December 2011
51 posts
Arts Orbit: Arts Orbit Radar 12/22/11 →
artsorbit:
A shortened list of the mega-awesome calendar round up from Arts Orbit to tide you over until we return from our company break in 2012: On the radar
1. Jewbilee is still going strong—now in its sixth year, the Christmas Eve party is happening at First Avenue.
2. Movies are a part of the holiday festivities for many familes; this year, our critics recommend The Girl with the...
It might be a little dorky of us to admit this, but the Foshay Tower is, simply put, awesome. Ignore the super cool, permanently dark lounge on the first floor of what is now the W Minneapolis hotel and head to the check-in desk for information about the museum on the top floor.There you’ll learn all about the tower that was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi and whose...
“…Because forbidden foods like pork and shellfish are chopped and minced beyond recognition in egg rolls and other dishes, less-observant Jews can take an “ignorance is bliss” philosophy and pretend those things aren’t even in the dish.”
Via Smithsonian Magazine, on why Jews love Chinese food
Baby, listen, it’s cold outside. And you’re looking real cute, so instead of messing up your hair, just sit right down by the fire and…read.
If that song had been written for us, sexy baritone man would’ve been singing about two things: food and reading about food. That’s what the holidays are all about, right?
Let Andrew Zimmern be that sexy baritone man with his...
What’s your favorite thing about Hanukkah? Latkes… no, the musical Hanukcrush blowouts at Cause. Secrets has the details about super group Dream Crusher’s performances and more. Wednesday’s festivities get under way at 8 pm. Cause’s ode to the festival of lights lasts even longer than any oil, nine nights of awesomeness for goyim and members of the tribe alike....
Andrew Zimmern wrote his holiday column wishing everyone Happy Chanukah and Merry Xmas, but then he got real (as he often does). He pointed out a recent essay by Nona Aronowitz on the 10 percent of the workforce that is in the food industry.
She noted, “Ten million of us hold these jobs, and we’re staying in them longer and longer. If the future rests on the polo-and-apron economy, it...
“Navajo Hipster Panty” no more. Utne reports that the Navajo Nation sent Urban Outfitters a cease and desist letter, forcing the store to rename its “Navajo” brand products. But the problem doesn’t end there.
Dec 21-27, Skype will be offering free WiFi in these airports: (including MSP)
“Sales of men’s underwear, one of Alan Greenspan’s favorite metrics for predicting growth, are also up.”
Via Planet Money’s Sunday piece in the New York Times Magazine
Adam Davidson walks readers through some of the cuter economic indicators out there like nail polish, Champagne and cemetery plot sales. The take-away: regardless, we’re still saving less than ever before and...
This Week
Let our editors tell you what to do
There are plenty of sales to choose from this week, but we’re going with the local, craft bazaar that is Handcrafted Holidays at the Grand Hand Gallery, going strong through Saturday for the people who appreciate creative things but can’t actually make them. They even have a beer and snacks night on Thursdays to try to attract/pacify disinterested...
White Christmas Probability map. We love science. From our very own state climatologist.
Different heads, same body. No, seriously.The New York Times reports on the real heads and cyborg bodies of H&M. No one’s happy about it.
Wrapping paper from the daydreams of two New York designers appealing for aid on Kickstarter. Make their Christmas dreams come true so we can all wrap our presents in lettuce.
We won’t point out that you can always go super authentic and use all those old fast food wrappers sitting in your car.
Stretch First
Ignore the 690-minute run time and focus on the marathon Lord of the Rings screenings this Sunday starting at 10:45 am. And maybe wear some comfy clothing.
It’s the Riverview Theater’s seventh time hosting this thing so they’re prepared. In addition to the regular concession stand choices, you’ll also get pizza during the two breaks. Sounds pretty humane.
Oh yeah, wear your...
These are wonderful. We need these.
Person of the Year Less Than Thrilled
Just like back when Time named “you” person of the year and “you” were less than excited about it (did “you” even buy a copy?), the magazine has done it again. This year’s Person, in case “you” haven’t heard (really, “you,” what have you been up to?), is “The Protester.”
The magazine defended its choice saying...
Yikes.
Meet Steve
Meet Steve Morgan. He works at Willie’s American Guitars in St. Paul and he’s been working with guitars since he was 16 years old. You can find him there or teaching guitar at St. Thomas.
We included him in our “Where to Fix Your Best Stuff” feature along with a cobbler in the skyways, a restorer who helps nurse works of art back to health for various museums, and a...
Arts Orbit: Arts Orbit Radar 12/15/11 →
artsorbit:
On the radar
1. The fourth annual Somali Entertainment Awards at The Cedar celebrates the best movies, sports, music and arts of the year (as voted by the SEA Family board) and features a blue carpet.
2. Bedlam Theatre reunites the cast of their cluck-claimed production The Turducken for “the longest cabaret of the year” at the BLB. You have to appreciate that kind of truth in...
“Despite a 3.2 percent decrease in attendance over the past year, the Guthrie has...”
– Via Secrets of the City
State Fair season is not our most stylish season, as Ali Kaplan noted. You dress for comfort, survival even. And that means fanny packs and less-than-couture footwear. And sometimes you wear something along the lines of this ensemble put together by Columbia Heights-resident Tenessa Gemelke. Gemelke found herself on TLC’s What Not to Wear when she was ambushed in one of her goofy outfits at...
“This is all hipster music. I guess it is okay for hipsters, but I am not enough...”
– from “The 20 Unhappiest People You Meet in the Comment Section of Year-End Lists” (via nprfreshair)
Cinematic villains revisited, via this Sunday’s New York Times Magazine. Big stars being creepy.
View of Stone Arch Bridge and Exposition BuildingFrom the Minnesota Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1910
This Week
Let our editors tell you what to do
Since you’re obviously holiday shopping illiterate (you still aren’t done, really?), let the good folks at StyledLife help you get rid of the guess work. Ali Kaplan wholeheartedly supports the creation and use of wish lists and encourages all other like-minded shoppers to make their way to the Galleria store this Wednesday from 5 pm-9 pm...
Dueling Dueling Pianos Downtown
Redundant and repetitive or just meta enough to be genius? Howl at the Moon joins The Shout! House in the two-piano-scene. Stephanie March expresses her ill-fated hope that this will make 1st Ave. a touch saner.
The best part is the description of Howl at the Moon, which promises the regular 1st Ave. clientele “enhanced by traveling business people and conventioneers.” Picture the...
“Also people like the one where he is emotional over fonts. I do get emotional...”
– via Village Voice
This is the one and only Amy Sheridan talking with the Village Voice about her hand-stitched Kanye tweets available on Etsy. They’re all really awesome because everything that man says is really awesome, but a few highlights: “I specifically ordered persian rugs with...
How to decorate your house with as little holiday enthusiasm as possible. Via Happy Place
We definitely get the holiday humbugs out there. The music is repetitive, few people look good in red, and if you’re not careful you end up drinking coffee that tastes like sugary toothpaste. Which is all to say, high five to whoever took the time to string these lights up on the roof. You took apathy...
Minneapolis in One Page
From the Atlantic Cities, way to be fit and Bohemian, Minneapolis. We knew you had it in you.
Award-Winning Design in the TC
Back in November, the Minnesota American Institute of Architects announced its 2011 award winners. The projects included several performance spaces in California, but, we’re more into the projects from Twin Cities-based firms, like…KNOCK, Inc. by Julie Snow Architects Inc.
Just north of downtown Minneapolis, this downright hot piece of building was once a rundown 1960s office. Some...
From the arbiters of good taste, Vanity Fair, comes a Chanel croquet set, “for the Heather in your life.” We were sort of hoping it came in red. Oh, well.
“‘New Year’s Eve’ is a dreary plod through the sands of time until finally the...”
– Roger Ebert, for the win. (via washingtonpoststyle)
Well said, sir. One can only assume this movie was financed by the chambers of commerce of America’s over-looked cities to make New York City seem like one of the more infernal rings of hell.
Ryan, you had us at “Hey girl.” But it certainly doesn’t hurt that you’re raising the sex appeal of our favorite NPR programs with your repurposed sultry movie stills.
And for the Minnesota inclined:
Hey girl, want to end my bachelor farmer days and be my prairie home companion?
Hey girl, is your daddy from Lake Wobegon, because you are above average.
Hey girl, you...
