best of minnesota

Overall bookstores: Magers & Quinn

Friday May 11, 2012

Can one bookstore do it all? Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood sure comes close. New books, used books, antiquarian books, late-night hours, funky, hip, walkable neighborhood, friendly smart bookish staff and more author events than all the other bookstores in town put together. All they need is a parking lot, and they'd be gold.

• 3038 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls
• 612-822-4611
• magersandquinn.com

Runner-up: Once Upon a Crime

Used bookstores: Sixth Chamber Used Books

Monday May 14, 2012

So many great used bookstores have closed in recent years, including a wealth of places around the University of Minnesota. Thank goodness we still have Sixth Chamber Used Books, a sunny, well-stocked, pleasant shop on St. Paul's Grand Avenue. This isn't one of those dusty, rabbit-warreny places like, say, the old Dinkytown Antiquarian Bookstore. It's bright and cheerful, with nearly 70,000 books to choose from. (In person, or online.) Tip: If you're a teacher, ask staffers how they can help you stock your classroom.

• 1332 Grand Av., St. Paul
• 651-690-9463
• sixthchamber.com

Runner-up: Midway Book Store

Poet: Robert Bly

Friday May 11, 2012

In a state that claims Connie Wanek, Jim Moore, Heid Erdrich and Todd Boss, among so many others, it could be hard to pick just one. But this is Minnesota, and our old man of letters is still our old man of letters. Translator, rabble-rouser, National Book Award winner, essayist, Iron John drummer -- but above all, poet, a man who finds language so goofily appealing that it makes him almost giddy. When he's reading a poem aloud, he almost always reads it twice -- no matter who wrote it. Now in his mid-80s, he still does the occasional reading, usually with sitar and drum -- an event not to be missed.

Runner-up: Joyce Sutphen

Novelist: Charles Baxter

Friday May 11, 2012

His last book ("Gryphon") was a collection of short stories, and he also writes essays and poetry, but Charles Baxter, author of the juicy (so says the New York Times) "The Feast of Love" and the disturbing "The Soul Thief" is a powerful, funny, dark and eloquent novelist. He was born in Minneapolis and graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, leaving to earn his Ph.D. in New York and then teach in Michigan. But for the past nine years he's been back in his home state, teaching at the University of Minnesota and writing, writing, writing.

Runner-up: Louise Erdrich

Mystery writer: Erin Hart

Friday May 11, 2012

John Sandford, Vince Flynn and David Housewright are the Twin Cities' best-selling mystery writers. But for a beautifully written, engrossing mystery, richly laced with history, anthropology, archeology and music, you can't do better than the books of Erin Hart. Her mysteries usually begin at a bog somewhere in rural Ireland where something intriguing is discovered, and from there they take you all over Ireland and sometimes to St. Paul. Follow her blog (www.erinhart.com) for news of every single bog body dug up in Ireland -- and there are plenty.

Runner-up: John Sandford

Spoken word artist: Bao Phi

Friday May 11, 2012

At 37, Bao Phi is already an elder statesman in the Twin Cities spoken-word poetry scene. He helped jump-start the whole thing back in the 1990s, winning every slam award possible, eventually making it onto Russell Simmons' "Def Poetry." He must be feeling young again after the release of last year's "Song I Sing," his first book of poetry. The collection of hard-hitting pieces -- centered on Asian-American life -- reads like a greatest hits album transcribed for the page. The poems speak loud and proud -- like a classic Bao Phi performance.

Runner-up: Guante

Gallery for photography: Weinstein Gallery

Friday May 11, 2012

A world-class emporium with down-home charm, the Weinstein specializes in classic black-and-white photos and contemporary color work by an international roster ranging from August Sander and Manuel Alvarez Bravo to Robert Mapplethorpe, Lynn Davis and Alec Soth.

• 908 W. 46th St., Mpls
• 612-822-1722
• weinstein-gallery.com

Gallery for midwestern talents: Groveland Gallery

Friday May 11, 2012

Located in a restored mansion overlooking the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Groveland Gallery specializes in representational work including lyrical landscapes by Tom Maakestad, Carl Oltvedt, Thomas Paquette and Larry Hofmann; modernist designs by Dani Roach and Charles Lyon; intimate vignettes by Stella Ebner and photographic abstractions by Meg Ojala, among others.

• 25 Groveland Terrace, Mpls
• 612-377-7800
• grovelandgallery.com

Gallery for fine craft: Grand Hand Gallery

Friday May 11, 2012

In its sunny storefront showroom, the Grand Hand offers a refreshing selection of beautifully handmade objects including pottery, glass, textiles, baskets and jewelry. Midwestern talents are a strong point, including ceramics by Jeff Oestreich, Monica Rudquist and Richard Bresnahan; glass from Dick Huss and Michael Tonder; textiles by Tim Harding and way more.

• 619 Grand Av., St. Paul
• 651-312-1122
• thegrandhand.com

New band to see in 2012: Poliça

Friday May 11, 2012

Breaking up with her ex-husband and thus her old band, Roma di Luna, was shocking enough. Then Channy Leaneagh went and added Auto-Tune and fuzzy electronic effects to her natural-beauty siren voice, inspired by her work with the all-star band Gayngs. It took her and her oddly configured new group -- two drummers, no guitarist -- all of two shows to win over local skeptics, though. Poliça has since been wowing crowds everywhere from the South by Southwest fest to opening dates with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

Runner-up: The Cactus Blossoms

Singer/songwriter under 30: Holly Newsom

Friday May 11, 2012

The dissolution of her band Zoo Animal's original lineup was unfortunate but shed light on the dark and mysterious talent of Newsom, 26, who is carrying on with new band members and a new, mostly solo EP, "Departure." She grew up in an all-female conservative Christian household in Cokato, Minn., and writes about God's salvation and devilish temptations purely but evocatively. Her soft-howler voice -- think Cat Power's Chan Marshall -- adds to her songs' haunting beauty.

Runner-up: Bethany Larson

Radio personality: Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Friday May 11, 2012

Dare to listen to MPR's "The Splendid Table" on an empty stomach and you may find yourself sprinkling salt on the radio knobs and digging in. Kasper, who has won two James Beard Awards during the show's 18-year run, has a voice as delicious as the dishes she raves about. But Kasper is more than a foodie. She's a top-notch journalist, exploring trends and issues as meaty as anything on the dial. Garrison Keillor may be MPR's top dog, but we're more inclined to break bread with Kasper.

Runner-up: Dan Barreiro (KFAN)

Hip-hop act for people afraid of hip-hop: Ill Chemistry

Tuesday May 15, 2012

One of two male/female hip-hop duos enriching the uniquely non-sexist Twin Cities hip-hop scene (also: Villa Rosa), this one features mindful rapper and poetess Desdamona along with mind-blowing beatboxer and wordsmith Carnage. The "chemistry" in the name is as real as their stories of struggle and determination. They started as an improv act six years ago and still carry a lively freestyling spirit along with jazzy undertones and hard-rocking oomph on their eponymous full-length debut, issued in April on a French label.

Runner-up: More Than Lights

Jazz act for people bored with jazz: The Atlantis Quartet

Friday May 11, 2012

Unlike, say, the Bad Plus and their quirky '70s rock covers, there's little to rile jazz purists with the Atlantis crew and their bop-heavy original compositions. But there is an electrifying energy that reaches beyond traditional jazz crowds, from the kinetic, careful interplay between guitarist Zacc Harris and saxophonist Brandon Wozniak to the trot-to-gallop horsepower of the Chris Bates/Pete Hennig rhythm section. You can see them a lot at the Artists' Quarter or the Dakota.

Runner-up: Fuzzy Math

Cover band: Hookers & Blow

Friday May 11, 2012

The name is a jokey moniker about music-biz excess. The only thing excessive about this all-star Twin Cities band is the joy it generates. Started as a lark nearly 15 years ago, H&B has flourished as a dynamic fun machine. The nonet's repertoire is heavy on classic-rock, dance classics and cheesy pop from the 1970s and '80s delivered by four distinctive and strong lead singers -- Beatles-loving Adam Levy (of the Honeydogs), KQ-inspired George Scot McKelvey, novelty-specialist Joe Savage and all-purpose soul siren Andra Suchy. The secret weapon is drummer Noah Levy, a master of many styles. The horn section is crisp, the guitar licks hot and the good times nonstop.

Runner-up: The R Factor

Suburban listening room: 318 Café

Friday May 11, 2012

The 318 sits in the corner of the Excelsior Mill, a century-old wooden structure that houses five small businesses on Excelsior's main street. This cabin-like coffeehouse/restaurant/wine bar is so cozy that you might share a table with a stranger like they do in New York City. But not to worry. If the company doesn't warm you, the music will in this homey, acoustically superb space. The teeny stage features bigger local names like Tim Mahoney and Mary Jane Alm and lesser known treats like the Abiders and Brianna Lane. Yummy sandwiches, salads and pizzas with lots of organic ingredients are available. With room for only 50 people, reservations are advised at this musician-owned place.

• 318 Water St., Excelsior
• 952-401-7902
• three-eighteen.com

Runner-up: School of the Wise II, Chanhassen

Urban listening room: Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant

Wednesday May 9, 2012

Foodies flock to the Dakota Jazz Club for the gourmet Minnesota specialities but music lovers gravitate to this 275-seat downtown destination for its intimacy, style and unparalleled musical menu. Not all the sightlines are ideal but the combination of sound, warmth and proximity to the performers (no one is more than 15 yards away) can't be beat. The musical lineup is diverse and famous -- from the piano jazz ruminations of Chick Corea to the full-band funk of Tower of Power to the contemplative Americana of Lucinda Williams, plus local luminaries like Nachito Herrera and Davina & the Vagabonds. It's no wonder the Dakota has earned a stellar international reputation with music-makers and fans alike.

• 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls
• 612-332-1010
• dakotacooks.com

Runner-up: Aster Cafe, Mpls

Film and food twofer: Pepito's Parkway

Friday May 11, 2012

What do you get when you combine two neighborhood landmarks into a single, side-by-side revival cinema and Mexican cantina? A great destination. The Parkway, one of the last single-screen theaters in the Twin Cities, features an eclectic mix of discount-priced second-run movies, retrospectives, live theater and celebrity appearances. For the theater's showing of "The Buddy Holly Story," star Gary Busey did a two-night appearance, sharing reminiscences and performing the singer's hits. Because the auditorium and restaurant share the building, you're welcome to tote your tamales and margarita into the screenings. So much for chain theaters and their overpriced concession stand Jujubes.

• 4814 Chicago Av. S., Mpls
• 612-822-3030
• theparkwaytheater.com

Runner-up: Italian Cultural Center CineForum

Spring film festival: Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival

Friday May 11, 2012

In terms of legacy, scope and audience, this is the main event for Minnesota film buffs. The most ambitious, most anticipated film event in the Upper Midwest, MSPIFF has been presenting panoramic programs of indie and international cinema for more than three decades. MSPIFF mounts Minnesota and U.S. premieres of gems from the festival circuit, hosts visiting filmmakers years before they become household names and organizes panels, discussions and parties galore.

• 612-331-7563
• mspfilmsociety.org

Summer film festival: Walker Art Center Summer Music & Movies

Friday May 11, 2012

This longtime cheap date favorite draws hundreds toting picnic blankets and lawn chairs for free screenings and live music under the stars. The initial screenings happen at Loring Park; the series concludes a block away at the Walker's Open Field. Running a half-dozen Mondays in July and August, the series offers classic Hollywood and European movies preceded by global hip-hop, alt-country, abstract jazz, suave pop and progressive rock from Senegal to south Minneapolis.

• 612-375-7600
• walkerart.org

Fall film festival: Twin Cities Film Festival

Friday May 18, 2012

A recent arrival on the local scene, this festival branches out beyond the expected range of docs, international offerings, new-media panels and Minnesota-made movies. It has also forged partnerships with Paramount, Fox, Magnolia Pictures, Summit Entertainment and other majors as a launching pad for such big-ticket studio features as "50/50," "Machine Gun Preacher" and "Like Crazy." That means a chance to meet the talent and to glimpse awards season hopefuls on the early side -- the festival gave Lee Hirsch's "The Bully Project" its Minnesota debut in 2011.

• twincitiesfilmfest.org

Winter film festival: Sound Unseen

Monday May 14, 2012

What began as an underground film festival in 1999 has evolved into a year-round pageant of music, film, new media and art. Its main claim to fame is hosting local premieres of music-based films including "Anvil: The Story of Anvil," "Inni" (Sigur Ros), "Color Me Obsessed" (The Replacements) and "This Is Not a Show" (R.E.M.). Sound Unseen hosts screenings the second Wednesday of each month at the Trylon Microcinema, and a five-day film marathon beginning the second Wednesday in October at multiple venues in northeast Minneapolis.

• 651-246-6370
• soundunseen.com

Dramatic stage performers: Regina Marie Williams and Stephen Yoakam

Friday May 11, 2012

Regina Marie Williams

It starts with her eyes, transparent and luminous windows to her emotions. Whether with a baleful stare, or a mask of aching grief, Williams fills a character with a fierce authenticity. Then there is her voice, which can scorch with intensity or sing like an angel. Williams is always interesting to watch, even in small roles, because she makes her presence so enjoyable. Among her signature roles have been the lead in "Dinah Was" and the tragic heroine of "Ruined."

Stephen Yoakam

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Comic stage performers: Sarah Agnew and Jim Lichtscheidl

Friday May 11, 2012

Sarah Agnew

She is the buck-toothed farm wife, the hunched-over harridan, the geeky and gawky neighbor, the outrageously unaware ditz whose innocence seems unbelievable. But with Agnew, it always seems believable because she is so unafraid to let herself look ridiculous. She spills it all out on stage. The brilliant thing about Agnew is that she's also seriously dramatic. She uses the same gift of commitment when she goes after comedy and it never fails to bring laughs. Anyone who saw "The 39 Steps" must understand.

Jim Lichtscheidl

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Stage vocalist: Greta Oglesby

Friday May 11, 2012

When playwright Tony Kushner was in Minneapolis for the Guthrie production of "Caroline or Change" in 2009, he mentioned on a local radio station that he had heard several actors sing the lead role in his autobiographical musical. "But I've never heard anybody do it better than Greta Oglesby. Greta's performance is just shattering." The remarkable thing about that statement is it seemed matter of fact for people in these parts who have been listening to Oglesby's soulful, lovely voice for years.

Runner-up: T. Mychael Rambo

Theater artistic director: Michelle Hensley, Ten Thousand Things

Tuesday May 15, 2012

This is a tough category because there are three or four artistic directors who could easily qualify. What puts Hensley at the head of the class is her ability to maintain a laser focus on her mission while constantly refreshing the work. Ten Thousand Things brings theater to audiences that otherwise would be unlikely to attend -- such as people in workhouses and shelters. That this is done with the highest of quality proves Hensley's integrity.