// Fort Wilson Riot & Scott Pilgrim vs. the World @ Stevens Square Park//

TONIGHT!

this band @ 8pm:

& 

this movie @ dusk:

FREE // ALL AGES

Stevens Square Park
1801 Stevens Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55403

- Alex

// La bohème @ Harriet Island//

Always wanted to go to the Minnesota Opera but never wanted to shell out for an expensive ticket (even though it’s definitely worth it)? You’re in luck! The renowned company is performing “La bohème” at three free outdoor concerts around the Twin Cities to celebrate their 50th anniversary. This is an incredible show to experience for free (and the main inspiration for the musical RENT) so DON’T MISS IT.

Tonight the show is happening at Harriet Island in St. Paul—specifically at the Target Stage in the middle of the park. Bring lots of friends, blankets, food n’ stuff, and bug spray.

7PM // FREE FREE FREE // All Ages // sung in Italian

more info: http://www.mnopera.org/opera-under-the-stars

Harriet Island Target Stage
Harriet Island
St. Paul, MN

- Alex

// Hot Freaks [tape release!!] @ Cause//

Don’t worry everyone, Hot Freaks is back!! They haven’t played regular shows in forever which has left the Twin Cities sad and dreary—but tonight they’re back at it and releasing a tape! Oooooo.

If you can’t make it to the show or don’t have a tape player or just can’t wait any longer, go download that sucker now and throw them a couple $$$ even though you can download it for free: http://hotfreaks.bandcamp.com/album/hot-freaks-3

You may notice some old Hot Freaks favorites on the album, but they’re re-recorded, so that’s exciting. And if all this and the thought of dancing the night away isn’t enough to get you to go, there’s this:

also playing:
Rupert Angeleyes
Shakin’ Babies

9:30PM // 21+ // $5

Cause Spirits @ Soundbar
3001 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408

- Alex

// Zoo Animal @ Mears Park//

Zoo Animal is playing tonight in Mears Park in the middle of downtown St. Paul, and considering it’s one of the nicest days of summer so far you have no excuse to miss this. Also, Enemy Planes will be opening up the night and there will be food trucks around the park. If you haven’t seen Zoo Animal’s new lineup yet, this is the perfect opportunity:

6PM / All Ages / FREE

more info: www.musicinmears.com

Mears Park
221 East 5th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101

- Alex

// E.T. @ Van Cleve Park//

The classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is playing at Van Cleve park TONIGHT! Come watch the lovable alien movie you haven’t seen in a million years.

What to bring:

• Blankets
• Bug spray
• Stuff to eat and drink (ie. Reese’s Pieces)

movies in the park full schedule: www.mplsmusicandmovies.com

Van Cleve Park
901 15th Ave SE  
Minneapolis, MN 55414

See you there part-ay people.

- Alex

// A mini-guide to Northern Spark 2013//

Northern Spark, the all-night art festival, the Twin Cities’ nuit blanche, is back TONIGHT for its third incarnation. This year it is exclusively happening in Lowertown St. Paul. I know, I know—St. Paul. “ALL THE WAY OVER THERE??” Yes, all the way over there. But it’s a blessing in disguise: you’ll get a completely different experience than the last two years and get to explore a part of the Twin Cities you probably don’t frequent.

Since there are a million projects and it can be overwhelming to look through them all, I’ve picked out three that you NEED to check out tonight. Write ‘em down:

1) Gossip Orchestra: Adam Conrad, Benjamin Kelly, and Max McDougal

• What? Twenty musicians in a circle—step into the circle and YOU become the conductor or composer. The conductor will have controls that will enable him/her to turn any of the musicians “on” or “off.” The composer will choose a mood, indicated by a colored light, that the selected musicians must improvise to. 
• more info: http://2013.northernspark.org/project/gossip-orchestra

2) Ghosts of the Twin Cities: Cindy Sherman Bishop and Martha Bourne

• What? Enter Studio A at Twin Cities Public Television where vintage local TV footage will be projected on the same plane as a live feed of onlookers from motion-sensitive cameras. Live music will undoubtedly make it 100x creepier.
• more info: http://2013.northernspark.org/project/ghosts-of-the-twin-cities

3) Hover: Alicia Dvorak and Mitchell Dose

• What? “A huge, mobile, interactive, bicycle-powered bat.” Yup. It’s going to be 10 feet long, 15 feet above the ground, the people running the project will steer the giant machine, but YOU will get the chance to bike the bat around, and power it’s wings and head. 
• more info: http://2013.northernspark.org/project/hover

Pro Tips:

• Bring food if you’re staying all night, and caffeine of some sort. You won’t need a full-on picnic, but granola bars and energy drinks go a long way.
• Dress warm. At 3 in the morning it’s like winter again.
• Take a nap before. So…go take a nap right now.
• DO EVERYTHING. LET THE ART OVERTAKE YOU.
• Stay all night. There’s no other way to do Northern Spark.

General festival info: northernspark.org

See you there doodz.

- Alex

// Ferris Bueller’s Day Off @ Lake Harriet Bandshell//

Movies In The Parks kicks off TONIGHT with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at the picturesque Lake Harriet Bandshell. There are benches, so no need to bring a blanket to sit on, but you’ll definitely need a blanket or two to wrap up in because it’s gonna be like 60°. And it wouldn’t hurt to bring a huge thermos of hot chocolate either. Woooo summer!

FREE // ALL AGES // Movie starts at dusk

full movie schedule: http://www.mplsmusicandmovies.com/

Lake Harriet Bandshell
4135 West Lake Harriet Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55409

- Alex

// Witch’s Hat Tower OPEN TONIGHT ONLY//

TONIGHT (May 31st) is the ONLY NIGHT OF THE YEAR that the Witch’s Hat Tower is open to the public! You’ve definitely seen it since it sits on the highest natural land area in the city of Minneapolis, but have you been to the observation deck on the top of the tower before? Now is your chance so don’t miss it! Here’s a picture I took last year from the top:

It’s only open for three hours and a LOT of people show up, so make sure to get there early and grab some ice cream because you’ll definitely have to stand in line.

5:30 - 8:30pm 

+ live music! + food! + plant sale! + more!

more info here: http://www.pperr.org/events/icecream-social.html

Witch’s Hat Water Tower (Tower Hill Park)
Malcolm Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414 ‎

- Alex

// Memory Lanes Block Party//

Despite cutting down to 2 days instead of 3, and having a lineup I’m not particularly excited about, the Memory Lanes Block Party is still a block party, and one of the first of the summer, and all ages, and FREE—SO GET THERE. 

Our picks: Teenage Moods, Crunchy Kids, DJ Shannon Blowtorch

Set times:

Saturday:

• OUTDOOR STAGE:
• 3pm: Platypus
• 3:45pm: The Snaps
• 4:30pm: Brian Herb & The Outstanding Achievements
• 5:15pm: The Sex Rays
• 6pm: TEENAGE MOODS ★
• 7pm: Black Diet
• 8pm: Southside Desire
• 9pm: Sean Anonymous w/Dream Crusher
• INDOOR STAGE:
• 10:30pm: CRUNCHY KIDS ★
• 12am: Hipshaker/Hotpants DJs

Sunday:

• OUTDOOR STAGE:
• 4pm: Crankshaft
• 5:45pm: Malamanya
• 7:15pm: Davina & The Vagabonds
• 8:30pm: Brass Messengers 
• 9pm: Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles
• INDOOR STAGE:
• 10:15pm: L’Assassins
• 11:15pm: Black Hearts Burlesque
• 12am: DJ SHANNON BLOWTORCH ★

Memory Lanes
2520 26th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406

- Alex

// Doomtree TONIGHT @ Roosevelt High School//

JUST ANNOUNCED:

The Doomtree crew is performing at Roosevelt High School TONIGHT for only $5. If you don’t subscribe to their mailing list, that’s why you don’t know about this. BUT HOLY SHIT THIS IS NUTS.

$5 / All Ages / Doors at 6PM

Roosevelt High School
4029 28th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406