Les Dames sale May 18☺

If ever there were a sign of spring, it's the appearance of garage sale announcements. One of the more anticipated events is the annual garage and bake sale by the local chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, which always promises a huge array of culinary and garden goods. This year's sale is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18 at 4209 Browndale Av., St. Louis Park. All proceeds benefit youth programs at the Community Design Center of Minnesota. Save the date!

Order up!

Minnesota Monthly hosts its fifth annual local Chef Challenge this weekend at the Mall of America rotunda. Eight local chefs will compete in elimination heats from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with the goal of being among the four to advance to the semifinals and finals from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The winning chef earns a cash prize and, of course, bragging rights. On deck: Donald Gonzalez, Forepaugh's; Jorge Guzman, Solera Restaurant & Event Center; Sarah Master, Barbette; Marshall Paulsen, Birchwood Cafe; Nick O'Leary, Borough and Parlour; Sameh Wadi, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge; Doug Flicker, Piccolo, and JD Fratzke, the Strip Club Meat and Fish. To see who competes when, visit http://bit.ly/WGK7KR.

Ellen is a Peep

This item is a little past the moment, but we couldn't resist. The folks who make Peeps asked people which public figures most resemble a Peep because they are "colorful, sweet or bear a resemblance for any reason." The top three answers: Ellen DeGeneres, named by 32 percent of respondents; Katy Perry, 25 percent, and Taylor Swift, 19 percent. Ellen, duh.

Tats for peace of mind

Summer is a time when kids go to camp, vacation with friends and have more opportunities to move beyond parental oversight. For a child with allergic reactions, that can be a leap of faith. SafetyTats offer a measure of protection. A bright temporary tattoo outlines a child's allergy to a particular food, bee stings, latex, etc., offering a writeable surface to customize your concerns. They're 24 for $15-$20. To order, visit www.safetytat.com.