If you were on a tour of one-nighters in the United States for the summer, what would you do with a day off in the Twin Cities?

Three "American Idol" finalists -- Michael Sarver, Danny Gokey and Matt Giraud -- went to the Minnesota State Fair on Monday. For hours. Eating and eating, Sarver explained, and seeing animals and meeting lots of people.

Scott MacIntyre had one of the best meals of his life at 112 Eatery in Minneapolis Warehouse District, he said. And he tweeted about each course as it arrived. All six courses.

Anoop Desai got together with an old high school friend who attended Carleton College and now works for a local non-profit.

Megan Joy spent the day catching up on sleep and getting ready to hang this afternoon with Minneapolis "Idol" contestant Jesse Langseth, her roommate during the show.

And the "American Idol" himself didn't get the day off. Kris Allen went over to Dan Wilson's house in south Minneapolis and wrote songs. Wilson, the frontman of Semisonic ("Closing Time") and a solo artist, won a Grammy for co-writing "Not Ready To Make Nice," the 2007 song of the year, with the Dixie Chicks. Wilson also has written with Rivers Cuomo, KT Tunstall, Mike Doughty, James Morrison and Nickel Creek, among others. Allen's album is due Nov. 17.

American Idols Live will perform at 7 tonight at Target Center.

JON BREAM