The F Word

I absolutely loves me some Facebook. And I know what you’re thinking: What the hell is Todd Smith, the Spazz Dad, doing on Facebook? Isn’t he the guy with the Vagina Eye (Chop It Off) and the overactive colon? You are totally right. I have about as much right of being on the hip social … Read more

Judging a Book by its (Back) Cover

I’ve been taught to trust blurbs about as far as I can throw them, which is roughly about as far as I can throw a book, which is not very far, because I am quite weak, my muscles haveing been described as sauce-like. In fact, the word blurb seems related, if only alliteratively, to the … Read more

IFP Turns 20 and Chris Osgood Makes Good

SPECIAL EVENT IFP 20th Anniversary Party I don’t know about you, but I can peg a film geek from a mile away. It’s kind of like gaydar, except for filmmakers. The look often entails square framed glasses, a ratty baseball cap, possibly a beard, and if you get close enough, an air of over-confidence along … Read more

Bruno Making His Rounds

Okay, so the above pic is not Bruno, but is the same (Morkie) breed. Could be a cousin. Or future ladyfriend? Yes it’s true: I am obsessed with Bruno the new family dog but not for the reasons you may think…At first the house seemed calm and picture-like. Well that was last week. Now….not so … Read more

Story of the Sea

Thirty seconds is my guess. The generation of 20-something over-stimulated technophiles has notoriously short attention spans, fitting snugly within the confines of rapidly flashing images in 30-second commercials, mind-numbing YouTube videos, maniacal iPod shuffling and ever shifting favoritism to "bands of the hour." But some musicians have managed to cash in on our generational ADD. … Read more

Art Cars!

Prelude: A friend–and faithful supporter of this blog–recently told me to consider taking more risks online. So, following this piece of advice, I offer you an essay about cars, hoping not to step on fellow blogger and serious car enthusiast Chris Birt‘s toes. A disclaimer: apart from driving them, I am not "into" cars. I … Read more

A Midsummer Night's Festival in the Park

FESTIVALSMidsummer FestivalCome party with The Center for Independent Artists at this creativity-fueled neighborhood festival tonight! Fun for kids and adults alike, the Midsummer Festival is not your average art fair; with Afro-Cuban art and drumming performances, welding demos, a creative invention exhibit, a make-your-own-t-shirt studio, fire dancing, live MC’s from Hope’s Art of the MC, … Read more

A Book for Locals who Love Being Local

With a few novels under his belt, Minneapolis literatus Bart Schneider tackles a type of local mystery fiction that swings somewhere between the present and the future…the very, very near future. Set during the National Republican Convention (coming to the Twin Cities in September), Schneider’s novel The Man in the Blizzard follows the character of … Read more

A Gourmet Version of the State Fair

WINE & DINE Taste of the Twin Cities Originals Are your eyes bigger than your stomach? Put it to the test tonight at the Taste of the Twin Cities Originals extravaganza where there will be so much to try that you may not be able to handle it. Over 30 of the Twin Cities finest … Read more