SCENE NOVEMBER 2022

All

and You, Oh My!

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PROMOTE

MEGAN ROLLOFF

Megan Rolloff is an interior designer in Mankato, who lives in New Ulm with her doting husband Tom. She loves music, especially of the Minnesota variety, and now she writes about it. Reach her at megankrolloff@gmail.com.

Keep on rockin’ in the afterworld

Idon’t

know about you guys, but every year, I look forward to Ghost-tober (AKA, the month of October). It’s no secret that a huge, lucrative industry has grown around the concept of hauntings and the supernatural. And you know what?

I don’t even care that they are most likely taking advantage of my gullible nature and desire to believe and turning it into the almighty dollar. I know most of it probably isn’t true; the operative word being “most”. As with most “believers”, it’s the outside chance that some of it is true that keeps me coming back for more. And I love it all. True ghost stories, fake ghost stories, ghost hunters, vampires, werewolves, witches, fairies, elves, hobbits, wizards, superhumans, metahumans, inhumans, and even the occasional alien. I am there for it. The world, or worlds, of the supernatural is my bag.

So how could I resist looking at the Min nesota music scene through this spooky/

ness was said to have taken place. As the story goes, one fateful evening, four men were in the room playing cards. A man with a case entered the establishment and told the band to go home early.

A waitress, probably forgotten in the kitchen, reportedly heard the pops of a tommy gun in the Fireside Room. She went in to find three dead gangsters and no trace of the 4th card player or the man with the case. The two missing men were undoubtedly partners in this crime.

The waitress called the police and upon their arrival they made the waitress wait outside while they investigated the scene. When they emerged, they threatened to charge the woman with falsely reporting a crime because there was nothing in the restaurant casino cor roborating her story, no bodies, no blood.

However, the bullet holes in the walls remain to this day. It is thought that the three bodies were stashed in some hidden nooks and crannies in the caves and were never discovered.

Wabasha Street Caves

Fitzgerald

creepy/ghost-y lens? Via some pretty bountiful Google searching, I was able to find a handful of music venues throughout our fair state that have been rumored/reported to have some permanent patrons lurking in the shadows, or just keeping track of the day-to-day.

Wabasha Street Caves

First up, the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul. For a touch of musical nostalgia, 7-10pm on Thursday nights Big Band and Swing are king. Always with a live band, you can Lindy Hop and Charleston to your heart’s content. No idea what I’m talking about? Show up at 6:15 p.m. for some swing dancing lessons (wabashacaves.com).

While you’re there, keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. You just might see, or feel, one of the cave’s permanent residents. Two men, who are not actually there, are said to be seen sitting at the end of the bar. Another presence, called Alice, is reported by workers to pull at their clothing. But by far the most famous story relates to the caves’ days as a gangster hotspot in the 1930’s. Newspapers of the day reported an unsolved murder that took place in the caves.

A small room off the main cave, known as the Fireside Room, is where much mob busi

Kelsey Theater

Kelsey Theater

Next, let’s dip our toe into musical theater. St. Olaf College in Northfield (wp.stolaf.edu) is thought to be one of the most haunted school campuses in the country. So many stories have been reported by students and staff over the years that one of the deans of students began keeping track of them in a file. The most commonly retold experience is that of a boy in a red cap appearing in one of the residence halls. But I digress. The haunting I want to focus on is that of the Kelsey Theater. The theater is named after Elizabeth Walsingham Kelsey. She was Director of Dramatics at the school

for over 30 years. She was, by all accounts, a dedicated and wonderful teacher for all those years. She is credited with establishing St. Olaf’s highly regarded theater program and is specifically remembered for her Shakespeare productions in the Spring.

But the 320-seat theater has also done its share of musicals over the decades, such as Godspell and The Rocky Horror Picture Show And it is said that Ms. Kelsey, who passed away in 1953 at the age of 68, still hangs around to watch over her beloved thespians in her namesake theater.

She is often seen and heard playing the pian onstage. One actor even reported that she warned him that he was in danger of falling into the orchestra pit when he was running lines alone one evening. Ms. Kelsey is a dedicated educator even in death.

Fitzgerald

One apparition not known for his protec tive and melodic nature is that of “Ben the Stagehand” at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul (first-avenue.com). “Annoying” was the word I came across most while looking into Ben. He was employed at the theater in the 1940’s and was apparently a pretty serious alcoholic. He was often drunk at work. His issue with the bottle is also what ultimately led to his death. He reportedly froze to death in the alley next to the theater. Now Ben drops beer bottles, steals tools (only to return them later in unusual places), and literally lurks in the shadows in the catwalks high above the theater.

Another, less bothersome, entity at the Fitzgerald is “Veronica”. She was supposedly an actress who performed at the theater in its early years. Her voice can be heard singing in the auditorium when all the lights have been turned off. She is also said to make her presence known by kissing the mirror in the lobby

These three gangsters are said to be seen wandering the caves due to the mysterious and violent nature of their departure.

and dressing rooms and leaving a lip-sticksmeared imprint on the world of the

It’s no wonder The Fitzgerald has a couple of permanent residents. The place is ripe for a haunting. Not only is it one of the oldest operating theaters in Minnesota, but it has creep-factors built in all over the place. The basement being the creepiest. There used to be 20+ theaters in the immediate vicinity back in the day. Many of those theaters were connected by underground tunnels, presumably because of the oh-so-cold winters here in the frozen north. Though the network of theaters has all but gone away, a portion of the tunnels still exist. There is also an old speakeasy in the basement leftover from the well-known gangster past of Saint Paul.

First Ave

Last, but not least, is what is possibly Minne sota’s most famous music venue, First Avenue (first-avenue.com). This location was probably the easiest to find information on due to the shear volume of accounts posted and reported about online. As you might imagine, there a number of variations among the stories. But one thing that was almost 100% consistent across the board is that there is a young woman in a green coat that haunts the women’s bathroom.

Before First Avenue became the iconic club that we know today, it was originally built as the Northland-Greyhound Bus Depot in 1937. The building was cutting edge for design and amenities of the day. With its art deco features, like the curved front wall, and its modern luxuries, like public phones and air conditioning, the bus depot was a travel center for the city of Minneapolis to be proud of. The original black and white checkered terrazzo floor is one of the most recognizable interior features of the club to this day. The bus depot is thought to be the origin of the girl in the green jacket. Some say she was the heartbroken girlfriend of

First Avenue

a WWII soldier who was never going to return from the war. Feeling so lost and helpless at the news, she went up to the second level women’s bathroom and hanged herself in the fifth stall. Many have reported seeing her hanging there still.

Other accounts say the green coat is an army jacket, worn with bell bottoms. This style of dress would put the apparition in more the Vietnam era than WWII. She is also said to be seen on the dance floor with no legs. In fact, floating, legless dancers are said to be seen, en masse, in the main room having the time of

their afterlives. Some say these revelers are the souls of the homeless who passed away in the bus depot while taking shelter within its walls.

Having personally been to both First Avenue and The Fitzgerald Theater, on numerous occasions, I can honestly confirm … absolutely nothing about the presence of anything supernatural in either location.

And I am not sure if that is a disappointment or something to be thankful for. I truly don’t know how I would react if I were faced with an actual supernatural experience of my own. I’ve spent so much time hoping and believing that

magic and the afterworld exist, that I am not sure if I would feel excited and vindicated to find out it was true, or completely scared out of my mind. But isn’t that the fun of it all?

It’s the possibility of there being something beyond this realm, that no one can 100% confirm nor deny, that keeps us interested. As long as people have enough belief and imagination, there will always be these stories and urban legends being passed down for generations. And a world without that kind of belief and imagination, is not a world I want to live in. 

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor & Photographer

Bison

are beautiful.

At least that’s how those who guide their preservation within the state see it.

“I love ‘em,” said Todd Dailey, assistant park supervisor at Minneopa State Park. “They’re fun to watch, and they’re fun to manage, even though they’re pretty much self-sufficient.”

Anyone can test Dailey’s perspective; a visit to view the hearty herd of American plains bison at Minneopa State Park, located just a few miles west of Mankato off Highway 68, is readily accessible.

It’s also an invitation to imagine a portion of the Minnesota River Valley as it may have appeared nearly 200 years ago, when the Dakota and other indigenous people coexisted in a beneficial symbiotic manner with the majestic animals the early white settlers came to call “buffalo” (biologists prefer the term “American plains bison” for this species).

Over-hunting in subsequent decades nearly drove them to extinction.

“The Dakota roots are very deep,” said Gwen Wester-

man in a cultural and historical commentary available to park guests on the 1610 AM radio frequency.

“It is fulfilling for me as a Dakota person to know these creatures are again living in a place they used to live freely.”

Westerman, an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate who is a Minnesota State University Mankato professor and Minnesota’s Poet Laureate, references letters exchanged around 1840 between Dakota persons and agents that discussed buffalo hunting in the area.

“To see it in writing from Dakota people that long ago…[confirms] they were here, right here where we live, and that they were part of [my ancestors’] everyday lives,” Westerman said.

Minneopa makes a way

Dailey came on board at Minneopa State Park in 2013, when talks about reintroducing the bison to the 331-acre prairie tract along the Minnesota River were first underway

“When I learned the purpose and goals for it—conservation of the species, and conserving the genetic purity of the American plains bison, along with prairie conservation, management and education—it made complete sense,” said Dailey, who joins with park supervisor Ashley Steevens

A bison calf nursed (right foreground) on a sunny October afternoon at Minneopa State Park.

sign greets visitors to the Minneopa State Park bison range.

and other DNR staff in helping manage the local herd.

By 2015 the necessary infrastructure—fencing, signs, a year-round water supply, etc.—for bison reintroduction at the site was in place.

“We go through annual training for the humane handling of bison, and there is a highly trained team of professionals in the state who have been working with bison for a long time,” said Dailey, crediting support from staff at Blue Mounds State Park and the Minnesota Zoo that have decades of experience with the creatures.

“Those partnerships, along with their experience and knowledge, really helped the process.”

Minneopa was tagged as an ideal site for bison reintroduction due to its bountiful prairie acreage and an existing gravel road that winds through the property to the historic Seppmann Mill.

“Having a road that allows people to get that up-close, personal experience with these mag nificent animals was a selling point,” said Dailey. Up-close and personal is a real possibility with

the Minneopa herd, which currently numbers 32 bison.

And this is an excellent time of year to lay eyes on the herd, Dailey recommends.

“The best time to see them, in my opinion, is fall into winter,” said Dailey. “Then, the vegetation has died off, the grasses are a little shorter and they’re on the move a lot more when it’s cooler.”

Although it would seem hard for such large beasts—the herd’s bull weighs an estimated 1,600 pounds—to disappear into the landscape, Dailey assures it’s true.

“Believe it or not, a herd of 30 to 40 bison can get behind sumac and woody vegetation in

the middle of summer, and when it’s hot they lay low and look for cooler spots to hang out,” Dailey said.

“From now into winter is the prime time for bison-viewing.”

Bison are herbivores and graze seemingly constantly, maybe as much as 12 hours each

day.

To prevent overgrazing, Minneopa’s ideal herd cap is 40.

“Calves don’t eat nearly as much as adult bison, and next spring our numbers will jump

Signs posted at the entrance to the Minneopa State Park bison range offer guidance to visitors.

Visitors may enjoy a very up-close-and-personal view of the genetically pure American plains bison herd at Minneopa State Park. This bison walked peacefully within a few feet of a driver’s open window while walking down the road on which motorists are required to stay.

An illustration depicting how the bison herd at Minneopa State Park is free to roam its 331-acre range, obviously moving at times within inches of visitors’ vehicles. It is vital for visitors to abide by the posted rules at the park, which require guests to remain on the road, stay in their vehicle and proceed cautiously and quietly throughout the bison range.

up, with 13 to 16 calves expected, but we have a management event each fall to sort out and move them around [to the different bison preservation areas in the state],” said Dailey.

While the bison gestational period lasts nine and a half months, bison calves are typically born between late April and late June each year

“The calves nurse and stick close to mom for about a year, but when mom is pregnant with a new calf they’ll wean and separate from her,” Daily explained.

Bison bliss

On a sunny weekday afternoon in early October, roughly a dozen cars with eager bison-watchers slowly snaked their way along Minneopa’s Bison Drive Road.

Visitors were richly rewarded with a safari-like encounter; the active herd grazed adjacent to the marked trail. They moved freely, silently and confidently among the vehicles, passing within a few feet of cars at some points. The humans quietly trained cell phone cameras on them and observed in attentive amazement.

“People are highly drawn to them,” said Dailey. “Minneopa has had a steady increase in numbers of visitors since the bison were reintroduced here in 2015.

“The interest and excitement are still here; people are genuinely concerned about these animals and like to see what they’re up to.”

Knowledgeable “Bison Ambassadors,” state park volunteers who help educate visitors about the bisons’ habits and habitat, enhance the visitor experience on weekends from Memorial Day through mid-October

“They answer questions, show people arti facts and bison bones and direct people to a spotting scope near the mill,” said Dailey. “The ambassadors are friendly and outgoing.”

Park visitors, Dailey reports, are largely coop erative. That’s important because observing the posted rules of the bison range—primarily staying in your vehicle and not making loud noises or speeding—is vital.

“We have not had any issues with visitor injuries—our bison are pretty well-behaved—and

we do what we can to educate and keep people safe, but at the end of the day it is up to the individuals to observe the rules,” said Dailey.

“Generally if someone is misbehaving we get a call to the office because the vast majority of people who visit are very protective of the

animals.”

Dailey warns that bison are potentially dan gerous, and if threatened they will try to protect themselves. Cows are particularly defensive of their calves.

“They’re doing their job, protecting their

own, and they’ll let you know with grunts or a bluff charge if you shouldn’t be that close,” Dailey said.

The Minneopa bison range is open about 10 to 11 months of the year, closing only during the spring thaw to preserve and then prepare the road for regular use once again.

But when the range is available, be assured its popularity extends from the very young to the most senior adults.

“We get a lot of first-time visitors and a lot of lifelong visitors,” said Dailey. “There’s a wide variety of people who come, and that’s great to see because the DNR’s goal is to connect people to the outdoors and this is a perfect way to do that.

“The bison are a huge benefit to the park, and it gives us a sense of pride to know we’re managing a unit that has animals who are so loved by the public.”

Healthy cows can live from 20 to 25 years, and since Minneopa’s bison range has only been operating since 2015, park personnel haven’t witnessed much loss to date.

“Our animals are quite healthy, but if one dies, we let it decay into the earth because that’s what nature would have done,” Dailey said.

“We try to treat them as if they are in the wild, so we’d let an animal naturally decompose into the prairie.”

There’s a lot to love when it comes to educating the public about the American plains bison and its history.

“It’s about doing our part to conserve the species,” said Dailey.

“The bison are just out here being bison.”

The Bison Drive Road at Minneopa State Park, 54497 Gadwall Road, Mankato, is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Closed Wednesdays for maintenance.)

State park visitor fees apply. For more information, call 507-386-3910 or visit https://www. dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/minneopa/bison. html.

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.

A mother cow and her calf graze with the historic Seppmann Mill on the bluff in the background.

Beneath a clear blue sky in early October, contented bison grazed—as they do for as much as 12 hours a day—and were seemingly unconcerned about their position relative to the Bison Road that snakes through the 331-acre bison range at Minneopa State Park.

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

A pocket guide to understanding your teen at Thanksgiving

Peopleoften joke about avoiding political conversations at Thanksgiving dinner because we all have that one uncle who will get into a heated debateBut there is little to no guidance on how to interact with or understand teenage relatives. If you can get their ear buds out long enough to have a conversation with a teen at your family get-together, you may need a crash course in Gen Z slang. It’s literally like a foreign language. As the mother of two teens, desperately trying to be hip, I have cobbled together a helpful list of slang words I have heard my kids use along with their defini tions. Please feel free to cut out this column and bring it to Thanksgiving as a cheat sheet for your reference:

Bussin- No, they are not talking about bussing the tables when everyone finishes their meal. Bussin simply means something is really good.

Use it in a sentence: “This sh** is bussin!” If they say this about your Thanksgiving meal, it means they like it.

Cap and No Cap- Cap means lie/lying.

Use it in a sentence: Q: “Did you really bake that apple pie from scratch?” A: “No cap!”

Ice- Sorry grandma, no, not literal frozen water, and no, Gen X-ers it doesn’t mean meth anymore either. Ice now refers to expensive jewelry, often diamonds. Millennials- see also the outdated “bling.”

Use it in a sentence: “He got ice on the wrists.” Not to be confused with being “Iced” which is when someone hands you a Smirnoff Ice and you have to chug it.

A bop- Believe it or not, this word/phrase is widely used on the internet. If you have heard it, it is more than likely true that it was a compli ment of a song or music video.

Use it in a sentence: “This song is a bop.”

Fam- This one is self-explanatory. Fam is literally an abbreviation that stands for family, but the kicker is its usually used to address friends.

Use it in a sentence: “What’s up, fam?”

Stacked- If you hear a teen say this word regarding your Thanksgiving spread, this is good news. If they are talking about Aunt Ruth, there is cause for concern. As a Millennial (or Xennial) I have always taken stacked to mean someone being busty or having a larger chest. Gen Z and Alpha gen kids are simply saying there is a lot of something. If everyone at the table is large breasted use your discretion on determining which version is meant.

Use it in a sentence: “This table is stacked with food!”

Gucci- This is essentially the new “cool.” It’s pretty versatile and obviously based on the luxu ry fashion brand, but if someone says something is “Gucci” it has a positive connotation.

Use it in a sentence: Texter #1: “I’ll be there in 10 minutes.” Texter #2: “Gucci” (as in, “cool” or “sounds good”)

4D Chess- Derived from the saying, “He’s play ing checkers I’m playing chess” Gen-Z’ers have upped their game by throwing out the term 4D Chess. It is the same as “next level” essentially (4D Chess is not an actual thing, by the way.)

Use it in a sentence: “That was a 4D chess move.”

Flex- To show off or assert dominance.

Use it in a sentence: “Dad is flexing his turkey roasting skills.”

Sneaky link- Your side guy or gal that you meet in secret. You don’t even have to be in a relationship to have a “sneaky link” it just means you are hooking up (sleeping with) someone but you don’t divulge to anyone else.

Use it in a sentence: You don’t.

Throuple- Well, it’s not too hard if you just look at the word. It’s couple, with a third. A threeway relationship.

Use it in a sentence: Your cousin shows up at Thanksgiving with two girls, one on each arm.

Teenager removes ear buds and says, “Are they throuple.” P.S. Millennials use this more than Gen Z or Alphas.

Bet- “Bet” is used when you are in agreement with something. Simple as that. See also: “yes.”

Use it in a sentence: Q: “Are you coming to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving?” A: “Bet”

Yeet- To throw or toss something.

Use it in a sentence: “Yeah, I yeeted those sweet potatoes.” (Threw them away)

Finsta- This is the Myspace equivalent of an “alt” or “burner” account. It means “fake” Instagram account. You will have an account that your parents are aware of which is usually your main or real account, you may also have a “spam” account, which is where you post more frequently and freely, but if you want to actual identifying factors or would like to keep a private Instagram for just close friends — You know, pics of yourself doing a keg stand or baring more mid-driff than mom can handle, you post that on your “finsta.”

Use it in a sentence: “Don’t follow my real Insta, it’s boring. Find my Finsta.”

Salty- If a teen at your Thanksgiving dinner says something or someone is salty, don’t panic. They probably aren’t referring to your green bean cas serole. “Salty” means annoyed or upset.

Use it in a sentence: “Grandpa got salty with me because I didn’t try the stuffing he made.”

Spill the tea- To disclose informa tion, especially of a sensitive nature. Gossip, basically Use it in a sentence: “You gonna spill the tea or not?”

Woke- Typically this an adjective meaning being alert to racial or other prejudice and discrimina tion-being sympathetic and aware of racial and social justice issues.

Use it in a sentence: Stay woke.

Sus- Basically “sus” is short for suspicious or suspect.

Use it in a sentence: “Cousin Alex is acting sus (as he goes for a third slice of pumpkin pie).”

Fit- “fit” is simply short for outfit, this one shouldn’t be a strain on your brain, but I’ll warn ya, them kids are gonna use it a sentence like this: “Rate the fit” and if that confuses you, it doesn’t mean determine whether an outfit fits well, it just means, is the outfit “clean?” Not “clean” as in “freshly laundered.” Clean as in “fire.” You know what, we might need an actual table dictionary…

I hope that this reference guide assists you in translating what your teenager may say at your next family gathering, but word to the wise- af ter this year, probably best to toss it. These may be obsolete in a few months’ time. Who knows what weird vocabulary they will come up with by next Thanksgiving. I may need to make this an annual feature for my November column. No cap.

PAT GARRY

Sakers Sports Bar & Grill

Sakers

Sports Bar & Grill, part of Events by Saker, is the place to go for your special occasions and gatherings at 401 Eighth St. SE in Kasson.

From weddings to conferences, business meetings to parties, Events by Saker will take care of you with their professional catering, quality service, and attention to detail. Events makes an excellent burger, tasty boneless wings, and brilliant chicken sandwiches.

Since Antoine Saker (Tony), the owner, is also a chef from the culinary school, there are some amazing dishes that you won’t find at your average sports bar. The official name of the restaurant is Sakers Sports Bar & Grill it’s also known as Events by Saker, as the business has an event hall attached to the restaurant.

Tony is the sole owner/ chief executive chef of the venue.

“We will be starting up Sunday breakfast soon. We have huge holiday buffets every Thanksgiving, Easter and Mother’s Day,” said Saker.

Right now, Events is open six days a week, starting at 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday until 10 p.m.

“We have a beautiful patio, 16 different tap beer options, a full variety of bourbon, wine and other liquor options. My food items are created from scratch. I am known for Tony’s wild rice soup. It is fantastic.” Chef Tony said.

The homemade cheesecake is divine — it’s light and fluffy and quite delicious. Tony’s signature wings are a homemade recipe that is a primary customer request; as well as the bread, which is also made in house.

Visit Events Sports Bar and Grill, and you don’t have to eat the same thing twice. Events features daily specials and a full menu, serving lunch and dinner. And, the menu has something for everyone.

Looking for a healthy meal? Grilled chicken and steamed veggies will do. Looking for food to enjoy during the game? Oh, yes … there are traditional and boneless wings with homemade sauces, deep fried goodness and of course a nice collection of burgers and fries. Not so hungry? The flatbread is also a great

choice. Kids and seniors are covered too.

Every now and then Tony even makes filet and lobster. Burger Or Chicken: available as a burger or chicken breast sandwich; served with choice of side: fries, steamed veggies, wild rice, or baked potato if after 5 p.m. Upgrade to cajun butter browns, sweet potato fries or onion rings, cheese curds, fried pickle spears, cauliflowers, tater tots or deep fried mushrooms for $2.75 more.

Events Sports Bar & Grill is always open for dine-in or carry out.

Events offers a full bar, happy hour, an excellent food menu, free popcorn, free WiFi, a ton of TVs and an incredible venue for hosting special events. Events

include: Wedding Receptions, Grooms Dinners; Gift Openings; Corporate and Community Events; Holiday Parties. The space features: Large Dance Area – Mirrored Disco Ball – DJ Lighting; Multiple TV Screens for running videos – Microphone - Projector; Complete Sound System; Lots of Big Screen TVs; Nice Outdoor Bar & Patio.

“We have a great variety of food, great service and a wonderful atmosphere. There’s been comedy acts, Country Western bands, Rap Bands—and all kinds of entertainment acts have performed here. I just try my hardest to provide an enjoyable dining experience, and offer a friendly staff to provide great service and a high quality of food and drink for customers to enjoy,” Chef Tony said. (eventssportsbar.com)

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

Chef Tony and Raya

Oreo cheesecake

Hand dipped mushrooms

A quinceanera taking place in the event hall.

By TOM NELSON Guest Contributor

Residentsof Southern Minnesota wanting to take a walk on the wild side can do just that by exploring any one of a number of zoos located around the region.

From facilities featuring lo cal wildlife and farm animals, to specialty zoos focusing on reptiles to zoos featuring world class display habitats with animals from around the world, the area zoos have something for everyone.

The following is a list of some of the zoos available in the southern Minnesota area along with top locations near the Twin Cities.

Reptile and Amphibian Discovery (RAD) Zoo

Located in the the southeast corner of the Ultra Outlet Mall in Medford, Minn., the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery (RAD) Zoo lists itself as “Minnesota’s premier reptile destination.”

“We exhibit over 150 different kinds of snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, toads, alligators and crocodiles as well as some beautiful birds and fish,” RAD Zoo Director Jamie Pastika said.

“Every guest that visits our zoo will have an opportunity to pet a tortoise and probably a snake or alligator. We try to make it very interactive.”

The roster of animals at the zoo includes reptiles and amphibians from all over the world and one of the RAD Zoo’s newest additions is an eight-year old Aldabra Tortoise, which cur-

rently weighs in around 60 pounds and could weigh over 300 pounds when fully grown.

Pastika said the RAD Zoo is also adding more dinosaur statues along with exhibits of dinosaur bones and teeth to the displays at the location in Medford.

The RAD Zoo’s world-wide roster includes animals from every continent that has reptiles and amphibians - including 20 Australian species, 30 species from Asia, 10 from Europe and 40 from South American. Of course, North American animals are well represented at the RAD Zoo along with around 30 species native to Minnesota and the upper Midwest.

“A lot of the time we have feedings going on,” Pastika said about some of the zoo’s highlights. “Our tortoises get their salads on certain days of the week and on Saturdays and Sundays we spread out our snake feedings over the course of the day so you usually get to see one

or two of our snakes eat while you are there… and we do have a show on Saturday afternoon in our amphitheater.”

The RAD Zoo has been at its current location for almost three years and prior to that was located just across from the airport in nearby Owatonna for 10 years. Pastika and his wife Melissa opened the zoo after working at other zoos in the south. They met while working at the zoo in Jacksonville, Fla.

“It is a family business with my wife and I,” said Pastika, a native of Virginia, Minn. “We used to take care of animals down at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and a couple other zoos, and then we moved back to Minnesota and started our own thing…and now we exhibit more reptiles than almost any zoo in the world.”

A lifelong interest in nature and wildlife has been a motivating force in Pastika’s desire to create a reptile and amphibian zoo here in

Zollman Zoo Otter

Zollman Zoo Entrance (Tom Nelson/ southernminn.com)

Zollman Zoo Mountain Lion (Tom Nelson/southernminn.com)

southern Minnesota.

“Since I was five years old, I was out catching garter snakes, leopard frogs and painted turtles. It has always been my love and we just want to share our enjoy ment of the reptiles with the families…so the kids grow up not being afraid of snakes and other animals and have a respect for them,” Pastika said.

Another mission of the zoo is to help protect the animals and make sure people don’t make poor choices when it comes to purchasing reptiles and amphibians as household pets.

“Over half the animals at our zoo are rescues and they were pets of people who could no longer care for try to encourage the children to make wise pet choices,” Pastika said. “We have nine alligators at our zoo and eight of them were former pets that we rescued. We try to encourage children (and their parents) not to buy alligators and giant pythons. We want to create a love of reptiles for kids.”

To help drive that interest in reptiles and amphibians, the RAD Zoo is also very active in taking their show on the road to provide educational opportunities throughout the upper Midwest.

“We do several 100 shows for schools, libraries, birthday parties, Scouts, vacation bible schools, county fairs…just about any type of event where people are looking to have animals,” Pastika said. “We travel fairly widely and go all over Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota with our shows.”

A great resource for information about reptiles and amphibians located right here in Southern Minnesota, the RAD Zoo is sometimes a popular destination for area residents looking for more details on just what type of critter is living in their garden.

“One of the things that keeps us busy at the zoo, is when people visit they have a pictures of the snake they found in their yard or garage and we identify a lot of animals for people,” Pastika said.

For more information on hours and events at the RAD Zoo, visit theradzoo.com.

6750 W. Frontage Rd. Medford

Phone: 507-455-1465

Sibley Farm in Sibley Park

Located at the junction of the Minnesota River and Blue Earth River, Sibley Park in Mankato, Minn. is home to Sibley Farm. A series of sidewalks takes visitors through the Sibley Farm, which houses a collection of farm animals for people to view and feed.

According to Joe Grabianowski, Mankato Public Works Operatons Superintendent, Sibley Farm is typically open seasonally from mid-April to mid-October on a daily basis and admission is free.

“We have farm animals - calves, sheep, donkeys, alpacas, goats, pheasants, ducks, turkeys and a pond with koi fish,” Grabianowski said of the types of animals visitors can expect to see at the Sibley Farm. Of note, the animals are typically rented for the facility each year from area farmers.

Another popular feature of Sibley Farm are the machines where people can purchase food to feed the farm animals on site during their visit. In the area by the Sibley Farm animal exhibits, a fun zone features farm-themed playground equipment - including a real farm

tractor. A rental barn at Sibley Farm is also available for groups and individuals to rent for events and activities in the complex. Sibley Farm is part of the much larger Sibley Park, which is part of the city of

Mankato’s parks system. In addition to the farm, Sibley Park features softball fields, pavilions and shelters and a grand lawn area. Sibley Farm is closed during the winter months but the area around the zoo and the grand lawn area is used during December for the Kiwanis Holiday Lights, which is a popular drive-thru holiday lights display that runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31 this year.

For more information about the zoo and when it will re-open for the season in 2023, please visit: www.mankatomn.gov/aboutmankato/parks-trails-and-recreation/sibley-farm

For more information on the upcoming Kiwanis Holiday Lights at Sibley Park, visit kiwanisholidaylights.com

1080 Mound Ave.

Mankato

Phone: 507-387-8600

Dr. Paul Zollman Zoo at Oxbow Park

One of the zoos that provide residents of southern Minnesota with a chance to learn more about many of the animals that call Min nesota home is the Dr. Paul E. Zollman Zoo at Oxbow Park in Byron, Minn.

The Zollman Zoo and nature center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free but donations are encouraged to help with operating costs. Of note, the zoo is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

“We have about 75 animals and 35 different species and they are all Minnesota native animals, so all animals that you can find right here in Minnesota,” Zollman Zoo naturalist Jaide Ryks said.

Minnesota Zoo Aquatic Display

Minnesota Zoo Bear. (Nat LeDonne)

Minnesota Zoo Cowfish

RAD Zoo Snakes

The zoo opened in 1969 and it was started by a game warden who would bring in hurt animals. They would care for them there and also have them on exhibit for visitors to see. Over the years, the facility has turned into a zoo but still has a connection to some of its roots as a rehab facility for wildlife.

“We don’t do any rehabbing here but we do take in a lot of animals that have been rehabbed and can’t go back into the wild,” Ryks said. “For example, all of our raptors have come from rehabs and some of the other animals are rehabbed and we also work with other zoos to get animals.”

The different species represented at the Zollman zoo include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish. The types range from small fish and reptiles up to bison.

“The guests usually say the otters are their favorites. They’ve got a big tank with a glass front for the kids to see them and then there is a water slide going down to a big pond and a bunch of land area as well. So it is a pretty big exhibit and we have two otters - a male and a female,” Ryks said.

The 23-acre facility is named in honor of Dr

Paul E. Zollman, who was the zoo’s veterinarian for many years before he passed away in 2008. The zoo includes a nature center along with large pasture areas for Zollman’s population of deer, elk and bison.

“Our mission is lifelong lessons and natural places,” Ryks said.

To help meet this mission statement, the

Zollman Zoo is a popular destination for school field trips and other groups - all wanting to learn more about wildlife and nature in the state.

“We have tons of school groups out almost every day. We teach to groups most days out of the year - some type of school group, day care or home school group...even senior citizens and then we do free public programs every weekend.”

One of the upcoming features for the zoo

will help enhance educational opportunities for visitors along with making a visit to the Zoll man Zoo more memorable.

“We are building a new nature center that will be three times larger than our current one and hopefully that will be completed by early 2023,” Ryks said. “Our nature center now has a couple owls, snakes, turtles, fish and frogs - all of their new exhibits are going to be above and beyond with really cool habitats for them.”

She added, “There will be more classroom space and a play area for kids. We are kind of a zoo and nature center, so we have both of that going on for our visitors.”

The zoo has six-full time employees (three naturalists, a manager, park tech and foreman) along with a full contingent of volunteers, seasonal employees and interns. Zollman Zoo has been a popular destination for over 50 years

and is an attraction for the area and beyond.

e have a large mix of visitors. Mayo Clinic brings in people from all over and those people often come out to visit as something to do,” Ryks said.

“The majority of visitors are from southeast Minnesota but we get visitors from all over the world sometimes.” For more information on the Zollman Zoo, please call 507-328-7340 or visit olmstedcounty. gov/residents/parksrecreation/parks/oxbowpark-zollman-zoo 5731 County Rd. 105 NW

Byron Phone: 507-328-7340

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

One of the oldest zoos in the state, the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory had its beginnings in 1897, when the city of St. Paul fenced in a pasture at Como Park to hold three deer that were donated to the city.

The zoo quickly grew to include elk, foxes, “Cebu” cattle and bison and one of the first cages at the Como Zoo was built to house a black bear in 1926. In the 1930s, the first major construction project at the zoo was funded through the Work Progress Administration (WPA) and it helped build the bear grotto, Monkey Island, a barn and the main zoo building.

Como Zoo has since grown into a facility with many world-class habitats including the Polar Bear Odyssey, Gorilla Forest and popular Como Harbor. The zoo features a wide variety of species, including favorites such as lions, tigers, polar bears, seals, gorillas, orangutans, puffins, giraffes, zebras and flamingoes.

Como Park also includes many gardens, in cluding the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory that has two acres under glass with areas dedicated to a variety of plant life.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open everyday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. everyday during October to March. Admission is free but

RAD Zoo Tortise

Como Park Zoo Monkeys

Zollman Zoo Bison (Tom Nelson/southernminn.com)

Sibley Farm Alpacas

donations are encouraged to help with operating costs. At present, visitors are required to make reservations to visit the zoo and conservatory and you can do that online by visiting comozooconservatory.org 1225 Estabrook Dr. St. Paul Phone: 651-487-8200

Minnesota Zoo

In the southern Twin Cities metro area, the Minnesota Zoo is home to more than 4,500 animals and 500 species. The zoo features award-winning exhibits, which include miles of outdoor and indoor

trails at the facility that is located at 13000 Zoo Boulevard in Apple Valley, Minn.

The Minnesota Zoo is open year-round and is a resource to connect people, animals and the natural world to help save wildlife. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo is open daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and December 25. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and tickets must be purchased online at mnzoo.org 13000 Zoo Blvd.

Apple Valley Phone: 952-431-9200

Sibley Farm Koi Ponds

Growing up on a Redwood County dairy and crop farm, Audrey Kletscher Helbling worked with animals daily. She fed the bovines and especially loved feeding calves. She remembers her calf, Princess; the cow named Bambi; the mean bull, Cactus. Her rural upbringing continues to influence her creative work. Find more of her writing and photography on her blog, mnprairieroots.com.

Oh, how we

animalsour

They inspire us, comfort us, keep us company, provide for us. They are animals. Whether furry or feathered — and yes, birds are animals — creatures integrate into all aspects of our lives.

I grew up with animals. Farm dogs and farm cats. A herd of cows. Steers, heifers and calves. All held a function on the farm. Dogs guarded. Cats caught mice. The Holstein cows provided milk and income. Beef cattle fed our family. I mostly learned not to develop an emotional attachment to any farm animals, although I admittedly failed.

Today, decades removed from the farm, animals are absent from my personal life except for the occasional feral cat prowling my Faribault yard or the incessant barking of a neighborhood dog. I appreciate the meandering, mousing cats, although I didn’t when my kids were growing up and

we had a sandbox.

Nearly everywhere I venture, I encounter animals. In parks. At breweries. At outdoor concerts. Along walking trails. People love their pets. They are important parts of families, providing companionship and meeting emotional needs with unconditional love and acceptance.

Animals also inspire art. I’ve observed that throughout southern Minnesota. Inside galleries. On playgrounds. In logos and advertising. In thrift store finds. Even in cemeteries. There’s something undeniably appealing about animal art, whether oil on canvas, acrylic on hardboard, watercolor on paper, sculpted and more. The cuteness factor in art, especially, reinforces the love we humans have for animals.

Wiggling their way into our individual and collective hearts, animals connect us. And that is, perhaps, their greatest gift. For a moment or ten, differences disappear as we pause to pet a dog, stroke a cat, admire adorable animal art...

LEFT: Ducks flock to the Cannon River at Riverside Park in Northfield.

These goats attracted plenty of admirers at the Valley Grove Country Social, rural Nerstrand.

ABOVE LEFT: Free-range birds, like this turkey, wander the Spitzack Farm, rural Faribault.

Cattle graze in rural Kasota.

In Northfield, “the city of colleges, cows and contentment,”

The Contented Cow serves up food, drink and entertainment.

A curious and friendly horse, next to Milton Cemetery in Dodge County.

Animal statues adorn gravesites at Milton Cemetery in Dodge County.

Faribault artist Julie M. Fakler, who specializes in animal portraits, painted “La Fonda” from Squash Blossom Farm for her “Southeastern Minnesota Farm Animal Portraits Exhibit” several years ago.

Rascal welcomes visitors to Aspelund Winery and Peony Gardens, rural Kenyon.

The Owatonna Arts Center featured a past exhibit, “Crochet in Translation,” by freelance artist Malia Wiley of Lake Crystal. The exhibit showcased her oil paintings paired with crochet, including “Preparing the Den.”

“Call of the Wild” at Meadows Park in Faribault is an interactive playground, this section including animal sounds.

A menagerie of animals live on the Spitzack Farm, rural Faribault.

Vintage animal playground equipment displayed as art in Janesville.

The farm animal theme extends from the petting zoo to the playground at Sibley Farm in Mankato’s Sibley Park.

LEFT: The art of Eydelin Leon Ruiz, a second grader at Roosevelt Elementary School, shown in a student art show at the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault.

FAR LEFT: Creative vintage advertising displayed at the Rice County Steam & Gas Engines Show, rural Dundas.

ABOVE: At the Used-A-Bit Household and Furniture Shoppes in Northfield, shoppers can find animal knick knacks to add to their collections.

Kasota,

SCENE

Eagle Center (Photo by Seth Vreeman)

Eagle Center (Photo by Seth Vreeman)

By PAT GARRY Guest Contributor

You don’t have to go too far to find a couple of the best centers for a couple of nature’s biggest flying predators. The International Owl Center and National Eagle Center are conveniently located in southeast ern Minnesota.

Owls are among our most fascinating birds, both to watch and to hear. They have long evoked curiosity in people, due to their secretive and often nocturnal habits, fierce predatory behavior, and interesting appearance. Many people might be surprised by how common owls are; it just takes a bit of knowledge and searching to find them; and the effort is worthwhile.

Despite their feeding habits, bald eagles are graceful and fascinating creatures. At five years old, these birds seek a lifelong partner by performing courtship calls and aerial displays, including a cartwheel maneuver known as the death spiral. The spectacle begins at a high altitude as the eagles lock their talons while tumbling down, breaking apart just before hitting the ground. The dangerous display exhibits the fitness levels of the eagles, a factor in choosing a partner.

International Owl Center (126 E. Cedar St. - Houston, MN) Houston’s International Owl Center is the only all-owl education center in the United States. Karla Bloem is Executive Director of the IOC. “The International Owl Center is focused mostly on owl education with a secondary focus on research. Our primary audience is the general public, but we also do special programs for schools, libraries, nursing homes, Audubon societies and many, many more,” said Bloem. Alice, the Great Horned Owl, is the inspiration behind the inception of the Owl Center; learn more at internationalowlcenter.org/history.html.

Some of the special events featured at the Center: International Festival of Owls (the first weekend in March each year); International Owl Awareness Day (in early August); “This year we acquired Bea, the Burrowing Owl, as our newest ambassador owl. She was hatched in late May. When COVID hit, we started a very successful Virtual Owl Expert Speaker series, a free series featuring presentations by owl experts from around the world,” Bloem explained. In 2020, Karla began research on utilizing acoustic monitoring for Barn Owls in southeastern Minnesota. “Surprisingly, we found them almost everywhere we monitored.” said Bloem.

Future plans for the Owl Center include a new, circa 15,000 square foot facility. “We have hired a builder, architect and fund-raising firm, and we have already purchased the five properties at the entrance to Trailhead Park, the proposed site of the new center,” Bloem said. The new facility will allow the owls to live on-site. Most of the owls the public sees will live in spacious display aviaries, and there will be walkthrough aviaries in the park; where there is nothing between visitors and the owls (the design of the aviaries keeps the owls away from the people). It will also allow the Owl Center to house a lot more owls, including those that need climatecontrolled environments.

“While most of us don’t realize it, humans are the biggest problem for owls. Our goal is to empower people to make small changes in their daily lives, that will make the world a better place for owls.

future; Bloem presents the World Owl Hall of Fame awards to owl experts from around the world; she gets thousands of children’s owl art from 3-4 dozen countries every year; Bloem’s cultural program discusses various views about owls around the world throughout history; the Center has a display to teach people how to say “owl” in various languages; and Karla hosts virtual presentations by owl experts from around the world.

By reaching enough people, all those little changes add up to big changes, and those big changes help the owls.”

The International Owl Center, located in Houston, is a bit of an oxymoron. How can it be “international” in such a small town? Karla has one foreign owl species now and plans to add more in the

“While most of us don’t realize it, humans are the biggest problem for owls. Our goal is to empower people to make small changes in their daily lives, that will make the world a better place for owls. By reach ing enough people, all those little changes add up to big changes, and those big changes help the owls,” Bloem said. (internationalowlcenter.org)

Owl Center

Owl Center

Owl Center (Photo by Alan Stankevitz)

Karla Bloem, Executive Director of the IOC

The National Eagle Center (Downtown Wabasha, MN) Ed Hahn is Director of Marketing & Communications at The National Eagle Center, located at 50 Pembroke Avenue South, Wabasha, MN. The National Eagle Center is the world’s premier resource for impactful eagle education and experiences. Visitors to the Center get to meet live eagle ambassadors upclose, explore two floors of interactive exhibits, attend exciting and engaging educational programs, and enjoy unforgettable experiences, such as guided field trips and behind-the-scenes programs. “In short, our mission is to ensure a world where eagles are known.

What does that mean? It means that we work to educate the world about eagles and raptors, and help them to understand the rich con nections that eagles have to human cultures; with exhibits like the American Eagle Gallery and Cultural Connections Gallery, and to come away with a greater appreciation for them, their habitats, and stewardship of them,” explained Hahn. Ed and his staff’s work continues to tell that story to new generations of learners, so that future generations can continue to enjoy these majestic creatures.

The origins of the National Eagle Center go back to the 1980s when the Bald Eagle was still a critically endangered species. Wabasha has proven to be a special place for Bald Eagle view-

ing during the winter, when eagles searching for open water would gather in the Wabasha area. It was one of the only places that people could come and reliably see a Bald Eagle. Local eagle enthusiasts and bird watchers would bring their family and friends to Wabasha in the winter, to watch the eagles. This dedicated group eventually organized into EagleWatch, Inc. and worked to bring the Eagle Center to life. Today, the Bald Eagle is no longer endangered (de-listed in 2007), but the eagle viewing in and around Wabasha remains phenomenal.

The National Eagle Center is open through out the year and hosts different experiences and events to match the different seasons. In the winter months, the NEC staff features large group-guided Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle field trips. In the summer, there are eagle-viewing cruises on the Mississippi River, in addition to a summer fishing program called Fishing on the Refuge. The National Eagle Center also offers private-guided “Habitat Tours” throughout the year for private groups and individuals.

Many changes have surfaced at the National Eagle Center in 2022. This year a long-planned renovation of the Center came to fruition. The existing Riverfront building, which people are familiar with, underwent massive remodeling that transformed office space into exhibit space, expanded in-house eagle care facilities, and transformed the grounds around the Center on the Wabasha riverfront. The Center was

closed to visitors from November 2021 to June 2022. A temporary classroom space was created across the alley from the Riverfront building in the new “Program Center”. Not only was space renovated, but exhibits were updated and refreshed, and the eagles now have a much larger living space in which they are displayed to our guests. As part of the exterior riverfront renovation, a new outdoor amphitheater was constructed to host outdoor education programs, concerts, as well as other community and private events. The renovations completed this year (2022) are just Phase One of a planned two-phase project. Phase Two will see the renovation of the Center’s buildings across the alley on Main Street. The portion of the project will create a permanent indoor auditorium, permanent office space for staff, and additional exhibit space.

“We are a private non-profit organization, and we receive no government funding. NEC is supported entirely by admission from visitors, mem berships, and private donations,” said Hahn.

Too, the National Eagle Center is not an eagle rescue and rehab organization. The ambassadors in NEC’s care are permanent residents and cannot be re-released back into the wild, due to the nature of their injuries. As for eagle rescues, it is not something the Center does because of the health risks that poses to our resident eagles, especially with things such as Avian Flu. If you come across an injured eagle, contact the Raptor Center by calling 612-624-4745.

“There have been lots of changes during the past year, and we are so excited to share them all with the public. If you haven’t visited the National Eagle Center for several years, now is a great time to come back and get reacquainted. It isn’t just new exhibits on display, we also have new programs designed to keep our fans and members connected with the eagles in many new ways; one of these is the Adopt An Eagle Program. Now individuals can adopt the ambassador(s) of their choice at the level of their choice and receive different benefits throughout the year.”

Hahn (nationaleaglecenter.org)

Eagle Center (Photo by Seth Vreeman)

“There have been lots of changes during the past year, and we are so excited to share them all with the public. If you haven’t visited the National Eagle Center for several years, now is a great time to come back and get reacquainted.”

Ed Hahn, Director of Marketing & Communications at The National Eagle Center

“We are a private non-profit organization, and we receive no government funding. NEC is supported entirely by admission from visitors, memberships, and private donations”

Ed Hahn, Director of Marketing & Communications at The National Eagle Center

Trunk or Treat -- 3-6 p.m. Oct. 27, Northfield. Multiple trunk or treat options in Northfield: 3-6 p.m. Oct. 27 at Apple Chevrolet Buick; 11 a.m. Oct. 30 at United Methodist Church; 4-6 p.m. Oct. 30 at Hosanna Church.

Fall Lecture Series -- 6-7 p.m. Oct. 27, Faribault City Hall, 208 1st Ave. NW, Faribault.

Author/Speaker

Martha Brown, PhD., will talk about her book, Creating Restorative Justice: Setting Schools Up to Succeed. Dr. Brown is an author, consultant, presenter, researcher, teacher and advocate of restorative justice.

All Hallows Gala -- 7 p.m. Oct. 27, Grand Events Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. Party, dance and fundraise to support the troops. Costumers are encouraged but not required - prizes for the best ones.

Goblin Drive-Thru -- 3:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Get your treats in your care from the goblins and ghouls. Enter on west side (Park Street) and exit on east side (Fifth Street).

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

.COM

Courtney Yasmineh -- 7 p.m. Oct. 28, 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Courtney Yasmineh and her Americana Cowboy Band perform at the 10,000 Drops Distillery in charming Faribault.

CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR

@

events compiled by Philip Weyhe.

HAPPENINGS!

The Magic of Rotary -- 5-8:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Owatonna Country Club, 1991 Lemond Rd., Owatonna. The evening will include dinner and a show from Top Comedy Magic Entertainer Alan Smola. Alan is a featured entertainer for many of the corporations that we are familiar with — Target, 3M, Walt Disney, Kraft and more.

Owatonna Farmers Market -- 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 29, Central Park Owatonna, 100 E. Main St, Owatonna. Enjoy numerous vendors and their products in beautiful downtown Owatonna. Saturdays from May through October.

Trick or Treat Yourself

Maker Gift Market -- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 29, Northfield Ballroom. Over 30 vendors. Handcrafted items, small and local businesses, and artists from all over. Free admission.

Halloween Hootenanny --

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 29, West Concord. The third annual hootenanny includes bale climbing, corn pit, hay rides, trick or treating with animals, a bake sale, pumpkin painting, food trucks, a costume parade, a costume contest, bowling, trunk or treat, haunted house and more.

Waseca County Farmers Market -- 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 29, Waseca County Fairgrounds Parking Lot, 307 N. State St., Waseca. Any person living in Waseca County is welcome to sell homemade or home grown items at the Farmers Market. Takes places Saturday mornings June through October.

Trick or Treat -- 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 29, Owatonna. There are plenty opportunities for tricking and treating in Owatonna this year. Go to the downtown 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29 for a trick or treat extravaganza. There are several chances for Trunk or Treat events, meanwhile: 12-4 p.m. Oct. 29 at Medford Outlet Center; 5 p.m. at the Associated Church; 4:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church.

A Haunting We Will Go --

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 29, Village of Yesteryear, 1431 Austin Rd, Owatonna. Bring the family to the Village of Yesteryear for some Halloween fun. There will be trick-or-treating, creepy crafting, scary story time, spooky scavenger hunt & a costume contest.

Spooky Purse Bingo --

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 29, Montgomery American Legion, 102 Elm Ave. SW, Montgomery. Prizes include some of the hottest bags and purses by favorite designers. Event also includes meat raffle and Halloween costume contest. Tickets are $35 for 10 games.

Halloween Fun Run -- 8-11 a.m. Oct. 29, St. Peter High School, 100 Lincoln Drive. Southern Minnesota’s longest and fastest parade of costumes, with prizes for the fastest runners in age and gender categories, along with included race shirts, finisher medals, chip timing and refreshments.

BECAUSE: Exhibit Closing

Reception -- 3-5 p.m. Oct. 29, Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Gender, violence, and our bodily experience of the world are the focus of two mixed media series by Vermillion, South Dakotabased artist Susan Heggestad. The exhibit runs through October, with a closing reception on the 29th.

Costume Party and Music -8 p.m. Oct. 29, The Channel Inn, 23219 Farwell Ave., Warsaw. Costume party contest with Music by Smokin’ Whiskey, starting at 8 p.m. Come in costume and post a photo of yourself to The Channel Inn Facebook page between 8-10 p.m. for a chance to win prizes.

Trunk or Treat -- 1-3 p.m. Oct. 30, Christ Community Church, 2200 Fourth St. NE, Waseca. Come get some yummy treats, play some trick shot games, and learn about more fun events at Christ Community Church.

Ladies Night Eat, Drink & Craft -- 4-7 p.m. Nov. 3, Gather on Central, 206 Central Ave., Faribault. Complementary treats and refreshments to go with some ornament making.

Trunk or Treat -- 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 29, John Ireland Catholic School, St. Peter. Wear your costumes and check out the decorated trunks. Each trunk will have a treat and/or activity. Free for all.

Halloween Bash with

Problem Child -- 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29, The Anchor Bar & Grill, 301 Main St., Madison Lake. Problem Child is back for another Halloween Party. Put on your best costume to come down to join the fun, and you might just win a prize.

Joel Ward -- 4-7 p.m. Oct. 30, Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Joel Ward is a soul singing, acoustic guitar pickin’, lyric writing, fool for music out of Rochester. He’s defied stereotypes and genres all over the country playing an original blend of roots, soul, folk, and rock n roll.

TRAGEDY: A Tragedy -8-10 p.m. Nov. 3, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. At the Rob and Judy Gardner Laboratory Theatre, Gustavus presents this tragically hilarious play for the fake news era. Shows 8-10 p.m. Nov. 3, 4 and 5, plus 2-4 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6.

Jeff Reinartz -- 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 29, Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Jeff Reinartz is a singer/ songwriter from Austin. He’s been performing live for over 30 years and is a veteran of several bands. He’s now a solo acoustic performer and has released two EPs, produced by Scotty Rohr at Zension Studio in Austin.

The Biscuits Halloween Party -- 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Oct. 29, Dawn’s Corner Bar, Dundas. A spooky Halloween costume accompanied by live music.

Judas Priest -- 7 p.m. Oct. 30, Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato. There are few heavy metal bands that have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest have during their nearly 50-year career.

Pastimes Art and Fine Craft

Sale -- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 4, Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. A boutique filled with one-of-a-kind handmade pieces by local artisans and crafts persons. Paintings, pottery, wood turned bowls, beaded jewel ry, baskets, hand woven scarfs, wood carvings, and more unique pieces. Runs Nov. 4 and 5.

Halloween Bash -- 9 p.m. Oct. 29, The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota. The Moon always brings it on Halloween, and this year it presents The Whiskey Richard Band. This will be the full rock band ready to knock your socks off.

Trick or Treat on Main -3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 31, Downtown Le Sueur. An eerily good time in downtown Le Sueur. Local businesses will be handing out the candy.

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Halloween Bash & Costume Party -- 7 p.m. Oct. 29, Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Costumes strongly encouraged. Prizes will be awarded for the best group and individual costumes.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Trunk or Treat -- 10:35-11:25 a.m. Oct. 30, Faribault. There are Trunk or Treat options aplenty in Faribault: 10:35-11:25 a.m. Oct. 30 at Christ Lutheran Church; 3 p.m. Oct. 30 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church; 3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf; 6 p.m. Oct. 31 at Peace Lutheran.

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Local Author Night -- 7-9 p.m. Nov. 2, Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Jeff Sauve, Jim Dimick, and Daniel Van Tassel discuss their works: “Murder at Minnesota Point”, “Hometown Kid, City Kid,” and “Journey by the Book” respectively.

Ladies Night Toy Drive --

6 p.m. Nov. 4, Henderson Police Department, 600 Main St., Henderson. Locations for the drive are Henderson Public Library, Henderson Community Building and Henderson Healing Hub. Register at each for prizes. If you bring a toy or cash donation, you’ll get a 20% off coupon to use at any vendor that accepts.

Dustin Lynch -- 7 p.m. Nov. 4, Dustin Lynch brings his Party Mode Tour, featuring special guest King Calaway. Tickets start at $35 plus fees.

Toast to Women -- 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5, Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Grab the girls for a day of wine, shopping, and fun. Shop local vendors, while trying out the wines. Tickets online.

The Silos -- 7 p.m. Nov. 5, The Contented Cow, 302 Division St. S B, Northfield. The band is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its seminal album “Cuba” with the release of a double LP version that includes a live recording of the Bird album songs on the second LP.

Bazaar and Bake Sale -- 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 5, McKinley Early Childhood Center, 930 4th Ave. NW., Faribault. Crafters, vendors, bake sale, door prizes, book fair and flu shot clinic.

Melissa Schulz -- 1-3 p.m. Nov. 5, Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Classically-trained pianist and singer Melissa Schulz brings her unique style of performance on keyboard with drum tracks back to Foremost. Her vocal versatility and polished piano chops allow her to present a huge variety of music.

Fall Vendor & Craft Fair -- 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 5, St. Peter American Legion, 229 W. Nassau St., St. Peter. A variety of over 15 vendors to start your holiday shopping. See you at the Legion. The bar will be open at 10 a.m. with specials and taco-in-a-bag will be sold from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Los Tequileros -- 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Some Tex Mex music with your wine and food.

Did we miss something?

Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Joseph Hall’s Elvis -- 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Joseph Hall has won many awards throughout his career, including the ‘Spirit of Elvis’ award. He is officially endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises and is recognized as one of the top Elvis tribute artists in the world today.

Art Exhibitions -- 1-5 p.m. Nov. 8, Owatonna Art Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. Mary Welke mixed media “Prairie Restoration” shows the reverence farmers have for the land they are stewards of, and Abraham Gilberto Hernandez present his photography with “Owatonna’s Silent Witnesses of the Night.”

Gnomemade Market -- 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 5, Acquire handcrafted and vintage items at 14 historic and artisan locations in New Ulm. And check out the Women’s Expo and Craft Fair at Jefferson Elementary School while you’re at it. See more at gnomemademarket. com.

Purse Bingo -- 6 p.m. Nov. 5, Dawn’s Corner Bar, Dundas. Presented by the Deer Hunter Widows. 10 games for $30. Pay ahead to reserve a spot.

Weekend Craft & Gift Show -- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 6, Dundas Dome, 2033-2198 Cannon Road, Northfield. The Buck & Doe Widows present over 100 vendors and crafters from all over Minnesota and Wisconsin. Free admission.

Courtney Yasmineh with Faith Boblett -- 7 p.m. Nov. 10, Minnesota based songwriter and band leader Courtney Yasmineh will perform her music each week in November and will introduce and host a different guest woman songwriter or musician traveling from somewhere other than Owatonna. This week it is the frequently requested but never appeared yet, Faith Boblett.

Handmade Vendor Fair -9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5, Make It, Waterville, 103 Third St. S. A handmade vendor fair for Deer Opener Weekend. Shop local handmade items and paint your own pottery.

Did we miss something?

Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Joel Ward -- 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 5, 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.

Spice Club - Le Sueur -- 6-7 p.m. Nov. 7, Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. Each month features a new spice made available in a small, free take-home kit. Then the club meets up to learn more about the spice’s history and its uses. The group also shares what everyone made with the spice and their opinions on the flavor.

Did we miss something?

Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Stories of a Native Garden -7 p.m. Nov. 10, Emmaus Baptist Church, 712 Linden St. N, Northfield. Bonnie Harper-Lore will present on native garden insect visitors we rarely see. Free admission.

Holiday Bazaar -- 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 11, St. John Lutheran Church, 1301 Lincoln Ave S, Owatonna. New events features a number of vendors, plus door prize drawings.

Outdoor Christmas Market -- 4-8 p.m. Nov. 11, Christ Lutheran Church, Faribault. A European style marketplace with vendors selling Christmas Gifts, Baked Goods, Crafts, Quilts, Knitting, Jewelry, Art Prints and more. And Christmas Trees, Wreaths, and Boughs. There will be food for purchase to eat and drink around a warm fire.

Space Force -- 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 12, Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Space Force plays all the classic hits.

Trevor McSpadden and Mary Cutrufello -- 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Trevor McSpadden and Mary Cutrufello have walked wildly different musical paths. But both have been guided by their time honky-tonking in Texas in the early 1990s. Tickets online or at the box office.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Lego Club -- 4-5 p.m. Nov. 15, Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. We bring the Legos; you bring the builders. Unlock the magic of Legos by ditching the instruction manual and building your own. Lego builders will be given a theme to inspire their creations.

Designer Purse Bingo -- 7 p.m. Nov. 11, Owatonna Eagles 1791, 141 E. Rose St., Owatonna. $40 for 12-game super Bingo packet with six cards per game. Buy tickets at the door.

Joe and Vicki Price -- 6-9 p.m. Nov. 12, Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. Whether you are seeing them for the first time or the 100th, whether it’s live or via one of their albums, experiencing Joe and Vicki Price is an experience worth having, worth sharing, and easy to love.

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

Gustavus Symphony Orchestra Concert -- 7:30-9 p.m. Nov. 12, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. The Gustavus Department of Music is proud to present the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra in its fall concert under the direction of Dr. Justin Knoepfel.

Turning Family Stories into a Memoir -- 7 p.m. Nov. 15, Waseca Public Library, 408 N. State ST. A virtual event from Waseca Public Library. Whether you want to learn about recording your memories for family members to enjoy or hope to write and publish a memoir, this workshop, taught by Gail Milstein, will help you get started. Try your hand at writing exercises to spark your memories and get insight on telling your story. Access the workshops at larl.org/writingworkshops.

Saint Peter Art Stroll-- 10 a.m.6 p.m. Nov. 12, St. Peter. The First Annual Saint Peter Art Stroll invites visitors to take a stroll through St. Peter and Kasota to visit with local artists in their studios, galleries and local partnering businesses with art on display. Maps to navigate will be available at art-stroll.org.

Chili Cook-Off -- 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 12, Faribault Harley Davidson, 2704 W. Airport Dr. All are welcome to pre-register a recipe for a chance at prizes. Tasters can arrive at 11 to participate. All are welcome; $10 tasting fee. Proceeds go directly to local veterans.

The Super Bastards -- 7-9 p.m. Nov. 12, Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. A mix of originals and covers. Some Dylan, some Beatles, some Cash, some Slaughter Beach Dog, some Courtney Barnett, and plenty of others. Show mostly consist of our original songs though.

HickTown Mafia -- 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Nov. 12, The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota. HickTown Mafia is a fivepiece, Southern Minnesota-based, country and rock party band that averages over 70 shows a year, bringing the party to bars, casinos, street dances/city celebrations, weddings, private events, and festivals. Playing classic and current country hits and classic 70s, 80s, and 90s rock.

Regan Golden: Grow Closer -- 12 a.m. Nov. 16, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Ave, St. Peter. Exhibition on view from to Dec. 9 in the Flaten Art Museum. In Grow Closer, Regan Golden explores relationships through an environmentalist lens. Drawing on imagery of plant life from the forest and prairie lands adjacent to Golden’s home, she collages, photographs, and paints, creating compositions that bring a sense of emotion to landscape.

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com.

Mitchell Hall and the Tennessee Trio -- 7 p.m. Nov. 12, Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. One of the top Johnny Cash cover bands anywhere, with Michell Hall on lead vocals and guitar. Tickets online.

International Film Forum -- 7-9 p.m. Nov. 14, Carleton College, 1 N College St., Northfield. Maat means Land (Fox Maxy, 2020, US, 30 min.) - Zoom Q&A with director Fox Maxy after the screening. This compelling, playful collage film constantly ignores and challenges the rules of what film should be.

Gallery Opening -- 4-7 p.m. Nov. 17, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Animal Group Show in the Carlander Gallery; Holly Days Sales in the Lois Vranesh Boardroom Gallery; Gasinee and Holly Days Sale in the K&M Gallery; After School Arts Club in the Corey Lyn Creger Memorial Gallery.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Ladies Night Out -- 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Kibble Equipment, 3555 SW 18th St, Owatonna. Start your holiday shopping early with a multitude of different local businesses/ vendors gathered in one spot.

An Elvis Gospel Christmas -- 6-9 p.m. Nov. 19, Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. An unabashed honoring of the season and the unique and groundbreaking gospel songs of Elvis Presley, led by Mick Sterling in this one of a kind Christmas show. Tickets online.

Northern Roots Session -- 7-9 p.m. Nov. 21, Contented Cow, 302B Division St., North eld. Northern Roots Session is an informal weekly gathering of musicians and friends who love to play acoustic music with roots in the north, particularly the nordic countries.

Miller Denn

The Last Revel -- 5 p.m. Nov. 18, Mankato Brewery, 1119 Center St. N. After a 5 year hiatus, The original trio has reunited to produce new music with a revitalized appreciation for camaraderie and creativity. Now living in three different cities across the US, these three independently talented singer-songwriters create Front Porch Americana soundscapes that are equally original as they are timeless.

Pop ROCKS -- 9 p.m. Nov. 18, Boxers Grill & Bar, 429 Central Ave. N, Faribault. It’s not just a band. It’s a high energy show. Pop ROCKS brings you the best of today’s hottest top 40 hits, throwback hip-hop, pop country, party rock and timeless classics all mashed up and delivered in a non stop format.

Turkey Bingo -- 7 p.m. Nov. 19, Waseca VFW, 113 E. Elm Ave. Play 20 games with a chance to win a turkey every game, plus $500 and $1,000 jackpots in games 10 and 20.

-- 7-10 p.m. Nov. 23, The Anchor Bar & Grill, 301 Main St., Madison Lake. Great food, drinks and live music for Thanksgiving eve.

Melissa Schulz -- 5-8 p.m. Nov. 19, Montgomery Brewing Company, 306 Second St. NW, Montgomery. Classically-trained pianist and singer Melissa Schulz brings her unique style of performance on keyboard with drum tracks back to the brewery.

Comedian C. Willi Myles -7:30 p.m. Nov. 19, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Known as ‘America’s everyday comedian’ C. Willi has been combining his quick wit and a great sense of humor to deliver high-energy, side-splitting shows for all ages. Tickets online and at the box of ce.

MOLS and Bongreaper

-- 8 p.m. Nov. 19, The Music Space, 216 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Punk Rock and Grunge is what the bands call it. Like Smuckers, with a name like Bongreaper, it’s gotta be good.

The Wendt Sisters -- 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 19, Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. The Wendt Sisters play a wide variety of music from the 50s to the 90s, country and gospel.

MOLS have been making a name and packing shows from Mankato and beyond and complete this cool 2 band lineup.

Old Country Boys -- 7:30-11:30 p.m. Nov. 23, Boxers Grill & Bar, 429 Central Ave. N, Faribault. Country Music and friends. Come on down and pre-celebrate Thanksgiving.

The weather is changing, and so should your wardrobe. It can be near impossible to keep up with the latest trends, so here are 6 must-have pieces to keep your style from looking dated.

1Satin

Button

The satin blouse is an upgrade to the cotton button up we had been seeing all summer. This simple blouse can be styled several ways to keep your look fresh and current. You can wear your satin blouse to the office by pairing it with tailored trousers in a coordinating color to create a chic monochrome look. Add a blazer or sweater to complete the look for a chilly morning. When you want to repurpose your satin top outside of your daily workwear, play around with a tuck, fold, or tie to create a fun and feminime look. This restyle can be as simple as wearing your blouse open over a sweater or turtleneck, to a chic french tuck to elongate your silhouette. As you find a cut that flatters your body, consider investing in several colors to work with all of your favorite bottoms. Neutral colors will be a go to in your daily wardrobe, but bold colors will keep you trendy.

2Flair

Denim

Fashion inspired by the 1970s has had a hold on 2022 fashion trends. The most noteworthy being flare jeans. We saw the trend take off with halter tops and disco era fashion in the spring, and it is now transitioning to a western style aesthetic. Flare jeans have become mainstream in the last few months, meaning there is a perfect cut for every body type. Choose from high, mid, or low rise waistlines to flatter your body. The width of your perfect flare will also depend on your body. Flare jeans help create the illusion of an hourglass figure, so to get the most out of your denim you will need to take your proportions into consideration. If you are curvy in the hips, or very tall opt for a super flare. On the other hand, if you are petite, a baby flare or bootcut may be the more flattering option for you. Complete the look with booties, sneakers, or clogs for the perfect everyday style for fall.

3 Straight Leg

In conjunction with flare jeans, you also need to add a great pair of straight leg denim to your wardrobe this season. You can opt for a tailored, high waisted style for a sophisticated look, or opt for a slouchy low rise cut to create the oh so trendy grunge

ELLEN EIDE

5 Bomber

Jackets

A leather bomber jacket is a great transition piece to take you through early fall all the way to the first few days of winter Green and brown tones will pair with many of your favorite fall outfits while accenting cool tone skin. Pair your bomber jacket with a flowy skirt as long as the weather will allow it. This pairing creates elegant juxtaposition with an easy layered look. As temperatures fall, swap your skirt out for denim, and layer your jacket over a sweater for extra warmth!

4Midi-

Skirt

A great midi skirt is a must have to be on trend this fall. Once you give this style a try, you may just want one for every day of the week. A midi skirt is a skirt that lands anywhere from two inches below your knee, to just above your ankle. A fitted, or trumpet style skirt makes a great alternative to a traditional pencil skirt for the office. If you like structure but prefer your clothing to flow, a fit and flare style would make a great option. Finally, the style you will be seeing most often this fall is the circle skirt. This flowy garment is great for any occasion from casual to semi formal and can be styled several ways. Regardless of the cut you choose, your midi skirt can be dressed down with sneakers and a graphic tee for an everyday style. Dress your look up by pairing it with a button up or a satin blouse and a chic pair of booties. Add dimension to your style belting your waistband and layering in a sweater.

6 Claw

Clips

Claw clips made their comeback with the return of 90s fashion, but they will be sticking around thanks to their versatility and function. This simple accessory can give your everyday ponytail an upgrade, but can also create beautiful french twist style updos perfect for the office or a night out. Tutorials on styling your claw clips have flooded the internet for women of all hair lengths and textures. Modern claw clips come in any shape and style you can imagine. From your basic prong to floral patterns, geometric shapes, butterflies, and even metallic claws there is a style that will perfectly enhance your look. For the ultimate it girl look, try a slicked back bun fastened with a statement claw clip. This look will protect your hair from the elements while giving you the ultimate girl on the go aesthetic.

look. Straight leg denim are an easy transition piece if you are struggling to give up your skinny jeans. Style them with your favorite blouse or blazer, and finish the look with a platform shoe or sneaker.

Ellen Eide is a 25-year-old fashion enthusiast from Le Sueur. With a background in atmospheric science, Ellen now works as the brand manager for Her Happy Place Boutique in St. Peter.

(Kevin Ku/Unsplash)

Where did the time go?

e can dictate messages and have Siri send them out for us. We have the ability to buy everything any anything online in the blink of an eye. There are apps that will remind you about special dates and even send hand-written cards for you. Stores are filled with pre-made meals, bagged salads and even frozen, pre-cooked toast. People will deliver pretty much anything to our homes for a price. We can drive thru for liquor, drugs, weddings and funerals. There are vending machines that dispense homemade cupcakes, for God’s sake.

I often find myself buying pack after pack of new underwear and socks during a timecrunched holiday season. I mean how much time would an actual load of laundry take? It’s not like I’m going down by the river pounding my clothes on a rock. I don’t even have to pour the detergent into the machine anymore since I switched to those pre-measured “pods.”

What are we doing with all the extra time we don’t spend writing checks, licking stamps and using those time-consuming toasters?!

WWhere is all my extra time?

I decided to do a little research. Apparently the majority of my time each day is spent:

• Checking to see if my nose or ears have gotten any bigger

• Looking up old boyfriends online to make sure their wives aren’t better looking or more interesting than me.

• Reviewing my bank account to see if I’m overdrawn.

• Practicing the speech I’ll give on my book tour when my first best seller comes out or gets written.

• Calling my cell phone so I can figure out where I left it.

• Holding my eyebrows up to see how I would look after a brow lift.

• Pondering what I will do when the TV show “Hoarders” calls me.

• Watching the Home Shopping Network and practicing what a great host I would make because of my vast knowledge of adjectives.

• Thinking about how behind I already am for Christmas.

• Checking for whiskers and other scary hormone-related scourges.

• Asking Siri how tall my favorite celebrities are.

• Writing down what my first step should be when I win the lottery. Do I call the attorney or just go straight to the car dealership and buy in bulk?

• Trying to listen to my voice mail and accidentally calling everyone.

• Hunting in my fridge to see if someone went grocery shopping for me.

• Watching the Food Network and writing down detailed gourmet recipes I will never make.

• Blowing my nose.

• Viewing videos of people cleaning their houses so I will supposedly become inspired to clean my own.

• Using the online Urban Dictionary to get current on my street slang in case I join a gang.

• Coming home from Target and trying to figure out how I spent $175.

• Calling my sisters to ask if I really look 58.

• Searching for one of 8 pairs of cheaters scattered around the house and in my car

• Looking up where the countries are that the kids who work at my coffee shop have been to & I’ve only heard of during the Olympics.

• Attempting to find jeans that are long enough.

• Adjusting the thermostat to accommodate my hot flashes.

• Talking baby talk to my sister’s dog.

• Looking to see if it’s legal to have a wombat as a pet in Minnesota.

• Checking my fingers to see how many cold weather-related skin splits (aka “Clown Thumb”) have kicked in overnight.

• Reading how to re-set the clock on my oven and microwave.

• Fuming about how much I hate my $39.99/month cable package that costs me $229 a month.

• Watching the movie “Piranha” via the afore-mentioned cable package that apparently only has this one free movie available.

• Trying to decide whether my Super Power should be Invisibility, Flying or Mind-Reading?

• Looking up horrific medical conditions I might have.

• Wondering where I’ve left my car keys.

• Researching Scrabble words that use a “Q.”

• Penning a list of things my best friend should remove from my house if I die suddenly.

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

I really need to get a life…

Courageous Discomfort, Book of Phobias, and more

Courageous Discomfort: How to Have Important, Brave, Life-Changing Conversations about Race and Racism by Shanterra McBride and Rosalind Wiseman c.2022, Chronicle Books $24.95 208 pages

About a size seven.

That’s how big your mouth must be, because you just stuck your size-seven foot into it – which is great, because now things are awkward and you never meant harm. You want to have the right conversation about race, you strive to be respectful, and “Courageous Discomfort” by Shanterra McBride and Rosalind Wiseman can help.

So your foot is back on the ground now and that didn’t feel good, did it?

Probably not, but McBride and Wiseman say that discomfort is necessary for (eventually) doing good in order to make change. Recognizing that everyone has a right to dignity and acknowledging their worth is the rst step. The next is reading the series of “questions” or might-happen scenarios that the authors present, and getting some ideas on how to be a good ally.

Should you speak up, for instance, if a teacher says something racist in class, even if it might mean trouble for you? What if it’s a friend, or a family member who says something offensive? Should you apologize for what others have done, even it was a long time ago –and if so, how? You say you don’t “see color,” but when do you actually need to see it?

Everyone has biases, the authors say, but curiosity is natural for learning, so take care that microaggressions don’t get in the way. They acknowledge that being curious is tricky, but that you should never be afraid of it.

Don’t be offended if someone doesn’t trust you; there’s a reason for it, and it goes way back. Likewise, don’t be mad if they don’t always include you in every event. Be willing to listen if someone has a gripe with you, a post, a statement, or something you did that hurt them. Be patient. Figure out what being an ally means to you. Leave a black person’s hair alone. And nally, remember that taking ownership isn’t about shame, but about growth. A step in the right direction is a step in the right direction.

In its rst few pages, “Courageous Discomfort” is a perky explanation of the friendship of McBride (who is Black) and Wiseman (who is white and Jewish). It doesn’t linger; the book then takes a scolding tone before it settles in to the help it promises.

When the authors advise readers to use caution, they mean it, though.

There’s a little bit of talking-in-a-circle inside this book, and enough repetition that you’d notice.

There’s some confusion in how readers should act when meeting new people – do you ask them about themselves, or don’t you dare? – and prompts to speak up when one sees injustices, but no good help on that for the quietest of readers.

Conversely, and to be sure, the advice the authors give lays a great foundation for equality work, but nuances in the narrative mean that this is probably a book for older teens and young adults. If day-to-day activism is the goal, “Courageous Discomfort” helps you put your money where your mouth is.

The Book of Phobias & Manias: A History of Obsession

by Kate Summerscale c.2022, Penguin $20,00 256 pages

You don’t know whether to run or scream in fear. Or maybe both. When you see whatever it is that scares you to the point that you’re a babbling puddle of mess, well, it’s no longer a ght-or- ight thing – it’s just plain ight. Funny, you’re normally big and brave, fearless to the end, so read “The Book of Phobias & Manias” by Kate Summerscale. See what other scary things are out there...

More than 235 years ago, Benjamin Rush, one of our Founding Fathers, started a fad for naming the things that Colonial humans feared and focused on. Then, Rush of cially named eighteen phobias, including fears of ghosts and rats; and twenty-six manias.

Over the years, says Summerscale, other fears and focuses have been added to Rush’s list but the fact remains that manias and phobias are mostly cultural constructs that indicate how we consider ourselves, what attracts us and what repels us.

Even at times when a “phobia” isn’t really a phobia, this is serious stuff: roughly ten percent of women and ve percent of men have a phobia, and one in eight of them will receive help for it. If you don’t have a phobia, fear not: research shows that you can get one through conditioning, or by exposure to someone with a heavyduty phobia of their own.

Mania is a little trickier, Summerscale says, because today’s medicine has categorized such things as hoarding, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction, and so on. Still, she lists some: The Count on Sesame Street had arithmomania. Tulipomania is said to have once made folks extremely wealthy. And klazomania might make you scream.

Germophobes suffer from mysophobia but probably not from ablutophobia, the latter of which would’ve been a problem during a pandemic. John Wayne

Gacy likely single-handedly boosted the number of coulrophobes. George Orwell’s musophobia caused a minor (but violent) battle, and Alfred Hitchcock admitted to one rather unique fear. Homophobia, it should be noted, is not a real phobia. And you won’t believe how 1930s scientists cruelly induced a baby to have doraphobia.

Don’t reach behind that cabinet without looking rst. Don’t go into the attic at night. Don’t touch that! And whatever you do, don’t miss “The Book of Phobias & Manias.”

There’s sometimes a ne line between humor and horror, and author Kate Summerscale walks it with authenticity and a delightful delivery that’ll make you want more. Here, you’ll learn about all those things that make you cringe, recoil, or wrinkle your nose in disgust, why they make you jumpy, and how you can be braver. You’ll get clues to solve the mystery of your newest obsession. You’ll see that you’re not alone, that you might have a historical partner with skin-crawling terror. And you’ll feel better about the things that make you want to run: at least you’re not afraid of this or that or that, either.

“The Book of Phobias & Manias” is a serious book, seriously fun, and good for anyone age 15-to-adults. Look for it. It’ll make you scream in delight.

Charlie’s Good Tonight: The Life, The Times, and the Rolling Stones: the Authorized Biography of Charlie Watts by Paul Sexton c.2022, Harper $27.99 368 pages

The music really starts you up.

The rst few notes pull you onto the dance oor. Guitar strings speak to your feet, a drum seems attached to your hips and demands that you move to the song. It makes you feel so alive. You can dance, but though you can’t always get what you want, you can get “Charlie’s Good Tonight” by Paul Sexton.

Born in the middle of World War II and raised partly by his grandparents, Charlie Watts was always a musician at heart. He grew up loving jazz on records and radio, but his “ rst faltering steps as a musician” were with a banjo. Later, when he was a young teenager, his father and grandmother bought him a second-hand drum kit.

That changed everything.

He practiced, and found places to watch his favorite local groups’ drummers; by 1958, he was performing in jazz bands occasionally, mostly in and around North London. He went to art school, worked as a designer for an advertising agency, and he played the drums, almost always just for fun.

In 1959, he met Brian Jones, who soon introduced him to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and “Seeds were...sown.” Watts really didn’t have a passion for the stage but he “liked their spirit” and so he took The Rolling Stones up on their offer to join the band.

The secret was, says Sexton, that Watts hated traveling, performing, and being in front of crowds. He was “the studious one,” the collector who loved ne clothes, books, sketching, vinyl records, his wife and daughter, and the Arabian horses on his farm.

Onstage and off, he was un appable, dependable, and constant, but Sexton says that Watts had his struggles. He might have been on the road performing but his heart was at home, in front of a warm re. Brie y, he fought addiction. And yet, he stayed, played, faithful despite those personal troubles.

And when he died, it “prompted overpowering, long-lasting lamentation among millions of people who never even met him.”

In a very big way, “Charlie’s Good Tonight” is an outlier: it’s not lled with discography, too many littleknown people, or gratuitous name-dropping.

That’s a nice lack, if you want to read a rock-solid –and rather curious – biography about another outlier: Watts, who was with the Stones for some three-quarters

of his life and is said to have disliked it intensely. The surprise is that in author Paul Sexton’s account, Watts becomes somewhat of a sympathetic character.

Granted, he was wealthy and able to indulge in a number of peccadilloes, so it’s hard to feel too sorry for Watts. Still, insider tidbits and insights here paint a tale of reluctant fame that will make readers want to dust off their LPs, and think twice about the realities of being in the limelight.

This book could be a nice cautionary tale for someone who’s pondering a life onstage. It’s a nobrainer for a Stones fan, and will appeal to readers of musical bios. Get “Charlie’s Good Tonight and get some satisfaction.

Bad Day Breaking: A Bad Axe County Novel

by John Galligan

c.2002, Simon & Schuster $17.00 326 pages

Not everybody has to like you.

That’s a lesson you learned the hard way, probably in grade school. Try as you might, you were going to have enemies and detractors along the way and there wasn’t much you could do about it. Not everybody has to like you but, as in the new novel

“Bad Day Breaking” by John Galligan, they aren’t allowed to kill you.

Many years ago, Sheriff Heidi Kick was the kind of girl she’d arrest now.

Back then, she and her best friend, Missy, were into drugs, guns, and petty theft, they both dated Roman Vanderhoof. and the three of them partied constantly until things got out of hand. That was when “Mighty” Heidi went to the sheriff’s of ce and confessed to everything she knew about drugs and theft. Missy went to rehab, Hoof went to prison in Boscobel, and Heidi kicked her addictions, enrolled in college, got married, paid her dues, and became Sheriff of Bad Axe County, Wisconsin.

Now those days were in the rearview mirror and she hadn’t heard from Missy in awhile.

Until she got a text the day before Thanksgiving.

“Want to drink ketchup?” it said, Missy’s code for getting drunk.

Despite that Heidi had been sober for years, her answer was “yes.”

It had been a long week already in Bad Axe County, and it would get even longer. One of her of cers was using a department computer to email prisoners, and the courts wouldn’t let Heidi investigate. Another of cer had assaulted the leader of a new religious group in town, and city council members were about to appoint her deputy sheriff.

And that religious community? Folks in Bad Axe didn’t want a cult around, although Heidi wasn’t sure the community quali ed as a “cult.” The two groups were protesting across the road from one another, things were heating up, and allegations of abuse and animal cruelty oated around town.

Then Sheriff Kick learned that Hoof was out of prison. And she knew he wouldn’t stop unless he got his revenge...

You know that thing you do when you see something scary, so you put your hands over your eyes and peek between your ngers because you can’t not see? That’s exactly what you’ll want to do with “Bad Day Breaking.”

Long before its prologue is anywhere near done, this book turns dark and cold as the snowstorm that hits the background of the story. Slush and ice lay the ground, then, for everything that author John Galligan can pack into an unhappily-long holiday weekend, made more wretched by the kind of small-town embroilments that happen when everybody knows everybody else’s business. Add a headline-ripping current-events possibility and gun deer season in Wisconsin, and oh, yeah, you’ll want to see what happens.

Galligan fans will appreciate knowing that “Bad Day Breaking” contains an ending that’ll make you shriek and perch yourself at the bookstore to await the next Bad Axe County novel. As for this book, though, you just have to like it.