Minneapolis

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One of the goals of this project was to learn more about the city I live in. Oftentimes, you’re never a tourist in your hometown and you can miss out on really cool stuff. I’ve tried to unearth city treasures of both familiar landmarks and relatively unknown markers. Today, my family and I toured the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Surprisingly, the museum was busier than a nightclub. It’s awesome, and it’s free (aside from the special exhibit). Some of my favorite sections were the Egyptian art and European paintings including Van Gogh and Monet.

Today’s special exhibit hearkened from China:  Near the unexcavated tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China, lays an extraordinary underground treasure: an entire army of life-size terracotta soldiers and horses, interred for more than 2,000 years.

For the past 37 years, archaeologists have been excavating a 22-square-mile area, recovering about 1,900 soldiers and horses of an estimated 7,000 buried in the tomb pits. Eight terracotta tomb warriors and two horses were on display in Minneapolis, and suffice it to say the attention to detail and individual craftsmanship was awe-inspiring.  Photographs weren’t allowed so instead I took a photo of a replica of the ten-foot-long bronze chariots, each drawn by four bronze horses. I love history.

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A view of Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis and Vincent’s and also Brit’s Pub from the window of Target Plaza Commons.

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Dayton’s, er Marshall Field’s, I mean Macy’s holiday display on the 8th floor of the Minneapolis store.

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It wasn’t the first nor the second time, nor the fourth or fifth, but the eighth time I reckon that I’d seen the Holidazzle parade roll down Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. And it was every bit as much fun to watch (and as cold) as every year I can remember.

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No wheat, no barley, no corn nor oats, the only thing being traded today on the floor of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange is creative ideas.