Minnesota Street Rod Association's Back to the '50s Weekend

There's nothing like that old car smell. This year's Minnesota Street Rod Association's Back to the '50s Weekend promises to be high-octane fun in a bigger way than any year past. The festivities begin Thursday with a kick-off party at Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis between 11th and 12th streets with more than 20 street rods; just enough to pique interest in the show that will transform the State Fairgrounds into a giant old-timey garage and auto parts store for more than 11,000 classic rides. Vendors will be hawking everything from transmissions to collectable miniatures. But if drop tops and woody wagons don't rev you up, organizers have you covered as well. The "Ladies Showcase" stage has a lineup of speakers to discuss a variety of topics, including neurology, keeping kids safe at the fair, and computer maintenance, along with a fashion show with clothes from Christopher Banks. And if the smell of auto exhaust and engine grease gets to you, there are shuttle busses to the Mall of America on Friday and Saturday. Go to www.msra.com for more information.
June 20-21, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sat., June 21, 6 a.m.-3 p.m., 2008