Happy New Year from Steamboat Springs!

Last Mintue Gift Gallery

Mrs Strong stationery. The ultimate, beautiful little luxury.

I am in love with these little monogrammed plates from La Plates. Look at the patterns and color!! The endless possibilities- create your own signature look.

The most gorgeous coffee table book this season. Jamee Gregory's New York Parties, A Private View takes a look inside exclusive parties of some serious tastemakers. Great party design and invitation ideas, plus an in depth look into Tory Burch's apartment, which we all know is where I would like to go when I die.

My idea of heaven.




If you have never seen Bravo's "Nine by Design" about the crazy lives of Robert and Cortney Novogratz and their SEVEN children, it's a treat. Downtown Chic is a cool design book that showcases their work in New York City and offers tips about child rearing, traveling, and navigating the world with a large family. Fun stuff.



Andrea Immer Robinson does exactly what the title suggests. She takes wine and makes it simple, approachable and enjoyable. Andrea has penned so many great books and wine guides, go to any bookstore and take your pick. She won't disappoint.



The New Yorker has always been a tastemaker, literally.
Secret Ingredients- The New Yorker Book of Food and Wine is "a feast of delicious writing on food and drink, seasoned with a generous dash of cartoons." What a perfect combo.




I haven't jumped on the Ipad bandwagon just yet, but I'm getting close. That many people can't be wrong...


One of my favorite authors is Dominique Browning. Slow Love Life talks about how to mellow out in the crazy, hectic world we leave in. A good way to start 2011.





John Derian paperweights. I love these!



John Robshaw makes the most beautiful bedding, quilts, and pillows. All hand block printed in gorgeous colors and textures.




Alice Waters new book Edible Schoolyard documents her journey about revolutionizing the school lunch.
Beautiful photos, inspiring stories, and a concept I believe we should adopt across the country to feed our school children. Don't they deserve better?

I am not a huge hip hop fan, but I am in awe of Jay-Z. His gorgeous new book Decoded is "provocative, evocative...part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author's own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics."

Isn't everything about Louis Vuitton gorgeous? Yes, but if the pricetag on one of their handbags is a little much for you, try this gorgeous book. Locally you can pick one up at Styled Life.

Love these leather poufs in a wide spectrum of colors from John Derian. I would have them all over my house if I could...like little drops of candy coated color, they make the perfect perch for your feet or an extra spot for seating.

Martini's & Mistletoe

Martini's & Mistletoe

This past Saturday I hope fun was had by all at our annual holiday party, Martini's & Mistletoe. Flowers by Garden Gate in Edina, food by Broder's, servers by Hire-a-Host, liquor by France 44, glasses by Apres Party Rentals. Shake it up with 80 of your good friends and you get a rockin' good time with people dancing on your coffee table. We finally pushed the last revelers out the door (literally) at 4am, tucked one into our guest bedroom and called it a night.

A very good night.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

b

I Spy..

luckily he doesn't bite

or maybe he does..

the amazing molly rice

me and mr. c

celebrating the season

DJ something something

the llama and his handler

with my little eye just about the coolest party (holiday or otherwise) I have EVER attended, and let me tell you, I've been to a few. The talented force beyond Spyglass Creative, Molly Rice and Andy Slothower put on what is surely the most fabulous soiree in town. Can you say not one but TWO roaming llamas, a papier mache tiger that was like something out of a Chinese New Year parade, full bar, amazing food (complete with a round of 10pm sliders from Lurcat next door), and a seriously cool DJ rockin' all kinds of vinyl. Oh, and did I mention the folks on stilts? Is your head spinning yet? Put it all together in the hippest office space downtown and you've got yourself one hell of a bash.

Now I have to go get ready for my holiday party tonight...yikes.

La Belle Vie

the photos do not do justice to the beauty of the dining room

510 Groveland- quite possibly the most handsome building in Minneapolis

Rarely do the worlds of food, wine, and interiors collide as beautifully as they do at La Belle Vie.

510 Groveland is one of the most exquisite landmark buildings in Minneapolis that is home t Chef Tim Mc Kee's artful cuisine. It is timeless, classic, romantic, and surprisingly unstuffy.

The food could be considered "fancy" fare, with three and five course tasting menus, but offering ala carte options as well. The pan seared foie gras with apple, blis maple syrup and hazelnuts was beyond words- but let's just say tender, sumptuous, and decadent. The sea scallops with fennel soubise and white asparagus and truffle- truly a heavenly experience. Always beautiful, always an experience and always utterly delectable. The service is spectacular and attentive. As far as the wine program, Mr. Bill Summerville the darling sommelier extraordinaire has got it under control. He will gladly give his recommendations, or graciously guide you through the dense, carefully chosen, eclectic list.

The food at Belle Vie is amazing, but I need to tell you I was absolutely drooling over how beautiful this place is inside. I have dined here on several occasions, always in awe of this Grand Dame of architecture, but only last night did I notice how gorgeous the chandeliers were and how beautifully the gold leaf ceilings played off the diffused light in the hallways. From the exquisite woodwork to the original windows, 510 Groveland is a delight in all it's intricate, architectural splendor. The bar is beautiful in it's own right; the ideal spot for an intimate meal of small plates and cocktails.

I'm thinking it might be the perfect gathering spot for a certain monumental birthday that is coming up rather quickly...Mr. C?

the bar at belle vie- perfect for a birthday bash

Snow Date

When you have three young kids, ya gotta work for a date night. And to get a date weekend, a herculean effort is in order. So when The Blizzard decided to come to town and shut down our city this past weekend, you can bet one thing is for sure- you can close down the town, but you can't close down my date!

So against better judgement and frightening weather reports, Mr. C and I decided to brave the elements and head downtown for an evening of rest, relaxation, and of course- food, wine, and fun. We made The Chambers Hotel our home away from home and used it as a launching pad for the ambitious itinerary we had planned. We started with drinks at the D'Amico Kitchen bar, dinner at Restaurant Alma, and then the highlight....Christmas carols around the piano at Nye's. There is nothing like a good 'ole Minnesota snowstorm to bring out the Schnapps crowd and gather 'round the piano and croon "Santa Baby" in your most sexy, slurry voice. Not mine, I promise you. I make it a rule to only watch karaoke, not actively participate. The place was packed, and we sat at the bar and laughed. Alot.

"fads come and go...but Nye's hasn't"

The following day we hit Thom Pham's Wonderous Azian Kitchen for a Dim Sum brunch. Now that the blizzard had kicked it into high gear, not too many people out there were feeling like Dim Sum. When we blew open the huge door to the restaurant the staff literally applauded, deeming us hearty, brave (and stupid?) souls and lavished us with an exhaustive array of dumplings and noodles. If any of you remember the old Nankin, this is it on steroids. Yes, it's in the same location as when we used to sneak downtown and drink the infamous Wanderer punch underage, but the menu is now actually extensive and interesting and Mr. Pham has also assembled an impressive wine list. As we watched the snow cover downtown at an alarming rate we literally ate like it might be our last meal.

After Dim Sum we white knuckled it down the highway (passing numerous abandoned vehicles along the way) for a movie at West End. Nothing says movie date more than a cozy leather loveseat and a martini in the front row of the balcony. Gone are the days of the gnarly ripped movie seat with gum stuck to the bottom of it. Sayonara to the sticky floor beneath your feet with someone's left over popcorn and Jujubees. This place is downright swank- good menu, fabulous bar, and seats so clean I actually took my shoes off and curled up in the enormous lounger with my cocktail. I told Mr. C that for the next movie we saw I was going to bring along a throw blanket and make myself truly at home!

Mr. C demonstrating his "Minnesota nice" by pushing someone out of the unplowed parking lot

After slip- sliding through a few parking lots and pushing a few people out of ditches, we did a little Christmas shopping, a little wine shopping at France 44, and tried our damnedest to find a place for dinner after our reservation at Meritage in St. Paul canceled on us (how dare they?), but by 5pm the city was all but shuttered.

Even Minnesota couldn't weather the storm this time

So after 24 hours our snow date came to an end and it was time to head home and relieve the Newlywed Babysitting Dream Team of Meredith and Brett. It was romantic and adventurous at the same time, this little rendezvous in our own city- we felt like we had it all to ourselves as we braved the elements and found ourselves determined not to be derailed from our plans.

Cheers Mr. C- thanks for a great date!

A Different Kind of Holiday Gift

If you don't have money, give your time. If you don't have time, give some money. Hopefully each year you are able to allocate a little bit of one or another (or both!) to a charitable cause that touches your heart and motivates you to give back. If you are struggling with where to give your time or money, below are just a few suggestions that affect our local community and beyond.

PACER, RAINN, Cornerstone, March of Dimes, Boys and Girls Clubs, Special Olympics, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Red Cross, Susan G. Komen Foundation and The Make a Wish Foundation are just a small handful that would greatly appreciate your time or donation.

And a few of my favorites that we contribute to each year-

In tough economic times, one of the biggest issues our nation, and surprisingly, our immediate community faces is hunger. Second Harvest Heartland is working to "reinvent hunger relief through leadership and innovation...not only helping hungry neighbors today, but providing the means for everyone to be fed tomorrow." You can donate a bag or bags of food directly to Second Harvest, you can give them a tax deductible donation, or they can link you with a local food shelf, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, senior community, or a children's after school program that is in need of volunteers.

I don't know one person that has not been affected by cancer. In 2001, the Angel Foundation was created right here in Minneapolis by my aunt, Margie Sborov. Angel Foundation provides financial assistance for adult cancer patients to meet critical non-medical needs, as well as education and support programs to families who have a parent with cancer. You can donate directly to this foundation, or you can attend one of it's many annual fundraising events. The 10th annual Angel Awards will be held January 22, 2011 at the Minneapolis Hilton. Put on your cocktail apparel, bid on some great items and dance away the night all in the name of a great cause!

Another wonderful local charity is Abbey's Hope. Named after Abigail Taylor, a vivacious 6 year old girl who was unnecessarily disemboweled in a kiddy pool in the summer of 2007, Abbey's Hope "works fiercely and passionately to safeguard kids, both in and out of the pool, against preventable harm." Abbey's parents, Scott and Katey Taylor work tirelessly in her name to carry out little Abbey's last hope- that what happened to her will never happen to another child. Read Abbey's story and how your charitable donation to this very special foundation can help save lives in the future.

Education. Your charitable dollars will never be turned away when it comes to education. In my community we have the Edina Education Fund which is an independent non-profit organization "dedicated to the continued academic excellence" in our public schools. Whether you support public or private education, the kids are our future. Time and money are always needed and we all have something we can contribute to our education system.

Whatever cause you feel is important to support, there is a foundation for you. Whether you want to work to eliminate hunger, help contribute to curing cancer or making life easier for someone that suffers from the disease, help kids, contribute to furthering education,- just pick a cause. Everyone has something to give.

There is a Season...

drawing by Edel Rodriquez for the WSJ





"Turn! Turn! Turn!", by the Byrds is a poignant song for me that always turns up a mix of emotions. Leaving behind the past and looking forward to the future; but not losing sight of all of the good, the bad, and inevitably the sometimes very ugly memories. The famous lyrics ring true for many occasions. "To everything, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn.....a time to mourn, a time to dance." Well, after 25 years we are mourning and dancing about the end of an era for World Class Wines, the small, boutique wine distribution company my step father started out of the back of his car as a hobby long ago. Yesterday, that name was transferred into the hands of another much larger company that will hopefully honor the tradition, relationships, and love of wine that this small company was founded upon.


So last night we clinked our glasses with some special wine, in honor of this occasion. The 1999 Chateau Talbot was beautiful and the 2002 Ducru Beaucaillou exquisite. Not fancy first growths, but rather a second and a fourth growth from Saint-Julien. And not a fancy meal to pair with these bottles, just a simple pork tenderloin prepared by Mr. World Class Wines himself, and a rather short meal (compared to others that seemed to linger around our table for hours as the process of this sale trudged through the months)to follow. But the toast was symbolic- part joy, part relief, lots of reminiscing about the past and honoring the people that worked for this sweet company, and even more wondering what the future might hold. The toast was almost tentative, but final in it's subdued "clink". Not your typical boisterous, elbow backing up to bring in the glass with a hearty "Skol" type of cheers, but a delicate, almost quiet, slow "cheers". No exclamation. Just a period. And a sigh...

Deck the Halls

Canadian House and Garden

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

Country Living

Country Living

Country Living

Elle Decor

When it comes to holiday decorating, less is definitely more. Spruce, fir, magnolia leaves, berries, amaryllis, maybe some dried hydrangeas, birch logs (the total rage this season for holiday decor, by the way), you get it. Natural, earthy, warm and welcoming.

So please, celebrate the season with subtlety....

Just say no to colored lights, tinsel (sorry my dearest son Flynn- there will be no red tinsel on our tree this year), that reindeer on your lawn that moves it's neck up and down to simulate grazing, and I must declare an embargo on those huge blow-up snow globes.

No. No. And big time, No.

Christmas is really my season to deck the halls of my home, and Lee takes tree trimming very seriously. Actually, a little too seriously. As I go about my business of putting up wreathes and draping garlands, he is meticulously hanging ornaments for "optimal viewing and symmetry". I kid you not. It is very, very important to him, this tree trimming thing. But then again, shouldn't it be? The entire ritual of holiday decorating is sacred, as far as I am concerned. Go slow. Enjoy the process. Savor it. Make it memorable, and beautiful. Just please...no tinsel.