The Rake Magazine

FESTIVAL

Electric Eyes: New Music & Media Festival

The 2nd annual New Music and Media Festival is right up your alley, if your alley is cluttered with electronics, video, and weird/cool music, that is. Get futuristic with performances by The Cosmic Engine, Super Marimba, Unfamiliar Geometry, and more, along with amazing video and electronic art. Equal parts appropriation, experimentation, and advanced technology, Electric Eyes translates the marriage between new school and old school into NOW school — in a most entertaining and visually stunning way. Runs this weekend and next.

Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. (through June 7th), Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. N., West Bank, Minneapolis; $15 (1 show), $25 (2 shows).

MUSIC
MN Homegrown Kickoff Festival

Get your bluegrass fix at this three-day outdoor music and camping extravaganza featuring numerous local and regional musicians performing bluegrass, old-time stringband, and more. Held at El Rancho Mañana Campground and Riding Stables, the festival includes workshops, tons of jam sessions, music and craft vendors, delicious food, and possibly kickin' it old-timey around a campfire with some bearded gent named "Bud" who talks about the good old days and smokes hand-rolled cigarettes in between banjo-jams (that's where my imagination takes me anyway).

Friday through Sunday, all day; El Rancho Mañana Campgrounds, 27302B Ranch Rd., Richmond, MN; $20 (single day), $40 (3 days with camping).

Want to stay close to home tonight? Check out the funky R&B sounds of Friendly Freddie at Clubhouse Jager (Friday, 10 p.m.), or the eerie, avant-garde stylings of 2 Foot Yard at the Cedar (Friday, 8 p.m.). And on Sunday, 28-year old Georgia native Lizz Wright flexes her emotional range at the Varsity (8 p.m.).

 

FILM
La Corona/Septimebre

The Walker's Cinematica series, which focuses on contemporary Latin American filmmakers, continues tonight with a double feature that includes films from Columbia and Spain. La Corona (The Crown), an Oscar-nominated documentary short set in a women's penitentiary in Bogotá, Columbia, follows four inmates vying for the crown in the prison's annual beauty pageant — with dramatic results. The second film, Septiembres, (keeping with the prison theme) focuses on eight inmates who pine for their loved ones through songs performed in a competition at a Madrid penitentiary. Director Carles Bosch tracks down the subjects of these songs outside the prison walls.

Friday at 7:30 p.m., Walker Art Center Cinema, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $8.

Also this weekend, The Rape of Europa opens at the Edina Cinema. Read Max Ross's review.

ART
Red Hot Art

This annual art festival typically marks the start of summer for me, but with this year's obvious absence of spring, I'm not sure what it's marking — hopefully, good weather of some sort. At any rate, I love Red Hot Art because of its DIY eclecticism; one year, I bought delicate hand-made paper art, the next, a neon orange anti-Bush stencil on a piece of cardboard, made-to-order by a dirty punk rocker. At Red Hot Art you'll be sure to walk away with an armload of fun and affordable art-ifacts, and possibly ear damage — a number of bands rock the heck out of park all weekend long.

Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Stevens Square Park, Between 18th & 19th St., and Stevens & 2nd Ave., Minneapolis; free.

BENEFIT
Off the Shelf Gala

Love books? You can prove it tonight at Hennepin County Library's "Off the Shelf" gala fundraiser. Proceeds from the event will go directly to benefit K-12 programs at libraries city-wide and other bookishly good programs. Enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, including music by the MacPhail Faculty Jazz Quartet and Tambuca — plus the chance to mingle with notable authors, an opportunity to bid on unique literary items, and of course, delectable food and drink for all. With a whimsical Alice in Wonderland-style theme, you can bet Off the Shelf has put enough imagination into this event to impress even Lewis Carroll himself.

Saturday at 7 p.m. ($150 level) and 8:30 p.m. ($50 level), Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Downtown Minneapolis; $50-$150, order tickets HERE.

SPECIAL EVENT
Grand Old Day

A clear memory of my youth centers around nearly being trampled while a motorcade carrying Mikhail Gorbachev cruised Summit Avenue during Grand Old Day in the early '90s — at least I think it was during Grand Old Day (that part — not so clear). Either way, I got a cool temporary tattoo in the shape of Gorby's infamous head-birthmark, which made up for the near-trampling. My point is, Grand Old Day, while a potential hazard to your health, is bound to entertain, with concerts on multiple stages, a parade, an all day art fair, a huge beer garden, and tasty food — literally as far as the eye can see. So, wear your hiking boots because this party spans a good couple of miles down Grand Avenue.

Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Grand Ave., between Fairview & Dale, St. Paul; free.

READINGS

What Light Poetry Reading

Join our friends at mnartists.org for a lovely Sunday evening of poetry at Magers & Quinn. Tonight will include readings from Patricia Kirkpatrick, Brenda Hellen, Jason Ericson, and other winners from the latest series of mnartist's "What Light" poetry contest. Make an afternoon of it with a stroll around Lake Calhoun, or a bit of Uptown shopping and/or eating!

Sunday at 5 p.m., Magers & Quinn Booksellers, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Uptown Minneapolis; free.

 
LATE ADDITION
One More Thing — If You're into Cosmos and Jimmy Choos

After pressure from multiple sources to write about the Sex and the City premier, I've finally relented. Not that I'm anti-SATC — the fashion in the show is amazing — it's just that I'm not really the type of gal who enjoys gossiping about boys and handbags over a Cosmo. I also don't get a weekly "mani" or "pedi", nor do I drool over Jimmy Choo shoes — which I can definitely appreciate, but don't ever expect to own. Despite my thinly veiled sarcasm, there are quite a few events going on in conjunction with the premier tonight, so rock those Minolos if you've got 'em, and grab your girlfriends for a fabulous night on the town.

FRIDAY: Official premier party with SATC-themed drinks, Bliss Lau Handbag Giveaway, and more. 7 p.m., Bellanotte, 6th St N & 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis; free.

SATURDAY: An evening with Sex and the City: Pre-movie cocktail hour, door prizes, giftbags, and free post-drink at the Chambers. 8 p.m., Drama, Gaviidae Common, 1st Floor, 651 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; $25.  

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
The Comedian's Tragedy

The Comedian's Tragedy is a contemporary play set in ancient times that tells the tale of a young artistic prodigy who falls in love with an unlikely muse, an ancestral enemy of Greece. Encouraged to take his rightful place as a Tragedian, the greatest of artists, young Aristophanes finds himself struggling between love, revenge, and loyalty. An all-star cast and crew from every major theater in town accompany the production, written by 26-year-old playwright and seasoned actor Matthew Amendt, with costumes by Lauren Machen, set by Nicholas Golfis, and a cast of actors with too many accolades to possibly list here. Runs through June 15th (previews tonight and tomorrow, opening night Saturday).

8 p.m., Theater Garage, 711 W. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis; $15-$20 suggested donation.

Also, showing tonight — The Ugly One, at the Guthrie's Dowling Studio. Read Hannah Simpson's review.

FILM
A Place in the Sun

Tonight wraps up the "Cult Classics" film series, a collection of flicks hand-picked by Walker exhibiting artist Richard Prince. This six-time Oscar-winning classic stars Montgomery Cliff as a handsome and charming factory worker who fends off a pregnant ex (Shelley Winters) while romancing an out-of-his-league debutante (Elizabeth Taylor) in a bid for a life of leisure. Tonight also marks another of the Walker's Target Free Thursday nights, which is exactly what it sounds like: free admission to the Walker, all night long!

7:30 p.m., Walker Art Center Cinema, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, free.

MUSIC
Sound Funktion

With the never-ending chain of cookie-cutter nightclubs that crop up and die just as quickly in downtown Minneapolis, only a select few are exempt from my general indifference, and the 414 Soundbar is one of them. On the fringe of Downtown, this tucked away Warehouse District hotspot sets itself apart with rotating monthly exhibits by local artists, an uber-cool euro-crowd, an amazing (and beautiful) staff, and of course, good music. Thursday nights at the Soundbar are equal parts sexy and chill, with deep, deep house and experimental electronic music from resident DJs Aaron Bliss and Jesse Jakob. FYI: You'll never need an excuse to drink champagne here because it almost seems unnatural not to — even on a Thursday.

9 p.m., 414 Soundbar, 414 3rd Ave. N, Warehouse District (North Loop), Minneapolis; free.

DANCE
The Rite of Spring

A homage to Igor Stravinsky's scandalous production of the same name, The Rite of Spring is recreated by three local dance troupes: Ballet of the Dolls, Zorongo Flamenco, and Live Action Set. A tale of paganism with a burlesque twist, you can expect the unexpected from artistic director and Ballet of the Dolls founder Myron Johnson, who creates a unique and visually stunning experience that includes Stravinsky's original score accompanied by heavy metal music! Tonight's opening night performance is quite special, as it marks 95 years from the original performance that outraged Paris in 1913.

8 p.m. (Thursday through Sunday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday), Ritz Theatre, 345 13th Ave., Northeast Minneapolis; $15-$27.

As you may have noticed, our Secrets of the Day header has changed. From here on out, Kate Iverson will take the lead on compiling the Secrets and letting you know what great things are happening in the Twin Cities. We are very excited to have her with us, as I'm sure you will be once you experience her awesomeness.

Please see below for her first Secrets of the Day recommendations. I have but one thing to add to the mix. Tonight, the Edina Cinema is serving up a stellar double feature — too good to pass up: Woody Allen & Diane Keaton in Annie Hall (1977), and Jack Lemmon & Shirley MacLaine in Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960). You just can't go wrong with these two!

Have a great one, and be sure to check out some of our new articles: J.A. del Rosario's review of Mike Edison's pop novel, I Have Fun Everywhere I Go; author Stephan Evans's explanation as to why his novel is set in Minneapolis; Gwen E. Kirby's "Cherry on a Spoon"; Denis Joeng's Martin Olav Sabo Bridge-Naming Ceremony slideshow; and Brian Voerding's piece on Mikenastics.

—Cristina Córdova

And now, more from Kate...

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Bedlam 10 Minute Play Festival

The forum for independently produced theater is always in high-demand, and since 2002 the Bedlam Theatre has been catering to that demand through its 10 Minute Play Festival. Each year, for the past seven years, the company has painstakingly selected the most visionary directors and playwrights for this annual production. Twenty-three ten-minute or less works showcase experimental and cutting edge ideas of local and national talent — which culminate on the Bedlam stage this very evening. The plays are parceled out into three sections that rotate throughout the festival for easy and non-overwhelming theatrical enjoyment.

7 & 9 p.m. (through June 1st), Bedlam Theater, 1501 S. 6th St., Minneapolis; $10-$20.

SPECIAL EVENT
Bush-McCain Challenge

A funny yet informative twist on the old Pepsi-Coke Challenge, the Bush-McCain challenge is an enlightening quiz which shows George Bush and John McCain in a very similar light. A phenomenon that is sweeping the internet, actual Bush-McCain Challenge events have been popping up all over the country — in-your-face man-on-the-street events. Today, three such events will occur throughout the afternoon all over the city. So, come on down, take the challenge, and talk politics with like-minded (and perhaps some not-like-minded) folks.

Noon; 11th & Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis; Wedge Coop, Franklin & Lyndale, Minneapolis; Hub Shopping Center, 66th & Nicollet, Minneapolis; free.

ART

Art Revolution for Twin Cities Students: Ask Me

The Center for Independent Artists has been churning out an impressive season of community-friendly art events aimed at drawing in and educating people of all ethnicities, ages, and skill levels about the arts. Tonight's event, presented by Yo! The Movement and Art Revolution for Twin Cities Students, brings together arts professionals with Twin Cities students for a fun meet-and-greet and general information session about art as a profession and as a creative outlet. A great activitity for the fam that includes cool music, art, food, and creative encouragement.

6-10 p.m., Center for Independent Arts, 4137 Bloomington Ave. S, Minneapolis; free.

MUSIC
Los Campesinos!

Los Campesinos translates to "The Farmers," and what they seem to be cultivating is some seriously charming indie art-pop, topped off with a nice, messy dollop of punk rock sensibility. Tonight's show at the Varsity supports their fittingly titled debut CD, Hold on Now, Youngster, and will most likely be a high-energy phantasm filled with musically elite college students who probably think they're cooler than you. If you can get past that, however, I definitely think this show merits consideration on your hump-day itinerary.

8 p.m., Varsity Theater, 1308 4th St. SE, Dinkytown, Minneapolis; $13.

One hundred and seventy-one years ago, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was born in Troy Grove, Illinois. Perhaps this is a good day to rent the full first season of Deadwood and veg out in front of a screen. It's hardly the most sociable way to spend your time (unless you make a party out of it), but damn... it's good!

Of course, you could always just go to Bill's Gun Shop & Range and fire a few rounds from a Colt revolver (or two).

BOOKS & AUTHORS
Michael Ondaatje

OK, I confess: I've never actually read The English Patient; I only saw the movie — and even then only after months of resistance. (I didn't like it, of course. How can anyone like something that's supposed to be that good?) The truth is, I never gave Michael Ondaatje a fair shake until a random (and terribly good looking) man wondered into a bar in Puerto Rico and handed me a copy of Coming Through Slaughter. I read that one, of course. (Don't you have to read a book given to you a random man in a bar?) And, bingbamboom, what a read! Methodically splattering his tales in a realm between prose and poetry, Ondaatje speaks in a language that's all his own, but that inevitably reverberates with all that is not — and all that is great: the heat-soaked world of Tennessee Williams, the non-linear poetry of James Joyce, the romantic exoticism of Lord Byron. The man is brilliant. And tonight he's here to share his brilliance with us as part of the Talking Volumes series at the Fitz. Ondaatje, who was born in Sri Lanka and now lives outside Toronto, will discuss his latest novel, Divisadero, in which an act of violence sends us spinning from the past to the present, and from the casinos of Nevada to the French countryside. Sounds like quintessential Ondaatje to me.

7 p.m., Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul; 651-290-1221; $15.

MUSIC
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

"Funk is fun," says grandmaster of funk George Clinton. "It's a state of mind; but it's also all the ramifications of that state of mind." Let the rainbow-dreaded ringleader of Parliament-Funkadelic guide your state of mind tonight at First Avenue. You'll have to deal with the ramifications on your own.

8 p.m., First Avenue, 701 First Avenue North, Minneapolis; 612-338-8388; $25.

And if you happen to be at First Avenue (or even if you're not), be sure to poke your head into the 7th Street Entry to catch Jason Trachtenburg. I'm not sure what he's up to these days, but if he's still reaching out (even just a little) into the realms of the Trachtenburg Family Sideshow Players, then he'll definitely be worth a gander.

Also tonight, Motion City Soundtrack returns home for a gig at Myth.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Spamalot Is Back

Hands down, this retelling of the ’75 flick Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the Broadway hit of the decade. Its success owes to the Pythons’ pioneering formula—sketch comedy bits on flatulence, effeminate Frenchmen, and such—which, in turn, has attracted the loyal patronage of a most atypical theatergoer: the heterosexual white man aged thirty-five or thereabouts. But this production is an unapologetically slapstick, frisky, and therefore supremely escapist entertainment for all demographics. This touring production features an all-new cast of King Arthur and his knights in tights, as the original blockbuster is still going strong on Broadway. Nevertheless, the ersatz proves as popular as the first: Last summer's St. Paul production sold out completely. —Christy DeSmith

7:30 p.m., Orpheum Theater, 910 Hennepin Ave; 651-989-5151; $29-$79.

Happy Memorial Day! Happy Memorial Day? We get so used to wishing happy holidays that we end up saying inanities like these. Is it a happy day — a holiday to commemorate loss of lives, casualties? What do you make from a holiday whose best venue is the cemetery? A celebration of life, perhaps — rather than mourning?

It's ok to decorate the grave and fire up the grill on the same day. We just need to stop and find that historical point of balance somewhere within all the beginning-of-summer, commercial, barbecue hype that overwhelms the day.

Whatever you're doing at 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern time), stop for a moment. Join others across the country for a national moment of remembrance to commemorate the men and women who have perished while in military service to our country. This isn't a statement on war. This is not a declaration of violence. You are supporting nothing but the people who have died. You are supporting nothing but life... and humanity.

MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS

A number of events across the Twin Cities will pay tribute to our veterans. You're likely to find crowds and activities in most any cemetery and/or memorial. And you're likely to find small parades and gatherings in just about any town. But, of course, there's plenty going on at the State Capitol as well. Join Minnesota Veterans for Peace at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 9 a.m., and join the Vietnam Veterans of America at 2:30 p.m. for live speakers, music, and a color guard march.

Fort Snelling might be the best place to spend the day and get a true feel for military life with a living Timeline of the American Soldier. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., costumed staff will map out 225 years of U.S. military history for you through period clothing, accouterments, artifacts, and firing demonstrations. Guests can explore recreated military encampments. And veterans and current military families are admitted free of charge.

Or you can choose spirit over realism and commemorate the day with a traditional Native American ceremony. Honor your veterans, your people, and your land at the Mille Lacs Memorial Day Pow-Wow. Enjoy the beautiful two-hour drive up north to Onamia for a day of Native American dance, music, food, crafts, and games. The outdoor event is sponsored by the local American Veterans Post 53 and is held on the museum grounds on the beautiful shores of Lake Mille Lacs.

Also today, Vive Minnesota! continues — with a special veteran's remembrance at 11 a.m.

And if you'd like to forget Memorial Day altogether, then I have just the thing: It Came From Another World at the Parkway Theater.