Minneapolis, MN

We spent 3 days in Minneapolis visiting old friends.   Judy and her friend have known each other since the first day of their freshman year of High School (1956).  Mike and her husband know each other since 1964.  We arrived in the afternoon and around 3:00 we all went to happy-hour at Cooper’s, a nice restaurant in a newly developed area where we sat outside and enjoyed drinks and snacks.  It was very pleasant outside since they had umbrellas to protect us from the sun.  A few hours later we went out for dinner.  

The next day we enjoyed breakfast at Colossal Café which Mike got information about on the Food Network.  It is a tiny, tiny  place and they were very, very busy the entire time we were there.  Almost all of the patrons had heard about the Café from watching Triple “D” with Guy Fieri.   It gets pretty cozy sitting close to other tables and a counter facing the window; in fact, so friendly we spoke with others at tables adjacent to us. Their speciality is American scratch cooking with a European twist.  It was a fun experience.

We then drove to Stillwater which is referred to as the birthplace of Minnesota.  We went on a narrated trolley tour riding through the historic districts for 45 minutes.  We saw the Stillwater lift bridge which was built in the 1930s and two riverboats that were docked on the St. Croix River.  The ride took us through the hilly city by many old mansions that were built back in the 1850s to 1900s.  They have the oldest standing courthouse in Minnesota and a recently renovated 1897 Andrew Carnegie Library.  We walked Main Street checking out the many little stores.

For dinner we dined at a very eclectic restaurant called Victor’s 1959 Café where we had reservations.  It was in a small, brightly colored “shack” where we had excellent Cuban food.  Again, thanks to the Food Network’s Diner’s, Drive-Ins, and Dives (triple D!)  

The next day was spent visiting and then grocery shopping for the trailer.  For lunch we went to a newly remodeled drive-in and the weather was perfect to eat outside of the car.  Dinner was a great bar-b-q.  After dinner we played cards and the next morning we sadly said our ‘good-byes.