MINNESOTA SUR SEINE 2008   Jacky Molard,Gabriel Gonzalez, Francois Corneloup, Helene Labarriere, Jacky Martin, Miguel Linares, Tony Hymas Photo: Sergine Laloux
Watch clips of Boots Riley and The Coup performing at the 2008 Black Dog Block Party! "A hip space?" did he ask, "An open space!" she said. The Black Dog opened its doors in early 1998, didn't really get its name from the Indian chief, the Led Zeppelin song or the Jazz standard or maybe (and more likely) from the three at the same time. Originally, a little coffee bar and quickly--under good vibrations--a meeting place for ideas and good food. "Organic?" did he ask, "Organic and locally grown whenever possible," she said. The Black Dog is St Paul's central hub for food and drinks featuring the finest locally-roasted espresso and gourmet coffees, a select and creative wine list, favorite domestic and imported beers, French limonade, as well as creative pizzas to name few selections. The Black Dog features exhibits by a wide diversity of artists, locals and internationals such as cartoonist Andy Singer, Magnum photographer Guy Le Querrec, English portraitist Caroline Forbes, painters Joe Geshick and Takumba Aitken, and more. And yeah! At a time where not everything is audible and so many mouths are shut, the Black Dog has welcome poets, philosophers and have encouraged people who have something to say to do so, sometimes after a movie for debate. Music has also been a permanent resonance in the building, with the Black Dog being the headquarters of the international Minnesota sur Seine music festival (final jam sessions have certainly been memorable) as well as series of concerts involving musicians of different genres from be bop to hip hop. Musicians such as Boots Riley and The Coup, Tony Hymas, Jacky Molard, Aviette, Kill the Vultures, M.Anifest, JT Bates, Fat Kid Wednesdays, Evan Parker, Junkyard Empire, Pablo Cueco, Denis Colin, Didier Petit, Carnage, The Pines, Dean Magraw, Anthony Cox, Francois Corneloup, Dominique Pifarely, Helene Labarriere, Chris Thomson, Desdamona, Los Nativos, Brother Ali, B'net Houariyat, Happy Apple and many others have performed at the Black Dog, not to forget the Fantastic Merlins (truly fantastic) doing their Fantastic Friday music series. And famous French top reed player Michel Portal even named one of his tunes after the Black Dog in his best seller record "Minneapolis". "A family business?" did he ask. "Well, yes, Sara, Stacy and Andy Remke. Sometimes family does well, remember the Marx Brothers, the Pointers Sisters, the Steeles, The Nicolas Brothers or even the Warner Bothers" she said. "Euh ... Internet?" did he ask. "Wireless!" she said. "Okay then ! Ready for une tournee du Chien Noir"