Detours Magazine Summer 2011

Summer 2011 Vol. 15 No. 2 $3.99

Art in Transition

Museum creates continuum of artistic movements

Dipping a Tire in Iowa Culture Annual bike ride builds community

Top 10 Free Chicago summer attractions

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LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR Hello readers, For this issue, the Detours staff scouted the best food, festivals, personalities and attractions the Midwest has to offer this summer.

In Iowa, bikers from throughout the nation will be cycling across the state for RAGBRAI (pg. 10). The adventurous can climb to the top of a 12-story treehouse in Marshalltown, Iowa (pg. 26).

We spanned Missouri and found several ways for travelers to satisfy their appetites. Kansas City’s City Market offers the best of local and worldly food (pg.

40). Stop at Shakespeare’s Pizza in Columbia, Mo., for a slice at America’s favorite college hangout (pg. 6). For a sweet treat, move to the eastern edge of the state and try a cupcake from SweetArt bakery in St. Louis (pg. 16).

In Illinois, explore traditional German culture in Maeystown, Ill., (pg. 38) and then head to the Windy City for the annual Taste of Chicago to try food from all cultures (pg. 18).

If you can’t wait to start exploring, visit detoursmagazine.com for more blogs, photo slideshows and a calendar of events.

DETOURS STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR

Shawn Shinneman

PUBLICITY MANAGER

Sarah Neuman

ART DIRECTOR

Rebekah Gates

ONLINE EDITOR

Andrea Hewitt

WEBMASTER WRITERS

COPY EDITORS Keep taking Detours,

DESIGNERS

Stephanie Hall Editor In Chief

Stephanie Hall

PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING

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Detours is a copyrighted publication. No material from this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent of the Detours adviser and staff.

Detours is distributed in the tri-state region of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. Opinions expressed in Detours are not necessarily the views of the Detours staff.

Detours is not responsible for the full cost of an advertisement if an error occurs.

ON THE

COVER 100 E. Normal Barnett Media Center Kirksville, MO 63501 Phone: 660.785.7438 Fax: 660.785.7601 editor@detoursmagazine.com www.detoursmagazine.com

The outdoor sculpture park acts as an exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (pg. 20).

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Cover photo by Calli Price

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To Thine Own Pizza Be True Columbia pizzeria serves up a college atmosphere for all ages Dipping a Tire in Iowa Culture Annual bike ride builds community Sweet Art Baker overcomes obstacles, follows dream

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18 Free Chicago summer attractions 20 24 26 30 24 32 38 40 44 48 Top 10

Art in Transition Museum creates a continuum of artistic movements Wandering Among Winged Wonders Butterfly House offers up-close encounters Mansion Amid the Leaves Iowa treehouse climbs to new heights

Life as a Legend Behind the stage with Branson’s Blues Brothers impersonators Return to Your Roots Photo contest results

Cultivating German Hospitality Illinois town highlights its historic roots

Where the Midwest Meets the World Market showcases the ethnic range of Kansas City Hostel Heightens Culture Columnist seeks hometown adventure

Calendar Upcoming events in the tri-state region

DETOURS | SHAKESPEARE’S

To Thine Own Pizza be True Columbia pizzeria serves up a college atmosphere for all ages

It is not a heart-wrenching tragedy or an age old comedy, but the four walls of Shakespeare’s Pizza in Columbia, Mo., have a story all their own that makes them nearly as distinguished as the playwright himself. Not to mention Shakespeare’s has, well, pizza.

Classic rock plays throughout the dining room as customers laugh and chat with one another while patiently waiting to hear their original pizza creations called over the loudspeaker. Pizza dough flies, spinning through the air, while children press their faces against the glass windows of the kitchen for a better view. The soda fountain in the dining room hisses, constantly filling and refilling plastic Shakespeare’s cups.

Allison Perry and Arthur Basnett, lifelong Columbia residents and frequent Shakespeare’s customers, sat eating their meat-lovers-plus-mushroom pizza. Two pieces remained on the large, silver pan sitting between them.

“It’s good,” Basnett said. “It’s gotta’ be good. It’s the only place you’ll wait an hour for a pizza.”

Established in 1973, Shakespeare’s opened as a bar meant for carry-out and delivery orders only. The original restaurant occupied just a section of its current building in downtown Columbia with no room for dining in and only a small kitchen. The initial purchase required one of the original owners to mortgage his mother’s house. In the mid-1980s, the owners purchased the remainder of the current structure to allow for seating and dining in.

The green brick building sits directly adjacent to the University of Missouri campus as it always has, but Shakespeare’s has since grown to include a second restaurant location and an award-winning reputation.

Shakespeare’s most notable honor of late is Good Morning America’s “Best Bites Challenge: College Edition” award. Shakespeare’s was alerted of its win via live satellite feed on national television. When asked by Good Morning America what they try to maintain to keep their customers loyal, manager Kurt Mirtsching said, “It’s

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SUMMER 2011

A illu mu str ral ati ad ng or th ns t e c he olo b rfu ack l a wa tm ll os of ph Sh er ak e o es f t pea he re re ’s p sta izz ur a i an n t a Co nd lu th mb e a ia, re Mo a. .,

I

STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMANDA HERZBERG

just a big pizza party.”

Although highlighted by the nationally televised contest win, the restaurant always has been renowned locally. This success can be attributed not only to their signature pizzas but to the essential character upon which Shakespeare’s was built. Mirtsching said its goal is simply to have fun. They make it a special point to smile at the customers and to not take themselves too seriously.

“If we’re having fun, they’re having fun,” Mirtsching said.

Mirtsching, a Shakespeare’s employee since 1979, said the management team wants to ensure a fun environment for Shakespeare’s staff members and customers. They keep the employee manual and training guidebook filled with silly witticisms to imbue

frequenters. The restaurant’s customers at Shakespeare’s vary as much as the toppings they order on their prized pizzas. Mirtsching said college students make up only a portion of the customers at Shakespeare’s. It is also a favorite for families, employees from other local businesses, college alumni and tourists.

“We get more people who want to eat at a ‘college hangout’ than we do college students,” Mirtsching said.

He also pointed out Columbia’s tendency to host to many state and national events, such as athletic tournaments, which contribute to the restaurant’s continual growth, along with returning alumni.

“When [alumni] come back to Columbia they want to go to the place where they hung out in college,” Mirtsching said.

“ If we’re having fun, they’re having fun. ” KURT MIRTSCHING SHAKESPEARE’S MANAGER

employees with the attitude of Shakespeare’s so it spreads easily to customers who dine there.

There are no servers, no hostesses and no carpets covering the cement floor. It isn’t fancy or gourmet and doesn’t claim to be.

“You just sort of do the right thing with the restaurant — customer service, make the pizza good, keep the restrooms clean,” Mirtsching said. “We try to choreograph as little as possible. Just take care of customers, obey the health codes, you know, all the basics.”

The foundational values are simple and straightforward, but an atmosphere of relaxation and light-hearted fun for customers and employees sets Shakespeare’s apart, Mirtsching said.

“People have personalities and so do organizations,” Mirtsching said. “A frat boy is going to behave one way on a Friday night at midnight … and that exact same guy, the next Sunday morning when he’s … in the church pew with his parents, is gonna’ behave entirely differently. The personality of the organization evokes certain behaviors in people. Well, the personality of this place just sort of happened over the years.”

College students are not the only Shakespeare’s

Diana Dolan, a college student in Columbia in the late 1970s and early 1980s, said she frequented Shakespeare’s as a student. Now a resident of St. Louis, Dolan still makes an effort to visit Shakespeare’s when she is in the area.

Dolan said one of the main reasons for returning to Shakespeare’s is that she feels it hasn’t changed since her college days.

“To me it’s exactly the same as when I went to school there — the dip in the floor, the décor is the same, I think it’s the same tables,” Dolan said. “I honestly think everything is the same except maybe the plates they serve it on.”

Dolan said she remembers living on campus and ordering Shakespeare’s on Sundays for dinner because the cafeterias were closed. Her favorite order was double cheese, Canadian bacon and mushroom.

“I think the pizza tastes exactly the same,” Dolan said. “I really do.”

As a locally owned restaurant, Shakespeare’s has stood the test of time thriving for nearly 40 years. Its ending has yet to be written, but Shakespeare’s story continues.

Shakespeare’s Secrets

Shakespeare’s keeps the same distribution of

toppings on the pizza regardless of how many you order. The more the toppings, the higher your pizza will be piled.

Shakespeare’s pizza recipe has not changed since

the restaurant inception. Only new options like a whole wheat crust and additional toppings have been added.

DETOURS | SHAKESPEARE’S

Above: With careful precision, Shakespeare’s employees generously pile on toppings to create a pizza masterpiece.

Below: A chef tosses Shakespeare’s homemade dough. Pedestrians can sneak a peek at the show through the store’s front window.

Dipping a TIR in Iowa cu l ture Annual bike ride builds community

SUMMER 2011

STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMANDA GOESER

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DETOURS | RAGBRAI

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More than 10,000 RAGBRAI riders pedal across Iowa each July, facing steep hills, hot temperatures and miles of pavement. It’s a physical challenge that provides a look at Iowa life.

SUMMER 2011

W

When two Des Moines Register newspaper employees challenged each other to a bicycle ride across the state of Iowa in 1973, they thought the trip would offer a fresh way to write about the state. Just six weeks before the ride, they enlisted a small core of riders, chose a route and published it in the newspaper to encourage readers to join the ride.

Nearly 40 years later, RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) is the oldest, largest and longest touring bicycle ride in the world. Pronounced “rag-bry,” the ride covers between 450 and 500 miles, attracts 10,000 registered cyclists and thousands more supporters and unregistered riders each July.

Bicyclists dip their back tires in the ceremonial starting line of the Missouri River, along the western border of Iowa, at the beginning of the ride each year. At the end of the seventh day, they dip their front tires in the Mississippi River along the eastern border to signify the completion of the ride.

Riders come from near and far, representing all 50 states and approximately 30 countries. The ride continues to grow each year in both

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DETOURS | RAGBRAI DETOURS | PENITENTIARY

numbers and notoriety. Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong participated in RAGBRAI from 2006 to 2008.

Each of the eight overnight towns and the dozens of passthrough towns change from year to year, ensuring new challenges for returning riders.

Aran Rush, executive director of the Sioux City Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Event Facilities Department, oversaw the planning for RAGBRAI 2010’s first overnight town, Sioux City, Iowa. The city also was the starting line for the first-ever RAGBRAI. “No one invited them the first year,” Rush said. “The riders just came. Since then it has grown and grown and grown. It doesn’t need a lot of explanation when you talk to local people about it. There’s a real love for it here.”

The activities in Sioux City as part of RAGBRAI 2010 included two free concerts, a festival and a bicycle expo. The opening weekend festivities attracted about 25,000 bicyclists along with their families, supporters and local community members. Cyclists set out early

Sunday morning for a 60 to 70 mile ride to the first overnight town.

Participants take breaks and visit with locals in several small towns along the route. As riders roll into the next overnight town, football fields are converted into tent cities and park shelters into restaurants.

“There was such excitement about it coming that everyone wanted to be a part of it,” Rush said. “Stuff that is normally taboo to ask for, people were offering solutions to make work, like pulling vehicles onto the grass in the park. We don’t ever permit that, but it was our standard for RAGBRAI and we were prepared to then fix it after it was done.”

Each overnight town plans its own series of events from music and dancing to swimming and games. For towns with populations as small as 1,500 people, finding space and entertainment for more than 10,000 riders and guests requires significant planning.

The week continues in the same fashion, with riders reaching the Mississippi River on Saturday afternoon.

After seven days of tiresome rides, achy muscles, stinky clothes

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SUMMER 2011

Each overnight and pass-through town organizes festivites for RAGBRAI riders and supporters including live music, activities and food stands.

“Drink before you’re thirsty. Eat before

SUMMER 2011

Tent cities appear in overnight towns during the weeklong event.

and hot July sun, many participants continue to ride. Some enthusiasts have ridden every year of the 39-year tradition, RAGBRAI Director T. J. Juskiewicz said.

“I’m just amazed that there are people from, say, California that have been coming for 10 years straight,” Juskiewicz said. “This is their vacation, family reunion, time to catch up with friends.

RAGBRAI is more than just a bike ride. It’s part of Iowa culture. It’s part of the fabric of who we are.”

But as riders and officials warn, completing the full week without training is nearly impossible. Cyclists have the option of riding a fewer number of days — often a viable choice for first-time and amateur riders.

“Some people come off their New Year’s resolution and train for RAGBRAI,” Juskiewicz said. “Hopefully they keep it up because there are some years it is extremely challenging … You should have close to 1,000 miles on your bike before you come out and do [the full week of] RAGBRAI.” Having experienced tornado warnings, swift overnight winds, and brutal heat and humidity, RAGBRAI rider Lynnann Anderson said she recommends mastering day-long bike rides before beginning the week long challenge.

“You have other issues to worry about — where to shower, where to go to the bathroom and find something to eat,” Anderson

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Each year, RAGBRAI organizers chose different towns for the route.

said. “You don’t want to worry about [riding] your bike. That should be the easy part of your day.”

For the riders who wish to channel all their energy into biking, charter services complete day-to-day work like arranging tents, providing meals, carrying luggage and even have massage therapists on hand.

Tammy Pavich, co-owner of Pork Belly Ventures charter service, participated in RAGBRAI a few times in the 1980s. She and a friend went with a charter but realized there were services the charter could improve upon.

She and her brother Pete Phillips began Pork Belly Ventures. In 2010 they hosted approximately 900 of RAGBRAI’s registered riders.

Pavich said they always are trying to come up with new services to offer their riders, recently adding pulling a converted semi-trailer with several private showers.

“We call these relative RAGBRAI luxuries, and the word ‘relative’ is so important,” Pavich said. “It’s a luxury to be able to charge your phone. When you’re at home you don’t think of them as luxuries, but when you are on RAGBRAI, they are pretty darn luxurious.”

Charter services are not the only way groups of RAGBRAI riders travel. Many people simply ride and camp with an unofficial team or group. Each evening, they scope out a lawn to set up camp and head

DETOURS | RAGBRAI

”

you’re hungry. Rest before you’re tired.

— RAGBRAI adage

Join

July 24-30, 2011

RAGBRAI XXXIX

10,000

7 day ride Riders

from: 30 countries 50 states

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SUMMER 2011

since

RAGBRAI BY THE NUMBERS:

400-500 miles

to a local food stand for dinner. During RAGBRAI it is not uncommon for residents of the overnight towns to offer their yards or restrooms for anyone that asks.

Anderson got her first taste of RAGBRAI 12 years ago when her entire family opted to ride together. She said it is the people that make the ride worth coming back each year.

“After a long, hard day on the road, we will go into the house of complete strangers and take a shower,” Anderson said. “They just open up their houses. People have always been so kind and generous to us …

When you’re hot and tired, that really means a lot to you.”

Gearing up for her 13th ride, Anderson plans to return again this year and bring an East Coast neighbor who has never been to the Hawkeye State, let alone tackled RAGBRAI. “I go by myself or with friends,” Anderson said. “I’ve made so many friends on RAGBRAI that I feel like it’s almost like going back to camp every summer. I see the same people each year.”

Both riders and officials find it difficult to explain why the ride has attracted more than 275,000 people since its inception.

“Until you actually go out there and ride, surrounded by 10,000 plus people, seeing the sights, sounds and smells — you just can’t understand what the event is,” Juskiewicz said. “To try to put it in words or a photo just doesn’t do it justice. The best way is to come out and experience it.”

1973

After pedaling from town to town, riders enjoy relaxing and socializing in the evening.

Baker overcomes obstacles, follows dream STORY AND PHOTO BY CASSANDRA MCCARTY

SUMMER 2011

In the corner of SweetArt bakeshop sits a vintage green and white stove — a symbol of Reine Bayoc’s past. Bayoc, owner of SweetArt saved it for years dreaming that one day she would be able to place it in her own bakeshop.

“I knew I was going to do it no matter what,” she said.

“There is a stove out in there which holds the coffee. I bought that stove years before we opened, and I put it in my dining room saying that when I have my own bakeshop one day I am going to put it there.”

SweetArt, an art gallery and bakeshop in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis is the product of Reine’s passion for all things sweet and savory. She shares the space with her husband, Cbabi Bayoc, an artist who covers the walls with his original works of art.

Before Reine and Cbabi opened SweetArt in 2009 and began serving her famous cupcakes and signature vegetarian burger, Reine dreamed of her own bakery. Reine’s mother never cooked or baked from scratch, but her grandparents cooked and baked everything themselves, thus instilling her with a love of cooking. After living in France, Reine said she grew to love the bakeshops or pâtisseries, and the food.

Reine moved back to the United States and married Cbabi. The couple settled down to have three children but Reine would never forgot her dream.

Reine had to overcome many obstacles to make her dream come to fruition. Reine leaned on Cbabi to pay the bills because she dedicated her time to raising their children.

Cbabi finds inspiration in recreating daily life from

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images of his children to abstract paintings of little plump birds.

He showcases his work on the walls of SweetArt, so Reine’s customers can enjoy looking at the colorful family scenes while eating. The caricatures also are available for purchase.

Reine said it was divine intervention that helped her. She had bad credit, student loan debt, three children to take care of and very little money, which made her bakery seem impossible.

Reine said that despite all of the financial obstacles standing in her way, she continued to pursue her dream.

“I was able to get the opportunity, find a really great space three blocks away from our house, a landlord who didn’t check my credit and my parents who gave me some money,” Reine said. “My husband who said, ‘Lets just sell all of the artwork I created and see how much more we can gather,’ and things just flowed.”

Reine never attended culinary school, which allowed her to make mistakes and have the freedom to be creative, but ultimately led to anxiety that her dream eventually would flop. Reine said her face would go numb 20 minutes before opening, but all that changed as time passed and customers continued to come and seek out her cupcakes and lunch items.

“The courage comes from saying I am going to do what I want to do regardless,” she said. “That’s all courage is — doing it regardless of who is saying you should or you shouldn’t, you’re great or you’re not.”

Reine said she thinks her outlook on food and life helped make SweetArt a success. After years as a vegetarian, she wanted to open a place that gave vegetarians the ability to

DETOURS | RESTAURANTS

choose anything off of the menu instead of the typical Lisa LaBarge, one of the two full-time bakers Portobello sandwich offered in most other delis. She said employed at SweetArt, said the bakery feels like home to she prides herself on her broad menu and that her items her. After working at a desk job for 11 years, she was laid have been tweaked throughout the years until they reached off and had to find another form of employment. perfection.

“I have been working here for two years now, it’s SweetArt’s vegetarian menu includes lunch items crazy to think about,” she said. “I maybe badgered Reine such as their signature burger, a BLT sandwich with a bit for this job, but now I help make the quiche and the bacon substitute, wraps and meatless chili on nachos or cupcakes in the morning.” in a bowl. Each dish is named after a street in the Shaw LaBarge and another baker join Reine in the early Neighborhood and hours of the morning. The comes with a side 10 part-time employees join of fruit. The menu them later in the afternoon, also offers substitute helping run the register and The courage comes from saying I ingredients for their serve the customers. Like am going to do what I want to do vegan customers Reine, LaBarge didn’t attend regardless. That’s all courage is — who do not eat any culinary school, but she said animal bi-products. she enjoys spending time doing it regardless of who is saying For example, Reine baking in her kitchen. you should or you shouldn’t. gives her customers After seeing an online two ways to order the discount for SweetArt, St. REINE BAYOC OWNER cheese with the chili Louis resident Stephanie — either regular or Richter said she decided it dairy free. Reine also was a perfect time to visit provides numerous the little bakeshop and art options for customers with a sweet tooth. Several of her gallery in the Shaw neighborhood. cupcakes are vegan, such as the Vegan Red Velvet, Lemon “It’s my first time, but I have always wanted to come,” Sunshine and Boston Cream Pie. Other desserts that mimic Richter said. “I follow the food circuit so when I saw the the cupcake flavors are available at her bakery, such as Groupon [coupon] I snatched it up.” made-to-order cakes.

After selecting two wraps from the menu and several “You can go to any café or deli and get a turkey Harmony cupcakes — cupcakes with a vanilla cake and sandwich or a chicken salad sandwich, so when people come chocolate icing — Richter said she would be back for more. here, they know they are getting something different,” Reine Every day as Reine carefully makes her way through said. “And I really pride myself in knowing that the few the maze of mismatched chairs in SweetArt, she passes lunch items we have are exceptional tasting. I mean they are the vintage green and white stove. Today, the stove holds good, whether you are a vegetarian, vegan or someone who utensils and coffee for her customers and acts as a reminder really loves steak twice a week.” of the obstacles she has overcome.

“

”

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SUMMER 2011

SweetArt owner Reine Bayoc shares her story about overcoming obtacles and following her dream.

Top10

Free Chicago summer attractions

1) The Beaches Take leave of the city sidewalks and soak up some rays on Oak Street Beach off Michigan Avenue.

Visitors have a great view of the city from North Avenue Beach. After a trip to Fullerton Beach, head across the street to our next free attraction.

Story by Detours editors and Photos by Shawn Shinneman

Map of Attractions 1

2) Lincoln Park Zoo Free year-round, this popular tourist attraction has more than 1,000 animals.

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3) Navy Pier Fireworks Look to the sky every summer Wednesday and Saturday nights in Chicago where fireworks are launched above Navy Pier for all to enjoy.

1

4) Chicago Air and Water Show At Chicago’s second-largest annual festival, a series of daredevil pilots, parachute squads and synchronized jets perform in the air above Lake Michigan while more than 2million visitors watch from the coast. This year’s show is scheduled for August 20-21.

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5) Ride the Trolley Hop on and off Chicago’s free trolley service to experience a great tour of the city. Some trolley drivers will share fun facts for riders about Chicago’s history.

6) Federal Reserve Bank Find out where money really grows at the Federal Money Museum. Free tours are offered MondayFriday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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7) The Art Institute of Chicago Explore more than 300,000 works of art for free.

Starting in June, the Institute will allow free entry every first and second Wednesday of each month.

SUMMER 2011

8) Chicago Botanical Gardens Stroll along more than 350 acres of gardens and visit the greenhouses for a tropical adventure.

9) Chicago’s Parks From Grant Park to Millenium Park, Chicago’s parks are teeming with life during the summer.

They also host a variety of concerts and festivals, like No. 10 on our list.

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*not all attractions listed on map.

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DETOURS | TOP 10

2)

Taste attendees relax in the sun at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park.

Concerts are hosted each year in conjuntion with the Taste.

10) Taste of Chicago

Top: Jazz musicians perform in the shade as festival-goers enjoy their food.

Middle:The historic Buckingham Fountain provides scenery for the Taste, located in Chicago’s Grant Park.

Bottom: Lines for Taste favorites, such as Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, require patience from hungry patrons.

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SUMMER 2011

Calling the Taste of Chicago simply a food festival doesn’t quite do it justice. Sure, at its core, the Taste is built around food. Culinary choices range from exotic to homegrown, from Thai chicken to Italian beef to Chicago deep-dish pizza.

In the more than 30 years since the original celebration, the Taste has grown to become a festival of much more — music, street performance, culture. It is a celebration of food with all the character of Chicago and all the liveliness of summer.

The 10-day event is the largest food festival in the world, and includes concerts at large-scale venues in or near Chicago’s Grant Park. Patrons can purchase tickets to be put toward food and drinks, but attendance is free.

Taste of Chicago 2011 will take place from June 24 - July 3.

A R T in

Museum creates continuum of arti

F

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CALLI PRICE

Footsteps echo on hardwood floors as observers study canvases hung on the walls, accented by wooden and bronze sculptures interspersed throughout the collection. In this single exhibit, comprised of several rooms, each wall has been painted a different solid color to make the artwork stand out. Works by Georgia O’Keeffe and Thomas Hart Benton are among about 600 pieces of art in the rooms of the American collection. This is just one of the many exhibits the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has to offer.

“We have an extensive collection,” said Toni Wood, assistant manager of marketing and communications. “We call it encyclopedic because we have a large collection, but we don’t have the largest. What distinguishes what we have in galleries now, what we have up, is the best … We don’t go for quantity here, we go for quality.”

The Nelson opened in Kansas City in 1933. Until 1983, the building was split into two museums — the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and the Atkins Museum of Fine Arts.

The Nelson is recognized nationally as one of the finest general art museums in the United States. It annually draws approximately 350,000 visitors, due in part to its free admission and extensive collection.

To keep the Nelson’s reputation, the staff continually works to differentiate it from other museums. They offer art classes and lectures for both children and adults, and host birthday celebrations for famous artists, donors and the buildings. These celebrations might include cupcakes for visitors and actors impersonating famous artists.

“We want this to be an accessible place where people come and have a good time,” said Kathy Leighton, communications and media relation’s officer. “It’s not stuffy. It’s a lot of fun.”

Each of the 12 permanent collections throughout the museum differs in ambience. The American gallery includes a large variety of paintings and has an open feel to it, while the Japanese gallery offers a more secluded experience. Carvings and sculptures line the rooms of the exhibit, sectioned off by glass cases. Folding paper screens, an exclusive art form of Japan, helps to define the collection. One of the rooms has a wooden floor and walls giving the gallery a more natural look.

“The Asian section is almost holy,” said Tera Dunmore of Kansas City, a regular visitor since she was a child. “I sat quietly for at least an hour and a half there once, just meditating on the grand scale of something that someone made in front of me.”

The European gallery is set up much like the American gallery with rooms themed in different colors. Aside from paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, the collection has sculptures from France and northern Italy. Approximately 900 works of art ranging in style from medieval to late 19th century reside in this collection.

In 1989, the museum added an outdoor exhibit. The Kansas City Sculpture Park features more than 30 sculptures throughout the 22-acre expanse. Four shuttlecock sculptures lie scattered across the park, which visitors notice almost immediately due to their height of 19 feet. A statue named “The Thinker” stands at one of the back entrances to the museum.

This spring a new sculpture of a stainless-steel tree was added. It is one of a collection of life-sized trees.

“They’re organic looking, and yet they’re eye catching because they’re so shiny and bright,” Wood said. “The one [tree] we’re getting is 60 feet tall and will arrive in pieces, and it’ll be welded together. They are very exciting.”

While the original Nelson-Atkins building has maintained its traditional stone pillar exterior, a new contemporary building added a modern edge in 2007. Utilizing natural light, the walls of the Bloch building are constructed out of glass, giving the building a frosty exterior appearance.

Opposite: The iconic shuttlecocks located in the sculpture garden greet guests and create interesting photo opportunities.

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istic movements

DETOURS | NELSON-ATKINS

Nearly 1,000 painting are hung in the European exhibit, ranging from the medieval period to 19th century work.

want this to be an “ We accessible place where people come and have a good time. It’s not stuffy.

It’s a lot of fun.

”

SUMMER 2011

KATHY LEIGHTON COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICER

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“The building itself has been a monumental change, and we’re still learning about how to deal with all of this new space — how to really feature the work best and how to handle visitors in this new space,” Wood said. “It’s a large operation now. This Bloch building has become a destination for people to see because architecturally it’s pretty wondrous, and it’s known as one of the top ten buildings in the world. At dusk the place lights up and it stays lit. It glows.”

The Bloch building has received several awards for its distinctive features, including the AIA Institute Honor Award, the Capstone Architectural Design Award and the Leaf New Build Award. Despite the acclaims the building has received, some do not care for the addition.

“I like the traditional look of the Nelson, and I think, ‘You know, with all the money that they can come up with and all the people in the city with money, they could’ve done a traditional addition,’” said Brian Wiggly of Shawnee, Kan. “That’s just an indication that art moves on.”

In addition to the Bloch building, the Nelson continues to introduce new exhibits and enhance permanent ones.

“The American [exhibit] already existed, but it was completely restructured and reinstalled,” Wood said. “The American Indian [exhibit] was very exciting because we’re doing things in that gallery that no other museum in the country has done. We have an approach to art that no one else does. I think we’ve done that very well.”

The American Indian gallery previously had been part of the permanent collection, but in November 2009 it was reopened, having nearly quadrupled in size. It devoted more space to newly acquired pieces of art, including headdresses, basket artwork and pieces of clothing.

The Egyptian gallery recently was introduced and features both an inner and outer coffin from Middle Egypt. The collection includes a gilded mask, protective body plates and a mummy.

Throughout the spring and summer, new pieces will come to the museum.

One of the main attractions, Monet’s Water Lilies, will be at the museum from April 9 to August 7. Known as triptych artwork, it is made up of three pieces that are meant to be viewed as one. Currently, the Nelson owns one of the pieces, and the other two are owned by the St. Louis Art Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art. With time comes evolution, and with evolution comes new art. Many changes have occurred at the Nelson in the past and will continue to take place in the future.

DETOURS | NELSON-ATKINS

Permanent Exhibits AMERICAN INDIAN

SOUTH & SOUTHEAST ASIA

Notable pieces include a group of classic Navajo and Pueblo textiles and a selection of Rio Grande Pueblo pots.

More than 900 objects from the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions.

CHINESE

AMERICAN

Opening in 1933, the collection has amassed more than 7,500 works, including a collection of rare early Chinese landscapes.

The collection emphasizes watercolors and drawings but includes paintings by artists Georgia O Keefe and Missouri Native Thomas Hart Benton.

EUROPEAN

AFRICAN

Artists like Van Gogh and Monet headline a collection specializing in Italian, German and Netherlandish paintings.

The tranquil Buddha sets the ambience in the South and Southeast Asia exhibit.

MODERN & CONTEMPORARY The collections include a variety of styles — Expressionist, Cubist, Surrealist, Expressionist, Pop Art and Minimalism. The Electromediascope section surveys contemporary film, video and new media art.

The exhibit began in 1958 with two 17th-century cast brass artworks, but now has 300 objects including masks, sculptures and textiles.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Folding paper screens are an exclusive Japanese art form.

The collection covers the medium’s entire history from 1839 to the present. In 2005, it grew to a collection of more than 7,500 when the museum acquired the Hallmark Photographic Collection.

PRINT

JAPANESE

With more than 6,000 pieces, this collection is one of the largest in the museum.

More than 2,000 works of art include ceramics, hanging scrolls and a wide range of folding paper screens.

KANSAS CITY SCULPTURE PARK

ANCIENT

“The Thinker” marks the back entrance of the Nelson.

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Representing the Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome, the Ancient art collection boasts artifacts from famous Egyption kings and queens from Ramses II to Nefertiti.

The sculpture park surrounding the museum encompasses 22-acres of land, currently containing more than 30 sculptures.

andering Among inged Wonders Butterfly House offers up-close encounters

SUMMER 2011

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BLAISE HART-SCHMIDT

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Visitor Priscilla Prask watches as her grandchildren Sophie, 5, and Thomas, 2, stare in wonder at the butterflies floating in the air a few feet above their heads as they walk through the conservatory. They meander past a red lacewing butterfly as it glides to a hibiscus flower, while a black butterfly lands on a dish set out with banana slices to feed on its sweet nutrients.

Prask and her grandchildren are visiting the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a butterfly zoo where visitors are enveloped by the world of butterflies and insects.

Prask had never been to the Butterfly House, but came with her grandchildren on a day off work. She raved at how much the Butterfly House captures the hearts of the kids.

“It’s so amazing how they fly right around you when you’re walking, I’m not used to that,” Prask said. “It’s beautiful.”

Located in Faust Park in Chesterfield, Mo., the Butterfly House draws guests to closely experience the intricately winged creatures. The main atrium features live and preserved insects, including spiders and aquatic invertebrates. A glass display filled with hundreds of cocoons in varying stages of metamorphosis gives visitors a glimpse at the butterflies’ early lives. At almost any given time, 2,000 butterflies can be seen at the Butterfly House from places such as

Costa Rica, the Philippines and Malaysia. A small theater projects a short film about the life and behaviors of a butterfly. Workers at the Butterfly House often bring out live insects such as millipedes and Madagascar hissing cockroaches for demonstrations, causing giggles and shrieks from spectators.

The main attraction of the Butterfly House is its conservatory — an 8,000-square-foot greenhouse filled with thousands of butterflies. The conservatory is kept at a steamy 85 degrees with 75 percent humidity to emulate the butterflies’ natural habitat.

Visitors stroll the paths, eyes darting from one butterfly to the next, watching as the butterflies flutter a few feet, find a flower to rest on, only to take off again seconds later. Some of them are brilliantly fluorescent, while others dark with dimesized eye-spots on their wings. Some are cautious, while others land right on the shoulders of visitors walking through.

Butterfly House Director Joe Norton said the large number of diverse butterflies attracts visitors looking to immerse themselves in the animal realm.

“We use the butterfly to sort of hook people and bring them in because it’s a very charismatic insect,” he said. “But once they’re here we can teach them about the critical plant and animal relationships

DETOURS | BUTTERFLY HOUSE

We have a natural fascination with the world around us, but it’s hard for us to really immerse ourselves with a place like the zoo, where you see things behind glass. When you get in here, you really have them all around you.You’re really kind of out in it.

JENNIFER BLEYINK GUEST SERVICES ASSOCIATE

that are occurring all around us that are necessary not only for their survival but for ours.”

The Butterfly House was the ninth of its kind to open in the world but the first in the Midwest. Since it opened in 1998 as a division of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Norton said visitors of all ages and backgrounds have come to visit. Although other butterfly houses exist around the world, Norton said the staff, their large collection of insects and the educational programs — such as field trips and outreach presentations to camps and schools — make this house exceptional.

In addition to the butterflies, the conservatory houses 150 tropical plant species, from brightly blooming flowers to tall tropical trees. In the middle is a pond, a smaller version of the lake outside the glass greenhouse wall on the Butterfly House grounds.

Outside, two giant sculptures sit at the entrance to Butterfly House, one of a caterpillar and the other a butterfly. A teaching pavilion and a butterfly garden offer a chance to see native butterflies and to learn more about the insects during warmer months. A gift shop sells butterfly-themed keepsakes to remind visitors of their trip.

Guest services associate Jennifer Bleyink briefs visitors before they enter the conservatory, suggesting they take off their coats due to the heat and warning them to watch their step, as many butterflies will land on the ground. Butterflies will often “hitchhike,” on visitors, and at the exit to the conservatory is a small chamber lined with mirrors, where guests can make sure they don’t have any extra passengers on them.

“Please do not touch the butterflies,” states the visitor’s guide. “They may touch you, but even your gentlest touch can shorten their lives.”

Guests might sometimes forget that they have entered the butterflies’ home and must be careful.

“We have a natural fascination with the world around us, but it’s hard for us to really immerse ourselves with a place like the zoo, where you see things behind glass,” Bleyink said. “When you get in here, you really have them all around you. You’re really kind of out in it.”

WINTER2010 2010 WINTER WINTER 2008

A butterfly lands on a flower to feast before fluttering to the next flower.

One Iowa team exerts effort in its round of the competition. Tuggers plant their feet and hold tightly, periodically 25133 stepping and pulling back together.

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DETOURS | TREEHOUSE

Mansion Amid the Iowa treehouse climbs to new heights

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DANA BRUXVOORT

T

Opposite: Although 12 stories tall, the treehouse is effectively camouflaged by the giant tree in which it resides.

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The thick foliage of the towering maple tree nearly disguises the winding labyrinth of pathways and staircases that make up the 12-story structure. Mick Jurgensen, the designer and builder, doesn’t have any architectural training, but that hasn’t stopped him from constructing a treehouse that exceeds any child’s dream.

The Big Treehouse is nestled in a 60-foot maple tree in the backyard of Jurgensen’s grandmother’s house in the Shady Oaks Campgrounds, three miles east of Marshalltown, Iowa. His grandmother, Mary Gift, calls it her grandson’s hobby, but Jurgensen said he never imagined that the towering, 55-foot treehouse would evolve into what it is today — a structure taller than a semi-trailer is long.

“I didn’t want to start a treehouse,” Jurgensen said. “I wanted to put a deck on the back of the house, and Grandpa said no … so I hooked it on the tree.”

He started building the treehouse in 1983 at the age of 21, but had no intentions of continuing the project for so long.

“It was kind of fun to build,” Jurgensen said. “It just kept going.”

Jurgensen, an elementary school principal in Marshalltown, doesn’t have any formal construction or architectural education — just experience gained through trial and some minimal errors, he said. In the past 27 years, that experience has yielded more than 5,000 square feet of treehouse on 12 levels of varying sizes and heights. As Jurgensen found inspiration, the construction process gradually evolved through the years.

Jurgensen’s grandmother gives tours to visitors, who have come from all U.S. states and 62 countries. Gift, 89, is as spry as her youngest visitors and energetically leads people throughout her grandson’s treehouse, periodically telling jokes or sharing facts about its history. The visitors have left the 45-minute tour with descriptions such as “a magical place” and “totally enchanted.” One young visitor described it as “my best day ever.”

The tour begins with a stroll down the elevated boardwalk, which affords visitors a first glance of the impressive structure that appears to be an interwoven system of walkways, staircases and decks.

Continuing along the walkway and throughout the treehouse, visitors encounter motion sensors that trigger sound effects such as a meowing cat and a howling raccoon.

After passing through a covered bridge, Gift guides visitors into the main body of the treehouse. She brings them to the ground floor that Gift calls the foyer — a small, welcoming entryway complete with floor mats and flowerpots. From the foyer, visitors ascend to the second floor — the main floor — and find a kitchen, several porch swings and a computer with Internet access.

The treehouse has a telephone line, running water and electricity so it can be utilized at night.

A staircase winds around the center of the maple tree leading visitors to

the remaining levels of the treehouse. Jurgensen said he tried to follow the natural line of the tree to keep the cutting of branches minimal. Levels three through six offer cozy sitting areas and porch swings, with the sixth floor containing a television. The entire treehouse remains cool in the summer heat with ceiling fans on several levels.

The climb through the next levels shows off more of Gift’s decorations, including a large collection of birdhouses with roofs made of license plates from 43 states, the Virgin Islands and seven

Australian provinces. Visitors from Australia brought license plates after reading about the Big Treehouse in a magazine distributed in their home country. Gift also has decorated the inside of the treehouse by attaching poems and inspirational quotes to railings and walls.

On the 11th level, visitors celebrate their ascent by ringing an old-fashioned school bell. A climb up a short ladder brings them to the 12th level — a small deck with a sign that reads, “Is this heaven? No! It’s the top floor.” From the top of the treehouse, visitors are able to peer over the tree’s foliage to the expansive view of woodlands, streams and Iowa farmland.

The descent from MARY GIFT TOUR GUIDE the top level takes visitors down a spiral staircase, Jurgensen’s newest addition, which is completely separate from the tree. Completed in 2005, the staircase took three months to build and involved what Jurgensen called “mid-air acrobatics — without ropes.”

The Big Treehouse is entirely a family affair, and Gift said she is proud of her grandson’s endeavor. Jurgensen said he doesn’t think the treehouse will expand further upward, but there are always other elements that can be added such as new electronics.

The upkeep of the treehouse keeps Jurgensen busy as well.

“ I think that the ambiance of [the area] here adds to it — the woodlands and the … historic, big trees. ”

WINTER 2010

Mary Gift and Mick Jurgensen stand on the spiral staircase, the newest addition to the treehouse.

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DETOURS | TREEHOUSE DETOURS | Treehouse DETOURS | CAVERNS

Four-year-old Jonah Livelli explores the treehouse during the guided tour. Gift said many children treat the treehouse like a 12-story playground.

phone line

electricity

running water

12 levels television Internet access 13 porch swings

kitchen

5,000 square feet

TREEHOUSE AT A GLANCE 29

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To protect the tree, he doesn’t re-treat existing wood with chemicals, so most of the wood has been replaced at least once.

Jurgensen said his busy schedule doesn’t allow him much time to simply enjoy the treehouse, but Gift said that during the summertime, it becomes an extension of her house, and she often eats dinner or watches TV in it.

The treehouse is open for viewing by appointment from June through October, weather permitting. Gift said she began giving tours of the treehouse almost immediately after it started expanding in size. They didn’t advertise , but she said word about Jurgensen’s creation spread quickly.

“People wanted to see what he’d done,” she said.

“People have always called, driven in, wanted to see it.”

Gift said she continues giving the tours because it gives her the opportunity to meet interesting visitors from a variety of places. She said she enjoys seeing how people respond to the treehouse in different ways.

In addition to being a tremendous architectural and design endeavor, Gift said she thinks there are other elements of the Big Treehouse that appeal to visitors.

“I think that the ambiance of [the area] here adds to it — the woodlands and the … historic, big trees,” Gift said.

Sharon Owen, who has lived in Marshalltown for 40 years, visited the treehouse with her daughter and grandson, Jonah Livelli, from Texas.

Throughout the tour, 4-year-old Jonah ran ahead and peeked around corners and through the treehouse’s railings, repeatedly asking when he could ring the bell at the top. Gift said the treehouse seems to appeal especially to children — to them it’s a 12-story playground. Owen echoed Gift’s sentiment.

“I think it’s really neat that we have something like this in Marshalltown — right in our own backyard,” Owen said.

LIFEas a

LEGEND

Behind the stage with Branson’s Blues Brothers impersonators STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANGELA SCHEPERLE

I

“When you’re impersonating, you’ve got to go120 percent.

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ROBB HORTON IMPERSONATOR

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It was in 1982, during the peak of Blues Brothers popularity, when Robb Horton decided to pursue the art of impersonation. A John Belushi impersonator recruited Horton to play Dan Akroyd of the Saturday Night Live duo for the band he was forming.

Horton, who was studying aviation at the time, didn’t know the impersonator band would turn into a life-long career. For almost 20 years, Horton toured the world performing as one of the Blues Brothers with Legends in Concert, an impersonator show that began in Las Vegas and now has a location in Branson, Mo., at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater.

Legends in Concert is known for its high-caliber vocal performances, authentic choreography and realistic look-alikes of various celebrities, from Britney Spears to Elvis Presley.

“When you’re impersonating you’ve got to go 120 percent,” Horton said. “You’ve got to go over the top. You’re imitating these legends [at] a small snippet of the best of their life, that small little fraction of time when they’re on top of their game.”

In 2000 Horton suffered a back injury, rendering him incapable of continuing with his high-energy act. Justin Clark, a stage manager at the time, took over the Dan Akroyd role and Horton became a production manager.

Horton said that training Clark was no issue. In fact, Clark, who was a Blues Brothers fan often had mimicked Horton’s moves, not knowing he would one day become a Blues Brothers impersonator. “[Clark] was such an amazing sponge,” Horton said. “I was laying on my back after my back surgery. He’d come and sit next to me, and I’d give him harmonica lessons.”

Clark worked as a welder before he decided to pursue work in the entertainment industry in Branson. After becoming a Blues Brothers impersonator, he continued performing with Horton’s original partner for two years before Bucky Heard was recruited for the part of John Belushi.

DETOURS | LEGEND DETOURS | THEATRE

“We had seen [Heard] singing in his late night gigs and This attention to detail paid off for Horton, Clark and Heard we thought, ‘Well, he’s short and he can grow sideburns, so when they met Dan Akroyd several years ago. that’s good,’” Clark said.

“We saw him after the show, and he knew who we were,” Heard was recognized for his vocal performances, and Horton said. “It kind of validated all of those years of being a he had worked at several shows in Branson before joining stickler for detail. We were proud to do it the way he did it.”

Legends in Concert to play Belushi’s character. Also a fan While performing on a cruise line with Legends in Concert, of the Blues Brothers, Heard previously had impersonated Horton met his wife, Jeannie, who now is a general manager for the Blues Brothers before while working for a cruise line the show. They have raised two children in Branson. variety show.

“They have literally grown up in the theater,” Horton said.

Clark and Heard have “As long as they’ve been babies performed together for almost they’ve been here. They come 10 years, which has allowed home from school, they come them to perfect their act on up [to the theater] and do their stage. homework straight off of the bus “[Clark and Heard] both and then we go home after the worked their chemistry, and show.” it developed over the years,” Horton said he enjoyed his Horton said. “They just get experience as an impersonator. better and better and tighter These days, Horton manages and tighter. That happens dancers, actors and techs when you have good partners. often with the company of his You know what the other one’s 10-year-old son, Sam. going to do.”

“He sticks by my side like it’s The duo performs more his job,” Horton said. “He literally than 600 times a year, which knows everybody and everything, Photo submitted: Robb Horton (right) was one of the they admit can be tiring, but and in his mind, he probably thinks original impersonators who started the act in Branson they enjoy the opportunity to he could run the place.” during the height of Blues Brothers’ popularity. entertain people.

Horton also evaluates the “Big burly guys that auditions of hopeful impersonators wouldn’t normally even comment say, ‘We came here for Legends in Concert. He sees many acts, but Legends in because we like the Blues Brothers and you guys rock,’” Concert hires only about five per year. He said it takes more Heard said. “These big ol’ guys, that would normally never than a background in performance to be successful onstage. enjoy or come to a show, saw the Blues Brothers and they “Just because you say ‘entertainer’ doesn’t mean you had a ball. They’re out there screaming and hollering and studied song and dance,” Horton said. “It’s either something that’s what you focus on.” you have in you or you don’t.”

Aside from performing with Legends in Concert, The Blues Brothers is one of the most popular acts in Heard and Clark pursue other creative outlets. Clark runs a the show, Horton said, and it is one of only two permanent videographic side business and Heard performs in several acts at the Branson venue. Although some of the initial other shows in Branson, including his own band — The excitement of impersonation fades throughout the years, Horn Dawgs.

Clark and Heard said that they will continue performing as “If you’re an impersonator and you have another long as they can. outlet like that it helps you from being trapped in that “Certain times when you see somebody in the crowd that impersonator box,” Clark said. looks delighted and they’re thrilled about everything you’re Impersonators at Legends in Concert are expected to doing on stage, you remember, ‘You know what? Look what I have the looks, sound and mannerisms of the original stars. get to do on stage,’” Clark said.

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Bucky Heard delivers powerful rock performances as his John Belushi character.

roots eturn to your

Photo Contest Winner

SUMMER 2011

Right “Aunt Addie — 1972” Marilyn Kiss Taken in La Plata, Mo.

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DETOURS | CONTEST DETOURS | CONTEST

Facebook Fan Favorite

SUMMER 2011

Below “Coming Home” Lauryn Landacre Taken over Chicago, Ill.

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DETOURS | CONTEST

Above “Untitled” Desiree Teter Taken in Ethel, Mo. 35

SUMMER 2011

Honorable Mention

Honorable Mentions

SUMMER 2011

Right “Serenity” Bethany Williams Taken in Austria Below “History Through the Roots of Time” Willam Koch Taken in Cambodia Below, Right “Sounds of Time” Rijosh Shrestha Taken in Nepal

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SUMMER 2011

DETOURS | CONTEST

WINTER 2010

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DETOURS | MAEYSTOWN DETOURS | SHRINE

Cultivating

German Hospitality Illinois town highlights its historic roots STORY AND PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH KOCH

A

A church guards the small village of Maeystown, Ill., from the top of a hill, looking down on the stone houses that sit snug to the street.

Visitors are greeted by a flowing creek and a stone bridge that opens to the winding roads of the village. In the distance, a landscape of the bluffs of the Mississippi River can be seen. The tiny town offers historical sites to see, a local bed and breakfast for festival goers to stay and a collection of community members ready to share the history of their town.

German immigrants founded the town in 1852. Sixty historical buildings still exist throughout the village, including the stone St. John United Church of Christ and the Corner George Inn. Maeystown is listed in the state registry of historical sites and has been listed as a historic district on the national register since 1978.

Where to stay

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Winter 2010

Opposite: Watercolor illustration of one of Maeystown’s historic downtown buildings, by Rebekah Gates.

Dorothy Brandt, 85, is the president of the Maeystown Preservation Society. She said the old buildings set Maeystown apart from other communities.

“The early settlers all built like they did in old Germany with street houses, the stone walls, the rock gutters and so forth,” Brandt said.

As a tribute to the town’s heritage, services at the old stone church were spoken in German until 1943.

Stone-walled houses crowd the edges of streets, leaving originally used as a ballroom, in the main building, along spacious backyards which once were used as a garden or to with a separate suite behind the building in what used to be a have family farm animals. kitchen.

David and Marsha Braswell are an integral part of The old-time elements of the bed and breakfast attract the town and have restored several buildings throughout visitors looking for a getaway in the country. The Corner Maeystown, including the Corner George Inn. George is approximately 40 minutes from downtown St. “I fell in love with the town before that,” Marsha said.

Louis.

“Coming down the hill in the “It kind of removes you from mornings [from church] on Sunday, pressures,” Marsha said. “People I would always get this feeling like freak out about that at first when I was just going into a different they get down here and they don’t time — a quiet place, very different have cell service, and by the next feeling. So I was kind of hooked.” morning they could care less.”

Wilbert Hesterberg The Braswells bought the Chris Faulbaum and Town resident Corner George building at an Shirley Ryan of Chesterfield, Mo., auction in 1988 and opened the have stayed at the Corner George bed and breakfast a year later. The building was named after numerous times within the past 10 years and have gotten to the original owner George A. Hoffman — not to be confused know the other frequent Corner George guests. with the three other George Hoffmans who also lived on the “It’s kind of an escape to the country — it makes it a street. special night,” Faulbaum said.

George Hoffman and his wife built the Corner George in 1883, initially to be used as a hotel and saloon.

What to do The interior of the inn captures the character of the Maeystown hosts German events each year, including 1800s, including elements such as a walnut Victorian highFastnacht and Frühlingsfest. Fastnacht is a German celebration back bed and a matching marble-top dresser, lace curtains, on Shrove Tuesday, or the Tuesday before Lent. Children green Victorian wallpaper and wood-slat floors. follow tradition by dressing up and going door-to-door asking “What we want people to feel when they leave here is for treats, and there is a community pancake and sausage that they’ve been to a special place, but that it’s homey, and dinner with entertainment from a band playing traditional that they feel like they were welcome here and want to come German music. back,” Marsha said.

In the spring, an art and garden show named Frühlingsfest The Braswells also restored a building across the street takes place. Locals serve traditional German food. Later in the to include two guest suites. With both buildings, the Corner year, German festivals like Oktoberfest and the Old-Fashioned George can sleep up to 15 people.

German Christmas celebrations round out the year.

There are three guest suites and a large dining room,

SUMMER WINTER 2011 2010

“

40 38

If you call it home, you just stay there.

”

Where to visit

DETOURS | Catch Word

Up the hill from the Corner George is the stone St. John church with a log church next to it built by the early German settlers.

The log church, built in 1859, is the oldest log church in continuous use for church purposes in Illinois. Once housing the pastor, the log church was used for school on weekdays and church on Sundays. All church services were in the log church for approximately 10 years. After that, services were moved into the stone church, completed in 1866, and continued to be conducted in German until 1943.

Who to know

Wilbert and Esther Hesterberg, now 92 and 82 respectively, were born and raised in the village of Maeystown and have watched it transform. Wilbert is the oldest native citizen of the village. They sat across the table smiling at each other, their eyes lighting up as they talked about the village they’ve grown up in.

The Hesterbergs take pride in Maeystown, proven by the abundance of historical documents, books and maps they’ve kept throughout the years.

The Hesterbergs said the general atmosphere of Maeystown hasn’t changed drastically except for businesses coming and going. St. John and the Corner George are the driving forces behind the village, they said, and keep the community active in spite of the more populated surrounding areas.

Older citizens like Dorothy Brandt and the Hesterbergs share a cherished memory of sledding through town on snowy days with up to 100 others from the area.

“This hill was never clear [of snow] and we’d start at the church and go around all the cars and go all the way down and to the creek,” Esther said. “If it was frozen you got across, and if it wasn’t — you got wet.”

Esther said another reason they have never moved out of town is because their family is still nearby. The Hesterbergs raised their four children in the village and now have 17 grandchildren and 16 greatgrandchildren.

“If you call it home, you just stay there,” Wilbert said.

The Hesterbergs are still active with St. John, and they’ve never had a reason to leave Maeystown, Wilbert said.

The close-knit village provides a home for some and a getaway for others. Among St. John, the log church and the Corner George, there is a vast history in the village, which is celebrated continuously by the Maeystown citizens and annual German festivals. In the center of the Midwest farmland is a look at a culture that was built half a world away.

Maeystown Events St. John Church Fastnacht

March 8, 2011: Pancake and sausage dinner with German music

Frühlingsfest/Springfest

May 1, 2011: Antique and garden show with food fair

Oktoberfest

Old-Fashioned German Christmas

December 4, 2011: German music, food and caroling 39

WINTER 2010

October 9, 2011: Arts, crafts, antiques and food fair

Summer 2011 The outdoor market acts as a close retreat for Kansas City residents.

Meets the

Market showcases the ethnic range of Kansas City

A SUMMER 2011

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MEGAN BURIK

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A city that spreads across two states, Kansas City encompasses a diverse community of residents, uniting immigrants with midwestern farm families. Kansas City’s City Market —a shopping area and event venue located in the River Market district — is a microcosm of the city, where residents, tourists and vendors mingle among restaurants, groceries, gift shops and the farmers market.

City Market wears many masks. On a summer Friday night, it might act as a space for an outdoor concert only to transform into the farmers market by Saturday morning.

Restaurants with hometown tastes and flavors from around the world entice visitors throughout the week. Gift shops and small businesses offer a stage for an after-lunch stroll.

No matter the scene taking place in the City Market, the

skyline of Kansas City acts as a backdrop behind the heads of visitors.

“The City Market is so many things to so many different people — we do not have one true demographic because the market is open to anyone and everyone,” said Stephanie Spatz-Ornburn, former director of marketing and events. “The most common denominator is a love and a passion for food.

That’s probably the single thing that most everyone shares down here.”

One outlet for this passion is the farmers market, where fresh produce travels directly from farmer to consumer.

Spatz-Ornburn said there are 140 vendor stalls during the farmers market, 70 for farmers and the remainder for foodrelated vendors or arts and crafts. The available produce

DETOURS | CITY MARKET

such a relaxed atmosphere. “ It’s When people get here, it’s like

follows the growing season, so the early part of the season brings an influx of broccoli and lettuces, and then greater variety of crops — like tomatoes, green beans and herbs — come into season throughout the summer and into the fall.

City Market visitors are limited only by their imaginations and perhaps recipe books.

“We have a wide variety of cultures,” Spatz-Ornburn said. “Over a dozen languages are spoken at the market on a daily basis and [by] the market tenants that surround the farmers’ market. We have a variety of specialty groceries that ... have hard-to-find items that perfectly complement the produce and different elements that we have during the farmers market.”

During the peak times of the farmers market on Saturdays and Sundays, a constant stream of people flows between vendors and shops, engaging in the community of the City Market.

The farmers market visitors are not the only contributors to the commercial exchange fueled by the market. Rocky Romeo is a farmer for Goode Acres Farms in Kansas, a supplier to local restaurants who also sells at the farmers market. He stood behind a table stacked with a color spectrum – the reds of tomatoes, the greens of zucchinis and the yellows of peppers — while more produce waited in the truck behind him. He said people come with various purposes to the farmers market.

“You’ve got people who are looking for cheap produce, and people who are looking for good, farm-fresh organic produce,” he said.

Romeo said Goode Acres Farms specializes in heirloom vegetables such as purple bell peppers originally from Holland. Heirloom vegetables are crops that have withstood the test of time and modernization and might have roots in Europe, Asia or Africa.

“These are Italian heirloom eggplants called ‘rosa biancas,’” Romeo said, gesturing toward a round lavender-colored vegetable. “There’s a couple that comes and they don’t speak any English, just all Italian, and they spend $20 just on those.”

Romeo said he personally works with the produce — weeding, picking and eventually selling — which gives him a close connection to the chain of production and an intimate knowledge of the crops he sells to first-time and repeat customers.

“We have a lot of repeat customers, people we know by name,” he said. “[They] stand here and talk to us, sit on the back of the truck with us ... so there’s a lot of people who really get to know you.”

Surrounding the farmers market, restaurants, groceries and bakeries house more gastronomic temptations for every food enthusiast. For those wanting a meal with local flavor, Winslow’s Barbecue serves up Kansas City-style barbecue. For the more adventurous, Ethiopian cuisine might whet the appetite.

Daniel Fikru, co-owner of Blue Nile Café, said he came to Kansas City from Ethiopia almost 31 years ago for school.

After completing school, opening a restaurant offered an alternative to joining the workforce.

“Instead of working for somebody ... it was an opportunity to work for myself,” Fikru said.

The restaurant offers many vegetarian options as well as lamb, beef or chicken, but does not serve pork due to tradition.

they don’t have a lot of other cares in the world...

”

JANET O’TOOLE CO-OWNER OF BLOOM BAKERY COMPANY

Fikru said he purchases seasonal vegetables from the farmers market, such as jalapeños and tomatoes, to add to his recipes.

“If you go to Ethiopia, you will eat the same exact thing,” Fikru said. “People like it more authentic.”

The Blue Nile Café is just one of an eclectic assortment of flavors that draws Kansas City natives and tourists from all over to the City Market.

Janet O’Toole, co-owner of Bloom Bakery Company, said visitors from all walks of life — from businessmen to disadvantaged people and loft owners to young families — enjoy the City Market.

“It’s such a relaxed atmosphere,” O’Toole said. “When people get here, it’s like they don’t have a lot of other cares in the world, as opposed to going to other shopping areas.”

O’Toole said the bakery uses many ingredients from the farmers market including fresh peaches, potatoes and other produce as it becomes available.

Every weekend as the morning sun glints off tall buildings in downtown Kansas City, farmers like Romeo set up shop in the City Market with fresh crops. Local restaurant owners like Fikru and O’Toole search the market for local ingredients to add totheir recipes. Visitors from all walks of life browse the farmers market and surrounding shops before sitting down for a fresh lunch at a local restaurant.

ns

e t HostelHeigh Culture

Columnist seeks hometown adventure STORY AND PHOTOS BY JESSICA RAPP

WINTER 2010

S

Tom Cochran based the name of his hostel off of the character from Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Cochran said the adventurous and honest Finn would have made a parfect hosteller.

44

St. Louis seems bland to me lately. Jazz shows elicit less finger-snapping, the Arch appears less colossal and the toasted ravioli feels less crunchy since I spent my last two summers trekking across China.

Needing a cure for my doldrums, I yearned to interact in real time with a melting pot of personalities like I had done for three weeks in China’s youth hostels. Within the crammed pages of a guidebook, a youth hostel simply looks like another place to stay, albeit with an attractive price. Travelers quickly find that they’re paying for much more than a dorm bed — they’re experiencing cultural cultivation without booking costly tours.

In China, my personal “cultivation” involved guzzling $1 bags of Tsingtao beer, discussing photojournalism with Belgians, watching “Amélie” with a French tourist who had never seen the movie and cheering on a Mongolian tween in traditional dress performing her well-rehearsed moves to Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.” And it was all thanks to the resources of China’s youth hostels.

I didn’t expect to find anything but Holiday Inns and Super 8s in my hometown, and their cold, contemporary décor and secure suites hardly create a vibe for comfortable socializing. A Google search, however, led me to the Huckleberry Finn Youth Hostel, located on a cobblestone street in the Soulard District.

It had it all: the maps, the brochures, the vintage-style kitchen that’s seen years

of spills and burnt toast, the bunk beds stuffed into cozy rooms, She explained to me that a work exchange program at her the warm wood furnishings, the worn piano and even a few university placed her both in a St. Louis café and Huck Finn friendly cats. Instantly, I felt oddly at home without realizing Hostel so she could expand her English language and cultural that countless others had felt the same way at some point since experience. the hostel’s opening in 1975.

“Coming to St. Louis was a good present because I didn’t Tom Cochran, owner and operator of Huck Finn Hostel, imagine how friendly people from America could be,” Delboni created this travelers’ pit stop with inspiration from his father, said. “The first impression that we have is that you like to stay a school teacher from the East Coast who traveled to Europe in just America with just Americans and don’t like to mix with in 1936 through an international exchange program. Cochran’s other cultures.” father took advantage of a European government system, still I asked Delboni how she managed without a car in in effect today, that financially supports networks of hostels St. Louis’s labyrinth of side streets and dealt with a public in the continent’s small cities and towns. What might have transportation system designed for snails. She said it took her been simply a cheap place to sleep for others made a lasting up to an hour and a half via bus or MetroLink to arrive to her impression on Cochran’s father. job that was a mere 15 minutes away by car. I sympathized “When I was a young child, we’d travel around camping, with her, remembering my uncomfortable, hour-long bus rides and whenever he’d see an old farm or an old barn, he would from my home into downtown during the summers I worked in say ‘Oh, that would make Soulard. a great youth hostel,’” Luckily, Cochran Cochran said. “And then willingly provides rides he’d tell us all the stories to those who need them, of staying in youth hostels especially from the in Europe when he was a train station or airport. I college kid.” imagined his method of Cochran, who studied taxiing doesn’t involve a architecture at Washington jeep driven at 80-miles-per University in St. Louis, hour by an aged Mongolian noticed the 19th century named Revolution, as was style structure common my experience in China, to the Soulard historic but it is nevertheless district. He decided it too effective and convenient, would make a great youth like the perks of most hostel. He and his wife hostels. spent the first 30 years Delboni was able in business as part of to experience firsthand Hosteling International, a the hodgepodge of not-for-profit organization international guests that that networks hostels call Huck Finn their home around the world. during the winter months, Since 2005, the but Cochran said about Cochrans have been 75 percent of his business independent from occurs during the summer.

Hosteling International and, In recent years, visitors thanks to Google searches from Lithuania, Scotland, like my own, still receive England, France, Taiwan an influx of visitors from and Brazil have slept there. both inside and outside the A university organization U.S., totaling an annual from the Midwest eager to 2,500 overnights. Cochran visit the City Museum, an charges $25 per night but Iowan working a temp job negotiates special rates in St. Louis and a nomadic for guests who need a minor league baseball long-term place to stay, player from the East Coast like students who are a also have passed through part of cultural exchange the hostel’s welcoming Three dorms containing 34 beds make up the hostel’s sleeping programs. For a discounted accommodations. He said visit, these travelers might help arrangments. some guests have stayed for up with maintenance, cleaning or to 11 months. secretarial duties.

One particular visitor pays the overnight fee every That is how I met 21-year-old Danielle Delboni. She had summer in addition to painting, cutting the grass and doing flown straight to Lambert Airport in St. Louis all the way from maintenance, without asking Cochran for reimbursement for Espirito Santo, Brazil, in November. I instantly wondered his extra work. why she would tolerate thickly frozen sidewalks and teeth“If I had a hostel full of people like that, it would be a chattering temperatures over tropical bliss. dream,” Cochran said. “If everyone in the country was like

45

SUMMER 2011

DETOURS | HUCK HOSTEL

Danielle Delboni, 21, journeyed from Brazil to St. Louis as part of her university’s work-exchange program. Her time at the youth hostel has been spent making friends from around the world.

SUMMER 2011

him, it would be a different world. We’re hoping that he comes back next summer.”

At this point, my vision of Huck Finn Hostel seemed to be a place less for tourists hoping to sample a bit of St. Louis’s rich history and more of a hub for doing household chores, but Cochran assured me this wasn’t true — journeyers both passing through and staying for longer periods enjoy taking in the sights of St. Louis, especially the museums and of course, the Arch.

He also confirmed that the living environment was the familiar mix of college dorm life and hotel exclusivity, which has its pros and cons. Phlegmy snoring: con. 4 a.m. alarm: con. Hiding the remote to the air-conditioner: con.

Having the chance to easily meet people from around the world: big pro.

In fact, for Cochran, the culture in the dorms has paralleled watching 35 years of nonstop CNN and the History Channel.

“You can see European history right in the dorms — you can see the British feuding with the French and the Germans,” he said. “We’ve had Palestinians and Israelis staying together, and we get into a discussion about what’s

46

going on in that part of the world. Once I’ve opened my hostel, I really don’t have to read the newspaper. I go down to the commons room and ask who’s from where, ask a few questions and get something going. Then you can hear it from the people who actually live there.”

After meeting the tenants and chatting with Cochran, I decided it was high time that I looked into booking my own overnight stay at Huck Finn. However, there was one problem.

“There’s an unwritten rule that if you’re from St. Louis, you can’t stay at our hostel,” Cochran said. “And the reason for that is because if you’re from St. Louis, and if your family doesn’t want you staying with them, then something is not right. That’s true of any hostel in any city.”

Cochran was right: a hostel-goer is someone with a sense of adventure, and for my own fulfillment that meant roaming the diverse cities of China and staying in places like Mama Naxi’s hostel in Yunnan Province with paper lanterns and squatting toilets.

All other Midwesterners looking for adventure closer to home are welcome at Huck Finn.

DETOURS | CONTEST GUIDELINES

WINTER

The theme for the Winter 2011 photo contest is Energy and Motion.

The contest is open to any and all types of photos. Entries must include the photographer’s name, address and telephone number, as well as the location and title of the photo. We also encourage contestants to include a short caption.

The deadline for entries is October 14, 2011. The winning photo will be published in the Winter 2011 issue, and the winner will receive a free, two-year subscription to Detours.

For full rules and regulations, visit www.detoursmagazine.com.

Submissions may be emailed to:

photo@detoursmagazine.com.

First Place RETURN TO YOU ROOTS

Summer 2011

By Marilyn Kiss

By Lauryn Landacre

47

SUMMER 2011

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EVENTS IN

ILLINOIS JUNE

MAY Reds, Whites and Blues Festival May 4 • Makanda Anchoring the eastern end of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, Blue Sky Vineyards offers a taste of Tuscany in the hills of southern Illinois. Enjoy awardwinning Illinois wines, local artisans and live blues music. For more information, call 618-9959463.

Rasmus Memorial Static Display and Flying Demonstration May 14 • Freeport Enjoy a static display of newly built, favorite and unusual airplanes. Members will be available to answer questions about building and flying model airplanes. A cookout and dish-

to-pass supper is included. For more information, call 815-2335208.

Blooming Fest May 21 • West Chicago The annual downtown garden festival combines a plant sale with a craft show, art gallery exhibits and demonstrations, car exhibit, children’s activities, music, food and fun. For more information, call 630-293-2200.

Flavors of Greece May 27-29 • St. Charles Come enjoy authentic Greek cuisine, pastries and bakery goods with music and dancing, performances, the Greek Market Place and a child-friendly amusement area. For more information, call 630-851-6106.

Strawberry Jazz Festival June 5 • Kankakee Enjoy the many talents of local musicians, artists and crafters, plus the sweet desserts and strawberries available. A new feature this year will be a Pet Parade with prizes for the best strawberry or jazz-related costume. For more information, call 815932-5279.

Pride of the Fox Riverfest June 10-12 • St. Charles Riverfest provides different entertainment than your typical festival, featuring the annual running of the ancient sport of dragon boat racing, a 40-ton Fantasy Sand Sculpture, as well as an assortment of events and entertainment for all ages.

For more information, visit www.prideofthefox.com.

Libertyville Days Festival June 16-19 • Libertyville Come out with the family and enjoy live entertainment, carnival rides for children and adults, food vendors, a beer tent, an arts and craft fair and more. There also will be a parade, a children’s party, a tween and teen dance, and a Corvette and Chevy Street Rod Show. For more information, visit www. libciviccenter.org.

Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA June 23-26 • St. Charles See and bid on thousands of original and special collection Corvettes. For more information, visit www. bloomingtongold.com/

JULY Thee Old Time Farm Show July 1-3 • Bradley Learn about early farm life through working tractors, threshers and steam engines from the past century. Stroll through rows of old tractors and equipment and visit the operating exhibits of old gas engines, a steam engine, the sawmill, threshing and corn

shelling. For more information, call 815-935-7390.

Navy Pier Fireworks July 4 • Chicago The Navy Pier has fireworks each Wednesday and Saturday during the summer, but the best are shot off to celebrate America’s independence. For more information, visit www. navypier.com.

Buffalo Grove Fine Art Festival July 16-17 • Buffalo Grove Buffalo Grove is one of the most diverse and fastestgrowing communities in the Chicagoland area. The Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Art Festival draws artists from a wide range of locations, including the United States, Canada and Israel. For more

information, call 847-459-2518.

Ridgefest July 28-31 • Chicago Ridge This annual festival with bands and acts includes diverse ethnic food vendors, a huge carnival, arts and crafts, special guests and children’s entertainment. For more information, call 708-425-7700.

AUGUST

SUMMER 2011

Lake Villa Days August 4-7 • Lake Villa Come out with the family for rides, games, bingo, music, food and much more. There also will be the annual firefighters’ water fight. For more information, call 847-356-6100.

Kite Festival August 13-14 • Glencoe Enjoy soaring stunt kite performances set to music by

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members of the Chicago Fire Kite Team and members of the Kite Society of Wisconsin and Illinois. The Chicago Fire Kite Team has been competing and demonstrating team sport kite ballet and precision since 1986.

For more information, call 847853-5440.

Fine Arts &Wine Festival August 20-21 • Long Grove More than 90 artists will display

and sell paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more.

In addition to the artwork available for purchase at the fair, many of the artists take commissions and will create one-of-a-kind pieces for art enthusiasts. Live music and great food all day Saturday and Sunday will add to the enjoyment of this annual event.

For more information, call 847634-0888.

Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival August 26-28 • Lincoln Come out to the airport in Logan County to experience the beauty and wonder of Hot Air Balloons in flight. Activities include several balloon launches, evening balloon glows, musical entertainment, food, an art and craft show named the Art of Wine, and much more. For more information, call 217-735-2385.

DETOURS | CALENDAR

EVENTS IN

IOWA MAY Homemade Ice Cream Social May 1 • Mason City Make and sample delicious homemade ice cream, enjoy music and games, and watch craftsmen demonstrating their techniques at the Kinney Pioneer Museum. For more information, call 641-423-1258.

Art in Motion Dance Gala May 6 • Fairfield

Enjoy art exhibits, food and music around the square, celebrating the artistry of human form in motion. For more information, call 641233-8883.

fair. Enjoy Victorian music, a melodrama, old-fashioned carnival games and the 1875 traveling museum of curiosities and pony rides. For more information, call 515-278-5286.

Farmers Carnival May 14-15 • Urbandale Tour the farm sites in the morning, and spend the afternoon in the town of Walnut Hill for a small town

Orange City Tulip Festival May 19-21 • Orange City Celebrate Dutch heritage with traditional Dutch dancing and games, two daily parades,

JUNE Iowa State BBQ Championship June 24-25 • Marshalltown Register as a judge or cook, or just come out to enjoy the delicious food and live music.

For more information, call 641-752-3302.

Iowa Arts Festival June 3-5 • Iowa City Enjoy more than 100 regional artists at the art fair, local and national musical entertainment on the main stage, family entertainment, Culinary Row, Global Village, Children’s Day and strolling entertainers. For more information, call 319337-7944.

Party in the Park June 10 • Charles City This family friendly event includes live musical entertainment, children’s games and activities, food and

thousands of beautiful tulips, traditional Dutch costumes and food, and evening shows.

For more information, call 712707-4510.

Friday Fest May 27 • Burlington This after-hours celebration features live music, food and fun on the Burlington riverfront.

For more information, call 319752-6365.

JULY

beverages in Central Park. For more information, call 641228-2335.

Fredericksburg Dairy Days June 7-8 • Fredericksburg This event begins Tuesday with midway rides, street sports for the kids and the Old Timers Softball Game followed by fireworks. The fun continues Wednesday with a morning and evening parade and entertainment for young and old. For more information, call 563-237-5725.

Dam to Dam June 4 • Des Moines Join thousands of other runners in the largest 20 kilometer race in the country, or participate in Iowa’s largest 5K. For more information, visit www. damtodam.com.

The Big Parade July 1 • Sioux City Mardi Gras-themed parade featuring floats, musical acts and a competition for the best parade entry. Fireworks and an outdoor concert follow the parade. For more information, call 712-2794800.

80/35 Music Festival July 2-3 • Des Moines The fourth year of the festival will bring tons of music from some of the best progressive indie and jam bands out there. For more information, visit www. desmoinesmc.com.

Family Night in the Park July 7 • Guttenberg Come enjoy an event with open-air entertainment along

the Mississippi River with the 312th Army Band. For more information, call 563-5252323.

Iowa State H.O.G. Rally July 14-16 • Pella Come together with fellow motorcyclists and embark on a three-day tour of the state from a new perspective. For more information, visit www. iastatehogrally.com.

LakeFest July 22-24 • Lakefest The weekend includes an Art Sail, Iowa Storytelling Festival and Lakeside DixieFest. Stick around for free performances by the Midwest’s finest storytellers and traditional Dixieland jazz by five professional jazz bands. For more information, call 641357-2159.

Double D Rodeo August 5-6 • Toledo The events of this ranch rodeo simulate what cowboys did for work each day on the ranch. Come out to enjoy the competition, food and music.

For more information, call 641-484-4375.

Great Mississippi Valley Fair August 2-7 • Davenport

One of the largest fairs in Iowa offers a wide range of entertainment. Nationally recognized artists like Darrius Rucker and the Steve Miller Band will deliver nightly music.

For more information, call 563-326-5338.

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Golf Classic August 12 • Knoxville Have the chance to meet and

play golf with some of your favorite Sprint car drivers. For more information, call 800874-4488.

Mantastic Guyathlon August 12-14 • Dubuque The ultimate guy weekend includes golfing, bowling, bean bags and a softball homerun derby. For more information, call 563-690-8804.

Iowa State Fair August 11-21 • Des Moines This August extravaganza inspired the novel “State Fair,” three motion pictures and a feature in the New York Times bestseller “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.” Celebrating 100 years of the fair’s world-famous butter cow. For more information, visit www. iowastatefair.org.

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SUMMER 2011

AUGUST

EVENTS IN

MISSOURI JUNE

MAY St. Louis Microfest May 6-8 • St. Louis St. Louis’ premiere craftbeer-tasting festival returns for its 16th year. Visitors ages 21 years and older will be able to sample more than 80 craft beers and 50 international beers. For more information, call 314-588-0007.

Apple Blossom Festival May 7 • St. Joseph Share the spirit of St. Joseph’s annual rite of spring. This festival centers around a parade and includes barbecue challenges and queen and princess contests.

For more information, call 816-233-6688.

Campfire Cooking Demonstration May 14 • Trenton Sample and learn how to easily make campsite meals using everything from aluminum foil to Dutch ovens. For more information, call 660-359-6473.

Heart of the Ozarks Summer Blast May 21 • Lebanon This festival on the historic Route 66 includes a barbecue showdown, swap meet, a variety of vendors and live music. This event also features a car and motorcycle show with 16 classes, as well as specialty awards for longest distance traveled and largest group participating. For more information, call 417-532-4642.

Bonne Terre Mine Treasure Hunt June 4 • Bonne Terre In this scuba diving treasure hunt, you’ll dive twice and search for tokens in four areas of the Bonne Terre Mine. Use the tokens you find to bid on more than $30,000 in donated dive resorts, liveaboard trips and dive gear.

For more information, call 888-843-3483.

Katy Trail Relaxed Bicycle Tour June 18-24 • St. Louis Take a deep breath, unwind and spend a carefree week bicycling across Missouri, soaking up everything the trail has to offer. For more information, call 800-755-2453.

Fossil Day at Mastodon State Historic Site June 11 • Imperial Bring the entire family to hunt through fossil-bearing gravel piles. A variety of fossils spanning the geologic history of Missouri will be on display.

Guided tours to the former excavation site will be offered.

For more information, call 636-464-2976.

Bar-b-Que and Blues June 25-26 • New Haven Robller Vineyard Winery features live blues music during this event, where plates of barbecue food, cheese sausage, snacks and soft drinks will be available. For more information, call 573237-3986.

JULY 134th Veiled Prophet Parade July 2 • St. Louis This annual parade is one of St. Louis’ most enduring family traditions. The parade features giant helium balloons, elaborate custom-built floats, a spirited competition among marching bands and more than 100 units.

For more information, visit www.vpparade.org.

July 4 Independence Day

Celebration July 4 • Windsor There are food booths, games, activities and music throughout the day. Fireworks over the park and lake begin at dusk. For more information, call 660-6472318.

Stone Hill Winery in Hermann for three days of toe-tappin’ Bayou music. Cajun dancers from Louisiana will perform authentic Cajun dances. Cajun food also will be available. For more information, visit www. stonehillwinery.com.

Cajun Concert on the Hill July 8-10 • Hermann Ed Gary and the Louisiana Cajun Aces, a Cajun band from the bayous of Louisiana, will be at

AquaPalooza July 16 • Osage Beach MarineMax invites all boaters to AquaPalooza, the Lake’s largest family boating event. Join

them for an afternoon filled with boating, family, friends, great music, games and giveaways. For more information, visit www.aquapalooza.com.

KC Fringe Festival July 21-31 • Kansas City Now in its seventh year, the KC Fringe Festival is a city wide celebration of local, regional and national artists.

For more information, visit 816-842-9999.

AUGUST

SUMMER 2011

Back to School Kid’s Free Fishing Day August 20 • Cassville Bring your kids to Roaring River State Park for educational instruction in trout fishing and fish cleaning. Awards will be handed out to successful fishermen. For more information, call 417-847-2539.

Lake Shootout August 22-28 • Sunrise Beach This annual event features a

50

full week of activities with boat races Saturday and Sunday.

Last year, a Shootout record was broken when a boat reached 208 MPH. For more information, call 573-374-5852.

Battle of Athens Reenactment August 6-7 • Revere Watch a reenactment of the original battle that took place in August 1861. For more information, call 660-877-3871.

Glasgow 175th Birthday and Heritage Ways Festival August 12-14 • Glasgow The river-bluff town of Glasgow will celebrate its 175 years of existence through demonstrations of 1800s and 1900s farm and town life.

The event includes old farm implements, growing and processing tobacco, period crafts, musical, museum and historic library tours. For

more information, call 660338-2576.

Leavenworth County Fair August 9-13 • Tonganoxie Enjoy a classic county fair atmosphere complete with carnival rides, animal exhibits, booths, food and plenty of other entertainment opportunities. For more information, call 913-684-7502.

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