Fargo monthly Feb. 2014

A Fargo+Moorhead+West Fargo CITY MAGAZINE

February 2014

Complimentary

INTERVIEWS Mike Birbiglia //// Pg 14 //// Craig Whitney //// pg 22 //// Atmosphere //// pg 56 //// Andrea Larson of KVLY, along with five other Fargo notables take you through a culinary tour of Fargo-Moorhead.

WHERE TO EAT With friends!

DINING //

MUSIC //

pg. 56

NIGHTLIFE // ENTERTAINMENT // LIFESTYLE

Fargo

Publisher

Fargo…...

The Dining Boom?

We haven’t seen a ton of action from the oil boom over on the eastern part of the state but with all these new restaurants going up it seems like food is the top commodity.

Mike Dragosavich - Publisher

On the up!

When I take weather out of the equation, I am witnessing an amazing development of a community and at a rocket speed.

The growth in restaurants is something we all can see very clearly. But lately I have been exposed to developments like: a start-up business network, over 1,000 new apartments and condos going up, venues for music and entertainment being built, theatre and art complexes shaping up and, dare I say it, the thought up a suburb of Fargo?! It’s accelerating and I love riding shotgun on the bandwagon. So here is my goal, not only are we going to try an expose it all in Fargo Monthly, but we are going to extend the resource online! Keep an

Senator Hoeven was kind enough to sign my copy of Fargo Monthly last month and mentioned that he was very impressed with the Magazine! Score!

eye on fargomonthly.com over the next couple months. We have plans to develop a resource guide for shopping, dining, nightlife, music, art, theatre, business and more. Enjoy this issue and I hope you’re hungry.

Mike Dragosavich Publisher

Some new and upcoming restaurants: Vinyl Taco Sweeto Burrito Red Hen Taphouse Würst Bier Hall

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Blarney Stone The Boiler Room Panera Bread

Have you gone to see a show at Theatre B yet? // Fargomonthly.com

Check this out!

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A website and resource for anyone interested in the entrepreneur and startup world. Go to emergingprairie.com to check it out.

email: drago@spotlightmediafargo.com

Fargo

Contents

The Dining Guide With Friends We explored some of Fargo-Moorhead's local restaurants with some of our friends. Check it out. You may find your new favorite restaurant.

56 Atmosphere Interview

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Minnesota native Slug from the rap group Atmosphere talks about rapping after 40, Minnesota pride and what's next for him.

Regular

46

Culinary Spotlight Eric Watson gets into the unmentionables of cuisine.

Read on‌ if you dare.

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22

The Life of a Firefighter

Craig Whitney

We celebrate the men and women who risk their lives everyday for the safety of Fargo.

Learn what it's like to be a Fargo firefighter.

From working in the White House to working across the country in various jobs, Craig Whitney, President/CEO of the FM Chamber, has had quite the life.

On The Cover Andrea Larson of KVLY was a little hungry this month for our feature on local restaurants. Our photographer, J. Alan Paul, shot this photo on a wood background at our office in downtown Fargo. The whole shoot took less than five minutes but we’re very satisfied with the way it turned out.

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Celebration of Women and Their Music

It's that time of the year when women pack the stage at the Fargo Theatre to celebrate their accomplishments and show off their skills.

63

Live Music

Once again we have the live music schedule so you can find out where your favorite band is playing.

67 Event Calendar Stay on top of what's happening this month with our event calendar.

Get with it.

Spotlight Media 502 1st Ave. N, Fargo

6

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Did you make the trek to Frisco, TX for the FCS National Championship? // Fargomonthly.com

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Team

Meet our Team!

We are the people of Spotlight Media.

Every month, Spotlight Media brings you Fargo Monthly, Stride, Bison Illustrated and Design & Living Magazine. Here are the people who make these wonderful mags.

MIKE

Nick

JESSE

TRACY

NORAH

ANDY

JAKE

SARAH

CODEY

DENNIS

ERIKA

PAUL

GEORGE

BOUGIE

MADALYN

SCOTT

JOE

NATHAN

ANDREW

LISA

BEN

To learn more about the team at Spotlight Media

SARAH

PS

MEAGAN

MICHAEL

BRENT

ERICA

NICK

and our four magazines, go to spotlightmedia fargo.com

Get to know Jesse Jesse from J. Alan Paul is our head photographer and loves shooting people.

(Pun Intended) See all his work at jalanpaul.com.

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Have you made your Valentine's Day reservations at Monte's yet? // Fargomonthly.com

Volume 4 / Issue 3

February 2014

Fargo Monthly Magazine is published 12 times a year and it’s free.

Copies are available at over 800 Fargo-Moorhead locations and digitally at fargomonthly.com.

Publisher

General Manager CREATIVE Editorial Director Art Director

The Red Hen Taphouse

Graphic Designers Head Photographer Photographers Contributors

Copy Editors

Betrosa’s WEB DEVELOPER Marketing Advertising Sales Manager

A Spotlight Media Production

See our favorite Far HOTSpot go s this month.

Mike Dragosavich

drago@spotlightmediafargo.com

Brent Tehven

brent@spotlightmediafargo.com

Andrew Jason

andrew@spotlightmediafargo.com

Andy Neidt

design@spotlightmediafargo.com

Sarah Geiger, Mike Dragosavich

Usher’s House

Jesse Hoorelbeke jesse@jalanpaul.com

Ben Gumeringer, Andrew Jason, Paul Flessland Andrew Jason, Eric Watson, Seth Holden, Sarah Tyre, J.J. Gordon, Andrea Larson, Marc de Celle, Mark Knutson, Jane Alexander, Greg Tehven, Lisa Marchand Meagan Pittelko, Sarah Tyre, Madalyn Laske, Lisa Marchand, Paul Flessland

Würst bier hall

Nick Schommer Scott Eickscen

Paul Hoefer

paul@spotlightmediafargo.com

Senior Account Manager

Tracy Nicholson tracy@spotlightmediafargo.com

Marketing/Sales Administration

Red Raven

Circulation Circulation Manager Delivery

Dennis Britton, Nick Bruns, Paul Bougie

Shotgun Sally’s

Erika Olson Codey Bernier Chris Larson, George Stack, Matt Johnson

Labby’s

Fargo Monthly is published by Spotlight Media LLC. Copyright 2014 Fargo Monthly Magazine & fargomonthly.com. All Rights Reserved. No parts of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission of Fargo Monthly. Fargo Monthly & spotlightmediafargo.com will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions found in the magazine or on fargomonthly.com. Spotlight Media LLC., accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

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When was the last time you went to a Fargo Force game? // Fargomonthly.com

Fargo

Editor

The Power of a Good meal

F

ood is a powerful thing.

In my opinion it is one of the best unifiers in this world. Take for example your family’s Thanksgiving meal. You find yourself sitting in the middle of your crazy conservative cousin Cody and your loopy liberal lover Lauren. The whole day they’ve been bombarding each other with political talk while you try and slink away like a fourth grader trying to go unnoticed when he doesn’t know the answer to a teacher’s question.

This goes on all day long until the food is piled onto the table. As everybody gobbles down on turkey, hotdish and gravy, the political talk is gone. It’s replaced with compliments to the chef, talk of holidays gone by and memories of loved ones. For that one meal, all the differences are forgotten. The only thing that’s on everybody’s mind is the good food and the thought of a long nap.

In Fargo it is not difficult to get a good meal. It’s possible to go out to eat every day of the year and have a meal that surprises and delights you. I’ll be honest. I didn’t realize there were so many options for local dining in the area. As we began researching I was discovering places I’ve never heard of. As I began to try those places, I was amazed at what I found.

CJ’s Kitchen is the perfect example to me. From the outside, and the inside, it’s a non-descript looking place that you might not notice when you drive by. However, I had one of the best steak and cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had there.

I have a challenge for you, Fargo-Moorhead. The next time you’re going out to eat, skip the same old chain restaurant you’ve been to 100 times before and check out the local place you drive by everyday on your way to work. Who knows? You might find your new favorite restaurant.

Andrew Jason - Editorial Director facebook.com/fargomonthly

PS

E d i to r ’ s C h o i c e

What to check out These are some of my must see events this month. They’re sure to be a good time.

Justin Timberlake – Feb. 7 I kind of glance over his days in ‘N Sync but everything he’s done since has been awesome. Make sure you take a listen to his new song “Drink You Away.” It’s one my new favorites.

Comedian Mike Birbiglia – Feb. 21 I hadn’t heard of Mike Birbiglia before this month when I interviewed him but I’ve been listening to his stuff since and I think he’s hilarious.

Check out his movie “Sleepwalk With Me” on Netflix.

Unglued Craft Fest – Feb. 21 and 22 Last year’s Craft Fest brought in over 5,000 attendees. This is always a fun event with tons of cool stuff to check out. Don’t worry guys, it’s even cool for us.

twitter.com/fargoandrew Feedback andrew@spotlightmediafargo.com

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Who are you most excited to see at the 17th Annual Celebration of Women and Their Music? // Fargomonthly.com

Comedy

Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Fargo Theatre

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Have you conquered the Juano's burrito challenge yet? // Fargomonthly.com

Mike Birbiglia Interview by Andrew Jason | Photo by Brian Friedman and Kyle Ericksen

For the past 12 years, comedian Mike Birbiglia has traveled the world performing his unique blend of comedy. Along with his live comedy shows he’s also getting into moviemaking. In 2012, Birbiglia directed the movie “Sleepwalk With Me” which was critically acclaimed and won an audience award at the Sundance Film Festival. He will be performing at the Fargo Theatre on Feb. 21. We chatted with him as he was driving to Detroit.

Tell us about your show.

This new show is called ‘Thank God for Jokes.’ It’s all new material and it’s all about jokes and how they all make us closer to each other and how they sometimes get us into trouble. More than anything though, I think it’s a really special thing getting in front of a group of people. In Fargo, it’s maybe 700 seats, but the idea of being in a room with 700 people and everyone laughing at the same time, I think it’s almost a religious experience.

That’s why I call it ‘Thank God For Jokes.’

people in Fargo saying, ‘How come you never come to Fargo?’ and they’re always furious. I’m always like, ‘I don’t know. I tell my agent and he tells me there aren’t enough people.’ Now I guess there are enough people.”

Get rid of any preconceived notions you have from the movie “Fargo” when you come here.

Yeah. I don’t expect any murders to take place.

A lot of your comedy revolves around longer based stories. From listening to your albums, I’ve noticed that a lot of the stories are awkward stories from your life.

Are they all true?

They all jump off from a place of truth. I tend to embellish things if it feels like it needs to be smoother. Typically with any kind of autobiographical storytelling you’re telling a narrative-friendly

I’m excited about coming to Fargo. This might be the most excited I have been, and my agent can attest to this about any single stop on the tour. There are 100 cities on the tour. I was so excited when he booked me in Fargo. I’ve been saying to him for years that I always get tweets and Facebook messages from 15

Comedy

version of the story. It’s like if you were filming a documentary about building a house or something. You’ll want to edit that footage because there’s a lot of boring parts. In that sense I cut out a lot of the fat. I try to get to just the interesting and suspenseful parts. For the most part, they’re all true stories from my life.

You mentioned your movie ‘Sleepwalk With Me.’ Do you see yourself as a moviemaker or a comedian?

I think of myself as a comedian who works in a bunch of different media. I want to keep making comedy specials and live comedy shows and I want to keep making movies. Those are the two things I want to do. Those are my main focus. I’m writing two screenplays right now with a follow-up to ‘Sleepwalk With Me’ and I’m working on this new show ‘Thank God For Jokes’ to followup ‘My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend’ which is the special that came out on Netflix in the fall.

Talk about what it’s like to be a comedian on tour.

It’s a lot about making sure you show up. That’s the most important thing; that you show up. If you showed up at a gig and you had a broken leg, the

16

flu and your pants are ripped off and you’re wearing your underwear and you walk on stage and do the show people will be like, ‘Oh yeah.

That was a pretty good show.’ If you just don’t show up, people are furious. The whole thing is that you have to get there, so I’m praying for good weather when I drive from Minneapolis to Fargo.

Tell us about how you first got involved in comedy.

About 15 years ago I won a contest at Georgetown University where I went to school. It was a funniest person on campus contest. I won a big check, like one of those big checks that’s bigger than your body, for $200, which is probably about how much it cost to print one of those big checks. I would have loved a small check for $400.

The other prize, which was more significant, was the chance to perform at the Washington DC Improv Club.

I opened for Dave Chappelle who was 24 at the time. It was before the Chappelle Show and everything. He was one of my favorite comics so it was sort of a dream come true. I asked if I could perform there and they gave me a mop and said ‘Well, you can work here, but you can fill in if people don’t show up.’ That was my job for three years. I filled in for comics while I worked there. Like I said, all of it is that you have to show up. If you’re already there it’s the best way to show up.

*Read the entire interview at fargomonthly.com to learn about the truth behind Birbiglia’s awkward stories, his role in “The Fault In Our Stars” movie and the family bonding that takes place while on the road.

birbigs.com You can also find his movie “Sleepwalk With Me” and his live comedy show “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” on Netflix. Tickets to his show are available at jadepresents.com/mike-birbiglia-fargo.

When are you going to go visit Uptown Gallery on Broadway? // Fargomonthly.com

Fargo

Local Threads

Tag You’re it

By Andrew Jason | Photos courtesy of TAG

The new online store Tag has been around for a while now.

However, they are now offering their products in a new and exciting way.

The fun, creative and original T-shirts hope to create a pride among Fargoans that will reach beyond the region.

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Some might have seen the little pop-up T-shirt store that was in the Tickets300 kiosk at 300 Broadway in downtown Fargo over the holidays. The store has moved out of its location but is alive and well online at tagfargo.com.

Originally started by Joe Burgum and Jeff Knight at the end of 2012, the goal of the store was to promote Fargo by offering fun and creative apparel.

Jade Nielsen, who also owns Jade Presents and Tickets 300, purchased the store last September. “I like the mission,” Nielsen said. “In some certain ways it correlates with what we do… Part of our mission is to improve the life of where we live. Obviously, that’s part of Tag’s mission.”

The store features over 40 different T-shirt and apparel designs. Along with the shirts, they also offer coffee mugs and pint glasses. The future of this company is uncertain, but it is certainly bright. Nielsen is looking for new options to where Tag may end up. “It’s all online for now. We’re sort of debating whether we’re going to potentially open a full-time retail store or pop up for the holidays. We’re not exactly sure.”

Throughout its brief history, Tag has been well-received locally but its reach has also stretched farther than the Red River Valley.

Nielsen reported that they have received many orders from Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana and others. Nielsen believes transplants from this region are purchasing the shirts

Have you heard about $5 Student Thursdays at West Acres 14 and Century 10? // Fargomonthly.com

but many of the shirts speak to a Midwestern attitude.

“My Dad Feeds Your Dad” has been a popular seller.

Like their “Adventure on the Prairie” shirt, Tag is embarking on an adventure that Nielsen hopes will pay off for the community.

tagfargo.com facebook.com/TagStoreFargo twitter.com/tagfargo pinterest.com/tagfargo

Community

The Life of a

His day begins at 7:30 a.m. and lasts for 24 hours. This day could go from tedious monotony to non-stop danger and excitement. The ever present stress helps build the unbreakable camaraderie among the co-workers. It’s all in a day’s work for Craig Nelson and the members of the Fargo Fire Department. By Andrew Jason Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

N

elson is one of the Captains at the Downtown Fire Station. He is responsible for a crew of four firefighters. While many of the duties are heroic and dangerous, not every call requires them to run into a burning building. Some of their duties include lift assistance, which involves helping an elderly person when they fall, or inspecting commercial buildings. “A lot of them are mundane to us because we get used to them,” Nelson said. “We try to respond with the attitude that this is probably somebody’s worst day of their lives.”

The life of a firefighter is not an easy one. They must always be ready to go at a moments notice. In fact, the goal is to be out the door and on the way to the call in a minute. That means in the middle of the night when they’re fast asleep, they must wake up and get out the door in a minute. Not surprisingly, the leading cause of death among firefighters is heart attacks. “You take a person and you send them to an emergency and their heart gets going

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and you then put on 100-pounds of gear and send them into a really hot environment and that’s what happens.

It’s a big focus and push to make sure that everybody’s as fit as possible and eating as healthy as possible.”

The camaraderie that develops among firefighters is something special. They not only risk their lives, but also eat, sleep and spend all day together. “We build very tight bonds because it’s a lot like a family,” Nelson said. “It’s not just a workday. You spend meals together, sleep in the same building, so you have a lot of the same issues you have at home. You get on each other’s nerves but you grow tight bonds and you have to trust the people you’re working with because, in a lot of cases, it is stuff that can be pretty hazardous.”

That camaraderie, danger and excitement is what makes being a firefighter such a unique job and, for many, that’s what makes it such a special job.

7:30 a.m.

Shift begins The shift that is going off-duty transfers information from the day before to the shift taking over and the firefighters are responsible to check all their equipment and ensure it’s in working order.

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Workday

They spend their day performing all their duties that they are required to do, which include inspecting every commercial building in their territory, flushing all the hydrants, constantly training and many other duties, all the while responding to any calls that come in.

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Workout time

For one hour firefighters have a designated time to workout.

Because of the stress of the job, the number one killer of firefighters is heart attacks so it is important that they maintain a healthy lifestyle.

5:30 p.m.

Free time

They try to maintain a 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. work schedule to give the firefighters downtime in the evening. From this point onward, they must respond to any calls that come in.

Did you know that MSUM has a planetarium that is open to the public throughout the week? // Fargomonthly.com

Craig Nelson is one of the

Captains at the downtown Fargo Fire Station. He is responsible for his crew of four firefighters.

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Fargo

Business

Under Whitney’s leadership, the FM Chamber has grown from around 1,650 members to over 2,100 and West Fargo has joined the Chamber. The FM Chamber is also the largest local chamber of commerce in North Dakota and Minnesota.

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Will you bring your special someone on a Scheels ferris wheel ride this month? // Fargomonthly.com

The Political Life of

Craig Whitney

To understand where the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce is heading, you have to meet and understand its President/CEO Craig Whitney.

By Andrew Jason Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography 23

Fargo

Business

“I knew that I was coming in to take over a Chamber that was very strong and well thought of but a Chamber that had an opportunity to grow.”

-Craig Whitney

The Early Days Craig Whitney always had an interest in politics. In 1968, when he was only 9-years old, he started on a path that would affect his whole life. He went from door to door doing a survey for Richard Nixon. “From that point on, I became more and more interested in politics,” Whitney said.

Originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Whitney began to get involved in politics in any way he could. He volunteered to help out in state legislative, governor and senate races.

“Iowa is a great place to get interested and involved in politics because the fact that the Presidential campaign, for

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all practical purposes, begins in Iowa,” Whiney noted.

At the age of 22, Whitney ran for the Iowa House of Representatives. He lost but his destiny was set. In the mid 1980’s he started doing advance work for then Vice-President George W. Bush. This meant that he would travel to places that Bush was going to visit and work with the local communities in setting up the visit.

Working in the White House After Bush won the election in 1988 Whitney was asked if he wanted

Did you see Josh Duhamel's tweets about the Bison championship game? // Fargomonthly.com

a position in the White House. Of course he said yes. “Most of my friends wanted to work for the President.

My viewpoint was that… I’d consider working for then Vice President Quayle. My thinking was that the Vice President’s staff is smaller but offers an opportunity to be far more engaged.”

This decision would affect his entire life. He worked his way up to Deputy Press Secretary for the Vice-President.

In the mid ‘90s, his life came full circle and he became the Director of Advance - what he used to volunteer doing. After Bush lost the re-election, he traveled to Atlanta and worked on the organizing committee for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He continued jumping around the country in various positions. Eventually former Vice-President Quayle contacted Whitney and moved to Scottsdale, AZ and ran a political action committee called Campaign America.

It was quickly realized that George Bush was the frontrunner for President, so Quayle bowed out of the race.

called Cerberus. His life became work trips. He spent three weeks of every month traveling from Phoenix to Washington DC and did public policy lobbying work. Whitney did this work for seven years before changing career paths one last time when he was offered the President/CEO position in 2010 of The Chamber.

The Chamber’s Main goals for

2014

Permanent Flood Protection

A Crossroads “I was now at another point where I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do,” said Whitney. He realized that he always had an interest in chamber of commerce work and got the job as the VicePresident of Government Affairs at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.

Almost two years to the day after moving there, he changed jobs again when Quayle called and asked him to start a consulting/lobbying business.

Whitney started doing work for a large private investment firm

“As soon as I had an opportunity to meet with members of the board and other people in the community and learn about the community, there are so many success stories in business and entrepreneurial that interested me. I knew that I was coming in to take over a Chamber that was very strong and well thought of but a Chamber that had an opportunity to grow.”

For more information on The Chamber of Commerce, go to fmwfchamber.com.

Arguably the largest debate in FargoMoorhead has been around permanent flood protection. This complicated debate has created a conversation as to the proper protection of the city. Whitney believes that this is one of the key issues facing Fargo.

“We have established a permanent flood task force protection committee made up out of members of the community to form a group to help message to the community at large why permanent flood protection is so important to the community and to business. It is also a crucial part of recruiting new businesses to look at locating here and creating and luring workforce to be here. It’s a very important part of retention.”

Work Force Development Another important issue is the continued development of an educated workforce.

According to Whitney, one key issue is that businesses aren’t able to find the right employees for their company. “We feel that taking a look at workforce issues and how we can recruit people to come here and how we can keep people to stay here and how we can get college students that go to school here to stay here. Those are issues that will be a part of a major initiative that we’ll be a part of with the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, United Way and Fargo-Moorhead Foundation.”

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Dining

J.j. Gordon

Greg Tehven

Mark Knutson

Gordon is the Artistic Director of The LineBenders Comedy Troupe and lover of all food.

Tehven is the TEDxFargo Curator, Co-Founder of EmergingPrairie. com and lover of dinnerties.com

Knutson is the full time Race Director for the Fargo Marathon and founder of Go Far Events.

where Food is something that everyone can agree on. You won’t find people arguing about

whether or not they like to eat. We celebrate this fact by honoring Fargo-Moorhead’s local restaurants. These are the entrepreneurs who are trying to bring a quality meal

NEW

FinE Dining

On the go

Casual

to the table. These are the people who are making our community delicious. Now get out there and decide if you are looking for a place on the go, a casual night out, a finedining experience or check out one of the new places in town.

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What is your new favorite burrito from downtown's Sweeto Burrito? // Fargomonthly.com

Marc de Celle Marc authored “How Fargo of You” and “Close Encounters of the Fargo Kind,” both in stores in the Red River Valley.

Jane Alexander

Andrea Larson

Alexander is on the Chris, John and Jane show on BOB95FM.

Larson is co-host of “North Dakota Today” and anchor of the 5:30 p.m. news on KX-4 on KVLY.

to eat With friends!

Text and photos by Fargo Monthly staff

Check out our Facebook page, facebook.com/fargomonthly, to learn how you could win gift cards to some local restaurants.

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Fargo

Dining

NEW

On the go

Casual

FinE Dining

The Gallery 3803 13th Ave. S, Fargo

J.J.’s Take

Located inside the Holiday Inn, The Gallery serves up mouthwatering food for every meal of the day. Be sure to check out their weekday lunch buffet, from prime rib on Tuesdays to shrimp and cod on Fridays. Looking for a Sunday buffet? They have that too, and it’s nothing short of amazing. fargohi.com/restaurant-lounge.html • 701-277-7328

Despite the name, the tacos are not actually made of vinyl. They are, however, made of deliciousness.

Vinyl Taco

Spitfire Bar & Grill 1660 13th Ave. E, West Fargo

Spitfire’s competitive BBQ team’s success should be a sign of how good their food is. They have won several BBQ championships across the country. They bring that same service to their restaurant with their high quality cuts of meats and made from scratch meals. spitfirebarandgrillfargo.com • 701-478-8667

520 1st Ave. N, Fargo

One of Fargo’s newest eateries, Vinyl Taco’s menu is full of made-from-scratch tacos and drinks. They even make their own margarita mix. Get in before 11 p.m. to get your food order in, but the bar stays open until 12 a.m. vinyltaco.com • 701-365-8226

Red Hen Taphouse

JL Beers 518 1st Ave. N, Fargo

JL Beers serves up some of the region’s best burgers and even better beers. Don’t forget to download their JL Beers app so you know which one of their massive list of brews to try.

Other locations at 518 1st Ave. N, Fargo 4240 32nd Ave. S, Fargo 810 13th Ave. E, West Fargo 2902 Highway 10 E, Moorhead jlbeers.com Marc’s Take The first time I went to lunch with the Mayor, he wanted to go here and I forgot my wallet. But the burgers and fries were so good he agreed to go again (and the second time I remembered my wallet)!

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1710 Center Ave. #138, Dilworth

Located in Dilworth, this new bar and grill offers quality American food. The options range from a veg-head burger to buffalo chicken flatbread. Throw in their nightly drink specials and this is one bar you can’t go wrong with. redhentaphouse.com • 218-227-5380

Josie’s Corner Café & Bake Shop 524 Broadway, Fargo

Forget your lunch at home? Perfect. Stop at Josie’s for a quick bite to eat and delight in a sandwich and one of their madefrom-scratch cookies. Trust us. It will trump that PB&J you left on your counter this morning. facebook.com/JosiesCornerCafeBakeShop • 701-234-0664

Have you bought your tickets to see Atmosphere on Feb. 15 yet? // Fargomonthly.com

Dining

Würst Bier Hall 630 1st Ave. N, Fargo

Sausage. Sauerkraut. Jagerschnitzel.

Würst will take you back to your Grandma Mona’s cooking. In fact, unless you grew up in a German home, you might not be able to pronounce half the menu items. facebook.com/WurstBierHall 701-478-2437

J.J.’s Take According to my Facebook feed, this place is delicious and fun!

Fargo

Fargo

Dining

NEW

On the go

Silver Dollar Flying Pig Bar and Grill 221 Sheyenne St, West Fargo

Who said pigs can’t fly? At Silver Dollar you can get really good bar food. There selections range from jalapeño bacon burgers to smoked BBQ briskets. It’s definitely worth the stop. digthepig.com • 701-281-0715

Old Broadway 22 Broadway, Fargo

A Fargo classic. The Old Broadway offers something for everyone. Their restaurant delivers a great meal while Sports Zone offers cold beer, tasty wings and giant TVs. Looking for something wilder? Check out their club on a Friday or Saturday. theoldbroadway.com • 701-237-6161

VIP Room 624 Main Ave, Fargo

Tucked away in the lower level of Block Six, the VIP Room is worth the effort in getting there. This catering service has a beautiful restaurant that serves American-style food with a lunch menu that changes weekly. fargo-vip-room.com • 701-293-1999

Casual

FinE Dining

Sandy’s Donuts 301 Main Ave. W, West Fargo

Just looking at their menu will make your mouth water. Family-owned and operated, this donut shop serves up more than just doughy goodness. They have a full breakfast and lunch menu, but their donuts and coffee will keep you coming back for more.

And more. And probably some more. sandysdonuts.com • 701-281-0430

MARK’S Take The Donut Empire! What else can you say? Every old Hardee’s restaurant should be converted to a Sandy’s Donuts. Plus it’s the home to the world famous Sandy’s Donuts Donut Run.

Bertrosa’s Café 118 Broadway, Fargo

This is the closest you can get to Chicago cuisine in Fargo. Their gyros and ragin’ cajun chicken alfredo are among the best in town.

You will always leave satisfied. Hopefully you don’t go while on a diet, though.

Search Bertrosa’s Cafe on Facebook • 701-364-0123

J.J.’s Take The Radisson’s brunch has everything you could ever hope for. This includes a room you can rent to take a nap in after.

Radisson 201 5th St. N, Fargo

Since their remodel, the Radisson has become one of the swankiest places in town.

Along with the great ambiance, they offer an extensive cocktail menu along with surprisingly good food. facebook.com/RadissonHotelFargo • 701-232-7363

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Have you checked out the One Minute Film Festival at the Plains Art Museum yet? // Fargomonthly.com

Shotgun Sally’s 1515 42nd St. S, Fargo

Formerly Big D’s, you won’t even recognize this place. In addition to the beautiful makeover, they have revamped their menu. Along with the typical bar menu items, they also offer steamed crab and a six-shooter burger that comes with roasted jalapeños and jalapeño bacon served on a toasted pretzel bun. A must have. shotgunsallys.com • 701-241-4386

Sweeto Burrito 117 Broadway, Fargo

This new eatery in downtown Fargo is serving up delicious burritos for when you’re on the go.

Located right by Subway on Broadway, they offer a quick, local alternative for a great lunch. sweetoburrito.com • 701-478-7933

Greg’s Take The best late-night stop on Broadway, no questions asked.

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Fargo

Dining

NEW

On the go

Casual

Monte’s 220 Broadway, Fargo

Head chef of Monte’s Christian D’agostino has been around the world. He brings his extensive experience to the kitchen at Monte’s. Make sure you check out their lunch for a quick, affordable and delicious meal. montesdowntown.com • 701-526-0149

India Palace 5050 13th Ave. S, Fargo

You wouldn’t think that it’d be possible to get good Indian food in Fargo. Well, you’re wrong. With dishes like Dhamaka Balti and Chicken Tandoori they offer dishes that will surprise your taste buds. indiapalacefargo.com • 701-356-6500

Tailgators Sports Café 1322 Main Ave, Fargo

You may know Tailgators from their Bears, Packers and Vikings rivalry commercials but there’s plenty of reasons to check it out. Whether you’re going for a good meal and cold beer or you just want to play some pool or blackjack, it’s worth the stop. tailgatorsfargond.com • 701-293-2091

FinE Dining

Café Muse 704 1st Ave. N, Fargo

Located in the Plains Art Museum, Cafe Muse is worth checking out for the venue alone. After an afternoon of exploring the exhibitions, the cafe will hit the spot with their fresh paninis and great desserts. plainsart.org/visit/cafe-muse • 701-232-3821

Smiling Moose Deli 102 Broadway #104, Fargo

Home of the Mighty Mo, Smiling Moose offers a fun and quick lunch. They offer hot sandwiches and offer many low calorie options if you’re looking for a healthy alternative for lunch.

Other location at 2877 45th St. S, Fargo smilingmoosedeli.com

Mom’s Kitchen 1322 Main Ave, Fargo

Locally owned and operated, this mom and pop joint is a Fargo classic. Stop in and enjoy a slice of their homemade pie or warm up with a bowl of some undeniably delicious chili.

Search Mom’s Kitchen on Facebook • 701-235-4460

Hotel Donaldson 101 Broadway, Fargo

In case you didn’t hear, the HoDo’s Josh Tandberg won Mixologist of the Year 2013 at the last High Plains Reader Bartender’s gala. If that’s not enough to get you in the door, their ever-changing and adventurous dinner menu should be. hoteldonaldson.com • 701-478-1000

Andrea’s Take I gravitate toward the Hummus Plate at the HoDo Lounge, but the Salt & Pepper Fried Calamari is not to be ignored. When I’m feeling a little sweet and a lot sour I order the Lemondrop Martini.

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What is your new favorite downtown restaurant? // Fargomonthly.com

Nichole’s Fine Pastry 13 8th St. S, Fargo

There’s a reason Fargo chose Nichole’s as their Favorite Place for the Best Dessert in 2013. The options are endless, housemade and will make your taste buds dance. Craving lunch instead? Don’t worry, they go above and beyond for that, too. nicholesfinepastry.com • 701-232-6430

JanE’s Take Sandwiches, soups, salads and, almost forgot, delectable, delicious, divine desserts.

Juano’s 402 Broadway, Fargo

Owner Juan Mondragon has been a staple in the culinary scene in Fargo. His recipes come from growing up in Mexico and many are based on Mexico City’s street food.

His burrito shops around town offer a quick alternative to his downtown restaurant.

Other locations at 1100 18th Ave. N, Fargo 3402 13th Ave. S, Fargo 315 Main Ave, Moorhead juanosrestaurant.com

Sidestreet Grille & Pub 301 3rd Ave. N, Fargo

Sidestreet’s Fargo Dog is near and dear to our hearts.

Wrapped in bacon, deep fried and topped with puller pork, swiss cheese and horseradish sauce. This isn’t cardiologist approved, but it is Fargo Monthly approved. sidestreetpubfargo.com • 701-271-0092

Dining

NEW

On the go

Casual

FinE Dining

Wasabi 623 NP Ave, Fargo

Anyone downtown will tell you Wasabi makes the best sushi in Fargo.

Have a seat at the bar and be the judge yourself. Try the gecko roll, a refreshing take on the sushi roll without the rice, or sample their salmon sashimi. Trust us: you’ll never want to eat it cooked again. wasabifargo.com • 701-232-3380

Drunken Noodle 623 NP Ave, Fargo

The best spot for pasta and noodles in downtown Fargo also has arguably the best late-night food. They’re open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday for the bar crowd. Get there earlier in the evening and try the Evil Jungle, a spicy Thai concoction that may make you ditch spaghetti and meatballs for good. drunkennoodle.com • 701-232-3380

Sammy’s Pizza

9 Iron Bar & Grill

For over 50 years, Sammy’s Pizza has been serving up homemade pizza to downtown Fargo. You can swing by for a slice of thin crust or have a seat for a more casual dinner.

701-235-5331

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Acapulco

4400 Clubhouse Dr. S, Fargo

1150 36th St. S, Fargo

You better come hungry because the portions are enormous. Fortunately, the prices are anything but. Word on the street is that this restaurant is one of the most authentic Mexican places around, so take a trip to Acapulco and see for yourself. acapulcofargo.com • 701-297-0355

The Osgood Golf Course may close up shop for the winter, but their restaurant continues serving up delicious food and drinks all year long. Nothing beats their $5 burger baskets and they’ve got some of the greatest Friday night specials in town.

9ironbarandgrill.com • 701-356-6463

Rhombus Guys 606 Main Ave, Fargo

301 Broadway, Fargo

Marc’s Take: I used to think sushi in Fargo was a contradiction in terms. Then I ate here.

Oh, Rhombus Guys. We don’t know whose idea it was to put wasabi sauce and peanuts on a pizza, but give them a raise.

Home to the most unique gourmet pizzas in Fargo, this place’s best-kept secret may be its bar. Their drink menu is just as impressive as their dinner menu. rhombuspizza.com • 701-540-4534

Andrea’s Take I’ll brave the crowds at Rhombus Guys just to get a slice of the T-Rex pizza - and they score extra points for offering a gluten-free crust. On a warm summer day, try to nab a table on the rooftop. It’s like hitting the jackpot.

What did you think of P!NK's acrobatic performance at the FargoDome last month? // Fargomonthly.com

Breakfast The most important meal of the day...

All day...

Daily breakfast, lunch, & Dinner specials If you’re looking for a great restaurant with an inviting ambiance and down home cooking style, visit The Shack On Broadway.

Weekdays

6am-8pm Sat. & Sun.

6am-2pm 3215 Broadway, Fargo

Eggs Benedict

(701) 356.2211 | theshackonbroadway.com

DRINK SPECIALS (8 - CLOSE) BAR NINE 1405 Prairie Pkwy, #301 West Fargo, ND 58078

HAPPY HOUR M-F: 4-6

MONDAY

TUESDAY

$3 DOMESTIC TALLS, STOLI’S, & JACKS

$2 DOMESTIC PINTS & WELLS 1/2 OFF WINGS

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

MUG NIGHT $5 FIRST MUG $4 REFILLS

$2.50 DOMESTIC BOTTLES $3 CROWN ROYAL & PINNACLE VODKAS

$2.50 MORGAN & BACARDI FLAVORS $3 BOMB SHOTS

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

$3 TEAS & BOMB SHOTS

$6 DOMESTIC PITCHERS $2.50 ICEHOLES (ALL DAY)

naotuw ri ng

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Fargo

Dining

Oxbow Country Club 130 Oxbow Dr, Oxbow

Although it’s a bit of a drive, it’s worth it. The food is almost as good as the scenery. Their restaurant, The Bend, offers a seasonal restaurant that’s always changing. We HIGHLY recommend their burgers. oxbowcc.com • 701-588-4666

Mezzaluna 309 Roberts St. N, Fargo

Crazy-good service, a beautiful atmosphere and a menu like nowhere else in Fargo makes Mezzaluna a downtown favorite. Nervous about going? Their Alleyway Menu, available in the bar, is super accessible, and every item on it drops to $7 after 9 p.m. dinemezzaluna.com • 701-364-9479

NEW

On the go

Casual

FinE Dining

TNT’s Diner 405 Main Ave. W, West Fargo

This 1950’s-inspired diner is often brimming with locals, but not always. In fact, Tom Hanks and his family made a pit stop there a couple summers back. If you want to start your day with a hearty breakfast or simply want to breathe the air Tom Hanks did, head on over to TNT’s Diner.

Search TNT’s Diner on Facebook • 701-277-7062

MARK’S Take If you want to get back to the basics of great tasting food, Tim & Tina know how to treat you right.

Labby’s Grill & Bar

Greg’s Take Best Happy Hour meal in the country. It’s proof that our city values and has a home for forwardthinking chefs who create out-of-the-box dishes with highquality ingredients.

1100 19th Ave. N, Fargo

Where else can you enjoy four entire hours of happy hour five days a week? This north Fargo gem has a huge food menu and an even more extensive drink menu. Bring your friends and bring your appetite because you may be here awhile. labbys.com • 701-478-5227

Maxwells 1380 9th St. E, West Fargo

Maxwell’s brought fine dining to West Fargo.

Known for their fresh seafood and large collection of wine, Maxwell’s always offers a great experience. We highly recommend checking out their Sunday brunch. maxwellsnd.com • 701-277-9463

Andrea’s Take The Colorado lamb chops at Maxwell’s are the stuff dreams are made of! Plus, if you’re stopping by for Sunday brunch, fill your plate with pepper-encrusted prime rib, croissant French toast and omelettes...and save room for a cheese blintz.

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Have you considered adopting a pet from the F-M Humane Society this winter? // Fargomonthly.com

Did You Know...

You can advertise directly in Twins Games?

Fox Sports Net-North has all the action!

Make 2014 the year you connect with thousands of Twins viewers.

Call Shereen Stark today!

701-461-7155

Fargo

Dining

NEW

On the go

1629 S University Dr, Fargo

675 13th Ave. E #104, West Fargo

Any Bloody Mary fan needs to go to Three Lyons and try their made-fromscratch masterpiece. Their traditional pub food is the perfect compliment, with a build-your-own London Broil on the menu (that’s a hot sandwich that puts your panini to shame.) threelyonspub.com • 701-277-5966

Deek’s Pizza

O’Leary’s 715 13th Ave. E, West Fargo

702 N University Dr, Fargo

There’s always a deal at Deek’s. There are only two sizes to choose from (Large and Extra Large), but delivery is fast, the dough is fresh, and they’re open until 3 a.m. daily. deekspizza.com • 701-235-0708

It may be an Irish pub, but most of the food is American fare. However, the drink specials are something even the truest of Irishman could appreciate, including $3 Jamesons and $5 pitchers.

Other locations at 808 30th Ave. S, Moorhead olearysfm.com

Toscana 202 Broadway, Fargo

Head chef Mirco Marganti hails from Lucca, Italy so you know that Toscana serves authentic Italian food. Plus, their central location on Broadway and 2nd Ave. makes them a great spot for a delicious night on the town. toscanadowntown.com • 701-235-9100

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FinE Dining

Three Lyons Pub

Duane’s House of Pizza When you walk into Duane’s, the first thing you’ll see is long counters dusted with flour, giant pizza ovens and a checkout register. But this place isn’t just for pick-up. Have a seat in their dining room, mosey through their salad bar, and dine in for a down-home pizza experience.

Other location at 2223 U.S. 10 Frontage Rd, Moorhead • duaneshouseofpizza.com

Casual

Speedway 680 Main Ave. W, West Fargo

This may be West Fargo’s biggest surprise.

Located on Main Ave. in a seemingly nondescript building, this restaurant serves up steak, seafood, pasta, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking for a solid meal for yourself or for a large event, don’t let this place slip under your radar. speedwayeventcenter.com 701-281-2388

Uncorked 12 Broadway, Fargo

Uncorked has 50 wines made on-site in their Broadway store, from fruity apple wine to deep shiraz-cabernet. Not sure what to try? Get a sample flight of five.

If wine makes you hungry, Oven Door Catering provides fresh deli food daily. uncorkedfargo.com • 701-356-4014

Marc’s Take: Most affordable great lunch place where we can talk. Only one problem: The spinach artichoke appetizer dip stuff renders me speechless. But hey, some people are willing to pay good money to render me speechless. But you don’t have to! Lunch is really affordable!

When was the last time you took a trip to the Fargo Air Museum? // Fargomonthly.com

Fargo

Dining CJ’s Kitchen

1601 S University Dr., Fargo

Anytime you’re craving a down-home, Mom’s diner experience, head to CJ’s.

Places this adorable and welcoming are hard to find, and the food is just as comforting. Even if you’re feeling fancy, you can have a brie-and-pear sandwich. Bet your mom never made you that. cjskitchen-fm.com • 701-237-4656

NEW

On the go

Casual

FinE Dining

Leela Thai Cuisine 1450 25th St. S, Fargo

Café Aladdin 530 6th Ave N, Fargo

Thai food is some of the most delicious stuff on the planet, and Leela’s is the place to go if you’re a newbie. Their menu is simple, super accessible and you’re sure to find something that appeals to your taste buds. Vegans and vegetarians take note: many dishes can be made without meat and animal products. leelathaicuisine.com • 701-235-5795

Take a trip to Greece at Cafe Aladdin.

This Greek and Middle Eastern eatery proclaims that they are the “home of the biggest, tastiest Gyro in town...

Guaranteed.” We’d have to agree.

Other locations at 530 6th Ave N, Fargo 1609 32nd Ave. S #2, Fargo 3017 13th Ave. S, Fargo cafealaddinfargo.com

Sickies Garage 2525 9th Ave. SW, Fargo

Sickie’s has some of the strangest and best burgers you’ll ever have. From their jalapeño and peanut butter burger to their tater tot hotdish burger, somehow it all works. Their extensive beer menu really helps their cause as well. sickiesnd.com • 701-478-7425

Andrea’s Take Talk about adventurous burgers! The Jalapeño Popper at Sickies Garage is an amazing combination of heat and sweet.

It’s best to pair it with a giant pile of tater tots...and find a booth with your very own beer tap.

Passage to India 855 45th St. S #A3, Fargo

Even the most discerning Midwest palate can get into the food at Passage to India. Try one of their delicious butter curries, or the tangy chicken tikka masala. Just don’t forget to order yummy naan, the Indian answer to flatbread, to scoop up the sauce on your plate. passage-2-india.com • 701-281-0277

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Goodfellas Pizza 3330 Sheyenne St. Ste. 108, West Fargo

Goodfellas Pizza specializes in made-toorder pizzas. They offer quality, traditional pizzas like meat lovers and supreme but also have more fun options that include shrimp alfredo, breakfast and something called the beer drinker pizza that includes Italian sausage, jalapeños and onions.

Be advised, it's not recommended to kiss anyone after eating it though. goodfellaspizza.org • 701-277-9898

Have you ever seen a performance by the FM Opera? // Fargomonthly.com

Cracked Pepper 4955 17th Ave. S, Fargo

This may be one of Fargo’s best kept secrets. Their menu changes daily but it’s always impressive and the baked goods are to die for. Owner Angeline will make you feel right at home with a fresh homemade meal and a cozy atmosphere. crackedpepperdaily.com 701-356-0039

Basies

Randy’s University Diner 2130 S University Dr, Fargo

From the name to the menu, Randy’s is pretty straightforward. It’s a perfect place to enjoy a simple Sunday breakfast with the family or a midafternoon pie run with your buddies. facebook.com/RandysUniversityDiner 701-280-0414

1635 42nd St. S, Fargo

Basies has a couple things that separate it from the rest. Their quality of meat is top-notch and they also have a 1,000-degree broiler that will sear any meat to perfection. Make sure you check out their Sunday buffet and the live jazz that takes place every Thursday. basies.com • 701-281-7105

Lucy’s North China Cuisine 3003 32nd Ave. S, Fargo

It may be one of Fargo’s only Chinese restaurants without a buffet, but there’s good reason for that. Owner Lucy Penney serves up dozens of fresh dishes, most of which are her own family’s recipes. Dine-in, take out or get it delivered. You won’t be disappointed. lucyschinacuisine.com • 701-356-5100

Xtreme Pizza Kitchen 1404 33rd St. SW #D, Fargo

At Xtreme Pizza Kitchen, they’re not afraid to take a risk and it pays off. Some of their pizzas include a peanut butter pizza (yes, you read that right) and a Thai pizza. Don’t worry, they have an extensive list of menu items that are all delicious. xtremepizzakitchen.com • 701-298-0420

Marc’s Take My favorite pizza place anywhere, including California and Arizona. Some of the stuff on the menu sounds crazy (Thai pizza with peanuts?) but everything is ridiculously good.

Hooligan’s Bar and Grill 3330 Sheyenne St, West Fargo

Sports fans and music junkies alike can enjoy what Hooligan’s has to offer. They’ve basically got every pub food under the sun and some unbelievably cheap drink specials every day of the week. hooliganswestfargo.com 701-373-0770

Spicy Pie 322 Broadway, Fargo

It seems like just yesterday that Spicy Pie opened its Broadway doors and started serving us enormous pizza-by-the-slice. If you’re too hungry for just a slice, try their Spicy Challenge and see if you can take down an 18” supreme in 20 minutes. Hey, you can’t go wrong with a free T-shirt.

Other location at 1414 12th Ave. N, Fargo spicypiepizza.com

The Shack on Broadway 3215 Broadway, Fargo

Forget Perkins and Denny’s; they’re just corporate impersonators of the Shack. It’s rumored this place has the best caramel rolls ever, but if you’re not into sweets, the all-day breakfast is worth the trip. A word to the wise: get their early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, or be prepared to wait a bit. shackonbroadway.com • 701-356-2211

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Fargo

Dining JT Cigarro

Casual

FinE Dining

Seasons at Rose Creek

4554 7th Ave. S, Fargo

This is the only place in town where you can enjoy an oyster martini bar.

Yep, you heard us right. But if oysters and martinis aren’t your thing, don’t fret. They’ve got all the bar classics, great lunch specials, and prime rib every Friday. jtcigarro.com • 701-277-0711

On the go

NEW

1500 Rose Creek Pkwy. E, Fargo

Located on Rose Creek Golf Course, this fine dining restaurant can suit the needs of a table for two all the way to a large work luncheon or even your wedding. They are open year round for lunch and dinner, but the views are best during summertime. seasonsatrosecreek.com 701-235-5000

Cajun Café 1324 25th Ave. S, Fargo

The Cajun Café is one of those pleasant surprises. Tucked away in a nondescript location off of University, it offers good po-boys, authentic Cajun dishes and their breakfast is a must have. cajuncafefm.com • 701-461-7373

Lucky’s 13 Pub 4301 17th Ave. S, Fargo

Serious disclaimer: if you go to Lucky’s to eat, go hungry. Their big, delicious menu gives you big, delicious portions. On the drink side, grab a few buddies for $2 mimosas on Sundays, or try their famous BLT Bloody Mary. (You guessed it: it comes with a little BLT on top.) luckys13pub.com • 701-551-0013

JANE’s Take Burgers, cold beer, free popcorn and TVs for everyone.

Doolittle’s Woodfire Grill 2112 25th St. S, Fargo

This restaurant’s warm wood atmosphere is super cozy during these winter months. Get an entire roasted half chicken for $17, or just sample your way around their appetizer menu.

If you like wine as much as us, grab a friend and start your week off right with half-priced bottles of wine on Mondays. doolittles.com • 701-478-2200

Andrea’s Take They’re a couple blocks away, but I swear I can smell Doolittle’s woodfire rotisserie all the way down to Valley News Live! My favorite Mediterranean salad encourages healthy eating with a gluten-free twist.

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Santa Lucia 1109 38th St. S, Fargo

Equipped with a delectable lunch and dinner menu, this restaurant serves up some of the area’s greatest Mediterranean food.

Whether you’re looking for a good place to catch up with friends or a romantic spot for a first date, look no further than Santa Lucia. santaluciainc.com • 701-281-8656

Pizza Patrol 104 4th St. S, Moorhead

Everyone knows their phone number, and if you don’t, you should.

If you get a (very) late pizza craving, no need to stress. Pizza Patrol is open until 4 a.m., the latest of any pizza joint in town.

218-241-9000

Have you heard of the awesome local deals and coupons on savecoin.com? // Fargomonthly.com

John Alexander’s

Usher’s House 700 1st Ave. N, Moorhead

315 Main Ave, Moorhead

You won’t find a better view at a Fargo-Moorhead restaurant.

Overlooking the Red River, Usher’s offers fine dining while Monk’s Pub offers a more casual experience. They offer everything from an elk burger to a delicious venison dish. ushershouse.com 218-287-0080

American cuisine with a fancy twist and a martini to match? Yes please.

The ambience is second to none and so is their food. Whether you’re chatting at the bar with the friendly bartenders or snuggling up in a corner with your sweetheart, John Alexander’s is a Fargo-Moorhead must. john-alexanders.com 218-287-5802

Thai Orchid 420 Center Ave, Moorhead

Take a trip to Thailand with Thai Orchid. Tucked into the Moorhead Center Mall, it offers some great curry dishes, authentic Thai meals and Thai street food lunches. Plus they have a special lunch menu for a smaller and quicker meal. thaiorchid.info • 218-227-0099

MARC’s Take That reminds me, I haven’t had any Tom Yum soup lately. Best soup in the universe. I gotta go see Dave at Thai Orchid!

Sarello’s 28 Center Mall Ave, Moorhead

Dreaming of an exquisite dinner aboard a luxury cruise ship? Look no further. Sarello’s brings it right to you thanks to owners Tony and Sarah Nasello, who worked aboard cruise ships for years. Cleverly tucked away behind the Moorhead Center Mall, this restaurant is the perfect place to bring that special someone. sarellos.com • 218-287-0238

Andrea’s Take Melt-in-your-mouth sea bass? Check.

Vanilla bean creme brulée? Check.

Exquisite food that will make you deliriously happy, and prompt a return visit to Sarello’s? Check, check and double check!

Fargo

Dining

NEW

On the go

Cork’ N Cleaver

Casual

FinE Dining

Bangkok Corner

3301 S University Dr., Fargo

1450 25th St. S, Fargo

In operation since 1970, the Cork’ N Cleaver is a restaurant that features aged hand cut steaks, prime rib, fish, seafood and pasta.

Head chef Lenny Boyer has worked at Cork’ N Cleaver for 20 years now and has been bringing fine dining to South Fargo. fargocork.com • 701-237-6790

Altony’s

Thai cuisine and sushi: what could be better? Bangkok Corner is one of Fargo’s best-kept secrets, and it’s time the word got out. On your first visit, don’t let the giant menu scare you. Ask the server what their favorite is or sit at the bar and have Rubin, the sushi chef, help you sample some fresh fish. Trust us: you can’t go wrong. bangkokfargo.com • 701-356-3986

Gio’s Grill & Bar 123 21st St. S, Moorhead

3102 Highway 10 E, Moorhead

You’ll never leave Altony’s hungry. They are recognized for their large portion sizes. They offer dishes like veal parmesan, shrimp arrabbiata and fantail shrimp, all for a very reasonable price. altonysitalian.com • 218-287-5557

Grab a cold beer and enjoy Gio’s daily lunch buffet for only $6.95, equipped with over two dozen items. Keep an eye out for upcoming concerts in their music venue right next door. giosgrillandbar.com • 218-233-2883

Now accepting applications: nd.gov/ndhp

Excellent Kristjan Helgoe ‘06 NDSU Alumni

Boppa’s Bagel’s

Just Grains Bakery 24 4th St. S, Moorhead

3051 25th St. S, Fargo

Come for the 30 different flavors of bagel’s but stay for the 18 choices of house-made cream cheese. This family owned eatery that knows how to generously apply the toppings also offers deli and hot breakfast sandwiches. It’s a must stop for bagel and quick breakfast lovers alike. boppasbagels.com • 701-241-7800

Gluten-free has never looked or tasted better. This brand new bakery proudly partners with Mehl’s Flour Company, another locally-owned business. Together they serve up a variety of gluten-free products that can be purchased in-house or online.

Check out their website for a list of recipes. justgrainsbakery.com • 218-477-1786

Crave Burger

Kobe’s 4228 15th Ave. S, Fargo

2501 8th St. S, Moorhead

Grab some friends and gather round the hibachi grill for front row entertainment and a first class meal. Sushi, steak, and sake shots. What more could you ask for? kobescuisine.com • 701-232-5623

The name says it all. Well, almost all. You can substitute that burger for a veggie, turkey, or chicken patty, but one thing is for certain: you will definitely crave this place once you’ve had a taste.

218-227-0300

Starting Salary Derek Arndt

‘06 NDSU Alumni

Former NDSU Football Player

Eric Watson’s

Unmentionable Ingredients

I

have always considered myself someone with an adventurous and daring palate. I love to try new foods, especially if that food item challenges someone’s preconceived notion as to what “food” really is.

Whenever I find myself at a restaurant, I purposely look for the craziest, most adventurous item on the menu.

Obviously, you won’t find much around these parts in the way of exotic (outside of lutefisk of course) but when traveling it’s not hard to do. From fried chicken feet to roasted goat head, crispy insects, boar head cheese, pig trotters, veal sweetbreads, beef tripe and so on, exotic ingredients are where I always seem to find my true inner passion for food.

My first introduction to an exotic ingredient was on a culinary trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was 19 and eager to try Huitlacoche (an edible corn fungus) for the first time. A few years later in San Francisco’s China Town I gave chicken feet and fermented tofu a try.

You definitely haven’t lived until you’ve sucked the gelatinous matter from a braised and fried chicken foot.

During a culinary trip to France, I accidentally ordered veal head. My French was only good enough to guide me through the basics of a restaurant menu. I knew that I was ordering veal, but the head was a surprise. However, it was a pleasant surprise considering the beautiful presentation of the cheek, brain and tongue arranged separately

46

and paired with an individual sauce and garnish. It was easily one of the best meals I have ever experienced.

On a trip to Napa Valley, I surprised everyone at the table by quickly ordering the house made pasta with beef tripe. As a culinary group, we were all accustomed to sharing plates with each other as we dine at various restaurants. I’m a little selfish and introverted, so when I don’t feel like sharing, I simply order beef tripe and no one shows much interest in my dish.

On a recent trip to Chicago, I ate roasted goat head and goat carpaccio (raw, thin slices of goat meat). In New York, a friend and myself shared the restaurant’s last order of roasted suckling pig head. Blood sausage and head cheese were also on my list while visiting.

So, why would anyone here in the upper Midwest care one bit about what I’m preaching today? Well, if you eat lutefisk you may have some of the same interests.

In fact, more and more folks are moving to our region every year who enjoy foods that may be considered a bit more exotic.

It wasn’t that long ago that Indian food and sushi were considered far-fetched for the Fargoan palate.

I recently made some pig head cheese for an artisan meat and sausage plate at Mezzaluna. My assumption is that we will sell half if we are lucky. I’m planning to give away the remaining half to folks that I know will appreciate it. The fact is,

sometimes I need to reenergize my palate and culinary senses. Every so often I need to revisit the classics of cooking.

A good chef can properly cook a quality cut of meat and present it with beautifully prepared accompaniments.

A talented chef can always make his patrons happy with well-executed culinary techniques and flavor combination. This is what I try to accomplish on a daily basis, but it takes true expertise to turn the organ meats -- the unmentionable parts of an animal -- into something amazing.

I don’t expect everyone to want to eat these under-appreciated food items.

I do, however, expect that everyone would respect the passion and efforts put forth in preserving the idea of total utilization of an animal. We can’t always eat high on the hog. And quite frankly, I don’t want to.

Eric Watson is the owner of Mezzaluna and Mosaic Foods in Fargo. He is also the founder and president of the Fargo branch of the American Culinary Federation.

If you missed the pop-up T-Shirt shop Tag, why don't you check our their merchandise at tagfargo.com? // Fargomonthly.com

Head CheEse Recipe Making the Broth

Seasoning

• 1 pig’s head, or 4-5 ham hock for the faint-hearted. (I request the pig head already cleaned. Skin and brains removed.)

• 1 shallot, minced

• 2 large yellow onions, skins intact and rough chopped • 4-6 ribs of celery, rough chopped • 2-3 carrots, peeled and rough chopped • 6-8 cloves of garlic, peeled

• 2 Tbsp. parsley, finely chopped • 2 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped • 2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper • 1 Tbsp. kosher or sea salt • 1/8 cup brandy or Cognac

• 1 cup dry white wine • 4 bay leaves • 2 Tbsp. whole black peppercorns • 2 oz. fresh thyme • Cold water as needed Place all broth ingredients in a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Slowly bring to a boil and quickly reduce to a simmer.

Allow mixture to slowly simmer for approximately three hours, making sure to skim surfacing impurities when visible.

Gently pour all liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Place cooked pig head parts on a baking dish or large plate and allow to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, remove all meat. Chop the meat pieces into rough 1/4-inch pieces, mix in seasonings and place in refrigerator.

Pour the broth into a fresh stockpot and continue to simmer until approximately 10 percent of original mixture remains.

Strain remaining broth through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer once more. Final broth should be highly concentrated, aromatic and intensely flavored.

Place chopped pig meat into a mold of your choice (line mold with plastic wrap) and ladle stock over the meat, just until covered in liquid. Do not overfill the mold; add just enough stock to bind the meat. Place mold in refrigerator overnight or until liquid has set or jelled completely. Unmold onto a cutting board, slice and serve with pickled vegetables, mustard and bread.

Street Talk

Photos by Paul Flessland

Fargo Monthly hit the streets to ask Fargoans what ‘s the most unique meal they’ve had at a local restaurant.

Aaron Fieckert

Zach Johnson

Joe Ertelt

Megan Avakian

All American burrito

squid soup

alligator bratwurst

Thai chicken pizza

Würst Bier Hall

Rhombus Guys

Sweeto Burrito

Wasabi

47

Fargo

Dining

meet

Monte

“I’m in the business of creating memories. I’m not just serving food, I’m creating a memory that these people will re-

member far longer than I’m around.” Monte Jones has spent the majority of his life working in a restaurant and credits this as what keeps him going in the restaurant business. By Andrew Jason | Photo by Ben Gumeringer

J

ones is a restaurant connoisseur.

Perhaps most famous for being the namesake and founder of Monte’s Downtown, his reach in the Fargo dining scene goes well beyond just that restaurant. He worked as the restaurant manager of the Radisson, was co-owner of the former Silver Moon Supper Club and now acts as the General Manager of Basies.

His life wasn’t always in the restaurant business, though. Originally from Moorhead, MN, he eventually moved to New York City to pursue his dream of dancing. “I always knew there was more to life than slopping the hogs. I was so shy that I wouldn’t speak to anyone and mom tried to think of something that I could do where I didn’t have to talk, so she enrolled me in dance classes… I liked it, I pursued it and I knew about New York theatre and I said, ‘Oh hell, I can do that.’”

He did exactly that.

For 12 years, he worked as a dancer, almost making it to various Broadway shows. Like all dancers though, his body started to give out. That’s when he got involved in the restaurant business. “I believe, and it always sounds odd coming out of my mouth, trust

in the Lord and you may not understand it at the moment but eventually it will be made apparent to you just exactly why things have turned out good and bad… Somebody has a bigger plan than we can ever imagine.”

He came back to the area in 2001 to be closer to his mother. and worked at the Radisson before opening up Monte’s Downtown in 2002. “When I was growing up here, downtown was where you went to do everything… When I got back here it was deserted. I kept thinking, ‘I can’t be the only one that would remember coming downtown’ and now ten years later you can’t find parking and there’s million dollar condos. I can’t take credit for that though. I can only take credit for planting a seed.”

After jumping around to a couple of places, in July 2013 he found himself at Basies. Despite all of his experience, it is a new experience for Jones. “I’ve never been involved in a steakhouse concept, which is very urban.

All the large cities have great steakhouses.

Fargo has a renovated downtown, so why shouldn’t we have a great steakhouse?”

Opened in 1997, Basies has established itself as a fine-dining restaurant and Monte hopes to continue that tradition. “I’m trying

to put my spin on a perfectly great restaurant. It’s a marvelous combination of old world steakhouse. It’s comfortably sophisticated.”

Monte Jones’ tips for a well-run restaurant.

1. “This is a hospitality business so it’s really simple: be hospitable.

Whatever the guest wants, the guest should get.”

2. “You treat everyone equally and with respect because you don’t know who you’re talking to. That includes staff and guests."

3. "Don't expect staff to do something that you wouldn't do yourself. Make sure you're willing to climb under the dishwasher for the lost fork if you tell somebody to do that."

More info: www.basies.com

48

Have you visited the Nestor Tavern since it underwent its transformation? // Fargomonthly.com

SAMANTHA MEYER PHOTOGRAPHY

A Destination For Any Wedding

Fargo

Local Threads

Summertime

Sadness

How to Winterize Your Summer Wardrobe

If the wintertime blues have you gloomily flipping through your summer wardrobe, we have some good news for you. The folks at Fowler’s Heritage Company in downtown Fargo gave us some tips and showed us how to transform a summer dress into a winter staple.

By Sarah Tyre | Photos by Ben Gumeringer

You’ve heard it once and you’ll hear it again: layers, layers, layers! Tights and leggings are an obvious fix, but did you ever consider layering a long sleeve blouse under your favorite dress?

This will create a warm, sophisticated look without looking bulky.

Leota

50

Dex

A cardigan or pull-over is another option to keep your arms cozy. And don’t forget accessories!

Scarves, hats, mittens, and boots are all stylish ways to stay cozy and fashionable.

BC

Skinnytees

Genza

What's the coolest item you've discovered at Antiques on Broadway? // Fargomonthly.com

Alternative Apparel

Skinnytees

Bed Stu

DOWNTOWN FARGO | (701) 232-2491

www.royaljewelersfargo.com

Fargo

Education

Standards and

Practices The nationwide discussion on Common Core Standards has prompted confusion. Local administrators say that re-writing standards is nothing new, and assure it will be a positive adjustment.

By Sarah Tyre • Photos by Andrew Jason

Officials say a concern that is presented is the fear of a nationwide curriculum. It is very important to differentiate between the Standards and curriculum. The standards are a list of objectives of what students should know and be able to do. Curriculum is still being implemented on a local level by the school district. “I think locally we have a very solid foundation to move forward, as this more collegial and collaborative sharing happens all of us will grow and develop,” said Fargo Public School Associate Superintendent Dr. Robert Grosz.

52

Will you be attending the FM Derby Girls Pretty in Pink event on Feb. 8? // Fargomonthly.com

What you need to know The Common Core unifies what students should know across the states. Teachers, parents and administrators worked with state officials to create these standards. Common Core is a more rigorous approach to English and math, in order to prepare students for a competitive global community. Their Common Core website states their mission statement as: “The Standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers.

With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.”

The Breakdown

but not the math, while adding a focus on Native American Culture Studies. “Our 2007 standards align very well to the common core. Of course there will be a few adjustments but we are already going in with our elementary curriculum maps, and we’re selecting the differences between what MN has and the Standards, I think Minnesota’s timing just wasn’t right for adopting the common core,” said Missy Eidsness, director of School Improvement and Accountability at Moorhead Public Schools.

Being on opposite sides of the Red River doesn’t necessarily mean opposite sides of the core. Eidsness is confident that the dialogue between the two school districts will stay strong.

What does it mean?

ENGLISH

“They’re not out on their own trying to figure out what that change means and what that should look like in the classroom,” said Rachael Agre, Fargo Public School District Assistant Superintendent.

Mathematics • Focus: Greater focus on mathematics and the way time is spent on math.

• Coherence: Think across grade and link to major topics within grades.

• Rigor: Major topics, conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency and application

Over the River and Through the Woods Minnesota opted to choose the Common Core English Language Arts standards

Moorhead Public Schools Director of School Improvement and Accountability

“It’s very easy for us to work with Fargo as far as the English Language Arts Standards. We have a few more that we need to align in our curriculum,” Eidsness said.

North Dakota adopted the nationwide Common Core Standards on April 6, 2011.

Implementation started July of 2013. The English standards will focus largely on understanding and analyzing nonfiction text, while focusing less on how it relates to themselves. Math is being pushed towards speed and process as well as accuracy.

Here’s a breakdown of the practices according to Achievethecore.com

• Rich non-fiction in addition to more traditional fiction • Reading, writing and speaking grounded in evidence from text, both fiction and non-fiction • Regular practice with complex text and its academic language

Missy Eidsness

Both districts say that teachers have been affected most by the transformation; however, they obtain their positive feelings about the core. The advantage the Common Core Standards has is that teachers are not alone. There is a much larger national bank of resources.

Rachael Agre Fargo Public School District Assistant Superintendent

“We are able to have those wonderful collaborative conversations with our peers from other states to see how their students are doing and what they’re doing to help their students be successful,” said Grosz,.

Students will likely not notice a difference.

Agre said she is confident that clear communication will make a smooth transition and the students will achieve more success. “I think time and allowing people enough time to really dig into the standards and understand their intent and the rigor.

It is a lot of work. It’s taking teachers just a little more time to digest the standards,” Eidsness said.

Dr. Robert Grosz Fargo Public School District Associate Superintendent

53

Fargo

Drinks

James Stark Stark is a bartender at Maxwells in West Fargo. They are known for their extensive wine list.

MIXOLOGIST Getting bored of ordering a simple mixed drink every weekend? James Stark, a bartender at Maxwells, gave us a few ideas on how to add a bit of variety to your weekend palates this month. By Meagan Pittelko | Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

S

tark may have worked his way up from dive bars, but he’s been at Maxwells Restaurant and Bar for over a year now. An on-and-off bartender for the last seven or eight years, Stark said that he’s “always been naturally good at it.” One of the main reasons for this, Stark thinks, is because he loves working with people.

At Maxwells, bartenders not only tend bar but also serve, which Stark said is “different from other bars, but good.” One of the main things that bartenders serve is, inevitably, what Maxwells is best known for: its wine collection.

“We have an extensive wine cellar here,” Stark said, “and we’re happy to find the perfect combination for someone.”

drink.” He said that he enjoys making other various versions of the Manhattan, too.

While the art of knowing a good wine is complicated, Stark has some simple advice.

“Stick to Cabernets with steaks and whites with fish.”

If you’re stuck in a familiar rut and find yourself ordering the same mixed drink at every bar, head to Maxwells and experiment by trying a twist on one of your favorite classics.

In addition to wine, Maxwells also serves mixed drinks. According to Stark, some of his favorite drinks to make are twists on old classics like the Manhattan. For example, while many picture the classic Manhattan as a chilled cocktail, Stark enjoys making the Manhattan into a type of “warm-up

“There’s so much more out there than just mixed drinks. It’s kind of like food, in the fact that there’s so many different things to try and so many different flavors to blend,” Stark said. “There are many drinks out there for everybody, and they wouldn’t know without trying.”

Drink like a pro

Stark made us a drink that is sure to keep you warm during these cold nights.

Hot Toddy 2 oz. Jack Daniels Honey 1 cup of hot water 1/2 oz. of lemon juice 1/2 oz. simple syrup Lemon peel garnish

Pour Jack Daniels Honey, hot water, lemon juice and simple syrup into an Irish coffee glass.

Garnish with a lemon peel for decoration.

maxwellsnd.com facebook.com/maxwellsnd twitter.com/maxwellsnd foursquare.com/maxwellsnd youtube.com/Maxwellsnd pinterest.com/maxwellsnd

54

Have you winterized your wardrobe at Fowler's Heritage Company? // Fargomonthly.com

Photo courtesy of Plains Art Museum

Expires 3/1/14

Buy any regular priced beer or drink and get one FREE!!

Excludes pitchers and discounted drinks or specials. One drink per person, per day.

Fargo

Upcoming Show

Sat. Feb. 15 at The Venue

At m o s p h e r e

Interview by Andrew Jason |

Photo by Rhymesayers Entertainment | Live photos by Ben Gumeringer

Thanks for taking the time to do it. We appreciate it.

Thanks for wanting to do it.

Tell us about what we can expect from your show.

Nudity. Full-frontal nudity. (Laughs) That’s a tough one. I can’t imagine why anyone would come if they’ve never heard of us. I’ll give it a shot though. We try to make you smile a lot and laugh. We also want you to cry, just a little though. Not too much. We would like it if you danced. We want you to keep in mind that there’s other people near you dancing so a controlled form of dancing is what we’re aiming for. We actually succeed from getting that from some of the people.

I guess one of the things about coming to our shows is that it’s not so much just about staring at what’s going on on-stage.

For a new person I would say don’t just pay attention to us. Watch everything around you. Watch the other people around you because our focus is not ourselves. The focus is the whole room. The whole vibe. I like to believe that we’re a part of the sum and everybody else that’s in there - all the

56

kids and all of the parents that bring them and all of the custodians that work in the building — are all a part of this evening.

I’d like to get everybody as involved in it as possible. A lot of times it doesn’t even require that much prompting. People have a tendency to get involved in it on their own.

I don’t even have to tell them to throw their hands in the air.

I was younger “ When I had no idea what life as a 41-year

old would look like. I didn’t even know that they still allowed you to rap at 41. I’m still in awe that I’m allowed to have this job.

Even in Fargo, ND where everybody’s so reserved?

“

Especially in Fargo, ND. We’ve had a great streak in Fargo for the last seven or eight

At what local bar did you cheer on your favorite Super Bowl team this year? // Fargomonthly.com

years. Maybe even longer. My memory’s not like it used to be. It might be longer. Fargo is an amazing town to play… The people there really know how to let their hair down and have a good time. I think that, in a way, that’s how we do in the northern part of the country just because, now I’m going to lump Fargo into a basket with Minneapolis, a lot of us northerners, we don’t get a whole lot so when we get something we go in. You know what I’m saying? It’s not like Chicago or LA where they get something everyday.

We don’t get something everyday so when we get an opportunity to kick it, we kick it really hard.

When you got started in your career, why did you stick around Minnesota? There can’t be much of a demand for what you’re doing up here.

There are so many different angles to that question. I’m going to speak on the behalf of myself because I know you framed the question as ‘you guys.’ Technically there’s a group of us. It’s not just Ant and me but with Rhymesayers, our label, I can speak on behalf of the label, so there’s so many

aspects to that question so I’m going to speak on behalf of myself.

My family’s here. I didn’t really want to leave my family to go out to LA to be a small fish in a big pond. I was already at a particular age where I already had a son and it didn’t make sense to me. I thought to myself that I could do this and still try and keep it at home. If I can’t get it done by keeping it at home then screw it man I’ll just get a job. There are a lot of jobs here. I’m sure you can somewhat relate to that. I don’t know man; I didn’t get that calling that you need to go to New York or LA to make it. It’s like ‘Really? Because the rent out there’s three times the amount and making it out there is a lot different than making it here.’ As an artist it’s not always about making a bunch of money. The main point is to figure out how to make your art and still manage to put a roof over your head while you’re doing it. It’s a lot easier to do here and the real estate’s cheaper.

After you’ve traveled around and achieved your success, do you appreciate this area more?

I definitely now have the resources to do what I want so it’s easier to appreciate this area, especially considering that I can go sit on a beach for two weeks if I want to.

When I was younger I couldn’t do that because I was broke. It was the grind. Now when the deep freeze comes, I can leave if I want. I don’t really find myself leaving although I probably should take advantage of that more often. My point is that now that I’ve accumulated some resources and wisdom to what is out there and what I could be doing it does feel good. It’s validating. It doesn’t necessarily mean that I take those opportunities when I should but it does feel good. As of now I have no intentions of leaving. I still consider this to be my home base.

But, I’m not going to lie; I am starting to realize that life is pretty short. In fact, life might be too short not to live on a beach for at least 10 years. Who knows, man? At a certain point I may retire in San Diego or on a beach somewhere. I can’t call it. I’ve never been that good at projecting my next five weeks yet alone my next five to 10 years. I really don’t need to leave. Everything I need is right here. This year especially. I’ve had the opportunity to hibernate pretty much the whole winter because we had a new child several weeks ago so we haven’t really left the house much. It’s kind of been a good time. We’ve had fun playing with Legos with my preschooler and kicking it in the house with my wife and we have family coming to visit all the time. It’s kind of like a non-stop holiday.

As a rap artist you’re now talking about staying at home with your kid and playing Legos. You recently turned 41. Did you every see yourself ending up like this?

Fargo

Upcoming Show

I was actually just having this conversation with a friend yesterday on the phone because both of us are 41. We toured together when we were in our 20s. The thing that we both agreed on was that neither of us had an idea of what 41 would look like. In fact, I never even stopped to consider 41. It’s not like I thought that I was going to die in the street before 41 or that I was going to die of an overdose. I didn’t think I was going to die, I just didn’t think about living either. When you’re younger like that I think you have this luxury of not looking towards the end. Not looking past your own nose. Mortality is not a concept that you really have to negotiate or reconcile. No man. When I was younger I had no idea what life as a 41-year old would look like. I didn’t even know that they still allowed you to rap at 41. I’m still kind of in awe that I’m allowed to have this job.

“

Rap culture is really important for a number of reasons. It does keep a lot of people informed.

It keeps a link and tie between the havenots through a form of art.

“

58

To be honest, this is a young person’s job. I know that.

Somebody asked a question about a band out of LA called Odd Future and asked me what I thought of them. I said that I think they’re great. He said ‘really? You like their albums?’ I said that I don’t know their albums. They said, ‘Well how can you think they’re great?’ I think they’re great because of what they are. I don’t agree with everything I’ve seen them say in interviews and I don’t even agree with some of their stances but the bottom line is that they’re scaring old people. I think that’s what rap music is supposed to do.

When I was a kid and I listened to Eazy-E, I know that the older people in my life were worried about me. They were like, ‘Why is he listening to this music?’ I turned out OK. I needed that music as a kid to inform me that I wasn’t the only person who felt mad or felt like I wanted to write on walls. That music connected me and bonded me to people who felt that way - to people who didn’t trust the police or authority. I was that kid. If we didn’t have that for kids now, I’d be worried about rap.

Rap culture is really important for a number of reasons. It does keep a lot of people informed. It keeps a link and tie between the havenots through a form of art. There’s an art form that havenots link together.

You can’t say that about painting. You can’t say that about the fine arts. You can make that case for some films or TV but I’m glad that there’s a music there that keeps it lit.

It’s also a youth movement. At 41 I’m not

supposed to necessarily be a part of that movement. But, there’s still a place for me. I’m not going to complain about that because I love it. I want the job for as long as they’ll let me keep it. I am in awe that we still let people my age keep it.

It’s funny. I think about the rappers I loved as a kid. As we sit here and talk today, I’ve already had a long career and most of the rappers that I idolize are the kids. That’s something that kind of freaks me out. It’s my new freakout. It’s me going ‘Whoa. I’ve accidentally defined what success means to me.’ It didn’t have anything to do with money and it didn’t have anything to do with cars and it didn’t have anything to do with cake or pie. It didn’t have anything to do with the typical things you think. I don’t even like lobster, bro. It had everything to do with the fact that I’ve managed to be able to do something that I love to do for 20 years. In another three years I will have been self-employed for 20 years. That’s amazing to me. Not just self-employed.

I wasn’t selling weed man; I was selling music. To me that’s a huge thing to me. Now that I’ve figured that out I can stop being freaked out by the fact that all my favorite football players are 10-15 years younger than me.

What’s next for you?

That’s a good question. We are at the end of finishing another project. I’ve got a couple other things on my plate that I’m working on as far as music goes. I’m going to spend the next couple years touring and going back and forth between being on the

Happy Hour 2-7pm (Mon-Fri) Great Drink Specials Half-Priced Apps

road for a month to coming home for a month. I want to get as much touring done as possible because, like I said, I don’t know how long they’re going to let me have this job. I don’t want to wake up one day and realize that I didn’t take advantage of my opportunities to spread my garbage. In the same breath I don’t want to not take advantage to not hangout with my kids. The new future is just that. It’s the balance of working and home.

Do you have any particular highlights or any favorite songs?

I have a hard time with the ‘What song is your favorite?’ or even ‘What album is your favorite?’ My problem with all this stuff is that it’s impossible to even articulate this stuff. I have to compare it to your relationship with your children. I’ve got 600 children basically. Some of them are smarter than the others, and some are more attractive than the others, and some are complete assholes, and some are idiots but I love them all because they all came out of my nuts. I love all of them in my own way just as much as I’m frustrated by all of them. I can’t really say that I have a favorite. It depends on the day. Fortunately, I’m at the tail end of wrapping up an album so my favorite album is this new one. Not because it’s better than any of the other ones but because it’s newer to me and fresh. It still has that new album smell. I don’t really know how to honestly tell you. I can always bullshit you and tell you that ‘Sunshine’ is my favorite song because that’s what fans like to hear because that tends to be a fan favorite. Or I can go the other direction and say that ‘Live Fast, Bleed Slow’ is the best one because most fans don’t even know. The honest answer is that I don’t really have a favorite. I’m proud of all of them but I’m also embarrassed by all of them.

Where did the name Atmosphere come from?

We used to smoke a whole of weed. At one point we decided to call ourselves Urban Atmosphere. It was ’91 or ’92. It only lasted a year, thankfully. We realized that the word urban was becoming overused. We heard that word pop up on the news and dialogue.

It was like ‘that’s a very heavily used word.’ So we dropped the word urban and just stuck with Atmosphere.

There’s no real reason. It just sounded cool. Urban Atmosphere sounded cool to us and then it started sounding uncool. Can you imagine if we were still called Urban Atmosphere? How stupid would that be? When it started to sound uncool we dropped urban and atmosphere sounded cool. I always liked it because it was a word that left it open to interpretation. The funny thing too that a kid will point out to me is that ‘Well, you guys are called Atmosphere, but you’re called Slug and the other guy’s called Ant. They’re both not insects but they’re both creatures that are close to the ground and it’s like what does this all mean?’ It’s like ‘None of it means anything.’ I wish I could lay out some science to why we did this, and here’s why we did this and here’s what we were thinking. It sounded cool, which is what rap music should be.

You can find more info on Atmosphere at rhymesayers. com/atmosphere. Tickets can be purchased at jadepresents.com/atmosphere-fargo.

Full food menu served 10am-10pm Daily (11am Sunday)

27 Tap Beers 60+ Bottle Beers

701.271.0092

.

301 3rd ave N Fargo, ND

Inside the howard johnson hotel

Fargo

Music Event

Making

Dreams

Come True

Women, pick up your guitars, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to sing your hearts out. The Celebration of Women and Their Music is back.

By Andrew Jason | Photos courtesy of Celebration of Women and Their Music

T

he Celebration of Women and Their Music is coming back for its 17th year.

Started in 1998 by Deb Jenkins, this several day event hopes to empower women in their pursuit of a musical career.

The event brings together women who are interested in music from around the Fargo-Moorhead area as well regional and national acts. One of the main goals of the event is to give away several awards to local area women high schoolers.

Over the last 17 years, the event has expanded rapidly. “We strive to uphold the vision she had, which was to give exposure to women in the arts in Fargo-Moorhead,” said Rosie Sauvageau, Vice-Chair of the event.

For more information on the event, go to debjenkins.com/celebrationofwomen.html or like their Facebook page by searching Celebration of Women and Their MusicFargo. Tickets are available at tickets300. com/celebration-of-women-fargo.

This year, several acts are scheduled to perform at the main event on Feb. 15 at the Fargo Theatre.

60

Who's your favorite big-name artist that has or will hit the FargoDome this year? // Fargomonthly.com

Andra Suchy (Minneapolis, MN)

Raised by folk musicians, Suchy lives in Minneapolis, appears regularly on “A Prairie Home Companion” and performs original music that offers a twang-tinged mix of country, rock, folk and blues.

Caroline Smith (Minneapolis, MN)

The Detroit Lakes native’s music – which includes her latest release, “Half About Being a Woman” – has been described as a sound that merges ‘90s R&B with neosoul from her indie-rock roots.

Chastity Brown (Minneapolis, MN)

Hailing from Tennessee Brown is said to channel songs “that are borne deep in the American bone, the hunger, desperation and confidence that runs through our times.”

Fancy That (Fargo, ND)

This acoustic duo is comprised of Kari Dallmann and Beth Garland, both of whom are women in their twenties who write, compose and perform their own music as well as covers. Fancy That relies on twopart harmony to produce their signature sound, which ranges from old-school blues to straight-up pop.

Schedule of Events Thursday, Feb. 13

Pre-Show

HoDo Lounge

8:30 p.m. Music

Jo Mahler (Vergas, MN)

Mahler has been playing African-style marimba music from Zimbabwe since 1997. For several years, she was a member of Dancing Trees Marimba Band and Rubyfruit Marimba Band from Portland, OR. Pictured from left to right: Nita Velo, Jo Mahler, Geralyn Lyseng

Mary Cotton Marshall (Breckenridge, MN)

Mary Marshall is a classically trained freelance musician, composer and former Concordia College piano professor who owns OmniPress Publishing & Coach House Records in Breckenridge, MN.

Ages 21 and up, No Cover Artist: D Mills and the Thrills and Sliver Daggers

Friday, Feb. 14

Pre-Show

Listening Room

Doors 6:30 p.m., Music 7:30 p.m.

All Ages, $10 cover Artist: Audra Suchy

Friday, Feb. 14

Pre-Show

HoDo Lounge

8:30 p.m. Music Ages 21 and up, No Cover Artist: Reina del Cid

Saturday, Feb. 15

VIP Event Studio 222

Reina del Cid (Minneapolis, MN)

Described as “the-way-more-talented-thanyour-girl-next-door,” this Fargo native is a self-described “nerd rocker” who used the money earned in academic awards toward recording her first album, “Blueprints, Plans.”

4 - 5:30 p.m.

All Ages, $55 Includes wine-tasting, artist meet and greet and seating in the reserved section for the Main Event at the Fargo Theatre Artist: TBD

Saturday, Feb. 15

Stephanie Goetz

Main Event Fargo Theatre

(Fargo, ND)

5 p.m. doors, 6 p.m.

Music

You may know her as your nightly Valley News Live TV news anchor, but you've probably never seen or heard her like this. She honed her vocal skills by watching her mother closely - who has been singing for decades - and performing in countless stage performances.

All Ages, Tickets $15 $20 (additional fees may apply) Tickets available at the door or at tickets300.com

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Fargo

Music

Seth Holden’s

music SPOTLIGHT

When I moved back to Fargo in the Summer of 2005, one of the first groups I started playing with was a group called The Mindfunk All-Stars. It consisted of myself on drums, Adam Hofland on percussion, two future Sovereign Sect bandmates, Aaron Peterson on guitar, Chris Shoemaker on keys and bassist Jed Bontjes. How this group formed is a little hazy, but if memory serves me correctly, I believe that Jed had a gig booked for his band Jedeye Mindfunk at a local Fargo establishment and several, if not all his band members, were unable to make the gig. Not wanting to cancel the date, he called upon the aforementioned musicians and we all agreed to join him. The only hurdle we had was that it was very close to the day of the show and none of us knew any of his material.

Since we didn’t really have the time to learn everything, we simply decided that we were just going to get on stage, start playing and see what happened. It was the complete epitome of playing improvisational music.

You might guess that it was a disaster, a complete musical defecation in the audience’s ears, an insult to the venue owner and an absolute embarrassment to us. On the contrary, everyone enjoyed it and we had so much fun that we gave it a name, The Mindfunk All-Stars, and continued to play shows for several years.

There is something exhilarating about playing a show that is completely improvisational. There are no rules, structure or expectations. There is no argument on whether or not a song was played correctly, a change was missed or a song was played too fast or too slow.

This band actually began writing songs, learning covers and rehearsing. We ended up ditching all the material that we wrote and stopped rehearsing because we felt that it ruined our shows by restricting the freedom and stripping the essence of why we continued with the project.

The more intriguing part of playing improv is not necessarily the freedom, but what that freedom can offer you as a musician.

One thing it produces is an increased sense of confidence as a musician. It takes a decent amount of confidence to walk out on to a stage, perform in front of people and not have a clue what will happen from one minute to the next.

More importantly, that confidence is increased when things go well and this increased confidence can be used to make oneself a better musician.

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Another ecstatic aspect of playing improv is the opportunity to have open musical dialogue. Music is a language and playing improv is much like having a debate or a discussion with several other people.

You don’t know what the other people in the conversation will say. They don’t know what you will say. It is their reaction to what you say and your reaction to what they say that help the conversation along. If everyone is listening and is decently educated on the topic at hand a great conversation can be experienced.

The same is true when playing improv.

Engaging in live musical conversations can do wonders for your ear as a musician.

But the best thing about getting on a stage and ‘winging it’ is the heightened sense of euphoria that comes with having no plan and everything magically working out. The musical connection you feel with others when things are just ‘clicking’ is amazing. Don’t get me wrong, there is a great feeling that comes with working really hard to learn a piece of music, whether by yourself or with bandmates and finally nailing it, but it does not compare to having your heart and soul connected to another human being’s through playing music that has never been played before and will never be played the same again.

I feel that every musician should inject a little improv into his or her lives. I firmly believe that my time playing improv with

Have you ever checked out JT Cigarro's oyster and martini bar? // Fargomonthly.com

the Mindfunk All-Stars helped develop my musical skills more than anything I have ever done as a musician. Whether it is on the stage, jamming in a basement, around a campfire or even something as simple as sitting in on the infamous festival drum circle, playing improv can really help you develop as a musician. It can give you confidence, improve your ear and increase your creativity by giving you new ideas that you hear from those around you.

Most importantly, it’s just plain fun, and isn’t that why we play in the first place?

There is something exhilarating about playing a show that is completely improvisational. There are no rules, structure or expectations.

seth.holden.722@gmail.com

Seth Holden is a local promoter and drummer for several local bands.

Music Calendar

Fargo

Live Music February 2014 | Live Shows

The Aquarium

226 Broadway, 2nd Floor (above Dempsey’s) Downtown

Bar Nine

1405 Prairie Pkwy #301, West Fargo

Cadillac Ranch

2525 9th Ave. S. (Inside The Hub) South Fargo

West Fargo

8th - White Iron Band 20th - The University 11th - Cheap Time 27th - The Pat Lenertz Trio 13th - DJ Abilities 14th - Kumncyde 15th - Celebration of Women in Music 19th - Pontiak 21st - People’s People 22nd - Circle of Heat 23rd - Mitis 25th - Ava Luna 26th - The Casket Girls 27th - Dead Meadow 28th - Kinetix

7th- Cold Hard Cash 14th- Troubadour 21st- The Roosters 28th- October Road/Luke Bryan Pre Party

The Key to the Music City.

Tell us who your favorite local act is by emailing info@spotlightmediafargo.com.

Downtown

West Fargo

South Fargo

Moorhead

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Fargo

Music Calendar

Dempseys

226 Broadway, Fargo Downtown

8th - Rock Paper Scissors 14th - Poitin 28th - Boys of Summer

Maxwells

1380 9th St. E, West Fargo West Fargo

6th, 13th, 20th, 27th - Dave

Ferreira Trio

Staff Picks Favorite Local Venue

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Hotel Donaldson

101 Broadway, Fargo Downtown

6th - Rogue Valley 9th - Singer Songwriter Showcase 13th - D Mills & the Thrills 14th - Reina del Cid and the Citizens 20th - Deb Jenkins Band 27th - Heavy Is The Head

O’Kelly’s

3800 Main Ave, Fargo South Fargo

7th - The Neptune Men 14th - The Plow Boyz 21st - The Troublemakers 28th - C.O.D.

Andrew Jason Pickled Parrot

Have you completed the Spicy Challenge at Spicy Pie yet? // Fargomonthly.com

JT Cigarro

4554 7th Ave. S, Fargo West Fargo

5th - Mike Holtz Band 7th - Scotty G Band 8th - Tune in Tokyo 14th - Valentines Day Bad Weather Burlesque Show 15th - Back for More 19th - Lars and Joe Pony Show 21s t -Ciro & Topher Show 22nd - Q5 Band 28th - Special Guest

Pickled Parrot

505 3rd Ave. N, Fargo Downtown

7th, 8th - Save Me CJ 14th, 15th - Ska Skank

Redemption 21st, 22nd - Van Ruins 28th, March 1st - Tune In Tokyo

Brent Tehven FargoDome

Music Calendar

Radisson

Rick’s

201 5th St. N, Fargo

2721 Main Ave, Fargo

Downtown

South Fargo

14th - Vibe 22nd - Jimmi and the Band of Souls

7th, 8th - Miss Chevious 21st - Chaos in Question 22nd - Dead Horse Trauma

Spirit Lounge

Speck’s

2611 Main Ave, Fargo

3803 13th Ave. S, Fargo South Fargo

South Fargo

7th, 8th - Twice as Hard 14th, 15th - The Troublemakers 21st, 22nd - Double Forte

7th, 8th - Redline 14th, 15th - Ciro & Topher 21st, 22nd - Tune in Tokyo 28th - 24Seven

Mike Dragosavich Shotgun Sally’s

Fargo

Shotgun Sally’s

1515 42nd St. S, Fargo South Fargo

7th - Maiden Dixie 8th - Copperhead Creek 14th - Dream League 15th - 32 Below 21st - Tripwire 22nd - Shalo Lee 28th - Chris Brooks

VFW Downtown

202 Broadway, Fargo Downtown

7th, 8th - Troublemakers 14th, 15th - 40 Watt 21st, 22nd - C.O.D. 28th, Feb. 1st- Road Trip Radio

Paul Hoefer Windbreak 65

Fargo

Music Calendar

Crossing The Line for 22 years

Feb. 6th - 8th

VFW: West Fargo

Sean Kent

308 Sheyenne St, West Fargo West Fargo

Feb. 13th - 15th

7th, 8th - Wise Guys 14th, 15th - Jacked Up 21st, 22nd - Gun Shy 28th - The Roosters Bengt Washburn

Feb. 20th - 22nd

Windbreak

Elliott Threatt

3150 39th St. S, Fargo South Fargo

Feb. 27th - March 1st

6th, 7th - Tracy Blake Project 8th - Boomtown 14th, 15th - Good For Gary 16th - Saving Abel with Black Lite District and 3 Years Hollow 20th - 8th Hour 21st - Sweet Siren 22nd, 23rd - October Road 27th - Contention 28th - Brat Pack Radio

Charlie Wiener

for tickets:

218-287-7100 Inside the Moorhead Days Inn off 8th St. & I-94

Tracy Nicholson Basies

600 30th Ave S

.

Moorhead, MN

courtneyscomedyclub.com

Thurs: Shows Start at 8 pm (Must be 18+)

Open Mic. After Main Show - Sign up at 9:30 pm

Fri/Sat: Shows Start at 8pm and 10:30pm (Must be 21+)

Fargo

Event Calendar

Events February 2014 | Event Calendar

Arts

Music

Gruesome Playground Injuries Arts

6th - 8th, 13th - 15th, 20th - 22nd at 7:30 p.m. and 16th at 2 p.m.

Nightlife

Community

Bone Thugs - N - Harmony Music

7th at 7:30 p.m.

Family

American Heart Association National Wear Red Day Community

7th (all day)

This Rajiv Joseph play is a litany of injuries acquired over 30 years by main characters Dough and Kayleen. The two met in the nurses office as 8-year olds. The play will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday between the dates listed above. For ticketing information, go to theatreb.org.

One of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time is coming to The Hub. Their 1997 hit “Tha Crossroads” won them a Grammy. They are also the only artists to do acts with Eazy-E, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G. and Big Pun. Doors open at 6:30 for this all ages show. For ticketing information go jadepresents.com.

Nationwide

Theatre B

The Venue at The Hub

7 16 M a i n A v e , F a r g o

2525 9th Ave. S W, Far go

Justin Timberlake Pre-Party

Justin Timberlake Concert

Nightlife

Music

Sports

National Wear Red Day is the American Heart Association’s special day to raise awareness about heart disease in women.

They encourage everyone to wear red, raise their voices, know their cardiovascular risk and take action to live longer, healthier lives. Learn more at goredforwomen.org/wearredday.

Diane Alexander in Concert Music

7th at 4:30 p.m.

7th at 8 p.m.

7th at 7:30 p.m. and 8th at 2 p.m.

Join the pre- and post-Timberlake concert festivities at The Hub and catch a shuttle to the FargoDome. No suit and tie required.

Visit thehubfargo.com for more information to reserve your spot.

Timberlake will be stopping at the FargoDome on his 20/20 Experience World Tour to perform hits that range from his days in ‘N Sync to his current hits like “Suit and Tie” and “Mirrors”. Tickets and more information can be found at fargodome.com.

Concordia College Christiansen Recital Hall

The Hub

2525 9th Ave S W, Far go

FargoDome

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Nationally-recognized Soprano Diane Alexander teams up with Tenor David Hamilton to perform a variety of hits ranging from classical to Broadway.

9 01 8 t h St . S , H v i d s t e n H a l l o f M u s i c , Moorhead

Diane Alexander in Concert

Justin Timberlake

Bone Thugs - N - Harmony

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Fargo

Event Calendar Go Pink with the Dragons

25th Annual Sweetheart Ball

The Nerd Arts

7th, 8th, 13th-15th at 7:30 p.m. and 9th & 16th at 2:00 p.m.

Music

7th at 9 p.m.

Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre presents “The Nerd,” a tale of two veterans with a surprising “twist” ending. The play, directed by Lori Koeing, leads to one uproarious incident after another. Go to fmct. org for more information.

The man in black may be gone, but his music lives on. Check out Cold Hard Cash, a Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three tribute band at the Cadillac Ranch for your fix of classics like “Ring of Fire” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” Tickets and more information can be found at thehubfargo.com.

The Stage at Island Park

Cadillac Ranch at The Hub

333 4th St. S, Fargo

2525 9th Ave. S W, Far go

Teen Pool Party

25th Annual Sweetheart Ball

Family

8th from 6:30 - 9 p.m.

This free pool party for middle school and high school students is a great way to get out of the house and hang out with friends. Swimming, dancing and contests will be offered. Free food provided!

Go to fargoparks.com for more information.

Fargo South High Swimming Pool

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Cold Hard Cash

Community

8th at 6 p.m.

The Sweetheart Ball is the largest benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley. This enchanted evening is filled with dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions and a short program. Reservations are required. For more information, visit rmhcfargo.org.

Holiday Inn

Go Pink with the Dragons Sports

Awesome Art Afternoon Arts

7th from 6 - 8 p.m.

8th from 1 - 3 p.m.

As part of MSUM’s double-header with Augustana, the Dragons will be sponsoring a Go Pink night in honor of breast cancer awareness. The women’s basketball team will play at 6 p.m. and the men’s basketball team will play at 8 p.m. The night will include a Go Pink Silent Auction.

Bring your kids to enjoy an afternoon of creativity, art and fun while building take-home projects. All art materials will be provided. Adult supervision is required. Go to fargoparks. com for more information.

MSUM Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse

Robert D. Johnson Recreation Center 11 0 4 2 n d A v e . S , F a r g o

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Annual Nordic Gala Community

8th at 7 p.m.

This fundraiser will benefit Nordic Culture Clubs in presenting the Annual Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival. Tickets are available at the Hjemkomst Center, Stabo Scandinavian Imports and ScanDesign.

They are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Go to downtownfargo. com for more information.

Hjemkomst Center

202 1st Ave. N, Moorhead

3 8 0 3 13 t h A v e . S , F a r g o

Is your suit and tie pressed and ready for Justin Timberlake? // Fargomonthly.com

FM Roller Derby: Pretty in Pink Sports

8th at 7 p.m. he FM Derby Girls are at it again, but this time with an ‘80s flare! Adult tickets are $12. Tickets for kids between 6 and 12 are $7 and kids 6 and under get in free. For ticketing information, go to fmderbygirls.com

Fargo Civic Center 207 4th St. N, Fargo

Destination Anchor Island Family

9th from 1 - 5 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon filled with Caribbean music, water games and prizes. Adult supervision recommended because the shallowest depth is 4.5 ft. $2 per swimmer. Go to fargoparks.com for more information.

Fargo South High School Indoor Pool 18 4 0 15 t h A v e . S , F a r g o

Rock of Ages Music

11th at 7:30 p.m.

Get ready to relive the ‘80s with the songs of Journey, Styx, Twisted Sister and many more from this fivetime Tony-nominated party musical. Tickets and more information can be found at fargodome.com.

FargoDome

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Kids Klub: How Fudge is Made Family

10th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

This free event is for kids to come see how the famous Scheels fudge is made.

Meet at Gramma Ginna’s Deli inside the Fargo location. Come ready to learn and come hungry!

Scheels

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Giving Hearts Day Community

13th (all day) Spread the love by participating in the sixth annual Giving Hearts Day, a 24-hour online give-athon to support charities of North Dakota and western Minnesota. Dakota Media Foundation or community donors will match gifts from ten to four thousand dollars. Go to impactgiveback. org for more information.

Region wide

Fargo

Event Calendar Founders Scholarship Gala

Valentine’s Dining Experience

Welcome To Minnesota Tour with Atmosphere and More

Photo by Ben Gumeringer

Wine About Winter & Sweet Treat Stroll Community

Community

Chucks Custom Rod Class Community

13th at 5 p.m.

14th at 5:30 p.m.

14-16th at 6 p.m.

Take an evening stroll downtown and enjoy wine sampling, sweet treats and great shopping at the incredible businesses downtown Fargo has to offer. For more information and a list of participating businesses, visit downtownfargo.com.

The sixth Annual Gala and Auction at MSUM will feature guest speaker Mark Lindquist, an elegant dinner, dessert, cash bar and live music. All proceeds will go toward scholarships. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at mnstate.edu.

Learn how to build your own custom fishing rod from professional rod builder Chuck DeRemer. Class sizes are limited and the $150 cost covers everything needed to build your own rod. Contact Chuck DeRemer at 701361-8910 to register.

Downtown Fargo

Valentine’s Dining Experience Community

15th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Treat your Valentine and yourself to Square One Kitchen’s special Valentine’s Dining Experience with this six course and five wine dining experience. You will also be able to step into the kitchen to learn how it was made!

Register at squareonekitchens.com.

Square One Kitchens 14 0 7 1 s t A v e . N , F a r g o

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Founders Scholarship Gala

MSUM Comstock Memorial Union Ballroom 11 0 4 7 t h A v e . S , M o o r h e a d

Welcome To Minnesota Tour with Atmosphere and More Music

15th at 8 p.m.

Atmosphere, Toki Wright X Big Cats, No Bird Sing, Dem Atlas and Jimmy2times are bringing the 4th “Welcome to Minnesota” tour to Fargo. Go to jadepresents.com for ticketing information.

The Venue at The Hub

2525 9th Ave. S W, Far go

Scheels

15 15 4 5 t h S t . S , F a r g o

Fargo Kiwanis Pancake Karnival Community

15th from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The pancake feed is all-you-can-eat buttermilk or buckwheat pancakes served with special Kiwanis sausage.

Tickets can be purchased at: Fargo Glass & Paint, IHOP, Straus Clothing, Wimmer’s Diamonds West Acres and the FargoDome. Parking is free.

FargoDome

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Which of Fargo's downtown restaurants are you taking that special someone to for Valentine's Day? // Fargomonthly.com

NOW AVAILABLE

TRY A CUBA LIBRE -1.5 oz.of Captin Morgan White Rum -Add Cola and Lime -Serve on Ice

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Fargo

Event Calendar

TobyMac Mike Birbiglia

Photo by Ben Gumeringer

Fargo Force vs.

Lincoln Stars Sports

15th at 7 p.m. and 16th at 3 p.m.

Fargo Force vs.

Lincoln Stars

17th Annual Celebration of Women and Their Music Music

TobyMac Music

16th at 8 p.m.

Committed to continuing his musical career, TobyMac is back at the FargoDome with his new album “Eye On It”. Stop by to hear hits like “Me Without You” and “Steal My Show” from this six-time Grammy winning artist. Tickets and more information can be found at fargodome.com.

The Addicted performers are coming to Fargo with special guests Black Lite District and 3 Years Hollow. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased in advance at The Windbreak.

15th at 6 p.m.

5 2 2 5 31 s t Ave . S , F a r g o

Fargo Theatre

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Unglued: Craft Gala

Comedian Mike Birbiglia

Scheels Arena

Music

16th at 7 p.m.

Come out and support the Force as they take on the Lincoln Stars of Nebraska. For tickets, call 701-364-3672 for the box office or go to tickets300.com. Learn more about the Force at fargoforce.com.

The Celebration of Women and Their Music will be held at the Fargo Theatre. More information can be found at debjenkins.com/celebrationofwomen.html. or by searching “Celebration of Women and their Music-Fargo” on Facebook.

Saving Abel

The Windbreak

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FargoDome

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Almost, Maine Arts

19th-22nd at 7:30 pm

Arts

Nightlife

In the remote and mythical town of Almost, Maine, the residents are falling in love. But in Almost, love is never easy and frequently quite extraordinary.

This work will warm your heart on the coldest winter day. For more info about this free performance go to mnstate.edu.

21st from 5 - 9 p.m.

21st at 7:30 p.m.

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For a night full of crafters, appetizers and jazz, head to the Unglued: Craft Gala. This fun evening will include relaxed shopping as well.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door; this includes one free drink, appetizers, $5 Unglued cash to spend that evening and live jazz.

Plains Art Museum

Comedian and filmmaker Mike Birbiglia is bringing his “Thank God For Jokes” tour to Fargo. His film, “Sleepwalk With Me”, was a Sundance Film Festival Award winner. Tickets for his live show can be purchased at jadepresents. com. This show is intended for mature audiences.

704 1st Ave. N, Fargo

3 14 B r o a d w a y , F a r g o

MSUM Gaede Stage

Fargo Theatre

Red River Valley Home and Garden Show Community

21st from 3 - 9 p.m., 22nd from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and 23rd from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Check out the Red River Valley Home and Garden Show for all your home improvement needs. Exhibits include contractors, flooring, siding, windows and more. Tickets and more information can be found at fargodome.com.

FargoDome

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Have you tried the Humpty Dumpty burger at JL Beers? // Fargomonthly.com

Unglued: Craft Fest

Fargo Force vs.

Waterloo Sports

21st at 7 p.m.

El Zagal Shrine Vendor and Craft Show Community

Come out and support the force as they take on the Waterloo Black Hawks. Call 701-3643672 for the box office or go to tickets300.com.

22nd from 12 - 4 p.m.

5 2 2 5 31 s t Ave . S , F a r g o

El Zagal Shrine

Scheels Arena

Join El Zagal Shrine for an afternoon of fun! There will be 20 different vendors and a silent auction. Visit elzagal.org for updated information.

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Men are from Mars - Women are from Venus Nightlife

22nd at 8 p.m.

Unglued: Craft Fest Arts

22nd from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The one man show based on the New York Times Best Selling Book covers everything from dating to marriage to the bedroom. Lighthearted and hysterical Peter Story stars in this show. This is an adult show. Go to jadepresents.com for more information.

This modern craft fair brings back traditional crafting techniques with a fresh, new flair and lots of Midwestern love. Unglued features over 65 of the area’s best modern handmade artists and crafters with events throughout the day.

3 14 B r o a d w a y , F a r g o

704 1st Ave. N, Fargo

Fargo Theatre

Plains Art Museum

Fargo

Event Calendar

Hairball

Luke Bryan

Fill The Fieldhouse Sports

22nd from 4 to 6 p.m.

During the men’s and women’s basketball games at MSUM, the Dragons will once again attempt to break the Nemzek Fieldhouse attendance record. Past grand prizes have included everything from cars and vacations to cash.

MSUM Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse

Hairball Music

22nd at 8:30 p.m.

Rock out to your favorite tunes from the ‘80s. This is a 21 and up show. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets300. com and are $13 advance and $17 the day of the show. Go to thehubfargo.com for more information.

The Venue at The Hub 2525 9th Ave. S, Fargo

Family Day at The Dike Family

23rd from 1 - 4 p.m.

Join in on the annual sled down Fargo’s famous Dike West for some nostalgic fun. Hot dogs and beverages will be provided. Bring the kids out for this family event! Go to fargoparks.com for more information.

Dike West

310 4 t h S t . S , F a r g o

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Fargo Force vs.

Sioux City Sports

26th at 7 p.m.

Come out and support the Force as they take on the Sioux City Musketeers. This is volunteer appreciation night sponsored by Network Center. Call 701-364-3672 for the box office or go to tickets300.com

Scheels Arena

5 2 2 5 31 s t Ave . S , F a r g o

Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Barber of Fleet Street Arts

27th - March 1st at 7:30 p.m. and 2nd at 2 p.m.

NDSU presents this dark musical featuring all your favorite characters including Benjamin Barker and Mrs. Lovett. Violence, murder and mayhem will prevail. Go to tickets.ndsu.nodak. edu for ticketing information.

NDSU Festival Concert Hall 15 11 12 t h A v e . N , F a r g o

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Have you bought your tickets for the Nordic Gala at the Hjemkomst Center? // Fargomonthly.com

Luke Bryan Music

28th at 7:30 p.m.

You’ll definitely want to crash this party. Luke Bryan will be stopping at the FargoDome on his “That’s My Kind of Night” tour with hits like “That’s My Kind Of Night” and “Drunk On You”.

Tickets and more information can be found at fargodome.com.

FargoDome

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M ISS R OCK ST A R CON T E ST

AT THE HUB WEDNESDAY NIGHTS JAN 29 - FEB 26

FINAL ROUND FRIDAY, MARCH 7TH

PRIZES

INCLUDE VACATION TO PUERTO RICO 2 TRIPS TO LAS VEGAS FOR THE NIGHTCLUB & BAR SHOW CASH PRIZES ROCKSTAR PROMO ITEMS

************************ FACEBOOK.COM/THEHUBFARGO

************************

Fargo

Event Calendar

Fargo Film Festival

Photo by Dan Francis Photography

J&K Marine Boat Show Community

28th - March 2nd Dream of summer by checking out the boat show at the Fargo Civic Center. J&K Marine will fill the hall with some of their best products. The show will last from 12 - 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m on Saturday and 12 - 5 p.m. on Sunday. Go to jkmarine.com for more information.

Fargo Civic Center 207 4th St. N, Fargo

Red River Valley Sportsmen Show Community

Minnesota Inside and Out: Exploring 100 Years of Art in Minnesota

521 Main Ave, Moorhead

3 14 B r o a d w a y , F a r g o

The Rourke Museum

Fargo Theatre

Fargo Bacon and Beer Festival Community

March 8th at 5 p.m.

The Fargo Bacon & Beer Festival brings together the region’s top eateries, pork purveyors and specialty craft brews in a one-day salute to the ultimate culinary match made in hog heaven. Sample over 100+ beers and watch the area’s top restaurants competing to take home the festival’s Squealer Award.

Scheels Arena

5 2 2 5 31 s t Ave . S , F a r g o

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March 4th - 8th

The gallery discussion will focus on 100 years of art in Minnesota. Registration is by phone only. Tickets are $22 and include wine and appetizers.

March 4th from 6 - 8 p.m.

This is the ultimate event for any outdoorsman. Taking up the FargoDome, it will be five shows in one: camping, boating, hunting, fishing & travel with seminars & exhibits at the FargoDome.

Go to fargosportshow.com for all the information.

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Arts

This celebrated full week event is back!

This year will include feature films, animation, documentaries, shorts and local films as well as the popular two minute movie contest. Keep an eye out for surprise guests. Go to fargofilmfestival.org for information and the full schedule.

Arts

March 6th - 9th

FargoDome

Fargo Film Festival

When are you finally going to go check out Würst Bier Hall? // Fargomonthly.com

Send us your events!

If you’re putting on an event, email all the details, photos, website and any other information to info@ spotlightmediafargo.com by the 15th of the month before it happens and we’ll include it in our event calendar.

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2.13.14 Support community-driven permanent solutions to homelessness  Go to www.fmhomeless.org  Click on Donate with Impact

Collaboration + Coordination = Results

Fargo

Photos

high flying entertainment

P!nk rocked the FargoDome last month.

She flew, danced and sang her way around the Dome in this high energy show that concert goers won’t soon forget.

P!nk at the FargoDome Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

To find more upcoming events at the FargoDome, go to fargodome.com.

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Have you cheered on the Bison basketball teams lately? // Fargomonthly.com

Moving Forward

Last month, Myriad Devices threw a party at ecce art & yoga to celebrate the fact that they are changing their name to Myriad Mobile and opened an office in Minneapolis, MN and Atlanta, GA.

Myriad Mobile Downtown Party Photos by Phil Gregory

To learn more about Myriad Mobile, go to myriaddevices.com.

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