When planning our getaway to Minneapolis, we originally booked a hotel a couple of miles from U.S. Bank Stadium, figuring we’d just hop on light rain to get to the concert. Last weekend, Tara wondered out loud, “The Minneapolis light rail system is safe, right?”
Good question. So I asked Google. The answer? Decidedly not.
Now, I’m sure we would have been fine. But reading that it was the most dangerous light rail system in the U.S. based on crime data was a little concerning, so we pivoted and changed our booking at the last minute. We chose a Hilton downtown, just a 10-minute walk to the stadium, if for no other reason than peace of mind.
When we got there at 4 p.m. on Friday, the check-in line stretched all the way to the door. There had to be 50 people in front of us. And while there were a lot of people checking in for the concert and/or Vikings game on Sunday, it turns out they were having “computer issues.” It took us 45 minutes to reach the front desk and finally get our room key.
Then it was off to the stadium. We figured we’d pop into a bar on the way there for a bite to eat, but of course, everyplace was hoppin’, so we ended up grabbing burgers from the U.S. Bank Stadium concourse. No biggie; we were there for the music, and boy did they deliver.
The stadium is also home to the Vikings and a very cool building. We were a loooong way from the stage, way up in the nosebleed section, so those photos are straight off the Jumbotron.
First up was Stevie Nicks. When she stepped onto the stage, I got goosebumps. Not only have I been a huge fan of Stevie’s music for decades, but I might have once had a thing for her. Hell, maybe I still do. The second she opened her mouth, you knew you were listening to Stevie effin’ Nicks. Her rousing 90-minute setlist was a mix of her solo work, as well as classic Fleetwood Mac hits like “Dreams,” “Landslide,” and “Gold Dust Woman” (my favorite performance of he show). She included touching tributes to Christine McVie and Tom Petty. Billy Joel even came out early to join her doing Tom’s vocals on “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”
About Billy Joel: I had no idea the dude was so funny. He was very relaxed with the audience and told some great stories. He graciously gave a couple of his talented backup performers a chance to shine in the spotlight on their own, too. Billy was up there for about two hours and covered virtually all the hits, everything from “Piano Man” and “Movin’ Out” to “Uptown Girl” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” I loved his show even more than I expected to. He seems like a fun guy to hang out with over a beer or two.
Billy, if you’re ever in Fort Atkinson, hit me up.
(You too, Stevie.)
Considering both artists are 74, I was surprised by how many young people were in the crowd…and, in an ode to Stevie, how many were dressed like witches. Just a fantastic show overall, and we were able to cross off two bucket list concerts. There aren’t many more artists out there that we haven’t seen by now. The show ended around 11:30 and we were back in our room by midnight. Smart move, rebooking to a walkable hotel.
Saturday, we were up early to meet The Travel Architect and her charming husband. They suggested a place called Colossal Cafe, and we were down, so we met up at 8:30. The second we walked in the door, TTA recognized me and came rushing over, with a bottle of S.Pellegrino (nice touch!) and a hug. Introductions were made, food was ordered, and we grabbed a table to do some catchin’ up. The conversation flowed easily, as is usually the case with bloggers you’ve been reading for years. I thought both she and her hubby were great fun, and could’ve met hours. Rivergirl will be pleased to learn they served Mimosas and we ended up toasting her.
We parted ways with pics in front of wish-they-were-ours cars, and then Team MarTar was onto their next destination, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Everyone knows the cherry in the spoon, of course; the whole place was pretty interesting.
Unfortunately, it was freezing cold and windy, with intermittent snow flurries, so we decided to scratch a bunch of the outdoor sites we’d planned to visit and opt instead for interior pursuits. Which, when you’re in Minnesota, can only mean the Mall of America.
What an utterly amazing place this was. Its reputation doesn’t even begin to do it justice. It’s gigantic, and packed full of honest-to-god shoppers. Felt like we’d stepped into some alternate universe where Sbarro’s, Hot Topic, and Spencer’s Gifts reign supreme. Which honestly felt great. I have a lot of affection for malls, having worked in them for a number of high school and college years, and it was nice to see one that was actually thriving. I guess the secret is having a year-round indoor theme park, complete with rollercoasters and a log flume, smack dab in the middle of the place.
All that rampant consumerism had us working up an appetite, so we ducked into a sushi joint for a couple of drinks and a bite to eat. Lemme tell ya, mall sushi has never tasted so good. That’s a spicy ginger plum margarita, by the way, and it’s every bit as good as it looks.
I was very pleasantly surprised by MOA. I’m not a big shopping person per se, but we ended up roaming all four levels for over three hours. Didn’t emerge with much; Tara bought a couple of t-shirts from Spencer’s, and I got a bottle of hot sauce from Pepper Palace. But we can both say we contributed to the economic boom of MOA. If you’re ever in town, I recommend a visit, but plan on several hours for the full experience.
Our next indoor stop was a record store called Electric Fetus. Recommended by TTA and pretty well-known by Midwest vinyl aficionados. The place was awesome, and we picked up several hard-to-find albums that had been on our list forever. We may or may not have spent close to $300 there. You’re welcome, Minnesota.
We parked the Kona in a parking garage across the street (the only onsite parking is valet only at $57 a pop, no thanks) and walked a few blocks to Lyon’s Pub, where we parked our asses on bar stools for a few hours. After chalking up 16,000 steps already that day, we felt we’d earned that.
Left this morning around 8:30 and had a mostly uneventful drive home. The big excitement (not the right word) was seeing a most unusual roadkill. Animals like deer, raccoons, and possums are a dime a dozen, but when was the last time you saw a dead black bear that had been hit by a car on the side of the road? Tara said in all her years living just outside Yellowstone, she had never seen such a thing. It was pretty cool (not the right word).
When we got home, Laverne and Shirley subtly let us know that their food dishes were empty. I guess in their hungered frenzy, they knocked over that (very heavy, I might add) container of Friskies.
Yeah, yeah. We missed you too, guys.
Mark My Words 
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