Best Buy to host Geek Squad camp in Roseville

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Best Buy’s Geek Squad is to host an academy camp from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from July 17 to July 18 at Parkview Center School in Roseville.

The free two-day camp is for kids ages 10 to 18 and participants will have the opportunity to become “Junior Agents” by learning skills about coding, game design, photography, 3D Design and more.

The camp aims to help young people build self-confidence, creativity and learn how technology can benefit them, according to a statement by Best Buy.

To register visit web.cvent.com/event/9830fa1e-344e-4c51-b600-8d5f418edc46/websitePage:d7d0c02d-aaed-4297-9f83-4112b26b377e.

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Dragon Festival returning to St. Paul’s Lake Phalen this Saturday

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The Dragon Festival is returning to St. Paul’s Lake Phalen from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday — the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The festival, which celebrates Asian and Pacific cultures, features Dragon Boat racing in which teams propel ornate long boats across the lake. The history of dragon boat racing dates back 2,400 years ago as a time to commemorate the death of a poet, minister and counselor to the emperor during the Chu dynasty.

There’s also ethnic foods and a variety of cultural activities. A beer garden, a bean bag toss tournament and a fashion show are among the many new additions this year.

Varieties of food from different Asian countries will be available, jewelry and handmade arts and crafts from a variety of Asian backgrounds and ethnicity will be showcased, according to a spokesperson from Dragon Festival.

The aim of the festival is to foster trust and a sense of community among Asian-Pacific communities, enhance pride and honor Asian-Pacific history and culture, according to organizers.

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‘Dandelion’ review: KiKi Layne blooms as frustrated singer-songwriter in delicate film

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Anyone who has struggled to turn their art — the thing about which they are most passionate — into a career likely will relate to aspects of “Dandelion.”

While the largely charming and effective film’s titular figure is a young Black woman attempting to make it as a singer-songwriter, it is inspired largely by writer-director Nicole Riegel’s experience of trying to make it as a filmmaker.

She is most interested in exploring what it’s like to be the frustrated female artist, Riegel offering in her director’s statement: “I wanted to share how it feels to go through my artistic process in a world that quietly tells me each day that my voice does not matter. In a world and industry of male hero worship: men are mentors. Women, their muses. Men with strong visions are moody auteurs. Women with strong visions are stubborn nightmares. Men pick up guitars and film cameras. Women inspire and are filmed.”

Whereas Riegel is from small Jackson, in south-central Ohio, and a graduate of Wright State near Dayton, Dandelion (KiKi Layne) lives in Cincinnati, where she earns a few bucks playing three nights a week at a hotel bar. Bringing with her an electric guitar and its acoustic counterpart, she performs originals and covers such as Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy” to a small, ever-changing crowd that seemingly couldn’t care less. She attempts to hide how utterly deflating it all is, but her eyes tell the tale.

KiKi Layne portrays Dandelion, a struggling Cincinnati-based singer-songwriter, in “Dandelion.” (Courtesy of IFC Films)

Her scrolls through social media feeds add to her sadness, as musician peers have gone onto greater levels of success than she has, gathering scores of likes and loves on the daily. Dandelion has had to sacrifice to help care for her mother, Jean (Melanie Nicholls-King), who lives with a pulmonary condition that comes with high expenses.

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Dandelion’s breaking point comes when, upon arriving home earlier than expected, catches Jean smoking. The former hits the road, acoustic guitar in two, for a desperate stab at winning a battle of the bands at a bike week celebration in South Dakota — despite previously telling a bar employee that the contest would be for her only if she wanted to make music about drinking beer in her Silverado.

At the stage, following a well-received act, Dandelion bravely takes the mic but is treated disrespectfully by the largely white, male crowd — it’s bad enough BEFORE a man swipes her leather guitar case from the stage and runs off with it. She gives chase but to no avail.

Her apparent white knight, Scottish singer-songwriter Casey (Thomas Doherty) brings her the case before she can flee the scene. He takes an immediate interest in her and, eventually, convinces her to stick around.

She meets his musical pals and makes a little music with them, appearing to see musical possibilities she never had before.

Dandelion and Casey go off on his bike and write together, almost effortlessly turning a song of hers into something stronger as a duet and, sooner than later, giving into their mutual attraction. She is alive in a way we have never seen her — passionately and creatively.

Thomas Doherty’s Casey and KiKi Layne’s Dandelion make a connection in “Dandelion.” (Courtesy of IFC Films)

Quickly, though, comes the obligatory bickering, which is subsequently reflected in their songwriting. Seemingly, the full Fleetwood Mac-inization of their dynamic takes only hours.

You’d be forgiven for expecting “Dandelion” to be a music-fueled romance, at the end of the day an update of sorts of 2007’s “Once.” However, the free-and-easy times for Dandelion are few and far between.

More often than not a portrait of pain, the film never feels suffocating, thanks both to the assured direction of Riegel that boasts myriad nice touches. (Her 2020 debut, “Holler,” which also featured a young woman as its lead character, was well-received, so what we see here in her sophomore effort isn’t surprising.)

However, perhaps even more credit for “Dandelion” goes to “If Beale Street Could Talk” star and Cincinnati native Layne, whose credits also include “Native Son” and “The Old Guard.” In her hands, Dandelion is alternately hard-shelled and vulnerable, hateful and loving — a mix of relatable qualities that make her feel very real.n

On the other hand, the performance of Doherty (“The Invitation,” “Gossip Girl”) is uneven as the underwritten Casey, who swings a little wildly among dramatically different personality traits. That said, he has chemistry with Layne, which is paramount for the movie to work as well as it does.

Thomas Doherty portrays Scottish singer-songwriter Casey in “Dandelion.” (Courtesy of IFC Films)

It’s difficult to end a film like “Dandelion,” one interested in offering something more genuine than feel-good. Without going into much detail — other than to say the final moments may have you itching to visit Cincinnati’s oh-so-cool-looking Ghost Baby music venue — the climax of “Dandelion” is lovely but also feels unearned.

It stumbles at other times, too, but, in all, this is a film that deserves to be seen — and heard — thanks to all the talented artists involved in making it.

‘Dandelion’

Where: Theaters.

When: July 12.

Rated: R for sexuality/nudity and language.

Runtime: 1 hour, 53 minutes.

Stars (of four): 3.

 

 

 

3 summer cocktail recipes from cocktail influencer Julianna McIntosh

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When it comes to summer cocktails, seasonal and fruit-forward drinks are the move. Ask Julianna McIntosh, San Diego-based cocktail influencer and author of the forthcoming cocktail recipe book, “Pretty Simple Cocktails” (Clarkson Potter, $25). Here are three of her summer-inspired recipes, a trio that’s sure to help you stay cool and relaxed as you ride out the heat.

Fro-Secco Spritz

Get out the blender for this slushy drink that’s all about carefree vacation vibes, McIntosh writes. She blends in frozen mango chunks and orange segments rather than ice to keep the drink from becoming diluted. Note: Either use a large blender when mixing carbonated ingredients or add them at the end to prevent frothy overflow.

The recipe for this slushy fro-secco spritz drink can be found in “Pretty Simple Cocktails,” (Clarkson Potter, $25) a recipe book set to debut July 23. (Courtesy Lucianna McIntosh)

Makes 2 spritzes

INGREDIENTS

6 ounces prosecco (try La Marca prosecco)

5 ounces Aperol or Aperitivo Cappelletti

5 frozen orange segments (see tip below)

1 cup frozen mango chunks

1/2 cup crushed ice

4 ounces club soda

Fresh orange wheels, for garnish

Mint leaves, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, combine the prosecco, Aperol, frozen orange segments, frozen mango chunks, and ice and blend, slowly growing to a medium- high speed until smooth.

Divide between two stemless wine glasses (standard white wine glasses or rocks glasses also work) and stir in the club soda. Garnish each with a fresh orange wheel and fresh mint leaves and serve with a straw.

Tip: To freeze the orange, peel the orange and separate it into segments. Arrange the orange segments flat on a tray or plate, not touching one another, and place in the freezer until frozen solid. Once frozen, store in a zip-seal bag in the freezer.

Pretty Simple Cocktails by Julianna McIntosh, mixologist and cocktail blogger with the handle @join_jules, is set to debut July 23. (Courtesy Clarkson Potter)

Lemon Prosecco Pops

Make these ice pops ahead of your next summer party and serve either straight from the ice pop molds or inverted into glasses of prosecco, McIntosh suggests.

Makes 10 ice pops

Special tools: 10 (3-ounce) ice pop molds

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 cups water

2 cups prosecco, plus more for serving (try La Marca Prosecco)

Grated zest of 1 lemon

1/3 cup (or 2½ ounces) freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3 large lemons)

10 mint sprigs

DIRECTIONS

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and water and stir over medium heat until the sugar fully dissolves. Set aside at room temperature to allow the syrup to cool completely.

In a big mixing glass or pitcher, stir together the cooled syrup, prosecco, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Divide the mixture among ten 3-ounce ice pop molds. Place a mint sprig in each mold.

Freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid. Pop out and serve.

Tip: Don’t have ice pop molds? Freeze these in ice cube trays and use the resulting cubes to chill your next glass of prosecco.

Bourbon & Basil Smash

“Think of this as the mint julep’s sassy, summery cousin,” McIntosh writes.

Julianna McIntosh, author of “Pretty Simple Cocktails” (Clarkson Potter, $25), calls her bourbon and basil smash the “mint julep’s sassy, summery cousin.” (Courtesy Lucianna McIntosh)

Makes 1 cocktail

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces bourbon (try Four Roses)

3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 ounce basil simple syrup (see recipe and tip below)

Standard ice cubes, for shaking

Large ice cube, for serving

1 ounce ginger beer, such as Fever Tree, for topping

Basil sprig, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Put a rocks glass in the freezer to chill.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, lemon juice and basil syrup. Add ice, cover, and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Double-strain into the chilled rocks glass over a large ice cube. Top with the ginger beer. Place a fresh sprig of basil on top.

Herbaceous Syrups

Makes about 1½ cups (12 ounces)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup granulated sugar

Herb of choice: 8 medium basil leaves or 2 tablespoons food-grade dried lavender flowers (or fresh lavender blossoms) or 8 thyme sprigs or 5 rosemary sprigs

1 cup filtered water

DIRECTIONS

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, herb and water and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Reduce to a simmer to allow the flavors to infuse and simmer until the syrup is tinted slightly to reflect the color of the herb, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup, pressing against the herbs with the back of a silicone spatula to extract all the syrup. Funnel it into an airtight container or syrup bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Tip: Quick basil syrup on the go! If you’re low on basil simple syrup, add 1/2 ounce simple syrup plus 3 or 4 basil leaves right into your shaker instead.

— Courtesy Julianna McIntosh, “Pretty Simple Cocktails” (Clarkson Potter, $25)