Art Hounds: House tour, Spiked Too, and nerds conquer Duluth

This week's hounds say you can't ignore a chance to tour a stunning 1915 'Prairie School' home in Minneapolis, a variety show guaranteed to fill you with mirth and merriment, and a special evening for show and tell-oriented nerds of the Duluthian variety.

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Interested in seeing how the holidays were celebrated in Minneapolis circa 1915? Hopkins Center for the Arts Director Amanda Birnstengel heartily recommends visiting the Purcell-Cutts House. Tours of this immaculately maintained Prairie School gem, which is owned by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, are conducted by docents dressed in period garb and focus on the holiday decorations, gift giving, and social traditions of the period. The tours take place every Saturday and Sunday through the holiday season.

Holiday-themed entertainment often triggered a gag reflex in improvisor Tane Danger, until he went to see "Spiked Too!" by Table Salt Productions at the Lowry Lab Theater in downtown St. Paul. Tane, founder of the "Theater of Public Policy," says the early '70s style variety show is stocked with talented musicians and funny performers who will help you give in to the spirit of the season. On stage through December 17.

Nerds, and Duluth theater artist and playright Jean Sramek counts herself among that crowd, have their own semi-regular special evening at Teatro Zuccone in Duluth. Jean says "Nerd Nite" turns the stage over to local nerds who want to share their vast knowledge of obscure subjects with other nerds and imbibe together. The next Nerd Nite is Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7:30pm.

For more Art Hounds' recommendations, check us out on Facebook and Twitter. And you can get an early sneak peek at the Art Hounds' picks every week by texting the word ART to 677-677. Art Hounds is powered by the Public Insight Network.

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