Minnesota love

Lately I've been noticing a lot of Minnesota and Twin Cities local pride. Not sure if it's a trend, or that I've just been more aware lately. MN tattoos, gear, music: everywhere.

My favorite MN/TC pick-ups:

Here's a necklace I found at Art-A-Whirl in NE late this spring. It's made by Liz P and you can buy her awesome stainless-steel cut pendants here. (The tree part is an old charm from my grandma.) I've thought about integrating the two into an obligatory Minnesota tattoo, but we'll see!

Another Art-A-Whirl purchase- a screen-printed T with Twin Cities Grain Belt-style logo. Done by Anthem Heart in a studio- I picked the color ink (up to two colors) and shirt, and they printed it in front of you. Very cool, people seem to love it.

My Summit print. 25th Anniversary numbered print from a brewery tour I did there.

A St. Paul/ Minneapolis antique map necklace. Map from the early 1900s. Lefthand Originals.

Last but not least, this old ashtray from my grandma. Every time she and my grandpa would have a garage sale, they'd let my brother and I pick something out. I loved this ashtray. So, I took it and recently found it in an old drawer. Bright colors and Paul Bunyon.

I believe in a thing called love

Yup, years later, he still turns me into a nervous pile of crap. I awkwardly stood by for about five minutes before I got the balls to bother him, after someone else just walked up and talked to him! No hesitation, just walked up, made casual conversation and snapped a pic. I got so awkward. I couldn't even profess my love. It was sad, really. At least he looked happier this time around, he'll get used to me. Just wait till MCS opens for Weezer at the State Fair in a few weeks, I'll charm the shit out of him.


Circa 2005 at the What's Up Lounge:




I look mind-blowingly giddy and he's terrified.

Some shows

Much much music this summer. A lot has been repeat (what's a weekend without another 4onthefloor show?!), but still very fun. Summary thus far:


Self descriptive, and a one-time thing. Lovely.





Final show for Sabby White and the Furnace.




Peter Wolf Crier for vita.mn's August music and movies series. Missed Free Energy the previous week, but this was a lovely show accompanied by "The Labyrinth" and David Bowie's package.





And, the following day, Peter Pisano from Peter Wolf Crier on stage with No Bird Sing, whose vocalist was in the audience the prior night at the vita.mn show. Awwww. Local love.





The 4onthefloor. ALWAYS a good show. Since April I've seen them five times, and I'll see em again this coming weekend, and I don't even care, cuz they make me so happy.






Farewell Continental- Justin Pierre's other band. I just love him. More on that to come.




This coming weekend will be a musical orgasm at Soundtown in Somerset. Flaming Lips, New Pornographers, DeVotchKa, Solid Gold, Okkervil River. And a bunch of bands I've seen recently: Heiruspecs (saw them in June), Roma Di Luna (July), Pink Mink (June), White Iron Band (June), Charlie Parr (July), The Goondas (July). Gotta love Minnesota summer music madness.

Between the storms and heat waves