Friday, January 30
Song of Endurance
WHAT: The Color Purple
WHERE: Park Square Theatre, St. Paul
WHEN: 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Alice Walker’s 1982 novel won the Pulitzer Prize and has become a permanent fixture in African-American literature. This musical version brings the story of 14-year-old Celie to life on stage, pointing the way toward hope amid even the most extreme injustice. For inspiration, get tickets at parksquaretheatre.org.
Solo Solidarity
WHAT: Rockstar Storytellers
WHERE: Phoenix Theater, Mpls.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
It might take months and a few festivals to gather as much solo art as the Rockstar Storytellers bring to one stage. The Twin Cities’ bestselling musicians, stand-up comics, and slam poets unite for two nights at the Phoenix (check out our event preview here). Get tickets at phoenixtheatermpls.org.
Saturday, January 31
Young Invention
WHAT: Creativity Jam
WHERE: Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul
WHEN: 9 a.m.
The Creativity Jam at the Children’s Museum is an innovator’s ideal–-photos from previous events show wood construction projects underway, an elaborate Lego carrousel, and a handful of kids tinkering studiously in the workshops with their own inventions. A perfect way of saying, If you can dream it, you can make it. For more information, go to mcm.org.
Windy City Jazz
WHAT: Steve Cole w/Ricky, Patty, and Paul Peterson
WHERE: Dakota Jazz Club, Mpls.
WHEN: 9:30 p.m.
Saxophonist Steve Cole has made rounds with musicians such as Junior Wells, Boz Scaggs, and Buddy Guy, all adding to his decorated solo career on the horn. Import the smoothest grooves with a night of Chicago’s class-act jazz. Get tickets at dakotacooks.com.
Sunday, February 1
Loppet on the Lakes
WHAT: City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival
WHERE: Theodore Wirth Park, Mpls.
WHEN: 8 a.m.
Minneapolis keeps city life interesting—even amid the longest stretch of winter. This weekend-long urban cross-country Ski Festival, our own version of a lakeside Winter Olympics, features every wintertime race imaginable. For more information, go to loppet.org.
A Question for You
WHAT: Rhett Miller
WHERE: Turf Club, St. Paul
WHEN: 7 p.m.
In the early ‘00s, Old 97s chalked up one of the more memorable love songs in alt-country; it has nothing to do with cold beer or John Deere tractors (see here). With a string of albums of his own, Rhett Miller’s catchy songwriting is sure to captivate a crowd. For tickets, go to turfclub.net.
