Minnesota Street Rod Back to the 50’s Weekend

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BACKto50s_4C Complete LOGOThe Minnesota Street Rod Association is holding their 36th annual “Back to the 50’s” classic car show this weekend – June 19-21 – at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights.  The Twin Cities’ own garage band The Trashmen of “Surfin’ Bird” fame, will be performing live on Saturday evening.  So fellow rockers, grease back what’s left of your hair and take the whole family!

For all of you classic car buffs, let me also recommend the Hot Summer Nights event held each August in Reno, NV.  The week-long event attracts car collectors from the whole West Coast, so the entire town is a showcase of classic cars that culminates in a parade on the town’s main drag, Virginia Street.  The owners obviously benefit from not having to protect their beauties from winter street salt.  If you ever want to attend, be sure to make your reservations early because the best hotels fill up weeks ahead.  I recommend The Peppermill Hotel.  It’s a great place to stay with reasonable prices, and one of their parking lots is used for exhibiting the cars.

Mississippi River Challenge 2009

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Mississippi River Challenge 2009
Mississippi River Challenge 2009

The Friends of the Mississippi River are holding a canoeing and kayacking event on the Twin Cities stretch of Old Muddy on July 25 and 26, 2009.   They’re a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Mississippi.  It sounds like a great weekend of fun, exercise, and exploration.  It’s an opportunity to get a very different view of this beautiful waterway that has shaped the histories of both Minneapolis and St. Paul.  There’ll be a day of paddling through three locks, followed by a celebration that includes live music and great food.  For more information, see the Mississippi River Challenge 2009 website.