Sip / Savor • CRAVE Minneapolis • Connect. Inspire. Succeed.

Archive for the ‘Sip / Savor’ Category

Large Black Coffee, Hold the Cubicle: the Best Cafes for Self-Employed Superstars

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

The Twin Cities are home to a vibrant array of coffee emporiums — much to the delight of the writers, artists and bon vivants who populate them. But not all cafes are created equal, my friends. Wondering where to go for caffeine, conversation and a generous supply of electrical outlets? Behold: four of the best joints for freelance superstars.

Best Coffee Shop for … Networking

Spyhouse Coffee Shop
2451 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis + 2404 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis.
spyhousecoffeeshop.com

The Internet connection is a tad spotty — and patrons are fiercely territorial during rush hours — but if you want to rub elbows with fellow freelancers, you’ve hit the jackpot. Both the Nicollet and Hennepin Avenue locations are riddled with graphic designers, journalists, artists, web mavens and crafty entrepreneurs. Just toss a chocolate-covered espresso bean into the air, and you’re bound to hit one.

Tip: Avoid the Sunday morning crunch and visit on a quiet weekday afternoon. You’ll have a much better chance of scoring a prime table (or booth) to spread out your laptop, notebooks and other freelance utensils.

Best Coffee Shop for … Impromptu Meetings

Coffee Gallery at Open Book
1101 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis.
openbookmn.org

Spacious. Centrally-located. Steeped in bookish charm. If you need to meet a client — but want to avoid the hustle of downtown Minneapolis — head a few blocks east to Coffee Gallery. There’s ample off-street parking and a splendid selection of homemade soups, sandwiches and pastries to quell nascent pangs of hunger. Meeting going sour? Avail yourself of the wine bar, or bury yourself in a steamy work of fiction. The Loft Literary Center, Milkweed Editions and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts are all at arms length.

Best Coffee Shop for … Inspiration

Wilde Roast Cafe
518 East Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis.
wilderoastcafe.com

If the Wilde Roast Cafe’s overstuffed leather sofa, towering stone fireplace and vintage candelabra don’t flood your synapses with inspiration, you’ve got serious issues. This Victorian-themed cafe is rife with elegant touches — as well as a private conference room and speedy Wifi. Don’t be surprised if you churn out the next Great American Novel in between bites of Crème Brûlée French Toast. Oscar Wilde would approve.

Best Coffee Shop for … Actually Getting Some Work Done

Caribou Coffee
Various locations
cariboucoffee.com

Say what you will about corporate chains, but with dirt-cheap coffee, free refills, unrestricted Wifi and an abundance of electrical outlets, Caribou is a safe harbor for cubicle-weary souls. Plus, the company boasts an impressive commitment to social justice — 100% of their coffee will be Rainforest Alliance Certified by the end of 2011. Swing by on Mondays for $1 drip coffee and $3 iced mochas, or stop in after the Twins win a game for celebratory specials. You’ll rarely struggle to find a seat, and you’ll never feel pressured to leave. Patronizing the nation’s second-largest coffee chain has its perks, after all.

ALEXANDRA FRANZEN is a freelance copywriter specializing in resume design, public broadcasting and corporate branding — with a kick. You can find her blogging up a storm at Unicorns for Socialism and tweeting away @alex_franzen.

Want to revamp your resume — for FREE? Alexandra’s Spruce Up Yo’ Resume Scholarship Contest is officially open! Visit When I Grow Up for contest entry details. The contest closes at midnight on May 25, 2010.

Tags: ALEXANDRA FRANZEN, Best Coffee Shop for ... Actually Getting Some Work Done, Best Coffee Shop for ... Impromptu Meetings, Best Coffee Shop for ... Inspiration, Best Coffee Shop for ... Networking, Coffee Gallery at Open Book, Spyhouse Coffee Shop
Posted in Sip / Savor | No Comments »

Celebrating women and mothers with Fleurish!

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

I cherish my mother and sister. They are the ones I turn to first with any important or exciting news–the ones who rejoice or cry with me and lend their ears and support to all my endeavors. Each year as Mother’s Day comes around I always wonder how I can honor my mother in a way that lets her know how wonderful she truly is. I want to get her something unique, something that she wouldn’t buy herself. This year I was thrilled to learn that Fleurish, a custom gift basket and stationary store in Wayzata is hosting an event this Thursday through Saturday to celebrate the special women and mothers in our lives.

Fleurish carries a wonderful selection of baby items, gourmet foods, bath products, purses, tote bags, stationary, invitations and thank you cards–many of which are locally made or sourced. They even do monograms! Create a custom-made gift basket filled with all your mom’s favorite things, add in some new items to try and you know you’ll be giving her a gift she’ll remember forever. What better way to show your love and appreciation to the most special woman in your life? While you’re there, pick up items for all the showers, weddings and graduations coming up this Spring and Summer. Fleurish carries the best shower gifts and beautiful cards! Even more exciting, there will be a special gift of chocolate bark with a purchase of $50 or more.

Fleurish is offering a very special deal. During this sale you can pre-order a Minneapolis/St. Paul CRAVE book for $19.95! If you pre-order, you will be sure to have one in hand as soon as they are available.

To go:

Open Thursday and Friday from 10-5, and Saturday from 10-2.

www.fleurishllp.com

240 Minnetonka Ave South

Wayzata, MN 55391

952-476-2296

Tags: gifts, locally-made, Mother's Day, shop local, Wayzata, woman-owned
Posted in Abode, Events, Sip / Savor, Style | No Comments »

5 Myths About Stillwater We Simply Must Crack!

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Come on over to Stillwater and visit some of the most fashion-forward, innovative and savvy businesses in all of the Twin Cities. There are so many fabulous women owned businesses in downtown Stillwater you can make a full day or weekend out of your visit. It’s a perfect getaway for Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, or just a sunny spring Saturday!

I am here to debunk any and all myths about Stillwater AND give you the hottest tips on where to go when you visit! (I will write more about the shops in my next Stillwater blog—this is to just get you there!)

1. “It’s all antiques”
From one end of Main Street to the other, Stillwater boasts shops filled with the latest fashion (Collaborations 129 1/2 Main St S, and Stella), fitness/yoga (Studio Cates), a trend-setting salon (Monde), gourmet restaurants (Savories), sophisticated home decor (Alfresco, Interior Motive, and Maison Galleria), an adorable yarn shop (Darn Knit Anyway) a charming kids store (Red Rover Kids), not to mention the perfect stop for coffee and a scone (Supreme Bean Expresso Cafe – 402 Main St N). And that’s just Main Street!

2. “There’s no parking”
Rubbish! I have been to Stillwater three times just since December, and every time I find plenty of on-street parking! If you are planning a visit, call any of the local shop owners and they will happily suggest the closest FREE parking lot!

3. “Traffic problems”
I zoomed right into Stillwater without incident nor traffic every time. But here is an inside scoop: Follow signs on Hwy 36 and Take Cty Rd. 15/Manning to Cty Rd 12/Myrtle and zip on down—lickety split!

4. “It’s full of tourists!”
Are you a tourist if you live in Excelsior and shop on Grand? No! It’s metro shoppers who know Stillwater is THE place to shop for fabulous finds! My good friend and fashion maven (and her husband!) drive into Stillwater from Minneapolis once every 6 weeks just to get their hair cut! They make an event of it by grabbing a bite to eat and doing a bit of shopping too. Would they do that for the past 8 years if it wasn’t a fun way to spend an evening?

5. “It’s expensive!”
NO WAY! I bought a fantastic designer dress at Collaborations that was under $50! Fashion forward design, fabulous fit, wool/cashmere, no tailoring necessary. Simply perfect. Looks like I bought it in the Oval Room but I supported a local designer AND shop owner! Many of these shop owners travel around the country to buy lines that big box stores do not carry. As you shop the marvelous stores in Stillwater, remember that your purchases send money back into the community. 76 cents for every dollar spent goes back into the community when you shop local versus 46 cents when you shop big department stores and ZERO when you shop online!

Don’t forget to meander around Stillwater and find more great shops tucked away: Camrose Hill Flowers is a must stop, simply to check out their incredibly charming space—it feels like you’re in a 100-year-old English mansion! Bring home fresh flowers grown on a local farm, too.

Down the road a bit is THE BEST stop for all your summer picnic goodies. Heather at Bread Art makes everything herself from artisan breads to cookies, pies to pastries. They look and taste so yummy that you’ll want to throw a backyard party! Scratch baking never tasted so good!

If that is not enough incentive, right next door is La Cocinita Restaurante where Angelina boasts award winning salsa and scrumptious homemade Mexican dishes that must be accompanied by her delicious margaritas! We came for lunch and were tempted to just stay through dinner because the hospitality and the food was so warm and welcoming.

So come visit Stillwater in the next few weeks. You will be so happy you did! We promise!

Tags: Mother's Day, shopping, still water
Posted in Abode, Adorn, Details, Enhance, Moms, Sip / Savor, Style | 5 Comments »

We Dream of Greens

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Every CRAVE girl knows that part of keeping her mind and body happy comes from eating the right stuff. But we also know how hard that can be for the urban gal who juggles a lot more on her plate than just dinner. Luckily, these local entreprenesses have got us covered when it comes to fresh, nutrient-packed meals that will make you forget everything you ever thought you knew about salads. With locally-grown ingredients and creative flavor combinations to shock and awe your taste buds, your figure won’t be the only one paying compliments to the chef.

Birchwood Cafe in the Seward neighborhood is every bit a down-home dining spot, with chefs that put as much attention and care into choosing their ingredients as your mom did. The cafe emphasizes the importance of good, real food which means that the menus are full of local, organic, fair trade, and sustainably grown items that taste as good as they sound. Try this: Wild Acres Smoked Chicken, Grilled Portabellas, Fennel, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Toasted Hazelnuts and Wisconsin Gruyere on Spinach & Arugula with Preserved Lemon & Fennel Pollen Vinaigrette

When you’re especially pressed for time but refuse to pick up your meal through a drive-through window, Yum! Kitchen and Bakery in St. Louis Park is the perfect solution. Order ahead online or by phone for a single lunch or for an upcoming event, or dine inside. The menu boasts a large selection of salads, sandwiches, and of course a full bakery and is a great breakfast spot as well. For lunch or dinner, try this: Pacific Rim Salad with red curry glazed ahi tuna, romaine, pineapple, hearts of palm, red pepper & scallions with coconut dressing.

Cafe Barbette in Uptown is everything an urban girl could CRAVE. With a long list of “best of” accolades, the Twin Cities seems to agree: this little gem of a restaurant is a go-to spot for every occasion from Sunday Brunch to date night to girls night out. The arrival of spring means that Barbette’s quaint patio seating is now open. Grab a friend and an outside table for people-watching, and try their signature French Nicoise Salad: Ahi, sweet peppers, purple potato, shaved fennel, hard boiled egg, green beans, and anchovies.

Tags: eat local, greens, healthy eating, resaturants, spring
Posted in Enhance, Sip / Savor | No Comments »

Spring Eating for your Healthy Body

Monday, April 26th, 2010

We are all familiar with the old adage of Spring cleaning, but did you know that it doesn’t just apply to your closet? Spring cleaning is also important for our bodies and very helpful in flushing toxins, losing weight and creating increased energy. The best place to start your spring cleaning is with spring eating! Jamie G. Dougherty, owner and founder of JAMIE|LIVING, Health and Lifestyle Counseling, offers us a fresh approach. Spring foods are light, water-logged, and perfect for cleaning out our systems of excess junk. Some of the most popular spring foods include:

Asparagus: High in potassium and folate which aids the cardiovascular system- Roast with olive, sea salt, and pepper with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Artichokes: A good source of iron and calcium- Steam and enjoy with your favorite vinaigrette.

Dandelion Greens: Aid in liver cleansing- Blanch, then sauté with garlic, olive oil, and top with currants and pine nuts.

Green garlic: Delicious young garlic plant that has anti-bacterial properties- A perfect addition to eggs or a frittata.

Radishes: Very high a vitamin C. Eat them raw or dip in hummus or your favorite dressing.

The best place to find spring foods it at your local farmer’s market where vendors will have the freshest produce available. Here is a perfect dish to get your started. Who ever thought spring cleaning could taste so good? Enjoy!

Asparagus and Brown Rice Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Serves 4

For the Dijon vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar or red wine vinegar
Sea salt to taste
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 small garlic clove or shallot, finely minced or pureed
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

For the salad:

1/2 pound asparagus, ends trimmed, cut in 1-inch pieces and blanched for 3 minutes
Sea salt to taste
2 cups brown rice, freshly made or leftover
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, tarragon, marjoram
1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

1. Whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, salt, mustard and garlic. Whisk in the oil, taste and adjust seasonings.

2. Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces and place in boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.

3. Add asparagus to the rice and toss together with the Dijon dressing.

4. Add the fresh herb and pumpkin seeds and toss all together. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve.　

To reheat leftover rice: Place cold rice in a small pot with ¼-1/2 cup of water (depending on amount of rice). Bring to medium heat and let steam for 4-5 minutes, or until water has evaporated. Remove rice from the heat and mix with your dressing.

To receive your fill of healthy living tips become a JAMIE|LIVING Facebook Fan or follow her on Twitter! You can also find delicious recipes at:　www.jamieliving.blogspot.com

Jamie is an AADP certified Holistic Nutrition Counselor with a private and corporate practice that offers assistance nationwide. She is passionate about deliciously healthy food and specializes in helping her clients transform their lives through the power of nutrition and self-care.

Tags: Cleanse, counseling, diet, health, healthy eating, Jamie g. Dougherty, jamieliving, lifestyle, recipe, spring
Posted in Enhance, Interviews, Sip / Savor | No Comments »

MNFashionWeek kicks off with Envision Artopia

Friday, April 16th, 2010

The fashion forward of the Twin Cities flocked to the Graves 601 hotel last Saturday for Envision Artopia an evening that fused art, music and fashion into one stellar event. What’s more? Three of CRAVE’s own played essential roles in the success of the evening: VimLab Promotions headed the PR, OPM showcased their hottest spring trends, and Cafe Barbette provided a luxury nosh of fresh oysters on the half shell. Naturally I had to go and check it out to give CRAVE readers the scoop on the hottest event in town.

In it’s third year, Envision is a bi-annual fashion event produced by the founders of Ignite Models, Allison Hamzephour and Jessica Cunningham, in conjunction with V2 Nightlife and Futuretime productions. VimLab’s Natalie Auger, who will be featured in the upcoming Minneapolis CRAVE guide, headed the promotions and PR for the event, and attracted the Twin Cities’ most stylish and elite residents to the venue. The new name, Envision Artopia, was inspired by the exciting new addition of creating a mural live during the event by local artists. It was sold at the silent auction with all proceeds benefiting the Young Survival Coalition.

In the packed venue fashionistas clinked glasses and mingled, checking out the art displays, sampling oysters on the half shell from a CRAVE favorite, Cafe Barbette, and sampling a selection of wine and cheese. As people continued to pour in from the gorgeous Spring evening, three hairstylists demonstrated live how to match a model’s hair to a look on the stage.

As the gorgeous and dressed to kill crowd made their way to their seats the fast pace runway show began.We are thrilled to be featuring OPM in our CRAVE guide of Minneapolis and St. Paul and I was so excited to see the fun looks OPM provided for the Envision show. From bold patterned shifts, to structured shoulders, to cut-to-there dresses, they impressed us with their super stylish yet completely wearable selection for spring. Other Twin Cities boutiques, including Bumpershute, Drama, Elsworth Mens, Local Motion, Vstate and Cliche also showed us their best Spring looks on the leggy and edgy Ignite Models.

After the display of trends from the boutiques and a quick intermission to mingle and refill our glasses, local designers Amanda Christine, Arwyn Birch, Jenny Carle, Kjurek Couture, Peloria, Sarah M. Holm, Russell Bourrienne and Rose White had a chance to showcase their work.

With long runways, live music and art installations, a silent auction and a venue packed to the rafters with trend setters from the Twin Cities…it felt like I had been transported out of the Midwest–what a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of Spring and the start of Minnesota Fashion Week!

For more info:

Envision

www.envisionmpls.com

VimLab Promotions Inc.

www.vimlab.com

Barbette

www.barbette.com

OPM

www.opmboutique.com

Tags: Minneapolis, spring, Style
Posted in Events, Sip / Savor, Style | No Comments »

Get Ready for St. Patrick’s Day at Anchor Fish & Chips!

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

You burst onto a happening scene immediately upon opening the door into Anchor Fish & Chips. Bustling sounds of a neighborhood bar that is packed just months after opening are coupled with the sights of diners devouring simple yet scrumptious meals. We came to celebrate two birthdays and get out on a rainy cold night in March to a place we were told was worth a short wait.

Owner Kathryn Hayes greets you behind the bar of this newly opened space in NE Minneapolis with a soft and subtle endearing Irish accent and a cold pour. Her partners Jenny Crouser and Luke Kyle wanted to keep the food authentic, the menu short and the service spectacular every single night and this night was no exception. We had to wait in the small foyer for about 20 minutes but there was tons to keep our eyes busy starting with the ornate tin ceiling to the local artwork on the walls. Babies, singles, families and grandparents were all mingling as we waited to be seated.

As their charming website will tell you Vegans and Vegetarians Beware!! This place has Pasties & chips, Shepherd’s Pie & chips, Sausage & chips, Burger & Chips and of course Fish & Chips and slight variations on the burger- that’s it. The menu may be short, but everything is done with perfection and with consistency.

Grain Belt beer on tap for $3 and a basket of the biggest piece of cod you have ever seen sitting on a bed of gigantic fries for $8 is what we came for and we were more than happy with our experience. My teenage son and I each had the grassfed Minnesota beef hamburger with Irish cheddar for 8.50, my husband had the hand battered Banger and my daughter had the infamous fish and chips. Without exception, our meals were as spectacular as the service. Everyone fits snugly yet comfortably into the space, close enough to your smell your neighbors coffee yet far enough not to hear their secrets- that’s what makes it wonderful. Diners were eating full meals at the low and wide wooden bar that runs the length of the space. Plenty of elbow room here and lots of friends gathered there instead of waiting for a table.

Kathryn tells us that the sausage is made specially for her at a local butcher after my husband asked her how the meat was processed because it was not a blood sausage, as he expected- better! The fry cook is from Belfast, she tells us, which must be why the batter has a slight sweetness and texture like no other I have tasted.

Our server was cheerful and remembered who liked ice and who didn’t with every refill- a definite plus! Friendly, sustainable, consistent and conscientious. That’s what the Anchor is all about. We will be back!

theanchorfishandchips.com
302 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 676-1300

Tags: Anchor Fish & Chips, food, St. Patrick's Day
Posted in Sip / Savor | No Comments »

Girl Power in Linden Hills!

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Kristen, owner of Clancy’s Butcher Shop in Linden Hills greets everyone who walks through her door by name. If she doesn’t know you by name, she asks in her perky voice- “what’s your name and what can I get for you today?” I watched her make 7 sandwiches from 5 different groups of people waiting and she never batted an eye with any of the special orders for her -so perfect it’s on the front cover of a magazine- turkey sandwich. My husband ordered the ham and I ordered the infamous turkey sandwich and we watched in awe as Kristen sliced the meat, the cheese and put about 14 other ingredients onto our works of art lunches. Warning us that they were too big to eat in one sitting, we defied her wisdom because the bread was so perfectly chewy and the flavors so deliciously melded together and finished our huge sandwiches off in one sitting. Clancy is her dog and Kristen is the owner, not to be confused by their lovable spirits. You feel like Norm from Cheers when you walk into Clancy’s and are greeted by name.

Shop several of the woman owned stores scattered about Linden Hills- Wonderment is a fabulous children’s toy store owned by 3 women who also have a Wonderment store on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Wild Rumpus, owned by Collette, is the infamous bookstore not to be missed with all the menagerie of real live animals strutting and snoozing around the shop. Oscar & Belle is around the corner with everything for baby/toddler made using only hand-harvested, 100-percent certified-organic cotton, grown with natural fertilizers and free from toxic chemicals- started by Anna Gustafson in 2007.

Walk across the street to Leah Simon-Clark’s Extrados Salon & Spa to experience any beauty treatment you can think of to pamper yourself. Nationally renown for her skill with brows, she has developed a following for her attention to detail in every service a woman could need to look and feel great from head to toe. She has 3 locations and the Linden Hills flagship salon now with a masseuse to add to the bevy of beauty treatments offered.

A must stop on a Friday night is Cafe 28, tucked into the charming brick building on 43rd Street. A true hidden secret I will now share with you is their Friday night Fish Fry. When I asked the charming host for the menu describing the fish fry that came so highly recommended he said, “it’s only available audibly”. Everyone but me must know all about it if they don’t even have to print it up! It’s 3-4 large pieces of Canadian walleye (you can’t sell Minnesota caught walleye- who knew?) deep fried in a Pabst Blue Ribbon batter, with coleslaw, a heaping pile of fries and tarter sauce, all for $14. The menu does sneak you a hint that the best beer to accompany the fish fry is the $3 Pabst despite the fact that Linda’s husband Todd brews the Surly beers on tap! The attentive pigtailed waitress and the accommodating host made us feel like we were old friends in this packed restaurant on a Friday night at 6pm. We wanted to scoot home to watch the Olympics and did not have a reservation and he happily walked us to a table, never feeling rushed. There were babies and grandparents, new couples and old married ones sitting along side each other and guys drinking 3 kinds of Surly beers before a night out on the town. This cafe is truly a neighborhood gem and will be on my regular fav lists from now on.

Tags: cafe 28, clancys butcher shop, extrados spa, fire, Linden Hills, Lynnhurst fire
Posted in Enhance, Sip / Savor | No Comments »

Help Blackbird Cafe @ Salty Tart, Cafe 28 and more

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Michelle Gayer, owner of the Salty Tart in Midtown Global Market and Linda and Todd Haug of Cafe 28 in Linden Hills are showing their support for those restaurants devastated in the Lynnhurst fire last week. Blackbird Cafe and Heidi’s Cafe were destroyed in a fire and the owners of many Minneapolis restaurants are showing an unbelievable show of solidarity Sunday, March 14th, where proceeds go to the owners of both restaurants to show community support. http://bit.ly/9AmfEm

The ripple effect of what is lost due to the fire is runs wide and deep. The loss of income is equally as devastating for the wait staff, vendors, suppliers and employees who are all dependent on their wages and tips to make a living. They will also be without work for months as these businesses get up and running again. We want to show our continued support for these independent business owners so they can muster the courage and fortitude to start up again after such a loss. Our neighborhood is better off because of these unique and wonderful entrepreneurs and we want all the owners to know we will be there for them when they return as well as during the reconstruction.

Please visit one of these amazing restaurants to show your support for Blackbird Cafe and Heidi’s Cafe.

Pertinent Details:
Where: Salty Tart in Midtown Global Market on Lake Street
When: Sunday, Feb.28 9am-6pm
Twitter: @TheSaltyTart
saltytart.com

* a selection on Salty Tart’s goodies.

Also destroyed in the fire was the flagship Patina store on W. 50th at Bryant as well as Shoppe Local and Stacy Johnson Jewelry Designs. They too need our promise to support them as they come back from this terrible accident.

Tags: Blackbird, Heidi's Cafe, Lynnhurst fire, Michelle Gayerm found raiser, salty tart
Posted in Events, Sip / Savor | 1 Comment »

Buzz Party Fun!

Friday, February 12th, 2010

From Stillwater to Excelsior and Seward to Linden Hills, women from every neighborhood in the Twin Cities came through the snow to enjoy one another’s company and connect with fabulous women who own their own businesses at Lululemon’s Minneapolis Showroom in South Minneapolis. Rockin’ bakers Sheela and Emily from Cake Eater Bakery offered scrumptious goodies such as strawberry balsamic cupcakes, darling mini cupcakes filled with lemon custard and raspberry brownies. Kathleen of Just Truffles fame was keeping the crowd in stitches and good health with her award winning truffles made from pure chocolate–no sugar added to make it a truly healthy treat!

Music was pumping while wine and Hibiscus Iced Tea was pouring as the energy of the crowd kept women confident in the strength of their sisters of Minneapolis/St. Paul to weather the recession as well as the blizzard! How true it is that we are all strong women with even bigger hearts when it comes to showing our support for other women.

CRAVE gals were there to flip through the CRAVE city guides from Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Chicago and to hear about all the women who will be featured in the Minneapolis/St. Paul guide. Everyone was making sure Kathy Hanson, the curator of all things CRAVE in the Twin Cities, knew about their favorite women and their incomparable shops. It was an amazing show of Girl Power to see Stacie Clark, co-hostess with Kathy, be introduced to so many women who wanted to meet her in person after hearing about her athletic training business through CRAVE.

Darling Krista of Sweets Bakeshop had the most sophisticated display of Valentine’s Day sweets packages to order, along with samples of her fabulous French macaroons and mini cupcakes–my favorite was the cornmeal with whipped honey frosting. Those macaroon simply melt in your mouth!

Sairey Gaines of irely was hosting a chatterbox of fun with all the women who stopped by to see why her panties are patented! Jenni of LunaLux displayed a fun selection of her witty cards. Little packages of cookies and lotion from Petunia’s were available for sampling.

Thanks to bubbly Becky of Stormsisters Spatique, every women could leave with fizzly bath bombs and body goodies for themselves or a girlfriend, daughter, sister or mother. Becky’s table had women gathered around to see why they must shop her store tucked away on the hill in St. Paul!

It was an evening filled with laughter, joy and vibrant support for women who have followed their hearts to open businesses that speak to their passion of fashion, fitness, food, photography or their desire to simply make the world a more beautiful place.