Thursdays On First & Third (original photography)

Howdy!

Rochester, Minnesota has a weekly event, which started as "Thursdays on First" and quickly grew to include third avenue, as well. The event is, basically, an outdoor craft market with food vendors and music.

^{Clown Sans Outfit?}
For those of you unfamiliar with Rochster, Minnesota (USA), it is the home to the Mayo Clinic. Mayo is internationally known and a leader in medical research. It has also come to almost fully control the city. Every event and festival has their fingerprint. Even this balloon guy, creating balloon animals for kids, was decked out in a "Seizure Walk" shirt.

^{Playing for Blood}
This Thursday, on the main stage, the Swing Street band was playing. They were quite good! Their introduction included a request for people to donate blood. Because Rochester.

^{Another Definition of "Sweat Shop"}
Here is the center of the market. It has been very hot and humid, with heat warnings issued, but the warning has only caused a moderate reduction in attendance. I headed up into the air-conditioned Skyway, a network of enclosed hallways and bridges between buildings, to snap a few photos.

^{Is it Isengard?}
After about an hour of the heat and one delicious ice cream cone, it was time to head back to feed the pooch and make supper. On the way back to my truck, I couldn't help but marvel at how quickly things have changed. This new building complex (likely owned by Mayo) wasn't even started, when I left for Mankato two years ago. It is one of several such structures currently being built.

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