Peace Bridge Vigil
Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge

Maybe you’ve honked in support of the war protesters on your way home after work. Maybe it’s now time for you to make your own signs and join them. This week would be a good one, symbolically, for you to do that, since all the fireworks you’ll see around town mean what? That we’re still sort of free? If you thinks that’s just fine, you’ve been Bushwhacked by what many call the most corrupt, unpopular Administration in U.S. history. Vigilers call for the end of the U.S. occupation in Iraq, and want the troops home now. More than 2,500 of U.S. military personnel have been killed, and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died as a result as this war based on lies from our government. Don’t take this sitting down—stand up with your own sign and meet at the east end of the bridge (the Marshall Avenue side) to be greeted by those who are simpatico. New summer hours: 5 to 6 p.m. www.worldwidewamm.org. 612-827-5364.SID PRANKE

Buildings
BIG V's

Forgive me for pimping my bumping project for a second here, but we’ve got a fantastic little compilation coming out this month called Twin Town High and I’m not being falsely modest when I say little. With only 78 minutes to fill, we had to leave a lot of quality tracks on the cutting room floor, and, unfortunately, Buildings’ excellent “Miners” was one of them. Mixing At the Drive-In’s emo-ier talk-sung moments back into their hardcore roots, the track was an excellent example of something I don’t often hear: knife-edge punk music that I can actually tell is better than the bulk of hardcore. That I am saying in all modesty, as the whole genre of hardcore is something I have precious little handle on. But when you combine it with some witty titles (they also submitted songs entitled “Cohorts Adorned” and “I Invented Al Jazeera”), you’ve got music that can find a home outside of tattoos and bludgeoning guitar riffs. With USS Horsewhip. 9 p.m. $5. 21+. 1567 University Ave. W., St. Paul. 651-645-8472.MCPHERSON

HOT PICK OF THE WEEK

Electropolis
The Nomad

Eyes bug out of heads when I tell people from supposedly cosmopolitan cities (I’m looking at you, New York) about some of the lineups we get to enjoy on a pretty much weekly basis around the Twin Cities. And I’m not talking about lame showcases where no band’s fans listen to any of the others. Why, just the other week at the Battle of the Underage Underground we had aggro-pop, ‘70s-style-prog-jazz-rock, electro-dance metal and retro-grunge all representing. And here comes a night that promises electronic avante-garde jazz craziness from Electropolis, catchy, yet gritty, alterna-pop for the adult set from Alva Star and organic electronic trip-funk from Keston & Westdal. An embarrassment of riches for your delight, truly. The Nomad is staking out some heretofore vacant territory in the land between the lounge vibe of the Kitty Cat Klub and the bring-your-beret black velvet of the Artists’ Quarter and this night will slot in right nicely. Being simultaneously adventurous and rewarding is a tough balance beam to walk, but Electropolis pulls it off in spades, always nailing the dismount with jazz hands and a winning smile. Man, I have got to stop editing Dwight Hobbes’ pieces before I write my Hot Tickets. With Alva Star and Keston & Westdal. 9:30 p.m. $5/$7. 18+. 501 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-338-6424.MCPHERSON

B-Girl Be Summi
Intermedia Arts

I suppose the only thing that compares to enlightening entertainment is (no, not impromptu sex, you shameless hedonist) good grub, and you sure can’t beat an afternoon of both. Visit this year’s B-Girl Be Summit: A Celebration of Women in Hip Hop—a four-day festival (June 29-July 2) that highlights female hip-hop/spoken word artists. Entry is free on Sunday and includes access to stuff like aerosol art production, visual arts exhibition, open mics, films and outdoor performances. And the B-Girl BBQ eats are only five bucks a plate. Catch, among other acts, RhapsodE, a sterling purveyor in town from Philly. Not entirely new to the Twin Cities, she’s a 2003 Minnesota Music Award nominee who started out here. “M.E. National Bank” off her Spoke Inward CD (released June 23) is sly wit that cold-busts men who come from the dogs-just-wanna-have-fun school of romance. And “The Choice” sagely confronts the parasitic plague of dealing crack, without climbing on a soapbox. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Free. 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. 612-8711111-4444 or intermediaarts.org.DWIGHT HOBBES


Mei Young’s Last Broadcast on Drive 105

It won’t be without a tiny tear that we bid adieu to Mei Young on this week’s Homegrown. After all, she’s been one of the most tireless supporters of the local music scene for as long as anyone can remember. After getting permission to play one local song a night in her 2 a.m. slot on KQRS way back in 1996, Young had planted the seeds of what would one day become Homegrown, and the show’s long list of impressive guests is a testament to her unwavering dedication to all things local. I got to peek inside just this past January for the annual Critics’ Picks show and, despite a fantastic case of jet lag, I felt right at home, due in large part to Mei’s easy way with a mic and a question. Her final broadcast will feature guest appearances from Howwastheshow.com’s Andrea Myers and David de Young (who’s become a regular contributor to the show), as well as the yet-to-be-picked winner of Homegrown’s Battle of the Bands. Plus, those are just the announced guests; the press release promises mystery guests from Mei’s past a la “This Is Your Life.” As Young rides off into self-employment, she leaves the show in Dave Campbell’s hands as host and producer, so a piece of advice: I’ve hung out with that guy, and I wouldn’t let him drive my car. That’s all I’m saying. With David de Young, Andrea Myers and Battle of the Bands winner. Drive 105 FM. 10 p.m. MCPHERSON

A Taste of Minnesota Music
Harriet Island

“Yes, the festival is Minnesota cheesiness at its finest. Yes, there’s a good chance that you’ll be bombarded with Star Tribune T-shirts, mugs and sharp, pointy key chains throughout the show. Yes, there’s a hot-dog vendor that goes by the blissfully ironic name “Quality Foods”. But let’s try to muscle through our too-cool-for-school pride and get out there, shall we? Because the twist is that there actually are some decent bands playing this year. Start out with The Hopefuls on July 3 at 5:30 p.m., on the Star Tribune Main Stage. Singer Darren Jackson’s oboe-like, nasal (but strangely enough, not annoying) voice is just the thing to soothe your cheese-curdled soul, and the band consistently delivers witty, fun power-pop. Kafka it is not, but sometimes you need to just stop thinking and clap along. Soul Asylum, a resident favorite local-boys-made-good story, will play once again for their homies at 7 p.m., directly following The Hopefuls’ performance. Soul Asylum secured their place in the Big Five of Minnesota music (along with Dylan, Prince, the ‘Mats and the Dü) with their 1993 hit “Runaway Train.” These days they’re still delivering, with a new record, The Silver Lining, coming out on July 11. The real treat here will be ‘Mats bassist Tommy Stinson playing with the band, a nice little quirk that comes from living in such an internally supportive music scene. Finally, celebrate the Fourth by hugging some trees with Cloud Cult on the Michelob Golden Light stage at 3:30 p.m. Don’t worry; it’s not your mama’s nature music (i.e. synthesizers with recorded waves and loon sounds in the background). Cloud Cult play innovative, catchy indie rock that sticks, and seldom (if ever) mention Mother Earth. If, on the other hand, you’re a big fan of musicians who got their start on TV shows, Davy Jones and David Cassidy are playing on July 2 and 4, respectively. The festival is held at Harriet Island in St. Paul and is open from June 30 to July 4 from 11 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. daily.MEREDETH BARZEN

Anti-Minutemen Rally
State Capitol


The group called the Minutemen is a racist vigilante group that's harrassed and assaulted undocumented migrants coming across the U.S./Mexico border, in California, Arizona and Texas. Now, they're coming to Minnesota to try to rally support for racism and anti-immigrant views. But, Minnesota is more diverse now than it's ever been and has become a haven for refugees. A coalition of immigrants' rights, civil liberties and anti-racism groups will raise their own voices to say "No Human Being Is Illegal.” FREE. 2:30 p.m. State Capitol, St. Paul.LYDIA HOWELL

Tiny Film Fest
Soap Factory


Any press release that states, “There are free drinks at the end of this,” and “I can also tell you how the FBI confiscated my art project last year,” is bond to catch one’s attention. As I read on about the Tiny Film Fest (“like Sundance, but crappier and from Minneapolis”), I couldn’t help but wonder whether the e-mailer was some quick-witted marketing crackpot, or an aspiring artist with a special story to tell. Turns out Chris Pennington is a little bit of both—an art kid focused on community-based, performance projects (last year he organized a community water balloon fight), who in his words, is “trying to overthrow the Walker and save the city from its high-brow bullshit.” Like many techno-savvy kids of this new millennium, Pennington began fooling around with the video feature on his digital camera a few years ago and decided that if he was spending so much time making some “pretty bad movies,” others must be too. So he built a website and submissions started pouring in. “We got 180 submissions from all over the place,” he said, “from little kids, soccer moms, art school students, technophiles and phoebes …” Thus was born the little film project that could. For the second year running, Pennington and co-curator Dave Temby have organized the Tiny Film Fest, which screens 100, 10-second amateur films in 10 different categories (“most disturbing,” “simply hilarious” and “art house” are just a few). Festivities, including a Schell’s beer truck, start flowing about 8 p.m. at the Soap Factory, and movies will be screened following the fireworks at the Stone Arch Bridge. As for his run in with the FBI, I’d better let Pennington tell you about it. Let’s just say it involves Minnesota Twins’ playoff fans, Derek Jeter and a couple of black Sharpie’s. Post-fireworks. Free. 520 2nd St. SE, Mpls. tensecondfilmfest.org..NANCY SARTOR

Secret Gardens
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Uncle Cargill’s genetically modified corn may be knee-high by the 4th of July, but it’s the veritable plant extravaganza blooming at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum that is the real horticultural wonder. The U of M’s Arboretum, just down the road a spell from Paisley Park (once a white concrete oasis on a desolate county road, now surrounded by gas stations and quickie marts), is home to more than a thousand acres of luscious landscape—from patches of natural prairie grasses, marshes and wildflowers, to manicured hosta glades and a Japanese water garden. There’s always something in bloom here. Last winter, as our little green friends lay sleeping under three feet of snow, the grand new Snyder building addition featured an array of techno-colored orchids. Now that summer has arrived, we can move outdoors and enjoy the sensory feast that is an abundance of roses, day lilies, herbs and a jillion other perennials and annuals. And from now until September 10 the Secret Gardens exhibition features 20 uniquely designed and interpreted places just waiting to be explored. Throughout the year the Arboretum offers special events, such as bird walks, guided tours, children’s activities and more. There’s also an amazing gift shop, restaurant, tea house and horticulture library. Engage the family or nurture your serenity on the path that is for your steps alone. 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. $7/free for members and children under 15. Thursdays free for all after 4:30 p.m. 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska. 952-443-1400.NANCY SARTOR