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March 5th, 2010
We may not tell you this as often as we should, but we really heart you. Not surprising when you consider that the Twin Cities is practically bursting at the seams with fabulous females (and gents—kiss, kiss!) that are funny, fashionable, and friendly to boot. We worship at your peep-toe clad tootsies, basking in your greatness, because without you swank hipsters Minneapolis Picks just wouldn’t be the same. We live to spread the shop-local love, filling you in on everything from crazy-delish cupcakes to where to score the wedding gown of your dreams… or your man a flannel. It has been an absolute pleasure to bring you these fab finds each week, but it’s time to pass on the shop-local torch to our awesome new Managing Editor, Erin! She is so going to rock your world starting next week, so heads up—you might actually OD on the coolness. Please help her to keep the stylish goodness coming your way by signing up your friends for Minneapolis Picks! Smooches, love, good karma, and peace out. ~ Kristen Aeikens |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Men, Men, Manly Men Our man-friend is not a sharp dresser. The only time he donned a suit was the day we got hitched, and even that was coerced. His idea of shining himself up is shrugging off his Clutch tee in favor of his thermal. Hands off, ladies—he’s ours! We were about to give up on him ever looking good when we stumbled upon BlackBlue, an awesome new man-tique that’s a haven for the discerning gent who values both comfort and style, and offers up a great assortment of casual yet cool items. Rugged Red Wing boots, wool sweaters, cozy flannels and Alternative Apparel hoodies are nestled neatly alongside an array of carefully selected vintage items, wool mitties, and tees. We love the awesome luggage by Filson—so much better than the uber-tacky (and stinky) sports duffel our guy normally totes! And while BlackBlue aims to restyle men, they know that behind every male shopper is a woman who gets final approval, so they also stock a few girl goods too, including super swank heels by F-Troupe. Thanks to BlackBlue’s dapper duds, men can stop schlepping around like slobs, and women can breathe a collective sigh of relief. BlackBlue |
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| 2 | Bow to the Masters We’re what you might call hair chameleons. Blue hair, pixie cut, inverted bob, long and layered, bangs, shags, mullets, perms, “The Rachel”…we’ve rocked them all at one time or another. (And okay, the mullet was a mistake. We’re just not “business up front, party in the back” kinda gals.) Anyhoo, we’re always on the hunt for that next great cut and a salon to give it to us. Enter Miyagi, a freakishly awesome Aveda Concept salon nestled in the heart of Northeast Minneapolis that boasts a full menu of top-notch services perfect for beautifying your saucy self. Their staff is comprised of ultra-talented stylists who truly listen to your needs and wants and then, like the true masters they are, cut and style your hair to sheer perfection—starting at a mere forty bones! From curls to colors to restorative hair treatments, these beauty Ninjas have you covered. And guess what? Tips are never accepted, allowing the stylists to focus on your service—love, love, love it! Add in their massive selection of Aveda products, and you’re left with your new hair haven. Hai, Sensai! Miyagi |
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| 3 | Kitsch It Up a Notch Our keenness for the goofy, bizarre, cute and giftable has remained a constant since we were but wee girls buying Hello Kitty pencil cases at the mall kiosk and jelly bracelets for our besties. So when we spy a funky gift shop like Avalon, we get pretty stoked. Situated along Grand Avenue, this offbeat little gift boutique exudes a vibe all its own, stocking its shelves with a wide array of kitschy knick-knackery that runs the gamut from quirky to cool. Looking for a pretty frame to display Grandma’s photo? They have it. Looking for magnets? Art Deco calendars? Leather-bound journals for jotting down pithy catch phrases and words of wisdom? Avalon’s got your back. They also carry a surprisingly tight selection of hip vintage goods, eye-catching pillows, and even some furniture, which could easily inject the ol’ pad with a little pizzazz. And their card selection is immense, so if you can’t cover life’s mundane and major moments all in one fell swoop, then you’re just not trying. The only problem we had? Narrowing it down to just one (fun) item to call our own. Avalon |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Brilliant Baubles We are always, and we mean always, on the lookout for fabulous new jewelry. From antique stores to department stores, websites to farmer’s markets, we love it all. But our new favorite place for baubles is Bonbon Oiseau. These distinctive, limited-edition designs combine antique with new, creating a visual that we loooove. Each season’s collection narrates a story—and each individual piece is a vignette from that story. Totally brilliant, right? We know—because we’re total jewelry know-it-alls. |
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| 2 | Bodacious Blooms Abound Remember a few years ago when Carrie Bradshaw was rocking the whole giant flower-pin trend on SATC? Well, prepare yourself, because we are bringing it back—but in a slightly different way. The hand-dyed and hand-stitched blooms and accessories from Emersonmade make our hearts flutter. Someday we hope to receive our very own Love Letter flower with its personalized ribbon asking, “marry me?” … but this year we’ll settle for the St. Valentine Rose—and anything else from this brilliant design-duo. |
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| 3 | Flip it Good If a picture says a thousand words, what do 60 pictures in 7 seconds say? That’s math we can’t even do. And thankfully, we don’t hafta. Fliptography makes you the star of your own momentary show—you can dance, do cartwheels, or just plain show off as the camera takes a series of 60 pictures. Mere seconds later, they are assembled (in order) into a flipbook that recreates your close-up again and again. How cute is that? |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | IXION-Kismet Designs: Trunk Show/Jewelry Repurposing NOLAHOME is hosting an exclusive jewelry trunk show featuring Sara Hauge of IXION-Kismet Designs. Style-seekers can score beautiful necklaces from $60 and earrings from $15 from March 6–31, and tomorrow from 1–4 pm, shoppers can bring in old jewelry for Sara to repurpose into stylish new originals by melding them with her own custom creations for a fresh, modern look! What: IXION-Kismet Designs Trunk Show & Jewelry Repurposing Event |
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| 2 | Live, In Concert If music is the yin to your yang, then round up a posse of your best gal-pals and get thee to O’Shaughnessy Auditorium to bask in the greatness that is Norah Jones. Her supreb vocal stylings and musical prowess are sure to please, making her concert a great starting point for a night of girl-centric fun! What: Norah Jones in Concert |
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| 3 | Three Cheers for Cake! Mark your calendars now for the highly anticipated opening soiree celebrating Cake Eater, the metro’s newest and tastiest bakery. Bring the kiddies from 3–6 pm for some family-friendly fun, or get your grown-up on at the 8 pm–midnight fete. Both feature delish food (please have Surly cupcakes, please have Surly cupcakes…) and bevies! What: Cake Eater Bakery’s Grand Opening |
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Visit www.MinneapolisPicks.com to sign up friends, search for local hot spots, or check out our ad options for your awesome business! Xoxo. |
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