My Spring Beginning

         Towers of Flowers, the 2011 Macy's Flower show

What marks the start of Spring for me here in the Twin Cities is the annual Macy's Flower Show at the downtown Minneapolis store. Up on the 8th floor this pretty(and free event) is something I've been doing for about 5 years now. Here are some pictures from last year. I will be going to this year's show this week so, I'll have pictures of that soon as well. Plus, I have a new camera which I am very excited to use! 

My Patron Goddess of Music, a concert fairy tale Last Summer...

I was lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out Florence and the Machine show. I am completely in love with this woman and music. The concert was amazing and surreal, taking place outdoors in the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater. Set against a back drop of trees and water, the summer warmth created a mist that surrounded the show all evening. Florence Welch brough music back to life for me. Her vocals are astounding, sounding better live than all the studio stardust producers can pour into an album. Listen to Florence and the Machine and fall in dark, heady love.

I get to see her again in a month and I am beside myself with excitement.

Fairy Tales, mine and yours

I have been thinking a lot about fairy tales lately. I'm not sure specifically why. Maybe because I like the show Grimm so much and could the costumes on Once Upon a Time be more amazing? I've also always been a reader of fairy tales, old and new. I think they can really make you look at life in new ways. As I get older I've realized it becomes more and more important to have and seek out those fairy tale like days and nights.  I think I'm going to be regularly sharing my fairy tales both old and new with you. I'd like to start with a fairy tale weekend that took place Halloween 2010 at the House on the Rock http://www.thehouseontherock.com/. Easily one of most unique places in the world. It was a weekend hosted by Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite writers, in celebration of his book, American Gods. 

Besides, touring this astounding place there was a party, signings, costume contests and a panel with Neil- which for me was truly something special because my question was choosen to be addressed by him!

Here are some pictures from the weekend and believe me when I tell you this barely scratches the surface of this amazing place.

My fox mask is from here: http://shop.lorimarie.com/

My dress is from here: http://www.jeannienitro.com/

My necklace is from here: http://www.xses.net/

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

 “Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.”

Happy Birthday Edward Gorey! or E is for Edward...

Today is the birthday of one of my favorite writers and artists. I got to visit his home on Cape Cod, as many of my vacations have a tendecy to revolve around my favorite books and artists. :o) 

It was a beautiful day and very inspiring...If you ever get the chance-you should absolutely go! He was so interesting and would set up his characters before he drew them.  

Visit the website here:   http://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org/

45th Parallel Distillery, File Under "Food Science"

This past Saturday I had the very fun experience of visiting a vodka distillery in Wisconsin. It's located about an hour from where I live in Minnesota. It was a cool, little place with friendly people and a tasty product(or three).

You can visit as well, http://www.45thparallelspirits.com/

They have several unique distinctions including being one of the few distilleries that makes everything from scratch. The farm that grows their corn is right down the street and right smack on the 45th Parallel. They even get the lids for some of their bottles from a company next door as they try to keep everything they can local. I think that is really cool!       

Here our tour guide is giving us a little show of how they make the gin. Which, I liked quite a bit. It had a very light juniper flavor, a nice change as sometimes the juniper can be a little over whelming.

whiskeybarrels.jpg

The owners are moving into making whiskey. These barrels can also be used to make your own custom blend(if you can afford it that is).

I was quite happy to try the vodka and to take home a bottle of Midwest Gin and Madison Avenue Limoncello-the company's sweet addition and I'm pretty sure everyone on the tour bought a bottle as it is only available at the distillery. Yum! 

Elizabeth Warren for President!

Today Elizabeth Warren's facebook page contains this link.

You should read it and go to the letter.

Most of the organizations responsible for the economic crisis have yet to be held accountable and hide under the guise of the "free market" and "capitalism"-cleverly worded ways to behave unbound and with unethical practices. Everything is in place for it to happen again. Help stop yourself from being taken advantage of: read and sign the letter. Contact your representatives. America is for EVERYONE not just those of us who seem to be willing to step on everyone else regardless of what the consequences are to the country at large.

Chicago!

I have this somewhat strange habit of going to the same places over and over when I travel. I am trying to not do that too much anymore. One of those places is Chicago. I just love that town! I have been there no less than a dozen times!

If you ever get the chance to visit I can't say enough good things about the city. It has so much to offer. 

Occupy Geekery

The importance of the disclosure of Stephen Colbert's Super PAC is something we should all make note of-it's not being funded by corporations and has raised a million dollars from people like you and me.

That means we can fight back together and don't need to hide behind countless ill-gotten gains.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/stephen-colbert-super-pac_n_1243255.html

Additionally, President Obama's Super PAC is also not raising countless dollars from special interests. That said, his party fund raising -which has to follow stricter rules of limits and disclosures-is out pacing everyone in the Republican nominee field *by a lot*

http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-03/nation/31017520_1_super-pacs-pro-obama-fund-raising

The elections don't have to belong to any organization or business- if we don't let it. 

OMD was awesome. Twice last year.

Two times last year I saw OMD. This is a shot from their show in Chicago which was very good and lots of fun. However, it was nothing compared to the excitement and energy they brought to Minneapolis with them! They are now back in the studio working on new stuff. I was a fan before the shows now, I am a ~big~fan. They clearly adore their audiences.