I got - malled. And I liked it.

D

docmirror

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Cowboy - yeehah!
Over the last frigid weekend, I was in Minneapolis for an event and we spent the two days with little to do. So, on Sat afternoon we went to the Mall of America.

I was prepared to HATE it with a white hot passion, cause I don't shop, and I really don't buy stuff(except planes).

Well, we had a good enough time, we tried it again on Sunday and lo and behold - we closed the place down. We stayed all damn day and I had a pretty darn good time. My daughter got to buy some nice work clothes and some spring fashions which I actually helped with. The bevy of nice cookies working in the Forever 21 and Gap didn't actually hurt anything. We had a nice late lunch at the Cantina upstairs for very reasonable cost, then went to a movie(Monuments Men - pass, not that good). After that, we shopped a bit more my wife got some hot peppers at a peppers store, and I found a pair of clip-on polarized shades for my glasses that actually were downright cheap, and not made in China!

After that, we went back for more frosty malted beverage and stayed for the Comedy store show, which was pretty good if a bit raunchy. Of course, we walked in the theme park in the middle some, and did the usually shopping for crap around the place, but while it was 2F outside, it was a balmy 69F and perfectly humid inside the mall.

It is an amazing piece of Americana, and I was rather amazed at the depth and breadth of what we call the 'retail experience'. Even though I saw a lot of products from China, and Peru, and Vietnam, and Taiwan, I thought to myself 'it is far better that I am here, buying this stuff made for me in a sweat shop than to be in the sweat shop making things for rich people in some other country to buy'.

Go there, keep an open mind. Do what shoppers do, and I'm guessing you'll be pretty happy as well. Doesn't hurt if it's 2F with snow and low clouds outside, and it's nice and bright inside. :yes:
 
"...Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
Another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust..."

docmirror said:
Over the last frigid weekend, I was in Minneapolis for an event and we spent the two days with little to do. So, on Sat afternoon we went to the Mall of America.

I was prepared to HATE it with a white hot passion, cause I don't shop, and I really don't buy stuff(except planes).

Well, we had a good enough time, we tried it again on Sunday and lo and behold - we closed the place down. We stayed all damn day and I had a pretty darn good time. My daughter got to buy some nice work clothes and some spring fashions which I actually helped with. The bevy of nice cookies working in the Forever 21 and Gap didn't actually hurt anything. We had a nice late lunch at the Cantina upstairs for very reasonable cost, then went to a movie(Monuments Men - pass, not that good). After that, we shopped a bit more my wife got some hot peppers at a peppers store, and I found a pair of clip-on polarized shades for my glasses that actually were downright cheap, and not made in China!

After that, we went back for more frosty malted beverage and stayed for the Comedy store show, which was pretty good if a bit raunchy. Of course, we walked in the theme park in the middle some, and did the usually shopping for crap around the place, but while it was 2F outside, it was a balmy 69F and perfectly humid inside the mall.

It is an amazing piece of Americana, and I was rather amazed at the depth and breadth of what we call the 'retail experience'. Even though I saw a lot of products from China, and Peru, and Vietnam, and Taiwan, I thought to myself 'it is far better that I am here, buying this stuff made for me in a sweat shop than to be in the sweat shop making things for rich people in some other country to buy'.

Go there, keep an open mind. Do what shoppers do, and I'm guessing you'll be pretty happy as well. Doesn't hurt if it's 2F with snow and low clouds outside, and it's nice and bright inside. :yes:
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I lived in Dubai for a few years and after Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, my first visit to Mall of America two months ago was a real let-down. It just felt small, old and without much open space. The ceilings felt really low which contributed to the "small" feeling.

If you ever pass through Dubai, stop into Dubai Mall or MOE (where they have the indoor ski slope).
 
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When you dislike malls, big ones have no attraction. I was in Minneapolis on business last year. Saw the mall because the motel had a free shuttle bus. I found the logistics of putting roller coasters in a building interesting, but other than that, a big yawn.
 
I live near it and have had to go when friends/family visit many times now. It's mostly clothing stores and fashion stuff which appeals to the women but not me. A lot of really good places to eat though which is my main reason for not opting to stay home on these trips.
 
docmirror said:
Over the last frigid weekend, I was in Minneapolis for an event and we spent the two days with little to do. So, on Sat afternoon we went to the Mall of America.



I was prepared to HATE it with a white hot passion, cause I don't shop, and I really don't buy stuff(except planes).



Well, we had a good enough time, we tried it again on Sunday and lo and behold - we closed the place down. We stayed all damn day and I had a pretty darn good time. My daughter got to buy some nice work clothes and some spring fashions which I actually helped with. The bevy of nice cookies working in the Forever 21 and Gap didn't actually hurt anything. We had a nice late lunch at the Cantina upstairs for very reasonable cost, then went to a movie(Monuments Men - pass, not that good). After that, we shopped a bit more my wife got some hot peppers at a peppers store, and I found a pair of clip-on polarized shades for my glasses that actually were downright cheap, and not made in China!



After that, we went back for more frosty malted beverage and stayed for the Comedy store show, which was pretty good if a bit raunchy. Of course, we walked in the theme park in the middle some, and did the usually shopping for crap around the place, but while it was 2F outside, it was a balmy 69F and perfectly humid inside the mall.



It is an amazing piece of Americana, and I was rather amazed at the depth and breadth of what we call the 'retail experience'. Even though I saw a lot of products from China, and Peru, and Vietnam, and Taiwan, I thought to myself 'it is far better that I am here, buying this stuff made for me in a sweat shop than to be in the sweat shop making things for rich people in some other country to buy'.



Go there, keep an open mind. Do what shoppers do, and I'm guessing you'll be pretty happy as well. Doesn't hurt if it's 2F with snow and low clouds outside, and it's nice and bright inside. :yes:
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Did you think magically everything at this mall would be made in America lol everything in this country is made elsewhere mainly because Americans are lazy and don't want to work and we can't keep costs down for production. I see it first hand with employees and past ones, simply don't want to work! And now more so people get food for free, housing , schooling and now healthcare why work?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
cowman said:
I live near it and have had to go when friends/family visit many times now. It's mostly clothing stores and fashion stuff which appeals to the women but not me. A lot of really good places to eat though which is my main reason for not opting to stay home on these trips.
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Yeah. Last year I was in St. Paul for work for 3 weeks. I think we went there to eat every few days.
 
marcoseddi said:
Did you think magically everything at this mall would be made in America lol everything in this country is made elsewhere mainly because Americans are lazy and don't want to work and we can't keep costs down for production. I see it first hand with employees and past ones, simply don't want to work! And now more so people get food for free, housing , schooling and now healthcare why work?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Hey - thanks for playing! Did you see anything in my light-hearted, and warm rendering of the first post? Did you see any mention of some kind of indictment of the US labor force? Did you just want to be a big giant ****head and toss more trash in my thread?

Well, congrats to you! I get to increase my ignore list juuuuuuust a little bit today.

Buh-bye. :D
 
Glad you enjoyed it. I've been a couple of times. There are some surprisingly nice restaurants in there, too and not just "for a mall". Actually decent places to eat.... I do recall some story "redundancy" (more than one of a particular store, usually well separated from its twin)

docmirror said:
Wow, tough room.
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Ain't it ever. I try to remember experiences like this when I feel my snark rising to the surface.

Hey, I like the the ole verbal thrust and parry as much as the next guy, but sometimes it feels like the art of conversation these days is guided by the snappy repartee of bad sitcoms.
 
jhausch said:
Glad you enjoyed it. I've been a couple of times. There are some surprisingly nice restaurants in there, too and not just "for a mall". Actually decent places to eat.... I do recall some story "redundancy" (more than one of a particular store, usually well separated from its twin)



Ain't it ever. I try to remember experiences like this when I feel my snark rising to the surface.

Hey, I like the the ole verbal thrust and parry as much as the next guy, but sometimes it feels like the art of conversation these days is guided by the snappy repartee of bad sitcoms.
Click to expand...

Believe me, I'm no fan of malls. Last time I was in one I think Reagan was in the WH. The Mall of America is fantastic. One of it's major benefits is that it's in a free country. So it's not for everyone. I still say embrace the moment. I had a great time, and I'm glad I went. :yes:

If others want to show me up as a rube with a low brow of stimulus - meh, whatev.
 
docmirror said:
Hey - thanks for playing! Did you see anything in my light-hearted, and warm rendering of the first post? Did you see any mention of some kind of indictment of the US labor force? Did you just want to be a big giant ****head and toss more trash in my thread?

Well, congrats to you! I get to increase my ignore list juuuuuuust a little bit today.

Buh-bye. :D
Click to expand...

ooooooo i care I've been ignored by a guy who's got his head in his as$ SO SURPRISED :yikes: THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH PRODUCT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES in a mall.. ohhh man how ironic how different than what you would expect!

:mad2::lol::rolleyes2::goofy::nono::dunno:
 
Do they still have the bars and clubs on the fourth floor? This was back in 2001, but they had an awesome dueling piano bar there. Plus a Hooters. Who doesn't like Hooters?
 
marcoseddi said:
ooooooo i care I've been ignored by a guy who's got his head in his as$ SO SURPRISED :yikes: THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH PRODUCT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES in a mall.. ohhh man how ironic how different than what you would expect!

:mad2::lol::rolleyes2::goofy::nono::dunno:
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Dude. You missed a few emoticons on your rage-post.
 
marcoseddi said:
ooooooo i care I've been ignored by a guy who's got his head in his as$ SO SURPRISED :yikes: THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH PRODUCT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES in a mall.. ohhh man how ironic how different than what you would expect!

:mad2::lol::rolleyes2::goofy::nono::dunno:
Click to expand...

And here I thought he was surprised to find SO MANY THINGS MADE IN AMERICA, which are getting harder to find. And I work in manufacturing. In America. For twenty five years . . .
 
Ectually, the thread had very little to do with where the products were made. Mentioned in passing. It was about a nice place on a cold day. We had a good time, we bought some stuff, and it surprised me, as I have never been a fan.
 
Glad you enjoyed it Doc.

I think personally I'll just stick to Amazon. The UPS guy delivers and I don't have to go get the stuff. ;)

My only regular mall trips are when I have to go to an Apple Store in person. I usually take a detour and go to the Renzio's and eat a Gyro if I'm there.

It'd be interesting to see MoA once if I had any reason to be in Minneapolis and stuck there with nothing to do for a day, I suppose. Or if some nut did a fly-in and I could see friends.
 
I suspect the venue had little to do with your enjoyment. You were with family. Any time (well most) spent with family is precious since we get so little chance at it any more. They had fun. You had fun. It does not get much better.
 
I think the mall *can* be enjoyable, but for me only when I have absolutely nothing else to do. I normally have a long list of things to do, so when I *have* to hit a mall, I have a list. Get stuff on list as expediently as possible, then gone and on to the next item.

That said, I have enjoyed the mall when I didn't care how much time I was burning wandering about the place.
 
I think you all missed the key reason he enjoyed it. It was 2F outside and 69F inside. That says it all to me. :D

Spending time with the family is also good.
 
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