Minnesota State Fair: A live blogcast
August 31, 2015
Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, our hosts step into the MPR Booth for a series of live broadcasts. That inspired those of us on MPR's digital music team to think: why not have a live blogcast too?
On Monday, August 31, our Internet team is spending all day at the Minnesota State Fair—from the time the gates open to the time they close—roaming across the grounds and capturing the strange magic of the Great Minnesota Get-Together in photos, stories, and videos.
We invite you to follow along with us on this post, which we'll update throughout the day—and by following us via social media (see below). Are there any Fair highlights you'd recommend we hit? Let us know in the comment section!
Here are just some of the stops we have planned:
Breakfast at a church diner.
The MPR Booth, of course, as it "wakes up" to welcome our audience.
A sing-along with Classical MPR's Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, at the MPR Booth at 9:00 a.m.
The Midway. Who has a strong enough stomach to go on rides before lunch?
The Ramberg Senior Center, where we'll be asking attendees to share some of their favorite Minnesota music memories.
The daily parade at 2:00 p.m.
Mark Wheat's live broadcast, on The Current from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Sonny Knight, who will be performing live at the MPR Booth at 4:30 p.m.
An Arts A' Fair performance by theater artist Ifrah Mansour, at the Education Building courtyard at 5:00 p.m.
The seed art, of course; we'll see in-progress photos from one of the award-winning artists.
Ye Old Mill, celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The Giant Slide!
Hope to see you at the Fair—IRL and online!
Social media to follow
Classical MPR on Facebook
The Current on Facebook
The Current on Snapchat: thecurrentsnaps
@ClassicalMPR on Twitter
@TheCurrent on Twitter
Local Current on Facebook
@LocalCurrent on Twitter
@ClassicalMPR on Instagram
@TheCurrent on Instagram
MPR on Facebook
@MPR on Twitter
@MPRMembership on Twitter
Who's on our Internet team?
Brett Baldwin (@brettish)
Jay Gabler (@JayGabler)
Leah Garaas (@leahgaraas)
Dan Nass (@draynass)
Julia Schrenkler (@JuliaSchrenkler)
Andrea Swensson (@SlingshotAnnie)
Luke Taylor (@LukeTaylorMN)
I spoke with Linda Paulsen, a Minnesota-based seed artist who set up camp in the horticulture building at the 2015 Minnesota State Fair. On display behind her were more than a handful of works spanning her 46 year career as a seed artist, including busts of Lucille Ball and a lion with a lovely pine needle mane (some seed art competitions allow the use of plants). Paulsen started her latest work, a flower detail, this past winter. She's poured more 15 hours into the 8x8" piece so far, using northern Minnesota red, white and Japanese millet seeds, as well as canola and poppy seeds. Although Linda purchases most of seeds at grocery stores and co-ops, it's always a treat when local farmers sell her a sample of their seeds directly. – Leah Garaas
It's still dark out, but the gates open in less than five minutes! Stay tuned for our live blog cast from the Minnesota State Fair. http://ow.ly/RzWfr
Posted by Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday, August 31, 2015
It's never too early for mini-donuts! #MNStateFair #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/ky6guZkYe2
— ClassicalMPR (@ClassicalMPR) August 31, 2015Our own Brian Newhouse at the keyboard. But wait, no sound? Not necessary. He says he can even hear the wrong notes. #liveblogcast
Posted by Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday, August 31, 2015
Panoramic shot of the merchandise in the back room of the MPR booth!
Posted by Local Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
I'm snapping for @TheCurrent's #blogcast from the #mnstatefair! 👻 thecurrentsnaps pic.twitter.com/lZwMqSki1N
— Leah Garås (@leahgaraas) August 31, 2015Our #mnstatefair singers are stretching with @tesfawon. #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/SHpdJdhgqP
— ClassicalMPR (@ClassicalMPR) August 31, 2015Rare copies of the #Current10 10", featuring The Hold Steady and the Suicide Commandos - now available at the Minnesota Public Radio Booth. Hand-stamped by The Current staff...when they're gone, they're gone!
Posted by Local Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
.@TheReplacements' 2014 Midway concert immortalized in seed art. #mnstatefair #liveblogcast http://t.co/ziPFvLHTPw pic.twitter.com/i6R59SQNcm
— TheCurrent (@TheCurrent) August 31, 2015The Banjo Boys Variety Band. #liveblogcast
Posted by Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday, August 31, 2015
.@TheWillisClan are here from Tennessee, and their rhythm guitarist just lost his second tooth. #mnstatefair pic.twitter.com/WyiGbS1i19
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015Local legend, spotted on the Mighty Midway. #mnstatefair #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/I71yJM849T
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015Middle-aged woman, overheard walking up to the #mnstatefair ball-toss games:
"I gotta get a Minion."
— Jay Gabler (@JayGabler) August 31, 2015Sometimes, there are small stories to be found at the fair. #bornfree pic.twitter.com/sce65Jj5Er
— Julia Schrenkler (@juliaschrenkler) August 31, 2015#mnstatefair booths playing Alice Cooper's "School's Out": why would you do that?! #saltinthewound #liveblogcast
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015Sweet benefit of working at the @MPR #mnstatefair booth - buckets o' cookies #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/2FH0Ycwonv
— Julia Schrenkler (@juliaschrenkler) August 31, 2015Author appearance at the #mnstatefair! #liveblogcast CC @thethreadmpr pic.twitter.com/scVCErTolW
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015When Sue Nelson isn't playing organ for the Minnesota Twins, she's rocking out at the AFL-CIO Booth. #liveblogcast
Posted by Local Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
Another day at the #mnstatefair. Doing a "blogcast for @thecurrent. Stop by the MPR booth ... http://t.co/OtJ3FtVOHN pic.twitter.com/nfB8SQS3FU
— Nate Ryan (@nateryanphoto) August 31, 2015Minnesota State Fair Parade - Aug. 31, 201512 minutes of the Minnesota State Fair's daily parade into a one minute hyperlapse video, all part of The Current's digital blogcast: http://ow.ly/RBltl
Posted by The Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
Ghost WingsJay Gabler and Julia Schrenkler stopped by Alton's Wings & Bar-B-Que in the Coliseum to split a half-dozen ghost wings. Spoiler alert: they're hot.
Posted by Local Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
We're snapping all day from the Minnesota State Fair for The Current's blogcast! thecurrentsnaps
Posted by Local Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
Mark Wheat at the Minnesota State FairJulia Schrenkler talked with Mark Wheat about his State Fair routine--and about the Sonny Knight live performance happening at 4:30 at the MPR Booth! Stop by, or listen in on the radio.
Posted by The Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
Sound-checking with Sonny Knight and @TheCurrent - as personified by @leahgaraas. #mnstatefair #liveblogcast https://t.co/V5YKfm9IlF
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015Thumbs up for Sonny Knight, who just finished a live performance on @TheCurrent from the #mnstatefair! #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/8qVwDuwIXd
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015The Methodaires bring choral music to the Education Building. #mnstatefair #liveblogcast https://t.co/MquQgVfYaM
— ClassicalMPR (@ClassicalMPR) August 31, 2015This guy just julienned a cucumber and said, "Then you can put your favorite sauce on it, like alfredo." #mnstatefair pic.twitter.com/VJbUniV4Qy
— Jay Gabler (@JayGabler) August 31, 2015Susan at @mndnr tells fairgoers about MN's geology. #mnstatefair #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/R2oRQpy1Bm
— Luke Taylor (@LukeTaylorMN) August 31, 2015"LOOK AT THAT GIANT INFLATABLE SRIRACHA!"
It doesn't take much at #mnstatefair
— Jay Gabler (@JayGabler) August 31, 2015F Scott Fitzgerald's 1928 story "A Night at the Fair" is set at #mnstatefair & name-checks @oldmill100: http://t.co/5zRWy53bV9 #liveblogcast
— Luke Taylor (@LukeTaylorMN) August 31, 2015At the @MPR Booth, @leahgaraas gets a crowd's-eye view of Sonny Knight. #mnstatefair #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/6LcPkDKTUR
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015MN musicians in 2015 #mnstatefair seed art: @TheReplacements, @jmessersmith, and, in "We Are the World," Bob Dylan. pic.twitter.com/s2ofa9cTAE
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015Bagpiper getting a tip tucked in his kilt at @OGarasBarGrill #mnstatefair
#liveblogcast #HELLO
https://t.co/mEdXBNsksD
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015The Schell's Stage at West End Market was built in 2014; it replaced the former facility in the old Heritage Square....
Posted by The Current on Monday, August 31, 2015
The legendary @tbreed is ready to record your @MPR story. #mnstatefair #liveblogcast pic.twitter.com/D2cW1cfTIl
— Local Current (@LocalCurrent) August 31, 2015