What goes on in Minneapolis on a winter night I drove to the grocery the other night and there, near checkout, saw a freezer case with the sign, “Artisan Ice Cubes,” a bold new step in our march toward Preposterosity. I asked the checkout guy if maybe the sign meant to say “Artesian” and he wasn’t interested. Word usage is not his responsibility. To me, artisanal ice is in the same category as organic non-GMO ice cubes. I’m a Minnesotan and I appreciate the beauty of frost and snow but an ice cube is an ice cube.
I drove home and saw a man and a woman alone together on a neighborhood ice rink, skating as a pair, side by side, arms crossed, and I slowed down to watch. He swung in front of her and turned, skating backward, holding her by one hand as she lifted her back leg and struck a pose, then they turned in a wide arc, paired up again, and did a figure eight. They were in their sixties, no longer sylphlike, and this public display of artisanal skating was very romantic. Made me think of bell-bottoms in the Seventies and Elvis’s muttonchops.
This is the spirit that draws people to the opera. We live in the Age of Numb Disbelief, but the opera is one place where the heart speaks and passion rules and Aida descends into the tomb with her lover, who has been sentenced to death; she cannot live without him so she must perish with him. Meanwhile, they sing a gorgeous long duet that if you leave early to avoid traffic, you are missing the whole point.
I come from a family of Calvinists, my wife from a family of violinists. Twenty-five years ago, she and I were living together while my divorce went through and I brought her out to Minnesota to meet my elderly parents, I the scapegrace son bringing my illicit lover, and she, whose family are huggers, walked up to my mother and threw her arms around her neck and held her close and then did the same to my father, and that was that, they loved her from that moment on. Rational discussion wouldn’t have accomplished what she did with her own warm heart. When I came home from the artisanal ice cubes, she did something similar to me and, old as I am and slow afoot, it was thrilling. The full frontal embrace of the woman you love — let’s face it — can make a man forget about Ukraine and obstruction of justice. Read the rest of the column >>> |
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Fundraiser for the Woman's Club of Minneapolis Heart Songs: Garrison Keillor, Maria Jette, Dan Chouinard “Now that we are a certain age and no longer need to be cool, we’re able to openly love certain things that, in our youthful sophistication, we had to keep secret. Maudlin ballads like ‘Poor Babes In The Woods,’ songs of undying love, ‘Love’s Old Sweet Song,’ poetry that is not allusive or surreal but comes right out and says what it has to say.” -Garrison Keillor Garrison Keillor joins forces with opera soprano Maria Jette and versatile pianist Dan Chouinard to raise money for renovations to the historic theater at The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis. The Club is celebrating its recent award of $90,670 from Partners in Preservation’s Main Street Grant for significant landmarks in the history of women’s suffrage. Keillor, Jette, and Chouinard’s concert of love songs spanning the eras will take place in the 1928 theater, with the chance to enjoy dinner in the Clubhouse beforehand. Proceeds will help support phase one of the renovations: repairs to the floor, new seating, and changes to make the theater ADA-compliant.
PS: The President's Room at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis has served as the office space for Garrison Keillor and Prairie Home Productions since early last year!
The Woman's Club of Minneapolis
Saturday, February 29, 2020
6:00 p.m. dinner; 8:00 p.m. show
Dinner & Show: $250 ($150 tax-deductible)
Show Only: $100 main floor; $75 balcony Get tickets >>>
See full event schedule >>> |
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The Grammy Awards It couldn’t happen to a nicer group of musicians! Congrats to Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O'Donovan, and Sara Watkins of I'm With Her for winning a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song for "Call My Name." Many became familiar with I'm With Her via each member's solo work or via their appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. In fact, they filmed their first music video while onboard the Prairie Home Caribbean Cruise of 2015!
Congratulations are in order to several others who were honored with Grammy Awards this Sunday and who graced the A Prairie Home Companion stage over its 43 years including Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, Keb Mo', Patty Griffin, Chick Corea, and Delbert McClinton. 2020 Grammy Performance of "Call My Name" >>>
Music video for "Be My Husband" >>> |
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| As this year's Grammy Awards demonstrate, the lasting effect of A Prairie Home Companion lives! Over 10,000 artists graced the stage of A Prairie Home Companion where Garrison welcomed them and introduced them to his audience of 4 million weekly listeners. This collection represents the most comprehensive collection of songs (and a few sketches) from the archives of A Prairie Home Companion.
From early favorites like The Everly Brothers and Chet Atkins to Los Texmaniacs' performance in 2014, we've chosen more than 87 memorable acts. Also includes one CD of highlights from the weekend-long 40th Anniversary Celebration live from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Listen to a sample >>>
Purchase the 40th Anniversary Collection >>> |
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| Another dive into the archives of A Prairie Home Companion. Many of the early shows were recorded on older equipment and in outdoor venues and as such, when our current staff went back to review the recording quality were surprised to find that the songs from the earliest of shows were actually in great shape! So, here are a few of the performances by many of the artists who truly stayed with the show from its inception to its final show in 2016 and the many great performances in between.
This collection looks back at the early days, in particular early music, with pianist Butch Thompson, mandolin maestro Peter Ostroushko, Dakota Dave Hull, and the first Powdermilk Biscuit Band: Adam Granger, Bob Douglas, and Mary DuShane. This collection is a treat for longtime fans who love the show's music. Listen to a sample >>>
Buy now >>> |
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