The Classy Kraus' of Rochester

This is Air Bud.  Who's Air Bud?  We didn't know either.  We just tried to play basketball at Cobbles Elementary and he'd steal the ball...



Genesee Waterways Center in Genesee Valley Park in Rochester.  Megan's work helped fund a regatta called the Diversity Invitational.



While we were waiting for the regatta to start, I saw this crazy tree in the park.  A bit tropical looking for this area.



Crew racing!






Here's my crew boat.















I believe this is the boat Megan's work bought.  I could be wrong though...


 









First of all, there's a "Professional Disc Golf Association."  Second, the "World Championship" was going on.  Third, this guy had a disc golf cart.  If I were in Buffalo I'd say "For Realz?"



We're still celebrating our first wedding anniversary.  This time, we had a free night stay at the Hyatt Rochester because that's where our reception was (if you remember).  We didn't get the Presidential Suite this time, but we still managed to have a good time...



It's amazingly difficult to take a picture of downtown Rochester without getting it full of empty parking spaces.  It's the difficult position many mid-sized cities have.  People won't come downtown unless there is more parking than in the suburbs.  But, people don't want to come downtown because it is boring since they bulldozed all the retail space to make parking lots.  



Thanks Lindsay!  If you ever get the opportunity to work with her, you are very lucky!



Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.  Oh la la!



Take note, to the Hyatt Corporation this is our official name.  



Goodbye Midtown Plaza.  This was a urban renewal project in the 60s that closed off a bunch of streets and made a huge, windowless superblock indoor mall.  For my Michigan folk, think the old malls in downtown Muskegon and Grand Rapids which met the same fate.  



Despite the whole Paetec situation, I think downtown is still heading in a much more stable and sustainable direction.  



Goodbye Robocop Architecture.



The old Sibley Department Store.  This reminds me of the Merchandise Mart building in Chicago.  Under the right management, this place could be the crown jewel of Rochester.



Dinner at Scene on Main in the Hyatt.  Since we got married, they renovated the first few floors of the Hyatt and it's pretty swanky (and "IT'S OUR WEDDING COLORS!" as Megan pointed out immediately).  I believe this was called "Scene Snax"


 
This is the flatbread 



The filet and fingerling fries.  I know it's in a hotel, but it is really super good food and you should go to it.  And, we happened to be there when the Tall Club had their convention, which meant that Megan and I were the shortest people there.


NOW FOR SOME BUSINESS:
BARKTOBER FEST 2011 is on September 24th in Egypt Park (next to Lollypop Farm) and I'm on The Dirty Dogs team.  So, please support me (and the homeless and abused animals of Lollypop Farm) by going to http://lollypop.kintera.org/ba​rktoberfest/mike to make a donation!


That's it for now.  Megan's trying to make a cake with Rachel...

Chalk Mike In Moon Boots!

An original chalk on papa driveway piece by Tachel.  Note: It is near the "Poopie" graffiti, which will never wash away.  That will boost the re-sale value of the house.



Self-portrait



MOON BOOTS!!! Marianne had quite the $3 find at a garage sale.  A find that almost killed the entire family (or at least put them in the E.R.).  Unfortunately, I am too big to use them and I really can't lose more weight without jeopardizing my health...






I can't wait until she uses them to jump off the diving board...



Here's Dock playing with his favorite toy.  He is 2 hours of sleepy peace and 15 minutes of chaos.  That you can count  on.  We'll see how he does after he gets neutered tomorrow...


BARKTOBER FEST 2011 is on September 24th in Egypt Park (next to Lollypop Farm) and I'm on The Dirty Dogs team.  So, please support me (and the homeless and abused animals of Lollypop Farm) by going to http://lollypop.kintera.org/ba​rktoberfest/mike to make a donation!

The Summer Red Wings

Who's that dog with Megan?  It's Barbie!  Who's Barbie?  Just another lap dog that loves Megan.  It must be a sign...



Rachel and I ruining papa's driveway with chalk paint that doesn't come off with water even though it said it did.  Oh well...



"Poopie."  Real nice work...



Stella (aka Sasha to those at Lollypop Farm) enjoying all the other dogs at Ellison Park



She's a bit big for a lap dog.



Frontier Field, home of the Rochester Red Wings.  So, now I can have my "Winter Red Wings" hockey and my "Summer Red Wings" baseball.  



Baseball glove horse sculpture.



Why was I at a baseball game?  FREE TICKETS, FREE FOOD, FREE DRINKS! FREE BEER!  FREE STOMACH ACHE AFTER THE GAME!!!  So very worth it!



If there's one thing I've learned about Rochester, it is that they love bounce houses!






Tire race gets a little dangerous and almost takes out a third base coach



The Legends of the Red Wings.  One is Cal Ripken, Jr. and I don't remember the other two.  And, I couldn't find it on their website.  So...



HERE THEY COME AROUND THE BEND!



OH NO!  NOW THEY ARE COMING AFTER US!



Panoramic shot of Frontier Field.  Thanks to Dee for organizing this.  It was a good time and I expect to see the awesome new glasses at work soon.


I'm done.  Need to find a way to get out of the heat...

Meet Dave Jr...

This is my most recent office buddy.  His name is Dock and he has a cold.  Named Dock because he was found on a loading Dock or something like that.  



He also does not appreciate when I wake him up for this nonsense



Also, meet Dave's new dog Stella.  She's a pit bull mix that is about 7 months old.  Pretty laid back.  Likes to sleep.



At the Corn Hill Art Festival in downtown Rochester.  Pretty cool art fair.  It reminded me a lot of the art fair in Old Town Chicago.  



"Got Ghosts?" is probably my favorite vendor.  Probably because I hope we buy a haunted house where the spirit does the dishes...









The strawberry "smoothie" was more of a "slurpee" since it was all ice.  But, it was so hot that I think I preferred the ice.



Megan is incognito so she doesn't get swarmed from all her adoring fans.



Music at the gazebo.  It never ceases to amaze me that people say they prefer to live in the suburbs to the city.  A nice park with a gazebo.  Activities.  Walkable.  So on and so forth.  You can tell I was spoiled by Chicago...



Finally, Rochester native Abby Wambach.  Well, maybe in a few years.  Rachel had her first soccer game and I have to say that she plays a really aggressive defense.  Go Cougars!


Not too much planned for the next week.  Just going to the final installment of Harry Potter on IMAX.  It's been pretty much the only movies I've seen on the big screen for the last decade.  Anyway...