OTHERSHOWSYOU’LLLOVE: ROLLON:ATRIBUTETOALABAMA
OCTOBER5
LARRYGATLIN:ANINTIMATE EVENINGOFSONGS&STORIES OCTOBER25
ADESSA&THEBEATPRESENTS: ADOWNHOMECHRISTMAS DECEMBER6
MICKSTERLINGPRESENTS: AGRANDOLEOPRYCHRISTMAS DECEMBER11@1:30PM ANANDY&BINGCHRISTMAS DECEMBER11@7:30
Philip Weyhe at editor@southernminnscene.com 507-931-8579 or
Deanna Boland - 507-340-5806 deanna.boland@apgsomn.com DESIGNER Kate Townsend-Noet
By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor
ith all the tantalizing foods and flavors available from hard-working food truck operators across southern Minnesota, it’s amazing
anyone’s still cooking at home.
These mobile units might be just down the
street from you one week but 50 miles away the next, so taking advantage of your favorites while they’re in the neighborhood is smart.
Still, most food truck owners maintain an online presence, either via websites or Facebook pages, so it’s easy to look up where and when they can be found.
And summer is the prime season to eat your fill of these often one-of-a-kind options, ranging from loaded hot dogs to Mexican to Philly cheesesteaks to vegan delights to wood-fired pizza to secret recipe barbecued pork. Drooling yet? Read on for details about two regional food truck entrepreneurs and their delectable cuisine. For further ideas to hunt down
additional tempting fare available in the area, don’t miss the list at the end.
Jonny’s Smokin’ BBQ: Le Sueur-based food truck and catering company specializing in smoked meats and BBQ favorites. Featured Facebook page.
Craving slow-cooked smoked pulled pork but want it dished up fast?
Then Jonny’s Smokin’ BBQ is the stop for you.
Owner Jon Tagatz, 51, spent six years in the U.S. Army following his 1991 graduation from Blue Earth High School. He later earned a business degree at Concordia University, St. Paul, and in between spent years as an operations manager and plant manager with different food facilities, including at Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop.
In other words, the guy’s collective experiences trained him to nail everything related to food, operations management and customer service.
“What separates us from a lot of other food trucks is our efficiency,” said Tagatz.
“I’m a process person so there’s almost no wait time; by the time you’ve paid for your
food, it’s practically in your hands. We customize every single order within an average of 30 seconds.”
Despite that need for speed, what’s never rushed is the cooking process itself.
“Each batch [of pulled pork, baby back ribs, brisket] takes a minimum of 24 hours to prepare,” Tagatz explained.
The result? Mouth-watering servings featuring Jonny’s proprietary barbecue sauce and to-die-for side dishes including potato salad, coleslaw, brisket beans and cornbread.
“And we source everything as locally as possible, plus all our meat is USDA-certified,” said Tagatz.
Even Jonny’s buns are baked to specification at local bakeries. But—shhhhh. He won’t reveal which ones.
“Buns can make or break a really good sandwich so we did a lot of research on everything from the buns to the pickles because we wanted every product served to blow people’s minds,” he assured.
“We had a lot of family members try our
“I couldn’t have done this without my wife’s support,” Tagatz said. “Being able to work with family is awesome.”
And although thousands of BBQ fans across the southern portion of the state now clamor for Jonny’s Smokin’ BBQ, it’s fitting that Tagatz himself remains equally enthusiastic about their products.
“It’s amazing food,” said Tagatz. “We sample every single batch, and it never gets old. To see our smoked pulled pork go through the whole process—and our baby back ribs are insane.”
A word of advice: Avoid talking to Tagatz before mealtime.
“A dish we introduced two years ago that’s probably now our best seller is ‘Jonny’s Mac Stack,’ which is a four-cheese creamy Mac topped with smoked pulled pork and jalapeños, bacon and Jonny’s BBQ sauce,” he listed. Oh, and all of their sauces and dry rubs are gluten-free.
A few places to find Jonny’s Smokin’ BBQ in the coming weeks include Le Sueur Giant Days from Aug. 1-4, Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association from Aug. 23-25 and every Tuesday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. through September at the Henderson Classic Car Roll-Ins (parked at The Black Door Boutique, 529 Main St., Henderson).
The Brick Oven Bus, Eagan-based mobile food cookery known for its wood-fire pizza with sourdough crust and sauce made from San Marzano tomatoes. brickovenbus.com or featured Facebook page.
Considering the savory, fresh-from-the-oven taste of these wood-fired pies, it shouldindeed be considered “unlawful to pass without buying pizza,” as the Brick Oven Bus declares on the former emergency exit door of its retrofitted yellow kitchen on wheels.
products as we developed them and we chose the best of the best.”
Evidence that the approach worked lies in the growth (of reputation, popularity and demand) Jonny’s Smokin’ BBQ enjoys after less than five full years in existence.
Besides having an active food truck presence within an hour’s radius of Le Sueur, Jonny’s also caters for weddings, graduations, corporate parties, reunions—oh, and a “little” deal like every men’s Maverick hockey game at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.
“We operate year-round,” said Tagatz. “We’ve had our own kitchen at the Mayo event center for the last two years.”
Besides having a secret sauce, Jonny’s secret to success might just be the tie that binds: family. For large events (when 300 or more people are expected), Tagatz said teams of seven are in place—and almost every team member is also part of the Tagatz extended family unit, starting with his wife Peggy and their two daughters. Brothers- and sisters-in-law, a sister, nieces and nephews and a few friends of Tagatz’s younger daughter, a rising high school senior, are all part of the BBQ brigade.
But wait — that’s a brick oven peeking out the back window, not a bunch of sassy thirdgraders. The four-foot brick chimney shooting through the roof is another clue that school’s out for the summer and pizza is so very much “in.”
“Food trucks make people smile,” said Paris Rosen, owner of Brick Oven Bus. “And we’re pizza entertainers who sell an experience, not just pizza.”
It’s been over six years since Rosen launched his concept, which was created with the help of his late friend and mason, Dom Waldoch. Rosen has built Brick Oven Bus from one touring pizza oven to six, one of which cruises close to southern Minnesotans on a regular basis; Imminent Brewing in Northfield, 10,000 Drops Craft Distillery in Faribault, Chaotic Good Brewing in Kasson, SXSE in Pine Island and Mineral Springs Brewery in Owatonna all have Brick Oven Bus on their food truck rotations, for instance. And in the past year, Rosen has made a concerted effort to expand to the Rochester, Minn., market, with weekly appearances at Thesis Beer Project and Little Thistle Brewing—and parking lot gigs at Cub Foods, Home Depot and various other locations to boot.
The calling card for Brick Oven Bus is fairly
Whet your appetite by chewing on a few of these food truck options across the Southern Minn Scene region: Bingo Pete’s BBQ (Northfield-based) 612559-3625, bingopetesbbq.com; brisket, pork, nachos, bacon cheddar brats, banana pudding and more.
simple: naturally leavened sourdough bread forms the ooh-la-la crust for five basic pizza offerings: the Meat (pepperoni, spiced Italian sausage and smoked bacon covered with a three-cheese blend), the Angry Hawaiian (smoked bacon, pineapple, banana peppers and a cayenne pineapple glaze over the threecheese blend), the Margherita (basil, sliced Roma tomatoes, olive oil and a scattering of fresh mozzarella), the Lionheart (artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, garlic-infused olive oil, shredded cheese and a balsamic glaze) and finally, the Kid (plain sausage, pepperoni and cheese).
“But we’ll customize to whatever people want with whatever we’ve got on the bus,” said Rosen. “If they want an artichoke pizza, we’ll make that happen.”
Rosen says the Angry Lion is a popular bite, with the right balance of sweet and salty hitting the taste buds perfectly.
Blake’s BETtor Spread (Waseca-based): facebook.com/Blakesbettorspread; cowboy tacos, boneless wings, a variety of sauces, French fries.
Bleu Duck Kitchen - The Duck Truck (Rochester-based): bleuduckkitchen.com/theduck-truck; burgers, tortadillas, barbacoa tacos, clam chowder fries, Whoopie pies and more. Brat Dogs (Owatonna-based) facebook. com/MinnesotasOriginalBratDogs; brat dogs, bratchos, tater tots, apple fries.
Brick Oven Bus (Northfield-based) brickovenbus.com; wood-fired pizzas with sourdough crust and imported Italian tomatoes.
Che Che’s Lunchera (Kenyon-based) 507323-0914; burgers, burritos, quesadillas and more.
And while it takes a few minutes — but just a few — for those pizzas to bake, Rosen assures that his 35 employees know just what to do to keep customers happy even as they wait.
“We believe that if you put people first, good food will follow,” said Rosen. “That’s so important to us. I always tell our employees, ‘Don’t pull a McDonald’s.’”
In other words, Rosen knows that people love food trucks, and the novelty foods they often bring to the sites, events and surroundings they frequent, not just for the delicious food they serve but also for the fun moments in life they represent. (Such as….a summer evening relaxing at a brewery, winery or distillery.)
He and his late friend got the idea for Brick Oven Bus after spending time together with their families, baking pizzas in the tiny, firebricklined oven Waldoch had crafted in his own kitchen.
“We cranked up the heat to 600, 700 degrees, baked pizzas, drank wine and hung out,” said Rosen.
“It was such a great experience that we wanted to share it with everyone and make other people feel good and build their own connections.”
Rosen hopes everyone agrees: there’s no better way to connect than over a shared handcrafted pizza, hot from the oven and delivered with a smile by a happy Brick Oven Bus baker.
Note: Brick Oven Bus is also available to cook pizzas at private events including (but not limited to) weddings, graduation parties, work events, showers. Email info@brickovenbus.com for more details.
Delicious Pupusas (Faribault-based) 507491-4168, on Facebook; savory pupusas. El Jefe (Faribault-based) 507-838-8027, Food Truck El Jefe on Facebook; tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, nachos and more.
Hammer Q (Dodge Center-based) hammerq.com; pulled pork, shredded chicken and brisket sandwiches; four types of nachos.
Heavy Metal Grill (Lakeville-based) theheavymetalgrill.com; variety of tacos, taco bowls.
Jersey Jo’s Philly Cheesesteaks (Rochester-based) facebook.com/jerseyjosfoodtrucks. Jonny’s Smokin BBQ (Le Sueur-based) 507525-3867, facebook.com/jonnyssmokinbbq. Lola’s (New Ulm-based) facebook.com/Lolafoodtruck.
Noris Cuisine (Geneva-based) facebook. com/noriscuisine.
Sunny Days Comfort Food (Arlingtonbased) sunnydayscomfortfood.com.
Scotty’s Whole Hog Barbecue (Northfield-based) scottyswholehogbbq.com.
Taqueria Michaels (Faribault-based) 507 330-4259, on Facebook.
The Twisted Chicken (Faribault-based) facebook.com/twistedchickentruck.
Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504. wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail. com
I’m sorry I’m not able to submit my column this month. I just turned 60, and the majority of my time must be focused on my priority … defying aging.
I don’t have spare time these days to willy nilly write stuff for you when I need to dedicate serious blocks of my day to applying serums.
Thinning hair seems to be my biggest nemesis. I don’t mean body hair; I mean on top of my skull. The body hair is always strong in many unwanted places. Matter of fact, I used to have hair that looked like normal people. Hair where you couldn’t see through to my shiny pink scalp. Imagine my excitement the day a customer at my old store was looking down at me while I was seated at my sales counter and casually asked, “Have you always been bald or is this a new thing?!”
My research shows that I’m either going to have to pay to have each individual hair relocated from the back of my noggin while vacationing in Turkey or enjoy a lot of quality time with a guy sporting a mess of neck tattoos who can fill in blank spots on my scalp. Doctors
in Turkey charge per hair graft and “Snake” (the tattoo dynamo) says it’s gonna be super painful. So many choices.
Hence, my choice of the compounded-justfor-me-magic-hair-serum. Applying it makes my hair feel like a department store mannequin’s wig, but as we all know, beauty is never easy. The dream of a scalp that you can’t see through is just too tempting. Fun note, you have to use this formula twice a day for the rest of your damn life. The brochure says the minute you stop using the secret liquid, your hair rains down and forms tumbleweeds on your bathroom floor.
And think about my twice daily use of the facial serums. One for day and one for before bed. Just keeping track of which is which and continually applying it in a gentle upward motion, is exhausting. I’m so busy washing my face and misting my skin and chanting soothing phrases to my sunspots, that I can hardly get to bed. Rumor has it, I’ll look like a 23-year-old in a matter of moments. So far, all I can tell from my intensive time spent in front of the mirror is that my nose is getting bigger by
the day.
Oh, don’t think for a minute it all stops there. The eyelash serum is the stuff that’s probably gonna make me grow antlers or go blind. I’m not sure which will kick in first.
I’ve been using this liquid for about six months. I’ve seen no discernible difference in the length or thickness of my eyelashes, but at least it’s exorbitantly expensive which makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something.
Of course, since that stuff hasn’t worked yet, I needed an eyelash tint/perm to make my lashes curly and more exotic. This took about 2.5 hours and only worked on one eye. I spent most of the next two months looking like I was winking at every guy at the gas station. This did not end well!
What am I doing the rest of those hours in a day you ask?! Hair masks for unbelievable shine, facial masks for glowing skin, and cuticle oil for the raging hangnails that make me look like I’ve been working in a field most of my life. What about the clay masks for pore reduction, injections to realize my decades-long dream of having an upper lip and the teeny star-
shaped stickers on my face to clear up what I assume is a resurgence of my teenage acne?! Let us not forget the hormone patches and electrolysis appointments to keep my constant and unstoppable man-beard at bay. Not to be confused with the laser appointments to clear up the spider-veins on my legs or the removal of the sun spots from my cheeks as they tend to look like silhouettes of turn-of- the-century Presidents.
This is why I have no time to meet my writing deadlines. I have a haircut appointment this afternoon where I will acquire the style that hides all my cowlicks and neck rolls. It takes me hours to moisturize all of my skin and stuff it into a stretchy fabric that is passable in polite society. I’m not saying 60 isn’t going well, I’m just sayin’, I have to reprioritize. I need time to tape on the parts that keep falling off and contour the facial features I no longer have. Camouflage makeup, cosmetic surgery and illusion clothing are only temporary fixes. If I find I have a few extra minutes someday soon, I might submit another column. I hope you can understand my dilemma.
Nsome awesome options for the classic dish.
Sean McCasey and his father Thomas founded Minnesota Wing King in St. Peter back in 2011. From the beginning until 2020, they operated at large festivals around the Midwest as a High Volume Concession Stand. This helped them to develop their recipes and continue to grow the Minnesota Wing King Brand.
From 2016-20, they partnered with U4IC Brewing in Blakeley and operated as a full service restaurant during the late fall to early spring each year. This is where they as a company were able to learn a lot of the important pieces that go into running a full service restaurant.
During the COVID shutdown, it became clear that large festivals were not going to be taking place for a large period of time, so they then shifted their focus toward finding a storefront location that they could begin operating out of.
Sean said they wanted to find one that had the same feel that we had been successful with at the brewery. They were able to find their current location, which had originally been a Bait and Tackle store and prior to them, Hobbers 99 Bar N Grill.
“After getting all of the paperwork out of the way to purchase the property, I took the next seven months to completely gut the building and do an all new build out of the interior to fit the Wing King
Brand. During this time, I was also able to acquire a large commercial grade smoker from a friend of mine that owned several restaurants, so that I could develop a menu that would fit the atmosphere we were creating. We opened in June 2021 and have been very fortunate to have
developed a very large following,” Sean said. “Our initial focus as a company that is named Wing King was our chicken wings. We believe we serve some of the best wings. All of our bone-in wings get a 48-hour brine before being double fried and then tossed in any of our over 50
house-made dry rubs and sauces.” But that’s not all they are known for throughout the region.
“During our time at the brewery, we added a flat top grill and became well known for our incredible 1/2-lb smash burgers,” Sean said.
Wing King’s burgers are so big and piled high with toppings that they actually have to get a special bun made that is able to fit the entire burger. The restaurant offers over 20 varieties of burgers and has over 50 different burgers that we rotate in and out of our menu depending on the season.
They also offer several scratch made sides that include mac n’ cheese, red skin mashed potatoes and fresh made brisket gravy, cowboy beans, bacon jalapeno corn salad and many more.
MN Wing King is open to the public Wednesday-Friday from 4-9 p.m., Saturday from noon-9 p.m., and Sunday from noon-6 p.m. It’s closed all day on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Another great burger location not too far from Wing King is the Little Dandy Sports Bar in Le Center.
Having just celebrated 16 years in business on July 1, owner Brad Factor said they offer a rich combination of wellloved food, including family style burgers, wraps, chicken, steaks, BBQ Ribs and fish.
“Our most popular specials are the Friday BBQ Ribs, and all-u-can eat breaded Alaskan Pollock. Saturday is all-u-caneat chicken or the chicken and BBQ Rib combo,” Factor said.
The Little Dandy idea stems from an idea years ago, Factor said, when supper clubs were popular with an emphasis on fine dining. He said a “Little Dandy” was a nickname for a distinguished gentleman. While the times may have changed, Factor said, there’s one thing that has definitely not:
“We are known for quality food with huge portions,” Factor said.
To go along with their quality food, they also have quality employees, he said. Currently, they have four full-time and around 10 part-time.
They are open Monday-Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. with a full menu available every day until 1 a.m.
Other great burger joints in the Southern Minn Scene region:
Eagle Lake - Eagle’s Nest, 100 S 2nd
St. N.
Faribault - Boonies Bar & Grill, 3301
Millersburg Blvd.
Faribault - Depot Bar & Grill, 311
Heritage Pl.
Kenyon - Angie’s, 31 2nd St.
Le Sueur - Luke’s, 205 S. Main St.
Lonsdale - Whistle Stop Tavern, 110 SW Railway St.
Miesville - King’s Place, 14460 240th St. E.
Minnesota Lake - The Great Escape, 320 Main St. N.
Northfield - Ole Store, 1011 St. Olaf Ave.
Northfield - Quarterback Club, 116 3rd St. W., #116
Owatonna - Lava Burgers and Wings, 369 18th St. SE
Owatonna - Wagner’s Lunch Pool Hall, 222 N. Cedar Ave.
St. Peter - Blaschko’s Embassy Bar, 325 S. Minnesota Ave.
St. Peter - Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. 3rd St.
Wanamingo - The Spot, 112 Main St.
Waseca - Barney’s Drive-In, 1300 E. Elm Ave.
Waseca - Boat House Bar & Grill, 406 9th St. NE
Waseca - Katie O’Leary’s Beef and Brew, 117 2nd Ave. NE
Ashley Hanley is a wife and mom of three kids under the age of five in North Mankato. When she’s not handing out snacks or kissing boo-boos, you can find her cheering on her favorite Minnesota sports teams and is a firm believer they will win a championship in her lifetime!
When it comes to fairs, I think we can all agree, the best part of the experience is the food. Your obvious
mainstays like corn dogs and mini donuts are a staple, Sweet Martha’s Cookies or Cindy Nachos are standout favorites at the State and Steele County Fair, but in a world where everything can be deep fried, vendors are having to up the ante.
The obsession with deep fr ying started around a decade ago when the Great Minnesota Get Together introduced deep fried Twinkies and Snickers. Now, each year, returning vendors think of new menu items to debut.
If last year’s “pickle pizza” craze was any indication, fairgoers are absolutely here for it, so let’s take a look at some of the new foods that will be featured at the Steele County and Minnesota State Fair in 2024.
Steele County Free Fair (the biggest county fair in the state): Aug. 13-18
DeAnna’s Donut Burgers: Poutine Burger
Poutine has been a best-seller for DeAnna’s food truck for years, so they decided to take a spin on the classic dish and add it to a burger! Located in Fair Square Park at the Steele County Free Fair, you can find this flame grilled burger topped with fries, cheese curds and delicious gravy.
Mami Churros & Creamery (new vendor): Halo Sundae Churro
A new vendor to the SCFF, Mami Churros & Creamery is bringing a new food that will make heads turn! The Halo Sundae Churro is a handcrafted halo shaped churro with assorted toppings like sprinkles and whipped cream, served with ice cream.
Come & Get it: SGI BURGER
North of the Grand Stand at the SCFF you will find the vendor Come and Get It.
New this year is the SGI burger which consists of a bacon cheddar cheeseburger topped with corned beef, pastrami and Swiss cheese topped with thousand island dressing, pickles, remoulade sauce and mustard.
Just Take The Cake Too: Loaded Lattes
These confectioner’s made waves last year at the Steele County Free Fair with their cake topped shakes. They are back at it again, this year with a caffeinated option! These elaborate lattes are topped with donut and come in a variety of flavors such as: Hot Campfire and Turtle Mocha.
La Borinqua: Flamin’ Cheetos Beef
Stuffed Potato Ball
I feel like the kids are gonna love this one. It is as ridiculous as it sounds and it literally looked like a Flamin’ Hot Cheeto-crusted Hostess Snowball. It is a ball of seasoned ground beef stuffed in mashed potatoes and breaded with ground hot Cheetos then fried and coated in more hot Cheetos. Bring your Pepto.
Noris Cuisine (new vendor): Famous Cachapa
Located just South of the Four Seasons Centre, Noris Cuisine provides a gluten free option: the Famous Cachapa. They are sweet
corn pancakes filled with hand-crafted cheese, slow cooked roasted pork and garnished with house green salsa and cream cheese. Sinful.
Minnesota State Fair: Aug. 22-Sept. 2
Public House:
Where are my ranch lovers at? Why dip something in ranch when you can just deep fry ranch itself!? That’s exactly what Lulu’s Public House aims to do this year at the Great Minnesota Get Together with their new food item, Deep Fried Ranch! Basically just buttercream ranch in a panko shell and deep fried! I’d try this.
Hamline Church Dining Hall: Swedish ‘Sota Sliders
Nothing says Minnesota Nice like the Church ladies, and they do it right. This year at the State Fair, Hamline Church Dining Hall is presenting a cranberry wild-rice meatball mashed into a patties, paired with dill Havarti cheese, beets, red onions, red peppers, lingonberries and cranberries served on two brioche buns! Sign me up!
O’Garas at the Fair: Walking Sheperd’s Pie
On the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street you will find O’Garas and new this year is their Walking Shepherd’s Pie. This Irish delicacy is two handmade hot pastries filled with braised ground beef, mashed potatoes, onions carrots and peas. It almost resembles a hot pocket and will be an easy, on-the go, hearty meal for fairgoers.
Eatery (new vendor): Korean Corndogs
Chan’s Eatery serves Korean corndogs. These aren’t your typical American corn dog- the Korean corndogs are battered with panko, deep fried and finished with a dusting of cinnamon sugar. You can sub for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and spicy mayo if you are looking for spicy not sweet. These will be sure to turn heads, and you can find Chan’s on the East side of Underwood Street.
Loon Lake Iced Tea (new vendors): Cotton Candy Iced Tea
Warning parents, if the kids see someone with one of these, you’ll have to find the Loon Lake Iced Tea booth located on the West side of Underwood Street! This concoction is brewed butterfly pea flower tea sweetened and garnished with a swirl of edible glitter and a rock candy swizzle stick. Stir for a colorchanging effect. Gluten and Caffeine-free.
Blue Moon
Dine-In Theater: Sweet Corn Cola Float
It doesn’t get more Minnesotan than this! New this year at the Minnesota State Fair is the most Minnesotan drink ever, made with sweet corn cola and sweet corn ice cream in a cup, it is exactly what it sounds like. Potentially gross? Topped with whipped cream, Pop Rocks and house-made frozen caramel, this treat is not for the faint of heart. The Blue Moon Dine-In Theater booth can be found on the Northeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Chambers Street.
My inner fat kid truly enjoyed compiling this list for you. There are several more new foods and vendors not listed here, so check them out at scff.org and mnstatefair.org and let the taste-testing begin.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love the Minnesota State Fair. And the two best things about the fair are the music and the food.
And since fair season is on the horizon, that means our Minnesota summer is coming to a close. Which also means your opportunities to see live music in the great outdoors of this fine state are rapidly dwindling.
To help you enjoy these final days of outdoorconcert-weather to the fullest, I have comprised a pairings list, if you will, of musical acts performing at the State Fair and some of the new foods that will be available this year. I’m not saying you can’t enjoy one without the other, but why not go for maximum enjoyment?
Before you know it, we’ll all be donning caps and coats and scraping ice from our windshields once again.
Mae Simpson: Aug. 24 and 25, 8-9:30 p.m. at the Schell’s Bandshell in the West End. The band’s namesake, Mae Simpson, hails from South Carolina and sings and performs with a soulful southern rock energy that evokes a little Americana and a little spice. Crab Boil Wings from Soul Bowl (located in the Food Building): Chicken wings marinated in hot sauce, grilled and then fried with corn, chicken apple sausage and potatoes. Tossed in a “crab boil” butter and finished with a lemon wedge and parsley.
Chance the Rapper: Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Grandstand. Chance was born, raised, and got his musical start in Chicago. And I don’t know about you, but when I think “Chicago,” I think hotdogs. I know, what about deep-dish pizza or Al Capone? Nope, hotdogs for me. Perhaps my subconscious is holding on to some life-altering Chicago Dog experience from a past life.
Korean Corndogs from Chan’s Eatery (located on the east side of Underwood Street between Murphy and Lee Avenues): Hot dog and mozzarella cheese, battered with panko, deep-fried and finished with a dusting of cinnamon sugar Option to add a coating of fried potatoes or to substitute toppings for hot Cheetos with spicy mayo.
Stephen Sanchez: Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at the
Grandstand. Stephen is originally from California but is now based in Nashville. If you have heard any of his music (“Evangaline”, “High”, “Be More”), you undoubtedly immediately noticed his nostalgic sound. Even if you weren’t around in the 50s and 60s (which I was not, thank you very much), his smooth crooner voice immediately conjures up visions of easteregg-colored convertibles with white walls and tailfins parked at the drive-in or the all-night diner. Roller-skating carhops included.
Sweet Corn Cola Float from Blue Moon Drive-in Theater (located at the northeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Chamber Street): Minnesota-made sweet corn cola and sweet corn ice cream in a cup, finished with whipped cream, popping candy and house-made frozen caramel.
The McNasty Brass Band: Aug. 28 and 29 at 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m. at the International Bazaar Stage. MNBB is a (fairly large) collection of Twin Cities-based horn players and percussionists. There are trumpets, trombones, tubas, tenor saxophones, baritone saxophones, bass drums, snare drums, and cymbals. The feeling is a little bit of New Orleans brought to the frozen North. And each member of the band lends their talents to other bands and performers. So many layers of sound and experience all rolled into one tight collection of musicians.
Lady’s Slipper Marble Sundae from Bridgeman’s Ice Cream (located on the northeast corner of Judson Avenue & Liggett Street): Bridgeman’s strawberry ice cream, lemon marshmallow cream and ladyfinger cookies layered in a cup and topped with whipped cream and a cherr y.
Semisonic: Sept. 1 and 2 at 7:30-8:45 p.m. at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell Stage. If you don’t know who the band Semisonic is by now, I cannot help you. They are as much Minnesota royalty as hotdish, Paul & Babe, the 10,000 lakes, and, dare I say, Prince. “Closing Time”, “DND”, “Chemistry”, “Singing in My Sleep”, “Secret Smile,” need I go on? You wanna know what else screams Minnesota? The State Fair and…
Deep-fried Ranch Dressing from Lulu’s Public House (located in the West End Market very near some lovely restrooms that almost always have short lines): Ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep-fried and dusted with ranch powder. Served with a side of hot honey sauce crafted with Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce.
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Rooted deep in the land, a massive fieldstone church rises among the farm fields of southern Steele County. Towering. Impressive. Rock solid. And home to one of Minnesota’s largest summer parish festivals.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Litomysl, founded in 1878 as Slovanik Bohemian Church by Bohemian immigrants, celebrates its 52nd annual summer festival on Sunday, July 28. The event draws thousands to this rural location 10 miles south of Owatonna. There’s a polka Mass at 10:15 a.m. followed by musical entertainment, games, auction,
raffles, country store, pony rides and, oh, so much more, including lots and lots of food.
Food is an integral part of church festivals. While food booths serving up pork rib sandwiches, pork burgers, brats and more are sure to be popular at Litomysl, it’s likely the “buchty” that will draw crowds to snap up the coveted ethnic sweet treat beginning at 11 a.m.
Parishioners make the traditional Czech biscuits filled with prunes, poppyseeds or apricots. I’ve ever only known them as “kolacky,” purchased at Franke’s Bakery in Montgomery and at the Veseli Ho- Down. I expect any of the bakers at those locations could explain the nuanced differences, perhaps in the way the filling is added, the
dough folded.
I have yet to attend the Litomysl Summer Festival. But in early spring, I toured the landmark church built by masons and parishioners with field rock gathered from the land. Six loads from each member family. That’s a whole lot of rock picking, in which I have plenty of experience.
The groundskeeper happened to be mowing on the weekday I stopped by. He agreed to unlock the church doors for me. I felt like I was in heaven. To get inside a country church is a rarity these days. And this one is a must-see, both inside and out. The craftsmanship. The artistry. The history and holiness. All impress.
To stand inside the sanctuary of Holy
Trinity at Litomysl—to view the sculptures, to see the sunlight streaming through stained glass windows, to touch the pews, to stand under the arched ceiling—is to connect with history, to experience rural religious art and reverence. You need not be a person of faith to appreciate this 45foot x 132-foot church built in 1940 and dedicated in June 1941.
In the church basement, aged photos, paintings and a vintage Bake Sale sign add to the historical interest. I noted the hand-lettered sign listed “buchty” (not “kolacky”) at only 40 cents a dozen back in the day.
While the prices may not be timeless, the church building has stood strong for 84 years.
That’s a testament to the skilled craftsmen and lay people who constructed this massive stone church. Each rock was gathered from the earth, hauled to the building site, lifted and mortared into place. Rock-by-rock. It’s an amazing feat of structural engineering, of artistry, like a mosaic in the southern Minnesota landscape.
On July 28, folks will flock to the church sanctuary for Mass, descend to the basement for pie and ice cream and “buchty,” gather outside and in the next-door former St. Isadore’s School for
food, fun, music and more. They will connect, converse and celebrate all that makes Litomysl a special place. Here long ago immigrants settled, built first a wood-frame church and then a stone church as they built a new life in a new land. The summer festival honors heritage, history and this holy place, here among the farm fields of Steele County.
A sampling of upcoming church festivals in the SoMinn Scene region
AugustFest, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Lonsdale.
11,
Sunday, Aug. 18, beginning at 11 a.m., Most Holy Trinity Church, Veseli. St. Mar y’s Family Block Party, 3-8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Le Center. Sacred Heart Fall Festival, Sept. 13-15, Sacred Heart Church & School, Waseca. Spirit Fest, Saturday, Sept. 21, Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Faribault.
CONTINUED page 16
Let’s take a little trip back in time to the year 1993. The bestselling book of the year is “The Client” by king-of-the-legal-thriller John Grisham. L.A. Law is still on the air fresh off of three consecutive Emmy wins for Outstanding Drama Series. And three of the ten highest-grossing movies are “The Firm,” “Philadelphia” and “The Pelican Brief.” Courtroom dramas rule popular culture.
Thirty-one years later, our thirst for legal content is now satiated by true crime podcasts, grisly serial killer stories, and the cable news trials of elected officials. Old-school, dad-core courtroom dramas no longer dominate the zeitgeist. But, as with so many other 90s trends, perhaps it’s time for a comeback.
Enter “Presumed Innocent.” Loosely based on the blockbuster 1987 novel by Scott Turow and the 1990 Harrison Ford film of the same name, this new limited series streaming on AppleTV+ stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Rozat “Rusty” Sabich, a Chicago prosecutor and family man charged with the brutal murder of his colleague and mistress, Carolyn Polhemus (played by Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve). Across eight moody episodes, we follow Rusty as he navigates the politics of the state’s attorney’s office, rehabilitates his broken marriage, faces trial for Polhemus’s slaying, and races to clear his name.
A twenty-first centur y update to a beloved
80s book and a wildly-popular 90s film may seem unnecessary and ill-advised. After all, Paramount+ just gave Fatal Attraction the miniseries treatment with mixed results. But, Presumed Innocent largely succeeds for two reasons: the show’s creator and the casting. David E. Kelly is a writing/creating/producing legend in Hollywood. L.A. Law, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, Big Little Lies, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Undoing – his hit rate is staggering. And while Presumed Innocent can be excessively dour (at times, it’s hard to see what’s happening on screen due to all the dark scene-setting) and absurd (as with so many murder mysteries, the plot sometimes strains credulity), it’s also Kelley’s bread and butter: sleek, tension-soaked, tightly-constructed, ultracompelling episodic legal television.
And then there’s the cast. Oscar nominee Ruth Negga plays Rusty’s wronged wife with steely fortitude, Bill Camp balances disheveled likeability with no-nonsense legal expertise as Rusty’s best friend and defense attorney, and Gyllenhaal’s real-life brother-in-law, Peter Sarsgaard, is both insecure and creepy playing the chief deputy prosecutor and Rusty’s professional rival.
But this is Gyllenhaal’s show and he is perfect. Over a thirty-two-year career, Gyllenhaal has been an oddity. Sure, he’s a magnetic heartthrob who has found success in nearly every genre, but the most consistent through line in his filmography is a willingness to play a total weirdo.
From Donnie Darko and The Good Girl, to Prisoners and Nightcrawler, Gyllenhaal has utilized his haunted eyes and edgy demeanor to portray troubled, awkward, neurotic, and downright psychopathic characters.
In many ways, Presumed Innocent is a mash-up of Gyllenhaal’s past roles. As Rusty Sabich, we see his forbidden lovesickness from Brokeback Mountain, his easy-going charm from Love & Other Drugs, and his paranoid obsessiveness from Zodiac. It’s wholly believable that Rusty could be a flawed but well-meaning guy wrongfully accused of murder…or he could be a cold- blooded killer. Gyllenhaal’s performance contains multitudes and the ambiguity of his character makes this miniseries a truly unpredictable whodunit.
Presumed Innocent is a throwback to the smart and heady entertainment made for thinking adults that was once embraced with great relish, and it seems to be a hit with a twenty-first century audience. But will it ultimately revive the courtroom drama – that 80s and 90s pop cultural juggernaut? The jury is still out.
My four favorite courtroom movies:
A Few Good Men (1992) – “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” Jack Nicholson’s climactic courtroom outburst is oft-quoted and iconic. But this movie is so much more than that scene.
Catching director Rob Reiner, stars Tom Cruise and Demi Moore, and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin at a golden moment in each of their respective careers, A Few Good Men holds up as an endlessly rewatchable, gripping and (in true Sorkin fashion) endearingly hammy, edge-of-your- seat legal thriller.
My Cousin Vinny (1992) – Not all courtroom-set entertainment is dramatic. From Liar Liar to Legally Blonde, there are also a handful of great courtroom comedies. My Cousin Vinny is the best one – uproarious, well-acted (Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for her performance and Joe Pesci is always great), and famously lauded by lawyers for its accurate depiction of the legal system.
Philadelphia (1993) – As previously mentioned, Philadelphia was one of the highest-grossing movies of 1993. And, despite
the heavy subject matter (this was the first major studio film to document the AIDS crisis), it’s easy to see why: director Jonathan Demme had just swept the Oscars with his previous smash-hit, The Silence of the Lambs; Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington (perhaps the two biggest movie stars of the 90s) were coheadliners; and Bruce Springsteen provided a catchy original song (“Streets of Philadelphia”). Harrowing and sensitive and artfully-made, Philadelphia is a masterpiece.
The Rainmaker (1997) – Of the nine John Grisham film adaptations, The Rainmaker is my favorite. Though surprisingly not a major box office hit at the time, this film is many things at once: a courtroom procedural, a stinging indictment of the American healthcare system, a forbidden love story, and an odd-couple buddy comedy. Though it features many of the familiar Grisham storytelling beats (scrappy young attorney takes on a broken system, colorful cast of characters from the American south, etc.), the source material is elevated by an overqualified director (the legendary Francis Ford Coppola) and a murderers row of actors (young Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Clare Danes, Jon Voight, Mickey Rourke, Danny Glover, Virginia Madsen).
Crazy Days - Northfield-- 7 a.m., Northfield. Each Summer you won’t want to miss this “crazy” shopping spree and the fantastic bargains provided by our local retailers. Merchandise will be set up on sidewalks all over town, with an array of food and retail specials.
Ceramics Showcase - Northfield-- 12-5 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division St. S., Northfield. Featuring the work of artists LaToshia Neshek, Fred Gustafson, Elijah Genheimer, Trenne Fields, Jim Haas and Judy Kutulas. Shows through Aug. 10.
Member Show Gallery - St. Peter-1-5 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. The largest member exhibition in the region, installed by Gallerist ARK and Gallery Chair Joel Moline. Shows through Aug. 24 during regular ACSP hours.
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108
-- 5-7 p.m.,
Ave.,
Another Time Around - Janesville-- 5:30-8 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, Janesville. Performing classic rock.
In a Bind - Waseca-6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St. SW, Waseca. Acoustic trio performing a variety of country, pop and rock.
Owatonna Community Band - Owatonna-- 7-8 p.m., Central Park Owatonna, 100 E. Main St, Owatonna. Part of Owatonna’s weekly 11 ay 7 Concert Series. The community band performs free concerts for all ages with six concerts each summer season.
Songwriters in the Round - Northfield-- 7-9 p.m., Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. A variety of local artists showcasing their original work, and sharing stories of how those songs came to be. Free and for all ages.
FRIDAY, JUL 26
Mixed Nuts Comedy Duo - Faribault-- 10-10:30 a.m., Central Park, 430 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. “Mixed Nuts” (aka Mark & Lori) have tickled funny bones throughout the region with their special blend of hilarious hijinks, guaranteed to produce side-splitting laughter in ages 4-94. Geared toward families with preK and elementary aged youth, but all are welcome. An ASL interpreter has been requested for this event.
Hot Jazz for Decent People - St. Peter-- 7-8:30 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Admission is free, with donations to the Arts Center encouraged. Guests are encouraged to bring their own seating and refreshments. Coolers are permitted; no glass bottles. The Jazz10 is playing on this night.
Mrs. Moxie’s Game NightNorthfield-7-9 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. Come on down for a wonderful evening of entertainment, games and beer, hosted by Northfield’s very own Mrs. Moxie.
Chad Johnson & Jeenti
Dutta Duo - Dundas-- 9
p.m., Dawn’s Corner Bar, Dundas.
Playing a unique blend of Americana and countryrock sound for original music and crowd favorite covers.
city as an outdoor performance venue, including parks, retirement centers, as well as Division Street areas and churches. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 26 and plays all day Saturday, July 27.
Kayaking the MN River Valley - Henderson-- 12-4 p.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson. Take a kayaking trip with a Ney naturalist and learn about the Minnesota River Valley’s history, geography, plants, and animals. Groups will depart from Henderson at noon, with transportation provided to Le Sueur, where we will begin kayaking back to Henderson. Tickets online.
Farmers Markets - SoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.
Mud Girl Run - Le Sueur-- 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Caribou Gun Club, 30649 380th St., Le Sueur. The ultimate obstacle race for women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Run, walk, climb, slide, crawl, and laugh your way through 17+ obstacles on a 3-mile course. Tickets online.
Vintage Band Festival - Northfield-- 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Bridge Square, Northfield. VBF strives to create a high quality music listening experience that will satisfy and be memorable; to cultivate the historical theme of Northfield through emphasis on historical music, dress, dance, and ambience; and to use the
Los T - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Performing Tex Mex music.
-- 6-9 p.m., The
Springsteen Tribute - Waseca-- 6 p.m.,
Pleasant Grove
Billy Joel with Strings - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault.
A heartfelt and unique presentation of the vast and legendary catalog of Billy Joel delivered in an intimate and beautiful way that will move you. Performed by Peter Guertin on piano, Steve Lehto on guitar and led by Mick Sterling and fueled by a string quartet. Tickets available online or at the box office.
Cole Diamond - New Elko Market-- 8 p.m.-12 a.m., The Doublewide, 421 Saint Joseph St., Elko New Market. Three sets of all your favorite songs about drinking, cheating, and the Chattahoochee River. Event is 21+.
SUNDAY, JUL 28
Paper QuillingLe Sueur County-- 1 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Learn the craft of paper-quilling, exploring a variety of tools. Paper-quilling involves rolling and forming thin strips of paper into small shapes. Join the small shapes to each other to create a variety of designs. You will leave class with a variety of final pieces that you can place in lightweight frames, or use on greeting cards.
Lost Walleye Orchestra
Trio - St. Peter-- 4-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Roots, folk, country, blues music along with a piscatorial flair.
Midwest Comedy Tour - Owatonna-6-8 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Austin
Roberston is a writer for Blaze TV’s “Normal World”; 2018’s secondplace finalist in the “Funniest Person in Ohio” competition; as performed all across the country from breweries to Carnegie Hall. Becky Thompson has performed stand-up comedy, improv, and storytelling throughout the Midwest; a finalist in the Funniest Person in Ohio Competition; has been published in The Belladonna, a satirical comedy journal.
Steve & SteveFaribault-- 7:05-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Some rock music to enjoy with your drinks.
TUESDAY, JUL 30
Live Action Oregon Trail - Le Sueur-- 1-3 p.m.,
Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. Join a party. Hunt for food. Die of dysentery. This event is for ages 13-18.
WEDNESDAY, JUL 31
Pizza Night with Allyson Road - Northfield-- 4-8 p.m., Red Barn Pizza Farm, 10063 110th St., Northfield. They blend folk, roots and Indie influences with a fresh new take on cover songs and Americana folk rock. Heavily influenced by 60’s bands, most notably the Byrds, they’ve managed to bring a harmonic sound that is both laid-back, yet reminiscent of a period when Rickenbacker guitars and jangly guitar rhythms ruled the radio.
Cosmic Orphan - West Concord-- 5-6:30 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. The expansive, cinematic indie-rock vision of husband-wife duo Dan and Stacie Conway. Performing live as a formidable seven-piece band, they move from contemplative minimalism to lush, maximalist soundscapes. Tickets online.
The Neverly Sisters & Friends - Northfield-6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. Country & Americana music, familiar and new, a little blues, a little rock and some lovely originals. All delivered with sweet harmonies and dedication to the songs we know and love.
THURSDAY, AUG 01
Downtown Thursday - Owatonna-- 5:30-9 p.m., Central Park Owatonna, 100 E. Main St, Owatonna. Eat great food from food trucks and local establishments, listen to live music on two stages, find unique items at handcraft booths, shop local businesses, enjoy fun family activities, and much more. Matt Herzog Band and Melissa Schulz play as part of the 11 at 7 Concerts in the Park series.
The Leer Brothers - Owatonna-- 6-8 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Some live acoustic guitar and vocals to enjoy with your drinks.
Matthew Griswold - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Bone shakin’ voodoo grooves, keeping your toes tappin’ and hands clappin’ all night long. His brand of foot stompin’ folk-rock pays a tribute to the Delta Blues with a side order of thistle and shamrock. Expect a repertoire of classic covers, reinvented traditionals and well-crafted originals.
Paul Stewart Show - Waseca-- 6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St. SW, Waseca. 50s and 60s country, rock, blues.
FRIDAY, AUG 02
Will Sings Songs! - Faribault-- 10-10:45 a.m., Central Park, 430 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. This high-
energy performance will be focused on positivity, joy, and learning through curiosity. Will’s songs will get you moving, grooving, and singing along as you learn about the environment, kindness and having fun. Will performs original and traditional songs for young people of all ages.
Seussical Jr.Faribault-- 7 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Shows Aug. 2, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m., plus Aug. 3, 4 and 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets online and at the box office.
Mary Cutrufello - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. St. Paul roots-rock singer-songwriter Mary Cutrufello has been a mainstay in the Americana scene here and in Texas for 30 years. Hailed by USA Today as “a fierce guitarist with with a blistered-throat voice,” Cutrufello mixes original songs and classics of American music into a captivating, heartland-proud musical stew at once timeless and immediate.
Farmers Markets - SoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.
Giant Days - Le Sueur-- 7:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Le Sueur. Events kick off with teen night Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Friday includes food and drink booths, entertainment and music from The Fabulous Armadillos with Chris Hawkey. The events go all day Saturday, including music from Ed Shimota and Friends, Luke Richards, GTX Band, and Bill Litzau and Open Highway. Fireworks close the night. Sunday features the parade at 1 p.m., among other events.
Henderson. Nestled in 446 acres of wilderness, this day offers the perfect opportunity for families to bond, explore, and create lasting memories together. Please bring your own food; we will provide time for lunch & afternoon snacks. S’mores will be available at afternoon snack time. Tickets online.
Battle of the Books - St. Peter-- 10 a.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. Test your book knowledge against other youth in the region. The challenge for tween and teen competitors will be to read all four books in your category, and compete in a trivia battle. Get more information online.
and truck
Food trucks, plus a vendor and art market
be on site. A beer garden will be open to adults. Festival takes place Friday night, Aug. 2 and all day Saturday, Aug. 3. bluecollarfestival.com
Pianos with the River
- Janesville-5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. The River Rats Dueling Pianos are Jim Steinworth and Cal Spooner. They are the longest running dueling pianos act in Minnesota and the first team to bring dueling pianos to Las Vegas. Both come
from years of rock-n-roll bands to bring a large repertoire of everyone’s favorite songs old and new. They are all about delivering as much fun as possible.
Grill and Chill - Cleveland-- 5:30-7:30 p.m., Church of Nativity, 200 Main St., Cleveland. Live music by 100 Years of Picking and Greg Muellerleile, along with family yard games and kids games, plus a silent auction. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be available. Free will donations.
Line Dancing - Le Sueur County-- 6-9 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Learn 3-4 dances from award-winning choreographer Kerry Maus. Songs will be a mix of pop and country. Register online.
Hop Heads - Kasota-7-10:30 p.m., Prairie Saloon & Grill, 140 N. Webster St., Kasota. A quartet of well seasoned local rockers that puts its own spin on classic and modern rock.
The Merry Wives of Windsor - Northfield-- 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Sir John Falstaff of Windsor decides to fix his financial woe by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants. The wives find he sent them identical letters and take revenge by playing tricks on Falstaff when he comes calling. With the help of their husbands and friends, the wives play one last trick in the woods to put Falstaff’s mischief to an end. Shows 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2, 3, 9 and 10, plus 2 p.m. Aug. 4 and 11. Tickets online.
Comedian Kevin Craft - Kasota-9-11 p.m., The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota. Kevin has over 75,000 YouTube fans, has been
seen on CNN, TMZ and was also a semi-finalist on the 2006 season of “Last Comic Standing.” Kevin has also appeared as a guest on the Tyra Banks Show and Shaq’s Comedy All-Stars. Seating is limited; first come, first serve. This is an adult only show. No Cover.
SUNDAY, AUG 04
Chris HolmKilkenny-- 1-4 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. An acoustic folk blues & country musician based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A fingerstyle guitar picker and harmonica player, Chris channels the high-spirited liveliness of Charley Patton, thumping on his suitcase drum, attacking his guitar strings with abandon, and shouting along in a gravelly howl, later to channel the lonesome sounds of a weeping slide guitar and a blue yodel.
THURSDAY, AUG 08
Debbie Briggs and Fred the Bear - Waseca-- 1:30 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Performing original songs and classic rock/ country rock/ alternative rock covers. Debbie Briggs Vintage Jazz shines a light on the songs from the Great American Songbook, classic tunes primarily from the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s featuring a warm velvety tones.
Sunflower Sky Acoustic Show - Dundas-- 2-5 p.m., Dawn’s Corner Bar, Dundas. Two gals bring their love for music and performing to the stage, singing all your favs.
WEDNESDAY, AUG 07
My Grandma’s Cardigan and Six Mile Grove - West Concord-- 5-6:30 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. We are a folk rock group consisting of two lead female vocal harmonies, electric and acoustic guitar, fiddle, keyboard, bass, and drums. We cover a wide range of genres from John Prine to Black Sabbath. Six Mile Grove has weathered 20 years of the tumultuous music scene as a self-managed, self-produced, and selfrecorded band. Its music continues to evolve, as an organic, honest voice untinkered with and untainted by the lure of record labels or flashy music producers.
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.
Chris Bertrand - Waseca-- 6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St. SW, Waseca. Chris Bertrand is a seasoned singer/songwriter from Southern Minnesota who dedicates his life to music. Deeply rooted in folk and unafraid to stomp and howl,
recording effort,
is currently working on his
beat!
Greenvale Manitou - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Fusing many genres such as dream pop, psychedelic rock, lo-fi trip hop and more.
The Donner Party - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Playing the roots of classic country.
Melissa Schulz - Northfield-- 6:30-9:30 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. Melissa Schulz is a classically-trained pianist and singer based in southern Minnesota. Performing over 250 shows each year, Melissa showcases her musical talents at venues that range from rowdy bars to chill breweries to upscale restaurants, fairs, and private events.
Jigsaw Puzzle Competition - Kasota-- 6:30-9:30 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Teams can consist of up to four people. Each team will receive a 500-piece puzzle (yours to keep following the event), two bottles of Chankaska Wine, and a charcuterie board. Prizes will be given away for the first three teams to finish not only their puzzle but also their wine and charcuterie board. Tickets online.
Seussical Jr.Faribault-- 7 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Shows Aug. 8 and 9 at 7 p.m., plus Aug. and 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets online and at the box office.
Jamison Murphy - Faribault-- 7 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. A singer songwriter from the Twin Cities.
Hot Jazz for Decent People - St. Peter-- 7-8:30 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Admission is free, with donations to the Arts Center encouraged. Guests are encouraged to bring their own seating and refreshments. Coolers are permitted; no glass bottles. Uccellino is playing on this night.
SATURDAY, AUG 10
Farmers Markets - SoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.
Nicollet County Fair - St. Peter-- 9 a.m.-11 p.m., Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 Union St., St. Peter. Runs Aug. 7-11. Grandstand includes a truck and tractor pull Aug. 8, a demo derby Aug. 9 and 10, and auto races Aug. 11. Guests can also enjoy the carnival, petting zoos, food and drinks, music at the Big Stage and more.
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Goodhue County Fair - Zumbrota-- 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Runs Aug. 7-10. Grandstand events includes autocross on Aug. 7, the truck and tractor pull on Aug. 8, more autocross on Aug. 9, and the demo derby Aug. 10. At the Beer Garden, find Ryan Sullivan Aug. 7, Troy Johnson Aug. 8, Bryan Anderson Aug. 9, and Foster Grand Aug. 10.
Happy Days - Waseca-10 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown Waseca. Car roll-in, live music, vendors and food trucks.
Henderson Photography Reception - Owatonna-- 2-5 p.m., Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln,
“Change in Focus” is an exhibition that celebrates the artist’s evolution as an artist and photographer over the past fifteen years. This collection features some of his favorite images, including both personal and client work, along with his latest venture into AI-inspired illustrative poster art.
folk, country, rock and roll and a handful of traditional tunes. Their songs are inspired by the darkness and depth of life’s relationships, stories of growing up in rural MN, and appreciation for the natural world.
Scott Rogness (guitar/lead vocals) and Bruce Watts (guitars/vocals) playing a wide variety of songs from classic rock to new country.
The Merry Wives of Windsor - Northfield-7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Sir John Falstaff of Windsor decides to fix his financial woe by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants. The wives find he sent them identical letters and take revenge by playing tricks on Falstaff when he comes calling. With the help of their husbands and friends, the wives play one last trick in the woods to put Falstaff’s mischief to an end. Shows 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10, plus 2 p.m. Aug. 11. Tickets online.
SUNDAY, AUG 11
Bruce Burniece - Kilkenny-- 1-4 p.m., Vintage
Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. With a set list of 900 hit songs spanning more than 70 years, Bruce encourages song requests as well as singing along and dancing. He is best known for his showmanship and it has earned him a reputation as a very memorable performer.
Farewell - Waseca-- 1 p.m., Pleasant
41142 160th St,
sota. The ‘Transplants’ include Andy Jaynes, originally from Colorado, Makai (Kai) Catudio, originally from Hawaii, and Jeenti Dutta, originally from India.
MONDAY, AUG 12
Captain John Smith and the U.S.S. Bunker Hill - Owatonna-- 2 p.m., Steele County Historical Society, 1700 Austin Rd., Owatonna. A program on local veteran, double ace, and decorated Naval officer, Captain John Smith. One of the survivors of the Japanese attack on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill in 1945. Program will be led by local attorney Steve Smith, Anne Lauer and guests. Light refreshments will be served.
TUESDAY, AUG 13
A Hard Day’s Night - Waseca-- 7 p.m., Trowbridge Park, Waseca. Their high energy, authentic replication of a Beatles performance is considered one of the nation’s top Beatles tribute shows. This performance will feature Sgt. Pepper Era songs.
WEDNESDAY, AUG 14
The Chubs and The Local Hooligans - West Concord-- 5-6:30 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. The Chubs’ offers one of the widest varieties in the region, spanning from The Beatles to Chris Stapleton (and anything in between). The Local Hooligans band hails from Goodhue County and prides themselves on giving 110% positive music experience. Get ready for a night of familiar tunes and music you’ll love. You can purchase pizza in advance online.
upon timeless elements in both rock and pop music to extraordinary effect.
THURSDAY, AUG 15
MN Transplants Band - Kilkenny-- 2-5 p.m., Toy Box Saloon, 216 Kilkenny Rd., Kilkenny. A powerful four-piece band, including Chad Johnson (lead vocals, rhythm
harmonica), born and raised in Minne-
Jeremy Poland & Lantz Dale - Northfield-6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. Their wide-ranging approach to these deceptively simple performances hits
Bob Stephan - Waseca-- 6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St. SW, Waseca. Performing 50s, 60s, classic rock and country music.
FRIDAY, AUG 16
KAVE - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Dynamic duo KAVE (Kevin Clements on bass & Dave Hagedorn on vibes) brings their well-seasoned musicianship and talent to Chapel. Kevin’s retired from flying planes and Dave from directing St. Olaf jazz students, and we’re lucky they’ve joined forces as musicians.
Ethan SchoofSt. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Live acoustic country and classic rock.
Downtown Car Cruise - Faribault-- 6-9 p.m., Bring your car or just yourself to the Faribault Car Cruise Nights in the heart of Historic Downtown Faribault. The rumble of a souped-up motor, the shine of chrome bumpers, pinstripes, and fender skirts, plus some great live music and food.
Hot Jazz for Decent People - St. Peter-- 7-8:30 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Admission is free, with donations to the Arts Center encouraged. Guests are encouraged to bring their own seating and refreshments. Coolers are
permitted; no glass bottles. Ryan Rader’s NintenTones Video Game Jazz Orchestra is playing on this night.
Farmers Markets - SoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m.,
Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.
Le Sueur County Free Fair - Le Center-- 8-12 a.m., Le Sueur County Fairgrounds, 350 Plutt Ave. S., Le Center. Runs Aug. 15-18. Grandstand includes a demo derby Aug. 16 and a truck and tractor pull Aug. 17. Live music includes Doug Traxler Aug. 15; Little Chicago and Open Highway Aug. 16; Concertina Band, Sohmer Entertainment and Russ Franek & The Biscuits Aug. 17; Boogieland Entertainment and Larry Novotny One Man Band Aug. 20.
Steele County Free Fair - Owatonna-- 9 a.m.11 p.m., Steele County Fairgrounds, 18th St SE, Owatonna. Main event runs Aug. 14-18. The biggest county fair in the state. The grandstand will feature Hailey Whitters Aug. 14, Snake Oil Aug. 15, Chris Janson Aug. 16, Bulls n’ Barrels Aug. 17, and the demo
derby Aug. 18. The fair also features one of the largest carnivals you can find, and food and drinks stands all over, in addition to all kinds of more entertainment.
Cannon River Clay Tour - Northfield-- 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Hosted by 10 local clay artists and featuring guest artists from around the country, this self-guided studio tour and sale includes a broad range of professional ceramic work. Meet the artists, see where they work and enjoy the beautiful community of Northfield. cannonriverclaytour.com
Watch - Dundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East,
the
Mineral
111 N
Ave,
Play their own distinctive brand of blues. Their energetic, soulful live performances have captivated their audiences all over the Midwest. It’s Blues with an attitude. What makes the band so unique is their depth of talent, blend of musical influences, and the ability to tie it all together
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Wreck -
SUNDAY, AUG 18
CONTINUED page 24
TUESDAY,
Bridge Chamber Music Festival - Northfield--
7:30 p.m., Northfield. The Bridge Chamber Music Festival brings world class musicians to a small town setting. With a variety of classical and jazz ensembles we endeavor to thrill audiences with the power and emotion of an intimate performance environment featuring top tier musicians. Shows include Northfield Jazz All-Stars Aug. 18; The Balkanicus Ensemble Aug. 20; a young artist recital Aug. 21; Arianna String Quartet Aug. 23; Arianna String Quartet Aug. 25. More info online.
WEDNESDAY, AUG 21
Pizza Night with Allyson Road - Northfield-- 4-8 p.m., Red Barn Pizza Farm, 10063 110th St., Northfield. They blend folk, roots and Indie influences with a fresh new take on cover songs and Americana folk rock. Heavily influenced by 60’s bands, most notably the Byrds, they’ve managed to bring a harmonic sound that is both laid-back, yet reminiscent of a period when Rickenbacker guitars and jangly guitar rhythms ruled the radio.
fABBAulous and True North - West Concord-5-8 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. fABBAulous is comprised of two dynamic divas, Mary Lieser and Dianna Parks, on lead vocals along with incredibly talented music who cover a variety of instruments to recreate the complex and layered recordings of ABBA Gold. Together, Tim Dallman and Dianna Parks are True North. Their authenticity comes through in songs that span decades and emotions. They perform their favorite songs by others, and their original songs that you are sure to love. Tickets online.
American Dream with Debbie BriggsNorthfield-6-8:30 p.m., Debbie Briggs of “Debbie Briggs Vintage Jazz” (lead vocalist) and a member of The Good Time Gals.
Generation Gap - Janesville-- 5:30-8 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, Janesville. Enjoy all the classics from this young and old duo.
Ben Scruggs - Waseca-- 6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St. SW, Waseca. Singer/songwriter Ben Scruggs is a folk/blues/americana musician from Mankato.
Claire Lombardo Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. A reading around her new novel “Same As It Ever Was,” which showcases the consummate style, signature wit, and profound emotional intelligence that made “The Most Fun We Ever Had” one of the most beloved novels of the past decade.
Preserving Oak Ridge Cemetery - Faribault-- 7-8 p.m., Rice County Historical Society, 1814 NW 2nd Ave., Faribault. Faribault’s Oak Ridge Cemetery is a gem, and is the final resting place of many of the area’s earliest settlers. Come learn how the cemetery was formed, how it was run, and how it is being preserved for future generations to utilize and enjoy. Learn about some of the key people and families who did the groundwork to make Faribault and Rice county the wonderful place it is today. Free for members; $5 for non-members.
FRIDAY, AUG 23
Sweet Jazz - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel
15
larly feature David on flugelhorn and melodica. Many of the songs are standards, some old, some much more recent. They take particular pleasure in finding songs you may never have heard before, including originals.
Ruth’s House 20th Anniversary - Faribault-- 5-9 p.m., Apple Creek Orchard, 5524 185th St. W., Faribault. This community-wide event will include hay rides through the orchard, games, food, and lots of live music and it will be free to attend. The event is being planned as a family event celebrating the families that Ruth’s House has served over the last 20 years and the families that we will serve in the future. Event is free, but register online.
Ozzy Harris - Faribault-- 7 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Ozzy Harris is a self-styled vocalist and guitarist with a long history of musical and performance experience. He has been entertaining the Twin Cities since 2005 with his versatile voice and clever renditions of everyone’s favorite songs.
Farmers Markets - SoMinn
Scene
Region-- 7 a.m.-12
p.m.,
Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.
Sueur. Runs Aug. 23-25. It’s the 51st
edition of this popular tradition in Le Sueur County. Check out some grain threshing, lumber sawing, work horses, antique tractors, old cars and trucks, steam/ gas/diesel engines, ladies handywork, miniature train rides, blacksmith shop, historic buildings, primitive camping and more. Plus food, drinks and dancing.
Doggy Play Date & Picnic --- 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Waseca Dog Park, 1400 Elm Ave. E. All kinds of doggone fun, including a tail wagging talent show, a puppy/dog wear contest, puppy/doggy race, a visit from Sparky the Waseca Firemen Dog, and a visit from four-time Iditarod dog sled musher Linda Jay. Picnic food provided through Barney’s Drive-In. Tickets at the park.
Kayaking the MN River Valley - Henderson-- 12-4 p.m., Take a kayaking trip with a Ney naturalist and learn about the Minnesota River Valley’s history, geography, plants, and animals. Groups will depart from Henderson at noon, with transportation provided to Le Sueur, where we will begin kayaking back to Henderson. Tickets online.
music, drawn together by our love of rehearsing and performing this fine repertoire.
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Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.
WEDNESDAY, AUG 28
SUNDAY, AUG 25
Gary West is an American singer/songwriter who produces his own original music. He is an accomplished musician who was the drummer for multiple legendary country music icons.
Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra - Northfield-- 5:30 p.m., Bridge Square, Northfield. A diverse group of volunteer musicians performing symphonic
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.
Jeremy Jewell and Nite Shift - West Concord-5-8 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. Jeremy Jewell is a happy guy who likes to sing sad songs. Pretty guitar chords, a weathered yet charming voice and honest lyrics are what you’ll see at one of his shows. Nite Shift specializes in their own renditions of the best rock n’ roll songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today’s current hits. With both male and female lead power vocals, and the musicians’ ability to play multiple instruments, Nite Shift covers a wide variety of music most bands are afraid to touch. Tickets online.
The Gabe Marchan GroupNorthfield-6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. Blending
Buddy Guy’s Chicago blues with elements of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Texas blues and BB Kings Mississippi blues as well as all points in between, Gabe has crafted and developed a unique style and sound playing in numerous blues bands throughout Milwaukee. Joined by Dave Coldren on keyboard, Matt Rhodes on bass, Barry Knudson on drums.
SOUTHERN MINN SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Stitch Witchery -
Bring your sewing projects in progress, or just the spark of an idea and some fabric. BYO refreshments and any special notions you’ll need. Class organizers will provide machines, thread, shears, pins, irons, cutting/planning space, scrap fabric, and inspiration as needed. $10 suggest donation.
The Untold Story of Women in Water
by Vicki Valosik
c.2024, Liveright $28.99 422 pages
Come on in, the water’s perfect.
It feels refreshing, just like you want it to be on a day like today. You’ve been waiting for weeks to sit on a deck chair, enjoy a cold adult beverage, and then ease yourself into the water to float awhile. Or climb up and take a dive, g’wan, let’s see it. The water’s perfect so, as in the new book “Swimming Pretty” by Vicki Valosik, show us what you’ve got.
Nineteen-year-old Benjamin Franklin was just showing off.
Heading home on a boat after a “day’s amusements,” Franklin’s friends eagerly begged him for a show of his talents in the water. Franklin, whom Valosik says absolutely “loved... an audience,” stripped down naked, leaped overboard, and proceeded to do what few men of his age dared to do: he swam.
As for women in the early 1700s, swimming was flat-out unheard-of. It hadn’t been long, after all, since women who could swim were accused of witchcraft.
In ancient Greece and Rome, swimming was a pastime that men and women both enjoyed. To be able to swim was a sign of intelligence then, and a way to honor the gods of the sea. When Christianity arrived, though, swimming was seen as indulgent, excessive, scandalous, even pagan – an attitude that barely changed for hundreds of years.
Shortly after Franklin’s little exhibit, the benefits of being in the water were confirmed.
Suddenly, natation was a “science” to be learned. Men swam often, often in the nude; women, on the other hand, were expected to remain modest, using bathing machines for a quick dip in the drink. After public pools and bathhouses became popular, women were welcomed to watch the aquatics, thus learning that swimming could help keep them fit – though the tight costumes that female swimmers wore weren’t perceived as “respectable.” By the turn of the century, however, the unabashed “’New Woman’ hiked her heavy skirts and entered squarely into... more ‘male’ spaces...” Especially the aquatic ones.
So the plan is to dig your toe in the sand this summer, or watch the world pass by at the side of a pool. Either way, you’ll want something to read, and “Swimming Pretty” is perfect.
If you’ve only got time for a quick dip, author Vicki Valosik lets you get your feet wet with many pictures to browse, which will make you long to go deeper into this fascinating pocket of hidden culture. Brush the sand off your bottom and dive in, knowing that this book isn’t just about taking to the water: within its pages, you’ll wade into world attitudes, women’s suffrage, the rise of American interests in exercise and fitness, and a look at the way we like our vacations and our leisure. Wave good-bye to your time.
If you enjoy reading about movies, theater, and other pop culture, this is the book to have; if you like history, you’ll be right in your depth. Pack “Swimming Pretty” and a waterproof bookmark in your beach tote and jump right in.
by Ace Atkins
c.2024, William Morrow $30.00 384 pages
Something’s missing. And – wait, didn’t you just put it down? Funny how that happens, isn’t it? You lay something in a safe place you’re sure you’ll remember but nope. It’s missing now but, like your mother used to say, it didn’t grow legs and walk off. As in the new novel, “Don’t Let the Devil Ride” by Ace Atkins, it’s around here somewhere. Dean McKellar had left again. It happened a couple years ago, but then, as his wife, Addison, remembered, he was only gone a few days. This time, it was a week with no contact. His phone went unanswered. His secretary offered no information. Addison’s brother, who worshiped the ground Dean walked on, had nothing to share. When she went to Dean’s office, Addy learned that another business rented that spot. How long could she protect their children, fourteen-year-
old Sara Caroline, or nine-year-old Preston, from Dean’s unexplained absence?
Better question: how well did she know her husband? Because it seemed like everybody knew he had girlfriends “all over the place.” Exactly how clueless was she?
As the best-known detective in Memphis, Porter Hayes had seen everything, so when Sami Hassan called about his daughter’s problems, Hayes didn’t think twice. He’d known Hassan back when Memphis was a small town. It was still small enough for Hayes to quickly learn that Dean McKellar’s business never existed and that McKellar’s “secretary” was just a woman at some call-center. Dean McKellar might not, in fact, even be “Dean McKellar.”
And, according to Hayes’ contacts at the Memphis Police Department, word was that a lot of people had been hanging around town, asking a lot of questions. One seemed to be bluffing. One of them broke into Addison’s house and threatened her and her son. One lived in an old-Hollywood universe. Obviously, Dean was in some kind of deep trouble.
That is, if he was even still alive...
When you read a thriller or mystery, it’s human nature to try to have things all figured out before the detective does. Don’t count on that in “Don’t Let the Devil Ride.”
Readers may, in fact, be thrown off-kilter with the way this story is told: in many such books, the detective takes the front-seat in the plot but author Ace Atkins doesn’t do it that way. Hayes is hired to find the truth, but he’s not the guy to watch. No, chaos leads this story and we aren’t told a lot about the other characters, which is important to note. The aging actress, the FBI guy, the Russian, they’re enigmas, mostly. They’re important to the tale but they behave like walk-on roles in a large movie cast – in and out and in – which is to say that you’ll want to keep track of what’s going on but forget about figuring out the end. It ain’t happenin’.
If you’re on the search for a book for vacation, you can just stop here. “Don’t Let the Devil Ride” is the one you want. You won’t be able to put it down.
by Matt Young c.2024, Bloomsbury $28.99 304 pages
You’re talking to yourself again.
And why not? A conversation with someone glib and interesting is fun, even when it’s one-sided. Reminders, debates, profundity, nobody listens to you better than you. Sure, it might look funny. You’re probably teased for talk-talktalking to thin air. But as in “End of Active Service” by Matt Young, maybe you’re not alone after all...
He was just “trying to feel alive.”
It had been two months since Dean Pusey had left the Marine Corps. For two months, he’d been sleeping in his old childhood bedroom, listening to his pacifist stepfather’s pontifications and creeping around the house when everyone else was gone, pretending to secure it from hidden enemies.
He was 23 years old. The “biggest thing” he’d ever done was join the Marines.
But now, he was trying to be a civilian, which is how he ended up at a bar. Which is how he met Max – Maxine – and ended up dating her for awhile. It’s how he ended up on the floor of the men’s bathroom, beaten down by a couple of good ol’ boys and it felt good.
He missed Ruiz, his best friend in Iraq, the guy who kept him sane. He didn’t like thinking of the things he and Ruiz did there, the sheep, or a game called Nervous. And yet, he couldn’t stop his thoughts about Ruiz. He couldn’t stop hearing Ruiz talking to him.
Then Max got pregnant, said she was keeping the kid whether Dean wanted to be around for it or not. Dean was adopted, but he hadn’t told Max. He’d looked for his birth mother every now and then, and being some kid’s father felt... well, he didn’t know how it felt. Ruiz didn’t think he was cut out for fatherhood, and maybe Ruiz was right about that.
He wished he could tell Max about the sheep that was killed in Iraq, and how it followed him everywhere, and how Ruiz kept talk-talk-talking. The words he learned in the Marines bounced around in his head: “Complacency kills.”
Oh, my. Jumping into “End of Active Service” is like jumping into an active volcano. From the middle of page two, it seethes with stuffed-down anger and fear that the past and the future will never stop colliding so hard.
That’s just the beginning, as author Matt Young throws his main character at readers and runs, waiting for the inevitable explosion to happen. And it does, much to our dismay as Dean spirals in his trauma and memories and machismo that he doesn’t seem to want anymore. He wants to move forward, to a good life. You’ll want him to.
Be aware that if you’re easily triggered, this is not your book. “End of Active Service” is profane, intense, and taut, like knowing a car wreck is imminent and being powerless to stop it. Bad things will happen before good ones do, which is something to remember before you open this novel. But open it, you should. This is one book you’ll talk about.
by Jessica Calarco
c.2024, Portfolio $30.00 336 pages
So. Much. Red. Tape.
So many forms to fill out to keep the lights on, help with housing, feeding the family. So much ink spent on acronyms: WIC, SNAP, EBT. So much time waiting for what you need, keeping the wolves from the door. Is it you or, as in the new book “Holding It Together” by Jessica Calarco, does constantly being in the red on the rise?
Once upon a time in America, Congress funded inexpensive national childcare.
That was in the early part of World War II, when the country needed women to help build weapons, ships, and planes while paid childcare facilities kept their kids safe – around the clock, if needed. Then, at war’s end, the funds were halted and many women – especially needing help and jobless again – were back to Square One.
And that, says Calarco, is how it goes: women pick up the slack in America. They make do with what they have, no matter how meager. This, and because women are our society’s “invisible glue,” they “protect the economy from crumbling, too.”
Calarco calls ours a “DIY society... where people are expected to solve their own problems...” A DIY society assumes that women will do what needs to be done – whether it’s to take a third job or do without personal needs, or scrounge to find diapers and formula. If they have children, a DIY society knows that women will find childcare somehow. It hits poor, single mothers hard, and Black families hardest. It assumes that women and girls will be mothers, catching them in a “mommy trap.” Such a society also assumes that if a woman has the means, she will rely on another woman to clean her house or care for her children.
So what can be done?
We can “demand [a] social safety net,” says Calarco. We can try to eliminate the patriarchy of the system. But the biggest solution can be summed up in one word: vote.
Let’s start here: “Holding It Together” is going to unleash some emotions in you.
Anger and outrage, for some readers. Desire for action, for others. You may agree, and you may question what you learn. The bottom line is that author Jessica Calarco will make you think about what you read and what can be done to change a system that, she says, keeps women from getting ahead. Readers may be surprised to learn the history of current policies, and how perceptions of women’s labor at home and at work are designed to keep the status quo. You may also be surprised to see that all women – no matter their income or situation – as well as some men are affected by our “DIY society.”
This is the kind of book you take to a political rally to talk about. It’ll get your dander up, one way or the other. There’s a touch of feminism inside here but moreover, you’ll read an urgent, furied cry for action. Find this book; “Holding It Together” may make you see red.
For more information & tickets:
www.paradisecenterforthearts.org • 507.332.7372
For more information & tickets: www.paradisecenterforthearts.org • 507.332.7372
321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN
For more information & tickets: www.paradisecenterforthearts.org
507.332.7372
321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN
321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN
Thursday, September 12 at 6:00 PM at River Bend Nature Center
Mixed Precipitation is back in Faribault with another great opera for families to witness! In the not-so-distant future, scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Johann Faust faces a planet in crisis but no motivation to spare humanity its fate. He yearns to find a life of meaning and love. We hope you will join us for this special event at River Bend Nature Center--You won’t want to miss it!
Join us to identify colors you can extract from plants, trees & minerals using them to dye natural fibers. Course at River Bend Nature Center.
Tues. & Thurs. August 1 - Aug. 29
9 AM - 11 AM. (For Ages 45+)
Member: $120, Non-Member: 144.
Pat Donohue and Friends is a musical presentation featuring Grammy Award winning acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Pat Donohue. As the guitarist for the “Guys All-Star Shoe Band” of Minnesota Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” for twenty years. Pat got to show off his savvy licks and distinctive original songs to millions of listeners each week for 25 years. Accompanying Pat in this show are three “Friends,” PK Mayo, Richard Kriehn & John Wright! This combination of talent creates an interplay that is a unique sum of all these musical “Friends!”
Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 PM
Billy Joel with Strings is a heartfelt and unique presentation of the vast and legendary catalog of Billy Joel.
Saturday, July 27 at 7:30 PM
Sponsored by Rosemarie Marraccini
Member: $20 / Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15
This course will focus on the fundamentals of improv acting with an
Member: $20 / Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15
SPONSORED BY THE BAHL FOUNDATION
Music & Book by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics & Book by Lynn Ahrens, Co-Conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle.
Director: Kayla Mollenhauer, Music Director: Will McIntyre, Choreographer: Jordyn Tesch
August 2, 8*ASL, and 9 at 7:00 PM
$12 Adults / $7 Students
August 3**Sensory Friendly Performance, August 4, and 10 at 2:00 PM
*This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.*
and
