Thursday often turns out to be my favorite night of the week because ever since college, it has felt like the beginning of the weekend. Usually I hang out at Marysburg Books Coffee Emporium & Wine Bar, where Jon de Vaal plays piano and the microphone is open to anyone who wants to sing jazz standards and showtunes.

But this particular Thursday night took on a French twist, starting with a private, curator-guided tour of The Grand Salon, the newly installed period room at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Thanks to associate curator Jason and birthday girl Amy Rolando for the honor of joining you! Gotta love 18th-century Paris….

Before leaving the MIA, I took a swing through the exhibit in honor of Gus Gustafson, who may have departed P3, but who is very much alive in the hearts of all who knew him.  read more »

Friends,

If you’re checking in to see when the show starts, relax—it’s not until next Saturday the 14th (update: 21st), as the station is still juggling producers. (Rather amazing to watch, epecially when they light ‘em on fire.)

Great crowd Thursday night at Marysburg. So much fun to see y’all and sing some tunes again after a month-long hiatus for the holidays. Of course now there’s one more reason to hang out at Washington & 3rd on Thursday nights, in addition to J. D. Hoyt’s, the Monte and the Burg—it’s The R Factor at the new Trocadero’s, just up the street. My heart is still racing a full day and a half after hotboy Emil Campbell (red suit, at right) brought that portable mic all the way into the dining room and sang to me. (Hear it? Thumpity-thump thump!) Jimmy May, I hope that photo you took turns out.  read more »