So...instead, we slept in, got around at a leisurely pace, then headed to the Convention Grill in Edina for lunch. Duane got the obligatory hot fudge malt, and I had a DELICIOUS meat loaf sandwhich. There was, evidently, a 4th of July parade near 50th and France earlier that morning, because the place was packed, and everyone was sweaty and loud...NOT a good combination!
We had an AWESOME waitress, who suggested we order right away, since a bunch of large tables had just been seated, so we got our food quickly, and had a GREAT time devouring it all!
After lunch, we headed back out into the BEASTLY heat, then TRIED to see the Rembrandt exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Unfortunately, it was closed.
I had my iPhone with me (LOVE that thing!), so checked to see if the Minnesota History Center was open. It was, so we switched gears, and headed to St. Paul (we got to see BOTH skylines, up close and personal!).
I haven't been to the History Center for AGES, so it was nice to catch some of the new exhibits, look around the swanky updated digs, and COOL OFF in the air conditioning!
A replica of one of Charles Lindberg's airplanes
The capitol, as seen from one of the viewing atriums in the building
A terrace outside the atrium
The St. Paul skyline from the terrace
Hot reflections ready to go back into the air conditioning!!!
There were a couple of permament exhibits still in place One of my favorites is the "House through Time", which chronicles the lives of a bunch of different families that all lived in the same house during 6 or 7 generations. Very well done, and very cool. At the end of the exhibit, it tells how the museum found the family information, tracked down birth and death records, and contacted remaining living relatives. There are also signs that explain that there are still a couple of gaps in occupancy, during which the house was converted into apartments and information couldn't be found because renters lived in the house.
Another favorite permanent exhibit is "Minnesota's Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom", which chronicles the early/mid 1900's in Minnesota. Really cool displays of memoribilia and "kitsch" from the era!
Co-creator and co-restauranteur of Totino's Restaurant and frozen pizzas!!!
The other permanent exhibit that we like is called "Weather Permitting". Snow, ice palaces, sun, tornadoes, record breaking hail stones...QUITE exciting!!!!
The simulated tornado...would be an EXCELLENT way to stage the tornado in "The Wizard of Oz"!!!
There were also a couple of temporary exhibits that we had the chance to see. We were able to see one of the last remaining originals printings of the U.S. Constitution, and the constitution(s) of Minnesota (I pluralized it because, in true Minnesota fashion, there are two. The Democrats and Republicans couldn't agree on much when it was written, and met separately in two parts of the capitol building. Each wrote their own version, and each is signed by their respective parties. This only happened after a committee was formed of several from each group to look at the constitutions, to see if they were similar, and a member of one of the parties "assaulted" a member of the other with a cane during the proceedings...!). It was the last day for the exhibit, so the line was long. Not sure it was worth the wait, but interesting, nonetheless...
The other temporary exhibit was a collection of paintings called "1934: A New Deal for Artists". Here's what the Minnesota History Center wrote about the exhibit:
"In 1934, Americans were dealing with an economic situation that feels all too familiar today. Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the U.S. government created the Public Works of Art Project—the first federal government program to support the arts nationally. A selection of paintings made with support from this program will be on view in the exhibit, organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It features 56 paintings drawn from the museum’s unparalleled collection of vibrant paintings created for the program.
Federal officials in the 1930s understood how essential art was to sustaining America’s spirit. During the depths of the Great Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration created the Public Works of Art Project, which lasted only six months from mid-December 1933 to June 1934. The purpose of the program was to alleviate the distress of professional, unemployed American artists by paying them to produce artwork that could be used to embellish public buildings. The program was administered under the Treasury Department by art professionals in 16 different regions of the country, including Minnesota.
Artists were asked to depict "the American Scene," but they were encouraged to interpret this idea freely. They painted regional, recognizable subjects - ranging from portraits to cityscapes and images of city life to landscapes and depictions of rural life - that reminded the public of quintessential American values such as hard work, community and optimism. These artworks, which were displayed in schools, libraries, post offices, museums and government buildings, vividly capture the realities and ideals of Depression-era America."
"Radio Broadcast"- 1933-1934, Julia Eckel
"Chicago Interior"- 1934, J. Theodore Johnson
"Skating In Central Park"- 1934, Agnes Tait
"Subway"- 1934, Lily Furedi
VERY cool!! For more information on the Minnesota History Center, visit their website at: http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/.
After a tour of the gift shop, and a picture near the "Minnesota Attractions" map, we headed home:
After dinner, and putzing around the house, we headed to the parking lot of Home Depot (our "regular spot" when we're in town) to watch the Eagan fireworks. The city always does a GREAT job with them, and, although it was REALLY hot, it provided the perfect ending to our mellow, stay at home day!!!
Here's hoping YOU found fun ways to celebrate the birthday of our country too!!!!
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