State Pinewood Derby 2008

An audience of over 550 gathered at the Mall of America in Bloomington to watch the 2008 Northern Star Council Pinewood Derby. The event—which is the largest Pinewood Derby in the country—was held on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 2.

Saturday’s race featured 212 of the fastest cars representing over 38,000 Tiger, Cub and Webelos Scouts that were eligible to compete this year. All of Saturday’s racers won at both the Pack and District levels. This was the 12th Council-wide Pinewood Derby, since it was first organized in 1997.

This was my son's first time making it to the State Pinewood Derby race. We finished 67th in contest. 67th out of over 38,000 cars state wide, I'm very happy with the results. It was quite the experience for my son making it that far, plus Grandpa and myself who helped out with making the derby car.

  

The Big Drop

There is a new roller coaster at the Mall Of America. It almost reaches to the ceiling. While watching the cars roll past this top most point, the people are just a couple of feet from the glass before they are sent down racing around the track. I'll have to ride this one another day.

Things Are Looking Up

It's This Pattern

At the Mall Of America in Bloomington, this is the ceiling you'd see if you looked up outside the anchor store of Macy's. It would also be the southwest corner of the complex.

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I'm Seeing Stars

This out of focus shot is of the rotunda ceiling at the Mall of America.

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"X" Marks The Spot

I've been sitting on this photo since this past Christmas time. I had taken it one evening while I was doing some shopping and while I was listening to Classic Brass Inc perform a concert at the Mall Of America. I had taken this photo of the ceiling which I believe was the area they had performed in. Since I've started this city photo blog, I've been looking and taking different photos that I would normally never take. Ceilings have been a new interest of mine as they are unique from building to building.

With that said, there is a new city blog in the Twin Cities here, "Just Roaming The Twin Cities" is the name of it. On the sidebar they had a guessing game named, 'can you guess where this roof is'? Wouldn't you know it, today's photo was the exact same roof they had for me to guess. I knew it the instant I saw it on the site. I just found it funny I had taken a photo of it a few months prior to this week.

There is a new photo of a different ceiling on the Just Roaming The Twin Cities site. I've made my guess of the Como Park Conservatory. I don't have a photo to post to compare it, but to the best of what I can recall, I am correct, though I have not been there in ten plus years. We shall see in the coming days.

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Vince Flynn

Born in St Paul, Minnesota, best selling author, Vince Flynn was at the Mall Of America to promote his new book 'Protect And Defend'. He first was interviewed on KFAN at the Mall Of America rotunda during the Dan Barreiro show that was there for the book signing. Once his radio interview was over, he then signed books to everyone in line starting at 6:30. When the radio show ended, I left the area and did some Christmas shopping as this event happened mid December. I passed by the area a few more times to see if Vince Flynn was still there signing books, sure enough he was. When I left, the line was snaked around a few times and then it shot down the hallway as far as I could see. Come 9:30, I pass by the area once again and I watched the last person in line get their book personally signed. I was amazed, he signed a book for everyone. Plus, there was a stack of about 50 books that were to be signed and sold at the local book store.

I'm really kicking myself for not getting a book signed by Vince. Here I am praising him for the time he put in for the book signing, as the event was scheduled for 6:30 to 8:00, yet he stayed double the amount of time. I was impressed by this and applaud him for doing so. I must have walked by five different times and said to myself to get in line and get a book signed, but I did not. In all honesty, I've heard him being interviewed quite a few times on KFAN, but I've never read any of his books, yet. He has gotten himself a new fan, I will get the book at some point and read my first Vince Flynn book.

Vince Flynn is in the center of the three people in the photo, Dan Barreiro is on the right wearing the hat, and his sidekick during the show named 'Fun' is to the left.

  

Hanging Around

More of the large bulbs that are hanging in the air at the Mall Of America. I really liked this one because of the squares of grass in the shot with the color red.

Christmas Eve Eve

Yesterday I heard the term "Christmas Eve Eve" said on the radio. I had never heard this term before and just find it kind of odd. I understand why it was said, but in all honesty, shouldn't we really refer it simply as December 23?

This tree is on display at the Mall Of America in the circle rotunda. It tops three stories high in it's height. The rotunda area has a fourth level of restaurants [which are currently closed and have been for about a year].

Classic Brass Inc Performs At MOA

Classic Brass Inc performed at the Mall Of America on December 12. They are a quintet of various brass instruments and played traditional Christmas melodies that evening. I've always enjoyed this kind of music since I was very young when I would see some of the members of Classic Brass Inc perform in the Minnesota Brass Drum and Beauty Corps. If you are able to see CBI perform someday, put in a request for the song "The Saints’ Hallelujah". I've heard them play it twice now and it's become one of my favorites. It's a great mix of two songs you're familiar with, a jazzy Saints Go Marching crossed with a traditional choir sound of Hallelujah.

Two Big Hanging Bulbs

These larger than life Christmas bulbs are hanging in the air at the Mall Of America in Bloomington. There are many more of them on display at various locations through out the mall. With the pattern of the ceiling, this location was my favorite in the large shopping complex.

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Sugar And Spice

From my archives. Taken this past Christmas at the Mall Of America in the worlds largest gingerbread house.