Arts and Entertainment

Just like kids need to practice soccer or baseball, they need to practice reading in order to maintain or improve their skills. The Northfield Public Library Summer Reading Program makes reading fun! From June 12-July 25 kids from 3–11 can participate in activities and programs that reward reading and offer opportunities for discovery. Beginning June 2 each participant can pick up a reading investigation record to keep track of what they have read (or was read to them). Participants should bring the record when they visit the library.
Investigate, read, learn and be rewarded! All library programs are free and open to all!

On Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm, poet James Lenfesty will read at ArtOrg. Jim will be telling tales from his new collection of poems: A CARTLOAD OF SCROLLS: 100 POEMS IN THE MANNER OF T'ANG DYNASTY POET HAN-SHAN (Holy Cow! Press).

The poems have received high praise from the StarTribune: "clear as a crystal bell," City Pages: "A-list recommendation", the Santa Barbara (CA) Independent: "whimsical and wise", and Toronto's POIESIS "a jewel of a book!" Please join us to welcome Jim again to Northfield.

Here is a sample of Jim reading his poem "Finding My Older Brother" a couple of years ago at ArtOrg. An official press release follows:

Spring is in the air and May is in full swing! The Northfield Entertainment Guide is on the streets ... and as always there's lots going on. Check out the great events listed in the Northfield Entertainment Guide by clicking the image here or visiting our new website. Here are just some of the happenings going on this weekend – pick up a Guide to get all the events for entire month of May. You won't want to miss them! May 8-10

Thursday, ArtOnWater Gallery hosts its exhibition closing of three big exhibits: "2008 Rochester Art in the Sky," "The Twenty Views of Dundas," and "The 1000 Print Summer." If you haven't seen this phenomenal exhibit – be sure to stop down between 3 to 8 p.m. Also this evening, be sure to stop by Bridge Square at 6 p.m. for the Sesquicentennial Banner Presentation in celebration of Minnesota's 150th birthday! The banner has made its way through every county in the state and Northfield is the last stop on the way to St. Paul. The James Gang rides once again to present the banner! For musical enjoyment, stop by The Tavern Lounge to see Mark Mraz and The Contented Cow to catch Study Hall with Terry and Peter.

The St. Olaf Taiko Drumming group's Spring concert is tonight!

St. Olaf Taiko Spring Concert
Lion's Pause, Buntrock Commons
St. Olaf College
7:30-8:30 pm, Thursday, May 8
Free Admission

Taiko, meaning "big drum," is a Japanese form of drumming. In America, it is known for its deep sound and artistic movements. The St. Olaf Taiko Drumming Group has been drumming for four years.

Could it be? Yes....spring has finally sprung! And Scandium is celebrating the long-awaited arrival of the season by playing this Saturday, May 10th, at the Contented Cow in downtown Northfield.

Grab your friends and come on down! We'll be taking the stage around 8:30. If you get there early, you might just catch the Blue Moon String Band, who play at 6:30.

Hope to see you there!

The Carleton College Players will present "The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, and again Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17.

The performances, which will take place in the Arena Theater on the Carleton campus, are free and open to the public but reservations are recommended.

Details are at carleton.edu.

ArtOnWater Gallery's hosting of "ArtOrg 1-2-3" closes Thursday nite.  ArtOnWater's gracious host and ArtOrg docents will be available for this last evening's look at this remarkable exhibition.

Join us, then for "1-2-3", our usual ChARTdonnay Thursday wine and local cheese, and a special Exhibition Closing Reception.
 
Wonderful, framed relief monoprints from the inagural MIA/ArtOrg 'steamroller' printmaking event are for sale and information is available about "The 1000 Print Summer" steamroller printings to be held at local and regional art fairs in 2008. 

With shows titled "Going for Baroques" and "The Organ at Home" it's clear that the program Pipedreams is for people who love organs and the music they produce. It should come as no surprise, then, that St. Olaf's own Holtkamp organ will be featured in an upcoming episode.

The week of May 5, Pipedreams will feature six recordings made for the Minnesota Organ Book last October in Boe Memorial Chapel on the Holtkamp organ that was installed last year. The episode will mark the international premiere of the recordings, which also feature St. Olaf faculty member Marty Hodel on trumpet.

Read the rest of the story at stolaf.edu.

Northfield Dance Academy's Summer Schedule is now available at www.northfielddance.com!
We have lots of FUN events this summer including:

Competition Team Auditions (July 7-9)
Summer Classes (July 14 - Aug 14)
Mini Theme Camps (July 14-25)
Northfield Dance Intensive Study (August 11-15)

Visit our website for schedules, registration forms, and details!
WWW.NORTHFIELDDANCE.COM or call us at 507/645-4068

"Where life values are cultured through the art of dance."

Three super-huge projects will be the subject of the one-week-only ArtOrg exhibit at Dean Kjerland's ArtOnWater Gallery at 217 Water Street S. in Northfield.

1. "The 1000 Print Summer" will be announced--this project will result in printing for over 1000 kids and adults this summer at over one dozen local and regional art festivals and camps.
2. "Art In The Sky" is a project where we recently painted a 100-foot-long skyway in Rochester Minnesota. Artist Rana Raeuchle will paint the front windows of the ArtOnWater Gallery in the same way the actual skyway was painted in Rochester!
3. "The Twenty Views of Dundas" will have a sneak peak! The main opening event will be held on Saturday, May 3 from 3 to 8 pm, and general hours are Thursday, May 1 to Thursday, May 8 from 3 to 8 pm.
   

Drama en español escrito y producido por los estudiantes de la Primaria Greenvale Park

Veinte estudiantes de la Primaria Greenvale Park, bajo la dirección de Amy Haslett-Marroquin, presentarán una producción en el Teatro del Gremio de Arte el Sábado, 3 de mayo. Los estudiantes han estado trabajando juntos dos veces cada semana durante todo el mes de abril para identificar leyendas folklóricas y cuentos en español de sus comunidades para presentarlas en una obra de teatro. El evento es gratuito y abierto al público. El evento es gratis y abierto al público; para mayor información favor de marcar el 645-8877.

Donde: El Teatro del Gremio de Arte, Calle 3 West #411, Northfield
Cuando: 7 p.m., sábado, 3 de mayo

Read on for the English translation...

Northfield Dance Academy's Diamond Dancers won a Platinum award for their tap routine, "King of New York" at the Statewide Talent Competition on Sunday, April 27th! Platinum is the highest award given at this competition.

Competition dancers compete again this coming weekend at Minnesota Talent Search and Star Systems. Dancers also have a performance planned at the Northfield Retirement Center on Friday, May 9th at 7pm.

See our website for more information and summer class schedules and registration forms!

The Northfield High School Theater presents “Holiday” by Philip M. Barry. This rarely produced and beautifully written piece takes place in 1927 in the home of a wealthy bank baron. Within the confines of this posh home, the characters explore the themes of love, success and happiness.

Performances take place in the High School Auditorium and are on May 2nd, 3rd and 9th and 10th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students. Tickets are available at the door or at the NHS activities office.

Best-selling author Leif Enger will appear Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Carleton College's Skinner Memorial Chapel to discuss and sign copies of his new release, “So Brave, Young, and Handsome” (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2008). Author of the very popular novel “Peace Like A River,” Enger’s new book is an expressive and imaginative work, set in Northfield. Copies of “So Brave, Young, and Handsome” will be available for purchase at the event, which is free and open to the public.

Drama en español escrito y producido por los estudiantes de la Primaria Greenvale Park

Veinte estudiantes de la Primaria Greenvale Park, bajo la dirección de Amy Haslett-Marroquin, presentarán una producción en el Teatro del Gremio de Arte el sábado, 3 de mayo. Los estudiantes han estado trabajando juntos dos veces cada semana durante todo el mes de abril para identificar leyendas folklóricas y cuentos en español de sus comunidades para presentarlas en una obra de teatro. El evento es gratuito y abierto al público.

Donde: El Teatro del Gremio de Arte, Calle 3 West #411, Northfield

Cuando: 7 p.m., sábado, 3 de mayo

El evento es gratis y abierto al público; para mayor información favor de marcar el 645-8877.