Sorry, we couldn't resist the play on words! Christmas is officially here: the gifts are wrapped and the eggnog is ready to be sipped (or guzzled)...what more could you want, right? Well, we here at l'etoile believe in the mantra of "more." Despite a lesser lineup of snazzy events this weekend due to the holiday, there are still a handful of spirited soirees at which you can festively frolic after spending some quality time with the fam. Leave the roasting of chestnuts by an open fire for the next Snowmaggedon - you've got places to go and and people to see!
xo-l'etoile
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23RD
Grant Cutler & the Gorgeous Lords, Satellite Voices, and Party House
@ Triple Rock
629 Cedar Avenue
Minneapolis
8pm / 18+ / $5
This time of year can be seriously depressing for some peeps - long, dark nights, 4 feet of snow, and endless cold...luckily the Triple Rock has just the triple bill to wallow in holiday misery. Belly up to the bar, grab a whiskey, and brood to the drone pop sounds of Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords, along with the somber shoe-gaze of Party House and the introspective, melancholy music of Satellite Voices.
Click HERE for the Triple Rock site
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23RD
Cyn Hosts: Paul Pirner & friends w/ Black Audience
@ Palmers
500 Cedar Ave
Minneapolis
9:30 p.m. / 21+
Matriarch of the air waves and music savant, Cyn Collins understands your holiday struggles. Wrapping this, buying that, telling carolers to go...well, you know. This end of the season stress is enough to throw momma from the train – metaphorically, of course. So tonight, before anyone has a misdemeanor on their hands, put down the miles of wrapping paper, don't even think about fruitcake and head down to the West Bank for some gritty live music. Featuring an energetic set from local rock n' roller Paul Pirner as well as a rare performance from local faves Black Audience, who will shell out their renditions of vintage blues and gospel for quite the spellbinding hootenanny.
Click HERE for the Facebook event
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23RD
Melismatics, Thrush, and Mayda
@ Cause
3001 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis
9:30 p.m. / $7
Ok, now that the name controversy over the Lyn-Lake hang-out is behind us, can we start talking about why this place is one of our faves? Not only is it a great and ultra-necessary addition to the Uptown music scene, but it offers a chill, regularly douche-bag-free atmosphere, inexpensive yet tasty drinks and specials, plus a constant stream of awesome bands and DJs appearing nightly on the roster. And tonight is definitely no exception. Join high-rolling indie-rockers, The Melismatics for a euphoric jam sesh with fellow rockers and 3-piece supergroup, Thrush – featuring Phil Solem (The Rembrandts), John Fields and Michael Bland – PLUS a sassy live set from pint-sized nu-R&B power puncher, Mayda.
Click HERE for the Cause site
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23RD
January Blowout happening in December
@ Turf Club
University & Snelling
St. Paul
9 p.m. / 21+ / $7
The 5th Annual January Blowout (happening in December this year) features a slick line up of local bands that will get you properly pumped for holiday schmoozing (and boozing, if your family is anything like ours). Rock out to the festive stylings of Birthday Suits, The Blind Shake, Vampire Hands, and Red Pens...and consider it an early x-mas gift to yourself!
Click HERE for the Turf Club site
Photo of Birthday Suits by Josh Madson
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23RD
SynthaClaus
@Jetset Bar
115 1st St N
Minneapolis
10 p.m. / 21+ / Free
There will be no fa-la-la-ing at this Christmas-themed dance party. The good and wonderful folk at downtown's Jetset are revving up the holiday spirit just in time for festivus, so forget that conservative jingle bells-themed sweater your grandmother expects to see you in every year and put on something that screams "naughty elf." And to make matters cooler, l'etoile pal, former local and current NYC troublemaker Hilary Davis will be back in town and spinning her own personal brand of holiday synth. Go ahead... bring out your dancing stockings.
Click HERE for the Facebook event
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23RD
Wants Vs. Needs/Get Cryphy
@ Honey
205 East Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis
10 p.m. / 18+ / $5
We didn't think it could possibly get any more ridiculous, any sweatier or any crazier than Wants Vs. Needs or Get Cryphy individually. That is until Honey goes ahead and decides to roll them both into one night, at the same time. For real. Double the party, double the fun, double the hot people wandering all around... nothing screams "festive" like a little red-and-green dance-a-thon. All this, with SIX of the party-startin'-est DJs in town? Honestly, we're a little afraid!
Click HERE for the Facebook event
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23RD
A Very Sexy Christmas
@ Memory Lanes
2520 26th Ave S
Minneapolis
10 p.m./ Free
Admit it, all you want for Christmas is burlesque, bowling, and rock n’ roll! Fortunately, Memory Lanes and Tomahawk Tassels have you covered (or not so much) with A Very Sexy Christmas, happening Thursday. The Sex Rays (the Link Wray-esque party rock trio started by Joes Hastings and Holland) along with Brian Herb and Eddy Burke will be playing, with Tomahawk Tassels, Elektra Cute, Dahlia Dulce and making things bright with some burlesque. Now that’s what we call a Christmas to remember.
Click HERE for the Facebook event
FRIDAY ART PICK: D.I.Y. ORNAMENT MOBILE
What's l'etoile looking at this week?
Ah, the annual yuletide dilemma: put up a lame plastic Christmas tree or bear the snow, ice, and sap for a real one? For those of you who still haven’t decided the lesser of two evils – or are itching to impress friends with a holiday craft that isn’t a crocheted scarf – the sassy DIY blog Not Martha has come up with a super cute tree-shaped ornament mobile. All you need are ornaments (of the shiny green sort, unless you’re going for irony this season), jewelrystring, hooks...and a steamer rack? Well, nobody said decking the halls (or living room) was easy, but at least this craft is guaranteed to impress.
Click HERE for the Not Martha site
FRIDAY DECEMBER 24TH
Blush!
@ Lush
990 Central Ave NE
Minneapolis
10 p.m. / 21+/ free
After the stockings are stuffed, the presents perfectly arranged beneath the tree and grandma's passed out in wool socks and a moo moo on the couch, Lush welcomes you to sneak out into the NE tundra for a Christmas Eve celebration strictly for the hip and smokin' dames of the Twin Cities. DJ Paris heads up the decks providing hot, dance-worth tunes as you enjoy icy cocktails and delightful eye candy. After all, it's not Christmas Eve without a rolicking dance party at the gay bar, if you ask us.
Click HERE for the Facebook event
FRIDAY DECEMBER 24TH
Stocking Stuffers: The Christmas Eve Dance Party
@ 7th St Entry
701 1st Ave N
Minneapolis
9 p.m. / $3
Spreading some serious Christmas cheer – and let’s be honest, providing refuge from your crazy relatives – are DJs Espada (Wants vs Needs) and Mike 2600 (Extra Large), who’ll be rocking four turntables at the Entry all Christmas Eve long! The party is “Stocking Stuffers,” and the music is anything but carols: hip hop, funk, and everything else that gets you dancing, nine ladies style (see, told you a break in holiday festivities was a good idea).
Click HERE for the First Ave site
Other bars confirmed open on Christmas eve:
501 Club
331 Club
Palmer's
CC Club
COOL LINK: TINY THINGS ARE CUTE
What's l'etoile lookin' at on the web this week?
It's a well-known and highly researched fact that tiny things are cute. In fact, we would even venture to say that tiny things are almost ALWAYS cuter than regular-sized things. Case and point number one: micro pigs vs. potbellied pigs. And case and point number two: the adorable site, Tiny Things are Cute. Separated into preciously clever little categories like “things you never knew you wanted,” “seasonal and holiday fun,” “paper pretties” and more, it's easy to find little wonders, wily whatnots and miniature lovelies – exactly the sort of array of stuff that you never thought you'd ever want and now need to have. Order a cute holiday gift...for yourself!
Click HERE for the website
SATURDAY DECEMBER 25TH
Silent Night Holy Oulman II
@ 331 Club
331 13th Ave NE
Minneapolis
6 p.m. to 2 a.m. / 21+ / Free
We can always count on the 331 to welcome all ye merry holiday orphans on Christmas Day. Show up early for some complimentary grub served up by Jon Oulman and stick around for cheap dranks and good company. Owners Jon and Jarret Oulman along with Dani Fenn and Joe Ward will make up the cheery holiday staff at the 331club for Christmas night. Come one, come all!
Click HERE for the Facebook event
SATURDAY DECEMBER 25TH
Grant Hart Christmas Show
@ The Entry
701 1st Ave N
Minneapolis
8pm/ 18+/ $8
Founder of legendary local band, Hüsker Dü, Grant Hart has been holding his own in the Twin Cities for years – in the true style of punkdom. Aside from rock and roll production, Hart's has dipped his fingers in the artist realm working on visual arts and poetry and even sharing stages with lyrical geniuses Patti Smith, Philip Glass and William S. Burroughs. Tonight, don't miss the music veteran and literary sprite himself live and ready to vamp up your Christmas with punk anthems and rock riffs; umlauts optional. Red Pens and Sex Rays open.
BONUS: Want to get your dance on? TML will be in full effect in the mainroom, and BLACK will fulfill your holiday techno needs in the Record Room!
Click HERE for the First Ave site
SATURDAY DECEMBER 25TH
Naughty or Nice? X-mas Mistletoe Mash Up!
@ Suburban World Theater
3022 Hennepin Ave. S.
Minneapolis
8 p.m. / 21+ / $8
The stockings are unstuffed, the presents are opened, the Bailey’s is gone – it’s high time for a dance party, we say! Dash, prance, and otherwise make your way to the Suburban World Theater Christmas day eve, where “Naughty or Nice? X-mas Mistletoe Mashup” begins with a holiday mix crafted by Jon Nelson, mastermind behind the “Some Assembly Required” radio show, followed by a performance by Hastings 3000. The rest of the evening, throw all shame to the wind and dance your heart out to a mashup of electro, disco, funk, rock, and “crazy dance shizz” courtesy DJ’s Anthem Heart, Bach, and Molotov Cocktail. Even merrier, there will be an Anthem Heart A/V video presentation, free X-mas snacks aplenty, and a mistletoe photo (kissing) booth. Bonus: Burlesque babes Tomahawk Tassels and Dahlia Dulce will be go-go-dancing up a storm throughout the evening. We'll be there with bells on...possibly literally.
Click HERE for the Facebook event
SATURDAY DECEMBER 25TH
Staraoke
@ Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Ave
West Bank
9 p.m. / Free
Join Arzu for her annual Christmas installment of Staraoke karaoke at the Triple Rock! Drink the pain of mom's traditional holiday nagging away and sing your own personal rendition of Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown" in honor of the holidays. One of the Twin Cities time honored traditions, the T-Rock's annual Christmas night karaoke blowout is always one for the holiday history books!
Click HERE for the Triple Rock site
SATURDAY DECEMBER 25TH
Funky Christmas w/ DJ Blowtorch + So Supreme
@ Spring Street Tavern
355 Monroe St NE
Minneapolis
9 p.m. / 21+/ free
Whether you love your family to death or feel like you were perhaps delivered to aliens, there comes a point in the holiday season where you need an alternative to watching A Christmas Story for the umpteenth time in footsies. We hear ya, friends. This Christmas, look no further than Spring Street's epic Funky Christmas bash to spark up your night and put a little ounce in your bounce. Tonight's no-cover Xmas party features funk-tastic DJ sets from Bomp regular, Shannon Blowtorch, and Jason “So Supreme” Sanders. Expect to get down 'n' dirty on the dance floor and – because the night is sponsored by PBR – be prepared for awesome beer-fueled giveaways and $2.75 Tall Boy specials all evening long. Deck the halls indeed!
Click HERE for the Facebook event
L'ETOILE NEWSWIRE
mnartists.org needs your opinion!
Pals and peeps, our friends at mnartists.org need your help to compile a quick and easy end of the year questionnaire. Part "best of the year" questions, part user/member-driven
feedback, the questionnaire is an awesome way to give recognition to the artists, organizations, events and artwork that made 2010 an amazing year for Minnesota's art community and flaunt your favorites. mnartists will collate the info into a series of blog entries posted in weeks to come. Plus, compete the survey and you'll be entered to win a complimentary Walker Art Center membership or a Walker Art Center Shop gift certificate! It pays to have an opinion. Click HERE to complete the survey!Editor in Chief: Kate Iverson // Contributors: Juleana Enright, Tara Sloane, Lauren Gantner, Natalie Gallagher, Kate Iverson, Robyn Lewis, Jahna Peloquin
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