Monday
It’s poetry night at Magers and Quinn, and John Krumberger and Thomas R. Smith will share works that deal with loss. Krumberger recently retired from his career as a psychologist and psychotherapist and is reading from “When I Was a King,” a book of poetry dedicated to his wife who died of an undiagnosed cancer in 2019. Thomas R. Smith will be reading selections from his books of poetry including “Storm Island,” “Windy Day at Kabekona,” and his forthcoming release "Heaven and Nature”.
Are you a mama? Are you an artist? Are you hungry? If you circled at least two of these, you should probably join the Mamas Ignite Collective Creative Circle at the Legacy Building. This event is put together by the hyper-talented musician and organizer Kashimana. The circle aims to reignite your creative spark with performances, mini-workshops and meaningful conversations. On top of all of that, there’s delicious food and limited childcare available during the event.
Tuesday
Tired of bingos where you don’t win dildos? TBH, I think at this point we all are. You can fix all of that on Tuesday over at Icehouse in South Minneapolis. This “feel good” bingo event organized by GRRL Scout is donating all ticket proceeds to Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and all the prizes come from your favorite politically active sex shop, Smitten Kitten. Grab a dauber, support a great cause, get a bingo and win a dildo. Best Tuesday ever?
Wednesday
Two short months ago I had never heard of the Whipple Building, but during Operation Metro Surge this building has served as HQ for federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security. It has also served as one of many nerve-centers of resistance to the actions of the DHS. Organizers at 50501 Minnesota and Veterans for Peace Twin Cities are inviting community members to share their stories from Operation Metro Surge outside the Whipple Federal Building. It's at 11am, and you can get there via the Blue Line or driving to the Fort Snelling Park and Ride South Lot.
Shemekia Copeland (Dakota / Janet Mami Takayama)
Let the blues take over. Shemekia Copeland is one of the great blues vocalists on the scene today, and she always turns out a great performance at the Dakota. Fear not if you are worried that a night of relentlessly heartbreaking blues might not be the move – Copeland’s latest album, “Blame it On Eve,” is a self-described “vacation from all the heaviness.” That’s a vacation I think we’d all like to book.
Thursday
The way different parts of the Twin Cities arts community have shown up to support our neighbors in need is one of the few bright spots in a year that has so far been filled with dark clouds. Celebrated writer and speaker Jessica Nordell opened up the rolodex and scheduled a star-studded event at the Loft. Confirmed readers include Curtis Sittenfeld, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Sarah Ghazal Ali, Chaun Webster, Claire Wahmanholm, Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, Lara Mimosa Montes, Halee Kirkwood and Jessica Nordell herself. All proceeds from the event will go to our friends at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
Get on your horse and get the most out of Lunar New Year by taking in this special program at Orchestra Hall. Chia-Hsuan Lin conducts the orchestra with guest appearances from Rui Du on violin and Yazhi Guo on suona.
Friday
Care to see a couple of the best rock bands in Minnesota all in one night? This is the Friday event for you. The headliner is Heart to Gold, but every band is in the upper echelon of the music scene here. The biggest draw for me is the chance to see she’s green, a group putting a modern angle on the shoegaze sound popularized by My Bloody Valentine. I saw she’s green at Best New Bands of 2023, and it was a blanket of distorted guitars with angelic vocals floating above and a pensive rhythm section rumbling below. I felt a physical kind of joy hearing this band deliver their passionate songs with exuberance and virtuosity. Bring your earplugs and see a band that is undeniably on their way up.
Saturday
A lot of Minnesota runners take a pause for the winter months. It makes sense. You might love a good jog but you don’t feel like slipping and then slipping a disc. That’s where the Skyway 5K comes in. This indoor 3.1-mile run gives you a chance to bend the rules of the St. Paul skyway and run at full speed in a fully indoor environment. I used to run from MPR all the way to Bambú for the bún, but the security guards would always make me slow down. Not this Saturday! I’m running, sir.
Get ready Minnesota, it’s time for outdoor soccer. Minnesota United is back on the field and ready to pack the rafters at Allianz Field in Saint Paul. Whether you are into soccer or not, few places feel as alive as Allianz Field on a crispy late-winter afternoon as the Loons take their positions. Wear layers, and get ready to see Minnesota United for their home opener!
Sunday
Ready for a walk and a schvitz? Sacred Ground Wellness and Fire and Ice Sauna are teaming up for an event they’re called the “ultimate sensory journey to transition from winter into spring”. The event starts with a walk through one of the most beautiful gems of our metro-area parks, Battle Creek Regional Park. After the hike, you’ll have ample time to warm up in a well-appointed sauna.
