December 29, 2005

Review: The Bad Waitress

We're trying something new here at Minnesota Stories: Restaurant and café reviews. First up is the new coffee shop/breakfast joint from the owner of the Spyhouse coffee shop, The Bad Waitress. I have to say I love the pulp fiction-inspired name and logo. Overall we liked it, and we are especially happy they serve breakfast all day. Lori had a bit of bad spinach and found her omelette a bit thin on the goodies, but my scramble with was full of gooey gouda goodness.

We don't have a rating system per se, but Lori gave it "3.5 out of 5 whatevers" and I gave it "2.5 3* out of 4 eyebrows." Yes, we realize we're annoying amateurs. But we won't be stopped. Next week, another café with a great menu.

MORE REVIEWS:
The Rake Driver2165

* I later realized I was letting Lori's bad spinach infiltrate my own experience. I had yummy food, for cheap, in a nice atmosphere. What's not to like? Girl Friday also gives it 3 eyebrows.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 10:49 AM | Comments (17)

December 28, 2005

Attack of the Ninety Foot Toys

From the twisted and creative mind of Jeremy Wilker (Zombie Pub Crawl) comes this terrifying tale of tiny giant toys run amok. See if you can spot Jeremy's cameo.

CONTRIBUTOR: Jeremy Wilker, moonpost productions

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:42 AM | Comments (3)

December 27, 2005

Christmas at the Farm

How are your holidays going? Lorika and I went to her family's farm on Christmas, like we do every year. Something unexpected always happens outside after dinner - this year was no exception.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:08 AM | Comments (10)

December 24, 2005

Vlog Santa #4

FROM THE PRODUCERS: Welcome to the Christmas Eve episode of Vlog Santa, right from his living room in Mounds View, Minnesota. Get ready, because he's probably breaking into your house tonight.

THANKS TO THIS WEEK'S CURIOUS XMAS QUESTIONERS:
Tim from Reality Sandwich
Carp fishies from Bottom Union (Netherlands)
Alex from EllaGoes.com

PREVIOUSLY: Vlog Santa #1, #2, #3

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 06:04 PM | Comments (6)

December 22, 2005

The Historic Old Salem Church

This story comes to us from Duane in Cold Spring, who writes:

This story includes great footage of the ornately decorated church, delightful music from the Mary Beth Carlson concert and an exclusive interview with Joel Frank. This concert was given in loving memory of his great-grandparents, Christian and Anna (Nehring) Frank who came from Germany with four children in 1871 and settled in the community. They attended Salem Church while raising their family. Today all of the members of the Frank family and their spouses rest in the Old Salem Cemetery across the road from the church.

CONTRIBUTOR Duane Kuss, DigElogROCORI

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)

December 21, 2005

Christmas Lights

This lovely and calming video comes to us from David, who says: "After getting all the Christmas lights set up, I decided to take a walk around the yard with my camera. This is what I saw."

CONTRIBUTOR David, Tao of David

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:51 AM | Comments (4)

December 20, 2005

Left Right

This video comes to us from Mike Scholz, who says: "Why settle for one Minnesota Story about Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, when you can watch two of them - side-by-side!"

CONTRIBUTOR Mike Scholz, Free Range Film Festival

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:25 AM | Comments (4)

December 19, 2005

Vlog Santa #3

FROM THE PRODUCERS: Welcome to the 3rd episode of Vlog Santa. Vlog Santa is very busy this time of year, keeping track of the nitwits and answering your questions. Vlog Santa will go into deep hibernation in a couple of weeks, so send in your video questions today! Email vlogsanta@mnstories.com.

THANKS TO THIS WEEK'S CURIOUS XMAS QUESTIONERS:
Clark ov Saturn from ZipZapZap
Jay Dedman and Ryan Hodson
"President" Jeremiah Murphy from The News
Cristina and Jadelr from Chasing Windmills

PREVIOUSLY: Vlog Santa #1 and #2

MINNESOTA STORIES SCREENING: Come on down for a special screening of Minnesota Stories at Bryant-Lake Bowl this Tuesday, Dec 20 at 7PM. It screens as part of Rob Nelson's "Get Real" documentary series. No downloading - plus, you can drink! Please tell your friends. Word-of-mouth is vital to these screenings.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:48 AM | Comments (9)

December 16, 2005

Questions

Some good questions about Christmas. Perhaps these questions are best answered by Vlog Santa, who pops up in today's Chasing Windmills video.

CONTRIBUTOR: Chasing Windmills

MN STORIES ON TV: Chuck talked about Minnesota Stories and videoblogging on this week's Almanac. Watch the clip here in RealVideo.

Here are the clips we talked about on the show:
Family and Welcome to the Future

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 10:58 AM | Comments (7)

December 15, 2005

Mooki's "Special Day"

This may well be a weekly threat. Unless y'all send in your stories (I know you're out there!) I will subject you to videos of my precious kitten Mooki. Actually that's a lie, you'll be subjected to Mooki no matter what. Here's his trip to the vet to get fixed. Be strong, little one.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:03 AM | Comments (13)

December 14, 2005

Searching for Coal

We've all heard about the ol' lump of coal in your stocking. That's what you got when you were bad in the old days, right? Not in this case. Here's an oral history from vlogger Duane Kuss, our Cold Spring contributor, who writes:

This story is about a local Santa Claus who gives the gift of coal to a freckled faced little boy that wanted his family to stay warm on a cold winters night. This is a story that will touch your heart and soul during this special time of year.

CONTRIBUTOR Duane Kuss, DigElogROCORI

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:02 AM | Comments (3)

December 13, 2005

Bathrooms

We feature the most pressing issues of the day here on Minnesota Stories. Today is no exception. There is a situation with unclean bathrooms at St. Paul's Central High School. Warning: This video is a little gross.

SOURCE: Central High School Multimedia

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:00 AM | Comments (5)

December 12, 2005

One Little Vote

Democracy doesn't work unless people can participate. Here's a story of one Ramsey County woman's difficulties voting last November.

CONTRIBUTOR: Mark Wojahn, What America Needs

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:25 AM | Comments (0)

December 11, 2005

Vlog Santa #2

FROM THE PRODUCERS: Welcome to the 2nd episode of Vlog Santa. We apologize once again for his unsavory demeanor and alcohol problem. We're especially sorry if Vlog Santa berated your video or your appearance. There are only a couple of episodes left, so send your video questions in today! Email vlogsanta@mnstories.com.

THANKS TO THIS WEEK'S CURIOUS XMAS QUESTIONERS:
Amanda from Rocketboom
Bryan Giese, aka "Vlog Elvis"
Great Stone Face from Stone Face Blog

Tune in next Friday(-ish) to see video questions from Tim of Reality Sandwich, Jay and Ryanne, and the White House.

Be sure to check out Vlog Santa #1 and #3, and Vlog Santa's appearance in the New York Times! Last but not least, watch for Vlog Santa's cameo in the outstanding narrative vlog Chasing Windmills next week.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:03 AM | Comments (4)

December 08, 2005

Low Choir Practice

Here's a special sneak peak into Low's upcoming Christmas shows. Starfire says this was their first time through the song, so it's a little rough as you'd expect. It sounds lovely to my ears. The song is John and Yoko's Happy Christmas (War Is Over). Low's holiday shows are raising money for the Maasai School Project in Kenya.

CONTRIBUTOR: Starfire, Starfire TV

*** CHECK BACK SATURDAY FOR VLOG SANTA, THAT LAZY DRUNK! ***

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:15 AM | Comments (5)

December 07, 2005

Kitteny Xmas

I'm sorry, but unless you people send in your stories, I must subject you to my home video. Here's our little kitten Mooki, exploring his first Christmas.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:57 AM | Comments (5)

December 06, 2005

NaNoWriMo Wrapup

While some of us shopped for alcohol to spike our warm winter toddies, a few brave souls spent last month writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo. Here's a little taste of the wrapup party, including a few folks reading from their novels. Special thanks to Municipal Liason (i.e. volunteer organizer) Theresa Jarosz Alberti for explaining what the whole thing is about. And, congrats to everyone who stepped up to this supreme writing challenge.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:59 AM | Comments (6)

December 05, 2005

Gingerbread Houses

Do you remember times with Grandma where you made a Ginger Bread House together? Me neither. But after watching the ROCORI High School kids make gingerbread houses, I want to create that fictional memory, so that I can be nostalgic for it.

CONTRIBUTOR: Duane Kuss, DigElogROCORI

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:03 AM | Comments (2)

December 02, 2005

Vlog Santa #1

FROM THE PRODUCERS: Please enjoy this premiere episode of the Vlog Santa program, vlogcasting from the real Vlog Santa workshop in Mounds View, Minnesota. Vlog Santa can be a little surly and, shall we say, culturally insensitive — so we apologize in advance. Get your questions in now for next Friday's show - video preferred! Email vlogsanta@mnstories.com.

THANKS TO THIS WEEK'S CURIOUS XMAS QUESTIONERS:
Steve Garfield - Boston
Rebecca - Hawaii
Stefan (sms;-) - the German speaking part of Europe
MissBehavens - NYC, sorry we didn't get to your question this week.

SEE ALSO: Vlog Santa #2, #3, #4.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 10:00 AM | Comments (22)

December 01, 2005

Boats

Here's a sweet little video shot on the North Shore this fall. "How do you pass the time when you're camping with 2 little kids? Hiking, craft projects and throwing stuff in the water."

CONTRIBUTOR: Brian Barber

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 11:52 AM | Comments (2)