Boots, Beats & Eats

The advantages of being a resident in the metropolis of Minneapolis are endless. Last night I had my first experience at the city’s downtown Orpheum Theatre. As I am still unemployed (who wants me?!?!…seriously) my parents agreed to treat my boyfriend and me to a pair of tickets to the world renown play “Wicked”. Having grown up with a sister who is simply obsessed with everything Broadway, and experiencing a handful of Broadway Plays myself I was delighted at the opportunity to be exposed to yet another fantastic performance.

I can honestly say that “Wicked” was in fact….well, wicked! As every other Broadway Play I’ve seen, the actor’s vocal chords were out of this world. What sets “Wicked” apart from other plays however is the lighthearted humor incorporated throughout the entire show. Even my boyfriend (whose favorite musical up until last night was the High School Musical Episode from South Park) was floored by the set, singing, and actors.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the storyline, the play portrays the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West, and the Good Witch of the North were friends in college, long before Dorothy and Toto were even in the picture. Without giving away any spoilers, it’s safe to say that this fantastic ‘untold’ story turns our beloved movie “The Wizard of Oz” upside down.

Find out if the show is coming to a city near you here, and if so I strongly urge anyone and everyone to buy a ticket!

{Fire works over Lake Mendota ~ 4th of July 2009}

The Fourth of July is far and away my favorite national holiday. Nothing epitomizes summer like the festivities that accompany this glorious celebration; grill outs by the lake, swim trunks and bikinis galore and an endless supply of beer. Top this off with a massive display of  fireworks stretching across the skyline and you have a perfect recipe for the quintessential summer day.

This weekend I am spending the 4th in my ‘soon to be home’ of Minneapolis. Not only do we have our pick from hundreds of lakes in the surrounding area, but  Taste of Minnesota has planned its 28th appearance to coincide with the holiday as well. This means two things; sensational local food, and awesome music. Two of my all time favorite groups, Atmosphere and Pepper (and many others found here) will be performing at Harriet Island Park throughout the weekend. I can not wait for the food, fun and concerts to commence. Have a safe and amazing extended weekend, and happy birthday America!

Ladies and Gentlemen; while I was busy burying my face in books and making advances towards a clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel, another best friend of mine got one step closer to that quarter century mark. The Amy Wadginski turned 23 years old this Sunday.

For those of you lucky enough to know this special little lady, it’s clear that she is undoubtedly the funniest girl on the face of the Earth (which makes up for the fact that she’s a Chargers fan). Not only does Wadgi have the ability to turn a bad situation good with her infectious humor, but all jokes aside she is one of the best people I have ever met. Happy belated birthday Miss Wadgi, I love love love you!

I know lately my posts have been minimal. I am graduating next week, so to ensure a decent GPA I’ve been doing some serious bonding with our university’s libraries. Once I make it through the jungle of term papers and exams my professors have prepared, I’ll be back to doing my regular postings.

Simply put, the greatest block party…in the world.

Click here for the lowdown on this fantastic Badger tradition

It took me longer than normal to find a university that I absolutely fell in love with. Before I was able to call myself a Badger, I was busy making my way eastward across the United States by means of several different collegiate institutions. My second stop Denver, Colorado is home to a small but beautiful Catholic university that I attended for a little more than 3 semesters. I joined the women’s soccer team there in the Spring of 2006 and it only took a few weeks for us to become thick as thieves; we were inseparable. Without a doubt, these girls are some of the greatest and most inspirational individuals I have ever met.

{#5}

My decision to walk away from soccer inevitably led to my decision to transfer yet again. Though moving away from these wonderful ladies was harder than I’d ever imagined, I have no regrets. Be that as it may I still miss them tremendously and have been faithful to my promise of returning to Denver yearly.

Most of the girls have since graduated, so my visit this weekend has been deemed extra special due to Leah’s (now a nurse in Philly) decision to fly in as well. I could not be happier. I am so thrilled to be with everyone again and can’t even begin to anticipate the kind of hilarity and mischief my extended weekend will entail.