Tistheseason_11-2011

‘tis theSeasonP L A N Y O U R H O L I D AY S

DESIGN & DÉCOR | EN T ER TA INING | GIF T GI V ING

SE ASON A L SP IRI TS | HOL IDAY E X T R AS

SouthwestNEWSPAPERSNOV EMBER 2011

You can now text your appointment requests to 612-600-80781226 E. 4th Avenue Suite 120 | Shakopee | 952-496-33311226 E. 4th Avenue Suite 120 | Shakopee | 952-496-3331

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November 17-19, 2011Page 2

November, 2011Holiday ExtrasA 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 FeelingsCheck these trends in holiday lighting ............................... 8

Entertaining: Big Parties, Small Spaces When the crowd is large, and your house isn’t ................ 10

Advertising Sales DirectorJennifer Sorenson

EditorAngelo Gentile

DesignerRenee Fette

Contributing WritersKristin Holtz, Sarah Tieck, Stacey Wittig

’Tis the Season is produced by:Southwest Newspapers327 Marschall Road, Suite 125PO Box 8Shakopee, Minnesota 55379

Advertising Information952-345-6477

Content Information952-345-6676 or [email protected]

‘tis theSeasonP L A N Y O U R H O L I D AY S

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Page 3November 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 participat-

ing in Small Business Saturday on

Nov. 26. You know, the day after

Black Friday.

Small Business Saturday is a

national drive encouraging shop-

pers 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 Smallbusiness-

saturday.com.

Unusual table tipsTry some uncommon approaches to deco-

rating your holiday tables this year, says

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:

Go edible. Use what you have on

hand with minimal cost and mini-

mal effort, Fox says. “I’ll take a bowl,

fi ll 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 listsYahoo recently profiled the top in-

demand gadgets for this holiday season.

Here’s a sampling:

iPod Touch: As Yahoo muses, “If kids

love anything more than video games, it’s playing

them on the go.” Expect to pay $150

to $200.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus: The fi rst

member of the Android smart-

phone 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.

iPhone 4S: Apple says this model was the com-

pany’s most successful phone launch to date.

Yahoo: “As far as its demand for the holidays, it’s

the newest iPhone. Enough said.” Prices range

from $200 to $400 each.

Kindle Fire: This is, Yahoo says, “an affordable

and respectable alternative” to Apple’s iPad 2.”

This tablet reader is priced at $199.

iPad 2: This is the king of tablets, so expect

Apple to reign supreme this Christmas, says

Yahoo. Prices start at $499.

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By Stacey Wittig

Whether 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

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.

Seasonal Spirits

Drink LocalCraft brews, microbreweries and area wineries make

‘drinking local’ easy.

www.dolcevitawine.net

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Located in the historic Chaska Depot,corner of 41 & Chaska Blvd.

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Premium Spirits Open HouseThursday, November 17th 5 – 8pm

Come in and sample the good stuff: Single Malt Scotch, Cognac, super premium gin, run and tequila, cordials and more.

Day Before Thanksgiving Super Wine TastingWednesday, November 23rd New vendors every two hours starting at noon.

Great opportunity to try before you buy and fi nd that perfect wine for your holiday meal.

Mark Your Calendar for these fabulous and FREE Thanksgiving Events!

Buy one bottle of our Wine of the Week at the regular price and get

a second bottle for only

Quantities are limited. Coupon expires 12/1/2011.

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Small Business SaturdaySaturday, November 26th

Register your American Express Card and receive a $25 credit just for shopping at Dolce Vita!

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where you can fi ndwhere you can fi ndsomething for everyone!something for everyone!

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Look us up on facebook, we postdecorating ideas and specials weekly.

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“Blending gets the alcohol down to about 7 per-

cent 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 recom-

mends mulled local wines for

holiday cheer. For spices, Bailly

suggests star anise, cinnamon

and black cardamom that adds

smoky fl avor. “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 Mi-

chael Grabner of Century Wine

and Spirits in Chanhassen.

“This year, Cosmos and Lemon

Drop Martinis are passé. I’d rec-

ommend something with pomegranate for the

color.” For a pretty Pomegranate Martini, add

a dash of tonic and a splash of Cointreau to one

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,

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

Seasonal Spirits

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, 952-492-

3227

http://www.crofutwinery.com

Crow River Winery, 14848 Highway 7

East, Hutchinson, 320-587-2922

www.crowriverwinery.com

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

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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

fortifi ed 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 fl avors 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 Com-

pany (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 fl avors

begin to come out more in the front and the middle of the

beer with it fi nishing a beautiful balance of smoked aroma

and fl avor.” 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 fi rst – is sure to

impress.

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 liq-

uid cheer for the cold temps and long nights of a Minnesota

winter. “Specifi cally for the holidays you’ll sometimes fi nd

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

specifi cally 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

Seasonal Spirits


Holiday Gifts 2011

Five options to consider during this season of giving

By the Staff of ’Tis the Season

We 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!

iPad2This 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

MachineYou 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 NetbookThis 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 townOkay, 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 Litchfi eld, 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 vinesLocal 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.

Gift Ideas

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By Kristin Holtz

How 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 optionsLED 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

over heat.

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 incan-descent counterparts, Schlosser says. However, if you’re looking for lights that will last year after year, they are a great option.

Leaving lights up longerAnother trend, Schlosser notes, is people want-ing 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 fi ve months throughout the winter.”

Schlosser, who has been hanging holiday lights

for 13 years, d e s i g n s the light-ing 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.

What’s popularTen 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

Design & Décor

Bright Lights, Festive FeelingsCheck these trends when planning your holiday lighting

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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, artifi cial wreaths. Once in awhile he’ll get a client re-questing reindeer, but he steers away from blow-up decorations and blink-ing or multi-color lights. “We keep it really classy, mostly solid colors and a lot of clear white lights,” Schlosser says.

On a budgetFor 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.

“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.”

Kristin Holtz is a staff writer for the Shakopee Valley News.

How to decorate

outdoor treesRob 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.

Design & Décor

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By Sarah Tieck

With 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.

Nourish your guestsEntertaining 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, espe-

cially 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 functionsWith 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.

Open houseHosting people is not about showing off your fabulous space—it is about

connecting with family and friends. So, make your guests comfortable by

When the crowd you expect is large, but your house isn’t

Entertaining

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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, recycleLook 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.

Shop smarterWhen purchasing party supplies, think cheap and think future. The

Target dollar bin is fi lled 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.”

Share the funMake preparation part of the party. As an apartment dweller, Gillingham-

Ryan’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 lessLet’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 tra-

ditional 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 smartScale your tree to the space and the requirements of the season — mean-

ing, 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 fi ts

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.

Celebrate the Holidays at the Burnsville

Performing Arts Center!

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”

www.burnsvillepac.com

Tickets: In person at the BPAC Box Offi ce, via Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787 or Ticketmaster.com

210882


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Documents

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