LET’S DANCE! If you’re looking for a unique dance outlet, look no further
Meet
DR. HAMM’S
The curious case of
ZACH KOSER Meet
TIM AND TAMI TUPY Satori Violet SEPTEMBER 2018
The Free Press MEDIA
$2.95
FIND THE FREEDOM TO LAUGH, SNEEZE AND JOG AGAIN.
Although loss of bladder control may be embarrassing, it doesn’t have to mean giving up belly laughs with friends. Our OB/GYN experts partner with you to help determine the best urinary incontinence treatment option, surgical or non-surgical, to fit your lifestyle and needs.
Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 507-479-1483 to schedule an appointment. mayoclinichealthsystem.org
It’s Time to Connect Your Business to the Web If you are not advertising online or utilizing online digital tactics, you’re missing out on a large, diverse and affluent audience of local consumers. Contact me today to learn how to reach this growing audience on all media platforms – search engine optimization, site retargeting, search retargeting, custom site lists, mobile geofence and follow, event targeting, social media channels, maps & directories and more.
Josh Zimmerman Digital Sales Leader
jzimmerman@ mankatofreepress.com 507.344.6322
The Free Press MEDIA
» G R E AT G OL F,
great meetings.
GOLF DIGEST EXECUTIVES KNOW GREAT GOLF and have named Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort
»» Play where the champions play
& Spa and Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel at Grand National two of their newest Editors' Choice Winners, along
on Alabama's Robert Trent Jones
with Pebble Beach, The Greenbrier, Pinehurst and 65 other North American locations. When you need to step
Golf Trail. To book your next outing,
away from the office for a great golf getaway or an off-site meeting, plan your visit to Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The best part about the Trail is you don’t have to break the bank to play world-class golf. »»
call 800.949.4444 today and visit
2 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
rtjgolf.com to learn more.
FEATURE S SEPTEMBER 2018 Volume 13, Issue 9
18
Let’s Dance From belly dancing to fire dancing, Mankato has myriad opportunities to try unique forms of dance.
22
From the Land of Sky Blue Waters Stevan Miner’s collection of Hamm’s Beer signs, jukeboxes and Twins memorabilia has to be seen to be believed.
28
Trailblazer Zach Koser knew years ago that the college route to adulthood wasn’t for him. So he blazed his own trail.
ABOUT THE COVER Violet Kind, owner of the Satori Violet school of dance, is a fixture of the local belly dancing scene. She was photographed for our cover by Pat Christman. MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 3
DEPARTMENTS 6 From the Editor 8 Faces & Places 12 This Day in History 14 Beyond the Margin Highway 169 revisited
14
16 Familiar Faces Tim and Tami Tupy 32 Day Trip Destinations Cedar Falls, Iowa 34 Then & Now Younger Brothers 37 Food, Drink & Dine 38 Food A better bag lunch
16
40 Happy Hour Bloody Marys 41 Beer Kato hoppery 42 That’s Life Life of a call (center) girl 44 Garden Chat Rescuing a garden from weeds 46 Your Style Impenetrability looks supercute
34
42
on you.
48 Night Moves Thursday night drinking club:
Video game eidition
51 Coming Attractions 52 From This Valley The life of a radio man
Coming in October You’ve heard the saying,
46 4 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
52
“Well, someone’s gotta do it.” We check in with some folks who do some of the area’s dirtiest jobs.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 5
FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR By Robb Murray SEPTEMBER 2018 • VOLUME 13, ISSUE 9 PUBLISHER Steve Jameson
The perfect
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 Nell Musolf Pete Steiner PHOTOGRAPHERS Pat Christman Jackson Forderer Casey Ek PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING Danny Creel SALES Joan Streit 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.
6 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
W
MATCH
hen I was a kid, my best friend Kenny and I used to collect matchbooks. I’m not really sure why. Kenny was the one who started it, actually. And then I, seeing a good idea, took it and ran with it. Kenny got bored with it after a few months. But I kept going. And going. And going. Soon, everyone in my extended family who ever went anywhere — gas stations, restaurants, seedy taverns — brought back a matchbook for lil’ Robbie. I had an uncle who traveled quite a bit, and so my collection was bolstered with matchbooks from Las Vegas, Florida and California. Any Holiday Inn he stayed at, he grabbed me a few matchbooks. Every Red Lobster he ate at, he grabbed me a few matchbooks. An aunt was so tickled with my collection that she took it upon herself to get me some matchbook collection storage devices: Giant cardboard contraptions made to look like matchbooks, but instead of matches, there were strips of cardboard just the right size to slide neatly through your matchbooks. (Have you ever seen the word “matchbooks” so many times in one article?) Today, those matchbooks are amassed in a box in my basement. One by one, they’re now employed as charcoal grill starters. Which is kind of fun. No one else in the family cares, but each time I fire up the Weber to cook some burgers or ribs, I get to think back to that inexplicable feeling of just wanting more of them, learning about the history of matchbooks, wondering how I could get my hands on some of the more unique ones. I guess you could say it was the thrill of the hunt, and yes, I’m aware of how awkward that phrase sounds in the context of collecting matchbooks. But I stand by it. This month’s Mankato Magazine
features a collector, too. But not just any collector. Stevan Miner of Winnebago might be the most impressive collector I’ve ever met. The bulk of his collection is advertising pieces from the Hamm’s Beer company. But he’s also got more jukeboxes than I’ve ever seen in one residence, and enough Minnesota Twins memorabilia to make a baseball fan cry. It is truly extraordinary, and I’d urge you to check that story our. Another great piece this month comes to us from Diana RojoGarcia, who tracked down a handful of folks who do the kind of dancing most of us only read about in magazines. Mankato, in case you haven’t noticed, has become a hub of unique dance opportunities. Whether you’re into belly dancing, fire dancing or pole dancing, there’s a place somewhere in the region for you to do that. Finally, as we launch into “back to school” month, we touch base with a young man who is taking a somewhat different approach to life after high school. Instead of embarking on a college career, he’s embarking on life as a hobby farm owner. And that’s exactly where he belongs.
Robb Murray is associate editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at 344-6386 or rmurray@ mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freepressRobb.
Thank You for voting us one of the Best of Mankato 7 years in a row
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 7
FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
Music In The Park
1
1. Pets enjoy live music, too. 2. Wheel of Fortune was one of the many games available for kids. 3. Issac Williams plays on the grass. 4. Families and friends socialize with live music and activities. 5. Kids kept busy with games. 6. Jason Miller of The Porchlights on bass. 7. Lehi Gertz, also of The Porchlights, on fiddle. 8. Travis Friedrichs, yep, also of The Porchlights, on drums.
4 2
3
5
6
8 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
7
8
FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
Rib Fest
1. Adam Pollit of Chicago BBQ Co., grills up some tasty ribs. 2. A big crowd kicked off the four-day event. 3. Ian Middleton on electric guitar plays with the Chris Hawkey Band. 4, 5. Chris Hawkey’s band played on the annual festival’s opening night. 6. Ribs are always the main attraction. 7. This panorama shows a packed RibFest.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 9
FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
Rockin’ on the Hill
1
1. Ryan Hope of Pop Rocks pumped up the crowd. 2. The evening sun beat down on everyone. 3. Keyboardist Angel Justangel of Pop Rocks plays during the opening set. 4. Jeff Rutland of Pop Rocks on bass. 5. Johnny Moeller of Neon Live plays electric guitar. 6. Lola’s Food Truck was one of the many vendors. 7. Pop Rocks entertained a packed crowd. 8. A panoramic view showcases the event’s popularity.
2
3
6
8
10 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
4
7
5
FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports
YWCA Amazing Race 1. Team Alpha Media runs through Scheels. 2. (From left) Amy Luethmers, Mandi Kopischke and Jill Robinson from team Sole Sisters enjoy the paddle board challenge. 3. Joy Hanson and Erin Aaneson of team Fabulous Fam react to their challenge. 4. Liv Salon and Spa’s Liv Ladies take a selfie as part of their challenge. 5. Community Bank’s team, CHEK Yourself, crossed the finish line in First Place! 6. YWCA Executive Director Barb Dorn thanked all the teams for participating. 7. Kevin Velasquez from team ‘Merica races up the steps at Riverfront Park with a weighted pack. 8. All the teams get ready at the starting line.
4
1
2
6
3
5
7
8
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 11
Brochures Annual Reports Catalogs Magazines Posters Childrens Books Coffee Table Books and MORE!
THIS DAY IN HISTORY Compiled by Jean Lundquist
Mapleton talks fluoridation Thursday, Sep. 20, 1951 City Council members discussed placing fluorine in the city’s water supply at a meeting Tuesday night. Mapleton would be only the fifth city in the State of Minnesota to fluoridate its water, and the first city in Blue Earth County to do so. Dr. E.W. Disney, a Mapleton dentist, discussed the benefits of fluoridation with council members, telling them it hardens teeth against cavities. City Clerk Robert Starkey said the decision is a matter of money. In Lake Crystal and St. Peter, school children have their teeth painted with fluorine, instead of fluoridating the city water supplies. “Baby Season” at the Zoo Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1961 Although many people think of spring as “baby season,” not so at Sibley Park Zoo in 1961. One baby buffalo was three weeks old in late September, and two more were on the way. At the time, there were three adult females, and one adult male in the city’s herd. Also expected soon were two “borros.” A baby monkey at the zoo was about a week old at the time. Dutch elm disease bites hard in the area Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1971 Blue Earth County was host to 30 percent of the Dutch Elm Disease cases reported in the state in 1971. The entire state reported 973 diseased trees. Some 200 were reported in Blue Earth County. Rivers were deemed responsible for the outbreak, with Blue Earth County having many miles of river shoreline. An aerial survey showed most of the diseased trees were along river banks, and officials were pessimistic about being able to halt the spread of the disease, which is carried by a beetle. “In and along the river valleys the diseased trees are usually inaccessible. If those trees can’t be destroyed, the disease can’t be stopped,” said Blue Earth County Agent Don Hasbargen. School has opened Wednesday, Sept. 7, 1921 The reporter of this story, who had no byline, waxed poetically about the start of another school year in Lake Crystal, writing: “At 8:30 Tuesday morning, the old school bell shook the rust from its rusty joints and began XXXXXX tolling to call the children to come and enroll at nine o’clock for another long term of school. The bell seemed to raise a stir in this little city, and it wasn’t long before the sidewalks were crowded with children, all walking in the same direction … [some] went along wondering whether their teacher would be kind and pleasant, or cross, and above all, lamenting the fact that vacation was over, and hard work and books loomed up as a dark cloud before their eyes.” XXXXXX
BLINDS | SHUTTERS | SHADES | DRAPES | MOTORIZATION
Free Consultation & Installation
Budget
1750 Northway Drive • North Mankato, MN 56003 www.corpgraph.com
Blinds
The more you buy the more you save! Enlightened Style & Signature Series Products 5 or more blinds save 5% 10 or more blinds save 10% 15 or more blinds save 15% 20 or more blinds save 20% (some restrictions may apply)
HIGH STYLE. EXPERT SERVICE. NO-SURPRISES PRICE.
WARRANTY. BLINDS | SHUTTERS | SHADES | NO-QUESTIONS-ASKED DRAPES | MOTORIZATION
507-373-8535 | Toll Free 1-877-373-8535 sales@coolwindowshades.com | budgetblinds.com
Style and service for every budget.®
Free Consultation & Installation
How To Improve Your
Digital Marketing Strategy New Ulm
Wed., Sept. 26
7:30am Registration 8:00am Start
Mankato
Thurs., Sept. 27
St. Peter
7:30am Registration 8:00am Start
Thurs., Sept. 28
12:00pm Registration 12:30pm Start
Special Guest Speaker
Ted Gurley is Regional Digital Director for CNHI, the parent
company of The Free Press Media. He has been innovative in leading digital sales strategy and marketing for most of his career. He led digital sales for Univision Television and Radio properties from 2010 to 2017. From 2002-2010, he led digital sales for all U.S. cable systems while at NCC Media where he was Director of Sales. Ted is considered a pioneer in the digital space. He coauthored the first book about digital audio and social media for fans of music and musicians, Plug-In, The Guide to Music on the Net (Simon & Schuster). Ted has an MBA from the University of Houston, a BBA from Texas Christian University and is certified in Digital Sales by the Internet Advertising Bureau and Google.
Contact Josh Zimmerman for more information and registration, or visit www.mankatofreepress.com
Josh Zimmerman Digital Sales Leader
jzimmerman@mankatofreepress.com
507.344.6322
The Free Press MEDIA
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 13
14 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
BEYOND THE MARGIN By Joe Spear
Highway 169 revisited T
The road to college has changed, stayed the same
he picture of a Minnesota State University student checking back into the dorms circa 1970s was telling of a different time and place, but one that has sometimes seemed not so “long ago and far away.” The unidentified young man’s photo came to us through Minnesota State University archives and we used it for a commemorative 150th anniversary soft cover book called “Evolution of Education.” We picked it as the back cover mostly because it included so many images that were signs of the times but now offer a stark contrast to images that define today. A “Head” brand tennis racket in hand, wearing a “Mankato State” Maverick basketball T-shirt, he looks at the camera giving that smile that says “I’m back in school.” Most of his belongings look like they fit into one medium-sized, hard-cover suitcase. He’s sitting on the back of what appears to be an open hatchback vehicle, possibly a Gremlin. Monster-sized headphones with tethered phone cord sit atop a few scattered cassette tapes in the back of his car. And, most importantly, his 18 in. by 12 in. Boombox (It appears to be a Sharp 8989) sits at his feet that are clad in white sneakers. In the background is another student, carrying a case of Miller High Life, likely to be used as a nightstand or end table. This fall marks a milestone in my own MSU history. It was 40 years ago, I stepped onto campus and hauled my duffle-bag up to ninth floor, B tower, of Gage residence hall. A smattering of images still remain after 40 years. Among the things I remember most from that first autumn were the signs posted everywhere and in the campus newspaper for a kegger down at the legion hall as a way to kick off the school year. Believe me, there were no underage police stings in this era. I remember well my first history class dubbed “Violence in America” and taught by Professor Donald Sofchalk, who really seemed compelled to tell us about Old West hangings of innocent people, the Haymarket Square labor riots in Chicago and the blood that was shed in wars with Native Americans for their land that we now occupy. I remember places like the Minnesota Room of the Memorial Library, a treasure trove of all things Minnesota, the Garden Deli in the student union (now removed) and the billiard tables and bowling alley in the basement of the union (Still there and remodeled). They had a good Jukebox and myriad pinball machines. Nineteen seventy eight was an interesting year for music – new styles and genres clashing. “Some Girls” by the Rolling Stones might not sell well in the context of today’s #MeToo movement. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” by Bruce Springsteen described desperation and suicide while others kept to happier themes. “Excitable Boy” by Warren Zevon made fun of those who would make fun of the dark throws of mental illness. And “Van Halen” by Van Halen. Well, they had to
think about that title for a while. The Cars followed suit with their album “The Cars.” Then there was The Who asking the obvious but often ignored question of “Who Are You.” Then there were the bands and albums that challenged the poppy nature of Rock and Roll with The Clash and “Give ‘Em Enough Rope,” The Police with “Outlandos d’Amour” and Funkadelic with “One Nation Under God.” We had a good amount of advice too in the music of 1978 with Boston’s “Don’t Look Back,” and Neil Young’s “Comes a Time.” The music stood out compared to the odd and vanilla political times. We were six years past Watergate, though journalism schools were still filling up, and two years into the presidency of Jimmy Carter, the first president who gave an interview to Playboy magazine noting he had experienced feelings of lust in his lifetime. Carter told Playboy he “looked on a lot of women with lust” and had “committed adultery in my heart many times.” This was said by some to be the defining moment for regaining the credibility and respect for the office of the president as it was breath of fresh honesty compared to a guy nicknamed Tricky Dick. So a handful of us went into journalism. Gladys Olson was my professor in reporting 101 and my first draft of my first story had so many red marks on it, you could barely see the black type pounded out on an old Olivetti Underwood manual typewriter — the kind with ribbons. The university upgraded the equipment the next year, and we deployed the IBM Selectric, a fascinating invention where a round ball with all the letters on it whirred around at lightning speed. If you could type 50 words a minute, it sounded like machine gun fire. We all joined the staff of The Reporter, the campus newspaper that had a rich history. The most famous writer was likely Shirley Ardell Mason, who struggled with multiple personality disorders and was depicted in the book and movie “Sybil.” Yes, she was from Dodge Center and attended MSU in the 1940s, and she was the real “Sybil.” With 40 years gone by, three out of our group of 13-14 remain in journalism. Our kids going to college now have traded the bulky headphones with their phone cords for “Beats” ($200 retail), the wireless Bluetooth headphones. No need for scattered cassette tapes or a Boombox (originally $30 maybe?). The iPod Touch ($299 retail) has that covered a thousand times over. But Miller High Life, “The Champagne of Beers,” is back in style. Established as one of the first bottled beers in 1903, it was relatively expensive and came in a champagne shaped, clear bottle. Today’s it’s a bargain brand. Cheers to those things that stay the same but get cheaper. Joe Spear is editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress.com or 344-6382. Follow on Twitter @jfspear. MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 15
Familiar Faces
HOPping good success story Photos by Jackson Forderer
Name:
Tim and Tami Tupy Age: 49 and 53, respectively Family: Three dogs City of residence: Mankato Education: Tim — B.S. Minnesota State University; Tami — Cosmetology school Brief work history: Tim — after college worked for Hickory Tech and Midwest Wireless; Tami — I worked for a few small salons, including Hair Masters, which I purchased from the owners. We owned Hair Masters for 9 years and then opened LIV Aveda Salon & Spa and later Mankato Brewery 16 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Tim and Tami Tupy are constantly busy with Mankato Brewery and Liv Salon and Spa
S
ometimes great opportunities arise by chance, and you can choose to roll the dice or not. That’s sort of what happened to Tim and Tami Tupy when the hair salon Tami worked for suddenly went up for sale. Instead of playing it safe and moving on, they thought, “Why not?” It’s strange to think two Mankato business staples may not have ever happened without that first leap: LIV Aveda Salon & Spa and Mankato Brewery. The two diverse businesses can be traced back to that first roll of the dice. Here’s a bit more from the Tupys about how their small business ventures developed. Mankato Magazine: How did starting your first business come about? Tim Tupy: My wife, Tami, worked at Hair Masters Salon in Mankato, and the owners decided to sell the business. We decided to buy the business with hopes to eventually grow it. It wasn’t an easy start being we didn’t have any experience in owning a business. Tami Tupy: I realized that a person would have to drive over an hour to have any spa services other than a massage. I felt this was wrong, and it was something we could do something about. Mankato is not a big city, but when you walk into LIV Aveda you get the feeling of a big city and definitely get the services of a bigger city with highly trained staff.
Tami Tupy sprays Ben Yokiel’s hair while giving him a haircut at Liv Aveda Salon and Spa. The salon offers hair cutting, coloring, spa services, massages, waxing, facials, body wraps and spray tanning. Tupy opened the salon 16 years ago. MM: What challenges did you encounter as a small business owner in Mankato? Tim: Initially we had issues with finding a bank that believed in what we wanted to do. Once we started the business, we knew it was important to build a strong brand within our community. With LIV Aveda and Mankato Brewery, we do as much as we can to support the local community. Tami: Another challenge was not listening to people that were telling us a salon and spa wouldn’t make it in Mankato. This only fed my fuel and drove me to follow my vision to open the first full service salon and spa in Mankato. MM: LIV Aveda and Mankato Brewery seem like such diverse enterprises. How did your interest develop in the brewing industry? Tim: I was a home brewer for many years, and my great-great-greatgrandfather opened the first brewery in New Prague around 1885. I guess you could say beer was in my blood!
MM: Mankato Brewery has grown so much in its offerings. What has been your favorite beer so far? Tim: Mad Butcher IPA is my favorite beer we make. I really like the lighter body and the citrus hop flavor and aroma. It’s my go-to beer. It’s also Tami’s favorite beer. MM: What has surprised you about being a business owner? Tami: The amount of time that goes into making it a success. Plus, the amazing relationships I’ve developed with staff and guests. Tim: Owning a business our size is literally 24-7. You seldom get a day off, and when you do you always have to make yourself available if needed. It’s very rewarding, but I always must remind myself to take time to relax and separate myself from the day-to-day activities. MM: Do you have plans for further expansion of the brewery? Or what is your five- or 10-year plan? Tim: We’re lucky to be in a building that has a lot of space. Our plan is to keep growing by adding more tanks. The space we have for Mankato
Brewery is huge. The building is over 24,000 square feet, and it allows us to have continued growth for many years. MM: What are your hobbies outside of work? Tami: Being involved with Audubon MN to raise money to help clean up local lakes, rivers and streams in southern Minnesota. Our main fundraising focus for Audubon MN is our annual comedy event we do in April. Over the last five years we’ve put on a comedy show featuring national comedy acts, and our LIV team has raised over $100,000. Tim: I enjoy running and listening to audiobooks while I’m running. It’s my time to clear my mind and just relax. At night I enjoy spending time relaxing with Tami. MM: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Tim: I have a twin brother. Tami: I grew up in Mankato, and I’m the seventh of eight kids.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 17
Dance the night away! Whatever kind of dance you’re in the mood for, Mankato has an outlet for you By Diana Rojo-Garcia Photos by Pat Christman, Jackson Forderer and Casey Ek
D
ance has morphed its way into the area. It’s almost inescapable. Maybe you haven’t made it to a show that you saw posted on a Facebook events page, but you’ve definitely seen that they’re everywhere. They’re belly dancing at the Coffee Hag, doing aerial work at Midtown Tavern and throwing fire around at the Old Town Art Fair. And maybe you haven’t noticed, but there are a lot of dance classes and troupes just in the Mankato area. Pole dancing, aerial, lyra, belly dance, fire dancing, ballet — there’s a little something for everyone. We took a look at four dance groups: Satori Violet Belly Dance Co., Wóȟpe Fire Bellydance, Aerial Affinity and Frestyl Fitness Pole Dance, to give you a peek into the world of dance.
Satori Violet Belly Dance Company
“Welcome everybody!” Violet Kind takes attendance and begins class with silent combos, an improv belly dance that Violet leads. The dancers then situate themselves in front of the mirror as Kind puts on a funky belly dancing-appropriate song controlled by her smartwatch. The song starts slowly, and as the students follow the beat of the song, Kind makes silly faces or encourages students with a smile that’d bounce from everyone’s faces. nnn As soon as you walk into Satori’s dance studio, which is located near the Kato Ballroom, smiles and “hellos” greet everyone. Laughter from the backroom is louder than the music, and it fills the entrance. It’s friendliness and the fellow students’ support of others that keeps people coming back, like Blair McLaughlin, who’s a student and now also an instructor. Belly dance can be intimidating, especially in a society where the “ideal” body suggests that not a single part of your body should jiggle. But Kind always tries to 18 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Jess Hansen-Barnett of the Wóhpe Fire Bellydancers with palm torches in Hiniker Pond. encourage students to “make your thighs applaud you!” as she teaches them how to shimmy. McLaughlin echoes Violet in that sentiment. She says something she learned was how to carry her body, despite society saying to “not jiggle, suck in your guts and your body isn’t supposed to bend that way.” “The beginner class is all about telling you that your body is suppose to jiggle, and that it’s OK to bend in weird ways,” McLaughlin said. “Once you get over that hurdle in your head, it’s an amazing epiphany.” The class demonstrates the relaxed environment, and as Kind explains, the typical Satori Violet class, “It’s relaxed, but we get a lot done … but there’s a lot of fun,” she laughed. Oh, and another thing — “I learned how to be brave, actually. I was very not brave for a very long time,” McLaughlin said. “It’s an amazing thing to find bravery — I’m 44 years old, and to finally find that bravery in your 40s, and own it? Amazing.” nnn Kind started her business at age 20. “It all came as a fluke,” she said. Kind worked at the Coffee Hag when her boss, Jen, invited her over to a meeting at a fitness center (which is now closed). She introduced her as a belly dancer, which led to the fitness center asking if she wanted to instruct belly dance, and… “Poof, I had a dance studio,” she laughed. The process has been all organic, from getting instructors to setting up shop and even coming around to belly dancing.
She said that, as a kid, she always wanted to take dance classes. But, at the time, it wasn’t feasible for her family. So she started to record music videos on a VCR to replay and then mimic the choreography. It wasn’t until she was in 9th grade, she took up some classes with RakStar Fusion Belly Dance. Now in its seventh year, Satori Violet Belly Dance has become one of the belly dance staples in Mankato. “I feel really lucky…. This little community (in Mankato) of artsy weirdos -- it’s the perfect fit because its given all of these people that are unique and maybe a little edgy — and it gives them a place to meet other people that are really interesting.” Kind said. “And they’re friendly, and looking to connect with people. And to be the kind of leader of that is really cool thing. I just feel really lucky.”
Wóhpe Fire Bellydance
Down at Hiniker Pond on a late evening, the sun barely peeks through the trees and the pond remains still without a breeze in the air. Perfect night for fire belly dance. The fire releases a “whooshing” sound as the Elaine O. Hardwick, Patrice Hundstad and Jess HansenBarnett begin their routine to the song “Gold Digger.” They dance along together in the grass with the flames hitting the air as they shake their hips and follow each other’s leads. Two spectators on the sand next to the pond watch diligently. As the song concludes, one of the girls comes up to Elaine. “You guys! This is so cool. We’re literally staying at the pond because of you.” The troupe thanks the girl. “We get that a lot when we’re practicing outside,” MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 19
Left: Elaine Hardwick with Wóhpe Fire Bellydance dances with fans of fire during a group practice at Hiniker Pond. Right: Aerial Affinity is based in Le Sueur. They offer both aerial and pole dancing classes. Hansen-Barnett smiled. nnn Before they began to dance, the women mixed their fuel (a mixture of campfire and lamp fuel), and explained that the reason that Wóhpe came together is pretty simple: “We just love fire,” Elaine laughed. “You can call us pyros because it’s true.” It started up in 2015 with Amanda Quam and Hardwick. Hundstad and Hansen-Barnett joined shortly after. Each of the dancers already have a background in bellydance, and Hundstand has an extensive background in martial arts that she incorporates into the performance (like balancing a staff and a sword with fire on her head.) “Isn’t that dangerous, though?” you might ask. The troupe has fireproof blankets and a wet towel on hand, just in case. “We’ve all been singed at least once,” Hundstad admits. “But we haven’t had the need for a fire extinguisher.” You’ve probably seen the troupe’s name (which, in Lakota mythology, is a spirit of peace) in various events in the surrounding area. They’ve been invited to various events to perform their improv choreography, such as the Old Town Art Fair, the Coffee Hag and at the St. Peter Ambassador’s Blues Fest in St. Peter. They recently also performed at the Southern Minnesota Pagan Pride.
Aerial Affinity
Hidden in the small town of Le Sueur is Aerial Affinity. Blink, and you might miss it. Inside, however, the ceilings are raised high – high enough for silks, aerial hoop, lyra and yoga hammock classes. The studio also offers pole dance classes, which is tucked into its own private room. The students stand around the apparatuses and watch their colleagues drop strategically from the silks. Each attempt receives thunderous applause and encouraging words. The supportive atmosphere runs in the blood of Aerial Affinity. Their tagline, “we fly together,” isn’t just a clever saying. “It’s a business practice,” Betty Ann, co-founder of
20 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Aerial Affinity said. “And it’s about supporting people at where they are physically and mentally.” Teresa Tebbe, also co-founder, agreed. The difference between Aerial Affinity and other exercise facilities is the fact that the instructors get to know their students personally. This helps them understand what they need and how to support them. It’s not any different with their students – they also follow the supportive practice of “flying together.” “I hear students with all these new friends and say “Ya! You did it!’” Tebbe said. “And that’s really exciting.” In its short lifespan of less than a year, Aerial Affinity has gained momentum in Mankato and its surrounding areas. Many students from the Mankato area commute to Le Sueur a few times a week to attend the classes, and there are others in the 30-mile radius of the small town who also attend regularly. The interest is high in the aerial dance art form in southern Minnesota, but the closest studios that teach the dance form are a few hours away, such as in the Twin Cities and other metros. Melanie Rheaume and Cruz Rubaldino, both from Mankato, make the trip every week (even with the construction.) It’s now become a hobby for the two and one where they not only have the opportunity to exercise and learn new techniques in silks, but to witness the other students’ progress. “It’s really surprising in what you can do,” Rheaume said. “It can be hard, but it’s doable.” “You don’t have to be strong to fit in or keep moving up,” Rubaldino said. As a beginner, she hopes that “someday, maybe next week” she ... “I’m going to be doing that!” she says, pointing to one of the students moving through the silks.
Frestyl Fitness Pole Dance
My legs burned as my feet shook violently as Brittin Leigh, owner of Frestyle Fitness, led us through some yoga poses before we moved onto moving around the pole. The poses weren’t intense; I just haven’t taken an exercise class since senior year in high school. Leigh, though, helped me get through the almost unbearable feeling my body was going through. “Gorgeous,” she’d repeat. “Beautiful.”
Pole dancing is not a training camp for would be strippers. It’s a legitimate fitness option picking up steam in popularity. Who knew – two simple words repeated through the duration of the class kept me wanting to continue through the pain (that I would later continue to feel in the next two days.) Following the yoga poses, we walked around barefoot on our tippy-toes and then followed the pole.
said. Pole dance, she said, is basically just yoga on a pole. And well, why should anyone try pole? “They’ll surprise themselves, something they never expected they could do and suddenly their feet are off the ground … to be able to do something unexpected is a pleasant surprise.”
nnn
nnn
Leigh started pole dance in 2011. The class was actually a gift from her mom for Christmas because she saw that she was sitting at her desk a lot working on her dissertation. “I thought she was nuts,” Leigh laughed. Then she started teaching about nine months after her first introduction to pole. For a lot of people, pole dancing is heavily connected to, well, stripping. “That blew my mind! I didn’t encounter that until I moved back here,” Leigh said. She remembers the first time someone had said anything to her about pole dance. “I was asked if I was a stripper — and at the time I was painting and I thought, ‘Paint stripper?’ I just didn’t get the connection.” It wasn’t until they clarified that they meant club stripper. “Why? Are you a stripper?’ I asked him,” Leigh said. “I know it’s a similar looking device, but by and large, pole dancers don’t strip and strippers typically don’t pole dance.” There is a small percentage where the two worlds collide, but they mainly stay separate Leigh
My feet were off the ground. For a second. At first it was using the tippy-toe walk around the pole and swinging around. Dizzying at first, but eventually because of an adrenaline rush. Then, as soon as the spinning around the pole became comfortable, we transitioned to another move, which was to basically sit on the pole. Hand around the pole and following Leigh’s simple instructions, I kept trying and failing. It felt like gym class all of a sudden when I couldn’t climb the rope. Suddenly my feet were off the ground. It was surprising, especially since I thought I had no upper body strength, but there I was with my two feet, off the ground. Even if it were just for a split of a second. nnn “Bring your imperfections. If you don’t think you can dance, you should definitely show up to Frestyle, because I think it’s for everyone,” Leigh said. MM
Save Money. Bank Local. Free Checking Small Business Savings Mortgage Loans
Thank You for voting us #1, 5 of the last 6 years!
507-387-3055 mnvalleyfcu.coop Equal Housing Lender Federally Insured by NCUA NMLS# 504851 MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 21
Steve Miner in his first of two large rooms dedicated to Hamm’s Beer collectibles in Winnebago, MN.
Dr.
Stevan Miner owns hundreds of thousands of pieces of Hamm’s Beer, jukeboxes and Minnesota Twins collectables
S
Story by Robb Murray | Photos by Jackson Forderer
tevan Miner remembers well the day the seeds of his obsession were planted. “My grandpa was quite a beer drinker,” he says. “I remember going to the bar with him. Of course back then kids could go to the bar. And I remember sitting on that bar stool and seeing these signs, these motion signs, and this guy says, ‘If you watch long enough, a bear will stick his head out of that tent.’ Of course, it never did, but that left quite an impression on me.” Decades later, that kid who sat on that barstool staring at a mesmerizing Hamm’s Beer sign — the kind that slowly pans to the right to reveal a babbling brook, a beautiful forest scene, an empty campsite — has one of the most insane collections of Hamm’s Beer memorabilia in the world. Miner is quick to tell you his collection isn’t the biggest 22 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
in the world, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the Land of Sky Blue Waters with a heftier collection than Miner. Cigarette lighters, can coolers, posters, ash trays, bathtubs, light fixtures, calendars, bottle openers, beer cases, wrist watches, Christmas decorations, piggy banks, framed black and white photos of brewery dignitaries and, well … we could fill the rest of this magazine with the items Miner has. And while Hamm’s collecting is his obsession, it’s not just beer stuff that fills his Winnebago home. He’s also got 14 jukeboxes, each restored to pristine working condition, the kind where you can watch the mechanical arm pull the 45 record from the stack and drop the needle. And Twins memorabilia. Signed bats. World Series rings and trophies (not commemorative or reproduction — actual rings and a trophy from
Steve Miner said that one of his most prized possessions in his Hamm’s Beer collection is a lithograph print from the early 1900s that hangs in his living room. actual players) collectable editions of newspapers and magazines, champagne bottles from the locker room celebrations, Kirby’s glove. To visit Stevan Miner’s home is to walk into a feast for the eyes, the ears, the parts of your brain that click when you’re hit with something nostalgic, and the taste buds — no trip to his place is complete without a can of Hamm’s, or a pull from the Grain Belt he’s got on tap. It’s mind boggling. It’s nuts. It’s beautifully overwhelming. Come along with us. There’s so much to see.
But … Why Hamm’s?
“If you’re gonna collect beer stuff in Minnesota, what better brand? ‘The Land of Sky Blue Waters.’ And how could you not like that bear?” Miner says. His passion for this stuff is clear. The advertising agency that came up with those marketing items, Miner says, was light years ahead of everyone else. When competitors were doing posters, Hamm’s was doing motion signs. When the other guys were zigging, Hamm’s zagged with one of the most recognizable marketing icons in Minnesota marketing history: the Hamm’s Bear.
Top: One of the larger Hamm’s Beer displays in Steve Miner’s large collection in Winnebago, MN. Middle Signs in Steve Miner’s Hamm’s Beer collection in his basement. Bottom: An assortment of collectibles, all with a Hamm’s Beer logo on it, in Steve Miner’s large collection. MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 23
A collection of salt and pepper shakers, each one different and each one bearing a Hamm’s Beer logo on it.
Steve Miner also has 14 jukeboxes in his collection. Miner refurbished this particular jukebox to play CDs.
A rotating display shows all of the lighters he has collected over the years with the Hamm’s Beer logo on it. That moving sign, called a SceneO-Rama, remains one of the most popular pieces of beer advertising anywhere. It’s a large sign, backlit, with a center pane that moves to the left. Those signs were everywhere in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Today they exist mostly in the memories of anyone who ever saw one … and that’s why they’re so popular —and profitable — for people like Miner. When your Hamm’s Scene-ORama sign breaks down, Miner is one of the guys who can fix it. He’s got all the parts, knows how every version of every Hamm’s sign works, and he can manufacture the parts he doesn’t have. In his downtown Winnebago fix-it shop where he works on beer signs and jukeboxes, he’s amassed all the hard-to-find parts for 12 different fully functional motors that Hamm’s used in its unique light-up signs. In short, he can do whatever it takes to bring a broken down Hamm’s sign back to life. “Even today, these are just unbelievably popular,” he says, watching one of his Scene-O-Ramas mesmerize a guest. “I’ve got a couple coming from Omaha Saturday to buy one.” Miner attended a gathering of Hamm’s memorabilia aficionadas in the Twin Cities once, and they invited former Hamm’s Brewery employees. The stories those workers told of what it was like to be employed by Hamm’s, and the pride they had in
their work, further solidified Hamm’s as Miner’s “thing.” “Some guys collect all Minnesota stuff, there’s guys that collect Grain Belt, there’s guys that collect Gluek’s, there’s guys that collect Fitgers. Hamm’s right now is probably in the top five in collectability,” he said. Miner used to work for the Goodyear Tire Co., and they’d give employees their birthday as a holiday. So every year, when his wife asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday, the answer was always the same: visit the Hamm’s Brewery. He’d save his money all year long, drive to St. Paul and take the brewery tour (“And I could give the tour myself, I took it so many times”) stop in at the rathskeller for a few beers and then visit the gift shop. “I’d buy one of everything,” he said. Gift shop purchases turned into conventions, which turned into days spotting a Hamm’s beer sign at taverns and offering a few hundred for it, which turned into what he has today: an insane, truly massive and comprehensive collection of Hamm’s Beer stuff. Walking through his basement is, literally, like walking through a museum. Several big rooms with barely enough room to walk are stuffed to the ceiling with everything you can possibly imagine. And his wife, he says, is OK with it. Steve … are you obsessed? “A lot of it’s the thrill of the chase, and they made such neat stuff. And we don’t have any kids,” he says. “I’ve told people, I’d trade all this for kids. We weren’t able to have kids.
24 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
So it is kind of a replacement for that.” While the seeds were planted on that St. Paul barstool, he didn’t start collecting cans until 1974, and it started like most can collections. He bought a six-pack one day and something caught his eye about them. The cans, Schmidt beer, made up a set. Moose, muskie, antelope — all the cans were different. He went back the next day to get more of them so he could put them on his dresser with the ones from the previous day. And then it just sort of built from there. Slowly at first. Then, some guys he worked with learned he’d become infatuated with beer cans and started bringing him their more unusual empties. Eventually, he learned about a beer can collector in Minnesota Lake. This gentleman’s collection was the first time Miner had seen anything like this. “My God, it was wall-to-wall cans,” he said. He was transfixed. And inspired. And by the time he left, his collection more than doubled; he sent Miner home with a few dozen more cans and dreams of a bigger and better collection. Soon he was building shelves and joining clubs and meeting other collectors. “And the rest is history,” he says.
Juke joint
Interspersed throughout all this Hamm’s stuff is a rock-solid collection of jukeboxes. And, of course, they all work. Flawlessly. It’s like you stepped back in time, back to a day when jukeboxes were still the
Left: In addition to his large collection of Hamm’s Beer collectibles, Steve Miner also has Minnesota Twins memorabilia, with an entire collection of bats signed by the World Series winning teams of 1987 and 1991. Right: Beer cans and tap handles in Steve Miner’s Hamm’s Beer collection in his basement. centerpiece of a cheap night out with the boys, when a letter-and-number combination was etched in your brain, because D5 was your girl’s favorite song. “We started in 1989, and we’ve been on some runs,” Miner says of the birth of his collection. He got into the habit after meeting a Mankato gentleman who had a dozen jukeboxes in his basement. Seeburgs, Wurlitzers — you name it, this guy had it. Miner remembers walking into this guy’s basement for the first time and seeing his jukebox collection spread out over a checkerboard floor. They dubbed it the Flamingo Cafe. “We had some good times there,” he says, laughing. Not long after that, he acquired one of his own, and that guy told him: Jukeboxes are like potato chips. It’s hard to stop at just one. And he was right. Miner began collecting jukeboxes. And because he’s an auto mechanic, he quickly figured out how to fix them. That’s why every one in his home turns on just fine either via the original switch in the back or via a remote control. All are filled with 45s (except for one, a Wurlitzer, which is filled with CDs) and all sound pretty darn good. (Fun fact: Miner can tell you what song is at, say, B4, or D9. “I’m like Rain Man with these things.”) His skill in fixing the machines attracted the attention of a few members of the Minnesota Twins, which explains our final stop on the Miner tour.
Touch ‘em all, Kirby!
“These are all game-used bats from the ‘87 and 91 World Series teams,” he says, gesturing to a display case that would fit right in at Cooperstown. “That’s Al Newman’s ‘91 World Series trophy.” Wait, what? “He said, ‘I got two of ‘em. I don’t need two,” he says. “Here’s Chili Davis’ World Series ring.” He holds the ring out. It’s huge. Davis’ name is engraved on the band. Giant red rock on top. “Why would you sell something like that?” he says, puzzling over a piece of his own collection. “I mean, as a baseball player, that’s the pinnacle! That’s what you play the game for! I never asked. None of my business.” He came upon the ring not by trolling eBay. He got it because he knew these guys, and had asked a few of them, ‘Hey, if you know of anyone who wants to sell their ring ...’ And Chili Davis bit. So did relief pitcher George Frazier. And he almost had Juan Berenguer’s ring, but Señor Smoke got cold feet. A separate glove and bat used by Kirby Puckett hangs on an adjacent wall. Miner used to play in Kirby’s pool tournament. Before Kirby’s death in 2006, he’d been to Miner’s home. Hallowed ground. Inside another case below those bats, by the way, are two champagne bottles, one marked ‘87 and one marked ‘91. They were from the locker room celebrations that capped those dramatic World Series wins. Ebay? Nope. Friend of a friend? Nope.
Miner was there. In the locker room. How? Jukeboxes. He connected Twins players with jukeboxes, fixed Twins players’ jukeboxes. Hooking a guy up with the jukebox he remembered as a kid, it seems, gets you into a World Series locker room.
Impressive ...
Miner invited a group of beer advertising enthusiasts to his home once (guys like Miner, guys who are just as fanatical about collecting stuff as he is). But he was worried. Did he have enough stuff? Would they be impressed? Miner spiffed up his house, polished what he could and pulled his classic cars into the driveway of his home (yep, he’s got a few of those, too.) And when the group showed up, Miner kept his eye on one particularly stone-faced beer advertisement enthusiast. He showed them everything. All the Hamm’s stuff, all the jukeboxes, all the baseball bats. When the tour was over, Mr. Stone Face approached him. “I got four things to tell ya,” the man said. “First of all, thank you for opening your home and showing your stuff. It’s very nice. I’m really impressed. Second of all, the way you have it displayed is unbelievable. Thirdly, the quality of the stuff; everything is in beautiful condition. And fourth of all, I’ll never have to explain to my wife again why I have so much stuff.” And then he smiled. MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 25
REFLECTIONS By Pat Christman
W
e all need to get away sometimes. A little time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life gives us the chance to recharge our batteries, take a breath, appreciate the good things life has to offer. Getting away can be difficult in our modern world. We are always connected, plugged in. The disadvantage to having the world available to us on the phones in our pockets is that the world is always present and nearly inescapable. It nearly takes as much work to escape the world as it does to be a part of it. There is value in turning off the phone, leaving the computer at home and going off into the woods for a while. We all need to recharge from time to time. MM
26 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 27
Instead of enrolling in college, Zach Koser took his college savings and bought a hobby farm. And he couldn’t be happier.
The road less traveled Zach Koser wants to blaze his own trail, and that trail will not pass through a college or university Story by Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman
T
o all of Zach Koser’s Mankato West High School classmates, the ones who wondered where the heck the kid went … to all the teachers who may have shaken their heads in pity at the kid who “dropped out” … to all the parents who may have heard about Zach and spoke of his situation in hushed tones at cocktail parties … This one’s for you. Because Zach Koser — the kid driving a tractor around his rural Lake Crystal farm site, the kid who, at 18, already has a mortgage, the kid who with the help of his family pulled a dilapidated rural house from the grips of destruction — is doing just fine. Trust me. And he didn’t drop out of high school. But his case is a curious one. Because Zach didn’t go the route anyone who knows his family would have 28 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
predicted. The son of a Lutheran pastor and a science teacher, most would have thought Zach would end up studying physics or chemistry at some selective college or university. Or at least going to some kind of college. His life, however, steered him in a different direction. And no, that’s not a subtle misunderstanding of how we’re all free to make our own choices. Because in some cases, the things that have the biggest effect on our lives are things that we don’t control. And that’s where we’ll start with Zach’s story.
Social anxiety
When a kid breaks from the norm, it’s logical to ask “Why?” and to wonder, “What’s wrong with that kid?” In Zach’s case, there’s nothing wrong with him. But he did have challenges most young people don’t have to
Before Zach could move in, his rural Lake Crystal farm home required extensive renovation, most of which is now complete. deal with. Zach struggles with social anxiety issues. He remembers feeling “different” as far back as preschool, when he held on a little tighter than normal to his mom’s leg when she dropped him off. Those feelings followed him to elementary and middle school, as well. And then finally, in high school, the problem grew to a point where something had to give. “I left West because I was having anxiety about just being in the classroom,” he said. “I had no idea why. But it would get to a point where I’d get into class and my mind would start to run and I’d have to leave. I ended up missing school like crazy.” His anxiety, he says, affected his quality of life. He says there were many times when he’d want to go out with his friends or do something, but he’d talk himself out of it. He left Mankato West High School after his sophomore year, and graduated from a St. Paul-based online high school. And while he may not have known it at the time, his last day at West would be his last day in a traditional classroom of any kind. “School was never my thing, I never really enjoyed it,” he says. “I ended up deciding I wasn’t going to go to college. I found it more practical to purchase land such as this, as opposed to go into debt on college.”
The Plan
Zach says he’s always learned better by doing. A hands-on learning approach, he says, is the best way to truly understand something. He loves working with his hands. Handyman work, carpentry, farming — that’s where his heart is. And while many brilliant careers
began in a college classroom, Zach knew his path didn’t need to go that route. He’s been working for a local farmer for a while and has gotten a taste of what farm life and work entails. “I love the farm life, waking up early and feeding the animals, driving machinery,” he says. “I spent the summer baling hay, which is a lot of work, but it’s enjoyable; I’d rather pursue something like that than education. That path just wasn’t for me.” So he started looking at crazy ideas. “Can I get a farm? Is that an option? Is that a feasible idea?” he asked himself. And eventually he decided he was going to figure out a way to make this work. He approached his mother first. And they came up with a plan to talk to his father. “I usually would go to my mom when I was dealing with stuff at school because I always related better with her,” he said. “My mom and I would talk and kind of come up with this plan and address it in a way where we wouldn’t just throw it all at him at once. “My mom was the dreamer: ‘You can have pigs and goats and chickens!’ And my dad would come in with, ‘How are you going to pay for feed? Where are you going to put them? What’s your income going to be?’ So I kind of had these two different sides of my family, both supportive as can be, and they both helped me figure out this path I can go down.” After an unsuccessful debut bid on a place, Zach regrouped and found another place to bid on. This time it went through. And in January, he took out a mortgage to purchase four and a quarter acres near Lake Crystal. “It was an empty shell of a house and a barn, which,” MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 29
Zach bought this tractor when he bought the property. he says, pausing, “not many people thought that was a great idea. It’s interesting trying to convince someone to pay a bunch of money for a barn and a house that has no roof, nothing in it, no electrical, no plumbing, walls are hit or miss. But I’ve had — through all of my anxiety and depression and decision to leave West — nothing but support from my family. They’ve had my back the entire way. And grandparents that are super supportive. And friends that are offering to come out and help me every weekend.” Feverishly he and his family worked to get the place ready. And a lot of work had to be done by professionals. He hired out foundation, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and sheetrock work. Zach had a goal to have everything done by August, and he’s nearly there. There are a few loose ends to tie up, but for the most part, Zach’s living in the castle he’d dreamed of. “Through lots and lots of work, I finally got it to the point where it is now,” he says.
of freshly laid gravel snakes up the driveway, around the house and over to the barn. A tractor, which he uses frequently, waits outside for Zach to climb back on. In a ball cap, T-shirt and easy going smile, no freshly minted high school graduate ever looked more at ease, more at peace, more at home. There’s a line from the Coen brothers film “The Big Lebowski” that sums up Zach’s existence here: “Sometimes there’s a man, he’s the man for his time and place. He fits right in there.” That’s Zach. He just looks like he belongs here, just like any backpack-toting engineering
major looks at home on a college campus. He’s going to be fine. He’s looking for full-time work. Plans on adding a renter in a month or so. Eventually, that hobby farm will become populated with a few pigs, a cow, maybe a horse. Because that’s what Zach sees as his path. And if we’ve learned nothing else from Zach’s story, it’s that Zach is the kind of kid who knows what he wants, and gets it done.
Moving?....Call Karla and Start Packing!
The Future
For now, Zach lives in the house with his dog, Louie. A handful of chickens squawks around in a cage next to a nearby cornfield. A ribbon 30 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Consistently a Top-Producing Agent in the Greater Mankato Area Karla Van Eman, Owner/Broker ABR, CRS, GRI
507.345.4040
510 Long Street, Ste. 104, Mankato, MN www.MankatoRealEstate.com
After struggling with social anxiety issues, Zach now has a handle on both his mental health and his dreams for the future.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 31
DAY TRIP DESTINATIONS: ARTapalooza By James Figy
This September, Cedar Falls and the surrounding area are hosting a number of events for the whole family. One of the top events this month is ARTapalooza on Sept. 8.
Saturday state of mind
Cedar Falls offers weekend-level fun every day
M
ost of us work five days each week with the hope of two days that we won’t be too busy or too tired to enjoy. But there are no weekdays in Cedar Falls, Iowa, according to Linda Maughan of the Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau. “Weekends are a state of mind,” she said. “When you’re here, a bike ride and shopping become your afternoon’s agenda and the promise of a perfectly roasted cup of coffee at a local coffee shop is your alarm clock.” This September, Cedar Falls and the surrounding area are hosting a number of events for the whole family. One of the top events this month is ARTapalooza on Sept. 8. Now in its 13th year, the event invites artists from the region to display and sell their work at the outdoor 32 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
festival. “More than 50 of the region’s best artists in categories of sculpture, jewelry, painting, photography, metal and mixed media will be on hand displaying and selling their works of art,” Maughan said. ARTapalooza blocks off Main Street between 1st and 4th streets in downtown Cedar Falls from morning until afternoon. Beyond the artwork to peruse, the festival offers live music by local acts, street performers, art demonstrations and activities for children, including an “instrument zoo.” The morning of Sept. 8, the Park to Park Half Marathon will take place at George Wyth State Park in nearby Waterloo, Iowa. Participants can run the half marathon,
While there are a number of events during September, the Cedar Falls area has no shortage of things to do during the rest of the year, including the Festival of Trees and Holiday Hoopla in November, and the Maple Syrup Festival. 10K or 5K courses at 7:30 a.m., and the 1-mile and half-mile courses start at 9 a.m. However, the park boasts much more than running. “Visitors to George Wyth State Park enjoy cycling, camping, fishing, kayaking and the beach,” Maughan said. “The park is also filled with soft and paved trails through wooded areas of the 1,100-acre park. George Wyth also hosts many events throughout the year including the Iowa Games Fat Bike Race held every February.” Waterloo will also host the historic National Cattle Congress, which has been drawing dairy farmers
and enthusiasts to the area since 1910, from Sept. 13-16. On Sept. 15, visitors can participate in Fiesta: A Celebration of Latino Culture at Waterloo’s RiverLoop Amphitheatre. While there are a number of events during September, the Cedar Falls area has no shortage of things to do during the rest of the year. The Festival of Trees and Holiday Hoopla in November; the Maple Syrup Festival, Antique Spectacular and Vintage Market, and Funky JunkA-Loo in March; and My Waterloo Days, Sturgis Falls Celebration and College Hill Arts Festival in June. “The Gallagher Bluedorn
Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa also brings internationally acclaimed artists to the Cedar Valley, showcasing ensembles, Broadway shows, popular actors, comedians and musicians,” Maughan said. “The center host more than 300 performances every year in their state-of-the-art concert halls.” Above all, visitors should not overlook the food, drinks and fun in Cedar Falls’ downtown, Maughan said. The local restaurant scene includes Montage, Whiskey Road, The Brown Bottle, Tony’s La Pizzeria and Figaro Figaro, which is owned by actor and Cedar Falls native Gary Kroeger. There are several coffee shops and three breweries in walking distance. The downtown district also has multiple shops and historical sites, including the Ice House Museum. “Our historic and award-winning downtown district is also a hub of great restaurants, breweries, shopping, nightlife and live music, outdoor recreation and getaways. Visitors can grab an early morning coffee and pastry, ride the trails, stop back for some shopping and lunch and then wrap up their day dining locally and enjoying a little nightlife,” Maughan said. “Conveniently, there’s even a place downtown for folks to stay overnight, the historic Blackhawk Hotel. It’s the oldest, continuously operating hotel in the state of Iowa and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” Cedar Falls contains an abundance of things to see, so no matter what day visitors arrive, they shouldn’t be surprised to find themselves in a weekend state of mind, Maughan said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a Saturday or a Wednesday,” she said. “We know how to weekend every single day of the week.”
IF YOU GO: ARTAPALOOZA
Where: The Downtown District along Main St., Cedar Falls, IA When: Sept. 8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: Free Visit cedarfallstourism.org for more information
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 33
THEN & NOW: Younger Brothers By Bryce O. Stenzel
Why the James-Younger Gang Decided to Make It, Northfield; Instead of “Make It, Mankato”
I
t has been well established by historians that the James-Younger Gang passed through the Mankato area to and from their unsuccessful raid of the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota, on Sept. 7, 1876. Not so well known were their reasons for attempting to rob the Northfield bank in the first place. In fact, according to George Barr, a bank teller at Mankato’s First National Bank, that financial institution was intended to be the original target, rather than Northfield’s bank of the same name. In an article he wrote shortly after the incident, Barr claimed that two men, who were obviously from out of town, entered the Mankato bank on Sept. 2, 1876, and asked for change for a $20 bill. After the men left, a construction worker employed by the bank came in and notified Barr that he had seen the James and Youngers Brothers in the vicinity; he [construction worker] stated he knew them, since “he was from Missouri and [had] seen them there.” Barr later verified that the man for whom he had made change for that day was Cole Younger, whom Barr [now a state senator] visited with at the state prison in Stillwater in 1895. According to Barr’s recollections of that conversation, Cole Younger told him that the gang’s 34 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
original plan was to rob at least one of the two Mankato banks (likely the First National, since Cole Younger had already been there to case it), but they changed their minds, due to the large number of work crews, which may have prevented their safe get-away. This story was collaborated by author John Lemon, who published his work in 1876. In it, Lemon claimed that four outlaws from the James-Younger Gang stayed at the Clifton and Gates Houses in Mankato, prior to the Northfield Raid. At the time of Cole Younger’s death, the surviving outlaw further stated that one of the reasons Mankato was spared was that the gang did not want to further exacerbate the plight of local farmers who were suffering from grasshopper plagues at the time. If Younger’s story was even true, then this secondary reason, no doubt intended for public consumption, clearly added to the mythology built up surrounding the JamesYounger Gang that they were like modern-day Robin Hood and his merry band of men—only stealing from the rich to give to the poor. A man, like Cole Younger, languishing in prison and nearing the end of his life would be conscious of wanting
to repair his reputation and leave a legacy. Knowing that the exploits of the James-Younger Gang were already the stuff of legend, providing this detail would only enhance the Gang’s reputation. Whatever their reasons for bypassing Mankato, much less altruistic were the James-Younger Gang’s intentions for launching their raid against Northfield. While Mankato’s First National Bank may have been a tempting target because the Gang passed by it first on the way to Northfield, contrary to Barr’s belief, it was not the primary reason the James and Youngers came to Minnesota. From the beginning, Northfield was the target. The primary reason had much to do with settling old scores left over from the Civil War, a decade earlier. It should be remembered that both the James and Youngers had all been Southern guerilla fighters from western Missouri, during the “War Between the States.” They held the entire Union responsible (and especially the military leadership of the North) for their families’ personal suffering, as well as that of their friends.
Joint Replacement Surgery
Union Army Major General Adelbert Ames, the son-in-law of Union General Benjamin “The Beast” Butler of New Orleans, moved to Northfield in 1876 (his father, Jesse Ames, already owned a mill in Northfield), after he was forced to resign from office as a “carpetbagger” U.S. Senator and Governor of Mississippi. There was no love lost between the James-Younger Gang with either Ames or Butler. Cole Younger learned that Butler planned to deposit $75,000 in the First National Bank of Northfield; it was this information (according to Younger’s own written testimony on his application for pardon in 1897) that caused the gang to select Northfield as their target for the bank raid. After the Northfield Raid, even Adelbert Ames considered himself to be the focus of the unsuccessful bank robbery, “Yesterday reminded me of an election in Mississippi. Is it not strange that Mississippi should come up here to visit me?” Old times are not forgotten.
Important Choice, Easy Decision
For quality care, close to home, it’s OrthoEdge. The OrthoEdge Joint Replacement Program features two of the most experienced orthopaedic care providers in the area, The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital. • 3,000 successful hip, knee and other orthopaedic surgeries • 245 years of combined orthopaedic surgery experience • 1 of 13 hospitals in the nation accredited as a hip and knee replacement center of excellence Getting the care you deserve and trust, close to home, makes OrthoEdge the right choice for joint replacement surgery. Learn more at OrthoEdgeMN.com
Working for YOUR best interest! #DebbieOGetsItDone!
Recognized for Being the Best! Debbie Ogren The Key To Your Real Estate Needs
507-382-4558 Debbie Ogren - Realtor®
debbie@mankatorealestate.com
River’s Edge Hospital has been recognized as a DNV GL Healthcare certified Hip & Knee Replacement Center of Excellence. Plus, River’s Edge Hospital is top rated for patient experience!
RICKWAY CARPET 507.625.3089
1107 Cross St., North Mankato Mon.-Thurs. 9am-8pm, Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. 9am-4pm, Closed Sun. www.rickwaycarpet.net
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 35
Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency Check out or New Panel Designs and Colors 1125 Cross St., North Mankato, MN Toll Free 1-800-645-3667 Phone 507-625-7110
1
#
C21 AGENT
IN THE
STATE OF
MINNESOTA
BONNIE KRUGER
507-327-0633
BONNIE@C21ATWOOD.COM
36 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
A BENEFIT FOR TRCA
T
Enjoy! — Robb Murray, Associate Editor, Mankato Magazine
southern mn style
he scene: 1979, cafeteria, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School, lunch time. We’re trying to goof off as we open our lunch boxes and brown bags, but we can’t because, as usual, Sister Geraldine, the school principal who more than once used a paddle on us students (not me, though, I was a good boy and never got caught, except for that one time when I sold fireworks in school, but I digress) was standing there looking straight down the middle of the room, and because she had a glass eye (which one was the glass one, we never bothered to confirm, and her two eyes seldom pointed in the same direction) we couldn’t tell where she was looking. So we sat there, behaving like good boys and girls, when I opened up my brown bag to find … yet another peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sigh … “C’mon, Mom,” I thought to myself. “You’re better than this!” I ate it. But when I got home, I told my mom I threw it in the garbage because I didn’t want to eat another peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (I know — I probably could have handled that better.) She got unusually upset with me, reminding me how wasteful it was and how I was being a baby for not wanting to eat the lunch she made and that, if I hated it so much, I was more than welcomed to make that lunch myself. That, obviously, didn’t happen. So from that day forward, I ate every PB&J with a sense of gratefulness, and never again questioned the love and energy that went into that meal. Still … I stand by the spirit of my feelings. Even though I’d bungled communication of the message, the message remained a valid one: After a few years of the same lunch, a guy wants a little variety. And that’s the message of our food feature this month. As kids head back to school, we give moms and dads a little inspiration for making lunch time the best time. We know you’ll come away with tons of ideas on putting pizazz back into that brown bag.
food, drink & dine
PB&J upgrade?
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 37
Food
food
By Amanda Dyslin
southern mn style
MOVE OVER
PB&J Getting creative with your kids’ bagged lunch doesn’t have to be time consuming
I
t’s 7 a.m., and you’ve tried to wake up one kid twice already. The other kid hasn’t cracked the code on picking out a shirt and pants that match — a problem that is taking a back seat at the moment to the more pressing concern: He’s, for some reason, trying to stick his head through the arm hole of his T-shirt. Meanwhile, you realize you have a run in your pantyhose as you’re scrambling those eggs and toasting that bread and pouring that juice and yelling up the stairs AGAIN, “Get up! It’s time! I can’t be late to work today!” And then, when they’re both finally dressed and downstairs, and they’re both eating those eggs and drinking that juice, they hit you with: “Can you make us
lunch today? It’s mystery meat day at school. Please?” It’s the “Please?” in that sweet-little-tone-they-only-usewhen-they-want-something that does it. “OK,” you say with a sigh. And you open up the fridge to see what you can put together quickly. This is why so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches get slapped together and shoved into lunch boxes every day. Nobody has the time to come up with anything more creative during these hectic school mornings! But there actually ARE easy alternatives to the old standby of a sandwich, chips and juice box. For proof, we went to area moms for creative ideas.
Mexican Sushi
Have leftover Mexican in the fridge? Or maybe just some loose ingredients in the cupboard? Kim Ruby, mom of five, has a perfect, superfast, Mexican-inspired lunch for the kiddos. “Mexican Sushi”: Stir cumin and lime juice into refried beans and spread onto a flour or corn tortilla. Sprinkle it with cheese, roll it up and slice it. You can pack salsa for dipping. (You can get creative with Ruby’s recipe and add rice, tomatoes, avocado or whatever veggies you like.) As a healthy side, Ruby suggests a fruit salad: Slice bananas and mix in pineapple chunks and chopped walnuts. “Drizzle with a little agave nectar, and you’re good to go,” Ruby said. “The pineapple juice helps keep the bananas from turning brown, too.” 38 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Stick It, Shape It
Sometimes shaking things up for your kids just has to involve repackaging some favorites, said mommy of three Regina Mader. That can mean skewering stuff, for example. Cut up meat and cheese and make kabobs for lunch. Do the same with their favorite fruits or
veggies as the side dish. Or go crazy and mix all of the above on a skewer together. “Seriously, kabobs are so fun for kids,” she said. Letting kids have ownership over their meals also can help get them excited about eating the same ol’, same ol’.
“If your kiddo likes to be the ‘decision maker’ like my oldest, I take a plain, old sandwich and let her decide if she would like it cut into two pieces or four, crust or no crust, or which cookie cutter shape (heart, circle or star) she wants,” she said. “It’s an easy way to let her feel like she decided what to have for lunch all on her own.”
Wraps Rule
Substituting a tortilla for the bread is a simple solution to giving your kids something that is A) easy to make, B) more exciting to eat if they’re sick of sandwiches, and C) not so unusual that picky eaters will turn up their noses. Here’s a recipe from Mom Marie Wood, coined “The Most Perfect Wrap”: n Medium size tortilla n Turkey lunch meat n Shredded cheddar n Ranch dressing n Lettuce n Shredded carrots “After I wrap it, I roll it up tightly in Saran wrap so that it all stays together. Very basic. Ranch can be subbed with guacamole or hummus,” she said. MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 39
Happy Hour & Beer
HAPPY HOUR By The Washington Post
How to make better bloody marys at home A
southern mn style
bloody mary is the savory tooth’s best friend: It’s rich with tomato juice, spicy and complex from the seasonings, and has a pleasant, boozy kick. And making your own - starting with a stellar mix - is a fun way to experiment with the random spices, hot sauces and liquors you’ve already got in your kitchen. Make a large-ish batch of the mix, store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, then invite a few friends over to sample the cocktail-making prowess that you’ve suddenly mastered. (You can let them handle their own garnishes - customization is fun!) Take your next batch of bloody marys beyond the bottled mix with these handy tips: First, consider the juice No amount of seasonings, alcohol or other mix-ins can cover up a juice that you don’t like the taste of, so make sure to use something that you enjoy from the get-go. For Gina Chersevani, mixtress and owner of Buffalo & Bergen in Washington’s Union Market, that means fresh tomato juice. Look for it in the refrigerated-juice section of the grocery store or make your own. (More on that below.) If you can’t find fresh or simply prefer the shelf-stable type, it’ll do the job, too. Andrea Tateosian, general manager at the Passenger in Washington, notes that juices such as V8 and other pasteurized brands have some flavorings already added that you can emphasize or play down. Bottled juices also contain salt - sometimes a lot - so you may not need to add as much. Making your own tomato juice is a nice way to go a little “extra,” Chersevani says. Plus, sometimes fresh store-bought juice just isn’t available (my recent search turned up none!). If you’ve got a juicer, you can use that. But I prefer the extra body that comes from blending chunks of ripe tomatoes and then
straining the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Use the back of a large spoon to push as much liquid through as possible, then discard the pulpy solids, or use them for something else if you’re particularly enterprising. Next, seasonings Horseradish, salt, pepper and celery seed are classic additions. Vinegar and Worcestershire sauce add flavor and intensify the tomato. As a basic formula, Chersevani suggests using two tablespoons of prepared horseradish (refrigerated, not shelf-stable), one teaspoon of a spice (such as a hot pepper), one teaspoon salt, one teaspoon celery seed and one teaspoon vinegar (sherry or champagne) for every four cups of tomato juice. If you’re using Worcestershire sauce, use two tablespoons and omit the vinegar. But there’s plenty of room to go beyond basic: Bottled clam juice, pickle juice, hot sauce, wasabi, funkier vinegars, Old Bay, za’atar and that random spice blend that your friend gave you are all fair game. Toasting whole spices - such as cumin, caraway and coriander seed - before grinding can lend deeper notes, too. Start by adding small amounts and tasting as you go. Also pay attention to salty addins and dial back the added salt as needed. A few more seasoning tricks, from Tateosian: Use a spice grinder, blender or mortar and pestle to pulverize the spices - especially with coarse spices, such as black pepper and chile flakes. You want to be able to sip your drink, not sift through grit that gets stuck in your teeth. If you use horseradish, it’s wise to blend it with a little tomato juice before adding it to your mix. That way your drink will be just a little pulpy (ideal!) rather than chewy (gross!). Store your mix in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve, so it’s
40 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
nice and cold. When you’re ready to drink - and only then! not before! - squeeze a little fresh lemon or lime juice into your mix; tomatoes are acidic, yes, but citrus is key in brightening your beverage and tying all the flavors together. The alcohol Vodka is classic and perfect, but the sky is the limit. True story: Tateosian once had a friend request bourbon, which, as it turns out, plays very well in a bloody mary. Also try mezcal, tequila, gin or aquavit, for starters. The garnishes “Go crazy with garnishes,” Chersevani says. Pickle spears, dilled green beans, cherry peppers and pickled daikon are lovely. Fresh produce is nice, too: Try cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices and, of course, the traditional and oh-socrunchy celery stick. Olives, caper berries, crispy bacon, thick cubes of smoked salmon and even freshly shucked oysters are fun. Roam the farmers market for inspiration, stroll down the grocery store aisles and rummage through the salad bar. The bloody mary world is your oyster. Now that you’ve got the basics down, here are pairing suggestions to get your mixes flowing: n Vodka + Old Bay + clam juice + sherry vinegar
n Tomato-infused vodka + watermelon + basil + balsamic vinegar n Mezcal + red bell pepper + jalapeño + white wine vinegar n Tequila + poblano pepper + tomatillo + lime juice n Aquavit + cucumber + caraway + red-wine vinegar n Gin + green bell pepper + dill + pickle juice
BEER
By Bert Mattson
Freshening appetites in September T
he breeze of September signals a shift in appetites. It moves mosquitos along. Absent the sticky sheen of smelly sprays, porches and campsites become more alluring. Evenings come cool enough that the heat of a fire isn’t oppressive. Garage televisions tune to football. That favorite threadbare flannel becomes just suitable for outdoor concerts again. The palate too, can carry a little extra weight. Contemplating something roasty, I cast my memory back to a midwinter beer festival. Ever slowly attuned to trends, the observation came crashing in that nary a sample of porter managed to avoid peanut butter or chocolate being plopped in. I recall someone’s wry reference to those eighties era “you got chocolate in my peanut butter” candy commercials. We were challenged to find a porter that hadn’t been handled so. In fairness, the results are hazy at this time. Not to polemicize against chocolate peanut butter porter. If momentarily abused, those have a place in the scheme of things (at least I accept that they do). I might even have ranked among the early advocates. Though, that tasting experience was something like too many houses handing out the same full-sized candy bar on Halloween. It’s still too soon to go there. But wood-smoke by the fire pit haunts the appetite; a warm afternoon, rolling into a balmy evening, calls for something tart; and cherries in the brew piques nostalgia. An old college pal, who presided over the Home Brewers Association, put me on to both porter and kriek. So I eagerly await the next release in Brewery Ommegang’s collaborative Game of Thrones inspired series.
Mother of Dragons is a blend of kriek ale and smoked porter. By Belgian tradition, kriek is made by fermenting lambic — a typically acidic brew spontaneously fermented with wild yeast — with sour cherries. Generally the process yields a dry beer, sour, with fruit on the finish but with little perceived residual sweetness (this one is alleged to exhibit a little) and a garnet color. By virtue of the porter, there should be some chocolate quality entering the equation, though not in adjunct form. Perfect for sipping around the fire while mercilessly slaying the precious few remaining insolent pests. The wildling in me would feel free to try it with a deeply toasted, dark chocolate S’more. The big, regal bottle makes for fine presentation on the table where I’d put it with braised short rib ragu on pappardelle pasta … braised boar if I could procure it. This Mother is slated to land sometime late September. A reminder: as summer fades into fall, crop seasonality comes into play. While hop harvest is in stride, brewers will be turning out beers with short shelf lives crafted with freshly harvested hops. Wet hop or fresh hop beers may be made with dried or wet hops-which degrade outside 24 hours. It’s a once-ayear opportunity. Brau Brothers Brewing’s Hundred Yard Dash and Mankato Brewery’s Fresh Hopped are two fine regional examples released in the tap room and in bottles. Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St. Paul. He is the manager of the iconic Mickey’s Diner. bertsbackburner.com
Cinco de Mayo Authentic Thursday, May 5 Mexican Food andMother’s Amazing Day Drinks Check May Our 8 Sunday,
Daily Specials! Check Our Daily Specials! 1404 MADISON MADISONAVE., 1404 AVE., MANKATO 507.344.0607 | laterrazamankato.com 507.344.0607|laterrazamankato.com Open: 11–10 Open:Monday–Thursday Monday-Thursday11-10; Friday 11–10:30; Sunday 11–9 Friday&&Saturday Saturday11-10:30; Sunday11-9 1235-
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 41
THAT’S LIFE By Nell Musolf
My very short life as a call (center) girl “I
told them ‘none of that call center stuff,’” my friend, Fran, said when she was looking for a job a while back. “I’m not doing that no matter how much it pays.”
I nodded and agreed that working at a call center wasn’t my idea of paradise either but I obviously didn’t retain Fran’s words of wisdom because a few months later when I found myself looking for a job and one popped up at, 42 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
yes, a call center, I applied. Since my work background had absolutely no call center experience that the call center would decide to hire me was right up there in the shock department with the sleepover where a pal told me where babies came from. I applied because I needed a job but I never really thought I’d be hired. I also applied because in the back of my mind I thought how hard could a call center job be? Wasn’t that what Ernestine used to do on “Laugh In”? Surely I, a somewhat competent person, could answer a phone and say whatever version of “One ringy dingy, two ringy dingy” that was required. T h a t ’s w h a t I t h o u g h t , anyway. “Describe your ideal job,” the woman interviewing me requested. Thinking quickly, I tried to figure out the perfect answer. Let’s see, upon entering the call center I saw what seemed like a hundred women taking calls with one or two poking their heads over the grey fabric walls of their cubicles to ask a neighbor a question. “My ideal job would be to work by myself but also being part of a team,” I said. I wasn’t lying: that would be my ideal job but I neglected to add that the working by myself part would be working alone in an isolated beachfront mansion and the helping my teammates would be primarily via emails or texting. It isn’t that I’m not a team player, but I’m the kind of team player who prefers to stay in the locker room while everyone else is running around on the field scoring touchdown and getting sunburned. My potential boss nodded approvingly telling me I’d hit the right balance. Within two weeks I was officially
working at a call center. At first it wasn’t too bad since I was being trained and wasn’t required to actually talk to living, breathing customers but the honeymoon ended way too soon and before I could get my headset to really fit comfortably I was suddenly answering telephone calls on my own and I my premonition was right on the money. I wasn’t very good at it. “You’re very slow,” I was regularly told by customers. “Can’t you go any faster?” The answer to that question was a resounding NO. I was going as fast as I could and I didn’t see any increases in my speed in the near future. Throughout my brief tenure as a call center girl I learned several key things about myself including: 1) I’m good at empathizing with people who are upset, nervous and ready to fly off the handle since that was how I felt myself 99 percent of the time while taking phone calls. Rude calls never bothered me because I understood the callers weren’t mad at me. They were mad at the large entity they were trying to reach but couldn’t because they had to talk to me instead of the entity’s CEO. 2) I crack woefully under pressure when trying to figure out the answers to questions I don’t know. Things that seemed like common sense to my fellow call center co-workers seemed impossibly intricate and arcane to me. And, finally, 3) call center personnel, no matter how much they’re being paid, aren’t paid enough. I eventually got a tiny bit better at unraveling the mysteries of the call center and fairly adept at directing calls where they needed to go but I never ever felt truly relaxed about the whole process. Every time the phone rang—and it rang pretty constantly—it was like a small bomb was being detonated right there in my cubicle. “I don’t think this is the job for me,” I told Fran the Wise one day over Diet Cokes. “I just don’t seem to have the right kind of brain to handle working at a call center.” Fran smirked slightly but to her everlasting credit, she didn’t say “I told you so.”
Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato. She blogs at: nellmusolf.com
Make a statement with your building with architectural metals
St. Peter High School
www.schwickerts.com
507-387-3101 I 330 Poplar St. I Mankato, MN
151 ST. ANDREWS CT MANKATO 124 E. WALNUT ST MANKATO 101 PAULE WAY MANKATO 110 W DUKES STMANKATO 111 STAR ST MANKATO 124 E WALNUT ST MANKATO 1400 MADISON AVE MANKATO 1415 FIRST AVE MANKATO 1600 MADISON AVE MANKATO 1961 PREMIER DR MANKATO 209 S SECOND ST MANKATO 220 E MAIN ST MANKATO 304 LUNDIN BLVD MANKATO 480 INDUSTRIAL RD MANKATO 500 INDUSTRIAL RD MANKATO 501 HOLLY LN MANKATO 54945 - 210TH LN MANKATO 600 S RIVERFRONT D MANKATO 800-826 S FRONT ST MANKATO 1754 COMMERCE DR NORTH MANKATO 406 BELGRADE AVE NORTH MANKATO 1123 S. MINNESOTA AVE ST. PETER 111 N. STATE ST WASECA 299 JOHNSON AVE SW WASECA 318 BROADWAY ST CLEVELAND 312 BROADWAY ST CLEVELAND 105 SOUTH STATE ST FAIRMONT 709 SECOND ST NORTH LE SUEUR 436 LYD BLVD MANKATO 1820 WILLOW ST MANKATO 7 HAEFNER DR MANKATO 1521 TULLAMORE ST MANKATO 828-832 N. SECOND ST MANKATO 1710-1712 JAMES DR NORTH MANKATO 1745 COMMERCE DR NORTH MANKATO SUNRISE DRIVE & BROADWAY ST. PETER MINNESOTA AVE & RITT ST ST. PETER 2300 BROWN AVE WASECA 151 ST. ANDREWS CT MANKATO 124 E. WALNUT ST MANKATO 101 PAULEY WAY MANKATO 110 W DUKES STMANKATO 111 STAR ST MANKATO 124 E. WALNUT ST MANKATO 1400 MADISON AVE MANKATO 1415 FIRST AVE MANKATO 1600 MADISON AVE MANKATO 1961 PREMIER DR MANKATO 209 S SECOND STMANKATO 220 E MAIN ST MANKATO 304 LUNDIN BLVD MANKATO 480 INDUSTRIAL RD MANKATO 500 INDUSTRIAL RD MANKATO 501 HOLLY LN MANKATO 54945 210TH LN MANKATO 600 S RIVERFRONT DR MANKATO 800-826 S FRONT ST MANKATO 1754 COMMERCE DR NORTH MANKATO 406 BELGRADE AVE NORTH MANKATO 1123 S. MINNESOTA AVE ST. PETER 111 N. STATE ST WASECA 299 JOHNSON AVE SW WASECA 318 BROADWAY ST CLEVELAND 312 BROADWAY ST CLEVELAND 105 SOUTH STATE ST FAIRMONT 709 SECOND ST NORTH LE SUEUR 436 LYD BLVD MANKATO 1820 WILLOW ST MANKATO 7 HAEFNER DR MANKATO 1521 TULLAMORE ST MANKATO 828832 N. SECOND ST MANKATO 1710-1712 JAMES DR NORTH MANKATO 1745 COMMERCE DR NORTH MANKATO SUNRISE DRIVE & BROADWAY ST. PETE MINNESOTA AVE & RITT ST ST. PETER 2300 BROWN AVE WASECA 151 ST. ANDREWS CT MANKATO 124 E. WALNUT ST MANKATO 101 PAULEY WAY MANKATO 110 W DUKES STMANKATO 111 STAR ST MANKATO 124 E. WALNUT ST MANKATO 1400 MADISON AVE MANKATO 1415 FIRST AVE MANKATO 1600 MADISON AVE MANKATO 1961 PREMIER DR MANKATO 209 S SECOND ST MANKATO 220 E MAIN ST MANKATO 304 LUNDIN BLVD MANKATO 480 INDUSTRIAL RD MANKATO 500 INDUSTRIAL RD MANKATO 501 HOLLY LN MANKATO 54945 - 210TH LN MANKATO 600 S RIVERFRONT D
3+ MILLION in square feet $20+ MILLION of property sold/leased 150 LISTINGS and counting... LIST WITH THE
PROFESSIONALS
507-625-4715 CBCFISHERGROUP.COM
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 43
GARDEN CHAT By Jean Lundquist
Yes, you can rescue a garden from weeds W
ell, it’s happened again. I’ve been proven wrong. I have always said if you let your garden get away from you (in weed growth), it’s done for. It’s a goner. Better luck next year! Because of all the June rain, the weeds just went wild. Not only in my garden, but in many gardens I pass by. I see tomato plants huddling amongst weeds. I see rows of carrots and beets that are no more – just rows of weeds. That’s what I saw in my garden, too. “But what if,” I wondered, “I could get in there and make those weeds go away?” I went out on my hands and knees with a hand rake and started digging up weeds by the roots, chucking them into a 5-gallon bucket. I was feeding all the mosquitoes hiding in those damp, lush weeds. But did I falter? Did I fail? Yes. I could see the beans and some of the pepper plants, 44 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
but there was no fruit on anything. Those plants were just hanging on to life by the skin of their teeth, it seemed, fighting off the crush of weeds. I retreated into the air-conditioned house and gave the situation some thought. I had several square feet of bare ground in the garden, but there were several weedchoked square feet to go. Then, I looked at my computer. Craigslist to the rescue once again! It was on Craigslist I found my fencing friend Sam, and it was on Craigslist I found my weeding friend Marie. She must have smelled my desperation, because she demanded twice the money I had offered in the ad, but she promised my garden would be clean when she finished. Marie was a going machine! I had estimated it would take four hours to complete, and it took her just over that. But she never stopped, never complained, didn’t offer to come back later to finish, she worked until the job was done. In the end, I paid her not only what she
asked for, but I gave her a pretty good monetary tip, plus a cucumber she uncovered. Because of Marie, all my peppers are bearing fruit, the bean crop has been good, the cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cucumbers have been abundant. Plus, she saved a couple of beets and carrots for me in the process. So yes, I was wrong. You CAN get your garden back from weeds with Youdeserve deserveaaMedicare Medicareplan planthat that the proper amount of dedication and You elbow grease. I am SO glad I was Matt Barnes meetsyour yourneeds. needs.I Ican canhelp. help.As As wrong! 1704 N. Riverfront Dr., meets I planted two plots of green beans Suite 102 independentagent, agent,I Ican cananswer answer ananindependent this year, and both are varieties I Mankato, MN 56001 have never grown before. Both are questionsand andhelp helpyou youfind findthe the 507-388-2968 questions varieties I will never grow again. TTY 711 rightMedicare Medicarecoverage. coverage. I grew Strike Green Beans because barnesmatthew@yahoo.com right they are early and heavy yielding. They were the Vermont Bean Seed Company’s Green Bean of the Year in 2008, so I gave them a try. They BlueCross Crossoffers offersCost Costand andPDP PDPplans planswith withMedicare Medicarecontracts. contracts.Enrollment Enrollment Blue are early. They are heavy yielding. in these plans depends on contract renewal. Plans are available to residents these plans depends on contract renewal. Plans are available to residents And, they are stringy, with very inof the service area. You can also call Blue Cross for plan information or to enroll. tough strings that it’s hard to chew of the service area. You can also call Blue Cross for plan information or to enroll. Call 1-877-662-2583, TTY users call 711, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Central Time daily. past. We actually had to spit out Call 1-877-662-2583, TTY users call 711, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Central Time daily. the strings! OK for taste, but those H2461_080516_AA05CMS CMSAccepted Accepted8/14/2016 8/14/2016 strings … However, they are open H2461_080516_AA05 S5743_080816_B05_MN CMS Accepted 08/14/2016 pollinated, so if you really like them S5743_080816_B05_MN CMS Accepted 08/14/2016 ® Authorized independent agent/agency for Blue Cross and Blue Shield ® of Minnesota and Blue Plus®, and don’t mind strings, you can save Authorized independent agent/agency for Blue Cross® and Blue Shield ® of Minnesota and Blue Plus®, nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. the seeds for next year. nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. I also grew Masai green beans. I’ve not grown a French Fillet Bean[Ad: AD505 (5.94 x 5.12)] [Before use, submit this ad to Blue Cross [Before use, submit this ad to Blue Cross [Ad: AD505 (5.94 x 5.12)] Agency Relations for approval. Send it by before, and didn’t know what to Agency for approval. Send it by email Relations to: agency.relations@bluecrossmn.com] expect. Masai beans are very sweet, email to: agency.relations@bluecrossmn.com] very tender, very tasty – as long as you pick them when they are no bigger than the size of a pencil. When you think about it, that’s not very big. So it’s a lot of work to pick them if they are your main bean crop, with not a lot of produce to show for your efforts. I’m glad I grew them, but they are not on the list for next year, though they are open-pollinated also, so the seeds can be saved. The plants in my grow bags have done well. I put them behind the shed, so I don’t have to see the way Exceeding expectations & gaining trust the grass grows up messy alongside them. Out of sight, out of mind, you through exceptional value and performance! know.
Medicareplans plans Medicare fit your your life life toto fit
Heating & Cooling
Building Automation
Security
TOTAL
BUILDING CONTROL SOLUTIONS
Partners of SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC®
Jean Lundquist is a Master Gardener who lives near Good Thunder. gardenchatkato@gmail.com
Mankato: 507-345-4828 | Rochester: 507-289-4874
www.paape.com
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 45
YOUR STYLE By Ann Rosenquist Fee
® Kevlar ! Not just for cops & Cowboy Bob anymore
D
evoted readers of my style missives will recall discoveries of fashion potential in some weird, bulky places. Like, skirts made out of snowmobilesuit-type material (January 2018). Like, how to make a chic sleek exit in a Coeio Infinity Burial Suit (May 2016). In that vein, this month we take a close — and I mean close — look at the possibilities of Kevlar®. Not that any store in town sells it. I checked, and they don’t. Not garments, not the raw material, which is a heatresistant synthetic fiber known as an aramid (Kevlar® is one brand-name version, developed in 1965 by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont). But there are plenty of online sources for police-type vests and jackets, and at least one shop in Minneapolis if you want to buy locally, and I mean, however you acquire it, who doesn’t want to welcome fall with a unique statement piece? With a fresh new wearable 46 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
that forces good posture and makes you feel invincible or at least impenetrable? Despite the lack of local sellers, I found some local wearers to talk about the pros and cons. Mankato Department of Public Safety Patrol Officers Tiffany Blaschko and Stephanie Wilkins showed me some regulation vests, interior and exterior versions. I had totally planned on asking to try one on, but that made no sense once they explained that each $1,000-ish piece is custom-made to fit without gaps, sitting or standing, and molds to the body over time. The materials that make that happen also make the vests deteriorate, to a degree. Vests are considered “expired” after five years, and the Department funds a replacement incorporating whatever technology is current at the time. The exterior version looks “more tactical,” as they
described it, which is true, you can’t look at a confident woman in a fitted exterior armor-like vest and not believe that they are damn well in charge. The interior version also kind of makes its presence known beneath the uniform shirt (bold blue fabric, badge, name tag, collar brass, patches, do you see how much fun I had learning these terms and why I am thinking we all need to give this look a try), so, either way, part of the value is in the visuals. The vests are also reportedly uncomfortable, which is one reason we’re not all running around wearing them already. As for functionality, vests have different ratings relative to how they protect the wearer from your basic handgun ammunition. For the record, none of them will stop a rifle round, and most won’t stop a knife except maybe right at the (optional) metal or ceramic plate in the center front and/or back. “I certainly never feel invincible,” Officer Blaschko said. But, prepared? More ready than the rest of us, right now, to serve and protect a fellow human? Yep. In civilian ranks, local street style icon Bobby Drengler has three spectacularly wearable blazers — brown, black, gray — custommade by formerly-of-Minneapolis design sensation Scott James, from a substance fabricated to behave like Kevlar. Not that Cowboy Bob finds or expects to find himself in firearms-type situations; he just likes James’ work, loves the feel of the particular fabric, and digs the idea of feeling just a little more impactresistant than the next guy, should a situation arise. In an ideal style world, what we’d have next is a hybrid of the two: Impact-resistant vests, namely for women because I am one, customized to look as great as Drengler’s blazers, which you can see during his cameo
Tiffany Blaschko and Stephanie Wilkins in Stacy K’s recently released video “Feels Good.” He’s kind of actually dancing in it, and making gun hands. You can’t not want to look like that. I want to look like that. But I want it with a big shiny scoop of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman on top, so what I’m proposing is this: Mankato Public Safety Department, take the identification tags off your expired vests, and put them out on the street in a box marked “free.” Otherwise, as I understand, they’re just sitting around in officers’ closets. Maybe “free and we have no liability.” That should do it.
1) Someone with sewing skills, please go take the vests and add stuff to them. I’d prefer mine with copper embellishments, or raw silk strips, and maybe a skirt made out of mosquito netting. An all-occasion kind of thing. 2) Distribute. Wear. Wear with good posture, with flair, with a sense of readiness, with a new-normal sense of style. Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye. She blogs at annrosenquistfee.com.
Unique Always
Four Time National Award Winners 20765 Foley Rd., Mankato, MN | 507.387.2434 | 507.726.2411
420 N. Minnesota, St. Peter, MN 507-934-5655 stonesthrowgallery.org MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 47
NIGHT MOVES — Thursday NIght Drinking Club: Video Game Edition By Diana Rojo-Garcia
“FuzzTalkRadio’s “ Thursday NIght Drinking Club: Video Game Edition takes place monthly at New Bohemia.
Hey gamers …
WANNA PLAY? Video game night at New Bohemia brings like-minded strangers together
“H
ey, do you want to play Mario Kart with us?” Well, of course I do. Justin Fasnaucht, also known as “Fuzzy,” sits on the couch next to Kate Willaert, a semi-regular attendee to FuzzTalkRadio’s “Thursday Night Drinking Club: Video Game Edition” at New Bohemia. Fuzzy hands both my husband and me a Nintendo Switch controller, one of the many video game consoles available to play. First things first: pick your character. I chose a turtle-looking guy, not sure if it was Bowser. Then, I picked my car. (For the uninitiated, Mario 48 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Kart is one of the most popular “racing” games ever invented. Animated characters race around fantastical, gravity- and sanity-defying tracks in a feverish attempt to reach the finish line first. It’s a bonafide blast.) I’ll be honest, I’ve only played Mario Kart a handful of times so I just chose the quirkiest or cutest thing I could. I’d be lying if I knew the exact thing I picked. And because of my vanity in my choices, I lost. All. Three. Rounds. “Ahh, that’s OK, I only got in 10th place, too,” Fuzzy consoled me as my husband playfully snickered at
Gamers of all skill levels are welcome here, though it’s less about the games and more about the good times. my demise. It wasn’t going to be the last time I lost throughout the night, either.
New Bohemia, just, you know, not at home. The way New Bohemia has been set up makes it feel like home, just with a few strangers that eventually become friends by the end of the night.
nnn nnn Fuzzy’s video game night at New Bohemia has been going strong for a little over a year. Fuzzy arrives at 6 p.m. waiting for anyone to come up to either strike up a conversation or just be the extra player at Mario Kart. He’s fully equipped with the Nintendo Switch that allows users to play online with other users on their favorite Nintendo games, such as Mario Kart. The Switch is typically set up on the biggest main screen located in the back end near the bathrooms. Fuzzy also brings along two Raspberry Pis that have what seems like an endless amount of vintage arcade games. These two are located right behind the sofa where people get comfortable to play the Nintendo Switch. There’s one regular, Bob Pavlenko, who brings in his own systems. Sometimes it’s a Nintendo or his Playstations. But the variety of entertaining games to choose from is only just a small part of Fuzzy’s video game night. There’s something great about playing video games and drinking a couple of beers with friends. It might be the lack of judgment that takes over after a couple of brewskis that makes it more enjoyable, but typically, it’s the display of comraderie between a few friends playing. That’s basically what Fuzzy’s trying to accomplish at
Kate Willaert shares her birthday with the Nintendo Entertainment System, she said. “So whenever I see that Nintendo is ‘X’-years old, I say thanks!” Willaert is an avid gamer which is part of the reason she likes to head over to “New Bo” on Thursday nights at least once a month for the last year. However, that’s just part of the experience. “I like to play video games with people who like to play video games,” she said. She adds that it’s nonjudgmental atmosphere. For some, it’d give them an opportunity to play games and drinks, but by no means is that a requirement. “I guess if you like video games and alcohol you should come down,” she said. “I don’t drink, but I still like to come down and play with people.” nnn Seven o’clock. The night’s still pretty slow. A few people lingered curiously around the video games. But, it was only 7 p.m. and Fuzzy had warned me that most gamers didn’t start to show up until later in the night. And 7 p.m. is still early for bar-goers. Most people don’t start trotting their way downtown until after 9 p.m. Fuzzy adds that most video-gamers MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 49
attend when the time gets closer to open mic night that takes place at Red Rocks. He also says that, although it’s slower toward early evening, he still shows up at 6 p.m. There are some stragglers here and there, and at times he’ll pick up a controller to play with them. Other times, he just sits down to talk with those who’d shown interest in the game night. Or if there are regulars, he’s there to punch their official video game night card. After the card is completed, they can get a free drink. However, since there wasn’t much action going on in the video game front, we situated ourselves on the patio for a couple hours and just talked. Drank some beer. Talked some more. nnn If you show up early, it’s an opportune time to get happy hour prices. From 3-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. you can get $3 select pints or $3 well drinks. There’s also a pretty sweet deal if you’re hungry called the “Surly Combo” for $10 where you get a choice of a Surly Beer Brat or Hell Fire with fries AND a choice between a Surly Hell or New Bo Lager. For beer lovers, you should know that there’s more than 30 beers on tap. And those who are beer lovers and indecisive, ask your bartender. I’m one of those people. “Let me get uh … I don’t know, what do you suggest?” I ask. My bartender, fully decked out in ink and vibrant pink hair, asked “What was the last beer you had, hon?” 50 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
It was a Bent Paddler Kanu. She started to suggest a specially curated list of beers based off the last beverage I had, including a fruity beer, Golden Road Tart Mango Cart. After sampling, that beer had won me over. With my mango beer in hand, I sat down with Fuzzy, my husband and just talked until others started to show up. Ranging from coding computer programs to Fuzzy’s new kittens (Ghostface Killah and Raekwon) to the evolution of Mankato’s downtown area to ultimately realizing that we all worked at the same call center. Conversation is the main component of Fuzzy’s drinking club. He’s passionate about bringing people from different backgrounds together in one space. He’s accomplished that. Just with video games, too. nnn “Where’d Sam go?” Shane asked, looking around the establishment for his Mario Kart partner. Shane Adams, and a fellow that went just by “Shaggy,” regulars at the video game night and Fuzzy’s friends, were down a man for the game. “I think he’s in the bathroom,” Shaggy suggested. “And this is why we don’t have competitions,” Fuzzy laughed. Taking a sip from another pint of the mango beer, Shane turned to me and asked if I wanted to play. Well, of course I do.
COMING ATTRACTIONS: SEPTEMBER 1 Chris Brooks and the 22 The Mankato Beer Run Silver City Boys 8 p.m. — The Mill — 310 Second Ave. S.W. — Waseca — 507-461-1434.
5k and .05k, 10 a.m. — Mankato Brewery — 1119 Center St. — North Mankato — $50 (5k), $45 (.05k); race day registration: $55 (5k), $50 (.05k)- if space is available — 414events.com/mankatobeerrun.
22
The Faith Album Release Party Piano Concert 5 p.m. — Arts Center of Saint Peter — 315 S. Minnesota Ave. — St. Peter — $35, VIP event is $15 — warriorjammin@gmail.com.
27-29
Mankato Pridefest 2018 12-5 p.m.— Riverfront Park — Mankato — free and open to public — — more activities, locations and times can be found at scmnpride.org
MSU Presents: “The Music Man,” 7:30 p.m. — Ted Paul Theatre of the Earley Center for Performing Arts — 499 Birchwood St. — Mankato — $22 regular, $19 discounted (over 65, under 16 and groups of 15 or more) and $15 for current MSU students — mnsu.edu/theatre.
8-9
29
7-8
Rock Bend Folk Festival 12 p.m. — Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave. — St. Peter — free — rockbend.org.
12-14
MSU Presents: “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” 7:30 p.m., special midnight matinee on Friday — Ted Paul Theatre of the Earley Center for Performing Arts — 499 Birchwood St. — Mankato — $13 regular; $12 for seniors ages 65 and older, children under 16 and groups of 15 or more; and $11 for MSU students — mnsu.edu/theatre.
15
MoonFest 2018 11:45 a.m. — The Blue Moon Bar and Grill — 300 S. Webster St. — Kasota — $15 presale, $20 at the gate; Kids under 6, free admission; Kids 13 or under, special pricing at gate — modestmusic.ticketspice.com/moonfest.
What’s Up? Presents: The 4ontheFloor, The Shackletons and Solar, 8:30 p.m. — What’s Up? Lounge — 701 N. Riverfront Drive — Mankato — $10 cover — 21+ show — whatsuplounge.com.
29
C O N F E R E N C E
OCTOBER 10 & 11 9 AM - 2 PM SCC CONFERENCE CENTER 1920 LEE BOULEVARD NORTH MANKATO Keynote speakers and breakout sessions. FREE and open to the public.
ETHNIC MEAL BUFFET SCC CROSSROADS CAFE 11 AM - 1 PM | $8.00 BOTH DAYS
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES 1 PM BOTH DAYS
MSU’s Sesquicentennial Homecoming Parade 10 a.m. — downtown Mankato, begins on South Front Street — mnsu.edu/homecoming/parade.
30
Running For Rescues 5K, 8 a.m. — North Mankato — $39 — runningforrescues5k.com.
16
Brahmsfest 3 p.m. — Martin Luther College, Chapel of the Christ — 1995 Luther Court — New Ulm — General admission $13.00, student admission with ID $5.00 — summitavenuemusic.com.
MORE INFORMATION southcentral.edu/global
21
Starving Artist at Chesley 7 p.m. — Chesley Skate Park — 161 Jaycee Court — Mankato — $100 VIP ticket, $60 general admission — twinriversarts.org/starving-artist.
21-23
Theatre Physics XXV Bethany Lutheran College — Mankato — free admission but tickets are required — theater.blc.edu.
An affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities, consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 51
FROM THIS VALLEY By Pete Steiner
The Life of a Radio Guy “Tell me, why do they ride for their money, And why do they rope for short pay? They ain’t gettin’ nowhere and They’re losin’ their share; Son, they all must be crazy out there.”
I
n May of 1978 — 40 years ago — shortly after I had returned to Mankato to stay, I was hosting a 6 p.m. to midnight local country music radio show. I got a postcard from Ruby Higsby, widow of broadcast legend Hiram Higsby, (pictured) that read simply, “Put on the coffee pot, I’ll be listenin’.” That was a pun on Hiram’s sign-off during the nine years he hosted his last radio show at KDHL in Faribault: He’d introduce his last song of the evening and say, “Put on the coffee pot, Ruby, I’m comin’ home!” His hall of fame career had included stops at WLS in Chicago and KMOX in St. Louis. Now his widow was listening to ME! That card from Ruby wasn’t the first nor the last thrill I got over a more than four-decade career behind the mic. In the intervening years, I got kissed on the cheek after a half-hour one-on-one interview with Loretta Lynn, I got brushed off by Rudy Boschwitz, got the evil eye from Gov. Jesse Ventura and from a Secret Service agent accompanying Pres. George W. Bush’s 2004 visit to a local stone quarry. I got to shake hands with presidential candidates Bob Dole and John McCain. I got serenaded on the air during an interview with Pete Seeger. I got to share a joke with and feel really small strolling down the Target Center basketball court with Kevin Garnett. There’s more, but I only have 800 words here. Besides, it’s the people who listen regularly that really matter, the ones who send you a card every year on your birthday. ••• Radio is, as they say, theater of the mind. So as I commuted from my Minneapolis apartment to my first full-time job in Cambridge at KABG — “the Cabbage Patch” — I switched on my new station in the 5 a.m. darkness to listen to the morning show as I was driving in. Big Jack had the smooth, dulcet tones of a real pro. He belongs in a major market, I thought to myself, he sounds big-time. I came in the front door and headed to the basement studio. Big Jack was naked from the waist up, his middle aged belly hanging over his jeans, the ashtray overflowing (back before computers, when many announcers chainsmoked in studio.) Jack’s droopy eyes told me he probably enjoyed an alcoholic beverage or 52 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
two or three. I would soon learn that Jack loved partying, loved the ladies. Sometimes on Monday mornings he’d come in on little sleep. Such behavior can make your vocal chords relaxed, imparting richness of tone. It can also explain why Jack and others like him were not working major market radio. Like most radio engineers, our Tim was brilliant but quirky. He liked to work at 3 a.m., and he liked to work wearing only his shoes and his underpants. It can be very warm in the transmitter room, after all. Another engineer at another station explained every broadcast problem by diagnosing it as “a ground loop to the transmitter.” Yeah, well OK, I am NOT an engineer. Whatever. Can we get it fixed? Radio rule #1: Any technical problem does NOT get fixed until it has moved into the top THREE of the 20 items on the short list. ••• I’ve worked with many great people right here in little old Mankato, and none of us ever thought living in a small town is an excuse for mediocre radio. Most will tell you, talent is not the number one thing. The number one thing is to show for the job, even if you have a headache or a stomachache or your girlfriend just dumped you and it’s four in the morning, and you’d rather not go in. But you do go in, and you act like you’re happy as can be to share with your listeners, because they’re not listening to hear about your troubles. They want you to help them forget their own. ••• It’s been fun. I didn’t get rich — only a tiny sliver of radio announcers do. But it paid the bills. At the top, I quoted the song, “Nightrider’s Lament” by Michael Burton. It was the song I always signed off with at midnight back when I was at the country station. Its rhetorical questions are answered in the chorus, and it’s the same for radio: You do it because it’s fun and there’s non-monetary rewards that could never be replaced by an ordinary job. Peter Steiner is host of “Talk of the Town” weekdays at 1:05 p.m. on KTOE.
RENOWNED AND RENEWED: RTJ TURNS 25
Acclaimed as one of the world's great golf destinations, Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail invites you to celebrate its 25th year by offering fantastic deals. Unlimited golf packages are easy on your wallet. All of the original RTJ Golf Trail sites have been renovated and are ready for your arrival. Celebrate our silver anniversary while saving some silver yourself.
» Plan your visit to the RTJ Golf Trail by calling 1.800.949.4444 or visiting rtjgolf.com.
facebook.com/rtjgolf
twitter.com/rtjgolf «
MANKATO MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018 • 53
The Right Care. Right Away. Why go to the ER, when what you really need is an orthopaedic specialist? We shortcut the process by getting you to the specialist you need, right away—so the healing can begin, right away. Plus you don’t pay for a costly trip to the ER. Learn more at ofc-clinic.com.
M-F: 8am to 8pm | Sat: 8am to 11am | 507-386-6600 54 • SEPTEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE