Night Out on the Town

The season started with a tequila bar, and it will end with one as well. However the sites of the two couldn't be anymore different. The first was adjacent to the campus of Arizona State in Tempe. But this most recent post, Barrio is found in downtown Minneapolis, part of the Nicollet Mall area.

The location of Barrio is uniquely different. Many of the establishments in the area offer something different. Down one side of the street is a English pub - Brit's Pub - offering authentic fare with an rooftop bar that would be an ideal spot in the summer months. Across the street is the NewsRoom, aptly named for the many newspapers that line the walls. Next door is "The Local," an Irish pub offering the most poured Jameson Irish Whiskey, if that's your thing. And after trying it out, I realized it isn't my thing.

But Barrio is much different than any of those. First of all it is truly a tequila bar. A variety of labels are stacked behind the bar, high enough that a ladder is necessary to access some of the higher quality brands. And it is necessary to have all of those brands as the menu featuring the different drinks is vast.

And the clientele inside Barrio is not necessarily what you would find in any of the other bars. It definitely has a core target audience and entertains those who are inquisitive by the low lights and bottles of tequila. The wait staff is warm and welcoming to all patrons. And if you are lucky, you could be entertained by a random movie that is shown on the wall opposite of the bar. The one we were entertained to was of the independent variety.

The mass quantities of tequila behind the bar

Nicollet Mall is a great area for shopping, dining and nightlife. Barrio is one place that would be a definite stop. Each downtown establishment mentioned would provide much fun, and something for everyone.

Minneapolis Weekend

 For the second straight year the Iowa Football team travelled to Minneapolis for their rivalry with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Due to divisional play and a revamped schedule, the battle for Floyd of Rosedale, which has been played in late November since 1983 is now being played in October.  It allows for better, more "fall-like" weather. And on this last Saturday before Halloween the skies couldn't be any bluer and the temps couldn't be more seasonal. And while part of the nation was digging out from an unseasonal winter storm, it was perfect football weather at TCF Bank Stadium.

TCF Bank Stadium, the conference newest, is one of few that run east to west. Most in the country are north-south with the press box on the side of the setting sun. But the open end of the Gopher's stadium is open to the downtown Minneapolis skyline, west of the Minnesota campus.

And with all Hawkeye games, Gary Dolphin (right) and Ed Podolak call the game on Learfield's Hawkeye Radio Network.

 A familiar face and voice to those in the Eastern side of the state of Iowa, Mike Grimm now calls the action for the Gopher Radio Network. Grimm spent much time at WMT in Cedar Rapids calling high school sports before getting the chance to be the voice of Iowa Women's Basketball along with Karen Schulte. Following his stint there he moved to St. Louis and did work with the St. Louis Cardinals on KMOX. This is his first year calling Gopher football, adding to his workload as voice of Golden Gopher Men's Basketball.

 A year ago the Hawkeyes were unsuccessful in their first game at TCF Bank Stadium. And the results weren't much different this year.

But the last time the Hawkeyes took to the Metrodome field, the outcome was memorable. It was also the final home game for the Gophers inside. Many Hawkeye fans referred to the inflatable structure as "Kinnick North" as the black and gold clad fans bought up as many tickets as were available. There were two memorable moments in the dome. The first was in 2002 when the Hawkeyes capped a perfect Big Ten season with a victory, and the fans taking down the goal posts. Then the final game inside was 2008 and the Hawkeyes shut out the Gophers 55-0.

Downtown Minneapolis was the overnight stop for the Iowa Football team. And a couple of blocks away was Nicollet Mall and the statue of Mary Tyler Moore depicting her famous hat toss in the open of her show, staged in Minneapolis.

Night Out on the Town

Since the Gophers and Twins have left the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the popular stop on the way to the games may have taken a hit in popularity. Huberts was the place to stop before or after many of the events at the downtown sporting venue.

Generally a packed place prior to most of the sporting events, Huberts is a great place to grab a sandwich with a cold refreshment while waiting for kick off or the first pitch.

Many photos of Minnesota's greats line the walls inside. Outside during the Summer months has various tables to enjoy the Minnesota Summer air.

New Target Field

 Over the weekend we had the opportunity to see Minnesota's new Target Field first-hand. It is self-proclaimed as the nicest ballpark in all of the major leagues. It is hard to argue that statement as it has done well what some other ballparks missed on. It reminds me much of Citizen Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia with a touch of northwoods. It is definitely a field that Minnesotan's can be proud of.

As with many newer ballparks, Target Field is built downtown in an area that locals are either trying to clean up or revitalize. The people of Minneapolis built this park near the warehouse district and is right next to the Target Center. A new light rail system has many lines running to the ballpark and the downtown area. And the park takes advantage of many bars and restaurants that were built to as an entertainment district.

 As we walked in at the gate behind home plate we were greeted by one of the ballpark's bars. This is Hrbek's, named after the first baseman of the '87 and '91 World Champion Teams.

Batting practice was just ending, but a criticism of the new park is that of the home run dimensions. To deep center the dimensions are 411 and 403, but the walls are high making it more difficult for Twins all-stars Mauer or Morneau to hit one out. Deep center are Minnesota Spruce Trees and right field features an overhang onto the field of bleachers.

 An early shower cleared the way for a beautiful sunset on the downtown skyline of Minneapolis. Rain and sunsets are something new to baseball fans in Minnesota. The Twins have played indoors since 1982 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The dome still stands today as the home to the Minnesota Golden Gopher Baseball team and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Prior to the move inside, fans in the Twin Cities would go to the present site of Mall of America and Metropolitan Stadium for both the Twins and Vikings.

The left field bleachers were built in the style of bleachers from old Metropolitan Stadium. Flags atop these sections signify both division and world championship years.

Local favorites are found all around Target Field. Locally brewed beers, root beers touting one of the Twins most known sluggers, Harmon Killebrew as well as hot dogs and sausages. Kramarczurs is the provider of Target Field's bratwursts and polish sausages. The $6.50 meats were grilled alongside onions as you waited, the my brat was one of the best I've had at any major league game.

The Twins honor their history with retired numbers hanging just beyond the left field foul pole. Alongside Jackie Robinson's 42 that is retired by all MLB teams are Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew.

One of the best retro-logo in major league baseball is that of the Minnesota Twins. Here "Minnie" and "Paulie" shake hands across the Mississippi River representing the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Upon a home run this sign lights up frantically.

Lights are built within the roof that runs from right field behind home plate to left field one set atop the replay board in left field. The lighting does a nice job of showcasing a beautiful ballpark.

And we enjoyed our trip to major league baseball's newest field.

The Last College Game in the Metrodome

Some of the last images from the final Minnesota Golden Gopher Football game played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. I was fortunate to be able to attend many of the Iowa - Minnesota games played in the inflatable downtown stadium. The Gophers began playing there in 1982 and next year they move into TCF Stadium, an on-campus outdoors facility. When the Hawks play there in 2010, it will be the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Looking at the first picture below, many of us are not looking to what the weather conditions may be that day.

Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak prepare for the broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

It was estimated over 20,000 Iowa fans found their way into the Metrodome. However by the end of the game, there were many more Hawkeye Fans remaining than Gopher.


The Hawkeyes are congratulated by the many Iowa fans.