Scott's Actual Birthday Weekend in Minnneapolis: Jade Dynasty and Art Shanty Projects Edition

The day after we got back from the cottage Theo and I went to his first Timberwolves game.

He was a bit scared in the upper deck, but got used to it and loved the game.

Later that week it was finally my actual birthday. An unseasonably warm end to January has meant we haven't been skating. I thought we could walk to the new restaurant I wanted to try out for my (second) birthday dinner.

It felt like fall outside.

The old Fuji-Ya (Minneapolis' original sushi joint) at Lyn-Lake is now Jade Dynasty and I've been wanting to try it out for weeks. The owners previously owned Hong Kong Noodles in Stadium Village and Nankin in Downtown.

We upgraded to Beef and Broccoli.

We were hoping the table would have the giant turntable like at MingHin in Chicago.

But it was the lo mein and dumplings that were the highlights.

Cool space.

It is.

Glad we went when we did because it was quite busy when we left.

Back at home I debated where to buy my ice cream cake from. I settled on Bebe Zito's The Parent Trap cake.

This family loves our ice cream cakes.

I thought it was better than Sebastian Joe's oreo cake.

Theo has been requesting "apple"skivers for breakfast.

The next day we went to the Art Shanty Projects on a windy first day of February.

We seem to always miss this every year.

With no snow on the ground the lake was a slip and slide. Should've brought our skates.

I'm glad I brought my ice tracks.

Art Shanty's is still rad after all these years.

Though they seem to be less shanty.

You know we had to wait in line for the cat shanty.

You got to dress and pretend to be a cat. Meadow's dream.

This shanty let you work a loom.

After Meadow got a turn, Theo wanted to try too.

The weaving shanty was the coolest of the ones we got to see.

We would've stayed longer, but it was freezing.

The wind was so strong Theo and I got pushed by the wind and didn't have to do any work.

Then we went to one of our favorite toy stores to get a birthday gift.

Some kind of virus is going around at work and got me. I spent the rest of the day lying on the couch watching The Simpson's. I forgot how good this show is.

Comments

Mayday in Minneapolis 2025

It's Mayday, the greatest day of the year in Minneapolis. I warned Theo that it was going to be hot today but he still insisted on wearing his high wool socks. Can you blame him. They look so cool. We biked over like we always do. So much easier these days living just across the highway from the South Side. We left later than planned and didn't have our bikes ready so by the time we arrived there were no more spots on the curb to sit. We hung out in the shade until we heard the Battletrain coming. It'll be here soon. Or will it? Every 30 feet this giant cardboard castle did a little show. That would explain the long hold up for the parade to start.

Backcountry Camping with Kids in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Day 1 Back in May I stumbled upon Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I had no idea there was a National Park in North Dakota and that it was the northern end of the Badlands. Usually our summer vacations coincide with Scott's work trips. Since he didn't have any this summer I thought we should take advantage of actually taking a vacation. What, my workcations are always classics? I suppose a second real vacation this year wouldn't hurt. We definitely have more time than normal. As long as we took Covid-19 precautions and avoided people. We finally settled on a time to go. Blake joined us so we borrowed our dad's van so we could ride together. Scott had just driven from Michigan the day before. Blake had met my parents in Wisconsin to get the van and then drove from Duluth to pick us up. I offered to drive since I literally only drive twice a month. I was still pretty tired from a long drive home. Since we were near Fergus Falls we had to stop by the abandoned state ho...

Work Trip to Dallas

Another work trip for Scott means another Chinese buffet. I had to try the best Chinese buffet in Dallas. It just feels like something you do in Texas. I was down in Dallas for a shoot at Parker University. Yeah, I'd also never heard of it. After the shoot and the buffet, I explored the Oak Cliff section of Dallas from L.O. Daniel to the Bishop Arts District. When I go to a sunbelt town I typically look up "most walkable neighborhood" on Reddit. Almost always your best bet in these sprawling metroplexes. Yup, definitely in Texas. I wasn't hungry at this point, but next time I'm in Dallas, I've got to eat at Taqueria El Si Hay. This place just screams, "Really good tacos, here!"

Search This Blog