BootsnAll Articles

Minneapolis, Minnesota - August 2001

August is the month of art, or at least art fairs. The strange part is
the fairs attempt to compete with each other. The three main fairs, The
Uptown, The Powderhorn, and the Loring Park are all scheduled for the
same weekend. The first weekend in August.

The original, The Uptown Art Fair (612-823-4581), claims to have 500 artists from around the United
States. It also has the most "manufactured looking" art of all the
fairs. It's mostly wildlife prints, baskets, and weird metal objects
bent like pretzels. There's plenty of vendors hawking cheese curds, corn
on the cob, ice cream, corn dogs and other fair food.

The best part of
this fair is the fact that it is held in the middle of uptown and three
blocks (31st-28th St.) of the normally traffic laden Hennepin Avenue are
traffic free. Buses and the hordes of people are the exception, but no
cars. Plus there are plenty of bars to visit when you're tired of
looking at baskets and beaded jewelry. Walk there if you can, parking
will be ridiculously difficult to find.

The Powderhorn Festival of Arts takes place in Powderhorn Park (34th St.
and 15th Ave S.) and features 170 artists. The art here tends to be a
little bit more interesting and diverse, not to mention more affordable
than its predecessor, the Uptown Art Fair. Powderhorn Park is in a very
progressive neighborhood and people passing out flyers for every cause
known to man are always a staple at any gathering there. A polite no,
and the distributors are off your case. Plenty of fair fare.

In recent years a new competitor has entered the scene, the Loring Park Art Festival. Set Downtown in Loring Park, the fair is definitely the
most unique. Although the uniqueness is more evident in the festival
goers than the art. For some reason any festival in Loring park brings
out everyone one from your uptight neighbor to the drag queen du jour.
There hang tag should say, "The chosen few". There's 110 artists that
were chosen (juried) by some panel consisting of some people. Maybe your
uptight neighbor and the Drag queen, I don't know.

I'd have to recommend the Loring Park Festival, it has the most eye
candy.

The great Minnesota get together, animals included. The Minnesota State
Fair is a blast. It's the epitome of a Midwest Fair.
There's cows, chickens, goats, horses and any other farm animal you can
think of, most of them you can pet. Don't miss the giant pig! Enjoy the
Carnival rides and games or make some spin art. There's a space needle
that will take you high in the sky for a priceless view. Everywhere you
turn there's a cheese curd booth, not to mention the cheese curd factory
in the Dairy building. There are so many different kinds of food here,
you couldn't possibly try them all, but most Minnesotans try. It's held
from August 23-Sept 3rd in St. Paul, at the the State Fair grounds, duh.

Admission: $7 adults (13-64), $6 seniors (65+) and kids (5-12).

Another festival that attracts all kinds is the Renaissance Festival
held in Shakopee. It's a 16^th century redo, and all the help is dressed
appropriately. I'd have to say that some of them take it a little to
seriously, but it adds to the fun. There's jesters and Kings walking
around ready to hassle and tease you as you walk through the grounds.
There's a jousting contest, and some comedians that are actually funny.
The Renaissance Festival is held weekends and Labor Day from Aug
18th-Sept 30th. The only downfall is that it is expensive, $15.95 to get
in and food and drink is also slightly expensive. For more info call
952-445-7361.

If all this outdoorsy stuff gets you down and you're a little more
high-brow, head downtown on August 3rd, in your best duds and attend the
Marshall Field's Fash Bash hosted by Brooke Shields. Sure to be the most
glamorous and over the top activity this entire summer. Broadway-like
performances and musical guests semisonic and Don McLean will surely
dazzle and amaze. Dolce and Gabbana, Versace and Armani won't be there
but their clothes will.

There is a post party to mingle with all the
local celebs for a mere $125. If you're just into the models you can see
the fashion show for $30, but no party afterwards. I say do it up, go
for the party, you can even feel good about it knowing that a portion of
your admission will go to Children's Cancer Research in Minneapolis.

August 3rd, 8:00pm, call 612-339-7007 for tickets or more info.