Wait! You haven’t seen The Bachelorette? We have to watch it.” Out of desperation to meet a deadline at the PR agency where she worked, Ani remembered her grandma’s stories about Astghik, the ancient Armenian love goddess, and summoned her to help with some Valentine’s-themed social media posts. That was Friday. Now it was Monday, … [ Read more]
“Heikki Lunta Sinks a Ship” – A Short Story
February 24, 2020 by
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, not far from Marquette, there lives a Finnish snow god named Heikki Lunta (Hank Snow.) Beloved and feared, he is responsible for delivering snow (by the flake, the inch, and the foot) to the doughty folk of the North Country. Late one autumn night, the snow god Heikki Lunta and his … [ Read more]
5 Comedians to Watch in 2020
January 29, 2020 by
Whether it’s the best amateurs competing in Acme’s Funniest Person Contest every summer, Ali Sultan’s People of Comedy showcase at Sisyphus Brewing putting the spotlight on comedians of color, the Big Fat Comedy Hour at Lush offering up a “Virgin Sacrifice,” or just a newcomer stepping up at an open mic, the next great breakout comedian … [ Read more]
One More Time, With Feeling: Encores are a time-honored ritual—but has the very idea of a concert coda lost meaning?
January 29, 2020 by
You’re at a show by one of your favorite bands. They play an epic version of a song from their latest album, they introduce all the musicians, and they close the number with a flash of pyrotechnics. “Thank you very much!” cries the singer as the band heads offstage and the lights go down. That … [ Read more]
Artist Profile: Capturing the chaos of taproom debates with comic artist Will Dinski
January 21, 2020 by
Will Dinski is framed by a wall of ramen spoons. He slurps a mouthful of crispy chicken ramen and looks around the Nicollet Avenue Ichiddo Ramen thoughtfully. “This would be really fun to draw.” Food has taken center stage in the Minneapolis-based comic artist’s work and his personal life in recent years. Dinski is currently … [ Read more]
PHOTOS: Devon Monroe and Jake Atlas at Wrestlepalooza XVII at First Avenue
January 7, 2020 by
Wrestlers Jake Atlas and Devon Monroe are just two of the many up-and-coming performers blazing a trail and changing the stigma of LGBTQ wrestlers in the evolving landscape of professional wrestling. You can read their inspiring stories in Patrick Strait’s feature, “Face Time.” Monroe and Atlas took to the ring on Saturday, January 4 at … [ Read more]
Face Time: LGBTQ pro wrestlers are shaking off old stigmas and changing the game
December 27, 2019 by
On a Saturday night at a F1RST Wrestling show at the Uptown VFW, 20-year-old Devon Monroe is going toe-to-toe with arguably the biggest name in independent professional wrestling: Joey Ryan. Monroe, who is openly, proudly gay, is sporting flashy rainbow hologram tights, and flying around the ring like a seasoned veteran, while the crowd is … [ Read more]
Artist Profile: To see into the future, Patricio DeLara looks to the past
December 23, 2019 by
Patricio DeLara has no interest in committing to any one medium. He much prefers to focus on the idea he’s trying to portray and then find the style best suited to represent it. This fluid creative process has opened doors to a wide array of media, from painting to graphic design and illustration—and looking ahead, … [ Read more]
Sounds Like Teen Spirit: Young musicians overcoming doubters and expanding the all-ages music scene
December 23, 2019 by
Late on a December school night, Maude Lorr, a sophomore at Central High School, found herself onstage at a restaurant in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood on St. Paul’s East Side. Lorr wasn’t there to perform with her band, RiGBY, a punk quartet that got their start through School of Rock. Along with the rest of Twin … [ Read more]
Turn It Up: 10 local albums from 2019 that are must-adds to your queue
November 26, 2019 by
As always, this year saw a lot of remarkable music come out of Minnesota, and you probably didn’t catch all of it. We’ve rounded up 10 local albums released in 2019 that you should definitely queue up. Charlie Parr “Charlie Parr” The album art for Charlie Parr’s self-titled record is a precise visual portrayal of the … [ Read more]
Artist Profile: Carving out space with designer Leslie Olson
November 26, 2019 by
Leslie Olson likes her space. In her art, she visualizes pictures and carves them out of negative space. In her free time, she rock climbs and boulders, literally hanging off into empty space. But, in every aspect of her life, her style is her own. “People tell me I have a very linear approach to … [ Read more]
2019 Year in Review: Minnesota’s Arts and Culture Scene
November 26, 2019 by
As we flip back in our mental Rolodex to remember the standout cultural and artistic happenings of 2019, we can generally sort the year’s events into three piles: good, bad, and…complicated. With a quick glance at the year’s headlines, things might appear grim: world leaders are running amok, and irreversible climate change is becoming … [ Read more]
Comedian Adrian Washington puts St. Cloud (and himself) on the comedy map
November 21, 2019 by
Adrian Washington’s start in stand-up comedy was less than ordinary. While some aspiring comics are scratching and clawing their way for a few brief minutes of stage time at a local open mic, Washington managed to talk his way onto the stage. “I remember one night I was at First Street Station in St. Cloud, … [ Read more]
The Growler’s Holiday Guide 2019
November 6, 2019 by
It’s time to take the easy (but soulful!) way out, harness the power of this guide, and have yourself a very, very happy 2019 holiday season!
Making Moonshine and Dancing to Dixieland: A tour through Minnesota’s prohibition-era music venues
November 4, 2019 by
From 1920 to 1933, Prohibition outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol—but Minnesotans found other ways to enjoy their spirits. St. Paul’s bootlegging business was booming and the city’s bands provided the soundtrack. When the Volstead Act was enacted in 1919 and went into effect in 1920, saloons and beer parlors closed up shop … [ Read more]
