Southern minn
DECEMBER 2023
Scene
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
DAILY SPECIALS CATERING OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
1
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US AT THE SHELDON
2
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.
DECEMBER 2023 / VOLUME 11 / ISSUE 12
CONTENT FEATURES:
COLUMNS: 18 Profile of a MINN MUSICIAN
7 Mollywood BLVD
4 City-By-City Shopping Guide
A few of SoMinn’s best picks for gifts.
10 Theater Shows Spread the
20 Through a SoMinn LENS
8 From the MUSIC SIDE
Holiday Spirit
12 Here Comes the Holiday Events Train The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will makes it’s way through SoMinn this year.
Scene
Finding Christmas joy in family, food, festivities & beyond.
Murder in Minnesota music.
A look at some area performances this holiday season.
Southern minn
Mae Simpson.
UNWRAP the ULTIMATE Christmas Wish List
30 SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ
9 Rants & RAVES
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Holidays aren’t always festive.
15 SoMinn FOOD & DRINK Review
CALENDAR SoMinn’s most comprehensive calendar of things to be SCENE. PAGE 23
Desi Diner.
“THE L VE ISSUE” JANUARY/FEBRUARY
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 15 Southern minn
Scene
HAVE A STORY IDEA OR CALENDAR EVENT? Reach EDITOR Philip Weyhe at editor@southernminnscene.com 507-931-8579 or follow him on Twitter @EditorPhilipWeyhe
WANT TO ADVERTISE? Deanna Boland - 507-340-5806 deanna.boland@apgsomn.com
DESIGNER
Kate Townsend-Noet
NEW MENU • 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 VISIT FARIBAULT’S ORIGINAL HOMETOWN BAR AND GRILL Often imitated, never duplicated
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
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 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
3
Monarch Gift Shop is on Northfield’s downtown Division Street, a popular seasonal shopping stretch.
By TAYLOR HINDERMANN Guest Contributor
I
f sHOpping, sHOpping, sHOpping is the foundation of your seasonal “Ho, ho, ho,” then by all means guide your “sleigh” across southern Minnesota for the best pick of gifts this side of the North Pole. From the German-themed delights of New Ulm on the region’s west edge to the spirited selection of options among the towns (Owatonna, Waseca, Faribault, Northfield) hugging the I-35 corridor, there’s every reason to enjoy the hunt for those perfect (or whimsical) presents. Here’s an insider’s look at two area proprietors, giving just a glimpse of the glories available at dozens of locally owned gift shops, clothiers, art retailers, antique outlets awaiting you.
Monarch
thoughtful gifts.” Sure, Monarch is a regular destination for shoppers from around the region seeking birthday or hostess gifts and small seasonal decor with sophisticated flair, but it positively shines during the Christmas season. With a full line of Frasier Fir scent products (including candles, sachets, diffusers and room sprays) from the Minneapolis-based company Thymes, Monarch is a great place to begin setting the holiday mood with fragrance, whether in your home or a friend’s. “There’s nothing that smells more authentically like a Christmas tree than Frasier Fir products,” said Johnson. “We have the sachets that people sometimes put in their cars, but we’ve learned that many people hang them in their artificial Christmas trees to get the scent that just screams ‘Christmas.’” Bottle brush trees, winter-themed mugs, napkins, coasters, ornaments, greeting cards, paintings, journals and an extensive collection of lotions and fragrances (from florals to citrus and everything in between) are artfully arranged in Monarch’s welcoming space. Clothing—think ponchos, sweaters, slacks, gloves and light jackets—are also in the mix. “Our clothing is all easy-fit wear, so you can buy a piece for a gift and be quite confident it will fit the recipient,” said Johnson. “And it’s not the kind of thing you would find at Target or other franchise retailers. Even the leggings we sell have interesting, different patterns.”
Holiday decor, seasonal selections and winter-scented candles (including Frasier Fir) are all among the variety of options at Monarch Gift Shop, Northfield.
Like the beautiful butterfly nestled inside a cocoon that its name suggests, Monarch on Northfield’s main drag—Division Street—reveals its charms the longer you linger inside its striking green apple-colored door. “We stock a variety of items that keeps changing,” said Lilla Johnson, a 10-year Monarch sales associate. “And there are a lot of unique things here that aren’t easily found elsewhere. Monarch is a great gift store because everything here is purchased with the idea of providing fun and
4
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
Lotions, clothing, cards and ornaments adorn the shelves and racks at Monarch Gift Shop on Northfield’s Division Street. Monarch’s jewelry cases primarily feature the handiwork of two lines: Firefly, a fair-trade Guatemalan company, offers “unique sparkly designs,” according to Johnson, that can be worn with either casual or dressier styles, while the Helen Wang products come straight from the eponymous individual jewelry artist of Roseville. Johnson also touts the hand-blown glass bulbs that hang in Monarch’s windows. “They make great hostess gifts,” said Johnson, mentioning that one regular customer stops in before each social engagement to buy one for her hosts. “We have holiday-oriented bulbs but those are constant sellers, year-round.” Greeting cards from Gina B (a local cardmaker) and the Positively Green brand are also appealing. “People always seem to be searching for appropriate cards for the men in their lives, and the Positively Green cards often work well,” said Johnson. Monarch benefits from Northfield’s annual December downtown extravaganza, Winter Walk, which takes place this year on Thursday, Dec. 7, and draws in thousands of shoppers and spectators to the historic Cannon River city’s downtown merchants. “Winter Walk is fun—and busy,” said Johnson. Monarch Gift Shop, 405 Division St., Northfield, monarchgiftshop.com, 507-663-7720. Open weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m.
Chappuis Jewelers This family-owned Faribault jewelry store is run by the third generation of the Chappuis family, Nate Chappuis and his wife Amy.
And like Santa’s elves, the Chappuis Jewelers staff work tirelessly to fulfill customers’ wishes, especially in the weeks leading up to the culminating end-of-year holidays. “Nate is an on-the-bench goldsmith, and John Hassler is our second goldsmith,” said eight-year Chappuis Jewelers sales associate Robin Klatt. “They do their very best to make sure everybody’s happy at Christmas.” Key to Chappuis Jewelers being a great stop for holiday shoppers is the versatility of its quality merchandise. Consider the range from birthstone jewelry, charm bracelets/pendants, earrings, necklaces, diamond and gemstone pendants, diamond fashion rings, colored gemstones and a silver jewelry collection, among other possibilities. Oh, and they also offer in-house jewelry and watch repair/maintenance. “We have a great birthstone collection that’s new this season, featuring rings, earrings and pendants with two styles of chains,” said Klatt, noting that gifting a birthstone piece ensures an automatic level of personalization. Or how about a charm bracelet or pendant? Charms can become the gift that keeps on giving, providing grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles or siblings a ready-made choice to add to a recipient’s collection year after year. “There are thousands of charms with themes of travel, love, animals, sports, music—you name it, we can usually find a charm to suit,” said Klatt. A giver can purchase a bracelet or pendant (choosing either sterling or gold) itself in Year One and continue to round out the recipient’s
charms on many future occasions. “We have one gentleman who comes in every year and buys charms for each of his four little granddaughters,” said Klatt by way of illustration.
Chappuis family and staff in their downtown Faribault store, which has existed under the family name since 1933. (Photos from Facebook)
Watches—and specifically at Chappuis Jewelers, Seiko time pieces—are another option. “Men seem to be the predominant watchbuyers in our store but there’s a wide age range, from young men in their 20s who are entering the work force on up,” said Klatt. “Watches can contribute to a more polished look.” Klatt stressed that Chappuis Jewelers has watches for all interested parties, including narrower bands for women as well as mid-size, unisex types. “The small vintage watches are back in, and more young women have been looking for the dainty, fine, delicate styles,” Klatt said. And don’t forget those romantic seasonal engagements—though Klatt indicated that engagement rings are in demand year-round. “We’re always selling engagement rings,” said Klatt. “Lab-grown diamonds are definitely trending, and white-gold bands are the king of the pile but yellow gold is starting to creep
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
back.” If you’re a last-minute holiday shopper, never fear; Chappuis Jewelers stands ready to serve on Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., leaving the shop shortly before Santa Claus begins making his annual rounds with Rudolph and company. “Last-minute shoppers are the rule every year, no matter what kind of store you are— clothing, jewelry, food or liquor,” said Klatt. “We obviously can’t order anything in at that point, but we do our level best to drill down a bit to see if we can find something appropriate,” she continued. “We’ll ask, ‘What does your significant other wear—earrings, pendants, rings? Does she have small diamond studs, so maybe a bigger pair would be good?’ We go with whatever information we can get.” Because—and maybe this is no surprise—the vast majority of those down-to-the-wire shop-
CONTINUED page 6
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
5
CONTINUED from page 5
Kenyon
New Prague
pers are men. “At Chappuis Jewelers, we are service-oriented, 100%,” verified Klatt. “So if you come in the door, we’ll try to help you figure out something that will make the person you’re buying for very happy.” Chappuis Jewelry, 413 Central Ave. N, Faribault, chappuisjewelers.com, 507-334-7114. Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2, 9 and 16; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 24
Tatge Jewelry, 625 Second St., Kenyon, tatgejewelry.com, 507-789-6522. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Friday; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday. Jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets) Seiko and Citizen watches, clocks (cuckoo, mantel, grandfather, floor, table-top).
Cedar & Sage Boutique, 123 Main St. E, New Prague, cedarandsageonmain.com, 952209-4490. Women’s and men’s apparel (tops, bottoms, cardigans, denim, dresses), kids and babies clothes and accessories, fashion jewelry, home and giftware.
Le Center
New Ulm
St. Mary’s Thrift Store, 69 E. Minnesota St., Le Center, facebook.com/thriftstoreonminnesota, 507-357-6942, new and used clothing (wide variety of sizes), shoes, houseware items, toys, home décor and more.
AROUND THE SCENE REGION
Le Sueur
Domeier’s German Store, 1020 S. Minnesota St., New Ulm, 507-354-4231. Open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. German food, steins, clocks, books, music, Christmas decorations, apparel, hats.
Here are more great places nearby to help you wrap up your shopping before Santa drops down the chimney:
Faribault Faribault Woolen Mill Factory Store, 1500 NW Second Ave., Faribault, faribaultmill. com, 507-412-5534. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday -Saturday. Bed blankets, throws, baby blankets, pillow cases, scarves, caps, mittens, wine bags, beverage sleeves, fingerless gloves, shawls,cardigans. Star Sports & Apparel, 110 Division St. W, Faribault, starsportsandapparel.com, 507-3329809. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Sports equipment of all kinds, fan apparel for many area schools/teams, scarves, gloves, water bottles, shoes.
Henderson Heart of Henderson, 501 Main St., Henderson, heartofhend@gmail.com, 507-2483830. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Gift shop featuring hand-crafted, Minnesota-made items, seasonal decor and more.
Wise Furniture Company, 106 Ferry St., Le Sueur, wise-furnitureco.com, 507-665-2238. Open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Appliances, TVs, bedding, flooring, lamps, rugs, clocks, mirrors, furniture.
Gallery 512 Boutique, 20 N. Minnesota St., New Ulm, gallery512boutique.com, 507-3545120. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Women’s apparel, knit hats, athleisure, clutches, wallets, handbags, footwear, essential oils and diffusers, candles.
Mankato
Nicollet
Sonny + Dot Boutique, 511 N. Riverfront Dr., Mankato, sonnyanddot.com, 507-594-9227. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Athleisure, sweaters, menswear, gifts, accessories (belts, intimates, hats, handbags, jewelry, scarves), candles, blankets, throw pillows, footwear.
Schmidt’s Meat Market, 319 Pine St., Nicollet, schmidtsmeatmarket.com, 507-232-3438. Open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Summer sausage, flavored brats, smoked products (bacon, bologna, wieners, sausage), snack sticks, jerky, fresh pork/beef cuts, gift boxes.
Graif Clothing, 900 N. Riverfront Dr., Mankato (Owatonna location also), graifclothing.com, 507-345-3000. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday - Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday - Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Men’s and women’s apparel, formalwear, shoes.
Northfield
MN Soulstice Boutique, 425 Division St. South, Northfield, mnsoulsticeboutique.com, 507-366-1386. Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Men’s, women’s and chilJ Longs, 1640 Madison Ave., Mankato, jlongs. dren’s clothing (80% of brands are Companies com, 507-345-8885. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a Cause), accessories, home decor. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Men’s and women’s Rare Pair, 401 Division St., Northfield, rareapparel (athleisure, casual, business, formal), pair.com, 507-645-4257. Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 lifestyle products, footwear. p.m. Monday - Wednesday, Friday, Saturday;
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Women’s and men’s apparel, footwear, accessories (hats, handbags, socks), jackets, coats.
Owatonna Lilly & Rose Boutique, 211 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna, lillyandroseboutique.com, 507-4136444. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Women’s clothing, jewelry, hats, accessories. Bellebrook Boutique, 118 N. Oak Ave., Owatonna, bellebrookboutique.com, 507-4130045. Open 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Women’s clothing, accessories, stocking hats, Minky blankets.
St. Peter Nutter Clothing Company, 320 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter, 507-931-4340. Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Menswear (casual, business, sportswear), footwear, Saints gear, accessories. Swedish Kontur Imports, 310 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter, swedishkontur.com, 507-9311198. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Saturday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Swedish imports (glassware, silver, textiles), candles and candleholders, sweaters, tableware, footwear, decor.
Waseca Past & Present Antiques & Gifts, 1101 State St. N, Waseca, 507-835-4000. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday -Saturday. Antiques, furniture, decor, locally produced products (lotions, soaps and more), Christmas decorations, florals. Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504.wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail.com
Vehicle Trades Have Never Been Worth More!
DON’T WAIT FOR A BETTER DEAL!!
NEW 2023 RAM 1500 LARAMIE 4x4 Stock # 23103
Was $68,515 NOW
$
58 ,6 96
Plus tax, title & license.
NEW 2023 JEEP COMPASS 4x4 Stock # 23058
10% Off MSRP
NEW 2023 JEEP GLADIATOR WILLYS 4x4 Stock # 23009
Was $58,060 NOW
$
49 ,9 95
Plus tax, title & license.
ALL NEW 2023 DODGE HORNET Stock # 23088
Save $500
ON YOUR CUSTOM ORDER TODAY!
“PARK A NEW VEHICLE UNDER THE TREE THIS YEAR”
OAC. See dealer for complete details. Offer valid till 11-30-23 All prices are plus tax, titling, licensing, and destination charge
1201 South Hwy 3, Northfield MN • 507-645-4478 • www.northfieldautomotive.com 6
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.
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.
UNWRAP the ULTIMATE
T
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
he holiday season is officially here, and as consumers, we all know the assignment. Now that days of circling what we want in the Sears and JC Penney calendar are long gone, we need somewhere to turn other than Temu or wish.com. There are so many unique gift ideas for 2023 that won’t break the bank, and I promise I won’t lead you astray, follow my advice and you’re sure to find something for that hard to shop for person in your life. Let’s start with underrated basics that you can’t go wrong with: Gas money or cards HELLO. Extra phone chargers or wire organizers, quality coffee, a tote filled with nonperishable items like soup and crackers, socks and underwear (grandmas are great for this), fuzzy socks, nice sheets or towels, and a comfy pair of PJs are almost always a hit. Be careful about the underwear thing, though; I feel like it’s weird coming from anyone who isn’t your mom or grandma. If the person you are buying for is a Garfield-level lasagna lover, the Stouffer’s 2023 Advent Calendar is a great and hilarious choice. Yes, you read that right, Stouffer’s, the frozen meal company, has made an Advent calendar with “7 no-fuss meals behind every door.” From family sized mac and cheese to traditional lasagna, it’s a carb-a-licious treat at
every stop. How do they fit it behind the flap of a wall calendar you may be asking? They don’t. The Stouffer’s Advent Calendar comes as an adorable 3D winter cottage that fits right in your fridge. Only $39.99 while supplies last and limit one per person, so grab it for that comfort food lover in your life, because it’s giving foodie, big time. If you know someone who loves the flavor profile of espresso-martinis so much they wish they could smell like one, Absolut Vodka and Kahlua have you covered with a new fragrance they have teamed up with the inventive perfume house Imaginary Authors to make called Blend No. 83, so named because it is believed that the first espresso-martini was made in 1983. It smells like dark chocolate, sugarcane rum and arabica coffee with some musky notes. Blend No. 83 is limited edition, comes in a martini shaped bottle and is available now for $105. If espresso-martinis aren’t your bag, Nestle Toll House and skincare brand Beekman 1802 have partnered to create the Fresh Baked Cookies & Milk Body Care Collection which features soap, body wash, hand and body
cream and lip balm. Great stocking stuffers. Crocs are a polarizing fashion trend. It seems people either love them or hate them, but one thing we all agree on is that they are comfortable as hell. This gift would be a great gag gift for a Croc-hater or the ultimate “best gift ever” to a Croc-lover in your life: Crocs Classic Cowboy Boots. These shoes are ridiculous. They even come complete with crocskin texture, a spur on the back and are customizable with ‘Croc Star Jibbitz’ charms. So far, they are only available in black but once they come out with white, I am on that like white on rice. Every woman
needs a pair of “Dolly” boots, why not take it to the next level with Croc brand cowboy boots. They are every bit as ugly as you would imagine and retail at $120. Move over Mike Lindell, there is a new pillow
king in town, and it’s Pillow Cube. Do you have a side-sleeper in your life? Pillow cube is exactly what it sounds like: a cube shaped pillow that fills the gap between, well, your bed and your head. Pillow Cube helps align your spine for better sleep so you will wake up pain free and full of energy.
These pillows are around $130 on the low end or you can splurge for extra cushioning or cooling coils for that added comfort. They did a Black Friday 60% off sale, so if you missed it this year, watch for a sale or stock up next year They do sell pillowcases for these cube shaped pillows on their site in case you were wondering … and if you know someone who already has one and loves it, they sell mattress too. Don’t be a square, check it out at pillowcube. com. This next gift is for the kids — and adult kids, I suppose. Perhaps you have seen ads for The Original StairSlide? The ad literally begins with a Dennis the Menace lookalike saying, “Stairs
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
suck. But slides are awesome.” Ain’t that the truth. This item is also on mega-sale for Black Friday, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. A slide for your stairway. One slide fits four stairs, so calculate how many packs you will need to buy and your family members up to 175 lbs. are in for endless fun. They are rather narrow so you will still have plenty of space to walk up the stairs still, but why walk down the stairs when you can slide? They are also extremely light weight and both portable and stackable for easy storage. A simple four-pack of slide
pieces retails at $396. So maybe watch for a sale? You’ve heard of ‘Elf on the Shelf,’ but what about ‘Snoop on the Stoop?’ Most of us with younger children are privy to ‘Elf on the Shelf’ lore, but this one is geared towards the stoners in your life. It is in fact a doll sized replica of, you guessed it, rapper Snoop Dogg, with an elf costume and a blunt in his mouth, marijuana leaf gold pendant and sunglasses. Sits approximately 10” tall including hat. Like the original ‘Elf on the Shelf’ he is wearing a felt outfit. Imagine the shenanigans Snoop can get into. He comes in green, pink, purple or a combination of those colors. I would probably go for traditional green. Average retail price runs about $25.90. Pot not included. Finally, a serious gift that is not only fun, but can help you build deeper connections with loved ones, particularly older individuals. Tales. com has released a card game called the Life Story Interview kit. This is something I really wish I had before my mom and grandparents passed away. Retailing for $60, the 150-card deck contains prompts like, “Who was your first kiss” or, “How did your family celebrate Christmas;” Things we don’t always think to ask our elders. Reviews exclaim. “Didn’t expect to cry after asking my dad about his life with this interview kit but here we are…” and “I learned things about my parents and their upbringing that I never knew! I’ve never felt closer to them. Highly recommend this gift to preserve memories for years to come.” Hope this helps. Happy holiday season, everyone.
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
7
From the MUSIC SIDE
MEGAN ROLLOFF
Murder in Minnesota music
A
s the holidays approach, the frantic scheduling of every free moment inevitably begins. Thanksgiving, Friends-giving, office parties, school parties, cocktail parties, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, his side of the family, her side of the family … it’s enough to make your mind drift in a nefarious direction. Like, murder, perhaps. Well, maybe not actual murder, but how about murder ballads? Is a murder ballad a real thing? It absolutely is. Whether you realThis is the full ized it was version of an an actual defined article that sub-genre was incorrectly in folk printed in the music that November recounts edition of stories of SCENE. unnatural deaths or not, chances are you are a fan of at least one of these tunes from the darker side of human culture. “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks,
“Nebraska” by Bruce Springsteen, “The Night the Lights went out in Georgia” by Reba McEntire or Vicki Lawrence (depending on your preference), and “No Body, No Crime” by Taylor Swift and HAIM are just a microscopic number of examples from the truly endless list of these such songs. Some murder ballads are pure fiction meant to be a sensational way to capture public attention or to be statement on the violence in our society as a whole, while others tell of actual murders and the circumstances surrounding them. In fact, that is how the murder ballad first came to be. Its roots can be traced back to folk songs from the Middle Ages originating in England, Scotland, and the like. Like a lot of songs of the day, they were meant to spread information and news in a way that was memorable and understandable by the common people. In the U.S., the genre is most often associated with Appalachia, the region in which the aforementioned Scots and Brits first settled, bringing the tradition with them. While many of these musical stories have been lost to time and lack of good record keeping, there are still a few golden oldies that persist. Not to mention the new ones being written in modern times. Our very own monumentally
famous Minnesota troubadour, Bob Dylan, recorded three murder ballads on one album, the 1964 “The Times They Are a-Changin.’” “The Ballad of Hollis Brown” tells the story of a South Dakota farmer who killed his wife, his five children, and then himself to release them all from their life of extreme poverty and despair during the Dust Bowl. There is no clear cut evidence that this song is based on a true story. “Only a Pawn in Their Game” is about the all-too-real assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers. And “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” is a bit of a combination of truth and artistic interpretation, telling the story of the death of a 51-year-old barmaid in Maryland in 1963. In true Dylan style, none of these songs is only meant to tell a gory story. Each made a statement about the role society takes in these tragedies. No one person is solely responsible for these crimes, we all are. In 2022, Wade Forster, an Australian rodeo circuit cowboy/country singer recorded a song called “Minnesota Murderer” on his debut album. The lyrics don’t seem to reference any specific crime that I have heard of, but it makes me wonder what rumors of our fine state are flying around in the land down-under. Haven’t they heard of “Minnesota nice”?
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. Reach her at megankrolloff@gmail.com.
But perhaps the most Halloweenworthy murder ballad with a Minnesota connection is “The Harry Haywood Song.” Also possibly called “The Fatal Ride,” though the possibility of some copyright infringement makes the hist According to mnheritagesongbook.net, the lyrics to this true and shocking tale were written in 1895 by Joseph Vincent Brookes but set to the tune of “The Fatal Wedding” by Gussie Davis, a popular song from just a couple years prior. The story of Harry Haywood and Kitty Ging was known as a murder that shocked all of Minneapolis. Harry Haywood was a well off high society member, who took to gambling as his chosen profession. He somehow convinced Kitty Ging, a local dressmaker, to lend him large sums of money to support his habit, as well as take out a life insurance policy on herself to which he would be the sole beneficiary. He then blackmailed a man named Claus Blixt into shooting Kitty in the back of the head while she took a carriage ride near Lake Calhoun (now Lake Bde Maka Ska). BLixt eventually confessed, with some help from Haywood’s own brother, and gave up Haywood. Haywood was put on trial, convicted, and was the second to last person to hang in the state of
Minnesota. All of this happened at the old county courthouse and jail which is now the site of U.S. Bank Stadium. Before he was hanged, Haywood confessed to 3 other murders and a host of other crimes. If any of this was true, this would make Haywood the first serial killer in the United States. If you ask me, the story of Kitty Ging’s tragic death is indeed worthy of a murder ballad, but perhaps with a little more focus on the victim and a little less on the psychopath that did her in. Which, honestly, can be said about most murder ballads through the years, but perhaps we will open that can of worms at a later date.
Accounting AssistAnce
in owAtonnA
Find Job opportunities
8
owner appreciation days | december 14-17
cAll or Visit todAy!
228 Mulberry | St. Peter | Open 7-9 Daily | stpeterfood.coop
507-451-3399 • 221 Mineral Springs Rd. Suite A, Owatonna
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.
MARY CLOSNER
Rants & RAVES
Mary Closner lives in Northfield, making bad decisions so you don’t have to. Reach her at 1964minx@gmail.com.
Holidays aren’t always festive
M
y mom just died. I feel like I’m in a haze. This huge important thing happened in my life and the world didn’t stop. I’m angry, because I want everyone to be kinder and gentler to me at the grocery store and the gas station and the coffee shop. I want everyone to automatically know how hollow I feel, because I don’t have parents anymore. I’m relieved that she’s out of pain, but I’m sad for those of us left behind. She’s on to bigger and better things, and all I’m focused on is the fact that I’m a 59-year-old orphan. How weird is that? I hate that this will be my first holiday without her. Who’ll make the lumpy cranberries? Who will I get to put together the edge pieces of the holiday puzzle? Everyone knows I only do the inside pieces. And who can I count on to tell me not to make my corn casserole because it’s always too runny and no one really likes it except me? I want hugs from pretty much everyone I meet. I want texting to not be the way we tell people how much we love them. Basically, I want everything to stop for a while so we can all concentrate on how I had the most fabulous Mother of all times. Don’t even bother telling me about your Mom. I know mine was better. Mine lived for 97-years, for heaven’s sake. The woman knew some s*&%. FYI - I also happened to have a better dad than everyone else on the planet. From now on, I will devote endless hours to lecturing my friends (and enemies) at any given opportunity about why my upbringing was superior to theirs. My mom was amazing. Sure, she couldn’t really sew a shirt that had two arms the same length, and she was more of a “quantity, not quality” cook, but she was terrific. She had a green thumb and made tons of those terrible macrame plant hangers when we all left for college. For most of my childhood, there was a big glass jar of brandy-soaked fruit on the countertop that never ran low. She poured it on everything. She packed the trunk of the car with fun picnics and came to a
gazillion bad concerts/shows/games when we were all tiny (which was a very short period in the Closner timeline). I spent most of my childhood being afraid to do stupid stuff that would embarrass my family. Dad had a commercial construction business, so our names were plastered on the company trucks as well as building projects all over town. My Father’s famous saying when I walked out the door was, “Be a lady, don’t embarrass us and remember, your name is on the side of the truck.” Now that both my parents have “gone up on the roof,” as we say in my family, I’m gonna make ruining the Closner name my priority. So, with no parental pressure, years of bad decisions and poor choices are ahead. My skirts are gonna be too short and my language will rival that of a pirate who has been at sea for too many years. I’m definitely going to start drinking more and telling people when I think they’re wearing too much perfume. I’ll complain about my food at fancy restaurants in a voice loud enough for everyone in the place to enjoy. And, if you have those weird, raccoon-like, thick, stripey highlights in your hair, I’m bringing it up at the holiday dinner table. It won’t be pretty. If I don’t like the Christmas gift you gave me, I’m gonna slide it back down the table and tell you to, “Say it with cash.” No holds barred. I was amazed at all the gorgeous cards I (Submitted photo) received when my parents died. Filled with beautifully-written, well-thought-out sentiit? Nope. She wrote it, and it was only one line: ments. Then, you run into these same folks in “I had a great life.” She figured if you wanted public, and they can hardly make eye contact or needed more info about her, you would’ve with you. They don’t dare mention your loss already asked her or been over for a visit or had for fear you might burst into tears and defy the a brandy Manhattan with her at some point. Midwest contract that states you must not show If you were a pal, you heard lots of stories emotion in public: There will be no crying under over the years and didn’t need a refresher penalty of law. course in where she grew up. You would already Well, just so ya know, I’m also gonna cry and know that she was happily married forever and make a huge scene whenever I get the chance. that she sold her brother’s saxophone to get My folks taught me how to be kind and work some extra cash while she was in college. hard and be a person of my word. Your lousy Of course you heard about the shock when parents don’t have a leg to stand on next to she got on the train in Moose Lake, Minnesota mine. This is just how it’s going to be with me and got off at Grand Central Station as a young from now on. woman. Her stories of taking off for California in her convertible instead of getting married right But back to my mom. I received several out of college like her contemporaries, were phone calls over the last month wondering if famous. the obituary we submitted was cut off when it was printed in the newspaper? Did our homeThe tales of her taking the street car down to town paper make a mistake when publishing Sears to buy ashtrays to start a smoking lounge
at St. Catherine University in 1942 were legend. What about the time she slept in Burt Reynold’s bed (it’s a famous family tale you’ll have to ask me about some time)? Or the time my dad gave her a new chainsaw for Mother’s Day and she drove immediately to the car dealership to choose her own gift. She picked up a brand-new sports car and drove off after exclaiming, “Charge this to my husband.” So, where do we go from here? I hope I meet you all in the back alleys of Northfield (or the mean streets of my hometown in Marquette, Michigan) and you relate funny stories about your encounters with my mom. I hope her creativity and free-spirit inspired you and gave you a little joy. M Mostly, I want you to vigorously agree with me when I shout, “I had the best mom in the world.”
All Men’s and Women’s Causal Wear Buy one, get one 50% OFF!
30% OFF Suits & Sports Coats 202 W. Bridge St. Owatonna 507-413-0114
900 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato graifclothing.com 507-345-3000
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
9
Theater shows spread the
S
By ASHLEY HANLEY Guest Contributor itting warm and cozy in a theater, soaking in the talent and magic of the season, is a thrill for many in Southern Minnesota as they gather with family and friends for the joint experience of taking in a holiday show at one of the local performances venues. We wanted to take a look at some perfor-
10
mances happening in December. That despite the hustle and bustle of the season, time can slow down and stand still for a charming tale that captures the holiday spirit. Take the Northfield Arts Guild for example. They have a variety of experiences for the December season. They kick things off with a holiday concert called Count Your Blessings, which is their December 411 Concert (named for the address of the theater). This year it will be featuring Patty Peterson, accompanied by the accomplished jazz pianist Sean Taylor, on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. Peterson is a R & B and jazz vocalist and seven-time winner of the coveted Minnesota Music Award for Best Vocal-
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
ist. “They are both world class and play all of the A rooms in the Twin Cities. It’s a treat to have her in our intimate theater,” said Pauline Jennings, the performing arts manager. Tickets are $25 general admission. Find more info at pattypeterson.com. “It is unique for a small town to have such a far reaching and involved Arts Guild. Not just a community theater, or art classes or an active gallery and shop but all of it. We are happy to serve so many in so many creative and diverse artistic ways. The Guild is a part of what makes Northfield such a unique and wonderful place to live,” said Jennings. A local Northfield High School student will be Peterson’s opening act, the talented actor and singer, 15-year-old Kyra Reverman. Event organizers say this is sure to be a show to get you in the holiday spirit through the immersion of both of these ladies’ musical talents. “The 411 series alway has a talented local performer open - we have so many. Kyra has a big and beautiful voice (she should be on The Voice, in fact.) - she’ll blow the roof off the place, I have no doubt. Helping raise up local performers is part of our mission with the 411 series,” Jennings added. And that’s not the only show planned for the Guild this December. “We also have a special theater event produced in collaboration with A Very Moxie Production on Friday and Saturday December 8th and 9th at 7:30. It’s a drag show called Christmas at the Rainbow Diner with Mrs. Moxie and Lexi D and friends. This will be a hilarious show. They had a Christmas Show last
year and it was very well received.,” Jennings added. And if that wasn’t enticing enough to get to a show, Jennings said the holiday season always adds a little extra to the theater experience. “It’s the perfect time to see a show. Communal and family experiences are what make the holidays special - and this includes doing things together and theater is a great option for this. If people haven’t done so in the past, make this the year to start a new tradition of taking in a holiday show with family and friends. There are a lot of performers and venues out there putting on special holiday shows just to make this time of year as special as it can be for you,” Jennings said. “More glitter, more smiles, more excitement....a heightened sense of all things good.” All tickets are available at their website northfieldartsguild.org, by phone at 507-645-8877 or at the Guild Shop at 304 Division Street in Northfield.
SCENE REGION HOLIDAY SHOWS Other area shows in the December holiday season include: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres: Nov. 29-Dec. 3 and Dec. 6-10 - Rock & Roll Xmas Spectacular; Dec. 13-14 - Christmas With a Whole Lotta Soul; Dec. 15-17 - North Country Christmas Featuring Kat Perkins; Dec. 18-20 Celtic Holiday Hooley; Dec. 21-23 - Christmas on the Prairie; Dec. 26-30 - An Andy & Bing Christmas; Dec. 30-31 - Vintage Vegas New Years Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault: Dec. 10 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and the Wind in the Willows Christmas; Dec. 16 - Mick Sterling’s Presents From the King, For the King; Dec. 16 - Mick Sterling’s
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
MISSING DOG Kenyon, MN
Presents A Grand Ole Opry Christmas; Dec. 18-19 - Phil Olson Presents A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol Rochester Civic Theatre: Dec. 7-10, 14-17 and 21-23 - A Christmas Carol the Musical Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing: Dec. 3 Christmas with Lorie Line; Dec. 6 - An Andy & Bing Christmas; Dec. 13 - The Nutcracker; Dec. 16 - The New Standards Holiday Show; Dec. 19 - Blue Violin presents Candlelight Christmas; Dec. 31 - NYE with Monroe Crossing
Ashley Hanley is a wife and mom of three kids under the age of five in North Mankato. When she’s not handing out snacks or kissing boo-boos, you can find her cheering on her favorite Minnesota sports teams and is a firm believer they will win a championship in her lifetime!
Blue Heeler/ Australian Cattle Dog, Male 1 yr, 45 lbs, White/Black/Brown
More Fall Fun: Fri. & Sat. Live Entertainment
May be hiding under porches/decks or in sheds, window wells, etc. Please check security, trail and doorbell cameras!
www.boxersbar.com
DO NOT YELL, CHASE OR APPROACH
Please call ASAP with info or sightings
507•456•5534 THE RETRIEVERS
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
11
Since its first stop in the area in 2009, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train has been returning every other year as a part of the annual tour. (File photo/ Southerminn.com)
Here comes the holiday events
A By ANDREW DEZIEL News Writer
s the calendar turns to December, communities across the region are preparing for fun, family friendly events bringing holiday cheer and guests and tourists to town, including one that will be making a triumphant return for the first time post-COVID. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will cross through the region on Dec. 6, stopping in Owatonna at 3:45, Waseca at 5:30 and Janesville at 7:15. Each stop features a donation to local food shelves in need and a brief concert from acclaimed American and Canadian musicians. Both Community Pathways of Steele County and the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center are set to benefit not only from generous contributions from CP itself, but also generous donations of cash and nonperishable food items from those looking to make life a little easier for neighbors in need this Christmastime.
12
The Holiday Train travels across the United States and Canada from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19, starting in Maine and wrapping up in Western Canada. 2023 marks the 25th year the train has run, and it will stop in 20 communities across Minnesota. A total of 10 musical acts will provide concerts for parts of the tour, with the stops in Owatonna, Waseca and Janesville featuring two: BRELAND, a New Jersey-born singer and songwriter who combines HipHop and Country styles, and Tenille Townes, an Alberta-born country music artist. While the train typically passes through the region once every other year, Community Pathways Executive Director Dom Korbel noted that the tour missed its 2021 stop due to the pandemic. Now, Korbel and Community Pathways are partnering with the City and the Chamber to make up for that missed opportunity by turning the 2023 event into a blowout celebration. With favorable weather, Korbel is hoping that as many as 1,000 people might attend the 2023 event in Owatonna. The show will kick off well before the train pulls into the station, with local singer Ryan Gillespie performing at 3 p.m., and organizers hoping for an appearance from the Owatonna High School
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
carolers as well. Korbel is hoping that the event could raise $6,000 to $7,000 for Community Pathways, on top of donations of non-perishable food items. With need at local food shelves rising
as grocery prices remain high, he encouraged those who can’t attend the event to make a year-end donation. Waseca Chamber Director Ann Fitch said that it’s always a fun night of family-friendly entertainment
when the train stops by. Waseca will have hot chocolate and apple cider ready to go to keep people warm if the temperatures are as nippy as one might expect. This will be the first Holiday Train
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
event for Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center Executive Director Cindy Kolander, who joined the organization this last summer. She said that the food shelf is very grateful for the increased support as the holidays near. Those who can’t make the Holiday Train’s arrival will have plenty of other opportunities to enjoy family friendly fun in Waseca, Owatonna and elsewhere. That includes Waseca’s third annual Christmastime at the Mill, a free event held on Dec. 1. Sponsored by Matthew Pettsinger American Family Insurance Agency, the event will include family friendly entertainment from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring local bands and choirs each hour, cookie decorating, and appearances from Santa Claus, the Grinch and Frozen’s Olaf. Wrapping up the evening will be an all ages show from local country musician Bryce Leppert. The event has steadily grown each year, drawing families from across Waseca County, and Jen Losen with the Agency said that they are planning for upwards of 200 kids this year. On the very same day, Owatonna will host its popular Lighted Parade, which last year attracted roughly 4,000 to 5,000 viewers, many visiting from out of town. Starting at 6 p.m., creatively lighted parade vehicles will make their way to Central Park for cider and caroling. Though many Minnesota towns eschew parades during the wintertime due to the harsh weather, Owatonna Main Street Director Lisa Cochran said the Lighted Parade has never been canceled and has become a hit among a particularly hardy set. While most parade goers still come
from Owatonna and surrounding small towns, Cochran said the word is starting to get out to people from the Twin Cities and Iowa as well. She credited parade entrants for dressing up vehicles with unique light designs that keep people coming back. Faribault will be ringing in the holiday season with a series of events from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 under the umbrella of “Winterfest,” including a Parade of Lights of its own, fireworks, and winter street dance on the 2nd. The 30th will feature Hometown Holidays at the Buckham Center, which will focus on offering a family friendly holiday experience, including arts and crafts, a bounce house, a sing along with Mike Hildebrandt, arts and crafts, and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Parks and Recreation Director Paul Peanasky said the event generally attracts a strong crowd of about 400 people. He also highlighted the Tree and Park Lighting Ceremony and Central Park on the 1st, which will set the park ablaze with color - before the trees are donated to families in need through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
ACROSS THE SCENE REGION A roundup of holiday events across our area:
Owatonna Dec. 1, 6 p.m.: Lighted Holiday Parade & Lighting of the Light. Held on Cedar Ave. Featuring everything from fire trucks to bicycles lighted in festive spirit, followed by cider and carolers
Performers Kelly Prescott (left) and Tanika Charles (right) during the show on the 2019 Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. at Central Park. Dec. 6, 3 p.m.: Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. Music and entertainment from local artists including singer Ryan Gillespie, coffee and hot cocoa. Featuring Hip-Hop and County music artist BRELAND and Country music artist Tenille Towns at 5:30. Event will benefit Community Pathways of Steele County. Free will offering and donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted.
BLACK FRIDAY SALES EVENT IS ON NOW! 2023
Silverado 1500 LT Buy for Price
Nov. 30, 5:30 p.m: Hometown
Holidays at Buckham Memorial Center. At the annual Faribault holiday tradition, children can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, Bounce in the Bounce House, and enjoy music and winter arts and crafts. Dec. 2, 5:45 p.m.: Holiday Fireworks, followed by the Parade of Lights and a Winter Street Dance at 3rd Street NW and Central Avenue. The Dance will feature live music
CONTINUED page 14
OFFER GOOD THROUGH NOVEMBER 25
B L A C K F R I D AY S P E C I A L - W I T H T H E P U R C H A S E O F A N Y N E W 2 0 2 3 O R 2 0 2 4 C H E V Y S I LV E R A D O -
$99
Drop in
Bedliner
+ 3 Years Free Maintenance
LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
Valid with the purchase of any new 2023 or 2024 Chevy Silverado. $99 bedliner valid on drop-in bedliners only. // 3-year free maintenance includes scheduled maintenance service every 10k miles. Coverage for all normal scheduled maintenance as outlined in the owner’s scheduled maintenance guide. OAC. Offer expires November 25, 2023. // Must have your vehicle serviced as recommended by the manufacture to keep PowerLife Lifetime Powertrain Warranty active. See your limited warranty for specific maintenance requirements. Restrictions apply - see dealer for complete details. Offer ends 11/25/2023.
*2023 Chevy Silverado LT. MSRP $57,760. Buy For Price of $52,260. Stock #N5051. Lease for $540/mo for 36 months. 10,000 miles per year. $1,500 down plus tax, title, license. OAC No security deposit required. Offer expires 11/30/23
Crew Cab RST
Faribault
Plus, PowerLife Lifetime Powertrain Warranty at no additional cost.
$52,260
2023 Silverado 1500
Dec. 9, 10 a.m.: 28th annual Cocoa with Santa at the Owatonna Arts Center. Come down to the Arts Center for cocoa, coffee, cookies, music and to chat and get a picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The Arts Center emphasizes that not only the young but all “young at heart” are invited.
1.9% APR or $2,000 total cash allowance $500 Red Tag Bonus Cash + $1,500 total cash allowance
*1. 1.9 APR for 36 months. Monthly payment is #8.60 for every $1,000 you finance. Example down payment: 13.6% must finance with GM Financial. Down payment required at signing, if applicable. Some customers may not qualify. Not available with lease and some other offers. Take new retail delivery by 11/15/23. 2. Available on RST models. Not available with special financing, lease and some other offers. Take new retail delivery by 11/15/23.
Up to $120 Mail-in Rebate on Select Tires With the purchase & installation of 4 tires
*To qualify for the $120 mail in rebate you must purchase and install set of 4 tires from Pirelli. To qualify for the $100 tire rebate you must purchase and install set of 4 tires from Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook. To qualify for the $70 rebate you must purchase and install a set of 4 tires from Firestone, General, and Michelin. To qualify for the $50 tire rebate you must purchase and install a set of 4 tires from BF Goodrich and Dunlop. Offer valid November 20 - 24, 2023. Available on select tires in stock. This offer includes the GM mail in tire rebates. See service advisor for details. Offer ends 11/30/23.
Applechevroletnorthfield.com // 507.274.7369
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
13
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train rolled into Waseca then Janesville in 2019. (File photo/southernminn.com) perform.
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train lights up the communities it passes through.
CONTINUED from page 13 from local band Rattlesnake Justice, a beer garden, mini donuts, a heated tent, bonfires and much more. Events sponsored by the Daily News and dozens of other local Faribault businesses.
Northfield Dec. 4, 8 a.m.: Winter Walk Week
will kick off on Dec. 4 with the Snowflake Ornament Hunt. The winner will receive a $1,000 prize! Check back at the Northfield News website for daily hints. Dec. 7 and 8 - 25th annual Winter Walk. A two day bonanza this year, giving visitors the opportunity to explore Northfield’s historic downtown by candlelight. Featuring caroling, horse-drawn wagon rides, richly decorated storefronts, and of course
downtown Northfield’s abundant selection of high-end restaurants and unique stores.
Dec. 3, 11 a.m. - Holiday Stroll and Shop, presented by Waseca’s Specialty Shops. Find great Christmas Gift deals to meet all of holiday needs at the 6th annual Stroll and Shop. Participating businesses include Suburban Furniture, Glitter and Grace, Past and Present, and more.
Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m. - Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. Featuring Hip-Hop and County music artist BRELAND and Country music artist Tenille Waseca Towns, with hot chocolate and apple Dec. 1, 1 p.m.: Christmastime at cider provided for guests. Event will the Mill. A free event featuring family benefit the Waseca Area Neighborfriendly fun, with local bands and hood Service Center. Free will offering choirs, cookie decorating, and appearand donations of non-perishable food ances from Santa Claus, the Grinch items will be accepted. and Frozen’s Olaf. From 8 to 11, local country musician Bryce Leppert will
St. Peter Dec. 2, 9:30 a.m. - Great Candy Cane Hunt. This classic St. Peter holiday tradition is back in force this year. Santa has dropped off thousands of candy canes at the St. Peter Community Center’s gym for the young and “young at heart” to enjoy. Come for the candy canes, stay for hot chocolate, games and other fun. Dec. 9, 4 p.m. - Santa at the new Fire Hall. Santa heard that St. Peter’s new fire hall is amazing, so he decided to come check it out for himself. Come enjoy hot chocolate and cookies and meet Santa. A food drive will also be held for the St. Peter food shelf. Andrew Deziel is a freelance writer. Reach the editor at editor@apgsomn.com
Hometown Holidays 2023 VISITOWATONNA.ORG/HOMETOWNHOLIDAYS
LIGHTED PARADE & LIGHTING OF THE LIGHTS- DEC 1 CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE DEC 1 & 2
Scan the QR Code for Santa Sightings & ALL Hometown Holiday Events for November & December
14
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
CANADIAN PACIFIC HOLIDAY TRAIN - DEC 6
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
SoMinn FOOD & DRINK
MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN
Review
Margie O’Loughlin is a freelance writer out of Northfield.
Desi Diner now occupies the space at 317 Division St. S. in Northfield once operated by Tandem Bagels. (Pamela Thompson/southernminn.com) LEFT: Zaman (left) and Noor Islam (right) are 2/3 of the younger generation at Northfield’s new Desi Diner. The family-owned restaurant opened in late August. (Submitted photo)
W
hen you see the bright orange sign outside Desi Diner at 317 Division St. in Northfield, you might wonder, “Who is
Welcome to
DESI DINER
Desi?” According to eldest son and manager Noor Islam, his family chose the name for their new restaurant because the word refers to people from across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. He said, “These are called the Desi people. These are our people.” Because of a complicated history including years of British Colonialism, many South Asian regional cuisines span more than one country. Noor’s parents Mohammed and Noorgahan, and brothers Zaman and Alam are proud of their Desi cuisine which he describes as, “Traditional Indian food prepared with Bangladeshi touches.” The family is originally from Bangladesh, a country that sits to the northeast of India. Desi Diner opened three months ago in downtown Northfield. The family owned and operated another popular Northfield restaurant, Chapati, in the historic Archer House across the street, until the whole building was destroyed by fire three years ago. With their restaurant in ashes and in the midst of the Pandemic, it wasn’t easy to find a new space. Desi Diner is about a fourth the size that Chapati was, and has a smaller menu. “But,” Noor said, “we wanted to re-open our business in Northfield. We knew the community here would support us, even if they had to wait.”
The tandoor oven
Desi Diner features tandoori menu items, which means that these foods have been prepared in their tandoor oven. A tandoor oven is made of clay, and curves in at the top like a beehive to concentrate heat. A charcoal fire is built in the bottom. Before
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
cooking, the fire is allowed to die down to coals, so that the temperature remains constant while the food is cooked. Flatbreads, like naan, are slapped onto the inside of the oven. The moist dough sticks to the super-heated surface, and cooks very quickly. Noor said, “It’s kind of like sticking your tongue on a frozen pole in winter, but a lot more pleasant. We can make 8-10 naan at a time. Naan are made with white flour, and can be served plain or with garlic. We also offer paratha, which is a flatbread made with whole wheat flour.” The tandoor oven is used to prepare chicken and lamb dishes as well, marinated and roasted on skewers.
Some culinary history Biryani is a basmati rice dish slow-cooked with spices, nuts, and raisins. There is a version for everyone; it can be ordered vegetarian or with chicken, beef, lamb, fish or shrimp. And it comes with raita, a cooling yogurt side dish. According to Noor, the history of biryani goes all the way back to the time of the Persian and Mongol wars. He said, “Our food uses so many ingredients. Somehow it was decided to just put everything together in one pot.”
The secret is in the spices At Desi Diner, the most prevalent spice in the kitchen is coriander, the round, tan-colored seeds of the coriander plant. The leaves from this plant are the herb cilantro. He said, “We grind our own spices, and make our own spice blends. Coriander is in everything we prepare. Turmeric, fennel, clove, mustard seed, and paprika are also used a lot.” Some of the spices used in Indian cooking, like turmeric, are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being tasty. Indian cuisine is well-suited to customers looking to include more plant-based meals in their diet. It tends to be vegetarian-friendly, and many dishes can be made with varied proteins. The Desi Diner menu has a dozen vegetarian entrees. Noor explained, “There are many
CONTINUED page 16
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
15
STARFIRE EVENT CENTER’S VENDOR SPOTS FILL UP FAST, LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE CALL US TODAY @ 507-461-1387 TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT! OUR BIGGEST CRAFT SHOW OF THE YEAR!
Spices are an integral part of the cooking at Desi Diner, and of the decor. (Submitted photo)
CONTINUED from page 15
confection, and Kheer, a home-made rice pudding topped with raisins and pistachios.
vegetarians in India. In our tradition, there would always be at least one vegetarian selection offered with every meal.” Among the most popular vegetarian choices on the menu are Dal Mkhani with six different kinds of stewed lentils, and the perennial favorite, Palak Paneer, with spinach and special Indian cheese in a creamy sauce.
Last but not least There are two kinds of lassi on the menu at Desi Diner: strawberry and mango. Both are cool, fruity and delicious, and make a nice compliment or ending to a meal. According to Noor, another form of the yogurt drink is popular in India: the salted lassi, and is commonly downed as a breakfast drink. As part of the fun in trying new foods is learning about their country of origin, Noor pointed out, “There are more than 30 different kinds of mangoes on the Indian sub-continent.” Who knew? Not many Indian desserts have made their way onto American menus because, Noor said, “They are just too sweet.” Two that are offered at Desi Diner are Gulab Jamun, a deep-fried milk
Visit Desi Diner The restaurant is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and again from 5-9 p.m. They are located at 317 Division St. in Northfield, with on-street parking nearby. Order takeout at order.menudrive.com/desidiner. View menu and pricing information here as well. Takeout delivery is available in the Northfield area through Door Dash. Desi Diner offers catering services for events of all sizes. If you don’t relish the thought of a long wait, consider avoiding the busiest times between 5-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Winter is coming, the seating area is fairly small, and Desi Diner does not accept reservations. Note that handicap access is difficult, as there is an 8-inch step up to enter the restaurant. When asked what he loves most about cooking Indian food, Noor answered, “My family prepares food with authentic tastes of Hindustan. That’s what the land was called before all the countries were split up, and the Desi people were divided. We love sharing the tastes of our home.”
Give the Gift they’ll open all year lonG.
Books, puzzles, calendars, games, and much more. Order that special title early!
LITTLE PROFESSOR
BOOK CENTER
110 West Park Square, Owatonna, MN • 507-455-0969 16
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.
Scan to enter for free now!
Two local winners will win a $50 gift card to Pub 500 or a $50 gift card to Tav on the Ave from Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union.
VISIT SOUTHERMINN.COM/WIN TO ENTER FOR FREE TODAY. See contest for more details. Sponsored in part by SouthernMinn.com CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
17
Profile of a MINN MUSICIAN
SARAH OSTERBAUER Sarah Osterbauer is a die-hard music lover. When she does her budget each month, food comes after concert tickets. Find her on twitter @SarahOwrites.
For Mae Simpson, connection Is key
O
riginally from South Carolina and then onto Minneapolis by way of Omaha, Mae Simpson and her band have become notable members of the Minneapolis music scene. Mae, whose grandfather was in a bluegrass band, and whose mother could be heard singing Patsy Cline, didn’t find her own path to music until after high school. She started writing poetry, which led to a short stint in a hip hop duo. But once she made her way to Minneapolis, she discovered her voice was made for a sound wholly different. At 22, she picked up a guitar for the first time, finding her way around the instrument on her own. Her ambition was big from the get-go, with intentions of playing shows and gathering a band. Initially she connected with a friend from work and played her first show as a duo with that friend at the Driftwood Char Bar. From there, she assembled more members — some usually organically at parties or through
18
work. Two additional members she met via Craigslist: her trumpet player and saxophonist. She was looking for great players, yes, but also musicians who provided the right fit for the type of group she envisioned. Mae’s band is known for its big sound and big emotions, a vision of which she had from the beginning. “I just wanted some horns because I thought they were cool. I wanted a rock band. I didn’t want something that was low key. I wanted to make a scene. I wanted to make a sound.” Mae leaves every ounce of herself on the stage and fans gobble up her energy. For her, playing shows is more than just the band playing songs and making it entertaining. It’s about creating a feeling — both between her and the band and between the band and the audience. She’s adamant that the members of her band not only pay attention to her as their leader and follow what she’s trying to do, but also create a space with their music that makes it OK for audience members to let loose. “People that go to shows, the last thing that they want to do is watch a show and go home. I think they want to be a part of what you’re doing. They want to be a part of your
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.
success. They want to let go of all that stress. They didn’t work all week to come to a show and bob their heads and let that be that. They want to be involved. I think it’s important for me as an artist that I let them feel safe in that. It’s OK to scream if you want to, to dance and be all crazy. People want to be invited in. If they never feel invited in, then they won’t come in. I feel strongly about making music but not making it just about me or just about my band. It truly is about how everyone else is experiencing it too.” In that vein of creating a feeling and approaching shows based on that goal, Mae’s songwriting stems primarily from improvisation on stage. She has the unique ability to make up songs on the spot, doing what she calls “riffing” or “winging it”, a terrifying ask of conventional performers. A great writer of choruses, she says she’ll often come to the performance with a chorus in mind, but the verses are all made up on the spot and differ every time. Sometimes a great verse will find its way into a performance and become a casualty of her memory. For example, the song “California (Carolina)”, which the band has been playing for years, is one of those tunes where the chorus stayed the same but the verses were always spontaneous. Mae only put pen to paper on it when they were in the studio working on their debut album. This method of spontaneity speaks to the talent of her band — constantly ready to roll with whatever she dishes
out at any moment. She relies on them to understand and cultivate a feeling with her. And they rely on her to lead the way. It’s a bond of mutual trust and respect. Each member anticipates what another is doing and vibe off that feeling together. When she was looking for band members her mindset was, “You can shred all day long, but are you paying attention to what I’m saying, how I’m moving. Are you watching my heartbeat?” Mae and her band have had the opportunity to open for many notable artists, one of which was Irish singersongwriter, Dermot Kennedy. For his show at the Fillmore, (one of the first to return after the pandemic), he held a contest to choose an opening band. Contestants would send in videos and then Dermot himself would choose a winner. Mae submitted her video not expecting it to pan out, only for Dermot’s camp to contact her the very next day to let her know she won the spot. It was a big moment for her, as she had been a fan of his for years and his other touring opener, Joy Oladukun was also starting to make waves. To her dismay, her excitement had to be explained to band members who had never heard of Dermot at the time. The title of their debut album was inspired by that show at the Fillmore. Mae saw the chandelier that hangs over the floor in front of the stage and the blue lighting, and thought, “Chandelier and Blue, that sounds like a song.” She logged it away for safe keeping. Then while writing the
album, a band member suggested “Chandelier and Bloom” instead, which made sense metaphorically as a name that captured the evolution of their band, and of them as individuals. “Chandelier and Bloom” was
GREAT BURGERS GREATER PIZZA VESELI, MN
Stop by in a car, truck, RZR, side-by-side, bicycle, motorcycle or snowmobile
WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU!
DECEMBER EVENTS DECEMBER 16 - 1-5 PM CRAFT SHOW DECEMBER 25 - CLOSED MERRY CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 31 - ENTERTAINMENT TO BE DETERMINED.
Mondays 5 pm - 1 am
Tuesday - Saturday 11:30 am - 1:00 am HAPPY HOUR M-F // 3 pm - 6 pm On/Off Sale Available
507-744-2370 | 9856 50th St. W, Veseli
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
released September 1. It’s a raucous combo of high energy jams, big bluesy ballads and soft heart string pullers. Mae’s voice has the ability to go yard, intense and gritty, but also to emote quietly in the more wistful tunes. The band’s horns and
bouncy arrangements shine bold and bright. They will be playing a Festivus themed show at The Fine Line in Minneapolis on December 23, with more local shows to be announced. Their album is available wherever you consume music.
Give the Gift of Music for the Holidays!
20% OFF
New Guitars and Ukuleles Since 1990
114 N. Cedar, Owatonna 507-451-5196 • ToneMusic.net tonemusic1990@gmail.com W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
19
Through a SOMINN LENS
AUDREY KLETSCHER HELBLING Audrey Kletscher Helbling creates with her Canon camera and words from her home base in Faribault. She focuses on the ordinary, on everyday life. You can find more of her work on her blog: https://mnprairieroots.com
Audrey’s cousin Traci cross-stitched the Holy family, including the Christ child, for Audrey’s mother.
A handcrafted Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Nerstrand United Methodist Church’s Wednesday Wear shop of used items.
Volunteers sell trees at the Christ Lutheran Christmas Bazaar in Faribault.
Finding
Christmas joy
in family, food, festivities & beyond
A
A vintage Santa, one of many, in the 2023 Christmas window display at Keepers Antiques, Faribault.
Gingersnaps baked by Audrey.
20
year has passed since I’ve seen my son. So a gift exchange, in the days when aunts and uncles and cousins when he flies in from Boston in mid-Deand Grandma met at the Vesta Community Hall to celebrate cember, you can bet the tears will flow as Christmas. I wrap my arms around him. Such longToday’s families are smaller, more geographically-scattered, awaited homecomings replay at airports thus traditions have evolved. I can’t recall the last time my three across the country. Christmas is, after all, adult children, their spouses and my grandchildren were all about the gathering of family and friends home for Christmas, let alone any holiday. And while I’ve come during a holiday that is both faith-based to accept this reality, I still feel melancholy in their absence. and secular. Yet, there are many reasons to feel joyful. Concerts, commuMixed in with everything are the festive nity celebrations, church services, charitable projects (like the decorations, the festivities, the food. For some, food is closelyAngel Tree Project I help with each December at my church) fill connected to heritage with lefse my heart with joy. Festive banand krumkake a must for Scanners on lamp posts, a rooftop dinavians, stollen for Germans, holiday display, an over-sized vaniljekranse for Danes. I’ll bake snowman, even a single ornagingersnaps, ginger and cinment tucked among evergreen namon scenting my kitchen and boughs bring joy. So do holiday reminding me of my mom. She craft bazaars and Christmas tree loved this molasses rich spice lots and fireworks erupting in cookie, which I baked for her the December sky. each Christmas until she died in And even though I can’t read January 2022. I’ll think of her, a musical note or carry a tune, too, when I make cream cheese I still find joy in singing “Joy to roll-out cookies using her timethe World.” And other favorite honored recipe. lyrics like “Frosty the Snowman Memories and tradition was a jolly happy soul...” and focus so much of this season. “He’s a mean one, Mr. Grinch.” When I pull totes of decorations Because who doesn’t love the from storage, I’ll carefully lift a Grinch? Or a snowman come 60-year-old paper angel from a to life? box. She tops the Charlie Brown This is Christmas. All of it. Found at a garage sale in October, handcrafted Christmas tree, the scrappiFamily, friends, food, faith, Christmas carolers. est, most imperfect tree I can festivities, fun. As the Grinch find in the lot, resembling the learned, the true meaning of short-needled tabletop trees of my childhood. My paper angel Christmas comes from a joyful heart. And for me personally, imhearkens to a long ago Sunday School class. mense joy will fill my heart when a plane lands at MinneapolisI’ll gather my Santas, culled over the decades from people St. Paul International Airport bringing my son back home to and places I no longer remember, with the exception of neverMinnesota for the holidays. burned Santa candles. They came from my Aunt Ardyce during
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.
Holiday window displays drew interest in December 2022 to Books on Central, which opened in the fall of 2023 as a project of the Rice County Area United Way. The used bookshop is located in downtown Faribault.
A festive scene welcomes visitors to the Christ Lutheran Christmas Bazaar in Faribault.
Carol Kaune embroidered this Santa and other holiday images for a lap quilt shown at the Rice County Piecemakers Fall Splendor Quilt Show.
Francis Animal & Pest Control created this rooftop holiday scene in 2022.
A holiday banner hangs outside Buckham Memorial Library, Faribault.
A vintage Christmas sign graces a window display at Keepers Antiques, Faribault in 2022.
The birth of Christ is depicted in stained glass at Nerstrand United Methodist Church.
“Peaceful Window,” a wall-hanging pieced and quilted by Marcia Speiker and displayed at the Rice County Piecemakers Fall Splendor Quilt Show.
Christmas decor galore, including the Grinch, is sold at RR Revival in Lonsdale.
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
CONTINUED page 22
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
21
“Starry Night,” a queen-size quilt pieced and quilted by Marcia Speiker, was displayed at the Rice County Piecemakers Fall Splendor Quilt Show.
Krumkake, prepared at a past Valley Grove Country Social, rural Nerstrand. Faribo Frosty is the Hoisington family’s gift to the Faribault community and beyond.
Faribault’s Winterfest in December features fireworks, photographed here at a slow shutter speed.
A portion of Audrey’s Santa collection includes vintage Santa candles.
22
(All photos by Audrey Kletscher Helbling/Minnesota Prairie Roots)
The mirror on a vintage dresser reflects a painting by Audrey’s father-in-law, Tom Helbling, of loved ones arriving home for Christmas.
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
Nona Boyes, owner of Keepers Antiques in Faribault, creates lovely seasonal window displays.
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
SOUTHERN MINN
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO. CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR ADDITIONAL HAPPENINGS!
.COM THURSDAY, NOV 30
The Freier Department - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St., Northfield. A funky seven-piece horn band playing the musical compositions and arrangements.
SEE MORE @ SouthernMinnSCENE.com Calendar events compiled by Philip Weyhe.
Holiday Cooke Dazzle - Waseca-- 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Waseca Senior Center, 308 N. State St. Let Achieving Dreams for Disabilities do you holiday baking for you. A plate of 12 cookies are $7. Other breads and treats individually priced.
Jeremy Poland Band - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Their wide-ranging approach to these deceptively simple performances hits upon timeless elements in both rock and pop music to extraordinary effect.
starts Thursday, Nov. 30 evening and continues Friday, Dec. 1 evening, with the majority of the action Saturday, Dec. 2.
Craft Spirits Holiday Bazaar - Faribault-11 a.m.-4 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Featuring 20+ craftspeople showcasing their handmade goods. Is there a better way to get that holiday shopping done than with a cocktail in hand while supporting local craftspeople?
FRIDAY, DEC 01 Christmas in Christ Chapel - St. Peter-7:30-9:30 p.m., Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. The 50-year tradition continues. An opportunity to come together, celebrate the season, and marvel at Gustavus student excellence. Tickets online. Event is also livestreamed.
Great Candy Cane Hunt St. Peter-9:30 a.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. Kids and families can come search the grounds for candy canes and have a fun time. Hunt times are 9:30, 10, 10:30 and 11 a.m.
Carleton Craft Fair and Custodial Bake Sale - Northfield-- 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Weitz Center for Creativity, 3rd St. E, Northfield. This long-standing event welcomes the entire Northfield community to shop the wares of Carleton staff and community members. A wide variety of hand-crafted items and baked goods will be available for purchase.
Christmas in the Valley - Le Sueur-- 5-8:30 p.m., Downtown Le Sueur. Come support local vendors. Check out the lights parade, a tree lighting and Santa.
Holiday Lighted Parade - Owatonna-- 6-8 p.m., Downtown Owatonna. Lit up floats bring the festive spirit through the heart of the community. High school carolers will sing in Central Park following the parade.
Do you want to submit an event to this calendar? Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.
FFA Craft Fair - Cleveland-- 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Free kids crafts, concessions, a performance by the Cleveland Holiday Jazz Band, and a visit from Santa.
St. Olaf Christmas Festival - Northfield-8-10 p.m., St. Olaf College, 1520 St Olaf Ave., Northfield. First held in 1912, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States, and has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets online.
SATURDAY, DEC 02
Holiday Open House - Owatonna-- 8 a.m.3 p.m., Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary Coffee and Gift Shop, 2250 NW 26th St., Owatonna. Proceeds from sales fund medical scholarships, unbudgeted items for the hospital and restocks the gift shop’s inventory. Shoppers can choose from a variety of gifts for others or themselves. Added perks include free Caribou coffee, free ornament with purchase and daily prizes. The three-day event begins Thursday, Nov. 30 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 2.
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.
Winterfest - Faribault-- 10 a.m., Faribault. Carriage rides, Santa meets, carols, window decor, tree lighting, popcorn and hot chocolate, Christmas market, firework display, parade of lights and a winter street dance. The festival
Winter Wonderland - Waseca-- 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Starfire Event Center, 206 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. Winter Wonderland is a sight to be seen. This free family event is a great time to bring everyone in and spend some quality time together, and Mr & Mrs Claus are stopping by again this year to make it a memory that will last forever. Takes place Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10.
Christmas in the Village - Owatonna-- 127:30 p.m., Village of Yesteryear, 1431 Austin Rd, Owatonna. Families will enjoy children’s activities, crafts, games, village carolers, musical performances, cookies and a hot cocoa bar, lighted luminary walk, horse drawn wagon rides, and so much more. Special guests: Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, and the Polar Express Conductor, reading “The Polar Express.”
CONTINUED page 24
Mizuki Fusion japanese & thai Restaurant Order Online mizukifusiOn.cOm Now opeNat for DiNe iN! bento bento box box •• sashimi sashimi •• teriyaki teriyaki •• hibachi hibachi •• tempura tempura soup and salad • sushi • maki • desserts soup and salad • sushi • maki • desserts
119 W Bridge St,| 507-214-3131 Owatonna | 507-214-3131 119 W Bridge St, Owatonna | www.mizukifusion.com
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
23
CONTINUED from page 23
Bilingual Puppet Show - Northfield-- 1-2 p.m., Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield. This bilingual puppet show tells the story of Juanito as he experiences his first snowfall since arriving in Minnesota. Geared to kids aged 3-8 yrs and their caregivers. All are welcome.
Bus Company, 1115 Park Dr. The holiday train stops in Owatonna first, arriving at 3:40 p.m. The pre-event activities, including local musicians, start at 3 p.m. OHS carolers perform at 3:20 p.m. When the train arrives, performer will include Tenille Towns and Breland. The the train heads to Waseca, where it’s scheduled to arrive near the Public Safety Building at 5:15 p.m. The show, including music and entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, DEC 07 Patty Peterson Concert - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Patty Peterson is a dynamic vocalist, radio personality (Jazz Radio on KBEM) ,and inspirational speaker. She is a world class Jazz/ R&B vocalist who has been inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame and is the 7 time winner of the coveted Minnesota Music Award for best vocalist. Tickets online, by phone or in person.
MONDAY, DEC 04 Tuba Christmas-- 3-4:30 p.m., Carleton College, 1 N College St., Northfield. Vintage Band Festival presents. Retired St. Olaf College professor Dr. Paul Niemisto will be the conductor. Music played will be from “Carols for a Merry Tuba Christmas” which will be available for purchase at registration. This event is family-friendly, free and open to the public.
SUNDAY, DEC 03
Christmas Fair - Le Center-- 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 165 N Waterville Ave, Le Center. Brunch served by KC’s, a Christmas play, games for kids, a bake sale, raffle baskets and more.
Holiday Stroll - Waseca-- 12-5 p.m., Waseca. Holiday shopping with local businesses offering specials and entertainment.
TUESDAY, DEC 05 Comfort Boxes - Le Sueur-- 4 p.m., Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. Design shadow boxes to capture things that comfort you. These boxes cheer you up when you need it most. Geared for ages 9-12.
24
Winter Walk - Northfield-- 5-8 p.m., Downtown Northfield. Experience downtown Northfield by candlelight. Stroll through unique shops, dine at fine restaurants, enjoy caroling, sleigh rides, storytelling, luminarias, decorated storefronts and much more. A French Baroque Christmas - St. Peter-7:30-9:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church of Saint Peter, 1114 W. Traverse Rd. Presented by La Grande Bande. Experience the beauty and joy of the Christmas season with a selection of works written for Christmas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The concert centers on Charpentier’s Pastorale sur la Naissance (“Pastoral on the birth of Christ”), one of the most captivating and imaginative examples of sacred French-language Baroque drama.
Christmas Event Day - St. Peter-11 a.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Enjoy a Christmas photo booth, a visit from Santa, egg no, Govenaires Christmas caroling, a keg-mas tree lighting, and Christmas karaoke. Kids Holiday Craft Party - Faribault-12-1 p.m., Rice County Historical Society, 1814 NW 2nd Ave., Faribault. Participants will make their own ornaments to take home, making garland for the RCHS Christmas tree.
FRIDAY, DEC 08 Peregrine Falcon Presentation - Faribault-- 6-7 p.m., Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division St. E, Faribault. Come and learn more about the peregrine story, and what is being done right here in Minnesota to help the species and what we have discovered about them after 40 years of research. Presented by naturalist Jackie Fallon.
WEDNESDAY, DEC 06
Holiday Display Opening - Owatonna-- 4 p.m., Owatonna Art Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. This year’s display includes Barbie dolls, figurines of Christmas Carolers, and beautiful holiday decorations throughout the building. The Owatonna High School Carolers will welcome in the season with a concert on opening night.
Notorious History - St. Peter-- 2 p.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. Peter. In 1920, Minnesotans, along with the rest of the country, were plunged into Prohibition. The manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol was outlawed by the Volstead Act. Parents became bootleggers, kids smuggled illegal alcohol, and outlaws became celebrities. Historian Arn Kind presents the program.
Holiday Brunch BINGO - Owatonna-- 10 a.m., Enjoy some festive brunch and some fun BINGO.
Kids Christmas Party - Owatonna-- 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Owatonna Eagles 1791, 141 E. Rose St., Owatonna. Lunch for the kids, crafts, coloring pages, letters to Santa and more. Christmas with Lorie Line - St. Peter-7-8:30 p.m., St. Peter High School, 100 Lincoln Drive. Simple and elegant, Lorie will be presenting an all-new solo piano show that features both the classics and some of the newer songs that make the season special. She has a fabulous new vocalist this year. And bring your bells, as together, you will ring in the season.
Jazz 10 - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Classic and modern jazz for dancing.
School choir group’s trip to New York. All your usual craft fair fixings.
Adaptation Show - St. Peter-- 8-10 p.m., Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. Join us as students transform texts across genres and eras, reimagining them with a fresh perspective. Directed by Matt Trucano. Tickets available online.
Campus Christmas Walk - Faribault-- 1:305 p.m., Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Faribault. A figure skating ice show, horse-drawn sleigh rides, Santa Claus and cookies, and student musical performances.
SATURDAY, DEC 09 Canadian Pacific Holiday Train - Owatonna and Waseca-- 5:15-6 p.m., Owatonna
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
Christmas Craft Fair - Waseca-- 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Waseca Junior/Senior High School, 1717 2nd St. NW. A fundraiser for the Waseca High
Santa Experience - Waseca-- 4-7 p.m., Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca. Meet Santa and his farm animals, take your own
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
free photos. Experience the wonder of Santa’s reindeer up close. Let the kiddos unleash their creativity while decorating Christmas cookies. Treat yourself to a cup of complimentary hot chocolate. Warm up around a bonfire. Take a break and enjoy some yummy concessions. Admission is $5 and free for accompanying adults.
Meet Santa - St. Peter-- 4-7 p.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. Santa heard such great things about the new fire hall in St. Peter that he just had to come for a visit. Have some hot chocolate and cookies. Bring some items for the St. Peter Food Shelf.
Christmas at the Rainbow Diner - Northfield-- 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Mrs. Moxie and Lexie D. Are back for another holiday extravaganza with fabulous special guests. Join for a joyous night of holiday cheer and hilarity. Shows Dec. 8 and 9.
Live Nativity - St. Peter-- 5-8 p.m., First Lutheran Church of Saint Peter, 1114 W. Traverse Rd. In the parking lot, see live animals and actors sharing the Christmas story. Food/cash donations for the St. Peter Area Food Shelf will be collected at the exit.
Women’s Clothing from Small to Plus Size Unique Jewelry & Gifts Buffalo Alice - Kasota-- 8 p.m.-12 a.m., The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota. A unique blend of classic rock and country.
Generation Gap - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Enjoy all the classics from this young and old duo.
SUNDAY, DEC 10
We carry popular brands including: Democracy, Flying Monkey, KanCan Jen & Co., Grace and Lace, & DownEast
Holiday Craft and Gift Show - St. Peter-- 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. First 100 attendees get a rose. Free parking and free admission Over 40 vendors this year. The show runs Dec. 9 and 10.
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Kasota-- 7-9:30 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. A festive night of your favorite Christmas standards featuring Nick Wayne, Garrett Steinberg, and friends. Food available to purchase from S&B BBQ. Tickets online.
Holiday Harmony - Waseca-- 7 p.m., Waseca Community Education, 501 E. Elm Ave., Waseca. The Mankato Riverblenders and Minnesota Valley Chorus sing together. Tickets are note required. A free will offering benefiting the Waseca Art Center will be collected.
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.
Our Lady of Guadalupe - Le Center-- 12 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 165 N Waterville Ave, Le Center. A special mass and a celebration in the social hall with traditional singing, dancing and a meal of guisado, a traditional stew.
New winter hours beginning in November Thursday 10-7 Friday 10-5 Saturday 10-2 Sunday 12-3 324 Cedar N. Ave, Owatonna Shop Online at HiddenRoseBoutique.com
CONTINUED page 26
This month’s SCENE calendar runs through Dec. 25 . See more events at southernminnscene.com.
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
25
CONTINUED from page 25
SUNDAY, DEC 17
WEDNESDAY, DEC 13 Chad Johnson and the Minnesota Transplants - Morristown-- 9 p.m., Americanacountry rock crossroads — solo/duo/full band.
SATURDAY, DEC 16
Holiday Open House - St. Peter-- 2 p.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. The high school choir will sing, and sweet treats will be provided. Golden tickets offered to the first 50 in attendance for a free prize at the library.
Mal Murphy EP Release Show - St. Peter-- 7 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. This is a free event and open to the public, but donations to the Arts Center are welcome. There will be CDs and merchandise available for purchase. Mal will be performing solo and in a more intimate setting.
THURSDAY, DEC 14 The Fine Craft Collective - Northfield-- 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division St. S., Northfield. A shoppable gallery experience. It runs through Dec. 24. Open Tuesdays-Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., plus Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Generative Writing - St. Peter-6-7:30 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. For absolute beginners and anyone looking to shake up their creative process. The teacher will be Kirstin Cronn-Mills.
FRIDAY, DEC 15
High Strung - Janesville-- 6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. An acoustic trio provided the tunes.
26
Holiday Craft Show - Waseca-- 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Starfire Event Center, 206 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. Enjoy 50+ vendors to shop with, offering a variety of items for purchase! This is our largest show of the year and vendors spots will sell out! Last year we filled the whole building and will be accepting a few less this year. Lifelong Learner Brunch - Henderson-10-11:30 a.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson. Guest speakers Art and Barb Straub kick off the Christmas Bird Count with “The Story of the Swans.” If you love birds, this event is centered around the beauty of our avian friends and tracking the numbers of their populations in our area with the CBC. Brunch included. Tickets online. Live Nativity DriveThru - Waseca-5-7:30 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 314 Third Ave. NE, Waseca. Enlighten your holiday season while viewing scenes from the nativity story and other traditional Christmas Symbolisms. From the warmth of your vehicle or by walking the illuminated path, tune into radio station to 87.9 and hear the narration of the Christmas story and Christmas music. Takes place Dec. 15 and 16. A Night to Remember - Waseca-- 5 p.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. A night out, black tie affair. Social time, entertainment, games and prizes, photo booth, and cash bar. Tickets online through Together On Memories.
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
Johnston Hall Documentary Screening - Faribault-- 5:30-7:30 p.m., Rice County Historical Society, 1814 NW 2nd Ave., Faribault. Sam Temple and Logan Ledman present a screening of their documentary Love Inwrought: Johnston Hall and the Memory of a Building. You are invited to visit the museum to see a hand-crafted model of the demolished building, along with artifacts and architectural features of the building saved by the RCHS.
The Holiday Classic - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., The Capitol Room, 419 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Two nights of happy and fun antics featuring The Nutcracker Orchestra, EZ Jazz, and surprise guests. There’ll be great music, classic cocktails, Santas, the big wheel, and more. Tickets available online. Takes place Dec. 15 and 16.
Cheers & Beers - Owatonna-- 7 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Music by the Grand Old Vines and an ugly Christmas sweater party.
Christmas Markets & Music - New Prague-- 2-5 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Live Christmas music and local shopping in the barrel room. Enjoy some holiday cocktails or hot chocolate/ hot cider. Music performed by Shenanigans.
MONDAY, DEC 18
Christmas Movie Trivia Contest - Owatonna-- 6:30 p.m., Owatonna Public Library, 105 N. Elm St, Owatonna. Gather a team of two to five people, wear your ugliest Christmas sweaters, and test your knowledge of popular (and maybe a couple lesser known) holiday films. Grand prize winners will take home a movie ticket and cookie prize pack. Sign up online.
TUESDAY, DEC 19
Beer & Carols - Le Sueur-- 7 p.m., The Bar & Grill, 130 S. Main St., Le Sueur. Pastor Sam from First Lutheran Church will be there to have a great night of Christmas carols and cheer.
THURSDAY, DEC 21
Symphonic Series: Messiah - St. Peter-- 7 p.m., St. Peter High School, 2121 W. Broadway Ave. The MSO joins forces with the Messiah Chorus and world-class soloists to bring you 90 minutes of Messiah’s most popular and beloved tunes, including the Hallelujah Chorus.
Radio Edit - Owatonna-- 9 p.m., Reggie’s Brewhouse, 220 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Radio Edit is a band based out of Rochester. The band plays rock and alternative hits from the 90s and 2000s.
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.
Gingerbread House Exhibit - Northfield-12-5 p.m., Gingerbread houses submitted by the public on display through Jan. 6.
Wood Engravers Network - St. Peter-1-5 p.m., Last chance to see the exhibit, featuring 65 contemporary relief engravings by artists from 10 countries. Show ends Dec. 23. Kiwanis Holiday Lights - Mankato-- 5-9 p.m., Sibley Park, Mankato. One of the most spectacular light displays in the state. Drive through it or
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
FRIDAY, DEC 22
walk through it. Open through Dec. 31. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Jesse Anderson Band - Northfield-9 p.m., Contented Cow, 302B Division St., Northfield. The Jesse Anderson Band hails from the Twin Cities and plays an eclectic mix of pop/folk/rock. They can do a chill coffee house vibe or late night dive bar energy. The music is catchy and compelling, filled with relatable stories and upbeat fun.
This month’s SCENE calendar runs through Dec. 25 . See more events at southernminnscene.com.
MONDAY, DEC 25
Ulmer Quartet New Ulm- 7-9 p.m., Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm. This group of local musicians is sure to entertain. Area youth perform a variety of musical numbers.
Northfield. Explore the charm of local craftsmanship and delectable delights, now brought indoors for the winter season.
Bruce Burniece Christmas Concert Kilkenny-- 4-7 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. Cozy up in the tasting room on Christmas Eve Eve with some great holiday music and wine, or perhaps a warm glass of perfectly-spiced mulled wine. Holly Jolly Holiday Show - Mankato-- 7 p.m., Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato. The Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience. Celebrating the season with passionate and melodic, big banddriven traditional pop.
SATURDAY, DEC 23 Riverwalk Market Fair - Northfield-- 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 115 Fifth St. W., 115 Fifth St. W.,
In A Bind - Janesville-5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Acoustic trio performing a variety of country, pop and rock.
Christmas Community Dinner - Owatonna-- 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Owatonna VFW, 135 Oakdale St. Annual community dinner held at the VFW hall. All the fixings for a traditional Christmas dinner, free will donation. Limited delivery service available.
Hideaway Christmas Dinner - Northfield-1-5 p.m., The Hideaway, 421 Division St. S., Northfield. A free Christmas dinner. All are welcome to share fellowship.
NEVER MISS AN EVENT SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX.
Southern minn
Scene CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
27
UP TO DATE
local sports coverage delivered to your inbox
Sign up for free and be in the know. Visit SouthernMinn.com/Alerts Subscription may be required to read full article.
28
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.
SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ One thin line.
There you are, you’ve just crossed off your last person, thereby finishing your Holiday Gift List for the year. But oops, you forgot that one hard-tobuy-for aunt, and you haven’t gotten anything for your babysitter. And, and, and... you’re out of ideas. So how about something to read? See if these great books don’t give you some guidance...
shows to look forward to. And then a teenage relative arrives at her doorstep and everything changes... Give it with “Rook” by William Ritter (Algonquin Young Readers), a book about a girl who could see other realms and creatures, and she knows her gift can be used for good. But there’s chaos on both sides of the curtain, and her parents want her home. Can she save both worlds,
TERRI SCHILCHENMEYER Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer based just across the river from SoMinn in LaCrosse, WI. She can be contacted at bookwormsez@gmail.com
Legacy: absolutely want “The Exorcist 50 Years of Fear” by Nat Segaloff (Citadel Press). It’s the story of the movie, its making and the outrage and controversy it led to... but it’s also about the crowds, creators, and fans who made it a classic. Wrap it up with “Say Hello to My Little Friend: A Century of Scarface,” also by Nat Segaloff, also from Citadel Press.
FICTION The novel lover who’s always doing good things for other people may enjoy unwrapping “Just Do This One Thing for Me” by Laura Zimmermann (Dutton). It’s the story of a daughter who always does what her free-spirited mother asks of her – even if it gets her in trouble. Wrap it up with “Time’s Undoing” by Cheryl A. Head (Dutton), a novel about a woman who’s determined to learn how her great-grandfather died, and how what it means to her safety. Bonus: this book was based on the author’s own family history. The reader who loves twisty tales of sister love and rivalry will want to unwrap “How to Care for a Human Girl” by Ashley Wurzbacher (Atria), the story of two sisters, two pregnancies, and a whole pile of resentments. Pair it up with “Before You Found Me” by Brooke Beyfuss (Sourcebooks). It’s a tale of choosing your family and sticking together. Is there a horse lover on your gift list? Aha, then look for “Girls and Their Horses” by Eliza Jane Brazier (Berkley), a novel set in the world of competitive show-jumping, where one mother’s wish to give her daughters an opportunity she always wanted could lead to death. Wrap it up with another mean-girl novel, “Under the Influence” by Noelle Crooks (Gallery Books), a novel about a woman who gets a job with an influencer. Does she live to tell? Wait a few days, then ask your giftee... Here’s a nicely complex novel your giftee will love: “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride (Riverhead Books). When a new housing development is being constructed in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, builders found a human skeleton. The people in the neighborhood know who the bones belonged to, but they’re not talking. This book about racism, community, and survival will make a great gift. Mystery lovers will rejoice when they unwrap “Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge” by Spencer Quinn (Forge), the story of a seventy-something widow who’s scammed out of all her money. Law enforcement says the crime is impossible to solve, but your giftee will know better... Wrap it up with “The McMasters Guide to Homicide 1: Murder Your Employer” by Rupert Holmes (Simon & Schuster), a book about an unusual school where murder is the main focus. If you’ve got someone on your list who loves books of magic and spells, then look for “Black Candle Women” by Diane Marie Brown (Graydon House). It’s a tale of three generations of Montrose women who live in the same house, stick to home, and keep their own company. Everything’s fine until one of them brings home a boy whose presence opens up an old family secret that will change everything. Wrap it up with “Wade in the Water” by Nyani Knrumah (Amistad), a novel of a white woman who befriends an eleven-year-old Black girl, and the relationship between the two in a racially-divided southern city. Does your giftee have keen memories of high school? Then “Speech Team” by Tim Murphy (Viking) may be the thing to wrap. It’s the story of a suicide, a teacher who may have been the root of it years ago, and the middle-age search to close old wounds. Of course, the vampire fan on your gift list is going to want “Vampire Weekend” by Mike Chen (Mira), the story of Louise Chao, who finds out that the life of a vampire is actually pretty boring – although she does have punk rock
(Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University)
Holiday gift guide and her own life? For the future homeowner on your gift list, wrap up “Perfectly Nice Neighbors” by Kia Abdullah (Putnam), a thriller filled with revenge and regret. When your dream home is perfect but the folks next door aren’t, what do you do? Wrap it up with “Our Hideous Progeny” by C.E. McGill (Harper), a book about old family homes and ancient family secrets. You’ve got a reader on your list that would love a seafaring tale of pirates and ships, don’t you? That’s why you want to wrap up “A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself” by Katherine Howe, a novel about a professor who finds and reads the journals supposedly written by a woman who snuck onto a pirate ship to find treasure hundreds of years ago. But the journal is missing some crucial information. Was that on purpose? If your giftee loves to immerse themselves in series-mystery books, “To Catch a Storm” by Mindy Dejia (Atlantic Monthly) will be the gift they’ll love. It’s a new series featuring a physicist and a psychic; this first book is set in Iowa during inclement weather. You can’t go wrong, eh? Wrap it up with “The Killer Speech” by Kevin Kluesner (Level Best), a thriller set in Wisconsin, featuring a politician and an FBI agent.
GENERAL NON-FICTION Your giftee follows politics, rabidly. So why not give them “The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book, second edition” by David L. Hudson, Jr, J.D. (Visible Ink Press). This easy-tounderstand book is filled with Q&A information on how the SCOTUS works, why it’s important, and some insight to the nine people who sit on what may be the most controversial court ever. Pair it with “Grifters, Frauds, and Crooks” by Richard Estep (Visible Ink Press), for a great look at law, order, and the lack thereof. The horror-movie-lover on your gift list will
The connoisseur of fine liquor will want to unwrap “Last Call at Coogan’s: The Life and Death of a Neighborhood Bar” by Jon Michaud (St. Martin’s Press). It’s a biography of a drinking spot, but also of the people who loved it and could be found inside it. Wrap up “A Good Mom’s Guide to Making Bad Choices” by Jamilah Mapp and Erica Dickerson (Harper One) with it. It’s sharp, hilarious, and a good reminder that you can make mistakes and the kids will probably be just fine. For the giftee who likes to think big, “Age of the City: Why Our Future Will be Won or Lost Together” by Ian Goldin and Tom Lee-Devlin (Bloomsbury) may be the perfect gift. It takes a deep dive into how cities have shaped the world in the past, and how they may be the answer to a lot of the problems that citizens in the future will face. Wrap it up with “Bold Ventures: Thirteen Tales of Architectural Tragedy” by Charlotte Van den Broeck (Other Press), a book about builders and buildings they didn’t live to regret. If you’ve got a pop culture fan on your list, or a Millennial, wrap up “Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me” by Aisha Harris (Harper One). Harris, of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, takes a look at growing up in the 1990s and all the fun, irritating things that came with it. Pair it with “The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society” by Mauro F. Guillen (St. Martin’s Press). Imagine a world with no more Boomers, GenXers, or Millennials. It’s a world where we’re not categorized, and your giftee may love reading about that. The person on your gift list who loves love will be thrilled to unwrap “Love Stories” by Trent Dalton (Fourth Estate), a collection of quick, super-short man-on-the-street stories of finding, having, and losing love. Swoon. Pair it with “Your Difference is Your Strength” by Kris Ferraro (St. Martin’s Essentials), a book about knowing,
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
loving, and accepting yourself. Or try “The Joy Strategist” by Grace Harry (Andscape Books) and wrap it up for someone you love who also loves books. For the person on your gift list who wants to but more communication in their relationship, wrap up “The Power of Language” by Viorica Marian (Dutton). This intriguing book looks at the way we speak and how we can tap into unique abilities of our minds. Wrap it up with “Mother Tongue” by Jenni Nuttall (Viking), a book of language, vocabulary, and the meanings of words that women have created, hated, and embraced. Your giftee who devours books on social issues will want to unwrap “No Human Contact” by Pete Earley (Citadel Press). Ripped from today’s headlines, this book takes a look at solitary confinement in prison, and what a pair of inmates did to change how prisons work. Wrap it up with “The Serial Killer Next Door: The Double Lives of Notorious Murders” by Richard Estep (Visible Ink Press), for a full look at some of the people inside those prisons. If there’s a sneaker lover or a collector on your gift list, don’t give another pair of shoes or fancy laces as a gift. Instead, wrap up “A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers” by Russ Bengtson (Workman). Full of pictures, history, side-bars, and more, this book will make a buckets fan smile, too. Readers who can’t get enough of sports, period, will want to read “Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas” by Jesse Cole with Don Yaeger (Dutton), the story of baseball, but not quite. There’s a lover of the paranormal on your gift list, isn’t there? Then you want to wrap up “Encounters: Experiences with Nonhuman Intelligences” by D.W. Pasulka (St. Martin’s Essentials). Has your giftee seen a UFO or had an angel encounter? Have they been to other dimensions and want to explore more? Yep, this is the right gift – and it’ll be even better if you wrap it up with “The Afterlife Book” by Marie D. Jones and Larry Flaxman (Visible Ink Press), a book on Heaven, Hell, this side of life, and that side. Who doesn’t get their dog a gift? You do, of course, so wrap up “Fifty Places to Travel with Your Dog Before You Die” by Chris Santella and DC Helmuth (Abrams Press). Hiking, swimming, romping here and abroad, this is a book your pup can really sink his teeth into, and it’s a good bet he’ll let you borrow it. And if you have a (human) giftee who craves similar adventure, wrap up “Reading the Glass: A Captain’s View of Weather, Water, and Life on Ships” by Elliot Rappaport (Dutton), a book that’s meant for the anyone who dreams of giving up the landlubber’s life. For the person who cares for animals that don’t get a lot of press, you won’t go wrong if you wrap up “Of Time and Turtles” by Sy Montgomery (Mariner), a book about a turtle rescue and the volunteers who work hard to save shells and lives. Pair it up with “Kings of Their Own Ocean: Tuna, Obsession, and the Future of Our Seas” by Karen Pinchin (Dutton), the story of more than just a fish. And here’s a book that will make someone smile this holiday: “Family, Friends, and Neighbors: Stories of Murder and Betrayal” by Richard Estep (Visible Ink Press). Your true crime fanatic will love it.
RACISM and RACIAL ISSUES What has racism looked like throughout history? Your social-justice-minded giftee will get a peek in “The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself” by David Mura (University of Minnesota Press). Meant for both Black and white readers, this is a conversation-starter. Wrap it up with “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future” by Robert P. Jones (Simon & Schuster) for a
CONTINUED page 30
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
29
CONTINUED from page 29
The reader who loves a good reinvention story will truly love “The Many Lives of Mama Love” by Lara Love Hardin (Simon & Schuster). Years perfectly thought-provoking gift. ago, the author was a thief and a heroin addict No doubt, your giftee knows how life has been and then she went to jail. Once released, she takes like since Black Lives Matter stepped into the news. “In Our Shoes: On Being a Young Black what she learned from the cell and uses it to do Woman in Not-So “Post-Racial” America” by good things for herself and others. Readers who Brianna Holt (Plume) is a book that examines the love second chances will read this gift first. feeling further, in ways that relate to both culture HISTORY and pop culture. Wrap it up with “Real Friends Talk About Race” by Yseult P. Mukantabana If your giftee loves reading about Black History, and Hannah Summerhill (Park Row Books), for then you can’t go wrong when you wrap up “The a gift that takes this sometimes-squirmy subject First Migrants: How Black Homesteaders’ and makes it possible to discuss. Quest for Land and Freedom Heralded The activist on your list wants to do best, so look America’s Great Migration” by Richard for “We Need to Talk About Antisemitism” Edwards and Jacob K. Friefeld (Bison Books). by Rabbi Diana Fersko (Seal Press). We discuss It’s the story of the people who headed to the racism against Black people? Why not this, plains decades before the Great Migration, and says the author. How else can we fight it? Pair how their mve changed the country. this book with “The Cost of Free Land” by For the person who devours history, look for Rebecca Clarren (Viking), a book about a Jewish “African American Almanac: 400 Years of immigrant success story and what it meant to the Black Excellence” by Lean’tin Bracks, PhD Native Americans in their territory. (Visible Ink Press). This second edition is full of “Gangbuster: One Man’s Battle Against history, mini-biographies, things your giftee might Crime, Corruption, and the Klan” by Alan not know, and best of all: it’s completely updated. Prendergast (Citadel Press) tells the story of a Also look for “Before the Movement: The Denver district attorney and his efforts a century Hidden History of Black Civil Rights” by ago to eliminate the KKK and corruption. True Dylan C. Penningroth (Liveright). More history. crime fans with a social justice streak will love More stories. this book. Pair it with “The Place We Make: The person on your list who enjoys real-life Breaking the Legacy of Legalized Hate” by mysteries and history will want “Unearthed: Sarah L. Sanderson (Waterbook Press), the story A Lost Actress, A Forbidden Book, and of a woman who discovers a terrible wrong in a Search for Life in the Shadow of the 1851 Oregon... and then she’s related to the two Holocaust” by Meryl Frank (Hachette Books). men who helped the grievance happen. For much of her childhood, Frank’s aunt Mollie strove to ensure that the kids in the family never BIOGRAPHY / MEMOIR forgot what had happened during World War II to the Jews. When Frank inherited a book filled with For your music lover, “To Anyone Who secrets, she went in search of a missing link to Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery that story. Wrap it up with “The Ghost Tattoo: of Connie Converse” by Howard Fishman Discovering the Hidden Truth of My Father’s (Dutton) will be a welcome gift this holiday. It’s Holocaust” by Tony Bernard (Citadel Press), the story of a singer / songwriter who never quite the story of a son who learns the secrets of a made the Big Time, although her music haunted concentration camp that his father finally told. the author and spurred him to try to understand That same World War II buff may want to read why she disappeared one day. Wrap it up with a “Fragile Cargo: The World War II Race to bookmark; it’s a big book. Wrap it up with “Too Save the Treasures of China’s Forbidden Late to Stop Now: More Rock ‘n’ Roll War City” by Adam Brookes (Atria). This story Stories” by Allan Jones (Bloomsbury). It’s a starts nearly two decades before the war, bringing collection of tales about a genre, from someone readers a story that’s exciting, chaotic, and brave. who was there. Another book for your historian is “Getting Is there a Sherlockian fan on your list? Then Out of Saigon” by Ralph White (Simon & imagine the excitement when “Doyle’s World Schuster), a book by a man who tried desperately Lost & Found: The Unknown Histories of to get his entire staff of a bank out of harm’s Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” by Daniel Friedman, MD and Eugene way and the Vietnam War’s path. Staff and their families, that is, 113 people, and it’s a harrowing Griedman, MD (Square One Publishers) is tale. beneath the tree. This book fills in a lot of the For the giftee who loves to read about unusual cracks between the Holmes mysteries with info connections, here’s what to give: “Wingmen: from the tales’ author’s life. Fans of literature The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable will want this book, and so will Holmes readers. Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Wrap it up with “A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe” by Mark Williams” by Adam Lazarus (Kensington). How did an astronaut and a baseball player become the Dawidziak (St. Martin’s Press), the story of the best of chums? Give the book as a gift this year, great author and the how he may have met his and then ask... end. The runner on your gift list will love to unwrap BUSINESS “Choosing to Run” by Des Linden (Dutton). Linden was a Boston Marathon Champion and this Here’s an unusual business book for the unusual is her story. If your athlete needs inspiration and a business reader: “Blood Money” by Kathleen reason to lace up those shoes each morning, this McLaughlin (One Signal / Atria). Donating book is it. blood saves lives. Donating blood plasma is a big For the farmer or rancher on your list, “A Bold business, and it’s banned in all but five countries Return to Giving a Damn” by Will Harris in the world. This book will make a great gift for (Viking) is a book about a farm, but also about a business reader or for your favorite health care the way things were and how they should be, the professional. love of land, and the problems ahead with climate, For the future mom or the mother-to-be raising food, and making a living. who’s still trying to figure out her work situation, Struggling to find the right biography for the “Carry Strong: An Empowered Approach history fan? Try “King of Diamonds: Harry to Navigating Pregnancy and Work” by Winston” by Ronald Winston & William Stephanie Kramer (Penguin Life) may be the Stadiem (Skyhorse Publishing, Inc). It’s the Gilded best gift ever. Bonus: case studies and real stories Age story of a rags-to-riches man whose name so the new mother can read about real life. meant “diamonds” to generations of fine jewelryThe future business leader on your gift list will wearers, and the times in which he lived. want to own “Power to the Middle: Why Here’s the book to wrap up for the feminist on Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of your list: “Young and Restless” by Mattie Work” by Bill Schaninger, Bryan Hancock, Kahn (Viking). Here, your giftee will learn about and Emily Field (Harvard Business Review Press). the teenage girls who made change happen in this Middle managers, as the authors argue, is no country: suffragettes, activists, and unsung young longer a throwaway position that takes pressure women who stood up for what they thought from above and below. Today’s middle manager is was right. Make it an even better gift by adding as important as everyone else in an organization, “Women We Buried, Women We Burned” by if not more so. Give this book and see what kind Rachel Louise Snyder (Bloomsbury). It’s a story of a difference it makes. Wrap it up with “The of survival, triumph, and a deep perspective on Unlocked Leader” by Hortense Le Gentil both. with Caroline Lambert (Wiley), a book on
being the kind of leader that people ask to work with. If there’s someone on your gift list who’s heading for a leadership role, wrap up “To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership are Rewriting the Rules for Success” by Jenna C. Fisher (Wiley). Gone are so-called old-boys’ networks. Today’s corporations run differently. Support it by giving this book. Here’s another unusual look at the top: “Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort that Never Was” by Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer (Rowman & Littlefield). It’s the story of a proposed feature at Disneyland and the fight that kept it from being made. How it left an impact on business and leisure is a great story for your giftee. Any business-minded person on your list is going to be happy you gave “Know What Matters: Lessons from a Lifetime of Transformations” by Ron Shaich (Harvard Business Review Press). Schaich is the founder of Panera Bread and this book is about his life, his achievements, and what he has to share with entrepreneurs who won’t stop until they reach success.
30
YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M
LGBTQ INTERESTS FICTION For the person on your gift list who’d love a boymeets-boy story, wrap up “Bellies: A Novel” by Nicola Dinan (Hanover Square Press), the tale of a playwright and the man who loves him wholly, until a transition threatens to change everything. If there’s a romantic on your list, then you’re in luck: finding a gift is easy when you wrap up “10 Things That never Happened” by Alexis Hall (Sourcebooks), the story of Sam, whose job is okay, and his boss, Jonathan, who should have never hired Sam. Too late now, except for the romance. Wrap it up with “Time Out” by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner with Carlyn Greenwald (Simon & Schuster), the story of a basketball player who’s newly out of the closet, and a politically-minded boy who could easily get his vote...
NONFICTION For the person on your list who likes to read quick, short articles, wrap up “Inverse Cowgirl: A Memoir” by Alicia Roth Weigel (HarperOne). It’s a collection of essays on life as an intersex person, and the necessity for advocating for others who are, too.
HEALTH-RELATED BOOKS For the giftee who loves reading true medical mysteries, “Girls and Their Monsters” by Audrey Clare Farley (Grand Central) will make a great gift. When researchers studying schizophrenia heard of quadruplet sisters who’d been recently diagnosed, they hoped that the women could unlock secrets. Instead, they found secrets that resonate even today. Wrap it up with “Scarcity Brain: Fix Your Craving Mindset & Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough” by Michael Easter (Rodale Books), for a better look at how our minds work and how we can enhance them. If there’s a giftee on your list who seems to be on an internal struggle, “What Women Want: A Therapist, Her Patients, and Their True Stories of Desire, Power and Love” by Maxine Mei-Fung Chung (Grand Central) may be the right gift. In a series of case-studies, Chung shows that women aren’t as complicated as some say. It’s a story of healing and finding one’s best self. Wrap it up with “What About Men?” by Caitlin Moran (Harper),, a witty (but serious) look at the other side, making a nicely rounded, double-ended gift. For the person who remembers the pandemic all too well and wants to know what the heck just happened there, wrap up “Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines, and the Health of Nations” by Simon Schama (Ecco). More than a health book, this is also a history of how pandemics have been perceived and investigated through the centuries, what people in the past did about them, and what we can anticipate in the future. Your giftee professes to want to live forever, so
wrap up “The Well-Lived Life: A 102-YearOld Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age” by Gladys McGarey, MD (Atria). McGarey is considered to be “The Mother of Holistic Medicine” and this book explains how she’s stayed healthy and active for more than a century. Readers will love the advice here, but they’ll also love the biography inside. Wrap it up with “Fit Citizens: A History of Black Women’s Exercise from PostReconstruction to Postwar America” by Ava Purkiss (The University of North Carolina Press), a book about what experts told Black women about exercise and how that factored into the fight for equality. If someone on your list is hurting from a loss this year or recently, carefully look for “The Urgent Life: My Story of Love, Loss, and Survival” by Bozoma Saint John (Viking). It’s a book about the death of a spouse, yes, but also about taking tragedy and making things as best as they can be.
SCIENCE
If there’s a person on your list who loves animals, then “Beastly: The 40,000-Year Story of Animals and Us” by Keggie Carew (Abrams Press) may be just what they’ll love. It’s a long, deep look at creatures, including us, and it includes tales and true anecdotes your giftee will enjoy. The environmentalist and the gardener on your list will both love “How to Read a Tree: Clues and Patterns from Bark to Leaves” by Tristan Gooley (The Experiment). It’s the story of trees, of course, but it’s also a volume of information and all the things we can learn by looking at or living near a tree. Give it to your homeowner, too, for a great holiday.
KIDS AGES 1-6 The littlest kid on your gift list will love reading “Mister Kitty is Lost!” by Greg Pizzoli (Little, Brown for Young Readers). A little girl’s kitty has gone missing. Young readers will be delighted with the hunt and surprised at the solution.
KIDS AGES 9-12 The kid who loves a bit of history with a great adventure story will want to read “White House Clubhouse” by Sean O’Brien (Norton Young Readers). It’s the story of two kids whose Mom is the new President of the United States. That’s cool and all, but it’s even cooler when they find a secret tunnel inside the White House... Your giftee who loves the Baby-Sitter’s Club books will truly want to unwrap “Curlfriends: New In Town” by Sharee Miller (Little, Brown Young Readers).It’s the story of Charlie, who’s starting at another new school and struggles again with making friends. Can the Curlfriends, a group of Black girls who hang out together, make her year better? Middle-schoolers who wrestle with the preteen years will love this graphic novel.
TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS For the romantic on your gift list, try “Chaos Theory” by Nic Stone (Crown). It’s the story of two teens who are outcasts in their new school. They gravitate toward one another as friends with something in common. Could it be more than just that, though? For the teen who needs to read the story of bravery and history, wrap up “The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz” by Sara Leibovits & Eti Elboim (Harper Collins / One More Chapter). It’s the tale of Leibovits’ family’s journey to a concentration camp, and it’s not for the faint of heart or the weak of mind. And now for the housekeeping: books change, publishing dates change, and if you can’t find these books or something like them, be sure to ask the elves at the bookstore for the exact thing you need. They know books and they’ll help you find the best gift for that hard-to-find person and they might even wrap it for you. Hint: you’re almost done with your shopping. Buy yourself a book.
CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!
W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
31
Winter Line-UP At tHe PArADiSe Paradise Community Theatre presents: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “The Wind in the Willows Days of Christmas” December 1, 2, 8, at 7:30 pm December 3, 9 and 10 at 2:00 pm Member: $18 / Non-Member: $20 / Student: $14 (18 & under)
Mick Sterling Presents: FROM THE KING FOR THE KING Saturday December 16 at 3:00 pm Member: $20 / Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15 (18 & under)
If you want to see an Elvis show that has never been done, featuring the songs that inspired Elvis himself, a show that features the songs he won his only grammy for, FROM THE KING FOR THE KING- The Gospel According to Elvis is where you should be. Featuring the early 60’s faith standards such as HOW GREAT THOU ART, RUN ON, I BELIEVE IN THE MAN IN THE SKY and many more.
Mick Sterling Presents: A Grand Ole Opry Christmas Saturday, December 16 at 7:30 pm
Member: $20 / Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15 (18 & Under) A GRAND OLE OPRY CHRISTMAS honors the Christmas recordings of the pillars of Country and Rock and Roll in this joyous presentation featuring, along with Mick Sterling (4) more incredible lead vocalists, Cate Fierro, Shalo Lee, Lisi Wright and Dan Neale. All of the classic Christmas songs and some really fun ones you may not be familiar with, joined by traditional Gospel and Spiritual songs round out this wonderful presentation that has moved audiences for years.
Phil Olson Presents: A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol A hilarious Minnesota spoof of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Monday, December 18 at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm Tuesday, December 19 at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm Member: $20 / Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15 (18 & under) It’s Christmas Eve in Bunyan Bay, Minnesota and cantankerous bar owner, Gunner Johnson, gets in an argument with his wife, Clara, tells her he’s skipping Christmas. He storms out of the bar, goes snowmobiling across the lake, falls through the ice on his Ski-Doo and goes into a coma. He comes back in his dream where he’s visited by folk legend, Sven Yorgensen, who plays the ghost of Christmas past, present, and future. Sven takes Gunner (Scrooge) on a journey similar to that in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” only Minnesota style. Will Gunner come out of his coma and find redemption with Clara at The Bunyan? Find out.
Roll On! The Music of Alabama Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 pm Member: $20 / Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15 (18 & under)
For more information & tickets: www.paradisecenterforthearts.org • (507) 332-7372 321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN
These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural fund. 32
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 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.