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Holiday Guide

Friday, December 7, 2012

Where Can I Buy A Christmas Tree in Southwest Minneapolis?

You've got lots of local options.

Older Relatives May Be Vulnerable Over Holidays

Southwest Senior Center offers tips for helping the elderly this season.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Homemade Gifts—Taking the Money Stress Out of the Holidays

What are your favorite homemade gift tips?

As you look over the list of gifts you need this holiday season, an unsettling feeling starts. How will I pay for all these gifts? Gift-giving is meant to be a time for sharing how much you appreciate others, but rising prices and tight budgets take the feel-good vibes right out of gift-giving traditions. This year, take the money stress out of the holidays by turning to homemade gifts. Homemade gifts are a great way to show you appreciate someone while also adding a personal touch. Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be special. Get the family involved in the fun and you will be creating memories while making unique gifts for those who mean the most in your life. Let’s explore the homemade holidays in hopes that you will find something to…

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Bachman's Hosting "Holiday Ideas House"

Looking for decorating inspiration this season?

At a historic single-family home on the grounds of Bachman's flagship Minneapolis location, Twin Cities residents are invited to get a taste of "alpine chic" and find some inspiration for decorating their house this holiday season. Pictures of some of the rooms can be seen on the local decorating blog Itsy Bitsy and Pieces. Each room in the house is set up according to a different theme, to help spur your imagination. For example, the sunroom of 5936 Lyndale Avenue South is set up for a casual holiday party, and the den is done up in a homey, cabin-in-the-woods style. Every room has small seasonal touches that might inspire your own crafting. According to the company's website, if a visitor finds themselves particularly moved by an antler …

Enter Patch's “Deck the House” Contest For a Chance to Win $100,000 for Minneapolis Schools

Did you decorate your house for the holidays this year? Enter our "Deck the House" contest and you could win $100,000 for your school district, and/or $500 to pay your electric bills!

Patch is launching our annual Deck the House Contest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in America—the best “decked” house in the country—the one home so spectacularly decorated that everyone in town jokes your holiday decorations could rival Rockefeller Center’s. If this sounds like your house, upload a photo or video of your home to our contest page from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16 to deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/southwestminneapolis. Only residents of Patch towns are eligible to enter. We’ll select 24 regional finalists, and from them, pick one grand prize winner. Patch will pay up to $500 of the utility bill for each finalist, while our national winner will have $100,000 donated to his or her local school district. Our contest …

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Try These Hanukkah Recipes During the Festival of Lights

Make these brisket, latke, and sufganiyot recipes for Hanukkah. Or, get them to-go from local spots in Southwest Minneapolis.

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 8 and ends on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 16. Observing the Festival of Lights goes hand-in-hand with making special Hanukkah foods. Before you light the menorah, make sure you have all the ingredients for some great brisket, latke, and sufganiyot. Although there are many recipes, below are a few to try during the eight nights. Hate cooking? Why not stop by Cub Foods, Guse Green Grocer, Broder's Cucina Italiana, or the Linden Hills Co-op to pick up ingredients for these recipes. Potato Latkes Ingredients Instructions Once they are ready to eat, try them with some apple sauce mixed with sugar & cinnamon, sour cream or just a sprinkling of salt. Brisket Ingredients Instructions   …

Where to Get a Christmas Tree in Southwest Minneapolis

How to pick out the best tree for your home, preference and price point.

There are plenty of places in Southwest Minneapolis to pick out this year's Christmas tree, including: Klier's Nursery Center Where: 5901 Nicollet Avenue Hours: Mon.—Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sat. 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sun. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bachman's Where: 6010 Lyndale Ave S Hours: Mon.—Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sun. 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunnyside Gardens Where: 3723 W 44th St Hours: Mon.—Sat. 9am - 8pm, Sun. 9am - 6pm 44th St. Nursery And Flower Shop Where: 4355 Nicollet Ave Hours: Mon.—Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Wagner's Greenhouse Where: 6024 Penn Avenue South Hours: Mon.—Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sat. 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sun. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. …

Monday, December 3, 2012

Kingfield Bakery-Cafe Offering "Extravagant" 13-Course Tea Party

Patisserie 46 is branching out from its normal fare, at least for one night.

Kingfield's Patisserie 46 is normally known for their fantastic breads, coffee, and pastries. But on Dec. 29, owner John Kraus will be putting down the dough and picking up the toque, at least for one day, when he cooks and serves a 13-course "ExtravaganTea Party." At $115 a head, Kraus doesn't seem to be kidding about the lavishness of the event. According to Dara Moskowitz-Grumdahl of Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine, the mystery menu will likely start off with a soup of warm cauliflower with duck confit, and get better from there, concluding with kugel and panettone. Local rocker Lucy Michelle will perform live. Tickets to the event—which can only be bought at Patisserie 46—went on sale on Friday.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

From National Whiners Day to Bacon Day: Oddball December Holidays

You might be surprised what other occasions we mark during December.

Christmas gets most of the press this time of year, but December is a month full of religious and secular festivals and holidays, along with some wild and wacky days as well. Here’s a reminder of the major holidays this month, along with a collection of the most bizarre holidays gleaned from the corners of the Internet. We can’t vouch for the authenticity of some of these lesser known observances, but if you need a moment to forget the stress that sometimes comes with the major holidays, there’s got to be a few here to make you smile. Forget the 12 Days of Christmas. Here’s a whole month of ways to celebrate. December is Human Rights Month. What days will you celebrate?

Feed the Hungry At Local Restaurants

Gigi's, Pat's Tap donating procedes to food shelves.

This holiday season, turn some of your dining dollars to a better use than your own stomach. Southwest Minneapolis restaurants Gigi's Cafe and Pat's Tap are joining Kim Bartman's four other restaurants to donate a portion of their profits to local food shelves. Between Nov. 23 and Dec. 31, the six establishments will give 15 percent of all gift card sales to the Emergency Food Shelf Network. According to an announcement posted on Gigi's Facebook page, a $10 donation can pay for 20 meals. According to the Emergency Food Shelf Network's website, the group serves over 200 relief agencies and help other food shelves buy supplies at extra-low rates.

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