The Minnesota State Fair is one of those annual events that I look forward to each year for many reasons. You’ve heard us talk about the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” before, so I’ll spare you all the reasons why I think it’s an event not to be missed. Instead, I’d like to talk about one of my favorite new events at the fair, Pinball on-a-Stick.

It’s no surprise to those of us who grew up in the arcades and behind the flippers of a million wooden cabinets, that things are not what they used to be. What once was a forest of local arcades sucking the quarters out of millions of teen-agers pockets has been slowly destroyed tree by tree. Even the amusement-park simulators that were all the rage in the late 90′s and early 2000 have gone the way of the dodo as once-thought stalwarts like GameWorks close their doors.

So it is that in every county or state fair I manage to attend, one of the first things I do is look for an arcade. Like an Indiana Jones with a nose for electronics, I hunt the fairgrounds for the familiar tent with the million power cables running to a giant junction box. It’s the surest sign of late 80′s coin op machines in the wild. Last year, my hunt bore some delicious fruit as the dreaded Butterfly Garden (which had threatened to kill the arcade space the past few years) gave a precious slice of it’s fairground real estate to not just an arcade, but a room dedicated to classic pinball games.

It’s called Pinball on-a-Stick and it’s the brainchild of Brian Millard, a resident of Farmington, MN. Brian is a collector of classic pinball machines and has filled a section of the arcade with a solid set of machines from his own personal collection. With the aid of friend Ryan Marincovich and a volunteer team of pinball collectors and enthusiasts from the area, a room right next to the Grandstand becomes one of the best spots for pinball for a week and a half.

From some of the classic machines such as Adam’s Family, Black Knight and Whirlwind to some of the best modern Stern machines, Pinball on-a-Stick really satisfies the old school pinball fan. Not only is the selection great but the machines are in top notch condition and play like a dream. Prices are reasonable at .50 a play and the spirit of the old school arcades is there in spades. Fairgoers young and old stop by and drop a few quarters into these classic machines. Each time I’ve walked into the room, there seems to be a machine or five in action. It’s a great time.

You can find more information on Pinball on-a-Stick over at their website, which can be found here: Pinball on-a-Stick.com.

More pictures after the break.
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I know we really should stay away from politics on this site, as it never ends well. But I consider this to be less about politics and more a “people watching” exercise.

I think Michelle Bachmann is nuts and despite your views politically, you have to admit she’s said some REALLY fucked up shit over the last few years. Give this girl a spotlight long enough and she’ll tell you the spotlight is made up of the tears of angels and children with utmost sincerity.

This gift of hers has made her the target of a lot of folks and given her Democratic rivals a whole heap of ammunition to use against her. Her latest Democratic challenger, Tarryl Clark has created the site Michelle Bachmann Said WHAT? that pokes fun at the Minnesota’s “favorite” Tea Party idol. The site’s pretty damn funny and even has a soundboard. Always good for a laugh.

What’s even more hilarious is how someone can say all this stuff and STILL manage to win every time she’s up for election. I’m betting even money she’ll be right where she is when this election is over as well. Granted, this site’s purely political in nature, but it’s humorously done and at this point, what’s left?

Make no mistake, this girl’s nuts. And what’s more amusing than that? Eh? Here’s one to tide you over:

I usually don’t post things of this nature, but it’s too damn awesome to keep to myself.

This is Dennis LeRoy Anderson. He’s a resident of Proctor, MN and at the age of 61, may have accomplished one of the most hilarious things I’ve heard of yet.

We have a fascination with small town drunks such as these. Much like the Merrill woman who always rode her horse to the bar because he knew the way home when she was toasted, Dennis LeRoy Anderson found a way to conquer adversity and get his drunk on.

You see, after hanging out at the Keyboard Lounge on August 31, an extremely drunk Anderson drove his La-Z-Boy into a parked car in the Keyboard Lounge’s lot. Here’s an excerpt from the story, posted in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune:

“Anderson admitted to police that he had been drinking at home, was leaving the bar and had drunk eight or nine beers that day before getting on the La-Z-Boy and crashing it into a Dodge Intrepid parked outside, Foucault said. Anderson was treated for minor injuries and given a field sobriety test, even though he pleaded several times with the officer to ‘give him a break,’ according to the police report.

‘He failed everything,’ Foucault said, which led to Anderson’s arrest and seizure of the chair. The officer on the scene checked Anderson’s driver’s license and determined that it had been revoked because of a previous drunken-driving conviction, according to police.”

That’s right, you read all that correctly. DROVE his La-Z-Boy. Bad. Ass. Check it out:

You’ve got to admire a man that can, after driving a motorized CHAIR into a parked car, get up and ask the cop to “give me a break”. And then proceed to “fail everything”. Classic.

Here’s a quote:

“Deputy Police Chief Troy Foucault said Thursday that the chair is “quite decked out.” Along with the stereo and cup holders, it is driven by a converted gasoline-powered lawnmower, and has a steering wheel, headlights and a power antenna.

Foucault estimated that the La-Z-Boy can top out at 15 to 20 miles per hour. A National Hot Rod Association sticker adorns the headrest.”

For those interested, as I am, it looks like the decked out Chair of Awesome is in high demand. So if you’re interested, may I advise you to get on the phone to the Proctor Police Department as soon as possible.

I’m going to have to say that if we ever institute a Drunk of the Year on this site, we can safely declare Dennis LeRoy Anderson this years WINNER!

Zombies and drinking? A match made in Drunken Gamers heaven! This place opened up near “Nordeast” Minneapolis a few months ago and we love it so much that we took Phil to check it out…twice. Donny Dirk’s Zombie Den is located just off I94 and Broadway in North Minneapolis. Not the best neighborhood. In fact, it’s located in the former building of Stand Up Frank’s, a bar notorious for crime, stabbings, and other bad shit. The story goes that the people who wanted to open it up as Donny Dirk’s (also the folks who own Psycho Suzi’s, another great Nordeast bar/restaurant), had to jump through a whole slew of hoops to get it approved by the city, simply because of the reputation built by Stand Up Frank’s. As such, the entire parking lot is fenced in, there are two outdoor security guards on duty at all times, and cameras line the building inside and out. Nevertheless, and quite miraculously, you never once feel unsafe at Donny Dirk’s. Unless, of course, you’re afraid of being eaten.

As the name indicates, the whole place has a pretty solid zombie theme. There are zombie movies playing on the televisions that overlook the bar, there’s a chainsaw behind glass, dead deer (leftover from Stand Up Frank’s) dressed up and mounted on the walls, and weapons behind glass above the urinals in the bathroom. You know, just in case you’re attacked while at your most vulnerable. On top of this, the bartenders are dressed like Shaun from Shaun of the Dead, complete with white shirt, red tie, and blood spatter, and the waitresses are dressed in black gowns, Elvira-style. The place is elegantly designed with casino-grade carpeting and plush, luxurious bar stools and booths.

The first night we went, the bar was packed to capacity, so Phil, Scotty, Moe, and I got to sit in the R.I.P. room, which is a private little cubby near the front of bar. Nevertheless, it was cozy and intimate, almost like hanging out at home.

Check out some pictures of the place…

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There are few things more exhilarating than being introduced to hidden gems and wonderful treasures located throughout our city. At the same time, being introduced to these things can make one wonder aloud, “How the hell did I not know about this?” Such is the case with the Heights Theater, located in Columbia Heights, a northern suburb of Minneapolis. Moe introduced me to this theater last week after he attended a screening of Casablanca, a film that resides in my list of top ten all-time favorites. He called me the next day, raving about this vintage theater, restored to look just like it did back in the silent era, and to tell me that I simply had to go check it out. Further enticing me was the news that they are holding a seven movie film festival celebrating some of the great noir films from Universal Pictures. Sold!

So a bit about the theater. From their site:

The theatre was originally constructed in 1926 by Gluek Brewery heir Arthur Gluek as a prohibition real estate venture.

Built in the Beaux Arts style of the last century, the Heights Theatre building was a simple neighborhood movie house showcasing local talent in stage plays and “High Class Amateur Vaudeville Acts.” The Heights has survived at least three fires, one bombing and “The Big Blow of 1949″ when a Fridley tornado twisted the tower sign.

Owner Tom Letness specializes in first-run family films, classics, foreign releases, live entertainment and organ concerts Friday and Saturday nights.

Letness and Dave Holmgren bought the Heights Theatre in November 1998, and restored the original glory. At first sight, the interior was a shiny turquoise box. Today, a scarlet motorized grande drape and second-act drape cover the 16 x 26 foot proscenium stage. Gilded grills conceal the pipework for the mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ.

Antique chandeliers are suspended from the ceiling restored with 2600 Egyptian lead crystals. Hand-painted reproduction Edison Mazda bulbs in four colors on separate circuits allow a multitude of effects from 152 lights above four hundred seats. The orchestra pit, 8-feet X 26-feet, was discovered under the floor where the organ now rises for Friday and Saturday night concerts.

Yes, that’s right, an organ. About twenty minutes before Monday night’s show, a gentleman walked to the front of the theater, climbed down into the pit, and moments later he arose from the pit riding a vintage movie organ and proceeded to play classic movie tunes for the next thirty minutes. It was spectacular!

On to the movie…

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I sold the idea of this movie to Hilden and Moe by saying, “Hey, you wanna go see a Swedish vampire flick?” Of course they said yes. But by the time we came out of the Riverview (best theater in town, by the way), we realized that Let the Right One In is more than merely a Swedish vampire flick, it’s a surprisingly deep and compelling story about a bullied kid named Oskar and the relationship he develops with the mysterious new girl in his apartment building. Most vampire movies tend to be blood-fests consisting of gory kills and dramatic plot points about the high cost of immortality. And while LTROI does contain those themes, the way in which they are presented, and the performances of the brilliant child actors brings this movie to the top of the genre.

As mentioned, the story centers on a twelve year-old kid named Oskar who must face a bully named Conny, and his cohorts, each day at school. And each night, Oskar fantasizes about exacting revenge upon his aggressors, but knows that he lacks the courage to act. A girl named Eli moves next door to Oskar in his apartment building, and he slowly, over the course of several evenings, develops a relationship with her until the ultimate realization that she is a vampire. It’s the development of this relationship, its effect on Oskar and his confidence, and Oskar’s coping with the fact that Eli must murder to survive that makes this movie so special. Lina Leandersson is simply brilliant in the role of Eli, a being who is much older than her twelve year-old body suggests. But if great acting doesn’t do it for you and you just like your vampire movies bloody, there are some great kills here as well.

In a year that’s seen an odd resurgence of vampires (True Blood, Twilight, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans), it’s a shame that Let the Right One In will probably be the most overlooked. It’s easily the most original take on the genre in years and the movie most worthy of your cash. If it’s not playing near you, the DVD and BluRay releases are right around the corner on March 10th, and I really can’t recommend this movie enough.

If you need more convincing, a great review of this film was posted at Ain’t it Cool News here. Give it a read.

We all spend hours lamenting the death of proper arcades in the United States. The dark, quarter-munching game halls have mostly been boarded up and forgotten or replaced by giant bowling alley/redemption machine/food and drink establishments like Dave & Busters, GameWorks, and now Brunswick Zone. Brunswick Zones have been around for a while, operating mainly as large, fancy bowling alleys. Occassionally they’d throw in a bar and maybe a few arcade machines and pool tables. But that was before Brunswick Zone…XL!

So Brunswick Zone XL takes the old model and turns it into a ginormous family fun center, which sounds like hell on earth to me. Complete with restaurants, bowling, video games, laser tag, private rooms, and party rooms, XL is the place to go if you want to fight through hoards of screaming children so you can earn some tickets on a neon-lit redemption machine. There’s a new one that just opened down the road from my place, so while driving past I decided to pop in and check it out.
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[This one's for Torgo.]

My biggest regret of moving to the suburbs is the complete lack of any sort of history. 99% of everything out here was built less than fifteen years ago. There isn’t a good bar in Burnsville, there isn’t a single “mom n’ pop” shop in Burnsville, and the restaurants are almost exclusively of the corporate chain variety. It’s for this reason that I head over to Northeast Minneapolis, or “Nordeast” as it’s referred to by locals. This neighborhood is brimming with local history and is home to some of the best neighborhood bars and restaurants in the entire Twin Cities metro area. And among the best of the best is Mayslack’s.

It’s a place I go back to as often as possible, wanting to escape from the mundane strip-mall-covered suburbs to something real; something with history.

Originally opened in 1955 by former pro-wrestler Stan Mayslack, Mayslack’s is the epitome of Northeast Minneapolis corner bars. The floor tiles are cracked, the bar is dimly lit, the booths are creaky and private, and the jukebox has an incredibly varied selection. But what made Mayslack’s legendary is its incredible roast beef sandwiches. These massive sandwiches are covered in garlic, banana peppers, onions, and au jus and served on a giant rye bun. When you go to Mayslack’s, don’t bother with the rest of the menu (which is good); stick with “The Original”.
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