SCENE MARCH 2023

MARCH CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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DAILYSPECIALS

CATERING OPEN7DAYSAWEEK

21 Questions to see what youth know about the past

If you are looking for some cheap entertainment, try this little task that was floating around on social media. Ask your children, teenagers or young adults these 21 questions and see how much they know about the past.

I was proud that my teens knew some of these, but for the most part, it was a hilarious display of just how out of touch they are from things that are so familiar to me.

Ramona, 18 years old

1. What is a Roladex? I don’t know. Like a … a game?

2. What is a rotary phone? The phone that has like the little dials and you have to like use your finger to go to each number

3. What is a Walkman? It’s like what you place music in with- what are they called, um, tapes?

4. What are Yellow Pages? That’s where you, where you fill in contact information. In a phone book right?

5. What is a phone jack? That’s just the plug-in spot. Isn’t it?

6. What is a Trapper Keeper? A what? Ummm... I don’t know, uh. Trapper Keeper? I’ve heard it. Why do I feel like it’s a radio. (I had to remind her that we literally have a Kitten Trapper keeper from my childhood still in the house)

7. What is a crimper used for? For your hair!

8. What is a hacky sack? A hacky sack is a thing that you hit with your feet.

9. What is a Boombox? A boombox is like a giant stereo!

10. What is an Atari? Atari is a game console.

11. What is a TV Guide? That’s the pamphlet you get with your TV. I mean it’s a guide.

12. What is Tang? Tang? Um what!? Tang? It’s a fla- it’s a flavor or it’s like a slang word for something that’s like out of the box I guess?

13. What is a View Master? Oh um....uhhh. Shoot. I think it had something to do with TVs.

14. What is the Oregon Trail? That’s a game like an old school game. I know that game, people die of like snake bites and like... What’s like the funny one? There’s a really funny death

on there. Dysentery!

15. What was minimum wage for 1980? 15 cents?

16. What is a Bon Bon? Those are yummy! The Paris dude candies.

17. What is a card catalog? A catalogue for...I don’t know cards. I literally just renamed it backwards.

18. What is a Lite Brite? I know what a lite bright is! It’s a cute little light that’s bright. No, they’re animals, aren’t they? Shaped like animals.

Elliott, 15 years old

1. What is a Roladex? I have no idea.

2. What is a rotary phone? Uhh. A one that

4. What are Yellow Pages? I don’t know.

5. What is a phone jack? I don’t know!

6. What is a Trapper Keeper? What? That name doesn’t describe anything. Trapper Keeper?

7. What is a crimper used for? To like, bunch up your hair. To crimp your hair.

8. What is a hacky sack? *laughs* What kind of question is that? It’s the thing you kick around.

9. What is a Boombox? A speaker.

10. What is an Atari? Uhh the first game console?

11. What is a TV guide? Uhh... It’s a piece of paper that shows you the channels and what numbers they are.

12. What is Tang? Like if you if you’re spicy. If you’re hot. If you’re cool? You got a lot of tang. (This one cracked me up!)

13. What is a View Master? I don’t. I don’t know. (When I explained it he knew immediately but never remembered the name)

14. What is the Oregon Trail? It’s a historic trail but it’s also a video game where you went across the trail and tried not to get people sick.

15. What was minimum wage for 1980? I don’t know. Like, an hour? Uh. Right now, here it is $7.25 I think. $5.25 or something like that? $5.20?

16. What is a Bon Bon? A candy. It’s like soft but chewy at the same time and it comes in fruit flavors.

17. What is a card catalog? A catalog of cards! With photos on them!

18. What is a Lite Brite? A bright light?

19. Who is Teddy Ruxpin? I have no idea, what did you say Mona?

20. What is Aqua Net? Is it like a … an ocean company or an actual net.

19. Who is Teddy Ruxpin? No idea. (To which I replied, “Really? You’re missing out” and showed her a photo of him on my phone) She looks it up: “Aww...it’s a doll, I thought it was like a politician. He’s kind of fugly.”

20. What is Aqua Net? Aquanaut? I just am thinking of like a fishing net. A fishing net.

21. What is a Dust Buster? The name of a vacuum. The small little hand-held ones… Usually red. We had a red one.

hooked up to your house right? It goes on your wall and you spin the thing.

3. What is a Walkman? I don’t know. The like walk. The like crosswalk thing! I don’t know!

(My daughter Mona interjects): “It’s hairspray!” Elliott: “What? Sea net!?”

21. What is a Dust Buster? A vacuum that picks up the dust. A small vacuum. My kids are 0 for 2 in the smarts department. Copy this wuestion list and quiz a youngin in your life. 

(Quino Al/Unsplash)

(Florian Schmetz/Unsplash)

(France1978/Flickr)

Molly Penny is a local radio personality and MNSU alum. It was her love of pop culture that got her interested in doing a radio show for KOWZ 100.9, and she is now the music and promotions director at KOWZ & KRUE Radio in Owatonna. She resides in Mankato with her movie buff husband and YouTube obsessed children. Catch her

mollyhoodUSA.

MOLLY PENNY

LIVE MUSIC So many options for in the Southern Minn SCENE area

By TOM NELSON Guest Contributor

Fans of live music are fortunate to have a wealth of opportunities in southern Minnesota to explore their passion for performance at a variety of venues that cover a wide range of musical genres.

Live music can be found throughout the area on stages ranging from historic theaters and large auditoriums to classic roadhouses and craft breweries. These locations offer talented local artists and bands to national touring acts - all within an easy drive of anywhere in southern Minnesota.

The following is a list of some of the area’s prime locations to enjoy an evening of music.

10,000 Drops Craft Distlllers/Corks & Pints

Faribault

Live music is on the menu at Corks & Pints, which shares space next to the popular 10,000 Drops Distillery in downtown Faribault. Live music will offered indoors on Saturday evenings at Corks & Pints from March through mid-May. The stage will then be moved outdoors (weather permitting) on Friday and Saturday evenings from mid-May through September. Free trivia is also offered every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Upcoming music in March and April will include Fred The Bear on March 4, Relativity on March 18, Ozzy Harris on March 25, Mark Ross on April 1, Bruce Berniece on April 8, Steve Boyken on April 15, Drive South on April 22 and Los Rebeldes on April 29. Visit the www.10000drops.com or call 507-838-0383 for more information.

Briannos Chart House

Lakeville

Thanks to a unique partnership with legendary Twin Cities musician Mick Sterling, Briannos Chart House is a top destination to catch tribute bands play your favorites. In addition, the Chart House’s schedule includes performances from local musicians and an opportunity for dinner and dancing to a big band on Monday evenings. Some of the tribute bands schedule for March include salutes to Boz Scaggs, Anne Murray, Hall and Oates, Barry Manilow, Amy Winehouse and Elvis Presley. For more information visit www.charthouserestaurant.com or call 952-435-7156.

Chankaska Creek Ranch Winery and Distillery

Kasota

Located in the lush forests of the southern Minnesota River Valley near Kasota, Chankaska Creek Ranch Winery and Distillery not only offers a variety of outstanding wines and libations, the venue is also a top location for listening to some of the area’s top musicians.

Chankaska offers free live music every Friday and Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with its unWINED events at the winery. In the warmer months, music is played on the patio and during the colder months

the location moves indoors to the Chankaska Spirits Room.

Some of the performers already scheduled for March 2023 include Tyler Herwig (Mar. 3), Andy Tackett (Mar. 4), Scarlett Woods (Mar. 10), Matt McAllister (Mar. 11), Trent Shaw (Mar. 18) and Haldy (Mar. 25).

“We have no certain criteria when booking performers, only that they fit our winery’s atmosphere,” Chankaska Marketing Coordinator Kelsey Long said. “We typically book performers who specialize in easy listening, acoustic, folk, light rock, and singer/songwriters help us bring in a variety of talented local musicians.”

She added, “The southern Minnesota community has great local musical talent while

putting their own spin on different genres. We have performers, like Michael Shynes, who have gained national attention for their music while making their start at Chankaska Winery.”

To find out more about Chankaska Creek Ranch Winery and Distillery, please visit www. chankaskawines.com or call 507-931-0089.

Chapel Brewing

Dundas

Once the weather warms up, Chapel Brewing on the banks of the Cannon River in Dundas offers live music on selected evenings

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The Frothy Quartet has been a featured act at Imminent Brewing in Northfield and other Southern Minnesota live music venues. (Photo courtesy Tom Nelson)

The live music is offered both indoors and outdoors at 10,000 Drops and Corks & Pints in Faribault.

Live music is offered indoors and outdoors throughout the year at Chankaska Winery in Kasota.

Justa Crista is a performer at Foremost in Owatonna.

on its outdoor patio that is attached to its tap room, which is located in an 1880s building that was originally built as a chapel. For more information, visit www.chapelbrewing.com or call 507-664-1300.

The Contented Cow

Northfield

A mainstay in Northfield’s live music scene over the years, The Contented Cow recently changed ownership but local music aficionados need not worry as the new owners plan to continue the Cow’s tradition of hosting a variety of live offerings that will focus on original and

Foremost Brewing Cooperative

Owatonna

A popular destination in downtown Owatonna for a tasty glass of craft beer, Foremost Brewing Cooperative also features live music on Saturday evenings throughout the year. The music at Foremost ranges from folk and country to blues and jazz.

“Overall we see a love toward folk and country, and a lot of these acts are received really well at our place. But we’ve had many styles or genres come through, to help bring in some-

thing new and exciting for everyone. We’ve had some great jazz and blues artists come through, as well as some fun cover groups playing a wide range of pop, rock and folk,” said Foremost Brewing Cooperative Member and Marketing Coordinator Molly Kerr.

She added, “The majority of the musicians we have come through are local, and usually perform as a solo or duo. We certainly like to give all aspiring musicians a chance to play in front of folks. This all connects with our mission of community and cooperation - bringing local people and businesses together, especially in our downtown, striving to make our city a more desirable place to live and visit.

“Owatonna and our surrounding cities have a deep music culture, really with a surprising number of performers. We love bringing in town favorites, but also making new musical friends as well.”

Upcoming performers at Foremost include Gospel and Gravel (March 4), Wade Snake (March 11), Annie Enneking and Kari Tweiten (March 18), Katy Tessman and Son Sweet Lou (March 25) and Phil Berbig (April 1). For more information, please visit www.foremost.coop or call 507-214-3462.

The Grand Center for Arts and Culture

New Ulm

The Grand Kabaret in New Ulm has featured live music on the first floor of the Grand Center for Arts and Culture every Friday since 2009. Most concerts in the Grand Kabaret’s live music series are free and open to the public.

“The musicians performing at The Grand generally come from central Minnesota. However, we do also host a variety of musicians from the Twin Cities area, northern Minnesota, and neighboring states,” The Grand Center for Arts and Culture Marketing and Program Manager Tamara Furth said. “We want to support our

regional musicians but also bring in a variety of music and allow different artists to have an opportunity to share their work. Part of The Grand’s mission is ‘To support local artists by offering opportunities to develop and demonstrate their artistry.’ We work very hard to provide this opportunity.”

Furth said the Kabaret brings in a wide variety of music including folk, blues, Americana, jazz, country, rock, indie, eclectic and more. Upcoming performers scheduled for March 2023 include Off the Strings (March 3), Lonesome Dan Case (March 10), Chris Holm (March 17), Armstrong Boulevard Brass Quintet (March 24) and Crista Bohlmann (March 31). In addition, open mic nights are held on a monthly basis at the Kabaret. For complete information on upcoming performances, please visit www. thegrandnewulm.com or call 507-359-9222

The Grand Event Center Northfield

A former movie theater building, The Grand Event Center in downtown Northfield is under the new ownership of Lindsay Ness and Jake Mulford but it will continue to provide space for some outstanding music for residents of southern Minnesota.

The Grand holds a free monthly local singer/ songwriter showcase on its stage each month with upcoming dates set for March 16 and April 20 at 7 p.m. Get your green on at the Grand on March 17 at 7 p.m. as O’Rion will perform along with a special guest for the center’s St. Patrick’s Day party.

In April, Rush River Delta with special guest Little Wing will play The Grand on April 1, and David K’s tribute show to the Roy Orbison will take place on April 7 at The Grand.

“We love variety! We don’t necessarily have any particular criteria - especially since Jake and I are new to the music booking process,” Ness said. “Typically, acts and bands will reach out to us. Oftentimes it will be people who have been to a show here or have played their solo act at the Singer/Songwriter showcase. Our only criteria is that groups are excited and motivated and will help us to get the word out in order to draw a crowd!

“The pandemic delivered a major blow to the live music scene in Northfield. It is 100% in our mission to continue to revive the later night, live music events that were frequently in town prepandemic. We would love to have The Grand be known as an event space, a breakfast spot, and a place to look consistently for quality live music.”

Ness is still new to the game in terms of booking music but she is excited about the opportunity to help grow the live music scene in the area.

“We haven’t been doing this long enough to really have a solid answer on what Northfield/ southern Minnesotans gravitate toward,” Ness said. “As a bar patron, I know I see a lot of rock cover bands and people enjoy the music that they know and recognize. I would like to be able to balance that with musicians who are playing originals and trying to get their name and music out there. There is a time and a place

eclectic music. The Contented Cow is located at 302B Division Street S. in Northfield.

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Mark Cameron Band is a regular at Foremost Brewery in Owatonna and other Southern Minnesota music venues.

Mark Cameron Band is a regular at Foremost Brewery in Owatonna and other Southern Minnesota music venues. The Grand Kabaret is part restaurant, part music venue in downtown New Ulm.

Indian Island Winer in Janesville.

Live music is available at Mineral Springs Brewery in downtown Owatonna throughout the year.

Mineral Spring Brewery in Owatonna.

for each. We have a few groups who have done tributes - Roy Orbison & Johnny Cash. Both of those nights were wildly successful. Like I said, we love variety. We want to be a space that can be reliable for quality music of any genre.”

Imminent Brewing

Northfield

After taking a break during the recent COVID crisis, live music has returned to the friendly confines of the popular Imminent Brewing in downtown Northfield. In addition to offering a tasty selection of on-site crafted beers, Imminent brings in some of the area’s top artists to perform on a regular basis throughout the year. Food trucks are usually available each day the brewery is open to make for a complete dinner and a show experience. For more information, please visit www.imminentbrewing.com or call 507-646-2327.

Indian Island Winery

Janesville

Indian Island Winery can offer a variety of music all year long, thanks to its ample indoor and outdoor settings. Pretty much every weekend, specifically on Saturdays, visitors can expect to find a new music act at Indian Island. The easiest way to keep up is at the winery’s Facebook page, facebook.com/IndianIslandWinery.

Mayo Civic Center

Rochester

Another area destination for top music acts is the Mayo Civic Center in downtown Rochester

The rock band Styx will bring its show to town on March 18, and Grammy nominated Christian artist MercyMe will play Mayo on March 25. The “Our Planet Live in Concert” show will take be held on March 26. For more information, please visit www.mayociviccenter.com or call 1-800-422-2199.

Mineral Springs Brewery

Owatonna

A destination for beer lovers in Owatonna, the Mineral Springs Brewery features live music by local and regional performers on a weekly basis throughout the year.

“Our approach to music, food trucks, events, beer styles on-tap, and nearly all we do mirrors our customer’s tastes,” Mineral Springs Brewery President Bill Cronin said. “In that vein, many of our bands/musicians lean toward a bluesy/country mix, often in the style of Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, etc. The Owatonna music scene is rich, and we’ve definitely tapped this area, with most operating within a 45 mile radius of us. We have regular musicians who’ve built a following here at MSB who come from Austin, Albert Lea, Mankato, and as well right in our backyard in Owatonna. We also have a couple of regulars from as far away as LaCrosse and Duluth.”

Cronin continued, “Our indoor stage is limited in the winter, so we do a lot of solo acts, while our outdoor stage is well-suited

for summer bands. We’ve found a post-covid rhythm with music where we have a band/musician every Saturday night, and in the summer we strive to bring music to our customers on Thursdays and Fridays. It adds a richness to our brewery that we’ve come to love, and we sense our customers do as well.”

Upcoming music in March includes Steve Boyken (March 4), Joel Ward (March 11) and Chris Bertrand (March 25). Mineral Springs will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a “tent event” with performances by Andy Hughes (March 17) and Jeff Reinartz (March 18).

For details, please visit www.mineralspringsbrewery.com or call 507-413-6281.

Mystic Lake Casino

Prior Lake

A popular Twin Cities destination for trying your luck at the slots or blackjack table, Mystic Lake also offers a winning line-up of music throughout the year. Top recording acts that will be appearing at Mystic this spring include

R&B legends Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant on March 4, blues rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his band on March 19, Chicago blues pioneer Buddy Guy on April 27 and the incomparable Engelbert Humperdinck on April 28. Classic rock fans will also want to mark their calendar for May 5 since Alice Cooper will visit Mystic Lake in Prior Lake. Live music is also available at Mystic Lake’s Drinx Bar every weekend in the casino. For more details or for ticket information, please visit www.mysticlake.com or call 1-800-262-7799.

New Chapter Winery

New Prague

Set amongst a scenic vineyard, Next Chapter Winery in New Prague will be offering a full lineup of live music during the upcoming months. Performers scheduled in March include Anya Menk (March 12) and Melissa Schulz (March 26 and May 14). Other spring performers at NCW

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Lehto and Wright will be part of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Paradise Center for the Arts on March 17.

Patsy Cline

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will be Shenanigans (April 1 and May 13) and Tony Williams (April 7). For more information, visit www.nextchapterwinery.com or call 612756-3012.

Paradise Center for the Arts

Faribault

A favorite in Faribault for live music is the Paradise Center for the Arts. The venue brings a wide ranges of music styles to its stage, which is located at 321 Central Avenue N. In Faribault. The Paradise schedule for live music over the next few months is impressive and will start with a performance by Super Duos, which will present the music of Simon and Garfunkel on Friday, March 3. Super Duos features musicians Pat Balder and Glen Evenhart and the evening

will cover the hits of the legendary Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

Next up on the Paradise schedule on Saturday, March 11, is the Americana-flavored Gypsy jazz music of Harmonious Wail. This Madison, Wisconsin based group combines vintage Jethro Burns with a touch of Django Reinhardt and everything in between. Of course, what would March be without some Celtic inspired tunes and the Paradise will fill that bill with a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with Lehto and Wright and the Northerly Gales on Friday, March 17.

Looking ahead to April, singer and playwright Lisa Rock brings her six-piece backing band to the Paradise for “Close to You,” which is an evening of music on Saturday, April 22, from the songbook of Karen Carpenter and The Carpenters. On Friday, April 28, Twin Cities vocalist MsArnise will be in the house to present “Gladys/A Night of Gladys Knight and the Pips” - a tribute to the empress of soul, Gladys Knights.

The music at the Paradise will continue into the summer as Mick Sterling presents “From Barry - The Perfect Songs of Barry Gibb and The Bee Gees” on Friday, June 9. Country music fans will want to mark Saturday, June 24 on their calendar as the Paradise will feature the music of Patsy Cline with the Joyann Parker Band, which takes the audience on a nostalgic trip through the beloved music of country legend Patsy Cline.

“In choosing musical or other entertainment acts I have mostly looked at what has been successful in the past,” PCA Executive Director Heidi Nelson said about the acts that play in Faribault. “Price is also a primary concern. With 278 seats in our auditorium and the average ticket price being $22.50, I try to make sure that we are making enough of a profit with each show. Our mission is to welcome all people to experience the transformative power of the arts, and offering shows that people want to see is the way we bring them through the doors to have that experience.”

Nelson said that tribute bands and artists along with family friendly comedians are the most popular shows at the PCA each year

To purchase tickets or to get more information on any of the music and stage offerings at the Paradise Center for the Arts, please visit www.paradisecenterforthearts.org or call 507332-7372.

Rochester Thaw Music Fest 2023

Rochester

Set for Saturday, March 23, the Rochester Thaw Music Fest will bring 30 performances to six locations throughout the city of Rochester These shows will feature area musicians and the locations will include Chateau, Cafe Steam, Art Heads Emporium, Treedome, Bleu Duck Event Room and LC’s Venue. The music begins at 3 p.m. and runs until 11:00 p.m. that day and will feature bands such as Bad Bad Hats, Jadeyn James, Why Not and the Immaculate Beings. For information visit www.mytownmymusic.com/ rochester-thaw-music-festival or call 507-7220497.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s School

Faribault

The Fesler-Lampert Performing Arts Series at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault will bring two acts to the school’s historic Newhall Auditorium in March 2023. The Ames Piano Quartet, an ensemble-in-residence at Iowa State University since 1976 and one of the few regularly constituted piano quartets in the world, will play at SSM on Thursday, March 23.

The series will conclude on Friday, March 31 with a performance by Twin Cities singer, rapper and writer Dessa. Her resume include Lollapalooza and Glastonbury along with performances with the Minnesota Orchestra and top 200 entries on the Billboard charts. She has contributed to the top selling The Hamilton Mixtape album and her track “Congratulations” has recorded over 20 million streams. Her written work has been published by the New York Times and National Geographic Traveller and has been broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio. Dessa is also the host of Deeply Human, a podcast created by the BBC and American Public Media.

For complete details on the Fesler-Lampert Performing Arts Series, please visit www.s-sm. org/news-events/fesler-lampert-performing-artsseries or call 507-333-1500.

Sheldon Theatre Red Wing

A historic venue in scenic Red Wing, the Sheldon Theatre offers a diverse selection of music acts for your listening pleasure. The BritPack is set for March 4 and highlight great British acts such as the Beatles, Queen and The Rolling Stones. The Derina Harvey Band plays the Sheldon on March 17, Sing Me a Country Song with Colleen Raye and Bobby Vandell will play on March 24. Singer Dessa will appear in Red Wing on April 1 and the charismatic duo of B2Wins will play on April 22. Other acts coming up include the Sheldon Brass Band’s Spring Concert on April 23, Rumors and Dreams

featuring Pamela McNeill and Jeff Engholm and the music of Fleetwood Mac on May 5 and Twin Cities singer Chasity Brown on May 6. Details for all shows and tickets at the Sheldon can be found at www.sheldontheatre.org or by calling 651-388-8700.

Treasure Island Casino

Welch

A short drive to the east, Treasure Island Casino features a full ranging of gaming opportunities along with a 16,000 seat outdoor amphitheater and a 2,800 seat indoor venue. The list of upcoming concerts in March and April includes an Elvis tribute spectacular on March 5, the Roots and Boots show including country stars Sammy Kershaw, Colin Raye and Aaron Tippin on March 24, Warrant and Lita Ford on March 25, The Rocket Man Show (Elton John tribute) on April 7, Dane Cook on April 21 and Rock the Yacht featuring The Little River Band, Pablo Cruise and Firefall on April 22. Other notables coming up later in the spring and summer include Foreigner on May 12, Chicago on May 20, Morris Day and The Time on June 3, Matchbox Twenty on June 10 and country hitmaker Jason Aldean on Aug. 19. For more details on events and tickets, please visit: www.ticasino.com or call 1-800-222-7077.

Vetter Stone Amphitheater

Mankato

Southern Minnesota may still be in the final stages of winter, but summer can’t be too far away and that means another season of outdoor live music at the Vetter Stone Amphitheater in Mankato Situated on the banks of the Minnesota River in Riverfront Park, this outdoor venue brings in a variety of national touring acts to Mankato each summer. One of the events already scheduled for 2023 is an appearance by the Barenaked Ladies with special guests Semisonic and Del Amitri on June 10. For more information, visit www.vetterstoneamphitheater. com or call 507-389-3000.

Waseca Art Center

Waseca

While the shows are more occasional at this venue, they are still plentiful, and the Art Center is a great place to hear some music. The Benson Family Singers perfomer at the center Feb. 18, and those interested can look out for new events at facebook.com/wasecaartcenter.

What’s Up Lounge

Mankato

A longtime destination for live music in southern Minnesota is the What’s Up Lounge in Mankato A 21+ club, the What’s Up Lounge features rock, blues, punk, rockabilly, hip-hop, metal, hardcore and jam bands. The What’s Up Lounge is located at 701 N. Riverfront Drive in Mankato. For more information call 507-6254285 or visit www.oleandersaloon.com 

Tom Nelson is a freelance writer. Reach the editor at editor@apgsomn.com.

The Ames Piano Quartet will play at the historic Newhall Auditorium on March 23 as part of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s FeslerLampert Performing Arts Series.

The artist Dessa will perform at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Dessa will play at the historic Newhall Auditorium on March 31 as part of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Fesler-Lampert Performing Arts Series.

The Rush River Delta band will play in Northfield at the Grand Event Center on April 1.

The Frothy Quartet is a great example of a Southern Minnesota music act that works in a variety of venues. (Photo courtesy Tom Nelson)

& DRINK Review

& Bar

Mankato’s Pappageorge Restaurant and Bar is all about the food — steaks, seafood, chops, sandwiches.

Jay and Layla Pappas own and operate the venue.

“My husband and I met while working at his father’s restaurant, Maggie’s Cafe and Saloon in Mankato, in the late ‘90s. After about six years of working together, we started dating,” said Layla. “He was the head chef, and I was the lead server. We have always made a good team and have a lot of mutual respect for each other.”

Maggie’s was sold in 2005, so Layla and Jay decided to follow different career paths. Neither was as happy as they were when they were working in the restaurant. Layla was working part time at another local restaurant when a customer kept asking if she would want to open a restaurant in a location he had available for lease.

“After many conversations, we took my col-

lege business plan to the bank and here we are today,” Layla explained.

They have been in operation for 15 years. Husband Jay (Flip) Pappas is the head chef, and Layla runs the front of the house.

“We love working together and our son, Solomon, has joined us and he works in both the front of the house as well as in the kitchen,” Layla said.

Pappageorge identifies as a steakhouse, since all of their steaks are hand cut on a daily basis. They offer a wild mushroom ravioli with medallions of filet mignon in a Gorgonzola cream sauce, that has been a huge hit with customers.

“We also have the best walleye and gulf shrimp, as well as all of our desserts being made in house too,” said Layla.

They are a restaurant reminiscent of a dinner club of the past. Tables set with linens, the Pappas’ strive for great customer service and personal relationships with their customers. Their venue is very small, with only 16 tables and a bar that seats 12. Dinner recommendations are recommended for most evenings.

Layla and Jay serve off of one menu, both lunch and dinner, and provide specialfeatured

items daily like their BBQ spare ribs or sea scallops sautéed with mushrooms and garlic over rice pilaf.

From Happy Customers: Pappageorge is our favorite date night restaurant! We always have great food, awesome drinks and the best service! By far, our go-to on Friday nights. Best London broil, Steaks and Walleye! Carry out is a great option still to support them through the restrictions but not miss out on the great food!—the Blanchards

We decided to try Pappageorge for the first time ever tonight. Best food we’ve had in a long time! The woman I talked to on the phone was so friendly! They asked how we wanted the food dropped off so we could have it delivered with no contact. My husband got the ribeye and said it was the BEST melt-in-your-mouth steak! My sirloin was fantastic! Our daughter loved her chicken strips! I think we have found our new favorite restaurant in Mankato!—the Donners

They are open Tuesday-Friday, 11-9 and Saturday, 4-9. (Pappageorge Restaurant and Bar - 1028 N. Riverfront Drive - Mankato MN - 507-3878974) 

By PAT GARRY Guest Contributor

Bowling is back, baby. Whether you want to use bumpers to boost your score, or regularly bowl weekly (or more) as part of a league, this activity can be a fun way to socialize and get some exercise. In today’s busy, stressful world, it is essential for families to find the time to spend with each other.

One exciting activity that you must consider for that family night is bowling.

This is a fun activity that you should always try to include in your schedule. Bowling alleys provide convenient hours during the weekdays and also on the weekends. So, you can easily plan a family bowling night that does not interfere with the schedule of your loved ones.

Bowling is suitable for people of all age groups. Whether it’s raining or snowing, you have the peace of mind that your family night will not be cut short. Even when you have a hectic schedule, taking the time to bowl with your family is a simple idea that you can easily implement.

Here are some great options in the Southern Minn Scene area.

Spare Time Entertainment, Owatonna

Located in Owatonna, Minnesota. Spare-

Time features 18 lanes of “Your Lane Your Way” customized bowling, 3-level laser tag arena, state-of-the-art 30+ redemption game zone, party and event spaces, a spacious outdoor patio, and a full service bar and restaurant, serving delicious food made by a premier chef. On or off site catering available. Reservations at 507-451-2524. (333 18th St. SE, Owatonna)

Faribowl, Faribault

A staple in Faribault and the surrounding communities since the early 1950s, it was previously known as J & J Bowling Center. The Bowling Center, is also home to Bashers. Faribowl has 16 synthetic lanes, with QUBICA scoring, gaming area, snack bar and pro shop and Bashers Sports Bar & Grill. Bashers BattleAxes is an axe throwing attraction that will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 p.m. to close. Reservations are required — call 507-334-3262. (1802 Fourth St. NW, Faribault)

Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes

It is a bowling alley and more. Aside from all the traditional Irish fun & merriment, they’ve got some great music lined up for St. Patrick’s evening.

Russ Franek and the Biscuits Trio will be performing for your listening pleasure. They also have St. Pat’s bowling, food & drink specials, along with Lucky Irish Bingo and the $1,000 Luck Strike Give-away. And

ABOVE: Spare Time Entertainment has all the shoes and space you need for a good bowling outing. (Emily Kahnke/southernminn.com)

LEFT: Bowling is a Southern Minnesota tradition, and it’s a perfect family friendly activity. Pictured here are bowlers at Spare Time Entertainment in Owatonna. (File photo/southernminn.com)

don’t forget the awesome Irish Stew and Corned Beef & Cabbage. Reservations at 507645-8322. (1700 Minnesota Hwy. 3, Northfield)

Key pads for the electronic scoring system at the Faribowl in Faribault.

300 Club, Le Sueur

Equally a bar/restaurant and bowling alley, one can spend the full night at The 300 Club. They boast some “awesome wings,” and they regular hold special events, like Moonlight Bowling, where participants can get discounts on games, drinks and appetizers. You can call for a reservation at 507-665-6015. (504 N. Main St., Le Sueur)

Janesville Bowl

It’s straight forward at Janesville Bowl: it’s all about the bowling. Between open nights, league nights, family nights, lessons and more, you can get all your bowling needs taken care of here. Drinks are also available. 507-2315247. (307 N. Main St., Janesville)

Wow! Zone Family Entertainment Center, Mankato

Wow! Zone Family Entertainment Center opened in 2008 as Southern Minnesota’s first entertainment center. Wow! Zone has 24 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, a two-level laser tag arena, black light mini golf, full arcade, snack bar and sports bar and restaurant. Come have fun with your family or enjoy happy hour with your co-workers. Enjoy casual or league bowling on Wow! The Brunswick Pro Lanes feature glowin-the-dark automatic bumpers, 120” projection TVs in addition to the 55” LCD TVs and 55” LCD scoring monitors. 507-625-2695. (2030 Adams St., Mankato)

Bowlocity Entertainment Center, Rochester

Owners Gene Glorvigen and his son, Erin Glorvigen, opened Bowlocity Entertainment Center in 2014. Previously, it was Recreation

Lanes, which was built in the 1960s. The Glorvigens expanded Recreation Lanes in 2014, doubling the size and rebranding it as Bowlocity Entertainment Center. The beautiful, spacious venue is a 34,000 square foot facility that boasts 24-lanes of bowling.

“Sixteen of those lanes are traditional, and we have an 8-lane Suites area that has couches and a private bar. We also have a 50-game redemption arcade, a multi-level laser tag arena, and a full Sports Bar,” said Erin Glorvigen.

Glen and Erin offer a multitude of bowling leagues — everything from youth to adult, to senior, as well as adaptive leagues and social leagues. “Our state-of-the-art Brunswick Sync scoring system allows bowlers to play a

multitude of different games while bowling other than traditional 10-pin,” explained Erin. Bowlocity hosts a lot of birthday parties and company events, and they cater to groups of all sizes and age groups. “Bowling truly is a lifetime sport, and it is great to see it bring generations together. At Bowlocity, we serve FUN to our customers!” Glorvigens exclaimed. 507-288-2601. (2810 N. Broadway, Rochester)

Bowlero in Lakeville

The hippest lanes to hit your zip code are here at Bowlero! Their lanes are some of the coolest and most stunning in the game, featuring black lights, soft lounge seats, and huge HD video walls that play everything from live sports and music videos to classic family films. Play your favorites, discover new favorites, and

ABOVE: Eight lanes at Janesville Bowl.

FAR LEFT: Beau Horejsi shows good form on his delivery at Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes.

LEFT: Le Sueur native Mitch Harrison shows his bowling style that led to his first 300 game at The 300 Club in Le Sueur.

CONTINUED from page 11

enjoy popular titles like Jurassic Park Arcade, Mario Kart, World’s Largest Pac-Man, and many more. Load up your arcade card with credits, grab the controls, and have a blast! Laser Tag; Put on your power pack, grab your laser, take aim, and have a blast in Bowlero’s state-of-theart arena. Their signature selection of epic eats, original cocktails, and comfort food favorites are available on the Laneside Menu. Order while you play and have all this amazing deliciousness delivered right to your lane. 952-435-2695. (11129 162nd St. W., Lakeville);

Drkula’s 32 Bowl, Inver Grove Heights

Come for a day at the bowling lanes; Your family will love our automatic bumpers that help even the youngest bowlers have a great time, and they also have bowling ramps available upon request. Bowling is one of the best ways to bring everyone together, so call now and reserve your lanes tonight. Call to check availability at 651-451-1717. (6710 Cahill Ave., Inver Grove Heights)

Riverboat Lanes, Wabasha

The restaurant includes a dining area for families, a full-sized bar, and a banquet room for events! Eat! Bowl! Drink! The menu includes a wide variety of food. From hand-battered beerbattered cheese curds to Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza to burgers that are pattied in-house, you won’t be disappointed. 651-565-3911. (218 2nd St. W., Wabasha)

Wildwood Sports Bar, Grill, Bowling, Byron

In the Byron location, bowling and pizza is the perfect match. Locally owned and indepen-

dently operated, Wildwood is a wildly popular sports bar and grill with two locations — one in Byron, one in Rochester, MN. With delicious, made-from-scratch food and a full bar with craft beers, it’s your go-to for good times. Bring the family for dinner, or stop by to watch all the most important games on their plethora of TVs. Join them at the Byron location for not just great food, but bowling, too. Throughout the year you can

place. For after school, family fun night, your birthday party, or work event - plan on bowling and good times at Wildwood in Byron. 507624-0442 (501 Frontage Rd. NE, Byron)  Journalist-Copywriter-Editor-Feature Writer. My experience spans over 20 years, and I will apply my skills to help beef up any lifeless copy within your website, brochure, press release, catalog, etc. Reach out at patgarry@charter.net.

The glamour of air travel

Remember when we were kids and the idea of going on a giant silver tube filled with people was the most exciting thing you could ever imagine doing? The mere concept that this behemoth machine could lift all sorts of humans into the air and serve them exotic meals while they were held up by clouds was mind-boggling to my young brain.

Once I got on the plane, I imagined that all the men in suits were salesmen who must have super important jobs because they carried briefcases and drank cocktails. All the women were so glamorous, because they wore dresses and smoked the long, thin cigarettes that came in a pack of three and were handed out for free.

The stewardesses were all beautiful women in crisp suits and neck scarves who had the best job in the world (other than being an astronaut). They grabbed the hands of small children and led them up to the cockpit to meet the pilot and receive the much-coveted plastic wings. The whole experience was childhood magic!

Well, get over that memory…those days are long gone!

I recently did what any Minnesotan in their right mind does in February, I left town. I booked a first-class ticket with my elderly companion (a.k.a. Mom) and headed toward the sun. Arizona was calling and I was more than ready to answer.

The first thing you’ll notice that’s drastically changed is when you attempt to make an online reservation for your trip. It ain’t like the

old days where you called Lois at your local travel agency. She knew all your preferences and took care of everything including printing your paper tickets. Now, you will need at least a master’s degree in programming to maneuver back and forth among six different screens that all seem to have the same seat at prices ranging from $99 to $2,580. And, of course, that means you must immediately make a decision and grab said seat before it disappears. As I understand it, planes have an actual set number of seats but just because you booked one and paid for it, doesn’t mean it actually exists.

After you book the last seat available and most likely right outside the airplane’s restroom, you get the details about what you will need to pay to bring luggage with you. Oh, don’t think for a minute that the price you paid covers bringing your clothing. And that laptop is gonna cost you extra because your purse is now considered a carry-on. None of which matters because they’re most likely gonna lose your luggage and make you fill out a ton of paperwork for something you’re never going to see again anyway.

Once you get to the airport, don’t worry, you still have time to pour out the $9 bottled water you just bought and have your $42 facial serum confiscated because it looks like something that could take the whole plane down. You’ll be busy being barked at by an angry TSA agent who hates people and desperately needs a day off. While you’re focused on why his hair style doesn’t seem to include any sideburns and is nowhere near his ears, you’ll make the mistake of going through the scanner with a tube of Chapstick in your pocket.

When he asks you to open said Chapstick and you make the grave error of applying it to said lips instead of just showing it to him, all hell is gonna break loose! Now he’s picking up the phone to make sure your luggage is taken off the plane and your name is added to the “No Fly List.”

Mr. No Sideburns told you to take off your shoes and empty your pockets. And damnit, you didn’t put your jacket in a separate bin from your purse because you were focused on holding your pants up so you could put your belt in yet another container. That’s just one more reason he hates you. Now you’re really gonna pay! You’re going to be pulled out of line and given a stern lecture as well as the world’s most thorough body search.

Upon your much delayed arrival at the gate, the overworked and incredibly unhappy flight attendants are going to call your name because you made the mistake of booking a “wheelchair” and not an “aisle chair.” This means all communication you have ever had with the airline is now considered suspicious. Clearly, in your attempt to get your aged travel companion on a plane, you’ve forged a reputation for deceit and trickery. Now the wheelchair you paid some employee $20 to take your Mom from the ticketing desk to the gate requires bomb-sniffing dogs and men in jumpsuits. Once you explain that it’s THEIR wheelchair that was at THEIR ticketing desk, driven by THEIR employee, and has never left THEIR airport, you’ll realize that humor isn’t a big factor in THEIR hiring.

Once you board, it’ll all seem worthwhile because your “gourmet boxed lunch” is soon to arrive. Nothing makes that first-class airfare seem more reasonable than your turkey

sandwich made sometime prior to the start of Covid followed by a cookie normally only sold at gas stations. You’ll just wash it all down with the free drinks that aren’t coming because the flight attendants are training a new crew member and heating up their own Lean Cuisines. They’ll be chatting NON-STOP the entire trip so they won’t have time to get you anything so you might as well take that nap. But better yet, once you smell the new spice-scented industrial fluid they use to clean the bathroom (that is located directly in front of your seat), it’ll keep you alert for hours. Now is your chance to engage every male on the flight as they apparently all have prostate trouble and will be using the bathroom so frequently, you’ll wonder why they don’t just install saloon doors to save wear and tear.

It’s all ok. You’re on the ground now. The wheelchair you ordered to get your lovely seatmate off the plane has accidentally been cancelled. You’ll get to know all the flight attendants as well as the pilots intimately as you’ll be the last folks deplaning. That’s when you can use your time wisely and enjoy observing the cleaning crew whose “number one concern is the safety and cleanliness” of said aircraft. Soon you’ll understand that the “intense cleaning” done by “safety professionals” is just a couple teenagers who have been instructed to put all the seatbelts in an x pattern on your life-saving seat cushion and pick up the pretzel bags from the floor. Remember, the best part of any vacation is making those memories you can treasure for years to come! 

(Lukas Souza/Unsplash)

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

By many measures, the state of the arts in Southern Minnesota is strong.

Whether due to an enlightened citizenry, visionary leaders, supportive donors or a craving to create, regional residents are lucky to have numerous opportunities and venues at which they can make art — year-round, and at almost any age. All kinds of handiwork is regularly turned out by Minnesotans, who are blessed with

more than 1,600 art organizations. Additionally, the Americans for the Arts Action Fund estimates Minnesota harbors over 30,000 artists, and that the arts and culture sector has an annual economic impact of $12 billion — roughly 3.6% of the state’s annual GDP.

In turn, Minnesota has opted to invest in the arts; since 2010, its Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, made possible by the Legacy amendment, has poured over $705 million into the state’s artists and arts organizations.

Numerous arts centers in the area — the Paradise Center for the Arts in

Faribault, Owatonna Arts Center, St. Peter Center for the Arts, Waseca Art Center, the Grand Center for Arts & Culture in New Ulm, Carnegie Art Center in Mankato and the Northfield Arts Guild — regularly schedule art-making classes and open studio times that feed artistic souls everywhere and give people a chance to get down and dirty with art.

“The arts in community foster creativity, imagination and a unique avenue to communicate various aspects of the human condition,” said Andrea Sjogren, executive director of the Northfield Arts Guild.

“They offer an escape from the rigor of daily life, joy, a chance to meet new people and form connections, and they evoke an emotional response not often found in other activities.”

To that end, the Guild has a full slate of art-making options that attract a broad participant base.

For instance, weekly Saturday classes that make full use of the Guild’s seven

pottery wheels in its clay studio are available through June 3; a five-week class, beginning Feb. 24 and running through March 24, promises the chance to “create a wealth of beautiful bowls in this class taught by gifted ceramicist Marion Angelica.”

Already schooled in ceramics? Stop by the Guild’s open studio hours, which are liberally sprinkled throughout each week—or sign up for “Open Studio Plus” if you need an instructor present to answer questions and help improve your skills.

If you love pets and paints, you might consider “Paint a Portrait of Your Pet with artist Julie Fakler” in a two-hour Saturday session at the Guild Art Studio on April 8. That class is open to anyone over the age of 7, Sjogren noted.

Adult paint sessions are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on both March 30 and April 21, allowing for “social time in a stress-free environment while painting in acrylic, gouache or watercolors with guidance as needed from community artists,” Sjogren said. “Making art is such a great means of self-expression, a way

LEFT: Class instructor Julie Fakler works with students at the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault during an artmaking class. (File photo/ southernminn.com)

BELOW: The Northfield Arts Guild offers many painting and drawing classes for all skill levels. (File photo/southernminn.com)

to explore new talents and creativity, meet new people and try new things.”

She added, “Yes, we have professional artists in here every day, but you can also easily try artmaking, whether that’s in the form of painting, clay, ceramics or print-making, as a new-comer. The accessibility piece for every level is really important to us.”

One grant-funded Guild class about which Sjogren is particularly enthusiastic is “Kids’ Spin Through the Arts.” A free after-school option, kids attend for multiple weeks, first rotating through various arts stations and then getting the chance to dive deeper into the areas they prefer

“They can really experiment with the spectrum of options and we love the community engagement aspect this grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council provides,” said Sjogren.

“Because there are no cost barriers, we’ve had a lot of first-time participants. It’s such a terrific experience for kids who haven’t had these types of classes and enrichment opportunities on a regular basis.”

Another popular option at the Guild are “Arty Parties,” which Sjogren says are perfect for parents seeking non-food-centered celebrations for kids’ birthdays or get-togethers. The Guild provides up to two hours of art instruction for each group, plus all necessary materials, and packages can be tailored to include juice boxes, pizza, cupcakes and party themes (think dragons, princesses or robots).

“But it’s still all about making art—clay, visual arts or exploring dance or theater,” said Sjogren.

“As with everything we do at the Guild, it’s about sparking interest in the arts and giving people of all ages a chance to exercise their creative sides.”

“We’re proud to offer ongoing activities, events and opportunities that have a lasting impact on the health and happiness of the people in our greater community.”

A sampling of places for art-making in Southern Minnesota:

Acrylics and Corks, 1179 12th Ave. NW, Owatonna, 507-318-9401, acrylicsandcorks. com. Kids’ painting/birthday parties, girls’ night painting parties, business team-building paint-

ing, online painting classes and more.

Arts Center of St. Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter, 507-931-3630, artscentersp. org. Drop-in sewing circle, open clay studio hours, open knitting times and more.

Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division St.. Northfield, 507-645-8877, northfieldartsguild. org. Classes for all ages in ceramics, painting, rosemaling, drawing, mask-making, photography, water colors, Arty Parties for kids and much more including open art studio times.

Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave. North, Faribault, 507-332-7372, paradisecenterforthearts.org. Classes for all ages in making paper bag albums, portrait drawing, creative batik, clay, fun felted fungi, working with wax and more.

Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Lane, Owatonna, 507-451-0533, oacarts. org. Classes for all ages in cartooning, acrylic paint pouring and more, plus regular Monday evening open studio hours.

Waseca Art Center, 200 S. State St., Waseca, 507-835-1701, wasecaartcenter.org. Art classes and youth enrichment opportunities including Club Picasso, Craft Club and Little Rembrandts.

Red Wing Arts Creative & Clay Center, 1920 Old W. Main St., Red Wing, 651-3887569, redwingarts.org. Classes in micro-mosaics, plein art painting, watercolor and acrylic painting, clay and more.

The Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N. Minnesota St., New Ulm, 507-359-9222, thegrandnewulm.com. Classes in heART therapy for all ages, creating a barn quilt, children’s learn to paint, letterpress, linoleum block carving and spring card painting, wood block carving and printing, and more.

Wine and Canvas, Rochester, wineandcanvus.com/rochester/events. Upcoming classes include “Dream Tree” at Twigs Tavern & Grille, 401 Sixth St. SW, Rochester, March 1, and “Monet’s Bridge” at Cannon River Winery, 421 Mill St. West, Cannon Falls, March 3. 

Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504.wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail.com.

The Northfield Arts Guild, along with many other arts organizations and businesses in Southern Minnesota, offer a multitude of artmaking opportunities.

LENS

Entertainment, small town Minnesota style

Atheatrical performance, a concert, a comedy show. All define entertainment.

Yet, for many rural Minnesotans, especially, entertainment stretches to simpler and decidedly imaginative.

Pull up to a bar along small town Main Street and let the fun begin.

Winter Bar Olympics at scattered southeastern Minnesota bars. Antler

Measuring Day at Whiskey Dick’s Eatery & Saloon in Millville. A Vintage Snowmobile Show at Mac’s Park Place Campground & Bar, rural Mazeppa. Bar Bingo at the Corner Bar in Waterville, Leo’s Sports Bar in Mazeppa, the Purple Goose Eatery & Saloon in Janesville... Order a beer and a burger and bring on bingo. Or meat raffles. Shoot a game of pool or throw darts. An evening or afternoon of food, fun and friendly conversations provide a diversion from everyday life. Likewise, bowling centers, like Gopher Lanes Bar & Grill in Plainview and Janesville Bowl, offer another source of small town entertainment. Moonlight Colored Pin Bowling and tournaments add an entertaining element to the sport. These rural bowling alleys are gathering spots — a place to meet friends, grab a bite to eat, aim balls toward pins and grow community. Communities are also growing community with maker-

spaces like Make It Waterville, a collaborative workspace for creatives to, well, create. From Clay Camp to Ladies Night pottery painting to Kids Crafting Night to private parties, this center welcomes all ages. If you’re planning a kid’s birthday party, leave the creative entertaining to Make It Waterville.

Kids, though, find ways to entertain themselves, too, especially in warm weather months. They pedal their bikes to ballparks, pools, libraries, parks. In Janesville, kids can settle in at a picnic table for a game of checkers, checkerboard painted on tabletop at Veteran’s Memorial Park. The new plaza at Buckham Memorial Library in Faribault also features tabletop checkerboards in a space for playing board games, reading or simply gathering.

Most communities, whether large or small, have outdoor gathering spots for winter activities, summer concerts, farmers’ markets, festivals and other events. Bridge Square centers Northfield activities. Central Park brings people together in Owatonna and Faribault. Minnesota Square Park offers music and more in St. Peter.

There’s so much in our southern Minnesota communities. We need only slow down, pause, look, engage. (Like search for Bigfoot in Janesville.) 

Originally from southwestern Minnesota, Audrey Kletscher Helbling has lived in Faribault for 40 years. She loves this area, which she documents in images and words on her Minnesota Prairie Roots blog. Follow her work at www.mnprairieroots.com. Contact her at audrey@mnprairieroots.com

The value of the arts, including music, depicted on a sprawling mural in downtown Plainview.

LEFT: Kids’ bikes lean against a building in Pine Island on a summer afternoon.

FAR LEFT: The 1918 vintage popcorn wagon operated by FiftyNorth is a warm weather mainstay at Bridge Square, Northfield’s outdoor community gathering place.

Bigfoot and other sculptures (outdoor art) can be found near the train tracks in downtown Janesville. (Photos by Audrey Kletscher Helbling)

On a late summer afternoon, folks gather outside the Purple Goose Eatery and Saloon in Janesville. The eatery hosts Bar Bingo Saturday and meat raffles among other events.

Owatonna’s Central Park is a community space for concerts in the replica bandshell, for the farmers’ market, for the Bold & Cold Winter Festival and more.

It’s music festivals galore at that pavilion of Minnesota Square Park in St. Peter. (Philip Weyhe/southernminn.com)

A mural in downtown Mazeppa points to Leo’s Sports Bar in Mazeppa which offers Lion’s Club Bar Bingo and was among bars hosting Winter Bar Olympics events in January.

The Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store hosted Panty Hose Bowling during the Winter Bar Olympics.

A banner in downtown Mazeppa honors a long ago Butter Fest celebration.

Mugs ready to paint at Make It Waterville.

A mural in Pine Island reflects musical entertainment of yesteryear.

The newly-created plaza at Buckham Memorial Library in Faribault features checkerboards on tabletops.

hoosing the perfect fabric for an outfit can be overwhelming. The options can seem endless — rayon, polyester, linen, cotton—the list could go on and on. But don’t worry; we’re here to help.

After reading this article, you’ll be acquainted with the previously mentioned fabrics, the impact they have on style and the environment, plus the positives of wearing each. As a bonus, you’ll get a few friendly fashion tips because we’re style lovers at heart.

Soon you’ll be able to navigate any boutique, department store or fabric shop to select the perfect textile to wear to a laid-back get-together with friends or a sophisticated cocktail party, dress code required.

Now let’s take a closer look at linen, cotton, rayon and polyester, all great fabric options that offer their own unique benefits to the wearer and the environment.

First up is everyone’s favorite summer fabric — linen. It’s smart to add linen garments to your wardrobe, especially when our weather (finally) changes from frozen and frigid to hot and humid — you’ll thank us later. Because linen is breathable and lightweight, this natural fabric has amazing temperature-regulating properties to keep you cool while making you look cool too.

Linen is extremely absorbent and dries quickly. Whether you’re donning a floral print maxi dress at a backyard barbecue or a breezy tailored pantsuit to an outdoor wedding, linen always looks naturally elegant and effortless. Those who want to look chic and feel comfortable should have many different linen options in their closet.

While some like to adhere to the age-old fashion rule — never wear linen before Memorial Day or after Labor Day — the truth is, this fabric can be worn all year long. Layering linen with thicker clothing like sweaters and cardigans will help you stay warm in the winter and even elevate your outfit to the next level. When it comes to fashion, rules are always meant to be broken.

In addition to being stylish, linen is also one of the most sustainable fabrics in fashion history. It’s made from a flax seed plant that can be woven into a strong fiber, producing almost zero waste. Plus, it’s biodegradable and requires very little water

and pesticides to produce. Eco friendly and fashionable—we’re adding linen clothing to our wish list ASAP.

Next, let’s talk about cotton, another natural fabric that is extremely comfortable to wear and easy to care for. Created from the cotton plant, this fabric is completely biodegradable so it’s a great option for sustainable fashion fans.

The fashion industry is always evolving, but crisp cotton has remained a favorite for men, women and children too. Why? It’s just so comfortable and always looks classy. You don’t have to be draped in heavy fabrics or clad in restrictive skin-tight attire to be considered fashion forward, and cotton proves it.

Due to its versatility, designers can create new patterns and cuts to please all different walks of life.

Be-cause rayon is made from renewable raw materials, it’s more absorbent and dyes easier than other textiles. Plus, it can mimic the feel and texture of silk, wool, linen and more. Rayon is also eco-friendly and biodegradable. We love a fabric that can really do it all.

Those with a love for athleisure and lounge sets will most likely find lots of stretchy rayon already hanging in their closet. In fact, it is very likely your favorite pair of leggings are made of this breathable fabric.

Style tip: it’s a good idea to wear rayon garments when you head out on a light jog or gear up for an intense workout because you’ll stay cool and sweatstain free.

It may be the material of your favorite pair of underwear or your go-to t-shirt you pull on every Sunday. Its classic and timeless feel lends itself perfectly to everyday fashion, like sweatpants and sweatshirts, or home goods, like bed sheets and towels. Without a detailed description of its soft texture, you can probably already imagine the feel of cotton without much effort at all. It is very much the fabric of our lives.

Next on our list is the ever-popular rayon, also known as viscose. A semi-synthetic fabric made from the cellulose fibers of trees, rayon is a great alternative to cotton and offers a similar softness and drapability

If you’re into the free-spirited Boho aesthetic, with a love for dressing in bold prints, long layers and loose sleeves, then rayon is your best friend. It’s famous for its flowy and feminine drape and the flattering silhouette it can create.

chat a little bit about polyester — the most widely-used clothing fiber in the world. Made from oil based products, this synthetic fabric is so popular because it’s durable, wrinkle resistant and easy to care for. Basically, you can skip the trip to the dry cleaners and toss it all directly in the laundry. These garments can be washed many times yet maintain their shape, plus polyester is known for being stain-resistant too. Those with toddlers and small children can appreciate this quality.

The ever-popular polyester can be used to create everything from slinky mini dresses to more sporty styles, like biker shorts and comfy capri pants. Plus, it’s extremely budget-friendly so your bank account will appreciate it too (especially if you’re hitting the malls and boutiques every weekend or scrolling through new arrivals while online shopping at night.)

In fact, on your next shopping trip, you can perform a little experiment of your own: on your way to the fitting room, take a peek at the fabric tags. You’ll find your favorite eye-catching styles are made from this very popular textile. Fun fact—approximately 60% of garments on retail racks are made from polyester.

In the end, when it comes to fashion, trends are always evolving but the importance of fabric remains unwavering. Whether you’re draped in a cotton dress, linen button-up, rayon lounge set or polyester fashion top, you can be comfortable and fashionable. 

Dressed for work or play, linen has the ability to elevate any style.

Natural cotton fibers give the same crisp comfort in a knit fabric as they do in a broadcloth or weave fabric.

Choosing a blend of rayon and polyester in your workwear will ensure the soft flow of the rayon with the durability of polyester.

Like rayon, polyester can mimic silk with much more durability and at a fraction of the price.

MINN

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Melissa SchulzOwatonna--

THURSDAY, FEB 23

Songwriters in the round - Northfield-- 6 p.m., Grand Events Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. Local songwriters sharing stories and original music. Featuring Tom Peschges, John Kurtis Dehn, Forrest Johnson, Courtney Yasmineh, Tom Mobry, Angel Hagan, Alex Telamantes, Ray Coudret, Tony Ortiz.

Murder Mystery DinnerNew Prague-- 5:30-9 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Velvet Touch is serving Lemon Pepper chicken in a creamy lemon garlic sauce, wild rice pilaf, ginger-glazed carrots, and dessert.

Cost: $48/person includes dinner and a glass of wine, beer, cocktail, or a non-alcoholic beverage. Parties of 7 or less will be seated with other groups to facilitate crime solving. To make your reservation, please call Jackie at 612-655-6176 or email nextchapterwinery@ gmail.com.

unWINED - Kasota--

6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. With Radio Acoustic. Radio Acoustic is the moving collaboration of two talented musicians who came together on a whim, only to discover that they couldn’t put down what they had just picked up.

Steely Ann - New Ulm--

Priscilla Paton presents When the House Burns - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. The quest for love and home becomes deadly when Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger search for the killer of an adulterous real estate agent.

Spring AwakeningSt. Peter-- 8-10 p.m., Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. Tony Award winning (Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score) rock musical Spring Awakening explores coming of age and autonomy through love and friendship. Music by Duncan Sheik and Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater. Based on the play by Frank Wedekind.

FRIDAY, FEB 24

Andrea Mazzariello: A

Performance - Northfield-4 p.m., Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield.

Performer

Andrea Mazzariello, a composer of contemporary classical music and composition professor at Carleton College, has been methodically transforming his creative output, from noteson-paper concert music into sonically-saturated song-poems, in which layers of vintage synth lines, programmed drums, and acoustic instruments battle each other as often as they synchronize.

7-9 p.m., Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm.

The region’s premier Steely Dan tribute band for an intimate evening that’ll leave you and your date breathlessly debating the merits of yacht rock.

SATURDAY, FEB 25

Sleigh and Cutter

- Waseca-Sleigh and Cutter runs from January and into March, with events each weekend. Feb. 25 includes a large slate of events. including vintage snowmobile ice drags, the annual vintage snowmobile show/ride and a a night time fireworks display. See more at sleighandcutterfestival.org.

Winter Charm on the Farm

- Waseca-11 a.m.-3 p.m., Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave., Waseca. Horse drawn carriage rides (12 pm — 2 pm), snowshoe trails, snow painting, and more. Admission: $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for kids, free for kids 2 and under and members.

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Calendar events compiled by Philip Weyhe.

1-3 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. One-woman band Melissa Schulz brings her unique style of performing with keyboard and drum tracks. Her polished piano chops and crazy vocal versatility allow her to cover almost any genre of music, but you’ll mostly hear pop, rock, and country hits spanning the decades.

energy Twin Cities band playing an array of modern, alternative, 80’s, and current top 40 dance tunes, with twists of country and other surprises splashed in.

SUNDAY, FEB 26

Dessert Theater - Waseca-- 6 p.m., Waseca Junior/Senior High School, 1717 2nd St. NW. Presented by Waseca Department of Drama. Including sketch comedy, jazz band, and one act reprise.

MONDAY, FEB 27

Los T - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Enjoy live music this evening by Los T. performing Tex Mex music.

Arms and the Man - Owatonna-7:30-10 p.m., Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna. A three act romantic comedy set at the end of the 1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War, a tale of love in a time of conflict that takes its toll on star-crossed young lovers struggling to separate real life from illusion.

Comedian Tommy Ryman - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. No stranger to sell-out crowds, with millions of views on Drybar comedy and a semi-finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Tommy will win over your audience with his adorable demeanor and infectious comedy. Tickets from $15-25.

Mardi Gras Party - Kasota-8 p.m.-12 a.m., Blue Moon, Kasota. Featuring the Everett Smithson Band. No cover charge.

Rhino - Faribault-- 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Boxers Grill & Bar, 429 Central Ave. N, Faribault. Rhino is a four member, high

International Film Forum: Better Days - Northfield-7-9 p.m., Carleton College, 1 N College St., Northfield. Chinese screen idols Zhou

Dongyu and Jackson Yee star in this blockbuster about a pair of star-crossed lovers: a brutally bullied high-school student and her unlikely protector, a teenage street thug in need of redemption.

TUESDAY, FEB 28

Secret Science of PopcornLe Sueur-- 4 p.m., Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. What makes kernels pop? What are the variations of popcorn? What’s the difference between popcorn and regular corn? Learn this and more (while you sample flavors of popcorn). Geared for ages 9-12.

The Reminders - Faribault-- 6 p.m., Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division St. E, Faribault. The Reminders are a rare and remarkable musical duo whose rhymes blend seamlessly with soulful vocals and reggae-tinged hiphop beats to highlight relevant and inspiring messages of unity and togetherness. They take their hip hop foundation and move it beyond genre, time, and space to create a global musical experience.

CONTINUED page 22

WEDNESDAY, MAR 01

Convoy: Textile Center & SR Harris

Fabrics - St. Peter-9 a.m.-4 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Carpool to the Textile Center to see the current exhibition and shop items, hit a co-op for lunch, and then head to SR Harris in Burnsville for on-your-own browsing and buying. To RSVP and be part of carpool arrangements, email director.acsp@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, MAR 02

Craft in America: Music - St. Peter-- 2-3 p.m., Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Ave, St. Peter. Craft in America, the Peabody Award-winning documentary series, is an inspirational journey to the artists, objects, techniques, and origins of American craft. Music focuses on how fine handmade instruments are crafted and the world-renowned artists who play them, demonstrating the perfect blend of form and function.

The Music of Simon and Garfunkel - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Super Duos stars two veteran musicians — Pat Balder and Glen Everhart — who bring their one-of-a-kind vocal blend — along with superb guitars, their bandmates, a good dose of comedy, and over 1,000 shows together — to deliver the greatest songs by the greatest musical duos of all time.

A Doll’s House

- Northfield-- 7:309:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” is a classic work of world theater. Join us for this devised piece exploring the depths of the play as well as its relevance for the contemporary audience.

Performances March 3-5 and 10-12. Tickets from $16-$20 online or at the box office.

Riverwalk Winter Market - Northfield-- 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 115 Fifth St. W., Northfield. Unique gifts by local artists, artisan foods and locally grown produce, and it’s all indoors.

Fred the Bear - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Fred the Bear is a classic rock/alternative band known for their rich harmonies, emotive dynamics and original songs. FTB’s music reflects on life’s promises and disappointments.

SUNDAY, MAR 05

Scottish Music and Music from The Outlander Series - Faribault-- 6-7 p.m., Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division St. E, Faribault. An evening of traditional Scottish music and music from the Outlander series, performed by “Celtic music wizard”, Laura MacKenzie. MacKenzie plays wooden flutes, whistles, concertina, and bagpipes. This program is an ACHF Legacy Grant funded program provided by the state of Minnesota and coordinated by SELCO.

FRIDAY, MAR 03

unWINED - Kasota-6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. With Tyler Herwig. Acoustic guitar musician, vocalist, and entertainer. Performs a wide variety of acoustic covers from the last 60 years through today’s top 100 charts.

The Twin Cities Jazz Composers Orchestra

- St. Peter-- 8-9 p.m., Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. The Twin Cities Jazz Composers’ Workshop was founded in 2017 by composers Aaron Hedenstrom, Asuka Kakitani, Adam Meckler, and JC Sanford. It is partially inspired by the BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop in New York City originally founded by Bob Brookmeyer and later spearheaded by Manny Albam and Jim McNeely, which was created in order to enable composers to come together as a group to share ideas and learn from each other.

SATURDAY, MAR 04

Lego Story

TimeWaseca-10-10:30 a.m., Waseca Public Library, 408 N. State ST.

Kids ages 4-6 can join the monthly creative Lego-building group, with an adult.

Sleigh and Cutter -

Reception for Photographic Journeys - St. Peter-- 3-5 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. A reception celebrating Photographic Journeys: work by Jonathan Zierdt. Zierdt’s work will be exhibited March 3-April 29. All of the work is for sale, with proceeds going to the JZ Cancer Fund.

Snowshoeing clubHenderson-3-4 p.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson. Join a Ney naturalist and other snowshoeing enthusiasts for great conversation, new trails, and exciting adventures. Snowshoes available for rent if needed. Members can use code “NeyMember” at checkout to register for free.

Bridal fairFaribault-- 123:30 p.m., Faribo West Mall, 200 Western Ave. NW. 10th Annual Faribault Bridal Fair. Brides can preregister at faribaultbridalfair@gmail.com and vendors can request info at the same email or call Laura at (507)384-2094.

Off the Strings - New Ulm-- 7-9 p.m., Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm. Off the Strings is an acoustic duo that performs both original and cover songs and strives to create the purest music they can. This event is free and all are welcome.

Waseca-- 10 a.m., Waseca. Sleigh and Cutter runs from January and into March, with events each weekend. March 4 is Flags for Vets - Ruck of Hope. It’s an event to support service and veteran families who have lost a member to suicide. Walk travels north around Clear Lake and continues south. Meet at Club 57 at 10 a.m. See more at sleighandcutterfestival.org.

Steve Boyken - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Special solo performance by Steve Boyken, half of Ron & Steve Unplugged. Enjoy acoustic pop and rock classics from the 70s and 80s.

The Concordia Choir - Owatonna-- 4 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 S. Lincoln Ave., Owatonna. Hear one of the nation’s finest college choirs perform. Conductor Michael Culloton conducts the 64-voice a cappella choir in a varied concert, including works by Stephen Paulus, Rosephanye Powell, Paul J. Christiansen, Carol Barnett, J.S. Bach, René Clausen, and more.

THURSDAY, MAR 09

Area All-School

Art ShowNorthfield-- 12-5 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division St. S., Northfield. A collaborative show featuring the work of students from Northfield’s public, charter, private and home schools. Open during Guild gallery hours.

Gospel and Gravel - Owatonna-- 7-9 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Followers say their sound rises from rich elements in America’s country and roots landscapes. Their performances include crowd-pleasing originals as well as popular covers from John Prine, Brandi Carlile, The Head and The Heart, Dolly Parton, The Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Gillian Welch, Mumford and Sons, Eilen Jewell, and many other artists.

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Lorna Landvik Presents Last Circle of Love - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. A funny, heartwarming story about a feisty group of women who shake, spice, and heat things up with a “recipe” book for romance, from the bestselling author of Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons.

Tim Goodwin Album Release & Solo Show - Northfield-- 12 p.m., Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield. Tim Goodwin is a singer/songwriter from Northfield, MN. His musical roots are in folk and Americana. His warm, baritone voice traces love, loss, and people from all walks of life. His songs communicate how he sees the world, whether the truth he sings of are easy or difficult.

unWINED - Kasota--

6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Featuring Scarlett Woods. Scarlett has opened for such acts as Stephen Stills, Judy Collins and the Blues Traveler. While the exquisite- voiced singer/songwriter has influence from a family steeped in show tunes, her Americana-Jazz style is what captivates audiences.

Lonesome

Dan KaseNew Ulm-- 7-9 p.m., Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm.

Dan has merged his passion for blues, country, folk, R&B, ragtime and jazz with personal, emotional stories to create powerful new songs. This event is free and all are welcome.

SATURDAY, MAR 11

St. Patrick’s Celebration - Le Center-- The Le Sueur County St. Patrick’s Day Celebration actually starts with the queen coronation Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Le Center American Legion. But the majority of the action is Saturday, with the St. Patrick’s Day parade and rally in Le Center, starting at 2 p.m. Then, for night time fun, see IV Play at the Legion from 9:15 p.m. to midnight.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration - Waseca-10:30 a.m.-11:55 p.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. The Irish American Club of Southern Minnesota’s annual St.Patrick’s Celebration is back. Join us for a fun filled day & night.

Annual Flannel FormalFaribault-- 5-10 p.m., 28 NE 4th St, 28 NE 4th St, Faribault. Drinks & hot dish, live music, lumberjack games, and more. Bring your best hot-dish to share for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Put on your best flannel for a chance to win the contest.

Harmonious Wail - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Americana-flavored Gypsy Jazz on full tilt comes back to the Paradise! With over 30 years of touring around the world, Harmonious Wail continues to combine the searing wit, humor, and mandolin virtuosity of vintage Jethro Burns performances, the continental panache of Django, and the charm of Edith Piaf-inspired vocals to create a unique musical journey. Tickets from $15-$25.

Jazz in the Barrel Room - New Prague-- 2 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Come relax in the Barrel Room with some easy-listening Jazz Music from pianist and vocalist Anya Menk.

THURSDAY, MAR 16

North American Farm & Power Show

p.m.,

- Owatonna-- 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S. Elm Ave., Owatonna. Tradexpos has partnered with the University of Minnesota Extension and Linder Farm Network to bring special seminars to this great event. The North American Farm & Power Show sets the stage annually for getting in touch with the future of America’s farmland. Free admission and parking.

CONTINUED page 24

Luck of the Irish 5k and KidsK - St. Peter-9 a.m., John Ireland Catholic School, St. Peter.

The 10th annual Luck of the Irish 5k and KidsK. A family friendly race event.

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Angel Val - Janesville-- 5:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Enjoy live music by the extremely gifted Angel Val.

Joel Ward - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Joel Ward is a soul singing, acoustic guitar pickin’, lyric writing fool for music out of Rochester.

Wade Snake - Owatonna-- 7-9 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Acoustic rock, country, alternative & original music.

Rock N Roll - Kasota-- 8

Blue Moon, Kasota. Major rock party with Angry Waters and The Whiskey Richard Band.

Farm and City Luncheon - Waseca-- 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. Registration will begin at 11:45am. Meal will be served at 12:00pm. Program will begin at 12:20pm.

Gardening

Series #2:

Starting

Seedlings

- Faribault-6-7 p.m., Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division St. E, Faribault. Master Gardener Lisa Reuvers will present the second of four in a series of gardening programs. She will explain the best way to plant seedlings indoors. Registration is recommended. Please call 507-334-2089 to register. The program is free.

FRIDAY,

A Celtic Breeze: The Magic of Celtic Music

- Northfield-- 12-1 p.m., Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield. Laura MacKenzie will perform Celtic music on an array of instruments including wooden flutes, whistles, concertina, bagpipes, gemshorn and voice. Audience members of all ages are invited to attend and learn how air is transformed into music and what makes the airs, dance tunes, and songs “Celtic.”

Lehto & Wright and the Northerly GalesFaribault-- 3 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. This amazing St. Patrick’s Day Event includes music by two different bands. The Northerly Gales offers Celtic/Americana music that you may have heard at the local MN Irish Festival. Tickets from $15-$25.

Mary Moore Easter Presents The Way

She Wants to Get There - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. The author traces her development as a dancer during of the decade between 1968 and 1979, a pivotal era in Black/white relations, women’s rights, and other significant developments in social traditions. The sanctions that thread through the American fabric to limit black lives can be seen in the description of her journey, which looks forward to her eventual success but focuses more often on her difficulties in balancing the aspirational needs of her trickster body with the responsibilities of family life on a small-town campus.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade - St. Peter-- 5:30 p.m., St. Peter. The 45th annual parade will start at 5:30 p.m. Organizers have lengthened the parade route to help accommodate the thousands of people who attend the annual event.

Thinking Songs and Drinking Songs

Mary Guentzel

Irish Jazz QuartetSt. Peter-7 p.m., St. Peter American Legion. Don’t miss this band with Irish Music and all time favorites.

SATURDAY, MAR 18

Maple Syrup: Tree to Bottle - Henderson-10-11 a.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson. From the tree to the bottle, lets learn how maple syrup is made! See all the steps of this fun hobby and learn why maple syrup is so sweet — plus, a taste test is included.

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

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - New Ulm-- 7-9 p.m., Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is one of only 3 films that have won ‘The Big 5’: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Screenplay. (Rated R) This film is free and all are welcome!

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- Kasota-7 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Join Michael Shynes and Chris Kroeze for a night of stories, songs, and liquid courage. At the beautiful Chankaska Event Center. Bring out a crew and let’s get rowdy in a singer/songwriter kinda way.

Annie Enneking & Kari Tweiten - Owatonna-- 1-3 p.m., Annie Enneking — front woman and founder of the rock band Annie and the Bang Bang — will play a rare “solo” gig, performing songs from the band’s repertoire and some of her more mellow singer-songwriter material. She will be joined by special guest and fellow bandmate, bassist Kari Tweiten.

Generation Gap - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Enjoy live music by Generation Gap.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Did we miss something?

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Melissa Schulz Live -

-- 9 p.m.-12 a.m., Lodge on the Lake Mazaska, 7170 153rd St W, Faribault. One-woman band Melissa Schulz brings her unique style of performing with keyboard and drum tracks. Her polished piano chops and crazy vocal versatility allow her to cover almost any genre of music, but you’ll mostly hear pop, rock, and country hits spanning the decades.

SUNDAY, MAR 19

Celebrate Company G - Owatonna-- 12-7 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Celebrate Minnesota’s first volunteer infantry and support Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Owatonna. For $20, you’ll receive a ticket you can redeem for: 1 sandwich, 1 side, and 1 MSB beverage (beer/seltzer or soda).

Charles Gorczynski

Tango

Quartet - St. Peter-6-7:30 p.m., Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter.

Bandoneonist and composer Charles Gorczynski works in contemporary tango and music production. He is the director of Minneapolis-based Twin Cities Tango Collective, the bandleader of Redwood Tango Ensemble and Charles Gorczynski Tango Quartet, and has worked as bandoneonist for dozens of tango projects including Mariano Barreiro Tango Trio, Alejandro Ziegler Cuarteto, Maldito Tango Duo, Maxi Larrea Trio, and Los Tangueros Del Oeste.

Faribault

P3 Create: DIY Rustic Words - New Prague-- 6 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Create your own Rustic Word Decor Set by choosing your letters/word. The business will supply the wood cutouts, paint, brushes, and instruction. Cost starts at $35 per person.

THURSDAY, MAR 23

Faribault Ukulele Network (FUN) - Faribault-- 6-7 p.m., Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division St. E, Faribault. Adult (16+) ukulele jam session for confident beginners+ through advanced players. Must bring a ukulele, tuner and music stand.

Armstrong Blvd. Brass - New Ulm-- 7-9 p.m., Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm. Armstrong Boulevard Brass Quintet is a traditional brass group (2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, Tuba) that also performs Jazz standards and classic and current Pop and Rock. With 100 years of combined performance experience, the ABBQ has the skill to provide brass music appropriate for any life occasion. This event is free and all are welcome.

SATURDAY, MAR 25

Fidgety Fairy Tales: The Three Little PigsNorthfield-- 1 p.m., Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield. A live dramatic retelling of “The Three Little Pigs” followed by making puppets and playing theatre games together. Geared to kids aged 4-10; all are welcome.

Katy Tessman and Son Sweet Lou - Owatonna-- 7-8 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Minneapolis-based, Katy Tessman is an optimistic and approachable singer-songwriter with a voice full of the wisdom she’s gained through breast cancer survival, heartbreak, and motherhood. Katy’s son, Sweet Lou will be joining her on lead guitar. His sensitive style adds flavors of Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Stevie Ray Vaughan to his mom’s original folk-rock-americana songs.

SUNDAY, MAR 26

“I am Woman” Celebration - New Prague-- 1-4 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Music from all female artists performed by Melissa Schulz, a Beauty Bar with Mary Kay, “I am Woman” Photo Sessions with Mind of Mo Photography, Norwegian Sea salt from Salty Provisions, Park Lane Jewelry, Glitter Joy by Jenn, and more. Entrance to this event is $5.00. 100% of the proceeds will go to Ruth’s House, which provides transitional housing in a safe, supportive and healing environment to help women and families on their way to a new beginning. ruthshousemn.org.

Ames Quartet - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Faribault. In various iterations, the Ames Piano Quartet has been the ensemble-in-residence at Iowa State University since its inception in 1976.

FRIDAY, MAR 24

KOWZ & KRUE Home and Recreation

ShowOwatonna-- 3 p.m., Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S. Elm Ave., Owatonna. Remodeling, new construction, landscaping, equipment, home decor, kitchen gadgets, crafts, and much more. Presented by Elegant Creations.

Johnny Frost and the Heatseekers - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Live music by Johnny Frost and the Heatseekers performing 7 decades of music.

Ozzy Harris - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops,

St NE,

Ozzy Harris is a self-styled vocalist and guitarist with a long history of musical and performance experience. He has been entertaining the Twin Cities since 2005 with his versatile voice and clever renditions of everyone’s favorite songs.

28 4th

Faribault.

Buffalo Alice - Kasota-- 8 p.m.-12 a.m., Blue Moon, Kasota. You don’t want to miss this great band.

Sorry, Gently Down This Dream, Mr. Breakfast and more

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies

by Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy

c.2023, Gallery Books $28.99 368 pages

Man, were you ever wrong.

You know it, your boss knows it, your customer sure knows it. If it could be on a highway billboard, it would scream YOU WERE WRONG and now you must make amends. So how can you do that, sincerely and without sounding smarmy? In “Sorry, Sorry, Sorry” by Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy, there’s no groveling.

So you messed up, probably big-time, and that happens every once in awhile to everyone. Also what happens to everyone: saying you’re sorry because “apologies civilize us.”

The first thing to do is to own your mistake, ‘fess up, let the chips fall, and don’t even try to weasel out. Take a deep breath and just let it happen. If this was big, let people yell at you.

Then...

To make a great apology, there are “six and a half” steps.

Actually apologize and acknowledge what you did – come on, even monkeys can do that. Show that you know “why it was bad.” Explain, but don’t make excuses (yes, there’s a difference). State why you won’t do that again and offer to make things right. Then listen to what the aggrieved person has to say about this whole mess.

Know the different ways that you can apologize – you don’t always have to do it in person, hat in hand – and know how not to do it, too. Remember that there are “tons” of ways to make an apology backfire and make the situation worse. Never say “That’s not who I am!” because yes, apparently, it was at least once.

Know the thirteen words that you should keep away from your apology and learn how to teach a kid to apologize without trauma and tears. Learn why some professionals and government departments are reluctant to issue apologies, while others skirt around

the issue with the lamest of words. Know how to accept an apology graciously and when. And if you’ve gotten an apology that “sucks,” speak up. Don’t you deserve better?

Ope, sorry, does it feel sometimes like you’ve been apologizing a lot lately for so many things? Yeah, it’s that kind of world we live in and you’ve messed it all up, so let “Sorry, Sorry, Sorry” be your guide.

With a good splash of humor, “Bad Apology Bingo Cards,” and lighthearted ways to be a better person, authors Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy help you mend those “what-did-I-just-do?” kinds of days. Despite its chuckles, though, this book is grown up, with real workarounds for the awkwardness of unintentional wrongdoing, and valid chances to make amends. On the flip-side of the coin, readers will also learn how a dashed-off “sorry, but” can make things worse, and how to avoid that. You’ll see what to do if you’re in a position of power, how to respond to keep everybody happy, and how to decode celebrity sorry-not-sorry fiascos.

Helpful, but never stuffy, “Sorry, Sorry, Sorry” is a good start toward repairing a friendship, fixing an oops, or healing a relationship. Read it. You can’t go wrong.

Gently Down This Dream: Notes on My Sudden Departure

by Hugh & Gayle Prather

c.2023, New World Library $17.95 248 pages

These days, it seems, we’re all in the same boat. We have little patience, too many irritations, no time but an overabundance of tasks that need doing. We must be in four places at one time – before lunch some days. Add an illness, a loss, any kind of big upheaval and you start to wonder how you’ll get through the minute after next. So let “Gently Down This Dream” by Hugh and Gayle Prather help you find a way to float a little easier through the bad times.

Collaborators in life and in writing, Hugh and Gayle Prather created books together: He

wrote first, she went next and fixed what was wrong. She had finished the manuscript on this book, “we laughed about the changes... and assumed that we would continue doing this for years to come. Hugh died the next day.”

How do you recover from something like that? Hugh Prather knew the secret.

Just because you are steering “your boat gently down the stream,” he says, “doesn’t mean you... control the scenery.” What helps is to have peace, which “gives us a gentler attitude with which to deal with” problems. You can’t positive-think the “harsher aspects of life” away, but “if we seek the Divine,” it eventually helps feel like “a river of peace.”

Remember that you can do “almost anything” in a loving way and that blessing strangers silently, rather than getting annoyed at them, is an act of kindness. Don’t force cheerfulness; it only cause inner conflict. Forget about controlling anyone; it will destroy “whatever peace you had.” Learn to enjoy the years and wisdom you’ve accumulated. Leave behind the things that do not give you peace. Remember that a church is a building that “should merely point the way.” Protect your peace and add it to as many situations as needed.

And finally, “walk in grandeur. Decide to be as large and whole and happy as you were created.” And remember that you are loved.

Sounds a little new-agey? It is, but your degree of that perception will depend on the spiritual journey you seek or the situation you’re trying to deal with. You may find it new-agey, but you might also feel that “Gently Down This Dream” is a Desiderada for today’s reader.

The difference is in the attitude: this book is meant not for quick lessons, but for a total and ongoing lifelong metamorphosis from troubled you to tranquil you.

Indeed, authors Gayle Prather and the late Hugh Prather write with sympathy about living in society today, with weird strangers, traffic snarls, rude coworkers, and pets gone wild. There’s humor in their words sometimes and constant, gentle reminders that backsliding is totally okay, that this is a process, not an instant demand.

That alone is instantly, powerfully comforting.

“Gently Down This Dream” may not change your 21st-century life immediately, but its worth keeping around to help get you through one day at a time. Tuck it in your briefcase, your car, or your desk and give yourself some smoother sailing.

Mr. Breakfast: A Novel

by Jonathan Carroll

c.2023, Melville House Books $27.99

Pick a door

272 pages

So many times in life, that’s the way it is. Pick a door, make a choice and see what happens. The path may be good, and it may be challenging but you’ve made your decision and you have to stick with it. Even so, you’ll always wonder what might’ve happened if, as in the new novel, “Mr. Breakfast” by Jonathan Carroll, you made a different choice.

He had to face it: he wasn’t funny.

For years, Graham Patterson had tried to make a career out of stand-up comedy but he finally had to face facts – which is how he found himself suddenly single, in a new car that needed repairs, near a dusty tattoo parlor in North Carolina, waiting for the mechanic to finish. He hadn’t meant to get a tattoo, but, well, he did. He just did.

And man, it was beautiful, too: it was a bumblebee inside a frog inside a hawk inside a lion, like nesting Russian dolls. The colors were vivid and crisp and getting it hurt but not too much. As he pulled away from the little town, he figured the tattoo was a good souvenir

But then weird things started happening. He saw a guy at a rest-stop who looked just like him; the guy had Graham’s dream truck, and the contents inside the cab were identical to what was in Graham’s car. The guy was talking on his cell phone about being on-stage, totally killing it, and the complete weirdness sent Graham right back to North Carolina, to the tattoo parlor, and the tattoo artist who inked him.

And that was when Graham Patterson learned that he had a choice.

The tattoo, the artist explained, was ancient and imbued with powers. Whoever had it on their body could visit other life possibilities and try them out, but

they could only stay in one life. Graham could keep the life he had, or he could take Graham 2’s life, or Graham 3’s. And the deal was only good for a limited time...

Reading “Mr. Breakfast” is like being in a windstorm with butterflies.

Each flutter of this storyline alights gently, but not for long before it’s swept away, replaced by a new wisp of promise and you’re not exactly sure what just happened or if it’ll come back. It’s fragile, brilliant, ethereal, and it flies over your head sometimes. It’s easy to want to grab at it. Author Jonathan Carroll’s tale is here, there, and everywhere at once and it’s natural to need sense of it right away, but don’t try too hard. Half the enjoyment in reading this novel lies in the imagery and the details of the story, because there is no fluff in this tale. The other half lies in the what-if dawning that we all have choices to make. Pay attention, too, because you won’t miss the humor inside this book, or the longing, or the real beauty of the prose. Pay attention, and you’ll know that “Mr. Breakfast” is a book to pick.

So When are You Having Kids?

by Jordan Davidson

c.2022, Sounds True, distributed by Macmillan $28.99 356 pages

Your mother lingers way too long in the Children’s Department.

She sighs over tiny suits and little sneakers, running her fingers along soft blankets, hugging plush animals. You know what she wants but you’re not ready; she might be sure but you’re not. Maybe baby for you or, with the new book “So When are You Having Kids?” by Jordan Davidson, maybe not.

It’s the thorniest of decisions, “one of the biggest...you’ll ever make...” It’s personal, but even strangers want to know; the questions start in your twenties and end when you’ve acquiesced or aged, although having kids is not a given or a thing-by-committee. So how do you quiet the busybodies and make the right decision for yourself?

First, says Davidson, ask yourself if you even want children, and after you’ve looked inward, “it’s worth looking outward” at expectations, culture, and things that “shape our understanding of parenthood...” Ask around, to see why others had children but don’t be surprised if you get cliches. Throw out the idea that children fulfill you or that they’ll take care of you when you’re old. Know that genetics, religion, and your parents’ parenting styles will affect you; and that if you’re queer or Black, there’ll be other factors involved in having and raising a child.

Should you decide to the positive, you may still have reservations.

Don’t give in to the romance of having kids; it’s hard work, and expensive in both money and time. Remember that perceptions of good parenting have “shifted over time” and that having a childhood exactly like yours probably won’t be an option for your kids. If you have a partner, communicate your thoughts, hopes, and divisions of household labor and childcare.

Finally, decide how you’re going to become a parent. Will you give birth, choose IVF, adopt, foster, or kick the decision down the road?

Says Davidson, the mere ability to ask these questions and decide “is in many ways a privilege.”

Chances are that if you hear a screaming baby, you have one of two reactions: you cringe and look for an exit, or you notice and shrug. Either way, “So When are You Having Kids?” is a book for you.

There are many, many of parenting books on miles of shelves, and a number of books on being childless, but author Jordan Davidson pulls the two subjects together here with thoughtfulness, candor, inclusiveness, and a refreshing lack of judgment. This is a book that doesn’t promise answers, though: it’s meant to give readers –whether they want kids, don’t, or are ambivalent – an in-one-place, balanced look at myths, truths, pros, cons, and rarely-considered points for an informed decision. It also, perhaps most importantly, offers comforting reminders that there is no right or wrong, no matter what Mom says.

“So When are You Having Kids?” is like having a big sister to bounce ideas with, or a break-out session in your living room. It’s like asking Baby Maybe questions you didn’t know you had. It’s help when you need it in that department.

Super Duos Present the Music of Simon and Garfunkel

Friday,March3rdat7:30pm

Member:$20 / Non-Member:$25 / Student:$15

Harmonious Wail

Saturday, March 11that7:30pm

Member:$20 / Non-Member:$25 / Student:$15

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

Friday,March17th at7:30pm

Member:$20/Non-Member$25/ Student$15

Carpenter’s ou

Saturday,April22nd at7:30pm

Member:$20/Non-Member$25/ Student$15

Gladys/A Night of Gladys Knight and the Pips featuring MsArnice

Friday,April28th at7:30pm

Member:$20/Non-Member:$25/ Student:$15

Summer Comedy with Nathan Smesrud e

Saturday,May6th at7:30pm

Member:$20/Non-Member:$25/ Student:$15

Paradise Community Theatre Presents: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown - The Musical Directed by Cody Jensen Musical Direction by Shelley Fitzgerald

May12th,13th,18th,and19that7:30pm May14th,20th,and21stat2:00pm

Member:$18/Non-Member:$20/ Student:$14

Mick Sterling Presents: FROM BARRY - The Perfect Songs of Barry Gibb and The BeeGees

Friday,June9th at7:30pm

Member:$20/Non-Member:$25/ Student:$15