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

Art by Andie Mazorol & Tynan Kerr on view at Fox Tax Gallery

SPECIAL EVENT
Art-A-Whirl 2009

Did you know the largest open studio crawl in the nation pops off in our own beloved Northeast Minneapolis? Well, it does, and in our opinion, it is THE coolest event the Twinz are privy to each year. Hundreds of awesome artists prop open the doors to their studios, galleries, homes, businesses, and what-have-yous to welcome art-lovin' peeps into the ultimate communal vortex of grassroots creativity. There's really no way you'll be able to see all of it, so we suggest planning, and planning well. Check our snazzy guide to all the most buzzworthy events during this year's Art-A-Whirl, from the heart of the District to the outer fringe. We’ll see you at the Whirl!

Friday 5 p.m.to 9 p.m., Saturday Noon to 8 p.m., Sunday Noon to 5 p.m., Northeast Minneapolis, Various Locations, Free

Extra: Join Secrets of the City, Jazz88, and NEMAA for a special Art-A-Whirl edition of Gallery Grooves on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mpls Photo Center! Live music from folk cutesters Bla Bla Black Sheep and French jazz guru Robert Bell, plus desserts from Miel y Leche and wine from MVP Wines. The Mpls Photo Center is located at 2400 North 2nd Street, just across the Broadway Avenue bridge from Northeast. For complete details click HERE.

MUSIC
Solid Gold

The switch from opening act to headliner is quite a rite of passage in a band's musical career. It's a billing that denotes seniority, notoriety and above all, allows the band to perform when the crowd is at their peak – i.e all sauced up and ready to rock. With heavy rotation on 89.3 The Current, and a spot at this year's Walker-hosted outdoor festival, Rock the Garden, it's almost hard to believe TC's favorite electro-rockers Solid Gold have never performed First Ave's Mainroom as headliners. But better late than never. We need to show all the local support for Solid Gold as possible before they decide they're too big for this city, or this country (did you know these boys have a huge following in Iceland?). Tonight, Solid Gold shares the stage with local up and comers, Lookbook, who we predict will be the Twin Cities' next hottest commodity themselves. -Juleana Enright

8 p.m., First Ave, 701 1st Ave., Minneapolis, 18+, $8 Advance, $10 at the Door

Extra: You know a band's made it big when they start making videos (video killed the radio star anyone?) Check out the sexy debut video of “Bible Thumper” directed by John Carlucci, with additional visual effects from Suzanne Dyer.

THEATER
The Phantom of the Opera

You know the play by heart. You may even sing its epic songs in the shower. Now witness the breathtaking seduction of one of the world's most popular musical classics, The Phantom of the Opera. Only the brilliant Andrew Lloyd Webber could take a story premised around the love of a creepy, masked opera house dweller and a compassionate beauty, and transform it into a musical so timeless that it has become the longest running show in Broadway history, captivating audiences everywhere (even the cheesy parts are emotive). Be transfixed by the beautifully composed musical score featuring every song from the original production, an elaborate set, which includes a giant glass chandelier and breathtaking Victorian designs, not to mention all the seductive and melodramatic glory that is The Phantom of the Opera. Directed by Harold Prince, Runs through June 7th on the Orpheum's stage as part of a worldwide tour.

Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m., also runs Tuesdays through Sundays until June 7th, Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, $27-$77

SPECIAL EVENT
Rare Book Sale

For just four hours Saturday afternoon, the Library Foundation of Hennepin County hosts a rare book sale at the Central Library. Sale items include valuable antique and vintage books, collectibles, first editions, obscure Americana, art books, and large posters from World War I and World War II. The collection also includes one of seventy-five existing copies of Modern Art: Revolution and Painting, a stunning book of high-quality prints of modern masterpieces in a single volume weighing over seventy pounds and measuring 40 x 28 inches. It is the world's largest book currently in print, and is, fortunately, accompanied by a four-foot display stand. Browse to your heart's content or buy Modern Art as a great alternative to the gallery addition you were planning for your home. Prices begin as low as $10, and proceeds benefit the Library Foundation (now united with the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library) and participating branch library Friends groups.

Saturday, Noon to 4 p.m., Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, $10 ($5 for Foundation and Friends members)

SPECIAL EVENT
Lyn Lake Street Festival

As all traffic-goers can attest to - be it drivers, bikers or those on foot - road work is a major pain. And if we're happy to see those orange cones vanish, we can only imagine how excited the business owners on Lyndale and Lake must be to regain access to their intersection after patiently bearing two years of a construction deterrent. In honor of this momentous terra achievement, numerous neighborhood groups have teamed up to revive the annual Lyn Lake Street Festival. The neighborhood event features special offers from surrounding restaurants and retailers, a bike rally, and musical performances from bluegrass band the Middle Spunk Creek Boys, blues legends the TC Jammers, hip-hop artists, Kredentials, and more. The fest also includes family-friendly activities, Summit Beer and Peace Coffee stations, food stands from Galactic Pizza and Fuji Ya, a flame throwing comedian, a hair extension booth from Hair Police, and a Live Ink demonstration inside the new Lake Street location of High Point Center for Printmaking. The festival kicks off at noon with a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. -Juleana Enright

Sunday, Noon to 6 p.m., Lake Street and Lyndale Ave, Minneapolis, Free

Extra: The bike rally leaves the YMCA at 34th St. and Blaisdell Ave. at 9 a.m. and covers a 17-mile route. To enter the rally requires a $45 registration fee and all proceeds go towards funding local YMCA programs.