Author: Cristina Córdova

SHOPPING
Christy’s Recommendations for Black Friday

Roam (811 Glenwood Ave.) It’s the latest store to open on the burgeoning design
corridor of Glenwood Avenue;
you’ll find it next to Ligne Roset. Featured lines include Minneapolis’s own Blu Dot as well as some fantastic
Scandinavian-designed minimalist wares, like those from Alessi.

Fashion Avenue (4936 France Ave. S.) Actually, I was just there last weekend and spotted
a half rack of vintage couture, like a gorgeous ‘60s-era emerald-green Yves
Saint-Laurent sweater. Of course, I can’t think of anyone on my list who might
want such a thing. But I’ll be shopping with my mother; and FA is fertile
ground for dropping hints.

Letterbox (2741 Hennepin Ave.) Again, there’s nothing used to be found
(unless you count recycled paper). However, this repository of fine stationery—the
best in the cities, if you ask me—is conveniently located near my house. I plan
to snag a few reams for the smart-ass chicks on my list; those crazy bitches just
lurves fancy stationery. And I suppose I’ll pick up wrapping paper while I’m there, too.
P.S. Letterbox will be serving free hot cocoa to all customers on Saturday and
Sunday.

Local Motion (2813 Hennepin Ave) Again, it’s right in the neighborhood, and I’ll
be dropping more hints. Love those elbow-length leather gloves!

ROBOTlove (
2648 Lyndale Ave. S.) My lucky niece might be getting one of
the locally-made plush dolls above. These are by a Minneapolis-based artist named Curster, or Erin Currie.

Minnesota
Center for Book Arts (1011 Washington Ave. S.) If
they won’t let me buy a gift certificate, redeemable for one of their family-friendly
book-making workshops, then I can at least pick up some supplies for the budding, ten-year-old
author on my list.

—Christy DeSmith

Of course, if you leave it up to me, I say stay at home, avoid the crowds, serve yourself a glass of wine (or coquito), and buy your gifts online.

MUSIC
Against Me!

How many anarchist punk bands from Gainesville, Florida, actually
get better with age? The only one that matters thus far certainly has.
Worthy heirs to Bad Religion if not The Clash, Against Me! have always curlicued their snarl with a knowing smirk—“Cliché Guevara” is a song title from back in 2003. But this year’s New Wave, their major-label debut adorned with big-time producer Butch Vig (of Nirvana’s Nevermind
fame), invites the ire of the righteously betrayed skateboard brigade,
ups the ante by ranting against the ineffectiveness of protest songs in
the middle of a protest song (against the war in Iraq), and laces
together a rapid-fire collection of tunes that are too pretty and yet
too harsh to make anyone feel completely comfortable. Sage Francis opens. —Britt Robson

Friday at 5:30 p.m., First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., 612-332-1775; $16/$18.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Stuck In The Manger With You; or Carol On, My Wayward Son

Check that holiday-themed theater production off your annual to-do list. Just this past weekend, the Brave New Workshop Theatre opened its annual Christmas show. The opening night performance was chalk full of biting, acutely perceptive satire: Joe Bozic performed as a hell-on-wheels UPS driver, speeding through the night to deliver a single package on time for Christmas; Lauren Anderson reprised her riff (first performed at the 2007 Ivey Awards) on drunken office holiday parties; Josh Eakright and Mike Fotis rendered a Brokeback Mountain-inspired love story starring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his cohort, Blitzen. Taken together, these bits and sketches make the perfect holiday outing for family and group of friends not taking Christmas so seriously this year. —Christy DeSmith

Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 7 and 10 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m. (through Jan. 26); Brave New Workshop, 2605 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-332-6620; $23-29.

Hormel Girls

After World War II, when most U.S. businesses emphasized hiring male war veterans, Hormel Foods
hatched an unusual plan to employ women. Of course, these women tended
to be less needy than attractive—not to mention talented. In fact, from
1947–53, a troupe of sixty female employees from the Austin-based
company, known simply as the “Hormel Girls,” served both as
door-to-door sales force and drum-and-bugle corps. The Girls are
credited with doubling sales of their employer’s packaged foods,
especially Spam, with such tactics as traveling stage shows, parades,
and a weekly CBS Radio show in which product names were liberally
dropped. The “Hormel Girls” make for fascinating history; but they’re
likely to make even better musical theater. —Christy DeSmith

Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., History Theatre, 30 E. Tenth St., St. Paul; 651-292-4323.

SPECIAL EVENT
Our Very Own Rockefeller Center (or death of a 76-year-old tree for your viewing pleasure)

While
I’ve often heard Minneapolis referred to as the Mini Apple, I have to
give St. Paul some credit here, as they’re the ones with our version of
Rockefeller Center, a city-defining asset after Thanksgiving. You’ve
seen it in a hundred movies — the ice skating rink, the giant Christmas
tree, the crowds, the love, the broken hearts and broken bones. This
weekend truly kicks off the holiday season with the opening of the Wells Fargo WinterSkate
and the official tree lighting at Rice Park. I’m not a big fan of
buying the Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving (by the time
Christmas rolls around, the darn thing is dead and dry), but there’s no
reason not to celebrate the season with the lighting of a 78-foot tall
Christmas tree with 60,000 lights, and a lovely skate around the rink.
Take the kids. Take your lover. Start those sleigh bells a’ringing in
your head. The Wells Fargo choir will help get things rolling, and the
marching band will lead in Santa on his sleigh. A little premature
perhaps, but so much fun.

Saturday at 4 p.m., Rice Park, Saint Paul; 651-291-5608; $2 skate rental, all else is free.

BOOKS & AUTHORS
Michael Tisserand with the Southside Aces

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, displaced Big Easy journalist Tisserand, the former editor of the estimable Gambit Weekly, has produced a truly inspiring and moving testament to the power of perseverance in the face of unimaginable exile. Sugarcane Academy: How a New Orleans Teacher and His Storm-Struck Students Created a School to Remember
is an account of teacher Paul Reynaud’s heroic efforts to turn an
abandoned New Iberia office into a one-room schoolhouse for a group of
evacuee children. Tisserand will be joined by local traditional-jazz
purveyors, the Southside Aces. —Brad Zellar

Sunday at 7 p.m., Magers and Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-4611.

 

PERFORMANCE
Hangover Hotel — sick poems and twisted grooves

What artist doesn’t long to be described as having "a distinctive style that defies commercialization"? Warhol? Perhaps… hence defying commercialization. Perhaps. What I most enjoy about our vain attempts at describing art to the "consumer" are the lengths we go to to say so little. "A distinctive style that defies commercialization." What does this mean? Your guess is as good as mine, yet maybe you’ll be just as sold by it. Sounds good; don’t it? If I weren’t leaving town today, I’d be there. Lydia Lunch is an unusual performer (I guess you have to be that if you want to defy commercialization). She started out her career as a musician — you might know her from Teenage Jesus and the Jerks — and later incorporated video, film, photography, and poetry into the show. Now, if that’s not enough to sell you on it, then perhaps I should mention that it’s rather erotic.

8 p.m., Soo Visual Arts Center, 2640 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-871-2263; $10 (online now for $5).

FILM
Turkey Lounge

Due to the looming holiday, this month’s Cinema Lounge is dedicated to turkeys. No, not the gobbling kind — though someone ought to make a decent local turkey farm documentary. This is a different kind of turkey — not quite so tasty, but far more amusing. Tonight established filmmakers share their first films, their student films, and other disastrous cinematic projects from their past. Laugh a little. Cry a little. And learn a little from the filmmakers themselves as they each come up for a Q & A from the audience. The brave filmmakers include Carrie Bush, John Ervin (who is currently working on a piece for The Rake), and Sam Thompson. This ought to be a morale booster for any emerging or wannabe filmmakers out there, and a good laugh for anyone else.

7 p.m., Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-825-3737; free.

MUSIC
The Beggar’s Banquet

I have found that, for the most part, one band that people seem to agree on is The Rolling Stones. Play them at any party, and everyone is pleased. Play them any time, and scarce will one complain. So, hey — chill. You have a lot of eating to do tomorrow. Tonight… chill. Enjoy a tribute to the Stones, featuring Vampire Hands, Ouija Radio, Death To Our Enemies, City On The Make, The Parlour Suite, Erik & The Savages, and The Softrocks.

9 p.m., Stasiu’s Place, 2500 University Ave. N.E., Minneapolis; 612-788-2529; $7.

That said…
The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Target Center (7 p.m.), and they could really use your support.

There are certainly plenty of ongoing activities to partake of this evening, many about which I’ve already written: Dr. John is still playing at the Dakota and there are a number of art shows and performances going on about town. See our So Little Time write-ups for details.

But if you’re looking for something totally new, grab your coat (it’s going down below freezing this evening) and a friend (or two), and decide on uber-hipdom or quiet sophistication. Yes, in this case, they’re entirely different.

FOOD
Hip, Hip, and a Hop away

If uber-hipdom is the way to go this evening, you might as well start with a bite to eat at Nick and Eddie, Doug Anderson’s new restaurant by Loring Park. Ok — it’s not officially Doug’s, but hey, let’s not get technical here. The menu is a bit inconsistent, but the space is great, and the service good. I recommend the grilled shrimp appetizer and the beef cheeks or duck. Don’t take my word for it, though; see Jeremy Iggers’s review here.

Nick and Eddie, 1614 Harmon Place, Minneapolis.

Next stop, First Avenue…

MUSIC
She Won’t be "Missing in Action" Tonight

She might have the most annoying page in myspace history — and her personal website
is no better — but M.I.A.’s music can justify just about any
eccentricity or tasteless act that follows. This woman, this artist, is
the real deal. I’m not talking about the rap artist that "really" grew
up in the hood, the bluesman from the deep south, or the poor white
trash hollaring his pain behind a wall of tatoos and a baseball cap.
Sure, she’s got a history to boot — and that’s real, too — but I’m
referring to her need to create. At a relatively young age, "Maya" seemed
to have found her passion in painting and film. Here, she began to
bring together the sum of her experiences — her early years in Sri
Lanka, her father’s revolutionary activity, the Tamil-Sinhalese civil
war, her escape to Madras, and her move to London, as a refugee — under
the unified voice of her artistic expression. But this expression
didn’t stop there. Maya continued to explore her voice in different
avenues, until she stumbled upon her real one, her voice, her song. Her
music is much like her life, a glorious mishmash of experience —
electro, techno, hiphop, dancehall, grime, world music. Ummm-huh. You’ve
got to hear it to believe it, my friends… just like you have to see
that godawful website.

8 p.m., First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-332-1775; $20.

If you’re still up for a party after the show, head over to Foundation Nightclub for a "little" afterparty.

FOOD
Beets, Brussel Sprouts and Short Ribs

For a quieter evening, a bit more relaxed, with a touch of sophistication, grab a bite to eat at Hiedi’s before or after exploring 21st century Asian America (to follow). Of course, there’s always Chino Latino, but why not try something new tonight. "Heidi’s, in the former Pane Vino Dolce space, is a much more modest
venture, with minimal decor, and entrees priced from $9-$19. You can
get a decent glass of wine for as little as $5 (a rarity nowadays),
though the list of wines by the bottle ranges all the way up to $109,
for a 2005 Justin Isosceles Paso Robles." See Jeremy Iggers’s review here.

Heidi’s Minneapolis, 819 W. 50th St., Minneapolis, 612-354-3512.

BOOKS & PHOTOGRAPHY
Wing Young Explores Asian America

Sure, we’ve all heard and used the term "Asian American" — but what does it mean? Where is this place they call Asian America? What does it look like? Who are its people? To answer this question photographer Wing
Young Huie set out across the United States with his wife, on a trip through nearly forty states "to explore and
document the funny, touching, and sometimes strange intersection of
Asian American and American cultures." The result, Looking for Asian America — a collection of over 100 photographs of Huie’s journey — paints a multi-faceted portrait of Asian Americans today.

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

MUSIC

An Evening with an Icon

The Dakota is serious about its music. Sure, they bring us new and upcoming acts, but mostly they serve up long-time masters. Tonight is no exception. With three decades of performances, over twenty solo albums, hundreds of singles and albums, and two Grammy Awards to his credit, Dr. John has secured his place in American music history. Catch a taste of funky boogie-woogie blues and R&B tonight (through Wednesday) as he lifts the voice of New Orleans across the Twin Cities, proving, as always, New Orleans is alive and well despite its troubles.

7 & 9:30 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $50 & $35.

MUSIC AND DANCE
Mazowsze

In the past 50 years Mazowsze has performed more than 6,000 shows across the globe. If this doesn’t sound impressive enough on its own, consider the 65 dancers and singers that perform in each show; consider the 1,000 or more costumes, some of them weighing more than 30 pounds; consider the 23-piece orchestra that accompanies each song, each dance. Mazowsze is on one hell of a mission to preserve Poland’s rich cultural heritage of music and dance. This is no simple effort, but a truly necessary and life-giving one for a country devasted by war. The result is an amazing and energetic performance, leaping, twirling, flinging, colors bursting in air. We’re not talking polka nights at Nye’s here — great as that may be.

7:30 p.m., The O’Shaughnessy, College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Avenue, Saint Paul, 651-690-6700, $32.50-$43.50.

PERFORMANCE
Transgender Day of Remembrance

We all love a good drag show, but this one is special. Outward Spiral Theatre Company is hosting an evening of art and revelry in celebration of the transgender community. Enjoy performances by Andrea Jenkins, Harsh Reality, Empowered Expressions, Dickie Van Dyke, Emmett Ramstad, and Barbara Gordon. Best of all — it’s free!

7 p.m., Bedlam Theater, 1501 S. 6th St., Minneapolis; 612-341-1038; free.

CONVERSATION
Irish History and Drama

As many of you well know, The Home Place has been at the Guthrie for quite some time now, making its American premiere. As we enter the production’s last week, director Joe Dowling will shed a little light on Irish history and the Irish identity in order for audiences to better understand playwright Brian Friel’s new piece. Having worked with Friel in 1977, Dowling will share his particular insight into the play’s historical perspective and societal framework.

7:30 p.m., Dowling Studio, Guthrie Theater, 818 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis; 612-377-2224.

FILM
Behold the Bull

Who is Pedro Infante and why should we care? Why should we brave cold
November nights and wander through the city streets to an old theater
and watch these Mexican melodramas? For the same old reason we see
movies in theaters: to be touched, mesmerized, to laugh and perhaps
cry, and to share these complex experiences with other strangers in the
dark. And, in this case, to see something entirely new to American
audiences. In this case, a series of strange and wonderful musical
dramas starring Mexican crooner Pedro Infante. Infante was called the Mexican Sinatra, no doubt by clueless gringos
who barely paid attention to life south of the border. He was a master
singer, and a very good actor, who brought his dashing good looks to
these rough stories and yet never shone too brightly, never distracted
us from his supporting actors, or from the pain and pleasure witnessed
on screen. He sang, told jokes, made comedies and dramas, and could
entertain a billionaire or a bum. —Peter Schilling
See Peter Schilling’s full review.

Pepe el Topo at 4:15 p.m., Nosotros los Pobres at 7:15, Ustedes los Ricos at 9:35 p.m., Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis; 612-822-3030; $6.

WRITING FESTIVAL
A Decade of Prose and Poetry at Powderhorn

Ten years ago, Roy McBride had the brilliant idea to gather together Powderhorn area writers and artists for a writing festival to celebrate grassroots, literary endeavors. The festival, which has continued to this day, hosts myriad events, from writing workshops to
poetry/puppetry cabarets. Tonight’s event includes readings by Amy Ballestad, Emily Bright, Laura Flynn, Margo McCreary, and Maureen Skelly. Roy McBride himself will be the evening’s keynote performer and will enjoy the unveiling of a 10th Anniversary Powderhorn Writers Festival broadside, featuring his poetry and the visual art of Powderhorn’s renowned color woodcut master, Nick Wroblewski.

Fridat at 7 p.m., May Day Café, 3440 Bloomington Ave. S., Minneapolis.

DRUMS
The Taiko Artistry of Mu Daiko

This weekend our very own Twin Cities taiko ensemble Mu Daiko will be joined by LA’s TaikoProject for a rhythmic and energetic performance. The TaikoProject has been featured on network TV and Mitsubishi commercials in
performance infused with hip-hop movement, theater, music, and video. They are, in fact, the first American-based group to win the Tokyo International Taiko Contest. And Mu Performing Arts, the foremost Asian American theater and taiko company in the Midwest, lends traditional and contemporary theatre to the presentation. With two of the country’s most recognized Japanese drumming ensembles, this ought to be an incredible performance.

Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis; 612-824-4804; $26 (students and seniors $24).

DANCE
Tu Dance

In 2005, Toni Pierce-Sands (“T”) and Uri Sands (“U”) hit the Twin Cities dance scene by storm with an innovative and powerful performance that somehow led to a proper dance company, complete with nonprofit status
and a new name, TU Dance. Tonight, the two former Alvin Ailey dancers present two world premieres choreographed by Sands: Beverly, which explores the background music of his Miami childhood, And Let Go, which explores release and meditation. Also on the agenda is Clear as Tear Water, Ron Brown’s McKnight-commissioned solo for Toni Pierce-Sands.

Friday& Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., The O’Shaughnessy, College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Avenue, Saint Paul, 651-690-6700, $27.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Anton in Show Business

“The American theater’s in a shitload of trouble.” So reads the
opening line in the latest offering from the small St. Paul-based
troupe Starting Gate Productions.
As both poison-pen letter and love note to the theater, this play is
directed by a woman with no small opinions on the matter: Leah Cooper, former executive director of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Anton depicts the chaos behind the scenes of a production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters.
An all-female cast depicts everyone involved, from producers and actors
to critics. Embedded within Jane Martin’s drama are countless
meta-theater references; characters range from an Our Town-esque stage manager to audience members who just won’t shut up. —by Danielle Kurtzleben

Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Rd., St. Paul; 651-645-3503; $18 (students & seniors $16).

ART
Enchanted

Fantastical, magical creations are very popular as of late—lots of
dragons and magicians and cyber-wonders fill pages and screens—and the
art world is stepping into that terrain as well. Does it mean dreams
will become reality, or does it mean dreams will keep reality at bay?
That’s for the viewer to decide. But these artists’ confected worlds
will be interesting to contemplate regardless. Curated by Minneapolis
sculptor Andréa Stanislav, Enchanted is colored by her surreal tastes: Local fabulists Chris Larson, Alexa Horochowski, and Erik Ullanderson will show alongside Hawaiian Scott Yoell and Londoner Isha Bohling, among many others. Tune out the evening news; when reality sucks, these artists create new ones. —by Ann Klefstad, art by Jenni Schmid

Opening reception Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Katherine Nash Gallery, 405 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-624-6518.

Minnesota Bienniel: 3D II

Eagerly anticipated by sculptors across the state, this overview of
the medium promises to be quirky and eye-opening. Jennifer Jankauskas,
associate curator at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, chose just twenty-seven sculptors from 147 submissions. Some, such as Pete Driessen and Ruben Nusz, are better known as painters than sculptors; others, like David Swanson and Anastasia Ward,
predicate alternate realities that are by turns amusing and disturbing.
Some are well known in the Cities; some are completely new. Expect some
surprises; sculpture has been spreading out to embrace new territories.
Perhaps it is the medium best able to absorb the constant shifts in
contemporary culture. —by Ann Klefstad, art by David Swanson

Opening reception Saturday from 7-10 p.m., free tour Sunday at 1 p.m., Minnesota Museum of American Art, 50 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul; 651-266-1030, $10 (members $5).

MUSIC
Judy Collins

Of the two folk-pop female vocalists who broke through to massiveappeal beginning in the late ’60s, Joni Mitchell was the hippieartiste, Judy Collins
the classically trained songbird. Now, atsixty-eight, Collins has taken
care of her clarion soprano, deliveringup lush, conservative material
ranging from children’s and Christmasfare to interpretations of Dylan
and, most recently, Lennon andMcCartney. Don’t be surprised if these
supper club concerts mix goldenoldies (“Someday Soon,” “Both Sides
Now,” “Suzanne,” “Send in theClowns”) with more overtly political
songs, plus a poignant dollop ofpersonal revelation. Collins’s own “My
Father” is a career highlight,and her book about her son’s suicide, Sanity and Grace, is an honestand elegant chronicle of a harrowing episode in her life. —Britt Robson

Saturday at 8 & 10:30 p.m., Sunday at 8 p.m., Rossi’s Blue Star, 80 S. Ninth St., Minneapolis; 612-312-2828; $50-$225 (premiere dinner package.

ART, MUSIC, AND WINE
Groove to the Music, Groove on the Art

That’s right, folks; it’s time for another Gallery Grooves, The Rake’s monthly art, jazz, and
wine event. Socialize and discuss the latest jazz with Kevin Barnes
from KBEM, and enjoy free libations compliments of The Wine Company. The Hennepin History Museum’s current exhibition, Studies from Life,
feature costume and object portraits by Minneapolis artist Timothy G.
Piotrowski. Come meet Piotrowski and learn more about how he uniquely
interprets and photographs the Hennepin History Museum’s luscious costume
collections on living models against a back-drop of vintage furniture,
art objects, and historic locations. Tonight’s featured jazz selections include Champian Fulton’s Champian, Herbie Hancock’s River, and New York Voices’ A Day Like This.

7-9 p.m., Hennepin History Museum, 2303 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-870-1329.

FILM
Journeyman

Finally someone addresses the so-called “boy problem,” and it’s just some punk with a camera and a PhD father as the subject. No, seriously folks: Kevin Obsatz is a young, but plenty talented, filmmaker with several upstanding shorts under his belt. But his latest, and most ambitious, project (his first documentary) deals with the culture’s desperate need to engage boys in rites of passage (partly on account of their fatherlessness). The film asks at least one interesting question: Are men afraid of boys? Here, we have our own interesting question: Will there be footage of savage men running through woods wearing nothing but codpieces and warrior paint? Yes, friends, that looks to be the case. It’s worth noting: The subject matter is related to that of Protagonist, a documentary soon to be released nationally. But here we have a local bent, replete with home-grown experts like Dr. David Walsh and Kevin’s dad, Dr. Michael Obsatz, someone who’s been involved in mentoring boys and men. —Christy DeSmith

7 p.m., Riverview Theatre, 3800 42nd Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-729-7369; $8.

MUSIC
Huun-Huur-Tu

Do you know the guy in the upper left corner of our website? His name is Owen, and he’s an odd sort of chap. In fact, a couple of months ago, he even took a Tuvan throat singing class. Tonight, you can get the real deal. (Owen still has a lot of practicing to do.) "Throatsingers, as they’re called, can produce up to four notes at the
same time, layered one on top of the other, rumbling like an earthquake
or whistling like a mutant cricket. It’s unearthly stuff, seemingly
more likely to come from Mars than the open steppes north of Mongolia.
Huun-Huur-Tu is only one of several Tuvan groups who’ve successfully
conquered Western world-music stages, and they’re probably the ones
least influenced by outside genres and electric guitars… But the four fellows in Huun-Huur-Tu are all masters of the genre and
have the advantage of numbers—to hear the full quartet boom out
together into a reverberating, rich kargyraa will send a tingle up and
down your spine."

7:30 p.m., Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-2674; $25.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Indigenous Voices

What happens when Indian of the Future and Buffalo Man face off? Who wins the epic battle to protect Indian Country? The past? The future? Something entirely different? Beats me. But John Bently Spang and Marcus Amerman seem to have an answer. Interested? You ought to be. This evening brings you the answers… or at least one step closer.

7:30 p.m., Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S.,
Minneapolis; 612-871-4444; $12 (members $8).

GOOD DEED
Green Thursday

Forget Black Friday, which is just around the corner. Today is Green Thursday, and that’s somehow so much better. If only we knew what it was… Ok. Today kicks off a three-day eCycling event. No, you can leave the bicycle at home. This is three days of major electronics recycling. Today through Saturday you’ll see truckloads of TVs, VCRs, toasters, computers, and monitors being hauled to the Mall of America — not to sell them, not to buy them, but to simply save them from the landfills (or to save our landfills from them, rather). Grab your crappy electronic equipment — now is the time — and drop it off. Heck, you can always buy a new one at the mall, right? The Environmental Protection Agency puts electronics at the top of the black list when it comes to environmental threats. Just think of it as planting a tree.

6 a.m. – 7 p.m., Mall of America, Met Lot, just north of the Mall and near Ikea.

MUSIC

Bad, Beautiful Women with Big, Bad Voices

What do you say about a woman who describes herself as a Japanese classic music, Christian rap, regional Mexican artist? Holy crap?! Well, if anyone merits this phrase, it’s Meshell Ndegeocello. Or is it Me’shell Ndegéocello? Or Michelle Lynn Johnson? Who knows. And who cares. She’s utterly fascinating. The German-born American singer, songwriter, rapper, bassist, multi-instrumentalist packages herself, as well as her voice, in a beautiful, bald and bold androgeny. It’s hard to believe she started out in the go-go circuit in the ’80s. Or is it? She does it all: soul, funk, hip hop, reggae, R&B, rock, jazz. And who better to open the show than Black Blondie, of whom we’ve already written plenty. This is going to be one hot show.

9 p.m., Fine Line Music Café,
318 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-338-8100; $25.

MORE MUSIC
Stravinky’s The Firebird

In Russian folklore, firebird literally means ember bird, derived from the word for ember, flameless fire — a magical, glowing bird from a faraway land, which is both blessing and curse to its captors. Try as I may, however, I can find no curse in Stravinsky’s Firebird, and it has often been my captor. Perhaps my only curse is that I cannot capture it and reverse the roles, hold it in my hands, devour it, as I would like to do. I will continue the attempt, however. Will you join me? Let’s feast on the Firebird tonight. The Minnesota Orchestra will prepare the meal. Sarah Hatsuko Hicks will serve it. And Sam Bergman will give a special blessing.

7:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-371-5656; $20-$45.

DANCE
Pichet Klunchun and Myself

It’s
never an easy task to carve out a new path, or embark on an old one
only to redirect it into as yet uncharted territory. Regardless of its
merits, there is always resistance and doubt. Such was Jérôme Bel’s
experience with his conceptual dance work across Europe in the 1990s.
But when the "Parisian
provocateur" finally got around to his first U.S. tour in 2005, The Show Must Go On
was met with great praise — a true success. Maybe it was the many years
in between. (Does it still take us that long to catch up?) Or maybe it
was his fabulous French accent. (We still value the European ideal over our
own. Do we have one?) I’d like to think it was his bold
approach, his innovative style, his wit. And I’d like to think he
hasn’t stopped pushing those boundaries. From the looks of it, he
hasn’t indeed. Tonight, he teams up with Thai dance master Pichet Klunchun for a "fascinating exchange of ideas and movement in an understated conceptual performance that revels in our common humanity."

8 p.m., McGuire Theater, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600; $22 (members $18).

ART
Home for the Holidays

If you do a search for Jennifer Davis on our website, you’ll find at least twelve references to her work. What can we say? We love her. A search for Andrea Carlson reveals six articles. You will find Samantha French’s art in our magazine and on our website, as well as work by several of the other artists featured in the Soo Visual Art Center’s new group show, Home for the Holidays. Last April, in fact, we contacted SooVAC in search of information on Deuce 7‘s New York graffiti.
(I heard of some controversy that arose, but was able to confirm
nothing.) What can I say, this is an interesting group of artists — a
group show with a little for everyone. You’re bound to find something
you like. And what they heck, with the biggest consumer season right
around the corner, you might even find something to take "Home for the
Holidays."

Noon-6 p.m., SOO Visual Art Center,
2640 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-871-2263.