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December 7th, 2007
We hadn’t played board games since we were kids, but a friend was in town recently and she bought us Yahtzee! It seemed a little old-lady to us, but hey, so is Mahjongg and we lurv to play that (on the computer, of course). Three glasses of wine and ten games later, we were hooked. Since then we’ve picked up a bunch of old-school board games, including LIFE (yes, we make all the players name their spouse after someone famous), Monopoly, Clue (it looks nothing like the version we remember when we were kids), and Uno. Playing a board game is the perfect thing to do when it’s, oh, 10 degrees outside. We are now determined to set up a monthly game night. It’s the closest thing to going to Chatterbox! We found a bunch of games at Burch’s Pharmacy, so next time you’re near, stop in a grab a couple. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Wishing for Soft Skin This Holiday? We love winter—ice skating, Irish coffee, kissing under falling snow. It seems so romantic, until we realize our lips are dry, our hair looks like Fraggle Rock, and our skin resembles that thing that was shed off our little brother’s snake back in the day. This is when we hightail it to Ampersand’s Apothecary. One of the only independent stores in the Twin Cities to carry Kiehl’s (disclaimer: we are addicts for Kiehl’s), the entire line of Thymes body care products and Shu Uemura—not to mention a huge selection of high-end candles, scents, and the luxe line for men, The Art of Shaving. Manager Carley is a whiz at recommending exactly what can cure your winter woes, and recommended Kiehl’s lip balm for our chapped lips, Lippman cuticle oil so we can stop hiding our digits under mittens all day, and products by Philip B for our flat/frizzy hair. So focus on smooching, not shedding skin, this winter. Stop by Ampersand and let them know that you read about them here! Ampersand Shops |
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| 2 | You’re Fit and You Know It ... After our second plate of leftover Thanksgiving dinner, a friend told us the average American gains seven pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years. YIKES. Prevention mode kicked in, and after a quick trip to sign up at the gym, we were ready to defy that statement, except: What to wear? Thankfully there’s lucy. This Portland-based chain makes shopping for everything fitness fun and simple. While we aren’t normally matchy-matchy, there is something about one streamlined look in workout gear that we like. Luckily lucy has tops, bottoms, jackets and more (in varying lengths) that match for a lean, coordinated look. We love the ingenious “Pant Wall” for finding fits, fabrics and lengths just right for our body type, and the eco-friendly bamboo clothes that are perfect for in the gym or as leisure wear. With a super-friendly and knowledgeable staff, everything you need to look good while getting fit is here—stop by lucy in Roseville at the Rosedale Center (it’s on the Northeast side, accessible via the parking lot) and tell them Minneapolis Picks sent you! lucy |
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| 3 | Monkey Business When we were younger, craft class at summer camp was our favorite. Lanyards, potholders, latch-hook rugs—you name it, we loved it, and Mom received it (and even saved some!) Now that we’re older we may buy our potholders, but we still get our craft on, with help from The Bead Monkey in Edina. This big, bright store is like a candy store for crafty types. Colors! Shapes! Sizes! Materials! They carry one of the biggest selections of beads we’ve seen in the Twin Cities, and offer everything from tools and books to classes and cheat sheets, making a bead habit almost inevitable. We instantly fell for their handy kits (and Kit of the Month club!): created by staff members, they include everything you need to make a necklace, bracelet, earrings, etc. They are perfect as gifts—to give as-is or to make and wrap up! So put down your lanyards and take the next crafting step—stop by Bead Monkey in Edina this December. Plus, mention Minneapolis Picks and take 20% off any kit! Bead Monkey |
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| 4 | Stuffing for Your Stockings We are often overwhelmed when it comes to holiday shopping—we’re always checking our list twice, mainly because we can’t find just the right quirky, kitschy yet useful gifts we want to give. Which is why we like to drop our holiday dollars at Bibelot in North East Minneapolis: shopping is simple and choices are numerous. With just one trip, every person on your list can be checked off. Everything is laid out in sections, making choosing a breeze. For the family cooks we love the Alessi line of totally adorable yet practical kitchen tools, and our friends who travel may (read: will) end up with a City Walks portable card set for their stocking. With sections for green gifts, games, books, pets, kids and more, everyone is covered. (Including us—we snagged some classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer lip balms, with Herme and Clarice on the packages—too cute!) Plus they have all the holiday decorations, gift wrap, and stocking stuffers you can imagine. Stop by this December and tell them Minneapolis Picks sent you! The Bibelot Shop |
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| 5 | Child’s Play Nestled neatly on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue, SIJI Kids offers the discerning shopper a bevy of clothing options, ranging from of-the-moment sweaters and jeans to eco-friendly baby attire. We fell in love with the rock-star styling of Wes and Willy’s guitar- emblazoned button-ups, and the ultra-hip hats by Goorin, both perfect for the wild child in your life. If that doesn’t lure you into this locally owned hotspot, then the on-site photography studio will. You can dress your littlest hipsters in the latest and greatest, and then have them strike a pose for owner/photographer Kyle Johnson. We’re confident that his unique photographic style, coupled with any of the store’s stellar clothing options, will capture your heart and your little one’s spirit. SIJI Kids/ SIJI Studios |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Fashion Do’s As much as we love fashion, sometimes it’s hard to get it right. We leave the house thinking “yay!” and then see our reflection in a window and think “oooooh, no.” Now that we know better than to get it wrong, we get it right at Phlox! Beautiful, feminine dresses and separates, plus fabu jewelry and accessories (perfect holiday/hostess gifts) have us cheering for holiday parties (and we’ll never show up wearing reindeer sweaters ever again). |
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| 2 | Though the Weather Outside is Frightful… We think half the fun of online shopping is finding a good deal (hello, Ebay auctions ending at 2:30 am…score!) Which is why we love Delight.com: They take awesome deals a step further, featuring one product per day on sale. And even if the gift of the day isn’t your cup of tea, they have plenty of other items, from hipster woodgrain file folders to adorable foreign-language flash cards. Make it a daily browsing stop! |
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| 3 | Rocky Mountain High We didn’t have nursery rhyme songs when we were growing up; instead, we had John Denver. At a recent visit to the dentist’s chair we started singing “Take Me Home Country Road” out of the blue. When we stumbled across Hoakon/Helga’s Rocky Mountain Love handbags, we wanted one instantly, especially the Lavandula, which mixes electro-clash with the Canadian Rockies. Think Hot Pink, animal print with deer, skunks and rabbits; and an 80s asymmetrical cut. We’re so on it. |
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| 4 | You’ve Got the Look Do you ever sit at work and think about shopping? We do. All day long. And often we think, “Will I ever really wear those culottes I bought on sale? And if so, with what?” And then we go to Polyvore. Which is like the most genius site ever. You pick clothes and accessories and create a whole look—then share it online. You can browse other looks too for inspiration. It’s like one big dressing room online. YAY! |
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| 5 | Tres, Tres Bon! Warning: This cutting-edge line of French clothing comes with a bit of a dirty-bird bite to it. But get over the language and stat: this online atelier offers unique, adorable and tongue-in-cheek girlish tops and jewelry, straight from Paris. A mix of vintage and modern, sweet and perverted, it’s just right for that sassy gal on your holiday list who looks sweet and innocent, but knows how drop-kick a drunk frat boy in seconds. We say, oui! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | It’s Craftmas Time The VFW in Uptown isn’t just for veterans (or hipster karaokers…) Stop by and browse handmade gifts for the holidays, from over 30 local artists and vendors. Sponsored by I Like You…, the local artist consignment boutique, you’ll find one-of-a-kind gifts that will set you apart from the herd. What: Handmaidens Craftmas |
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| 2 | Stag Party Finally! The latest eating venture from the group that brought us Bryant Lake Bowl and Barbette is open. Go not just for the food, the R&B/Soul DJ Sunday Brunch, or that Romantica is playing Tuesdays in December, but also because it is the first LEED-certified restaurant in the Twin Cities! What: The Red Stag Supper Club |
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| 3 | Here Comes the Bride (Sale) Want to look good for less than you thought on your big day? We thought so! View different gown collections from top designers in December at The Wedding Shoppe, including gowns by Mori Lee and Exclusive bridal. You can get the latest featured gowns from the 2008 collections at up to 20% off. What: Bridal Gown Collections |
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| 5 | Pretty Home for the Holidays What: Luna Vinca Holiday Shopping Party featuring Alissa Karges |
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| 6 | Kinks Be Gone The super-swank Ivy Spa Club opens this month (with the equally alluring hotel set to open in February), and as a teaser, look in the skyways downtown for free chair massages. Yes—free! When our boss starts working our last nerve, you can bet we will be down there ASAP. What: Free Chair Massages, courtesy of the Ivy Spa Club |
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Are you feeling the shop local vibe? Trust us – it is just as cost-effective and interesting to shop our local stores – plus it’s rewarding, because you’re supporting the little guys who can use the extra buck. We challenge you join us as we try to make this holiday a 100% SHOP INDEPENDENT one! Just think, no mall parking (and that’s a reward in itself)… Attention PR people! We are looking to spread the word about Minneapolis Picks.com even further and wider than we already have, and we need your help. Email us at picks@minneapolispicks.com if you know of events or want to help out with our message of shopping local, which we are all about. We are way into scratching backs and good karma, so let’s talk! |
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