Inspire(d) Magazine, August/September 2010

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theinspiredmedia.com

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an experiment in positive news.

No. 22 AUG/SEPT 2010

inspire(d) inspire.

Fresh positive news inside!

Time is running out! Pick your favorite shows and subscribe

center stage series 2010–11

by August 27 to get a 10–20 percent discount and premier seating!

center for Faith and Life, Luther college, Decorah, iowa

Danzón! Luna Negra Dance Theatre and Turtle island Quartet

Saturday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.

$23, $21, $15 Individual tickets available Sept. 2.

A bold, spectacular new work of Latin-inspired ballet partnered with intrepid explorers in strings.

Sponsored in part by the Luther College Diversity Council

American Brass Quintet Friday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.

$22, $20, $15 Individual tickets available Sept. 2.

An acclaimed 50th anniversary performance by the “high priests of brass” TickeTs: http://centerstage.luther.edu, 563-387-1357, boxoffice@luther.edu

Seed Savers Exchange

Tomato Tasting September 4, 2010 Decorah, Iowa Over 35 Heirloom Tomatoes will be available to taste, vote for your favorite!

Seed Saving Workshops, hay wagon rides Great Food for Sale Great Music Salsa Contest sponsored by Oneota Coop—contest rules and entry forms available soon at seedsavers.org or oneotacoop.com

HARVEST FESTIVAL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2nd!

All event details at seedsavers.org or call 563.382.5990 3074 North Winn Rd. Decorah, IA 52101

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER contents 2010

GOOD STUFF TO READ

CHEF ON THE BLOCK: DOUGLAS DAHLGREN

14

IT’S ALL WOOD: ARTIST PAUL LAMBRECHT

20 24 31 36 38 40 43 46 48

page 14

PLANT THE DREAM; GROW HERE DIG IN - CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE page 24

THE LAST DOWNLOA(D) FALL FESTIVAL ROUND-UP WALK THE WALK

page 31

(d) inspire

MISSISSIPPI MIRTH: THE SMOKER HEALTH CARE DEALS! PROBITUARY: GALE LUDEKING

the inspire(d) media

...and more!

Cover photos/illustration by Aryn Henning Nichols

1

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

GET UP AND DANZÓN!

04 10

INSPIRE(D) LOVE(S) LETTERS

A simple act today can make a substantial difference tomorrow.

Wouldn’t it be great to give a substantial gift to the organizations you care about most while staying true to your budget?

With a gift of life insurance, you can. It can be an affordable, easy and flexible way to make a difference.

For more information on planned charitable giving and the life insurance qualification requirements, call today.

Kate Rattenborg Financial Associate

218 E Water St Decorah, IA 52101

563-382-1801

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its respective associates and employees cannot provide legal, accounting, or tax advice or services. Work with your Thrivent Financial representative in collaboration with your attorney and/or tax professional for complete details.

21822C R4-07 200702999 ©2010 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Classes for Textile Enthusiasts!

Norwegian Busserull Carol Colburn September 10-13 Norwegian Flag Quilt Jill Amdahl October 22-24 “Norwegian Handknits” Project: Rosemaled Shag Bag Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel December 2-3 Check vesterheim.org or contact dweston@vesterheim.org or 563-382-9681 to register today!

Northeast Iowa Regional Memory Walk September 18 West Union, Iowa

Decorah Ts

by RAYGUN

Its OK, Lutherans, you can laugh. Try it...and leave the guilt behind!

Feels good, doesn’t it?

Available at:

Fancy Pants Bring in your stuff!

Rien de nouveau

(nothing is new)

Fancy Pants has expanded to bring you an exclusive consignment shop.

Now accepting consignment items of all types: Fall/Winter men's and women's quality clothing, accessories, purses, shoes, Prom dresses, kitsch, antiques, furniture, art, jewelry, custom t-shirts.

Preserving a heritage. Connecting us all.

523 W. Water St., Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-9681 • vesterheim.org

411 West Water Street, downtown Decorah 563 382-8898 • www.fancypantsonwater.com

a bit about the editor

I

know I’ve started a letter like this before, but I am so flippin’ excited! I actually just wrote Benji, who is on the road being awesome as the Program Director of Celebration Iowa, an email that said, “Hooray for everything!” Dorky, yes. But this magazine has been a bit challenging with my partner-in-all-thingswonderful being gone, but despite all that, it’s GOOD! From stories about big dreams to tips on getting great health care deals – insurance be damned – to the kickoff of a new season of Center Stage Series at Luther College and TONS of great music and festivals all over the tri-state area. C’mon. It’s exciting.

I can hardly believe autumn is approaching, school supplies are in stock, and even some leaves from the giant maple tree in our yard are beginning to fall. Fall! It’s so fun.

Here are a few of the things I’m excited about: Hawkeye Football (sorry Cyclones…if I’ve lost a few readers…I’ll miss you).

Hearing the marching band practice here in Decorah in the afternoon (I was a trumpet…at Iowa too!). Random, I know...but I love it.

The 2nd Annual DigIN: the Decorah Iowa Green INitiative – this is such a great weekend, and on top of all the great tours and events, JJ’s Paydirt Zydeco Band is playing that Saturday, and I love me some good Louisiana dancin’.

The Super Swanky Launch Party at the Hotel Winneshiek September 17, announcing the winner of the regional arts council naming contest (details on page 19). I’ve been at the forefront of this re-branding project, working hand-in-hand with the current Decorah Regional Arts Council president, Lisa Lantz. We’re so pumped about this party, and hope you will put your thinking caps on if you’re reading this before August 15 – we want all the name ideas you’ve got!

Harvest time! Our garden got a little (LOT!) unruly this year, I’ll admit that. But hey, my house is clean! That aside, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed CSA Saturdays or heading to the Farmers’ Market to check out what’s ready and looking tasty. It’s pretty much high tomato time now, and that means Seed Saver’s Tomato Tasting event (September 4) – you get to try more than 35 heirloom tomatoes! Plus there’s hay wagon rides and seed saving workshops and a salsa contest! Sweet.

(d) inspire

th in m

Co-founders: Aryn Henning Nichols / editor & designer Benji Nichols / totally awesome dude & ad sales (& husband, support team, etc)

We couldn’t do it without: Jim McCaffrey / Mississippi Mirth

Jason Stonerook/ the Downloa(d) Kristine Kopperud Jespen/ contributor Lauren Kraus/ contributor Susie Clark/ contributor Danielle Koch/ contributor

Inspire(d) Magazine is published bi-monthly by Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Aug/Sept, 2010, issue 22, volume 3, Copyright 2010 by Inspire(d) Magazine.

support inspire(d) Although Inspire(d) is free on the newsstands, you can have it sent to your door for only $25/year. Email aryn@theinspiredmedia.com for a membership or visit theinspiremedia.com for more info.

Write inspire(d)

I’m also delighted that we have a letters page this issue – we’ve gotten some really great, really humbling feedback in the past six months, and we wanted to share some of the notes with you all. We can’t thank you enough for your loyal readership.

Want to make a comment about something you read in the magazine?

Email aryn@theinspiredmedia.com.

So how about you? What are you excited about?

Interested in advertising?

Contact Benji at benji@theinspiredmedia.com or call 563-387-6290.

Looking forward,

Aryn Henning Nichols

3

Inspire(d) is printed with soy-based ink on partially recycled paper

LANESBORO ARTS CENTER

WE

Lanesboro, Minnesota

WANT TO WRITE US A LETTER? TELL US YOU LOVE US, TELL US YOU DON’T – EITHER WAY, EMAIL ARYN@THEINSPIREDMEDIA.COM OR MAIL TO: INSPIRE(D), 412 OAK ST., DECORAH, IOWA, 52101.

CONCERT AT THE ST. MANE THEATRE:

Kent DuChaine Delta Blues

Friday, Aug. 13, 7:30 pm $12 / $10 LAC members in advance or at the door 206 Parkway Ave N.

LETTERS!

We are visiting relatives in Cresco and picked up a copy of Inspire(d) after a great meal at McCaffrey’s. Great magazine! Plenty of ads and info on local happenings, and best of all, interesting editorial content. You’ve certainly boosted my opinion of the Decorah area. If I lived here, I’d be sure to always have a current copy on hand.

Your advertisers should be very pleased.

Keep up the good work!

Don Diddams, US Virgin Islands Aryn,

UPCOMING EXHIBIT AT THE GALLERIES:

I’ve been coming to Decorah since 1995 or so – due to my mate, Ann Hjelle’s family connection to Siewer’s Springs. And of course, I always root around for the mags, newspapers, journals, etc. that might clue us in to “what’s happening” while we’re there & in the area. Though we like to luxuriate out at the old brick house, mental flossing in the woods around the bluff, being from The Big Apple [or more precisely, Hoboken, NJ, right across the river] we need our share of Arts & Culture.

Wood Sculpture by

Paul Lambrecht

“Sculptures from the Forest” Aug. 14 – Oct. 17 Artist Reception: Saturday, Aug. 14 6-8 pm Free to the public!

103 Parkway Ave N.

Hence, this trip I was pleased to happen upon the June/July issue of Inspire(d), which among other things, turned me on to the Perfect Edge opening & Richard van Genderen, which was delightful. I also happened to seek out the previous copy & saw your piece on Anoushka, who I’ve known since she was a little girl – I’ve known Ravi since the mid 1970s though I’ve listened to his music since the 1960s...

Since I had some hot off the press copies of the latest Raga Records CD & you professed liking sitar, I couldn’t help playing Santa & drove up to the Oak St. HQ where, alas, I didn’t meet you, however I delivered a copy of maestro Nikhil Banerjee’s Madras Concert to your partner, Benji. I do hope you’ve gotten to listen & enjoy the wonderful genius of the legendary musician.

All the Best to you both!

Ira Landgarten, Hoboken, NJ

CONCERT AT THE ST. MANE THEATRE:

Ed. note: Thanks, Ira – the CD is great!

Galactic Cowboy Orchestra

Aryn and Benji,

Country rock jazz bluegrass swing folk!

Enclosed is $25 for a subscription to Inspire(d) Magazine. We used to subscribe, but then I got “putzy” and just started picking up my free copy. Then I realized that just as I never download music for free, or as I support public radio (and don’t expect it for free), I wanted to invest in your very worthy endeavor. You’re going a great thing for Decorah! Keep up the inspiring work.

Cheers – Janeen Christy, Decorah

Friday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. $12 / $10 LAC members In advance or at the door 206 Parkway Ave N.

507-467-2446 www.lanesboroarts.org

4

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! We can’t believe we’re printing 8000 magazines and getting so much wonderful feedback! Awwww.

Lots o’ love, Aryn

LUTHERAN 3-DAY FESTIVAL OF WRITING IN DECORAH Creative writers will gather, present readings of their work, and lead discussions about writing and the writer’s life at “The Vibrant Word: A Lutheran Festival of Writing,” October 29 through 31 at Luther College in Decorah.

The event celebrates literary work by practicing Lutherans, Lutheran writers teaching in non-Lutheran colleges, writers at ELCA colleges, and a range of editors and publishers. Through readings, lectures, panel discussions, and an open-mike event, the three-day festival aims to support and encourage writers, and to cultivate a community of writers and readers in the Lutheran world.

“The Vibrant Word” is the second triennial festival. The first festival was held at Luther College in 2007.

Festival registration is open now until Friday, October 22. Registration fee is $95, with an additional $25 for the Saturday evening banquet. Luther community members receive discount prices.

For complete prices and registration information go online to: reason.luther. edu/lutheranfestivalofwriting/register.

This year’s festival keynote speakers are Robert Cording and Rene Steinke.

Cording is the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants in poetry, and Steinke’s novel “Holy Skirts” was finalist for the National Book Award.

Keynote events will be open to the public without registration.

Fiction writers new to the festival in 2010 include Mark Mustian, David Oppegaard, Pamela Johnston, and Thomas Maltman.

Poets participating in the conference for the first time include John Graber, Barbara Crooker, Cass Dalglish, Philip Bryant, Diane LeBlanc, Vince Wixon,

Susanna Childress, Katy Giebenhain, Joe Wilkins, Cary Waterman, and Steven Schroeder.

Other writers reading their work include creative nonfiction writer David Faldet and returning drama and fiction writers Nancy Barry and Walter Wangerin.

Other presenters returning from the 2007 Lutheran Festival of Writing include creative writers Lauri Anderson, Jill Pelaez Baumgaertner, Jill Alexander Essbaum, Gary Fincke, Carol Gilbertson, Gracia Grindal, Patrick Hicks, Robert Schultz, Paul Shepherd, and Amy Weldon.

The Reverend Norene Smith, co-pastor of Bay Shore Lutheran Church, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, will preach at the Reformation Day service Sunday morning. Smith was campus pastor at Luther College from 1991-97.

The Festival’s panel discussions will include “Art, Idea, and Belief,” “The Past as a Foreign Country,” “Networking for Readers and Writers,” “A Sense of Place” and “Thoughts on Editing and Publishing.”

The 2007 conference brought more than 250 people from 21 different states and three countries to the Luther College campus.

“This will be an amazing event. At the last festival, there was such talent and energy, such generosity and good will among the presenters and attendees, and this fest promises to be just as vibrant,” says Carol Gilbertson, professor of English and director of the festival. “These are all fine writers who seek to write poems and stories – novels and memoirs – that give shape and meaning to our lives. Each of us needs good stories and good words in our lives.”

The Lutheran Festival of Writing is sponsored by the Luther College Lutheran Festival of Writing Endowment and hosted by the Luther College Department of English.

For more information about the Lutheran Festival of Writing visit www.LutheranFestivalofWriting.org.

Photos, from top: Lutheran Festival of Writing keynote speaker, novelist Rene Steinke; Lutheran Festival of Writing keynote speaker, poet Robert Cording; Director of Lutheran Festival of Writing, Carol Gilbertson.

FPU Membership Kit included in program cost

A Practical & Entertaining money management course In just 12 weeks, learn new financial behaviors & gain control of your money.

Starting in Decorah August 26 Thursdays from 7 - 9pm at the Hotel Winneshiek

Entire course just $98.95 You, your spouse & teens living in your home may attend as one family unit.

Intro video & weekly sessions list at decorahbank.com Facilitated by Johanna Kittelson, Decorah Bank & Trust Co.

RSVP to Johanna by 8/13/10 at 563.382.9661

Plus: Receive a coupon upon completion to use toward a savings account at Decorah Bank

Decorah Hatchery HIGH-QUALITY OUTDOOR GEAR HATS • SHOES • JACKETS SOCKS • BAGS AND MORE!

Photo by Decorah Newspapers

World famous manufacturers – small town prices.

Watch for ‘Quality the NEW T-SHIRT

Chick’

406 W. Water Street Downtown Decorah 382-4102 www.decorahhatchery.com

FAMILY FUN FEST SATURDAY, AUGUST 14

AT SIEWERS SPRING FISH HATCHERY NEW THIS YEAR!

FREE KIDS FUN RUN

5K WALK RUN

NOW A TIMED EVENT!

5K PRE-REGISTRATION (by Monday, August 2) Forms available at Decorah Park & Recreation office or online: decoraharea.com

KIDS OBSTACLE COURSE & GAMES!

FINALLY! FAMILY FUN FEST (FABULOUS!) The third annual United Way of Winneshiek County Family Fun Fest will be Saturday, August 14, at the Decorah Fish Hatchery.

This kickoff event is significant for the overall success of the 2010 United Way campaign.

“It’s really an informal and very fun way of giving the community a chance to see the agencies and organizations that are supported by the United Way of Winneshiek County,” says United Way events committee chair Jeni Grouws. “Community members will see that when they support the United Way, they directly support our local community. And they’ll have a lot of fun in the process.”

This year, the organization is needed more than ever.

“Our local agencies that benefit from your United Way contributions have seen an increase in need throughout the county,” says United Way of Winneshiek County President Maureen Yahr. “The money you give stays right in Winneshiek County, supporting our local agencies that help our local individuals and families. Give locally. Support locally.”

United Way of Winneshiek County serves 17 different nonprofit agencies and has set a goal this year of $150,000, the highest goal ever in this county.

Two major changes highlight this year’s Fun Fest – the addition of a Kids Fun Run, and that the 5K Walk/ Run is now a timed event.

“We’re really excited about the addition of the free Kids Fun Run this year,” says Grouws. “It’s less than a mile, so even young children can experience what it’s like to cross the finish line with everyone cheering them on.”

Registration begins at 7:30 am. The free Kids Fun Run will begin at 8 am with the 5K Run/Walk starting at 8:20 am. In addition, a free obstacle course for kids ages 10 and under will be open from 8 am to 10 am.

Other activities include face painting, yard games and pie throwing.

Pre-registration for the Family Fun Fest, which includes a t-shirt, is $10 per person. Registration on the day of the event is $15. Registration forms may be obtained by going to www.decoraharea.com and clicking on the United Way logo. All entrants are eligible in a drawing for a wide variety of prizes. There will also be an awards ceremony for the top male and female performers in the 5K run/walk.

FUN!

For more info about the United Way Family Fun Fest email Jeni Grouws at jennifer@kdecradio.com.

6

fun stuff to do

august Wednesday

Exhibits at Lanesboro Arts Center: Through Aug 8: Landscapes by Sara Lubinski Through Sept 6: Jewelry by Laura Stamper Aug 14 – Oct 17: Sculpture by Paul Lambrecht Sept 18 – Nov 15: Photography by Dan Ruf of wind.

Saturday Celebration at Paul Kaye, the Hatchery, Lawn Chair Night, Ongoing at Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, MN Decorah Fish Decorah CourtPaul Kaye Trio Aug 1, 14, 15, 21, 22, 26, 29: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, 1:30 pm Hatchery, 5-9 pm house, 7 pm w/ Eric Berg & Aug 5, 7, 12, 19, 26: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, 7:30 pm Paul Kaye, Lloyd Bolz, Mon & Fri: Enchanted April, 7:30 pm McCaffrey’s, Free Thursdays August 3-9: Haymarket, 9 pm Aug 14, 21, 28: Enchanted April, 1:30 pm Decorah, 7-10 at Vesterheim!

Sundays: Over the Back Fence, 7:30 pm Clayton County Fair Celebration Iowa finale show, August 5-15: Wisconsin State Fair!

Thursday Night Concerts through August, Trempealeau Hotel Marshalltown, 7 pm Sunday

Monday

1

8

Tuesday

Dawes, Gabe’s, Iowa City (Gabe’s is Gabe’s again!)

2

3

9

10

Down By The Riverside Festival, Mayo Park, Rochester, Edward Sharpe & MN The Magnetic Zeroes, Cabooze, Minneapolis

15 August 1315: Lansing Fish Days, La Crosse Irish Fest, & Lime Springs Sweet Corn Days

Fairy “Chair”ity, 2106 Twin Springs Rd, Decorah, 1-6pm

Open Stage: Featuring Alex Toast, T-Bock’s

Aryn & Benji’s 3 year wedding anniversary!

We’re Talking Hawkeye Football w/ Gary Dolphin, Rubaiyat, 6:30 pm

24

the decorah iowa green INitiative

30 August 30-31: Lady Gaga, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul

18

August 1922: Hay Barn Rendezvous, Marquette, IA

5

12

Miss Havesham, Lawn Chair Night, Decorah Courthouse, 7 pm

Friday

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13

Barn Dance w/ Foot-Notes, Cutting Farm, Rural Decorah, 7 pm Kent DuChaine, blues, St. Mane, L-boro, 7:30 pm

August 12-22: Iowa State Fair!

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19

Guttenberg German Band, Lawn Chair Night, Decorah, 7 pm

August 20-22: Czech Days, Protivin, IA

Aug 19-22: Dear Edwina, Jr., New Minowa Players’ Young People’s Production, NMP Theatre

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Michelle Lynn, McCaffrey’s, Decorah, 7-10 pm Paul Lambrecht Artist Reception, Lanesboro Arts Center, 6-8 pm United Way Family Fun Fest, Decorah Hatchery

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Running on the Wild Side 5k, Lake Meyer, 9 am Sonny Bryant (of The Platters), Elkader Opera House, 7:30 pm

Blondie & Cheap August 20-22: Dig IN, Green Festival! Decorah Trick, Treasure Island, Red Wing

25 Lynne Rothrock w/ Ron DeWitt, Commonweal, 7:30 pm

dig IN

Charlie Parr, Ed’s No Name Bar, Winona, MN

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KDEC’s Green Expo, Winn. Co. Fairgrounds, 11-4

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Under Our Skin, documentary, DPL, 6:30 pm

Rufus & Martha Wainwright, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis August 10-11: Blue Collar Diaries, Commonweal, Lanesboro, 7:30 pm

16 Patrick Ball, Celtic Harp, Cavagnaro home, Rural Decorah, 7:30 pm

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Thursday

Aug 26: Kenny Rogers, Mayo Civic Center Auditorium, Rochester

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Lou Klimesh, McCaffrey’s, Decorah, 7-10 (Wolfe family benefit)

27 Two Many Banjos, Haymarket, 9 pm

Good Friends, Lawn Chair Night, Decorah, 7 pm

28 Moon Boot Posse, The Popcorn, La Crosse tapes ‘n tapes, The Mill, Iowa City

August 27-29: Great River Folk Festival, La Crosse

31 August 26-September 6: Minnesota State Fair!

fun stuff to do

september Monday

Sunday

Wednesday

Tuesday

1

Ongoing at Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, MN: Sept 2, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, 7:30 pm Sept 4, 5, 6, 11, 18, 25: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, 1:30 pm Sept 3, 9, 16, 23, 27: Enchanted April, 7:30 pm Sept 4, 11, 12, 18, 19, 26: Enchanted April, 1:30 pm Sept 5: Over the Back Fence, 7:30 pm Sept 30: Preview, Turn of the Screw, 7:30 pm Luther College classes start

5

7

6 Labor Day!

Fall classes begin, ArtHaus, Decorah

Billy Bragg, Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

Thursday

2

Don’t Miss Free Thursdays at Vesterheim!

3

ArtHaus First Friday, new work by Ben Moore, 7 pm

Saturday

4

Tomato Tasting, Seed Savers, Decorah

Big Daddy Cade & Scissor Sisters, the Blues Masters, Epic Event Haymarket, 9 pm Center, Minneapolis The Nadas, Fry Fest, Coralville

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8

Friday

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Sept 9-10: Blue Collar Diaries, Commonweal, Lanesboro, 7:30 pm

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Danzòn, Center Stage, Luther CFL, 7:30 pm

September 10-11: Dance Performance, “Solo,” ArtHaus, 8 & 10 pm Iowa vs. Iowa September 10-13: Clarks Grove Harvest State, at Iowa City Fest, Harmony Park, Geneva, MN

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September 10-12: Steam Engine Days, Mabel, MN

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14 The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Mill, Iowa City

Min Mor, Commonweal, Lanesboro, 7:30 pm

16 The Delta Routine, Haymarket, 9 pm Judy Shepard, speaker, Gallagher Bluedorn, Cedar Falls, IA

17

Super Swanky Launch Party, DRAC rename, Hotel Winn, 7-11pm Bluegrass in the Courtyard, ArtHaus, 7 pm

Sept 17-18: Luther College Family Weekend

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21

The Flaming Lips, The Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul

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Michelle Shocked, The Englert, Iowa City

Sept 24: Taj Mahal, Riverside Casino, Riverside, IA September 23: First Day of Autumn!

26 Open Stage: Featuring Maritza, T-Bock’s

23

Of Montreal, First Ave, Minneapolis

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28

COMING UP IN OCTOBER: 1-3: Northeast Iowa Studio Tour 1, 2, 7, 8, 9: Anything Goes, Elkader Opera House, 7:30 (1:30 matinee Oct. 3) 2: Harvest Festival, Seed Savers, Decorah 8: The People Brothers Band, Haymarket, 9 pm 8: Bill Cosby, Riverside Casino, Riverside, IA 8: OK Go, Lion’s Pause, St. Olaf, Northfield

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24

American Brass Quintet, Center Stage, CFL Luther, 7:30 pm

Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, St. Mane, Lanesboro, 7:30 pm

18

Memory Walk, West Union Dan Ruf Artist Reception, Lanesboro Arts Center, 6-8 pm Dionne Warwick, Mayo Event Center, Rochester

25

Choreography of Douglas Dunn, Luther Jewel Theatre, 7:30 pm

Winn.Wildberry Winery Annual The Bad Plus, Carleton Grape Stomp College, Northfield, MN

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September 24-25: Recession Fest, The Four Tops & Winneshiek Co. Fairgrounds, Decorah The Temptations, Sept 24-35: Boats and Bluegrass, Gallagher Bluedorn, Prairie Island Campground, Winona Cedar Falls, IA September 24-26: Norman Anything Goes, Elkader Borlaug Harvest Festival, Cresco Opera House, 2 pm September 25-26: Rendezvous Days, September 24-October 2: Fort Atkinson, IA La Crosse Oktoberfest

e

com l e W to

CELEBRATE A DECORAH ATTRACTION AND RESOURCE The First Annual “Celebration at the Fish Hatchery” will be hosted by the Friends of the Decorah Fish Hatchery August 7 from 5 to 9 pm. The event is free to attend and will feature a concert by “Big Blue Sky,” free Moo-Mobile shakes and free popcorn. There will also be fly-tying demonstrations, children’s fly-casting contests, fish races and free fish food available to feed the fish. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic-style meal, their own beverages, and they are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for seating.

The event is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the new non-profit organization “Friends of the Decorah Fish Hatchery” and its efforts to improve and enhance the Decorah Fish Hatchery and support its educational programs. The Friends of the Decorah Fish Hatchery is currently raising funds to construct a new interpretive facility with updated restrooms at the Hatchery.

To become a Friend of the Decorah Fish Hatchery or learn more about the efforts of the Friends group, visit www. decorahfishhatchery.org or contact Brian Malaise at 563382-8324 or Paul Berland at 563-864-7112.

RE: RECESSION FEST The recession – by any means – isn’t over yet, and neither is the area festival of the same name. Recession Fest – “a top quality music festival at recession based prices”– will once again fill Decorah’s late summer music festival needs.

Presented by Per Capita Entertainment – Jordan Meltzer, David Polansky (aka Die Sloe), and Kyle Sorenson (DJ Smiley) – the festival is set for Friday and Saturday September 24-25 at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds. The line-up includes everything from the newly-transplanted Decorah resident and singer/song writer Michelle Lynn to Saturday’s headliner: a reunion of local legends of the past, Rearview Mirror. Area favorites Wonder Creek and Die Sloe will also take the stage, along with La Crosse reggae band T.U.G.G., Minneapolis rock bands Throw the Fight and 3 Pill Morning, local rockers Cletus Bo-Dean and Rosie by Day, Winona hip-hop band Verbal Kint, and more.

Food and beverages will be available, and weekend passes are now on sale for $12 in advance or $15 at the gates. Updated band and ticket information can be found on Facebook or by calling 563-379-6277.

9

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Small appliances, cookware, & linens provided

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892 Pole Line Road • Postville, Iowa • 563-864-7304

(between Decorah & Waukon) •www.littlehouseonthefarm.com

& Danzón!

photo by Jay Blakesberg

Get up

Luther College Center Stage kick-off: Fusing Traditional & Modern, Music & Dance

By Susie Clark

A

s a string musician, it was with childlike excitement and anticipation that I dialed the Los Angeles phone number of Mark Summer – cellist and founding member of the Grammy-winning string ensemble, Turtle Island Quartet. Growing up listening to, as well as performing in, multiple quartets has formed in me a deep appreciation for the art of the quartet. I felt a little like a groupie calling “the band.”

The Lamp Post Inn www.innandgallery.com & Gallery

It’s more than a B&B. It really feels like home!

424 Main St., McGregor, Iowa • 563-873-1849 Great for groups up to 40 Baby or Wedding Showers Small receptions or Parties Weddings (garden available) Murder Mystery Dinners “Amazin’ Race” Games

Plan your stay or event today!

Busy Bodies Massage Tappi Hughes, LMT/Owner 210 1st Ave. West Cresco, IA 563-419-4084 tappi_hughes@yahoo.com Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays 9 am to 6 pm

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See it: September 11, 7:30 pm. Danzón, featuring Turtle Island Quartet & Luna Negra Dance Theater Company. Center Stage Series, Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah. Tickets are available September 2.

Details at www.centerstage.luther.edu

C

elebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Turtle Island Quartet’s multiple albums do not feature your typical Mozart or Haydn. Instead, the original arrangements explore the realms of rock n’ roll and jazz – with music by artists such as Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane. More than your typical “cover band,” compositions by these legendary musicians are performed not by saxophone or electric guitar, but by two violins (David Balakrishnan and Mads Tolling), viola (Jeremy Kittel), and cello (Mark Summer). No, Turtle Island is definitely not your average string ensemble. With professional backgrounds ranging from musical conservatory settings to adolescent rock bands, elements of both Carnegie Hall and “garage bands” contribute to the quartet’s unique “classical cocktail” of sound.

“I don’t think there is any group that does what we do,” Summer says. “We are a string group that makes people move in their seats and tap their feet.”

And in the Danzón production, the quartet will do just that. But the audience won’t be the only group moving its feet. The Chicago-based Luna Negra Dance Theater Company brings its distinctive flavor of classical and contemporary dance to the stage. Founded in 1999, the internationally acclaimed dance troupe performs pieces of purely Latino origin. Collaborations with different visual artists, choreographers, and musicians – such as Turtle Island Quartet – create even more layers to the production.

The performance features the work of veteran choreographer and founding dancer, Eduardo Vilaro, along with string arrangements from Turtle Island’s 2001 album also titled Danzón.

The songs range from clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera’s Wapango to the Dizzy Gillespie jazz standard, A Night in Tunisia, which is the show finale and

photo by Cheryl Mann

11

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

for Luna Negra, a complete improvisation. In this song, names are drawn out of a hat to decide the order the dancers will enter the stage, and from there, it’s all up to each individual to make their movements flow – or purposely not flow – together.

“Every night we not only have a different audience, we have a completely different show,” Summer says.

As the dancers shake things up on stage, the quartet also takes their craft to new places as they attempt to “be the music,” in a way.

While performing a Hendrix arrangement, for example, the group emulates an electric guitar. And for Danzón, they must turn their string instruments into a type of Cuban percussion section – imitating the sounds of timbales and other Latin instruments.

“The challenge is straddling the line between being a gimmick and being ground breaking,” Summer says. “Whatever we play, we want to sound like the real thing.”

The production name, Danzón, is also the official dance of Cuba

“As a society we are growing more and more diverse – a form of Latin contra dance. Sticking to the traditional by the day – and cultural backgrounds shape the way we spirit of the music while also adding personal flair is vital to interact as a population,” Naftali says. “This creates a the success of both groups, and an especially good fit for fusion of cultures that mingle together in a contemporary Luna Negra. The company celebrates Latin heritage and world filled with technology and commerce – much the also seeks to navigate through present issues pertaining same way Luna Negra fuses to race and culture. traditional Latin styles with “We explore through dance what HAVE A LISTEN! ballet and contemporary constitutes the ‘Latino’ experience in the 21st Turtle Island Quartet will movement vocabulary.” century – looking at such topics as identity, release a new album, “Have And also much the same diversity, heritage, exile, and tradition,” says Luna You Ever Been…?” August 24, way Luna Negra and Turtle Negra executive director, Joanna Naftali.

2010, featuring adaptive string Island fuse their styles for the The troupe’s choreographers utilize Latino arrangements based upon the performance of Danzón. It’s a and Afro-Caribbean styles depending on their compositions by guitar legend, collision of contemporary and area of interest. But despite the specific Latino Jimi Hendrix. traditional music and dance. slant, the program’s universal themes can be Intoxicating Latin rhythms applied to any culture. might cause you to tap your “One hallmark piece of the show is about the feet. Sultry movements on stage may inspire you to enroll Latino coming of age ceremony, ‘Quinceañera.’ Traditions in tango lessons. Or maybe the Latino influence within such as this exist in all cultures,” says Naftali. “What we Danzón will instill a sense of pride in your given heritage. try to do is to get people to connect with their own identity (I mean, who doesn’t feel a little more Norwegian after and community. By presenting them with a statement of one culture, they can draw upon their own experiences watching the Nordic dancers?) But no matter what, it may be difficult to resist the urge to get up and danzón! and in many ways, they can relate.”

Luna Negra recognizes heritage and tradition as the backbone of an individual’s identity, and Naftali feels Susie Clark is a 2010 graduate of Luther College. As a native remembering and respecting tradition shapes the way we Minnesotan, she is a devoted Twins baseball fan. When not identify ourselves. Equally important, it provides an outline arguing with White Sox fans, her hobbies include playing viola, trail running, and reading. for our relation to others in a global community.

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Chair massages at the Oneota Co-op: Tues & Sat, 12 - 2 pm Friday, 5-6:30 pm

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NORTHEAST IOWA STUDIO TOUR, OCTOBER 1-3

FORGET YOUR PILL AGAIN?

Celebrating the 13th annual Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour, regional artists will open their doors for a behind-the-scenes view into how their art is created. Running from October 1 to 3, this event explores many workspaces that are seldom seen or open to Try something you don’t have the general public. Nestled among the wooded hills and winding rivers are numerous top to think about everyday: caliber, award winning, nationally traveling PARAGUARD (IUD) fine artists. The tour spans a 35-mile MIRENA (IUD) region around Decorah and is Iowa’s first and longest-running tour of artists’ studios IMPLANON in the state. 2010 showcases 42 artists in 33 locations, open daily from 10 am-5 pm.

Traveling through the region, you’ll discover photographers, painters, basket weavers, quilters, silversmiths, a woodcarver, fiber artists, kaleidoscope makers, a book illustrator and binder, These products are FREE at: sculptors, and more. Each artist’s studio space and techniques are as individual as the artist, and experiencing them first-hand is the foundation of the tour. Information about the artists, images of their art, details about the studios such as handicap accessible locations, plus a map and lodging and dining information are available in the tour brochure. Directions, more detailed maps, and GPS coordinates will be available for download at www.iowaarttour.com.

Call today for your appointment: The Tour includes cultural and historic sites as well, among them Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Seed Savers Exchange, and renovated schoolhouses.

Locations in: Decorah, Elkader, Fayette, Plan your Saturday touring to include the “Harvest New Hampton, Postville Festival” at Seed Savers Exchange, featuring seed saving workshops, hayrides, and more. And many artists will be amazing holding raffles for their work in their studios affording breakfast meats, eggs, & vegetables you an opportunity to win art! For more information on & lunch!

Kickapoo coffee & espresso participating artists and the artwork offered, click on “Win Art!” at www.iowaarttour.com. featured artists This free-to-the–public event is self-supporting, funded by artist entry fees, sponsors, grants, donations, and advertising businesses. To obtain a brochure with the ice cream Tour map, call Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors w o n scones & muffins Bureau at: 563-382-2023 or 1-800-463-4692 or email: wanna k agpie m s e tour@iowaarttour.com. For more complete information k a little maggies What m s? u o l about the artists and ongoing events, visit e v r ma Plus Bianco Espresso www.iowaarttour.com.

Learn more online!

1-866-742-3226

Housemade:

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Check us out: Live music: October 15 digIN Poor Howard Stiff!

Mon-Fri 8-8 Sat 8-8 Sunday 8-1:30 for breakfast 118 winnebago, Decorah . 563.387.0593

Magpie coffeehouse

Local:

BLOCK

Intro by Aryn Henning Nichols

DOUGLAS DAHLGREN: SIGNATURES, WINONA

CHEF

ON THE

S

ignatures Restaurant and Visions Event Center is nestled next to Mississippi River limestone bluffs – and a golf course – just outside of Winona, Minnesota. Floor-to-ceiling windows make for scenic, all-seasons views and the food ranges from pub-fare to playful to full-on gourmet. The AAA Three Diamond Rated restaurant serves dinner nightly, Sunday brunch, lunch Monday through Saturday, and lounge food as well.

At brunch, they’ve got crepes, quiche, pesto benedict, oh my! And don’t forget about the chicken pot pie, which you can also get at lunch. That, plus salads, sandwiches with house cut fries, salmon tortellini, and more.

At dinner, why don’t you just go ahead and start off with the gourmet/Kitsch ants on a log? You know you want to. Then maybe move on to the gutsy duck confit pizza or the fun-to-say baba ghanoush. For entrees, go local: the Bullfrog Fish Farm (Menomonie, MN) Rainbow Trout fillet is awesome, and the grass-fed Cowboy Ribeye by Earth Be Glad farm (Lewiston, MN) is “out of control,” says Chef Dahlgren.

Lounge fare isn’t nearly as fancy – grab a burger or a dog…or maybe the coconut shrimp cocktail… before you head out to hit a few balls. Is that how golfers say it? I’ll just stick to food. And interviews. Signatures head chef Douglas Dahlgren is one busy guy – but Inspire(d) managed to catch up with him, where else, but on Facebook.

There he entertained us with tales of microwaved eggs dishes and may or may not have prompted my Googling “foie gras au torchon.” (Basically duck or goose liver, marinated and slathered on toast, FYI. I’d say it in French too.)

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

Name: Douglas Dahlgren Age: 35 Restaurant: Signatures Restaurant & Visions Event Center Number of Years Cooking: 23 years – eight professionally Formal training or live-andlearn?

I worked in the front of the house for a number of years before I made the decision to go to culinary school. I graduated from the Art Institutes International Minnesota. I was working in the kitchen full-time during school so I would say a fruitful mixture of both.

What’s your earliest or most significant memory of cooking or being cooked for?

I was about eight years old. My family had gotten this microwave and it came with a cookbook and some cooking vessels. One of them was this omelette maker that would have made any French chef snicker at the sight. I would make my breakfast of an “American cheese” omelette, toast and “Tang.”

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I even thought I could open a little cafe selling this menu out of our living room. It was, as I remember, quite good.

Why did you decide to become a chef?

I was tired of construction. Roofing in the winter is not fun at all. Playing the guitar wasn’t paying the bills. People were always saying I should look into cooking professionally. So I did, never thought I would be where I am. But, I’ve never been happier.

What’s the best thing you’ve ever made?

Hard question. I would say I haven’t made it yet. A good chef is always striving to learn more, to do things better than last night. It’s like the search for the Holy Grail. Hopefully before I pass on I will have reached that pinnacle to say, “This is the best thing I have ever made!” My Smokey Clam Chowder is pretty damn good though.

Do you have any monumental food fails you’d like to share with us?

A keen wit and a timer can save your [butt].

How about secret food indulgences you don’t normally talk about? Will you tell us?

I love whipped brie and foie gras au torchon. Oh, wait that’s not the dirt you wanted...There are two things from my childhood that I sometimes indulge. White potato bread (with the flour on the crust), butter and miracle whip, Oscar Meyer bologna, and ice berg lettuce. The other is meatball Spaghetti-o’s and Velvetta, eaten with Cool Ranch Dorito’s. Don’t ask. Needless to say I haven’t eaten either in months!

What’s your favorite: Ingredient: I have three.

Fat (duck fat, pork fat, butter, cream, etc.), Salt, and the heavenly animal, the pig.

Dish: I really enjoy Cassoulet. A great cassoulet takes at least two days to make. It’s truly a labor of love. I’ll never forget the first time I had this dish, it was like a lost lover’s first kiss. I’ll never forget it.

Cookbook: The first cookbook I ever read was, “The French Chef Cookbook” by Julia Child. She was an amazing woman.

Random (or not so random) kitchen tool: Your chef knife is everything, and it better be sharp! (continued at right...)

Vegetable: I love sautéed brussel sprouts and grilled asparagus.

Fruit: We grow some amazing apples around here… I was born in the “Apple Capitol of Minnesota.”

massage is good therapy

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Our experts offer women of all ages the most advanced healthcare, from gynecology and obstetrics to screening mammography* and menopause education.

We want to partner with you to make your health a priority.

To find the Gundersen Lutheran clinic nearest you go to gundluth.org.

Are you up-to-date on your wellness checks?

• Annual wellness exam • Yearly mammograms after age 40 • Colonoscopy after age 50, earlier if family history • Bone density test after age 65 • Vaccinations • Laboratory screening (cholesterol and glucose) • Regular eye exams

*Gundersen Lutheran offers mammograms at the Gundersen Lutheran – Decorah Clinic and Palmer Lutheran in West Union.

5 0

american brass quintet see it:

Friday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.

Center for Faith and Life.

F

or the American Brass Quintet, in addition to five (of course!), 50 is the magic number. They’ve performed for 50 years, recorded more than 50 albums, and traveled to all 50 United States. Not to mention Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. In fact, the group has traveled to and performed in practically every one of the world’s major cities, concert halls, and festivals. And on Friday, September 24, they’ll travel to Decorah for the second Luther College Center Stage Series performance.

Dubbed the “high priests photo by Peter Schaaf of brass” by Newsweek, “positively breathtaking” by the New York Times, and “of all the brass quintets, the most distinguished” by the American Record Guide, the American Brass Quintet (ABQ) is undoubtedly one of the premier chamber ensembles in recent history. When the quintet gave its first public performance December 11, 1960, brass chamber music was still pretty new to concert-goers.

But today, their accolades stretch far and wide, and the

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group can even boast the largest brass chamber music discography. Ever.

Playing contemporary brass music right next to more traditional scores has become a trademark of ABQ, along with a serious dedication to education and promotion of brass chamber music. They have been the ensemble in residence at The Julliard School since 1987 and Aspen Music Festival since 1970.

ABQ is currently comprised of Raymond Mase (trumpet), Kevin Cobb (also trumpet), David Wakefield (horn), Michael Powell (trombone), and John D. Rojak (bass trombone).

See the American Brass Quintet perform Friday, September 24 at 7:30 pm in the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther College campus.

Tickets are on sale starting September 2 at the Luther College Box Office, (563) 387-1357, open 9-10:30 a.m. and 11am – 3 pm on weekdays with extended hours on Thursdays until 7 pm. Tickets may also be purchased online at boxoffice.luther.edu.

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Monday-Friday 9-5 • Saturday 9-3 Reusable clothing, books, & household goods. www.depotoutlet.org or find us on Facebook

563-382-2700•105 Railroad Ave•Decorah, Iowa Gently used donations accepted at the back of the building

say my name, say my name

13TH ANNUAL NORTHEAST IOWA ARTISTS’

Written by Aryn Henning Nichols, DRAC member and advocate

The Decorah Regional Arts Council (DRAC) is in the middle of an exciting new rebranding process that is “powered by the people.”

The multi-step endeavor began with a revised mission statement. The new and improved arts council will focus on community building, enabling its members to network, foster partnerships, and create stronger art-related events, cultural activities, and educational opportunities in the region, while still maintaining its nonprofit status and current business structure.

The next step is the “people” part: a naming contest. Since the “artists formerly known as DRAC” want the council to be made of and for the people, they thought putting the new name in the hands of the public would be a great start. Any and everyone has been invited to visit artistsformerlyknownasdrac. com to submit their name ideas. The contest is open until August 15, and there is no limit on the number of names one can submit.

There is also a section that welcomes comments and thoughts for an ideal future arts council.

The council will vote on its favorite name, and the winner will get more than just a pat on the back. They get a prize package filled with mini arts and culture vacations around the region – in towns like Decorah, Lansing, McGregor, Spillville, and even the Lanesboro/Harmony area. For these vacations, the winner will get night stays, gift certificates, restaurant vouchers, and more. It’s basically a five-day vacation – split up however the winner would like.

The new name and winner will be announced at the “Super Swanky Launch Party” Friday September 17 at the Hotel Winneshiek’s Steyer Opera House. The free and open-to-the-public party runs from 7 to 11 pm with a “Kids Dance Hour” from 7 to 8 pm. After the name announcement at 8 pm, the celebratory fun will continue on into the night with a rockin’ deejay. Party-goers will be the first to hear the exciting new name.

The evening will also represent the council’s annual meeting. New board members will be nominated and voted upon. It will also mark the launch of a membership drive and a new website that will act as the arts council’s virtual gallery while also highlighting the membership and helping artists network with each other.

The arts council rebranding project is sponsored by Luther College and Inspire(d) Media, with support from Decorah Bank and Trust and the Hotel Winneshiek.

?

SEE PRIZE PACKAGE INFO ON THE NEXT PAGE!

Click and submit your names before August 15. artistsformerlyknownasdrac.com.

Then come to the Super Swanky Launch Party September 17, where the winning name will be revealed (plus there will be dancing and fun)!

IOWA’S LARGEST AND OLDEST STUDIO TOUR. MANY STUDIOS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ONLY FOR THIS EVENT!

COME UP WITH THE BEST COUNCIL NAME: WIN A SWEET PRIZE!

Oct 1, 2 & 3

• 42 ARTISTS at • 33 LOCATIONS A scenic, free, drive yourself tour all within 35 miles of Decorah.

Many Artists are award-winning and national caliber.

Artwork for sale • Open 10-5

Kaleidoscopes...

Pottery...

Jewelry...

Painting...

& much MORE! Brochure w/map at locations, Decorah Chamber & web-site.

In Decorah... 563-382-2023

1-800-463-4692

17 www.IowaArtTour.com

Featuring fresh-roasted organic/fair trade coffee for all our coffee beverages

& CINNAMON ROLLS THAT’LL MAKE YOUR DAY.

Java John’s • 400 W. Water, Decorah • 563-382-5690

Home-baked bread & treats!

100% fruit juice smoothies & homemade light fare Travel mugs, coffee beans & gift certificates! a Need ea? id gift Free wireless Internet!

Mon.-Sat. 6:30am-5:30pm • Sun. 7:30am-12pm

Nancy Lerdall Open by chance or appointment

Antiquing: it’s not just fun, it’s recycling!

Find an amazing assortment of treasures at:

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The PRIZE PACKAGE, currently worth more than $1,000 (!), will continue to grow up until the Launch Party September 17 (if you’re a business that would like to be involved, please email lisa@luther.edu). Here’s an idea about what’s in the Re-brand Prize Package so far. Enjoy minivacations around your region!

Decorah, Iowa 1 night stay at the Hotel Winneshiek www.hotelwinn.com 1 night stay at Dug Road Inn www.dugroadinn.com $25 gift certificate to Rubaiyat Restaurant www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com $100 gift certificate to Agora Arts www.agoraarts.com $50 gift certificate to Seed Savers www.seedsavers.org $25 gift certificate to Winneshiek Wildberry Winery www.wwwinery.com Spillville, Iowa 1 night stay at D&R’s Old World Inn droldworldinn.com Lansing, Iowa 1 night stay at The Loft in Lansing, Iowa www.lansingiowaloft.com McGregor, Iowa 1 night stay at the Lamp Post Inn and Gallery www.innandgallery.com Lanesboro and Harmony, Minnesota 1 night stay at Lanesboro’s Cottage House Inn www.cottagehouseinn.com 2 tickets to a show at the Commonweal Theatre www.commonwealtheatre.org 2 tickets to a show at Lanesboro Arts Center’s St. Mane Theatre • www.lanesboroarts.org $35 gift certificate to QUARTER/quarter Restaurant in Harmony www.quarterquarter.com Check artistsformerlyknownasdrac.com for updates!

WANT TO HELP? The council – headed by DRAC president Lisa Lantz – is seeking volunteers to help with the launch. Setup crew, party staff, and take-down crew are all needed. Interested parties should contact Lisa at lisa@luther.edu.

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We'll announce the Driftless Area’s new arts council name at 8 pm!

Exciting!

Celebrate

the NEW Regional Arts Council at our: sweet DJ!

r e p u s y k n a sw nch u a l y t r a p 7-11 pm friday FREE!

september 17, 2010

steyer opera house / hotel winn / decorah Kid Dance Party 7-8 pm!

The winning name gets an AMAZING prize!

Hurry! You only have until August 15 to submit your name ideas to help re-brand YOUR arts council!

artistsfor merlyknownasdrac.com Win Hotel stays, restaurant vouchers, gift certificates & more in towns like Decorah, McGregor, Lansing, Spillville, & Lanesboro. Only 1 prize. Only 1 winning name.

the inspire d (d) media inspire

Click.

It’s All Wood.

LANESBORO ARTIST CARVES UNIQUE NICHE IN THE SCULPTURE WORLD

By Lauren Kraus

C

arving wood, for Paul Lambrecht, is as familiar as taking a walk in the park. The Lanesboro, Minnesota, resident remembers creating little wooden boats when he was just 10 years old. And since Lambrecht’s father was the industrial arts teacher at the local high school in his hometown of Watertown, Minnesota, the craft was always very accessible. It truly was love-at-first carving, and Lambrecht hasn’t taken a break since.

The now nationally acclaimed artist honed in on his skill throughout high school, then took classes at the Minnesota College of Art and Design as well as the Minnetonka Art Center. With self-discipline and practice, Lambrecht has found success as a full time woodcarver since 1980, exhibiting his work all over the country.

Fast-forward to 2010. Lambrecht and his family are thriving in Lanesboro and have been for the last 12 years, where he works to achieve the balance between professional artist and all-star family man. Lambrecht makes sure his career doesn’t interrupt any important tasks – like shuttling kids to summer activities.

“Could we take a short break?” he asks politely mid-interview. “I’ve got to take my 7-year-old daughter to kickball.”

Art Show trips are often family affairs too – typically, his wife, if not the whole clan, will travel together as Lambrecht exhibits his work. He attends eight to 10 fairs each year and has shown in over 25 states including major cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, Dallas, Des Moines, Milwaukee and Denver. Most recently, he showed at the Cherry Creek Art Festival in Denver, Colorado, and the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago, Illinois.

“The responses from people at shows inspires me, they inspire me to try new pieces, new ideas,” Lambrecht says. “People laugh and smile at the sculptures and that is a very good thing to see.”

2010 FALL SHOWS!

at center for the arts decorah, iowa

1

2 Choreography of Douglass Dunn, Directed by Dunn, featuring Jane Hawley September 25, 7:30 p.m.

$10. adult / $5. children under 12

o S ee y

Luther College theatre /dance

Servant of Two Masters

by Carlo Goldoni Directed by Robert Larson November 12, 13, 18 & 19 at 7:30 pm & November 13 & 20 at 1:30 pm

u

ther ! e

Tickets @ Luther College box office 563.387.1357 & 1 hour before shows at Jewel Theatre 2010-11 Season details at www.luther.edu/theatredance

The works themselves are made from local basswood that Lambrecht gets from an Amish farm in Canton, Minnesota. He likes basswood because it is readily available and fairly soft and easy to work with. After letting the wood air-dry for one year, he draws the desired pattern on a block and cuts it out with a band saw.

The process continues by shaping the wood with various knives and gouges.

He uses a foredom tool (a wood carving power tool) to work on the smaller details and odd-shaped corners. Great effort is put into sanding the piece, all of which is done entirely by hand.

Once the carving is complete, Lambrecht applies acrylic paint and various wood stains.

Lacquer is then layered, giving the sculpture a shine evocative of stone or glass. Lambrecht typically spends two to three weeks on the larger wooden sculptures and a day on the smaller sculptures, and they are anywhere from a foot to four feet tall. Working solo on every aspect of his pieces, he keeps very busy preparing roughly 75 sculptures for the larger art shows. During long hours alone in the studio, he keeps himself entertained by listening to books on tape

– generally nonfiction travel literature – going through an amazing 100 a year.

Lambrecht’s realistic, detailed sculptures represent his passion for nature, especially birds and frogs. “Being outside helps me recharge; it feeds my artwork,” he says. “I’ll get ideas from seeing wildlife then quickly write them down for future pieces.” He also gathers inspiration from work by other artists. “There are a lot of creative people out there!”

Lambrecht’s pursuit of a very labor-intensive and specific style of wood sculpting makes him a unique artist in this country. His sculptures are incredibly detailed, vibrant, and thought-provoking, leaving the viewer to marvel. Come check out his work for yourself! The exhibit, Sculptures from the Forest, will be at the Lanesboro Art Center galleries (formally Cornucopia) at 103 Parkway Ave N. between August 14 and October 17. There’s an opening reception and a chance to meet the artist August 14 from 6 to 8 pm The exhibit is sponsored by Inspire(d) Media and F&M Community Bank, and supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board. The gallery is open seven days a week: Monday through Thursday 10 am to 5 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday 11 am – 3 pm. Enjoy!

Lauren Kraus was definitely an artist in her previous life and now just daydreams about it. Talking with cool folks like Paul Lambrecht is definitely inspiring!

21

Medicap Pharmacy in Decorah is committed to providing a high level of care.

We offer a Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program that reviews:

Your Medicap Pharmacists: Lori Rissman, Sue Burks and Mark Branum

- Treatment goals

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- Generic alternatives

Our Compounding Services include: - Hormone Replacement

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Call us at 382-8765 for more information.

You know your doctor.

You know your dentist.

Do you know your farmer?

Research has shown that only 9¢ of each $1 spent at a traditional food market goes to the producer, compared to 80-90¢ at a farmers market.

Think of it as investment in your local economy.

t!

Try i Where to �ind Local Food?

• Visit your local farmers’ market • Talk to your area grocers • Use the Local Food Directory to �ind a farmer near you Visit our website: www.iowafreshfood.com, click on Finding Local Food

The Northeast Iowa Food & Farm (NIFF) Coalition is a diverse group of farmers, community leaders, & residents in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, & Winneshiek counties working toward the development & marketing of locally grown agricultural products to enhance the lives of local citizens. The NIFF Coalition is part of the NE Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative – a partner of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food & Community program.

Learn more at www.iowafreshfood.com 120 Washington St., Decorah, Ia

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601 W. Main St. Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-9355 • dugroadinn.com

VESTERHEIM BRINGS MUSEUM TO LIFE PLUS ADDS MILITARY FREE ADMISSION Visitors to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum have the new opportunity to enhance their visit by taking a guided tour of the main building. Mondays through Saturdays at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm, as well as Sundays at 12:30 pm and Thursdays at 6:30 pm, a tour guide is available to share the stories behind the museum’s remarkable collection of 24,000 artifacts.

Haven’t heard of Vesterheim yet? Well you should! “USA Today” named Vesterheim one of “10 great places in the nation to admire American folk art.” This national treasure uses the Norwegian-American experience as a lens to explore the diversity of an immigrant nation. Inside you’ll find a cabin made from a single tree, a sailboat that crossed the Atlantic Ocean, elaborate costumes, colorful painting, silver wedding crowns, woven tapestries, and even intricately carved butter molds.

“The lives of the people who settled this nation were often as colorful as their folk art and their stories speak through the objects they left behind,” says Steve Johnson, Vesterheim’s Executive Director. “Guided tours will bring the museum to life for our guests.”

The usual guided tours of the museum’s Open Air Division will continue through Oct. 31 every afternoon at 1:30 pm.

Vesterheim also offers classes in Norwegian culture and folk art, events, tours to Norway, and educational programs for children and adults.

From May 1 through Oct. 31, Vesterheim is open daily, 9 am to 5 pm; Thursdays until 8 pm. Thanks to Decorah Bank and Trust of Decorah admission is free every Thursday, and from now through Labor Day, September 6, 2010, Vesterheim will also be offering free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families through the Blue Star Museums program, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and museums across America.

For more information on the museum’s exhibits, activities, and membership opportunities, or for a schedule of winter hours, visit vesterheim.org, call (563) 382-9681, or write to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 523 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101.

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YOU, TOO, CAN DO RADIO A note from Adam Wiltgen, KPVL General Manager 89.1 FM KPVL – Northeast Iowa’s new community radio station – now has its main broadcast studio located in downtown Decorah. A second site in Postville serves as a volunteer production and training studio.

The station is seeking community members interested in getting involved with on-air programming. From hosting a show to reporting or announcing news, there are several different ways to become a part of KPVL, and getting involved can be simple and rewarding.

KPVL is focused on helping local residents use the medium of radio to express their thoughts, opinions, and talents. With flexible one-on-one training, as well as access to facilities and equipment for self-led practice, community members can develop – at their own pace – the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to produce or be a part of any type of high-quality radio broadcast.

A large personal record collection or a deep knowledge of a particular music style would be welcomed, but are not requirements. Shows don’t have to be genre specific – someone interested in telling a story could host a music program that crosses genres with a unique theme or narrative.

Programs don’t have to include music either; one could choose to help others tell their stories by producing a public affairs show. There’s also the possibility of an expert in a field like gardening, bicycling, poetry, theater, finance, ceramics, sports, or citizen journalism who wants to tell a story through a weekly segment that may last only a few minutes. Lastly, the savvy local entrepreneur might enjoy the opportunity to simply get their name and voice out into the public by occasionally reading the morning community announcements.

As a regional station, KPVL exists to educate, entertain, and stimulate its audience by building community, connecting people, and communicating the human experience.

Although the station is developing, the support and involvement of interested community members today will fuel the growth necessary for the station to truly fulfill its mission tomorrow.

To learn more about getting involved in Northeast Iowa Community Radio contact the General Manager, Adam M. Wiltgen via email at 891kpvl@gmail.com or by phone at 563387-6920 or 563-864-7549.

These are a few of my

FAVORITE SWINGS

Starting at just $125 • Made locally!

• Efficiently built for reasonable pricing • Curved back & seat for extra comfort • Sturdy, quality lumber for a longlasting swing

Contact Ron for more information: 563-382-5467 or rhenning2003@msn.com

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

Plant

By Kristine Kopperud Jepsen

24

the dream

gro wh ere

z

z

(photo by Aryn Henning Nichols)

Nestled in the heart of historic Decorah

English-style tea room

experience

A Decorah dining tarting a business – virtually any enterprise – takes guts, sweat equity… and money. Sometimes lots of it. But thanks to a new competition for Iowa entrepreneurs, Dream Big, Grow Here, $1,000 of that start-up cash is a little easier to land.

Dream Big is an initiative of MyEntre.net, a community of Iowa entrepreneurs, small business owners, and service providers online, based at the University of Northern Iowa. The contest invites prospective small-business owners over age 18 to submit their business idea through a simple sign-up at dreambiggrowhere.com. Once registered, “Dreamers” – ranging from guitar repairmen to hospice providers – vie online for “votes” each day, with a winner announced at the end of the month.

From scratch daily:

Delightful scones, tarts, & desserts, entrees, soups, salads, & sandwiches!

Tues-Sat: 11 - 3 Store opens at 10

563-382-3795

hartsteaandtarts.com

113 W. Water St. Decorah,

z

25

not to miss!

z

S

Fresh & Delicious

NE Iowa & SW Wisconsin

L VE

All you need to know for food ‘n’ fun An online magazine featuring giveaways, the “food ‘n’ fun calendar” and special offers

Monday - Saturday 8:30 - 8:30 Sunday 10:00 - 7:00

Fresh. local. organic.

• deli • produce • grocery • body care • supplements

• bulk • cheese • bakery • wine/beer

The Grand Opening of the Clay Studio is Saturday, August 28, 10 am to 1pm! (photo by Aryn Henning Nichols).

312 West Water Street Decorah, Iowa 52101 563.382.4666 www.oneotacoop.com

Best selection in town on:

wine. beer. liquor. cigars. kegs.

Open Mon-Thurs 10-9, Fri & Sat 10-10, closed Sun Ask us for a great wine

Jason Duranceau, owner

recommendation!

313 College Drive Decorah, Iowa • 563.382.8300

at Sept. s!

Hau

Art

sept. 3: first friday new work by artist ben moore, 7pm, free

sept 10-11: dance performance "solo" choreographed by amanda hamp, 8 & 10pm, $10/$5 sept 17: bluegrass in the courtyard the blue roots, 7pm, $4, byob

Details online!

www.arthausdecorah.org

“It’s like American Idol meets chain letter,” says July contestant Rachelle Branum, founder of The Clay Studio in downtown Decorah. Between filling sippy cups for her young children, getting outdoors before summer splashes on by, and teaching pottery at ArtHaus (Decorah’s center for creativity of all sorts), Branum found herself online, watching Dream Big’s vote tallies (updated hourly) and wording new pleas for “votes,” e-mailed daily to friends and their friends and their friends.

“I’m a pretty modest person and have a hard time throwing myself out there asking people to vote for me,” Branum admits.

Dream Big program manager Dan Beenken says that’s the point. “You to have your own skin in the game, obviously, because $1,000 only begins to fill the need for capital for small business. Those who are good marketers are going to be successful entrepreneurs, whether they’re proposing a nonprofit or a turning a hobby into something profitable.”

Branum, a Cresco native who studied art education at UNI and made her way in art communities from San Antonio to Minneapolis, is admittedly a little manic about creative enterprises. Since moving to Decorah three years ago with her husband, Mark, and two children, she has built Wise Owl Designs, an eco-friendly line of appliquéd clothing launched with Decorah-native-comehome Lea Lovelace (wiseowldesigns.com). She also

26

makes and sells soywax candles and has begun dabbling in quilting, creating funky pieces to sell on Etsy.com.

But that’s all warm-up, really, for The Clay Studio at 207 Washington Street, Decorah, a community space dedicated to throwing, painting, glazing, and firing clay pottery.

Having scrimped together purchase of a vintage building from savings and some shifts in buying habits, Branum intends the space to host ArtHaus pottery classes as well as any curious walk-in guest looking to start a project.

And she does mean anyone: “Residents who like to dabble or are looking for something fun to do with families and friends, those who have taken a clay class and have the ‘bug,’ Luther students who want to learn more about clay but can’t fit in a 3-hour class, and visitors who are looking for something to do after a bike ride while their husbands are fishing,” she says. “I truly believe everyone has a creative side that can benefit from being nurtured.”

As a medium, clay welcomes both beginners, who might paint a pre-formed piece, and artisans, who start from scratch, Branum says. “We have such a natural draw to clay as humans. It is a material with such a history and can be found nearly everywhere. I remember throwing [pottery] in Mr. McMahon’s art class at Crestwood with clay that he had dug himself here in Northeast Iowa.

Needless to say, my hands were bleeding when I was done from the pebbles in it, but it was a memorable connection to the earth.”

Now Branum has “both feet wet” and is elbow-deep in smallbusiness problemsolving. “I invested in outlets for six [electric pottery] wheels, but at $1,000 a pop, now I need help affording them,” she says, for example. She also plans to restore the historic building’s original murals and facilitate an art ambassador program for

THE OPERA HOUSE PLAYERS PRESENT:

Music & lyrics by Cole Porter

Elkader Opera House OCTOBER 1, 2, 7, 8, 9: 7:30 PM MATINEES: SEPTEMBER 30 2 PM OCTOBER 3: 2 PM For tickets & info: call 563-873-2378, visit Moser Pharmacy, or OperaHousePlayers.com

October 29–31, 2010 Luther College, Decorah, Iowa • Presentations, readings, and panel discussions featuring 18 new and 12 returning authors • Friendly atmosphere, beautiful campus • All writers and readers welcome KeynOte speaKers

Award-winning poet Robert Cording and National Book Award finalist Rene Steinke

StoRieS ANd poemS to illumiNAte ouR liveS Information and registration • lutheranfestivalofwriting.org

The trip from to

Iowa

Algeria is

4892

miles.

The trip from

Decorah to Elkader is

61

miles.

young people, combining creative impulse and community service.

She heard about Dream Big, Grow Here through a business development listserv but archived the idea thinking she didn’t have time to type up the entry requirements. Turns out, there aren’t many, and Branum created her entry “page” in less than 30 minutes (visit dreambiggrowhere.com/vote and search by “Voting Leaders”). Then, she tapped into an expanding network of supporters on Facebook, LinkedIn and other networking sites, reminding each contact that they may vote once per day. Voting ended just as this magazine was going to print - the Clay Studio came in second. But Branum can be reached at rachelle@theclaystudiodecorah.com post-contest, and more information about the studio can be found at www.theclaystudiodecorah.com.

“Dream Big is designed to give anybody with a passion for a business idea a chance,” says Beenken. “It’s a huge avenue for awareness of the challenges of smallbusiness. When ‘voters’ hear what contestants are doing, they’re reminded of the people and processes that make Iowa communities what they are.”

Contestants who don’t win can reapply, and everyone is again eligible for the big giveaway in December 2010 – a shot at $10,000.

B

MAKE THE TRIP.

in.

Make dining an experience again.

Elkader • 563-245-1992 Elkader, IA • 563-245-1992

y that time, another Decorah native and Dream Big contestant, Britney Bakken, will be ready to use it.

Bakken, a farm girl who grew up on home-raised vegetables and meats, competed in Dream Big’s first challenge in June 2010, finishing second by just a handful of votes.

Her business, Eat and Be Merry, will be the local-foods version of Meals-on-Wheels for Decorah-area elderly, families, and residents with disabilities, particularly people re-energizing after hospitalization. (photo by Aryn Henning Nichols) “I believe that healthy food is very important for everyone, but there also times when nutrition is truly essential, when the body is healing,” she explains. She tested her theory in 2007-08 working as a personal care provider for an elderly resident struggling with aphasia (a disorder affecting speech). She began cooking his meals from fresh local ingredients and made sure he got enjoyable exercise outdoors. In two months time, the gentleman’s speech therapist asked what Bakken had been doing to so markedly improve his condition.

She also enjoys the challenge of cooking for special diets. “One older client and I used to arm-wrestle over the salt shaker because he wasn’t supposed to eat much of it. I

28

August:

Trunk Show with

Mashka Jewelry A Siberian born designer, Mashka began her career in fashion as a buyer for one of New York City's most upscale boutiques.

All of Mashka jewelry is handcrafted in the USA from domestic and imported semi-precious stones and fine metals.

Britney’s friend, Hannah Arendt, enjoys fresh, local food too! (photo by Hannah’s mother Alexandra White, Decorah.)

As a founder of Grass Run Farm (100% local meats), Kristine Jepsen is no stranger to the challenges of small-business building. Most of her days are evenly divided between bookkeeping, marketing via phone and the Web, and refilling the coffee pot. Often, though, someone will randomly remind her that, along with her soul, she sells meat that’s tasty, local and very much appreciated. And that’s why she does it.

29

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GETAWAY?

the loft in lansing, iowa

ended up infusing oils with garlic and mixed herbs to coax him to eat vegetables again. He was shocked that they could be so flavorful without salt.”

“In those moments, I realized I could impact and change the health of clients,” she says. “Decorah and the surrounding areas have a large quantity of quality local foods that can better the health and livelihood of our communities – let us cook, eat, and feel better!”

Competing in Dream Big helped Bakken broadcast her idea to potential funding sources and confirm the community’s need for it – a gratifying experience, she says.

Now she’s building clientele, searching out commercial kitchen space, and expanding her knowledge of food and cooking, having enrolled in more nutrition classes. Keep tabs on her progress at www.eatandbemerry.com (coming soon), or contact her at britney_bakken@yahoo.com.

“Any time is a good time to start a business,” Beenken says. “Our Dreamers are believers in what they do, and they’re not waiting for economic or personal timing to be ‘right.’ We’re proud to be a first step in making those ideas happen.”

beautiful Enjoyfalltheleaves from

the quaint village of Lansing, Iowa, nestled between bluffs along the mighty Mississippi.



Great for family reunions, birthdays, weekend trips, & more!

61 North 3rd Street Lansing, IA 52151 For more information & reservations call: 563.382.8546 or email lansingloft@gmail.com

Beautifully decorated

Water view, full kitchen, & WiFi

kdec digIN

expo

2nd annual

GREEN

FREE! OPEN TO EVERYONE! The Green Expo will answer questions & give information to all interested in local agriculture, sustainable living, conserving energy, saving money, reducing environmental impact in ways big & small, & all things “green.”

KDEC Green Expo Education Tent!

11:30: Iowa's Progress As A National Leader in Energy Independence with the Office of Energy Independence 12:30: How to Create A Better World Every Day with Brett Johnson, author of “The Better World Handbook” 1:30: The Winneshiek Energy District with Andy Johnson 2:30: Values & Scale in the Local Foods Marketplace with Chris Blanchard of Flying Rutabaga Works & Rock Spring Farm 3:30: Wind Power for Farms, Schools & Business with Alicia Leinberger of Seventh Generation Energy Systems

KIDS GREEN ALLEY

Let your child explore & learn about “green.” Lots of fun!

FRESH, LOCAL FOOD BOOTHS

PLUS:

with Oneota Food Co-op and more!

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VENDOR BOOTHS:

businesses and organizations from the Tri-State area will answer your questions and offer up sustainable solutions for daily living that will help you and your family live a little, or a lot, greener.

Details at www.kdecradio.com

Decorah, Iowa

August 22, 11 am - 4 pm Winneshiek County Fairgrounds

Can you dig it?

G

fabulous fall!

m

m

Fashion & Accessories from

FUN to FANCY

Margaret’s Clothing

reen can be so much more than a pretty color these days. It’s a sustainable way of living, a monetary growth, and often times, it’s both. At the second annual “Dig IN: the Decorah Iowa Green INitiative,” home and business owners, experts, and volunteers will show you how to bring “green” into your life AND wallet.

Celebrating the Decorah area as leaders in green initiatives, DigIN features off the grid homes and sustainable farm tours, live music, a film screening, an expert-filled green expo, local foods and more. Last year’s kick-off festival brought in nearly 500 registrants from five states, and more than 700 people trekked through KDEC Radio’s Green Expo. The Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau (WCCVB) is delighted to invite everyone back to the Decorah area August 20-22 for this fun and educational festival, this year full of new homes, farms, and ideas on being green.

Jackets, vests, mother-of-thebride & little black dresses, jewelry, accessories, fun boots, & MORE!

dig IN

m

the decorah iowa green INitiative

Celebration of life!

Promoting breast cancer

Clip on one of the cool new DigIN buttons – it’s your pass to all the weekend fun – and tour the countryside and beautiful streets of Decorah learning about bio-diesel, solar and wind energy, hoop houses, community gardening and more. You can even check out a home tour during an audit in progress and see an economic analysis of the savings – an excellent demonstration of how to retrofit a home and finance the upgrades at the same time. Local food will also be on hand throughout the entire weekend at participating DigIN restaurants, each highlighting the region’s wares through special menus. Get to town early to enjoy a tasty meal before DigIN’s official kick off, a screening of “No Impact Man” sponsored by Decorah Bank and Trust.

Register online at digindecorah.com to get your DigIN button, full access to a program guide, and a map for home and farm tours. Registration is $10 for adults and free for kids 18 and under. The first 250 registrants will receive an insulated cooler filled with goodies! Pick up your packet at the Visitors Center (507 W. Water St., downtown Decorah) Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm, or at the Hotel Winneshiek Lobby Friday, from 6 to 9 pm. Find more information at www.digindecorah.com.

Check out the next few pages for ideas on how to spend your DigIN weekend!

m

Join us for

31

awareness & providing free mammograms to uninsured women in our area for more than a decade!

Don’t miss PHENOM this fall!

Check out Margaret’s Boutique on Facebook.

Margaret’s Clothing 210 W. Water St, Decorah 563-382-8208 Mon. to Sat. 9-5 Thurs. ‘til 8 p.m.

Burger \Happy Hour Date Night Restaurant Breakfast Burger \Happy Hour Date Night Restaurant Breakfast

Voted

BEST

Burger \Happy Hour Date Night Restaurant

Breakfast dinner: wed-sat open at 5 sunday brunch: 9-1 lunch: wed-fri 11-1:30 bar menu also available reservations appreciated

563.382.WINE find us on facebook!

Taste the best!

117 W. Water Street Decorah, Iowa

www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com

DiggingIN

By Aryn Henning Nichols

See the official digIN map or go to digindecorah.com for details about homes & farms.

goin’ green is an adventure! We thought we’d help with a few tips and ideas.

I.i’ve Made it to Decorah! Woot!

I couldn’t wait for the clock to hit 5!

I took Friday afternoon off! a.) You’re early. That’s great! Drop your stuff at your Hotel, B&B, or campsite and get out there! This is your chance to check out all Decorah has to offer. Grab your bike or rent one from Decorah Bicycles or Oneota Cycles and hit the trails – mountain or paved. Or put a canoe in the Upper Iowa for a scenic paddle. Not feeling active just yet? Check out the great shops downtown or grab a cup of coffee at Magpie, Java John’s or the Co-op and take in the sights. OR, if you’re feeling the need for some relaxation, get a massage. I would.

I got on the road first thing Saturday!

b.) You left right after work, so you could get to Decorah in time for the festivities.

I bet you’re hungry! Go hit one of the amazing restaurants in town – many are offering special menus full of local fare in honor of DigIN such as Rubaiyat, Albert’s, McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita, T-Bock’s, Hart’s Tea & Tart’s, and the Oneota Coop! See page 35 for details.

c.) You couldn’t get away on Friday, so you’re just arriving in Decorah Saturday morning. That’s cool! We totally understand busy schedules. Drop your stuff in your Hotel, B&B, or campsite, put on some comfy shoes, and head to the Winneshiek County Visitor’s Bureau, 507 West Water Street – there you’ll find all the info you need to get started.

Feed Me!

IV. Which Way Do I Go? There isn’t one RIGHT way to take the DigIN tours, but I gave you a few OPTIONS here. Try one out or be wild and go your own path. So. You say:

“I’m doin’ ‘em all!”

“I only want to do homes.”

You’ve got so MANY options for great food in Decorah, with several highlighting local fare through special menu items created just for DigIN. Check ‘em out on the next page!

“I only want to do farms.”

a.) Nice. I like your stamina. The tours begin at 1 pm and end at 5 pm, so I would get going right after lunch, planning to arrive at your first destination by 1 pm. With a fair amount of driving through the beautiful countryside of Northeast Iowa, it’s a marathon of a day, but so worth it. Here’s what I would do, either forward or backwards: Decorah start/end 1. Kittleson Residence 2. Quick 5-minute stop: the famous Sattre Store! It’s in the middle of nowhere, but they’ve got Spring Grove soda and all sorts of random fun. You’ll pass right by it, so you might as well stop…

3. Rock Spring Farm 4. Rock Cedar Ranch 5. Hart Residence 6. Energy Audit in Progress– Blower Door Demos: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 Decorah start/end (Note: since number 6 is located in Decorah, it could be moved to either end of the tour.)

The second annual Decorah Iowa Green INitiative is this August 20 through 22, and boy, are we excited! Last year one of the most frequent comments from the nearly 500 attendees was, “There was just so much to do, we didn’t know where to start!” As Decorah “junkies,” we here at Inspire(d) thought we’d help you out with a few different directions.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!

FALL FASHION PREVIEW!

button!

Sweet digIN

a) Movies and popcorn? Yes please! No Impact Man is screening at the Hotel Winneshiek at 8 pm. It’s a great documentary following a New York family that attempts to create no impact for one year. They give up TV, electricity, and even toilet paper in this wild experiment. Go early ‘cause registration kicks off in the Hotel Winneshiek lobby at 6 – get your free cooler if you were one of the lucky 250 who registered online early – and grab your cool new DigIN button, the official pass to all the weekend events. Attendees are encouraged to head up to the Opera House for social hour before the film begins – see who is DiggingIN with you, and maybe even coordinate ride-shares for the weekend tours.

b.) If you’re too late for the movie, that’s okay!

Registration continues in the Hotel lobby Friday night until 8:30 pm. Come get your welcome package and plan your weekend fun!

If you don’t arrive until Saturday, head to the Winneshiek County Visitor’s Bureau to register anytime from 8 am to 2 pm.

Cool

II. Register!

IN g i d

III. Good morning, sunshine!

b.) This tour day might be a little short, but it’ll definitely be sweet! I’d do this: Decorah start/end 1. Kittleson Residence 2. Energy Audit in Progress – Blower Door Demos: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 3. Hart Residence Decorah start/end

(This way!)

c.) Well great! I’m glad you know what you like. Here’s my suggestion: Decorah start/end 1. Rock Spring Farm 2. Rock Cedar Ranch 3. Patchwork Green Farm Decorah start/end

Cozy

b.) Did you sleep in? I totally understand. I suggest an easy stroll down Water Street to check out some options for lunch.

Mod

a.) Early birds get more than worms; they get the best veggies, pastries, and flowers at the Farmers Market. And they get to learn about bio-diesel and take a Woodland and Prairie Tour at Luther College! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a blissful morning in the Oneota Valley.

33

211 West Water Street Decorah, Iowa M.T.W.Fr.Sat 9-5 Thurs. 9-8 563.382.8940

Sunday Kids Day!

Weekly Coloring Contest!

Don Jose Mexican Restaurant 

Enter for a chance to win a free dinner!



Authentic Mexican food, cocktails, beer, & wine!

Best margaritas around!

Decorah

201 E. Water St.

563-382-6052 Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm Sun-Thurs: 11am-9pm Reservations accepted

V. Whew! What’s there to do around here for fun?

Saturday night will come faster than you can say Zydeco.

(Can’t say it? Try it with me: zie-deh-koh… good!) Get ready for a foot stompin’, spicy Louisiana dance party at the Hotel Winneshiek Steyer Opera House! Come see JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt band, 7:30 to 10:30 pm, free with DigIN button!

Specials:

Fri: All flavored margaritas only $2.95

Sat: Domestic & Mexican bottles of beer $1.95 Sun: $1.99 Kids Menu

Groups & Parties • Catering • Take Out • Gift Certificates

Movement for Health & Well-Being Change your life today!

Contact Diane Sondrol for more information.

563.419.5420 or taichigrandmadi@msn.com Small group and private lessons available, all are welcome!

Luxury salon & day spa Cuts • Perms • Up styles • Color • Highlights • Facials • Manicure & Pedicures • 60-minute massages • Makeup Consultation & application

303 W. Water Street Decorah, Iowa 563.382.4941

VI. What? There’s more? a.) You early risers, gotta love ya. From 8 to 10 am, take a guided tour of the Luther College gardens starting at 9 am or join in on the Round Table Discussion at Baker Village Commons on the Luther College Campus – begins at 8 am. b.) Don’t fret if you’re getting a later start – there’s still lots to do, with four more tours running from 9 am to 1 pm that could really be put in any order – and all roads lead to the popular KDEC Green Expo! If I had to choose a route, I might go this way: 1. Go Solar Home Tour 2. Tom Massman Construction – tour a brand-new sustainable home 2. Prochaska and Bollinger Farm 3. Winneshiek Medical Center Garden Tour

VII. KDEC Green Expo Running from 11 am to 4 pm, the Green Expo could be sandwiched between tours if you’re heading out of town, or make it an afternoon-long event. There will be indoor and outdoor vendors and exhibits with common sense green solutions on everything from rain barrels to renewable construction methods, sustainable agriculture to geothermal energy, and more. There’s also scheduled speakers in the KDEC Green Expo Education Tent covering a variety of interesting eco topics.

VIII. wow that was cool!

Thank you for coming! Tell your friends about the great time you had in beautiful Northeast Iowa – and check digindecorah.com for 2011 dates!

34

DigIN to local Decorah fare at these amazing restaurants: Albert’s: Located within historic Hotel Winneshiek with a great view of Water Street, this comfortable and classy restaurant is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a great meal. Fabulous, locally grown dishes will be on the menu. Open daily at 5 pm. 104 E. Water St., 563-382-4164 Oneota Community Food Co-op: This full-service deli features a variety of the freshest, local foods from producers right here in the Decorah area.

Enjoy indoor or outdoor seating, or even get a box lunch to go. It’s a social hub you are sure to enjoy. 312 W. Water St., 563-382-4666 McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita: Decorah’s newest restaurant’s Italian menu features a number of items from local producers. Try a pasta dish, salad, or the popular wood-fired pizza, which cooks in just 90 seconds! Located in Twin Springs Park, it’s a scenic stop that’s well worth the short drive or bike ride. Indoor and patio seating are available. 2149 Twin Springs Rd., 563382-4723 Rubaiyat: Check out the farm, then taste the fare. Rubaiyat’s featured dish will be locally produced Rock Cedar Ranch Petite Ribeye with smoked lobster cream sauce and sour cream & chive potatoes. They’ll also feature fresh, local greens and other produce, TBD closer to digIN dates. Make your reservation today! 117 W. Water St., 563-382-946 T-Bock’s: Centrally located in downtown Decorah, this family-friendly restaurant has been a favorite for more than 16 years. They have over 22 tap beer selections, including the local Einfach Beer, and local Farm House Bottled Wines, along many other beers and wines. Local foods include farmfresh eggs for breakfast, Grass Run Farm’s grass-fed, organic beef for the best burger experience around, and tomatoes, lettuce mix and other greens (perfect for great salads and burgers) – all provided by Grown Locally of Decorah! 206 W. Water St., 563-382-5970 Hart’s Tea & Tarts: This traditional tearoom is a charming stop you simply can’t pass up. Make plans for an exquisite lunch with the famous chicken salad croissant, tasty specials, or delicious barley salad – not to mention the best scones and pastries around and a wide selection of tea, fine chocolates, and other gifts. Open Mon-Sat. 10-3pm and located at 113 W. Water St., 563-382-3795

35

303 Sanford St. (turn east at the Family Table)

TROPICAL FISH, SMALL ANIMALS, REPTILES, BIRDS, AQUARIUMS, CAGES & SUPPLIES

Open Monday - Saturday 10 am to 5 pm

ne realtor

make buying & selling enjoyable!

“

Deanna went the ‘extra mile’ to get my house sold, and quickly!

”

– CAROL, MOVED TO CRESCO FROM ST. LUCAS

One call

BUYING OR SELLING

DEANNA STEVENSON A&J PETERSBURG AGENCY

563-380-3377

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How I Got Over by the Roots For their ninth album, the Roots steal the last line from 1972’s Superfly to craft its long-awaited sequel. Channeling the anguished soul of the Chi-Lites and Curtis Mayfield, side one is a fatalistic inner city blues: God is gone, the devil’s on every corner, and no one’s leaving you alone unless they’re leaving you alone. Side two proposes a cure, and it’s not hard work or social activism, but sheer willpower. This is psychological warfare pitting recessionary despair against Obama’s hope with the Roots hauling Questlove’s reliably superb beats and some of their sharpest lyrics yet to the front.

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

Welder by Elizabeth Cook Cook wants a husband so bad she’s bound to marry the next scumbag who so much as winks at her, which is how she ends up in an El Camino (“creepy… in a perv kinda way”) running her fingers through the mullet of the hippie trash who has just drugged her drink. This isn’t to say Cook – a vocal blend of Dolly and Loretta – doesn’t have standards. She simply chooses realism, (“Heroin Addict Sister,”) wise Huckleberry naiveté, (“I could tell it to the movie out in Hollywood,”) and clever turns-of-phrase (“We got these irons in the fire”) over Grand Ole sentimentality.

Brothers by the Black Keys In the 1960s, a lot of British rockers claimed to play the blues, which many real American bluesmen found kind of sketchy. Maybe that’s why Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach recently stated, “When I listen to our records, I don’t hear blues music.” What he probably hears on Brothers is the low-fi buzz of the Animals, the hijacked soul of Jack Bruce’s voice, and a bunch of anguished love songs the Yardbirds could have worked out in the Crawdaddy Club. So what are we to make of the references to Muscle Shoals, Archie Bell, and Jerry Butler? As Auerbach said…

Maya by M.I.A. M.I.A. is the most important pop musician at work today; she’s either Elvis or whoever Elvis was listening to on his way to Memphis. Her newest album doesn’t measure up to its predecessor, but then Kala was one of the top three records of the 00’s. On Maya – a rough but required listen – she unfortunately trades the political for the personal and spends too much time zipping along the wires that stitch together the global village than in the village itself.

Abrasively industrial at times, the album sounds like infrastructure, but stands as a framework to build upon. Choice cut: “XXXO.”

By Jason Stonerook

the downloa(d)

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe Move over André 3000: The future now belongs to Janelle Monáe, who has created a cinematic concept album set in 2719 when an android and a knight flee the ghetto in search of an ark that will carry them to a Zion of love. Like the best sci-fi, The ArchAndroid deals in ideas, and we are chilled to find our problems and hopes still present in the future. Monáe draws from any black influence eclectic enough for her ambitions, whether that’s Sade or Octavia Butler. “Come Alive” fuses art deco swing with funk. “Mushrooms and Roses” should retire Prince. The finale (“BabopbyeYa”) transports the listener beyond fantasy and into a waking modern-day-dream. Oh, and “Tightrope” is the best song about contemporary African-American life since “Gold Digger.” A work of wondrous imagination. Buy on CD for the amazing liner notes.

American Slang by the Gaslight Anthem Springsteen’s the hot influence now, so one could argue these punk E Streeters are merely trolling the turnpike. I don’t mind, though, because they’re a.) Actually from Jersey, and b.)

Good. That, and their lead singer sounds like Paul Westerberg. It’s kind of postmodern of them to romanticize the mythology of Springsteen since the Boss romanticizes mythology all the time, but at least they’re a sincere bunch and wise enough to write an album about how those glory days will pass you by (“Don’t sing me your songs about the good times.”)

Highly recommended for curious Green Day fans.

Street Songs of Love by Alejandro Escovedo A journeyman rock-and-roller from Austin who’s played everything from punk to alt-country to Tex-Mex, Escovedo sticks to straightforward classic rock on his tenth album, drawing equally from Tom Petty, T. Rex, and the Clash. Every song here is about love, but Escovedo is such a romantic tramp that he only seems functional when he’s falling in or out of it; as he sings during “Anchor,” “I’m in love with love/ And it broke me in two.” The rockers are balanced by beautiful ballads like “Down in the Bowery,” which features an excellent vocal from Mott the Hoople’s Ian Hunter.

Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty by Big Boi Setting: The Joel Brasserie, Atlanta, 8:30 Friday night. You’re sitting across from a woman with long dark hair and gorgeous chestnut-colored eyes. You tell her your joke about the lawyer and the alligator and she laughs. It’s been a good date. Just then a man in a fine Italian suit approaches your table. “Excuse me,” he says, “I’d like to buy this beautiful woman a drink.” You’re taken aback, but before you can respond, you see him leaving the restaurant with your date. Your pride, however, is intact. Why? Because that was Sir Lucious Left Foot, son of Chico Dusty.

We Walk This Road by Robert Randolph & the Family Band For their fourth album, the Family Band enlists O Brother, Where Art Thou? producer T-Bone Burnett to connect their modern gospel rock to its roots in the blues and spiritual music. The result is a collection of hollers, foot-stompers, and covers (including Dylan, Lennon, and Prince) that should rattle the floorboards of even the sturdiest wooden churches. Randolph reins in his sacred steel pyrotechnics for this outing, but the band makes up for it with a greater focus on song. Still wish they’d make their Sunday morning message more potent by delving deeper into Saturday night. A must-see live band.

Jason Stonerook is the author of Rock ‘N’ Politics: A State of the Union Address. This is his last column. He and his wife Kim are moving to the DC area where he will begin a PhD program at the University of Maryland. He wishes you the best of luck in your search for good new music.

from Thanks Jason! (d), Inspire

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inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

CLASSIC REVIEW Some Girls by the Rolling Stones (1978) Disco and punk had supposedly rendered them obsolete by 1978, but the Stones specialized in the one element both musical movements had in common: sleaze. Hence this greasy tribute to NYC’s rot and riches. Lowlifes and the haute couture swim in the same cesspool here—compare the rickety disco blues of “Miss You” with the tender S&M ode “Beast of Burden”—and when Jagger yips “Ain’t you hungry for success success success?” on “Shattered,” it’s just as easy to imagine him addressing a Wall Street trader or Studio 54 celeb as it is a Bowery punk, each drooling like a werewolf.

Bored?

Gimme a break!

al Fall Festi u n val Round-Up! 2nd An

I

f you’ve ever heard anyone complain about the lack of “things to do” in our beautiful region, you now have a printed list to quench their thirst (re: shut them up). There are more than a dozen festivals, fairs, and celebrations throughout the next two months that feature everything from sweet corn to folk music, steam engines to sunfish to Nobel Peace Prize winners. Get on out there and enjoy all we have to celebrate!

August 13-15: Fish Days, Lansing, Iowa – www.lansingfishdays.com The Mississippi River comes alive with a “Venetian parade” and revelers do the fish dance.

August 13-15: Sweet Corn Days, Lime Springs, Iowa www.limesprings.com What’s not to love about sweet corn – the staple of summer in Iowa?

Celebrate it!

August 12-22: Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa www.iowastatefair.com This IS the big one – everything on a stick, the butter cow, endless display buildings, music, animals, a giant midway, and more.

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

August 20-22: Czech Days, Protivin, Iowa www.howard-county.com C Z W X N Q S T A C Z - “Can you read this?” the optometrist asks. “Read it?” the Czech replies, “I even know the guy.”

August 20-22: DigIN, Decorah – www.digindecorah.com Decorah hosts the second annual festival of all things green.

Register now and receive a goodie cooler bag – home/farm tours, music, film, green-expo, presentations, DigIN! August 22-23: Haybarn Rendezvous, Marquette, Iowa www.waygoodmusic.com Just when you thought it had been a while since Switchback was in the area – the Haybarn Rendezvous brings some of the midwests’ best music to a fun rural location!

August 27-29: Great River Folk Festival, La Crosse, Wisconsin – www.greatriverfolkfest.org Folk Yeah! The Hobo Newphews of Uncle Frank, Muddy Flats & the Hep Cats, UW La Crosse Campus – sounds like a folk party, eh?

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September 4: Heirloom Tomato Festival, Seed Saver’s, Decorah, Iowa – www.seedsavers.org Over 40 Varieties of heirloom tomatoes for your tasting pleasure – that’s a lot of lycopene!

September 10-12: Steam Engine Days, Mabel, Minnesota – www.steamenginedays.com Inspire(d)’s favorite fall right of passage – watch the “old girls” glide down the gravel roads of the Mabel Steam Engine Grounds, and don’t miss the Lutheran Church Stand Pie – seriously.

September 24-25: Recession Fest, Decorah, Iowa - www.myspace.com/diesloe We give it to this ambitious group of young musicians from NE Iowa – check out two days and nights of local and regional musicians – from hick to haute, Merle to metal.

September 24-26: Norman Borlaug Harvest Festival, Cresco, Iowa www.crescochamber.com Dr. B. has won our wheat hearts and Cresco celebrates it! Jump in on the fun as one of NE Iowa’s most important figures in history is honored.

September 26-27: Froelich Fall-der-All, Froelich, Iowa – www.froelichtractor.com The town, named after the family, is home to the modern tractor – be there to check out a village captured in another century, with modern food and hospitality!

October 2: Uff-Da Fest, Spring Grove, Minnesota - www.uffdafest.com What’s not to love about another festival celebrating all things Norwegian? Head north in your bunad and get your lefse on!

TwentyTen | TwentyEleven | ArtistSeries

Something for Everyone 9|16|10 9|30|10 10|10|10 10|13-14|10 11|14|10 11|18|10 12|17|10 12|19|10 1|21|11 1|22|11 1|25-27|11 2|13|11 3|6|11 3|27|11 4|3|11 4|8-10|11 4|17|11

Judy Shepard, speaker The Four Tops and The Temptations Legally Blonde the Musical The Laramie Project & Epilogue Tectonic Theater Project Bonga & the Vodou Drums of Haiti DRUMLine Live The Ten Tenors A Christmas Carol Nebraska Theatre Caravan Die Fledermaus presented with UNI School of Music Sleeping Beauty Russian National Ballet Theatre The Blue Man Group Cuarteto Casals with Andreas Klein Giggle Giggle Quack Dallas Children’s Theater Van Cliburn Gold Medalist, Haochen Zhang Johnny Mathis Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Boston Brass

Tickets on sale August Two.

Walk the Walk LUTHER COLLEGE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE UPPER IOWA RIVER & DECORAH

By Danielle Koch

It

conviction that life in community has been said depends on centuries of shared that a river has wisdom.” It’s fitting, then, that no memory. If you pick out a the group would read about spot on the Upper Iowa and the history of a river that has hold your gaze, the longer run through the community of you look at it, the more it Decorah for hundreds – if not changes. It runs a restless thousands – of years. pace only satisfied on the The Decorah-based Upstart move, and with that motion, Crow launched in 2002 with goes dirt, rocks, and history, a production of A Midsummer along for the thrilling ride.

Night’s Dream. Since then, David Faldet, Luther the company has opened 24 College English professor and shows and a large range of Paideia program director, workshops for both children went along for the historical and adults. The River Walk is ride of a lifetime as he wrote similar to the Decorah Phelps “Oneota Flow,” a biographical Cemetery Walks Underwood tribute to the Upper Iowa both conceived of and created. It River and its citizens. Faldet is a guided tour with six stations weaves an intricate pattern along the Upper Iowa, taking of stories and local history students out of the classroom, that carries the reader to off the campus, and into the the depths of our watershed. community. At each stop, they’ll On August 29, Upstart gain a new in-depth perspective Crow Theatreworks – of Decorah: their home for the alongside a group of 20 next four years.

Luther faculty, staff, and “At college, you’re expected students – will bring to sit and listen,” Underwood Oneota Flow to life through photo by Aryn Henning Nichols says. “These river walks will give “The River Walk,” a series of the students a kinesthetic experience. Just by moving your performances based from the book. The production was body, you’re jogging your memory.” created by Upstart Crow director Kristen Underwood, The scenes range from a tale of the 1941 flood to a exclusively for the 650 incoming Paideia students. Paideia, depiction of current environmental lawyer Karl Knutsen ancient Greek for education, is a required class that, and his discoveries on the Upper Iowa public water according to the Luther College website, “honors the

“Wooo hooo, I’m going to the dentist!”

Okay…we know you’re probably not going to say that. But we do have cable TV in every room, local art throughout our state-of-the-art facilities, nice views, and, of course, free toothbrushes and floss. Now let’s hear a wooo hooo!

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highway.

“This experience is about connections and commitments,” Underwood says. “From what you read to the river itself, scene to scene, the river connects past to present and it connects you to people.”

The event will conclude with a discussion about water quality. In “Oneota Flow,” Faldet reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has listed Iowa’s waterways as containing the highest level of nitrogen in the USA – during the spring floods, the levels can be as high as 22 parts per million, more than double the rate needed to merely label it a health hazard.

The River Walk experience will allow students to not only connect to their new community and witness the story of the Upper Iowa, but also gain a better understanding of living in a water-dependent world. It highlights the complexity a single river has as a livelihood, resource, and necessity. Underwood hopes the River Walk will open students’ minds to new ways of thinking about what they read and how they apply that knowledge in the world.

Creating this production also opened Underwood’s own

mind to some of the river’s complexities. For example: In a controversy during the 1960s, homeowners whose yards bordered the Upper Iowa filed complaints about fanatic canoers who cut fences to gain access to the river. But technically, the boaters were in the right. Though corporations and private owners claim the land around the river, the water itself is owned by the public. Since then, much of the barriers between water-craving-adventurists have been removed, but a question then remains. If we own this water, Underwood asks, what is our responsibility as stewards? It’s an essentional question, because just as The River Walk connects new Luther College students to the history of the community, the river itself connects the community to the world.

The River Walk will last one and a half hours. Students will start crossing the river at the River View bridge and follow the trail behind the Pulpit Rock Campground. It will include sights like the re-scouted river and the brewery.

Currently, Upstart Crow has not scheduled a public performance. The entire Luther campus community will be invited for a dress rehearsal on Saturday August 28 at 1 pm beginning at Storre Theatre.

Danielle Koch hails from Lakeville, Minnesota and claims herself as an enthusiastic word smashing poet and a part-time collage maker. In her spare time, she attends class and pays her third year of Luther tuition.

Surprisingly, Ken’s biggest wish in life wasn’t what you’d think.

He always wished to dress himself… obviously to avoid outfits like this.

Dress yourself. For all mankind. Even Ken. Kuhl, Keen, Columbia, Levi, Dockers, and more!

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Monday - Friday 9-5 Thursday 9-8 Saturday 9-5

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Specializing in wood-fired pizza & International Cuisine!

Wednesday: Spaghetti & meatballs / kids pizzas Thursday: Prime Rib Dinner Evening Friday: Blackened Salmon Specials!

Saturday: Steak of the Week Pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, homemade cheesecake & more!

Savor the Sweet Life.

IRISH INGENUITY?

By Jim McCaffrey

S

o what does a 220-gallon oil tank rescued from your dad’s salvage yard, a Rambler front-end chassis complete with chrome hubcaps embossed with red letter ‘R’s, and an dilapidated old boat trailer have in common?

Stick around. There’s a story to be told here.

One night after closing last winter, I was sitting at our restaurant bar with Dolce Vita head chef, Mike Domine (aka Mike D.). While sipping on a couple of cold ones, we were discussing the batch of ribs he had made that night and how they could improve.

“You know, we really ought to have a smoker,” Mike D. comments.

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OR JUNKYARD DOG? ...YOU BE THE JUDGE. Now there was food for thought. I dwelled upon it for about three seconds, took a sip of Pinot Grigio, and replied, “Yeah, that sure would be super. Adding some smoke to those ribs would definitely put them in a class of their own.

However, you know as well as I, that Brenda (my lovely wife and the woman who ‘cooks the books’ for our company) – with the current state of the economy – is no way going to let us take 10 or 15 G’s to purchase one of those mammoth boy toys. Mike D. replies, “Yeah… but it still would be nice.”

In the early 1980s, when Brenda and I had the Café Deluxe in Downtown Decorah, our friend and local welding shop entrepreneur, John Beard, built us a stationary barbeque for the outside dining patio. It, basically, was an old oil tank pulled from someone’s basement when they switched to gas for their primary heat source. John cut the tank in half the long way, reinforced the edges with angle iron, and hinged the two pieces.

We went to Carlson Construction, a cement and sand company, and purchased a couple of discarded shaker grates. John incorporated these into a platform on the bottom to hold charcoal or wood and a cooking surface. Pretty much everything in the cooker was recycled. Hey, 30 years ago, we were going green and didn’t even know it!

At the first Nordic Fest we used the cooker, we served barbeque chicken with homemade potato salad and fresh sweet corn. We had people lined up for two blocks after the parade. 400 servings in two hours. Now that was a lot of cluckers.

A few years later, Brenda and I sold the Café. The cooker went along in that transaction. But I had the itch. Barbeque was in the blood. Bigger was better. Visions of grilling for the masses was occurring in my head. My kingdom for a BBQ. One day, after work, I stopped up to see my dad at his salvage yard. Low and behold, there was another oil tank standing out front. That got the adrenaline pumping. “So Dad, what are you going to do with that?” I query. “They

are a real pain,” he replies. “By the time and gas you spend cutting them up you end up losing money.” “Do you want me to take it off your hands?” I ask. “It will only cost you a beer.” A split six-pack later the deal was consummated.

Since John was busy with a large project, I got my brother Pat (welder extraordinaire as well) involved. I wanted this unit to be mobile. Pat pulled the front-end chassis off of an old Rambler from the salvage yard. After modifying it to fit under the tank, he cut the tongue off of an old boat trailer and mounted it to the chassis. A couple more shaker grates and we were ready to rock and roll.

I spent a weekend burning wood on the inside to get rid of any potential oil residue. Then the project got put on hold. I started working at the Calmar Manufacturing Company. I also started building a house. So the rig sat for 25 years.

Back at the bar I say to Mike D., “You know, I think I may have a solution to this little problem. I have that old barbeque cooker down on the bottom that we could modify into a smoker. It will have to wait until spring as it is only buried under 24 feet of snow.” Mike D. replies, “Yeah, that sure would be nice.”

Spring arrived. When the ground dried out, I had Conor, my son, pull the rig out with his pickup. Completely rustcovered, tires rotten, and a missing bottom shaker grate. But other than that, she was cherry. Pat was busy working on his new place and John, our newly-elected state representative, was in Des Moines legislating. So I called a third area welder/fabricator/ friend, Jan Dansdill, to see if he had time to work on our little project.

In the meantime, one of our friends came by to take a look. He had two good used tires in his garage that would fit and he would be willing to donate. Conor pulled the wheels off. When Jan showed up, we were road ready. I explained that besides being a barbeque rig, we wanted to use it as a smoker. We needed to cut holes on the backside and construct a smoker box.

Three days later, after some other modifications and a new paint job, Jan pulled it into the parking lot. He added a couple of wings on the side to hold food and utensils, a new handle made out of heavy-duty truck exhaust pipe, and a chimney with an enclosed damper. A Cadillac of a rig.

Well, almost. Jan left. Brenda to come down to take a

1,566 SQUARE INCHES OF COOKING AREA. ONE HECK OF A WEENIE ROAST.

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

43

Lew's String Shop Repairing guitars, banjos, mandolins, violin family instruments, & more Guitar lessons also available

431 S. Main Street Spillville, Iowa 563-379-0670

Jim McCaffrey is a chef, author, and co-owner with his family of McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita restaurant and Twin Springs Bakery just outside Decorah. He is author of a humorous cookbook titled “Midwest Cornfusion.” He has been in the food industry in one way or another for 40 years.

SINCE 1979

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look, and after explaining the different details, I went into the building to close up. When I came out, the cooker was partially turned over and Brenda was down for the count.

She had decided to shut the hood and it tipped over on her.

Good thing these Bowegians have hard noggins, ‘cause she escaped with just a bump on her head. We added some stabilizer legs and it was finally done. 1,566 square inches of cooking area. Room for 300 hot dogs. One heck of a weenie roast. Smoker works great as well. It has only been 25 years in the works, but as an old buddy of mine used to say, “It isn’t a record.” And for 99 percent of you testosterone laden, bbq-crazed, alpha males, I’ve just one thing to say: “Mine’s bigger……er….. my Smoker, that is.

We even offer radiator work!

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Smoked BBQ Chicken Quarters (serves eight) 8 chicken quarters w/skin on Rub ½ cup no salt garlic and herb seasoning 2 tsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp paprika Sauce 1 cup Open Pit BBQ Sauce 1 cup Pace Medium Picante Sauce Juice of one lemon 2 garlic cloves minced Soak wood chips (hickory, cherry, pecan, apple) in water 2 hours prior to start. Preheat oven at 500 degrees. Rinse chicken off with cold running water. Discard any excess fat. Pat dry with paper towels. Wash hands with soap and hot water. Arrange chicken skin side up in a single layer in a couple 11 x 19 shallow baking dishes. Mix rub ingredients. Generously sprinkle rub mixture on chicken pieces. Gently massage rub into the skin. Place dishes into the oven for eight minutes. This will sear the juices in.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered for another 30 minutes or so. Usually when the juices run clear, the chicken is cooked thoroughly. It is best to check with a meat thermometer. Insert in the deep part of the thigh.

It needs to read 165 degrees minimum. While chicken is baking, prepare outside grill for smoking. If using charcoal, stack briquettes to one side and light. With gas, light a burner on one side. When grill is hot, place wood chips in a small metal pie tin and place directly over heat. When wood chips start smoking, arrange chicken on grill away from the heat. Cover. Let smoke for 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix sauce ingredients. Baste chicken liberally with sauce. Cover again for 10 to 15 minutes. Baste once more and repeat. Time to eat. This is a fast way to get the smoked flavor. One can also just put the chicken on the grill in the same fashion and cook and smoke it from the beginning. This will probably take 3 to 4 hours. Remember the internal temperature must be at 165 degrees to be food safe. Have fun!

Fanciful Fairies for Furry Friends!

Recently, the relatively unknown reporter Fern Barkley met at an undisclosed location with an anonymous winged source to find out about an enchanting occasion that is definitely taking place on August 22nd in the garden.

(pssst: It s the Fairy Chair ity!)

Fern: Welcome and thank you for taking time out of your busy day of frolicking, revelry and general merrymaking talk with me about the 5th Annual Summer Fairy “Chairity” and Home Tour.

Twin Springs Fairy: I am quite happy to be here.

Fern: Please tell me about the upcoming Fairy Chairity. I understand that all the proceeds go to benefit Northeast Iowa’s People for Animal Welfare (PAW).

Fern: Please excuse me, I know I ask this question every year in hope that you may someday share the answer.

Just how you are able to bring so many fairy homes to the garden on this special day?

Twin Springs Fairy: I regret that I still cannot share that fairy wisdom with you. I can say, however, that it takes more than a teaspoonful of pixie dust....

Fern: Well, never hurts to ask. Can you share more details about the tour?

Twin Springs Fairy: Of course! Dear readers, on Sunday, August 22 from 1 to 6 p.m., you are invited to a magical Fairy Home Tour and Exhibit at 2106 Twin Springs Road (across from Twin Springs Park). Actual fairies’ homes from all over the area will appear in the garden and their invisibility spells will be lifted for this special day.

As you enjoy a tour of our homes, some of our favorite chairs will also be on display. You will have an opportunity to bid on extraordinary and charming birdhouses created by human artists under our spell. The silent auction will conclude at 6 p.m. Lemonade and tantalizing treats will also be available for a wee fee.

Fern: How much is admission and can tickets be purchased ahead of time?

Twin Springs Fairy: Tickets are $5 for human grown-ups and $3 for human children 12 and under. Tickets are available Agora Arts, Blue Heron Knittery, The Perfect Edge, and Fancy Pants – all in downtown Decorah. Or you can buy your tickets at the garden gate. We so look forward to seeing you in the garden... though you may not be certain that you see us!

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inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

Twin Springs Fairy: This is one of the most magical events fairies have been a part of in recent history and is my personal favorite. As you know, fairies are quite fond of companion animals and when we heard PAW was seeking funds to build a shelter, we knew we had to find a way to help. A special River Fairy Conclave was held five years ago to bring awareness to this serious need. A royal decree from the King and Queen of the Fairies resulted in several Driftless Region fairyfolk offering to manifest their homes in the Magnuson’s garden to inspire humans to give up some green for this noble cause.

:

An Interview with a Twin Sp rings Fairy

The Top 20 (or so) Area Health Care Deals You’ve (Maybe) Never Heard Of Written/Compiled by Aryn Henning Nichols

inspire(d) magazine • august/september 2010

One rarely hears the words “health care” followed by the word “deal,” but we here at Inspire(d) like to sneak up on our readers like that. The fact of the matter is so many people spend time complaining about their terrible insurance that they don’t stop to consider the options their area hospitals, clinics, offices, and pharmacies are offering.

Sometimes it’s an even better deal than insurance could ever touch! After a recent trip to Winneshiek Medical Center to utilize their Walk-In Wellness Lab Testing, I was inspire(d) to make sure you knew about some of the great cheap or free health care deals available in the area. It’s important to take care of yourself – all of you, from your teeth to your toes. And I encourage you, if you’re not from Decorah, to explore options in your area – all you have to do is ask! Easy!

CHEAP At Winneshiek Medical Center: Walk-In Wellness Lab Testing – You (if you’re 18 or older) can go to Winneshiek Medical Center from 8 am to 12 pm, Monday through Friday, simply register at the Main Entrance Registration, pay for the labs you choose by cash, check or credit card, and head to the Laboratory for testing. Test options include everything from just one test – like cholesterol – basically up to the ‘Almost Kitchen Sink’ of Blood Work ($35). You can screen for cholesterol, blood type, PSA (prostate), glucose, glucose with estimated mean and HgbA1c, TSH (thyroid), uric acid (gout), hemoglobin (anemia), BUN (kidney function), creatinine (kidney function), potassium, calcium, and AST (liver function). Results are mailed to the patient within five business days, after which the patient should schedule an appointment with their provider to interpret and discuss the results.

Flu Clinic (in season) – Low-cost influenza vaccinations are available through community clinics on the medical center campus and at various businesses in the area. The influenza shot is also available without an appointment through Decorah Clinic at WMC. Reduced Rate Athletic Physicals are available year round at Decorah and Mabel Clinic for just $30.

Runners Analysis is a program that helps athletes run more efficiently and identify posture-related or movementrelated problems, for only $20.

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At Windemere Institute of Healing Arts: Discounted massage & body work Scheduled Sundays and Mondays, get massage work at a discounted rate at Windemere Institute of Healing Arts – the massage types vary: circulatory, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, shiatsu, hot stone, Thai, neuromuscular, and more. 50 minutes for $25.

Scheduled Tuesdays, try out some energy healing work like reiki, aromatherapy, breathwork and more. 6090 minutes for $35. Call 563-382-8495 to make an appointment.

At Donlon Health Mart: Did you know Donlon’s has a $5 dollar generic plan that mimics the big box stores? You can get a 30day supply of a medication for just $5 or 90-day supply for $14 dollars – choose from more than 300 generic medications included on the list. For the meds not on the list, there’s an in-store discount card, the “RX Advantage Discount Club.” This card equals savings on brand name medications as well as generics not on the $5 list.

Plus Donlon’s offers the Zostavax (shingles) vaccination – with no office visit or office fees, it’s simple, quick, and convenient. (Requires a prescription.)

West Side Dental: And did you also know Drs. Wilmes, Blodgett, & Hart participate in the Donated Dental Services of Iowa Program (free work for those who qualify), accept

some title XIX, and all Hawkeye Insurance (low income working families)? They also provide some services through the Decorah Free Clinic.

BETTER THAN A FREE LUNCH! Free at WMC: Monthly blood pressure checks in the community – at convenient locations such as Decorah Bank and Trust, Viking State Bank, Bank of the West, Northeast Security Bank, and the Decorah Senior Dining Center.

Health Screenings (dates are available throughout the year) and can be found at winmedical. org. Various screenings include: skin cancer, prostate, foot/ankle and hearing (the latter every fourth Tuesday of the month from 2 to 4 pm –must call for an appointment).

Mammogram screenings are offered in cooperation with Winneshiek County Celebration of Life. Women who are uninsured or underinsured can qualify for a free screening at WMC. The application is a simple one-page form that is based on insurance deductibles, income, number of persons in the household and eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid, to name a few. For instance, a woman may qualify if she’s in a household of 4, with an income of $66,000 or less annually, or an insurance deductible of $5,000 or more. Women of all ages should apply; the form

is conveniently located at www.winmedical.org or www.winneshiekcol.com.

Car seat checks are offered in cooperation with HAWC. Winneshiek Medical Center hosts car seat checks on the second Thursday of every month at the Winneshiek Medical Center East entrance Sports injury clinics for area athletes every Saturday morning from 9-11 am during fall months.

Free at Meehan & Schwartz Family Eye Clinic Early Detection of Potential Eye & Vision Problems for Your Baby (6-12 months) – the most critical stages of their development. At this screening your baby gets their first pair of Baby Banz sunglasses and sun hat, also free.

Vision Detection for Your 3-year-old – some vision conditions require correction at an early age. This screening ensures your child can see to learn when entering pre-school & kindergarten.

Free at Medicap Pharmacy: Bathroom safety products such as grab bars and shower chairs to help prevent falls Plus – as an free extra service, Medicap will dispense your medications in individual daily use packages to make it easier to tell if you’ve taken your meds – especially good if you have a lot to keep in order.

Lesson one:

You get the picture: We make life easier. Easy prescription transfers, Luther College delivery, photos in minutes, plus con·ven·ient toiletries, supplies, & gifts /kun–vēn-yent/Adjective all in one – you guessed it – 1. Fitting in well with a person’s convenient location!

needs, activities, and plans.

2. Involving little trouble or effort

i.e. “I’ve never been to a pharmacy that was more convenient.”

201 West Water St Decorah, Iowa 563-382-2626 donlonpharmacy.com

47

Get it?

The picture?

Ha ha!

Probituary: It’s a Notice of Life!

GALE LUDEKING, 84: PRACTICAL, SMART, & A GREAT STORYTELLER! Interview and foreword by Ron Henning (Aryn’s dad)

I volunteer to drive the VA van to Iowa City and back on a fairly regular basis, and I meet and talk to a lot of wonderful veterans in the process. So when my daughter, Aryn, asked if I wanted to interview one of them for Inspire(d), I said, “Yes, I’d love to.” I was impressed with Gale Ludeking – he has a very good memory and is interesting to talk to. He seems like a content guy, and has a lot of good life stories that he’ll talk to you about if you ask.

What the best advice anyone ever gave you? Don’t run up big debts.

What did you want to be when you grew up? A good farmer/cattle man.

What did you do? I was born in Waukon and was raised on a farm in the Frankville area until 1943, when I joined the army. I had basic training at Camp Dodge in Des Moines and after was sent to the Philippines. Later I was a part of the Occupational Forces of Japan. When I returned home in 1946, I became a buyer for Oscar Meyer Meat Packing in Viola, Wisconsin. They wanted me to move to Illinois, but my wife didn’t want to, so I began working for Fairbanks Morris building locomotives until 1954, when I bought a farm in Iowa. I raised tobacco and milked – after a �ire in 1964, I switched to tobacco and sheep, then started also selling Mormon’s Feed, and �inally I went full-time raising beef, hogs, and grain. I retired in 1992 and moved back to Waukon.

What meant the most to you as a veteran?

I helped save the country in a time of need, and am now a lifetime member of the VFW. We were welcomed home as heroes.

What was the worst thing about being a veteran?

Losing friends and seeing what you see.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you? Water, food, and books.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence. Happy and content with what I have.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Good �ish.

Name one thing you could not live without. A warm house.

Do you know someone you’d love to interview for this page? Let us know! aryn@theinspiredmedia.com

Tell us about…your wedding day.

I married Helen in 1948 – we had been going together for quite awhile, so we just sort of decided to get married over the long New Year’s holiday weekend. We couldn’t get married in the church because it was such short notice. Our parents came and we got married at East Salem Church Parsonage (the same church Ron’s parents and grandparents attended!) with a small party at my parents’ house after, then together we went back to Wisconsin to live.

Tell us about…your favorite memory.

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, my grandpa gave me a pony – which was a pretty big deal for someone my age to get.

It was an older horse, but I really loved to ride it!

ALWAYS FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS & ON TIME. Our drivers are happy to take you where you need to go.

Call us today for a ride!

563-382-3155

TAXI HOURS

6:30 am - 6 pm Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 6:30 am - 8 pm Thursday 7:30 am - 8 pm Saturday Closed Sunday

DID YOU KNOW?

We offer 2 free screenings for your kids!

1 2

Infant See

For your baby (6-12 months) we offer early detection of potential eye & vision problems in the most critical stages of their development. At this free screening we present your baby with their first pair of Baby Banz sunglasses & sun hat, free of charge. www.infantsee.org

See To Learn

For your 3-year-old we detect vision conditions that require correction at an early age. This free screening is designed to ensure your child can See to Learn when entering pre-school & kindergarten. www.seetolearn.com

805 MONTGOMERY ST. DECORAH 563-382-4279 • WWW.DECORAHEYE.COM HOURS: 7:30-5:30 M, W, TH, F; 7:30-7:00 TUESDAY

The first name in local

Orthopedic Care

just got a new last name.

Glenn Johnson, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with Decorah Clinic Physicians - Mayo Health System, has joined Decorah Clinic at Winneshiek Medical Center. With more than 30 years experience, Dr. Johnson will provide his patients with the highest quality, state-of-the-art, and clinically proven orthopedic services available in our region, including: • Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) hip, knee and shoulder replacement • Shoulder surgery • Arthroscopic surgery of the knee, ankle and shoulder • Adult reconstructive surgery • Sports Medicine • Fracture Care Contact us for an appointment or to learn more about orthopedic options available locally.

Decorah Clinic winmedical.or g 563-382-2911

Physician services provided by Decorah Clinic Physicians Mayo Health System

August 20-22, 201 Tour off-the-grid & retro-fitted homes, check out sustainable farms, & enjoy local foods, film screenings, energy-saving tips from experts, KDEC’s Green Expo, & more at the 2nd annual Decorah Iowa Green INitiative! $10 for adults. Kids 18 & under free!

Register online – first 250 get a free cooler!

it’s time to

dig IN

the decorah iowa green INitiative

PLUS NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT AT THE HISTORIC HOTEL WINNESHIEK

FRI: NO IMPACT MAN FILM • SAT: JJ’S ZYDECO PAYDIRT BAND

Serious & fun documentary, sponsored by Decorah Bank & Trust

Spicy Louisiana dance music that’ll keep you on your feet!

More info & registration at digindecorah.com Brought to you by the Winneshiek County Convention & visitors bureau