Close to Home: Seeking bad bathrooms

Seeking bad bathrooms Do you have a bathroom desperately in need of a makeover? DIY Network is "crashing" the HGTV Holiday House at the Mall of America, looking for Twin Cities homeowners to be featured on DIY's "Bath Crashers" show.

Homeowners who live in the Twin Cities area are invited to "Ambush Day" Tuesday morning to make their case to contractor/designer Matt Muenster about why their bathroom should be chosen for a makeover and an appearance on the show.

Interested homeowners should arrive no later than 9 a.m. Tuesday and must be willing to stay until noon. In addition, homeowners must bring photos of their unsightly bathrooms to share with the "Bath Crashers" crew.

The HGTV Holiday House is located in the Mall of America Rotunda, 8100 24th Av. S., Bloomington.

Making merry in Stillwater Stillwater, the historic "birthplace of Minnesota," is hosting a "Hometown for the Holidays" celebration throughout the month of December.

Victorian carolers, Santa appearances and free horse-drawn carriage rides along the St. Croix River will be offered from noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. (On Dec. 31, the rides will be from 3 to 8 p.m.) Free ride tickets can be picked up at most Main Street stores, restaurants or lodging facilities.

Other Stillwater holiday events include:

The Water Street Inn will host Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 9 and 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 651-439-6000 for reservations. The Dock Cafe will host Lunch With Santa at 11 a.m. Sunday and next weekend, Dec. 8-9. For reservations call 651-430-3770.

The Warden's House Museum will host its annual holiday event from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 15. The museum will be decorated for the holidays, and visitors can sample music and treats while shopping for the history buffs on their gift list.

In addition, several historic inns and restaurants in Stillwater will host holiday-themed dinners throughout the season, and many shops will host open houses, special sales and other events. For more information, visit www. discoverstillwater.com.

Holidays at the Galleria The holiday-shopping season also is in full swing at the Galleria in Edina. St. Nicholas and his fiddler procession will be strolling the mall, handing out treats and performing traditional fiddle music from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, as well as Dec. 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23. Other live music will be featured at the Galleria throughout the month of December. It's at 69th Street and France Avenue S., Edina.

Seasonal table Need a festive centerpiece for your holiday soiree? Bachman's is hosting a flower-design workshop, "New Holiday Tradition," designed to show you how to go beyond the traditional holiday centerpiece using modern techniques and styles.

Meet the talent Three stars of HGTV will be at the Mall of America this week for autograph sessions at the network's Holiday House, a life-size "gingerbread house."

Nicole Curtis, host of "Rehab Addict," will be in the house 2-4 p.m. Friday; Sabrina Soto, host of "The High Low Project," appears 2-4 p.m. Saturday; and Genevieve Gorder, host of "Dear Genevieve" and a judge on "Design Star," takes her turn 2-4 p.m. Dec. 9.

The HGTV Holiday House, located in the Rotunda, will be open at the Mall of America through the holiday season.