Thank you to our over 220 Minnesota State Fair Day participants in NYC!

It feels like it was just yesterday the crowds were walking around enjoying the fair like food and fun. The day started at Pop Pub for fried pickles, mini donuts, and corn on the cob. Participants arrived with unbridled enthusiasm for the day to come. Name tags with ‘Name, From, and Favorite thing about the Fair’ started conversations throughout the crowd. Not everyone hailed from the Midwest, many participants from previous years brought East Coast (and overseas) friends for a taste of home. We had people flying to attend from Minnesota (including the parents of participants), San Francisco, and Berlin. Fanny packs and Vikings hats were worn. T-shirts of Minnesotan pride ranged from sports favorites (Twins, Vikings, Gophers, even the late North Stars) to ‘six one two’ and ‘Somebody in Minneapolis loves me.’

After Pop Pub, groups were split into two to reduce congestion at the next locations. The groups headed first to The City Tavern where freshly baked Sweet Martha’s cookies and milk were served. Trivia questions were provided to groups to challenge their Minnesotan sports and movie knowledge for the chance of winning Star Tribune t-shirts.

Then the crowds moved to Woody McHale’s for the most anticipated item on the tour: cheese curds. Also present at Woody McHale’s was Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat on tap, a rare find in Manhattan. Last week Woody McHales received a special delivery, a wooden paddle signed by none other than Jacob Leinenkugel thanking Woody McHale’s for their support which now hangs over the bar.

From Woody McHale’s the crowds split up to pick up french fries, fried Oreos, funnel cakes on their way to the last bar, Bar None. Bar None year-round is a Vikings Bar. Here MNSFD organizers delivered Pop Bar gelato on a stick and Crif Dog corn dogs. Pop Bar was especially enthusiastic about participating because the actual Minnesota State Fair asked that they would participate at last year’s Fair, however Pop Bar was unable to do so. The night ended well after the crawl with Minnesota music favorites blasting throughout Bar None, of course Prince was a popular request.

Thanks again to everyone who came out for our big day. Please take time to fill out our participant survey and stay tuned for details for 2013.

Photos by EssBe Art.

The fifth annual event is quickly approaching this Saturday, August 18th.  In celebration of the nostalgia, the event will start at 2:00pm at Pop Pub (83 University Street, New York, New York). Intense research has been conducted to identify any and all fair-related foods available in NYC, and pit stops include, but are not limited to:

• Pop Pub – Fried Pickles, Corn on the Cob, Mini Donuts
• Woody McHale’s – Cheese curds and Leinenkugel Summer Shandy
• City Tavern – Authentic fresh baked Sweet Martha’s chocolate chip cookies
• Bar None – Football “fishbowls”, Crif Dog Corn Dogs, Pop Pub Gelato on a Stick

Tickets are available at http://mnstatefairday2012.eventbrite.com/. Tickets are only $12. Just like the Fair you are responsible for food and beer with some freebies and prizes along the way including tasting of authentic Cheese Curds, Sweet Martha’s Cookies and Milk, and Leinenkugel Summer Shandy.

All are welcome to attend, no Midwestern roots or Fair experience required.

Starting Location, Pop Pub (83 University Street, between 11th and 12th Street) :

Last year’s event sold out, so get your tickets today!

Minnesota State Fair Day is truly a labor of love. Over the course of the next month we are looking for volunteers who are just as passionate about fried foods on sticks to help with planning, preparation and day-of execution of the event on August 18, 2012.

We will be holding a volunteer kickoff meeting July 23 at 7pm at Pop Pub (83 University Place  New York, NY 10003) for interested individuals. If you have time, energy or resources to donate please RSVP at mnstatefairday (at) gmail (dot) com and join us.

Planning will be done over fried pickles and mini donuts, of course.

Tonight Minnesota State Fair Day is co-hosting Minneapple in the Big Apple’s Minnesota Monthly A Taste of Minnesota edition Happy Hour sponsored by Surly Brewing Company and Blu Dot.

We’re excited that Surly has been so kind to send us 6 varieties of beer for the event: Bender, Coffee Bender, Bitter Brew, Cynic Ale, Hell Lager, and Furious. We are also grateful that Blu Dot was more than willing to host us in their great SoHo location.

Today will also be launching tickets for the fifth annual Minnesota State Fair Day at noon on Eventbrite. Last year tickets sold out so be sure to buy early, there is limited capacity.

It’s a very exciting day, thank you to Surly Brewing Company, Blu Dot, and Minneapple in the Big Apple for making the event possible. More thanks to Woody McHale’s for frying up the cheese curds and to the volunteers from Minneapple in the Big Apple and Minnesota Culture Club who will be helping make the event run smoothly!

Get excited! This Friday, July 13th Minneapple in the Big Apple and Minnesota State Fair Day are collaborating for July’s Minnesota Monthly happy hour with a very special venue and brew to celebrate summer in the city and Northstar pride. Blu Dot, a furniture design company from Minneapolis will host the event in their SoHo showroom and Surly Brewing Co. will supply their Minnesota-brewed beer for attendees. Cheese curds will be served.

Typical Minnesota Monthly Happy Hour antics will prevail such as Minnesota themed trivia and DJ Cherry Spoon playing favorite Minnesota tunes. Minnesota State Fair Day will launch ticket sales for the fifth annual food and bar crawl to the likeness of the Great Minnesota Get Together on August 18, 2012.

The free event will take place on Friday, July 13 from 6-9PM at Blu Dot, 140 Wooster Street, NY, NY 10012. All are welcome enjoy the event and the rare sighting of Surly beer on this side of the Mississippi. Please RSVP: mnstatefairday@gmail.com

Minneapple in the Big Apple is the host of the Minnesota Monthly Happy Hour typically the first Friday of every month. Minneapple in the Big Apple was created by Nora Riemenschneider and is maintained by Jay Ackley. @minneapplenyc

Minnesota State Fair Day is an annual food and bar crawl to the likeness of the Great Minnesota Get Together, it is the Big Apple on a Stick. The fifth annual event will take place August 18, 2012. Last year’s sold out event had over 150 attendees and featured authentic cheese curds and Sweet Martha’s cookies. @mnstatefairday

Blu Dot is a Minneapolis-based modern furniture manufacturer and retailer. Founded in 1996 with the simple idea that good design could be affordable. @bludotnews

Surly Beer is a Minnesota brewery that brews award-winning beers with a Surly attitude. @surlybrewing

Minnesota State Fair Day 2012 Kickoff with Minneapple in the Big Apple’s Minnesota Monthly Happy Hour.

Join us at Blu Dot furniture show room sponsored by Surly Beer for Minneapple in the Big Apple’s Minnesota Monthly Happy Hour.

July 13, 2012
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Blu Dot
140 Wooster Street
New York, NY

Minnesota State Fair Day will be announcing exciting details regarding the fifth annual food and pub crawl slated for August 18, 2012.

RSVP on Facebook.