Breast cancer leads to a b-girl benefit

The Twin Cities break-dancing community was shocked this past summer when one of its most respected members, Lisa Berman, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The 27-year-old Berman, aka B-Girl MonaLisa, is known in the scene as an exuberant dancer and a great teacher. After returning from the Netherlands on a Jerome travel and study grant (for breaking), Berman received the bad news from her doctors. She had a mastectomy and began chemotherapy last month. That makes Berman one of at least two local performers, along with rocker G.B. Leighton, to be struck with cancer recently.

Here's the good news: The breaking community has come together for a rocking benefit on Sunday at Pi Bar and Restaurant that will help Berman through these tough times. "It's been so unbelievable," Berman said. "Everyone has been so supportive."

The benefit will feature performances by local break-dancing crews, beats by DJs (such as Plain Ole Bill & Jimmy 2 Times) and music by Ashley Gold and Foxy Tann & the Wham Bam Thankyou Ma'ams. There will also be a silent auction and a chance to buy torso castings painted by local graffiti artists. The benefit will help Berman pay for medical and living expenses during her chemotherapy. While she has health insurance, it doesn't cover all her expenses, and she hasn't been able to work much since treatment began. She hasn't been able to dance, either.

"I miss it so much," she said. "I get really tired really fast. But when I can start breaking again, my shoes are going to be on fire. I think about it all the time. It sounds so corny, but thinking about dancing again is like my medicine."

• MonaLisa Breast Cancer Benefit
• When: 6 p.m. Sunday 10/19
• Where: Pi
• Tickets: $10 donation. All ages until 9 p.m./18 and older after 9
• More info: www.themonalisaproject.com

• Tom Horgen

Local bands scarf Taco Bell; Cheesarito still defunct

Don't be surprised if you notice the young and gangly members of Quietdrive or One for the Team putting on weight or looking a little queasy in upcoming months. The local emo-ish bands, who are labelmates on the Militia Group, are two out of 100 bands to be rewarded $500 in late-night food coupons at Taco Bell as part of the fast-food chain's Feed the Beat contest. They are now competing for a chance to record a single for the company and have their music advertised at Taco Bell stores, including -- get this! -- a promo spot on sauce packets. So, does the winner get "Fire" and the third runner-up "Mild"? You can vote for the boys (and one girl) at www.feedthebeat.com.

Chris Riemenschneider
Town Talk goes to Rudolphs

There have been a lot of changes at the popular Town Talk Diner, although diners might not notice, at least for a while. A few weeks ago, partners Tim Niver and Aaron Johnson -- co-owners of the Strip Club -- sold their shares of the restaurant to their partner Tor Westgard, who started out as the restaurant's sous chef (under his pal, chef David Vlach) and became the restaurant's chef and managing partner in April 2007. Westgard then turned around and sold the place to the Theros Restaurant Group, which runs Rudolphs and the St. Clair Broiler. "It's the hardest decision I've ever had to make" said Westgard. "But the Town Talk isn't going anywhere."

Chef Tony Callies is continuing to run the kitchen, and bar manager Nick Kosevich, one of the city's most affable mixmasters, is staying behind the bar. Westgard has returned to the University of Minnesota and plans to go onto an MBA program. "I got what they call a 'street MBA' by running the restaurant," he said with a laugh. "Now I want a classical business education to match my classical culinary education."

Rick Nelson
Seven on Seven

Here's the problem with naming a restaurant after someone: When the namesake departs, what happens to the name on the door? Case in point: r.Norman's. Randy Norman is no longer associated with the restaurant, so owner David Koch has rechristened the street-level joint the Seven Steakhouse, matching his adjacent second-floor Seven Sushi and rooftop Seven SkyBar. There's also a new chef in the kitchen. He's Craig Johnson, a Campiello, Cafe Lurcat and Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant veteran. (Speaking of Campiello, word has it that a bar/restaurant is taking over the Uptown address that the D'Amicos vacated a few months ago).

Rick Nelson
Blues hall of fame

After Mojo Buford took top honors the first year, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that either Willie Murphy or Koerner, Ray & Glover would be the next performer inducted into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame, which will host its second annual ceremony Sunday at that red-carpet mecca the Eagles Club. Murphy got the nod, which works out great because he's also leading an all-star cast of players in a jam after the formalities, which start around 6:30 p.m. Other second-year inductions into the hall -- organized by the Greater Twin Cities Blues Society -- include KR&G's "Blues, Rags & Hollers" as album, Dave Ray's "It's All Right" for song, Scottie Miller's "Blues Keyboard" as literature and photographer Tommy Asp as nonperformer blues supporter.

Chris Riemenschneider
This 'Bird' cannot change

The last time that someone shouting "Freebird!" at a concert produced any laughs was back in the first Bush administration, but it actually made for a funny moment during the second of two gorgeous sets by Seattle buzz band Fleet Foxes at the Cedar Cultural Center on Saturday. At the group's urging, the crowd made bird sounds instead of cheers during one song break, leading to the Skynyrd request. "That almost made it appropriate," frontman Robin Pecknold admitted. Bassist Christian Wargo added: "We just downloaded the tabs [guitar tabulature] for that song, but we haven't quite worked it out as a band yet."

Chris Riemenschneider