Dredging up lake gossip
Eric Dregni, local author and celebrant of all things Minnesotan, has a new book out, "By the Waters of Minnetonka," that offers glimpses of the lake's storied past, including a few boldface names. Author and activist W.E.B. Du Bois worked at the Hotel Lafayette in 1888, where he raged at the way dignified black waiters were forced to play the minstrel clown to get good tips. In 1934, Titanic widow Mahala Douglas, whose late husband made a fortune in linseed oil, fêted Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas at her lakeside chateau. Frank Lloyd Wright was infamously arrested at his porch door in 1926 on an indecency charge for cohabiting with a woman other than his wife. "Everyone I see, except those I love, reminds me of the hog that trampled down the corn it couldn't eat," was his reaction. In 1970, Bonnie Raitt recorded her first album at an old island summer camp with a who's who of West Bankers including Willie Murphy and Dave Ray. And finally, the oft-told tall tale we all wish was true but know isn't: After the fledgling Rolling Stones played Danceland in Excelsior in 1964 to fewer than 300 fans, Mick Jagger went to the local drugstore to get a prescription filled, where a gent named Jimmy was denied cherries for his Coke and turned to Jagger and said, "You can't always get what you want." Nice try, somebody.KRISTIN TILLOTSON
Big in Norway
Bloomington's Beth Butala won on a popular reality series that you've probably never seen. That's because "Alt for Norge" ("The Great Norway Adventure") doesn't air in the United States. It is, however, wildly popular in Norway, where Americans with even a tinge of Norwegian blood immerse themselves in the country's culture through a series of adventures and challenges. The winner gets $50,000 and a chance to meet relatives he or she never knew they had. Over five seasons, 13 of the 58 contestants have hailed from Minnesota. But Butala is the first to win it all. An open call for Season 6 will be held at the Mall of America Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Executive Center.
Neal Justin
Tripped again
The first two albums by Minneapolis' psychedelic rock band Trip Shakespeare, "Applehead Man" and "Are You Shakespearienced?," will be reissued Dec. 16 with bonus tracks by cool Los Angeles collectors label Omnivore Recordings. "I've been promoting this idea to the guys and gal for close to 20 years," Trip bassist and future Semisonic star John Munson said, admitting certain other band members' reluctance — "a general desire to let sleeping dogs lie." However, the idea was awakened by Omnivore founder Cheryl Pawleski, a longtime fan. The other two Trip albums that came later might earn similar treatment, but the band itself — which reunited for a few songs at last year's New Standards (Munson's current group) holiday shows — will probably stay dormant.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Orchestra to honor Paulus
The Minnesota Orchestra will perform a short piece by composer Stephen Paulus to open all three weekend concerts. Paulus, who died Oct. 19, was once a composer in residence at the orchestra. In 2011, the orchestra opened its season with "Timepiece," a jazz-inspired work by Paulus and his son, Greg. The orchestra will play "Veil of Tears," a short instrumental from the large work "To Be Certain of the Dawn." Commissioned by the Basilica of St. Mary, this Holocaust oratorio was recorded by the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Chorale and the Minnesota Boychoir in 2008.
Graydon Royce
Home for DEMO
After a decade-plus of vagabond existence, former First Avenue manager Steve McClellan's nonprofit organization DEMO is hoping to create a permanent home in a 3,000-square-foot Minneapolis space to host music-ed classes, lessons, workshops and gigs. A crowdfunding campaign for the DEMO Music Center kicked off Monday via Razoo.com in an effort to raise $100,000 by year's end. "A place where musicians can come together" is the simple explanation of the center. Among the rewards for big givers in the fundraising drive are a round of golf with the Suburbs' Chan Poling and fly-fishing with the Suicide Commandos' Chris Osgood. Started in 2005 as McClellan's 32-year tenure at First Ave came to an end, DEMO (Diverse and Emerging Music Organization) has co-promoted shows in a wide array of venues around town, with the likes of Patti Smith and the Hold Steady — but more often with young and/or unestablished performers. "For 40 years, my [work] booking bands has been about selling beer," McClellan says in the video. "What we're working on now, it's like a new construct."
![Composers Stephen and Gregory Paulus, father and son. They are collaborating on a piece that will have its premiere with the Minnesota Orchestra this September. Stephen lives in St. Paul and Son Gregory lives in New York and works long distance with his father on the music. Stephen Paulus with the work in progress.] TOM WALLACE • twallace@startribune.com __Assignments #20019386A_ August 23, 2011_ SLUG: orch0925_ EXTRA INFORMATION: (CQ) By the subject.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/Y6AO7OHBLPITAGZORJPGQVY6YM.jpg?&w=1080)
