Thursday, March 15, 2012

Weekend What's What 3/15-3/18

Spring is in the air and St. Paddy's Day is upon us, so you know what that means - it's time to shed those layers and shake it on the dancefloor! This weekend, imbibe and be merry, whether you're celebrating your Irish heritage or just the nice weather.

xo-l'étoile

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Third Thursday at MIA: SportsCenter

6-9pm / FREE

@ Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2400 Third Avenue S
Minneapolis

For this month's Third Thursday, the MIA is putting the aesthetics in athletics! View the ongoing "The Sports Show" exhibition, an installation of photography and video clips exploring the evolution of sports and their effects on social, political and cultural levels. Breaking a sweat is encouraged whether you are dancing to the beats of the World Class Art Thieves, trying your hand at fast-paced pub quizzes from Trivia Mafia, or competing at KINECT Season 2. At half-time, head over to the MAEP (Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program) Gallery for the opening receptions for "Standards" by Mark Ostapchuk and "90º South" by Chris Willcox, whose paintings will be the starting point for a performance by jazz vocalist Lee Engele and a discussion by physics professor Dr. Robert Jacobel. Also opening is the annual MCAD@MIA collaborative project "Field Inversion," a site-specific sculpture susspended along the Target Wing staircase by MCAD students Luke Axelson and Josh Ritenour. -Meg Junkermeier

Click HERE for the MIA site.


THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH

"Lush Floral Refractions"

@ Nina Bliese Gallery
225 S 6th Street, Suite 100
Minneapolis

5-8pm / FREE

If our early spring has you longing for the still to come blooms of summer, the verdant abstractions of artist Polly Norman may tide you over for a few more weeks. Using a unique combination of distorted photography, photo enhancement, and hand painting techniques, Norman creates multi-layered floral vignettes that are never literal but always vibrant and engrossing. The variety and open texture of her work leaves the pieces open to endless individual interpretation while their luxuriant abstraction lends itself to appreciation on a purely aesthetic level. While Norman has worked with various non-representational styles in the past, this exhibit showcases a rich trove of large hand-painted works and is a great introduction to her abstract style. This truly lush exhibit will make you feel like Spring has in fact finally sprung, if only in the artist’s colorful prints. -Anthony Enright

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


THURSDAY, MARCH 15 & FRIDAY, MARCH 16

Robyne Robinson Lecture Series: "Women of Design: Matters of the Heart" & "The Impact of Global Urbanism on Art and Design"

4-7pm Thursday & 6:30-9:30pm Friday / FREE

@ International Market Square / Minneapolis Design Center (Thursday)
275 Market Street
Minneapolis
@ O'Shaughnessy Educational Center Auditorium & Gallery (Friday)
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul

This weekend, philanthropist, jewelry designer and art collector Robyne Robinson will be making two public appearances - and offering two chances to shop her designs. As part of the ongoing "Women of Design" series, on Thursday she will be in the Doncaster Studio at the International Market Square, where attendees will have the opportunity to meet the designer, browse her jewelry and hear how her business came to life. Friday at the University of St. Thomas, Robinson will give a lecture on global urbanism and its effect on art and design, which will be accompanied by an exhibition that includes dyed and beaded tea bags made by South African women, handcrafted for Robyne's ROX Jewelry line. Treating yourself or someone special to her jewelry is encouraged; the proceeds will go toward these women living in townships near Pretoria who donate it to children in Soshunguve and missionary work. Sounds like a win-win. Pieces from her art collection as well as her own jewelry will be on display. The exhibition will run through April 13 and a reception will follow the lecture in the gallery. -Meg Junkermeier

Click HERE for Thursday's event invite and HERE for Friday's event.


THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH

Perish: The Funeral and the Twilight & Transitional Species

@ Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Avenue SE
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / FREE

Why chose between a night of dancing and an evening of live shows when you can have your cake and dance with it too? Kitty Cat Klub-hosted monthly series Perish rotates the best in live local post-punk, new wave, death rock, minimal synth, industrial and experimental – and everything else under the darkwave umbrella – bands with DJ-spun tunes of the same caliber. This month's installment features a live set from Christian Death-esque chamber organ rockers, The Funeral and the Twilight, plus live music from Transitional Species whose eerie DIY beats could fit as the background music to Satan's workhouse. In between sets, prime yourself for a feast of uber-dark dance-floor worthy tracks. The shadows are you friend. -Juleana Enright

Click HERE for the Facebook invite


THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH

Lady O'Parts: Lass Sass

@ Clubhouse Jäger
923 Washington Avenue N
Minneapolis

9pm / 21+ / Free

Looking for somewhere to back that ass up tonight? Look no further than Clubhouse Jäger, where lady DJ crew Lady Parts will be starting the St. Paddy's Day debauchery early. Susannah Dodge, Emily Roberts Holden, and Syril McNally will be flippin' hot wax for your dancing pleasure all the live-long night, complete with boozy delights, slung by none other than l'étoile's resident bitchelor, Robyn Lewis. There's a pot o'gold at the end of this rainbow - in the form of $5 Jamesons and $2.50 Miller High Live Tallboys.

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH

"365D: Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days of a Woman"

@ Icebox Gallery
1500 Jackson Street NE #443
Minneapolis

6-10pm / FREE

The relationship between the camera and the female portrait has long been fraught at best and oppressive at worst (i.e., that pesky "male gaze" your Cultural Studies professor was always going on about). At a particularly dark period of exploitative media representation of women in their home country of Italy, celebrated photographer Sham Hinchey and project director Marzia Messina set out to upend that paradigm of distortion they saw as the status quo. Their project consisted of a photographic survey of 365 Italian women (one per day for a year) from every sphere of society. The subjects are treated on an equal footing with their portraiture composed and lit to democratize their differences while highlighting each individual’s uniqueness. The exhibit - which has previously shown in Rome and Milan - offers a fascinating attempt to capture a sincere view of the modern Italian woman without either exploitation or sentimentality. Each photograph is displayed with the woman’s personal story of an incident in her life which happened on the day of the photo, a curatorial detail that adds depth and immediacy to each portrait. Ultimately the exhibit becomes as much about authenticity, individuality, and the chance to tell a personal story as about any political statement. These are universal themes that transcend a specific time or nation of origin and create an emotional viewing experience. -Anthony Enright

Click HERE for the Icebox Gallery site.


FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH

The "Just Vote No" Show

@ Bryant-Lake Bowl
810 W Lake St
Minneapolis

10pm (9:30pm doors) / $6-$24 sliding scale

If you're anything like us, watching the heated and seemingly endless debates over the Anti-Marriage Amendment more makes you want to lob something at the tv/radio than jauntily chuckle. Thankfully, local activist organization Outfront Minnesota has concocted an anti-amendment variety show and live commentary that puts a much needed satiric twist on the dispute. The one-night only performance features local burlesque performers Foxy Tann, Sweetpea and Nadine DuBois (pictured below), and Mistress Victoria Deville, plus cameos from comedic authors John Jodzio, Brian Beatty, Eric Vrooman, Matt Ryan, Matt Mauch, Regan Smith and Courtney Algeo. All proceeds benefit Outfront Minnesota, so give what you can and get ready to laugh the gay marriage ban blues away...at least for the night. -Juleana Enright

Click HERE for the Bryant-Lake Bowl site.


FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Renovate – A Choreographer's Evening

@ Ritz Theater
345 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis

8pm / $18

Highlighting an innovative and dynamic array of fresh faces and local veterans, the fifth annual choreographer's showcase "Renovate" releases its dexterous fury on the Ritz this weekend with an eclectic program not to be missed. Curated by Ballet of the Dolls member Lisa Conlin, Renovate's line-up features new works ranging from the contemporary to experimental from 12 local dancemakers including faves Jaime Carrera, who is debuting his latest dance work, "Residency," as well as Denise Armstead, Lindsay Anderson, Angharad Davies, Carrie Lande, Jennifer Mack, and Sarah LaRose-Holland. Riveting, provocative and audacious, this definitely isn't your granny's ballet. -Juleana Enright

Click HERE for the Ritz Theater site.


FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH

Worldwide Discotheque

@ Clubhouse Jäger
923 Washington Avenue N
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / FREE

Get warmed up for St. Paddy’s Day, Club Jäger style, a day early with monthly all-vinyl DJ party Worldwide Discotheque. The dance party features DJ Brian Engel of Hotpants and Hipshaker fame and DJ Steely from the Kinda Cloudy Radio show on KFAI. Get ready to get funky - the masterfully mixed and endlessly dynamic old-school beats set the tone for the evening, spanning genres including funk, Afro Beat, disco, boogie, salsa, reggae, highlife, Cumbia, boogaloo, rocksteady, dancehall and ska. Adding an additional shot of spice to the evening is DJ D.O., who will make a guest appearance. -Stefani Arden

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH

Stutter Rock

@ Cause Spirits & Soundbar
3001 Lyndale Avenue S
Minneapolis

9pm / 21+ / $5

What's better than a stellar lineup of local bands rocking out at Cause for a measly five bucks? That would of course be a night of rock where all the proceeds benefit a great cause. The 12 Foundation hosts this awesome evening of music with all proceeds going to the National Stuttering Association as they help the nearly one in 20 Americans who suffer from stuttering get treatment and support to improve their quality of life. Stuttering has directly affected some of the artists and organizers of this event so they know first-hand how essential support can be. Beyond the warm and fuzzy feeling you'll get from helping out, the first rate lineup is sure to put on a kick-ass show. Local folk-pop artist Greg Thompson brings his charming and irreverent songs to the stage, while dark local rockers Ghost Towns of The West present a wall of complex aural soundscapes. Local folk-funk quintet Loki have just come just off a successful EP release and are an exciting live act to catch. We're loving the good vibes of this show so come on out, be entertained and rack up a couple of much needed karma points of your own! -Anthony Enright

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.

Ghost Towns of the West

FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH

Wants Vs Needs

@ The Record Room at First Avenue
701 1st Avenue N
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / $5

All right, sure, there’s a slew of dance parties around town ever weekend, but the monthly Wants Vs. Needs is nothing to scoff at. The ultra-talented crew of DJs Petey Wheatstraw, Espada, Anton, Booka B and So Gold practically guarantee a no-frills night of hip-hop, disco, and R&B that should appeal to vinyl heads and those simply looking to get their groove on alike. In addition to it being Espada's birthday (oh snap!) they'll also have limited-edition shirts designed by The Pressure™ to give away. It's a night you won't want to miss.

Click HERE for the First avenue site.


SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH

"The Light/Dark Show: Isolating the Senses"

@ The Third Place Gallery
3730 Chicago Avenue S
Minneapolis

7pm / $5-$10 suggested donation

In a decade of constant stimulation by an overwhelming array of ads, images, visuals and audio, sometimes we yearn for a moment of silence – even if it means missing an email. Before you hit up Google search for the nearest isolation tank, take a peek at Yes!Let's Collective's latest kinesthesiac exhibit, "The Light/Dark Show: Isolating the Senses," hosted by noted local photographer Wing Young Huie's gallery, the Third Place. Playing with the concepts of perception and deprivation, the Light/Dark artists take their audience through a world first devoid of sound, then through complete darkness, forcing the audience to rely on their remaining senses to soak up the experience. The exhibit features art from locals Colin Kopp (pictured below), Ali Rogers, Bridget Blatzheim, Alfonso Fernandez and more, and ends with an interactive discussion with the artists.

Click HERE for Wing Young Huie's site.


SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH

40 Days of Art with Venus

@ Venus’ Studio
212 3rd Avenue N, #8B
Minneapolis

9pm / pay what you can

Local artist and infamous gender-bending performer Venus DeMars of All the Pretty Horses hosts the third of four planned in-studio events mixing acoustic performance, poetry, and art in a casual, creative environment. Venus will perform an acoustic set along with local poet and spoken word performer Jeffery Skemp and East Cost singer-songwriter Mercury Mad. Skemp is well know in local poetry circles both for his written work and his strong poetry performances that often mix music and poetry. Mercury Mad shares a gender-ambiguous glam rock gene with Venus and with his band The Plastic Bitch's rocks the edge of gender-slam performance. Mercury's set this evening will be sans electric shredding and stripped down to the acoustic essence. Venus's lovely “tiny paintings” will also be on exhibit and if you haven't yet seen them they're well worth checking out. BIOONUS: If you can't make it out you can watch a live stream of the proceedings at www.venusdemars.com. -Anthony Enright

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH

The Mad Ripple St. Paddy’s Day Hoot for Slim Dunlap

@ Amsterdam Bar and Hall
6 W 6th Street
St. Paul

8pm / 21+ / FREE

Bring your St. Paddy’s Day spirit and come celebrate the music of rock singer-songwriter and former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap. The local musician and patron saint of the Hoot recently suffered from a stroke, so this Saturday, his friends, fellow musicians and fans alike are invited to gather and celebrate his ever-growing, steady progress toward recovery. The “Hoot” - AKA The Mad Ripple Hootenanny - is a roundtable call-and-response smorgasbord, bringing countless singers and songwriters together in the name of sharing and making music. Tonight's colorful lineup of local musicians will perform songs by Slim, written about Slim and covers inspired by Slim. Come share your light, love, and music, and drink to the health and strong spirit of Slim Dunlap. -Stefani Arden

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


SATURDAY, MARCH 17

"Sammy the Mouse Vol. 1" & "TOOTH" Release Event

@ Big Table Studio
375 Wabasha Street N
St. Paul

7-10pm / FREE

Though the world has already seen the publication of the third of the four-volume "Sammy the Mouse" series by Zak Sally, the nationally-renowned comic book artist (and former bassist in slowcore band Low) is celebrating the formal hard copy release of Volume 1 with a release party at St. Paul's Big Table Studio. The Duluth native's surreal masterpiece utilizes a traditional, 1920s-inspired comic strip style of cartooning - seemingly as a template to explore some deeply personal aspects of the comic artist's own life. Joining him will be fellow cartoonist Dale Flattum, whose recently released tome TOOTH: The Graphic Art of Dale Flattum showcases 25 years of his graphic art throughout 250 pages, mixing posters, illustrations and propaganda into a semi-autobiographical history as told through a Xerox machine. It also incorporates his musical past via the addition of a CD of music pulled from the author’s shady nine year musical past in the bands Steel Pole Bath Tub, Milk Cult, The Nein, and Agent Nova. -Jahna Peloquin

Click HERE for the Big Table Studio site.


SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH

Pot o’ Gold Lamé Bike Ride

@ starts at Freewheel Midtown Bike Center
2834 10th Avenue S
Minneapolis

5-7pm / FREE

Oh no, you are not seriously considering going out on St. Paddy's day in that shamrock ensemble are you? Gurl, don't you know it's been decreed that all the sexiest lads and lasses shall only cover their asses in gold - lamé, of course, anything else would be lame - on this the most holy of drinking days? We'll maybe you didn't know, cause we're pretty sure the cheeky folks over at the Queer Bike Gang just made that rule up to supercharge the sexy on their already smokin' bike event. If you don't own any gold lamé there's no need to panic, the organizers also encourage any apparel that's sparkly, shiny, spandex, fluorescent, iridescent, glittery and/or sequined. We're thinking picture what your favorite contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race would wear under the circumstances and then kick it up a notch! And hell, if you think you can pull it off, even your birthday suit may be enough for the predicted 77 degree temps. Who needs green beer when you can bike your sexy gams off with the QBG and all the Pot o' Gold-clad hotties! -Anthony Enright

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH

St. Patrick's Day at First Avenue with E.L.nO.

@ First Avenue
701 1st Avenue N
Minneapolis

6pm / 18+ / $7

Looking for the best place to get paddy whacked this St. Patrick's day, bragh? Go green at First Avenue with E.L.nO. and the Thin Lizzy-covering Jailbreak paying salute to some of the greatest rock songs of all time. Down pints of Guinness and shots of Jameson while getting blasted by two sets of slammin' '70s rock jams. DJ Jake Rudh will display his Irish pride (not a euphemism) between sets with a foot-stomping hoedown, and the MN Police Pipe Band will be on hand for a bagpipe spectacular. Bring your shred-proof earplugs and be prepared for the dual guitar rock onslaught. -Robyn Lewis

Click HERE for the First Avenue site.

E.L.nO. photo by Chuck Olsen

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

Brief Candles / The Chambermaids / IS/IS

@ Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Avenue SE
Minneapolis

8pm / 21+ / $5

An evening of mystifying pop, grungy shoegaze and atmospheric indie-rock awaits you at the Kitty Cat Klub tonight. Milwaukee quartet Brief Candles will bring their modern day take on shoegaze and revamp remnants of '90s alternative rock. Their newest songs have an ethereal, experimental aesthetic akin to Explosions in the Sky, only with a more of a pop hook that's sure to catch your ear. Also on the lineup are the Twin Cities' own Chambermaids, whose latest single "Whirlpool" has a driving beat and a rough, experimental guitar melody that will have you hooked. The night kicks off with the grungy, witchy lady trio IS/IS, a local group with plenty of attitude and layers upon layers of dark and tantalizing melodies. -Meg Junkermeier

Click HERE for the Facebook event.

Brief Candles

SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH

Hands High: St. Paddy’s Day Edition

@ Honey
205 E Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / $5

Put yo hands up in the air… again! Hands High is back in action with another fist raisin’, booty shakin’, groove-worthy dance installation at Northeast’s staple danceteria, Honey. Get down and dirty, St. Paddy's Day style, with Get Cryphy DJ (and P.O.S.'s backing DJ) Plain Ole Bill as he spins the hottest hip-hop grooves all night through. Presented by Greenwich Vintage and shop owner Mustache Mike, expect a very sweet surprise for the first gaggle of people to show up.

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH

Disco Space Lady with Dirty McKenzie & SL8R

@ Clubhouse Jäger
923 Washington Avenue N
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / FREE

So, you dig disco? Sassy synth gets your motor started? Then you should head down to Warehouse District watering hole Clubhouse Jäger for DJs Dirty McKenzie and SL8R. We can pretty much guarantee any and everything you like about dance music – vocoders, drum machine beats, sexy synth build-ups – will be on tap during their monthly disco romp featuring four straight hours of sexy classic and nu-disco dance jams while '70s films screen in the background. -Jahna Peloquin

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


SUNDAY, MARCH 18TH

MODE: March 2012 Edition

@ Honey
205 E Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / $3

Focusing on sub-sonics and left field beats, monthly techno night MODE combines some of the Twin Cities' top DJs for the makings of a laidback, atmospheric Sunday night out. DJ Soviet Panda, known for helming weekly dance night Too Much Love, will be bringing the beats as will DJ Easy Rider of Konkrete Jungle and MODE's own resident DJs Heavy Arms and Westin. Rails are $4 and ladies if you hop in before 11 p.m. you won't pay a dime for admission. -Meg Junkermeier

Click HERE for the Facebook invite.


SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: WIPING OUT THOUSANDS

It takes a fierce opening act to make the crowd forget about the headliner, but that's exactly what happened when local band Wiping Out Thousands opened for YACHT last month. Since then, the fair-haired duo has created quite the buzz producing a sound on par with St. Vincent and Phantogram featuring minimal beats layered with elements of trip hop and dubstep. Comprised of the New Monarch's Taylor Nelson and Alaine Dickman, WoT's self-released their first EP earlier this year on Bandcamp. Their latest single, “Mass Nerve,” which dropped on Monday, is an exciting mix of chillwave meets glitchy noisecore, softly lulled by Alaine's ethereal vocals. Keep up with Wiping Out Thousands and download free tracks at their Bandcamp page. Plus, don't miss the band live in-studio on Radio K next Friday and live at Hell's Kitchen Saturday, March 23rd. -Juleana Enright

Click HERE for the Wiping Out Thousands Bandcamp site.

Mass Nerve (Official Video) from Wiping out Thousands on Vimeo.

Editor in Chief: Jahna Peloquin / Contributors: Juleana Enright, Jahna Peloquin, Stefani Arden, Anthony Enright, Robyn Lewis, Meg Junkermeier

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