Month: November 2004

Knollwood Mall has been in a continual state of either death or revival for the last twenty years. It’s hard to tell which way it’s going right now, but the presence of an authentic, family-owned Mexican restaurant on the strip side of the mall is a definite score for the revival side. El Gordo makes…

The correct answer is: No. Actually, in my experience—and a quick survey of all the usual suspects confirms it, anecdotally anyway—transitional seasons seem to be the more active time for human, uh, rutting. Among ourselves, we men frequently talk about how the “sap begins to run” in the spring, and I can tell you from…

For some, indulgence comes in the form of manicures and hand massages. For others, it involves tucking into some great nosh with an expertly mixed cocktail at hand. Both camps may self-indulge freely at Mell’s Beauty Bar, a dark little boîte tucked amid Minneapolis’ hulking warehouses. During the cocktail hour, a manicurist is available to…

With everything an Italian trattoria should have—inventive pizzas and pastas, an approachable wine list, and a dessert menu supercharged with chocolate—Biella is our favorite among the west suburban ventures of Mark Nazigian. You could call it the sophisticated sister to Ravello in Long Lake, as both restaurants hold their charm in intimate surroundings and with…

The person who has nothing—there’s one in all our lives. Perhaps they’re bereft of worldly possessions by divine will or karmic revelation, or maybe they’ve simply “downshifted” into intentional thinglessness. Either way, these folks can stump even the most discerning gift giver! Our “Aught for Naught” gift basket is the perfect answer. Also a good…

Wim Wenders’ cult classic follows the slow unfolding of a damaged man as he literally comes in from the desert and learns to talk again, with the aid of his seven-year-old son. Artful and anti-Hollywood, the film, with its lush cinematography and a haunting soundtrack by slide guitarist Ry Cooder, makes the story stick in…