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

As you're well aware, this week the Twin Cities plays host to one of the biggest political extravaganzas known to man: The Republican National Convention. Lucky for you, The Rake has whipped up a comprehensive guide that will please radicals and conservatives alike! Click HERE to check out The Rake's Guide to Surviving the RNC.

SPECIAL EVENT
The Unconvention

Artists of all shapes, sizes and political beliefs are invited to take place in The UnConvention, a series of events that runs through the RNC. Designed as a forum for people to exchange and promote their ideas on the big issues, it is meant to counteract the tightly formatted and scripted process that is the presidential election process. Projects that will take place during The UnConvention include My Yard Our Message where artists from around the world will vote on the design of political signs promoting participatory democracy; American Politics Sideshow: Weird and Wild where the Weisman Art Museum will host speakers, discussions, performances and more; and the Liberty Parade, a large-scale event to precede the RNC where individual liberty and freedom is celebrated. For more information, including a complete list of projects and events, click HERE. -Andrew Newman

Now through September 4th, Various locations, Minneapolis & St. Paul, Free, Times Vary, Check website

FILM
Minneapolis Underground Film Festival

The Minneapolis Underground Film Festival or MUFF for short (yes, really) kicks off this Friday with a bevy of local and international films. Explore experimental film making at its finest with themes involving the morbidly fascinating world of snuff films, or the dark, dank underground (literally) experience with a film about urban exploration - not to mention forays into a parallel universe, train hopping, and enough quirkiness to keep you weirded out and thinking sideways for days to come. Make an evening of it with MUFF cohorts and filmmakers at Friday's festival after party at Jasmine 26 just a hop, skip and a jump from MCAD. Order up some yummy Vietnamese crepes and show off your festival pass to receive a complimentary drink! This festival runs through Sunday, so don't fret, there's plenty of MUFF to go around.

Friday-Sunday, 7:30pm, MCAD, 2501 Stevens Avenue S, Minneapolis, $8 per film, $29 All Access


MUSIC
Cecil Otter CD Release

This Doomtree-crew staple busts out with a stellar debut solo album filled with fluid, moody beats and silver-tounged rhymes. A poetic champion, Otter layers humor and irony over honest lyrics, making his message easy to relate to and entertaining. This head-bob worthy collection of new tracks is destined to be on repeat in every hip hop head's stereo for months to come, so don't be the last to jump on the Cecil Otter bandwagon! Tonight's double header will most likely be a who's who of local musicians and scenesters of high repute, not to mention the Doomtree crew, so come rub shoulders and celebrate this talented MC who should definitely be on your radar if he isn't already. The Millionth Word opens.

Friday, 6pm (all ages) & 9:30pm (21+), Triple Rock, 629 Cedar Avenue, West Bank, $9


SHOPPING
The 3 Week Boutique: Honey, Love & Butterfly

Attention fashionable delegates, protesters and RNC hangers-on! Blow off some of that politically-charged steam with a good old-fashioned shopping binge! We've got an exclusive tip that some very talented Minnesota artists will be opening a stylish and timely boutique in the Lowry Building, brimming with more eye candy than you'll know what to do with. Snatch up beautiful, hand-crafted jewelry by designers Sarah Lang and Andrew Card; amazing paintings, prints and photography by the talented Susan Fossen and oodles more from artisans such as David Jergenson, Julz Buckles, XO Handworks, Cayenne Peppy, and Beadiful Items. Mention The Rake for a nifty little discount!

Sat-Sun, Noon-5pm, Mon-Fri, 9:30am-7:30pm, Through September 12th, The Lowry Building, Shop 299, 350 Saint Peter Street, Saint Paul

SPECIAL EVENT
Spark24

What better way to showcase what the Twin Cities has to offer out-of-state RNC bigwigs than by celebrating the best in local performances and art? Spark24, a 24-hour marathon of free entertainment, will begin 5 pm on Saturday, August 30 and run non-stop until 5pm Sunday. Local theatre companies, music groups and bands will take the stage from Peavey Plaza to Orchestra Hall (open 24 hours) and 60+ venues across the Twin Cities. For more information, including a complete schedule of performances and venues, click HERE. The Rake will be live-blogging at Spark24 from the IDS media center, so check our site Saturday and Sunday for pictures, recaps and craziness, live from Spark24! -Andrew Newman

Saturday-Sunday, Free, Orchestra Hall/Peavey Plaza and various locations, Minneapolis

SPECIAL EVENT
The Liberty Parade

Forget all your rightist or leftist arguments and come join the Liberty Parade on August 31 at 1 pm in Minneapolis. A celebration of the American values that stretch beyond political sides, the Liberty Parade will march down Nicollet Mall to Loring Park, where music acts such as Dillinger 4, Vampire Hands, Happy Apple and other entertainment will await participants. Celebrate liberty, freedom, equality and justice with your neighbors in a genuinely non-partisan fashion! For more information, click HERE. -Andrew Newman

Sunday, 1pm, Starts at Nicollet Mall and ends in Loring Park, Minneapolis, Free