Girl talk
BUZ'N 102.9's inaugural Girls With Guitars breast-cancer benefit at Mill City Nights kind of turned into Tuesday Night Social Club. It became a gabfest about newcomer Maggie Rose meeting Gloriana's Rachel Reinert on the morning plane from Nashville, and Ashley Monroe having sung on Sheryl Crow's album, and Kellie Pickler going on about getting matching tattoos with Reinert on a night of partyin' in Texas — plus Pickler got a nose ring that evening, too. "My husband had to get a diamond [stud] out of my nose with a pair of pliers," she remembered of Kyle Jacobs, her Minnesota man from Bloomington. But the most dramatic story belonged to Reinert, because it happened that afternoon at her unnamed Minneapolis hotel. "A wood panel attacked me," she explained to the 900 country-music fans about how she got knocked on her noggin. Wondering what to do, she phoned her mom, who was concerned about possible internal bleeding. So the dutiful daughter called 911. "I had 30 paramedics in my room," she continued. "They were so cute, and I had no makeup on and wasn't dressed. I was so embarrassed." However, Crow, who had said she was thrice engaged but never married, was encouraged by the turnout of men in Reinert's room: "I'll have to try that."
Jon Bream
Diablo's drama
Diablo Cody, an expert on teen drama ("Juno," "Jennifer's Body"), is writing a new one, this time a pilot for network TV (Fox). "Prodigy" is about a 16-year-old home-schooled girl who decides to give public high school a try. Naturally, she falls in with the bad kids, and high jinks ensue. Cody's partner in the venture is Josh Schwartz, creator of "The O.C." and co-creator of "Gossip Girl."
Kristin Tillotson
Due Nord
Getting to see Charlie Parr, Night Moves or the Pines in concert might seem everyday to spoiled Twin Citians, but what about music lovers in Austin, Winona or Detroit Lakes? It has turned into a big deal, thanks to Caravan du Nord, the third annual roaming festival of sorts organized by the Minnesota Music Coalition and 89.3 the Current with Legacy Amendment funds. With daytime musician workshops and nighttime theater performances, the event kicks off Friday night with Parr and the Cactus Blossoms at Austin's Paramount Theatre (Parr's hometown), followed by Night Moves at Winona's Page Theatre (Oct. 18), Astronautalis at the Paramount in St. Cloud (Nov. 2), the Pines at the Holmes in Detroit Lakes (Nov. 15) and the Honeydogs at the Sheldon in Red Wing (Nov. 16). MMC director Ellen Stanley explained to I.W.: "These cities have beautiful historic theaters, but the rock, country and hip-hop acts always wind up getting relegated to the bars there, if they even go there at all."
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Woodstock winner
Among the winners at last weekend's Woodstock Film Festival in New York was a film about artist Gendron Jensen, 73, who for many years lived in Grand Rapids, Minn. He has been drawing meticulously detailed images of bones for more than 45 years. Filmmaker Kristian Berg, who also grew up in Grand Rapids, won best short documentary for the 28-minute film, "Poustinia/ The Art of Gendron Jensen." Its title references a place where one retreats to meditate and pray. The film taps into an archive of footage and photos, as we watch Jensen first as a young man and later, white-haired and slightly stooped, in his 70s, still tramping through the forests and at work in his studio, now outside Taos, N.M.
Keeping mum
As Walker Art Center's administrative director from 1952 to 1986, Don Borrman focused his keen eyes on the center's finances and kept mum about whatever arty goings on he might have witnessed. At a memorial service Wednesday for Borrman, who died Oct. 2, friends and family recalled the dry wit that made him a perfect foil for Martin Friedman, the Walker's mercurial director at the time. When BorrÂman announced his retirement plans, Walker CFO Mary Polta suggested he could finally cash in by writing a tell-all memoir of his time backstage with the likes of Princess Margaret, David Hockney, Marcel Duchamp, Vincent Price, Twiggy and other bold-faced names who had swanned through. With a characteristic twinkle in his eye, Borrman had replied, "I think there's more money in my silence."
Mary Abbe
F. Scott, teen Casanova
What lofty thoughts occupied the mind of a 13-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald whiling away his days in 1910 St. Paul? Girls, girls and nothing but girls, if the diary he began then is any indication. A sample entry from his "Thoughtbook," just published by the University of Minnesota Press, contains evidence of his early flair for romantic dialogue: " 'Violet,' I began, 'Did you call me a brat.' 'No.' 'Did you say that you wanted your ring and your picture and your hair back.' 'No.' 'Did you say that you hated me.' 'Of course not, is that what you went home for.' 'No but Archie Mudge told me those things yesterday evening.' 'He's a little scamp' said Violet Indignantly. At this juncture Elenor Mitchell almost went into hysterics because Jack was teasing her, and Violet had to go home with her. That afternoon I spanked Archie Mudge and finished making up with Violet."
Kristin Tillotson
Flying first class
The Toronto singer/guitarist who goes by the stage name Bahamas warmed to the sell-out crowd Monday at the State Theatre opening for Jack Johnson. In fact, Bahamas (real name Afie Jurvanen) was thrilled to be touring with the chart-topping Johnson instead of doing the small-room indie-rock circuit. Admiring the ornate theater, Bahamas said: "We're playing nicer places than we're used to. I don't mean any disparagement to the Bryant-Lake Bowl. I had a wonderful time there." I.W. had a wonderful time in the Bahamas once.
Jon Bream
Nancy Pelosi book, 'The Art of Power,' will reflect on her career in public life
