As you may know, this blog was part of my New Year’s resolution to explore the Twin Cities. What most people don’t know is that I have another resolution. I am going to participate in a triathlon.
A few weeks before New Year’s Eve, I began to think about participating in a triathlon. I didn’t tell anyone about these thoughts, not even Mark. I knew that I wanted to lose weight and really push myself to get in shape, but I also knew that I would never succeed in doing that unless I had a larger motivating reason behind it all. I knew that I would never do a marathon – running for 26.2 miles sounded like hell on earth to me. But with a triathlon, I get to swim, bike and run my way to a finish line. I also thought about my big list of things to do before I die, and finishing a major fitness event is on that list. I wasn’t quite ready to tell anyone though – telling people would mean that it was real for people other than just myself.
Well, New Year’s Eve came, and while I was sitting on the floor playing Jenga with my family, I just kind of blurted it out. I wasn’t really ready to tell anyone, but apparently my subconscious was sick of the secret. I’m not sure that my family believed me, but they did their best attempt at making me feel like they did. It was sort of a “I’ll believe it when I see it” kind of thing. And to be honest, that didn’t bother me at all. I was sort of feeling the same thing myself. I had no idea how to start the training, where to do the training, or what the training would involve.
A few days after the New Year had started, I came home one night to find a direct mail piece on top of the small pile of mail Mark had left out for me. The mail piece was from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and it was regarding a program called Team in Training (TNT). As I started to read through the information, I learned that TNT was a program that helped regular people train for extreme fitness challenges – such as marathons, century bike rides and triathlons. They provide coaching, support and motivation for training. It was like fate had given me a call.
I signed up to attend an informational meeting for TNT to find out more about the program. When I arrived, I was surprised that I wasn’t totally scared or intimidated. In the past, I’ve been known to be a bit of a nervous person (Mom and Eric, insert your funny comment here…). But I was really calm and relaxed, and just excited to learn about the possibility of joining a team.
About five minutes into the presentation, I was completely on board. I had learned that TNT is not just a support system for people to use for their own good. It’s about coaching, motivation, fundraising, encouragement, training, life experiences and so much more. Over the next five months, I will train with a core group of people who are participating in the same event. These people will help support me in my decisions, motivate me when I just want to lay around watching movies instead of training, and assist me with my fundraising goals. In return, I am their support system, hopefully giving them the same inspiration they give me.
At the end of the meeting, I signed up to participate in the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon to take place July 15, 2006 here in Minneapolis.
Now, there is more to this than just receiving coaching and training and support from fellow triathletes. As part of the program, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society asks that each participant fundraise a predetermined amount of money. Of that total dollar amount, at least 75% goes directly to the Society for cancer research. I’ll admit, when the fundraising was discussed I did start to get a bit nervous. But when I started to actually think about the dollar amount I need to raise and all the people I know who would greatly support this cause, I knew that I could do it. TNT gives you all kinds of ideas and options for fundraising – from a personal web site (look for a link in the coming days!) to letter writing campaigns (if I have your address, be prepared to get a letter!) to special events (bake sale, anyone?).
TNT has a bunch of events throughout the year that take place throughout the country. They have a team to train for a walk or run marathon in San Diego, a century bike ride around Lake Tahoe and a triathlon in Pennsylvania. And, if you raise your predetermined dollar amount, TNT will pay for your travel expenses to participate in these programs. Now, the dollar amount that you have to raise is quite a bit higher than if you lived in the location where the event takes place, but it is still a great opportunity. I’m thinking of roping my mom and sister into participating in the walking marathon next summer that takes place in Alaska, but they don’t know that yet. But for now, I think I’ll just focus on my current physical challenge!
I have to say that I’m really proud of myself for signing up for the program. I think it’s half the battle just to decide that you’re going to do it. Well, maybe not half the battle, but a good portion of it at least. I’m looking forward to the next big leg of this undertaking – the actual training and fundraising. I haven’t been this excited or felt this good about a project in a long time.
I have a kick off meeting this Saturday morning to really jump-start the program and begin the training. Then I’m off and running – and swimming and biking. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Oscar Season!
It’s Oscar season, boys and girls, and I’m loving it! It’s my second favorite time of year!
Since I can remember, my mom and I have been Oscar freaks. As soon as the nominees are announced, it’s a race to the movie theaters to see all of the films that are nominated. We try to see all of the movies that have been nominated for any of the six awards that are most important to us – Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Some years it’s a very difficult feat to get to all of the movies. My mom is usually better than I am at seeing them all. But this year, I am determined to do it. After I have seen the movies, I’ll put up what my picks are for each category.
To help me on my quest, and to keep you all posted on the wonderful world of Oscar, here are the nominees in my favorite six categories:
Best Picture:
Crash
Brokeback Mountain
Munich
Good Night, and Good Luck
Capote
Best Directing:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich
Best Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night and Good Luck
Best Actress:
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - TransAmerica
Keira Knightly - Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Best Actor, Supporting:
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhall - Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt - A History of Violence
Best Actress, Supporting:
Amy Adams - Junebug
Catherine Keener - Capote
Frances McDormand - North Country
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
Happy Oscar Season, everyone!
Since I can remember, my mom and I have been Oscar freaks. As soon as the nominees are announced, it’s a race to the movie theaters to see all of the films that are nominated. We try to see all of the movies that have been nominated for any of the six awards that are most important to us – Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Some years it’s a very difficult feat to get to all of the movies. My mom is usually better than I am at seeing them all. But this year, I am determined to do it. After I have seen the movies, I’ll put up what my picks are for each category.
To help me on my quest, and to keep you all posted on the wonderful world of Oscar, here are the nominees in my favorite six categories:
Best Picture:
Crash
Brokeback Mountain
Munich
Good Night, and Good Luck
Capote
Best Directing:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich
Best Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night and Good Luck
Best Actress:
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - TransAmerica
Keira Knightly - Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Best Actor, Supporting:
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhall - Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt - A History of Violence
Best Actress, Supporting:
Amy Adams - Junebug
Catherine Keener - Capote
Frances McDormand - North Country
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
Happy Oscar Season, everyone!
Monday, January 30, 2006
Vino 610
So, Friday night Mark and I struggled with the age-old question: “What’s for dinner?” This question is often the bane of my existence come Friday night. I get home from work, and Mark is either a) deep in thought, doing homework b) starving and ready to eat the turtle or c) both. We spend a good chunk of time figuring out what to do for dinner. For the first hour, we try to decide if we should cook or go out. The hour after that, we have to decide either what to cook or where we should go. The third hour is spent giving up, and going to Jimmy John’s for a Beach Club and a Turkey Tom.
Well, this past Friday I had the fun idea to plan ahead. I thought that I would make steak and roasted potatoes for dinner. This is a “fun” idea because I never cook. Ever. I hate cooking. And, I’m bad at it. I burn mac and cheese half the time. Which is why I’m so grateful that I have Mark. Not only is he good at it, but he actually loves doing it. Those Friday nights that we actually do cook, the “we” refers simply to Mark. I stand by and watch him enthusiastically, usually while sipping a nice glass of wine.
When I got home this past Friday, Mark was lying on the floor in scenario c – doing homework, starving hungry. At work that day, I was pretty excited to cook dinner. I even looked up some fun recipes for sauces on the Internet. Oh yes, I was going to go all out. But by the end of the day, my enthusiasm for cooking was significantly waning. So when I walked through the door and Mark suggested we go out, I jumped at the idea.
Mark suggested Vino 610, a new wine bar and restaurant near the corner of Lyndale and Lake St. I had driven by it a few weeks earlier, and I had added it to my mental list of new places to try. From the street, it looks like a wonderfully quaint place to have a good meal, a nice bottle of wine and an intimate conversation. It was all that, and so much more.
As soon as we walked in, I was immediately in love with the place. It was small and cozy with a warm, romantic feel. I really don’t like large restaurants – I feel that they don’t promote conversation or relaxation. Small restaurants allow you to cozy up with your date and have a leisure dinner. There were about 12 tables or so in the place, as well as a bar area that contained a full wall wine rack. The tables and walls were dark, heavy wood accented with deep reds. Tea lights that hung from the ceiling gave off the perfect amount of light.
We sat at a small table near the window in the corner. After receiving the wine list and menu, I decided on a very nice glass of Rosenblum Vintner’s Cuvee, and Mark had a Heineken. Unfortunately, he’s had to lay off the wine lately for health reasons. When our drinks came, they were served with the cutest little dishes of something extra. (Side note: I love small containers of things. I will order something or purchase something only because it comes in a small bottle or dish. Example – when Mark and I go to the liquor store, I will purchase a split of the worst champagne ever, only because it’s cute.) Mark’s beer was served with a stuffed olive, and my wine was served with a tiny wedge of cheese. I mini-squealed in delight, I was so excited.
Dinner was a tough decision. The menu was not extensive, but did contain a few items that I found it hard to decide between. I think that I’ve had a meat deficiency in my diet lately, because every time we go to dinner I feel the need to order a steak. So, I did. I had the Petit Filet. It was cooked in a red wine sauce and served with mashed potatoes. Mark decided on the Pasta with Pesto, which was served with a dark garlic cheese toast. Both dishes were fantastic. My steak was perfectly well done with great flavor. The pasta was nice and light with pesto flavor. And the garlic cheese bread that came with Mark’s meal was to die for – seriously. Garlic cheese bread is not something I would usually comment on, but this was great. For dessert, we split a Lemon Torte, which was yellow cake layered with lemon filling and butter cream frosting. Words almost can’t express how good that cake was – moist and delicious, without being overly rich.
After dinner, we sat and talked while finishing our drinks. The restaurant had filled with other couples enjoying an intimate meal as well as small groups of friends chatting and sipping wine. I really recommend this place to anyone. It’s a great place to take a date, a couple of friends or your parents to have a nice meal, a great glass of wine and a fun evening.
After our lovely dinner, we returned home where I promptly fell asleep at 9:30 PM. I guess that one glass of wine hit me hard...
Up Next: A little post about a big challenge
Well, this past Friday I had the fun idea to plan ahead. I thought that I would make steak and roasted potatoes for dinner. This is a “fun” idea because I never cook. Ever. I hate cooking. And, I’m bad at it. I burn mac and cheese half the time. Which is why I’m so grateful that I have Mark. Not only is he good at it, but he actually loves doing it. Those Friday nights that we actually do cook, the “we” refers simply to Mark. I stand by and watch him enthusiastically, usually while sipping a nice glass of wine.
When I got home this past Friday, Mark was lying on the floor in scenario c – doing homework, starving hungry. At work that day, I was pretty excited to cook dinner. I even looked up some fun recipes for sauces on the Internet. Oh yes, I was going to go all out. But by the end of the day, my enthusiasm for cooking was significantly waning. So when I walked through the door and Mark suggested we go out, I jumped at the idea.
Mark suggested Vino 610, a new wine bar and restaurant near the corner of Lyndale and Lake St. I had driven by it a few weeks earlier, and I had added it to my mental list of new places to try. From the street, it looks like a wonderfully quaint place to have a good meal, a nice bottle of wine and an intimate conversation. It was all that, and so much more.
As soon as we walked in, I was immediately in love with the place. It was small and cozy with a warm, romantic feel. I really don’t like large restaurants – I feel that they don’t promote conversation or relaxation. Small restaurants allow you to cozy up with your date and have a leisure dinner. There were about 12 tables or so in the place, as well as a bar area that contained a full wall wine rack. The tables and walls were dark, heavy wood accented with deep reds. Tea lights that hung from the ceiling gave off the perfect amount of light.
We sat at a small table near the window in the corner. After receiving the wine list and menu, I decided on a very nice glass of Rosenblum Vintner’s Cuvee, and Mark had a Heineken. Unfortunately, he’s had to lay off the wine lately for health reasons. When our drinks came, they were served with the cutest little dishes of something extra. (Side note: I love small containers of things. I will order something or purchase something only because it comes in a small bottle or dish. Example – when Mark and I go to the liquor store, I will purchase a split of the worst champagne ever, only because it’s cute.) Mark’s beer was served with a stuffed olive, and my wine was served with a tiny wedge of cheese. I mini-squealed in delight, I was so excited.
Dinner was a tough decision. The menu was not extensive, but did contain a few items that I found it hard to decide between. I think that I’ve had a meat deficiency in my diet lately, because every time we go to dinner I feel the need to order a steak. So, I did. I had the Petit Filet. It was cooked in a red wine sauce and served with mashed potatoes. Mark decided on the Pasta with Pesto, which was served with a dark garlic cheese toast. Both dishes were fantastic. My steak was perfectly well done with great flavor. The pasta was nice and light with pesto flavor. And the garlic cheese bread that came with Mark’s meal was to die for – seriously. Garlic cheese bread is not something I would usually comment on, but this was great. For dessert, we split a Lemon Torte, which was yellow cake layered with lemon filling and butter cream frosting. Words almost can’t express how good that cake was – moist and delicious, without being overly rich.
After dinner, we sat and talked while finishing our drinks. The restaurant had filled with other couples enjoying an intimate meal as well as small groups of friends chatting and sipping wine. I really recommend this place to anyone. It’s a great place to take a date, a couple of friends or your parents to have a nice meal, a great glass of wine and a fun evening.
After our lovely dinner, we returned home where I promptly fell asleep at 9:30 PM. I guess that one glass of wine hit me hard...
Up Next: A little post about a big challenge
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Belly Dancing Class
When I graduated college, I promised myself that I would take at least one class a year for the rest of my life. It doesn’t have to be a serious class at a university. It can be just something fun, like a cooking class or a sewing class – or a dance class.
I’ve always loved to dance. I danced around a lot as a kid. When I was about 5 I was in a little ballet show. When I was in high school I was on the dance team. I think we called it Poms, but it was basically the dance team. So when the flyer came to my house for Minneapolis Community Education, I thought a dance class would be really fun.
I had tried to take a dance class before through the Minneapolis Community Ed program. Latin dance, actually. The instructors were great and it seemed really fun. But Mark works nights, and I didn’t really want a different dancing partner. I stopped going after only two sessions. It made me kinda sad to have to dance alone.
That’s why when Julie suggested we take belly dancing, I was on board right away. I have always wanted to take a belly dancing class. You don’t need a partner, and I’d heard that it could be a great work out. We signed up for the eight-week beginners’ session.
Monday night was our first session. It was so much fun! Our instructor, Vivian, has been belly dancing for almost ten years, and she’s been teaching for five years. We started the class by warming up a bit and hearing about what we’d learn over the eight weeks. And then we started dancing.
We learned a couple of basic moves, and I learned that my left hip doesn’t like to dance so much. I could do most of the moves with my right hip just fine, but my left hip refused to play along. It was frustrating, but so funny at the same time. I felt like I had a lazy hip. Apparently, most people do have a dominant hip, so keep that in mind if you ever take a belly dancing class!
Like I said, we learned a few basic moves – the hip up, the hip out, and the hip something else. I can’t remember!
No one else would be in my pictures, so Julie and I had to separate from the group for a couple of minutes to get some shots!
The hard part about belly dancing is moving the hips and the arms at the same time. Sounds easy, I know, but you move your hips at a different rate than you move your arms. It feels like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time. But by the end of the class, I felt like I was getting the hang of it. And this morning, I found myself practicing the new moves while I was in the shower.
After class ended, Vivian gave us a demo of what we’d be able to do by the end of the eight sessions. I was really impressed – and excited that I’d be learning all of these great moves.
I really recommend taking a class through the Minneapolis Community Ed program. They have a bunch of different kinds of classes, and they aren’t expensive at all. It’s a great way to learn about something you’ve always been curious about.
I’ll keep you updated on the belly dancing progress!
Up Next: Not sure. We’ll see where the week takes me…
I’ve always loved to dance. I danced around a lot as a kid. When I was about 5 I was in a little ballet show. When I was in high school I was on the dance team. I think we called it Poms, but it was basically the dance team. So when the flyer came to my house for Minneapolis Community Education, I thought a dance class would be really fun.
I had tried to take a dance class before through the Minneapolis Community Ed program. Latin dance, actually. The instructors were great and it seemed really fun. But Mark works nights, and I didn’t really want a different dancing partner. I stopped going after only two sessions. It made me kinda sad to have to dance alone.
That’s why when Julie suggested we take belly dancing, I was on board right away. I have always wanted to take a belly dancing class. You don’t need a partner, and I’d heard that it could be a great work out. We signed up for the eight-week beginners’ session.
Monday night was our first session. It was so much fun! Our instructor, Vivian, has been belly dancing for almost ten years, and she’s been teaching for five years. We started the class by warming up a bit and hearing about what we’d learn over the eight weeks. And then we started dancing.
We learned a couple of basic moves, and I learned that my left hip doesn’t like to dance so much. I could do most of the moves with my right hip just fine, but my left hip refused to play along. It was frustrating, but so funny at the same time. I felt like I had a lazy hip. Apparently, most people do have a dominant hip, so keep that in mind if you ever take a belly dancing class!
Like I said, we learned a few basic moves – the hip up, the hip out, and the hip something else. I can’t remember!
No one else would be in my pictures, so Julie and I had to separate from the group for a couple of minutes to get some shots!
The hard part about belly dancing is moving the hips and the arms at the same time. Sounds easy, I know, but you move your hips at a different rate than you move your arms. It feels like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time. But by the end of the class, I felt like I was getting the hang of it. And this morning, I found myself practicing the new moves while I was in the shower.
After class ended, Vivian gave us a demo of what we’d be able to do by the end of the eight sessions. I was really impressed – and excited that I’d be learning all of these great moves.
I really recommend taking a class through the Minneapolis Community Ed program. They have a bunch of different kinds of classes, and they aren’t expensive at all. It’s a great way to learn about something you’ve always been curious about.
I’ll keep you updated on the belly dancing progress!
Up Next: Not sure. We’ll see where the week takes me…
Monday, January 23, 2006
The Depot
Quick note: I finally joined the Age of Technology - Look for some pictures in this post!
All week, Mark kept telling me that he had a surprise for me on Sunday morning. He told me to keep my Sunday open and be ready for some fun. So I was pretty excited when he woke me up early in the morning and announced that we were heading out into the winter air to enjoy a favorite Minnesotan past time – ice skating.
Mark and I have had a tumultuous history with ice skating. We had tried three times in two years to go to the Depot Ice Rink for a day of ice skating fun. But every time we geared ourselves up to go, we hit a pitfall that prevented us from taking part. Also in the mix of trouble was Mark’s fear of skating. Whenever I brought up the option of skating, he got out of it with some silly excuse – “I’ll break my ankle and not be able to work” or “I’ll break my wrist and not be able to type my papers for school.” Ridiculous, but he usually had some other fun activity in mind, so I let it slide.
The first time we tried to go was April 2004. I finally convinced Mark that even if he did fall, he wouldn’t break an ankle or a wrist. And if he did, he had full rights to blame me. We made plans early in the week to go to the Depot and skate on a Saturday. When Mark told his sister of our fun plans, she dropped a bomb of disappointment on us – the rink was already closed for the season. We would have to wait another 8 months.
The second time we tried, Mark was going to take me for my birthday this past March. He had the whole day planned, and I was so excited. We arrived at the Depot only to find the doors locked. Open skating wasn’t available that day. So, we double checked the hours and found out that the rink would be open the following day. Attempt Number Three. The next day, we dragged ourselves over to the rink again in hopes of some winter fun. Again, we tried the door, and it was locked. A small, hand written note was taped to the door – “Closed for Private Skating Lessons.” I was disappointed. Heartbroken, really. Mark convinced me that it was fate – we were not meant to ever skate together. Down the tubes went my dreams of ice dancing, double turns and triple sow cows.
But this time was different. Mark checked the schedule ahead of time, and made sure that no private lessons were to take place. When we arrived and the door was open, I think I did a little jump of glee just knowing that it was finally going to happen!
We paid for the skate fee and the skate rental, and I could tell that Mark was a bit nervous. I had to exchange his skates three times because he kept getting the wrong size. I had my skates on and was ready to go before Mark was even taking his shoes off. While I waited for him, I watched all the people on the ice, skating around in utter glee. Couples were going around slowly, holding hands and enjoying each other’s company. Small kids shuffled their way around the circle, just excited to be on the ice. Groups of friends stood clustered in the middle of the rink, taking pictures for a birthday party. It all looked so fun and sort of magical. And then I turned around, and saw this.
Mark was not amused. He was not happy. He was not excited. But I was determined to get him pumped up and ready to rock on the ice. He had been rollerblading a bunch before, so I kept telling him it was just like that. We made our way – slowly – over to the entrance to the ice. And then we stepped on…
And Mark almost broke my fingers. He was holding on to my hand so tightly that I almost lost feeling. I practically fell over in pain. But it was so funny that I had to laugh at the same time. I loosened his grip a little, and gave in to the fact that I’d have to hold his hand the whole time. Again, no triple sow cows for me that day.
But then, after only one go around the circle, it was as if Mark was a different person. He took off. And he was a natural! He was skating in between kids and their parents, dancing along to the music and even trying some tricks by the time we ended our fun. It was great! I almost couldn’t keep up!
We stayed for a while, skating together, doing funny tricks and watching some other really good skaters. I’m happy – and proud – to say that we didn’t fall down. Not once! No wet jeans or icy hands, no broken wrists or sprained ankles. Just a happy memory that we finally made it to the Depot, and I finally broke Mark of his skating fear.
Now, you might ask why we didn’t just give up skating at the Depot and go to a different rink. The Depot is such an amazingly cool space that we didn’t want to go anywhere else. Here’s some background on the Depot from the web site to help you get the idea of why it’s so magical:
The Depot was originally built in 1874 and was used by the Minnesota Central Railroad, which later became known as the Milwaukee Road. The old Milwaukee Road Depot remains one of the last long-span, truss-roofed sheds surviving in the nation. When it was first constructed, the ground floors were paved in white marble with black borders and walls were built with cream and brown enamel brick. The ceiling of intricately paneled oak gave the rooms a large, spacious feel. The total cost of the Depot was about $200,000.
The Depot was used by the Milwaukee Road until 1971, when the line stopped services to Minneapolis. At that time, the building was used for office spaces for the Milwaukee Road. After a few different owners, the Depot and the freight house were sold in 1998 to CSM Corporation. Since then, the Depot has undergone an amazing restoration process and now includes the ice-skating rink, a hotel, an indoor water park and a historical center. The project was completed in July 2001.
From a personal standpoint, I think that the Depot is one of the coolest spaces in the Twin Cities. The restoration efforts kept the integrity and history in the space while giving it a needed face-lift. Other events are held in the ice-skating space as well – weddings, wine tasting, charity events. I highly recommend visiting the Depot for an ice skating adventure or to attend one of the various events held there. It's worth a trip just to see what the place looks like. And I’m hoping to make ice skating an annual event! We'll have to see what Mark thinks about that...
Up Next: Belly Dancing Class
All week, Mark kept telling me that he had a surprise for me on Sunday morning. He told me to keep my Sunday open and be ready for some fun. So I was pretty excited when he woke me up early in the morning and announced that we were heading out into the winter air to enjoy a favorite Minnesotan past time – ice skating.
Mark and I have had a tumultuous history with ice skating. We had tried three times in two years to go to the Depot Ice Rink for a day of ice skating fun. But every time we geared ourselves up to go, we hit a pitfall that prevented us from taking part. Also in the mix of trouble was Mark’s fear of skating. Whenever I brought up the option of skating, he got out of it with some silly excuse – “I’ll break my ankle and not be able to work” or “I’ll break my wrist and not be able to type my papers for school.” Ridiculous, but he usually had some other fun activity in mind, so I let it slide.
The first time we tried to go was April 2004. I finally convinced Mark that even if he did fall, he wouldn’t break an ankle or a wrist. And if he did, he had full rights to blame me. We made plans early in the week to go to the Depot and skate on a Saturday. When Mark told his sister of our fun plans, she dropped a bomb of disappointment on us – the rink was already closed for the season. We would have to wait another 8 months.
The second time we tried, Mark was going to take me for my birthday this past March. He had the whole day planned, and I was so excited. We arrived at the Depot only to find the doors locked. Open skating wasn’t available that day. So, we double checked the hours and found out that the rink would be open the following day. Attempt Number Three. The next day, we dragged ourselves over to the rink again in hopes of some winter fun. Again, we tried the door, and it was locked. A small, hand written note was taped to the door – “Closed for Private Skating Lessons.” I was disappointed. Heartbroken, really. Mark convinced me that it was fate – we were not meant to ever skate together. Down the tubes went my dreams of ice dancing, double turns and triple sow cows.
But this time was different. Mark checked the schedule ahead of time, and made sure that no private lessons were to take place. When we arrived and the door was open, I think I did a little jump of glee just knowing that it was finally going to happen!
We paid for the skate fee and the skate rental, and I could tell that Mark was a bit nervous. I had to exchange his skates three times because he kept getting the wrong size. I had my skates on and was ready to go before Mark was even taking his shoes off. While I waited for him, I watched all the people on the ice, skating around in utter glee. Couples were going around slowly, holding hands and enjoying each other’s company. Small kids shuffled their way around the circle, just excited to be on the ice. Groups of friends stood clustered in the middle of the rink, taking pictures for a birthday party. It all looked so fun and sort of magical. And then I turned around, and saw this.
Mark was not amused. He was not happy. He was not excited. But I was determined to get him pumped up and ready to rock on the ice. He had been rollerblading a bunch before, so I kept telling him it was just like that. We made our way – slowly – over to the entrance to the ice. And then we stepped on…
And Mark almost broke my fingers. He was holding on to my hand so tightly that I almost lost feeling. I practically fell over in pain. But it was so funny that I had to laugh at the same time. I loosened his grip a little, and gave in to the fact that I’d have to hold his hand the whole time. Again, no triple sow cows for me that day.
But then, after only one go around the circle, it was as if Mark was a different person. He took off. And he was a natural! He was skating in between kids and their parents, dancing along to the music and even trying some tricks by the time we ended our fun. It was great! I almost couldn’t keep up!
We stayed for a while, skating together, doing funny tricks and watching some other really good skaters. I’m happy – and proud – to say that we didn’t fall down. Not once! No wet jeans or icy hands, no broken wrists or sprained ankles. Just a happy memory that we finally made it to the Depot, and I finally broke Mark of his skating fear.
Now, you might ask why we didn’t just give up skating at the Depot and go to a different rink. The Depot is such an amazingly cool space that we didn’t want to go anywhere else. Here’s some background on the Depot from the web site to help you get the idea of why it’s so magical:
The Depot was originally built in 1874 and was used by the Minnesota Central Railroad, which later became known as the Milwaukee Road. The old Milwaukee Road Depot remains one of the last long-span, truss-roofed sheds surviving in the nation. When it was first constructed, the ground floors were paved in white marble with black borders and walls were built with cream and brown enamel brick. The ceiling of intricately paneled oak gave the rooms a large, spacious feel. The total cost of the Depot was about $200,000.
The Depot was used by the Milwaukee Road until 1971, when the line stopped services to Minneapolis. At that time, the building was used for office spaces for the Milwaukee Road. After a few different owners, the Depot and the freight house were sold in 1998 to CSM Corporation. Since then, the Depot has undergone an amazing restoration process and now includes the ice-skating rink, a hotel, an indoor water park and a historical center. The project was completed in July 2001.
From a personal standpoint, I think that the Depot is one of the coolest spaces in the Twin Cities. The restoration efforts kept the integrity and history in the space while giving it a needed face-lift. Other events are held in the ice-skating space as well – weddings, wine tasting, charity events. I highly recommend visiting the Depot for an ice skating adventure or to attend one of the various events held there. It's worth a trip just to see what the place looks like. And I’m hoping to make ice skating an annual event! We'll have to see what Mark thinks about that...
Up Next: Belly Dancing Class
Blogging Busts
Just a quick note to say thanks to those who are reading! I'm really excited about this blog project, and I'm starting to get really into it. I've gotten some great comments and constructive criticism about it, and I really appreciate that. I promise that future posts will be much more personalized - not so "businesslike", as I've heard - so that you can all learn more about the fabulousness of me. :)
I know that the past couple of posts have been dogging the restaurants, but I promise that the next few adventures will be great and highly recommended by me. I'm looking forward to sharing those with all of you!
Thanks for reading!
I know that the past couple of posts have been dogging the restaurants, but I promise that the next few adventures will be great and highly recommended by me. I'm looking forward to sharing those with all of you!
Thanks for reading!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Loto
On Friday, Mark and I decided to have a fun date night out. We planned on going to dinner at Eli’s, a neighborhood bar & grill sort of place across the street from our apartment. I have wanted to visit Eli’s since Mark moved in to this apartment almost a year ago. After some deliberation, plans changed and we ventured out to Loto in St. Paul. Eli’s will just have to wait a few more weeks.
Here’s some background on Loto:
Loto is located in Galtier Plaza in St. Paul’s Lowertown area, overlooking Mears Park. David Fhima, chef/owner of a few restaurants in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, opened Loto with the apparent attempt to cater to various needs. Loto is many things – bakery, deli, coffee house, bar & wine bar, wine store and restaurant. Contemporary American dishes make up the menu at both the deli and the restaurant – from soups and salads to fish, pasta, chicken and steak. The laid-back atmosphere and interesting décor allow for a casual feel. The layout consists of a sunny atrium area surrounded by the trendy bar, small dining area and self-serve deli.
I wanted to wait a few days before blogging about Loto because I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. We encountered a fair amount of disappointments while dining, but both Mark and I were pleased and still smiling at the end of the meal. This was a tough one to call right away because we enjoyed our night out so much.
While being seated at a table in the small dining area, I noticed the odd layout of the place. You first walk in to the deli and wine store, which was closed yet dimly lit. To the right stood the hostess stand, and just beyond that was the open dining area, followed by the bar. An entire wall of the place was windowed and looked out onto the well-lit Mears Park. I was quite impressed with the view. The rest of the place was on the trendier side, but nothing spectacular. All of the areas seemed to be pushed too closely together – the deli ran into the dining room which ran into the bar which ran into the atrium – you get the point. But to be honest, I was so hungry by this point that I dove right into the menu.
I had checked out the menu online prior to visiting, and was disappointed to find that some menu items – and prices – were different online than in the restaurant. The same was true about the wine list – the website listed a nice assortment of wines from around the country. After being seated, the hostess handed us a printed out wine list half the size of that online. I was able to find a dish that I wanted and wine that I’d like to try, so I pushed that small disappointment out of my mind and prepared to order. I landed on the 6oz New York and a glass of Sauv Blanc (yes, I know that you’re supposed to have red wine with red meat, but I didn’t want red wine.) Mark decided on a Rolling Rock to start and the Ahi Tuna.
After ordering, I took a quick glance around and noticed the emptiness of the dining area. At about 7:30 on a Friday night, half of the dining room was empty. My thoughts were interrupted about three minutes after ordering because the waitress let us know that they were out of the Rolling Rock. No big deal, Mark ordered a Heineken instead. I received my glass of wine, and we continued our conversation. I had started to look around and get a feel for the décor of the restaurant when the waitress returned to announce that they had also run out of the Ahi Tuna. Mark decided on a Vegetarian Rigatoni instead. Now, that’s two strikes with the food and drink experience so far. Three, if you count the inconsistent online to in-store menu…
With dinner, we had choice of soup or salad. Mark ordered the beef stew, and I decided on the lobster bisque. I enjoyed my bisque, although it tasted an awful lot like the chicken tortilla soup on the menu. Because I don’t eat chicken, I tried real hard to push that thought out of my mind… The service was a bit slow for how many people were in the restaurant. We waited quite awhile between our soup and entrée courses. But we were having such a good time talking and being on a date that it didn’t bother us as much as it might have other nights.
When dinner came out, it looked and smelled delicious. Mark’s rigatoni had a fantastically rich flavor – robust roasted red pepper sauce with grilled vegetables. My meal was just ok. I had ordered the steak medium, and it was at the least medium well. The flavor was good, but it was over done for my taste. My mashed potatoes would have been delicious, but they were lukewarm at best by the time they reached me. I did have a side of grilled vegetables, and those were quite good. We topped the meal off with the Snickers cheesecake. No problems with that at all – it was scrumptious!
While waiting for the bill, Mark and I began discussing and rating the restaurant. A large group of men had been seated about 45 minutes earlier, and their food was starting to come out. As Mark and I talked and finished our drinks, I couldn’t help but notice that the man behind me had ordered – and received – the Ahi Tuna. Now, how does this work? Over an hour earlier, there was no Ahi Tuna. Suddenly, some tuna found it’s way into the kitchen and onto this man’s plate? I was so confused. I wanted to badly to ask the waitress how it was accomplished – not to yell or even be mad, but just to ask how that was possible. Unfortunately, when she brought over the check, she laid it down and scurried away again too quickly for me to ask. So, if any one out there is reading this, and might know how the heck that happens, please let me know. It’s just very confusing.
Overall, I would have to say that I don’t recommend this place. We had a great time there, but I think that it was the atmosphere and the company much more so than the food and service. We were pleasantly surprised when the bill came, however. For our food, drink, tax and tip, it was just over $50. Still, the low price and ambience doesn’t quite make up for the disappointments we encountered.
Mark has a theory that he’d like me to include. David Fhima has been a restaurateur in the Twin Cities for some time now. He owns Fhima’s in St. Paul and Louis XIII in Edina. He’s also had at least one failed restaurant, the Minneapolis Café. Mark and I have both heard talk that Fhima plans to open a three-story tapas restaurant in Minneapolis. I’ve never been to Fhima’s, but Louis XIII was extremely good when Mark and I visited a year ago. Fhima’s is well known enough in the area, but as we passed by it on Friday night, it was empty. This is where Mark’s theory comes in - maybe David Fhima spends so much time on his next project that he doesn’t ensure his current projects are a success. I’m not sure about that, as I don’t know a lot about the restaurant industry, but it seems a good enough theory to me!
Up Next: The Depot
Here’s some background on Loto:
Loto is located in Galtier Plaza in St. Paul’s Lowertown area, overlooking Mears Park. David Fhima, chef/owner of a few restaurants in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, opened Loto with the apparent attempt to cater to various needs. Loto is many things – bakery, deli, coffee house, bar & wine bar, wine store and restaurant. Contemporary American dishes make up the menu at both the deli and the restaurant – from soups and salads to fish, pasta, chicken and steak. The laid-back atmosphere and interesting décor allow for a casual feel. The layout consists of a sunny atrium area surrounded by the trendy bar, small dining area and self-serve deli.
I wanted to wait a few days before blogging about Loto because I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. We encountered a fair amount of disappointments while dining, but both Mark and I were pleased and still smiling at the end of the meal. This was a tough one to call right away because we enjoyed our night out so much.
While being seated at a table in the small dining area, I noticed the odd layout of the place. You first walk in to the deli and wine store, which was closed yet dimly lit. To the right stood the hostess stand, and just beyond that was the open dining area, followed by the bar. An entire wall of the place was windowed and looked out onto the well-lit Mears Park. I was quite impressed with the view. The rest of the place was on the trendier side, but nothing spectacular. All of the areas seemed to be pushed too closely together – the deli ran into the dining room which ran into the bar which ran into the atrium – you get the point. But to be honest, I was so hungry by this point that I dove right into the menu.
I had checked out the menu online prior to visiting, and was disappointed to find that some menu items – and prices – were different online than in the restaurant. The same was true about the wine list – the website listed a nice assortment of wines from around the country. After being seated, the hostess handed us a printed out wine list half the size of that online. I was able to find a dish that I wanted and wine that I’d like to try, so I pushed that small disappointment out of my mind and prepared to order. I landed on the 6oz New York and a glass of Sauv Blanc (yes, I know that you’re supposed to have red wine with red meat, but I didn’t want red wine.) Mark decided on a Rolling Rock to start and the Ahi Tuna.
After ordering, I took a quick glance around and noticed the emptiness of the dining area. At about 7:30 on a Friday night, half of the dining room was empty. My thoughts were interrupted about three minutes after ordering because the waitress let us know that they were out of the Rolling Rock. No big deal, Mark ordered a Heineken instead. I received my glass of wine, and we continued our conversation. I had started to look around and get a feel for the décor of the restaurant when the waitress returned to announce that they had also run out of the Ahi Tuna. Mark decided on a Vegetarian Rigatoni instead. Now, that’s two strikes with the food and drink experience so far. Three, if you count the inconsistent online to in-store menu…
With dinner, we had choice of soup or salad. Mark ordered the beef stew, and I decided on the lobster bisque. I enjoyed my bisque, although it tasted an awful lot like the chicken tortilla soup on the menu. Because I don’t eat chicken, I tried real hard to push that thought out of my mind… The service was a bit slow for how many people were in the restaurant. We waited quite awhile between our soup and entrée courses. But we were having such a good time talking and being on a date that it didn’t bother us as much as it might have other nights.
When dinner came out, it looked and smelled delicious. Mark’s rigatoni had a fantastically rich flavor – robust roasted red pepper sauce with grilled vegetables. My meal was just ok. I had ordered the steak medium, and it was at the least medium well. The flavor was good, but it was over done for my taste. My mashed potatoes would have been delicious, but they were lukewarm at best by the time they reached me. I did have a side of grilled vegetables, and those were quite good. We topped the meal off with the Snickers cheesecake. No problems with that at all – it was scrumptious!
While waiting for the bill, Mark and I began discussing and rating the restaurant. A large group of men had been seated about 45 minutes earlier, and their food was starting to come out. As Mark and I talked and finished our drinks, I couldn’t help but notice that the man behind me had ordered – and received – the Ahi Tuna. Now, how does this work? Over an hour earlier, there was no Ahi Tuna. Suddenly, some tuna found it’s way into the kitchen and onto this man’s plate? I was so confused. I wanted to badly to ask the waitress how it was accomplished – not to yell or even be mad, but just to ask how that was possible. Unfortunately, when she brought over the check, she laid it down and scurried away again too quickly for me to ask. So, if any one out there is reading this, and might know how the heck that happens, please let me know. It’s just very confusing.
Overall, I would have to say that I don’t recommend this place. We had a great time there, but I think that it was the atmosphere and the company much more so than the food and service. We were pleasantly surprised when the bill came, however. For our food, drink, tax and tip, it was just over $50. Still, the low price and ambience doesn’t quite make up for the disappointments we encountered.
Mark has a theory that he’d like me to include. David Fhima has been a restaurateur in the Twin Cities for some time now. He owns Fhima’s in St. Paul and Louis XIII in Edina. He’s also had at least one failed restaurant, the Minneapolis Café. Mark and I have both heard talk that Fhima plans to open a three-story tapas restaurant in Minneapolis. I’ve never been to Fhima’s, but Louis XIII was extremely good when Mark and I visited a year ago. Fhima’s is well known enough in the area, but as we passed by it on Friday night, it was empty. This is where Mark’s theory comes in - maybe David Fhima spends so much time on his next project that he doesn’t ensure his current projects are a success. I’m not sure about that, as I don’t know a lot about the restaurant industry, but it seems a good enough theory to me!
Up Next: The Depot
Monday, January 16, 2006
Camp Snoopy
This past weekend, I wanted to visit Camp Snoopy (soon to be known as The Park) at the Mall of America. I’ve been there a few times before to take part in rides and general amusement park fun, but recent events made me want to visit one last time before Snoopy and his gang were forced out.
Last week, the Mall of America (MOA) announced that Camp Snoopy would be no more. The company that owns the rights to the Peanuts characters and the forces behind the MOA could not agree to the usage terms any longer. Therefore, by January 19th, MOA must remove all Snoopy and other Peanuts items out of the Camp Snoopy area. The stores that sell Camp Snoopy merchandise will remain open and will continue to sell Peanuts related items until March 30, 2006.
Sad news for Snoopy lovers across the land! So on Friday night, Mark and I headed to MOA to have one last laugh with Snoopy.
We were a little disappointed when we reached our destination. It was only about 6:30 PM, but Camp Snoopy was dark, empty and a little creepy. Very few people were out and about in the park. We walked around for a bit, and were saddened to learn that most of the Snoopy stuff was already taken down. A large blow up Snoopy still stood in the entrance to the park, along with the Snoopy dog bowl, but that was about it. We headed over to the Stampede Steakhouse, where Snoopy and the gang perform nightly. But after taking a look at the menu, we decided to head over to our favorite mall restaurant, Napa Valley Grille, to get dinner. We were planning to return to Camp Snoopy after dinner to ride a rollercoaster and maybe play a game.
Our dinner at Napa Valley Grille was wonderful as always. We started off our meal with some wine chosen from their ample wine list and a bowl of amazing roasted butternut squash soup. I have never been a big fan of squash, but this was too tasty to pass up. For dinner, Mark had the grilled pork tenderloin while I went with the evening’s special of filet and scallops. Delicious! We ended the visit with a luscious dark chocolate molten cake. I highly recommend visiting Napa Valley Grille is you are in the Bloomington area, but it’s also well worth the drive to the mall area from anywhere in the metro.
After dinner, we took one last look at Camp Snoopy and decided we just weren’t up for rides and games. We decided that maybe a problem with the park is that it’s a great idea in theory – a nice place for parents to take their kids as a reward for good behavior after a long day of shopping. But when you get right down to it, it isn’t that fantastic. Now, I’m obviously not a child anymore, so maybe to them it’s still a fun mini-heaven. But Snoopy or no Snoopy, the Park at MOA just disappoints.
Saturday night Mark and I went out on the town with some friends for a belated birthday celebration for Mark. We started the night at Taste, which is a small wine bar connected to the Newsroom in downtown Minneapolis. Mark and I had been there once before, and it’s a great place to go with a few friends. The wine list is pretty extensive, and they also have a small list of hot and cold tapas. I highly recommend Taste for a low-key night out with a few friends or a place to cozy up with someone close.
Up next: Not sure yet, come back to find out!
Last week, the Mall of America (MOA) announced that Camp Snoopy would be no more. The company that owns the rights to the Peanuts characters and the forces behind the MOA could not agree to the usage terms any longer. Therefore, by January 19th, MOA must remove all Snoopy and other Peanuts items out of the Camp Snoopy area. The stores that sell Camp Snoopy merchandise will remain open and will continue to sell Peanuts related items until March 30, 2006.
Sad news for Snoopy lovers across the land! So on Friday night, Mark and I headed to MOA to have one last laugh with Snoopy.
We were a little disappointed when we reached our destination. It was only about 6:30 PM, but Camp Snoopy was dark, empty and a little creepy. Very few people were out and about in the park. We walked around for a bit, and were saddened to learn that most of the Snoopy stuff was already taken down. A large blow up Snoopy still stood in the entrance to the park, along with the Snoopy dog bowl, but that was about it. We headed over to the Stampede Steakhouse, where Snoopy and the gang perform nightly. But after taking a look at the menu, we decided to head over to our favorite mall restaurant, Napa Valley Grille, to get dinner. We were planning to return to Camp Snoopy after dinner to ride a rollercoaster and maybe play a game.
Our dinner at Napa Valley Grille was wonderful as always. We started off our meal with some wine chosen from their ample wine list and a bowl of amazing roasted butternut squash soup. I have never been a big fan of squash, but this was too tasty to pass up. For dinner, Mark had the grilled pork tenderloin while I went with the evening’s special of filet and scallops. Delicious! We ended the visit with a luscious dark chocolate molten cake. I highly recommend visiting Napa Valley Grille is you are in the Bloomington area, but it’s also well worth the drive to the mall area from anywhere in the metro.
After dinner, we took one last look at Camp Snoopy and decided we just weren’t up for rides and games. We decided that maybe a problem with the park is that it’s a great idea in theory – a nice place for parents to take their kids as a reward for good behavior after a long day of shopping. But when you get right down to it, it isn’t that fantastic. Now, I’m obviously not a child anymore, so maybe to them it’s still a fun mini-heaven. But Snoopy or no Snoopy, the Park at MOA just disappoints.
Saturday night Mark and I went out on the town with some friends for a belated birthday celebration for Mark. We started the night at Taste, which is a small wine bar connected to the Newsroom in downtown Minneapolis. Mark and I had been there once before, and it’s a great place to go with a few friends. The wine list is pretty extensive, and they also have a small list of hot and cold tapas. I highly recommend Taste for a low-key night out with a few friends or a place to cozy up with someone close.
Up next: Not sure yet, come back to find out!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Babalú
Last night I had a meeting with my Alive After Five committee for Ad Fed. Ad Fed is the Advertising Federation of Minnesota, and the Alive After Five committee is sort of like the social committee. We plan a few events a year to provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere for advertising professionals to network and just kick back a little. Anyways, we got together last night to finalize the details of our annual wine tasting event, which will take place on February 2nd. The group decided to meet up at Babalú, the restaurant that has kindly offered to host the event for us, free of charge. Now, I think it’s great that the place is allowing us to use their space and promote our event, but it’s my blog so I get to say whatever I want. Babalú kinda sucked.
First, here’s the background on the place:
Babalú is located on Washington Avenue in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis. The space itself is laid out with a dining area to the left separated by a large bar and lounge area to the right of the entrance. The Latin-Caribbean culture lends itself to the entire surrounding of the place – from the décor to the food to the wine selection. Deep reds combine with vibrant purple and yellow in the artwork to promote the cultural feel. The food reflects Mexican, Spanish and Caribbean tastes in a variety of offerings – tapas, appetizers, house entrees and desserts. The wine and specialty drink lists continue with this theme and contain various wines and rums from the regions listed. Live music is offered every night of the week, and an ample dance floor invites people to enjoy the sensuality of Latin music.
All of that sounds pretty good, right? Not so much.
We arrived at about 5:30, and the place was empty. That didn’t surprise me, because the live music didn’t start until well after 8:00 PM. We sat down, and were presented with a wine list. Because I don’t know a lot about Spanish wines, I was looking for a good recommendation. The waitress, although extremely nice and accommodating all evening, was little help with the wine selection. I chose a Sauv Blanc that was not terrible, but definitely not what I was looking for. After some official Ad Fed business, we ordered some food from the appetizer menu. There were only four of us, and only two of us were looking for a little morsel, so we ordered just the Empanadillas. Empanadillas are basically meat or cheese stuffed pastries, usually served with either a salsa for dipping or a salsa drizzled over the top of the pastries. And, empanadillas generally have a spice or kick to them. These empanadillas apparently missed that memo. They were bland and dry. The salsa that was served had a bit of a kick, but nothing one would expect from this sort of establishment. I was extremely disappointed. A bit later, we decided to order another appetizer to appease our displeasure, and our growling stomachs.
That was a big mistake.
For how bad the empanadillas were, the Ceviche de Mojarra was even worse. The waitress described the dish as white fish marinated with lemon and peppers. That sounded pretty good. And maybe a bit healthier than other dishes might have been. The dish came, and we had no idea what was even presented to us. On the plate lay fried plantain strips, fried tortilla strips, and a dish full of some sort of fish, lemon, avocado and pepper salsa. I was skeptical, but I wanted to at least give it a chance. I loaded some of the fish salsa onto a tortilla strip, and took a bite. And almost threw it all up. It tasted like what I always imagined pickled herring to taste like. It was awful. Others in the group tried it as well, and it was a major group consensus. We picked at the tortilla strips and the fried plantains, but left the fish salsa alone.
I really hesitated writing this review due to the fact that we are holding our event at this location. However, I will say that the décor of the restaurant and the overall atmosphere is fantastic for the event we’re holding. It will be the perfect place to entertain and network with other professionals. And, we aren’t serving food, so I don’t have to worry about that.
Overall, I was disappointed with the food and wine, but the ambiance was pleasant. I would not recommend this place, or return on my own. Too bad!
Next up: Camp Snoopy No More!
First, here’s the background on the place:
Babalú is located on Washington Avenue in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis. The space itself is laid out with a dining area to the left separated by a large bar and lounge area to the right of the entrance. The Latin-Caribbean culture lends itself to the entire surrounding of the place – from the décor to the food to the wine selection. Deep reds combine with vibrant purple and yellow in the artwork to promote the cultural feel. The food reflects Mexican, Spanish and Caribbean tastes in a variety of offerings – tapas, appetizers, house entrees and desserts. The wine and specialty drink lists continue with this theme and contain various wines and rums from the regions listed. Live music is offered every night of the week, and an ample dance floor invites people to enjoy the sensuality of Latin music.
All of that sounds pretty good, right? Not so much.
We arrived at about 5:30, and the place was empty. That didn’t surprise me, because the live music didn’t start until well after 8:00 PM. We sat down, and were presented with a wine list. Because I don’t know a lot about Spanish wines, I was looking for a good recommendation. The waitress, although extremely nice and accommodating all evening, was little help with the wine selection. I chose a Sauv Blanc that was not terrible, but definitely not what I was looking for. After some official Ad Fed business, we ordered some food from the appetizer menu. There were only four of us, and only two of us were looking for a little morsel, so we ordered just the Empanadillas. Empanadillas are basically meat or cheese stuffed pastries, usually served with either a salsa for dipping or a salsa drizzled over the top of the pastries. And, empanadillas generally have a spice or kick to them. These empanadillas apparently missed that memo. They were bland and dry. The salsa that was served had a bit of a kick, but nothing one would expect from this sort of establishment. I was extremely disappointed. A bit later, we decided to order another appetizer to appease our displeasure, and our growling stomachs.
That was a big mistake.
For how bad the empanadillas were, the Ceviche de Mojarra was even worse. The waitress described the dish as white fish marinated with lemon and peppers. That sounded pretty good. And maybe a bit healthier than other dishes might have been. The dish came, and we had no idea what was even presented to us. On the plate lay fried plantain strips, fried tortilla strips, and a dish full of some sort of fish, lemon, avocado and pepper salsa. I was skeptical, but I wanted to at least give it a chance. I loaded some of the fish salsa onto a tortilla strip, and took a bite. And almost threw it all up. It tasted like what I always imagined pickled herring to taste like. It was awful. Others in the group tried it as well, and it was a major group consensus. We picked at the tortilla strips and the fried plantains, but left the fish salsa alone.
I really hesitated writing this review due to the fact that we are holding our event at this location. However, I will say that the décor of the restaurant and the overall atmosphere is fantastic for the event we’re holding. It will be the perfect place to entertain and network with other professionals. And, we aren’t serving food, so I don’t have to worry about that.
Overall, I was disappointed with the food and wine, but the ambiance was pleasant. I would not recommend this place, or return on my own. Too bad!
Next up: Camp Snoopy No More!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Firelake Grill House & Cocktail Bar
The first stop on my journey throughout the Cities was last week Wednesday, January 4th, when Julie and I decided to check out the Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar for some happy hour apps and drinks before going to the movies. I have been wanting to go to the Firelake for awhile now, and it seemed as good a place as any to start the year off.
Here’s a little background on the place:
The Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar is located in the Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on South Seventh Street, just a half block or so from Nicollet Mall. Two private dining rooms and an exhibition kitchen make up the layout of the restaurant. Chef Paul Lynch combines classic Midwest cooking with a flare of Mediterranean spice to offer a unique blend of tastes. The décor is warm and attractive, with soft lighting and neutral colors to invite conversation and relaxation. Visit the Firelake web site here.
Although we didn’t have an entire meal at Firelake, we did have an opportunity to taste what the restaurant had to offer by sampling some appetizers. After taking quite a while to decide, we ordered the Ciabatta Bruscetta and the Five Layer Artichoke Fondue. We paired that with a glass (or two!) of Monkey Bay Pinot Grigio.
The food was very good. I wouldn’t say amazing, but very good, especially for happy hour specials. The Ciabatta Bruscetta was, as the name implies, toasted ciabatta bread served with three spreads: traditional tomato, olive paste, and parmesan pesto. The bruscetta was good, but let’s be honest here. It’s not that difficult to make a good bruscetta. The fondue, however, was magnificent. It was a wonderful blend of cheeses and artichoke served with asiago flatbread. I couldn’t get enough of it! It was like a little cheese explosion with every bit. I loved it. I would highly recommend it. The wine was very good for an inexpensive white – very crisp and flavorful. It was a nice, refreshing taste that actually complimented the food very well.
Overall, I would say that the experience at Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar was a good one. The food was very good, and I really enjoyed the ambiance the restaurant provided. It was a relaxing happy hour place to chat with a friend or co-worker. I’d still like to try an entire meal there, but happy hour apps are always a good way to sample what a place has to offer.
One adventure down, 51 to go!
Coming Up: Babalu
Here’s a little background on the place:
The Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar is located in the Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on South Seventh Street, just a half block or so from Nicollet Mall. Two private dining rooms and an exhibition kitchen make up the layout of the restaurant. Chef Paul Lynch combines classic Midwest cooking with a flare of Mediterranean spice to offer a unique blend of tastes. The décor is warm and attractive, with soft lighting and neutral colors to invite conversation and relaxation. Visit the Firelake web site here.
Although we didn’t have an entire meal at Firelake, we did have an opportunity to taste what the restaurant had to offer by sampling some appetizers. After taking quite a while to decide, we ordered the Ciabatta Bruscetta and the Five Layer Artichoke Fondue. We paired that with a glass (or two!) of Monkey Bay Pinot Grigio.
The food was very good. I wouldn’t say amazing, but very good, especially for happy hour specials. The Ciabatta Bruscetta was, as the name implies, toasted ciabatta bread served with three spreads: traditional tomato, olive paste, and parmesan pesto. The bruscetta was good, but let’s be honest here. It’s not that difficult to make a good bruscetta. The fondue, however, was magnificent. It was a wonderful blend of cheeses and artichoke served with asiago flatbread. I couldn’t get enough of it! It was like a little cheese explosion with every bit. I loved it. I would highly recommend it. The wine was very good for an inexpensive white – very crisp and flavorful. It was a nice, refreshing taste that actually complimented the food very well.
Overall, I would say that the experience at Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar was a good one. The food was very good, and I really enjoyed the ambiance the restaurant provided. It was a relaxing happy hour place to chat with a friend or co-worker. I’d still like to try an entire meal there, but happy hour apps are always a good way to sample what a place has to offer.
One adventure down, 51 to go!
Coming Up: Babalu
Sunday, January 08, 2006
New Year's Resolution
We all have them. A New Year's resolution. Some people make a promise to themselves to lose weight in the new year. Others try to save a little extra money. Still others try to quit smoking or drinking alcohol. And those are just the standard resolutions. A resolution can be almost anything.
My resolution this year is a bit different than anything I've done in the past. For one thing, by putting it out here on a blog it makes it more real. I'm hoping that will push me to actually complete this year by accomplishing my resolution.
But more on the actual resolution itself later. First, a few background details about myself are needed.
I was born and raised in Burlington, WI, a town of about 10,000. Growing up, my parents exposed me to as much culture as was possible in a small town. The great city of Milwaukee is only about 45 minutes away from Burlington, so we did have access to some great restaurants, museums and shows. When I got older and it came time to choose a college, though, I really wanted a big city experience. And while I wanted to move away to go to school, I didn't want to go so far that I couldn't see my family when I wanted. So, after dragging my parents all around to look at schools, I decided on the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
When I graduated in 2004, I decided to make the Twin Cities my permanent home - at least for the next few years. I thought that would give me an opportunity to explore the cities in a way that I hadn't done in school. Unfortunately, I haven't done as much exploring as I had wanted. I talk a lot about the things I want to do and the places I want to see, but I never do them. Until now.
That's where the resolution comes in. I have decided to make it my goal to do one new thing in the Twin Cities every week. It could be dining at a restaurant that I've been wanting to go to, visiting a museum I've never been to, or seeing a performance of some kind. It can be anything, really. As long as it's new to me, and in the Twin Cities. And after each new adventure, I'll write about it on my blog so that people can follow along with me and my journeys.
I've enlisted the help of of my extremely loving and supportive boyfriend, Mark, and my very adventurous friend, Julie. Along the way, I'm sure that other important people in my life will join in the fun as they visit the great Twin Cities.
I'd like to state here as well that part of my inspiration for getting out there and blogging about it comes from my dear old friend, Erin Leffelman. Erin is the great spirit behind www.playinthecity.blogs.com, the famous Milwaukee outdoor adventure blog. Check out her blog using the link to the right. Thanks to Erin for helping me get a move on!
I hope that you all will enjoy following along with me as I conquer my resolution, and the Twin Cities!
My resolution this year is a bit different than anything I've done in the past. For one thing, by putting it out here on a blog it makes it more real. I'm hoping that will push me to actually complete this year by accomplishing my resolution.
But more on the actual resolution itself later. First, a few background details about myself are needed.
I was born and raised in Burlington, WI, a town of about 10,000. Growing up, my parents exposed me to as much culture as was possible in a small town. The great city of Milwaukee is only about 45 minutes away from Burlington, so we did have access to some great restaurants, museums and shows. When I got older and it came time to choose a college, though, I really wanted a big city experience. And while I wanted to move away to go to school, I didn't want to go so far that I couldn't see my family when I wanted. So, after dragging my parents all around to look at schools, I decided on the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
When I graduated in 2004, I decided to make the Twin Cities my permanent home - at least for the next few years. I thought that would give me an opportunity to explore the cities in a way that I hadn't done in school. Unfortunately, I haven't done as much exploring as I had wanted. I talk a lot about the things I want to do and the places I want to see, but I never do them. Until now.
That's where the resolution comes in. I have decided to make it my goal to do one new thing in the Twin Cities every week. It could be dining at a restaurant that I've been wanting to go to, visiting a museum I've never been to, or seeing a performance of some kind. It can be anything, really. As long as it's new to me, and in the Twin Cities. And after each new adventure, I'll write about it on my blog so that people can follow along with me and my journeys.
I've enlisted the help of of my extremely loving and supportive boyfriend, Mark, and my very adventurous friend, Julie. Along the way, I'm sure that other important people in my life will join in the fun as they visit the great Twin Cities.
I'd like to state here as well that part of my inspiration for getting out there and blogging about it comes from my dear old friend, Erin Leffelman. Erin is the great spirit behind www.playinthecity.blogs.com, the famous Milwaukee outdoor adventure blog. Check out her blog using the link to the right. Thanks to Erin for helping me get a move on!
I hope that you all will enjoy following along with me as I conquer my resolution, and the Twin Cities!
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