Wine: Chalone Monterey Pinot Noir

Warm, tart, ripe black cherry. My friend said, "Nummy." Awesome value.

Restaurant: Guiseppe, New Brighton MN

Charming locally-owned strip mall Italian. Delicious sweet-ish red sauce on pasta. Fantastic Mediterranean Salad. $-1/2

http://twincities.citysearch.com/profile/5529279/

Restaurant: Bacio, Minnetonka, MN

Hearts of palm salad and perfect pasta! Pesto-encrusted sea bass that even I thought didn't suck. Loud bar, good wine. $$$

http://www.baciomn.com/

Museum: Bay City Museum, Bay City, TX

Very interesting Gulf Coast historic items. Includes children's museum and nice gift shop. Don't miss "La Belle" shipwreck exhibit. Visitor center kiosk outside the museum wins award for "Coldest Possible Place to Stand in the Bay City Summer Heat". $

Apology

Sorry, that belongs in the Ten-Second Reviews.

;-)

Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

Nice to see director Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave, Trainspotting) have a huge hit, but it's a little darker than the kind of romance some of the ads would have you believe. The cast is great, but editor Chris Dickens is the real star, organizing countless flashbacks so you can grasp the storyline. Great photography, too, and make sure to stay until the end of the credits, for the big Bollywood finale.

Movie: Radio

Great storyline, fine acting. Cuba Gooding, Jr will put a smile on your face. Ed Harris is superb, rapidly becoming a fav actor of mine since I first saw him in Apollo 13.

Restaurant: Key's at Foshay, Minneapolis

The wonder of Key's upscale diner cooking with the coolness of the Foshay Tower. Great grilled chicken salad; distracted server. $$, Casual, Family-friendly.

http://www.keyscafe.com/

Movie: The Tale of Desperaux

Dark; not for young kids. Nice animation and impressive celebrity voices. Convoluted story with a good message.