Tweeting with @ssoli about this weekends #FoodWineShow taking place at #TargetField and @WMinneapolis. Lets go!

@ssoli is the Exec Director of Marketing & Events at @MNMOmag, so she’s the perfect person to share details about the #FoodWineShow.

So Sara, with this weekend being the 19th #FoodWineShow, is it getting easier to coordinate and plan?

Sara:    I would say that we have a good system in place and great team that executes this event.

That’s great! Let first break down what’s going to be there in the way of wine & food options. How many varieties?

Sara:    This year @MNMOmag #foodwineshow we have more than 200 vendors, 350 fine wines and 75 craft beers featured.

So a lot to choose from! Is the @MNMOmag #FoodWineShow exclusively MN products?

Sara:    No, it is not exclusively MN but there are several to try. Including @mncraftbrew, @CannonRiverWine, @midwestpantry

In addition to being able to indulge in a variety of food and wine samples, what events are a part of the #FoodWineShow?

Sara:    We also have wine seminars featuring @WineCommission & the Grand Red @WMinneapolis w/ @parasole

They sound great. For the #newbie to the #FoodWineShow, what would you tell them to do for a good experience?

Sara:    Use the tasting notes to keep track of favs, pace yourself, ask ?’s, buy your favorite products while you are there

How about for the #pro, who may have been there a few times before. What should they look forward to?

Sara:    Foodwise @WisconsinCheese, @WholeFoods, @UNIONmpls, @redstagNE, @ButcherandBoar, @SEVENMPLS to name a few. Beerwise…

@BrewingCompany, @SchellsBrewery, @BellsBrewery, @Summitbeer, @TravelerBeer as a start +wine – there are so many

On Saturday at @WMinneapolis is the #GrandRedTasting with @T_McKee. How would you describe this event?

Sara:    This is for the serious food and wine lover. @T_McKee has created a one of a kind pairing menu that allows attendees to …

truly enjoy the best of @parasole paired with amazing red wines. There will be additional red wine to sample as well.

With the #FoodWineShow and the #GrandRedTasting only 3 days away, what’s the best way for people to get tickets?

Sara:    Tickets are still available http://www.foodwineshow.com . Saturday will sell out, so don’t delay.

Joel:    Thank you very much for your time and insights into this weekends @MNMOmag #FoodWineShow. See you there!

Sara:    Thanks so much. We hope to see all of you @MNMOmag #foodwineshow. FB and tweet @MNMOmag while you are there!

Interview conducted on Feb 27,2013

Good morning everyone! It’s snowing in MN, but lets focus on what’s new with @ShayneWellsMSP of @BUZN1029.

Good morning! :) So share us a little bit about your background. Where are you from and how did you get into radio?

Shayne:    Morning! Well more like afternoon when you get up at 4am! I’m a Washington St. native. Came to MN from CA in 2010.

Moved to MN 4 a job as an entertainment reporter at KARE 11. Switched 2 radio, @buzn1029 last May where I do mornings

What made you get into TV/radio, and what’s been the biggest adjustments for you between the 2?

Shayne:    As a kid I was giving weather forecasts 2 my fam. TV news was a passion. As I looked to try a new industry radio..

radio, seemed like the perfect fit. Still broadcasting, lots of fun, interviews, and I love music, always have.

Good to know your passions and have fun on the job! Where does MSP rank for country music markets?

Shayne:    not sure honestly. We’re a good sized city with a ton of country music lovers & we draw the biggest artists & sell out.

Who are some of your favorite country artists, and what are some places you’d recommend fans check out in the TC’s?

That is, places that offer the country music vibe.

Shayne:    I have a ton of faves, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, The Civil Wars, Lady A.

the casinos around here get in some great artists! Plus, you can make a day trip out of it. Win Win.

Any good places you’d recommend for good hats or boots for fans or country music? When’s the next big concert?

Shayne:    RCC Western at the MOA has a lot of options. Also, Cowgirl Tuff at Ridgedale mall.

On your free time, what kinds of things do you enjoy doing? Do you have any favorite restaurants after 3yrs in MN?

Shayne:    I love running, reading and going out to drink and/or eat w/friends. I love the Lowry, Broders, Oceanaire, Brasa, BLG

Joel:    Thanks for you time today on #MNMOtv! Keep up the good work and positive spirit! :)

[Interview conducted on Wed Feb 6,2013]

Imagine interning for a company that you grew up admiring, and then years later, after working for other companies that do similar work, being able to come back where you interned and getting a role there that you enjoy doing. That’s what happened to Jamie Yuccas. Find out the path of this energetic journalist, and learn what she enjoys doing when she’s not either in front of a camera reporting in the field or sitting behind an anchor’s desk.

Welcome to a Twitterview (Twitter+interview) with @wcco TV reporter/anchor, @JamieYuccas. Lets see how she is today!

Jamie:    Doing well! We’re all in good moods over the new set!

That’s right! @WCCO does have a new set. Have you been able to “practice” getting used to it yet?

Jamie:    We’ve been doing rehearsals.

Great! Congrats on your 1yr Anniv of the #wccoSATam show. How has the first year gone for you?

Jamie:    I honestly can’t believe it’s been a year! It’s flying by! I guess that’s what the saying is for… We’re all having fun!

You and @Mattt_Brickman seem to have lots of fun. In 1-5 Tweets, what have been some of your favorite segments?

Jamie:    I think every Best of MN by @matt_brickman are fantastic.

it’s hard to pick a favorite. I also think @DeRushaEats does a great job showing off all MN has to offer with food!

I loved hanging with the @mnrollergirls

I just love meeting new people and trying new things. And Saturdays have allowed me to do that in all kinds of ways.

we’ve helped charities, laughed at ourselves and learned new things. How awesome is that?

my only hope is the audience is learning, having fun and laughing along with us!

oh! And Doga was pretty fun, too. My pup, Murphy, is still zen.  pic.twitter.com/NzfWK3ts

it’s true! I get people thanking me, because we help plan their weekend with new spots!

Dog haircut soon? To shift gears, can you share why you got interested in journalism, and where you first started?

Jamie:    Saturday! I always knew. I made up a newspaper, called “The Loon Lagoon.” I’d make my cousins write for it!

I also used to record little radio shows.

then in high school at MGSH, I took journalism with Ms. Caruso. Loved her! She helped me get to the U of M J-school.

I interned @wcco!

I then went to Rochester, MN for my first on air gig, then Fort Myers, FL. Now, I’m home @wcco!

Who were the anchors at @WCCO when you interned there, and how excited were you when you were hired in 2011 by @wcco?

Jamie:    I was very excited! Don Shelby and @WCCOAmelia were the main anchors.

You’ve done quite a few segments on fitness.  Do you do much of that outside of work? Do you run/jog?

Jamie:    I do! I run or do the elliptical almost every day. I’m going to run the TC 10 mile in two weeks.

I also love yoga, Pilates and walking the dogs. Just don’t get to do those more relaxing workouts enough

That’s sounds like a good balance. Your Twitter BIO says that you’re a foodie. Any restaurant recommendations?

Jamie:    My MOM’S. you’ll never get a better food/wine experience! My brother and I have been bugging her to open up something!

I think my brother and I were the only college kids to ever LOSE 15 pounds our freshman year

Kudos to your mom! :) To close, when can people see you next on TV next?

Jamie:    Tonight at 5. Photographer is driving, while I tweet. Headed to Danbury, WI for Reena Williams parent’s arraignment.

Joel:    Alright. Then on @wcco #SATam starting at 8am with @Matt_Brickman. Thanks for your time today Jamie. Have a good one!

Jamie:    You, too, Joel!

Art can be a difficult subject for people to agree on. Art to one person can be confusing or unappreciated to another. It’s hard to unite people on exactly what art is all of the time. What though if it has elements that allow everyone to understand what it is? Say images of a neighborhood or community, all combined into one piece of art, like a collage.  That’s exactly the type of art that you’ll findGiesla Hoelscher working on and sharing with others.  Get to learn more about her and her art that honors cities and neighborhoods from around the country.

Hello, and welcome to today’s @MNMOmag Twitterview with Twin Cities collage artist, @GieslaAnne. Lets get this started!

Tell us a little bit about your background. Where you grew up and when your interest in art started.

Giesla:    I’m a lifelong MN resident & currently live in St. Paul.

When asked in kindergarten what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said “an artist”!

I never really faltered from that. I studied psychology for a brief period, then interior & graphic design.

Where did you go for your interior and graphic design schooling? What kind of art were you drawn too?

Giesla:    I went to the U of MN. I graduated with an Associate’s in Graphic Design from Globe College (now Globe University).

I appreciate all kinds of art, it’s really hard to pick an absolute favorite. I’m really drawn to modern art.

As far as graphic design, I have a soft spot for vintage design, particular graphics from the 50s and 60s.

When did you start making your own art for selling publicly, and what made you choose collages?

Giesla:    I had a difficult time finding a job after 9/11. There were more layoffs than hiring so I started doing freelance.

I just wasn’t crazy about the work. I started making things by hand at the encouragement of a co-worker at the time.

I started my own business in 2002 & started doing art fairs. The collage work wasn’t the main focus initially.

I started doing collages b/c it was my favorite college project. I chose the local theme b/c I love where I live.

Can you describe some of the pieces that you’ve done to give people an idea of your local themes?

Giesla:    The artwork is mostly done with my own photography, but I’ve also used vintage postcards & maps in some pieces.

The theme is either a major city or focuses on part of the city, for example, San Francisco or Bourbon Street.

Here in MN, I generally focus on parts of Saint Paul or Minneapolis or areas of MN, like the North Shore.

I’ve had a great deal of requests for MN colleges as they make great gifts & I’m slowly building a collection.

I also like to highlight the greatest parts of the Twin Cities, like the lakes and the arts, for example

When it come to MN and the arts community, is their a good network to connect with, or lots of independent people?

Giesla:    There is an AMAZING arts community here in MN. One of my favorite parts of doing art fairs is connecting w/artists

We also have great organizations like @mnartistsdotorg and @SpringboardArts that do excellent work w/artists.

Great to know about @mnartistsdotorg and @SpringboardArts. Any location offline that people can see your work at?

Giesla:    Absolutely! My favorite independent shops are the Artist Mercantile in St. Paul or Your Art’s Desire in Minnetonka.

If you prefer shopping at a mall, my work is at Deck the Walls in @mallofamerica or their new Rosedale location.

I’ll be at the Rosedale location on October 20th for a signing event from 1-4pm.

Joel:    Thanks so much @GieslaAnne for sharing some of your life and activities on #MNMOtv today. Have a great rest of the week!

Giesla:    Thank you, @JoelECarlson, for having me on #MNMOtv. It was my pleasure!

Hello to all of the #MNMOtv followers! Today’s guest is singer/songwriter and a co-host on @Cities97radio, @KeriNoble1. Lets welcome her!

Keri:    Super excited. My very first “Twitterview”!

Glad to have you as a guest! Tell us a little bit about your background. Where you grew up & childhood interests.

Keri:    I was born in Ft Worth, Tx. We moved from TX to IL, b4 moving back to TX.

Eventually, when i was in 2nd or 3rd grade, we moved (& settled) in Detroit, MI

I was home-schooled ’til 4th grade.

I was home-schooled ’til 4th grade. My mom was a teacher at the school, and my dad was a southern baptist pastor.

I spent most of my time, as a kid, at church. Choir, Sunday School, Bible studies, etc.

When i finally went 2 school, took me a while 2 b comfortable, but by 6th grade, i discovered boys & being social.

Later, i got super involved in the drama program, & was certain i was gonna b an actress!

At what age did you start writing your own songs, and what kinds of music did you listen to?

Keri:    Music’s always been a part of my family/life. Mom was a choir director, i took piano lessons, sang in the choir, etc

But i didn’t start writing ’til i was a freshman in college, after hearing Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”

That was a game-changer 4 me. B4 that, i listened to contemp. christian music as a kid, and R&B/hip hop as a teen

Once i discovered Joni, i devoured any singer-songwriter i could get my hands on Shawn Colvin Carol King Patty Griffin

I’d listened 2 music my whole life but hearing singer-songwriters made me want to actually create music 4 the 1st time

Something about that music made it feel safe 4 me to express things i wasn’t sure i could say in real life

That’s a great list! In addition to singing and songwriting, what musical instruments do you know how to play?

Keri:    Piano’s my main instrument. I can play a little guitar. Not well, but i can hack it if i have to!

Some people write music from personal experience, others write from observations. What moves you to write?

Keri:    Always personal experience. Not necessarily something that happened directly 2 me, but maybe someone close 2 me

Sometimes i can write like crazy & other times i have nothing 2 say. Has everything 2 do w/what’s going on in my life.

More than anything, my songs have been directly related to whatever i’m feeling/going through

When writing a new song, can it be difficult to, in a sense, edit your feelings? To make the lyrics work better.

Keri:    The goal is NOT 2 edit, if possible. U can edit l8r. The writing process should b as pure/unfiltered as possible.

Nearly impossible 2 turn the internal critic off, but if u can get in2 a zone w/no distractions & a quiet mind…gold!

2 many details/specifics can yank a listener out of the “painting” that they’ve created, so i do try to avoid that

for example, i don’t need 2 mention names, eye color, the city, what we were eating, etc. 1 or 2 details is plenty

People connect when they can picture themselves in songs. That’s what i try 2 do. Tell a story but not get in the way.

For sure! Shifting gears, your BIO says that you’re a Detroit loyalist. Has it been tough watching their hardships?

Keri:    Heartbreaking.

It’s not hard to cheer for Detroit. There’s SO much history. It’s made up of fighters. Don’t count ‘em out yet!

My family’s still in D, so i go home several times a year. It’s hard to see the pain, but there’s a lot of beauty, too.

They seem to be working at innovative things to revive the area. Lastly, lets talk about your @Cities97radio gig…

Keri:    YES! Let’s talk about my @cities97radio gig! I’m having a blast!

Had you ever done radio before and did you know who @BrianOake was?

Keri:    I have the BEST partner/co-host IN THE BIZ! @BrianOake

@BrianOake He had interviewed me several times as an artist at Oake on the Water. We always had a good time.

I was doing the @PowerTripKFAN on @KFAN1003 for the last year b4 joining @cities97radio in April of this last year.

I was the “Girl Around Town”, talking about what was happening in the Twin Cities.

@Chawk1003 producer of @PowerTripKFAN was the 1st person 2 give me a chance on the radio.Wouldn’t b here w/out him

@LMac97 gave me my BIG break on @cities97radio & @BrianOake & i have been having a blast ever since.

@BrianOake Oake’s been a radio staple here in the TC for a long time. It’s really an honor 2 share the mornings w/him.

With both radio programs being in the morning, I’m guessing that you’re a “morning person”? No on-air chemistry issues?

Keri:   Oddly enough, i love mornings. don’t get me wrong-i’d love to sleep in a little l8r, but…

i get up at 2:45 most mornings 2 hit the gym b4 coming in to work. helps me get my head clear & ready 4 the day.

I still pop over 2 the @PowerTripKFAN every Mon/Fri @ 8:30 just 2 give ‘em a hard time.

“on-air chemistry issues” LOL! @BrianOake & i spar every morning, but its brother/sister teasing that makes it so fun!

Joel:    The @PowerTripKFAN needs a rough time. :) Thanks for your time today and Tweeting some of your thoughts on #MNMOtv. Good work!

Keri:    Thanks for being my 1st ever Twitterview! Anytime!

Hello, and welcome to today’s Twitterview with local mom, blogger and cookbook author, @FoodforMyFamily. Lets go!

Shaina:    Hi, Joel. Thanks for having me

How’s today going on the homefront?

Shaina:    Good. I’m fairly certain there’s a dip in the pool in the future for the kids. That’s all they do in the summer.

Good plan! :) So share with us a little bit about yourself Shaina. Where did you grow up and go to school?

Shaina:    I started in St. Paul, and then we moved to Champlin. I attended Champlin Park HS, and went to UMN from there.

when my husband Ole was in grad school we moved back to St. Paul so he could ride his bike to campus. Haven’t gone far

I see. When did the writing/blogging “bug” bite you and was food your first subject of choice?

Shaina:    I have wanted to write for as long as I can remember. I have books full of writing all the way through school.

I used to write stories, and I still do. Doesn’t everyone want to write a novel? No?

Food was my one & only blog subject. I wanted 2 encourage people 2 start cooking & caring about what’s in their food.

That’s a good plan. So when did you start your blog and how has evolved over the years?

Shaina:    That’s a good plan. So when did you start your blog and how has evolved over the years?

When did you first get asked about doing a cookbook, and did you say “yes” right away?

Shaina:    My editor at HCP first contacted me in June of ’11 It took me about a month to decide that it was the project for me.

So how did you come up with the topic/subject for your cookbook?

Shaina:    It was based off some work I had done for a freelance contract. It was a cute idea, and no one had covered it yet.

The appeal for me was more reasons to stock up on cute jars. ;) I love glass.

Congrats on being published! #DesertsInJars – book.  Have you started a book tour yet?

Shaina:    I have! I’ll be adding dates & information here so you can see where I’m headed! http://bit.ly/MZbLBn  #dessertsinjars

And thank you! It’s been a lot of fun, and I hope/plan on doing it again soon.

Will writing cookbooks then lead you to doing less blogging?

Shaina:    On the contrary, I intend to transition to focusing more on my site & writing the content I want out there for others.

Joel:    Well that’s good! Thanks for your time today and keep up the good work with writing about food!

Shaina:    Thank you both for having me!  cc: MNMOmag

Hello everybody! Welcome to today’s Twitterview with @FatimaOlive, a contributor to #TCStyle for @MNMOmag. Lets get rolling!

Fatima:    Hi Joel !

@FatimaOlive Is Tweeting from a commercial shoot today. How’s it going so far?

Fatima:    It’s always fun to be on set.

To start of with. Please share a little about yourself. Where you grew up and what kinds of things interested you.

Fatima:    I am originally from Miami FL. I grew up watching my older sister do her makeup and hair and I was mesmerized

I also was interested in theatre pretty early on. Both onstage and backstage.

I even remember doing photo shoots with my Barbies.

in a way I still play with Barbies. They are just alive now.

There’s a joke in there somewhere, but I’ll leave it alone. So what kind of schooling/training did you get?

Fatima:    Thanks for leaving that one alone!

I went to college for theatre, and I love being backstage just as much as being on stage.

Creating a character really starts back stage with hair and makeup.

I attended cosmetology school as well

Working in salons really helped me put the techniques I learn into practice in a more suttle way.

The fun part of getting ready is in a way creating a character.

Okay. So do you work for a company or do you hire yourself out to other businesses?

Fatima:    I don’t work for any companies, but I consult and do product development on a freelance basis.

I am also represented by @utopianyc for my print and commercial work

Good for you! :) So are there any trends right now that you don’t like? What’s a common mistake people make w/makeup?

Fatima:    My approach with makeup is less is more. A common mistake is to not spend enough time perfecting the skin

if the skin is flawless (or appears that way) you need less of everything else.

I also think you need to be open to change.

Just because something worked in your 20s doesn’t mean it’s going to work in you’re 30s

but it may work agin when you’re 50……

as for trends right now I LOVE bright #red lips!

Good suggestions! Lets get to your #TCStyle work with @MNMOstyle. How did the 2 of you get working together?

Fatima:    I worked on a makeover shoot @MNMOmag with @MNMOstyle and we hit it off. Katie is fabulous!

We had such a great rapport, and I love sharing what I’ve learned through my work with women.

@mnmostyle invited me to contribute to the blog. It’s so much fun.

We have a great team #MNMOtv

Joel:    And @MNMOstyle appears to be making some #BabyNews as well. :) Thanks for your time today, and keep up the good work!

Fatima:    My pleasure!

[Interview was conducted on July 26,2012]