Sa June 28, 5:30 p.m. $22 ($25 at the door)
Fine Line Music Cafe, 318 1st Ave. N.
338-8100, www.finelinemusic.com
 
I challenge you to think of a single woman named Natasha who isn't attractive (and doesn't also live in Russia). Actress Natasha Henstridge, for instance, is as freakishly stunning (and proportioned) as a repressed videogame programmer's most far-fetched virtual vixen.

Keeping this apparent truism alive is English singer and songwriter Natasha Bedingfield — no doubt even the blind could sense the hotness that radiates from her photos. (See above.) Now, before you accuse me of being hopelessly shallow (at least for this), understand that I'm leading up to
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If you have a unique or interesting workspace, or know of someone who does, contact us at dtjournal@mnpubs.com or 1115 Hennepin Ave. S. Minneapolis, 55403.

Anne Hendrickson’s office is just a tad crowded. She’s the owner of Downtown Dogs, a dog daycare at 821 2nd Ave. N., and she has the luxury of bringing all three of her dogs in to the office each day. Her dogs don’t distract her too much while she’s working. During our interview, Riley (a German Wirehaired Pointer Mix) laid down on the rug, Cobie (a Lab/Border Collie mix) dozed on the couch, and Ralphie (a Shepherd mix) watched from a crate — he can be a little too friendly with visitors.

Twin Cities artist Drew Beson spent five days and four nights living and painting in the skyway

Click here to watch a video of Drew Beson talking about his 104-hour stay in the skyway.

Drew Beson was alone in the skyway.

What better way to spend a nice summer evening than on a rooftop of one of the city’s hottest nightspots with your friends, a cold drink in hand and a breathtaking view of the skyline as your backdrop? There are several restaurants worth checking out in Downtown and Southwest. Here’s an overview of a handful of rooftop venues.

Sampling Urban Donuts at the Mill City Farmers Market

There are so many things worth sampling at the Mill City Farmers Market, it’s hard to know where to start.

Some things take priority, however, when I stroll up to the lineup of vendors tucked next to the Mill City Museum on the riverfront: Urban Donuts.

The sweet scent of the mini donuts is simply too powerful to ignore. It dominates the whole market, and pulls me in like a magnet every time.

The mastermind behind the Urban Donuts is Carrie Summer, a former pastry chef at Spoonriver, 750 S. 2nd St. She serves up the mini donuts at the Chef Shack, a white trailer she mans along with Lisa Carlson.

A friend accused me of being somewhat less than totally hip (and with friends like these … ). I defended myself by citing my encyclopedic knowledge of Beatles trivia, which I suppose only served to prove her point.

Truth be told, my understanding of Southern gothic rock is about as clear as bourbon. This is probably why I only recently discovered Drive-By Truckers — one of the hippest, Southernest bands to ever despise Ulysses S. Grant or keep a pet crocodile in the bathtub. Or find bubbling crude while shooting at some food. Or whatever it is they do in the South. OK, I’m not so hip.

‘TU DANCE’
8 p.m. June 26–28,
7 p.m. June 29
Southern Theater
1420 Washington Ave. S.
$28, Box office: 340-1725
www.southerntheater.org

If ever a name could sell a show, “Likedatliciousonicdindaadaa” should.
Like. Dat. Licious. Sonic. Din. Daa. Daa. Try saying that three times fast.
It’s the name of a world premiere dance from choreographer Uri Sands, who, along with Toni Pierce Sands, is artistic director of TU Dance.

Click here for a video on this story.

The art scene in Minneapolis will lose one of its signature venues when the Theatre de la Jeune Lune closes its doors July 31.

Jeune Lune’s Board of Directors put the theater up for sale in face of financial troubles, marking an end to the group’s 30-year run.

A boarded house on East 17th Street recently slated for demolition will now be moved down the block and restored.

Aeon, an affordable housing developer, considered demolishing the house to make room for an addition to the Alliance Apartments at 719 E. 16th St. In response to opposition from city officials and some residents of Elliot Park, Aeon staff decided to incorporate 10 units into the house. The house would move to the surface lot next to the Catholic Charities property.

The move, which was originally estimated to cost $80,000–$110,000, has a tradeoff: the developer has not included any parking in this version of the project, and the prior proposal included underground parking.

Minneapolis-based artists are invited to transform one of 25 metal utility boxes into colorful art on Hennepin Avenue.

Keep Minneapolis Beautiful and the Hennepin Theatre Trust are accepting applications to participate in the “Utility Art Box Program” through July 18. Artists will provide their own materials and receive a $400 honorarium for each completed utility box. The artwork on boxes from Washington Avenue to 15th Street will represent an interpretation of the speech on the Seven Ages of Man from Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It.”
For application forms and more information, call 373-5600 or e-mail artboxprogram@hennepintheatretrust.org.

Keep Minneapolis Beautiful is a new Downtown-based organization that focuses on the
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The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has appointed a new curator of contemporary art.

Elizabeth Neilson Armstrong, who also will carry the title of assistant director for exhibitions and programs, currently is the chief curator at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, Calif.

June 23–27 is Convention Volunteer Sign-Up Week

Still a long way from their goal of recruiting 10,000 volunteers for the Republican National Convention in September, the convention host committee promised Monday to roll out the red carpet for their top volunteer recruiter.

Mayor R.T. Rybak joined with St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman to declare June 23–27 Convention Volunteer Sign-Up Week and introduce the Red Carpet Convention Package, a prize for the top recruiter. The person who brings in the most volunteers before the July 15 deadline will win tickets to three insider events not open to the public.

About 6,000 people already have committed to volunteer for the convention, to be held Sept. 1–4 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. But th
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Read more stories about: Republican National Convention

On “Take Your Dog to Work Day” June 20, the City Council decided it was a good idea to allow licensed and leashed dogs to accompany their owners to sidewalk cafes.

“It’s a very tail-wagging, feel-good kind-of-thing,” Council Member Lisa Goodman (7th Ward) said of her hard-fought ordinance change.

Goodman dismissed arguments against the change, saying it allows Minneapolis to sit alongside other progressive, metropolitan cities such as New York that allow dogs at sidewalk cafes.

“This is not a solution in search of a problem,” Goodman said.

Dogs will not be allowed to sit on tables or chairs, nor will they be able to eat of off plates or drink out of bowls.

“All over the world, dogs are companions of many
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Flex Wheeler Bodybuilding & Figure Classic

While Beijing has the Olympics Aug. 8, Minneapolis will sport some of the United States’ most fit bodybuilders during the Flex Wheeler Bodybuilding & Figure Classic Thursday, July 12.

The event will act as a National Physique Committee (NPC) national qualifier, allowing top competitors to springboard their way into other NPC national shows and possible International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) membership.

Read more stories about: Twins Ballpark

By the end of today, the main span of the new Interstate 35W bridge is expected to be more than half done.

On Monday, 58 of the expected 120 segments already had been installed, and more are being put up at a rate of as many as six per day. The span could be complete as early as mid-July.

Read more stories about: 35W Bridge Collapse/Reconstruction

As installation of the new Interstate 35W bridge’s main span nears completion, construction crews have turned their attention to the roadway north of the river.

Workers will begin paving those sections of the highway this week, starting between University Avenue and 2nd Street Southeast. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, paving will reach 4th Street Southeast next week.

Read more stories about: 35W Bridge Collapse/Reconstruction

Milliken Development has withdrawn its application with the city to construct rental apartments above Whole Foods at Hennepin and Washington avenues.

Staff at Milliken have not returned calls for comment over the past week.

Read more stories about: Republican National Convention