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  • Naked Bones at the Brickhouse BBQ

    As I get older and balder, I have come to appreciate the t-shirt legend that proclaims, "Only a few heads are perfect – the rest are covered with hair." Something similar is true of barbecued ribs – the best way to serve mediocre ribs is smothered in sauce – but to serve ribs naked, they have to be done just about perfectly.

    North Minneapolis has been home to a lot of great barbecue
    joints over the years – Amos & Amos, Levy’s, and others that came and went
    so quickly that I can’t remember their names. The half-life of restaurants in
    north Minneapolis seems to be a matter of months, so if you want to try the
    terrific ribs at the Brickhouse BBQ, 4330 N. Lyndale, you probably should go
    sooner rather than later. There’s not much in the way of ambience, but at good barbecue joints there never is.

    The Brickhouse opened about a month ago and the grand
    opening pennants are still fluttering outside, but the place doesn’t seem to be
    getting much of a new restaurant buzz. I stopped in last night around 7:30 for
    the rib and chicken combo, and for the whole time I was there, only three
    customers walked in the door – and they seemed to be friends of the owners.

    It’s a family operation – Brad Bigger, his wife Blanca and
    their son Franklin Zumba-Deleg all share the cooking duties, while daughter
    Karina Zumba-Deleg works the front of the house. A note on the menu mentioned
    that the cooks have 45 years of cooking experience between them. The Biggers
    asked me not to mention their previous employer by name, but it’s one of the
    oldest and best barbecue restaurants in the Twin Cities – a market leader, you
    might say – and it’s famous for serving its bones naked – with sauce on the
    side.

    The Brickhouse ribs are served the same way, but rubbed with
    a spice blend before cooking. You have to be a pretty good and confident cook
    to serve ribs naked – a pool of sauce can cover a multitude of sins, and make
    up for a lack of flavor if the ribs have been parboiled to speed up the cooking
    time. These were firm and meaty and full of flavor, with just a hint of smoke –
    Brad Bigger says he uses oak and hickory chunks in his smoker, and occasionally
    adds a little maple or mesquite. The barbecued chicken was also quite good –
    meaty and not too dry.

    The homemade sauce ("a special recipe I don’t give out
    to anybody") was a perfect accompaniment – tangy, and not too sweet – but it added to the flavor of the meat, it didn’t cover it up. My combo
    of half a chicken and three pork ribs cost $16.95, including coleslaw, Texas
    toast and fries.

    There is a lot more on the menu that I would like to try,
    including the beef ribs (Bigger says his customers call them the Flintstone
    bones), the ribeye steak dinner ($16.95-$21.95), and the barbecue beef brisket
    sandwich ($7.95 with salad or coleslaw and fries.)

    The Brickhouse is open daily for breakfast, and offers an
    $8.95 breakfast buffet from 8 to 12 on weekends.

  • David Carr: The Night of the Gun

    It’s a common conception that our pasts are better than we make them
    out to be. Former Twin Cities Reader editor and New York Times
    columnist David Carr proves that the opposite is possible in his new book which recounts his past as an addict
    through journalistic investigation. As he reports his past, he realizes
    that things were much worse than he made them out to be. Memories
    change and become uncovered with time; the friend he believed once
    pulled a gun on him reveals it was Carr who pointed the gun. His belief
    that he became sober after his children were born becomes unproven.

    Carr will discuss The Night of the Gun at Magers and Quinn bookstore
    on Thursday, August 14th at 7:30 pm. Magers and Quinn is located at
    3038 Hennepin Avenue South in Minneapolis. *The Night of the Gun* is on
    sale now. For more information, visit www.nightofthegun.com.

  • Raven's Manor

    A haunted mansion on the Louisiana bayou plagued for 200 years. A girl
    in search of love, knowing that she is cursed to lose it. Three
    malevolent spirits who will do anything to make sure that no one in the
    house marries for love. The legends of New Orleans have inspired the
    Circus Juventas to create *Raven’s Manor*, a Cirque du Soliel-style
    production that will have audiences on the edge of their seat.

    A young girl wants to marry, but her family was cursed many years ago;
    any girl who marries for love will lose her groom to the house.
    Determined to break the curse, the girl calls on all the spirits of the
    house in a thrilling event to banish the evil.

    Incorporating thrilling new acts, including a wall trampoline, the
    production will also feature the talents of Peter Ostroushko,
    continuing his collaboration with Circus Juventas, and local actor Ansa
    Akyea. Featuring 75 of Circus Juventas’s advanced students, *Raven’s
    Manor* begins performances on Thursday, July 31 in a sold-out show. The
    production runs through August 17th. Tickets run $12.50 – $25.00 and
    can be purchased from the Circus Juventas box office or at www.uptowntix.com.
    All performances will be held under the Circus Juventas Big Top on 1270
    Montreal Avenue in Saint Paul. For more information, visit www.circusjuventas.org.

  • The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

    The biggest global and political issues of today will be responded to
    trough artwork when “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” premieres
    July 31st at Altered Esthetics. Continuing its mission of proclaiming
    artists as the historical voice of society, the nonprofit community
    gallery accepted submissions from the artists whose work will be on
    display in the gallery through August 30th.

    Opening Reception: 7-10pm 

    The gallery is located at 1224 Quincy Street NE in Minneapolis. Gallery
    hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 1 pm – 7 pm and Saturdays 1 pm – 5pm.
    For more information, call (612) 378-8888 or visit www.alteredesthetics.org.

  • Hot Art, Cool Jazz

    Jazz master Dennis Spears kicks off “Hot Art, Cool Jazz” at the Joan
    Mondale Gallery at the Minnesota Textile Center on August 15th. Part of
    the Joan Mondale Gallery Endowment Event, the exhibit will showcase
    some of the finest fiber art of the Twin Cities, set to the smooth
    sounds of a man who’s preformed with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald,
    DeeDee Bridgewater and Sarah Vaughn.

    The event starts with a reception at 6:30 pm, followed by the program
    at 8. The Minnesota Textile Center is located at 3000 University Avenue
    SE in Minneapolis. For more information, call (612) 436-0464 or visit www.textilecentermn.org.

  • Dying in Public Places

    DYING IN PUBLIC PLACES

    Lust. Terror. Violence. Outbursts of Song. All of these can happen when
    stuck in an invisible box… cannibalism too. Dying in Public Places: a
    darkly comic new musical    , written by Keith Hovis and directed by Jenna
    Papke, premieres August 1st at 10:00 pm as part of the Minnesota Fringe
    Festival.

    60 minutes of new musical hilarity ensue as five strangers find
    themselves trapped in an invisible box. They soon learn that they must
    discover what they have in common if they want to survive. And as the
    minutes tick by, each person becomes more desperate and tries to find
    another way of escaping, no matter how devastating or bloody the
    results may be.

    *Dying in Public Places: a darkly comic new musical* will also perform
    Saturday, August 2nd at 1:00 pm; Sunday, August 3rd at 7:00 pm; Monday,
    August 4th at 10:00 pm and an audio-described performance on Sunday,
    August 10th at 7:00 pm. All performances will be held at the
    Minneapolis Theatre Garage at 711 Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.
    Tickets can be purchased online at www.fringefestival.org
    or in person 30 minutes prior to each show. Tickets are $12 for adults,
    $5 for kids under 12 and $10 for seniors, students and Minnesota Public
    Radio members. Before seeing a Fringe show, everyone 12 years old and
    above must purchase a $3 admission button.

  • All Music Wednesday: Electro Rockers, Lesbian Karaoke and Dead Composers

    MUSIC

    CSS & The Go! Team


    Tonight First Avenue welcomes Brazilian provocateurs CSS aka "Cansei De Ser Sexy"
    – which in Portuguese means "tired of being sexy," though by the looks
    of them seems to mean the opposite. A fiery electro-rock quintet of
    vampiric fashion plates, CSS quickly gained notoriety in the first wave
    of the hipper-than-thou music blogsphere
    phenomenon, thanks not only to remixes of their songs by some of the
    hottest producers around, but also some pretty dance-floor burning
    remixes of their own. Their latest album, Donkey,
    is a pop-tastic beat-fueled ride that will appeal to music fans of many
    genres, and although tonight’s show will most likely have a high ratio
    of lenseless glasses
    paired with gold medallions and designer sneaks, I’d still recommend it for anyone interested in fresh tunes, even if you’re not a
    flashy dresser. With The Go! Team, Matt and Kim, and Natalie Portman’s
    Shaved Head.


    8pm, First Avenue Mainroom, 701 1st Avenue N, Downtown Minneapolis, $20

    MUSIC

    Karaoke at Pi Bar



    Who knew lesbians loved their karaoke so much? Well they do, and every
    Monday and Wednesday you can join in the fun at this sassy
    night hosted by hot babe TeA.
    There are plenty of joints around town where one can indulge in the
    embarrassing act of karaoke but personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead
    singing in public. But I do really love to watch other people having fun and making asses of themselves,
    and Pi Bar in South Minneapolis is a great place to do just that. While
    you’re there, you might as well get a bite to eat since Pi boasts a yummy menu
    of upscale bar food such as mini-burgers, chimichangas, and even a mock
    duck philly sandwich for those of the vegetarian variety. Not to
    mention, plenty of lip-loosening booze for potential rock
    stars, lesbian or not.


    9pm, Pi Bar and Restaurant,
    2532 25th Ave S, Minneapolis, Free

    MUSIC

    Sommerfest: Chamber Music III: Korngold’s Piano Quintet



    I won’t pretend to know everything about classical music. In fact,
    I know very little – I am a child of the here and now after all.
    Honestly, I’d probably swap a flute for a circuit-bent Speak-and-Spell,
    or perhaps opt to have my eardrums blown out with some thrashy
    crust-core in a basement. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate
    the beauty of classical music, especially when matched with the
    ambiance and acoustics of Orchestra Hall. My mother was one of those
    people who considered arts and culture the most important part of a
    child’s education thankfully, so the appreciation of it all and a
    wistful nostaligia for the sound of the Orchestra tuning up will
    probably always be ingrained in me. The Minnesota Orchestra’s Sommerfest is
    one of the most heralded music events of the summer, with samplings of
    work by brilliant composers from around the world. Tonight’s
    performance will include a string quartet performing work by composer Felix Mendelssohn, topped off with the sweet sounds of Erich Wolfgang Korngold – as performed by pianist Andrew Litton and members of the Minnesota Orchestra.



    7:30pm, Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Downtown Minneapolis, $20

  • Dancing and Double Axels Downtown

    I promised this story about my years as a figure skater awhile back, but I wasn’t ready to fall on my ass -again- until I knew in my heart it was time. I could write a book on my years of experiences as a figure skater but from the looks of things as they stand now…I will blog instead.

    Last night my daughter, her friend and I went into Downtown Mpls for our ballet class at Zenon Dance School. Bear with me because the juices are flowing here…

    Downtown Mpls has always given me so much energy that this former figure skater was in no need of caffeine or any other beverage to give me liquid courage.

    I fly when I am on energy (naturally) which is why I was leaping down Nicollet Mall past (our lovable Jason DeRusha’s TV station) WCCO. Yes, there were looks of disgust from the yuppies that were having happy hour while enjoying the beautiful patios that grace the mall, but I didn’t care. I was on my way to dance class.

    When I arrived at Zenon, which is located in the Hennepin Center for the Arts Building, I was feeling that same feeling I used to when I would warm- up before a competition: Excited, sick to my stomach and happy all at the same time.

    Last night was not a competition of any kind, but it was nerve racking to me because I was about to dance not only in front of my daughter and her friend, but also in a group with total strangers that were of all age groups.

    You can think what you want, but wearing tights and moving your body into awkward positions in front of complete strangers is still really awkward for me.

    Why? Well first of all, I am a "lefty" which means that since I was a little girl my coaches informed me that my body moves naturally in the opposite way of pretty much everyone else, including my skating peers.

    For those skating enthusiasts, that means when you see everyone warming up at skating events –skating one direction, jumping one direction, and spinning one direction– you would fine me skating, spinning, and jumping in the opposite direction. Being a "lefty" was hard for this reason…I had to fight my way for 15 years, trying to use the portion of the ice rink that I needed to skate– at the same time everyone else was lining up for their turn to practice double axels.

    Yes sir indeed, that last jump I was able to land (cleanly and consistently) was a Double Axel.

    I was able to land a few Triple Toe Loop jumps but I would be stretching the truth if I said that I had perfected a jump that at the time seemed like a big deal but is now— done a lot in skating competitions.

     

    So tonight, as I stretch in my office and get ready to go back to class and attempt to share the floor with the other dancers, I am going to try to let go of the years of repression that have been holding me back from the one thing I fell head over heels, mind over body, music over talking– in love with.

    Skating.

     

  • Legislatin' Sexy: Meet the Most Beautiful People from the Capitol!

    SPECIAL EVENT

    Legislatin’ Sexy Party ’08


    On Tuesday, the 29th of July, the votes will be tallied and the people
    will have spoken, singling out the King and Queen of Minnesota politics
    and bringing an end to the heated debate over who is truly the most beautiful at the Capitol.
    And while the answer to this question that burns with the fire of a
    thousand orange juice soaked cold sores will be posted on The Rake for
    all to see, there’s another option for those who want to be the first
    to know. The Rake is holding a party
    at The Liffey starting at 5 p.m. tonight, complete with the
    all-important drink specials, where the winners will be crowned with
    proper pomp and circumstance. – Rich Goldsmith



    5-7pm, The Liffey, 1    75 7th St W, St Paul, Free



    MUSIC

    9 Nights of Music: The Red Rock Swing Band

    Those
    of you who fell asleep in history class on a regular basis will
    certainly perk up for tonight’s edition of the Minnesota History
    Center’s 9 Nights of Music. This fun series, now in its 12th year,
    spotlights the vibrant and diverse Twin Cities cultural music scene
    from polka to salsa to big band swing ever Tuesday evening through
    August. Tonight dust off your dancin’ shoes for an evening of Big Band
    classics with the 17-piece ensemble, The Red Rock Swing Band. Don’t
    know how to swing? No problem! Tapestry
    Folkdance Center     instructors will be
    on hand to give you advice on how to turn those two left feet around.
    Once you’ve got the swing out of your system take a meander through a
    World War II encampment recreation on the History Center’s terrace,
    then peruse displays of vintage clothing, uniforms and equipment from
    days gone by. Zoot suits welcome.


    6:30-8pm, MN History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd, Downtown St.Paul, Free




    FAMILY

    Paddleboat River Rides


    I’m
    sure you already know about this, being loyal Twin Citians and all, but
    after taking a late night cruise on the Mississip myself this past weekend,
    I felt compelled to remind you of this leisurely summer activity! The Padelford Boat Company has been ferrying sightseers up and down the river since 1969. Jump on board one of their huge, authentic sternwheelers for a breezy cruise down the river complete with historic commentary, fresh air and splendid sights. Choose between a Noon or 2pm ride, or for all you romantics, opt for a sunset dinner cruise.
    I’m not sure that river water is exactly an aphrodisiac, but either way
    you’ll probably score points in the thoughtful and charming
    departments.


    Noon, 2pm, 7pm, Padelford Boat Company, Harriet Island, Saint Paul, $15 Day Cruise, $36 Sunset Dinner Cruise

  • Eric Inkala's "Overflow: A Pleasure Trip"

    Eric Inkala‘s no fool. After a good run of years of painting his coloristic, hazy-dazy, arabesque, Little-Engine-that-Could-meets-Pacman murals (this guy is a tagger of the most whimsical sort) on walls around town, Inkala’s finally been hit by the legitimacy bug. That is, in the manner of graffiti artists gone legit–like Keith Haring in the 1980s and, more recently, Barry McGee, whose work was a highlight of the recent Carnegie International–Inkala’s bringing his particular brand of graffiti stylings indoors to show at The Gallery @ Fox Tax. (Note: Fox Tax is a tax and financial services company that also has an art gallery.) Called "Overflow: A Pleasure Trip" and curated by Emma Berg of mplsart.com, this is being billed as Inkala’s first local solo gallery exhibition. How exactly he manages the transition (from outdoors to in-; from renegade to law-abider) remains to be seen, but press materials promise there will be "smoothly cut whales hanging from the ceiling," "bulbous characters" flowing in and out of the background, "walking creations of his recurring character," and the sum of these parts will form an "abstract diary that represents everything from the day-to-day mundane to his travel experiences…"

    "Overflow: A Pleasure Trip" runs August 8 – September 6. The opening reception is on August 8, 6 – 11 pm. The Gallery @ Fox Tax is located at 503 1st Ave NE, Minneapolis.