If you are looking for something queer to do this week and weekend, there’s no shortage of great events.

Starting Feb. 6, the Soap Factory is hosting, The Queer’s Book Of Journey: A User’s Guide For The Lost And Found

“The Queer’s Book Of Journey: A User’s Guide For The Lost And Found,” is a full stage metaphorical performance art journey of hardship and healing.

We find ourselves in a unique time:
Our older LGBT generation, grew up and lived most their lives under complete oppression. The younger generation, now coming into the world, will grow up under the most freedom we’ve ever had. The rest of us fall somewhere in between. We all still carry the emotional scars of oppression. Though these scars vary for each generation. These scars define us as a community, not our Community Sages. We’ve lost our Sages because of the A.I.D.S. epidemic, and the closet. We are just now discovering them. And they’re found as they’ve always been found; through our stories. Now is the time to share our stories.

Featured performers:
Venus DeMars, Kate Kunkel Bailey, Paul Canada, Evan Boyce, Taylor Dobson, Nikolas Martell, J Even LeFreak, Joe Ippolito, Robert Lee, Tanya Tobalyas Moore

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″] Event details:
The Soap Factory
514 Second St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414

February 6th – 8th
Performances take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 8:30pm (doors at 8pm). Performances are free, with donations gladly accepted.

To learn more, visit the event’s Facebook page or the Soap Factory website. [/sws_blue_box]

Patrick’s Cabaret has three events scheduled for this week.

The Calof Series and Scrawlex will be on Thursday evening, Feb. 6, at 7:30 and 9pm respectively.

Calof Series
Spoken Word/Storytelling Artists:
Tom Cassidy
Wanda Brown

Singer/Songwriters:
Phyllis Goldin
Lonesome Dan Kase

Joan Calof performed monologues and plays, and often sang at Red Eye Theatre, Cheap Theatre, The Playwrights’ Center, and Patrick’s Cabaret. She won several awards for her work, including a Loft Creative Nonfiction Award and a Playwrights’ Center Jones Commission. She was adventurous in her performances, her many travels, and in all her intellectual pursuits. When she passed away last winter she left a generous gift to Patrick’s Cabaret with instructions that it support programming and not be spent on a tribute. By naming this new series after her we’re able to do both.

Each evening will feature two spoken word/storytelling artists and two singer/songwriters to present works-in-progress to an audience that will be encouraged to offer feedback via dialogue with the performers.

Free parking in both of the Patrick’s Cabaret parking lots, and on Minnehaha Avenue and Snelling Street. And a special thank you goes out to our wonderful, community sponsors: MRAC, KFAI, and Peace Coffee!

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″]Event details:

February 6, 2014 from 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Free and open to the public [/sws_blue_box]

SCRAWLEX: AN UNCOMPROMISING, UNCENSORED OPEN STAGE
Thursday, February 6th 2014 (at about 9:30pm)
*Immediately following The Calof Series*
Free to the public!

Open wide and wail! Or dance around the concessions counter. Sing your art out! Unveil the unspoken. 10 minute slots; no advance sign-ups. No tech (or low tech) shows on our lobby stage. There will be an intermission so attendees can network about what’s going on with their art, at their venues, and maybe engender some collaborations. We hope to see you there and please help us spread the word!

*Scrawlex is a bastardization of “grawlix” – the word for scrawled scribbles indicating swearing in a comic character’s word balloon.

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″]Event details:
February 6, 2014 from 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Location: Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Free and open to the public [/sws_blue_box]

On Friday, Patrick’s Cabaret will present “Hibernation Dreams”

Featuring:
Josh Wise – Music
Andre Heuer – Storytelling
Lynn O’Brien & Akiko Ostlund – Music/Dance
Sara Kelly and Hip Hope – Dance
Claire Martin – Bellydance/Hip Hop
Talia Young & Ollie Schminkey – Spoken Word

The core programming at Patrick’s Cabaret consists of our Open Call Cabarets, each show generally consisting of six acts with a mix of experience levels and artistic disciplines. Each Cabaret is carefully curated to offer a diverse range of performances, while at the same time striving to maintain accessibility for the artists we target with our outreach. We put it all on stage – video, dance, performance art, comedy, spoken word – you name it, it happens here!

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″]Event details:
Friday, February 7th at 7:30pm
Location: Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
$10 at the door (cash or check only) [/sws_blue_box]

Starting Friday, the Imperial Court of Minnesota will host a series of events of interest to drag fans: Coronation XXII “An Imperial Ball at St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace”

Empress Burnadate Daniels and Regent Emperor Jeff invite you to celebrate Coronation 22 in beautiful downtown Minneapolis February 7, 8 & 9 – 2014. Known for our hospitality opening at noon on Friday, prime yourself for an incredible Out-of-Town show at The Saloon MN Friday night offering “two-for-ones” until 9pm.
Saturday hospitality opens at 9am until it’s time to get ready for Coronation 22 with doors opening at 6pm. And of course hospitality re-opens both nights until late with your ticket and / or wristband.
Sunday the Victory Brunch begins at 11am with a big welcome to the new Reign and a gracious bon voyage for all those that celebrated the weekend with us.
Advance discounted tickets are available on our website as listed below. We look forward to seeing you here!

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″]Event details:
Friday, February 7 at 12:00pm – Sunday, February 9 at 1:00pm

Location: Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis, 35 South 7th street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

For more information, visit the Imperial Court website. [/sws_blue_box]