This week in the economy...

...is not so good. The fallout from Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme is projected at about a $300 million hit to the Twin Cities. A lot of that hit goes to businesses and individual investors, but charities, non-profits and aid organizations are going to take it on the chin. The belt that was tightening is going to need a couple new holes to cinch in.

Intermedia Arts is the latest arts organization taking a big hit. This the 30-year old organization whose graffiti covered building on 28th and Lyndale is unmistakable. They put on the B-Girl Be Festival, the Naked Stages Performance Series and some of the most community involved arts and performance events in the Twin Cities. Now, much of their operational budget has dried up or been delayed, and like so many precarious but vital small-arts organization, they simply don't have the capital to sustain though. They will be shuttering the gallery and poetry library effective January 9th, moving staff to hourly and contract work. But they are fighting back, and need your help. From the Intermedia Arts website:

"Intermedia Arts can survive this economy. We can even come out on the other side stronger and more sustainable than ever before. But in order to do that, we need you to take action now—today.

This is what we need you to do:

1. RSVP now. We need you here at Intermedia Arts’ Community Townhall: Rally the People! at 5:30PM on Friday, December 19th. We are asking you to make it a priority to be here, in person. You will hear from artists, community leaders, Intermedia Arts’ staff and board. You will have a chance to ask questions and offer suggestions. You will find out what you can do to keep Intermedia Arts alive. We need to see you here: show your support by showing up. Free childcare available! RSVP right now!

2. Make a donation. Supporting Intermedia Arts is critical right now, and every dollar counts. We need your support to help us with our general operating expenses as we implement our plan for long-term sustainability. This isn’t about keeping Intermedia Arts open for another month; this is about keeping Intermedia Arts in our community for the long-term. Right now, that future depends on you. We need you to make a donation today.

3. Email us. We need to hear from you. We need to hear your encouragement, your ideas, your commitment of support, your suggestions and feelings. Send us your questions, tell us what you think, and look to our website for updates, responses, community FAQs and news each and every step of the way.

4. Rent our space for your next performance, event, meeting or exhibition. Our building is a valuable asset to the arts community and we want it to continue to stay active and alive.

Now is time for each and every one of us to draw on our passion and our conviction, and play our part. This is a rallying cry. Together, we will meet this challenge and lead our community forward. Because Intermedia Arts matters. Because your voice matters. Because Intermedia Arts is YOU."

Amen.

Not Much Else To Say...

...except WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TODAY: Hope Over Fear

It's morning again in America, where we get to make our voices heard and choose our future. Get out there, do it for the first time, I guarantee you will feel better about yourself. If you don't know where to go, click here. And if you don't know how to vote, just ask yourself a simple question- Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago? If not, it is time for change.

One Day More!

Oh. My. Lord. Or should I say, Oh. Mon. Dieu.

Love Obama. Hate musicals. Love lip-synching. Les Misbarack wins!

Minneapolis Artists for Obama

My boyfriend, c.a.s., introduced me to the Scanner blog a while ago and I read it every day. About a week ago the females at Scanner decided to remake a great Joan Baez poster created during the last draft. I really liked it, and posted the remake as my Facebook photo - tagging three of my girlfriends as the other three women. Little did I know that it would be picked up by a local online media source and posted... tagging myself and my three friends (the Gossip Girls) as the pretty faces. Oops.

As a result of the oops, and just really enjoying what the photo stood for, my friends and I decided to do it up Minneapolis style. What you see above is the Minneapolis version of the original Baez photo, skewed to reflect our position on the upcoming election. Pictured are Andrea Swensson, Alexa Jones, and Stacy Schwartz. Please feel free to repost and spread the word - but most importantly, don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4th.

Click here for the original Scanner post and Baez/Scanner photos.

Amazing.

Idolator just posted this, and it's awesome enough that I have to as well.



Awesome election version of T.I.'s "Whatever You Like." These kids rock.

Beastie Boys Pre-Sale!

The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium has announced that the Beastie Boys Swing State Voter Awareness Tour, with a knockout lineup featuring live performance sets by Beastie Boys, Ben Harper, Tenacious D, and others, will make a stop at The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Saint Paul on Saturday, November 1 at 7 PM.

Pre-sale tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on Thursday, October 16 from 10 AM - 10 PM or when tickets are no longer available. Tickets are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees. Ticket limit is 8.

Internet Presale password = VOTE

Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack

Justin Pierre of Minneapolis' Motion City Soundtrack performed a 45 minute acoustic set on the UofM campus to support Senatorial candidate Al Franken. St. Paul Representative John Lesch was on hand, as well as plenty of Franken supporters, all who encouraged the students in attendance to make sure they register to vote - as tomorrow is the deadline. Minnesota is, however, a same-day registration state, and one could just register at the polls. I can tell you from experience, however, that it's much quicker to just get it over with and do it before election day.

Lesch talked a bit with students about Obama and his views on Iraq. He stressed the need for Obama, if elected, to have support in Congress in order to accomplish stated goals, and "Franken is the man to help make that happen." He also talked about things like student loan rates, grant programs (things the cost of the war is taking away), and health insurance. When asked who actually had health insurance, only about half of those in attendance were able to raise their hands. Change is painfully needed.

Once Pierre came in front of the small crowd, he began his set with Attractive Today, a hit off the "Commit This to Memory" release.
Things moved along swiftly with plenty of joking and laid-back attitude. Pierre did stop and talk about seeing Franken on SNL growing up, but said that he's also read some of the candidate's books, and done some research on his own. The singer said it was Franken's intelligence in this forum that's really impressed him. Sick of career politicians, Pierre said that Franken doesn't seem like the kind of guy who will be "owned" by lobbyists or another Washington group. Instead, Franken wants to do something with our current political system to make a difference. After these quick statements, Pierre went back to doing what he does best, entertaining a crowd and playing some sweet tracks from MCS's discography.

Video, more photos, and the set list after the jump

Here's some slightly less than completely terrible video I took with my Blackberry phone of the event (set list below):

Fell In Love Without You


The Future Freaks Me Out


Set List:
Attractive Today
Fell In Love Without You
The Future Freaks Me Out
Better Open the Door
My Favorite Accident
Modern Chemistry
Broken Heart
Everything is Alright

Full photo set here.

Yeah Baby!

The Rock the Vote bus will prolly be there too... Woot!!

Sarah Palin: Poetry in Motion

We here at Cake in 15 pride ourselves in having read a little poetry here and there. Yes, our bodies have been sung electric and we have had elevators drop us from our day. Sylvia Plath, Nikki Giovanni, Louise Gluck, Sharon Olds, we love you ladies. But the newcomer on the scene, with her direct language as well as nuance and vivacious imagery, well, Sarah Palin, pencil yourself in for a Wallace Stevens Award. Just remember, it's important to have a good editor, and let people know where you stand.

"On Reporters"

It's funny that
A comment like that
Was kinda made to,
I don't know,
You know ...

Reporters.

(To K. Couric, CBS News, Sept. 25, 2008)

Check it all out on Slate.com here.

Ted Leo issues digital charity EP for RNC violence victims

You can download the EP from Touch and Go Records here.

Selected excerpts from the EP liner notes - by Ted Leo

For a very brief moment, it seemed like people were actually reporting the truth. The surveillance, pre-emptive detention, arrest, and beating of journalists, protesters, and watchdogs by the St. Paul police department, the Ramsey County sheriff's department, and the FBI was so egregious that it couldn't be allowed to pass without comment. I heard WNYC's Bob Hennelly compare the treatment of RNC protestors to the fact that Trojan condoms had a product booth inside the building at the Republican National Convention, saying, "It seems as if free speech exists only for those who can pay for it." I heard the name "Amy Goodman" actually spoken by, and written about in,the "mainstream media" after her roughing up at the hands of the St. Paul police. The story of the ABC cameraman who was smacked around and had his video camera smashed was about to bring down the righteous indignation of a formerly complacent press. And the license and viciousness and carelessness with which these acts and the banal bullying that seemed to be a constant around them - infiltration of peaceful (and not so peaceful) groups by police spies and agents provacateur - the omnipresent pepper spray repeatedly maiming eyes that were only challenging with looks - stun guns, tear gas, and concussion grenades launched on a citizenry trying yet again to be heard - was finally coming under proper scrutiny.

...But real people were hurt in St. Paul, and real people have bills to pay, and real people need funding to continue their good works. We (the band and I) were all feeling these events as deeply as we could from our 1200 mile remove, and so as not to feel entirely powerless, and in an attempt to contribute SOMETHING to that continuation of those good works, we wrote a song and recorded it, along with another new one we'd already been working on that's pertinent to election time politics,and two covers we enjoy and that also have timely sentiments. It's a small thing, but as the particle collider that cranked up at CERN yesterday will continue to reveal, all big things are made out of smaller things. Thanks for your contribution in purchasing this EP.

Thanks to James, Marty, and Chris for getting right behind this idea, along with Molly at Indivision, and everyone at Touch and Go. It feels good to work with good people!
And thanks again to you for helping Democracy Now! and Food Not Bombs.
Stay informed, stay alive - resist and survive.

xo - TL

Ted, you continue to rock my world. Thank you from all of us in the Twin Cities!

*Thanks also to You Ain't No Picasso for the tip!

Get Out The Vote at the MMAA

Saturday, September 13
The Minnesota Museum of American Art
$10 - All Ages
$5 Students
Art @ 5pm
Music @ 5:30pm

ART HERE will feature a special exhibition of AIGA Get Out the Vote posters. Images will be digitally projected on the walls of the MMAA raw space gallery. Complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be served while available. Must be 21 or older to be served alcoholic beverages.
MPIRG will be on hand to register people to vote.

The upstairs patio will feature live music from some of the best local bands in the Twin Cities metro area. This will be the last concert on the patio during the 2008 season. In the event of unfavorable weather, the concert will be moved into the gallery.

Music by:
The Running Scared - 5:30pm
A Night In The Box - 6:15pm
Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lappelles - 7:15pm
Birthday Suits - 8:15
Solid Gold - 9:15

What I did this week - The Republican National Convention

This week I worked for a liberal media group called The UpTake, which consisted of 15 or so videographers and photographers who documented the convention. We had live streams online of events as well as video of protests, concerts, raids, etc. You can see it all here: www.theuptake.org.

I was at four protests which all ended in tear gas, pepper spray and concussion grenades. Interesting, to say the least. It was pretty disappointing that I couldn't get closer to the actual convention, however. Sort of hard to do with 15 foot metal fences throughout downtown. St. Paul itself was dead. No one was really outside the perimeter of the Xcel Energy Center and the police presence was very scary and it all seemed like major overkill. It was a police state in all sense of those words. Riot gear, police on horses, bikes, foot, snipers on buildings.

There was a lot of tension between the public and police for most of the RNC. Obviously there were people who aggravated the situation and deserved to be arrested or needed tear gas to be dispersed. However, there were a lot of altercations where I witnessed the police as aggressors. Police maced and pepper sprayed photographers who were following police instructions, tackled reporters who were well identified as reporters, and pushed unaggressive people out of the way before even asking them to move. Reporters and photographers from City Pages, KARE 11, FOX 9 News and The UpTake were all arrested. There were, of course, a few protesters who made things bad for everyone. The "Black Bloc" anarchists who infiltrated the "Students for a Democratic Society" march on Monday broke store windows, pushed anything not nailed down into the street, and attempted to create barricades against the police. These people were definitely the minority though. Most of the students in the protest yelled at them and asked them to stop the vandalism. It was a sad state much of the time.

The worst that happened to me was walking through an area that was pepper sprayed about 30 seconds earlier. Yuck. I can't imagine getting a direct hit of that stuff. It's gross. Any time I was in danger I got out of the situation. A few of our reporters were arrested or detained, but all had the charges dropped as they were just there to document and not participate or condone the actions of the protesters or others. I was within a block of the tear gas and such more than once, but always made it out of the area without incident.

You can view the photos I took (along with some from others at The UpTake) here:

Day 1 of the RNC
Day 2 of the RNC
Day 4 of the RNC

Cheers -
Stacy

The Republican National Convention is Here

I spent today roaming the streets of St. Paul with members of The UpTake, a liberal media organization. You can check out a slideshow of some of the protests below. Also keep tabs on the convention via The UpTake's website here with continuing live coverage.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

You can also view photos of yesterday's Liberty Parade down Nicollet mall here.

Eight is Enough: The Concert to End Our Long, National Nightmare

Barack Obama said it in his speech accepting the nomination Thursday night- "We love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight." Right he is, and that was the sentiment of Andrew Broder of Fog and Joe Selinski of The Dad in Common when they heard the Republican were coming to town. Instead of sitting on their haunches and bitching about it, they got the Turf Club to donate space and a whole raft of their friends to come down and play a show to support the Democratic nominee Barack Obama. Proceeds at the door and all sales of the posters whipped up by Burlesque of North America went to the campaign, and judging by the crowd there, it was a success. Broder said that it gave him "a warm feeling" to see all these people out.

Cake in 15 was there freelancing for Spin.com and you can read that at http://www.spin.com/articles/twin-cities-bands-rock-obama. It's a little truncated for space and our miniscule attention spans, but you get the picture- the bill was packed, the room was full in waves and all in all, we got rowdy in the name of freedom and change. Cake in 15 doesn't want to tell you how to vote, but consider Chris Besinger of STNNNG's quote, given to you in it's entirety- "You've never seen a Republican man rock like this. Except Ted Nugent. And his rhythm section are pussies."


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Feeling Minnesota?

Usually, this is not my bag. But since I can't stop it and it threatens to overwhelm lives unless I roll with it, here are a few things that seem pretty cool to do during the RNC in the Twin Cities. More info on all events after the jump.
(Photo by Richard Avedon)

Hail to the Chief: Images of the American Presidency
August 2 - September 21 at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis
FREE Exhibition

8 is Enough: A Concert to End Our Long National Nightmare
August 27 at the Turf Club, St. Paul
$20 donation requested - Benefit for Barack Obama

Civic Fest
August 29 - September 4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Spark24
August 31 - Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
FREE

Liberty Parade and Concert
August 31 - Down Nicollet Mall to Loring Park, Minneapolis
FREE

Second Annual Black Dog Block Party
August 31 - September 1 in Mears Park, St. Paul

Take Back Labor Day Festival
September 1 on Harriet Island, St. Paul

Wake Up World w/ Daily Show Co-creator Lizz Winstead PLUS Special Hootenany w/Jim Walsh and Billy Bragg
September 2 - September 04 at the Parkview Theater

(Ripple Effect) Day Festival
September 2 on the Capitol Lawn

Event info after the jump!



Hail to the Chief: Images of the American Presidency
August 2 - September 21 at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis
Free Exhibition
Designed as a non-partisan view of the American presidency, this exhibition features a selection of original works of art from the MIA’s permanent collection and various historical material from several important private collections that focus on presidential themes. The exhibition comprises more than 90 objects, including paintings, sculpture, drawings, original prints, posters, photographs, manuscripts, glassware, porcelain, and metalwork. Among the objects on display are presidential portraits, including a marble bust of George Washington in classical garb by American sculptor Hiram Powers, candid photographs of former presidents and presidential candidates, including Richard Avedon’s celebrated portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower; presidential proclamations and hand-signed documents; a presidential flag from the Oval Office, and various presidential campaign materials.

8 is Enough: A Concert to End Our Long National Nightmare
August 27, 7:30pm at the Turf Club, St. Paul
Benefit for Barack Obama featuring (with set times!):
SKOAL KODIAK (1:15AM)
STNNNG (12:30AM)
POS (11:45PM)
LOW (10:30PM)
DOSH (9:30PM)
KILL THE VULTURES (8:45PM)
TAPE N TAPE (JOSH GRIER AND JEREMY HANSEN OF TAPES N TAPES) (8:00PM)

Civic Fest
August 29 - September 4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
CivicFest is a vibrant civic festival celebrating Minnesota and American history, democracy, and the U.S. Presidency. The event, produced by the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee, will be held August 29 through September 4, 2008 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
CivicFest is a once-in-a-lifetime family-friendly experience, featuring more than 35 educational and entertaining exhibits, including; historic memorabilia and artifacts, a scale model of the White House, a re-created Convention floor, a stage featuring live performances, an actual President’s official limousine, a full-scale replica of the White House Oval Office, multimedia and interactive exhibits featuring significant historical objects, an interactive kiosk that explores the lives and administrations of the twelve 20th – century Presidents, and a 60,000 square-foot Marketplace, showcasing a variety of products to the CivicFest audience, with an emphasis on locally produced and designed merchandise.

Event Hours:
Friday, August 29 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 30 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 31 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday, September 1 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 2 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 3 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 4 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Spark24
August 31 - Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
FREE
(Yes, these times are AM)
2AM-6:30AM
ORCHESTRA HALL

2-2:30
THE ALARMISTS
2:45-3:30
CLOUD CULT
3:45-4:15
CHRIS KOZA
4:30-5
WHITE LIGHT RIOT
5:15-5:45
LUCY MICHELLE & THE VELVET LAPELLES
6-6:30
THE NEW CONGRESS

Liberty Parade and Concert
August 31 - Down Nicollet Mall to Loring Park, Minneapolis
FREE
The Liberty Parade is a Minneapolis first - a full-scale art and music celebration, a march in support of democracy and freedom of expression - And, it won't happen without you! Yes, YOU! Pull out your tubas, decorate your bicycles, dust off your art car, build a float, break out your flags and twirling batons, and take to the streets in celebration of your ideas of liberty and freedom of expression.


Concert in Loring Park features: The Dillinger Four, Retribution Gospel Choir, Happy Apple, STNNNG, The Brass Messengers, Mama Digdowns Brass Band

Second Annual Black Dog Block Party
August 31 - September 1 in Mears Park, St. Paul
Sunday, August 31 (3:00 to 10:00 PM) (order of performers TBD)
Carnage, Anthony Cox, Spaghetti Western String Company, Aviette, Backstreet Boogie Band, Big Quarters, Soul Tree


Tuesday, September 2 (3:00 to 10:00 PM) (order of performers TBD)
Boots Riley & The Coup, Ill Chemistry, Junkyard Empire, Kill the Vultures, Los Nativos

Take Back Labor Day Festival
September 1 on Harriet Island, St. Paul
On the eve of the Republican National Convention, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—representing 2 million working people—will sponsor a festival to celebrate workers’ achievements and to promote a New Vision for the 21st Century that includes:
* Affordable, quality healthcare for everyone;
* Wages that can support families;
* Freedom to join unions without intimidation;
* Retirement security.
Featuring: Billy Bragg, Mos Def, Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, Tom Morello, The Pharcyde

Wake Up World w/ Daily Show Co-creator Lizz Winstead PLUS Special Hootenany w/Jim Walsh and Billy Bragg
September 2 - September 04 at the Parkview Theater
These shows are 21+
Shoot the Messenger is a NY based comedy troupe performing, Wake Up World, a satirical morning show from the brain of Daily Show Co-creator Lizz Winstead. A live comedy show incorporating multi-media elements, it gives us the world as seen through the filters of Wake-Up World, Americas only 6-hour morning show.

Wake-up World is the flagship news show on 24/7 possibly the worst twenty-four cable news network-ever. Wake Up World is an indictment, both hilarious and scathing - not only of the newsmakers, but of the news media that gives us what ever is easiest for them.

(Ripple Effect) Day Festival
September 2 on the Capitol Lawn
By creating a safe, positive space for artists, activists, and the general public to gather, Ripple Effect will take the energy spurred by the Republican National Convention and use it to create a movement for tangible progressive change.

Through the inspirational power of art and music, Ripple Effect will
attract thousands of like-minded individuals to the St. Paul Capitol lawn, where they will be given the free space to participate in the the burgeoning global movement for justice, equitability, and sustainability.

FEATURING: MICHAEL FRANTI, ANTI-FLAG, DEAD PREZ, WOOKIEFOOT w/MATISYAHU, I SELF DEVINE, INDIGO, B. DOLAN and PROLYPHIC, TRU RUTS, THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING ROADSHOW, MEDEA BENJAMIN (co-founder of CODEPINK & Global Exchange) WILL STEGER (polar explorer and global warming activist)