Small Fingers

Summer is filled with one day carnivals, I can't drive anywhere outside of the Twin Cities and not bump into a Cheese curd day, Brat day, or Fish day (a lot of creativity at work here).  I was a carnie junkie in my youth and as soon as the station wagon left the city limits, I was on high alert for the faint smell of mini donuts. (it was like a homing device)  We would pull up next to the traveling side show, which by the way didn't exist 4 hours ago but somehow a three story ferris wheel just popped out of an 8X8 U-haul.  (I'm sure it's completely safe) My brother and I would run around with our heads cut-off, (all jacked up on cotton candy and icees) dragging our dad around to all the rides. We would get whiplash on the bumper cars, almost lose our corn dogs on the Tilt a-whirl and scream our heads off on the flying swings.  Then it was time to "try our luck" in the game area (aka. suckers!) I always had huge aspirations of walking out of there with the biggest teddy bear they had. I would empty my dad's pockets and spend all is money on throwing rings around bottles (technically never got any around a bottle) and shooting those damn ducks with a BB gun. (I'm holding a gun, you think they would let me win a few, I'm just sayin')  Looking back, it would have been cheaper to next-day air a life size elephant from FAO Schwartz with the dollars we've spent over the years trying to procure the coveted sawdust filled polyester beast.  Our fun filled day would end with me empty handed, crying and crashing from all the sugar I ate in two hours. (let's do this again!!) 
Don't want to leave the city limits but still crave cotton candy and a cocktail? (carnival bliss!) Check out Cafeteria
Where: Cafeteria located at 3001 Lake Street, Minneapolis
What to expect: Retro-mod interior, garage door like windows that open up onto Lake Street 
What to order: cotton candy of course, but if you want to save the sugar high. Try the Monte Cristo and fries, It's all about comfort food and the weekend brunch is worth checking out, homemade pop-tarts and Lucky Charms.  Gigi's tip:  Hit a summer night on Cafeteria's rooftop, the best way to get there is via the outdoor glass elevator.  Only a few floors but worth it.