Heaven, said the Regency wit Sydney Smith, is eating paté de foie gras to the sound of trumpets. It sounds pretty piggy if you ask me, all too like the fellow who said that you should decide what to do in life by following your bliss. And rather odd doctrine for S. Smith, who made … Read more
In regards to the “art” exhibit at the Walker Art Center, a wire-mesh wooden box with lizards, snakes, scorpions and crickets: As the great poet Alice Walker said, animals exist for their own reasons. They do not exist for our own amusement, entertainment, experimentation or for our “art” exhibits. Sad typical animal exploitation. Did those … Read more
In the Books & Readings section of the November Rake, the columnist discussing Salman Rushdie’s November 10 reading mentions “… more than fifty people around the world have been murdered because of connections to Rushdie.” I’m curious as to the columnist’s sources with regard to that statement. I find that horrifying on any number of … Read more
It’s as if all the weary waitresses of the Twin Cities banded together, threw down their aprons, and said, “Fine, just do it yourself if you think you’ll be any better!” Bad Waitress is a self-service joint that puts you in your place. Sit down, fill out your order on a pad, and submit it … Read more
This bright and airy space in St. Louis Park has a fresh take on takeout. Its menu changes weekly and focuses on homemade, seasonal fare that can be eaten at one of the few tables or taken home. There are four daily soup options (the gumbo is especially delicious) and star entrees like a perfectly … Read more
Woody Allen has made a few changes to the patented Allen formula, which may be why his latest film, Match Point, is better than anything he’s done in ages. For one thing, he’s replaced New York with London, albeit for financial, rather than creative, reasons. For another, there is no neurotic Jew shambling through scenes … Read more
Some people attempt to spite the French by pouring out red wine and voting against John Kerry. Other people believe that a little smirk while enjoying an American version of coq au vin is just as effective. Salut Bar Americaine in Edina celebrates the French and sticks it to them at the same time. Warm, … Read more
I was pleased to read Jennifer Vogel’s exegesis on the religiosity of Eric Enstrom’s “Grace” [“That Old-Time Religion,” December]. It is good for us to have such an abject image of humility in a season–nay, a yearlong culture–of conspicuous consumption. I was disappointed, however, by the omission of the fact that Enstrom’s work, or some … Read more
I would like to assert my science-geekiness onto “A Tisket, A Tasket,” [Down the Hatch, December], the article about personalized gift baskets. I have been creating handmade Christmas gifts for some time and enjoyed Ms. March’s sentiments on the subject. Additionally, I very much look forward to trying out the Fiscalini San Joaquin Gold cheese, … Read more
Hair color, style, degree of curl–according to Kimberly Joy Morgan, these define black women more than any white girl contemplating a box of blonde hair dye will ever know. Morgan, who styles her own locks in sassy faux dreads, was a winner at the Twin Cities’ first-ever Ivey Awards for her performance in Hot Comb: … Read more