My tkTwinCities column is about food and drinks. Recipes, local restaurants and good beer. It’s about pairing vino verde with lemon cod. It’s not about books (unless they are for cooking), and it’s certainly not about literature. But for today, I’m changing the rules. I was so inspired last night that I decided this week’s column will be about food for the mind, which, if you ask me, is equally as important.

Two weeks ago I was reading the Gaga-clad issue of Vogue and I came across an article about a young author with an “extraordinary debut” novel. I tore out the article and added to my “magazine clips I love” folder (actual name). The reason this article so caught my attention is because all this hype revolves around a woman just 24-years-old.

I did a little research on Téa Obreht and came to find out she would be making an appearance at Magers & Quinn, the bookstore just a mile from my apartment. I was thrilled at the luck I had of not only finding a new novelist to keep an eye on, but that I’d get a chance to hear her read from The Tiger’s Wife, a novel that “draws us beneath the clotted tragedies in the Balkans to deliver the kind of truth that histories can’t touch,” says Ron Charles with The Washington Post. I have yet to formulate my own opinions, as I just picked up my copy tonight, but I have a feeling I’ll feel much the same way.

Besides her astoundingly young age, another fascinating bullet in her biography is that she was born in Belgrade (back when it was Yugoslavia). You’d never know because her English is perfect. So perfect, in fact, that it contradicts what I just said and tells me that she has studied English grammar in a way that none of us Americans have, so she couldn’t possible have been born in the US of A. In the Q and A session after she read, a man also from Yugoslavia asked her what language she thinks in. Her answer was English, but she went on to say that there are the occasions when she’ll come up with a word that has a deeper meaning than the simple English word does. The example she and the elderly man discussed was her usage of fool, which has a far deeper meaning than our four-letter-word suggests.

Minneapolis was the first stop on her first book tour — flattering, right? This young author has been all over the blogosphere and online newspapers alike, including USA Today and New York Times. So why did she choose to visit us first? Perhaps it’s because of our profound literary roots. We have myriad bookstores as cool as Magers & Quinn; we have events like Books and Bars, and we have The Loft Literary Center, breeding grounds for breakthrough novelists like Miss Obreht.

If you’re a Minneapolis writer, I hope you were able to make it to the book reading last night. If not, at the very least I hope this post encourages you to pick up Téa’s book and be inspired by the power such a young woman possesses. Many of my friends write — hello, we made a website for that sole purpose — and I think it’s important to share with one another a little inspiration.

Minneapolis writers: what inspires you? Do you have any novels or authors that changed your world? Let me know in the comments, or write to me at [email protected].

The Yankees. The Saints. The Falcons. Every team in the NBA.

Each time one of our beloved Minnesota sports teams comes close to a championship (or not, in the case of the Timberwolves) Minnesotan’s collective hopes and dreams are crushed. After 20 years of championship-less sports franchises, it is time to face the fact that Minnesota is the most tortured fan base in the country.

Yes, Cubs fans have it worse, but Chicago as a whole does not. Sure, Cleveland is the crapper, but they don’t have all four major sports (assuming hockey still counts). No, we Minnesotans have been collectively suffering the most, because when we come close, we don’t just lose, we lose hard.

1992-1997

Following the Twins 1991 World Series Championship there was, well, nothing for most of the 90s.

1998

The 15-1 Vikings are indisputably the most talented team in football. A historic offense featuring a young, somewhat behaved Randy Moss; an old, oddly over-performing Randall Cunningham; a pre-med Robert Smith, and Chris Carter steamrolled through the regular season. The team wasn’t just good enough to win the Super Bowl, they were supposed to win the Super Bowl.

Then Gary Anderson missed his only field goal of the year in the NFC Championship and the Falcons dirty-birded their way to an inevitable Super Bowl loss. Yeah, I cried. I was 11. So there.

2001

The Vikings lose to the Giants 41-0 in the NFC Championship. Not so much devastating as embarrassing, but at least I didn’t cry this time.

2004

After an improbable run in the 2002 playoffs, and an as-expected-early-exit from the 2003 playoffs, the 2004 Twins went up against the Yankees for the second year in a row. And, for the second year in a row they won game 1. With a cautious optimism for game 2, Twins fans thought maybe their team actually had a chance. And when Torii Hunter hit a go-ahead home run in the 12th inning, it seemed like the Twins were headed for a 2-0 lead in the series and a trip to the ALCS.

Then Joe Nathan gave up a mammoth home run to Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter scored on a sac-fly (complete with a patented ball rolls to the infield throw from Jacque Jones) and the Yankees took game 2. Then game 3. Then game 4.

2006

After one of the most amazing regular seasons in Twins history, led by dominating pitching from Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano, and offense power from Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Torii Hunter, the Twins seemed geared for a run through the playoffs (and they weren’t facing the Yankees).

Then Frank Thomas hit a home run in game 1, the wheels came off, and the vastly superior Twins were swept by the A’s.

2008

F#@#ing White Sox.

2009

F#@#ing Phil Cuzzi. (And the Yankees… again.)

2009

Led by the rejuvenated Brett Favre, the Vikings sucked all the Minnesota suckers back in. After 1998 so many – this sucker included – decided they wouldn’t get invested again. But then Favre and Co reeled us all in because, let’s face it, he’s just a kid out there.

Then, that very same Favre, instead of scrambling 7 yards to set up a game-winning field goal for the reliable Ryan Longwell threw a back breaking interception. One that sent the NFC Championship into overtime – and eventually the Saints to the Super Bowl.

2010

F#@#ing Yankees…again.

There you have it, sports fans, there’s a reason we’re so miserable. Hell, the roof doesn’t even stay on our stadiums. Got a favorite (or least favorite) moment? Still have some hope? Let me know in the comments or email me at [email protected]

Conan discusses technology at South by Southewest. He also says he’s working on saline solution.

Have you checked out this local band yet? If not, you should.

Have a fantabulous weekend all.

Eric wrote about surviving winter by finding summer activities to partake in.

Guest writer Doug wrote about attending the Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience.

Kristina informed brides-to-be on how to save on gowns.

Nicolle told us about Pure Citizen, a great place to bargain shop while making the world a better place.

As always, thanks for stopping by … you readers are the reason we keep writing! Have a wonderful weekend, and keep your heads up; it’s already the middle of March.

Pure Citizen is a twist on the usual, flash-designer-sale websites that are all over the place (think Gilt Groupe). Instead of only offering high-end designers, Pure Citizen introduces its members to an up-and-coming designer every weekday.

But, it gets better.

Not only are these designers new and hot, they’re also making the world a better place. Pure Citizen only chooses designers who’d be described as eco, vegan, fair-trade, organic, handmade, cruelty free and sustainable. And it’s all at up to 90 PERCENT off normal prices.

But wait, it gets better still.

Every time you purchase something from Pure Citizen, you have the opportunity to donate a percentage of the money you saved to a nonprofit that is also making the world a better place. Pure Citizen selects the nonprofit, which changes daily.

So far, I’ve gotten an amazing dry shampoo, some great clean nail polish and a vegan purse. (What can I say? I love sales.) The site offers everything from dishware, purses and body care to fashion-forward clothes, yoga wear and jewelry.

Each sale lasts only 72 hours so you have to be a little on the ball in terms of purchasing. I’ve also found that the hottest sales sell out fast, so you want to act fast if there’s a particular item you’re coveting.

Pure Citizen is a members-only site, which means you’ll have to sign up to get the daily emails, but the deals you’ll get are worth the inbox clutter.

Have you tried any other designer, flash-sale sites we should know about? Share in the comments below or shoot me an email at [email protected].

We all know I hate when people overpay for a wedding dress they’ll only wear once, but I also appreciate the beauty of designer gowns and the way they make brides simply glow on their big day. Thankfully, Andrea Lown and Leah Andrew created a way for budget-conscious brides to get that dress—and much more—of their dreams without feeling sticker shock from the price tag: SmartBride Boutique.

This online boutique, started by the duo in 2008, provides a marketplace for brides-to-be to purchase just about anything they need for their wedding. At SmartBride Boutique, you can browse through thousands of shoes, pieces of jewelry, accessories, veils, decorations, and dresses for the entire wedding party.

When it comes to wedding dresses, the selection seems endless with page upon page of beautiful gowns to choose from. Though most of the items come from former brides, SmartBride Boutique does include a lot of new inventory from bridal boutiques making room for new samples, so it’s possible you could find a dress that’s never been worn down the aisle.

And the best part is that these new and once-worn wedding gowns are anywhere from 30-60 percent off their original price, even those with designer brands—score! This Vera Wang dress is listed at 40% off its original price and you’ll find more than 100 Maggie Sottero gowns for under $500!

Purchasing such an important dress online may be a little frightening, so SmartBride offers five tips for a successful purchase. Here are some additional ways to ease the process:

• Pay attention to size. Most of the dresses listed on SmartBride Boutique include bra, bust, waist, and hip measurements of the dress, along with the street-size associated with the dress, since wedding sizes are usually two sizes larger.
• Know what you want. With 3,000 wedding gowns to choose from, it’s good to have an idea of what kind of dress you’re looking for. SmartBride Boutique allows you to narrow your search by size, designer, color, price, neckline, and more to help you find your perfect match.

Your turn readers—would you consider buying your dress online? Have you purchased your gown through a website and have any more tips? Did you score a great deal on a designer gown? We wanna hear about it, so spill in the comments section below or shoot me an email at [email protected].

Food, Wine, People. People, Wine, Food.  Any combination of the three is guaranteed to put me at ease, and the Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience this past weekend did just that.

In its 17th year (now at a fresh new location, Target Field) this annual showcase drew thousands of local foodies and winos to an event of high caliber.  I was blessed to score some tickets to attend with my cohort, @kolinacicero.

Though we arrived a bit later than planned on Sunday afternoon, the two-and-a-half hours set to taste our faces off turned out to be perfect. Rather than meander with no particular scope, we jetted through the booths with form and focus. I would highly recommend anyone attending in the future to have a two-person team; sharing each morsel of food is absolutely necessary in order to sequester a small taste of the many delicacies, all the while preserving what I deem as “prime stomach real-estate.”  Spitting of wine and beer is not to be discouraged. Even if you do decide to swallow and have a sober cab home, you don’t want to end up like the idiots I witnessed on the way out, mumbling about how they didn’t eat any food or screaming about how drunk they were. Anyway.

There were so many goodies, but my favorite highlights are as follows:

Minnesota Wines: Too often scoffed at as too sweet and sub-par, I was very excited to see the number of local vintners in attendance pouring their finest wares.  With all the research that has come out of the University of Minnesota pertaining to cold-hardy grape varietals and the dedication of some farmers who have been at it for decades, Minnesota wines are on the up and up.  Notables include Winehaven and St. Croix Vineyards.

Photo from www.foodwineshow.com

Local Restaurants: Let’s face it — any big city is a hub of foodie goodness. We are no exception.  It was a treat to be served up small delicacies from some of Minneapolis’ finest chefs.  The Oceanaire presented a mean chowder; Seven carved up a tender beef sandwich with a savory truffled aioli.

Beer: As I’ve written before, the local beer scene is teeming with potential.  While I was somewhat disappointed by the minimal showing of local producers, there were nonetheless ample suds.  Bells sticks out in my mind, especially with its lively staffing and impressive food pairings.  Also, for those who prefer a non-alcoholic beverage, the Fresh Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost was quite honestly my favorite booth.  It sells at various locations throughout the metro area and if you haven’t tried it, YOU MUST!

If you missed this year’s event, I’m sure next year will be equally worthwhile.  Check it out.

So readers, did you make it to the Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience? If so, what was your favorite booth? Was there anything you weren’t a big fan of? Let me know in the comments below, or shoot me an email at [email protected].

Doug Weber is a wine buyer at Northgate Liquors and has an affinity for all things wine. Check out his blog and follow him on Twitter.

Winter has its charm, I suppose. There’s Christmas and…well snow can be pretty sometimes. After several months of long, dark, cold, dreary days, however, what I like to call the “golf itch” sets in. Tired of using a full-length mirror to “practice” my golf swing sans club, I began to feel an uncontrollable desire to grip it and rip it with my 5-iron, so-to-speak.

Every Minnesotan knows the feeling. The late winter/early spring jumpiness when you just want to get outside in the warm sun and do something, anything outdoors. Sadly, we also know that those warm summer days are still months away, and we’re more likely to get seven inches than 70 degrees anytime soon.

Luckily, I’ve compiled a few sure-fire ways to enjoy some summer fun, even in the middle of winter:

Golf Dome

Minnesota golfers have two choices in the winter: pack up the clubs and let your swing get rusty, or find an indoor range to keep yourself in golf shape (not to be confused with being in actual shape). Although hardly ideal, golf domes offer an affordable way to keep you golfing through the winter so come April (May? June?) when you can finally get outside, you won’t be flailing around like you’ve never played before.

Where to go: Braemer Golf Dome, Edina, 952-826-6744, www.braemargolfdome.com

Batting Cages

Once upon a time, I played baseball. Now that I’m lazy, I play softball. Regardless of what kind of ball you choose to hit, you’ll find that there is no better way to escape the cold and get a small taste of summer than grabbing a piece of lumber (or aluminum) and taking a few hacks in the cages. Even inside, in the dead of winter, with those weird batting cage balls, there is no sweeter sound than the crack of a baseball bat. None.

Where to go: Rice and Arlington Batting Cages, St. Paul, 651-558-2117, www.rabattingcages.com

Water Park

Personally, I’m not a big aquatic guy. I like dry land. I know what’s beneath my feet and don’t have to worry about the vast, nothingness that a giant, comfortless body of water offers. Having said that, I enjoy a good splash in the pool every now and then, and have even been known to indulge in a water slide or two. Plus, if The Sandlot taught us anything (ok, The Sandlot taught us everything), it’s that nothing says summer like baseball and going to the pool…Wendy Peffercorn optional, but preferred.

Where to go: Water Park of America, Bloomington, 952-698-8888, www.waterparkofamerica.com

So, readers, how do you beat the winter blues? What are your favorite activities to stay active and “summery” even in the middle of winter? Let me know in the comments, or email me at [email protected]

Ever thought about personalizing your Facebook profile with more than your profile pic? Check out these creative ways to stand out (like one where a giant, great white shark is chasing you).

Do you have a dangerous book obsession like most of our tkTC editors? If so, you’ll love Barnes and Noble’s Rare & Collectible Books collection.

Does your brain need a workout? Check out these logic puzzles.

In honor of National Grammar Day (March 4), a student defends the “language” of online chatting and texting.

Eric live blogging the Oscars? No worries, you can read it here.

Kolina explaining the difference between Mexican and Tex-Mex with her first-hand experience?

Kristina’s latest Etsy Watch featuring items that will be perfect for your black and white wedding?

Nicolle’s discovery of a magical facial serum that will solve all your skin problems?

Happy March, readers! Spring is coming… hopefully.