Author: Cristina Córdova

  • Ask the Experts

    CONFERENCE
    Mondale Speaks on the Vice-Presidency

    As we continue to watch what has proven to be a very interesting presidential primary race, one question will become more and more important: who will the candidates choose as their running mates? Now is the time to start the guessing game, so perhaps it’s a good time to learn about the various factors that influence the selection. And who better to hear it from than a former vice-president himself. This morning, Walter F. Mondale will join leading experts from across the country to discuss the selection of vice presidential nominees. What should we look for in the next vice president? You decide.

    8:30 a.m. to noon, Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612 625 3421; free.

    LECTURE
    MPR Presents Bob Garfield

    If money is the root of all evil, advertising is the horse manure that ensures its growth. Yeah, that’s silly, but perhaps a fair introduction to a man who has been an ardent advertising critic for over a decade, Bob Garfield. Don’t get me wrong here, a critic is often an industry’s staunchest supporter: the man has done much for the advertising industry, both good and bad. But more than that, he has helped us to understand it. He has enlightened us. And he has entertained us. In addition to serving as co-host of National Public Radio’s On the Media, Garfield writes "Ad Review," a TV-commercial criticism feature for Advertising Age and maintains his own blog, called The Bobosphere. (See, he MUST be important.) He has written for some of the country’s top publications — including big important ones like Sports Illustrate — and he even cowrote a song with Willie Nelson. Whoop. Whoop. (Try as I might, I couldn’t find a video of it for you.) Maybe you can ask him to sing it tonight.

    7 p.m., Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel, Macalester, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul; free, but tickets are required and are available at Bibelot Shops.

    THEATER & PERFORMANCE
    King Lear

    While dual-roling was common in Shakespeare’s time, this meant that one actor often played two roles — not that two actors played one role, as in the Minnesota Shakespeare Project’s current production of King Lear. Ok, this is just a little misleading. At first I thought, really? It takes me long enough to figure out who is who and follow the story, and now they’re going to throw multiple actors at me? Interesting. But it’s not that complicated at all. It’s just a double role rotation, so that you can actually see the performance more than once and get a whole new experience — and so that the actors can mix it up and have some fun with different roles, of course. And who doesn’t love a perfect tragedy?

    7:30 p.m., Old Arizona, 2821 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-871-0050; $22, student and seniors $20 (tonight is industry night).

    MUSIC
    One, Two, Three Days Grace

    Start your week with a jolt tonight with a triple-whammy alt metal show at the Target Center: Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Seether. Three Days Grace took the rock world by storm five years ago when their self-title album produced two number one hits: "I Hate Everything about You" and "Just Like Her." Then two years ago, in 2006, they struck gold once again when the first three singles off their One-X album topped the charts — all of them! It doesn’t get much better than this. Of course, Breaking Benjamin seems to be on a similar path, with a number one single from their 2007 album, Phobia, which made it to number two on the Billboard 200 last year. And though their success is perhaps a little newer than the others, Seether is still riding high with the release of their last album, Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces, which debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 last October.

    6:30 p.m. (doors 5:30 p.m.), Target Center, 600 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-673-0900; $35.

     

  • Brandy of the Damned

    Today is the birthday of legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., the man behind Ziegfeld Follies. So take a moment to view this old trailer for the 1936 film, The Great Ziegfeld.

    We have a rather gray and wet weekend in store, but we can certainly warm our hearts with a little brandy of the damned. (It’s rather fitting for Good Friday, no?) Who was it that said music is the brandy of the damned? I think it was Shaw, but I’ll leaving the Googling to you.

    MUSIC
    Ray Bonneville and Tim O’Reagan

    I’ve never been much of a label whore; I could care less what label any given musician is with, and for the most part, I don’t even pay attention to it. But I have to say, I’m getting to a point where I’ll pretty much go see anyone who’s with Red House Records. What can I say? They just seldom go wrong, if ever. And tonight’s performer is no exception. Having recently released his Goin’ By Feel album on the Red House label, poet-singer-songwriter Ray Bonneville brings his folk-blues fingerpicking stylings to the Cedar this evening. Think Dylan, but with a low, mellifluous voice. And you won’t want to miss the opening act, either: Tim O’Reagan, former drummer for the Jayhawks. O’Reagan only recently stepped out from behind the drumset and is spreading his singer-songwriter wings quite eloquently.

    Friday at 8 p.m., The Cedar, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-2674; $16.

    Saturday Selections

    There’s a lot of great music to choose from on Saturday night. For starters, Crosby, Stills & Nash tickets go on sale, so if you want to catch their July 11th show, be sure to act fast. Then choose from the mnSpin kick-off party at the Nomad
    World Pub
    , L.A. punk-rockers X at the Cabooze, or Self the Remix spoken word at the Playwright’s Center. Or, for an evening of first-rate local music, with a meaningful film, see below.

    BENEFIT, FILM & MUSIC

    Rock The Red Tail!

    Pack in an evening of assorted amazement. Support a filmmaker. Learn about an industry — and the workers behind it. And enjoy some of our most established local rockers. Filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson and her co-director Melissa Koch invite you to Rock The Red Tail. The event, aimed at raising funds and awareness for their new film, will include a preview screening of The Red Tail — a documentary that examines the harsh realities of globalization through the impact of Northwest Airlines’ struggles on Twin Cities families. But the evening isn’t all of such a serious nature. Lighten up and celebrate with performances by Lori Barbero (Babes in Toyland), Artifact Shore, Martin Devaney (3-time MN Music Award Nominee), JoAnna James (2005 & 2006 MN Music Awards “Female Vocalist of the Year”), and Mike Gunther (City Pages’ “Best Male Vocalist” for 2007).

    Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m., In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 East Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-721-2535; $25.

    FILM
    Married Life

    Based on the 1953 pulp mystery novel Five Roundabouts to Heaven, Ira Sach’s new film, Married Life, follows the relationships and ethical dilemmas presented by a
    man and his wife, a man and his mistress, a wife and her lover, and the
    rakish friend that likes the mistress. Chris Cooper, with pain and disillusionment fused into every pore, delivers the sort of nuanced performance that we’ve come to expect from him. Rachel McAdams is similarly able to shock a semblance of life into Kay, the thinly written object of affection for both leading men. —Brandon Root, read his full review

    Opens Friday, (1:50, 4:30) 7:20, 9:35 p.m., Edina Cinema, 3911 W. 50th St., Edina; 651-649-4416.

    Also opening this weekend: Snow Angels and Paranoid Park.

    ART
    Last Weekend: Soul on Ice

    The Art Within Us artist group embraces the cold for the final weekend of Soul on Ice, featuring work by some hundred African-American and immigrant artists on view at the Soap Factory—which is, mind you, unheated. Don’t let a little frost distract you from the artwork, though; the show spotlights the value and depth of black culture. And on Saturday (2-4 p.m.) join an open discussion with community leaders on the subjects of raising culture consciousness, the future of culture through our children, and cultural leadership.

    Friday from 2 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m., The Soap Factory, 518 Second St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-623-9176; free.

    SHOPPING
    The North Face Opens Uptown Store

    Just in time for the warm weather, a new North Face store is opening today in Uptown Minneapolis. Go buy some summer toys to get you movitated and start the blood a-flowin’. There’s nothing like zipping those two sleeping bags together after a full-day hike.

    Opens Friday, North Face, 3008 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis.

     
    Oh, and be sure to read Linda Morganstein’s new Rake Appeal piece: "Minnesota Couples: Beware IKEA!"

  • Get into the Groove

    SPECIAL EVENT
    Gallery Grooves at Joan of Art Gallery

    Join us tonight for another Gallery Grooves, The Rake’s monthly art, jazz,
    and
    wine event. This
    month, view work by painter and poet Kathryn Stemwedel. Educated at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Florence Academy of Art, and St. Olaf College, Stemwedel
    creates artwork that dances between reality and fiction, incorporating
    classical, surrealist, and post-modern methods. Her art portrays the
    topography of psychological landscapes. —Jennifer Havrish

    7-9 p.m., Joan of Art Gallery, 3020 Franklin Ave. E., Minneapolis.

    WINE & DINE
    Local Favorites

    Enjoy a lovely mix of local favorites tonight. PastureLand, Etica, Peace Coffee, and Common Roots Cafe have come together to bring you a free sampling of fair-trade coffee and wine expertly paired with Minnesota-made cheeses and desserts. Feast your palate while you support local business and fair trade. It’s a perfect no-guilt experience.

    5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Common Roots Cafe, 2558 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-871-2360; free.

    THEATER & PERFORMANCE
    Ways to Behold and Sentry

    One of the most literate, thoughtful choreographers in town, Stuart Pimsler presents a double bill of protest art late in the month. Ways to Behold,
    a world premiere with accompaniment by spoken-word artist Tiyo Siyolo,
    juxtaposes the realities of a U.S.-initiated—yet somehow invisible—war
    overseas with the comforts of daily life on our own shores. Sentry
    is a reprise from the Reagan era; it was created during Pimsler’s days
    in New York City, when he was active with Artists Against Nuclear
    Madness. Set to a medley of ’60s protest songs, the piece is based in
    part on military orders that one of Pimsler’s students smuggled out of
    the Air Force Academy. —Christy DeSmith, photo by Paul Virtucio

    8 p.m., Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis; 612-436-1129; $18-$22.

    Let Loose

    Also tonight, the Cassandra and Jawaahir Dance Company offers an alternative perspective on what it means to “let loose” as they peek behind the mashrabiya (the screen traditional Arabs use to isolate women’s quarters) in Girls Night Out IN.

    8 p.m., Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-340-1725; $27.

    MUSIC
    George Jones

    For those who prefer the hunks in the big hats and tight jeans,
    well, it’s time you learned it ain’t the meat in a man’s voice, it’s
    the motion. And even at age seventy-six, the pipes of The Possum will
    have you moving with him into chasms of loneliness and epiphanies of
    grace and gratitude that are emotionally closed off to most every other
    singer. Jones is generally regarded as the greatest country vocalist
    who ever drew breath. Age has undeniably shortened his phrasing and
    weakened the fiber in his tone, but when your signature song is a
    goose-bumper like “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and you tour with some
    of Nashville’s finest musicians, you can play for posterity at a casino
    and still pack a mighty wallop. —Britt Robson

    7:30 p.m., Mystic Lake Casino, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake; 651-989-5151; $29-$42.

     

  • So Much Trouble in the World

    ACTIVISM
    Not One More Death — Not One More Dollar

    Unhappy Anniversary! (Assume a Shakespearean tone, but don’t fail to take the rest of this seriously.) Today marks five years since the invasion of Iraq. With Iraq falling out of the headlines and becoming nothing more than a platform point in a most engaging presidential primary race, the battlefield is ripe for a solid public outcry against the war. This afternoon, and all through the evening, MoveOn members will be holding candlelight vigils throughout Minneapolis (and around the country) to call for an end to the war and "new priorities for our nation."

    5 p.m. at Lake Street and the Marshall Ave Bridge in Minneapolis, 6:30 p.m. at the Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 62 in Minneapolis, 7 p.m. at the corner of 50th and France in Edina, 7 p.m. just southwest of Rice and Wheelock Pkwy. in St. Paul, and 7:30 p.m. just west of the Mall at 212 and Singleton Rd. in Eden Prairie.

    LECTURE
    Take It from a Union Man Who Knows Danger

    We’ve has our fair share of anti-union violence in this country, but nothing like union organizers have experienced, and continue to experience, in Colombia, which may likely be the most dangerous country in the world for a union leader. According to the International Labor Organization, more than two thousand Colombian trade unionists have been murdered since 1991. Tonight, we have one in our midst, sharing his vast well of knowledge and experience. Edgar Paez, a leader with SINALTRAINAL, the National Food Industry Workers Union in Colombia, will speak tonight in Minneapolis and tomorrow in Rochester. For years, Paez has organized workers and social struggles in Colombia, as well as in other countries. But tonight, he’ll join Gerardo Cajamarca (a former Colombian union activist now on the staff of the United Steelworkers), and Dan Kovalik (associate general counsel of the United Steelworkers) for a panel discussion on the current conditions for union organizers in Colombia and how a free trade agreement with the United States would affect workers, families, and human rights in Colombia. Tomorrow night, in Rochester, Kovalik will be replaced by Tara Widner (staff representative for the United Steelworkers).

    6 p.m., Minneapolis Labor Center, 312 Central Ave., Minneapolis; free. Tomorrow at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. for coffee and snacks), Christ United Methodist Church, 400 5th St. SW, Rochester; free.

    FILM
    Sneak a Peek at Paranoid Park

    A murder mystery wrapped into the life and times of a wannabe skate punk who gets caught-up in the investigation, Paranoid Park
    utilizes a myriad of production devices to take the viewer inside the
    mind of a troubled teenager. While I was expecting a meditative journey
    through the dark side of skateboarding, it was a surprise to get caught
    up in a murder mystery plot intermingled with teen skateboarder Alex’s
    struggle to cope with his insecurities, and what he is willing to do
    not to have to feel. Catch tonight’s free premiere at the Walker, or see it this weekend at the Lagoon. —Christopher Kelleher, read his full review

    7:30 p.m., Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600; free.

    IFP’s Cinema Lounge

    Third Wednesday of the month: that means another Cinema Lounge. And this month it’s all documentaries. Films include: Bronze by Paul Benhardt, The Northshore Project by Cliff Langley, Diego’s Visit to Guatemala by Dan Luke and Diego Mack Xicay Luke, Cross Country with the Snakes by Hansi Johnson, and The Women of Brukman and Oaxaca: The Power of the Commune by Carlos Broun.

    7 p.m., Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 West Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-825-8949; free (but I’m guessing donations are more than welcome.)

    MUSIC
    Patty Larkin: All That and a Bag of Sky

    She has "redefining the boundaries of folk-urban pop music for more than 20 years." She is known for her "inventive guitar wizardry, vocals, and uncompromising lyrics." Acoustic Guitar hails “her soundscape experiments.” Rolling Stone praises her “evocative vocals and subtle sonic shading.” She has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and “drop-dead brilliant” (Performing Songwriter). But at the end of the day, you should go see Patty Larkin tonight just because she sounds darn beautiful! …and with so much trouble in the world, we all need something beautiful.

    7:30 p.m., The Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-388-2674; $18.

    Looking for some good reading material to lighten and brighten up your day? Be sure to check out this week’s feature on the Twin Cities burlesque scene: "Minnesota Naughty" — plus three accompanying videos on the birth of Le Cirque Rouge, the group’s controversial split, and the resulting burlesque scene today.

  • Brain Food: Lost in the Details

    If you missed Barak Obama’s speech earlier today, see it here, and get back to this post when you’re done. I’m not backing any presidential candidates, but the speech can’t be missed. Besides, then you can take part in the fun — brain food fun, that is.

    I received an email from MoveOn this afternoon (don’t worry, I get "righty" emails, too), and in addition to letting me know that it’s "one of the most honest, courageous, and thoughtful speeches" they’ve ever seen, they commented that the media had totally missed the point — "reducing
    the whole thing to a few soundbites and hashing over whether he ‘did enough to condemn his pastor.’"

    Surprisingly, this had not been my experience throughout the day. Granted, I was too busy to read much of anything all day, but from what little I could gauge, the consensus was awe — simple, uncomplicated awe.

    Hmmm…

    Of course, I checked my media sources after receiving the aforementioned email. I got online — bullshit, I was already online — and went to The New York Times website, where I found "Obama Urges U.S. to Grapple With Racial Issue." Ok. True. Very appropriate title. That’s exactly what he did. But the first half does focus on the pastor — of course, his speech did as well. Perhaps it’s not how I would have led the story, but it’s fair enough.

    I move on. I check other news sources. I’m not really seeing it. They’re journalists, right? They’re supposed to be reporting the facts, after all. They can’t express awe. Is that the problem?

    When something beautiful or gruesome enough happens, it seems, we need to have it expressed to us somehow. Perhaps we’ve become lazy or weak, or even dumb, but we no longer seem capable of reacting on our own. The facts just aren’t enough anymore. It’s unfortunate; and one could definitely argue that for that very reason, we need to force the issue — that we can’t give up. But we’ve hardened to facts over time. It’s only natural.

    Enter the blog. Why are we suddenly reaching out like desperate fools, poking people in Facebook, amassing "friends" in MySpace, concocting new Google groups, reconnecting with grade-school aquaintance, and checking our email 542 times a day? Oh — and writing and reading about navel explorations. Oh, my.

    We want more than facts. We need more than facts. We need reaction. We need connection. We need context.

    Enter the blog.

    Clearly now, the little information I had received throughout the day was from blogs. Of course, it was awe. Some say it isn’t journalism. Frankly, I don’t care what it’s called. It is.

    So, what then? Certainly we need facts. But do mere facts accurately paint a full picture? Do they offer vision, truth? Or in getting caught in the facts, do we miss the big picture?

    Journalism, as we know it today, isn’t the origin of everything. It isn’t a seed for everything that follows. It’s just one of the things that follows and precedes — a part of the chain. Maybe we’re a little closer to our story-telling origins now. Who knows? But isn’t it all part of a progression, an evolution?

    Who ever said facts have to be dry? Who ever said anyone should be anything less than subjective?

    (I get it. I get it. Tomorrow I’ll rant about the importance of journalistic integrity. But today I’m enjoying the ride.)

    "I sound my barbaric YAWP o’er the rooftops of the world." —WW

     

     

  • Death and Murder

    Thirty years ago today, in 1978, Pakistani former premier Shaheed-e-Azam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death. How is that for setting the tone?

    THEATER & PERFORMANCE
    Meet the Director and Cast of Frozen

    The Park Square Theatre is dead in the middle of its production of the 2004 Tony Award-nominated play Frozen, and this evening you have an opportunity to share in an "intriguing conversation" with the artistic team, director Jim Cada and actors Linda Kelsey and Karen Landry. Frozen explores our capacity for forgiveness, remorse, and change through a touching tale about a missing 10-year-old, her mother, her murderer, and a doctor studying serial killers. Participants in tonight’s discussion will be able to purchase tickets at half price.

    7 p.m., Hamline Midway Branch Library, 1558 W. Minnehaha Ave., St. Paul; 651-222-3242; call to reserve tickets.

    BOOKS & AUTHORS
    The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll Be Dead

    "My dad will be dead soon; one day I’ll be dead; despite—or perhaps
    because of—all the data gathered in this book, I still find these two
    facts overwhelming," writes David Shields in his appropriately titled book, The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll Be Dead.
    Using a blend of personal anecdotes, biological facts, philosophical
    speculation, and cultural history, Shields explores his mortality
    through his father’s own life and history.

    7:30 p.m., Magers & Quinn Booksellers, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-4611.

    MUSIC
    Vinicius Cantuaria

    Sure, you could go see Bon Jovi at the Xcel Center; I wouldn’t blame you, really. (He was actually the opening act of one of the first concerts I ever saw, and it was quite the memorable experience despite the red and black striped leather.) But let’s face it, if class is what you’re looking for, you’re probably better off with Vinicius Cantuaria — a bridge between classic bossa nova and the hip 21st Century variations on the Tropicalia sound. If you know even a little bit about Brazilian music, you’ll have heard of Caetano Veloso; and if you know even a little bit about Caetano, you’ll have heard "Lua e Estrella," a song written for him by Cantauria. The man is a master. He has played alongside Caetano, as well as other greats, including Gilberto Gil, Laurie Anderson, and David Byrne. Enjoy the Brazilian-in-New York guitarist-percusionist’s avante garde jazz this evening.

    7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $20 & $15.

    FILM
    Mafioso DVD Release

    mafioso_new.jpgThis
    acclaimed comedy classic was made in 1962, given a brief American run
    in ’64, and then, for forty years, it vanished like a mob boss on the
    Witness Protection Program. Nino, the lead character, is a portly
    middle manager, happily passing time at a Fiat plant in Milan. He
    finally returns home to a little Sicilian village for the vacation he’s
    been promising his family for years — giving them the chance to
    finally meet his northern Italian wife and two daughters. But before he
    embarks on this trip, a local mob boss asks our poor hero to deliver a
    small package to one Don Vincenzo, the reigning capo of Nino’s
    hometown. Being a comedy, all hell must break loose. However, Mafioso
    isn’t just slapstick, but a poignant examination of the emergence of
    two Italys — the industrial north and the provincial south. Created a
    good seven years before the eponymous novel on which The Godfather was based, Mafioso is an obvious influence, yet it stands on its own as a sunny comedy. —Peter Schilling

  • Still Wearin' the Green

    Pull out the green clothes and the Irish pride. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, which, according to one avid Secrets reader, is about more than just green beer.

    SPECIAL EVENTS
    Irish Ceili

    Anthony wrote in to tell us about two Irish Ceili (pronounced kay-lee) dances tonight. "My wife and I met at an Irish Ceili and were married that year at the same hall we met!" he wrote. "So these dances are just as magical as the Leprechaun!!!"

    Minnesotans for a United Ireland is sponsoring a Ceili Dance, called by Mike Whalen, with music by the Blackbirds. Arrive a half hour early (6:30 p.m.) for basic step lessons.

    7-10 p.m., Randolph Heights School, 378 Hamline Ave. S., Saint Paul; $8 (students and seniors $5), $1 off with a non-perishable food shelf donation.

    The Minnesota Folk Arts Alliance is sponsoring a Ceili Dance, called by Ann Wiberg, with music by Barra

    7-10 p.m., CSPS Hall, 383 Michigan St., Saint Paul; $9.50 (seniors and children $4.75).

    And Then There’s Always Beer

    For the typical rip-roaring St. Paddy’s Day celebration, head over to
    the Nomad for the 4th Annual Break the Seal Challenge, free beer, a tribute to U2 and the Pogues, Irish trivia, prizes and giveaways, and two-for-ones on Beamish Irish Stout from
    9 p.m. to close. Music will be provided by the
    Flaming Seamus, the Humbugs, County 79, Andrew Lynch, and the Early Effect

    4 p.m., the Nomad World Pub (501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-6424.

    MUSIC
    Celto-delic Rock-n-Reel

    Fittingly, Boiled in Lead is also performing at First Avenue tonight — their 25th Anniversary St. Patrick’s Day concert. These guys have managed to take Irish folk to a whole new level — somewhere in the realm of heavy metal-Celtic Irish folk-punk. It’s nothing if not interesting, and it certainly gets the blood flowing. See them this evening with the Minnesota Police Pipe Band, Lehto & Wright, Wild Colonial Bhoys, Brass Messengers, Sweet Colleens, and Mark Stillman

    4 p.m., First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-338-8388; $12 (free admission from 4 to 7 p.m.).


    Mary Stallings

    For something a little less Irish, head over to the Dakota to hear perhaps one of the best jazz singers around these days: Mary Stallings. With a voice that has been compared to that of Dinah Washington (though I’d venture to say it’s more of a cross between Washington and Etta James), Stallings has shared the stage with some of the top jazz masters: Wes Montgomery, Ben Webster, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie Orchestra.

    7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $20 & $15.

     

     

  • War Dance

    Now that it’s actually warming up a bit, try to get outside this weekend, even if it’s just for a short walk. It’s about time we start easing our way out of hibernation and stripping off a layer or two. We certainly need it. Fortunately, Saturday is a big day for outdoor activities — both serious and festive — so we can avail ourselves of the excuse and motivation to leave the nest.

    PROTEST
    Five Years Too Long

    Tired of the war in Iraq? Sick of needless deaths, worry, and fear? Join other like-minded people this weekend to demand an end to the war and the return of our troops.

    Saturday at 1 p.m., corner of Hennepin Ave. & Lagoon Ave., Uptown Minneapolis.

    HOLIDAY PARADE
    Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

    Of course, if you’re looking for a "lighter" (less noble) cause, you can join the Saint Patrick’s Day debauchery in St. Paul. Ok. True. Saint Patrick’s Day isn’t until Monday, and it’s not really about debauchery (no, really, it isn’t), but this year’s Saint Patrick’s Parade is being held two days early in order to "avoid conflicting with Holy Week." Conflicting with Holy Week? Why would a saint’s day celebration conflict with Holy Week? Could it be the green beer? Could it be the booze? I’m guessing it has little to do with little green men and four-leaf clovers.

    Saturday at Noon, 4th Street, from Sibley to Broadway, St. Paul.

    THEATER & PERFORMANCE
    Nine Parts of Desire

    I’m not usually a big fan of one-woman shows. Granted, there’s often a good deal of talent involved. I just have a hard time digesting the cookie-cutter feminist rhetoric that seldom fails to emerge: one woman traversing generations and circumstances to reach a common experience that somehow results, revolves, and depends upon her politicized body. Oy! And yet… and yet… somehow… 9 Parts of Desire pulls it off splendidly. For starters, Kate Eiphrig is spectacular. With little more than a sheet as a prop, Kate manages to portray nine different women — each in such a unique way that even when she brings all their voices together, toward the end of the performance, you know exactly who is doing the talking. With war all around them — or threatening their families — these nine characters bring to life the experiences of Iraqi women both in Iraq and in America. But what we see isn’t the usual pretty package, with a bow on top. Perhaps this is why it works: it addresses the subleties and nuances without trying to hit the audience over the head with answers and explanations. There are no answers in a world wracked by war and oppression. No one person is so astute as to escape effect and internalization. And a character’s truth is as much the truth as our own — it’s amazing how well we can lie to ourselves in times of dire need. Well, lie to yourself all you want, but don’t miss this show. It’s the best show I’ve seen yet in the Dowling Theater.

    Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m., Guthrie, Dowling Studio, 818 South 2nd St., Minneapolis; 612-377-2224; $22-$30.

    MUSIC
    Jonathan Richman and Vic Chesnutt

    This odd but spectacular double-header pairs two veteran
    singer/songwriters from opposite sides of the emotional spectrum. At
    one end is the naively optimistic Jonathan Richman,
    known for his playful and charmingly inane simplicity. Even if he
    doesn’t dive into his classic songbook from his days with the Modern
    Lovers, he can draw upon nearly thirty years of consistently wonderful
    solo albums. At the other pole is the noted cynic Vic Chesnutt.
    His albums are significantly darker and deeper, traits stemming at
    least in part from his perspective as a paraplegic. This date will be
    an intimate solo appearance, without the members of Godspeed You! Black
    Emperor and Fugazi, who helped transform Chesnutt’s latest record into
    a moving and chaotic masterpiece. —Christopher Hontos

    Friday at 8 p.m., Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-2674; $16.

    Boyd Conducts Schumann

    The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra promises a spectacular series of shows this weekend with artistic partner Douglas Boyd at the helm. Boyd will conduct a program of Schumann (Symphony No. 4 in D Minor) and Weill (Concerto for Violin and Wind Instruments) — with concertmaster Steven Copes on the latter. “It’s the same sound world as the young Hindemith," says Copes of the Weill piece, "wild, obsessive rhythms and lush, strange but beautiful harmonies everywhere.” While Friday night’s Jazzed-Up programming includes Ravel’s Trio in A Minor for Piano, Violin and Cello and vocalist Christine Rosholt, the other two performances include Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.

    Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday ay 8 p.m., Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul; 651-291-1144. Sunday at 2 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota, 2106 S 4th St., Minneapolis, 612-626-1892; $11-$59.

    And, of course, Bruce Sprinsteen is playing at the Xcel on Sunday.

    ART
    The River to Infinity Tapers Off

    In River to Infinity-The Vanishing Points, Andrea Stanislav
    comments on Manifest Destiny, among other topics, via video images of
    mirrored obelisks in Utah’s Great Salt Flats. This is the exhibit’s
    last weekend, so don’t miss out.

    Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., MAEP Galleries, Minneapolis Institue of Arts, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-870-6323.

    FILM
    Funny Games

    Word has it that controversial director Michael Haneke (The Piano Teacher, Caché) simply remade his original 1997 shockfest shot by shot. But who cares? The original Funny Games
    is hands-down one of the most disturbing films ever made; and if this
    one has Naomi Watts in the lead we’re, well, game. With the story of a
    bourgeois family who, while vacationing at their lake home, are
    attacked by a pair of young men clad in what appear to be Wimbledon
    tennis outfits, Haneke managed not only to raise the tension, ever so
    slowly, to unbearable levels; he also made us, the audience, feel
    culpable. The ’97 version is a masterpiece and possibly the worst date
    movie ever. The remake promises to be equally unsettling. —Peter Schilling

    Opens Friday at Lagoon Cinema, 612-825-6006.


    Fly Me To The Moon: Animation for All Ages

    Once again, the library’s very own cinema sprites, Deb Girdwood and
    Isabelle Harder, bring your lucky kids some of the finest animation in
    the world—and we’re not talking Saturday-morning corporate fare,
    either. Drag the offspring to the library for such inspired lunacy as
    “Petalocity,” a story of “a little girl who goes to extremes of bravery
    in order to keep her potted plant safe.” These shorts could very well
    rouse your children to write, draw, sing, and maybe even embark on
    their own heroic endeavors. And that’s far better than further
    inflaming their desire for Happy Meals, no? Part of the Childish Films
    series, this show will be introduced by local animator Ben Bury. —Peter Schilling

    Saturday at 10:30 a.m., Central Minneapolis Library, 300 Nicollet Mall; 612-630-6000.

    DINNER, A MOVIE, & MORE
    Milonga Night

    It’s a form of music. It’s a dance. It’s a tango party. It’s Milonga night — with dinner and a movie. Live it up tonight in true Argentinean style. Begin the evening with a wine tasting of Alfredo Roca Pinot Noir Mendoza, from Salud America Wines. Then settle in for a three-course Agentinean dinner from Restaurant Alma as you watch Herencia, an Argentinean film about an unlikely friendship between an
    ornery 60-year-old woman who owns a restaurant and a 24-year-old German
    man looking for a girlfriend. Dinner includes a mixed green salad, a plato de asado with various grilled cuts of beef served alongside chorizo and empanadas, and a fabulous flan for dessert. Once the belly is full and the mind is at peace, treat the body and soul to a special Tango performance by El Toro Tango, followed by an all-out Milonga-style dance party. During the music, live statues dressed as gods and goddesses of love from Vox Medusa will fill the balcony of the Suburban World, while break dancers and fire dancers entertain the crowd.

    Saturday at 6 p.m., Dinner and Film at 7 p.m., Tango show at 9 p.m., and party at 9:30 p.m.;
    Suburban World Theatre, 3022 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 952-451-1400; $39 plus tax and gratuity (without wine, $34), party only $10, VIP $125.

  • Happy Good Samaritan Involvement Day!

    BENEFIT & WINE
    A Toast to the Cedar

    It’s Good Samaritan Involvement Day, so be sure to fill your day with good deeds. Then continue into the evening hours with a wine-tasting benefit for the Cedar. Now in its third year, the Zipp’s Liquors/Seward Co-op Spring Wine & Food Show features more than 100 wines, beers and spirits, live music, a wine and cheese pairing, a silent auction, and a raffle drawing — all of this accompanied by the joy of helping out one of our top local music venues.

    6-9 p.m., The Cedar, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-2674;
    $40.

    MUSIC
    The Jazz Is Back — The Jazz is NOW!

    After a three-year break due to Artistic Director Jeremy Walker’s health struggles, Jazz is NOW! is back. Celebrate the long-await return with a preview of its NOWnet ensemble (formerly the Jazz is NOW! Orchestra) tonight at the Minnesota Opera Center. Unfortunately, Walker had to abandon the saxophone, but he’ll be on piano, with Chris Thomson and Scott Fultz on saxophones, Jeffrey Bailey on bass, Kelly Rossum on trumpet, and Kevin Washington on drums. The ensemble, as always, will be performing all original compositions.

    8 p.m., The Minnesota Opera Center, 620 N. First St., North Loop, Minneapolis; $10 (students $7).

    A Young Piano Master at Play

    For more classical fare, with masterful piano playing, don’t miss Lang Lang tonight at the Ordway. At only 24 years old, Lang has already sold out major halls across the globe. "His artistry and ability to connect with audiences on a personal level has established him as an international sensation and one of the most exciting and sought after artists of our time." Tonight’s performance includes Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 13 in B flat major, K.333, Schumann’s Fantasie for piano in C major, Op. 17, six traditional Chinese works, Granados’ Goyescas, H.64, topped off by two fabulous Liszt compositions.

    8 p.m., Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., Saint Paul; 651-292-3268; $15-$45.

    How Birds Work

    And for more jazz, hit up the Artists Quarter tonight to discover How Birds Work. What do birds have to do with it? Hear them play, and hear them take flight. "Fiery chops, instinctual communal listening skills, sprawling musical vocabulary, dynamics in flight — that’s How Birds Work." Let the all-star quartet lead you on a unique, experimental tour of jazz tonight — from hard bop to fusion to melodic classics.

    9 p.m., Artists’ Quarter, 408 St. Peter St., Hamm Building, St. Paul; 651-292-1359; $5.

    BOOKS & AUTHORS
    The Post-Birthday World of Lionel Shriver

    Novelist Lionel Shriver has built a career around characters of intense complexity and raw connection, but The Post-Birthday World’s
    perturbed Irina, a London children’s book illustrator, is perhaps
    Shriver’s most thoroughly explored and convincingly drawn protagonist
    yet. To cheat or not to cheat? wonders Irina as she grapples
    with choosing between her devoted partner and his best friend, a
    fervent, flamboyant snooker player. She’s torn between what is and what
    might be, in other words. And while that’s hardly the most original of
    plots, Shriver sharpens her two-pronged narrative with such honesty and
    wit that readers won’t feel compelled to pick sides—the prospect of
    either outcome will have them equally hooked. —Haily Gostas

    4 p.m., University of Minnesota Bookstore, Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-625-6000.

    And if you’re up for some shopping, the new Crate & Barrel opens today in Galleria.

  • Screens and Shadows

    FILM
    Lunch and a Movie with Joan Prowse

    Joan Prowse has been writing, producing, directing, and editing video for 15 years. She co-founded the Toronto-based independent production company, CineFocus Canada. She has produced and directed more than 20 hours of prime-time arts, biography, and social issue programs. She has a number of award-winning documentaries under her belt. And she has just released a documentary about Aboriginal artist Buffy Sainte-Marie‘s ascent through New York’s Greenwich Village folk music scene in the ’60s. This afternoon, you have a rare opportunity to sit down and have lunch with her as she discusses her latest work at the IFP Director’s Roundtable. Then, join her this evening for a sceening of Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Multimedia Life as part of Augsburg College’s Native American Voices Festival.

    Lunch at Noon, IFP MN, 2446 University Avenue West, Suite 100, St. Paul; 651-644-1912; free, but you are encouraged to bring your own lunch. Reception at 5:30 p.m. and screening at 7 p.m., Ausberg College, Century Room, Christensen Center lower level, 2211 Riverside Ave. S., Minneapolis.

    FILM

    Who Killed Vincent Chin?

    For another great documentary experience, check out tonight’s Labor and Community Film Series feature: Who Killed Vincent Chin? The 1987 crime documentary chronicles the murder of Vincent Chin, "an automotive engineer mistaken as Japanese who was slain by an assembly line worker who blamed him for the competition by the Japanese auto makers that were threatening his job." Directors Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Pena map out the facts that enabled the murderer to escape justice in the court system.

    7 p.m., UAW Local 879 hall, 2191 Ford Parkway, St. Paul.

    ART & PERFORMANCE
    Looming in the Shadows

    And for a step away from film — maybe a live film of sorts — head over to the Walker for a one-of-a-kind experience with William Yang. Tonight and tomorrow night, Yang brings you Shadows, a multimedia performance using a combination of original photographs and found images to weave together stories of South Australia’s German community across generations, scopes, and continents. Yang’s emotional monologue is set to original vocal and instrumental music by Colin Offord.

    "Through intimate details, Yang uncovers universal themes of suffering under ignorance and fear and the need for understanding and healing."

    8 p.m. (tonight and tomorrow night), William and Nadine McGuire Theater, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600; $20, members $16.