EVENTS
14th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival
March 1-April 5
MSP Film Society at The Main Theatre
115 SE Main St., Mpls.
This year’s Minnesota Cuba Film Festival (MCFF) will take place at MSP Film at the Main Theater on six consecutive Wednesdays, March 1-April 5. The MCFF features films that address the achievements and challenges of the Cuban people through the eyes of its filmmakers. The festival highlights diverse and challenging films of social change, human struggle and the boldness of the human spirit.
The objective of the Minnesota Cuba Committee, the presenter of the film festival, remains to offer Minnesotans a chance to learn about and appreciate Cuban films and culture, and to remind our supporters of the onerous burden that the blockade inflicts on the Cuban people. In spite of ongoing economic challenges and the U.S. blockade, Cuba shows the way forward with its medical research, environmental sustainability, and the new progressive Family Code.
This year’s film lineup includes: “Cuentos de un día más” (Tales of one more day) (2021, fiction); “Bongó Itá” (2022, documentary); “Habana Selfies” (2022, comedy); “Cuba’s Life Task – Combatting Climate Change” (2022, documentary); “Vicenta B” (2022, drama); “Chico and Rita” (2012, animation, musical); “Niño Rivera – Cuerdas de Oro” (Golden Strings) (2021, documentary).
The 14th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival is organized by the Minnesota Cuba Committee, with the collaboration of MSP Film Society, and ICAIC (Cuban Film Institute). For more information and tickets visit https://www.mspfilm.org/minnesota-cuban-film-festival/.
Twin Cities Jewish Humor Fest
March 3 – 25
In-person, various locations
The Minnesota JCC announces the Twin Cities Jewish Humor Fest, featuring four unique experiences designed to bring laughter, connection and joy. This year’s Fest includes a special Purim Lunch and stand-up comedy with Elise Cole, a 25th Anniversary screening of “The Big Lebowski” followed by a bowling party at Punch Bowl Social, the “3rd Annual Night of Jewish Storytelling,” and “Queer Comedy Night” featuring Robby Hoffman and Jared Goldstein.
“We can’t wait for this year’s Humor Fest – in person!” said Riv Shapiro, Minnesota JCC Arts & Culture Producer. “As we make our way through the long Minnesota winter, there’s nothing like laughing together in community.” For tickets, visit tcjhumorfest.org.
‘Carole King: Home Again – Live in Central Park’
Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m.
Trylon Cinema
2820 E. 33rd St., Mpls.
Sound Unseen presents the brand-new feature-length concert documentary “Home Again: Carole King Live In Central Park,” documenting musical icon Carole King’s triumphant May 26, 1973, homecoming concert on the Great Lawn of New York City’s Central Park before an estimated audience of 100,000. Directed by George Scott and produced by Lou Adler and John McDermott, the film presents the complete multi-camera 16mm footage filmed and recorded by Adler in 1973 but never before released. Run Time/Year/Country: 80min, 2023, USA. Tickets available at http://www.soundunseen.com/upcoming-events/2023/3/8/carole-king-home-again-live-in-central-park.
28th Street Totlot: Take a survey to share your thoughts on planned park improvements!
Responses due by Friday, March 10.
The project team for improvements at the 28th Street Totlot has developed two concept plans showing a new play area and naturalized landscaping, plus skatepark features, through a partnership with City of Skate. Now they need to hear from you! Please take this short survey to share your thoughts on the concepts with MPRB staff and City of Skate representatives: www.surveymonkey.com/r/B73JBRL.
The survey is available through Friday, March 10. The final park design will incorporate, to the extent possible, feedback from the survey and in-person engagement.
Kids’ Yoga with Miss Lydia in English and Spanish
Saturday, March 11, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Midtown Global Market
920 E. Lake St., Mpls.
Please join Miss Lydia for kids’ yoga on Saturday, March 11. Meet up in the central court by the stage.
Todos Beinvenidos – Clase bilingue En Ingles y En Espanol.
This is a FREE event and welcome to all. Yoga mats, towels and rugs can all be used for class. Street and ramp parking available. Ramp parking is available on 10th Ave. and Lake Street. Kids’ menus available for lunch.
Este es un evento GRATUITO y bienvenido a todos. Las colchonetas de yoga, las toallas y las alfombras se pueden usar para la clase. Estacionamiento en la calle y rampa disponible. Estacionamiento en rampa disponible en 10th Ave y Lake Street. Menús infantiles disponibles para el almuerzo.
https://www.facebook.com/events/607196217912784.
‘Diesel Heart’
March 11 – April 2
History Theatre
30 E. 10th St., St. Paul
1950s-1970s. Born and raised in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, the story of Melvin Carter Jr. begins at a time of racial tension in the 1950s and 1960s. During this time Melvin Carter Jr. struggles in school, questions his worth, and turns to fighting and trouble in the neighborhood. This play, inspired by Melvin Carter Jr.’s book, “Diesel Heart,” is a story that has you crying and laughing with joy. Melvin’s story reminds us that the journey we take to find our voice is never clean or straightforward. Written by Brian Grandison in collaboration with Melvin Carter Jr., directed by Warren C. Bowles. Full performance schedule and tickets available at https://www.historytheatre.com/2022-2023/diesel-heart.
Neighborhood Roots Winter Market
Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bachman’s Floral, Gift, and Garden
Indoor greenhouse
6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.
Neighborhood Roots Winter Markets return to Bachman’s! Enjoy music and fresh, ready-to-eat food and beverages, and stock up on produce, sweet treats, crafts and gifts from local farmers, bakers and artisans. This market series will take place indoors (January – March) at Bachman’s Floral, Gift, and Garden and will feature all your favorite vendors from the Kingfield, Fulton and Nokomis Farmers Market. Pets are not allowed at the market. Service animals are always welcome. For more information, visit www.neighborhoodrootsmn.org/winter-markets.
Six Points Theater’s ‘Trayf’
Through March 12
Highland Park Community Center
1978 Ford Pkwy., St. Paul
Six Points Theater (formerly Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company) presents “Trayf” by playwright Lindsay Joelle, directed by Jennie Ward. This poignant and heartwarming comedy, taking place in Manhattan and Brooklyn in 1991, centers around Shmuel and Zalmy, two Chabad-Lubavitcher teenagers. When they go into the secular community to engage non-observant Jews and do good deeds in their Mitzvah tank – “Mitzvahs on the Spot for People on the Go” –they meet Jonathan, a curious man searching for meaning and purpose. As the twosome becomes a circle of three, friendships and love of Judaism are tested. For tickets and show times, go to https://www.sixpointstheater.org/trayf. Masks will be required on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. They’ll be optional on Thursdays and Saturdays. Socially distanced seating is available Sunday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.
‘Fire In My Veins’
Written & Performed by Allison Broeren
Hosted by Kevin Kling
March 16 – 19 (ASL Interpretation on March 19)
Open Eye Theatre
506 E. 24th St., Mpls.
Living with a chronic illness is hard, horrifying, and honestly, sometimes hilarious. In “Fire in My Veins,” storyteller Allison Broeren takes you on the romp of living life with a rare autoimmune disease. Almost 20 years after her initial diagnosis, she thinks she has it figured out … then a pandemic hits, and her chemo tries to kill her, so – back to the drawing board!
In 2004 Allison spent 10 months getting progressively sicker, until she was admitted into the ICU paralyzed, and in isolation. Much closer to death than life, she was finally diagnosed with a rare autoimmune vasculitis disease, Wegener’s Granulomatosis. This started a journey of chemo, steroids and the years-long healing process and a new life of navigating work, insurance, friendships, and dating with chronic illness.
“Fire in My Veins” is part of Open Eye Theatre’s partnership with Kevin Kling and Company to feature exceptional storytellers whose voices are underrepresented in the community. Tickets available at https://www.openeyetheatre.org/fire-in-my-veins.
City seeking applicants for new Community Commission on Police Oversight
Applications due March 20
The City of Minneapolis is seeking applicants for the new 15-member Community Commission on Police Oversight, which will convene for the first time in late April.
The new commission will include 15 members – 13 will be appointed by the City Council (one per ward) and two appointed by the mayor. The civilian commissioners will serve as review panelists on a rotating basis to review investigations of alleged police misconduct. As panelists, they will have direct access to investigatory case files being reviewed and provide recommendations on the merits of misconduct allegations that will be forwarded to the Chief of Police.
The work of the full commission will take place during public meetings, which will provide an opportunity for residents to observe presentations, listen to discussions and provide public input.
The City is seeking applicants that represent a cross-section of Minneapolis, including formerly incarcerated individuals, LGBTQ community members, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, as well as community members from every ward of Minneapolis.
The application deadline is March 20. Learn how to apply and find more information on the City’s website at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/current-openings/.
‘Utopia and Modernity in China: Contradictions in Transition’ with David Margolies and Qing Cao
Wednesday, March 22, 7 to 9 p.m.
Online via Zoom
The event is organized by the Marxist Education Project. Join David Margolies and Qing Cao to discuss “Utopia and Modernity in China,” which examines the contradictions in China’s attempt to achieve “socialism with Chinese characteristics” by promoting home-grown capitalism. The book attempts to deconstruct the realities of this system in practice, focusing on the internal tensions between traditional Chinese values, neoliberal capitalism, and the CCP’s vision of a transition to socialism in the 21st century. It offers an unusual insight into the complex cultural forces that are rapidly reshaping both China and world capitalism. Register for this online event at https://marxedproject.org/event/china-utopia-modernity/.
Minneapolis International Festival
Saturday, March 25, 1 to 5 p.m.
Central Gym Park
3416 4th Ave. S., Mpls.
FREE in-person event
The Minneapolis International Festival celebrates the different cultures in Minneapolis with music, dance, art, cultural learning booths, exhibits demonstrations and more. Learn about all the many amazing cultures that make Minneapolis such a wonderful place to live. Sponsored by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. For more information and full schedule of entertainment, see https://www.minneapolisparks.org/activities-events/events/minneapolis_international_festival/.
‘TESTIFY’
Through March 29
Minneapolis Central Library
Cargill Gallery, skyway level
300 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.
The groundbreaking TESTIFY exhibit returns to Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central through March 29. Located in the skyway-level Cargill Gallery, the exhibit will be accompanied by a series of in-person and online programs and events.
Building on the success of the original exhibit in 2018, former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and NFL Hall of Famer Alan Page and his daughter Georgi, the director of the Diane and Alan Page Collection, are again presenting their exhibit of Americana from slavery to today – with renewed calls to action.
Selections from the family’s extraordinary collection of African American art and artifacts will be on display at the Cargill Gallery accompanied by TESTIFY Tuesday workshops and mainstage programming designed to help bridge divides, deepen dialogue, and encourage action on justice.
In conjunction with the TESTIFY exhibit at Cargill Gallery, TESTIFY Tuesday workshops guide participants through exercises that will help them create personal narratives and testimonials to advocate for social change. Produced by the Diane and Alan Page Collection and facilitated by Change Narrative LLC, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and The Loft Literary Center, themes will be offered each week in collaboration with local social justice organizations to connect participants to meaningful advocacy opportunities.
TESTIFY events and programs in March include:
- March 7: TESTIFY Tuesdays – Health Care
- March 14: TESTIFY Tuesdays – Police Reform
- March 21: TESTIFY Tuesdays – Environmental Justice
- March 28: TESTIFY Tuesdays – Housing and Economic Justice
- March 30: TESTIFY Storytelling Slam
Learn more about the exhibit and how to participate in the TESTIFY Tuesday workshops at www.hclib.org.
‘Play and Restoration in Our Post-Pandemic World’ with Mikyoung Kim, FASLA
Thursday, March 30, 7 p.m.
UMN College of Design, Rapson Hall
89 Church St. SE, Mpls.
Mikyoung Kim explores how landscapes make our lives better. Not just aesthetically, but how we as humans are part of natural and built systems that have such a profound impact on human resiliency and belonging. Her first public talk in 2.5 years, Mikyoung’s “Play and Restoration” emerged from a consolidated incubation period of creativity for one of America’s most celebrated designers. She’ll focus on the role public space plays in our semi-post pandemic world in reconnecting and restoring public engagement in our global cities. You’ll hear her stories about:
- Prioritizing green space to promote healing at the Texas Medical Center.
- Transforming hardscaped and unwelcoming civic spaces into naturalized “no lawn” oases in Detroit.
- Building relationships with community to reveal a shared vision for shared space at Wellesley College and the nation’s first LGBTQ+ senior housing campus.
Her current work also includes the Seoul Cheonggye River Restoration Project and the Chicago Botanic Garden. In this talk she’ll focus on the ethics of design and our collective goal of creating healthier and more equitable cities that spark our collective imagination. This Next Generation of Parks event is presented by MPR News, produced in partnership with UMN Department of Landscape Architecture. Tickets are free, but please sign up via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/next-generation-of-parks-mikyoung-kim-tickets-524681936797.
FREE DIY Tax Prep
Tax Day is right around the corner! But don’t worry, there’s still time to file. Prepare your own taxes for FREE this year with support from Prepare + Prosper. If you don’t meet the income requirements for P+P’s in-person tax prep, then their Do-It-Yourself (DIY) option might be perfect for you. This service is available to families and individuals who make under $73,000 a year.
Who is a good fit for DIY Tax Prep?
- Have an annual income below $73,000.
- Are comfortable using a computer.
- Have easy access to email.
- Feel comfortable reading and following written instructions.
- Want to learn more about tax filing.
Find out more about Prepare + Prosper’s free DIY Tax Prep at https://prepareandprosper.org/free-tax-preparation/.
Minnesota Bicycling Handbook now available in Spanish, Somali, and English
BikeMN’s Minnesota Bicycling Handbooks have been translated into Spanish and Somali thanks to generous support from the Metropolitan Council. The Minnesota Bicycling Handbook continues to be one of BikeMN’s most in-demand education resources EVER! We know the handbook contains information that bicyclists and motorists need and want – which is why we’re overjoyed to offer it for Adult Learn to Ride participants in Spanish and Somali.
The Minnesota Bicycling Handbook provides 36 pages of Minnesota-specific information and digs into the details of many complicated topics, such as lane positioning, roadway and bike lane markings, bike law, equipment, bicyclists’ rights and more. This is the only place this information has been captured and put into one resource. The Somali, Spanish, and English handbooks are available to view and download digital copies at bikemn.org/handbook.
‘Corduroy’
Through April 2
Children’s Theatre Company
2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls.
Back by popular demand, the beloved children’s books return to the CTC stage. Adapted for the stage by Barry Kornhauser, and directed by CTC’s Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius, “Corduroy” is based on the classic children’s books “Corduroy” and “A Pocket for Corduroy” by Don Freeman.
Join the beloved teddy bear as he takes a rollicking ride up the escalator and begins a delightfully destructive romp through every section of the department store. Will he find his button at the top of a teetering store display? Will Lisa ever get to bring him home, or will the bumbling security guard catch him first? Where, oh where, is Corduroy’s BUTTON? Don’t miss this delightful and wonderfully comic tale of friendship. Tickets may be purchased online at childrenstheatre.org/corduroy or by calling the ticket office at 612-874-0400. Ticket prices start at $15.
Get involved with Minnehaha Falls Art Fair!
July 14-16
Applications due by April 29
Minnehaha Falls Art Fair is now accepting applications for artists, performers, workshop hosts, food vendors, volunteers and sponsors for this exciting three-day event, coming up in July 2023. This year, we have even launched a financial assistance program with sliding scale fees for artists in need. To learn more about ways to participate and apply for this zero-waste event, visit www.minnehahafallsartfair.com.
Take care of your community – Adopt-a-Stop!
Adopt-A-Stop is a program that helps businesses, individuals, community organizations and schools make a real difference in their neighborhoods by “adopting” local transit stops. Metro Transit employees make regular visits to shelters (in some cases, daily) to make sure that they are clean and damage-free. An adopter assists us by joining us in this work and alerting us to special maintenance needs and reporting vandalism or suspicious activity. When you or your group adopts a stop, you’ll help us keep area bus stops, shelters, and stations safe and clean. And the community will see you or your organization as a “good neighbor” that cares about its environment when we hang a sign with your name at the stop. As an extra thank you, you’ll receive 10 free rides for every month you adopt a stop. To learn more and to sign up, go to https://www.metrotransit.org/adopt.
