Rapp Strategies Rundown – December 2019
What we’re reading, listening to and thinking about this month.
Todd R.: Here are my takeaways from 2019. Best binging: Fleabag – best by a landslide. Best binging (show I’d never heard of before watching): Peaky Blinders. Favorite comfortable restaurant: Saint Dinette. How can a cheeseburger and dessert pancake be this good? Best new podcast: Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend. Favorite book of the year: Doing Justice by Preet Bharara. Biggest surprise: How good Springsteen on Broadway on Netflix was. And last, best live concert: Rod Stewart at Treasure Island. The opening act, Little River Band, inspired the best existential question of the year: If a band has no original members, is it actually a cover band?
Alyssa: Before Christmas, we took our family to see “A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie. We also saw Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and loved it. It ended perfectly.
Todd S.: The Stone Family traveled to the Minnesota Arboretum for its “Winter in Bloom” event. The holiday lights displays throughout the gardens certainly provided a holiday mood. The 3-degree temperature was a chilling reminder that yes, winter was truly “in bloom.”
Rich: December has been primarily consumed by preparations for the holidays. Our entire family will be in Minnesota to share stories and enjoy being together. We will take a break from politics (particularly Washington politics) and focus on family and how fortunate we are. Happy holidays to all.
Sarah: An upcoming trip has me re-watching old episodes of Anthony Bourdain shows to get good tips on what to do in Paris next month. I also binged through the entire Chefs Table France this month. A friendly argument about the proper way to eat lefse (I’m team savory) put me down a click-hole of common toppings and spreads in order to prove a point.
Anna: This month, I happily devoured the newest book from one of my favorite authors, Julie Klassen (who is also my former boss). With impeccable historical detail, romance and an undercurrent of mystery, The Bridge to Belle Island is a delight. I also watched the stellar classic White Christmas for the first time, and the nauseatingly sweet The Knight Before Christmas.
Quentin: My highlight of the month was celebrating the holiday season with family and friends. Some favorite holiday moments included attending the Guthrie Theatre's "A Christmas Carol," embracing the winter wonderland that is Holidazzle in Loring Park and trying out creative Christmas cocktails at Betty Danger's Country Club, Pyscho Suzi's Motor Lounge, and Tattersall Distilling. On the fitness front, I finally committed to running my first half marathon, the inaugural Elm Creek Half in Maple Grove on May 2! Updates to come as I begin the 16-week training in January.