Things to do in the Twin Cities, the week of 12/9

Things are a little slower this week as we head into much busier weeks ahead with the holidays!

Things to do for the Family

Top Pick: Canadian Pacific Holiday Train with Sheryl Crow

     Come out to enjoy a free concert, see the train and donate to a good cause. Cottage Grove will be one stop this Saturday on a nation-wide tour of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train to create awareness and to drive donations for local food shelves. While the event is free you are heavily encouraged to bring a donation, so don't be a mooch! The North Pole station, which opens at 4pm will be set up in the city and will feature family-oriented activities including ice-carving, hot chocolate, and a chance for kids to meet and greet Santa. Finally at 5:00pm the Sheryl Crow concert will begin.
    

    Disney on Ice: Passport Adventure is at the Xcel Energy Center this weekend starting on Thursday. See award-winning figure skaters as they dance around in jumbo costumes and do tricks. Tickets run $18 to $71 depending on where you sit and what show you go to as they run all day and not just as night so the kids can get back in time for bed.


   The Winter Wonderland at The Shoppes of Arbor Lakes is this weekend at the Shoppes of Arbor Lakes on Saturday and Sunday. The event will feature carolers, shopping discounts, live reindeer and of course, Santa. It's Minnesota, if you weren't ready for the cold yet you should be!

Things to do for Adults

Top Pick: St Paul Santa Crawl

       This is easily one of the better planned pub crawls in the Twin Cities. The St Paul Santa Crawl is Saturday at 3pm. Most dress like Santa but if you don't feel like being a jolly old man, you can dress up pretty much however you want long as "your naughty bits are covered" as the website says. 15 different bars participate and there are party buses running between some of the longer stretches. The wrist bands are $20 a person and can be picked up at Ragstock locations with a prepaid online voucher and also you'll get a coupon for 20% off your attire. The wristband gets you access to the party bus shuttles as well as discounted drinks, however thanks to toys for tots donations bins located at each bar will get you a free drink per donation. What else will there be? Live reindeer, caroling, costume contests, drunk gift-wrapping contests, photo booths, XXX cookie decorating and Holiday Blingo! That's a lot of activities for your adult holiday spirit.

      Lowertown SantaCon a rival Saint Paul pub crawl and is also happening this weekend. It involves a different group of bars and restaurants. The web site states "This is a REAL pub crawl"- shots fired! There's a brass band and a route that will go from bar to bar with the crowd. Santa and holiday-related costumes are highly encouraged.You can RSVP via the official facebook page and the crawl will start at 6pm.

Things to do for Foodies

Top Pick 4X4 Culinary Minnesota Wine Series: 

 The 4x4 Culinary Minnesota Wine Series is on Thursday at 6:30pm. The event will feature four Minnesotan wines and five courses from Joan Donatelle, chef and Byerly's culinary instructor. Cost is $55 for Arboretum members and $65 for non-members. The menu looks pretty tasty and you'll get to have pairings for each course so that's a pretty decent price if you're a thrifty sort.

Things to do for the Arts

Top Pick: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

        The famous pop rock group renown for their holiday hits are back in the Twin Cities and right in time for the holidays. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is this Saturday for two shows at the Target Center, both 3 and 8 pm. The tickets for both shows go on sale on Friday at noon and a portion of proceeds will go the Salvation Army. 

       The famous Andrew Lloyd Webber play is coming across the pond. Cameron Mackintosh's new production just finished up a sold-out tour of the United Kingdom and now is coming to Minnesota. The Phantom of the Opera opens this Friday at the Orpheum. Tickets range from $39 to $130.

   Tidings of Joy- Christmas Festival Exultate's choir and orchestra will be playing in various locations this weekend in Minneapolis and St Paul. They will be playing a selection of old time tunes and songs to celebrate the seasons. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors or students.

Unusual Activites

Top Pick: A Very Die Hard Christmas

      What doesn't say Christmas more like Die Hard? Dancing, Singing and Bloodshed! A Very Die Hard Christmas opens this Friday at the Bryant Lake Bowl and runs through the holidays. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. Do something a little different for Christmas.

Things to do in the Twin Cities, the week of 12/2

Things to do for the Family

Top Pick: Universe of Light at Mall of America

      Daily the Mall of America will be transformed for a regular experience for shoppers. The Universe of Light has just opened and will be open indefinitely at this point. The show will run for nine minutes and will feature smoke, lights and music into an interactive experience, not for the epileptic. It will run Monday through Thursday at 7pm and 9:30pm, Friday through Saturday at 7pm and 10pm and finally at 7pm on Sunday at the South Entrance of Nickelodeon Universe. If you're schlepping the kids to the mall anyways to shop, might as well check it out and try to pass it off as a cheap ride.

"Holiday Dazzle" in Prior Lake is on Friday from 5-8pm and features a long list of activities. The event will feature Ice Carvings, carolers, live music, a bonfire, pony rides, live reindeer, pictures with Santa, laser tag, small town business booths, sledding, skating and fireworks. This city knows how to do it big! Pretty sure Prior Lake wins for most elaborate town holiday celebration.


"Norwegian Christmas on the Farm" in Brooklyn Park at the Eidem homestead. There will be bonfires, Christmas tunes, caroling, Victorian decorations, craft demos and Santa of course. Also there will be Norwegian pippakakut (Finnish ginger cookies) and polsa which Wikipedia describes as a dish "similar to taste and texture" of Scottish Haggis... yummy...



"Shakopee Holiday Festival" is this Friday from 6-8pm and features caroling, a bike parade, carriage rides, ceremonial tree lighting and an appearance from Santa himself. Photos with Santa are just $5.  CANCELED DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER


"Hill House Holidays" opens this Friday at the James J Hill House. Actors dressed to portray servants of the house during the 1st decade of the 20th century. So see what it was like to be an impoverished lower class for the holidays. Tours run every 30 minutes however reservations are recommended.

"Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar" opens at the Landmark this Thursday and runs through Saturday and for $4 admission you'll have access to over 75 booths featuring crafts and gifts from the Twin Cities finest artists. Hey it's all indoors at the very least.

"Hometown for the Holidays" is now open in Stillwater and besides seeing beautiful, scenic Stillwater all dressed up for the holidays you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy some holiday merriment. This weekend there will be free carriage rides, carolers as well as visits from Santa throughout the holidays including lunches with him at Dock Cafe.


"Pet Photos with Santa" at Mall of America are on Sunday. Pets of all kinds are welcome to take pictures of Santa. So make sure your pet cobra and tarantula are looking their best when you bring them in.

Things to do for Adults

Top Pick: Excelsior Brewing Launch Party

       This brewery is making it's debut on St Paul's side of the river and celebrating in style at The Happy Gnome in St Paul on Wednesday. 5 taps will be poured from the Excelsior Brewing repertoire. The Excelsior Brewing Launch Party starts at 5pm. Who doesn't enjoy having a few brews in the middle of the week?

    Darkness tapping at Pizza Luce in Richfield on Thursday at 4pm. Surly and Pizza Luce is a pretty lethal combination. Get your weekend going early.

Things to do for Foodies

Top Pick: McCoy's Beer Dinner with Fulton

   McCoy's Beer Dinner with Fulton Brewery is Thursday at 6:30pm. Come hungry, for $50 a person you'll be treated to a six course dinner paired with a different beer for each. That's worth it in retail for the beer alone; that's six craft brews!


"Brunch with Santa" is at Pinstripes this Sunday and the following. I technically could have put this under the Family section but there's not a lot of food-related events this week and Pinstripes is pretty good... close enough. Santa will be on hand from 11am-1pm, make sure to make reservations.

Activities for the Active

Top Pick: St Paul Ice Fishing &Winter Sports Show

   The St Paul Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show is the largest Ice Fishing show in the country and opens at the RiverCentre this Friday and runs through Sunday. Over 190 exhibitors come to the RiverCentre to show off the best new tools and gadgets in the trade. Tickets run $9 for adults, $4 for children 12-6, and 5 & under are free so here's a good thing for Daddy to take the kids to on his own... maybe? You might have to work the angle but it's all there.

Races this week

     5K Cherry & Spoon Run in Minneapolis on Saturday at 8am-5K, registration is $25- through Friday


    5K Beer Run in Minneapolis on Saturday at 2pm- 5K, registration is $30- through Friday


    Jingle Bear Run in White Bear Lake on Saturday at 9am-5K, 9:40am-Kids fun run, registration is $35 and $10 for kids through Thursday.


   Reindeer Dash in Minneapolis on Saturday at 9:10am-Kids 1/2 mile, 9:30am- Run, 9:40- Walk, registration is $35 and $20 for kids and can be paid on race day.


   JCC Dreidel Dash in St Paul on Sunday at 12:30pm-10k, 1:15pm- 5k, and 2:15pm- Maccabee mini-mile. Registration is $40 for the 10k, $35 for the 5k and $20 for kids through Friday.


   Walk for the Philippines at the Mall of America is Saturday and runs 7-10am. the cost is $25 and proceeds will go to help rebuild.

Activities for the Arts

Top Pick: The Wizard of Oz at the Ordway

      It's lions, bears and tigers- oh my! (honestly where in the world do you find these three species living in the wild together?) The Wizard of Oz opens Wednesday at the Ordway. The literary, stage and film classic returns to the Minneapolis area. Opening Wednesday the show will run through December, 29th. Tickets will the gambit from a partial view obstruction at $35 a person to $120.


"Nutcracker" by Moscow's Great Russian Ballet is at the Orpheum this Friday and Saturday. A variety of dancers from all over the world bring this Christmas classic to life. Tickets start at $28. Prepare yourself for the tights.


   "The Christmas Founding" is now open through December 29th on The Minnesota Show Boat. The play loosely follows the story of a group of miners whom are left with an orphaned infant so basically like "Three Men and a Baby" but with miners, and Christmas.


"An Eventfully Christmas" starts this weekend at Mill City and features a play performed in the mill's elevator ride and features "The Ghost of Mill City Ghost's past." The ticket price is $14 for adults, $12 for college students and seniors and $10 for children ages 17-6 however the play is not recommended for children under the age of eight years old.

Unusual Activities

   "An Unscripted Minnesota Holiday" begins at Bryant Lake Bowl on Thursday and Friday and will run every week through the season. The crowd will provide, in mad libs style the names of the characters, the town and the event and the actors take the suggestions from there. Did I mention it's a musical and the singing will be ad-libbed as well? Tickets are $15 or $13 in advance.


"Holiday Geek Expo" is this weekend at the Double Tree Bloomington. All things nerdy appear to be on the agenda. Gifts for the nerd in your life will be abundant with a host of vendors and artists who pander to this sort of crowd. And shocker, there will be a costume contest.


"Erotic Art Craft Fair" - no you read that correctly. For all your handmade erotic crafts please see the Smitten Kitten on Friday from 8-11pm. There will be sex educators on hand to demonstrate craft activities... yea, I'm leaving it at that, as all I'm picturing is adults with macaroni shells, glue and glitter making... you're on your own from here on out.

Things to do the week of Thanksgiving

While last week was quiet, this week is FULL of things to do as the holidays are ramping up and the calendar is getting full! Don't miss out on a thing!

 

Things to do for the Family

Top pick: Holidazzle

 

       This year will be the last year to stand outside on Nicollet Mall to witness the Minnesotan tradition that is The Holidazzle. The Holidazzle began in 1992, way back when the Mall of America was first built which feels like not that long ago, but then again it's been 21 years so the kids who first went to it back then are now of legal drinking age... a scary thought indeed. The parades will only run on Fridays and Saturdays this year starting this Friday at 6:30pm. With the coming renovations to Nicollet Mall the parades have been scrapped after this year, so make the memories while you can... or you can wait until 2025 when the remodels will be complete and they find a new Christmas tradition... your call.
 

  Hmong New Year at the Rivercentre begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. There will be music, dancing, a talent show, a Miss Hmong New Year Pageant! Also for you men feeling left out there will be a Hmong version of "The Bachelor". Tickets are $7, $4 for seniors and children under four are free.

  

  Holly Trolley at Lake Harriet Depot is starting this weekend on the Excelsior Street Car line. Your kids should never take rides from strangers with candy, but if that stranger is Santa with some candy canes you may have to make an exception. The kids can ride the streetcar with Santa. $4 for an Adult and $3 for a Child and the ride takes about 15 minutes. 

  Folkways of the Holidays is happening at The Landing in Shakopee starting this weekend. If you like old timey tunes, traditions, stories and people pretending it's current you'll get a kick out of this. On a side-note I think we've discovered where a lot of those Renaissance Fair actors end up when that's ended, and the haunted houses are closed. There will also be folk musicians and horse carriage rides. $5 for Adults and $3 for seniors and children under 17, free for 2 & under.


   "Christkindlsmarkt" is a German style market being held in Excelsior this weekend, starting on Friday. There will be food, music, shopping, reindeer rides (count me in) and visits with Santa. Their Santa looks pretty legit as well, no fake beard on that guy!


   Capitol Civil War Tour is being held at the State Capitol on Saturday at 11am in case you're already sick of the holiday merriment and want to keep the focus on the morals of Black Friday; Mainly greed and bloodshed. The tour will focus on the Minnesotan impact of the war and memorabilia with a fully costumed tour guide. The tickets run $9 per adult, $8 students and seniors, $6 children 6-17 and free for under 6. Reservations are required.  

There are also quite a few lighting ceremonies this weekend, here's a rundown;

 

Top Pick: Rice Park and Wells Fargo Skate Grand Opening

 

 

 

   Rice Park Tree Lighting Ceremony will run from 4:00 - 6:00pm in Rice Park on Saturday. The lighting for the park is sponsored by Xcel Energy which boasts that this tree will be as big and bright as the tree in Rockefellar Center in New York. The tree will be lit with 15,000 energy-efficient LED lights. The Grand Opening will coincide with the Wells Fargo Skate Rink opening and skating during the opening will be free., including rentals! At 5:30 there will be a fireworks display. Pretty much everything you'd want in one spot.

 

 

    Winterlights at the Purcell-Cotts House is a 1915's style house that has tours for the holiday season where costumed tour guides walk you through the house and you can learn about the period holiday traditions. Make sure to ask fun questions such as, "Do you get lots of housework done as a housewife done since you don't have to focus on whom to vote for?" or "How many of your kids are dead from influenza, polio, measles , etc.?" Admission is $5, $4 for students and free for kids 12 & under.


    Holiday Lights in the Park opens this Tuesday in Phalen Park. This event coordinates with King of Kings of Woodbury to create more than 50 lighted and animated displays that you can drive right through. The cost is $10 a vehicle but it's a discounted rate Sunday- Thursday evening at 8pm. All net proceeds go to local charities so you can feel good about where your money is going. Think of the money and time you've save not putting up your own lights and just driving your kids through the park!


   Tree Light Ceremony at 50th & France is going on in downtown Edina from 3pm - 5pm. The day is free for the public but bring some canned foods for the food drive. The evening will feature Santa, live singing from the Edina High School Chamber Singers, a Nutcracker performance and will be capped off by a tree lighting ceremony with Mayor of the cake-eaters himself, Jim Hovland at 5pm. Celebrate Christmas, winter, the holidays and the defeat of the proposed Minneapolis International flight path changes, take that you Richfield peasants!


    Nokomis Tree Light Ceremony will be taking place 4:00 - 6:00pm at Oxendales Market. In between planes flying overhead you'll be serenaded by carolers, treated to hot chocolate and swag bags and visit with Santa. What the Richfield, South-Eastern Minneapolis area lacks in lobbyists they make up for with a great connection with local businesses. The Nokomis East Business District will be handing out all sorts of deals and coupons for the Christmas season under their 20 foot tree, which is 5ft taller than Edina's! You hear that Edina?

Things to do for Adults

Top pick: Beer Bash at Butcher and the Boar

 

 

 

    The night before Thanksgiving there arose such a Beer Bash that I ran to Butcher and the Boar to drink Fulton and feast on gourmet bangers & mash. On Wednesday night from 4 - 10pm Butcher and the Boar is hosting an event showcasing 8 brews from local brewery Fulton, live music and of course their fantastic food including a special Thanksgiving sausage. You have the time, might as well stretch that stomach in preparation.

 

 

Runner Up: 7th Annual Post Thanksgiving Pub Crawl

      On Friday, after you fulfilled your every family obligation, you're in need for some definite you-time. The pub crawl wristband costs $10 which gets you access to the drink deals. The $20 pub crawl pack includes a T-shirt and marker, to obviously draw on said T-shirt. You'll get a kazoo too, which will basically make you annoying as hell to anyone not apart of the crew when it's time to leave each bar for the next. There's also something called salmon'ing, but you can check it all out here, including the route. The Crawl begins at 2:00pm.



  Turkey Bowl at Muddy Waters is happening the night before Thanksgiving at Muddy Waters in Minneapolis from 10pm until midnight. A $5 donation to the Joyce Uptown food shelf gets you three attempts at tossing the frozen turkey. Forget cooking it, let's bowl it for prizes. The winner will get a $50 Muddy Waters and a Summit SWAG bag. Also $4 Summit pints.


     Great Harriet Mo'Down & Gala Party runs from 1pm to 1am at Harriet Brewing to celebrate Movember and moustaches alike. Entrance is free until 7pm and then a cover applies, but bring a donation for the Movember foundation. There will be moustache contests, costume contests, raffles, beer at tap room prices and food truck Cajun 2 Geaux will be on hand.

Things to do for Foodies

Top Pick: Dinner Detective Murder Mystery at the Hotel Minneapolis

     This show is unfortunately sold out for this weekend at The Hotel Minneapolis, however there are tickets available for other weekends so if you like what you hear make a move and quick. The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery is an award-winning show that involves what it sounds like, murder, mystery, detecting and of course, eating. The tickets are $66.95 and include a choice of fish, chicken or a vegetarian entrée as well as salads and bruschetta. You sit in groups and all the performers are dressed just like the guests, not knowing whom is who. As the evening progresses murders will occur and clues will be found, the first to catch the killer wins a prize.

  No Thanksgiving plans yet? What in the heck is wrong with you? No worries, check out Open Table and make some res's stat here.

Things to do for the Active

 There are a TON of running events this weekend to burn off that Thanksgiving Dinner, the rundown is below

 St Paul Turkey Trot  Thursday at 7:30am 10k, and 8:00am 5k in St Paul, riverfront. Registration is closed.

Drumstick Dash Thursday at 8:00am 10K, Minneapolis, Lake Harriet. Registration is $35 through 11/27 and $40 on race day.

 Lifetime Turkey Day 5k Thursday at 8:00am 5K, Downtown Minneapolis. Registration is $49, Youth is $20.

Moustache Run Saturday at 9:00 1/2 marathon, at 9:30am 5K, Minneapolis, St Anthony Main. $45 for the 5k, $75 for the half ($50 and $85 day of).

Ugly Sweater Run Saturday at 11:00am 5K Harriet Island. Registration is $44 solo, $39 per person in groups of four or more ($50 and $45 respectively day of).

Walk to End Hunger Thursday at 7:00am 5K at Mall of America. Registration is $25 for an adult and the $100 donar level will get you a free T-shirt.

Activities for the Arts

Top Pick: "Miracle on Christmas Lake"

 

 

 

     The Osseo based group who originally wrote this play had lost the rights last minute to a play they were going to perform so what to do? They hastily wrote a play about a group who lost the rights to a play and had to hastily come up with a play and thus Miracle on Christmas Lake was born. What ensues is absolute chaos and comedic, Minnesotan fun. Tickets are $23 and the production runs through the 29th of December.

 

 

   Viva Noel: A Holiday Cirque opens this Friday at Mystic Lake Casino. A combination of cirque talents which includes acrobatics, contortionists, jugglers, vocalists and dancers with holiday themes and music. Any occasion to breathe fire, swallow swords and climb silk ropes, right? Tickets run $28 -$36 a person and children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent to enter the casino.


   "A Christmas Pudding" at Openwindo Theatre opens this Friday. This play features a mixture, or a "pudding" in mixing different tales, stories and traditions with music, song and comedy. If you think Christmas is already over the top, this might be nauseating for you.

Unusual Activities

Top Pick: The Stocking Full of Awesomeness; You'll Shoot Your Eye Out

   The Stocking Full of Awesome by The Danger Committee at The Brave New Workshop starts this Friday and goes through January 4th. Santa won't be messing with these three former America's Got Talent contestants and their death-defying acts no matter how naughty they are. Tickets run $12.50 - $35. Who said you can't run with scissors? Or axes? Or machetes? These guys make a decent living doing it.

  Night Trains at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum begins this Saturday and continues every Saturday night 6pm until 9pm. Night trains involves just that, model trains, running all event long at night... The next four Saturdays will feature Santa and he'll have a few goodies for the kids. Admission is $10 a person or $25 for families, kids under 4 are free.

  "Bad Romance" at Mill City Nights is a live musical production based solely on Lady Gaga. So put on your best meat dress and head to Mill City nights for what I'm sure is the experience of a lifetime. The show is Wednesday and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

Things to do in the Twin Cities, week of 11/18

Things to do in the Twin Cities this week

      It's a quieter weekend as we slowly ready ourselves for the onslaught of holiday related merriment that comes next week but that doesn't mean there's not still some fun to be had!

Things to do for Families

Top pick: Macy's Santaland

 

      The holidays are nearly upon is and it's time to stop the denial that Christmas is on it's way and for the annual Macy's Santaland Display in Minneapolis to open this Saturday. You can start taking tours of Santaland starting at 9am on Saturday. After your tour Santa will be on hand for meet and greets, to listen to everything your kid plans on having you buy them and photos. Also in addition if you'd like to enjoy a buffet breakfast downtown, with a visit from Santa following you can do so for $19.95 an adult and $13.95 for children under 10. To make a reservation or for more details regarding the chow you can call 1-877-556-2297 and there's also a dinner option a few nights during the holiday season as well.

    Victorian Christmas in Stillwater at the Washington County Courthouse is this weekend only in Stillwater. This event combines a lot of local businesses in downtown Stillwater. At the courthouse itself you'll find local crafts and holiday gift items, live music, tea, tours of the historic jail, and Santa visits in the afternoon and all for $3 at the door. For the VIP treatment see the below Adult listing and leave the kids at home.

Things to do for Adults

 Top Pick: Victorian Preview Gala

     Leave the kiddos at home for this one. Held at the Stillwater Historic Courthouse Friday from 6:30pm until 9:00pm, The Victorian Christmas Preview Gala comes at a very decent price; $25 for pre-ordered tickets and $30 at the door. Walk booths of local holiday crafts and gifts while enjoying coffee, champagne, sparkling cider or Liftbridge Brewery beer. There will also be appetizers and desserts served while you shop in style and door prizes called out throughout the evening. Giftwrapping will also be offered by staff and volunteers. Now that's how you shop! 

       "Wit's" at the Fitzgerald Theatre with Jim Gaffigan and rapper, Busdriver is Thursday at 8:00pm. I'm mentioning this, even though it's sold out mostly because I really wanted to go and it sounds so amazing. Always the offchance a set of tickets will show up on stubhub I suppose, but this well reviewed comedic event hosted by MPR is well reviewed and should be a great show and when add onto it the unlikely combination of pasty white Jim Gaffigan and rapper Busdriver there's a high likelihood of a goodtime.


       "Big Gay Comedy Show" at Bryant Lake Bowl is Thursday, November 21st at 7:00pm. The title says it all, it's big and gay and a comedy show. It features some of the funniest gay and gay-friendly comics, no names but if you take their word for it at least it's not too much to spend; Tickets are just $10.

Things to do for Foodies

Top pick: Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

      Not only will you get a chance to peruse and shop some of the best produce from around the Twin Cities but some really great food options will be available from the likes of Chef Shack, Gorkha Palace and D'Amico & Sons. What's better than eating some food while you buy some food? There will also be arts and crafts and live music during the event. The Indoor Farmers Market will run Saturday 10am - 1pm all held within the comfy confines of the Mill City Museum.

     


     If you're free for dinner on Thursday, highly recommend The Wild Game Dinner being held at Tria in North Oaks. The meal consists four courses of wild game and wild wines and a dessert to cap the evening off.  Crawfish, duck, frogs and wild boar, oh my! The price for the meal is $65.


     I've mentioned this in prior posts but I'll reiterate here- give your Mom or Wife a break this Thanksgiving and check out the following list from OpenTable of restaurants open for the holiday here.

Things to do regarding the Arts

 Top Pick: A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol

    "A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol" from the folks at the Hennepin Trust Theatre is like A Christmas Carol, only it's not. Gunner Johnson from the previous play "Don't Hug Me" finds himself in a predicament when a trail of bad luck leads him to falling into a coma and conversing with Sven Yorgenson who plays the ghost of Christmas past, present and future all at once. The show opens Friday at 7:30pm. KQRS's Tom Bernard's take on it? "Go see it!"


    Minnesota Bluegrass Harvest Jam Acoustic Music Experience is going on downtown at the Marriott in Minneapolis. The event will feature live performances in various ballrooms, jam sessions, workshops, a band contest, and a variety of vendors. There will also be a dinner celebration and the tickets run from a $49 VIP ticket with dinner to completely free on Sunday admission, all depends when you go and what you want to do. I can almost guarantee the sightings of interesting facial hair will also be optimum.


    Born Yesterday at the Guthrie opens this weekend. The play follows the life and times of a corrupt businessman, Harry Brock who moves to D.C. and attempts to get ahead in society with his chorus-girl sidekick, Billie Dawn. However Billie is no debutant and hijinks thus arise while attempting to turn her into a socialite, too bad she didn't have Richard Gere on her side. Tickets run from $35 to $53 depending on when you go and where you sit.

Top Unusual Activities

Top Pick: Mansfeld Manor Gallery

     Mansfeld Manor: Peculiar Color Illustrations and Sculptures in Fetted Wool at Gallery 360 opens this Saturday with an opening reception from 7pm until 10pm. The Event is odd, but very interesting all at once. These felted creations made from wool and dyed fibers are hauntingly strange and revolve around strange, fanciful and morbid tales. Think of the mice from Dinner for Schmucks, meets Wallace and Gromit, meets Tim Burton.

 

    


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LiftBridge Brewery Commander Release Party

       Saturday was a pretty miserable day, weather-wise. I wasn't completely sure whether this event was going to be outside or inside so I dressed up a bit overkill, as it turned out but hey, always be prepared!

      Arriving the brewery little after 3:30pm we were there only minutes after the doors opened. Upon entry you received a wristband and a glass to keep, which resulted in Todd running back to the car to deposit said glassware with a "Please dear, would you mind?" While there were a few benches and port-a-potties outside for overflow the majority of the event was mercifully inside and out of the downpour. 

     We received one free token with ticket and we all decided upon the party's namesake, Commander to begin with. I had no expectations. being a novice with barleywine. From the first sniff you can just feel the alcohol burn your nostrils which should have been a hint to me about the 12.5% ABV strength but instead I took a big gulp and quickly realized, as our group's designated driver I would not be having much more. The taste was definitely different, you got a hint of the bourbon from the barrels the barleywine had aged in. It was for sure, an experience. After a few sips I decided it was too dangerous to the chagrin of my friends and switched to the IPA, Hopdish to sip which I thoroughly enjoyed without feeling irresponsible.

     The brewery was fairly packed, but wasn't overly crowded. There was a booth to buy more tokens and another to use the tokens for beer purchase. There were a few different live bands playing throughout the evening. The theme, if there was one was moustaches which was evident in the moustache facepainting booth, moustache stickers on the tables and the moustache contest towards the end of the evening. I'm definitely a little over the hype of this bizarre moustache trend that you see everywhere these days but it wasn't over the top in this particular instance and it at least centered around some real men (save the one drunk girl who got up with stickers) who had grown some serious facial hair.  

       The music was really quite good, enjoyed immensely Thrift Store Sonata with their unique bluegrass sound and their violinist was incredibly talented. We did have to backup a bit though to hear each other talk as the sound reverberating off the brewery walls was quite loud. I had to hand it to the bands though as they played throughout the evening.

       One of the highlights was definitely the Nebuchadnezzar bottle, a 15L bottle of the Commander that was then opened and freely poured for all who lined up. This bottle didn't seem to have an end, it was nearly 40 minutes before the entire contents were emptied into the last waiting glass.

     We stayed for almost 5 hours and left with about an hour or so left to go in the event. It was a good time and I think my group enjoyed themselves quite a bit. I also was a bit surprised that with the high alcohol content there wasn't more crazy, debauchery. The crowd appeared to be very well behaved, although we did leave before the end so maybe we missed some of that. All in all, a good Saturday evening at the brewery with some friends!

    I'm going to mention this as a side note, although I really don't have to but I've noticed my iPhone has been taking really blurry pictures lately. It's a 4s that I've beat unmercifully on and I had just figured it was the fault of being dropped so many times. I pulled off the seriously battered cover, which has a corner missing I should mention to tinker with it. It was at some point trying to polish up the camera lens that a corner of a piece of plastic pulled away from the back of my phone and it was then I realized... I've had the plastic protector on the whole time. So... word to the wise, make sure you remove this piece and definitely make sure you don't have your friends witness you do it when it's been about a year on.

Dave Chappelle

     I originally had believed it would too difficult and impossible to get tickets to Dave Chappelle's tour once I heard they were announced despite being such a huge fan. However, after seeing day after day go by and more and more shows announced, a total of 12 shows altogether I changed my mind. Plus a coworker of mine basically made me so jealous after going Tuesday night that it sealed the deal.

 

     We got tickets to the Friday show on Wednesday at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis. I've never been to this theatre but I was surprised how small the venue was, pleasantly I might add. It gave it a more intimate atmosphere to spend with one of hardest to find comics in the industry. I was also surprised at the fact that some people hadn't yet bought tickets and that there were some available at the box office when the doors opened, pretty shocked actually. However once the show started I did not see an empty seat anywhere.

    The bar was really busy so we had decided to forgo a drink but then Todd ventured downstairs for the bathroom and hit pay-dirt. Low and behold another bar! So we went for it. It was pricey, $21 bucks for a Summit and a double-shot rum and diet, yikes! By the time we paid and went to leave the line the secret was out and the lower floor was packed so we had good timing at least and went to find our seats.

    The show started a bit later than advertised, more like 10:30 than 10 and this proved to be a difficult problem for me but I'll get to that later. The first act, Azhar Muhammad Usman was a pretty funny guy. His material jumped around but it was pretty amusing, mostly about his very unusual life where he was born in Kuwait, went to a British private school for awhile and immigrated to the US where he ended up in Houston, Texas as a muslim, Arab child with a British accent. You can't make it up. I enjoyed his material, wasn't fantastic but it was good.

     In between sets we had a DJ mixing hits from the 80's and 90's while we waited for Dave. We were warned many times to not take photos or pictures and if we were caught we would be escorted from the premises. This warning didn't hold on a man in front of us and we watched with glee as he was texting openly and seconds later was being told to "Go out to the lobby for a talk" with a very large bouncer. He was gone for awhile and when he came back the phone never was seen again.

    Before Dave came out we realized the person who had come out of the backroom, leaning against the wall stage right was none other than Dave's friend, Reg Chapman. Reg is a reporter here at WCCO and in fact sat down with Dave this past Thursday for Dave's first interview in years. You can find the interview here. Reg seemed to be enjoying himself immensely during the entire show.

    When Dave entered the stage it was a crazy cacophony of noise and adulation. He does indeed look very different now that he's bulked up. His gangly, lankiness is replaced with a stout build and his walk is much more purposeful. He started off very strong with a lot of crass material about sex which was hilarious and then meandered around featuring Lil Wayne, Paula Deen, the show in Hartford and his own family. One of my favorite parts was regarding Uptown. Dave supposedly had visited there and said he liked it, he liked all the skinny jeans and the men in their twenties with tiny Pringle's can-like moustaches like they were straight out of the civil war. There were very few missteps and moments where I wasn't laughing hysterically. His comedic timing and fast paced cadence when he gets to the punch lines are just the same as you'd remember them from his show.

    Previous reviews I've read had stated that they thought there were a lot of hits and misses and that he was trying out new material. Whatever those shows may have been he appears to have sharpened the scope by the time it came to our turn and I have no similar complaints. I thought it only slowed a bit towards the end during the family material which is when I decided I could no longer hold it and made a sprint to the bathroom. By sprint I am being literal, and I wasn't the only one. People were running down the stairs and running back up. I've never seen girls so fast in the bathroom before, not even looking in the mirror-fast. I almost ran into a man who came running out of the men's, no one wanted to miss a thing but the time delay and alcohol mix couldn't be ignored forever. The material picked right back up when I had returned before coming to a close. The close was also probably my favorite part.

   Before walking off stage Dave engaged the audience, people were shouting where the after party was. Dave of course, took opportunity to say it was four white, drunk girls who were offering to get him high. He played with the audience and decided it would be a game. He'd throw out a hint that he and his white girlfriend might hang out there, alluding to earlier material about Uptown. He also said that while he doesn't condone drinking that the first person to find him would have to yell "I FOUND YOU, DAVE CHAPPELLE!" That person would then have to show the ticket stub from that show (to thwart the people who'd cheat via tweets about the password) and he'd pose for one picture and buy them one drink.

    We didn't go to Uptown, as we were spent and it was nearing 1am. It was a great night and a great show and I highly suggest if you have time to go see him to do so. There's still tickets available for tonight's show at 10pm, the earlier one is sold out and you can find them here. Also if you're willing, there's been scalpers at every showing so there's always a chance of going downtown and looking for a deal on the street.

   Now if you have a ticket stub from one of his 12 shows you should also be aware that on Saturday at the Target Center there's a charity event for the Timberwolves and that stub allows you free entry for the first 1,000 fans. Dave Chappelle will be there and pancakes will be served! Check out the information here. The doors open at 11 and the shoot-around game starts at midnight.

  

Things to do in the Twin Cities, week of 11/11

     There's a lot of things going in the Twin Cities this week and weekend as the weather continues to turn and as things start ramping up for the holidays. So besides the nine sold out Dave Chapelle shows, here's my top picks for everything else going on.

 

Things to do for Families

Top pick: Craft'za in Minneapolis

      Have you started your Christmas shopping? If you're like me, the answer is most definitely, no. So why not get your start with a craft event held by local vendors with handmade wares? Craft'za is a Minneapolis spinoff of the St Paul Craftstravaganza that's held in the Spring. The event is held at the Grain Belt bottling company atrium and is heated and indoors so two great bonuses. The event runs 10am - 5pm on Saturday and entrance is free so you have more money to spend on some early gifts. Oh and did I mention food trucks? BOOM!

Runner-Up: Santa arrives at the Mall of America

      Whether you're ready for it or not you might as well accept it, winter is here. While the turkeys are still frozen in our freezers (or still at Cub) Santa is on his way... to Mall of America that is for the Santa Arrival Celebration. He's officially arriving on Tuesday, the 12th at 6pm in the rotunda. There will be a celebration with some music, don't get too excited, it's by the Teddy Bear Band. However their will be treats handed out by Nestle Tollhouse. The arrival signals the beginning of the Santa photo sessions at the mall. If you want to maximize on your time you can schedule an appointment with Santa in the Macy's court otherwise it's on walk-in, first come, first served basis in the Sears court. If you had your thinking caps on while reading that, yes two Santa's so you might want to avoid running into the other court with small kids or perhaps have a good story in the hopper (oh no, honey that's just Santa's brother, Fred Claus from that horrible movie).

       Cinderella is opening at the Children's Theatre this week and will run through the holidays. This isn't your Disney Cinderella, rather this comical theatre play for all ages is a bit more slapstick and raucous, definitely more fun. Tickets will run you $30 - $50 depending on where you sit.

       A Christmas Carol is opening at the Guthrie this week as well. This is the 39th running year of this play at the Guthrie. Tickets will run a bit higher at $34 - $85 per person depending on where you sit and when you go, also standard child discounts will not apply to this production due to the extremely high demand. In related news the Guthrie itself will be playing the role of Scrooge in keeping with the production's theme for the remainder of the holidays.

      Midwest Home & Holiday Show starts this Friday, the 15th and runs through Sunday at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Lots of vendors and experts will be on hand to help you do everything from trimming the tree to completely replacing your flooring, all depending on how inadequate for having family over you feel. The tickets are $12 a person but 17 and under are free.

Things to do for Adults

Top Pick: Lift Bridge Commander Release Party

 

       Nothing better to celebrate than a new brew than with a few, Lift Bridge is hosting on The Commander Release Party Saturday, November 16th from 3pm to 10pm. Commander is described as an "English-Style Barleywine ale brewed with an excessive malt bill and subtle, sweet cardamom." The Ale is aged in bourbon barrels that have been shipped directly from Kentucky shortly after being emptied. The result is a 12.5% ABV which the brewery reminds you to drink slowly and in small portions to "best enjoy" it... and to also stop yourself from behaving like a lunatic. With your ticket you'll get a sample and a glass to keep and there will be contests, including one for best moustache and food. Tickets for the party can be found here and will run cost you ten $10 or $16 for a bottle of your own included.

      Summit Firkin and Meet the Brewer at Grumpy's at Roseville on Friday, November 15th at 3:00pm. A firkin Bière de Garde Firkin with Grand Marnier will be available in small portions for tasting and the brewer, Jeff Williamson will be on hand to meet and greet. The firkin is described as "a medium toasted French Oak that's soaked in Grand Marnier and has the same malt characteristics of the beer. Cherry, caramel, and a hint of chocolate, vanilla, orange and smoky wood." Also Grumpy's has a sandwich to pair with the drink and that's a La Turquie Commercial, a French take on a hot turkey sandwich served on a croissant with brie, oui, oui!



       Stanley's on Wheel's 3rd Anniversary is being celebrated all week long, until Saturday. Stanley's, of Stanley's on Wheels food truck fame will have $3 Summit Taps and $3 Prairie Cucumber Vodka drinks on special during the week.

Things to do for Foodies

Top pick: Pizzeria Lola Anniversary Surly Event

      One of the best pizzerias in the Twin Cities is celebrating it's 3rd year anniversary this week as well and features some great events. Indeed brewing is also featured as a tap takeover but the night gaining the most buzz has got to be Thursday. Starting at 5pm one of the best pizza shops and one of the best brewers in the Twin Cities will collide into the Pizzeria Lola Surly Tap Takeover. Pizza from contest winner's ideas for the most metal pizza will be on hand for tasting as well as several taps from Surly. Admission is free.

      The Charlie Awards is a twin cities awards presentation that celebrates the best and brightest in the Minnesota culinary world. Held on Sunday, November 17th at the Pantages Theatre starting at 3:30pm. Tickets for the awards, which include admittance to the after party in the Crystal Court are $35 a person. If you want to go VIP, there's a $125 option which also includes a VIP dinner after the after party so you can watch awards about food, have a few drinks and talk about food and then eat some food. VIP Dinner ticket holders also get a VIP seat and a SWAG bag, hopefully with some food inside.

Things to do for the Active

Top Pick: Save Sandstone MCA Climber's Fair

       On Sunday, November 17th Vertical Endeavors in Minneapolis is hosting a charity fair from 6:30pm to 9:00pm to Save Sandstone. Proceeds will go towards purchase of a bouldering area in Sandstone, yep they're essentially buying rocks with it. This area is heavily prized by recreational rock climbers and was about to be sold and instead the owners have generously decided to sell to the MCA firstly, but they need to raise the funds. The ticket price is $10 and the evening will include door prizes and contests besides access to free climbing and equipment.



       Athleta Diva Dish is being held at the Blaine National Sports Center on Saturday, November 16th at 9:00am. There is a 10k, 5k and a 5k walk. Sorry guys, this is a ladies only event.

Activities for the Arts

Top pick: Spinning  Plates Documentary

      If you love food as much as I do, make sure you do not miss Spinning Plates. This documentary goes behind the scenes of three very different restaurants; La Cocina De Gabby a family owned and operated restaurant in Tucson, Breitbach's Country Dining which is a small town country diner in Iowa and world famous Alinea in Chicago, Illinois that I've been dying to go see this Fall but plans fell through, perhaps this Spring. As the trailer states, it's not about what you cook but why and the purpose of this documentary is much than exposition of successful restaurants as much as it is exploration of the very culture that surrounds cooking and dining out with the juxtaposition of these very different restaurants. Spinning Plates will be at the Lagoon Theatre starting Friday, see times here.

      Shanghai Ballet is coming to the Orpheum on Tuesday, November 12th. The Shangai Ballet is a highly regarded dance institution and will bringing the Chinese fairytale, The Butterfly Lovers to life. Exquisite costumes and sets will immerse you a Chinese landscape that will hopefully allow you to be transported to a land far away where you can leave everything behind, like the ticket prices of $42 - 79 a person.

Unusual Activities

Top pick of the strange: Hello Kitty Denouement

       This art exhibit features Hello Kitty in different art masterpieces. That's right, Hello Kitty painted into various artworks from Monet to Warhol. This interesting exhibition, Hello Kitty Denouement will open to display at the Burnet Gallery at Le Meridien Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis on Friday, November 15th and will remain so until early January. The opening reception will be held 6-9pm. The gallery is otherwise open daily from 11am - 9pm. I'll leave you with Hello Kitty and Jesus from the collection;

Runner Up for Oddball Event: Monkey Mind Pirates



           Cap'n Fitz as he so calls himself teaches, with the help of his extremely creepy-looking monkey puppets that the monkeys of our mind can hijack our thoughts. So how can we free ourselves from these nightmares in muppet-form? By doing yoga, but of course! "Tap into the power of yoga, rock and puppets." Never thought I'd live to see the day to see those three nouns in the same sentence, the future has arrived. The Monkey Mind Pirates will be performing Saturday, November 16th in St Paul at the Wellstone Center. The event is free and is definitely geared towards small children without aversions to puppets.

      God's Sketchbook of Creation is a very interesting event at the Instinct Art Gallery in Minneapolis. The basic premise behind the art created for the exhibit is that these were God's rough-cut ideas for species, ones that didn't exactly make the cut. The cost is free and runs from 6pm - 8pm each day though mid January.



     On a final note, I started a twitter. Why? Well it's easier to keep up on all the cool stuff happening by following pretty much every food truck, brewery, magazine, newspaper, etc. in the Twin Cities and I do try to retweet the best looking stuff. So... if that sounds cool to you, check it out here at the handle MerryMinnesotan.