Wednesday news and reviews

Here's a look at the arts stories making headlines:

Architecture

Designers vie for Peavey Plaza commission

- Mary Abbe, Star Tribune

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Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak wanted assurances that a renovated Peavey Plaza would bring national acclaim to Minneapolis. City Council members just wanted to know that maintaining it wouldn't be a tax burden.

Books/Writing

mnLit presents John Jodzio

- mnartists.org

Read John Jodzio's 2010 miniStories finalist, "Willem and Trudy, Deuce and Me,"

Ellroy memoir reveals his tormented relationship with women

- Cherie Parker, Star Tribune

Unlike his first memoir, which left the impression that James Ellroy had worked through his mother's brutal death, his new book shows that he's been messed up all along.

Funding

Arts groups hope to max out Give to the Max Day

- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Twin Cities arts groups are going gung-ho for Give to the Max Day today

Movies

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"; and the harrowing "Monsters"

- Jim Brunzell III, TC Daily Planet

Although Halloween is over, two films opening this Friday continue to put the "heart of darkness" into men, women, and children.

Music

Southern Songbook gets off to a swingin' start

By Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet

The Southern Songbook, a three-concert series presented by the Southern Theater, swung into action Sunday night with a warm and diverse show featuring local performers spanning genres from hip-hop to funk to jazz. The evening's theme was "Lush Life," spotlighting the jazz-pop songs that constitute "the Great American Songbook."

Superb 'Sampler' Annual Cities 97 CD features locals, more female singers this year

- Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press

Given the lucrative online resale market for the annual "Cities 97 Sampler," it's easy to forget there are still plenty of people who buy the charity CD for the music. This year, those folks are in for a treat.

First Ave reveals "Tim" tribute lineup

- Chris Riemenschneider, Start Tribune

After last year's "Let It Be" revival had everybody smiling straight through to "Answering Machine," it was clear First Ave wasn't going to hang up the idea of honoring the Replacements with another all-star tribute.

Theater

The Brothers Pulp

- John Townsend, Star Tribune

Sandbox Theatre's company-created collaboration, Unspeakable Things: The Wandrei Brothers Project, reflects on Donald and Howard Wandrei, the St. Paul brothers and pulp-fiction writers of the 1930s and 1940s.

Intoxicating Disturbances

- Lightsey Darst, mnartists.org

Lightsey Darst reflects on two performances by relative newcomers to the Twin Cities dance scene: Taja Will ("we are not platonic, unfortunately") and Angharad Davies ("Work Party").