Culture compass — Umami, Oscar shorts and Nicki Minaj

Thursday

Hot Dish 3

The Trylon Microcinema

3258 Minnehaha Ave.

7:30 p.m.

This is the third edition of a series in which six local storytellers tell their tales. Tonight's theme is “Strangers in a Strange Land.” A seventh story will be told by an audience volunteer. Expect a river of emotions to ripple throughout the theater as the storytellers open their hearts and/or clean out some closet skeletons.

Friday

UMAMI, Phantom Tails, Sexcat, Claps

Triple Rock Social Club

629 Cedar Ave. S.

9 p.m.

They may not have the same level of local hype behind their name as headliners Phantom Tails, but that won't take long. The Minneapolis quartet Umami is a purveyor of a certain brand of messy psychedelic dance music. It’s a sonic assault of weirdo-funk with a liberal dose of synth fuzz to top it off. Dig in.

Saturday

The Oscar Nominated Short Films

Lagoon Cinema

1320 Lagoon Ave.

7 p.m. Animated, 9 p.m. Live Action

Most of us don't have the time, money or endurance to see all other Oscar-nominated films. But you can catch all of the short films — both animated and live-action — in a single night at the Lagoon. With a showcase of so many films, even the snobbiest film junkie will inevitably be satisfied with at least a handful of them.

CULTURE TO CONSUME

Listen to this: Mickey Murray, “People Are Together”

The fine folks at Minneapolis’ Secret Stash Records regularly reissue superb out-of-print records, giving once-lost music a second home. Their most recent offering is a soul gem from 1970 that was never given a fair shake in its day, as radio DJs feared losing their jobs because of the racially provocative lyrics. Thankfully, Secret Stash has brought these tunes back to life.

Eat this: Homemade Quesadillas

Need a good reason to face the day? In February, we all do. Stuff some beans, rice and cheese between a couple of tortillas in a frying pan. Try it late at night when you’ve given up all hope of finishing that essay. Together with your beverage of choice and a few reruns of “Seinfeld,” you’ve got yourself a reminder of just how sweet existence can be.

Read this: “Zen Habits”

Over the past half-decade, blogger Leo Babauta has kicked a smoking habit, run several marathons, gone vegan and ditched his car. His blog, ZenHabits.net, contains a wealth of simple ideas and philosophies that actually work. The idea is to decrease stress, enjoy each moment and be a happier person, one simple step at a time. Go to the “Start Here” page, and try reading just one article — you may find yourself a dedicated reader in no time.

Watch this: Hype Williams’s video for “Stupid Hoe” by Nicki Minaj

Williams’s “All of the Lights” video made the strongest case for pop music as high art since Michael Jackson, but “Stupid Hoe” is another beast entirely. The widely banned video combines the song’s relentless beat with strobing visuals that are equally bewitching and terrifying. The bizarre costumes and make-up put Minaj in the same realm as Lady Gaga. But unlike Gaga’s videos, there isn't any art-school brooding here — just one of the most basic and primal pop songs in recent memory. It’s stupid, no doubt, but stupid in the best possible way. (For the bass masochists out there: search for the chipmunk remix of the song. Dubstep sounds like Kenny G in comparison.)