DECEMBER 2021
YOUR GUIDE FOR
SOUTHERN MINN
PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
WINTERFEST 2021 DOWNTOWN FARIBAULT, MN DECEMBER 2 - 4
See inside ad for details!
.COM
6
12 31 DAILY SPECIALS CATERING OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
1
Celebrate the Holidays with Us!
November 27 & 28 Sheldon Theatre Brass Band
December 3 A Christmas Celebration with the Steeles
December 11 North Country Christmas featuring Kat Perkins
December 16 The Nutcracker
December 18 The New Standards Holiday Show
December 31 New Year’s Eve with Monroe Crossing
More December Shows!
December 5 December 8
Christmas with Lorie Line An Andy & Bing Christmas
Gift an Experience this Holiday Season! Give a Gift Certificate for them to enjoy!
They can pick from magic shows, concerts, ballets, acrobats, theater and musicals! Sheldon Theatre | 443 W. 3rd St | Red Wing, MN | 651-388-8700 | sheldontheater.org 2
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
CONTENT
DECEMBER 2021 / VOLUME 9 / ISSUE 2
FEATURES: 6
COLUMNS:
Local SoMinn businesses that specialize in making art.
- Trashlands: A Novel - How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic matters - American Comics: A History - Kids Halloween Books
Welcome back to SCENE, plus some movie recommendations.
‘Tis the season for gift giving.
12 In the Business of Making Art
27 SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ
5 Philm COLUMN
SoMinn City by City Shopping Guide
11
From the Music Side VENUE Profile the Grand Kabaret in New Ulm.
14 Holiday Musicals & Plays
10 Mollywood BLVD
28 SoMinn STYLE
16 The SCENE Calendar
20 RANTS & RAVES
31 Through a SoMinn LENS
26 WOLDUM TV
34 SoMinn FOOD & DRINK Review
A look at area holiday performances.
SoMinn’s most comprehensive calendar of things to be SCENE.
21 Jingle All The Way
What we’re wearing this holiday season.
tech tok ... Time’s up! Merry COVID Christmas!
Holiday Magic in Faribault.
The Lucky Lure – A Great Catch!
The times, they are a-changin.
River Valley holiday events and activities.
Southern minn
Scene
ABOUT
HAVE A STORY IDEA?
Editor Philip Weyhe - 507-645-1115 editor@southernminnSCENE.com
WANT TO ADVERTISE?
Deanna Walters - 507-333-3117 deanna.walters@apgsomn.com
HAVE A CALENDAR EVENT?
JANUARY DEADLIN ISSUE E IS DEC 1 7
Email editor@southernminnSCENE.com or go to W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / SOUTHERN_MINN_SCENE/ & CLICK + P R O M O T E YO U R E V E N T
©SouthernMinnSCENE.com retains the publication rights to all content produced or supplied to SCENE. Use of said materials without the written consent of SouthernMinnSCENE.com is prohibited. Content copyrighted; all rights reserved.
NEW MENU • BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER DAILY SPECIALS • CATERING • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
From the classics to made-from-scratch recipes, that create unique dishes found nowhere else in Southern Minnesota, Chef Jeff can cook something for everyone in the family. Stop in for a charming atmosphere, and experience our award winning dishes!
HOURS
Monday - Wednesday: 11AM - 9PM Thursday & Friday: 11AM - 10PM Saturday: 7:30AM - 10PM Sunday: 7:30AM - 9PM Breakfast served Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM - 11AM
VISIT FARIBAULT’S ORIGINAL HOMETOWN BAR AND GRILL Often imitated, never duplicated
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
311 HERITAGE PLACE • FARIBAULT, MN 507-332-2825 • THEDEPOTBARGRILL.COM
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
3
SOUTHERN MINN JORDAN ANDREAS Multimedia Account Executive jordan.andreas@apgsomn.com 507-645-1134
AMBER CASTERTON Multimedia Account Executive amber.casterton@apgsomn.com 507-444-2388
KATHLEEN DAVIES Multimedia Account Executive kathleen.davies@apgsomn.com 507-931-8564
VICTORIA DAVIS Multimedia Account Executive victoria.davis@apgsomn.com 507-333-3110
JENNIFER FLOWERS Multimedia Account Executive jennifer.flowers@apgsomn.com 507-837-5450
BRITNEY MARR Multimedia Account Executive britney.marr@apgsomn.com 507-931-8577
TIM MART Regional Digital Director tim.mart@apgsomn.com 763-486-5019
MARK NELSON Multimedia Account Executive mark.nelson@apgsomn.com 507-333-3109
TONI SCHMIDT Multimedia Account Executive toni.schmidt@apgsomn.com 507-333-3146
DEANNA WALTERS Multimedia Account Executive deanna.walters@apgsomn.com 507-333-3117
TOM KELLING Regional Advertising Director tom.kelling@apgsomn.com 507-444-2390
.COM
YOUR GUIDE FOR
PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO. Scene is a monthly arts and entertainment magazine that inserts into seven Southern Minn newspapers: Owatonna People’s Press, Faribault Daily News, Northfield News, Waseca County News, St. Peter Herald, Le Sueur County News and Kenyon Leader. Our calendar lets you know what’s to come; our columns give you local insights on music/ travel/entertainment/more, and our stories will let you know the places to shop, the things to do, the sights to see in this region.
CRYSTAL HOBART Multimedia Account Executive crystal.hobart@apgsomn.com 507-444-2385
Minneapolis Northfield Le Sueur St. Peter
Kenyon Faribault
Mankato Waseca
Owatonna
Rochester Albert Lea
4
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
TALK WITH ONE OF OUR MULTI MEDIA SPECIALISTS TO DISCUSS YOUR ADVERTISING
OPPORTUNITIES.
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Philm COLUMN
PHILIP WEYHE Philip Weyhe is your Southern Minn Scene editor, which means he can write about what he wants (within reason). He lives in St. Peter with his husband Ian, and they enjoy all things A&E, especially movies.
Movies to watch this holiday season
W
hen we think of the holidays, we often think of the food — the turkey on Thanksgiving and the ham or roast beef on Christmas; the latkes at Hanukkah; the shorba at Ramadan. But after stuffing our bellies, we need something to do. And for many households across the country, including here in Southern Minnesota, it’s movie time. Finding a film that everyone can agree to is the trick, though, and while there’s always the classics — “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “A Christmas Vacation,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” etc. — it never hurts to try something new. So here’s some suggestions for your holiday season, including recent and upcoming releases, both in theater and at home.
IN THEATER King Richard (Released Nov. 19): This is a film about the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, and their father, Richard, who had a vision and a plan for his girls to become tennis superstars. From the synopsis: “Training on Compton, California’s neglected tennis courts--rain or shine--the girls are shaped by their father’s unyielding commitment and their mother’s balanced perspective and keen intuition, defying the seemingly insurmountable odds and prevailing expectations laid before them.” Watch this one if you want to watch real people tough it out in pursuit of dreams, and you’ll know there’s a happy ending, because well, we know what happens. This one is a likely Oscar contender come early 2022. House of Gucci (Released Nov. 24): This one’s about the “shocking” true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire Gucci. From the synopsis: “When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately … murder.” Watch this one is you enjoyed Lady Gaga’s last feature film, “A Star is Born.” It’s also by Director Ridley Scott, who brought us movies like “Gladiator,” “Thelma & Louise,” and “The Martian.” West Side Story (Releases Dec. 10): The retelling of a classic with 21st century movie magic: From the synopsis: “Two teenagers from differ-
ent ethnic backgrounds fall in love in 1950s New York City.” You probably know already if you’re interested in this one. But with Steven Spielberg directing, expect this to be bigger than life, showy, and most of all, entertaining. Licorice Pizza (Releases Dec. 25): Focused on youths coming of age, this one is definitely made for adults with its R rating. From the synopsis: “Alana Kane and Gary Valentine grow up, run around and fall in love in California’s San Fernando Valley in the 1970s.” This is the latest from Director Paul Thomas Anderson, who previously brought us “Boogie Nights,” “There Will Be Blood,” and “Phantom Thread.” PTA takes his time with his movies, and the results are usually quite a pleasure to take in. This is for a more “movie mature” crowd who enjoy some style and substance in their films. Also in theaters: Nov. 19 - Ghostbusters, C’mon C’mon; Nov. 26 - Resident Evil, Encanto; Dec. 3 - Silent Night, Wolf, Flee; Dec. 10 - Being the Ricardos, Red Rocket; Dec. 17 - Spider-Man, Nightmare Alley; Dec. 22 - The Matrix, Sing 2, The King’s Man; Dec. 25 - The Tragedy of Macbeth, American Underdog.
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
AT HOME Dune (Released Oct. 22): This one released in late October, and should be available on HBO Max. It’s an epic, based on the books. From the synopsis: “Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people.” This one is relatively family-friendly (Rated PG-13), and it’s a visually stunning affair, so be sure to watch on the biggest screen you have. The Harder They Fall (Released Nov. 3): On Netflix, it’s a modern-day western that’s all about fun. From the synopsis: “When outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge.” Watch this one, if you’re trying to keep things light, but also have a mature audience (Rated R). And Just Like That (Released Dec. TBD): The sequel to “Sex and the City” is finally arriving at HBO Max. From the synopsis: “… follows Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life
and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.” I think you can figure out if this one is for your audience or not. Silence (Released 2017): This isn’t a new one, but it’s a film from iconic Martin Scorcese that you might not have seen or even heard of, and it’ll be available on Amazon Prime from Dec. 1. From the synopsis: “Two 17th-century Portuguese missionaries, Father Sebastian Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Francisco Garupe (Adam Driver), embark on a perilous journey to Japan to find their missing mentor (Liam Neeson).” This is for an audience that’s not easily distracted and has an interest in history.
TELL ME ABOUT IT!
Have you seen a movie recently that you’re itching for more people to see? Do you know of a should-be classic that many might not? Do you just want to send a rant about a movie you love or hate? Send me your thoughts at editor@ southernminnscene.com and I might share with the Scene audience in a future edition.
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
5
(Photo courtesy of Rare Pair)
Southern Minnesota
city city SHOPPING GUIDE by
By PAT GARRY patgarry@charter.net
‘T
is the season for holiday decorating and gift-giving. This shopping guide is your key to all things merry and local. Whether you’re searching for that final gift or decking the halls of your home, we’ve got you covered. Remember to buy local this holiday season. Support your community and all of the small businesses that make it so wonderful. So, regardless of whether you seek something to gift your cousin who just started (remote) college, your world-traveling dad (who is stuck at home), or your child’s teacher, here is a guide to finding gifts throughout Southern Minnesota.
6
FARIBAULT Finally A Gift Store - unique clothing for women, self-care, humorous and snarky, gifts for baby, dog lovers, and more; (18 NE Second Street, Faribault; 507-334-0433 call or look online for hours); Maurices - offers a wide selection of women’s jeans, tops, dresses, and shoes in sizes 2-24;(Faribo West Mall 507-334-2547 call or look online for hours); Faribault Woolen Mill - produces and sells wool blankets and
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
other woolen products; cotton, acrylic and wool bed blankets, pillows, mattresses, pads, and baby blankets, and wool, ingeo and blend throws; (1500 NW 2nd Avenue, Faribault 507-412-5534 call or look online for hours);
KENYON “Don’t miss Christmas in Kenyon; Saturday, Dec. 4. This is a one-day event with sales, and other events related to the holiday season” — City Administrator Mark R. Vahlsing
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Tatge Jewelry - gorgeous earrings, rings, and necklaces for any special occasion; stop in for the personal attention and service you need; (625 2nd Street, Kenyon; 507-789-6522 call or look online for hours); D&S Banner Sign and Print - printing of all kinds, including signs, banners, posters, invitations, clothing, promotional items and so forth; also a graphic designer in house to help people develop their own logos, etc. (113 Forest St., Kenyon; 507789-4611 call or look online for hours); Mary’s Rustic Rose Floral - we are open and we offer hands-free-delivery and curbside pick-up; (524 2nd Street, Kenyon; 507-789-5700 call or look online for hours);
LE SUEUR Wise Furniture Company - appliances, TVs, floor coverings, mattresses and more; also offers home delivery, installation and appliance service; (106 Ferry St., Le Sueur; 507-665-2238 call or look online for hours); Friendly Confines Cheese Shoppe - a mix of world class cheeses and specialty foods; stand at the spotless, gleaming counter and purchase a delicious slice of warm pizza, fresh from the brick oven; (719 N. Main St., Le Sueur; 507-665-6000 call or look online for hours); The 207 Curiosities - vintage sci-fi, aliens, cryptids, oddities, unique collectibles and much more; if it’s weird or one-of-a-kind, it’s at The 207; (207 S Main St, Le Sueur, MN 56058; 763-39-9539 call or look online for hours);
MANKATO Ragstock - one of America’s longest-running retailers of vintage and recycled clothing; also carries affordable new clothing and accessories online; (1850 Adams St. #126, River Hills Mall, Mankato; 507-625-3315 call or look online for hours); Vivian Rose Boutique - not just about the clothes; also about helping women feel amazing and celebrating personal style; (112 S. Riverfront Dr # 132, Mankato Union Depot Mankato; 507-4695222 call or look online for hours); Spencers - offering unique products for the lifestyle of 18-24-year-old guests, who are high energy, technologically savvy, edgy, demanding, independent and always inspired by humor; (1850 Adams St., Suite 122, Mankato, River Hills Mall; 800-762-0419 call or look online for hours); Buckle - medium to better–priced casual apparel, footwear, and accessories for fashion–conscious young men and women; (1850 Adams St., Suite 314, Mankato, River Hills Mall; 507-345-1467 call or look online for hours); Michaels - great gifts with lots of style; (1901 Madison Ave, Suite 500, Mankato Heights Plaza; 507-386-0333 call or look online for hours); Mankato Vintage Market - large selection of vintage furniture, hand-crafted items and antiques; also seasonal decor, hand-made signs, jewelry, fusion mineral paint, hand-made soaps; (1630 North Riverfront Drive, Mankato; 612-756-0796 call or look online for hours);
NEW ULM “On Dec. 9, we’ll host Shop New Ulm for the Holidays, with a special emphasis on New Ulm’s
Especially popular this time of the year at Country Goods in Owatonna are the Willow Tree figurines, pictured. The figurines come in a variety of themes and figures, There is also a selection of kites, jewelry, Christian books, CDs, memorial and stepping stones, and stained glass. unique charm and tradition. It’s the final shopping days before Christmas and time to pull out all the stops! It’s important to support our local businesses so that they will be here for our shopping needs for years to come. You never know what treasure you’ll discover while shopping in New Ulm!” — Jenny Eckstein, VP of Business Affairs, New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce Inspired - find a host of displays with seasonal and home décor, including clocks, lamps, picture frames, linens; also see a variety of kitchen prod-
Do you find yourself struggling through the Holidays? Focus on your wellbeing this holiday season using Vibrational Sound Therapy, Reiki and Psychic Readings. Miki is here to help!
Book a psychic reading and 30 min. energy therapy session to receive
15% OFF with coupon.
Coupon good thru December 17th
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
You can come to Miki for: • Spiritual Psychic Readings • Reiki Energy • Vibrational Sound Therapy (VST) • Energy/Chakra Balancing • Crystals and tumbled stones • Aromatherapy products made by Zensational
Seek Out a Happy Medium
VESELI, MN
ucts, including gadgets, aprons and cookbooks; (119 N.Minnesota St., New Ulm; 507-233-4350 call or look online for hours); Bailey Creek Boutique - offers women’s clothing for any age, any size; (103 N. Minnesota St., New Ulm; 507-354-9998 call or look online for hours); Gallery 512 - a women’s clothing and lifestyle boutique; offering a curated collection of clothing, accessories and lifestyle items for the everyday
CONTINUED page 18
GREAT BURGERS GREATER PIZZA
Stop by in a car, truck, RZR, side-by-side, bicycle, motorcycle or snowmobile
WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU!
Mondays 5 pm - 1 am • Tuesday-Saturday 11:30 am - 1:00 am HAPPY HOUR M-F // 3 pm - 6 pm
507-330-5375
MIKI ORR CAMPBELL 17 2nd ST. NE, Faribault, MN 55021 Schedule online at www.zensational.biz
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
Summer Fun: Volleyball Court • Bean Bags • Horseshoes Cozy Deck with a Fenced in Yard Winter Fun: Meat Raffle Second Friday of the Month • Bingo Thursdays
On/Off Sale Available 507-744-2370 | 9856 50th St. W, Veseli W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
7
sories using industrial and cultural artifacts; centuryold harness leather, antique bronze machinery, copper wire, and the like; each reclaimed material has a history and a story to tell as it is re-forged into the finished work; (418 Division St. S., Northfield; 612-353-8862 call or look online for hours); Northfield Yarn - a broad range of yarns, along with a good selection of tools, notions, and patterns; (314 Division St., Northfield; 507-645-1330 call or look online for hours); Games N’ Geek & Virtual Reality - buy, sell, and trade all things geeky and fun; offers a safe, clean, place to hang out with friends and play fun games; (302 Division St. S., Northfield; 507-2137832 call or look online for hours);
OWATONNA “With the holiday season around the corner, it’s more important than ever to keep our small, local businesses top of mind when tackling your shopping lists. You’ll always find something unique in the small shops around town; things that you’d never find in a big box store; not to mention the great face-to-face customer service” — Karen Pehrson, Director of Tourism; Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce
Steve Thaemert has recently opened The 207 Curiosities, a vintage sci-fi oddity and curiosity shop filled with unique items, in Le Sueur. (Carson Hughes photos/southernminn.com)
NEW PRAGUE Cedar & Sage Boutique - small family owned boutique offering a variety of unique farm-house decor, clothing, and gifts for every occasion; (123 Main Street E., New Prague; 952-209-4490 call or look online for hours); Downtown Sound Music - provides lessons, products and services to southern Minnesota’s music industry; (104 Main St. E., New Prague; 952758-5166 call or look online for hours); Bella Vida Candles - home-made soy candles and much more; (707 Main St. E., New Prague; 952-210-3745 call or look online for hours);
NORTHFIELD
Jim Kozan stocks a new shipment of ukeleles on the shelves of the Waseca Music Company. The store carries band instruments, sheet music, guitars and spare parts among its vast inventory.
CONTINUED from page 15 woman; (20 N. Minnesota Street, New Ulm; 507354-5120 call or look online for hours); A to Zinnia Floral & Gift - the finest floral arrangements and gifts, backed by service that is friendly and prompt; (15 S. Broadway, New Ulm; 507-359-9900 call or look online for hours);
8
Guten Tag Haus - German imports & gifts galore; (127 North Minnesota St., New Ulm; 507233-4287 call or look online for hours); Patterson Jewelry - specializing in fine diamonds, colored gems, pearls and precious metals; (117 N. Minnesota St., New Ulm; 507-354-2613 call or look online for hours);
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
Monarch Gift Shop - passionate about helping their customers find gifts and products that feel inspiring and help to create a beautiful mind, body, spirit, and home; (405 Division St. S., Northfield; 507-663-7720 call or look online for hours); The Rare Pair - stylish and fashion-forward items that are always a hit with every age group; whether 9 or 99, male or female, we have shoes, clothing, & accessories that are made just for your style; (401 Division St., Northfield; 507-645-4257 call or look online for hours); Mainstream Boutique - offering unique clothing & accessories for women of all ages; personalized stylists help put your best look together; (506 Division St. S., Northfield; 507-366-6786 call or look online for hours); MakeShift Accessories - forging art and acces-
Central Park Framing & Finds - choose between hundreds of different frame styles at the shop; they’ll frame your item with care; (110 West Broadway St., Owatonna; 507-451-3460 call or look online for hours); Sterling Home - if looking for just the right gift, adding a new decorative accent, or wanting to update your wardrobe, Sterling Home can help; visit for trendy fashion and accessories, one-of-a-kind gifts, and more; (324 Cedar, Owatonna; 507-2142002 call or look online for hours); Urban Loft - make your space beautiful; selling antiques, home décor, accessories and clothing; (303 North Cedar Ave, Owatonna; 507-382-5486 call or look online for hours); Country Goods - lots of beautiful, hand-made goods for your home and garden; (4515 NW 22nd Ave, Owatonna; 507-451-5661 call or look online for hours); Hidden Rose Boutique - offers women’s clothing from small to plus sizes; also carry shoes, jewelry, and fashionable accessories; (142 Bridge St. W., Owatonna; 507-456-6866 call or look online for hours); Klecker’s Kreations - aside from flower arrangement services, find a full line of sophisticated men’s suits and tuxedos, available for rent, and to purchase; (302 North Cedar Ave, Owatonna; 507475-4556 call or look online for hours);
RED WING Uffda Shop - fine Scandinavian gifts for all occasions; (202 Bush St., Red Wing; 800-488-3332 call or look online for hours); 4 Season Sport Shop - provides a huge inventory of top quality products and expert advice from people who love the outdoors; whatever your hunting desires are, we carry what you need; (2301 Old W. Main St., Red Wing; 651-388-4334 call or look online for hours); Vestiges, Ltd - well known women’s boutique that offers customers unique and timeless fashion pieces; (406 Main Street, Red Wing; St. James Hotel; 651-385-0548 call or look online for hours);
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Go Brazen - sassy and saucy, figure-flattering apparel and accessories; this clothing and these accessories will put flounce in your bounce, sashay in your sway, and a devilish gleam in your eyes; (1529 Old W. Main St., Red Wing; 651-764-2561; call or look online for hours); Thunder Clan Trading Post - collection of hand-crafted Native American pieces; find that oneof-a-kind item to light up your working or living space; (312 Bush St., Red Wing; 651-385-0515 call or look online for hours); Wanshura Jewelers - an assortment of fine jewelry, diamonds, precious & semi-precious colored stones, custom design, semi mounts, repairs & appraisals; (409 West Third St., Red Wing; 651-3883289 call or look online for hours);
ROCHESTER Ashley’s Hallmark Shop - gift and card shop has something to help you celebrate any special occasion, holiday or just an ordinary day; (2950 41St St. NW; Rochester; 507-252-5000 call or look online for hours); Scheels - offers apparel, shoes and gear for sports and outdoor recreation, plus merchandise with team logos; (1220 12th St. SW, Rochester, Apache Mall; 507-281-2444 call or look online for hours); Poppi Italian Leather - in addition to leather goods, also added is apparel; along with Murano glassware and jewelry; (111 Broadway Ave S., Rochester; Galleria At University Square; 507-2823088 call or look online for hours); Kirkland’s - wide assortment of home-decor items & gifts, including pillows, art & bedding; (2232 3rd Ave SE, Rochester; 507-322-6606 call or look online for hours); Best Buy - large array of brand-name electronics, computers, appliances and more; (4050 Hwy. 52 N., Rochester; 507-281-5855 call or look online for hours); Tangerine At Wild Flowers - gifts that are fun, unique, whimsical, and trendy; carries everything from baby and kitchen gifts to cards, napkins and socks; find gifts that suite any age, party or budget; (110 1st Ave SW, Rochester; 507-252-8119 call or look online for hours);
ST. PETER “Shopping downtown Saint Peter makes for great strolling in our Norman Rockwell-esque holiday scene. Our merchants tell us the holiday season is the most important time of the year, to generate dollars that pay for overhead, throughout the entire annual business cycle. All of our merchants challenge themselves to offer unique items that can’t be found anywhere else, because it adds to the fun of shoppers discovering and showing one another the surprises they are finding on the shelves” — Ed Lee, Director, St. Peter Area Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Bureau Generations Boutique - women’s clothing boutique that offers sizing small-3X, accessories and jewelry; (326 South Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter; 507-200-2400 call or look online for hours); Nutter Clothing Company - takes great pride in providing quality customer service to all, while maintaining the small-town friendliness; (320 S. Minnesota Ave, Saint Peter; 507-931-4340 call or look online for hours);
Edges of the blankets are sewn by Faribault Woolen Mill Co. team members with surge or ship stiches. (File photo/southernminn.com) Contents - wander amidst a fabulous signature collection of accents for the home; books & cards, candies, frames, candles, gourmet foods, jewelry, bath & body items; (304 South Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter; 507-934-8616 call or look online for hours); Cooks & Company - find something to satisfy your appetite; cooking should be comfortable & fulfilling; happy meals begin at home; (316 South Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter; 507-934-1172 call or look online for hours); Swedish Kontur - whether just looking around or on a mission for the best gift, we’re always happy to help you find the right fit; (310 South Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter; 507-931-1198 call or look online for hours); Her Happy Place - a uniquely positive shopping experience; feel confident in the right clothes; have the freedom to be creative; the newest clothes for women in sizes extra small to 3XL; (217 S. Minnesota Av St. Peter; 507-931-0008 call or look online for hours) Olita - genuine Italian leather goods as well as other fun and unique gifts for everyone in your family; family-owned business (400 S. Third St., St. In its central, downtown Kenyon location, Larry Tatge has been in business for over 45 Peter; olitagandg@gmail.com email or look online years. (File photo/southernminn.com) for hours)
WASECA Past & Present Antiques & Gifts - an old service station with a new life; 5,000 square feet of creative displays; antiques, furniture, silk florals, jewelry, garden décor, linens, candles and greeting cards; (1101 N. State St., Waseca; 507-835-4000 call or look online for hours); Pearl Button Primitives - offering an eclectic mix of finds and other needful things; be it a gift for yourself or someone else, you will find an
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
ever-changing fresh mix of vintage, repurposed, boutique items; (206 N. State Street Waseca; 507461-1648 call or look online for hours); Bomgaars 81 - high-quality merchandise, firstrate service, and competitive pricing on products chosen for reliability and value; (1300 N. State St. Waseca; 507-833-1167 call or look online for hours); Elegant Creations - hundreds of options for projects of any size; whether seeking a natural stone or quartz, it’s all here; (1371 S. State St., Waseca;
507-835-7129 call or look online for hours); Waseca Music Company - a large selection of band instruments, plus competitive rates on rentals, repairs, and sales; (111 S. State St., Waseca; 507835-2980 call or look online for hours). - 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.
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
9
Mollywood BLVD
MOLLY PENNY 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.
tech tok … Time’s up!
S
ocial Media just may be the downfall of modern civilization. I have touched on this in previous columns, like my February 2018 column titled, “Changing of the Tide (Pods): A Look at the Internet Challenges that Should Have Never Happened” and my August 2019 column, “The Viral Song Phenomenon.” The innocent days of emailing a link of the monkey scratching his own butt, smelling his fingers and falling off the tree branch are long gone. We have entered a new era, where technology, social media, information (and disinformation) overload and unchecked data sharing is spiraling out of control. We use Google so much, MerriamWebster now considers ‘google’ a verb. Large platforms and Big Tech titans, like Google and Facebook (now Meta), have gone more or less unregulated since their inception. Recently, CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Facebook (Meta) and Google have been facing their ‘Big Tobacco’ moment, as they have been called to appear before Congress for various reason. Earlier this fall, a former Facebook employee whistleblower account alleged that algorithms for the platform aim to show more divisive and hatefilled content to users, as it increases engagement and makes the site easier to sell to advertisers. According to the Facebook whistleblower, the company’s own research has found that on the app Instagram, also owned by Facebook, 13.5% of teenage girls report increased thoughts of suicide, due to the app, and 17% of teenage girls report the app made eating disorders worse. Sen. Josh Hawley,R-Mo., introduced new legislation to make social media companies liable for bodily and mental harm inflicted on children, specifically those under 16. Mark Zuckerberg,
founder and CEO of Facebook is one of the most hated men in the Big Tech industry — and he wasn’t even the one taking joyrides to space with his riches! He has simply allowed his platform to put profit over people’s safety. As 60% shareholder, it is safe to say the buck stops with Zuck. Actor/comedian Sacha Baron Cohen took to Twitter to chastise the CEO, stating, “In any other company, Mark Zuckerberg would have been fired years ago. But Facebook is a one-man dictatorship.” He went on to say, “The problem with Facebook isn’t with algorithms. It’s the boy robot who runs them.” Low-key, Zuckerberg does give me Data from Star Trek Next Gen vibes, but it does seem harsh, because it’s not just Facebook that seems to be poisoning the proverbial well. Earlier this school year, a video on the social media video sharing app TikTok encouraged students to steal items from their school bathrooms, such as soap dispensers, even stall doors, and post a video of the act on the platform. They coined this viral trend ‘Devious Licks’ (also known as ‘Diabolical Licks,’ or ‘Nefarious licks’). In the good old 90s, a stupid prank like this may have been a one-off, but we are in the digital age, where likes and follows and clicks rule all, so it did not end there. I got an email from my kids’ school stating the following: “Dear Families, “We want to bring to your attention recent trends being spurred by monthly challenges on the social media platform TikTok. As shared below, there are different TikTok challenges for every month. While some students may consider these to be pranks, these actions are a serious matter. The October challenge, “slap a teacher” encourages students to walk up to staff members, slap them, then run off, making sure that the whole incident is captured on camera to be shared on social media. This behavior will not be tolerated. Any student involved in this challenge, or others, will be disciplined with the appropriate The thumbs up Like logo is shown on a sign at Facebook headquarters in consequences.” Menlo Park, California. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
10
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
A Google sign outside with a span of the Bay Bridge at rear in San Francisco. (AP Photo/ Jeff Chiu, File) The email went on to list the specific TikTok challenges we, the parents, are to watch out for each month. I got a chuckle out of this list, so here it is: November: Kiss your friend’s girlfriend at school; December: Deck the halls and show your balls; January: Jab a breast; February: Mess up school signs; March: Make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria; April: Grab some eggz (another stealing challenge); May: Ditch day; June: Flip off in the front office. It’s ‘Deck the halls and show your balls’ for me. TikTok is not owned by Meta (yet), so, not a Zuckerberg problem, just another example of how things are spreading from virtual life into real life. We all did stupid things as teens — ‘Senior ditch day’ and school vandalism was the norm in my day. Social media has taken it to another level, giving a megaphone to some pretty dumb ideas. Not all of these hair-brained schemes have been set into motion by teens either; adults have certainly been swept up by them. Would the Jan. 6 insurrection have taken place without the aid of social media platforms? But how do you limit what can be shared on sites if the content does not go against pre-established community standards? These social media platforms are, in fact, privately owned entities, but they also act as a virtual town hall to some extent. As the companies try to regulate the content shared on their platform, there are outcries of censorship and 1st Amendment infringement from users. The biggest issue for Big Tech is not that they allow harmful content to be shared, or even that
they allegedly encourage it through algorithms, it is more about monopolistic practices. This is where the majority of lawsuits and government hearings stem from. These companies are simply too big and are able to buy out their competition. Amazon has seen a slew of lawsuits claiming that they are eating up smaller competitors and locking sellers in to unfair agreements. Facebook is being sued for antitrust violations, and although it is unlikely, facing a potential unspooling of their recent acquisitions of Instagram and What’s App. (Was changing the company name to Meta about saving face?) When one company has a monopoly on social media or search engines, the power and influence becomes too great to control and necessary to regulate. Data leaking has been another problem for Big Tech. Earlier this year, a private research company discovered over 1.5 billion Facebook users information for sale on a hacker forum. Originally it was reported that 533 million accounts had been compromised, and, shockingly, Facebook opted not to notify its users claiming this was from a breach that occurred in 2019. Robinhood, the online stock trading platform, is the latest to have a massive security breach in early November. If corrupting our kids wasn’t enough to get the world’s attention, those spam calls about your car’s extended warranty just might do it. Whether it is an exodus of users leaving the platforms due to censorship, leaked data, or regulation that seeks to break them up, a day of reckoning is coming. Better back up those photos.
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
From the Music Side VENUE
MEGAN ROLLOFF
Profile
The Grand Kabaret H
New Ulm
ave you ever driven down the main street in an old Minnesota town and thought, “That old building must have really been something in its heyday. Wouldn’t it be great if it could have a new life and a new purpose?” In 2000, Anne Makepeace had that very thought about the old Grand Hotel building in downtown New Ulm, now transformed into The Grand Center for Arts and Culture, a center for arts, music and gathering. But the building held extra Makepeace significance for Makepeace. Her ancestor, Phillip H. Gross, built the first structure on that land in 1856. It was a hotel called the Minnesota Haus. The wood-framed Minnesota Haus burned down in 1860. Phillip H. Gross re-built his hotel, bigger and
better, and this time he called it the Union Hotel. After providing many a weary traveler a place to lay his/her head, and even serving as a makeshift hospital during the Dakota Conflict of 1862, the hotel once again suffered a catastrophic fire in 1875. Clearly a man of great determination, Gross once again re-built his hotel … this time using brick. After Gross passed away in 1895, and all other family members ceased to show interest in running the business, the hotel was sold to a new owner. During another renovation, the third floor was added, and it was renamed the Grand Hotel in 1899. The space on the first floor currently occupied by The Grand Kabaret, an intimate live music venue and bar, has served many purposes for the building in the past 150+-plus years. It was a saloon, a hotel lobby, a barbershop, and a fudge shop, just to name a few. In 2000, Makepeace and her family would purchase the building once owned by her great great grandfather and set out to give it a new life as a gathering place for musicians, actors, visual artists, writers, and anyone interested in the fruits of their labors. After a renovation of the first floor in 2002, the
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
Megan Rolloff is an interior designer in Mankato, who lives in New Ulm with her doting husband Tom. She loves music, especially of the Minnesota variety, and now she writes about it.
current Kabaret space was known as the Rhein River Arts Center. Here, Makepeace would provide local visual artists a space to display and sell their work, as well as offer local musicians a chance to play small, intimate concerts a few times a month. The live performances proved to be just what the community needed. People began asking if the concerts could be more frequent and if they would consider serving food and drinks to round out the experience. Makepeace and her family listened, and another renovation of the space was set into motion. In 2010, The Grand Kabaret opened with its presen -day layout and purpose. A cozy bar was added in the back, complete with the original check-in desk from another historic New Ulm hotel, The Dakota, as the main spot to belly up. An in-house sound system was also installed to truly make the Kabaret a proper music venue. In 2009 a nonprofit organization was formed to turn the rest of the building into a fully functioning arts center. After an extensive renovation, The Grand Center for Arts and Culture opened its doors to the public and has been improving and evolving ever since. The second floor holds a gallery and a community education space. The former hotel rooms on the third floor were turned into rentable art studios and one large apartment for an artist-in-residence program. The back deck was added for summertime socializing and live music performances. Most recently, the basement has been turned into the Cellar Press, a printmaking studio with several presses and the educators to show you how to use them. One of the greatest assets to The Grand Center for Arts and Culture continues to be the Grand Kabaret stage. The building is now owned by the nonprofit and the stage is booked by its volunteers and staff. The Kabaret is an awesome venue to hear a wide variety of singers and musicians most Friday evenings (and some Saturdays). The occasional national act will grace the stage, such as John McCutcheon or Ray Bonneville, but for the most part, it is a platform for local and regional artists to share their talents with an appreciative audience. Bands such as the Cactus Blossoms and Erik Koskinen have played the Grand. I, myself, have enjoyed Good Night Gold Dust, Twin Cities Hot Club, the Ben Marti Trio, Southside Aces, and many, many more amazing acts while sipping a glass of wine and snacking on a cheese plate. I may be a little biased (I served on the original board for The Grand Center for Arts and Culture, and I do live in New Ulm), but I don’t mind saying that The Grand Kabaret is one of my favorite
music venues. I have been to many other similar establishments, in Minnesota and beyond, and the atmosphere and quality of music at The Grand can hold its own. The building oozes history. You can feel it’s a place where lives happened, people gathered, and stories have been told. And the music played in the Kabaret, once again, brings it all to life. In past few months the Kabaret underwent a minor refresh of its interior finishes. If you’ve never been there, or it’s been a minute, it’s worth checking out. Again, my bias may be showing, as I did have a hand in selecting said finishes as a part of my day job as a designer with The Design Element in Mankato. But you’ll have to see it for yourself to
decide if I’m right or wrong. And there is no better time than the month of December to check out a show at The Grand Kabaret. December Kabaret Stage: Friday, Dec. 3: 7-9:30; Ben Marti Trio; Friday, Dec. 10: 7-9:30; Armstrong Blvd Brass Quintet; Friday, Dec. 17: 7-9:30; Open Mic Night; Saturday, Dec. 18: 7-9; Miss Myra Duo. Ticketed show: non-members $15, members $10, college students free. The Grand Kabaret is located at 210 N. Minnesota, St., New Ulm, MN 56073; see more at thegrandnewulm.com.
TUFF!, musician, S E M D SEN ta band ho is? Minneso w
e ern someon d me a a South Are you gwriter or know about it or sen okout n e o lo singer, s a line and tell m always on the Drop me f your work. I am sion. s o sample xt musical obse s, concert e for my n teresting re also in d n a a e n ut uniqu ur regio Tips abo nd venues in o . megankrolloff d a te ls ia a v c ti fes ppre e and a welcom m o @gmail.c
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
11
These Southern Minnesota businesses
art
specialize in making
Craft Addict
Art Barn By ELIZABETH TAYLOR Guest Contributor s the nights get longer and colder, it’s the perfect time of the year to explore your inner creativity while staying nice and warm inside. If you need a little art guidance to get you started and the opportunity to socialize with friends and family this holiday season, check out the following featured businesses below. Don’t feel like being social? No worries, these businesses still have you covered with instructional craft kits you can do in the comfort of your own home.
A
The Upper East Side Named after New York City’s vibrant Upper East Side, owner Suzanne Schwichtenberg wanted her studio to emulate the same artistic energy for local Faribault residents to enjoy. She believes everyone
12
Hammer & Stain Southern MN is an artist and offers a variety of guided painting parties — from birthdays, bridal showers, team building to fundraisers, holiday parties, and more. Fellow artist Sarah Beth Stadler hosts Crafty Mondays as well. Parties may be a minimum of 5 painters and a maximum of 10. In addition to traditional canvases, painters also have the option to paint their artwork on bags, totes, wood, and buckets. Make sure to follow The Upper East Side on Facebook for the latest upcoming events. tues213.com facebook.com/theuppereastside213 213 Central Ave N, Faribault, MN 55021 507-339-1770
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
Located in downtown Waseca, Hammer and Stain is a workshop studio that offers countless DIY projects you can proudly display in your home when complete. They’re best known for their wide array of wooden designs, such as front porch signs and decorative fireplace mantels, in which you can choose the wood and stain finishes. In addition to working with wood, Hammer and Stain also offer ceramic painting and quilting. When attending a typical workshop, plan on 2-3 hours and BYOB. Yes, you can bring your own beer or wine if you’re feeling festive. If not, you can always order a prepped kit for you to craft at home. hammerandstainsomn.com 208 N State St, Waseca, MN 56093 (507) 837-0209
The Northfield Art Barn The Northfield Art Barn has the perfect solution for at-home craft projects to entertain your kids this holiday season. Known for hosting summer day camps, birthday parties, and other children’s events at their renovated barn, owners Kelly and Abe Johnson have now launched the Art Barn Box subscription. The box contains three art projects with the option to be delivered monthly to your front door with shipping included. The projects are seasonally themed and geared for children ages 4-11. Consider subscribing to their newsletter to
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Hammer & Stain receive notifications on promotions, upcoming box projects, and helpful tips. northfieldartbarn.com 6615 320th St W, Northfield, MN 55057 507-884-4114
Craft Addict Cassie Efta, the owner of Craft Addict, has created a quality high-end line of clean soy candles and wax melts. The candle line currently features a
Upper east Side holiday limited edition Winterscape candle available online and at local vendor fairs. In addition to candles, Craft Addict offers various craft workshops and fundraisers in the St. Peter area. Art projects consist of seasonal mail and front porch signs as well as take-home craft kits. Reach out to Cassie for any specific craft workshop requests; otherwise, follow Craft Addict on Facebook for the latest upcoming events.
craftaddict2018.square.site/ facebook.com/CraftAddict2018 St. Peter, MN 56082 507-213-6702 - Southern MN native Elizabeth Taylor is on a journey to discover and capture impactful stories through her well-crafted photography and writing. Check out her latest series, Losses + Gains: Stories From Your Neighbors on Life’s Challenges and Triumphs, at elizabethwrites. medium.com.
Hammer & Stain
WE’RE BACK! LETS PAINT THE TOWN
FARIBAULT’S SIP & PAINT!
Birthdays • Holiday Get Togethers • Girls Night Out • Couples Team Builders • Fundraisers • Event Space
Suzanne guides your painting party through a step by step pre-selected painting. Painting with people you want to hang out with! Located at The Upper East Side in historic Downtown Faribault. Host your party here if you wantororsign signup upfor forour ourpublic publicvenues. venues. Host your party at the studio Enjoy a morning, afternoon or evening of fun and laughter.
Follow The Upper East Side on Facebook for upcoming events & inspiration www.facebook.com/theuppereastside213 SUZANNE • THE UPPER EAST SIDE • 507-339-1770 • 213 CENTRAl AvE. FARIbAUlT, MN ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
Holiday Craft Show - Saturday, December 11th @ Starfire Event Center 10am-3pm - please email for more information starfireeventcenter@wasecamac.com Winter Wonderland - Friday, Saturday & Sunday November 26th, 27th, 28th, December 3rd, 4th, 5th from 2pm-6pm - this is a FREE Family Event! Come meet Santa, get a photo with him and Mrs Claus! There will be a treat bag for the kids, along with fun activities.
206 2nd Avenue Southwest Waseca, MN 56093
(507) 461-1387
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
13
Check out these
holiday musicals & plays
friendly plays to the stage, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to direct this performance,” Hardy-Hagen said. “I have met so many wonderful people with differing talents; on-stage talents, throughout my years of directing theater. We want every production to be a good experience for families who come to see our shows, as well as a memorable experience for the children, when they are on stage. Being able to bring such a rewarding influence to our community, through musical theater is why I do what I do.” Evening shows are Dec. 3, 4, 8 (sensory friendly), 9, and 10 (ASL interpreted) at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are Dec. 5, 11 and 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are member $18/non-member $20/student $14. The sensory friendly cost is $10 with a maximum of $30 per family.
and crew members range from 9-86 years of age, with more than half being new to the stage. According to Holmes, this 45-year-old original script has never been performed outside of Hoopman’s Northern California community, and without Hoopman as the lead performer. “I was an actor in (Hoopman’s) Scrooge, the Musical, in 1999. When (Roger) gave me the go-ahead to direct his show here in Minnesota, I was honored, and I hope to exceed his expectations,” said Holmes. “Live theater during the holidays is such a great way to experience the magic of the season, and the cast and crew have waited much longer than anticipated for these performances,” he added. Holmes did mention that ticket sales have already sold out 70% of their shows, but added a 10th performance, to give more people the opportunity to attend. Performances will be Dec. 3-19, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. Audience members can choose to attend the dinner portion of the show, (6 p.m.), or show only, with seating at 7 p.m. Sunday matinee performances will have lunch seating at 12:30 p.m., or show only seating at 1:30 p.m., for the 2 p.m. performance. Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten Free meal options are available upon request, with catering by Absolute Custom Catering.
in SoMinn
Northfield Arts Guild Another classic holiday performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life” will take place at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater. This 1940’s radio-on-stage production by Tony “Sparkx” Palermo, translates from its iconic film version, to a golden-era live performance, including cast members as live sound effect artists. If you are looking for a classic, heartwarming performance, this holiday icon will not disappoint. Shows are Dec. 4 and 11 at 7 p.m., plus Dec. 5 and 12 at 2 p.m.
By HEATHER GORDON Guest Contributor
D
ecember is quickly approaching and Minnesota winter is upon us, as the daylight hours grow shorter. Holiday celebrations are being planned, and the theater community is no exception. Theatrical performances have re-emerged from the proverbial ‘woodwork,’ after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. This year, live performances are eagerly being welcomed back by artists and musical theater-goers alike throughout Southern Minnesota. There will be no shortage of choices when it comes to finding the perfect live theater performance this December. Audiences will surely be tantalized with laughter and excitement.
Paradise If you are looking for a child-friendly experience to kick off your holidays, the Paradise Community Theater is thrilled to present Elf, the Musical. This on-stage production, directed by Sandy HardyHagen, is based on the cinematic version of the same name, with a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin. Elf, the Musical, tells a story of Buddy, a young orphan boy, and his accidental trip to the North Pole. “The Paradise Community Theater is dedicated to bringing family
14
Mankato Playhouse Mankato’s Playhouse will be performing “Scrooge, the Musical,” written by Roger Hoopman, and directed by Artistic and Executive Director David Holmes with Davori Productions Co. After the Playhouse shut down in 2020, due to the pandemic, just two weeks shy of their opening, “Scrooge, the Musical” is finally back, and the cast and crew are ready to share this one-of-a-kind version of the Charles Dickens’ classic, ‘A Christmas Carol,’ more than ever. Original music scores, written by Hoopman and Warren Harrison, will also see their Minnesota debut this year, as well. Cast
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter’s Gustavus Adolphus Theater and Dance department will be taking to the stage in three unique performances representing the winter solstice in “solstånd,” Dec. 10-12 at the Roy and Judy Gardner Laboratory Theater. Advised by Visiting Assistant Professor Kimberly Braun, this slow tempo Japanese influenced performance, devised entirely by the
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
performers, celebrates the solstice, and warmth of the season, during winter. Slow tempo, originated by Japanese theater artist, Shogo Ohta, offers a look at human behavior, and the celebration of the outdoors, and comforts found through the human experience, during the long winter months. Shows are Dec. 10 at 8:30 p.m., Dec. 11 at 2 p.m., Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.
Little Theatre of Owatonna The Little Theatre of Owatonna is gearing up for their holiday performance of the hilarious, “Every Christmas Story Ever Told, (and then some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. With favorites like The Grinch, and the not-so-familiar, Gustav, the Rein-goat, these stories will retell the easiest of Christmas traditions, in a most non-traditional way. Full disclosure: A discussion as to “whether or not Santa is real,” will be part of the act for those who may attend with young children. “This performance is a fun, comical way to approach the holiday favorites,” said Director Zackery Knapton. “I am confident this show will be one of the funniest shows out there this holiday season!” Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 10, and 11 with matinee performances at 2 p.m. Dec 5 and 12. Online tickets will be available at LittleTheatreofOwatonna.org/buy-tickets for members Nov. 13 and the public Nov. 20. Adult ticket price is $17; student ticket price is $14.
Lincoln Community Center Rex’s Exes, a Southern fried comedic story of mid-life crisis, calamity, and catastrophe will perform at the Lincoln Community Center in Mankato for six performances, beginning December 3 and running through the 12th. This show is sponsored by a grant through the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, and presented by Merely players and Downs Food Group. Please be aware, some theaters may be requiring proof of vaccination before attending performances. Others are leaving this choice to the discretion of the audience members. Please check local websites for specific protocol and ticketing information. On Fridays and Saturdays, dinner seating takes place from 6-6:15 p.m. and show seating at 7 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. performance. On
Gift Cards are the perfect gift.
The perfect present every time
Buy $100 in gift cards Get a $15 card FREE!
Visa gift cards can be used almost anywhere Visa debit is accepted.
Due to COVID-19 we will not be having an Open House this year! “We’re your neighbors and friends”
10 W. Minnesota St. P.O. Box 160 Le Center, MN 56057 507-357-2273
134 N. Kilkenny Rd. P.O. Box 83 Kilkenny, MN 56052 507-595-2273
701 Ash St NE, Lonsdale, MN 55046 (507) 744-4400
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
- Reach Regional Managing Editor Philip Weyhe at 507-931-8579 or follow him on Twitter @EditorPhilipWeyhe. ©Copyright 2021 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Give the gift of Torey’s
Purchase your gift card here.
www.fnblecenter.com
Sundays, dinner seating takes place 12:30-12:45 p.m. and show seating at 1:30 p.m. for a 2 p.m. performance.
208 N Cedar, Owatonna
f (507) 455-9260 Toreys.net
MONDAY - THURSDAY 11 AM - 8 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11 AM - 9 PM
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
15
SOUTHERN MINN
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
.COM
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR ADDITIONAL HAPPENINGS!
SEE MORE @ SouthernMinnSCENE.com
festive grab bag, food and drink specials and more.” https://go.evvnt.com/9528070 inquiries@thymeonmain.com
haves, handmade crafts, beauty products, food, artisanal items, and more.” https:// go.evvnt.com/952845-0 tami.juberian86@ gmail.com
1-DEC Holiday Market “Arts Center of
Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., Saint Peter” 1-5 p.m. The third block of the Holiday market features pottery from the Arts Center ceramists and woodwork from Gretchen Kroehler and Dick Jensen. https://go.evvnt.com/952849-0 info@ artscentersp.org
2-DEC Holiday Lighted Parade “Down-
town Owatonna, Owatonna” 6-8 p.m. “Floats roam the streets of downtown Owatonna, decorated with lights and holiday ornaments. After the parade, lights go up at Central park and carolers perform.” https://go.evvnt.com/952793-0 oacct@ owatonna.org
one more time in my career. With an allnew set, show and format.” bandsintown. com
3-DEC Christmas in the Village “Steele
County Historical Society, 1700 Austin Road, Owatonna” 4-11:59 p.m. “The History Center and Village of Yesteryear will be decorated for the season and will be filled with music, food, and joy. Decorators, bakers demonstrators, musicians. Takes place both Dec. 3 and 4.” https://go.evvnt. com/952795-0 kellen@steelehistorymuseum.org
1-DEC Kiwanis Holiday Lights “Sibley
Park, 900 Mound Ave., Mankato” 6-10 p.m. One of the most popular light shows in the region. Check it out throughout December. See the website for more details. https://go.evvnt.com/952893-0 info@ kiwanisholidaylights.com
3-DEC A Crabby Wren Christmas 2-DEC Hark the Glad Sound “Cen-
tennial Lutheran Church, 701 Locust St., Henderson” 7-10 p.m. “An evening of music and fellowship, featuring the Garms Family. Hors d’oeuvres and Christmas displays also on hand.” https://go.evvnt. com/952840-0 centenniallc@gmail.com
1-DEC Full of Holiday Spirit(s) “The
Bar on Main, 100 N. State St., Waseca” 6-8 p.m. “A ladies night holiday celebration. A $50 ticket provides one signature drink, an individual charcuterie board, special
16
2-DEC Christmas with Lorie Line 2021
“State Street Theater Co., PO Box 493, New Ulm” 7-11 p.m. “This sentimental and very personal show just might be your all-time favorite as I reinvent myself on the stage
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
“17857 Cannon City Blvd., 17857 Cannon City Blvd., Faribault” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. “A vintage Christmas barn sale with hand crafted gifts, antiques, and farm primitives. Fri. and Sat., Dec. 3 and 4 at 10:00 - 7:00, plus Sun., Dec. 5 at 11:00 - 4:00.” https:// go.evvnt.com/952800-0 editor@southernminnscene.com
3-DEC Winter Bazaar “Rise & Shine Nu-
trition, 300 First St. S., Montgomery” 4-9 p.m. “The Winter Bazaar is one-stop shopping 3-DEC Elf the Musical “Paradise for anyone who delights in holiday must Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave. N.,
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Cannon Road, Northfield” 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission and parking. Family-friendly atmosphere. A craft show with holiday ready gifts. https://go.evvnt.com/9528150 perfectlyuniqueevents@outlook.com
Faribault” 7:30-9 p.m. “This holiday family favorite is the hilarious tale of Buddy the Elf, a young orphan who crawls into Santa’s bag. Performances 7:30-9 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, plus 2-3:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12.” https://go.evvnt.com/952828-0 info@ paradisecenterforthearts.org vice event gives kids the chance to buy presents for family and friends and experience the excitement of giving during the holidays.” https://go.evvnt.com/952789-0 mnext-steele@umn.edu
4-DEC It’s A Wonderful Life “Northfield
Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third St. W., Northfield” 7-9:30 p.m. “One of the most inspirational and beloved stories in American film, It’s a Wonderful Life, translates beautifully to the Guild stage in this imaginative 1940s style radio-on-stage. Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12.” https://go.evvnt.com/952837-0 office@northfieldartsguild.org
3-DEC Kijana: Caravan Du Nord
“Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, 1000 Shumway Ave., Faribault” 7:30-11:30 p.m. “A day of artist workshops, an industry social hour, and performances by headliner Charlie Parr, guitar-driven country-folk artist Molly Maher, and soulful R&B singer Kijana.” bandsintown.com
3-DEC Every Christmas Story Every Told
“Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Drive, Owatonna” 7:30-9 p.m. “Instead of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told ... plus more. Tickets online.” https://go.evvnt.com/952784-0 info@ littletheatreofowatonna.org
Do you want to submit an event to this calendar? Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com. 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 on the back page of the B section.
4-DEC Cleveland FFA Craft Fair
“Cleveland Public School, 400 Sixth St., Cleveland” 507-484-1306 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Seeking Vendors NOW: https://forms.gle/ uengxYEWKejstcb46. https://go.evvnt. com/879263-0 susa.kelly@isd391.org
4-DEC Vintage Holiday Gift Market
“8867 Dane Road, 8867 Dane Road, Owatonna” 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh greens; vintage decor; unique gift items; WillowBrooke Handcrafted Jewelry; holiday decor; handcrafted wood items; repurposed furniture; farmhouse finds; scarves; Sorensen Honey. https://go.evvnt.com/952804-0 editor@southernminnscene.com
4-DEC Shop with Santa “1301 Lincoln
Ave. S., 1301 Lincoln Ave. S., Owatonna” 8 a.m.-noon “Open to kids 4 years old through sixth grade, this community ser-
2021 Winterfest Schedule: WINTERFEST 2021 DOWNTOWN FARIBAULT, MN
DECEMBER 2 - 4
Thursday, December 2: • Ice Carving 4-8pm at corner of 4th St and Central • Window Decorating Contest 4-8pm. Ballots available at the Paradise Center for the Arts, the Community Center. • Horse Drawn Wagon Rides: 4:30-7:30 pm • Carolers • Santa and the Reindeer at Buckham Memorial Library • Games & Activities at Faribault Community Center 5-7pm, and live music!
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
5-DEC St. Olaf Christmas Festival “St.
Olaf College, 1520 Saint Olaf Ave., Northfield” 3-6 p.m. A three-day choral and orchestral music festival Dec. 3-5 end with a livestream on the 5th. Over 500 students musicians will participate as members of the five choirs and orchestra. https:// go.evvnt.com/952825-0 editor@southernminnscene.com
5-DEC It’s The Holiday Season “Owa-
tonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Lane, Owatonna” 5-10 p.m. “The gallery will fea4-DEC Christmas Market Craft and Gift ture Santa, Elf on the Shelf and nutcrackExpo “Dundas Soccer Dome, 2033-2198
CONTINUED page 18
Friday, December 3: • Elf at Paradise Center for the Arts at 7:30pm • Snow Sculpture *Pending Weather Permits
• Street Dance on 400 block of Central Ave, in front of Chappuis Jewelry NO COVER! Enjoy music by Fender Bender, heated tent, food and bar available for purchase.
Saturday, December 4: • Sleds on Central Vintage Snowmobile Show 1-4pm This event is free. Food and beverage available for purchase. • Holiday Spirits Bazaar at 10,000 Drops from 11am-4pm • 14th Annual Canadian Christmas Open House at the Alexander Faribault House. 11am-3pm. Free. • Fireworks 5:30pm – launched near Crooked Pint and Viaduct • Parade of Lights on Central Ave. between 1st Street and 6th St. 5:50pm
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
17
CONTINUED from page 17
ers. The young at heart are welcomed to stop in and visit to get in the spirit of the season.” https://go.evvnt.com/952855-0 silvan.durben@oacarts.org
7-DEC Winds of Christmas “Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 W. College Ave., Saint Peter” 10 a.m.-noon “An annual performance of the music of Christmas
by the combined Gustavus and Vasa Wind Orchestras, presented at the college’s morning worship service.” https:// go.evvnt.com/952833-0 editor@southernminnscene.com
bring your letters for Santa to take back home.” https://go.evvnt.com/952812-0 mackenziehoydc@gmail.com
9-DEC Winter Walk “Bridge Square,
Bridge Square Bridge Square, Northfield” 5-10 p.m. “Stroll through, unique shops, 8-DEC Pictures with Santa “Awaken dine at fine restaurants enjoy caroling, Vibrance, 201 S. State St., Waseca” 6-8 p.m. sleigh rides, storytelling, luminarias, deco“Santa is flying in to visit with all of us once rated store fronts and much mor.” https:// again! Come take your picture with Santa, go.evvnt.com/952871-0 info@northfieldtell him what you’d like, and make sure to chamber.com
Specialty Grade Local Roaster Holiday Flavored Sample Packs Around the World in 12 Coffees Coffee Brewing Equipment, Subscriptions and Gift Cards
Pick up in store, Local Delivery, or Shipped
Locally Owned and Operated Mon & Thur 10 AM - 6 PM Saturday 9 AM - NOON
Join us this holiday season for a celebration of community & the arts! Friday, Nov. 26 Parade of Lights Viewing Party at 6pm Join us at The Grand for a bird’s eye view of the Parade of Lights on Minnesota St. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and simple crafts as you enjoy the parade. This event is FREE and all are welcome.
18
nesota Golden Gophers “Rice County Historical Society, 1814 Second Ave. NW., Faribault” 6:30-8 p.m. “On Dec. 9, 1941, just two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Faribault native and University of Minnesota football star Bruce Smith accepted the Heisman Trophy in front of millions over radio.” https://go.evvnt.com/952867-0 rchs@rchistory.org
Mistletoe & Melodies with Miss Myra Duo
Saturday, December 18 from 7-9pm Enjoy a holiday cocktail, cheesecake bar, and the lovely sound of Miss Myra Duo! This is a ticketed event. Visit our website for more details: www.thegrandnewulm.com Artisan Gift Shop Stop by our Gift Shop for holiday treasures! Tues.-Sat. 11am-4pm
435 26th St NE, Owatonna 507-413-0814
straightrivercoffee.com
9-DEC Bruce Smith and the 1941 Min-
The Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N. MN St., New Ulm
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
11-DEC Holiday Craft Show “Starfire
Event Center, 206 Second Ave. SW., Waseca” 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Join a variety of vendors to finish all your Holiday Shopping!. https://go.evvnt.com/952861-0 mindyjohnson@wasecamac.com
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
region for playing covers of classic rock hits. https://go.evvnt.com/952859-0 editor@southernminnscene.com
17-DEC The Nutcracker “Tri-City United:
11-DEC Santa and Mrs. Claus “Owa-
tonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Lane, Owatonna” 10 a.m.-noon Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the OAC to hear your wishes for the season. Mrs. Claus will also be at the piano playing those old favorite Christmas songs. https://go.evvnt. com/952856-0 silvan.durben@oacarts.org
High School, 700 Fourth St. NW., Montgomery” 6-7 p.m. The Nutcracker story features performing arts students from the Twin Cities’ south metro whose mission is to enrich residents of Minnesota by providing an environment of dance training and performance. https:// go.evvnt.com/952882-0 editor@southernminnscene.com
farmers market filled with local food, fixings and handmade items.” https://go.evvnt. com/952888-0 cannonvalleyfarmersmarket@gmail.com
18-DEC Home Free Warmest Winter
Tour 2021 “Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato” 7:30 p.m. Tickets $19.50-$297. ticketmaster.com
23-DEC Festivus “The Contented Cow, 11-DEC Christmas Walk “Shattuck-St.
Mary’s School, 1000 Shumway Ave., Faribault” 11 a.m.-4 p.m. “Free and open to the public. There will be a special ice show at the SSM Sports Complex at 11 a.m., and a Christmas Concert held at 3 p.m. in the chapel, along with Santa Claus and sleigh rides.” https://go.evvnt.com/952877-0 megan.maschoff@s-sm.org
18-DEC Christmas Bird Count “Ney
Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson” 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Help the Ney Nature Center to record resident and migratory bird statistics. https://go.evvnt. com/952884-0 info@neycenter.org
302 Division St. S., Northfield” 7:30-10 p.m. “Airing of grievances, feats of strength, aluminum pole, meatloaf dinner, as explained in the classic Seinfeld episode.” https://go.evvnt.com/952891-0 info@ contentedcow.com
31-DEC NYE with Miller’s Crossing
11-DEC IV Play Show “Blue Moon Bar
and Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota” 9:1511:59 p.m. IV Play is known around the
18-DEC Cannon Valley Farmers
Market “Faribo W. Mall, 200 Western Ave. NW., Faribault” 12-3 p.m. “Enjoy an indoor
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
“Sheldon Theatre, 443 W. Third St., Red Wing” 7:30-10 p.m. “Named in honor of Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass Music,’ Monroe Crossing dazzles audiences with an electrifying blend of classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, original bluegrass and more.” https://go.evvnt.com/952898-0 buytickets@sheldontheatre.org
Do you want to submit an event to this calendar? Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com. 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 on the back page of the B section.
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
19
MARY CLOSNER
Rants & RAVES
Mary Closner lives in Northfield, making bad decisions so you don’t have to! Reach her at 1964minx@gmail.com.
Merry COVID Christmas!
C
HERE’S TO EVERYTHING I HAVEN’T GOTTEN DONE.
hristmas 2021 will be a holiday season unlike any other! Most of us weren’t even sure we’d survive the first six months of the pandemic, let alone make it this far. We’ve grown snippy, impatient and generally disagreeable during all this time alone. Worse yet, for some of us, we spent an extraordinary amount of time with our family members in a confined space. All of this spells disaster for what is normally a stress-filled time of year to begin with. I had super ambitious plans at the start of the lockdown. As the months came and went, and isolation continued, I made lists. I promised my doctor some healthy exercise results, and I bragged about all my soon-to-be accomplishments to anyone who would listen. I thoroughly enjoyed my visions of working on my book, learning to cook exotic new recipes, becoming fluent in a language or two, and making lots of fabulous art. Instead, I let my hair grow out to its natural color for the first time in forever only to discover startlingly grey sideburns reminiscent of Grizzly Adams. I remember the days where I spent my time traveling, volunteering, communicating with friends and generally enriching my life. And then, the first month of COVID hit. Some of us tried to combat our frustration with things like liquor and drugs. And some of us just spent our time on Amazon shopping for things we never had any need for … until now. I found myself hunting for things I didn’t even know existed (I’m talkin’ to you Potato-of-the-Month-Club), but now desperately need shipped via overnight express! I was even ordering things for the pet I don’t have — did you realize you can get a custom wig made for your cat? I mean I wasn’t even sure how many pairs of shoes you could order online before the security department from your credit card company would call (it’s 24). I even ended up ordering a four-slice toaster because two slices just seemed so limiting for my future brunch extravaganzas. As a single person, I don’t normally eat four pieces at one time, but I always like knowing I have the option. Then, I decided I had so much time on my hands, I’d make all my Christmas gifts. Special, handmade, old-school, keepsake, Martha Stewart, why-buy-it-when-you-can-spend-triple-the-costmaking-it sorta treasures. Which seemed like a stellar idea until I went down the rabbit hole. I realized I was pretty committed to following an orphaned rescue squirrel online (littlethum-
20
LITTLE THUMBELINA GIRL™ is a website that follows the life of an Eastern Grey Squirrel born in a big city. belinagirl.com). She had to have a hysterectomy and gained so much weight, she wasn’t able to fit into the crocheted lobster costume one of her fans made for her. I found myself checking on her recovery on a rather regular basis.
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
After that, I was laser focused on my dreams of going to the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica. You get to bathe baby sloths with a special mix of leaves to get the mold off of them because they move so slowly. Is that a fantabulous job or what?!
I used to enjoy holiday shopping as well as all the traditional preparations that come with the season. Now all I can think of is how recently my favorite big box store has cleaned their cart handles. You know they hadn’t given a thought to cleaning those wonky-wheeled things since the day that store opened. Then the pandemic hit and everyone cleaned everything … for about three weeks. Well, last time I was in a big discount store, they had a room filled with soaking wet carts. They had sprayed them down with some chemical that smelled like the unfortunate seats in the back of the airplane right next to the bathroom. I went home and wiped down my handbag and burned all my clothing as I couldn’t get that abhorrent disinfectant smell off me. Nothing says festive holiday gift hunting like that?! I always loved getting a fancy, over-priced coffee drink while I wandered the streets in search of the perfect gift. Now all I can do is notice how many times my barista touches her hair and face before she puts her finger directly over the drink hole of my latte lid. I wasn’t a germaphobe before, but now every time they ask me to sign a credit card screen with an attached pen, I recoil. I fear all those germs may kill my holiday spirit and doom my friends to a year of terrible gifts. FYI to my family, it’s gonna be the SEASON OF REGIFTING. So, I had all this time and I didn’t accomplish anything and I didn’t get anything made. Come to think of it, I didn’t really learn much either. I was gonna address Christmas cards in July, but I got caught up not showering and making banana bread every other day. The big trick will be turning all this wasted time into last-minute gifts for my loved ones. Finding all the books I haven’t read that I can rewrap for my siblings. And, I’ve only used the toaster a couple times. I can clean that out and wrap it up pretty easily. Anything to avoid having to go out and mix with the great unwashed. I mean, I like people, and even I’ve enjoyed ignoring everyone for the last year. I wonder if I still have time to get those potato subscriptions ordered.
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Get ready for the holidays! Gut en Tag Hau s new ulm, mn
Call for Holiday Shopping Hours
127 N. MINNESOTA ST New Ulm, MN 507-233-4287 GUTENTAGHAUS.COM ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
BLACK FRIDAY SAVINGS START HERE!
HUNDREDS OF ITEMS IN STOCK & ON SALE! GIANT MARKDOWNS
* NOW *
Sofas, Recliners, Gliders, Tables, Lamps, Mattresses, Area Rugs, TV Stands, Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Bar Stools + More! Includes: La-Z-Boy - Sealy - Ashley - Flexsteel 16 NORTH GERMAN STREET DOWNTOWN, NEW ULM
Monday: 9am - 7 pm Tuesday-Friday: 9am - 5pm Saturday: 9am-3pm
507-354-2716 www.newulmfurniture.com
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
21
New Ulm Nov 26
Menzel Village Holiday Display & Holiday Open House 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Brown County Historical Society Museum
Nov 26 & 27
The Velveteen Rabbit 7:00 - 9:00 PM State Street Theater Co.
Nov 27
Gift Shop Open 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Wanda Gag House
Nov 28
The Velveteen Rabbit 2:00 - 4:00 PM State Street Theater
Dec 2
Lorie Line Christmas Concert 7:00 - 9:00 PM State Street Theater Co.
Dec 3
Christmas Bazaar and Luncheon 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Redeemer Lutheran
Dec 3
Dec 6
Dec 11
Dec 4
Dec 10
Open Mic Night 7:00 - 9:30 PM Grand Center for Arts and Culture
Dec 5
Comfort & Joy: Carols, Songs and Holiday Favorites Around the Piano 3:00 - 4:30 PM Martin Luther CollegeChapel of the Christ
Live Music 7:00 - 9:30 PM Grand Center for Arts and Culture Christmas Concert 7:30 - 9:00 PM Martin Luther CollegeChapel of the Christ Christmas Concert 4:00 - 5:30 PM Martin Luther CollegeChapel of the Christ
CHEE
N AT
St Nickolaus Day Celebration 6:00 – 7:30 PM Public Library Live Music 7:00 - 9:30 PM Grand Center for Arts and Culture
Live Music 6:00 - 9:00 PM Mona Lena
Dec 17
Dec 18
Dec 23
Live Music – Crista Bohlman 6:00 - 9:00 PM Mona Lena
Dec 24 & 25
Luminaries 6:00 PM until burned out August Schell Brewery
Miss Myra Duo 7:00 - 9:00 PM Grand Center for Arts and Culture
SE BALLS
U R A L B A L SA M F I R S
Gorgonzola Cheese Balls, made fresh in the Deli, and Local Natural Balsam Firs. IT’S A HOLIDAY TRADITION!
228 Mulberrry | St. Peter | stpeterfood.coop
22
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
St. Peter
Arts Center of Saint Peter will host Holiday Market from November 1 through December 23 to feature local artisan goods American Legion will host a Craft and Vendor Fair 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 13 Jingle All the Frey at Frey Salon and Spa is 4 to 8 p.m. on November 18 Cooks & Company will host their annual Knife Sharpening no November 20
Something for Everyone on Your Christmas List!
Nicollet County Historical Society is hosting Family weekend at the Museum on November 26 and 27 Saint Peter Recreation and Leisure Services will host the Great Candy Cane Hunt at the community center from 9 to 11 a.m. on December Little Angels Preschool will host Breakfast With Santa on December 4 at Church of Saint Peter
Andring, Collins, Norman & Co Chtd
Waseca
Fairground holiday lights Friday November 26th and Saturday November 27th 6-10pm Friday December 3rd & 10th and Saturday December 4th and 11th 6-10pm Waseca County Fairgrounds Pictures with Santa at the Mill Friday Dec 10, 2021 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM The Mill - 310 2nd Ave. SW
Certified Public Accountants 65 S. Park Ave. Le Center 507-357-6654 Mankato 507-388-5858
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
• Hand & Power Tools • Western & Flannel Shirts • Automotive Accessories • Winter Outerwear • Ertl Farm Toys • Lego Playsets • Ariens & Cub Cadet Snowblowers • Embroidered Sweatshirts • Carhartt Causal Wear • Radio Flyer Wagons • Year round Workwear • Housewares • Honda Generators • Winter Workwear
• Western, Pac & Work Boots • Air Compressors & Accessories • Weber Grills & Grilling Accessories • Barco, Cherokee, Carhartt, Dickies, White Cross Koi & Healing Hands Nursing Uniforms • Prestige Medical Accessories • Echo & Stihl Power Equipment • Dansko & Nurse Mates Footwear
Gift cards available
5
GIFT CERTIFICATE
$ 00 OFF
Any Regular Priced Purchase of $ 2000 or more
(Limit one coupon per customer) Excludes Gift Certificates. Expires Dec. 24, 2021
Remember our Service Center for your repairs! An Employee Owned & Local Business Since 1957
1951 N. Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN
507-387-1171 • 1-800-879-1938
www.c&ssupply.com .c&ssupply
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
23
S65 PREMIUM
10% OFF
A larger home means you’ll need more battery power to keep on cleaning on. Plus the right tools for every room.
For gifts with meaning, comfort and joy.... Holiday Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Sunday: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Accessories for Campers and Camping Toys for Kids November 29th – December 22nd
www.swedishkontur.com 507.931.1198
24
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
19989 584th Ave | Hwy 22 South Mankato, MN | (507) 625-4647 www.keepersrv.com
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Le Center Hollydaze Festival The Hollydaze FUN begins at 5 pm on 11/27 in the Courtyard Park!
Le Sueur Christmas in the Valley 6:00 PM 8:30 PM Main StreetLe Sueur, MN
Mankato Kiwanis Christmas Lights November 26 – December 31 Sun-Thurs at 5 - 9 PM
19,856
ALL WEEK
SAVE OVER $100 VIPER REMOTE CAR STARTERS
REMOTE STA AND COUNT RTS INSTALLED H ING ERE!
SALE SINCE 1993
VIPER 4105
VIPER 4816
1 way
2 way 1 button
• up to 1/4 miles range • Trunk Pop • Power Door Locks LTD Lifetime warranty parts/labor
BIGGEST SAVINGS OF THE YEAR!
VIPER
®
NO ONE DARES COME CLOSE
Not sure which one your special someone would like as a gift? No problem! Just get a GIFT CARD!
$20 bonus for every $100 Purchase Gift card sale cannot be used towards same day purchases or on any sale items offered.
Get peace of mind... Rockin Ronny’s has installed over 19,000 VIPER remote starts since 1993
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
• 2 way remote w/1 way companion • Back lilt LED confirmation • Keyless entry • 2 way confirmation on key fob of car starting or stopping • Trunk or hatch pop • Limited Lifetime warranty parts/labor
395
295
$
$
INSTALLED
INSTALLED
OUT THE DOOR PRICING!
SALES TAX AND ALL NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE INSTALLATION INCLUDED.
No interest of paid in full within 12 months!® Subject to credit approval. Terms & conditions apply. Apply today, online or in store, and buy today! See store for details.
90 DAYS SAME AS CASH OR 12 MONTH INTEREST DEFERRED
SINCE 1993
Free Courtesy Shuttle! 1211 Madison Ave. Mankato
507-345-7000
www.rockinronnys.com We are VIPER’S #1 single store in the Midwest! NO ONE has done more remote starts than us!!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
25
WOLDUM TV
RACHEL WOLDUM Rachel Woldum is a former television snob who has embraced the medium as it entered its Golden Age. Contact her at woldumr@gmail.com.
The Times, They Are A-Changin’ … Even on The BACHELOR
W
hen I first started watching The Bachelor back in 2012, I did so as a joke and as a way to bond with my new roommate. I was 23, single, and had enough free time to spend it watching reality TV I didn’t care about. Now, almost 10 years have passed; I’m newly married, working full-time, have a 5 month old son, and … still make time to watch a three-hour episode of The Bachelor every week. Much to my chagrin, it’s no longer accurate to call my viewership just a lark. I’m invested. For those unfamiliar with the franchise, The Bachelor is a reality dating show that first aired in 2002. A single, ostensibly “desirable” bachelor is provided with a cast of 20-30 eligible women who take turns vying for his heart through a series of one-on-one and group dates, over the course of six-to-nine weeks. At the end of that period, he’s expected to choose a wife and propose to her. (If you’re wondering how often this process results in lasting marriages, the answer is “not often.”) In 2003, the first season of The Bachelorette aired, which shares an identical premise with The Bachelor but features a female lead and male contestants. Since then, the show has spawned even
26
more spin-offs, including Bachelor in Paradise and dozens of international editions of the shows. But what’s become so fascinating to me about The Bachelor is not what happens during its weekly air time, but the life it’s taken on outside of that. Over the course of the almost 20 years that the franchise has been around, the show, its cast, and its viewership have undergone some massive cultural changes. When the show first aired, and until very recently, both the lead and their roster of potential mates were selected from a very specific pool of candidates: namely those who were white, fit, middle to upper-class, and conventionally attractive. The female contestants were comprised of former pageant queens, girl-next-door types with jobs like “nurse,” or “dental hygienist,” hot single moms, and former NBA dancers. The men were buff and square-jawed and held jobs in real estate, worked as personal trainers or fitness models, or boasted vague titles like “Sales Rep.” (Imagine a cast of former class presidents, homecoming queens, and captains of the football team.) Additionally — although they never overtly reveal cast members’ political affiliations — I got the impression that many if not most of them were Christian, conservative, and right-leaning. It checks out: the show is based around
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
the idea that romantic love is straight, monogamous, life-long, and family-oriented. What followed then was that the viewership was comprised of people (mostly women) who felt the same and were from similar demographics as the cast. Watching The Bachelorette was aspirational: “With just a little more money for hair, makeup, and implants, I too could date Chris S.” People who watched The Bachelor were people I made fun of — that is, until I became one of them. I’d always assumed viewers fell into one of three categories: those who wanted to be on the show, those who wanted to be like people on the show, or those who believed in its promise of happily-everafter. I can only speak for myself, but my own reasons for watching were two-fold: first, the show provided good entertainment, and second, the contestants made me feel better about myself. I thought I was smarter, less shallow and more realistic about life and love than these women (albeit not as headturning in a bikini). Call it hypocritical or just call it low-key hate-watching, but I know I wasn’t the only one. As the viewership slowly shifted, so did the cast members. The traditionally all-white show started casting more contestants of color, older contestants, and even a contestant identifying as bisexual. In 2017, Rachel Lindsay made it further than any Black contestant had ever made it, placing third overall. In a history-making move, she was next cast as the first-ever Black Bachelorette; since then, the show has had three Black leads. (As well as a 38-year old Bachelorette…because what’s more progressive than the idea that a woman over thirty-five can still be found desirable and worthy of love?). Diversifying the cast means that the conversations on the show, though still largely inane, have at times taken on new weightiness. Recent seasons have touched on topics like sexual assault, grief and loss, suicide and mental health, and even the George Floyd protests. And show controversies — such as the coming out of former lead Colton
Underwood, or the discovery of racially insensitive photos of recent winner Rachael Kirkconnell — means that all of Bachelor Nation (the name given to the vast networks of Bachelor fans) has had the opportunity to discuss more than just who got the latest group date rose. Whether you’re in favor of these changes because they signal a new age of progressiveness, or because they simply make for better TV, I think we can all agree these shifts are a step in the right direction. But The Bachelor getting more “woke” isn’t the only big change to hit the show. Since its inception, no single event or cast member has had a bigger impact than social media , and with it the explosion of “influencer” culture. Because of social media (namely, Instagram) Bachelor cast members now have the chance to prolong their fifteen minutes of fame and quite literally cash in on their potential popularity. Fanfavorites gain followers, and followers attract the attention of brands looking for fresh faces willing to endorse their products — and will pay them handsomely for it. No longer can we safely assume that the hunks and hotties stepping out of the limo on Night One are truly there to find love. What’s equally likely (and frankly, more practical) is that they see a chance to make a living hawking products like “Sugar Bear Hair” vitamins and MVMT watches. This phenomenon has been the source of much conflict and tension among cast members. The accusation “He/She is here for the wrong reasons” can be a near death sentence when leveled at an unprepared party. The criticism of both contestants and viewers alike is that these “clout-chasers” have ruined the integrity of the show. While it’s hilarious to use the word “integrity” to describe a show that’s literally about choosing your lifelong partner from a batch of pre-vetted perfect tens via skydiving dates, they’re not wrong. As foolish as I thought they were, I truly believe that some of the men and women on past seasons arrived convinced they were going to meet their soulmate. Now, I believe they show up with dollar signs in their eyes and dreams of celebrity. And the evidence is there to support them. A recent contestant, Kelley Flanagan, admitted that she makes more money now as an influencer than she ever did as an attorney. Past winner Madi Prewett was spotted shopping at Target with Selena Gomez.
And runner-up/fan favorite Tyler Cameron went on to date supermodel Gigi Hadid and even appeared opposite Kim Kardashian on an episode of SNL. What all of this means is this: even as steps are being taken to make the cast more representative of “real life,” the pool of contestants is being flooded with wannabe influencers: e.g., a large swath of people who can’t be honest about their intentions. And the showrunners aren’t helping — rumor has it that casting directors specifically target these burgeoning influencers when scouting talent. I’ve never had high hopes that The Bachelor or Bachelorette would result in two people finding true, lasting love. But I used to believe that for ten weeks, I’d get to see genuine interactions between real people open to experiencing chemistry, butterflies, and good old-fashioned sexual tension. That I’d get to watch authentic human displays of emotion, like jealousy and vulnerability, or even just enjoy the zaniness that results from dozens of loose-lipped twenty-somethings when they’ve had too much alcohol and too little sleep. But now, everything is so calculated — contestants are acutely aware, while filming, of what could happen after the show. Producers could give them a bad edit. A single comment made during a talking-head aside could get them canceled. Or, by exuding just the right combo of catty and caring, they could wind up Insta-famous and dating Zac Efron. In short, the fourth wall has been broken — the opinions of future viewers are taken into as much consideration as current cast members. So what’s my point in all this? I truly don’t know. Yearning for “the good ol’ days” is nothing new, though applying such a sentiments to The Bachelor might be. I think what I want — though perhaps it’s even more foolish than looking for love on a TV show — is for this one little slice of pop culture to exist independently of social media. To be convinced that the tears of Lauren P. are for Chris S. and not to win the sympathy of her 146K followers. To trust that a conversation about race is not a producer’s machination but a humble inquiry from someone who wants to do better. And to know that there are still people out there — dumb and hopeful enough — who believe their soulmate is a hunk wearing sockless loafers, holding a rose.
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
TERRI SCHILCHENMEYER
SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ Trashlands: A Novel by Alison Stine c.2021, Mira $27.99 / $34.99 Canada 384 pages You gotta do what you gotta do. Whatever it takes to survive, nothing’s off the table in a crisis. Hunt, scrounge, gather, you’d do it if that was required. Anything to have a roof over your head and food in your belly, a few bucks for the basics, maybe an unnecessary gewgaw for comfort. Do what you gotta do in the new novel, “Trashlands” by Alison Stine... or die. Fresh, clean water from a pipe and heat from the floor. Mr. Fall was the only one in Trashlands who was old enough to remember those things, and so most people were skeptical. Coral, though, had known Mr. Fall her entire life, and she knew he wouldn’t make things like that up. She supposed that in The Els, where damage from floods was minimal, people had clean water and heat but as a plucker in Scrappalachia, the only thing Coral knew for sure about was plastic. Plucking, in fact, was the only way she had to make money. Her partner, Trillium, did tattooing for the girls who worked at Trashlands, the garishly-lit club that lent its name to the junkyard where everyone lived. Mr. Fall held school for children who might show up. Summer made clothes, Foxglove danced for men, they all relied on plastic as currency and so Coral spent her days plucking recyclable plastic from the brackish water of a nearby river. She had to. She needed to save to buy her son’s freedom. Shanghai was small when he was snatched, and that was the point: children’s hands were more adept at sorting plastic. Coral thought he’d still be at a factory, but which one was anyone’s guess. She often wondered what he’d be like now; back then, when he lived with her and Trillium, the boy was angry and dangerous and she still wanted him back. He made her who she was. She loved him. He was the reason she stayed at Trashlands... So you’re kind of concerned about climate change? Then take this warning and buckle your belt tight, because “Trashlands” is about to scare the pants off you. Not in a jump-out-and-boo! sort of way, either: author Alison Stine maintains eerie calm and quiet here, with just enough blanks left unfilled to leave readers feeling the cringey kind of unease that happens when you’re anticipating something bad and oops, it’s tomorrow. The story isn’t really even dystopian; it’s
more futuristic, set in a possible someday time when society is almost entirely feral and the gulf between has and has nothing is as wide as an ocean full of plastic garbage. Start it, and you can smell the tale from your reading spot. The prose feels sandy, but not pleasantly so. Have fun thinking you know how this book ends but forget it, you don’t. “Trashlands” isn’t exactly sci-fi, but just to the left of it and one step up. It’s a book to share with someone, quick, so you can discuss. If you love good future fiction, you gotta read it.
How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters by Joshua Jay c.2021, Workman $27.50 / higher in Canada 310 pages Pick a card. Any card. Don’t show it to anyone. Just look at it, quick, and put it back in the deck anywhere at random. Now think about that card. Think about the number, the suit, how many symbols were on it, the color, the shape. Concentrate hard on the card you chose and then wonder – as in the new book “How Magicians Think” by Josuha Jay – what the magician is concentrating on. How did he do that? If you’re like most people, that’s your first reaction when you catch a magic act: how did the person with the tricks manage to fool you, right in front of your face? That question, says Joshua Jay, is the wrong “mindset.” “Magic tricks aren’t puzzles,” he says, “but most of us see them that way..” Still, it’s natural for you to wonder about Jay’s world. Being a magician, for example, seems like a glamourous life but Jay says that touring means that he misses birthdays, holidays, and “all the important stuff.” He practices constantly and because his hands are essential to his work, he’s given up previously-enjoyed hobbies in order to avoid possible injury. Jay says he’s traveled all over the world to perform and to watch others perform – he says magic is done differently in every country – and he’s been to the famed Magic Castle. He’s invented a number of tricks that he knows can be teased apart by other magicians but he’s not worried because “Magic has a strict code of ethics.” If you love being surprised and you love the show,
Performance Dates:
December 3-4, & 10-11 | 7:30pm December 5 & 12 | 2:00pm
• Online box office at LittleTheatreofOwatonna.org • In-house box office open • Mon. - Weds. 5-6:30 (By Phone) • Thurs. - Sat. 5:30-7:30 • Sun. 12:30-2
Directed by Zackery Knapton Technical Director Kristi Westergaard
!
TICKETS
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
Little Theatre of Owatonna • 560 Dunnell Drive
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer based just across the river from SoMinn in LaCrosse, WI. She can be contacted at bookwormsez@gmail.com
good for you, he says. Magicians work hard to keep the illusion, and if you want that, too, then listen: a magician’s words are very important distractions, but they can also ruin the trick. Never watch the same show twice and never try too hard to find the secret. “When nothing is left to the imagination,” Jay says, “there is nothing left to imagine.” On our most mawkish days, we sometimes like to romantically think that we’ve managed to maintain the innocence of a child. That’s not good, from a magician’s POV, says author Joshua Jay; in reality, kids are the hardest customers to fool. And so that coin-behind-the-ear trick you planned on doing at Thanksgiving? Throw it out and read “How Magicians Think” instead. Here, Jay explains why even the most jaded among us need magic these days, and how today’s magic has gone beyond the tired tropes to become the big-stage attraction that it is, even when some of it is bigger-than-life and often dangerous. In that, he assures readers that what they see is real. But how can that be? Jay (no relation to Ricky Jay) isn’t telling. What you read in this book – including his list of favorites and tales of performing and creating – won’t ruin the illusion for you. You can enjoy “How Magicians Think,” you can walk yourself through a trick, shake your head, and still be wow’d. In fact, slack-jawed awe... yeah, it’s in the cards.
American Comics: A History by Jeremy Dauber c.2021, WW. Norton $35.00 / $47.00 Canada 592 pages A towel worked pretty well. If Mom got mad about you stealing one of her bathtowels, then a folded sheet was good, or even an old shower curtain. Superheroes never worried about the fabric of their capes, and you didn’t, either. As long as kid-you could leap and climb and fight crime, you were happy. Even better: having “American Comics: A History” by Jeremy Dauber in your hands today. Though, in a way, the history of American comics started with Egyptian hieroglyphics,you can also easily state that political cartoons were really this nation’s first cartoons. By 1827, comics without words, or the “picture-story,” was recognized as something valid that even semi-literate colonists could enjoy in books. Early newspapers eventually found cartoons, or the other way around, but those first comics were meant for adults. Still, turn-of-the-last-century children
were savvy enough to understand the mischief of the Katzenjammer Kids and soon, comics were beloved by the whole family as they held up a mirror to what Americans were doing or dreaming about. That included conquering the Great Depression and the Fuhrer: by 1939, fourteen new superheroes had appeared in the nation’s comic books. American GIs were voracious consumers of comics during World War II, as Sad Sack and Dick Tracy joined Barney Google in the service and Daddy Warbucks became a three-star general. Comic book publishers also joined the War Effort when forced to use just a single staple to keep their product together, something a superhero surely could’ve helped do. WWII comic lovers returned home to some controversy: shortly after wars’ end, comic books were said to contribute to juvenile delinquency. The 1950s saw the heyday of horror comics and satire magazines that were not necessarily meant for consumption by children. Racism and sexism had always existed in comic books, but the 1960s saw a rise in strips by African American artists and more comic books with a feminist angle. And by the 1970s, comics had become “comix” and nearly everything changed... Once upon a time, you had piles of comic books. Well-loved, well-thumbed-through, you even read the ads on the back, didn’t you? Yeah, and with plenty of nostalgia and cultural touchpoints, “American Comics” will remind you of those rainy Saturdays spent fighting pixelated crime in POWs, BAMs, and WHAMs. But here’s the thing: author Jeremy Dauber never lets readers forget that comic book history is inseparably American history. We can trace this country’s past almost entirely through comics like Krazy Kat, Lil’ Orphan Annie, Captain America, Sad Sack, Archie, and Wee Pals, and we can see how American opinions changed according to our favorite funny pages. That makes this book perfect for comic book collectors, unusual-history buffs, and anyone who thought they were wasting time all day when (ha!) they were just reading comic books. Dear Mom: We forgive you for throwing out all our comic books so long ago. We’d rather have them back, but this book is a warm reminder of them. For sure, “American Comics” is a great es-cape. Beware: this is truly scary stuff, and you really don’t want to hand this book to a 12-to-17-year-old who’s prone to nightmares. There are a lot more books for big and little ghosts and goblins out on the shelves so if these four, above, don’t fit your exact idea of a boo-tiful read, then look for some of your beloveds from your own trick-or-treat days or be sure to ask your favorite bookstore or librarian for help. They’ll know exactly what to put in your cold, cold hands because not having the best Halloween reading is too scary to imagine.
Mizuki Fusion
Order Online! japanese & thai Restaurant
OPEN FOR CARRY OUT ONLY bento box • sashimi • teriyaki • hibachi • tempura soup and salad • sushi • maki • desserts
119 W Bridge St, Owatonna | 507-214-3131 | www.mizukifusion.com W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
27
ELENA MERCURIO
SoMinn STYLE
Elena Mercurio is a Mankato native and a Twin Cities resident. She has a love for fashion and went to school for it. She also enjoys concerts, festivals, new restaurants and good deals. Reach her at elenamercurio@gmail.com.
, What we re wearing this holiday season
W
This shacket from Nordstrom is a good example of winterready clothing.
28
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
elcome to the first feature of Southern Minnesota Style. This will be a fashion column that offers trends, advice, and all things fashion related to a Southern Minnesota lifestyle. First off, I would like to introduce myself. I was born and raised in Mankato, where I found at an early age my love of fashion, drawing and sewing my own clothes. I went to college at the University of Wisconsin, Stout, graduating with a degree in Apparel Design and Development (now called the Fashion and Retail program). During college, I interned for designers in New York, Los Angeles, and assisted at London Fashion Week. After college, I started my own collection, selling at boutiques in Minneapolis for quite a few years. I now have a fulltime job, which has taken away from designing as much as I’d like, but I still design and draw when I get inspired. This column is my way to connect my roots of Southern Minnesota and my love of fashion to hopefully bring some
inspiration for discovering the excitement of curating personal style to the readers. As we are transitioning into the holiday season, so let’s focus on what we will be wearing to our upcoming gatherings. We might be seeing some friends and family for the first time in a couple years, so we want to look great while feeling comfortable. I recommend taking an inventory of what you have in your closet currently. We do this usually in the spring, but it’s also great to do at the end of the year to re-evaluate what you wore and loved during this year, and what you did not. Pick out the holiday outfit contenders, and try them on again. We change shape from time to time (and that’s perfectly OK!), so we want to make sure that how we remembered the clothing item fitting before, still in fact does. If it doesn’t fit anymore, we put it in the give-away pile without judging ourselves, and find something fun and new to wear. I recommend only holding onto clothing
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
that makes you feel your best. If something doesn’t fit right, is looking worn or stained, or serves as our “skinny jeans” for when we lose those 5-10 pounds — it’s got to go. Every time we see those items, we end up consciously or unconsciously turning negative. We don’t want any extra negative feelings around us, so it’s better to discard them. Layers are always key in Minnesota. We might be traveling through a bitter cold snow storm on the way to grandma’s, and when you get inside, the heat is cranked up to 85. Always plan for both of those. Matching sets are very fashionable right now, and would be perfect for those layering options. Find a ribbed cardigan sweater set with a matching sweater pants or skirt. Pair it with some gold hoop earrings or your favorite festive earrings. This is the ultimate cozy but put together look. The great thing is, sweater material is stretchy so that extra helping of pie will have a little more room, (Metro Creative images) wink wink. A shacket is also a great trendy sweater, or even a casual hoodie and paired with layering option. If you haven’t heard that term denim or leggings. If you want to dress it up, you yet, it’s a combination of the two words shirt and could pair it with the latest trend of faux leather jacket. It’s a thick button-up, meant to be the outer pants. top layer of your outfit. This could go over a shirt,
Most of all, pick an outfit that makes you feel confident and festive, while still being comfortable. Plan out those layers, as temperature changes are bound to happen. Most of all, having a great holi-
day outfit planned means you will do less thinking about how you are looking and more time being in the present moment soaking up the joyous holiday season with loved ones. Happy Holidays!
If you are searching for that one person who can change your life, look in the mirror.
217 South Minnesota Ave St. Peter, MN
Elevate your look. Elevate your life.
(507) 931-0001 ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
29
1711 Premier Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 345-8708 info@thedesignelement.net
30
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
1711 Premier Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 720-6053 info@cabinetlab.net
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
Through a SOMINN LENS
AUDREY KLETSCHER HELBLING A long-time wordsmith and photographer, Audrey Kletscher Helbling creates from Faribault, where she lives with her husband of nearly 40 years. Her greatest holiday joy comes in time with family, including her two precious grandchildren. www.mnprairieroots.com audrey@mnprairieroots.com
Trees line Central Park for the Faribault Parks and Recreation Department 2020 Drive-by Holiday Tree Display, part of the Hometown Holidays celebration. Local businesses and organizations sponsor and decorate trees, which are then given to families who would not otherwise have trees. The trees will be set up Nov. 29 and displayed until Dec. 9.
Holiday in
Faribault
E
ach December I seek to reclaim the magic of the holiday season I felt as a child. The anticipation. The excitement. The joy. Reflecting on my childhood, I recognize that my most beloved memories center on experiences. Driving through Tangletown, a residential neighborhood of twisting streets near Grandpa’s home in Redwood Falls, to view holiday lights. Waiting in line to see Santa, anticipating the Hershey’s candy
bar inside a goodie bag. Rushing down the aisle of St. John’s after Christmas Eve services while belting out “Joy to the World,” then piling into the Chevy with my five siblings for the short drive back to the farm and gift-opening. Money was tight, gifts few. Still, that didn’t keep me from paging through the Sears & Roebuck catalog/Christmas Wish Book and coveting toys I would never receive. Now, as an adult, I remember the moments, not the things. I recall gathering as a family, the ripping of wrapping paper, the togetherness. I remember, too, the short-needled short Christmas tree, draped in tinsel, adorned with lights and bulbs and a bird sparkling in silver glitter. The tree sat on the end of the Formica kitchen table in our cramped farmhouse. Today some of those vintage ornaments decorate my own imperfect Charlie Brown tree purchased from a Faribault vendor. I still delight in holiday lights that brighten dark December nights. Whether in storefront windows or front yards or on street corners, strings of lights and seasonal decorations bring back memories. Likewise, concerts and holiday parades and other community events, while not the same as my youthful experiences, bring joy. The magic of the holiday season remains, filtered now through the lens of time.
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
TOP: Star toppers decorate the trees at the Drive-by Holiday Tree Display in Central Park, organized by Faribault Parks and Recreation. MIDDLE: The Christmas tree lot at ACE Hardware in Faribault. BOTTOM: A team pauses for a photo with Santa during the Faribault Parks and Recreation Department’s local The Amazing Race during Hometown Holidays in 2020. W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
31
Andy Hoisington and his son Jake craft Faribo Frosty in December 2020 in Andy’s front yard.
LEFT: Holiday wreaths and paper hearts adorn the front entry to Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church in Faribault in December 2020.
FAR RIGHT: Inside the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at ShattuckSt. Mary’s School in Faribault, a beautiful Nativity stained glass window.
32
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
ABOVE: Christmas art displayed in the sanctuary of Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church, Faribault. RIGHT: A scene from the 2019 Sleds on Central Snowmobile Show, part of Faribault’s Winterfest. This year’s Winterfest runs Dec. 2-4 with the snowmobile show, a lighted holiday parade and more on Saturday.
ABOVE: Horse-drawn wagon rides were part of Shattuck-St. Mary’s Campus Christmas Walk in 2019. This year’s free community event at the Faribault school’s upper campus is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 and includes sleigh rides, an ice show, concert, visits with Santa and more. RIGHT: The marquee at the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault promotes the annual Holly Days sale which features local art. The 2021 event runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 18.
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
33
SoMinn FOOD & DRINK
PAT GARRY
Review
JOURNALIST – COPYWRITER – EDITOR – FEATURE WRITER My experience spans 19-years, and I will apply my skills to help beef-up any lifeless copy within your website, brochure, press release, catalog, etc. - patgarry@charter.net
Lucky Lure The
O
wned since 2013, Barb Dillon has developed a topnotch “talk-of-the-town” eatery/pizzeria/bar in Madison Lake. She requires no chefs or kitchen supervisors, as all recipes on her comprehensive menu are original to her. The Lucky Lure is primarily known for exquisite lunch and dinner menu items, but perhaps paramount on the list are Barb’s tantalizing pizzas and cheese breads, which, along with all of the menu items, are available for delivery all over the lake area. A top-desired pizza is the Heavy Bob-
34
ber; offered on a thin or hand-tossed crust, complete with pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, onion and green olives. “Our Sinkers are also a must-have. They’re our take on stuffed mushrooms, filled with cream cheese, cheddar cheese and pepperoni, then covered in mozzarella cheese and served with a warm breadstick,” said Dillon. One of the most popular sandwich choices is the Loaded Toasted Sub. This scrumptious sub is packed with pepperoni, salami, Canadian bacon, onion, black olives, cheese and topped with lettuce, tomato and Italian dressing. The Lure’s pastas are generous-portioned servings, like spaghetti with choice of red sauce, meat sauce, or meat balls. Other delectable dishes are Tortellini Alfredo; cheesefilled tortellini tossed with baby peas, mushrooms, smoked ham and Alfredo sauce, and covered with parmesan cheese; Chicken & Spinach Cannelloni; stuffed with chicken, spinach & cheese; half-topped with Alfredo sauce and half-topped with marinara sauce, then smothered with mozzarella and parmesan cheese and baked until golden; Southwest Chicken Pita; seasoned chicken toasted with pepper jack cheese & onions; then covered with jalapeno Ranch dressing, lettuce & tomatoes. “Our staff is awesome and they create great relationships with our customers, which results in many regulars. We love entertainment and are known
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
for our great selection of bands throughout the year. The last couple of years we added more bands and built a deck above our patio for additional seating,” Dillon said. The Lucky Lure offers delivery service to local lakes, campgrounds and even to ice houses on the frozen lakes. Since COVID, Barb has expanded her delivery base, and she has made the decision to expand another take-out and delivery service location in Cleveland, hopefully by January 2022. “Other than expanding to our new location in Cleveland, we hope to have a food truck ready for travel next spring. We look forward to catering events, festivals, weddings, high school sports, or any other celebration that is requested of us,” said Dillon. Lure is a destination for pizza, superb cuisine and music. It boasts a big, fun, family-friendly game room, with pool tables, darts, a stuffed animal claw machine and a skeeball machine. This room is easily converted into an area for indoor music, when weather prevents Dillon from hosting music on the back patio stage. (Lucky Lure: 412 & 416 Main St., Madison Lake; Pizza phone: 507-243-4343; Bar phone: 507-243-4154)
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
FESLER-LAMPER T | PERFORMING ARTS SERIES
2 0 21 - 2 0 2 2
CHARLIE PARR
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021 A self-taught American blues musician hailing from Minnesota, Charlie Parr is the headliner of the 2021 Caravan du Nord tour, sponosored by the Minnesota Music Coalition and MPR’s 90.3 The Current. Opening sets by Kijana and Molly Maher.
STEELE FAMILY CHRISTMAS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021
A one-of-a-kind Christmas celebration from the five Steele siblings: J.D., Fred, Jearlyn, Jevetta, and Billy Steele. For years, the Steeles have presented their annual Holiday concert to sold-out audiences at various Twin Cities theaters. They have been singing together since they were children growing up in Gary, Indiana, and have recorded and performed with various artists including Prince, Donald Fagel, Morgan Freeman, George Clinton, and others.
Newhall Auditorium | Shattuck-St. Mary’s School Adults $25, Students $15 To purchase tickets, please visit: www.s-sm.org/tickets
ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
| DECEMBER 2021
35
ELF the MUSICAL
Kat Perkins
December 3, 4, 8, 9 ASL, 10 at 7:30 PM December 5, 11, 12 at 2:00 PM
Sunday, December 19 5:00 PM
presented by The Paradise Community Theatre
Roy Orbison Tribute Saturday, January 15 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Dance Party Reunion Buddy Holly and Friends Friday, January 28 7:30 PM
GALLERY OPENING Friday, January 7 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
The She Said Project Women’s Conference Saturday, February 5
PRESENTED BY:
Piano Man Friday, January 7 7:30 PM
GALLERY OPENING Friday, February 18 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
For more information & tickets: www.paradisecenterforthearts.org
(507) 332 - 7372 321 Central Avenue North The Boy Who Talked to Whales February 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 7:30 PM Sunday, February 20, 27 2:00 PM
The Jimmys
Wildflower
Friday, March 11 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 19 7:30 PM
Faribault, MN
These activities are made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State’s general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
36
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
