Mankato Magazine

THE VERY BEST Also in this issue: Cool off with a smoothie at KARSHE Meet KEYC’s TOM CLEMENTS

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JULY 2021

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1 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

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FEATURE S JULY 2021 Volume 16, Issue 7

16

The very best The annual Best of Mankato is back.

Check out this year’s winners.

ABOUT THE COVER Each year we pick one of the winners for the cover and this year, that’s the owner of Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar, Alexa Swindell Prosser. Photo by Pat Christman MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 3

DEPARTMENTS 6

From the Editor

8

This Day in History

9

Avant Guardians Lisa Petersen

10 Beyond the Margin

9

Summer(time) in a bottle

12 Familiar Faces Tom Clements

14 Day Trip Destinations La Crosse, Wisconsin

64 Let’s Eat!

Karshe Tea

10

66 Beer

CBD: Blowing smoke or catching fire?

68 Community Draws Historic home tour

70 Lit Du Nord: Minnesota Books and Authors ‘Evidence of V’

by Sheila O’ Connor

64

68

72 Ann’s Fashion Fortunes Questions of the coif

74 Garden Chat Heavy lifting

76 From This Valley

The third annual Steinies

70 4 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

72

Coming in August Small-town life

Thank You

For Voting Us Mankato’s #1 Jewelry Store!

1601 Adams Street | 507-345-1658 | ExclusivelyDiamonds.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 5

FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

By Diana Rojo-Garcia JULY 2021 • VOLUME 16, ISSUE 7 PUBLISHER Steve Jameson EDITOR Joe Spear ASSOCIATE Diana Rojo-Garcia EDITOR COPY EDITOR Kathy Vos CONTRIBUTORS Bert Mattson Dan Greenwood Jean Lundquist Kat Baumann Leticia Gonzalez Ann Rosenquist Fee Pete Steiner Nell Musolf

PHOTOGRAPHER Pat Christman

PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING Danny Creel SALES Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Theresa Haefner Tim Keech ADVERTISING Barb Wass ASSISTANT ADVERTISING Christina Sankey DESIGNER CIRCULATION Justin Niles DIRECTOR

Mankato Magazine is published by The Free Press Media monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001.

To subscribe, call 1-800-657-4662 or 507-625-4451. $35.40 for 12 issues.

For all editorial inquiries, call Diana Rojo-Garcia 507-344-6305, or email drojogarcia@mankatofreepress.com.

For advertising, call 344-6364, or e-mail advertising@mankatofreepress.com.

6 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mankato’s GOATS A

fresh breath of air after 16 months of pandemic can finally occur for many of us during these summer months.

Festivals, fairs and concerts announce dates. Restaurants and bars fill with patrons.

Smiles, which were hidden behind masked faces, light up the stores and sidewalks.

Normalcy.

Throughout the pandemic, the community brought out the best in most of us. It demanded creativity and ingenuity for businesses and individuals alike; it meant innovation and perseverance to keep afloat whether personally or professionally. Empathy and understanding became more common.

And that’s a new normal I can stand by. As we venture into new routines, it’s important to acknowledge those who went above and beyond to continue doing great things in our community. Front-line essential workers, we salute you.

You’re truly the essence of being the GOAT. We wouldn’t be anywhere without our medical professionals taking on the COVID crisis, guiding us through each and every step; taking care of our families while also tending to their own; educating themselves and others to keep our communities safe.

Everyone who worked in customer service, retail and hospitality — you kept us going.

Stocking shelves, greeting us with eye smiles, helping in any way possible from bagging our groceries and preparing our dinners for takeout.

Business owners, you adapted to keep providing the services we depended on.

Those in the education system and in nonprofits, our bus drivers and truck drivers,

veterinarians, automobile technicians, bankers and more — the community simply couldn’t have made it without you.

With this year’s Best of issue — the most popular issue — our readers took to the polls a few months back to nominate individuals and businesses to recognize some of these outstanding people. And we’re proud to announce those winners in each category — a glimpse of the last 12 months — in this year’s issue.

Despite the rough year of uncertainties, trepidation and Zoom exhaustion, I think everyone in Mankato attests to one thing: This community within itself is truly the Best of Mankato 2021.

Also in this issue: ■ Weather’s getting nicer and we all want to just get out of our sofa nests. Head over to this month’s Day Trip. Writer Nell Musolf guides us through a fun-filled day in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

■ Rollin’ on. Meet the artist, Lisa Petersen, who just happens to be a tattoo artist too and has a rolling tattoo parlor in Avant Guardians.

■ Check out Familiar Faces and meet one of the staffers behind KEYC’s weather, Tom Clements (did you know his first love was opera?).

■ And the Steinie goes to …

Drumroll please … Flip to the end of this issue for Pete Steiner’s legendary Steinies.

Diana Rojo-Garcia is associate editor of Mankato Magazine.

Contact her at drojogarcia@ mankatofreepress.com

GREENER DAYS AHEAD Great golf happens on great courses. And courses don’t get better than the ones on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. With 11 locations, 26 courses and more than 400 championship holes, the toughest challenge may be deciding which one to play first.

Our golf courses and staff are ready to welcome you back to the legendary RTJ Golf Trail.

Summer and fall golf packages available. We are open and will be here waiting for you.

Visit rtjgolf.com.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 7

THIS DAY IN HISTORY Compiled by Jean Lundquist

Minneopa birthday party to go on

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July 2, 2005 Minnesota’s governor and the state Legislature reached an impasse that shut down the entire state government in 2005. Minneopa State Park’s birthday party was in peril, as all state parks were shuttered.

But enough pressure was applied to the state politicians that the state parks system was reopened for the Fourth of July holiday. “Minneopa Memories,” as the park’s 100th birthday party was called, was back on. Dixieland music, old-time games, free cake and root-beer floats were offered.

Minnesota’s governor and the state Legislature reached an impasse that shut down the entire state government in 2005. Minneopa State Park’s birthday party was in peril, as all state parks were shuttered.

But enough pressure was applied to the state politicians that the state parks system was reopened for the Fourth of July holiday. “Minneopa Memories,” as the park’s 100th birthday party was called, was back on. Dixieland music, old-time games, free cake and root-beer floats were offered.

Toe bitten by a rat

July 7, 1914 The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Von Reiner was brought to Mankato from his rural home with a well-gnawed toe. The child was asleep in a carriage in his parents’ bedroom when his crying awoke them. They saw a rat jump from the carriage.

In Mankato, the attending doctor told the media that the child’s fever reached 103 degrees (in the days before patient privacy was an important thing). He also said it was the first such injury in Mankato, to his knowledge.

The boy was 2 months old.

Tilt-A-Whirl still spinning success

July 3, 1995 In 1995, the Tilt-A-Whirl turned 69 years old and was still being manufactured by the family of the man who invented it in Faribault. Herbert Sellner was the inventor, and Sellner Manufacturing in Faribault built it.

The ride was popular in amusement parks and at fairs across the country — and still is. The goal was to create a ride parents and their kids could ride and enjoy together.

As technology changed, the design of the ride also changed. But the spinning and whirling of the ride was only improved. The Sellner family built the ride until 2011, when Sellner Manufacturing was sold to Larson International and moved to Texas as a result.

THANK YOU MANKATO! The Free Press

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AVANT GUARDIANS

By Leticia Gonzales

GOT INK? Artist hits the road with traveling tattoo parlor

L

ast March, Lisa Petersen had just completed her in-home licensed tattoo shop, Got Ink? Tattoos, in Windom but was soon blindsided by the pandemic.

“I had done three or four tattoos and COVID hit, shut us down,” Petersen said.

“I really couldn’t play around with it. My partner of 30 years has an immune deficiency disorder. We took COVID very seriously.”

Petersen, who labels herself as an artist who tattoos, studied art and youth ministry at Bethany Lutheran College. After college, she spent a short time using her youth ministry degree as a youth coordinator in the Twin Cities. She went on to Colorado where she worked for a furniture design company and was even commissioned to do a mural in downtown Denver.

In 2000, Petersen started her own web-based training business, which allowed her to use her graphic arts skills. In 2007, she decided to enter a new field — tattooing — after a friend in Windom decided to retire as an artist. He taught her the safety and hygiene aspects of the business, and she opened her own storefront.

Fast forward to 2020 with lockdown precautions in place, Petersen’s business took a hit. The health of her partner, Denise Houston, also declined.

“In February, she was put in a wheelchair that was super heavy,” Petersen said. “I was no longer able to do it. We got a van — it’s silver. It is the Silver Lining. It’s better than a name, it’s the actual thing.”

After making the decision to move her partner into a care facility due to her medical issues, she decided to sell their home.

“I am going nomad.” Petersen said. “The latest and greatest thing. I am hitting the road.”

With clients all over the United States, Petersen decided to transform her silver van into a traveling licensed tattoo parlor.

“I am taking the career out of my home and taking to the road. I am hoping to do some backstories on clients.

There is always a story with a tattoo.”

Whether a client gets a tattoo for a new marriage, a recent graduation or divorce, or because they are at a crossroads in their life, Petersen wants their stories to be a part of her journey.

“I think in pictures; I say that all the time,” she said.

“More than not, the drawing that I put in front of them — that’s exactly what I was thinking. In that way, my two loves — counseling and art — really have come together in tattooing.

“There are times when the artwork that I am doing is remorseful and people have slipped into tears and you find yourself counseling in that. Other times it’s very celebratory.”

A cartoonist at heart, Petersen said her inspiration as an airbrushed artist comes in a roundabout way when she is creating a tattoo for a client.

“I try not to reflect myself in somebody else’s artwork.

It goes right back to,‘I am an artist who knows how to tattoo.’ It’s just a different brush and a different pen that I hold in my hand.”

After an estate sale, Petersen is heading to Casper, Wyoming, on July 1 with her English sheepdog in tow. Then Montana is on the itinerary, followed by the Pacific Northwest and down the coast of California.

Michigan and Virginia are also possibilities.

“I am 58 years old,” Petersen said. “I am very freespirited. I know I can make my own way. I have done that for a long time.”

Follow Petersen on her YouTube Channel, “Pete’s Daily Bread: A Vanlife Journal” at https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCx4qupg5Jl5ClhoR1zLeLBA or at www.facebook.com/ gotinkwindom

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 9

BEYOND THE MARGIN

By Joe Spear

Summer(time) in a bottle A

s summer arrives, it seems a mad rush ensues to get all those fun summer things done in the short time we have. Fall is “just around the corner,” we say.

Make a list. Coordinate schedules. Get the food by noon and the beer by 3, and then be ready to entertain for hours. Don’t forget to cut the grass first.

By the time it’s done, we need a break from a hectic summer involving relaxing activities like fishing, swimming, boating, backyard barbecues, a night at the concert and a day at the fair.

It’s summer and time is short. So we tell ourselves.

And then by the Fourth of July we’re saying: “Summer’s half over.” Enter frowny carnival clown face.

Of course, this is nowhere near reality if we’re talking about the season of summer.

Consider summer starting June 20 and fall starting Sept. 22. That gives us 14 weeks or so of summer. July 4 would be the third week of summer, so about a fourth of the summer is gone

by July 4. Half would be a slight exaggeration. I feel better already.

Numerous articles by various smart people writing in Psychology Today note the importance of time and the impact it can have on our mental health and stress levels.

A few headlines: “Time speeds up in flow states on video games.” A fascinating article with a bit of advice if you think your kids play too many video games: “Flow during video gaming is an optimal mental state characterized by deep absorption during challenging tasks.”

And: “In healthy individuals flow states induced during a video game increase subjective wellbeing and the felt passage of time.”

Importantly: “Flow states induce a loss of sense of self and time and can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

Another scintillating piece in PT posits: “Color affects our subjective well-being and sense of time.”

Red and yellows create nervousness and tension while blues and greens create a sense of calm. That explains loud, souped-up red pickup trucks and yellow Camaros and, of course, the people who drive them.

Writer Mark Wittman, Ph.D., indeed, says: “The Arousal Theory of Color posits that longer wavelengths, such as red and yellow, are 10 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

perceived as more activating, whereas colors of shorter wavelengths, such as green and blue, are experienced as more relaxing.”

Another Psychology Today blogger argues routine creates an appearance of time going faster, so as kids grow up with lots of routine, the parents find themselves saying to each other at grad parties: “Where has the time gone?”

And then there’s this pandemic-related piece: Three studies of time showed 40% of people thought time passed more slowly during the pandemic and boredom was on the rise as well.

Seems obvious. And reports of people driving over 100 mph to reduce boredom make a little more sense.

But Wittman also says boredom can be selfinflicted and only our ability to “self-regulate” can save us. In the words of Wittman: “To be bored means to be bored with myself. I cannot stand the presence of myself at this moment; I would prefer to be distracted from myself.”

Whether we’re good at self-regulating or not, time is a force to be reckoned with.

Songwriters have long used time as a way to relate to our shared experiences that happen in the summer.

Bruce Springsteen has a knack for celebrating time and lamenting time lost.

From “Racing in the Street”: “The summer’s here and the time is right to go racing in the street.”

From “Born to Run”: “In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American Dream.

At night we drive through mansions of glory in suicide machines.”

Time stands as one of those concepts we can’t get our minds around. How can the light of a star that burned out thousands of years ago just be reaching us now? How does Santa make it around the world in just one night?

Ultimately, it seems time is mind over matter.

It’s better to make time count than to count time.

The irises may go from bud to bloom in a day and be done in a few weeks, but their purplish hue soothes and their light will be seen thousands of years from now in a faraway place.

Joe Spear is editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress.com or 344-6382.

Follow on Twitter @jfspear.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 11

FAMILIAR FACES

Weather Man Clements delivers morning, midday forecasts on KEYC

T

Photos by Pat Christman

NAME:

Tom Clements HOMETOWN:

Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Raised in Evergreen, Colorado.

FAVORITE DINOSAUR: Tyrannosaurus rex

FAVORITE CLOUD: Mammatus cloud

BEST SITCOM OF ALL TIME:

“Fraser” or “30 Rock” depending on my mood.

12 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

om Clements is known for his humor during local television broadcasts. Before KEYC, Clements reported and anchored the entertainment block for Channel 98 Bear News — the student newscast at University of Northern Colorado. He also worked for KOAA Colorado Springs where he began his career as a studio crew member for the morning show.

He joined the KEYC team in 2017 as the weekend meteorologist. Four years later, Clements took on delivering the morning and midday forecasts. And he’s also known for his top-notch memes and posts on his social media (one of Clements’ recent postings had 133 shares). Get to know the man behind the forecast.

MANKATO MAGAZINE: Before we get started, you used to be an opera singer. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?

TOM CLEMENTS: Of course! When I got out of high school, I had hopes and dreams of going into the musical theater program at the University of Northern Colorado … That didn’t happen, mostly because I had a falling out with one of the professors. So I “switched sides” so to say. I openly auditioned for operatic performances while I was a journalism major. I still love musical theater, though.

MM: What initially got you into pursuing meteorology?

TC: Weather was always fascinating to me, and from a very young age I always enjoyed watching the local news, and I thought the weather people had the most fun. Like Al Roker. You learned something, and you had a laugh too! I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Tell stories, educate, but also have a lot of fun. I like that…

I also like the saying by Mark Twain that still holds true to me today: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

MM: What are some things you enjoy doing on your off time?

TC: My wife and I enjoy cooking and gardening. That kind of goes hand in hand. My wife does the flowers and the herbs, and I do the vegetables.

If I have a few moments to myself (hard to do with two kids), I can usually be found playing a video game. Well, these days I find myself taking naps more often.

MM: What is a meteorological fact that people might find surprising?

TC: Hmmm … I don’t know where this old urban legend came from, but tornadoes can cross rivers.

Tornado activity can exist anywhere where the conditions are right, and we’ve seen it happen here in southern Minnesota before, like the St. Peter tornado in 1998.

It’s just one of those old myths that I like to bust.

Other than that, I like that you can determine the air temperature from counting cricket chirps. It gives you a rough estimate, anyway. You count the number of chirps in a 15-second period and then add 37, it gets you the outside air temperature. An approximation anyway. Fun party trick.

MM: What’s something that people might find surprising about you?

TC: I’m 6’7, which really doesn’t show up well on the weather wall.

That’s one of the comments I hear a lot when I’m out and about. ‘Wow. I didn’t realize you were so tall.’

Another interesting fact is that I am Canadian. I recently applied for American citizenship and I am just waiting to take the test.

MM: You gotta tell us about circumnavigating the globe.

TC: It was amazing!

It was a foreign exchange program that I took part in during my senior year in college called Semester At Sea. I traveled on a ship with 737 students, traveling 26,605 nautical miles over the course of 108 days to 14 different ports of call and 13 countries. There’s so much, I don’t know how you could put it all on one page. Just a few highlights: I danced in the streets of Salvador, Brazil during Carnival, went on safari in South Africa, saw the Taj Mahal in India, climbed the Great Wall of China and traveled through the locks of the Panama Canal… just to name a few. The trip of a lifetime!

also really good for a laugh.

Always on the lookout for something new.

MM: What are you most excited about to get back to normal?

TC: Theater and shows! Can’t wait to watch some live theater… or act in something. ;) MM: Anything else you’d like to add?

TC: I’ve always liked this quote: “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”

— E. E. Cummings Compiled by Diana Rojo-Garcia

MM: If you could do anything for 24 hours without any consequences, what would you do?

TC: Unlimited spending privileges on Amazon sounds like a lot of fun.

Let’s go with that. $$$ MM: Your social media has some awesome memes. What’s your favorite meme to date?

TC: I am always a fan of the “winter is coming“ meme from Game of Thrones. “Brace yourself… ________ is coming” SpongeBob memes are MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 13

DAY TRIP DESTINATIONS: LA CROSSE

By Nell Musolf

Large selection of books at Pearl Street Books in La Crosse, Wisconsin. | Courtesy Pearl Street Books

Loving La Crosse River town offers beauty and bustle

A

cross the Mississippi River on Interstate 90 lies La Crosse, Wisconsin. Settled in 1841, La Crosse faces the Mississippi River and is backed by numerous high bluffs, giving the area a distinctive geography and making it an attractive spot for water sports, hiking, hunting and fishing.

With almost 10 miles of multi-use trails in La Crosse, bikers and hikers have a lot of ground to cover. The popular Hixon Forest Trails give access to Grandad Bluff Park, a 600-foot bluff that gives visitors a view of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa as well as the Mississippi River Valley.

Canoers and kayakers have their choice of paddling on Long Lake Trail, Lake Onalaska Canoe Trail and Brown’s Marsh Canoe Trail, as well as the La Crosse River and the Onalaska waterfront.

La Crosse is also known for the excellent 14 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

bird-watching opportunities it offers. Bald eagles, tundra swans and great egrets can be seen in such spots as Goose Island County Park, Van Loon State Wildlife For 46 years your c Area, and Norskedalen Heritage and Nature Center.

Heating Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge has 6,000 Northern acresComfort offers heating, air conditi with a variety of habitats where a wide range of wildlife can be observed.

Thank you for v If outdoorsy activities aren’t your cup of tea, the college town (University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Western Technical College and Viterbo University) ensures plenty of indoor activities as well. Pearl Street Books, 323 Pearl St., is home to an enormous selection Heating • Cooling • Plumbi of reading material for even the most selective 917 of book Southbend Ave | Mankato, M worms.

If you’re not looking for something to read but something to wear or eat or simply admire, historic downtown is the place to visit. With jewelry stores,

The front of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe church south of La Crosse, Wisconsin. | Wikipedia art galleries and clothing stores, downtown also has Wisconsin’s largest antique mall, the Antique Center of La Crosse. The antique mall is three stories high with over 20,000 square feet filled with collectibles.

During the summer, the Cameron Farmers Market is held Fridays beginning at 4 p.m. at Fifth and King View of the south side of La Crosse and streets. Produce, crafts and locally the Mississippi River Valley from grown and dairy are available Formeat 46 years your comfort has beenBluff. our| Wikipedia business!

Grandad along with live music.

Heating • Cooling • Plumbing and Chris Lane as headliners. The Several summer festivals occur Northern Comfort offers heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to residential and commercial customers.

Freedom Blues Fest is Aug. 28 at the in the La Crosse area. Country Copeland Park and Event Center.

Boom will be July 8-10 and will Another lovely spot to visit during feature Diamond Rio, Jake Owen Thank you for voting us one of Mankato’s Best

a day trip includes the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5250 Justin Road. The shrine has chapels, gardens, statues and devotional areas and is free to the public.

Finally, on your way out of town you might want to stop and have your picture taken with Sunny the Sunfish, located along the Great River Road (Highway 35) on a scenic overlook above Lake Onalaska, a spot that is especially beautiful at sunset.

La Crosse, Wisconsin, offers the day tripper so much to do that it might be a good idea to make your visit a two-day stay.

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Thank you www.NorthernComfortInc.com

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 15 For 46 years your comfort has been our business!

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THE FINAL COUNTDOWN Photos by Pat Christman

N

umbers have been crunched, and we, the Mankato Magazine, proudly present 2021’s Best of Issue.

As always, readers, loyal patrons and fans came in with fabulous results to recognize the best of … almost everything in Mankato!

Y’all voted, and voted. Shared and shared, and shared some more to get your favorite establishments and people voted for this issue.

Each year this is the most anticipated issue, as it should be.

All of you know the importance of a vote — especially when it comes to picking your favorites from best take-out spots, wing and burger joints, accountants, food trucks and even wishful thinking of the best place to hang out post-COVID. Mankato outshines itself every year with such magnificent businesses and individuals. As my predecessor reminded readers each year, this is just a list to take a snapshot of the year. We love putting it together for our community to recognize some great people here.

So go ahead, take a look. And we’ll see you next year! MM

16 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 17

Entertainment Experience Atmosphere

Food Truck

1st - Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery 2nd - Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar 3rd - Number 4 American Bar & Kitchen

1st -Lola 2nd - The 507 3rd - Scotty Biggs BBQ

Best Take Out/Curbside

1st -North Links Golf Course 2nd - Terrace View Golf Course 3rd - Mankato Golf Club

Business Lunch

1st -Vetter Stone Amphitheater 2nd - Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery 3rd - Buster’s Sports Bar and Grill & Catering

Chain Restaurant

Locally-Owned Restaurant

1st - Pagliai’s Pizza 2nd - Sadaka’s Deli 3rd - Tav on the Ave

1st - Tav on the Ave 2nd - Pub 500 3rd - Olives Mediterranean Restaurant 1st - Chipotle Mexican Grill 2nd - Olive Garden Italian Restaurant 3rd - Jersey Mike’s Subs

Dreaming of a Post-COVID night at...

1st - Vetter Stone Amphitheater 2nd - MSU Hockey 3rd - Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery & Distillery

Family Fun

1st - Wow! Zone 2nd - Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota 3rd - Goofy Goat Farm

Family Restaurant

1st -Weggy’s On Campus 2nd - The Boulder Tap House - Mankato 3rd - Dino’s Pizzeria

Fine Dining

1st -Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar 2nd - Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar 3rd - Number 4 American Bar & Kitchen

18 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Golf Course

Live Music Venue

1st -Pagliai’s Pizza 2nd - Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar 3rd - Weggy’s On Campus

Patio Dining

1st -Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery 2nd - Tav on the Ave 3rd - The 507

Social Lunch

1st -Ummies Bar & Grill 2nd - Flask 3rd - Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

Sports Bar

1st -Big Dog Sports Cafe 2nd - Tav on the Ave 3rd - The Boulder Tap House - Mankato

Treven Licht lines up his shot while celebrating his 8th birthday with his parents Jenny and David and younger brother Cayden at the Wow Zone. The bowling alley reopened with some restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BEST FAMILY FUN WOW! ZONE:

Something for everyone

T

he Wow! Zone began operating in 2008 and is now entering its 13th year in business. The Wow! Zone, 2030 Adams St., was voted best family entertainment for 2021.

Owner Pam DeMarce said 2020 was a challenging year, when being closed for a few weeks turned into months. But with safety practices, league bowlers were able to finish their season, and now spring bowling leagues have begun.

What’s unique about the Wow! Zone, DeMarce said, is that it truly is an entertainment spot for all ages. Children as young as age 1 can bowl with the help of a parent.

When bowling is over for the kids, there are lots of other things for them to do. And for older generations, if they want to sit and watch people play, they can do that — though DeMarce is quick to point out that people in their 80s and 90s are in bowling leagues.

The Wow! Zone also provides

meeting spaces for groups, party spaces for weddings, after-prom parties, families and more.

With 40,000 square feet of space, DeMarce said the uniqueness of offerings make the Wow! Zone a special place.

“We’re just so happy to be open, and provide people a place to play and gather.”

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 19

BEST VEGETARIAN, FINE DINING, SIGNATURE COCKTAIL JOINT NOLABELLE KITCHEN + BAR:

Savory dishes, unique cocktails

N

olabelle Kitchen + Bar’s owner, Alexa Swindell Prosser, took three years of diligent planning to open up the fine dining restaurant at 520 S. Front St. The business finally did in July 2020, featuring a rustic American menu. Who knew that after three years of hard work that the restaurant would have a start date when a global pandemic was going to hit?

“It was frustrating, of course, it was frustrating for everyone,” Prosser said. But when the opportunity came to open doors, Nolabelle pressed on and made sure patrons and staff could enjoy the evening safely by following all

the rules and regulations. And Prosser is glad they did.

Nolabelle offers a distinct menu with hardy and savory items, and food lovers can know that the dishes they serve come from local sources from the Midwest — North and South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and, of course, Minnesota.

“We use fresh products from our local producers,” Prosser said.

The farm-to-table restaurant offers a variety of dishes including many vegetarian options such as waffle nuggets, goat cheese balls or dinner items like the roasted veggie lasagnette and the for lunch, a veggie gyro.

Other items include pastas, salads and soups, sandwiches and

dessert, such as local churned ice cream.

For happy hour, customers can try colorful speciality mimosa and cocktail flights.

“To be recognized by your community is such a wonderful feeling,” Prosser said.

“It’s justification for the hard work that we do, and we’re doing something that people like, and that makes us really proud.”

BEST FOOD TRUCK LOLA’S FOOD TRUCK:

Keeping customers on their toes

L

ola’s American Bistro, hailing from New Ulm, wheels in its eclectic menu to Mankato every Wednesday and Friday at the Hub, 512 N. Riverfront Drive.

It’s the rotating menu that keeps customers craving for more, said owner Lacey Lueth.

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A mimosa flight at Nolabelle.

“It’s just a different experience for people,” Lueth said. “It’s fun — it’s not like you’re sitting in a restaurant for food. … and the staff is having a good time as well, that really comes through in what they do.”

Over the last seven years, certain menu items remain crowd favorites such as the Hot Mess — roast beef topped with rosemary fries, green onions, cheese sauce, gouda and gravy.

“And then the buffalo chicken mac and cheese, Bahn-Mi tacos and then of course, rosemary garlic fries,” Lueth said.

Inspiration for menu items comes from things Lueth tried or seen and tried to make their own versions of it.

Lola’s Food Truck is thrilled to have been awarded the Best Food Truck in Mankato.

“Our base home is New Ulm but the truck made a name for itself in Mankato,” Lueth said. “We have always been very welcomed there and I think (the award) is exciting coming from New Ulm and winning something that isn’t in our home area, though I think the home is Mankato for the truck.”

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US PAGLIAI’S #1 PIZZA PLACE

NAKATO The Free Press

#1 BEST TAKE OUT/ CURBSIDE

#1 LOCALLY-OWNED

The Free Press

#3 BURGER JOINT #3 PLACE TO GET BREAKFAST

RESTAURANT

524 S. FRONT ST.

345-6080 OR 387-7274 OPEN DAILY AT 11AM DINE-IN • PICK-UP • DELIVERY MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 21

TAKEOUT/ CURBSIDE, LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANT, PIZZA PLACE PAGLIAI’S PIZZA:

‘A place that never changes’

W

hen pandemic restrictions prevented Pagliai’s Pizza, 524 S. Front St., from serving up its mouthwatering Italian-based menu items to customers seated in the restaurant’s classic black booths, the irresistible aroma of accented tomato sauce, sausage and onions persisted.

But for many Pagliai’s patrons in 2020, that scent filled the backseats of their cars as they swiftly transported their precious cargo.

“When in-house service was shut

22 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

down, we decided to start doing curbside pickup,” said Jake Downs, a co-owner of the family-owned business.

“We did it the best way we could, by assigning a number when an order was called in, then having customers call once they’d arrived, give us their number and we ran out their items.”

Throughout the shutdown, Downs dedicated a single staff member to the exclusive task of running out orders to the curb through rain, snow and sub-zero temps.

“It ran really smoothly,” Downs said, “but it was pretty nuts because Front Street is usually packed full, and except for people pulling up for pizzas, it was a ghost town outside.”

Pagliai’s has since reopened for indoor dining and continues its wide-ranging delivery service for a $2 fee.

A Mankato original since 1969, Pagliai’s most popular item “all the time” is its Palace pizza, Downs said. Loaded with sausage, beef, pepperoni, onions and mushrooms, the Palace hits all the sweet spots for lovers of Pagliai’s addictive flavors.

“Pagliai’s is a place that never changes and that’s why people love it so much,” Downs said.

“Our goal is to keep it exactly the same as it’s always been.”

Thank you all for your continued support!

(507)625-4647

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 23

k n o Y a u h !

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27 years and still going strong

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704 3rd Street, Nicollet | 507.232.1112 | cheapchicsdesigns.com 24 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

ade Becker doesn’t hesitate to answer even a second when asked about the secret to Big Dog Sports Cafe’s success.

“I have a wonderful staff,” he said. “Most of them have been here for 10 years — some of them 15 to 17 years. And just to keep that continuity — where nothing really ever changes with the customer experience — I think is huge for us.”

So if the secret is having a loyal, dedicated staff, how do you keep them around?

For Becker it comes down to leading by example.

“It starts at the top and works its way down,” he said. “I think I work hard, and I don’t expect them to do anything I wouldn’t do. I think that helps tremendously. ‘Wade would do this, so I can do it, too.’”

Big Dog Sports Cafe, at 1712

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THANK YOU FOR VOTING & SUPPORTING THE WOW! ZONE. WE APPRECIATE THE CUSTOMER & COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

Commerce Drive, North Mankato, has been around for 27 years (that’s 1994 for those who refuse to do the math, which was the year Nancy Kerrigan got her knee clobbered by paid henchman and O.J. Simpson led police on a slow-speed chase in Los Angeles).

Beyond the loyal staff, Becker said the tap beer selection (which recently grew from 12 to 14 lines), chicken wings that come in 10 flavors and flame-broiled burgers — “just like you’re doing them on the grill at home” — are customer faves.

“It always makes us smile,” Becker said of the Mankato Magazine award, “when something good happens.”

#1 FAMILY FUN

2030 Adams St | 507-625-2695 www.wowzonefec.com

Thank You for Choosing Us!

#1 Mexican Restaurant 10 Years In A Row

1525 Tullamore Street (right off Madison Ave.) Mankato 507.625.2406 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 25

Food & Drink Asian Cuisine

1st - Shogun Sushi & Hibachi 2nd - China Star 3rd - Tokyo Sushi & Hibachi

Bakery/Donut Shop

1st - Krusty’s Donuts 2nd - 2 Pins Bakery, by Tony Friesen 3rd - Diamond Dust Bakery & Coffee Shop

Brewery

1st - Mankato Brewery 2nd - Schell’s 3rd - Lost Sanity Brewing

Burger Joint

1st - Thunder Bar & Restaurant 2nd - The Boulder Tap House - Mankato 3rd - NaKato Bar & Grill

Coffee Shop

1st - Coffee Hag 2nd - Neutral Groundz 3rd - Caribou Coffee

Happy Hour

1st - The 507 2nd - Thunder Bar & Restaurant 3rd - Pub 500

Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt 1st - Mom & Pop’s 2nd - Culver’s 3rd - Frozen Yogurt Creations

Mexican Food

1st - El Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant 2nd - La Plaza F!esta 3rd - La Terraza Mexican Grill and Bar

26 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Pizza Place

1st - Pagliai’s Pizza 2nd - Dino’s Pizzeria 3rd - Jake’s Stadium Pizza

Best Steak

1st - Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar 2nd - Thunder Bar & Restaurant 3rd - George’s Fine Steaks & Spirits

Best Breakfast

1st - Weggy’s On Campus 2nd - Thunder Bar & Restaurant 3rd - NaKato Bar & Grill

Signature Cocktail Joint

1st - Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar 2nd - Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery 3rd - Flask

Sub/Sandwich Shop 1st - Jersey Mike’s Subs 2nd - Erbert and Gerbert’s 3rd - Jimmy John’s

Vegetarian Options

1st - Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar 2nd - St Peter Food Co-op & Deli 3rd - India Palace

Winery

1st - Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery 2nd - Indian Island Winery 3rd - Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery

Wings

1st - Buffalo Wild Wings 2nd - Tav on the Ave 3rd - Big Dog Sports Cafe

BEST ATMOSPHERE CHANKASKA WINERY:

Scenic view and fine wines

K

elsey Long has been the manager of the tasting room and spirit bar at Chankaska Winery for just over nine years, a job many would envy. Long doesn’t blame them.

“I do love my job,” she said. “I’ve been with Chankaska for almost 10 years, and I really enjoy working here.”

Long credits the beautiful

grounds, relaxing patio and, most of all, Chankaska’s award-winning wines as a few of the reasons behind the winery being voted Best of in the food and drink category.

“In addition to our fine wines and food like wood-fired pizza, we excel at customer service,” Long said. “We value our customers, and we give them the best service and make their visit the best experience we possibly can.”

Chankaska felt the pinch of the pandemic last year, but since reopening, the winery has been doing its best to make sure guests are safe while following the state’s health guidelines.

“We tried to make the best of the situation and did what we had to do,” Long said. “When we were able to reopen, we kept people at a nice distance and made sure everyone was safe.”

With the world getting back to normal, Long and the rest of the staff at Chankaska are looking forward to welcoming guests and are excited to be opening a deck area where people can sip a glass of wine and enjoy a Minnesota summer evening.

“It’s going to be a beautiful summer,” Long said.

The Future of Dental Care in Mankato Oz Family Dentistry has been serving the Mankato area for over 65 years as a family practice. And that tradition continues, as the team of quality doctors is growing!

Today, you’ll see some new faces to go along with the ones you’ve come to know over the years.

You can always be confident that you’re getting the best dental care from a trusted, experienced and foreword thinking dental team, in touch with the latest techniques and practices.

Get to Know Dr. Seth Dunne And it’s all being done in the spirit of care and personal attention that Now Accepting has been the hallmark of Oz Family New Patients!

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1550 East Adams Street, Mankato, MN 56001 507-387-2603 | ozfamilydentistry.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 27

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28 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

BEST COFFEE SHOP THE COFFEE HAG:

put that plaque on the wall and show people that we worked really hard to get there.”

Customers of the Old Town business at 329 N. Riverfront Drive are a loyal bunch. Melby-Kelley said that doesn’t happen by hen it comes to coffee in they’ve never taken their accident.

Mankato, there’s only one community’s support — or being “I want people, when they walk original. named Best Coffee Shop — for in the door, to feel good about who The Coffee Hag has operated in granted. they are. So I want this to be an allMankato as long as coffee shops “Our community means a lot to encompassing, all-inclusive, have been cool. And no coffee shop us,” said Melby-Kelley, who is also positive place for people.” has remained as cool as The Hag. on the City Council. “And we do Indeed. The Hag is more than For owner Jenn Melby-Kelley, cool take that seriously. And we’re just a place to grab a cuppa joe. comes from community. And incredibly proud when we get to People linger at The Hag, strike up conversations, get to know new people. It’s kind of like “Cheers,” if the Boston bar of television fame served coffee instead of beer and proudly flew a rainbow flag.

The Hag has always been an LGBTQ-friendly place. In fact, Melby-Kelley said that before the coffee shop was her business, it was her hangout. She felt safe at Four Time National Award Winners The Hag. And when she bought it, she wanted to make sure the space remained a beacon of openness and positivity.

20765 Foley Rd., Mankato, MN | 507.387.2434 | 507.726.2411 “This place means the world to me. The Coffee Hag needs to be here.”

Oldest ‘Kato coffee shop

W

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 29

Maddie Hawker of Krusty’s Donuts.

BEST BAKERY/DONUT SHOP KRUSTY’S DONUTS:

Variety guarantees grins

W

ith its bright décor and marquee “DONUT” sign, Krusty’s Donuts’ interior seduces customers before they even reach the bakery case.

“A lot of our audience happens to be kids,” said manager Izzy Walker, “and the colors are pretty exciting and make you want to smile.”

The taste and sheer variety of Krusty’s Donuts are guaranteed to generate grins.

“Besides donuts, we have cinnamon rolls, apple fritters and Bismarks,” said Walker.

Donut options start with delectable glazed and expand from there. Flavored frostings — strawberry, blueberry, banana and even coffee — are a Krusty’s hallmark, as is their daily cerealtheme donut.

“There are multiple ones,” said

30 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Walker, listing Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Froot Loops and Fruity Pebbles as a few.

The shop’s maple-frosted donut topped with bacon strips is one Walker said customers are wild about; the Oreo and Butterfingerbedecked donuts are also popular.

Owned by Mankato restaurateurs Steve and Dani Wegman, Krusty’s Donuts, opened in January 2020 at 1600 Warren St. “We had a few months of regular business before COVID-19 hit,” Walker said.

Despite a temporary reduction in days of operation, Krusty’s weathered the pandemic storm and reopened full force, seven days a week, in May. Adding to the attraction: From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., customers get three donuts for the price of two, and after 5 p.m., all donuts are $1 apiece.

What’s not to love?

“There’s something here for everyone’s taste,” Walker said.

“And donuts are the perfect way to show appreciation for nurses, teachers, bus drivers, anyone — everyone loves donuts.”

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Co-owner Shawn Neitzel makes an ice cream cone at Mom & Pop’s.

BEST ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT MOM AND POP’S:

Cool ice cream treats

I

t was the patio that saved the day.

While most restaurants had to keep their doors closed for a long portion of the pandemic, Mom and Pop’s was able to keep scooping, thanks to the patio behind their store at 629 N. Riverfront Drive.

“We did curbside service last April through June, then we were able to open up our patio. That really saved us,” Casey Neitzel said.

Neitzel co-owns Mom and Pop’s with her husband, Shawn. The Neitzels have owned Mom and Pop’s since December 2018.

“It’s so beautiful out there,” she said of their outdoor seating.

“People were able to social distance, and I really think it helped people to have somewhere to go when so many other places were closed.”

Since taking over, their goal has always been to offer the best

quality ice cream and other sweet treats in a clean and welcoming atmosphere.

“We always strive to have the best possible customer service, and we like to get to know our customers. We have so many wonderful regulars. It’s fun getting their favorite flavor ready when we see them come through the door,” Neitzel said.

The Neitzels always look forward to summer, but this summer is especially anticipated.

“It’s going to be great to have everything open again. People are out more, and it feels like we’re getting back to normal. We’re so appreciative for all the support we’ve gotten from the Greater Mankato area. It felt like we were all in this together and we’re coming through it together. That makes us very happy.”

THANK YOU

FANS FOR

YOUR VOTES TO WIN

BEST WINGS IN MANKATO

Thank for Reachyou out your votes!

to us in confidence!

info@connectmankato.com www.connectmankato.com (507) 779-7319

Free home evaluation!

TM & ©2021 BUFFALO WILD WINGS, INC. BWW2021-0277150

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 31

People Accountant

1st - Brad Boettcher 2nd - Belynda Hinsch 3rd - Josh Kotewa

Local Musician/Band 1st - IV Play 2nd - The Murphy Brothers 3rd - City Mouse

Family Physician/ Primary Care Provider

Pediatrician

1st - Dr. Katie Smentek 2nd - Dr. Emily McCargar 3rd - Dr. Don Putzier

1st - Heidi Stevermer, CNP 2nd - Dr. John Benson 3rd - Dr. Graham King

Financial Planner 1st - Kaylee Phelps 2nd - Brent Pattison 3rd - Chris Ward

Photographer

1st - Braunshausen Photography 2nd - Heather Davey, HMD Photos 38th Street Photography

Real Estate Agent

Insurance Agent

1st - Candee Deichman 2nd - Jen True 3rd - Zac Murra

1st - Aaron Hatanpa 2nd - Nicole Bardon 3rd - Chris Willaert

Lawyer

1st - Julia Corbett 2nd - Stacey Edwards Jones 3rd - Silas Danielson

Wait/Bar Staff

1st - Thunder Bar - Good Thunder 2nd - Jeni Bobholz - Circle Inn 3rd - Daniel Marshall - Tav on the Ave

Best of Mankato.

Congratulations on being recognized among the Best of Mankato: • Graham King, M.D., Family Medicine • Nicole Krueger, Au.D., Colleen Ireland, Au.D., and Jenne Tunnell, Au.D., Audiology • Emily McCargar, D.O., Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine

mayoclinichealthsystem.org 32 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

BEST INSURANCE AGENT AARON HATANPA:

‘Doing the right thing’

A

aron Hatanpa takes seriously his commitment to supplying Mankato-area residents with life, home and car insurance via his State Farm Insurance agency.

“Doing the right thing is the only thing,” said Hatanpa, a 20-year State Farm agent with offices at 1613 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, and 217 N. Main St., Mapleton.

“All that we sell is our integrity, so we are going to do what we promise you we will do.”

Though Hatanpa insists he doesn’t consider himself an expert salesperson, statistics tell a different story; State Farm insures at least 30% of Mankatoans.

“If we weren’t doing a good job from price, education and service standpoints, people would be taking their business elsewhere,” said Hatanpa, a Mankato resident with his wife, Jess, and their five children.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, with majors in business management and economics,

Hatanpa initially spent four years handling claims for State Farm. That background knowledge is advantageous.

“I see those four years as an asset because I really understand how liability, home and auto claims play out,” said Hatanpa, who has 12 agents on his staff.

As a true believer in the State Farm model — it’s a mutual insurance company, meaning policy holders are also company stakeholders — Hatanpa also empathizes with customers.

“When there’s a claim, something bad or stressful has just happened to one of your customers,” he said. He aims to help them understand how insurance can soften the blow of life’s zingers.

Above all, Hatanpa shares the credit for his professional recognition and success.

“It’s my staff. I have very caring, competent and professional staff, all of whom are licensed agents. They know what they’re doing.”

Over 27 Years of Exc Over 27 Years of Excellence

Thank you for Voting for us in the 2021

Best of Mankato!

Best Windows

Best Siding

Best Roofing

The Free Press MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 33

BEST PEDIATRICIAN DR. KATIE SMENTEK:

Empathy is key

M

ankato Clinic’s Dr. Katie Smentek loves to interact with young people every day from babies to teenagers.

“I think pediatrics is a lot of puzzle solving,” Smentek said. “It keeps it interesting and different every day.”

For Smentek, she believes that to be a good pediatrician is to have empathy and put yourself in another parent’s position.

“While I know that a certain medical problem might not be a problem from a physical or doctor’s standpoint, when you’re a parent of a child who is sick, that’s a big deal for you.”

A phrase she’s kept close to her is when a mentor in college said: “Patients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

“I have really tried to root my practice in that concept and I think when you start there it makes everything easier.”

Knowing how to communicate with various ages and having a keen sense of curiosity help, too.

“I like that it’s a field that I’m always learning, especially the last year with COVID and new pieces of information coming out every day and keeping up with what I needed to know to take care of people that best I can.”

But what Smentek appreciates the most is Mankato’s “amazing group of pediatricians.” The city of Mankato and the Mankato Clinic is fortunate to have pediatricians in the area, she said.

“While I’m honored to get this award, any pediatrician in our community or that I work with is just as deserving and just as amazing,” she said. “The strong group of pediatricians is not typical in every community.”

34 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mankato Clinic pediatrician Dr. Katie Smentek

VOTED

BEST PLACE

TO PURCHASE A

MATTRESS 7 YEARS IN A ROW

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 35

36 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Candee.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 37

REFLECTIONS

By Pat Christman

H

ummingbirds don’t waste any time.

Those rapidly beating wings may not seem efficient, but they move with computer-like precision from flower to flower, fueling their high revolutionsper-minute engine as quickly as they can.

Like a hummingbird, it’s hard to slow down. There’s always a need to zoom off to the next flower.

MM

38 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 39

VOTED MANKATO’S BEST BANK OR CREDIT UNION

k n a ThYou

•

$250 MILLION IN ASSETS

•

16,000 MEMBERS

•

36 EMPLOYEES

•

SERVING FOUR COUNTIES WHERE WE WERE BORN AND RAISED

•

LOW LOAN RATES, HIGH SAVINGS RATES, LOW OR NO FEES, HIGH QUALITY SERVICE

ONE OF MANKATO’S BEST PLACES TO GET A MORTGAGE

GREATER MANKATO’S COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION SINCE 1934

Tell us what you want.

We listen. Then deliver.

Yes You Can!

507-387-3055 | MNVALLEYFCU.COOP 40 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

EQUAL HOUSING LENDER | NMLSR ID 504851 | FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA

Thank Y SOUTHERN MN!

FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT YEAR AFTER YEAR!

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 41

Personal Care Barber Shop

1st - Northside Hair Co. 2nd - Dan's Barber Shop 3rd - Y Barbers

Child Care Center

1st - St John Lutheran Daycare Good Thunder 2nd - Lue Ardnt 3rd - Cultivate Mankato

Chiropractic Service

Hotel/Motel

1st - Courtyard by Marriott Mankato 2nd - Hilton Garden Inn Mankato Downtown 3rd - Konsbruck Hotel

Massage

1st - Liv Aveda Salon & Spa 2nd - Indulge Salon & Tanning 3rd - Jeannie Liebl

Nail Salon

1st - Advanced Chiropractic of Mankato PC 2nd - TOV Chiropractic 3rd - Aurora Chiropractic, LLC

1st - Liv Aveda Salon & Spa 2nd - Le Nails 3rd - Kim Nail & Spa

Dental Office

Nutrition/Weight Management

Eye Exam Office

Pet Grooming

1st - Commerce Drive Dental 2nd - James J. Kalina, DDS 3rd - Oz Family Dentistry

1st - Mad Ave Nutrition 2nd - Inspire Health & Wellness 3rd - All Star Nutrition Mankato

1st - Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic | Mankato 2nd - Ophthalmology Associates & LASIK Center of Mankato 3rd - Mankato Clinic Wickersham Health Campus

1st - Fur's A Flyin' 2nd - PetSmart 3rd - TransFURmations Grooming Salon

Fitness Center

1st - Amber Pietan Travel Agency, Inc 2nd - Emerald Travel & Cruises 3rd - Travel & Cruise Center LLC

Hair Salon

1st - Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital 2nd - Nicollet Veterinary Clinic 3rd - All Pets Mapleton

1st - YMCA 2nd - JP Fitness 3rd - Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping

1st - Moxie Suites 2nd - Liv Aveda Salon & Spa 3rd - Allure Salon

Hearing Care Service

1st - Mayo Clinic Health System 2nd - Hearing Care Center, Wickersham Health Campus 3rd - River Valley Hearing

42 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Travel Agency

Veterinary Services

BEST CHIROPRACTIC SERVICE ADVANCED CHIROPRACTIC:

Years of experience

From left, Dr. Brad Schaff, Dr. Carol Walters and Dr. Nicolaas Dubbelde.

It’s great to be your Taste Buds!

We would like to thank all of you who voted for us as the Best Food Truck in 2021. We love what we do and are proud that you do too!

A

dvanced Chiropractic of Mankato prides itself on having an experienced team that knows how to listen.

“I have two wonderful chiropractors working on either side of me,” said chiropractor Carol Walters.

The others are Bradley Schaff and Nicolaas Dubbelde. “Between the three of us, we have about 50 years of experience as chiropractors,” Walters said.

She thinks excellent customer service is also a part of what makes Advanced Chiropractic stand out.

“We all listen to our patients and take the time to hear what they’re telling us so we can send them in the right direction for their health.”

They see patients from “the bassinet to the grave.” The youngest patient Walters ever adjusted was a mere 4 days old.

“The oldest patient I’ve had was 96, so we see young and old with everything in between.”

During the pandemic, the office at 1712 James Drive, North Mankato, was open for emergency services only, but now that things are returning to normal, the patients have returned for regular visits.

“The past year was hard on everyone, both physically and emotionally. A lot of people were sedentary and did a lot of emotional eating. Now that we’re getting back to normal, we’re encouraging people to ease into getting physical again and try to find the joy in every single day.”

16 N. Minnesota St., New Ulm • 507-359-2500 • www.lolaamericanbistro.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 43

BEST PET GROOMER FUR’S A FLYIN’:

Pawsome groomer

A

t Fur’s A Flyin’, 1522 N. Riverfront Drive, they operate with a simple mantra: Treat every pet like it’s their own.

“Sometimes it isn’t about what the end result looks like, but how we can accomplish the result while minimizing the stress that animals can sometimes experience during grooming,” said owner Tina Dickel.

“We really strive to go the extra mile to ensure our pet owners and pets themselves have the best possible experience.”

Dickel has owned the business for 16 years, and this isn’t her first time winning the Best of Mankato’s pet grooming category. She said she’s been humbled by the support and loyalty of her customers, especially during a time when many businesses closed or saw

THANK YOU

FOR VOTING US BEST OF MANKATO VOTED BEST PLACE TO BUY FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES

44 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

revenues plummet.

That loyalty has led to the achievement of a major goal: owning her own freestanding building to house the business.

They recently purchased the former American Red Cross building.

The facility will double their space.

One of the things they learned during COVID was that, when social distancing requirements forced them to spread out, it was a calmer environment for the animals. They’ll soon have a more spacious reception area and could possibly add more From left, Josie Cockrell, Tina Dickell and Lisal Lillo at Fur’s A Flyin’. amenities down the road, such as still here and have been given the A-Flyin’ fans, thank you. The best comfort suites for pets staying on opportunity to own our own space, is yet to come.” site for several hours. which has been a dream since day “We are so excited that we are one,” Dickel says. “To all the Fur’s-

EXCELLENCE: BAR NONE Litigation | Business | Farm | Personal

Thank you for your vote of confidence!

Julia Ketcham Corbett ATTORNEY AT LAW

Managing Partner

Blethen Berens: Voted Best Law Firm Julia Ketcham Corbett: Voted Best Attorney Silas Danielson: Voted Third Best Attorney

Silas Danielson ATTORNEY AT LAW

Managing Partner

Mankato (507) 345-1166 New Ulm (507) 233-3900

blethenberens.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 45

BEST BARBERSHOP NORTHSIDE HAIR:

Meeting diverse hair care needs

W

hen it comes to style, Northside Hair has it in abundance. The salon, at 316 Cross St., North Mankato, is owned by Jennifer and Richmond Clark and has been in operation for almost two years.

“We offer great customer service,” Jennifer Clark said. “We also have a wide range of services to meet the diverse hair care needs of our clients.”

The past year was a challenge for the Clarks and their employees, but they met the challenge with their eyes focused on the future.

“We were closed for 72 days and it was scary,” she said. “Especially since my husband and I own the business and it is our entire income.”

When they were able to open the salon again, they found themselves very busy.

“It was great, but it was also hard. We had to make sure we were doing everything we could to keep our staff and our customers safe. But we did what we had to do, and we all made it through it.”

She thanks her customers for keeping them going, giving referrals, and generally being, “The best customers in the world. I mean that. We have become friends with so many people who came here as clients, and they have been so wonderful to us.”

46 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Richmond Clair working on Jaxon Mitchell, 5.

Thank you for voting us #1 in Primary Care.

OPS Clinic Services Heidi Stevermer, CNP

Affordable Medical, Chiropractic, Rehab, Nutrition, Laboratory Services, DOT Physicals & Drug Screens, OSHA Compliant Breathing and Hearing Tests.

OPSclinics.com

507-524-4000

THE PILLARS

SENIOR LIVING

LIFE AS IT SHOULD BE

DOG-GONE PROUD TO BE SELECTED BEST SENIOR LIVING AND ASSISTED LIVING Parker, the Pillar’s ambassador dog, and his team want to thank everyone for voting The Pillars of Mankato the Best Senior Living and Assisted Living!

If you are looking for a beautiful home, fun friends, chef-prepared meals, and active living close to everything, come visit The Pillars of Mankato!

SEE WHAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE TO SAY

Karen

Tim

SUMMER SPECIALS! CALL ASHLEY TO SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY 507-344-6777 3125 Prairie Rose Dr., Mankato, MN 56001 ©2021 Fairview Health Services 900786

PILLARSSENIORLIVING.COM/MANKATO | 507-344-6777 MANKATO MAGAZINE

• JULY 2021 • 47

Professional Services Accounting Firm

1st - Eide Bailly 2nd - CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) 3rd - Tindal & Associates, LLC

Architectural/Engineering Firm 1st - ISG 2nd - Bolton & Menk, Inc. 3rd - R. Henry Construction

Assisted Living Facility

Funeral Home

1st - Mankato Mortuary 2nd - Northview Mortuary 3rd - Woodland Hills Funeral Home

Heating/Air Service

1st - Northern Comfort Inc Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Southern MN 2nd - Kelley Heating & Air Conditioning 3rd - Davis Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc.

1st - The Pillars of Mankato Senior Living 2nd - Primrose Retirement Community of Mankato 3rd - Laurels Edge Assisted Living & Laurel Street Memory Care

Home Remodelers/Design Services

Auction Services

In-Home Healthcare

1st - Mike Miller 2nd - Wingert Realty & Land Services, Inc. 3rd - Dailey Realty and Auction Service

Auto Body Shop

1st - Jerry's Abra Auto Body Repair of America 2nd - Mankato Motors 3rd - Fromm's Auto

Auto Service Center

1st - Mankato Motors 2nd - Austin's Auto Repair Center, Inc. 3rd - Snell Indoor Auto Center

Bank or Credit Union

1st - Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union 2nd - First National Bank Minnesota 3rd - Community Bank

Car Wash

1st - Snell Auto Wash 2nd - Gerring's Mankato Car Wash 3rd - Kwik Trip

Carpet Cleaning

1st - Vanderberg Clean 2nd - ZerneClean Services Inc 3rd - The Caretakers

Electrical/Electrician Company 1st - Ploog Electric 2nd - BLK Electric Inc 3rd - ECS

48 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

1st - Deichman Construction 2nd - DeMars Construction 3rd - R. Henry Construction

1st - Adara Home Health 2nd - Ecumen Pathstone Living 3rd - Home Instead

Insurance Agency

1st - Jay Zender - State Farm Insurance 2nd - Kato Insurance Agency 3rd - Hatanpa Insurance Agency State Farm Insurance

Law Firm

1st - Blethen Berens 2nd - Knutson + Casey 3rd - Maschka, Riedy, Ries & Frentz

Lawn/Landscaping Services

1st - Spring Touch Lawn & Pest Control 2nd - GreenCare 3rd - Lawncrafters 3rd - Wibstad Lawn Care and Snow Removal

Mortgage Provider

1st - PrimeSource Funding 2nd - Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union 3rd - The Habib Sadaka Team at CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC

Plumbing Service

1st - Northern Comfort Inc Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Southern MN 2nd - Plumb-Rite Plumbing, LLC 3rd - One Guy Plumbing

Pool and Spa Service

1st - Sawatzky Pools, Inc 2nd - Sweet Living Pools & Spas 3rd - Midnight Sun Spas

Real Estate Agency

1st - Century 21 Atwood 2nd - True Real Estate 3rd - Connect Real Estate Group

Residential Construction/Home Builders

1st - Deichman Construction 2nd - Schmidt Siding & Window 3rd - DeMars Construction

Roofing

1st - Schmidt Siding & Window 2nd - Heyn Brothers Roofing 3rd - Ron Boelter Window, Siding & Roofing

Thank You Mankato!

Voted #1

130 St. Andrews Dr.

Thank You for Voting Us Your Preferred Funeral Providers

Senior Living/ Retirement Facility

1st - The Pillars of Mankato Senior Living 2nd - Primrose Retirement Community of Mankato 3rd - Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center

507-388-2202

507-388-2288

Siding

Mankato Area Funeral Homes

Storage Center

Thank you for Voting Us One Of The Best Senior Living / Retirement Community & Best of Assisted Living

1st - Schmidt Siding & Window 2nd - Ron Boelter Windows, Siding & Roofing 3rd - Lacina Siding & Windows Inc 1st - Storage Lounge 2nd - Kato Moving & Storage Company 3rd - Store It

Water Service/ Conditioning

1st - McGowan Water Conditioning Inc. 2nd - Culligan Water Conditioning of Mankato 3rd - Garlick's Water Conditioning 3rd - Norm's Water Conditioning

Windows

1st - Schmidt Siding & Window 2nd - Lloyd Lumber Company 3rd - Ron Boelter Window, Siding & Roofing

• Short-Term Rehabilitation • Long-Term Care • Assisted Living and Memory Care

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 49

POWER EQUIPMENT CHAINSAWS, BLOWERS, TRIMMERS, POLE PRUNERS, MULTI TASK TOOLS AS WELL AS BATTERY POWERED EQUIPMENT

BEST SIDING SCHMIDT SIDING & WINDOW:

Experiences first

W Thank you for your votes!

An Authorized Servicing Stihl Dealer

1951 Riverfront Dr., Mankato

507-387-1171 1-800-879-1938

Mon.-Fri. 8am-7pm • Sat 8am-5pm • Sun. 11am-5pm

www.candssupply.com AN EMPLOYEE OWNED & LOCAL BUSINESS SINCE 1957

u o Y k n Tha oting us for v

#1

on l a S r i a H 120 August Ct. Suite 107 Mankato, MN 56001 50 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

hen it’s all about your house, you’ll be glad to know that Schmidt Siding & Window, 901 N. Fifth St., keeps all aspects of the work under one roof — theirs.

“Everything is in-house,” said Pete Matejcek, co-owner of Schmidt Siding & Window for the past four years with partners Steve Beetch and Jim Hockert.

“It begins and ends here; we really rally around undivided responsibility and don’t use subcontractors for installation or look outside our company when service is needed.”

To that end, Schmidt’s 63 employees handle everything from beginning to end for clients’ projects, including sales, installation, technical work, scheduling and servicing.

“That’s becoming more of an unusual business model with home improvement,” Matejcek said.

“A lot of companies say they strive for customer satisfaction, but not everyone can deliver that if they have contractors who don’t work exclusively for them.”

A Mankato fixture since 1949, Schmidt Siding & Window provides siding, windows, rain gutters, entry doors and awnings.

Matejcek became hooked on the business over 27 years ago. As a young Loyola High School graduate working on a Schmidt siding crew during his summer break from college, the aspiring elementary education major discovered the building industry held its own charm.

“Schmidt puts people and their experiences first,” he said. “That really appealed to me, so it was a magical fit in that regard.”

Schmidt places trust in its own employees, who in turn treat customers with respect.

“Our goal is to provide a sustainable experience for both our customers and our employees.”

Joint Replacement Surgery

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Kate Henderson builds a floral arrangment at Hilltop Florist in Mankato.

BEST FLORIST HILLTOP FLORIST & GREENHOUSE:

Celebrating great moments

T

he business was started in 1880, but Deb Newman and her husband, Kevin, bought it just two years ago. They were attracted to Hilltop by its long legacy in the community and through being customers there.

Deb Newman said Hilltop Florist, 885 Madison Ave., weathered the pandemic with creativity and with a strong social media presence.

They put together kits for people to make arrangements on their own and offered care packages during the challenging times.

With some longtime designers and some new talent, Hilltop Florist puts together some unique and

beautiful arrangements, Newman said.

“For us, we consider it a great honor to help people celebrate great moments in life. We help people send love and encouragement to people they haven’t been able to see in a year or more.”.

Newman also believes people recognize Hilltop Florist as a great community member. “We are not part of a 1-800 network. We’re local, and promise a quality product and great service.”

Moving?... Call Karla and Start Packing!

Consistently a Top-Producing Agent in Greater Mankato Area Karla Van Eman, Owner/Broker ABR, CRS, GRI

d Have a Happy an Safe 4th of July!

two of the most experienced orthopaedic care providers in the area, The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital.

•

3,000 successful hip, knee and other orthopaedic surgeries

•

245 years of combined orthopaedic surgery experience

•

1 of 13 hospitals in the nation accredited as a hip and knee replacement center of excellence

Getting the care you deserve and trust, close to home, makes OrthoEdge the right choice for joint replacement surgery.

Learn more at OrthoEdgeMN.com

Recognized for Being the Best!

River’s Edge Hospital has been recognized as a DNV GL Healthcare certified Orthopaedic Center of Excellence for: • Hip & Knee Replacement • Shoulder Surgery • Spine Surgery Plus, River’s Edge Hospital is top rated for patient experience!

507•345•4040 510 Long Street, Ste. 104, Mankato, MN

www.MankatoRealEstate.com

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 51

Silas Danielson and Julia Ketcham Corbett with Blethen Berens.

THANK YOU MANKATO FOR CHOOSING US! HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE

BUILDING MATERIALS & MILLWORK | HARDWARE | ELECTRICAL CABINETS & APPLIANCES | PAINT | PLUMBING | FLOORCOVERINGS 52 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

BEST LAW FIRM BLETHEN BERENS:

Serving southern Minnesota for more than 120 years

ONE OF MANKATO'S BEST JEWELRY STORES

Thank You FOR VOTING

S

ilas Danielson is a partner at the Blethen Berens law firm in Mankato, 100 Warren St. There is also an office in New Ulm, 219 N. Broadway.

In Mankato the firm has 14 lawyers and a total of 19 between the two offices.

Although there is neither a Blethen nor a Berens involved in the firm, the name was kept, according to Danielson. “We’ve been around for 125 years.”

Danielson credits their success to “top-notch attorneys and staff … and our connection to the community.” Many staff members volunteer in the community and serve on boards.

Additionally, the firm offers a wide variety of legal services. “We do a lot of internal cross-referring to offer a full package of services within our firm.” Whether someone needs help with agricultural law, business law, family law, or anything in between, someone within the firm specializes in it, he said.

“In my view, it’s our people who make the difference, both attorneys and staff,” said Danielson, who has been with the firm for 27 years.

DOWNTOWN MANKATO & ST. PETER | JULEESJEWELRY.COM

We Th

ank ...many loyal and o u r .. . faithful customers for their support over the last 11 years and through the pandemic.

You are #1 to us and will always be family!

Janesville • 507-234-6222 www.indianislandwinery.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 53

Darrell Lowe, of Jerry's Abra Auto Body, straightens a bent part of a truck.

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Thank you for voting us the #1 Thrift/Consignment Shop!

NICOLE BARDON All items under $3 with weekly sales.

Spending $6 gives a weeks worth of clothes to someone in need at no cost to them.

We couldn’t do what we do... ...without you!

Check us out on Facebook for more information!

54 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

NICOLE VOTED ONE OFBARDON MANKATO’S BEST INSURANCE AGENTS VOTED ONE OF MANKATO’S BEST INSURANCE AGENTS Mankato | Amboy | Vernon Center | cimankato.com (507) 385 4485

BEST AUTO BODY SHOP JERRY’S ABRA AUTO BODY:

Following the Golden Rule

I

f there’s a reason Jerry’s Abra Auto Body repeatedly earns Mankato’s vote of confidence for its service, it’s likely because the business adheres to a charitable standard.

“Basically, we use the Golden Rule,” said Geralynn “Geri” Kottschade, who has worked side by side with husband Jerry at their body shop at 1671 Madison Ave. since 1984.

“We treat customers the way we would like to be treated, and we do everything we can to return vehicles to their pre-accident condition.”

That’s a formula Jerry has employed in his business from the start; he started his own shop in October 1971 and is anticipating the celebration of 50 years in auto body repair this fall.

Today Jerry’s Abra Auto Body has 34 employees, including a few Kottschade relatives.

“Our nephew Eric is the production/shop manager, and our daughter Laura is assistant operations manager,” Geri said.

Both Geri and Jerry are past national chairs of the Automotive Service Association, which is a testament to their experience and professionalism.

Educating customers is another goal at Jerry’s.

“With technology, the repair process has become more complicated, so we try to help people understand that process as best we can and communicate with them throughout,” Geri said.

Because there is, unfortunately, no shortage of crashes, Jerry’s actively encourages young people to consider post-secondary training for positions as painters and body technicians within the industry.

“Accidents will happen,” Geri said, “and we’re here to help when they do. It’s when, not if, you’ll hit a deer.”

Celebrating the Mankato Area Community for 48+ Years!

Architecture + Engineering + Environmental + Planning | ISGInc.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 55

Shopping Appliance Store

Home Improvement Store

Auto Dealership (New Vehicle)

Independent Clothing Boutique/Shop

1st - DeGroods Appliance 2nd - Quality Appliance & Television 3rd - The Home Depot

1st - Mankato Motors 2nd - Snell Indoor Auto Center 3rd - Luther Mankato Honda

Auto Dealership (Used Vehicle) 1st - Mankato Motors 2nd - Snell Indoor Auto Center 3rd - Adams Auto Sales Mankato

Bridal Shop

1st - Inspire Bridal Boutique 2nd - The Silhouette 3rd - Valerie's Bridal

Flooring/Carpet Store

1st - Rickway Carpet 2nd - Independent Paint & Flooring 3rd - Hanska Furniture & Floor Covering

Florist

1st - Menards 2nd - C&S Supply 3rd - The Home Depot

1st - Cheap Chics Designs 2nd - Sota Sisters Boutique 3rd - Graif Clothing

Jewelry Shop

1st - Exclusively Diamonds 2nd - Jewelry Bench By Mary Inc 3rd - Julee's Jewelry

Liquor Store

1st - MGM Wine & Spirits 2nd - P J's Liquor Emporium Inc 3rd - Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits

Mattress Store

1st - Mankato Mattress Man 2nd - Rooms and Rest Furniture and Mattress 3rd - Slumberland Furniture - Mankato

Meat Market

1st - Hilltop Florist & Greenhouse 2nd - Drummers Garden Center & Floral 3rd - Becky's Floral & Gift Shoppe

1st - Schmidt's Meat Market 2nd - Hilltop Meat Market LLC 3rd - George's City Meat Market

Furniture Store

Men's Clothing Store

1st - Rooms and Rest Furniture and Mattress 2nd - Johnson Furniture 3rd - Ashley HomeStore

Grocery Store 1st - Hy-Vee 2nd - ALDI 3rd - Cub

Home Decorating Boutique/Shop 1st - Cheap Chics Designs 2nd - Whimsy & Weathered 3rd - Neutral Groundz

56 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

1st - J Longs – Men’s Suits, Casual Wear, Formal Wear, Tailoring 2nd - Graif Clothing 3rd - Scheels

Nursery/Garden Center

1st - Drummers Garden Center & Floral 2nd - Greenwald's Greenhouse & Floral 3rd - Edenvale Nursery

Pet Supply Store 1st - Pet Expo 2nd - PetSmart 3rd - Fleet Farm

Power Sports/ATV/ Motorcycle Dealer

1st - Mankato Motorsports 2nd - Starr Cycle 3rd - Dranttel Sales and Service

RV / Camper Dealer 1st - Keepers RV Center 2nd - Kroubetz Lakeside Campers & Motors 3rd - Gag's Camper Way

Thrift/ Consignment Shop

1st - S.S. Boutique 2nd - Again Thrift Store 3rd - VINE Home Thrift Store

Tire Dealers

It’s all about the details

McKenna Young helps a young man pick out a jacket at J Longs.

A

1st - Sota Sisters Boutique 2nd - Graif Clothing 3rd - Mainstream Boutique

1st - Discount Tire 2nd - Tire Associates - Mankato 3rd - D & K Tire Service

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING J. LONG’S:

t J. Long’s For Men, success can be found in the details.

“We have a lot of attention to detail,” said co-owner Matt Long. “And we're always trying to be progressive. We try to

Women's Clothing Store

kind of push the envelope while, at the same time, stay true to what our core stuff is.

That’s Long’s assessment of why people keep coming back to his store for high-end men’s wear. That

recipe has worked well for J. Long’s because this year, like many previous years, the store was voted best men’s clothing store in Mankato Magazine’s Best of awards.

J. Long’s has existed in Mankato in some form since 1985 when it opened in Madison East Center.

Today, after a few moves, it’s at 1640 Madison Ave. — just a few blocks away from its original location.

The main event at J. Long’s is men’s suits, but Long said styles and attire have changed quite a bit over the years. Traditional wool suits have given way to sport coats and stretch shirts. Also, J. Long’s is now offering women’s clothing, including the popular Lululemon brand.

In the end, garnering enough votes to win a contest like this comes down to satisfied customers.

Long said they’ve always taken that very seriously.

“Most guys don't like to shop for the most part. They want a simple experience. They have an event that they're going to, and they want something that's easy. So we just try to take them by the hand and show them everything we have.”

STRONGER Thank you for voting us #1 Fitness Center 9 years in a row!

MANKATOYMCA.ORG

WITH

YOU

#1 FITNESS CENTER

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 57

Brianna Anderson, founder of S.S. Boutique thrift store. S.S. Boutique is located at 2144 Hoffman Road.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US #1 WINDOW, SIDING & ROOFING

507-625-6412 | SchmidtMankato.com 58 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

BEST THRIFT STORE/ CONSIGNMENT SHOP S.S. BOUTIQUE:

Shopping that Sustains

America’s #1 car and home insurance company.

E

verything found at S.S. Boutique, 2144 Hoffman Road, ranging from jeans to winter coats is less than $3.

“We also provide free clothing for anybody in need in the community and surrounding areas,” said the nonprofit’s founder, Brianna Anderson. Anyone in need can reach out via Facebook @ ssboutiquemn or by email for help.

The store has a variety of options from vintage to newer items. Each week S.S. Boutique features new deals such as $1 items. Sales and specials are posted weekly on its Facebook page. And every week, the volunteers and staff restock the racks. The first week in July will also have a big sale to not miss out on, Anderson said.

“There’s always something new to find,” she said. “We try to put things out that look as good as they can, like in retail stores.”

Anderson and the team are excited to have received first place in 2021’s Best of Mankato, and she credits her phenomenal team.

“They helped put it all together.”

During the pandemic, volunteers and co-director Jamie Spaid continued to run the store while Anderson stayed home with her six children for schooling. “(They) continued to run things and make it go smoothly and always made the store look incredible.”

Mankato | Mapleton

507.345.3606 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 59

Drummers Garden Center & Floral offers a variety for all landscaping needs.

60 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

BEST NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER DRUMMERS GARDEN CENTER & FLORAL:

“Look what you can do with those “old” Gemstones!

Covering all garden needs

F

or Julie Drummer, the garden center that bears the family name began in 1990. It was a small seasonal shop in the corner of what was then the Menards parking lot, now Snell Motors.

At that time, she never imagined having the current nursery and greenhouses located at 281 St. Andrews Drive in Mankato.

“We just slowly worked at it, and this is what it morphed into,” she said.

“What we try to achieve here is a good experience. We have knowledgeable people, good products and a great selection.”

Drummer definitely noticed an upsurge in interest in gardening last year when the pandemic hit.

“We were fortunate that we were only closed 10 days when Gov. Walz said we could open back up for business.”

Drummer said the uptick in gardening covers both flowers, vegetables and landscaping products. She said that interest continues this year.

Drummer credits her staff for making Drummers Garden Center & Floral voted best this year. “It’s all about my staff. They’re great.”

Goldsmith & Gallery Owner Patty Conlin 420 N. Minnesota, St. Peter, MN 507-934-5655 • stonesthrowgallery.org

Thank You! Voted best grocery store 10 years in a row!

Mankato Stores • 2010 Adams Street • 410 S. Riverfront Drive

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 61

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE SOTA SISTERS BOUTIQUE:

Something for everyone

O

wner Amber Bannerman opened Sota Sisters Boutique, 1754 Commerce Drive in North Mankato, a few short months before the pandemic hit.

“It was scary but it just always felt like everything was going to be OK,” said Bannerman. There was a lot of hard work, hope and faith in moving forward, said Bannerman.

The boutique also goes live on Facebook and posts new arrivals on Instagram (@ sotasistersboutique). Sota Sisters Boutique learned to adapt during the pandemic and offered free local shipping, curbside assistance and store pick ups, which they’ll continue to do.

“Not everyone feels comfortable,” said Bannerman. “I try to accommodate or do anything that would help people.”

Sota Sisters offer unique brands from accessories to dresses, cute pants and more which the employees can help customers piece an outfit together.

“We help put outfits together and one-on-one special attention,” Bannerman said.

And the store’s also convenient to shop with everyone in the family from teens to grandmothers.

Amber Bannerman, owner of North Mankato’s Sota Sisters Boutique.

“They can all find something — that was important to me,” Bannerman saaid. “I have such great memories with my grandma when I was a kid so I wanted to offer something for everyone — all different kinds of styles.”

New AFFORDABLE Homes NOW AVAILABLE!

AVALON ESTATES

2101 Excalibur Rd, North Mankato Next to Caswell Park & Soccer Complex To learn more, CALL or visit

(888) 392-9734 62 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

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• 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms

One size does not fit all!

Let us prepare a customized digital marketing plan that will yield results.

CONTACT ME TODAY! Josh Zimmerman Digital Sales Manager

507.344.6322

jzimmerman@mankatofreepress.com

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 63

Food & Beer

LET'S EAT!

By Dan Greenwood

SOUTHERN MN STYLE Rahma Abdi of Karshe Tea. Abdi spent tie in Somaliland where she learned about her roots and culture.

Karshe Tea Taste of home Photos by Pat Christman

A

fter Rahma Abdi graduated from St. Peter High School in 2016, her father organized a family trip to Somaliland so she could learn about her roots and culture. Born in Yemen, Abdi was for the first time setting foot in the country her father grew up in.

Making up the northern third of Somalia, Somaliland has been a success story. It’s a peaceful, representative democracy with its own flag, police force and parliament. Its stability has led the autonomous state to attract a growing interest among tourists looking for a unique destination to visit.

64 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

The trip was a life-changing experience for Abdi, and it inspired her father, Sami Ismail, to follow his lifelong dream of opening a Somali café in downtown Mankato, which officially opened last year.

While eating at a restaurant in Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, Abdi sampled the best milkshake she’d ever tasted, made from mangos. Intrigued, she asked the restaurant owners what their secret was.

“They wrote down the recipe in Somali on a piece of paper for me,” Abdi said. “I held onto it until I got back to Minnesota. I asked my mom to read it for me and we made

it. We decided to have it here and it’s our No. 1 hit.”

“It definitely reminds me of home,” she said. “Even when my cousins come here and visit the café, they always think of back home.”

Made of vanilla ice cream and mangos, she describes the milkshake as very sweet and condensed. It also contains Vimto, a carbonated beverage made from a variety of herbs and spices and a combination of raspberry, black currant and grape juices.

“Mango is the main one, but we also offer blueberry, strawberry, mixed berry, watermelon and I plan

Rahma Abdi prepares a speciality tea at Karshe Tea. to add guava smoothies as well for the summer,” Abdi said.

This summer, they plan to add a plethora of other Somali dishes to their menu, as soon as they expand their kitchen.

“Hopefully by July we’ll have our entire kitchen open, which would then be our full menu,” Abdi said.

One planned item on the expanded menu is a Somali soup called maraq, with a vegetarian option made from potatoes, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos. Goat meat is also boiled in the water to extract the flavors and then seasoned with a chili powder from Ethiopia called berbere.

“It’s grounded better and hits you differently,” explained Abdi, who said berbere is also used to clean the senses from a sinus infection.

Another Somali staple they will offer is malawax. Abdi compares it to a versatile crepe, which can be eaten plain, savory or coated in sugar or honey. It’s sometimes served with Nutella and strawberries or with Somali-style eggs, scrambled with vegetables and spices.

“Or you could pour the chaax on

top of the malawax, the black tea that we serve here,” she said.

Somewhat comparable to chai, Abdi uses a black tea imported from Kenya. Then they add green cardamom, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and black peppercorns.

Chaax plays a big role in Somali culture as a way to socialize and welcome guests. It is sometimes even poured on malawax. The finely grounded Somali coffee is also infused with similar spices, boiled together and then strained.

“You would never have a guest in your home without offering some tea, and if they say no, they still get a cup of tea,” Abdi laughed. “It’s definitely a cultural thing for us and it brings everybody together.”

Since they first opened, sambusas, a popular appetizer in Somalia, have been popular at Karshe Tea, and they are made from scratch by Abdi’s mother in-house.

The homemade dough is kneaded, cut into triangles, stuffed with ground beef, cilantro, garlic, jalapenos and then folded and fried in oil. Abdi’s mother uses a secret blend of spices for the ground beef, and they plan to offer vegetarian,

chicken and tilapia sambusas later this summer.

Her favorite part of the job is meeting and having conversations with a diverse combination of customers from all walks of life.

Her father, Ismail, who works another full-time job on top of running the restaurant, said he is so grateful that customers have been supportive and loyal as they prepare to expand their offerings.

“Sami wanted me to express his gratitude and appreciation to those who helped us keep our business open since we opened in June of last year,” Abdi said.

What:

Karshe Tea

Where:

634 S. Front St., Mankato

What they’re known for:

Somali cuisine, including soups, breads, sambusas, smoothies, spiced tea and coffee MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 65

BEER

By Bert Mattson

S

CBD: Blowing smoke or catching fire?

ome fads creep onto the craft brew scene but fade, while other innovations catch fire. It’s become something of a seasonal tradition to speculate what’s on the verge of cashing in and what’ll go down as a onehit wonder. For example, a fair amount of skepticism arose about sour beers’ staying power. Their versatility, cross-over appeal and enduring popularity have proven those critics wrong.

Speculation has shifted to a n o t h e r t r e n d t h a t ’s b e e n budding around the nation: CBD. Otherwise known as cannabidiol, CBD is a compound found in cannabis plants, though hemp plants generally contain more

of it. It is a phytocannabinoid like its more widely known kin, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, though the latter is psychoactive.

The effects of CBD are still being researched, considering its therapeutic benefits. The most striking evidence concerns its potential with childhood epilepsy syndromes typically unresponsive to anti-seizure medications.

(Videos of the effects of CBD on children suffering from these syndromes can be found on the internet. My son has a dear friend who’s benefitted from their prescription.) The FDA has approved a cannabis-derived medication containing CBD to treat these conditions.

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Other clinical research involves relief from pain, anxiety and insomnia, though questions arise about the quality and sufficiency of said data. CBD may be prone to being represented as a cureall. Which brings us back to beer.

It’s not unheard of to find CBD presented as a hangover remedy.

In fact, the first time I personally encountered it was in the form of a packet of gummy bears at a beer festival booth, suggesting an ameliorative property. Perhaps this explains the impulse to include it in beer and/or that this prominent non-intoxicating cannabinoid might help people relax.

The legality of CBD has

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lingered a bit in a state of regulatory limbo. Hemp-derived CBD products below a certain fractional THC content appear to be legal, federally. Some state laws still won’t allow it. Though obtainable in many regions, the rules surrounding CBD are hazy and confused. Prohibition of the stuff seems to depend to a certain degree on whether the source plant is hemp or cannabis.

Minnesota’s Modist Brewing Co. collaborated with North Loop neighbor, Stigma Hemp, in 2019 to infuse a CBD tincture with a Dream Yard IPA inspired hop blend, yielding Dream Oil. Stigma states their non-psychoactive oils are formulated to make you feel better and suggests the power of CBD to relax, relieve and recover.

F i n n e g a n ’s B r e w C o . i n Minneapolis also released Kicked to the Herb in 2019. This American pale ale, perhaps the first CBD beer released in Minnesota, made an appearance on the tap lines when their taproom reopened earlier this season. Kicked to the Herb incorporates locally sourced hops to achieve a mildly bitter, tropical, resinous vibe. I’m still seeing it in cans at some locations.

Indeed Brewing Company recently announced the release of Lull, their non-alcoholic lemonade-key lime CBD seltzer.

CBD, they say, promoted a cool, calm and collected state of being.

Which, it would seem, the world could use a little of.

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St. Paul. He is the manager of the iconic Mickey’s Diner. bertsbackburner.com

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LIT DU NORD: MINNESOTA BOOKS AND AUTHORS

By Nick Healy

Assembling fragments of a secret history “Evidence of V” by Sheila O’Connor

W

hen author Sheila O’Connor’s maternal grandmother was 15 years old, she found herself being treated like a criminal for behavior deemed by the state to be immoral.

Her offense? She was pregnant.

A court committed her to the Minnesota Home School for Girls in Sauk Centre and stipulated she could be confined until her 21st birthday, thereby beginning a dark chapter in her family’s history. The teenager also had become part of a largely unknown and decidedly shameful piece of Minnesota history, the effects of which have reverberated through several generations in many families.

O’Connor’s sixth novel, “Evidence of V,” builds on the true story of the girl’s commitment to the state facility, but historical records are scant and many documents from the Home School for Girls remain sealed long after it finally closed.

Following years of research, O’Connor began writing with the knowledge that available evidence wouldn’t be enough to breathe life into her main character.

“I realized I had no choice but to invent her,” O’Connor said. “I am essentially admitting that often in the book — that I can’t know this and I can’t know that, so I’m going to have to imagine it and I’m going to imagine it based on what I believe to be true about a 15-year-old in that situation. I went about writing that 70 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

in the way I go about writing any novel.”

On its cover, the book is described as “a novel in fragments, facts, and fictions.” Much of the narrative reads as straightforward, beautifully executed historical fiction, but O’Connor splices in short passages with facts and fragments as promised. She quotes directly from government documents and other period sources, including academic papers, that provided a rationale for the commitment of girls ages 8 to 18 deemed to be delinquents.

The blunt language and stark sexism of those sources can be shocking and scary. For example, the superintendent of the Minnesota Home School for Girls said in 1919 that no “actual offense” was necessary and that a girl could be committed if “in danger of becoming delinquent, incorrigible, immoral.” (So, apparently, impure thoughts and words might’ve provided grounds for confinement at the state facility.)

Referred to in the story only by her first initial, V was sent to Sauk Centre after her pregnancy was discovered in 1935, and she gave birth to a daughter there later that year. For a brief time, she was allowed to care for her infant, whom she named June, but soon enough the baby was passed to the custody of V’s older sister and her husband.

The couple adopted June in 1936, and the true story of the girl’s origins remained secret for decades.

While the factual framework behind “Evidence of V” is compelling, it can’t tell us who V was, what she dreamed of and how she was affected by her confinement.

For that work, O’Connor uses her imagination, her wisdom and her considerable skills as a storyteller.

V comes alive on the page, bringing readers into her world and giving us access to her emotional life as she endures harsh punishments, forced

labor and other hardships in state custody.

Before her troubles begin, V is a talented and ambitious teen with big dreams. She has won an award for her singing and has performed for an audience of several thousand.

She scrapes up income by singing and dancing on the streets of downtown Minneapolis, gathering coins from passersby. One day she impresses a nightclub owner, who promises her a place on his stage and whose interest in the girl goes beyond business. And that, of course, is where things start going wrong for the teenager.

“Evidence of V” was released in 2019, and it continues to attract readers and to stir discussion among book clubs, between friends and within families. That success can be credited to O’Connor’s ingenuity. She has assembled a memorable story on top of the facts of her grandmother’s life. “Evidence of V” also seems to hold a special appeal to anyone who wonders about mysteries in their own family

history.

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Critical to O’Connor while writing the book was a hope to reach women and the descendants of women who were once confined at the Minnesota facility and others like it around the country and to have them know a story reflecting their experience has been told.

“When I hear from them, I know the book did what I had hoped it would do because, up until this time, there has been nothing written that records what was done to those girls,” O’Connor said. “And this book would be just a pinpoint. This is one tiny story, and there were thousands and thousands of girls incarcerated.”

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 71

ANN’S FASHION FORTUNES

By Ann Rosenquist Fee

Questions of the coif DEAR ANN: To dye or not to dye gray hair? I am not there yet but I need to know what to do when I get there. This is the second time I have submitted this question.

DEAR READER: I’m so sorry, but no, you cannot know. You can think you know, but then you hit that point where the grays are no longer here-and-there occurrences, they’ve taken over, and all this time you imagined you’d go natural but the reality is not a stunning silver, it’s drab like dirt, so you color.

You use the 15 to 30 minutes of processing time to reflect on situational ethics. Or, on the other hand, you can plan to see your colorist forever and ever, but then a pandemic takes the world and salons away from us so you’re stuck with regrowth, which actually doesn’t look as bad as you expected and actually it’s thrilling to think about re-entering the world with this new don’t-mess-with-me look of maturity, so you quit cold turkey and live out the rest of your life with unimagined freedom and an extra 60 bucks a month.

You just can’t know until you’re there. And I’m sorry about missing your question the first time, except now it kind of works as a metaphor for patience and trusting that the answers will come when they come.

DEAR ANN: I’ve always received compliments on my thick hair, but until recently, I didn’t love it.

I dreaded my morning routine because it took so long to dry my hair and the thickness had an attitude of its own. I’d often sit in meetings holding my hair out of my face, which did not exactly project the professional image I was after.

In 2019 I was tired of having hair at all so I had it chopped into a pixie.

Then 2020 happened, four months of no haircuts, and as my hair grew out, I found myself noticing what I liked and didn’t like at every stage.

Pandemic boredom made this a welcome project, and I spent hours on Pinterest developing a vision.

As soon as possible, I booked an appointment with a new stylist, one who loved a challenge. I shared my 72 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Tammy Bohlke is director of Workforce Development at Minnesota State University’s Center for Continuing and Professional Education. Her five-year plan is to cultivate a hairstyle that looks great with a doctoral graduation cap. thoughts, and the photos, and voila, I finally love my hair!

I love my amethyst black pompadour (and yes, the color is professional … Confidence is the best professional accessory ever).

My hair still has an attitude of its own, and I can never re-create the perfect hair from the day before.

But I have learned to embrace this as an opportunity to be creative first thing in the morning. I can’t believe I lived so much of my life without these feelings.

My question is, how can I get the word out to others? From embracing the importance of a great hair product (even if it has to be its own line item on your monthly budget), to knowing how to ask a stylist for what you want or even change stylists (if you tell her you want to leave the salon looking sassy and she takes out her round brush, move on) — how can I help other women find this freedom?

DEAR READER: First of all, congratulations on discovering so many elusive truths at once — that it’s impossible to re-create the exact same look as the day before (a truth that makes bad hair days more bearable), that growing out one pixie is worth a thousand highpriced spiritual retreats, and that

compliments are great but they’re totally separate from whether or not you’re exuding what you want to exude.

I think the best way to help others is to keep sharing your story. But don’t go blurting it out just anybody because not everybody’s ready to walk through the withdrawal that comes with kicking an addiction to other people’s opinions. Share it with the ones who gaze upon your amethyst black coiffure with the “what-the-actual-hell” smile that lets you know they’re in research mode, actively seeking inspiration for their own big change.

Or maybe she’s the one at the meeting holding her hair out of her face. Or the one with a permanent look of apology for her growing-out pixie. You’ll know it when you see it, and when this town begins to brim with the kind of confidence you are out there beaming, we’ll know you’ve done your part.

Got a question?

Submit it at annrosenquistfee.com (click on Ann’s Fashion Fortunes).

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and host of Live from the Arts Center, a music and interview show Thursdays 1-2 p.m. on KMSU 89.7FM.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 73

GARDEN CHAT

By Jean Lundquist

Heavy lifting I

Time to get in shape for gardening

spent a fortune on my garden this year. Maybe I should say “on my vegetables,” rather than “garden.”

Or maybe I should admit that I spent a fortune on dirt. I didn’t plant anything except squash in the ground.

I put everything in bags again this year. After consulting with my back, it told me it didn’t want to bend over to plant or weed. They don’t give away potting soil anywhere, so I bought it. My back also told me it didn’t like to pull heavy bags of soil from the back of my car, so I had it delivered. One nice delivery person actually placed it in the shed for me.

A friend gave me some new grow bags, and I had some left from last year that I hadn’t used, so I had plenty of bags.

When I bought my first grow bags, they were advertised to last up to three years. That was four years ago.

The actual bag part of the bags still looked intact, so I used them again. But I discovered that while the bags last, the handles don’t. I discovered this the hard way, of course.

In retrospect, I realize I should have watered the bags when I had them in place, not before I moved them. Wet soil is very heavy. I was carrying one heavy, wet bag out, when the handle on one side gave way, suddenly putting all the weight of the bag in my left hand. I face planted.

My knees haven’t been this scuffed up since I was a kid.

A few weeks later, I decided to move all my bags, with beautiful full plants in them, outside. My back said, “No.” So I recruited my loving husband to help me move them out. His back also said, “No.” With his infinite wisdom, he suggested I leave the remaining bags in the greenhouse. After all, he reasoned, that is the point of having a greenhouse.

So there are still over half of my tomato and pepper plants in the greenhouse. I grow indeterminate tomatoes, which means they never quit growing. I imagine by the end of the summer I’ll need a machete to just walk through the greenhouse.

Another friend, moving to New Mexico, gave me her 74 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

homemade tomato cages. They are quite tall. She told me every time a tomato branch peeks over the top, to snip it off, and they will work fine for me. I will do that.

Unfortunately, she had only four tomato cages, and I have way more tomatoes than that.

I’ll make do – I guess I’ll have to.

■■■■ I decided to top some of my pepper plants to see if they produce more peppers with the tops snipped off.

They are looking bushier than the others; now we’ll see about production.

I emailed the University of Minnesota Extension office to ask if they had any advice to offer on the subject.

They did not. However, the person answering my email asked me to let her know how it worked if I did top some peppers. If you have also experimented with your peppers like this, please let me know how it turned out for you, and I’ll report back to her.

I know several years ago the Extension Service experimented with topping Brussels sprout plants and determined it was a good practice. According to Extension, when the sprouts in the lowest part of the plant are about an inch in diameter, cut a couple of inches off the top of the plant to get bigger sprouts and encourage the topmost sprouts to enlarge as well.

I hope what’s good for the Brussel sprouts is good for the peppers!

■■■■ Sometime ago I found a YouTube video with exercises for gardeners to get in shape for the growing season.

I’ll have to revisit that video and hope that next year I’m actually in the garden.

Jean Lundquist is a Master Gardener who lives near Good Thunder. gardenchatkato@gmail.com

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2021 • 75

FROM THIS VALLEY

By Pete Steiner

The third annual Steinies M

y contribution to the “Best of” issue typically features categories not included elsewhere in the issue.

May I remind you of the unique rules? In each category, there was only one vote: that of yours truly.

Yet even determining categories was challenging in another year dominated by COVID. With so much of what we access in a normal year shut down or restricted by COVID precautions and protocols, categories such as best coffee shop, best bartender, best concert venue – for me, at least, those things were now off the table.

Maybe the best restaurant carryout? Um, you go ahead and vote for that one. Best drive-thru? The lines always seemed so long, and I hate lines, so I’m not qualified in that category. Even my favorite category, best malt, couldn’t obtain an adequate sampling of candidates this year.

Still, I was able to cobble together enough categories, however quirky, to produce a column. As ever, the Steinies are virtual (yes, they were virtual well before COVID!). If you are a recipient, notice how I have cleverly outsourced my costs: You can cut the article out and highlight your name in your favorite color and tape it to your fridge, and there's your Steinie for all to see.

Now, this year's winners: Favorite Day of the Week: Used to be Friday, but during COVID it became Grocery Day. The day of the week I opted to take a risk rather than hire a personal shopper or have groceries delivered. I needed to do this to reassure myself that other humans actually still do exist outside of Zoom meetings. A Steinie for Grocery Day. Favorite Superhero: Lots of candidates for this, although my grandson’s favorite from “Paw Patrol” did not make the cut. It came 76 • JULY 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

STEINIES down to my trash collector, my postal carrier, my favorite delivery driver, the nurse who gave me my first vaccine shot, and the winner: a Steinie to every cheery checkout person who rang me up on those grocery store visits. If I seemed too over-the-top personal to you, well, it’s just that you were the only real in-the-flesh human outside of my family that I could interact with.

Word of the Year: COVID, not to mention George Floyd and the Capitol Insurrection, gave prominence to so many words/ phrases we don’t often use: asymptomatic, shedding virus, new normal.

While I know most of us are longing for a “new normal” that doesn’t seem so full of dread, the Steinie, nevertheless goes to “exponential” – as in, spread of the virus, spread of fear, spread of misinformation.

Best Consequence of COVID: all the new sidewalk cafes. Give 'em each a Steinie.

Favorite Holiday: not really a holiday, but maybe should be, because we do need another threeday weekend: May 14, the day after the CDC lifted the mask mandate for the vaccinated. It was so exhilarating seeing faces and smiles

again. Name it Unmasking Day. Favorite binge-worthy series: Everyone has been exchanging lists of shows they watched while selfquarantining. The Steinie goes to “Schitt’s Creek.” Phenomenal cast of quirky characters, and you know this old radio guy loved how they got one of the “seven dirty words” past the FCC monitors.

Local writer: As Nick Healy has noted in his monthly magazine column, the Mankato area is blessed with more fine writers than a town our size might expect. Part of this is because of the efforts and encouragement of longtime Minnesota State University professor and now Steinie recipient Rick Robbins, who nurtured so many of those writers before he recently retired. An honorable mention here to Dawn Quigley, a Native American with local roots.

Her moving poem about the 38 who were hanged here in 1862, “Blue Earth Banks,” was published in the prestigious Poetry magazine in March.

Last summer, during a COVID reprieve for outdoor dining, Jeanne and I ran into a dear reader who suggested I create a new Steinie category in honor of her nickname: the Noodle. I tried defining the category more fully: one who is open and gracious to all, who enthusiastically promotes connection and makes this a better place to live.

When I decided on the inaugural winner of the Noodle Steinie, my only qualm was, why did it take so long? Tell me anyone who fits the description better than Fred Lutes.

Fred turned 80 last year, but he can’t seem to slow down. He admits he’s got great genes. Now he’s got a Steinie, too.

Longtime radio guy Pete Steiner is now a free lance writer in Mankato.

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