After a year of speculation, the fate of the former Stasiu's Place is looking pretty good. Steve Benowitz, owner of the Rail Station in south Minneapolis, has taken over the Northeast bar, which closed in 2009 after the owner's sudden death. Benowitz hopes to open Stanley's Northeast Bar Room (2500 University Av. NE., Mpls.) by early October after a complete renovation. He's well underway, having already gutted everything but the vintage, oversized hotel urinals (don't worry, they're staying put). Good news for local music fans: Hexagon booker Christy Hunt (of Pink Mink and Ouija Radio; see story on page 8) is returning to oversee the entertainment. Look for rock lineups similar to her bills at the Hex, plus trivia, DJs and movies on other nights.
So who's Stanley? Benowitz said he decided to name the bar after his father-in-law. Coincidentally, "Stasiu" is the Polish way of saying "Stanley." The bar will offer an expanded kitchen, with a little more upscale menu than the Rail Station's, Benowitz said. He's also building a large patio. If you want to keep a close eye on the place, check out the weekly video posts on Stanley's website, www.stanleysbarroom.com.
The Soap Boxing slam-poetry team of St. Paul made history Saturday night. It retained its National Poetry Slam championship title, joining an elite circle of repeat winners in the 21-year history of the spoken-word competition, according to officials. At the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, the team edged out the heavily favored Nuyorican slam team of New York City.
"This proves that we are a strong community," said E.G. Bailey, a Twin Cities poet, activist and entrepreneur. "If the Twins win, it's good for everyone. If the Vikings win, that's good for everyone. Winning the National Poetry Slam title two years in a row is great for all of us."
The Bull City Slam of Durham, N.C., finished third and Austin Neo Soul of Austin, Texas, finished fourth in the finals, the culmination of a week of poetry battles featuring 76 competitive teams from North America.
Macy's annual Glamorama didn't skimp on bombast or theatricality Friday at the Orpheum Theatre, adding dance segments to what was already a high-production fashion show. Highlights included Jean Paul Gaultier's exotic, globe-trotting collection, which incorporated over-the-top headpieces reaching upwards of 5 feet high. Sonia Rykiel offered oversized men's suiting and her trademark coquettish dresses, accessorized by quirky headgear and geek-chic eyeglasses. Of the show's set pieces, the Marc Jacobs staging was boldest, consisting of a giant, narrow wooden door with the initials "M" and "J," an ideal backdrop for the dreamy collection of gray tweed, silk and wool tailored classics. The show's nonfashion elements were the only real missteps. Although the opening dance segment was imaginative and engaging, the dance finale, with a heaven vs. hell theme, was heavyhanded and schlocky. It served as a bookend for a Victoria's Secret-lite lingerie show (with a model donning, yes, huge angel wings) and the men's underwear show, a gratuitous though crowd-pleasing annual feature. Fortunately, Macy Gray ended the show with her endearing stage presence and soulful rasp, rounding out the evening with just the right touch of glamour.
