Weekend What's What 9/26-10/2

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL

With "school" (of life, rock, whathaveyou) now back in full swing, ambition and energy are suddenly back in style. Navigating all the creativity almost requires a case of Art A.D.D. Last weekend was fashion; this one features some of the Cities' most dynamic artists, who effortlessly cross borders between the art, music and design scenes. Add inflated installations and Atari-driven songsters, and your curriculum is complete!

PS: Don't forget to check out this weekend's celebrity guest artists, Friends With You!

xo-l'étoile




FASHION WEEKEND ROCKED!

Click the image below for pictures and recaps from the wonderful weekend - More to come!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE!



STREET CLASH! Part 2

Hometown fashion blog, the Minneapoline, is again up for the gold (lame) in another round of the international fashion blog battle, Street Clash. Cast your vote for our stylish city by clicking the link below!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE STREET CLASH SITE



WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH

Crystal Castles

@ 1st Avenue
7th St. & 1st Ave.
Downtown Mpls

8pm / All Ages / $17

"8-bit terror duo" Crystal Castles work their magic on Minneapolis tonight! An Atari-5200 sound chip (for real!) sends their music into another dimension; so glitch-bop your heart out, and pat yourself on the back, because only the coolest of the cool are hip to the Castles.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE CRYSTAL CASTLES MYSPACE



THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH

Walker Free Thursdays

@ The Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis

5-9pm / Free

Not only is admission free tonight, but a number of special "back-to-school" events are on deck: An artists talk with Friends With You in the Walker Cinema at 7pm; continuous screenings of "The Buzz Club", a film about young clubbers in Europe; a vinyl smashing art workshop in the Star Tribune Art Lab; and finally a student open house/dance party in Gallery 8, hosted by beat-master DJ Talk Radio.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WALKER SITE



THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH

Dunny Series 4 Trading Party

@ ROBOTlove
27th & Lyndale
Uptown

6-8pm / Free

Stop into ROBOTlove for the release of Dunny Series 4. The 3-inch collectable minis are sold in accidentally packaged assortments - so come early to make sure you make the best trade!

l'étoile local artist alert: Multi-talented dynamo Mike Davis of Twelve Car Pileup/Burlesque Design/First Amendment Gallery/Mike the 2600 King fame, designed a Dunny for Series 4!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ROBOT LOVE SITE



FRIDAY ART PICK: JOSH KEYES

Oakland-based artist Josh Keyes' dystopian depictions of encroaching suburbia highlight the artist's life-long interest in the complicated relationship between man and nature. The works combine 3-dimensional realism with absurd juxtapositions, offering hard-to-miss observations on the evident destructiveness of modern consumption.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE JOSH KEYES SITE



FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH

Spotumnal

@ Spot Art Gallery
1828 Marshall St. NE
Northeast Mpls

7-11pm / Free

Spot Art Gallery hits the mark again with an eclectic art show featuring some of the Twin Cities brightest rising stars - including lovely l'étoile staff photographer (and occasional cover model) Erin Smith. Also featuring Ben Garthus, Karl Friedrich, Spleee and many more!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SPOT ART SITE
photo by Erin Smith




FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH

Bukefalos LIVE!

@ Barbara's Bookstore
700 Nicollet Mall
Lower Level of Macy's
Downtown Mpls

6-7pm / performance at 6:30pm / Free

Local artists Eric Carlson, Aaron Anderson, and Crystal Quinn celebrate the release of their latest project, "Befoul'd", a limited edition zine/book. If you are at all familiar with these artists and Hyperlush design collaborators, you know this will be something extremely special and beautifully strange. Enjoy a spoken word and musical performance about the last sailor left in the Hardland.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE HARDLAND/HEARTLAND SITE



FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH

Nightinghales CD Release

@ Stasiu's
Lowry & University
Northeast Mpls

9pm / 21+ / $5

Join sexy folk rockers the Nightinghales tonight for the release of their first full-length recording "Leaves of Green, Songs of Blue", which l'étoile predicts will be a melodious hit. Also on the bill: Gabe Barnett, Daughters of the Sun and First Communion After Party.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NIGHTINGHALES MYSPACE



FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH

Wish Come True

@ SOO VAc
27th & Lyndale
Uptown

8:30-10pm / Free

Famously fantastic art partners FRIENDS WITH YOU make their Midwest debut tonight at the SOO VAC. Delightful oversized inflatables within a peculiar playground of drawings and paintings, all topped off with a sprinkling of love.

BONUS: Check out Girls Brigade, featuring mixed media, drawings and paintings by Judith Levy, on display in the adjacent Toomer Gallery.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOOVAC SITE



FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH

The Donnas

@ The Varsity Theater
14th & 4th St. SE
Dinkytown

6pm / All Ages / $15

Super-sassy girl rockers, The Donnas, breeze into the Varsity to demonstrate effortlessly cool rock n' roll. We recommend tight jeans, feathered hair and candy pink lips for this one.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DONNAS MYSPACE



COOL LINK: GRIDSKIPPER

When l'étoile travels, we often rely on our urbane friends to point us in the direction of the hip and stylish. But since stumbling upon killer travel spot Gridskipper.com, we're in the know anywhere we go. Research the coolest shops, stops and hotspots from Timbuktu to Toledo - and never, ever find yourself eating at Tad's in Times Square. Again.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GRIDSKIPPER SITE



SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH

Friends With You Book Signing

@ ROBOTLove
27TH & Lyndale
Uptown

1-3pm / Free

The Friends With You extravaganza continues today at ROBOTlove. Pop in this afternoon to meet the artists and pick up an autographed copy of their new book, "Friends With You Have Powers!" Also available - pieces from their designer plush toy line.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ROBOT LOVE SITE



SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH

Isle of Printing: Invasion USA

@ First Amendment Gallery
1101 Stinson Blvd
Basement Studio
Northeast Mpls

7-10pm / Free

The First Amendment Gallery gets our vote with art by Isle of Printing's Bryce McLeod. Using early 20th century letterpress equipment, McLeod creates the incredible posters and illustrations that have earned him the well-deserved respect of his peers.

BONUS: After the show, follow the crowd over to Foundation's Deep Lounge for The Get Up with Mike Cina and friends!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT SITE



SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH

PLAY

@ Umber Studios
3109 E. 42nd St.
South Mpls

7pm / Free

Four artists get playful in tonight's opening at Umber Studios. See entertaining illustration, silk screen, photography and even some lego-ing. Featuring Karl Frankowski, Susan Walter, Zach Johnson and Peter Skwiot Smith.

BONUS: Follow participating artist Karl Frankowski and his Attitude City cohorts to the party below after the show.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE UMBER STUDIOS SITE



SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH

Attitude City

@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Ave. N
North Loop

10pm / Free

You know Attitude City can bring the jams. Join the boys tonight as they spin their signature brand of disco-electro-funkiness at the Clubhouse.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ATTITUDE CITY SITE




SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH

Jacob's Ladder

@ Form + Content Gallery
210 N. 2nd St.
Warehouse District

7-10pm / Free

Artist Howard Oransky takes over the Form + Content Gallery with far larger than life, ladder inspired works. Each piece is an assemblage of smaller panels that reach the gallery ceiling in a dreamy visual climb.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FORM + CONTENT SITE



SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: BABY ELEPHANT

Prince Paul joins forces with eccentric keyboard legend Bernie Worrell (of Talking Heads and P-Funk fame) and long-time collaborator, Newkirk, to bring you a funky masterpiece with cameos from such amazing talents as David Byrne, George Clinton, Nona Hendryx and more.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BABY ELEPHANT MYSPACE



SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH

Arcade Fire w/ LCD Soundsystem

@ Roy Wilkins Auditorium
7th & Kellogg
Downtown St. Paul

7pm / $35

Gone are the days when the Arcade Fire played intimate venues like the 400 Bar. With the addition of LCD Soundsystem, this is an affair you would be crazy to miss.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ARCADE FIRE SITE



TUESDAY OCTOBER 2ND

HEADS The Art Show

@ Espresso Royale
411 14th Ave. SE
Dinkytown

Through October / Free

Artist Tucker Garrick highlights everyone's favorite decade, The Eighties, with a collection of drawings featuring celebrities you'll definitely remember and love. Grab a coffee and rock a gold T-chain - you know you want to!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ESPRESSO ROYAL SITE

FASHION WEEKEND RECAP!

KJUREK COUTURE FALL FASHION SHOW FEATURING AMANDA CHRISTINE DESIGNS

Thursday night, the Suburban World Theatre in Uptown showcased some of the best emerging design talents in the cities. Amanda Christine's line of cocktail dresses and coats cemented her position as a local designer to watch, and her slouchy knit hats - featuring rosettes, bows, and ropes of fabric - could well become the local fashion scene’s “it” item for fall. Christine's talent shone brightest in her more structured pieces, particularly when juxtaposing a heavy, gray wool knit with rows of jewel toned sequins.

Kimberly Jurek's fall collection for Kjurek Couture confirmed her reputation as one of the most important designers in the Twin Cities. The collection featuring cocktail dresses and car coats was exceptionally wearable. Standout pieces? A lovely black velvet cocktail frock; an acid green wallpaper print coat; a raspberry satin dress with becoming trumpet-sleeves and a tomato red coat.


Apart from a few rushed passes and exaggerated poses, the models were poised and professional, parading the polished, sultry vision of the styling team. And despite a late start, the production was rather seamless. Overall, the well-produced show was just another sign of the Twin Cities' rise as a major destination for independent fashion. -beth hammarlund

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE KJUREK COUTURE SITE




RUSSELL BOURIENNE OPEN STUDIO

The Russell Bourienne open studio showcased the designer's coat-heavy menswear line. Floor length faux furs; pieced leather and fur bombers; sherlock holmes-style cloaks and even a straight jacket will certainly serve as accent pieces to the wardrobes of Bourienne's growing clientele. Other highlights were bound-cuff, blouson shirts; knickers; jodhpurs; wildly plaid bondage pants and kilts in traditional tartans and denim. -sonia mulford and amanda schroder



RED SHOE CLOTHING COMPANY FALL LINE AND WEBSITE LAUNCH

Friday night at Cliché offered white wine, canapés and a peek at Kerry Riley's Fall 2007 collection for Red Shoe Clothing Company. The event celebrated not only the debut of the new collection, but also the launch of the line's website, redshoeclothing.com. Despite some initial difficulty displaying her pieces (when hung from clip hangers, Riley's signature leather harnesses bear an unfortunate resemblance to chastity belts), Riley was in great spirits and eager to show her new line. Although the event marked the expansion of Red Shoe Clothing Company, Riley is proud her pieces are still locally produced. –beth hammarlund



MNFASHION WORKSHOP: FASHION ILLUSTRATION

The most intimate event of fashion weekend may also have been the highlight. The fashion illustration workshop was a small, informal gathering at the Textile Center of MN. Instructor Star Rial packed a four hour class with enough information to keep students sketching for weeks. Rial operated in both the conceptual and the practical, addressing the process of developing an idea and the techniques used to translate it to paper. The success of this event should bring about more MNfashion workshops in the near future. –beth hammarlund


LOVE'S LABOURERS @ BEAST HOUSE

Dynamic duo Emma Berg and Kristoffer Knutson of mplsart.com have done it again: another fantastical fashion show! Or was it an interactive art installation? Or the hottest new sweatshop on earth??? One thing is certain, they will keep you enthralled with their "Art is Fashion, Fashion is Art" concept again and again.



Friday night, a mash up of local artists and designers came together to create this 1 of 1 t-shirt series for MN Fashion Weekend. For 4 hours only, Minneapolines had the chance to witness a garment in-the-works by designers Annie Larson, Ra’mon Lawrence AND members of Hyperlush, Crystal Quinn, Aaron Anderson and Eric Carlson. If that's not enough for you, artists Adam Garcia aka Snakebird, Eric Inkala and Jennifer Davis all added their special touches to each of the pieces as well.

Minneapolis favorite DJ Bach with special guest DJ Paul Birkin layed down inspirational tracks for the eclectic group of creatives to whip up amazing one of a kind pieces on the spot. As garments flew off the assembly line of love, photo gurus Joe Kramm and Danica Andler whisked away each lucky new t-shirt owner for their own personal photoshoot, giving designers, artists and party people alike the chance to adore the wares. Talk about immediate gratification! -angie hanson

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE LOVE'S LABOURERS PHOTOS
Photos by Joe Kramm assisted by Danica Andler
courtesy of mplsart.com




HOUSE OF HENRY TRUNK SHOW


The knit dress returns with handcrafted details in the House of Henry's Fall 07 collection. This locally designed and produced line offers skinny woven pants, knit tops and woven brocade print computer bags with fashion detailing, such as contrast cloth-covered buttons and asymetrical cowl necks. Solid hues range from burnt pumpkin, black, white, brown, camel, eggplant and gray while prints reflect designer Michele Henry's love for oversized floral prints. -sonia mulford



RECTANGLE DESIGNS TRUNK SHOW

The Rectangle Designs Trunk Show at Design Collective featured the the work of local designer Sarah Nassif, and was complimented by locally produced beer, apples and other delicious baked goodies.


Nassif's botanically inspired fashions in functional silhouettes combine her love of botany and photography. Beautifully executed screen prints of Queen Anne's Lace, Ginkgo, Rosehips and other flora pop from cotton jersey separates in fresh combinations of fuchsia on white, teal on sea green and silver on cobalt. The collection includes scarves, crew tees, slashed v-necks, polo dresses, skirts and canvas clutches. -sonia mulford



ECLECTICOIFFEUR COTILLION @ THE SOUND GALLERY

The ultra-chic came out Saturday night in droves to celebrate the official launch of Eclecticoiffer, a decorated styling team consisting of some of the cities most in-the-know fashion pros: Jahna Peloquin, Di Medlock, and Kelsy Osterman. This huge party spanned two levels at the Sound Gallery and featured DJs and an an open bar on both floors.

l'étoile, a co-sponsor of the event, pulled out all the stops - decorating a room in the VIP lounge and providing party themed-stylish cocktail waitresses and promotions staff dressed to the nines, who worked the party like rockstars all night!

Special thanks to all of our staff who worked so hard this week putting the "l'etoile touch" on this event. Thanks also to the amazing sponsors, MNfashion, Effen Vodka, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Vitamin Energy, Vita.mn, The Minneapoline and also of course to Matt, Kelsy, Di, and Jahna for making the magic happen in the first place! -kate iverson

Congratulations to Eclecticoiffeur on a completely gorgeous evening!

Photos by Susannah Dodge, Craig Servin, Kate Iverson, and Andy Evans