Another Hot Time in Downtown (and it’s surrounding neighborhoods)

Wow, there’s so many things going on that maybe I’ll have to replace my paper scheduler from 1st National Bank with one of them fancy Blackberries to fit it all in…

…nah, blackberries are for eating.

Tonight begins with a Relay for Life at St. Olaf (5 pm at the Manitou Track) followed by the Valhalla Band Concert (7 pm in Urness Recital Hall). There’s an emerging Artists Reception (a truly exciting happening featuring the fifth-year apprentices from both St. Olaf and Carleton) at the Northfield Arts Guild (5 to 7 pm in the Division Street Arts Center). Then it’s Duluth-based rootsy jam band Trampled By Turtles (6 pm at the Key), “The Importance of Being Earnest” (7:30 pm at the High School), the Carleton College Jazz Ensemble (8 pm at the Carleton Concert Hall) and “The Secret Lives of Losers” (8 pm in the Arena Theater at Carleton) and, finally, it’s the ever popular Jack Knife and the Sharps (8:30 pm at the Grand).

Saturday is SPRING FLING sponsored by the Chamber’s Retail Commitee. You may have heard that the NDDC is sponsoring BRING YOUR BIKE DOWNTOWN (10 am in the “5th and Washington public parking lot”); I’m gathering up so many prizes to give away for those who enter the drawing by bringing their bike downtown that you may confuse me with Santa Claus. Hogan Brothers is hosting a benefit for Brenna Hansonfeaturing some of the High School’s hottest musicians (6 pm). And for the truly intrepid, Mr. Sticky is playing at Dawn’s Corner Bar in that town that will soon be freed from oppressive taxes by my own Dundas Liberation Front (hey Glenn, I’m just trying to send some tourist dollars your way).

Oh, but the weekend isn’t over. Sunday will bring the Senior Art Show Reception at St. Olaf from 2 to 4, the closing of the Northfield Arts Guild’s extremely popular Cabaret at 2 pm at the Guild’s West Side Theater (I just made up that name), Saturday Night Live at the Contented Cow (5 to 11 pm) and the St. Olaf Choir Spring Concert (7:30 pm at Skoglund Auditorium).

Whew, after this weekend, you’ll be ready to get back to work on Monday morning…

…so get off the couch and check out some culture, in downtown and it’s surrounding neighborhoods.