State Fair Wrap-Up
August 29th, 2007
Let’s not try that again. And by “that,” I mean go to the Minnesota State Fair on the weekend.
Yes yes, I knew that finding me at the State Fair on a Saturday would be like finding a needle in a haystack. I wanted to see if it could be done. Which it couldn’t. Now we know.
But if you take out all the shoving and pushing and nudging, it was grand day to be at the fair. Pronto Pups and cheese curds were consumed. Drunk men in bright green sombreros were laughed at were blatantly laughed at by drunk men from Boston Scientific.
And to top it all off, my wife and I saw the most pathetic sideshow in the world. For every nail that someone drilled into their nose, there were ten illusions that I could perform more convincingly with pipe cleaners and a empty Tic-Tac container. The only saving grace was the David Lynch style atmosphere of the surroundings.
Let’s do this again soon, but in two weeks, and not at the State Fair. It’s a date!
What I’m Wearing - August 25th Edition
August 25th, 2007
Today’s Least Dangerous Game will be a little different. Generally, I try to hide someplace without an admission fee. But being a conduit for Minnesota culture, I am not strong enough to resist the Minnesota State Fair.
I will be hiding at the Minnesota State Fair today. The updates, coming every 15 to 30 minutes, will give my most recent location within the “great Minnesota get together.” That’s right, I will be a moving target.
But how do you pick me out from a giant crowd? Well, I will not be sporting a mullet. Also, I’ll be wearing another Threadless t-shirt today. Cast your eyes upon the picture below.
It is a giant panda bear attacking tanks! And it is green!
The game starts at noon. The prize is a $20 Target gift certificate! And you can always see Fergie at the grandstand if you fail.
Get ready to run and eat. But mostly eat.
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary - The Wrap-Up
August 13th, 2007
After surviving a night of constant lightening, it was time to roll out of bed and play Least Dangerous Game. The sidewalks were now dry, but the humidity had been turned up a notch. Sweaty fun was sure to be had today! The clean kind of sweaty fun.
The hiding location for this week’s Least Dangerous was the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary located within the Twin Cities park system. Let’s go through the clues and see how people did.
Minnesota history: 1928
Minnesota native Arlene Dahl, star of movies such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Ambush was born on August 11th, 1928. But that doesn’t point to any bird sanctuary. What is going on here?
She was born in 1928, but her clue is from 1950.
Oh, I see. She was in a movie called Watch the Birdie in 1950. Very tricky, Aric. Very tricky indeed.
What’s that hunhback yelling? I can’t hear him over the bells.
Some of you may have gone to the Basilica, but that was incorrect. The hunchback yells “Sanctuary,” of course. As in “bird sanctuary.
Celebrating 100 years
On the day of the game, the Wildflower Garden was celebrating its 100th anniversary. That two items of Minnesota came together on the same day for these clues was perfect.
At this point, Molly Bloom of Minnesota Public Radio called to find where I was so she could do an interview with me. She actually guess correctly! But since she wasn’t playing, her only reward would be a solid radio interview.
While waiting for Molly to show arrive, I sent out another clue.
Alvin and Simon love Mrs. Butter.
The garden was located on Theodore Wirth Parkway. Get it? Theodore? Worth? Wirth? Yeah, you got it.
At this point, Molly showed up and we began a pleasant and casual chat about Least Dangerous Game and quirky ideas in general. A lot of things were recorded, but we’ll see how much is used. I imagine something along the lines of 30 seconds. But it was a beautiful day out to be sitting and chatting with someone in some gardens. No complaints here.
I am lost in this Brazilian rainforest. Find me at 0831779535
The Amazon is the Brazilian rainforest! If you go to Amazon.com and look up sku 0831779535, you will find a book about wildflowers and birds. That’s one crazy clue, I tell you what.
This 13 acre site was preserved with an initial budget of $200.
Eloise Butler started her wildflower garden on 13 acres with a budget of only $200. I didn’t ask the reenacter that was there if this was true. I took the internet at its word.
Oldest public wildflower garden in the nation.
The last fact of interest before I was found. All of these history I didn’t know about before this week, let alone that a celebration was going on. There really is a lot of amazing stuff going on in the Twin Cities.
Then, the winners showed up!
It was Mike Janssen and Diana Rajchel again! Hooray for winning gift certificates!
After getting interviewed themselves, Mike, Diana and I went searching for cake. Because it isn’t a birthday party without cake.
And so wraps up this weekend of Least Dangerous Game. It was a beautiful if a bit humid day out, and I enjoyed myself while learning a lot.
Not to stress learning. No no, kids. You’re doing this for fun and gift certificates! See you in a few weeks!
What I’m Wearing - August 11th Edition
August 11th, 2007
After a stormy night, we have arrived upon August 11th and another round of Least Dangerous Game! I hope branches did not fall on anyone.
So how will you recognize me today? That’s easy. I’ll be wearing a t-shirt from the Diesel Sweeties comic strip.
That’s right, the human crushing Red Robot is making an appearance on my chest. Obey!
The clues will start at noon, so get yourself ready. The clues for today’s location came together for clockwork, so you better take an active role in figuring out the answers! I’ll be waiting!
Nice Spread
August 10th, 2007
Pick up your local copy of the City Pages and take a look at my interview about the Least Dangerous Game!
And for those of you who came here because of the City Pages, welcome! You can SIGN-UP HERE for the game and READ THE RULES HERE.
My name is Aric, by the way. Nice to meet you.
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