The Dreamhouse Barbie Fashion Show Minneapolis brings fashion, community, and purpose to the Machine Shop on Sept. 30, raising funds to expand youth sewing and entrepreneurship programs.
Arts + Culture
A space for local and national arts and entertainment stories, with an emphasis on stories pertaining to the African American experience.
Posted inTheater
History Theatre Premieres Don’t Miss Doris Hines, A Tribute to a Minneapolis Jazz Legend
History Theatre presents Don’t Miss Doris Hines, a new play with music about the Minneapolis jazz great known as the Satin Doll. Running Sept. 18–Oct. 12, the show honors Hines’ artistry and enduring legacy.
Posted inEvents
Selby Avenue JazzFest returns, led by Walker West
Selby Avenue JazzFest 2025 returns Sept. 12–14 with free concerts at Selby and Milton. Walker West leads a lineup featuring Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles and more, plus two public masterclasses.
Posted inTelevision
Fashioning Black Prestige: How HBO’s The Gilded Age Dresses Status, Power, and Legacy
HBO’s The Gilded Age shows how Black high society used fashion as resistance and refinement. From Peggy Scott to the Kirklands, clothing becomes a statement of survival and power.
Posted inTheater
Anya Naylor makes Children’s Theatre debut in swashbuckling ‘Treasure Island’
CTC opens its 2025–26 season with Treasure Island Sept. 9–Oct. 19. Actor Anya Naylor makes her debut as an understudy for five roles in the swashbuckling production.
Posted inJames on Jazz
Celebrating 25 years and a season full of jazz milestones
James on Jazz turns 25 this September. Celebrate The Dakota’s 40th on Sept. 20, remember Sheila Jordan, and preview the Detroit Jazz Festival and AACM 60th at the Walker.
Posted inMovies
Love, Brooklyn
Love, Brooklyn, an indie dramedy set in Fort Greene blending love, community, and gentrification, with nuanced performances and a strong soundtrack.
Posted inEvents
Black August Queer Film Festival Celebrates Freedom, Art, and Abolition
The Black August Queer Film Festival comes to Pillsbury House + Theatre on Aug. 31, celebrating Black queer artistry, resilience, and abolition with films, performances, and community.
Posted inTelevision
Netflix Revisits Jussie Smollett Case in New Documentary
Netflix’s The Truth About Jussie Smollett? reexamines the 2019 case with new interviews and exclusive footage, exploring race, politics, and media narratives.
Posted inFashion
Love First hosts first-ever youth fashion show
Love First hosted its first youth fashion show, a celebration of creativity and confidence tied to programs that support HBCU access, youth-led safety, and leadership for Black girls across the Twin Cities.
Posted inMovies
Highest 2 Lowest
Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest reimagines a classic crime thriller with Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and A$AP Rocky. Uneven in tone but gripping in execution, the film delivers action, cultural resonance, and a standout second act.
Posted inTelevision
Peacock’s “The Paper” Brings Mockumentary Magic to the Newsroom
The Paper, a new newsroom comedy from The Office creators, debuts Sept. 4 on Peacock.
Posted inArts + Culture
Robin Hickman Winfield: a life of vision and legacy
Robin Hickman Winfield, grandniece of Gordon Parks, has spent decades uplifting youth and community through film, storytelling, and doll artistry. Now, she’s stepping into a new creative chapter of her own.
Posted inArts + Culture
Carolyn Holbrook, McKnight 2025 Distinguished Artist
Acclaimed author and educator Carolyn Holbrook has been named the 2025 McKnight Distinguished Artist for her lasting impact on Minnesota’s cultural and literary communities.
Posted inMovies
The Naked Gun
Liam Neeson channels Leslie Nielsen in the reboot of The Naked Gun. The film starts strong with smart sight gags and committed performances—but sputters out with inconsistent humor and a thin plot.
Posted inMusic
Sounds of Blackness releases youth-powered anthem “WE’RE UNSTOPPABLE”
Sounds of Blackness releases “WE’RE UNSTOPPABLE,” a youth-driven anthem of resilience and movement featuring Jamecia Bennett, NUNNABOVE, and Atlanta Drum Academy.
Posted inMusic
Kendra Glenn Band brings soul, joy and community to Rice Park concert
From powerful vocals to heartfelt storytelling, Kendra Glenn’s July 31 performance at Rice Park blended soul, resilience, and community connection. Part of the “Summer Nights in Rice” concert series, her performance drew families, fans, and music lovers of all ages downtown for an unforgettable evening.
Posted inEvents
Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton redefines leadership through fear, not in spite of it
Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton’s The Myth of the Fearless Leader is part memoir, part leadership manual—and a much-needed challenge to outdated, harmful ideas about fear, perfection, and presence in leadership. She’ll present the book on August 25 at Magers & Quinn in Minneapolis.
Posted inJames on Jazz
Monk, Blue Note, and vibrations of legacy
This month’s jazz roundup features new releases from Paul Cornish and Eric Scott Reed, with tributes to legends like Sonny Clark and Geri Allen. Plus, don’t miss Jane Monheit and Rebirth Brass Band live in Minneapolis.