Adam Minter writes: Funny thing happened this morning while I was at the pirate DVD shop beneath my apartment building in Shanghai: I met some people from Minnesota (accents gave it away pretty quick) who had a copy of The Rake with them. So I ran back upstairs, grabbed my camera, and snapped a couple … Read more
You needn’t worry about proper pinky etiquette while drinking tea at Fox & Drake; they’ll forgive you if you don’t perfectly emulate Queen Elizabeth. You also needn’t worry about dry, tasteless pastries or soggy sandwiches. An afternoon respite here can include a proper roast beef sandwich with Stilton and chive mayonnaise, or a savory shepherd’s … Read more
Snap! is the sassy younger sibling to Northeast Minneapolis’ stylish Pop!–a casual dining spot that makes us wish we’d had somewhere this cool to spend afternoons when we were in school. Generously topped pizzas boast names like Snaparoooskie and Shizaam, and hot hoagies come with or without red sauce (try the Far Out with spicy … Read more
This is one of those places you’ll be tempted to keep to yourself. Or maybe you’ll be okay sharing it with the lucky few deemed worthy–but then you have to decide: Does my co-worker deserve to know about Hot Plate’s outrageously yummy pumpkin buckwheat waffles? Is my neighbor witty enough to appreciate the paint-by-number collage … Read more
St. Paul’s Chinatown isn’t of the polished, touristy variety celebrated by chambers of commerce in other cities. There are no novelty pagodas or souvenir key chains. What exists here is a multi-ethnic community that lives, shops, and eats within its borders. Every shop entrance is a mural of advertisements for practical services: tax preparation, real … Read more
"I’ve always found you get more spiritual energy if you have things made by two hands—especially your own two hands,” said Kimber Fiebiger. If so, then her home is coursing with such energy: The entire place was built with her hands, and those of friends. It sits atop Fiebiger’s Joan of Art gallery, which, with … Read more
A long time ago we were very serious about going to art openings to take in whatever was on the walls (or hanging from the ceiling, or stuffed into a crack in the floor, or lurking beneath a staircase). Now, though, the crowds at such events are simply too distracting. But who’s complaining? Not us—especially … Read more
You acted all negative at breakfast, making everything heavy and chore-like. You were like this: Where is my coffee? Is there one thing on this menu that is not fried? What’s wrong with Grandma? Do people in rural America have like super strong hearts that don’t get all plugged up and clogged? Grandma is healthy … Read more
This may be one of the last chances to see the legend. He’s already decided that his scheduled U.K. tour will be his last one there, and when an eighty-year-old performer says he’s weary of life on the road, we tend to believe him (certainly more than when we hear it from, say, Cher). King … Read more
Choral music sounds especially good in December, although the Rose Ensemble can get even the statuary at the stodgiest of churches to prick up its ears at any time of the year. Known for its magnificent renditions of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music, the ensemble specializes in obscure and unpredictable pieces, and its holiday programs … Read more