Today is your last day to R.S.V.P. for the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood Summer Event at the Chambers Hotel tomorrow. Celebrity or not, you can enjoy the lifestyle for at least an evening — beauty consultations, gift bags, Midori cocktails, samples, and hors d’oeuvres for everyone. Email usrsvp@usmagazine.com to register.
MUSIC by Eeva-Liisa Waaraniemi
Take It Down to the Bayou
Aaah, the sounds of the steamy bayou. Music can be the most efficient transportation to the essence of a people, time or place. The Cajun dance band New Riverside Ramblers — a foot stompin’ fast French talkin’ fiddlin’ five piece band — do an especially good job of bringing you the flavor and beat from life at the other end of the Mississippi. If you like what you hear this afternoon, be sure to attend the Taste of the Twin Cities Originals this evening for some more Cajun-spiced music. But if you attend the noontime concert and don’t leave a little spiced, a little swingin’, it’s debatable whether or not you had a pulse in the first place. Another office casualty, perhaps?
Noon-1 p.m., Northrop Plaza, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-624-2345; free.
Take a Musical Tour through Bulgaria
As part of their 9 Nights of Music series, the Minnesota History Center will be hosting a performance by Traki this evening. Bulgarian transplants Nikolay Gueorguiev (gadulka) and Nikola “Kolyo” Nikolov (gaida/bagpipe) lead a team of top local musicians, including acclaimed percussionist Tim O’Keefe, string fiend Jim Parker and vocal chameleon Natalie Nowytski, in a performance of authentic Bulgarian dance music. Prepare to be transported with Traki for an evening of nonstop Bulgarian folk dancing from Thrace, Shop, Rhodope, Strandzha, Pirin and Dobrudzha. Can’t sit still? Learn the energetic dances of Bulgaria from Ethnic Dance Theatre Artistic Director Donald LaCourse. Dance along, pack a picnic, or purchase food from the Cafe Minnesota terrace grill. In case of rain, concerts will be held inside the History Center.
6:30 to 8 p.m., Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul; 651-296-6126; free.
Also playing this evening is Ponytails and Ivory with Liz Draper and Jon Kaiser, at the 331 Club.
FOOD, FUN, AND MUSIC
Taste of Twin Cities Originals
Summer is always the busiest time of the year, so mark your calendars today for the second annual Taste of the Twin Cities Originals. Held once again at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, this year’s festivities will feature even more of the same great food from 37 of the Twin Cities finest restaurants, along with complimentary wine from the Gallo Family vineyards. You’ll also enjoy live New Orleans-style entertainment from Minnesota Music Award winners, The Jack Brass Band. Visit The Rake’s booth while you’re there. Say hello to Rake staffers, and sign up to win prizes!
6-9 p.m., Nicollet Island Pavillion, 40 Power St., Minneapolis; $45.
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Dog Days
I’ve had just enough cat stories to last me a life time — from the blogging world, of course — so I understand completely if you’re not exactly revved up to go hear dog stories tonight. But think again, my friends. Jon Katz, author of sixteen books — both novels and nonfiction — will be appearing at the Burnsville Barnes & Noble this evening to promote his latest book, Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm. His aren’t just any old dog stories, however. Katz — who lives on Bedlam Farm (in upstate New York) with his wife, Paula Span, and his dogs, sheep, steers and cow, donkeys, barn cat, irritable rooster Winston, and three hens — uses entertaining anecdotes to share insights about man’s best friend. A two-time finalist for the National Magazine Award, he writes columns about dogs and rural life for the online magazine Slate, and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, GQ, and the AKC Gazette. He also co-hosts the award-winning show, Dog Talk, on Northeast Public Radio.
7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Burnhaven Shopping Center, 828 West County Rd. 42, Burnsville; 952-892-9280; free.
Another Impossible Love Story
As part of the Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination series, Professor Maria Damon will lead a discussions on Shmuel Yosef Agnon’s A Simple Story this evening. Though the novel was not available in translation until 1985, fifteen years after the author’s death, Agnon is certainly one of the most lauded and widely translated Hebrew authors. A Simple Story tells the tale of an orphaned child who goes to live with her aunt and uncle and ends up falling in love with their son — who, of course, must marry another. Stop by tonight to join the exploration of this year’s theme “Your Heart’s Desire: Sex and Love in Jewish Literature.”
7-9 p.m., Highland Park Branch Library, 1974 Ford Pkwy., St. Paul; 651-366-6488; free.
Leave a Reply