History Weekend

For spring break, some people go to cool places and do cool things. I stay at home and do nerdy things. Such as go to museums. Spring break started off well because I managed to stay occupied, which is something I really needed.

Friday started off with seeing the movie "300," when I accepted this invitation I didn't realize 300 was the movie I decided that I really didn't want to see. It was about Spartans, and Spartans enjoyed violence. Unlike myself. Though the excess of hunky men in leather underwear was rather distracting. Actually the movie ended my Friday. Earlier in the day Clare and I wandered around campus and took pictures. We had malts at Annie's and life was good.

Saturday some of us went to the Mill City Museum to learn about the milling roots of Minneapolis. It was cool to see how the mills really started off the city, and also how the falls have changed over the years. The view from the top was quite nice too.

The start of the Stone Arch Bridge

The mill exploded a few times, and was burnt out in 1991, so it's in ruins now.

It's cool because it's old and new!

Later that night we had an excellent time in Cottage Grove before heading back to Minneapolis for a night on the town. Some of us went to the dancey night "Too much love" at First Ave for about 10 minutes. Then we headed to a house party where Radio On was playing. Turns out Mark Mallman was there and I acted like a little school girl. The band was all buddy buddy with our group and it was like we were VIP. It was pretty sweet.

Ross's brother Olie, Ried, Clare, and I rocking out.

Then Sunday continued history day with a visit to the James J. Hill house and the St. Paul Cathedral. The house is really old and very large. Hill was one of the founders of the Great Northern Railroad, he was kind of a dick. But since he was a heartless bastard he earned lots of money and built a gigantic house for people like me to marvel at.

The dining room was my favorite. The ceiling is made of 24 carat gold and the walls covered in leather. Talk about putting money to good use!

The house is across the street from the St. Paul Cathedral, Ross, Clare and I took advantage of the proximity and took a spin around. It's quite pretty inside, strange to think that religion encourages so much suffering, but is surrounded in decadence. There was also a statue of St. Patrick which I found funny because he's not an official saint. So I hear.

The big dome of the cathedral is really pretty!

Tomorrow we're going to go do other things around Minneapolis to continue the history/learning theme. Plus the weather is really nice.