Things To Do In Mankato While You're MFA'ed

Friends,

I actually had a chance to make up for my shitty Bronson goodbye last night at McGoff's. I couldn't really drink much with him with my cold, but at least I was able to give him a hug goodbye and wish him well.

While there, Bronson, Emily, myself, Free-Press Amanda, and other Free Press employees came up with a list of things that all MFA people need to experience in Mankatoland before they leave here. So here's the list we came up with. Feel free to copy this into a Word Document for your printing pleasure so you can cross things off the list. Also, this would be a good list to give incoming people to make sure they experience the Mankato area. Sadly, you could probably crank out this list in a month or two, but it doesn't mean it won't be enjoyable.

• Win a Thursday Night Limmerick Contest at McGoff's
• Sing along with "It Only Happens When I'm Drinking Whiskey" by Boots
• Drink at the Circle Inn to stagget out (as the saying goes)
• Drink a Rag Top at Pub 500
• Visit Herman the German in New Ulm
• Ride the carosel in the mall
• See the waterfall in Minneopa
• Drink all available Schell varietals
• Develop an affinity for "Primos"
• Visit Dam Store at the Rapidan Dam
• See Charlie Parr at the Sugar Room
• See Dick's jazz band at the Sugar Room
• Find all the gnomes at the Schell's Brewery in New Ulm
• Sit under the massive tree at the Morgan Creek Winery
• Visit Patrick's in St. Peter for St. Patrick's Day (or any day, really)
• Drink a Stahl House beer at the Wine Cafe
• Drink a Kato at McGoff's
• Go to Bochfest in New Ulm
• Eat Turds at Token in Mappleton
• Eat tater tots at TJ Finnegans (if the place reopens)
• See the Boy in the Window in Janesville
• Eat at Kaiserhoff in New Ulm
• Visit the Green Giant Statue in Blue Earth near Christmastime
• Ski Mount Kato
• Go to a Moondogs game
• Have an "Italian Daydream" at Dino's in lower North Mankato
• Play curling
• Go to a Maverick's hockey game
• Seek out Bryce Stenzel
• Take pictures of the Sinclair Lewis House
• Try to eat the "Month of Pizza" (eating pizza from everywhere in Mankato that serves it)
• Degrade Wisconsiners
• Visit the Cottage Cafe in Amboy
• Enjoy not paying sales tax on clothes
• Eat an entire Duke Burger at the Eagle's Nest
• Bowl, drink and sing at Dutler's
• Visit Mettler's to see topless women...if you dare
• Eat Zanz with a side of Pepto
• Drink at Chopper's...don't let the motorcycles fool you, it's not a leather-gay bar
• Get sloppy drunk in front of a Good Thunder author (bonus points for Richard Ford)
• Attend the MFA Cinco De Mayo festival
• Go to all the Thesis Readings you can, and buy the reader(s) a beer at the after party
• Take a workshop with Roger, using one word repeatedly, to see if he counts it for you
• Take a workshop with Terry and write at least one genre story...just to see what happens
• Take a workshop with Diana...try your best, she won't stand for this kind of shit
• Ask a thoughtful question on at a Good Thunder Craft Talk
• Go to, and read, at several Writer's Blocks
• Turn in at least one form poem to a poetry workshop (bonus points for rhymes)
• Have at least one off campus adventure with Diana
• Have a beer with Anne O'Meara
• Finish sentences said to Dick Terrill with the word "daddy-o"
• In a class with Rick Robbins, demand to see the Richard Hugo movie where he takes his shirt off and the Theodore Roethke movie where he dances a little
• Always go to AWP, no matter where it is or how you think you can't afford it

This list isn't close to done. What am I missing?

viva el mustache