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  The Nivens Family

Washington, D.C. + Richmond, VA 2015

5/26/2015

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Details

Dates of travel: May 21 - 26, 2015

Lodging: Emily & Jonathan's apartment in DC, AirBNB in Richmond, and Hyatt Place in DC

Photo album

Day 1

We arrived in DC in the afternoon and went to History and Hops featuring Old Bust Head at the Heurich House Museum in the Brewmaster's Castle. 

After the tour and tasting, we picked up food to-go from Indigo and went back to Emily and Jonathan's apartment.

Day 2

In the morning, we drove 2.5 hours south to Richmond, Virginia. 
Lunch at The Black Sheep 
Walked the Pipeline Trail on the James River 
Explored Belle Isle
Walked on the Riverfront Canal Walk
Looked at the murals 
Drank beer at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Dinner at Buz and Ned's Real BBQ
​
Looked at exhibits at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Day 3

Coffee at Lamplighter Roasting Company
Breakfast at Joe's Inn
Walked along Monument Avenue
Walked around Maymont
Lunch on the deck at The Boathouse on Rocketts Landing and watched bald eagles and other raptors on the river 
Toured the Virginia State Capitol
Happy hour at Secco Wine Bar
Richmond Flying Squirrels minor league baseball game
Take out from Sticky ToGoGo

Day 4

Breakfast at 821 Cafe
Walked around University of Richmond campus
Drove back to DC

Day 5

Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History at the National Archives Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery
Lunch at the Garden Cafe in the National Gallery of Art
​
Watched part of the National Memorial Day Parade
Peacock Room REMIX at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum
​Beers at Bluejacket Brewery
Walked around Yards Park
Dinner at &pizza 

Day 6

Returned to Minneapolis on a morning flight
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40x40: Afternoon Tea

5/21/2015

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Related: 40x40 List
Date of tea: Sunday, May 17, 2015
Picture
Enjoying black current tea at the Saint Paul Hotel. Photo by Erin Reichelt.
One of the first items I thought of for my 40x40 list was having afternoon tea with a group of lady friends. Sitting in a beautiful setting sipping on tea while gabbing with friends seemed like a delightful way to help usher in my milestone birthday. 

When I discovered the St. Paul Hotel Afternoon Tea I knew it was "the one". There are a handful of afternoon tea options in the Twin Cities (Brit's Pub, Mad Hatter Tea Room, Maudie McBride's Tea in the Woods, Lady Elegant's Tea Room) but the St. Paul Hotel looked by far the most elegant of the options. I am nothing if not elegant - ha! 

My tea companions

Picture
Julie, Erin, me, Amy
I knew my friend Erin Reichelt would be up for an afternoon tea because she's been to holiday teas with her friends and daughter. We worked together at Capella University and now both work at the University of Minnesota. We thought it would be fun to have a reunion with two other friends we have in common from our Capella days - Amy and Julie. I haven't seen Julie in several years so it was fun to catch up. Amy and I try to get together at least once a month and she'll be accompanying me on other 40x40 adventures! Having a block of two hours to relax and talk is a great way to spend an afternoon with friends. I'd also like to have afternoon tea with my mom and sister someday. 

Bottomless cup of tea and five courses of food

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Our servers were attentive and we each had several refills of tea as each of the five courses were served. I loved both the black current and chamomile teas. The day before the tea I walked 80,000 steps so I was starving when we arrived and by the time we left two hours later I was stuffed. 

I highly recommend Afternoon Tea at the Saint Paul Hotel. You'll have to make your reservation several months in advance and the holiday times are the hardest to reserve. 
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April 2015 recap

5/1/2015

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Picture
Hyland Lake Park Reserve

April highlights

  • Walk to Surly Brewery
  • Farm land auction in Ledyard, Iowa
  • Cousin weekend III with Kristina in Minneapolis
  • American Craft Council with Kristina
  • Dinner with John, Erika, Avery & Jay 
  • MinneWebCon
  • Family time in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  • 1/2 marathon coffee walk in Sioux Falls
  • Visit Pipestone National Monument
  • Multiple Layers: Mental Health Art Exhibition opening at Boynton Health Services 
  • Minneapolis Park Board Earth Day Cleanup
  • Minneapolis St. Paul Home Tour
  • 31 mile urban hike around the Grand Rounds trail in Minneapolis
  • Walk at Hyland Lake with Lisa
  • Stewie interview at Mt. Olivet Senior Home
Picture
We walked the entire Grand Rounds Loop!

April by the numbers

  • 8 Gym visits (6 Anytime; 2 U of M Rec Center)
  • 605,847 steps (20,194 steps averaged a day)
  • 271.17 miles (8.74 miles averaged a day)
  • 1461 very active minutes (48 minutes averaged a day)
Picture
Roosevelt Branch of the Hennepin County Library, 4026 28th Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN

Watch/Read

  • Olive Kitteridge mini series
  • The Americans season 2
  • House of Cards season 3 (still plugging away)
  • Orphan Black season 3
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt season 1
Picture
Red Wagon Pizza, 5416 Penn Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN

Eat/Drink

  • Red Wagon Pizza Company
  • A small cafe in Iowa or Minnesota with my parents
  • Surly Brewing Company
  • Sparrow Cafe with Lisa
  • Taste of Scandinavia with Amy
  • Sassy Spoon with Kristina
  • Du Nord Craft Spirits with Kristina
  • Blackbird Cafe with Kristina
  • Peace Coffee Shop (Longfellow) with Kristina
  • Fulton Brewery with Kristina
  • Caribou Coffee (many locations, many times, often with Lisa)
  • Birchwood Cafe with the Academic Health Center web team
  • Grille 26 (Sioux Falls, SD)
  • Pizza Man vs. Zesty's Pizza carry-out contest (Sioux Falls, SD)
  • Freshii (University of Minnesota)
  • Sandcastle Restaurant
  • Sea Salt Eatery with Sharon 
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