Secrets of the City

Organized by the University’s Journalism School, the See Change Conference brings together people working in visual media to cross pollinate the idea pool. The conference kicked off Tuesday with most of the programming saved for Wednesday, including a closing reception at the Weisman Art Museum. The star of the show is undoubtedly art director George Lois. Think of all the landmark moments in design history and then photobomb a picture of Lois into all of them, because chances are he was there.

Xerox culture, the precursor to the now oh-so-stylish New York Magazine, scores of Esquire covers that got their own show at MoMA, the revamped MTV, even a Dylan music video are all credits to Lois’ toweringly significant name. He’s literally gone where no man has gone before in winning a lifetime achievement award from AIGA, getting inducted into both the Art Directors Hall of Fame and the One Club Creative Hall of Fame. In essence, he’s the original Mad Man. So go ahead, rub some elbows. 5:15 pm. Student registration $25. –LB

Weisman Art Museum, 333 E. River Pkwy., Mpls., 612-625-9494, weisman.umn.edu

At first glance, the Manix might sound like some male diet/anxiety pill responsible for the latest wild behavior on high school campuses. But at first listen, it’s clear these pop punk rockers mean business—fun, loud business. In pill form or not, we could easily see Manix’s music inspiring those raucous high school happenings that send responsible TV news consumers into a hot panic. Alert the media and concerned parents, because your kids are not safe. The four-person punk ensemble has produced any number of songs that would make suitable party anthems, such as “Midwest in Jest” or “What’s Myage Again.” Dance-able songs about hangovers incite an infectious energetic rage that no crowd can resist. Chicago band Like Bats will be joining the Manix to keep everyone on their feet.

Since punk dancing works up an appetite (or at least that’s always our experience with life in general), dig into the Triple Rock’s super awesome vegetarian wings and vegan sloppy joes. Did we mention vegan chili fries? Seriously, these guys make dreams come true. 8 p.m. $5. –LB

Triple Rock Social Club, 629 Cedar Ave., Mpls., 612-333-7399, triplerocksocialclub.com

Twin Cities Daily Planet arts editor,  man behind both the Tangential and Unreality House, and ubiquitous event attendee Jay Gabler has one of the longest introductions in town. Joining the greats who have gone before him in this season of Trylon Defenders, Gabler will be asked to select and defend a seemingly indefensible film. Since this man just wrote a 1,000+ word review of The Avengers, he should have no problem coming up with a sound and lengthy defense.

Gabler follows fashion journalist and l’etoile editor, Jahna Peloquin; and arts man-about-town and host of the monthly Salon Saloon, Andy Sturdevant. A strict adherent to his own blog’s tag line, “Don’t be boring. Don’t suck,” Gabler has a track record to suggest we will all be wildly entertained or at least treated to a sampling of the weirdest and most wonderful tweets of the past week. Since his job on the Tangential involves him turning mundane media mush into either LOL material or under-cover thought provoking prose, we have (reasonably) high expectations. 7 p.m. $8. –LB

Trylon microcinema, 3258 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls., 612-424-5468, take-up.org