SCENE JULY 2024 by Kate Noet

Scene Southern minn

ON PGS 14-15

Southern Minn

distilleries stay creative to keep thriving

By ANDREW DEZIEL News Writer

Adecade after legislation was passed to allow Minnesota distilleries to open onsite cocktail rooms, the “distillery boom” was cooled off by the COVID-19 pandemic, post-pandemic inflation and labor shortages — yet a trio of local distilleries are continuing to thrive and grow.

The growth of local distilleries began over a decade ago, when Northfield High School graduates Mark Schiller and Simeon Rossi set about building what would become Loon Liquors, the first federally approved distillery

to operate in Southern Minnesota in over 100 years.

Schiller and Rossi launched their business even before the state enacted legislation to allow distilleries to operate on-site cocktail rooms, building on the success of the “Surly Bill” which launched what would become a booming craft brewing industry.

Following in Loon’s footsteps were Faribault’s 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers and Kasota’s Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery. Today, the three distilleries are strong brand representatives of their communities, selling liquor in hundreds of stores across the state. Loon, 10,000 Drops and Chankaska Creek have each carved up niches in the industry, garnering loyal followers with a shared commitment to top-notch quality, offering a diverse

range of options for every palate, and constant innovation.

At Loon, co-owner Mark Schiller said that the new Lemon Drop and Cosmopolitan premixed cocktails are complimenting a popular line of Old Fashioneds, drawing in customers from Minnesota - some of whom later come in to visit the Northfield cocktail room.

Likewise, 10,000 Drops’s Jake Hvistendahl said that the Lokal Vodka line is proving particularly popular, thanks in part to its competitive price. Meanwhile, the distillery’s bourbon and gin continue to rack up awards at prestigious national competitions.

Chankaska Creek’s John Couchot said that the distillery’s bourbon, rye and brandy have all proven popular along with its cream liquors, as the number of customers on the lookout for

high quality craft and small batch spirits has markedly grown.

Loon Liquors for one is looking to take advantage of that growth, with plans to move into a much larger space which was formerly the home of the Northfield News, which will help it to serve much larger crowds onside and market itself as a destination distillery. After more than a decade in what was never meant to be more than a temporary “incubator space,” Loon will soon have a space which is much larger and more centrally located, with historic downtown and the scenic Cannon River serving as a much prettier backdrop.

At the heart of Schiller and Rossi’s vision for the new space is to create a “destination distillery” which caters to the wants of visitors, with a commercial kitchen, gift shop and other

10,000 Drops Local

amenities. It won’t be cheap, with the final project price tag expected to hit $4 to $5 million. While its model is a bit different, Chankaska Creek has managed to position itself as a destination as well. Weekends at the ranch, winery and distillery are always busy, with large crowds coming out for weddings, events or just to enjoy the quaint hospitality.

That Loon, 10,000 Drops and Chankaska Creek all appear to have carved out their own pathways to sustainable success is notable, as the pandemic and post-pandemic economic pressures appear to have cooled off Minnesota’s previously booming craft liquor market.

While eight new breweries opened across the state last year, the Minnesota Brewers Guild also lost six members. Since 2016, overall beer production across the state has been roughly flat

— now, it’s THC-infused beverages that are the fast-growing shiny new objects on the market.

As with everyday working families, Hvistendahl said that breweries and distilleries have been hurt by inflation — and with just a handful of large alcohol companies dominating the market, the ability for smaller producers to raise prices to compensate is limited.

“The price increases we saw during the pandemic haven’t really come down for the most part,” Hvistendahl said. “We don’t really have the ability to raise our prices, so we’re getting squeezed at the margins.” 

Andrew Deziel is a freelance writer. Reach the editor at editor@ apgsomn.com

10,000 Drops

Loon Liquor

Chankaska

Forget whining ...

By JANE TURPIN MOORE

Guest Contributor

When all signs point to the vine, don’t decline — instead, try some wine, and possibly dine. Sure, there are other ways for the 21+ crowd to spend a leisurely summer afternoon or evening, but if you don’t have major seasonal travel plans or a cabin at which to chill, relaxing at a southern Minnesota vineyard with friends or a significant other can feel like a mini-vacation—even if you’re just several miles from home.

Our region is blessed with an increasing number of wineries offering tasting options, wine

by the glass or bottle, alternate beverage choices, snacks or heavier appetizers and, best of all, pleasant and often pastoral environments in which to unwind. Wine, anyone?

While recent visits to two area wineries are featured below don’t limit yourself; stops throughout the summer at any of the wineries listed might just make your short summer staycations feel like grand getaways.

Cannon River Winery, 421 Mill St. West, Cannon Falls. www.cannonriverwinery.com, 507-2637400.

Comfortable, welcoming ambience — think stone walls in a spacious yet warm room with historic, slightly rustic features — greets every guest to Cannon River Winery.

On a sunny, 73-degree Friday evening, the garage door of the tasting room was raised, providing breaths of soft fresh air and an interesting view of the late 1880s buildings housing similarly

appealing establishments (Mill Street Tavern, CannonBelles Coffee & Ice Cream, Tilion Brewing Company) across the street.

Situated in downtown Cannon Falls, Cannon River Winery is in a more “urban” setting (its vineyard is located just south of Cannon Falls) than some wineries. But the charm of the restored downtown area suggests an era when residents of this small river town, founded in 1854, strolled the streets for entertainment and horses clip-clopped their way to hitching posts.

These days, a roomy lot provides free vehicle parking near the building, the second floor of which serves as a popular event center for weddings, reunions and other group celebrations.

Efficient, friendly staff members greet patrons with smiles, menus and patient explanations of beverage and menu options for first-time customers.

We each opted for a three-glass flight of twoounce wine pours ($10 per set), happily testing

a range of Cannon River Winery’s own cheekily named products. Consider: the totally sippable “Feisty Bitch Rose,” the crisp, dry white “Mancini’s West 7th” or the Malbec-like “Mancini’s Levee Red,” the latter two created for the eponymous St. Paul restaurant that’s a legend in its own right.

Two flatbread pizzas (the slightly spicy Italian model dubbed “Yo, Adrian!” and the pesto-andgrilled chicken-based “Stevie Nicks”) accompanied our vino, though the winery’s self-named “Bitchin’ Kitchen” has numerous other food choices available, including sandwiches (pulled pork or grilled chicken), shareables, soup, salad and sweets (try a s’more flatbread or the creatively presented salted caramel cheesecake topped with drunken cherries and whipped cream).

With wine good enough to please connoisseurs but accessible enough for wine virgins, Cannon River Winery, established in the early 2000s by John and Maureen Maloney and now owned by Ron Stowell, has a lot to love.

Cannon River Winery is nestled in the small community of Cannon Falls.

Cannon River Winery offers a variety of wine options.

A wine flight and vodka cocktail on the patio at Next Chapter Winery.

instead,

Its popular wine club, known as The Crew, offers benefits like quarterly wine pickup parties, memberonly wine events, a free bottle or four free glasses of wine in your birthday month and a tempting annual Tableside Tasting for six people (up to two flights per guest—or make it one flight per guest and double the fun).

Ah, and don’t forget the live music on tap each Saturday (and July 4) from 1 to 4 p.m. throughout the summer months.

Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague, nextchapterwinery.com, 612-756- 3012.

Feeling bookish but somewhat wine-y?

Turn the page and uncork a bottle at Next Chapter Winery, located in a pastoral sweet spot about 4.5 miles north of Montgomery, 5.4 miles southeast of New Prague and 8.9 miles west of Lonsdale.

Sunshine and low 70s spelled a perfect Sunday afternoon, with a prevailing mellow mood and free-

flowing beverages (local wines and ciders, beer, cocktails and a full complement of non-alcoholic options like slushies and N/A cocktails).

Participants in a “knit and sip” social contentedly engaged in both activities inside the woodsy tasting room while the winery’s spacious and chandelierbedecked event center was prepped for a high school graduation party (weddings are frequently scheduled there, too).

Outside on the pergola-shaded, well-appointed patio, tables dotted with couples and small groups overlooked the flourishing vineyard and a decidedly family-friendly play area, strewn with wood chips and enough playground activities to keep the younger set occupied long enough for mom and dad to consume at least one glass of wine.

Next Chapter Winery, approached via a narrow road with a tunnel of leafy trees, really has something for everyone — it’s even a dog-friendly environment, so furry friends needn’t miss out on all the social fun.

While there’s no onsite kitchen, food trucks are occasionally present—and at all times, guests are invited to purchase pre-packaged pretzels, cheese sticks, cookies and charcuterie trays to snack on while enjoying the winery’s wide beverage selection.

One of us sampled the wine flight (three twoounce pours for $11), appreciating the semi-sweet white blend “Marry Me” plus two tasty reds—a dry medium-bodied sip called “Wedded Bliss” and a five-year barrel-aged beauty, “Reserve Syrah.”

The other indulged in the day’s special — a $5 flavored vodka cocktail. The “Decadent Espressotini” was proclaimed delicious and suitably decadent. And a container of Von Hanson’s tangy mustard pretzels was the perfect pairing for our drink choices. Additional daily specials at Next Chapter include $2 off glasses of wine each Tuesday, a free seasonal N/A drink with purchase of an adult beverage on Family Day Thursdays (3-8 p.m.) and an educators’ delight on Fridays—buy one, get one 50% off any

beverage.

And bingo aficionados will appreciate “Wine Bingo Wednesdays,” starting weekly at 6 p.m. Winners receive either a $5 gift certificate for future use or a free glass of wine on the spot.

Musical entertainment, themed trivia nights (recent themes have been “Twilight” and “Game of Thrones”) and “Silent Reading” socials are also written into the Next Chapter’s book of events.

The visually (or social media) inclined can take a break for photo opps in the vineyard or at the Next Chapter’s colorful wings, painted on a barn wall.

Ah. Sit back for a sip and relish some of the best features of Minnesota’s fleeting summers at this quiet country retreat that has a lot going on.

Remember: your “Next Chapter” awaits you.  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

Cannon River Winery is one of the fine wine establishments in the Southern Minn Scene region. (Photos by Jane Moore/southerminn.com)

Flatbreads delight patrons at Cannon River Winery.

Next Chapter Winery tasting room with a Sip and Knit participant in the background.

Butterfly wings are on display for photo opportunities at Next Chapter Winery.

Next Chapter Winery includes a barrel room event space.

Mollywood BLVD

T8 Bevvies that film made famous

ikTok seems to set the trends these days, and the social app is smattered with drink inspos and trending cocktails like the Espresso Martini or more recently the Scallion Latte. TikTok users are jumping on the trends, but believe it or not, before the mega viral social media app, our drink choices were already being influenced through television and film. Here are the origins of eight adult beverages that film made famous — including recipes for you to try at home.

Vesper MartiniJames Bond

Espresso martinis may be the latest trend in the martini world, but the Vesper Martini, named after one of James Bond’s love interests, was a fixture in the James Bond Series and a catalyst for the popularity of this classic. His signature drink first appeared in the 1953 film Casino Royale. Shake 7 oz of Gordon’s Gin, 1 oz Vodka and 0.5 oz Lillet over ice, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a pin slice of lemon peal and viola! You have made yourself the perfect 007 cocktail, and just remember that’s “shaken, not stirred.”

Old FashionedMad Men

Don Draper, played by John Hamm in the popular series, Mad Men, may be solely responsible for the resurgence in popularity of the Old Fashioned. Nary was there a moment where he did not have one in his hand, or a scene where he could be found making one. Don’s Old Fashion is particular, as he preferred rye whiskey over bourbon. If you want to be like dapper Don Draper, toss two dashes of Angostura bitters onto a sugar cube and dissolve it into an Old Fashioned or lowball glass, place a large ice cube in the glass and add 1.5 oz of rye whiskey. Garnish with an orange slice or cherry.

Cosmopolitan -

Sex & The City

Any time I see someone order a Cosmo I immediately think of Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker’s character on the hit HBO Series, Sex & the City where its on-screen debut came in season 2. In 1999, following its appearance on the show, sales of Cosmopolitans skyrocketed! If you are looking to attract your own Mr. Big and want to appear as effortlessly cool as the ladies from Sex & the City, it’s a relatively easy cocktail to make. Combine 1.5 oz vodka, 1 oz cranberry juice, 0.5 oz Cointreau, 0.5 oz lime juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass and garnish with lime.

White RussianThe Big Lebowski

Single Malt ScotchParks and Recreation

No mixology lessons for this one. Lagavulin, Single Malt Scotch, is the favorite beverage of Pawnee, Ind. Parks director Ron Swanson on NBC’s hit show Parks & Recreation which ran seven seasons beginning in 2009. Nick Offerman who plays Swanson delivers his classic dead pan when ordering, “Lagavulin. Neat. Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets.” If you are looking to partake in Ron Swanson’s proclaimed “nectar of the Gods” just a quick tip- Lagavulin 16 Year Old is his drink of choice.

The Dude abides, and so did the public, when it came to drinking White Russians! As Jeff Bridge’s character in the 1998 Cohen Brothers film The Big Lebowski was being forced into a vehicle, he had the famous line, “Hey! Careful man, there’s a beverage here!”

That beverage: The White Russian. Fill an Old Fashioned or lowball glass with ice, then add 1.5 oz vodka and 0.5 oz coffee liqueur. Pour 1 oz. fresh or heavy cream over it and slowly stir. Best enjoyed in a cardigan and boxer shorts.

Duff BeerThe Simpsons

America’s favorite cartoon dad, the loveable oaf Homer Simpson is classic for his nightly beer on the couch and frequent trips to Moe’s Tavern for the fictional brand, Duff. It seems to be a play off of the basic, middle-class beverage of choice for most dads on the go, a basic can of cheap beer. I would assume Bud or Busch would be the real-life equivalent, but maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s closer to Hamms. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a cold one. Mmm, beer.

French 75Casablanca

With so many cocktails to choose from in the classic 1942 film, Casablanca, how do you settle on just one? Well, I am going with the French 75 because of the famous scene where Humphrey Bogart’s

character, Rick Blaine, following a runin with his ex lover and her new beau, requested a sip. Instant classic.

According to popular histor y, the French 75 was named agter the French Army’s 75mm filed gun and was first concocted by English soldiers fighting in France during WWI using only the raw ingredients they had. So what’s in the drink? Shake together 1 oz London gin, 0.5 oz lemon juice and a splash of simply syrup with ice. Strain not a champagne flute and top with champagne! Garnish with a lemon or orange at twist.

These were just a few of the drinks that saw a renaissance due to film and television, but the list goes on, from Anchorman Ron Burgandy’s “Scotchy scotch-scotch” to Hannibal Lecter’s Cianti, movies, film and now social media continue to influence global consumer habits. I hope you will have some fun making some of these and trying them for yourself. The most important thing to remember is to drink responsibly, make sure to consume lots of water and don’t drink and drive. 

Happy mixing!

Profile of a MINN MUSICIAN

The Twins of Franklin

Best friends Laura Duschane and Becky Shaheen, who perform under the moniker The Twins of Franklin, grew up with music in their bones. Becky, whose dad was in a band, instilled the love of music into her and her siblings. Laura, whose mom was a “life-is-a-musical” type (her description), passed along her love of music and vocal chops to her middle daughter, a girl who loved the limelight.

Laura recalls early home videos of a young 4-year-old Laura shoving her sister out of the way to ensure her voice could be heard above anyone else’s. Trips to her grandparents’ place in Indiana served as fodder for Disney sing-alongs, no doubt a young performer in the making. Becky describes her dad “shoving music into [her] hands, but it was easy.” Piano and guitar lessons were a standard; making music, a fact of life.

It only made sense that when the time came to choose a career path, both women chose music. Laura began her journey at the U of M

“We’re obsessed with each other … We met and I consider her my soulmate. I am convinced we’ve lived different lives together. Maybe that’s witchy, maybe that’s nonsense, but I like to think that.”

-Laura Duschane

At college, they sang together in various vocal ensembles where people would note that they sounded similar (second sopranos) and looked similar (wore similar shaped glasses at the time, hence “Twins”). At college their friendship evolution took them from ensemble members, to roommates, to best friends and finally bandmates. Laura ended up singing on Becky’s solo project, “Becky Shaheen and The Night Hour”. Becky sang on Laura’s (“Laura Lou”) before deciding the right move was to become a duo.

Nevertheless, they were able to produce lemonade from pandemic lemons, writing the bulk of their new album during that three-year time period.

The aptly titled “This Life” is a collection of tunes ranging from a slow heavy burn to driving rock jaunts, all highlighting the messiness and wonder of existing in a world where beautiful joy regularly bumps up squarely against darkest sadness. They do not shy away from tough subjects, in writing or performing. Laura wrote the poignant song “The Wait” following a miscarriage, giving voice to the all-too-common experience, a unique corner of grief that few discuss and fewer write songs about.

It could’ve easily turned into a tune fans could only hear via recording, but alternatively the Twins have made it a setlist standard. When asked about the potential difficulty of performing the song, Laura acknowledged the privilege she has to speak about it now, as the mother of a 2-year-old. The fact that she’s not still trying to conceive makes it easier to talk about and perform the song. Her child, a bright light at the end of the dark.

led her to meeting Becky Shaheen.

As a band, they started playing together in 2013; an official Facebook band page was birthed in 2017 and their first album in 2020. The album release show for the debut, “Low”, was right before the world shut down, squashing their plans of promoting the album.

of them. It was like putting the bows on the presents.”

That said, if the band throws out an idea that the Twins aren’t into, they don’t hesitate to veto it. A benefit of playing together for a decade and change (and the fact that one member is family) makes it easier to reject suggestions that don’t work. Band conflict, while inevitable, is something the Twins are well versed in navigating. To meet them and see their unmistakable bond, Laura explains

“We’re obsessed with each other … We met and I consider her my soulmate. I am convinced we’ve lived different lives together.

Motherhood is a throughline on the album. “This Life,” written by Becky, reflects on the simple joys she found during the pandemic, one being the birth of her daughter. The song “Worry” masterfully outlines the various stages of worrying as a parent from pregnancy, to adolescence to adulthood. Great songs encompass universal stories and deep meaning using few words, and that’s what this tune does so beautifully.

Laura and Becky are not precious about songwriting. They are not afraid to be serious or silly or off-the-cuff. They’re also not concerned with genre boxes, only finding the true nature of the songs. Folks who were fans of the band’s first album, “Low”, will find a notable genre difference to “This Life”, which lends itself to folk-pop/Americana stylings.

Gone are the synth pop bops and whirs, the space now taken by guitars, piano, drums, bass and sometimes harmonica. Their intention to create a sound more true to their live show started with the songwriting. Typically, Becky and Laura write separately and bring nearly finished songs to each other to get input. This time around, they involved the band in the process. The band includes Becky’s dad and Becky’s boss (from her day job), both men over the age of 60, making for a unique multigenerational collaboration.

As Laura puts it, “They wanted to know if we wanted to hear their 80s rock and roller spins on these so I think that brought a fun tone to some of them and informed some pieces

Maybe that’s witchy, maybe that’s nonsense, but I like to think that.”

All that would lead you to believe they rarely disagree, but when probed, they say it’s actually the opposite. They disagree plenty but have found ways to reconcile disputes before any major rift may be caused. It speaks to their love for each other and how well they know and trust one another.

It’s that type of trust they also wish to gain from their fans. The Twins want their shows to feel akin to therapy, a safe space for emotions to run free, where folks feel seen and heard. They are not afraid to approach the difficult complexities and unsavoriness of life head on, and in full view of an audience.

They describe their songs as “self-helpy, selflovey, without being preachy,” which is to say, they’re all about collective vulnerability as a superpower. Playing music as a cathartic release; the weight of the world lifts with each confession, each harmony. Their stage is a therapist’s chair, the space in front, the proverbial couch, everyone is welcome to let it go.

“This Life” is available wherever you consume music. Find The Twins of Franklin on tour this summer. 

Sarah Osterbauer is a die-hard music lover. When she does her budget each month, food comes after concert tickets. Find her on twitter @ SarahOwrites.

SARAH OSTERBAUER

but “got completely lost” on the vast campus and massive class sizes. She transferred to Augsburg after freshman year, a sliding door moment that

Through a SOMINN LENS

They are community gathering spots. A place to socialize, catch up on the latest happenings, swap stories, share a bunch of BS, celebrate or drown sorrows, all while swigging a cold one.

They are small town bars, mainstays of Main Street. Source of booze and burgers and a whole lot more.

Recently I went small town bar hopping. I never downed a single beer, never even set foot inside a bar.

Rather I focused on the exterior character of the bars, Legion clubs and single brewery I found on my loop from Warsaw to Morristown, Waterville, Elysian, Kilkenny,

Bar hopping in Southern Minnesota

Montgomery and Shieldsville. Identifying and other signage, business names, buildings and settings drew my interest, hinting at stories of place, people and experiences.

Seven southern Minnesota small towns, each with an assortment of establishments that draw in locals and out-of-towners to drink and dine. Happy hour. Burger night. Minnesota-made Heggie’s pizza, a bar staple. Or in-house handmade pizza. Mass-produced and Minnesota craft beers. Mixed drinks.

And even Jell-O shots.

Promotional signage proclaims “Great food.” Or “Best Jello Shots in Town Sold Here!!!” at the Monty Bar in Montgomery. And even the “BEST DAM BAR FOR DAMN SURE” at Archie’s Bar in Morristown which does, indeed, have a dam.

The Thirsty Beaver in Elysian, honoring its

beaver namesake, promises “a dam good time.”

As do most bars. BINGO, BARGO, meat raffles, televised sports, game rooms, live music, karaoke… Lots to do besides drinking, dining and conversing.

These are the go-to places with their kitschy and vintage signage, their creative business names, their side patios and decks, their welcoming vibe that draws in the characters, the campers, the cabin crew, the community to enjoy a night out on the town. Or a late afternoon drink on a summer day.

Small town bars—the place where everybody knows your name. And if they don’t, they’ll still welcome you with good times, good food and good drinks. Cheers! 

American Legion Post #149 in Morristown advertises Heggies pizza for sale at the bar and eatery.

The Happy Hour Bar & Grill is one in a row of three bars in downtown Montgomery.

Vintage signage identifies a stately corner bar and hotel in Montgomery.

The Thirsty Beaver Bar is located in downtown Elysian in a cluster of drinking and eating establishments.

CONTINUED page 18

American Legion Post #79 with food, drinks and more in Montgomery.

There are a lot of places to buy alcohol in Montgomery, including at these three bars within close proximity to each other.

Montgomery Brewing, the only brewery in the seven small towns I toured.

The Channel Inn, a bar and restaurant along the shores of Cannon Lake in Warsaw, offers indoor and outdoor drinking and dining.

LEFT: Employees of a Mankato-based beer distributor unload beer at bars in Elysian.

The upper exterior of The Palace Bar in Montgomery.

Tucker’s Tavern Sports Bar & Grill anchors a corner in downtown Elysian along the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail.

The White Front Saloon in the heart of downtown Montgomery.

The Corner Bar seems to be a common bar name. Fischer’s Corner Bar, since 1985, sits on a corner along Main Street in Elysian.

Signage identifies American Legion Post #149 in Morristown, which serves up food, drink and fun.

Elysian’s American Legion Post #311 serves food, drink and more.

DT’s 118 Saloon is appropriately located at 118 South Third Street in Waterville.

In Shieldsville, The Lodge on Lake Mazaska. (Photos by Audrey Helbling/Prairie Roots)

The Toy Box Saloon in Kilkenny features a school bus-themed driver’s seat bench outside the front door.

Archie’s Bar in Morristown follows the town theme of “Best Little Town by a Dam Site.”

A vintage Hamm’s beer sign graces the Waterville Event Center, formerly Main Street Lounge.

Winners to be crowned! BEST BEST 2024 of the

All the votes have been tallied and the winners will be announced in our BEST of the BEST section that will be inserted in the Faribault Daily News, Northfield News, Owatonna People’s Press, Kenyon Leader, Waseca County News, St. Peter Herald, and Le Sueur County News on July 10 and 11.

Signs that have been around for years outside Old Town Tavern in Morristown.

Waterville’s Corner Bar.

Old Town Tavern in Morristown sits across the street from the Legion.

A vintage 7UP sign fronts The Channel Inn in Warsaw.

What to WATCH

Glen Powell solidifies his movie star bona fides in ‘Hit Man’

Wfandom of their star power.

here have all the movie stars gone?

You know, the superstars who draw us into the multiplex based solely on our

In the 1980s and 90s, we had a bunch of them. Actors like Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, and Tom Hanks could make bad movies and still turn a profit. Take Julia Roberts.

Fresh off of her starmaking role in Pretty Woman (streaming on Hulu), Roberts made the criticallymaligned Sleeping With The Enemy. Despite the fact that it’s basically a glorified Lifetime Movie of the Week, Sleeping With The Enemy broke the record (at the time) for the highest opening weekend for a female lead, ended up making $175 million at the box office, and was the seventh highest grossing film of 1991. And it was all because America loves Julia Roberts.

and burned just the year before. And even with all the great publicity (high profile Saturday Night Live hosting appearance, performing “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars), Ryan Gosling’s The Fall Guy was such a major disappointment, it sent box office prognosticators into an existential crisis just a few weeks ago.

But, there are signs that a new generation of movie stars may be emerging. A film like Wonka (streaming on Max) would have never grossed $632 million worldwide without Timothee Chalamet. And while Challengers is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of the year (and 2024’s best so far, in my opinion), it’s still a tense, psychosexual, at times downright weird sports drama made by an artsy and highbrow filmmaker (the great Luca Guadagnino) that likely would not have raked in $142 million worldwide (as of this writing) without Zendaya at its center.

And then there’s Glen Powell –*the* movie star of 2024.

Powell began 2024 with an unexpected box office triumph — the romantic comedy, Anyone But You (streaming on Netflix). Starring alongside another rising star, Sydney Sweeney, Powell is the perfect fit for a rom com — handsome, charming, comedically effervescent — and it’s this star power that propelled an otherwise fairly mediocre film to blockbuster heights, grossing a whopping $220 million worldwide. And this July, Powell will return to splashy summer popcorn entertainment with Twisters, the standalone sequel to the 1996 classic, Twister (streaming on fuboTV).

Wedged between these two big theatrical releases is Hit Man (streaming exclusively on Netflix), Powell’s latest collaboration with director Richard Linklater. In this deliciously fun noir romp (with a deeply philosophical conversation at its core), Powell plays an undercover police contractor posing as a hitman who falls in love with a young woman (played by a seductive Adria Arjona) who wants her abusive husband killed.

Hit Man made a splash and earned rave reviews last year at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Netflix took note and acquired the distribution rights for a headline-making $20 million at

It’s also just a genuinely hilarious, satirical, fastmoving, sweet and sexy comedy-thriller perfect for the early days of summer. And once again, an already-good movie is elevated by Powell’s performance. In many ways, Hit Man is a buffet of his talents, showcasing him in a number of different modes — from the dopey professor he plays at the beginning of the film, to the various goofy hitman personas he tries on throughout the middle, to the suave heartthrob he’s playing by the end. Powell truly has that inexplicable “it factor” like the superstars of yore.

If Twisters proves to be a box office smash, it will be the coronation of a new movie star and the solidification of 2024 as the year of Glen Powell.

Still not convinced that Glen Powell is the next big thing? Check out these three great films:

Everybody Wants Some!! (2016) – While Hit Man is easily one of my favorite movies of the year so far, Everybody Wants Some!! still remains my favorite Powell-Linklater collaboration. A hangout comedy that follows a college baseball team in 1980s Texas, Everybody Wants Some!! is a meandering minimasterpiece and the slightly less-stoned sibling to Linklater’s other classic hangout comedy, Dazed and Confused. Stream it on Amazon Prime, Paramount+, or MGM+.

Fast for ward to today, and our most bankable movie stars are still a cadre of older-generation actors (Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks). Meanwhile, we have very few true-blue, surefire millennial and Gen Z movie stars. I know, I know … what about Jennifer Lawrence? Or the Barbie duo, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling? Yes, these are very famous and very talented and very beloved stars, but none of them have proven that they can open a film with the same level of profitability and pop cultural relevance as the old guard.

Jennifer Lawrence’s sex comedy No Hard Feelings was not the smash Hollywood hoped it would be. Margot Robbie may have broken box office records with Barbie, but Babylon crashed

After years of playing bit parts in both big and small movies (big: The Dark Knight Rises, small: Stuck in Love), Powell had his breakout as “Hangman” in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick. Since then, he has made smart career moves that have set the groundwork for A-list movie stardom.

TIFF. But Hit Man should not be dismissed as “just another straightto-Netflix movie.” This is real film made by a real director (Linklater is one of the greatest of all time) that examines the malleability of identity.

Set It Up (2018) – To be clear, I have nothing against Anyone But You. It’s fun, it’s light, and even if it’s not nearly as good as the classics (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle, Pretty Woman, etc.), it still checks off enough rom com boxes to be a charming entry in the genre. But it’s certainly not the best Glen Powell rom com. That title belongs to Set It Up — the workplace comedy with the underrated Zoey Deutch as the love interest — which is funnier, sweeter, and far more romantic than Anyone But You. Not to mention, Deutch captures the warm, likeable, and endearingly daffy energy of rom com greats like Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock; while Sydney Sweeney often comes across as stiff, robotic, and cold. Stream it on Netflix,

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – What else is there to say about a movie basically every American has seen (possibly several times) by now? It could have so easily been a catastrophe, but instead it’s one of the most purely entertaining, (literally) high-flying, rewatchable new classics of the 21st century. The rare sequel that tops the original, Top Gun: Maverick was not only a reminder of Tom Cruise’s undying allure, but a passing of the movie star baton to Miles Teller and our guy, Glen Powell. Stream it on Amazon Prime, Paramount+, or MGM+. 

Kyle Hoffman is a writer, communications and marketing professional, and lifelong movie lover from Mankato. Follow him on Letterboxd: kylejhoffman.

SOUTHERN MINN

THURSDAY, JUN 27

Water Carnival - Waseca-- 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Trowbridge Park, Waseca. Bring the whole family for a free event, full of water games, backyard games, and lots of fun. Grab a towel and be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet. Events will include an inflatable water slide, bounce house, water balloon games, a dunk tank, a water wall, face painting, art projects and more.

Summer Car Cruise-In - Owatonna-- 5-7 p.m., Owatonna Eagles 1791, 141 E. Rose St., Owatonna. Great cars, great food, great people. Proceeds benefit charity. Takes place every Thursday night JuneAugust.

GTX Duo - Janesville-- 5:30-8 p.m., Janesville Veterans Memorial Park. GTX offers not only great music but an entertaining show. Crowd involvement is a must.

Hot Summer Nights - Waterville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Downtown Waterville. Grab your lawn chair and head downtown to get rockin’ to a free band and roll-in car show.

Miller Denn - Waseca-6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St. SW, Waseca.

Muriah Miller & Mark Denn make up this Waseca-based acoustic duo coming from family bands Miller Sisters & Country Denns.

Guild Squared Reception - Northfield-- 6-8 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild, 304

Division St. S., Northfield. The goal of this exhibition and art sale is to fill the Main Gallery at the Guild with accessible, original artwork. All work must fit within an (imaginary) 12″ x 12″ x 12″ box. Work in all mediums is welcome. Both 2D and 3D work will be displayed in the gallery. All works will be sold anonymously at $30 per piece. Patrons will learn whose piece they purchased after the sale.

and breads from local bakeries. Wash it all down with a delicious cider; wine and beer available too.

Dan Schwartz & Nick Salisbury - Dundas-- 4:306:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Eye & ear catching instruments, playing roots-based melody driven mixture of songs & instrumentals, originals & Americana standards.

Traveled Ground

gs in relieving the remarkable works of John Prine and Bob Dylan. These three prolific musicians will put on a show that pays tribute to the decades-long musical careers of Prine and Dylan with special care to represent the hits and the deep cuts alike.

Teresa Peterson Author Talk - Northfield-- 6 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Travel through a garden’s seasons toward healing, reclamation, and wholeness — for us, and for our beloved relative, the Earth. In this generous collection of prose, poetry, and recipes, Teresa Peterson shares how she found refuge from the struggle to reconcile her Christianity and Dakota spirituality, discovering solace and ceremony in communing with the Earth.

FRIDAY, JUN 28

- St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Offering a unique combination of the Americana sounds from folk, blues, jazz and roots rock. Their music crosses the spectrum of the roots music scene.

SATURDAY, JUN 29

Loose Gravel Band - Kasota-6-9 p.m., Westwood Marina Bar & Grill, 1400 Lake Washington Access Rd., Kasota. Live music on the deck.

Barefoot Winos - Owatonna-6:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. The Barefoot Winos play their own distinctive brand of Blues.

Dazzling Dave YoYo Master - Faribault-- 1010:45 a.m., Central Park, 430 2nd 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 with his tricks and tips, all designed to entertain, educate, and illuminate the beauty of the growing sport of professional yo-yo.

Farmers Feast - Dundas-- 4 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. We will have grilled brats, polish, and Italian sausages made from Graise Farm Pork. Plus multiple sides featuring local farms

Sauerkraut Days - Henderson-- 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m., This annual community festival is kraut focused, but it includes all the usual fixings, like music, food, drinks, a parade and much more. Activities run from June June 28-30. facebook. com/HendersonSauerkrautDays

There energetic, soulful, live performances has captivated their audiences all over the Midwest. It’s Blues with an attitude. What makes the band so unique is their depth of talent, blend of musical influences, and the ability to tie it all together

Trius JazzDundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. KAVE is a jazz duo comprised of two top tier Twin Cities jazz players, bassist Kevin Clements and Dave Hagedorn on the vibraphone, who happen to have deep connections to Northfield. They are joined by Reid Kennedy, drummer extraordinaire, who, after much time and several trial runs, completes the talented group with a bangin’ rhythm section.

Dylan/Prine Tribute Band - Waseca-- 5-8 p.m., Join Kaleb Braun-Schulz, Mark Braun, and Ben Scrug-

Relativity - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. The band combines outstanding vocals, guitar, mandolin and fiddle to create a fun and eclectic evening of music. Relativity encourages the audience to choose what they want to hear.

Speakeasy Fundraiser - Faribault-7-10 p.m., Stone Orchard Events, 3050 197th St. E, Faribault. Calling all rum runners, flappers, bootleggers, and moonshiners. Come out and support your local history with a night of dancing, drinks, fun, and more as we step back into the 1920s. Tickets at the RCHS museum.

CONTINUED page 22

Cabin of Love - Owatonna-- 7 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Cabin of Love is Julia and Nathan Bloom, a folk pop duo in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Since 1998, the Blooms have performed.

LovePhunk 4 -

day night with Travis Thamert at 9 p.m., but the majority of the activity is Thursday, including bounce houses, yard games, face painting, food vendors, drinks, a horseshoe tournament, music, the grand parade, a water fight, bean bags and keg throws, and the fireworks at dusk.

FRIDAY,

JUL 05

and more. Tram rides, live music, 1919 Root

ice cream and fun for the whole family. Tickets online.

Kasota-- 8 p.m., The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota. YuWish presents: Ark & Grum, Sterling Banks, Crowfather, Megan Oh!, and Chris Karl. Free.

Local Legends Live Music Night - Owatonna-- 8 p.m.-1 a.m., Reggie’s Brewhouse, 220 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. VooDoo Bender at 8-10 p.m. and AZBY at 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. This is going to be a blast with some of the area’s favorite local musicians. No cover charge. Support local live music.

SUNDAY, JUN 30

Dale Haefner & Michael Olson - St. Peter-- 4-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Dale Haefner & Michael Olson are colleagues with the Minnesota State University, Mankato Performing Arts department. They’ll bring years of experience and excitement to the patio for their first performance together.

MONDAY, JUL 01

Aztec & Nahuatl Dance & Culture - Le Sueur-- 1 p.m., Le Sueur Community Center, 821 E. Ferry St. Kalpulli Ketzal Coatlicue will provide an introduction of the Nahuatl/Aztec representations of life through dance. This event is geared for all ages, free, and open to the public.

WEDNESDAY, JUL 03

Tony CuchettiNorthfield-- 6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. From the Jazz, Motown, and Opera he inherited from his parents, to the Rock, Blues, and Funk his siblings passed down, the only things really missing from Cuchetti’s palette were Country and Folk, but discovering them became the basis for his later development in the current wave of Americana music.

Old Country Boys - West Concord-6:30-8 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. These young boys decided they wanted to play old country. Come ready to hear the music of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and more.

THURSDAY,

JUL 04

Fourth of July Celebration - Wanamingo-- 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Don’t miss the rib feed Monday evening at 4 p.m. or the Fire Department dance Wednes-

Fourth of July CelebrationBlooming Prairie-- 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Blooming Prairie. It’s the 50th anniversary of the celebration. Wednesday, July 3 features a Schiffelly Puppets show and a night-time street dance with Tri-8. Thursday, July 4 includes antique tractors, a fine arts fair, kids activities, a beer garden, music, a parade and fireworks. Saturday, July 6 includes a tractor pull in the morning.

Fourth of July Celebration - North Morristown-- 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m., It’s the oldest Fourth of July Celebration in Minnesota at 131 years, and it’s filled with music, food, drinks, parades and more. The main stage headliner is Buffalo Alice playing from 7:30-11:30 p.m.

Old Fashioned Fourth - St. Peter-- 10 a.m.10:30 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. One of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the region, it includes a parade at 10 a.m. The Picnic in the Park starts at noon with the Color Guard presenting the National Anthem, a concert by the Govenaires, Ben Findley emceeing the kids contests and hot dog contest, and live music with Powerhouse, a 10-piece band that performs hits from the decades up to now. The Party in the Park begins at 6 p.m. with the beer tent and live music by Rock of Ages, which plays favorites going back all the way a few decades. Fireworks at dusk.

LakefestWaseca-- 1210:30 p.m., Music all day and into the evening, a freedom run for humans and dogs, a bean bag tournament, food vendors, drinks, a boat parade, kids activities, volleyball and bean bag tournaments, vintage trucks, and, of course, fireworks. Music includes Melissa Schulz, Miller Denn, Los Tequileros, and AZBY Band.

Fireworks, Food Trucks & FoamNorthfield-- 5-10:30 p.m., Windy Willow Farm, 9748 110th St. E., Northfield. Take a trip to the farm, enjoy the foam, get some food and watch the fireworks.

Fireworks Display - Northfield-- 10 p.m., Fireworks display at dusk to celebrate Independence Day.

Fireworks DisplayFaribault-- 10 p.m., Fireworks display at dusk to celebrate Independence Day.

Patriots Skies Fireworks DisplayOwatonna-- 10 p.m., Fireworks at dusk to celebrate Independence Day.

Wendt Sisters - Janesville-6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. The Wendt Sisters play a wide variety of music from the 50s to the 90s, country and gospel.

Russ Franek and the Biscuits - Faribault-7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Kick butt cover band that’s got something for everyone.

SATURDAY, JUL 06

Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo - Dundas-- 4-7

p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo (MJGD) consists of David Martin and Serdar G. The duo plays their interpretations of jazz standards.

Farmers MarketsSoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October. The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.

Traders

MarketElko New Market-- 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Traders Market, 10675 260th St. E., Elko

Free RangerDundas-- 4-6 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Fresh, unique sound forged in blues & rock on harmonica and a variety of guitars and world percussion instruments. Never boring with a mix of blues, swing, rock covers and originals.

Mary Cutrufello Duo - Northfield-- 6 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. Rocker-meets-Country artists Mary Cutrufello invites Randy Engelmayer on bass to make a brilliant duo playing Mary’s originals and classic country gold.

New Market. This is a vintage themed indoor/outdoor event with 250+ vendors, 12 food trucks, ample free parking on a 30 acre farm in Elko, Mn. There is antiques, vintage, collectible, salvage, farmhouse style vintage decor, vintage jewelry, vintage clothing, vintage military, art work, mid century, pyrex. Runs July 5-7. Admission fee at gate. facebook.com/tradersmarketelko

Fourth of July

Celebration

- Elysian-- 9-2

a.m., The events runs over multiple days, starting with a pageant on Tuesday, July 2 and the Fireman’s Street Dance on Wednesday, July 3. Thursday, July 4 includes medallion hunts, turtle races, the grand parade and arm wrestling. Friday night features Bingo, Neon Live performing music and fireworks at dusk. Saturday includes a kid’s fishing contest, a bean bag tournament, a boat parade, and the Chamber street dance featuring Johnny Holm Band. Sunday include a pancake breakfast, a flea market, a car show, a water war and a kid’s power pedal pull.

KillinTime - St. Peter-6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Brad and Mark play country 50s and 60s variety.

Chris Mims - Owatonna-- 7-10 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. From the soulful rhythms of blues to the electrifying melodies of rock and country, Chris Mims is a versatile guitarist and singer with over 30 years of experience.

SUNDAY,

ShenanigansKilkenny-- 2-5 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. Shenanigans is a father-daughter acoustic music duo.

JUL 07

Prairie DayWaseca-- 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca. Step back in time and immerse yourself in the simplicity of prairie life while exploring our dugout, hovel, log cabin, one-room schoolhouse, country church,

The Donner Party - St. Peter-- 4-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Playing the roots of classic country.

Beer,

Kate DiCamillo

FRIDAY, JUL 09

Author Talk - St. Peter-1 p.m., Virtual. A Visit to Deckawoo Drive with Mercy Watson and Kate DiCamillo (preK-2nd grade), Newbery Medal Winner for “The Tale of Despereaux” and New York Times bestselling author of over 30 books for children. View online or go to the library to watch the livestream. saintpetermn.gov/299/Library

WEDNESDAY, JUL 10

Cryote - Northfield-6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. CRYOTE (cry-yo-tee) is a musical project by producer Joshua J Schmidt.

The Soul TrainWest Concord--

6:30-8 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. Bringing funk and soul to the stage.

Lead female Vocalist: LaSonya Natividad; male vocals and lead guitar: Rocky Schultz; keyboard player and background vocals: Vivian Lark; drums: Gabriel Green; bass Player: Erich Lechelt; sax: Chris Wessel; sax: Dan Waugh; trumpet: Warren Bandel; trombone trumpet: John Sievers; keys/synth: Vince Hodges.

THURSDAY, JUL 11

Summer Car Cruise-In - Owatonna-- 5-7 p.m., Owatonna Eagles 1791, 141 E. Rose St., Owatonna. Car enthusiasts are invited to come on down and show off their ride, check out the cars or just enjoy a summer night out.

Outdoor grilling station with hot dogs, brats or burger baskets.

4-Way Taste Festival - Northfield-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Red Barn Pizza Farm, 10063 110th St., Northfield. Sample the best offerings from craft brewers, winemakers, distillers, and cider makers in Northfield and the surrounding area. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful farm and great live music, all while supporting a great cause. Tickets online.

Downtown Thursday - Owatonna-- 7 p.m., Central Park Owatonna, 100 E. Main St, Owatonna. Eat great food from food trucks and local establishments,

listen to live music on two stages, find unique items at handcraft booths, shop local businesses, enjoy fun family activities, and much more.

The Shifties and Red Dirt Road play as part of the 11 at 7 Concerts in the Park series. Red Dirt Road is one of Upper Midwest’s premier rocking country live bands.

FRIDAY, JUL 12

Ron & Steve Unplugged - Northfield-- 7-10 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. Good tunes and bad jokes. Ron & Steve perform music from the 50s-80s.

Member Show

Pathways PaloozaOwatonna-4 p.m., Steele County Fairgrounds, 18th St SE, Owatonna. A night packed with rockin’ tunes, ice-cold brews, tasty treats, and awesome games. Admission free, but donations to Community Pathways welcomed.

Bad Mama - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Bad Mama channels the inner funk of Carrie Jennings on vocals/tenor sax, Martha Larson on vocals/cello (bass), and Allyson Wopata on drums. These three music mamas join forces to celebrate being a gentle, creative soul in a fast-paced, complex world. This is the trio’s musical debut.

Paradise Gallery Opening - Faribault-5-7 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Carlander Family Gallery — Ivan Whillock; Lois Vranesh Gallery — Anne Spooner; K&M — Sandra Sargent, Creative aging class instructor Tami Resler, Kate Langlais; Corey Lyn Creger Memorial Gallery — Kate Langlais students. Exhibition runs July 8–Aug. 24.

The JamBoyz - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Live music performed upbeat music acoustically

Hot Jazz for Decent People - St. Peter-7-8:30 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Eric Zimmerman kicks off the summer series. Admission is free, with donations to the Arts Center encouraged. Guests are encouraged to bring their own seating and refreshments. Coolers are permitted; no glass bottles. The St. Peter Public Library will host a free book giveaway at all shows.

SATURDAY, JUL 13

Waseca County Free Fair-- 9 a.m.10:30 p.m., Waseca County Fairgrounds. All the usual fixings of a county fair, including food and drinks, live music, a carnival, animals, kids activities, races, car shows, and much more. Runs through the weekend. wasecacountyfreefair.com

Reception - St. Peter-- 3-5 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. The largest member exhibition in the region, installed by Gallerist ARK and Gallery Chair Joel Moline. Complimentary refreshments will be available and THC beverages will be for sale.

Swing 6625Dundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Classic Django-style swing and French café music, featuring guitar, vocals and accordion.

International FestivalFaribault-- 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Central Park, 430 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. celebrating some of the many local cultures. Free to attend. Entertainment; flag ceremony; foods from around the world; arts and crafts; international music; infor booths.

Pride in the Park - Owatonna-- 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Dartt’s Park, Owatonna. A celebration of pride.

10-Year Anniversary Celebration - Le Sueur County-- 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Scavenger

hunt, food trucks, vendors, free photo booth, Bingo, author Therese Dotray-Tulloch with signed copies of her book, and music from TJ Brown (noon to 2 p.m.) and Prairie Potluck Band (4-6 p.m.).

Murder Mystery - Janesville-- 6 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. “Til death do we part” is a hilarious murder mystery featuring the lovely Maria Farewell who is about to marry renowned slimeball Dirk Slimansky. Between parents, friends, and siblings, no one wants this marriage to take place, but one person is willing to the greatest extreme to make sure it doesn’t. Tickets online.

Shasta KingsOwatonna-- 6:308:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. The Shasta Kings are Scott Rogness (guitar/lead vocals) and Bruce Watts (guitars/vocals) playing a wide variety of songs from classic rock to new country.

Crimson RootsFaribault-- 7 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Crimson Roots formed to bring a fresh mix of music to the Minnesota music scene. They offer a blend of tight harmonies, solid guitar skills and a truly unique ability to arrange music. From The Beatles to U2 and nearly everything in between, there is something for everybody.

CONTINUED page 24

Crazy for You!Faribault-- 7:30

p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault.

A city slicker falls for the hometown girl in this Tony Award-winning romantic comedy featuring cowboys, showgirls, high-energy production numbers, and a glorious score from George & Ira Gershwin. Director Rachel Haider. Tickets online.

Rue & Sabien - Northfield-7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West.

Gary Rue is well known to regional audiences for his work with FAB 6, Nip and Tuck, and the Sensational Sleepers, but he has also enjoyed a 50 year career as a songwriter for national and international artists. Randy Sabien describes his sound as “Bob Wills meets Art Blakey (be-bop) meets the Allman Brothers (blues rock).” Tickets online.

Comedian De’Angelo Funches - Wanamingo--

8:30 p.m., The Spot Sports Pub and Grill, 112 Main St., Wanamingo. A 90-minute comedy show.

SUNDAY, JUL 14

Extravaganza Weekend - Owatonna-- 8

a.m.-4 p.m., Village of Yesteryear, 1431 Austin Rd, Owatonna. Enjoy live music and a chuck wagon supper in the Village on

Saturday night at $10 per person. Then on Sunday, come experience a Rendezvous encampment, watch live demonstrations, and listen to period music. The afternoon includes tomahawk throwing, horse-drawn wagon rides, crafts, and food available for purchase.

Garden TourNorthfield-- 11

a.m.-4 p.m., Each July, selected homeowners in the Northfield area open their gardens to the public. This garden tour is organized, advertised and hosted by the Garden Club. This is a ticketed event, the proceeds from which go to support the grants program and other charitable activities of the Northfield Garden Club. Tickets are $10 and available at each site. Takes place July 13 and 14. Check out this year’s tour at northfieldgardenclub.org.

Jazz FestivalNorthfield-- 1-9 p.m., Way Park, 720 1st St. West, Northfield. Three bands led by Northfield resident jazz musicians: pianist Laura Caviani, vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn, and trombonist JC Sanford. This will be followed by a jam session at Imminent Brewing in downtown Northfield hosted by Jack Schabert’s Blue Ox Trio. All events are free and open to all ages.

Summer Tractor/ Truck & Semi Pull

- Le Sueur County-2:30 p.m., Pioneer Power Showgrounds, 34605 265th Ave., Le Sueur. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets & sunblock and get ready to hear the engines roar as they chase down the track in pursuit of the winning pull. There will be many classes of Farm Stock, Hobby Stock, Open, Pro Farm, Improved Stock, Hot Farm and King of the Hill with tractors, trucks and semis. $10 admission fee.

The Quantum MechanicsSt. Peter-- 4-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. A pseudoscience jazz fusion band from this dimension.

sound and to have FUN doing it! Now, the band’s entertainment-driven, crowd-pleasing performances are better than ever and have helped to propel Incognito to “Favorite band” status throughout Southern Minnesota and surrounding regions. Tickets online.

TUESDAY, JUL 16

Luke Smith and Ben Cook-Feltz - Waseca-1-7 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Live music, wood fired pizza and walking trails. Luke Smith plays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. and Ben Cook-Feltz from 5-7 p.m.

A Hard Day’s Night - Le Sueur-- 6 p.m., American Legion Park, 155 S. Park Lane, Le Sueur. Dance along to this high energy, authentic Beatles tribute performance featuring their Sgt. Pepper-era tunes. This event is for all ages and will be at the American Legion Park.

WEDNESDAY, JUL 17

Circus Manduhai - St. Peter-- 10:30 a.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. This performance features foot juggling, acrobalancing, contortion, juggling (diablo, balls, clubs, spinning plates) unicycle, hula hoops, and audience participation. Chimgee, the owner, came to America from Mongolia in 1991 to work for Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus. She has been teaching circus skills to Twin Cities children for over 20 years at Circus Juventas, a local circus school.

Old Country Brothers Duo - Northfield-6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. These young boys decided they wanted to play old country. Come ready to hear the music of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and more.

Incognito - West Concord-- 6:30-8 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. Since their debut in 1985 the goal of

Live Music Ahead of MOMF - St. Peter-- 7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. The warmup to Minnesota Original Music Fest. Lineup includes local songwriter, Beret Finkin, local favorites The Landing Party, featuring Terry Stark, Rick Dimmel, John Mayer and Jim Henry, and an up and coming funk/jazz group, Pocket Lounge, with Shailin O’Brien, Jack Sherwood and Charlie Kotasek.

THURSDAY, JUL 18

Emma JosephineWaseca-- 4-7:30 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Singer/songwriter Emma Josephine captures a folk-inspired sound through soulful storytelling.

Third Thursday Downtown - Northfield-- 5-8 p.m., Downtown Northfield. Crafters, artists, bakers, music, food and more. Rain or shine.

Mike FugazziWaseca-- 6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St. SW, Waseca. Vocalist and harmonica player Mike Fugazzi has redefined harmonica in the Midwest for 20+ years. As a Hohner Artist, “HarpNinjaMike” excels in rock, country, and blues. His unique style blends soul singers, rock guitarists, and blues harmonica greats.

Songwriters in the Round - St. Peter-6:15-7:45 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Mal Murphy is a Mankato-based singer/songwriter who released her first (and highly anticipated) EP in December of 2023 entitled, “Grow Up.” Her sound is decidedly Americana — acoustic accompanying rich vocals with an occasional harmonica. Mal’s guests at this year’s event include Annie Mack, Vinnie Donatelle, and Kaleb Braun-Schulz.

Sally Franson

Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. A celebration of her new novel, “Big in Sweden.” A charming, wise, and laugh-out-loud funny novel following an American woman competing on a Swedish reality show in an attempt to discover her roots.

FRIDAY,

Stanley the Sea Serpent Puppet Show - Le Sueur-- 10 a.m., Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. Stanley the

JUL 19

Incognito has been to provide quality music with a unique

Sea Serpent is the Biggest, baddest, creature in the sea until one day, he sees a human throwing garbage into his sea layer. He must go to the surface and be transformed into challenging characters to confront the culprit and save his home. This event is geared for ages 5+.

Siama’s Congo Roots - Faribault-- 10-11 a.m., Central Park, 430 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. For this very special morning concert, Siama Matuzungidi will be joined by a full band, including singer Dallas Johnson, a keyboardist, a bassist, and a drummer. Siama’s upbeat music is enjoyed by all ages and this exciting band is top tier so don’t miss it.

Gem Days

- Owatonna-10 a.m.-9 p.m., Owatonna. Join for a weekend full of music, food, shopping, entertainment, kids activities and more. Runs July 18-20.

The 48-Hour Band Challenge - St. Peter-- 5 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Two days prior, musicians from across the state all put their name into a lottery and are randomly placed together to form new bands. They have 48 hours to put together a performance that you will get to enjoy this night. The winner gets to perform on the Minnesota Original Music Festival main stage.

Tyler Herwig - Kasota-- 6-8:45 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. One voice and six strings in the back of his truck is all it took to launch Tyler Herwig into one of the Mid-West’s favorite acoustic artists. Prepare to be entertained as Tyler takes the stage and share’s his incredible talent through original music and stylings

of songs from all genres. You will be captivated by his soulful voice and energizing performance.

Barn Boys - Janesville-6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Live guitar and vocals, playing old country.

Downtown Car Cruise - Faribault-- 6-9 p.m., Downtown Faribault, Central Ave. Bring your car or just yourself to the Faribault Car Cruise Nights in the heart of Historic Downtown Faribault. The rumble of a souped-up motor, the shine of chrome bumpers, pinstripes, fender skirts, great music and food. Enjoy music from Self-Titled at the July 19 event.

Latin Dance NightNorthfield-- 7 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. At each event, a dance instructor will teach different Latin dance styles from 7-7:30, then the dance floor will be open from 7:30-9, as guests move their feet to a playlist created especially by Natalia Torres Camargo. The instructor this time is Victoria Nolasco, teaching Cumbia and Norteño.

formances in Minnesota Square Park. Music Saturday features headliner Blue Earth Collective (jazz/fund; 8:40 p.m.), plus Jordan Johnston & the Elevation (R&B, Soul, Pop; 7:20 p.m.), Waking Hours (Indie Rock; 6:20 p.m.), and many more starting at 11 a.m. Music Sunday includes headliner The Big Wu (ultimate jam band; 5 p.m.), plus Tom Lieberman (acoustic; 3:40 p.m.) and more starting at 11 a.m. There is plenty more taking place throughout St. Peter from July 17-21. Check it out at mnomf.org.

SATURDAY, JUL 20

Andy Tackett - St. Peter-6:30-9:30 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. For years audiences have raved about Andy’s smooth vocals andmastery of the guitar as well as his song selection. Andy continues to draw inspiration from musicians such as Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Jim Morrison, Oasis, The Eagles and The King himself.

Dowser - Faribault-- 7 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Band led by John Kurtis Dehn. With influences like Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Damien Rice, Dehn’s music is melodic, passionate, and introspective, and his performances are personal and captivating.

Rice County FairFaribault-- 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Rice County Fairgrounds, 1814 Second Ave., Faribault. All the usual fixings of a county fair, including food and drinks, live music, a carnival, animals, kids activities, races, car shows, and much more. Runs through the weekend, July 17-21.

Minnesota Original Music Festival - St. Peter-11 a.m.-10 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Now in its third year, MOMF will again culminate in a full weekend of per-

Matt Arthur - Dundas-- 4-6 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Bask in the rustic folk-swamprock’n’roll with a hint of country western.

Jeff Reinartz - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Jeff Reinartz is a singer/songwriter from Austin, Minnesota. He’s been performing live for over 30 years and is a veteran of several bands. He is now a solo acoustic performer and has released two EPs that were produced by Scotty Rohr at Zension Studio in Austin.

Better Mistakes - Dundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Better Mistakes is a three-piece micro brassish band committed to making a joyful sound.

Bryan Anderson - Wanamingo-- 7 p.m., The Spot Sports Pub and Grill, 112 Main St., Wanamingo. Acoustic guitar music on the patio.

CONTINUED from page 25

Crazy for You!Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault.

Barbara PiperNorthfield-- 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. This special solo show will highlight her original music, vocals and personal stories. With great depth and nuance, Minnesota singersongwriter Barbara Piper artfully balances emotion and execution with her voice. Tickets online.

SUNDAY, JUL 21

TUESDAY, JUL 23

WEDNESDAY, JUL 24

Secret Garden Tour - Owatonna-- 9 a.m., Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. The gardens should be beautiful in July for the annual Secret Garden Tour. Check back at oacarts.org/specialevents for more details.

Bruce Bednarchuk - St. Peter-2-4 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter Composer, arranger, studio musician.

Elizabeth Acevedo - St. Peter-- 1 p.m., Virtual. Learning the Power of Poetry with Bestselling Author Elizabeth Acevedo (9th-12th). National Book Award Winner and New York Times bestselling author of “The Poet X” and “Clap When you Land.” View online or come to the library to watch the livestream.

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.

NEVER MISS AN EVENT

Cole Diamond - Northfield-- 6:308 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601

Chippendale Ave., Northfield. Mixing up an unlikely concoction of vintage rock & roll and outlaw country, Cole Diamond is, depending on when you ask, either the stage name for singer/songwriter Ryan Otte or the collective handle for Otte and his Band.

The Stella VeesWest Concord-- 6:308 p.m., Berne WoodFired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. The StellaVees Blues Band plays a well blended mixture of Chicago and West Coast style blues, RnB, and “Funky Shizz”. Much of the repertoire is original so the experience is fresh but familiar. Tickets online.

SOUTHERN MINN

BEST BEST 2024 of the

Winners to be crowned!

SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

‘Long Haul,’ ‘Stowaway’ and more book reviews

Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers

by Frank Figliuzzi

c.2024, Mariner $25.99 272 pages

The guy on the road next to you takes up a lot of room. At least he’s not taking his good old sweet time; he has a place to be and a time to be there. You respect that; the uptake is that he’s hauling freight, an essential job that’s hard work. He takes time to do it right. And as in the new book, “Long Haul” by Frank Figliuzzi, sometimes he takes a life.

So let’s say you’re on a driving-vacation this summer. You’ll expect to see grass, billboards, and fast food outlets. You don’t expect to see a dead body but, according to the FBI’s Highway Serial Killings Initiative (HSK), the rate of murder along our nation’s highways has increased, possibly due to a shocking fact: over the years, Figliuzzi says, the FBI believes that they’ve linked 850 murders of young women to a suspected 450 over-the-road truck drivers.

This came as a surprise to Figliuzzi, who says he’s the kind of guy who writes what he knows. For this book, he learned about these crimes by following an FBI agent and learning about the ViCAP, a database that helps officials link crimes to find connections. Many killers have “signature” ways of killing or of leaving a corpse; those commonalities, found in the ViCAP, can help solve crimes.

You’ll Leave this World with Your

Butt Sewn Shut and Other Little-Known Secrets, shocking Facts, and Amusing Trivia about Death and Dying

by Robyn Grimm c.2024,

Castle Point Books $19.00 256 pages

You can’t take it with you.

All the lovelies you own, bling you’ve collected, all the heirlooms you’ve hoarded, they won’t accompany you to wherever you’ll go after you’re gone. Years of precious belongings will be left behind for your heirs to squabble over. Meanwhile, you’ll depart much like you did when you entered – and as you’ll see in “You’ll Leave This World with Your Butt Sewn Shut” by Robyn Grimm, you might not like it.

Death and taxes. They say those are two things you can’t escape and that’s undoubtedly true. Take, for instance, the fact that nearly 3 million Americans die in any given year. “That’s a lot of bodies,” says Grimm, but it’s not – not really, when you consider that it’s less than one percent of us, overall.

He also spent a week with a driver he calls “Mike,” who works for a company out of Chicago. Short of driving the truck, Figliuzzi helped secure loads, helped find food and a place to park, and he learned what it’s like to be a driver – the isolation, trouble and frustration, the traffic, and the happy chance to make good money.

And he learned about the women who are addicted, often trafficked, sometimes underage, and who make up the list of murder victims. Generally, the FBI says that each of them falls into one of three categories of sex-worker, and all of them are vulnerable...

The guy on the road next to you has more wheels than you have. And though the vast majority of his brethren are good guys, it’s possible that he could be carrying more than freight. In “Long Haul,” you’ll see that he might be carrying fright.

Truly, this book should come with a “buckle up” warning. With the eye of a former lawman, author Frank Figliuzzi pulls together three different categories of examination – the drivers, the women, and the crimes – and he shows how the understanding of each is essential, and not just in crime-solving. You’ll be glad Figliuzzi took a week-long ride with “Mike” because what he learned about the trucking industry could affect your vacation this summer. You’ll be glad that there are people who make it their jobs to help trafficked women. And if you’re a true crime fan, well, what are you waiting for?

“Long Haul” doesn’t feature a lot of gruesomeness, but it’ll make the hair on your arms stand at attention. It’s funny, too, and cautionary. Find it – you’ll be glad you took the time.

So you’ve breathed your last. Now what? Hold on, because Grimm says you’re not dead until cardiac death is pronounced. If you lived in either of two states, your family can legally argue that you’re still alive, if brain death has been pronounced. If there’s a “mortis” involved – and there are four of them –that also means something to those in the know.

Some of us just... go. Others go in “gory detail,” and Grimm shares “Dumb Ways to Die” to lighten things up a bit. If you’re an astronaut, for instance, check the outside temperature. Be careful of metal drinking straws, watch what you eat, don’t ride in a boat full of modest people, step away from the cliff, and seriously: don’t play with explosives.

You never know where you’re going to end up when you die – it’s not like you can bicker about it after you’re gone – but the possibilities are unlimited. You can go unclaimed, literally “branch out,” or become a mushroom. Try the world’s oldest and largest cemetery in Iraq. Sit on a shelf awhile. Stand around a catacomb for a few centuries, or just “try to contain yourself.”

Nobody comes back with pictures. No one brags about how the weather was, or talks about that maybe-celebrity sighting on a random sidewalk. No, the place to learn known things about the final unknown is inside “You’ll Leave This World with Your Butt Sewn Shut.”

Taphophiles (someone “with a passion for all things funereal”) take note and let this book entertain you with bite-sized bits of history, science, culture, and mystery that are addictingly strange, compulsively browse-able – but rarely cringey. Soft-hearted readers, in fact, will be glad to know that author Robyn Grimm shares these things about death and dying using restraint mixed with irreverence and a dose of humor that isn’t misplaced, letting readers learn and laugh. Placing a nail in the coffin, so to speak, are quotations about death that’ll leave you thoughtful, maybe somber, certainly reflective.

From the title alone, you’d be right in thinking that “You’ll Leave This World with Your Butt Sewn Shut” is a book for teenagers and adults with curiosity in their veins. Find it, and you’ll want to take it with you.

Stowaway: The Disreputable Exploits of the Rat

by Joe Shute

c.2024, Bloomsbury $26.00 272 pages

Eeeeeeek!

You spotted a shadow that clung to the floorboards as it disappeared down the tiniest of holes near the cabinet – a hole you never noticed, a hole that’s practically like a garage. You’ve seen that shadow before and basically ignored it, but now you know what it is and that makes you shudder. It explains the scratching in the ceiling and things missing from your pantry. As in the new book “Stowaway” by Joe Shute, meet your new neighbor.

Manchester terriers were bred long ago for one main thing: to kill rats. Joe Shute got to see that in action one night when he went out with a rat-hunter and his two dogs, and though Shute didn’t get to see the dogs in action, he knew the end result.

That’s fine for a lot of people who think a dead rat is a good rat. Most folks, in fact, don’t have nice things to say about the rodents that steal our food, destroy buildings, and cause millions in damages. Rats spray urine and that’s super-disgusting. They carry disease.

“Rats,” Shute says, “are like ghost stories: everybody has one.”

His is this: Shute once very much feared rats. Just the idea of them gave him the heebie-jeebies but as he began learning more about them and writing this book, he realized that he needed to live with a rat, for research purposes. He and his wife brought home a pair of adorable and soon beloved rat pups, Molly and Ermintrude.

Rats, Shute says, are extremely fecund: one breeding pair, according to a journalist in 1813, could result in 3 million young in three years’ time. All those rodents, collectively, have “sacrificed more in the pursuit of understanding the human condition than any other” creature, but they’ve also been the carriers of several deadly diseases. Through the centuries, humans have tried to fix that, to eradicate rats, but the best (and most repeated) advice Shute got was to learn to live alongside them.

We need rats and “... rats need us...”

Judging by what author Joe Shute learned while writing “Stowaway,” most people fall into one of two camps on this subject: extreme fascination or extreme freak-out. People love rats, or they detest them, with very little middleground. Don’t expect them to leap out at you here, though; instead, you’ll start to think about them in a unique manner.

Over and over, Shute asks readers to consider the “hubris” of humans and “what right... we have to deem which animal is permitted to share the earth with us, and which is not?” To contribute to the discussion, he swallows his fear, creeps into a waterside tunnel, tickles rats to hear them giggle, watches them work, and goes on a hunt for them. It’s a brave, open-minded narrative that leads readers on a journey of curiosity, wonder, and a few good grimaces. Be prepared to consider your position, and this is a book you’ll enjoy Whether it makes you shudder or not, “Stowaway” is worth a pEeeeeeeeeek!

Conne ct.Experience.Create.

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Saturday,July27at7:30PM

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