For sale: One historic West Bank Minneapolis watering hole popular with soccer lovers and music fans. Asking price: $1 million. Ads for the Nomad World Pub suddenly popped up this week on Zillow and other real estate sites, and then showed up all over Facebook on Tuesday as patrons feared for its future. The sales pitch calls it a "rare opportunity to own an iconic bar. ... The operation is profitable and has numerous opportunities to increase the annual revenue. The Nomad is the place to be for a diverse and robust clientele through its programming of nightly live music, bocce ball leagues, World Cup soccer, Zombie Pub Crawls, trivia etc." So what gives, then, if it's such a great place? Owner Todd Smith — who took over the former Five Corners Saloon space in 2005 and became a torchbearer for the sometimes troubled neighborhood — declined to comment on the specifics of why he put the pub up for sale. "I love the Nomad and am proud of what we've done here," Smith said. "Now, I'm interested in knowing if anyone wants to carry on with what we started."
Chris Riemenschneider
Something to sing about
Minnesota had two big winners when the 2016 Chorus America Awards were announced. Cantus received the Dale Warland Singers Commission Award, a gift that will help the company produce a world premiere of "The Discovery of Sight" by Brooklyn-based composer Gabriel Kahane as part of the ensemble's 2017-18 touring program. And VocalEssence was honored with the Brazeal Dennard Award, in recognition of its Witness program, which for 26 years has featured work by black composers and artists.
Graydon Royce
The kids are all right
Hard to believe we are up to the "10th edition" of the Dakota Combo, a rotating band featuring the cream of the crop of Twin Cities high school jazz musicians. These ensembles and much more wouldn't have been possible without the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education, founded in 1997. Sunday's fundraiser at the Dakota's satellite St. Paul club Vieux Carre (4:30 p.m., $45-$250) not only features the latest Combo under the direction of bassist Adam Linz, but an alumni group led by original director Kelly Rossum, a stirring trumpeter back in town on the heels of his new release, "Blue Earth County." Hear for yourself why this is such a good cause.
Britt Robson
Tahitian treat
Harry Connick Jr. was in workday casual mode — no tie or jacket, untucked shirttail, five-day beard — at a State Theatre concert last week. His conversation was just as loose as he reminisced about his first Twin Cities gig (his luggage got lost so he had to buy a suit, tie and shoes) and invited a woman from the audience to help him reinsert his contact lens (she held her compact mirror for him). But Harry got wild when he talked about being on Fox 9's "The Jason Show" earlier in the day. "He's terrific," Connick gushed of host Jason Matheson. "I'd consider leaving my wife for him. For a brief moment, I could see us in Tahiti together."
JON BREAM
Palomino's new stage
The Twin Cities' last big outdoor music festival of the season will be a little bit bigger and more eclectic in its third year without getting more expensive. Festival Palomino, helmed by Minnesota bluegrass/folk stars Trampled by Turtles, announced a Sept. 17 lineup at Canterbury Park that includes Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach's other band the Arcs; wunderkind British rocker Jake Bugg; fiddling indie-rock mainstay Andrew Bird; moody and acclaimed Scottish quartet Frightened Rabbit; and a grab bag of rootsy acts including blooming Twin Cities twangers the Cactus Blossoms. While the festival's side-by-side two-stage lineup already guaranteed nonstop music, a third stage will be added this year to showcase more homegrown acts including the Murder of Crows and John Mark Nelson. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon for $52 via FestivalPalomino.com. C.R.
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