Top 5 reasons you went to the Home and Garden Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center:

5. It was 33F and raining on a Sunday and the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie on USA just wasn’t holding your attention.

4. You really needed a yard stick and just knew someone would be passing one out for free.

3. You were dying to spend entirely too much money for concession stand hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza or beer.

2. You had free passes — does anyone ever pay full price to attend an event at the Convention Center?

1. Your wife told you that you were going and you really didn’t have much other choice.

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Top 5 attractions at the show:

5. The bar. They had overpriced beer and liquor for sale but that’s almost the only thing that could possibly make this show tolerable for anyone.

4. The Southern Lights booth. If there was a tackiness award, this booth’s wares deserved it.

3. The Static Duster Booth. I am fully aware of the 100s of uses for this device but I’m shocked that they make enough money selling them to pay for the rent for a booth here. Amazing!

2. Smith’s Greenhouse (seriously) offered some really good stuff and the only items we purchased at the expo which were organic herb seeds (Genovese Sweet Basil and Bouquet Dill) from Seeds of Change. We’re going to be purchasing the rest of our seeds from Seed Savers Exchange but it was nice to get a couple ahead of time.

1. The Outdoor Paella Party Set at the Kitchen Window booth. Not only was the entire display visually appealing and interesting, it was the only one on Sunday that was offering free and hot food of some substance. They were making their paella with shrimp and sundried tomatoes and it could have been the ~15 blocks we wandered via skyway making me hungry but this booth had my attention for the longest of any — I actually heard their spiel and was mildly interested although I’m not sure when I would ever rent this set (to serve 40, 100 or 200) starting at $39.95/weekend. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get a copy of the recipe that was available but I did get a decent cup of the paella that ended up being very tasty.

We’ve been to the Home Building and Remodeling Expo at the Convention Center before and that paled in comparison to this. I was expecting the bullshit booths that prevailed at that one and was mildly surprised at the vast and crazy setups that the companies had for this show. While I wasn’t interested in buying anything and all their hard work setting up their elaborate displays didn’t help change my mind, I guess it must be worth it for someone.

See all the pictures from the Home and Garden Expo in Minneapolis here (camera).

Related posts:

1. Apple Valley Home and Garden Expo: Apple Valley, MN
2. Home Building/Remodeling Expo and Twin Cities Jazz Festival: Minneapolis, MN
3. 28th Bridal Spectacular: Minneapolis Convention Center; Minneapolis, MN
4. Burnsville Center Plans to Attract RNC Attendees
5. Target Art Hop; Loring Park Art Festival/Sculpture Garden: Minneapolis, MN