A Nice Murder

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.

Categorized as Arts

Oompah, Oompah

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.

Categorized as Arts

Lost For Words

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

Categorized as Arts

Wooden Bicycle

Spotted this horned bicycle while crawling artists’ studios in Nordeast Minneapolis. The frame, handlebars, seat, mudguards, and chain guard are all wood. It was not for sale.

Categorized as Arts

Noises Off

Laughed at “Noises Off, “ a play within a play, at the Guthrie. This British farce has many traditional elements: misunderstandings, lots of doors opening and closing, trousers around legs, the tryst in her underwear, and an increasingly frantic plot.

Categorized as Arts

Self-Made Man

On my cycle ride: Self-Made Man. Perched atop a parking garage in the Minneapolis Marcy-Holmes neighborhood, it’s easy to miss this sculpture.

Categorized as Arts

Playing with Fire

Thoughts were provoked at the Guthrie’s “Frankenstein—Playing with Fire.” The Frankenstein novel was published 200 years ago; applying technologies while ignoring morality damages our society today.

Unforgiven

Watched “Yurusarezaru mono” (“Unforgiven”) set in Japan’s brutal 19th century frontier, Hokkaido. It parallels America’s West: settlers (from Honshu), indigenous people (Ainu), and destitute Samurai rather than washed-up gunslingers. In 2013 I visited this 1870’s frontier home.

Two American Indian Galleries

Visited two American Indian galleries: All My Relations and Two Rivers. Relished a slow-cooked bison melt at Gatherings Cafe in the Minneapolis American Indian Center.

Categorized as Arts