Monthly Archive:: March 2017
Mar 13 2017
Monique Powell Revives Save Ferris From the Ashes in Minneapolis Show
It took over a decade, but after a series of departures, new arrivals, and some legal haggling, Save Ferris has found new life with a recently released EP and an extensive North American tour. The band entertained an enthusiastic crowd at Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on Saturday night, showcasing…
Mar 13 2017
Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came Mixes Scholarship and Swordplay
The “Childe Rowland” (or Roland) story comes from a mishmash of sources: the Song of Roland, a chanson de geste probably written about 1040 CE; a Scottish ballad; a line from a (fake) madman ending a scene in Shakespeare’s King Lear; a Robert Browning poem (audio version) arguably more about the poet…
Mar 12 2017
This Week in Geek (3/13/17–3/19/17)
Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, March 13th through Sunday March 19th.
Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came
What: Arts and Theater
When: Monday, March 13th, Friday, March 17th, and Saturday, March 18th at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday,…
Mar 12 2017
After 20 Years, Buffy Is Still Changing the World
On Friday, the iconic television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer celebrated the 20th anniversary of its debut. Other writers on this site have already detailed how this show and its characters changed their lives (see here and here), but while it changed mine too, I want to focus on something a bit more…
Mar 11 2017
Taking Your Little Geek to a Convention
So you’ve decided to bring your geekling to one of the area fandom conventions. Awesome! Even if you’re no stranger to the convention scene, the first time with a kid, no matter what their age, can be a bit daunting.
First, don’t panic. You are a hoopy frood who knows where their towel is. Second, add some…
Mar 10 2017
How Buffy the Vampire Slayer Helped Me Be a Better Me
I was 15 when Buffy the Vampire Slayer made its debut on the WB. I remember it vividly: I was channel surfing and happened across the pilot episode as the opening credits were playing. I decided to give it a shot for a few minutes, and I was completely hooked.
Except for a brief hiatus when I left for college,…
Mar 10 2017
Why White Minnesotan Liberals Really Need to See Get Out
As soon as I saw the trailer for Get Out in October, I knew that this would be a movie I needed to see. However, at that time I honestly did not anticipate Get Out to be legitimate horror film, even though it was being marketed in that genre. I thought the first trailer was a cleverly edited comedy film to mimic…
Mar 10 2017
7 Lessons from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Share With Your Potential Slayer
I first saw Buffy the Vampire Slayer when it was nearing the end of its run. I was working at a camp, and one of my fellow counselors had brought a bunch of episodes she had recorded off her TV. I tore through what she had, then finally finished up the show by borrowing the DVD seasons from a friend (and ultimately…
Mar 09 2017
Telling Stories Both Classic and New with Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota
There are many different ways to tell stories: using words, using music, using images. Dance, in all its forms, adds movement to the equation, and Rick and Denise Vogt of the Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota (the professional company associated with the Ballet Royale Minnesota dance school in Lakeville)…
Mar 09 2017
Throwback Thursday: The Darkness Is Your Friend in Pitch Black
Throwback Thursday examines films from the past, “classic” films that might not be in the current cultural zeitgeist but can still be important, interesting, fun, or all of the above.
In this column I try to keep all throwbacks in the twentieth century. You have to draw the line somewhere as to what you…