The MN State Fair and a Touch of Project Runway

Yesterday was the first day of the Minnesota State Fair. I always post about it, I always attend it, and since I pass by it every day on my way to and from work, I always hear it, smell it, and experience it. Fortunately, I also love it. The Minnesota State Fair isn't the largest fair in the country, and it's twelve days of length isn't the longest, but it is the fair that has the largest single day attendance records nationwide. In 2016 we wrapped up our 157th year with a whopping 1,943,719 attendance record, an average of 162,000 people per day. Saturdays are the heaviest attendance days, but with those kind of numbers, every day is a people watching day.

There's nothing quite like the Minnesota State Fair. I love this poster
with all of the iconic structures featured in a crazy tableau. 

I know at least two of my nieces and nephews were out at the Fair with their families yesterday. The nation also seemed to pound down the road to our doorway. Early morning TV shows were there in abundance. Of course, all of the local media purveyors are at the Fair daily during its' run. But yesterday they had national help as well with a visit by Al Roker from NBC's "Today Show". He was greeted by an array of costumed llamas, to the delight of my Assistant Manager, Chickie, who adores llamas.

NBC's Al Roker was greeted by an array of costumed llamas. Where else
would you see such a thing but at the Minnesota State Fair? He seemed to
be enjoying himself, while the llamas were acting superior, as they should be. 

Although DH and I usually go out there on the night of the first Saturday, we've decided to skip that this year. Saturday is supposed to be a very wet and rainy day. We can still change our minds, but I'm looking forward to a lazy night instead, before heading out to Renaissance Festival on Sunday morning. Sharon will arrive next week so I'll be at the Fair with her on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. DH will join us for Saturday night and all day Sunday. Chickie will also join us for Sunday. No worries, we'll get our Fair time in.

The "Big Wheel" carries people around in enclosed gondolas. At it's height,
it's 15 stories high - a bit less than half the height of the London Eye. I want
to go on this. (Just warning you, Sharon. I'm dragging you onto this one!)
Want to read about the "Big Wheel"? Just follow the link. 

On a totally different note, last night's Project Runway was the Unconventional Materials challenge. I knew it was going to be recycled materials, but it turned out to also be a team challenge which caught me off-guard. There were three different teams randomly assigned, each comprised of five designers. I'll go into more detail with photos tomorrow, but it was quite clear that communication was the key to success in this one. When the individual designers were willing to listen to Tim Gunn's critique and learn from it, bouncing ideas and concepts off their fellow team members, they were successful. When they didn't talk to the other team members, they crashed and burned. There were a LOT of horrid designs, but the structural concepts were sound. It was a fun episode to watch.

The Unconventional Materials challenge. Heidi says it's her favorite
challenge of each season. I just remember a lot of less than quality
outfits and some really horrid ones through the seasons. Tomorrow I'll delve
into what the designers made for this season's "Trash to Treasures" episode. 

So, have a grand and wonderful Friday. Chickie is taking today off to wander at the Fair, so I'm holding down the fort for her. I expect lots of texts with pictures and critiques about the different foods that she's trying out. After all, food, animals, and people watching are the reasons for going to the Fair. Oh - and the various exhibits, and the people ... and the music, and the people ... and the ..., and the ..., and - well, you get the idea. LOL