Weekend spotlights: Decentralized Dance Party and St. Paul Craftstravaganza

August 17, 2012 at 8:13PM
Screenprinted poster by Burlesque of North America
Screenprinted poster by Burlesque of North America (Margaret Andrews/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

St. Paul Craftstravaganza

Craftstravaganza has been the preeminent DIY arts-and-crafts fest in the Twin Cities since 2005. It boasts a full roster of top indie crafters, free craft workshops and swag bags for the first 100 shoppers. This year is bigger than ever, with a second building added, doubling the number of vendors to more than 140. Look for poster art by Adam Turman, Michelle Brusegaard and Burlesque of North America; body products by Body Bliss, Bodylish and Raw Soap; and jewelry by Larissa Loden, XO Handworks and Arsenal of Buttons. If you haven't done your Mother's Day shopping, you couldn't ask for a better last-minute shopping destination.

Decentralized Dance Party

Gel that hair, put on a suit and tie and grab your Rolodex -- the Decentralized Dance Party is coming to town. The spontaneous street party started by two Vancouverites named Tom and Gary has become a phenomenon, cropping up in eight U.S. cities and throughout Canada with a simple mission: to party. Participants, armed with boomboxes tuned to the DJs' FM signal, are let loose to roam the city, blasting the tunes. Think Critical Mass with portable stereos. The DDP in Vancouver last summer invaded subways, buses and ferry boats, covering more than 10 miles in 13 hours, so you know Minneapolis is in for a spectacle. For the DDP's "Strictly Business Tour," partiers are encouraged to wear full business attire. Follow @DecDanceParty on Twitter for the location, to be announced Friday.

about the writer

about the writer

Jahna Peloquin

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