Item World: Local news and views

A popular waiter at private parties in Minneapolis’ lakes district, Jerry Beltt had never entered a cooking contest before his “Chicken Chile Verde” took first prize and the “people’s choice” award at the Northern Clay Center’s second annual chili cookoff last week. In a field of 21 competitors, Beltt’s entry got the attention of the professional judges (restaurateur Lynne Alpert; potters Bill Gossman and Mike Norman) and the crowd of 150 hungry nibblers. Beltt’s been tweaking the recipe for years, but at the last minute decided to add a Honeycrisp apple and to serve the chili over cumin-scented basmati rice. The changes put the recipe “over the top,” said Northern Clay director Emily Galusha. A delighted Beltt said he usually gives away his recipes, “but maybe I’ll save this one for a Betty Crocker Cook-Off, if they have a chili category.”

MARY ABBE

Peter Gabriel‘s first album in eight years is an all-covers orchestral collection, and one of the songs he picked was “Flume” by regional indie-rock star Bon Iver. The album (out Tuesday) includes such hip modern gems as the Arcade Fire‘s “My Body Is a Cage,” Radiohead‘s “Street Spirit” and the Magnetic Fields' “Book of Love” along with bona-fide classics including David Bowie‘s “Heroes,” Paul Simon‘s “The Boy in the Bubble” and the Kinks' “Waterloo Sunset.” That’s pretty good company for Mr. Iver (aka Justin Vernon), and it should be a pretty good payday in publishing money to help fund his new recording and performance facility in Eau Claire, Wis. You can hear a preview of the track on the Bon Iver site. Or you can download it for free if you sign up at Gabriel’s site.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

The Loft’s Literary Love Fest at Kieran’s Irish Pub in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening provided entertaining tales of love, both funny and sad. Readers included Antay Bilgutay (the Guthrie’s director of corporate and foundation giving), poets Jill Breckenridge, Carol Connolly and Heid Erdrich and copywriter/graphic designer/author C.M. Harris. I.W. especially enjoyed the ode to music-loving “Radio Girls” by KFAI’s Lynette Reini-Grandell, who brought crutches and husband Venus of All the Pretty Horses, who gallantly provided mike adjustments.

MARCI SCHMITT

As the obsession grows for Minneapolis MC Brother Ali, so does the selection of social-media devices with which he can satiate his fan base’s appetite for everything Ali. Formspring.me is a site that allows users to ask anonymous questions to a celebrity or individual, who can then choose which questions to answer, creating a continuing Q&A. Between giving advice about interfaith marriages and songwriting, Ali humors a few trivia Q’s, revealing his top five producers, and the worst advice he ever got: “She’s not gonna listen to you until you hit her. (Thank God I didn’t act on it).”

Slug took the stage in thick snow attire and a furry, floppy hat. Sage Francis came in a burly jumpsuit, while his rap partner B. Dolan wore a very non-indie-rap red flannel shirt. And Philly rapper Freeway didn’t arrive at all, because of the storms out East. Tuesday’s snowbound Rhymesayers Benefit for Haiti appeared worlds away from the devastated Caribbean nation, but the performers did a good job making the cause feel closer to home. I Self Devine told the sold-out crowd to “imagine if Minneapolis were flattened like that.” Sims of Doomtree urged, “Don’t forget Haiti after CNN stops talking about it.” Even the floppy-eared Slug -- who will take a break from working on the new Atmosphere album when his second son is born next month -- put a serious face on the $25,000-plus fundraiser when he boasted, “There are cities on the coasts that don’t have what we have going on here in this scene.” He wasn’t talking about the rappers’ wardrobe, either.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

A bevy of Twin Cities performers and celebs will take the stage at the Ordway in St. Paul Friday for an earthquake-relief benefit called “Heart for Haiti.” The cabaret-style event is to be hosted by Fox-9 news anchor Robyne Robinson and includes numbers by Linda Kelsey, Connie Kunkle, Christina Baldwin and Jennifer Baldwin Peden, Norah Long, Christiana Clark, Tod Peterson and Laurine Price, who starred in the Ordway’s recent “Beauty and the Beast” and is one of the organizers. Plus many more. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation: $30. 651-224-4222.

ROHAN PRESTON

The success of bicycle-inspired posters at last year’s Artcrank event sparked a group calling itself Chainduit Sculpture to bring out a collection of lamps, chandeliers and light fixtures. Made out of recycled and donated bike parts , the energy-efficient lights show both grit and wit. The north Minneapolis crafters (mainly metal sculptor Brandon Pampuch and electrician Vince Cofeen) will light up a gallery next month with their creations. Opening is 7 to 10 p.m. March 6 at Van Brabson Gallery, 3600 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., www.chain duitsculpture.com. Free bike parking outside. Bring your own lock.