Eat Chocolate, it's good for you.

This Thursday, Friday and Saturday or while supplies last:


"Felchlin chocolates are a wild and rare treasure. Experience the difference with this rare savings.The Felchlin Chocolate company from Switzerland is committed to selecting the best cocao from the top plantations and the best plants from each harvest. We are happy to be able to present them to you in our bonbons collection."

Ecuadorian Arriba 72%
Venzuelan Maracaibo Clasificado 65%
Madagascar 64%
Bolivia 68%

Chocolat Celeste is located at 2506 University Avenue West in St. Paul. Just two blocks from the Minneapolis border. Take I94 to the Highway 280/University Avenue exit. Our boutique is on the southeast corner of the bridge over Highway 280. Look for the black awning.

Zappos 10 Core Values

An entrepreneurial business I admire and one that does it right in so many ways, here are their values:

1. Deliver WOW through service.
2. Embrace and drive change.
3. Create fun and a little weirdness.
4. Be adventurous, creative, and open-minded.
5. Pursue growth and learning.
6. Build open and honest relationships with communication.
7. Build a positive team and family spirit.
8. Do more with less.
9. Be passionate and determined.
10. Be humble.
    

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/ebusiness/successstories/article202710.html#ixzz0MTJmq5Fy

Garden Party!

Two of my favs in the Tangletown hood are having an event this weekend, and you're invited!

It's Tangletown Gardens, "Garden & Art Tour". What is it exactly? "This self-guided annual tour features some of the Twin Cities’ best gardens, local art, and galleries. Wine tasting in the gardens is generously provided by Solo Vino of Saint Paul with other refreshments supplied by Tangletown Gardens. Proceeds from the tour help fund public art, charities, and garden projects throughout the Twin Cities’ area. Every year the event gains more recognition and has fostered a loyal following."

My other favorite spot is Gallery 360, is getting in on the "garden" action by having a Storewide Summer Sale, 20% off sale all weekend, and an additional 10% off those who bring in a "Garden Tour" button.

Another bonus, and sorry, two more of my favorites - playing at the Tangletown Garden's event will be my dear friend Joseph's band, Tambuca, and catering the event will be yet another friend, Scott Pampush of Corner Table.

Garden, art, outside, music, food, summer - really, what else is there?

This blows.

Hairdressers, are part therapist, part friend and part magician. I often wish I could have mine live in my bathroom just to blow-dry my hair the way only they know how.


Well, the Aveda Institute feels our pain, and are offering tomorrow evening a workshop called BYOB (bring your own blow-dryer). Top instructors will educate the public on a very important matter: how to achieve a better, faster DIY blowout. Thurs, July 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m., $20, 400 Central Ave. SE, Mpls., 612-331-1400

And remember the Institute is an excellent value for all your spa needs - hair, make-up, massages, pedicures, manicures and waxing. Day and evening appointments available at significantly reduced prices.

And that doesn't blow.

Ready for a (Sea) Change?

I am clearly not alone in my love of Tim McKee's food. The James Beard Foundation likes him too, so much so, he won the "Oscar's" of the food world award for "Best Chef in the Midwest".

Tim's had quite a year, his on-going successful La Belle Vie restaurant continues to thrive, as well as Solera, then this year he opened Barrio Mpls, Barrio St Paul, Smalley's in Stillwater, 423 Main St S # A Stillwater, MN 55082-5180, (651) 439-5375 and the official opening today of Sea Change, at the Guthrie Theater, 806 Second Street S. Minneapolis, MN 55415.

I've been to Sea Change twice already. Fine, I'll admit to stalking Tim, I know I'm not alone in this either. So of course, Tim seems to know his seafood. My first visit to Sea Change, I focused on my favorite way to dine, ordering several small plates. So the bar menu was ideal for this - there were options of intensely fresh seafood, as well as other unique meat options. I tried the Beef Tartar, Tempura Chicken Wings, Ahi Tuna and my personal fav - Shrimp Linguini w/truffle oil. All betw $8-11, crazy prices for Tim McKee-quality food.

My second visit, we had the Octopus, charred with a variety of salsa verdes, the Tuna with watermelon, mint, jalepeno and lemon-infussed oil.



Sea Change offers a 3-course, pre-theater dinner, designed to get you in and out to your show in plenty of time. Also, daily fresh West and East Coast Oyster Bar.



Then I checked out their lunch menu, below, prices between $8-$13 for Tim's cooking, wow!


Outdoor dining also available, this time along Second St, in front of the Guthrie. The space is surrounded by beautiful flower pots and green umbrellas.


Decor has been enhanced with a modern green color accent, which after the second visit I really took in and fell in love with. The large dining room has been given the right attention, bringing an intimacy to the space with several warm wood bookcase-like dividers. The space overall is cozier. And my husband Tim, was thrilled to see the flat TV screens, which do not over-take the bar, but allow a more homey feel.




So if not for today's opening, please go to Sea Change, and once you have tasted this man's food, you'll start stalking him too.

A taste of local inspiration, a la Geri Wolf.

I met event planner extraordinaire, Geri Wolf, just over two years ago while looking at sites for our wedding reception. She showed us FIVE, which was not a match to what we were looking for. So we said thank you and started to head out, then Geri rattled off about 17 other event space options in 3 minutes. I listened in amazement at her determination to help and her knowledge of her "territory". After each option, my picky head would shake no, but then she mentioned, Theater Jeune Lune, the non-traditional event space which I had already tried. Geri, of course, knew the owners and said she would talk with them. And she did, in a matter of a day she had contacted them, and got back to me, her "non-client". That was my first taste of Geri's work ethic, professionalism and connections.

That day, Geri also inquired about Radar, which was in infancy. And, since then she has been an excellent source of support, networking and inspiration.

For example, last week Geri emailed me, "I'm cooking in Chambers Kitchen on Wednesday from 3 to about 6". Me, "What?". Geri, "To learn how to be better at my job, sometimes I take on unpaid internships."

So when she invited me down to the Chambers to have a taste of her creations, I was on it. And sure enough, there she was in chef whites surrounded by stainless steel and Executive Chef Chris Damskey and his staff. Geri brought out her rice cracker encrusted tuna, had a sit and chat with me, and also introduced me to Chef Damskey.




Yep, that's Geri, the "firm believer that if you aren't learning something new every single day, you're not living up to your potential". So she's been doing unpaid "internships" with some of her vendors to learn other parts of the event world.

To be inspired yourself and hear direct from Geri about her Chambers Kitchen experience and her many other "to dos", check out her blog, Eventful Ramblings and her event-planning business, Styled Laboratory.

Ideas, I love them, especially when they're good.

As a small, indy business owner, I am in constant networking-mode. I seek out local businesses, possible partnerships and try and take advantage of any opportunity that would expose or enhance Radar.

On a walk around Harriet a couple months ago with my friend Maggie, who happens to be a mini think tank of ideas, rattled off a couple for Radar that I took seriously.

So off I went in search of partnerships with Maggie's idea. And yesterday, I met with Alison Lundy, of Alison's Cleaning to talk about one of the "ideas". A little background on Alison, she arrived here 30+ years ago as a tennis pro, has raised 40 some foster kids, her 15 and 16 year old kids are on mission trips this summer and her businesss cleans just about every DT Mpls condo. Can you say a powerhouse? Oh and she's really nice and smart too.

Yes, Alison also gets marketing, which made our meeting both valuable and fun. Here's a smart marketing decision she made, a branded "Alison's Cleaning" Mini.


More to come on the "idea", but thanks to Maggie and Alison, I feel energized and confident my followers will find it a valuable added service.

In the meantime, need a cleaning?
Alison's Cleaning
612-701-1429
alisonscleaning.com - website to come

Happy Bastille Day!

"On this date, 320 years ago, the French proletariat liberated the Bastille prison from the hated monarchy; then they all went and ate escargot. Or something like that."

If you missed our local celebrations around town on Sunday (Barbette, Brits), you still have options to celebrate in true French-style tonight.

Vincent, A Restaurant offers a Daily Happy Hour from 4:30 - 6:30 with:

Small Plates to Share for $4.00
Selected Champagne Cocktails & Martinis $5.00
All Beer & Selected Glasses of Wine only $3.00
And the Vincent Burger is only $8.00!

Vincent also offers a 3 Course Prix Fixe Dinner Menu for $30, Mon-Thurs from 5:00-9:00 pm.


Who is Vincent? Vincent Francoual was born in Puy-L'Eveque, in the Cahors region of France. He began culinary school in Souillac at the age of fifteen. Four years later, Vincent earned his diploma C.A.P. of Cuisine and C.A.P. in Pastry. Vincent spent a summer working in a French resort town on the Atlantic Ocean where he began his love for seafood preparations.


Today, at Meritage in St Paul, the staff returns from their all-staff 2-week holiday - which ran from the "American independence to the French Resistance". Chef and Owner, Russell Klein's menu is a combination of New American with French influences.


Meritage offers 5, 7 and 9 course tasting meals nightly from $65 - $95. My personal favorite way to experience Meritage is sitting at the sweet, 4-stool bar and enjoying several of Russell's "Amusements":

If you're in the mood for dining "l'extérieur", it's a beautiful setting in St Paul.


Feeling even more Frenchie? Did you know, we have the Alliance Française in Minnesota, which was was started in the 1920s by a small group interested in the language and culture of France. Led by University of Minnesota Professor Jacques Fermand, the group became a member of the Federation of French Alliances, and the AFMSP (Alliance Française de Minneapolis-St. Paul) pays annual dues to them. By the 1950s, the chapter had approximately 100 members. Currently, the AFMSP has approximately 975 members.

Alliance Française offers language classes, free French movie nights for the whole family, a library of books, journals and magazines, as well as social events.

And heck, July 6 - July 12, 2009 is "Minnesota French Heritage week" as declared by Governor Tim Pawlenty at the request of the Alliance Française!



Feeling less Frenchie? Here are Radar's recommendations for dialing it down:

Blue Door Pub, offers a "Frenchie" hamburger - stuffed with Swiss cheese and caramelized onion on a toasted, buttered, super fresh bun and served with a side of au jus.

For the best French Fries in town:

Burger Jones' "Try-Fry Tasting Tower" - hand-cut russet fries, maple-bacon sweet potato fries and parmesan waffle fries

Convention Grill and Fountain, 3912 Sunnyside Rd. Edina, MN

Edina Grill's sweet-potato fries!

Lurcat

The Nook

Or please submit your favorite fries!

Get out and be "Frenchy" today, if not in what you eat, then in what you wear - put a scarf around your neck or a beret atop your head!

Célébrer!

Two great loves = Art & Fashion

July 11–November 1, 2009 - Goldstein Gallery Presents, "Intersections: Where Art Meets Fashion"


Inspired by noted fashion journalist Margot Siegel and her immersion in the worlds of art,
fashion, and popular culture. Featured is art by Pop artists Andy Warhol and Richard Hamilton, and fashions by Louis Vuitton, Martin Margiela, and Steven Sprouse.


Goldstein Museum of Design
McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN

Beer, Cycling, Nessie, Yo & Downward Dog

The "What's Ups" for this weekend:

TONIGHT, July 9th: OM Indian Beer Tasting at Sorella Wines & Spirits

The contenders:

Flying Horse: A crisp, clean lager beer; the people of India consider it to be the finest beer in the world.

Kingfisher: Brewed in copper urns since 1857 and uses crystal clear water, delicate grain malt, and fine hops.

Maharaja: The winner of the Silver Medal at the World Beer Championships, this premium Pilsner has hints of fruit with grainy, pale malt aromas.

Taj Mahal: A beer for the serious connoisseur; brewed from only the finest water, grain, hops and yeast.

NOW - July 26th: Cyclist fans - Birchwood Cafe's Live coverage daily of the Tour de France

Featuring French Press Peace Coffee, Pâtisserie, French Ale, Quiche Lorraine, Brioche French Toast, and our infamous Tour de Lance Turkey Burger all month long. And Tour trivia too!

SATURDAY, July 11 : - Yo Gabba Gabba! - 5 pm, Opening Reception at Pink Hobo

"Yo Gabba Gabba! is an Emmy-nominated and Bafta Award winning pre-school series shown weekly on Nick Jr., Noggin and other cable networks around the world. Probably the coolest, most A-list children's television series since...well, time began, this show features indie cartoonists, indie rockers and celebrities. Yo Gabba Gabba!'s costume design, illustration and artwork have been up for awards left and right during the lifetime of the show, so expect to be impressed at this exhibit, which will be up until the end of the month."

Pink Hobo is a modern geek gallery in Northeast. Everything from children's books to computational art can be found here at any given time. They throw some great parties with all their arty friends too, so check out their opening receptions.

The Hobo keeps regular hours Monday through Friday from about 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. but you've gotta knock on the door because they keep it locked.

Have you heard about the Lake Creature ("Nessie") on Lake Harriet? "Once upon a time, in a far away land, a young Lake Creature left her parents' nest and went searching for a home of her own. "Where will I live?" thought the Lake Creature as she began her adventure. "It must be someplace very special. It should be friendly and beautiful. It should have lush green landscapes, fragrant flower beds and scenic byways. And most of all, of course, it must have lakes – lots and lots and lots of lakes!"

SATURDAY. July 11th 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. - Remember the store, "Sister Fun"? The quirky, cute owner is still in business online and is having a sale:
Sat. July 11th 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.
2080 Hartford Ave. - Highland Park
St. Paul, MN

PLAN AHEAD: SplitRock Urban Retreats
Create your own mini-holiday with a half-day urban retreat. SplitRock's first yoga and wine tasting was such a success that they've added 2 more dates this summer! If you missed out or want to go again, sign up today. Here are photos of the first event from my friend Nicole:




Sunday, July 19*
Morning Yoga and Brunch with the Winemaker, $95
10:30 Vinyasa Yoga in the vineyard with Alissa Johnson, RYT
11:30 Napa Valley Brunch prepared by Chef Jason Hadley (sample menu on the web site)
12:30 Private tour of the vineyard and winery
1:30 Personal tasting of the Saint Croix Vineyard wine selection

To register: Email info@splitrockretreats.com. They can send you a pay pal link or you can mail a check to:
Amanda LaRiviere
3908 17th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406

We've seen this bag, but for this price?

Radar E-Tail Finds: The Unexpected for Less Than You Expected.


Whether your a mom, a working professional, weekend traveler, or need a great, personalized baby gift- here's the solution. Each tote can be personalized with a name or monogram in your choice of navy, green, royal blue, red, hot pink, light blue, lavender, brown, or black with matching strap and bottom panel. 14" h x 18" w.

$20 + shipping

If interested in ordering, please email Jen@radar-msp.com

Sweet Sounds at The Ritz tonight

No plans tonight? A charming musical duo is hittin' the Ritz tonight...


"And a little background story.... On a recent west coast tour with Austin songstress Carrie Rodriguez, Romantica's touring van died in the middle of the California desert. But instead of giving up hope in the scorching heat, they found a good-hearted Iranian mechanic who, along with his Mexican compadre, drove the band 65 miles to the nearest Hertz rental with all their gear in an open back trailer. Romantica rented a van and drove 14 hours from San Francisco to Seattle, where they literally stepped out of the van and walked on stage (half wondering why they nearly killed themselves to get to a little gig in Seattle). Sara Watkins (of Nickel Creek fame) was at the Romantica show in Seattle. She loved the band and asked if they want to do some shows together, the first of which will be July 1st at The Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis. Romantica will play a full show and then join Sara to fill out her backing band."

Doors at 7pm
Music Begins at 8pm
$15 in advance
$17 at the door
ALL AGES!