What are YOU doing this weekend?

by Nelima

Another weekend is fast approaching. If you haven’t got any plans, perhaps we can help out with that. We’ve got a coupla suggestions;

Arts:

• There will be a tour of the African gallery at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on Saturday at 2pm.

Causes:

• One Twin Cities will be hosting a ‘Kick It to Malaria’ soccer game fundraiser on Saturday at 7201 West 83rd Street, Bloomington. Games go from 11am – 2pm and each player pays $10 which is the cost of a bed net. For more info click here.
• Join the rally for the Invisible Children of Uganda titled ‘The Rescue’ on Saturday at 3pm and stay the night until 10am. Everyone will meet at Rice Park then walk to the Capitol Building in St. Paul. For more info email Lindsey at lmluczkowiak@gmail.com.

TGIF! What are YOU doing this weekend?

Hey MinneAfricans,

After the last long weekend, another one’s here. I’ve changed the structure of the TGIF list, I will put events under different categories so that it’s easier to locate the type of events you are interested in as opposed to going through what sometimes can be a very long list. Hope this helps.

Rally:

• Saturday will be Minnesota’s 5th Annual World AIDS Day event. “Stop AIDS, Keep The PROMISE” will bring diverse communities of African immigrants in the Twin Cities together to promote awareness about HIV/AIDS. It’s FREE and open to the public. Join in the fight against this epidemic LOCALLY! Call (612)821-6127 for more info.

Arts:

• If you enjoy Ibe’s writing on MinneAfrica, consider attending the (re)release of his book, “Bridge Across the Atlantic” tomorrow. For more information read A Poetic Invitiation.
• Here’s another book release on Saturday. Linius Publishing Presents An Exclusive Evening With Author Emmanuel C. Ezike II for the Release of “Coming From Liberia”. The event will take place at View Restaurant & Lounge, 2730 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55416 from 6 – 8.30pm . Book is available online via
  www.lulu.com/emmanuelezike .
• The Macalester African Music Ensemble invites you to attend their Annual Fall Concert, which will be taking place on Saturday from 8 – 10pm at the Concert Hall in the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center. It’s FREE and I have heard many good things about the past concerts.

TGIF! What are YOU doing this weekend?

The 2nd Africans in Minnesota (AIM) networking happy hour at Picosa (salsa night) in Minneapolis.

(Look for updates denoted  by *new! to see events that we will add /update throughout the weekend)

The weekend’s here again and yes the temperatures have dipped, but there’s still much to do, places to be and causes to partake in. Take your pick – we have a pretty diverse list this time round.

1. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to participate in the Refugee Winter Clothing Drive at The Lounge, ENVY, AQUA, Drink and Spin. Its already cold for those of us who have been here a while so imagine what it’s like for refugees who’ll be experiencing their first winter here. So far only about 100 hundred items have been dropped off and I know y’all can do better.
2. The always anticipated monthly AIM Happy Hour is here again for the 4th time. It will be hosted at the Picosa, the last time we were there it was a lot of fun. We danced to afro-salsa (see picture above) … you want to be there. People start arriving at 5pm.

TGIF! What are YOU doing this weekend?

This time round I’m going to be on time with this update. With the days getting shorter I’m sure there are some of you who’ll want to hibernate (like me) and then there are others who like to get out no matter what. Here’s a list of some going on around town this weekend.

1. Josiah Rasugu and Sound of Fujun will host their monthly reggae and dancehall ‘Energize’ party at First Ave’s VIP room. 241 drinks special until midnight, Ladies free until 11p.m. 
2. Learn how to move your career into film, commercial, or television scoring and how to get your music featured in a commercial or television show on Saturday from 4 – 6pm at the Summit Brewery. Panel of industry experts includes “the Kings of the Jingle” Bob Hest and Steve Kramer of Hest & Kramer Music,award-winning producer/director, former Minnesota Film Board Executive Director, and current McNally Smith College of Music faculty member, Craig Rice, and Twin Cities-based musician/ film composer Chris Beaty. This event is hosted by MNartists and Summit.
3. Ugandan Reggae/Dancehall artist, Ragga Dee will be in town giving a performance at 508 Snelling Ave North in St. Paul (above Ogiamen’s store) on Saturday. For more info contact 6515929234.

TGIF! Its’s Halloween weekend, what are YOU doing?

Happy Halloween MinneAfricans!

Another weekend’s here and voting is just around the corner! What will you be doing dressing up in costumes? On the campaign trail? Looking for other options? Here are some suggestions;

1. Josiah Rasugu will be having a Halloween party today at uptown’s La Bodega Tapas Bar, Sound of Fujun, Dj Choches and Dj Dan will be playing the best of Reggae, Urban African and Hip Hop.
2. Tomorrow, Kilimanjaro Entertainmentw will host it’s monthly ‘Wakilisha’ bash at Blue Nile. This time round Dj Sisqo from Dallas will be playing the best of East African hits and upcoming artists Q-Stick also based in Dallas will perform.
3. Also tomorrow, Dj Dave Kinyaiya will have a ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ halloween party at 2022 Ferry St. N, Anoka, MN . This party goes til 5:00am – after the party it’s the afterparty!
4. Also on Saturday, tour the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s African Gallery from 3-4pm.
5. On Sunday Mezesha Entertainment has their 2nd annual ‘Wicked’ Halloween party. If you were there last year, it was a lot of fun and there was a costume contest for the ladies. Dj Hustla who was the only guy in a costume (he was dressed as a nun) was the default winner for the guys. Come dressed up to party to the hottest reggae tunes at the Lounge. 
6. The MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Arts) has an ongoing exhibition that you should check out. Outside Influences: Jack Lenor Larsen and African Aesthetics features an awesome fabric collection based on the designs, colors, and aesthetics of African cultures. It runs through January 25th 2009 in Gallery 279.
7. Lastly and most importantly, get involved with the campaigns – volunteer and and get your friends to volunteer. And if you can, on Tuesday get out and VOTE! 

TGIF! What are YOU doing this weekend?

Is it just me or has this week just flown by? Not that I am complaining or anything of that sort, because I like my weekends. I can always sleep in or find something fun to do. Here’s a few suggestions for those that might want to step out and enjoy.

 

1. Beginning 6:00pm, there will be a Happy Hour and rally for young (and young at heart) Professionals to get you Fired Up! And Ready to Go! at the Epic Event Center. You’ll get to rally with special guests Representative John Conyers of Michigan and Representative Keith Ellison. There will be music, spoken word, giveaways and a cash bar. Entry is free.
2. Also there’s an exciting conference at the U of MN called “The Obama Effect”, which is discussing the compelling  events and issues surrounding Obama’s campaign. On Saturday at 10:45am there’ll be a segment on African Journalists and Obama featuring former Mshale Editor, Edwin Okon’go and Cosmas Akuta. For more info click here.
3.  And a reminder that Ola Onabule, who was scheduled to perform at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant this weekend, was unable to gain entry into the US and his shows have consequently been cancelled.
4. Congo Week ends tomorrow on the 25th. I hope you have had a chance to educate yourself on what’s been going on there in addition to educating your peers. Please share your opinions with us.

TGIF! What are YOU doing this weekend?

Yay! Another weekend’s here ….. looking for something to do? We are never short of ideas and hopefully this list will have something you may be interested in.

1. Storyteller “Auntie Beverly” will be performing Layer(s) through Saturday, the 18th at Intermedia Arts Naked Stages I Series.
2. If you are a film lover, check out the Arab Film Festival , which is going on through Sunday Oct 19th at The Historic Heights Theatre.
3. Africans In Minnesota (AIM) will be having their third networking Happy Hour for African Professionals at Gameworks this Friday. The last two were a lot of fun so you want to be there.
4. Hamline’s African Student Association will be having PAMOJA – African Night on Friday from 7pm. The event is free and open to all.
5. Dj Dave Kinyaiya will be playing the best of R&B, Hip-Hop, Bongo Flavor, Genge, Reggae, Dance Hall, Lingala, Zouk this Friday at Babalu’s Groove Night. Lynn Owino will be celebrating her birthday and is asking that friends make a donation to Homecare Spiritual Fellowship instead of buying her a gift. A percentage of all the bar sales that night will go to the group’s work in Kenya.
6. On Saturday, Join African Communities of Minnesota for Africa Day for Obama at 4:00pm at the Taj Mahal Banquet Hall, 3015 Cedar Ave, South Minneapolis, MN. Meet local Obama supporters and learn how you get involved with the campaign. Email SiadforObama@gmail.com for more information.