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

SPECIAL EVENT
Bakken Evening Out

We bet you didn't know it was That Guy on the $100 Bill's (a.k.a. Ben Franklin's) birthday this week. Well, neither did we, but we'll accept it as a good excuse to drink wine! The Bakken Museum puts on their monthly "Evening Out" party, this time in honor of Mr. Franklin's 303rd B-day. See reenactments of Franklin's famous experiments, take a peek at the Bakken's most recent hair-raising exhibits, and have your pic snapped in the photo booth. You'll get "buzzed" on electrically charge wine, sample appetizers from Let's Dish and Qdoba, and nibble sweet cake from Butter Bakery Cafe. Bakken's Evening Out is a cute, unexpected date night, or just an educational and "shockingly" fun night out with your friends. Click HERE for a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Avenue S., Minneapolis, $7

READINGS
Raking Through Books Schmooze & NoshFest

Klutz (and national bestselling author) Neal Karlen and schmo (and local funnyman) Ari Hoptman positively kvell over the chance to schmooze about Yiddish and tell Jewish jokes. If all systems are go, you'll also see clips of the 3 Stooges, Marx Brothers, and Pamela Anderson Lee using Yiddish. The inspiration is Karlen's latest book, the New York Times bestseller The Story of Yiddish: How a Mish-Mosh of Languages Saved the Jews. As the Jerusalem Post noted, "Karlen [was] born a skeptic and a rebel, a rabble-rouser and a maverick. His Jewish soul is evident on every page of his new book."  For those of us on a first name basis with Neal and Ari (and having peered into their souls), we see an evening of Jewish jokes told in a quasi-theatrical manner; we see a pint of beer and maybe a Yiddish Whiskey; and we see a plate of Kieran's complimentary hors d'oeuvres.  Would it kill ya to show up? The Loft, where Karlen has been known to write, and Secrets of the City present this happy hour book club every month, and cordially invite you. Also check out Max Sparber's post on the subject of MNyiddish -Kristin Henning

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Kieran's Irish Pub, 330 2nd Avenue S., Downtown Minneapolis, Free

MUSIC
Convergence

If you seek a bit more swank on this chilly Tuesday evening, the Caterpillar Lounge is where it's at. Put on something slinky and head down to Azia Restaurant's cozy cocktail bar for sexy music and happy hour specials on drinks, sushi, and appetizers. Tonight's entertainment comes to you from cool cat techno DJs JamesPatrick, Jacob Homan, and Jon Hester, who will flip wax all night for your listening (and dancing) enjoyment. Like what you hear? Convergence happens every Tuesday night, so make it a habit! The pot stickers alone are worth it.

10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Caterpillar Lounge at Azia, 2550 Nicollet Avenue S., Minneapolis, Free