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Holiday Guide

Friday, December 21, 2012

What's Open, What's Closed on Christmas in Apple Valley-Rosemount

Know of places that are open on Christmas day? Leave a comment to help fill out our list.

  Like us on Facebook | Get our newsletter | Follow us on Twitter | Start a blog If you need to take care of business at any Apple Valley-Rosemount establishments, check to see whether they'll be open for your business from Sunday, Dec. 23 through the federal observation of Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 26. Here are some schedules we've nailed down for you, but if you know of others—especially establishments that will be open—please leave them in the comments section below. Here's the skinny on:  ...Food and Basic Necessities ...Drug Stores ...Big Box Stores ...Restaurants ...Liquor and Wine ...The Movies Carmike Cinema 15 will be open for regular hours both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. ...Government Services Know of other places that …

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Ask a Patch Pro: Last Minute Gift Ideas

Got someone on your list who is hard to shop for? We've got Twin Cities style consultants on deck to help you find the perfect gift.

We all have at least one person in our lives that presents a perennial problem during the holidays: They're impossible to shop for. Maybe they're a vegan who can't countenance any animal products whatsoever, or a friend who is allergic to everything from angora to silk, or worse, the one who never wants anything. Enter Melissa Hardin, creator of Flaunt, a mobile boutique run by a group of fashion artists and style consultants out of a studio in Fridley. Also on deck are Jennifer Zafft, Marketing Director for The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove, and Lisa Buck, a resident of the Lake Minnetonka area and veteran holiday shopper, and Kelly Bray of Zida Boutique in Burnsville. Stymied? Whipshawed by confusion? These ladies will help you …

Martina Tresenriter

3:32 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Our family was adopted by a large company through our childrens school, they gave us a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart... so I have to buy them something from there. I figured we would buy them a gift from "Santa" there and then plan an individual date night with mom and dad from us. I really like that idea :)   more ›

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Local Mom Battling Leukemia Gets Holiday Surprise from Her Apple Valley Son

Geoff Cleveland, an Apple Valley resident, wanted to give his mother something special this holiday season in return for all the love and support she's shown her family over the years.

Geoff Cleveland's father is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, and in January his brother leaves for his fourth tour of duty in the Middle East. But it's Cleveland's mother, 62-year-old Kathy Cleveland, who is the "real soldier" in the family, according to her son. Kathy, the family matriarch, has battled leukemia for two years, but still manages to support her husband and four boys. Which is why Cleveland, an Eagan native and current Apple Valley resident, wanted to give his mother something special this year. Cleveland nominated his parents, Kathy and Dave, for a free home holiday makeover courtesy of Christmas Decor's Decorated Family program—and to his surprise, they won. On Thursday, a team of professional decorators—led by Christmas …

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Celebrate an Old Fashioned Holiday at Holz Farm Park

Enjoy hayrides, a bonfire, s'mores, organ music, craft activities, carols, live reindeer and a visit by Santa Claus on Sunday, Dec. 2.

Follow Eagan Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter| Blog for us Celebrate the holiday seasonwith a trip back to the 1940s during "An Old Fashioned Holiday at Holz Farm". The event, which takes place from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 at Holz Farm Park in Eagan, is free and open to the public. Enjoy hayrides, a bonfire, s'mores, organ music, craft activities, carols, live reindeer and a visit by Santa Claus. Holiday cookies prepared on the farm will also be served with hot cider and a warm heart. Santa is anxious to hear from those that are naughty or nice, so bring your camera! Most activities are held outdoors and in the farmstead barn. For more information, contact the Eagan Parks and Recreation …

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Eagan YMCA Hosts Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Breakfast with Santa

The fourth annual breakfast event is open to families from Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount.

Follow Eagan Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter| Blog for us Run a 5K jog, eat a hearty breakfast and then hang out with Santa Claus at the Jingle Bell Jog 5K race on Saturday, Dec. 1. The fourth annual breakfast event is open to Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount families and will be held at the Eagan YMCA. Community members are invited to jog a 5K around the Eagan YMCA facilities at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. following the run. Event activities include visiting with Santa, a silent auction, holiday caroling, an inflatable jump house, balloon animals, crafts and face painting. Pancakes, juice and coffee will be served by Eagan YMCA’s School Age Child Care staff, …

Monday, November 26, 2012

Enter Patch's 'Deck the House' Contest For a Chance to Win $100,000

Did you decorate your house for the holidays this year? Enter our "Deck the House" contest and you could win $100,000 for your local school district and $500 to pay your electric bills!

Follow Eagan Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter| Blog for us We’re launching our annual Deck the House Contest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in America—the best “decked” house in the country—the one home so spectacularly decorated that everyone in town jokes your holiday decorations could rival Rockefeller Center’s. If this sounds like your house, upload a photo or video of your home to our contest page from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16. Click here to head to contest page. Only residents of Patch towns are eligible to enter. We’ll select 24 regional finalists, and from them, pick one grand prize winner. Patch will pay up to $500 of the utility bill for each finalist, while our national …

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Top 10 Ways to Entertain Family and Visiting Relatives This Week

Patch finds the best of the east metro.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and your house is bursting at the seams with visiting relatives.  You’ve got to get them out and get some fresh air, but where would you go? Good thing the Twin Cities have a ton of great places to enjoy with your family. The John Rose OVAL Reputed to be the largest sheet of refrigerated ice in North America, the John Rose OVAL in Roseville is a great place to take the family for an ice skating adventure—even when it's 60 degrees out. The Sky Zone Trampoline Park Located in Oakdale, the Sky Zone Trampoline Park is an awesome place to take kids. There’s a special area for kids under five, jump classes for all ages, and 3-D dodgeball. The Blast Located in Eagan, this towering, space-themed play place is the …

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Santa Claus is Coming to Apple Valley!

Breakfast with Santa will be held at the Apple Valley Community Center on Saturday, Dec, 1, for youth ages 3-10 years of age & parents!

Editor's note: Submitted by the Apple Valley Parks & Recreation Department Breakfast with Santa will be held at the Apple Valley Community Center on Saturday, Dec, 1, for youth ages 3-10 years of age & parents! Sign up for Session 1—8:30-9:30 a.m.; Session 2—9:30-10:30 a.m. or Session 3—10:30-11:30 a.m. The fee is only $10 per child, parents attend for free.  Register at www.cityofapplevalley.org, and join the Apple Valley Parks & Recreation Department Staff for arts & crafts, games, prizes, face painting & tattoos, a breakfast sponsored by McDonald's of Apple Valley, and a picture with Santa Claus! Lots of holiday fun! Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Get our free newsletter

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Ask the Patch Pro: Making Thanksgiving Dinner

Let our Patch Pro answer your cooking questions.

The holidays are almost upon us! With Thanksgiving next week and then a month of parties and celebrations to follow, many of us are about to spend some serious time in the kitchen.  Whether you've made a turkey for the past 50 years or it's your first attempt at stuffing, there's always something that can turn a normal dish into an award-wining crowd pleaser.   So, go ahead and ask away. What would make your cooking better? Here to help with our Thanksgiving preparations is a "Patch Pro"— a local chef who has agreed to answer your questions about cooking in the comments section below. Meet our expert: • Executive Chef Kevin Petroske has been with Redstone American Grill for eight years, specializing in upscale American fare. He takes …

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Kevin Petroske

11:35 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012

Joanna, I would suggest after removing the giblets and washing the inside cavity lightly season with S&P and placing some rough chopped yellow onion, celery and carrot and trussing it tightly. Not necessary but it definitely adds to the flavor and aroma also add more depth to the pan dripping if you are making a sauce from them. The most important part is the time and temperature of the turkey. …   more ›

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Ring in the New Year With a Tasty Drink

Here is a list of beverages sure to impress your New Year's Eve guests.

This weekend marks New Year’s Eve—one of the most popular days to responsibly enjoy an adult beverage or two. If you've decided to host a party or stay home with your love, here are some drink recipes that are sure to impress your guests or anyone who drinks them. Remember, be smart, safe and stay off the roads—unless you have a designated driver. Blue Champagne Cocktail Ingredients you need: How to make a Blue Champagne Cocktail: New Year's Sparkler Ingredients you need: How to make a New Year's Sparkler: Resolute Cocktail Ingredients you need:  How to make a Resolute Cocktail: Winter Sangria Ingredients you need: How to make a Winter Sangria:   Golden Fruit Punch Ingredients you need: How to make a Golden Fruit Punch:   Gingerbling by …

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