The holidays have officially arrived! We trust by the time you read this, you’ll be pleasantly stuffed with Thanksgiving feast and your quota for family interactions will have been filled. Shake the tryptophan haze, because you’ll have plenty of chances to work off that third slice of pie this weekend. A sexy selection of dance parties, awesome art openings, and rockin’ shows await you – so take off that cranberry-stained bib and get out there!
xo-l’étoile
Photo: Amy Pierce/ art direction: Molly Roark / l’étoile 2007
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27TH
Too Much Turkey
@ First Avenue
701 1st Ave N
Minneapolis
5pm / All Ages / Free
So your rock and roll lifestyle has gotten you banned from eating with the fam. Perhaps a free Thanksgiving dinner in First Ave’s mainroom is more your style! Catered by The Meadows Café and Rock Bottom Brewery, you’ll be able to dance off those calories to the sounds of Too Much Love DJ Soviet Panda. Hands down this is the most hardcore Thanksgiving in the cities.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FIRST AVE SITE
FRIDAY ART PICK: CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA
When bedtime stories cross with pop surrealism the result is the haunting graphics of Los Angeles artist Camille Rose Garcia. In a kindergarten wasteland style, Garcia’s paintings, sculptures and prints present a jarring Gothic underbelly fairytale. Her emaciated female figures are reminiscent of Joanna Lumley in James and the Giant Peach while many of her paintings have the color scheme of Disney’s animated Sleeping Beauty. This Disney parallel comes as no surprise. Growing up in the suburbs of Orange County, Garcia was a frequent childhood visitor to Disneyland and cites Walt Disney as a creative influence, perhaps the reason the melting appearance of her paintings feel like someone’s bad acid trip at Fantasyland. Garcia displays – not as subtly as Disney’s cartoons, but still as bewitchingly– an exposed capitalist utopia through the eyes of a comic fantasy world. Her intentionally lowbrow, vivid artwork has been featured in Rolling Stone magazine and urban culture zine, Juxtapoz, and her exhibits came be seen at the Jonathan Levine Gallery as well as other prestigious NYC galleries. Check it out, but don’t blame us if it triggers a “monster in the closet” flashback.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA SITE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
Adbuster’s Buy Nothing Day
Traditionally, today is the day the masses take to the malls. Do you sometimes wonder what it’s all for? Take a stand against mindless spending and give your credit cards a break. Protest the madness and consumption, try making something homemade, and enjoy the feeling of not spending your hard-earned money on this national Buy Nothing Day.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
Kimya Dawson
@ Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis
3pm and 8pm / $12-$15
The crowds clamor around Kimya Dawson whenever she rolls through town. Her old band, The Moldy Peaches made the world love her, and the Juno soundtrack made her famous. She’s just finished a children’s album on K Records, and will be playing those sure-to-be-hits at an early show at 3pm for the hip toddler set. If you couldn’t get into the sold-out show this past April, book it to the West Bank for her evening performance. With Matty Pop Chart.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE KIMYA DAWSON SITE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
Van Brabson Gallery Presents Bridge Art Fair Artists
@ Rogue Buddha Gallery
357 13th Avenue NE
Northeast Minneapolis
Opening Reception 7pm-11pm, Special Weekend Hours 3pm-8pm through Sunday
Oh, Art Basel. How we wish we were going to you! For those of you who get dreamy thinking about the huge, star-studded international art event in Miami, tonight is your chance to get an insider’s peek. Head to the Rogue Buddha to see a selection of Minneapolis artists being represented at Bridge Art Fair during Art Basel this December by the Van Brabson Gallery. See the stunning work of Samuel Bjorgum, Bonnie J. Brabson, Kyle Fokken, Nicholas Harper, John Eric Hawkins, Rebecca Lawson, Brian Mark, David Monson, Gregory J. Rose and Sean Smuda on display tonight and through Sunday. Friday night is the opening reception (always fun), while Saturday and Sunday offer not only awesome art, but also a holiday trunk show featuring handmade gifts by Louise Johnson.
CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
Image by Sean Smuda
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
Switchblade Comb 1 Year Anniversary
@ The Nomad
501 Cedar Av. S.
Minneapolis
9pm / 21+ / $5
An extremely diverse assortment of musicians performing one after another is always the best way to applaud one year of supporting local music! Fellow bloggers Switchblade Comb will be celebrating their first year on the scene this Friday at the Nomad with an extensive lineup that includes Minneapolis’ hottest rap superstar Muja Messiah, the all-girl pop-punk quartet The Shortcuts, psychedelic indie poppers Jake Dilley & The Color Pharmacy, and the folky jams of Matthew Florence. And what party would be complete without cake? That’s right, they’ll be serving cupcakes to lucky attendees.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SWITCHBLADE COMB SITE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
Drinking with Ian
@ 1st Ave
701 1st Ave N.
Minneapolis
8pm / 21+ / $6
Boozy bastard Ian Rands is back to tape another 3 episodes of the now legendary cable access show Drinking With Ian. As always, drunken buffoonery will ensue, as Ian gets lippy with special guests, Bartender Ollie concocts a special shot of the night, and Haiku Jim provides entertaining anecdotes. Toss another one back (and another, and another) at this special post-turkey day variety show!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DRINKING WITH IAN SITE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
TryptoFUN
@ Big V’s
1567 University Ave
Saint Paul
10pm / 21+/ Free
After stuffing your face with the essential goodies that make the holidays so enjoyable, what better way to work off those Thanksgiving pounds than with a dance party! Give Me All the Love that You Got presents a night of music and all the holiday debauchery you didn’t get to experience while you were cooped up with the grandparents. Dena and Total Request (Tom of Modern Radio) are the minds behind this second annual post-Turkey day St. Paul fest. Tonight, they’re joined by DJ Wes Burlesque to dish out tracks fit for a dance floor feast. So, flush out those tryptophan levels because you don’t wanna be sleepy for this party!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BIG V’S SITE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
Shelter Closing Party
@ The Loft
711 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis
10pm / 18+/ $10
It’s been hyped about, it’s been mourned over, but the inevitable last night of Shelter is finally upon us. For the last five months, Shelter parties have been MPLS’ ticket for weekly techno and minimal dance music. Solo DJs were able to show off their pristine mixing skills over an elaborate Hush sound system, filling the sonic atmosphere with astounding four hour sets. Tonight’s closing party features special guest Derek Plaslaiko, a resident DJ at the Bunker in NYC. Plaslaiko has shared stages with infamous and respected techno luminaries such as Matthew Dear and Tadd Mullinix and was honored by the Village Voice as New York’s Best Techno DJ in a 2006 “Best Of” poll. Also tonight, Shelter promoter and DJ DVS and techno enthusiast Sharolyn Hagen will be celebrating their birthdays. Wish them birthday love and support the last night of a great dance party run.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SHELTER MYSPACE
COOL LINK: YOURSCENESUCKS.COM
Ah, stereotypes. This hilarious typecasting of scene-mongers picks on hipsters, emo kids, party girls and hardcore dudes, diagramming every detail from skinny jeans to an over the top haircut, band t-shirts and gratuitous tattoos. Not only is the site entertaining, but almost an anthropological look at the trends of today. With vivid illustrations and equally witty copy, this site is one that deserves the cult following that is quickly accruing. And, if you’re so inclined (or have an extra $200 lying around) you can provide a photo and list of accessories and you can get your own portrait done up! Click the scenesters below to have a good laugh at their expense.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE YOURSCENESUCKS SITE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
Handmade Holiday
@ Black Dog Cafe
308 Prince St.
St. Paul
9am-5pm / Free
We love the Black Dog because they’re so much more than a coffeeshop/wine bar. They host bands, show art, and now are holding a holiday art sale. Shop locally and finish (or start) checking off your gift list by buying from local artists. People love handmade gifts, so get down there, buy a hot chocolate, and support the Twin Cities DIY set!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BLACK DOG SITE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
Merry Krishnas: Works By Andy Messerschmidt
@ Fox Tax Gallery
503 1st Ave NE
Minneapolis
6-11pm / Free
Minnesota artist Andy Messerschmidt believes in objectification. The objectification of paintings that is. For his first solo exhibit in Minneapolis, Messerschmidt’s focus is on transforming paintings from voyeuristically passive to something the viewer is an active participant in. With artwork that extends the boundaries of the canvas and resembles a collage, Messerschmidt allows his work to be gazed upon, not through. The opening reception for this exhibit is tonight, and the show runs through January 9th. Fox Tax Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
The Variety Fashion Show
@ Fine Line Music Café
318 First Ave N
Minneapolis
9pm / $12
Prepare yourself for a fashion show like no other. All the Pretty Horses and Dark Dark Dark set the musical scene. Max Lohrbach, Ivan Idland, and Seamstrix designs strut while accessories abound. If you can grab a drink, listen to music AND see a fashion show at a club, why wouldn’t you, really?
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FINE LINE SITE
Photo: Amy Pierce / art direction: Molly Roark
bodice: Seamstrix / l’etoile 2006
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
ohGr
@ Station 4
201 E. Fourth St.
Saint Paul
8pm / $20/ +18
IDM fans remember the heavily distorted vocals and dark synths from Canadian ’80s band Skinny Puppy. Their theatrical live performances lead to a devoted cult following and the band’s electro-industrial sound became a sub-genre for industrial and noise wave music. When members went their separate ways in the mid ’90s, lead vocalist Nivek Ogre and producer Mark Walk developed the project ohGr. OhGr will be at Station 4 tonight, playing tracks off the new album Devils in my Details. Expect the same ostentatious shenanigans as a Skinny Puppy show (more fake blood than the set of Carrie 2) but as far as the music, ohGr’s sound is a bit electro-pop meets metal and the lyrics are much lighter.
Bonus: The artwork on ohGr’s second album SunnyPsyOp was contributed by this week’s Friday Art Pick artist Camille Rose Garcia.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE OHGR MYSPACE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
Solid Gold with Speeds the Name
@ The Nomad
501 Cedar Av. S.
Minneapolis
9pm / 21+ / $6
Minneapolis is rich with local talent, but Speeds the Name’s cunning melodic sensibility has the widespread appeal to take the scene by storm. Solid Gold’s new release Bodies of Water has been lighting our iPods on fire since its release, and is nothing short of amazing. The pairing of these two bands at the Nomad might just be what you need to shake off your holiday hangover.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NOMAD SITE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
Faux Jean CD Release
@ Hexagon Bar
2600 27th Ave. S
Minneapolis
9pm / 21+ / Free
Ace garage-pop heroes Faux Jean have been on hiatus for awhile now, crafting their new album The Mongolian Invasion, a faux and fabulous mish-mash of glistening glucose grooves, heavy with ’60s AM radio influences. Join them in their glorious return to the stages of Minneapolis alongside the Parlour Suite, Rebel Yello, John Swardson.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FAUX JEAN SITE
photo by Vanessa Meade
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
Project, Project. (Look, listen, dance, repeat)
@ Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Ave SE
Minneapolis
9pm / $5/ 21+
In the MPLS scene, you never have to choose between one cultural love or the other. If you know where to look, you can always find an event with the right blend of art, music, film and even dancing. The first installment of Project, Project is a perfect example. Tonight’s “multimedia playground” showcases the artwork and graphic designs of UK artist Miss Lotion and local artist J.R. Sutton and the Award winning stop-motion films of international group, PES. Live visuals from Wisconsin’s Beeple and local artist John Thompson project during the night for the ultimate in visual stimulation. Electronic laptop rock from Nobot and the smooth, sexy electronic music of Estate will have you grooving robotically on the dance floor; and when live bands aren’t tearing up the stage, DJ Bach keeps the music flowing with tracks that will tickle your auditory senses.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE KITTY CAT KLUB SITE
SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: PETRA HADEN
Hey early 90’s lovers, remember that dog? Yeah you do. Petra Haden is still around and making better music than ever. Her ability to recreate songs acapella like “Thriller” or “Don’t Stop Believin’” or the entire album The Who Sell Out has won us over. Check out what this woman can do with an 8-track and the genes of legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PETRA HADEN SITE
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30TH
ThaNks/NO thanks. ROMP.
@ Bedlam Theatre
1501 S. 6th St.
Minneapolis
10pm / donation
Imagine a Bedlam romp to be a smorgasbord of entertainment, much like the meal you’ll compile from your Turkey Day leftovers. This romp promises a sneak preview of their upcoming Turducken play, a 5 minute movie, music by Asylum Soundsystem, and so much more. l’etoile hearts the Bedlam!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEDLAM SITE
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30TH
Artist Industry Night
@ Red Stag Supper Club
509 1st Avenue NE
Northeast Minneapolis
9pm / 21+ / Free
We’ve found our official Sunday night kick-it spot! This chilled-out happy hour is the way to go if you’re looking to wind down the hectic weekend in style. Get your network on with Northeast artists while enjoying the sweet sounds of Peter Hoffman and the Measured Doses and sippin’ ridiculously cheap 2-4-1 specials on select wines, taps, and rail drinks.
ENTER TO WIN A $25 GIFT CARD:
l’étoile and the Red Stag are giving away multiple $25 Gift Cards for Late Night Happy Hour at the Stag! E-mail kate@letoilemagazine.com with “RED STAG” in the subject line, along with your name and address to be entered to win!
Restrictions: Bar tabs are only good after 10pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays through the end of November! Gift cards will be mailed to winners.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE RED STAG SITE
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