Dazzle Date

I'm experimenting with a Flickr account for my photos, and so far, it's not working. I can't figure out how to post normal sized photos in a group. So please bear with me while I figure it out. In the meantime, you can follow the link "Dazzle Date" below to see the photos full sized.

So we had just checked into our fabulous suite and brought in our luggage when a bellman  knocked on our door with a tray of Heineken on ice for Walker.  As he set it up, he asked what we were celebrating and I told him it was Walker's birthday.  He offered sincere greetings - everyone was so, so friendly.  We enjoyed a cold beer while we got ready for the Holidazzle parade.

This year, for the first time, we bought Hot Seats.  Hot Seats are bleacher seats in a heated tent along the parade route.  Having never used these before, we didn't know the process, so I had my purchase receipt tucked into my coat pocket and we got to the tent early. I have to say, the Hot Seats are a mixed blessing.  First of all, they sell out fast, so I bought the tickets in November.  It was pretty warm in Minneapolis while we were there, so it turns out that we didn't really need the heated tent.  It was hard to get good photos through the plexiglass, so after a couple attempts I put the camera away and just enjoyed the show.

After the parade, Walker and I walked up to Murray's where we enjoyed a fabulous steak dinner.  It's such a treat for us to sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal in a fine restaurant.  Murray's serves up such large portions, we ended up taking half our food home.  As we wandered through downtown, it started to drizzle.  I took a couple photos of the church across from the Hyatt.  I just love the way they light it at night.  And then, another surprise: we returned to our room to find the bellman had left us a place of absolutely decadent chocolate cake, chocolate covered strawberries, and sliced strawberries with basil anglaise.  Walker said it was his best birthday ever ~

Dazzle Date, a set on Flickr.