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

LECTURE
WAM Chatter

The Weisman Art Museum continues its popular new lecture series modeled after the "Pecha Kucha" presentation style. Each speaker is posed a compelling question in which he or she is allowed 20 images to prove their point. The catch, however, is each image can only be shown and talked about for 20 seconds, making this rapid fire style of presentation exciting, information-rich and nerve-wracking at the same time. Tonight's question, "Is it right for artists to manipulate life?" centers around the Weisman's current exhibit, Eduardo Kac: Natural History of the Enigma, in which the artist has spliced his own DNA with that of a petunia. Tonight's presenters include Abbi Allan, adjunct professor of art at MCAD; Neil Olszewski, a professor in the department of plant biology at the U of M; and Diane Willow, a multi-modal artist and assistant professor of art at the U of M. Tonight's event is moderated by Jeffrey Kahn, director of the Center for Bioethics and professor in the department of medicine at the University of Minnesota. Food and drink will be available as well.

7 p.m., Weisman Art Museum, 333 East River Road, Minneapolis, Free

THEATER
Five-Fifths of the Brothers Grimm

Tonight's Fringe Festival Fundraiser reinvents classic fairy tales by the famed Brothers Grimm. Five local performing arts companies take on five famous stories for an evening of theatrics, mad-cap storytelling, and oddball reinterpretation. The stories will be adapted by notable troupes and performers such as Ari Hoptman, 3 Sticks, Ferrari McSpeedy, Mad King Thomas, and the anonymous writers behind the blog FringeFamous.com. Enjoy re-tellings of such tales as Rumplestilskin, Rapunzel and more, while supporting the highly anticipated 2009 Fringe Fest, coming up in late July. Five-Fifths of the Brothers Grimm is a one night only engagement, so don't delay!

Doors at 7 p.m., performance 7:30 p.m., Ritz Theater, 345 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, $35 Adv, $40 door

SPECIAL EVENT
1st Mondays at the Commodore

Head to the historic Commodore Hotel for a festive evening of shopping and cocktailing! The Commodore, previously a residential hotel and home to such notable figures as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, has been renovated to serve as a banquet hall and full service venue. Tonight's "1st Mondays at the Commodore" flea market-style event will feature "unique, exotic treasures from world travelers, artists, designers, collectors and antique aficionados," as well as music by the legendary Willie Murphy at the Grand Piano in the Commodore's lobby. Chat it up over cocktails in the historic Art Deco Bar and enjoy this unique monthly shopping experience designed with the connoisseur in mind.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Commodore Hotel, 79 Western Avenue, St. Paul, Free