Aug 19, 2008 6:59 pm US/Central
New Building At Fairgrounds Is 'Made In Minnesota'
(WCCO)
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The Minnesota AFL-CIO building, near the Fair entrance off Snelling Avenue, is brand new. Now it has a very modern look outside, and represents the state quite well.
CBS
How do wok-fried soba noodles sound? Or how about a dish of asparagus wrapped in prosciutto? These are just some of the new foods you can try at the Minnesota State Fair.
It starts in just two days, and it runs through Sept. 1. Besides food, there are also new exhibits and other updated ones to see.
The Minnesota AFL-CIO building, near the Fair entrance off Snelling Avenue, is brand new. Now it has a very modern look outside, and represents the state quite well. If "Made in Minnesota" means something, then you'll want to see this building.
"The limestone is the most striking feature as far as I'm concerned," said Steve Hunter with the group.
Nearly every piece of this place comes from the Gopher State. Limestone from Mankato blankets the sides. There's a white vinyl roof on top, and there are native grasses and flowers in the gardens.
According to Hunter, this building represents the first building at the Fair to meet what are called, Green Building Standards.
"We didn't need to make it green. We chose to do it because we thought it was the right thing to do," he said. "I'm very proud of it."
There's no air conditioner but fans inside help cool the place, and the white roof reflects the heat.
Environmentally-approved lights can be turned half-on. The rain gutters are even built into the side of the building.
"People who are building new homes and things, there's features here that they can look at, that they can incorporate into the construction of their future home," said Hunter.
The International Bazaar, just down the street, has been improved.
"This is going to be the showcase of the Fair," said vendor J.J. Raymond. He and other vendors are getting ready to open their booths on an entire block that has been updated.
All the shops have a new look. Vendors at the International Bazaar bring tastes and items from around the world to Minnesota. It's a huge melting pot, so to speak, and there will be plenty of new vendors to talk about and treats to try this year.
"If you've seen the Bazaar before, I would definitely recommend coming back this year," said Minnesota State Fair spokesperson Brienna Schuette.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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