Author: rakemag

Shapiro & Smith Dance aren’t afraid to stand out from the minimalist or pretzel-ish acrobatics that garner so much attention these days. Indeed, it’s heartening that this troupe, going on its twentieth year, has earned its share of praise. While earlier pieces were inspired by early-twentieth-century spiritual charlatanism and Borscht Belt comedy from mid-century, their newest work, an evening-length piece, looks to the Dust Bowl years.
Incorporating a multi-generational cast (older dancers – how’s that for standing out?) as well as music from Bruce Springsteen, Anytown evokes the struggles of working-class people from that volatile era.
612-340-1725; www.southerntheater.org.

Well, it’s been a long time since the Minnesota Fringe Festival was truly fringe-y. These days, our local take on the international non-juried theater celebration is more like a flokati rug: an explosion of fuzzy theatrical productions sprawling hither and yon in a delightful tangle. And just as Austin’s homegrown SXSW music festival expanded in recent years to include film, so does the Minnesota Fringe now include a dozen-plus art exhibits (“Visible Fringe”) and, new this year, five comedy acts (“Standup Fringe”). Not that there’s any danger of them upstaging the onslaught of pure thespian power that will invade Minneapolis for a week and a half, from a “hip-hopera” hailing from Olympia, Washington, to the locally produced Don’t Conceal, Reveal! A Minnesota Handgun Western, and in between, 174 other musical, puppet shows, monologues, cabarets, etc. (pictured above, Death Penalty Puppetry). If you think you’ve spotted the next Urinetown, the fledgling FringeNYC musical that became a bona fide Broadway sensation – put the word out on www.fringefestival.org, the fully loaded website that’ll give you all the details you need, and then some. Or call 612-604-4466 for tickets.

Political printmaking’s been a patriotic pastime ever since the days when Ben Franklin’s cartoons spurred revolution. And don’t forget Che, as much a T-shirt icon as a symbol of Latin American independence. For some more modern etched dissent, eyeball this touring exhibit showcasing satire and social criticism – two things we could all use more of. In the tradition of Goya and Big Daddy Roth, St. Louis artist and curator Tom Huck has gathered fourteen compatriots who do edgy work with a punk-rock sense of humor. Selections include Minneapolis lithographer Jenny Schmid’s Fast Girl, Knocked Up from her “Downfall of Young Girls” series, a recent MIA exhibit; New Yorker Sue Coe’s Modern Man Followed by the Ghosts of his Meat, a harrowing image of a McDonald’s patron fleeing undead comestibles; and tattoo artist Nick Bubash’s kitschy tweak of religious iconography, Flash.
400 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-339-1094; www.theissgallery.com

After the embarassing baby pictures in the back of mom’s closet, the photos you remember most are those taken by shooters for Life, National Geographic, and the Associated Press. So this exhibit is like paging through American journalism’s version of a family album. There’s the young set of moptops looking like deer caught in stagelights in “The Beatles on Ed Sullivan”; the burdened shoulders of a presidential pair in “Kennedy and Eisenhower (Bay of Pigs)”; a wild-haired Charlton Heston preaching to a field of cars in “The Ten Commandments at the Drive-In.” Photographs from Minnesota native and National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths Belt’s most recent book, Last Stand: America’s Virgin Lands, are also on display for the first time. 917 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612-338-4333; www.jeanstephengalleries.com

More artisanal than artsy (they like to tout their sea salt and imported San Marzano tomatoes), Pizza Nea is all kinds of tasty. Neapolitan-style pies are the backbone of the menu, and come rosso or bianco. Classics like the Margherita and Quattro Stagione are rounded out with an array of lesser-known combinations, such as the spicy Diavola, with its salami and pepperoncini; the Boscaiola (porcini mushrooms, smoked mozzarella), and our new favorite, the Carciofo (artichokes, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella). At lunchtime, many pizzas are also offered in sandwich form, with the toppings tucked into crispy focaccia and served with a salad (the shamelessly garlicky Caesar is superb). With Italian food of this caliber, it’s impossible to resist wine, and the Nea folks know it – thus the well-rounded list and a nicely informed wait staff. The lack of flashy concepts or overbearing aesthetics puts the focus on flavor – just how we like it. 306 E. Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis; 612-331-9298; www.pizzanea.com

One reason urbanites don’t visit the ‘burbs is the oft-quoted “there is no there there.” Except for the zoo, Apple Valley could be Anywheretown USA: rows of town houses flanked by rows of big homes on cul de sacs, with chain restaurants occupying every intersection. But Apple Valley folks aren’t as complacent as their surroundings might suggest. The proof: They’re packing Enjoy, a new, independent, and quite huge restaurant that opened in early July. Since then the wait, without reservations, has averaged forty-five minutes – but to avoid another Applebees “skillet sensation,” who’s counting? Our seared scallops were crusted with just enough seasoning to be delicious without overwhelming their delicate taste. A chopped salad featured perfectly grilled chicken set off nicely by crunchy wontons. And our burger was a tasty bargain at $6.95.
15435 Founders Lane, Apple Valley; (952) 891-6569

As the Soap Factory closed down opening-night festivities for its current exhibits, someone spontaneously yelled out that this was the gallery’s “best show ever,” and there followed a lovely round of cheers and clapping. We joined in with gusto, not knowing if the claim was truly accurate, but feeling confident that there is indeed some truly exciting art on view this time around. Where to start? The captivating marbles-and-spotlight installations by Wendy Wischer (above); Margaret Pezalla’s large cardboard model of a parking ramp; the sound-dampening, fantastic-smelling moss terrariums meant to be worn as headgear by Vaughn Bell; the predominantly pink drawing/stitching confections by April Miller; Jeffrey Vallance’s traveling Nixon Museum (left) – between the two curated exhibitions and five project rooms, there’s more than enough here to wile away a steamy afternoon down by the railroad tracks. We’ll be back, for sure. 2nd St. S.E. & 5th Ave. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-623-9176; www.soapfactory.org

So you’re as excited as anyone about the new light-rail line—it’s a real step toward sustainable development in the Twin Cities. Your only complaint is that there is not ample parking at the stations for your Toyota hybrid. Also, the rules prohibit consumption of your daily dose of wheatgrass juice on the train. But dig deeper. Admit it: Isn’t there a part of you that thrills at the prospect of going out for a night of adult beverages without worries about driving, as if you were in a “real” city like New York or Chicago?

Aside from the many salubrious joints at the northern end of the line (downtown), farther south there are lots of quirky neighborhood joints within stumbling distance of our delightful new rail stations. The drinking railroader is wise to double-check the schedule, to avoid getting stranded during the late-night hours, when trains go from scarce (after 10 p.m.) to non-existent (between 2 and 4 a.m.).

Fort Snelling Station: Fort Snelling Club
Fort Snelling Building 89; 612-725-2272
Open until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Five-minute walk south and east of station.

Once a club for employees only, it has been
open to the public for the last decade. It’s administered by the V.A., but its ambience is
Holiday Inn lounge circa 1985, accented by white Christmas lights.
Bonus: No sales tax on food or drink
Downside: Crimes committed on federal property become felonies, so mind your Ps and Qs!
What’s on the walls: Rural sunset paintings
Pull-tab charity: Disabled American Veterans
Music: Joe Walsh-into-Weezer jukebox,
at surprisingly high volume
Smoke level: Fleece-permeating

46th Street Station: Sunrise Inn
4563 34th Avenue South; 612-721-3137
Open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Three-minute walk west of station.
To be clear, the Sunrise Inn is not a motel and it does not open at sunrise. It is a 3.2 bar/restaurant that has been around since 1937, one that still retains its original iceboxes and bar, and a vintage Peter Max 7-Up sign, complete with psychedelic rainbows and flowers. Food and bottles of aspirin can be purchased at the bar.

Bonus: $1.75 beers
Downside: Drinks purchased after midnight are assessed a twenty-five-cent fee to pay for the extra licensing cost of staying open until 2 a.m.
What’s on the walls: Photo of Kevin McHale scoring for the Celtics; a sign cautioning “No public phone, don’t even ask!”
Pull-tab charity: Roosevelt High School Boosters Club
Music: None
Smoke level: Tolerable with door open

38th Street Station: Cardinal Bar
2920 East 38th Street; 612-724-5837
Open until 1 a.m. Next to station.
After three decades, the Cardinal has a new, bright-red awning, a new patio, and a gravel parking lot that got sacrificed to the adjacent light rail station. These are just a few of the changes at this mullet-friendly Southside institution, which caters to softball players, pool shooters, dart throwers, and broomballers. The bar serves strong beer and wine, and the kitchen is open with a full menu until 11 p.m.

Bonus: Meat raffle (Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.)
Downside: Restrooms—especially the women’s
What’s on the walls: Outside sign proudly proclaiming, “We patty our burgers fresh daily”
Pull-tab charity: MN/USA Wrestling Incorporated
Music: The Guess Who
Smoke level: Noticeable bluish haze

Lake Street Station: The Schooner Tavern
2901 27th Avenue South; 612-729-4365
Open until 2 a.m. Eight-minute walk—two blocks west and one block north (next to Rainbow Foods)
A no-frills, no-nonsense joint that has been serving up drinks since the end of Prohibition. Draft beers are $2.05 and are served in jars. There’s no kitchen, but frozen pizza and free popcorn are available. The entertainment includes two projection-screen TVs, karaoke on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and pool sharking throughout the day.

Bonus: Bar doesn’t feel as tough as the neighborhood
Downside: Booths in back look cute but are uncomfortable
What’s on the walls: “Check cashing for bar patrons only” sign
Pull-tab charity: Roosevelt High School Boosters
Music: Hank Williams Jr. into Al Green into Cher
Smoke level: Not horrible

Cedar-Riverside Station: Palmers Bar
500 Cedar Avenue South;
612-333-7625. Open until 2 a.m.
Five-minute walk west to Cedar Avenue, turn left.
Palmers attracts a truly West Bank crowd:
gray-haired hippies, body-pierced punk rockers, East Africans, college students, and general hard-luck cases.

Bonus: Good beer selection on tap
Downside: You may be hesitant to have “everybody know your name” here
What’s on the walls: Faux fireplace with flickering electric lights
Pull-tab charity: No pull tabs
Music: Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust in its entirety
Smoke level: What does it matter now?—Dan Gilchrist