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

LECTURE
Citizens Making News and News Making Democracy

Fun fact! Our own Jeremy Iggers, the brains behind The Rake's cleverly-penned food blog, Breaking Bread, also just-so-happens to be executive director of the Twin Cities Media Alliance which publishes the Twin Cities Daily Planet. This lunch-hour discussion at the Weisman Art Museum will examine the drastic changes in media production and distribution since the 2004 Presidential election (aka bloggers). Hear Iggers' spin on current trends and how they could affect the upcoming election - and he's definitely in the position to know! Bring your own beverage and nibble complimentary snacks courtesy of Rainbow Chinese Restaurant.

Noon, Weisman Art Museum, Shepard Room, 333 W. River Road, Minneapolis, Free

SHOPPING
Girls Night Out & Fashion Group International Benefit

Hey ladies! Dust off your prettiest pocketbook and head on down to 50th & France this evening for a little retail indulgence. Grab your girls and explore this eclectic shopping hamlet's fancy string of boutiques, specialty shops and eateries, and enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts! You'll be privy to plenty o' perks such as special offers, gift bags and "sparkling refreshments" to keep things festive. While tonight is the perfect opportunity to simply shop til ya drop, it's more than just that. Meet up and network with the classy dames of Fashion Group International as they host a fundraiser for their organization, which focuses on providing educational resources and networking opportunities for up and coming fashion designers. For a 100% tax deductible $50 donation, you'll be invited to a special wine and cheese reception at Zel Skin & Laser Specialists as well as a presentation (and complimentary appetizers) at nearby Tejas Restaurant - in between your 50th & France shopping shenanigans of course!

4pm-9pm, 50th & France, Various Locations, Edina, Free (FGI Fundraiser $50, click HERE for tickets)

READINGS
Free Verse: The Flarf Collective

Visit the Walker Art Center and pay nothing tonight thanks to Target Free Thursday Nights. Check out the newly opened Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future exhibit. Or, take web-surfing to a whole new-wave wave: Flarf is a poetry movement that began in 2001 and has garnered a good deal of attention since. Its goal is creating poetry "using un-poetic language, often with the aid of Internet search engines (a practice sometimes called 'Google-sculpting')." Tonight four Flarf poets share their work and unique artistic processes in a special free verse session in the cinema. The Free Verse series is co-presented by Rain Taxi Review of Books, your local literary gold mine. -Jill Yablonski

7:30pm, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, Free