June 9–12


'Absentee Landlord' (Opens 6/11)

John Waters curates "Absentee Landlord" at the Walker / Photo by Cameron WittigBesides his long-running antismoking campaign, scatological humor and stylishly bad taste, cultural provocateur John Waters is an art collector. Putting its institutional open mind to the test, Walker Art Center invited Waters to "intervene" in a show of highlights from its collection. He reimagined the gallery as a series of rental apartments inhabited by artist-roommates of prickly temperament. Some — as represented by their work — like each other; others may be feuding, snappish, indifferent or downright odd. Besides rearranging stuff from the Walker's storage rooms, Waters is injecting some of his own creations and art by such pals as Gregory Green, Ralph Eugene Meatyard and Karlheinz Weinberger. He's also messing around in the Walker's garage, cafe and ticket desk. Expect the unexpected. -Mary Abbe Patrick's Cabaret 25th Anniversary (06/11)

Since 1986, Patrick's Cabaret has hosted wild and wonderful performances crossing all boundaries of genre, gender, style, sexuality and propriety. Patrick Scully's storied venue is celebrating its silver anniversary in style with a daylong blowout that begins with an open-to-all-comers parade (3 p.m.), continues with a block party featuring bands and dance troupes (3:30-7:30 p.m.), and concludes with a cabaret and dance party (8 p.m., $10 donation). On hand will be a who's who of Minneapolis' most flamboyant performers, from Venus DeMars to Scully himself. Expect lots of laughter and lots of tears — the good kind. -Jay Gabler

Movies opening 6/10

  • With Steven Spielberg producing and J.J. Abrams directing, the secrecy-shrouded small-town sci-fi thriller "Super 8" can hardly miss, though I have no clue what it's about.
  • Foot races sub for car chases in Austria's "The Robber," a nail-biter about a real-life marathon champ turned professional criminal.

-Colin Covert

June 13–19


Rock the Garden (6/18)

Acclaimed live band My Morning Jacket headlines Rock the Garden on June 18 / Photo by Ed ReinkeAfter last year's hackneyed MGMT finale, My Morning Jacket will seem like a downright miraculous headliner for the annual Current-curated garden party. The Kentucky rockers have produced another so-so album but remain one of modern rock's best live bands, so long as frontman Jim James doesn't fall off the stage again. At least he'd hit grass in this case. Rounded out by twang-torchy heartbreaker Neko Case, R&B/rock legend Booker T. Jones of Stax Records and "Green Onions" fame and local favorites Tapes 'N Tapes, it's the overall best lineup in quite a few years. -Chris Riemenschneider Cinema & Civics (6/15–7/20)

This underrated music-and-movies series pairs cult films with local bands and community-minded conversation. The lineup: "North by Northwest" and Charlie Parr (June 15), "Star Trek 2" and Red Pens (June 22), "Back to the Future" and Lucy Michelle (June 29), "Beetlejuice" and BadNrad (July 6), "The Dark Crystal" and Hastings 3000 (July 13), and an all-local shorts program with the Goondas. (July 20).

Florence and the Machine (6/17)

"Dog Days" still isn't over as a radio hit, but the wait for flaming-red British power-belter Florence Welch and her backers to land in town will finally end. They have been working on a second album, so perhaps some new tunes will help fill in the half-empty quality of the rest of their 2009 album, "Lungs." -Chris Riemenschneider

Stone Arch Festival of the Arts (6/18–19)

There are all types of dads, and the Stone Arch Festival of the Arts – which occurs annually on Father's Day weekend – can satisfy them all. Arty dads can peruse works from more than 250 visual artists. Rocker dads can vibe out to 40-plus bands over four stages, including the Sex Rays, Poor Nobodys and Adam Svec. Traditional dads can gawk at the Art of the Classic Car show, featuring more than 100 vintage rides. Unselfish dads can head to the Youth Arts Quarter for hands-on family activities. There'll also be local foodstuffs and beer on hand – the great dad unifiers. -Jay Boller

Movies opening 6/18

  • Jim Carrey fills his New York City penthouse with waddling pets in "Mr. Popper's Penguins."
  • D.C. Comics' "The Green Lantern," the man with the magical mood ring, feels like an afterthought in this superhero-saturated summer. Will Ryan Reynolds have the charisma to turn this second-tier character into a cultural phenomenon?
  • The English schoolboy yarn "Submarine" should appeal to fans of Wes Anderson's quirky misfit comedies, especially "Rushmore."

-Colin Covert

June 20–26


Pride Weekend (6/25–26)

The Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade / Photo by Carlos GonzalezThe Advocate's "Gayest City in America" honor fittingly went to Minneapolis this year, so there's no doubt that the Twin Cities' GLBT community will be in full force at Twin Cities Pride's two-day festival in Loring Park. Musical guests for the headlining Pride in Concert include Deborah "Debbie" Gibson, Kaci Battaglia and Boogie Wonderland. (5:30 p.m. Sat., $10-$15). The famous Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade begins at 11 a.m. Sunday along Hennepin Avenue, ending in Loring Park. Related events include the Uptown Pride Block Party outside Bryant-Lake Bowl on Friday, with the likes of Maria Isa, Venus DeMars, Dykes Do Drag and more. -Jahna Peloquin