Thursday, May 29, 2008

Weekend What's What 5/29-6/1

SCENEMAKERS

Every week, l'étoile brings you an awesome lineup of events we think you need to know about. Sometimes they're art openings, and sometimes they're rock shows, parties, or films. What makes these events special, however, are the people behind them: scenemakers, tastemakers, and inspirations! We are sad to say, that last Friday, Minneapolis Heavy Metal icon Earl Root passed away due to complications from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, he was 46. Root was a guitarist for many legendary local rock bands, a record store owner, a father, a husband, and host of the 20-year-running radio show "Root of All Evil". The Twin Cities music scene has lost one of its founding fathers, but left behind is a neverending legacy of love, pride, and a whole lot of rockin'. So, to all of you out there - take a moment to appreciate the people who inspire YOU and those who help create and maintain this wonderful and thriving creative scene of ours. We thank our lucky stars everyday.

xo-l'étoile

photo by amy pierce for l'étoile
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THURSDAY MAY 29TH

The Comedian's Tragedy

@ Theater Garage
711 Franklin Ave. W
Minneapolis

8pm / $15-$20 Donation

This fresh new piece of theater by local 26 year old playwright and actor Matthew Amendt, weaves a tale of an artistic prodigy in ancient Greece whose decisions and love life lead him down an unsettling and confusing road.

BONUS: l'étoile friend and contributor, the amazing Nicholas Golfis created the set!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE COMEDIAN'S TRAGEDY SITE
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THURSDAY MAY 29TH

Sound Funktion

@ 414 Soundbar
414 3rd Ave. N
Warehouse District

10pm / 21+ / Free

Believe us when we say that Soundbar on a Thursday night is simply the shiz. Aaron Bliss and Jesse Jakob spin some seriously sexy sounds and the Soundbar's chilled-out ambiance is just what you need to transition into the weekend. Not to mention, the patio is in full effect right now, and its one of the best in the city.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOUNDBAR SITE
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THURSDAY MAY 29TH

2nd Nature: A Show Without Boundaries

@ The Beasthouse
600 Washington Ave. N
Warehouse District

8-11pm / 21+ / Free

2nd Nature is the beginning of a new era - There are no boundaries between the performer and audience, the stage and the floor, the show and real life. Come and witness the magic of improvisation, live hip hop and collaboration as well as some of the favorites you know and love. Featuring Ill Chemistry, Tish Jones, B-Girl Seoul, and DJ Fundamentalist.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DJ FUNDAMENTALIST MYSPACE
Art by l'etoile contributor MWM Graphics
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THURSDAY MAY 29TH

The Presets

@ The Triple Rock
628 Cedar Ave. S
West Bank

9pm / 21+ / $12

Austrailian super-hotties the Presets bring their synthy brand of electro-rock to the West Bank tonight. This show will definitely bring out the hipsters and musically elite in droves, so expect amazing music, if not a little jostling.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PRESETS MYSPACE
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FRIDAY MAY 30TH (THROUGH JUNE 7TH)

Electric Eyes: New Music & Media Festival

@ Southern Theatre
1420 Washington Avenue South
Minneapolis

8pm / All ages / $15

Electric Eyes returns for its second year to explore collaboration between live music and electronic media. In The Cosmic Engine, artist Rosemary Williams, composer Scott Miller and musician Pat O'Keefe use Prague's Astronomical clock to play with our linear perceptions of time. The artists manipulate the strict architecture of time-telling by incorporating elements of the absurd.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOUTHERN THEATER SITE
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FRIDAY MAY 30TH

So Electric

@ Barfly
711 Hennepin Avenue
Downtown Minneapolis

10pm / 18+ / $3 with online RSVP, $5 without

You can't be expected to do something mind-enriching every night. So put on your dancing shoes and check your brain at the door, because tonight? We dance. Featuring music in the main room by Preston Craig, DJ Bach and Moongoons, this night is strictly reserved for dancing your heart out.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO RSVP FOR SO ELECTRIC
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FRIDAY MAY 30TH

The Breeders

@ First Avenue
701 1st Ave N.
Downtown Mpls

8pm / 18+ / $20 advance, $22 door

Head to your favorite neighborhood danceteria for some serious rock and serious early-ninties nostalgia with The Breeders. Touring in support of their new album 'Mountain Battles,' along with opening act The Montana Boys, this is your best chance to confess your long-time crush to the sisters Deal.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BREEDERS MYSPACE
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FRIDAY MAY 30TH

Jerome Printmakers

@ Highpoint Center for Printmaking
2638 Lyndale Avenue South
Uptown Minneapolis

6:30pm / Free

Highpoint Center for Printmaking is dedicated to advancing the art of printmaking by creating accessible opportunities for education and collaboration. Join artists Pamela Carberry, Andy Morien and Kirsten Peterson for the opening reception of the Jerome Residency show at Highpoint.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
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FRIDAY MAY 30TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

MN Homegrown Festival

@ El Rancho Manana Campground & Riding Stables
Stearns County

7pm Friday-4pm Sunday

Pack up your tent and grill and head out past St. Cloud for this three-day outdoor music festival. Featuring some of the region's best in bluegrass and stringband, the Minnesota Homegrown Festival is your opportunity to enjoy some of the best acoustic music our state has to offer.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MN BLUEGRASS SITE
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COOL LINK: HOMECRAFT PRINTS BY BINDI BOOTH

Our artsy friend from Down Under Ms. Bindi Booth, has some fantastic new work up for sale! A mixed media/illustration/graphic artist, Bindi has a charming style all her own. We especially love this Australian darlin's work because it appeals not only to our girly side, but also our graphic design sensiblities. She's offering limited edition giclee prints (signed and numbered in editions of 20), so get them while they're hot!

Visit the link below, or email hello@bindibooth.com for more information.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BINDI BOOTH SITE
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SATURDAY MAY 31ST (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Red Hot Art Festival

@ Stevens Square Park
Between 18th-19th St. & Stevens/2nd Ave.
Minneapolis

11am-7pm Friday / 11am-5pm Sunday / Free

Red Hot Art marks the start of summer. Stroll through Stevens Square Park, talk with artists who make clothes, zines, and jewelry, and eat some food from a truck. And with over 25 bands, there’s gotta be one that rocks your socks. Last year Cadillac Kolstad played in front of a Cadillac limo with a motorcycle parked next to it. Yes, Red Hot Art is that cool.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
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SATURDAY MAY 31ST

Beer Up, Bro Down

@ Start at Psycho Suzi's
2519 Marshall St NE
Northeast Mpls

3pm sharp / 21+

Here’s the plan: Skateboard your way to Psycho Suzie’s by 3pm sharp, with ID in tote. Nordeast won’t know what hit it when cruiser boards descend during this skater-friendly bar crawl...er, bar roll? Prizes will be awarded for categories that aren’t even made up yet. 2 Rad.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEER UP BRO DOWN SITE
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SATURDAY MAY 31ST

French Kicks

@ 400 Bar
400 Cedar Ave. S
West Bank

9pm / 21+ / $10

Everyone loves keyboards, well-dressed NYC men, and finely tuned guitars, right? The French Kicks take over the 400 Bar tonight, so slap on your fanciest beret and strut on down. Frightened Rabbit opens.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FRENCH KICKS MYSPACE
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SATURDAY MAY 31ST

Ramones Mania

@ Lees Liquor Lounge
101 Glenwood Ave
Minneapolis

8pm / 21+ / $5-$10 Donation

Hey Ho! Let’s go! So far ten bands have signed on to rock out in tribute to the Ramones along with a DJ spinning even more Ramones, all to benefit the American Cancer Society. We hope everyone shows up with shaggy hair, leather jackets, and tight, tight jeans.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE LEES SITE
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SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: PRESTON CRAIG

Starting with a small dance party in Atlanta, Georgia and later, a little-read music blog dubbed KISSATLANTA, Preston Craig laid the cornerstones of his empire. Now, 5 years later, his reign has spread to encompass all of Atlanta. His events, routinely the largest and most rockin' in the city, take up almost every day of the week, and his blog, now an influential powerhouse, has been spreading awesome musical taste worldwide. Make sure to check it out below!

Preston Craig hits the M-P-L-S this Friday (see listing above) for SO ELECTRIC, a new 18+ dance night at Barfly, hosted by our faves, The Moongoons!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE KISS ATLANTA SITE
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SUNDAY JUNE 1ST

Grand Old Day

@ Grand Avenue
Between Fairview & Dale
St. Paul

8am-5pm / Free

An out of control lineup of awesome events await you at this year's Grand Old Day celebration including tons of cool bands on multiple stages, a pet trick contest, strength competitions, an all-day art fair, a parade, and oh yeah, FOOD! St. Paul’s history is full of gangsters drinking bootlegged beer so exercise your right to drink it outside in plain view of all the beautiful people (and yes, St. Paul has cute people too).

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GRAND OLD DAY SITE
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MONDAY JUNE 3RD

Silver + Gold

@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Ave.
North Loop

Every Tuesday / 21+ / 10pm / Free

Join DJ Jonathan Ackerman and l’étoile magazine for an evening of sly winks and sideways glances every Tuesday at Clubhouse Jager. Create some mystery, sip 2-4-1 cocktails with pretty people, and dance the night away to electro, pop, and so much more.

BONUS: Flirt up a storm then visit letoilemagazine.com on Wednesdays for "missed connections" from the night before!

Sponsored by l'étoile magazine & Alphasuede

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR L'ETOILE TEXT CONNECTIONS
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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Weekend What's What 5/22-5/25

HERE COMES THE SUN

The seemingly endless winter put general springtime folly on the backburner, but we are pleased to announce that the temps, they are a-changin'! As a follow up to last weekend's semi-pleasant weather, this time around is scheduled to be nice and warm although a little overcast, but we'll take what we can get. From outdoor music festivals to rooftop parties, this weekend is definitely one for the adventurous urban wildlife, and while it may not be bathing suit season quite yet we’d still like to remind you that it’s not far away!

Photo by Ingrid Werthman for l'etoile
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THURSDAY MAY 22ND

Memorial Weekend Kickoff Party

@ The Beasthouse
600 Washington Ave. N
(enter through back)
North Loop

8-11pm / 21+ / Free

The Beasthouse hosts an art event featuring on-the-spot collaborations between Leviticus artists Kurt Melancon and Kyle Franklin. Celebrate the official start of the summer season with tunes by DJ Applejews and King Otto while watching art come alive before your very eyes. Drinks, apps, and fun people watching as well!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE LEVITICUS SITE
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THURSDAY MAY 22ND

La Rumeur

@ Triple Rock
619 Cedar Ave.
West Bank

8pm / 18+ / $15

Some say La Rumeur is the most controversial rap group in France. Topics range from immigrant experiences to Algerians in Paris among other things, and one of the group members has even been taken to court by Nicolas Sarkozy himself. Part of the amazing sur Seine Festival, this is one of the hottest tickets on the bill - and not just because we're a co-sponsor! French-American Jazz group, and four year sur Seine vets Ursus Minor play as well.

Sponsored by l'etoile magazine & Louder Than Bombs

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SUR SEINE SITE
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FRIDAY ART PICK: HANNAH WHITAKER

The unique photography of Hannah Whitaker is a mashup of nature, design, and complete randomness. A Yale art grad with an MFA in Photography from Bard College, Whitaker has enough education under her belt to impress, but her work speaks for itself. Often simple, but with an originality all its own, we fully recommend checking this NYC based photog out asap!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE HANNAH WHITAKER SITE
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FRIDAY MAY 23RD (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Bella Sol Music Festival

@ Harmony Park
Geneva & Rd 45
Geneva, MN

All Weekend / All Ages / $90-$145

There’s this fun thing people do. They camp out all weekend in Harmony Park and watch live art installations and perform sun ceremonies...and they listen to over 50 bands throughout the weekend. Buckethead will play with a bucket on his head. The North Mississippi All-Stars will live up to their name. Fire, belly and break dancing will complete the good times. Hippy-fest 2008 you ask? Well, probably, but it sounds like fun to us!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BELLA SOL SITE
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FRIDAY MAY 23RD

Francois Corneloup and Dominique Pifarély Trio

@ The MMAA
50 W. Kellogg Blvd
Downtown St.Paul

8pm / $22

Enjoy an evening of French jazz in the beautiful gallery at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. The Dominique Pifarély Trio invites saxaphonist Tim Berne to join them tonight and François Corneloup celebrates the release of a new cd "Next".

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SUR SEINE SITE
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FRIDAY MAY 23RD

Bob Dylan Sound Alike Contest

@ The 400 Bar
400 Cedar Ave
West Bank

8pm / 21+ / $5

Do you fancy yourself the next Bob Dylan? Compete for the glory tonight at the 400! Local singers battle it out on stage during an evening of Dylan covers and copycatting. Want to perform? Sign up with Jeremy at the bar.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE 400 BAR SITE
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FRIDAY MAY 23RD

Do It To It

@ 1st Avenue
701 1st Ave. N
Downtown Mpls

9pm / 18+ / $7 ($5 Advance)

This can't-miss epic dance party to beat all dance parties goes off tonight at the 1st Ave Mainroom. Featuring the hottest sounds from some of our favorite local and national DJs including Dave Nada, Bird Peterson, Star Eyes, Mike the 2600 King, Bitch Ass Darius, Plain Ole Bill, Jimmy 2 Times, Soviet Panda, and the Moongoons!

Do It To It is co-sponsored by l'etoile magazine

BONUS: After Party at Secret Location to follow! Email jonathan@moongoons.com for the details.

As part of our ongoing artist-on-artist features we asked DJ Jonathan Ackerman to interview Do It To It special guest and Texas party starter Bird Peterson...

Tell me a little about your history. What's been going on in your life until now?

Not too much. Just workin' and living. I've been eating a lot of dinners and what not. One time I broke my foot in 2nd grade, almost didn't get to go see the traveling production of Cats because I was in a wheelchair. I have a girlfriend too.

If I had to live in a different time, what would you choose?

Late 50s Brooklyn. I want to play bass for Coltrane and Davis and Coleman and all those other greats.

What is your current top 5? What was your top 5 in 5th grade?



Now:

Sam Cooke - Night Beats
Caspa & Rusko - Fabriclive 37
John Coltrane - Ballads
Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor
Numero - #10 Good God!

Then:

Live - Throwing Copper
Toto - Africa
James Taylor - Greatest Hits
Chicago Transit Authority - 1
REM - Murmur

What's coming up for Bird Peterson, Solid Trunk, and Andrew Hoke?

I'm going to the UK this fall to produce my new album with executive producers Ocelot. Its going to be magnificent. So far, it makes the last album look like a plate of bathroom.

Do you have anything that you would like to tell the readers of this interview or tell me?

Jonathan, readers, now is the time. Time for us to get up, and get out, and grab dinner, and come back, and eat it before the new episode of Lost comes on. GO NOW!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BIRD PETERSON MYSPACE
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FRIDAY MAY 23RD

Do It To It After Party

@ Secret Location
Minneapolis
email jonathan@moongoons.com for details

1:30am / 21+ / $5

What huge dance party is complete without an equally sweet after party? Tonight you can dance forever (or at least until the sun comes up) at this super cool secret space. Expect sets from many of the Do It To It DJs, as seen above, as well as special guest DJ Huggs, who not-so-coincidentally has been featured this week as our Sunday Music Pick!

e-mail jonathan@moongoons.com for directions to the spot!

Sponsored by l'etoile magazine...of course!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MOONGOONS MYSPACE
Photo by Digital Crush
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COOL LINK: WE HEART AMPERSANDS

Attention typography geeks! Something as simple as an ampersand can spark interesting convo amongst design gurus and appreciators alike. Check out this blog, dedicated to the (you know it and love it) "&" symbol in all its swirly glory.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE AMPERSAND BLOG
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SATURDAY MAY 24TH

Walker on the Green

@ The Walker Art Center
Sculpture Garden
1750 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis

Wednesdays-Sundays / 10am-8pm / $8

Today kicks off the Walker's annual artsy mini-golf installation. This avant-garde version of one of the cutest date activities ever is sure to be as fun as it is visually enticing. If you've ever played the video game "Zany Golf" on the Amiga, you might have a fond appreciation for Walker on the Green - like we do!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WALKER SITE
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SATURDAY MAY 24TH

Lowertown Music Crawl

@ Various Locations
Downtown St. Paul

2pm-6pm / $10

All you have to do is pay $10 and walk a mere two blocks to see four shows! Follow the cello/sax/bass and even hip hop sounds wafting out of The Black Dog, Clouds in Water Zen Center or Zeitgeist’s Studio Z to take it all in. You’ve conquered the art crawl, now try the music crawl. Today marks the end of the MN sur Seine Festival, so get it while it's hot!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SUR SEINE SITE
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SATURDAY MAY 24TH

Modern Radio's 9 Year Anniversary

@ First Amendment Gallery
1101 Stinson Blvd
Basement Studio
Northeast Mpls

6-10pm / All Ages / Free Until 8pm, $5 After

An awesome bash to celebrate the 9-year anniversary of Twin Cities record label Modern Radio. Enjoy a display of flyers, photos, records, and artwork from the label over the years plus work by a number of rock photographers and screen printers. Also featuring music by Togetherness, The Carrots, and a DJ set by Mr. Jonathan Ackerman.

CLICK FOR THE MODERN RADIO SITE
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SATURDAY MAY 24TH

Creator/Destroyer

@ Umber Studios
3109 East 42nd St.
South Minneapolis

8pm / Free

The perfect show for Spring. Keeler’s work is all about rebirth, life cycles and survival. Celebrate surviving winter (and Spring fever) by admiring his drawings, sculpture, photography, and installation work at Umber Studios.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
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SATURDAY MAY 24TH

Punk Rock Prom 3

@ Big V's
University & Snelling
St. Paul

9pm / 21+ / $5

Punx unite at this 3rd annual blowout hosted by the Fillmores. Wear your best worn-out band shirt and patched up bondage pants then throw a tutu over the whole mess and you've got yourself a beautiful punk prom get-up that will surely impress! Rockin' sounds by The Debut, The Shortcuts, Fuck Knights, Middepicker, and Poor Posture.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BIG V'S SITE
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SATURDAY MAY 24TH

Meander / Roger, Roger

@ The Soap Factory
520 2nd St. SE
Minneapolis

7-11pm / Free

Two great shows open tonight at the Soap! Eighteen Twin Cities artists collaborate on MEANDER, a single piece that will stretch through the galleries. Roger, Roger is a multi-channel video featuring such things as vast landscapes and Elvis-impersonating toddlers on six screens scattered throughout the galleries.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
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SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: DJ HUGGS

If the comment from Curtis Vodka on his myspace page is true, DJ Huggs is "The king of the wheels of steel", and who are we to argue? Someone who perfectly mashes up T-Pain and Daft Punk can't be all bad. A DJ of high-falutin' repute, this Montreal boy has played all over the continent and back and has shared the stage with such notables as DJ AM, TV on the Radio, Dave Nada, The Roots, The Police, and more. We don't know if he's as huggable as his name insinuates, but you can find out for yourself this weekend at the Do It To It after party (see Friday's listing above), where Huggs will be in full effect on the decks!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DJ HUGGS MYSPACE
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SUNDAY MAY 25TH

Soundset '08

@ Metrodome Parking Lot
34 Kirby Puckett Place
Minneapolis

11am / All Ages / $30 presale $35 day of

We don't even know how to describe this huge indie hip-hop blowout, only one word really comes to mind: EPIC! There's nothing but goodness here, and with a list this long of amazing performers, we can't imagine anyone would disagree. Featuring Atmosphere, Dialated Peoples, Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, Eyedea & Abilities, P.O.S., I Self Devine and many, many more. Check out art, breakdancin', a low-rider car show, and skate demos all day long, rain or shine! The perfect kick off to summer, admit it.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE RHYMESAYERS SITE
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SUNDAY MAY 25TH

Communion Sundays

@ Solera
9th & Hennepin
Downtown Mpls

2pm kickoff (4pm all summer) / 21+ / Free

The techno boys take it out of the warehouse and onto the roof as this weekly paradise-themed Ibiza rooftop party kicks off at Solera for the second summer in a row. What quickly became a Sunday tradition/obsession for many last summer, will prove to be that and much more this time around. Featuring resident DJs Centrific, Dr. Strangelove, and Dustin Zahn.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE COMMUNION MYSPACE
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TUESDAY MAY 27TH

Silver + Gold

@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Ave.
North Loop

Every Tuesday / 21+ / 10pm / Free

Join DJ Jonathan Ackerman and l’étoile magazine for an evening of sly winks and sideways glances every Tuesday at Clubhouse Jager. Create some mystery, sip 2-4-1 cocktails with pretty people, and dance the night away to electro, pop, and so much more.

BONUS: Flirt up a storm then visit letoilemagazine.com on Wednesdays for "missed connections" from the night before!

Sponsored by l'étoile magazine & Alphasuede

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR L'ETOILE TEXT CONNECTIONS
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