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

FILM
This Gun for Hire

Take Up Productions is back with another thoughtfully curated film noir series at the Heights Theater. Each Monday through March 16th you'll be treated to a dark and moody classic film from the vaults of Universal Pictures. Tonight's kick-off features Frank Tuttle's 1942 flick, This Gun For Hire, starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. Seeking revenge, hit man Phillip Raven (Ladd) heads to Los Angeles after being double-,crossed by a nightclub owner involved in a traitorous scheme to manufacture poisonous gas for the Japanese. Along the way, he kidnaps the club's sultry singer and magician Ellen Graham (Lake) and the two form a common bond in revenge. This fast-paced drama is just the thing to add a bit of intrigue to your otherwise mundane Monday night.

Check out Erik McClanahan's recent interview with Take Up Productions founder Barry Kryshka HERE.

7:30 p.m., Heights Theater, 3951 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, $8

MUSIC
Faux Jean

We think the very best cure for the Monday blues comes in the form of a heaping pile of salty French fries a la Cafe Barbette. Throw in happy hour drink specials alongside devilishly handsome singer-songwriter Faux Jean performing in the candle-lit, bohemian ambiance of this Uptown nook, and you've got yourself the perfect Monday respite. Faux Jean, a.k.a. Matty Schindler, has long been a staple on the local music scene with his Lou Reed-esque vocal stylings and charismatic swagger. Snuggle up to a cozy table with your sweetie to take in tonight's acoustic performance, as Mondays at Barbette are certified Secrets of the City cute date nights. Show up early (any time between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.) to indulge in a delicious four-course prix fixe dinner, or come after 10 p.m. for music, wine, and fries!

10 p.m., Barbette, 1600 W. Lake Street, Uptown Minneapolis, Free

SPECIAL EVENT
Fringe Festival Lottery

The Fringe Festival does not mess around. Scores of theatrical minions work all year round to bring you those eleven wonderful, crazy days of performance each Summer. Tonight's Fringe Festival Lottery determines who's in and who's out. The sheer number of theater companies who apply for a piece of the pie are too many to cram into a mere eleven days, hence the lottery. Head down to the Bedlam Theater tonight to mingle with thespians, playwrights, directors, producers, set designers, costume makers and more, as they all wait on the edge of their seats for the results. Show up early and enjoy a free slice of Pizza Luce and sip a glass of wine from the Bedlam's bar. There may even be an impromptu performance or two in the works -- you never know what these hard-working theatrical characters have up their sleeves!

Doors at 6:30 p.m., drawing at 7 p.m., Bedlam Theater, 1501 S. 6th Street, West Bank Minneapolis, Free