The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

PERFORMANCE
Sample This Year's Goodies

Who doesn’t love samples? And who wants to sit though one long show when you can squeeze in many, in nice neat ten-minute increments? Sample Night Live: Art in a Trial Size does just that, giving one a buffet of bite-sized upcoming performance options that includes everything from rock bands to dance to comedians. —Kate McDonald

7 p.m., Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-825-8949; $15.

BOOKS
The Book of Other People

File this one under “can’t miss.” Zadie Smith asked a bunch of literary cohorts to contribute to her latest project. Her only rule: Each story must bear the name of a person, and be about that person. The result is a broad-ranging collection of characters (a giant, a judge, and a monster, to name a few) presented in formats ranging from comic strip to monologue. Indeed, the only common thread in this schizophrenic anthology is the fact that each author is hotter than the next; George Saunders, Miranda July, Dave Eggers, and Chris Ware are among the contributors. Given the spectrum of genres and styles, there’s guaranteed to be something for everyone, all of it quality. Plus, all proceeds will go to Eggers’s 826NYC organization, a nonprofit that teaches children to write. —Danielle Kurtzleben

Available today in bookstores nationwide.

FILM
Las Momias de Guanajuato

This is arguably the greatest lucha libre horror film in history. Yes, friends, we know that’s like saying Evan Almighty is the greatest congressional ark-building comedy ever, but this entertaining schlock—starring those masked Mexican wrasslers—cost a hundredth as much, and looks to be ten times more amusing. In Las Momias de Guanajuato (1972), the wrestler/sorcerer Satan has been mummified for over a century and returns to wreak havoc on the peaceful city of Guanajuato. What’s to stop him? Why, those kindly masked wrestlers Santo, Blue Demon, and Mil Mascaras, that’s who! Marvel as this trio fights off a horde of rotting mummies in tights and those crazy masks. We challenge you to find a more memorable film to inaugurate your new year. —Peter Schilling

7:30 p.m., Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-3030.