Rain Taxi Celebrates Issue #50 at the Keg House!

SPECIAL EVENT
Rain Taxi’s 50th Issue Celebration

RainTini, the newest libation of choice among discerning literary Twin Citians. Not to be confused with any Sex in the City über-hip cocktail, the RainTini is but one of the attractions at tonight’s Rain Taxi 50th Issue Celebration. The big 5-0 party will be held at The Keg House, located in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. While there, you’ll also be able to check out local book distributor Consortium‘s new digs. Rain Taxi has long been heralded as a quarterly magazine "unabashedly dedicated to reviewing and commenting on the finest writing in America." For the past twelve plus years, Rain Taxi has garnered accolades from across the state and nationwide for its "feisty, determined, iconoclastic" ways and having "no university affiliation or corporate sugar daddy behind it." The quarterly has promoted authors who may not otherwise get a nod through its book festivals, reading series, and brainstorm collections. Visit the quarterly’s website to easily RSVP for tonight’s event which will include hors d’oeuvres, drinks, local music by Bill Mike and Dreamland Faces, plus a silent auction. Tip back a RainTini, bid on some killer art pieces, and feel good about supporting "the little lit-mag that could." -Jill Yablonski

5:30 to 8:30pm, The Keg House, 34 13th Ave. NE, Suite 101, Minneapolis, Suggested Donation $10

READINGS
Lourdes Lozano Lauber: Summer Love in Bergen Norway

Author Lourdes Lozano Lauber takes us on a magical and descriptive journey to a beautiful land in her book Summer Love in Bergen Norway. As Lauber put it best, “The
beauty of Bergen, Norway is inescapable. Each summer,
waterfalls that in winter are cathedrals of ice melt to make mountain
passes lush. Cobblestones soften, the fjord welcomes swimmers. Skis and
snowshoes give way to bicycles on Mount Floien and Ulriken. The
sweetness of the summer permeates the air and when it shines, the sun
makes the world glisten.” A description like that is apt to inspire day
dreams of moving to Norway to take up some sort of storybook-esque
career like milk maid, shepard, or even mountain nymph. Tonight
Lourdes Lozano Lauber will wax poetic about her love for this alluring
little corner of the world at Magers & Quinn, and may even sign a
copy of the book for you if you’re nice. Afterwards, make a spicy
evening of it with dinner on the pretty-pretty patio at Amazing Thai, just a few storefronts down from M&Q!

7:30pm, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave, Uptown Minneapolis, Free

MUSIC
Reloaded Wednesdays

Every other Wednesday, local cool cat Sean "Twinkie Jiggles" McPherson of Heiruspecs brings a fresh lineup of hip-hop, jazz and R&B musicians to the charmingly grungy Turf Club
in St. Paul. Kick back with a strong drink (signature to the Turf) and
soak of the sounds of Pungee, a troupe of Twin Cities playas of
high-repute featuring Bill Mike, Toby Marshall, Graham O’Brien and
Casey O’Brien. Stick around for hot hip-hoppers Eff’ed Up as well as
beats by resident record-spinner DJ Anton. And if the smokin’ music
lineup isn’t enough for you, there will also be a spirited "drunken Jenga" tournament – and who can argue with Jenga?

9pm, Turf Club, 1601 University Avenue, St. Paul, $4