Siuox Falls... More like Sux Falls!

Three Days. I heard that Jesus had to spend three days in Hell once. I am not comparing myself but merely saying that when you have to spend three days in a undesirable place, you can learn to appreciate the big man even more.

Sioux Falls, SD - View from room #502

Sunday night before I left Minneapolis, I set out to find a bar to watch the Super Bowl in. Once I got to the “strip” I noticed a sign for a concert. The band sounded familiar but I needed to find out for sure before I blew off any potential Super Bowl Partying. I called my friend Barlar and asked if The Decemberists were something I would enjoy. Sure enough I went ahead and got a ticket and had a much better time than trying to talk football with a bunch of strangers.

The Decemberists @ State Theater Minneapolis, MN

The next morning I was headed west.  The last bit of advice I got before leaving town was from the bartender at Ike’s (an awesome little place in downtown Minneapolis). He said “Yee bra! Da last place I would be stoppin’ is Sioux Falls, if ya can go aheed and drive through I Betcha’ you would be much happier, Ya’Know!” God, I wish I had listened…

I-35 South From Minneapolis to Sioux Falls I-90 West

I pulled into Sioux Falls Monday night about 5:15PM. The roads were a little icy and I didn’t want to drive icy roads after dark. Wanting a larger city to stop, I pulled into Sioux Falls. I had made reservations over the phone via Hotwire.com and was going to stay at the Holiday Inn Center City (Fancy – I know).

Holiday Inn Center City - Sioux Falls (Blows), SD

So, the second I walked in I realized that I was in the middle of some Midwestern version of the Twilight Zone.  After I checked in I started to realize my surroundings, noticing that in 1982 this place would have been high class. The convention center attached to the hotel was having a speaker, one of those “Buy my book and I will teach you the secret to beating high blood pressure”.  As I make my way over to the elevator I see a large display welcoming the Maine semi-pro basketball team, in town for the big game against the Sioux Falls Team. After I drop some stuff off in my room I head down to my car to get the rest. When I walked up I saw it… someone had smashed my window. Luckily, they didn’t take anything.

My ride :(

Tuesday Morning: I wake up and start working on the window only to find out that the earliest that it can be fixed is Thursday morning. Panicked, I call every glass shop in town only to find out that Acura’s are uncommon in South Dakota. So here I sit, Three beautiful days in Sioux Falls, SD where the temp. is -22 with wind chill and setting your warm beer outside to cool down will make it freeze within a half hour.

I love seeing new places but I do not understand why people live here…