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January 2nd, 2009
Happy New Year! We don’t know about you, but we love new beginnings. In the past we’ve set ourselves up for failure (um, squeezing into a size 2), |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Banish the Blahs We were recently caught at a holiday party in open-toe shoes—we know, insane—but it made us realize that our wardrobe could use a little winter-ready fashion infusion, stinky economy or no. Thankfully, we found ourselves leaving Davanni’s with a hoagie to-go and bouncing into the darling Q Trendsetting Boutique. Cozied up on an already shopper-friendly stretch of Lake Street in Uptown, Q is sure to cure your mid-winter shopping woes. This refined boutique is full of rich fabrics and fetching designs for you and your dude. Grab your guy some Kenneth Cole duds, and score yourself a dramatic gold-and-stone piece from their jewelry case. Is last season’s hobo bag looking a little road weary? Their great selection of soft, leather bags and statement-making metallic clutches is not to be missed. With all the gifts we’ve been scoring for our mom, dad, dude, cousin, co-worker, niece, and boss, we think it’s high-time we set aside the mile-long shopping list and gift ourselves with some much-needed pieces to call our own! Q Trendsetting Boutique |
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| 2 | Look Your Best in 2009 Inspire Style |
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| 3 | Soo Good Too Be True We love unexpected shopping, like when you go to the grocery store and find locally made holiday cards, or the “art” vending machine at the Chambers hotel. So when we stopped by the Soo Visual Arts Center for a look at their latest exhibit, we did some unexpected shopping at their store. Featuring items from local artists, the offerings are more hipster than hippie. Art T-shirts, knit “ruby slipper” kids’ booties, and handmade books make for unique treasures that are wallet-friendly. We couldn’t get enough of the jewelry, especially the feathery fake eyelash necklaces (hello, conversation starter!) and the ice shot-glass makers—let’s just say we already put those babies to use out by the fire pit (peppermint schnapps not included). Add in the one-of-a-kind art, from Polaroids to posters, at prices lower than you would think, and we’ve found our new go-to for fun gifts. Next time you are in Uptown, stop in for a warm-up to check out the Twin Cities-produced goods—and the free art exhibits—at the Soo Visual Arts Center. Soo Too |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Pond-Jumping |
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| 2 | Paint Your Face We find buying makeup a tad intimidating, mostly due to a nasty run-in with a cosmetic counter lady who accosted us with rouge while we were trying to make our way to the shoe department. Thankfully we have Face Time Cosmetics to show us how it’s really done. They offer a lovely assortment of top-notch cosmetics, including our personal fave, a fabu Beauty in a Box kit that contains 11 makeup essentials that are sure to leave you looking your best. |
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| 3 | Woolly-Bully We know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea—outside of Halloween anyway—but each winter we become obsessed with the color orange. It’s no wonder that we love the vibrant scarf we spied at Smitten Kitten Originals. This eye-popping beauty does right by our peepers and our offbeat sense of style by beautifully accenting the dark and dreary staples of winter, and making us feel just a little bit punch-happy whenever we wear it. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | A Homegrown Haven We’re total suckers for anything Minnesota-made (minus lutefisk—yuck), so naturally we’re stoked about “Minnesota Made” at The Grand Hand Gallery. This fabulous exhibit is a ray of sunshine in the winter of our (severe) discontent, with a slew of homegrown artists offering up beautiful pieces ranging from sculpture to original paintings. What: Minnesota Made |
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| 2 | Bridal Bliss Did your sweetie pop the question over the holidays? If so then grab your girls and hit the upcoming trunk show at Grace Bridal Boutique, featuring the ultra-chic designs of Scott Corridan’s White Chocolate Label. With wedding day threads this swoon-worthy, we dare you to leave empty-handed! What: White Chocolate Label Trunk Show |
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| 3 | Family Fun If you’re a parent, life can get a little hairy after the “present high” has worn off and the winter blahs have set in, so do everyone a favor by injecting life with a little entertainment. Check out one of the top-notch performances at the Children’s Theater. “Peter Pan” is in its final weekend! Take your kids—you’ll be a hero. What: Children’s Theatre Classics |
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Let’s make this New Year rock! You resolve to tell one and all about www.MinneapolisPicks.com, and we’ll resolve to keep the fabu suggestions coming! |
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