TRUE GRIT Jen True clawed her way to the top
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FEATURE S
BEST
JULY 2018 Volume 13, Issue 7
OF THE
BEST
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It’s baaaaack! Our annual Best of Mankato issue gives you the region’s definitive list of who’s the BEST! (Or, at least who got the most votes.)
ABOUT THE COVER Jen True took the top prize in the Best of Mankato contest. She was photographed by Pat Christman.
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DEPARTMENTS 6 From the Editor 8 Faces & Places 12 This Day in History 14 Beyond the Margin Vikes are gone; back to bucolic
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16 Familiar Faces Johnny Marks 64 Day Trip Destinations Grotto of the Redemption 66 Then & Now Albert Woolson 69 Food, Drink & Dine 70 Food Vegetarian grilling
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72 Wine Summer wines 73 Beer On balance, a believer 74 That’s Life Stop the “hate” 76 Garden Chat Tomato bags
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78 Your Style Way-finding with scarves.
Brooching with scrubbies.
80 Night Moves Salsa 82 Coming Attractions 84 From This Valley Pete’s “Best Of” list
Coming in August
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Baseball is America’s pastime. We’ll get you close enough to smell the peanuts, hear the crack of the back and feel a fastball whiz by your face.
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FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR By Robb Murray JULY 2018 • VOLUME 13, ISSUE 7 PUBLISHER Steve Jameson EDITOR Joe Spear ASSOCIATE Robb Murray EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS Amanda Dyslin Ann Rosenquist Fee Bert Mattson Bryce O. Stenzel Diana Rojo-Garcia James Figy Jean Lundquist Leigh Pomeroy Leticia Gonzales Nell Musolf Pete Steiner
PHOTOGRAPHERS Pat Christman Jackson Forderer PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING Joan Streit SALES Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Marianne Carlson Theresa Haefner ADVERTISING Barb Wass ASSISTANT ADVERTISING Sue Hammar DESIGNERS Christina Sankey 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 editorial inquiries, call Robb Murray at 344-6386, or e-mail rmurray@mankatofreepress.com. For advertising, call 344-6364, or e-mail advertising@mankatofreepress.com.
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And the winner is ....
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actually like going to the dentist. Linda is the only person I’ll let clean my teeth. She’s a genius. And it’s always nice when Dr. Schuck or Dr. Flack come in and ask about my kids. But on my recent visit, they asked me, “How are things going at work?” And I’m like, “Oh man, super busy! It’s our annual Best of Mankato issue and, let me tell ya, it’s a pain in the butt! Ballots, voting, assigning articles, writing articles, editing articles, taking photos, designing everything. I’ll be glad when it’s over!” I must have sounded exasperated, and a bit like a man who’s not that thrilled with his job. Then, teeth freshly cleaned (thanks, Linda!) I drove back to work and took a look at the first proof of the magazine you hold in your hands right now. With most of the work behind me, I kicked up my feet and started looking over this behemoth (it’s our biggest issue of the year). Looking for typos to fix and photo captions to add, I started noticing something else. Page after page features smiling business owners, successful businesses, a waiter who moved to Mankato to help a family member, quotes from grateful folks, great dining options from burgers to sushi, places where my family loves to eat, people I’ve seen do great things … so much greatness. Then I realized that it’s not a burden at all to bring you the Best of Mankato 2018 issue, it’s an honor and a privilege. Yes, it’s a bit of a popularity contest seasoned with a little hustle. But there’s also a
foundation of proof; it’s very unlikely that a crooked financial planner or a restaurant with awful service would even be nominated, much less win. So, now that I’ve cleansed the cynicism from my system — you might say I did a root canal on my attitude about the Best of Mankato issue — I’m proud to present to you with our 2018 winners. I say this every year, but … take it with a grain of salt. The winners are all deserving, but it doesn’t mean people or places not on our list of winners aren’t great. In short, it is what it is. Elsewhere in this issue, I’d urge you to check out this month’s familiar faces feature. We caught up with Johnny Marks, one of the radio hosts of the Big Hot Morning Show on 96.7. You probably know his zany side. This month, you’ll see a few other sides of Mr. Marks. Finally, I’d like to direct your attention to Nell Musolf’s column. If you’re a regular reader of Mankato Magazine, then you already know what an entertaining writer she is. But what you might not know is that she’s also an award-winning magazine writer. Nell picked up an award at the recent Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards banquet. She’s one of the gems of Mankato Magazine, and I wasn’t surprised one bit when I heard she’d won. See you next month!
Robb Murray is associate editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at 344-6386 or rmurray@ mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freepressRobb.
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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
Walk MS
1. Families walk through Spring Lake Park to help e nd multiple sclerosis. 2. People walk past the lake on the course at Spring Lake Park. 3. Embroidered T-Shirts were sold to help raise money for multiple sclerosis. 4. It was a pleasant day for f riends and family. 5. Sign-ups were brisk on the morning of the walk. 6. Crowds gathered near t he picnic shelter before t he walk at Spring Lake Park. 7. The Solberg family volunteered at this year’s Walk MS.
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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
Great Strides 1. Participants made their way through the three-mile walk around downtown St. Peter. 2. (From left) Crue Buke, Dekker Buke and Liam Schisler look forward to their wagon ride. 3. (From left) Volunteers Sharon Schafe and Roberta Manser hand out beads to participants. 4. Natasha Hanson (right) is walking for her daughter, Zoey Hanson (left). 5. Members of Mya Mutations enjoyed some bananas before the walk began. 6. The team of Mindy’s Mafia pose for a group photo at the start of the 30th year of Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis.
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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
Raw Fusion
1. Rachel Flowers, as Kandy Perry, represents United Prairie Bank. 2. The Candy Girls are busy making cotton candy. 3. Brianna Long and Alaena Klages strut their outfits made of w indow screen, wallpaper and Tyvek. 4. The judges represented Educare Foundation for Mankato Area Public Schools. 5. The backstage staff take a moment for a photo before the show starts. 6. Girls night out at Raw Fusion. 7. Luna Muse, the Emcee for the event, welcomes the audience.
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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
50+ Lifestyle Expo
1. One of the many raffle bowls to win a variety of prizes. 2. A long line waits to spin the wheel at the Old Main Village booth. 3. Vendors displayed their products and services. 4. A large number of attendees visited the vendor booths. 5.Vine workers presented their program to attendents. 6. Attendents stopped by the Abby Mershon Insurance booth for free donut holes from Dunkin’ Donuts. 7. A free Zumba session was provided by VINE Adult Community Center.
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Refresh
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Color!
THIS DAY IN HISTORY Compiled by Jean Lundquist
Bicycles had given way to BMX Bikes Wednesday, July 16, 1986 A bicycle fad was on its way out in the mid 1980’s, but wasn’t gone yet in Mankato. A dream bike in the 1950’s included huge balloon tires with wide white sidewalls, bulky fenders, a pillow-soft seat and a strong horn. But in the early 1980’s, BMX bikes had taken over. BMX bikes offered small wheels, high handlebars, and a long, hard banana seat. Despite a BMX track in Mankato, the bicycle department manager at Scheel’s believed the fad had peaked. The kids were outgrowing their bikes, and he predicted that the next purchase for all current BMX-owners would be a full-sized 10-speed. A tale of two prison camps Tuesday, July 3, 1945 n War prisoners at Montgomery The German Prisoner of War camp in Montgomery took in over 500 new war prisoners last week, up from the 50 it had previously held. On the north edge of the city, fences were built, guard towers erected, and arrangements made for bunk houses, a kitchen, and a dining hall. Prisoners will work in the fields and at the local cannery, and will be paid 80-cents a day in coupons. Food supplies will be brought from Fort Snelling, for the most part. Locals are hired to work as cooks and medics. Any prisoner who refuses to work will be paid 10-cents a day, and will be fed only bread and water. n Winnebago flier loses 80 Lbs. in Nazi camp Staff Sgt. Frank Manning, Jr. was shot down over Belgium and was captured and held for a year by the Germans in Stalog Luft (4) in Germany. Entering the camp at 170 pounds, he left it at less than 90. He brought home samples of the food he was fed — porous brown bread made partially with sawdust, dehydrated cabbage, and a thin soup made with roots and peelings. Though he had enough points for a discharge, he doubted it would be granted, because as a pilot, he was indispensable to the cause Electrical fire seen as fire cause Wednesday, July 23, 1982 Fire gutted Frost Rexall Drug Store at 225 Belgrade last Sunday night, believed to have started from an electrical malfunction. Lost in the fire was an unspecified amount of currency in the cash register. Owner Charles (Chuck) Frost said he was able to recover “about $26” in coins, which did not burn. Frost is operating his pharmacy out of his home over the phone, while he looks to find a new store location, which he vows will be located in North Mankato. Chuck’s son, Mark, also a pharmacist and a current Mankato City Council member, moved home from out west to help his father fine a new store location. For a while, Frost Drug operated out of a trailer in the Marigold Parking Lot before locating in a new building in the 400 block of Belgrade Avenue which now houses a cleaner and a Chinese restaurant, says Mark Frost. “Old Charlie is 95 years old and doing fine,” son Mark reports.
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BEYOND THE MARGIN By Joe Spear
July parades not politics Weather calendar offers solace
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uly will be different in Mankato this year. The absence of Vikings Training Camp will make the town a little more quiet and a little more bucolic. Merriam Webster says the word bucolic had a meaning as used in the 17th Century relating to sheep and shepherds and herding things. It later came to mean rural, simple, pleasant. Without the Vikings, we’re tending back to bucolic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. And we won’t see the $5 million that fans brought to town that local tourism folks always talked about. When you think of the Mankato retail economy as one now nearing $1.3 billion, $5 million seems like a drop in the bucket. But Vikings Training Camp didn’t give Mankato in dollars as much as it gave a look to downtown that something was happening, even in the summer, when golf, fishing and biking beckon. And the diversity went up in Mankato when Vikings got to town. That’s a good thing. In these racially charged times where sports and politics and race appear to be clashing more and more, it was just good to find some big guys in dreadlocks who didn’t mind engaging the mostly white kids of Mankato in some banter with an autograph or two. And the players are from New York and Chicago and Miami and Omaha. And one is from Park Rapids and his mother begged the MSU coach to play him. We all know how that story ended. And the local office of the State Patrol got a few more bucks from speeding ticket revenues from those guys from Omaha who weren’t used to driving their Corvettes on Highway 169. The Vikings stint had become 14 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
shorter over the years. It started out as a nearly summer long deal. Players were so bored they’d hit the bars in New Ulm and show up to practice puking their guts out the next day. True story. Ask Bud Grant. But in later days, training camp was down to three weeks. Now, the Vikings will be spending most of their time at a monstrous megaplex, whose luminous “branding” messages lit up a Mendota Heights neighborhood like a full moon, except not as majestic. And the Vikings agreed to turn off the lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Still, I can’t imagine people will like the megaplex better than Minnesota State University’s community setting, with a handful of food and drink options within walking distance and places like Jake’s Stadium Pizza and Weggy’s. The new complex is on a suburban street without much pedestrian access. Where Mankato camp gave players and fans a beautiful view of the valley, the new camp gives a good view of a six lane highway and miles and miles of concrete. Parking and traffic on Highway 494 and Dodd Road will be jammed about the time training camp lets out right in the middle of rush hour. But of course it likely will be a revenue generator for the team owners, which is what more and more training camps are becoming. The focus is not so much on serving the fans but on serving the owners. nnn This July also will likely be fraught with more visits from politicians, more political talk and more political advertising. Just what we were hoping for right? Something to fill the void left by Vikings Training Camp. For the first time in a long time,
an Aug. 14 primary election will be a big deal. Both parties have governor candidates that did not abide by their endorsing conventions. They’ll lineup against each other in the primary. There will be at least two candidates on the GOP side and three on the DFL side. There will be no shortage of politicians and their handlers at Fourth of July parades. They’ll be at Duck Days, Lake Crystal Days and of course, given the nature of a new uncompromising, divisive politics, what politician wouldn’t feel at home at Bullhead Days in Waterville? nnn If you want to get away from the
The Minnesota Vikings’ second-round draft pick Dalvin Cook signs autographs for fans on the Minnesota State campus as rookies checked in for the Vikings’ las training camp in 2017. Photo by Jackson Forderer politics, summer is a good time to attend a festival or carnival. Mankato’s famed Bend of the River Festival went by the wayside, it seems, in the early 1990s, giving deference to North Mankato Fun Days, as the little festival that could. So in July one can always look toward Fun Days as Lower North whoops it up the weekend after Fourth of July. I always liked the idea of Fun Days. It’s got a good history. It was started as a way for people to celebrate the coming together in fighting the flood of 1965. Imagine that. A festival that celebrates unity. Where I grew up in the St. Paul, we went to the Rice Street Festival, billed as the oldest continuous festival in St. Paul, according to its website. Like America’s demographics, the demographics of Rice Street and the historic “North End” have changed. The festival, duly recognizes this saying “The Rice Street Festival celebrates
the North End’s rich history while looking forward to welcoming new cultures and traditions.” There are pictures of a police marching band, beauty queens from West St. Paul and an Asian color guard. These parades offer a nice contrast from our politics. nnn July is the mean point of Minnesota’s weather calendar, the midpoint where we should be happiest. We are both furthest away from the last winter and farthest away from the next winter. Let’s just say we put an end on winter at March 30 and a beginning on Nov. 1. July 16 should be the happiest day of our weather calendar, making us furthest (107 days) from both points. Joe Spear is editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress.com or 344-6382. Follow on Twitter @jfspear. MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 15
Familiar Faces
HERE’S JOHNNY! The Big Hot Morning Show host says that, even at age 10, he knew his future was in radio
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Name:
Johnny Marks Age: 36 City of residence: North Mankato Job title: Host of the “Big Hot Morning Show,” Imaging and Music Director for HOT 96-7 (KDOG-FM) Work history: Started at WRJC in Mauston, Wis. (about 20 minutes outside the Wisconsin Dells); KDEC in Decorah, Iowa, WRJC in Detroit Lakes; and Y94 in Fargo, N.D. (you betcha) Education: Degree in Broadcasting (Yep, that’s a real thing) from Brown College in Mendota Heights Family: We’ll see if they want to claim me ... wife, mom, dad, stepmom and two lovely half sisters 16 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
ohnny Marks does some pretty crazy gags on the radio, and it’s easy to allow a certain impression to form about what he’d be like in real life. But then you meet the host of 96.7’s “The Big Hot Morning Show” without the airwaves. And you’re surprised at how kind and down to earth he is. You see him around town, volunteering his time and talents, always with a smile and seemingly full of energy despite his busy radio schedule. There’s definitely more to Marks than meets the ears. Mankato Magazine: Some radio personalities choose a new “on-air” name. Is Johnny Marks your REAL name? And if not, how did you choose it? Johnny Marks: So that’s a funny one. I get that question a lot, right after, “Can I have free concert tickets?!” Short answer is yes. Marks is my real middle name. I took it as my radio last name as a tribute to my grandfather and my mom, who both were born with the last name Marks. My parents divorced when I was 3. My mom, a teacher, kept my dad’s last name for convenience at work, and to make it easier for me growing up since I went to a small, private school. It was also important for me to pick Marks to keep the name alive. I have all female cousins, and as they’ve married, they’ve all dropped the “Marks” last name. I get to keep it alive this way and hopefully do it justice. Chances are, if my grandfather heard my show, he’d ask me to change my name. Kiiiiidding. I hope. My real last name is Ticklebrick. (Editor’s note: We’re fact checking this.) MM: When did you discover your love of radio? Who or what inspired you to pursue this career? JM: I remember the DAY. Well, not the exact calendar day ... but it was during the Minnesota State Fair when I was 10 or 11. I went with my mom, and we walked past the KDWB booth. At that time their booth was located by the Haunted House entrance and exit. I remember thinking when we walked in how cool it was. This DJ gets to be at the State Fair EVERY DAY ... and he doesn’t even have to pay to get in?! I wonder what other free stuff DJs get ... BOOM, my
passion was born. Also, I thought the job was pretty dang cool. MM: You’ve DJ’d at a lot of radio stations, but you’ve been at Hot 96.7 for a long time now. What made this gig permanent? J M : We l l l l , I l o v e Mankato and southern Minnesota, but permanent is a strong word. I was a vagabond for a long time; old habits die hard. We shall see. If it is permanent, it helps that my wife and I have started laying down roots here. She’s a teacher, and I have worked to become an active member of the community; doing theater, playing softball on a co-ed team, getting involved in various charitable events, and DJing weddings and school dances (which is something I do on my own, not through the radio station). If Mankato is my last stop, I hope to be heard on the airwaves long enough that I can talk to adults who listened to me when they were children. I already hear that from some people. It tickles me. And makes me feel freakin’ old, too. MM: Spending so much time every day talking on the air, it must be tough sometimes to find new and fresh things to talk about. Can it be tedious? How do you keep it interesting for yourself and your listeners? JM: I LOVE my job, but like anyone else, there’s days where I wake up and go, “We gotta fill FOUR hours ...” Much of the show is planned out in advance, though. I never, ever go on the air blind or without a layout. Listeners can tell when you’re winging it, and winging it sounds really bad in my opinion. I feel connected to the audience and feel it’s pretty easy to come up with good daily content. There’s a ton of negative news out there. We sift through that and go with the funny or wacky or even positive stories, which aren’t hard to find, believe it or not. However, there’s always room for “Guess what happened to me?” stories on the show. Also, we have awesome listeners whose lives are far
Photos by Pat Christman more interesting than ours. They’re the real spice of the show. MM: What’s your favorite on-air bit, both present and past? JM: Ohh man, past one would be a bit my DJ hero Dave Ryan did. I grew up listening to him, and he had a character on his show named Hiram who did crank calls. I remember listening as an impressionable young lad thinking about how cool it was that a funny sounding grown-up got PAID to crank call folks. Hence, my favorite bit to this day is the Phone Scam. Humorously enough, my boss recently told me she hates the bit. Good thing she’s not in our target demo. MM: It’s no secret: You love Oreos. Have your listeners gifted you Oreos and Oreo-related items over the years? JM: Ha! All the time, and I love, love, love it. We’ll have listeners randomly drop by with Oreos and want to take a photo. Sometimes as soon as “The Big Hot Morning Show” ends, someone is in the lobby with cookies. It’s very special to me when people take the time and several dollars to do that for me. Means a lot. Recently a listener brought me Oreos from Japan! Very cool. MM: What is something you haven’t had the chance to do on your show
that you want to do in the future? JM: I’d love to get more celebrities on the show, like larger markets. Not likely to happen, but I have a few burning questions for Demi Lovato and others. I also wish I had a clone so I could appear at more events. There’s only so much time in a day or week. MM: Listeners often feel like they know the people behind the mics because you have to be so personable. Is off-air Johnny Marks similar to on-air Johnny Marks, or are you a lot different at home? JM: Nope! I think it’s important to be genuine. I don’t play a character on the radio. I am off-air who I am on-air. I am a little more opinionated about certain things that we don’t venture into on the morning show and a bit less interested in other topics we handle on the show. But personality wise, I’m the same dude during the other 20 hours in the day. MM: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? JM: I DO shower all the time. Despite the jokes. I am clean! I promise. I also enjoy Oreos, but I eat very healthy most of the time. Promise. I also go to the gym, and sometimes I really try hard while there. MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 17
BEST BEST OF THE
H
Photos by Pat Christman, Jackson Forderer and Casey Ek
ere they are, folks, the results of our annual Best of Mankato contest. Thousands of readers filled out online ballots and now, finally, the wait is over. We want to thank everyone who participated in voting, and congratulate the people and businesses recognized. It’s a big honor. And now, ON WITH THE SHOW! MM
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BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT: Jen True
True Grit
Jen True had to claw her way to the top
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hen you sit down with Jen True and ask her about the secrets to her success, she’s quick to come up with a few facts about herself. “I have a lot of grit,” she says. “I don’t give up. I’m incredibly stubborn. And when people tell me I can’t do something, I don’t accept that.” It takes a little digging, though, to get to the heart of True, to uncover the reasons she is the way she is, and why her success, when you see the whole picture, isn’t that surprising. In this year’s Best of Mankato voting, True, owner of True Real Estate, was voted Mankato’s best Realtor. A nice honor; one she wasn’t expecting and didn’t lobby for. But awards like that, for her, are less about acknowledging greatness than they are mileposts in a journey that is ongoing, and one that is rooted in hard work, love of family and a desire make her hometown the best it can be. So let’s go back a bit, and begin with True’s father, Charles Q. True. Remember that name? Even if you didn’t know the man personally, you may have seen his name in the pages of The Free Press when was still alive. He was a frequent writer of colorful letters to the editor. A former Marine, he was a businessman who took risks. And he was hard on his kids. He loved them, but he was hard on them. “He raised me tough,” she said. “He made me work and did not spoil me in the least.” That toughness would pay off as True entered the Real Estate business. Initially, it was slow going for her. And doing it all as a single mother of two boys didn’t make it
Jen True any easier. She didn’t close on her first sale for six months. As time went on, though, she built her business personality around integrity, kindness, and genuinely caring about the lives of the people she’s working for. Success didn’t come easily. “I built my business in a mini-van and then a Volkswagen Jetta, working seven days a week,” she said, “and I’m actually kind of proud of that.” Raising children and building a Real Estate career aren’t exactly two things that mesh well. But True says she resolved to be as present as possible for her sons. So she scheduled in every hockey game and school activity, just like she’d schedule a house showing. She kept those things private from clients, but missed very little of her sons’ lives.
“There were times when I was getting really busy, and my kids would tell me, ‘Mom, we want you home more.’ … And that was hard,” she said. “We started having more communication and then I would try to cut back.” She says she also used the services of a number of delivery restaurants. “They have a lot of memories of Jimmy John’s and Toppers Pizza,” she said. “They grew up on a lot of deliveries. But when I talk about who my biggest supporters are, it was (my sons).” During some of those years, business wasn’t so good. “I thought about getting out of the business in 2009,” she said. “I was behind on house payments and down to a point where I was either going to quit or go all in. So I went all in.” MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 19
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Fur’s A Flyin’
When people were getting out of the business, she said, she looked that as an opportunity to get 1522 N. Riverfront Drive at ahead. So she got a real estate Mankato coach, buckled down and remembered the work ethic her parents taught her. fursaflyinmankato.com And things got better. She climbed and clawed her way from the brink of getting out of the business to being one of the topselling Realtors in town. She was working for a national franchise at the time. The time eventually came, though, when she wanted something more … and something less. “I had a real estate team, six agents. But I decided I was just going to go out on my own and not manage people, not have team,” she said. “I just wanted to be Jen True, be my own broker.” That was Plan A. But when she told her team they were breaking up, one by one they all came back and asked to work with her. So, with the confidence that comes with the fact that people were willing to jump ship to work with her, she changed her mind about being “just Jen.” She worked with a marketing firm and had a fresh look and marketing plan within weeks of leaving the franchise, and the new True Team launched in January of 2016. It’s been a challenge, she says, but it’s been worth it. Today, the True Team is actually leading in market share and sales. She’s got 33 agents and three administrative staff. And she’s hoping that, within a year, a few things will happen. L I ITG I GA AT N N • BU I NU E SSS I •NFE AR SO AL• P E R S O N A L LIT TI O IO • SB SMS • •P EFRA RNM LITIGATION • BUSINES SS• • FARM • PERSONAL One: True Real Estate brand will LITIGATION • BUSINES FARM • PERSONAL expand to bigger markets. And two: that she can begin to scale back and relax. LITIGATION • BUSINESS • FARM • PERSONAL
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red!Since 1896, Voted Mankato #1 Law Firm - 4of years in a Mankato row. Blethen, Gage &Magazine’s Krause has been a cornerstone the Greater
Magazine’s #1with Law Firm - 3 years a row.legal excellence and personal community an unwavering focus onin providing
commitment. always put ourGage clients and they have returned the favor Since We 1896, Blethen, &first Krause has been a cornerstone of by voting us bestthe lawGreater firm in Mankato. Thank you to ourwith clients business associates Mankato community anand unwavering focus onfor this acknowledgment. We are proud to be a part of this vibrant community.
blethenlaw.com
providing legal excellence and personal commitment. We always Mankato, Minnesota hen, Gage put & Krause has been a cornerstone of the Greater Mankato our clients first and they have returned the favor by voting us m an - 3 unwavering yearsbest in alawrow. focus on providing legal excellence and personal firm in Mankato. Thank you to our clients and business associates for this acknowledgment. arereturned proud to be the a partfavor of e always put our clients first and they We have by voting this vibrant community. excellence. Personal commitment. in Mankato.Thank you to our clients and business associatesLegal for this
st.been a cornerstone the Greater Mankato We are proud to be of a part of this vibrant community. on providing legal excellence and personal first and they have returned the favor by voting to our clients and business associates for this part of this vibrant community.
Mankato, Minnesota
507-345-1166
blethenlaw.com blethenlaw.com Mankato, Minnesota
20 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
blethenlaw.com
Mankato, Minnesota
•
People Financial Planner
First: Ryan Spaude, Eide Bailly Second: Matt Norland, Meyer & Norland Financial Group Third: Mark Kluender, Edward Jones
Insurance Agent
First: Aaron Hatanpa, State Farm Second: Scott Michaeletz, Kato Insurance Agency Third: Lonnie Bristol, State Farm
Accounting Firm
First: Eide Bailly Second: Abdo Eick & Meyers Third: Clifton Larson Allen Wealth Advisors
Law Firm
First: Blethen, Gage & Krause Second: Maschka, Riedy, Ries & Frentz Third: Knutson & Casey Law Firm
Photographer
First: Daniel Dinsmore, Daniel Dinsmore Photography Second: Christy Bode Photography Third: Evan Taylor, Evan Taylor Studios
Real Estate Agent
First: Jen True, True Real Estate Second: Angie VanEman Riley, American Way Realty Third: Jason Beal, JBeal Real Estate Group
Chiropractor
First: Mankato Chiropractic Second: Advanced Chiropractic Third: Kuch Chiropratic
Bartender
Pediatrician
First: Katie Smentek, MD, Mankato Clinic Second: Donald Putzier, MD, Mankato Clinic Third: Vickie Parsons, CNP, Mayo Clinic Health System
Dentist
First: Jessica Kuryla, DDS, Commerce Drive Dental Second: Tom Pooley, DDS, River Valley Dental Third: Dan Osdoba, DDS, Oz Family Dentistry
Family Physician/ Primary Care Provider First: Chaun Cox, MD, Mayo Clinic Health System Second: John Benson, MD, Mankato Clinic Third: Katie Anderson, MD, Mankato Clinic
Optometrist
First: Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic Second: Mankato Clinic Eye Care Center Third: WalMart Vision Center
Auto Mechanic
First: Lynn Austin, Austin’s Auto Repair Second: Mark Fromm, Fromm’s Auto & Repair Third: Michael Visker, Express Care Auto North Mankato
First: Erin Filson, Pub 500 Second: Steve Kulas, Big Dog Sports Cafe Third: Angi Proehl, Midtown Tavern
Waiter
First: Alberto Alonzo Lara (Justin) - El Mazatlan Restaurant Second: Roberto Regueiro, LaTerraza Mexican Grill & Bar Third: Shawn Nordstrom Grizzly’s Wood-Fired Grill & Steaks
Waitress
First: Layla Pappas, Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar Second: Karina Felix, El Mazatlan Restaurant Third: Jenny Bobholz, Circle Inn Bar
Radio Personality
First: Stunt Monkey, Hot 96.7 Second: The Country Club with TJ & Lisa, Minnesota 93.1 Third: George and Jess in the Morning, Real Country 103.5
Television Anchorperson
First: Mark Tarello, Chief Meteorologist Second: Stacy Steinhagen, KEYC News 12 at 5, 6 & 10 p.m. Third: Ashley Hanley, Fox 12 Mankato Anchor
Newspaper Reporter First: Robb Murray Second: Tim Krohn Third: Kristine Goodrich
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 21
We wanted to thank all of our customers for their past and future business. Thank you for voting us one of the
Best of Mankato!
! t h s a n k
Located conveniently across from Cub Foods • 464 Raintree Road • Mankato Mon-Sat 10-8 • Sun 12-5 • onceuponachildmankato.com • 507.344.8799
Ryan Spaude
507.344.8888 + www.knutsoncasey.com 22 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
BEST FINANCIAL PLANNER: Ryan Spaude
Your money guy
W
ith 23 years in the financial services industry, Certified Financial Planner Ryan Spaude’s main focus is to help others achieve their financial goals. “Some days involve teaching and explaining the different facets of intermediate finance to clients,” said Spaude, of Eide Bailly. “Other days, it’s coaching and guiding them through the ups and downs of the markets.” The most common question clients often ask, shared Spaude, is when can they retire? “We can answer that for them by employing the Financial Planning process,” he said. “The plan shows them exactly where they stand today and what path they are currently on. Then, we determine if they need to make any adjustments to reach their retirement goals or any other goals they may have.” When it comes to myths or misconceptions dealing with finances, Spaude said he often hears from customers,“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to retire” or “I think I can retire early?” “Sometimes people have a moderate salary but save and budget and have more flexibility than they think,” he explained. “Sometimes people have a larger salary and have saved and budgeted, but forget they will miss out on some of their peak earning and saving years.” Above all, Spaude said it is important for people to recognize that although managing personal finances is an important responsibility, they don’t have to do it alone.
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MANKATO 507.385.4485 | AMBOY 507.674.3355 VERNON CENTER 507.549.3679 | www.cimankato.com Laura Thoms
Jenny Zak MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 23
BEST DENTIST: Commerce Drive Dental Jessica Kuryla, DDS
Pearly whites are her business
D
Here’s Why: She got quality care close to home from OrthoEdge featuring The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital! • 3,000 orthopaedic surgeries • 245 years of combined experience • 1 of 13 hospitals accredited as a hip & knee replacement center of excellence OrthoEdge, the right choice for joint replacement surgery. OrthoEdgeMN.com
r. Jessica Kuryla has been a dentist in Mankato for 20 years. First with the LorRay Drive Dental Clinic, then as a partner at Commerce Drive Dental Clinic after the practice moved from LorRay Drive to a location on Commerce Drive in North Mankato. Her philosophy is to work to turn a potentially negative experience into a positive one. “I believe in telling a patient what I think they need, then giving them what they want, within ethical bounds,” she says. “I think it’s important not to treat a person as I’d want to be treated, but as they want to be treated.” Part of making a patient comfortable includes asking the person if they want an explanation of the procedure, if they want the TV on, or maybe headphones. And, of course, top notch dental
care. Kuryla calls being voted “Best Dentist” flattering, but says it isn’t just her; it’s her whole team, including all her associates, starting with the person who greets patients when they walk in the front door. “We take into account the whole person and his or her needs,” she says, again crediting everyone at the practice for the Best Dentist designation.
Jessica Kuryla with the large tooth statue behind Commerce Drive Dental. Kuryla was voted Best Dentist of Mankato for 2018. Kuryla has worked as a dentist for 20 years at Commerce Drive Dental and said, “It’s a team effort, it’s not just me, it’s our whole team.” Photo by Jackson Forderer
Thank you for your Continued Support
Recognized for Being the Best!
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pattersonsdiamondcenter.com 24 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 25
BEST WAITRESS: Layla Pappas
Well done! Steakhouse waitress aims to please
M
arrying a fourth generation restaurateur worked out well for Layla Pappas, who is the 2018 Best Waitress in this year’s voting. “I’ve been doing this since I was 16,” she says, “and I love it.” What she does is work the front of the house at the Pappageorge Restaurant on North Riverfront Drive, which she’s co-owned with her husband since 2007. Other restaurants in the Pappas family have included Michael’s in Mankato and Rochester, and Maggie’s in Mankato. With a team of 21 employees, Pappas says her most important achievement has been making a “family.” Pappas says the restaurant is a steakhouse, with the steaks hand cut by her husband in the back of the house. People tell her they tried to replicate a meal they have eaten at Pappageorge, and it just wasn’t the same. “That’s because in addition to the best quality ingredients, we also add love and care,” she says. Pappas says being part of a family at the restaurant means she knows the names of her customers, their birthdays, anniversaries, the names of their kids, and the names of their grandchildren. “We talk about what is going on in their lives, and we talk about what is going on in mine.” Pappas says the family atmosphere in the Pappageorge Restaurant is open and respectful, and more “family members” are always welcome.
26 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Layla Pappas of Pappageorge
Alberto Alonzo Lara
BEST WAITER: Alberto Alonzo Lara
Los Angeles native ‘fell in love with Mankato’
A
lberto Alonzo Lara is from Los Angeles, where the sun shines a heck of a lot more than here. So how did he get himself into a position to win Best Waiter in Mankato year after year? His uncle, who owns El Mazatlan, said he needed some help, so Lara responded to the call. “And I fell in love with Mankato,” he said. Years later, Lara has made quite a name for himself at the restaurant.
His customers love him, and he was happy to learn they’d voted him Best Waiter again. “That’s awesome,” he said. “I really don’t expect it. I try to treat people right, and I think people really appreciate it, and I appreciate them.” Lara has been at the restaurant four years, and he said the key to being a good server is recognizing that the dining experience is about more than food. “I like my job. I like pleasing
people,” he said. “When people go out to eat, it’s not just about eating. They try to escape reality. It’s about having a good experience.” Lara said he’s so glad he came to Mankato to help out his uncle. He said he learned quickly that “Minnesota Nice” is a real thing, and “work is good, the pay is good, and everything is cheaper here.” Plus, he said, the weather isn’t all bad. “Once the summer comes, it’s just gorgeous,” he said.
Celebrating 35 years in Mankato!
100 Warren Street Suite 204 507.387.4081 Katoins.com
Thank you to all who voted for us! We appreciate your confidence and trust in our agency!
Mankato’s locally owned independent agency. MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 27
Shopping Nursery/Garden
First: Drummer’s Garden Center & Floral Second: Edenvale Nursery Third: Hilltop Florist & Greenhouse
Antiques
First: Salvage Sisters Second: Mankato Vintage Market Third: Pond Road Antiques
Grocery Store First: Hy-Vee Second: ALDI Third: Cub Foods
Liquor Store
First: MGM Wine & Spirits Second: Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits Third: P J’s Liquor Emporium
Meat Market
First: Schmidt’s Meat Market Second: Hy-Vee Third: Hilltop Meat Market
Place to Buy Furniture
First: Rooms and Rest Furniture and Mattress Second: Ashley HomeStore Third: Johnson Furniture Mattress Interior Design
Place to Buy a Mattress First: Mankato Mattress Man Second: Rooms and Rest Furniture and Mattress Third: Slumberland Furniture
Place to Buy Appliances First: DeGrood’s Homestore Second: Lowe’s Third: Quality Appliance & Television
Jewelry Store
First: Exclusively Diamonds Second: Williams Diamond Center Third: Patterson’s Diamond Center
Celebrating 55 Years in Business
Thank You
for Voting us #1 RV Dealer 7 years in a row!
Come and See the New RV’s for 2018 Silverback NuCamp Cedar Creek Cottage Flagstaff Phoenix Catalina Little Guy
(507)625-4647
Monday 8-8 Tues., Wed., Thurs. 8-6 Friday 8-5 Saturday 9-3
Hwy 22 South (east on 200th St.), Mankato www.Keepersrv.com
28 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Home Improvement Store First: Menards Second: Lowe’s Third: Home Depot
Men’s Clothing
First: J. Longs Second: Graif Clothing Third: Kohl’s
Women’s Clothing
First: Kohl’s Second: TJ Maxx Third: Mainstream Boutique
Children’s Clothing First: Kohl’s Second: Old Navy Third: Once Upon a Child
Thift/Consignment Shop First: MRCI Thrift Shop Second: Again Thrift & More (MVAC) Third: Goodwill
Automotive Dealership (New Vehicle) First: Mankato Motors Second: Snell Motors Third: Mankato Ford
Automotive Dealership (Used Vehicle) First: Mankato Motors Second: Snell Motors Third: Adams Auto Sales
Power Sports/ATV/ Motorcycle First: Snell Powersports & Equipment Second: Starr Cycle Third: Harley-Davidson
RV Dealer
First: Keepers RV Center Second: Kroubetz Lakeside Campers & Motors Third: Gag’s Camper Way
Tire Dealers
First: Discount Tire Second: Tire Associates Third: Mankato Motors
Home Entertainment/ Electronics
First: Best Buy Second: DeGrood’s Homestore Third: Sam’s Club
Place to Buy Pool/Spa Supplies
First: Sawatzky Pools Second: Midnight Sun Spas Third: Sweet Living Pools & Spas
I Am Thrilled To Be Voted #1 Again! THANK YOU!
801 S. Riverfront Drive | Mankato | mankatomattressman.com | 507-351-0709 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 29
Maria and Sarah Person
BEST JEWELRY STORE: Exclusively Diamonds
A sparkling-good business
E
xclusively Diamonds has been a part of the Mankato area for nearly four decades. “I am currently the third generation to continue the passion for providing clients with quality jewelry and a legendary experience that will bring memories to last a lifetime,” said Manager Maria Person. Her grandmother, Sally Nelson, started the business 38 years ago, before selling the store to Maria’s mother, Sarah Person in 1998.
“It is truly a family here at Exclusively Diamonds, and I think our customers feel that way each time they come into our store,” said Maria. The staff offers a global perspective from their many travels throughout the jewelry industry. “Trips to South Africa to purchase diamonds directly from the cutting factory, to flying to events to buy the latest designs and trends, help keep Exclusively Diamonds on the cutting edge,”
explained Maria. Engagement rings and long diamond necklaces are top sellers during the summer months. “Recently, our clients been loving stackable bands in rose, yellow and white gold,” said Maria. “This summer, our most popular diamond shape is an oval. Ovals are so beautiful and give your finger an elongated look.They are perfect for a new bride or someone looking to add a new shape into their jewelry collection.”
Thank you for voting Hillcrest Rehabilitation Center as
Come see what makes us great! Tours available. 507-387-3491 • 714 Southbend Ave., Mankato, MN 56001 30 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
(From left) Samantha Goedeke and Taylor Peterson tend to the checkout at the Victory Drive MGM liquor store.
BEST LIQUOR STORE: MGM Wine & Spirits
MGM serves another round of something new
W
hatever a person’s drink of choice may be, there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to find it. But that should never be a problem at MGM Liquor Warehouse, according to owner Greg Dembouski. While sticking to the classics, MGM continues to add to its stock of wine, spirits, beer and many other beverages. “We’ve had to expand all three of our locations for the growing items that we want to carry across all departments, but
especially in the beer department,” Dembouski said. “There are so many craft beer, seltzer and malt beverages.” Dembouski has run the MGM Wine & Spirits locations in Mankato, North Mankato and St. Peter for five years, but his family opened its first area location in 1983. “People, especially from smaller areas, like to keep their business local and shop with the mom-andpops, and that’s what we are,” he said. “…We live here, we own the
business, and the people we hire are from here.” The Minnesota River Valley area is a special place to run a business, Dembouski said, because it’s both rural and urban, close-knit and diverse. And everyone who walks into an MGM store has a different favorite drink — including Dembouski. “I’m usually a beer guy,” he said. “So it’s either going to be a light beer like Michelob Golden, or I like to dabble in IPAs.”
Thank you for voting us Best of Mankato for the fourth year in a row! MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 31
BEST ANTIQUES: Salvage Sisters
Salvage Sisters mixes old with new
F
or a while after Heather Fisher became the owner of Salvage Sisters, she couldn’t stop thinking, “How long until my friends and family are sick of supporting my store?” However, she is still pleasantly surprised that most days, she doesn’t recognize a single customer. Like Mankato’s Old Town neighborhood where it’s located, Salvage Sisters has grown in recent years, expanding its products and hours. It started as a painted furniture and antiques store in 2012, but the business now offers handmade clothing and gifts that about 50 local artisans have crafted for every age group from infants to grandparents. Having an assortment of items allows Fisher surprise customers. “As a business owner, I want to stay ahead of trends that are coming,” she said. “I constantly try to keep my thumb on the pulse of what’s going on so that I can stay interesting and relevant.” Antiques remain a key part of Salvage Sisters, but helping customers mix the older pieces with newer ones is important. “When people come into the store, I tell them that we are a shop of handmade, new, salvaged and antique. I mix the antiques into my new and handmaid inventory,” Fisher said. “… It’s a good way to show people how they might incorporate (antique) items they have from their family or an estate sale into their new home decor.”
32 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
287 St. Andrews Drive • Mankato 507-720-0250 1170 E. Frontage Rd • Owatonna 507-455-1000 405 E. Main St • Blooming Prairie 507-583-2141 3110 Wellner Drive NE • Rochester 507-536-7700 Less Than Excited 132 N. Broadway • New Richland About A Trip To The Dentist? 507-463-0502
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“Thank You” for Voting Us One of Mankato’s Best!
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The Reserve Country Living within the City Limits
7 New Lots Coming in July!! Located off LorRay Drive in North Mankato Walk Out Lots | Pond Lots | Park Lots
Contact: Jeff 612-701-6315 or Chris 507-382-4945 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 33
BEST PLACE TO BUY APPLIANCES: DeGrood’s Homestore
DeGrood’s experience sells
T
hat DeGrood’s Home Store has been voted the Best Place to Buy an Appliance in Mankato appears to not come as a surprise to Maggie Rosier, DeGrood’s Marketing Manager. Rosier says DeGrood’s trained and experienced sales members are the best in southern Minnesota on all the brands they offer. And that’s saying something, since they offer at least 40 brands. “This knowledge and information is just not something you can find in a big box store,” she says. Currently, there are sales staff who have been with the store for 16 to 20 years. “We have a very low turnover,” Rosier says, “and we retain all that knowledge.” In addition to appliances and electronics, DeGrood’s also offers patio furniture, though according to Rosier, “Ninety percent of our business is appliances.” In addition to sales of appliances, DeGrood’s also offers parts and service. “We can fix just about anything, or at least, try,” Rosier says. In addition to being active with social media and deeply involved community activities, Rosier says the third generation family business (since 1952) keeps a finger on the pulse of what customers want. A successful retail following means DeGrood’s offers a fun customer experience. “Whether someone is looking for a part, for a specific appliance, or ‘just looking’,” Rosier says,” coming to DeGrood’s should be a fun experience, and we make sure it’s fun.”
34 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Now booking for Class of 2018
All New Equipment
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 35
Goods & Fitness Center
Barber Shop
First: YMCA Second: Fitness for $10 Third: Planet Fitness
First: Y Barbers Second: Sport Clips Third: Dan’s Barber Shop
Place to Take the Kids
Tanning Salon
First: Children’s Museum of Southern MN Second: Sibley Park Third: WOW! Zone
First: Sun Tan City Second: Indulge Salon & Tanning Third: PerfecTan
Child Care Center
First: Liv Aveda Salon & Spa Second: Nails by Jordan (Original by Hobby Lobby) Third: Kim Nail & Spa
First: Lil’ Bee’s Learning Center Second: Little Stars Early Learning Center Third: Golden Heart Child Care Center
Nail Salon
Hotel/Motel
First: Courtyard by Marriott Second: Hilton Garden Inn Third: Country Inn & Suites
Florist
First: Hilltop Florist & Greenhouse Second: Hy-Vee Floral Center Third: Drummer’s Garden Center & Floral
Auction Services First: BidKato Second: Mike Miller Auction Service Third: Wingert Realty & Land Services
Kennel
Snow Removal
First: Mankato Snow Removal Second: Peters Lawn Care Service Third: The Caretakers Inc
Lawn Care
First: GreenCare Second: Peters Lawn Care Service Third: Spring Touch Lawn Specialists
Massage
First: Liv Aveda Salon & Spa Second: Mankato Chiropractic & Healing Touch Third: Indulge Salon & Tanning
First: The Paw Pet Resort Second: Heartlund Boarding Kennels Third: Liberty Acres Pet Lodge
Auto Repair Shop First: Mankato Motors Second: Austin’s Auto Repair Center Third: Fromm’s Auto
Pet Grooming
First: Fur’s A Flyin’ Pet Grooming Second: Haute Dog Third: Vanity Fur (Pet Expo/The Paw)
Veterinarian Office
First: Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital Second: Nicollet Veterinary Clinic Third: River Hills Pet Care Hospital
Auto Body Shop
First: Jerry’s Body Shop Second: Snell Collision Center Third: Fromm’s Collision Center
Car Wash
First: Snell Auto Wash Second: Kwik Trip Third: Gerring’s Car Wash
Dry Cleaner
Hair Salon
First: Liv Aveda Salon & Spa Second: Raydiance Salon Third: Heat Blow Dry Bar and Wax Studio
36 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Golf Course
First: Mankato Golf Club Second: North Links Golf Course Third: Minneopa Golf Course
First: Like Nu Cleaners Second: Madison Avenue Laundry & Dry Cleaning Third: Americlean Dry Cleaners
Service Alterations
First: Pins and Needles Alterations Second: Chris’ Tailor Shop Third: Barb’s Sewing Room
Senior Living/ Retirement Facility
First: Ecumen Pathstone Living Second: Oak Terrace Assisted Living Third: Hillcrest Health Care Center
Rental Store
Heating/Air Service
First: Northern Comfort Second: Davis Comfort Systems Third: Schwickert’s Tecta America
Electrical Service First: Ploog Electric Second: BLK Electric Third: Key City Electric
Plumbing Service
Funeral Home
First: Mankato Mortuary Second: Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary Third: Woodland Hills Funeral Home & Crematory
Water Service/ Conditioning
First: McGowan Water Conditioning Second: Culligan Water Conditioning Third: Garlick Water & Conditioning
Bank or Credit Union First: MN Valley Federal Credit Union Second: Community Bank Third: Wells Fargo Bank
Carpet Cleaning
First: Vanderberg Clean Second: ServiceMaster Third: Shine Way Services
First: Northern Comfort Second: Kopp Plumbing & Heating Third: Schwickert’s Tecta America
Cabinetry
First: Cherry Creek Cabinetworks Second: Acorn Custom Cabinetry Third: Custom Craft Cabinets
First: A to Z Rental Second: G & K Rental Third: Lloyd Lumber Just Ask Rental
Employment Agency First: Express Employment Professionals Second: Manpower Third: Spherion Staffing
Travel Agency
First: The Travel & Cruise Center Second: Amber Pietan Travel Agency Third: Hometown Travel
Specialty Printing
First: Insty-Prints Second: Corporate Graphics Third: Paragon Printing, Mailing & Specialties
Construction Company
First: DeMars Construction Second: Goodrich Construction Third: Deichmann Construction
Roofing
First: Schmidt Siding & Windows Second: Heyn Brothers Third: Mike Hansen Roofing & Construction
Cell Phone & Wireless Provider First: Verizon Second: Sprint Third: AT&T
Windows
First: Schmidt Siding & Windows Second: Lacina Siding & Windows Third: Ron Boelter Window & Siding
Computer Repair
First: Mankato Computer Repair Second: Best Buy Geek Squad Third: Geeks2u
Siding
First: Schmidt Siding & Windows Second: Lacina Siding & Windows Third: Heyn Brothers
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 37
Mankato’s Pet Resort Services: • Pet Boarding • Doggie Daycare • Training • Indoor Swimming • Grooming • Private Parties • In Home Care • Rehabilitation
Open for 10 years & family owned! Four years voted best of Mankato
Thank You for Your Votes
• Residential Cleaning • Commercial Cleaning • Disaster Restoration • Janitorial Services
Mankato 507-388-6339 WASECA 507-835-4799 ST PETER 507-931-6730 38 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
BEST CABINETRY: Cherry Creek Inc.
Cherry Creek keeps clients in mind
E
leven years ago Gary Rudolf came to the Mankato area and started Cherry Creek Cabinet Works. Before too long, the company broadened its focus from just cabinetry to complete remodeling and even new construction of homes. “People come to us because they want something unique and special. They come to us for quality,” says Rudolf. Rudolf works with a team of three other designers and two installation technicians at Cherry Creek, Inc. What they achieve as a team, says Rudolf, is a space that people love to be in, and that is timeless. “We want people to feel as good in the space in 10 years as they feel today.” Cherry Creek takes on small bathroom remodels to completely gutting and remodeling homes. Rudolf says he has also done some commercial jobs. “We take great pride in spaceplanning,” Rudolf says. “I love to look at a space and redesign it for
From left, Christina Sample, Garrick Rudolf, Gary Rudolf and Nicole Wolters of Cherry Creek Cabinetworks, voted Best Cabinetry of Mankato 2018. Sample said, “We do a lot more than cabinetry, we help select countertops, we help select backsplash, we help select lighting.” Photo by Jackson Forderer
1541 East Madison Ave • Mankato, MN 56001 • ( 5 0 7 ) 3 8 6 - 0 0 2 1
functionality or whatever our clients want.” Rudolf says the designers at Cherry Creek are able to take a fresh look, talk to their clients to get a feel for what they wish to be accomplished, then work as a team to make that happen. Then, he says, it’s up to the technicians in the field to actually create what they have designed.
Thank You for Choosing Us! #1 Mexican Restaurant 7 Years In A Row #1 Waiter - Alberto Alonzo Lara 3 Years In A Row #2 Waitress - Karina Felix 1525 Tullamore Street, Mankato Right off Madison Ave. • 507.625.2406 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 39
BEST CHILD CARE CENTER: Lil’ Bee’s Learning Center
Lil’ Bees is big on caring
B
219 S. Victory Drive | Mankato, MN
507.345.7009 ipaf@hickorytech.net ipafmankato.com
randon and Brooke Olson, owners of Lil’ Bee’s Learning Center, entered the childcare industry out of necessity. “After our twin boys were born, we actively searched Mankato for childcare that provided pre-education and realized these centers were either full, only half day programs or nonexistent,” said Brandon. “This was our opportunity to make pre-education childcare locally available, benefiting children and parents throughout the community.” Lil’ Bee’s, which has been a part of the community for nearly four years, educates and cares for 300 kids daily, a number that could reach 360 when it’s fourth location is full. In addition to offering all-day and every-day preschool, Lil’ Bee’s may soon be adding evening and weekend care. When it comes to selecting care for
Community Bank has a long history of serving the communities that we call home and we are committed to being your very best neighbor. Thank you for voting Community Bank as one of the Best Banks of Mankato!
Locally and family owned since 1974
Join the Family!
Mankato | Vernon Center | Amboy www.cbfg.net 40 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Thank You for voting Us one of the
Best Of MankatO!
We have the BEST Clients and Patients and appreciate all of you!
Directors (from left) Kim Patterson, Brandon Olson, Maddie Wobbrock, Heather Kratochvil and Dianne Sorensen with some Lil’ Bees. their children, Brandon recommends parents tour several learning environments to find the center that best fits the family. “First, follow your gut feeling — if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t a good fit,” Brandon shared. “When you tour a facility, you should feel welcomed and
comfortable. Children should be engaged in activities and expressing joy in learning and friendships. Teachers and staff should be closely involved with students and reflecting enjoyment in the classroom.”
nicolletvet.com Nicollet Veterinary Clinic 1020 3rd St Nicollet, MN 56074 507-225-3401 Join the PetDesk app to make appointments and request your refills
We Are Truly Grateful for Being Voted #1 in HVAC & Plumbing
Thank You For Putting Your Trust in Us
Front: Brooke, Chris, Keith, Peg, Greg, Julie; Middle: Wendell, Nick, Lucas, Monica, Jay, Jesse, Korey, Alex; Back: Tim, Travis, Roger, Mike, Derek, Paul, Rex, Mike
For over 40 years your comfort has been our business! Heating • Cooling • Plumbing Northern Comfort offers heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to residential and commercial customers.
Thank You Mankato For Voting Us One of Mankato’s BEST!
Call today for a FREE in-home estimate for any replacement work!
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507-387-6596
www.NorthernComfortInc.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 41
REFLECTIONS By Pat Christman
42 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
M
innesotans have a love affair with water. Whether it’s swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing or just sitting, we like to be by water. It’s only natural in the Land of 10,000 Lakes that we gravitate toward one of them, and summertime is perfect for a little water recreation. An area lake on a warm summer day is usually full of people trying to beat the heat with a dip in the lake or a ride on a boat. But Minnesota’s river system also offers a variety of recreation options and can’t be overlooked. Near Mankato, the Cottonwood, Blue Earth, Le Sueur and Minnesota Rivers have miles of navigable waterways MM perfect for an afternoon kayak or canoe ride. MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 43
Thank
Au
RICKWAY CARPET
BEST GOLF COURSE: Mankato Golf Club
507.625.3089
Celebrating 100 years of Mankato 507-3 1620 Thank you for voting us one voting of the Best of us Mankato! Thank You for #1 golf No 1107 Cross St., North Mankato Mon.-Thurs. 9am-8pm, Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. 9am-4pm, Closed Sun. www.rickwaycarpet.net
D
ave Torbenson gave credit Auto Repair andAuto Auto Repair and Best Mechanic www .Austin to Mankato Golf Club Best in Auto Mechanic 7 years a Row! members for the club’s win
507-387-1315 1620 Commerce Drive North Mankato www.AustinsAutoRepairCenter.com
44 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
AUSTIN’S AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC.
for Best Golf Course. “It’s the members who make up this place and make it what it is,” said Torbenson, general manager. Torbenson was happy to hear that the golf club took home the prize again this year, stating that the course appeals to all ability levels and age groups. He said its long history of service in the community also makes it stand out from the competition. “We’re approaching our 100-year anniversary this upcoming year,” he said. Mankato Golf Club was established in 1919 when Thomas Bendelow designed the original nine holes. In 1954 William Langford added on another nine holes, which make up the current “classic championship 18-hole golf course, immaculately manicured, that is both scenic and enjoyable to golfers of all ages and abilities,” according to the website. The par 71 course has six unique
Dave Egli wedges his ball out of a sand trap at the Mankato Golf Club.
Here’s the caption for the dry cleaner photo for Best Of: Eiko Takahashi (left) and Lisa Scholl at Like Nu Dry Cleaners. The business on Belgrade Ave. in North Mankato is an organic dry cleaner, meaning it produces no harmful chemicals or hazardous waste like most other dry cleaners.
BEST DRY CLEANER: Like Nu Cleaners
Like Nu Cleaners strives for spotless reputation par threes, “half of which require a beautiful ravine carry.” The course also has three water ponds. The club features a practice facility with a large practice green, a full shot and short game area, and swimming pools. The clubhouse has a restaurant with a variety of food options, from pizza to filet mignon. Located off of North Riverfront Drive, the private club offers a variety of single and family membership options.
R
aymond Gong didn’t plan to run Like Nu Cleaners. But he left a computer science career in California to carry on the North Mankato business after his stepfather, Harlan Kretsch, fell ill. “I’ve been running it for 11 years. That’s after the previous owner, my stepfather, passed away. He had been running it for 35 years,” Gong said, adding that his mother, Irene Kretsch, still helps sometimes. “... It’s the same business, and it belongs to the same family.” Gong took courses from the California Cleaners Association when Kretsch became sick, and
eventually studied with the Minnesota Dry Cleaners Association. But Kretsch taught him how to remove the toughest, set-in stains on delicate fabrics. “My stepfather taught me all of his tricks,” Gong said. “I call them tricks because they’re something only he knew.” To stay afloat during the recession, Like Nu invested in organic dry cleaning equipment and began using pH-balanced natural detergents. It’s more expensive for the business, Gong said, but it’s better for fabrics and the health of customers and employees. Gong’s goal is to preserve Like Nu’s spotless reputation. Sometimes after removing a particularly difficult stain, he chooses not to charge the customer. “They think that what they brought in was not savable, and I save it,” he said. “...Money comes second; if they’re happy with the result, that’s the No. 1 thing.”
1541 East Madison Ave • Mankato, MN 56001 • ( 5 0 7 ) 3 8 6 - 0 0 2 1 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 45
BEST MASSAGE: Liv Aveda Salon & Spa
Liv Aveda offers unique, customized massages
W
hen you need to relax, a massage is the go-to therapy for many folks in need of some serious centering of mind and body. And in the Mankato area, the voters have once again chosen Liv Aveda Salon & Spa as their favorite place to go for a rub down. “We always try to not only meet, but exceed expectations,” said owner Tim Tupy. Part of that work comes from engaging in continuous education, Tupy said, and keeping up on what’s new in the industry. “We feel it’s something that allows us to really focus on delivering high-quality services and experiences,” he said. Tupy doesn’t want to compare Liv Aveda to what other massage therapists are doing. He just believes that Liv Aveda’s customers come back because massages are unique and customized to their needs. “We incorporate different options for aromas and different oils that we use from Aveda that we feel helps enhance the experience using aromatherapy,” Tupy said. Massage options include Cupping (suction and negative pressure), Chakra (deep tissue, foot reflexology and energy work), Expectant Mother Massage, Stress Fix Massage (using aromas of lavender, lavandin and clary sage combined with Swedish and deeptissue massage, as well as other techniques), and fusion stone massage (warm stones and specialized massage techniques), among various others.
Thank you for entrusting us with your pet’s care!
Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital P.A. 505 Madison Ave., Mankato, MN
507-345-5900
www.mnvalleypet.com
46 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
95597-1001
Voted #1 Veterinary Hospital
BEST PET GROOMER: Fur’s A Flyin
Five years running for Fur’s A Flyin’
T
ina Dickel, owner of Fur’s A Flyin’ in Mankato, has prominently displayed her business’ Best of Mankato awards on her website home page: “Best Pet Groomer Four Consecutive Years! 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017.” Now she can add 2018 to the list, which feels “absolutely incredible,” she said. “We are very honored that residents of the Greater Mankato area hold us in such high regard,” Dickel said. Business philosophies that result in such happy and loyal customers include quality services and excellent customer service, Dickel said. “We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations,” she said. “However, if we fall a little short, we make every attempt to make things right. I think our customers appreciate being greeted by friendly staff who know their pets well.” Fur’s A Flyin’, which was launched in 2004 as an expansion of Westside Pet Parlor, does pet grooming, doggie daycare and dog training (with small class sizes to maximize learning). The business aims to always use products that are not only safe for pets, but also for the environment. “Additionally, we utilized artificial turf in our outdoor area to minimize environmental impact and maintenance,” according to the website. For added pet safety, the business installed anti-fatigue, safety mats so the dogs are comfortable when playing.
Tina Dickel, owner of Fur’s A Flyin’.
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! 507•345•4040 510 Long Street, Ste. 104, Mankato, MN
www.MankatoRealEstate.com
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 47
Dining Breakfast
First: Weggy’s Second: NaKato Bar & Grill Third: Wagon Wheel
Coffee Shop
First: Coffee Hag Second: Caribou Coffee Third: Starbucks
Lunch
First: Panera Bread Second: Boulder Tap House Third: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Hamburger & French Fries
First: Boulder Tap House Second: Five Guys Burgers & Fries Third: Tav on the Ave
Mexican Cuisine
First: El Mazatlan Second: La Terazza Third: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Asian Cuisine
First: Shogun Sushi & Hibachi Second: China Star Third: China Buffet
Italian Cuisine
First: Olive Garden Second: Dino’s Pizzeria Third: Pagliai’s Pizza
Wings
First: Buffalo Wild Wings Second: Tav on the Avenue Third: Big Dog Sports Cafe
Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
Sub/Sandwich Shop
First: Mom & Pop’s Second: Frozen Yogurt Creations Third: Cold Stone Creamery
Fast Food
First: Friesen’s Family Bakery & Bistro Second: Bluebird Cakery Third: Hy-Vee Bakery
Pizza
First: Pizza Ranch Second: Olives Restaurant Third: China Buffet
First: Jersey Mike’s Subs Second: Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop Third: Subway
First: Chipotle Mexican Grill Second: Culver’s Third: Massad’s
First: Pagliai’s Pizza Second: Dino’s Pizzeria Third: Jake’s Stadium Pizza
Steak
First: Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar Second: Grizzly’s Wood-Fired Grill & Steaks Third: Number 4
48 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Bakery
Buffet
Catering
First: Hy-Vee Catering Second: Najwa’s Catering Third: Absolute Catering
Date Night
First: Number 4 Second: Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar Third: Shogun Sushi & Hibachi
Happy Hour
First: Tav on the Ave Second: Ummies Bar & Grill Third: Boulder Tap House
Sports Bar
First: Big Dog Sports Cafe Second: Buffalo Wild Wings Third: Tav on the Ave
Patio Dining
First: Tav on the Ave Second: Pub 500 Third: NaKato Bar & Grill
Live Music Venue
First: Buster’s Sports Bar and Grill Second: Mankato Brewery Third: Pub 500
Vegetarian
First: Massad’s Second: Chipotle Mexican Grill Third: Coffee Hag
Locally Owned Restaurant
First: Pagliai’s Pizza Second: Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar Third: NaKato Bar & Grill
Appetizers
Winery/Brewery
First: Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery Second: Mankato Brewery Third: Indian Island Winery
First: Applebee’s Grill & Bar Second: Boulder Tap House Third: Tav on the Ave
Seafood
First: Red Lobster Second: Shogun Sushi & Hibachi Third: Pappageorge Restaurant & Grill
Family Restuarant
First: Jake’s Stadium Pizza Second: Applebee’s Grill & Bar Third: Wow! Zone
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CALL TODAY to schedule your summer tune-up! We service all makes & models!
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C21 AGENT
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hair care | facial care | massages | body treatments spa packages | nail care | body waxing | make-up
KNOW WHAT WE’RE MADE OF MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 49
Thank For All Your Last You year we were honored toVotes!! have
been voted 3 Place Service Remember to voteHeating/Air rd for us again #1 Heating/Air 3 inPlace PlumbingService Best of Mankato #2 Electrical 2017! rd
#3 Plumbing
www.schwickerts.com
507-387-3101 I 330 Poplar St. I Mankato, MN
CONGRATULATIONS, DR. CHAUN COX! BEST OF MANKATO — FAMILY PHYSICIAN
Congratulations to Chaun Cox, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System, for being named Mankato Magazine’s Best of 2018 Family Physician. Dr. Cox displays a compassionate, patient-first approach to caring for everyone he sees.
Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato mayoclinichealthsystem.org
50 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE 4.95”x7.5”
Mankato Magazine 2018
BEST VEGETARIAN: Massad’s
Massad’s offers fresh vegetarian eats
I
t might seem slightly ironic that Mankato’s best restaurant for vegetarian food opened to serve shawarma. However, Massad’s created a lineup of meat-free dishes between opening its locations inside River Hills Mall in 1995 and near Minnesota State University in 2013. Vegetarian dishes are a staple of Lebanese cuisine, along with the meaty entrées, according to owner Najwa Massad. Massad and her husband, chef John Massad, opened their first Mankato-area restaurant, Meray’s, in 1984. Now their daughters, Meray Rahme and Karla Njoku, help to operate Olives, the two Massad’s locations and Najwa’s Catering. Each venture draws on the family’s Lebanese heritage. What sets apart Massad’s food is freshness. “About 90 percent of our food is entirely made from scratch,” Massad said. “...I think it’s just the freshness of the food, the quality of the food, and our love of food that’s made us who we are.” Massad’s strives to make food that looks as good as it tastes. “Your eyes eat before your mouth does,” Massad said. Although owning restaurants can be hectic, it’s rewarding to meet so many customers. “The restaurant business allows you to get to know people. You get that one-on-one with the guest,” she said. “Unlike when people go to buy dressers or clothes, when people come to eat, you get your regulars and get to know them and their families.”
Thank you for voting us Best Bakery 2018!
515 N RIVERFRONT DR OLD TOWN MANKATO
507-345-4414 Mon-Fri 6am-6pm Sat 6am-4pm Sun 9am-2pm
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 51
B
BEST ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT: Mom & Pop’s
32 ‘super-premium’ flavors to choose from
Cutline (9/10)
Thank You For Voting Us
#
1
Third Year in a Row
askin-Robbins’ 31 flavors ain’t got nothin’ on Mom & Pop’s. The North Riverfront Drive family-owned ice cream shop offers 32 rotating flavors of “superpremium” hard-scoop ice cream. What is super-premium (besides delicious)? It’s pretty technical: “Super-Premium means an overrun of less than 50 percent. Ice cream overrun refers to how much air is pushed into the ice cream while it’s being made,” according to Momandpopsicecream.com. “Fifty percent overrun equals one part air to two parts cream. Our ice cream standard is 35 percent overrun; that’s one part air to three parts cream.” What does this mean for your taste buds? Creamier, smoother and richer ice cream, which is perhaps why Mom & Pop’s keeps winning Best Ice Cream year after year. “It means that we are continuing to do a good job and serve the community,” said Tammey Gatchell, who owns the shop with her husband. “The ice cream sells itself.” Gatchell said her family is grateful to their loyal customers. “We strive for excellence in customer service,” she said. “We try to make everyone appreciated and feel welcome.” Mom & Pop’s opened its doors in Mankato in late December 2012. Their offerings include seasonal flavors, soy, non-fat yogurt, sherbet, no-sugar added, Italian ice and even caffeinated. Old Fashioned Vanilla and Zanzibar Chocolate are the only two constant flavors. All others rotate randomly.
Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Commercial & Residential – Sales & Service
433 Belgrade Ave., North Mankato | 507-388-3624 sawatzkypools.com | pools@sawatzkypools.com 52 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Check out or New Panel Designs and Colors 1125 Cross St., North Mankato, MN Toll Free 1-800-645-3667 Phone 507-625-7110
Thank You for Voting us...
#1 #1Steak Steak #2 Date Night #2Locally Date Owned Night #2 #3Seafood Locally Owned #3
1028 N. RIVERFRONT DRIVE | 507 387 8974 | PAPPAGEORGE.NET
BEST BREAKFAST: Weggy’s
Cooking up a winner
W
hen Dani and Steve Wegman opened Weggy’s On Campus in May of 2009, it was hard from them to imagine that they would even get enough customers to go through their first case of straws. “Weggy’s has grown beyond our wildest expectations,” said Steve. In addition to going through countless cases of straws since their debut, they have also hit some other milestones along the way. “My friends and coworkers now call me the egg cracker, because that is all they think I do is crack eggs all day,” he joked. “We crack an average of 5,000 eggs a week.” With more than 55 employees, Steve said he and his wife depend on their staff, who mostly attend Minnesota State, to run the restaurant. “Together, we make a great team,” he said. “We go together like eggs and bacon. You need to have a strong team in order to succeed in business. You have to develop strong bonds not only with your customers, but with your employees as well.” Last summer, the two purchased the Berry Blendz location to expand Weggy’s kitchen space, while running both locations. “We truly would not be anywhere close to where we currently are without our staff and our customers,” he expressed. “Any and all the success that we have achieved to now, is all do to them.”
THANK YOU! For continuing to vote Ploog Electric one of Mankato’s Best Electrical Services 7 years in a row! Celebrating 45 years in business
507-243-3673
ploogelectric.com
Thank You For Voting Us Best Construction Company in Mankato! Where Experience Meets Extraordinary Construction 327 N. Riverfront Dr., Mankato www.demarsgc.com
507-387-5933
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 53
BEST ASIAN CUISINE: Shogun Sushi & Hibachi
Shogun stays true to its authentic menu
1
#
Stunt Monkey
Pretrick Andy, a hibachi chef at Shogun, cooks steak and chicken for the restaurant’s patrons with some flare. The restaurant also creates fresh sushi rolls and sashimi dinners. Photo by Jackson Forderer
#
2
TJ & Lisa
Thanks for Voting Us
#1 in Senior Care Four Years in a Row
Our Staff Make the Difference!
LISTEN TO YOUR
FAVORITE
RADIO PERSONALITIES
• Long-Term and Short-Term Care • Assisted Living • Memory Care • Home Care • Adult Day Services • Durable Medical Equipment • Dining Services/Catering We envision a world without ageism.
718 Mound Ave. Mankato, MN | 507-345-4576 | ecumenpathstoneliving.org 54 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
S
ome restaurants use all sorts of gimmicks to attempt to attract customers. However, Shogun Sushi and Hibachi chooses to stick to what it knows and does best — authentic Japanese food. “We maintain the quality of the food and our customers are satisfied with the service that we have right now,” manager Ching Lee said. But the restaurant still offers a plethora of choices for carnivores, vegetarians and everyone in between. The menu boasts many appetizers, including shrimp and vegetable tempura, fried pork gyoza and miso soup, and entrees, including a broad range of sushi, noodle dishes and teriyakis with New York strip steak, salmon or tofu, among many other options. These items have made Shogun a go-to spot for Japanese cuisine, and the restaurant management is pleased to see so many customers return on a regular basis. While she is glad that so many in the area have enjoyed Shogun’s food, Lee would like to grow the customer base. “We would like for them to try our food and everything, especially the hibachi,” she said. Lee also appreciates how the restaurant’s employees work together as a team. This shows in the quality of food and service. “We have to be working as a group,” she said. “We treat all of our employees like brothers and sisters. We don’t treat them like employees.”
Thank You! www.momandpopsicecream.com
Live Love Sparkle 420 N. Minnesota, St. Peter, MN 507-934-5655 stonesthrowgallery.org
Thank You for Your Votes!
351 Hwy 60 East Lake Crystal, MN 507-726-6454 www.kroubetz.com Minnesota’s Friendliest Camper Dealership | Family Owned & Operated
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES WE ARE THRILLED TO BE THE FANS CHOICE
#1 WINGS IN MANKATO
16 SIGNATURE SAUCES & 5 SEASONINGS I WING TUESDAYS® BONELESS THURSDAYS® I TAP BEERS I FREE WIFI I KIDS MEALS
BUFFALO
WILD WINGS. 301 ST ANDREWS DR•MANKATO• 507.385.911611 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 55
Thank you for your Patronage and Continued Support. We strive to make you look your best.
#1 Barber Shop 4 YEARS IN A ROW
231 Belgrade Ave. • North Mankato
507-345-3058
BEST COFFEE SHOP: Coffee Hag
Thanks For Voting Us: #2 Best Breakfast #3 Patio Dining #3 Locally Owned
thenakato.com 253 Belgrade Avenue North Mankato, MN 507.388.8999
Brewing up a winner
J
en Melby-Kelley, who co-owns the Coffee Hag with her wife Anna, started off as a barista at the shop in 1994. At a time where Starbucks was non-existent in southern Minnesota, Melby-Kelly said she became skilled at making espressos and lattes. She also learned how to connect with customers. “The thing that I loved about it then was that it was about the community — it was about the people who came in,” said MelbyKelly. “It wasn’t just about selling a cup of coffee.” When she bought the business in 2007, Melby-Kelly took a chance. “I dropped everything and literally opened the doors with $7 in my pocket,” she shared. Melby-Kelly credits the founding owners, Lisa Coons and Patti Ruskey, for laying the foundation. “I want everyone who walks in the door to feel good about who
they are,” she shared. “When people walk in, we recognize them, we say hello, we thank them for being there.” The atmosphere in the shop is centered on art, music and soul. “We’ve got musicians that play every week, we’ve got music playing throughout the shop all the time, and artists that come in and hang their art work,” she expressed. When it comes to their food and drinks, everything on the menu is vegetarian and made from scratch. Whether you choose their new peanut butter mocha smoothie with espresso blended with chocolate, milk, ice and peanut butter, or their signature Bees Knees, a combination of honey, butter pecan, espresso and milk, MelbyKelly said, “We aren’t just a coffee shop; you will find we are much more.”
7
56 • JULY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JULY 2018 • 57
THE TIMES CHANGING... THE TIMES ARE ARE CHANGING... HELP DEVELOP AND DELIVER LETLET USUSHELP DEVELOP AND DELIVER COMPLETE SOLUTIONS TO REACH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS TO REACH YOUR CUSTOMERS YOUR CUSTOMERS.
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advertising@mankatofreepress.com 507-344-6322 418 jzimmerman@mankatofreepress.com South Second Street, Mankato, MN www.mankatofreepress.com 418 southsecond street, mankato mn www.mankatofreepress.com
58 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Photos courtesy of:
The eighth annual Raw Fusion fashion show, presented by the Minnesota River Builders Association, raised money for Educare Foundation and showcased the local building industry.
BUILDING MANKATO ONE ELEMENT AT A TIME.
RAW Fusion is a high-energy, abstract fashion show dedicated to bringing attention to the local building industry while raising awareness for a local cause. Utilizing raw building materials as the inspiration for their outfit ensembl, each is judged for their uniqueness and flair.
Raw Elements:
Raw Elements Paint Paint Rollers Tulle
2018 AWARD W
INNERS
SHOW STOPPER -The Free Press Media RAW FACTOR - Design & Wine MOST WEARABLE - Artifact EYE CANDY – Cambria PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Cherry Creek FOUNDERS FAVORITE – Mankato Clinic
MRBA
Building Our Future Today
MN River Builders Association
530 N. Riverfront Drive, Ste 230 • 507-625-7138 Mankato, MN 56001 • www.mnrba.com
Bellissimo Paint & Coatings
417 N. Riverfront Dr., Mankato 507-469-8015 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 59 wwwbellissimopaint.com
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Raw Elements:
spray-in bedliner Trailer Metal Truck Lights
Toppers & Trailers Plus
1929 E. Madison Ave., Mankato 507-387-7376 60 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE www.toppersandtrailersplus.com
Raw Elements:
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United Prairie Bank 507-344-1450 unitedprairiebank.com MEMBER FDIC
Raw Elements:
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Rickway Carpet
1107 Cross St., North Mankato 507-625-3089 www.rickwaycarpet.com
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PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Raw Elements:
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True Real Estate
112 S Riverfront Dr, Ste 122 507-345-8783 truerealestatemn.com
Raw Elements:
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150 St. Andrews Court Suite 510, Mankato 507-386-1699 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE www.cherrycreek.build
2018 • 61
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MOST WEARABLE
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Master Electric
62
1048 South Victory 507-550-1510 • www.masterelectric.com JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Raw Elements:
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Artifact
321 N. Riverfront Drive 507-351-3111 artifactmankato.com
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• JUNE 2018 • 63
DAY TRIP DESTINATIONS: The Grotto of the redemption
By James Figy
Rocks of ages Plan a pilgrimage to this stony Iowa shrine
T
he Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, the Yonghe Lama Temple in Beijing, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem — religious sites around the world regularly inspire a sense of reverent wonder in visitors, whether they’re members of that faith tradition or not. Visitors to the Grotto of the Shrine of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa, should expect a similar experience, according to Grotto spokesman Andy Milam. Started more than a century ago, the Grotto welcomes visitors year-round to explore the sprawling stone structure next to the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church. “I would hope that they would see the Grotto Shrine for what it is: a way to witness God’s creation through stone, by way of religion, architecture and geology,” he said. 64 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
The structure is made of hundreds of thousands of stones and other natural materials, though there’s no real count, Milam said. The stones have come from 36 states in the U.S. and 24 other countries, including Brazil, Ireland, Russia and India. The colorful structure is built from “malachite, azurite, agates, geodes, jasper, quartz, topaz, calcite, stalactites and stalagmites,” among others, according to the Grotto website. The Grotto started in 1912 as a way for Father Paul Matthias Dobberstein to fulfill a promise he made, according to the website. Born in Germany in 1872, Dobberstein immigrated to the U.S. to enroll in seminary near Milwaukee. During his studies, he became deathly
The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa, will have your kids in awe for hours — the perfect recipe for a successful family vacation.
ill with pneumonia, and he prayed to the Virgin Mary, saying that if she interceded for his health, he would build a shrine to the faith. He didn’t forget that promise after he recovered or after he was ordained and became the pastor at West Bend in 1898. Dobberstein stockpiled stones — large, small and in between — for years before he began building the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in 1912. With the help of a local artisan, Matt Szerensce,
Fr. Dobberstein
Fr. Greving
Dobberstein worked on the Shrine for decades. A new priest, Father Louis Greving, took over the project and the church in the 1940s as Dobberstein neared the end of his career. After Dobberstein died in 1954, Greving and Szerensce saw the project to completion, respecting the original vision. “Since 1956, there has been nothing added or removed from the Shrine,” Milam said. “Most work done now is restoration of what already exists. We have several folks who remember the techniques that fathers used, so we are able to remain consistent.” The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption draws between 30,000 to 40,000 visitors each year. Because the Bishop of Sioux Falls, Iowa, named the Grotto an official Diocesan Shrine in 2014, it has become an even more important site for Catholics. However, Christians from a variety of denominations, as well as Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and those from many other belief systems visit the site, Milam said. “There has been a resurgence in interest in the Shrine in the last four years. The Shrine became a destination in the late 1940s,” he said. “Fathers Dobberstein and Greving really worked hard to make the Shrine a place for people to come marvel at God’s work and man’s gift.” When touring the monument, visitors can stop at the gift shop,
attend services at the church and camp at the Grotto’s 53-site campground for $10 per tent and $16 per RV, if planning an extended stay near the sacred site. “It has become a place of pilgrimage where people can have a space to grow closer to God, the Father, through Christ Jesus, His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit,” Milam said. “This is made manifest in the stone of the Grotto, but also in the people who come to see it ... either for the architecture, the geology or the religion. There is a reason for everyone to see us.”
IF YOU GO: The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption
Where: 208 1st Ave. NW, West Bend, IA When: The shrine is open all day every day, the gift shop is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission: $5-$8 suggested donation Visit westbendgrotto.com for more information MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 65
THEN & NOW: Albert Woolson By Bryce O. Stenzel
Albert Woolson of Mankato was the last member of the GAR A
lbert Woolson was born on Feb. 11, 1847 on a small New York state farm. His father, Willard, was a carpenter and a musician in a traveling band. When President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers in April of 1861, the entire band enlisted as a body. A year later, Willard Woolson was hospitalized in Minnesota after receiving a leg wound at the Battle of Shiloh. Willard later died from the effects of that wound. It was his father’s hospitalization that brought young Albert to Minnesota with his mother. Albert and his mother came to Mankato in 1862. What isn’t clear is how long they remained here. Two years later, Albert finally got his mother’s consent to enlist in the U.S. Army when he turned 17. According to a June 5, 2011 Free Press article, Woolson enlisted from Mankato. He was accepted into Company C, First Minnesota Volunteer Heavy Artillery, with his service commencing on October 10, 1864. He voted for Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 election. Even though, in those days, the legal voting age was 21, Woolson was able to cast a ballot in the presidential election, on account of his new status as “soldier.” During an interview with Bob Wombacker, Carl Wombacker and Jim Bernard in August of 1954, Woolson described two separate occasions he had met Lincoln and watched John Wilkes Booth perform at Ford’s Theater: “One day father and I went to the capitol building at Albany, N.Y. There was a meeting there and one man was tall, had large bony hands. It was old Uncle Abe, and he talked about human slavery … “When I was 9 years old, I went in with my father to Ford’s Theater. Two brothers, actors on the stage, the youngest one is the one that shot Lincoln, later on. We were that evening at the theater, the first time I was in there. About a week later, one evening, the President of the United States and his wife were sitting in the audience, and 66 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
he walked up and shot him right through the back of the head. He lived about three, four hours … Poor old Abe.” [Lincoln actually lived nine hours after the shooting on April 14, 1865.] Albert enlisted as a rifleman but was also a buglerdrummer. Woolson was transferred to Company D on July 7, 1865; even though, by then, the Civil War was over. While this company already had a drummer-bugler, Woolson said he got the job by “knocking his block off!” While he did not actually experience battle himself, Woolson drummed many others to their graves. Later he recalled the burying details: “Going out we played proper sad music, but coming back we kinda hit it up, telling people that now we’d taken care of the dead, we were cheering up the living.” Woolson was mustered out of the Army on Sept. 27, 1865. After his discharge, Woolson returned to Minnesota. He married Sarah Sloper in 1869 and began a family that eventually numbered seven children, including son, Albert, Jr., who served in the Spanish-American War. The Woolsons lived in Mankato and in St. Peter, where he worked as a wood turner in a furniture factory, before moving to Windom, in 1895. Sarah Woolson died in December 1901. She was buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Windom. Three years later, in 1904, Woolson married Anna Haugen of Windom; they eventually had three daughters. The following year, Woolson and his wife Anna moved to Duluth. Albert Woolson didn’t join the Grand Army of the Republic in 1866, at its founding, as was common among the younger men. But as it became one of the principal means for keeping the Republican Party in power and for getting pensions and job preferences, as well as the social benefits, it became more appealing. Through the GAR, Woolson was able to keep up with
his old bugler-drummer comrades. He and a friend from the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry even formed a drum and bugle corps in 1867. They appeared at many GAR Encampments, as well as playing in Memorial Day parades, where they wore their regulation GAR blue uniforms and slouch hats. By 1890, Woolson was a member of Mankato’s Alexander Wilkin Post #19. Although not as politically influential as it had been in the 1880s, the GAR would continue to be a force to be reckoned with, until the turn of the century. By then, the GAR focus had turned to the establishment of monuments, markers and benefits to the soldiers, including the first Soldiers’ Home, and to remembering veterans whenever possible. Woolson attended the final National Encampment on August 1949, where the last survivors voted to disband the organization. Politically, Woolson was fond of stating that he was born Republican and voted for President Lincoln at age 17, with a special dispensation that gave the ballot to soldiers. He admitted he did vote for a Democrat once — when Franklin D. Roosevelt made his first bid for the Presidency, in 1932. When Albert Woolson died in Duluth in August 1956, he was the last surviving Civil War veteran in the entire United States, North and South. The Grand Army of the Republic died with him. Its records were turned over to the Library of Congress, and its flags, badges and official seal to the Smithsonian. Just six weeks before his death, Albert Woolson posed for the model of the “Union Veteran” on the GAR monument at the Gettysburg Military Park. July 1-3, 2018 marks the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg
The monument at Gettysburg to Albert Woolson, the last survivor of the Grand Army of the Republic, is south of Gettysburg on Hancock Avenue in Ziegler’s Woods. (39.816128° N, 77.234821° W; Google map; Tour map: Hancock Avenue at Ziegler’s Grove) Albert Woolson was born on February 11, 1847, and went to war as a drummer boy at the age of 17. He died on August 2nd, 1956 at the age of 109. He was the last official survivor of the over 2 million men who served the United States in the Civil War.
From the front of the monument: Memorial to the Grand Army of the Republic From the left side: Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. Albert Woolson of Duluth, Minnesota. The last survivor. From the right side: Dedicated on September 12, 1956 by National Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861 – 1865 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 67
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Enjoy! — Robb Murray, Associate Editor, Mankato Magazine
southern mn style
othing gets me as excited for summer as the thought of igniting some Kingsford briquettes, popping the top on Surly Furious and settling in for an evening of char-broiled deliciousness. Generally speaking, this means MEAT. Steaks, chicken, burgers, brats and, my personal and all-time favorite, ribs. A tasty brew, the smell of burning coals mingling with the aroma of babyback ribs … Heaven. Unless you’re a vegetarian. I’ve spent some of my life as a vegetarian. (At the moment, I’m somewhere in the middle, probably soon to be taking the plunge again.) When you’re a vegetarian, one of the things that happens to you is that you discover this world of food that you never knew existed (or never knew you could love). Cooking vegetables on a grill is one of those delights. Before trying it, I never gave grilled vegetables much thought. But once you try it, you realize that cauliflower steaks are actually a thing, and they’re pretty darn good. There’s no better way to eat asparagus. Zucchini, squash, mushrooms, all amazing. Even pizza! And tofu! Yummm. Anyway, check out our piece this month on grilling for vegetarians.
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Fire up the coals!
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 69
Food
food
By Amanda Dyslin
southern mn style Grilled Margherita Pizza
Grilling isn’t just for carnivores B
Vegetarians, take note: Fire up those coals and get creative!
y July, the grills have been well loved already. Cooking and eating outside is something we Minnesotans treat as an artform, perhaps due to the short window of time each year that we have to enjoy it. So often when we talk about grilling, there’s some kind of meat involved. But it’s not just the carnivores among us who relish grilling season. Vegetarians and vegans like to flame-cook food, too, you know. And before you meateaters shake your heads and turn the page, just hear them out. They’ve got some pretty flavorful ideas. “If you are a fan of Portobello mushrooms, they are so good on the grill,” said Amy Walrath of Mankato. “I just brush them with garlic, olive oil and a little balsamic 70 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
vinegar. (It’s) almost steak like.” Erick Lind of St. Peter makes the veggies the stars. He takes hardy vegetables like asparagus, Brussels sprouts, red potatoes and wraps them in foil with olive oil, garlic and parmesan cheese. “Wrap them and toss them on the grill to your preference of tenderness,” he said. To keep meat substitutes from drying out, other area tipsters said olive oil is key. Also, Stephanie Wineman said veggie burgers with a high mushroom content don’t dry out as easily. Here are several more ideas that even meat-eaters would like.
Grilled Ranch Potatoes
Grilled Margherita Pizza
Shiitake Tacos
Grilled Ranch Potatoes
Ingredients 1 (16 ounce) package pizza dough, at room temperature 1/4 cup olive oil 4 ounces shredded Asiago cheese 3 large tomatoes, thinly sliced 1 cup packed whole basil leaves 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Ingredients 3 tbsp. canola oil 4 garlic cloves, crushed with press 1 tsp. ground chipotle chile 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt 8 oz. shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded 1 bunch green onions, trimmed 8 corn tortillas, warmed 1 c. homemade or prepared guacamole Lime wedges cilantro sprigs Hot sauce, for serving
Ingredients 2 lb. baby potatoes, halved 1/4 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Juice of 1/2 a lemon 1/2 packet ranch seasoning kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Ranch dressing, for drizzling Chopped fresh chives, for garnish
Directions Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil the grate. Place pizza dough in a bowl to rise 2 to 3 times the original size, about 1 hour. Flour a work surface and a rolling pin. Divide dough in half; roll each half to a 10- to 12-inch diameter circle. Place pizza dough rounds on the preheated grill using a wooden paddle (pizza peel) and close lid; cook until grill marks appear on the bottom of each round, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from grill and flip over on a work surface. Lower grill heat to medium. Brush each round with olive oil. Spread half the Asiago cheese on each crust; add tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer pizzas to grill with wooden paddle and close lid. Cook until bottom of rounds is cooked with grill marks and cheese is melted, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from grill and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. — Allrecipes.com
Directions Heat grill on medium. In a large baking dish, combine oil, garlic, chipotle, and salt. Add asparagus, shiitakes, and green onions; toss to coat. Grill asparagus until tender and lightly charred, turning occasionally; 5 to 6 minutes. Grill shiitakes and green onions until lightly charred, turning occasionally; 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer vegetables to cutting board. Cut asparagus and green onions into 2” lengths and slice shiitakes. Serve with corn tortillas, guacamole, lime wedges, cilantro, and hot sauce.
Directions Preheat grill to medium heat. In a large bowl, toss potatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, and ranch seasoning. Season with salt and pepper. Thread potatoes on skewers and grill until tender and lightly charred, 15 minutes. Drizzle with ranch and garnish with chives. — Delish.com
— Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 71
Wine & Beer
wines
By Leigh Pomeroy
southern mn style
Summer is a good time to try something new T
wo important celebration days arrive in July. One you know — the 4th. The other one you may or may not — the 14th. This is Bastille Day, which honors the storming of the Bastille fortress and prison in Paris in 1789, a turning point in the French Revolution. It is well acknowledged that the American Revolution inspired the French Revolution, so it’s poetic justice that French wines have been the major inspiration for U.S. wines. The most popular American varietal wines — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc — all originate from French grape varieties. For white wine fans, summer is a great time to try all your favorites. The hot afternoons and warm evenings allow ample opportunity to sample creamy Chardonnays, crisp Pinot Grigios, citrusy Sauvignon Blancs or lightly sweet Rieslings. Daring tasters might like to try peachy Viogniers, spicy Gewurztraminers or exotically fruity Moscatos. All these wines go well with grilled chicken or salmon. But I suggest you go abroad to try something completely new. Spain offers terrific sipping and seafood wines like Verdejo, Albariño, Viura and Godello. While Portugal is known for its rich, sweet ports (named after the city of Oporto) and purply reds, it also produces lithe and lovely whites from native grapes like the Arinto (Pedernã), Alvarinho (Albariño), Fernão Pires (Maria Gomes) and Encruzado. Perhaps you fancy Italian. Like Spain and Portugal, Italy is home to a number of native grape varieties. Look for Cortese from the Gavi region, Arneis from Roero, Garganega from Soave, Grechetto from Umbria or Friulano and Ribolla Gialla from Friuli-Venezia Giulia. And there’s more: Fiano and Greco from Campania, Vermentino from Sardinia, Verdicchio from the Marche, Trebbiano and Vernaccia from Tuscany, and Grillo, Inzolia, Grecanico, Carricante and Catarratto from Sicily. Whew! And that’s just a handful among the many Italian choices. In the hot summer, Italians don’t drink red wines; it’s whites and rosés all the way. Austria also grows grapes you may not have heard of, including Grüner Veltliner and Welschriesling. The main white grape variety of
72 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Hungary, Austria’s former imperial partner, is Furmint, which is made both as a dry and sweet wine. Down on the Mediterranean, Greece is proud of its indigenous grape varieties, including Assyrtiko, Moscofilero and Savatiano. Virtually all the above grape varietals are made into dry wines that tend to be higher in acidity (more puckery) than whites from California, Washington and Australia. So if you like fat Chardonnays from the New World, the above mentioned old-world whites will prove to be quite a contrast. For red wine fans, summer can prove a challenge. This is when big, inky Cabernets, Syrahs and Malbecs and alcoholic Zinfandels don’t quite have the same appeal as they do in January. Here’s where svelte Pinot Noirs and softer Merlots can fit the bill, as well as racy, fruity Beaujolais from France. But, as with the whites, you can branch out and try something different. Spain offers medium-bodied reds made from Tempranillo, which is the primary grape of Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Cariñena (Carignan), Garnacha (Grenache) and Monastrell (Mourvèdre) are grown throughout Spain and generally produce heavier wines, which means they go well with grilled meats. If you’re really looking for a unique red, try a Mencia from the Bierzo region, which has become somewhat of a cult wine, if you can find it. Not to be a slouch, despite its preference for whites during the summer, Italy offers a number of lighter reds that go well with patio dining. These include Valpolicella and Bardolino, which hail from the Veneto region and are made from the native Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. From Piedmont there is the Dolcetto, which literally means “little sweet one.” While the wine is darkly colored, its taste is more often soft and smooth. Recently the wines of Sicily have achieved a lot of acclaim, particularly those made from the two Nerellos, Cappuccio and Mascalese, grown on the hot, dry slopes of Mount Etna. Some wine pundits have gone so far as to compare Nerello Mascalese with Pinot Noir due to their light color and smooth flavors, though both are totally unrelated. The bottom line is that there are plenty of wines to choose from, not just the standard CabernetChardonnay-Merlot-Sauvignon Blanc-Pinot Noir (and so forth) mix. This summer, try tantalizing your taste buds with something a bit different. I know you’ll be happily surprised.
Salud! Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover.
BEER
By Bert Mattson
On balance, a believer — Part 1
C
oming from the culinary vantage, I was surprised to find the idea of balance disputed in the beer world — not whether it’s an imperative, but that it’s controversial as a concept in itself. Balance doesn’t necessarily mean that elements need be in equal or orthodox proportions. Rather that some element doesn’t become dominant, or disappear, to the detriment of the whole. Is this subjective? Perhaps, but it is more slanted to suppose that extremes are palatable to the vast majority. Physiological evidence exists to the contrary. Science can dissect taste into constituent parts (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter) and demonstrates normative tolerances of these. Bitterness might be the best case in point. Aversions to bitterness have been linked to evolutionary survival mechanisms. Evidently, toxic plants tend to taste bitter. There are even social implications. One study correlates a pronounced predilection for bitterness with sociopathy. Not to imply that West-Coast-IPA-crazy pal is a psycho … maybe just a little unbalanced. Astringency further complicates matters. Astringency is a tactile sensation but tends to be confused and conflated with bitterness. Astringency, a desirable element in wine — particularly red — is considered an off flavor in beer. Some beers, such as those incorporating hemp, barrel aging, or dry hopping, may betray some astringency, often in the finish. Astringency is reportedly perceived in the finish of some IPAs as well. Probably resulting from a processing problem. Less frequently from hop stem and leaf, or some other vegetal adjunct. Tannins, bitter tasting organic s u b s t a n c e s a t t h e s o u rc e o f astringency, are oft discussed in wine circles. Tannins are present in beer as well, all beer actually. To
some extent critical, in excess they manifest as astringency. There’s an optimal level — only enough to balance bitterness and sweetness. In excess, an uncomfortable dryness appears. If I were to argue with the balance-isn’t-even-a-concept crowd, I’d employ this fact. Further, there are situational conditions that may cause astringency to creep forward from bitterness. Protein variations, existing between tasters’ saliva, may effect one’s perceptions of astringency. Genetic sensitivity to bitterness m a y i n f l u e n c e p e rc e i v e d astringency. Also food: as bacteria in saliva break down carbohydrates these release acids lowering PH in saliva (a condition influencing perception). Perceived astringency often increases in duration and intensity with continuous sampling. While tannins are known to stimulate salivation, it’s usually not fast enough to overcome the increase in perceived astringency. Beyond palate cleansing, it’s helpful to understand this snowballing is less likely to occur in the company of food. Chefs use salt as a foil for bitter ingredients. Citrus, spices, chewy veg such as celery, hard cheeses, and cider vinegar stimulate salivation. Bar menus may not be as haphazard as some suppose. Point being, many unbalanced types are probably prone to balancing their beers environmentally. I also abide by balance in abstract. Like good story telling, notes weave and converge. Hops appear in aroma, for example, bob and weave among other elements until a bold finish. Two favorite titles are Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s 60 Minute IPA and Odell Brewing Company’s Odell IPA. To be continued… 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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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 73
THAT’S LIFE By Nell Musolf
I (don’t really) hate people O
ne of my favorite lines ever uttered by a cartoon character was when Linus of Peanuts fame shouted: “I LOVE mankind. It’s people I can’t
stand!” I think we all feel less than fond of our fellow man every so often. As a matter of fact, over the past few days I’ve heard four different people announce (always dramatically and usually quite grumpily), “I hate people.” Two of those announcements came while behind the wheel, always a time when it’s pretty easy to hate people. It’s even easier to hate people when driving during the winter months and since this past winter lasted approximately three and a half years, it was mighty easy to work up a red hot dislike of other drivers, especially when they: A) never used their blinkers; B) rolled through stop signs while texting; and C) tailgated. Constantly. It’s easy not to be filled with the milk of human kindness on the road but the other two recent “I hate people” comments occurred during non-driving situations. I can’t quite recall what caused the outbursts, but I do remember thinking the person announcing they hated people didn’t really hate people, they just hated the people they were dealing with at that particular moment. Believe me, I’m no saint and I’m not saying I never hate people but generally speaking the people I hate at eight in the morning are not the same people I hate at eight at night. Besides, hate is too strong a word. I might find them irritating or frustrating or impossible to be around for a lot of silly reasons such as having different (and therefore unacceptable) political beliefs, or perhaps they have smaller feet than I do—which would be just about everyone on the planet—or maybe they come to work and brag about how they slept like babies the night before while I’m sitting at my desk propping my eyelids open with toothpicks. All those are fairly good reasons to feel less than fondly toward my fellow man but I wouldn’t really classify those feelings as hate. They’re more like annoyance mixed with irritation and topped with a large and unhealthy dollop of envy. It’s interesting how you rarely hear people say they hate dogs 74 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
or cats or hamsters. Nope, it’s always people. I don’t know the reasoning behind the uptick in people hating but I suspect it has something to do with overcrowding combined with the fact there’s never anything good on television anymore. (I don’t have any solid proof but I’d bet hardly anyone went around announcing they hated people when J.R. got shot on Dallas. Our minds were otherwise occupied by trying to guess who finally fired that well aimed and much deserved shot and we were all therefore a lot less cranky.) There’s a problem with sweeping statements like “I hate people” or “I’ll never gain back all that weight I lost” or “I’ll always love (fill in the name of your first crush.)” Sweeping statements, like most dramatic gestures, feel marvelous while you’re making them and announcing
them to the world but they can be mighty hard to maintain. Actually, any statement including the words “love,” “hate,” “always” and “never” are tip offs that you might want to keep your opinion to yourself, or at least keep it off Facebook for a while, since the odds are pretty high tomorrow you’ll wake up wanting to retract everything you shouted from the rooftops the day before. I hope another expression catches on soon, something more cheerful than “I hate people.” I don’t know what it could be, maybe something along the lines of “I love people, dogs, cats and hamsters.” Yes, it’s a mouthful but you’ve got to admit it tastes better than hating people.
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dine-in • pick-up • delivery MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 75
GARDEN CHAT By Jean Lundquist
M
Bags and bags of tomatoes!
y red grow bags are doing a marvelous job of nurturing my tomatoes, peppers and potatoes. So good, in fact, they are creating a problem. When the plants were little, I lined up all the bags side by side. Now, however, they need to be spread out to give the plants in them room to breathe. Literally. Without chickens to keep the plants in check, they are huge and bearing a lot of produce. They need their space. The first problem I encountered was that they are heavy. I guess I know how heavy a tomato plant can be after hauling them out of the garden at the end of the year for close to 40 years. In the fall, I can take them out in pieces. But when they are growing in a bag, they have to be moved in one piece. Some of my tomatoes weigh a pound a piece. So if there are thirty or more tomatoes on a plant, plus the weight of the vines, that adds up quickly. The next problem is that they all need to be in full sun. I 76 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
could line them up on the west side of the shed, but that’s right under the drip line of the roof, and a heavy rain would decimate the plants in them. Plus, the west side of a building can, like the bags themselves, be too much of a good thing in terms of temperatures. Then, there’s the issue of the bags themselves. Everywhere they sit, they kill the grass beneath them, so I pretty much want to put them someplace, and leave them there. The problem with THAT is that the grass beneath them dies, but the grass around them does not. In fact, it seems that even grass likes the color red. The grass around then goes wild, and looks more than a little bit shabby. I could move them to mow, but I already discussed how heavy they are to move. I thought about putting a tarp beneath them, and lining them on the tarp. But then I’d have a big dead spot in the grass and still the weedy look around the tarp. Plus, I’d have to look at a lovely blue tarp all summer. Or at least,
as much of the tarp as would be visible through the weeds, tomatoes and bags. I have to chuckle at the issue I have with looking at a tarp and/or the weeds that grow up around it a bit. I have an ongoing discussion with the gentleman who mows our grass. He sends me a text asking if the LAWN needs mowing. I text him back whether the YARD either does or does not need mowing. There is a huge difference between having a manicured lawn, and having a yard with grass in it. When it gets too long, Dale wants to mow the yard twice to mulch the grass he cut in the first round. I want him to just mow once, and I’ll look at the windrows, rather than have his mower run twice as long and put the exhaust into the air. (I believe in climate change). So though I don’t mind looking at windrows in the grass, I hate the view of plastic tarps as much as I hated the horrible green-colored snow fence I used to guard my garden before I got the beautiful chain link fence around my garden last year. That green fence was a color not found in nature. Very ugly, and unpleasant to look at. Because we have a yard rather than a lawn, I also don’t mind looking at the asymmetry of the sunflowers sprouted and growing beneath the bird feeder. It’s a lovely sight from my kitchen window. But the asymmetry of the grasses and weeds that grow around my red grow bags makes me lose it. That is ugly, and unpleasant to look at, too. I don’t know what the difference is. I’m enjoying how well my vegetables are doing in my bags. Sure beats the heck out of the zucchini in my doorway planter last year. Another idea I thought was a good one at the time. However this all ends up, at least I will have more tomatoes than last year, when my chickens beat me to the ripe tomatoes in my bags. I’ve always known that most of what I know is knowledge gained from my mistakes. These red grow bags, though, are not a mistake, I keep telling myself. I spent too much on them to give up just yet.
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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 77
YOUR STYLE By Ann Rosenquist Fee
Paradigm shifts have you freaking out?
Accessorize!
“Hey, did I give you a scratchy ball yet?” Said Ronda to everybody.
78 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
B
oundaries are blurring all over the place right now, and I know you know what I mean, like, definitions are unpacking themselves and precedents are exploding into bits and the weather is weird. So I can’t really claim responsibility for the idea of accessorizing my car, because it’s probably just a response-to or workingthrough-of all these shifts, and to clarify I don’t mean I’m accessorizing my car with things purchased in the Auto Accessories aisle. I mean the interior of my car now rivals my personal self in terms of scarves. And I know it isn’t just me because my friend Ronda can’t stop making gorgeous balls of netting which can be 1) worn, 2) used to scrub pots. We are in epic times. It started as a functional thing, for me, one turquoise paisley scarf draped over my passenger seat headrest so I could more easily spot my otherwise-nondescript vehicle in a parking lot. If you’re a person who is not skilled about knowing where you are in space, and also the owner of a whole lot of great scarves which just aren’t working for you as garments right now, I mean, this might also be your starting point. And then you might find that the one scarf looks weirdly unintentional on its own, like a safety blanket or some kind of rag for spills, which it is not, so the only thing to do is visit the scarf department of your closet, which for example might be a plastic tub. Fish through it for a complementary color. Orange! Looks fantastic draped over the driver’s seat headrest. Next thing, all the scarves get tucked/draped across the whole back seat, which, guess what, now not only can you identify your car in any parking lot from any angle, you have no shortage of wardrobe options on any day that requires a wardrobe change due to temperature or vanity or both. Not that this is a normal situation on a regular basis. Nobody needs a midday accessories-changeup. But it’s the fact that you can, the fact that you feel ready for anything, gets you through transitions or shifts or blurrings or whatever it is we’re in right now. I thought this was just me until my friend Ronda approached me with passion usually only exuded by sorcerers or makeover artists at your Ulta or Sephora, asking if I wanted one or more of the nylon balls she’d been crafting. She showed me one. It was stunning. The color combination, the shape, the way it resumed its form no matter what squishing you put it through. I accepted a pink and yellow edition, honestly not knowing what it was for. She said it was for doing dishes. Ronda also said: “In my family, we call them grandma’s scratchy balls and it’s the only thing we ever use to wash dishes. Grandma was always making them and giving them to
us. When you moved out on your own, you’d get a bag of them as part of your Christmas present from her. We all hoarded them. Unlike a sponge, you can wash them. Before they completely fall apart, you can use them to clean bathroom sinks and hardware. No one throws them away easily. “After my grandma died, one of my aunts walked me through the process. It took me a half dozen or so to come up with a process that works for me. Those layers of nylon net don’t like to lay still on top of each other. Once I did, I developed an addiction. I love picking bright colors of nylon net. I love hatching new combinations and experimenting with different thicknesses. I love sitting down with my scratchy ball basket in front of the TV at the end of the day and whipping out three or four of them. It’s the same basket that sat by my grandma’s chair and held whatever craft she was currently obsessed with. But the very best part is giving them away. The way my grandma always did. At her funeral, I wore one of the last ones she gave me as a corsage. People I’d never met came up to tell me that they used to get them from her too. My first big batch was distributed to my family. But then I started giving them away anyone I got the notion to. It felt great. I have a basket full of them and when people stop by: Hey, did I give you a scratchy ball yet? You gotta take a couple. You’re going to love them! I don’t want to open an Etsy shop or sell them at a craft show. I want to give them away.” Which should make entirely clear that this is the only way to go, right now. It’s beyond “life is short, use the good towels.” It’s that life is blurry and you should be driving around enjoying all your scarves at once. It’s that definitions are exploding and you’ll feel far more ready for whatever comes next, if you know how to make a scrubby-pad double as a corsage. It’s that this is probably a good time to use everything you’ve got to make beauty, cherish till it’s threadbare, give until it’s gone.
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AN EMPLOYEE OWNED & LOCAL BUSINESS SINCE 1957 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 79
NIGHT MOVES By Diana Rojo-Garcia
Salsa instructors Jessica Roemhildt (left) and Darío Alvarez perform a turn during the open dance session of their salsa class, which meets at Midtown Tavern. Photo by Casey Ek
These S
hips don’t lie
Merengue class offers a chance to unleash the dancer in you
porting killer heels, instructor Jessica Roemhildt grabs her iPhone and swipes through her playlist for the perfect merengue music. And she finds it: Prince Royce. It’s time to begin. While all the other couples step confidently and willingly onto the dance floor, my husband and I move a couple of sheepish steps forward, waiting for instruction. 80 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
The first thing we do is stretch. Roemhildt tells us that, for what’s coming, we’re going to want to limber up a bit. Midtown Tavern’s dance floor is cozy, yet roomy; it allows couples to have intimate moments, yet avoid bumping into someone else. Roemhildt and her partner teach various classes here, but tonight we’re focused on merengue.
One thing to note: wear comfortable shoes and some danceappropriate clothing (i.e., loosefitting) for maximum enjoyment. I wore Chucks and jeans. The Chucks were a good choice, the jeans on the other hand … it got a little toasty right after the stretches, even toastier during the dancing. In merengue, muscles can get a little strained, Roemhildt tells us. She
Left: Instructor Darío Alvarez dances with Karrey Tweten. Right Jennifer Kafka reaches for her husband Paul’s hand following a spin. Photos by Casey Ek demonstrates a stretch by extending her arms up above her head and slowly leaning over to the right. And then again over to the left. We all do the same. With stretching finished, it’s time to dance. Roemhildt eases us into merengue, showing us the simple tip-toe-like movement, beckoning us to follow her lead. “It’s like a marching tempo,” she says with a dancer’s smile on her face (NICE). She warns us that, although simple, the steps are tiring. And boy was she right — just a few minutes in, I wasn’t sure if the room was getting warmer or if it was just me. nnn Unfortunately, for some (like me, a person with two left feet), dance can be intimidating. It’s difficult to really put yourself out there, especially in a room full of strangers. But Salsa Mankato owners Roemhildt and Dario Alvarez are dedicated to expressing and sharing their passion of dance with those willing to learn. The pair has been teaching salsa for a little over a year in Mankato, which started at Burrito Xpress. They’ve recently begun integrating some other dance styles such as bachata and merengue. The idea was to try to bring some form of social dancing that they have experienced in bigger communities, especially since Mankato had a lack of a real social dance event, which they’ve successfully brought to town. It’s the genuine kindness, professional instruction and the adventure that keeps couples such as Paul and Jennifer Kafka of Blue Earth coming back. “Paul hated to dance,” Jennifer said laughing. But since the classes have started, the couple has been attending them as often as they can, and Paul has even gained a little more confidence in his dancing. “I dance at home all the time now,” Paul said. “She even tells me to stop.” Paul credits Dario for showing him how to do the male part in the dance, and the individualized attention that they both received from Alvarez and Roemhildt. And it’s fun, too, which is why they brought along their friends for the experience. Hannah and Jacob Brower, also from Blue Earth, were first-timers at this class, and they’re enthusiastic about coming back. “I didn’t know I could dance!” Jacob said. Hannah and Jacob agree that the class was an opportunity for them to not only learn a little dancing, but to also learn how to laugh at yourself when you mess up on some steps.
“It’s really no pressure,” Hannah said. nnn After about five minutes of staying in tempo with Prince Royce and following Roemhildt’s lead, the room was definitely getting warmer. The water pitcher sitting in the back of the room began to sweat, much like everyone in the room. With the couples’ confidence gained in the base step of merengue, Roemhildt spins as she maintains the base step, encouraging us to do the same, and we all follow. “This is simple enough, I got this,” I thought. Right as I was getting the groove of the marching tempo and the simple spin, it switched up to a marching tempo to side step to side step, along with the music. I tried and I tried, watching Roemhildt’s sparkling heels dance to the beats … but it was hard. She noticed some others were struggling, too. Thank God. We stopped a little to get instructions and she asked what was the best way for us to learn. “Does counting help or saying step-step help better?” Collectively, the couples said the counting was more beneficial. As she turned the music back on, she smiled and helped us get the simple steps down. I finally got it. Kind of. As the class progressed, Roemhildt was confident enough in our newly learned skills to add a little flair to each step. From the marching base step we added a little extra step and then focused on partner dancing, which featured spinning and interacting with your partner. Roehmildt watched us closely, then stepped in to show couples the steps to go over spins with us. For me and my partner, that spin was causing some issues. We tried. We really did. But for some reason, the spin came out wonky and not nearly as effortless as Roemhildt’s. She noticed, and asked if we needed help. “YES,” we both said with a hint of frustration. “Okay, so you have to lead him to know when you want to spin.” So I mocked putting my arms up to lead him to spin me. “Then you can keep your palms open, like this,” she demonstrated with her hands. “Then bring your hands back down after the spin.” We tried again. And I’ll be darned. It was effortless, and I felt a small sense of accomplishment.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 81
COMING ATTRACTIONS: JULY 2
Kiwanis Thunder of Drums show 6:30-10 p.m. — Blakeslee Stadium — Stadium Road — Mankato — $22 reserved advance purchase, $12 general advance purchase, $6 youth (12 and under), $10 groups of 25 or more — TODtickets@gmail.com or tickets@thunderofdrums.com
4
Red, Hot and Boom! 6 p.m. — Vetter Amphitheater — Mankato — free — visitgreatermankato.com.
4
Old-Fashioned July 4 10 a.m. parade; 12-4 p.m. picnic and activites; 10 p.m. fireworks — parade will take place on South Washington Ave., picnic and activities will take place in Minnesota Square Park and fireworks will take place at Nicollet County Fairgrounds — St. Peter — stpeterchamber. com/4th-of-july
11-13
Highland Summer Theatre presents: “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” 7:30 p.m. — Andreas Theatre — Minnesota State University — Mankato — $16 regular, $14 discounted (over 65, under 16 and groups of 15 or more) and $11 for current Minnesota State Mankato students — mnsu.edu/theatre
14
Turnpike Troubadours with Old 97’s, Shooter Jennings and Bottle Rockets 6 p.m. — Vetter Stone Amphitheater — Mankato — $79, $69, $59, $49, $39 — verizoncentermn.com.
21
Rockin’ on the Hill music fest 5-11 p.m. — Good Counsel Drive — Mankato — $10 general — rockinonthehill.com.
21
4
Verizon Center presents: Brit Floyd 8 p.m. — Verizon Center’s Arena — 1 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — $69, $43.50, $35.50, $25.50 — verizoncentermn.com.
5
Matthew Griswold 9 p.m. — Pub 500 — 500 S. Front St. — Mankato — free — matthewgriswoldmusic.net.
6-8
Blue Earth County Fair Garden City Fairgrounds — 340 Fairgrounds St. — Garden City — free admission — $5 parking on fairgrounds or a season pass is available — blueearthcountyfair.org.
Lakefest music festival 11 a.m. — Clear Lake Park — 1000 Eighth Ave. N.E. — Waseca — free — wasecachamber.com Waseca Water Carnival 11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Trowbridge Park — Waseca — free — wasecachamber.com. North Mankato Fun Days Wheeler Park — North Mankato — northmankatofundays.com.
82 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
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26-29
26-29
State Street Theater presents: “Mary Poppins” 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday — State Street Theater — 1 N. State ST. — New Ulm — $15 at door, $10 advance tickets — statestreetnewulm.org.
EIDE LIKE I’D L IK E T O CO N GR AT U L AT E YO U
28
Arms For Elephant EP release with Throw the Fight 8:30 p.m. — The What’s Up? Lounge — 701 N. Riverfront Drive — Mankato — $12 advance — whatsuplounge.com.
Mankato Magazine’s Best Financial Planner for an incredible four years in a row is Certified Financial Planner Ryan Spaude! Congratulations, Ryan! We’re proud of you for the excellent client service you provide to our community daily.
eidebailly.com
28
Blues on Belgrade 12 p.m. — Belgrade Avenue — North Mankato — free event — businessonbelgrade.org/events.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018 • 83
FROM THIS VALLEY By Pete Steiner
A
Pete’s Personal Best (and Worst) of 2018
mericans are constantly asked, via the Internet and Facebook and snail mail and unsolicited phone calls, to take part in surveys, so that THEY (the information brokers) can know what WE are thinking. I usually decline these opportunities and requests. I do take part religiously in voting every two years — let them glean what they want from that, although I admit, all too often, I am voting for the “least bad” candidate. Today I offer you the results of a most unscientific poll, because the results are radically skewed: I was the only one who got to vote. Not only did I choose the results, I chose the categories! Mostly it’s a “best of,” although over a year that saw the Vikings pull up stakes on their final training camp in Mankato, that featured a winter that would not end, and another year of disappointing seasonending losses (Vikes-Eagles, MSU-Northern State basketball, MSU-UMD hockey, etc.), I added a few “worst of” categories. Still, there’s enough negativity in this world that I want to offer a mostly “glass half-full” take on the past year: n Best underdog sports hero: Backup quarterback Case Keenum leading the Vikes to the NFC championship game. (Glass half empty version: Keenum was not re-signed.) n Most electrifying sports play: Keenum to Diggs pass for last-second touchdown against New Orleans to get us into NFC champ game. n And one final sort-of sports category: Best curve ball? Twins’ pitcher Jose Berrios has a good one, but he’s Little Leaguer compared to this past April’s weather! Just 16 degrees on Easter morning was not even the cruelest April Fool’s joke. No, that would be four April snowstorms, including the slam-dunk (I love mixing sports metaphors), 12-inches of heavy, wet stuff that shut down the town on April 14th. T. S. Eliot called April “the cruelest month,” and he didn’t even live in Minnesota. Now, let’s move on to our more mundane categories: n Best view of the Whole Valley: Good Counsel Hill. n Best “third place” (that is, a comfortable gathering place that’s not your home or place of work): We’ve 84 • JUNE 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
lost quite a few, but we still have the Circle, and the Wine Café and NaKato are also in the running. n Best free popcorn: C and S Supply on Saturday mornings. n Best place for a walk in the woods: A tough one here! Tomorrow I could maybe say Rasmussen Woods or Minneopa, but for now let’s go with Williams Nature Center. n Best place for a picnic: I am willing to listen to outside advice on this one, but for today’s column, let’s say the Oak Grove on the hill at Sibley. n Best cemetery for a stroll on a sunny December day: Glenwood. n Best church potluck dish: Amid the various Jellos and Cool Whip desserts and tator-tot hotdishes (which come in second in my category), if I had to take just one helping out of everything available, I’d take that green bean concoction with the cream of mushroom soup on top. n Best spiritual cleansing: The Welsh hymn sing at First Presbyterian in September. If you know the tunes or can read the music, no one censures you for singing too loud, especially if you’re a tenor. After two hours, you feel spent, but purged, and your soul’s uplifted. n Best time of the day: When I was 20, the night time was the right time. Now, it’s the first couple hours of the day, starting around 6 a.m. Love having my cereal and coffee and reading a hard-copy newspaper or The Atlantic or Harper’s. If today’s categories seem to be quite random, well, remember: I chose them, and random’s just the kind of guy I am. Let’s be random in tandem! Wait! I am hearing there’s one more category?? n Best back-page columnist? (Editor’s note, we’re not talking about the website busted by the FBI.) Naturally, I would have to say … What? What’s that? Oh — sorry, now I’m being informed, I am disqualified from expressing a preference in this category.
Peter Steiner is host of “Talk of the Town” weekdays at 1:05 p.m. on KTOE.
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