Foolish Fire

The small river town where I lived and worked for a time was in a pretty and neglected part of the state. When I first moved down there I used to tell friends that it was as if I’d relocated to a remote little corner of some obscure European country. There were rolling, wooded hills, … Read more

Shall I Read or Look at Naked Ladies?

BOOKSAll Shall Be Well; And All Shall Be Well; And All Manner of Things Shall Be Well The history of literature—up to and including the stuff piled on the new arrivals tables at your local bookstore—is crammed with oddballs and anachronisms. That said, it’s still a rare novel that can take such raw materials and … Read more

What You're Tasting When You Kiss

It’s a slippery, messy business, kissing. Two tongues meetings in one person’s mouth, touching and rolling and wrestling like snakes. The transfer of saliva. The hot, warm breath vaporous with what the kisser has most recently consumed. Not only that, even strangers do it. People who’ve only just met in bars; partygoers on New Year’s … Read more

Claude Wampler: What Just Happened?

There’s some interesting discussion over at the Walker blogs concerning the performance career ender that was staged, just this past weekend, by Claude Wampler. I saw the show on Friday but, sadly, didn’t stick around for the Q&A, which sounds to have been very tense. Truth be told, my date was so angry as to … Read more

The Royal Robes (A Retake)

  The above outfit is worn by the title character in the just-opened play, God Save Gertrude, a punk rock-meets-theater riff that was penned by a local ‘wright and is, in fact, loosely inspired by Hamlet’s mother (cuz Ophelia is played out, donchyaknow). I suspect the character, a singer, has something in common with Patti … Read more

The Three Pointer: A "W" With Character

Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #43, Home Game #20: New Jersey 95, Minnesota 98 Season record: 8-35 1. Carried By Jefferson For three quarters tonight, the Timberwolves were more of a one-man team than in any competitive game they have played this season. Al Jefferson had 33 points, more … Read more

Noir or Kora?

First things first: Our February issue hits the stands today, so be sure to pick up a copy or stop by our website to check out our latest features. Learn about Dakota founder and co-owner Lowell Pickett. Discover the Truth Project. And read about fine-dining options that aren’t getting the buzz they deserve. Are you … Read more

Filling The Gaps at Il Vesco Vino

My husband and I found ourselves over the weekend in that gap between wedding ceremony and reception and desperately in need of a drink. Now, I must admit, I’m a bit bewildered by the whole traditional formal wedding affair. It’s always seemed to me more show than celebration, a day seized by the "happy" couple … Read more