Southwest Journal, you are like the greatest neighbors all rolled into one!…read more You are the informative neighbor, telling me about new places to check out. You are the classy neighbor, giving me just enough information about things I don't normally care about, just in case I'm ever in a situation where I need to sound cultured. You are the friendly neighbor because your articles always sound so nice. You have never taken on a negative tone with me, kind of like my real-life asshole neighbors. I don't even need to mention how reliable you are! And, most importantly, you are my nosy neighbor. Your crime reports are reason enough for me to live! I love knowing that I'm not the stupid person who let some strangers in, got tanked, passed out and then woke up to find her car missing. I'm sure glad I get to read about someone else doing it, kind of like my own personal gossip magazine. I just wish you'd put the paper in bags before you delivered them. I know it's not great for the environment, but throwing a newspaper onto steps covered in snow/rain is pretty dumb.

The best local newspaper in the Twin Cities. Its a great way to learn about what is happening in…read morethe neighborhoods, learn of local businesses, and keep up on city government. Its a positive, up beat publication that is chock full of useful news.

They have changed their mix of music for the worst!! I don't like it anymore... started listening…read moreto different stations.

If you are into Americana, acoustic, roots, and folk music and also enjoy the old Morning Show from…read moreMPR, check out Dale Connelly and Radio Heartland. Radio Heartland is available via the internet (see web address above), HD radio (91.1 KNOW HD2), and their iPhone app.

Dear Lavender, As a…read morereader of your magazine for 10 years, I thought it well past due to write you in the spirit of constructive criticism. It is tempting to assess you as a "lifestyle" magazine. By this measure, you do several things quite well. Your reviews of restaurants, theater/classical music/opera performances are readable and engaging, and your calendar of events are crucial to gay-friendly businesses and organizations throughout the Twin Cities. The sophistication of your packaging (with its glossy pages and covers) makes similar queer publications in San Francisco or New York appear amateurish by comparison. But even as we hold Lavender to the "lifestyle" genre, I call for a major face lift of your publication. To many of your readers, the folks you seem to be targeting are gay + white + middle class + Christian. With few exceptions, lesbians, the trans- and bi- communities, and people of color find few images or articles that appeal to their diverse tastes, interests, and beliefs. Lavender demonstrates its loyalty to a small segment of the LGBT population in several ways. For example, your pages are front-loaded with ads for new condo developments and related services, such as realtors, home and garden supplies, and window treatments. Note: mass home foreclosures and the current credit crunch are not just figments of the heterosexual imagination. Until recently you featured a column titled "Faith in Action", which intended to highlight spirituality in the LGBT community. Unfortunately, its writer (from your targeted demographic) seemed to view the project as his own budget psychotherapy service, allowing him to air his rants against the Christian church and share his personal journeys through religion. Fortunately you exorcised his column before his conversion to the Kabbala or Scientology. Please be assured that I am not suggesting you revamp yourself into a journal of queer theory. Most of us are incapable of reading three pages of Foucault without developing a brain tumor. Nor do I recommend that you expunge those adverts for escort services, which feature shirtless models and their vacant faces. In this struggling economy those pretty boys are cat-fighting for jobs, too. But I am encouraging you to consider the possibilities of your role in the community. Why not include more stories about issues affecting the broader LGBT community? Why not strengthen your work with queer movements that have raised awareness about our issues, and continue to work for equality? Until then, I will continue to pick up each new issue of Lavender at my local coffee shop, gay bar, or restaurant. After all, despite the tone of this letter, I'll still look forward to your previews of the Guthrie season, and reviews of the newest gay owned business in town. And, of course, I want to know when's the next Miss Gay U-S-of-A pageant at the '90s.

I had a fantastic experience working with Wise Ink on the publication of my first book, Difficult…read moreGifts. Victoria was a great, professional publishing expert to work with. She was always very responsive, kind, and professional. When I had an issue with the first cover designer the team found, they did everything possible to improve my experience and worked with me until we found my dream cover. I'm so grateful to the entire Wise Ink team!!

Some might be surprised to discover that the Utne Reader is based in Minneapolis--those on the…read morecoasts may think its home is in San Fran or Portland. Now, I'm not way lefty; I'm more lefty-centric...and becoming more centric with age, but I truly like this publication. It consistently offers intelligent, thoughtful and interesting articles. The best part about reading the Utne is that I always feel like it was a good, positive use of my time.

I'm not sure how long this station has been around, but I'm not sure how long it will last. You…read moreneed real taste and appreciation of obscure oldies. It almost could work as a long term memory tester. There's really no rhyme or reason to what you'll hear next. But like Jay said many you haven't heard since they were out, except I think it's 30 years. Definitely a fall back station to my channel flipping.

I'm usually a talk radio only listener. I dig KSTP and once in a while 'CCO, though not so much…read moresince Al Malmberg got the economic ax and that snooty little Eleanor Mondale pontificates from the throne she wouldn't have save for her Dad. But, I digress... I'm actually listening to music once in a while and really like Love 105. They play a mix from the early 60's - the 70's. Quite a bit of it is softer rock, but they play so many tunes I haven't heard in 20 years, it brings back some neat memories. Sure it can be a bit schlocky, but remembering songs and associating events with them is very pleasureable for me.

Great candy shop in the heart of downtown Stillwater. On this trip we opted for jelly beans and…read morechocolate covered gummy bears. They have a wide range of candy and chocolates! There is an extra charge for using your credit card as a side note.

What a place!! Candy! Everywhere candy! My teeth started hurting the minute I opened the door to…read moreTremblays. Big candy, small candy, fresh candy, old school candy. Buckets, baskets, and shelves of candy. Tubes of candy, tubs of candy. Sweet candy, sour candy. Sweet and sour candy. Taffy, gummy, gooey candy. I think Tremblays is a candy store. It's fun to watch brittle being made and spread out across a huge cold slab of metal. All the while thinking how much you'd like to be munching on a warm chunk of that sticky mess. Ahh, but like the rest of us, you'll have to wait until it comes from behind the glass. Our favorite? Saltwater Taffy. And there are baskets and baskets from which to choose. Every imaginal flavor. One just as good as the next. Chewy, filling extracting goodness. Grab a handful and mix yourself a bag. My granddaughters love this place. Shhhhhh....don't tell anybody, but so do I!!! Quick Tip: This place is a dentists paradise. So be careful with how much you bring home with you. It's tempting, but try to limit yourself with no more than 3 or 4 bags.