Align Pilates® Minneapolis

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Simple D-Tach Shoes

• What: Eco-friendly walking shoes that are fun, feminine and freakishly comfortable.
• Why: Funky fair feet.
• Where: Online at Zappos.

Bits and Bites
Fair Food Finder

• What: Find the location of all your favorite fair fare.
• Why: Where in the name of the fair do they hide those frickles?
• Where: Online Minnesota State Fair.org.

Around Town
The Minnesota State Fair

• What: The Great Minnesota Get-Together.
• Why: Good *clean* fun.
• When: Now through Labor Day.
• Where: 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St Paul.

I Think I Can
Motivational Quote

• Why: French fries for the soul.
• What: “Greasy food might not be good for your body, but it does wonders for the soul. A healthy diet may prolong your life, but what would you have to live for? What is the point of living to a hundred if you have to subsist on bland food? One may as well die of boredom.” ~ Jessica Zafra (Chicken Pox for the Soul)

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Savvy Headbands

• What: Hand-made and too cute to pass up headbands, made for all heads big and small.
• Why: For the love of Rhoda, savvy?
• Where: Online at livesavvy.

Bits and Bites
The Tea Garden

• What: Get a cool tea treat while you’re out on the hot streets.
• Why: Hot child in the city.
• Where: Hennepin Avenue in Uptown, Grand Avenue in St. Paul and Stadium Village Mall ~ See all locations.

Around Town
Red Stag Block Party

• What: Local music, organic ingredients and cold beverages.
• Why: Stag party.
• When: Saturday, August 21, 2010 ~ 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
• Where: Red Stag Supper Club ~ 509 1st Avenue NE, Minneapolis.

I Think I Can
Ebony Bracelet
What: Genuine leather wrap-around bracelet with a humane touch.
Why: You are what you wear.
Where: Online at BlisslivingHome.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Prana End of Season Sale

• What: Get 40% off of authentic, versatile, high quality and environmentally conscious clothing.
• Why: It’s the whole shebang.
• Where: Online at Prana.

Bits and Bites
Minnesota Garlic Festival

• What: Local foodies, chefs, musicians and artisans unite for the love of garlic.
• Why: You can never have too much garlic.
• When: Saturday, August 14, 2010 ~ 10 am – 6 pm
• Where: McLeod County Fairgrounds, Hutchinson.

Around Town
Cult Status Art & Flea Market

• What: It’s like a farmer’s market, but with an artist’s touch.
• Why: Find your treasure in someone else’s junk.
• When: Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15 ~ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Where: Cult Status Gallery ~ 2913 Harriet Avenue South, Minneapolis.

I Think I Can
Walking the Amazon

• What: The first person to walk the length of the Amazon river from source to sea chronicles his journey.
• Why: Makes your day look like a cake walk.
• Where: Online at Walking the Amazon Blog.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Locust Tank

• What: A comfy Lycra tank with built-in bust and belly support.
• Why: Bust a move.
• Where: Online at 51 Incorporated.

Bits and Bites
Bewitched Deli

• What: A little deli brewing up big, tasty sandwiches, salads and soup.
• Why: You’ve a got a wicked hunger.
• Where: 800 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis.

Around Town
Uptown Art Fair

• What: An eclectic exhibition of over 360 artists, 25 performers, 20 food vendors and hundreds of local businesses.
• Why: Find out what happens when Pilates meets paint — Align Pilates & Cult Status Gallery join booth forces to see what their art can do.
• When: Friday, August 6 – Sunday, August 8
• Where: Intersection of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Uptown.

I Think I Can
Inspiring Thoughts

• What: Things that make you go hmmm…
• Why: Today’s thought, tomorrow’s action.
• Where: Online at Makes Me Think.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Nike Air Max Women’s Running Shoe

• What: A plush ride for the premium runner.
• Why: You’re going the distance.
• Where: Online at Nike.

Bits and Bites
Patisserie 46

• What: Minneapolis’ newly opened and high-end bakery.
• Why: There’s nothing flaky about a good pastry.
• Where: 4552 Grand Avenue South, Minneapolis

Around Town
Shakespeare in the Park – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• What: Guthrie Theater presents an, eh-hem, modern take on Will’s classic tale.
• Why: “This ain’t your mamma’s Shakespeare.”
• When: Saturday & Sunday, July 10 and 11, @ 2:00 PM.
• Where: The Lakeside Gazebo at Powderhorn Park ~ 3400 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis.

Get Up On It
Words to Motivate

While no one can deny the exceptional powers and strength of instructor-led fitness classes, sometimes you need a little home practice to really get the full effect. DVDs, books and internet how-to’s are great when you want to brush up on your fitness skills from the comfort of your own living room. But after a while, they tend to lose their zing. When you start reciting the video host’s repetitive script and the pages start falling out of your favorite book, you know it’s time for a change. So why not enhance your practice from the very thing you are practicing on—your mat?

Dig this Self-Guided Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat. Here you have 28 popular, physician-certified yoga poses right at the tips of your fingers and toes. No need to pause and peer up at the TV screen or flip a page. With the self-instructional mat, you can “tune in, chill out and shape up all at the same time.” So why stop at Yoga? Self-Guided Eco-Friendly Mats are also available for your Pilates and Ab workouts. No wonder we haven’t seen hide nor hair of Mr. Billy Blanks in a long while.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Astro Crop Pants

• What: Versatile pants with freedom of comfort and coverage.
• Why: They go where you go.
• Where: Online at Lululemon.

Bits and Bites
Nami

• What: One of the city’s freshest sushi establishments.
• Why: You like it raw.
• Where: 251 First Avenue North, Minneapolis.

Around Town
Twin Cities Pride

• What: Minneapolis’ annual festival and parade in celebration of gay rights.
• Why: You’re as proud as a rainbow colored peacock.
• When: Saturday and Sunday, June 26th and 27th
• Where: Loring Park, Downtown Minneapolis.

I Think I Can
Why the Present Moment Is the Only Moment You’ll Ever Have

• What: Learn how to live in the now.
• Why: There’s no time like the present.
• Where: Online at Upgrade Reality.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Adidas Yatra Studio Bag

• What: A duffel bag with style and posh.
• Why: For once, a likable d-bag.
• Where: Online at Zappos.

Bits and Bites
Northeast Social

• What: “An American contemporary style restaurant with a farm-to-fork agenda.”
• Why: Polish up your social skills.
• Where: 359 13th Avenue, Northeast Minneapolis

Around Town
Sundown Movie in the Park

• What: Park and Rec’s outdoor summer film series. This weekend’s flick: March of the Penguins.
• Why: Sundown, you better take care.
• When: Friday, June 18th @ 15 minutes after sundown.
• Where: Linden Hills Park ~ 43rd and Xerxes, Minneapolis

I Think I Can
Advanced Pilates & Calisthenics Workout

• What: A video of hard core strength and control.
• Why: Monkey see, Monkey do.
• Where: Online at YouTube

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Water Bottle with Wrap

• What: A 25oz. stainless steel bottle with a spill resistant lid and a pretty insulated wrap.
• Why: Discover the softer side of steel.
• Where: Online at Etsy

Bits and Bites
Restaurant Alma

• What: Locally-crafted food with seasonal and organic ingredients.
• Why: Get fresh with your food.
• Where: 528 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis

Around Town
Vertical Endeavors

• What: One of the largest indoor rock climbing facilities in the world.
• Why: This week’s rain has got you climbing the walls.
• Where: 855 Phalen Boulevard, St. Paul

I Think I Can
Rules of Life: 10 Things You Should Already Know by Now

• What: 10 simple rules to live by.
• Why: Hold on loosely, but don’t let go.
• Where: Online at How to Get a Grip

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Colorblock Performance Pants

• What: A pair of hard working pants: they wick moisture, block the sun and go in reverse.
• Why: These pants were made for performing, and that’s just what they’ll do.
• Where: Online at Lands End.

Bits and Bites
Jasmine Deli

• What: A diamond in the ruff of Eat Street.
• Why: For the love of Vietnamese spice and everything nice.
• Where: 2532 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis

Around Town
Minneapolis Farmers Markets

• What: Need a list of the city’s finest outdoor markets? Look no further.
• Why: We’ve got the cream of the crop.
• When: Now through October.
• Where: Mill City, Downtown, Northeast, to name a few.

I Think I Can
Motivational Quote

• What: “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’”
• Who: Kurt Vonnegut
• Where: Online at GoodMorningGoodNight.