M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A, Gooooo MN!

Once again I'm here to talk local. There's a cool, new, unbiased organization, a true "progressive think tank" that was started this past June, MN2020.org. Their misson? "We are focused on what really matters for the future of our state. We are tired of a state that focuses on divisive side issues while our schools, healthcare, transportation, and economic development suffer."
Recently MN2020 was highlighted in the Star Tribune, they reminded us why buying locally matters:
"If 1 percent of Minnesota's expected holiday purchases were shifted from national retailers to local independent ones, an estimated $23 million more would stay in the state. An increase in sales by local manufacturers would mean more profits and more jobs at home.
Another "buy local" benefit is the reduction in energy consumption when goods are sold close to home rather than shipped across the globe.
Retailers have a role to play in bringing about a "buy-local" surge. Prominent marketing and labeling of Minnesota-made or -grown products would help discriminating consumers make the local choice. The Minnesota Grown Directory of the state Department of Agriculture (www.mda.state.mn.us) can help shoppers find Minnesota-grown food products."
Powerful stuff right?
And check out what else they offer at this time of the year, Made in MN Holiday Gift Guide.
So many reasons to cheer about our State!

The Commanding Caskettes

Some things you have to leave to the pros. Like singing. There's a group of 4 local sisters who are secretly singing in basements, bars, and anywhere they command, like our wedding this summer....


Yep, they are the Caskette's, and they play command performances, but only when they command it! They recently were highlighted on NPR's Weekend America, have a website (currently being updated), and lucky for me booked a surprise performance in December in our living room for my Mom's birthday. I can't wait, my Mom will flip at the sweet, harmonious sounds of the sisters and be wowed by their perfectly matching, often feathery attire.
If they are in the mood and feeling commanding of your time or basement, book them for your next event. Or head to Nye's Polonaise, 112 E Hennepin Ave, you may just find them ruling the piano bar.

Cool Little Sticker

Saw this sticker yesterday, Googled it, and found the dude who makes them, he also prints t-shirts too. Here's his blog about bikin' in Mpls and how to order the sweet sticker and t...

Tizzing the Season?

It's impossible to avoid, the holidays are coming. If you don't want to face them, I support you and you can stop reading. If you want to embark on holiday shopping like you never have, read on...
The Twin Cities is home to many creative souls. Souls that create by hand their vision, their love, their craft and for many their livelihood. A few are lucky enough to sell their wares at local stores, and I am thankful for those retailers that support our local talent. Such as: Cliche, Design Collective, Gallery 360, Picky Girl, 1326 Grand Ave, St Paul, Corazon, StyledLife.
However, most local artists have few opportunities for exposure. A passion of mine is buying a piece direct from the hands that made it. I enjoy the intimate exchange of meeting the creator and hearing the story behind their goods. Giving a gift of this kind to me is the ultimate. It's often one-of-a-kind, obvious in it's handmade detailing, lacks a commercial identity which gives an organic personal touch to the giving. And hopefully the gift gets the reaction "where did you ever find this?" - which can be rewarding to a giver because your covert work has been validated.
So if I have converted you to give a little differently this year, here is where to find these soulful gifts:
For the high-end woman on your list, a social + shopping option for you which also benefits Women Venture. Maiden Minnesota, Wed, Nov, 7th 5-9pm @ Chambers Hotel Burnet Gallery, 901 Hennepin Ave, Mpls 612-767-6900.
For the reader, writer & paper lover - MN Center for Book Arts, 6th Annual Book Arts Festival and Sale. Sat, Nov 10th, 10am-5pm, Sun Nov 11th, 12-5pm. 1011 Washington Ave S, 612-215-2520.
For a whole-lotta options in jewelry, adult & kids clothing, calendars, knitware, toys, pottery, posters, prints, card sets and yet even more, make time for: No Coast Craft-O-Rama, Fri, Nov. 30th, 3-8 pm, Sat, Dec. 1st, 9am-5pm. @ Midtown Global Market, Lake St & Chicago Avenue, Mpls.
Even if just one item is checked off your list, it's a wonderful life.

Corner Table in The News

Corner Table Restaurant Leads the Way With Organics Recycling

(Minneapolis, October 24th, 2007) – As a way to reduce the amount of trash delivered to landfills and lower costs, Corner Table has implemented Hennepin County’s Organics Recycling Program.

While Corner Table has always recycled, the Organics Recycling Program provides an opportunity to greatly reduce the amount of garbage generated and save money on the trash bill. And the program has delivered – the restaurant has cut the amount of trash generated by 95 percent while reducing their trash bill by nearly 50 percent. “Hennepin County has made the program easy to implement and it’s worked even better than we expected,” says Scott Pampuch, chef/owner,

To begin the program, a representative from Hennepin County Environmental Services paid a visit to Corner Table to do an assessment and help get them started. The restaurant now has four recycling/compost bins (for bottles, cans, paper and food waste) and recycles or composts 95 percent of all waste. The remaining five percent includes plastic wrap, and the restaurant has plans switch to recyclable wrap when it becomes available. All wine corks and bottle caps are donated to local art programs, and small plastic grocery bags are given to neighbors for pet waste. The restaurant also uses biodegradable garbage bags made from corn to further reduce waste.

Prior to adopting the program, about 85 percent of the restaurant’s waste (enough to fill a two-yard container each week) went to a landfill or incinerator. With the program in place, the restaurant doesn’t even fill the standard trash bin used by a typical household each week. “Our customers are very interested in reducing waste and making positive environmental change, and they’ve given us a lot of positive feedback,” notes Pampuch. “This program really fits with our philosophy at Corner Table.”

In addition to positive public response, Corner Table is seeing tangible cost savings as well. The initial set-up cost for bins, stickers and biodegradable bags was quickly recouped. “We were able to eliminate our contract with the trash hauler, which is a significant savings, source biodegradable bags, and reorganize how we sort our waste, that was it.” adds Pampuch.

Being at the cutting edge of recycling has paid off for Corner Table. “It’s the right thing to do, our customers appreciate it, it’s easy and it’s saving us money. What’s not to like?” says Pampuch.

To learn more about the Organics Recycling Program for businesses in Hennepin County, contact John Jaimez at Hennepin County Environmental Services at 612-348-5893. Corner Table is an independently owned restaurant located at 4257 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.

La vida local - Living the local life

helping preserve the environment, and strengthening our community by investing dollars close to home. How do you do this? Take 2 minutes and listen to Scott Pampuch, a local chef who owns and runs Corner Table, 4257 Nicollet Ave, 612-823-0011. It is one of my favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities. The food is high-quality, intelligent, and yet approachable, and the warm and personable staff is such a complement to Scott's thoughtful fare. Scott mentions small steps we can take to make an impact in our food buying choices, and the importance of sustainability.

In addition to Scott and his restaurant living local, they are also living green. I was informed and educated while dining there last night by a passionate server, Debra. She listed off the detailed efforts involved in Corner Table going green, as well as being the first restaurant in Hennepin County to do so! So what are they doing that other restaurants aren't? All their food and soiled paper waste is picked up by Randy's Hauler and composted. Everything is recycled - down to wine corks and caps, which are then picked up and used in local schools for arts and crafts supplies. Diners have leftovers? Corner Table's to-go containers are soybean based. Filtered carbonated water will be coming soon, a local and less expensive option to the bottled and pricey San Pellegrino.

Another way to make local choices when eating is to seek out restaurants, such as Corner Table, that serve food grown, picked, produced and raised locally. Here are a few other restaurant options that serve from the local land: Restaurant Alma, 528 University Ave SE, Mpls - 612-379-4909. Brasa Rotisserie, 600 Hennepin Ave, (Mpls - 612- 379-3030. Muffaletta, 2260 Como Ave, St Paul - 651-644-9116. Lucia's, 1432 W 31st St, Mpls - 612-825-1572. Cafe Brenda, Spoonriver, 750 S 2nd St, Mpls - 436-2236. Grand Cafe, 3804 Grand Ave S, Mpls - 612-822-8260. Birchwood Cafe, 3311 E 25th St, Mpls - 612-722-4474.

So do right by the land and practice la vida local!

Need a gift? Here's more that your average options...

I just had brunch with a friend who happens to be a working mother of two. So she's clearly busy. She mentioned a recent errand that required shopping for a gift. She expressed mild frustration that beyond the expected local small chain of gift stores, there's just not many options.
I sympathized with her. And then realized no working mother of two would have the time to buzz about the city, looking left and right for the next store, restaurant, art gallery, etc like I do with fervor. So I shared one store that I know would bring her some relief and success in her next gift shopping mission. Corazon, Mpls Warehouse District (Washington at 2nd Ave N) store hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am - 7:30pm / Sun 10am - 3pm Phone 612.333.1662. Mpls Longfellow (Lake and West River Pkwy) store hours: Mon-Sat 10am - 8pm / Sun 11am - 5pm Phone 612.276.0198. A former Patina employee opened this must-needed DT spot which is more that just a store. Local art for sale fill the walls and rotates constantly. Each rotation brings show openings, complemented with wine & hors d'oeuvres. I have an appreciation for stores that go beyond retail and make shopping entertaining and inviting.
Driving away from brunch I continued to think of other options for this busy friend as well as others in this predicament. So here's a list of options that you may not find on the beaten track of town:
Gallery 360, 3011 W 50th St, 612-925-2400 Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Thurs til 8pm, Sun 12pm-5pm. This store's emphasis is on locally made merchandise. Many of which are kicked-off with show openings with, yep, ditto on the wine and hors d'oeuvres. You will find clothing, hats, scarves, jewelry, art, cards, soaps, pottery as well as some imported items. Very few expected offerings.
My recent blog mention, Letterbox, 2741 Hennepin Ave, 612-870-4529, T-F 11am-8pm; Sat&Sun - 12pm-6pm. Closed Mondays. Beyond the best card selection in town, Letterbox offers beautiful stationery, books, serving platters/bowl sets (I have a few, since NO ONE else carries these styles), candles and pens. And again, there is a parking lot, which is a plus in the city!
For the ultra-urbanite, Electric Fetus, 2000 4th Ave. S, (612) 870-9300. M-F 9am - 9pm, Sat 9am - 8pm, Sun 11am - 6pm. Besides having the best CD-buying experience ever, there are actually some unique gift choices, but again it's urban, nothing for Grandma in here. Items range from jewelry, clothing, purses, hats, scarves, kitchy stuff, retro candy, books, bags and rock posters.
For the overly organized man or woman on your list with demanding style, Russell+Hazel, 44th & France Ave (4388 France Ave S) 952 929 9000. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, 10am - 6pm, Tues and Thurs, 10am - 7pm, Sundays, noon - 5pm. This Mpls company was the brainchild of 2 former Target buyers. R+H's "work/style" products are found all over the country as well as in the UK, Canada, Greece and Japan. And we are lucky to have their Flagship store right here in Edina!
And don't forget the artsy museum store, there are the obvious - The Walker Art Center Gift Shop, The Weisman Art Musuem Gift Shop. But please also consider the non-profit option with hand-made with care wares, Soo Visual Arts Gallery, 2640 Lyndale Ave S Mineapolis, MN 55408 | 612.871.2263. Wed 12pm-6pm, Thurs 12pm-8pm, Fri 12pm-5pm & Sat 12pm-4pm or by appointment.
Still at a loss? Shoot me an email, I will steer you straight!