The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

So, am I right on this? The government wants to send me six-hundred bucks? Well, that's the sort of policy I can get behind, friends ... But at first, when I heard the news, I thought: Now, g'on ahead and feed that to your wee, pup of an investment portfolio. But that sort of defeats the purpose of an economic stimulus, right? So then, I realized, it is my duty to blow this dough--and guilt free, too!

Understand me on this: I do not advocate Keynesian economics, especially when it comes to personal spending. Still, sadly, I couldn't resist outlining, in my head, a lefty little plan for how I might help with the economy: clothes, shoes, locally-owned retailers as much as possible, oh, and if I can support a local craftsperson or two all the better. The conclusion of this thought process: What's the harm in procuring the threads I want now, and then paying them off later--when I've got the coin?

This has all been a roundabout way of explaining my mindset when, last night, I hauled over to La Bodega to enjoy the Avoid The Gray fashion show, sponsored by the local boutique Cliché.

And Avoid The Gray they certainly did! To be quite honest, I wasn't keen on some of the paisley and floral satins that marched down the aisle. But I was inspired by a few of the runway looks: