Calendar of Events in Minneapolis

Saturday, January 12
• 
  WRESTLEPALOOZA
  First Avenue

  If you've never seen live professional wrestling, you're missing out. The combination of spectacle, sport, and hilarity is something you can't find anywhere else, and the crew at F1RST Wrestling is taking it to a whole other level this week at First Avenue. Wrestlepalooza will feature high-flying, bone-splitting Lucha Libre-style wrestling, with "The Anarchist" Arik Cannon, Sheik Arya... More >>

• 
  24:00:00 Xtreme Theatre Smackdown
  Anne Simley Theatre

  What happens when a piece of theater is written, cast, rehearsed, and performed within the span of 24 hours? Theatre Unbound's 24:00:00 Xtreme Theatre Smackdown festival answers this question while entertaining audiences. Each November, folks are invited to suggest theatrical elements, via the event's Facebook account, that they would like to see in productions. Then, in December, people vote... More >>

• 
  Priscilla Queen of the Desert
  Orpheum Theatre

  When weighing theatrical merit, audiences can be forgiven for feeling a degree of skepticism toward musicals most heavily praised for their costume design. Indeed, the supposed compliment could be of the backhanded variety, suggesting empty spectacle over edifying substance. In the instance of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, however, the wardrobe practically demands attention, as it boasts... More >>

• 
  Fuck Knights
  Turf Club

  Armed with a loud bass, a louder, pencil-strummed guitar and a deceptively stripped-down drumkit, Fuck Knights have spent the past few years proudly upholding the hallowed tradition of EZ-setup portable scuzz-rock. Just set 'em up on the floor, wait for the crowd gather around and let 'er rip -- perfect for basement shows or VFW halls or anywhere the situation calls for '60s-vintage garage... More >>

• 
  International Reggae All-Stars
  High Five Bar & Grill

  Make all the jokes you want about the climate differences between Kingston and Minneapolis, but the cultural ones aren't as hard to reconcile. The aptly dubbed Lynval "Golden Voice" Jackson and his band have been a welcome and frequent presence in Twin Cities clubs for years now, and they're serious about the bonafides in their name. We're not just talking the international aspect -- other... More >>

• 
  Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Convention
  Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

  Folks looking to add some ink to prime real estate on their bodies may want to check out the fourth annual Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Convention. Over the next three days, artists from around the country will be in town to showcase their work, chat with potential clients, and tattoo skin. Do you have a piece that you are especially proud of? Each day there will be contests where inked attendees... More >>

• 
  Out There 25: The Method Gun
  Walker Art Center

  January is a great month for taking in edgy performances in the Twin Cities. This is in large part due to the Walker's annual Out There series, a month-long showcase of groundbreaking work from all over the world. This year, the event will explore themes of reality, identity, and myth. For opening weekend, Texas-based Rude Mechanicals will present The Method Gun, a play that pokes fun at... More >>

• 
  Winter Trails Day
  Fort Snelling State Park

  It might seem counterintuitive to spend time enjoying the outdoors when temperatures are dropping. However, a little snow and freezing windchill never stopped Minnesotans from heading out into nature. This Saturday, experts will be on hand at Fort Snelling State Park with suggestions and information on how you can enjoy the winter months outside. Here, local organizations and experts from REI... More >>

• 
  Minnesota Nice
  Gallery 122 At Hang It

  They say you have to give a little to get a little. This is certainly the case for "Minnesota Nice," a benefit art exhibition. At this group show, local print artists will be exhibiting and selling limited-edition, signed, and numbered pieces that all have a healthy dose of Minnesota flavor. The event features artists who often draw inspiration from our fair state, including Adam Turman, Miss... More >>

• 
  Resident Artists IX: Rule of Thirds
  Altered Esthetics

  If Schoolhouse Rock taught kids of the '70s and '80s anything, it was that three is a magic number. It shows up frequently in religious texts, mathematical equations, science theories, and history. For Altered Esthetics' latest group show, artists will be exploring the influence and impact three has had on their artwork. For Melissa Borman, this means presenting her sea-level photography in... More >>

• More Saturday Events >>

Sunday, January 13
• 
  MN Unearthed Film Series: A Night of New & Rarely Seen Short Films
  Trylon microcinema

  This Sunday, MN Unearthed Film Series returns to showcase unusual award-winning films by local filmmakers. The evening, however, will open with a screening of two films penned by British scholar Neil Fox: the mourning-themed It's Natural to Be Afraid and the French new wave/noir style Clandestine (scored by Sigur Ros). Both pieces will serve as reference points, as his latest work, A Passing... More >>

• 
  Erik Griffin
  Rick Bronson's House of Comedy

  "People don't fail," insists comedian Erik Griffin, "they quit." In 2003, Griffin left his job as a school administrator and teacher to pursue his dream of becoming a standup comedian. With the support of his family, his savings account, and hard work, he's now living that dream. "Ten years later, here I am. Things are going well." In addition to headlining clubs across the country, Griffin... More >>

• 
  Jawaahir Dance Company's 20th Annual Henna Party
  Jawaahir Dance Studio Theater

  This Sunday, Jawaahir dance studio will open its door and invite folks to partake in a celebration of Middle Eastern arts. The party kicks off with a short performance from Jawaahir Dance Studio. Afterward, the dance floor will open up for all revelers with informal dance instruction, music, and fun. There will be food and drinks to snack on, and folks who would like to commemorate the... More >>

• 
  As You Like It
  Guthrie Theater

  Looming as largely as it does over local theater, the Guthrie Theater is guaranteed to face scrutiny over its every creative decision. One initiative that's been difficult to criticize, however, is the theater's continuing partnership with the Acting Company, one of the country's most lauded touring companies. With past collaborations having provided some of the more memorable takes on... More >>

• 
  Undertow: Rebecca Krinke and Elaine Rutherford
  Rosalux Gallery

  Rebecca Krinke's multimedia installations — particularly those in public places — elicit strong reactions. Tears. Memories. Storytelling. She has a remarkable ability to tap into the deepest recesses of emotion with seemingly simple concepts that invite viewers into a complexity of response. This weekend, she's presenting new work at Rosalux in which her black-bound notebooks,... More >>

• 
  Open Blues Jam with Moses Oakland
  Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues Uptown

  Moses Oakland relocated from the Bay Area to the Twin Cities back in 1987, and since then -- well, it'd probably be easier and less space-consuming to list all the venues he hasn't played and the legends he hasn't gigged with. A blues, soul and jazz aficionado well-versed in a wide array of guitar styles, Oakland has held court at the Calhoun Square Famous Dave's since 2000, and his weekly... More >>

• 
  El Willy's Vive! Open Mic Comedy
  Willy's

  There's a chance to slip in one more comedy show before the end of the week every Sunday at El Willy's Vive! Not only is this your last opportunity to catch a laugh before the start of the work week, it's also one of the metro's quirkiest open mics. Host Corey Adam has a wrestling promoter's flair for gimmicks and special events, including the open-mic cage fights that pit new comics in a... More >>

• More Sunday Events >>

Monday, January 14
• 
  Articulating the Infinite
  Traffic Zone Center For Visual Art

  By deploying his triple-threat artistry — as a printmaker, paper maker, and book artist — Jeff Rathermel investigates the almost-microscopic detail of the infinite universe in his new show. Of his varied investigations, in which simple type or images are reiterated to invoke the mystery of recognition, one in particular stands out. The anthropomorphic Alpha and Omega is composed... More >>

• 
  Daily Happy Hours
  The Lowbrow

  Things are happening in the Kingfield neighborhood. A few years ago the area was considered more residential; if you wanted to barhop your best bet was to stay in the Lyn-Lake area just north of the region. However, thanks to places like King's Wine Bar, Patisserie 46, and Jack's (formerly Java Jack), which has added wine and beer to its menu, the area is bustling with activity. The Lowbrow... More >>

• 
  Wells Fargo Winter Skate
  Landmark Plaza

  Downtown St. Paul's ice rink returns this holiday season with months of free, open skating. Folks looking to burn off some extra calories or wear out the kids will want to dust off their skates and head over to the rink, which features urban cityscape views and plenty of other things to do nearby. Don't have skates? You can rent a pair for a mere $2. Rice Park will also be extra festive as it... More >>

• 
  Weekly Happy Hours
  Blackbird

  Although many restaurants close over the years, few are forced to do so because of fire. This is what happened at Blackbird's original 50th and Bryant location in 2010. A benefit party and a new lease later, the pleasant little restaurant has flourished in its new digs at 38th and Nicollet. The decor is charmingly artsy and features an odd mix of steel chairs, warm lighting, church pews, and... More >>

• 
  Dr. Mambo's Combo
  Bunker's Music Bar & Grill

  1987 was a notable year for Minnesota: the Twins won the World Series, Prince released one of his best albums in Sign 'O' the Times, and St. Louis Park's own Coen Brothers released their first great comedy Raising Arizona. 1987 was also the year that Dr. Mambo's Combo was formed, and it just so happens that their crowd-pleasing funk/R&B sound has endured well enough to land them a regular... More >>

• More Monday Events >>

Tuesday, January 15
• 
  Hidden
  Regis Center For Art

  Whether viewing a mountain in Mongolia via iPad video or examining the fine ink lines proscribing a murder of crows, a newcomer to Zhang Meng's quiet work quickly becomes lost in contemplation. Meng, who is dean of the School of Digital Media Arts at the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, explores collisions of technology and tradition in his work. His figures, not surprisingly, occupy a liminal... More >>

• 
  Cory Wong Quartet
  Artists' Quarter

  Usually when someone's referred to as one of the best-kept secrets in town, it's an aspiring journeyman or a niche-genre artist that's flying under the radar. But as the weekly resident of one of St. Paul's premier clubs, Cory Wong doesn't quite fit under either category -- the jazz-and-more guitarist is a seasoned virtuoso whose crossover appeal actually led to one of his solo pieces,... More >>

• 
  China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy
  Minneapolis Institute of Arts

  Some people look forward to turning 16, others eagerly await the day they can retire. The First Emperor of China, Qin Shihuang (259-210 BCE), looked forward to death. But before he could kick back and enjoy immortality in the afterlife, the ruler had to make sure that he went out in style. He began planning for his big day shortly after his ascension to the throne at 13 years old, and work on... More >>

• 
  Date Night: Tasting for Two
  Kings Wine Bar

  While the official name of this Tuesday-night special isn't cheap date night, it certainly works as an affordable outing for you and your sweetie (or budding relationship). For $45 couples can enjoy three courses, plus dessert, with each plate thoughtfully paired with a pour from the wine menu. Nestled in the cozy—but quickly expanding—corner of 46th and Grand Avenue in the... More >>

• 
  Open Skate
  The Depot

  Neighborhood rinks in parks can be a lot of fun, but experienced skaters know that there's a certain joy that comes with skating on smooth, well-maintained ice. Even better? With indoor rinks, skaters don't have to worry about outside temps or windchill. The Depot Rink, with its modern amenities built inside of an old train shed, is one such space. The rink has been name-checked as a favorite... More >>

• More Tuesday Events >>

Wednesday, January 16
• 
  Aida
  Pantages Theatre

  The product of a new partnership between Theatre Latte Da and the Hennepin Theatre Trust, Tim Rice and Elton John's Aida promises to be a strong opening to the 2013 theater season. The musical may have been developed under the auspices of Disney, but the piece, based on Verdi's opera, is a dark journey that explores issues of slavery, colonialism, and doomed love. It's also an opportunity for... More >>

• 
  As You Like It
  Guthrie Theater

  Looming as largely as it does over local theater, the Guthrie Theater is guaranteed to face scrutiny over its every creative decision. One initiative that's been difficult to criticize, however, is the theater's continuing partnership with the Acting Company, one of the country's most lauded touring companies. With past collaborations having provided some of the more memorable takes on... More >>

• 
  An Archeology of Color
  Bloomington Theater and Art Center

  In abstract art, the use of color can form a narrative, suggest an emotion, or speak to its audience in a language all its own. Artists Shawn McNulty and Silvana LaCreta Ravena use multiple layers of color in their paintings to tell a story and explore various concepts. McNulty stacks color upon color on each canvas. He then uses knives and other scraping tools to reveal the depth of texture... More >>

• 
  Open Mic
  The Joke Joint Comedy Club

  It was a potentially risky gambit for the Joke Joint to relocate from its former spot at the Ramada Inn in Bloomington, near the high-traffic area of the MOA, but the move across the river to Lilydale near South St. Paul proved fortuitous. The new digs, in the old Diamond Jim's location with its cozy balcony and old-fashioned saloon motif, is a distinctive and intimate space where the club... More >>

• 
  The Death Comedy Jam
  Grumpy's Bar & Grill

  If you've ever considered writing some jokes and giving standup comedy a try, know this: That first time is gonna be brutal. That being the case, you might as well test your mettle in the most brutal setting possible, which in Minneapolis means hitting up the Death Comedy Jam at the downtown Grumpy's. The show's so tough it was for several years emceed by the Grim Reaper, who ushered the... More >>

• 
  Transmission
  Clubhouse Jager

  "Retro" is a tricky niche to slot a dance night into. Usually you've got to find yourself an era and a genre, hew towards the hits, and maybe garnish it with an outsized wink, a double-pistol-point and a smirking acknowledgement that you think the past is, well, kinda goofy. Clubhouse Jager's weekly Transmission dance night, one of the bar's longest-running attractions, doesn't constrict... More >>

• More Wednesday Events >>

Thursday, January 17
• 
  Raucous Caucus III
  Bryant-Lake Bowl Theater

  This Thursday, Box Wine Theatre returns to the Bryant-Lake Bowl for Raucous Caucus III, an evening of political performances in the form of seven 10-minute plays. While the 2012 presidential election may be over, there are still plenty of issues for the Box Wine troupe to chew over, including gay marriage, women's rights, bailouts, and bipartisanship. Past Raucous Caucus events have included... More >>

• 
  Cindy Sherman
  Walker Art Center

  Reviewers have called her "photography's angel provocateur," "the strongest and finest American artist of her time," and "a poster child for a coterie of postmodernism's theory-driven critics." They're talking about Cindy Sherman, most recently in reference to her blockbuster retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art earlier this year. Since the 1970s, Sherman's been using herself —... More >>

• 
  Happy Hours
  Tiger Sushi 2

  Located on the first floor of the condo stacks mere blocks from Lake and Lyndale, Tiger Sushi is an easy place to stop in for a sushi fix on days when the super-popular Fuji-Ya is a bit too crowded. The ambiance is nice, the bars are long, and the space never feels overly packed, even when it is really busy (as one recent Groupon night demonstrated). Seafood of any sort can rack up the bill,... More >>

• 
  Resident Artists IX: Rule of Thirds
  Altered Esthetics

  If Schoolhouse Rock taught kids of the '70s and '80s anything, it was that three is a magic number. It shows up frequently in religious texts, mathematical equations, science theories, and history. For Altered Esthetics' latest group show, artists will be exploring the influence and impact three has had on their artwork. For Melissa Borman, this means presenting her sea-level photography in... More >>

• 
  The Bungalow
  The Record Room

  Friday night gets all the love, Wednesday night has its nudge-wink "hump day" cachet and everyone hates Mondays so much that there's no choice but to go out and wash that start-of-the-week ennui away. But what about Thursday, the day of the week where people are most likely to put socially-outgoing good times off until tomorrow? Well, there's a dance night for that, too, and it's worth... More >>

• More Thursday Events >>

Friday, January 18
• 
  89.3 the Current's 8th Birthday Party
  First Avenue

  While it might be trendy in some circles to bellyache over its recent propensity for spinning artists like Mumford & Sons and Adele that aren't exactly starved for airplay elsewhere, any criticisms of the Minnesota Public Radio's 89.3 The Current must first acknowledge its status as one of the half dozen or so new music non-commercial radio stations keeping American airwaves melodically... More >>

• 
  Hidden
  Regis Center For Art

  Whether viewing a mountain in Mongolia via iPad video or examining the fine ink lines proscribing a murder of crows, a newcomer to Zhang Meng's quiet work quickly becomes lost in contemplation. Meng, who is dean of the School of Digital Media Arts at the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, explores collisions of technology and tradition in his work. His figures, not surprisingly, occupy a liminal... More >>

• 
  Cornbread Harris
  Loring Pasta Bar

  You might've heard of his son -- a man named Jimmy who teamed up with another man named Terry, the rest being R&B history -- but Cornbread Harris is a Twin Cities legend in his own right. Harris is a WWII vet who joined Augie Garcia to record the area's first rock'n'roll record (1955's "Hi Yo Silver"), but also has roots in country, blues and jazz, giving him the repertoire and background... More >>

• 
  Wants vs. Needs
  The Record Room

  Fusing fashion-driven, style-conscious tastemaking and deep, crowd-rocking musical knowledge isn't something to be taken lightly on either end of the equation. Do it wrong, and it comes across like surface-gloss pandering wrapped around some flavor-of-the-moment bassbin ephemera. But do it right, like Wants vs. Needs has been over the past few years, and you've got something. The... More >>

• 
  Artists in Storefronts 3
  Icehouse

  Joan Vorderbruggen has been busy bringing her projects to life, animating vacant spaces in the Whittier neighborhood with engaging art installations. The success of her first two ventures has led to a third, which will include 32 artists, 20 storefront exhibits, and pop-up performance art along Eat Street. The $10 kick-off party from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 5, features a runway... More >>

• 
  Discovering 20th Century Russian Masters: Nicolai Fechin
  The Museum of Russian Art

  Nicolai Fechin, a Russian-born impressionist painter who spent half his career in the United States, will be featured at the Museum of Russian Art as part of its "Discovering 20th Century Russian Masters" series. Of the 35 works by Fechin, many will be showcased for the first time in Minnesota, on loan from American museums as well as private collectors in the United States and Russia. The... More >>

• 
  Firkin Fridays
  Grumpy's Bar & Grill

  Folks looking to start Labor Day weekend a little early may want to check in with Grumpy's Firkin Fridays. Each week, the bar sets up snack food and a cask-conditioned beer to be enjoyed by all until it's gone. What kind of beer? That varies, as the brew is usually announced the day of the event via the Grumpy's Twitter account. Past pours have included Epic Brewing Company's Spiral Jetty,... More >>

• 
  The Comedy Corner Open Mic Night
  The Corner Bar

  In 2009, a quirk of the Minneapolis liquor code that required special licensing to perform standup comedy temporarily put a halt to the Comedy Corner Underground's Friday night open mic and threatened other comedy shows around town. After local comedians worked with the city government to amend the law, the room reopened with a renewed vigor and sense of purpose, now hosting multiple shows... More >>

• More Friday Events >>