America's Pasttime

This past weekend, last minute of course, I spent the weekend in St. Paul/Minneapolis with my guy and his dad. It was not what I intended for my weekend off but decided to fly by the seat of my pants and enjoy some time away. If you know me at all, you know that I am not one for big cities, the lack of grass or hillside views makes me feel as if I'm a caged animal. Yet there I was, in the Minnesota capital attending my first ever Major League Baseball game. Both of the guys have been Minnesota twins fans the majority of their lives. I refuse to say since birth considering cognitively they had no idea what was happening around them. Anywho... we stayed in the Foshay Hotel, an identity crisis no matter how you look at it--a beautiful old exterior and a modern interior with a rage atmosphere. Not at all what I was expecting. Heck they expected you to pay for everything you can imagine, I'm surprised we weren't charged to breath!  

The view from our seats...before everyone dashed for cover! 

As soon as we checked in we were off to the ballgame!! Dressed for summer in shorts and a red t-shirt, my meager attempt of blending in with the crowd, I was unprepared for the hour of intermittent showers we experienced while sitting in the 26th row from the field on the right side. Our area seemed to be the target of most of the fly balls, in my case not an ideal placing. I don't know about you but I am not a fan of baseballs flying abruptly at my head! Through the rain and sun I survived my first game- a WIN at that!! In the final inning the Twins managed to score off a walk-off (as if I truly understand this idea, but I'm sure I will learn!) It was a great ending to the game as I was slightly worried about bringing bad "juju" to the game and having the guys refuse to ever bring me again. Luckily--I may be a goodluck charm, ha! On a side note..if you're a vegetarian at a baseball game..everyone around you is enjoying the traditional ballpark hotdog or burger and beers...well I managed to steel a few fries of the guys and enjoy a nice bottle of water and some ice cream, not an ideal afternoon meal but c'mon..who hates ice cream? Not this girl! 

The Storms a coming!! 

After the excitement left us we walked back a few blocks to our hotel room to change into dry clothes and look up a few local eateries. After what felt like hours ( but was really maybe 40 minutes) we decided to hit up a local place by the name of 'Hell's Kitchen,' no this is not a place based of the tv show rather they've been around a bit longer than the tv show itself. As we walked down the stairs of the street toward what felt like a dungeon I was immersed in amazing aromas and a fantastic array of art covering the walls. Yes a few of them were slightly disturbing but they were beautiful!  Seeing that we were in a larger city I didn't think much of worrying about vegetarian options, luckily I was right. This place had a decent number of dishes and options that I could choose from yet I was drawn to a sandwich, considering sandwiches are the target for me these days naturally I couldn't resist trying their grilled vegetable sandwich. Slathered with peppers, carrots, and mushrooms I found it amusing, slightly bland, but amusing all the same. The flavors were well blended with goat cheese and a slight Zap! when the jalapenos decided to show their faces but again I was hoping for a little less mess. Either way I stepped away from my normal salad and found another sandwich to score on against all the others. I'm not sure I would choose this meal again but I did find it educational..sliced carrots on a grilled sandwich..not my thing! At least not in this case.  

Fast forward to the next morning, I wont bore you with the uneventful evening, we arose and found ourselves back on the streets heading to a place called 'Basil' located just a block or so from our hotel. Now I am a lover of all breakfasts, I don't believe any menu can do harm and this eatery managed to elevate my day! I was instantly excited to see a greek yogurt parfait with granola and fruit compote! Delicious! Not to mention the amazing butter-pecan bread that came with it. I was granted my protein fix for the morning to prep me for the bike ride ahead and the deliciousness I ever so desire with my breakfasts! This place is a must if you are ever in the cities! I insist! The atmosphere is bright and alive with a view into the skyline of the city. The presentation alone of their dishes was appealing and inviting. Not to mention the portion sizes were preferable. Nothing like the buffet line nor the traditional Perkins/Village inn type. The plate was laid out with just a few of this and a couple of that. No piles or pools of food falling on each other. Merely a delectable meal that wouldn't end in your stomach being upset with your eyes! 

View to my right. Thats the Bridge

Off to the trails we went. The next few hours we spent riding the trails around Minnehaha Falls and the neighboring state park. Absolutely beautiful! Minnesota in the summer is a site for sore eyes! The greenery of the parks and the trails leading you every which way were perfect! No need to worry about pedestrians on the bike path, they had their own a few feet away.   We ended up riding approximately 24 miles before we decided to end the ride with a quick stop and a local tavern a block from where we parked the car and started our ride. At the time we had no idea the street below the bridge was covered in great pubs and such, yet we didn't waste any time picking the one with a great menu and and even better drink selection. If there is anything I have learned from my guy's family its they enjoy their drinks. Not to say they are heavy drinkers but they don't hesitate when enjoying great company or great food to have a nice beverage to accompany. This time my selection wasn't vast but I did have options. I ended up getting an open faced sauteed curry vegetable sandwich with swiss and coleslaw. I've never been eager for curry in my menu but this one seemed interesting enough to try. Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots sauteed in a yellow curry sauce placed atop whole grain bread and finished with a thin layer of swiss. I found it tasty but not extremely appealing on the eyes. It almost appeared to be a mound of cheese until you realized a simple tear with a fork and the rest of the sandwich is uncovered. No matter what I thought of the food I was amazing with the location. Tucked under the bridge next to the river a cobblestone street lined with great pubs and entertainment. While we were eating we were treated to watching tourists take lessons for a segway tour. Naturally I was hoping to see a little fall, not one that brought about any injuries of course! Fortunately for them, they were all very quick learners and after their brief lessons away they went for the tour! 

To my Left. Hey that's Me! 

Thus our weekend in the Twin cities is over, but I was not unhappy with any of the local discoveries. Turns out I may be a slight baseball fan, only if I'm at the game though, and I am finding every outing to be an adventure for my taste-buds. Not that they would complain, I have treated them to some very delicious and new foods over the weekend. Until my next adventure!