The Color of Cold Hard

ART/BENEFIT
Green

Each year Rosalux Gallery
puts on one of my fave artsy fundraisers in the Twin Cities. The Green
show is a chance for you to get your mitts on original work from over
20 established local artists of high repute — on the cheap. Each Rosalux member
donates a piece of green-themed artwork, and raffle tickets are sold for a
mere $5. It’s simple: place your ticket(s) in the envelope next to the
artwork or item(s) you want to win, and cross your fingers. All
proceeds go to benefit the gallery, an artist-run exhibition
space and collective that has helped launch the careers of many up and
comers in the Twin Cities. All stocked up on art? I can’t imagine
that’s possible (one can never have too much, if you ask me), but just
in case, Rosalux will have gift certificates and items from area
businesses up for raffle as well. The show opens and tickets go on sale
starting today, but the real frenzy occurs Saturday night (7-10 p.m.),
when the gallery will be hopping with potentially lucky art lovers and
plenty of interesting conversation. The raffle closes at 10 p.m. on Saturday,
and you need not be present to win.

Noon-8 p.m. Wed-Thurs, Friday Noon-5 p.m., Saturday Noon-11 p.m., a reception starting at 7 p.m.; Rosalux Gallery, 1101 Washington Ave., Downtown Minneapolis; free.

MUSIC
Smith’s Night

Practice your depressed look in the mirror and head on down to the Kitty Cat Klub tonight for this monthly event devoted to Smiths
and Smiths-related music (ie-Morrissey). Though it’s located smack dab
in the middle of parking-space challenged Dinkytown, the Kitty Cat is a cool spot to
chill out on a Wednesday and cry the tears of an angsty youth gone-by.
Did I mention they have free wi-fi? Well, they do, so embrace that
anti-social nature that goes along with being a stereotypical Smiths
fan, and spend all night googling yourself in a dark corner.

10 p.m., The Kitty Cat Klub, 315 14th Ave, SE, Dinkytown, Minneapolis; free.

DANCE
Fuego Flamenco Fiesta

Minneapolis Mosaic
officially kicks off summer this coming weekend, and as always, an
endless number of amazing cultural events jump on the bandwagon,
bringing the Twin Cities a dynamic array of entertainment. Fuego
Flamenco being of like-minded spirit, helps gear things up with an
evening of dance at Candelabra Studios. Traditional Spanish flamenco
dancer and instructor, the lovely Colette Marie Illarde
and her friends show off their fancy footwork during this fun and
flashy performance at a fantastic, yet little-known Northeast
Minneapolis warehouse dance studio and art space. Want to make an
evening of it? Central Avenue is positively crammed with delightful
ethnic restaurants that you simply must check out.

8 p.m., Candelabra Studios, 1517 Central Ave. NE, Northeast Minneapolis; free.

PERFORMANCE
Sample Night Live

Master of Ceremonies David Lind
hosts an evening of "bite-sized art" with satisfying snippets of music,
performance art, film, spoken word, puppetry, theater, dance, comedy,
and more. The perfect evening out for someone with ADHD, this event will feature two action-packed acts:
one G rated (7 p.m.), and another "unrated" (8:15 p.m.), so plan accordingly
if you’re one of those easily offended types. Tonight will include
performances by such groups as Bright Lights and Heroes, Upright Egg
Theater Company, and The Megawatts — just to name a few.

7 p.m., Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, 801 W. Lake St., Uptown Minneapolis; $15, students & seniors $10.