*I'm on TV.

Well, actually, it's just PBS... but still!

I had the chance to volunteer for the local PBS station's August pledge drive through work. I thought it would be fun to finally check one of these out. And I'm embarassed to admit I've never contributed to PBS in all my years watching. I mean, since I was a wee boy it's been a steady stream of Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and Electric Company - though the best was Reading Rainbow, not. And now-a-days it's This Old House and others. So, I felt contributing my time would help offset this imbalance. I signed up for a 4 hour shift. I know, it seems long, right? And this was from 6-10pm on a Tuesday, so after a normal workday too. What did I get myself into?

In actuality, it wasn't rocket science or even mildly hard to take pledges. It was a bit warm in "Studio C" at the venerable Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) Studios, but they fed us dinner and had plenty of cool drinks for us to guzzle down (and I drank them like it was going out of style). The time went by quickly. We got to see & hear them interview Dr. Amen live in the studio (Google "Brain in Love") and we all had a chance to see the live "give us your money" schtick that they do during pledge drives. Some of us also got "close-ups". I am purported to have had one of said close-ups, and they run the shows over and over, so perhaps I can see myself one day on TPT2, St. Paul-Minneapolis.

Here's some pics from the joint (no cellphones allowed in the studio, oops):

*As a small sidenote, this is my 300th blog post. Just like a popular sitcom, I got myself a fancy t.c cake, made by the wacky crew at Ace of Cakes. Thanks Duff & Co - it was delicious!

Uptown Art Fair.

What else would I do on a hot, steamy, Sunday morning in August by myself? For those from my home state, this is much like the OldTown Art Fair, just a lot less people and no "suggested donation" that goes to a nebulous community organization. I'd say the art was the same (surely these artists tour the country all summer?), the food was more 'state fair', and the lighter crowd much better for me (and I don't hate crowds, just the people in them).

This is MN's 2nd largest public event, aside from the venerable state fair. It attracts something like 450,000 people each year and sells something on the order of $2.5 million in art. Speaking of the art, you be the judge. Favorites?


[b&w photos from Youngbok Park, Oakland, CA]


[who couldn't use another BudLight beer can airplane? Sompit Xia Srinuksit, Granite Falls, NC - so not making this up]


[really nice, bright, ceramic work (freestanding objects and this tile work), David Allyn, Providence, RI]


[and maybe one of the most wacky, whimsical booths I've ever seen, this Dumpty is 2-3 FEET high and made out of bronze! Kimber @ Joan of Art - there were probably hundreds of similiar items, all of Humpty - obsess much?]

And let's not forget the food

[you don't want just any ole corn dog - how about a foot long corndog!?! I would have liked to get a shot of one of them, and I thought about it, even saw one or two - but the people gnawing on them probably would have given me the stink eye, MN-style]


[and finally, on a hot, 85 degree day with like 90% humidity - who doesn't want some warm nuts? I think the best part is the mad little girl holding down her booth duty]

Nye's Polonaise.

If you want Polish food or beer and a place to polka, this is the joint. I went on a weeknight, but I'm told Fridays and Saturdays this is the only place around to dance to live polka music. They get a huge crowd of fun (read, drunk) folks of all ages.


[It's the kind of place with old dark furniture, woody accents, stiff cocktails, and waitresses older than you are]


[The highback booths are perfect for sucking down some liquid courage before hitting the piano bar or going into the main room for polka (or other live act)]


[semi-creepy piano guy included, and "Wild Bill" is thrown in for free (he's the drunk, white-haired, Irishman that will dance with your date) - this is not made-up]

Catch some Z's in NYC.

As I walked from appointment to appointment on Thursday in NYC, I found this woman lying in a storefront, sleeping. She looked really comfy and really asleep. No, I didn't bang on the glass. There was something written on the window about a "sleep project". I didn't get the whole story, the image was enough for me.

NYC @ night.

NYC seems to have two distinct parts to the day (and more pronounced
than Anywhere, USA) - the day is for commerce, but the night is for
being social, meeting new people, and enjoying life.

I met a couple the night of this photo that gave me their cousin's
contact info. Why? She hosts the classic music show on NPR and works in
MSP too. I will be contacting her when I get back.

NYC Pic - 42nd St at Tudor Place.

Taken between dodging huge raindrops.

Artery 24.

An old soap factory here in MSP has been converted into something of an artist-in-residence space. It's a big place, lots of soap in the day, and for 24 hours once a year, they clear it out and have exhibits and performances. Pretty good idea, especially if you have insomnia (not it).

Some of it was interesting art pieces, some was performance art (and a bit less interesting), and some was only set-up for later and just looked interesting.

[definetly a hazard area, but kinda cool]

[neauvo quilt]

[some pretty standard, yet clever]

[some pretty funny]

[and this is the one that was set-up for later. you could also see a wheelchair waiting behind walls (they had put peepholes in the walls to look through). Word on the street was that this artist's performance piece would be somewhat gross and/or bloody. It didn't show til 1AM and I didn't make it that late]