Have I been a lazy culture blogger? You betcha, as we say here in Minnesota. That's not to say I haven't been taking in lots of plays, concerts, readings, etc. The Loft Literary Center's annual Wordplay event was a treat. Tremendous productions of Hamlet and Into the Woods at the Guthrie Theater. And Mu Performing Arts impressed again with a premier of Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals, presented at the Luminary Arts Center in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. And since it's summer, there have been lots of outdoor concerts, many free in our excellent park system, including performances by Barlow, Machinery Hill, and Old Guys Play the Blues. I also heard the Minnesota Orchestra's season sampler opening performance and got to hear some of the best local performers and singers participating in the Source Song Festival. But I've been lazy about chronicling these adventures.
In terms of reading, I'm currently enjoying the novel Black Cloud Rising by David Wright Falade, and I've returned to reread one of my all time favorite poets, Thomas McGrath (there ought to be a memorial to him someplace here in Minneapolis). And I'm also delving into poet Chris Santiago's collection, Tula.
I'm grateful that both of my cities, Minneapolis and New York, offer such exciting cultural offerings. Hopefully I'll do a better job of reviewing some of those experiences here in the future.
