WWW.SECONDSUPPER.COM
NOVEMBER 2013 | VOLUME 13, NO. 11
the free press A
Digest
of
Coulee
Region
Culture
J ust B rew I t
If you dream of better beer, join the club [P. 3]
Raise the Roof aids Habitat for Humanity [P. 2]
Shoeless Revolution calls a timeout [P. 5]
P L U S : S O C I A L N E T W O R K I N G [ P. 2 ]
|
THE LAST WORD
[ P. 8 ]
|
BEER REVIEW
[ P. 6 ]
2 // November 1, 2013
Raise the Roof
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Social Networking
Benefit raises awareness for Habitat for Humanity By Kevin Sommerfeld Special to Second Supper
Habitat for Humanity is fixing to put on the La Crosse area’s biggest concert this fall. An important fundraiser with a potent musical lineup, the sixth annual Raise the Roof will bring together the community and some of La Crosse’s most accomplished musicians for a full day of fun raising. The benefit concert, which will be held at the La Crosse Center on Nov. 16, will feature area music favorites Reed Grimm and members of the New Sound Underground, T.U.G.G., The Soapbox Project, Innocuous Voodoo and up-and-comers Click Track. “We’re using the power of music and the arts to support our mission to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope,” said Amanda Acklin, executive director of La Crosse’s Habitat for Humanity. “We’re lucky to have so many great bands that want to help support our mission and come together to give the community a great night out.” Andy Hughes, the lead singer of T.U.G.G,, sees how crucial it is for artists and musicians to act out and support a good cause. “It’s important to have local and regional bands coming together,” Hughes said. “It is one subset of our community, the artists, teaming up with another, Habitat for Humanity, and trying to inspire our community to continue doing great things.” Musicians that genuinely care about the community is a lot of what makes Raise the Roof possible. Playing for such an event is already a great act of caring, but the fact that many of the band members helped build a home in September truly shows where their hearts are. Habitat for Humanity embarked on building its 38th house this October. This house of hope, located on Farnam Street, is what the proceeds raised from the concert will help fund.
Events such as Raise the Roof, along with donations, grants, the Habitat ReStore, and mortgage payments from Habitat homeowners allow Habitat for Humanity to build new homes and make critical repairs to homes for people who live in scant conditions. Just as important is raising awareness about Habitat for Humanity. “That is one of the reasons our ticket prices are so low,” Acklin said. “We want to make sure that it is affordable and would rather see the funds realized in selling an abundance of tickets.” Of course, this is also good because it allows more people to participate in the fun. “The whole purpose of the event is to get a very wide demographic of people to come out, dance and enjoy some music, and learn about the things Habitat is doing for La Crosse,” Hughes said. There will be plenty of other great things going on during this year’s Raise the Roof. Pulled pork sandwiches, pizza, tacos, chicken wings, various deserts and more will keep show-goers’ bellies full. Beverages, both alcoholic and not, will also be served. A large raffle drawing will also take place. Prizes include a three-piece furniture set from Ashley Furniture, five Disney World tickets, a $650 gift certificate for airline tickets, and a watch from Rose Jewelers. Raffle tickets are $5 or 5 for $20. More prizes can be won in the silent auction, which will feature various items donated from area businesses. All this, and the tickets are almost too cheap: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Advance tickets can be bought at Festival Foods, online and at the Habitat ReStore. VIP tickets for $50 are also available for those who want the backstage experience. The Raise the Roof show starts at 4 p.m. and doors open at 3:30. Hughes knows what he’s talking about when he said, “It’s going to be the show to see this fall in La Crosse.”
eat fresh! eat local! go co-op!
608.784.5798 www.pfc.coop
@pfccoop
open daily 7 am–10 pm
all are welcome
mally known as Prince. WHAT IS YOUR BEVERAGE OF CHOICE? Chugging Redbulls CELEBRITY CRUSH: Zac Efron WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE? The fact that Drew Carey replaced Bob Barker on the "Price is Right." WHAT BOOK ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING? "Galapagos" by Kurt Vonnegut TELL US YOUR GUILTIEST PLEASURE: 'Ancient Aliens" and Cheetos and Lindsay Lohan
NAME AND AGE: Angi Hoch, 25 WHERE WERE YOU BORN? La Crosse CURRENT JOB: Professional jelly maker for Hoch Orchards DREAM JOB: Cheeto taste tester LAST THING YOU GOOGLED: How to make homemade Cheetos IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE? In a mud hut in South America because I like the way grass skirts feel. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE: Take a weeklong camping trip with my sister and the artist for-
the free press Second Supper Newspaper P.O. Box 427 La Crosse, WI 54601 Publisher: Roger Bartel roger.bartel@secondsupper.com Editor in Chief: Adam Bissen adam.bissen@secondsupper.com Cover and Ad Design: Jenn Bushman Regular Contributors: Amy Alkon, Andrew Chulyk, Marcel Dunn, Brett Emerson, Shuggypop Jackson, Jonathan Majak, Matt Jones, Dean Robbins, Kevin Sommerfeld, Nate Willer Contact Us: editor@secondsupper.com Cell: 262.521.8144 Online: www.secondsupper.com
315 Fifth Ave. So. La Crosse, WI
Second Supper | The Free Press
Second Supper is a monthly alternative newspaper published by Bartanese Enterprises LLC, P.O. Box 427, La Crosse, WI 54601
TELL US A JOKE: Why does Ariel wear C shells? Because she outgrew her B shells. IF A GENIE GRANTED YOU ONE WISH, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR? More genies. WHAT ONE PERSON ALIVE OR DEAD WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE DINNER WITH? Prince FIRST CONCERT YOU WENT TO: Violent Femmes WHAT'S THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT? A giant dill pickle from Jimmy John’s WHAT'S IN YOUR POCKET RIGHT NOW?: I’m wearing full Spandex so no pockets. Sorry. — Compiled by Shuggypop Jackson, shuggypop.jackson@secondsupper.com
The Top Most delicious hops 1. Cascade 2. Centennial 3. Amarillo 4. East Kent Golding 5. Citra 6. Hallertau 7. Sorachi Best-named hops 1. Fuggle 2. Northern Brewer 3. Nugget 4. Tomahawk 5. Liberty 6. Mount Hood 7. Calypso
Second Supper | The Free Press
November 1, 2013 // 3
COMMUNITY
Do-it-yourself beer
La Crosse home brewers club fermenting flavor and friendship
By Greg Lovell
Special to Second Supper Millions of people enjoy a simple, straightforward beer from time to time. Many people are connoisseurs who enjoy sampling the range of flavors found in various craft beers. Some people are true hopheads seeking out the wildest and most extreme brewed creations. A select few are so enthralled by brewing that they take matters into their own hands—and homes. These are the home brewers. Not only do they enjoy tasting beer and contemplating all its varieties, but they dive in and add to the collective beer catalog. As the craft brewing craze continues across the country, more and more home brewers are ratcheting up their hobby by balancing taste, creativity, and camaraderie. Plus, they are producing some one-of-a-kind beers, and therein lies much of the appeal. Home brewers can brew what they want when they want. Tired of waiting for your favorite seasonal to hit the shelves? Sad when it is gone? No problem. Brew it at home with your timetable in mind. Further, an infinite number of recipe variations are just waiting to be explored, created, and savored. What better way to delight friends and family than with your own delicious, signature beer? With a wealth of knowledge, resources, and supplies available at a reasonable cost, home brewing has never been easier, especially in La Crosse. A true-blue Wisconsin brew town, La Crosse has hosted a number of professional breweries over the years, including the present-day City Brewing Company and Pearl Street Brewery. Unbeknownst to many, however, La Crosse has also been the home of a home brewing club since 2005. Known as La Crosse Area Grain Enthusiasts and Related Specialties (LAGERS), the club began with one woman's interest in reaching out to fellow home brewers. Jen Meyers, already a seasoned home brewer, had just moved to La Crosse. "I knew that La Crosse was a great beer town, and I didn't know anyone in the area, so I figured that a great way to meet people with similar interests was to find the local brew club and join," Meyers said. "The problem was, there was no local brew club. So, I decided I'd start one." With that enterprising spirit, she hung a few posters at the Bodega in hopes of attracting fellow brewers. "I think our first meeting drew five or six people," Meyers recalled. "We didn't have a name, we didn't have a mission statement, and we certainly didn't have a plan." After a few months, the club grew and
Contriubted Phyoto
Todd Rieck, a member of a home brewing club, works on a batch of beer in his kitchen began meeting monthly at Bluffland Bloom and Brew, which was a home brewing and gardening shop owned by the late Ian Mortensen and Dane Gonzales, current coowner of the Root Note cafe and a brewing aficionado. Meyers led the group of about twenty until 2007 when she left the La Crosse area for an employment opportunity. Meyers returned to La Crosse five-anda-half years later and re-joined a club that had aged quite nicely in her absence. "It had grown in size, had a formalized leadership structure, and was involved in a lot of activities in the community such as judging for the Between the Bluffs home brew competition," recalled Meyers. "I'm really proud of what the LAGERS has become in the eight years since I first taped up a rudimentary sign to the door of the Bodega," she added. Nowadays, LAGERS meets twice per month. On the first Tuesday of each month, the club meets at 7 p.m. at the Bodega for an informal meeting geared for members, spouses, friends, and anyone interested in learning more about home brewing. On the third Wednesday of each month, dues-paying members meet at 7 p.m. at the Root Note. Also, the club plans to offer educational presentations on the basics of home brewing. Putting business aside, Meyers noted that club members leave plenty of time for socializing and sampling their wares. Todd Rieck, LAGERS member, finds the club atmosphere friendly, welcoming, and laid back. "We're a group of like-minded individuals who love drinking beer, love making it,
and love talking about it," he said. Rieck also indicated that the club is a tremen dous resource for knowledge and expertise. "It gives me an opportunity to share, to learn, to improve." According to Rieck, above all, it's about passion for brewing and savoring the joy of wowing your friends with a successful batch. "I don't think I would be into brewing as much as I am if not for the club. I get inspired by what the club members brew," he said. Numerous club members have medaled in regional and national competitions and have the hardware to back up any boasting about beer. But boasting is not on tap at the club's get-togethers. Showing off is about as stale and skunky as a half-finished, left-open bottle of the cheap stuff. Rieck says it is about the beer and not about being better than anyone else. Club members provide each other constructive feedback in a spirit of community and becoming better brewers. "Newbie, novice, or seasoned brewer— everyone is treated the same," he said. As for the beer itself, LAGERS delivers the goods. Hot pepper ale? Check. Imperial coffee stout? Got it. Pumpkin ale aged and served in an actual pumpkin? You bet. A delicately brewed, wet-hopped IPA? Pure deliciousness. Having made appearances at both the Between the Bluffs Festival and Oktoberfest Craft Beer Night, LAGERS has earned quite a following and some well-deserved recognition.
Despite all its tips, tricks, and nuances, brewing is simple. "If you can boil water, you can brew beer," Rieck said. Most home brewers start with extract brewing. Necessary ingredients include malt extract, water, hops, and yeast, all of which are available at local home brew shops or online. In a nutshell, the home brewing process begins with heating three gallons of purified water in a five gallon pot. Then, malt extract is added and brought to a boil. Some hops are also added at this point. After a 60-minute boil with some more added hops, the whole concoction—called wort—is cooled in an ice bath, usually in a sink or basin. Once chilled to approximately 70 degrees, the wort is transferred to a fermentation vessel (either a sanitized plastic bucket or glass carboy) where it is aerated via splashing or other means and topped off with a few more gallons of water. Next, yeast is added to the wort and then covered for three to seven days to ferment. After fermentation is complete, sugar is added to "prime" the beer, which means the yeast processes the sugar and creates carbonation while in the bottle. Bottling, of course, comes next. Bottling is done using a special bucket, wand, and capping tool and new or re-used beer bottles. Once filled, bottles are left sitting for one to two weeks to carbonate. Rieck says sanitation is the most important thing to remember in the brewing process. "If proper and thorough cleaning and sanitation procedures are not conducted, the risk of infection is high. Don't cut corners when it comes to making sure that everything that touches the beer after the boil is clean and sanitized," he advised. Sanitizing products are available for home brewers' use, but a dilute bleach and water solution (with a triple rinse afterward) also does the trick. After the fermentation and carbonation in those glistening, clean bottles are complete, the beer is ready to be enjoyed. Tinkering, sampling, and going back to the drawing board are all part of the home brewer's evolution. Rieck, for example, keeps detailed notes on each batch he produces, which allows him to either duplicate it or make modifications. Craft brewing has merited its namesake, for the brewing process is a creative and tasty blend of art and science. After all, in the end, a home brewer produces a beer that is unmistakably his or her very own. As Todd Rieck said, "The only limits to your home brewing are the ones you impose on yourself."
4 // November 1, 2013
Second Supper | The Free Press
THE PLANNER
November
music | entertainment | thanksgiving
The Month in Preview Thurs., Nov. 7
Thurs., Nov. 7
THE HIGH COST OF MATERIALISM
BLUE LOBSTAR PRESENTS: LIVE FROM LA CROSSE!
@ Viterbo Fine Arts Center Endless pop songs have been written about
fine arts | fall back | wine | theater fall colors | day lights savings time
@ The Cavalier Theatre
money’s non-essential (and occasionally
Hosted by the enigmatically-monikered
adversarial) relation to happiness, peace,
“Madame FeFe,” the Blue Lobstar comedy
love, etc. It’s a proclamation most of us
crew will be offering up “adult-content
believe when The Beatles are crooning it in
sketch comedy” on the regular at the
our ears, but after the song ends and the
Cavalier Theatre starting November 7.
next YouTube video on the playlist begins
The troupe is made up of local funny men
with an unskippable ad for the iAccessory,
and women, so make sure you come and
we tend to feel the pang of an Apple-shaped
support La Crosse’s burgeoning comedy
hole in our hearts. Psychology professor
scene. Start time 8 pm, $12 in advance.
and published author Tim Kasser will be at Viterbo this month to help exorcise our materialistic yearnings, and show us how to
Nov. 7, 8, 9, 10
be content with less. Start time is 7 pm, and
BOY GETS GIRL
it might go without saying, but this is a free event.
@ UW-L UW-L’s production of Boy Gets Girl, by Rebecca Gilman, is a seedy journey down the rabbit hole of human obsession
featuring our own Senator Jennifer Schilling
and desire. Somewhat appropriately, it
as well as Andrea Kaminski, executive
will be staged in UW-L’s black box theatre
director of League of Women Voters. The
(Frederick Theatre, basement of Morris
event is $12 to attend, and runs from 11:30
Hall), and the intimate space should bring
am to 1 pm.
the audience all too close to themes of at 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday, with
Nov. 26
a matinee performance at 2 pm on Sunday.
Price is Right Live!
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students.
@ The La Crosse Center
stalking and misogyny. Performances begin
Mon., Nov. 11 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS @ Radisson Hotel
Turn off the TV and COME ON DOWN to the La Crosse Center, because The Price is Right will be spinning the wheel IRL. Both Drew Carey and Bob Barker will be in absentia, but there will be plenty of new
Most people agree that voting is a key part
washing machines and Caribbean cruises
of being a citizen, even if it’s only done for
being given away, along with (we’re
the right to complain later on. However,
assuming) many toothy neo-Vanna Whites to
there have been a whole slew of changes
give them away. Tickets can be purchased
made to the process, by way of the Voter ID
via ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 800-
bill. If sifting through endless polemical news
745-3000, and range from $20.50 to
blogs to get the facts isn’t your thing, then
$50. Not included in the price is the cost of
you might want to come to the Radisson for
spaying/neutering your pet, but you really
a presentation (and luncheon) on the matter,
should have done that already anyway.
Second Supper | The Free Press
Shoeless Revolution calls timeout By Adam Bissen
adam.bissen@secondsupper.com Shoeless Revolution, La Crosse’s seemingly timeless jam party band, recently announced that they would be taking a break. This being Shoeless Revolution, a band formed at UW-La Crosse and sprung on Minneapolis, they would be taking their hiatus in the most Shoeless Revolution way possible — by throwing a huge show at the Popcorn Tavern at the end of this month. In advance of that (perhaps not quite) final concert, we caught up with Shoeless keyboard player Jack Sabol-Williams to get the scoop. Second Supper: You said Shoeless Revolution is taking a hiatus. What does that mean, exactly? Sabol-Williams: It means these are going to be the last shows for the foreseeable future. A lot of people have been asking the status of the band, which is amazing, and we wanted to put some closure on the situation and give our fans an official answer as to what is going on. SS: How is this different than just breaking up? S-W: We are still friends! There wasn't a fight or something that drove us apart. We just need to put things officially on hold for a while. SS: People are going to ask — is this because your drummer Reed Grimm made it so far on American Idol? S-W: American Idol certainly made things a little more interesting, but it was not the reason for this decision. We had a talk a few weeks ago about the status of the group and we all felt that it was time to put these shows together and go out with a bang! SS: It makes perfect sense that Shoeless Revolution will be playing its hiatus show at the Popcorn Tavern, the place where it all began. Do you have any other special plans for this last run? S-W: Yes! We are pulling out a bunch of our favorite originals and covers from over the years so things might get a little silly. Our plan is to play as much music as possible at our favorite music venue!
Crossword Answers
November 1, 2013 // 5
MUSIC
SS: I've never seen the Popcorn Tavern so packed as it was for Shoeless Revolution shows. Why do you think that was? S-W: The timing and vibe was just perfect! People would just come out of the woodwork and pack that place. We had a few unique promo tactics that certainly helped. Also didn't hurt that Reed is in the band and he knows evvvvvvvvvveryone! SS: What are your favorite Shoeless Revolution memories? S-W: When we played at the Oktoberfest grounds in 2012 is definitely up there. That was the biggest crowd we have ever played for that wasn't a music festival where we were apart of a larger lineup. Touring all over the country representing our music scene was certainly a great experience but nothing compares to playing at home in La Crosse. SS: I know you, Ben Peterson, and Zach Mullan are all in on Big Tree Bonsai, and Reed has been playing with a number of different projects. What’s next for the members of Shoeless Revolution? S-w: We are all still performing, recording, and writing music in some fashion just not in this particular band. Yes, the three of us are in Bigtree Bonsai and we come to La Crosse as frequently as possible. Our CD Release is taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Pearl Street Brewery! Reed is playing all over the place with tons of different groups! He will be playing on Nov. 16 at the La Crosse Center as a part of the Habitat for Humanity Raise the Roof Fundraiser. SS: How many times do you think Shoeless Revolution has played the Popcorn Tavern? S-W: Oh man, I would have to say at least 30 or 40 times maybe more. In the early days we would play there two-three times a month! It was the only place in town that really gave us a chance at the start and we used it as an opportunity to build our sound . Having played all over the country I can honestly say there is not another venue like it. SS: Is there anything special we should expect for this last show? S-W: Most definitely! Old tunes and hopefully a few special guests. SS: Where’s the after-party? S-W: The Second Supper house?! [Editor’s note: No.] Shoeless Revolution will be performing at the Popcorn Tavern, 308 Fourth St., on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 10 p.m.
HELP WANTED: ADVERTISING SALES & WRITERS Second Supper needs an advertising sales rep and writers to cover music, food, features. No experience necessary; perfect for students Email roger.bartel@ secondsupper.com
Live Music Directory FEATURED SHOWS Friday, Nov. 1 Cowley Hall Planetarium – Album Encounter, UW-L • 8 pm Root Note – Natty Nation with Vilas Park Sniper Saturday, Nov. 2 The Freight House – 7 pm • Dan Sebranek Robins Nest – 8 pm • The Fabulous Baloney Skins. Historic Trempealeau Hotel, Trempealeau – 8 pm • Them Coulee Boys The Waterfront – 8 pm • The Michael Patrick Jazz Quartet Root Note – We are the Willows with A.M. Stryker Monday, Nov. 4 Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Acoustic jam with Ryan Barnes Wednesday, Nov. 6 Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Taut Line Hitch Thursday, Nov. 7 Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Derek Ramnarace Friday, Nov. 8 The Warehouse – 6 pm • Neurotic November The Pump House – 7:30 pm • Ellis Paul Root Note – Karen Savoca Saturday, Nov. 9 Viterbo Fine Arts Center – 7:30 pm • “In the Mood” musical revue Historic Trempealeau Hotel – 8 pm • Galynne Goodwill & Markondrums Root Note – the Soil & the Sun Bodega Brew Pub – 8:30 pm • Fayme Rochelle and the Waxwings Monday, Nov. 11 Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Acoustic jam with Randina Elaine Wednesday – Nov. 13 Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Dave Orr Root Note – Jack Klatt Thursday, Nov. 14 Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Stacy Hanson Friday, Nov. 15 JavaVino – 6 pm • Mark and Janette Hanson Root Note – Todd Clouser's A Love Electric Saturday, Nov. 16 Bodega Brew Pub – 8 pm • Howard "Guitar: Luedtke Robins Nest – 8 pm • The Stoney Ridge Band Root Note – Horseshoes & Handgrenades Sunday, Nov. 17 La Crosse Center – 7 pm • In this Moment, with Motionless in White, Kyng and All Hail the Yeti Wednesday, Nov. 20 Fish’s Bar – 8 pm • Joe Cody.
Del’s Bar – 9 pm • The Luke and Casey Show Thursday – Nov. 21 Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Andy Hughes Friday, Nov. 22 Root Note – Moth Mountain and Click Track Saturday, Nov. 23 JavaVino – 6 pm • Emma Lea Blank Fine Arts Center – 7:30 pm • La Crosse Symphony Orchestra Historic Trempealeau Hotel – 9:30 pm • Harper & Midwest Kind Root Note – All Good Things Monday, Nov. 25 Weber Center – 7:30 pm • Lorie Line. Del’s Bar – 9 pm. Acoustic jam with Adam Palm Wednesday, Nov. 27 Historic Trempealeau Hotel – 8 pm • Howard Luedtke Del’s Bar – 9 pm • Torrence and Friends
WEEKLY GIGS
Sunday Popcorn – Innocuous Voodoo (funk) • 10 p.m. Monday Popcorn – Acoustic open jam • 10 p.m. Del’s – Cheech's open jam • 10 p.m. Tuesday Root Note – 3rd Relation Jazz • 8 p.m. Popcorn – Paulie • 10 p.m. Thursday Starlight – Kies & Kompanie (jazz) • 5 p.m. Huck Finn’s – Joe Cody, Jan-Arden Petersen • 6 p.m. Root Note – Open Mic • 8 p.m. Popcorn – Dave Orr’s Blues Jam • 10 p.m. Send your music listings to editor@secondsupper.com no later than Nov. 25 for inclusion in our December Live Music Directory.
Sudoku Answers
6 // November 1, 2013
Second Supper | The Free Press
DIVERSIONS
The Beer Review
"In the Cards" I'm kind of a big deal By Matt Jones
Answers on Page 5
Tank 7 Boulevard Beer Company Kansas City, Missouri By Adam Bissen adam.bissen@secondsupper.com
ACROSS Across 1 Drill sergeant's syllable 4 Formal promise? 10 Casablanca's country: abbr. 13 Land on the Med. Sea 14 He wrote of Walden Pond 16 Diminutive ending, in Italian 17 Pop artist who used faceless stick figures 19 Big shot in the office 20 Serial piece 21 Budget brand of Intel CPUs 23 "Comfortably ___" (Pink Floyd) 24 Jazz great with the album "High Priestess of Soul" 27 Location finder, briefly 28 High-rated search engine, once 29 Hip hop fan, maybe 30 Increasingly hard to
find net surfer 31 Calvin and Naomi 33 "The Devil's Dictionary" author 36 ___ and Guilder (warring "The Princess Bride" nations) 37 They may include twists 38 Dip ___ in the water 39 Handout after a checkup 40 Choke, or a joke 43 15th-century Flemish painter 46 "Damn Yankees" vamp 47 Vlad, as the legend goes 48 Green energy type 49 You, to Yves 50 He played Locke on "Lost" 54 "I'd like to buy ___" ("Wheel" request) 55 With great skill 56 Battle (for) 57 Ave. crossers 58 Had a debate
59 Superlative ending DOWN 1 Outdoors activity 2 Depletes 3 Rainbow creators 4 "Am ___ only one?" 5 "Keep it down!" 6 Condo grp. 7 Part of ETA 8 German cameras 9 Highway sections 10 Of small organisms 11 Two-person basketball game 12 Andy and Mickey 15 "Unattractive" citrus 18 Margarine holder 22 Campfire remains 24 Parachute fabric 25 Finishes a cake 26 Message response that's not really a response 28 "Footloose" actress Singer 30 Cold sore-fighting brand in a tiny tube 31 Mall booth
32 "___ get this party started" 33 "Gimme Shelter" speedway 34 Oft-mocked treats 35 "Helicopter" band ___ Party 36 Dish served with a distinct sound 39 "Cyrano de Bergerac" star Jose 40 Become available to the general public, as a new website 41 "Thank U" singer Morissette 42 January birthstone 44 Utah ski resort 45 "I ___ drink!" 46 Reed recently deceased 48 Flooring meas. 51 D&D, e.g. 52 "___ Mama Tambien" 53 "Bravo, matador!" ©2013 Jonesin' Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords. com)
wE have moved! SEND MAIL TO PO BOX 427, La Crosse, WI 54602
the free press
Office hours by appointment only
wE'RE MOVING TO GOOGLE VOICE, IN MEANTIME CALL US AT 262.521.8144
This month in existential craft beer crises, we explore the sale of Kansas City’s Boulevard Beer Company to Belgium’s Duvel Moortgat Brewery. Terms of the deal, announced last month, have not been made public, though a trade journal estimated the sale price to exceed $100 million. Not too shabby for a business founded in 1989 and grown to the 12th largest craft brewery in the United States, right? You’d think so, but we’re talking about craft beer here. Less than 24 hours after the sale went public, Stone Brewery (presently the 10th largest American craft brewery) sent out the ultimate sub-tweet by announcing that it would never “sell out.” You may expect as much from a brewery whose flagship ale is called Arrogant Bastard, but in the craft beer world any sale to a conglomerate is always looked upon with suspicion. The hand-wringing surrounding InBev’s purchase of Goose Island in 2011 may be the most recent comparison, but I’m not sure it’s the best one For one thing, we’re talking about Boulevard and Duvel (not Goose Island and Budweiser). While not widely available in La Crosse, Boulevard has a cultish following among beer geeks, and I’m apt to cop their offerings when I find myself in other markets. This Tank 7 was a gift from Chicago, but it’s a year-round beer that you can find pretty easily. The real X-Factor is Duvel, maker of quite excellent Belgian ales that also purchased New York’s Brewery Ommegang in
2003. None of these breweries have shown any letdown in product, so for now, let’s offer a tentative congratulations to our friends in Kansas City and hope that Duvel’s big pockets do at least one thing for Boulevard: bring more of it to La Crosse. Purchase: 4-pack of Tank 7, a gift from Chicagoland Style: Saison Strength: 8.5 percent ABV Packaging: The Tank 7 has a classy label (is that periwinkle?) with some old-timey fonts and a sleek brown bottle with Art Deco design. Appearance: This pours a beautiful cloudy gold color with an effervescent white head that foams like champagne. Aroma: The aroma is a delectable mix of lemons, black pepper, champagne yeast, banana bread, ripe grass, and lightly toasted grains. Taste: One of the better saisons on the market, this comes on clean with lemons and light cloves, mellows with a yeasty sweetness, turns dry at the finish, and lingers with some farmhouse funk, peppercorns, and green apple skins. Mouthfeel: A rather medium mouthfeel for the style, it finishes with some chalkiness. Drinkability: Like all the best Belgian ales, this is delicious, highly drinkable, and dangerously potent. Ratings: BeerAdvocate scores this an impressive 93, while RateBeer gives it an equivalent 99. As a huge fan of saisons, I’d say those ratings are fair — especially for an American brew. If you were to purchase just one Boulevard beer, I’d recommend starting with this one. With luck (and the help of a multinational beer conglomerate), that should happen soon.
The Rumba Beat Ongoing and upcoming art events in the Coulee Region The year is winding down and before long we’ll be trudging through snow, so let’s keep those fall fires burning into the holiday season. There’s plenty for you art lovers to do and see, so let’s get started: Studio Gallery, 1311, 1311 Market St., La Crosse (www.sg1311.blogspot.com): “People, Places & Things,” an invitational group show of painting, drawing, photography and sculpture, Nov. 16 through the holidays, with reception 6-9 p.m. Nov. 16. Lanesboro Arts Center, 103 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro, Minn. (www.lanesboroarts.org): Paul Brokken, “Paintings Inspired by Scotland and The Cave of Smoo,” now through Nov. 19; Lennis Moore, “Ink Pressed On Paper,” now through Dec. 22. The Pump House Regional Arts Center, 119 King St., La Crosse (www.thepumphouse.org): Marti Schwem and Nancy Ellingston, “Places To Enter,” now through Dec. 7; Stephen Wysocki, “Light Color and
Age; Matt Thurston, “The Art of the Penguin of Tuscany.” Viva Gallery, 217 S. Main St., Viroqua (www.vivagallery.net): Artisan Market, “Uncommon Gift Ideas,” 5-7 p.m. Nov. 9. UW-L Center for the Arts, University Gallery, 333 N. 16th St., La Crosse (www.uwlax.edu/art): “Erasure,” curated by Roger Boulay, now through Nov. 16; Senior Exhibition, Nov. 22 - December, with reception 4-6 p.m. Nov. 22. State Street Gallery, 1804 State St., La Crosse (608-782-0101): Painting, sculpture, jewelry and ceramics by local, regional and national artists. And don’t forget to check out The Wine Guyz, 122 King St., La Crosse; The Root Note on Fourth Street, Grounded Coffee on Main Street, Old Towne Grounds on Caledonia Street. Enjoy the art, support the artists and Rumba On!
Second Supper | The Free Press
Shelved!
The Art Rumba Review
The fantastic fight to save the South Branch Library By Bob Treu
Contributing Editor An unruly mob of angry taxpayers dressed in sackcloth robes and carrying pitchforks and torches gathered outside the South Branch Library last Tuesday evening to demand the closing of the facility. Eventually they formed a circle around a pyre fueled by Sidney Sheldon novels. Only a timely appearance by Mayor Tim’s Mounted Dragoons, his special library protection force, saved the day. No one was injured and relatively little damage to the building was recorded. How I would love to tell that story. Unfortunately, the real narrative is more complex, even if it has its own sort of drama. To begin: any good story needs a villain, and for that role I nominate Kelly Krieg-Sigman, the czar (I choose this word carefully, with a nod toward Russian literature) of our local library system. For one thing, she is tall, and that’s already intimidating. What’s more she dresses with incredible style and moves and speaks with aristocratic hauteur. Also, there is a persistent rumor that she was traumatized as a child by a falling Dr. Seuss and has been driven by an obsession to close libraries ever since. Another theory is that she hates television westerns and mistook South Branch for Southfork. More convincingly, a paper trail exists, a document showing she presented the South Branch closing at a recent meeting of the library board. Never mind that the closing was only a second option, one which also included shortening of hours at both branches and firing of staff. And never mind that the second option was chosen by a 5-2 vote of the board. Option one would have eliminated three positions, cut the materials budget in half and reduced operating time at both branches. Apparently the board thought we’d be better off with two decent libraries rather than three mediocre ones. Still, real evil went into choosing which branch to close. Lois Gilbert, who manages both branches, finds the situation horrible. How could she possibly choose between her children? North Branch does significantly less business than South Branch and so might be the logical choice at first glance. On the other hand, South Branch is closer to Main and closing it would cause less inconvenience. Besides, the North Side is another world, its own culture, and if we closed its library it might well secede and ask Onalaska to take it in. Also, the North Branch is located in a really classy old Tudor style house, while the South Branch might be offered up for retail purposes; a fast food place, for example. So South Branch it was. The next chapter involves reaction, a countermovement in the plot. Mayor Tim, who does not himself ride a white horse to the office, said “No!” He then encouraged people to attend a special meeting of the board and plead for their library. While they didn’t carry torches or pitchforks, they
November 1, 2013 // 7
THE ARTS
brought with them sobbing babies and solemn-faced minors of all sizes. Apparently my imaginary mob was a no-show, having been frightened off by the mayor and his horsemen. This resulted in the City Council coming up with another $26,000. Here’s where the plot gets all twisty and turny. The city’s extra contribution did not begin to fill the remainder. So, with a swish of her cape, the director found the rest of the money in a reserve fund. If she does that next year, the fund will be exhausted. South Branch is not so much saved as it is on lifesupport. Here the narrative would be enhanced by introducing the real villains, the dark presences who lurk in the shadows of any good story. They would be the cold-hearted, soulless members of the City Council who are unmoved by the thought of sobbing children looking for a story hour that will never happen. The sad truth is that the City Council and the mayor are faced with the same challenge as the czar and her board. They have schools to fund, streets to fix, trash to remove, Oktoberfest drunks to herd, and all with a severely limited budget of their own. So while I would have chosen to tell a romantic tale, including a princess held hostage by toad-like ogres, villains are hard to find in this piece. True, in 2010 we elected a champion of austerity to run the state. We also gave him a partisan majority to work with in both houses, so it is no surprise the budgetary problems began right after that. Apparently we thought only retiring teachers would be forced into destitution. Who knew we’d be closing libraries? Or that communities would be prevented even from taxing themselves for desired services? True, we are still feeling the pain of a bad recession, but in the '30s, during the worst depression anyone remembers, our libraries stayed open. Times are different now. Collectively we have plenty of money but lack the will to support public services. Once upon a time a wealthy man named Cadwallader Washburn contributed money to establish a library in La Crosse. Andrew Carnegie did the same thing all over the world. They thought an educated, curious citizenry would be a good thing, and the word public didn’t bother them. They have been replaced by billionaires who have banded together to remove anything public from our world, from our memories even. Their only mantra, that government is the problem, was learned from their Hollywood guru and repeated mindlessly for decades. If my imaginary mob didn’t appear with pitchforks and torches the other night, it’s because they didn’t have to. In fact, if the board wanted to gather support, it might consider having someone cover over the word public at each library. Then we could quietly privatize them and charge for books and story hour. If you don’t think there’s support for that idea, you weren’t paying attention during the real shutdown.
PATROS | Blues Hop The Cavalier Lounge La Crosse 8 pm, November 9 By Andrew Chulyk Special to Second Supper At the Metaphysical ESP Club, a disheveled comic walks on stage and begins: “A lingerie couturier, a financial adviser and a graphic designer walk into a bar. They find a small table in a dark corner, order drinks and proceed to telepathically play music. A man sitting a couple of tables away says, 'Hey, would you keep it down, I’m thinking here.’” Patrons smile and nod. The comic bows and exits stage right. Segue to a warm Friday night back in late August, when I, Art Rumba, went to hear and see a new group perform at the Root Note. Now, I say hear AND see for a reason, but I’ll get to that shortly. There on stage was a female singer/flutist, a guitarist with a computer, and a keyboard player, but no drummer in sight. Hmmm, this should be interesting. This was the first live performance in La Crosse for the trio called PATROS. They appeared nervous and self-conscience and after the usual sound checks they began to play, and I knew this was going to be different. It took a moment, but they finally got into sync. And yes, it was different. A synthesized beat replaced the drummer and allowed the songs to free-form their way to anti-climactic endings. Jordan Patros explains, “Without a drummer there is no room for forgiveness.” I felt rocketed back in time to the experimental rock scene of the '60s and '70s when music had edge, The Velvet Underground on the East Coast and Frank Zappa on the West. Patros was somewhere in between. It was not a long set and they seemed glad it was over, but I wanted more. Their music was arty, their constructed rhythms loud and visual, exploratory and testy with a tinge of chaos. Meanwhile, back at the Metaphysical ESP Club, an artist walks across the stage holding a painting of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” and stands stage left. Another artist walks on stage holding Van Gogh’s “Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear” and stands stage right. The two turn and face each other. The silence was so loud that no one in the audience could hear themselves think. Sarah and Jordan Patros and Toryn Patros, who make up PATROS, are people working day jobs, struggling and striving like the rest of us, but for them music and art play an important role in their lives. Sarah’s father, a musician, has a band that plays rock classics, and all through Sarah’s childhood he encouraged her to learn an instrument. After guitar and piano, the flute won out. Jordan studied journalism in college, but as a teenager took guitar lessons at Leithold Music and played acoustic guitar with his cousin Toryn. Heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin, blues and hip-hop, he embarked
on his own introspective musical journey. Toryn grew up with music in the family as well. His father owned and operated a record shop in La Crosse called Metamorphosis, similar to Deaf Ear. Toryn developed his music skills early on and continued to play with Jordan after he moved to Minneapolis. There they recorded “Blues Hop” under the guidance and collaboration of their musical mentor, Neil Zumwalde, who also plays instrumentals and synthesizers on the EP. Their musical intention is somewhat existential in nature. According to Jordan, PATROS is about creating subtle complexities of sound images, expressing what they are feeling as they play and to convey that feeling to the audience. “Blues Hop” consists of five tracks, each different in style. The second track, “Belt Buckle,” is, according to Jordan, influenced by rap, but has a definite hard rock blues tone. “Rodeo (Ain’t My First)" is reminiscent of The Black Keys, but with a looping metal clanging, orchestral like background mix and soulful solo singing and simple guitar lead, it becomes something mysterious. You are drawn into an invisible structure. “How you feel about the notes impacts the music,” Jordan explains, “Once I settle on a key, I pick a flavor. Each note has its own flavor.” So the idea is to hear it, see it, and taste it. Different. “The message in the lyrics is about finding freedom, of rising above struggle to a higher place and sharing that experience with others.” The Metaphysical ESP Club has closed for the night and although it is now empty, echoes of ideas still linger at the tables. There is much more to come from PATROS as they journey, explore and experiment with their music. They’re not sure where they’ll end up, but isn’t that the fun of the trip?
Sudoku
Answers on Page 5
8 // November 1, 2013
smoking and the butt videotaping were to persist, I’d have to move on. I was convinced that leaving was probably the best choice. But since I said this, he’s only smoked a couple of times, and we've been reconnecting. He says he's not making any more videos because he saw how upset it made me. I love this guy, but am I deluding myself in thinking he can change? —Hesitant
The Advice Goddess By Amy Alkon amy.alkon@secondsupper.com The butt stops here
My husband and I both smoked pot regularly, but I quit several years ago, and he began smoking nightly. I kept encouraging him to quit because it makes him mentally disappear. He goes through periods when he doesn't smoke (mostly because of my nagging), and then we’re able to connect and have a loving relationship. But he inevitably falls back on this nightly habit, and I become frustrated and resentful. Recently, I discovered a large stockpile of hidden video footage he’d taken of women’s booties. In one video, I was standing next to him, oblivious, as he videotaped the woman ahead of us in line. I was shocked that he was capable of this kind of disrespect. We had an emotionally wrecked several weeks. He slept on the couch, and I avoided him. I told him that if the nightly pot
Second Supper | The Free Press
THE LAST WORD
When you marry a man, it isn’t because you’re looking to walk off into the sunset all by yourself while he’s lying facedown on your living room floor staring at an ant, realizing he totally gets what the ant is thinking. Your husband — let’s call him “the old bong and chain” — is an addict. You may not think of him that way, because he probably doesn’t have a physical dependence on weed or running around town making buttumentaries (say, in the way I have a physical dependence on break-a-tooth-black coffee). Probably what he has is a psychological addiction to checking out (instead of engaging emotionally), and he’s using these habits as transportation to get there. To explain that further, an addiction treatment specialist I respect, Dr. Stanton Peele, in “7 Tools to Beat Addiction,” writes, “When people turn to an experience, any experience, for solace to the exclusion of meaningful involvements in the rest of their
lives, they are engaged in an addiction.” Another addiction therapist I respect, Dr. Frederick Woolverton, in “Unhooked,” explains that what all addictions have in common is a longing to avoid “legitimate suffering” — difficult emotions that are a normal part of being alive. So, no, your husband’s saying no to butt cheeks and “only sometimes” to pot probably isn’t enough. These are just his preferred forms of checking out. To avoid simply replacing them with new forms, he needs to recognize that he’s been using them to duck feeling his feelings — maybe just in your marriage but maybe in other parts of his life, too. He also needs to commit to changing this, but not because you’re hassling him and it would be an even bigger hassle to get dumped by you. (Change is especially tough for the emotion-averse.) He needs to come to the conclusion that it’s worth it to tough it out and feel so he can connect with you on more than the pothead’s deep philosophical questions, “What does paisley sound like?” and “Are we out of Funyuns?” It isn’t easy to go straight from the daily numb to “Hey, intensity, here I am,” and addicts are already in the habit of going straight to easy. Your husband might avoid setbacks by using a practice called “mindfulness meditation” as training wheels for living in the now instead of avoiding
in the now. This form of meditation involves sitting or lying quietly, scanning your body with your mind and observing your thoughts and bodily sensations nonjudgmentally, as if they were scenery you’re passing in a car. I know this sounds airy-fairy. But a growing number of solid studies (by molecular biologist Jon KabatZinn and neuroscientist Richard Davidson, for example) find that regular mindfulness meditation diminishes stress and anxiety and dampens reactivity to emotional discomfort, helping people stand back a bit from their feelings instead of letting their feelings get them in a death grip. It’s possible to do mindfulness meditation without a program, but the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness, founded by Kabat-Zinn, has a link to programs and teachers around the U.S. and Canada. Taking a class in this could even be something you do together and might be the start of lots of things you do together. If he’s sincere about wanting you more than he wants to check out, you could soon have a husband you can count on to be there for you — and not just as a large, heavy, smoking object keeping the couch cushions from running into the street and getting hit by a car. (c)2013, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.
Our next edition of Second Supper | The Free Press publishes Dec. 1. Our advertising deadline is Nov. 25. For information, email roger.bartel@secondsupper.com.
GOES with you and GROWS with you… *Membership eligibility required. A+ Checking available for personal accounts only. Qualifying accounts earn currently posted Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on balances up to $15,000; Portion of balance over $15,000 earn 0.50% APY. Account earns 0.10% APY if all requirements are not met in any given cycle. Rates subject to change monthly. A “cycle” begins the last day of one month and ends on the second to last day of the next month; this allows Altra to calculate and post dividends and ATM refunds on the last day of each month. All requirements must be completed and/or posted in each cycle to be considered a qualifying account. ATM fee refunds available for ATM withdrawals made from A+ Checking only. Dividends calculated and paid each calendar month on the daily balance. Contact Altra for complete details. Federally insured by NCUA.
608-787-4500 • www.altra.org