A little art in Little Italy

It wasn't all beaches and baseball on my trip to San Diego. The 25th annual Artwalk took place in the Little Italy neighborhood where my hotel was located.

This event featured art of various forms. View the video to glimpse the weekend's activities.

I liked: Increased trolley frequency allowed for convenient transport to my waterfront and baseball activities.

Burnt ends rule @ reopened KC BBQ

My first visit to the Kansas City Barbeque was shortly after it was featured in the piano bar scene in the movie "Top Gun." My memory of it was a gritty watering hole surrounded by train tracks and waterfront warehouses.

So, when I was in San Diego on business last October, I was surprised to look out the window of my room at the Manchester Hyatt and see the burned remains of the Kansas City Barbeque.

I vowed to return for baseball and barbeque in the spring of 2009.

My April visit began with a stop at the renovated barbeque haunt now sandwiched between the trolley/train track and multi-millon dollar condos. The Friday night pre-game crowd shared typical barroom banter. I cozied up to the bar and enjoyed some flavorful burnt ends.

Jerry the bartender proclaimed that the happy hour was the "best in town." Establishment regulars seemed to agree. They ordered pitchers of beer, no glass. Their quaffing techniques were a fitting tribute to the legacy of this resurrected ruin.

Mn Tea Party: It's About Individual Rights

This was the first "protest" I have ever attended as an adult. Like most conservatives, I'm busy working when most confabs of opinionmongering take place. So it was a new experience to rally with about 9,999 others at the Capitol in St. Paul.

Yes, there really were about that many folks gathered to voice their displeasure. It was a polite, orderly and law-abiding crowd. No rocks being dropped on cars from overpasses, no downtown store windows shattered, no police officers injured in scuffles.

Can you really have a protest without all that mayhem? Guess so.

You see, that's how we conservatives roll.

The Final Twins Baseball Dome Opener

This was the last Dome Opener for the Twins.

They didn't win, but they did give me cause to dig out one of my well-worn baseball-isms: "Did you hear they aren't serving beer at the Metrodome this year? Yeah, the Twins lost the Opener."

Next year, outdoor baseball returns with Opening Day hats, mittens & scarves.