Featured Events in Minneapolis in May, 2025 (May Updated)

Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour with Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell (on select dates)! The highly anticipated Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour in Minneapolis will take place at the U.S. Bank Stadium on 20 May 2025.

Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour with Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell (on select dates)! The highly anticipated Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour in Minneapolis will take place at the U.S. Bank Stadium on 20 May 2025.

Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour with Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell (on select dates)! The highly anticipated Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour in Minneapolis will take place at the U.S. Bank Stadium on 20 May 2025.

Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour with Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell (on select dates)! The highly anticipated Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour in Minneapolis will take place at the U.S. Bank Stadium on 20 May 2025.

Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour with Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell (on select dates)! The highly anticipated Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour in Minneapolis will take place at the U.S. Bank Stadium on 20 May 2025.

Join Milkweed Books and poet Michael Torres as welcome Steven Espada Dawson to launch his debut poetry collection, Late to the Search Party. Steven will read from his book and join in conversation around poetry, craft, belonging, and identity in the immigrant communities with Michael. There will be audience questions, book sales, and a signing to follow. ABOUT THE BOOK A raw, crystalline debut poetry collection exploring themes of family, addiction, belonging, and loss—a searching elegy of the fissures that have come to define contemporary American life. The unsettled border between absence and presence haunts this stunning collection, in which poet laureate Steven Espada Dawson contemplates belonging, identity, family, and grief in poems about his own half-immigrant Mexican American family: his dying mother who raised him, his addict brother who has been missing for more than a decade, and his absent father. Chronicled in four parts, shifting restlessly between childhood memories, the sudden disappearance of his brother, and the inevitable loss of his ailing mother, Late to the Search Party explores what it means to be a family of one—to be orphaned, whether by fate or by circumstance. In language that is both grounded and ethereal, Dawson tallies the losses and looks at what remains: the frustration and anger, the bewilderment and sadness—and the affection and humor that makes itself felt in spite of everything. A vivid and thoughtful meditation on love and loss, Late to the Search Party is an ode to the families that inspire and confound us all. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Steven Espada Dawson is from East Los Angeles. The son of a Mexican immigrant, he is a former Ruth Lilly Fellow and Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellow. His poems appear in many journals and have been anthologized in Best New Poets, Best of the Net, Pushcart Prize, and Sarabande’s Another Last Call: Poems on Addiction & Deliverance. He has taught creative writing at universities, libraries, and prisons across the country. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, where he serves as poet laureate. Michael Torres was born and brought up in Pomona, California where he spent his adolescence as a graffiti artist. His debut collection of poems, An Incomplete List of Names (Beacon Press, 2020) was selected by Roque Raquel Salas Rivera for the National Poetry Series and named one of NPR’s Books We Love, 2020. Currently he’s an Associate Professor in the MFA program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a teaching artist with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop. Visit him at: michaeltorreswriter.com Information Source: Milkweed Books | eventbrite

Join Karen Babine and Marya Hornbacher at Open Book for a reading and discussion of Karen’s forthcoming book, The Allure of Elsewhere . ABOUT THE BOOK One woman’s cross-country journey to explore the hold family history has on our lives, and the power of new stories to shape what lies ahead. In her mid-thirties and happily single, Karen Babine hitches up her tiny Scamp camper and sets out with her two unenthusiastic cats, Galway and Maeve, on a journey from her home in Minnesota to Nova Scotia to explore the place where her French-Acadian ancestors settled in North America some four centuries ago. As the miles roll by, she wonders: “Why do we carry this need to belong to an established history? What happens when that can’t—or shouldn’t—happen?” The road reveals more questions than answers about her history, identity, and belonging, about the responsibilities of stories and silence, about her life choices as a solo woman, and what it means to be driven by both a strong sense of kinship to a very close-knit family on one hand and a deep desire for independence on the other. Capturing the joy, freedom, and powerful pull of the open road, The Allure of Elsewhere is about the stories we’re told, the stories we tell, and the way those stories make us who we are, often in surprising ways. Intimate, curious, and candid, written with wry wit and warmth, this is a courageous and inspiring memoir. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Karen Babine is the two-time Minnesota Book Award–winning author of All the Wild Hungers: A Season of Cooking and Cancer and Water and What We Know: Following the Roots of a Northern Life and the editor of Assay: A Journal of Nonfiction Studies . She is currently an UC Foundation Associate Professor of English at the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga. Marya Hornbacher is an award-winning journalist and the New York Times bestselling author of five books. She has received the Annie Dillard Award for Nonfiction, the Logan Fellowship for Social Justice Journalism, the White Award for Magazine Journalism, the ASCAP Award for Music Journalism, the Fountain House Humanitarian Award, and other distinctions. Her work appears in publications including New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Crazyhorse, AGNI, Arts & Letters, Gulf Coast , and others. She is the creator of the the bestselling Substack "Going Solo at the End of the World," a multi-media report from the American road, and her sixth book, Solo, will be published by Grand Central/Hachette in early 2027. Information Source: Milkweed Editions | eventbrite

Explore Minnesota Twins v Cleveland Guardians sporting information for 21st May, as well as links for Baseball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Twins, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball. Ever since their establishment in 1901, the Twins have been a formidable force in the American League Central division. They have won three World Series championships, in 1924, 1987, and 1991, and have constantly been a strong competitor in the playoffs. The team has also produced many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers such as Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. The Twins play their home games at the Target Field, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of over 40,000 fans. With a rich history and a commitment to excellence, the Minnesota Twins continue to enthrall fans with their skilled players and competitive spirit on the field. The Cleveland Guardians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are members of the Central Division of the American League in Major League Baseball. The team was established in 1901 as the Cleveland Bluebirds and has since won two World Series titles, in 1920 and 1948. Their home games are played at Progressive Field, which has a capacity of over 35,000 seats. The Guardians have had some standout players throughout their history, including Hall of Famers such as Bob Feller, Larry Doby, and Jim Thome. They also hold the record for the most consecutive winning seasons in American League history, with 111 straight winning seasons from 1995 to 2005. With their talented roster and impressive track record, the Cleveland Guardians are a formidable team in the world of baseball. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Experience the enchanting melodies of The Music of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit & The Rings of Power at the prestigious Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. Scheduled for May 21, 2025, this highly anticipated event promises a captivating journey through the iconic soundtracks of these beloved fantasy adventures. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking compositions that have brought the realms of Middle-earth to life, performed live in a stunning venue located at 910 Hennepin Avenue, MN, 55403. Join fellow fans and music enthusiasts for an unforgettable evening of symphonic magic that pays homage to the timeless tales of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Experience the thrash metal madness at the D.R.I. 2025 Tour featuring Authors Of Fate in Minneapolis. The event will take place at the renowned Cabooze located at 917 Cedar Avenue, MN, 55404, on May 22, 2025. Get ready to witness an electrifying performance by these iconic bands in the heart of Minneapolis. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in an unforgettable night of headbanging and high-energy music. Mark your calendars and secure your tickets for a metal extravaganza like no other.

A coming-of-middle-age novel about an Ahkwesáhsne man's reluctant return home and what it takes to heal. Abe Jacobs is Kanien'kehá ka from Ahkwesáhsne--or, as white people say, a Mohawk Indian from the Saint Regis Tribe. At eighteen Abe left the reservation where he was raised and never looked back. Now forty-three, Abe is suffering from a rare disease--one his doctors in Miami believe will kill him. Running from his diagnosis and a failing marriage, Abe returns to the Rez, where he's convinced to undergo a healing at the hands of his Great Uncle Budge. But Budge--a wry recovered alcoholic prone to wearing punk t-shirts--isn't all that convincing. And Abe's time off the Rez has made him a thorough skeptic. To heal, Abe will undertake a revelatory journey, confronting the parts of himself he's hidden ever since he left home and learning to cultivate hope, even at his darkest hour. Delivered with crackling wit, Old School Indian is a striking exploration of the power and secrets of family, the capacity for healing and catharsis, and the ripple effects of history and culture. “With its profound exploration of identity, language, and cultural survival, Old School Indian is a novel of pure heart and mastery. Through the vivid and deeply human lives of a Mohawk family, Curtis weaves a narrative that is both urgent and timeless, drawing us into a world where every word, every action, carries the weight of history and the hope for the future.” - MORGAN TALTY, AUTHOR OF NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ AND FIRE EXIT “Old School Indian is an inspired novel by an author whose voice absolutely sizzles on the page. Aaron John Curtis has given us a moving story of self-discovery that journeys through the crucibles of sickness, history, identity, family, and loss—all told by one of the most inventive, funny, brash narrators you’ll ever find. A beautiful, dazzling debut.” - NATHAN HILL, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WELLNESS AND THE NIX “Aaron John Curtis gives us honest storytelling shaped by humor, sincerity, and heartbreak. His characters are drawn with strength from his Indigenous community and skillfully cured by tradition and hope. Old School Indian is a novel that reminds us of an essential truth: when one person heals the entire community can feel it.” - OSCAR HOKEAH, PEN/HEMINGWAY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF CALLING FOR A BLANKET DANCE Aaron John Curtis is an enrolled member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, which he’ll tell you is the white name for the American side of Akwesasne. Aaron has judged for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance prizes, the 2019 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, and the 2021 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Since 2004, Aaron has been Quartermaster at Books & Books, Miami’s largest independent bookstore. He lives in Miami. ​Mona Susan Poweris the author of four books of fiction, including The Grass Dancer (a National Bestseller awarded a PEN/Hemingway Prize), Roofwalker (a collection of stories and essays awarded the Milkweed National Fiction Prize), Sacred Wilderness (a novel which received the Electa Quinney Award), and A Council of Dolls (winner of the Minnesota Book Award and High Plains Book Award, longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize). She's a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She is also the recipient of several grants in support of her writing which include an Iowa Arts Fellowship, James Michener Fellowship, Radcliffe Bunting Institute Fellowship, Princeton Hodder Fellowship, USA Artists Fellowship, McKnight Fellowship, and Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Fellowship. Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous publications and anthologies including The Best American Short Stories series, The Atlantic Monthly, The Paris Review, The Missouri Review, Ploughshares, and Granta. Information Source: Birchbark Books and Native Arts | eventbrite

Experience an unforgettable evening with the legendary country music artist, Vince Gill, at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. The event is scheduled for May 22, 2025, at 910 Hennepin Avenue, MN, 55403. Don't miss this opportunity to witness Gill's timeless vocals and masterful guitar skills live on stage. Get your tickets now for An Evening with Vince Gill for a night of exceptional music and entertainment.

Youth Midnight Basketball Lock In Join us for our upcoming Midnight Basketball Lock-In event for youth in grades 8-12 ! This exciting night is all about connecting with young people to teach valuable life skills, both on and off the court, and providing a safe space to learn conflict resolution. Together, we’ll work toward our shared goal of ending gun violence in the community. This free event includes food and snacks, so come lace up your sneakers and get ready for a fun-filled night, from sundown to sunup! We can’t wait to see you there! Information Source: Don't Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops | eventbrite

Explore Minnesota Twins v Kansas City Royals sporting information for 23rd May, as well as links for Baseball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Twins, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball. Ever since their establishment in 1901, the Twins have been a formidable force in the American League Central division. They have won three World Series championships, in 1924, 1987, and 1991, and have constantly been a strong competitor in the playoffs. The team has also produced many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers such as Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. The Twins play their home games at the Target Field, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of over 40,000 fans. With a rich history and a commitment to excellence, the Minnesota Twins continue to enthrall fans with their skilled players and competitive spirit on the field. The Kansas City Royals, a professional baseball team that competes in the American League Central division, has a long and rich history in the world of MLB. Originally founded in 1969, the Royals have won two World Series championships in 1985 and 2015, as well as six AL Pennants and four division titles. The team plays their home games at Kauffman Stadium, which boasts a capacity of over 37,000 enthusiastic fans. The Royals have fielded many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers George Brett and Bret Saberhagen, and current stars such as Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield. With a dedicated fan base and a competitive track record, the Kansas City Royals continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of baseball. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Youth Midnight Basketball Lock InJoin us for our upcoming Midnight Basketball Lock-In event for youth in grades 8-12! This exciting night is all about connecting with young people to teach valuable life skills, both on and off the court, and providing a safe space to learn conflict resolution. Together, we’ll work toward our shared goal of ending gun violence in the community. This free event includes food and snacks, so come lace up your sneakers and get ready for a fun-filled night, from sundown to sunup! We can’t wait to see you there! Information Source: Don't Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops | eventbrite

Explore Minnesota Lynx v Connecticut Sun sporting information for 23rd May, as well as links for Basketball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Lynx are a professional women's basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and are members of the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Since their establishment in 1999, the Lynx have been a dominant force in the league, winning four WNBA Championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Led by star players such as Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, and Seimone Augustus, the team has also won multiple individual awards, including MVP and All-Star selections. The Lynx play their home games at the Target Center, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities and a capacity of over 19,000. With a dedicated fan base and a talented roster, the Minnesota Lynx continue to be a top contender in the WNBA. The Connecticut Sun is a professional women's basketball team located in Uncasville, Connecticut. The team competes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and is a member of the league's Eastern Conference. The Sun have been a consistent contender in the league since their establishment in 1996, making playoff appearances in 16 out of 23 seasons. Led by head coach Curt Miller and captain Alyssa Thomas, the team boasts a talented roster consisting of WNBA All-Stars Jonquel Jones and DeWanna Bonner. The Sun play their home games at the Mohegan Sun Arena, which has a seating capacity of over 9,000. In addition to their on-court success, the Connecticut Sun have also been recognized with numerous awards, including the WNBA's Most Improved Team in 2008 and the ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year in 2019. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

2 Chainz is set to perform live in concert at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on May 24, 2025. The venue is located at 910 Hennepin Avenue, MN, 55403. Fans can expect an unforgettable evening filled with the rapper's chart-topping hits and high-energy performance. Don't miss out on this opportunity to see one of hip-hop's biggest stars live on stage. Get your tickets now to secure your spot at the show.

Explore Minnesota Twins v Kansas City Royals sporting information for 24th May, as well as links for Baseball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Twins, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball. Ever since their establishment in 1901, the Twins have been a formidable force in the American League Central division. They have won three World Series championships, in 1924, 1987, and 1991, and have constantly been a strong competitor in the playoffs. The team has also produced many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers such as Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. The Twins play their home games at the Target Field, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of over 40,000 fans. With a rich history and a commitment to excellence, the Minnesota Twins continue to enthrall fans with their skilled players and competitive spirit on the field. The Kansas City Royals, a professional baseball team that competes in the American League Central division, has a long and rich history in the world of MLB. Originally founded in 1969, the Royals have won two World Series championships in 1985 and 2015, as well as six AL Pennants and four division titles. The team plays their home games at Kauffman Stadium, which boasts a capacity of over 37,000 enthusiastic fans. The Royals have fielded many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers George Brett and Bret Saberhagen, and current stars such as Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield. With a dedicated fan base and a competitive track record, the Kansas City Royals continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of baseball. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Explore Minnesota Twins v Kansas City Royals sporting information for 25th May, as well as links for Baseball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Twins, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball. Ever since their establishment in 1901, the Twins have been a formidable force in the American League Central division. They have won three World Series championships, in 1924, 1987, and 1991, and have constantly been a strong competitor in the playoffs. The team has also produced many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers such as Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. The Twins play their home games at the Target Field, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of over 40,000 fans. With a rich history and a commitment to excellence, the Minnesota Twins continue to enthrall fans with their skilled players and competitive spirit on the field. The Kansas City Royals, a professional baseball team that competes in the American League Central division, has a long and rich history in the world of MLB. Originally founded in 1969, the Royals have won two World Series championships in 1985 and 2015, as well as six AL Pennants and four division titles. The team plays their home games at Kauffman Stadium, which boasts a capacity of over 37,000 enthusiastic fans. The Royals have fielded many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers George Brett and Bret Saberhagen, and current stars such as Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield. With a dedicated fan base and a competitive track record, the Kansas City Royals continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of baseball. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Explore Minnesota Twins v Tampa Bay Rays sporting information for 26th May, as well as links for Baseball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Twins, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball. Ever since their establishment in 1901, the Twins have been a formidable force in the American League Central division. They have won three World Series championships, in 1924, 1987, and 1991, and have constantly been a strong competitor in the playoffs. The team has also produced many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers such as Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. The Twins play their home games at the Target Field, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of over 40,000 fans. With a rich history and a commitment to excellence, the Minnesota Twins continue to enthrall fans with their skilled players and competitive spirit on the field. The Tampa Bay Rays, founded in 1998, are a professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. They compete in the American League East division of Major League Baseball (MLB) and play their home games at Tropicana Field. The Rays have won one American League pennant and have made multiple playoff appearances, most recently in 2020. The team has produced several talented players, including Evan Longoria, David Price, and Blake Snell, all of whom have earned multiple All-Star selections and individual awards. The Rays have also been recognized for their strong pitching rotation and use of advanced analytics, earning them the nickname Rays of Light in the baseball community. With a dedicated fanbase and a history of success, the Tampa Bay Rays continue to be a competitive force in the MLB. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Explore Minnesota Lynx v Seattle Storm sporting information for 27th May, as well as links for Basketball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Lynx are a professional women's basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and are members of the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Since their establishment in 1999, the Lynx have been a dominant force in the league, winning four WNBA Championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Led by star players such as Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, and Seimone Augustus, the team has also won multiple individual awards, including MVP and All-Star selections. The Lynx play their home games at the Target Center, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities and a capacity of over 19,000. With a dedicated fan base and a talented roster, the Minnesota Lynx continue to be a top contender in the WNBA. The Seattle Storm is a professional women's basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2000, the team competes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and is currently a member of the Western Conference. Led by head coach and General Manager Dan Hughes, the Storm has won two WNBA championships in 2004 and 2010. The team has also won the Conference title four times and has made 16 playoff appearances in their 20-year history. Some notable players in the Storm's roster include point guard Sue Bird, power forward Breanna Stewart, and shooting guard Jewell Loyd. The team plays their home games at the Alaska Airlines Arena, which has a capacity of 9,000. The Storm has a loyal fan base and is considered one of the top teams in the WNBA. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Experience the mesmerizing melodies of Turnover as they celebrate 10 Years of Peripheral Vision at Fillmore Minneapolis presented by Affinity Plus in Minneapolis. The event will take place on May 27, 2025, at 525 5th Street North. Join fans in commemorating a decade of musical excellence in a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere. Turnover's unique sound and poignant lyrics are sure to captivate audiences, making this a concert not to be missed. Come and immerse yourself in an unforgettable evening of heartfelt performances and nostalgic tunes.

Explore Minnesota Twins v Tampa Bay Rays sporting information for 28th May, as well as links for Baseball tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Minnesota Twins, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball. Ever since their establishment in 1901, the Twins have been a formidable force in the American League American League0 division. They have won three World Series championships, in 1924, 1987, and 1991, and have constantly been a strong competitor in the playoffs. The team has also produced many talented players over the years, including Hall of Famers such as Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. The Twins play their home games at the Target Field, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of over 40,000 fans. With a rich history and a commitment to excellence, the Minnesota Twins continue to enthrall fans with their skilled players and competitive spirit on the field. The Tampa Bay Rays, founded in 1998, are a professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. They compete in the American League East division of Major League Baseball (MLB) and play their home games at Tropicana Field. The Rays have won one American League pennant and have made multiple playoff appearances, most recently in 2020. The team has produced several talented players, including Evan Longoria, David Price, and Blake Snell, all of whom have earned multiple All-Star selections and individual awards. The Rays have also been recognized for their strong pitching rotation and use of advanced analytics, earning them the nickname Rays of Light in the baseball community. With a dedicated fanbase and a history of success, the Tampa Bay Rays continue to be a competitive force in the MLB. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Experience a night of intense metal music in Minneapolis as RIVERS OF NIHIL, along with Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, and Glacial Tomb, take the stage at Cabooze on May 29, 2025. Located at 917 Cedar Avenue, this event promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent in the metal scene. Don't miss this opportunity to witness these powerhouse bands in action.

Join Milkweed Books and special guests, Sarah Ghazal Ali, Ryan Vine, and Michael Bazzett, as we launch and celebrate Matthew Nienow's newest collection of poetry, If Nothing, out with Alice James Books in January. ABOUT THE BOOK If Nothing confronts addiction, the learned behaviors and expectations of masculinity, fatherhood, and the feelings of guilt and shame, attempting to understand them better and in doing so, find redemption and forgiveness. The poems often call us to listen to ourselves closer and ask, how do we forgive ourselves? This is a book that wants readers to feel their feelings without shame or remorse. The tension between the physical and emotional, like the imagery of crafting with sharp tools in concert with the speaker’s inebriated state, is well-wrought and moves us to feel the precariousness and delicate nature of the speaker’s physical and emotional reality and the vulnerability exposed by the collision of the two. Earnest and vulnerable poems strive toward redemption, understanding, self-awareness, and the possibility of joy. The book feels almost like a second coming-of-age anthem, or one for the “real” coming of age–the one we all experience mid-life when things get real in a new way. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Matthew Nienow’s debut collection, House of Water, was published by Alice James Books in 2016. His poems have appeared in such venues as Gulf Coast, New England Review, Ploughshares, and Poetry. A former Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellow, he has also received fellowships and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Elizabeth George Foundation, Artist Trust, and 4Culture. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington with his wife and two sons, where he works as a mental health counselor. Sarah Ghazal Ali is the author of Theophanies (Alice James Books, 2024), winner of the GLCA New Writers Award and a finalist for the Kate Tufts Discovery Award and Minnesota Book Award.​​ Her work has appeared in The American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, the Academy of American Poets' Poem-a-Day series, and elsewhere. A Stadler and Kundiman Fellow, Sarah is the poetry editor for West Branch and an Assistant Professor of English at Macalester College. Michael Bazzett is the author of You Must Remember This, which received the 2014 Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry, The Interrogation, and most recently The Echo Chamber. He is also the translator of The Popol Vuh, the first English verse translation of the Mayan creation epic, which was named a New York Times Best Book of the Year. He is also the author of the chapbook Imaginary City (OW! Arts). His poems have appeared in numerous publications, including Ploughshares, The Sun, Massachusetts Review, Pleiades, and Best New Poets. A longtime faculty member at The Blake School, Bazzett has received the Bechtel Prize from Teachers & Writers Collaborative and is a 2017 National Endowment for the Arts Fellow. He lives in Minneapolis. Ryan Vine is the author of The Cave and To Keep Him Hidden, winner of the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award, and the chapbooks WARD and Distant Engines, winner of a Weldon Kees Award. His poems have appeared in the American Poetry Review, Ploughshares, The Southern Review, Poetry Daily, Verse Daily and on National Public Radio’s The Writer’s Almanac. His honors include the Greensboro Review’s Robert Watson Poetry Prize, grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, and a Walter E. Dakin Fellowship in Poetry from the Sewanee Writers' Conference. He is professor of English at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. Information Source: Milkweed Books | eventbrite

Please join us to celebrate the launch of Lucky Tomorrow: Stories, by Deborah Jiang-Stein, at the Children's Theatre Company, Bazinet Rehearsal Hall, 2400 3rd Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 6:30 PM. The author will be in conversation with Shá Cage. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Birchbark Books. For a Lucky Tomorrow Buy a Flower Today. Is it true? a prospective customer asks. About the luck? “Absolutely!” Felma says. Flowers, she knows, are all that’s anchored in this world, even if not for long, and like others in these luminous stories, Felma knows what it is to be rootless. In Lucky Tomorrow, Deborah Jiang-Stein presents an unforgettable cast of characters dreaming of redemption, purpose, and connection in a wounded yet beautiful world. A young girl stuck working at her family’s candy stand. A former priest trapped on a crowded train. A prisoner robbed of the book she’s been writing. A father haunted by his broken family. A woman confined to a psych ward. A reverend caring for her dying housemate. And Felma, a flower vendor, searching for the daughter she gave birth to while in prison, who was swiftly bundled away. Felma’s story leads us in, through, and around the others—a central beating heart for these lives on the fringes, where Jiang-Stein finds a singular, tenacious humanity. The stories in Lucky Tomorrow move through settings drawn from the path of the author’s own life: Seattle, where she grew up after being born in an Appalachian prison; Tokyo, where she once lived; the Twin Cities, where she currently resides; and the American South, where she travels for much of her advocacy work with women in prison. Pushing the boundaries of genre, Jiang-Stein delicately layers the stories of these outcasts, eccentrics, and visionaries, gathering them in from the shadows with remarkable empathy and candor, laying bare our shared sorrows and joys. Deborah Jiang-Stein is an award-winning writer, public speaker, collaborator, and author of the memoir Prison Baby. She is founder of the unPrison Project, working with and mentoring people in prisons to build life skills. Shá Cage is a renaissance artist who writes, acts, and directs. She has been called a change-maker and one of the leading artists of her generation. Her work has taken her across the U.S. to Japan, Africa, England, Bosnia, Canada, France, Sweden, Germany and more. She was seen last on stage in the one woman tour de force Re-Memori at Penumbra Theater and as Hermione in Ten Thousand Things Winter’s Tale and Lady Capulet in The Guthrie Theater’s Romeo and Juliet. She has led racial justice & equity work in community through Tru Ruts and Catalyst Arts for a combined 23 years, Film work through Black Star Studios, and artistic leadership with Full Circle Theater. She holds TCG, McKnight, Doris Duke, Emmy and Ivey awards and is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild, Actor’s Equity and SAG. She is writing her first book titled Art Changes Everything. More details: The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.Enter at the blue doors labeled Stage Door on the corner of 25th Street and 3rd Avenue, directly across from the parking ramp.We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Heather Skinner at presspr@umn.edu. Information Source: University of Minnesota Press | eventbrite