Normally, I’m not really into movies. I think most movies these days are stupid. When I do see movies, I’m partial to independent films. Most anything showing at the Uptown or the Lagoon I’ll probably like. At the Plymouth 12 or the St. Louis Park 6, not so much.

Despite all that, I agreed to go see a movie at Southdale on Saturday night. So this is not only seeing a “normal” movie, this is seeing a movie on a Saturday night. When errbody is out.

So we all know the scene. Having to park on the other side of the mall. Dropping one of your party off to get your tickets while you park. The long lines. The milling crowds. All that I can deal with. It’s annoying, but I get it. It’s crowded.

What got me was all the children. I swear, every pre-teen in Edina was there. The kids who are not old enough to do fun stuff that pay for whatever movie is left. Because I know all those 12-year-olds were not interested in seeing Prime. The kids who held entire conversations throughout the course of the movie. The kids who had their cellphones out the whole time, sending text messages. The kid in front of me with his Blackberry! I swear I looked between the seats in front of me and saw Outlook on the screen as his thumbs tap-tap-tapped away.

Kee-rist. The movie was actually not bad (I’d say wait for it to come out on DVD). For $8, though, I’d like a better theater-going experience. So I’ll go back to not going to the movies now.

Last night we pulled a coupon from the Happenings book, hoping to find a decent Chinese restaurant near our house. While the food itself was the same crappy stripmall Chinese cuisine that any of several hundred places in the TC make, the night was redeemed by seeing a gas sign displaying a price of $1.99. That’s less than $2 for those who don’t recognize a gas price without a “2″ in front. Who would have thought that 2 months ago? So, if your tank is low, get over to Robbinsdale and fill up (though we saw lots of $2.03 elsewhere).

And, if anyone knows where I can get decent Chinese in the Brooklyn Center/Fridley, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, etc. area, let me know. I want dishes where you can actually taste the difference between beef and pork, where there isn’t an oil slick on top of 25 different red sauces that all taste the same, where vanilla pudding from a can isn’t considered “dessert”, where MSG and cornstarch don’t outweight the meat, vegetables and rice, please let me know. We used to really enjoy Szechuan Star in Edina and Fotune House in Roseville, but aren’t particularly close to either any more.

I went to Antoine’s on Friday, the restaurant that was written about here a week or so ago, and it was delicious. I shared the gumbo and the catfish with my mom, and there was plenty for the two of us to share. We were greeted by the owner, and she was very attentive and friendly throughout the meal. Since my mom and I are both from the southern part of the US, we talked with her about what kind of stuff will be added to the menu. Cornbread is on its way, and it’ll be traditional southern cornbread. What you typically find in Minnesota is way too sweet and fluffy. More of a corn cake, really. This should be the real stuff. My mom is hoping they add okra to the menu soon. I definitely need to go back to try some more stuff.

If you head over this afternoon, they’ll have a cajun band playing. On Hennepin, just south of 28th. It’s delicious, I garowntee! (Sorry, about that - a little Justin Wilson showing through)

I saw Sober Cab last night, Nate’s play, at the Old Arizona. Very funny show. Now I wish I had gone to see the first version of it, a couple of years ago at the Brave New Workshop, so I could compare the recasting.

Tonight is the last performance, so get on out and see it. I think it was a full house last night, so get there early for tickets. It’s at 8pm, and directions are on the Old Arizona website. You can park on the south end of Nicollet, just past Pho Tau Bay, over the Greenway.

I’m heading over to the Walker at 3 for their Queer Film Showcase. It’s free and geared towards teens, partially organized by the boyfriend of a friend of mine. I’m hoping to talk to him afterwards about his involvement with the film programming at the Walker. I also want to check out the new theater there, since I haven’t been in it yet.

For the ladies who love ladies, Eleventh Avenue South has the scoop:

Savvy House Entertainment presents Lucy’s Reunion! Remember that dyke bar on Western that made the news when an off-duty St. Paul police officer beat up some lesbians for hitting on his wife? It’s the same one that closed a year or so ago, leaving Twin Cities queer women without a truly dykish space (although the Townhouse and Over the Rainbow are picking up some slack).

Next Wednesday, November 23, Lucy’s will be back for one night only in the same space with drinks, drag show, and dancing. It’s a $5 cover, the venue is 21+, and it’s located at 601 Western Ave N in St. Paul.

I didn’t have much of a life back then so I’ve never actually been to Lucy’s. I know, I know. Bad lesbian! Bad! I did go to the Metro once, though.

I’m actually more fascinated by Savvy House Entertainment. Looks like they put on some interesting events. Wonder what I have to do to get in with them?

So, Target is planning a ginormous development in Brooklyn Park. Great for Brooklyn Park. Sucks for Minneapolis.

I’ve never experienced the downtown office tower work environment, but I have been in the suburban corporate campus work environment. Both certainly have their perks. I guess as an individual, it’s more comfortable to be out on the corporate campus where your company caters to you like that. But overall, I’d rather see a business more integrated into the city.

Although, hell, most of the other huge companies in town have their corporate campuses out in the suburbs, so why should Target be any different?

The official headquarters and the current 10,000 downtown employees will stay right where they are. It’s the existing Brooklyn Park facility that’s getting expanded. Too expensive to build downtown. Faster and cheaper to build in Brooklyn Park.

Any guesses as to what the “two or more hotels” and “up to 3000 living units” planned for the development have to do with the Target Corporation?

(via Behind The Mortgage)

According to Checkbook Magazine, these are the top 21 primary care doctors in the TC. I couldn’t find a description of their criteria anywhere, so I have no idea what exactly makes these doctors the best.

I was looking for a doctor over the summer. A process I abhor. It had been three years since the last time I went and only once had I even seen a doctor in Minnesota. So I blogged about it and got a number of recommendations. I ended up picking someone female and young-ish off the list at the closest Park Nicollet clinic and that, fortunately, turned out really well.

Still need to go to the dentist. I have a list of recommendations there as well. Finding a doctor and dentist you like are even harder than finding a good mechanic!

On my way in to work this morning, I spotted a billboard touting the SEX and so much more Show. The Minneapolis Convention Center lists the event thusly:

Minneapolis “Sex & So Much More” Show
You MUST be at least 19 years old to attend thhis event.
11/17/2005 - 11/20/2005
Minneapolis Convention Center

The Sex and So Much More Show is an upscale consumer trade show that showcases everything and anything to do with sex, sensuality, romance, and self-improvement.

This stimulating show is exciting and alluring to an affluent, liberal minded audience.

Appearances by famous adult celebrities

Event Hours:
Thursday 3pm to 12 Midnight
Friday 3pm to 12 Midnight
Saturday 11am to 12 Midnight
Sunday 11am to 6pm

Admission: $20.00 (tickets available online)

For more information visit www.sexandsomuchmore.com

Contact Info:
Showcase Productions, Ltd.
888-268-0020

I’m as liberal-minded as the next audience member, but “affluent?” Sounds to me like overpriced sex toys would be the order of the day. “Self-improvement?” Is that code for boob jobs and penis enlargement drugs? I feel like I should go drop $50 bucks at the Smitten Kitten in protest.

There’s more political goings-on related to the smoking ban in Hennepin County. The People’s Republic of Radio reports this story:

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners will hear testimony Tuesday about the future of the county’s smoking ban ordinance. The board is considering relaxing its total ban on smoking in bars and restaurants to allow smoking in bars and private clubs. Some members of the hospitality industry say they favor a law that allows these exemptions. They say the county’s current law has created an uneven playing field for business. However, some say if this new proposal passes it will make it harder for legislators to agree on a statewide ban.

The idea behind the Hennepin County ban is that they thought the rest of the state would follow them. Then St. Paul enacted a compromise (some say half-measure) solution of allowing smoking in bars and clubs where more liquor than food was sold. Long story short: no statewide smoking ban.

We’ve seen Bloomington businesses suffer because their smoking ban, which matches Minneapolis’, wasn’t picked up by neighboring cities and counties, so people who wanted to smoke just took their business a few blocks away. Now that the mayor of St. Paul who passed their smoking ban has been voted out, so it should be interesting to see what happens.

So, what do you think the future of the smoking ban will be?