You Betcha It's Monday

 Linking with Holly and Sarah for this week's weekend recap -Hello Monday 

We had a fun weekend attending the wedding of the daughter of some of our oldest friends. The bride and groom live in Minnesota, a state I'd never been to before last weekend and it's always fun to go somewhere new. 

We left SC on Thursday morning, then had a ridiculous layover in Charlotte before making our connection on to Minneapolis. So what does one do when they have a three hour layover in the Charlotte airport?

Well they might just buy themself a brand new Brighton watch band. I've been wanting a band for my iWatch that looks less sporty and more like jewelry and I love this one. 

We got to our hotel in Minneapolis around 6 PM. The bride and groom, along with her parents and several friends, were relaxing in the lobby when we arrived so we dumped our bags and joined them. In case you're wondering, I brought my ginormous suitcase because even though it was just a weekend we needed fancy clothes, walking around clothes, shoes, jackets, hubs had a suit plus a sport coat, and all that to say- giant bag for the win! 

We headed to bed before midnight and let me just say right now it does not feel like I gained an hour this weekend. We stayed in the Hilton Canopy situated in the Mill district and it's a very pretty hotel. The design is essentially two towers originally built in 1900 and 1904. It was at one time home to a company that sold farm implements around the midwest, but it's been converted into a hotel that still has a lot of wood, bricks, beams, and detail.  

Friday we had the day free until dinner so hubs and I went on a self-guided walking tour of Minneapolis. Question-do you do the touristy type things in your own city or is it just the tourists who do that? 

There wasn't a live guide. Instead you paid for the tour download on line, then you downloaded an interactive map using a code you're sent via email, then you head to the starting point, which was very near our hotel. We used this company-Viator and the tour was very well done. You could walk as fast or as slow as you wanted, and besides directions the narrator gave lots of fun facts and interesting bits of trivia as you navigated the city. 

Friday was an absolutely beautiful day. Chilly, but bright sunshine and it felt good to walk. We started near the Vikings stadium which coincidentally is built roughly in the shape of a Viking ship. 

We carried on into Gold Medal park, then along beside the river before crossing the bridge over the Mississippi on foot.  

It took us about 2 hours to do the whole thing. When the tour ended we met up with another couple who'd arrived just that morning, to have lunch in a local brewery. We each had a salad and shared some wings which were so good. These had a dill pickle rub and we might try that one at home. 

Fifteen of us went to dinner at Murry's Steakhouse, a Minneapolis institution. The food was fabulous. Hubs and I shared one of their signature dishes called the Silver Butter Knife Steak for two, so named I think because you could literally cut it with a butter knife. 

Also I could have fed a family of six with this steak made for two. 

After dinner we all went back to the hotel for a welcome party hosted  by the bride and groom. The party wrapped up around 10:30 and everyone crashed. We were pooped. 

Saturday the father of the bride along with the bride's brother hosted a breakfast at the hotel and then I talked hubs into taking an uber to see some of the scenes from the old Mary Tyler Moore Show. I know I'm dating myself, but the show was really popular when I was growing up, and I loved it. In the show Mary lived in Minneapolis and there's a statue in her honor downtown.  

"Who can turn the world on with her smile....?" Raise your hand if you're singing the theme song right now. We also went into the mall where you see Mary having lunch in the opening credits. We didn't drive by the house where her super cute apartment was, mostly because we didn't have a car and it was too far to walk. 

Around lunchtime a whole big group of us walked a few blocks over to a local sports bar to watch some college football. 

Our team wasn't playing until later, but we watched some lesser games-ha!, then had lunch before I left to get my hair done. When I attend an out of town wedding I always try to book a hair appointment somewhere nearby so that's done and I can just relax and enjoy getting ready. 

There was a shuttle to get us all to the beautiful wedding venue-Nicollet Island Pavilion, which is situated right beside the river. I'm not posting any wedding pics because I want to let the bride have her moment, but just know she looked lovely and happy and the groom was adorable too. Cheers to the newlyweds! 

We dined and danced and wore silly props while smiling in a photo booth with people we've known since we were 20 years old. We had to be in the hotel lobby at 6 am Sunday morning in order to make our flight, so it was a short night in terms of sleep. 

Really big on fun though! 

So what kind of fun did you have this weekend?