Ah, August: the dog days of summer, marking the annual rite of passage of all Minnesotans from the long-awaited, warm embrace of the sun, to the dark, chilly, why-the-#$%!-do-I-need-a-sweater confines of the air-conditioned theater.
Fear not, friends: this month is jam-packed with options for indoor artsy fun… and not just because of the Fringe festival. In fact, our pals at Temple of Aaron have something some [a.k.a. Me] would call “Marvelously” special lined up to cap off the month.
So, pals, dole out your shekels and summer hours wisely. If there’s ever a month to GTFO with your Jewish friends, this is it!
“The Jew in the Ashram,” part of the MN Fringe Festival
Friday, August 2 — 7 p.m. @ Ritz Theater, Minneapolis. $14
It just ain’t August in Minnesota without the Fringe, and this year, NYC-based actor/writer/Jewish educator Amanda Erin Miller presents her one-woman show [directed by Rachel Elissa Evans] about her travels to an ashram in India, provoking, amongst other revelations, reflections on the role of Judaism in the lives of her late father and his mother, a Holocaust survivor he never met. Advance tickets strongly encouraged.
“National Night Out — Books to Borrow”
Tuesday, August 6 — 4:30-7:30 p.m. @ Sibley Manor, St. Paul. FREE
One of the best, low-key national holidays has a gathering with a distinctly Jewish flavor this year. NCJW MN will be celebrating its annual anniversary for the Books to Borrow program at Sibley Manor Apartment with an evening of stories, simple craft projects, sharing books, explaining the program, and engaging with families. A family-friendly event, those school-age and older are welcome to volunteer.
“Happy Hour at Nico’s”
Thursday, August 8 — 5 p.m. @ Nico’s Tacos, Minneapolis. FREE
Nothin’ crazy — just a lovely, low-key Taco Thursday Happy Hour with our Moishe House pals. Come kick it [free apps, too!]
“St. Paul Saints w/ Moishe House”
Sunday, August 11 — 5 p.m. @ CHS Field, St. Paul. Tickets discounted.
Moishe House is sponsoring an outing for the Great American Pastime to one of the best minor league fields in the country. If you’ve never been, their games are a blast [as are their in-game antics]. What better way to celebrate the dog days of summer than a lovely night out at the ballgame? Reach out to them directly for more info on tickets!
“WHEN THE SHARK BITES: Hauptmann & Brecht, Lenya & Weill”
Friday, August 16 — 7:30 p.m. @ Open Eye Theater, Minneapolis. $10-$65.
A lovely night of theater & music: the team behind last season’s box office smash “DEAR LENNY: Bernstein’s Life in Songs & Letters” returns with a theatrical concert of the music of Kurt Weill; Bertolt Brecht; their largely uncredited co-writer, Elisabeth Hauptmann; and Kurt Weill’s wife and celebrated performer, Lotte Lenya. Exploring the collaboration between these hugely influential artists of the Berlin theater during the Weimar Republic — the brief democratic, interwar period just before the Nazis gained power — “When The Shark Bites” features songs from “Threepenny Opera,” “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” and “Happy End.”
“Deep Canvass on Housing and Decriminalization”
Sunday, August 18 — 9 a.m.-4 p.m. @ Sabes JCC, St. Louis Park. FREE
Not all GTFO suggests have to be for parties! Join JCA, working in partnership with community members of St. Louis Park and other affordable housing and criminal-justice reform groups in hopes of changing the minds and hearts of renters and their neighbors, to go door-to-door and have meaningful conversations with voters about housing and criminal justice issues.
First-timers and grizzled canvassing vets alike welcome; the first half of the day includes deep canvassing-specific training and collectively getting on the same page. Coffee, lunch, and snacks provided. Find out more, including accessibility details, here.
“Torah Yoga”
Monday, August 19 — 7-9 p.m. @ Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul. $20
Join Diane Bloomfield for an evening combining the study of Torah and the practice of yoga, “deepening the search for the inner treasures hidden in our body, mind, heart and soul.” No previous Torah study or yoga practice necessary.
“Summer UnRestrict(Ed) — NCJW Summer Social”
Wednesday, August 21 — 5-10 p.m. @ Red Barn Farm of Northfield. FREE
Pizza on a farm? YES, PLEASE! NCJW and UnRestrict Minnesota are partnering for an evening of pizza, live music, and libations at the Red Barn Farm of Northfield. How do we get to Northfield, you ask? Via PARTY BUS, because OF COURSE.
This event is free, but space *is* limited, so fill out the google form to secure your spot and make sure you indicate your preferred pick-up location. (Sabes JCC or Beth Jacob Congregation). Bring a chair or a blanket and we will provide *everything* else including snacks and beverages on the bus because WE ARE FUN!
Google Form can be found here.
“MARVELOUS Memories from Rachel Brosnahan and Kevin Pollak”
Sunday, August 25 @ The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine’s University, St. Paul. $18 – $150.
Saving the biggest & best for last: Temple of Aaron has a doozy for us all, hosting an evening with Rachel freakin’ Brosnahan [“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” herself!] and phenomenal actor/comic Kevin Pollak, known for his work in — of course — “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” as well as A Few Good Men, Casino, and Grumpy Old Men, to name just a few. Join them to hear behind-the-scenes stories and insight from the show and their incredible careers!
Even better: This event is presented by Temple of Aaron as part of its seventh Annual Tribute Fundraiser — net proceeds from the event will support the Neighborhood House Food Shelf, Habitat for Humanity, and the synagogue’s programs for youth and elderly.
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And that’s all she wrote, friends. Have a lovely August — get out and enjoy!
