Cristina Córdova Jeannine Ouellette’s puzzling article [“The Death & Life of American Imagination”] seems to cite the regimentation of children’s lives and the role of technology as a threat to the development of imagination. As a girl in the ’50s and ’60s, I faced far more restrictions to my imagination and free play than any kid today. … Read more
BOOKS & AUTHORSRaking through Books If you’ve been resenting the lack of story time for adults, then this evening’s Raking Through Books will please you immensely. Twin Cities local literati — Shannon Olson, Carl Brookins, Heidi Erdrich, Todd Boss, and Colleen Kruse — will read from books they liked as children. What fun! They won’t … Read more
MUSICBen Lee At the very green age of 14, Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee emerged on the music scene with his then-band, Noise Addict, and caused a minor stir, garnering the attention of members of both Sonic Youth and the Beastie Boys. Fifteen years later, with albums, movies, and experience under his belt, Lee is in … Read more
ART Alec Soth: Dog Days, Bogotá One of these photos—a scruffy dog isolated in the center of the frame—appeared in passing on a web page and immediately snagged my eye. There was no attribution provided but I thought, that’s got to be Soth. And it was. Why was this goofy, tragic dog as good as … Read more
ART, MUSIC, FOOD 10,000 Arts Party Join us this evening for a highly charged 10,000 Arts Party at The Bakken Museum. This electric event features the music of Bella Koshka and performances of Mary Shelley Finding Frankenstein by the Bakken Science Theatre. You’d think that’d be enough, but not even close! Tonight’s event also features … Read more
WINE & DINE The Rake’s World Flavors Tour Continues Roasted zucchini, red pepper and onion tapanade with a tangerine-swirled Chardonnay/Colombard blend. A light salad in between. Gruyere fondue with apples and a medium-bodied Rhone. Bittersweet Callebaut chocolate fondue with an array of colorful companions, not the least of which is a Rosenblum Desiree chocolate Zinfandel … Read more
BOOKS & AUTHORSPaul Krugman New York Times columnist and Princeton economist Paul Krugman could have chosen a better title for his new book than The Conscience of a Liberal, which he cribbed from the late Senator Paul Wellstone. (Wellstone himself was riffing off Barry Goldwater’s 1964 book, The Conscience of a Conservative.) Krugman’s book is … Read more
I was going to comment on the recent article on American Imagination ["The Death & Life of American Imagination"], but I just couldn’t think of anything to say. Author(s) and Location: Jeff Miletich, Columbia Heights Letter Type: Letter of the Month
Nasty, nasty, nasty. Rob Nelson’s review of Diablo Cody’s new movie Knocked Up [editor’s note: I believe the writer is referrring to Juno] really stinks. Would that we all would have a past that would bear scrutiny. His snide harping about Cody’s stripper past just goes to show that white male priviledge and the double … Read more
THEATER & PERFORMANCEThe Creature and Creator within Us Once again, The Rake is honored to promote an event in which one of our very own staff members is participating. Apparently, it’s a big year for our sales team — at least on the artistic front. Last month, our sales coordinator, Mary Olson, had an art … Read more