Weekend Culture Compass - Jersey Shore parties and awkward Minnesotan humor

Friday

Film — Contempt
The Trylon Microcinema
3258 Minnehaha Ave.
7 p.m., 8:50 p.m.
$8

This continuation of The Trylon’s series of French director Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960s films stars super-hot, super-racist Brigitte Bardot. “Contempt (Le Mépris)” follows an American filmmaker directing an adaptation of Homer’s “Odyssey,” when his marriage begins to disintegrate.

Music — Droids Attack, God Came From Space, Rockford Mules, and Sirens of Titan
Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Ave.
9 p.m.
$6

Madison, WI metal band Droids Attack harbors hull-bodied enthusiasm and full-bodied bass reverb for their album release party. The band describes their sound as a mix between Black Sabbath and Tool, so find an old band tee and pick up some Rimmel eyeliner from Target to really get your badass on.

Music – Dewi Sant
Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis
8 p.m.
$12

Dewi Sant, a folksy, Neil Young-esque local supergroup named after a saint, releases their full-length LP "May" tonight at the Cedar. Just an FYI, it rhymes with "Bowie Kant" and sounds like the perfect music to welcome spring. They're doing a tour of the Midwest so catch them while they're here.

Movies – Midnight Movie Society presents "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls"
Red Stag Supperclub
509 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis
10:30 p.m.
$10

We love the Red Stag. We love DJ Jake Rudh and we love terrible movies. All of these passions unite at this installment of the Midnight Movie Society's screening of "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls," the deliciously trashy story of an all-girl band written by Roger Ebert. Drinks, dancing and general merrymaking start at 10:30 with the film to follow at midnight.

Music- Hildur Victoria
Turf Club
1601 University Ave. W, St. Paul
9 p.m.
$5

We didn't get a chance to review Hildur Victoria's sprawling, shoegazy EP this past winter, but it did get played as the background music for an A&E Thanksgiving. Frontwoman Margaret Lane and her trio of dude bandmates dazzled us at last fall's La Nouvelle Femme and we're certain they're apt to do it again this time around.

Dance – Forever Young "Jersey Shore" edition
Old to Soho space
715 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
10 p.m
$7

Unleash your inner Snooki or J-Woww with the Moongoons guys, and since there are always cameras flashing in your face at these sorts of parties make sure you're dressed appropriately. By that we mean bronzer, airbrush abs and Ed Hardy or Armani Exchange. Pauly D hairstyles encouraged, but not required. Consider this a warmup for the real "Situation" next weekend at Bootlegger's.

Saturday

Music — Jack’s Mannequin, Fun., Vedera
First Avenue
701 1st Ave. N.
5:30 p.m.
$25 SOLD OUT – Craigslist?

Yes, Jack’s Mannequin is far from noteworthy. This recommendation came via our fancy for former The Format’s front man Nate Ruess’s novel band Fun. Come and stay for dancey keyboard melodies and leave before assaulted by Jack’s Mannequin and their California-centric ballads.

Comedy — Christopher Titus
Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy
408 Broadway E., Bloomington
8 p.m., 10:30 p.m.
$29.95

Comedian Christopher Titus said, “I think our collective psychosis is hilarious. With the world moving as fast as it is, if we weren’t dysfunctional, we couldn’t function.” Maybe that’s why he’s fine with attacking heart disease, custody battles and suicide in his continuing comedy tour.

Fashion- Local Designer Jewelry Trunk Show
Parc Boutique
328 Hennepin Ave. E., Minneapolis
12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Free

Since shopping local is still all the rage, as it should be, stop in at the charming N.E. boutique Parc to peruse the spring wares of several local jewelry crafters, including Candied Yams and Liebling Designs. Take 15% off anything that catches your eye and like all good hosts, Parc's is providing food and drink.

Art – Artists’ Discussion
Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St. N.E.
1 p.m.
Free

Altered Esthetics works to preserve the “artist’s voice” in the Twin Cities art community. In this vein, the folks at AE are hosting a panel discussion of local artists.

Film – The Room
Uptown Theatre
2906 Hennepin Ave.
11:55
$8

New heir to the throne of the “best, worst movie,” Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room” features a depressingly unfunny, sexist portrayal an idiotic man and his crazed low self-esteem fiancée. Of course, it was an instant cult classic and is already taking the place of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Uptown Theatre’s midnight showing.

Sunday

Theater — “I Heart Hamas: And a Few Other Things I’m Afraid to Tell You”
Bedlam Theatre
501 6th St. S.
7:30 p.m.
$15

Jennifer Jajeh’s solo show hits Minneapolis this weekend. The tragicomic show deals with her anxieties about being identified as a “Middle Eastern,” romance and popular culture portrayals of Palestinian Americans.

Readings – Dr. Paul Linde
Magers & Quinn Booksellers
3038 Hennepin Ave.
4 p.m.
Free

For those afficiandos of the hospital-based genres like “House,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and the recently deceased “E.R,” “Danger to Self: On the Front Lines with an E.R. Psychiatrist” offers a real life look at Dr. Paul Linde’s times working with the mentally ill.

Comedy – From Here to Maternity
Bryant Lake Bowl
810 Lake St. W.
7 p.m.
$12-14

Whether it be the awkward positions of pregnant sex or common misconceptions about conception, “From Here to Maternity” at Bryant Lake Bowl will not shy away from the tough q’s. This show will be especially appreciated by those among us who have already survived the “labors” of childbirth.

Music – Minneapolis Free Music Society
Red Stag Supperclub
509 1st Ave. N.E.
10 p.m.
Free, of course!

Local electronic/classical Minneapolis Free Music society usually haunts Acadia Café on Sunday evenings. This “band” consists of different contributors every week, so the lineup is always fresh and interesting. Mash-ups are their specialty!

Culture to Consume:

Watch this: A&E finally caught a performance of “Rent” at The Lab Theater and performances by the likes of rapper Maria Isa are worth the cash. In film news, “Shutter Island” serves up the Leo and the psychological thrills.

Listen to this: Indie kids should check out Joanna Newsom’s “Have One on Me” and Xiu Xiu’s “Dear God, I Hate Myself,” while releases by The Streets and Alkaline Trio will be snatched up by a wide fan-base. Locally, Toki Wright’s “BlackMale” EP is out now, with proceeds going to Haiti relief.

Read this: The weeks between Valentine’s Day and The Daily’s forthcoming/first-ever sex issue are highly charged with hormonal tension. Cultivate it with e.e. cumming’s new volume of erotic poems and drawings.

Eat this: Head to Bryant Ave.’s Piccolo and get to know a few of their small-portioned, health-conscious dishes. Their chef Dough Flicker will be participating in the next food/beer/music party thrown by Gastro Non Grata at The Triple Rock. Mark your calendars for Feb. 28.

Drink this: Town Talk diner has an entire drink menu just for brunch, including four different bloody marys. Jay recommends the Bloody Bloody, which he called “an appetizer in drink form,” with a pickle covered in cheese spread, wrapped in salami. Bonus: there’s a beer chase.

Click this: Art and literature get plenty of criticism, but damn it if this isn’t the internet age, where consumer reports exist for everything. We like Slashfood’s Fast Food Reviews, where writers diss on Jared and warn you when Starbucks’ sammies taste like nail polish remover.