June 2009
June 26, 2009Your Bollywood Weekend
Tonight, June 26, and for a limited time, Oak Street Cinema is screening a major Bollywood film essentially in line with its worldwide release. And it stands to be a terrific example—Bollywood does New York, essentially. It's called New York, actually, setting the usual gorgeous actors in the paradise that is supposed to be New York until, of course, trouble shows up in the form of FBI shenanigans and the big city, per the usual Bollywood moralizing, turns a little darker. Complete with a full slate of musical interludes, it looks like a blast. The particular magic of India's enormous film industry, known as Bollywood, is not unlike that of America's Golden Age of... Read more » Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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June 24, 2009Messersmith, Osgood set to rock for the arts
Last year, when Chris Osgood (the former Suicide Commando frontman, not the Red Wings goalie) left the Springboard for the Arts in St. Paul for a job with the nearby McNally Smith College of Music, Springboard threw a party--the Osgood Do-good Bash. And had so much fun, they're doing it again, to raise money for Springboard, which offers low-cost business, management, and legal resources for artists. This year's concert is Friday, June 26, and features not only Osgood, with a group called The Warblers, but Jeremy Messersmith and many others, such as spoken-word artist E.G. Bailey, hip-hop hero Tou Saiko Lee, and Ragamala Dance member Amanda Dlouhy. Additionally, an art... Read more » Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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June 22, 2009Rock the Garden is rollicking if not rocking
Saturday night's sight, of nearly 10,000 hip folks filling the hillside behind the Walker Art Center, where the Guthrie Theater used to be, was an inspiring one for anyone concerned that Minnesota Public Radio or the Walker would struggle to find the youth vote. It was the largest crowd yet for Rock the Garden, a concert and membership drive for both institutions--and a group that seemed to thoroughly enjoy itself, despite not having a really rocking group among the four bands. MPR's The Current is among the best radio stations in the country for tapping the indie-rock zeitgeist, and the Walker, of course, has unfailingly helped set... Read more » Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (1) |
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June 22, 2009Amazing jazz, Rock the Garden and more weekend art
This week is shaping up to be the best of the summer art season, and we haven't even gotten warm yet. Firstly, anyone with even a mild interest in New Orleans, New Orleans jazz, R&B, or generally shaking your moneymaker (in a classy way) should consider joining myself Friday night in St. Paul's Mears Park when Allen Toussaint, the dapper pianist/producer kicks off the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, which almost didn't happen this year in a struggle to secure sponsorships (the effect of fewer local companies on the arts is something we can discuss later). Saturday's highlight is Esperanza Spalding, a bassist in her mid-20s who's updating the cool-jazz sound with some funk, blues, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop, etc. And that's just the big... Read more » Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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June 12, 2009"Titanic" resurrected at the Science Museum
Divers may not be able to recover Leonardio DiCaprio's sunken career, but they have come up with a remarkable number of Titanic artifacts, including a three-ton section of its hull, such personal effects as a top hat and sealskin slippers, and vials of perfume that still give off a scent more than 100 years later. All of this can be seen starting this weekend when Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibition opens at the Science Museum of Minnesota, filling 14,000 feet with recreated rooms, even a simulated iceberg, comprising the largest exhibition the museum has ever held. Also opening this weekend, on Sunday, is an intriguing exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of... Read more » Posted on Friday, June 12, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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June 5, 2009MOSAIC arts festival opens Saturday with best lineup yet
The MOSAIC arts festival--a free showcase of Minneapolis's diverse performing arts companies--opens Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. at several venues along Hennepin Avenue and First Avenue, including outdoor stages. The performers include a savvy mix of familiar names (Ragamala Dance, Latina hip-hop sensation Maria Isa) and intriguing under-the-radar groups (the Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Association, capoeira being a kind of mindblowing martial-arts-meets-breakdance wizardry; the Hayor Bibimma African Dance Company, Brazilian parade dancing, etc.).... Read more » Posted on Friday, June 5, 2009 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0) |
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