SCENE OCTOBER 2022

MOLLY PENNY

CANDY EDITION

The‘S’ ranking tier is typi cally regarded as standing for “superb” and is the highest-ranking tier. S-rank originated from academic grading in Japan where the word “sugoi” is the top of the list meaning “extraor dinary,” a level even higher than an ‘A.’ YouTube users have jumped on the trend of ranking things through the S tier system. You can do so your self by going to tiermaker.com and selecting a category to rank.

Naturally, being the pop culture maven I am, this Halloween Spooktacular will focus on creating an S tier of Halloween candy.

one dud in my opinion, which is the regular Hershey’s mini bars. But the rest are solid: Snickers, Twix, Kit-Kat, Butterfinger, Reese’s Cups (or even better, Reese’s Pumpkins). Har ibo Gummy Bears prove to be an unexpected treat. Rice Krispy bars are also in the A tier but only if they are packaged. Homemade goods of any kind unfortunately rank towards the bottom of the tier. Sour Patch kids and Mini Skittles pouches are A tier, but if it is the tropi cal Skittles, they move into B or C tier. Literally tastes like perfume. Flavors matter.

S:

As a kid, you learn the neighborhoods where doctors and lawyers live and you hit them up. Rich neighborhoods tend to be a mecca for the most coveted of Hal loween candies, falling under the S tier: Full sized candy bars of any vari ety.

A full sleeve of Star burst or a full bag of Skittles, M & M or Reese’s, full sized Snickers, Twix. Even better, KING SIZED candy. Also included in the S-Tier: Cash. This tier is rare, but as a trick-or treater, when you get it, it feels like you struck gold. If you are an adult providing anything in this tier, you are known as “The Legend.”

A:“The Trusty Provider”

A tier would be the best, only if those rich hoitytoits on the hill didn’t blow it out of the wa ter with their full-sized can dies. You can often buy an

B:B tier is solid. It’s clearly not the best, but it is more than acceptable candy that any kid should be satisfied with. This tier in cludes runners-up to the A tier: Fun size Three Musketeers, Milky Way, Laffy Taffy, Whop fun size M&M’s, Twizzlers, Reese’s Pieces. The two-pack Starburst fall under B tier as well. Sure, they come in clutch, but they lose stock, only because of the off chance you could get two yellow.

It’s a total crapshoot. Malted Milk Balls and Milk Duds if you’re into them are definitely B tier as well. Even if they are your No. 1, they aren’t universally popular, like Twix and Snickers seem to be, but they look good with the top tier stash. Swedish Fish falls into this tier as well. Not everyone’s favorite, but a pleasant change of pace and usually a decent sized pouch. Crabby Patties are an absolute treat and a Halloween rarity. They are markedly not good- but they definitely have the capacity to utterly delight any child who gets one, so I give them a

factor. Nerds are C-Tier. In fact, a lot of the non-chocolate, pure sugar and Red #5 candies fall under this category: Dots, Pixie Sticks, Spree, Runts, Smartees, Sweet Tarts, Air Heads. It is pure sugar that only kids could truly enjoy. Blow Pops and Tootsie Pops also fall under C. Not bad, not the best, just somewhere in the middle. It is worth not ing that the C tier provides a little bright color to your assortment so while they may not be the most desirable can dies, they sure are pretty. Mike & Ike and all the Mike & Ike spinoffs fall under C tier: Jolly Joes, Hot Tamales, etc. (I do recom mend the Mike & Ike mega mix!) Red Vines and Gobstoppers round out the C list.

D:Grand, Baby Ruth, Pay Day, Her shey’s Assorted mini chocolate bars (Mr. Goodbar, Krackle, Dark Chocolate etc) Double Bubble gum. I know it is

adult but as kids, forget it!) This is the class of candy you give your mom because she prob ably likes it- no chance a kid wants anything to do with it. Maybe the Hershey’s kisses, but I’ just saying, if this is what you are distributing you are asking to get your house egged.

This is the worst, bottom of the barrel selection. If this is you, just leave your porch light off because Halloween is clearly canceled. This tier includes (I am guilty of this) leftover piñata and parade candy, an apple, Circus Peanuts, black licorice, even worse, black licorice or popcorn flavored jellybeans and candy corn.

late coins are novelty, and as a kid you get pretty excited to add a little sparkle to your loot, but they are just basic milk chocolate; They only get the C tier rank ing for the pirate’s booty

eat healthier; knock it off) Lemonheads, Sixlets, Tootie Fruities… These are ok, but once you have sifted through the good stuff, a in the cupboard until next year and gets cycled back into your candy bowl to give out to kids the next year. If you leave a bowl on the steps with only these choices while you are out trick-or-treating with your kids there is a good chance it will be untouched when you return.

E:Chips Ahoy cookies, Granola Bars, Her shey’s Kisses, Almond Joy, Mounds, Werther’s Origi nals, Heath Bars (look you may like some of this as an

like popcorn balls and caramel apples are a nice thought, but I am convinced there is cat hair on them, the kids’ moms certainly think there is a razor blade hidden inside. It is going straight to the trash so just save yourself the hassle. We had a guy on our block last year who handed out coupons. F for Fail.

Unicorn Award: Full cans of soda, mini cans

Molly Penny is a local radio personality and MNSU alum. It was her love of pop culture that got her interested in doing a radio show for KOWZ 100.9, and she is now the music and promotions director at KOWZ & KRUE Radio in Owatonna. She resides in Mankato with her movie buff husband and YouTube obsessed children. Catch her on Twitter at @ mollyhoodUSA.

By TOM NELSON Guest Contributor

SouthernMinnesota residents looking to experience a few thrills and chills during the upcoming Halloween season will certainly be in for a treat as several haunted house attractions will be making their annual appearances around the area in 2022.

“We think people like interactive experiences. People like to get out of the house, especially after COVID, and get back into the mix of things,” said Matt Dunn, owner of Scream Town and the Abandoned Hayride attractions in Chaska. “This is like being inside a movie. It’s something that only comes around once a year and I think there is a lot of excitement for people that want to come out and be part of something like that.”

One of the top haunted house attractions in the United States, Scream Town has been entertaining and “terrifying” customers for 15 years. In recent years, the Abandoned Hayride has been added to the venue offering customers two different ticketed haunted experiences.

“The Abandoned Hayride has been described as the Haunted Hayride reinvented. Very unique, very different. It is a theatrical, haunted, terrifying experience. And then we drop you off in the woods and you have to find your way back, so that’s kind of neat,” Dunn said. “Scream Town has seven huge separate attractions, consisting of different mazes and another woods walk that is filled with all kinds of sets and actors.”

Dunn added, “We have two new attractions at Scream Town. We totally tore down what was there before, so we have a great new one called the Psycho-delic Circus and then we have the Zombie Apocalypse attraction. We totally rethemed, reinvented this year with lots of new animations…they’re very intense and much more intense then what they were before.”

In St. Peter, the Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride will take visitors on a spine-tingling jaunt through the spooky Minnesota River bottom woods. In its seventh season of bringing frights to the area, the Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride is an annual benefit event for the Nicollet County Trail Association snowmobile club.

“We have tractor pulled hayracks and you sit

on the bales of hay during the ride,” event coordinator Kenny Johnson said. “We load up in the park and then the hayracks travel down into the river bottom woods through trails along Minnesota River.”

Johnson said the “haunt” level of the hayride is PG-13, which makes for a somewhat family friendly experience with a few scares thrown in to keep things interesting. A food truck will also be available at the Mill Pond park during the haunting season in 2022.

He added, “The Nicollet County Trail Association is the main group putting this one, and the we have other volunteer groups

coming out to help us put it on too. The proceeds are then distributed out between the groups that help volunteer each year…and we are always looking for more volunteers to come out and help with this event.

“The city of St. Peter works well with us on this, so we would like to thank them for allowing us to do this and we would also like to thank all our volunteers who help us each year. The people we get to help are the people who are truly interested in doing something fun and “Halloweey” for their community.”

Another popular haunted attraction in

the area is Fright at the Farm in Zumbrota. Located on a homestead that was built in 1920 and began life as a Minnesota dairy farm, the property was bought in 2015 and named Willow’s Keep Farm with the purpose of moving a Rochester based haunted attraction from the History Center of Olmsted County to permanent location.

The farm also grows industrial hemp and the cannabis fields surrounding the facility features a seasonal hemp/cannabis maze that plays a part in the haunted attraction along with a “canna-disc” golf course.

“We have our hemp maze, which is our cannabis maze, so during the day the cannabis maze is open and we also added this year a

The spooks are in large supply at Scream Town in Chaska.

Scream Town also includes an abandoned hayride.

An animated creepy clown greets visitors at the Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride in St. Peter.

“canna-disc” golf course. Basically you are playing frisbee disc golf but you’re playing it in a hemp field. Along the fairways of those holes, we have cannabis growing, so you are playing a golf course through a cannabis field,” said owner Ted Galaty.

“And at night, the maze turns into the haunted cannabis maze. We have an old dairy barn that is split into two levels and that is mazed out. We also have a couple buses and a granary that has been turned into a haunted attraction. There are really elements throughout the farm.”

The attraction will begin its 12th season in 2022. Galaty’s first haunted houses took place at his home in Rochester back in 2008. In his last year at his house location, the attraction had over 2,000 visitors before it moved to the History Center of Olmsted County for a three year run. The move to the farm in Zumbrota along Highway 52 has allowed Fright at the Farm to grow into a Halloween season favorite.

“It has definitely leveled up since I started it as a home haunt,” Galaty said. “Every year we break the record for attendees.”

This year’s theme is the “Abandoned Circus and Haunted Cannabis Maze” and has been described by Galaty as “sideshow characters, freaks, clowns and zombie clowns…just a whole mix.”

Galaty said he teams up with a local arts group to help provide actors and actresses to populate the haunt each year.

“We work with the Pine Area People for the Arts (PAPA) and they provide the actors. We have some employees but the majority of the people out there are with that organization which is a performing arts group and it is a fundraiser for them as well,” Galaty said.

Unlike many of the indoor based haunted attractions, Fright at the Farm was able to continue running throughout the pandemic since much of the attraction was outdoors.

“We never closed in 2020,” Galaty said. “We just didn’t have our maze open inside and everything was outside that year. That actually has helped improve our haunt because we ended getting a bunch of party tents, so now we have both the inside maze and the outside party tents mazed out with pallets. The way I look at it, the COVID year made our attraction better.”

Galaty noted, “We’ve expand every single year and have changed it up every year, but for the most part - even during COVID - people

just want to get out and do stuff. Obviously, we cater to more teens and adults but I think there are just a lot of people who want to get out because it is the fall Halloween season and it something to do with the family.”

Fright at the Farm -

The Abandoned Circus and Haunted Cannabis Maze 47385 Hwy. 52, Zumbrota

Phone: 507-491-2639

Website: rochesterhorror.com

The Abandoned Circus will be in town during the Halloween season to offer its share of scary clowns, circus freaks and creatures as part of this year’s Fright at the Farm Haunted House attraction, which is located on Highway 52 in Zumbrota. The venue also features a haunted cannabis maze during the evening hours and a unique “canna-disc” frisbee disc golf course on the farm’s grounds during the daylight hours. Tickets can be purchased online in advance by visiting the attraction’s website at www. rochesterhorror.com

Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride

300 S. Front St., Mill Pond Park, St. Peter

Facebook: Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride

Experience a haunted hayride through the eerie river bottom woods along the Minnesota River near St. Peter’s Mill Pond Park. The Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride will be open on Oct. 21-22 during MEA Weekend and also on Oct. 28-29. Hours each day are from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate

(cash or check only - no credit cards). For more information on this event, which is put on each year by the Nicollet County Trail Association, please visit its Facebook page at Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride.

Minnesota Zoo

13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley Phone: 952-431-9200 Website: mnzoo.org

The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Minnesota Zoo is back - bigger and better than ever. This annual Halloween event will run from October 1 to November 5 at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, and it will feature thousands of carved and illuminated pumpkins on a trail at the zoo. This year’s theme is “Night at the Library” and an amazing selection of expertly carved pumpkins will be designed in the likeness of favorite library book characters and creatures. Of course, the zoo is also home to hundreds of species of animals on display for visitors to enjoy. For more information and ticket prices for this year’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, visit mnzoo.org.

Monster Bash Haunted House

150 First St. NW, Harmony Website: monsterbashhauntedhouse.org/ the-haunt

Since 2012, the Monster Bash Haunted House has been offering scary chills and thrills at its location in Harmony, Minn. This year’s theme is “Slim Chance” and it will be open on Oct. 14-15, Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 28-31. Admission is $13 per person and it is a cash only venue (no credit cards currently accepted at the gate). This year’s theme has been inspired by old horror/thriller movies.

The Monster Bash Haunted House started as a fundraising to help support the music, theater and arts program at Fillmore Central Schools, which serve the communities of Harmony, Fountain and Preston. In particular, funds have been used to help fund music trips to perform around the country.

Student from the schools, with assistance from their families and other community members design and create the haunted house each year and it has grown into one of the area’s top Halloween haunted houses. Unlike sports or other student activities, the haunted house is the one time that students

and their parents or guardians can participate together to help create and run the haunted house.

“We do something very different every year. If you look through our history themes you can see how different the haunt is year to year. We are a good haunted house, having won the best haunted attraction award from MinnesotaHauntedHouses.com for the last 4 years the award was given. We try to engage people in the haunt fun from the time they arrive on site until they finish the haunt,” a Monster Bash spokesperson said. “I believe people go to haunted houses (in general) for two primary reasons. People enjoy being frightened in a safe way and people enjoy seeing their friends frightened. We get both screams and laughs from groups (often the same groups) each year.” For more information, visit monsterbashhauntedhouse.org/the-haunt.

New Ulm Nightmares

Haunted House

Brown County Fairgrounds, New Ulm Website: newulmnightmares.com

The eighth annual New Ulm Nightmares Haunted House will present

Fright at the Farm in Zumbrota includes a haunted circus and cannabis maze.

A pair of skeletons looking to get one last ride on a snowmobile at the Mill Pond Haunted Hay Ride in St. Peter. The event is sponsored each year by the Nicollet County Trails Association snowmobile club.

Haunt at the Brown County Fairgrounds on Oct. 28-29 from 7-10 p.m. and on Oct. 31 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This year’s event will include two haunted houses: The Farm and The Crypt, which is features a blackout with no lights and only a lantern to make your way through the “crypt.” A special black light night in the Farm Haunted House will be held on Oct. 29 from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Groups going through this will be provided with one glow stick to help them navigate. On Halloween Day from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., a “light on” non-scary haunted house will be offered for kids before the evening scary fun begins at 6:00 p.m. that night. For more information, visit newulmnightmares.com.

Nickelodeon Boo-niverse

Mall of America, Bloomington

Website: nickelodeonuniverse.com/ event/nickelodeon-boo-niverse/

Nickelodeon Boo-niverse is back again for the Halloween season at the Mall of America in Bloomington. The popular Nickelodeon Universe indoor amusement park will be transformed during the month of October to include a variety of Halloween season treats including favorite Nickelodeon characters in costumes along with several season events. Check out the Nickelodeon Boo-niverse website

Rochester Trolley and Tour Company

972 14th Avenue SW, Rochester

Phone: 507-421-0573

Website: rochestermntours.com

The Rochester Trolley and Tour Company offers two tours that delve into the haunted side of the Rochester area on selected dates in October. The tour includes visits into several of city’s locations with a haunted history including the Rochester Civic Theater, the State Hospital Cemetery and the noted Kahler Grand Hotel. Paranormal experts also offer their insight to highlight the tour. For more information on the tours and dates available, please visit www. rochestermntours.com

ScreamTown and The Abandoned Hayride

7410 U.S. 212, Chaska (Scream Town)

7525 U.S. 212, Chaska (The Abandoned Hayride)

Phone: 888-317-7308 or 888-246-6783

Website: screamtown.com or theabandonedhayride.com

A popular haunt in nearby Chaska, Scream Town and The Abandoned Hayride offers two ticketed attractions that are guaranteed to provide a few Halloween thrills. Scream Town offers seven scary attractions that consists of mazes and a woods walk that is populate by a host of ghouls, ghosts and creatures. The

haunted hayride revisited and includes being dropped off in the “haunted” woods and customers having to find their way back to the start. Both attractions will begin their Halloween season run on September 23. Due to the popularity of these attractions, advanced ticket purchases are highly recommended, and you can purchase them online at www.screamtown. com or www.theabandonedhayride.com/

Valleyfair Tricks and Treats

1 Valleyfair Dr., Shakopee

Phone: 952-445-7600

Website: valleyfair.com/events/tricks-and-treats

The Halloween celebrations at Valleyfair in Shakopee will be changing its tempo a bit this year as the park will introduce “Tricks and Treats” in 2022, which is billed as “our all-new, over-the-top, large-than-life, gotta-bethere Halloween event.” Valleyfair willl only be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the month of October with seasonal events designed to provide “fun and family-friendly eeriness.” Visitors can experience the Land of Tricks, which will offer two realms titled Ickyville and Spooky Spires. The Land of Treats will feature Everfall and Sweet Tooth Acres. In addition, the park’s popular rides will be open to provide their usual thrills and chills. Visit www.valleyfair.com/events/tricks-and-treats for more details.



Tom Nelson is a freelance writer. Reach the editor at editor@apgsomn.com.

A few of the carved pumpkins on display at the Minnesota Zoo’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular.

A collection of ghouls, ghosts and creatures that help create the Monster Bash Haunted House each year in Harmony.

The 2022 version of New Ulm Nightmares features two haunted houses: The Farm and The Crypt.

(Photo courtesy of Visit Lake City)

Days are cooler but colors are warmer

By PAT GARRY Guest Contributor

Fallis the perfect time to travel; the traffic is lighter, the weather is cooler, and the scenery is unbeatable. Between the fiery reds, vigorous golds and the blissful, blustering breezes, it is the ultimate season.

Whether you prefer to hike, bike, walk, run, drive, take a cruise, or hop a horse-drawn wagon, don’t miss out on unforgettable tours through a rainbow of colorful fall foliage in Minnesota this year. Here are some places to capture the colors, so take out your camera and take in the crisp, Minnesota autumn air.

Fall Foliage & Fun, St. Peter

St. Peter is situated in the Minnesota River Valley, so the com munity and surrounding landscape offer wonderful views of brilliant fall colors. Much of the valley is protected from wind, so the leaves and colors stay around for a while.

Halfway between St. Peter and Mankato, check out Seven Mile Creek Park, which includes over 600 acres of beautiful for est.

Ed Lee is the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce and Tour ism director. He said a key fall event in the community is the Halloween Fun Run, as it invites participation from all ages and walks (and runs) of life. The course takes participants through the heart of the city, which is filled with color changing trees. The St. Peter Halloween Fun Run 5K and Lil Monster Dash, in its 16th year, takes place Saturday, Oct. 29 from a course that begins at St. Peter High School.

At the Gustavus Arboretum, enjoy games, activities, music, food and lots of fall foliage at the Arboretum Fall Fest. Have a fun-filled day on the beautiful grounds of Arboretum with lots of activities for all ages: pet real alpacas, go for a hayride, hunt for treasure, play games, explore the Arb, learn from nature discov ery activities, and much more.

The Halloween Fun Run is 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, and follows a course through urban forest of parks and neighbor hoods that are a bright bouquet of autumn glory. Here are some win-wins with the Halloween Fun Run: Getting out exercising in the crisp fall air, embracing the Minnesota climate; it’s fun for organizers and for participants; it promotes wellness, togeth erness; it showcases the St. Peter community — businesses,

neighborhoods, parks, Gustavus, and the high school to a good audience.

Beauty & Glory of Northfield

Northfield has a number of fall events perfect for enjoying the fall views.

Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch is owned by John and Else

(Photo courtesy of Jon Smithers)

Larson. Bridgewater Farm has been in operation almost 20 years and has been around hosting fall fun all of those years. Pumpkin patch and fall fun activities open weekends, running through Oct. 30; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Open MEA Thursday and Friday, Oct. 20 and 21 from noon to 5 p.m. They offer a newly designed giant 6-acre corn maze, kiddie corn maze, hayrides, barnyard animals, jumbo slide, trike derby raceway, corn box, barrel train rides, straw mountain, jumbo yard games, and more. All inclusive admission: 2 and under, free; 3 and over, $10.

Fireside Orchard is celebrating over 50 years of growing some of the finest apples in the region. Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; they grow 27 favorite Minnesota varieties, such as Honeycrisp, SweeTango, and Zestar, Haralson, and Fireside, as well as other popular apples like Cortland, Regent, Keepsake, and McIntosh. Come stroll through the rose gardens, admire the fall colors all around, and let your senses be amazed. Enjoy watching the Koi fish and wildlife at the pond. Sit, relax, and watch the sun cross the sky from the gazebo. Or play yard games with the family on the south lawn.

The Riverwalk Market Fair Fall Celebration is Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. At the market, you will find local artists with incredible wares, including pottery, jewelry, carved wood, gran ite charcuterie boards, and more. There will be food to delight your taste buds, and farmers with products such as organically grown vegetables, seasonal jams, freshly baked breads, yarn spun from their own sheep’s wool, and goat milk soap. They also have live music, an educational experience, and more each week.

Keepsake Cidery in Dundas is open weekends throughout October with Friday Night Cookouts (4-9 p.m.) that feature guest chefs cooking outdoors and live music, Saturdays (noon-8 p.m. that) feature live music from 4-6 p.m., and Sundays (noon6 p.m.); orchard and cidery tours the first Sunday of the month, Oct. at 2 p.m. and a Jazz Brunch the third Sunday Oct. 16; opening early at 11 a.m., brunch til 2 p.m. with the normal local food menu available all other times. One of the most popular events is Thanksgiving Market Sunday, Nov. 21 from noon-5 p.m., featuring local vendors/products and foods for Thanksgiv ing. The event also features natural ciders from regional apples and a food menu featuring local producers, in a beautiful or chard setting along the Cannon River Wilderness Area. They also sell local products, including their own organic apples.

Lake City

Fall is a wonderful time to visit southeastern Minnesota. The bluffs are covered with gorgeous trees, and as the leaves fall, one can more easily spot the eagles all along the Mississippi River (along Highway 61). From Lake City, you can find days and days worth of beautiful drives, perfect for leaf peeping. Whether you enjoy twisting your way through bluffs on county roads or hugging Lake Pepin on Highway 61, you can’t beat Lake City for amazing colors and vistas. And there are plenty other activities to enjoy in the area, too.

Lake City Fun Times is Lake City’s premier autumn event, tak ing place Oct. 1 and 2. This 2-day hootenanny is family friendly and super fun. This year, the festivities will include an old-fash ioned block party, right downtown on Washington Street.

Celebrate the apple harvest and the creative community at Johnny Appleseed Days, Oct. 8, 11-2, (Patton Park); Touch A Truck is back. Join for loads of activities for kids of all ages. Ambulances, firetrucks, busses; Remember when the big rigs conjured up all sorts of big feelings? Relive those with your family in Lake City Oct. 8, when kids (of all ages) can experience what it’s like to sit in the cab of a big truck Oct. 29 from noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.

Are you ready for a real Halloween scare? Have you watched all the Friday the 13th movies? Do the woods at night kind of freak you out, but you kinda like it? Well, don’t miss this one day haunted trail in Lake City’s beautifully spooktacular Hok Si La Park from 6-9 p.m. Not sure if it’s quite right for your littlest ones? Don’t worry, come down for some milder daylight fun from noon-3 p.m.

Fall Fest — OK, real talk; there’s no better place to experience the colorful season than on the shores of Lake Pepin in Lake City. Don’t believe it? Well come experience in in all its red, gold, and orange glory with a month of family friendly weekend celebra tions throughout October.

Lark Toys in Kellogg continues to offer an 18-hole miniature golf course into October until the ponds freeze. The inside Carousel runs every 30 minutes during open hours (9:30 to 5). The museum is for many, a trip down Memory Lane, where guests ex press delight at spotting some of their favorite toys from childhood and sharing them with children and grandchildren.

Whitewater State Park

Whitewater State Park-Guided Shinrin-Yoku Walk takes place Sunday, Oct. 2, located in the driftless region of southeast Minnesota, an area missed by recent glaciers and known for its dramatic landscapes, unique geology and diverse ecosystems, including hardwood forests and bluff prairies.

Visitors enjoy hiking, camp ing, year-round trout fishing and year-round naturalist programs. In autumn, maple trees along the Coyote Point Trail shimmer with orange and yellow colors while the oaks on many of the bluffs are ablaze with golden and ma roon hues. The fall colors combined with the dramatic bluff land landscape provide stunning scenery.

During the Guided Shinrin-Yoku Walk, you will immerse in the hardwood forest using your five senses while moving slowly. The practice of Shinrin-Yoku, also known as forest bathing, originated in Japan and has been shown to provide health and wellbeing benefits.

All events occur on the 18-acre site. Some of the highlights are the last concert of the summer concert series with Becky Schle gal, and back again are some fan favorites, with the Apple Cider Pressing, the Apple Butter Boil and the Guided Cemetery Hike on the last day of public tours for the year Oct. 22.

In the visitor center, there are also some popular refreshments available for purchase. They include ice cream, Spring Grove soda, old-fashioned treats like candy sticks and Cracker Jacks, and hot drinks such as coffee and hot chocolate. 

Historic Forestville

There is a lot to see in just a small area in Historic Forestville.

Journalist-Copywriter-Editor-Feature Writer. My experience spans over 20 years, and I will apply my skills to help beef up any lifeless copy within your website, brochure, press release, catalog, etc. Reach out at patgarry@charter. net. courtesy of Jon Smithers)

(Photo courtesy of Lake City Tourism Bureau)

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

Hoping

to look “boo-tiful” throughout October, or do you merely want to be “fall-bulous” this autumn?

Either way, Southern Minnesota is brimming with unique boutiques and has secondhand stores galore, all of which are fantastic resources for the perfect sea sonal outfit — or a scary good Halloween get-up.

Stylin’ good fun

Say you want to look up-to-the-minute and on trend. Ali Urness, of Mankato’s The Blackbird Boutique, has the answer to that desire in one short, comfortable word: flannel.

“Flannels are huge for fall,” said Urness, 29. “That’s been true for a while, and it’s continuing.”

Urness is staying on trend by repurposing flannels using tie-dye and spritzes of bleach, techniques she’s also applied to denim.

“That updates them from old thrifted flannel to something

with a little more edge,” said Urness.

Sherpa-lined flannels offer even greater comfort and a bit more heft for chillier days.

“And you can always add a vest, because vests are also very ‘in’ and are great for layering,” said Urness. “Vests are easy to take on and off when the temperature fluctuates, and there are lots of variations — denim vests, puffy vests, dressier longer vests in sweater-like fabrics or suede — they’re just really nice for layering in the fall.”

At the Rare Pair in downtown Northfield, manager Beret Froehle is also high on flannel, as well as the seemingly ubiqui tous “shacket,” a combination shirt/jacket that, like weekend drives to view fall colors, is in peak demand.

“We have a good selection of jackets in all different lengths and weights,” said Froehle. “They’re really cozy, easy to layer and you can go for either a dressier or more casual look.”

Froehle mentions that featured color palettes include mustard yellow, navy, jewel tones — and plenty of plaid.

“We also have some great chunky sweaters in classic charcoal, oatmeal and more muted blue tones,” Froehle said.

If you want to hear Urness’s rich laugh, just ask her about

jeans.

“Denim has been very confusing for a lot of people lately,” Urness freely admitted. “Flair denim is back, and so is highwaisted denim — which I think is staying because, man, do those high-waisted ones suck you in nicely. I try to keep a variety in stock to suit everyone’s taste, and my advice is to wear the style of denim you feel most confident in.”

Rare Pair’s Froehle concurs that denim is “making a come back,” while the stretchy, tighter fitting theme epitomized by leggings is on the decline.

“But it’s not the skinny leg denim,” Froehle cautioned. “We’re seeing straight, wide, flair, high-rise and button-front denim, and some with patches, rolled up cuffs and different types to go with boots or flats.”

Speaking of boots, the Rare Pair staff confirm that short boo ties are holding their own even as wedge-heeled boots are past their recent heyday.

“There’s been more of a switch to the chunkier stacked heels, and the taller boots are coming back again—they were out for awhile,” said Froehle.

Shades of gray are “increasingly important” in footwear,

Ali Urness of Mankato’s Blackbird Boutique suggests flannel shirts are hot (and comfy) for fall, even with edgy tie-dye or bleached accents.

Clothing stores in Southern Minnesota, like Blackbird Boutique pictured here, are stocked up for the fall.

Froehle confirmed, while brown, black and camel are still com mon.

But get ready to use your head, because another body part has drawn tons of fashion attention lately. It’s not your imagina tion; more and more people are bedecking their pates with hats.

“Wide-brimmed felt hats are the thing,” said Urness. “And they come in a lot of colors, with tan, maroon and olive being really popular for the wide-brimmed hats, but I also have them in black, brown, navy and white.”

The Blackbird Boutique even has adjustable wide-brimmed hats — a helpful feature, since head sizes do vary.

“People really like the adjustable options because they are very accommodating,” said Urness.

Not into the wide-brimmed look? Then go for a pom on top.

“The knitted pom hats with fuzzy balls are the alternative,” said Urness. “They come in every imaginable color and are really nice for matching with fall outfits or winter jackets.

“And the ones I carry have soft fuzzy linings,” she continued. “They make affordable gifts. You can’t go wrong for sizing, plus I have kids’ sizes as well.”

The Rare Pair, too, boasts “a ton of pom hats,” according to Froehle, and “some very cute wide-brimmed hats for women.”

And menswear (footwear, flannels, pants, sweaters and more) is also in ready supply at The Rare Pair, which just began offering Patagonia products of all kinds.

“We’re glad to have a selection fo that for fall for both men and women,” said Froehle.

Urness remains bullish on scarves, whether lightweight or blanket-style. She enjoys scheduling “wine nights” when she demonstrates numerous ways to tie and wear scarves.

Mostly, Urness, who knows what it takes to look “in the mo ment,” urges women of all ages and sizes to dress for their own best selves.

“Wear what you are drawn to and what makes you feel happy and comfortable—not what other people expect,” said Urness.

Scaring up a Halloween look

It’s not too early to begin putting together your Halloween outfit; in fact, some might say the clock started ticking over a

month ago.

A spokeswoman for Ragstock in Mankato’s River Hills Mall indicated that shoppers have been on the prowl for howling good costumes for weeks, with some customers having begun gathering garments and accessories even months in advance of the pumpkin-stoked holiday.

Although the Northfield Ragstock location closed in the past year, leaving both townies and area college students at a loss for their usual Halloween go-to, the Mankato site is bursting with stock to help create practically any costume one can dream of — Boy Scouts, doctors and other medical professionals (think lab coats — or lab coats doused with fake blood for a “mad scien tist” image), witches, cheerleaders, “Stranger Things” characters, ‘50s bobby-sock girls — you name it and someone is planning it.

If you act fast, another frighteningly good area source for oneof-a-kind Halloween gear is the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

The Rare Pair is an ever popular destination in Northfield. The team at the retail store has all the advice on fall fashion in 2022.

Ragstock is a popular option in the area for Halloween looks. There is no longer a location in Northfield, but there still is one in Mankato.

(3525 140th St. West, Shakopee), which has its last three days of the 2022 season from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.

Long-time Renaissance Festival enthusiast Michelle Parsneau, Mankato, is a salesperson for the Boss Wench clothing brand at the fair.

“Really, the Renaissance Festival is like a big shopping mall, with so many types of costumes you can purchase there,” said Parsneau.

Some customers may appreciate knowing Boss Wench is a California-based company, which makes all its products in the U.S.A, Parsneau shared.

Parsneau rattled off a short list of costume ideas to purchase in either bits and pieces or in full at the Renaissance Festival: pirates, vampires, royalty (prince, princesses, kings and queens), knights, fortune tellers, peasants, troubadours, “Game of Thrones” characters, Scotsmen, mermaids, fairies, Mother Earth, gods/goddesses, Dr. Who characters, Disney villains, cavaliers, musketeers, magicians and wizards.

“If you can imagine it, someone has done it,” said Parsneau. “The Renaissance Festival is a fantastic place to find ideas; it re ally gets your mind going.”

Of course, budget-minded shoppers might prefer the triedand-true route of second-hand stores, Goodwill outlets and the like. Other people’s cast-off hats, belts, ties, shoes, jackets, sweaters, shirts and lingerie are easily—and often inexpen sively—repurposed into someone else’s winning Halloween ensemble.

“People are very clever,” said Parsneau, “and at Halloween, it’s fun to see them share their creativity.”

Check it out

For fall fashion or Halloween outfits, consider these spots in the Southern Minnesota Scene neighborhood:

The Blackbird Boutique: Find the pop-up shop on Oct. 14 at the Scheels Wellness Expo at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Mankato; on Oct. 31 at Indulge Salon & Tanning, 1713 Commerce Drive, North Mankato; and on Nov. 12 at the Manka to National Guard Armory. Visit The Blackbird LLC on Facebook for the shop’s new brick-and-mortar location in October.

The Rare Pair, 401 Division St. South, Northfield Lilly and Rose Boutique, 211 N. Cedar Ave, Owatonna Graif Clothing, 202 W. Bridge St., Owatonna Jan’s Thrift Shop, 1822 Western Ave. NW, Faribault

Church of St. Peter Thrift & Consignment Store, 401 S. Minne sota Ave., St. Peter

Her Happy Place, 217 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter

The Thrifty Parrot, 507 Water St. South, #3, Northfield

Goodwill: 2100 Grant St. NW, Faribault; 2024 Adams St., Mankato

Third World Friends Thrift, 530 Second St., Kenyon

The 207 Curiosities, 207 S. Main St., Le Sueur

Treasures in Town Thrift Store, 206 S. Main St., Le Sueur

Hands of Friendship Thrift Store, 27980 Koeper Ave., New Prague

Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center: 1810 S. Cedar Ave., Owatonna; 201 Star St., Mankato

WEM Common Thread Thrift Store, 126 S. Second St., Waterville

The Bearded Mermaid Bazaar, 309 Division St. South, Northfield Spirit Halloween, 1850 Adams St., River Hills Mall, Mankato

Halloween Express, 201 Sioux Road, #100, Mankato 

Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timefor moore566445504.wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail. com.

The Boss Wench store at the Renaissance Festival is a unique option for a Halloween look. But shoppers should act fast, as the store is closed with the festival Oct. 2.

PAT

Old Town Tavern

OldTown Tavern has been located at 102 W. Main St. in Morristown since its incep tion in 1996.

Tom Gruidl is the sole owner. While Tom does all managerial duties for his company, and the majority of the cooking for Old Town’s guests, he is very fortunate to have the support of such a loyal, hardworking kitchen and front-of-the-house staff.

Several of Tom’s employees have been with him and Old Town Tavern for more than 15 years. Old Town Tavern offers dai ly lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and dinner specials Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Daily lunch specials vary from week to week, while nightly dinner specials stay consistent and are as follows:

Build-your-own taco bar with choice of one large soft shell taco, four hard shell tacos, quesadilla, or taco in a bag, $6; Large two-topping homemade pizza with purchase of a beverage, $10; Wednesday: B.O.G.O. Burgers: choice of any two burg ers, both served with a choice of kettle chips, French fries, or tater tots; Thursday: BBQ Pork Ribs: with French fries and Cole slaw, small rack, $9, large rack, $11; Friday: Each special is served with choice of potato (baked, mashed, au gratin, French fries, tater tots), side salad and a bread stick; 12 oz. Sirloin steak, $23; 12 oz Sirloin steak & shrimp, $26.00; Five jumbo shrimp (grilled or battered) $17; Battered walleye, $19.00; Saturday: Each special is served with choice of potato (baked, mashed, au gratin, French fries, tater tots), side salad and a bread stick; 10 oz roasted N.Y. strip, $16; 14 oz. Roasted N.Y. strip, $21; 10 oz. Roasted N.Y. strip & shrimp, $19; 14 oz. Roasted N.Y. strip & shrimp, $24; Five jumbo shrimp (grilled or battered) $17.00; Battered walleye, $19; Sunday: Each special is served with mashed potatoes with country gravy,

vegetable and dinner roll; Country fried steak, $10; three-piece fried chicken, $11; Old Town Tavern serves breakfast every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our most popular items include the O.T.T. Special (two eggs cooked to order, choice of bacon or sausage, white or wheat toast, breakfast potatoes), biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, and the breakfast burrito.

Signature items include: hot beef commercial — the perfect comfort food; consists of slow-roasted beef on white bread with mashed potatoes and com pletely smothered in beef gravy. Available in full or 1/2 sized portions. TNT burger — this 1/3 pound hand pattied burger is topped with lettuce, 1000 Island dressing, American and Swiss cheese, and sautéed onions and served on toasted bun. Tom’s homemade meatloaf — available with or without onions, it is most commonly served with mashed potatoes and gravy, a vegetable, and a dinner roll. Friday & Saturday Walleye dinner — each walleye fillet is hand battered and deep fried, and is served with a choice of potato, side salad, and a bread stick.

The small town atmosphere and wide variety of OTT’s menu, are what sets this establishment apart from the rest. Ad ditionally, Old Town is centrally located between Faribault, Owatonna, Waseca, and surrounding communities, making it a destination for those at nearby camp grounds, motorcyclists and snowmobilers.

Old Town Tavern’s most unique feature is the “Mug Club” - which began in 1996, when Tom purchased the bar. The first 230 mugs sold, hang over the center of the bar; from an old communion rail; the rest wrap around the walls leading to the kitchen. Today, the Club includes circa 3,000 members. OTT has several key events throughout the year.

New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day dinner specials are always a huge hit. Old Town is a full service bar with a wide selection of beer and liquor. Charitable gambling such as E-tabs and pull tabs are available for purchase and benefit the Morristown Fire Dept. Pool tables and a game room are also available.

Thisis my time of year. I couldn’t care less about pumpkin spice lattes or driving around to look at colorful leaves. I love bad horror movies and luckily, they’re on every channel 24/7 during this season.

Apparently, the only other fans of this genre are 13-year-old-boys. Most of my friends won’t even speak to me until after Halloween. While they’re out romping at the apple orchards and carving pumpkins with their little ones, I’m home watching someone get disemboweled.

As a kid, I used to rush home from school eager to watch TV. My older siblings were al lowed to watch “The Three Stooges” and the creepy program that followed it, “Dark Shad ows.” For some reason (possibly the fact that I had terrible parents), I was not. What could be more enticing than a gothic soap opera about wealthy vampires? I was young, but it was the first time I saw actual scary stuff on regular TV. I got spanked for watching it.

Due to the aforementioned spankings, I grew to adore the forbidden horror landscape. Especially the vampires and werewolves. I don’t go for the realistic, violent movies. I’m more a lover of campy, cheesy, I-think-I-saw-the-boomin-that-last-scene sorta movies. I’m well versed in the rules of the genre, and I’m constantly having to remind my family and friends about the kind of risks that surround us.

Take for example, meeting Mom’s new neighbors. Sure, they look like perfectly nice folks. But as I told my sister, don’t invite them in until we know they aren’t vampires. I quickly offer to get a compact out of my purse to confirm they have a reflection. My sister just groans. She’s unaware that vampires these days can be out in sunlight due to advances in sun screen. She also has no idea that garlic doesn’t work on modern day blood-suckers. I remind her that important intel like this is why I’m in her life.

What about a lifetime of worry about satanic cults?! I watched the movie, “Race with the Devil” when I was 11 and I’m still in therapy working through it. You know how it is … you witness a murder during a satanic ritual, and your wife comes out of the RV and yells your name so loud that the devil worshippers whip their heads around and see you and your

drinking buddy, and they chase you and plant snakes in the overhead compartment in your RV, and people stare at you at the gas station, and you have to stop and do research about cults in a small town library until you realize that both the people at the library and the RV park are in on it, and then the entire cult lights a ring of fire around your RV trapping you inside. That sh** sticks with you.

For the love of God, has no one seen the movie “Silver Bullet?” It was a terrifying piece of work based on Stephen King’s novella, “Cy cle of the Werewolf.” I was 21 when I saw this film, and I still can’t walk to my car alone after dark. The friendly, local small-town priest turns out to be the one eating all the neighbors. No wonder my Catholic school background is now completely suspect to me.

I’m a brunette with lousy ankles that prevent me from wearing high-heels. This combo guarantees that I will live a long life or at least until the end of the movie. I often remind my friends that if they’re blond, sporting heels or have ever had intercourse in the back of van parked in the woods, they’re pretty much doomed. These are hard and fast rules in the horror world. Keep in mind that if you were the quarterback of your high school football team or head cheerleader, things won’t end well for you. Nerdy, unpopular and sporting glasses, you’re pretty much guaranteed to make it well past the half-way point of the cinematic extravaganza.

Peter Rentfrow, a psychologist at the Univer sity of Cambridge did a study years ago where it was determined that people who like horror

tended to be “young, male and educated” as well as “defiant, reckless and immodest.”

Hmm … what about the middle-aged chicks like me? I don’t like haunted houses where costumed-creepers grab at you, and I’m not a fan of adrenaline-spiking carnival rides, but I do enjoy a flick that forces me to watch through my fingers.

Well, this is a topic that I could chat about for days. Many of my decisions as an adult are made as a result of my movie viewing over the decades. Suffice to say, I won’t go down in the basement to get more beer at your party.

If I hear footsteps in the attic when I’m home alone, I’m not going to check it out, and I won’t ever use the phrase, “I’ll be right back.”

I mean, it’s just common sense. 

(Lan Gao/Unsplash)

Halloween Halloween.

Whatever that word conjures for you, I expect fun, food and fright mix into your definition. It does for me, along with specific child hood memories of transforming into a gypsy, face disguised in a hard molded plastic mask, my mom’s colorful flared skirt safety-pinned around my waist and bangles dangling from my skinny wrists. I remember, too, homemade popcorn balls, hard enough to crack Drac ula’s teeth, dropped into my trick-or-treat bag. And I well recall the Halloween party I attended in the basement of the veterinar ian’s house. If the cold orbs I touched while blindfolded weren’t cows’ eyes, you could have fooled me. Of course, they were only grapes. But imagination ramps to the scary when prompted by story spinners.

Admittedly, Halloween has evolved considerably since the 1960s. But the es sence remains. The dressing in costumes to pretend, although those disguises are now mostly store-bought, many super hero or Disney characters. I doubt a gypsy is to be seen. Kids still exude excitement in going door-to-door for treats, attending commu nity parties, parading down city streets in costume.

In a generation that is decidedly more nutrition conscious, Halloween still proves an exception in sugar indulgence. I buy a limited amount of candy, and only my favorites, for the few kids who knock on my door. For the grandkids, I opt for stickers and then bake homemade cupcakes to frost and decorate with them. It’s about the time together, the experience.

There’s plenty of scary to experience, whether inside a haunted house or out and about. Skulls and skeletons seem particular ly popular. I’ve spotted them at a scarecrow contest in Kenyon, along a stairway in Hayfield, in a planter box on a pedestrian bridge in Northfield.

And a few years ago, before he was torched, I photographed Frankenstein looming large in Janesville. That community is best-known perhaps for a doll displayed in the attic window of a house along old U.S. Highway 14. It’s no longer there, removed after the death of the homeowner. But the doll remains the stuff of legends.

Likewise the Halloween Blizzard of 1991 is legendary as the multi-day storm dropped nearly 40 inches of snow in some parts of our state, more like 20 inches here in southern Minnesota. Now that’s scarier than any skull, any cold grape cow eyeball, any sugar high, any doll in the attic win dow, any over-sized Frankenstein. 

Autumn is Audrey Kletscher Helbling’s favorite season, always has been. She carries in her memory the sights, smells and sounds of harvest while growing up in rural southwestern Minnesota. It is during this season of harvest that she especially misses the farm. You can find more of her writing and photography on her blog at mnprairieroots.com.

One of the scarier scarecrows crafted for the 2021 Scarecrow Contest at the 100 Ladies & Gentlemen Craft Show, Kenyon.

ABOVE LEFT: An unexpected discovery in a planter on a pedestrian bridge in Northfield.

LOWER LEFT: Another skeleton entered in the Scarecrow Contest in Kenyon.

For some, clowns are scary. I found these a few years ago in Janesville at Ms. Mac’s Antiques.

A vendor at this fall’s Rice County Steam & Gas Engines flea market staged this scary skull and knife display. He found the animal skull in his yard.

Shortbread cookies shaped and decorated like bloody fingers were a tradition at a fall family soup party.

Hi Quality Bakery in Cannon Falls created mummy, spider and other Halloween cut-out cookies in 2021.

A Halloween display discovered a few years ago in Hayfield featured a doll’s head and other creepy scenes.

A young girl races in her witch costume to the beginning of the costume parade during a past Fall Fest in Faribault.

Kids on their way to the costume parade during Faribault’s Fall Fest in 2016.

Skulls lining a stairway form a backdrop for a passing black cat in Hayfield.

Before he was destroyed by an arsonist, Frankenstein stood tall in Janesville.

The Scarecrow Contest at the 100 Ladies and Gentlemen Craft Show in Kenyon yields creative entries.

A vintage Archie Halloween mask for sale at Antiques of the Midwest in Albert Lea several years back.

A vintage Halloween mask spotted several years ago at Antiques of the Midwest, Albert Lea.

Pine & Fire - 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Music Space, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Pine & Fire is a working class, D.I.Y. folk music duo from the north woods of Minnesota. They blend traditional roots music influences with a modern punk sentiment, creating a unique and driving sound.

Fall Fest - 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 1, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. Games, hayrides, trails, treasure, crafts, snacks, scarecrows, apples, alpacas, foliage, and lots of nature education opportunities. This celebration of the Fall season is free and fun for all ages. The Arboretum is located on the southwest edge of the Gustavus Adolphus College campus.

Rich Lewis Band - 4-6 p.m. Oct. 1, Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. The Rich Lewis Band is a collection of some of the finest musicians in Minneapolis. They play a wide range of musical styles rooted in a soulful sound.

Studio ARTour - 4-8 p.m. Sept. 30, Northfield. The Studio ARTour is a co-operative venture among a group of artists in the areas around Farmington, Northfield, Nerstrand and Faribault. Artists open their studios to the public on the first weekend in October each year. In 2022, it’s Sept. 30-Oct.2. http:// studioartour.org.

The Big WU - 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. The Big WU brings its 30th anniversary tour to Faribault. Tickets online or at the box office.

Backyard Bash-- 11 a.m., Oct. 1 15374 Latopp Ct., 15374 Latopp Ct., Nerstrand. Backyard Bash is an outdoor music festival. Our artists are handpicked to provide an enjoyable experience for music lovers of all ages.

GTX - 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 1, Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. GTX performs country and rock, both old and new.

The Wreck - 7-10 p.m. Sept. 30, Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St., Northfield. The Wreck bring fun, funky, grooveoriented treatments of an eclectic mix familiaryet-not-worn-out.

Red Dirt Road - 8:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Archie’s Bar, 108 Division St. N., Morristown. If you’ve been to a Red Dirt Road show you know that they are a sound and light experience that you won’t want to miss. They combine great musicianship, killer harmonies, and an arena style light show that will keep you coming back every time.

Flavors of Fall Festival - 4-8 p.m. Oct. 1, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Endless fall activities and delicious seasonal pizzas and drinks. Photo opportunities, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, horse and wagon rides, mini pumpkin tic tac toe, crafts, hot apple cider bar, seasonal wine and beer flavors, and constant live music. 4-8 p.m. Saturdays and 1-7 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 16.

Contented Cow

Oktoberfest - Oct. 1., Contented Cow, 302B Division St., Northfield. Celebrate beer, music and all things German at The Cow.

Polka Service & Oktoberfest - 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 2, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 232 W. Minnesota St., Le Center. A polka service starts at 10 a.m., followed by a German celebration at 11:30. you want to submit event to this we something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the

KMSU DJ Soundclash - 6-9 p.m. Sept. 29, Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. DJs will be spinning vinyl from six to nine on the patio at Patrick’s, and you’re all invited.

Miller Denn - 2-5 p.m. Oct. 2, The Toy Box Saloon, 216 N. Kilkenny Rd., Kilkenny. A Sunday afternoon of great food, drinks and music.

Paradise Gallery - 12-5 p.m. Oct.

5, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Gallery show runs Sept. 19 through Nov. 12. In the Carlander Gallery are woodcarvers Marv Kaisersatt, Ivan Whillock and Chris Whillock. In the Lois Varnesh Boardroom Gallery is Autumn Carolynn. In the K&M Gallery is Shelley Caldwell. In the Corey Lyn Creger Memorial Gallery is Bethlehem Academy. Open during regular Paradise hours.

Songwriters in the Round

- 7 p.m. Oct. 6, Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., North eld. Eight singersongwriters will be playing in two Nashville style rounds with four artists on stage at the same time telling stories and doing the round. No cover. All ages. Full bar.

MN Chainsaw Art

Experience - 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 7, Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St., North eld. The Minnesota Chainsaw Art Experience is the place to be for amazing one of a kind Minnesota cabin art. Four top chainsaw artists from the north will spend Oct. 7-9 making three-dimensional sculpture and at art. All art created will be up for auction Oct. 10 at 1 pm. This event is for everyone that loves art.

Stitch Witchery - 5-7 p.m. Oct.

Nature Craft Workshop-- 3:30 p.m. Oct. 4, Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. Create leaf friends, snow globe photos, and pine cone moths at this drop-in craft event. Swing by anytime between 3:30-5 p.m. to participate. Free and open to the public. Geared toward ages 7-12.

5, Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Join seamstress Bianca Wilson and sewing enthusiast Ann Rosenquist Fee for this low-key, high encouragement community studio experience. Bring your sewing projects in progress, or just the spark of an idea and some fabric. Weekly on Wednesdays in October.

A Nashville Experience - 7 p.m. Oct. 6, Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Join multi platinum recording artist Michael Shynes, Season 15 Runner Up on ‘The Voice’ Chris Kroeze, and a Grand Ole Opry mainstay Natalie Murphy (who has performed with country legends Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, Jon Pardi, Terri Clark and Maggie Rose) for a night of songs, laughs, and moments that you won’t soon forget.

Owatonna Foundation

Oktoberfest-- 5-9 p.m. Oct. 4, Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Part of Foundation Week, supporting the nonpro t. Brat dogs and pretzel wiz on hand. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online.

Girls Day Out - 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 6, St. Peter. An entire day to gather your friends, make a day of shopping, eating, pampering yourselves, time to visit our charming community, and build some beautiful memories. Collect 10 stamps to be eligible for prizes, up to $150. Get a passport for the stamps at the St. Peter Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rod Cerar Orchestra-- 5 p.m. Oct. 4, St. Peter American Legion, 229 W. Nassau St., St. Peter. Get a free meal with some free music provided by the Rod Cerar Orchestra during Active Aging Week. Everyone is welcome.

Two Plus Two - 12-5 p.m. Oct.

6, North eld Arts Guild, 304 Division St. S., North eld. This invitational show features the work of Anda Tanaka, Amira Pualwan, Erik Farseth, and Sara Witty. Experience the work of two friends and artists, plus two more friends and artists, lling a gallery space with beautiful and captivating creations.

Shadows at the Crossing6-8 p.m. Oct. 7, Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Ave, St. Peter. Shadows at the Crossing is a guided outdoor walking tour where you’ll meet personalities who lived in the Traverse des Sioux area over 160 years ago. Local actors portray them by telling dramatic and humorous stories about their lives and experiences. Tickets online or at the Treaty Center. Takes place Friday and Saturday evening.

Los Tequileros - 4 p.m. Oct. 8, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Enjoy some music with your pizza at the farm.

Fall Celebration - 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Oct. 8, A celebration of fall during the weekly Riverwalk Market Fair.

Tiger Ries - 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Enjoy live music this evening by top vocalist Tiger Ries performing anything from classic rock to smooth sexy ballads.

Mary Welke Exhibit - Oct. 9, Owatonna Art Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. Yes, it is Autumn, the season of rich colors, and Mary Welke paints images of trees. They are seen in all their glory and color changes. Exhibit runs Oct. 9 through Nov. 15. Open during regular OAC hours.

Chris Duarte Group - 6 p.m. Oct. 9, Music Space, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. International touring and recording artists from Texas, guitarist Chris Duarte brings his trio to Owatonna for a Sunday concert of what they call “blues.” Chris’s amazing guitar playing and style has so many other descriptions.

Maker Fair - 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 8, Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 W. Union St., St. Peter. Maker Fair Minnesota is one of Southern Minnesota’s largest celebrations of handmade goods. There are no mass produced items sold at Maker Fair MN. Every item vendors sell is made by hand and is one of a kind. The event also features local food trucks and activities for kids. Admission is $1 per person or $3 per carload.

The Belfast Cowboys - 7 p.m.

Oct. 8, Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St., Northfield. For the first time in Northfield, the Belfast Cowboys. Opening for them are the Bratlanders and The Wreck. The Belfast Cowboys are a 9-piece, horn-driven band that began in 2002 by specializing in the music of Van Morrison. Tickets online.

Dog Days - 12 p.m. Oct. 9, Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Ready to capture some adorable shots of your fur babies? Join us for a day of fun at Next Chapter Winery, where the focus is celebrating the doggos in your life. Photo sessions are $125.

Peter Gaye Author Talk -

7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 10, Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Content is delighted to welcome back Peter Geye as he discusses his new novel, “THE SKI JUMPERS,” in conversation with St. Olaf professor and writer Kaethe Schwehn. A writer and former ski jumper facing a terminal diagnosis takes one more leap — into a past of soaring flights and broken family bonds.

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Pumpkin Party - 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Oct. 8, Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca. It’s all about pumpkins and family fun.

Transit Authority - 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Transit Authority is the nation’s premier tribute band to the historic music of Chicago. This eight-piece powerhouse band is comprised of some of the most talented musicians in the Midwest. Tickets online or at the box office.

Writing Your Family Story

- 12-3 p.m. Oct. 13, Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. This interactive exhibit encourages participants to write down their life stories to share with their family. Through a series of creative prompts and displays, participants will discover new ways to collect memories to share with loved ones. Free and open to the public. Runs through Oct. 15.

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Anne Winkler-Morey

Author Talk - 2-3:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield. Join author Anne Winkler-Morey, in conversation with Robin Wonsley, a Minneapolis City Council person and Carleton alum, for a reading from her 2022 book, “Allegiance to Winds and Waters: Bicycling the Political Divides of the United States.”

Smokescreen - 9 p.m. Oct. 8, Boxers Grill & Bar, 429 Central Ave. N, Faribault. Rocking Boxers Bar,. Smokescreen takes the stage at 9 p.m., playing a variety of rock and country music.

Meet a Potter - 2-4 p.m. Oct. 9, Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Come visit with resident potters as they work. Observe a variety of techniques and approaches to creating in clay. Our studio manager hosts and facilitates a hands-on experience in clay, so come prepared to get your hands dirty.

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

A Gentleman’s Guide to

Love and Murder - 7:30-9 p.m. Oct. 13, Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna. When the low-born Monty Navarro finds out that he’s eighth in line for an earldom in the lofty D’Ysquith family, he figures his chances of outliving his predecessors are slight and sets off down a far more ghoulish path. Tickets online. Oct. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22 from 7:30-9 p.m., plus Oct. 16 and 23 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Sven, Julie & Mike - 7-9 p.m. Oct. 14, Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Sven, Julie & Mike from Paperbacks perform two sets of original music from the quieter side of the Paperbacks’ catalog.

The Father’s Daughters6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Enjoy live music in the evening by The Father’s Daughters acoustic trio from Waterville.

Send details to southernminnscene.com.

Owatonna Farmers Market--

7 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 15, Central Park Owatonna, 100 E. Main St, Owatonna. Enjoy numerous vendors and their products in beautiful downtown Owatonna. Saturdays from May to October.

Story Time at the Market8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 15, St. Peter Food Co-Op, 228 W. Mulberry St., St. Peter. The third Saturday June-October will feature free books, fun activities and a 10 a.m. story time.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Pumpkin Express Train

Rides - 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 15, Gopher State Railway Museum, 25501 Helena Blvd., New Prague. Fun for the whole family. Ride the train, pick out a pumpkin to take home, enjoy a cookie and beverage.

Flavors of Fall Festival - 4-8 p.m. Oct. 15, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Endless fall activities and delicious seasonal pizzas and drinks. Photo opportunities, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, horse and wagon rides, mini pumpkin tic tac toe, crafts, hot apple cider bar, seasonal wine and beer flavors, and constant live music. 4-8 p.m. Saturdays and 1-7 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 16.

Guest Artist Karen Tanaka7:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. Karen Tanaka is an exceptionally versatile composer and pianist. She has composed extensively for concert music, film scores and electronic media.

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com. we miss something? us know! We may still be able to get an important of that in the newspapers.

Camp Er’ Treat-- 4-6 p.m. Oct. 15, Lake Washington Regional Park & Campground, 47102 Washington Park Rd., Kasota. Trick or treating has come tot he campground for the fourth annual Camp Er’ Treat. Campsites are encouraged to decorate their sits and be open to spooky visitors. Free event, open to all, including general public.

Street Talk - 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Street Talk was conceived with one goal in mind: to entertain! This six-piece band performs some of the biggest multi-million selling hits from the eighties, nineties, and 2000s.

October Farmers Market4-7 p.m. Oct. 20, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 309 Forest St., Kenyon. Handcrafted and Homemade items. New vendors each month to share a variety of items to Kenyon.

MN Jack Sparrow -- 1 p.m. Oct. 21, Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield.

MN Jack Sparrow dazzles with his spot-on impersonation while teaching pirate and nautical history through a pirate’s eyes. You’ll even get to touch real artifacts from sunken ships.

Stormbreaker - 7 p.m. Oct. 15, Music Space, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna.

When an exciting high energy timeless young rock band has already moved up to the much bigger stages like The Whisky A Go Go with Dokken, Rock Fest Stages with bands like Body Count, Korn, Hinder, Tesla or headlining their own bigger club shows, they generally don’t stop at a smaller stage like The Music Space. Well, our stage is built to rock. so strike the match and let’s get hot with the big stage, made for an arena rock of Stormbreaker.

Jazz Brunch - 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 16, Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Enjoy a delicious brunch featuring local ingredients paired with live Jazz and Keepsake Cider and more. Jazz duo KAVE provided the music.

Regan Golden: Grow Closer

- Oct. 19, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter.

In Grow Closer, Regan Golden explores relationships through an environmentalist lens. Drawing on imagery of plant life from the forest and prairie lands adjacent to Golden’s home, she collages, photographs, and paints, creating compositions that bring a sense of emotion to landscape. Runs through Dec. 9.

Charcuterie Boarding

School - 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20, Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Learn the art of building a beautiful charcuterie board in this fun, fall themed, hands on level 2 class. Tickets online at fromthediner. com.

The Revolutionists - 7-9 p.m. Oct. 21, Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen (and fan of ribbons) Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle hang out, murder Marat, and try to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris. Oct. 21, 29 and Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., plus Oct. 22 at 9:30 p.m., and Oct. 30 and Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.

The Humans

Phil Berbig - 7-9 p.m. Oct. 15, Music Space, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Beer, music and fun.

Curious Objects

- Oct. 19, Carleton College, 1 N College St., Northfield. An exhibition highlighting projects by faculty and their students who engage with artworks from the Perlman Teaching Museum’s permanent collection.

Celebrating Dia de Los Muertos

Jake Owen - 7-10 p.m. Oct. 20, Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato. Country star Jake Owen heads to Mankato, joined by Travis Denning.

- 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play. An inestimably kind, rich, and beautiful play, truly remarkable and exceptionally moving. Oct. 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m., plus Oct. 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets online or at the box office.

Midwest All-Star Wrestling

- 7 p.m. Oct. 15, Faribault American Legion, 112 5th St. NE. A fun night of wrestling. Food served.

- 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 19, St. Peter Public Library, 601 S. Washington Ave., St. Peter. Learn about the cultural significance of Day of the Dead or All Souls Day. Work with an artist to create a colorful wire and clay skeleton, a reminder that the holiday is a tie to recall special ancestors and those who have passed away.

Juliet Patterson & Kathryn

Savage - 7 p.m. Oct. 20, Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Content Bookstore is thrilled to welcome you to join St. Olaf professor Juliet Patterson and Kathryn Savage in conversation about their new memoirs, “Sinkhole” and “Groundglass” respectively.

High Island Arena Rodeo

- Oct. 21, The High Island Arena Rodeo works hard to deliver you a memorable rodeo experience. Bull riding, barrel racing, bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping. Free parking. Concessions. Beer stand.

Craft Sale9-10 a.m. Oct. 21, Le Center. Lynn’s Gathering Shed offers a fall craft show in rural Le Sueur County.

Brass Lassie7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St., Northfield. Brass Lassie, a bold trad band based in the Twin Cities of St. Paul/ Minneapolis, combines traditional tunes, songs and style with dazzling modern horn lines, sparking their own genre of eclectic, remarkable music. Tickets online or at the door.

Samantha

Grimes - 8 p.m. Oct. 21, Music Space, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Samantha Grimes travels from Wisconsin to perform on a Friday Night at The Music Space. Samantha has been playing stringed instruments since she was old enough to put rubber bands between dresser knobs. Left-handed and upside down, she has been writing and performing music for the past two decades.

Family Outdoor Movie8-10 p.m. Oct. 21, A fun outdoor movie for the family.

Le Sueur

Farmers Market-- 8 a.m.12 p.m. Oct. 22, North Second Street, Le Sueur. The Le Sueur Farmers Market aims to promote healthy community in the Minnesota River Valley through local produce, homegrown goods, and handmade merchandise. Saturday mornings May 28-Oct. 29.

Fairway Beerfest - 1-4 p.m. Oct.

22, Tavern Nine at Brooktree, 1369 Cherry St., Owatonna. Held on the golf course fairway, featuring 20-plus breweries, food specials, games and live polka music.

Flavors of Fall Festival

-

4-8 p.m. Oct. 22, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Photo opportunities, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, horse and wagon rides, mini pumpkin tic tac toe, crafts, hot apple cider bar, seasonal wine and beer flavors, and constant live music.

Kid Dakota5-7 p.m. Oct. 22, Montgomery Brewing, 306 Second St. NW, Montgomery. Solo acoustic performance at the brewery. Who Murdered the “Super?” - 5-8:30 p.m. Oct. 22, Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Dress up in your favorite school attire or as your favorite teacher, and join us at the “school” to help us solve the mystery. We will even provide you with a delicious “school lunch.” Tickets online; include meal and show.

The Outsider

- 7-9 p.m. Oct. 22, Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Ned Newley doesn’t even want to be governor. He’s terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his eversupportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. Shows Oct. 22, 28 and Nov. 5, plus Oct. 23 and Nov. 6 at 2 p.m., and Oct. 29 at 9:30 p.m.

No Time For Fame - 7 p.m. Oct. 22, 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. No Time For Fame will start playing, and you will start counting to 10,000. By the time you get there, these five guys will have rocked the patio in Faribault.

Miller has toured with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Bo Diddley, has been published by Hal Leonard, inducted three times into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame, and has released 11 self-produced albums. Call or email the OAC for tickets.

Branded - 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22, Reggie’s Brewhouse, 220 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Minnesota’s hottest country act, brings highenergy fun to all the hottest current country hits, while mixing in a bunch of your favorite classics.

Sound Field - 2 p.m. Oct. 23, Owatonna Art Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. Julie Sweet on piano, Julie Johnson on flute, Pat O’Keefe on clarinet and Marissa Frye on viola. The concert will feature works by 20th and 21st century composers.

Scottie Miller - 2 p.m. Oct. 23, Owatonna Art Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. Singer-songwriter-pianist Scottie

The Wandering HouseOct. 26, Carleton College, 1 N College St., Northfield. he Wandering House is a multiplatform art project developed by Chilean/ American artist, filmmaker, and faculty member in Cinema and Media Studies, Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo.

SoMINN

AsNew York fashion week comes to a close, it is fun to reflect on the styles that are applicable to real life. Especially in the Midwest, high fashion can feel out of reach and a bit overwhelming.

Fashion should be fun, so we’ve broken down the key looks for you to consider for your own 2022-23 wardrobe. Pull in spiration from the styles that speak to you and remember to have some fun by trying something new.

Military brat

Military brat is a fresh but by no means new style. It can be best characterized by an eclectic and worldly style to be worn by a modern day patriot. Coming off a summer where ‘Top Gun’ swept the nation, it is no surprise that the military look is pulling such a heavy influence in everyday street wear. To achieve the look, combine metallic buttons, square shoulders, heavy materi als and deep colors. Try pairing a chic trouser with a matching bomber jacket for an elevated yet casual look. To modify the trend for the office, swap out your bomber jacket for a tailored blazer with bold details. Army green is often associated with the military brat look, but try expanding on the look with brown, navy, orange and black.

Night on the town

After a few years stuck at home we are seeing a resurgence of the going out look. This look will mean something different for everyone, as expected with fashion. For some, a night on the town is a weekly ritual, while others make it a special occasion. Wherever you fall on the spectrum you deserve to dress like the main character. To build a show stopping outfit you will need juxtaposition within the materials you wear. Try pairing a satin blouse with leather trousers, or a sheer blouse with your favorite denim. Round out your look with rhinestone jewelry to sparkle with the night sky.

Workwear

ELLEN

combines fashion with functionality, and will look different for everyone. Consider the elements of style that will play an essential role in your ability to work effectively and where you have room to play. This may mean pairing a romantic and com fortable dress with a pair of sneakers, combining your favorite blazer with denim, or wearing trousers with a simple t-shirt and dressing it up with accessories.

Color wash

Bold colors are taking center stage in fashion. Color wash is the idea of a monochrome look being the statement itself. Trousers are becoming readily available in bold colors, colored jeans are back in style, and of course dresses and skirts are here to stay. Build your outfit around pieces you love and will want to style several ways. Try mixing trousers in your favorite color to your workwear lineup, and pair with a matching or similar blouse and blazer. If trousers aren’t for you, style your denim with a blue satin blouse and navy cardigan to create layers in an elongating monochrome style.

Dolly

Be a diamond in a rhinestone world. Western fashion is lead ing the way in fall 2022 style. In combination of the western comeback, and the bold colors we are left with looks that rival those of Dolly Parton herself. Have some fun with this look by combining traditionally western pieces with bold colors, satin and chiffon materials, and of course rhinestones. Experiment with combinations that you would traditionally view as unortho dox. Pair a satin blouse with a denim skirt and vest, and com plete the look with a touch of glam. Give life to your trousers by pairing them with a lace shirt. On a small scale, wear a western boot with your favorite skirt and sweater.

Boss lady

From the receptionist to the boardroom, women work tire lessly to keep things on track. Boss Lady is fashion inspiration for the women who are really running the office. You need function and mobility while also being taken seriously. In this look, think

Some dress codes have to be written for yourself. Whether you work from home or have a laid back work environment, there is still value in dressing to feel your best. Workwear

Ellen Eide is a 25-year-old fashion enthusiast from Le Sueur. With a background in atmospheric science, Ellen now works as the brand manager for Her Happy Place Boutique in St. Peter.

in terms of balance. A structured trousers with a light satin top offers both a touch of masculine and feminine. Try pairing a qual ity midi skirt with sneakers and a blouse for a casual setting, or swap out a pair of pumps to dress up the look.

Top dog

This one is for our women in power sales who need their look

to speak before they say a word. This look is an office variation of the color wash look. Give a power suit a try, and see what it does for your professional life. For extra effect, try a bold color to make a lasting impression.

Lead honcho

Sometimes your confidence wins more games than your quali fications. It is important to look the part with classic pieces you

know make you feel great. For some this may be a go to pencil dress, for others a two piece set, or quality blazer and trousers. Filling your wardrobe with pieces that make you feel your best will improve your self esteem, which will trickle down to your performance.

Being taken seriously starts with your appe arance. of skirts and trousers wil l fit your needs an d your budg et. Her Place fashi on knowle and is to help . HerPlace Happy

217 South Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter (507) 931 0008

taken seriousl y starts with appea rance. Our large selection of dresses, skirts and will fit your profession al and your budge t. Her Happy staff is armed with fashion dge and is happy to help.

Path Lit by Lightning, American True Crime and more

Path Lit By Lightning:

The Life of Jim Thorpe

by David Maraniss

c.2022, Simon & Schuster $32.50 659 page

You’re a lot stronger than you think.

Physically, you can run faster, jump higher, land firmer, and throw farther than others. You take your place among the winners. Psychologically, you’re resourceful, smart, decisive, wise. You’re a lot stronger than you think, no matter what – as in the new book “Path Lit by Lightning” by David Maraniss – anybody tries to tell you.

One can almost imagine the kind of childhood that Jim Thorpe had.

He was born in Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma in 1887 to a “wayward father” who had multiple wives. Life then was “volatile,” says Maraniss, but the Thorpe family was “better off than most,” because they had a farm with a large farmhouse. That changed shortly after the Dawes Act was passed, which allowed government distribution of Native lands to non-Native people, and the assimilation of Native Americans into EuroAmerican life.

Thorpe was just seven years old when his assimilation began at a “government institution.” He was introduced to football at Haskell, a school in Kansas, when he was eleven; at the end of his time there, he spent a year working in Texas before arriving at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. Thorpe didn’t like Carlisle, and he didn’t generally like working on nearby farms for Carlisle’s “Outing Program.”

He ran away more than once.

Some time before he did, though, Carlisle had begun a focus on athletics, and had hired Pop Warner, a young hotshot football coach to lead the program – which meant nothing to Jim Thorpe, until...

Legend has it that Thorpe was never much for sports until one day, he was on his way from one job to another, wearing work clothes and “borrowed gym shoes” when he saw the Carlisle track team at practice. He asked if he could try the high jump and the team scoffed. They didn’t scoff when he easily topped their best. Neither did Coach Warner, who snatched Thorpe on the spot for his football team.

If you are a reader of certain kinds of non-fiction books, “Path Lit by Lightning” may disappoint you from the getgo.

Just by looking at it, you can tell that it’s not only about the life of athlete Jim Thorpe. No, author David Maraniss spreads his hands far and wide in a century-and-a-half tale of America, sports, and then-current events, spanning the world, politics, and injustices that are impossible to read now without cringing. This makes a great story but so wide is its presentation, that it’s almost as if there are multiple books between the covers of this volume. Readers may find that Jim Thorpe occasionally gets lost in the telling, which could be concerning for someone who prefers spare, lean biographies and just the facts.

But can you miss the delicious extras? If you prefer rail-thin biographies, that’s a decision to make. If you’re looking for a tale that sweeps around the world, though, and lands in the news just a few weeks ago, “Path Lit by Lightning” is a strong contender.

Slenderman:

Online Obsession, Mental Illness, and the Violent Crime of Two Midwestern Girls by Kathleen Hale

c.2022, Grove Press $27.00 348 pages

Your favorite scary movies almost make you jump out of your skin.

The characters send gooseflesh up your arms, the hairs on the back of your neck rise, and you shiver – admittedly, with delight because a lot of people just like you enjoy having a good scare now and then. You jump – and then you breathe easier, knowing that it’s just a story and, as in the new book “Slenderman” by Kathleen Hale, nobody will ask you to kill.

Though she was an only child and she rarely played

with other children at school, nine-year-old Morgan Geyser “was never really alone.” That’s because she had two constant “friends” who stayed inside her head where they lived. She also had Bella Leutner, who was the best friend other people could see, the best friend Morgan always wanted.

In a way, writes Hale, Bella was Morgan’s “caretaker” at school. For three years, she made sure Morgan didn’t do anything rash or self-injurious, and she indulged Morgan’s flights of fancy and “pretended to hear” the same voices in Morgan’s head. But as they grew up, Bella’s social circle grew, while Morgan’s stayed almost the same.

And then Morgan met Anissa, who introduced Morgan to a website that was filled with middle-schooltame stories and tales of murderous beings and alien entities. One of them was called “Slenderman.” who was supposedly fourteen feet tall with exaggeratedly long arms and legs, no discernible face, and a penchant for murder.

Within a very short time, both girls became obsessed with Slenderman and decided to become his “proxies.”

In order to save their families from sure death, a sacrifice needed to be made; after that, the girls would live with “Slender” in his mansion, which they figured was about 300 miles away from their hometown in Wisconsin.

They’d walk to the mansion to live with Slender forever – but first, Bella had to die....

In her introduction to this book, author Kathleen Hale says that, although she grew up near the area in which the crime happened, she was stymied by a near-total shut-out of information. No one wanted to talk with her except Morgan Geyser, and so Hale mostly used reports, transcripts, and public information to craft this book.

Though that could mean a deep sense of familiarity with the story – it may be info you’ve heard or read already –readers will be surprised that the lack isn’t an issue.

The reason, perhaps, is because Hale uses “Slenderman” to delve into the mental health aspect of this incident, peeling it apart from the crime and examining it as a separate subject-within-a-subject. This doesn’t mute the shock of it all – Hale reminds readers many times that the attempted murder was committed by “two little girls” – but it updates and adds another side to a tale that will continue to unfold for decades to come.

This is a book for true crime lovers, but it’s also perfect for anyone who enjoys courtroom dramas, too. If that’s you, then find “Slenderman” and jump on it.

Taxi from Another Planet: Conversations with Drivers about Life in the Universe by Charles S. Cockell

c.2022, Harvard University Press $26.95 288 pages

You’re somewhat of a captive audience.

The guy up front, the one who’s driving, really has all the power. He can speed up or slow down, yammer or stay silent. To get where you need to be, you have to go with his flow until you actually get there so you may as well just sit back. As in the new book “Taxi from Another Planet” by Charles S. Cockell, you might learn something.

At the ends of long flights to conferences, symposiums, and home, former NASA scientist Charles Cockell says he looks forward to a cab ride to finish his journey. One reason is that taxi drivers are “particularly interesting to engage in” philosophical conversations because cabbies are “exposed to the bountiful and colorful menagerie of humanity.”

The questions he poses to cab drivers, and subsequent discussions, are as wide as they are deep.

The evolution of “churning, swirling matter” answers one question, for instance, when a driver asked Cockell if he thought he might have a doppelganger in another universe. An explanation gave the cabbie – and the reader – a reminder of our “rare haven” of a planet.

Or, let’s say aliens suddenly came to Earth tomorrow afternoon. Would we flee in horror, or would we welcome them with curiosity and a willingness to make peace? How aware are we of the cautions of finding out?

Will you ever have the chance to travel to Mars? Once we can, should we use the Red Planet as our “Plan B” if Earth becomes too crowded and polluted? The answers beg for patience and a reminder that “Earth is the best planet we have for the foreseeable future.”

Is it possible that the aliens already “own” us? Will we be able to communicate with them, if they ever arrive? Would we really be able to live our entire lives on Mars? And if we decide to forego space exploration in favor of “fixing” what’s wrong on Earth, are we prepared to forego the things space exploration teaches us?

So, it looks like another American moon trip is probable again, and the possibility of one day living on Mars is on the table. But were those old 1950s Martian-and-monster sci-fi movies at least a little right?

Take a deep breath, and read “Taxi from Another Planet.”

Then relax. Author Charles S. Cockell gives readers a good, basic (and easy-to-understand) refresher course on life on Earth as he prepares to discuss life outside Earth, and it’s not at all scary. Cockell instead shows how science is relevant in his reader’s lives, with fun examples and popculture references. “Impossible,” in fact, isn’t a word that Cockell uses often; you’re invited to let your ideas roll, let your imagination go wild, and to dream... carefully.

While this is surely a book for adults, older teens who study the skies and make plans for a home on the moon will appreciate it, as well. Place your copy of “Taxi from Another Planet” near your telescope. You might find it captivating.

Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)

by Amy Gallo

c.2022, Harvard Business Review Press $30.00 304 pages

Mister Least-Favorite-Coworker came around today, and you wanted to run.

You couldn’t hide beneath your desk; he saw you before you saw him. The boss frowns on loud screaming so, with options limited, you listened to him talk but you weren’t happy. The guy just irritates you to no end, and in “Getting Along” by Amy Gallo, you’ll learn how to survive him, and others.

It’s an almost universal thing: in one recent study, ninety-four percent of workers polled said that they worked with someone who was difficult to get along with. If someone ever offered a “Dealing with Jerks” class, in other words, it would be crowded.

And yet, many workers strive to get along at work because they like the job and everybody else there, or they’re (sometimes) patient enough to give the toxic person the benefit of the doubt. They might also realize that they’re not totally innocent in every situation. They understand that, bottom line, work is mostly about relationships.

Brain science explains a lot, says Gallo, which offers a first step to peace. Your brain isn’t perfect, neither is your adversary’s, and it helps to remember that.

It also helps to know the various types of difficult people you might deal with at work.

First up: try to imagine the stressors an insecure boss faces, and cut them some slack. Try to see a pessimist’s dire words as warning, not as whining. Ask yourself if a victim is really being persecuted. Enlist the help of your team when dealing with a passive-aggressive coworker. Learn how to stop a know-it-all in his tracks. Remember that generational issues may be why you’re having problems with a tormentor. Know the risks of speaking up and not speaking up about a biased coworker. Learn how to showcase your work, get credit for it, and thwart the political operator. Know the basic principles for simply just getting along.

And finally, know when to throw in the towel. Take care of yourself but know that quitting is okay, and there’s absolutely no shame in it.

So, with “Help Wanted” signs everywhere and jobs plentiful, is there even a need for a book like “Getting Along” anymore? Yes, suggest author Amy Gallo, because

there’s more to every picture and the jerk in this situation could be you.

But let’s say you’re a flawless human being or you work from home – which warrants several entire paragraphs in this book – or you don’t have to work. “Getting Along” is still a valid read because Gallo’s advice will work for family, frienemies, neighbors, nearly anybody you can’t avoid and who rankle you mightily. The lessons you’ll learn are useful as a compassionate, intelligent, Zen way of looking at conflict and humanity, while also protecting yourself and honing your flexibility.

While this book is specifically about getting along with bosses and coworkers, it’s not a bad idea as a gift for a teen or new college student. As for mindful conflict resolution, “Getting Along” is a book they’ll run to often.

American Demon: Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America’s Jack the Ripper by Daniel Stashower

c.2022, Minotaur Books $29.99 342 pages

You think you know who dun it.

Sometimes, murder mysteries are like that: you get a few pages in, and the killer is obvious to anyone with eyes. And then sometimes, there’s a sense of the unsettled and unfinished left to a story – especially if it’s true – and those are the best kinds of books. With that in mind, here are two great true crime books for you to read this fall....

It had been a beautiful early-fall day that September of 1934, a great day for a leisurely stroll along the shores of Lake Erie, to watch the water and the area’s wildlife, to ponder life’s little mysteries. Surely, however, the lower half of a female body was the wrong kind of surprise for the beach-walker who stumbled upon a crime scene but the “Lady of the Lake,” as the woman was quickly referred to, was just the beginning.

Over the course of the next 48 months, a dozen more, similar bodies would be found throughout the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Each corpse was drained of blood and all were dismembered, as if a surgeon was practicing his art. Investigators could tell that some of the women died in the most gruesome manner.

Understandably, every single person in the entire city was horrified and the mayor of Cleveland called for help from the best person one could then imagine: Eliot Ness, who came large to the city after a successful take-down of Al Capone in Chicago. Readers can almost imagine Ness, stalking like a boss into Ohio.

Could the “Untouchables” take down another criminal –this time, a killer?

Find out in “American Demon” by Daniel Stashower.

And speaking of Chicago, if you love a good true crime book, reach back a century ago and reach for “Nothing But the Night” by Greg King and Penny Wilson. It’s the tale of a most gruesome murder that shocked America for its scandal.

Indeed, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb both had splendid futures ahead of them: they were educated, privileged, and their families were relatively well-off, even on the cusp of the Great Depression. They could have been leaders but no, they murdered fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks, and they did it just for kicks.

Immediately after the senseless murder happened in 1924, scads of rumors, misinformation and half-beliefs circled through every conversation about the boys, about their lawyer, and about the depravity of their crime.

People couldn’t stop talking about it.

And King and Wilson say today that none of that is true.

In this book, readers learn the real story of Leopold, Lowe, Clarence Darrow, and the “Crime of the Century,” and it’s a story that’ll chill you even now...

If these are not absolutely the perfect books for your true crime-reading pleasure, then be sure to throw yourself at the mercy of your favorite bookseller or librarian. They’ll know exactly what you want, what will interest you, and what will chill you on a chilly night.

Librarians and booksellers are like that. They’ve dun it all.

Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer based just across the river from SoMinn in LaCrosse, WI. She can be contacted at bookwormsez@gmail.com