rakemag

Indulge us for a moment with this ode to Walter Mondale: Fritz, the sight of you on a stroll around the Lake of the Isles stirs the embers of our hometown pride. When, startled from your retirement, you broke into a run, we came to appreciate the full meaning of public service. Your loss, while … Read more

Finished, split up, kaput? If you’re talking about a Twin Cities band, give it a couple more years and chances are, they’ll be back together again. With the notable exception of Prince and most of the people he’s ever worked with, married, or known, there seem to be few permanent endings in this town’s music … Read more

The subtitle of this sequel is not a reference to Johnny Depp’s tanned-and-toned torso, no doubt a relief to his legions of female fans. The chest in question, of course, is the booty-filled prop expected of all pirate tales, and the rest of the loot and swashbuckling is all here, too, just like in the … Read more

Some people enjoy riding bicycles, while others have butts that just don’t feel right sitting flat on a chair, so thoroughly have they been remolded by so much time seated on their sweet two-wheelers. The Twin Cities have become known for their population of the latter type, who will gladly plant their posteriors in movie … Read more

Turns out that video didn’t kill the radio star, and the Internet didn’t kill ’zines. Although every postal-rate hike does knock a few of these intrepid publishers out of commission, the Twin Cities are still a hotbed of ’zine publishing. This second-annual festival of lectures, exhibits, workshops, and music brings the best of the bunch … Read more

Alexa Horochowski’s large-scale paintings show young girls innocently romping through worlds that don’t quite exist. In her bright fairy-tale scenes, the St. Paul artist shows children interacting with unicorns, swans, and other romantic creatures known to populate young girls’ imaginations. On closer inspection, however, other things appear to be slightly off in creepy ways: These … Read more

If the very thought of a quilt show triggers memories of touring the dusty state fair crafts exhibits with your grandma, take a few steps back to the world of women’s crafts before the advent of Michael’s and the Hobby Lobby. In Gee’s Bend, Alabama, a black community pretty much cut off from the outside … Read more

Here’s one more sign that Hopkins’ historic Mainstreet has become one hip stretch of sidewalk. Run by Chuck Venables, whose résumé boasts such flashy venues as Manny’s and Cosmos, Gusto’s grilled chicken panini with fontina, mussels with white wine and tomatoes, and gnocchi with brown butter and sage echo the standard of elegance he established … Read more

Nothing can spice up a kabob quite like a belly dancer. Naar Grille serves a mixed menu of Mediterranean and American favorites, punctuated by the occasional swishing hips of some very talented ladies (but these are family shows, of course). If you’re not too mesmerized to eat, try the traditional fatoosh salad with sumac and … Read more

Last month we encountered a piece of paper stabbed with sticks into the sand at a popular local tot lot. On it was the message “Please, no defecating at the playground.” We’ve come to enjoy found-art moments like these, which make every trip to the playground a little different—the funky barrette affixed to a swing, … Read more