Bold Perceptions

~ The Mall of America (MOA) opened on August 11, 1992, in Bloomington, Minnesota, built on the former site of the Metropolitan Stadium (where the Vikings and Twins once played). Developed by the Triple Five Group, the project was a massive gamble intended to replicate the success of their first mega-mall, the West Edmonton Mall in Canada. Upon its debut, it immediately became the largest mall in the United States, a title it still holds today in terms of total floor area (roughly 5.6 million square feet). It was so large that it was granted its own zip code and quickly became one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, often outdrawing Disney World in annual foot traffic.

What truly set MOA apart from its American predecessors was its “retail-tainment” model, famously becoming the first U.S. mall to feature a full-scale indoor theme park at its center. Originally known as Knott’s Camp Snoopy (and now Nickelodeon Universe), the seven-acre park was built with high glass ceilings to allow for real trees and natural light, creating an outdoor feel in the middle of a Minnesota winter. This paved the way for other massive additions, including a 1.3-million-gallon aquarium and a flight simulator, proving that a mall could function as a complete vacation destination rather than just a place to shop. ~

🏴‍☠️

~ January 2021 ~

Not too shabby…

~ Meat and wine are not luxuries in Argentina. They are pillars of daily life and identity. Beef is treated with respect because it represents abundance, tradition, and craftsmanship passed down through generations. From neighborhood parrillas to family grills, the focus is not excess but quality, patience, and sharing. Wine, especially Malbec, plays a similar role. It is not reserved for special occasions. It is part of conversation, long lunches, and slow dinners. Food and vino are how Argentines connect, debate, laugh, and stay present. They anchor social life and turn ordinary moments into something meaningful.

The clearest expression of this culture is the Sunday asado. Sunday is not for errands or rushing. It is for gathering. The fire is lit slowly, meat cooks for hours, and time stretches. Families and friends arrive without urgency, conversations unfold naturally, and phones disappear. The asado is less about eating and more about belonging. It reinforces values that define Argentina: patience, community, and respect for tradition. In a world obsessed with speed and productivity, the Sunday asado is a quiet declaration that life is meant to be shared, unhurried, and lived together.~