Inside the Daily Planet, 03/04/11

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THEATER | Song of Extinction by Theater Latté Da at the Guthrie Theater: Intelligently designed by Christopher Kehoe, TC Daily Planet • The beginning is the end and the end is the beginning in Theater Latté Da’s Song of Extinction.  But that’s kind of the point. BOOKS | Books & Bars selection Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold: Strange magic by Courtney Davison, TC Daily Planet • After two weeks spent with Glen David Gold’s 2001 novel Carter Beats the Devil (one of them putting it off, or slowly turning a page or two, then putting the book down in favor of something more exciting), I finished the book at 5:00 p.m. tonight, and then took a nap until 5:45 p.m. During that time, I dreamt of magic. The dreams weren’t necessarily of Carter and the endless list of characters that accompany him during his misadventures; however, it was clear that Gold had charted the course for my afternoon slumber. STYLE | University of Minnesota fashion design senior spotlight: Jessica St. George by Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet • If these clothes were in a movie, what would it be named? Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 03/02/11

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MUSIC | Gaelic Storm at the Fitzgerald Theater: Photos and a retrospective live-tweet by Stacy Schwartz, TC Daily Planet • Someday my phone will actually have enough battery power for me to actually tweet a show. When this happens I’ll be able to just cut and paste from Twitter and be done with my review. However, since this was not the case at Gaelic Storm on Thursday night, I hope you’ll put up with my “what should have been.” Food too old to sell, but not wasted by Ben Corey, TC Daily Planet • Many may wonder what happens to food in a grocery store after it has gone past the “sell by” date on the package.  Thanks to a local organization, these foods are getting to those in need. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 03/01/11

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MOVIES | More Oscars attendees, from Celine Dion to Christian Bale to Colin Firth to The Donald by Jeff Rutherford, TC Daily Planet • Stars walk the red carpet at the 83rd Academy Awards. MOVIES | Red carpet arrivals at the Academy Awards: Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, and more by Jeff Rutherford, TC Daily Planet • Up close and personal with the Hollywood elite. Mpls firefighters share tricks of trade with Kenyans by Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder • It took him 10 years – actually his entire life – but this winter Wallace “Jack” Jackman finally set foot on African soil. Jackman, the MSR’s co-publisher emeritus, was part of a seven-member delegation that traveled to Eldoret, Kenya last month to help train that city’s firefighters. “I found the whole trip overwhelming and exciting,” he points out. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 02/25/11

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MUSIC | Josh Ritter at First Avenue: So happy by Kate Gallagher, TC Daily Planet • Why didn’t I start listening to this guy years ago instead of months ago? Why isn’t everyone I know listening to Josh Ritter? And how can he be so happy? THEATER | History Theatre’s Adrift on the Mississippi tells the true story of slaves who escaped to Minnesota by Jeanette Fordyce, TC Daily Planet • On February 19, over 300 people attended the History Theatre’s telling of Reverend Robert Hickman’s escape from slavery in 1863 from Missouri with 75 people on a crude raft traveling north in search of freedom along the Mississippi River. MOVIES | Academy Awards and social networking: Where the Oscar comes to you by Barb Teed, TC Daily Planet • You’re invited to join me on the Red Carpet at the 83rd Academy Awards-at least virtually. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 02/11/11

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Precious Waters: film examines Iron Range mining proposal by Anne Holzman, Park Bugle • Fearing jobs may soon trump wildlife in the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area, St. Anthony Park residents have arranged a second screening of the film Precious Waters, which explores the potential impact of the copper-nickel extraction proposed by PolyMet Mining Co. near Babbitt, Minn. The proposal is now under review by state and federal agencies. Cyberbullying is for cowards by Simon Lancaster, ThreeSixty • Alfred Olson, 16, was visiting an online forum, “Forum Springs,” when an anonymous person told him: “Screw you, you suck.” Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 02/09/11

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BOOKS | Stephen Elliott’s The Adderall Diaries, February’s Books & Bars selection by Courtney Davison, TC Daily Planet • Stories of sex, drugs, and murder are usually best left to reality TV. Rarely does one pick up a book with the notion of being tantalized by such sensational subject matter. THEATER | Shirley Valentine, you can’t be serious! I am serious, and I’m at the Jungle Theater by Matthew A. Everett, TC Daily Planet • There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Shirley Valentine. The script by Willy Russell holds up remarkably well for being over 20 years old. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 01/18/11

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Hot stuff on cold days at NE Minneapolis farmers’ markets by Margo Ashmore, North News • A great place to lose your tongue and at least a few bucks – the Indoor Market at the Eastside Food Coop January 8 was the first sunny Saturday of the season’s run. I tried a peach/pepper jam (delightful/hot, and I could imagine it with brie) followed by Bill’s Hot Mustard on pretzels, which sent me scrambling for relief at the Q.ue Kombucha table. Poor people say: no more hate! by Staff, The Uptake • For the 18th consecutive year the Welfare, Rights Committee demonstrated at the State Capitol on the opening day for the legislature. Vang Pao legacy is the future of Hmong in U.S., Laos and world by Richard Kagan, Asian American Press • General Vang Pao, commander of the Hmong resistance to the Laotian and Vietnamese Communists, community leader in exile in the United States, and charismatic leader, died in California at the age of 81. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 01/14/11

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Trans woman murdered in Minneapolis, vigil planned for Jan. 21 by Andy Birkey, The Colu.mn • Chrissie Bates, a transgender woman who lived in downtown Minneapolis, was found murdered in her apartment on Monday in what police are calling a homicide. Police say she appeared to have been stabbed. Details are still sketchy, but CityPages notes that Bates had feared for her safety in her building. MUSIC | Tapes ‘N Tapes at the Electric Fetus by Stacy Schwartz, TC Daily Planet • On Tuesday afternoon, Tapes ‘N Tapes played at the Electric Fetus record store in Minneapolis as part of the release festivities for their new album Outside. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 12/27/10

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Churches share community concerns, vision for state by John Kerr, Camden News • Ten groups of parishioners from Northside churches gathered in homes during October to build relationships and discuss their vision for the future of Minnesota. The 90-minute conversations, including a DVD about racial disparities in Minnesota, were designed to get people thinking about their opportunities (or lack of such), ways of building a healthy community and messages to send to the new governor in December. MUSIC | Brute Heart’s “Brass Beads” simply string the listener along by Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet • Vapid, vacuous, and pretentious, Brass Beads by Brute Heart is an offering on which one does well to take a pass. Love Covers spreads holiday cheer with a universal message by Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder • Around 20 local individuals comprise the cast of Love Covers, a play staged last Saturday, December 18, at the Women’s Club of Minneapolis.  NEW IN BLOGS  SAINT PAUL ALMANAC | Revolt at the Midway Discount Shopping Mall by Richard Broderick • The department’s floor personnel — Bobbi, Tess, Shaun, Alice, and the stock boy, Luis — received word in that week’s pay envelope, but rumors had been circulating for some time that the store was closing. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 12/22/10

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MUSIC | Soul Asylum at First Avenue by Eric Petersen, TC Daily Planet • On Friday night, local heroes Soul Asylum played First Avenue in Minneapolis. MUSIC | “I don’t like square boxes”: Kenn Wanaku drops a new disc by Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet • One of the Twin Cities’ brighter guitar stars, Kenn Wanaku, has a new EP: Bei Samoh (SunPlugd). His second disc follows the striking, full-length debut Afrikan Guitarstrophy (SunPlugd), an imaginatively adventurous outing that enhanced an already strong reputation in Twin Cities music. Q & A with Rapper Brother Ali: High school opens huge doors by Erika Roedl and Edwin Flowers of Twin Cities Academy and ThreeSixty staff, ThreeSixty • ThreeSixty reporters Erika Roedl and Edwin Flowers interviewed Brother Ali by phone this fall after he made a public service announcement supporting an effort by Minneapolis public schools to persuade people who have dropped out of school to return. The rapper left high school without a diploma. Continue Reading