Weekend What's What 7/31-8/5

THE DOOM TREE GROWETH

This weekend is going to be a wild one, that's for sure. With collaborative extravaganzas poppin' off in all corners, you're destined to get your arts and culture served up sizzlin' on a silver platter. Not only do we have a plethora of amazing dance parties, fashion, art and theater events (150 of them, thank you very much Fringe Fest!) but we celebrate one of the Twin Cities' most respected Hip Hop crews, Doomtree, and the long-anticipated release of their sure-to-be-classic collaborative album.

xo-l'étoile

Photo by Eric Eul for l'étoile



THURSDAY JULY 31ST (THROUGH AUGUST 10TH)

Minnesota Fringe Festival

@ 18 venues all over town
Uptown, West Bank, North Loop, Northeast, Minneapolis

$10-150 + $3 admission button

You’ve heard it before and we’ll say it again: Minnesota is lucky to have the most theaters per capita outside of New York. We also have the BEST Fringe Festival. Bike, walk or ride the train to see about a million one-hour shows from performers from the far ends of the earth. With over 150 shows, you can pick a neighborhood, spend all day steeping in culture, and maybe even mingle with the thespians after the show. Through August 10th.

SHOUT OUT: Check out l'étoile pal Curt Lund and Laura Bidgood's play Boys Don't Make Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses at the Rarig Center! Check their myspace page HERE for more info.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FRINGE FESTIVAL SITE



THURSDAY JULY 31ST

Solutions for the Other 90%

@ Walker Art Center
Cinema
1750 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis

7pm / Free

In conjunction with the outdoor Sculpture Garden exhibition of similar name, this evening of presentations on humanitarian design is filled with eco-stars. Designers talk sustainable solutions for education, health care, transportation, and water and energy for the other 90% of the population living with shortages. Stick around for the reception, enjoy a DJ and food and drinks, and get the chance to talk to the experts.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOLUTIONS SITE



THURSDAY JULY 31ST

Duffy

@ First Avenue
701 1st Ave N
Downtown Minneapolis

6pm / 18+ / $20 in advance, $22 at the door

Welch soul singer Duffy has pipes far more mature than her 24 years that have earned her numerous comparisons to Dusty Springfield and Amy Winehouse. Her vintage sounding vocals are both unique and charming, and will send you straight back to the soulful pop music of the 60’s doo-wop and Motown. She will be kicking off a string of US dates right here in Minneapolis, so get your tickets now before the backlash begins!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DUFFY MYSPACE



FRIDAY ART PICK: SCULLY & OSTERMAN

France Scully Osterman and Mark Osterman are gods on the antiquated photo processes scene. They work in wet-plate collodion, which is one of the most complicated of all processes. While France portraits people sleeping, Mark ran a traveling medicine show and is now making work reminiscent of the era of elixirs and potions. They also run workshops, publish darkroom journals, and continue to amaze with their mysterious images.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SCULLY & OSTERMAN SITE



FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

@ Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St. NE
Minneapolis

7pm-10pm/free

Global and socio-economic work takes it to the heavy this month at Altered Esthetics. Pull out your Chomsky, memorize a few insightful phrases, and get thee down to AE. With the RNC around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the broader picture and our role in this corner of the earth. Over 100 works, ranging from performance, installation and sculpture respond to this ambitious topic. Through August 30th.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST

Flow: For the Love of Water

@ Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis

7:30pm / $8 or $6 for members

Flow: For Love of Water is an inspired yet disturbingly provocative wake-up call. The future of our planet is drying up rapidly. Focusing on pollution, human rights, politics and corruption, filmmaker Irena Salina constructs an articulate profile of the delicate relationship uniting human beings and water. While each community's challenges are unique, the message is universal--the time to turn the tide is now.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WALKER SITE



FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST

Doomtree CD Release

@ First Avenue
701 1st Ave N
Downtown Minneapolis

8pm / 18+ / $8/$10

Hometown idols Doomtree will flood the Main Room on Friday night as they unleash their biggest project so far - the long-awaited Doomtree crew debut album. Expect the 2 DJs, 2 Producers, and 5 MCs to deliver sharp, thought-provoking content, rallying choruses and melancholy vocal lines over an expansive production of neck-snapping snares and killer hooks as the crew feeds off each others energy and yours. This is a momentous occasion for the troop, so be there to witness their most spectacular blowout of all.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DOOMTREE SITE



FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST

La Nouvelle Femme

@ Rogue Buddha Gallery
345 13th Avenue NE
Northeast Mpls

8:30pm / 18+ / $8

Get a glimpse of the latest wave of creativity conceptualized by emerging female talent in the Twin Cities. Enjoy an energetic evening of juxtaposition where fine art, music and fashion meet. Featuring the fresh fashions of Calpurnia Peach on live models styled by the nimble fingers of Eclecticoiffeur, plus an art exhibit and of course, hot, hot tunes. After the show, follow the well-heeled masses over to the 1st Ave VIP Room for the Get Cryphy after party - see official listing below!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE LA NOUVELLE FEMME MYSPACE
Photo by Nic Marshall, Styling by Eclecticoiffeur



FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST

Hotel

@ Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Avenue SE
Dinkytown Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / Free

Jonathan Ackerman’s always amazing and always free monthly dance affair known as Hotel continues get party people amped with special guests So Gold and Modern Radio Kingpin DJ TRL. Prepare for an audio spectacle that will get your weekend started proper!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFO



FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST

Get Cryphy!

@ 1st Ave VIP Room
701 1st Avenue N
Downtown Mpls

10pm / 18+ / $3

Join the Cryphaholics and sassy DJ duo Tendercakes for a dance-filled night at the VIP! Bop til you drop to rap, electro, clubby bangers, and more, but don't forget to dress to impress because tonight is all about dazzle! Sweaty dazzle, that is. And maybe sequined fanny packs.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GET CRYPHY MYSPACE



COOL LINK: YES WE CAN!

l'étoile fave Andy Sturdevant’s literary genius takes on art and design in these pre-election times. His latest article on The Rake connects campaign visual design, the WPA and artists with Obama’s visual lexicon. Here’s a taste: “I don't know if it is Obama's intention to suggest outright that he's the direct heir to FDR's high-minded hard-times liberalism (and his detractors would say he's hubristic enough to do just that). But there is something stirring about his campaign - yes we can! - that owes quite a bit to the outsized optimism of the 1930s, and a lot of that has to do with the aesthetic decisions Obama's campaign and his supporters have made.”

Andy Sturdevant is a regular blogger for The Vicious Circle on The Rake.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO READ “YES WE CAN!”
Image courtesy of obeygiant.com



SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Powderhorn/Loring/Uptown Art Fairs

Loring Park Art Festival
Sat: Aug. 2, 10 AM-6 PM
Sun: Aug. 3, 10 AM-5 PM

Powderhorn Art Fair
Sat: Aug. 2, 10 AM-6 PM
Sun: Aug. 3, 10 AM-5 PM

Uptown Art Fair
Fri: Noon-8:30 PM
Sat: Aug. 2, 10 AM-8:30 PM
Sun: Aug. 3, 10 AM-6 PM

It's Art Fair weekend in Minneapolis! Three Minneapolis neighborhoods will put on their annual art fairs showcasing of some of the best art, music, and food from around the world. The big daddy of art festivals, The Uptown Art Fair is the largest of its kind in Minnesota, with thousands of pieces in a mind-boggling number of mediums, not to mention stellar people watching.

Probably the most friendly and spirited of the three Minneapolis art fairs, the Powderhorn event goes to fund Minneapolis parks projects. Located in Powerderhorn Park, this fair boasts a Green Day full of green events and activities in addition to traveling and local artists displaying original works.

As if two fairs weren’t enough, there’s a third show - the Loring Park Art Festival- smaller and more accessible, with more local artists and less expensive works than the Uptown fair tends to attract.

Driving and parking at these occasions is a nightmare, so visit all 3 in air-conditioned comfort on the free Target Art Hop – a bus service connecting each of the fairs. Happy art-ing!

CLICK FOR THESE ART EVENTS AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND

Off Register

@ Umber Studios
3109 E 42nd St.
Minneapolis

8pm / Free

Described as a “traveling group exhibition of experimental printmaking," Off Register will prove to be an incredibly exciting show. Artists and graphic designers in the commercial print design profession but do not usually consider themselves printmakers show their take-and their daily works’ influence on fine art printmaking. Over twenty artists, including l’etoile bff’s WeWorkForThem, and more from across the globe are represented in this show organized in collaboration with LA-based Foundation Projects. Through September 1st.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND

Claudia Billy Baca Opening

@ Olive Salon and Gallery
1506 Nicollet Ave S
Minneapolis

8pm-1am / Free

Saint Sabrina’s tattoo artist meets hipster hair salon! Mexican folk art and religious icons intersect with the tattooing aesthetic to make one hell of an art show. Chowgirls are catering, so your night will be complete. Ashley Berg (photography) and Mike Ritter (mixed media) also show.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND

The Melvins

@ Grumpy’s Bar
1111 Washington Ave S
Downtown Minneapolis

8:30pm / 21+ / $16 (Sold Out)

Ahhh, the Melvins: like Husker Du and Wire, one of “those bands” revered by music nerds and virtually ignored by everyone else. These guys have been rocking hard for almost 20 years (raise your hand if that makes you feel old!) and are back at Grumpy’s for their annual shake down that will surely bring you back to the days of grunge and flannel. Bring your earplugs.

UPDATE: This show is sold out, get resourceful!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GRUMPY'S SITE



SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND

BLACK: Happy Birthday Aaron Bliss!

@ First Avenue VIP Room
701 1st Ave N
Downtown Minneapolis

10pm / 18+ / $5

Saturday is the new black! Bring your fancy footwork to the VIP room tonight for some bonafide lovin' from B-day boy Aaron Bliss along with special guests Easy Lee and Andrew Kevins as they help celebrate Aaron's birthday in style - with an impeccable selection of funk, soul, disco, and house. Not to mention, 2-4-1 Cocktails until Midnight. Happy Birthday Mr. Bliss, l'etoile hearts you!

BONUS: Don't forget to stop in for quick dance-off at Too Much Love featuring Soviet Panda and Mike the 2600 King!


CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BLACK MYSPACE



SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: THE MOODS

Trebly guitars, lush piano lines, and rich vocal harmonies lay the foundation for the Moods head-bopping, toe tapping tunes. These catchy pop vocals laced with powerful guitar licks and rolling rhythms evoke the New Pornographers and Belle & Sebastian. The buzzworthy LA-based band is currently touring in support of their debut album, Have Your Day, and their fan base keeps growing steadily by the day. Cross your fingers for a Minneapolis stop!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MOODS MYSPACE



SUNDAY AUGUST 3RD

Caffetto Craft Fair

@ Caffetto
708 W 22nd St. @ Lyndale Ave
Minneapolis

10 am to 5 pm/free

Completely overhauling your look is possible this weekend thanks to Caffetto’s first annual craft fair. Start with new bike accessories, outfit your feet with new shoes, strap on a backpack by one of many designers, and fill it with Roger Lootine’s comic books. Stop at The Fox Den hair salon to get a new style, and when you’re tired from all this excitement, massages will be on hand, along with a melodica trio!

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



TUESDAY AUGUST 5TH

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



TUESDAY AUGUST 5TH

Pine Hill Haints (Alabama), Chokecherry, The Knotwells

@ Big V’s
1567 University Ave
St. Paul

9pm/$5/21+

Why wait until Friday to hear a rockin’ show, when you could go out Tuesday? The Pine Hill Haints (K Records) are here all the way from Alabama, so let’s show them a good time, St. Paul-style. Described as ghost-country music with a washboard, accordion, and washtub bass, the possibility for washing your clothes on stage has tripled. Local favorites Chokecherry and The Knotwells get the whiskey flowing. Five bands for five dollars is quite a deal. With Bitch ‘n’ Brown, and El Truth Turtle (look! A palindrome)

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PINE HILL HAINTS MYSPACE



What's What Editor: Kate Iverson
Contributing Writers: Lacey Prpic Hedtke, Robyn Lewis

ALL CONTENT © L'ETOILE MAGAZINE 2008

Weekend What's What 7/24-7/29

THEE HEART OF THE CITY

As you well know, the good ol' Twin Cities has an amazing legacy in both music and
art that has been laid down for us by talented tastemakers of yore. What a brilliant creative history book could be written on our fair cities! This edition of the What's What will not only lead you to adventures with established local legends such as Chris Osgood and Grant Hart, but will introduce you to legend-in-training Muja Messiah as he celebrates his already critically acclaimed new album Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy. This weekend is one for the books, literally!

xo-l'étoile

Photo by Charles Miller for l'étoile



THURSDAY JULY 24TH

150 Years of Music Making by the River

@ Minneapolis Central Library
Pohlad Hall
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis

7pm-8:30pm / Free

How is it that Minneapolis musically lucked out? Chris Osgood (co-founder of Twin/Tone Records and front man of Twin Cities seminal punk band, The Suicide Commandos) knows, and is going to tell you the whens, whats and whys of the legendary Twin Cities music scene. Register through The Friends of Minneapolis Libraries at 612-630-6155 or click below. Hurry!

CLICK THE IMAGE TO REGISTER



THURSDAY JULY 24TH

Jenny Dalton's Multimedia Showcase

@ Bryant Lake Bowl
810 W Lake St.
Minneapolis

7pm / $8 in advance, $10 day of show / All ages

Multimedia bonanza! Minneapolis sweetheart pianist Jenny Dalton’s second annual show features former Cloud Cult members and local folkie Eliza Blue. El Perdido supplies the 2D art, hits from the 48 Hour Film Festival supply the moving images. This sold out last year, so get to it!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE JENNY DALTON MYSPACE



FRIDAY ART PICK: THE THROW UP!

The Throw Up Release Party

@ Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St. NE
Northeast Mpls

7-11pm / Free

Join the mysterious art collective Pop Vomit for some good old-fashioned art-partying at Altered Esthetics tonight! Celebrate the release of issue #4 of The Throw Up, a collectible art book featuring work by a number of local artists such as Mark Vomit, Tony Kephart, Kate Iverson, Justin James Sehorn, Katrin Snider, Jeff Evrard, Scott Johnson, Jesse Draxler, & Coy Douglas Larson. What started as a self-released "scrapbook" has turned into a medium for unknown artists to gain exposure, a visual candy store for those looking for something unique, and an ongoing collector's series. Need more incentive? Aside from the 100 pages of awesome artwork in The Throw Up Volume 4, you'll also indulge in delightful refreshments and lay eyes on some very special vintage projections! Tonight also serves as the closing reception for the Altered Esthetics Resident Artists show, so show up or throw up!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE POP VOMIT SITE



FRIDAY JULY 25TH

Purpose. Process. Progress

@ Textile Center
Joan Mondale Gallery
3000 University Ave SE
Minneapolis

6pm-8pm/free

Weaving, liturgical art and doll making are focuses of the Textile Center Mentoring Program’s five fiber artists and their seven protégées. There’s a reason why the Textile Center is so highly regarded-they’re constantly showing and encouraging collaboration and innovation in fiber art! Check out this show, if only so you can say you met a protégée. Through August 23rd.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TEXTILE CENTER SITE



FRIDAY JULY 25TH

The Herertic's Ball

@ An Empty House in St. Paul
372 Maria Avenue
St. Paul
(next to the Strip Club Steakhouse)

7pm-Midnight / Free

Support independent theater tonight and have fun doing it! Join the Great Heresy Theater Company for a party benefiting their Fringe Festival production. Bop to such local musical geniuses as Gerald Prokop, Ghostband and Bla Bla Blacksheep, plus enjoy a special sneak peek at Heresy's new play. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted and a silent auction for sweet art and other items will tempt you to fork over some cheese for a common good cause: ART!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FRINGE FEST SITE



FRIDAY JULY 25TH

Themes

@ 331 Club
331 NE 13th Ave
Minneapolis

10pm / Free

Pianos! Sassy vocals! Perhaps a violin! The 331 is such a lovely place for this show, with their long bar, cheapo cocktails and attractive patrons. l’etoile’s resident fortune teller sees Themes in your future for Friday night. With local beat and vocal duo Lookbook.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE THEMES MYSPACE



FRIDAY JULY 25TH

Shelter

@ The Loft (Above Barfly)
711 Hennepin Avenue
Downtown Mpls

10pm / 18+ / $5

Hosted by the legendary scene-makers at HUSH, this fresh new dance night at The Loft invites you to come with an open mind, put your inhibitions aside, and become one with the dance floor! Unlike your normal triple header DJ lineup, Shelter will be about the journey, depth and story of just one - starting tonight with danielpaul AKA Ghetto. Seek out the hostess with the sign for "Shelter" to enter this chilled-out zone of pleasure and bass.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFO



FRIDAY JULY 25TH

So Electric

@ Barfly
711 Hennepin Ave.
Downtown Mpls

$3 w/ RSVP $5 without / 10pm / 18+

Factor in local party rockers DJ Bach and the Moongoons in the back room, and the cool cats from Sound in Motion in the front room and you've got an equation for one killer dance party. And yes, we know, it's Barfly, but tonight's tunes are too good to resist. And if you read our listing above, you'll know that HUSH will be kicking off its new Friday residency at the Loft above Barfly - so party hop to your hearts content!

CLICK BELOW TO RSVP AND RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT



COOL LINK: ANDY WARHOL UNION SQUARE

"The Sweet (and Cool) Smell of Pop Art" is an apt description for Bond No. 9's latest creation: Andy Warhol Union Square. A light and airy floral scent with clean undertones inspired by Warhol's famous silk-screened series of stylized flowers created in the first of his studios on Union Square. The essence of blue freesia, golden amber and musk with notes of lily of the valley and white birch wood create a subtle and energizing scent. On first sniff, Union Square comes off as cool and sensual, not overpowering - the perfect blend for a hot summer night. The bottle in itself is worth the cheese - with Warhol's flowers layered thoughtfully over sculpted glass, interspersed with glowing blades of grass. Available in 50ml, 100ml, or even in a deluxe box set of ten different collectible bottles.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BOND NO. 9 SITE



SATURDAY JULY 26TH

Bearded Lady Motorcycle Rally & Block Party

@ 331 Club
331 13th Ave NE
Northeast Minneapolis

Noon-6pm Block Party / Bands all night at the 331 and Ritz / Free

This annual brouhaha, now in its 3rd year, promises to be the biggest and freakiest of them yet! The mayhem overtakes the street outside of the 331 for the addition of the first ever Bearded Lady Block party with more bands, more bikes, and more carnival chaos. The famous motorcycle contest occurs from 3-4pm, and bands and drinking continues all night at both the 331 and the Ritz. Beards and bike gear encouraged!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEARDED LADY SITE



SATURDAY JULY 26TH

FLOW: Northside Arts Crawl

@ North Minneapolis
West Broadway, between 2nd St. N and Penn Ave N.
Minneapolis

4pm-9pm / Free

You’ve always wanted to play a chess game with human pawns, haven’t you? Today, your dream can be realized at the Northside Arts Crawl. Big bands, documentary films, wine and beer tastings, and plenty of art and dance round out this Northside celebration. There’s a shuttle this year throughout the whole route, so now is your chance to check out this vibrant, off the beaten path arts community.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FLOW SITE



SATURDAY JULY 26TH

The Alice Project; an Installation of Curious Proportions

@ Stevens Square Center for the Arts
1905 3rd Ave S
Minneapolis

7pm-11pm / $3 suggested donation or free if dressed as a Wonderland character

150 years ago Lewis Carroll created Alice. The world’s been a little weirder ever since. Commemorate this anniversary by watching Alice films, interacting with costumed characters, play chess-croquet, and eat free treats and drink from SSCA’s donation bar. When you’re pleasantly tipsy, try to find your way through the maze of giant props and admire Alice-themed art. Through August 17th.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



SATURDAY JULY 26TH

Attitude City Yacht Party (SOLD OUT)

@ Boom Island
Minneapolis

Launches at 9:15pm / $30

Toss on your most glitzy garments and let the boys of Attitude City take you away. Tonight's glamour cruise on the Mississippi will definitely be one of the sexiest nights of the summer. Set sail with Disco hotties Karl Frankowski and Jeff Dubois of Attitude City and funky beatman Mike the 2600 King as they take you on a floating dance odyssey.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ATTITUDE CITY SITE



SATURDAY JULY 26TH

Eyes Wide Shut

@ Uptown Theater
2906 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis

Midnight / $8.75

Stanley Kubrick’s tale about what happens when you get stoned and admit to your spouse you almost cheated on them. Suddenly you’ll be wearing a mask and cape with a lot of naked women at a secret sex party. Although that doesn’t sound so bad, Kubrick’s last film also includes death threats, overdoses, prostitution and at the core, a portrait of a complicated married sex life.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE UPTOWN SITE



SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: MUJA MESSIAH CD RELEASE PARTY

SUNDAY JULY 27TH

Muja Messiah CD Release Party

@ 1st Avenue
701 1st Avenue
Downtown Mpls

8pm / 18+ / $10

Critically acclaimed local rapper Muja Messiah busts out with his long-anticipated new album Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy, a collection of clever, beat-fueled stories that make the listener not only think, but bounce. With his roots firmly planted in Minneapolis, Muja weaves earnest tales of the city, giving us dose after dose of social commentary, aggression, triumph and satire along the way. Tonight's CD release party will be one of the most talked about shows of the summer, so don't even think about missing it. Hosted by Brother Ali and I-Self Divine, with Black Blondie, M.Anifest, Maria Isa, DJ Verb X, and DJ Turtleneck.

Sponsored by Black Corners, Louder Than Bombs, l'etoile magazine, HYPE, Culture Bully, Fifth Element, and Radio K


Muja Messiah sat down with us this week for a chat...

How did you first get into Hip Hop? Who pulled you into the Minneapolis scene?

Rakim did it 4 me. I heard "My Melody" from Eric B & Rakim's Paid In Full from their classic and its been on ever since. I started doing shows after seeing the legendary Micranots perform at 1st Ave. They killed it so bad I started writing rhymes every damn day and still ain't stopped.

Would you say the hip-hop scene in the Twin Cities is really competitive, or more of a camaraderie?

It ain't competitive enough if you ask me. I think a lotta rappers here are stuck in their ways and are afraid to try new things. The city needs more aggression. That's where I come in.

The overall vibe of local hip hop has been pretty indie, pretty emo, pretty DIY. How do you feel like your big productions and street-style sound fits into that?

I don't care what you call it. I just try to make music that you can respect no matter what type of music you listen to. Whether its "emo" or "gangsta" who cares as long as its good you know, good music is good music and like I said, the city needs more aggression. I'm steppin up to the plate.

"Paper Planes" was one of the first tracks that has really gotten you some recognition. What do you think makes a really good remix?

When you remix a song that people wouldn't normally remix. I like to catch people off gaurd. I honestly think I was the 1st to remix that M.I.A. joint.

Have your production methods changed over the years, or are you a fan of; "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"?

I keep it simple. Pick a beat, come up with a concept, write to it, record it, keep it moving. I get bored easy.

Your last release was a mixtape called MPLS Massacre...what was the concept behind that album and how does Adventures differ?

I just wanted to make some noise for Minneapolis with the Mixtape. You got Brother Ali and Slug in Europe putting the city on the map. I'm tryind to do the same, from another angle. The mixtape was more raw,street-centric where the Thee Adventures is more song oriented.

Where do you draw your inspiration? Is it taken from old school stuff, newer music, or both?

I listen to everything, Hall n' Oates, Radiohead, Jeezy, White Stripes, Lupe Fiasco, I'm inspired by it all.

What tracks have you been bumpin' the most this summer?

Besides my album, Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy available July 29th, hmmm...Lil' Wayne of course, Wale, Nas, Coldplay, G-Unit and the Best of Biggie mixtape.

To read a full review of Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy by The Rake's Max Ross, click HERE

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MUJA MESSIAH MYSPACE
Photo by B Fresh



SUNDAY JULY 27TH

Summer Je T'aime

@ 414 Soundbar
414 3rd Avenue N
Minneapolis

7pm / 21+ / $15

Enjoy fashion hairstyles by Evolution Salon and a runway show with clothing from Cliceh, Karma, Kjurekcouture and more at the beautiful 414 Soundbar. A journey in hair, fashion, music, and visual art influenced by, and set in the season we love most: Summer!

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MONDAY JULY 28TH

Krysta's Going Away Jam

@ The Dinkytowner
14th & 4th
Dinkytown

8pm / 21+ / Free

Send local designer and hot babe Krysta Angeline off in style tonight at the Dinkytowner! As is the story with many of our most talented assets, Miz Krista is leaving us for the gritty streets of NYC to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. We wish her the best of luck, not that she needs it! Come down tonight and dance to the bumpin' beats of the redhaired-ed hotness that is Tendercakes, along with equally cute boys Last Word and Jimmy 2 Times.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR KRYSTA'S MYSPACE



MONDAY JULY 28TH

Husker Du J.C. Memorial EP Release Party
& Film Exposé

@ Grumpy’s Bar-Downtown
1111 Washington Ave S
Minneapolis

10pm / Free

We had shelved all hopes of ever attending a Husker Du record release party, but here it is! Grant Hart and associates are releasing a CD EP containing three live songs from the early 80s in memorial of a good friend, J.C. Additionally, Grumpy’s will be screening archival Husker Du footage while you eat their famous tater tots. Epic!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GRUMPY'S SITE



TUESDAY JULY 29TH

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



What's What Editor: Kate Iverson
Contributing Writers: Lacey Prpic Hedtke, Robyn Lewis

Weekend What's What 7/17-7/22

WELCOME TO HEDONISM, MINNESOTA

This weekend holds no shortage of opportunities to show off your debaucherous side, and we say - go for it! The humidity is rising and summer lovin' has hit an all-time high. With Tromapalooza rocking the Loring Alley, Hedwig and the Angry Inch debuting at the Jungle Theater, and the massive dance attack that will be the Moongoons 1-year Anniversary party, we doubt anyone will notice when you suddenly decide to rip your shirt off - so live it up!

xo-l'étoile

Photo by Amy Pierce for l'etoile magazine



THURSDAY JULY 17TH

Beer, Brats & Bribery

@ The Guthrie Theatre
818 S 2nd St.
Minneapolis

5:30pm-7:30pm, play at 7:30pm / $25

Summit beer and brats from Cue on the riverfront patio. Yes. Live summer in style, listen to DJ Andrew Heard, then head inside to watch hilarious mistaken identity pan out in The Government Inspector. Nikolai Gogol was a wily Russian writer, and Jeffrey Hatcher has adapted this play that seems to go perfectly with a big juicy pre-show brat, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t be sitting by the river, enjoying every bite.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GUTHRIE SITE



THURSDAY JULY 17TH

Something Different

@ Kitty Cat Klub
14th & 4th Street
Dinkytown

10pm / 21+ / Free

Local beatheads DJ Bach and Jonathan Ackerman bring you "Something Different". Will it really be that much different than the usual epic dance parties that these two regularly throw? Knowing them, there's a good chance it will. A special TBD guest rounds things out to keep it interesting.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFO



FRIDAY ART PICK: HEATHER ACKROYD & DAN HARVEY

Who knew seedling grass had so many artistic possibilities? This British artist duo’s specialty is working with grass…covering buildings with it, developing photos in it, and crafting it into coats. Focusing on growth and decay, their work is unstable and fleeting - if you’re lucky enough to see it in person, know that it only stays that way for a few days, then nature begins its part of the collaboration. Entirely innovative and always fresh, Ackroyd and Harvey’s 18-year partnership is reaching all-time highs.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ARTIST'S SITE



FRIDAY JULY 18TH

Eric Carroll

@ The Christensen Center Art Gallery
Augsburg College
720 22nd Ave S
Minneapolis

5:30pm-7:30pm / Free

An art shows' shadows forever captured as a blueprint. Antiquated photo processes live on in new transmutations. Eric Carroll shifts three dimensional spaces into the second dimension using the diazotype process. Want to be reminded why some thought photography was magical when it was invented? Stop by tonight and see for yourself. Through September 5th.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



FRIDAY JULY 18TH

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

@ Jungle Theatre
2951 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis

8pm / $26-$36

Girls will be boys and boys will be girls, take a walk on the wild side! Cult musical Hedwig and The Angry Inch will transform the intimate Jungle Theatre into a down and dirty nightclub this Friday night through August 31st as gender-crossed glam rocker Hedwig tells her story of immigrating to a white-trash trailer park and receiving a botched sex change operation. Armed with a killer wig and a hot-n-throbbing rhythm section, Hedwig is an inspiring anthem to anyone who has ever felt life gave them an “inch” when they deserved a mile.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE JUNGLE THEATER SITE
Image from film still



FRIDAY, JULY 18TH

Spotaneous

@ Spot Art
1828 Marshall St. NE
Minneapolis

7pm-11pm/free

Get your jaw-dropping emerging artists here! Creepers (in a really good way) Alex Kuno and Nick Howard share space with BMF jewelry and a bevy of photographers and painters in this group show of local talent. Lonesome Dan Kase and Eliza Blue keep your ears company while you get a henna tattoo. Through September 12th.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



FRIDAY JULY 18th

Honeymoon

@ First Avenue
701 1st Ave N
Downtown Minneapolis

10pm / 18+ / $5

It’s hard to believe that a whole year has past since the Moongoons began dominating the third Friday of every month with their out of control dance floor-bending party, Honeymoon. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the ‘Goons bring in their friends and cohorts from popular dance night Get Cryphy to help them rock decks in what will go down as the party of the summer! This month’s theme is Glow In The Dark!

BONUS: Kick off the night at VS. with a bitchin' pre-party that includes free PBR and Triple Caff. Take advantage of FREE bus rides courtesy of Overproof, or join the mass bike ride to the VIP room where the party resumes.

Josh Clancy of the Moongoons down with us this week to catch up...

We interviewed you one year ago, around the time Honeymoon kicked off...What has happened since?

A lot actually! Here we go...

The biggest and most obvious is that we have since moved to First Ave, the first few Honeymoons were held at the Nomad. This move was crucial because Honeymoon is all about energy and getting in peoples faces. The VIP room is small and tight so it fit the party perfectly. With the move we also started a clothing line, releasing limited edition shirts each month in conjunction with the party. These shirts are one offs, cheap, and get you into the party if you buy them. You won't find anything else like them because trust me, they are weird. For example E.T. Consuming a piece of pizza with the word, "kewl." next to him. We want to make the line kind of similar to something you would find across seas on the black market. The clothes are all very weird and don't really make sense, kind of like The Moon Goons. You're not supposed to "get it" really.

Recently we started doing a photo booth at Honeymoon. We wanted to get involved with local photographers and not only take party pictures but also create an interesting "set" to take photos in or around. We are open to interns so if you have any ideas for a booth and have examples of your photography please hit us up, we are always open and looking!

Aside from Honeymoon, we started another monthly night at Barfly called So Electric. We wanted something kind of the opposite of Honeymoon. More about the club scene, not so in your face, but not a mainstream creeper club. Something that was just fun to go to and hang out with all of your friends. Breathing room, and more about drinking and mingling. So Electric is great because we can do tons of drink specials with Barfly. For example Triple Caff, the local energy drink, hooks us way up and we mix it to create our own drink you can't get anywhere else called "Toothjuice". We also wanted a night where all of our friends can play together at the same place. The two rooms at Barfly are perfect for that.

Then we've been traveling a lot and we've been remixing a lot of tracks including producing our own originals which should start popping out soon. We try to update the blog every day with new goods.

What can people expect at the 1-Year Anniversary party?

It's our birthday party - its going to be crazy! We've teamed up with tons of local people that are doing shit in this city, and we're very excited about it. We tried to make it as easy as possible for people to party. Free drinks courtesy of Pabst and Triple Caff at the pre-party (VS in Uptown). All you can drink and free to get in. We are giving away tons of prizes, cake, and clothes. The in-store pre-party will be so fun! Then, because we are filling people with booze for free we figured we'd need a way to get them to Honeymoon, so we hooked up with OVERPROOF and organized FREE bus rides into downtown. We also organized a big bike ride for people that want to pedal and sweat a bit of the drinks out. So free drinks, a free ride and then you roll up to Honeymoon and check out our new glow in the dark collab t-shirt we did with VS. It is sick. The VIP is going to be GLOWING, and you know we'll have birthday cake on hand. Ines K is doing a killer photobooth for this party and our boy Frankie has the live video game party via projector on lock. Not to mention Get Cryphy will be on the decks followed by us Goons. Going to be wild I know it. Seriously, you can't miss this. It will be a great time.

You're known for being some stylish mofos. Where do you shop, and what items can you not live without?

Haha, well Jonathan shops at a lot of local places - VS, RobotLove,
YouWorkForThem. He can't live without his iPhone... You will always see him sending text messages on it while he dances. We call it the Jonathan dance. He raises one arm up and the other hand is occupied by his cell phone. He swings his hips in a very flamboyant way from left to right...scary. Watch for it.

I am going to be honest, I really don't consider myself too stylish. I know what style is and I know where to get all the stylish clothes but I'm way too lazy. I don't care that much. I could order some shoes from Swear or Komakino and button up with a shirt from Reborn. Tie it together with some A.P.C denim but honestly if I'm getting cheap clothes because my friends work at your mainstream alt stores then whatever, that's what's going to happen.

I made a mess let me pick up all the names I just dropped. Travis Stearns is stylish. He's in Vita.mn a lot for how kewl he dresses. EVER HURD OF HIM? O YA RLY?

What's next for the Moongoons?

We are going to continue pushing our parties encouraging more interaction. Trying to create more of a community within Moon Goons and this city. I think we are good at doing what we say we are going to do instead of sitting around and talking shit. We are going to continue to pursue this city and collaborate with tons of local and international people. We are going to bring in acts from around the world and show them an amazing time here in Minneapolis, just like we have been doing.

We plan on starting a new night trying to mix the format of a dance party with a live band and live acts. Live mixing with bands and DJS. Very dynamic and interactive sutff. There has always been this wall between the DJ or the band and the crowd. We want to push that down.

We are always open to new ideas and opportunities so please hit us up! Thanks so much for reading this if you did, and come party with us all at VS and Honeymoon this Friday!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MOONGOONS SITE



COOL LINK: DUDE WEATHER

Does your weather man/woman have knuckle tats and smoke a lot? Your new one does. Why listen to the usual stiff banter, when you could be sworn at by a disheveled man? Find out your daily forecast from Dutch, a crotchety self-taught meteorologist in his daily postings on The Rake's website. Use our handy link somewhere to the right of your screen to watch Dude Weather every day!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR YOUR WEATHER FORECAST



SATURDAY JULY 19TH

MAEP Community Meeting

@ The MIA
Pillsbury Auditorium
2400 3rd Avenue South
Minneapolis

10:30am-Noon / Free

As many of you already know, well-loved coordinator of The Minnesota Artist's Exhibition Program, Stewart Turnquist, who held his post for the past 31 years, resigned unexpectedly this past week. Local artists are in an uproar, fearing the future of the program, which is designed to showcase the work of Minnesota artists through the support of the MIA. This is one hell of a good reason to get up early on Saturday morning - your input matters!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MAEP SITE



SATURDAY JULY 19TH

Fallout Arts Festival

@ The Fallout Urban Arts Center
2600 block of Stevens Ave S
Minneapolis

Noon-10pm / Free

The Fallout aims to bring neighbors together, provide a venue for local artists and musicians, and create awareness of community organizations. All of this will be accomplished at their sixth annual arts festival. Catch pottery and welding demos, fire dancing, and over fifty artists at this all-out street festival.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



SATURDAY JULY 19th (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Tromapalooza

@ Loring Alley, behind Nick & Eddie
1612 Harmon Place
Minneapolis

1pm both days / $10

Live music, famous celebrities, and horrid debauchery will ensue at this two-day music and film sideshow. Meet the President of Troma Entertainment, Lloyd Kaufman, hear live music and be in a video for local band Faggot as they headline this outrageous affair. Suck down a vodka sno-cone or three while enjoying magic tricks, flame eating, and burlesque dancers, and view the CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH off an original 35mm print.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TROMA SITE



SATURDAY JULY 19th

West Bank Music Festival

@ Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar Ave S
West Bank, Minneapolis

3pm / 18+ until 10, then 21+ / $10

The West Bank Music Festival will go down this Saturday in an epic Hip Hop, reggae, and R&B blowout featuring a reunion of beloved Minneapolis hip hop collective Traditional Methods. Other artists include Scarub of Living Legends, Black Blondie, Acoustic Beatdown, Big Trouble w/ Crescent Moon, Pee Wee Dred w/ More Than Lights, New Rebelution, Dalia, 3 Kings, Hyder Ali, and Les Exodus.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NOMAD SITE



SATURDAY JULY 19TH

Drunken Spelling Bee

@ 331 Club
331 13th Avenue NE
Northeast Minneapolis

7pm / 21+ / $8 to Participate, Free to watch

Spell your way to free booze at the 331 Club tonight! How many shots does it take to spell "abecedarianally"? Find out, at this hilarious evening of thinking and drinking at the 331 guest-hosted by l'etoile pals and Flak Radio masterminds Taylor Carik and Jim Norton. Also featuring DJ Jarred T and Burlesque superstar Honeycomb, the Hot Hooper. Sponsored by Jameson!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SPELLING BEE SITE



SATURDAY JULY 19TH

The Wackness

@The Uptown Theatre
2906 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis

7:15pm or 9:45pm / $8.75

Hark back to the early nineties…you miss it a little, don’t you? Dealing pot, Method Man and notorious Mary Kate Olson are the stars of The Wackness, but the really big deal is the music from back in the day. Before the films start, Plain Ole Bill (of Get Cryphy!) will be spinning an all-vinyl NYC hip hop set, dancers and giveaways will get you drooling, and best of all, you’ll be surrounded by fellow lovers of the year that was 1994.

BONUS: Come back at Midnight for a one-night-only screening of 80s cult classic, Clue!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE UPTOWN THEATER SITE



SATURDAY, JULY 19TH

Nothing at the End of the Lane

@ Soap Factory
518 2nd St. SE
Minneapolis

7pm-11pm / Free

Imagine how many submissions the Soap Factory gets in a year. NOW imagine sorting through them all and only picking ten artists. Is your mind blown yet? Artists treat the space as a laboratory, using fantasy as their jumping-off point. With work from as far away as France, and as close as our own backyard, this show is definitely not fly-over territory. Through August 31st.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM




SATURDAY JULY 19TH

Art of This Gallery 3 year Anniversary

@ Art of This Gallery
3506 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis

7pm-11pm / $5 suggested donation

As part of their One Nighter series, Art of This celebrates its third birthday with a one-night installation by the AOT collaborators. Sculpture, audio, video and 2-D works focus on events that took place in 1968, and how those events and ideas are perceived today. Introspective and deep? Yes, and also a fun night filled with great artists, and the happiness and success of the past three years packed into one night.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM



SATURDAY JULY 19th

Attitude City Yacht Pre-Party

@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Ave N
Minneapolis, MN

10pm / 21+ / FREE

Attitude city’s monthly throw-down at Club Jager has been bumped up a week in anticipation of Yacht Club 2008 on July 26th! As per usual, you can expect to hear a dirty mash-up of vintage disco, funk, house, electro, 80’s, and other vinyl oddities - all for the price of $0! If you’ve been sleeping, here’s your chance to score tickets to the Yacht Party - the boys will have them for sale all night.

If you can't make it to Jager, be sure to pop into ROBOTlove or Cliche this week to snap your tix up before they disappear!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ATTITUDE CITY SITE



SATURDAY JULY 19TH

Too Much Love featuring DJ Bach's Birthday

@ 1st Avenue
701 1st Avenue N.
Minneapolis

10pm / 18+ / Free

DJ Bach was playing french electro before Justice was a twinkle in your eye. Hes also rocked more l'etoile warehouse parties than any DJ in this city. Why? Because when it comes down to making the masses dance, Bach never lets us down. So, make a cameo at Too Much Love and pay your respects to this local legend who turns another year young tonight! Happy Birthday Bach, l'etoile loves you long time - and not just because you're hot!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TOO MUCH LOVE SITE



SATURDAY JULY 19TH

Lock Inn 5

@ Secret Location
Click HERE day of show
or email jp@secrettechno.com for location
Downtown Minneapolis

Sultry summer nights are even better when you add lots of bass. If you haven't gotten yourself to the Lock Inn yet, we seriously recommend you consider it. Prepare to sweat into the wee hours with Hockeydads, Screendoor, Eidolon, James Patrick, Mike G and more. And, as is the custom, be sure to arrive BEFORE 2am to be allowed access, because after 2 you'll be left to your own all-night-party devices. It isn't called the "Lock Inn" for nothin'. For those in the know: enter through the fire escape again.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SECRET TECHNO SITE



SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: BON IVER

By now, you couldn't possibly have escaped the buzz surrounding local indie folk sensation Bon Iver. In just under a year, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon went from hand-making 500 copies of their debut record For Emma, Forever Ago, to playing in front of a silently captivated sold-out crowd of 7000 at Rock the Garden earlier this summer. Bon Iver headline their first show in the mainroom at First Avenue on August 16th and will prove themselves worthy of the hype with their hauntingly climactic live performance. Save the date, and get your tickets now while you can, because they wont last!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BON IVER MYSPACE
Photo by Robyn Lewis



SUNDAY JULY 20TH

Chiang Banger

@ Chiang Mai Thai
Calhoun Square
Lake & Girard
Uptown

2pm to 10pm / Free

This just came onto our radar thanks to our pals at Rift Mag, who always seem to know about any and all cool music-related events going on in the Twin Cities before we do! At any rate, Chiang Mai Thai (you know, the delicious Thai joint in Calhoun Square?) is throwing their first-ever block party - and its got a totally sweet lineup! Eat food, drink beer, and get down to the musical stylings of Polara, Solid Gold, Ouija Radio, The Mood Swings, Shortcuts, Fuck Knights, Frontier, Caroline Smith, Bitch City, and Grey Skies - with sassy commentary by emcee and comedian Chris Maddock.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE CHIANG MAI THAI SITE



SUNDAY JULY 20th

The Big Slam

@ Parkway Theatre
4814 Chicago Ave S.
Minneapolis

8:30pm / 21+ / $7

The cities' best poets will compete in the biggest slam of the summer in a poetic battle of words and wits. Pepito’s happy hour runs from 7-9, so bring your margarita with you! This event will also mark the beginning of the newest addition to the Twin Cities spoken word scene, the 48th Street Slam, held on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Free valet parking.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PARKWAY SITE



TUESDAY JULY 15TH

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



What's What Editor: Kate Iverson
Contributing Writers: Lacey Prpic Hedtke, Robyn Lewis, Stephen Stephens