Just back from the British Virgin Islands and it was an awesome relaxing trip. We rented a 32 foot sailboat the Kurt captained. It had two bedrooms, 1 bath and was called Amethyst. The boat was very comfortable.

We set sail from Tortolla and visited Jost Van ****, Virgin Gorda sound (the bitter end) Anagoda, Peters Island - it was amazing. The water there is so blue you can see down to the bottom sometimes up to 30 feet. We snorkled and it was just like being in an aquaruium. We saw three sea turtles, lizards, hermit crabs as big as your fist and a TARANTULA which was creepy and big and fury.

Ellie and Kurt scuba dove which they both really like. We went to the islands where Elton Brown visited in the Food Networks show Feasting ON Waves. I even met Cecelia from one of the episodes who cooked with Elton. It was fun!

I read lots. A great book that I had missed and read was the Time Travellers Wife which made me sob at the end - I loved it and also the Girl with the dragon tatoo is a good mystery.

Food I ate:

2 lb fresh caught Anagoda lobster

Snapper, Mahi, Wahoo, Grouper

An amazxing Chicken Roti which is an island chicken curry stew with chick peas wrapped in a flour wrapper (like a tortilla but much thinner) that they serve with Mango curry - it was SO good.

BBQ, Ribs, Chicken, Fish

Lots of Conch Fritters.

Shrimp

It was all good. 

gabster.fm1071.com/stephanie 

 

I am not a big fan of getting tatoos for myself or frankly for my kid. My husbnand has one that looks like an old navy tatoo that he got when he was 19. Its fine, its a sun (sigh) and I bet he wished he didnt do it in retrospect.

With that said the art of tatoos is fascinating to me and I do love to talk to people that have tons - they say you get addicted. There was even a tatoo that a lady e-mailed me once of her mans Johnson. Flacid - it was like a worm, erect - it was like a serpeant and I am not kidding. It was actually strangely beautiful.

In any case - if you are going to get a tatoo - Here are the painful places you may want to avoid.

Getting a tattoo? Worried that it's going to hurt? You may want to consider where you're getting inked. If you have several tattoos, where did it hurt the most to get one? Here's a short list of the most potentially painful places for body ink:

• The eyeball. Believe it or not, some people do get permanent makeup inside the eye. The many nerves going into the front of the eye would make this an excruciating procedure without anesthesia. (Two other popular spots for permanent makeup -- the eye brows and lips -- are also painful, the lips especially so because of the many nerve endings located there.)
• The mons pubis. The pain of getting a tattoo down under runs a close second to the lips. There are a lot of nerves, which provide pleasure (as opposed to pain) under different cir****stances. If you try this in a tattoo parlor, ask for a cream.
• The top of the foot or ankle. Lots of women opt for tattoos in this area so the eye-catching designs will be visible when they're barefoot or wearing sandals during the summer months. But it's also ouch-inducing because of the absence of fat.
• Behind the ear. A tattoo here can be endearingly sexy. Just remember ladies, there's nothing in this spot but skin and bone -- and nerves (though not as many as on your lip surface).
• The chest (above your rib cage). If you're thin, this might be one time you'd be grateful for a layer of fat around your middle.The absence of padding makes this one of the most painful places for men to get a traditional tattoo.

 

 

I saw something yesterday that completely creeped me out. Chino Latino in Minneapolis apparently has the Peruvian delicacy "Guinea Pig" on the menu. My guess is that most people that run across this on the menu probably assume its a joke like I did but ...no...You can really get Guinea Pig roasted here in Minneapolis. They brought a sample in yesterday and I must admit I delighted in taking all my unsuspecting co-workers to the office coffee area where the roasted guinea pig was resting on his artfully decorated tray. I got many squeals and I must admit, the roast Guinea Pig had a smell that was hard to forget.

This will not make it past my lips.

See for yourself. 

Todd Walker got caught in transit yesterday and dint make the show but here is his always awesome weekend picks:

Enjoy!

 

 

Todd Walker

FOX 9

Weekend Hit List

December 18th - December 21st

 

Mall of America

Family Flicks 

Holiday shoppers are invited to take a break from shopping and see a free holiday classic film at the Theatres at Mall of America^TM. With the donation of a nonperishable food item for the Twin Cities Hunger Initiative, guests can see a complimentary holiday movie at 10 a.m. seven days a week now through Dec. 25.

• Dec. 12 - Dec. 18 "Elf"
• Dec. 19 - Dec. 25 "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" Holiday Classics

 

 

Events:

Winterskate at Rice Park - St. Paul - Daily

Free (to Wells Fargo checkcard holders) or $2 skate rental

The Wells Fargo WinterSkate is downtown Saint Paul's free, outdoor, artificially-chilled ice skating rink. Rice Park will capture the spirit of the holiday season with a tree as tall and bright as the iconic Rockefeller Center tree in New York City. The gigantic tree in Rice Park will be lit 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 2008/2009 tree will be lit with 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights. The park will sparkle with millions of twinkling lights, classic Nutcracker and angel statues, and other holiday décor.

 

Tubing at Buck Hill

    Sundays : 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (ends March 8)

    Saturdays : 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (ends March 8)

    Fridays : 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (ends March 8)

    Thursdays : 4 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (December 11 through March 8)

Price:  $15 day/ $13 night (2 hr. pass)

Winter fun for fans of windburn-snow tubing, the latest craze at Buck Hill.  Jump on the specially designed tubes, ride the lift to the top, and choose from one of several chutes to slide your way to the bottom.  Grab your tube, get on the lift, and do it again. If tubing down a snow covered hill isn't for you, sit back and relax by the campfire and enjoy some hot chocolate or a hot dog or fresh popcorn from our snack bar.

 

Ice skating at the Minneapolis Depot

The Depot - 225 Third Avenue - Minneapolis

It's fun, it's romantic, and it's warm in the winter.

Sundays : 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (ends March 1)

Saturdays : 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. (ends March 1)

 

Elsie's Restaurant, Bar and Bowling Center

Elsie's all-you-can-bowl

Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays : 9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.  612-378-9701 - 729 Marshall St. N.E.

Five nights a week, throw all the gutter balls you want at Elsie's $9 All-You-Can-Bowl. It includes shoes and as many games as you can handle. They also have cans of PBR and Olde Style for $2.50, to loosen you up before you bowl.

 

 

Holidazzle A Fairytale For All

Thursdays through Sundays November 28th through December 21st  6:30 PM on Nicollet Mall between 12th & 4th streets

 

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ELF AT MACY'S SANTALAND

Through Dec. 31: Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa's elves have arrived at Macy's. The annual holiday display "A Day in the Life of an Elf at Macy's Santaland" is open on the eighth floor of the Minneapolis store. North Pole vignettes show elves fetching Santa's mail and teaching reindeer to fly. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Sundays, Macy's Minneapolis, 700 Nicollet Mall; free; 612-375-5020.

 

British Television Advertising Awards - Walker Art Center

Sundays and Fridays : (December 5 through December 28)

Saturdays : (December 5 through December 29)

Daily (December 29 through December 30)

Price: $10 ($8 Walker members) 612-331-3889

The Walker Art Center presents multiple screenings of the 2008 British Television Advertising Awards.

You may ask us why it is reasonable to charge admission to watch commercials, but these are commercials are well worth the $10 ticket. The British Television Advertising Awards honors only the highest caliber spots on their liberal airwaves, some directed by film giants like Harmony Korine and Martin Scorsese. Many are thought-provoking, many are sexy, many are funny and all of the winners will be playing at the Walker Art Center this month.

 

Jackson Street Roundhouse

Santa's Train Shop Returns - 8th Annual Event

December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2008  10am-4pm

The Jackson Street Roundhouse is home

to Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, and all sorts of exciting holiday treats for the whole family.  Get your picture taken with Santa, tell him what you want this holiday season; take a ride on a real train, get up close with model railroads, including the Greater Midwest Lego  train layout.  

Adults $10, Children $8, Family $35 (2 adults & 2 to 4 children)

 

St. Paul's Phalen Park Holiday Lights

November 25 - December 31

A new holiday tradition is being added to St. Paul's Phalen Park. Holiday Lights in the Park is a drive-through exhibit of thirty-seven holiday-themed light sculptures created by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The tour is just over half-a-mile long, and proceeds go to various local charities. Tours run from 5:30-10:00 p.m. every night. Cost is $8 per car Sun. through Thur 5:30p.m. - 10p.m.

 

Holiday Flower Show - Como Zoo Park and Conservatory

December 6 - January 19

The Holiday Flower Show decorates the Sunken Garden with more than 1,000 poinsettias.  Como Zoo Park and Conservatory

 

Midtown Global Market - Saturday December 20^th  12-4

Midtown Global Market will host the 3rd annual Posada de La Hispanidad, special Latino Christmas celebration, from noon to 7 p.m.  The celebration will include traditional Mexican story telling, live music, activities and gifts for children.   Santa Joe will also visit the Market from noon to 4 p.m.

 

Mill City Winter Market

Mill City Museum - 704 S. 2nd St. - Minneapolis (Downtown)

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The wintertime version of the Mill City Farmers Market is equally inviting

 

 

Theatre

 

"Classic" Nutcracker

The O'Shaughnessy

    December 19 : 7:30 p.m.

    December 20 : 2 p.m.

    December 20 : 7:30 p.m.

    December 21 : 2 p.m.

    Daily (December 19 through December 21)

Price: $27-40 adults / $15 children / $19 seniors

Phone Number: 612-673-0404

 

Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy  - State Theatre

Minnesota Dance Theatre presents a classic Nutcracker-complete with live symphony orchestra-choreographed by MDT founder

805 Hennepin Ave.

Twin Cities MN 55403

612-339-7007

$29.50-$45.50

Fri. Dec. 19, 7 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 20 7 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 20, 2 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 21, 2 p.m.

 

SteppingStone Theatre

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

Daily 7 p.m. (ends December 23)

Price: $10 -$12

Phone Number: 651-225-9265

St. Paul's longest-running holiday tradition, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!", returns to the SteppingStone Theatre stage for a three-week run in the company's beautiful new theatre in the Historic Hill District.

The show, by Barbara Robinson, plays through December 23 and is directed by Benjamin Hanna, with musical direction by Jill James. How is it that "the worst kids in the history of the world" end up in this year's Christmas pageant? That's what the church ladies and Reverend Hopkins would like to know! And how do those unforgettable Herdman children miraculously turn what should be the worst show into "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"?

 

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914

Pantages Theater - 710 Hennepin Ave. - Minneapolis (Downtown)

December 18 : 7:30 p.m.

December 19 : 7:30 p.m.

December 20 : 2 p.m.

December 20 : 7:30 p.m.

December 21 : 1 p.m.

December 21 : 6:30 p.m.

Price: $25-35

Event Phone Number: 612-673-0404

All is Calm is based on real stories from an extraordinary time around Dec. 24 during World War I when men from opposing forces on the Western front lay down their arms in a spontaneous truce.

 

Irving Berlin's White Christmas - Ordway

December 2 - January 3

You know the classic story of two fame-hungry buddies who perform a holiday show at a Vermont Inn and find two lovely ladies to fall in love with along the way. What you may not know is that this blockbuster mega-show involves twelve semi-trucks full of props and equipment that took ten days to set up. The result: over-the-top holiday entertainment for all.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

345 Washington St., St. Paul ; 651-224-4222

 

Black Nativity - Hear Again the Christmas Story!  - Penumbra Theatre

November 28 - December 28

The Penumbra's annual holiday show is all about celebration, and includes many of the Twin Cities' finest singers and dancers, such as Yolande Bruce, Ginger Commodore, T. Mychael Rambo, and many more.

270 N. Kent St., St. Paul ; 651-224-3180

 

A Christmas Carole Petersen - Ordway

Acclaimed storyteller, Tod Petersen, conjures the ghosts of Yuletides past in this hilarious and heartwarming musical tribute to his Mankato childhood and the show's namesake-his mother, Carole.

Daily (ends December 21)

Price: $19.00

651-224-4222

 

Martini & Olives Silent Night Fever - Bryant Lake Bowl

December 28 : 7 p.m.

December 30 : 7 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays : 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. (ends December 27)

Price: $23 advance / $25 day of show  612-825-3737

They're back, they're beautiful and they're burning the yule-log at both ends!

It's Martini & Olive's 15th annual holiday celebration and they return to where it all started-the BLB!-with ridiculous medleys of music from the '70s, unbelievably funny dance numbers and very special guests (emphasis on "special"). Yes, Martini & Olive will give a funkified flu shot to that pesky ole Humbug.

 

 

Music

 

Celine Dion

Target Center - 600 First Ave. N. - Minneapolis

Thursday December 18^th  8 p.m.

 

Soul Asylum

First Avenue & 7th St Entry - 701 1st Ave. N. - Minneapolis

Friday  7:30 p.m. 18+

'90s multi-hit wonders Soul Asylum come back to their home, sweet home at First Avenue.

 

Mannheim Steamroller

Friday Orpheum Theatre - 910 Hennepin Ave. - Minneapolis

Mannheim Steamroller rolls on.

 

The Trashy Little Xmas

Saturdays : 9:30 p.m. (ends December 20)

Price: $12

612-338-9491

Lee's Liquor Lounge

It happens every year. As the holidays get closer every single store, supermarket and even parking lot lobby will not stop playing the same classic "Jingle Bells", "Let it Snow" and "White Christmas."

 

Sports

 

Saturday - December 20th

Timberwolves vs. Rockets

Target Center - 600 First Ave. N. - Minneapolis (Downtown)

7 p.m.

 

Friday - December 19^th

Wild vs. N.Y. Islanders

Xcel Energy Center - St. Paul

7:00 p.m.

 

Dinning on a Dime

Bar Abilene is putting the "duh" back in "deal" with 50 percent off all food and drinks from 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

 

 

 

 

Friday night was the annual cookie exchange at my house. I always look forward to this time of year as I get to get together with some girlfriends that I love to spend time with but only see a few times a year becuase of our schedules.

What we ate:

A delicious triple creme brie from Surdyks with a fig spread that was also purchased there and the big hit was the delicious Rustica crackers. They were pumperknickle with pistachio, rosemary and they were amazing with the cheese. We had quiche that I picked up from a Piece of Bread bakery on Selby that had the butteriest crust and was delicious. One of the gals made a dip that had a cream cheese base topped with ground chicken, carrots, cilantro and bbq sauce that you served with wheat thins that was yummy. Pigs in a blanket and sushi finished us off.

What we drank:

A lot. 5 bottles of CAVA (Spanish sparkling wine like champagne) that we mixed with Pama - pomegranite liquor and St Germaine - an elderberry liquor. Between the 6 of us 7 bottles of liquor were consumed. May I add that the hang-over on Saturday AM was a bit grueling?

The Cookies:

Spritz, frosted butter cookies, ginger cookies, haystacks, peppermint bark.

The Music:

Madonna, Janet Jackson, Prince, Ray Lamontangue, Jack Johnson, Lucinda Williams, Josh Stone

Its all good!