Author: rakemag

When amateur photographer Subhankar Banerjee set out in 2001 to document the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge across four seasons, he could not have known how many hot buttons his project would push. Last year, with Seasons slated for wide exposure through a prominent Smithsonian gallery exhibit and a nationally distributed book, liberal senators wielded Banerjee’s images of a diverse, flowering ANWR to prove that the refuge was not the “flat white nothingness” as described by officials from the Bush administration. Their tactic appears to have worked, since the Senate scuttled oil drilling in ANWR by a 52-48 vote, though not without a lot of heated words and threats of political revenge. The D.C.-dependent Smithsonian may not have had the courage to display such a controversial exhibit in its entirety, but the Science Museum of Minnesota is game. Banerjee has an eye for both science and art: While his wildlife photos are mostly documentary, the photographer’s landscapes capture the silent elegance and haunting gravitas of the intractable wild. The day-by-day diminishing of wide-open spaces in the Lower Forty-Eight only makes our connections to this small piece of Alaska’s vast wilderness—striped with rainbows and aurora borealis, teeming with snow geese, caribou, grizzlies, and loons—that much stronger. 651-221-9444, www.smm.org

Election years are prime media-inundation time, and we’ve found that some forms—like witty Internet cartoons—are categorically cooler than others—say, party-sponsored ads. The Poster Offensive takes the cool kind—visually appealing public discourse set to the tune of clever wordplay and cheeky graphics—and presents it in a series of posters that are both an offensive against the status quo and just plain offensive to one’s sensibilities—or at least those of the Star Tribune, which declined to run an ad for the exhibition, citing decency standards. We’ll take it over “I’m George W. Bush, and I approve this message” any day. 1224 2nd St. N.E., Minneapolis; 612-617-9965; www.frankstonegallery.com

Think of Josh Blanc’s terra cotta tiles as a grownup version of finger painting. With that classic kindergarten exercise, the child’s still-developing coordination and sense of color create a surprising synergy; the painter moves one direction, the paint pulls another, and the piece springs to life. Blanc makes tiles—on display at Clay Squared To Infinity’s new Northeast gallery—that recreate this synergy in three dimensions, with a more discerning eye (and fewer fingerprints). His bas-relief textures melt with colorful swirls of glazes that could put a prism to shame. The result is an organic union of medium and artist, earthy clay and “cosmic cloud.” Or maybe it’s just a happy kid with messy fingers. 34 13th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis; 612-781-6409; www.claysquared.com

A celebration of the beauty and usefulness of pots, as well as a chance for art lovers and art creators to come together and exchange ideas and techniques. The festival will include exhibits and sales of pots by twenty-five guest artists from all over the country, as well as demonstrations, studio tours, and artist talks. Admission starts at $5 for exhibit and sale areas, or up to $275 for the grand Collector’s Weekend package, which includes tours of artists’ private collections with brunch and dinner. 2424 Franklin Ave E, Minneapolis; 612 339 8007; www.northernclaycenter.org

Casual suburban dining is usually limited to greasy food courts, carb-laden sandwich shops, and franchised “microbreweries.” But one day, heading for home off Highway 55, we spotted the Tea House: A shining beacon amid a tangle of road construction it had been here, waiting for us, all along. Serving up two menus—authentic Schezuan fare and gentler, Americanized dishes—the Tea House welcomes people of all palates. The city-dweller can end his search for marinated bamboo tips here, the farmboy can test his tolerance with a variety of hot chili sauces, and the soccer mom can quiet the kids with egg rolls and dan-dan noodles before heading to a movie at the Willow Creek Theater. If all this can happen at a strip mall in unassuming Plymouth… well, there may be hope for Maple Grove after all. 88 Nathan Lane, Plymouth; 763-544-3422

How can you not flock to a place named for the very thing that binds life together? Butter is an homage, my friends, to the joy of living, the celebration of life that happens every time you suck the creamy center from one of Stacy Sowinski’s éclairs. In its first life, this little joint on Grand Avenue in Minneapolis was a cute little bakery shop called Sweetski’s. Now, as the stylish and expanded Butter, the magic has spread to delicate and flaky turnovers, chocolaty tarts, and savory biscuits. You can also get soup and sandwiches and a kicky veggie chili, but you’re only throwing those home to get to those life-affirming pastries. As you should. 3544 Grand Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-521-7401

The sleek and chic stylings of Cosmos may, at first, cause some to feel underdressed and overly-Midwestern. Are you cool enough to eat here? The answer is always a resounding yes, and Chef Seth Bixby Daugherty, a local hero, wants to make sure you know it. The food is simply amazing, offering the safety of an Ahi tuna entrée as well as the more daring chop of wild boar. To choose the chef’s tasting menu is to embark on an adventure into the future of the Twin Cities dining scene. Not to mention that the servers are New York professional with Minnesota graciousness. And we’re in love with Cosmos and their Moulin Rouge cocktail. Le Meridien Hotel, 601 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-312-1168

He was the blind man who lived in a library. That fact alone is worth a biography, never mind that Jorge Luis Borges is easily among the top ten most important writers of the last century. His short stories – no novels, alas – were masterpieces of breathtaking and abstruse complexity; some say his repeated metaphoric use of the library and the labyrinth anticipated the Internet by decades. (It also earned him a starring role as the villain in Umberto Eco’s Name of the Rose.) But he’s never been the recipient of a thorough biography, until now. This painstakingly researched work by Spanish-language lit scholar Williamson is worthy of Borges’s talent, offering a detailed and sympathetic look at his difficult relationship with Argentine politics, his troubled family, and, of course, his writing.

July 22, 2004

Hot time, summer in the city… and everyone is off to the cabin or congregating on Lake Minnetonka. Not a big boating enthusiast, my excursion to Lake Minnetonka on Sunday for the Napa Valley Block Party Wine Cruise was my first nautical venture in quite some time. I was amazed by the lake’s activity level on a Sunday afternoon, especially the traffic jam of boaters around Big Island. I marveled at the central role this lake boating scene must play in many of their lives.

This is truly a wide world in which we live. Everyone finds his comfort, carves out a little niche. For me it’s Napa Valley, and I am very excited to announce the beginning of a regular schedule of trips to my slice of paradise. I will be escorting a group of travel agents to San Francisco and Napa Valley in August before beginning tours for the public this October.

There is no better way to learn about wine than to see how it is made. An idea like “terroir” becomes simple and clear when you actually walk on the soil, see the varied topography, and learn why these factors influence the end product. The slogan you can see on the famous Napa billboard, set smack in the middle of a vineyard with rolling hills in the background, reads: “To a grape, this is Eden.”

Back in Minnesota’s slice of paradise, Lake Minnetonka, the wine cruise offered a unique view. Minnetonka’s lakefront homes, many opulent beyond description, are all oriented towards the water. If you tried to view them from the road, you would either see the “back door” or nothing at all. While I served samples of wine from the best wine region in the world, guests viewed architectural splendor.

So about the wine: We sampled a wide range of bottles, all from Napa Valley. Many of these featured wines were samples from my spring trip to Napa, wines not available in the local retail market. One of my goals as a wine educator is to teach people about the ease of ordering wines directly from Napa, whether from the winery itself or a Napa retailer. I picked up the phone on Monday, talked with my buddy Dan at Back Room Wines, and will receive my shipment of Bennett Lane’s “Maximus” on Friday.

Bennet’s “Maximus” is made by winemaker Dave Phinney, of “The Prisoner” fame. Since “The Prisoner” has reached cult status and is not scarce, “Maximus” is an able replacement. Check into one of my upcoming events for an opportunity to try this fabulous wine. Then you can order your own supply and experience Napa heaven without the high price. “Maximus,” like its predecessor, sells for under $25 a bottle.

Other standout bottles from the wine cruise include:

Crane Brothers Syrah ($28) Ripe, lush & meaty, it makes a great summer wine.

Chateau Montelena Estate Zinfandel ($30 at the vineyard, less in our local market) A real crowd pleaser, everyone wanted more of this gem.

Duckhorn “Paraduxx” ($45) Naturally a popular wine, and as Duckhorn has made quite a name for itself here in Minnesota, the wine did not disappoint.

Whitehall Lane ’99 Reserve Cabernet ($80) Understandably elegant.

Prager Port Works Petite Syrah Port ($50) People went nuts over this stellar dessert wine; even those not familiar with port loved this ambrosia.

Long Vineyards Botrytis Johannisberg Riesling ($30) Like the port, this wine was a new experience for many and absolutely stunning. “Better than sex” is often used to describe a wine like this!

Greg Varner, owner of Excelsior Vintage and sponsor of the Napa Valley Block Party cruises, received great feedback on several wines from his collection: Rutherford Ranch Cabernet ($15 – everyone was impressed that, for this price, a cab could be so smooth and lush); Sterling Chardonnay($18 – simply put, a solid Napa wine); Luna Pinot Grigio ($20 – one of the best white wines coming out of Napa); even the inexpensive DeLoach White Zinfandel ($10) received rave reviews for being a great picnic/boat sipper.

The upcoming Napa Block Party Wine Cruise on August 14 promises to be as grand. A special touch will be the opportunity to sample the Napa wines from wineries owned by Minnesotans which the Star Tribune recently showcased. Ladera (their merlot is to die for!), O’Shaughnessy, and Terra Valentine will be among the featured wines.

And in the works is a potential vertical tasting of Frias Family Cabernet to celebrate its representation in Minnesota by The Wine Doctor. The Frias collection at the Napa Valley Vinter’s Association tasting back in May greatly impressed Mikael Thollander, the Wine Doctor chief. For myself and many others this was the hottest winery of the whole event. Stay tuned for this event.

And another opportunity with Louie the Wine Guy looms on the horizon. I will be leading two private tours of Napa Valley this October. Arrangements are being made by World Class Travel, and details will be available soon.

Keep enjoying our fabulous summer!