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September 7th, 2007
We are officially over summer. It was fun in that “I drank wayyy too much Corona at that BBQ and forgot to get his name before I stumbled home in my unflattering baby doll dress” kinda way. But to be honest, mosquito bites, frizzy humidity hair that is always up in pigtails, sweat-stained tank tops that cost way too much to be worn for only one summer, trying to angle the only shady spot at afternoon cocktailing events, and too-tan older men without shirts on their boats eyeballing every young girl that goes by is getting old (and hello—we see the tan line where your wedding band should be). So, yay autumn! We look forward to shiny, frizz-free hair, navy blue nail polish, lots of bottles of red wine, skirts and boots, boys in jackets … and finding the one bar in town that actually stocks coffee-flavored vodka. (Anyone?? The days will be shorter and we need to get an evening buzz somehow.) All while looking smashing in our new fall clothes of course. And to help get you excited about fall, we have some giveaways for you! Forward MinneapolisPicks to five of your friends and cc: picks@minneapolispicks.com—you could win a gift certificate to one of our favorite, featured stores! So send along, readers—send along. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Covered in Karma We think shopping for a new fall coat is a good way to get out of watching football. So if you are like us and want to escape on Sunday afternoons, head over to Karma in St. Paul, our pick for the winningest team of coats this season. Part of the St. Paul Girl-Shop Co-op, Karma has one of the best selections of affordable, trendy, so-cute-everyone-asks-where-you-got-it coats we have seen. We drooled over the gray and brown muted plaid bubble-skirt wool coat from Coffeeshop like our men drool over fantasy drafts. The offerings from Tulle have simple, classic, rich-looking cuts, updated in stand-out colors like lipstick red and kelly green, or a funnel-neck collar—and each costs less than cable’s upgraded football package (uh, we think). And discovering the affordable and versatile pale-grey velvet cropped swing coat with bell sleeves by Beaubois made us feel like our team just scored a touchdown. So next time you have some “you” time (every Sunday!), head over to Karma and tell owner Jada that Minneapolis Picks sent you! Karma |
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| 2 | Indie Goodness We are the type to leave our shopping ‘til the last minute, scrambling the day of the wedding/birthday/event only to give gifts that quite frankly stink of desperation shopping (or, gulp, re-gifting). So all our gift recipients can rejoice that we found Truly. Located in the heart of downtown White Bear Lake, Truly owners Sherrie and Samantha hand-pick the best items they come across, increasing the odds that your next gift is sure to be loved. Birthday or wedding coming up? Punchy ceramics by Little Flower Designs are a refreshing departure from the run of the mill chain store options. House-warming gift? We love the handmade place settings from Dovetail Shop and Studio with hand-drawn trees and houses. Baby on board? Check out the section of adorable gifts for mom and baby. Plus fun stuff like votives with Russian nesting dolls and lampshades made of cocktail umbrellas—yay! They even gift wrap for the truly lazy (read: us). Stop by Truly in September and get 20% off any one indie item when you mention Minneapolis Picks! Truly |
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| 3 | Bar Fly We look forward to a good girl’s night out. Gossip, cocktails, food, in-depth dissections of fashion and lame TV shows, cocktails, dessert, comparing old boyfriends, more cocktails … What’s not to lurv? That is why we pretty much book a standing date at Bar Lurcat. Attached to Café Lurcat (where we like to go on our real dates), Bar Lurcat is perfect for chatty groups or one-on-one gabbing. The relaxed yet swanky atmosphere overlooking Loring Park has comfy couches and intimate seating arrangements that make drinking another Side Car or glass of champagne a no-brainer. But what really sets it apart is that you can get both the full restaurant menu plus a bar menu of Chef Adam King’s amaaaaazing food. We nibbled on the addictive Kobe Beef with Grapeseed Oil and Ponzu Sauce, a perfectly paired Artisan Cheese Plate, and, of course, the cinnamon and sugar doughnuts, which are warm, fluffy, a little bit guilt-inducing and totally satisfying—just like a girl’s night out should be. Stop by and tell Chef Adam we sent you! Café Lurcat/ Bar Lurcat |
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| 4 | Celebutante Style We have a sick infatuation with one of those “it” girls who always looks smashing (and in the past, smashed) wherever she goes. Maybe because we know she can’t possibly style herself, what with the DUIs, reality show and impending pregnancy to attend to. So how does she look so good—especially when five months along? We say: stylist. And if you live in the Twin Cities, we suggest Stephanie’s as a celebrity stylist alternative. Owner Stephanie has a keen eye for trends that are luxurious, flattering and ahead of the curve, practically guaranteeing you will be the only one looking as good as you do wherever you go. With upscale brands like Tibi and Ted Baker London, exclusive lines like the tres French Yoana Baraschi (we love her all black slightly mod look for fall), and quirky accessories that set you apart, it’s like having your own celeb stylist dressing you (paparazzi not included). New items will be arriving this month, so stop in and get ready to become your own “it” girl! Stephanie’s |
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| 5 | Taming of the Shrew-Hair Hair: it’s a love-it or hate-it, grass-is-greener kind of thing. Our thin-haired friends wish for loads more, our thick-haired friends will sacrifice their first born for thinning shears. Curlies want straight, and straights want straighter. And don’t get us started on color (yes we tried Sun-In. ONCE. And cried for the rest of the summer). Which is why we love Moxie Salon. Yeah, yeah, they have won more awards for local “best of lists” than we can count. But we go because they somehow put a voodoo spell on our unruly hair, turning it into something sleek, shiny, and so hip we never thought we could actually rock it – but we do. And now our end-of-summer blonde straggles that screamed VO5 are a fetching dark blonde with red lowlights and perfectly messed layers that we can’t not touch. So whether you want a Bettie Page, a platinum pixie, messy hipster-boy hair or simply a better looking version of you, Moxie is the place to go. Stop by seven days a week and tell them Minneapolis Picks sent you! Moxie Salon |
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| Dessert of the Month: | |||
Sure … other restaurants have this dessert, and yes, we have tried it elsewhere. But nothing beats Barbette’s version of chocolate cake. Maybe it’s how the cake somehow stays crispy while the ice cream melts into the oozing hot chocolate deliciousness from within. Or that you can get your chocolate fix until 2 am on weekends in Barbette’s divine European atmosphere. All we can say in our chocolate coma is mmmmm… Barbette |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | We Heart NY As much as we love to travel, we’ll admit that we haven’t visited NYC lately. We’re looking forward to returning—mainly to check out Rice to Riches—but in the interim, our travel cravings can be satiated with a visit to Carolyn New York. The site offers a “story in a bottle” for a full spectrum of nail polish shades—navy blue for Fleet Week, hot pink for Staten Island, brown for the city’s brownstones. Native or never been there, each bottle definitely contains the city’s charm. www.carolynny.com |
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| 2 | Oh, Girl Why is it that so many songs are written about girls? Is it because we’d rather hear about itsy-bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka-dot bikinis than zebra-print man-thongs? Perhaps. Get your fashion plates off to an early start with the Small Paul Glenda Dress, just one of BlackWagon’s amazingly cool offerings for kids. The sweet ruffle hem is a girly foil for the little “Skurvy” appliqué—and the lipstick red color says “I’m not the kind of little girl you ignore!” Rock on. www.blackwagon.com |
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| 3 | Where Lawn Chairs Get New Lives When we reminisce about our grandparents, we remember them sitting in folding lawn chairs, enjoying “happy hour.” Sadly, like our grandparents, those chairs of old are long gone, giving way to the collapsible styles of today. At least we’re glad to know that the plastic webbing from these relics is living on in the form of durable pouches, wallets and bags created locally by Rosewebs. Available in super cute, bright colors, these gems are a great way to hang on to a little piece of history. www.rosewebs.etsy.com |
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| 4 | Handbags for Neat Freaks We often visit thrift stores to check out vintage bags, but leave totally grossed out. Nine times out of 10, there are wadded up Kleenexes, pen marks and other unidentifiable materials inside, which leaves us entirely uninterested. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a bag that looks vintage, but hasn’t been used and abused? Enter Bari J., a site filled with retro-style offerings that are 100% clean and fresh. You can even choose chic fabrics to design a purse of your very own, guaranteed to be entirely unsullied by the masses. www.barijonline.com |
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| 5 | Totally Tubular Back in high school, we totally used the word “hella.” Everything was “hella cool” or “hella sucked” and, looking back, we think our overuse of the word made us “hella lame.” In limited doses, however, we’re okay with it. Which is why we rather like the site Hella Good, which promises incredible goodies and irresistible surprises. Fortunately, it delivers, with handcrafted jewelry, screen-printed tops, whimsical accessories and more. Our favorite? An art print set from “The Royal Tenenbaums”—odd, but hella awesome. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Rox Join Twin Cities news anchor Robyne Robinson at her private fashion and trunk show for her Rox Minneapolis Jewelry line. Held at the ultra-swank Chambers hotel, Robyne will be on hand to show off her unique, statement-making pieces. A special extension has been made for Minneapolis Picks readers—RSVP by Sept. 11th to the email address below! What: Rox Minneapolis Jewelry Fashion and Trunk Show |
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| 2 | Digital Divas Calling all DIY types who want to expand their hands-on creativity: Ekcetera has new workshops and services covering everything from online photo editing and DIY photo shoots to digital scrapbooking. This September, visit Ekcetera and get 10% off any store purchase or sign up for a class and take 20% off—just mention Minneapolis Picks! What: Ekcetera 10% and 20% off offer |
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| 3 | It’s Fashion, Daaaaahling Get ready for the Twin Cities own Fashion Weekend! Presented by MNfashion, Fall Fashion Weekend is a collection of events to promote the work of local designers, boutiques, businesses and organizations dedicated to fostering Minnesota designers. A variety of events are lined up, so clear your schedule already! What: MNfashion Fall Fashion Weekend |
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| 4 | Click Your Heels… Check out the Red Shoe Clothing Company fall line debut and website launch at Cliché. Local designer Kerry Riley (who studied under Zandra Rhodes), creates ready-to-wear custom clothing and leather pieces. Carried exclusively at Cliché, her line is a local one not to be missed. What: Red Shoe Clothing Company Fall Line Debut |
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| 5 | A Collage of Clothes It’s the savvy fashion event of the season! Featuring selections from local uber-boutiques Ivy, Bluebird, and Stephanie’s, The Collage Fashion Show combines champagne, clothing, celebration and a cause—it benefits The Jeremiah Program. So slide on those stilettos and get ready to party like it’s New York Fashion week! What: Collage Fashion Show at the Nicollet Island Pavilion |
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| 7 | Bowl Around the Block Not that anyone needs an excuse to go to local favorite Bryant Lake Bowl, but here you go: A free block party featuring Black Blondie, North Star Rollergirls mini-derby, Mpls Air Guitar Champions, local vendor flea market and more. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the MN Fringe Festival. What: Bryant Lake Bowl Block Party |
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| 8 | Flora and Fashion Celebrate local flora, fashion and food while you shop the latest from Minneapolis designer Sarah Nassif’s line, Rectangle Designs at Design Collective. Featuring her signature prints of Midwest flora on clothes for men and women, 15% of Rectangle sales will be donated to the Land Stewardship Project. What: Rectangle Designs Trunk Show: Local Flora, Fashion & Food |
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Our second issue of Minneapolis Picks was just as fun as the first. We loved hearing your feedback and your suggestions for places to eat, drink, shop and get styled, so keep sending them in. And if you love us, tell your friends to sign up—the more readers we have, the more often you’ll get this lovely letter in your email! And one more thing...today we launched www.PhoenixPicks.com, which brings Life & Style to the Valley of the Sun. Know anyone in the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tucson area? By all means, tell them to sign up! It's a monthly dose of fashion & fun to take the edge off the hot, hot heat. |
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