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August 29th, 2008
We’ve been knee-deep in the frivolous, fried fun that is the state fair. Like any good Minnesotan, we hit this behemoth perennial fave with the gusto of a bride at a Vera Wang sample sale, enjoying—a little too much—the cheese curds, mini-donuts, pretzels, and smoothies, as well as devouring virtually everything on a stick. When we hit the fair we throw caution to the wind and allow ourselves to consume calories like an Olympic-worthy athlete preparing for the Iron Man. That’s just what we do, and we’re not apologizing for it! Of course there’s more to do at the “great Minnesota get-together” than just eat: we scream on the rides, amass ridiculous amounts of freebies, and don’t laugh, but on some level we kinda-sorta want our likeness to be carved in butter. We’re not sure why, but it is what it is. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Pretty Woman Ten years ago we spent a summer in NYC “nanny-ing” for a famous fashion designer, which made us a one-stop shop for fashion forecasting. Normally we avoid name-dropping (a tish tacky), but when it comes to clothes we’re in serious maven-mode, so we can’t help but list the luxe labels we fell for while shopping at Arafina. This upscale boutique exudes a down-to-earth attitude and is the only place to find M Missoni, an extension of the established Milan line that boasts playful patterns and luscious fabrics, but at a fraction of the price. We made a beeline for the taupe tunic with glitzy details by Alice + Olivia, and were completely smitten with the sexy trouser jeans by Ritual Denim. Defined by their precision fit (and their ability to beautify our backside), they made our list of must-haves for fall, and we were awed by the array of stunning evening wear available in a kaleidoscope of colors. All of our posh purchases took us right back to being one hot child in the city, running wild and lookin’ pretty! Arafina |
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| 2 | Refining Spa-licious We’ve been through a lot lately. Ugly bridesmaid dresses, sunburns, freelance deadlines, weird blind dates, and Pinot hangovers that have been more frequent than Law and Order reruns. On top of it all, we relinquished a little too much control at a recent hair appointment and now we’re looking a little less reddish-auburn (fall colors! the stylist chirped) and a little more Manic Panic a la high school dye job. So when we found out about the sinfully good, affordable massages at The Refinery Spa we couldn’t resist. This low-key boutique-style spa is three stories of skin care, massage, waxing, nail, and hair bliss—minus the attitude, weird new age music, or pretentiousness. They carry Dermalogica products (we’re obsessed with Total Eye Care), and the staff is sweet, tattooed, and well trained. We can’t really front like we’re made of cash, and the best thing about The Refinery might just be going back to The Refinery. Prices are sooo nice that we’re on the fast track to “regular” status. Call for an appointment, weekends tend to book fast! The Refinery |
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| 3 | Oui Oui, Gigi We love the U.S. but sometimes we find ourselves craving a little European flair. Lingering on a patio while sipping wine, sampling delicious pastries, people watching… aaaah… if only Paris and Eau Claire could swap locations. If a little Euro is what you crave, then get to Gigi’s in Southwest Minneapolis. This quaint café is the perfect place to unwind while enjoying spectacular eats and drinks. Their ever-changing, seasonally-driven menu offers delish sandwich, soup, and salad options perfect for lunch with the girls, and we love their nightly dinner specials—especially their crazy-popular Wednesday pizza and vino night where diners can score a pizza (carnivore or herbivore) and a bottle of wine for a mere $23. And those who choose sweet over savory can nosh on scones, ginormous cookies, and pastries that are made in-house from scratch and are sure to leave you wanting more. Are you a cocktail connoisseur? Their daily happy hour from 3 pm–6 pm includes half-priced bottles of wine and $2–$3 beers. With all the dough you’ll be saving on drinks, you can start saving up for that European vacay. |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Baby-Chic One of our best pals is blessed with three lively boys, so when she recently found out she was expecting a girl she jumped for joy. Not because she doesn’t like boys—boys rock—but because she’s sick of varying shades of blue and dump truck motifs. Our solution? Gift her with modern and distinctly girly burp clothes and blankets like the ones we found by klarson. Perfectly posh and cuddly, they’re sure to satisfy our friend’s sense of girliness. |
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| 2 | Unbreakable Style Our guy is fabulous in every way save one: he is a total butterfingers, and at times is borderline dangerous. So after watching him break nearly every piece of stemware in our house and drop half of our wedding china, we wised up, packed away our fine breakables, and invested in Melamine. Available in a chic damask print, these fun plates easily feed our style cravings, while at the same time thwarting our husband’s unintentional attempts at destruction. |
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| 3 | Singin’ In the Rain After being caught in a severe deluge on the way to a dinner party, we swore we would never let a few sprinkles ruin a carefully pulled together ensemble again and began scouring retailers for umbrellas that exuded a little charm. Just as we resigned ourselves to the old black standard, we found Pare*Umbrela. This fashionable online retailer specializes in umbrellas emblazoned with eye-catching prints like zebra stripes and modish poppies that will have heads turning the next time it rains. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Fabulous Fall Sale! If scoring high style at low prices makes your heart skip a beat, then check out Meringue Boutique’s hot sale. Spot-on designer threads by Juicy Couture, William Rast, and Twisted Heart are up for grabs at 25–80% off! With denim as low as $50, and tees and casual pants for $10 you can’t afford not to shop! What: Meringue Boutique’s Semi-Annual Online Sale |
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| 2 | We Have a Secret Fashion and fun unite for a fabu runway show at Spin Nightclub in Minneapolis. Lust-worthy threads from Cliché Boutique, Arwyn Birch, and Renate Adje (to name a few) will be on hand to inspire oohs and aahs, while music by Kill Tha DJ sets the mood. Come early: the first 100 people snag sweet gift bags! What: Sex, Lies, & Secrets Fashion Show |
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| 3 | Music Makes Ears Happy Grab your picnic blankets! The Lowertown Music Festival kicks off its weekend of music and merriment on Friday, Sept. 5, and features a wide range of live music from bands like Romantica, Vicious Vicious, and Salsa Del Soul Tasty food and drinks from Great Waters Brewing Co. will be available to keep mouths happy. What: Concrete and Grass: Lowertown Music Festival |
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