CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE

CRAVE Book Buzz Party – Recap and Photos

December 21, 2009 by Kathy | Comments (1)

On a cold winter night during the busiest shopping season, gals from all over this great city came to the Minneapolis/St. Paul CRAVE Book Buzz Party to celebrate the launching of the manifesto of all the best shops, salons and services owned by women in the Twin Cities! Victory owner Kerry Ciardelli hosted the event at her enchanting store on 44th, along with Kathy Hanson, CRAVE Curator. Many of the wonderful, innovative women who will be featured in the book were there. It will hit the streets in May 2010!

There were fabulous mini red-velvet cupcakes from Yum! owner Patti Soskin. Perfect and bite sized they were a hit! Wines were provided by award winning Sinful Wine & Spirits, owned by Laurie Crow and Beaujos, the inviting and cozy wine bar in Edina. Guests were charmed by the welcoming, radiant ambience of the shop and the exuberant crowd!

Laughter filled the air as business owners found new friends in like minded women throughout the evening. Meaningful connections were made during the four hour party- that’s the reason we do Crave events! Conversations bubbled as the ladies were looking through Chicago, Seattle, San Fran, Austin and Portland Crave books. What a gift to be inspired by all the incomparable tastemakers in other cities and know that Minneapolis has just as many talented and wonderful women!

Media and bloggers were there to see what all the fuss was about. They walked into a vivacious atmosphere of sparkling cocktail dresses, thigh high party boots and furs (both faux and vintage!) as well as a bounty of stylish winter coats as only Minnesota fashionistas can wear!

Everyone was delighted to be in the company of such talented entrepreneuresses on such a busy holiday evening. Many of the guests had several parties to go to and were captivated by the Crave project and what it means to the people of Minneapolis/St. Paul. All the local proprietors are so happy to have Crave touting the importance of buying local! Many consumers may not know which businesses are women owned orhow their dollars support their communities when they chose to shop at local businesses. Savvy businesswomen were at the party to support that message.

Gallery owners, yoga instructors, photographers, PR mavens, shopkeepers, designers, printers, and artists were among the many captivating women who came to celebrate the amazing world of women owned businesses in Minneapolis/St. Paul!

photo credit: Lindsay Lewis

Sparkle this Holiday Season: CRAVE introduces you to five fun boutiques

December 18, 2009 by Kathy | Comments (0)

Want to add some sparkle to your wardrobe this Holiday Season? Check out these five fabulous boutiques for the latest dresses, bracelets, shoes, boots and gorgeous lingerie that will have you looking and feeling your best!

Covered Boutique
Covered in Uptown is the perfect stop for accessories that will take work outfits to cocktail fun! Covered’s manager Megan is all about helping customers find the perfect add-on to your outfit to dress it up for a party. They have many vintage belts and necklaces that will take that black pencil skirt to a new level in less than 2 minutes and under $50! You can spice up your work wardrobe to go to the office Holiday party with simple accessories that add real style and flair. All it takes to change your look from work to WOW is a bit of sparkle. Covered has lots of chunky bracelets and cocktail rings that will work the room for you! Be sure you ask for personal help from Megan or Stacy when you stop in!

To go:
shopcovered.com
Covered – Uptown
1201 Lagoon Ave.
Minneapolis, MN
612.825.1610
Hours:
Monday-Friday 11-8, Saturday 11-7, Sunday 12-5

Flirt Boutique
This sexy, sweet lingerie boutique was inspired by Hollywood glamour. Jessica, owner of Flirt, has created a warm, inviting space that looks like an old world boudoir with soft pink walls, wardrobes and dressers to hold the pretty unmentionables and a warming fireplace. Voted best lingerie by MN Monthly in 2008 and City Pages in 2009, Flirt carries bras for customers of all sizes and fills a niche for high quality lingerie in the Twin Cities. Flirt specializes in creating an personal purchasing experience to with expertise from the staff. Flirt also carries perfume, bath salts, european hosiery, and fun items for bachelorette parties.

To go:
flirtongrand.goodbarry.com
177 Snelling Ave. N.,
St. Paul, MN
651-698-3692.
Hours:
Monday through Saturday 10-7, Sunday 12-5.

Ladyslipper
LadySlipper is beloved for its edited selection of shoes, boots and accessories. The store is small and the decor is really elegant, yet fun with a zebra rug, pink accents, and oversized round pink ottomans. The size of the store could be an issue for some, but proprietoress Amanda does a great job of displaying Ladyslipper’s select merchandise. There is a variety of types of shoes: heels, flats, dressy, casual — all showcasing what Amanda believes to be the best of the best. Some jewelry, purses, and other accessories are also sold, but the stars of the store are the beautiful and trendy shoes — that are for the most part pretty affordable (though some of their boots can be quite pricey). Choose from this great selection to finish up your outfit for a very dressy cocktail party to a more low-key holiday house party (think beautiful stilettos or funky over-the-knee boots that are so in style this season). Switch into the Report Signature black sequin pumps to make your holiday outfit go from work to party!
To go:
4940 France Ave. S.
Edina, MN 55410
952-224-1900.
Hours:
Monday through Friday 10-6, Saturday 11-5.

Bluebird Boutique
At CRAVE we like to shop at stores that are full of unique items, have a relaxed and yet very pretty interior and that displays the clothes in an attractive way — which describes Bluebird perfectly. The owners, Sasha and Alison, are as stylish as they are knowledgeable about trends and what works. Bluebird has ample space for you to linger while you look through the lovely items, colors and textures throughout the store without feeling overwhelmed by product. Try on a fun sequin KLD dress for this year’s holiday party!

To go:
bluebirdboutique.com
Edina
3909 W. 50th Street
(952) 746-8675
Arbor Lakes
12177 Elm Creek Blvd
Maple Grove, MN 55369
(763) 315-6524
Hours:
Monday through Friday 10-6, Saturday 11-5, Sunday 12-5.

June
June is a bit hard to find, tucked away on 34th and Lyndale, but definitely worth the hunt! Daune, store curator and owner has perfected the art of high end resale by selecting only the most wearable and wonderful pieces. Stepping inside her store feels as if you are in a New York boutique — especially the shoe salon tucked in the back. Hand-selected pieces throughout the store, at various price points make June a must see destination stop for your work and party wear! Daune has elevated and blended the art of wearing high end fashion with the art of frugality perfectly. Be sure you check out her website juneresale.com which has fantastic photos of her best finds!

To go:
juneresale.com
3406 Lyndale Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-354-3970
Hours:
Tuesday through Thursday 12 to 6:30, Friday and Saturday 12 to 6.

Eat MN-grown at Red Stag Supper Club

December 15, 2009 by Kathy | Comments (1)

My husband and I took four friends to Kari and Kim Bartmann’s Red Stag Supper Club, a great favorite of ours, on a recent bitterly cold Saturday night. It was our friends’ first time at this fun neighborhood restaurant and they absolutely loved it. Upon entering this charming retreat from the winter air, we were warmly greeted by the two cheerful hostesses. I had requested a quiet table and was delighted to find us quickly seated in the pretty glass-walled front alcove that made us feel as if we were in our own little cafĂ©. The music was low and the atmosphere cozy — a perfect dinner spot for friends to talk (which is surprisingly rare in this town). Our waiter was outstanding — as was rest of the wait staff who were consistently available to fill water glasses and take away plates throughout our two-hour dinner. The service was not only professional, but extremely personable and accommodating of our table’s needs. I give the service 4 of 4 stars.

The Food — Appetizers and Small Plates

We started with the magnificent French fries. These arrived in a heaping bowl with generous topping of freshly grated parmesan cheese and seasoned with chives and sea salt — these are a must-have staple of any dinner party! The hand made potato chips were enormous and served stacked on a plate.

We had the house salad, which featured very fresh, crisp greens and a fabulously zippy roasted shallot vinaigrette. This vinaigrette is a must-try!

The small plate of Lobster Mac & Cheese with Leeks was richly decadent and large enough to share. I was amazed at the amount of big chunks of lobster. The creamy cheese and leeks were fabulous, this is definitely a mac and cheese for adults.

The Food — Entrees

My husband had the elk stroganoff entree and raved about the creaminess of the sauce and tasty flavor of the elk. The oyster mushrooms and tagliatelle complimented and enhanced the flavor of the elk.

My pan fried trout was presented as wonderfully as the texture was light and slightly crunchy — the true flavor of the trout was highlighted, not the seasoning. The side of buckwheat noodle and carrot salad was delightfully al dente and filled with subtle flavor, an excellent pairing with the trout.

My friend’s eight-ounce Petit Fillet was marvelously juicy and simply garnished. It was presented with a mound of whipped potatoes, braised greens and covered in a lovely Madeira demi-sauce.

My friends and I enjoyed this outstanding meal and felt that the prices were quite reasonable, especially as a holiday treat. We plan on coming back to sample the Fish Fry and the Bar menu — which looks intriguing and more affordable.

To go:

http://www.redstagsupperclub.com

509 First Avenue NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

Call 612-767-7766 for reservations

Open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 2 am and Saturday through Sunday from 9 am to 2 am.

Red Stag Supper Club’s Cheap Date Night is Tuesday! Get a bottle of wine, two entrees, and dessert for only $32 per couple!

Also check out Kari and Kim Bartmann’s other restaurants: Cafe Barbette and Bryant Lake Bowl.

Shop Local in Minneapolis/St. Paul

December 9, 2009 by Kathy | Comments (0)

Why Shop Local?
Why shop big box bland when you can shop Minneapolis/St. Paul locally owned and operated stores for simply smashing stocking stuffers for all the babysitters, bffs, boys and brothers on your list this holiday season? They are sure to love the unique items found at these fantastic shops.
Give twice and support our local shops and our communities by spending your hard earned money at locally owned businesses and keep our dollars here!

Patina
Shop Patina stores for wonderful eclectic and uniquely fabulous gifts for everyone on your list. Accessories for the good life is their tag line and they mean it!  They own Shoppe Local as well, which features only locally designed products ranging from kitchenware to men’s clothing.
To go: There are five Patina stores around the Twin Cities. Patina Northeast is located at 2305 18th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418. 612-788-8933. Patina Highland Park is located 2057 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55116. 651-695-9955. (check out patinastores.com for more locations/hours)
Shoppe Local is located at 813 West 50th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55419. 612-827-3071.
All Patina and Shoppe Local stores are open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Serifina
Find darling toddler aprons with tiny tucked in pockets for 22 crayons, fantastic travel bags and accessories and so much more at Serifina in Excelsior. Carol, proprietoress, does all the monogramming on site!serifina.com.
To go: Serifina is located at 436 Second Street, Suite 101, Excelsior, MN 55331. 952-474-2100. Open Wednesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I Like You
Angela and Sara of I Like You in NE Minneapolis have to be the most fun shop owners ever!  Everything in their adorable store is locally designed and made. Belt buckles, jewelry, art prints, clothing and ornaments fill their corner store with the most unique finds in the Twin Cities. Shopping at I Like You supports local designers and artists, entrepreneurs AND our fabulous town by keeping our dollars in the Twin Cities!
To go: I Like You is located at 501 First Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. 612-827-9065. Open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Russell and Hazel
For your sophisticated writer to be, most organized mom or sister, dad’s office or a college dorm room Russell & Hazel is simply not to be missed. Clean, bright and fun, this space is perfect to shop for everyone on your list who wants something hip and fun. Insightful trends and  products designed to add life to your work! Katie, store manager, is fabulous at finding the perfect thing to fit with your lifestyle. It’s not just about organizing either- it’s about stationary, stocking stuffers, writing letters and drawing.  Their real cedar pencils are perfect for the guy or gal who loves the NY Times crossword puzzles!
To go: Russell and Hazel are located at 4388 France Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55410. 952-929-9000. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Yum! Eating good in Minneapolis/St. Paul

December 8, 2009 by Jennifer S. | Comments (5)

Tiny snowflakes swirled around me as I entered the airy Yum! Kitchen and Bakery on a bright afternoon in early December. I was greeted by a warm, welcoming cafeteria filled with the delicious scent of home-cooked soups and warm baked goods. I was immediately impressed. Nearly every beautiful polished driftwood table was surrounded with happy, chatting people. More were standing in line at the large glass counters contemplating the many fabulous options. There were two stations for ordering: one for coffee, the tempting scones, cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods; and one for soups, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and entrees.

My dining companion and I joined the line behind the other late-lunch seekers. We placed our orders and took the number to one of the few empty tables. Our food came quickly.

The Food
I was enthralled at the first bite of my Chicken Brie Panini on focaccia bread. The grilled chicken breast was tender and moist. The caramelized onions and apricot aioli were sweet and paired beautifully with the soft, creamy brie. The spinach added the always important greens. Every bite was fantastic. I could eat this sandwich every day. All the sandwiches came with a generous heap of crispy chips and a lightly pickled cucumber.

My dining companion had a cup of Chicken Noodle Soup and the Yum! Veggie Panini. He loved the clean, hearty broth, big chicken pieces, and abundance of vegetables in the soup. He was impressed by the homemade taste and look of the chicken pieces. His sandwich was equally delicious. Creamy avocado, cucumber, crisp sprouts, tomato, and spinach layers were topped with softly melted cheddar and muenster cheeses. The whole sandwich was unified by the tangy honey mustard on thick slices of whole grain bread.

Patti Soskin’s Yum! Kitchen and Bakery is definitely a winner. This just might be my new favorite lunch spot.

If you go:

Yum! Kitchen and Bakery is located at 4000 Minnetonka Blvd. in St. Louis Park, MN. Phone number: 952-922-4000. Reservations are not needed. They are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.