Search Results for: blog welcome to yappy hour

Welcome To “Yappy Hour”

You don’t have to be a dog lover to love this blog. Here I thought Wisconsin was the booze capital of the midwest… I guess I was wrong. A friend of mine just returned from Minneapolis, Minnesota with his pooch Ming-Ming… drunk! Okay, I’m kidding, they weren’t drunk, but they did spend the weekend at the Millennium Hotel’s “Yappy Hour” where they imbibed in “poodle coladas,” “chocolate Labrador martinis,” and “K9 Cosmos.” It’s true… and they weren’t alone. The hotel hosted a cocktail-wagging happy hour for pets and their owners. From what I hear the turnout was incredible. Dog owners … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: Strap in Your Dog and Hide Your Camels

STRAP IN YOUR DOG I see them all the time, and frankly, my daughter gets the biggest kick when we pass one. I’m sure you’ve driven by a few on the highway yourself. I’m referring to pet owners who cruise down the street in their vehicles with their pets on their laps. Well, the cushy ride might be over for some furry friends if California lawmakers get their way. Earlier this week a bill passed the Assembly banning motorists from holding pets on their laps while driving. Disobey the rule and you’ll be slapped with a $35 fine. The bill … Continue reading →

Minneapolis—-More than Just Home to the Mall of America

I admit it; one of my first trips to Minneapolis, Minnesota was to visit what was then the world’s largest indoor shopping center–the Mall of America. The massive retail establishment is located in the suburb of Bloomington and is worth the 20-minute car ride from downtown Minneapolis. It is considered the Mecca of malls and with 2.5 million square feet (another 1.1 million square feet is being added), more than 500 stores, an indoor amusement park, a 1.2 million-gallon aquarium with more than 8,000 fish and other aquatic creatures, a virtual submarine ride, a wedding chapel, a NASCAR simulator, 50 … Continue reading →

Infamous Minneapolis Airport Bathroom Getting Make Over

In a previous blog I described how a single restroom in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was fast becoming one of the Twin Cities’ most popular tourist attractions. Thanks to Senator Larry Craig, the infamous airport men’s room where his recent arrest took place is now getting new stall dividers that stop just shy of the floor. It’s an addition airport officials say makes the stalls less inviting for inappropriate liaisons. Currently, the dividers leave enough space so a person could easily duck under them. Back in June an undercover police officer said Craig allegedly used the open space under … Continue reading →

Visiting Minneapolis Airport’s Infamous Bathroom and What NOT To Take Through An Airport Turnstile

Only in America… That’s what I thought when I heard that the bathroom stall made famous by U.S. Senator Larry Craig’s arrest in a sex sting has become a major tourist attraction in the Twin Cities. According to employees at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, thousands of travelers have been taking pictures of the infamous site where the prominent lawmaker claimed he was merely trying to pick up a piece toilet tissue that fell to the ground. The Idaho Republican was arrested June 11 by a Minneapolis airport police officer and later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Since then … Continue reading →

More Minneapolis Must-Sees

In the wake of the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis I have been writing about my favorite Twin Cities attractions. I realize the bridge tragedy is causing many to amend their travel plans and find alternate routes in the Minneapolis area, but hopefully the incident won’t deter you from visiting. The Twin Cities is a vibrant space that has so much to offer. Here now are a few more of my favorite places to visit in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and whenever I visit the Minnesota Landscape … Continue reading →

Minneapolis’ Must-See Attractions

In a previous blog I wrote about the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis. In the wake of the tragedy many visitors have been forced to amend their travel plans to the Twin Cities. According to officials, for at least the next 15 months, drivers will have to find alternate routes to get to and from the city and the northern suburbs. Despite the fact that it will be a challenge (and a frustration) for most travelers, it doesn’t take away from the vibrancy of the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area has so much to offer visitors … Continue reading →

Minneapolis’ Road To Recovery

Wednesday’s collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge hit close to home for me. Not only do I have friends and family who live in Minnesota (my cousin’s husband is a doctor at a hospital where many of the bridge victims were treated), but I have crossed that bridge many times myself. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the 35W bridge, it is a major Twin Cities artery. It connects downtown Minneapolis with the University of Minnesota and the northern suburbs. The bridge is packed every day. Typically, you have about 140,000 vehicles (bumper to bumper) trying to speed … Continue reading →

The Dog’s House

In my previous blog dedicated to pet owners I provided tips on what should be done around your home prior to bringing Fido or Fluffy home for the first time. In another blog entitled “Home Remodeling and Your Pet,” I recommended looking at your home through your pet’s eyes before you fork over money to have a contractor refurbish your home. In this blog I’m addressing the category of pet owners my brother fits into—lazy. My brother owns a pug and the thought of redecorating his home around Bertha was simply out of the question. (“Way too much work,” he … Continue reading →

Home Remodeling And Your Pet

In a previous blog I told you about my friend who surveyed her home on her hands and knees looking for safety hazards prior to bringing her new puppies home. It’s a good idea—even better if you are planning to redecorate or remodel your home. Before you hire contractors, experts recommend you look at your home through your pet’s eyes: Floors Before you choose a new floor consider how well it will hold up to scratches? Also, ask yourself how easy is it to clean (should Fido have an “accident”). According to animal experts, tile, linoleum and hardwood floors are … Continue reading →