Art Hounds: The Gateway District, Robert Finkler and Jackie Robinson

The cast of Jackie and Me, directed by Marion McClinton at Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis. (Photo by Dan Norman)

This week's hounds are truly hypnotic as they delve into a children's play about the courageous struggles of baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, a Mankato painter who's mastered his own brand of abstract expressionism, and a strictly rock band from Minneapolis that will warm your winter ravaged body.

Oh, and this week's segment is guaranteed to make you forget about winter, at least for a few minutes. We're not kidding. Listen before you kill someone.

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Twin Cities actor and singer Paul Coate has a love for baseball and a daughter who's also fallen in love with the national pastime, which means they're both headed to the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis to see "Jackie and Me." Some magical baseball cards enable a boy to travel back in time and get an eyewitness account of Jackie Robinson striving to become the first African American in Major League Baseball. On stage through April 14th.

Painter and Minnesota State University Mankato art professor Brian Frink doesn't hold back in praising fellow veteran Mankato artist and teacher Robert Finkler. Brian says Finkler has toiled so masterfully in the abstract expressionist realm for so many years he has in some ways reinvented the art form. "Robert Finkler: Before, Middle, Last, First," is an exhibition of his paintings at the Carnegie Art Center in Mankato through March 23.

There will always be a need to rock. Annie Sparrows, member of the God Damn Doo Wop Band and the Soviettes, knows you know this, which is why she feels strongly you should go see The Gateway District. Annie says this Minneapolis indie rock band practices the art of kicking out the jams. The Gateway District is releasing a new album, "Old Wild Hearts," at a private house party somewhere in Minneapolis this weekend. For more Art Hounds' recommendations, check us out on Facebook and Twitter. Art Hounds is also available as a podcast on iTunes. Art Hounds is powered by the Public Insight Network.