A little after 11 this morning Par Ridder took the stand in his own defense. It would be an understatement to say he and his legal team have a ways to go to get back in the game. The battle is over him essentially waiving his own non-compete to leave St. Paul for Minneapolis and … Read more
Partners in the Sample Room announced today that they have promoted Peter Macaroni to executive chef. Macaroni worked at La Bec Fin in Philadelphia and Barlays in Atlanta, before coming west to serve as executive chef at Tiburon. He’s been sous chef at the Sample Room for a few months now — which, so far … Read more
The historical musical 1776 starts at the Guthrie this evening, and Tool is playing at the Xcel Energy Center, but that’s no secret. What can I tell you that you don’t already know? POETRY The Dead Poetry Slam Grab your best poetry and take it on down to Keiran’s for their twice-a-month poetry slam — … Read more
by Peter Schilling When it all boils down, Vitus is nothing more than a story about a child prodigy who seeks to be a normal boy. But in the hands of director Fredi M. Murer, the simple tale becomes a small but complex masterpiece about the universal difficulties of childhood. Murer, who is unknown in … Read more
As I watched close to a dozen attorneys negotiate out the last few details before opening the temporary injunction hearing against Par Ridder in the Ramsey County Courthouse this morning, I couldn’t help but run numbers and wonder how many friendly telephone switchboard ladies you could buy for the amount of cash that was being … Read more
As you may or may not know, the internationally acclaimed, Minnesota-based photographer Alec Soth runs a fairly fabulous blog. And his latest post should appeal to the sensibilities of readers of this blog — I like to think of you all as tasteful and yet substantive folks with deep inner lives (you also happen to … Read more
Most of the time I either ignore or mock Sid Hartman’s ravings–it’s better on the blood pressure. But this morning’s Strib column, entitled “Minneapolis City Council could step up, but it won’t,” hit a nerve and continues to aggravate. So I guess today is the day to call out this asshole. The thrust of the … Read more
OK, it’s a little premature, but I couldn’t help laughing at the first reports out of the Par Ridder hearings today. Question: what’s the difference between a little rich girl driving while drunk and a little rich boy driving a newspaper while drunk on power? UPDATE: Mnspeak’s worth a look on this. Lots of funny … Read more
I attended a wedding over the weekend — one of the loveliest I’ve ever seen, with a rose petal-strewn Japanese garden and a chuppa-like arbor under which the couple was joined. Topping off this perfect event was an exquisite wine: a delicate, slightly dry Pouilly-Fuissé from the house of Bouchard Aînés & Fils. If you … Read more
FILM Dysfunctional Love in New York City If you agree with Brad Zellar’s assessment (The Rake, June 2007) that Woody Allen “hasn’t made a truly great — or at least consistently funny — film” in a long time. Then tonight is your night. Certainly, Zellar wouldn’t argue against two Allen classics: Manhattan and Annie Hall. … Read more