VIDEO: Debut of Hollywood Minute

Host LaurelLee Loftsgard talks about some True Blood baby names, The Voice season finale, Lauren Conrad's whole story and Kanye West explaining how he still thinks he's great.

Crowns stand out in the crowd

Miss North Dakota pageant organizers make adjustments to deal with oil boom
WILLISTON, N.D. – As the young women wearing crowns filed into Wildcat Pizza here, every head turned. A table full of women - let alone pageant contestants - is a rare sight in this male-dominated oil boom town, enough to prompt guys to get out their camera phones. “It just made lunch so much better,” said Nathan Tuckfield, a construction consultant from Sidney, Mont.

• 2013 State Finalists:
• Oil field worker David Hiney poses for a photo with contestants

Is it vandalism or street art?

FARGO — Spring is the season when the snow melts away and reveals what lies beneath and colors start to bloom.

• Foot
• M-16s
• A Civil War soldier
• Sentry

Williston, N.D., featured in online music video that is gaining in popularity

WILLISTON, N.D. - Williston is featured in a Prairie Public music video for the country song “Boom or Bust” that is gaining popularity online. Singer Wes St. Jon of Nashville, known as the Oilfield Cowboy, visited North Dakota last fall to promote his music and visit oilfield workers.

• The video:
• Wes St. Jon, the Oilfield Cowboy

OIL PATCH DISPATCH: Another reality check for North Dakota

WILLISTON, N.D. – The creators of an upcoming reality TV show called “Guntucky” are in North Dakota looking for their next show.

• TV producers interview geologist Sid Newstrom
• TV producers Adam Fox and Evan Stone interview an oilfield worker

North Dakota pro boxer Virgil Hill wants one last fight in home state

BISMARCK, N.D. — Olympic silver medalist and professional champion boxer Virgil Hill says he will have one last fight in North Dakota.

• Boxer Virgil Hill accepts a license plate from the governor
• Hill dicusses boxing with North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple

Delicate work with glass: Jaci and Harley Trefz specialize in stained and fused glass art

One Jamestown woman and her husband produce solid pieces of art despite the delicate material used. Jaci and Harley Trefz operate Riverbend Studios out of their home, but Jaci’s love for glass got the two started.

• Image
• Image

AREAVOICES: The Truth about Time

When I moved to North Dakota over a year ago I quickly noticed something really unusual: time goes faster here. I literally mean that time flies in North Dakota. I was perplexed for a while why this was.

CHEF JEFF: Curry some flavor

Probably nowhere else in the world outside of South Asian countries of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka — among others — can you find more restaurants that feature curry so prominently as in Great Britain.

• Chef Jeff
• Thai-curry chicken
• Pumpkin shrimp curry
• Coconut-vegetable curry

Fargo native Reina del Cid, making an impact on Twin Cities music scene, comes home to play this weekend

MINNEAPOLIS – In a simple, matter-of-fact way, Reina del Cid calls herself a “big nerd.” In fact, the Fargo native, who returns home with her band Reina del Cid and the Cidizens this weekend, named her guitar after El Cid – an 11th-century knight featured in Spanish literature.

• Reina del Cid and the Cidizens

The Lost Italian: Scallops, curry a perfect Valentine’s pairing

It’s February, which means the Season of Love is about to begin. Every year around this time, Tony and I sit down to plan our Valentine’s Day menu for Sarello’s, and we love to include as many aphrodisiac foods as possible, just to help out those couples seeking some added romance with their loved ones.

• The Lost Italian blog on Areavoices
• Tony Nasello’s Red Curry Scallops
• Velvety smooth

Hungry for More: Make a fancy cheese plate

When you have a gathering of family and friends, sometimes you want to do something a little different than smoked weenies in barbecue sauce.

• How to make a cheese plate

THE EATBEAT: Casa Mexico receives a hearty welcome in East Grand Forks

The decor was beautiful, the menu long and the booth comfortable when I visited Casa Mexico in East Grand Forks. The place, which opened Dec. 19 and has been home to other restaurants, has been redecorated and refurbished in most inviting Mexican style.

• Marilyn Hagerty

MARILYN HAGERTY: Pumping own gas is no bed of roses in January

Usually I don’t mind pumping my own gas. But when it’s 20 below and the wind is from the north, I remake a discovery every winter.

• Marilyn Hagerty

Style Profile: Boutique owner favors girly, edgy style

FARGO – If you’ve shopped downtown, chances are you’ve seen Proper & Prim’s stylish owner, Teresa O’Day. O’Day’s style strikes a balance between adventurous and classic, and I like her try-anything attitude.

• Boutique owner Teresa O’Day embraces both girly and edgy fashions