Explore the Unconventional

BOOKS & AUTHORS
Hit the Road, Jack

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac’s medium-sized-but-still-somehow-epic novel On the Road, in which Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty zip back and forth across the country via various modes of transit, legal and not. Penguin is celebrating by releasing a special edition of the book, as well as a copy of the original scroll on which he typed the first draft of the manuscript during three weeks in April of 1951. (The scroll, made of eight long sheets of tracing paper that Kerouac later taped together, held the content as Kerouac wanted it published: unedited [he thought editing deprived a work of its spontaneity] and without a single paragraph break.) Additionally, a new biography of Kerouac by Douglas C. Brinkley, and a somewhat more philosophical contemplation on the meaning of by John Leland, will be released today. –by Max Ross

ART & MUSIC
Gallery Grooves

Join us for Gallery Grooves, The Rake’s monthly art, jazz, and wine event. Socialize and discuss the latest jazz with Kevin Barnes from KBEM Jazz 88. Enjoy free libations compliments of The Wine Company. Featured Jazz selections include the Puppini Sisters’ Betcha Bottom Dollar; various artists’ We All Love Ella; and the Monk’s Music Trio’s Monk on Mondays. The exhibit, SAD: Illuminating a Northern View of Darkness, addresses a sense of place focused not on land, but on the qualities of light and atmosphere, and the sense of time to which those elements relate. It features nine Twin Cities-based artists: Ana Lois-Borzi, Jan Estep, Theresa Handy, Chris Larson, Charles Lume, Molly Roth, Andrea Stanislav, Piotr Szyhalski, and Katherine Turczan.

7 p.m., Frederick R. Weisman Museum, University of Minnesota, 333 East River Rd., Minneapolis; 612-625-9494.

FILM
Eloquent Nude

You might be familiar with Charis Wilson. In fact, you’ve probably seen her naked. Her nude images hang in museums across the globe. Want to see some more… and in motion? Tonight’s documentary, Eloquent Nude: The Love and Legacy of Edward Weston & Charis Wilson, recounts her story of love and work with photographer Edward Weston — the man behind the camera. Granted, she’s 90 now, but that just makes the nudity that much more interesting. OK, to be honest, I don’t know that she’ll be unveiling herself physically at this point, but she’s certainly denuding herself in a much deeper sense. The film, directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ian McCluskey, is associate produced by Minnesota native Julie Gliniany who is now bringing the film back to her homestate for only a few limited screenings. Don’t miss it. McCluskey will be present for a Q & A session, and there’s a reception following the screening. Of course, if you miss the screening this evening, you can catch it this weekend at the Riverview Theater, with an after party on Friday night.

7 p.m., Minneapolis Institue of Arts, Pillsbury Auditorium, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-870-6323; $5.

A Leech of Your Own

If you’re in the mood for something a bit wackier, less nudity and more leeches, head over to the Bell Museum courtyard for a screening of Attack of the Giant Leeches. Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski, this creepy-crawly horror flick shows a small town wracked by terror. Local moonshine-swilling trapper Lem Sawyer sees a giant creature in a swamp near his home, but his story is ignored… until people start disappearing. The best part of tonight’s event? — If you happen to be lucky (or perhaps unlucky) you’ll be taking home your very own pet leech. (What are you gonna do with that? I say go fishing… but how the hell are you going to sleep tonight?)

8:30 p.m., Bell Museum, 10 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-624-7083; free

THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Cabaret, Town Hall, Vaudeville, Opera

The Bedlam certainly isn’t known for putting on boring shows. It seems everything they do is at least somewhat unusual, and tonight’s performance certainly confirms this. Ahh-vuh-deez Productions presents A Bedlam Town Hall Show this evening: a fine mix of cabaret, town hall, vaudeville, and opera featuring Alison Scherzer-soprano, Eric Pearson-baritone, Grant Sherzer-baritone, Avedis Manoogian-piano, Dreamland Faces (with magicians and puppets), The Last Unicorns with Bird and Silas, Wendy Lewis, and Solid Gold. Sounds like an action-packed evening to me. Why settle for mainstream entertainment, when you’ve got this? Get there before the show for the Bedlam happy hour (4-6 p.m.). I guarantee it’ll be heavenly with a couple cocktails under your belt — not that it won’t be without.

7:30 p.m., Bedlam Theater, 1501 S. 6th St., Minneapolis; 612-341-1038; $6.