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

FASHION
Suffocate

Award-winning local designer Laura Fulk debuts her Spring collection in this dynamic and unusual runway show. Sponsored by the meticulous curators at local art website mplsart.com, this collaborative feat will feature Fulk's signature structural, futuristic designs embellished with textiles created by painter Melissa Breitenfeldt and tattoo artist Jay Langer. This high-concept runway show will surely hold many surprises, as all the minds behind this event are known for their attention to detail and innovative ideas. We can't wait to see what they have up their proverbial "sleeves!" Reception from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with runway starting promptly at 8 p.m.

6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Lab Theater, 700 1st Avenue N, Minneapolis, $15 (tix available HERE, this will most likely sell out, so time is of the essence!)

MUSEUMS
Minnesota on the Map

If you aren't map freaks like we are, check out this exhibit anyway, because it goes way beyond maps and covers much more than Minnesota.  It's art and design, politics and world history, with a little retro typography, funky illustration, and entertaining collections of Americana tossed in.  Four centuries of maps are gathered here by MHS acquisitions librarian Patrick Coleman. While the central focus of the exhibit is on the lakes and rivers of Minnesota, the entrance showcases a 1765 Delisle globe (with not one but two northwest passages), an intriguing 1688 Coronelli map of the Great Lakes, and a gorgeous Ortelius map of North America from 1581.  All together, these tell a story of the natural trajectories of exploration in middle America, punctuated with cool and clever renditions of urban areas, the length of the Mississippi, and your favorite county or 1920s bus route. Tonight's event honors "Minnesota on the Map" author David A. Lanegran and gives you a chance to quiz the curators.  The Historical Society website offers a great way to cover ground before or after visiting the exhibit, too, for more close-up work.   Runs through September 7, 2009.

Reception and Book Signing 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, Free

READINGS
The News of Books

Join Claire Kirch, Midwest correspondent for Publishers Weekly, and Laurie Herzel, book editor at the Star Tribune, for this insightful edition of Talk of the Stacks. Moderator Cathy Wurzer, author of Tales of the Road: Highway 61 and host of Minnesota Public Radio's Morning Edition and TPT's Almanac, sets the tone for a discussion of books, book fads, book criticism, personal experiences, and the evolving literary scene. A must-attend event for anyone interested in, well, books!

Doors at 6:15 p.m., talk at 7 p.m., Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Downtown Minneapolis, Free

VOLUNTEER
Extend Goodwill

Do a little good, and learn a little skill! Join MNFashion.org and Goodwill for an evening of retooling clothing such as skirts, shirts, overalls, and more into cute, boutique-worthy aprons and totes. The best part? No previous sewing experience is necessary. A fun opportunity to bone up on your sewing skills, or to inspire creative ideas for personal projects. Items made with Extend Goodwill will be sold or donated through Goodwill/Easter Seals. It's a win-win situation!

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Goodwill/Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Avenue N, St. Paul, RSVP to volunteer@goodwilleasterseals.org