I just stepped in a big pile of sassy!

Yesterday I:

*Ventured out to the new Minneapolis library.
It’s gorgeous, but could use a map/directory (other than the paper one they handed out).
It was fun to see a library so HUGE, packed with eager/excited folks.
*Went to the Q Library 20th anniversary party. This party was in connection with the GLBT ALMS Conference. Quite fun.
*Checked out the new Chatterbox (in St. Paul). Looks nice on the inside - far more suburban than the Minneapolis Chatterbox, attracting a largely family-focused crowd. The wait staff were a bit rude and frazzled, and to be honest I prefer the surly staff at the Mpls. Chatterbox to the snippy teenybopping staff at the new place. Aaah well. At least the joint looked nice (and almost too clean, which sounds strange for a restaurant, but damn that place was sparkling). Too bad my butt couldn’t stay put (or comfortable) in their high-top seats.

I forgot about this -
A new Chatterbox Pub opened up in St. Paul.

It’s where that Perkins in Highland Park used to be.
That Perkins was EVIL.
Seriously, their managers were nuts.

It looks kinda *fancy* for the Chatterbox, but I’m sure I’ll check it out at least once.

Aaah good games, greasy food, beer.
That’s livin’ the high life.

I was recently the Calhoun Commons Ben & Jerry’s at which I was subjected to a 10 year old girl repeatedly asking the scooper - “Is it Kosher?” “Is it Kosher?”
And her mom was all proud of her for asking…
Reminded me of vegetarians (of which, yes, I am a member of that club) asking, “Is there meat in that?”
Over and over and over.

Is that chair Kosher?
What about the spoons?
How about your hair?
Kosher?

*kick kick*

A bowl of cereal plus freezerburned (microwaveable) pretzels do not make “a balanced meal.”
In fact, they (especially the pretzels) make for a pretty unappetizing dinner.
Live and learn.

There’s a new Starbucks a few blocks from my house.
It just opened.
And it has a DRIVE-THRU.

It’s the only one that I know of in the twin cities (it’s mere INCHES from Minneapolis) with a drive-thru.
Too bad their coffee tastes like badly burnt beans!

I can’t imagine drive-thru coffee being a good idea.
I wonder if with every cup they’ll have to hand out a giant slip of paper that says,
“Hey genius who’s drinking our unbelievably HOT COFFEE while driving:
Don’t burn yourself, please.
And if you do burn yourself, please try your best not to crash into anyone or anything. Thanks. Hope you don’t sue us.
Mocha flavored x’s and o’s,
Starbucks.”

I just got home from the B.B. King show.
He’s such a ham - I love that guy.
I went, with my family, to celebrate my dad’s 57th birthday.
It was a great time.

Now I’ve got a big ‘ol beer buzz going on and must head to bed - soon!

For a recap -
We went to The Local for appetizers (dessert!) and drinks (I highly recommend their Irish Coffee) before the show.
Then we went to the show, where I was very underwhelmed by Keri Noble’s opening performance as well as the squeaky-voiced auctioneer whose tuxedo pants were WAY TOO LONG (not that I’m complaining. ;). It was a benefit event. We were not informed.
After the show, we tried to head to Tryg’s for drinks (they were closed for a private event), then tried Mojito (also closed - maybe for good? - I’d never been there) and then ended up at McCoy’s Public House. Tasty…. beer…
What a weird name for a bar/restaurant - “public house?” Is that like a fancy pants hostel with food and drink?

I first saw B.B. in 2002 - the man has not missed a beat!
80 years old and rocking my socks off for nearly two hours.
Right on man, right on.

I’ve had the most un-Minnesotan weekend so far - a friend and I were hit on by a plethora of punk rock pretties @ Twilight (so forward!) and generally scoped to the max (yo) all night long on Friday. Tonight, I visited two places I’d never been.
It’s been quite the weekend - I wonder what tomorrow has in store…

It is so way past my bedtime.
Nite!

There’s this new restaurant/bakery in my area, “Yum!”
It looks super cute and this one and I thought we’d check it out for some brunch action today.
Well, their breakfasts consist of rolls/muffins and coffee type beverages.
Not so much a meal.
And their lunches and dinners focus heavily on meat dishes.
They have fancy steaks, frou frou chicken dishes, and I think I saw something with tuna.
For vegetarians who want to eat lunch or dinner? A measly grilled cheese sandwich (I could make that at home!) and some really scary looking (on the menu, at least) fake hot dog dish.

I’m frustrated.
The place is brand new and close to home.
If I want a *real breakfast* or brunch, it’s a no go.
And obviously lunch and dinner are all but out of the question.

You’d think in a heavily Jewish area very close to a heavily hippie area they’d be down with the veggies and the Kosher goodness.
Sadly, they are not.
Save the fancy tastiness for the meat eaters and leave the leafy greens for the vegetarians, but nothing more.
I’m definitely bummed and hope they update their menu… eventually…

I got booted!

Today I went out for breakfast with my brother at the CC Club.
I have a long history with the CC Club - or rather, my father does. He and his older brother CRASHED INTO THE PLACE back in the 60’s. It was winter, they were drinking (underage) - combine the ice with the alcohol and boom. My uncle (the driver) crashed them right into the club.
It makes for a great story - and I probably tell it every dang time I drive by the place, to whomever is in the car with me.

Anyhoo, I went there for the first time a week ago with my friend Reanne. This morning I went (my second time), with my brother Marc.
I parked in the lot (next to the French Meadow) and headed in.
Breakfast was super tasty (and cheap!) and afterwords my brother walked me to my car.
When we arrived at the car I saw the boot - I’ve never been booted before.
I freaked out a bit (on the inside) and headed back in to the bar.
“I was just eating here - I didn’t see the sign!”
(the sign on the door that says to pick up a “parking voucher” upon entering the restaurant if you park in the lot)
The bartender was super sweet, called the boot guy, and handed me a parking voucher to keep in my car for next time.
Awesome.
The boot guy promptly removed the boot and off I drove.
Sadly, there was a sticker affixed to my window that left a nasty stick-um residue. I’ve gotta get rid of that.

If you get booted, it costs $99 and some change to get it removed.
Be warned - if you go to the CC Club - get a parking voucher!

Tonight Stacia and I had dinner at Azia (26th & Nicollet in Minneapolis).
I hadn’t eaten there since my birthday (in April), mostly because it’s spendy.
But, it’s cute.

All the good eatin’, however, was also for a good cause!
Thanks to mnspeak, I learned that Azia’s owner would be donating all profilts from last night and tonight to the Red Cross’ disaster relief fund for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
So I get a full belly and get to help out folks down south? - I’m all for it!

Needless to say, it was tasty as heck (and I have left-overs for tomorrow) and our waitress gave us FREE DESSERT because our food took so long.
Nice.

The white chocolate is worlds tastier than the milk chocolate, FYI.

1) Caribou Coffee now sells a Vegetable Foccacia sandwich with Tofurky in it.
How did I find this out, you ask?
Well, I ordered the vegetable foccacia expecting cheese, tomatoes, and bread - when, to my surprise, I bit into a meat-like-substance. Being the die-hard vegetarian that I am, I freaked out a bit (I know, I know) and showed my sandwich to the worker (Barista? Hardly.), who looked confused and then the other person working said, “It’s Tofurky.” I didn’t believe her. However, I decided to give in a bit and read the (2pt font, I swear it was so tiny) label. And, yes. It’s Tofurky. Those kids at Tofurky must be rakin’ in the dough *ahem* after hooking up with Caribou.
It wasn’t very tasty.
Perhaps they’ll improve on their recipe in the future.
So, veggie heads, if you’re hungry and needin’ some protein on the go - head on over to Caribou for a lunchtime sandwich.
Perhaps you’ll find it tastier than I did.

2) Damn.
I can’t remember the second thing.