Vita.mn Summer Guide tidbits by me

Vita.mn Summer Guide “Summer Rocks” is packed with ideas for keeping busy this season– i wrote up a couple. Check out the rest at www.vita.mn

Stone Arch Festival of the Arts (06/20–21)

Give Dad a day by the river for Father’s Day. More than 250 artists will set up shop along the Mississippi in Father Hennepin Park. A car show will boast more than 100 classic and modern cars. Four stages of eclectic entertainment will range from the classic elegance of Spaghetti Western String Co., Roma di Luna, Cafe Accordion Orchestra and Jenny Dalton to more indie sounds from the Wars of 1812 and Half Demon Doll. Keep your eye out for street magicians and the addicting kettle-corn stand. -Amber Schadewald

Twin Cities Pride weekend (06/26–28)

Photo by Jerry Holt

Iain St. James with his dog Jacque marched in the Pride parade last summer.

I’m gay, you’re gay and everyone in the Twin Cities during Pride might as well be gay too. It’s time to paint the town in rainbows and push boundaries in the most flamboyant ways possible. Check out the sea of Speedos floating down Hennepin Avenue downtown during the Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade (11 a.m. Sun.) and blow kisses to all your favorite queens. Walk through the nearly 400 vendors in the Pride Festival in Loring Park (10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.), filling your pockets with loads of free condoms, flyers and tootsie rolls. This year’s headlining Pride in Concert (5:30 p.m. Sat., $12-$15) stars Exposé, Kat DeLuna, Kristine W, Tori Fixx and Mara Levi — the usual mix of ’80s flashbacks, second-rate pop and exaggerated femininity. Downtown clubs host a multitude of GLBT parties all weekend, and Bryant-Lake Bowl starts early with its own Uptown Pride Block Party (6-10:30 p.m. Fri., free) with Tina Schlieske, Black Blondie, Sick of Sarah, drag kings, burlesque, rollergirls and break dancers. -Amber Schadewald

Bastille Day Celebration (07/12)

Photo by Jerry Holt

Aerialist Jim Domenick performed at last year’s Bastille Day in Uptown.

Be faux French for a day and play into all the stereotypes: berets, striped T-shirts and cigarettes. It’s only natural for Americans to be clueless about real French culture, but hey— at least we’re celebrating with Barbette’s annual Bastille Day block party. Music includes Brooklyn-based Frenchie band Les Sans Culottes and locals Halloween Alaska, Romantica, Sims, the Idle Hands, Yid Vicious and host Foxy Tann. Also: aerialist Jim Domenick, the North Star Roller Girls, a hula-hoop contest and skateboarding action. Oui, oui! -Amber Schadewald

Rattle My Bones Scooter Rally (08/13–16)

This scooter rally isn’t as badass as its name (taken from an old Suburbs song) would imply — it’s rather a chance for two-wheeled enthusiasts to meet, greet and ride. The weekend includes a cruise to historic sites, or you can just join the scoots at the 331 Club on Friday night for an evening of ska, garage pop and punk by the Spent 50’s, Umbrella Bed and Anonymus. Rides range from zoom-zoom to relaxed, big engines to small. Vendors, raffles and scooter secrets will help you rev your 125cc engine and keep you cruising with a dorky smile. -Amber Schadewald

Square Lake Film & Music Festival (08/15)

The eighth annual festival screens about 35 locally produced “cinematic treasures” all day in between local acts on a cozy outdoor stage, including Roma di Luna, Charlie Parr, Zebulon Pike and the Orange Mighty Trio. At dusk the films go up on the large outdoor screen for a bike-in movie experience worth your sweat. The festival also offers free camping, so make it an all-nighter. Anyone who bikes to the festival grounds gets a discounted ticket price, depending on distance traveled. Cyclists from the Twin Cities will meet up early Saturday morning and take the Gateway Bike Trail for the 18-mile journey. -Amber Schadewald