Thursday, February 25, 2010

Weekend What's What 2/25-3/2

SECRET SOCIETY

Have you heard the secret? The Twin Cities are the coolest! Well, ok, we already knew that, but judging from this weekend's lineup you'll have to be especially in-the-know to have the utmost epic party experience. With a number of off the radar shindigs happening this week you might have to utilize your sleuthing skills to seek out the hottest happenings. We'll give you a few hints, but the rest is up to you!

xo-l'étoile



THIS WEEK ON L'ÉTOILE

Jahna Peloquin updates our guide to Winter Shopping and Sales

Natalie Gallagher reviews the new Calpurnia Peach collection


THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25TH

MNDR, DJs Solid Gold, Soviet Panda, Elite Gymnastics

@ Medusa
Secret Location
West Bank

9pm / 18+ / $5

If you don't know where this secret location is...um, well, we can't really tell you so you best just ask around! There will, however, be some mad dancing happening there tonight as tunes from beatmasters Soviet Panda, Elite Gymnastics, Solid Gold (DJ set), and Brooklyn's buzzed-about, girl-fronted electro outfit, MNDR, rock the secret West Bank spot (see our Sunday Music Pick for the week for more info on MNDR!). Tim Krause adds to the ambiance with some wild visuals, rounding out what we can only assume will be a night of delightful debauchery.

Click HERE for the Facebook event



THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25TH (THROUGH 28TH)

Rent! (Final Weekend)

@ The Lab Theater
700 North 1st Street
Minneapolis

7:30pm / $46.50 general admission

If you've yet to see Rent, we suggest you step to it, as this weekend marks the close of the popular production. Director and choreographer (and Minnesota native) Andrew Rasmussen has taken on the challenge of adapting the popular Broadway hit in his own evocative version of the tell-tale production of love, music and the fight against AIDS. The musical follows the fast-paced lives of a cast of 15 as they struggle through a twisty-turny world of death, love and poverty. This musical leaves no lull in the action with epic scenes that, at times, cause the audience to chuckle as well as tear up. The awe-inspiring and chill-inducing vocals induce cheering after almost every solo and rightly so -- with a cast that includes local Latin songstress Maria Isa and American Idol's Paris Bennett, the talent involved is no joke. Plus, the in-your-face staging of rugged rafters and urban street scenery brings the audience completely in to the action. Hurry in before your time runs out—the last dates have been extended through February 28th.




THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Minneapolis New Breed

@ Southern Theater
1420 Washington Ave.
Minneapolis

7:30pm/ $18

It's a classic “birds 'n bees” story. Three local performers got together and out of their shared love of experimental performance and bred a love child that defies definitions, challenges the norm and pushes the envelope for innovation. The proud parents: MPLS' troupes Lamb Lays with Lion, Mad King Thomas and SuperGroup. The love child: three new works that together form a hybrid of dance, performance and theater. Among the topics in Minneapolis New Breed show are a comedic dance investigating the sexy underbelly of cultural dogmas; a re-staging of Brit auteur-director, Katie Mitchell's The Seagull; and a contemporary musical channeling the four elements.

Click HERE for the Southern Theater Site


FRIDAY ART PICK: CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA + ALICE IN WONDERLAND

We really thought we couldn't love pop surrealist LA-based artist, Camille Rose Garcia, any harder – if you may remember we raved about the Gothy artist in a What's What edition way back in November of '08 – but now that she's “fallen down the rabbit hole,” we've become slightly stalkerish of the macabre sister. Combining her style – one heavy into utopian/capitalist themes and wasteland fairy tales – with an uncanny love for all things Disney, it was only a matter of time before the two collided. Of course we're talking about Garcia's latest project re-illustrating Lewis Carroll's classic novella, Alice in Wonderland! Using vintage papers with ripped up backgrounds, watercolor, acrylic, pen & ink and collage mediums and drawing inspiration from Victorian illustrators and the original John Tenniel drawings, Garcia fills the pages with sinister caricatures, psychedelic colorings and creepy renderings of iconic characters. Garcia owes much of her edgy patchwork to the playlist she rocked while working, full of tracks by Wolf Parade, Arcade Fire, the Dead Weather and Them Crooked Vultures. Her already face-melting phantasms couldn't be more perfect for Carroll's substratal drug references and she makes sure to pour on innuendos with giant mushrooms and “drink me” bottles in almost every picture. Grab your collector's copy on Amazon.com along with other macabre storybooks by Garcia.

Click HERE for the Camille Rose Garcia site



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

fixedfunction

@ They Won't Find Us Here Gallery
3500 Bryant Avenue S. (Alleyside)
Minneapolis

7-10pm / Free

If you're looking for a bright, spacious gallery space that serves wine in stem wear, They Won't Find Us Here Gallery probably won't impress you. They will, however, inspire with their D.I.Y. method of art appreciation and their grassroots gumption. This little gallery located on the second story of an old garage with a leaky roof and no heat epitomizes the spirit of the independent artist -- and that's something we can't ever get enough of! Tonight venture out to this new-ish spot to lay eyes on work by Josh Hosterman and Andrew Vomhof. Of course, in true artist form, there is virtually no information to be found on this show or the art being displayed...but hey, we like surprises.

Click HERE for the Facebook event



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

Electric Fetus Tornado Benefit

@ First Avenue and 7th Street Entry
701 1st Ave N
Minneapolis

7pm / $16 advance, $20 at the door

A nasty tornado ripped through the Fetus this summer, causing a lot of damage and sending the store into financial straits. First Avenue is devoting both sides of the venue to a fundraiser that includes a silent auction and raffle, a grip of great DJs, including Jake Rudh and no less than ten bands. Run between the Entry and the Mainroom to hear Cloud Cult, Roma di Luna, Jeremy Messersmith, Trailer Trash, Unknown Prophets, Total Babe, Peter Wolf Crier and Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps and more. Proceeds go to the Fetus, as well as a portion going to the American Red Cross for Haiti.

Click HERE for the First Ave site




FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

Chip Schilling Opening Reception

@ Open Book
1011 Washington Ave. S.
Minneapolis

5:30-7pm/ free

Local book artist, Chip Schilling, works inside a humble studio mashed up between past and present with equal parts industrial revolution and digital age. His press, Indulgence Press -- a name that nods to high-end art and early religious pamphlets -- is a one-man show, pumping out artist books, prints and broadsides. Tonight, join the Minnesota Book Awards and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts for an opening reception of the exhibit which has been showcasing samples of Schilling's work since late January. The reception is extra exciting because it doubles as a celebration for Schilling's 2010 MN Book Artist of the Year win. And considering his already notable status as one of the best book artists in the nation – having collections at the British Library and the Whitney, just to name a few – this comes as no surprise to us,but is fantastic news nonetheless! Sip on wine and snack on hors d'oeuvres and enjoy live music by Sally's Flag as you peek Schilling's artisan-skilled work.

BONUS: Check out this great article about Schilling by our pal Gregory J. Scott.

Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

Walker After Hours

@ The Walker
715 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis

9pm-Midnight / $35 ($25 to members)

The Walker Museum is once again popping corks and putting on the pretty lights in celebration of a new exhibit! Get your arty party on this Friday at the preview event for Abstract Resistance, a collection of nearly 40 works by legendary artists and newcomers alike that revolve around the theme of artistic revolt. Drawn largely from the Walker's own collection, the exhibit features work by such artists as Francis Bacon, Lynda Benglis, Anthony Caro, Sarah Charlesworth, Bruce Conner, Willem de Kooning, Lucio Fontana, Hollis Frampton, Philip Guston, Rachel Harrison, Hirschhorn, Ellsworth Kelly, Paul McCarthy, Robert Motherwell, Bruce Nauman, Cady Noland, Charles Ray, Gedi Sibony, Kara Walker, Andro Wekua, and Cathy Wilkes. Stop by and mingle with the museum’s many minions as everyone enjoys and array of tasty snacks, yummy drinks, art making and even a party photo booth. Also, slammin’ Soviet Panda will be mixing beats and George Landow will be showing off some of his own artistic films. And the whole night is even cheaper for members; and if you become one today, you get free admission.

Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

Zoo Animal and Gospel Gossip

@ Nick and Eddie
1612 Harmon Place
Minneapolis

10pm / $5 / 18+

Rock and rollll! Nick and Eddie serves up another stellar show, this time with two Minneapolis favorites on the stage. After the bands, stick around for Ollie from GG and Neil Weir (Old Blackberry Way Studio). They’ll be spinning some records while you drink champagne!

Click HERE for the Facebook page


FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

Sound Gallery Party w/ Me and My Arrow and Death Cube

@ Sound Gallery
Secret Location
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / $10 at the door

It's been awhile since the Sound Gallery had a party, but tonight's the night! Located above a similarly named nightclub in the warehouse district, this down n' dirty spot will boast some hot rock n' roll from the likes of locals Me and My Arrow and Death Cube. We hear there'll be free beer, but you're also invited to discreetly bring your own. Enter slyly and behave yourself, so as not to attract the po-po. Ya dig?

Click HERE for the Facebook event

Photo by John Behm

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

Bomp!

@ Bedlam Theater
1501 S. 6th Street
West Bank

10pm / $5 / 18+

Oooh..another crusher of a dance party! It’s time again for Shannon Blowtorch and BRLSQOTHEQUE to visually and aurally dazzle and challenge you. Tonight's line up includes The Moon Goons, the Get Cryphy crew, Shannon Blowtorch and Wes Winship. Bring your friends, munch on something from the Bedlam’s late night $5 or less menu, and light that Fireplace Lounge up with your hot moves. We know you've got 'em!

Click HERE to RSVP



COOL LINK: PUPS & ORDER

What in the hell?! There is apparently a mysterious message in the Law & Order theme song that only dogs can detect. Here are some cute pet videos of dogs going wild for the popular show. We recommend playing all the videos at once for the ultimate in chaos.

Click HERE for Pups & Order




SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26TH

Matchbox 7th Anniversary Bash

@ 331 Club
331 13th Ave NE
Minneapolis

9pm / 21+ / free

We love the tiny, collectively run Matchbox coffee shop in Northeast! Help them celebrate no boss, seven years of success, and great coffee and treats tonight with Black Blondie, Nightinghales, and The Poor Nobodys. And in the morning, to recuperate from having too much fun at the 331, head down 13th Ave to the Matchbox for some organic fair trade coffee.

Click HERE for the Facebook page



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27TH

No Bird Sing + Lookbook + Kill the Vultures

@ Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis

8pm / $10 advance-$12 door

Local cool kids, The Current, City Pages and More Cowbell have collaborated this weekend to bring you a night full of music! Join No Bird Sing as they tear up the hip-hop norms with their guitar-accompanied rhymes. Don’t forget the electro ambiance of our electro faves, Lookbook, who will be releasing their first vinyl tonight as well. Not only will Minneapolis hip-hoppers/rockers, Kill the Vultures also be playing, but the Cedar is promising a handful of special guests and big surprises to round out the night!

Click HERE for the Cedar site



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27TH

Metro's Fashion Fight Night 4

@ Uppercut Boxing Gym
1324 Quincy St. NE
Minneapolis

7:30 doors, 8pm show/ $50

Ok, so maybe you won't catch us DVRing the lastest Ultimate Fighting Championship or hanging up shirtless posters of Oscar De La Hoya on our bedroom walls – at least not that we'd admit – but it doesn't mean us fashionistas can't get behind a good fight. Hyped as the one of the most anticipated fashion events of the season and a Vegas/ANTM/Haute Couture mixture, Fashion Fight Night 4 has boasted a sold-out crowd for the past three years and strangely no one's ever even lost an ear. Metro Mag hosts this metaphor-ridden competition where six teams of photographers and models go head-to-head in a stylish fashion photography deathmatch/shootout. And to add that extra element of fight realism, the event is held in an actual boxing gym! Plus, $5 of every ticket purchased goes towards the fantastic non-profit, LEAD Project. Dress to impress. Mouthguards not included. As of this post, there are still a few tickets available, but we'd hurry up if we were you!

Click HERE for tickets and more info

Check out this video from last year's FFN by Capture Studios

Fashion Fight Night 3 from capture studios on Vimeo.


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27TH

Kruddler/ Al Grande/ The Mammy Nuns/ Mike Suade

@ The Palace
33 W. 7th Pl.
St. Paul

8pm-1am / 18+ / Free

St. Paul's newest live music venue, The Palace, premieres with a few old-schoolers in its corner. Tonight's show heralds the triumphant return of St. Paul rock 'n' roll hounds, Kruddler. Named after a horse in an episode of “The Simpsons,” the trio emerged onto the Twin Cities' alt scene in the '90s with their debut EP, Think About It Buddy, packed with boisterously catchy jams and crunchy guitar riffs. Despite an ever shuffling lineup, the band remained a favorite among the TC crowd – rockin' such clubs as the Turf, the Red Sea and the now defunct Uptown – until their split in the mid-00s. Fans heading to the Downtown club tonight should expect nothing less than a heavy-handed rock set full of rip roaring energy. With live sets by fellow old-schooler, Al Grande and post-punk from Wisconsin's Mammy Nuns. MPLS graphic designer/musician Mike Suade emcees and Suade and DJ Lord Frenchy spin vinyl between sets.

Click HERE for the Facebook event



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27TH

Moonstone LP Release Show

@ Turf Club
1601 University Ave.
St. Paul

9pm / 21+ / $6

Rock n' roll propheteers, Moonstone, might be better known around the Twin Cities for their mid-set sermons by bandmate Reverend Micah Mackert than for what they actually sound like. Which is pretty unfortunate because while we still aren't quite sure what exotic beliefs Lunarians hold (phrases like “analytical Factualism" and “individual rebrilliantation” hurt our heads) there's one thing we do know: they rock! Embodying all the elements of hot vintage Krautrock, prog, classic 70's rock, the psychedelic prophet four-piece is a synthy taste of spiritualism you don't need to be one of their apostles to appreciate. Tonight, the band celebrates the release of their debut album, NR:4;3.1-3, (packed with a large format 23-page booklet written by the Reverend) with live sets from Thunderbolt Pagoda, Tender Meat and Children of Euler. And if you're curious about things Lunarian style, check out the Moonstone's blog, Moonstone Ministries, below. Truth be told, we're still not sure if it's all a big PR ploy.

Click HERE for the Moonstone Ministries site

Photo by Nick Vlcek


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27TH

Soft Targets: LANDLAND

@ First Amendment Arts
1101 Stinson Blvd. (Basement rooms A & B)
Minneapolis

7-10pm / Free

In 2007 two Minneapolis art-makers, Dan Black & Jes Seamans, teamed up to create the design duo Landland. And this Saturday the twosome will be showing off their big collection of almost everything they’ve ever made, including CD covers and screen printed posters of old scaffolding, dirty roller coasters and groups of ghoulish ghosts! In addition to her art, Jes Seamans will be making the night musical with the poppy-progressive tunes of her band, Best Friends Forever accompanied by the DJ-beatz of BRLSQOTHEQUE DJs.

Click HERE for this art event and more at www.mplsart.com



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27TH

Attitude City

@ Clubhouse Jager
913 Washington Ave
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / Free

The Attitude City boys are back at Jager once again for their monthly mix of badditude, blowing up the dance floor with a carefully curated cache of beats and creating the perfect setting to get buck wild. Sweat and shimmy to the glorious disco sounds of this longtime favorite DJ duo while sippin' cocktails and makin' eyes at the beautiful people. Most def one of our favorite parties of the month!

Click HERE for the Attitude City site


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27TH

Worn to be Wild

@ Secret Location
Northeast Minneapolis
email ken@anthemheart.com for location

11pm-4am / Free

Once again the Anthem Heart crew busts out with their "wildly" popular Worn to Be Wild series, this time is collaboration with the beatmasters of Wants Vs. Needs. Super-amazing graphic designer and artist Adam Garcia (aka The Pressure) will be joining forces with AH's Ken Hannigan to unveil a new custom t-shirt design that will be live screen printed for you on the spot for a mere $7 (or bring your own blank t-shirt and get it printed for just $5). The Wants Vs. Needs boys will be on the decks serving up hot jams all the live-long night featuring DJ Espada, So Gold, DJ Anton, and Petey Wheatstraw.

Click HERE for the Facebook event



SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: MNDR

In this gloomy weather, we at l’étoile are always on the hunt for a way to warm up our winter blues and get our blood pumping. Lucky for us, that is exactly what the beats of leading lady MNDR does! MNDR (or, as it is supposed to be said “MAN-DAR”) is a one woman-electro-wonder hailing all the way from “Brooklyn through Los Angeles via San Francisco”. With her shaggy blonde hair and thick white frames, MNDR brings a perfect mix of nerdy yet Madonna-esque, electronica music to the table. And believe us, her rad synth-music making is the perfect fit for a bumpin’ house party or even on the stage of First Ave. Lucky for us, this lovely lady is making a stop in Mpls this Thursday, with local wax-flipper Soviet Panda, a DJ-set by Solid Gold and Elite Gymnastics at the Medu$a (see our Thursday listing).

Click HERE for the MNDR site





SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28TH

Gastro Non Grata presents “Leftover Love”

@Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis

6pm / 21+ / $7

This Sunday, invite yourself into a world of better eating and smarter drinking, mixed with a kick of dirty garage rock. That is the key to Gastro Non Grata’s quarterly gig at the Triple Rock, and this time around they are all about “making a bid deal out of small plates.” With the help of Doug Flicker from Piccolo Restaurant, samples of his scrumptious smoked sturgeon dish will be shared as well as a taste of the best pork meatballs in town. On top of that, the Left Hand Brewing Company is bringing some of their tasty beers to share. All of this food and drink is even better mashed with the rockabilly riffs of Bitch and Brown as well as sounds from the likes of Bella Koshka, Unknown Prophets and Noise Noise Noise. Sounds like music to our ears AND to our taste buds!

Click HERE for the Gastro Non Grata blog



TUESDAY MARCH 2ND

JagerCon: Sci-Fi Tuesdays

@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Avenue N.
Minneapolis

Every Tuesday
10 p.m. / 21+ / Free

Join hosts Kate Iverson (l'étoile magazine, Secrets of the City) and Beth Hammarlund (l'étoile magazine, A Tiny Machine) every Tuesday Night for JagerCon! JagerCon is a weekly sci-fi party featuring screenings of classic nerdy movies and television shows -- topped off with 2-4-1 cocktails all night served by Star Captain Paul!

Mingle with like-minded sci-fi geeks, discuss D&D strategies, and use that Captain Picard impression you've been perfecting to pick up chicks at the bar. Snort-laugh the night away while bragging about your MMORPG addiction and enjoy a cozy, nerd-friendly environment.

This week's flick is THE HUNGER!




GUEST BLOGGER: A TINY MACHINE

Beth Hammarlund posts a weird video of Kirstin Dunst performing "Turning Japanese" in an anime getup. The strange video was commissioned by artist Takashi Murakami, filmed by McG.

For more from A Tiny Machine click HERE




NEWSWIRE

Tickets on Sale now for the Official Oscar Night Party co-sponsored by l'etoile!


This stylish evening of glitz and glam at the Hotel Ivy marks the first year that the Aegis Foundation is at the helm of the official Academy-sanctioned Oscar Night Bash in Minneapolis. This fabulous event is the ideal night out for film aficionados, fashion fanatics, and people who want to have an exciting Hollywood-themed evening -- all while helping support two great local organizations, www.SmileNetwork.org & www.Reclaim-lgbtyouth.org . This ticketed benefit event is all ages and open to the public. Click HERE for tickets. Co-Sponsored by l'etoile!

WIN TICKETS!

Want to come to the Official Oscars party at the Hotel Ivy? Show us your celebrity look alike and you might win two tix AND a limo ride to the party AND a makeover! Click HERE to enter the contest.

Editor in Chief: Kate Iverson // Contributors: Lacey Prpic Hedtke, Juleana Enright, Lauren Gantner, Kate Iverson, Beth Hammarlund, Jahna Peloquin

Monday, February 22, 2010

In review: Calpurnia Peach Spring 2010 collection

Calpurnia Peach: Living the Adventure
Text by Natalie Gallagher
Photos by Lauren Gantner



The energy in the small Northeast studio that Calpurnia Peach calls home was lively with enthusiasm and buzz as small groups of fashionable people waited for the designing duo, Luci Kandler and Ashley Wokasch, to debut their Spring 2010 line on Sunday afternoon.

For those unfamiliar with the name, Calpurnia Peach has branded itself as a whimsical, original clothing line for the girly-girl with good taste and a heart for story-telling. The hand-drawn screenprints make the designs immediately recognizable, and have been charming fashionistas for nearly three years.

“Calpurnia Peach is about living the adventure,” said Kandler, all smiles and satisfaction as she welcomed the audience and introduced the line. “We wanted to have fun, and we wanted to give our customer some of our best pieces.” When asked about the inspiration for the line, Kandler said that they wanted to play with “doing lace in a different way” by not making it delicate. The result: a funky twist on a Victorian-inspired print, featured throughout this season’s collection and paired with bright, fresh citrus colors.





The show started out with a sweet little dress with delicate criss-crossed back and a gray lace print on a full pineapple-yellow skirt. The line progressed with some usual suspects: a Kelly green capsleeve dress with impeccable princess seaming, shortly followed by a classic CP low-backed, gray-print-on-yellow minidress. There were nine looks in all, full skirts, ruffles, and plucky short dresses abounding.



A big, fabulous punch was the gray hooded zip-up vest, lined with electric red and rocking with a square-window cut back. The closing look—a stellar pomegranate-red cocktail one-shoulder cocktail dress with a sculpted bow and bodice—drew excited murmurs and some audible intakes of breath from the audience. Worth mentioning was the unveiling of brand new jewelry designer Leetal Kelman, whose gemmed creations are definitely worth watching for.


The verdict? Unanimous adulation.

“I loved the tiered dress,” said Steve Kang of St. Paul’s BlackBlue, referring to the duo’s eighth look, an orange sherbet-colored cupcake-style dress with a cutout back that tied into a bow. “It really stood out, with the color and detail.”


What’s really remarkable about the designers is that when you see them, you understand immediately what Calpurnia Peach is about. Kandler and Wokasch have thrown dashes of themselves into the effervescent persona that is Calpurnia Peach: sugar, spice, a little mischief and a lot of spunk. It’s that intersection of honesty and playfulness that characterize the brand and continue to distinguish the designs.

You can check out the goods for yourself locally at Design Collective and Picky Girl. Be sure to look for Calpurnia Peach this April at MNfashion’s Voltage: Fashion Amplified, where they’ll be designing for Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Weekend What's What 2/18-2/23

CREATE/PERFORM/REPEAT

Is it something about the severe seasonal fluctuations that keep Minnesota artists on their toes? Or are we really just incredibly lucky to have such a vigilant crop of creative geniuses in our midst? Perhaps it's both. We are continually impressed by the artistic output around these here parts and this weekend definitely pulls at our art-lovin' heart strings! From the massive Foot in the Door exhibit at the MIA to an agriculturally-inspired art installation at the Soap Factory and much more, we're simple dazzled by the ongoing imaginative vision of our local brethren and how they keep on truckin' through the the rough and the smooth. Kudos, Twin Cities!

xo-l'étoile



THIS WEEK ON L'ÉTOILE

Rob Callahan interviews the MIA's Christopher Atkins

Beth Hammarlund pays tribute to the late Alexander McQueen

Jahna Peloquin updates our guide to Winter Shopping and Sales


THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18TH

Foot in the Door 4

@ MIA
2400 3rd Ave. S.
Minneapolis

6-9 pm / free

Once every ten years, Minnesota artists converge on the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to contribute one small piece of visual art to a massive display of local vision and talent. The event is Foot In The Door, an exhibition open to any contributor with an offering of visual art that can fit into a 12 inch square space, or a video installment 80 seconds or less in length. Since 1980, Foot in the Door has celebrated the diversity and enthusiasm of Minnesota's visual arts community. Organized by the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program and held at the MIA, the fourth installment of this infrequent and wildly-popular exhibition promises to present the largest collection of art in the state of Minnesota.Artists range in age, experience, subject matter, medium – just about anything you can think of. This year, peep the new video gallery featuring 80-second long video works, plus groove to live music from Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles and a DJ set from Transmission's Jake Rudh. Don't forget to bring socks to donate to the Saint Stephen's charity sock drive and wear your most eccentric manolos to be included in the Flickr “Best Shoes in the Door” photo gallery!

Read Rob Callahan's interview with Foot in the Door coordinator, Christopher Atkins HERE.

Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com

photo by Erlin1 on flickr


THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18TH

Illo Minn: Volume Two

@ College of Visual Arts Gallery
173 Western Avenue
Saint Paul

6-8pm / Free

28 of our cities' successful and wildly talented illustrators will be showcased this evening at the College of Visual Arts. The biennial Illo Minn exhibition features original works by such artists as DC Ice, Adam Turman, Mike Carina, and Allen Brewer who will each display a traditional art piece alongside a custom-designed Munny to be auctioned off to benefit the CVA. In case you haven't heard, Munnys are the blank, customizable vinyl figures associated with the extremely popular Dunnys that designer toy collectors vie for. Each illustrator has created an original one-of-kind Munny and from what we've seen, they look pretty darn awesome. Head to the CVA Gallery tonight for the reception or stop in before the end of the show run on March 6th. Sponsored by our BFFs at ROBOTlove!

Click HERE for the CVA site



THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18TH

Dre Day 2010

@ Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Ave
Minneapolis

9pm-2am /$8 advance, $10 door / 21+

Like the Dr. Dre himself would say, "You never been on a ride like this befo' with a producer who can rap and control the maestro." For the 8th year in a row, Burlesque of North America celebrates the iconic rapper's day of birth. The Twin Cities Chronic Mothership Band deliver Dre classics, while Jimmy 2 Times & King Otto fill in the gaps by spinning "Chronically" good albums. Apparently there is a halftime show, which includes a down n' dirty dance performance by The Velvet Whips. Of course, Burlesque will have new Dre Day merch for sale and Espada returns once again for the $20 Sack Pyramid game. Holla!

Click HERE for the Burlesque site


THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18TH

Atlas Sound with Paragraphs and JG Everest

@The Whole at Coffman Union
300 Washington Avenue Southeast
Minneapolis

8pm /$7 for U of M students-$10 general

Relax this Thursday to the ambient grooves of Atlas Sound (the totally harmonious solo proj of Deerhunter frontman, Bradford Cox) as they jam out in the basement of Coffman Union. The band will be accompanied by the pleasant tuneage of post-rock trio, Paragraphs, as well as the soothing sounds of JG Everest. The night is bound to be both meditational and melody-filled...the perfect way to kick off the weekend!

Click HERE for the Facebook event

photo by Tim Schaar

FRIDAY ART PICK: NATE DUVAL

Get out of that cold, dull winter slump with the help of Nate Duval’s bright and vibrant art! He first caught our eye with his February desktop wallpaper especially made for design*sponge (download here). Now, we're hooked on his colorful, hand-drawn and hand-printed pieces that range from springy flowers to vivid deer to pastel pink buildings. Plus, the fanciful feel will definitely brighten up those dreary February days. And if you’re looking for something more than a cute desktop, his stuff is available in prints, posters and even on clothing.

Click HERE for the Nate Duval site




FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19TH

Queereographers' Evening

@ Patrick's Cabaret
3010 Minnehaha Ave. S.
Minneapolis

8-10pm / $8 adv, $10 door

Curated by the ever-thoughtful Matteo Kelli-Halbesleben, tonight's local dance extravaganza features original performances from homegrown artists and choreographers Jeremy Bensussan, Renee Copeland, Joe Chvala, John-Mark Hostetler and the always aberrant l'étoile fave, Jaime Carrera. Their unique footwork ranges from tap dance, experimental and percussive to interpretative and modern ballet works. And if the promos and the clever "Queereographers" moniker is any premonition, the show should be jam packed with provocative movements and pervasive gayness. Oh Patrick's Cabaret, you know what we like.

Click HERE for the Facebook event page

Image by Jaime Carrera, whose performance will center around body image


FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19TH

Pegasus: Love for Sale

@ Bedlam Theater
601 6th St. S
Minneapolis

10:30pm / $5 / 18+

If your Valentine’s Day was rough, let Pegasus cosole you. Lady Enchantress will MC away your woes, lovlies Maria, Kiera and Jared will DJ your heart back into one piece. Samuel DeLayMe presents some "science friction" (we hope that means it’s dirty) and there’s even a date raffle! Plus the ever-more-outrageous performances you've come to expect from the Pegasus gang, not to mention the best costumes you’ve seen all month. Dress for success!

Click HERE for the Bedlam site



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19TH

The Moongoons present: Forever Young

@ Old Soho Storefront
715 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis

10pm /18+ / $5 with RSVP, $7 without

Blow out ‘chya hair, order some jag bombs and get ready to fist pump! That’s right, local faves the Moon Goons are hosting the latest installment of their popular "Forever Young" dance party this Friday at the Old Soho Storefront. This time around, the boys have gone "Jersey Shore" on us, with more hair gel and Jersey accents than you ever thought possible! Hit the dance floor to a Three 6 Mafia mix or get bronzed up at the on-site “tanning booth” set-up. Personally, we're not sure how we feel about incorporating a "Bump-it" into our 'dos, but to each their own. In an example of irony gone to far, the below flier also makes us cringe, but it's worth the assault on your eyes simply for the hilariously photoshopped pics of the Moongoons boys!

Click HERE to RSVP for discounted admission



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19TH

Bouncer Fighter CD Release

@ Hexagon Bar
2600 27th Ave S
Minneapolis

9pm / 21+ / Free

Anti-Civ Records is having a weekend-long extravaganza! Tonight the rockin', rollin' lads (and lady) of Bouncer Fighter present to you their first full-length album, Guzzlemug. Children of Euler and Hawks & Oxen open. Drink a PBR and buy the album, then come back tomorrow night for more Anti-Civ excitement (see Saturday's listings below for more info).

Click HERE for the Facebook event



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19TH

Midnight Movie Society: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

@ Red Stag Supper Club
503 1st Avenue NE
Northeast Minneapolis

10:30pm / 21+ / $5 advance or $10 at door

If you missed the last super-fun edition of the Midnight Movie Society, tonight's your chance to make things right. Join our pals Vita.mn and DJ Jake Rudh for a themed soiree centering around the cult classic film, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Guests are encouraged to dress the part (ie-fabulous '60s sex kitten!) and prizes will be awarded to the best dressed and most participatory. Starting at 10:30pm, you'll be invited to sip cocktails, dance to tunes a la Jake Rudh and snack on the Stag's famous truffle oil-drizzled kettle corn. At midnight, join in on a complimentary midnight toast and get comfy for a screening of this delightfully campy, boob-fueled flick.

Click HERE for the Vita.mn site




COOL LINK: BANANA WHO

Banana Who will tell you everything you need to know about those new-fangled moving pictures. From inside the film industry, this fun website's writers give smart and entertaining reviews of movies that are still in the theaters. Banana Who offers a more in-depth, off-beat alternative to newspaper reviews. Also, check out their "Best Movies of the Decade" list, complete with detailed graphs. This is a well-designed, informative and fun guide to which movies are worth your time and 10 bucks.

Click HERE for the Banana Who site



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20th

Michon Weeks: New Work

@ 801 Lofts
801 Washington Ave North
Minneapolis

6-9pm / Free

As a child, Michon Weeks always loved to build things out of Lego blocks or create mittens with her set of knitting needles. Now, she translates those same ideas into artwork! Weeks is showing off her collection of grid-like, inspired work this Saturday at the 801 Lofts. Stop by from 6-9pm to peep eight of her zigzagging, isometric, 3-D paintings and drawings. The exhibit will not only showcase her pieces but will also feature the likes of local artists such as Mary Bergs, Joe Michaud Scorza, Karl Unnasch, Kat Corrigan, Lynn Tanaka, and Marie Olafsdotter.

Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH

Cutters Ball

@ Angry Catfish
4208 28th Ave. S.
Minneapolis

8pm / Free

If you haven't already heard, Angry Catfish Bicycle is MPLS' greenest addition to the local coffee house circuit – in more ways than one. It proudly serves delicious Intelligentsia coffee and tea and parked outside you'll see some of the coolest fixed gears in town. Tonight, ACB hosts the 1st annual Cutters Ball – an indie fest of full of awesome giveaways and underground bike culture. Featuring prizes from Kinetic Trainers, Speedhound, Handsome Bicycle Co., Banjo Brothers and more! Plus, free beer, tasty carnivore and veggie eats and live music by Four on the Floor. There will also be free shuttle rides running to and fro from the Bloomington Marriot and other local hotels for all the out-of-town FrostBike attendees.

Click HERE for the Angry Catfish Facebook



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH

New Land of Milk and Honey

@ Soap Factory
518 2nd St. SE.
Minneapolis

7-11pm, special performance at 8pm / Free

Maybe it's our obsession with boys with long hair, but secretly we've always wanted to live on a commune – just like Winona Ryder or the peeps in Big Love, minus the polygamy. The harmony, the togetherness, the folk jams, it's like one big happy hippie family! Well now, thanks to the artists of the New Land of Milk and Honey we can explore Midwestern commune life without even leaving MPLS grounds. Artists Annie Larson, Brett Smith and Erin Smith invite you to sneak a peep at their blooming western Wisconsin community where artistic endeavors flourish and creativity is celebrated. Tonight, explore their realms as the artists unveil a presentation of their current commune project featuring knitting works, electronic sleep, ley/tectonic farm acceleration, solar wave exchange, prenatal learning and more! Opening performance includes a collaboration with video artist/ritual specialist, Adrian Freeman and choreographer AnnMarie Freeman. Who knows, after this show you might wanna quit your job and go commune hunting!

Co-sponsored by l'etoile magazine!

Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com



SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH

Chickadee Mountain Martyrs CD Release Show

@ Hexagon Bar
2600 27th Ave S
Minneapolis

9pm / Free

Oh my. A show like this hasn’t happened in a while. Amazing locals Dark Dark Dark and Knife World open for the wild, wild Chickdee Mountain Martyrs on this special night at das Hex! The Martyrs have captured a healthy dose of quirky, violin-encrusted Americana on their latest release, Comeuppance on Anti-Civ Records; a disc you really ought to make a point to snap up tonight between swillin' beer and rockin' out!

Click HERE for the Hexagon site


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH

Dearling Physique

@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Ave.
Minneapolis

10pm / 21+ / Free

Get a sneak preview of what's to come on Dearling Physique's much-anticipated and soon-to-be-released new album tonight at Clubhouse Jager! Dom Davis and cohorts will be teasing your ears with their spooky yet danceworthy brand of electro experimentation and futurism. Not to mention, Dom and co. win serious l'etoile style points for their theatrical stage presence and deliciously brazen fashion statements. We love! Tonight, if only for one night, Clubhouse Jager IS the future.

Click HERE for the Dearling Physique site

Photo by Betsy Munro

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH

E.G. Baily "American Afrikan" CD Release

@ Bedlam Theatre
1501 6th St S.
Minneapolis

10pm / 18+ / $5 advance

This weekend, E.G. Bailey is going to drop a bomb — a “proverbial bomb” that is! On Saturday, the Bedlam Theatre hosts the release show for Bailey’s debut album, titled AMERICAN AFRIKAN, showcasing his creative mix of powerful spoken word, preformance art and hip-hop/funk/jazz/electronic music. Additionally, the night will feature the work of many more artists and musicians like Guante, Mankwe Ndosi, Truthmaze, Chantz Erolin, Aimee Bryant, Ibé Kaba, Sankaradjeki, Dameun Strange, Kahlil Brewington, DJ Stage One and more.

Click HERE for the Bedlam site


SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: TEARIST

William and Yasmine of Tearist are cool in ways they don't even understand yet. Thankfully, we don't have to understand them to enjoy their awesomeness. Known to play in warehouse basements and on the roofs of convenience stores, the pair define “exquisite Dark Wave.” Like Siouxsie gone minimal, LA's Tearist is a goth disco freak-out duo with in-your-face synth riffs and avant garde vocal bruising. Not to mention we have a total girl crush on lead singer Yasmine Kittles! Yasmine has been called the lovechild of Amy Winehouse and PJ Harvey and when it comes to taste, the lady knows her sh*t, quoting Situationist Guy Debord and French playwright Antonin Artaud as influences. Back in '09, Yasmine caught our attention when she teamed up with comedy sketch artist Eric Wareheim to create a zany music video featuring odd dancing and fully-clothed pseudosexual escapades – including an '80s montage of aerial muff-diving acrobatics – all set to Bat for Lashes “Daniel.” Hilar!

Yasmine Kittles and Eric Wareheim's “In Lust” video on Vimeo:

IN LUST from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.



TUESDAY FEBRUARY 23RD

JagerCon: Sci-Fi Tuesdays

@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Avenue N.
Minneapolis

Every Tuesday
10 p.m. / 21+ / Free

Join hosts Kate Iverson (l'étoile magazine, Secrets of the City) and Beth Hammarlund (l'étoile magazine, A Tiny Machine) every Tuesday Night for JagerCon! JagerCon is a weekly sci-fi party featuring screenings of classic nerdy movies and television shows -- topped off with 2-4-1 cocktails all night served by Star Captain Paul!

Mingle with like-minded sci-fi geeks, discuss D&D strategies, and use that Captain Picard impression you've been perfecting to pick up chicks at the bar. Snort-laugh the night away while bragging about your MMORPG addiction and enjoy a cozy, nerd-friendly environment.

Upcoming Events:

FEB 23: Nightwatch
MAR 2: The Hunger

This week's flick is Night Watch (the Russian version with typographically amazing english subtitles)



GUEST BLOGGER: A TINY MACHINE

Beth Hammarlund tips us off to a striking similarity between a local and an international designer.

Twinsies!

Great minds think alike! On the left is a new look from Richard Chai, on the right one of Emma Berg's looks from last fall. Keep an eye out for Miss Emma. She's going places.

Click HERE for more from A Tiny Machine



GUEST BLOGGER: LE PETIT CONNASSIUER
Jahna Peloquin features NY Fashion week pics by local shutterbug, Stephanie Colgan.

Stephanie Colgan shoots New York Fashion Week

Just received these gorgeous shots from local photographer Stephanie Colgan, who is in New York shooting Fashion Week for The New York Times. She shot Norma Kamali and 3.1 Phillip Lim for the Times, as well as Simon Spurr, Rad Hourani and Badgley Mischka independently. Stephanie is the staff photographer for Voltage 2010 and I'm looking forward to styling the Voltage lookbook shoot with her this weekend.

Click HERE for more from Le Petit Connaisseur



NEWSWIRE

Tickets on Sale now for the Official Oscar Night Party co-sponsored by l'etoile!


This stylish evening of glitz and glam at the Hotel Ivy marks the first year that the Aegis Foundation is at the helm of the official Academy-sanctioned Oscar Night Bash in Minneapolis. This fabulous event is the ideal night out for film aficionados, fashion fanatics, and people who want to have an exciting Hollywood-themed evening -- all while helping support two great local organizations, www.SmileNetwork.org & www.Reclaim-lgbtyouth.org . This ticketed benefit event is all ages and open to the public. Click HERE for tickets. Co-Sponsored by l'etoile!

WIN TICKETS!

Want to come to the Official Oscars party at the Hotel Ivy? Show us your celebrity look alike and you might win two tix AND a limo ride to the party AND a makeover! Click HERE to enter the contest.


Vote for XYandZ Gallery's public art project in the Pepsi Great Idea Contest!

Locally-based artist co-op the XYandZ Gallery has thrown their hat into the ring for the Pepsi Great Idea Contest! Each month, the soft drink giant plans to give away $1,300,000 in grants to artists and dreamers. In other words, peeps with great ideas! XYandZ has proposed a big public art project to transform vacant buildings in the Twin Cities into art installations. They are going for a $50,000 grant for the project. VOTE HERE to move them up in the rankings! They are hovering around #40 right now, but with your help we can push them up and beautify the Twin Cities at the same time! Voting runs through Feb 28th.

Editor in Chief: Kate Iverson // Contributors: Lacey Prpic Hedtke, Juleana Enright, Lauren Gantner, Kate Iverson, Rob Callahan, Beth Hammarlund, Jahna Peloquin

Opportunity Knocks Once A Decade

by Rob Callahan

Once every ten years, Minnesota artists converge on the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to contribute one small piece of visual art to a massive display of local vision and talent. The event is Foot In The Door, an exhibition open to any contributor with an offering of visual art that can fit into a 12 inch square space, or a video installment 80 seconds or less in length. Since 1980, Foot in the Door has celebrated the diversity and enthusiasm of Minnesota's visual arts community. Organized by the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program and held at the MIA, the fourth installment of this infrequent and wildly-popular exhibition promises to present the largest collection of art in the state of Minnesota.

photo by Erlin1 on flickr

l'etoile recently tracked down MAEP Coordinator Christopher Atkins and, in between frantic last minute preparations, got him to tell us a little more about the upcoming Foot In The Door 4:

What was the impetus behind the first Foot In The Door?

When Foot in the Door began in 1980, it was an opportunity for the artists of the state to have their work on display in the museum. But more importantly, and what we've made a point to carry through this year, is to focus on vast quantity of artists and their creative spirit rather than selection. After all, any artwork that fits into the box is in the show.

How did you come to be involved in Foot In The Door?

I started as the Coordinator of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program last March. In the first few months we made some early preparations for Foot in the Door. We knew it was coming, the public was getting excited and there was lots of work to be done in order to prepare.

How much of the MIA is being utilized for Foot In The Door 4? Do you have a cutoff point or will you fill as much of the Institute as you need?


Our original plans were to fill the two MAEP galleries on the 2nd Floor of the Target Wing. With the massive popularity of the show and the support of our staff, we've filled both of those galleries, spilled into and filled a 3rd, and are now going into the atrium space. It's unprecedented how big this show has become and how many people have chipped in to make it happen.

photo by Erlin1 on flickr

Are there artists that come to mind who have been featured at Foot In The Door in the past, who have have gone on to enjoy great recognition and success?

None that I know of. To be honest, if you're hoping to be discovered, you're missing the point of the show. As you'll see when the show is open, what we what to emphasize is Foot in the Door is about participating in the Minnesota arts community and showing just how many people identify as artists.

Foot In The Door is a once-in-a-decade event. Why not have it more frequently?


Why not do it more frequently? If you were here working with us over the past few weeks, I think you'd understand [laughing].

Are there any participants this year that you are especially excited about?

Again, we're excited for everyone to be a part of the show rather than any single artwork. Of course, people will see pieces they like and are really excited about. But it's important to step back and see this as a massive creative effort: all of the artwork submitted that has been hung in a massive salon style format as well as the sheer effort of making it happen. It couldn't have been done without so much help from MIA staff and volunteers, everyone was so excited to help and be part of the show.

Aside from the involvement of the MIA, what other organizations and events are integral to Foot In The Door's success?

I may have answered this already but everyone here at the museum really pulled together. We knew people wanted to have their work in the show but they were also so willing to help with everything from data entry to registration to filing to being cheerleaders for the show. It really takes a village...


The Event: Foot in the Door 4, Opening Reception By: Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP) When: Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 6pm to 9pm Where: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts 2400 Third Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404 (888) MIA ARTS (642-2787)
www.artsmia.org