Spending A Hard Day’s Night with Sir Paul

 

Spending A Hard Day’s Night with Sir Paul

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for October 19, 2025

It’s been a couple weeks since Avery and Abby’s wedding, and I’m still in catch-up mode. We grabbed dinner with Jeff, Cathy, and Robin before she flew back home to Hawaii. We saw everyone at the wedding, but that kind of whirlwind doesn’t leave much time to really talk. Sitting down with these three to share stories and laughs felt like the encore we didn’t know we needed.

We also took advantage of the unseasonably warm October weather and went out for a boat ride with Portia and Mike. The lake was calm, the sun was perfect, and Mike decided it was the ideal time for a swim. I admired his bravery from the safety of my seat — because nothing ruins a peaceful fall afternoon faster than hypothermia.

We also made it out to The Boardwalk in Shakopee with Tom and Kellie, which was a real treat since we always have such great conversations with them. The place was beautiful, the food was good, but the prices suggested they thought it was better than it actually was.

With the warmer weather hanging on, we’ve been trying to squeeze in as many hikes as we can before winter locks us in our igloos. The fall colors have been incredible—like God’s out here painting trees just to remind the rest of us how bad we are at art.

We went for a hike at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park in Brooklyn Park, where the trails follow the Mississippi River—America’s longest reminder that water always finds a way to get where it’s going, even if it takes a few million years. 

We checked out the new Treetop Trail, a raised boardwalk that winds through the trees and gives some great views of the river and wetlands. It’s what we came to see, and it was really cool—just not very long. It was also pretty packed, which I’m guessing comes with being new and close to the Cities. Still, for free entertainment, it was a solid return on investment.

Friday night I finally got to see Paul McCartney perform at U.S. Bank Stadium. The man’s been on stage since the 1950s, and somehow this was my first time catching him live. I guess I like to take my time with things—some people see legends in their twenties, I wait until they’re eligible for every senior discount imaginable. Better late than never, right?

I was there as a guest of Dan and Jackson, which made the night even better. The tickets were actually Jackson’s birthday gift, and he was supposed to go with his mom and dad, but when Jen had to head to Florida for a friend’s funeral, they invited me to tag along. I felt pretty honored to be the pinch-hitter for such an epic show—and we had an absolute blast.

I’ve been to U.S. Bank Stadium for a bunch of Vikings games, but this was my first concert there—and it completely changed the vibe. The place was electric. The sound was surprisingly crisp for a giant football dome, and the lasers and lights turned it into something straight out of a sci-fi movie. For once, nobody left disappointed in the fourth quarter.

I’m not a big concert guy, but I absolutely loved this one. There were a few songs I didn’t recognize, but most were classics I grew up hearing—and somehow still remembered every word to. The three of us sang along all night to Hey Jude, Helter Skelter, Let It Be, Get Back—hit after hit after hit. Paul went hard for three straight hours without so much as a break, and the guy’s eighty-three. I just hope I’ve got half that energy left when I hit that age. What a legend.

@toddswank Exploring the new Mississippi Gateway Regional Park — where river vibes meet treetop trails 🌿🚣‍♂️ From canopy walks to kayak rides, this place is built for stories. #mississippi #River #MinnesotaParks #TreetopTrails #hikingtrails ♬ original sound - Todd Swank

@toddswank

Paul McCartney in Minneapolis. October 17, 2025

♬ original sound - Todd Swank