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

ART
Boys & Toys

You may have heard the name "Denny Kemp" bandied around by your most stylish friends, and for good reason: The hairstyling guru and salon owner is a force to be reckoned with in the local beauty biz and beyond. What you may not know, however, is that Kemp is a passionate art appreciator and even an artist himself, working with paint, pencil, and most recently, photography. See Kemp's latest grand experiment, Boys and Toys, a collection of striking images that place the artist's easy-on-the-eyes subjects into beautiful and unusual environments. A perfect visual percursor to this weekend's Pride festivities, if you ask us! Show runs through August 10th.

Friday, Opening Reception, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Gallery 122 at Hang It, 122 8th Street SE, Minneapolis, Free

SPECIAL EVENT
Purple Rain Sing-A-Long and Costume Contest

Pay homage to the Purple One this Friday at 1st Avenue Nightclub! Seriously, where else could you possibly do it? The iconic film, Purple Rain, which was partially filmed at 1st Ave, will be projected onto the big screen and revelers will be invited to sing along to every song -- don't worry, cheat sheets are provided. Dress like Prince, or any Prince-related character (Remember Tevin Campbell?) and you may just win a sweet prize. Hosted by Ian Rans of Drinking with Ian fame!

Friday, 8 p.m., First Avenue, 701 1st Avenue N, Downtown Minneapolis, $3

FASHION
MNFashion Garage Sale

MNFashion.org is the go-to resource for local, independent fashion designers and those who want to be connected to them. The minds behind Spring and Fall Fashion Week and their stylin' friends are cleaning out their closets -- and this weekend, you're invited to dig through their gently-used treasures! The sale will help support MNFashion's efforts year round, and may just revitalize your tired wardrobe or bland home decor. Items include sewing supplies, fabrics, clothing, accessories and housewares. Get a jump on the vultures at Friday's preview event which also features a silent auction, plus food and bevies, or take your chances on Saturday when the event is free and open to the public.

Friday VIP Preview 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday open to the public 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Shelter Studios, 2112 Broadway St. N.E., Suite 150, Minneapolis, $10 for Friday's Preview, Free on Saturday

SPECIAL EVENT
2009 Pride Festival

One of the crown jewels of TC Pride Weekend, the Pride Festival features multiple entertainment stages, hundreds of exhibitors and vendors, food courts and oodles more. Musical acts Exposé, Kat DeLuna, Kristine W, Tori Fixx, Mara Levi and DJ Red Richard will rock this year's Pride in Concert on Saturday evening, followed by a Fireworks display. For a full lineup of activities, click HERE.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Loring Park, Minneapolis, Free (headline concert tickets $15)

SPECIAL EVENT
2009 Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade

Among the major highlights of TC Pride, the annual parade regularly draws over 125,000 spectators each year. Running along Hennepin Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis, the Pride Parade is probably the most visually marvelous parade you'll ever lay eyes on. A Pre-Parade show starts at 9am at the Grandstand on the corner of 9th & Hennepin, with the parade kicking off at 11 a.m. sharp.  The pre-show will feature entertainment as well as a brief ceremony to unveil the brand-new giant Leather Flag!

For more Pride events, check out our 2009 Pride Guide!

Sunday, Pre-party 9 a.m., parade 11 a.m., Starts at 3rd & Hennepin and travels down Hennepin to Loring Park, Minneapolis, Free