This week in Sioux Falls: Journey (the band), a shirtless comedian and TEDx for teens

SIOUX FALLS – The robots are coming for our jobs.

People are amazed and terrified about ChatGPT, an AI program that can answer questions and respond to prompts. It can write code, instantly craft a resume and write music in specific styles based on any parameter you can think of.

It can’t be long until it can accurately and compellingly respond to a prompt to “write a snarky 1,000-word story about what to know in Sioux Falls this week.”

So, to celebrate Journey performing in the city this week, we put Chat GPT to the test by asking it to “Write a song about living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to the tune of Don't Stop Believin’ by Journey.”

Just a small-town girl, living in the heartland
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the folks lend a hand
We may not have the big city lights
But our community spirit shines bright

From the Big Sioux River to the downtown scene
Our city's beauty is like nothing you've seen
We take pride in our work, but know how to unwind
In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we know how to find

Chorus:
Living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Where the skies are wide and the sunsets glow
We work hard and play even harder
Don't stop believing, our dreams will only grow

Hmmm… I guess our jobs are safe for now.

Take a look at what’s going on this week in Sioux Falls below. And as always, you can see a full schedule of events in the Sioux Falls Live calendar.

Journey on over to the Premier Center for classic rock concert

Pop quiz: How high did “Don’t Stop Believin’” chart on the Billboard Hot 100 after it was released in 1983?

The answer is No. 9.

One of the most popular and well-known songs of the 20th century didn’t even crack the top five when it was first released.

It’s hard to imagine a time when the song wasn’t as ubiquitous as it is now. And that’s because of two things: The Chicago White Sox used the song as an anthem of sorts for their 2005 World Series Run, and a couple years later, Tony Soprano played it in a diner to close out the controversial final scene of the popular TV series, “The Sopranos.”

Back when people downloaded music, “Don’t Stop Believin” became the most downloaded song that was released in the 20th century.

You’ll be able to hear that song – and many other hits from the 1970s and 1980s – when Journey performs with the band Toto at the Denny Sanford Premier Center on Friday, March 24.

The band doesn’t have the same lead singer as it did back in its heyday, but replacement Ariel Pineda sounds a lot like Steve Perry.

Toto, of course, has a major hit of its own in the song “Africa.” If attending a concert was ever worth just two songs alone, we can’t think of two better ones, but fans of classic rock will get plenty of other hits as well.

Tickets start at $42 plus fees.

Guy who doesn’t wear a shirt to perform in Sioux Falls

Bert Kreischer became famous in the 1990s for loving to party at college. He was in his sixth year at Florida State University when Rolling Stone wrote an article about his exploits. The story later became the basis for the 2002 “National Lampoon: Van Wilder” movie starring some guy named Ryan Reynolds.

Fast forward two decades, and Kreischer is a comedian who has had five specials – two on Showtime and three on Netflix – and who likes to take his shirt off. His most recent one, “Razzle Dazzle,” was released this month. He’s performing at the Denny Sanford Premier Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 23.

We asked ChatGPT to tell a joke about Sioux Falls in the style of Kreischer:

So I was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and I gotta say, I was surprised. I mean, I always thought South Dakota was just a bunch of cows and cornfields, but turns out they've got some real culture there. I went to this fancy art museum and I was checking out this painting of a cow, and I was like, "Wow, that's some real fine art there." And the museum curator looks at me and goes, "Actually, sir, that's a painting of a buffalo." And I was like, "Oh, my bad. I'm from Florida, we don't have those."

Find out how accurate that joke was at Kreischer’s performance. Tickets start at $36 plus fees.

Early Easter events at Empire Mall

It might not seem like Easter with all the snow on the ground, but we will persevere.

The Empire Mall is getting ready for Easter with several events for kids this weekend.

The mall will host the Eggstravaganza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25. Head to the center court for a bunny photo experience, crafts, coloring, games, snacks, beverages and more. Best of all, it’s free!

On Sunday, the Caring Bunny visits the Empire Mall for a sensory-friendly experience exclusively for children with special needs and their family from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Reservations are required at simon.com/caringbunny . Photos will be taken and available for purchase.

• For kids and kids at heart, the Multi-Cultural Center is hosting the Greater Sioux Falls Model Train Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. There will be several model train sets on display, and kids can earn an ‘engineers’ certificate by operating on a switching layout. Model trains will also be available for purchase. The cost is $5 per person. Children 12-and-under are free with a paid adult. 

Sioux Falls duck a finalist for Cadbury Bunny

We’ll find out this week if a Sioux Falls duck will be the 2023 Cadbury Bunny.

The delicious Easter creme egg treat opened its annual mascot contest to rescue animals this year. Teri Jo Olean adopted “Ping” the duck after it had been left in a box near a dumpster. Olean owns Smoken Dakota Kennels, and she received the duck from the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.

Other photo entries in the contest include a sheep, cat, dog, guinea pig and a chinchilla. The winner will be announced on March 21 .

Leaders of tomorrow presenting at Tedx event

Some of the brightest Sioux Falls high school students will share their ideas and visions for a better world during a Tedx Sioux Falls Youth event. All 15 of the speakers are students in the Sioux Falls School District.

Among the topics being discussed by the students: “Risking it all to stay connected,” “The expectation of happiness,” “Is our universe a line or a circle,” “The story and importance of mental health,” “The fear of failure is holding us back,” and “How safe are you really?”

The event starts at 7 p.m. Friday at Jefferson High School. Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for adults.