Yearly Archive:: 2019
Nov 29 2019
The Cactus Blossoms Take Over First Avenue
For alt-country band the Cactus Blossoms, headlining First Avenue’s Mainroom on Saturday, November 30, is a respite from the road and an opportunity to kick-start the winter season after a grueling 2019 touring schedule. The Minneapolis-based group, fronted by brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey,…
Nov 29 2019
Vivian Girls Reemerge from the Darkness with a New Album
It has been eight years since Vivian Girls released a full-length album and five years since they officially announced their breakup as an ensemble. Yet, despite this proclamation, the band has somehow returned to us and in triumphant fashion, as their newest album drips with a fresh sort of confidence…
Nov 28 2019
The ULTIMATE Minnesota Geek Guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday 2019
Planning to start your holiday shopping, support local geek businesses, or just take advantage of some amazing deals this weekend? Well, we’ve done all the legwork for you and are happy to provide your ultimate Minnesota geek guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! We’ve arranged…
Nov 28 2019
The Minigames of Parenting
It’s taken over eight years, but I’ve finally realized that parenting is a series of minigames. These aren’t skippable side-quest minigames, like most of Blitzball in Final Fantasy X, where, aside from needing to play them once, you can happily pretend they don’t exist if you aren’t interested in completing…
Nov 27 2019
The MN Bookstore Guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday 2019
Thanksgiving is upon us, and that means some of the biggest shopping days of the year are looming. In addition to Black Friday, independent bookstores have been celebrating Small Business Saturday over the last few years as a shop-local alternative, with author Sherman Alexie’s Indies First campaign…
Nov 27 2019
5 Geeky Cookbooks to Bring Fandom to Your Table
From the great feasts of Redwall Abbey and Hogwarts to the background set pieces of Star Wars and Firefly, food is everywhere in our favorite media. While dishes like Klingon gagh and the Seven Kingdoms’ lamprey pie don’t sound the most appetizing, fandoms are full of vittles that do sound—or…
Nov 26 2019
Comics I’m Picking Up the Week of November 27, 2019
Here are the books I’m looking forward to seeing at my local comic store the week of November 27, 2019. Whether you need a distraction from family mayhem or an excuse to miss all the door-buster deals. Here are some things you might like.
X-Men Classic: The Complete Collection Volumes 1 & 2
Publisher:…
Nov 26 2019
Men I Trust’s Once Jazz Is the Band’s Most Ambitious Album Yet
I will confidently argue to anyone that the last five years have been a groundbreaking era for indie pop music, with artists like Cuco, Boy Pablo, and Rex Orange County unexpectedly making their way to the limelight. Nevertheless, with so many previously unknown artists hitting the mainstream, much…
Nov 25 2019
Radio Commander Brings a Different Perspective to War Games
Many war games put you in the jungle, gun in hand. In other war games, you drag boxes around units and right-click on the bad guys. Warsaw, Poland–based Serious Sim aimed to make a different type of war game. Instead, you’re far away from the action, seated behind a radio and given a topographical map. The…
Nov 24 2019
Charlie’s Angels Stumbles But Ultimately Takes Flight
Elizabeth Banks has taken the simplistic and goofy concept of Charlie’s Angels and transformed it into something a little more invigorating. As the director and screenwriter, she rejects the mold of a dumb spy comedy in favor of one that feels clever, confident and excitingly staged. Despite some…