Saturday Started Off On The Right Note

A morning of relaxing, cleaning and packing my daughters sleepover bags gave Derek a chance to find just the right thing to do for date nite. I was sooo looking forward to it. We dropped Emily off in the early afternoon in Waconia. she was gonna be going to Safari Island which is a very nice community pool and boy was she looking forward to it! After the three of us braved Target in Waconia and was fortunate to not come into all the shoppers...it was unbelievably slow. We picked out just the right birthday present for Breanna's friend and headed home for we only had an hour remaining til Date Night. Breanna was lucky to be the only friend going to Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe for thrilling rides. Well with Derek scoring tickets to Santaland Diaries for date night we would be going to Hennepin Stages Theater in Minneapolis. We were ready for laughs. The afternoon turned into a day just full of spontaniety until showtime. I had gotten tickets to the Foshay Towers at the library the day before and had with good heart intended to stick to the plan of going. With never having the experience of Minneapolis Skyway I was in for a treat. All I kept thinking to myself when we first got downtown was "I am not gonna be walking around in this bitter cold for hours." Well I didn't have to! From the moment we parked in a heated garage we used the designed for any weather Skyway System. I was loving Winter! We walked and walked through all of Downtown Minneapolis like Hamsters and enjoyed the easy access to everything. The Bells were ringing downtown with people nesting their spots for the Holidazzle Parade 2 hours ahead of time to capturing all the Sparkling lights that graced every corner. Not even an hour into our date night I was in heaven. After going through Macys, Target and Saks Fifth Avenue we came upon the cutest little Santa Shop in the IDS building, which happens to be Minnesota's Largest, and I was quickly taken in by the joy of the season. I was ready to go see the Foshay Towers which meant leaving our warm skyway, only for a block and a half, and immediately my ears were freezing. Oh Jaywalking I was glad there were no police around but I ran for cover in the Foshay Building. Once in I immediately loved and sensed such a warming aura. There is something about a doorman that just spells New York to me. Taking it in and realizing we are now standing in a popular and sentimental landmark of Minnesota which was built in 1929. The only building in the world modeled after the Washington Monument built by Wilbur B. Foshay. It had been restored into the W hotel in 2008 and it sure looked enticing to get a room. But we ventured on up the short elevators to the 30th floor to the museum and the observation deck "outdoors" for a panoramic view of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Well Derek took in the whole 360 degree view I kept it to 180 I had that little visitor upon me FEAR. hahaha! Something about windows I like you can see through. What was Wilbur thinking then! ;)) He should have had me in mind. Turns out I am not the only one who can't brave the height without hugging the wall or almost dropping down to your knees, I am glad to announce others experience that visitor too! Anyways the view from my side was a Breathe of fresh air and you can really sense the pioneer behind such a innovation. He built a View to Kill. The museum "indoors" has a wealth of information and visuals/audios that we listened to. Greatly impressed and definitely bringing the girls next time.
We then decided to check out the 27th floors Prohibiton bar which used to be Mr. Foshays apartment and I immediately fell in love. The ambiance was like no other with knooks and crannies of just feeling like you just stepped into the 1920's. Oh I wished I had dressed the part. Next time for sure! I love costumes!! We had enjoyed one cocktail and just took in the elaborate view. As we were leaving and back in the lobby wouldn't you know there was a door to the Skyway...we didn't afterall have to step outside to get there. Hello Skyway I'm using you again. Simply a master design I have to read up on the engineers behind it! By now once nearing Nicollet Mall Dr. many more people had found their nesting spot for the Holidazzle Parade to soon light up and dazzle downtown. With the timing of our play we didn't have enough time to enjoy it but for sure we will be going and now I at least kind of know where I want to stake my real estate in the Skyway. :0)
Just like that we