Minneapolis, MN

7/5-7/7:

Big city here I come! After a 2 weeks of camping and driving I was pumped to be in a city again. I was lucky enough to find a host in a long time friend Nick. Nick and I met in middle school through a class called Musical Theater that drastically changed my life, maybe for the better. We sang together for 6 years through middle school and highschool. We also sang at church together, which was more of a skirt chasing mission from me. Senior year Nick’s parents decided that they would move out to Minnesota and Nick chose the University of Minnesota as his landing point for collegiant study. It was at this point that our ties ended. He would go on to change majors from pre med to vocal performance with a focus in opera. Perhaps I was not the only one influenced by that class back in 7th grade. Anyhow Nick lives in downtown Minneapolis, but he suggested that we stay with his parents in Woodbury. I remember getting the address and chuckling to myself over the fact that in the time between we graduated and now there is now a neighborhood in Irvine of the same name.

I pulled up to the house and was blown away. By any other populated state’s percpetive they were living in a mansion. Good on them. I was greated by ceaser and Melanie, Nick’s parents and welcomed into their gorgeous home. I felt so awkward, I mean I haven’t seen them on almost 20 years and I’m sure I smelt bad after so long on the road, but they welcomed me with open arms.

It was amazing to look into Nick’s face and see the same dude I remembered from so many years past. Throughout this trip I had visited multiple people from my past, but none with such a large time gap in between interactions, but I recognized this guy. It was great to see the familiar face and I was excited to catch up.

Since college Nick had worked here and there with local opera companies and was now working for a rental car company managing their slaes devision. He still also works as a paid singer for a local church, keeping the chops sharp. Following my arrival his parents served a lovely meal of bbq and I had to crash out. I may have under sold how arguouse the drive through South Dakota was in my previous entry. It was not fun. Full stop.

The next day Nick suggested that we head to the Mall of America, to which I said “yes we are going to do that”. Not because I like malls, but because when in Rome you are a fool to not see the Vatican. And if there is a Vatican for the US it is the Mall of America. Acres of retail space that include an aquarium, theme park, multiple hotels and by my count 3 lids stores. THAT IS TO MANY HATS!!!! We wondered around what turned out to basically just be a large version of south coast plaza, with again 3 lids stores. And I suddenly saw a store called “prince music shop'“. I have to point out that this is definitely not a place that would have been endorsed or even allowed had Prince been alive, but noticing my interest, Nick asked “want to go to paisley park’. To which I said “Hell yes”.

For those who don’t know Paisley park is the name for the home of former music icon Prince. It is a complex that he built at the age of 27 for the price of 10 million dollars and it is outrageous. From the outside it looks like an office complex from 1992. Stucco walls with a clearly utilitarian shape and that theme follows into the lobby. Yes the Man had a Lobby for his house. I have never been to a place more inspiring. It had 4 state of the art studios, a dinner, a Hollywood level studio and a nightclub built into it. The man had a plan and he used it well. There are many stories about the place that I won’t share here, but I have to say If you find yourself in the greater Minneapolis area, go to paisley park.

Beyond Reconnecting with an old friend I was very interested in Minneapolis due to the artistic and cultural influx that people had been raved about for a number of years. But the city has certainly changed a bit over the last year. You start with the affect that Covid had on all major cities and you add the tragic death of George Floyd in In May of 2020. The streets seemed bare. Sure it was raining slightly and it was a weekday, but you could still feel tension in the air. We drove through George Floyd Square, the location where a “peace” officer pinned a man to the ground until he died and 3 other cops complacently allowed it to happen. This would then rumble into a wave of social unrest that was in my opinion overdue. It was an instantly visceral moment as we drove past the memorials and through the intersection. I simply noted to the stern faced residents patrolling the area as Nick carefully but quickly navigated around the cars that had been setup as barricades on the streets. It was a humbling experience for sure.