This past week we journey through the middle of America all the way up to Minnesota visiting the Mall of America, Walberswick Studio, Lake Superior, and Family.
Our journey begins with a drive up 35 to Kitchen no 324 a popular downtown breakfast place in Oklahoma City it was there my wife enjoyed green eggs and ham while I enjoyed the excellent chorizo biscuits and gravy along with the cronut. After breakfast we went up to the bombing memorial and had a somber reflection upon this sad tragedy. Afterward we drove to Tulsa where we caught up with family I hadn't seen in fifteen years. My grandmother had flown up as a surprise to her twin sister who was celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary with her husband. It was a small, but intimate gathering that lasted the evening. After spending another day in Tulsa we set off for Zombie Burger in Des Moines. While there my wife and I ordered a couple of their crazy hamburgers for dinner and I enjoyed my Founder's beer the wonderful All-Day IPA. After that we drove up to Minneapolis. The next day started with a long visit to the Mall of America. My wife was in her equivalent of heaven and I simply got my sleep number and killed time reading in the Barnes & Noble. When we completed the mall excursion we headed over to the Town Hall Brewery where I enjoyed the Black H20. Unfortunately a gas leak made us find dinner at Maxwell's Bar where the wife had a burger and I a decent fish and chips with a Surly IPA.
The next morning we awoke and visited the Original Pancake House which had an excellent hot chocolate and apple pancake. From there our Journey takes us to the famed Walberswick studios. My wife nervous that we might be robbed by some stranger in the woods was relieved to find instead a true English gentlemen. After procuring life jackets we set out for a quick boat ride. I was most impressed with the smoothness of the boats Yamaha engine which proved the good Doctor's knowledge on boat engines. A few minutes on the lake and we could see that a storm was a brewing. Getting into dock just as the rain began to fall I remarked on the impeccable timing. Braving the elements we were taken for a tour of the oldest tractors I've ever seen. Unlike my grandfather who collects old useless broken things under the guise of repairing them. These engines fired with excellent power and working order. Mark clearly knows his engines.
Finally after braving the elements to see his noble lake and tractors I sat down to finally hear what I will dub the T-Rexes seeing as they are both in the shape of T's and rather large. My wife determined to escape death from nerd exposure sought refuge in the bed of the guest room we were given.
In presenting my own material I made a grave error in leaving behind my favorite recordings because I didn't want to lose them on the trip and was too lazy to back them up. So I was left with a selection of my wife's favorite music. All my favorites were on my phone, but I feared the compression would be to obvious and decided to try the most palatable of my wife's CDs. Hootie's cover album. If there is one CD that should not be used for evaluating speakers I think we both found it. Immediately the dreadful sound of loudness wars compression came echoing out of the chambers of these great beasts. After a few minutes of torture. I gave Mark a reprieve and told him to put his best on display. At this Mark started with great stereo recordings from a Baroque peace followed by choral, percussion and even some organ. Eventually we worked our way up to full 7 channels with a Fantastic rendition of The Opera of Julius Ceasar, One of Mahler fantastic symphonies and eventually to a piece that made the 1812 overture seem like a whisper. Two words describe this system that I have never heard in any other before balanced bass. Words escape the description, but his system exhibits perfect bass accuracy in Organs, Drums, Low Voices and other instruments while not sacrificing any of the midrange clarity.
After the demo I went to check on my wife only to find her soundly asleep. Upon waking and meeting us in the kitchen. Mark asked if the music had disturbed her. "What Music?" was her response and we had a wonderful laugh she tried to defend herself by saying, "it's not like you were listening the 1812 overture." One of the pieces we had listened too was even crazier, but I told Mark she's a heavy sleeper and that's why I can own TC subs.
Supper was prepared on the outdoor grill and cook surfaces. We had cajun shrimp as an appetizer followed by Bacon wrapped filets with baked potatoes and buttered corn. All excellent and finished with wine.
Desert was Bananas Foster which we followed with a night movie. Instead of a typical hollywood flick I elected the Sound of Music so my wife would want to join us and so I could really test female voice which was superb. Even my wife remarked on the realism of the Organ in the wedding scene. The next morning I heard his lower level shelf system which is far closer to the typical setup, but certainly worthy of all but the most discerning listeners. We enjoyed Bangers, Eggs with Roasted Tomatoes for breakfast concluding our last meal and proving that Mark truly can cook.
After breakfast we set off down the River for a tour of the area by boat and it was perfect weather. Concluding a great stay we set off to Grand Rapids, MN for a visit to the Judy Garland Museum and a Pasty shop that was worthy of it's high ratings on Urbanspoon. We had Rafferty's Pizza for dinner which had good pizza, but dreadful beer.
From there we headed to the shores of Lake Superior for a picnic and lighthouse tour. We had Supper at Duluth Griill where my wife enjoyed a whitefish while I a duck burger with a siracha based sauce. After supper we went to Fitgers where I drank the Mayor which packed the best punch I've had in an IPA. I also a one of their witbiers which was decent, but nothing compared to the Mayor. I ended up buying a growler's worth of the Mayor. In the morning I continued my beer stockpiling by picking up a Surly Coffee Stout
From there we headed down to Kansas City where we enjoyed Oklahoma Joe's barbecue. Where I had a half rack of very good ribs, but I disagree that it's the best ribs. To me it was on par with Salt Likc and not up to those in Lockhart, Tx.
The next morning we went to a Miniature Toy museum in Kansas City which was neat, but certainly not child appropriate if you are tempted in the area. I stopped at the top beer store in town hoping to stock up on some Founders. I ended up with 3 6-packs(All-Day, Centential and Dirty Bastard) and a 4 pack of a local stout the beer man suggested.
Our final supper of the trip was at a Chicago Pizza chain place along route 66 where I enjoyed a Bridgeport IPA with a decent calzone that hit the spot for me.
All in all we had a marvelous trip and I certainly hope to visit Walberswick studio again someday.