SUP Adventures and Eats

After attending the Midwest Standup Paddle Festival in Madison, WI last weekend, my husband and I were pretty stoked. We met industry legends, tried out all kinds of paddleboards, and competed in the six and three-mile races, respectively. The festival, put on by Paddleboard Specialists, also included a special showing of the film Destination 3 Degrees. 

Midwest SUP Festival - Lake Mendota, Madison, WI

Upon return to the Twin Cities, one of our first stops was Lake Calhoun. Nestled among a chain of four lakes not far from downtown Minneapolis, the lake is our favorite SUP destination. Anxious to try out techniques we learned at the festival, we paddled through the chain focusing on our paddle strokes. Soon I was focusing on my appetite. It always happens. 

Lucky for me, lunch wasn't far away. Tin Fish, an outdoor eatery situated on the northeast bank of Lake Calhoun, made for perfect post-paddling nourishment. I chose the Walleye Fish Taco, which turned out to be the best fish-anything I've eaten in Minnesota. The walleye, which was topped with shredded cabbage, salsa, cheese, and a light helping of a creamy sour-cream like sauce, was lightly breaded and very fresh. We sat in tall adirondack chairs that were connected by a small tabletop. Very convenient for enjoying a lakeside lunch. 

It's really too bad that summer in Minnesota is so short. It really doesn't get much better than this.

A lakeside lunch at Tin Fish

Caffeine-fueled Creativity

Last weekend marked the Red Bull Creation challenge in Brooklyn, NY. Teams of engineers, builders, artists, programmers, and the likes were allotted 72 Red Bull-fueled hours to build a creation designed to move the weight of a person from point A to point B. Once time ran out, teams displayed their creations in McCarren Park before being judged by a panel of judges that included Burning Man founder Flash Hopkins.

The competition included arguably some of the most innovative and creative minds in America. It should be no surprise that the top honor went to a team from a city known for its arts, ingenuity, and engineering smarts. Congrats to the 1.21 Jigawatts - our hometown team!

I should also note that one of the Jigawatts is a good friend of the Red Dog. Congrats to Nathan Knutson!

Check out a video of their creation here.

Where to start?

"But I have no idea what to write about!" This is the response I often get when asking someone if they've considered starting a blog. Today I ran across this useful tool from MarketingProfs that may inspire you aspiring bloggers out there. To read the accompanying short article and access the link to download the PDF of the "infodoodle," click here. (You may be asked to sign up for MarketingProfs, a site I recommend if your profession requires you to perform any marketing or communications-related tasks.)

To demonstrate the idea of sharing photos - here's the Red Dog reveling in his favorite aspect of a Minnesota summer: 

glassy waters on a Twin Cities lake. 

You may question a life jacket on a water dog - safety first! 

Socializing in Nordeast

It's not everyday that I paddle 8k, run 5k, and bike 11k within a span of three hours. To be honest, it's rare that I cover that much ground in a week. So after my husband and I completed the Tri-Loppet on Saturday, I was ready to celebrate. And by celebrate, I mean indulge in a dinner out on the town.

Deciding on where to celebrate took days. I surveyed friends, researched reviews, and made lists. Then it hit me. Although we live in NE Minneapolis, we had never visited the highly acclaimed Northeast Social. After a quick review of the menu, we were sold. Reservations were made. My mouth began to water.

I arrived at the restaurant ready to feast on some small plates and a salad featuring pickled eggs, green beans, bacon, and olives. Then I caught a glance of what the diner next to me was chowing down on. After inquiring with our waiter, I learned it was none other than their house specialty - a Berkshire pork chop. Now I usually don't get that excited about pork chops, but this one was about an inch thick and sat glistening atop a pile of warm dijon potato salad and roasted carrots. It looked like the perfect cure for my race-fueled hunger.

And it was. The chop was more juicy and flavorful than most steaks I've eaten. My husband, the meat expert, was thrilled to have the opportunity to try Berkshire pork and was equally smitten with its succulent quality. Although the dinner alone left me far past satiation, we kept with the spirit of indulgence and ordered the chocolate cake for dessert.

They'll be another time for salads and small plates at Northeast Social. I can't wait.

The Chocolate Cake a la Mode at Northeast Social (BA, this is for you). Sorry to report that I didn't pause to document the pork chop.