D’Angelo, the trailblazing artist whose sound reshaped modern R&B, has died at 51 after a private battle with cancer. From “Brown Sugar” to “Voodoo” and “Black Messiah,” his live, groove-rich music and fearless artistry influenced a generation and expanded what Black music could be.
Arts + Culture
A space for local and national arts and entertainment stories, with an emphasis on stories pertaining to the African American experience.
Posted inJames on Jazz
Fall jazz lineup promises new albums and live performances
From Craig Taborn’s “Trio of Bloom” to JD Allen’s “Love Letters” and Charles Lloyd’s “Figure in Blue,” fall jazz in Minnesota is rich with new sounds and live highlights. The Dakota’s October slate features Kenny Garrett, Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap, and Brandee Younger, with Herbie Hancock at the Orpheum.
Posted inMovies
The Smashing Machine
Dwayne Johnson surprises in a stripped-down, affecting performance as MMA legend Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s Smashing Machine. The film deglamorizes the sport, digs into addiction and relationships, and finds real stakes far beyond the cage.
Posted inOdds and Ends
What’s worth spending a weekend away from sports?
The 23rd Twin Cities Black Film Festival runs Oct. 10–12, with screenings at the Capri Theatre and Hotel Indigo. Founder Natalie Morrow spotlights a packed slate of Black filmmakers and says this year doubles as a crucial fundraiser to power the festival’s future.
Posted inTheater
Youth write, direct and act in plays confronting gun violence
Hopkins Center for the Arts hosted ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence, with Stages Theatre Company presenting six teen-written shorts chosen from 127 national submissions. Youth artists say the work is raw and empowering. Recommended for ages 14+.
Posted inArts + Culture
Youth write, direct and act in plays confronting gun violence
By Lizzy Nyoike On October 6, the Hopkins Center For The Arts hosts “ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence,” a nationwide theater initiative that puts teens’ voices at the front of a pressing national conversation. Stages Theater Company joins more than 30 organizations across the country in presenting six short plays written by teens confronting […]
Posted inMovies
One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another blends counterculture myth, political satire, and a father-daughter chase. Teyana Taylor blazes; Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn spar with a wobbly tone. The set-pieces stun, but the story never fully locks in.
Posted inTheater
Ten Thousand Things brings Shakespeare to the masses
Ten Thousand Things will stage The Two Gentlemen of Verona for the first time, opening its 2025–26 season and marking Artistic Director Caitlin Lowans’ directing debut. The stripped-down, in-the-round production tours prisons, shelters, schools, and community sites, with public shows pay-what-you-can.
Posted inEvents
Katt Williams Brings Heaven on Earth Tour to Target Center This Fall
Katt Williams brings his Heaven on Earth Tour to Target Center on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at 8 p.m. One night only—sharp stand-up, big laughs, and that classic Katt energy. Plan ahead: Target Center allows only small clutches/wallets (5″ x 9″ or smaller).
Posted inEducation
Children’s bookstore inspires early love for books
Planting People Growing Justice, a Black woman-owned children’s bookstore and publisher inside Gideon Barbershop, is growing literacy and youth leadership in South Minneapolis. Founded by Dr. Artika Tyner, PPGJ centers books that reflect the African Diaspora and offers storytimes, workshops, and author visits to help kids “read to lead.”
Posted inTelevision
The Lost Bus – 2025 Toronto International Film Festival
Paul Greengrass turns the 2018 Paradise wildfire into a blistering survival tale as Matthew McConaughey’s school bus driver races to evacuate kids through walls of fire. The film’s immersive effects and taut editing deliver an anxious, high-impact ride, grounded by sturdy work from McConaughey and America Ferrera.
Posted inFashion
NextStep Runway brings New York fashion energy to Minnesota
NextStep Runway Minneapolis arrived with a three day fashion camp and a vibrant runway showcase. Models gained coaching, new images, and industry insight, while four local designers debuted collections in a professional setting.
Posted inTheater
Stages Theatre Brings Charlotte’s Web to Life with Aerial Magic
Stages Theatre Charlotte’s Web plays Sept 26 to Oct 26 on the Hopkins Mainstage. A 60 minute, all ages production with an aerial Charlotte, a standout youth cast, and plenty of heart.
Posted inMovies
Black Films Help 2025 Toronto International Film Festival Celebrate its 50th Anniversary
At TIFF 50 Black films left their mark. Highlights include DaCosta’s Hedda, Mkhwanazi’s Laundry, Davies’ My Father’s Shadow, and Davis’ Youngblood.
Posted inEvents
Dreamhouse Barbie Fashion Show Returns with Style and Purpose
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.
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.