Featured Stories

The (Cartoon) Elephants Come to Town

Comic artists offer their take on the Republican National Convention
Various Artists

Last year when we asked local artists to draw "True Tales of the Twin Cities," we had no idea what to expect. The results totally blew us away, so we decided to make it an annual event. In honor of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, this year's theme is "When the Elephants Come to Town." Once again, our talented local comics community took the assignment and ran with it. See all the comics from our print issue -- and some Web exclusives!

Action Versus Action's live show: more than just a shtick

The high-octane, harmonic pop music comes with gimmicks
Andrea Myers

Anyone who has ever seen Action Versus Action perform live can attest that it's a memorable experience. Bassist Bairnt Dittler wears a helmet with the visor pulled down, bright spotlights flood the stage and cast giant shadows, and lead singer Ben Krueger wields a giant stick that he strums and swings like a guitar. That's right, a stick. A dowel rod, actually, a crossbar that Krueger mined from a closet in the band's first practice space.

CONvergence marks 10 years of nerdcore

For every Star Trekker, anime-niac and comic art aficionado, all roads lead to Bloomington
Ward Rubrecht and Fish DeSmith

The Twin Cities' biggest convention for sci-fi, gaming, anime and more celebrated 10 years at the Bloomington Sheraton from July 3-6. Thrill to the 25 photos of Klingons! Thor! Sexy space girls! Comic characters, Star Wars and more!

In the upper 'burbs, Lake House and Flame stand out

Would you drive 40 miles for dinner? Here are some places that might be worth the trip
Rachel Hutton

Joan Ida has been cooking in the Twin Cities for years. In the early days of her career, she shared the Loring Cafe's kitchen with the likes of Lenny Russo, Steven Brown, and Doug Flicker. She was well known as the pastry chef at the late, lamented Goodfellow's, and more recently as the executive chef at Triä in North Oaks. After a two-year sabbatical launching restaurants in Hong Kong, Ida has landed at the Lake House, a long, nautical-looking building, slate blue with crisp white trim, that sits on the edge of Forest Lake.

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Daily Stories

The Blotter

Michele Bachmann Comes Out Against Four-Day School Week by Matt Snyders

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Say it with me: "It's all the Democrats' fault!"

[Jul 08, 02:12 PM | Comments (4)]

Blowin' in the wind: T. Boone Pickens has a Minnesota-friendly energy strategy by Jeff Shaw

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The legend of the petroleum industry's solution to the oil crisis blows. Literally. Which is great news for Minnesota.

[Jul 08, 11:59 AM | Comments (0)]

Breakfast of Champions 7/8: Obama targets local man's support by Jeff Shaw

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Why is this woman smiling? A new correspondent visits the RVRL. Also, we get a personal message from Barack Obama.

[Jul 08, 06:36 AM | Comments (0)]

Balls! Sports Blog

Tent wisdom from the Recession Vacation Laboratory by Jeff Severns Guntzel

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Here is some Recession Vacation Laboratory wisdom on tents and the stuff that goes in them--gleaned haphazardly over a 72-hour period.

[Jul 08, 01:43 PM | Comments (0)]

Interview with Sean Forman, founder of Baseball-Reference.com by Judd Spicer

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Iowa-native Sean Forman now presides over a host of useful sites. But is he a Twins fan?

[Jul 08, 11:04 AM | Comments (6)]

Joystick Division

PR Nightmares #2: 50 Cent, Blood on the Sand by Chris Ward

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50 Cent and G-Unit are putting on a show somewhere in the Middle East ... like Bob Hope, with Tec-9's!

[Jul 08, 01:52 PM | Comments (2)]

Culture To Go

Flyer of the Week: First Communion Afterparty by Andrea Myers

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Our favorite flyer this week belongs to First Communion Afterparty, who is having a CD release party for their excellent debut full-length this Saturday at the 7th St. Entry.

[Jul 08, 04:12 PM | Comments (0)]

Red Bull on the Stone Arch by Bradley Campbell

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Illume, Red Bull's traveling photography show comes to the stone arch bridge. Unfortunately, they didn't bring along any vodka.

[Jul 07, 06:05 PM | Comments (1)]

Over the Weekend: July 3-6, 2008 by Andrea Myers

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A recap of shows from this past weekend by Estate, the Crossing Guards, and more.

[Jul 07, 08:45 AM | Comments (1)]

Twin Cities Eater

Merriam Webster picks up 'pescatarian' by Rachel Hutton

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Find out which food words made it into the latest edition of the Collegiate Dictionary--some may surprise you.

[Jul 08, 12:39 PM | Comments (2)]

You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb (Bratwurst) by James Norton

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A look at the newest, weirdest brat to burst upon the local grillin' sausage scene.

[Jul 08, 01:40 AM | Comments (0)]

Elephants in the Room

Well shoot, Barack... this is uncalled for. by Bradley Campbell

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Dude, Barack, I know you're working on becoming the world’s most adored man among twenty-sumptins. But this is uncalled for.

[Jul 07, 04:21 PM | Comments (1)]

News

Feature

The (Cartoon) Elephants Come to Town

The (Cartoon) Elephants Come to Town

Comic artists offer their take on the Republican National Convention

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Readers respond to "The Legend of Hidden Beach"

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Action Versus Action's live show: more than just a shtick

Action Versus Action's live show: more than just a shtick

The high-octane, harmonic pop music comes with gimmicks

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