LECTURE AND PERFORMANCE
Your Brain is Not Your Friend!
Tonight is the monthly Cafe Scientifique happy hour forum at Bryant Lake Bowl. And this month’s guest speaker happens to be Dennis Cass, author of Head Case: How I Almost Lost My Mind Trying to Understand My Brain. Cass, who was working as a freelance journalist at the time, went on a mission to learn everything he could about the human brain in an effort to overcome his writer’s block. Using himself as a guinea pig, he subjected his mind and body to a number of stimuli in order to study the effects. Accompany Cass on his tour of the brain. Learn why zombies prefer to eat brains, a history of misguided brain metaphors, and a scientific process for not turning into your parents.
6:30 pm (5:30 doors), Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W Lake St., Minneapolis, 612-825-3737; $5.
LECTURE
Contracting Media – Expanding Need
If your brain is still your friend, and you want to exercise it a while tonight as you speculate on the future of media, go hear former anchor of CNN’s NewsNight and Minnesota native Aaron Brown speak this evening as part of the Minnesota Public Radio Broadcast Journalist Series. Brown will discuss political, technological, and social changes facing today’s media. Get free tickets from the Campus Center Information Desk at 651-696-6888 or at any Bibelot shop.
7 p.m., Alexander G. Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave., Saint Paul, 651-696-6000; Free with ticket.
MUSIC
16th Annual Honors Concert
Seeing a bunch of high school students perform might seem a little silly to you without the obligation of going to support a family member, but most of our best musicians and artists were already creating masterpieces when they were of high school age. Tonight, more than 300 students from St. Paul Public Schools will showcase their talents as the best of the best high school vocalists, musicians, and artists in the district. The Honors Concert features high school aged students in band, orchestra, and choir, performing under the direction of guest conductors. The concert begins at 7:30, but if you get there at 6:15 you can catch the World Party, featuring small instrumental and vocal student ensembles from Saint Paul elementary and junior high schools, in Ordway Center’s Marzitelli Foyer preceding the performance.
7:30 p.m., Main Hall (World Party, 6:15 p.m., Marzitelli Foyer), Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St, St Paul, 651-224-4222; $5.
CéU Means Heaven, and She’ll Take You There
Looking for something a bit more refined and sexy. Go see CéU perform tonight at the Dakota. The latest in a great tradition of Brazilian singer-songwriters, CéU’s unique sound combines Afro-beat, soul, and electro-jazz with a voice of melodic beauty and sensuality. She doesn’t belt out her music. She doesn’t smack you on the head with overt sexuality. No. She whispers softly at us, oozing an organic, uncontainable sexiness. CéU was nominated for a 2006 Latin Grammy Award as the Best New Artist.
8 p.m., (tomorrow at 7 and 9 p.m.),
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis, 612-332-1010; $17.
Afro Cuban Jazz
If you want the same splendor with just a little more texture, head to Babalú for dinner, and enjoy the smooth, steamy offerings of Afro Cuban Jazz with Joto. Zap the last remnants of winter out of your tongue with the plátanos machos, then ward off the evening chill with the cazuela de mariscos. Eat slowly, and enjoy the music. By the time you’re ready for your fresas con crema and Cointreau, you’ll be ready to surrender yourself entirely to the music. (That’s when it’s time to go home.)
Babalú, 800 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, 612-746-3158.
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