The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

BENEFIT EVENT
The Youth & Boobie Brigade Bake Sale

Join the Youth and Boobie Brigade for a hip and tasty event at the 7th Street Entry to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation and other breast cancer research charities tonight! Conceptualized by Lauren Manke and Louisa Podlich, The Youth and Boobie Brigade will participate as a team in the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk on September 19th-21st. Every participant is required to raise at least $2,200 in order to take part in the walk, and with your help, the Brigade is confident they will be able to reach this goal and surpass it! Every donation matters, and every dollar will go directly to benefit breast cancer research. The Youth and Boobie Brigade Bake Sale will not only feature a smörgåsbord of melt-in-your-mouth cupcakes and bars up for purchase, but will also help negate any calorie consumption-fueled guilt with a wild dance party! Featuring live music from peppy indie-popsters Tim Rally Gold, followed by prolific club king Jonathan Ackerman of the Moongoons and red-hot sister DJ duo Tendercakes spinning electro, club, techno, hip hop, pop, rock and more all night long!

If you are unable to make the event and would like to donate, click HERE.

10pm-2am, 7th Street Entry, 701 1st Avenue N, Downtown Mpls, $8

MUSIC
The Pines

As the RNC quickly approaches, many locals are gearing up to be heard not only through demonstration, but through celebration of art, music and performance as well. One of the most happenin' hot spots will be Lowertown Saint Paul, where the Black Dog Coffee & Wine Bar will host numerous events leading up to and during the convention, including two huge block parties featuring tons of amazing local music! Tonight however, is a bit more chill with moody folk duo The Pines, who will play live in the Cafe while you sip vino and anticipate the impending fracas that is about to descend upon our fair cities. While you're there, make sure to check out the Poster Offensive IV exhibit, a collection of politically themed screen-printed posters by local artists.

8pm, Black Dog Coffee & Wine Bar, 4th & Broadway, Lowertown St. Paul, pay-what-you-can

STATE FAIR TIP OF THE DAY
State Fair Sugar Rush

Since we're keeping the theme relatively sweet today, what with the Boobie Brigade's Bake Sale and all, I thought I'd take the time to talk about my favorite sweet treats at the Fair. Even though my busy sched this week prevents me from going at all, I've been living vicariously through Ms. Kathryn Savage's guides, as I too am a State Fair junkie. While I am a big fan of the typical corn on the cob, cheese curds, and pronto pups - I really do love me some Dippin' Dots. A refreshing treat on a hot August day, but these little beads of sweet frozen goodness are probably my fave because of the extreme cuteness factor - a pastel rainbow of teeny-tiny ice cream balls that are as fun to look at as they are to eat. I am also a fan of cotton candy (again, cute), Sweet Martha's Cookies (who isn't), but no State Fair sugar rush is complete without a stop at the Salt Water Taffy booth, where you can watch a fleet of candy-men and women spin and pull colorful taffy, roll it, cut it and package it up for you to purchase by the sackful. Sweet!

State Fair Hours 6am-Midnight, State Fair Grounds, Saint Paul, $11