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‘tis the
Season P L A N Y O U R H O L I D AY S
Southwest
NO V E MBE R 2 011
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Pre-Holiday Sale Great ideas for stocking stuffers, hostess gifts and gift giving. Includes glo and Tigi make up, Pureology, Redken, Big Sexy, OPI, Hempz, Bamboo, Lotions and much more! Hair feathers also on sale! Prebooking specials available!
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‘tis the
Season P L A N Y O U R H O L I D AY S
November, 2011 Holiday Extras A roundup of news and tips .............................................. 3 Seasonal Spirits: Drink ‘Local’ Craft brews, area wineries make ‘drinking local’ easy ....... 4 Gift Ideas: Holidays 2011 Five options for this season of giving ................................ 7 Design and Décor: Bright Lights, Festive Feelings Check these trends in holiday lighting ............................... 8 Entertaining: Big Parties, Small Spaces When the crowd is large, and your house isn’t ................ 10
Advertising Sales Director Jennifer Sorenson
Editor Angelo Gentile
Designer Renee Fette
Contributing Writers Kristin Holtz, Sarah Tieck, Stacey Wittig
’Tis the Season is produced by: Southwest Newspapers 327 Marschall Road, Suite 125 PO Box 8 Shakopee, Minnesota 55379 Advertising Information 952-345-6477 Content Information 952-345-6676 or agentile@swpub.com
Iris Valley is all Decked Out for Christmas We offer a unique variety of Home Accessories, Seasonal Decor, Purses, Jewelry, Clothing, Scarves & much more.
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November 17-19, 2011
Holiday Extras Small Business Saturday supports local economy After the Thanksgiving turkey has settled, start your holiday shopping by supporting the small businesses in your community by participating in Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26. You know, the day after Black Friday. Small Business Saturday is a national drive encouraging shoppers to fuel their local economy by skipping the mall and shopping local. The second annual event is sponsored by American Express, which offers card members a $25 credit for spending at least $25 at qualifying small businesses. For more information, visit Smallbusinesssaturday.com.
Unusual table tips Try some uncommon approaches to decorating your holiday tables this year, says
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Ashley Fox of Ashley Fox Designs. She was featured in the November 2011 issue of “Savvy.mn� magazine, and offered a wide range of tips. Here are two:
Samsung Galaxy Nexus: The first member of the Android smartphone family to run on its much ballyhooed Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 operating system is the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It should arrive just in time for the holidays. U.S. price has not yet been disclosed.
Go edible. Use what you have on hand with minimal cost and minimal effort, Fox says. “I’ll take a bowl, fill it with pears and a sprig from the Christmas tree for green. Then you can eat it for dessert with a cheese plate.� Change colors. If you don’t want to do red and green for the holidays, try a light blue, green and silver theme for your mantle, Fox suggests. “At the local tree lot, buy juniper greens with blue-tinted berries. Place them in a bowl with water so they don’t dry up.�
Gadgets top gift lists Yahoo recently profiled the top indemand gadgets for this holiday season. Here’s a sampling: iPod Touch: As Yahoo muses, “If kids
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May you be blessed as this beautiful season unfolds its message.
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Seasonal Spirits
Drink Local
Craft brews, microbreweries and area wineries make ‘drinking local’ easy. By Stacey Wittig
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hether celebrating the holidays with family, toasting in the New Year or simply gathering with friends during long winter nights, serving locally crafted spirits, wine and beer can fortify your merry making. “When entertaining for the holidays, I always serve
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food and—this is my secret—I get a drink into my guests’ hands as soon as they walk in the door,” reveals Nan Bailly, hostess extraordinaire at Alexis Bailly Vineyard in Hastings. She starts with festive champagne cocktails. One of her guests’ favorites is a mix of her own Bailly Solaris, a brandy-based desert wine; champagne; and apple, ginger and sparkling pear juices. A slice of Honeycrisp apple and sprig of mint garnish the cocktail for a real holiday welcome.
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Seasonal Spirits “Blending gets the alcohol down to about 7 percent so people can enjoy more than one drink. I want to be sure that when my friends get in their cars and are driving home, they haven’t had too much to drink,” says Bailly, who also recommends mulled local wines for holiday cheer. For spices, Bailly suggests star anise, cinnamon and black cardamom that adds smoky flavor. “Don’t overdo it on the cardamom,” warns the winemaker who earned her stripes in Côtes du Rhône, France. “We see a continuing trend of people looking for value across the board in spirits, wine and beer,” says Michael Grabner of Century Wine and Spirits in Chanhassen. “This year, Cosmos and Lemon Drop Martinis are passé. I’d recommend something with pomegranate for the color.” For a pretty Pomegranate Martini, add a dash of tonic and a splash of Cointreau to one
Drink local with their help: Alexis Bailly Vineyard - 18200 Kirby Avenue, Hastings, 651-437-1413 http://abvwines.com Century Wine and Spirits - 2689 West 78th Street, Chanhassen, 952-401-9463 http://centurywine.net Crofut Family Vineyard - 21646 Langford Ave. S. (on Hwy. 13), Jordan, 952-4923227 http://www.crofutwinery.com Crow River Winery, 14848 Highway 7 East, Hutchinson, 320-587-2922 www.crowriverwinery.com
part vodka and three parts sweet pomegranate juice. Make it “local” by using Prairie Organic Vodka (Benson) or Shakers Vodka (Blaine). “Traditional wine with turkey would be rose or some kind of white,” recommends Brad Nilles,
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Dolce Vita Wine Shop - 3115 Chaska Blvd., Chaska, 952-361-0044 www.dolcevitawine.net Mantorville Brewing Company, LLC - 101 East Fifth Street, Mantorville, 651-387-0708 http://mantorvillebeer.com Northern Brewer - 1150 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-223-6114 www.northernbrewer.com Parley Lake Winery - 8350 Parley Lake Rd, Waconia, 952-442-2290 www.parleylakewinery.com Seven Hawks Vineyards - Fountain City, WI, 866-946-3741 www.sevenhawksvineyards.com
owner winemaker at Seven Hawks Vineyards. “I love turkey but it is relatively bland–you need a light white like our Smiling Moon, a blended white wine made from estate-grown Frontenac Gris and Prairie Star grapes.” If someone is
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Seasonal Spirits begin to come out more in the front and the middle of the beer with it finishing a beautiful balance of smoked aroma and flavor.” Find the porter at the Mantorville Brewery or request it at your local liquor store. With Beer Advocate’s A- rating, this smoky porter – Minnesota’s first – is sure to impress.
having ham, which is another holiday tradition, Nilles says his vineyard makes an apple wine out of 100 percent local apples. “Ridgetop Apple is absolutely delicious with any kind of pork.” Jen Antila of Parley Lake Winery, says Brianna Breeze and Apples and Vines pair fabulously with holiday favorites. For New Year’s Eve, Antila’s favorite ritual is a beautiful wine dinner, dessert and dancing. “Our port-style dessert wines fortified with brandy get me kicked off and ready to dance,” says the tasting room manager. No time to bake a pie? No worries, Crow River Winery just released their Pumpkin Spice wine. “It is pumpkin pie in a bottle,” says Mike McBrady, owner. Local brewers are also releasing seasonal flavors to spice up your holiday get-togethers. Watch for Summit Winter Ale from Summit Brewing Company (St. Paul), ebony-hued Smoke Lager from Surly Brewing Company (Brooklyn Center), Old Man Winter Warmer from Lake Superior Brewing Company (Duluth) and Biscotti, a yummy delight inspired by a Lift Bridge Beer Company (Stillwater) brewmeisters’ grandmother’s holiday biscotti recipe. Tod Fyten, a pioneer in the craft brewing movement, recommends a snifter of Stagecoach Smoked Porter with a hearty pot roast marinated in the same. “The beer goes wonderful with it, served at about 35 – 38 degrees. As the brew warms up the smooth chocolate and caramel malt flavors
Playing on the Main Stage!
Michael Dawson, manager at Northern Brewer, Ltd. says “Just like our local craft brewers, home brewers have seasonal beers too. Anything big—and usually malty and dark—is like liquid cheer for the cold temps and long nights of a Minnesota winter. “Specifically for the holidays you’ll sometimes find the same spices in your beer that you do in the holiday food: for example nutmeg and cinnamon and pumpkins in both pumpkin pie and pumpkin ale, or mulling spices and citrus in dark, strong Christmas beers.” Dawson advocates brewing your own, too, of course. “In our stores and on our website, we see a lot of homebrew starter kits given as gifts at this time of year, but to cop a cliché, brewing your own beer is the gift that keeps on giving. A lot of our customers and our staff as well, brew a batch or two specifically to give as gifts or to share with family at holiday gatherings. It’s a really nice—and economical—way to share something unique and handcrafted with your loved ones and fellow revelers.” Stacey Wittig is a freelance writer who blogs about food, drink and travel at www.vagabondinglulu.com
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Gift Ideas
Holiday Gifts 2011 Five options to consider during this season of giving By the Staff of ’Tis the Season
W
e originally set out to do a list of favorite gifts for men and women and then decided that both men and women would enjoy all of the gifts on our list. So, during this holiday season, as you hunt and gather ideas for your shopping list, here are a few options for you to consider. Happing hunting!
iPad2 This is the hottest gadget on earth right now, and, so, of course, the hottest Christmas gift, too. Apple has done it again. As we report in our Holiday Extras news brief section, elsewhere in this issue of “’Tis the Season,” prices start at $499.
Capresso Mini Espresso Machine You know you love your daily latte, but, man, that stuff gets expensive. And, indeed, these are challenging economic times. Fear not. Whip up delicious lattes and cappuccinos right at home with the Capresso mini espresso machine. This is available for $89.99 at jcpenney.com.
Dell Mini Netbook This baby is nice and tiny—perfect for airplanes, coffee shops, etc. It has a 10.1-inch widescreen and built-in webcam with microphone for video chatting with friends and family. Prices vary, though Bestbuy.com recently listed it for $449.99.
A spa day out of town Okay, enough with the gadgets already. How about a thoughtful gift that gets at your own personal well being, something less digital and more—human? Consider a gift card for the Birdwing Spa in Litchfield, about 70 miles west
of the Twin Cities. Rated as one of the best all-inclusive North American “ destination spas” by various magazines, Birdwing offers numerous massage options, detoxifying mud treatments, vitamin C facials, and more. Plus, the spa is located on 300 acres of pristine woodlands with ponds and private lakeshore— an inviting, natural setting of unspoiled beauty. Prices for spa packages and frequent specials vary. Visit Birdwingspa.com.
Local vines Local vineyards are excellent sources for gifts, reports “Edible Twin Cities” magazine in its Winter, 2011 issue. Beyond their varied selection of wines, a gift card from wineries would be a good option because many also offer special events throughout the year such as grape stomps. Several local spots include: Saint Croix Vineyards in Stillwater, Forestedge Winery in Laporte, Morgan Creek Vineyards in New Ulm, Seven Hawks Vineyards in Fountain City, Wisconsin, and Crofut Family Vineyard in Jordan.
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Design & Décor
Bright Lights, Festive Feelings Check these trends when planning your holiday lighting By Kristin Holtz
over heat.
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These lights “enable us to do bigger projects and bigger trees than we could ever do several years ago,” says Schlosser, whose team uses a lot of C9-sized LED lights. “Before we could never do a 60-foot evergreen, today we can now do a big, huge tree with one outlet with no problem.” LED lights are more expensive than their incandescent counterparts, Schlosser says. However, if you’re looking for lights that will last year after year, they are a great option.
for 13 years, designs the lighting based on clients’ needs. For Snow Birds who only want their lights up for a few weeks, he recommends traditional reds and greens. For clients planning to keep their lights up through winter, he prefers whites, blues and cool lights.
Leaving lights up longer
What’s popular
ow a homeowner lights up his or her home for the holidays all depends on personal style.
“Some people love the Griswold look,” says Rod Criego of Christmas Décor in the Twin Cities, referencing the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” And others “really like a traditional, streamlined look. Just have fun with it and create what you enjoy coming home to each night.”
LED options LED lights have revolutionized outdoor decorative lighting in recent years, says Rob Schlosser, owner of Custom Christmas Lighting in Chanhassen. The bulbs use 85 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and produce bright, intense colors in hundreds of hues. They’re also more durable and don’t
Another trend, Schlosser notes, is people wanting their Christmas lights up longer. People now want their lights up right after Halloween through February, he says. “Instead of just doing it for Christmas, they now do it for four or five months throughout the winter.” Schlosser, who has been hanging holiday lights
Ten years ago, icicle lights were all the rage, but people have moved away from them because of their look and tendency to wear out, Schlosser says. “Total Landscape Care Magazine” notes in its September issue that animated light shows are growing in popularity. The shows sync light
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Design & Décor to music for a f lashy performance. Christmas in a Box, a plug-and-play light controller, is an easy way to turn your display into something special. Schlosser and his crew will decorate more than 400 houses this season. His company works a lot with lighted garland and large, artificial wreaths. Once in awhile he’ll get a client requesting reindeer, but he steers away from blow-up decorations and blinking or multi-color lights. “We keep it really classy, mostly solid colors and a lot of clear white lights,” Schlosser says.
On a budget
How to decorate outdoor trees Rob Schlosser of Custom Christmas Lighting in Chanhassen offers these tips for hanging lights on your trees: Beware of power lines. Skip the bottom two feet so the lights are not buried in snow and short out. Hook into branches so wind can’t bring strands down. Limit the number of strings plugged together.
For homeowners on a budget, Criego recommends starting with the house rather than the yard; you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck. When decorating outdoors, don’t forget to accent with daytime décor, like garlands and wreaths with big bows.
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“That gives you an opportunity to get the festive look with your home in the daytime, as well as at night,” Criego says. “Garland also does a great job of highlighting the entryway into the house.”
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Entertaining
Big Parties, Small Spaces
When the crowd you expect is large, but your house isn’t By Sarah Tieck
W
ith holidays come parties. But, for people who have small homes, it can be a challenge to open your home to friends and family and maintain that merry feeling. We went to the pros for some strategies on how to truly welcome friends and family if the crowd you expect is large, but your house isn’t.
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Entertaining begins with food for Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan, founding editor of ApartmentTherapy.com’s TheKitchn.com and author of “Good Food To Share” (August 2011). When she hosts people for a meal, she sees it as a gift to them—a way to nourish their bodies and their spirits, especially during the stressful holiday season, when many people simply want to hide. “When you are feeling good, that energy goes straight into the food,” Gillingham-Ryan says. “I really try not to do things I don’t want to do.” In other words, a full tummy means a happy guest, even if that guest might feel a bit cramped for space.
Form and functions With a small space, you need to plan to make more of your decor—choose a punch bowl that can serve as a centerpiece. Or put a bit of extra work into the table setting so it can also help set the scene for the event. The key? Don’t waste space on useless objects. “Whatever you’re going to put on display should also be functional,” says Amy Zaroff, Amy Zaroff Events + Design based in Edina.
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952-440-3900 November 17-19, 2011
cleaning off all the surfaces so people have a place to set a glass or a plate. “Get rid of all the knick-knacks,” says Betsy Sangrene, ASID, CID, and owner of B. Kahler Designs, LLC, based in Shakopee. “Make the things you have accessible for perching on.”
Reduce, reuse, recycle Look around your house for items that can be repurposed for your party. Flower vases or apothecary jars are rich with possible uses. “They can be vases, they can be serving pieces, they can be giveaways,” Zaroff says.
Celebrate the Holidays at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center!
Shop smarter When purchasing party supplies, think cheap and think future. The Target dollar bin is filled with treasures—simple and inexpensive items with multiple uses. There are always some small, seasonal pails, Zaroff says. And, spending $10 buys many possibilities—10 bud vases, 10 candy bowls, 10 giveaways, or 10 ways to hold arts and crafts supplies. “The more stackable items you get the better,” Zaroff says. “You want to repurpose and reuse every time.”
Nov 11-20
Chameleon Theatre Circle’s “We Gather Together”
Dec 2-18
Chameleon Theatre Circle’s “25th Annual Putnam County County Spelling Bee”
Dec 2 & 3
Lorie Line “Christmas Bells are Ringing!”
Dec 4
Dakota Valley Symphony “Amahl and the Night Visitors”
Dec 9-11
Twin Cities Ballet of MN “The Nutcracker”
Dec 19
Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience
Dec 20
Girl Singers of the Hit Parade Christmas Show
Dec 30
BoDeans
Dec 31
Louie Anderson “Laugh Out Loud New Year’s Eve”
Share the fun Make preparation part of the party. As an apartment dweller, GillinghamRyan’s kitchen and living room and eating area all occupy the same space. To make hosting easier, she’s designed her kitchen to support more than one work station by purchasing extra cutting boards and tools. And, she plans to cook with her guests involved with the hands-on preparation. Gillingham-Ryan scans the invite list and lightly plans ahead. One favorite strategy is to save tasks for certain friends, keeping their interests in mind. Gillingham-Ryan is known to assign a piece of the dinner prep involving a cooking skill she knows a friend wants to learn.
Theme-o-rama “Even if you don’t think you have a theme, you have a theme,” Zaroff says. Some common anti-theme themes include food and color. So, since it is there, why not be intentional and use it to inspire your entertaining. Zaroff says it isn’t too hard to do — for example, people often make changes at the New Year. So, a New Year’s Eve party theme might be the Mahatma Gandhi quote: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” The quote could go on a party invitation and you could have guests bring a dish to share that they’ve changed a bit, or have them dress up as the change they wish to make. “It’s just being [prepared and planning and thinking] ahead and being creative,” she says.
Stress less Let’s face it: holiday cooking can be a chore. So, have guests contribute dishes that have some meaning to them or offer a neat experience for the other guests. Gillingham-Ryan often asks a Persian friend to bring traditional Persian dishes to dinner parties—it is a chance for her friend to connect with her heritage while offering a unique treat and cultural lesson for other guests. “You’re always learning from people,” Gillingham-Ryan says.
Decorate smart Scale your tree to the space and the requirements of the season — meaning, take out your calendar before you hang a single ornament. If you are planning to host a big gathering, you may want to choose a tree that fits on a table. Sangrene says her tree is on the deck outside. Gifts sit by the door, framed by garland, lights, and ornaments. The outside tree feeds the birds and critters through winter and offers a fun, family tradition. “We make bird-friendly ornaments,” Sangrene says. Sarah Tieck is a Burnsville-based freelance writer.
www.burnsvillepac.com
Tickets: In person at the BPAC Box Office, via Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787 or Ticketmaster.com
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November 17-19, 2011
Page 11
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