December 2007

December 27, 2007

A New Year's Eve, without regrets

I have to be honest--I haven't spent a New Year's Eve in town, much less in a club, for most of the past three years. Too much flash, and necessary cash, for what seems like obligatory hoo-hah—it's New Year's, you're supposed to feel festive (whether you do or not). But I will say, there are more, and better, options this year it seems than in the past, and they don't all cost a fortune. Here are a few that balance the fun/fuss factor:

Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials: Famous Dave's, Calhoun Square, 9 p.m. -- At $10 a head, you can't beat the blues of this indeed diminutive guitarist from Chicago. The veteran group was hailed as the Blues Band of the Year at the Blues Music Awards.

Mark Mallman: Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, 8 p.m. -- Whatever you think of his... Read more »

Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2007 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 14, 2007

Is Diablo Cody's "Juno" the year's best picture?

You gotta hand it to her: Diablo Cody, the Minnesota blogger/stripper/tattooed raconteur turned Hollywood screenwriter, has a way with words. At last night's sneak preview of "Juno," her new motormouthed teen-pregnancy comedy opening tonight at the Uptown Theater in Minneapolis, she answered questions from the fawning Walker Art Center audience with the same kind of in-your-face frankness that earned her screenplay a Golden Globe nomination the same day.

Did she ever worry about pregnancy when she was a teen, someone... Read more »

Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (6)

December 11, 2007

Black Nativity turns 20

There's plenty to celebrate over at Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul. First, its holiday staple, Black Nativity, turns 20 this year, conceived immaculately once again by the winning duo of T. Mychael Rambo and Lou Bellamy with choreography by the joyous TU Dance team. Running through December 30, it's gospel music with a storyline--the storyline, you might say--though the theater's own life lately has been dramatic as well. Last week, after years of debt followed by years of restructuring, Penumbra announced it was moving forward with a new five-year plan, having completed four profitable... Read more »

Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 4, 2007

Diablo, Matt Wilson, swinging Christmas

Man, where you guys been? Oh yeah, I was the one who was gone--in Mexico, amigos. And who knew that in the 11 years since I'd last been down Mexico way, the country has hatched a cool culture of solo-'stache-wearing, techno-obsessed hipsters? Anyone who saw Y Tu Mama Tambien, I suppose. Anyway, in case this hasn't inspired you to head south, there a couple of notable hipsters here doing cool things, too.

Diablo Cody: What can I say (that she hasn't said, and much more graphically, already)? I'd like to dislike her, because I can't tell if she's being provocative or ironically provocative and that bothers me. But it would appear she has a genuine talent for storytelling, which I can't help admiring, and if two of my favorite actors from one of my favorite shows of the... Read more »

Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (1)