Christmas Music Savant, that’s what my friends call me. Maybe it was from my mum’s extensive vinyl collection and the fact that we sat around the piano singing every holiday or that I worked 20 years of retail or that I am a fine Welsh lass and my people are well known for our love of singing, but I love, L-O-V-E holiday tunes, all of them. 

Well, maybe not all of them.  No offense, but I would be happy if I never heard “Feliz Navidad“, especially the Jose Feliciano version,ever again.  But that one song aside, I start listening to Christmas music and holiday tunes at the start of November and stop after the twelve days of Christmas are over on January 5th (where do you think “Twelfth Night” came from folks?).

My moniker came from my days working at Dayton’s/Field’s/Macy’s and every time a song came on the Muzak I could name not only the song but singer in just a few notes, Bill Cullen would be proud.

I can tell the difference between Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett and Perry Como singing the exact same song.  Now with all the modern & country singers jumping into the holiday music pool it has become more difficult and my skills have begun to wane, especially since I no longer work retail, but my holiday music collection will still rival many.

Combined cassette, vinyl and CD there are over 200 albums in the collection. Perhaps the most prized is the ”Merry Christmas with the Brady Bunch” Original Vinyl (we three sisters wore similar robes). You haven’t heard anything until you have heard Cindy Brady sing “Frosty the Snowman” with a lisp.

Then there is the Fred Waring Singers with Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby 12 Songs of Christmas with my favorites “Go tell it on the Mountain” & a fantastic duet “We wish you the Merriest” with Frank & Bing.  Then there is the Columbia Records “Magic of Christmas” 3- record boxed set which I loved,  and all the Dean Martin Christmas albums, those are mum’s, but we kept the old Soundesign stereo turntable just so we could still play them.  And get this, we even still have a Bing Crosby White Christmas 8-Track somewhere! 

As for modern CD’s I think I like the Barenaked Ladies “Bare Naked for the Holidays” (includes some Hanukkah songs) and Harry Connick Jr’s “Harry for the Holidays” or his more recent “”What a Night.”  Brian Setzer Orchestra’s “Boogie Woogie Christmas” or “Dig that Crazy Christmas” are the two I own but he has also released several more including a live two CD set “Christmas Extravaganza.”

Leonard Slatkin Conducted Minnesota Orchestra Nutcracker Suite

North Star Roller Girls – Kiss Poster

Uploaded on November 23, 2009
by infraredstudio
The North Star Roller Girls will rock you on Dec. 5th. Photos by Wijadi Jodi, Design Concept by Infraredstudio

Check them out!

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Strib reports A push to scrap Minn. law barring new nuclear power plants gains influential supporters

Two congressmen — Democratic Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen — joined leaders of labor unions and the state Chamber of Commerce in seeking the repeal of Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium.

Their public backing could put pressure on legislators from their areas considered swing votes in the debate. In April, a bid to lift the ban fell eight votes short in the House after convincingly winning approval in the Senate

Walz, who represents much of southern Minnesota, said he doesn’t discount concerns over long-term waste storage. But he said there are environmental consequences to keeping the nuclear ban in place, too.

“Without a baseload of other alternatives here in Minnesota, quite honestly we’ve encouraged people and forced them into the coal business,” he said. “We want to give them other options.”

I have no questions that ending this law and building nuclear is the right thing to do. I believe that newer nuclear technology is safer and more efficient than the plants of the past. (See Also: Wind vs. Nuclear Power: Which Is Safer?
) And it’s my understanding that we are now able to get more power due to recycling nuclear waste.

Still, that’s just like, my opinion man.

What do you think?

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If you’ve always wanted to hurl a frozen turkey at a set of bowling pins, this Wednesday is your lucky day. Metromix Twin Cities is hosting this one-of-a-kind event in the courtyard of the Chambers Hotel in Downtown Minneapolis.  

To participate you can either bring a non-perishable food item or make a $5 donation to the Emergency Foodshelf Network.   

Turkey tossers can practice from 4-9 p.m before the championship round at 9:30.  Further details can be found at the metromix website.

This activity is rather bizarre to me.  I understand that turkeys are a part of the Thanksgiving tradition, but I can’t think of anyone I know who would want to touch a dead frozen one.  

What do you think?

…I just really loved this place.

The last two Sundays my better half and I have had the urge for brunch. Mainly, we’re lazy and know it’s probably going to be the only thing to get us out of the house on a Sunday morning/afternoon. Last Sunday, we decided to head to Longfellow Grill to use up a gift certificate I’d gotten on one of the various half price deals websites that are floating around out there.

I hadn’t been to Longfellow for a couple of years and I don’t remember a lot about that morning. I don’t even remember what I ate; I just remember I had a spider web tattoo drawn on my elbow in Sharpie from a trip to the bar the night before that scared our server. I didn’t remember that tattoo session either. Thankfully, it was temporary.

Last week, we both took the advice of our server and wound up ordering Chilaquiles (for me) and Fresh Strawberry French Toast (for her, which she’s still talking about). I’m a giant talker when we’re out somewhere eating, but I didn’t have much to say during brunch. It was seriously fantastic. Savory and spicy for me; sweet and syrupy for her — so, we were both happy. So happy that we decided to go back again this Sunday.

We only had to wait about 10 minutes, as opposed to the 20 we waited last week. Regardless of the wait time, I would have hung around. There’s a Dunn Brothers and a Corazon there to keep you busy if your wait is too long. This morning, they passed around samples of French toast to those of waiting in the foyer and outside. Once we got to our table, we knew right away what we wanted — the same thing we were going to try last week before our servers’ recommendation. I went with Breakfast Tostadas and the better half sampled the Killer Banana Waffles. The waffles came with a banana sliced down the middle and roasted. Roasted banana is genius.

Next time, I’m ordering three roasted bananas and a side of bacon. I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

And, of course, they’re on Facebook, too.

For reasons beyond my control, I was awake at 7am today (Sunday), and noticed that there are already people tailgating in the parking lot around the Metrodome. Tents set up, people donned in purple and gold, throwing footballs around…

Is this normal or just for the hardcore fans?

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Image uploaded by Chichlee

There’s been a bald eagle chillin’ like a villian at Lake Harriet and people can’t help but stop and stare.

I hear it’s been there everyday for the last week, go check it.

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I hate Black Friday. I was born on Black Friday, 1987 –probably a precursor to my penchant for purchasing. However, Black Friday sends moms into a frenzy for doorbuster deals and leaves me cold. I’d rather do my holiday shopping somewhere a bit less crowded, a little bit less JCPenney.

What I’m thinking is the Northeast Holiday Boutique Crawl on Saturday. Ten boutiques, from Parc to I Like You, are participating in this day-long event. Register to win a $500 shopping spree, get 20% off purchases, you know the deal. We know we’re supposed to shop as part of our civic duty — so says the president and Anna Wintour. Why not do it locally?

(P.S. Here’s a hint. Follow Parc Boutique on Twitter for more boutique crawl incentives.)

Yesterday a video circulated that allegedly showed several possible teenagers attacking pedestrians at random and today the story is
Police on the trail of attackers shown in YouTube video.

I ran across this video around 9am yesterday morning and chose not to post it for two reasons.

1) I felt it would bring out the racial trolls and create a hostile environment.
2) There is a chance it could be staged.

That said, Citypages posted the video under the inflammatory title City Pages hosts video yanked by punks who assaulted bystanders

Which I guess in and of itself is fine, but the comments that followed spill into several racially charged uses of the “N” word and several threats of violence and gun talk.

I can understand not filtering comments to allow free speech, but all speech has a limit.

I have to admit, I was bothered by the comments to the point that I had a hard time falling asleep last night and almost got out of bed to write this post, but I thought that maybe Citypages would clean them up by morning.

So tell me, has Citypages crossed the line?

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Today was the unveiling of the new Twins jerseys at the IDS center. They pretty much look like the normal jerseys, just with some tweaking of the lettering. Not quite as unique as the new Wild ones, but once they hit the pro shops, I’ll be grabbing one!

To bring them out, they had Denard Span and Scott Baker. I’ve never actually had the chance to talk with Denard before, but he has to be one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He took the time for some chit-chat, pictures and autographs.

I felt a little bad for Scott Baker at one point. Through the crowd noise I heard (and I’m sure Scott did too) someone say “Hey, there’s moonshot Scott”. I’m sure he wishes he had a cooler nickname than one that refers to the amount of home runs he gives up (nickname #2–Baker the home run maker). I didn’t get a chance to talk with Scott Baker though, he was busy with dozens of people trying to get an autograph–and hat’s off to him, he took the time to sign everything people gave him. Glad to have both these guys represent the team and DEFINITLY looking forward to some baseball next Spring!

Sorry I didn’t get a shot of Scott Baker with the jersey (it got crowded around the stage at that time).

Each November I look forward to my grandmother’s cooking, trying to not die on Black Friday (I work in retail) and seeing Happy Apple play not one, but two fabulous post-Thanksgiving shows.  It was becoming my own little holiday tradition.

I learned recently that the jazz trio will not be playing this Thanksgiving weekend.  To make matters worse, no one knows when or where they will play next.  By the way, If you have never listened to Happy Apple you should take the time to treat your soul and discover them.  

A few weeks ago I wanted to check on the details of their next show.  With no concert dates on their website or  myspace, I became deeply concerned and was in a foul mood for days.   I eventually decided to stop thinking about it and that perhaps they just hadn’t taken the time to update their websites in a while, it happens.

Then the following Friday, I saw saxophonist Michael Lewis out and about in Minneapolis.  I just had to ask him whether I was being paranoid or if in fact there were no upcoming shows.  He confirmed the latter and I returned to my sad state of mind.  

This isn’t to say the world is doomed never to hear Happy Apple live again, but simply that the group is comprised of three very busy and talented musicians with many places to go and things to do.  This Thanksgiving will not be quite as magical as it could be.

Delivering the news

While out for a morning bike ride I stopped and talked to this fellow biker who was delivering the paper.

He was a bit shy about having his pic taken “I can get off the bike. You don’t want a picture with an ugly old man in it” he offered which I rebuffed with “I don’t think you’re ugly, at all.”

We had a little chat about about biking: bike commuting, adult trikes, winter biking, tires and tire width and tire pressure and optimal tires for different conditions; turns out he bike commuted to work for twenty years.

Now in retirement he’s delivering the paper.

Sympatico.

Stores come and go in Gaviidae Common downtown, leaving open spaces in what could be prime shopping territory. For one reason or another, though, it doesn’t seem to be quite the Mecca it could be. However, the enterprising folks at MNFashion have set up their local holiday pop-up shop for a second year in the Nicollet building. They’re carrying lines like Calpurnia Peach (I just bought a dress from the ladies, who were in the midst of completing a huge order from Patina’s new local store, Shoppe Local), as well as jewelry and accessories. (555 Nicollet Mall)

Not to be outdone, St. Louis Park has The Guild, and the promise of designer goodies from my favorite Lyndale resale store June and gothy, chic housewares and pretty things from Luehmann means I’ll make the jaunt to stop by. (4414 Excelsior Blvd, SLP)

Reflection

SOTC has NEMAA Fall Fine Arts Show and an interesting conversation about the light rail, Gentrification Via Light Rail.

Minnpost has a must read with the judges talking – Small-fee case explodes: Minnesota justices direct judicial anger at Pawlenty and Legislature

the most remarkable piece of the package is raucous, angry concurrence by Justice Paul Anderson. Anderson sides with Magnuson, which makes his the deciding vote in favor of the deal. The license fee is necessary for the maintenance of “a civilized society,” Anderson says. But the price he exacts for his vote is a fierce lecture about how government ought to function. He ratifies the deal, then denounces it as necessitated by the “unfortunate impasse” between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the DFL Legislature. But “unfortunate impasse” is pale language compared to what happens when Anderson gets warmed up.

Seriously, read the entire article and the links.

Derusha has a great read on What is and what isn’t terrorism. Did you know there are 109 kinds?

Though, I don’t think cancelling interviews is one of the 109, nor is Friday the 13th, but Sanden of InTheLoop fame doesn’t need Friday the 13th or terrorism to feel the effects of a tough week.

Can we reschedule?

Well, it looks like today isn’t that unlucky for the IntheLoop’ers after all as they have a Joa Cao song going viral in Louisiana

What are you talking about?

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Twitter is a wonderful way to meet new people and often times those people can become quite close in the Social Media realm but wouldn’t it be nice to meet those people in real life?  That is what MSPTweetup was organized to be, a regular event for Twitter folks in the Twin Cities to mix and mingle at a local establishment to put faces to usernames.

The Thursday, November 14th MSPTweetup was a big success, held at the Bulldog Northeast and sponsored by IZEA’s Sponsored Tweets there was a huge turnout enjoying the tater tots and conversation.

Planned by Kareem Ahmed & David Dellanave it was one of the largest MSPTweetups. And then it happened. The special surprise guest arrived.  Dallas Mavericks owner and twitterer Mark Cuban arrived at the MSPTweetup. 

Twitpic of @kazeemy & @mcuban @bulldogne #msptweetup

@snyd043 & @mcuban @bulldogne #msptweetup