Wearing The Hair Of The Dog. Portraits Of People In Clothes Made From Their Pets' Fur.


I hope THIS doesn't give my husband any crazy ideas.
For the record, I don't want to wear it. Eek!

[where: Minnesota, Dog Hair Clothes, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, 55406]

Mark Your Calendar: Northern Woods Exhibition

Got an itch to see some art before Art-A-Whirl?

This weekend the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild is holding its annual Northern Woods Exhibition at Southdale Mall.

"The show provides an opportunity for Guild members (and non-guild members) to present and discuss the best in high quality woodworking design and construction with fellow woodworkers and the general public. The pieces on display are more than furniture. They are works of art."

Check out these photos of some of the award-winning pieces from last year's exhibition. This is seriously amazing woodwork.

I'm still sizzling over Scott McGlasson's credenza from the 2007 show:



Start Time: Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 10:00am
End Time: Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 6:00pm
Location: Southdale Center Mall


[where: Minnesota, Woodworking, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, 55406]

27th Annual Mpls/St.Paul International Film Festival

Just a friendly reminder...

The 27th annual Mpls/St.Paul International Film Festival is taking place over the next two weeks (April 16th-30th).

Here's a link to the Film Festival Catalog. In case you don't want to rummage through the ads looking for the actual schedule, you can find it on pages 16-17 of the catalog.

Tickets and Passes are available online at http://www.mspfilmfest.org/MMIX/ or at the box office on the night of the screening. Discounted tickets (Members/Students/ Seniors) are available at the box office if you've got the right ID.

Get your international film on!

[where: Minnesota, International, Film, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, 55406]

Saving Seeds: Supporting Garden Biodiversity

AN 1868 HEIRLOOM HARTMAN'S YELLOW GOOSEBERRY TOMATO

April is upon us! That means it's almost time to start our gardens, whether we're in the city and growing in pots, or heaving loads of compost out in the burbs.

I'm big into planting heirloom varieties in my garden, and finding those varieties can be tricky - especially if you're someone who might grab a veggie plant at Home Depot. Go to You Are Where You Eat to read a bit about why heirloom varieties are important to me, and where you can go in the Twin Cities to find them.

[where: Minnesota, Food, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, 55406]

Reetsy Reviews: Just Truffles

Because my husband is awesome, I was recently treated to a box of truffles from Just Truffles in St. Paul.

Just Truffles carries about 30 regular flavors of truffles in addition to some seasonal flavors.

In order from left to right, top to bottom:
  1. Chocolate Malted: malt powder blended with heavy whipping cream folded into a milk chocolate ganache, dipped in milk chocolate
  2. Peanut Butter: creamy peanut butter in a white chocolate ganache, dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peanuts
  3. Passion Fruit: milk chocolate ganache blended with passion fruit puree, dipped in milk chocolate
  4. Just Chocolate: dark chocolate ganache, dipped and decorated in dark chocolate
  5. Key Lime: key lime juice from the Florida Keys and white chocolate ganache dipped in white chocolate
  6. Bailey's: Bailey's Irish Cream blended with a combination of white and milk chocolate ganache, dipped in milk chocolate
  7. Grand Marnier: orange rind and Grand Marnier in dark chocolate ganache, dipped in dark chocolate
  8. Raspberry: tart raspberries, raspberry liquor and dark bittersweet chocolate ganache, dipped in white chocolate
Just Truffle's fluffy centers aren't dense or fudge-like at all. The centers are light and creamy, and the coating cracks as you bite into the truffle. Also, they're large - 3 or 4 bites per truffle.

I liked the Just Chocolate truffle - dark chocolate ganache dipped and decorated in dark chocolate. The intense shell snapped open cleanly, revealing a milder smooth ganache inside.

Owner and candy-maker Kathleen O’Hehir-Johnson uses all natural ingredients and makes each truffle by hand. They last about 3 days at room temperature, or 30 days in the refrigerator.

I'm a sucker for the 99% truffles at Legacy Chocolates, and I really appreciate Legacy's efforts regarding sustainability. But Just Truffles has a lot of fun flavors, and the bigger size makes does make their truffles a perfect size for sharing.

Noteworthy:
Evidently, during a performance at the St Paul Civic Center, Luciano Pavarotti was seen wearing a tuxedo accessorized with a gold stretch bow from a box from Just Truffles. Supposedly, he insisted, "I wore it for you," to O'Hehir Johnson, as he kissed her hand. She created the "Tenor's Temptation," a rum-coconut truffle, in his honor.

Sweets made by star-kissed hands!
Just Truffles
1363 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105

[where: Just Truffles, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]