Arts & Culture from Minnesota Public Radio

SPCO announces 2013-2014 season - and starts playing catch-up

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:42:29 -0500

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra today released details of its 2013-2014 season, which includes six world premiers, a centennial celebration of the work of Benjamin Britten, a survey of Beethoven's "heroic" period and an abundance of Baroque work.

'What Maisie Knew' finds modern truths in Victorian satire

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The directorial team behind the indie hit "Bee Season" and "The Deep End" return with an updated version of the Henry James satire on bad parenting. Scott McGehee and David Siegel co-direct a number of films. For the critically acclaimed adaptation they have not only succeeded in telling a very modern story, they may have unearthed a new child star.

Noah Baumbach and the joy of 'Frances Ha'

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:12:57 -0500

"I don't know. I try not to describe it," laughed director Noah Baumbach when asked to about his latest film. Nonetheless the director and writer of such cinematic depictions of modern angst as "The Squid and the Whale," "Margot at the Wedding," and "Greenberg," sits in a room in his Minneapolis hotel and tries.

Are blockbusters hurting the art of movies?

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

"Iron Man 3" and "Star Trek: Into Darkness" are doing well at the box office, but the prevalence of big-budget mayhem flicks may be a detriment to the rest of the industry.

In 'The Yellow Birds,' veteran highlights emotional hardships of Iraq war

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Kevin Powers discusses his new book and how writing it helped him process and cope with his time in the Middle East.

A literary gut check from author Mary Roach

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Her new book takes readers on a tour of the alimentary canal, answering uncomfortable questions along the way.

The Walker's Music & Movies series returns

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:49:13 -0500

The Walker Art Center unveiled its Music & Movies 2013 lineup this afternoon, which will once again feature a handful of Minnesota acts warming up for free movie screenings Monday evenings in July and August.

Microsoft unveils new Xbox One console

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:58:13 -0500

The company revealed the Xbox One, its next-generation entertainment console, during a presentation Tuesday at its headquarters in Redmond, Wash.

Eager, humble Bruce Coppock to reassume SPCO leadership

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra board today is expected to re-appoint Bruce Coppock as president and CEO. Coppock previously held the spot, but left five years ago due to health issues. Now back and in good health, Coppock is challenged with repairing the damage incurred by a bitter contract dispute.

Temple Grandin explores the autistic brain

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Kerri Miller's conversation with Temple Grandin at the Fitzgerald Theater.

Meet 'Big Honza,' Montgomery, Minnesota's 12-foot Czech folk hero

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:13:35 -0500

A combination of the area's Czech heritage and a huge helping of imagination formed the character Big Honza. Locals hope this fictional folk hero will put their town on the map.

Inspiring Lakeland teen Zach Sobiech passes away

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:19:05 -0500

While most high school seniors have spent the school year looking ahead to the future, terminally ill Lakeland, Minnesota teenager Zach Sobiech has spent his time staring down the unimaginable.

On the Minnesota River, 'paddling theater' offers entertainment and adventure

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:15:55 -0500

On May 18, 2013, performers staged a "paddling theater production" on the Minnesota River as part of Minnesota River History Weekend and Minnesota State Water Trails 50th Anniversary. The event offered stories, songs and characters from local river lore, presented both as live theater and live-action radio drama in an original production called "With the Future on the Line: Paddling Theater from Granite Falls to Yellow Medicine."

Allende finds inspiration for novel close to home

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 -0500

'Maya's Notebook' has its roots in the author's fears for her grandchildren.

Artspace to celebrate 30 years of work

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:59:09 -0500

After 30 years of deliberately maintaining a low profile, Minneapolis-based Artspace will celebrate its work with an event at the Cowles Center on Monday night.

Working women on television: a mixed bag at best

Sat, 18 May 2013 16:07:29 -0500

Television today teems with female characters holding jobs of the sort a young girl -- or boy -- might aspire to. But there's one problem: Almost none of the most high-profile characters have children.

Vincent Kartheiser of 'Mad Men' aims for Guthrie

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:40:47 -0500

To find their Mr. Darcy, the Guthrie Theater in Minnesota has turned to a Mad Man.

History Theatre to tour Minn. with 2 shows

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:54:15 -0500

The St. Paul-based History Theatre is taking its show on the road to greater Minnesota in June and July.

Prominent Twin Cities concert promoter Sue McLean dies

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:59:16 -0500

Sue McLean, a high-profile concert promoter in the Twin Cities and the largest independent female promoter in the world, died Friday today from cancer. She was 63.

Festival season is assuredly heating up

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:39:56 -0500

This weekend: Minnesota River History Paddling Theater, Art-a-Whirl, Preston Trout Days and the Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds.

Cube Critics movie review: The new Star Trek film

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:29:26 -0500

Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis and arts reporter Euan Kerr review "Star Trek Into Darkness," in this week's Cube Critics video.

Reviving the 'community sing' tradition: Minnesota Sounds and Voices

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:04:31 -0500

The arrival of warm weather in Minneapolis marks a new beginning for "singing season," a nod to the past when thousands of people flocked to Minneapolis parks to sing together for the fun of it.

Walker Performing Arts season takes collaborations to new heights

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:18:10 -0500

Philip Bither may have done the unforgivable in announcing the Walker's 2013-2014 performing arts season - he's named a favorite.

On a desert island, first find a source of water; then, a light to read by

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:25:00 -0500

What books would you bring to a desert island?

Ethan Rutherford's short stories about long trips

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Short-story writer Ethan Rutherford's tales range from the voyage of a Confederate submarine to a science fiction saga about hunting for whales in the middle of a desert. Each of the stories in his debut collection "The Peripetetic Coffin" involve journeys which seldom end well.

MPR documentaries: 'Song Catcher: Frances Densmore of Red Wing' and 'Artist Charles Biederman.'

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:26:31 -0500

Two people from Red Wing, Minnesota who are important figures in Minnesota history, culture and the arts are featured in separate documentaries by Minnesota Public Radio's Stephen Smith. Part 1: "Song Catcher: Frances Densmore of Red Wing" and Part 2: "Artist Charles Biederman."

Open a book, and hit the road

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

What book made you want to grab your suitcase and go traveling?

Did you see 'Saw'? Horror films and why we like them

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

What makes a good horror movie, and why do we pay good money to subject ourselves to them?

Appetites: It's cool NOT to cook

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:50:21 -0500

The pressure to cook is enormous. For people who don't cook, it can be shaming. Hold your head high, non-cooks. You fulfill a role not yet acknowledged in this country.

Remembering ornithologist Thomas Sadler Roberts: Minnesota Sounds and Voices

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:02:32 -0500

Along with spring, migratory birds are back. More than a century ago, their seasonal arrival was the object of intense interest by one of the state's most important ornithologists, Thomas Sadler Roberts.

Loving 'Gatsby' too much and not enough

Sat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 -0500

The sheer zazz that Baz Luhrmann introduces into The Great Gatsby is so imposing in quantity that it's surprising that it can get out of the way enough not to be the biggest problem in the movie.

YouTube's new pay channels go from campy to kids

Sat, 11 May 2013 05:00:00 -0500

Roger Corman's campy B movies, children's shows like "Sesame Street" and "Inspector Gadget," and inspirational monologues by celebrities -- these are among the offerings on 30 channels that will soon require a paid monthly subscription on YouTube.

This weekend's festivals in Minnesota

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:07:16 -0500

It's a big weekend for festivals in Minnesota.

Cube Critics movie review: 'The Great Gatsby' a great bromance

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:29:14 -0500

Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Curtis discusses the bromance between Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, the use of current music and the need for 2D with the movie "The Great Gatsby" in this week's Cube Critics video.

MPR photos of the week: Marriage, kayaking, walleye and more

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:19:50 -0500

The Minnesota House OKs a same-sex marriage bill, spring runoff bring out the kayakers in Duluth, the Wild are out of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and it's going to be an icy walleye opener up north. All that and more in our photos of the week.

SPCO returns to the stage after a bitter lockout

Fri, 10 May 2013 06:47:48 -0500

After a punishing contract dispute and a five-month lockout, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra returned to the stage last night for the first time since musicians and management reached a labor settlement. On the surface the concert was all about the music, but underneath, raw emotions remain.

Whisky heist comedy examines plight of despairing youth

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:51:25 -0500

The challenges facing working people make eye-opening subjects for the films of British director Ken Loach and his screenwriter Paul Laverty. And that's unusual in the box-office driven world of modern movies.

Kathryn Schulz on why 'Gatsby' is loathsome

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:00:00 -0500

"The Great Gatsby" is all the rage, with the opening of a new film version of the novel. But not everyone is crazy about the book.

Appetites: Hot restaurant designs transform mere meals into dining experience

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:35:54 -0500

Restaurants design in many ways is like service: when it's good, you don't notice the nuances. But when it's bad, it can be glaring. Good restaurant design can turn a mere meal into a dining experience.

Author Cheryl Strayed sought emotional healing, and found a physical test

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:35:00 -0500

Cheryl Strayed's second book, "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail," which chronicles her arduous hike and the personal problems that drove her to that journey, has become an international best-seller.

Minnesota Orchestra cancels rest of season

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:49:46 -0500

The cancellation of the final two weeks of the orcheatra's winter season was not unexpected. However, it is a milestone in the long-running dispute.

Luhrmann's 'Gatsby': Much hype, mixed reviews

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:04:56 -0500

"The Great Gatsby," the latest spectacle from Baz Luhrmann, opens on Friday. The Los Angeles Times says "'Gatsby' has arguably eclipsed every other 2013 film release in terms of pre-release hype."

Bruce Coppock back as head of SPCO

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:30:38 -0500

Former St. Paul Chamber Orchestra leader Bruce Coppock will return as its president and managing director, the SPCO announced Tuesday.

Word watcher charts marathon bombing's description as 'surreal'

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

As people in Boston and beyond struggled to make sense of the marathon bombings last month, the news media churned out reports that started to follow a pattern.

Peter Sagal talks about 'Constitution USA,' and his Harley-Davidson

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:47:33 -0500

The host of NPR's 'Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me,' on talks to MPR's Cathy Wurzer about his new documentary, "Constitution USA," and riding across the country on a tricked-out Harley-Davidson to interview Americans for the program.

Preserving a tradition that prepares Hmong souls for eternity

Mon, 06 May 2013 15:38:37 -0500

Funerals are considered the most elaborate -- and important -- of all Hmong ceremonies. Now, though, many Hmong-Americans are unfamiliar with the time-honored tradition.

Book pick: 'Maya's Notebook,' by Isabel Allende

Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Kerri's book pick this week is "Maya's Notebook," a new novel from Isabel Allende.

Photos: Rain can't dampen Cinco de Mayo in St. Paul

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:09:02 -0500

A dreary day didn't stop the annual Cinco de Mayo parade and festival in St. Paul on Saturday, with its traditional dancers, food and other attractions.

David Shields on why the novel is dead

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:00:00 -0500

Author and essayist David Shields, author of 14 books, has a new one out entitled "How Literature Saved My Life."

The love song that inspired a writer's hate

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:00:00 -0500

Throughout pop music history, people have been writing songs about crushes, says writer Amanda Nazario. It's almost a genre in itself. But the songs are often eye-rolling, not to mention groan-inducing.

A soggy Cinco de Mayo parade in St. Paul

Sat, 04 May 2013 18:53:14 -0500

A few May Day parades are planned for this weekend, but if the crowd at St Paul's Cinco de Mayo parade Saturday is an indicator, many people may stay away because of the weather.

State Dept. sends Minn. hip-hop artist to Africa

Sat, 04 May 2013 11:01:07 -0500

The U.S. State Department is sending a Minnesota hip-hop artist to Africa as part of a cultural exchange program.

Zimmern, Perennial Plate among Twin Cities James Beard award winners

Sat, 04 May 2013 09:32:12 -0500

Travel Channel host and food writer Andrew Zimmern, and "The Perennial Plate" hosts Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine, get to bring James Beard Foundation media awards home to the Twin Cities. The prestigious awards were announced Friday night in New York City.

State of the Arts: Five local arts stories you shouldn't miss

Sat, 04 May 2013 06:00:00 -0500

It's been a busy week, and I've been off my blogging game because I was filling in on The Daily Circuit. So here's a quick recap to bring you up to speed.

The Cube Critics: 'Iron Man 3,' 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:12:16 -0500

Reporter Jennifer Vogel steps in for the vacationing arts reporter Euan Kerr and compares notes with the Movie Maven about "Iron Man 3" and "The Reluctant Fundamentalist."

2013 James Beard Awards nominees have a Twin Cities flavor

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:38:36 -0500

Writers have the Pulitzers, actors have the Academy Awards, and foodie fans have the James Beard Awards, which are handed out tonight and Monday in New York City.

Minnesota Scenes: Your April

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:55:25 -0500

By this time of year we'd hoped to be taking your photos of spring breaking out all over. But endless winter was on a lot of peoples' minds.

Want to see Prince in Minnesota? It's $259 a pop

Fri, 03 May 2013 07:12:22 -0500

Prince is returning to the metro area for two shows on the same day at Myth Live, May 25. Tickets will go on sale Saturday, May 4 at noon on the MythLive website and eTix. Tickets are $259 a pop, a price tag that's already resulting in some sticker shock for local fans.

Osmo Vanska threatens to quit Mn Orch if musicians' lockout isn't solved

Thu, 02 May 2013 17:02:09 -0500

Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vanska has told the Minnesota Orchestra he will resign if the musician lockout isn't resolved.

St. Paul piper takes love for Celtic music around the state

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:04:33 -0500

St. Paul bagpipe player Dick Hensold is inspired by the traditional Celtic music heard in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Hensold wants more Minnesotans to hear the music, so he's invited a Cape Breton fiddler to join him on a swing around Minnesota.

Appetites: Twin Cities home to numerous vibrant farmers markets

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:30:00 -0500

It's time to talk farmers markets with Beth Dooley here on Appetites. She is the author of "Minnesota's Bounty: The Farmers' Market Cookbook."

Recipe: Meringue Shell

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:29:59 -0500

A light, crisp meringue shell filled with lemon curd, topped with berries and whipped cream.

Recipe: Asparagus, Cheddar and Potato Fritatta with Quiche Variation

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:29:59 -0500

Recipes from "Minnesota's Bounty: The Farmers Market Cookbook."

For Mark Rylance, the real action takes place in the mind of the audience

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:15:00 -0500

The two-time Tony winner Mark Rylance talks with Kerri Miller about acting and creativity.

From book to film: A debate over literary adaptations

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

In honor of the new film version of "The Great Gatsby," in this week's Screen Time, Tom Weber and Stephanie Curtis discuss literary adaptations.

Stereotypes and bias linger, Asian-American artists say

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Asian-American artists still look for their chance to enter the mainstream.

With new contract, SPCO musicians, management must repair strained relations

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:40:24 -0500

The musicians of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra are returning to the stage, after a seven-month lockout marked by halting, sometimes bitterly contentious contract talks with orchestra management. The musicians Monday ratified a new, three-year contract agreement, and will perform their first concert of the year on May 9. But it will take far longer for the two sides to repair a relationship that has been badly strained by the dispute.

Art Heroes photos: Roger and DeAnna Cummings at Juxtaposition Arts

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:16 -0500

Roger and DeAnna Cummings founded Juxtaposition Arts in 1995 and continue to teach and train young people in the arts while employing them as apprentices to work alongside professional artists. They were photographed outside the Juxtaposition Arts gallery space near West Broadway and Emerson avenues N. in Minneapolis Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2013.

Book pick: 'Evil Men' by James Dawes

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Tom Weber's book pick of the week is "Evil Men" by Macalester College Prof. James Dawes.

Art Heroes: At Juxtaposition Arts, valuing creativity, practicality

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:41:49 -0500

Roger and DeAnna Cummings, along with friend Peyton Russell, had a goal: An organization in north Minneapolis that could teach kids about the arts, and then show them how to use their artistic skills to support themselves financially.

Duluth music festival marks a big birthday

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:01:43 -0500

The Homegrown Music Festival in Duluth is marking its 15th anniversary with a ton of music: 186 local bands in 30 venues around town.

SPCO musicians ratify contract, ending months-long lockout

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:57:21 -0500

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra musicians on Monday ratified a new three-year contract.

Listeners nominate books as modern classics

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 -0500

Somewhere between half a million and a million books will be published in the United States this year, but only a handful of those will ever be considered a classic. Which books do you think will endure?

iTunes celebrates a decade, faces new challenges

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0500

as iTunes celebrates its 10-year mark Sunday, it faces renewed scrutiny on how it will continue to dominate in the next decade -- or whether it can. With competition from subscription services like Spotify and other services like Amazon.com, Netflix, Hulu and others, iTunes will likely need to reinvent itself to remain at the top of the digital entertainment perch.

Duluth Homegrown festival is music scene's coming-of-age story

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:40:11 -0500

The coming-of-age story of Duluth's music scene could easily be called "North by Northeast." Now in its 15th year, the annual Homegrown Music Festival is a far cry from the late 1990s in Duluth, when there were hardly any local bands playing original music and even fewer places for them to play. The festival kicks off Sunday in Duluth, and over the next eight nights features more than 180 local bands playing 25 venues.

For veterans, art a chance for much-needed release

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:53:56 -0500

An art exhibit opening tonight in Minneapolis is the culmination of more than two years of teaching military veterans to express themselves through art and resolve difficult emotions stemming from past conflict or trauma.

Cube Critics movie review: 'My Brother the Devil' a riveting debut from Sally El Hosaini

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:18:44 -0500

Arts reporter Euan Kerr discusses director Sally El Hosaini's background, a new twist on an old tale and the thick London dialect in the movie "My Brother the Devil" in this week's Cube Critics.

Country legend George Jones dies at 81

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:56:02 -0500

George Jones, the peerless, hard-living country singer who recorded dozens of hits about good times and regrets and peaked with the heartbreaking classic "He Stopped Loving Her Today,"has died. He was 81.

To '3' or not to '3': Hollywood's franchise fever

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Hollywood is banking on the future this summer -- and not just a future where Capt. Kirk orders warp speed or Tony Stark builds a better Iron Man outfit.

Jazz pianist Craig Taborn: Influenced by greats, but no imitator

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:50:40 -0500

Craig Taborn, an acclaimed composer and performer who grew up in Golden Valley, performs Friday at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

Patricia Hampl's 'The Big Time: F. Scott Fitzgerald.'

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:39:38 -0500

Minnesota writer Patricia Hampl presents a staged performance of "The Big Time: F. Scott Fitzgerald." Commissioned by MPR in 2010 for the 100th anniversary of the Fitzgerald Theater, Patricia Hampl and Dan Chouinard perform a literary and musical story about Fitzgerald's version of making it big.

Appetites: Snow puts a freeze on spring dining

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:46:33 -0500

Unrelenting snow and sleet have made late April feel like February, and that means a seemingly endless winter for local diners who seek out seasonal food from our region.

Drama of real Holocaust survival brought to Twin Cities stage

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:16:03 -0500

Erwin Farkas was 10 years old when World War II began in 1939. His subsequent Holocaust survival is one of eight that have been woven together in a new Twin Cities theatrical production.

Who needs 'Gangster Squad' when so many quality thug films abound?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:15:54 -0500

"Gangster Squad," a Ryan Gosling-Sean Penn period drama about a police officer who takes on the mob, comes out Wednesday on DVD and streaming video. It was a flop, so Tom Weber and Stephanie Curtis recommend other great gangster films you should see in its place.

Minnesota-born Vatican-watcher says new pope has had 'quite an impact'

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Not many people can be called a "Vaticanista," but John Thavis is one. For more than 30 years he covered the Vatican and traveled around the world with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

Book pick: 'The Vatican Diaries' by John Thavis

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Tom Weber's book pick this week is "The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church" by John Thavis.

U of M Music School singers to tour state

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:00:00 -0500

The University of Minnesota School of Music's University Singers go on the school's first choral tour of Minnesota this week.

Young Minn. Opera maestro is man on the move

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:59:07 -0500

Michael Christie is a maestro on the move. At 38, he's the music director of the Minnesota Opera, one of the nation's top companies. He's also wrapping up eight years as music director of the Phoenix Symphony, leads the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, guest-conducts orchestras around the world, and last year was on the cover of Opera News magazine, which in the opera world is like being the cover model on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

$10M gift spurs restoration at Jefferson's estate

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:17:00 -0500

One-time slave quarters will be recreated at Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello, and more of the Declaration of Independence writer's living quarters will be restored using a $10 million gift from a philanthropist who has a keen interest in the nation's history.

Cube Critics movie review: 'Oblivion' aims high, but doesn't deliver

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:07:43 -0500

Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Curtis discusses the visual power, sonic fullness and shortcomings of Tom Cruise's newest movie "Oblivion" in this week's Cube Critics.

Minnesotans in new book on Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:40:00 -0500

As the state Legislature nears a vote on a controversial bill that would give victims of sexual abuse more time to sue, a new book chronicles the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, including some key characters and cases from Minnesota.

SPCO musicians get Monday deadline to vote

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:05:41 -0500

Management of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra announced today it has reached an agreement on electronic media rights with the American Federation of Musicians. A tentative local contract agreement with the locked out musicians was dependant on reaching a deal with the AFM. Management says it will end the lockout on Tuesday if SPCO musicians to accept the local deal by 5 p.m. Monday.

Appetites: What's new in concessions in Minneapolis parks

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:30:00 -0500

It used to be that snack options at local parks were limited to popcorn and ice cream. Now, concessionaires at several city parks offer various goods from lattes and lemon-ginger scones, to tap beer and fresh oysters.

Renowned Indian classical dancer Leela Samson to make debut Twin Cities appearance

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

One of India's best known classical dancers, Leela Samson, is making her debut appearance in the Twin Cities.

Western films reflect the eras in which they're made

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Quentin Tarantino, whose latest film, "Django Unchained," is a tribute to Spaghetti Westerns, is a devotee of the Western genre. "Django Unchained" comes out on DVD and streaming today.

MnOrch management launches its own financial analysis, cancels concerts

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:57:43 -0500

Citing frustration over lack of progress in discussions with locked-out musicians over an independent analysis of the orchestra's finances, management at the Minnesota Orchestra today announced it has launched a study on its own. The musicians are however crying foul, saying it's management doing the foot-dragging.

Rock the Garden lineup to be announced

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:09:18 -0500

Who's ready for summer? Rock the Garden 2013 is happening on June 15 -- rain or shine -- and we'll reveal the lineup at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16th.

Protest music is more than just a man with a guitar

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Protest music isn't just a folk singer with a guitar. There are great protest songs from practically every genre: hip-hop, soul, country, rock -- and even classical.

'Nice Fish' about much more than ice fishing

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:00:00 -0500

Duluth poet Louis Jenkins never dreamed he'd be in theater. Now he's found himself working at the Guthrie in Minneapolis with an internationally renowned British actor in a world premier production of a play that seems to be about - of all things - ice fishing.

LIVE: Ask a photographer about shooting the stars

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:30:16 -0500

The Public Insight Network is hosting an online clinic dedicated to the art of photography in preparation for the Lyrid meteor shower. Join us as experienced photographers Heidi Pinkerton, Greg Marshall and Bryan Hansel answer your questions and share their tips and tricks of how to shoot great images of the night sky.