Sorry I’ve been gone for a bit! New job, lots of biking and the surge of the Twins has kept me away from posting as much I should be.
One thing worth noting is a small, relatively small and unknown shop in the Galleria. At first walk by, most people would chalk Ampersand up to tableware and particular gifts. However, nestled in the back corner is a GREAT selection of Men’s grooming products. And not just your basic, daily needs. I’m talking a specialty in straight razors (more to come at the end of November) also. I’ve been in before for the Molton Brown shower gel, but they’ve expanded their men’s section to rival any other store in the Twin Cities. I took home a sample of peppermint shampoo and the next day I was back to buy the bottle. I’m pretty sure 90% of my drawer is full of things purchased at Ampersand. Not to make this a random plug for a spot, but I hope Ampersand sticks to this new niche of the market.

Ampersand Website

There is no better time to treat yourself to a massage than at the end of a long, cold winter, especially right now, as we’re in the midst of what seems like the dreariest week in the history of the world.  For a good massage at a great price, check out Circle Sage Healing and Massage in Burnsville.  They offer a special deal for first time clients – an hour-long massage for under $50 (you can find the printable coupon here).  To keep getting those deals, pre-book your next appointment while you’re there, or sign up for their email list and get a regular email with last-minute deals.

The best part: when you make your appointment, tell them what kind of massage you want and they’ll match you up with a perfect therapist for you.  You’ll leave feeling refreshed, renewed, and ready for spring.

Original image “Images from Foshay Tower and observation deck” uploaded by magickalrealism

Foshay Tower

The Foshay Tower, now the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel, is a skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Modeled after the Washington Monument, the building was completed in 1929 in the months before the stock market crash in October of that year. It has 32 floors and stands 447 feet (136 m) high, plus an antenna mast that extends the total height of the structure to 607 feet (185m). The building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, is an example of Art Deco architecture. Its address is 821 Marquette Avenue, although it is set well back from the street and is actually closer to 9th Street than Marquette.

Foshay. Say it. Say it again. Are you flirting with me?

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Image behind frozen minnehaha falls 1 Uploaded on January 30, 2010
by Dan Anderson whom writes

Behind the frozen Minnehaha Falls: Close to the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, the Minnehaha creek drops 53 feet off limestone bluffs creating one of Minnesota’s tallest waterfalls.

In the winter, the water freezes and you can walk behind a totally amazing wall of cascading ice

A frozen waterfall. How awesome is that?

Well, it’s Valentines Day weekend so love is in the air . . .I suppose. The wife made me watch Shakespeare in Love last night (as I surfed the web) and people at work are talking about making romantic plans.
Still need ideas? Citypages has The Wet Spot: Sexy V-Day gifts from the gas station

Sexy gift #1: Duraflame Giant Log ($5.99)

The first key ingredient in any erotic V-Day stew is setting the right atmosphere. With a Duraflame Giant Log, that special lady in your life will be all like, “Whoa, am I sitting by a real wood fireplace at a secluded cabin in the woods?” And you’ll be all like, “No baby, that’s a Duraflame Giant Log which I set on fire in my bathtub. Now watch me do some pushups without my shirt on.”

Whoever says you can’t buy love has obviously never enjoyed the sweet, sensual scent of a Duraflame Giant Log, available at your local Holiday gas station.

I couldn’t agree more, sexy firelog it is. I think I have a few stored away in the garage for a sexy occasion.

WCCO shows it could be worse

Speaking of sexy. The Vita.mn Hotness images are posted and SOTC has a 7 questions interview with Christian-Philippe Quilici that gets out of hand. Apparently CP and I are going to meet for lunch and start a gang, Ya’ll.

MPR’s Bob Collins has a great story on the Wrenshall girls basketball team learning a life lesson

The Wrenshall (Minn.) High School Wrens girls basketball squad is 0-14 this year, but that’s not the worst of it. The worst of it was when the story of their 65-0 loss to Moose Lake/Willow River in December made the Associated Press wire and they got to be the butt of jokes across the country. Funny stuff, unless you’re a hard-working kid in Wrenshall — population 386 and one German exchange student playing basketball for the first time.

True confession time, back in the day we used to break into the Wrenshall school and drink (mountain dew?) in the hallways. Why? I have no idea, but I can tell you back in the day those Wrenshall kids really knew how to throw a hot tub party. It helped that there was no police force in Wrenshall. The entire town knew how to get into that school, but no one ever did any damage. Also, the school pool parties were super fun. I’ve known a lot of Wrenshall kids, all good. End Confession.

Begin summer?

There’s a buzz and it’s about a new deadly mosquito.

Yup, love is in the air. Romance. Break ups Hook ups. Some real Romeo and Juliette type shit is going down so let’s close it out with Jeremy Messersmith performing “A Girl, a Boy, and a Graveyard”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLR9c8LyZww[/youtube]

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I went to the Vita.mn Hotness party last night, and it was immediately apparent why Mpls ranks as the 9th most vain city. There were hotties all around.

The winners of the Hotness Contest were revealed

 
I have to admit I have a few laments. The first being it was really really really loud. So I apologize for the sound on the video. The extreme noise also made it hard to mingle, schmooze, flirt, and get’cher groove on.

The other lament is not getting to meet Christian-Philippe Quilici.

Now, since I was one of the nominees you may expect my next lament to be not winning, but I have a confession. I didn’t even vote for myself. What can I say?

One the awesome side, the party was full of the beautiful people and I got to meet some very nice and totally cool hotties.

Also, me and my crew picked out our own two hotties, the best dressed and a guy standing next to us whom should be in the contest next year.

How many times can you spot Jason DeRusha?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoCocpZYqCo[/youtube]