Lifestyle
Weekend What's What: Funkytown
It seems to be the winter dance party season opener this weekend! With both Friday and Saturday dominated by l'étoile-worthy club jams and secret location parties, you'll be hard-pressed not to run into an opportunity to get your "Butterfly" on. At this rate we'll be sweatin' right through the hard freeze! Of course, there's plenty of awesome art to go around and even a few can't-miss rock n' roll shows—so those with two left feet, fret not—we've gotcha covered!MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 11/19/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: Before the holiday Nutcracker daze sets in, treat yourself to a long cool drink of inventive contemporary dance at the Ritz, where Zenon Dance Company's 27th fall season opens tonight.
Under the radar: Quietly, two of the Twin Cities' best and most inventive playmakers are rolling out new productions today. At Bedlam, Jeune Lune co-founder Barbara Berlovitz is premiering Stories as Told in a Bed, a show about the experiences of her Lithuanian immigrant grandfather. (Among the ensemble of performers is our writer Sheila Regan.) Meanwhile, at the Children's Theatre, Jon Ferguson and a cast of young actors are performing Gregory Gregorson and the Magic Pinto Bean, a show that "contains extreme flatulence, troll dating, intimidating Boy Scouts, temporary paralysis, L.P. records, naked album covers, a mom of the wig-wearing kind, and talk of decorative ducks."
On the radar: "Hearing 1,000-plus people shouting 'sexy ass me' when Brother Ali performs crowd favorite 'Forest Whitiker' is still one of my favorite hip-hop moments," writes Justin Schell. If you can squeeze your sexy ass into Ali's sold-out homecoming show tonight at First Ave, you won't regret it.
Under the radar: Tonight at the Nash Gallery, spoken-word artist IBé will perform to celebrate the opening of Talking Suitcases, an exhibit of suitcases filled with handmade objects that tell the personal stories of a diverse group of Minnesotans.MORE »
La Natividad returns
One of the most unique partnerships in the arts takes place literally in our backyard: La Natividad, the bilingual Christmas procession and celebration that is a partnership between In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT), St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Mercado Central marketplace. La Natividad will return this December 10 - 20 to our community.MORE »
Sending nix signals when a flirt is afoot
Dear Cyn,
I work in the fashion business, which often keeps me out and about at night, often without my boyfriend. I'm flattered to fairly often get the attention of guys. Sometimes they're assholes and I just brush them off, but often they're guys who are nice to talk with but are pretty clearly trying to chat me up because they think I'm single. I feel like it's awkward if I mention my boyfriend right away to send them a signal, but it only gets more awkward if I wait 20 minutes to do so. Any tips on how to handle this?
-SuzMORE »
Those who give hunters a bad name
As an avid hunter and sportsman, I cringe when I hear and read stories about hunters breaking laws. It gives hunters a bad reputation, which is certainly not the case. I spent most of the past week in the woods hunting Whitetail Deer. Asking for permission to hunt private land is becoming increasingly difficult, and I believe people like this guy may be partly responsible.MORE »
Multicultural barbershop opens in Dinkytown
Students on the University of Minnesota campus have had to search for a place that provided different hairstyles and hair treatment. Many people commuted across town to get their haircuts. But, a new multi-cultural barbershop located in Dinkytown, owned by U of M alumnus, PJ Hubbard, and Michael Ingram, means those days are finally over. They emphasize community and partnership at Cliques.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 11/12/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: It's hard to pass up a chance to see the dance that the Washington Post calls "one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe," but be warned (or get excited): in costuming, notes Camille LeFevre, Martha Graham "certainly liked her men with buttocks bared."
Under the radar: MNfashion opens its holiday boutique tonight with winin' and snackin'. Stop by for a first look at the cool stuff Minnesota designers have created for you to tuck under the tree this year.
On the radar: The Seafarer, one of the darkest (but also, according to reports, funniest) of this season's holiday entertainments, opens at the Jungle. Downtown at First Ave, "national treasures" (per City Pages) Solid Gold headline a show that also features The Hood Internet and, just for good measure, Lookbook.
Under the radar: Tara Yule of the much-missed Pi Restaurant & Bar is convening a "Pi Family Reunion" tonight at BarFly. Pi patrons won't want to miss this chance to rub elbows (and, who knows, maybe more) with old friends.MORE »
Let him wear turtlenecks
Dear Cyn,
I saw your column last week about men drinking white wine, and I tend to agree. Here's where I draw the line, though: men in turtlenecks. I won't let my boyfriend wear them, but he thinks guys can make that look work. I don't think it looks "girlish," it just looks dweeby. Are you with me?
-PattyMORE »
Twin Cities literary scavenger hunt, part 4
I am SO winning this thing.MORE »
From waltzing to grinding: What's in a dance?
The waltz, which has its origins in the late 16th century, scandalized Europe as it grew in popularity through the 19th century. The Queen of Prussia reportedly averted her eyes when the dance was introduced to court in 1784, and Wilhelm II, the Emperor of Germany from 1888-1912 banned the dance from the royal palaces. Waltzing was introduced to England in the late 18th century, and the Oxford English Dictionary described waltzing as "riotous and indecent" as late as 1825. MORE »
