Festivals Abound

It’s going to be a weekend of festivals, and many of them are starting tonight, to warm up the crowds and peak your interest. There’s a lot to do, so pace yourself, but be sure to get out of the house. This is no time to be sitting in front of your computer.

FILM by Eeva-Liisa Waaraniemi
Hollywood Just Ain’t Hip Enough

The Solstice Film Festival begins today, which is (surprise, surprise!) the longest day of the year. Pick and choose from 20 Indie Films of all genres; a couple of the more hyped-up offerings include Believers, a suspense flick from the director of The Blair Witch Project (tonight), and America… from Freedom to Fascism, an expose of the IRS that might make you consider — for the very first time — what it would be like to have a computer chip implanted in your body by the government (Saturday). For the festival’s second year, Executive Director Devin Halden said, “I really wanted to create something that would bring the arts and revitalize the arts scene for downtown St. Paul directly.” Indeed, all films will be shown at St. Paul icon The Fitz. In case you never make it to Hollywood, show up for the Celebrity Red Carpet Event at 6 p.m. and pay homage to the Indie everybody.

6 p.m., Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E Exchange St., St. Paul; 651-290-1221; all access pass is $20.00, or pay $8 per film on opening night.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
You Can Always Improvise

The first-ever Twin Cities Improv Festival begins this evening. FREEZE. Now give me an action phrase, something someone can do. Watch monkeys? OK. Don’t miss the best and brightest in improvisation from across the country. The festival will host workshops for all skill levels from some of the best minds in business, after-events, parties, and entertainment. Tonight’s lineup included Date Night, Fiscally Responsible, 300 Comic Books, Stevie Ray’s Improv Company, Relish, and Drum Machine. With improv, you never know what you’re going to get. You win some; you lose some. But no matter what happens, it’ll be better than watching monkeys.

7 p.m., Brave New Workshop, 2605 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-6620; $10.

Celebrate Love, Any Love, Queer Love

Begin Pride weekend with Queertopia: A Celebration of Queer Love. This cabaret-style song and dance event, brought to you by the Outward Spiral Theatre Company, will feature Foxy Tann, Morgan Thorson and Karen Sherman, Lisa Ganser (on-site video), Andrea Jenkins, Tori Fixx, Jim Domenick, Dykes-Do-Drag, Mad King Thomas, Empowered Expressions, and video by Karyn and Sharyn

8 p.m., Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-871-4444; $15 (student/seniors/Intermedia Arts members $12).

DANCE
TU Dance or Not TU Dance, That Is the Question

You have two great dance performances to choose from tonight. Perhaps you can catch one tonight and another this weekend. That’s all you have left for either of them. The first, TU Dance, has been lauded high and low. Tonight, you can enjoy three moving works by Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, and what better place than the Southern Theater? You’re bound to get enveloped in their energy. Go rediscover the beauty of movement — we could all use a little wake up call after a long cold winter.

8 p.m. (Thurs-Sat), The Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-340-1725; $28( students/seniors/low income & Sat. matinee $17).

The other option is the Metropolitan Ballet’s performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Rodeo. Talk about an odd combination! A cowboy ballet and a neo-classical ballet? Weird.

8 p.m., State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-373-5600; $25-$75.

ART & MUSIC
Bigger Space, More Art!

Join The Rake tonight for Gallery Grooves, our monthly art, jazz, and wine event. Socialize and discuss the latest jazz with Kevin Barnes from KBEM. Enjoy free libations compliments of The Wine Company. The Grand Hand is celebrating its recent move into a bigger and better space, with more room for art by over 100 local, regional and national artists. View contemporary fine American craft in a variety of media: clay, metal, wood, fiber, glass and jewelry. Several gallery artists will be in attendance. Hors d’oeuvres provided by Kafe 421. Featured jazz selections include Don Byron, The Boomerang; Jason Moran, Artist in Residence; and Paul Renz, Beyond Blues.

7 to 9 p.m., The Grand Hand Gallery, 619 Grand Ave., St. Paul; 651-312-1122; free.


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