The Rake Magazine

I've always been fond of Tuesdays -- perhaps because they are simply not Mondays, perhaps because they are so oft ignored. Give it some credit for once, folks. Give it a chance to impress you. Everyone deserves that.

FILM
Whet Your Appetite

Start the evening with a quirky visual appetizer -- and one worth watching, at that. Head straight from work to the Walker. Take a little stroll around the galleries a while if it's still early. (The quicker you can wrap up work, the sooner you can begin.) A couple of Michael Gondry short films will be screened every half hour during gallery hours, starting at noon. Be sure to stop and watch them. La Lettre is a 14-minute black-and-white film about a boy who experiences first love behind the lens of a camera. (The final awakening reminds me of my own life.) The finishing touch is the 3-minute, color film, Three Dead People. You actually have a couple months to go see them, but why wait? They're just a little sampling to work up your appetite for the upcoming film restrospective, Michel Gondry: The Science of Dreams, which begins May 11th. I'm sure you'll hear more about that later. Look, I can't support blatant recluse behavior -- it's simply not healthy -- but if you really just can't make it, then don't miss out completely. Watch La Lettre here. Maybe it'll inspire you to get to his approaching feature screenings.

Every 30 minutes, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600; free with cost of gallery admission.

DINING
Sometimes the Best Option Is Right in Front of You

Once you've seen the films, go get a bite to eat to pleasure yourself a bit and stop your stomach from rumbling during your next event. This next event couldn't be closer, so why leave? You've got Wolfgang Puck's 20.21 Restaurant & Bar right there. Don't overdo it. This is a good place to share a couple of simple pleasures. It's true -- it's cliche and every place has it, but the tuna sashimi is a no fail choice. Play it safe with that and go crazy with another option. If it's not yet 7 p.m., you can always have dessert. (Don't worry, just because you have dessert now doesn't mean you can't eat more later.) And if you have a drink or two, this might be the time for the first espresso. (OK. OK. It's seldom a good idea to have caffeine at night. -- but then sometimes it is.)

5:30 p.m., 20.21, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600.

and then onto your next fare...

LECTURE AND VIDEO
Becoming an Internet Phenomenon

One of the most interesting and baffling things about the Internet is the seemingly random way certain works and certain people rapidly rise to Internet stardom. The Internet is an incredible distribution mechanism. Artists can now get their work seen and their voices heard across the world -- often with the help of free "services" such as YouTube, Blip.TV, Flickr, MN Artists, blogs, social networking, and more. Hear from artists and organizations that have had success getting their work seen and heard on the Internet: Kathleen Kvern, Hans Eisenbeis, David DeYoung, Emma Berg, Nate Schroeder, Mike Fotis, and Chuck Olson. (photo)

7-9 p.m., Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600; free.

I hate to suggest this -- really I do! -- but you might want to leave just before the last person speaks. Ouch! Did I really say that? Look, the truth is... you might just have to decide which event is more important and then choose one or the other. That's the reasonable things to do (which, as far as I'm concerned, is one more reason not to do it). Anyhow, I'm sure they'll have some amount of dialogue and questions at the end, so just head out a bit early -- without causing a stir -- and make a b-line for the Dakota for the evening's star performance.

MUSIC
Music with Shape and Texture

You can listen to Theolonius Monk CDs all day and all night. You can close your eyes. You can let his music carry you away. You can imagine his fingers churning over and over again on that keyboard. But you're just not going to see it live ever again. You're just not going to live it, see it, breath it -- what it was to see him perform. But you can come close. Whew! That's a lot to say. But really, I'm certainly not the first to say it. Ahmad Jamal is probably one of the most artful pianists in the country. If you appreciate the piano even just a bit -- and how could you not? -- you mustn't miss him.

7 and 9 p.m., The Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $40 and $25.

THEATER AND PERFORMANCE
For the Children, by the Children, with the Children

Still haven't found what you're looking for? (Well, then, you're mad! No, really.) Perhaps you're looking for some from-the-heart theater from the Chicago Avenue Project. While it certainly sounds like something we've all see 552 times already, Heard It Through The Grapevine is actually a rather unusual concept -- a collection of eight short plays, each written by a local playwright for a specific child, and featuring that child alongside a professional adult actor. It's bound to be fun.

4:30 and 7 p.m., Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Ave S., Minneapolis, 612-825-0459.

I realize it's not politically correct to call things "girlie," and it's certainly a disservice to my gender -- but then my gender has done me many a disservice, so... take that!

THEATER AND PERFORMANCE
"Okay, first things fuckin' last!"

This just sounds too interesting to pass up. Imagine that Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs was written by a woman. Imagine the characters were women. Hard to imagine. I know. But what might that be like? Would it be so horridly filled with girlie clichés, you'd run screaming for cover (or Tampax)? Or would it simply be ingenioius? Award-winning Canadian playwright Laura McGhee was listening to the song Stuck in the Middle With You, when she wondered what connotation the dancing torture scene would have had if a woman had been playing the role portrayed by Michael Madsen. Then she started to speculate about what else would have been different. The result was Reservoir Bitches, a dramatic parody of the Tarantino classic. Presenting the midwest premiere is the Red Eye Theater, known for their multimedia stagings and dark exploration of the underbelly of contemporary life.

7 p.m., Red Eye Theater, 15 West 14th St., Minneapolis, 612-870-0309; pay-what-you-can.

READINGS
A Union of Love and Loss

If you're looking for less violent "girlie" stuff, you might want to go hear author Linda Olsson talk about her debut novel at the Galleria Barnes & Nobles. Olsson's Astrid and Veronika tells the story of two women -- a 30-year-old writer and a septuagenarian recluse -- who befriend each other and share their emotional scars while living next door to each other in a small Swedish town. While it certainly sounds a bit hokey, Olsson's unembellished style stops it from sliding into an overwrought melodrama. She's a solid writer and has traveled the world from Sweden to Kenya to Singapore, so she ought to have plenty to say.

7:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Galleria Shopping Center, 3225 W 69th St., Edina; 952-920-0633; free.

MUSIC
Don't Let the Girlie-Appeal Fool You

The majority of comments I've heard about Duncan Sheik in the past few years have been more geared toward his good looks than his great music -- and maybe I'm allowing myself to be blinded by his bold break onto the music scene about a decade ago -- but I still think the man has something more to offer than a condom reference with a sexy gaze. I mean, he's even gone and composed an entire score for the new Broadway musical Spring Awakening -- and the reviews aren't half bad. Sheik has certainly mellowed over the years, so if you're looking for a respectable version of mellow mysticism threaded with pop, he's your man. And hey, as mystical as the music may sound, the lyrics still have a satisfying darkness: "I think that God's got a sick sense of humor, and when I die I expect to find him laughing."

7 p.m., Varsity Theater, 1308 4th St. SE, Minneapolis; 612-604-0222; $23.

Listen to Duncan Sheik.
Watch and listen to Duncan Sheik.

The Awesome Monday Show!

OK. If you really need to throw off all the Monday girlie schlock, join host Rayna Terror at the Bedlam Theater for an evening of head-thrashing, liquor-free rock-n-roll. (And don't you dare call a booze-free event "girlie." I see no correlation at all.) Tonight's show features psychedelic punk-rockers Nudity, with Dreamland Faces, Synchrocyclotron, and Styrofoam Death (remaining members of Styrofoam Duck). It promises to be an interesting show, with plenty of energy, and plenty of... teenagers. Actually, I don't know how many teenagers are allowed to go to a concert on a Monday night, but it's a dry, all ages show, nonetheless. Any drinking to be done must be done at the neighboring Palmer's Bar or one of the other Cedar Avenue watering holes.

8:30 p.m., Bedlam Theatre, 1501 S. 6th St.; 612-341-1038; $6.

ON THE NET
What's Going on in Our Own Backyard?

For those of you who missed the Konono No.1 show at the Cedar Cultural Center last Wednesday, here's a clip.

Did you miss the Bright Eyes concert on the same night? Check out clips here, here, and here.

Remember the Bent Festival I wrote about on the 19th? Here's a clip of Beatrix*JAR live at Bent Fest 2007. See, you really should have gone.

Critical Mass rally on Franklin and Hennepin this Saturday.

Saturday night at Pi, the hottest new gay club for women.

Granted, it's an ad, but this one happens to be produced by Carmichael Lynch, here in town.

And for the grand finale... and old (1947-1961) video of someone's great grandfather and his friends performing an acrobatic act from the Minneapolis Aquatenials. Cirque du Soleil meets Charlie Chaplin.

Ok. If you want to meet Sarah Jessica Parker, stop by Macy's at noon. She'll be there promoting her new Lovely fragrance -- and talking to those starry-eyed enough to spend over $125 on a gift set. 12:00 p.m., first floor cosmetics, Macy's, 700 On The Mall, Minneapolis; 612-375-3199.

Good, now let's get to the good stuff...

MUSIC
The Books

"Using samples from obscure movies, as well as their own singing, mixing, and instrumentation, Paul de Jong and Nick Zammuto construct melodic sound collages and electronic songs so catchy as to be genre defying. On the Massachusetts duo's 2003 release, The Lemon of Pink, for example, the title track alone contains seamless movements between folk song, art singing, and acoustic picking. In 'Be Good To Them Always,' from their latest, Lost and Safe, a squall of reverb and electric guitar is paired with the intoned refrain: 'You know, I simply cannot understand people.' However, the Books' technique and repertoire, while rock solid, don't always translate to the stage. And so their live concerts are a whole other beast -- sometimes inconsistent, but worth checking out."

8 and 10:30 p.m., McGuire Theater, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600; $16 ($13 members).

Afro-Cuban Jazz Legend in Our Backyard

There's actually quite a lot of decent music tonight for all musical tastes, but for a guaranteed great jazz performance, plan on spending the evening at the Dakota. Start the evening off with former ¡Cubanismo! pianist and bandleader Nachito Herrera. I simply cannot get over how lucky we are to have this Afro-Cuban jazz legend as a neighbor. And I can't get enough of him. See him every chance you get, folks. And this evening, you can stay for the late-night show as well -- a tribute to trumpet great and the elite of ennui vocalists, Chet Baker.

8 p.m., The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave S., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $15.

SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE
Leave Saturday for the Girls

Saturday night brings to an end the Minnesota RollerGirls' third season. Go cheer on your team -- or all of them -- at the Season Championships. The winner of this bout will take home the first prize and the Golden Skate Award. In celebration of the season closer, there's a lot going on before, during, and after the bout, so you might as well make it a full evening fare. Start out with a fan-appreciation barbecue in Rice Park -- right behind the Roy. You could win a Minnesota RollerGirls polycarbonate water bottle or -- if that doesn't turn you on for whatever odd reason -- a brand new scooter. Then enjoy two back-to-back periods as the four Minnesota RollerGirls home teams battle it out. And it doesn't end there. Top off the night with an after-party at Station 4.

Saturday from 4-7 p.m., BBQ, Rice Park, St. Paul. 7:30 p.m., Roy Wilkins Auditorium, RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; 651-265-4800; $12-$14. After hour, Station 4, 201 E 4th St., Saint Paul; 651-298-0173.

DINING
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is -- Literally

Top the weekend off with a palate pleaser. Join Mike Phillips of The Craftsman Restaurant for a special chefs dinner. Phillips has invited six Slow Food Minnesota chefs (Steven Brown, Ken Goff, Scott Pampuch, Alex Roberts, Lenny Russo, and Tanya Siebenaler) to create a seven-course meal with seasonal, local, sustainably produced ingredients. Each chef will be responsible for one course, and each course will be served with the appropriate wine. Call 612-722-0175 to see if you can still reserve a spot.

Sunday at 5:30 p.m., The Craftsman Restaurant, 4300 E Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-722-0175; $130 ($115 Slow Food members).

Have a great weekend!

DANCE AND PERFORMANCE
Back from Budapest

Tonight begins the Zenon Dance Company's 24th Spring Season. You have until May 6th to catch the exciting new program, featuring four disparate new works by four different choreographers, including local favorite Danny Buraczeski. Set to the music of jazz legends Bill Evans and Don Pullen, Buraczeski's piece, Evidence of Things Unseen makes its U.S. premiere this evening. In fact, the night is full of premieres. Hungarian choreographers Gyula Berger and Márta Ladjánszki bring their energetic new works to the stage for the first time ever in the United States. And Catching Her Tears, choreographed by New York's Colleen Thomas, makes a world premiere. This powerful piece will be accompanied live by New York cellist, Chris Lancaster.

8 p.m., Ritz Theater, 345 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis; 612-436-1129; $26.

Not Just Ballroom, But Beyond

The idea of ballroom dancing makes me gag just a little. Mind you, I love a good tango, a mambo, a cha cha, or a waltz; but really? Ballroom dancing? Maybe it's the goofy little figure-skating outfits. Or the impact of so many Dirty Dancing clichés. It's really quite unjustified. So if you're looking for a way to bring a little respect and honor back into the mix -- to elevate ballroom dancing to its time-honored status -- give the the Beyond Ballroom Dance Company a shot. Their new show, Spinning Wheel brings partnership ballroom dancing into the 21st century with a series of eclectic vignettes.

8 p.m., Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis; 612-340-1725; $25 or pay-as-able (tonight only).

MUSIC
Alienation and Grace

As a native of Alabama, Pierce Pettis couldn't help but be influenced by the most rooted elements of the American South, but in the end, he's about as classic a folk singer as you get. I'm talking old school here, from the soulful, spiritual yearning to the chatter between songs -- and even in the middle of a song. It's all about stories. No song is left hanging, without context. This is the folk way, always trying to paint a bigger picture. According to Pettis, all of his songs can be reduced to two things: alienation and grace. His lyrics are simple and insightful, resting largely on his innate ability to capture universals in human experience from humorous and mundane aspects of our daily existence. The harmonies are sweet, the percussion is tenuous, and the guitar and vocals are strong and impassioned. But best of all, he puts on a great show.

7:30 p.m., Gingko Coffeehouse, 721 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul; 651-645-2647; $12.

Watch and listen to Pierce Pettis.