MUSIC If Life Gives You Lemonheads, Make Lemonade Yes, it’s true: The Lemonheads are still around and playing. Actually, they’re back together again, is more like it. The ’80s alt-rock band — best known for their 1992 cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s "Mrs. Robinson" — reformed two years ago after a seven year break. Why? … Read more
It was an old, quiet horse, the color of gray corduroy, or child’s clay, those elephant slabs wrapped in wax paper that Reston remembered from classrooms in his childhood. Six months earlier the horse had been delivered to the pasture out back of Reston’s trailer, and it had taken four men to coax her from … Read more
I think it’s time you knew: I watch a soap opera. Not every day, not even every week, and never, ever in real time. (Not only is it a depressing thing to do at noon, I simply can’t stomach all those commercials for floor cleaning products and maxi-pads with wings.) What I do is record … Read more
Game #18, Home Game #10: Phoenix 93, Minnesota 100 Season record: 3-15 1. Sweat Equity I’ll let some mathematician figure out the odds of a 2-15 team triumphing over a 16-4 ballclub, as happened last night at the Target Center. But whatever the probability, it plummets when you factor in that Phoenix was not only … Read more
One of my favorite restaurants in the world is a vegetarian place called The Red Avocado in Iowa City, Iowa, that occupies the bottom half of a duplex facing Washington Ave. It’s dim and mostly windowless inside. The food is hot and very spicy. It’s definitely an acquired taste: not only do you have to … Read more
Police have released a suicide note written by the 19-year-old Omaha mall gun shooter: "I’ve just snapped – I can’t take this meaningless existence anymore. I’ve been a constant disappointment and that trend would have only continued." I’m always suprised by people who have the foresight to put an explanation in writing even after they’ve … Read more
This morning, around 7 a.m., a senior White House economist citing unexpected job growth last month pronounced the U.S. economy "still strong" and said he does not believe we are headed into a recession. If you’re like me you’re both encouraged by this news and slightly perplexed. The world as viewed by Edward Lazear, chairman … Read more
Last night I drank a lot of the beautiful, golden, silky liquid known as The Macallan 12. So I apologize if this isn’t my most shimmering post. A few of us had dinner at Manny’s and it was a significant event in that my BRF (best redheaded friend) was bringing her new boyfriend for us to meet. Yes, … Read more
Game #17, Road Game #8: Minnesota 89, Atlanta 90 Season record: 2-15 1. Brewer and Smith Lead the Paint Mob After 10 pathetic quarters of play–from 1:25 to go in the 3rd against San Antonio until 1:34 to go in the 1st tonight–the Timberwolves found a pulse and fought to retain their diminishing fan base, … Read more
THEATER & PERFORMANCECan’t Stop That Foot from Flying Think Stomp on steroids and you begin to get an idea of what a Flying Foot Forum dance/theater company is like. Combine that with the unique vision and skill of the company’s director, Joe Chvala — who has been compared to “Fred Astaire on acid” — and … Read more