1. Amana Colonies GC- Amana, Iowa. Ranked #1 in the 1991 Golf Digest Iowa public course rankings, this course is simply beautiful. The course is incredibly challenging, so make sure you have your A-game on and plenty of balls in your bag. If you're ever in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area and have an afternoon to kill, go play this course.

2. St. Croix National- Somerset, Wisconsin. Another beautiful and challenging course. This course was ranked #1 in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Classic Golf Tour golfers and is definitely a treat to play. Like Amana, bring your A-game and plenty of balls.

3. Siren Glen- Siren, Wisconsin. Easily the best course in northwest Wisconsin. This course just opened in 2001, and as the course matures it will likely climb this list. The fairways have a bounce in them that make you feel like a king just walking on them. The course gets more and more difficult the further into the round you get, concluding with an absolute doozy on 18, the toughest golf hole I've ever played.

4 and 5- to be determined.

1. Gary's Pizza- St. Joseph, Minnesota. Sustenance for all Johnnies and Bennies. Gary's is the best pizza around, and also offers the best hours ('til 2:30am on weekends) for satisfying your bar-induced pizza cravings. The cheesy bread- money. Gary's is worth the trip up to St. Joe.

2. Zoey's- Cedar Rapids, Iowa. One generally doesn't think Iowa when it comes to kick-ass pizza, but Zoey's is almost worth the trip. A typical small pizza shop, Zoey's makes a phenomenal taco pizza and the best Chicago-style pizza I've ever had. Make sure you get an order of the garlic cheese bread and a couple of pitchers with the 'za to complete a great pizza experience.

3. Phillies' Double Decker- Willowbrook, Illinois. Probably the most ingenious pizza idea- crust, toppings, crust, toppings (hence the name "double decker"). Eating a few of these will show you why lots of people in Chicago are pretty big dudes...but damn, is it good.

4. Savoy Inn- St. Paul, Minnesota. Thin crust, good and greasy...great stuff. The thickness of the crust allows you to be able to eat a whole large pizza, and with the way this stuff tastes, you just might. Just make sure to stop at the intersection of 52 and West 7th.

5. Turittos- Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. This pizza is incredibly similar to Savoy 'za, which is why it's gotten into the top five. Plus, it has a great location next to another "establishment" in Inver Grove Heights which will improve its ranking. There will be a taste test coming up soon between Savoy and Turittos to determine 4th and 5th place on the list.

1. U2 Popmart Tour 1997- Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just an awesome show. The goal was all the glitz and glamour they could pack into the Dome, and they did with a huge video screen and massive stage. The be-all, end-all of the show- definitely the giant lemon/disco ball that circled the Dome and then opened up, with the band inside. The best effect ever.

2. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 2000- The Quest, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This band is awesome live. There was no room to actually swing dance, but the show was great. Seeing a swing band just rock for about two hours when you're six feet from the stage- awesome. And I caught a drumstick after the show!!

3. Kid Rock/Metallica 2000- Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Metallica's Metallica, lighting stuff on fire, rocking hard, and being very loud. Kid Rock put on one hell of an opening act though, especially with Joe C. (R.I.P.) running around the stage whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

4. Live 1995- River's Edge, Somerset, Wisconsin. A great show on a great night. The lighting was cool for an outside show, and even though I was dropped on my shoulder while crowd surfing, I didn't care. It didn't hurt then (but it did for the next 10 days afterward).

5. Pearl Jam 2000- East Troy, Wisconsin. "Welcome to the Ice Bowl." That was Eddie's direct quote in reference to the 25-degree cold on a October Wisconsin night (who the hell thought an outside concert in Wisconsin in October was a good idea?). No Yellow Ledbetter, which was a disappointment, but there were enough classics to jump around too.

5A. Rage Against the Machine 1997- Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Unfortunately, members of the Wu-Tang Clan were arrested the night before, taking care of that opening act, but Rage was cool. Being on the floor, in the middle of the floor-wide mosh pit for "Killing in the Name" was the bomb. Maybe even the Bombtrack.