Funk Commission - Chaired by the Undersecretary of Funk

Jazzy horns and groove ... quite the stimulus package. The Funk Commission returns to the HoDo Lounge for a night of uptempo contemporary jazz/funk ... too hot for C-Span! Come out and hear their report to the Council on Funky Relations. 8 p.m., no cover, 21+.

West Side Story at NDSU, Feb. 25 - Mar. 1

"I like the shores of America!
Comfort is yours in America!
Knobs on the doors in America,
Wall-to-wall floors in America!"

One of the most important American musicals hits the NDSU Festival Concert Hall stage on February 25th and runs through March 1st. The show is presented by NDSU's Little Country Theatre through the NDSU Division of Fine Arts. Tickets are $18 for adults. For more information or tickets, call 701-231-7969 or visit culturepulse.org.

Upcoming events

Here's a look ahead at upcoming events at the HoDo. If you have any questions, just give us a call at 701.478.1000. You can also see event info at our website or at our Facebook page.

Thursday, February 26th - The Funk Commission (jazz/funk groove) - 8 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Monday, March 2nd - Artist Reception and 50th Birthday Party for Jay Pfeifer - See Jay's new exhibit in the HoDo Restaurant. Appetizers and cake served. 5 p.m., open to the public


Thursday, March 5th - Jon Wayne and Friends & Fear and Loathing Costume party - Wear your Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas gear and check out the reggae sounds of Jon Wayne. 9 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Thursday, March 12th - Charlie Parr w/special guests The Johnson Family Band. $5 cover. 7:30 p.m., 21+.

Wednesday, March 18th - March's Third Wednesday Flavor of the Month - Five courses with beer pairings, plus a talk from local beer experts. Call 701.478.1000 for reservations.


Thursday, March 19th - The Legionnaires (country/jam). 8 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Thursday, March 26th - The Front Fenders (rock/dance). 7:30 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Thursday, April 2nd - Roster McCabe (reggae/rock). - 8 p.m., no cover, 21+.

Mike Marth, supersized

Check out this story in yesterday's Forum for a glimpse at Mike Marth's 43-foot (!) piece now hanging in Concordia College's Knutson Campus Center. And, if you can, see it in person. In the words of Darth Vader it is impressive, most impressive.

Mike is an art instructor at Concordia and a cool guy to boot. His work is featured at the Hotel Donaldson in room 13: click here for a look.

The Legionnaires Save the Day!

Two Many Banjos, our scheduled act for this evening, was a late scratch due to an illness in the band. We'll keep you posted on any rescheduling.

Filling in for tonight's Thursday goodness is the stalwart Legionnaires, who will once again give us the business end of their bluesy Dead/Allman licks and no-good-and-good-for-nothin' attitude. Tip one back tonight, 8 p.m., no cover.

February's Flavor of the Month - Tapas Night

Our Third Wednesday explorations continue tomorrow (Feb. 18) with Tapas Night. Tapas dining - a Spanish tradition - is perfect for those looking for a satisfying meal built along a variety of tastes. Our menu has a little of everything ... and begs to have a couple friends along to share. Call 701.478.1000 or click here for reservations.

.Menu.

Empanada - Braised Doubting Thomas pork with chili sauce - $8

Fritata - Doubting Thomas ham and gruyere - $8

Olives and almonds - Marinated olives and roasted spiced almonds - $7

Mussels - Steamed in white wine with herbs and butter - $8

Croquettes - Tuna filled with saffron aioli - $8

Mac & cheese - With bacon and peas - $8

Squid - Fried with red and green peppers and green mayonnaise - $9

A Rooster and a Cactus Walk Into a Bar...

Mike Holtz returns to the HoDo Lounge tomorrow for an evening of country/folk pop goodness. You may know Mike from his band Carmen the Cactus, an outfit that has plugged away at the Fargo/Moorhead music scene for some time delivering upbeat, acoustic-driven Americana. He'll be joined by Loy Larson of the Roosters.

The show begins at 9 p.m., no cover, 21+.

John Wheeler ... the Poet?

The forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of personality.

F-M weather guru John Wheeler will present a selection of his stories and essays on a topic we all know and love, the weather. The show, called "Environmental Muse - An Evening With John Wheeler," will probably be the most interesting conversation about weather you've ever heard. Admit it. You're curious.

The show will take place at the Spirit Room in downtown Fargo this Thursday, February 12th at 7:30 p.m. (Via Culture Pulse.)

Weekend Theatre

Two shows are opening in Fargo-Moorhead theatres this week, each offering a different look at the surprisingly robust theatre scene in town.

"The Pillowman" is presented by Theatre B. Written by Martin McDonagh (and nominated for a Tony Award in 2005) and brought to the stage by Brad Delzer, this "deeply unsettling and incredibly thought-provoking adult drama" is the first production of 2009 by Theatre B and will please those looking for a gritty dark comedy. Tickets are $15. The show opens on Thursday, February 5th and runs through the end of the month. Visit FM Culture Pulse for more info and tickets.

For fans of lively musicals, the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre will present "Sweet Charity," written by Neil Simon with songs by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields and directed by Scott Brusven. The play follows the exploits of the "gullible and guileless" Charity Hope Valentine as she seeks love among the dance halls and night clubs of New York City. Tender, poignant, and funny, this production is perfect for the Valentine's season. Tickets are $15. The show opens on Friday, February 5th and will run through the 15th. For more information or tickets, visit FM Culture Pulse or www.fmct.org.

Simonett and Young Play Music Together

From Simonett and Young's MySpace page:

Dave Simonett and Ryan Young play in a band called Trampled by Turtles. Ryan Young plays in a band called Pert Near Sandstone. When they aren’t playing in those bands, sometimes Dave and Ryan play music together.

There isn't really a much better way to put it. Simonett and Young's straightforward self description alludes both to their stripped-down setup (guitar and fiddle) and their no-frills approach to acoustic folk that could be construed as a breather from the rowdier stringband fare of their respective bands. Make no mistake, though: their hard-earned chops - and chemistry - still shine throughout.

If you're a fan of Trampled or Sandstone, be sure to make it down for this special evening with two guys who play music together. Thursday, February 5th at the HoDo Lounge, 9 p.m., no cover, 21+.

Valentine's Day Update

How about a carriage ride this Valentine's Day?

Dakota Carriage Company, in cooperation with the Fargo Downtowner, will be offering rides through downtown Fargo in a horse-drawn limousine on Saturday the 14th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The rides are $5/person and will leave from 1st Avenue North, in front of the HoDo Restaurant. They will last between 10-15 minutes.

For more information, contact Dakota Carriage at 701.347.4069. Have a nice ride!

Upcoming HoDo Events

For you long term planners out there:

*Thusday, Feb. 5 - Simonette and Young (of Trampled By Turtles) - bluegrass/folk in the HoDo Lounge - 9 p.m., no cover

*Friday, Feb. 6 - Readings from "I Bring You Dead Things" by author/MSUM faculty member Kevin Zepper in Stoker's in the Basement - 8 p.m.

*Thursday, Feb. 12 - Mike Holtz (of Carmen the Cactus) - folk/rock in the HoDo Lounge - 9 p.m., no cover.

*Saturday, Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day dinner in the HoDo Restaurant - five course prix fixe menu, $69/person - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call 701.478.1000 for reservations.

*Thursday, Feb. 19 - Two Many Banjos - Blugrass/country in the HoDo Lounge - 8:30 p.m., no cover.

*Thursday, March 12 - Charlie Parr - Blues/folk in the HoDo Lounge

*Thursday, March 19 - The Legionnaires - Country/jam in the HoDo Lounge - 8 p.m., no cover.