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Brandon Mercado A ten-year Great Bear staffer gives the skinny on the local slope

February 2010 Vol. 2 Issue 2

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F S D I CLUBDAV 214 W

CONTENTS

2010

february

6 8

February Contributors Credits

Reviews and Recommendations 10

February Event Calendar

12

A Taste of Sarcasm: Sinful Things

14 Get Involved: Mall Walk 15

Beyond Borders: Book Reviews

16

Creative Writing

18

Profiles in Sound: The Sewer Rats, Trampled

By Turtles, Headlights, Harriet Tweed, and more

Life, Love and Laughter 22

COVER: Great Bear’s Brandon Mercado

26

He Said, She Said...

28 The Real Deal: Reza the Illusionist 29 Why Don’t Ya Do Somethin’?: Couples’ Massage

22

PARENTING SERIES: ASK THE EXPERTS AND YOUR PEERS

LIVE CHATS EVERY FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY LivingWellCommunity.com

Friday, Feb. 5 – Noon DISCIPLINE STYLES “What if we can’t agree?” When your kids act up and you see RED, it’s not the best time to start arguing over Jon Feiock, LCSW differing discipline strategies. Is it Behavioral Health even possible to discuss it without getting defensive? How have other couples worked out their discipline differences? It’s not just about your kids — it’s about your relationship. How can you work together as a parenting team, from toddlers to teens? Join us to discuss!

Friday, Feb. 19 – Noon SLEEP, INTERRUPTED “Help! My 2-year-old’s up every night!” Every parent expects some sleepless nights at first... but when will it end? What Dr. Andrew do you do if your little one won’t go Burchett Family Medicine to sleep, or gets you up in the middle of the night? If they fall asleep in the car on the way home from daycare, don’t they need a little nap? What time is “bedtime,” really?

Find answers here!

Friday, Feb. 12 – Noon POTTY TRAINING “What if we’ve tried it all?!” Most parents have faced the uphill battle of potty training.

And many find themselves looking for Dr. Kara tips, or having successfully trained a Bruning Pediatrics toddler, offering advice on what worked for them. Do you have advice for frustrated potty training parents? Do you wish you could ask other parents, or local experts, for helpful hints? Ask away!

Friday, Feb. 26 – Noon PANIC ATTACKS & ANXIETY “I’m their mom, but I feel so out of control...” Parenthood is tough, and with life’s constant pressures it’s no Dr. David W. wonder we panic once in awhile.

Bean Psychiatry But what if your anxiety is affecting your life? Are there things you can do every day to minimize your anxiety? What tips really work? And how do you know if you should ask for help? Ask your questions here!

LivingWellCommunity.com is an online community dedicated to regional health and wellness. The website connects you to local resources about nutrition, exercise, health care and more!

Sponsored by

38

30 The Scoop: Valentine’s Day History 32 Quiz: Are You a Good First Date?

34 Ask the Johns 36 V-Day for Singles

Fashion and Beauty

36

37 What’s Boss/Get Lost 38 Fashion: Date Night Looks

Fitness and Health

28

42 Healthy Affections: A Nutritious and Affordable Meal to Treat your Valentine 44 Homemade Soup

18 Poll of the Month

16

What is your favorite type of date?

The classic dinner and a movie.

I don’t go on dates. 5%

32%

Live Music.

Staying in. 8%

41%

An outing at the zoo or a museum.

8%

Check our official Web site for next month’s poll and be part of the next issue!

CONTRIBUTORS

605

Danielle Jaeger - Writer Danielle is 20 years old and grew up in Sioux Falls, SD. She is currently in her third year at MSU in Mankato, MN, pursuing a major in journalism with a minor in creative writing.

Danielle hopes to one day work as a columnist at a prestigious magazine or newspaper, write her own novel and travel as much as possible. In her spare time, Danielle enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, friends, family, and her four dogs. She also has a deep love and respect for cheerleading, dance, music, and art, as well as an unhealthy obsession with candy and gas station slushies.

Danielle gives details on this year’s Mall Walk.

Royce Larson - Writer Royce Larson is 25 years old and was born and raised in Sioux Falls. He is currently on break from furthering his education, but would like to be a psychologist someday when he grows up. When he is not recording, he is the volunteer coordinator at the Centers for Equality where he keeps the “queer eye on Sioux Falls” by furthering the community in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

Royce gets to know Reza the Illustionist for the Real Deal.

Sabina Mustic - Writer Sabina graduated from the University of South Dakota in May 2008 with a B.A. in English and German. She enjoys writing because it gives her satisfaction when she knows she worked hard and created something worth reading. Some of Sabina’s hobbies include reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and shopping. Sabina plans to attend graduate school sometime in the near future to get a Master’s degree in library science.

Sabina sets the menu for a healthy dinner for two.

Denise DePaolo - Writer Denise DePaolo lives in Sioux Falls with her husband, Tony. She will graduate from USD with a degree in English and History in December 2010. Her hobbies include food, wine, watching live music, reading, and traveling. She hopes to someday make a living as a writer while still residing in Sioux Falls.

Denise sits down with Great Bear’s Brandon Mercado.

Whitni Ciofalo - Writer Whitni is a senior chemistry and Spanish major at Bucknell University. She grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2006. In addition to time spent in the classroom, Whitni rides on her college equestrian team and writes for a progressive campus paper. Her favorite means of procrastination include rummaging through boxes of old vinyl records, playing fetch with her roommate’s new kitten, perfecting her hummus-making skills, and pretending to be a beer connoisseur. Her ideal weekend would be spent with all of life’s necessities packed on her back while taking a nice stroll into nature’s finer corners. Oh, and she is always down for a nice cup of tea and a thought provoking discussion on life, politics and human interactions.

Whitni shows how easy it is to make healthy soups at home.

Lucinda Albers - Graphic Designer Lucinda Albers graduated from South Dakota State University in December,2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. She currently lives in Chicago and works as a DJ at Fearless Radio, a contributing writer for Alternative Press, and a freelance graphic designer. A passionate supporter of music, she hopes to continue working with all forms of media to promote national and local artists.

Lucinda designs music pages 19-21.

Joanna Halverson - Writer A 20-year-old journalism major at Augustana College, JoAnna Halverson grew up in Sioux Falls.

She is passionate about bike riding, apples and poetry. When not delivering pizza or managing the office at her church, she can be spotted around the Sioux Falls bike trails on her turquoise mountain bike. In the future, JoAnna would enjoy a career in writing for entertainment or fashion.

Joanna gives you tips on what singles can do on Valentine’s Day.

Shawn Lykken - Illustrator Shawn Lykken is a graphic designer and illustrator based out of Sioux Falls, SD. Still looking for the perfect design job, he works independently with clients to produce personal and relevant material. With interests in art, music, and design he dips his toes in just about every medium.

Shawn gives killer illustrations on pages 30 and 36.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 7

605

Magazine

Publisher: The Mighty Bowtones, LLC Editor-in-Chief: Alana Bowden Director of Sales and Marketing: John Snyder Art Director: Adam Lichty Creative Writing Editor: Ryan Allen Cover Photo by: Reistroffer Design Photography: Candace Ann Photography and Reistroffer Design Mail correspondence to: 300 N. Cherapa Pl., Suite 504 Sioux Falls, SD 57103 For Advertising Inquiries Contact: John Snyder (605) 274-1999 sales@605magazine.com Check us out at: www.605magazine.com www.facebook.com/605magazine www.myspace.com/605magazine or www.twitter.com/605magazine 605 Magazine is printed monthly by The Mighty Bowtones, LLC in Sioux Falls and is distributed free all over the city. Š2009 605 Magazine. All rights reserved. Content in this magazine may not be copied in any way without written permission from the publisher. 605 Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Materials will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Content in articles, editorial material and advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by 605 Magazine. The Mighty Bowtones, LLC does not endorse or condone consuming alcohol under the age of 21.

605 Magazine is printed using acid and chlorine free vegetable ink.

Our paper is FSC certified and is made of no less than 10% post consumer waste recycled paper.

We print in Sioux Falls, to reduce shipping pollution and to keep jobs local.

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/(66 FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 9

EVENTS

february

2010

*

Your Past Comes Along monotype by Roger Boer

*

DOWNTOWN

*

Feb. 5 Downtown First Fridays Downtown Sioux Falls. 5 p.m. Enjoy exceptional shopping, original art, entertainment, dining and much, much more. Visit dtsf.com and click on the First Friday button to view the exciting things taking place. For more info call (605) 338-4009 or visit www.dtsf.com.

watches and cheers them on, ultimately determining the victor. That artist continues to move up the ranks until there is an ultimate showdown between the two favorites.

Every first and third Wednesday. For more info, visit www.clubdavidsf.com

Feb. 6

Feb. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 28

Singles Wine Tasting (3rd Annual WinterFest)

“On Golden Pond” by Ernest Thompson

Museum of Visual Materials. 7 p.m. Mingle while tasting 30 wines from around the world. Proceeds of wine tasting and silent auction to benefit the River of Hope Foundation in Sioux Falls. Live music by the Doc Walker Trio. Tickets are $30 advance, $40 at door. Sponsors: Selective Singles, Johnson Brothers Famous Brands, Sid’s Liquor, Avera Health, Sisson Printing. For more info or for tickets, call (605) 595-5800 or visit www.meetselectivesingles.com.

Feb. 16 Open Mic Poetry Night Horse Barn Arts Center. 7-9 p.m. Bring your journal or a favorite book and read your own poetry or from a favorite poet! For more info, call (605) 977-2002.

Feb. 19, 20, 21

* 30th Annual Artists of Plains Art Show & Sale

Holiday Inn City Center. Friday 5 p.m. | Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. This is a one-of-a-kind show featuring 25 of the area’s finest artists. It is a quality show with a variety of mediums showcasing the tremendous talent in our region.The mission of the show is to promote Northern Plains art and artists. On display are wildlife and landscape paintings; wood, stone, and bronze sculptures; Native American art; hand-crafted jewelry; and much more. This is the longest running art show and sale in the region.

For more info, call (605) 274-4007 or visit www.augie.edu/cws.

Feb. 23

Orpheum Theatre. Show times 8 p.m. Friday/Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. For the 48th year, love-birds Ethel and Norman Thayer return to their summer home on Golden Pond. When their divorced daughter and her fiancée leave his teenage son behind for the summer, the boy soon becomes the grandchild the Thayer’s have always longed for. Tickets are $15 and are on sale starting Feb. 1st. For more info, call (605) 360-4800 or visit www.mysect.org.

Feb. 13 Valentine’s Bash!

El Riad Shrine Center. 7:30 p.m. 13th Annual Valentine’s Bash! Featuring the fabulous Johnny Holm Band. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with Johnny hitting the stage at 9:00 p.m. This event has become a Sioux Falls tradition and is absolutely the best party in town! Reserved tables are $250 with regular tickets just $15.00. Tickets will be available at the Shrine Center and all Lewis Store outlets. Must be 21 to attend.

Fore more info, call (605) 336-1117 or visit www.elriad.com.

Feb. 19

*The Wedding Singer

Washington Pavilion. 8 p.m. The Wedding Singer is full of ‘80s inspired songs including “Casualty of Love,” “Saturday Night in the City” and “If I Told You,” which will make you wish your hair was a bit bigger and make you want to pop your collar.

Tickets are $38 and $28. For more info, call (605) 367-6000 or visit www.washingtonpavilion.org.

Watercolor Group Horse Barn Arts Center. 6 p.m. Bring paints and paper to join the fellowship of other watercolor painters. For more info, call (605) 977-2002.

ENTERTAINMENT Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 Meet Market Club David. 9 p.m. Replacing Groove Night, Meet Market is a singles night with games like “Wheel of Meet,” Postman and other mixer games. DJ JP will be spinning from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. Drink specials will be available. For more info and a list of all shows, visit www.clubdavidsf.com.

Feb. 25, 26, 27 The Fantasticks Edith Mortenson Main Theatre. The timeless musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones. Two teenagers on neighboring farms steal glances and hide their romance from their feuding fathers. Little do these love-birds know, however, that their fathers are actually good friends who’ve hatched a plan to get these two lovers down the aisle! But be careful what you wish for. Because to bring these families together... they must first be torn apart! Tickets $12, $8 student and senior. For more info, call (605) 274-5320 or visit www.augie.edu/dept/coth/theatre/main.html

GOOD CAUSE

Feb. 4, 18

Feb. 6

Battle For the Arts

Mall Walk

Club David. 9 p.m. Battle For The Arts is a way for art to become fun again. Artists are set up in bracketed tournament to go head to head. Each night of the tournament, two artists create large scale drawings armed only with a marker. The crowd

Empire Mall. 9 a.m. Now in its 16th year, this fundraising walkathon gathers families, friends and co-workers for a six mile walk in the comfort of the Empire Mall.

Proceeds are used to buy equipment, toys and special adapted items for the children.

10 REVIEWS I EVENTS

The 2010 Mall Walk promises to be bigger than ever with fantastic prizes and incentives for the walkers. For more info, call (605) 782-8500 or visit www.cchs.org

Feb. 13

Feb. 18

Nutty’s North. 9 p.m.

Trampled By Turtles with Cherry Vallance & Fly-Away Sparrow

Little Black Dress for MS Luncheon Arena/Convention Center. 11 a.m. The event will feature guest speaker Janice Baldes, founder of Bagolitas, a silent auction and a chance to gather with other women (and men) to create a world free of MS. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. and concludes around 1:00 p.m. Wear your favorite little black dress for show your support for those living with MS. Tickets are $35. For more info, call (605) 336-7017 or visit www.littleblackdressforMS.org.

Feb. 19

MISCELLANEOUS

Nightshield’s Debaucherous Birthday Bash

Backyard Tire Fire Rookies Sports and Music Theatre. 9 p.m. Free show. 21+

Feb. 25 Nutty’s North. 9 p.m.

Feb. 27 & 28 SDGA Golf Expo Sioux Falls Convention Center. Feb. 27 @ 9 a.m. – 6 p.m./Feb. 28 @ 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Highlights include equipment demonstrations, a $10,000 Putting Contest, Best Putter in South Dakota contest, golf simulators, including Longest Drive and Closest to the Green contests, Family Fun Zone, performance stage, driving range, putting green. Also, visit a large variety of exhibitors and national golf manufacturers.

Unique golf destinations, new equipment and products, vacation information and much more! Admission $7 for adults, $6 if purchased at Austad’s or On-line. Children admission is free. For more info, visit www.sdgagolfexpo.com.

SPORTS Feb. 4, 12, 13,

Feb. 27 Sinister Nutty’s North. 9 p.m.

Toki Wright with Omaur Bliss & Trey Lane Club David. 8 p.m.

Pert Near Sandstone with Burlap Wolf King & Tim Jewell and Friends Nutty’s North. 9 p.m.

Check out our complete calendar at 605magazine.com and e-mail events to contact@605magazine.com.

Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Sioux Falls Arena. 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 5, 6, 10, 19, 20 Sioux Falls Skyforce Sioux Falls Arena. 7 p.m. For more info, visit www.nba.com/dleague/siouxfalls.

MUSIC Due to space, here are only some of the biggest shows of the month. For more show listings, visit www.collectiveefforts.com, www.pepperentertainment.com, www.clubdavidsf.com, www.myspace.com/phoenixlougelive, or www.44downtown.com.

Feb. 2 Heatbox with Herbalyzah

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Wiley’s Tavern. 8 p.m. Fan appreciation night. Admission $5 in advance. 21+

Feb. 5 A Ghostwood Calm with Coltcockers & More Nutty’s North. 9 p.m.

Feb. 6 Evicted

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Phoenix Lounge. 8 p.m. Admission $7. 21+

*Harriet Tweed with Green’s Island Club David. 8 p.m.

Two Many Banjos with Jamie Lynn & the Aquila Band Latitude 44. 8:30 p.m. Admission $7 in advance. 21+

Foley with 23 Cent Solution Nutty’s North. 9 p.m.

Feb. 10 Pop Evil with AndRemote & Agony of Death Wiley’s Tavern. 7 p.m. Admission $12 in advance. 21+

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Damn Your Eyes with Worst of Times & Slow Motion Collapse Club David. 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 11

a

Taste

of

SARCASM: Sinful Things

T

with Dan Doyle

he sign outside said “Coming Soon: Sinful Things.” I mean, I knew that “adult boutiques” were getting more prevalent and seemed to be moving closer into the public eye, but I never thought I would see the day that a store such as this would rear its face onto Phillips Avenue…1 Anytime a new restaurant comes into downtown Sioux Falls, my spirits seem to perk up and the days seem a bit brighter. Needless to say, when I saw

breakfast and lunch restaurant – and a very good one at that. The desserts are simply the icing on the cake.4 Let me first state that Sinful Things is

the sign stating that a new dessert shop named Sinful Things was moving into the space previously occupied by John Adams Collectables at 120 S. Phillips Avenue, I was intrigued. Could a dessert shop make it downtown?2 Although the featured items in Sinful Things would most likely be considered the baked goods and desserts, for all intents and purposes3 this place is a

not your quick in-n-out sandwich place featuring hoagies the size of your head or greasy hamburgers. On the contrary, there is a good chance that if somebody named Jimbo or Bart walked into Sinful Things, they would walk out calling it a “sissified chick food place” with a “fancy shmancy eatin’ room.”5 For a breakfast and lunch establishment, Sinful Things is a very classy

12 REVIEWS I A TASTE OF SARCASM

place. For those of you who may have been into John Adams before it moved, you may remember how large it was.

The floor space goes very deep and the store has very high, old-fashioned ceilings. Despite the size, the restaurant is not empty and the space is used quite well. Many of the decorations are still that of an antique store and the hardwood floors and rich colors provide a warm and inviting environment.6 In addition, the front of the store acts as an art display for many local painters and craftsmen.7 The food at Sinful Things is very good and it brings a different flavor to the downtown lunch menu. Although it is a small menu, the regular items are high quality and flavorful. The regular sandwiches include warm classics like French dip and grilled cheese.8 These may sound like simple items, but when accompanied by the various soups offered, these simple sandwiches transform into flavor-filled conduits meant to displace your spoon. The hearty chili is a regular item and is well executed.

The other soups revolve on a daily basis. The soup that has impressed me the most is the beef burgundy. It featured a delicious burgundy wine sauce that incorporates beef meat and stock with loads of delicious mushrooms.9

For you dessert lovers, you will love Sinful Things. Not only do they offer a huge assortment of various cakes, bars, cookies, candies and other specialty treats for purchase, but they also provide a “sin of the day” after every meal – complimentary. I have had a ginger snap cookie, cream puff, candies and a chocolate mint cookie. On top of that, you can get a cup of the house coffee with your meal for free as well.10 Beyond the food and the décor, everything at Sinful Things is not all sunshine and roses. The service has some major flaws. Before I begin, let me state that the ladies on the staff at Sinful Things are incredibly kind people. That being said,11 it is clear that they are new to waiting tables.12 Let’s just say things move at a very “relaxed” pace. Nonetheless, it is still pretty easy to look past these flaws because the servers there are so damn nice and the food is worth the wait.

FINAL GRADE: Food: 4/5 Great soups with several interesting desserts to try.

Service: 2/5 If the staff weren’t such nice people this rating would be even lower. Keep orders straight and get the drinks/food to the table faster over lunch. This is an easy, but essential fix if this place is going to succeed.

Atmosphere: 5/5 Probably leaning towards the feminine side, but the rich and inviting feel is an excellent compliment to downtown Sioux Falls.

1

Get your head out of the gutter, Doyle! It is a restaurant and bakery.

This is compared to my blind judgment of Senor Weiner’s, which turned out better than expected.

3 Yes that is really the way you say it. No, it is not “for all intensive purposes.”

4 Cheesiest thing I have ever written…

5 Sorry to disappoint any rednecks. I am talking to you, intensive purposes guy. This might not be your place. This is an eating establishment, not an eatin’ place.

6 “Ok, that description was even a little fluffy for my liking.

7 For those of you looking for local art, the pieces are for sale. Personally, I will probably stick with my posters of a drunken John Belushi in Animal House and the giant Dark Side of the Moon album cover that I got at the huge poster sale nine years ago in undergrad…

8 Yes, I understand that nothing about those sandwiches seems new and exciting, but the magic is in the execution.

9 I don’t even really like mushrooms – but this soup converted me.

10 I don’t know about you, but dessert is never complete without coffee.

11 Thank you Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.

12 Service is very slow, and I can honestly say that I have never received my drink/food without the server either putting the wrong plate in front of the wrong person without comment or asking, “Now which one of you ordered this?”

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G e t I n v o l v e d !:

M a l l Wa l k

W

ith years of shopping experience, I’ve been influenced to think that mall walking was reserved strictly for elderly individuals looking to get their daily exercise without having to deal with the elements. However, after talking with a development associate from the Children’s Care Foundation this month, I was pleasantly surprised to find out just how wrong I’ve been.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 6th, the 2010 Mall Walk will take place in the Empire Mall at the heart of Sioux Falls.

The event will consist of aerobics, musical entertainment and a sixmile walk around the mall with participants choosing how many

miles they would like to walk.

“The event begins with aerobics and a fun start with the kids from Children’s Care,” said Jackie Knowlton, development associate for Children’s Care Foundation. “This year, we will have Phil Baker entertain the crowd, and he will certainly add excitement to the day.”

The 2010 Mall Walk is an important fundraising event to Children’s Care Hospital and School and the children they care for, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly towards fulfilling the children’s needs.

“The staff members at Children’s Care create a ‘Wish List’ and the Mall Walk proceeds help to fund those needs. Special therapy, state-of-the-art educational, audio and therapeutic equipment, and supplies are furnished off this list so Children’s Care can continue to provide the best services possible and help kids reach their fullest potential,” said Knowlton.

The Mall Walk began 16 years ago, hosting only 20 participants and has now grown to host over 1,000 participants there to walk for the health, development and happiness of the children of Children’s Care.

A group called Children’s Care Auxiliary, a volunteer group which supports the mission of Children’s Care Hospital and School, 14

REVIEWS I GET INVOLVED

By Danielle Jaeger Image courtesy of the Children’s Care Foundation presents the Mall Walk event every year.

“Watching the number of Mall Walk participants grow over the last 16 years has been very heartwarming to witness for me,” said Knowlton. “Friends and family gather in honor of a loved one, and each year their team gets bigger and bigger. The Mall Walk is contagious, and once you get involved, you are hooked.”

If it wasn’t for children in need, the Mall Walk event and organizations like Children’s Care Hospital and School would cease to exist.

Unfortunately, there are many children in need across the Midwest and all over the world. Serving 2,400 children annually, Children’s Care Hospital and School provides their services to South Dakota and surrounding states.

“Approximately 1,500 of these children are served from our Outreach centers in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, providing them with the services they need while living at home with their families,” said Knowlton. “For children better served in a residential setting, our facility in Sioux Falls provides a caring, supportive, home-like environment where they can learn and grow.”

Children’s Care Hospital and School has a staff of over 500 dedicated individuals which include teachers, social workers, nurses, a psychologist, a pediatric psychiatrist, childcare providers, physicians, and occupational, physical, speech, and music therapists.

Even with highly-trained, devoted staff members, every organization is in need of extra hands whenever they’re available.

“We love our volunteers,” said Knowlton. “Our volunteers provide the extra loving touch for our little ones when their families can’t be there – just by visiting, playing, swimming, cuddling, and many behind the scenes duties that help our staff make Children’s Care a great place.”

Worried that you don’t have what it takes to volunteer among the Children’s Care Hospital and School staff members and children?

Knowlton assures you that to be a volunteer there requires only that you have a caring heart.

This month, dodge the freezing temperatures outside and participate in a local, indoor event. Get ready to lace up your tennis shoes for the 16th annual Mall Walk - 30 laps to complete your six-mile journey! You’ll feel good about walking your way into the hearts of the children at Children’s Care Hospital and School.

For registration details and more information, visit www.chcs. org or call (605) 782-8500.

B

B E YO N D borders... with Mark Lloyd

M

ark Lloyd gets all the book perks working at Borders. Our perk?

We get the skinny about upcoming books ahead of everyone else.

A Christmas Carol with edge and grit Let me tell you about Rhonda. Rhonda just got beaten up pretty badly trying to save a hooker. So this hooker takes Rhonda back to her place to tend to the wounds and pay Rhonda back for saving her with a freebie.

Oh yeah, Rhonda is a man.

After the freebie, Rhonda wets this hooker’s bed. That can be a little embarrassing.

But for Rhonda, this bed-wetting goes way past embarrassing.

For Rhonda, this embarrassing incident makes him face his past,

is nice and caring towards Rhonda. She is everything his mother was not.

Rhonda is also meeting a girl named Handa. It rhymes with Rhonda, in case you weren’t confused enough. Anyway, she may actually like Rhonda and maybe represents a future for Rhonda after his Freudian trip.

The first thing that jumped out at me about this novel was its style. Mohr’s writing is edgy and gritty. His language is short and concise. Every paragraph moves the plot along. Every word is important to the story.

Overall, Some Things that Meant the World to Me is a very well done debut novel.

What to Watch for in February This guy named Ignatius Perrish had it all. He was rich and successful and had a beautiful wife. But his wife was raped and murdered, and he spiraled out of control. Then, after a night of hard drinking, he wakes up with horns growing out of his head. Maybe if trying to take the high road doesn’t help, letting the inner demon out and finding and killing his wife’s killers will do the trick.

Horns

Some Things that Meant the World to Me

By Joe Hill

By Joshua Mohr

because after the bed-wetting, Rhonda meets up with little Rhonda. Little Rhonda is Rhonda’s inner child.

And little Rhonda smokes cigarettes and curses like a sailor.

Little Rhonda makes Rhonda dive down into a dumpster. At the bottom of this dumpster, Rhonda can see glimpses of his childhood. It’s kind of like A Christmas Carol, but there are hookers and prison wine involved.

Anyway, Rhonda finally has to confront his past. His past includes a mother who drinks too much Chablis and disappears for weeks on end, and her boyfriend who only ever taught Rhonda one thing, and that is how to make a mean Bloody Maria.

But in between these meetings with little Rhonda where Rhonda has to see his childhood, he also is navigating through the real world of today. He’s meeting an older lady also named Rhonda. She

Without using any past connections or his education, Adam Shepherd sets out with a sleeping bag, the clothes on his back, and twenty-five bucks to see if the American dream is still alive.

Scratch Beginnings

By Adam Shepherd

REVIEWS I BEYOND BORDERS

15

605 eedited dited by

Ryan Allen Exciting is the New Awkward

By Matt Bauman

I

remember in sixth grade, a friend of mine invited some boys and girls over for a small hot tub party. Girls, swimsuits, skin—I had looked forward to the day all week, my pubescent butterflies flitting out of control.

She unraveled the towel from around her body. I sat in the hot tub with the dopiest eager look on my face. In front of me, a pink bikini. As she stepped into the hot tub, I couldn’t help but look. I wanted to look. Oh, was I aroused. And confused. Bursting out the sides of her bikini bottoms was a fuzzy Fourth of July display— lines shooting out, curling up, raining down. How could she have so much, I thought, and I so little? I was embarrassed and excited, and embarrassed again that I was excited below.

Guys, you’ve been there and you know to some degree what I’m talking about. But how would Pink Bikini Girl tell her side of the story? Did she not know about her rebellious pubic hair until her girlfriends told her afterwards? Or maybe she found out for the first time years later when her friends teased her at a junior high slumber party.

What I’m trying to say is that life is full of embarrassing details, awkward moments, uncomfortable silences, bottled anger, and eruptive joy.

This is life. It doesn’t change. Now at 32 and in my fifth year of graduate school where I study creative nonfiction, life continues to surprise me in fresh and exciting ways.

“Exciting,” I’ve decided, is the new word

I’m using in place of “awkward.” It seems we’re living in an age when young adults and adults alike are supposed to always know what to say, how to avoid faux pas, what information to reveal and what to conceal.

I choose “exciting” because I think back to grade school and junior high, how many hours it took to finally grab a girl’s hand, to lean in for a kiss. The hours—movie after movie—of building excitement. Your hand on your thigh, her hand on her thigh. It’s right there, go for it, you tell yourself. And you chicken out. A half hour later, full of newfound courage, you slide your hand in between each other’s thighs—the first exciting move. She follows suit. And suddenly you’re holding hands. But don’t look at each other! Pull

...life is full of embarrassing details, awkward moments, uncomfortable silences, bottled anger, and

ERUPTIVE JOY. the blanket up over your lap, because, you know…

Okay. So I’m single, mostly a serial monogamist, and I should be old enough to pick up on girls’ cues. But I’m not quite so savvy, and it makes for the most excitement of my otherwise mundane life of academia.

The other week, a girl-friend in tears called me. The electric company had shut off her power, she had pets that she feared would die in the cold, and she didn’t know who else to turn to. We had been on a couple platonic dates and had a history of mild flirtations. So I picked her and her animals up—she didn’t know where I lived—bought a bottle of wine, and we talked late into the night in my living room. She laughed when I was funny, looked me in the eye, put her legs up on my lap. I caressed the tops of her feet, glided my fingertips over the bare skin underneath her pant legs, looked at her cleavage when she bent over. We were both performing our roles to perfection.

When it got late, I offered her the couch, an inflatable mattress, or, with a stupid smirk on my face, one half of my queen bed. I

To find out how to submit your work, visit the official 605 blog at 605magazine.com.

16 REVIEWS I FICTION

disappeared into the bathroom to brush my teeth; she took her dog outside one more time, her choice lingering in the quiet night. As I lay in bed, proud of my thoughtfulness to have a spare toothbrush â&#x20AC;&#x153;just in case,â&#x20AC;? she did her evening ritual in the bathroom. She exited, and I waited to hear her footfalls enter the bedroom. Step by

WE â&#x20AC;&#x2122;R E

ALL

ADULTS,

A N D W E â&#x20AC;&#x2122;R E A L L S O C I A L IDIOTS AT TIMES. Adulthood is knowing how to confront our ineptitude, how to laugh at our embarrassments, how to accept our insecurities. assured step, she came and slid into the covers on the other side of the bed. We talked longer, her brown doey eyes staring across the pillows into mine. She looked down at her dog between our feet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we should just get this out of the way,â&#x20AC;? I said leaning in two inches from her face. I waited a cinematic moment, for her eyes to say yes, for her mouth to move halfway to mine.

But she turned abruptly away.

Normally this would be a point of awkwardness. There we were in bed together, the excitement heightened and subsequently crushed. The silence of a dark room.

I laughed a little out my nose. She laughed quietly through, I could tell, a smile. I said goodnight and turned my back to her. She said goodnight and did the same.

We met for a couple glasses of wine a few days later, talked about her ex-boyfriend, guys and girls in general. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was your eyes,â&#x20AC;? I said, practically interrupting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What do you mean?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The other night. You have bedroom eyes. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re inviting.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still doing it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know,â&#x20AC;? she said and laughed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help it. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the first to suddenly be in for a kiss. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the way they are.â&#x20AC;?

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all adults, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all social idiots at times. Adulthood is knowing how to confront our ineptitude, how to laugh at our embarrassments, how to accept our insecurities. I call awkward â&#x20AC;&#x153;excitingâ&#x20AC;? because I love the challenge of making fun of myself and others through compassionate humor, undeniable honesty, and friendly banter.

For me, the excitement of sixth grade is as present now as it was twenty years agoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the thrill of my thigh grazing her thigh under the table, fingers reaching out for each other, long deep eye-contact inviting a brave move for a first kiss. Or, as it may be, another exciting rejection.

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Matt Bauman is a native of Rapid City, SD. He graduated from Black Hills State University in Spearfish and the University of South Dakota. Currently, he attends the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID, and is pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 17

A L B U M re v i e w

The Sewer Rats **** (out of five) Save Yourself

Local Blues/Rock duo mix grit with grace

By Roman Black efore the last decade shut it’s door, local blues rock ‘n’

B

rollers THE SEWER RATS dropped the dynamite album “Save Yourself” that will suffice all who are cool for years

to come. The duo are brothers in blood and rock.

Dan and Mike Nissen are their names and they just want to rock ‘n’ roll rolling. Influenced by the gritty grace of Tom Waits and the deep, but very different, blues sounds of Robert Johnson and Canned Heat, the Nissens’ sound can rival any major label group all day long.

The opening cut “If I Care” brings

forth images of a crazy, yet fun carnival where burdens are few but heavy. If you have not heard this band yet, let me suggest track five, “Drunkard’s Blues.” The sound is precise, and the blues laden grooves and words dare to be resisted.

The echoing sizzle that is the title track leaves you hopeful for the future with lines like “I will never tell you why, I will meet you in the sky.” The closing track “When the Reaper Comes” slowly clanks along like any finale should by asking “what and why” when at death’s dark door.

All these songs are stories told through solid lyrics. The overall impact of this record should be a proud one for the Sioux Falls scene.

------------> Brothers Mike and Dan Nissen make up the Sewer Rats.

Image courtesy of Elizabeth McGreevy.

18 REVIEWS I PROFILES IN SOUND

22 LIFE I COVER STORY

Unlike most mo individuals facing a brutal South Dakota winter, Brandon Mercado embraces the change of seasons. This is the time of the year Mercado gets to return to one his favorite pastt times: skiin ng and managing the rental area at Great Bear. For 100 years, a mode dest ski slope outside of Sioux Falls has provided an n annual highlilight ight for Merca Mercado caado during the dreary dreary, y, cold months.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 23

hen the temperature drops ps aand nd snowflakes begin to fall, manyy o off us instinctively retreat to ind indoor do or amusements. For Brandon Mercado, ercaa d o , however, this climatic shift means thatt iit’s t ’s time to head for the chalet. This 27-year-old ear-- o l d works full-time in the detail shop at Vern Ve r n Eide, but for five months out of the he yyear ear his domain is the rental area at Great Bear, at B e a r, which he spends his evenings managing. ingg .

Mercado is in his tenth season working at the ski area. ea. H Hee sa said aid d that the people are what keep him coming back year afterr yyear. eaar.

Aside from the colorful and entertaining clientele, Mercado rcado o gi give gives vess ve his coworkers credit for making Great Bear fun for him, m, “Every“E Eve very ryybody’s really nice. It’s a cool place to hang out—very relaxed. axed..”

Mercado said that the abundance of high school and colleg college ge ki kids dss who work there every year keep it fresh and interesting. Abou About ut ha half alff of the staff returns each season, while the other half turns ns over ove verr due du ue to college and other obligations. face fa cees Particularly on weekdays, Mercado sees a lot of the samee faces ing regular reg egul ular ar over and over, citing the location as ample for attracting n weekdays weeekd kday ayys skiers and snowboarders. Great Bear opens at 3 p.m. on rk crowds. crow owds ds.. ds in order to accommodate the after school and after work Greeatt Mercado said most ski areas close in the late afternoon,, butt Great week ek.. On Bear sends people up the lift until 9:45 every night of thee week. o gett more moree Saturdays and Sundays they open at 9 a.m. and tend to people in from out of town, including families who makee Great Grea Gr eaat Bear part of their weekend in the city.

Born in Louisiana, Mercado is an “army brat” whose hosee famfam-ily moved around quite a bit before settling in Brandon on 122 years yyea ears rs ago. This background of diverse climates has certainly attributed attriibu bute teed to Mercado’s interest in all outdoor activities—especially baseball ly bas aseb ebal alll al and jet skiing—but it could also be the reason that he shiess away awaay from plunging temperatures, “I love snow and I love skiing, kiing, but but I don’t love it when it’s extremely cold out. I’m kind of a fair-weather air-weeat athe heer skier.”

Mercado had no previous experience on skis before landi landing ing h his iss job at Great Bear, but despite being a late bloomer, he has pa particiart rtic iccipated in many competitions held at the ski area over thee yea years. ars rs.. Hee admitted that while often placing in competitions, he rarely arelyy w win wins. in ns.

Mercado points to a skier in his age group named Josh Kobern Kobernusz, rnus usz, z, as a big reason, “He used to teach in California—how to sk ski ki ra rail rails ilss and things like that—but he got injured and moved back. k. He’ss st stil still illl a really great skier, though.”

Mercado also looked at some of Great Bear’s younger skiers with h awe, explaining that many of their high school-aged regulars egulars are not afraid to try anything when there is a Rail Jam or race or Bi Big Air competition. While he enthusiastically joins in, Mercado takes a mature approach, “I’m 27 and I don’t want to break anything, but I still have fun.”

This attitude is one that has no doubt been honed after years of filling out accident reports for every person injured on rental equipment. He said the most common injuries are shoulder and wrist damage acquired by beginning snowboarders, but that they are usually minor. They have seen a few more serious incidents, though, like fractured pelvises or an occasional seizure. However, 24 LIFE I COVER STORY

Merc Me rcad ado o asserts asse as sert rtss th hat tthe h y ha he h ve a ggre reat at SSki ki P atro at roll,l, m mos ostt off w who h m ho Mercado that they have great Patrol, most whom wo ork iin n th thee me medi dica call fiel eld. d. work medical This is the first in many seasons, according to Mercado, where Great Bear has not had to make much snow. One common misconception is that when there is less naturally occurring snow in the area, Great Bear does not have snow either. He explained that the park typically maintains the same approximate snow-base, whether it is natural or manmade. After a heavy snowfall, he says people show up in droves, because they tend to gauge by what they can see from their windows.

According to Mercado, the best part of the season is the very end, because that is when Great Bear hosts its annual Snirt (com-

bin bination bin nati na tion on of of “snow” “sno “s now” w” and and “dirt”) ““di dirt rt”) ”) Fest.

Fes F est. t. It It is their the heir ir way way of of celebrating cele ce lebr brat atin ingg another an not othe ther h r se seas season ason on p pas passing assi sing ing aand nd dw welcoming elco el lcomi ming ing spring. spr prin i g Th ing.

Thiis is ev even event entt is i ttypiypiyp i cally callyy held he d during dur urin ingg the the second seco se cond nd weekend wee eeke kend nd o off Ma Marc March rch h an and d ea each ch yyear earr it h ea has a as a diff different d eren er entt theme. them th eme. e. A Alt Although ltho houg ugh h th thee theme them th emee fo forr Sn Snir Snirt irtt Fe Fest st 2201 2010 0100 (t (ten (tentaenta ta-tively tivvve ti vely ly scheduled ssch ched ch edul ed uled ul ed for for March Mar M arch ar ch 6th) 66th th)) has th has ye yyett to b bee ch chos chosen, osen os en,, it w en wil will illl be a lot il lot

and a pond-skimming and pond po nd-s -ski kimm mmin ingg co comp competition mpet etit itio ion n wh wher wherein erei ein n pa part participants rtic icip ipan ants ts sski ki d dow downownn-hill hi l and ll and d then tthe hen h n try try to skim ski kim m across acro ac ross ss the he water wat ater er of of a pond pond dug dug specifi spe p ci cifi fi-cally for the th he event. The pond skimming contest is, of course, the perennial favorite amongst Snirt Fest’s participants. Mercado said the best part is watching all of the spills made when skiers do not quite make it, including one incident where a skier did not realize immediately that his pants had come off in the water.

As far as skiing goes, Mercado has few aspirations, “I’m not trying to be in the X Games or anything, because the time for that has passed.”

He does enjoy the freedom found on a pair of skis, however, and plans to continue as long as he has fun. Mercado looks at Great Bear’s Adult Race League as a good way to stay active without taking the sport too seriously. Some participants go on to compete in more prestigious races elsewhere, but Mercado admires them merely for the fact that they come out each Wednesday and enjoy themselves, “It’s really just an excuse to hang out with your buddies and have fun.”

Although he does not participate in the weekly races right now, Mercado is not ruling it out for the future. As far as his tenure at Great Bear goes, Mercado sees no end in sight, “I really love working here and plan to be here for a long, long time.”

Upcoming events at Great Bear: of fun indication.

2009’s theme “Mardi Gras” fun if if the the past past iiss an anyy in indi dica cati tion on.. 20 2009 09’s’s tthe heme me w was as ““Ma Mard rdii Gr Gras as”” Formal air.

Mercado and an d 2008’s 2008 20 08’ss was was ““A A Fo Form rmal al Aff Aff ffai r”” M erca er cado do said sai aid d it was was ccool ooll to ssee oo e ee people racing down the hill in tuxes.

Aside from the standard downhill race, Snirt Fest features a wide variety of challenges including a costume contest, a fire hose race

Feb 6th: Hot 104.7 FM Big Air Bash Feb 7th: Sun N Fun Rail Jam Feb 21st: Howalt McDowell Ski/Snowboard Races March 6th: Snirt Fest presented by Eagle Build Designs For more information including rates visit www.greatbearpark.com.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 25

He Said, She Said...

IT

’s all about the he said,

she said bull… you get it. Lady Tove and Sir Mammenga are here to cut the middle man and give straight-up answers for relationships from a male and female perspective.

I don’t believe in Valentine’s Day. It’s a joke. Considering that I have a girlfriend, how do I kindly inform her of my feelings about the “holiday”?

T: Well, I suppose it depends on your girl’s expectation with what the Day of Love brings, and it depends on your relationship.

For some people (yes, women, too), Valentine’s Day really is just a bunch of horse bologna. For others, however, it is a day meant to celebrate love and commitment (and other pukey things).

If you and your gal have just started dating, talking about Valentine’s Day is better suited for sooner rather than later. If you wait until V-Day to tell her you hate it and didn’t do anything for her, you may have to endure the wrath of Kahn (trust me, it’s as ugly as it sounds).On the other hand, if you start talking about it now, she won’t be as apt to murder you with her piercing eyes

Image by Candace Ann Photography

spend a gross holiday. (No offense to those to who love it). But really, the bottom line is to try to appease both parties; failing to do so may result in more than just one day alone.

M: Well, let me tell you my friend, Valentine’s Day is no joke. Although I will concede that it is a capitalistic, made up “holiday.” Women view it as a day to show them

you can get through this without giving in to the “social norms” of Valentine’s Day. It’s time to get original. Do something that is special to both of you as a couple. In my experience, women love this approach.

It means that you are putting thought into a night with your special someone. This way you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg or anything like that. She will love you for being original and you haven’t really given

If you wait until V-Day to tell her you hate it and didn’t do anything for her, you may have to endure the wrath of Kahn (trust me, it’s as ugly as it sounds).On the other hand, if you start talking about it now, she won’t be as apt to murder you with her piercing eyes and terrifying silence. and terrifying silence.

If your gal is all about V-Day, then I think your best bet is to make a compromise: you’ll take her out to eat if she’ll watch your favorite man-movie with you. If your gal really doesn’t care, then I guess you’re in the clear.

Personally, I’m not really into the whole V-Day thing, so my man and I spent last year’s watching horror movies and drinking a few beers. To me, that is the ideal way to 26 LIFE I HE SAID, SHE SAID...

how much you love them. OK, now that we’ve established that, you really can’t bring up that you as a couple will not be celebrating Valentine’s Day. You need discuss how you can get through Valentine’s Day. It’s time to sacrifice your pride to make your girlfriend happy. I don’t know why you don’t believe in it, but I’m willing to bet it is based on some principle about you not conforming to society or something.

Throw that out the window. There are ways

in to the “traditional” Valentine’s Day tradition. It’s not going to kill you to give your girlfriend this one day.

Cook her dinner and rent a movie. Go for a romantic walk. I realize it’s February, but the winter landscape can be very romantic. Also, since it’s cold it instigates closeness. Ice skating is also a good idea.

No matter what you decide, I would like to warn against the idea of “explaining” to her that you don’t “believe” in Valentine’s

Day. I can not stress enough how you should not do that. But, like I always say, you’re a grown-ass man. You can make your own decisions.

I just got over a breakup with a long-term boyfriend. I’m ready to mingle now, so how do I get back into the dating world after an extended absence?

T: First, I think there is a misunderstanding about dating: just because you’ve been out of it for a while, doesn’t mean it’s going to be hard to get back in.

Now that you’ve had a serious man friend and things didn’t work out, you’re more equipped to recognize what you want and what you don’t want in a serious partner.

This information will be key when selecting a proper mate and when deciding whom to date casually.

To get started, however, it is imperative that you put yourself in social situations more often. If you’re the type of gal that likes to stay in on Friday nights, hanging out at the local bar may not be the best place to check out the local talent.

My suggestion is to find a place in which you’re comfortable and to frequent that place once or twice a week. When you snag a new man at this locale, it is more than likely the two of you will automatically have something in common.

To get your game face on, the most important thing to keep in mind is to just be yourself. All too often people go out dressed to “impress” when they really don’t feel comfortable in what they’re wearing.

Honestly, the best thing to do is to be comfortable in your own skin, put a smile on your face (at appropriate times: a permasmile can be just as scary as no smile ever), and enjoy yourself. By doing this, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll be making small talk and scheduling a coffee date with the cute boy across the room.

M: Well, the good thing about this whole situation is that you are a woman. This leads us to the old conversation of whether it is easier for a man or woman to pick up the opposite sex. I’ve had this conversation a number of times, and the answer usually depends on whether you are talking to a man or woman. Being a guy, I can tell you unequivocally that it is much easier for a woman to get back in the dating scene than it is for a man.

Allow me to explain. Women have held a certain power over men since the dawn

of time. Women can be very intimidating, especially a woman a man views as a poten-

guy can do to go up and talk to a woman.

My advice, be open to the prospect of

Women have held a certain power over men since the dawn of time. Women can be very intimidating, especially a woman a man views as a potential prospect. Even a man that has complete confidence can easily be intimidated by a pretty lady. tial prospect. Even a man that has complete confidence can easily be intimidated by a pretty lady.

Now women, let’s be honest. We all know you realize you have this power. The problem comes when you lord it over men. As a woman, I recommend that you be open to meeting new and different men. You just got out of a long term relationship, so maybe look for a different type of guy. I’m not saying you need to lower your standards, but it can be the most intimidating thing a

a different kind of guy. After all, Penny from “The Big Bang Theory” gave Leonard a chance. Let me wish you good luck. This can be a tough time, but you’ll do fine.

Have a question for Tove and Mammenga?

E-mail HeSaidSheSaid@605magazine.com

F a c e b o o k P o l l : How do you get back in the dating scene after a long absence?

“Just jump in feet first. Be yourself completely and don’t play all of your cards in one hand.”

“Take it slow. Don’t force “Go to Bucks.” anything, and don’t expect for it to feel natural right away. Relax, and everything will work out.”

- Allen Brandt

- Jamie Bulian

- Matt Lamb

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 27

the

REAL deal: the

by royce m. larson Hometown: Brookings, SD Age: 27 Specialty: Illusionist

I

n the tiny hamlet of Brookings, SD, there lives a local celebrity named Reza the Illusionist, a magician and entrepreneur. To his adoring fans, he has the flash and panache like a rock star.

“My shows have a very theatrical feel. The viewer’s experience takes them on a journey equipped with lights, dancers and a wide range of music,” said Reza.

Reza’s shows, which are very much like those you would see in a Las Vegas setting, are filled with an incredible sense of wonder.

The illusionist accomplishes this by incorporating different types of media and pop culture references.

Reza’s own iPod, filled with popular music and movie soundtracks, is what he uses to brainstorm ideas for his shows. This same music, which starts in the beginning g g stages, g follows through g

Image courtesy of Sky Line Entertainment with h rehearsals h l and d usually ll finds d its way to the h finall performance. f “I really enjoyed working on Masters of Magic, which was a large tour started in New York City and was produced by Michael Fiur, a well-known Broadway producer. The high point of the tour was working with David Blaine, who has been a hero of mine since I was young,” said Reza.

Don’t let his iconic image and fanfare fool you. Reza is very much a hometown magician. He was raised in Brookings and still 28

LIFE I THE REAL DEAL

hy Image courtesy of Surreal Photograp has many connections ha as ma m ny ffamily ny amil am ilyy co il conn nnec nn ecti ec tion ti onss in on in tthe h area. The town is also where Reza calls home and where he has his Illusion Warehouse, which is not onlyy a creative headquarters, but a giant warehouse that holds eequipment and pieces for large productions and also works as a rehearsal studio equipped with a stage. w Reza keeps a staff of 10 people, which he says act as a large and very close family.

“The people around here are great. The seasons play a huge role in our touring schedule, but when we p aare here it is such a chill lifestyle. I also would not be where I am today without my family. They helped me w buy some of my first tricks. My family has never let me b give g up on my dreams,” said Reza.

As far as Reza’s actual performances are concerned, there t th are many things he says he shoots for: The audience’s d reaction, the hypnotic stage antics, and the choice c of illusion seen on stage. The lights and the misdirection m that captivates us as the viewer is all Reza’s z brainchild. The most impressive part about Reza’s aapproach to all of this is by taking a big bite out of humble pie. h “Magic goes back centuries; it is the second oldest art a form. My shows are not cliché. In my productions there are no pulling of things from hats and no cutth th ting i girls i l in i half. h I try to make magic an escape from the ordinary. I want to make magic ‘cool’ again,” the illusionist said.

To see Reza’s tour schedule or to book him, visit magicreza.com, and if you really want to see what he can do, search YouTube for clips of “Reza the Illusionist” for a number of illusions, including a card trick with a switchblade…check it out!

?

Ya Do

Why Don’t

Somethin’

Couples’ Massage

Story and Images by Alana Bowden

I

n between work and whatever obstacles come next, some forget a small gesture in life that can make a difference: Touch. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Avera McKennan Fitness Center is introducing an Introductory Interactive Couples Massage. Rather than simply enjoying a massage next to your partner, you can learn how to massage them so you can take the experience home.

Massage Instructor Rose Paz has each couple pick two problem areas to focus on and has them take turns on the massage table to demonstrate and practice. The session runs an hour with each individual getting 30 minutes, spending 15 minutes on each problem area. Paz teaches three techniques for each area so it is easy to remember and gives it a continual flow.

Masseuse Rose Paz (right) observes Patty Kulvik (left) working on Rabine’s problem areas.

Another important focus is on pressure. According to Paz, “Some days you need more pressure than others.”

Paz said she wanted to do this ever since she graduated from the South Dakota School of Massage because she could finally explain to her fiancé how to massage her. “It was so great as a couple to share that,” Paz recalled.

Darren Rabine attempts to relieve I had the pleasure of tension from his fiancee’s neck. sitting in on a session with Darren Rabine, 23, and his fiancée Patty Kulvik, 32. The couple had done a test trial of the experience earlier in the week and showed me what they learned.

Rabine went first and Kulvik explained her old technique was to have him lay on the ground and she would use her fingertips to ease his backaches. It never lasted long, though, because Kulvik said her back would end up hurting. “This way is so much easier,” Kulvik said.

Paz said this is a great experience, especially for those who have never had a professional massage. This way the couple knows how it feels and what to look for. Kulvik learned things she never knew about massages, like rubbing the palm of your foot relieves lower back pain.

You can make your own home feel like a massage experience once you have learned the techniques. Paz advised to either use the edge of the bed or to place a soft mat on your dining room table for the perfect height. Have lotion on hand (baby oil lotion works best) and soothing music always helps set the mood as well. Paz prefers Native American flute music from Prairie Star downtown, but yyou can also YouTube anything for a Sessions are $50 variety. plus tax. Not just for One thing is for sure: Alcouples, friends can ways have water on hand for after the massage. “It is imsign up as well. portant to hydrate because you are lifting a lot of toxins when you get a massage,” said Paz. Getting massages are important because they help with flexibility and exfoliating. According to Paz they are also good physically and emotionally for you. “We’re always busy [going] out the door and need to take the time to touch,” Paz said.

So this Valentine’s Day, spice it up and take the massage home with you.

LIFE I WHY DON’T YA DO SOMETHIN’ 29

The e

: Valentine’s Day’s Other Traditions

By Brittany Hansen Illustration By Shawn Lykken

ypically, we associate Valentine’s Day with red roses, chocolates and cherubs—not with sacrificial animals, lashings, executions and mobsters. However, throughout history, Valentine’s Day has held a variety of meanings and traditions—some of them making “Single’s Awareness Day” sound tame.

Lupercalia Lupercalia is believed by some to have a connection with the Greek festival of the Arcadian Lykaia (from a Greek word meaning “wolf ”) and the worship of Pan, the Greek version of Faunus, the god of shepherds. This festival was celebrated on the anniversary of the founding of his temple on February 15th and was called the Lupercalia. His priests wore goatskin loincloths, and Roman participants who ran through the streets in loincloths, striking young women (and sometimes crops) with strips of animal skin, carried on this tradition. This tradition was said to bring fertility and ease of delivery.

The Lupercalia festival was also held in honor of Lupa, the shewolf who nursed the infant orphans, Romulus and Remus, who founded Rome. The celebration was held near the cave of Lupercal where Rome was founded to purify the city and welcome spring.

In October of 2007, archeologists discovered a very ornamented cave 50 feet below Augustus’ palace, which many believe to be the Lupercal cave.

The Luperci, brothers of the wolf, carried out the ceremonies, priests of Faunus dressed only in a goatskin loincloth. The festival began with the sacrifice of two male goats and a dog. Afterward, two young Luperci were led to the altar and anointed on their foreheads with the sacrificial blood. A feast followed, after which the Luperci cut strips of skin from the animals, dressed themselves in the skins of the sacrificed goats and ran around the city striking the people they met. Young women would gather to receive lashes from these whips to ensure fertility, prevent sterility and ease childbirth.

The play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare begins during the festival, with the traditional lashing. Caesar tells Marc Antony to strike his wife, Calpurnia, with these whips in the hope that she will be able to bear a child.

St. Valentine Several early Christian martyrs were named Valentine, and it is difficult to attribute Saint Valentine’s Day to just one man. The Valentines allegedly connected to Valentine’s Day are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Valentine of Terni was a bishop of Interamna (now known as Terni) around AD 197, is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor Auerlian and is buried on the Via Flaminia. Valentine of Rome was a priest who suffered martyrdom about AD 269 and was also buried on the Via 30 LIFE I THE SCOOP

Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Terni.

No romantic symbolism is present in the original biographies of either of these martyrs. Distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were utterly lost by the time a Saint Valentine became linked to love sometime in the fourteenth century According to one medieval legend, Valentine was persecuted as a Christian by Roman Emperor Claudius II for practicing paganism.

Valentine tried to convert Claudius to Christianity and because of this, he was executed, but not before healing the blind daughter of his persecutor.

Other legends portray Saint Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to the same Roman Emperor Claudius II ordering that young men remain single in order to be stronger soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly married young couples, and when Claudius discovered this, he had Valentine arrested, jailed and executed. An addition to this legend, potentially invented by the American greeting card industry, claims that on the evening before Valentine was executed, he wrote the first “valentine” addressed to the jailer’s daughter signed, “From your Valentine.”

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Parlement of Foules The first documented connection between Valentine’s Day and romance comes from Geoffrey Chaucer’s epic poem “Parlement of Foules,” writing: For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make Chaucer wrote “Parlement of Foules” in honor of the first anniversary of ment of King Richard II the engagement nd Anne of Bohemia. of England and They signed marriage a treaty May 2, 1381 and were married about eight months later.

Many havee assumed that Chaucer was referring to Februaryy 14th as Valentine’ss Day; however, February is a doubtful ubtful time for birdss to be breeding in England. Some scholcholars have noted oted May 2nd is the he saints’ day ay for Valentinee of Genoa, a bishop shop who died around AD 307.

Court of Love ve One legend nd suggests that a “court of love” was established in Paris is on Valentine’s Day in 1400 to deal eal with matters of the heart, vows, infidelity and violence against women. men. These reportedly made

up of anywhere from 10 to 70 women who would hear a case and make a decision based on poetry. There is no documented evidence of this, however, and these “courts” were likely social gatherings where women read poetry and love letters.

Duke of Orleans Legend suggests that while imprisoned in the Tower of London, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent the first known Valentine card to his wife in 1415. This letter is now on display at the British Museum in London.

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1600-1601) mentions Valentine’s Day: To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine.

Then up he rose, and donn’d his clothes, And dupp’d the chamber-door; Let in the maid, that out a maid Never departed more.

—William Shakespeare , Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5 The Young Man’s Valentine Writer and the Greeting Card Industry In 1797, The Young Man’s Valentine Writer was published in England containing suggested poems and phrases for the poetically challenged. Printers began producing a small number of cookie-cutter “valentines” and a reduction in postal rates increased the practice of mailing valentines while decreasing their personalization along with the mass produced valentines. The reduction in postal rates, however, made it more feasible to send anonymous love letters and valentines, and is quite possibly the explanation for the sudden appearance of provocative verse in an otherwise Puritan society.

Valentines became popular in England in the 1800s and began to be manufactured widely in England. Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts created the first mass-produced valentines in the U.S. and began selling them shortly after 1847. Howland borrowed the idea from an English valentine she had received and convinced her father, who owned a book and stationery store, to begin producing them in the U.S. The Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual “Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary” since 2001. According to the American Greeting Card Association, about one billion valentines are worldwide annually, and about 25 percent of the cards sent are “valentines,” making the day the second largest card-sending day, after Christmas.

The Young Man’s Valentine Writer and the Greeting Card Industry On February 14, 1929, Al Capone and his mob shot a rival gang and their associates. Reinhardt H. Schwimmer, John May and five members of the Bugs Moran gang were lined up and executed in the garage of the SMC Cartage Company in Chicago’s North Side. Capone was conveniently vacationing in Florida at the time. The intention of the St. Valentine’s Massacre was to exterminate the Polish-Irish Bugs Moran.

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Are You A Good First Date?

1

You go out on your first date, you wear: a. whatever you would on an everyday basis. b. something a dressier than the norm to try to impress them a little. c. something flashy to grab their attention.

When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a first date, you:

a. only tip them what they deserve, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re even thinking about being the one paying the bill. b. let them know how they are doing. If they are doing a bad job, they should know about it. c. treat them with the utmost respect.

a. try to have at least one cocktail before the date and a few during it to loosen your nerves. Hiccups are adorable, right? b. follow their lead, and if they have an alcoholic beverage you might have one or two as well. c. limit yourself to one drink if any.

ANSWERS 1.) a. 1 b. 0 c. 2, 2.) a. 2 b. 1 c. 0, 3.) a. 2 b. 1 c. 0, 4.) a. 0 b. 1 c. 2, 5.) a. 1 b. 0 c. 2

3

2

When it comes to servers, you:

4

When it comes to conversation, you: a. like to take turns talking and listening. b. usually listen the majority of the time because you love to get to know people more than talking about yourself. c. love telling your date everything about you and ask your date a lot of questions, like when can you meet their parents.

5 Red Flag.

7-10 points All signs are pointing for your date to for the hills and never look back.

Dressing over-the-top and getting drunk on your first date is not charming. Also, never act needy and tell your date your life story. It will terrify them.

After the date, you: a. call your date from the car to see how they thought it went. b. give it a day or two and contact them for a second date if it was a success. c. take a photo before you part ways and make it your Facebook picture after changing your status to “In a relationship.”

Maybe worth another shot.

4-6 points Talking too much is bad, but so is only listening. Let your date know who you are and as long as you are true to yourself, there is nothing else you can do but see if they had a good time as well.

Stellar first date.

0-3 points You successfully can survive a first date without scaring anyone. If you don’t get asked out again that is their problem. And, you know, that whole “there are plenty of fish in the sea” jazz.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 33

ASK THE

JOHNS Y

es, all three of these guys are named John. Yes it was a popular name in the ‘80s (I’m sure you feel their pain all you Katies, Michaels and Jessicas). But these three gentlemen, when not slaving away at Worlds of Warcraft, are here to answer every question you throw at them. They’re suave, sort of hip and are here for you.

The identity of these three amigos have been altered to protect the innocent.

My friend is secretly dating a guy and lies to us every time my group of friends asks her what is going on.

How can I call her out and get the truth, and why is she lying?

-Mary, 22

JP: You could inform him by telling him communication is the key. By the way, you seem awfully similar to Mary from the previous question, have you guys met?

JP: I don’t think you should call her out on it, she probably doesn’t want to talk about it in front of a group of friends.

Not to mention it’s borderline creepy how concerned you are. Do you wish she was secretly dating you, Mary?

JW: This happens all the time! A succubus comes along and rips the life out of a guy. Some of the coolest guys I have ever known have disappeared off the face of the earth when these black holeworld-eater women show up. Nothing can be done, I’m sorry.

JW: Take out an ad in 605 Magazine calling her out. And also, she is lying because she is a shade ball. Who lies to their friends?!

JT: When you are in a relationship, girlfriends and boyfriends assume that their significant other will be available to hang out with them at all times. Your Image by Candace Ann Photography

I have a friend who constantly talks about themselves. I have started to get snappy with them and honestly don’t know how much more I can take. What should I do?

-Jenna, 21 JP: One up everything he/she says.

That’s always fun, especially if they are super narcissistic and don’t really pick up on the sarcasm and feel threatened.

JW: Demand that they use a pet name when they talk about themselves so at least it is entertaining for you.

JT: Usually the people who brag the most about themselves are those with the most insecurity. Your friend talks about herself in front of you because she is striving for your attention and approval. Be honest with her and tell her how you feel. And if she doesn’t change, at least you will know you tried.

Remember that without bad friends, you wouldn’t be able to appreciate your good ones.

34 LIFE I ASK THE JOHNS

JT: Mark Twain once said, “If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.”

Your friend could be hiding this from you for a lot of reasons, but you will never know until you confront her about it. Sit her down and ask her what is going on. Tell her that you would be happy for her if she was dating someone, but you just want her to be honest about it.

friends, on the other hand, call you on a whim to just hang out. The problem is that they both believe you will be there for them. Your buddy probably wants to hang out with the boys, but he doesn’t know how to strike that balance between his girlfriend and his friends.

Keep calling, he will come around in time.

Have a question for the Johns?

Shoot an e-mail their way at My buddy started hanging out with TheJohns@605magazine.com. a girl and we haven’t seen him since.

Did I mention that was six months ago? How can I inform him that he is lacking in the friend department?

-Troy, 25

Disclaimer: Ask the Johns is a sarcastic piece. Their advice is not meant to be taken literally… except maybe John T’s.

We R there 4 U

We are only a text away!

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FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 35

singles

i

for

by joanna halverson illustration by shawn lykken

n my quest for ways for American adults (just shy of 96 million) who will reportedly spend V-Day single (according to census.gov), I came across several monumental contributions, such as “don’t make yourself sick on chocolate” and “don’t have an affair with a married person.”

I’d like to assume those are a given. Here are a couple more ideas: Offer to babysit.

No one under the age of 10 is going to give a Cupid’s butt if you have a date or not. Going out would just leave you watching love struck couples all night. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was how the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre really started.

Maybe you haven’t actually babysat since New Year’s Eve in seventh grade, but you could probably use the money just as much as you did then.

Also, you can spend the night in sweats without your hair or makeup done eating junk food and watching movies. And, let’s be honest, that’s probably what you would have done alone anyway.

You might as well get paid for it.

You know you want to make a fort out of couch cushions and play Twister again. I’m sure you have friends, coworkers, neighbors or siblings with little bundles of terror... er, joy, that would love to pay you to take their kids for the evening.

Buy those cartoon Disney character cards and give them to your buddies.

Pre-puberty, V-Day was Halloween in February. All we cared about was the candy. They’re cheap and they’re nice, so let’s be nostalgic and enjoy the sweets again without wanting to poison every heart-shaped box of chocolates.

Send yourself flowers.

Sign the card with a random name. Then have them delivered when you’ll be with all your buddies and/or your ex. Act all excited and jump up and down dramatically (just don’t overdo it or you’ll give yourself away). You can’t buy happiness, but you can invent a fictitious significant other and fake it for a few minutes.

Send your ex’s new girlfriend (or your ex) flowers.

If Cupid brings out the vindictive, bitter side of you, take it out on a messy, heartbreaking past breakup.

Send your ex’s new girlfriend/boyfriend, or your ex, flowers, and sign the card with a fake male name. If possible, have them delivered when you will be around the two love birds. Then watch the 36 LIFE I V-DAY FOR SINGLES

feathers fly before your eyes as your ex believes his new “boo” is cheating, or your ex’s new lover thinks she/he is cheating..

Visit Grandma.

Those lonely in nursing homes have said goodbye to departed spouses. Now they sit in rooms that smell like urine, watching reruns on TV Land, literally waiting to die.

Buy/make a valentine card and bring it to a lonely person. You will positively make their V-Day, and you will feel much better, yourself, when you realize love is actually about others.

Resolve to treat yourself to something special, as your own valentine.

Celebrate with a purse or video game you’ve wanted, but just haven’t found an occasion to buy it for (you would have spent the money anyway, had you gone on a date). This way you get to look forward to V-Day just as much as couples. And, hey, it nixes all the drama.

Happy Valentine’s Day, fellow rejects!

Until we meet again, bootcut jeans.

Red lips… but it can be a guilty pleasure.

‘80s bangs.

Black skinny jeans.

Pink lips.

‘80s volume.

Noticed Trend of The Month: Jersey Shore. With The Situation and Snooki, it’s hard to ever say goodbye.

FASHION I WHAT’S BOSS/GET LOST 37

Images by Candace Ann Photography Models: Connor Emma Stewart and Adam Sterner

This month gets everyone in a more romantic mood, so how will you go on “date night?” Casual? Semi-formal?

Or to the nines?

^ Adam’s jacket ca

n be found at Halb

38 FASHION I DATE NIGHT LOOKS

erstadt’s At the M

all

(On Connor) LOLe sweater $100 from The Great Outdoor Store. Joe jeans $176 from Posh Boutique.

(On Connor) Ella Moss striped top $89 from Posh Boutique.

(On Connor) Ogle coral long sleeve $96, Hazel vest and Joe jeans $176 from Posh Boutique.

(On Adam) Patagonia polo $65 from The Great Outdoor Store.

39

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE

(On Connor) Westen Wear top $110 and LA Made leggings $29 from Posh Boutique.

(On Adam) Shirt, sweater, Gordon Rush shoes and Agave jeans from Halberstadt’s At the Mall.

(On Connor) Anama dress $89 and Zodiac USA brown boot $129 from AMaVo Boutique.

(On Connor) Black Bubble top $109 and SEYCHELLES black boot $189 from AMaVo Boutique.

(On Adam) Borgo sweater, Borgo button up and Agave jeans prices available upon request from Halberstadt’s At the Mall.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 40

(On Connor) Ella Moss dress $159 from Posh Boutique.

(On Connor) LA Made turquoise dress $110 from Posh Boutique.

(On Adam) Jacket and shirt from Halberstadtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s At the Mall, prices available upon request.

(On Connor) French Connection dress $173 and blue star necklace $198 and tights from AMaVo Boutique.

FEBRUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE 41

Healthy

By Sabina Mustic

A Nutritious and Affordable Meal to Treat your Valentine ooking for a healthy and affordable way to say “I love you?” Give your body and your significant other some love this Valentine’s Day with a healthy dinner for two. Not sure where to go? Well, you can impress that someone special with a romantic meal at home. No time to cook?

No problem. These fast and easy recipes are a sure way to make you look like a pro. What’s more, they will nurture both the body and soul with good-foryou ingredients.

Starter: Avocado and Apple Salad.

This starter is packed with healthy ingredients. According to the City of Sioux Falls’ Health and Wellness Coordinator, Rana DeBoer, “Avocados are loaded with nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and folate. They’re also cholesterol and sodium free.”

Avocados also contain 60 percent more potassium per ounce than bananas, DeBoer said. Fruit in general is an excellent source of monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fats are the “good” fats that help raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol, reducing your risk of heart disease.

DeBoer also said apples are a good source of fiber and vitamin C, which prevent heart disease and cancer.

Entree: Mushroom and Chicken Quesadillas.

These are not only healthy, but easy to make as well. If you don’t like mushrooms you can leave those out, but you’ll also miss out on the health benefits. “[Mushrooms] are a great source of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and selenium, nutrients often lacking in highly processed foods. In addition, mushrooms contain virtually no fat or cholesterol. Naturally low in sodium, mushrooms are also a good source of fiber,” said DeBoer.

Also, make sure you use whole wheat tortillas for this recipe.

According to DeBoer, “Whole wheat products are whole grain products, and whole grain products offer a wealth of nutrition over highly processed white products. Whole grains contain the 42 HEALTH I HEALTHY AFFECTIONS

entire grain kernel—the bran, germ, and endosperm.”

Grains that have been milled are refined, a process in which DeBoer said the bran and germ are removed. The grains are refined so they can acquire a finer texture and have a longer shelf life, but this process removes many nutrients from the grains, including fiber, iron and many B vitamins. White flour, white bread and white rice are some examples of refined grains. Whole-wheat

flour, bulgur (cracked wheat), oatmeal, whole cornmeal, and brown rice are all examples of whole grains.

According to DeBoer, “People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Grains provide many nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of our bodies.”

Dessert: Dark Chocolate Fondue Make sure you leave room for the dark chocolate fondue; a sweet and irresistible desert. Dark chocolate is full of diseasefighting antioxidants. However, DeBoer said, “In order to gain health benefits, the cocoa contents should be at least 65 percent cocoa.”

You can dip almost any fruit into a fondue, but for this special occasion try bananas and strawberries.

“Bananas have both a high amount of carbohydrates as well as potassium … [and] also provide a good source of vitamin C. Berries are a great source of phytonutrients, which are very powerful disease-fighters,” said DeBoer.

Besides being economical and easy to make, these recipes are great energy boosters because they are packed with high amounts of nutrients.

“The carbohydrates, proteins and fats in these recipes are loaded with essential nutrients that produce high energy levels, fight aging and prevent disease,” said DeBoer.

Also, don’t forget homemade meals are usually healthier than meals eaten at restaurants. Many restaurants use highly processed foods - especially fast food restaurants - and contain many additives. DeBoer said, “It is the additives that are really unhealthy (sugar, salt, saturated/trans fats).”

When you cook at home you know what kinds of nutrients you are putting in your body, so to ensure you and your date’s health, make a nutritious and healthy dinner for two that neither of you will forget.

Avocado and Apple Salad 1 package Baby Greens 1/4 cup red onion, chopped 1/2 cup walnuts 1/3 cup feta cheese 2 teaspoons lemon zest 1 Apple - peeled, cored and sliced 1 Avocado - peeled, pitted and diced Drizzle with olive oil.

Mushroom and Chicken Quesadillas Makes 2 servings ½ a pound boneless skinless chicken breast ½ a package sliced mushrooms 2 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas ½ cup canned fat-free refried beans ½ cup reduced-fat shredded mozzarella cheese ¼ cup salsa Cut the chicken breast into small pieces and place into a large skillet. Add some canola or olive oil and cook chicken until it becomes slightly brown.

Remove skillet from heat and wipe clean. Spray skillet with nonstick cooking spray and add mushrooms to it. Over medium-high heat, cook mushrooms until softened, stirring occasionally.

43 JANUARY 2010 I 605 MAGAZINE

Spread ¼ cup of the refried beans over both whole wheat tortillas.

Add the chicken, cheese and mushrooms to one tortilla. Place the remaining tortilla on top of the other, bean-side down.

Place the tortilla in a nonstick cooking spray coated skillet. Cook the quesadilla for about four minutes on each side over mediumhigh heat. Be careful not to burn the quesadilla. If it gets too brown reduce heat and if cheese melts quickly you can cook it for less than four minutes. Cut the quesadilla into half and serve with salsa.

Dark Chocolate Fondue 16 ounces of dark chocolate 1 ½ cups light cream 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Break the chocolate into small pieces and place into a fondue pot. Add the cream and stir gently but constantly until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and mix with the chocolate. Dip bananas and strawberries with fondue forks.

Suggested Beverage: Sparkling Water

Homemade

By Whitni Ciafalo

ith winter in full swing, my roommate, Lexie, and I were looking for a quiet evening away from the cold. However, our kitchen was looking pretty empty and dinner was still undetermined. Suddenly, one of us had the comforting thought of a warm bowl of soup to complement the cold weather outside. Considering both of us lend a bit towards the allnatural, health-nut realm, we embarked on a journey on making homemade soup in our quaint college apartment kitchen.

Homemade soup is surprisingly simple to make. Moreover, a few ingredients go a long way, resulting in an inexpensive, healthy meal. Lexie and I decided not to follow a recipe, but instead wandered through the fresh produce sections of our local grocery store, mixing and matching mix possible veggies. po Not following a strict recipe leaves str some room to exso perimentation and pe creativity. It might cr take a couple of tries ta to figure out exactly what you like, but w there is an element th of personal satiso faction to creating fa yyour own secret cconcoction. Plus, h home creations alllow you to elimin nate ingredients you are not fond of, such as mushrooms or meat meat, from a standardized recipe recipe.

To keep the holiday feeling, we settled on three sweet potatoes, a red bell pepper, two Serrano peppers, two onions, a couple of carrots, and some ginger and garlic. We wanted to keep it vegetarian friendly and opted for vegetable stock instead of chicken or beef stock.

Once back in our apartment, we began the process of peeling and cutting all of the veggies. It works best to cut everything into quarter to half-inch cubes, beginning with the onions and peppers.

Save the sweet potatoes for last – they take the longest to peel so if there are two of you, one can peel while the other one cuts.

As we continued with the chopping and peeling, we simmered the veggie stock, along with a small amount of olive oil, in a large pot on the stove. At this point, I would recommend a nice glass

Before

44 HEALTH I HOMEMADE SOUP

For the Chills of wine or microbrew along with some music. Cooking, especially with friends, can be relaxing and pleasant. It’s easy to make an evening out of it, especially when the weather has you confined indoors.

Once the sweet potatoes, peppers, onions and carrots were added, we spiced it up with the ginger and garlic. Since both are very dominating flavors, it is a personal preference as to how much of each of these should be used. You can always add more if needed, so it is better to error on the side of too little than too much.

With that in mind, you can also experiment with the peppers you use. I prefer green Serrano peppers for spice. They have a nice, crisp spice to them and tend to be a little hotter than jalapeños. If you are not into spicy, the Serrano peppers could be substituted with Cherry peppers, which have a sweeter, but equally flavorful taste to them.

After the soup has been simmering for a while, check to see if the sweet potatoes have become soft. Once they have, you can start blending the soup to give it that thick, creamy finish. Remember, when blending something that’s hot it has a tendency to explode in the blender, so only blend small portions at time. When blending, we added a bit of almond milk to each portion – any sort of milk would work here as it just enhances the creamy texture.

And that’s it. Once blended, the soup can either be served or put in the refrigerator to enjoy on a later date. It’s a simple, healthy option that can serve as lunch or dinner for at least a couple of days. Plus, it makes for a relaxing evening in the company of good friends.

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