FOOD & DINING
Celebrate the Summer Spanish-Style
Start out the weekend in pure decadence with an Outdoor Paella Party. Begin the evening with a sampling of traditional Spanish fare. Warm up your palate with cold almond and garlic soup from Andalusia, and fried Spanish Marcona almonds. Next, Ensalada de Naranjas (orange salad with onions) from Levante, Soldaditos de Pavia (salt cod fritters) from Madrid, and Patatas Alioli (boiled potatoes with aioli) from Catalonia. Chef Lafayette will show you how to mix up a big pan of paella on the outdoor cooker, complete with shellfish, chicken, and chorizo sausage, on a bed of saffron short-grain rice. Don’t go too paella happy, though; be sure to leave room for the Galiaiam almond cake with caramel almond ice-cream, known in the Balearic Islands as a Tarta de Santiago Vinagre de Jerez con Helado de Almendra.
Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Kitchen Window, Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-824-4417; $70.
MUSIC
What’s with the Rock-n-Roll Coming from the Church?
That’s right. folks, it’s time for the annual Basilica Block Party. Cut out of work a touch early so you can enjoy the full scope of the event. Join David Cartwright and his band of pilgrim players, Kadiwompus, at 4:30 p.m. as they set out from Nicollet Mall singing and rocking all the way to the Block Party in time for opening night. Twelve great bands will rock the stages over the two-day party: The Alarmists, Lifehouse, Amos Lee, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, The Cat Empire, Jonny Lang, Brandi Carlile, The Sweet Colleens, G. Love + Special Sauce, The Plain White T’s, and Battle of the Bands winners 2Wurds and The Great Physician.
5:30 p.m., Basilica of Saint Mary, Hennepin Ave. and 7th St., Minneapolis; 612-317-3511; $30 (one day), $50 (two-day pass).
MORE MUSIC
A Rockin’ Stompin’ Good Time
The Prince concert tomorrow is certainly no secret, but perhaps you haven’t heard about Buckwheat Zydeco playing this Sunday at the Dakota. Perhaps the most legendary zydeco performer to date, Buckwheat Zydeco has earned four Grammy nominations and has opened for Eric Clapton, U2, Robert Cray, and Los Lobos. If you want to end your weekend on a high note, this is the way to do it. You’ll build enough energy to last you the week.
7 p.m. & 9 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; $27 & $17.
BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND FESTIVITIES
Convergence of the Geeks
Geeks gather ’round; it’s time for this year’s GeekFest, CONvergence 2007. The theme of this year’s science fiction and fantasy convention? Creature Feature. So go all out and dress up as your favorite creature and enjoy the discussion panels, a masquerade ball, free food and drink, and dozens of room parties. Special guests include science fiction and fantasy author Lois McMaster Bujold, filmmmaker Emily Hagins, comic book artist and illustrator Bernie Wrightson, horror author Brian Keene, voice actor Wally Winger, and John Kovalic – Dork Tower, Out of the Box Games.
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Minneapolis; 952-835-7800; $55.
STYLE
Rendezvous Fashion Show
If science fiction creatures aren’t your thing, maybe you’ll prefer the high stylings of the Rendezvous Fashion Show. Watch New York and Minnesota fashions come together for this unique event featuring handmade textile prints by Drew Peterson and John Grider, film projections by Leif Lafferty-Gebauer , music by Eatin Hogeye, and designs by the Brooklyn-based Unmade Collective and the Minneapolis-based Miss Match Manufacturing.
Saturday at 7 p.m., Bedlam Theater, 1501 S. 6th St., Minneapolis; 612-341-1038; $7.
FILM
Outdoors, Indoors, Fluffy or Heavy
Those who’ve been digging the whole outdoor movie experience this summer, have a couple more options this weekend. On the lights side, Batman Begins will be showing this evening (9:15 p.m.) in the Kellogg Boulevard Courtyard of St. Paul’s Central Library (90 W. 4th St.). For something a bit heavier, head over to the movies in the parking lot of Patrick’s Cabaret (3010 Minnehaha Ave.) on Sunday for a screening of Wellstone a feature-length documentary about the late politician.
Also opening this weekend are nerd-core film Eagles Vs. Shark and genetic horror spoof Black Sheep.
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