - not a bad way to start the day
- 1 free, 2oz. Illy espresso HERE - who said NYC is expensive?
- 1 Gray's Papaya hot dog - well worth it and not too filling before actual dinner
- 1 not-so-good Moscow Mule - made with lemon. Bad juj-ju... visit Omaha for the real deal
- 3 nice tapas dishes - fresh, spicy sausage; smoked almonds; traditional Spanish tomato bread
- 1/2 of a Cornish game hen HERE - quite tasty, could have had crispier skin
- Mashed yaro root - alot like the most buttery mashed potatoes you ever had, but slightly stickier
- Oyster bread stuffing - not a fan of this fishy-ish flavored stuffing... and I like stuffing
- Really tasty fingerling potatoes at two different spots, and some french fries at one place too
- 2 glasses of a decent red wine
- 1 blueberry, pineapple juice, orange juice smoothie
- 2 glasses of fresh squeezed OJ, a great way to get your C
- 2 shots of unknown name, though we did see some flavored vodkas being poured in
- British breakfast HERE that included steamed eggs with herbs (very good!) and a scone with Devon ceam, also quite tasty
- 1 Vitamin Water at JFK - waaaay overpriced, but I needed the minerals & electrolytes

One thing surprises me - I had no beer during the whole trip. There are still some things I've not been able to sample in true NYC fashion, that I would love to try - pastrami or corned beef at a traditional deli (Carnigie or Katz'), the hearty grub at Vaselka's, Montreal BBQ from one place in NYC that serves it, and I'm sure the list could go on...

FrostBike 2011

2011-02-20T10:42:00.001-06:00

I swear I parked it right here!

2011-02-15T15:08:00.002-06:00

2011-02-14T20:26:00.002-06:00

"No, Sir. The gutters are in great condition, ship-shape!"

I'm melting...

2011-02-14T18:03:00.002-06:00

... here is the phone call I imagine from a little old lady, stuck in her apartment in the winter, to the cable/power/utility company. I can only guess these kinds of calls happens when the ice is this bad. (This isn't the only example either, I'll post some more from around here, "up north")

Caller: "Yes, hello. I am hoping you can help me with my service."
Company: "What seems to be the issue, Ma'am?"
Caller: "I'm not getting any cable signal - it's not working - I can't watch my shows."
Company: "I see. What's your account number, social security number, phone number, and address?"
Caller: "I'll get all that..."
[4 minutes later, after finally conceding she has an account]

Company: "Thanks for inquiring with us today about your signal issue. I'll check a few things right now... Everything looks fine on our end, Ma'am."
Caller: "No one else has called about problems in the building?"
Company: "No, Ma'am. It's ship-shape."
Caller: "You're sure everything in the building, inside and out looks good?"
Company: "Yes, Ma'am. Please check with your TV support center for issues that maybe causing this problem. and have a great day."
Caller: "Oh, alright. I'll ask my son to come over and look at it. Thanks [click]..."

2011-02-01T17:46:00.001-06:00

It only took me a bit under 2 years to finish off this quart of farm-fresh maple syrup. This is the one I bought through my office. It was great mapley syrup, for sure.

America Bikes?

2011-01-27T20:37:00.002-06:00

From America Bikes:
> Bicycling and walking make up 10% of all trips made in the U.S., but receive less than 2% of federal transportation funding.
> Bicyclists and pedestrians account for 13% of traffic fatalities, but receive less than 1% of federal safety funding.40% of all trips in America are two miles or less, 74% of which are traveled by car.
> Americans spend, on average, 18% of their annual income for transportation. The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is 3.75% ($308) of an average car ($8,220).
> A small reduction in driving causes a large drop in traffic. In 2008, the number of vehicle miles traveled dropped 3%, translating to a nearly 30% reduction in peak hour congestion.
> Transportation sources account for 70% of our nation's oil consumption and for 30% of total U.S. GHC emissions.
> Simply increasing bicycling and walking from 10% of trips to 13% could lead to fuel savings of around 3.8 billion gallons a year. This is equivalent to having 19 million more hybrid cars on the road.
> 89% of Americans believe that transportation investments should support the goals of reducing energy use. > 71% of Americans report that they would like to bicycle more.
> 53% favor increasing federal spending on bicycle lanes and paths.
> For the price of one mile of four-lane urban highway, around $50 million, hundreds of miles of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure can be built, an investment that could complete an entire network of active transportation facilities for a mid-sized city.
View the source document with citations →
America Bikes →

Climate Change and You.

2011-01-26T21:53:00.001-06:00

Looking Back at 2010: Are Accelerating Weather Extremes A Symptom Of Climate Change? Gary Betts, climate scientist and commentator, had a few thoughts for Vermont Public Radio which I thought were worthy of sharing: "The Earth's climate system, which is rather unstable, is being driven by the increase in greenhouse gases and the warming of the Arctic into new patterns, and these are giving us new extremes of weather. Climate change is forcing us to face something that nobody wants to face. It is now widely acknowledged that our industrialized world, created by science and technology and a market economy, is polluting the atmosphere and oceans; and driving rapid climate change. We now face the paradox that although humanity is responsible for this; the longer we delay in changing direction as a society, the more the Earth system is slipping beyond our control. Climate scientists have been issuing warnings for twenty years, and every year our understanding of the Earth improves; so we can better estimate the climate risks we face. But there is a naïve assumption that our politicians will use this valuable information to redirect the economy away from fossil fuels, and so steer us away from the looming precipice of irreversible climate change. But in fact, politicians will say and do almost anything to avoid responsibility for difficult and painful decisions. So at the national level our paralysis has deepened." Image courtesy of Stu Ostro, forecaster at the Weather Channel.

Taken from this area-weather blog: http://www.startribune.com/blogs/114448069.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBDEaLDyUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUebcOQ_17cQ_eciaU

I scream...

2011-01-22T20:27:00.001-06:00

... no, not because it's below zero out, but because I figure if hot foods and drinks can keep you cool in the summer, ice cream will keep me warmer in the dead of winter - right? I'm willing to test the theory with MN's Sebastian Joe's premium Hazelnut and Chocolate English Toffee flavor choices tonight... and they have a cold weather discount (20%) in January and February - hot (pun intended) diggity!

More radiator cleaning.

2011-01-16T20:20:00.001-06:00

Got out my vacuum's tech attachment kit (really tiny parts/hose) to take care of lingering hair issues in my rads (that's Canadian for radiator). I can't believe how much more came out. I'm scared to do the other ones.

I thought this was pretty cool.

2011-01-14T12:25:00.001-06:00

Goto: http://antbikemike.wordpress.com/2010/12/13/x-mas-favor/

You can also see more recent updates to the story by looking at the Blog section.

NEw Plate.

2010-12-30T09:29:00.001-06:00

Coming to you from the rolling hills of Omaha.

"Drunk on Christmas" from Jimmy Fallon's show with John Rich

2010-12-25T08:07:00.000-06:00

Right from the show's website:

Jimmy Reprises "Drunk on Christmas" with John Rich - Christmas - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

If you have not seen this already - you have to watch and listen!!!
Merry Christmas, Everyone.

Who's on your roof?!

2010-12-24T22:47:00.000-06:00

Does it look something like this?

Find the angel.

2010-12-21T19:57:00.001-06:00

Can you see the angel? This was of my own making, the first one in many many years. Luckily, we are not for want of snow in MN.

Quotes for the day.

2010-12-10T08:35:00.000-06:00

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anais Nin

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.
- W. Somerset Maugham

The secret of eternal youth is arrested development.
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Cyclist vs. Goliath?

2010-12-09T19:00:00.002-06:00

I thought it was pretty funny to see a typical professional cyclist next to an American professional football player. This is Tom Danielson (on Garmin-Transitions, I believe) and former pro tightend Shannon Sharpe (Denver Broncos). They happen to be at an announcement event for The Quiznos Pro Tour, a new American professional bike race that will take place this summer, all in the state of Colorado. Both the guys happen to live there now... well, at least Danielson's official residence is there. Shannon looks like he could still play too.

Midnight Project

2010-12-04T21:03:00.001-06:00

So this is what I came upon after a LOOOOONNNNG evening for work in Milwaukee. I was driving back to the hotel (not realy near downtown) and I had to navigate through this to get back. I thought I would be on a shortcut, but this turned out to be much more interesting and perhaps only a bit longer.

They were moving that huge hunk of metal into the roadway, with giant lights blazing and about 50 people standing around watching - and not just the workers (hardy har). Cripes, having to sleep through this nearby would have been a lesson in patience... long live progress?

Interesting Cycling Video, TEDxCopenhagen, Cycling Chic Blogger

2010-12-02T13:23:00.002-06:00

I think many of you may find this interesting. It's from a blogger I really enjoy (he posts his photos of regular everyday cyclists in Copenhagen). This is a video from a conference in which he discusses "The Good Life" and how it seems as though most people are conditioned to do what their told to fear.

[I believe the higlighted links will work...]

http://video.tedxcopenhagen.dk/video/911034/mikael-colville-andersen
TEDx Copenhagen
http://video.tedxcopenhagen.dk

Results, Poll #67, Bike Commuters

2010-11-28T12:44:00.002-06:00

When you see a cyclist as you drive, here's what we think to ourselves...
> 0% said, "dumbass, move it" - good, because I would have tracked your ISP# and found you :)
> 57% said, "Some cajones they have" - seriously, it's dangerous out there
> 28% said, "I commuted by bike this week" - I need to do this more... or to be pain-free enough to do it more
> 42% said, "That looks like fun" - it is fun and it can be easy too... wouldn't your rather bike to work and get in exercise and stress relief by the time you get home (twice)?

And no, those percentages don't add up - I just copy what Blogger says....

Quotes of the day

2010-11-28T11:48:00.001-06:00

As you journey through life take a minute every now and then to give a thought for the other fellow. He could be plotting something.
- Hagar the Horrible

Either I've been missing something or nothing has been going on.
- Karen Elizabeth Gordon

Furious activity is no substitute for understanding.
- H. H. Williams

Starry night, Chicago-style.

2010-11-24T20:20:00.002-06:00

Quotes for the day...

2010-11-11T08:57:00.001-06:00

If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.
- Marcus Bridgstocke

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.
- Marie Curie

From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.
- Sir Winston Churchill

one little plate.

2010-11-04T06:08:00.000-05:00

If you can't see the plate on this one (sorry, it was a sunny day) - I believe it reads "SILYWBT"... and it's a Volkswagen Rabbit - get it!?! Ever since Fahrvergnügen, it's been downhill.

Powerhouse - Hailey, ID

2010-11-02T19:52:00.002-05:00

The last night of the trip I had the pleasure of stopping into a great place in Hailey, ID (which is part of the Sun Valley area) - Powerhouse Pub & Bike Fit Studio. This place is pretty unique in the world as it combines a small custom bicycle fitting studio with, what I guess Americans now would call, a Belgian-style pub. If you've been to a bicycle fitting studio, you get that idea. If you've been to HopLeaf in CHI or maybe Buster's on 28th in MPLS, you get that idea (though it's a better combination of both at Powerhouse).

But, Powerhouse does much more to combine the two - bike parts in the fancy restaurant tables, often only bike racing on the TVs, and beers on tap that you don't often see in the US. It also struck me that the people that run the place are some of the nicest and down-to-Earth I have met in a long time.

The night started with me creating a new drink, that I dubbed the Hailey Mule (after the Moscow Mule). This version combines a great local ID rootbeer and vodka. Pretty simple and pretty damn good. Then it was time to mow down a 1/3 pound local-raised beef burger. Dang was it good. Took me all of 5 minutes (it's one of my top 3 burgers ever). I was still feeling a bit peckish, so I pulled the trigger on what I remember being called a Powerhouse Roll. This is a take on the sushi rolls from across the street. Instead of a raw fish roll, Powerhouse makes an all-beef corndog and tops it with special house-made hot sauce and goat cheese. On its own, it was the best corndog I'd ever bit into (awesome corndog batter). With the extras, it really became something special. Finally, the night tapered off into a Spaten Ocktoberfest, some Delirium Nocturnum and I'm not sure what else. Not only that, but I was talking bike parts the whole time - pinch me, I'm dreaming.

If you ever find yourself in Sun Valley, ID - do us both a favor and stop in at Powerhouse.

You da ho...

2010-10-31T19:52:00.002-05:00

... no, Idaho. It's an impressive state. Lots to see and do outdoors. Good regional food choices, really nice small-town people. I'd recommend it to anyone, especially the Sun Valley area.

Quotes for today

2010-10-25T08:04:00.001-05:00

Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.
- John le Carre

There is nothing more demoralizing than a small but adequate income.
- Edmund Wilson

Quotes.

2010-10-11T14:39:00.001-05:00

We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities.
- Walt Kelly

Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death.
- James F. Byrnes

Auto-matic Trouble.

2010-09-30T21:47:00.001-05:00

So here's a pictoral history of my car the last few months. I don't know what's wrong - The neighborhood? My parking habits? I have a stalker? Dumb luck? Anyway you slice it, it's been somewhat costly, pretty unique and, at times, humorous.

1. First time the driver's side sideview mirror was torn off

2. Second time the same mirror was broken, but not fully torn off (currently held on with duct tape... no, not 'duck'... well, one brand is)

3. A night time re-enactment of The Birds (Pooping)

4. This is a new one... I can only hope it wasn't the birds again. It's an odd way to start your day as you get into your car. Please note: this was taken *inside* the car, the responsible party had to write it backwards from the outside... skills

Plates, best ever?

2010-09-08T19:36:00.000-05:00

Sebastian Joe's, MPLS

2010-09-07T06:56:00.002-05:00

Don't ever say 'no' to a banana split with custom, made-daily ice cream flavors

Fun Facts

2010-09-06T18:57:00.001-05:00

- 1 in 3 US children are overweight or obese
- Obesity costs US citizens $147 billion each year and unabated could double in 10-15 yearso
- There is recent information that obesity may not be solely because of one's own food choices, but largely determined by genetic predisposition

Hotel Tip.

2010-08-25T18:41:00.001-05:00

Do you know what the two dirtiest items are in the hotel room you just checked into? Well, it's the bedspread and the remote control. Toss that bedspread into the corner (though they love to place it back each morning) and follow these steps for the remote.

Unwrap a cup from the barware or coffee service -

And place the wrapper over the remote. Bingo-Bongo! Now it's safe... from God knows what.

Biggest 'cock I've ever seen.

2010-08-23T19:34:00.003-05:00

Whoa!!! Get your head out of the gutter. This is the biggest shuttlecock I have ever seen, taken on the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and their surrounding sculpture gardens. It's gotta be like 12 feet high. They had at least three of them on the grounds in various positions. There's a picture on their homepage of a family picnicking under the shade of this one. Geez, that's big.

KC Masterpiece?

2010-08-22T14:08:00.001-05:00

During a recent trip to this city in two states and the same name... I had a great afterwork walkabout and found their Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and it's outdoor sculpture park. I didn't pay anything to "get in" and it was a great place to get out and walk, especially after a long day at the office.

Just a unique house on the way...

I don't know of this is THE Thinker, but it said Rodin on the plaque

<><>

A house on the way home...

Is this "real" art or found art?

the shoe fairy dropped by...

2010-08-15T13:03:00.009-05:00

... and I now find myself with 6 more pairs of shoes, all Vans. The actual story is a little more involved, but it's a nice surprise, especially for a novice sneakerhead like myself. Astute t.c readers will notice only 5 different shoes pictured below. The 6th pair is a cycling shoe that doesn't really fit the group (but are sweet none the less).

These are all from a premium line from the Vans brand called Off The Wall, or OTW for short. Shoes in this line incorporate nicer leathers, suedes, patent leathers, etc. The 3 high-tops are all the same model in different "colorways", the 2 lowtops follow the same story.

Friday the 13th.

2010-08-13T17:55:00.000-05:00

Legend has it...
- If 13 people sit down to dinner as a group today, oen will die within the year.
- Many cities do not have a 13th St or 13th Ave.
- Many buildings don't have a 13th floor
- 13 witches in a coven
- If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck - Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy, and albert De Salvo all have 13....

... be careful tongiht.

A Capitol Idea.

2010-08-11T18:03:00.002-05:00

If you ever find yourself in Madison, WI I would suggest doing as the locals do and walk around downtown as much as you can. You'll hopefully find yourself at the farmer's market during the day and at night you can have an impromptu barcrawl, like I (sorta) did.

Do start the night off right with a good "base". Head over to the Great Dane and get the brat plate. Wash it down with one of their deliciously smooth brews and head out for the night. Good start.

After your drinking binge, get a close-up shot of the Capitol Building all lit up. I'm sure you're wondering, was this an early night or late night? I'll never tell. But the ride home was fun and very very dark. I think the city of Madison saves money but not installing street lights. I wonder what their crime rate is like because of it.

And finish the long weekend barcrawl with a special image on your way to brunch. Perhaps you even take a little siesta on this sitting-on-the-curb, soaked-in-rain, mattress set.

Only in a college town.

Sure, "global warming" is a scam...

2010-08-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

Blue Plates Special.

2010-08-09T17:52:00.004-05:00

During last month's travel back to IL, I was able to snap some sweet license plate shots during my 1000+ miles of driving. I thought I would post them for your viewing pleasure. And if you don't like them, at least pretend.

I don't know which one is my favorite (I don't usually have favorites). I will tell you that LENDOG 3 was a younger guy wearing no shirt while driving - always a sign of quality. I also wonder if there are two to three other LENDOGs in IL. LENDOG, LENDOG 1, LENDOG 2, and do they all know each other? Do they have a club and club meetings and pay dues?

SPANK IT, in the Corvette... was a spank. The only people that buy Corvettes are middle aged (dudes) who can finally afford one and who's wives let them buy it.

PRAYD 4 is one I appreciate the creativity of, but also wonder if it means they were prayed for and have many blessings OR they actually prayed for a Porsche Cayenne SUV. If it's the latter, they should have chosen SPANK 3 for their plate. (see how I combined the first two plates?)

How underdogs can win: newyorker.com

2010-08-01T15:09:00.000-05:00

I think some of the t.c readership may find this interesting:

How underdogs can win: newyorker.com

That Malcolm Gladwell sure writes a mean article

My old riding route.

2010-07-31T08:53:00.002-05:00

I was able to get in a ride or two on a recent trip back to my home state of IL. These are from a ride up Sheridan Road, just miles from my parents, siblings, high school, etc. These are from the coastline of Lake Michigan, along some of the beaches that these highend suburban cities tuck in along their normal streets. Getting down and up from them also provides a little bit of "hill-climbing".

Phenom, MPLS.

2010-07-11T13:58:00.015-05:00

Yes, I like shoes. Yes, I like unique retail design. How about both in the same store? Check out Phenom here in Minneapolis' Uptown 'hood...

[look like a dry cleaners from the front... sort of (you can tell this is waaaay nicer than a dry cleaners]

[one of the "machines" is actually a doorway to the back - cool detail]

[it also looks like they have a print press in the back for tshirts - how cstm]

[and I should have asked more questions, but it looks like this back room also hosts someone that sews really realy nice denim, with their own label - I was not expecting that]

You can also see from their website that they have an original St. Paul location.

One of the 10,000 lakes.

2010-07-08T17:57:00.000-05:00

I believe this is Christmas Lake and it sure is a nice present when you're riding in the hot sun (on this little gem) for a couple of hours. Seemed pretty private and quiet - perfect.

Theft @ Target Field.

2010-07-06T18:03:00.000-05:00

What to do in MN with a beautiful night, beautiful new ballpark I'd never been to and some free time? I decided to try and see the Twins game. I would need a ticket, but I've been to Wrigley and Fenway without much trouble and no ticket ahead of time (though Fenway's was about $75... which was totally worth it).

So, I rode my lil bike down after work, parked, and decided to make a "round" of the field, to see if I could sus out some tickets. First stop was the ticket window - no single seats left at that time, but maybe check back later. Ok.

Next was some more walking, around to the "busy" side of the outer park (where most folks come from the parking lots or bars). I began by asking a guy (scalper) across the street if he had any tickets. He said he had his ticket left and held it up for me. Said it was a good seat and I saw it was a face value of $13 - that's a price I like. I said I'd pay that and he held back a laugh. He wouldn't tell me how much he wanted and told me to go ask some other "sellers" how much there tickets were. Ok.

Digression - there are at least a dozen scalpers standing on the Target Field AND the other side of the street here with signs about "Tickets to Sell?", which means they want to buy your extras so they can scalp them to people like me - note, I now know MN allows the scalping of tickets, but it is not allowed for a scalper to be on Target Field grounds to do so. I also saw more than one scalper on the Target Field side asking every group of fans coming across with each "Walk" signal if they had tickets to sell (or needed tickets). I also walked by at least a dozen cops and traffic control people outside the game before the start. They were everywhere. Ok?

After wading through this mess for some time, and being turned off b ya throng of scalpers looking to make a killing off normal baseball fans, I decided to check back at the ticket window one more time. Would it have killed me to pay $60-70 to a scalper, yes (well, maybe not death). But the only ticket the Twins had for me was priced at $59. I paid it. And I have to say, it was a great seat (Sec 115, Row 21, Seat 13). In fact, it was really nice! (see below).

Once inside I calmed down a bit, took some pics and decided to spend some more money for food. I dropped just under $20 for a sandwich, soda, beer, and chips. I was alright with it. The team puts out a good product, the new field is beautiful, the fans were knowledgeable, the game was entertaining, and even though they lost, I was feeling the price was worth it. Ok!

However, the game got even more expensive when I came back out to get my bike and ride home. Can you guess what happened? No? Ok, I'll tell you. I came out to the bike rack only to find both my front and rear wheels had been stolen. Have you had the chance to remove a front or rear wheel from a bike lately? I suspect most people have not. If you have a quick-release wheel, it's actually not too bad. Thing of it is, these are, nay, were not quick-release wheels. That's right, Nancy, the thief needed at least two kinds of wrenches to remove them. They also needed some time standing at my bike to do this. Where did the cops go, ok?

So, I walked my bike's frame and ancillary parts to a cab and spent $7 more to get home (at around 11PM). I then filled out a police report online the next day and wrote the Twins an email. Ok...

I actually got a reply - a man from their Guest Services department wrote me back. He expressed his regret for my experiences (I wrote about the scalpers & theft) and basically said they could not do more to prevent either. The scalpers (he called them "ticket brokers", very smooth... only the fans go broke) are a sneaky bunch and the cops are busy during the games inside the park watching over 40,000 fans. Ok.

Am I being to harsh here? Maybe, I took it all very personally. Do I need to lock my entire bike even with bolt-on wheels? Clearly yes. Did I have a reasonable expectation of safety and security at a public event? I thought I did. Is it fair to let "brokers" sell? Probably. Is there a better way to handle both issues? I think so. Would I go to another game? Sure. Will I lock a bike? Yes! (it was such an easy way to get the game).

Take a bicycle ride...

2010-07-04T14:41:00.001-05:00

... you never know what you'll encounter when you're not going 74mph (and sticking your phone out the window). If you get out on a bike (or walk), you can take your time and "stop to smell the roses". Who knows what you'll see.

[ you may have to get of the normal path - but in hindsight, I wouldn't do it on skinny, 23c road tires + gravel]

[this was just sitting there in the middle of a hilly part]

[and who doesn't like horsies!?!]

[this "pinto" was actually the first picture of the gang, he/she seemed to mug it up for the camera - the bigger brown horse above came in to check out what was going on after these shots. And I couldn't get a good shot, but there were to little foals just to the left of this pen... next time]

These are just a few of the things on found on a medium-length ride in Omaha, NE. Yeah, I know, I didn't expect this quality of finds or riding in Omaha either, but I had my suspicions/hopes.

Lanterne Rouge.

2010-07-04T13:32:00.005-05:00

I still can't get enough of the bike pics on CycleChic. The one above is in a quick post about the jerseys and highlights of the Tour de France (going on right now). The post shows city shots of common jerseys in the tour (people riding in the city in yellow, green, white, etc).

There is an "honor" bestowed during the race to the last rider in the standings, known as the "Lanterne Rouge". This is due to the fact that way back when, the end of the race used to be marked by a vehicle with a large red lantern on it. They don't need to signify this occurrence now, so they give the honor to the last rider. It can change during the race (as many riders in this spot need to drop out (not feeling good))... but one rider always gets this honor as they make their way to Paris on the last day. Not exactly a career springboard, but fun for the fans.