Author: Cristina Córdova

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Let me start by pronouncing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the best Harry Potter film yet, by a long shot. Then again, this isn’t much of a pronouncement. There was a lot of room for improvement after the saccharine, slick, and over-produced first four movies. Director David Yates, though new to the franchise, seems to have grasped this, and has finally grounded Harry’s world, both emotionally and physically.

One wouldn’t be entirely wrong in arguing that there is just better material to work with this time around. We’ve all heard ample chatter about how dark this film is in comparison to its brethren, but it’s not just darkness for its own sake. Phoenix presents us with a downright depressed, all-too-human Harry who has tired of the spotlight, as well as a Voldemort who finally transcends his cartoon villain status and becomes convincingly evil. Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Fiennes play these respective roles with depth, while sparing us the melodrama.

Order of the Phoenix’s emotional accessibility is complemented by a grittier look as well. The usual CGI overkill has been dialed back a step or two, and is also tempered this time around by jumpier camera-work and a grand, sweeping score.

Good performances abound in Phoenix. Radcliffe has matured as an actor, as has Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), and they play Harry and Ron’s teenage-boy friendship without lapsing into silliness or sentimentality. Imelda Staunton is a riot as Professor Dolores Umbridge, turning Rowling’s rather flat character into an unthinking, rule-obsessed menace. And the other all-star adult cast members — Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, and new addition Helena Bonham Carter — each perform gloriously in the (sadly) short time allotted them.

Which brings us to Phoenix’s greatest failing: it’s just too short. The over-600-page-long book has been whittled down into just over two hours of film. Though the story is wisely streamlined in many ways — there is no Quidditch, little intrusion by annoying house-elves — the story is too clipped, and non-devotees of Rowling’s books will likely find themselves lost among numerous plot-holes. Even the most important plot point — the prophecy on which the entire Phoenix story hinges — lacks an adequate explanation.

In many ways, Phoenix allows non-stop action to trump story-telling. But one must give it credit where credit is due — where previous Harry Potter movies might have had us rolling our eyes at childish silliness, this one at least leaves us with a tear or two to dab away.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Looking at Our Town through a Different Lens

I guess one Pulitzer Prize is never enough. Ten years after winning the Pulitzer for The Bridge of San Luis Rey (in 1928), Thorton Wilder won another one for his play Our Town. The play, inspired by his friend Gertrude Stein’s The Making of Americans, was way ahead of its time in its self-awareness. Call it postmodern, even — though, frankly, I would argue that Shakespeare used a similar technique before him (and that postmodernism doesn’t even exist, for that matter). Wilder uses a Stage Manager character — much like the Chorus in Shakespeare’s Henry V, or his oft repeated play-within-a-play structure — to weave in and out of the fiction in a new brand of Shakespearean deconstruction. Whew! That’s a mindful. Anyhow, the point is this: Craig Johnson, director of Girl Friday Productions’ current staging of the Wilder classic, has chosen to eliminate this vital character and dole out the lines to the play’s other characters. Interesting. Though certainly a gutsy move, perhaps a much-needed one in order to offer a fresh perspective. Tonight is industry night — which basically means you get to pay what you can — so go check it out for yourself. You’re sure to have an opinion, one way or another.

7:30 p.m., The Minneapolis Theater Garage, 711 West Franklin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-729-1071; $18 (students and seniors $15).

MUSIC
Shake & Bake

I always understood “shake & bake” as druggy terminology (or nasty instant foodstuff): you wake, you shake, you bake. Basically, it comes down to “smoking up” before you even take your morning pee, hitting the ganja before brushing your teeth, numbing the mind before your morning coffee. Why the reference then? Hmmm. Are they catering to the true shake and bake crowd, or is it simply meant to be cute? Dance and grill doesn’t sound nearly as interesting. How about Boogie BBQ? Groove and Grill? Beat and eat? Hmmm. Maybe not. Shake & Bake it is. Turns out there are actually many different uses of the phrase (including a dual-space direct-methods procedure for determining crystal structures from X-ray diffraction data). Who am I to judge the name of a show that has managed to remain on the air for 19 years? Can’t get enough of them on Monday mornings (KFAI, 1-3 p.m.)? Shake your booty to the world beat rhythms of DJ Nite Nurse and Tony Paul this evening at the Nomad. Enjoy the Afro-Beat, Reggae, Latin, Boogaloo, Soul, Arabesque, and Bhangra beats. Take advantage of the 2-for-1 drink specials all night long. And bring along anything you’d like to toss onto their grill, free of charge, for your consumption. If you do it right, this could be one hell of an evening. I recommend getting a game of Bocce in while you’re at it as well. Sure, none of this has anything to do with baking, but maybe the baking is best done at home. You can take some cupcakes along for the DJs.

5 -7 p.m., The Nomad, 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-6424; free.

Harry, Who?

Not many of us are going to get away with ignoring the new Harry Potter flick. Love it. Hate it. You’ll still probably see it. What the hell, you might as well go all the way. Make it a full Harry Potter experience this evening. You don’t have to don your wizard hat or your graduation gown — thought you certainly may, if you feel so inclined — but do bring along your sense of humor, and a magic wand to make it all disappear once you’ve had enough. Why is this entry in the music section? You know how it goes. Nothing ever remains in one medium anymore. I already spent all day playing with my Voldemort doll. (Yes, I had to look up the name.) No dolls for you, though. You get to rock out this evening with Harry and The Potters. Woohoo! A band that sings about loving books: “This book is so awesome. This book is so awesome.” I don’t know what to tell you. But don’t you feel even minimally compelled to find out what it’s all about? Weirdness.

6 p.m., Pershing Park, 3523 W. 48th St., Minneapolis; 630-6025 or 370-4928; free.

FILM
And of Course… The Order of the Pheonix

Once the music has warmed you up and whet your appetite a bit, it’s time to move on to the movie itself. Yes, it’s no joke; I’m actually telling you to go see Harry Potter and the Order of the Golden Phoenix. Why fight it? You’ve come this far already. And doesn’t this mean it’s over? Not yet? Oy! How old are these poor kids going to get before they’re done filming these much-loved kids’ books? And how many more body parts can little Daniel Radcliff expose before the next release?

7:10 p.m., Heights Theatre, 3951 Central Ave. N.E., Columbia Heights; 763-788-9079; $8 (children and seniors $5).

MUSIC AND A MOVIE
Sultry Nights: The Sounds of the City and the Films of Douglas Sirk

No Harry Potter for you? You’re in luck. Tonight is the first night of the Walker’s Summer Music & Movies series in Loring Park. This year’s selection features the films of director Douglas Sirk. Explore the ’50’s general air of rebellion as Sirk’s characters toss convention aside in order to express their individuality and live as they like. Tonight’s film, All That Heaven Allows, will be preceeded by a performance of Black Blondie, a hip hop, trip hop, jazzy soul girl band with a whole lot of panache and a whole lot of fun — a great way to start the season, in fact. The movie that follows is one of the original I-fell-in-love-with-the-gardener stories, featuring none other than Rock Hudson as the gardener. Somehow, suggesting that Rock Hudson’s age and class make him a less than suitable lover, seems a bit silly at this point; but it’s up to you to try to stretch the imagination a bit. Maybe the night air will help. Hopefully, the rain will hold, though, until it’s all said and done. If it does rain, the event will be canceled, unless otherwise noted.

7 p.m. (movie at dusk, around 8:45 p.m.), Loring Park; free.

ART
Leave the Jogging Suit at Home

Tonight is the opening reception for Not the Running Type, featuring art works by Cheryl Wilgren Clyne and Kimberly Tschida Petters. These two artists have come together for the first time in this joint exhibit. And in a most unusual and interesting move, they’ve even included collaborative pieces. What ties their solo pieces together? The answer is in the title, which refers to the two artists’ commonalities: asthma, fearlessness, academic-mindedness rather than sports mindedness, and clumsiness. That’s bound to make for some good art. The show is composed of drawings, photographs, mixed media, and sound art with film — even some works that are undefinable.

Friday from 7 to 11 p.m., Rosalux Gallery, 1011 Washington Ave. S. (Open Book), Minneapolis; 612-747-3942.

FILM
It’s Friday, and that means new movies. This weekend we’ve got Broken English opening. Let’s avoid redundancies. Have a look at Rake intern Eeva-Liisa Waaraniemi’s review of Broken English — “The movie is actually quite full of clichés, but you know what? Most of the time, it works.”

Breaking the Case with a Martini and a Dog

Of course, sometimes the oldies work just fine; and this evening you can help yourself to the triple rare treat of seeing The Thin Man… outdoors… on the big screen. A Hammet crime comedy with the dapper William Powell, adorable Myrna Loy, and their sleuthing dog Asta — wow! It really doesn’t get much better than this. Just make sure to take a flask full of martinis. I know, it sounds strange; but when Nora orders six martinis and tells the bartender to line them all up so that she can catch up to her soppy husband Nick, you’ll be glad you can raise your flask to her and join her in drink. Watch out, you don’t want to wake up in the morning asking, “Who hit me?”

Friday at 9:15 p.m. (dusk), Kellogg Boulevard Courtyard of Central Library, 90 W. 4th St., St. Paul; 651-222-3242; free.

MUSIC
As usual, there’s a lot of great music to see this weekend: Andrés Prado at the Artists’ Quarter on both Friday and Saturday, Paul Metzger and Low on the Weisman Art Museum lawn on Saturday evening, and Grand Master Flash at Foundation Night Club on Saturday night. Talk about variety! There’s something for everyone, so you can’t complain. Choose from these, or a couple of options below; and don’t forget to check out the festivals this weekend, too. There’ll be plenty of music for everyone.

Screaming Canooks

Perhaps I’m starting to show my age, but I confess, I just don’t care for big nightclubs, not even in the boondocks, maybe even especially not in the boondocks. And as far as I’m concerned, Maplewood is in the boondocks. Truth be told, I’ve never even been to Myth. I’m scared of the suburbs, I guess. But for the brave among us, here’s a reason to go: a bunch of screamng canooks. In support of their new album, Arrivals & Departures — released earlier this month — Silverstein will perform on Saturday as part of their North American tour with Rise Against, Comeback Kid, and 2 Cents. Up for an evening of full-throated rock rock’n’roll? This seems the perfect time to see Silverstein, just as they’re breaking their way into critical mass. And it’s an all ages show, so you can bring the kids. OK, that might be a joke; but chill out on the youth, eh? At least they’re not playing video games. Come to think of it, it’s quite appropriate for the band to have an all ages show. They quote children’s author Shel Silvertein’s poetry in their songs, and they’re clearly named after him. These screamers are kid friendly. Who’d-a-thunk?

Saturday at 5 p.m., Myth, 3090 Southlawn Dr., Maplewood; 651-779-6984; $25.

A.T.O.Y. Is a Testament of Youth Gone by

Back in the early ’80s, when I rolled into this town for the very first time (this is now the fourth round, I believe), ATOY was actually pretty well known throughout the region. And… well… we can’t seem to get enough of our past — even the band members, of course — so we might as well set the scene within which to relive it. If you’ve still got the mullet or the mohawk, you’re in luck. This isn’t just a reunion show, my friends. The band has re-formed. Yes. They’re kicking off their summer tour this evening at Wain McFarlane’s Sight and Sound Gallery. Get there at 7 p.m. to mingle, meet, and greet the band. And catch their show at 8 p.m. (Careful, you’re not as flexible and resilient as you were two decades ago. For dirt’s sake, no stage diving!)

Friday at 7 p.m., Sight and Sound, 501 1st Ave. N.E., Minneapolis; free.

Can’t make Friday’s performance? Catch them on Saturday: 9 p.m., Stasiu’s Place, 2500 University Ave. N.E., Minneapolis; free.

BIKING
Motor or Not

Got a bike? It doesn’t matter what kind — motor or not — this weekend’s for you. Got a motor? Head over to the Bearded Lady Motorcycle Rally on Saturday. With a name like that, how can you pass it up? Enjoy the freak show and motorcycle spectacles all day at Diamonds. Then head for the 331 Club in the evening for drums, bands, and burlesque. The day’s acts include Le Cirque Rouge Cabaret & Burlesque, Jehovah’s Shitlist (pure goddamn smut), Caddilac Kohlstad and the Flats, Brass Messengers, and Fatalla Express.

Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Diamonds Coffee Shop331 Club, 331 N.E. 13th Ave., Minneapolis; 612-331-1746.

No motor? No problem. Reserve a spot in the Jazz88 Bike Day event on Sunday. It’s a Sunday bike social and tour. Yippee! (Sorry. The sarcasm slipped out. I’m a motor girl myself, as much as I love the idea of bicycles.) Get some air. Get some exercise. Relax. And enjoy a unique social experience as you tour four stops along the Midtown Greenway. It actually sounds quite fun. (I mean, they’ve scheduled smoking breaks along the way, right?) Meet in the morning (8:30 – 9:15 a.m.) at the Midtown Global Market Greenway access point. You’ll find a welcome tent, coffee, and treats with live jazz. Nice! At 9:15, you’ll depart for the Soo Line Community Garden and Fire On the Greenway Gallery (next to the garden), where we’ll have fresh treats from the garden, refreshments, a gallery tour, and a presentation. At 10:30 a.m. you’ll head for the the Bryant Lake Bowl for more fun and treats. And at 11:45 you’ll return to the Midtown Global Market for a salsa lesson and some shopping. Screw my sarcasm; this is a great way to spend a Sunday.

8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Midtown Global Market, Lake St. & Chicago Ave., Minneapolis; Reserve your spot by e-mailing KevinB@Jazz88fm.com or calling 612-668-1735; $10 donation for KBEM’s summer student intern program at North High School.

FESTIVALS
There are just too many interesting things going on this weekend worth mentioning. On top of everything, there are more festivals beginning. They just don’t seem to stop. For crying out loud, the Minnesota Beethoven Festival hasn’t even ended, and we already have about three more beginning? It’s Minnesota, alright. We end up packing everything into one or two months. Alas.

If only It Were a Celebration of Aqua Man

This weekend marks the opening of the 2007 Minneapolis Aquatennial Festival with a Subway Block Party on Friday night, free canoeing in Lake Calhoun on Saturday, and an Arts & Crafts Fair at Lake Calhoun on Sunday. Be sure to keep an eye on the schedule, as there will be many more events taking place over the next two weeks, including some of the best fireworks in the Twin Cities.

“Yay, Summer!” Again?

Time to celebrate summer? (As if you haven’t been doing so since April.) Do so in style. The Minnesota Orchestra’s 27th annual Sommerfest begins at noon today with 24 hours of free music. We’re talking non-stop music for 24 hours! Do you get it? This is Minnesota. How often can you go catch a free concert at 4 a.m.? And I’m not talking any old crap here. I’m talking grade-A jazz, classical, pop, rock, country, blues, world music, folk, acoustic, and dance. OK, from 1-6 a.m. all you’ll find is DJs mixing dance, but, really, if you’re up at that hour you can’t really be wanting a folk song; can you?

Enfin et Sourtout

Saturday is Bastille Day. Not French? Don’t let that stop you from celebrating their national holiday. I’m not suggesting an uprising, storming a prison, or even organizing an empty parade — no, then they’d start calling me a commie again — but maybe some French food, drinks, music and pétanque would be OK. And maybe, when it’s all said and done, you can explain to me why a French holiday is being celebrated with a Cuban ensemble and West African rhythms. Maybe, just maybe.

Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., Theatre de la Jeune, 105 N. 1st St., Minneapolis; 612-332-0436; $10 (children under 10 free).

And if you don’t get enough of Bastille Day on Saturday, you can continue the celebration at Barbette on Sunday. See how that works? We don’t have to stick to the calendar; a party’s a party. Again, the event features an odd mix for Bastille Day, but, like I said, a party’s a party, I guess. You can certainly get your fill of organic food and cold beverages while you chill and enjoy the performances and the flea market. The lineup includes Ruby Isle, Vicious Vicious, Dance Band, Omaur Bliss, Moon Maan, and Maria Isa.

Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m., Barbette, 1600 W Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-827-5710; free.

ART
White Bear Benefit

The White Bear Center for the Arts is hosting an Art Watch benefit for the next few days. Catch live art demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and tomorrow, and Raku firing this evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Witness or participate in the creation of traditional Japanese pottery. Bring the family to watch, or purchase pots to glaze and fire yourself. The event is free, but proceeds from the pots benefit the White Bear Center for the Arts. The live art demonstrations, featuring more than fifty local artists, include painting, watercolor, pottery, metalworking, lampworking, and jewelry. The artwork will then be donated to the Art Auction Gala event ($45) on Saturday evening.

10 a.m. – 9 p.m., White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake Armory Building, 2228 Fourth St., White Bear Lake; 651-407-0597; free.

DANCE by Christy DeSmith
Momentum: New Dance Works

A quartet of the state’s most compelling pieces of choreography come together in this sixth annual snapshot of the Minnesota dance community. An early standout this year is Our Perfectly Wonderful Lives, a riff on the allure of superstardom by one of our favorite physical-theater troupes, Off-Leash Area Contemporary Performance Works. Co-director Paul Herwig says the story involves “three characters happily skipping down the road to disaster with absolute willingness and smiles on their faces.” It uses Andy Warhol’s biography as a rough launching point, weaving together dance, theater, and even visual art — including a giant tinfoil recreation of Warhol’s Factory. Tonight’s performance features Maggie Bergeron and Company, and Justin Jones.

8 p.m., Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-340-1725; $18 (Walker and Southern members $14).

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Inventing Van Gogh

Also opening this evening is Swandive Theatre’s production of Inventing Van Gogh, at the Lowry Lab Theater. Local playwright Steven Dietz weaves a haunting tale of art, madness, and the obsession to create. The story centers around the final Van Gogh self-portrait — which has never before been discovered. Follow protagonist Patrick Stone as he attempts to forge this masterpiece while wrestling with his own demons over the death of his friend and mentor.

8 p.m., Lowry Lab Theater, Lowry Building across from the St. Paul Hotel, St. Paul; 651-646-6670; $15 (students/seniors/fringe buttons $12).

Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more real, then head for the Teen Poetry Slam at the Walker. Quest for the Voice brings together young people from all walks of life in a night featuring the Minnesota Slam Team, a group of the best teenage poets from around the state. 7 p.m., McGuire Theater, Walker Art Center; free.

BOOKS & AUTHORS
Publishing and Bookselling in an Endangered Language

Louise Erdrich — author of eleven novels, several works of nonfiction, and children’s books — shares a unique perspective on the world of authorship, reading, and publishing this evening. Believe me, this woman has much to offer. She is the proprietor of BirchBark Books, an independent book store in Minneapolis, and BirchBark Books Press, which publishes Ojibwe works.

8-9:30 p.m., Room Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center, Minneapolis.

MUSIC by Britt Robson
Alison Krauss and Union Station

Ever since Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers essentially invented it, bluegrass has been the soul music of white people, and the outfit known to fans as AKUS is a worthy heir to that tradition. Exquisite soulfulness is pervasive in the God-fearing religion they wear on their sleeves and keep in their hearts; it’s also omnipresent in the sublime, string-driven braid of fiddle-dobro-guitar that girds Krauss’s angelic voice on the group’s hoedowns, hymns, and hair-tingling ballads. Purists sniff that they’re too slick and commercial, especially since the Coen brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? movie soundtrack made them a dorm-and-apartment — if not exactly household — name. But listen to Krauss, on fiddle, and dobro maestro Jerry Douglas trade licks on “Unionhouse Branch” and then show me bowers and pluckers in any Appalachian holler who are more pure.

8 p.m., Northrop Auditorium; 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-624-2345; $58, $52, $47.

by Eeva-Liisa Waaraniemi

Do you ever finish watching a movie and wish you could see the beginning again because now you “know” the characters and so you think if you could see them again, it would be more meaningful somehow? Broken English is one of those movies. It starts with close-ups of Nora (Parker Posey), an unhappy young woman, anxiously yet unenthusiastically dressing up for a friend’s wedding anniversary party. By the end, you’re rooting for this woman whose discontent and frailties have become familiar. According to “real” reviewers (which I am not [editor remarks about the joyous dangers of self-deprecation]), and comments from a layman or two around me, the film is based on a very cliché premise: someone unlucky in love gives up on ever finding it, and then… something unexpected happens. This is why, generally lacking cynical judgment, I approached the movie with lukewarm expectations. But I walked out of the theater quite pleased, concurring with my friend that we’d seen a pretty good movie — and I’d say low expectations doesn’t completely account for that appreciation. The movie is actually quite full of clichés, but you know what? Most of the time, it works. Posey portrays Nora perfectly. Julien, the French love interest, comes off goofy and annoying at first, but by the end of the movie has women melting in their seats for what seems a smolderingly perfect male specimen. By the way, all the French (from Julien to strangers on the street) are extremely well-adjusted, often sharing life lessons with the messed-up, confused Americans — another cliché, yet not ad nauseum.

MUSIC
Afternoon Pace-Setting

Whatever you choose to do this evening, you should try to make it over to the Northrop lawn again at noon today for their outdoor concert. Axis Mundi’s contemporary blend of world-beat acoustic guitar, percussion, violin, bass, and drums is sure to set just the right pace to keep you going the rest of the day and into the night.

Noon – 1 p.m., Northrop Plaza, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-624-2345; free.

Now begin the evening’s options. Still haven’t gotten your fill of music? If you didn’t go see Roomful of Blues last night, you have another chance this evening. Head for the Dakota, and have yourself a nice Red Angus Tenderloin while you’re there.

Otherwise, choose between hip hop and folk. (Try the more uncharacteristic one, perhaps.)

Soul-Stirring Sonics

Slum Village is back in town this evening with an all-star cast of veteran performers. Step out for a host of performances by Truthmaze, Buss One, Slug (of Atmosphere), I Self Devine, Muja Messiah, Mazta I, Maria Isa, and Slim (of Guardians of Balance), among others. The evening will kick off with a tribute to the recently departed Jay Dee, followed by a B-Boy exhibition, along with opening performances.

4:30 p.m., Trocadero’s Nightclub, 107 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-465-0440.

What I can’t figure out are the rumors that human rights attorney Jim Cohen will will announce his Senate candidacy at Trocadero’s at 6 p.m. Certainly he’s not doing this between Slum Village sets.

Flat Cap Folk

I’ll refrain form lauding Charlie Parr once again. Suffice it to say, he’s playing at the 331 Club tonight and, as usual, shouldn’t be missed. Parr’s performance this evening will even be followed up by another local jewel, singer-songwriter Chris Koza. You could be in store for a very folky evening. Grab your flat cap and get your quirk on.

7 p.m., 331 Club, 331 Northeast 13th Ave. (corner of 13th & University), Minneapolis; 612-331-1746.

COMEDY
Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack

A blissful evening is only a laugh away. Spend the evening with the winner of the 2005 California Funniest Female contest: Mary Mack. With a mandolin in hand, and a unique background ranging from schoolteacher to polka band leader, Mary will fill your evening with her own particular brand of musical folk comedy.

8 p.m., Acme Comedy Club, 708 N. First St., Minneapolis; 612-338-6393; $15, with dinner $27.

FILM
Surreal Slapstick Satire

Japanese animated film always seems to pack it all in: comedy, tragedy, social commentary, satire, you name it — all dressed up in a seemingly childlike tale of animals and otherworldly beings. Pom Poko, screening tonight as part of the Summer Asian Film Series, is no exception. Isao Takahata’s film tells the story of a group of animals attempting to hold back the tide of human progress, and an indigenous population taken from their own land. Shape shifting badgers are the heroes in this story, as they strive to save their land.

7 p.m., Room 155, Nicholson Hall, 216 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-626-5054; free.

BOOKS by Jennifer Vogel
Through the Lens of Nancy Crampton

Some people become authors because they are of the exact opposite temperament from a movie star. Putting on a clean shirt can, in itself, be a chore; putting on a pressed one is out of the question. Author photos, then, are the art of making these schlubs and misanthropes look believable, wise, and even a touch mysterious. Nancy Crampton, who for thirty-five years has shot the likes of Norman Mailer, Gabriel García Márquez, Ian McEwan, and Lorrie Moore for New York’s Unterberg Poetry Center, is particularly astute at portraying warmth and piquancy, without making authors look like someone other than themselves. She will discuss her book, Writers: Photographs, a collection of more than one hundred duotones, at the library, where her photos will be on display.

6:30 p.m., Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room and Cargill Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612-630-6000; RSVP required.

FILM
Minnesota Sicko

With all the hype surrounding Michael Moore’s Sicko, we’re all just a little less ignorant about this country’s evil and unjust health care system. That’s right, as usual, let’s blame it on the system. But, man, we sure put a lot of messed up systems in place. If you haven’t seen Sicko yet, download it here. Once you have that under your belt, or maybe even before, complement it with a local story about sexual education in public schools. That’s right: another system. Evil system meets evil system. Woohoo. Join director Jim Winkle on a quest to determine the best strategy to fight adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in Minnesota. Sex Ed & the State features interviews with Minnesota lawmakers, advocates, opponents, educators, and other stakeholders in the debate. I could give you a YouTube link for a trailor, but watch it here instead.

7 p.m., Oak Street Cinema, 309 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-331-3134; $8 (seniors $6, members/students $5).

ART
Split Rock Soirée

Each year, the Split Rock Workshops offer a select group of artists a chance to explore and hone their writing, visual art, and design skills. While few of us are actually blessed with noteworthy skill in these arenas, and even fewer are privy to this sort of opportunity, we can at least peek in occasionally, touch its underbelly, and drink of its essence. Through readings, artists’ talks, and numerous types of exchanges, Split Rock Soirées allow you to experience the work, creative processes, and always entertaining personalities of Split Rock’s renowned visiting artists and writers. Head over this evening to meet artists Craig Blacklock, Derrick Buisch, Clive King, Erica Spitzer Rasmussen, Scott Stulen, and Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada. Check out their work and meet them in person. You won’t be disappointed.

7 p.m., The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, 333 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-625-8100; $5 (U of M students free).

MUSIC
In with the Old, In with the New

The Bruce Hornsby concert at the Minnesota Zoo is sold out, so you should probably choose between Roomful of Blues and The Young Immortals.

Roomful of Blues has been around longer than I have, my friends, and that’s a mighty long time for a band. Granted these are the days of the reunion shows for many an ’80s band, but not too many ’60s bands are still playing — and strong after all these years. Give it up to the blues. Truth is, good old bluesy rock-n-roll never goes out of style — not with this kind of energy. At this stage in the game, it’s your call. See them now, or wait another 30-some-odd years to see them again (or anything in between).

7 p.m. & 9 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $27 & $17.

Stick with the old, or move on to the new. The Young Immortals, a young and coming band from Oregon, have just released their new album, When History Meets Fiction, and are currently on tour. With simple pop melodies and short, peppy beats, these guys playfully bring ’60s, ’80s, and ’90s rock stylings into the new millennium, carefully avoiding the ’70s and refusing to acknowledge a complete shift in the music scene. Catch them tonight with Akai, Sugoi!, and Deep Pool — all quite interesting in their own right.

9 p.m., Turf Club, 1601 University Ave., St. Paul; 651-647-0486; $4.

By the way, tickets go on sale today for the Feldman tribute concert on September 9th at the Fitzgerald Theater. Join Greg Brown, Eliza Gilkyson, and John Gorka in honoring the founder and president of the world-renowned folk/roots label Red House Records.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Windy City

What’s the fascination with Chicago? I don’t know if it’s the dancing or the debauchery, perhaps just the style of the time, but people seem to love the show. You got me. Anyhow, for all you lovers out there, the one, the only Chicago is back on stage at Ordway Center. Celebrate celebrity in style (or at least the sexy way).

8 p.m., Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul 651-224-4222; $20-$55.

MUSIC
Classic Music over Country Bluffs

If you didn’t head over to Winona for the FatFest this weekend, then maybe this week is the time to do so. Don’t worry, I’m not sending you over there for raucous music. It’s the inaugural season of the Minnesota Beethoven Festival. For the next week, the beautiful bluff country of southeastern Minnesota will host world-class classical musicians playing everything from Beethoven to John Adams, and chamber music to full symphonic concerts featuring the Minnesota Orchestra. In fact, this very evening the Minnesota Orchestra will be offering a free outdoor pops concert: Beethoven: Overture to Egmont, Op. 84; Strauss: Artist’s Life (Künstler Leben), Waltzes, Op. 316; Heitzeg : Blue Liberty; Rodgers: Selections from Oklahoma!; Ward: America the Beautiful (sing-along); Moncayo: Huapango; Tchaikovsky: 1812, Ouverture solennelle (Solemn Overture), Op. 49.

7:30 p.m., Lake Park Bandshell, Winona, map here; free.

Swinging Down to Rio

Of course, if can’t quite make the drive to Winona today, there’s still a good in-town option. Zé Renato, of Boca Livre fame, will be at the Dakota this evening. Go enjoy the Brazilian Samba sound of this 30-year music veteran. You won’t be disappointed, and he’ll put a light bounce in your step.

7 pm & 10 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant; 1010 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $15 & $10.

FILM
The War Profiteers

Why are we in Iraq? At what cost to us? What kind of damage is done to the average American when corporations decide to wage war? It’s time we were all able to answer these questions. Somewhere between all this information and misinformation exists a truth or two. Help find it. This evening documentary filmmaker, Robert Greenwald’s Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers will be screening at the Liberty Center. Explore the connection between the war in Iraq and the private corporations who profit from the fighting. Whatever your opinion, it doesn’t hurt to have more information. Hell, if nothing else, you should know that the other side is saying.

8 p.m., Liberty Center, 799 Raymond Ave., St. Paul; 651-646-8980; Optional Donation: $5.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE by Christy DeSmith
The Driveway Tour

Master puppeteer Michael Sommers and his itinerant troupe are spending the summer gigging at local libraries and parks, as well as residential driveways, with two offerings: The Adventures of Katie Tomatie and Little Grandpa’s Big Adventure. They’re traveling light, with entire hand-painted sets and most of their characters — handmade puppets, that is — packed into single suitcases, but they don’t skimp on the best qualities of theater: spirited performances, delightful screwball characters, and live accordion music. Sommers’s sly, dark humor may fly under the radar with kids, but certainly sweetens the pot for older audience members. Best of all, this low-tech gypsy brand of theater becomes all the more magical when viewed under open summer skies.

6:30 p.m., Across from Como Park, 976 Como Ave., St Paul; 612-823-5162; free.

FOOD
We All Scream for Ice Cream

How much is ice-cream worth to you? We don’t have many months out of the year to enjoy it, so perhaps $60 isn’t too steep. You decide. If you find it’s worth it, head over to the Kitchen Window to cool off as Terry prepares some old favorites, and what are sure to become some new favorites. Learn the ins and outs of ice cream makers designed especially for home use. The meltdown will begin with a smooth and refreshing Lemon Grass Ice Cream, and move on to Vanilla Bean and Ginger Ice Cream. But that’s not all. The ice cream will be accompanied by Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce and Brandy Snaps. And for the calorie conscious, Terry will demonstrate raspberry, strawberry, and blackberry sorbets. Yum!

6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Kitchen Window, Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-824-4417; $60.

FOOD & DINING
Celebrate the Summer Spanish-Style

Start out the weekend in pure decadence with an Outdoor Paella Party. Begin the evening with a sampling of traditional Spanish fare. Warm up your palate with cold almond and garlic soup from Andalusia, and fried Spanish Marcona almonds. Next, Ensalada de Naranjas (orange salad with onions) from Levante, Soldaditos de Pavia (salt cod fritters) from Madrid, and Patatas Alioli (boiled potatoes with aioli) from Catalonia. Chef Lafayette will show you how to mix up a big pan of paella on the outdoor cooker, complete with shellfish, chicken, and chorizo sausage, on a bed of saffron short-grain rice. Don’t go too paella happy, though; be sure to leave room for the Galiaiam almond cake with caramel almond ice-cream, known in the Balearic Islands as a Tarta de Santiago Vinagre de Jerez con Helado de Almendra.

Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Kitchen Window, Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-824-4417; $70.

MUSIC
What’s with the Rock-n-Roll Coming from the Church?

That’s right. folks, it’s time for the annual Basilica Block Party. Cut out of work a touch early so you can enjoy the full scope of the event. Join David Cartwright and his band of pilgrim players, Kadiwompus, at 4:30 p.m. as they set out from Nicollet Mall singing and rocking all the way to the Block Party in time for opening night. Twelve great bands will rock the stages over the two-day party: The Alarmists, Lifehouse, Amos Lee, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, The Cat Empire, Jonny Lang, Brandi Carlile, The Sweet Colleens, G. Love + Special Sauce, The Plain White T’s, and Battle of the Bands winners 2Wurds and The Great Physician.

5:30 p.m., Basilica of Saint Mary, Hennepin Ave. and 7th St., Minneapolis; 612-317-3511; $30 (one day), $50 (two-day pass).

MORE MUSIC
A Rockin’ Stompin’ Good Time

The Prince concert tomorrow is certainly no secret, but perhaps you haven’t heard about Buckwheat Zydeco playing this Sunday at the Dakota. Perhaps the most legendary zydeco performer to date, Buckwheat Zydeco has earned four Grammy nominations and has opened for Eric Clapton, U2, Robert Cray, and Los Lobos. If you want to end your weekend on a high note, this is the way to do it. You’ll build enough energy to last you the week.

7 p.m. & 9 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $27 & $17.

BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND FESTIVITIES
Convergence of the Geeks

Geeks gather ’round; it’s time for this year’s GeekFest, CONvergence 2007. The theme of this year’s science fiction and fantasy convention? Creature Feature. So go all out and dress up as your favorite creature and enjoy the discussion panels, a masquerade ball, free food and drink, and dozens of room parties. Special guests include science fiction and fantasy author Lois McMaster Bujold, filmmmaker Emily Hagins, comic book artist and illustrator Bernie Wrightson, horror author Brian Keene, voice actor Wally Winger, and John Kovalic – Dork Tower, Out of the Box Games.

Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Minneapolis; 952-835-7800; $55.

STYLE
Rendezvous Fashion Show

If science fiction creatures aren’t your thing, maybe you’ll prefer the high stylings of the Rendezvous Fashion Show. Watch New York and Minnesota fashions come together for this unique event featuring handmade textile prints by Drew Peterson and John Grider, film projections by Leif Lafferty-Gebauer , music by Eatin Hogeye, and designs by the Brooklyn-based Unmade Collective and the Minneapolis-based Miss Match Manufacturing.

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

FILM
Outdoors, Indoors, Fluffy or Heavy

Those who’ve been digging the whole outdoor movie experience this summer, have a couple more options this weekend. On the lights side, Batman Begins will be showing this evening (9:15 p.m.) in the Kellogg Boulevard Courtyard of St. Paul’s Central Library (90 W. 4th St.). For something a bit heavier, head over to the movies in the parking lot of Patrick’s Cabaret (3010 Minnehaha Ave.) on Sunday for a screening of Wellstone a feature-length documentary about the late politician.

Also opening this weekend are nerd-core film Eagles Vs. Shark and genetic horror spoof Black Sheep.

If you took advantage of the good weather and the good humor yesterday, and you weren’t one of those poor souls stuck working while everyone else was on parade, then maybe it’s time for something a bit low key. (Pardon the excessive use of “ifs” all the time, but I am all too aware that mood and circumstances dictate our desires.) No fireworks tonight. Leave the pretty, bright lights behind and get your head into something good. It needs to be exercised.

BOOKS by Brad Zellar
Digressing in the Best Possible Way

Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Dirda is something of an endangered species: a professional book critic. At a time when daily newspapers are shrinking their book sections or eliminating them altogether, Dirda soldiers on at the stalwart Washington Post Book World. His criticism has always been marked by real passion for reading — that’s maybe too fancy; the guy obviously just loves to read — and his reviews and essays are thoughtful, expansive, and occasionally digressive in the best possible way. He’s also the author of a number of books (including Book by Book: Notes on Reading and Life), all of them offshoots of his literary rambles.

7 p.m., Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612-630-6174.

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Celebrate Cynicism

Alright, yesterday you were feeling all patriotic and you even forgot about “the state of things” for a while. But today is another day. Let the cynicism and the criticism begin. Now you can ponder all of the previous day’s events and begin to feel bad about things. Transition slowly out of your haze. Take a couple steps back, sit yourself down, and observe the insanity, rather than living it. Laugh as much as you did yesterday, but from the sidelines. America:aciremA offers the perfect satirical view of American culture to follow the foolish rantings of the night before. Let loose and laugh at yourself a little. Hell, at least you had a good time.

7 p.m., Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 West Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-825-3737; $12.

MUSIC
Keep Bringing It On

If you got riled up yesterday and are still in the mood to party, then relax. You’re trying too hard. But if your evening simply never climaxed and left you frustrated, then what you need is spontaneity. It’s off to Fatfest with you. No, I’m not saying you need to lose weight, and it’s not one of the shooting locations for the new season of The Simple Life. Something tells me Paris Hilton won’t be anywhere nearby. If the show were still in its first season, maybe. After all, it’s in Wabasha, Minnesota. Doesn’t that qualify as the boondocks? I don’t really know. But I managed to make a moronic Paris Hilton reference, so it all seems irrelevant now. (For those of you with the good sense not to know what I’m talking about, the new season of The Simple Life has Paris and Nicole visiting weight-loss camps and such. Yes, these are the role models we should be presenting our insecure children with in their vulnerable moments.) Thankfully, Fatfest has absolutely nothing to do with these girls. It’s a rip-roaring three days of music and fun. The thing to do is pitch a tent and stay a while, so pack up the gear and make a weekend of it. Take in the funky, southern rock blues of Fat Maw Rooney, the jazzier blues of Oteil & The Peacemakers, the bluesy rock of Ray White & Friends, the folksy bluegrass of Cormeal and Pert Near Sandstone, the bluegrass rock of Stealin Strings, the country-touched alt rock of Freshwater Collins, the “Grass n’ Roll” of the Smokin’ Bandits, the improvised electronica of EOTO, the techno trance of The Space Rangers, the wild fusion of Gypsyfoot, and more music from some of our local favorites like God Johnson, The Big Wu. The icing on the cake? Winona’s own Northwoods.

5 p.m. (through Saturday), The Coffee Mill Ski Resort (pick up shuttle at Bridge St. parking lot), Wabasha; $25, $75 with camping.

Of course, if you’re not up for a weekend deal, there are always other options.

MUSIC by Britt Robson
Mister MC

The Providence, R.I.-based MC Sage Francis hops topics with a cerebrally voracious fervor reminiscent of Slug. It’s no surprise, then, to see Ant (Slug’s cohort in Atmosphere) laying down the beats on the sports-themed “High Step” from Sage’s May release, Human The Death Dance. While it’s more autobiographical and less overtly political than his previous three recordings, Human retains the ingeniously whorled phrases and dense vocabulary that made Francis a champion of freestyle contests, and a slam poet at heart. But it’s the production’s flourishes, like the strings on “Waterline,” that make the biggest difference here. Still, I expect that the bulldozer force and nonstop flow of “Keep Moving,” the career primer “Underground for Dummies,” and the blues-drenched “Got Up This Morning” (for which he cut a video) will be more the emphasis at First Ave.

5 p.m., First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-332-1775; $16.

MORE MUSIC
Perhaps the Best Options

Give a quick listen to Ours and April Bauer. I had never heard of either, but they both sound interesting enough to warrant a visit. Ours is in from New York, touring before the release of their third album (so I guess I should have heard of them), and they’ll be playing tonight at the Fineline.

9 p.m., Fineline Music Cafe, 318 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-338-8100; $15.

For a nice, early night, go hear Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers play in the Mill City Museum courtyard. Visit the Daniel Corrigan exhibit, have a drink, and enjoy some D’Amico’s eats.

6-8 p.m., Bell Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Museum, 704 S. Second St., Minneapolis; 612-341-7555; free.