Localism! | A Blog by Clique

In Season Restaurant serves food, just like it sounds, in season! Set in the vibrant Armatage neighborhood of South Minneapolis, In Season offers creative dishes inspired by the four seasons, in a comfortable yet elegant environment prepared daily by a local Chef Don Saunders. He has a solid reputation for producing some of the finest cuisine in the Twin Cities. The menu constantly evolves, and the ideas and the offerings are guaranteed to be fresh, seasonal and spontaneous.

 Piccolo Restaurant cuisine focuses on quality over quantity: putting what is seasonal and creating ahead of what is safe and familiar. Small plates or a la carte, is what we like to refer to sampling of the menu here. It is designed to allow guests a chance to create a different dining experience with each visit, pairing risk with reward and wine with a few o'dourves. The menu changes frequently, buying locally and seasonally whenever possible and allowing for an array of flavors to each beautifully crafted plate.

Barbette Restaurant Chef Kevin Kathman uses local and organic ingredients as often as possible, presenting beautiful food in a casual, eclectic, bistro atmosphere. Barbette serves grass-fed beef, free-range organic pork, free-range organic chicken and eggs, all locally sourced. They also pay close attention to the sourcing of their seafood. Being part of the Heartland Food Network, their mission is to encourage and facilitate the increased consumption of local foods as a way to build stronger communities, healthier lives and a cleaner environment.

Sparks Restaurant owners Amor and Jonathan (also owners of Rinata Restaurant in Minneapolis) decided to take on a new venture when Jonathan moved to Bryn Mawr neighborhood in Minneapolis and noticed lack of a restaurant. With a wood-burning oven they harness many types of foods and cuisines. The beverage menu carries an ample selection of local beers on draft and wines from around the world. Keeping the prices low enough to invite many of the neighbors to experience their fresh Mediterranean flare!

Craftsman Restaurant building located near the Mississippi River, been serving locals since 1942. In 2004 the Mike and Susan Dooley opened The Craftsman Restaurant, after the building and grounds underwent an addition and substantial makeover in the Arts & Crafts tradition. The Craftsman kitchen embraces the same philosophy of respecting the earth and living in harmony with nature. The menu changes seasonally to take advantage of the great variety of organic produce, naturally raised meat, poultry, seafood, and artisanal cheeses from local farmers and coops. In house canning and preserving extends the season's bounty, which you can enjoy and rave to us about!

2. If you are in the mood for a bit of non-traditional Easter weekend dining, check out Namaste Café. Serving organic South Asian cuisine this weekend on their brand newly reopened patio. Come on down and chomp on some tasty curries and have yourself a flavorful weekend.

3. Since this weekend is all about fish feasting, get yourself down to Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar. Sundays they celebrate the all-mighty lobster with Lobster Sundays.  Go on an seaside adventure, but get there early because once they’re gone, they’re gone! 

4. Before you go off to see the family, get your hair did at Lemon Water salon. Get a blowout or a fresh cut. This is a good time for a spring revamp, plus you’ll be making a great impression on all your family members. This weekend and going forward they make it easy to visit them at all three of their locations.

5. Feeling casual this holiday dining weekend? Head down to Pizza Nea! Their traditional Neopolitan It is said that the Margherita pizza is a classic find with all the proper royal ingredients that made this pizza fit enough for a queen. Get down here and get your pizza and history lessons on the story of this majestic pizza pie.

Board Games. Remember those boxes and boxes of entertainment that family used to gather around and have a good old time, before everything got digitized? This pastime brings about unexpected results of camaraderie, communication and laughter. Our favorites are Chess, Risk, and Charades. Check out Games by James with 5 Minneapolis locations. 

Watch a movie. There’s nothing quiet so comforting as snuggling up on the couch and watching your favorite flick while indulging in copious amount of homemade popcorn and butter.  Be sure to stop by Surdyk’s on your way home to stock up on ample supply of snacks like cheeses, chocolates and a vino to pair with the previous two for a cozy evening at home. 

Cook a dinner. There is something so wonderful and exciting about pulling out a new recipe and going to town with the ingredients trying to master the dish. Bad weather is a great motivator to stay home where it’s warm and enjoy the simplicity of just being there. Our favorite store for culinary adventures is Cooks of Crocus Hill, they have all the cookware you could dream of and offer may classes you can attend once the weather gets better to step up your searing game. 

Spring Cleaning, and we don’t mean the scrubbing kind. Going through your closets and cleaning out old unworn items, could not only give you a feeling of lightness but also help you generate a few bucks. Blacklist Vintage sells some of the best threads around, but also buys. We love and support this local highly sustainable retailer! 

List your favorite locally independent stores that should be featured on Clique and send them to us. We are currently picking select independent retailers and restaurants that will get a custom made original post that showcases their products and services. Message us on our Facebook page, we look forward to hearing from you!

The next two hours proceeded with the founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, Horst Rechelbacher, sharing his insight on living a healthy, natural lifestyle through the foods we eat and the daily choices we make. According to the latest presidential cancer report, synthetically made insecticides, herbicide, fungicides and pesticides are linked to all cancers - therefore you should think certified organic!

  The event had a great turnout, about 150 people were in attendance throughout the entire evening and many were able to mingle with local business owners in the Metro area. Many of the businesses in attendance were in the insurance, journalism, and construction. It was a great event to share with others who Clique is, what we offer and how we can help those around us! We received great responses and much encouragement.

  Once the snow melts here, there will be plenty more events to attend as parks and outdoor event centers open up. We look forward to seeing you around the Twin Cities all summer long!

The Local welcomes you into the old world. Their food is top priority, fish and chips, the classics and more than a few ringers for the worldly eaters. The craic is good too. There’s always something to watch, even when the rugby isn’t on the screen. You can find a corner of the bar to lean up against, a snug to gather friends inside, or a lovely pub table to watch the world go by as you imbibe the finest pour.

Kieran's Irish Pub should be on your lineup if you’re looking for a great Irish Pub with some fantastic Irish music. This pub hasone festive line up for this St Patrick's day! Live music that starts at noon with two stages that will go right until 2AM. Brian Boru pipe band will be coming through the pub to really get the atmosphere going.

Keegan’s Pub was designed and built by O’Sullivan Interiors in Waterford, Ireland. The design was completed in late 2001 and the pub was built in Waterford then transported via container ship and train in January 2002. Four Irish craftsmen came to Minneapolis to reconstruct the pub in this location and an Irish decorator and his apprentice followed to complete the interior and exterior finishing. For Saint Patrick's Day there will be a Tent Party that will open at 9AM, with breakfast and food specials all weekend long. Four Pints Shy plays on Saturday night in the tent, Erin Rogue plays on Sunday night and the Minnesota Police Pipe Band will play both afternoons!

 Pat McGover's St.Paul is a hot spot for all ages, neat inside, great wings and an awesome spot for a beer before the Wild games. Plus, it's walking distance to the Excel. Our charming neighborhood pub is one of the Saintly City's favorite haunts. Whether here for a sporting event, a downtown happening, the "wearing of the green" or just a simple gathering with friends or family, enjoy friendly service, hearty comestibles and spirited libations while relaxing near a fireplace or on their award-winning patio.

The Liffey Irish Pub in St.Paul is newly remodeled home away from home filled with warmth and character. With a well-rounded menu and world-class service, it’s worth a visit to the other side of the river. Conveniently located just across from Xcel Energy Center and St. Paul River Center, it is the ideal destination before or after your next Wild game, Ordway performance or concert.

To end, we leave you with this:  

Ivy Fitness is not just the kind of place to get in shape at, but also a place to nurture the body whole.  'Simply beyond' is their motto for everything they do, in hair, skincare, bodywork, and fitness facilities. Get into their bodywork and skincare services, after a nice run on a treadmill or a climb on an elliptical machine. Be sure to check out their yoga and pilates classes too! During the month of March, you can enjoy their tropical-inspired treatments to get you into Aloha-state of–mind. 

The Firm is a totally different kind of experience, but will get you into shape nonetheless and then some. This very fast-paced environment and workouts will leave you feeling ready to take on the world, or at least to rock your new two-piece bathing suit!

501Fit offers the G-Werx system, created and patented by the gym’s founder Phil Martens. G-Werx delivers 100+ machine and free weight exercises being a complete full body workout station. Great location, affordable and the right size for a gym where everyone knows your name.

North Loop Fitness has everything you need to get into the best shape of your life. Specializing in performance training, injury rehabilitation, strength training, small group training and workouts for the ‘weekend warrior.’ We think they would do a swell training job for the 'beach jetsetter' too!

The Shed fitness Studio tops our list of places to get ready for beachy weather. Small classes with expert instructors to get the most of your time. This gym doesn’t go the membership fee route; you just pay for the classes you take. Many of which are taught on their secluded outdoor rooftop deck when weather allows, get there early these fill up!

1.     JB Hudson Jewelers, this mecca of designer jewelry has everything you can think of for her and for him. Watches come from every corner of the world to this showroom: Tag Heuer, Chanel, Cartier, plus many others. They also have a nice selection of earrings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants. Anything you pick out for your loved one will have a unique taste and is sure to please them on Valentine’s Day.

2.     Bobiam Art, is one of our favorite destinations in the Twin Cities. We love their mission to give exposure to young highly talented artists. Here they have everything from paintings to posters, iPhone cases and mugs, and clothing too! Gifts here are unique and support local youth, thus your community.

3.     Angel Food is a place where the quality of the pastries and desserts bought here, will blow the roof off your loved ones home. To simply put, this place is the bomb. With an astonishing selection of savory and sweet indulgences, a gift box from here is sure to sweeten anyone.

4.     Surdyk's is the place to please with their wine and cheese selection. Super knowledgeable staff and an array of new and surprising ways to enjoy the art of good food. Plus, and impeccable selection of every kind of chocolate you can think of: organic, super dark, super light, gourmet, and anything else your sweet Valentine’s day sweet tooth desires!

5.     Cooks of Crocus Hill will surprise and delight anyone that receivers a gift of cooking class to learn from one of their veteran chefs. Every range of classes is offered, some by locals such as Lucia Watson, also by national celebrities like Thomas Keller, plus classes for kids, ethics and wine knowledge. Gift your way to a gourmet meal on this romantic holiday.

Here are some ways to reverse "showrooming" by giving savvy consumers the tools and incentives to research online, then buy local:

1.    By offering a unique selection of products that caters directly to the niche of customers that patronize your store, you are able to draw consumers in not only for the item they are seeking but to discover what else might be available in your interest range.  By having a points or loyalty system, the more dollars you spend the deeper and more frequent the discounts get. Having high quality products with a story that creates an emotional connection are more likely to be purchased in one place again and again, knowing that family/manufacturer/farmer is who the customer is supporting.

2.    Supporting your partner businesses on social media properties is another way to show support for those businesses and have the ability to combine the followers and fans for a network effect. For example a local flower shop and a boutique.

3.    A walk-in customer should never leave the store without connecting via email, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram with the establishment. There are many fun ways to showcase what the brand is about on those pages, as well as entice the customer about new yet-unreleased goods. Interaction is a loss of engagement of this type has not been made.

4.    Investing in small perks (by potential utilizing relationships with, for example, the neighborhood bakery or local chocolate company #2) might make the difference between two stores that offer the same merchandise online or off. Everybody wants to feel like they are getting something for nothing, so make that happen and they will always keep coming back for more just to see what you got up your sleeve. Just think Sephora and their point redemption program- one doesn’t get a lot, but it’s still what keep us coming back there instead of going to Macy’s for the same item. Clique works very similarly.

5.    In our application Clique we are able to showcase sample stories about different stores, their histories, their mission, and other fun tidbits that will keep customers busy for days getting to know the story behind and the benefits of keeping money in the local economy.

6.    Set aside time to talk to your distributors.  By combing two locally minded heads wonders can happen! Have regular meetings/events both for suppliers and consumers.

7.    Outfit your store in best light and steadily engage your customers by taking tips from national companies by having flash sales, pop up stores and 3D experiences with your goods on your social platforms.

1.     ROAM. Anyone who’s been to the bustling Uptown part of Minneapolis couldn’t miss ROAM. With it's electric home décor medley of bright and neutral colors, ne could one wish for a bigger dwelling and a bigger wallet to get more of everything they offer. Ranging from small kitchen utensils to large big-ticket furniture items, this store will have you leaving with one of their reusable bags and is sure to spruce up your home in some minute but precious way.

2.     Moss Envy. Another huge favorite of ours in Minneapolis. These guys bring style and substance to the table. From Maplewood crib to reclaimed Barnwood Pine Timber coffee table, they have the big items your soul desires. Everything in the store was hand picked to suit the sustainability-focused lifestyle.  They even got the Eco-friendly Wall-mounted fireplace. Go on take a look, see for yourself why we pick this place again and again for our home dwelling needs.

3.     The Foundry Home Goods. Everything about this store screams comfort. Situated in the up-and-coming warehouse district downtown Minneapolis, it will make you rethink the theme of your home, and make you wish you could be snuggling up to your new purchase instead of sitting in traffic en route home.  Choose from 100% natural fiber fabrics, to unique glassware and an array of all-soy candles of every shape to fir your lifestyle. They’ve got a friendly puppy in he store too, try not to succumb to its cuteness.

4.     Movables. For a taste of second-hand vintage pieces, try this eclectic home furnishings consignment store. You will not find items available at this nook anywhere else in town, mostly because all of them are unique! The prices are also a great discovery. Most furniture items are a fraction of what you'd pay for similar items in stock brand new. So go on, make it a day at this local gem!

5.    Decori Designs. For a more sophisticated elegant look try this respectable designer store. With the largest collection of fabrics in Minneapolis these veteran designers will make your house into a home. Give them a chance to light up your home with their skillful knowledge and an array of plush canopies, to keep your warm and cozy all winter long!