Saint Paul MN - Great day for a walk

The bike group heads our for occasional walks before we get out for a new season.  We wandered along the river and through the activities before the Winter Carnival Parade - a run, slide, robotic snow plowing competition and the ice palace to name a few.

Minneapolis MN - New wall art

A new mural on a wall by the west bank train stop.  All those bricks are hand painted.

Saint Paul MN - Ice Palace Kick Off Video

Saint Paul MN - Winter Carnival Kick Off

Winter Carnival kick off with the lighting of the 70' high ice palace in Rice Park.   Great night to be hanging out and waiting, waiting waiting......

Minneapolis MN - Super Bowl LII is about to kick off

Lots of final touches going on along Nicollet Mall for the Bold North Experience.  Everything kicks off tomorrow.

Saint Paul MN - Finally, a real snow storm

It took until late January but we finally got a real snowstorm.
Took the bus/train in to avoid the mess and ended up stuck in the snow for about a half hour in the bus on the way home - and then was only half way in to it.
Some pics at about the half way point - well over 12 inches on my deck and my driveway is a drift magnet.  So I had to work through some 3+ footer drifts in the morning.
And a slow trek in on the train this morning as well.

Minneapolis MN - Sunday Walk

Been way too many cold and windy weekends until today.
Finally, a great Sunday for a walk with a few from the bike group.
We decided to check out all the activities getting ready for the Super Bowl in a couple weeks - the action begins this coming Friday.
Even remembered the Testify exhibit at the library and wandered through that as well.
And maybe the quiet before the 5 - 10 inch storm tomorrow.

Minneapolis MN - dinner and piano bar time

Sue missed out last night.
We hit Bardo's for dinner and checked out the "new Nye's" before heading home.
Great time at both spots.

Saint Paul MN - Catch up dinner with some Vikings excitement

3 of 4 Macs are back in town.
So we got dinner together for Sunday night.
Everyone arrived for the last 10 minutes of the "big" Vikings game - and got to see a very emotional and up and down finish.....that went for the good guys!
And we got a nice snow storm as well to make for a great evening.

Minneapolis MN - Pinball time

We bring the whole company in for a week in early January each year.  Usually it is one of the coldest weeks of the year.
This year we got the break between the cold while everyone was in town.
Besides a week full of meetings - there is also a week full of activities in the evening.
Monday night started out with Tilt - pinball bar in Minneapolis.

Clover Valley MN - NYE and the Wedding

Katie and Gabri chose NYE for wedding number 2 and we didn't get the foot of snow but we sure got the arctic blast for the evening.
Plenty warm once we filled the room with family and friends.  And a great wedding and NYE event was had in Clover Valley 2017.
Even a room with a view in beautiful downtown Duluth.
Had an amazing full moon as well - with a super moon to follow on January 1.