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October 31st, 2008
With Halloween landing on a Friday this year, we decided to go all out—buy a costume and hit a fabulous Halloween party. We were as giddy as schoolgirls when we set out to find our ghoulish attire, but our excitement was quickly beat down by severe annoyance. All of the women’s costumes stunk. There was a huge variety, but they all had a “naughty” spin. Like, we couldn’t just dress up as a nurse—we had to be a “naughty” nurse with a skin-tight dress and a heaving bosom. We couldn’t just be a witch—we had to be a “naughty” witch with a micro-mini tattered dress and stilettos. Um, who the hello is designing these things? A 15-year-old boy? Pa-leeze! We want comfort. We’re going as Olive Oyl. Try and put “naughty” in front of that. p.s: Happy Halloween, dear readers! Forward this issue to five friends and CC picks@MinneapolisPicks.com—one lucky gal will score some hip yoga wear for you or your babe from www.SwamiBabyBoutique.com. Enjoy your treat! |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | He Said, She Said There isn’t anything sexier on our boyfriend than a worn-in T-shirt and jeans—which is good because he rarely steps outside his 100%-cotton comfort zone. Last time he ventured on his own for some key seasonal pieces, he came back with the complete series of Seinfeld, a pair of “Can’t Touch This” boxers and an iPod. Needless to say, he needs our guidance. Instead of swapping our own sacred shopping time with finding him a foolproof wardrobe, we’ve discovered the place to do both—without sacrificing our discriminating taste. Q Boutique carries casual vintage tees from White Horse and local designer Owen Case, as well as sleek pieces like the Claudia Brown silk embroidered jacket for her and fly Bohden James poplins for him. We stocked up Report cashmere and wool sweaters, plus Revolver’s soft double-lined jersey knit dresses for ourselves. Weaved into the racks are rock-meets-relaxed styles by Edun, a brand created by U2’s Bono that’s 100% organic. Whether the good cause is the environment or your boyfriend, you will find items to satisfy your conscience and his closet! Q Boutique |
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| 2 | Pirate’s Grub Some time ago we seriously considered quitting our job and packing our gear to travel the world via sailboat. Then we watched the History Channel where real-life pirates were scouring the oceans (with speed boats and machine guns) waiting to plunder loot from unsuspecting tourists (aka “blonde Scandinavian girls”). So much for that idea! Instead we’ve settled for a bit of local adventure, where pirates are friendly waiters and the food is better than ship grub. Enter Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque and Pirate Bar, a downtown Stillwater eatery packed with high-seas paraphernalia. We dug the painted pirate heads dangling from the ceilings, the cannons atop gunpowder barrels, the ominous skull and bones, and Caribbean-inspired artwork. The bar menu is complete with drinks named “Blackbeard” and “Old Cuban,” an extensive rum list (from Tortuga Gold to 25-year-old English Harbor) and locally brewed “Farm Girl” beer. For food, Smalley's offers BBQ-ed everything, plus shrimp, jerk-chicken sandwiches, pirate burgers and sweet potato fries. If you’re hankering for some adventure, better get thee to Smalley’s. It’s far better than walking the plank! Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque and Pirate Bar |
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| 3 | Curiously Cool We love out of the way finds, whether it’s the last cupcake on the shelf, the only cute guy at the bar, or a sinfully-soft cashmere hat hiding in the back of a clearance rack. Imagine our delight when we stumbled across Lizze. Neatly nestled on a sleepy stretch of Grand Avenue, this playfully eclectic boutique offers up a soulful mix of well-tailored and colorfully designed clothes, cool jewelry, accessories, and a precise mish-mash of books, music and artwork. We loved just about everything by Suzi Chin and Fred Keith, and the fab fashion must-haves by local designer Margaret Mousley had us pondering a wardrobe revamp. Love a sparkly bauble? Lizze plays host to over twenty talented (and local) artisans—a jewelry hound’s delight! And they score serious points for masterfully stocking goods that fit and flatter women who are, ahem, actually shaped like women and not blow-pops. So rally your sisters, your friends, and your next-door neighbor who won’t give up mock turtlenecks, and stop into Lizze. You’re all bound to leave with something as unique as you are! Lizze |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Inner Peace Meets Outer Style We’ve been known to embrace a trend or two in our day, some for better (riding boots), and some for worse (pinned pants). So it was no surprise when we hopped on the Yoga bandwagon, and not just for the freakish flexibility, but for the comfy yoga duds as well. Enter Swami Baby Boutique, a stylishly stocked online purveyor that offers up lounge-worthy pants, hoodies and tees for baby, Mama and Pop, emblazoned with yoga-centric sayings and elements like fire and water. |
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| 2 | Youth Gone Wild We have a confession: there’s a teeny tiny part of us that does back-flips anytime we’re mistaken for being even slightly younger than we actually are. But as much as we’d like to attribute our youthful glow to genetics, the reality is we’re fanatics about anti-aging products, and right now our face belongs to JASON. Daily use of their fabulous Ester-C Lotion can help smooth away wrinkles and will leave skin feeling positively luxurious and totally refined. |
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| 3 | Roasty-Toasty Even though we grumble about the frigid winters we’re forced to endure, there’s still a part of us that loves the cozy knitwear that goes hand in hand with cooler temps. And while we love a good old-fashioned chunky knit, our current obsession is the Gypsy scarf we spied on Etsy. Super soft and loaded with luxe fall colors, this beautifully stylish scarf can be worn in a variety of ways, making it as versatile as it is stunning. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | A Ghoulish Good Time Halloween isn’t just for the kiddies, people! Don your fiercest dark-day attire and hit the Boo Ball at Trocaderos. This adult-themed party is a can’t-miss, and not because of the hors d’oeuvres (delish), the music (The Radiators), or the costume contest (hi-larious), but because it benefits the ICA Food Shelf. What: The 8th Annual Boo Ball |
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| 2 | Like, Expand Your Horizons See the world’s largest democracy through the eyes of 28 talented Indian photographers and video artists. From their culture’s deeply rich art and customs to their role in modern technology and glam Bollywood style, this exhibit gives viewers an insightful glimpse into today’s India. You’ll see this country in a whole new way. What: India: Public Places, Private Spaces |
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| 3 | Girl Power We live to champion our local indie boutiques and businesses, that’s why we’re all over Maiden Minnesota. This fun event features exclusive sales and merchandise from women-owned businesses like Joynoelle and Urban Junket, plus each company will donate luxe products for a silent auction benefitting WomenVenture. Arrive early: The first 200 attendees receive fab gift bags! What: Maiden Minnesota 2008 |
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| 4 | Playtime for Pooches |
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