Rapp Strategies Rundown – May
What we did, read, watched and thought about this month.
Todd R.: Going back and forth between two books right now – Everest, Inc. about the way that climbing the mountain has become big business for guides (and recently an economic boon for Tibetan Sherpas), and The Situation Room, which is George Stephanopoulos’s look at the evolution of the room where many major national security decisions are made. Since the last rundown I have walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, made my second visit to the 9/11 Museum, taken the Amtrak into and out of the new Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, watched the Phillies win a home game and experienced the fifth and final (under)graduation weekend for my kids. Only they aren’t kids anymore … grandchild #3 is about to join us.
Rich: May brought us a warm and wet start to summer. The vibrant green foliage has provided an uplifting backdrop for outdoor activities: Walks with our Beagle, Flossie, who must sniff every new scent emerging from the previously snowy surroundings, backyard afternoons with our granddaughter, Elin, and backyard dinners consumed on the patio.
May also featured Kari and I attending Tai Chi classes. Our wonderful instructor, Collin, helped us understand the ancient form of exercise which unlocked a new understanding of balance, posture and movement. He also gave us an understanding of the soothing mental effects of Tai Chi. We will be signing up for more classes.
Todd S.: A few weeks ago, I caught The Fall Guy, and learned that Lee Majors is looking good at age 85. Meanwhile, I'm still mourning the closing of Italian Eatery in Minneapolis. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get a reservation for one last meal there. Looking ahead, we have not decided exactly what kind of family trip to pursue this summer but given that Minneapolis Public Schools continues to hold classes until June 14, we still have time to figure it out.
Jodi: It’s cabin season! We spent most of our May weekends opening the cabin and getting ready for another great summer at the lake. The swarm of mosquitos that never seems to stop has been a bit challenging, but sunrises, sunsets, cool nights, and all the wildlife that drops by are worth it. We watched the Three Pines series, which is based on the Louise Penny books and are mixing up watching old episodes of Jeopardy with the third season of Clarkson’s Farm. Our month ended on an airplane headed to New York to see our youngest and her husband. Looking forward to exploring new neighborhoods, vintage stores and flea markets, and finding a true NY bagel and a slice.
Sean: Summer, here we come. Spent the final days of May escaping to D.C. for a family wedding, which gave us the opportunity to dress James up in ridiculous outfits and tour around the Capitol mall. Haven’t been in a few years and can’t remember the last time I got to enjoy DC as a tourist. Had a little too much fun getting my dad on – embarrassing the family by asking trivia questions about the monuments and giving history lessons to everyone within ear shot.
We also attempted to escape up to the cabin for Memorial Day only to be thwarted by a burst water pipe. Winter mistakes coming back to bite us.
Like all of us, I suffered through the ups and downs that was the last stretch of the Wolves season. Not where we wanted to end up but (insert something about the journey being the destination here).
Bike rides, zoos, tattoos. All in all, an amazing May.
Anna: Owen is saying new words all the time these days, and has a new affinity for trucks, bikes and motorcycles. His personality continues to bloom and it’s so much fun. I saw the movie Unsung Hero in theaters with my sister, which is based on the true story of an Australian family who arrived nearly penniless in America and found their way to a better future through faith, music and each other. I recommend it – and don’t forget the tissues. Ike and I have been fortunate to go on several dates, including a double date with friends to Zelo and Tchaikovsky at Orchestra Hall, and a scrumptious meal at BLVD that’s 100% worth the tab. We’ve also found new pastimes to enjoy as a family in the backyard, including hammocking, birdwatching and a true sign of summer – bonfires!
Meredith: Though it dips back into the end of April, my highlight for the month of May was the 12-day trip to Europe I took with my husband, Cory, and my parents. In Budapest, Hungary I learned that Buda and Pest are two different cities, visited the massive and gorgeous parliament building, and got to see the cave church which is built into the side of the mountain. In Brataslava, Slovakia I visited ruin bars which are pop-up bars and clubs built in the ruins of old buildings or alleyways between two buildings. We also went up their UFO tower for sights of the city. In Vienna, Austria we took a horse-drawn carriage around the Schonbrun Palace and saw the ballet in the national opera house. Then, after years of wanting to do so, I was able to share Prague, Czechia with my family. Prague holds a special place in my heart as I studied abroad in the beautiful city. Though many years have passed since then, I could still find all my favorite sights, tell my family about the history, and share my favorite snacks and restaurants with them! I am glad I was able to share this piece of my life with people I care so much about.
Cullen: Between Madison, Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington D.C. and a couple cabin trips, I didn’t spend more than a few nights in the same place during the month of May. Washington was easily the highlight. Lauren and I spent three nights in the Capitol Hill neighborhood with two good friends who recently moved out to live and work at the HHMI Janelia Research Campus. I had a blast retracing my steps from my days as a college intern, visiting museums, and devouring a meal at Moon Rabbit.
Back in the Midwest, I cheered loudly at my sister’s graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College and recharged in the Wisconsin Northwoods with fishing, great food and an incredible glimpse of the northern lights. Between things I finished 3 Body Problem and This Is How You Lose the Time War, and even managed to sit through a couple of extremely disappointing Timberwolves’ games.
Julia: I love the month of May. My Minnesota pride always kicks in when I see folks strolling around in shorts as soon as the temperature gets above 50, and this year my Minnesota pride even propelled me to watch professional sports on TV—go Wolves! I don’t think I count as a bandwagoner when I am from the Twin Cities…
This month also kicks off wedding season—I’ve already been to one friend’s wedding at a lovely Orchard in Buffalo, MN, and I have two more coming in June! I love to celebrate love, and I also love free cocktails and food. It’s a win-win. May has also been a good month for culture. My family and I just surprised my mom with a visit to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater to see Beautiful, the Carole King musical. It was a blast. As a comedy fan, I have been enjoying Hacks on HBO and encourage everyone to go see Babes in theaters. It made me laugh and cry. See you in June!
Alida: I watched more basketball this month than ever before. It was fun to follow along with friends as the Timberwolves vied for the championship in the playoffs this season. Other than that, I laid low for most of May and re-watched a lot of Sex and the City, which still holds up. I also got to see a friend who I met in Chicago perform at 7th Street Entry on her first ever tour. If you like soul, jazz, and R&B, I'd highly recommend checking out Sophia Galate's music!
Madison: May felt like a transition month. I had a much-needed break from grad school before the summer session, and my roommate and I began touring new places to live. In my newfound free time after work, I was hoping to dive into reading some books on my never-ending TBR shelf at home, but instead I got sucked into rewatching Sex and the City (only for the second time). Tried a lot of new recipes this month - my favorite was a homemade flatbread pizza with a bunch of veggies, birria meat and burrata. I also went to my first wedding this month (yes, I've really never been to a wedding before) - it was everything I expected and more. Very excited for the summer months ahead!
