Category: Arts

Viewed depictions of “The Tale of Genji,” the world’s first novel, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It was written by a woman, Murasaki Shikibu, over 1,000 years ago in Kyoto, Japan. Themes stand the test of time, including love, lust, and the disempowerment of women.

Walked to Orchestra Hall to listen to the Minnesota Orchestra. Downtown merged with reflections of the lobby.

Walked over to the Cedar for a sold-out performance by Beninese singer, Angélique Kidjo. “We’re all Africans.” We sometimes play her music when doing household chores: she gets you moving.

Walked with a friend through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden on our way to ice creams at Sebastian Joe’s.

An elderly woman asked me what I thought of “Nimbus,” a toroidal sculpture being installed outside the Minneapolis Central Library. I said I was trying to like it. She was less circumspect: “It’s a rusty piece of junk.””It is rusty,” I agreed.

As the sun set, listened to small groups of musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra playing Baroque to contemporary in an atrium of Orchestra Hall.

Enjoyed a murder at Theatre in the Round, the longest-running theater in Minneapolis: Agatha Christie’s “Go Back for Murder.” The staging of the second act was brilliant.

On my chilly cycle ride, started hearing “oompah, oompah, …” then a contingent from the University of Minnesota Marching Band appeared. They were warming up their instruments on their way to the 57th Annual Marching Band Indoor Concert at the Northrop.

Walked to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and beyond. Without Words.