Year: 2006

Alexa Horochowski’s large-scale paintings show young girls innocently romping through worlds that don’t quite exist. In her bright fairy-tale scenes, the St. Paul artist shows children interacting with unicorns, swans, and other romantic creatures known to populate young girls’ imaginations. On closer inspection, however, other things appear to be slightly off in creepy ways: These are older girls, on the verge of the decidedly dangerous territory of adolescence, and many of them are naked or in positions of casual danger. Her work gives rise to the idea that perhaps it is the lovely myth of childhood innocence itself that doesn’t quite exist, and that the early years are simply training for adulthood. 612-870-3131; www.artsmia.org

Turns out that video didn’t kill the radio star, and the Internet didn’t kill ’zines. Although every postal-rate hike does knock a few of these intrepid publishers out of commission, the Twin Cities are still a hotbed of ’zine publishing. This second-annual festival of lectures, exhibits, workshops, and music brings the best of the bunch out of the underground. Hosted by the Stevens Square Center for the Arts, which houses an impressive ’zine library, this event proves that do-it-yourself publishing ventures still exist outside of the digital realm. 1905 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis; or www.zinefest.org

Some people enjoy riding bicycles, while others have butts that just don’t feel right sitting flat on a chair, so thoroughly have they been remolded by so much time seated on their sweet two-wheelers. The Twin Cities have become known for their population of the latter type, who will gladly plant their posteriors in movie seats if it means watching cool movies like Pedal, a documentary about New York City bike messengers; Joe Kid on a Stingray: The History of BMX; or A Sunday in Hell, a classic account of a 1973 race. Those films and others are part of the six-year-old Bicycle Film Festival, which this year added the Cities to its exclusive tour, which includes New York, L.A., London, Sydney, and Tokyo. Films celebrating bikes of every stripe will show at the Riverview Theater on July 6 and the Bell Museum Auditorium on July 7, culminating in a free outdoor screening and party at the Soap Factory on July 8. Naturally, valet bike parking will be available. www.bicyclefilmfestival.com

The subtitle of this sequel is not a reference to Johnny Depp’s tanned-and-toned torso, no doubt a relief to his legions of female fans. The chest in question, of course, is the booty-filled prop expected of all pirate tales, and the rest of the loot and swashbuckling is all here, too, just like in the first movie. But unlike the boatload of predictable bombs that make up most of the high-seas high-jinks genre, the Pirates films offer a bonanza of bizarre entertainment through Depp’s leering, dreadlocked, and mascara-ed Captain Jack. Projecting such fantastic freakishness requires real genius—more than enough to overcome the stupid-looking army of sea-creature villains that his Captain Jack does battle with, thus making this the best of the summer blockbusters.

Finished, split up, kaput? If you’re talking about a Twin Cities band, give it a couple more years and chances are, they’ll be back together again. With the notable exception of Prince and most of the people he’s ever worked with, married, or known, there seem to be few permanent endings in this town’s music scene, and we love it that way. In Semisonic’s case, they never really broke up; they just got really busy doing other things, but it’s still a pleasure to see this friendly rock trio “reunite.” After a few frenzied months of fame around Closing Time, the guys settled into noteworthy solo projects, penning songs for the Dixie Chicks (Dan Wilson), playing in a jazz trio (John Munson and the New Standards), and writing a book (Jake Slichter’s So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star). But no one disputes that they still sound great together, and this outdoor show just might be the best freebie the city will bestow on us all summer long. Hennepin and Washington Avenues; www.aquatennial.org

Indulge us for a moment with this ode to Walter Mondale: Fritz, the sight of you on a stroll around the Lake of the Isles stirs the embers of our hometown pride. When, startled from your retirement, you broke into a run, we came to appreciate the full meaning of public service. Your loss, while our loss, was your gain, in the end; you’ve earned the right to sit on your front step and watch the sun set on these summer nights. In another encore, one of a more unusual sort, our beloved Mondale will narrate the title character of Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” as performed by the Minnesota Orchestra. Other highlights of this year’s Sommerfest include the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition Finals Concert, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, and free evening concerts on Nicollet Mall. Never are the sunsets in downtown Minneapolis more cultured or more beautiful. 612-371-5656; www.minnesotaorchestra.org

Of these three absorbing mini-exhibits, we were most smitten with the 112 small works by Swiszcz, which were hung in grid form on two walls. The Minneapolitan selected these from the results of a painting-a-day spree that lasted for nine months. Some are abstract, but most are quirky studies of everyday life: a cat entreating its owner, complete with word balloons; fairgoers silhouetted against a glowing roasted-corn stand at the state fair; a friend telling what he’s learned from a book on Nikola Tesla. In the main gallery, Turczan, also from Minneapolis, presents new landscapes and portraits captured on the Crimean Peninsula in the aftermath of the Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. Large-format photos are all the rage these days, but Turczan’s have a gravity and lyricism that is exceptional. Finally, Oliver Michaels’ loopy video, shot atop the engine of a model train as it careens through various domestic settings, is a hoot. 1021 Franklin Ave. E., Minneapolis; 612-872-7494; www.franklinartworks.org