SCENE JUNE 2024

FEATURES:

6 Here, there, everywhere a fair What’s coming at 2024 county fairs throughout Southern Minnesota.

8 Fun in the Southern Minn sun this Festival Season

A look at upcoming festivals in SoMinn this summer

12 Small towns abound with celeb rations

Some area community celebrations you’ll want to check out .

HAVE A STORY IDEA OR CALENDAR EVENT?

Reach EDITOR Philip Weyhe at editor@southernminnscene.com 507-931-8579 or follow him on Twitter @EditorPhilipWeyhe

COLUMNS:

7 Mollywood BLVD Musicians against cancer: a local man’s mission.

11 From the MUSIC SIDE Bad Bad Hats releases ‘Bad Bad Hats’.

14 Rants & RAVES Never again.

18 Through a SoMinn LENS The art & community of car shows.

TO ADVERTISE? Deanna Boland - 507-340-5806

deanna.boland@apgsomn.com

DESIGNER Kate Townsend-Noet

21 What to WATCH ‘Snack Shack’ joins the summer movie hall of fame.

29 SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

- Adult Books on Magic, Tarot, Witches, and More

- The Blues Brothers - Extinct

- Sick! The Twist and Turns Behind Animal Germs

- Selling the Dream

- Preserved

- The Jazzmen

MORE COUNTY FAIRS

Across the Southern Minn Scene region, there are a number of county fairs to visit and enjoy this summer. Check them out.

BLUE EARTH COUNTY FAIR: JULY 25-28

GOODHUE COUNTY FAIR: AUG. 6-10

LE SUEUR COUNTY FAIR: AUG. 15-18

RICE COUNTY FAIR: JULY 17-21

STEELE COUNTY FAIR: AUG. 13-18

WASECA COUNTY FAIR: JULY 10-14

During the five-day event, Nicollet County Fair organizers estimate that over 15,000 people will walk through their gates, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of everything a Southern Minnesota County Fair has to offer.

For Ann Volk, who has been the Nicollet County Fair Board Secretary since 2008, those highlights include great food and exciting grandstand events.

She said her personal can’t miss events are, “Harness racing on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday will be the truck and tractor pull, on Friday and Saturday the demo derbies, and on Sunday the auto races.”

This year’s Nicollet County Fair will take place Aug. 7-11, 2024, at the fairgrounds in St. Peter.

Volk said it takes a lot of hands to help make the fair so successful each year.

“It takes 22 fair board members (unpaid), staff from the County Extension office and well over 100 others for entries, judging, cleaning, event set-up, parking attendants and lot helpers, answering phone and grandstand event workers,” Volk said.

They even have 20-25 students on the cleaning crew.

With 40 indoor vendors and 12 food vendors, it makes sense that there would be all hands-on deck to make things run as smooth as possible. Especially when a lot of the events

can push the arenas to capacity.

“The biggest challenge is getting everyone in the grandstands for the demo derbies. We do sell out sometimes. The next biggest challenge is getting the grandstand event registrations in ahead of time to make programs for the crowd,” Volk said.

Even in small town St. Peter, visitors to the fair come literally from all over the world.

“We have guests from all over Minnesota, neighboring states and even some international guests. We had some who have competed in the demo from England,” Volk said.

For the thousands of people who do attend the county fairs every year, Volk said a majority of them claim it is to satisfy their taste buds. But that’s just one of the many reasons the fair is a summertime pastime much like baseball and apple pie.

“People like to enter their items in the open class or compete in grandstand events. Many people claim they are “here for the food.” The families love the carnival rides, the petting zoo, and the animals from the farms. I think people just like to gather in their community and celebrate the summer by having fun together,” Volk said.

For Nicollet County, like many other local county fairs, the rising attendance numbers seems to back those claims.

“We have purchased more bleachers over the past four years, and we still pack the place. Of course, we were not able to have a fair in the COVID year, but the year after was probably one of our highest years ever because people were so desperate to get out

again. We seem to increase every year now,” Volk said.

Even though the next fair is only months away, it can never be too soon to start thinking about the Nicollet County Fair for 2025.

“When the fair is over, we start booking for the next year right away! No breaks for the fair board and planning,” Volk said. For more information on the 2024 fair, go to nicolletcountyfair.com and follow them on Facebook at “Nicollet County Fair.” 

Ashley Hanley is a wife and mom of three kids under the age of five in North Mankato. When she’s not handing out snacks or kissing boo-boos, you can find her cheering on her favorite Minnesota sports teams and is a firm believer they will win a championship in her lifetime!

By ASHLEY HANLEY Guest Contributor

A cow rests during the Nicollet County Fair. (Photos courtesy Ann Volk)

ABOVE: A corn dog from Crescent City. (Photo courtesy Ann Volk)

RIGHT: A girl and a lizard at the Nicollet County Fair.

Mollywood BLVD

Musicians Against Cancer: a local man’s mission

When musician and local Owatonna car dealer

Todd Uptadel woke up New Year’s Day, he decided he

had to do something different this year. He has been playing music for years and been involved in a lot of cancer related functions as an auctioneer throughout his life, but recently, he said, “Cancer became very personal. It attacked friends, it attacked family, I have lost friends.” He felt compelled to do something about it. As he prepared for an upcoming gig, he decided that he would collect tips throughout the year at all his weekly performances and donate them back to the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group to be doled out through their Community Fund and call it “Musicians Against Cancer.”

The goal with his newfound organization, Musicians Against Cancer, is to help cancer patients receive support while they are going through treatment; everything from hotel stays, gas cards to food and other basic needs are generously provided through the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group fund. In essence, this is helping local families with basic expenses, rather than toward cancer research. “Let’s just be honest,” says Uptadel, “there’s going to be some people who are going through this, they won’t be around when they figure this whole thing out, but they’ve still got day-to-day expenses, they’ve got to cover a lot of work, some people have lost jobs or have had to quit.”

Todd’s music style is a little bit of everything. He has recorded an album mostly of covers, including gospel, but will take requests and always plays crowd pleasers and songs you are sure recognize all throughout Southern Minnesota. In fact, just a few weeks ago he hosted a Red Solo Cup Jam Session at the Moose Lodge in Albert Lea where over a dozen other musicians attended and jammed out to huge tip totals. The goal is to raise $10,000 for

the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group by September, and he is well on the way to reaching that goal; “Right now we are over $8,000 already.” Part of how he has raised so much in such a short time is that he has had local businesses, and even local couples reach out and match dollar for dollar. He expects to exceed his goal by a long-shot.

Todd is looking for more venues to perform at or any organizations interested in matching tips up to $500 for a night, in fact, Owatonna Motor Company just matched at a recent show.

“Owatonna Motor Company, where I work, I couldn’t do this without them,” he said. “They allow me to leave work early- to work for a company like that is just huge.”

Uptadel updates his live music schedule regularly on the Musicians Against Cancer Facebook page, so as you are looking for live music to take in as you get out and about during these warmer months, be sure to find him and help a great cause. He has performed everywhere from Geneva Bar & Grill, Sparetime Entertainment to the Owatonna and Albert Lea Eagles clubs. Upcoming shows include:

June 7: The Thirsty Fox, Albert Lea

June 8: RJ’s, Ellendale

June 12: Winddown Wednesday, Albert Lea

June 21: Three Oak Winery, Albert Lea

June 22: Sparetime Entertainment, Owatonna If you are interested in hosting a performance or tipmatching, reach out to him on his Facebook Page, Musician’s Against Cancer or email: toddu1021@gmail.com. 

Fun in the Southern Minn sun FESTIVAL SEASON this

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

Minnesotans would be forgiven if they believe summer already arrived in mid-May, when tree leaves fully unfurled, the sun shone in earnest and temperatures allowed shirt sleeves and flipflops to reappear en masse.

But it’s really June when activities in our state heat up, and that includes festivals; there are enough of them to fully occupy those who like to squeeze all the juice and pulp out of summer right up through Labor Day.

Whether you wish to revel in BBQ, fine arts, advocacy, farm implements, music or liquid refreshment, there’s something on tap to suit your individual tastes and preferences.

What are you waiting for? Pull out those calendars (or fire up that smartphone) and start planning! Here are details about one festival to consider adding to your “summer fun” list.

Vintage Band Festival, Northfield; July 26-27

Since July 2006, band enthusiasts from near and far have made Northfield’s quaint Bridge Square a regular destination.

An ambitious board of directors, headed by artistic director Paul Niemisto, assembles an allband lineup that glues guests to their seats and keeps the tunes flowing constantly—so much so that some attendees become torn between

Minnesota Pipes and Drums performs at the 2023 Vintage Band Festival in downtown Northfield. (Photo courtesy of Vintage Band Festival)

Director Michael Halstenson leads the Lake Wobegon Brass Band through

Northfield Bridge Square in 2021 for

ninth Vintage Band Festival.

grabbing food from nearby restaurants or concessionaires or catching the next ensemble.

What a dilemma!

“We’re in the process of lining up some food trucks,” promised Joy Riggs, Vintage Band Festival board secretary, “though we like the downtown restaurants to benefit from the festival traffic as well.

“But people aren’t inclined to step away from the music for too long.”

With an every-other year schedule that alternates between a three- to four-day fest and a one- to two-day option (2024 will be a two-day lineup), the VBF is a prominent regional music attraction.

Officials report that around 2,200 people attended the one-day 2023 VBF, with the multiday options prompting upwards of 13,000 folks to show up and hear everything from regional community bands to renowned professional groups and polished military ensembles.

Strap on your camp or lawn chair (some seating is provided but bring your own along if you want to ensure a spot to sit and listen) and prepare for an auditory delight; Riggs has a lot to share about this season.

“Hot, hot, hot” is the only appropriate descriptor for Northfield on Friday night, July 26. Kicking off the weekend at 5:30 p.m. is a new-to-the-VBF troupe: the Twin Cities-based KLibre24.

“KLibre24 is an 11-piece Latin group that plays salsa and reggae-type numbers,” said Riggs. “They play at a lot of different Twin Cities venues, including the Minnesota State Fair, and they’ll make for a really fun kickoff.”

Following KLibre24 at 7 p.m. Friday will be Mariachi Mi Tierra, the oldest mariachi band in the Twin Cities.

“They’ve been here before and people love them,” said Riggs. “Having two Latin groups in a row will be terrific.”

VBF’s Friday night is capped with an appearance beginning at 9 p.m. by the McNasty Brass Band, which fuses the Minneapolis sound with New Orleans vibes to create a high-energy,

dance-inducing show. Maybe those lawn chairs will be empty after all?

“Come on Friday and be prepared to dance and move—at least as much as Midwesterners can,” laughed Riggs, admitting that Minne-

NicolletCountyFair

sotans aren’t always known for “dancing like nobody’s watching.”

Saturday’s (July 27) lineup runs straight through from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., running in conjunction with Northfield’s acclaimed River Walk Market Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CONTINUED page 10

“The River Walk Market Fair organizers are really great, and they adjust some locations for the day to accommodate the band set-up,” said Riggs. “They enjoy having the festival attendees

The Mariachi Mi Tierra band performs at Bridge Square. (Photo courtesy of Vintage Band Festival)

The Vintage Band Festival is always a good excuse for couples to spend time together. (File photo/southernminn.com)

CONTINUED from page 9

check out the vendors.”

Look for the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band of St. Paul from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday in its firstever VBF appearance, though an area favorite, the New Prague Area Community Band, gamely takes the top o’ the morning slot from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

LakeFest, July 4, Waseca’s Clear Lake Park, Waseca LakeFest on Facebook. Food, firework, events including music acts from noon to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. (Melissa Schulz, Gary West and MN Players, Los Tequileros, Miller-Denn and AZBY Band); boat parade from 3 to 3:30 p.m.; fireworks at dark. Munch on Kuchenbecker’s mini-donuts, Lucia’s Cocina, Caribbean Jerk and more.

Another don’t-miss combo is the jazzy “The Freier Department,” led by jazz specialist Ethan Freier and featuring some of the highest quality jazz instrumentalists in the region. They’re due on stage from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Riggs also mentioned The Medalist Concert Band, which is slated for a 90-minute set starting at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

“They’re very well thought of, and they’re the largest band we’ve ever had with 60 players,” said Riggs.

Logistically, Riggs says the one- and two-day festivals, which are concentrated in Northfield’s centrally located, downtown Bridge Square rather than acts being spread around three or more locations during the multi-day festivals, are easier to coordinate and execute

“But after 18 years, we know what to do to make it all work,” said Riggs, adding that the VBF is free to all comers though, naturally, on-site donations and VBF button purchases are welcome.

“We make it as low-barrier as possible.”

Though 2025 would otherwise be the VBF’s next multi-day event, the organization is postponing the more sizable affair until 2026, both to coincide with its own 20th anniversary year and the USA’s sestercentennial (that’s 250 years of American democracy, for the uninitiated).

But first—2024.

“We hope to have a great crowd,” said Riggs. “We know people will be entertained, because they always are.

“Come and see one band—or stay all day.”

Be assured that the band(s) will play on.

For more information about the Vintage Band Festival, or to view a complete schedule, visit vintagebandfestival.org.

Here are some more summer festivals to enjoy this summer across the Southern Minn Scene region:

Pride in the Park, June 1, Northfield’s Central Park, northfieldpride.com. Vendor and exhibitor booths; entertainment; health information; food and drink.

Solstice Outdoor Music Festival, June 21-22, Mankato’s Land of Memories Park, mankatosolstice.com. Bands from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. Ticket proceeds benefit local charities. Food, drink and camping available.

4-Way Taste Summer Fest, July 11, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Red Barn Farm, 10063 110th St. East, Northfield, northfieldrotary.org/page/4way-taste-festival. Sample offerings from 15 to 20 area craft brewers, winemakers, distillers and cider-makers. Food trucks on site, live music, ticket proceeds benefit Rotary Club projects.

Minnesota Original Music Festival, July 17-21, St. Peter, various locations, mnofm. org. Featuring numerous local musical artists/ composers; a Songwriters in the Round event; a 48-Hour Band Challenge; workshops; food and drink.

Bavarian Blast, July 18-21, New Ulm, bavarianblast.com or NUbavarianblast on Facebook. Bands (including Chayce Beckham, 8:30 - 10 p.m. July 18), multiple entertainment stages, polka, beer, a decidedly German flair, a “stein-holding contest” (8 p.m. July 20) and a Sunday parade.

26th annual RibFest, Aug. 1-4, Vetter Stone Amphitheater, Mankato, ribfestmankato.com. Ribs from Lightning BBQ of Austin, Texas; Big Boned BBQ; Carolina Barbeque; and Porky Chicks. Prizes awarded for Best Ribs, Best Pulled-Pork and People’s Choice. Music acts including Rodney Atkins, Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Gin Blossoms & Toad the Wet Sprocket and Parrothead Paradise.

Blue Collar Festival, Aug. 2-3, Teepee Tonka Park, Faribault, bluecollarfestival.com. Blue Collar Marketplace, food vendors, 12 hours of live music on Aug. 3.

Pioneer Power Show, Aug. 23-25, 34605 265th Ave., Le Sueur, pioneerpowershow. com. 51st annual show featuring threshing and plowing, silage-cutting, broom-making, antique and classic tractors, children’s playground and barnyard, steam and diesel engines, rock-crushing, straw-baling, kids’ pedal-pull and more. Pioneer power tractor pull at 2:30 p.m. both Aug. 24 and 25. Music (country, folk, a Johnny Cash tribute and more) each day. Multiple food vendors on site, ranging from cheese curds, pork and dumplings, pizza and Mexican options to malts, funnel cakes, homemade pie and mini-donuts. 

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

From the MUSIC SIDE

Bad Bad Hats releases

‘Bad Bad Hats’

Bad Bad Hats, the Minneapolis-based indie/rock/ pop band comprised of Kerry Alexander and Chris Hoge, dropped their latest album, “Bad Bad Hats” (Don Giovanni Records) in April.

It is their fourth album and it is the perfect summer listen.

Some people look forward to the great summer beach read or the big blockbuster movie that everyone will have to see. But I don’t like reading books, and movies are too long to keep my attention, so I most look

forward to the perfect summer album.

This album will become what I put on in the car when I’m driving home from work on Friday night and mentally preparing for a weekend. A weekend of, well, I’m a homeowner in Minnesota so my summer weekends are generally filled with projects around the house that can’t be easily been done in the frigid days of winter, usually in preparation for the frigid days of winter.

But, having the right soundtrack for those tasks is imperative. The soundtrack needs to feel like summer. It needs to be bright, sunshiny, and a little bouncy. I want it to keep me motivated and feeling good.

I have decided the new Bad Bad Hats album is going to be my go-to for summer 2024. This album feels particularly tight and solid, musically speaking. The creative sounds and catchy riffs are infectious. And I don’t mean in a COVID sort of way; I mean in a way that stays stuck in your head for hours after you hang up your leaf

blower and dandelion picker.

My current favorite track is ‘TPA’ (which I believe refers to the Tampa International Airport). The video is the perfect blend of sweet and funny that I have come to expect from this band. And who can’t relate to a line like “a strip mall with a nail salon”?

But, who knows? Maybe I’ll be on to a new track by next week.

Maybe ‘Let Me In’ or ‘My Heart Your Heart’ will be what is bouncing around my head while I pull weeds and organize the garage. By no means am I suggesting that this album is only good to labor by. Perhaps some of you who rent, or still live with Mom and Dad, can listen to it while riding your bike on the shores of one of the many beautiful lakes in Minnesota, or while grilling out with friends. I harbor no ill will toward you. Nope, none at all. What I am saying is this is a fabulous album with beautiful, catchy songs sung in Kerry Alexander’s beautiful, soft voice. It will, at once, calm your nerves and pump you up. I’ve even listened to it at the gym to make those last couple of hip abductions feel a little less like torture and little more like self-improvement.

Whatever you have to do, or get to do, this summer, consider taking “Bad Bad Hats” with you. The album, not the band; I’m sure they have other things they need to do. 

LEFT: Attendees can enjoy live music and sumptuous food from vendors throughout the weekend during Smokin’ in Steele. (File photo/southernminn.com)

with

Small towns abound celebrations

By PHILIP WEYHE Scene Editor

It’s coming up to summer in Minnesota. The season where we pack in as much outdoor time as humanly possible, before it’s time to stay inside again. We can finally shift to “what’s going on in the area” time.

A staple of Southern Minnesota summer culture are the celebrations unique to each community.

It just depends on how far you want to drive to enjoy whatever that particular town has to offer. There is something for everyone. From seasonal food and flower celebrations, to recreations of times gone by, here are some charming small-town festivals that are well worth the jaunt.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS

across the Southern Minn Scene region

Owatonna Smokin’ In Steele (May 31June 1): It’s all about the barbecue and the blues at this annual festival, but you can also check out antique tractor and cruise-in car shows, food vendors, a beer garden and kids activities. smokininsteele.com

Morristown Dam Days (May 31-June 2): All the usual festival fixings, including a carnival, live music, food and drinks, parades, fireworks, car shows and more. Music from Old Country Boys headlines Friday night, and a street dance with Five Minute Major headlines Saturday night. facebook.com/ morristowndamdays

Waterville Bullhead Days (June 7-9):

Classic car roll-in, street dance, fireworks, craft fair, fishing contest, bingo, food trucks, live music and more. Sunday there is a Grand Parade. watervillemn.com/bullhead-days

Winona Steamboat Days (June 12-16): Winona’s annual community wide celebration at Levee Park; enjoy five days of carnival, live music, a grande parade and fireworks. winonasteamboatdays.com

Janesville Hay Daze (June 13-16): Includes a wrestling show, lots of live music, a parade, an antique tractor show, a thrift store fashion show, Bingo, a carnival, food stands, sporting tournaments, and more. janesvillemnhaydaze.weebly.com

Faribault Heritage Days (June 13-15): Parade, craft fair, kids activities, live music,

food trucks and much more. faribaultheritagedays.com

Cleveland Cherry Creek Day (June 15): Music, food, a car show, family activities and a parade. Cherry Creek Days - Cleveland, MN on Facebook

Henderson Sauerkraut Days (June 2830): Kraut eating contests, hummingbird gardens, an owl parade, car shows, and all the usual stuff, including live music, food stands, a beer garden, Bingo, kids activities and more. facebook.com/HendersonSauerkrautDays

St. Peter Old Fashioned Fourth (July 4): Celebrate the holiday with one of the biggest festivals around, complete with a massive parade and music/food/drinks all day long. St. Peter Area Chamber on Facebook

ABOVE: Crowds lined the street of Morristown for the Dam Days twilight parade in 2018. (File photo/southernminn.com)

BELOW: The Le Sueur-Henderson Giants and Le Sueur lifeguards caused chaos with their water guns during the 2022 Giant Days parade. (File photo/southernminn.com)

LEFT: Before the bank raid went wrong, the James and Younger brothers gangs rode quietly into Northfield. The raid is re-enacted every year at Defeat of Jesse James Days. (File photo/southernminn.com)

The St. Peter Ambassadors offer grilled chicken at the Old Fashioned Fourth

every year.

Blooming Prairie Old Fashioned Fourth of July (July 3-4): Puppet show, 5K, live entertainment, school tours, food vendors, craft fair and more. facebook.com/BloomingPrairieChamber

Elysian Fourth of July: All kinds of fun for the whole family over the course of multiple days. facebook.com/ elysianmn North Mankato Fun Days (July 10-14): includes five days of fun for people of all ages. Fun Days offers a variety of activities including a parade, kiddie parade, carnival, softball tournaments, live music and more. northmankatoactivities.com

Winners to be crowned soon!

Josh Lawrence and Emily Walker buy some drinks from Caleb Beardsley at the Kenyon Rose Fest street dance in 2023. (File photo/southernminn. com)

sion. wabashamn.org/riverboat-days

Le Sueur Giant Days (Aug. 1-4): Big music events, a parade, fireworks and all kinds of family activities, food vendors and more. giantdays.org

Kira Leister, 6, swings through the Ninja Anywhere course at Central Park during the 2023 Faribault Heritage Days celebration. (Colton Kemp/southernminn.com)

Owatonna Gem Days (July 18-20): Ice Cream Social & Old Car Cruise-In, Crazy Days Sidewalk Sales, Kiddie Parade, Food Vendors, Music, and more. owatonnabusiness.org/gem-days

Wabasha Riverboat Days (July 26-28): Don’t miss The Katfish Kittens Car Show during the annual Riverboat Days, with the Rowdy Gents on stage at noon; free admis-

Kenyon Rose Fest (Aug. 1618): There are street dances on Friday and Saturday nights, town-wide garage sales, book sales, a vendors and farmers market, an amazing car show on Saturday. A parade features the always exciting Shriner Units. There are plenty of food vendors for the weekend and activities for all. facebook. com/kenyonrosefest Northfield Defeat of Jesse James Days (Sept. 4-8): Close out the summer with one of the most unique and popular festivals around. You have your usual carnival, food trucks, beer tents and more, but you also have bank raid re-enactments, history exhibits, theater performances and more. djjd.org 

Journalist-Copywriter-Editor-Feature Writer, Pat Garry applies his skills and experience across Southern Minnesota. Reach out at patgarry@charter.net.

of July Celebration

Rants & RAVES

INever again

n my last column about my road trip from Minnesota to Arizona, I mentioned that I would NEVER do it again. And by NEVER, I meant, “until my sister called and asked me to fly to Arizona to do it all over again in reverse.”

The initial trip was the longest, dullest, coldest trip I’ve ever taken when we did it at the beginning of 2024. We were trying to honor my Dad’s theory that everyone should “experience the real America by road tripping via bus or car.” Since my Father passed away in 1999, I feel just fine blaming him for both of my recent adventures!

The big day had arrived. The truck was packed to bursting and I was in the driver’s seat ready to take on the three-day trek back to the Midwest. I backed out of the driveway and made it to our neighbor’s house across the street just as the emergency light on the dashboard started blinking. Sadly, we had forgotten to lock the compartment under the bed of the truck before we started packing. No big deal, we’ll just unpack and repack the entire vehicle while we do the Minnesota goodbye with our neighbors. Things are off to a great start. Driving through the desert is an experience in itself. Lucky for us, this time of year, all the cactus were in full bloom and we had plenty of snacks as well as a cooler in the truck. We also had a very hairy, 75-pound German Shepherd named Axel in the backseat.

His tongue was hanging out and we had just begun the 1,639-mile trip. And as I’m sure everyone with kids or pooches knows, it’s not really a true car trip until someone throws up. We had made it 15 miles down the road when Axel honored this tradition.

Our first stop in the Texas Canyon Rest Area

(Dragoon, AZ) was magical. The landscape changes dramatically in this area to look like it should be in an episode of The Flintstones. Huge, smooth boulders stacked precariously on top of each other make it look like the American version of Stonehenge. Warning signs for poisonous snakes and scorpions abound. This is reason enough not to

go to the bathroom at this stop. Moving on, my dream from my last version of this trip, was to stop at McGinn’s PistachioLand - Home of The World’s Largest Pistachio. I mean, I was gonna need time for shopping, pistachio ice cream, logo’d attire, pictures, autographs, etc. We arrived just as it closed for the day. As the blacktop stretched on, we saw mile after mile of tumbleweeds and wind turbines. Luckily, we had a plethora of inspirational billboards to keep us alert. I felt the need to read each one out loud and question my sister about her interpretation on several of them.

Anxious? Jesus offers rest.

Jesus sets you free from the shackles of lust. God’s love is greater than your sin! War, Divorce, Wealth…what does Jesus say? I’m not sure what Jesus would have thought of all those billboards, but at least it kept the highway hypnosis at bay for a few minutes. Once the extreme boredom set in, we found ourselves keeping track of the names of all the RV’s we passed. We enjoyed imagining who owns them and what the people were like just based on the names plastered on their homesaway-from-home: The Coachman; Grayhawk; The Cougar; The Renegade; The Leprechaun; The Aescape; The Cherokee Limited; The Diplomat Monaco; Sonic Lite; The Voyager; The Bounder; The Jay Feather; Angel’s Dream; The Columbus; The Micro Minni.

Day one was in the bag. The next morning, the breakfast buffet at the hotel was great.

Everything was hot and fresh. The old duffer next to me encouraged me to try the biscuits and gravy stating that it was better than his Mom used to make. I had to explain that the idea of gravy for breakfast was something even I (a lover of gross things like Pop Tarts) couldn’t fathom. One glance into the giant vat of white coagulated sludge dotted with black pepper was about enough to make me swear off breakfast forever.

Wichita, KS was the first city we hit that was large enough to have a Starbucks on day two. I wanted my usual iced sweet cream cold brew at 7:30am only to discover it was gonna be 5:00pm until it happened. I might have mentioned my lack of caffeine 20 or 30 times during the day and by the time we arrived at the green mermaid logo, I was ready to hurt someone!

We continued our pursuit of discussing all the puzzling billboards. We spent a lot of time

trying to figure out who had the mindset to not only pitch these ideas, but get them approved by a marketing team.

Kill A Deer, Get A Free Case of Beer. Harassed At Work? Do You Have A Bunion?

what seemed like every freeway exit before we could find a hot beverage. We swore at Siri many times during our drive. It didn’t really seem to accomplish much, but it made us feel better.

Axel appreciated the dog-friendly hotels we chose. Night one was fine as we put a sheet from his kennel on the bed so he knew where his “place” was. Night two was possibly the most sleepless night of my life. We had a room right off the main entrance of our budgetfriendly motel and every time he heard a dog or a person, he growled. I petted him for what seemed like six hours while I tried to get him to calm down and go to sleep. It wasn’t like he needed to be rested as he wasn’t helping with the driving. He should have been rubbing my belly and scratching my ears.

We got zero rest, so my first stop in the morning was again, an attempt at finding coffee. This involved Siri sending us to multiple exit ramps and repeatedly yelling at us, “Make a U-turn.” I don’t know if she was drunk or just decided to take the day off, but we drove down

Once again, I enjoyed a visit to the Hooker, OK (population 1,724) Chamber of Commerce. My buddy, Robin (who I met there in January), once again told me of her Indian name connections, the mystery of the disappearing horny toads as well as her extreme bee allergy while I finished my Christmas shopping. “Hooker, OK … it’s a location, not a vocation” T-shirts for everyone.

as their fresh brewed hot coffee had no discernable coffee flavor. I was sad to miss stopping at the “Get The Funk Out Laundromat” or the “Go Chicken Go” restaurant. But a quick respite at the “Toot ‘n Totum” gas station perked me up a bit. “The Big Chile Inn” had lots of vacancies, but it was too early to call it a day, so we decided on a picnic on the side of the Rio Grande River. The last leg of the journey was only survived thanks to a sharesize bag of M&M’s. We had given up any hope of nutrition or cleanliness at this point. The car was trashed, the dog was still

pant-

ing and both my legs were asleep. We pulled into the driveway as my phone rang.

My friend wondered if I could drive her to the airport? Never again. 

Sunrise Brew (Stratford, TX) was the first time I’d had a pig-ina-blanket for breakfast. Hot out of the oven and doused in many packets of cheap yellow mustard. This would prove to be the highlight of the day

PerformanceDates: Friday,June14;Saturday,June15;Friday,June21|7:30pm Sunday,June16;Saturday,June22|2:00pm AssociatedChurch 800HavanaRd.,Owatonna,MN

MusicBy

MusicBy ZinaGoldrich

BookandLyricsBy

BookandLyrics

PresentedthroughspecialarrangementwithMusicTheatreInternational(MTI).AllauthorizedperformancematerialsarealsosuppliedbyMTI.www.mtishows.com

•OnlinegeneralpublicticketsalesstartJune1

•GeneralAdmissionSeating •In-houseboxofficeopensJune10Mon.-Thurs.5:00-6:30pm(ByPhoneOnly) 1hourbeforeshowtimeonperformancedays

Local Associate News Editor Local Sports Reporter Local Area Reporter

The Faribault Daily News (a division of Adams Publishing Group) is looking for our next newsroom leader who will lead by example, engage with our audience and community leaders on a regular basis, develop and procure content that ensures a “must read” status, and embrace the new and different as well as the tried and true nature of our business.

Audience engagement and development is a key factor in the success of our editor. Continual improvement in our printed publications as well as development of our digital platforms is critical.

The associate editor should be comfortable covering all types of news, including local government, events, features, hard news, breaking news and more. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter and a strong communicator, who is willing and able to get out in the community and make their presence felt. In the editor role, they should also be organized, responsive and capable of solving problems quickly. This full-time position also includes overseeing one contributing reporter.

For immediate consideration, please send cover letter, resume and examples of your writing to Philip Weyhe, Regional Managing Editor at philip.weyhe@apgsomn.com

The Owatonna People’s Press (a division of Adams Publishing Group) is looking for a full-time sports reporter to provide primary coverage of high school sports and outdoors news in the Owatonna area. The ideal candidate is someone who can engage readers, players and coaches in our communities and enjoy their work in the process. You must be able to prioritize your time on a busy beat and be able to quickly turn stories, balanced with the ability to create entertaining features. Recent college graduates encouraged to apply.

Job duties will be to cover and report on Owatonna athletic departments, take and edit photos from sporting events. Write game recaps and feature stories for web and newspaper. Engage audiences on social media with posting links to sports stories, photo galleries and game updates.

Must have reliable transportation.

For immediate consideration, please send cover letter, resume and examples of your writing to Philip Weyhe, Regional Managing Editor at philip.weyhe@apgsomn.com

The Faribault Daily News (a division of Adams Publishing Group) is seeking an enthusiastic and energetic journalist to cover communities in the Faribault area. The ideal candidate will have a command of basic news writing and AP style and be able to produce a variety of compelling but quick stories that cover a range of topics, from government to crime to human interest. We’re looking for someone who is tech savvy, can write for the web and social media and enjoys taking photos. This is a full-time position with a fast -paced but flexible schedule.

For immediate consideration, please send cover letter, resume and examples of your writing to Philip Weyhe, Regional Managing Editor at philip.weyhe@apgsomn.com

FESTIVALSCHEDULE

Thursday,June13

♦CityWideGara ge Sale All-dayevent.Questions,pleasecall507-333-3146

♦OpeningCeremony CentralPark-5:45p.m. FlagraisingbyCentralVets

♦RCHS OpenMuseum

Rice CountyHistorical Society- $3 Hours: Wed. - Fri.,9 a.m.-4p.m.| Sat.,10a.m.-2 p.m.

♦BeerGarden CentralPark-5p.m.-9p.m.

Friday,June14

♦FlagDayCeremony

CentralPark-5p.m.

SponsoredbyFaribaultElks

♦FlagRecycling

FaribaultAmericanLegion-5p.m.

Bringyour recycledflags forproperdisposal.

♦CityWideGara ge Sale

All-dayevent.Questions,pleasecall507-333-3146

Saturday,June15

♦CityWideGarageSale

All-dayevent.Questions,pleasecall507-333-3146

♦FarmersMarket

CentralPark-7a.m.-12p.m.

♦Dennis GareYouth FishingContest KingMillDam-9-11a.m.

Noregistration-kidsbringfishingrod,minnowsprovided,all participantsgetT-shirt.

♦PaintinginthePark withKateLanglais

CentralPark-9a.m.-3p.m.

♦ArchaicLifeways

RiceCountyHistoricalSociety10a.m-12p.m.

JoinLarryRitchieashedivesintoacollectionofBonesand StonesfromtheArchaicperiodthatlasteduntilabout6,500B.C.

♦Bingo

CentralPark-5-7p.m.

SponsoredbyFaribaultSeniorLiving.

♦Mayor’sReception

CentralPark -5-7 p.m.

♦CardboardBoatRace

FaribaultFamilyAquaticCenter-5p.m.

Participantswillraceahome-madeboat.Free

♦Paintingin the Park withKateLanglais

CentralPark-5 -8p.m.

♦CraftFair

CentralPark-3-8p.m.

♦FreeCommunityLunch

TrinityLutheranChurch-5304thStNW,Faribault11a.m.-1p.m

♦Bingo

CentralPark-5-7p.m. SponsoredbyEmeraldsatFaribault

♦ArchaicLifeways

RiceCountyHistoricalSociety10a.m-12p.m. JoinLarryRitchieashedivesintoacollectionofBonesand StonesfromtheArchaicperiodthatlasteduntilabout6,500B.C.

♦LumberjacksX-Cuttingand

AxeThrowing

CentralPark-10a.m.-6p.m.

♦CraftFair

CentralPark-10a.m.-8p.m.

♦RiceCounty Historical Society

HarvestandHeritagehallswillbeopen,freetothe public,from10a.m.to2p.m.

♦Inflatables

CentralPark-12-5p.m.

♦MusicattheBandshell

CentralPark-10a.m.-5p.m. JerryHatfield:12p.m. MadPipes:1:15p.m. AndyTackett:2:30p.m. Sawyer sDream:3:45p.m.

♦Cemeter yOpenHouse

OakRidgeCemetery-10a.m.and3p.m. ContacttheRCHSfordetails/tickets.

SPECIALEVENTS

♦MedallionHunt

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Wednesday,June12

WahpekuteDakotaHistory

TheCathedralofOurMercifulSaviour-6p.m. PresentedbyJeffJarvis

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CentralPark-8p.m.-12a.m.

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CentralPark-8p.m.-12a.m. MusicbyRagtown

♦Lordof the Things

Thinkyouknowyourareahistory?Testyourknowledgeinthe FaribaultDailyNews HistoricPlacesContest!Watchfordetails tobeprintedintheDailyNews.

Saturday,June15

BelgianHorse Rides/Cathedral Tours CathedralofourMercifulSaviour-12-4p.m.

FREERegistration & Admission

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Sunday,June16

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Through a SOMINN LENS

The ofcar shows art&

Through the years, I’ve attended countless car shows. Not because I’m all that interested in vintage, antique and classic vehicles. Rather, I focus on the details — gleaming hood ornaments, period style, sheen of bumpers, oddities. I notice curves and colors and characteristics, nuances that are more about art, design and uniqueness than about the actual operation of a collectible vehicle.

I could care less about what’s under the hood, about make and model, about rarity and value. Instead, I look mostly at the creative side. And I do so with 35

mm camera in hand. I challenge myself to find and photograph the artsy aspects of vehicles. Emblems and ornaments. Tail lights. Fenders. Personalized license plates. Even shiny chrome. Car enthusiasts take pride in well-waxed metal so I’m always cognizant of reflections.

Car collectors are a community unto their own. Enthusiastic. Proud. Engaging. Devoted to saving the past via the vehicles they purchase and often lovingly restore. I doubt they consider the creative aspect as I do when I photograph their vehicles to add to my digital art collection.

People appreciate car shows and cruises for various reasons. And mine is primarily art.

I also value these events for the sense of community they create. Coming together

on a summer evening or afternoon to view an array of eclectic vehicles. Mingling and chatting and connecting. Multi generations in one place. Car shows and cruises build community Southern Minnesota hosts endless car shows. Some weekly. Others held only during community celebrations. These are opportunities to step back in time, to view art, to appreciate restorations, to interact, and, yes, even to talk engines under the hood of a classic, collectible or antique vehicle.

Just talk art with me, the creative with the camera. The photographer who sees beyond a mode of transportation to a gallery of sculptures, abstract paintings, patterns, designs and photo opportunities. 

A SAMPLING OF CAR SHOWS IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

FARIBAULT CAR CRUISE NIGHTS, third Friday of the month, May-August, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Faribault

HISTORIC HASTINGS CAR SHOW, third Sunday of every month, May-October, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Hastings

HENDERSON CLASSIC CAR ROLL IN, every Tuesday, May 28-Sept. 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Henderson. Weekly themed nights such as Back to the 50s, Mustang Night and Hawaiian Shirt Night

OWATONNA EAGLES #1791 SUMMER CAR CRUISE-IN, every Thursday, June-August, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Eagles Club parking lot

WATERVILLE HOT SUMMER NIGHTS CRUISE IN, fourth Thursday of every month, May-August, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Waterville Many towns also have car shows during their annual community celebrations. Among those are shows at Morristown Dam Days, Elysian Fourth of July celebration (show is July 7), Dennison Days, Kenyon Rose Fest and The Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield. Car shows are not limited to collector cars. They may also feature trucks, tractors, motorcycles, rat rods, whatever organizers decide to allow and showcase at their events.

What to WATCH

‘Snack Shack’ joins the summer movie hall of fame

What we think about when we think about summer: whiling away the long, balmy days with a ragtag troupe of precocious buddies… First love… A crappy minimum wage job that unlocks coming-ofage truths… Indolent weekends at the beach marred by the occasional shark attack.

Throughout its histor y, Hollywood has used this magical season to exploit our collective thirst for nostalgia and cheap thrills.

The pantheon of “summer movies” runs the genre gamut from blockbusters and teen comedies to slashers and romantic dramas. So, what defines a quintessential summer movie?

To be counted among this hall of fame, a film must evoke memories of sun-splashed days gone by or subvert the season’s traditions or exhilarate us with childlike wonder (or fear). Yes, it needs to take place during the summer, but it also needs to *feel* like summer.

Writer-director Adam Carter Rehmeier’s “Snack Shack” (now available to rent on Amazon Prime or AppleTV) is a “summer movie” through and through. Set in Nebraska during the summer of 1991, we follow two foul-mouthed yet lovable best buds, A.J. (played by Conor Sherry) and Moose (played by Gabriel LaBelle), as they cook up moneymaking schemes, fall in and out of young love, endure the wrath of upperclassmen bullies, grapple with unexpected tragedy, and navigate the not-a-kid-not-yet-an-adult awkwardness of adolescence.

The film opens with fast-talking, almost Tarantino-like energy. Moose, the alwayscharming hustler, and A.J., the more wellintentioned dweeb, have fled their high school field trip to bet on dog races – just their latest get-rich-quick ploy in addition to poker playing and homebrewing beer. When these attempts are foiled by A.J.’s parents, they drain their savings accounts to buy the local community pool’s snack shack. Throw in an alluring new lifeguard (which, you guessed it, both guys fall for) and a secretly-tortured older-brother figure recently home from the Gulf War and, voilà, all of the familiar teen dramedy pieces are in place. Does this all sound a little familiar? It should.

capture a wistful late-80s/early-90s aesthetic. Still, despite Snack Shack’s derivativeness (in addition to the Superbad and Adventureland similarities, there are also shades of Dazed and Confused, The Spectacular Now, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), the performances are acrossthe-board excellent (LaBelle, in particular, is a star), the script is witty and well-written, and there are genuine moments of both laugh-outloud joy and tear-inducing sadness. It is a solid four-star flick that joins the summer movie hall of fame.

So, what are some of the other titles in this hall of fame? Here they are, in chronological order:

Jaws (1975) – Steven Spielberg is the most commercially successful director in history and a truly visionary filmmaker. No summer movie list can begin without his breakout hit, Jaws –the all-time classic that literally invented the “summer blockbuster.” Beautifully shot on the sun-soaked beaches at Martha’s Vineyard, this ‘70s cultural phenomenon holds up remarkably well nearly fifty years after its release. When a great white shark begins terrorizing beachgoers visiting a quaint New England resort town, the local police chief played by Roy Scheider is forced to battle both man (the crooked mayor) and nature (the infamous great white). The alternating two-note score by John Williams (duh nuh), the slow-burning and ever-tightening narrative, the groundbreaking camerawork...everything about Jaws is perfect. Even the mechanical shark looks better than most of the crappy CGI we see in today’s highbudget blockbusters. Turn this one on and let the summer thrills wash over you.

Stream it on Starz

While Rehmeier is a smart writer and steadyhanded director, Snack Shack is perhaps too indebted to director Greg Mottola’s teen movies from the 2000s. The friendship between Moose and A.J. is nearly identical to the bond between Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) in the 2007 millennial classic, Superbad. And long before Gabriel LaBelle and Conor Sherry were selling snacks at the community pool, Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart were forced to take crappy summer temp jobs at the local amusement park in Adventureland. Not to mention, all three films are shot with the same honey-toned cinematography to

Though childhood friends often drift apart, this film argues that you’ll never have friends later on quite like the ones you have when you’re twelve. (It’s worth noting that, despite his more recent duds, Rob Reiner was one of the greatest populist filmmakers of the late 80s/early 90s, directing back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back bangers: Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, and A Few Good Men)

-Stream it on Pluto TV

The Parent Trap (1998) – A classic for my fellow 90s kids! Nancy Meyers is one of the most underappreciated writer-directors in Hollywood. Her scripts are always sharp and witty, her legendary eye for interior design basically invented America’s HGTV obsession, and her films are always blockbuster hits starring huge movie stars. While Something’s Gotta Give is generally considered her masterpiece, The Parent Trap is actually her best work. A fun summer romp that begins at “Camp Walden for Girls” and eventually takes us to rainy London and the dreamy Napa Valley wine country, The Parent Trap has it all: hijinks, humor, and heart. Young Lindsay Lohan shines in one of greatest child performances ever, Dennis Quaid and the late Natasha Richardson have genuine spark (I would argue this is one of the great movie romances), Aunt Chessy (played by Abbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walter) and Butler Martin are delightful supporting characters, and Elaine Hendrix sizzles as the villainous step-mother-to-be. A truly perfect family film.

Stream it on Disney+

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) –The family vacation is a treasured (or maybe sometimes dreaded) summer tradition that was brilliantly lampooned (pun intended) in this classic, which follows the Griswold family’s hilariously arduous cross-country road trip to a California theme park. Often imitated (see: We’re The Millers, Johnson Family Vacation, RV, etc.), this Chevy Chase-starring gem not only set the template for road trip comedies to follow, but spawned five sequels (Christmas Vacation being the most popular). Perhaps some of the set pieces have not aged well (the family’s drive through inner-city St. Louis is especially cringey), but Harold Ramis’s assured direction, John Hughes’s snappy script, and Chase’s iconic performance as Clark Griswold make this a laugh-out-loud summer adventure for the ages.

Rent it on Amazon Prime or Apple TV+

Stand By Me (1986) – Four preteen friends venture into the woods of the Pacific Northwest to find the body of a missing boy in this saltyyet-sweet Stephen King adaptation directed by Rob Reiner. Stand By Me is a funny, profound, deeply nostalgic coming-of-age tale about brotherhood, family dysfunction, loss, and grief.

The Spectacular Now (2013) – Many films have tackled the Hollywood trope of “summer love,” but few have done it with as much sophistication and grace as The Spectacular Now. Miles Teller plays a popular, life-of-everyparty high school senior who falls for a quiet, bookish classmate played by Shailene Woodley. I know, I know…this sounds like every teen romance ever made. But this movie is not A Walk To Remember 2.0. Instead, it transcends the clichés of its genre with sensitivity and maturity, deftly examining love and abandonment, class and upward mobility, and the growing pains of early adulthood.

Stream it on Max 

Kyle Hoffman is a writer, communications and

professional,

movie lover from Mankato. Follow him on Letterboxd: kylejhoffman.

SOUTHERN MINN

THURSDAY, MAY 30

ArtMakers

Out & AboutNorthfield-- 7 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. Music to benefit ArtMakers, southeastern Minnesota’s adaptive arts collaborative.

Cheri Johnson and Lindsay Starck Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Johnson discusses new novel “Annika Rose,” and Starck discusses “Monsters We Have Made.” contentbookstore.com

FRIDAY, MAY 31

KAVE - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Dynamic duo KAVE (Kevin Clements on bass & Dave Hagedorn on vibes) brings their well-seasoned musicianship and talent to Chapel. Kevin’s retired from flying planes and Dave from directing St. Olaf jazz students, and we’re lucky they’ve joined forces as musicians.

-

-- 6 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N

The

Winos play their own distinctive brand of Blues. 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 all together.

Adam Moe - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Ukulele, fiddle, tenor guitar and vocals. Songs old and new.

Johnny Frost & the Heatseekers - Waterville-- 6:30 p.m., Corner Bar, 130 Main St. E., Waterville. Performing seven decades of music.

Ozzy Harris - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Ozzy Harris is a self-styled vocalist and guitarist with a long history of musical and performance experience. He has been entertaining the Twin Cities since 2005 with his versatile voice and clever renditions of everyone’s favorite songs.

CRVO Summer Serenade - Northfield-7 p.m., Oddfellows Park, 1011 Forest Ave., Northfield. The Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra is a diverse group of volunteer musicians performing symphonic music, drawn together by our love of rehearsing and performing this fine repertoire.

SATURDAY, JUN 01

inger, Mark Cameron, Lisa Mann, Stephen Hull, Avey Grouws Band. smokininsteele.com

Dam Days - Morristown-- 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Runs May 31- June 2. The annual celebration begins with a euchre tournament, a carnival, a twilight parade, beer garden and live music Friday night. The events continue Saturday and Sunday. facebook.com/morristowndamdays

Pride in the Park - Northfield-- 12-4 p.m., Central Park Northfield. A celebration of all things pride, with vendors, entertainment, food and drink, music and more.

James Wesley Taylor Gallery

Opening - St. Peter-- 3-5 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. After years of masking his sexuality and experiencing pain within relationships, especially romantic, Taylor found a way to speak his truth through visually saturated images inspired by the dismantling of ego, relationships, and Greek Mythology.

Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo - Dundas-4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo consists of David Martin and Serdar G. The group plays their interpretations of the Jazz Standards. David Martin is a guitarist and bassist, originally from Ohio/West Virginia. Serdar G is originally from Ankara, Türkiye. Fascinated by the Blues music, he moved to US to pursue music.

SUNDAY, JUN 02

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.

MONDAY, JUN 03

Smokin in SteeleOwatonna-- 12 a.m., Steele County Fairgrounds, 18th St SE, Owatonna. Takes place May 31 and June 1. BBQ & Blues. Includes music from Hudspeth & Taylor, Dust Devil Choir, Cory Dennison, Stefan Geis-

Los T - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Performing Tex Mex music.

Shindell Author Talk - Virtual-- 1 p.m., The Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library System hosts a virtual author talk with

wasecalesueurlibraries.com/getregistered Do you want to submit an event

and

Barefoot Winos

Owatonna

Walnut Ave, Owatonna.

Barefoot

Jason Helder - Kilkenny-- 2-4 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. Acoustic guitar, keys and vocals.

Book Exchange - New Prague-- 3-4:30 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Bring one book or a whole box. For however many books you bring, that’s how many you get to take home.

Pete Klug - Waseca-- 5 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Enjoy some live music with your food and drinks.

Matt

Shindell, National Air

Space Museum curator, as he introduces viewers to historical figures across eras and around the world who made sense of Mars.

Summer Kickoff - St. Peter-- 5-7 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Tour emergency vehicles; sign up for the summer reading program; eat at one of the food trucks; listen to the Bluegrass Band; check out local vendors; jump in one of the bounce houses; play at the playground; sign up for door prizes; enjoy various activities around the park.

WEDNESDAY, JUN 05

Climb Theatre -

St. Peter-- 10:30 a.m., St. Peter Library. In this adaption of Aesop’s Fable, Country Mouse & City Mouse take their adventure to the suburbs in this interactive theater production for children. Preschool and school age.

Unlovable Animals - Le Sueur-- 1 p.m., Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. Some Minnesota animals have reputations they do not deserve. This program investigates why some animals are considered “unlovable” and includes a live snake, spider, salamander, and owl. The live animals and artifacts introduce the natural history of these “unlikeable” animals focusing on identification, adaptations, and behaviors. All ages.

Michael Gay - Northfield-- 6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. A country and folk singer-songwriter based in Minneapolis. He plays solo and with a band, primarily in bars throughout the upper Midwest (and sometimes beyond).

Uptown Jazz - West Concord-- 6:30-8 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. Uptown jazz features six horns, a full rhythm section and two vocalists bringing you the most popular songs from many jazz eras. From the crooning sounds of Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble, to the swinging jazz styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson, the band will keep you moving in your seat or on the dance floor.

THURSDAY, JUN 06

WAC Gallery Last Chance - Waseca-12-5 p.m., Waseca Art Center, 200 N. State St. Last chance to see the gallery featuring Eric Zuccola, a Minneapolisbased artist. He will be in the Harguth Gallery. WAC will also have an exhibit at the same time in the Beckmann Gallery, featuring the center’s own art appreciation group.

Happy Days - Waseca-- 5-9 p.m., Downtown Waseca. Car rollin, live music, vendors and food trucks.

Downtown Thursday - Owatonna-- 5-9 p.m., Downtown Owatonna. Eat great food from food trucks and local establishments, enjoy live music on two stages, find unique items at handcrafted booths, shop local businesses, and much more.

Summer Reading Kickoff - Northfield-- 6-7 p.m., Way Park, 720 1st St. West, Northfield. Hear live music from Justin

and sign up for summer reading.

FRIDAY, JUN 07

Paradise Extravaganza - Faribault-- 5 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Little Fish Improv will perform and Mai Tran will hold a gallery opening during the Paradise’s Extravaganza, which also features a silent auction and the 2024-25 season announcement.

Line Dancing - Le Sueur County-- 6-9 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New

Prague. Learn three to four dances from awardwinning choreographer Kerry Maus. Songs will be a mix of pop and country. Tickets in advance or at the door.

Ryanna Noelle Duo - Janesville-- 6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Enjoy live music this evening by the Ryanne Noelle Duo performing Top 40 hits from the 90s, 2000s, and contemporary favorites, creating a dynamic blend of genres and eras to engage audiences of varied musical tastes.

Live Painting - Kasota-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Enjoy the captivating sounds of live music while watching the talented Amanda Jordan create a stunning painting right before your eyes.At the end of the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase the painting created during the event. Additionally, explore and purchase more of Amanda’s beautiful artwork and prints.

SATURDAY, JUN 08

Bullhead Days - Waterville-- 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Waterville. Runs June 7-9. All the festival fixings, including a carnival, games and concessions, a classic car roll-in, an outdoor vendor fair, a bean bag tournament, a puller truck and tractor pull, a fishing tournament, entertainment tent events, Bingo, fireworks, live music, food and drink, and more.

Word Play - St. Peter-- 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. Takes place Friday night, June 7 and all day Saturday, June 8. Featured presenter: Open mic night, plus featured presentations from poet Richard Robbins and author Phil Bryant. Featured presenters on Saturday include Mark Spitzer, Florence Dacey, Joyce Sutphen, Cynthia Gustavson, Walt Cannon and Athena Kildegaard. A book fair also starts at 3 p.m. A picnic buffet closes the event at 5:30 p.m.

Blues Fest - St. Peter-- 12 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. The St. Peter Ambassadors put on their annual Blues Fest, featuring Mark Joseph & The American Soul, The Northside Horns, The Butanes, Destini Rawls Soul Review, The Gopher Tones and 326 Madison. Free to attend.

Cox House Self-Guided Tours - St. Peter-1-4 p.m., Cox House, 500 N. Washington Ave., St. Peter. This summer, we’re offering selfguided tours every other Saturday from June 8 to Aug. 31, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

Chris HolmKilkenny-- 3-6 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. Chris Holm is an acoustic folk blues and country musician based in Minne-

Photo courtesy of the Northfield Historical Society, Northfield, Minn.

Roberts

apolis. A fingerstyle guitar picker and harmonica player, Chris channels the high-spirited liveliness of Charley Patton, thumping on his suitcase drum, attacking his guitar strings with abandon, and shouting along in a gravelly howl, later to channel the lonesome sounds of a weeping slide guitar and a blue yodel.

Jugsluggers - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. String band trio playing a variety of music - bluegrass, country, Appalachian fiddle tunes, rockabilly & jazz standards — on guitar, fiddle, banjo & mandolin, with vocals no less!

Shasta Kings - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 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.

The Paul Stewart Show - Northfield-- 6:309:30 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. 50s and 60s country, rock, blues.

Pop Prohibition - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. A band that brings the fun and brings a feel-good mood wherever they go.

The Children’s Hour - Northfield-7:30-9:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. How much damage can

one lie cause? Stopping at nothing to get even, a deceitful 1930s boarding school student starts a rumor that the headmistresses, Karen and Martha, are having an affair. The ensuing scandal throws the women’s careers into chaos and pushes relationships to the brink, with devastating consequences for all. June 7-8 and 14-15 from 7:30-9:30 p.m., plus June 9 and 16 from 2-4 p.m. Tickets online.

SUNDAY, JUN 09

Cheesefest - Dundas-- 12-4 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Sample and buy fantastic local cheese from 5 fine cheesemakers paired with pickles, ferments, and cider. The makers are on hand to talk about processes and products. Special food menu available featuring cheese of all sorts and beverages for all. Free to attend.

Matthew Aitch - St. Peter-- 1-4 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. This chapter for Matthew Aitch brings songs of lessons learned, songs of love & compassion, and songs of beautiful places.

OAC Gallery Opening Reception - Owatonna-- 1-4 p.m., Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. “Contemporary Marbling” by Sally Power: keeping and bringing a contemporary look to the decorative traditional art form of marbling. This medium was used in the 17th and 19th centuries as book decorations. “Landscapes and Mindscapes - Small Works” by M.E. Fuller: an emerging, selftaught visual artist. She uses acrylic inks, pencils, charcoal, and other mark-making tools to create energetic abstract landscapes and mindscapes.

Hat Bar & Live Music - Waseca-1-7 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. The concept combines elements of a traditional hat shop with a personalized shopping experience, allowing you to choose from various styles, colors, and materials. In A Bind will be on stage from 5-7 p.m.

A Hard Day’s Night - Waseca-- 7 p.m., Waseca Public Library, 408 N. State ST. A Hard Day’s Night will perform two weeks in a row. Their high energy, authentic replication of a Beatles performance is considered to be one of the top Beatles tribute shows in the nation. Their June 11th performance will focus on Ed Sullivan Era songs.

WEDNESDAY, JUN 12

Family Night at the Market - Le Sueur-4-7 p.m., American Legion Park, 155 S. Park Lane, Le Sueur. Food, vendors, Bingo, bames, and more family friendly activities.

Dan Lowinger - Northfield-- 6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield.

Dan Lowinger (guitar) is a guitarist steeped in the tradition of Western swing and classic country. He has performed regionally and toured nationally with many different country and swing bands from the Pacific Northwest including: The Barn Door Slammers, Ralph Carney’s Pepper Grinders, Vince Mira, and Western Centuries.

TUESDAY, JUN 11

Taste of the Farm - Waseca-5-7:30 p.m., Waseca County Fairgrounds. A farm-fueled meal along with family friendly activities.

Branded Hot Country - West Concord-6:30-8 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. Referred to as “Minnesota’s Hottest Country Act,” Branded brings high energy fun to all of the hottest current country hits while mixing in crowd-pleasing classics. Branded is a unique collaboration of five extremely talented musicians with incredible vocals and tight, three part harmonies.

THURSDAY, JUN 13

Guild Squared Gallery Fundraiser - Northfield-- 12-5 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.

Tim Goodwin and Doyle Turner - Northfield-- 7 p.m., The Depot, 204 3rd St. W., Northfield. An evening of original songs and the stories behind them presented by Northfield singer/songwriter Tim Goodwin and Bemidji singer/songwriter Doyle Turner. Turner writes songs with heartfelt lyrics, soaring melodies and presents them with a pure vocal performance. Goodwin uses his warm baritone vocals to trace love, loss, and characters from all walks of life.

Jamie Raines Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Join YouTube star Jamie Raines as he discusses and answers your questions about his new book, “The T in LGBT.” Sharing advice, tips and personal stories, The T in LGBT is an indispensable guide to the trans experience and gender identity. Whether you’re exploring your own identity or want to learn about the trans experience to support someone or understand allyship, everyone is welcome.

Spectacular Circus - Owatonna-- 7 p.m., Welcome to the Carden International Circus. The circus family cannot wait for you to plan a spectacular outing of family fun at the new 2024 show. Revisit the magical memories of your childhood, while creating new ones with your own kids that will last a lifetime. spectacularcircus.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.

FRIDAY,

Trent ShawSt. Peter-- 6-9

JUN 14

p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Trent Shaw is a professional musician who has toured around Minnesota for over 20 years. He attended Normandale and Augsburg college with a degree in Music Education. Trent has taught guitar, piano, bass, and drums with Chaska Music Studios since 1997.

Chad Johnson - Northfield-- 7-10 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. A country rock and Americana singer and songwriter.

SATURDAY, JUN 15

Heritage Days - Faribault-- 7 a.m., Faribault. The events takes place June 13-15. Thursday include the opening ceremony, citywide garage sales, a beer garden, a cardboard boat race, family night and Ninja, Faribault BMX race and a concert in the park. Friday includes more garage sales, a Flag Day ceremony and recycling, a craft fair, a free community lunch, Bingo, Archaic Lifeways from RCHS, inflatables, a car cruise, beer garden and dance. Saturday includes more garage sales, a farmers market, a fishing contest, painting in the park, lumberjacks and log rolling, a craft fair, music at the bandshell, kids activities, a grand parade, and another dance. faribaultheritagedays.com

Cherry Creek Days - Cleveland-8:30 a.m.10 p.m., Cleveland. The festival takes place from 11 a.m.

through the night June 14 and from 8:30 a.m. all the way to the fireworks display at 10 p.m. June 15. Other events include a car roll-in, fire-

men’s pork chop feed, a cornhole tournament, amazing race, kiddie carnival, a parade, water fights, live music and more. Cherry Creek DaysCleveland, MN on Facebook.

Daze - Janesville-- 10 a.m., Janesville. The main events at this year’s celebration take place June 13-16. Thursday night is highlighted by Paradise City Wrestling. Friday night include Generation Gap and the IV Play. Saturday night openers are Family Tradition and headliners are Junk FM. Sunday includes a community church service, antique tractors, the parade and Bingo. The celebrations also includes a carnival, food and drinks, thrift store fashion show and sporting events. janesvillemnhaydaze.weebly.com

NintentonesSt. Peter-- 10:30 a.m., St. Peter Library. Listen to a six-piece jazz ensemble playing arrangements of music from different video games. This program is designed to appeal to a wide age group. All are welcome.

Harry Wegner Marching Band FestivalOwatonna-- 10:30 a.m., Downtown Owatonna. Owatonna’s downtown comes alive, as the annual marching band festival stomps through. The parade end and judging area, along with food trucks, is at and around Central Park. The parade begins at 11 a.m.

Greenvale Manitou - Dundas-- 4-6 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Fusing many genres such as dream pop, psychedelic rock, lo-fi trip hop and more. A musical experi-

ence in the green vale of Chapel’s beer garden you won’t want to miss.

North of Dodge - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Playing classic country and Americana music.

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.

Space Force - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. The Space Force are a buncha dudes playing songs that were overplayed way before they were born.

The Gated Community - Owatonna-- 7 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W.

Broadway St, Owatonna. In 2006 South AsianAmerican Yale graduate and political activist Sumanth Gopinath started a country/bluegrass band in Minneapolis called The Gated Community. Influenced by his dad’s classic country record collection and modern Americana bands like The Flatlanders, the band mixes folk, bluegrass and country music with a raw, rock edge.

Music of the 80s - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Sidekicks - Party Line hosts a totally tubular lineup of the best tunes the 80s had to offer from Madonna to Queen, A-ha to Bowie. Tickets online.

Dear Edwina Jr. - Owatonna-- 7:30 p.m., Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna. Dear Edwina JR. follows the adventures of plucky advice-giver extraordinaire, Edwina Spoonapple, as she directs the neighborhood kids in a series of buoyant production numbers for the latest edition of her weekly “Advice-a-Palooza.” Bev Cashman is the director. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. June 14, 15, 21, and 22, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. June 16.

SUNDAY, JUN 16

Lonesome Dan Kase; Chris Bertrand & Ben Scruggs Duo - Waseca-- 1:30 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. All kinds of music to go with your pizza. Kase is on 1:30-3:30 p.m. and Bertrand/Scruggs from 5-7 p.m. pleasantgrovepizzafarm.com

CONTINUED page 26

1950s and 60s Teen Culture ExhibitWaseca-- 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Waseca Co. Historical Society, 315 2nd Ave NE. Bringing it Back1950s and 60s Teen Culture in Waseca County Exhibit: Guests can take a walk down memory lane and reminisce about their own teen years, or learn about a cherished era at the very dawn of teen culture. Also, an immersive photo op set will be available for people to come take photos of themselves with their cell phones or cameras, to upload to their social media. Pose like a 50s prom king or queen with a corsage, boutonniere, crowns, and a matching background. Exhibit runs June 18-Aug. 30. historical.waseca. mn.us

The Jolly Pops - Le Sueur-- 6 p.m., American Legion Park, 155 S. Park Lane, Le Sueur. Get your dancing shoes and enjoy a night of fun! This children’s band of three happy dad musicians incorporates music, movement, and puppets for an awesome good time. Tropical Sno-Mankato will be there with their delicious shaved ice stand available for purchase. The event will move to the library in the event of rain.

A Hard Day’s Night - Waseca-- 7 p.m., Waseca Public Library, 408 N. State ST. A Hard Day’s Night will perform two weeks in a row. Their high energy, authentic replication of a Beatles performance is considered to be one of the top Beatles tribute shows in the nation. Their June 18 performance will feature Sgt. Pepper Era songs.

WEDNESDAY, JUN 19

Family Night at the Market - Le Sueur-4-7 p.m., American Legion Park, 155 S. Park Lane, Le Sueur. Food, vendors, Bingo, bames, and more family friendly activities.

Debbie Briggs Vintage Jazz - Northfield-6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle Rock, 26601 Chippendale Ave., Northfield. Debbie Briggs Vintage Jazz shines a light on the songs from the Great American Songbook, classic tunes primarily from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, and 50s featuring the warm velvety tones of Debbie Briggs on vocals accompanied by a rotating combo of the best jazz musicians in town. thegardensofcastlerock.com/goodtimes

Tuey Wilson Comic Stunt Juggler - Faribault-- 10-10:45 a.m., Central Park, 430 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. From classic juggling stunts to brand new tricks, Tuey’s show is not to be missed. Laugh, gasp, and cheer on this Guinness World Records holder and longtime library favorite. An ASL interpreter has been requested for this event.

Do

Send

Matt Whited - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15

night. He’s really good at both.

KENDRA HAUSEN

Crazy on You Tribute to Heart - West Concord-- 6:30 p.m., Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, 23148 County Hwy. 24, West Concord. Dianna Parks and Mary Lieser were inspired to create a Heart tribute show after performing “Crazy on You” together with Mary’s former acoustic group Smash & Grab. Join us for a night of classic Heart music. You can purchase pizza in advance. bernepizza.org

The Donner Party - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. A country trio from Southern Minnesota. Classic country and American roots music.

p.m.,

THURSDAY, JUN 20

Summer Car Cruise-In - Owatonna-- 5-9 p.m., Owatonna Eagles 1791, 141 E. Rose St., Owatonna. Check out the

or just

to

motor, the shine of chrome bumpers, pinstripes, fender skirts, great music and food. Enjoy music from Pop Prohibition at the June 21 cruise.

classic cars.

Hester St, Dundas. Matt Whited does chemistry at Carleton College by day, jazz piano by

Downtown Car Cruise - Faribault-- 6-9

Downtown Faribault, Central Ave. Bring your car

yourself

the Faribault Car Cruise Nights in the heart of Historic Downtown Faribault. The rumble of a souped-up

Crimson Roots - Northfield-- 6:30-9:30 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. 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.

Soulfire - Faribault-6:55-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault.

Dynamic musical duo that will set your soul on fire. Mike Little guitar, harmonica and vocals. Josi Christy vocals.

Dear Edwina Jr. - Owatonna-- 7:30 p.m., Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna. Dear Edwina JR. follows the adventures of plucky advice-giver extraordinaire, Edwina Spoonapple, as she directs the neighborhood kids in a series of buoyant production numbers for the latest edition of her weekly “Advice-a-Palooza.” Bev Cashman is the director. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. June 21 and 2 p.m. June 22.

SATURDAY, JUN 22

Art on the Avenue - Waseca-- 8 a.m.-5 p.m., All types of artisans will sell their handmade items at this outdoor event in downtown Waseca. wasecaartcenter.org

Ambulance Service 50-Year Celebration - Le Center-- 1-11 p.m., Le Sueur County Fairgrounds, 350 Plutt Ave. S., Le Center. The event starts out with a parade at 1 p.m. down Main Street Le Center. Meet at the fairgrounds for food trucks starting at 2 p.m. Drinks provided by the Community Club. Bingo, bean bag tournament, and bounce houses, along with EMS demonstrations. Music by Luke Richards 3-5 p.m., Shenanigans from 5-8 p.m., and Gary

West from 8 p.m. until close. Fireworks close the night at 10 p.m.

Juneteenth Celebration - Owatonna-- 2-5 p.m., Dartt’s Park, Owatonna. Games, music, food, and fun for the whole community.

Cook County - Owatonna-- 5-9 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Cook County is an alternative folk-rock band based out of Minneapolis featuring a malefemale vocal harmony duo cultivated over several years, slick guitar licks, and multifaceted songwriting.

Elisha Marin - Northfield-- 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. The deeply engaging singer-songwriter

Elisha Marin will perform with the accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Matt Patrick for a wonderful night of rich, mellow and meaningful music. Marin’s music leans into pop without loosing a

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.

rootsy and throwback feel with his nimble fingerpicking and his richly soulful voice. His lyrics reflect a calm and introspective way of viewing the world and dealing with problems. Tickets online.

SUNDAY, JUN 23

Jazz JamOwatonna-2-4 p.m., Village of Yesteryear, 1431 Austin Rd, Owatonna. The H3O trio will provide the music. Bring your lawn chair.

TUESDAY, JUN 25

Paul Bunyan and Babe Find the Blues - St. Peter-- 10:30 a.m., St. Peter Library. Join the BS Project on a journey down the Mississippi River in search for the blues. All ages welcome.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

four-piece Blues/Rock outfit brings rock and roll back to its raw, unbound, authentic roots. Free and open to the public.

WEDNESDAY, JUN 26

Parker - Northfield-- 6-8:30 p.m., The Gardens of Castle

26601 Chippendale Ave.,

She has the kind of vocal that can call down the stars when necessary, but then the woman can go quiet and deep in a way that is nothing short of devastating. It is a road of joy to discover what Joyann is capable of.

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SOUTHERN MINN

Arrows - Waseca-- 7 p.m., Trowbridge Park, Waseca. 13 Arrows will close out the Waseca Public Library’s Summer Concert series. Their

Family Night at the Market - Le Sueur-4-7 p.m., American Legion Park, 155 S. Park Lane, Le Sueur. Food, vendors, Bingo, bames, and more family friendly activities.

Joyann

Rock,

Northfield.

SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

Books on magic and tarot, the Blues Brothers, jazz and more

Adult Books on Magic, Tarot, Witches, and More

c.2024, various publishers $19.00 - $30.00 various page counts

The planets say it’s going to be a challenging day.

The cards showed you what to watch and what to avoid, but the news wasn’t all bad: you also noticed good luck on the way, so you’re prepared for that, too. It’s all in what you believe, and with these four new books, you can put a little magic in your life.

Having your cards read doesn’t have to involve a gauzy room or a crystal ball; in fact, with “The Magic of Tarot” by Leanna Greenaway & Beleta Greenaway (St. Martin’s Essentials, $19.00), you can learn about your present and your future from the comfort of your kitchen table or living room chair. Here, you’ll see what each of the cards can mean, how to lay them out, how to interpret their meanings and positions, what tools to bring to your “toolbox,” and more. This is a simple book, it’s easy to use, and it includes both classic and modern cards in the instructions.

For readers who like a little true mystery in their lives, “The Secret Life of Hidden Places” by Stefan Bachmann & April Genevieve Tucholke (Workman, $30.00) will be a delightful way to indulge. Filled with pictures, drawings, and stories that will thrill you, this book takes you on a tour of nefarious laboratories and workshops, curious miniature castles, weird houses, hidden rooms, secret societies, and the people who created them all. If you’re particularly brave, put these places on your to-visit list this summer and see what happens.

And speaking of journeys, author Allyson Shaw takes readers on a trip through fens, forests, and folklore in search of the story of Scotland’s witches in her new book “Ashes and Stones” (Pegasus, $28.95). Yes, you can visit the informal stone monuments that stand in Scotland to memorialize the women accused of witchcraft. Yes, you’ll want to read this book before you go, to understand the history and herstory of what happened centuries ago. And finally, how about something very different?

When he was a young boy, artist Ai Weiwei learned that some books in his native country were forbidden to read. Chairman Mao decided what was permissible and what was not, and so Weiwei devoured what he could, which was mostly comic books and propaganda. In “Zodiac,” with Elettra Stamboulis and Gianluca Constantini (Ten Speed Press, $28.99), Weiwei shares the story of his life, woven with philosophy and the Chinese zodiac. It’s a tale of finding one’s self in the beauty of art and storytelling, as well as finding meaning in stories. Readers who appreciate graphic novels will love it; bonus, if you enjoy folklore.

So what if you have questions on crystals, ghosts, or other magical or paranormal things? Well, you head for your favorite bookstore or library and peruse those shelves. Your librarian or bookseller knows about lots of books for you to read, absorb, use, learn from, and enjoy. They’ll help you find what you need so go ahead, ask. The answer is in the cards.

The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic

by Daniel De Visé

c.2024, Atlantic Monthly Press $28.00 386 pages

The first time you saw it, you knew you’d have to see it again.

You were obsessed with the comedy. You couldn’t get enough of the music. You still remember the first-third-fifth time you saw the movie, alone or with friends, in a theater or on TV. And in the new book, “The Blues Brothers” by Daniel De Visé, yours wasn’t the only addiction that took hold.

As the audience quietly fidgeted and cameras readied on the night in April 22, 1978, no one was sure how the opening skit of Saturday Night Live would be received. Its stars, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi had talked about starting a band together for years. This would be their debut. It would have to work.

And it did: the audience seemed slightly unimpressed by the Blues Brothers at first, says De Visé, but they were “stirred to jubilation” by the skit’s end.

Born in early 1949 to immigrant parents, John Adam Belushi grew up skirting discipline by making his mother laugh at his antics and his wit. He deflected problems at school in the same way but his clowning belied a straightlaced aversion to drugs and alcohol.

That lasted until he discovered a love of the stage, and he was introduced to “weed.”

With a father who worked for the National Film Board in Canada, it’s almost no surprise that Daniel Edward Aykroyd, born in 1952, would be drawn to the limelight.

A talented mimic, Dan began classes at a local Ottawa community playhouse at age twelve; briefly, he considered becoming a priest because his parents seemed to want it.

Eventually, because he was rather impish, the Aykroyds were told “that perhaps Dan wasn’t suited to the priesthood.”

It was just as well. Comedy was always his thing; in fact, he was working with Second City Toronto in the early 1970s when an “oddly proportioned, white-scarfed Albanian” joined the troupe. Aykroyd liked the guy, and he introduced Belushi to the blues...

The sarcasm and wit are still there. The music sings to your youth. Stream the movie this weekend and enjoy, but even if you’re a long-time fan, you may be surprised to read the back-story of that iconic movie in the book that bears its name.

Indeed, though he leans heavier on Belushi’s story than he does on Aykroyd’s, author Daniel De Visé has a nice variety of obscurities to share in “The Blues Brothers,” and they extend well beyond both big and small screens. As explanation, he starts by introducing readers to Aykroyd’s and Belushi’s earliest influencers, blending in other Second City and SNL alumni and relevant people when appropriate. This absolutely invites reminiscing. Yes, the seed-to-screen timeline for the movie can be lengthy and sometimes overly-detailed here, but the narrative seems fresh despite its age.

With the feel of a class reunion or like paging through your high school annual, this book will very much appeal to readers who can still quote the movie or sing its songs. Start “The Blues Brothers,” and you’ll be hooked.

Extinction

by Douglas Preston

c.2024, Forge $29.99 384 pages

Keep that shirt. It’ll eventually come back in fashion. So many things do: roller skating and yo-yos, for instance. Car features and furniture styles. Wide paisley ties, bell bottom jeans, vintage tees, and cat-glasses, those occasional darlings of fashionistas and there we go. So keep that shirt, it’ll eventually come back –although, as in the new novel, “Extinction” by Douglas Preston, returns aren’t always a good thing.

When the phone rang before the sun was up, Frankie Cash was instantly awake.

Nothing good comes from a predawn phone call, but this one was good and bad. For the first time, Cash was tapped to be the Agent in Charge of a case for her employer, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations’ Major Crimes Division. The bad news: the son and daughter-inlaw of a very wealthy man were missing.

They had been on their dream honeymoon, a guided hiking-camping trip in Colorado’s Erebus Mountains, at a private resort where woolly mammoths, giant sloths, and other Pleistocene herbivores had been de-extincted by scientists working in laboratories located inside abandoned mines. The animals had been genetically-modified to remove any aggressiveness. Cash could see that the creatures roamed around the mountains where guests could spot them from afar, like some kind of prehistoric photo-op.

The couple were fit and comfortable with the kind of activity needed to hike in high altitudes. Their guide insisted they were nice people. Now they were missing. It didn’t make sense.

But Agent Cash noted blood on the ground, spread in a wide area – blood loss, as it turned out, that was inconsistent with life. Predators? No, Erebus assured the CBI that the compound was protected from modern predators, but drones indicated via thermal imaging that there were invaders in the mountains, and they were organized.

The CBI figured they were looking for six, maybe nine killers, and the killers were smart – smart enough to bring down a drone.

Smart enough that when Cash and another agent went to retrieve a busted drone, the killers stalked them... The science, says author Douglas Preston in his afterword, is real and he seems to hint that his story – at least some of it – could actually happen someday soon. You should take that maybe as cold comfort while you’re careening through “Extinction.”

For now, just know that you’re safe – as safe as you’re going to be with a thriller like this one in your lap, one you could treat it as a someday-potentially true crime tale that pushes the envelope of morality in ways you won’t expect. It’s majestic and horrifying, both, but to further muddle things, Preston also speaks to the heart of science fiction lovers here with (at the risk of being a spoiler) the slightest whiff of a classic Pierre Boulle novel.

Don’t cheat and look that up. Instead, look for this delicious, sometimes gory, don’t-try-to-solve-it-early novel that feels as real as the pounding heartbeats you’ll get from reading it. Take your time to enjoy “Extinction.” It’s a book you’ll gladly come back to.

Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs

by Heather L. Montgomery, illustrated by Lindsey Leigh c.2024, Bloomsbury Children’s Books $19.99 149 pages Eeeeuuwww! Go scrub your hands!

That thing you picked up was dirty, it was filthy, and you don’t even know how many germs were on it. Just think about all the nastiness you might have on your fingers now, then go wash up. Use lots of soap. Once you read the new book “Sick!” by Heather L. Montgomery, illustrated by Lindsey Leigh, you’ll be eager to do so.

You are a gross, slimy person... and it’s okay.

It’s good, in fact, because the slime in your nose, mouth, and guts has antibodies that can protect you from germs that are practically everywhere. Those slimes have been keeping people safe “since ancient times...” Even animals must guard against parasites and bacteria. Many times, animals instinctively know what to do to make themselves feel better, if they’re sick. Take, for instance, wild chimps: they often reach for a certain kind of leaf when they’re infected with parasites. Scientists have observed similar instances of “self-medicating” in other animals, too.

If you think of mushrooms when someone says “fungus,” you’re correct but there’s more to the story: scientists know of roughly 144,000 fungi and they discover hundreds more each year. So how do some

CONTINUED page 30

animals’ bodies fight against fungus infections? They “give themselves a fever,” which kills the fungus. It also helps if the animal has “superior slime” on its body, too. Ants will sacrifice pupae if fungal spores infest a nest. Alligators living in swamp muck rely on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in their blood to keep bacteria at bay Vultures’ bodies appear to work together with bad bacteria, and scientists are still studying that.

And as for you, well, you’re pretty lucky. Most humans have about 3 billion B cells in their bloodstream, and each of the B cells is making antibodies to help fight off any fungi, infection, bacteria, and viruses you may encounter. Says Montgomery, “Take that, you vicious virus!” Oh, my “Sick!” makes a bit of a mess.

It starts at the beginning of the book with worms, not germs as the subtitle promises, making a blurry distinction between germs, fungi, and parasites. This could be misleading if you’re a science-minded kid who wants to learn about one topic, but gets another. The head-scratchers continue in other, more persistent veins.

As things progress, author Heather L. Montgomery uses schoolyard terms for sickness, and gives many germs and creatures cutesy names. Monikers like “Flavio Frog,” “Victor Vulture,” “Ada Ant,” “Stephanie Staph,” and “Presley Perfringens” heavily populate this book in alliteration that becomes very uncute and which seems insulting to the upper end of its target age of 9-to-12year-olds. Conversely, terminology here is authentically scientific, which could be too much for a younger reader in that targeted range.

Overall, this book has basically sound information but it’s spread too widely, age-group-wise, and it misses its mark on both ends. Think first, if you’re searching for something for your young scientist. “Sick!” might not be the right fit for them, and you may need to scrub that idea.

Selling the Dream:

The BillionDollar Industry Bankrupting Americans by Jane

Marie

c.2024, Atria $29.00 309 pages

The Benjamins in your wallet are lonesome.

They want more of their fellow fivers around, perhaps a few hundred, if it’s possible –and it might be, if you believe the pitch from that old college pal you rarely hear from or the guy in your church who wants you in his sales group. But beware: as in the new book

“Selling the Dream” by Jane Marie, being an entrepreneur can come at a price. It sounded like a good idea.

Eighteen years old, a drop-out, unemployed, and “living in a punk house,” Jane Marie saw a TV ad for what she knew was “a pyramid scheme.” It wasn’t her first goaround with an MLM (mid-level marketing) scheme but it was her last. How did she get suckered twice? Surprisingly easily, actually.

MLM is “called a million different things,” direct sales, network marketing, and so on, but they all “work in basically the same way.” The business’s owners and earlyjoiners sit at the top of a pyramid-shaped structure and they “set out to recruit teams of sellers” who recruit teams of sellers, who... well, you get the picture. But “a little simple math” proves that in just thirteen steps, the MLM will have recruited every person in the world.

Impossible numbers aren’t all, though, Marie says.

Awhile back, “extensive research” showed that “as many as 99 percent of those who do join [an MLM business] make no money or even lose money.” That includes Amway, LuLaRoe, and most other pyramid-driven, workat-home, get-rich schemes, many of which are practically household names. Those businesses take advantage of human nature and a few tricks of psychology that “are fascinating and something we all do whether we’re involved with an MLM or not.”

So how do you avoid being taken in by a scheme that might take you for your money?

Slow down and ask questions. Where’s the money coming from and how do you get yours? What does the government say about the business?

And then remember “BITE.”

Chances are, you’ve bought something from an MLM and you got the “you-can-do-this-too” pitch. The idea of having home-parties and selling in your spare time sure sounds good. But read “Selling the Dream” once and you’ll think twice.

Author Jane Marie writes about mid-level marketing from the point-of-view of someone who was the “average” age and gender of MLM sellers, and who knew better than to get involved – but did anyway. Her front-row peek is told personally and honestly, which gains a reader’s trust pretty quickly, and Marie’s sense of humor helps keep it. She’ll also hold your interest with a nice history of how MLMs are created and maintained; how they are regulated (or not); and why people sign on, even against their better judgment.

That makes this a book you can read for fun (because it is), but you’ll also learn something that might affect your wallet, whether you join or are just a customer. Should you look for “Selling the Dream”? You bet your bottom dollar.

Preserved: A Cultural History of the Funeral Home in America

by Dean G. Lampros

c.2024, Johns Hopkins University Press $34.95 374 pages

Three bedrooms upstairs. That’s a minimum.

You need a big kitchen, a large back room would be a bonus, you want lots of bathrooms, and if you can get a corner lot, that’d be great. The thing you need most is a gigantic all-purpose room or maybe a ballroom because you’re planning on a lot of people. As you’ll see in the new book “Preserved” by Dean G. Lampros, not all living rooms are for the living.

Not too long ago, shortly after he took a class on historic preservation, Dean Lampros’ husband dragged him on a weekend away to explore a small town in Massachusetts. There, Lampros studied the town’s architecture and it “saddened” him to see Victorian mansions surrounded by commercial buildings. And then he had an epiphany: there was once a time when those old mansions housed funeral homes. Early twentieth-century owners of residential funeral homes were, in a way, he says, preservationists.

Prior to roughly World War II, most funerals were held at home or, if there was a need, at a funeral home, the majority of which were located in a downtown area. That changed in 1923 when a Massachusetts funeral home owner bought a large mansion in a residential area and made a “series of interior renovations” to the building. Within a few years, his idea of putting a funeral home inside a former home had spread across the country and thousands of “stately old mansions in aging residential neighborhoods” soon held death-industry businesses.

This, says, Lampros, often didn’t go over well with the neighbors, and that resulted in thousands of people upset and lawsuits filed. Some towns then passed ordinances to prohibit such a thing from happening to their citizens.

Still, funeral home owners persevered. Moving out of town helped “elevate” the trade, and it allowed Black funeral home operators to get a toehold in formerly-white neighborhoods. And by having a nice – and nice-sized –facility, the operators were finally able to wrest the end-oflife process away from individuals and home-funerals...

Here’s a promise: “Preserved” is not gruesome or gorefor-the-sake-of-gore. It’s not going to keep you up all night or give you nightmares. Nope, while it might be a little stiff, it’s more of a look at architecture and history than anything else.

From California to New England, author Dean G. Lampros takes readers on a cruise through time and culture to show how “enterprising” business owners revolutionized a category and reached new customers for a once-in-a-deathtime event. Readers who’ve never considered this hidden-in-plain-sight, surprising subject – or, for that matter, the preservation or re-reclamation of those beautiful old homes – are in for a treat here. Despite that the book can lean toward the academic, a good explanatory timeline and information gleaned from historical archives and museums offer a liveliness that you’ll enjoy.

This book will delight fans of little-know history, and architecture junkies will drool over its many photographs. “Preserved” is the book you want because there are other ways to make a house a “home.”

The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America by Larry Tye c.2024, Mariner Books $32.50 395 pages

Your toes didn’t wait long before they started tapping. They knew what was coming, almost as soon as the band was seated. They knew before the first notes were played and the hep cats and jazz babies hit the floor to cut a rug. Daddy, it was the bee’s knees but in the new book “The Jazzmen” by Larry Tye, if you were the Sheik on the stage, makin’ cabbage wasn’t all that swank.

Louis Armstrong was born in 1900 or thereabouts in a “four-room frame house on an unpaved lane” in a section of New Orleans called “Back o’Town... the Blackest, swampiest, and most impoverished” area of the city. His mother was a “chippie” and the boy grew up running barefoot and wild, the latter of which led to trouble. At age twelve, Armstrong was sent to the Colored Waif’s Home for recalcitrant Black boys, and that changed his life. At the “home,” he found mentors, father-figures, and love, and he discovered music.

For years, Bill “Count” Basie insisted that he’d grown up with “no-drama, no-mystery, and nobody’s business but his,” but the truth was “sanitized.” He hated school and dropped out in junior high, hoping to join the circus. Instead, he landed a job working in a “moving-picture theater” as a general worker. When the theater’s piano player didn’t come to work one day, Basie volunteered to sit in. He ultimately realized that “I had to get out... of Red Bank [New Jersey], and music was my ticket.” Even as a young teenager, Edward Ellington insisted that he be treated like a superstar. By then, his friends had nicknamed him “Duke,”for his insistence on dressing elegantly and acting like he was royalty. And he surely was – to his mother, and to millions of swooning female fans later in his life.

Three men, born at roughly the same time, had more in common than their basic ages. Two of them had “a mother who doted on... him.” All three were performaholics. And for all three, “Race... fell away as America listened.”

Feel up to a time-trip back a century or more? You won’t even have to leave your seat, just grab “The Jazzmen” and hang on.

In his introduction, author Larry Tye explains why he so badly wanted to tell the story of these three giants of music and how Basie’s, Ellington’s, and Armstrong’s lives intersected and diverged as all three were nearsimultaneously performing for audiences world-wide. Their stories fascinated him, and his excitement runs strong in this book. Among other allures, readers used to today’s star-powered gossip will enjoy learning about an almostforgotten time when performers took the country by storm by bootstrapping without a retinue of dozens. And as for the racism the three performers encountered? It disappeared like magic sometimes, and that’s a good tale all by itself here.

This is a musician’s dream book, but it’s also a mustread story if you’ve never heard of Basie, Ellington, or Armstrong. “The Jazzmen” may send you searching your music library, so make note.

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