SCENE July 2022 by Kate Noet

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JULY 2022

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

CONTENT

JULY 2022 / VOLUME 10 / ISSUE 7

FEATURES:

COLUMNS:

6 Southern Minnesota Wine Tour We list the area wineries not to miss.

10 From the MUSIC SIDE

18 Distributing Local Brews

How local craft breweries distribute their products.

20 SoMinn Brews Map

Check out the breweries located throughout the Scene area..

TrailHead Grill and Lanes in Pine Island.

Phenomen-Al.

12 Area Distilleries

Cool cocktails, patio pleasures abound at area distilleries this season.

19 SoMinn FOOD & DRINK Review

4 Mollywood BLVD

22 Through a SoMinn LENS

Festival in your own backyard.

North Morristown on July 4, a slice of Americana.

WOLDUM TV

26 Rants & RAVES

The stories currently filling my spare time.

I wanna be my dog.

18 Randy’s Ramblings

28 SoMinn FASHION

E-Bikes are for everyone.

Styling up on a down budget.

38 SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ - In the Houses of Their Dead - The Hawk’s Way - Queer Ducks - My Moment - The Divorce Colony

30 The SCENE Calendar

SoMinn’s most comprehensive calendar of things to be SCENE.

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Mollywood BLVD

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.

Phenomen-Al

s a Millennial mom, I’m always trying to set my kids up with the same pop culture knowledge I have. I’ve exposed them to all the classic ‘80s kids movies: Goonies, Karate Kid, Back to the Future etc... It’s hard for me to imagine not “getting” those cultural references as they play out in modern entertainment, and I like to think I am setting them up for pop-savvy success, so it was my extreme pleasure to learn that both of my kids — ages 15 & 17 — had independently discovered the cultural icon and comedic parodist, Weird Al. They credit YouTube to their discovery. He hasn’t put out a new record since 2014 when he famously parodied Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” with his song “Tacky,” but somehow, he has made an impression on some of our youngest generations. And thank God, because I think that we can all agree that “Amish Paradise,” the parody of Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise, is a stone classic that deserves to span the ages. The newest season of Netflix’s Stranger Things releases its second its crop of episodes for Season 4 on Netflix July 1. Already, with the return of the famed sci-fi nostalgia series, we are seeing pop culture staples of the ‘80s find new life in the new millennium. Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” has become the star’s first ever top 5 single in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, nearly 40 years after its original release. The latest season saluted the Weird Al phenomenon when they introduced a new character, named Eddie, who in the first episode mentioned the first time he met Dustin and Mike, stating, “You (Dustin) were wearing a Weird Al t-shirt, which I thought was brave.” Weird Al Yankovic responded to the name drop on Twitter, tweeting, “#Brave #Strangerthings” along with a clip of the scene. This is sure to peak even more of Gen Z’s curiosity. Recently, my brothers and I started curating a playlist of songs that were in heavy rotation in the Penny Household when we first moved back to Minnesota from the D.C. metro in 1994. Songs like Des’ree, “You Gotta Be” and Cheryl Crow, “All I

MOLLY PENNY

Wanna Do” came to mind. As we continued our musical trip down memory lane, I recalled owning the 1992 Weird Al CD, Off The Deep End. The cover art parodied the infamous Nirvana Nevermind album cover but instead of a naked baby, a naked Weird Al Yankovic submerged in a pool, and instead of a dollar bill, bobbing for a donut on a fishing line. The album produced one of Yankovic’s most popular singles, “Smells Like Nirvana.” Lead singer Kurt Cobain was quoted as saying, “You haven’t really made it until there’s a Weird Al spoof.” My brothers and I were no strangers to Weird Al. I share a birthday with him: October 23rd! Growing up, we loved the movie UHF (1989). If you’ve seen it, you know that, like his songs and records, the film parodied several other films. It was off-beat, obscure and perfectly weird. Yankovic is credited in over 40 films, but he wrote and starred in UHF, so you get to know a bit more about him through the film. If you want a true inside look at what makes Yankovic tick, producer Tim Headington is releasing a Weird Al biographical comedy for Roku through Will Farrell’s production company, Funny Or Die, set to release in the fall. The film stars Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, as Yankovic. Preliminary photos released of Radcliffe in the role are pretty spot-on. Minnesota is always a popular stop for the polka parody extraordinaire. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Minnesota born radio broadcaster, Barry Hansen, or, Dr. Demento, helped give Weird Al national exposure. He has graced the stage at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010 and again in 2019. His 2019 show at the “Great Minnesota Get Together” delighted a sold-out crowd! Ahead of his last State Fair appearance, the town of Darwin Minnesota celebrated the parodist who helped turn their giant ball of twine into a national tourist attraction with his 1989 song, “The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota” by officially changing “Twine Ball Lane” to “Weird Alley.” Yankovic took to Twitter to comment on this honor as well, tweeting a photo of the street sign with the caption, “Sure, the

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Grammy’s and platinum albums are nice and all, but now I’ve finally made it: they just re-named the alley next to the Darwin, MN Twine Ball.” Not all Minnesotans love him, though. In the height of Weird Al’s success in the ‘80s, with parodies of Michael Jackson’s hits “Beat It” (“Eat It”) and Bad (“Fat”), our own superstar Prince, who was featured in Jackson’s “Bad” video as a rival gang leader, decided he markedly did not like Weird Al Yankovic. He reportedly turned down at least four parody ideas and, hilariously, Prince’s lawyers once gave Yankovic a letter stating that he may not make eye contact with Prince during an entire American Music Awards ceremony. If you watch his video for “Partyman” from the 1989 Batman soundtrack, there’s a point in the video where he blows up a Weird Al look-alike with an exploding cigar! The bottom line is, it was a well-known fact that despite having never even met in person, Prince hated the guy. Yankovic himself addressed the “decades of weirdness” between him and the “purple one” during an interview after Prince’s death and said he regrets they never reconciled but admitted he has a treasure chest of unreleased parodies of Prince music that will never see the light of day. Online greeting card company Blue Mountain has eCards, similar to Cameo, where Weird Al will sing a birthday song to your friends and family members. You just send the name and Weird Al will do the rest, creating a one-of-a-kind birthday song. You may not get a Prince parody, but if you know someone who loves him, it’s a great gift idea! Or just take them to a show. Weird Al is coming back to Minnesota this month for a couple of stops. He will be at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on Saturday, July 23 and then at the State Theatre in Minneapolis Sunday, July 24 . With a catalogue spanning decades of pop parodies, it will be a fun experience for all ages. 

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By TOM NELSON Guest Contributor

he thought of a wine tasting excursion often brings up images of a trip to some distant destination, such as California or Europe, to savor the fruits of the vine. But for residents of the Southern Minnesota Scene readership area, there’s no need to travel far from home as a local journey to some of the region’s wineries is a perfect way to sample and enjoy some of the top quality wines produced right here in Minnesota. The following is a tour through just some of the local vineyards and wineries in the area that offer great destinations for residents to enjoy a glass (or flight) of locally produced wines in unique tasting rooms, which often overlook scenic vineyard settings. Many of the wineries also offer a wide range of tasty food items from on-site kitchens or visiting food trucks.

Aspelund Winery - Kenyon Bruce and Dawn Rohl opened up their Aspelund Peony Gardens in 2007, and opened up the winery portion of their business in 2015. The wines are primarily fruit wines and much of the fruit is grown on their property. They have invested in planting elderberry bushes, apple trees and grape vines. The tasting room offers a chance to purchase bottles of wine or taste the assorted types of wine they produce in flights or by the glass. The list of wines produced at Aspelund includes elderberry, blueberry, strawberry, rhubarb, pumpkin and apple (caramel and cinnamon). They also produce a popular tomato wine that taste like a Bloody Mary. “Our wines are more semi-sweet,” Dawn Rohl said. “We don’t do anything syrupy and you can actually taste the fruit. Our tomato wine is our best seller and the strawberry and elderberry come after that.” The Rohl’s use a combination of fruit grown on site and fruit brought in from other sources to make their wines. “As much as we can, we use what we grow here,” Rohl said. In the early summer, Aspelund’s peony gardens are in bloom and offer a beautiful backdrop to savor the wine. “We also have other gardens during the rest of the season, so people are welcome to take a glass of wine and walk around the gardens,” Rohl said. Along with wine, visitors can also purchase maple syrup that is produced on the premise. Aspelund does not offer food for sale or food trucks, but they do encourage people to bring their own food to enjoy while tasting the wine. The tasting room hours are Thursday-Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday Noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m. Aspelund Winery 9204 425th St, Kenyon 507-824-2935 aspelundwinery.com

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(Photo courtesy of Cannon River Winery on Facebook)

Cannon River Winery - Cannon Falls

The Cannon River Winery’s tasting room is located in downtown Cannon Falls, which also serves as a site for wine production. A variety of grapes used in their wines are grown nearby at their vineyards overlooking the Sogn Valley, which also provides a facility for receptions and events. The tasting room in Cannon Falls includes a wide range of wine tasting experiences by the glass or by the flight. The Bitchin’ Kitchen at the tasting room offers a variety of menu items including shareable plates, sandwiches, flatbreads and desserts - all a perfect accompaniment for a wine tasting venture. Cannon River has a variety of white, red, rose and specialty wines with the wines being produced from a combination of grapes grown at the vineyard and from other sources. Check out the Cannon River Winery website for details on tasting room events throughout the year. Tasting room hours are Noon to 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, Noon to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Cannon River Winery 421 Mill St W, Cannon Falls 507-263-7400 cannonriverwinery.com

(Photo courtesy of Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery)

Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery - Kasota The second largest winery in the state of Minnesota, Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery was established in 2008 and cultivates over 13 acres of vines on its property nestled in the rolling hills of the Southern Minnesota River Valley. Chankaska Creek’s award winning selection of wines includes reds, whites and roses along with a selection of distilled spirits. The winery’s tasting room includes a patio overlooking the vineyard and a scenic grounds. One of Chankaska Creek’s highlights is an interactive sculpture tour that features works of art and sculpture stationed at various spots on the property. A desired location for weddings, Chankaska Creek offers three unique event venues on its property along with an indoor event center. Chankaska Creek’s food options include a selection of appetizers, pizzas and desserts. The menu includes wine pairing recommendations for all of their food items. Customers can taste wine by the glass and flight and the Ranch Road Spirits Bar offers patrons a chance to try out Chankaska’s selection of its Ranch Road spirits and inspired cocktails. Live music is available on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer and fall and Chankaska Creek also has several special

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

events this summer and fall. Upcoming highlights in July include a murder mystery event, Mick Sterling’s “A Billy Joel State of Mind” and Drag Me With a Spoon’s “Party Like It’s Y2K!” Winery hours are Noon to 9 p.m. on Monday-Saturday and Noon to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Of note, the Ranch Road Spirits Bar is open from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, Noon to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Noon to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota 507-931-0089 chankaskawines.com

Indian Island Winery - Janesville

Indian Island Winery is an offshoot of Winterhaven Vineyard and Nursery. The vineyard was established in 2000 and currently includes over 12 acres of vines. The winery later opened and uses the vineyard’s grapes to produce a selection of dry and sweet white wines, red wines and dessert wines. The types of grapes grown at Indian Island include cold weather varieties such as Frontenac, La Crescent, Marquette, St. Croix and Brianna. The tasting room offers flights and wine by the glass. Bottles of wines are available for purchase at the tasting room and at selected liquors stores in the area. The winery has food service with a variety of sandwiches, burgers, seasonal soups and pizzas. Domestic and local craft beers are available (by the bottle) along with speciality wine cocktails and wine slushies. Hours are Noon to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Kitchen service is only available on Friday through Sunday. Live music is fearured on the weekends throughout the summer and fall, and the popular Grape Stomp festival is set for Sept. 10. Please check out the winery website for its calendar of events. Indian Island Winery 18018 631st Ave., Janesville 507-234-6222 indianislandwindery.com

(Photo courtesy of Javens Family Winery Facebook page)

Javens Family Winery - Mankato

The Javens Family Winery vineyards were established in 2010 and has grown to eight acres. The winery’s tasting room opened in 2016 and provides a scenic location to sample the Javens Family wines that include a variety of red and

white wines. The winery has a patio overlooking the vineyard for customers to enjoy glasses and flights of wine. Live music events are offered during the summer months and a complete list of those events are listed on the winery website. A limited selection of pre-packaged meats and cheeses are available for purchase at the tasting room and customers can also bring their own food to eat. Tasting room hours through September are 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Javens Family Winery 20011 589th Ave, Mankato 507-740-0280 javenswinery.com

A selection of wine and cider available at the Montgomery Orchard. (Photo courtesy of Montgomery Orchard)

Montgomery Orchard - Montgomery

A popular destination for its annual fall orchard season, Montgomery Orchard strays from the traditional grape-based wines and offers a selection of unique wines and ciders created entirely from the Orchard’s apple and plum trees. “In terms of authenticity, we are one of the most authentic that is out there - just for the reason we only ferment would we grow on the property,” said Scott Wardell, who owns Montgomery Orchards with his wife Barb Wardell. “Our wines are all both authentic and homegrown. “We are also one of the three remaining commercial plum growers in the state. Because of that, we are the only authentic plum wine producer in the state. There might be other people who buy plum juice, but we produce an authentic plum wine, and it is a knock your socks off wine.” Two of their speciality apple wines includes an “apple jack” style wine called the Full Monty and another is The Woody, which is apple wine that is barrel aged for three years. “Our tasting room includes a patio and deck that overlooks the farm,” Wardell said. “The view includes spruce and pines mixed in with deciduous box elder trees. It is very picturesque, very authentic and very rustic.” Even the boards the Orchard uses to serve its flights of wine and cider are authentic as they are crafted from cut off logs from trees grown on the property. The ciders offered at Montgomery Orchard include ones flavored with local maple syrup and honey and a “Graff” cider made apple juice and English Ale. Montgomery Orchard and the tasting room are open from Labor Day to the first week of November during the apple season. Food trucks are typically available during the weekends and music is also featured on weekends. Family fun activities include a corn maze, nature hikes on the property and apple picking. This year’s corn maze will be in a shape of a dragonfly and the Minnesota Dragonfly Society will have a special event at the orchard the Saturday before Labor Day to kick-off the season. For complete information on hours and events during the upcoming fall season, please visit www.montgomeryorchard.com Montgomery Orchard 15953 State Highway 99, Montgomery 99 952-221-1051 montgomeryorchard.com

Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery - New Ulm

Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery owner and wine maker Georg Marti’s great-great-

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Next Chapter Winery tasting room. (Tom Nelson/southernminn.com) (Photo courtesy of Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery Facebook page)

grandfather is August Schell, who established the August Schell Brewing in New Ulm - which is the second oldest family owned brewery in the nation. In 1999, George and his oldest son Adam pursued wine making studies at Purdue with a focus on Midwest varietals and northern climate wine making techniques and went on to create the Morgan Creek vineyards. Marti’s wife Paula is a co-owner and general manager and serves as executive chef of the Winery’s café. The winery is open on Fridays and Saturdays only. The “Winedown for the Weekend” is held on Fridays and it includes wood fired pizzas from the café. Opera Ala Carte — a variety of popular art songs and opera arias will be offered on Friday evenings in July, August and September. A country style brunch is served on Saturday mornings through October with music and art on selected Saturdays. Saturday nights are jazz nights with music from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. Reservations are recommended and are needed for the monthly exclusive Saturday night chef’s special. Upcoming special events include a German Winefest on July 15-16 and the annual Grape Stomp on October 1. Along with Morgan Creek wines, a selection of family craft beers from the August Schell Brewing Company is also available at the winery. Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery 3707 478th Ave, New Ulm 507-947-3547 morgancreekvineyards.com

(Photo courtesy of Mousse Sparking Wine Facebook page)

Mousse Sparkling Wine Company - Jordan Located in historic downtown Jordan, the Mousse Sparkling Wine Company specializes in sparkling wines and hard ciders using locally grown fruit. The tasting room offers a unique selection of small plates and snacks and the wines include a selection of dry and sweet sparkling wines (white and rose), a house red wine and a house white wine along with a dry and a sweet hard cider. Food trucks are available on selected days along with music and other special events throughout the summer months. Tasting room hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Mousse Sparkling Wine Company 115 1st St E, Jordan 952-452-8162 moussewinery.com

Next Chapter Winery - New Prague

Timothy and Therese Tulloch began plant-

ing the vineyard at Next Chapter Winery in 2007 after spending time as owners of the Next Chapter Bookstore and European Roasterie. In 2011, Next Chapter became a licensed winery and it opened its first tasting room in 2014. The story continued with the opening of the Red Barn tasting room in 2016, which provides space for events and accommodates about 60 weddings each year. The tasting room also features a patio and provides customers a chance to sample by the glass or with flights. A distillery, started in 2018, is also located on site and adds a full menu of cocktails featuring craft made rum, whiskey, vodka and gin - in addition to the wine list. The tasting room also offers a selection of local craft beers and ciders on the beverage list. The winery grows nine different varieties of cold hard grapes, which include Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, Frontenac Blanc, La Crescent, Edelweiss, Brianna, Marquette, Valiant and Itasca. The wines created from those grapes (and others brought in from outside sources) include a full range of white, red and rose wines. Next Chapter also ventures into the speciality wines with products that include apple, blackberry and cranberry flavors. Next Chapter hosts a wide range of food trucks throughout the summer and fall, and there are weekly specials offered - including the popular Wine Bingo Wednesday. The winery also features live music once a month on Sunday. “The food trucks have been amazing and we have food trucks here on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” co-owner Jackie Brockaway said. “We also have Wine Bingo Wednesday, which is free to play and the winners get a $5 gift certificate, and that has been a real crowd favorite.” Other events at New Chapter include Yoga in the Vineyard, painting classes and charcuterie board making classes. Brockaway and her husband Jeff, co-own the winery with her parents (Timothy and Therese Tulloch). She originally helped her dad plant vines as a summer job at the winery and was later hired to open the tasting room in 2014. “My Dad is really super passionate about the wine, and I am really passionate about the people,” Brockaway said. “It has really been about the people for me. The wine here is amazing and we have created a sense of family here by getting to meet the regulars and new people along with our wedding couples…for me that been a driving motivator - the people!” Next Chapter Winery 16945 320th St., New Prague 612-756-3012 nextchapterwinery.com

Salem Glen Winery - Rochester

The Salem Glen Winery features a five acre vineyard with over 3,000 vines. Salem Glen uses grapes grown on site and also utilizes other locally sourced grapes and fruit for its wines. The winery focuses on cold hardy grapes and produces a selection of white, red and rose wines along with fruit wines (i.e. rhubarb and cranberry). In addition, Salem Glen has recently added hard cider to its menu with apples grown on their property and other local sources. The vineyards were first planted in 2004 and the tasting room doors were opened in 2007. Salem Glen offers wood fired pizzas on Friday evenings during the summer month. In addition

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(Photo courtesy of Salem Glen Winery Facebook page)

to wine by the glass and by the flight, bottles of wine and cider are available for purchase at Salem Glen. Hours through September are Noon to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and Noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Three Oak Vineyard and Winery started its first plantings in 2011 and its tasting room was completed in the spring of 2017. Three Oak offers a variety of reds, white and blended wines with grapes grown at its vineyard and from other locations both locally and nationally. Wine is available by the glass, flight or bottle and a selection of meat and cheese plates are available featuring products from Conger Meats and Eichtens Artisan Cheese. The winery has a venue that is available for events and receptions. The tasting room hours are 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and 2:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Three Oak Vineyards and Winery 73505 225th St, Albert Lea 507-369-5267. threeoakwines.com

Salem Glen Winery 5211 60th Ave SW, Rochester 507-365-8758 salemglenvineyard.com

Vintage Escapes Winery and Vineyard (File photo/southernminn.com)

(Photo courtesy of Three Oaks Vineyards and Winery Facebook page)

Three Oak Vineyards and Winery - Albert Lea Located on the site of a former nursery, the

quette, Frontenac and Itasca grapes. The tasting room opened in 2019 and were constructed by co-owner Dan Resler and his father. According to co-owner Ashley Resler, Vintage Escapes offers 16 wines ranging from dry to sweet in red, white and rose. In addition, Vintage Escapes makes a raspberry wine created from locally harvested raspberries and also offers a selection of wine cocktails. She said that there is often a misconception that Minnesota wines are inferior to wines from areas such as California, but often times white wines made from Minnesota grapes are more flavorful. Red wines from this area are sometimes harder to produce but if done correctly, they can be quite good too. “The wine made with grapes grown here makes a different type of wine then grapes grown in a warmer climate,” Resler said. Vintage Escapes has an vintage inspired tasting room along with patio, deck and grass space to enjoy sipping a glass or flight of wine outdoors when the weather cooperates. The winery’s food menu includes shareable plates, sandwiches and desserts. Live music events are featured during the summer and fall months along with paint and sip sessions and cookie decorating events. Please check the winery website for those details. Hours are 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Noon to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard 8950 Dodd Rd, Kilkenny 507-334-1936 vintageescapeswinery.com

(Photo courtesy of Whitewater Wines Facebook page)

The winery offers a variety of wines including reds, whites and blends. A unique feature is that the tables in the tasting room were built by Stillwater H.S. students and the picnic tables and benches on the patio were built by PlainviewElgin-Millville H.S. students. Light food is available or you can bring your own food. Hours are 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Whitewater Wines 10832 Fischer Hill Dr, Plainview 507-534-1262 Whitewaterwines.com Tom Nelson is a freelance writer. Reach the editor at editor@apgsomn.com.

Vintage Escapes Winery Whitewater Wines & Vineyard - Kilkenny - Plainview The Vintage Escapes Winery and Vineyard recently earned double gold medals at the International Cold Climate Wine competition for its Marquette, Frontenac and Marquette Reserve wines. The winery was started in 2017 and now has over three acres of vines containing Mar-

Founded in 1996, Whitewater Wines grows over 20 different grape varieties in a 2.5 acre vineyard. The site is nestled into 30 acres of prairie, hardwoods which includes walking trails and two ponds.

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From the MUSIC SIDE

MEGAN ROLLOFF 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.

Festival in your own backyard

have a confession to make: I was not born and/or raised in Minnesota. But I did choose to move here, and stay here, so that has to count for something. When I turned 18, I moved from South Dakota to Mankato for college, and I never really left. One thing I noticed during my first summer in my new chosen state of residence … Minnesotans love a festival. There are town festivals, food festivals, beer festivals, wine festivals, and even a garlic festival that’s been held in Hutchinson for the past 15 years. But as you can probably imagine, my favorite kind of festival is a music festival. I’ve been to a few in my day, and they are all roughly the same format: a wide-open outdoor space, a stage, a well-curated list of bands, throngs of sweaty fans, a few food and drink vendors, and a little village of portable toilets on the outskirts of the venue. There is nothing wrong with this blueprint. In fact, I very much look forward to festival season in Minnesota. But I want to tell you about a new festival that goes beyond the norm. The first Minnesota Original Music Festival begins on Monday, July 18 and is loaded with events, workshops, and performances through Sunday, July 24. The festival will take place all over St. Peter, truly integrating itself throughout the town for its six-day duration. The week of Minnesota music begins on Monday with a screening of Steve Firkin’s movie, “The Filmmakers”, at the Traverse des Sioux Treaty Site History Center. The soundtrack for the movie uses original music from local musicians — viewing times TBD. The major kickoff event is Tuesday night beginning at 5 p.m. at Patrick’s on Third. The schedule of performances is Good Night Gold Dust Duo (Laura Schultz & Colin Scharf) at 7 p.m., Mal Murphy at 8 p.m., and Chris Bertrand at 9 p.m. But the portion of the evening that really piqued my interest is the 60 Hour Band Challenge draft. With Ocho O’Connell and Punk Rock Tom hosting, Musicians (previously signed up to participate at mnomf.org/challenge) will be placed in ad hoc groups and will have approximately 60 hours to prepare for a performance for a panel of judges Friday, July 22 at the Red Men Club. Groups will be asked to write and perform an original song, a cover song, and a modified cover song. For the modified cover song, the bands will have to call upon their creativity to give a well known song a new twist. This might be by changing the time signature, having the vocalist sing without using consonants, or changing the song into a reggae-style rhythm, for example. For the original song, the group will be given random words or phrases that are required to appear in the song. Winners of the event will open the festival on Saturday with a performance of their songs, among other prizes. For a dose of the familiar, Saturday and Sunday mostly follow the music festival tradition of one-to-two-hour sets of performances on stage at Minnesota Square Park. Saturday starts at 11 a.m. with the winner of the 60-Hour Band Challenge and goes until 10 p.m. The day’s artists also include Good Time Gals at 11:45 a.m., The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra at 2 p.m., Lucy Michelle at 5:20 p.m., Bee Balm Fields at 9:20 p.m. and many others in between. And fear not. The party does not have to end there. You can discuss the day over a pint with friends and, undoubtedly, musicians, at the after party at Patrick’s. Sunday kicks off at a reasonable noon with some blues from PK Mayo and winds down at 7:50 p.m. with some psychedelic folk from portal iii. What makes this festival stand apart from most others is what

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takes place during the week. This festival is not just about listening to music, it’s also about making music and the people make it. Wednesday through Friday from, roughly, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., there is a series of workshops being held at St. Peter High School. While these workshops are all open to the public, some are definitely geared to working and aspiring musicians.

friends and colleagues, including musicians Michelle Roche (Machiko, Good Night Gold Dust, The Given Names, Nate Boots & the High Horses, Mankato Symphony Orchestra), Eric Zimmerman (EZ Jazz, Adrian Barnett Questet), and Eric Ouren (Ouren Instruments), and in August 2021 they started putting ideas together. I asked Eli… What was the dream? Why did this seem like something you should do? Making a living as a musician that performs original music is difficult. I wanted to create something that would help connect music listeners to new music they’ve never heard. As long as we were at it, we thought we could provide educational opportunities for musicians (and people that want to be musicians), to help them succeed in a competitive business. Have artists been receptive to the idea? Artists have been very receptive going out of their way to be a part of the festival.

Just a few of these workshops include Peer Review Songwriting with Nate Boots at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Working with Effects Pedals with Colin Scharf at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Your Music Career Toolkit: Resources for Musicians in Minnesota presented by Joanna Schnedler, Executive Director of the Minnesota Music Coalition at 10am on Thursday, Grant Writing with Brenda Byron, Executive Director of the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council on Thursday at 1pm, Performing with Looping Pedals with Jason Helder at 4 p.m. on Thursday, and Music Improvisation with Liz Draper at 10 a.m. on Friday. Another musician-centric event is Jam Night on Wednesday, the 20th at 6 p.m. Four locations throughout Saint Peter will host jam sessions where amateur and aspiring musicians are invited to bring their instruments and play with professional musicians. Each location is assigned a specific genre of interest; Bluegrass & Old Time Music, Folk Rock/Blues, Jazz, and Electronic Music. How did this unique and ambitious event come about; you ask? As with most things, it started with a dude and a dream. (And yes, my fellow feminists, many things start with a dudette, but in this instance, it’s a dude). Eli Hoehn, a well-established Minnesota musician, had an idea and reached out to some

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What are you hoping to accomplish? The goal of this festival is to help creative people be creative by offering activities that foster networking, and hopefully, a sense of community, that provides learning opportunities for people interested in creating and working in music, and performance opportunities that help artists connect with listeners. We’re not trying to make money, in fact all the events are free, we’re trying to facilitate creativity. The festival has a lot of moving parts: amazingly everything is falling into place like it was supposed to happen this way. Our hope for the outcome is that we create an annual event that Minnesota composers and songwriters mark in their calendars and for one week in July, come together in St. Peter to perform, create, and network. How will you know if the event is a success? It will be a success if attendees leave inspired. Are you hoping this becomes an annual event? Yes, we hope this becomes one of the events people look forward to each year. And let me tell you folks, this is a mere smattering of the goings-on at this festival. There is so much happening that one article could not sufficiently highlight it all. I strongly recommend that you visit www.mnomf.org to get the most up-to-date information. And things are being added and filled in all the time. This event truly does have the potential to become one of state-wide, or dare I say, nation-wide recognition. So, get in on it now. Because, let’s be honest, if you read this column on the regular, you are probably a music fan (or my mom), and there is nothing a big music fan likes more than telling all his/her friends, “I knew about this before anyone else and I was at the very first one.” You know who you are. 

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WOLDUM TV

RACHEL WOLDUM Rachel Woldum is a former television snob who has embraced the medium as it entered its Golden Age. Contact her at woldumr@gmail.com.

The stories currently filling my spare time

ne of the first questions I ask people when we’re catching up is “What have you been watching?” Not only am I genuinely curious and always looking for recommendations, but I find their answers are a revealing glimpse into their current world. The shows we watch are a big part of our daily lives, especially since spending more time at home in the past two years. As a working-full-time, stay-at-home mom, my life is fairly routine. Sometimes, when people ask me what I’ve been up to, the only thing that’s changed since the last time we talked is the shows I’ve been watching. So here’s my current, ongoing watchlist — and a little bit of insight into my mood, my interests, and mental state of late.

an endearing thirty-something couple who make a living restoring historic homes in their small town of Laurel, Mississippi. They find promising houses in need of a facelift, pitch them to a family looking for an upgrade, and renovate them from top to bottom.

documentary of the same name, HBO’s recent miniseries follows the same story of the Peterson family. According to patriarch Michael Peterson, he came in from the pool after a night of drinking with his wife to find her dead at the bottom of their stairs. But due to the extremely bloody scene of the accident (and a history of public lying), Michael was arrested for the murder of his wife and prolonged trial ensued.

Better Call Saul Better Call Saul is a spin-off of Breaking Bad that takes place before the events of the show and explores the “origin” story of crooked lawyer Saul Goodman. Bob Odenkirk reprises his role, genius director Vince Gilligan is once again at the helm, and a handful of other memorable supporting characters from Breaking Bad make appearances – Mike Ehrmantraut, Gus Fring, Hector Salamanca. Rumor has it that even Walter and Jesse will appear in the final episodes of the show, which wraps mid-July after six seasons. Everything — and I mean everything — about Better Call Saul is working at the highest level of its craft. The acting is natural, nuanced, and surprising; the writing tight, funny, and heartbreaking, and the plot simultaneously realistic and dramatic. Thanks to Odenkirk’s comedic chops, the tone is lighter than Breaking Bad, rendering the show more bingeable. I can’t think of any other show that’s so enjoyable to watch and also makes me feel smarter for doing so. Nor can I recommend Better Call Saul highly enough — it’s every bit as good as its predecessor and should go down in the books as one of the best television shows of all time.

Home Town On a totally different note, I’ve also been watching the renovation “reality” show, Home Town. Home Town follows Ben and Erin Napier,

Kenobi and the adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Conversation With Friends.

Obi-Wan Kenoboi Though my fandom started at age four with the original trilogy, I came of age during the Ewan McGregor/Hayden Christensen prequel era of Star Wars. I vividly remember sitting in French class in high school, day-dreaming about Anakin Skywalker, convinced I could love him better than Padme and sure that the power of our love could save him from the Dark Side. It’s with great investment that I await Hayden’s shot at redemption, and a chance to see expanded versions of the characters I once swooned over. I was overall impressed with The Mandalorian though disappointed by The Book of Boba Fett, so I’m preparing myself for a mixed reaction.

Conversations with Friends

What makes Home Town better than similar shows is that the end results are actually sustainable – no janky hacks, tacky DIYs, or gimmicky décor. The Napier’s rebuild with quality and class, are honest about the less glamorous repairs and do whatever they can to preserve the historical integrity of the spaces they’re fixing up. Each episode features a salvaged carpentry project and a locally-inspired art project, which serve as a mini history lesson about the town, its industrial history, and its native plants. Best of all, the show blessedly avoids manufacturing “drama” for the sake of entertainment, and Ben and Erin are 98% devoid of cheesy banter. Not only is Home Town relaxing and stress free entertainment, but I actually feel like I’ve learned practical tips about restoration, décor, and carpentry.

The Staircase Not to be confused by the Netflix

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This version dramatizes the events with an allstar cast and explores the effect that the making of the documentary had on the case. Colin Firth, who most know as the original (and best) Mr. Darcy, is exceptional — I didn’t think I could ever hate the amiable, bumbling Brit, but I found myself repulsed by his character. Toni Colette, Sophie Turner, Parker Posey and Juliette Binoche bring unexpected pathos to their supporting roles, and the series effectively handles the ambiguities of the case. Each new episode had me changing my mind about whether Michael was guilty, and each theory about what really happened that night is presented with equal plausibility.

In 2020, Hulu released an adaptation of Rooney’s second novel, Normal People, and it was about as perfect a rendering of the source material as artistically possible. Released during peak pandemic and featuring two lonely twentysomethings, the show came at the perfect time. But Conversations with Friends is Rooney’s inferior first novel, and, in my opinion, will be much harder to adapt — the characters are less likeable, and much of the relational drama happens over email or text message. Still, I know I’ll probably watch the entire season in a matter of hours as soon as I get the chance. 

Up Next The two shows I’m most eager to view next are Disney’s Obi-Wan

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Loon Liquors co-founders Simeon Rossi, left, and Mark Schiller. (File photo/Northfield News)

Loon Liquors cocktail room has served as a crucial piece of the business, as the owners continue to build their wholesale market. (File photo/southernminn.com)

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

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aise a glass — or two — in celebration of the season and a reduced preoccupation with COVID worries that pushed social gatherings off the table for a couple rounds. Luckily for Southern Minnesotans, the region is stocked with a trio of enterprising, resilient distillery operators who have persisted in their craft despite those recent

challenges. Whether you’re in the mood for a tumbler of barrel-aged rum, a spiked slushy or a champagne-like spritzer, they’ve got you covered and stand ready to

serve, both indoors and out. Fun, relaxation and locally sourced spirits are close to home. C’mon; what are you waiting for?

Loon Liquors

1325 Armstrong Road, Suite 165, Northfield If you love supporting businesses that love supporting other local businesses, Loon Liquors is a business you’ll love supporting. The Northfield-based distillery, the brainchild of co-owners Simeon Rossi and Mark Schiller, released its first product in 2013 and has been going all-

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Loon Liquors in Northfield. (File photo/southernminn.com) out in partnering with and promoting other Northfield-area producers and organizations ever since. “We work with 10 to 12 different farms for our organic herbs, botanicals and fruits,” said Rossi, citing Little Hill Berry Farm as its source for blueberries and elderflower, Open Hands Farm for dill and Northstar Aviaries for honey and B & T Farms for 100% certified organic wheat and barley, among others. “It’s really important to our ethic, and putting down roots in the community, to work as much as we can with local partners.” Over the years, Loon Liquors (which already boasts an extensive cocktail menu) has created unique cocktails for the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Neuger Communications and the Northfield Arts Guild, to name a few of the businesses and non-profits with whom they’ve collaborated. “We’ve done some different charitable collaborations as well,” said Rossi, mentioning their participation in the Cannon Valley Clay Tour. Clay cups filled with Loon Liquors cocktails were sold to benefit the Cannon Valley Watershed Partnership. But if you’re just here for drinks and giggles, you’ve also come to the right place. From 4 to 10 p.m. each Friday and 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Loon Liquors’ grassy cocktail garden (now in its second year) beckons with picnic tables, glittering lights and flowers. A pop-up cocktail bar makes for convenient outside ordering, and the presence of Scotty’s Whole Hog BBQ means you can fill up on burgers Friday evenings or revel in smoked briskets, ribs and appetizing side dishes on Saturday. “We have a beautiful area,” said Rossi, adding that Loon Liquors is also open each Thurs-

day from 4 to 10 p.m. “The outdoor seating area accommodates folks who are still a little uncomfortable being inside, and we have games and non-alcoholic options that make it a really nice, kid-friendly place to be.” A new summer cocktail menu is now in play, featuring light and refreshing cocktails—but if aged rye whiskey flights are more your style, Loon Liquors has what you want. “We released our three-year-old barrel-aged whiskey about two months ago and sold all of our to-go bottles in the first weekend, but we still have flights,” said Rossi. “We’ve been getting wonderful feedback on that spirit and will release another two or three batches of barrel whiskey this fall.” Loon Liquors’ liqueur line—cleverly dubbed Lac Coeur—tempt with flavors like ginger (“Ginger Lac Coeur mixed with ginger ale creates a really delightful experience,” said Rossi) elderflower (he recommends their Mid-Cilantro Night’s Dream cocktail, a blend of cilantro and elderflower liqueur), coffee (made with cold-press concentrate, syrup with cocoa nibs, vanilla, a little molasses and evaporated cane juice sugar) and blueberry. “Our blueberry Lac Coeur has nearly a pound of blueberries per bottle and a beautiful deep purple color that makes for a rich blueberry flavor,” Rossi said. During the pandemic, the Loon Liquors guys turned all of their production to hand sanitizer, which they supplied to many southern and southeastern Minnesota first responder departments and also to Abbott Northwestern, FedEx and Amazon. They offered to-go cocktail kits and sold

Come visit us!

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612-756-3012

michigan blueberries direct from the grower

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Chankaska Creek’s distilled spirits tasting room is designed for a casual, relaxed experience. (File photo/southernminn.com) ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

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issues that have made it particularly challenging for places like Chankaska to acquire glass for its wares, Taylor guarantees the Chankaska tasting room and patio are carefree spots to spend a few hours this summer. Said Taylor, “Our patio is a great way to enjoy the celebratory mood of sun and summer.”

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LLC, 28 4th St. NE, Faribault

Crafted spirits distilled at Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery were made specifically for the tasting room, as it opened in 2019. (File photo/southernminn.com)

CONTINUED from page 13 bottles of spirits, but despite the support of Northfield and surrounding communities, Simon agreed they’re glad things are looking up. “It’s really nice to feel like there is optimism in the air again,” he said. “Seeing the joy on folks’ faces, the reunions of people who had been apart for a couple of years, puts a lot of optimism in me. But it’s nice to have these outdoor spaces where people can feel really comfortable being together and enjoying themselves. Now, more than any time in the last two years, it’s feeling really good,:

Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery & Distillery

1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota Take it from California transplant John Taylor, Chankaska’s head winemaker and distiller since 2018: Minnesota is a great place to be. “One of the big benefits of living in Minnesota is that we embrace the seasons as they come and go,” said Taylor. “That gives us something to play with in the craft spirits and winery—so it’s apple- or mulled

wine in the fall, more cocktails with gin, rum or vodka in the spring—and last summer we introduced ‘adult milkshakes’ using our North Forest Kreme liqueurs. “There’s always something around the corner, and that allows us to keep our cocktails really interesting and showcase different products throughout the year.” For instance, on July 1 Chankaska launches its new espresso-flavored North Forest Kreme. “We have a new espresso-flavored martini that’s ready to rock and roll in our cocktail lounge.” Their spiked milkshakes were a huge hit last summer, Taylor affirms. “When people saw one go by on the patio, they’d ask, ‘Where can I get one of those?’” Taylor said. “They pretty much sold themselves, and that was fun to watch. Our other cocktails are all themed either to our spirits or to Chankaska.” One Taylor heartily recommends is Chankaska’s Blood Orange 75, made with Chankaska’s award-winning Equinoce Extra Dry sparkling wine. “That won the Minnesota Governor’s Cup for the best Minnesota wine at the International Cold Climate Wine competition in May,” said Taylor. “It’s a sparkling wine made in the traditional champagne method, and our new assistant wine maker said, ‘It reminds me of French

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champagne,’ and I said, ‘It SHOULD.’” Taylor observes that cold-climate grape varietals are particularly well suited to crafting sparkling wines. “They make fabulous dessert wines and are prime brandy materials as well,” he noted. Chankaska also delivers a tasty twist on the typical Moscow Mule with its Mosher Mule. Instead of vodka, the Chankaska version features its aged apple brandy. “Our full-time tasting manager and chief cocktail mixologist has great inspiration when it comes to designing cocktails and he’s true to the spirit in which the cocktail is based,” said Taylor. Complementing Chankaska’s cocktails, kreme liqueur shakes, wine and spirit flights is a food menu with items like flatbread pizzas, charcuterie boards, crab cakes and stuffed mushrooms. Live music on the patio is a weekend evening draw, and since Chankaska is open daily (12 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 to 7 p.m. Sunday), there are some weekday surprises. “One of our busier times is Wednesday afternoon, when we see a lot of off-duty school teachers here enjoying themselves and their coworkers in a fun setting,” Taylor said. He is still “floored,” he says, by the amount of sparkling wine Chankaska sells during the summer months. Despite the pandemic-fueled supply chain

On an expansive patio a mere block from the Straight River’s banks, numerous tables easily accommodate eager patrons, hanging floral baskets perk with color—and a Creamsicle cocktail, spiked with 10,000 Drops’ own Blood Orange Vodka, has just been set in front of you. Ah. Your summer is served. “Summer is the time to take advantage of all of this in Minnesota,” said Jake Hvistendahl, coowner of 10,000 Drops along with partners Pat Jacobs and Rob Kruchoski. “The season’s very short, and though there are people still sensitive to the pandemic or who have health issues that make them concerned, we know that outdoor events are pretty safe. “And we try to gear most of our activities to being outdoors during the summer, which is where most Minnesotans want to be now anyway.” With live music from 7 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, food trucks with appetizing sustenance on site much of the time and, according to Hvistendahl, a “super dog-friendly” environment, one of 10,000 Drops’ summer slushies (a Key Lime gimlet, perhaps, or maybe strawberry daiquiri or orange whip is more your style) seems like a great drink with which to kick back and cool off. Fresh off their four-year anniversary celebration of mid-June, the 10,000 Drops crew is relishing the summer patio season even while looking ahead to their next big thing. “We are in full gearing-up mode for the first release of our four-year-aged bourbon and dark rum in October,” said Hvistendahl, pointing out that four years is the longest aging process of any Minnesota distillery to date. Meanwhile, 10,000 Drops is concocting new cocktails and offering specials throughout the summer. In addition, kids or teetotalers can enjoy a lively selection of non-alcoholic cocktails, and young and old alike are welcome to engage with games or chalk on-site. “It’s a pretty laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere with lots of comfy seating,” said Hvistendahl of the 10,000 Drops vibe. Like other area distilleries, 10,000 Drops struggled its way through the pandemic’s darkest days, striving for flexibility and adaptation. “One summer, only our patio was open and we served cocktails through a side window,” said Hvistendahl. “But we managed to keep all our staff intact.” Hvistendahl, Jacobs and Kruchoski are best friends who have been working together from the days of distilling in a garage, watching the

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A 10,000 drops drinkmaker gets to work. (File photo/southernminn.com) spirits emerge drop by drop (thus…10,000 Drops). “There are long hours and challenges, like with any other small business,” said Hvistendahl. “But it’s flexible and we can be social with our customers,” he added, mentioning they receive strong local support from the Faribault, Owatonna and Northfield areas. They also draw from Rochester and Iowa, as well as from random passers-by on Highway 60 or I-35. While the glass supply—a supply-chain casualty— is an ongoing issue (“Last year we waited 10 months for one type of bottle, but it is improving,” said Hvistendahl), patience remains a necessary virtue for distillers. “50% of the product we’ve made in the last four years has gone into an oak barrel while we’re doing all the work and absorbing the costs,” said Hvistendahl.

“It takes a lot of time, grit and patience when you can’t immediately hit the market with your product, but we’re very excited to finally release the stuff this fall.” The 10,000 Drops website (10000drops.com) is an excellent resource for locating schedules of bands and food trucks this summer. “We’ve been very busy the past three to four months,” Hvistendahl said. “People are itching to get out, go to events and be social, so I hope it will be a really good summer.”  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.

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Locally Owned and Operated Mon & Thur 10 AM - 6 PM Saturday 9 AM - NOON

435 26th St NE, Owatonna 507-413-0814

straightrivercoffee.com

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Randy’s RAMBLINGS

E-Bikes

are for everyone N

ear the end of this year, I will have been married for 40 years. I’ve never missed my wife’s birthday in that time, but I know that some years I do better than others when it comes to gift giving. This year, my wife is hitting a milestone, so I wanted to give her something different and special. She wasn’t thrilled with my idea but humored me. The gift I had in mind? An electric bicycle. We looked at a few and I did research on many. I got her to sit on one, but she wouldn’t test drive it. Then, finally, this spring, I got her to try one out. It was magic. The shop worker put a helmet on her and adjusted the seat. He explained what was going to happen when she started pedaling and the different modes she could use. Away she went down the sidewalk and into the large parking lot. In an instant, she regained her youth and was zooming along, back and forth across the large open space. I was laughing like crazy, because I kept getting the urge to shout, “Slow down!” but I didn’t, because she was smiling from ear to ear. The test ride was over, and inventory was low, especially for the step-through model she wanted. I asked the closing question for the salesperson, and to my surprise, she quickly said “Yes!” Recently I rode my regular bike, and she made the maiden voyage on her new electric bike. We went the length of the bike trail and at the turn-around, I asked, well what do you think? She said, “I love

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it. I’m not even tired.” And then she said, “I think it’s the best birthday gift you’ve ever given me.” Those right there were big statements. We made our way back home, totaling 9 miles. I couldn’t stop thinking about the freedom that bike has given her, and how happy she was zooming along the path. I’m not going to mention the brand we bought, but I will encourage you to do your research and understand where the bike will be serviced. There are dozens of companies selling E-Bikes, but I’ve heard horror stories when something breaks. We went with the pedal assist, because it’s still exercise for her but the motor magnifies her efforts. She’s confident in her riding ability, but the E-Bike made her time on the trail more enjoyable. The only other advice is that they’re not cheap, so make sure you get one that will take you far enough. Hers is a class one that assists up to 20 miles per hour with a range of about 40 miles on the highest setting. We also purchased a bike rack that is easy to load, because the E-bikes are heavier. If you want to regain some of the magic from the good old days when you went bike riding with your spouse, consider e-bikes. They are great fun, even in the wind and on hills. Explore the beautiful bike paths in our area and sample the shops and restaurants that come alive during the bike riding season. Oh yeah, wear a helmet and eye protection and share the trail safely with others. 

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

SoMinn FOOD & DRINK

PAT GARRY

Review

JOURNALIST – COPYWRITER – EDITOR – FEATURE WRITER Journalist-Copywriter-Editor-Feature Writer. My experience spans over 20 years, and I will apply my skills to help beef up any lifeless copy within your website, brochure, press release, catalog, etc. Reach out at patgarry@charter.net.

TrailHead B

Grill and Lanes

arry and Jennifer Hauschulz are the owners of TrailHead Grill and Lanes in Pine Island, MN. “I just knew I wanted my own business. A restaurant was not necessarily what I was going for, but when this place popped up we jumped on it. It has been a blessing, going from 13 to 50 employees and being able to give kids first jobs, and others full time positions; and to be able to take care of their families all while taking care of my family as well,” said Barry. The staff consists of chefs Matt Minter and Matt Leyson; Bowling Manager Kyle Kelsey; Expo Manager Mowi Postians; front of house managers Katie Joersz, Eli Krenik and Gillian Keane. The venue offers its main menu for lunch and dinner, and from time to time, breakfast is served on special occasions (volleyball tournaments, etc., and the features are always chef’s choices). Ribs are a very popular item on the menu. Anything from burgers, wraps, chicken salad, custom sandwiches, fried appetizers, are offered. Other favorites include Black and Blue Burger (Cajun seasoned, topped with applewood smoked bacon, amablue cheese dressing, and amablue crumbles), Ribs (Slow-roasted brushed with the house’s sweet and spicy BBQ sauce); SOB Wrap (Fajitaseasoned chicken, green peppers, diced onion, Mexican rice in a grilled chipotle tortilla). Barry and Jennifer provide personal attention and small

town atmosphere, all which sets them apart from other restaurants. Also a fun theme of “being on the trail” gives people something to join in on and be a part of. “At THG, you are not just another customer we want to seat, feed, and get shoved out of here. We want you to experience the whole thing from beginning to end. All the pictures on our walls are of staff, and customers wearing a THG shirt somewhere in the world (hence the name TrailHead Grill), explained Barry. Stop in if you want to enjoy great food and exceptional service. Volleyball tournaments are the main extra events hosted at TrailHead, however, Barry’s favorite thing is MusicFest. The Hauschulzs are presenting their fifth annual MusicFest on August 20. It is a fun-filled time, featuring Cornhole tournaments, live music all day, volleyball, beer gardens, and much more. There is a wide variety of fun things to do at Trailhead Grill and Lanes in Pine Island: Bowling: Bowling Leagues for all ages and skill levels, six days a week. There is a Pro Shop for the Expert Bowlers! Volleyball: Every summer Trailhead Grill and Lanes has volleyball leagues. Come out and enjoy the summer weather; Billiards/ Pool Leagues and Darts also available. “Our theme here is Where have you taken the trail? My wife and I came up with that because we are huge travelers and encourage everybody to do so from a walk locally to somewhere in the world,” said Barry. (TrailHead Grill and Lanes, 416 Third Ave. NE, Pine Island; 507-356-4200) 

Get Ready for Summer! New Styles Always Available

Visit us at one of our two locations! 202 W. Bridge St. Owatonna • 507-413-0114 900 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato • 507-345-3000 graifclothing.com ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

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By PAT GARRY Guest Contributor

f you’re drinking a beer that was made in Minnesota, you can be sure it’s of the craft variety. Local breweries are welcoming, come-as-you-are kind of places, where it’s not uncommon to see babies, dogs and non-drinkers all having a good time. Distribution is one of the most important, yet commonly overlooked components in the operation and success of a craft brewery. Beer distributors function primarily as a delivery and warehousing mechanism. Most distributors do little, if any, selling and promotion of the beers in their

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portfolio, with the exception of the top selling two to three brands. Hence, it is imperative that the craft brewer know and understand the second tier of the business (distribution), in order to ensure their products are adequately marketed. One option brewers have available to ensure good distribution is to distribute themselves. Self-distribution requires a focus from management, additional personnel and equipment and an investment in time and money. Beer distribution, with its own characteristics, language, and terms, is very different from the brewing business. One can brew the very best of products and have great packaging,

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but without good distribution, it will not be enjoyed by the end consumer.

LTS BREWING COMPANY, ROCHESTER Owners Brandon Schulz and Jeff Werning have a brewery and they predominantly make beers. However, they also make their own craft soda, hard seltzers, beer cocktails and nonalcoholic mocktails. “We use 750 ml crowler cans predominately for packaged products. We have also used 750 ml glass bottles in the past, but the market

seems to be shifting away from glass, so we don’t do nearly as many of those anymore,” Schulz said. The last couple years have been very hard for the business. The guys are hoping the market continues to pick up this spring and summer. The near term plans include continued upgrades to the taproom and patio space. Schulz said that their business has always been cyclical, based on season, and variable, based on the weather on top of that. They have always needed to monitor how fast product is moving to keep their tap lines’ full and delicious product flowing. “We have a fair amount of excess capacity

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in our brewery, so we can manage that without too much trouble,” added Schulz. Thoughts on Free the Growler bill: “I think it is a small step in the right direction for Minnesota liquor law. It’s disappointing that the volume limitation on selling packaged product was included in the bill — 128 oz. per person per day likely doesn’t make a business case to start packaging in 12/16 oz. cans work for people who aren’t already doing it for other distribution reasons. The restrictions are also complicated enough that customers aren’t going to understand them, and we’re going to have to educate them and manage their expectations versus the experience we can provide. I’m happy all Minnesota breweries can sell growlers and crowlers now, as it should have been all along.” — Brandon Schulz

FORAGER BREWERY, ROCHESTER Because of Minnesota laws about beer distribution, about two years ago, Forager set up a sister distribution brewery, Humble Forager Brewery, by which they distribute their beer. Humble Forager beer is based on original Forager Brewery recipes. “We had to have a separate company with different ownership to do this. So far, so good, and if you see Humble Forager beer on a shelf or on tap in Southern Minnesota anywhere, that’s what that is,” a Forager spokesperson said. Thoughts on Free the Growler bill: “Forager Brewery, as a brewpub, is not included in the new “free the growler” distribution law, so the change doesn’t make any difference to us,” Barb said.

MONTGOMERY BREWING Montgomery Brewing is owned by Chuck Dorsey, and his head brewer is Josh Kaderlik. The distribution manager is Lindsay Simon. The company produces beer, with a focus on IPAs and sours, but they produce the whole gambit — blonde, amber, brown, stout, and many more. Dorsey supplies 16 oz. for distribution of cans. Growlers, crowlers and 16 oz. cans are the to-go options at the taproom. “This is a crazy business. Margins are really tight as all of our materials have gone up. But we do continue to grow. We are getting a larger brew system this year to keep up with distribution,” Dorsey said. The venue has historically had a small system, which rotated in new beers all the time. Dorsey and his crew focus on keeping the fermenters full. Thoughts on Free the Growler bill: “It’s awesome! We’re one of the last state’s in the country allowed to do it. It’s silly that Minnesota breweries could only sell customers visiting their taproom a 13% barrel aged stout in 750 ml (25oz) or in a 64-ounce container. This new law isn’t perfect, but it’s a great start. Having the additional container sizes makes sense” — Chuck Dorsey

MINERAL SPRINGS BREWERY, OWATONNA Mineral Springs Brewery is owned by Rod Baker, Bill Cronin, and Mark Sebring. They have a fully operational brewery and taproom, selling a variety of fermented products (beer, seltzer). They also sell growlers and crowlers at this time. “We are doing well. Owatonna has been in-

credibly supportive, given we opened just ahead of COVID. We are very grateful,” said Sebring. MSB has a regular brewing cycle that is tweaked, based on the season and the customer’s response. “We’re just now into our first ‘normal’ year due to the disruptive aspects of COVID, so we’re still learning some of the flow/need. Thoughts on Free the Growler bill: “We were pretty neutral to the growler item, as it affected just five of the largest breweries in the state. We don’t currently have the ability to fill the smaller sized cans/bottles that were also a part of that bill, so we’re also currently not benefiting from it. I anticipate we’ll spend some dollars in the near-future to capitalize on that additional flexibility. For us, however, we concentrate mostly on our taproom experience, having great food trucks/entertainment and having welcoming and knowledgeable staff on-site. We’ll likely continue to be more of a taproom-centric model with limited distribution. In that vein, this law is positive for us but not overly impactful.” — Baker, Cronin, Sebring

SCHRAM ENTERPRISES, WACONIA Owners Aaron and Ashley Schram supply wine and beer. They use bottles for wines and crowler cans for their beer. “All of our locations are doing fine and seeing successes and challenges each in their own way. Each has had their own journey over the last several years, as all businesses are different. Overall, we are seeing success. Our downtown location, AxeBridge, has been a little slower to return as people are just starting to return to downtown activities,” Ashley explained. Recently, the Schrams signed up with a wine distribution partner for just their wines and that

has opened many doors of opportunities for them. They are bringing wine into locations that have never had Minnesota wine before. “Beer, we are still doing self distribution on a small scale for control, but we will most likely expand the reach soon with our relationships we are building,” said Ashley. Managing product and preparing for growth can be a real challenge. For wine, the Schrams have to plan out usually 18 months in advance and that can be tricky with all the rapid changes happening. Beer is easier, as one can turn up or down production faster to react to trends; and because they can follow precedents set in the past, and they can plan ahead around the seasons. Thoughts about Free the Growler bill: “I would like to give out the major credit to Jim Nash, as he has been working on this for years and really deserves the credit for the hard work he and other authors of the bill worked on; with boots to the ground talking to business owners. I think this helps breweries from several angles, with the most important being the ability to not be limited to just a unique crowler size but have 12-ounce cans or bottles. We all know that those sizes are the norm for people and the ability to sell them in that size provides a fair playing field for breweries. I know the big breweries won out the most with the lifting of those restrictions, but it’s the removal of the size restrictions that the majority of breweries benefited from. It is a great bill that took years of fighting for; that most customers and people would agree should have been common sense.” — Ashley Schram  Journalist-Copywriter-Editor-Feature Writer. My experience spans over 20 years, and I will apply my skills to help beef up any lifeless copy within your website, brochure, press release, catalog, etc. Reach out at patgarry@charter.net.

(Photo courtesy of Kade Cronin)

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Scene

Southern minn 1

Availability: Draft Tap Room: Yes

1306 1st St NE New Prague giesenbraubierco.com 952-758-4226

4609 135th St E Dundas keepsakecidery.com 413-552-8872

103 Water St N Northfield tanzenwald.com 507-366-2337

Availability: Draft Tap Room: Yes

519 Division St S #2 Northfield imminentbrewing.com 507-646-2327

Availability: Bottles Tap Room: Yes

Availability: Drafts & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

70555 202nd Ave Reads Landing readslanding.com 651-560-4777

65 E Front St Winona islandcitybrew.com 507-474-2739

Availability: Draft, Crowlers & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

1860 Schell’s Rd New Ulm schellsbrewery.com 507-354-5528

1325 Armstrong Rd #165 Northfield loonliquors.com 507-218-9173

Availability: Drafts, Cans, Bottles & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

Availability: Draft, Crowlers & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

1016 7th St NW Rochester kinneycreekbrewery.com 507-282-2739

Availability: Drafts & Growler Tap Room: Yes

Availability: Draft & Bottles Tap Room: Yes

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306 2nd St NW Montgomery montgomerybrewing.com

1119 Center St N Mankato mankatobrewery.com 507-386-2337

Availability: Drafts Tap Room: Yes

309 Main St N Austin gravitystormbrewery.com 507-396-8808

2001 32nd Ave NW Rochester ltsbrewing.com 507-226-8280

Availability: Drafts, Cans & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

228 Poplar St Manakto localbrew.com 507-779-7082

Availability: Drafts Tap Room: Yes

101 E Southview Dr Marshall braubeer.com 507-929-2337

25 23

18 22

Availability: Drafts, Crowlers & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

111 N. Walnut Ave Owatonna mineralspringsbrewery.com 507-413-6281

Availability: Drafts & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

111 Elm Ave W Waseca wardhousebrewing.com Facebook

1005 6th St NW Rochester foragerbrewery.com 507-258-7490

17 21

13 24 14 15 8

1179 E. Pearl St Kasota chankaskawines.com 507-931-0089

10 5

131 W. Broadway St Owatonna foremost.coop 507-214-3462

Availability: Drafts Tap Room: Yes

230 Broadway St. S Jordan drinkroetsbeer.com 952-406-8865

Availability: Drafts, Crowlers & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

Availability: BottTap Room: Yes

3 4 6 11 2

Availability: Draft, Crowlers & Bottles Tap Room: Yes

16 26 19

Availability: Draft, Crowlers, Growers & Bottles Tap Room: Yes

Availability: Drafts, Cans Bottles & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

Availability: Draft & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

28 1

23436 Union Trail Belle Paine u4icbrewing.com 952-873-3303

40099 150th St Waseca halfpintbrew.com 507-461-9235

432 Mill St W Cannon Falls tilionbrewing.com 507-263-4497

Availability: Drafts, Crowlers & Bottles Tap Room: Yes

2031 14th St NW Rochester littlethistlebeer.com 507-226-8014

Availability: Bottles Tap Room: Yes

28 4th St NE Faribault 10000drops.com 612-978-7551

Availability: Drafts & Cans Availability: Drafts & Growlers Tap Room: Yes Tap Room: Yes

51146 US-52 Pine Island sxsbrewingmn.com 507-356-2299

Availability: Drafts Tap Room: Yes

500 23rd Ave NW Austin angryhogbrewery.com 507-402-6718

Availability: Drafts, Bottles & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

15 Hester Street Dundas chapelbrewing.com 507-664-1300

Availability: Draft, Growlers Tap Room: Yes

Availability: Draft & Growlers Tap Room: Yes

Availability: Draft Tap Room: Yes

1411 Old W Main St Red Wing redwingbrewing.com 651-327-2200

Through a SOMINN LENS

AUDREY KLETSCHER HELBLING A native of the southwestern Minnesota prairie, Audrey Kletscher Helbling creates from Faribault, her home of 39 years. She’s grown to love this region and encourages locals to explore what’s right here in their backyard. You can find more of her writing and photography on her blog at mnprairieroots.com.

Volunteers serve food from vintage stands.

The North Morristown celebration draws large crowds to hear the music, enjoy the food and more.

This vintage toy car is part of a homemade kiddie ride.

The Pie Stand features a wide variety of homemade pies, which sell quickly.

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Servings at the ice cream stand are generous. Donation boxes are scattered about the grounds to help cover costs of this free event.

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Attendees are encouraged to buy a button to support the celebration.

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

In 2013, fest-goers could guess the number of corn kernels in a jar to claim a prize.

BINGO callers in 2013.

Kids’ games and rides are sheltered in this building.

North Morristown on July 4, a slice of

here’s something comforting about tradition, about grassroots community events. The North Morristown Fourth of July celebration, now in its 129th year and billing itself as the longest-running July 4 event in Minnesota, fits the definition of Americana, of a Norman Rockwell-type scene, of community. This is a celebration to be experienced. Here generations gather among vintage festival stands, settling in for conversation, music, food and more. Here, on shaded grounds set among farm sites and fields, with Trinity Lutheran Church and School across the road, throngs congregate. From a patriotic program to a parade to a silent auction, kiddie rides and games, BINGO, and much much more, this celebration truly offers something for everyone. Fireworks cap the day-long event which begins at 9 am. Arrive early for the jam-packed 10 am parade. This is a place to reconnect or to meet newcomers. This is a place to fork into a slice of homemade pie, grab a burger,

Scooping up ice cream for fest-goers.

order up a beer or an ice cream cone or a bag of popcorn or other foods prepared and served by volunteers. This is a place to kick back and listen to a line-up of musicians, including the ever-popular Monroe Crossing. That bluegrass band returns annually, performing this July 4 at 1:30 and 4 pm on the main stage. Bring your lawn chairs as bleacher and plank board seating are limited. Kids will find plenty to do with vintage rides and games that hold a yesteryear appeal. There’s a fish pond and a duck pond and a handcrafted barrel train pulled by a garden tractor among an assortment of other homemade carnival style offerings. North Morristown on the Fourth of July is about families and community and celebrating and connecting, or reconnecting. There’s something uniquely appealing about gathering on this plot of land in rural southern Minnesota to celebrate Independence Day in an old-fashioned, down-toearth and, oh, so timeless way. FYI: For more information, visit the North Morristown Fourth of July Facebook page: facebook.com/nm4thofjuly. 

North Morristown t-shirts are sold in the Novelty Shop.

Lots of burgers are served at the celebration. ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

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Homemade carnival games are a hit.

One of the many on-site food stands run by volunteers.

The 10 am parade features lots of tractors, like this one parked at the fest grounds afterwards.

Vintage toy cars comprise a kids’ ride that’s been around forever.

On a grassy area, kids can ride in the handcrafted barrel train.

Patriotic attire is optional, but welcome, like Uncle Sam in 2016.

Games and rides for kids are housed in a poleshed and remain mostly unchanged from year to year.

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Young volunteers sell tees and other items.

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

2022

S t. P e t e r , MN

The Popcorn Stand, among the many food options.

Save the Date! September 23 & 24, 2022

One of the most popular stands, the Pie Stand.

We’ve Moved! Join us at the The bluegrass band Monroe Crossing draws large crowds here each July Fourth.

Nicollet County Fairgrounds stpeterambassadors.com

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MARY CLOSNER

Rants & RAVES

Mary Closner lives in Northfield, making bad decisions so you don’t have to. Reach her at 1964minx@gmail.com.

want to be reincarnated as my dog. Or one of my friend’s dogs. Because who has a better life than the pooches we all know?! No job, no bills and you get to sleep 22.5 hours a day. You don’t need to commute or drive to the grocery store. You have people for that. You don’t have to wear pants and you get to poop wherever you want. And did I mention, the entire floor is like a constant free snack buffet?! I ask my sister’s dog (Axel) all the time, “Why can’t you do ANYTHING?” The dogs in the movies pull people out of fires and warn folks when they’re about to have a seizure. Some dogs even bring people teeny barrels of liquor when they’re stuck in the snow, which is almost a daily occurrence here in the Midwest. Has Axel ever brought me a margarita? Nope! Axel can’t even figure out the names of our family members. “Go see Mary” seems to mean go to the front door and bark like you’re on fire. And remember that word “ball” we’ve said thirty-seven hundred times? That’s the thing we throw for you in the yard at least a gazillion times a day. Does that word sound even remotely familiar? I would love a world where I don’t ever have to remember anyone’s name. It would save me dozens of uncomfortable public scenarios where I try to cover the fact that I can’t for the life of me remember where we met or why you look kinda familiar. I have friends whose dogs were models for the Target Halloween ads. They dressed as hot dogs and chickens and earned a nice paycheck. We take Axel to the vet ($532) and buy his food ($99) and get him a squishy new bed ($129), and what thanks do we get? He throws up in the house the day after the carpet is installed. Sure, he could have done this anywhere in the damn house the day before, and we would have been fine. But no, the new carpet is so inviting and so luxurious. It just had to be christened. I used to dream of coming back in my next life as an otter. I enjoyed the thought of eating shellfish off my own stomach while constantly repelling water, but now, I think a dog is the way I wanna go. I brush our canine family member constantly. I

take him for rides, so he can hang his head out the car window and let the fresh air blow through his satellite-sized ears. When my pals come to the house, they don’t bring me a hostess gift, but they always seem to have something for Axel. And why are there better choices for clothing for the dog than there are for tall women? He has practically an entire aisle of apparel op-

wanna be my

dog

dentist unless I beg for it. Axel goes in and takes a nap, while they perform all sorts of humiliating tasks on him ($425). I have to drink gallons of liquid chalk and basically be wide awake when I hear my doctor exclaim, “Sorry, tight corner” during my colonoscopy. Where are my drugs? Dogs get to wear the same thing — every day. That’s my dream. No underwire bra or control-top pantyhose for Axel. He’s ready to go the minute he gets up in the morning. His sunrise routine isn’t comprised of trying to create a hairdo that will be passible in public. His hair only gets washed when he has a spa day ($48) and someone else will even give him a pedicure while he relaxes ($12). I have to run. I’m going to wash Axel’s XL travel kennel ($225) and make sure his pillows ($25) are arranged properly so he can have his Kong toy ($13.95) full of kibble and peanut butter ($9) before bed. It’s all just so unfair. 

tions, and I get like three choices that were basically designed for drag queens. People even baby talk to him, kiss his snout and coo about how handsome he is. I get the occasional public side hug from a mask-wearing person I can’t even identify. I don’t like cleaning, but I do it. Filling the dishwasher is the worst, but I do that too. What’s Axel doing? Oh, he’s sitting on his special sheepskin ($119), eating a Busy Bone ($9.95). Later, he’s headed outside to patrol for squirrels and sit in the sun. You know what’s on my schedule later today? I’ll be cleaning up the little gifts he left in the backyard. Maybe once he could go get the mail for us? His excuse of not having thumbs is really getting old. Or, maybe he could carry some groceries from the car instead of running through my legs and trying to trip me … every single time. And for the love of all things holy, why can’t he brush his own teeth? I can’t get anesthesia at my

NORTH MORRISTOWN’S 129TH ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

(Artem Beliaikin/Unsplash)

frienDs of the Guthrie is lookinG for neW members.

The oldest 4th of July Celebration in Minnesota! 9AM • Events Begin & Stands/Games are open! 10AM • Parade 11AM • Patriotic Program 11:30AM - 6PM • Entertainment on Main Stage & Beer Gardens 12PM • Bean Bags 2:30PM • Bingo + Kids Bingo 4PM • Monroe Crossing (Main Stage) 7:30PM • T-Birds (Beer Gardens) 10PM • FIREWORKS! $2 Celebration Buttons are required for all events VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR FULL LIST OF EVENTS & OTHER INFO www.facebook.com/nm4thofjuly 10500 215 St. W., Morristown, MN 55052

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We are organizing bus trips from the area. We will attend four matinee performances during the 2022-23 season. please contact Dean at 507-351-2615 before July 5.

Performances are: Wed. september 28, 2022 Vietgone Wed. february 22, 2023 blues for an alabama sky Wed. may 10, 2023 hamlet Wed. July 5, 2023 into the Woods

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

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LISA EIDE

SoMINN FASHION

Lisa Eide is a fashion enthusiast and a long-time businesswoman, running Her Happy Place in downtown St. Peter.

Styling upon a down budget

nsettled markets and high prices don’t need to downgrade or outdate your style. No matter the cost of living, there will still be events to attend, important meetings, changing bodies, and new careers to dress for. Dressing for these life events doesn’t need to be stressful when tightening your budget. Matter of fact, it can be fun and confidence building with a few tweaks to your usual habits. I have listed here eight easy changes you can make to stretch your clothing budget, but my No. 1 bit of advice is to start shopping boutiques and local stores. Get to know the owners and sales staff. They are informed and can help you find your style without over buying. Look for boutiques that educate their staff on upcoming trends and how to apply them to different body types. When you work with these boutiques, you will save money by wearing your items now and in the upcoming season.

Stretch your budget • Shop ahead for special occasions and life events. With inventory being limited and arriving slower, you are more likely to find what

you are looking for and, within your budget when you shop early. More than ever, customers are purchasing special occasion clothing that will only be worn once. This can be avoided by watching for the perfect piece over time. When you start looking early, you will have more options that fit your budget and you can find a style you will wear again. Yes, the same dress you wear to a wedding, can be worn again. Classic dresses will be a mainstay in your closet for years to come. Find two piece or sleeveless dresses with a jacket. Both pieces can be paired with other items in your closet for later events.

• Shop end of season to save on the basics and those items that can be worn through multiple seasons. Sidewalk sales can be summer enter-

tainment while you plan and save for your fall and winter wardrobe. If you are one that can’t turndown a good deal even if you don’t need it, inventory your closet, and make a list. Sidewalk racks are a small investment of time with big returns. A quick stop will reveal any items that you may have on your list without a walk to the sale rack at the back of the store.

• Care for your clothing properly. Following care instructions is easy and can make your clothing outlast your need. When you get more wearing’s and stay excited about the item longer, you are saving money. Items hung neatly in a closet are more likely to build your self-esteem, keep your attention,

We have the best DEALS for you all SUMMER! Rise and Shine Specials Follow our Facebook page for weekly specials.

9 - 11 am

Sidewalk Saturdays rdays 217 South Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter Summer Hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm & Sat: 9 am - 5 pm Sidewalk sales will be held every Saturday 9 am - 4 pm. HerHappyPlaceShop.com

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

and prevent you from overspending on another shopping trip.

• Purchase capsule pieces. No, that doesn’t mean you have to purchase everything neutral and interchangeable. Everyone should own items that authentically express who they are. A capsule wardrobe can be created with colorful items when you take time to plan a color palette. Your palette doesn’t need to be all one-color family, make it colors you love and that pair well. Capsule pieces should also pair well in shape and style with several outfits. Three capsule items that should be in every well-balanced wardrobe this fall are: a solid blazer, a button up shirt, and a wrap style cardigan. All three can be styled different ways and can pair with denim, dress slacks, dresses, and skirts. • Invest in accessories. You can use accessories to change almost any item to give it a fresh new look. Belts, scarves, and broach pins are some of the most useful in altering clothing and are easy on the budget. Think outside the intended use of a broach pin. They can be used as button covers and extenders, hair accessories, turning a scarf into a belt, and adding collar detail to a crewneck top. Belts can be used as intended on denim or trousers. The best transformation a belt offers is over blazers, sweaters, dresses, and button ups to draw in a waistline. They can be used with jackets and button ups open or closed to create different looks with the same top. Scarves have made a big comeback in 2022. We have been using them for neck detail, belts, headwraps, hair ties, and tops. Yes, tops! There are many ways to style them, but my favorite is as halter top. Even us middle aged women can confidently wear them with our blazers. • Shop vintage. Like accessories, vintage pieces can keep you at the top of style and low in budget. Look for items that fit your style in new trends such as metallic, bold florals, and fringe. These items are often overlooked and underpriced at thrift shops. When paired correctly, vintage clothing will keep you spot on with 2022 trends. The best vintage find for 2022 trends are leisure suits. They are hard to find, but worth the hunt! • Keep the basics basic. You don’t need five tanks or five pairs of denim in your closet. Denim is denim and can be worn multiple times in a week without looking like the same outfit. If you are the gal that wears denim every day, you may want to find three pairs in different cuts to pair with your blouses. I find owning one flare leg (or bootcut), one skinny (or straight), and one mom jean (or wide leg) can add enough variety to your wardrobe to get through the month without repeat looks. When purchasing tank tops, all you need is one black, one white and one nude. Tank tops that are light weight, durable and comfortable will wash well and dry quickly for multiple uses a week. • Save through rewards. With cost high for everyone, advertising budgets are shrinking. Smart shoppers and retailers know the value of a rewards program. When you shop regularly and show your loyalty, you save businesses money. Watch for the stores that value you and reward you for your business. You don’t need to spend money to save money. There are great programs that give back to you for your reviews, referrals, interaction on social media, and your input on upcoming needs. Do your research, give your support to the businesses you shop, and save money.

Women’s Clothing from Small to Plus Size Unique Jewelry & Select Variety of Fashionable Shoes 142 Bridge Street Owatonna Monday - Friday 10-6 Saturday 10-3 Shop Online at HiddenRoseBoutique.com

Applying these eight tips and building a relationship with those you are buying from you will be on high in fashion and low in budget. 

ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

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SOUTHERN MINN

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

.COM Mixed Nuts -- 10-

10:30 a.m. July 1, Central Park, 430 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. Special blend of hilarious hijinks, guaranteed to produce sidesplitting laughter in ages 4-94.

Mini Festival

-- 8:30 a.m.noon July 2, St. Peter Food Co-op & Deli, 228 W. Mulberry St., Saint Peter. At the St. Peter Farmers Market, activities for the family, including face painting, balloon twisting, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a scavenger hunt and more.

Elysian 4th of July Celebration -- 6 p.m. July 1, Elysian. Street dance brings the fun Friday night, featuring the Johnny Holm Band. Then a fishing contest Saturday morning and family friendly events until fireworks that night. More events Sunday and Monday.

SEE MORE @ SouthernMinnSCENE.com 4th of July Horse Show --

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. July 4, Fox Hollow Arena, 30745 Fox Hollow Road, Le Sueur. Something different to do on the Fourth. Riders of all ages will compete in different categories all day long at this annual horse show.

Lake Park, 1000 Eighth Ave. NE., Waseca. Waseca celebrates Independence Day with music all day and night, including Pete Klug, Miller Denn, Los Tequilleros, Luke LeBlanc and Erik Koskinen. Fireworks, food and bring your own beverages.

Blooming Prairie 4th of July -- 8:30 a.m.-11:59 p.m. July 2,

Blooming Prairie. Celebrate all weekend and into the fourth. Saturday includes a 5K, volleyball tournament and a street dance with Smokescreen. Music in the pavilion, kids activities and more on Sunday and Monday.

AcousticView -- 6-8 p.m. July 2,

Peter, Street Peter. A parade with lots of marching and music, concerts in the park, lots of food and drink vendors, kids activities and more. Fireworks at the Nicollet County Fairgrounds at 10 p.m.

4th of July with Drive South --

10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 4, Cannon River Winery, 421 Mill St. W., Cannon Falls. Celebrate America with the parade, food, music, and, of course, wine.

Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N. Walnut Ave., Owatonna. AcousticView is a two-piece acoustic duo playing a broad variety from Fleetwood mac to Johnny Cash, Pink Floyd to 3 Doors Down, and U2 to Hank Williams.

Killing Time

Traders Market -- 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

July 1, Trader’s Market Inc, 10675 260th St. E., New Market Township. A vintage-themed event hosted on a 30-acre farm in Elko. We are both an indoor and out door event with 250+ vendor spaces and an enormous variety of vintage, antique and collectible items.

Lakefest -- 3-10:30 p.m. July 4, Clear

Old Fashioned Fourth of July -- 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. July 4, Saint

Oceanography -- 7-10 p.m. July 1, The Music Space of Owatonna, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Oceanography is the solo project of Oakland, California-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Brian Kelly. He brings a unique pop sensibility to bittersweet songs.

CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR ADDITIONAL HAPPENINGS!

-- 4-7 p.m. July 3, Westwood Marina, 1400 Lake Washington Access Road, Kasota. Brad and Mark as KillinTime will be entertaining you on the patio at Westwood Marina on Lake Washington.

Wanamingo 4th of July --

11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. July 4, Wanamingo. Celebrate all day with drink and food specials around town, free open swim at the pool, a silent auction, music on the street, the annual Legion baseball game, a grand parade, bean bags and fireworks.

Northfield Fireworks -- 1010:30 p.m. July 4, Northfield Middle School, 2200 Division St. S., Northfield. Free display to celebrate Independence Day.

Faribault Fireworks -- 10-10:30 p.m. July 4, Rice County Fairgrounds, 1814 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. Free fireworks display on Independence Day.

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.

Bicycle sales, service, parts, accessories, and repair Bike, Ski, and Skate rentals Disc Golf, Pickleball, and Hockey Gear Monday - Friday • 10AM - 6PM | Saturday • 9AM - 4PM 222 Bridge Street, Owatonna • 507-451-1666 • straightriversports.com

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

small farmers and food makers who support the local community. The Cannon Valley Farmers’ Market is focused on local foods and farm products.

Owatonna Patriots Skies Fireworks Display -- 10-10:30

p.m. July 4, Steele County Fairgrounds, 1525 S. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Owatonna Early Edition Rotary Club puts on the annual display.

Henderson Classic Car Roll-In -- 5-8 p.m. July 5, Henderson. All

Brodini Comedy Magic Show -- 10-10:45 a.m. July 8, Central

classic cars are welcome to join in on one of the best roll-ins in the Midwest. Held every Tuesday night in the historic Henderson downtown Main Street. Businesses and food vendors open.

Park, 430 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. Scarves, coins, cards, balls, ropes, and ordinary items become animate objects of wonder and curiosity in Brodini’s hands. This performance will be ASL interpreted.

Pete Klug -- 5-7 p.m. July 7, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St., Waseca. Enjoy some music with your pizza at the farm.

Pi to 100 Places Reception

-- 1-5 p.m. July 5, Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Lane, Owatonna. Ann E Judkins is an artist that has worked in various media. She has been a painter, potter, and photographer. Pi to 100 Places is the interface of math and art. Gallery runs through July 31.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar? Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

-- 7-8:30 p.m. July 8, Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., Saint Peter. A free show featuring regional jazz acts and a free book giveaway courtesy the St. Peter Public Library. The shows takes place July 8, July 22, Aug. 5 and Aug. 19. EZ Jazz Trip plays on the 8th.

North Mankato Fun Days -- 9 a.m.-9 p.m July 7, North Mankato. Carnival, live bands, Saturday parade, horseshoe tournament, Bingo, bean bags, kiddis parade, petting zoo, pony rides, tractor pull, Mankato Baltics and more. Runs through Saturday. Cannon Valley Farmers Market --

4-7 p.m. July 7, Rice County Fairgrounds, 1814 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. Buy locally grown, homemade goods while promoting

Hot Jazz for Decent People

Downtown Thursday -- 5-9 p.m. July 7, Downtown Owatonna, Owatonna. Eat great food from food trucks and local vendors, enjoy live music in the park and on North Cedar Avenue, find unique items at handcrafted booths and more. Matt Herzog and Branded: Hot Country.

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SUPPORT LOCAL ART. THE MEMBER SHOW: NEW WORK BY MEMBERS OF THE ARTS CENTER OF SAINT PETER July 1-August 27, Wed.-Fri. 1-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m. Gallery is free & wheelchair-friendly. MEMBER SHOW RECEPTION Saturday, July 16, 1-5 p.m., in the Arts Center parking lot. Featuring a Souper Bowl Swap/clearance sale, music by KMSU DJs, refreshments for sale by River Rock Coffee. BYO seating. Coolers welcome, no glass. HOT JAZZ FOR DECENT PEOPLE: LATE-NIGHT SOUNDS AT EARLY-EVENING HOURS July 8, 22, August 5, 19, music 7-8:30 p.m. Minnesota Square Park Pavilion. Free book giveaway by St. Peter Public Library. BYO seating. Coolers welcome, no glass. artscentersp.org This activity is made possible through grants from KMSU Radio and from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

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Paradise Gallery

Party Likes It’s Y2K Drag Show -- 7-11 p.m. July 8, Chankaska

Rachel Schroeder -- 7-9 p.m. July 9, Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St., Owatonna. Enjoy some acoustic tunes with your beverages.

-- 12-5 p.m. July 13, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave. N., Faribault. Carlander Gallery – Pat Gustafson; Vranesh Gallery – Pepper Tharp; Creger Gallery – Molly Boyd; K & M Gallery- Joanna Manning. Exhibit open through Aug. 1 during regular Paradise hours.

Dazzling Dave Yo-Yo Master -- 10-

10:45 a.m. July 15, Central Park, 430 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. Dazzling Dave Schulte is a professional yo-yo performer and highly acclaimed champion who has circled the globe since 1998, thrilling audiences everywhere. This performance will be ASL interpreted.

Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Come party with us like it’s the end of the world as we celebrate the music of the 1990s and 2000s. Food will be available for purchase from S&B Barbecue and drinks from Chankaksa.

Family Night at the Market

Fred the Bear -- 7-10 p.m. July 9, 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers, 28 Fourth St. NE., Faribault. Come join Fred the Bear for a great night of music and relax with a beverage of your choice.

-- 4-8 p.m. July 13, Legion Park, 103 S. Sixth St., Le Sueur. A variety of vendors selling homemade foods and other goods, plus live music, family activities, Bingo and more. Takes place every Wednesday night through August.

Mark Ross & The ThreeNineteen -- 6-7:30 p.m. July 15,

Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St. S., Northfield. A popular local band plays live and outside in beautiful downtown Northfield.

Riverwalk Market Fair -- 9

a.m.-1 p.m. July 9, Bridge Square, Bridge Square Bridge Square, Northfield. A bright and bustling food, craft and homemade item market along the Cannon River in Northfield’s Bridge Square.

Classic Car & Bike Cruise-In Extravaganza -- 12-4 p.m. July 10,

Village of Yesteryear, 1431 Austin Road, Owatonna. An old-fashioned fun-filled day of living history. Includes reenactments at a Rendezvous encampment, music and storytelling, carriage rides, tomahawk throwing, root beer floats, food and more.

-- 5-8 p.m. July 13, Berne Wood-Fired Pizza & Concert Series, 5054 23148 County Road 24, W. Concord. Held on the second Wednesday of each month, the cruise-ins draw guests from across SE Minnesota. Get pizza and beverages at the outdoor venue while checking out the rides.

Shrek Jr -- 7-9 p.m. July 15, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave. N., Faribault. Marquee Children’s Theatre presents a junior version of the popular animated film adapted for stage.

Peter and the Starcatcher

-- 7:30-10 p.m. July 15, Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third St. W., Northfield. A grownups prequel to Peter Pan, this hilarious and heartwarming story follows a group of kooky characters as they travel on an epic journey to save the world. Fri-Sun performances through July 24.

International Festival Faribault -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 9,

Central Park, 430 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. A fun day in the park celebrating some of the many cultures of the Faribault area. Free to attend. Entertainment, flag ceremony, foods from around the world, arts, dances, music, Henna and more.

Kash and Khary -- 6-8 p.m. July

13, Central Park, 421 E. Fourth St., Northfield. Two microphones, a guitar, a bass guitar, and a cello: Kash and Khary sing and play what moves them, be it rock, pop, soul, or blues. Dance, listen and browse the bookmobile.

Northfield Garden Tour -- 11 a.m.-4 p.m. July 9, Northfield. A tour of gardens in the area with the 2022 theme of limited space gardens. Each garden site, six in total, also will have a featured artists, presenting different forms of art.

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Afoutayi Haitian Dance --

10:30 a.m.-noon July 13, Gorman Park, 511 S. Fifth St., Saint Peter. Afoutayi produces high-quality events dedicated to promoting knowledge and understanding of Haitian culture. Dance, music, drumming, storytelling and history.

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. B32

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

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Todd Utpadel -- 6-8 p.m. July 14, Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N. Walnut Ave., Owatonna. Todd’s first solo was at age 8 and since then has sang all over the Midwest. He was the lead singer for the Snowy River Band for over 25 years. He has recorded 3 albums.

Owatonna Farmers Market

-- 7 a.m.-3 p.m. July 16, Central Park, 100 E. Main St., Owatonna. Numerous vendors and their products in beautiful downtown Owatonna.

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Gus’ Station Car Show -- 8

a.m.-noon July 16, Steele County Historical Society, 1700 Austin Road, Owatonna. More than 100 cars into the parking lot to showcase all that makes these automobiles unique and historic. Free event for visitors.

Tator Days -- 8

a.m.-11 p.m. July 16, Eagle Lake. Event starts Thursday with Red Dirt Road, then Friday with pedal pull and karaoke. Most of the celebration is Saturday with 5K, bean bags, parade, hog roast, kids stuff and Smokescreen street dance.

Story Time at the Market -- 8:30

a.m.-noon July 16, St. Peter Food Coop & Deli, 228 W. Mulberry St., Saint Peter. The third Saturday at the St. Peter Farmers Market, JuneOctober, will feature free books, fun activities and a 10 a.m. story time.

Gem Days -- 10 a.m.-9 p.m. July 21, The Member Show Reception -- 1-5 p.m. July 16, Arts Center of

Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., Saint Peter. The show is not juried, and visual and literary work by artists at all levels will be displayed. Reception will include pottery for sale, music by KMSU DJs and refreshments. Show runs through Aug. 27.

Secret Garden Tour -- 10 a.m.-3

p.m. July 17, Owatonna. There are six gardens on the tour. Gardens feature a pollinator-rain garden, sun and shade garden, vegetable, berry patch, water pond with Koi and a she-shed. Purchase tix at Kottke’s or OAC - $15.

Summer in the Valley -- 4-7 p.m. July 21, South Main Street, S Main Street South Main Street, Le Sueur. Join on Main Street for music, food and family fun, featuring musical guest Mages Family Band.

Levi Eells, Jealous Brother and David Rettenmeier --

6:30-9 p.m. July 16, The Music Space of Owatonna, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. All Southern Minnesota artists. Eells has his own songs and favorite classics. Rettenmeier has been an open mic regular. Jealous Brother bring an Americana rock sound.

The Federales and The Good Time Gals -- 1:30-7 p.m. July 17, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St., Waseca. Enjoy some music with your pizza at the farm.

Open Mic Night -- 7-9 p.m.

Summertime Party Time -7-10 p.m. July 16, 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers, 28 Fourth St. NE., Faribault. Party on the patio at Corks and Pints.

19, Le Center Public Library, 10 W. Tyrone St., Le Center. Enjoy Moana trivia, search for their own Heart of Tefiti, create their own paper ship, compete in a round of coconut bowling, and string their own colorful lei garland. Ages 6-12.

Souper Bowl Swap Meet -- 1-5

p.m. July 16, Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., Saint Peter. The annual Souper Bowl from the Arts Center, displaying hundreds of handmade clay bowls, is adding a swap meet feature, where residents can swap their old bowls for new ones. You can also just buy.

Kenyon Farmers Market --

4-7 p.m. July 21, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 309 Forest St., Kenyon. Handcrafted and Homemade items. The market takes place once a month, with new vendors each month to share a variety of items to Kenyon.

Moana Party -- 1:30-2:30 p.m. July

Pickleball Grand Opening -10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 16, 311 N. Fifth St., 311 N. Fifth St., Saint Peter. There will be food for sale, a lemonade stand fundraiser for childhood cancer research, bounce house, activities for kids and of course lots of Pickleball.

Central Park, 100 E. Main St., Owatonna. This celebration has grown throughout the years to include things like Crazy Days Sidewalk Sales, kiddie parades and concerts in the park. Gem Days runs July 21-23.

July 21, The Music Space of Owatonna, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Open mic for aspiring singer songwriters, musicians , performers and bands. comedy and performance art also welcomed to the stage. Occurs weekly on Thursdays at the Music Space.

Siama’s Congo Roots -- 10Teen Bonfire Night -- 7-10 p.m The Jonny B Band -- 7-11 p.m. July 16, Last Call Liquor, 8890 Morristown Blvd., Morristown. Are you ready for some live music, cold beer and BBQ? Back at Hiller’s Last Call for the annual outside Bash.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar? Send details to editor@southernminnscene.com.

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers. ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

July 19, Mill Pond, Street Peter, Saint Peter. Teens age 12 and up, join us around a campfire for s’mores, snacks, and more! The event is free, but registration is recommended for planning purposes.

Rice County Fair -- 9 a.m.-8

p.m. July 21, Rice County Fairgrounds, 1814 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. All the usual fixings, including the carnival, animal shows, rodeo, demo derby, food and drinks, Bingo, music and so much more.

10:45 a.m. July 22, Central Park, 430 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. Siama plays intricate, rhythmic guitar and traditional African instruments like Mbira and Balafon while Dallas encourages everyone to sing along to happy songs in Kikongo, Lingala, and English.

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. CONTINUED page 34

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Kolacky Days -- 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. July 22, Montgomery. The annual festival includes all the usual festival fixings, with a Czech twist. Runs throughout the weekend.

July Jazz Fest -- 6-11 p.m. July

22, The Contented Cow, 302 Division St. S., Northfield. Enjoy jazz over three nights at The Contented Cow, overlooking the Cannon River in Northfield. The fest runs July 22-24.

Fred the Bear -- 6-8 p.m. July 22, Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St. S., Northfield. Enjoy a popular local band live and outside in beautiful downtown Norhtfield.

Faribault Farmers Market Minnesota Original Music Festival -- 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. July 23-

24, Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., Saint Peter. The main stage performances wrap up the week-long festival. Includes Bee Balm Fields, Larry McDonough Quartet, portal iii, Machiko, the Shape of Walter , PK Mayo, the The Good TIme Gals and more.

-- 1:30-5 p.m. July 27, Central Park, 430 Second Ave. NW., Faribault. Fresh produce and homemade goods in Faribault’s beautiful Central Park. The market is open 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays June through October and 1:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays July through September.

Northfield Fire 150th Anniversary

-- 4-7 p.m. July 23, Northfield Area Fire & Rescue, 301 Fifth St. W., Northfield. Celebrate 150 years of firefighting. The open house will include Northfield Fire Department memorabilia, fire trucks, live demonstrations, and visits from firefighters. Fun for the family.

The Lake Effect Natural Aesthetic Reception

-- 6-8 p.m. July 22, Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division St. S., Northfield. Art that melds utility and artistic expression can be overlooked in gallery exhibitions. Beyond their functional purpose these pieces beautify the spaces they are in. Shows through Aug. 20.

-- 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 23, Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N. Walnut Ave., Owatonna. Part Dispatch, part Jamestown Revival, part dueling one-man band. They are completely unique. Built on a bed of folk songs and acoustic guitars.

Hot Jazz for Decent People -- 7-9

p.m. July 22, Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., Saint Peter. Liz Draper (upright bass), Tasha Baron (piano) and Chaz Draper (drums) is a trio focused on composition and improvisation with roots in jazz, dub, hip hop, and contemporary classical music.

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. B34

No Coast -- 7-9 p.m. July 23, Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St., Owatonna. Enjoy some music with your beverages. No Coast is a garage rock band from Owatonna.

Legendary Ladies of Country -- 7:30-10 p.m. July 23,

Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave. N., Faribault. A jukebox musical celebrating the great female singers and songwriters of country music are blazing a trail to Faribault. The shows pays tribute to female country greats. Tickets online.

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Will your loved ones be stressed or blessed? We can help you design a monument so your loved ones won’t have to.

Less stress for those you leave behind. free consultations. call today.

legacy monument sales | leon & lori Bohlman leon’s cell: 507-456-7864 | lori’s cell: 507-456-3735 | landlbo@gmail.com

Have a Happy & Safe 4th Of July!

507-931-6554

700 North Minnesota Ave. • St. Peter, MN ADD YOUR EVENT FOR FREE TO THE SOMINN SCENE CALENDAR. GO TO W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N . C O M / S O U T H E R N _ M I N N _ S C E N E / & C L I C K + P R O M O T E Y O U R E V E N T

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MULTIMEDIA SALES

APG Media of Southern Minnesota has an excellent opportunity for someone excited about helping businesses implement successful and effective multimedia advertising solutions for local businesses.

If you are interested in helping the Northfield Business Community develop by delivering relevant advertising to a qualified audience resulting in better measured performance. You will want to learn more about our APG Media’s approach to helping our clients succeed through multi-media planning, specific audience targeting, and creative messaging.

If you are interested in helping Faribault area businesses develop by delivering relevant advertising to a qualified audience resulting in better measured performance. You will want to learn more about our APG Media’s approach to helping our clients succeed through multi-media planning, specific audience targeting, and creative messaging.

This postion is located out of our Northfield News office and would be ideal for someone who enjoys working independently, is self-motivated, has excellent organizational and people skills, flexibility, attention to details and superb follow-through skills.

This postion is located out of our Faribault Daily News office and would be ideal for someone who enjoys working independently, is self-motivated, has excellent organizational and people skills, flexibility, attention to details and superb follow-through skills.

The ideal candidate should enjoy meeting new people and are genuinely concerned in helping them succeed. We prefer experienced outside sales of 2 years with digital experience but we will hire the smile and train the skill. This position offers salary plus commission and bonus program with unlimited growth potential.

With a strong sales team, diverse client base, and sophisticated advertising platforms, APG Media of Southern Minnesota is well-positioned in our communities to provide advertising solutions from Main Street to the farm fields.

REPRESENTATIVE

Northfield localmatters News

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REPRESENTATIVE

Daily News FARIBAULT

localmatters

If you enjoy being part of a highly motivated and creative team environment; then you will want to get to know Ross Ulrich. The best way to do that is to submit a cover letter and your resume to ross.ulrich@apgsomn.com

DRUG FREE and EOE WORK FORCE.

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

DISTRIBUTION CENTER SUPERVISOR

APG Media of Southern Minnesota has an opening for a Distribution Center Supervisor that will be responsible for morning receipt of newspaper deliveries, as well as associated route delivery. The position involves sorting and organizing newspapers for each route, delivering bundles to the Owatonna/Faribault Area, and occasionally processing post office

paperwork. You will be in consistent contact with the Circulation Manager to indicate any issues that may occur night-to-night (vehicle maintenance, paper shortages, etc.) and to assist them in handling special deliveries. You will be functioning as the link between daytime

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

<<This description of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive or limit the discretionary authority of supervisors. Other tasks of a similar nature or level of responsibility may be assigned.>> Job Type: Full-time Typical Hours: Varies, mostly 12:00-5:00 AM Position pays $18-22 per hour.

• Receiving deliveries at the Distribution Center - These are typically pallets of newspapers, but may include smaller pallets of insert advertisements or supplies • Utilizing pallet jacks to organize products and load trucks • Sorting paper bundles into the routes according to received paperwork • Accurately and safely delivering bundles of newspapers to vendors/ post offices - Depending on the night, this may be done in personal vehicle (additional compensation per mile) or company vehicle (small 16ft box truck) • Effectively communicating with Distribution Manager any warehouse needs or issues with products/delivery • Properly and accurately do postal paperwork • Occasionally assist Distribution Manager with specialty product delivery • Do your part in maintaining cleanliness in the warehouse and company vehicles • Facilitate positive workplace environment working alongside APG co-workers as well as independently contracted carriers

QUALIFICATIONS/ABILITIES • High School Education or Equivalent • Valid Driver’s License • Good Driving Record • Personal vehicle capable of 50-60 miles/night ((Mileage compensated)) • Ability to comfortably operate manual pallet jacks • Ability to lift 35-50 lbs • Reliability and consistency • Clear communication and problem-solving skills • Ability to pass a drug test (driving company vehicle)

Send resumes to: hudson.mrotz@apgsomn.com

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SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

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

In the Houses of Their Dead, Divorce Colony, Queer Ducks and more In the Houses of Their Dead by Terry Alford c.2022, Liveright $27.95 320 pages You’re talking to yourself again. That’s okay: it helps sort your thoughts, calm your brain, and settle your mind. But you’re not just talking to yourself: it may sound funny but it’s comforting to have one-sided conversations with people who would’ve shared their valuable wisdom, if they were still alive. You talk to those who gone sometimes, and in “In the Houses of Their Dead” by Terry Alford, you’ll see how that’s a habit that’s been around awhile. Even for the early 1800s, Edwin Booth grew up in an unconventional household. His father was an alcoholic actor who was prone to eccentricity, and he forced young Edwin to become his traveling companion and handler when the boy was just twelve years old. Edwin’s mother had lost a number of her children to nineteenth-century diseases. His younger siblings – especially Asia and John Wilkes – were as melodramatic as their father. As you might expect, the family was drawn toward the new mania for spiritualism. In 1848, after the Fox sisters of Hydesville, New York, claimed to have heard the spirit of a dead man in the basement of their home, America became captivated by the idea that the living could communicate with those who had died. Seances became all the rage, complete with spectral knocking, otherworldly messages scratched in a medium’s skin, and eerie photographs of loved ones hovering over grieving parents. Fans of spiritualism swore they were talking to the dead when, in actuality, they were being scammed. But just the idea – the mere chance – that she could speak to her dead sons made Mary Lincoln willing to try spiritualism. Her husband, Abraham, didn’t put much faith in such things (though, to be fair, Abraham was unsettled in faith, period), but he followed Mary to seek mediums who could speak to Willie and Tad. One of the mediums the Lincolns visited was Charles Colchester, a pseudonymous conman with quite a lengthy client list, including the actor John Wilkes Booth. And when Booth’s rants and racism started to alarm Colchester, the medium subtly tried to warn the President... First, this: if you’ve come here expecting spooky stories and ghosties, you’ll probably be mighty disappointed. “In the Houses of Their Dead” is not that kind of book. Instead, author Terry Alford offers a long look at a wide arc of weirdly coincidental history that may, at times, feel as though it was being orchestrated in some otherworldly way. Under that arc, we see a seemingly-weary man burdened by familial trouble that’s he’s almost powerless to fix; we watch as a usually-practical leader grapples with the idea of faith; and we see how his wife, long-rumored to have been mentally ill, became that way. Even for a skeptic who pooh-poohs spirits and haints, these stories and the peripheral tales that accompany them both lend a strong appeal to this book. Fans of history and of New Age studies will enjoy “in the Houses of Their Dead.” It’s a book you won’t have to work hard to talk yourself into.

The Hawk’s Way:

Encounters with Fierce Beauty by Sy Montgomery c.2022, Atria Books $20.00 79 pages It’s no fun saying “King me!” by yourself. Yep, checkers needs two to play, as does chess, backgammon, and Old Maid. Lots of things, in fact, are better when you’re got another pair of hands and another point of view to join you. In the new book “The Hawk’s Way” by Sy Montgomery, though, partnering with a wild creature is a whole ‘nother game. The first time that Sy Montgomery met Mahood, he almost instantly swiveled

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his head toward her face and screamed. Although her husband was alarmed, the scream took her by surprise but she wasn’t nonplussed. Montgomery’s become used to all kinds of critters – pigs, chickens, cats and dogs, and “even an octopus” – but Mahood was a very large Harris’s hawk, and they don’t always take easily to strangers. She knew what could have happened: a hawk will attack someone who angers it, makes a minor mistake, tries to touch it, or otherwise acts counter to what the hawk decides. A falconer might “train” a hawk, but the bird’s in charge. When you hunt with a hawk, you are it’s “partner,” not its master, Montgomery says – and yes, she was eager to get started. Still, even with expert help and what seemed like a natural way with raptors, she had a lot to learn, including words she couldn’t say to a hawk, body language, and personal protection advice. There is, as Montgomery discovered, a “language of falconry” that goes beyond mere eating and eliminating to mantling and slicing. Falcons don’t sleep, they jonk. They don’t clean themselves, they feak. And they are not pets, in any sense of the word; new falconers catch their birds in the wild and they must work to learn to co-hunt together. Despite that training, the bird is still wild. But though eager to learn falconry, Montgomery had one concern: keeping a hawk around would be dangerous to her chickens. Her hens each had a name; would a hawk decimate her backyard flock? Still, “Who would not hunger for such company?” You, perhaps, because “The Hawk’s Way” is soaringly beautiful but also uber-cautionary. Indeed, readers who are eagle-eyed will notice what author Sy Montgomery makes abundantly clear: that though the hawk is a lovely, elegant bird, it’s a creature not to be trifled with. As you’ll read, repeatedly and in so many ways, an angry hawk will hurt you. Does that deter you? Yea or nay, carry on: the secondary focus of this book are the awe-struck observations of the hawks Montgomery admires, and the beauty and majesty she sees in them. Possible injury aside, nature-loving readers will be thrilled by this, even if descriptions of the actual hunt might make them cringe. Just remember that Montgomery, an admitted animal lover, struggled with it, too. Birders – especially those who enjoy watching raptors – and anyone who addictively scans the trees on long walks or drives absolutely needs to have “The Hawk’s Way.” Feathered-friend lover that you are, you’ll be enraptured by this book on the Sport of Kings.

Queer Ducks

(and Other Animals) by Eliot Schrefer, illustrated by J.R. Zuckerberg c.2022, Katherine Tegan Books $17.99 240 pages You know all there is to know about the birds and the bees. Or, well, you know enough about them, anyhow. You know that it takes a girl bee and a boy bee to make baybees, and that lovebirds dig their chicks. But did you know that penguins enjoy private lives or that bison bulls often bond? Read “Queer Ducks (and Other Animals)” by Eliot Schrefer, illustrations by J.R. Zuckerberg, and don’t let it bug you. The year was 1834 and German zoologist August Kelch couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. It wasn’t that he’d never noticed mating doodlebugs before, but the two he’d found were both male! He chalked it up to the only thing he could think of, believing it was an act of perversion. You can’t entirely blame him: for centuries, early theologians and scientists, lacking the proper language, noted that animals’ love lives sometimes didn’t match the boy-meets-girl ideal then ascribed to humans, so they wrongly condemned it in the only ways they knew. The thing is, animal sexuality varies so much that they might’ve overlooked other examples that could’ve proved the naturalness of it all. They may have seen mating animals and assumed something different than the truth. Psychologists call it “confirmation bias – you see what you’re looking for – which means a pair of cats or dolphins, tête-à-tête, may both be male. You might see a male wrasse that changed gender for mating purposes, or a bonobo whose species is notoriously promiscuous. You

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might be watching a deer with a same-sex Dear. Every farmer knows that cows will mount other cows in heat. Scientists have observed mating activity in female macaques lacking nearby males. Albatrosses form pair bonds without mating, and wild geese sometimes form throuples to care for a nest. Maybe it matters to the individual animal, and maybe it doesn’t. Which, suggests Schrefer, is half of an intriguing question: and why does that same behavior in humans matter to us? So you’ve noticed some embarrassing activity at the dog park or the zoo, and you’ve waived it away by saying it’s a matter of dominance or a power-play among animals. But, as you’ll ask yourself while reading “Queer Ducks (and Other Animals),” what if it’s not? Another question you might pose: is it fair to compare a dog or elephant to a human in this way, or is it anthropomorphizing? Scientists tend to hate the latter; author Eliot Schrefer does both here, proving that the behavior so often condemned in homo sapiens is perfectly natural in the animal kingdom, while also urging readers to see the ridiculousness of affirming one while lambasting the other. The point is made, though it can get heavyhanded at times. Still, readers won’t be able to keep their thoughts from being provoked. Also full of interviews with scientists and biologists and a nice biography of the author, too, this book is informative, eye-opening, and just plain fun to read. Yep, get “Queer Ducks (and Other Animals),” or you’ll be a monkey’s uncle.

My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves

Stories collected by Kristin Chenoweth, Kathy Najimy, Linda Perry, Chely Wright and Lauren Blitzer c.2022, Gallery Books $27.99 336 pages No. It’s simple, really: just one syllable, dragged out or said sharply, emphatically, and finally. No. You’ve heard it all your life, yelled it a time or two. “No” is easy to say, especially when, as in the new book “My Moment,” stories collected by Kristin Chenoweth, Kathy Najimy, Linda Perry, Chely Wright and Lauren Blitzer, you’re done. Watching Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testify in the Senate Chambers some time ago, Chenoweth, Najimy, Perry, Wright, and Blitzer became outraged. Over the years, they’d heard other women’s stories of bullying, abuse, injustice, and more; the five of them are friends, and they had stories to tell, too. They decided to ask women from all over the world one question: “What was the moment in your life when you realized you were ready to fight for yourself?” The answers are in this book. High school student Miya Lao was bullied for her diminutive height, until she realized that she didn’t need to give bullies any attention because “they weren’t my friends.” Performer Adrienne Warren was told by boys that she didn’t belong on the ball court when she “decided to be a warrior for myself...” Actress Kelly O’Hara accomplished an athletic feat and nobody believed her. She proved them wrong. There are stories of racism here: activist Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman was taunted by racist jokes until she confronted the kid who told them. And there are stories of women who struggled before coming out, dealing with doubters, haters, and homophobes. Comedian Melissa Peterman was a victim of bodyshaming. Actress Marlo Thomas’ own father stopped believing in her. Actress Debra Messing was sexually harassed by a director; and TV host S.E. Cupp, by a magazine publisher. Comedian Carol Burnett was told that her idea for a show was “a man’s game.” Lawyer Tina Tchen’s ideas were stolen by a male co-worker. Singersongwriter Alice Peacock hoped to change her family’s legacy. And musician Chrissie Hynde says she started standing up for herself, “The moment I was born.” You know the feeling: frustration, like your arms are tied to your sides and the tears are coming, although you’ve promised yourself that you weren’t going to cry and then

something inside you flips. Those are the kinds of stories you’ll read in “My Moment” and instantly, they’ll all seem familiar, as if you’ve known them all your life. That’s discouraging. And yet, what you’ll read here is empowering, too, because the balance of content – from coming-out stories to bullying to harassment at work – will show readers that no matter what they’ve experienced, it’s not new or shameful. Yes, some stories may seem more relatable than others; some have no catalyst other than an unwillingness to accept anymore guff. In any case, readers will find breaking points, strength, and guts inside this book as well as a yell-out-loud lack of uniqueness, and that may lend courage to those who need words of support and power. A little of that is always good, making “My Moment” a modern woman’s must-have, no problem.

The Divorce Colony:

How Women Revolutionized Marriage and Found Freedom in the American Frontier by April White c.2022, Hachette $30.00 304 pages I’m leaving. Wow, those are loaded words and what comes after them pretty much determines how the rest of your day will go. I’m leaving for work is good. I’m leaving this here is fine. I’m leaving you a surprise, very good. But in the 1890s, if for South Dakota was in that sentence, as you’ll see in “The Divorce Colony” by April White, it usually meant just one thing. Baroness Margaret Laura Astor De Stuers had tried to leave her husband once before, but she was forced back because she was an Astor. It was 1889 and divorce could sully the Astor name, so she was forced to return to her husband. But when the Baron tried to have her committed permanently to a mental institution and she lost custody of her children, Maggie could be deterred no longer. She headed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where, after a short residency in a luxury hotel on the prairie, she could finally get the divorce she wanted. At that time, says White, the United States had a “patchwork” of divorce laws, each depending on the state’s lawmakers. South Dakota happened to have low residency requirements, meaning that a woman from New York only had to live in the west for a short time before a divorce was awarded. Of course, though, her husband could contest it... Once was a time when Mary Nevins Blaine and her husband, Jamie, had been happy. That was when they were married: she, the nineteen-year-old daughter of a quiet but respectable family; he, the seventeen-year-old son of a powerful politician who thought Jamie married beneath his social strata. Mary got her divorce, and brought down a Presidential hopeful. Blanche Molineux had never wanted to get married, and getting out of the one she got was a life-or-death matter: her husband, Roland, had been accused of murder. Flora Bigelow Dodge was known to be fearless but after she married, she feared she’d made a mistake. Smart, creative Flora just wanted peace, and she found it in a prairie town. Divorce, it seems, is never an easy thing. So imagine what it was like before women had rights, and you’ve got the story inside “The Divorce Colony.” Indeed, turn-of-the-last-century activists played a role in what happened in Sioux Falls, as did a cross-dressing Civil War physician, a powerful bishop, and a journalist who was hiding a secret. Author April White brings each of these figures to the table, placing them proper context so readers get a good feel for this surprising sliver of history. Don’t think, though, that this is just boy-leaves-girl stuff. The stories White tells happened at the end of the Wild West days, and most of them reflect that; others are delightfully set in opulence. You’ll snicker a little (Oh, the scandal!) and your jaw will drop a time or three because this book is fascinating, unique, and perfect for historians, readers of women’s issues, and historical novel lovers. Start “The Divorce Colony,” and you’ll have a hard time leaving.

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

1711 Premier Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 345-8708 info@thedesignelement.net

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1711 Premier Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 720-6053 info@cabinetlab.net

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SUMMER LINE-UP AT THE PARADISE

Music of James Taylor & Carley Simon Ft. Dennis Curley & Dorian Chalmers

GALLERY OPENING

Saturday, July 30 7:30 PM

Friday, August 5 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Mick Sterling Presents: “Memphis and the Meantimes: The Songs of Sun Records and The Grand Ole Opry”

Mick Sterling Presents: Elton John with Strings

Galactic Cowboy Orchestra featuring Eli Hoehn as Captain Gravitone

Saturday, August 27 7:30 PM

Saturday, September 17 7:30 pm

Sunday, September 18 2:00 pm

Shrek Jr. Presented by Marquee Children’s Theatre

Legendary Ladies Of Country

Friday, July 15 • 7:00 PM Saturday, July 16 • 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Saturday, July 23 7:30 PM

Hunchback the Musical Presented by Paradise Community Theatre August 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 at 7:30 PM August 7, 14 at 2:00 PM

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. B40

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Articles inside

WOLDUM TV

Rants & RAVES

SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

From the MUSIC SIDE

SoMinn FASHION

Mollywood BLVD

SoMinn FOOD & DRINK Review