Ah, the weekend lineup. They just about write themselves. I've been looking forward to it all week...

There's yet ANOTHER Minnesota Book Awards reading [1] tonight, and this will be the last since the official awards are being handed out [2] tomorrow. Guess who's "moderating" tonight's reading? Tha's right. Me. (Sorry Tex!) But with a lineup that includes over a dozen famous writers, including karaoke king Ed Bok-Lee, my appearance promises to be short.

Shutka Book of Records: A seriously funny mockumentary/documentary about the various local legends inhabiting a Macedonian town--supposedly the world's most populous Roma settlement. See today's Strib [3] for the 3.5 star review. The one and only screening happens tomorrow evening as part of the Film Festival [4], although, admittedly, this is part of the small campaign I'm waging to get this film reprised in the festival's best-of retrospective. (Are they even doing that this year?) In any case, show's at Bell Auditorium, 7:15 p.m. But not until tomorrow.

And introducing a new feature, The Teaser (truth be told, this might be the one and only time I tease anything): Here are some things I either forgot to write about and/or have yet to experience: The Museum of Russian Art [5]'s new exhibition, Soviet Dis-Union, which I saw last Saturday; the Brave New Workshop [6] and its fast-on-his-feet leader, Caleb McEwan, who I'll be enjoying tomorrow evening (no book awards for me, d'Oh!); the Soap Factory [7]'s opening, which I may or may not have the time to catch; Coyote on a Fence, Theatre in the Round [8]'s new play about death row; the physical fitness/running ability (or lack thereof) of a certain smack-talkin' Minnesota Orchestra percussionist named Kevin Watkins, whose ass I'm going to kick this Sunday a.m.

There he is. He's toast!