SCENE March 2019 by Kate Noet

Southern minn

MARCH 2019 southernminnSCENE.com

YOUR FREE GET-OUT SOURCE TO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

Scene PLUS

Drink suggestions to get you ready for awards night.

OSCAR WE DO OUR BEST TO PICK THE WINNERS

Rochester becomes hotspot for craft beer Daniel G. Moirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018 Music Awards Dinner gone wild in Le Center, MN

SHELDON THEATRE

WINTER 2019

Comedic Storytellers

JAMES JUDD & JEN KOBER

from NPR’s “Snap Judgment” March 2 @ 7:30

A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE

The Twilight Hours

MARCH 8 @ 1:30 & 7:30

The Let Down Artist MARCH 29 @ 7:30

“My new favorite memory just became tonight. It just doesn’t get any better than this.” – 2018 Audience Comment 651-388-8700 I 443 W 3rd St, Red Wing, MN. 2

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ent

Get

VALUE SCC is the Most Affordable Higher Education Option in the Region. Compare Colleges and Universities Around the State: 2018-19 MN Average Annual Tuition and Fee Rates (Based on 30 credits per year)

5,491

SOUTH CENTRAL COLLEGE (A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA STATE SYSTEM)

8,384

MINNESOTA STATE SYSTEM UNIVERSITIES

13,323

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

16,657

FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

33,297

$30,000

PRIVATE 4-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

$35,000

$40,000

Source: Minnesota Office of Higher Education

u d e . l a r t n e c h t u o s . www An affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities, consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

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CONTENT

MARCH 2019 / VOLUME 7 / ISSUE 2

Features:

8 Rochester has become a craft

beer hotspot

Taprooms, brew pubs and good local beer.

10 Dinner Gone Wild

Folks are streaming into Traxler’s Hunting Preserve in Le Center for “Wild Game Nights”.

12 91st Oscars

Calls & Wishes for the Academy Awards.

16 Music Space of Owatonna

Local resident opens concert club and record store.

18 2018 Music Awards

Daniel G. Moir gives his take on the year that was in music.

20 My Very Favorite Books of 2018

Looking for a good read this winter?

Southern minn

Scene

COLUMNS: 6 Mollywood BLVD

ABOUT

Memorable Oscar moments.

28 Photographing SoMInn

Have a story idea?

Getting Away.

26 The Bookworm Sez:

• A Sidecar Named Desire • Forget ‘Having It All’ How America Messed Up Motherhood - and How to Fix It • The Ghost Photographer • Go Find: My Journey to Find the Lost and Myself • The New Iberia Blues • No Sunscreen for the Dead • Talk to Me • Smart A$$: How a Donkey Challenged Me to Accept His True Nature & Rediscover My Own

Editor Philip Weyhe - 507-645-1115 editor@southernminnSCENE.com

HAVE A CALENDAR EVENT?

editor@southernminnSCENE.com or got to www.southernminnscene. com/calendar

WANT TO Advertise? Pam DeMorett - 507-333-3117 pdemorett@faribault.com

22 Drink like you’re at the Oscars

Two local distillers share their picks for this years awards.

24 The TimeLine

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

APRIL issue deadline is MAR 1

19th Annual

M AS

T S OP U

The Czech Mardi Gras LIVE POLKA MUSIC – CZECH FOOD COSTUME BALL - SILENT AUCTION Sunday, March 3, 2019 noon to 5:00 p.m.

Costumes encouraged with prizes awarded. Food available until 5:00 p.m.

Pork dinner, chicken dumpling soup, hotdogs and chips.

Admiss ion

Adults $5 Childre n under 1 5

free

American Legion Post #79, 102 Elm Ave. SW, Montgomery, MN 56069 4

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40th Annual

Carriage & Cutter Day Kenyon, MN

February 23rd, 2019

Parade 1:30 pm

Good times in bloom in Kenyon MN Bring the whole family!

KW Choir Waffle Feed 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. @ First Lutheran Church featuring Dad’s Belgian Waffles Kenyon Volunteer Fire Dept. Auxiliary Silent Auction and Wine Pull: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. @ VFW. Proceeds to Fire Dept. Enjoy the kids petting zoo, pony rides, wagon rides 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Take a tour of the Historic Gunderson House 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Visit businesses and food vendors on Main Street Officer Lee Sjolander - Kenyon Police Dept. Finger Print Kits/Kid’s Safety 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch at the VFW - 10:30 a.m.– 2 p.m. Hosted by the VFW Auxiliary Stick Horse Show-Sign up Begins 10 a.m. Youth Center-Show 1 p.m. Main St.

Bean Bags - at Held Garage following the parade All day Open Skate and Sledding @ Depot Park Medallion Hunt—Clues start in Kenyon Leader on January 30, 2019 Martin Anderson and the GOODS at Kenyon VFW- Starting at 5 pm

Bryan Anderson at Kenyon Muni –Starting @ 9 p.m.

Visit kenyonmn.govoffice3.com for parade registration or call 507.789.6415

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Mollywood Blvd

MOLLY PENNY Molly Penny is a local radio personality and MSU Mankato alum. It was her love of pop culture that got her interested in doing a morning show gig for KOWZ 100.9. She is now Music and Promotions Director at KOWZ & KRUE Radio in Owatonna and can be heard on various airwaves in Southern Minnesota, including Hot 96.7 in Mankato. She resides in Mankato with her movie buff husband and YouTube obsessed children. Need to contact her? Shoot her an e-mail mollyp@kowzonline.com or catch her on Twitter at @mollyhoodUSA.

The Most

Memorable

Oscar

Moments

he Academy Awards are absolutely the Hollywood equivalent of the Super Bowl. In honor of show business’s biggest night, from hosts, to blunders, to what they wore, I thought it would be fun to run down some of the most memorable moments in Oscars history. To date, there have been countless emotional acceptance speeches, growing increasingly political as of late. But even if you have never seen the 1984 film Places in the Heart for which Sally Field won best actress, you probably remember this famous line from her acceptance speech, “You like me, you really like me!” Jim Carrey even spoofs the line in the movie The Mask. Only, that is not actually what she said! Much like the oft misquoted line from The Empire Strikes Back “Luke, I am your father” (actual line: “No! I am your father”), she said, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me.” But the Oscar for most dramatic acceptance speech still goes to… Halle Barry, probably. The next Oscar moment that comes to mind, and maybe scarred me for life, Cher’s outfits! Do you remember her midriff-baring frock with that matching feathered headdress from 1986? I am pretty sure this was when my brothers discovered their manhood. And as if that outfit wasn’t enough to keep people talking, she shocked us two years later with the famous Bob Mackie sheer spider web inspired dress which overshadowed her acceptance speech for Best Actress in Moonstruck. I mean, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. Bob Hope hosted the Oscars a whopping 18 times, Billy Crystal comes in a distant second with an impressive 8 times hosting, and he was definitely a memorable host of my childhood. The few times he came back to host in the aughts have been awesomely nostalgic. Other hosts include Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, (Steve Martin & Alec Bladwin cohosting in 2011) John Stewart, Chris Rock, Seth

MacFarlane, and more. Each host had their own style, but let’s face it, the Academy is a bit stuffy and self-congratulatory. Kevin Hart was slated to host this year but the offer was rebuked due to controversy over a Tweet he made in 2010. He may have actually dodged a bullet. Kimmel had done a great job, but in reality, hosting the Oscars is one of the most thankless jobs in Hollywood. Late Show host David Letterman’s gig hosting the 67th Annual Academy Awards in 1995 will go down in history as probably the most annoying line ever dropped by a host: “Uma?! Oprah!!” Ringing a bell? His “Uma, Oprah” joke still lives on in infamy. Announcing Uma Thurman and Oprah Winfrey to the stage, Letterman broke into a case of the giggles presumably because of their odd first names. He ran with it the rest of the night, repeating the names over and over and laughing at himself. Until this point, Letterman had gone

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pretty much unscathed by critics. America loved his show! But the fallout after this hosting gig carried on for weeks and even years with publications from Rolling Stone to Time Magazine hailing him the Worst Oscar Host in History. That is, until a decade later when Neil Patrick Harris took on the job. In 2015 Neil Patrick Harris was at the height of his television fame after 5 seasons portraying womanizer Barney Stinson on the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother, a return to prime time following a beloved role as child doctor Doogie Howser, MD. But his act was not warmly received by the audience. He introduced every presenter with some silly joke or pun, and it was crickets from the audience. From his choreographed numbers to coming to the podium in his underwear at one point, it was truly cringe-worthy. Cue music on this host! Personally, though, I thought he was funny but I will admit watching this one was like watching a train wreck. Chris Rock’s timely 2016 opening monologue the following year addressing #OscarSoWhite paid homage to Neil Patrick Harris’s flop. Rock said “I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards,” he said, “You realize if they nominated hosts, I wouldn’t even get this job. Y’all would be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now.” The audience may have been slightly uncomfortable with Rock’s monologue but it was met with laughter. Especially his line, “Is Hollywood racist? You’re damn right Hollywood is racist!” He was finally addressing the elephant in the room and I think it was necessary. Not sure why? Just look at the list of movies that won Best Picture up until this point. One of the best hosting moments came in 2014 when Ellen DeGeneres hosted and took the “best selfie” in history. Aside from passing a hat to tip the pizza delivery boy after order-

ing a pizza on stage, a memorable moment was when Ellen joined Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Angelina Jolie for a selfie that nearly broke the internet. According to Twitter, 37 million people worldwide took a look, causing the site to crash!. The stunt was later revealed to be a product placement ad for Samsung which the company paid $20 million for, but Ellen still takes all the glory for herding those A-listers into one shot! You probably couldn’t name what movie won Best Picture that year, but I bet you remember that selfie. I mentioned that some celebrities use their acceptance speech as a political soap box. Probably the most notable of these was Leonardo DiCaprio. After two decades of cranking out Oscar worthy performances but never winning, in 2016 he finally accepted the Oscar for Best Actor in The Revenant. You would think after being nominated and snubbed year after year that Leo would pour his heart out about how much the award meant to him. Instead, he used his platform for a cause stating, “Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. Let us not take this planet for granted.” Bravo, Leo! One of the biggest blunders in Oscar history happened in 2017. Best picture presenters Fay Dunaway and Warren Beatty received the wrong envelope and announced La La Land as winner instead of Moonlight. It was an absolute mess. For 2 minutes and 23 seconds, it appeared La La Land was the winner. And it surprised absolutely no one. Remember Chris Rock’s #OscarSoWhite monologue. Yeah, it really doesn’t get “whiter” than a musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, no offense. It seems the Academy was finally going to shake that reputation when they chose Moonlight, the coming of age story of a black adolescent overcoming difficulties faced with his sexual identity. I felt so bad for the cast and crew of Moonlight. Their moment will forever be overshadowed by an embarrassing mistake… likely the biggest disaster in Oscar history and the reason I will never miss a show! SMS

Cheers!

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Over 70 Years of Pappas Family Ownership!

LA CROSSE, WISC. MAY 17-18

Minnesota Restaurant Association’s 2012 Restaurant of the Year

Superb Cuisine since 1854

The Hubbell House first opened as a stagecoach stop in 1854. Paul Pappas laid his eyes on the old limestone structure in 1946 and knew he had found the location of his dream restaurant. Although times have changed, Early-American hospitality is still available in Mantorville.

10th ANNUAL WINONA, MINN.

Winner of

BEST FINE DINING!

502 North Main Street, Mantorville, MN | 507.635.2331

MAY 3-4

(25 Miles East on HWY 14, to Kasson Exit, then 2 miles North on HWY 57)

Reservations Recommended | www.hubbellhouserestaurant.com

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• CALL 507-351-4671 FOR MORE INFORMATION A d d y o u r e v e n t f o r F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ernminn . c o m / s c ene / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

507-345-3007

1711 Premier Dr Mankato MN 56001 www.rhenryconstruction.com Builder License BC180205

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Sally Kloempken, left, and Haley Kuffel enjoy the beer at Little Thistle Brewery in Rochester while watching co-owner and brewmaster Steve Finnie make the next batch.

Heads up:

has become a craft beer hotspot Photo and Story By JAY FURST editor@southernminnscene.com

H Steve Finnie, who owns Little Thistle Brewery in Rochester with his wife, Dawn, assists as volunteer Barry Standorf empties the mash tun. The grain mash goes off to local farmers. Little Thistle opened in August and has plenty of green space, including access to the Douglas Trail. Last month, that green space-turned-white hosted a bonspiel for the Rochester Curling Club.

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undreds of millions of dollars later, what would many people say is the greatest quality-of-life improvement in Rochester since Destination Medical Center came along in 2013? Taprooms, brewpubs and good local beer. There’s no direct link between the $5.6 billion DMC economic development initiative and the fact that Rochester now has a bona fide craft brew community, but the bump can’t hurt, and it’s a leading indicator that the city once described as among Minnesota’s least lively -- or most boring -- is coming of age. “In terms of the craft beer scene, Rochester has been far behind the rest of the country, but now it’s starting to pick up,” said Dawn Finnie, who with her husband, Steve, owns Little Thistle Brewery, which opened along the Douglas Trail in northwest Rochester last year. “Beer tourism has become a big thing and people are already coming here, which creates overnight stays and is good for restaurants and bars. It’s becoming a

vibrant local beer scene and Rochester is benefiting.” Since Donovan Seitz opened Kinney Creek Brewery and taproom in December 2012, two more have opened -- Little Thistle and LTS -- as well as two brewpubs that have some of the most creative food and beer in town. One of the pubs, Forager Brewery, is just across the Canadian Pacific tracks from Kinney Creek and has won national attention for its wild and woolly beers, which range from fruited “Gummie” sours to Belgian blondes. The other brewpub, Grand Rounds Brewery, is downtown and at the heart of the Historic Third Street district, where just about the only old buildings left in downtown Rochester are now home to bars, restaurants, a coffee house, art galleries and street life at all hours. The motto at Grand Rounds is, “Brew local, drink local. It’s better,” and discriminating drinkers agree. Even if you’re not sold on a particular pilsner or you draw the line at “Gummie” beers, it’s local -- freshly made by people you know, often with local ingredients -- and by drinking it, you help to build a local food, drink and craft culture that simply didn’t exist before. Adam Fredericksen, a 33-yearold Mantorville native, and his wife, Allyson Palmer, are next up to help build that culture. They’re working on a brewery and taproom on Second Street Southwest, next to Tyrol sports shop and the Med City Escape Room. “As a city, Rochester is already making some fantastic beer and it’s only going to get better,” Fredericksen said last month, as remodeling of the plain, cementblock building was just beginning. “I don’t mean this in a bad way, but from a craft beer standpoint, Rochester’s about five or more years behind the curve of other larger cities in Minnesota. It’s just starting to hit a really fun point -- people are coming around to the idea of local craft beer.” Fredericksen and his wife, an internal medicine resident at Mayo Clinic, hope to be a part of all that. Adam has been a home brewer since college days in Mankato, and after a few years of chasing dreams in the movie business in Los Angeles, he returned to the Rochester area, worked in IT and focused on another of his passions, making good beer. Eventually he took the professional plunge at Grand Rounds, learning the ropes from Steve Finnie, also formerly at Grand Rounds, and at LTS. Allyson also gets a kick out of home brewing. “It became one of the things that brought us together,” she said, and it combines art and science in a way that an internal medicine resident can relate to. Their story is typical of those who go wholehog into craft beer in Rochester: if you’re passionate about it, willing to work long hours and play well with others, there’s a core group of dedicated beer people ready to embrace you. Now he and Allyson are ready to show what they can do. A shiny new five-barrel system from Portland Kettle Works will arrive this month and they’re hoping to have the brewery, called the

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Adam Frederickson and Allyson Palmer are transforming an old radio and wireless service shop into a 3,200-square-foot brewery and taproom on Second Street Southwest in Rochester. If all goes well, they’ll be making the first batch and welcoming customers in April or May. The hole at right is where a larger water service line has been extended into the building -- one of many adaptations needed to get the brewery up and running.

You can’t beat the location, a more than century-old building on South Broadway at Third Street that was formerly home to one of the best restaurants in town, Sontes. Owner Tessa Leung took that format down in 2014 and replaced it with a gastronomic brew pub, and while some of us miss the shrimp won tons and chorizo-stuffed dates, Grand Rounds is an even better fit for the Third Street nightlife, with a creative casual menu and beer casks in full view. Favorite brews: Easy A, the blonde ale that launched a controversial billboard campaign, and Hop Bollocks, Rochester’s best go-to IPA ever since it was introduced.

Little Thistle Brewing 2031 14th St. NW 507-226-8014

Thesis Beer Project, open in April or May. “My big love is Belgian beers,” Adam said, so look for those and some high-alcohol barrel-aged stouts along with a “wide variety of easy-drinking, approachable, everyday beers. “I have a lot of ideas for what I want to brew, but I think customers will dictate that. The goal will be variety -- fresh, high-quality, fast-moving beer.” The 3,200-square-foot brewery will have big glassy doors at either end, with a patio out front along one of Rochester’s busiest streets, just west of Saint Marys Hospital. “I don’t see any reason why Rochester can’t be talked about as one of the high-quality craft beer hubs in this part of the country,” he said. “At Forager, they’re making some of the best beer in the country. People are coming to Rochester from all over for that beer. At Little Thistle, they’re rejuvenating the local beer scene and doing amazing things. We’re excited to come on board and do our part.” Dawn Finnie, at Little Thistle, said brewers are “a bit like mad scientists. There’s engineering, mechanics, recipe development, the business component...the creative process is very fulfilling, and in Rochester craft beer is so collaborative. Steve was just over at Forager today, helping with a collaboration. There’s a whole network of brewers who are helping each other.” That fits the definition of a culture, and Rochester is just getting started.

WHAT’S ON TAP IN ROCHESTER Kinney Creek Brewery 1016 Seventh St. NW 507-282-2739

Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday. The granddaddy of Rochester breweries (if you don’t count Schuster and the city’s other ancient labels), Kinney Creek hasn’t changed much since it opened in 2012. The taproom is nothing fancy, just a lightly decorated warehouse space with

giant Jenga, hammerschlagen, and a wide range of ambitious beers, including a Black Ice IPA and a Grappler fruit beer. They recently added Heggies pizza, but otherwise you can order in from area restaurants or take advantage of food trucks. Favorite brews: The Yellow Jacket Imperial IPA, with 8.7 percent ABV, and Honk’s Red IPA, made Germanic with a more malty formula. For non-drinkers, there’s the Rah Rah Root Beer and Sturdy Girl kombucha.

sic or enjoying a lovely summer night in the beer garden. All that has made it a centerpiece of the Kutzky Park neighborhood and a place that builds community. Favorite brews: Unoriginal Neighbor, a hazy double IPA with a haze-inducing 8 percent ABV but low IBU, and Hot Blonde, a Belgian style triple that’s fermented in chardonnay barrels.

Grand Rounds Brewing Co. 4 Third St. SW, Rochester 507-292-1628

LTS Brewing Co. 2001 32nd Ave. NW 507-226-8280

Hours: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. The acronym is for “Life’s Too Short,” which is a good philosophy overall and certainly when it comes to local beer. LTS is a bright, clean-room like building in a business park near the Rochester Athletic Club, so after you’ve worked the Stairmaster at the club for a few hours, you’ve earned at least one pint at LTS. If Kinney Creek is for beer nerds, LTS is for students of brew -- there’s a core of well-made beers and no shortage of staff and customers willing to share their knowledge. Favorite brews: The Oatmeal stout, a toothy stout whose only downside is that you can’t take it away in growlers or crowlers, and Inspiration, an American-style IPA that will appeal to those who aren’t crazy about the genre.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Hours: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday. The newest entry in the Rochester beer world, Little Thistle isn’t little at all. Owners Steve and Dawn Finnie have turned a barebones, 5,200-square-foot trucking warehouse into a lively, family-friendly place to drink beer, talk about beer and watch it being made. Last month, they hosted a curling bonspiel, which comes naturally to Steve as a native-born Scot. No food, but food trucks and live music are part of the program. Favorite brews: The Wetlands IPA, with Citra, Mosaic and Denali hops and a sharp 50 IBU, and Belgian Wit, a light sessionable ale with a hint of bitter orange. SMS Jay Furst is a Rochester freelance writer and media consultant who enjoys a craft beer now and then. To contact him, send

Forager Brewery 1005 Sixth St. NW 507-258-7490

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Like Grand Rounds, food is just as much a reason to be a regular at Forager as the adventurous brews, which get more exotic all the time and appeal to connoisseurs as well as casual drinkers. Opened three years ago in the former food co-op building just east of Barlow Plaza, Forager has some of the best wood-fired pizzas around, great starters (including an uptown poutine) and gourmet mac and cheese. The pub’s layout is perfect for lingering with friends, hiding out in the library, sipping espresso, listening to live mu-

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Adam Fredericksen and Allyson Palmer are transforming an old radio and wireless service shop into a 3,200-square-foot brewery and taproom on Second Street Southwest in Rochester. If all goes well, they’ll be making the first batch and welcoming customers in April or May.

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Roasted buffalo, lobster and pheasant.

By GRACE BRANDT editor@southernminnscene.com

t’s a Thursday evening, and folks are streaming into Traxler’s Hunting Preserve in Le Center for one of its twice-monthly “Wild Game Nights.” The preserve’s Clubhouse is filled almost to capacity as people arrive from miles around, coming from Rochester, Mankato, Faribault, the Twin Cities and beyond. The evening’s menu is simple—just three options. There’s the hunting preserve’s famous prime rib, always a best seller. There’s bourbon chicken over rice. But what really draws people is the “preserve platter,” which features three different types of meat and is never the same twice. Tonight, the offerings are osso bucco (specialty cross-cut veal shanks), stuffed quail and mako shark with pineapple crème sauce. That’s right—mako shark. And that isn’t the wildest thing that has been served during these wild game dinners. “Everybody likes to go to places and try something different,” said Jeff Traxler, who has run the preserve for 31 years. “We definitely are different.” Traxler opened his preserve in 1987, borrowing $5,000 from his grandmother so he could start his business in his father’s shed. A few years later, he was able to purchase 20 acres of land from his dad, and that eventually grew to 800 acres of rolling hills, woods, lakes, sloughs, fields and natural grassland. People come from all over the state to hunt ducks, pheasants and chukars. Traxler said early on, he’d sometimes sell pizzas and beer to hunters, then expanded the menu to include little things like chicken sandwiches and French fries. People could always come to the Clubhouse for lunch and grab a quick bite. But in 1988, he hired Roger Hess, who had experience as a chef. The two of them decided to try some evening dining once in a while. They began offering wild game dinners every other Thursday. At first, it was slow. Traxler said they had to serve 30-40 people to break even, and they didn’t

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If you go What: Wild game nights at Traxler’s Hunting Preserve Where: 37699 Hunting Preserve Ln in Le Center When: Every other Thursday from September to March Phone: (507)-357-6940 Website: www.traxlers.com

Lobster, pheaant and rabbit.

Boar, Chukar and walley.

from a mission group that had received a donation from Traxler’s preserve Of course, the preserve supplies the ducks, pheasants and partridges. Besides the wild game offerings, the restaurant also serves desserts that always made from scratch. In fact, everything from the dressings to the sauces to the soup is made from scratch. Traxler said the wild game nights have live music about 90 percent of the time, adding that he tries to find as many local musicians as possible. The sound is usually bluegrass or other laid-back background music, though one night they featured country music singer John Michael Montgomery. Traxler explained that the singer had come to the preserve to hunt, so they asked him if he’d be willing to sing and he obliged. “Afterwards, when people heard about

it the next few days, they asked, ‘How come we didn’t know about it?’” Traxler said. “And I told them, ‘You weren’t there.’ You never know what’s going to happen.” The restaurant hosts these game night dinners from September to the end of March. (Traxler explained they’re closed during the summer since most people are out on the lake.) Each event’s menu is posted on the preserve’s website a few weeks in advance, so people can know what to look forward to. It’s a good thing, too, since people often need to make reservations early if they want a spot. Traxler said last year, the dinners were booked two weeks in advance the whole year. This year, it isn’t quite as busy, but most nights are still pretty busy, with 100-120 people coming on most nights. “This thing has grown into a pretty exceptional dining destination for a lot of people,” Traxler said. “The more people who come to it, the more they keep coming back.” SMS

always manage that. But, as more people learned about the events, the crowds grew. “As it got going and word got out about it, started to turn into a pretty unique thing,” he said. Eventually, Hess moved on, and Traxler began working with some women from the Le Center area who had experience cooking at area nursing homes and the American Legion. But the group didn’t just serve the stereotypical brats and potatoes associated with Legion food. Instead, they began branching out in rather exotic directions. “We’re pretty unique and pretty laid back,” Traxler said. “We have a lot of fun trying to create things that you don’t get to eat anywhere else. We’re not your typical wild game dinner.” That much is certain from just hearing Traxler’s partial list of previous dinners: kangaroo, wild goats, wild sheep, moose, caribou, bear, elk, buffalo, shark, alligator, stingray and even African lion. Traxler said it’s surprisingly easy to obtain these exotic meats from different meat and seafood suppliers. Ranches in Texas supply quail, black buck and antelope, while a seafood company in Hawaii sent over live sharks for his crew to butcher and prepare. The lion came A d d y o u r e v e n t f o r F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ernminn . c o m / s c ene / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

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The 91st Academy Awards:

BY PHILIP Weyhe editor@southernminnscene.com

uperheroes, musicals, crowd-pleasers, nostalgic remembrances and political statements abound, the 2019 Academy Award nominees represent a wide range of movie styles and philosophies. In what was an open field in 2018, The “Shape of Water” and Director Guillermo Del Toro ran out with the night’s top prizes, beating its top contender “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and a fine selection of other films. “The Shape of

Water” likely benefited from its fantastical elements, separating itself from a field of more literal storytelling – with the exception of high-performing underdog “Get Out.” In 2019, the films are a little more varied. Award season was apparently kicked off early this time around when “Black Panther” set culture alight with its superhero prowess in February 2018. Six months later, another movie helmed by a black director entered the race, as “BlacKKKlansman,” fresh off wowing audiences at festivals, entered theaters. After that, came a couple of musicals, “A Star is Born”

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and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” that so endeared the public, Oscar voters simply couldn’t turn them away. And finally came the more expected slew of awards bait, including the all-star cast (“Vice”), the period piece (“The Favourite”), the feel-good crooner (“Green Book”), and the gentle story of home (“Roma”). With such a diverse and (so far) evenly contested awards season, one would be foolish to wager a guess at this year’s likely winners. So here are my guesses. The calls (who will win) and wishes (who I’d like to win) for the 2019 Oscars.

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ent

BEST PICTURE The Nominees

In all honesty, I don’t want “A Star is Born” or “Bohemian Rhapsody” to win, not because I don’t like a little music in movies – I had a good time watching both – but because neither film really delved deep to put across a message that will stick. The two ultimately are a little shallow (pun intended) when it comes to dealing with some pretty murky topics – suicide and AIDS. Same with “Green Book” and it’s take on racism. “Black Panther” offers just the opposite. A film that didn’t need to have a potent message did, and while it’s still a superhero film, and therefore has some cheese, it’s metaphors to reality were told quite elegantly. Of course, “Roma” and “The Favourite,” the more traditional awards picks, also managed the same feat, expected or not. The Dream: Just give me “Roma” or “The Favourite,” but if we’re going for something unexpected, I’ll take “Black Panther.”

BlacKkKlansman: Spike Lee’s latest effort takes us on a ride along for a 1970s true story about Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Spring Police Department, who bravely sets out to infiltrate and expose the KKK. Funny, stylish, poignant. Black Panther: A superhero epic and the first lead for Marvel’s Black Panther, featuring the gorgeous and ridiculous set design that is the country of Wakanda. Fantastic action and surprisingly punchy themes highlight this one. Bohemian Rhapsody: A peak into the evolution and explosion of British rock band, Queen in the 1970s. This one is foot-stomping fun, led by a fantastic performance from Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, but critics were mixed, as the film put a little Hollywood gloss over Mercury’s story.

BEST DIRECTOR The Nominees Adam McKay -- VICE: For a movie that got such lukewarm critical and audience reactions, its talent sure got a lot of nods. Those who liked the film say it’s funny, informative and the actors were well led. I’m genuinely unsure how that lands McKay an Oscar nod over Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler.

The Favourite: It’s the early 18th century and England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, royals are living lavishly and two women are fighting demonically for the love of the frail Queen Anne. Brilliant performances, inspired moments of comedy and a menacing sense of direction make this sort-of true story a frontrunner.

UNBOUND

Alfonso Cuaron – Roma: Cuaron has already won Oscar gold for the completely different but similarly beautiful “Gravity.” Just about everything he touches seems to result in acclaim, and quite right, as he has a wonderful ability to declutter his movies and yet keep them enthralling. The magic is seen again with Roma.

Green Book: An Italian-American tough guy in the Bronx is asked to chauffeur a well-to-do and world renowned artist, who happens to be black in the 1960s. As they travel the American South on tour, each learns quite a lot from the other. It’s feel good and it’s genuinely enjoyable, if lacking honesty.

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Pawel Pawlikowski – Cold War: Cold War is a passionate love story between a man and a woman with vastly different backgrounds who meet in the ruins of post-war Poland in the 1950s. I haven’t seen this but I’m very much looking forward to doing so. Critics say the black-and-white film is beautiful and heartthumping.

Roma: It’s a highly personal project from the acclaimed director of Oscar-winning Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron. The film details life in early 1970s Mexico through the eyes of a young domestic worker for a middle class family. The story is personal yet generational, and the cinematography is stunning. A Star is Born: In a second remake the Hollywood favorite, a seasoned musician falls in love with a struggling artist and gives her a platform to build a career, while his withers. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are both quite exceptional, which, along with some great original music, is really what sets this one apart, as the story is a little cheesier than most Oscar favorites would tend to be.

GALLERY

VICE: The story of a how a bureaucratic Washington insider, Dick Cheney, became the most powerful man in the world as Vice President to George W. Bush, and the impact it still has today. Admittedly, this is the only nominee I haven’t seen, but if we’re going by the critics, this one is absorbing but ultimately falls a little flat. It makes the nominee list mostly on expectations.

While two movies have stood out above the rest throughout most of awards season, the Oscar winner is more difficult to predict this year than one might expect. “Roma” and “The Favourite” seem to be standing above the others, and they’re each the type of movie that wins awards. “Roma” is a simple story that benefits from its ability to make something personal meaningful to something much greater. It’s beautiful, too, with hardly a shot that doesn’t cry out for a photograph. “The Favourite,” meanwhile is much louder and brash, but it’s extremely clever and elevated by its performances, which Oscar voters seem to love. But while those two are the frontrunner, the mere inclusion of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which was not critically praised (it had OK reviews), indicates that voters are interested in what inspired the public in 2018. That means films like “Black Panther” and a “Star is Born” are in with a shot. Ultimately, I see voters sticking with the standards for what makes a great movie.

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Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman: It’s great to see Spike Lee back in this position, and it’s great that his nomination is backed by such an enjoyable film. BlacKkKlansman is fun, relevant and important, a difficult combination to pull off.

MUSIC

Yorgos Lanthimos – The Favourite: Perhaps not a household name (yet), Lanthimos has quietly been directing some of the favorites (pun intended again) of the independent world in recent years. Previously with “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and “The Lobster,” and now this, he’s showing off a dark wit and a penchant for controlled chaos.

I think you can rule out McKay, because he doesn’t deserve it, and Pawlikowski, because he made Oscar voters’ second favorite foreign language film this year. That leaves Cuaron, already established in the minds of voters, Lee, already established in the minds of voters, and Lanthimos, possibly not so established. While I wouldn’t bat an eye at Lanthimos being credited for producing something so familiar yet different all at once, I think it’s a race between Cuaron and Lee. The “BlacKkKlansman” director may very well ride his legacy to this win, with so many in the movie industry being thrilled by his latest success. But Cuaron is widely admired and has seemingly failed to put a foot wrong thus far.

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Winner: Cuaron

I’ll keep it simple. Not McKay. I think each of the other four directors have a remarkable piece of work (that’s an assumption based on what I’ve read when it comes to “Cold War”) to show. It’s a shame there aren’t any ladies in this category, but regardless we should have a worthy winner, barring one potential surprise.

The Dream: Anyone but McKay wins

Winner: Roma A d d y o u r e v e n t f o r F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ernminn . c o m / s c ene / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

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Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody: For all the shortcomings of Bohemian Rhapsody – and for me, there are several – the lead performance was absolutely not one of them. Malek showed clear admiration for the legend he was playing, Freddie Mercury, and even helped to resurge his popularity in mainstream culture.

13 It’s a wonderful selection of leading ladies, and the Academy is going to have a decision to make here. No one is undeserving. Gaga had a very difficult job of making a character in a musicthemed movie appear realistic and authentic. McCarthy played someone enigmatic and brought out what was there to love and hate about that person. Colman had a role that was totally over the top and she gave us the performance it needed. Aparicio had none of the glitz and glamour at her disposal, and still stood out. But it’s been Close, with her film-elevating performance that has captured award season thus far.

BEST ACTRESS The Nominees Glenn Close – The Wife: Playing the “great man’s wife,” Glenn Close elevated a movie that many critics felt would’ve been uninteresting without her. She’s been scooping up awards left and right for her intelligent, quiet performance. Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born: Must be nice going from superstar music success to an Oscar-worthy acting performance, something Gaga can now claim. She really was brilliant in this film, capturing the feeling of an artist straddling ambition and love. Melissa McCarthy – Can You Ever Forgive Me?: A comedy queen let everyone know she has the chops for drama with a polished portrayal of an author with a mean disposition. Really, Marielle Heller should’ve received some love for her directing of this one, but McCarthy undoubtedly deserves her own nod. Olivia Colman – The Favourite: Outshining Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, both nominated for actress in a supporting role, is quite a challenge, but Colman absolutely did it. Playing a childish, selfish, sometimes pathetic, but also sensitive and funny Queen Anne, Colman made you laugh and feel.

Viggo Mortensen – Green Book: There was plenty criticism lobbed at Green Book for presenting as something of a “white savior” film, where the white man is somehow the hero in a story of a black man facing racism. That’s really not Mortensen’s fault, though, and if anything, his performance made the film enjoyable, as did the performance of Mahershala Ali, nominated in the supporting category.

Winner: Glenn Close

I’d love Colman to win, because I so enjoyed watching her performance, and anticipate that I will do so several more times. But I think my ultimate choice is Aparicio, a young woman with just about nothing on her reel before this role. She’s a testament that movies are for everyone, and her performance, perhaps the most difficult of any of the nominees, was stunning.

Willem Dafoe – At Eternity’s Gate: I know so little about this movie, I’d be a fraud to give much input here. But Dafoe plays Vincent Van Gogh – surely not an easy portrayal to pull off – and critics say he was masterful.

The Dream: Yalitza Aparicio wins

BEST ACTOR

It’s kind of an open race, but it seems everyone has a fatal flaw. Cooper wasn’t the biggest star of his own movie. Bale was in a movie that a lot of people thought was bad. Mortensen gave a good performance in a somewhat problematic role. Dafoe’s portrayal went somewhat under the radar. And while “Bohemian Rhapsody” didn’t have perfect reviews, Malek was absolutely the star, audiences loved the film, the role was not problematic (although the original director was), and the movie was most certainly under the radar.

The Nominees Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born: Equal to Gaga’s turn, Cooper presented strong acting chops in the film he was also busy directing. He played his old rockstar character with a sort of graceful sadness and did an excellent job capturing a person’s inner demons, even if I think the movie as a whole put a little too much gloss on the topic.

Yalitza Aparicio – Roma: One of the best pieces of Roma was its introduction to all things Mexico, including the brilliant Aparicio and her co-star Marina de Tavira, both of whom were able to captivate without even needing the big moments. Aparicio made her character real and raw and important.

Christian Bale – VICE: Like I said before, I haven’t seen this one, but apparently voters like the acting, as Sam Rockwell and Amy Adams were also nominated in supporting roles. While the film, as a whole, might’ve gone astray in aiming at its target, Bale apparently hit his on the nose.

Winner: Rami Malek

I don’t have a clear favorite among this group of nominated performances, but in terms of who I want to win an Oscar the most, I’ll go with Malek. He’s young, he’s not white, and the world needs more faces like his to feature at the front of Hollywood for years to come. The Dream: Rami Malek wins SMS

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BY Abby Patterson editor@southernminnscene.com

Local Theaters Add Alcohol Option

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new date night idea has emerged that has the whole date in one location. Theaters around the country are making big changes to attract more customers. With movie theater attendance hitting a 25-year low in 2017, many movie theaters added something new to their services: alcoholic beverages. One theater franchise, Alamo Drafthouse, helped jumpstart the trend back in 1994 with the motto “good food, good beer and food film, all at the same place.” At Alamo, movie guests can order from their list of crafted cocktails, snacks and even dinner right from their seat. There’s also a bar and restaurant to have your dinner and a movie all in one place. Alamo has their system down to a science. This is how it works: Sit down in your recliner seat, write your drink or food order on the provided paper, slide the order into the holder and wait for a server to quietly pick it up. According to Alamo Chief Operation Officer Bill DiGaetano, Alamo seeks to educate its moviegoers with their uniquely strict policies. Some of these policies include no texting, no talking, no late seating and even no crinkly popcorn bags — served in metal bowls to avoid any loud distractions. “Guests get one warning, then they will be kicked out” said DiGaetano. “We want [customers] to rat out people.” The Texas-based chain now has 25 locations all over the States. The first Minnesota location officially opened at the shopping center, Woodbury Lakes, in 2018. It’s likely helping to inspire other movie theaters, all around the Bold North, to join the alcohol-friendly movement or at least consider doing so, lest be left out of the competitive environment. Theaters like Marcus Rochester and Emagine Lakeville are now allowing alcoholic beverages to be sold to customers. The weekend after Labor Day, Cannon Valley Cinema 10 in Dundas started offering beer and wine at their location. “We did it so we could offer what everyone was of-

fering in the cities,” said Dennis Haines, the manager of Cannon Valley Cinema 10. “We also received a lot of requests from customers too because they were used to going to the theaters that offered it, and people really seem to be enjoying it.” He added, “It seems like that’s the way theaters are going now, especially ones in the cities. We’ve been getting a lot of requests for it.” Although this trend has increased movie attendance and concession sales, the main concern has been keeping movie theaters family-friendly. Because of this, theaters like Cannon Valley have adopted a “two-drink minimum” for all of their movie-goers. “We try to monitor it carefully,” said Haines. “We want people to be able to enjoy a drink or two without getting overly intoxicated.” They’re also not serving hard liquor – at least not yet. “I feel like this is where we want to be. We really don’t want to get into the hard alcohol, unless we did a remodel and made a bar somewhere,” Haines said. According to Haines, there haven’t been many complaints from customers about the new policy. He says the theater is still able to maintain a familyfriendly atmosphere, while letting legal guests enjoy a cocktail; employees are already required to ID customers for R-rated movies, and having to ask for ID when alcohol is involved is no different. As the world becomes more globalized and information spreads fast, rural business is increasingly affected by metro business. Trends that start in densely populated areas often trickle their way out to the more rural areas, and Northfield/Dundas is one of the first stops in Southern Minnesota. “We’re close enough to Burnsville and some of these places that we feel like the demand is enough to keep pace with the metro theaters, and we need to offer that,” Haines said. “That’s why we went with luxury seating [when the theater first opened]; people are getting more used to that.” No doubt, other theaters will be making the same considerations that Cannon Valley did. Many theaters out of the metro (and in) are still holding off on the drinks, preferring to maintain a more family-friendly atmosphere. None of the three theaters in Mankato, for instance, offer drinks. But things change quickly, and business leaders, including those in the movie industry, will absolutely do what’s needed to keep up in the marketplace. First it was the reclining chairs, now it’s alcohol? What might the next move be for theaters in a battle to stay relevant in the streaming era? We can leave those decisions to the people making them. For now, let’s just enjoy a movie -- happy hour and munchies galore. Cheers! SMS

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f o Owatonna Music Space

ver the years, Owatonna has produced a sizable list of musicians who went on to build successful careers. Boston-based drummer and Owatonna High School graduate Billy Conway went on to play with nationally acclaimed bands Morphine and Treat Her Right. Har Mar Superstar and members of national touring bands Rogue Wave, Cloud Cult and Owl City also grew up here. Many have returned to Owatonna to perform. When the city built a band shell in Central Park in 2003, Mark Woodrich saw an opportunity and ran with it – booking summer shows where native musicians returned to play. Nationally acclaimed Jeffrey Foucault – featuring Conway on drums – played there last year. Woodrich also began renting out the old library at Pillsbury College, and converted it to the Concert Club of Owatonna. Minnesota bands with heavy airplay on Minnesota Public Radio’s the Current like Dusty Heart, the Pines and the Roe Family Singers played there thanks to Woodrich. After any given show at the Concert Club, fans encouraged him to put on more than the four shows a year he’d been booking there since 2016. “People kept telling me I need to do more, so it gave me encouragement,” Woodrich said. He couldn’t have picked a better moment when he set his sights on opening a downtown Owatonna music venue and record store, it turns out city leaders were thinking the same thing. Owatonna has seen a series of revitalization efforts in recent years to bring back business to the downtown area. One particular storefront had been occupied by various owners, but nothing lasted. Woodrich took notice. “I kept peeking in a few windows, going ‘well that would make a good space, there’s plenty of room.’”

Woodrich entered a contest held by the Owatonna Economic Development Authority (EDA) in an effort to further revitalize the

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business district. Contestants created a business proposal and the winner would receive a $20,000 loan to jump start the business. It turns out his

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“I kept peeking in a few windows, going ‘well that would make a good space, there’s plenty of room.’” – Mark Woodrich

proposal was exactly what they were looking for. “When I pitched that idea; that’s when I found out that actually was their mission; to combine businesses that work together that drive a variety of people downtown at night,” Woodrich said. “So without even knowing it I pitched what they were looking for.” Out of six proposals, the EDA selected Woodrich’s, so he got to work renovating an old storefront that had been vacant for years. He expects the Music Space of Owatonna to be fully open to customers and concert goers by April. On a particularly cold winter day, Woodrich can be found preparing the space for its opening. Other than the bars and a couple restaurants, most of downtown closes at night. Regularly working into the evening with the lights on, he invites curious passersby in for a look as he fills the front shop area with records on display. “I’ve got thousands of records to sell,” he says. In the digital age, vinyl is making a comeback of sorts. Twin Cities based Johnny Go Records has been so popular it’s expanded to three locations. Woodrich himself is a customer who says owner John Kass’ business model of buying them up over the past three decades at garage sales and reselling them as they enjoy a resurgence is finally paying off. Customers at the Music Space

can expect rare collectibles and modern releases. “John Kass is a visionary; he’s just been stockpiling for it to come back and it’s back. So I bought a warehouse from him.” In the meantime, it’s a backbreaking process of reopening a building that until now lay vacant for five years, that means installing new plumbing, getting everything up to code, sorting through records, and booking the first bands. It will be the first nighttime gathering place downtown devoted to music, featuring nonalcoholic drinks like unique and hard-to-find craft sodas and more frequent concerts of touring, local and regional musicians, at four shows a month. While the Concert Club became known for its roster of Americana and folk music, expect the Music Space to include a more eclectic variety adding jazz and hip-hop to the mix. Woodrich already is in contact with bands that easily draw a good crowd when they come through the Twin Cities on tour, and he thinks Owatonna’s success with the Concert Club will attract a larger mix of musicians and fans. “I’ve been planning this for a long time,” he said. I think the time is right. I’ve gotten a lot of encouragement and support from the public that SMS I didn’t used to get.”

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The

Daniel G. Moir

20 18

M BY DANIEL G. MOIR editor@southernminnscene.com

usically, 2018 was a confusing year that felt both transitional and imprecise in direction. This was much like society I guess, but with a better soundtrack. A number of acts decided that 2018 was the year they would finally hang it up and retire. Nothing lasts forever and as much as they will be missed, there is a fair amount of music that is left behind for everyone to discover and enjoy for lifetimes to come. That is important. Again, I offer my take on the year that was. Awards are funny things. Sure, Grammy’s and Oscar’s are nice, but to win a “Danny” you have to have accomplished really, well, something. Other awards are prestigious. This one is dubious. Heck, bring a “Danny” and $5.00 into any Starbucks and you might almost be able to buy a cheap cup of coffee. C’est la vie. So, take your seat, put your feet up, and get comfortable. The winner of the first Danny goes to…

The “I Was Wrong” Award

Kendrick Lamar Last year I declared that Marlon Craft’s The Tunnel’s End to be the best Rap/Hip-Hop album of 2017. I was wrong. This is not to say that I don’t think Craft’s record is deserving of the title, it is just that I spent a lot MORE time listening to Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN after I submitted last year’s awards. Now, I heard Lamar’s record several times before I issued my “Rap’s Best” award, but sometime around March (and about the 20th time I heard it), I realized I may have been incorrect in my original assessment. Every time I listened to it from that point on, my uneasiness multiplied as the brilliance of the recording continued to emerge. By the time DAMN received the Pulitzer Prize for music the next month, I realized my discomfort was correct. So, Mr. Lamar, I WAS WRONG. DAMN is an amazing record that deserves nothing but massive respect. As good as The Tunnel’s End is ,and as much as EVERYONE really should seek it out, Lamar

Ozzy Osbourne-No More Tours II You gotta hand it to the Prince of Darkness. He goes out on his first retirement tour in 1992 (“No More Tours”) and follows this up with his “Retirement Sucks” tour in 1995-96. Now, we’ve got the first “sequel” retirement tour. That counts for something. So, is he really done? Hard to say, but I won’t be surprised if he embarks on his “Sharon Told Me To Get Out Of The House” tour in 2-3 years time.

With an incredible variety of collaborators, including Pharrell Williams, Tame Impala, Stevie Wonder, Kid Kudi, John Mayer, Frank Ocean, Quavo, and 21 Savage, the third album by the Houston rapper is an inspired collection of surreal beats, sounds and rhymes that gets better with each listen. A real “Headphone Album” in every way. It may not win a Pulitzer, but I am glad that at least I was able to recognize how good it was quicker than I did with DAMN. You should too.

“I picked a good day for a recreational Percocet” From “Best Years of My Life” by Pistol Annies

Target & Justin Timberlake

The Best Retirement Tour Name

Best Album Inspired by an Amusement Park Award

Travis Scott-ASTROWORLD

The Best Opening Line Award

The Multi-Tiered Strategic Marketing Plan Award (aka “The Coattails Award”)

Seizing on the Superbowl held in Target Corporation’s home city and the release of the halftime performer’s excellent new album Man in the Wilderness, Timberlake spent his time in the Twin Cities with delightful social media posts and random surprise visits to various Target outlets. He then hid signed copies of the album among store inventories, nearly guaranteeing fans to shop the chain exclusively to acquire the record. Really a brilliant move. Of course, when I went to Target to write how great I thought the new The 1975 album was on copies of that record, they called it “vandalism” and kicked me out to the store. You say “Potay-to,” I say “Po-tah-toe.”

Thompson Twins leader’s return to the world of Pop Music. While he may have worked in electronica and dub under the International Observer moniker over the past 15 years, his return was a surprise to the Pop world. While Bailey was not the only star to return from “Missing in Action” status, his album was by far the most unexpected, and best of the lot.

made a true Masterpiece. Sorry it took me so long to wise up.

Ashley Monroe opens this song with an unexpected line that completely caught me off-guard while listening to the new Pistol Annies record. While it initially came across as the beginning of good joke, it leads into a heartbreaking lyrical study of a dead-end life in a dead-end town with all the reflections of the unfulfilled promises that go with it. This is true “cry in your beer” territory with a world-weary flair expertly delivered. Still, a good line.

Unexpected Comeback of the Year

Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B

Tom Bailey The release of his solo debut album, Science Fiction, over the summer marked the former

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Strangest “Feud” of the Year

The confrontation between the two stars began sometime in 2017 and seems largely built on mis-understanding fueled by fan reaction on the Internet.

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Somehow, it devolved into each party offering snide insults at each other through social media accounts and raps before moving into a physical confrontation at New Yorks’ fashion week in September with Cardi B throwing her SHOES instead of shade at the “Anaconda” rapper. Bizarre. I’m pretty sure that the whole thing is nothing more than a publicity stunt by both parties, but still… a very strange feud. Somewhere between the Beatles/Stones and Tupac/ Biggie rivalries but with better arch support.

30 years, and we now have Greta Van Fleet. While their Anthem of the Peaceful Army is not completely terrible, there is nothing on it that is all that especially good either. It really is nothing more than a copy of a copy at best. Stick with the original and buy yourself a copy of Houses of the Holy instead. Hey Greta, you guys are early in your career. Take a moment to gather your influences and then inject your own personality to do something that you can call entirely your own. In other words… “Yes, there are two paths you can go by. But in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.”

Best Debut Album of the Year

Camila Cabello

An expected surprise as far as I am concerned. Based on past singles and E.P.s, I assumed the likely best debut album was to come from Bebe Rexha. As good as Expectations was, or as ironically titled, it didn’t match what I thought Rexha could deliver. On the other hand, Cabello emerged from the B-level Fifth Harmony to offer a debut album that was varied, emotional and gripping from start to finish. Leadoff single “Havana” had an undeniable swagger that exploded with rhythm and hooks galore. This was just the appetizer for a fantastic set that included the confessional gentle beauty of “Consequences” and the catchy Broadway shine of “Inside Out.” While Cabello’s former group did continue on with a new album, one cannot help but wonder if her departure contributed to their decision to go on indefinite hiatus a couple of months following the release of Cabello’s album. Either way, Cabello is someone worth watching to see what she will do next.

The “Enough Already” Award

The Chainsmokers

2018 couldn’t get away without the bro-tastic DJ/Production duo dropping Sick Boy, their second album in the middle of December. We got sooooo close to escaping the year without it. This sophomore album was a collection of the monthly singles they somehow felt compelled to inflict on an unsuspecting public throughout the year. Haven’t we suffered enough??? I mean, cut us some slack, bro. The “You Should Take A Nap Sometime Award” (For Special Achievements in Over-productivity)

John Mellencamp

The Biggest Disaster Award (aka “The Fyre Festival Award”)

Mellencamp released his 24th album, Other People’s Stuff in early December. This marked the fourth consecutive year that he issued a new record. Now, when you consider that Mellencamp considers painting (and not music) as his primary medium for artistic expression, you have to wonder if the Indiana native EVER sleeps. Maybe there really IS something to the much-vaunted midwestern work ethic after all.

Kanye West

He closed out the year with a pair of incredibly strange moments. In October, he performed on “Saturday Night Live” dressed like a giant bottle of Perrier and then a couple weeks later, he was in the Oval Office delivering an incomprehensible monologue of support for Donald Trump and suggesting that Air Force One should be replaced by his idea for something called an iPlane. Now, it doesn’t matter what your political leanings may be, you must admit that all this was an unhinged, disturbing, confusing set of events. I hope West takes some time away in 2019 to get sorted out a bit more.

The “Very Best Album of the Year” Award

TIE Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer (First Half) The 1975 A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (Second Half)

Dumbest Member of the Music Industry Award

OK, yeah, I wimped out. I will cop to that. I couldn’t decide between these two albums, so I split this Award into two separate pieces. With the speed at which we experienced societal changes this year, 2018 almost felt like two years instead of one. That’s it, I’ll use THAT as “artistic license” to explain my indecision. Seriously, these two albums could ONLY come out during 2018. Monáe produced a brilliant album that incorporates the elements of the #metoo and gender identity social movements in the boldest (and funkiest) artistic statement of her career. The 1975 used their record to take a more observational approach, cleverly using a variety of musical styles to reflect the complexity of life in the social media age. Ultimately, both albums were about relationships, those that exist between people, and within oneself. While they may be hookfilled and danceable, neither release was easy to digest if examined below their melodic surfaces. These are the kinds of albums that bring substance along with a fun-beat and defined this year.

Neil Portnow

Early in the year, Portnow, the President and CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (“The Grammys”), responded to a question about the lack of female artists nominated for the Academy’s prestigious awards like “Album of the Year” by saying that in order to deserve this recognition, they would need to “step up” their skills. (Sound of tires screeching). WHAT? He said what? Response from artists of all genders was quick and condemning. This was worse than Lars Ulrich’s attempt to go after Metallica fans for illegally downloading his band’s songs on Napster in 2000. Wow. When it was later revealed that he had used funds from one of the Academy’s charities to help pay for part of the Grammy ceremony, it only made a bad situation worse. Portnow has made a number of misguided mid-awards show statements in past Grammy addresses, but all this cemented his much-deserved award this year. For those keeping score at home, Portnow’s tenure as the head of the Grammy’s will end in July 2019. Good riddance. The “Take THAT” Award

Multiple Winners

As almost an unintended response to Portnow’s “Step Up” comment, Female Artists released some of the most exciting music of this past year. Camila Cabello, Kacey Musgraves, Ella Mai, Nicki Minaj, Chvrches (led by Lauren Mayberry), Pistol Annies, and Mya all released albums that spent a significant amount of time blasting out of my stereo during the year, but none quite as much as the incredible Janelle Monáe, who made my jaw drop with Dirty Computer. While all the albums by the artists I just listed are worth your attention, it is Monáe that blew my mind and got both my feet and brain moving. A rare release by a multi-talented and gifted artist. “Women need to step up their skills,” yeah right. Take THAT.

The “I Was Honestly Expecting Something a bit, well… Better” Award

The Carters (Beyoncé and Jay-Z) Everything Is Love After Lemonade and 4:44 dealt with both partner’s view of their domestic struggles, I was really expecting this surprise joint collaboration by the two superstars would blow me away. Sure, there were some good moments to be found, but overall it was a bit “meh.” I think one of their first collaborations, 2003’s “Crazy In Love” may have set perhaps too high of a bar. The “Kingdom Come” Award for Achievements in Cloning

Greta Van Fleet

This four-piece act from Frankenmuth, Michigan ham-fistedly copied Led Zeppelin in their attempt to earn “The Next Big Thing” status. Back in 1988, a similar band called Kingdom Come released their debut album with such overwhelming similarities to Zep that some initially believed that the first single “Get It On” to be a reunion song from the beloved band. The comparisons soon led (pun intended) to rebranding them “Kingdom Clone” by those in attendance to that year’s “Monsters Of Rock” when they opened for Metallica, Dokken, The Scorpions and Van Halen. Flash forward

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The “Other Best Albums of the Year” Really, no particular ranking order here, but if we are being honest, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Musgraves win the Grammy this time around. In case you hadn’t realized it, yes, McCartney is STILL that good.

Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour Tremblay Bleu Septembre Paul McCartney Egypt Station Travis Scott ASTROWORLD Fickle Friends You Are Someone Else Elle King Shake the Spirit Camila Cabello Camila “You can’t have what’s next until you let go of what’s now.” -Jonathan Heimberg So, with that in mind, bring on 2019 and what’s next!

SMS

Daniel G. Moir has forgotten more about music than all the rest of us know combined. Reach him at editor@southernminnscene.com

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By Terri Schlichenmeyer editor@southernminnscene.com

verybody, it seems, has a Best of 2018 List out for the year. Best vacation, best TV shows, best movies, best place to eat. So here are the Absolutely Can’t Miss, Don’t Pass Them By, Wipe Your Calendar Clean So You Can Stay Home and Read Best Books of 2018 (a totally subjective list, in no particular order).

FICTION

Just about every person alive grew up feeling sorry for poor little Cinderella. In “All the Ever Afters” by Danielle Teller, we see the classic story from the POV of Agnes, the evil-not-evil stepmother. This novel is an eye-opener: there are always two sides to a story, and both could be correct. Another two-sides-to-the-tale tale is “The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein” by Kiersten White, a novel of the woman who loved Victor Frankenstein. Or did she? Without him, she’d be homeless, broke, and hungry. With him, she would always fear his temper and the horrible things she was discovering about him. It’s a dark-and-stormy kind of book, perfect for anyone who wants winter chills of a different sort. A lot of mini-stories make up “Berlin 1936” by Oliver Hilmes, translated from the German by Jefferson Chase. It’s a multi-level tale of Nazis, gypsies, homosexuals, and secrets in the infancy of the Third Reich, told in a conglomerate, slice-of-life sort of way that will make you forget that it’s all fiction. Every year, it seems, scientists claim that humans will achieve immortality within a few decades. That’s a curse in “How to Stop Time” by Matt Haig. In 1598, a man named Tom fell in love with a woman named Rose. They had a daughter and then Rose fell ill and died; Tom, however, survived because he’s an “alba.” Tom is more than 400 years old and there are two things he wants: to feel as normal as he did in 1598, and to find his daughter, who is also an alba. Romancy? Yes, but also part sci-fi, part history, a little drama, and a whole lot of wonderful. To round out the fiction list, there’s “Tin Man: A Novel” by Sarah Winman. It’s also the story of Ellis, who lost his wife and his best friend, the former to a car accident and the latter to AIDS. Ellis misses Annie because she opened his world; he misses Michael because Michael pushed him to do things he would have never tried. But there were so many things Ellis never knew about Michael, until he finds Michael’s journal. Emotional, dramatic, also romantic, here’s a book that’ll make you curl up in your chair, stricken, for an hour after you’ve finished it.

NONFICTION For anyone who’s ever wondered how that guy on TV does those illusion tricks, “Here is Real Magic” by Nate Staniforth is a book for you. Staniforth always wanted to be a magician but he wanted to do it

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big. Little coin tricks were old-school so, in this book, he goes on a journey to find out of magic is real or not. Hint: this isn’t a magic book. Read it, and you’ll be left with answers you weren’t even asking for. You may never see “The Language of Kindness” by Christie Watson on any other Best Of list and that’s too bad. Watson is a nurse, and this is a book about being ill, care-giving, living, and dying. Beware that some of the stories are a bit gruesome, but this is a lovely book for anyone alive. And not that there’s a theme here or anything, but you’ll also want to read “Natural Causes” by Barbara Ehrenreich, a book about the things we do to avoid dying. It’s informative, funny, wry, and intelligent. Hint: rant, rail, avoid sweets, eat kale, do all you want, but you’re going to die someday anyhow… There’s a ton of surprising gratitude inside “The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row” by Anthony Ray Hardin with Lara Love Hardin. The reason is that Anthony Hardin was put on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. First surprise: it took thirty years for him to be exonerated. Second surprise: this book holds a whole lot less anger than you’d think it would, and a whole lot of uplifting. Of all the books on this list, it’s the one you’ll never regret reading. And finally, rounding up the Nonfiction list, there’s “West Like Lightning: The Brief, Legendary Ride of the Pony Express” by Jim DeFelice. History fans will love this book because DeFelice focuses on the Pony Express but doesn’t ignore other major players in the Civil War era. Readers who like tales of little-known life will love this book, too, as will anyone who loves a good oater. Bonus: it’s one of those easy to browse books that will pull you in tight.

Children’s Books For any child who loves the Little House on the Prairie books, “Hardscrabble” by Sandra Dallas will be a winner. It’s a tale of twelve-year-old Belle Martin, who moves with her family from a farm in Iowa to the prairie in Colorado in 1910, and it wasn’t easy. For your 8-to-13-year-old, though, Dallas eases through the difficulty and happiness of this historical novel. Much as I loved the bouncy, joyful words that make up “Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away” by Ketch Secor, and as much as they made me so very happy, the cherry on this literary sundae are the illustrations by Higgins Bond. Lush, colorful, and radiant, this is the tale of a girl and her grandfather, their love of music, and a mysterious spate of missing items. Your 3-to-6-year-old will like that. You’ll love the artwork. And finally, something totally fun to read, for the kid who loves oddities: “They Lost Their Heads! What Happened to Washington’s Teeth, Einstein’s Brain, and Other Famous Body Parts” by Carlyn Beccia. This is a book that will inform your 10-to-14-year-old. It’s also going to give them light shivers, a few laughs, and a big dose of informative history that doesn’t feel like schooling. What better thing to have while school is out? And there you are: The Absolutely Can’t Miss, Don’t Pass Them By, Wipe Your Calendar Clean So You Can Stay Home and Read Best Books of 2018. Go get ‘em. Season’s Readings! SMS

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Ian Laird Ian is a Lighting Specialist and designer at The Design Element, located in the Mankato Design Center. He can help you with all your lighting and design needs from planning to product selection.

An Update To Performance Fabrics

erformance fabrics are a developing industry of fabrics created or treated to be resistant to every day use and frequent abuse. Indoor/outdoor fabrics have been around for years, but more recently a larger selection of designer fabrics (“designer” meaning more color/style/texture options) have been made available through advancSPONSORED BY ing technologies The Design Element in construction 1711 Premier Drive and chemicals. Mankato, MN Even the indoor/ 507.345.8708 outdoor fabrics of yesterday are being created a whole new way for durability against the environment and human use as well as being redesigned to be used more readily in interior applications. However, not every performance fabric is created equal. Indoor/outdoor fabrics are generally associated

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with the early canvas-like fabrics of Sunbrella where more durability meant treatments and fiber integration that caused a stiffer material. As technology has progressed, Sunbrella fabric has evolved into a color-fast, water-repellant, and mildew resistant material available in a variety of fabric types. Since Sunbrella also has through-body color, it can be cleaned with a bleach solvent for tougher stains and not cause fading. Crypton is another performance fabric recently making waves in the upholstery industry by expanding into the residential market. Previously, Crypton was used in commercial settings such as hospitals and hotels primarily due to its odor control, stain resistance, fungal resistance, and antimicrobial properties. All of this is in addition to its repellency against liquids. Each fiber of Crypton is treated, as opposed to a topical treatment, so frequent cleaning won’t affect the quality. However, since Crypton is not technically a through-body color, it is not always recommended to use a bleach cleaner on it. Both Crypton and Sunbrella have advanced

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into fabrics with a softer hand, such as velvets, chenilles, and soft wovens. The Design Element has been utilizing these fabrics most recently on furniture when light, or white, fabrics are desired. Now that the technology exists to effortlessly remove stains from a white fabric, there are more options for custom living room furniture than ever. Stains can generally be dabbed out with a little bit of water and/or mild detergent. This is if the liquid culprit doesn’t just run-off the fabric altogether. Hopefully the surface directly below is also resistant to staining or this may cause a whole new issue! Here in our own showroom we’ve tested water and wine (as you may have seen on Facebook or Instagram in our latest vlog post), but we’ve had clients attest to removing blood and other spills with ease! Most recently, we have been using our performance fabric resources to upholster furniture in problem areas. Dining rooms and living rooms are the first ones that come to mind as these are two places that generally see food spills. Custom upholstered counter stools or bar stools are also

an option with a Crypton or Sunbrella fabric. Having an upholstered piece in the master bath – perhaps for a make-up counter – is no longer out of the question with an antimildew/antifungal/ antimicrobial fabric with innate water repellency. These may all sound like miracle fabrics, but at the end of the day they’re still fabrics. Improper cleaning can still result in tough stains. Generally, staying away from using harsh chemicals to remove stains should result in a positive outcome. Also, letting a stain sit for too long is never a good idea – who knows what can happen in the meantime! Using white fabrics in a busy home with children is now a possibility. Thanks to these advances in fabric technology, you can now get that open, airy, beachy look even if you plan to live in your home. The days of the living room that only gets used when company comes over are gone! Being able to use every part of your home just makes sense. And now the fabric industry is beginning to catch up and make that goal more attainable than ever before.

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Oscars Drink Like

You’re There

elcome to the annual addendum to our Academy Awards preview article. As you watch each of the Oscar-nominated films, please allow us to make some pairing suggestions to enhance your experience. A special thanks to friends at 10,000 Drops in Faribault and Loon Liquors in Northfield for the suggestions.

Drink Suggestions Provided by Loon Liquors

A Mule is Born

1.5 oz Loon Liquors Wheaton Barley Vodka 0.5 oz Lac Coeur Ginger Liqueur 4 oz Ginger Beer

Ice Breaker

Stir, serve in highball on ice. More Bradley Copper, than Lady Gaga, this one is all about the basics. You’ve got to have the fundamentals, before the “Star is Born.”

Mix. Perfect to drink while watching “A Quiet Place” as there is no ice so it won’t distract you from the noiseless suspense.

Mercury Rising 1.5 ounce 10,000 Drops Silver Rum 1 slice mango 1 slice of jalapeño 1 oz lime juice 1 oz simple syrup 1/2 oz orange juice

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The type of fruity, spicy, sour and sweet drink that Freddie Mercury could only be proud of – mix it up, while stomping your feet to some “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Drink Suggestions Provided by 10,000 Drops

1.5 oz 10,000 Drops Spiced Rum 6 oz Hot apple cider Dash of cinnamon

Muddle mango and jalapeño in a pint glass, add ice and remaining ingredients and shake vigorously. Fill a lowball glass with ice and then strain through a fine strainer. Garnish with lime wedge.

The Favourite Toddy 2 oz Loon Liquors Loonshine 0.5 oz Loon Liquors Lac Coeur Cinnamon Liqueur 0.25 oz honey 4 oz hot water Stir, serve in a coffee mug. This one has gossip written all over it. Hold with two hands and gently bring the hot drink to your lips, never averting your eyes from the juicy, scandalous romp that is “The Favourite.” SMS

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THE Calendar compiled By Anne kopas editor@southernminnscene.com

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” — Feb. 14-17, 21-24, Little Theatre of Owatonna This much-loved, Tony Award-winning story of love, murder and revenge by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler is coming to Owatonna. Set in 19th century London, the tale follows the exiled barber Sweeney Todd in his quest for vengeance against the judge who wronged him. In the process, he meets Mrs. Lovett, a pie shop owner, and Sweeney Todd’s bloodlust inspires a new ingredient in her meat pies. This dark, witty musical thriller features a local cast and is recommended for mature audiences. littletheatreofowatonna.org/sweeneytodd-the-demon-barber-of-fleet-street Minneapolis Guitar Quartet — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16, Sheldon Theatre, Red Wing Founded in 1986, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet has become known as one of the foremost guitar ensembles in the world. They’re one of the few guitar ensembles whose performances are done mostly from memory, showcasing their skills in every style, ranging from original works and arrangements to commissioned pieces and collaborations. Classical guitar magazine described the quartet, which includes Joseph Hagedorn, Maja Radovanlija, Ben Kunkel and Wade Oden, by saying: “Flawless, musical and witty, this quartet is able to do anything it sets its mind on.” sheldontheatre.org/event/valentineconcert/

Raul Midón at Paradise Center for the Arts — 7 p.m. Feb. 18, Paradise Center for the Arts, Faribault Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón has collaborated with legendary artists Stevie Wonder and Queen Latifah, as well as Snoop Dogg, Herbie Hancock, Bill Withers and more. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also released 10 of his own studio albums, toured internation-

ally and appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series. Midón trained as a jazz musician, but his music crosses genre boundaries, prompting People magazine to describe him as “an eclectic adventurist” and the New York Times to call him a “one-man band who turns a guitar into an orchestra and his voice into a chorus.” paradisecenterforthearts.org/raulmidon-grammy-nominated-recordingartist

Kids Charity Circus — 3:30 p.m. Feb. 20, Mankato City Center This kid-friendly event brings the fun of traditional circus acts — comedy juggling, aerial silks, magic, clowns and more — to Mankato with an international cast featuring acclaimed tightrope walker Tino Wallenda. Facepainting, balloons and circus souvenirs are available before the show and during intermission. And by bringing your family to the circus, you’re supporting families in need, as all proceeds benefit kids’ charities, including clean water wells and an orphanage/school in Bangladesh. citycentermankato.com/events/kidscharity-circus-3

Iphigenia and Other Daughters — Feb. 21-24, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter This Gustavus student production combines three Greek classics: Euripides’ “Iphigenia at Aulis” and “Iphigenia in Tauris,” along with Sophocles’ “Electra.” To prepare for war, a man offers his daughter, Iphigenia, as a sacrifice to the gods. Upon his homecoming ten years later, he is murdered by his own wife, a death avenged twenty years later when their son kills his own mother. This take on the Greek classics asks the question, “What does it take to disrupt the cycles of hurt and revenge that tear families and societies apart?” In examining themes of the voicelessness and objectification experienced by women, the production is as poignant now as when the stories were first written.

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gustavus.edu/theatre-dance/season. php

Big Turn Music Fest — Feb. 2224, Red Wing Red Wing’s annual winter music festival, named after the bend in the Mississippi River near the city, packs its lineup. This year’s regionally based headliners include Dessa, Charlie Parr, General B and the Wiz, The 4onthefloor, Chastity Brown, Gaelynn Lea, Toki Wright and many more. Many are returners from last year’s inaugural festival, but this year will also present some new acts in a variety of historic Red Wing buildings both large and small. With 164 total bands playing at 21 venues across two days, it’ll probably be impossible to catch them all—but you could try. bigturnmusicfest.com

Grumpy Old Men Festival — Feb. 23-24, Wabasha Embrace your inner grumpy old man with Wabasha’s 25th annual winter festival. Brave the Grumpy Plunge into the icy Mississippi River to raise money for local charities, or skip the plunge and check out a variety of live music and food at spots around Wabasha. Show off your Minnesotan skills with an ice fishing contest and grumpy costume contest, or enjoy a hotdish luncheon. Other activities include a vintage wool and hand-knit trunk show, a raffle, bingo, minnow races, cribbage and poker tournaments and a showing of the 1993 romantic comedy “Grumpy Old Men.” wabashamn.org/grumpyoldmenfest 40th Annual Carriage & Cutter Festival — Feb. 23, Kenyon Bring the kids for a day of winter fun, a 40-year tradition in Kenyon. Go back in time with the annual horse-drawn carriage parade, then stay for a petting zoo, pony rides and wagon rides for the little ones. Enjoy the winter weather with a medallion hunt and all-day open skating and sledding in the park, then warm up indoors with a waffle feed, si-

northfieldartsguild.org/event/cvromardi-gras-ball

lent auction, music, tours of the historic Gunderson House, a bean-bag tournament and more, plus food vendors and businesses on Main Street. kenyonmn.govoffice3.com

Wines of the World — 6 p.m. March 1, Rochester Event Center At this 21+ event, sample more than 200 (yes, 200) different types of wine from around the world, along with selections from Minnesota wineries. Between tastings, cleanse the palette with cheese and crackers, gourmet pizza, a dessert buffet and more, accompanied by live music. There’s also a silent auction, and you can feel good about supporting a worthwhile cause: proceeds go to Bear Creek Services, a Rochester-based nonprofit that provides housing, employment and other services to adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. bearcreekservices.org/news/wines-ofthe-world

Mardi Gras Ball — 8 p.m. March 1, Northfield Ballroom The Northfield Arts Guild’s annual Mardi Gras Ball features the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra, whose members come from Northfield, Faribault and the surrounding region. Whether you’re ready to dress to the nines and dance the night away, or simply sit and listen, it’s an opportunity to enjoy live music of the Viennese ballroom, New Orleans Mardi Gras and traditional dance music with a full symphony orchestra in a festively decorated atmosphere. Costume or formal wear is encouraged (though not required), so here’s a chance to bring out the masquerade masks.

Tonic Sol Fa in Concert — 7:30 p.m. March 1, Paramount Theatre, Austin Minnesota a cappella group Tonic Sol Fa has made its name on the national stage as a leading force in vocal music, now with an Emmy award, three television specials and over 2 million albums sold. The group features lead vocalist Shaun Johnson, tenor and vocal percussionist Greg Bannwarth, baritone and percussionist/vocal percussionist Theo Brown, and bass Jared Dove. The New York Times describes their sound as “a vocal kaleidoscope...unique to the human voice,” and with more than 15 albums released, there’s a lot of music to hear, featuring both original music and covers. austinareaarts.org/events/2019/3/1/ tonic-sol-fa

The Elvis Show — 7:30 p.m. March 2, Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, Albert Lea It’s not actually Elvis, but the legend survives through this tribute show highlights the hits of Elvis’ recordbreaking career through the 50s, 60s and 70s. Twenty-year Elvis cover veteran Joe Sir, along with the Rockabilly Rebels Band, recreate the experience of an actual Elvis concert, with audience interaction. Expect to hear a few tunes from other stars like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison, bringing a taste of Memphis, Tennessee to southern Minnesota. actonbroadway.com/concertsevent Schell’s Bock Fest — March 2, August Schell Brewery, New Ulm This annual festival celebrates the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the nation, and the largest Minnesota brewery, with a bonfire, traditional Germanic and popular music, and of course, plenty of locally brewed beer (or root beer). Festival-goers looking

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Shattuck-St. Mary’s Faribault, MN FESLER-LAMPERT PERFORMING ARTS SERIES for an adventure can join the Bock Medallion Hunt, using clues to find the “Bocks” (a gruff and stubborn goat of winter) to win cash and other prizes. As the local legend goes, if all seven Bocks are found, winter will end early, bringing in an early spring. https://www.schellsbrewery.com/ events/bock-fest/

ebrates all things Czech with music, dancing, costumes and much more at the town’s American Legion Hall. The Charlie Sticha Band will perform live music before the crowning of the 2019 Masopust King. Stick around for an old-world Czech skit, enjoy Czech foods and bid on silent auction items from the Czech Republic itself. montgomerymnchamber.com/news/ masopust

Thursday, February 14, 2019

International Festival of Owls— March 1-3, Houston The only full-weekend, all-owl festival in North America now attracts visitors from all over the world, taking over the small town of Houston one weekend a year since 2003. Have a hoot doing everything owl-related that you can think of: meet live owls, browse a vendor fair of owl-themed products, learn about owl nesting and owl pellets from local naturalists, attend an owl banquet and more. On Friday evening, hop on a bus with an expert owl-caller, and you might even spot some wild owls in their natural habitat. All activities double as a fundraiser for Houston’s International Owl Center. festivalofowls.com Montgomery Masopust - 12 p.m. March 3, Montgomery American Legion, Montgomery Masopust, pronounced “mus-O-pust” means “goodbye to meat,” an apt name for the traditional Czech Mardi Gras celebration that traditionally marks the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting. Montgomery’s annual festival cel-

Minnesota Association of Community Theatres Festival – March 15-17, Riverland Community College, Austin Get your fill of live plays at this annual celebration of community theater. On Friday, enjoy Applause Community Theatre’s “Come Dance” and Calumet Players’ “The Glamour House.” Saturday matinee offerings are FungusAmongus Players with “Foxfire” and the Marshall Area Stage Company with “Rest A Spell.” Stick around Saturday evening for the Ensemble Theatre Company’s “Unnecessary Farce” and County Seat Theatre Company’s “Sweet.” With six different theater companies coming together for the weekend, there’s sure to be a little something for everyone. www.mact.net Add your event for FREE to the TIMELINE c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ern minn s c ene . c o m / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

THE SECOND CITY – IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME Adults $25, Students $15

In the world-famous improv comedy company’s latest laugh-filled show, THE SECOND CITY takes shots at heartbreak, missed connections and human relationships. This is a perfect Valentine’s Day date! Recommended for mature audiences. www.secondcity.com

THE NATIONAL PLAYERS PRESENT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S “TWELFTH NIGHT” Adults Ad lts $18, Students St d ts $11

America’s longest running touring theater company, The National Players, perform Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, a classic tale of reckless revenge, mistaken identity, and mismatched lovers. www.nationalplayers.org

Monday, March 18, 2019

JOHN O’CONOR Adults $18, Students $11

Irish pianist John O’Conor has been gathering wonderful reviews for his masterly playing for over forty years. “This artist has the kind of flawless touch that makes an audience gasp” (Washington Post). www.johnoconor.com

Thursday, March 21, 2019

RAGAMALA DANCE COMPANY presents NOCTURNE * Adults $18, Students $11

Celebrating 25 years in Minnesota, Ragamala Dance performs the South Indian Bharatanatyam dance form. Nocturne is, “an enchanting journey—for one hour we are transported into an exquisite dream state” (Star Tribune). www.ragamaladance.org

Thursday, March 28, 21, 2019

ALL SHOWS AT 7:30 IN NEWHALL AUDITORIUM Call for Group Rates.

Order Tickets Online: www.s-sm.org/feslerlampert SSM Box Office: 507-333-1620 • www www.s-sm.org * “This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota.” A d d y o u r e v e n t f o r F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ernminn . c o m / s c ene / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

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| M A RCH 2 0 1 9

THE BOOKWORM SEZ By Terri Schlichenmeyer

A Sidecar Named Desire by Greg Clarke and Monte Beauchampn

Forget ‘Having It All:

How America Messed Up Motherhood – and How to Fix It by Amy Westervelt

The Ghost Photographer by Julie Rieger

Go Find:

My Journey to Find the Lost – and Myself by Susan Purvis

Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer based just across the river from SoMinn in LaCrosse, WI. She can be contacted at bookwormsez@gmail.com

The holiday season started with a cup of cheer. Then there was a sip of wassail, some mistletoe and wine, and rummy-tum-tum along the way. It’ll likely end with a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne and a pretty nice headache. The only thing left to do, then, as in the new book “A Sidecar Named Desire” by Greg Clarke and Monte Beauchamp, is to write about it. Imagine the surprise felt by one of our ancient ancestors who put a few grapes aside for a snack later. She must’ve been angry at first – and then pleasantly surprised. Her discovery, and those that came after her, have been decried by “temperance zealots” throughout the years; Prohibition was a big thing and abstinence is promoted even now. And yet, say Clarke and Beauchamp, “considerable” evidence points to a tie between drinking and “great writing.”

Ancient Roman poets loved their wine, for instance, and Shakespeare was a big fan. Thomas Jefferson ordered cases and cases of it on a visit to France, and author Roald Dahl not only drank it, but he wrote a short story about wine, too. Beer was once used in lieu of a paycheck in ancient Egypt, but Greeks and Romans claimed that beer was “inferior” to wine. Even so, say the authors, Jack London loved his suds and Jane Austen made beer using a common ingredient available in her back yard. Norman Mailer claimed to “need” a beer every afternoon. If you’ve ever wondered which came first, author Michael Veach says bourbon’s name came from Bourbon Street. Langston Hughes was said to have love a glass of it, and William Faulkner listed whiskey as one of his writing tools. Gin and tonic seems to have been a P.G. Wodehouse creation. E.B. White had a martini when suffering from writer’s block and Ian Fleming “inadvertently” helped vodka sales with James Bond’s martini instructions. Among other things, Hemingway loved Bloody Marys, Kerouac enjoyed margaritas, Steven King once said that alcohol use made for a “better writer,” and Hunter S. Thompson drank (mostly) bourbon and scotch. And Tolstoy?

Nope, he was a teetotaler. A roaring fire, a glass of wine, and a good book. Is there a better trio? When the book is “A Sidecar Named Desire,” the answer is an emphatic “no.” In beginning each chapter with a history of the proceeding alcohol at hand, authors Greg Clarke and Monte Beauchamp peek into the glasses of writers from antiquity to modernday, literature to light reading. These are tasty sip-at-leisure chapters, more continuous sidebar than paragraphical, and perfect for browsing or a quick dip made possible by drawings that indicate a jigger of lightheartedness is shaken, not stirred in. And if you really like to get involved in your reading and want the full experience, there are recipes to try. Salud! Imbibers and abstainers alike will love learning about their favorite writers in “A Sidecar Named Desire,” so have a little serving. Auld acquaintance may’ve been “forgot” but this is a book you won’t.

First shift begins in early morning. You hit work then, and run all day for that weekly paycheck. Second shift starts the minute you pick up the kids and arrive home to run all evening until you fall into bed. Is this the way you wanted things to be or, after reading the new book “Forget ‘Having It All’” by Amy Westervelt, do you actually have too much? With two young children and a solid journalism career, Amy Westervelt is busy. She’s sometimes overloaded, which makes her think about motherhood in America versus motherhood elsewhere. Overseas, mothers get more support; here, not always so much. But to understand “Why… motherhood in America kinda suck[s]” we first must know its history. Says Westervelt, America “was colonized by people who believed… in the power of self,” and that “led to both greatness and depravity.” It also led to a patriarchal

society in which women “were seen as responsible for the moral character of their children” but men controlled white women’s lives, inheritances, childbirth, birth control, and most childcare decisions. Conversely, Black and Native American women generally reared their children communally – which, as it happens, is an ancient method and the way many societies raise their kids today. Modern mothers may enjoy more help from their spouses than their foremothers got but motherhood is still rather complicated. Women are criticized for “helicopter” mothering, and for giving their kids more freedom. They’re made to feel guilt for working, and for missing work when needed. They may be denied birth control, but are given little-to-no governmental or societal support when they have children. Mothers of color, single mothers, and lesbian parents have these issues, and more. Says Westervelt, solutions start with demands for improved maternity leave, and for government-supported daycare. We should encourage boys to be nurturing. Passing the ERA would help, as would allowing better access to birth control. Finally, we need to stop shaming the choices women make, and “expand our notions of family to… go beyond the nuclear family.”

While it’s true that a minute of browsing may tempt you to dismiss this book as just another feminist rant, hold up. Yes, author Amy Westervelt admits to both ranting and feminism and yes, there’s anger here. Still, “Forget ‘Having It All’” deserves a really good second look. If nothing but for the history, this book will open eyes. You may think you know how your foremothers tried to raise families without losing identities, but Westervelt lays it bare again. You may think we’ve transcended old issues, but she shows how we’ve only re-arranged them. And you might think the grass is greener elsewhere, but she’s inclusive here: childless women and same-sex mothers don’t get off easy in today’s “messed up motherhood.” No doubt, this book is loaded with controversy, but it’s equally loaded with solutions. It’s one of those kinds of books that will make you want to take copious notes. If you’re so inclined, “Forget ‘Having It All’” may also be a book that shifts your thinking.

You know how they do it. It’s a snap, really. A little bit of computer imagery, film cells inserted here, a half-screen there, and you’ve got a movie that’ll scare the bejeebers out of anybody. You know how it’s done, though; it’s all special effects. Or, as in “The Ghost Photographer” by Julie Rieger,” could it be real? Growing up in Oklahoma, Julie Rieger figured she’d someday marry her childhood sweetheart, have kids, and work at some local hangout, living “a normal and peaceful life.” Instead, she came out at age twenty-three and “officially gave up on organized religion,” moved to California, married Suzanne, became a powerful Hollywood movie-maker, and life was good – until her mother died of Alzheimer’s. The loss of her mother almost destroyed Rieger’s world but there was one comforting moment: a friend who had “a

gift” called Rieger as her mother lay dying, offering support in shared grief. When that friend died not long afterward, she visited Rieger in a dream and later, in a psychic reading. It opened a window to something Rieger had only scoffed at before. “That first reading,” says Rieger, “… changed my life forever.” She began “not only paying attention” but was “on a mission to learn everything I possibly could,” becoming an acolyte of the psychic-turned-mentor, and immersing herself into a community that further supported her foray into what was on “the Other Side.” She started collecting crystals and stones meant to protect, energize, and promote healing. She learned about the “clairs” and how dangerous it is to open a portal to the other side without remembering to close it, too. She had a terrifying altercation with a “deep dark Debbie Downer.” In short, she became “an evangelical spirit junkie.” “Spirits are all over the place,” she says adamantly. “Our guides are by our side, ready to give us information if we only pay attention.” “The Ghost Photographer” is a very interesting book, but only partially for what it says. What it doesn’t say is interesting in its omission.

Author Julie Rieger is an award-winning head of media at 20th Century Fox, but readers won’t find much about Hollywood in this book. Refreshingly, there’s no gossip and very little name-dropping. Instead, what you’ll find is the story of a journey from soft skeptic to firm believer, told in tales that are sometimes super-creepy and will sometimes make you roll your eyes. Rieger joshingly recalls such disbelief in herself. For that reason, it’s hard to ignore or dismiss as coincidence the stories she tells in this memoir. Rieger shares those tales with humor reminiscent of a high-school Class Clown, which tones them down some but the sentiment remains: the spirit world is interesting, complicated, and real but if you’re inexperienced, don’t mess with it. This book is an entertaining read in itself, and informative if you’re just dipping your toe into the paranormal. It’s also possible that “The Ghost Photographer” could make a scoffer into a believer. Yeah, it’s a book to snap up.

You never wanted to get caught. Wasn’t that the point of playing Hide & Seek? To sneak out, lay low, and sneak back to safety? Yep, and never get found – unless, of course, you’re in a situation like those in “Go Find” by Susan Purvis, and you’re ten feet below snowline. The geography bug bit Susan Purvis early. When she was ten, her father taught her to use a compass while the two were on a fishing trip in the Great Lakes area. At fifteen, Purvis learned to read a U.S. Geological Survey map and topographical maps. Even so, she knew what it was like to be lost, having had it happen not long afterward. She never forgot that. Years later, married, and working with her husband as a gold miner in the Dominican Republic but based in Colorado, Purvis decided that she wanted a dog. Specifically,

she wanted a dog she could train to search for avalanche survivors and victims near her home of Crested Butte. It didn’t take long for her to settle on a Black Lab, which she named Tasha. Initially, training seemed like a daunting task: Purvis hired locals to lie in the snow in a local park until Tasha’s shiny black nose appeared. There was much to learn on both ends of the leash: they had to figure out how to communicate – Tasha, by learning commands; and Purvis, by understanding her dog’s find-signals. Purvis discovered, too, that it would not be easy to get her dog certified, or to get on a team, or to lead local officials to call on a search dog when someone was missing or lost. Branching out to summertime search and rescue, and then to cadaver retrieval, Purvis also learned that it wasn’t easy to keep one foot in her obsession and one in a relationship… It is a fact that “Go Find” is full of heart-pounding adventure, bravery, thrills, and heroics that will make you smile. It’s a fact that there’s love of a dog shining through it, too, and a few tears.

And yet, this book is an overall “no.” For some reason as of late, ill-behaved dogs have become sources of humor in books and movies, and people love it. It’s not funny, though, when the miscreant is a working dog, despite the sometimes-jocular tone in “Go Find.” This may lead readers to notice that author Susan Purvis is very harshly critical of amateur search dogs, although she, herself, worked her dog in situations for which Tasha was unready. Sadly, this convenient and quite outraged criticism is joined by juvenile nicknames for people and dog toys, both which further degrade what should be a grown-up story. Worst of all: an ill-placed, unnecessary sex scene; and several extremely graphic, overly-long passages about Tasha’s gluttonous habits with human waste, and…. No. Though a physical book might be less exceptionable, you can try this audiobook but think twice about doing so while eating, or entertaining young children. Really, though, the best advice for “Go Find” is: don’t.

M A R C H 2 0 1 9 | w w w. s o u t h e r N m I N n SCENE. c o m

A Sidecar Named Desire by Greg Clarke and Monte Beauchamp, c.2018, Dey St. Books $19.99 / $24.99 in Canada 183 pages

Forget ‘Having It All: How America Messed Up Motherhood – and How to Fix It by Amy Westervelt, c.2018, Seal Press $27.00 / $35.00 in Canada 309 pages

The Ghost Photographer, by Julie Rieger, c.2018, Enliven / Atria Books $25.00 / $34.00 in Canada 243 pages

Go Find: My Journey to Find the Lost – and Myself by Susan Purvis, c.2018, Blackstone Publishing $34.95 / Higher in Canada 13 hours / 10 CDs

A d d y o u r e v e n t f o r F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ernminn . c o m / s c ene / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

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THE BOOKWORM SEZ By Terri Schlichenmeyer

The New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke

No Sunscreen for the Dead by Tim Dorsey

Talk to Me by John Kenney

Smart A$$:

How a Donkey Challenged Me to Accept His True Nature & Rediscover My Own by Margaret Winslow

Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer based just across the river from SoMinn in LaCrosse, WI. She can be contacted at bookwormsez@gmail.com

Your hand is deep in a bucket of crunchy goodness. Without popcorn, a movie is just a bunch of flickering lights, a series of stills in a row, a story that begs for butter and extra salt. Without popcorn, a film is deadly dull – or, as in the new book “The New Iberia Blues” by James Lee Burke – it’s just deadly. Desmond Cormeir had a rough raising-up. Born in a truck stop parking lot and quickly abandoned, he was bullied as a child by peers and adults and he always seemed to be abashed about his Cajun background. Detective Dave Robicheaux knew Cormeir then, and he watched as the boy made something of himself. Robicheaux was just as proud as anyone when Cormeir became a successful filmmaker and returned to Louisiana, to his roots. When Lucinda Arceneaux was pulled from the waters surrounding Cormeir’s house, Robicheaux figured his pride

was misplaced. Lucinda had died gently, but her corpse was defiled and left in a disturbing manner. Cormeir lied about seeing the body but, oddly, he wasn’t the person Robicheaux had his eye on; instead, Cormeir’s roommate, Antoine Butterworth, seemed to be the man to watch. Robicheaux’s new partner, a young woman by the name of Bailey Ribbons didn’t trust Butterworth. Neither did Clete Purcel, Robicheaux’s former beat partner and best friend. Butterworth was a truly strange man… but was he a murderer? When a local fisherman was discovered rotting in a fishing net with a spear through his middle, it was obvious that someone was, possibly Hugo Tillinger, an escaped Texas convict who was spotted diving into a nearby bayou to hide. Or maybe it was Smiley Wimple, once mistaken as dead and as dangerously addled as ever. And yes, the killer could have been Butterworth. But there was something unusual about the bodies being found: each had some tie to a tarot deck. Each corpse corresponded to a card. Each subsequent death was becoming more and more violently gruesome. And each was getting closer to Dave Robicheaux.

Reading “The New Iberia Blues” is like sitting on a folding chair during a tornado: you’re sucked in, tipped around, lose your grip, and get a whole lot queasy before things smooth out for a minute. As it is with tornadoes and Dave Robicheaux novels, though, things ain’t over ‘til they’re over. The only thing to do is to hang on tight, then, and keep this word handy because you’re going to need it: “ARGH!” You’ll need it for the twists that discombobulate even the most determined armchair sleuth; try as you might, forget pre-solving this novel. Know that (argh!) bad things happen to good characters you’ve come to like in this series. And know that this book ends, and you’ll eventually have to leave the world that author James Lee Burke has placed you in. Argh! Indeed, filled with spookiness, spirituality, and slayings a-plenty, this may be the best, most hard-to-figure-out Robicheaux novel yet. Get your hands on it today, because “The New Iberia Blues” positively pops.

You didn’t recognize the number. So you didn’t answer the phone. That’s how you operate these days: accept calls you know, and keep your money in your wallet. You never know who’s going to try to take it, and in the new book “No Sunscreen for the Dead” by Tim Dorsey, not everyone has a hero to get it back. Serge Storms and his sidekick, Coleman, have retired. Serge had always wanted to, and there was no better time than when they were touring Florida’s Gulf-side “Retirement Coast.” The tour was also a great excuse to meet senior “heroes” – veterans and onceupon-a-time volunteers – and to right some wrongs that Serge knew had been done. It seemed that door-to-door salesmen were selling Sarasota-area seniors a pile of unneeded items – restaurantgrade kitchens, monster-sized humidifiers, tchotchkes and

dust-collectors – and emptying their wallets in the meantime. Serge had a soft spot in his heart for those elders because he knew their sacrifices and besides, they knew where to find the best pie and the cheapest early-early-bird specials. And so, in his Serge-like way (violently, that is, but with science and style), he would get their money returned, and make sure that nobody scammed his new friends again. Forty-six-year-old Benmont Pinch knew that he was a dinosaur. Most of his colleagues at Life-Armor were Millennials who’d practically been born with computers in their cribs. Benmont, on the other hand, was a numbers guy and that was probably why his employers kept him around: given the information and an hour, there wasn’t a statistic he couldn’t get or an answer he couldn’t tease out. That was apparently more than his younger co-workers could do. This talent never led to a raise, but it did give him opportunities to work with local law officials: they fed him what he needed, and he gave them a statistically-likelycriminal’s name. When dozens of senior couples along the East Coast were found murdered, though, Benmont couldn’t believe what the stats told him. Their Social Security information had to be all wrong – or was it?

Decisions, decisions: start a new mystery tonight, or dig into something funny? Why not have the best of both by layering on “No Sunscreen for the Dead”? For whodunit fans, this novel contains a long, headscratching, maze-like mystery linked to older Floridians – a side-story that would be too wild in any other novel. Its solution is offered quickly and the why remains to be solved, but don’t work yourself up too much. The real reason for coming to a Serge Storm book is for the zap-paced, profanity-laced, revenge-based humor that’s so outrageous, you gotta laugh. If you’re a fan, you already know that author Tim Dorsey tends to make his novels something akin to putting a hurricane in a blender. “No Sunscreen for the Dead” is all that but, in what may be the least madcap of the bunch, it’s easier to grasp and might be perfect for series newbies. Mystery or humor book, whichever you want, this one’s got your number.

The view from above was stunning. The cliché says that people look like ants when you’re looking down from a ledge, and they do. Trees look like the lint you’d pick off a sweater, and it seems like you could reach out and grab a cloud. It’s humbling and powerful, but in the new novel “Talk to Me” by John Kenney, it’s a long way down from any height. Ted Grayson was falling. He’d hired the instructor just hours ago, gotten a quick lesson on skydiving, and he’d been pushed out of the plane, just like in the movies. The instructor assured Ted that he’d survive this experience. Thing was, Ted didn’t want to. It all started on his birthday, didn’t it? Or was it when his daughter, Frannie, was a teenager and had rebelled, as teenagers do? No, the beginning of the end was when Ted

let his marriage slowly die, he’d stopped coming home after the last newscast, he lost interest in his wife, and Claire met someone else. Someone, she so harshly pointed out, who was “happy.” But his birthday was the cherry on the sundae. Ted was in “a mood,” wrapping up the last story of the night when one thing led to another and another and he exploded, calling the temporary make-up girl something vile. It wasn’t oncamera – he was too professional for that – but on video and then, to his befuddled regret, online. Suddenly, Ted Grayson, news anchor to millions, was Ted Grayson, internet fool. And don’t think he didn’t apologize. He did, but the ridicule expanded upon itself when someone dug up an ancient clip of a battle-hardened soldier insulting Ted. The station was inundated with protesters and calls for Ted’s firing. Women’s groups were incensed. Then Frannie wrote a scathing story about her father and though it wasn’t her intention, the story went viral. And so, in more ways than one, Ted Grayson was falling… If ever there was a book plucked from real life, “Talk to Me” is it. Beginning with a miserable last-ditch aim at suicide,

author John Kenney tells a blunt, hilariously nuanced but devastatingly emotional tale of the age of internet and instant news, when the past isn’t past and one dasn’t become outdated on what could happen online. It’s altogether too easy to see yourself in this novel, in other words, and that’s like a gut-punch. And yet, you’ll laugh because Kenney is profane, with a biting, spit-out-your-coffee kind of wit that underscores the pathos and irony of it all. Indeed, Ted is nasty, but so is what happened to him and Schadenfreude weeps from each page. You’ll see it, especially if you’ve ever snorted at someone else’s gaffe. But again, the reality sets in. We could be Ted. Ted is us. What a novel. Readers who relish a little snark with their story will love this one, as will those who enjoy tattletale videos and gossip mags. “Talk to Me” will make you think, and you won’t want to put it down.

A dog just wouldn’t do. Cats make you achoo! You don’t want a bird, turtle, goldfish, and nothing that hisses. Nope, the pet you want is much more unique, and in the new book “Smart A$$” by Margaret Winslow, you’ll need to be stubborn about it. When she was just three years old, Margaret Winslow saw a burro in a Christmas catalog, and for many Christmases afterward, she begged her parents for the pet. Alas, she got a stuffed donkey one year, and it sufficed. Fast-forward a few decades and Winslow was a professor, a geologist, and was married to an oceanographer who was often gone for months at a time. She was thinking about “the next phase of [her] life,” when she recalled seeing donkeys and children while in the Dominican Republic. They reminded her of her childhood desire. Winslow loaded up on donkey-related publications and started researching.

The first time she saw Caleb, she was shocked: he was pure white and “huge” with long, furry ears and a cacophonic bray that carried far. He was a jester and a pester, charming and goofy but with that well-known stubborn streak firmly in place. Winslow was in love. She paid for Caleb and a saddle, and took both to an upstate New York stable that specialized in training donkeys. She left him there, dreaming of long rides in idyllic meadows astride her “trail buddy.” At mid-winter break, she returned to the stable and prepared to learn how to ride her donkey. That was when Caleb showed Winslow just how headstrong he could be: in the ring, he was disruptive at best, bruising at worst but her stubbornness was stronger than his. She found another stable, closer to home, and dug in for more lessons. Three years and thousands of dollars later, Winslow’s patience had thinned. Caleb had learned few commands, was still balky, and had taken to nipping and kicking. He was capable of seriously hurting someone; he’d done it to Winslow. Caleb needed a new home – but who would take a shonky donkey? One of two things is going to happen when you read

“Smart A$$.” Either you’re going to love it, or you’re going to hate it. There is no in-between. You’ll fall into the first category if you’ve ever had a pet that exasperates you to the point of screaming, making you love the animal even more. That never-give-up feeling of Love Despite runs fiercely through this book, and author Margaret Winslow’s stories are easy commiseration. The ending here will give you heart. But beware. Here’s the second camp, and it’ll make you cringe: Winslow writes about the use of crops, whips, sharp spurs, and a bit that she acknowledges hurt her donkey. That, too, runs throughout the book and while they’re common, and maybe even needed, it doesn’t make them easy to read about. Hee-naw. Decide what you can handle before you proceed on this delightful-but-wince-worthy tale of stubborn love. Animal advocates can pass on “Smart A$$.” Animal lovers, burro in.

A d d y o u r e v e n t f o r F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ernminn . c o m / s c ene / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

The New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke, c.2018, Simon & Schuster $27.99 / $36.99 in Canada 451 pages

No Sunscreen for the Dead by Tim Dorsey, c.2018, Wm. Morrow $26.99 / $33.50 in Canada 323 pages

Talk to Me, by John Kenney, c.2019, Putnam $26.00 / $35.00 in Canada 304 pages

Smart A$$: How a Donkey Challenged Me to Accept His True Nature & Rediscover My Own by Margaret Winslow, c.2018, New World Library $16.95 / $25.50 in Canada 277 pages

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Photographing SoMinn:

Getting Away Photos and text by Elizabeth Nida Obert www.nidaphoto.com elizabeth@nidaphoto.com

inter doldrums got you down? Nothing a quick hit of the southwest can’t fix. It was December and we landed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rather than shoot north to Santa Fe and Taos – we’ve been and I highly recommend – our wanderlust lead us to the southeast region of the state. A bit more remote and off the beaten trail, yes. But three unexplored treasures awaited. And they would not disappoint. Though Barbary sheep are considered an invasive species of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, it was a thrill to see a herd grazing just off the road when we pulled in. Myhusband andI soon descended 800 feet into the publicly available cave via foot -- an elevator is also available -- where we traversed and explored about three miles of paved trail within; to say it was otherworldly would be an understatement. We saw no bats -- they fly south for the winter -- but we saw stalactites

and stalagmites of an enormous scale as we explored the Big Room, described by the National Park Service as the “largest single cave chamber by volume in North America.” The following daywe dipped into western Texas to spend a day hiking at the glorious Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We didn’t come across any bears but spotted a pack of javelinas rummaging from a relatively short distance -- they can be aggressive so we didn’t linger. We cruised the backcountry roads of N.M. to our third and final destination on day three: White Sands National Monument. En route, we stumbled upon Runyan Ranches, a random find that brought smiles and joy as we proceeded to meet Wallace the water buffalo; a kind farm-hand named Adam; a baby kangaroo and a wallaby, among others. When hiking five miles at White Sands National Monument, you keep your eye on the markers periodically staked throughout the seemingly endless stretch of dunes; 275 square miles of gypsum sand. And you don’t forget your sunglasses, which my husband did. Fortunately, a kind stranger offered him

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an extra pair. And if you have a sled, bonus!

SMS

Freelance writer and photographer Elizabeth Nida Obert, a former newspaper staff photographer for 18 years, has degrees in both and is passionate about telling stories in words and pictures. She thrives on travel and adventure and is always looking forward to where the next open road – or door – will lead.

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ent

A d d y o u r e v e n t f o r F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l e n d a r . G O TO w w w. s o u t h ernminn . c o m / s c ene / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent

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Filled with local recipes submitted by our readers!

Let’s get 2018 cookbook Southern Minn

Girlfriends

cookbooks will be on sale at:

2 for

Faribault Daily News - 514 Central Ave, Faribault Northfield News - 115 5th St. W, Northfield Owatonna People’s Press - 135 W Pearl St. Owatonna

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15 $ 20

Let’s Get Cooking

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ent

t l u a b i r a F Making American Stories

A T O S E MINN

[

Faribault [fair-uh-boh] French n 1852 translates; great people, incredible fun.

]

visitfaribault.com

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SAVE THE DATE

Comedian C Willi Myles Raul Midón

Grammy Nominated Recording Artist Monday, February 18 at 7:00pm Member $20 | Non-Member $25 Student $10

Sponsored by: Crossroads Professional Building

Saturday, March 30 at 7:30pm Student Art Show

Second Floor Gallery Opening Reception Friday, March 1 from 5-7pm

Exhibition runs through April 6, 2019.

All area school student art exhibition. Located in the second ﬂoor gallery. Light refreshments provided. FREE and Open to the Public.

Church of Cash

World Class Johnny Cash Tribute Friday, March 1 at 7:30pm Member $18 | Non-Member $23 Student $12 Sponsored by: KGPCo

What Church of Cash has that no one else can match is their loyalty to the song and the message that Johnny left to all of us. They bring the music of Johnny with style and energy!

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Lehto & Wright and The Northerly Gales

Friday, March 15 at 7:30pm Member $15 | Non-Member $20 Student $10

Sponsored by: Crossroads Professional Building

Last Train to Nibroc

February 21, 22 & 23 at 7:30pm Sponsored by: Faribault Daily News • Directed by Samuel Temple