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19244 HWY. 22 Mankato, MN507-387-6761

Expires May 31, 2016

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$10Gift card redeemable with purchase of $50 or more. Limit one Gift Card per Customer.

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FLORENCE · HOOVER · MONTGOMERY · MOBILE · POINT CLEAR

The Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail · rtjresorts.com/spacard

From relaxing massages to invigorating facials and body treatments,

Marriott is known globally for having great spas. In North America, five of

the top Marriott and Renaissance spas are found in Alabama. For guest

satisfaction, the Spa at the Marriott Shoals in Florence remains the top

ranked Marriott spa in North America. The Spa at the Grand Hotel in Pt.

Clear also is in Marriott’s Top 10. For Renaissance Hotels, both the Spa at

Montgomery and the Spa at Ross Bridge are in the Top 7, followed closely

by the Battle House in Mobile. All five of these spas are part of the RTJ

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Come experience them for yourself.*Renaissance and Marriott spa guest

satisfaction rankings in North America, as of Oct. 1, 2014.

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2 • may 2016 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • may 2016 • 3

FEATURESmay 2016

Volume 11, Issue 5

musical youthThe Mankato area is brimming with

musical opportunities for youngsters.

20Reelin’ and Rockin’

If you want the straight scoop on Mankato’s rock ‘n’ roll history, start here.

14

About the CoverAlex Christofferson was kind enough to pose at Buster’s for this fantastic cover photo by Pat Christman.

Alex also appears in our story about an open mic night at Pub 500 on page 28.

Step up to the mic!Join us on a visit to an

open mic night.

28

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DEPARTMENTS6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History9 The Gallery Vicki Peterson

10 Beyond the margin From Holly to Springsteen

12 Day Trip Destinations 100-mile garage sale

24 Then & Now Boy in Blue

33 Food, Drink & Dine 34 Food The miller-armstrong building

36 Wine The high price of (some) wine

37 Beer Brewing rock stars

38 Happy Hour Something in the water

40 What’s Cookin’? Am I buggin’ you?

42 That’s Life Two out of three ain’t bad

44 Garden Chat Pineberries

46 your Style Decompiculture Couture

48 Coming attractions 49 Faces & Places52 From This Valley Syttende Mai

9

34 40

42 44

12

Coming in JuneWhat I did on my summer vacation!

We bring you stories of families with strong summer vacation traditions.

Also, community gardens and grilling for vegetarians.

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6 • • MANKATO MAGAZINE

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Thursday, May 21, 1987Vet’s Club Calls Off ’87 Picnic

This is the year of the Vet’s Club Picnic that wasn’t. The annual event that has attracted several thousand celebrants is cancelled for lack of a site. Scheduled for May 30, this would have been the 20th annual picnic sponsored by the Mankato State University club. It has traditionally been held in Mankato’s Sibley Park, but that site became unavailable due to planned construction for a city golf course in the Land of Memories portion of the park. Instead, the club hoped to hold the event at the MSU campus. Those plans fell through when university officials denied the group use of the campus citing concerns about the event being too rowdy, leaving Club leaders “a bit miffed.” Last year, the picnic lost $7,000 when heavy rains washed it out. Club leaders borrowed that amount from MSU and hoped to pay it back with proceeds from this Picnic.

Thursday, May 13, 1954TV Set Installed in New Fathers’ Room at Immanuel

Things are looking up for expectant fathers. No more anxious pacing or nervous chain smoking during those eternal final hours waiting for the grand announcement of fatherhood at Immanuel Hospital. A 21-inch television has been installed in the fathers’ waiting room on the maternity floor. The set was donated by the hospital doctors and nurses as well as several church organizations. The reception is said to be “pretty fair.” The television set could also be used by mothers.

Tuesday Evening, May 14, 1889Land buy back

The Sioux Indians want $1.50 an acre for the 11 million acres of their reservation the government desires to purchase. The highest offer yet made has been $1 an acre. The commission is authorized to offer up to $1.25 an acre, and the Indians are unlikely to refuse that offer. The purchase of Indian lands by the acre, and the “haggling” that is part of the process, shows two ideas very forcefully. One is that land is not so abundant as in former times, and the second is that the more humane and honest way of dealing with Indians is now the policy of the government.

Friday, May 10, 1912Guests for quiet wedding

August Schweim and Otillia Baruth were quietly married yesterday at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the German Lutheran Church. Immediately after, a wedding reception was tendered at the home of the bride’s parents, 1430 First avenue. The groom is a prosperous young man of Lime township, while the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Baruth of the city and enjoys a large circle of friends.

Tuesday, May 3, 1960Rogers to talk at Nicollet graduation

Franklin Rogers, managing editor of the Mankato Free Press, will speak to 36 seniors in the Nicollet graduating class on May 26. Clarence Prosch, Nicollet School Board President, will distribute the diplomas. School officials said some of the graduates plan to go into nursing, electronics, secretarial work and farming.

Friday, May 6, 1933New Post Office will be open to public May 13

The new Mankato Post Office opens to the public for business May 15. It will be located in the new building, which started construction last year. The entire building, including work rooms, offices, court rooms and basement will be open for inspection Saturday afternoon and evening. Bids for moving equipment and furnishings have been received, and forwarded to Washington. Ben Deike was the low bidder and is expected to receive the contract.

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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The GAllery: Vicki PetersenStory by Nell Musolf

Vicki Petersen is an artist who enjoys working in several different mediums including

quilting, handspun, hand woven and felted clothing, bead weaving and jewelry making.

“I taught myself to spin after seeing spinners one summer in Oregon,” Petersen said. “That progressed to buying a wheel, whole fleeces from farms, washing, carding, spinning, weaving and felting.”

Petersen started sel l ing her handmade creations through the Carnegie Art Center’s Sunday on Broad Street Art Fair back in the 1980’s. She then began bead weaving and took some classes in bead weaving and natural dying at the Minnesota Weaver’s Guild. Her love of stones prompted her to collect gemstones and beads and use them in handmade jewelry. At that point Petersen decided that she wanted to use more organic forms in her jewelry and she began to make porcelain beads that she continues to use in many of her pieces. She also uses nalebinding, a prehistoric method of making clothing and household items from fiber in her jewelry pieces.

Nalebinding is similar to crocheting in that it uses a single needle but different in that the yarn passes through every loop. An advantage of nalebinding is that it does not unravel and requires no special finishing orders.

Petersen said she has always been attracted to using natural materials and often collected rocks and other natural materials when she was a child.

“My sisters and I would create designs, building stacks and habitats in our woods using bark, sticks and found objects,” Petersen remembered. “We had access to a junkyard where we could scavenge. Ours were nothing like the wonderful land art by Andy Goldworthy and others but were fun projects for us.”

Petersen retired from her position as a computer tech with ITS at Minnesota State University.

“It was both fun and challenging for me as I had no technical background and was trained on the job so it was a wonderful opportunity to try something new,” Petersen said.

With more time to pursue her artistic bent, Petersen said that some weeks will pass with no artwork done while other

times she has worked every available minute on one of her quilts.

Petersen currently has felted scarves and a variety of jewelry for sale at the Carnegie Gift Store.

“The shop is exceptional and the staff and volunteers are so supportive, friendly and knowledgeable,” Petersen said. “Almost all of my jewelry includes semi-precious stones, some with nalebinding using Irish waxed linen and some with my handmade porcelain beads.”

Petersen said that she when she is creating jewelry, she is most often creatively motivated by the materials she is using. When she is working with clay, the almost limitless possibilities to shape it are what get her creative juices flowing.

“Ideas come from anywhere, especially nature. It can be anything I see or hear that creates a concept in my mind that I want to try to translate into a piece, going through the process trying to create something unique,” Petersen said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I also enjoy making everyday pieces with quality materials.”

Petersen enjoys seeing other artist’s work and has been motivated by seeing what other people have created to share her own work in a few shows.

“I showed a few of my quilts while I was a member of the Deep Valley Quilters,” Petersen said. “Two of my challenge quilts were awarded viewer’s choice.”

One of Petersen’s quilts received a Judges’ Choice Award from the Minnesota Quilters and at the 20th annual Prairie Lakes Exhibit in 2012, a quilt of Petersen’s was awarded second place. Petersen has also had pieces in the Carnegie’s member shows.

Multitalented

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Buddy Holly did his last show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa on Feb. 2, 1959. Bruce Springsteen, who was barely 10 years old when Holly died, is currently on tour and has played concerts in five decades with his E Street Band.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • • 11

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DAy Trip DesTinATions: 100-Mile Garage SaleBy leTiciA GonzAles

If youGoIt’s no secret that Minnesotans are garage sale-

crazy. But just how crazy is reflected in the annual 100-Mile Garage Sale that spans 15

communities along the Mississippi River. From Winona, Kellogg, Wabasha, and Lake City, the sale continues on through Red Wing into Wisconsin through the cities of Bay City, Stockholm, Pepin and Nelson to name a few.

“The communities around Lake Pepin, on both sides of the river, were trying to come up with an event to kind of kick off the tourism season in early spring. We came up with the garage sale around Lake Pepin,” said Larry Neilsen, President of Mississippi Valley Partners.

Tasked with promoting tourism from Hastings to Winona on both sides of the river, the Mississippi Valley Partners spearheaded the event, which is held the first weekend in May, more than 20 years ago.

“The weather is starting to get nice and the idea is to get tourists to come around the River valley and see the quaint little towns we have around here and maybe want to come back again and again in the summertime,” Neilsen added. “At the time, we called it the 85-mile garage sale, and then over the years we added a few more communities.”

With each town along the route promoting the event and participating in the sales, it didn’t take long for the 85-mile route to stretch to 100 miles.

Garage logicWhy wouldn’t you want to hit

100 miles of garage sales?

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If youGo

“The first year was a success, but the real success came in subsequent years,” he said. “It keeps growing and growing, and now it’s the largest garage sale in North America.”

With anywhere from 2,500 to 3,000 garage sales along the 100-mile route, Neilsen said there is an estimated 30,000 buyers not only from the local communities, but from the Twin Cities, Rochester, and even the Chicago area.

“It’s kind of become a monster all of its own,” he said. “People like it so much, we have a lot of people in our lodging industry that tell us people come and stay here for the weekend and go garage saling, and when they check out they make reservations for next year.”

Mary Farrell, Visitor Services Coordinator for Visit Winona, has seen the growth in her city since Winona starting participating in 2005.

“It has become self-sustaining,” Farrell said. “In the beginning, there were half a dozen sales in a particular town and now there are hundreds in some communities. A lot more people are participating as garage sale vendors as well as those who are buying.”

Some vendors, such as the Development Achievement Center -- which provides services for individuals with disabilities -- use the opportunity to raise funds for their organization.

“They put up a big tent and fill it with a variety of donated items,” Farrell said of the Development Achievement Center, which has successfully sold pre-owned home goods for the past five years. “They don’t accept outdated technology or computers. They also have a hot dog sale that accompanies the garage sale.”

Retailers from other cities along the garage sale route have also seen a positive from the event.

“The restaurants always get a big hit on that weekend, and

almost all of these towns have unique shops,” said Neilsen. “They aren’t these big box stores like Wal-Mart and Target.”

One of those unique shops is the The Yippie Hippie Shop in Lake City, where Neilsen is from.

“It’s all stuff from the 60s and 70s,” he added. “There are just a lot of unique stores, and that’s kind of what we push in these towns. You aren’t going to open up a retail store that is going to compete against the big box stores. You need to have something that people can’t find in their backyard. Wherever they are from, the Twin Cities, Rochester, Owatonna, you need to have something that is unique and unusual to them. That is how most of these stores have morphed into, and the garage sale kind of helps that too.”

The types of items being sold has also changed through the course of the event.

“The last couple years we are seeing more of the repurposed stuff that is kind of hot in the industry,” added Neilsen. “People are taking what would have been

trash and converting it into decorating things, and it’s kind of a big thing all over the country.”

Whether it’s the typical garage sales finds you are looking for, collectibles or refurbished creations, there are no shortages of what treasures you may find along the way.

“You can start anywhere, because it’s a big loop, Neilsen said. “That’s kind of what makes it so successful.”

From Hastings, MN south on Hwy. 61 to

Winona, MN, across the river to Fountain City,

WI and North on Hwy 35 to Prescott, WI

WhenMay 6-8, 2016

Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is FREE, but costs

vary for garage sale purchases. Visit

100milegaragesale.org/

What 100 Mile Garage Sale

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The blues, Muddy Waters informed us, had a baby and named it rock and roll.

So, let’s proceed under the premise that bluesman Willie Dixon indirectly gave birth

to Mankato’s brand of rock and roll. Maybe when he passed through the area in the late 1940s, the blues poet laureate sprinkled some musical mojo onto the so-called “Fat City” river town.

In the post-World War II music era, when rhythm and blues fans in rural Minnesota wanted access to the freshest releases, they had to employ creative measures.

There were very different methods of “streaming” music 60 years ago.

“I can remember in the summer time stretching wire on insulators between three big trees,” said

By Drew Lyon

Reelin’Bobby Drengler (left) and Jim mcGuire were there when rock n’ roll was born in mankato. (Photo by Darren Gibbins)

Rockin’and

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Larry Hofmann, a Janesville-bred musician, “and running it back on the porch and attaching it to the radio so I could listen to KTHS out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Bob Dylan was doing the same thing. We were all doing it.”

And Dixon, author of lusty classics like “Spoonful,” “I Just Want to Make Love to You” and “Hoochie Coochie Man,” purportedly played in North Mankato with his Big Three Trio, probably at the swanky Century Club off the Old Main Street bridge.

“That was before our time,” said guitarist Jim McGuire, one of Mankato’s first rock and roll practitioners, “but they used to run big names at the Century Club. They weren’t big then, but they became big.”

In his memoir, “I Am the Blues,” Dixon claimed the temperature was 58 degrees below zero during his tour stop in Minnesota, “where I know they don’t like nothing but polka.”

Dixon had a knack for dramatic flourishes of hyperbole.

“They had all these old people that had never been in a nightclub before lining up outside our place,” he wrote. “There was ice and snow all over everything and ice on the inside of people’s houses that was an inch thick. Boy, you’re talking about cold. I never did go back.”

By the end of the next decade, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, torchbearers to the rock and roll throne, were stirring up a frenzy in Mankato.

Alas, they didn’t come back either;

Big BangHofmann chuckled when

pressed for specific dates and details on his musical upbringing.

“It’s hard to remember back that far,” Hofmann, 72, said from his home in Minneapolis. “God knows what the actual truth is.”

But he never forgot the first time he met Jim and Bobby. Hofmann sensed he was crossing paths with fellow travelers at first sight.

It was around 1958. Hofmann was about 14 and in love with Little Richard and Fats Domino when his mom drove him from

Holly and Valens perished “the day the music died” in a plane crash in Iowa a week after their historic 1959 performance at the Kato Ballroom. By then, teenagers like McGuire and his pal Bobby Drengler, were taking notice, picking up electric guitars and cranking up their amplifiers.

McGuire’s ears are still feeling the effects.

“I think I have hearing damage from Ritchie Valens’ guitar,” McGuire said of the night Holly and Valens rocked Mankato. “I remember when he let into ‘La Bamba.’ It was deafening.”

Reelin’Rockin’

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the family honey farm in Janesville to Backlund’s Record and Appliance Store in downtown Mankato.

Backland’s stood as ground central for aspiring musicians, an instrument and record shop that was a breeding station for rock and roll lovers.

Hofmann was a novice guitar player when he strapped on the store’s mighty Les Paul Goldtop for the first time; the weight of the guitar, he recalls, was overwhelming.

Then a couple of cool cats strutted through the front door. Hofmann had never seen them before, but he recognized one of their names from a song he’d heard on the AM radio.

“Jimmy and Bobby walked in like they owned the place — without pretension,” Hoffman said. “They walked in in a very familiar way. And each grabbed a guitar off the rack and started to play, and I was really, really impressed with all that. I was just learning guitar, but I knew just enough to know they were really good and I sure wasn’t.”

McGuire didn’t quite own the place, but he’d been a guitar teacher at Backlund’s since he was 12 and continued instructing at the venerable music shop through college.

“I was fooling with the guitars down there and Fred (Backlund, the store’s owner) asked me if I’d like to give lessons,” McGuire said. “I thought, this is unreal. A dollar at that time was huge.”

McGuire gave half-hour guitar lessons to anyone eager to learn the rudiments of the instrument. In the early days, he often taught his peers how to play the latest single from The Ventures, an instrumental surf-rock band.

“I wasn’t that much farther along than everyone else,” McGuire said. “I knew about two more chords than the other kids, but I was just learning myself.”

On a January afternoon nearly 60 years later, McGuire and Drengler retraced their deep roots at an Old Town cafe during a nearly two-hour interview.

“Don’t spread any lies until I get back,” McGuire said to his boyhood friend when he arrived, excusing himself to the restroom. “We’ve got to corroborate our stories.”

Drengler, best man at McGuire’s wedding, teased him the way only close friends can.

“Absolution,” he said. “That’s one thing you got in your favor this time, Jim.”

They traveled long and meandering detours down memories’ back roads, but they got their stories (mostly) straight and proper: Jim was right there playing along in the beginnings of Mankato rock and roll.

And Bobby wasn’t far behind.“The music speaks for itself,” Drengler said.

“There was a lot of good music in that era — it was the dawn of rock and roll.”

Before The Gestures ran, ran, ran; before City Mouse were the leading purveyors of good-time music; before The Libido Boyz were at the forefront of Mankato’s punk rock scene; in the 1950s and early ‘60s, the Lee James Band, David Johns and the Rockin’ White Caps, The Troubadours and The Group DeVille laid the foundation.

“All of these kids who were in The Gestures, City

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MM p01 0416.indd 16 4/18/2016 5:13:44 PM


Mouse, all those bands,” Drengler said, “were Jim’s guitar students. Those guys have all told me that, because of those Backlund’s rock and roll guitar lessons, that got them all going because no one else knew how to teach it except Jim.”

“There are a lot of blank spots in there,” McGuire said. “By (the 1960s), rock and roll (in Mankato) had been going on for a decade. But I’m not bitter; I might’ve been bitter when they misspelled my name in The Free Press, though.”

Sorry about that, Jim. We’ll try to get it right this time.

Rock around the clock

In Eisenhower’s America, owning an electric guitar was like holding a key that unlocked the code to a secret society. It signaled freedom, and a rebellious taste in music.

“If someone had an electric guitar in those days, people heard about it,” McGuire said. “Just having a guitar and playing was enough to get noticed in Mankato at that time.”

David Johns hailed from West Virginia, the son of a Baptist minister. He sang secular music on Friday and Saturday nights, but praised the Lord with his church choir on Sunday mornings.

“He was the real deal,” McGuire said of his first bandmate. “He had a drawl, he loved to shake it all over the place and sing rockabilly, but Dave also did spirituals like ‘Sinner Man’ and sang in the glee club. He did this with all his heart and soul, I’ll tell you.”

In a nod to his idols, Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, Johns formed his own band, the Rockin’

White Caps. They played revved-up rock and roll in the vein of Vincent, Elvis, Carl Perkins and Bill Haley.

McGuire first squeezed the accordion, and started strumming on banjo before switching to guitar. He was about 12 years old when someone saw him practicing his guitar on the front porch of his home in Mankato’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Johns was alerted, invited McGuire to rehearse with the band and offered him a spot as his backup guitarist.

“David Johns was definitely the first Mankato rock and roller,” Drengler said. “That’s the beginning. He played the first rock and roll dances that took place in Mankato.”

Johns was featured in a 1958 Free Press profile in the paper’s “Youth Page.” The college student confidently expressed unwavering belief in this frenetic music. Johns’ eloquent musings on the future of rock and roll are prophetic.

“This type of music makes you feel like you want to move,” Johns was quoted in the piece. “The words don’t make much sense, but they express a feeling. Mozart had a certain feeling he wanted to express and so do we … It is going to be a long time before (rock and roll) disappears … I suppose we will look back on it someday and wonder.”

McGuire had his own thoughts on the article.“Look, they misspelled my name,” McGuire said,

pointing at a laminated copy of the article. “They called me Jim McCarthy.”

Johns and McGuire pared down to a duo, playing dances opening for older bands that played pop and jazz standards.

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“They hired Dave and me to appease the young kids asking for rock and roll,” McGuire said, “but I knew how to play the standards, too.”

Drengler was a roving railroad brat who moved to Mankato in eighth grade. His dad was also a musician — he’d jam with his son and McGuire — and Bobby would sometimes accompany Johns and McGuire on trumpet.

“I taught Bobby how to play enough chords on guitar to get started,” McGuire said, “and he took off from there.”

McGuire soon hooked up with another fledgling local rock outfit, the Lee James Band. The versatile combo was led by Leon Haefner, older brother of future City Mouse keyboardist Dale Haefner.

“The Lee James Band hardly ever gets mentioned, but they were an all-around ballroom band,” Drengler said. “They could do a mix, they had a horn player. They weren’t just a Top-40 band.”

McGuire worked the circuit with the Lee James Band for about three years while he was in college, played go-go dances and toured all over the Midwest. They even supported The Everly Brothers on a bill. McGuire remembers the band was supposed to share a dressing room with the Everlys, but the famously feuding brothers “weren’t too cordial.”

Hofmann, meanwhile, gravitated toward the bass guitar and formed his own band, the Thunderbeats. A manager convinced the band to take a year off from high school and tour the east coast. Hofmann returned home in 1961 to finish high school and bunked with Drengler’s family in Mankato for his senior year. He learned the saxophone during a stint in Drengler’s band, The Group DeVille, and lived with McGuire’s family during his college years at Mankato State.

McGuire was already evolving as a musician. Almost overnight, he hung up his rock and roll shoes in favor of jazz and classical loafers.

Ritchie Valens and “La Bamba” was kid’s stuff. Jim wanted to turn down the volume and play grown folks music.

“I can remember many a night

I went to sleep listening to him play classical,” Hofmann said. “He played really good rock and roll, and 10 minutes later he was playing jazz.”

McGuire was set on skipping college; he wanted to sharpen his jazz chops in clubs in Chicago.

“I didn’t know any better, but my mom said, ‘Everyone else has tried college. Even Bobby Drengler’s going to college,’” McGuire said, laughing. “Chicago would’ve killed me. So I stayed and went to college, never left and became part of academia.”

McGuire earned a degree in music education, and later pursued his master’s in classical guitar studies from Mankato State. He’s the longtime leader of the Jim McGuire Trio, which has a summer residency at Morgan Creek Vineyard in New Ulm.

“You’ve always been a teacher,” Drengler said to McGuire.

McGuire shrugged. “I guess.”“What do you mean, ‘I guess’?”

Drengler asked. “He’s been a teacher from the very beginning!”

No more living on rock and roll time, staying out late in dance halls. By the time The Gestures’ broke big in the mid-1960s, McGuire’s rocker days were a fading memory.

“I’d lost a lot of my musical contacts and lost track of what was going on in the pop scene,” he said. “And to be a classical guy wasn’t very popular.”

He morphed into a full-fledged jazz snob, a mantle he proudly holds.

“The thing that made me mad about rock music was you could practice your butt off and get as good as you could on your instrument,” he said, “but then someone who couldn’t blow their nose would hit the right combination of things. It wasn’t something you could work out, you just had to hit it by accident, and that always bugged me, because—”

Drengler shook his head in mock disgust and cut McGuire monologue short. It seemed the pair had broached this topic before.

“Well, I have a little bit different perspective on it!” Drengler said. “That’s taking it from a jazz man’s side of view. How can you go around making

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statements like that, Jim?”“I just think music should

ascend to something, that it should be progressive by nature,” McGuire said. “And then something drags it back down like ‘Louie Louie.’ But what do I know? That’s always been the case. Whatever the boat was, I missed it along the way, but that’s okay.”

Move on down the line

Hofmann isn’t the sentimental type. He prefers listening to current music more than the chestnuts of yesteryear.

“I’m not one to look back at all,” he said. “When it comes to music, I’m not a nostalgic guy.”

After graduating college in 1968, Hoffman left Mankato for Minneapolis. He didn’t look back, and played in Twin Cities’ bands for much of the next decade.

“My parents came to the graduation, and they met me at Jimmy’s house,” he said. “They gave me a suitcase for a present, and I got in my car and drove to Minneapolis. It was that quick.”

But sometimes the pull of the past is too strong; the music is just too darn good. Hofmann is still a fool for Little Richard.

“He still drives me crazy,” he said. “I have all those saxophone solos committed to memory.”

There was something magical in the air during those halcyon days. Those who witnessed it all agree: you had to be there.

“It was a vibrant, special time,” said Hoffman, a professional painter who continues to play bass in the Twin Cities and spends summers at the family farm in Janesville. “It does seem there were — and still are — some special talent in the Mankato area.”

Even McGuire will concede after gentle prodding that some of the hits from his youth have stood the test of time.

“When you go back and listen to those old records, they weren’t that bad,” he said. “When you consider the Sun Records guys, it still sounds pretty good.”

There’s scant audio evidence of the seeds that McGuire and company planted. There’s a 1968 studio recording of The DeVille Trio, a McGuire-Drengler band that was a jazz offshoot of the more rockin’ Group DeVille.

Drengler owns another surviving document, a home recording featuring drummer Bill Denison playing a hair brush for percussion.

By the late 1960s, while McGuire was studying jazz masters like Wes Montgomery and Charlie Byrd, Drengler had been discharged from the Air Force. Around 1969, he reconnected with Denison, who was recently divorced and hoping to resume his music career.

“He wanted to go back on the road, and I said, ‘Well, I better start practicing again,’” Drengler said. “We didn’t have a show. Nothing. It was all brand new stuff.”

In Drengler’s version, they recruited a young charismatic singer and harmonica player to fill out the band. His name was Billy Steiner.

“Billy was the only guy around that time who was the right fit and had any potential,” Drengler said. “And he did have one of the best microphones, too.”

The group debuted in May 1971 at small lounges around Mankato. They called the band City Mouse, and a new dawn of Mankato rock and roll was rising.

Steiner’s memories differ. He insists he and Drengler started City Mouse as a duo after striking up a friendship at Backlund’s over their mutual affection for singer-songwriters.

“We said, ‘Let’s start a band.’ The first City Mouse shows were just the two of us, and (Denison) came in shortly after,” Steiner said. “I think my friend Bobby’s timeline is a bit off there.”

But that’s another story in need of straightening out. City Mouse, with Steiner still steering the ship, celebrates their 45th anniversary in 2016.

“You have to remember that all of this was one step away from the caveman days,” McGuire said “But it sure is fun to recollect. It was an interesting time. Just don’t say anything too radical about me. And, please, spell my name right.” MM

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The Mankato area is fortunate to have several different musical opportunities for young people

ranging from individual lessons from any number of talented teachers to bigger groups such as choirs, bands and orchestras. Anyone with a musical bent should be able to find a niche for his or her talent without too much trouble.

Mankato Area 77 LancersThink summer and quite often marching bands

are one of the first things to come to mind. For Mankatoans, the Lancers and marching bands are synonymous and represent the best of music in motion. The Lancers provide musical and marching training for students in grades 8-12. Since its inception, Lancers has focused on promoting an attitude of pride, spirit and teamwork. Lancers strive to represent Mankato Area Public Schools and surrounding school districts that don’t offer a summer marching bands program such as St. Clair or Lake Crystal. They also aim to represent the region with a spirit of excellence not only in Minnesota but throughout the United States and Canada. Another goal of the Lancers is to help its participants gain a lifelong appreciation for music and people.

Brady Krusemark has been serving the Lancers as Director for four years. Over the past three years enrollment in the group has risen from 80 members to its current 120.

“We’re really excited about the growth in membership that we’ve seen over the past few seasons,” Krusemark said. “There’s a lot of

By Nell Musolf

Playing their songs

excitement and support surrounding this group from parents, community members and the members themselves.”

Krusemark said that the biggest reward for him is the ability to see the members grow as performers and as people throughout the season.

“The amount of growth and the change that we see each year is tremendous. Being part of this organization is a big commitment. And pursuing excellence in full cooperation with 120 others is not an easy task. But they meet and exceed our expectations time and again,” He said.

Krusemark also said he appreciates being able to witness how the members of the Lancers represent Mankato in a positive manner.

“Our members are fantastic ambassadors for our community and I get the joy of hearing comments about from people on our travels throughout Minnesota and the nation,” Krusemark said.

For the area’s musical youth, opportunities abound

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Another joy is the camaraderie among the members.

“When you spend as much time together as the Lancers do and you have student leaders that are as great as ours, something really special happens,” Krusemark said. “Friendships that last a lifetime are created among the students in this organization.”

Krusemark added that he speaks from experience as he was once a Lancer himself. Members in this year’s group come not only from Mankato from but surrounding towns as well.

“When we get together for our first rehearsal each season, the students pick up exactly where they left off the previous season,” Krusemark said. “It’s like a family reunion.”

The first performance for the 2016 season will be the annual Meet the Lancers Parade, Concert and Hog Roast at Mankato East on June 9.

Mankato Area Youth Symphony OrchestraFor almost four decades, the Mankato Area Youth

Symphony Orchestra has been helping young musicians improve their skills via performance of symphonic music. MAYSO’s music director is Dr. Joseph Rogers who is in his sixth season with the group. North Star Strings conductor, Mark Wamma, is in his first year. Carolyn Borgen is MAYSO’s executive director.

“I often think of Mark and Joe as the heart of each group,” Borgen said. “They’re working with students and, hopefully, building lifelong musicians and patrons of the arts. We hope our students will go out in the community when they’re adults and continue to play at all levels for years to come.”

MAYSO currently has 37 members with 16 in the North Star Strings. MAYSO is for older students

The mankato area 77 Lancers look to be 120 strong this year. (Photo by Robb murray)

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while North Strings Stars is geared toward younger students. The groups rehearse Saturday mornings although, next fall, students will be offered the option to rehearse Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon.

Borgen said that one of the biggest challenge for MAYSO participants is busy schedules.

“Our kids are so well-rounded and participate in many different opportunities at their schools. Often finding time for a rehearsal on Saturday mornings can be tough,” Borgen said. “That is why we wanted to offer students two different time slots to practice this coming fall.”

The organization holds concerts in November, March and June.

Borgen said that, thanks to a generous donation from the Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation, the organization will be offering an additional orchestra session at a low cost of $25.

“This will be open to all instruments. We will have one main ensemble and a smaller brass/winds ensemble and a string ensemble.

Young people interested in joining MAYSO or NSS can email Carolyn Borgen at [email protected] or signup for an audition online at mayso.net/audition

Mankato Children’s Chorus

The sound of small feet scuffling down the hallway toward the gymnasium. Excited children wearing black polo shirts emblazoned with a small red musical note. Some members of the Mankato Children’s Chorus look thrilled while a few appear a little nervous. It’s the night of the A Little Cake, A Little Concert and anticipation is in the air.

In the gymnasium at Christ the King Lutheran Church, parents are handing out slices of cake and glasses of punch to enjoy during the concert. Nikki Bush, mother of sixth-grade participant Hannah

Bush, shared how much her family has enjoyed being part of the group.

“We moved to Mankato from Washington and we wanted to find a way to become involved with the community,” Nikki said. “Hannah joined the Mankato Children’s Chorus and she loved it. She met her best friend here. It’s been wonderful.”

Hannah Bush agreed. “I enjoy singing and being with friends,” Hannah said. “It’s exciting.”

The Mankato Children’s Chorus has been a part of the area’s musical community for the past 22 years. Using a combination of rehearsal and performance of choral music, members develop several qualities to enhance their musical appreciation. Jonathan Shevy has directed the Youth Choir for two years. As director, his job is to select music that is appropriate for the age of the choir.

“One must consider physical limitations of voices and select songs that will teach good vocal technique as well as inspiring the musician inside each child,” Shevy said.

The Youth Choir has 24 students and there are approximately 100 students involved in all of the MCC choirs. The choirs meet every Monday evening for rehearsals and have two official concerts every year in December and April as well as numerous performances throughout the community.

“I always enjoy the times we perform in retirement centers,” Shevy said. “It’s moving to see the joy in our elderly community members’ faces as they greet and listen to the youth in Mankato.”

Park Street GuitarRyan Lano has been playing the guitar for 25 years

after starting at age 13. Since becoming a guitar hero is a goal for many young people, Lano has for the past 17 years been busy teaching future guitarists at his Park Street Guitar studio in Minnesota Lake as

mankato Children’s Chorus offers choirs for all ages. (Photo by Trevor Cokley)

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well in area homes. Lano said that, typically, it is the kid’s idea to take up the guitar, a refreshing scenario from the image of parents forcing their kids to take music lessons.

“Kids usually tell their parents that they want to play the guitar,” Lano said, “and if the parent follows through, their child will become a guitar player.”

Using Lano’s method, his students learn a song during their first lesson but Lano said that it takes about two years to become a reasonably good guitarist. It is important for beginning guitarists to invest time when they can and intermediate guitarists should be practicing 30 minutes every day.

“Practice time increases as you advance,” Lano said.

Lano uses the Five Pillars of Guitar Success as his teaching model for success in learning to be an outstanding guitar player. The pillars are: technique, theory, ear training, improvisation and composition, all of which make up the five requirements for guitar mastery.

Lano said that the benefits of music for young people show that kids who study music do better in school, particularly in math and reading.

“I have found that music study directly correlates with language and helps a person to community with themselves and the world,” Lano said.

One of Lano’s pupils, Matthew Timmerman, had the following to say about his lessons: “I pretty much like all of it, and I like playing music and having fun with Ryan. Ryan is a joyful teacher. He’s fun and very kind. He let me use his electric guitar, too.” MM

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Want to get involved?Mankato Area 77 Lancers — All

positions for the 2016 edition of the Lancers have been filled. To check the organization out, however, visit 77Lancers.com. Email Director Brady Krusemark at [email protected] or call 507.207.3837.

Mankato Children’s Chorus — Visit them online at mankatochildrenschorus.org. Email [email protected] or call 507.387.9007.

Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra — Visit them online at mayso.net or call. Contact them directly at [email protected] or call 612.251.8492.

MM p01 0416.indd 23 4/18/2016 5:13:57 PM


Then & now: Boy in BLUEBy Bryce o. sTenzel

boy in

bLueMankato’s Historic Lincoln Park and

Civil War Veterans’ Memorial

The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861 with the firing on Fort Sumter in

Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

In four years of bloody fighting, more than 629,000 American lives were lost on both sides, (recent statistics suggest the number was closer to 750,000) the Union of states was preserved, and slavery was abolished. Out of a total U.S. population of approximately 31,000,000 citizens in 1860, two percent of it perished in the war (the equivalent of 6 million Americans dying today), leaving countless widows, orphans, sisters and sweethearts behind to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, and begin life anew.

After the fiery passions of the war itself had cooled, there emerged an earnest desire, coupled by a concerted effort by individuals throughout the nation to memorialize their Civil War dead by convincing their communities to build war memorials to the fallen heroes. In this way, the wartime sacrifices of the dead would never be forgotten, the living could commune with the dead and lessons of the past could be passed on to a new generation.

Mankato’s Boy in Blue was just such a memorial.

In 1885, 20 years after the guns fell silent at Appomattox, Women’s

Relief Corps members of Alexander Wilkin Post 19, Grand Army of the Republic, persuaded the City of Mankato to buy the triangular block of land, owned by W.H. Shepard, at the intersection of Broad, Grove and Lincoln Streets in Mankato, for the express purpose of erecting a Civil War veterans’ memorial.

The parcel was not completely vacant at the time of the purchase. A large elm tree that had been a sapling when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 spread its green, leafy canopy of branches majestically over the site. In 1892, the memorial was built, and the following year, it was dedicated on Decoration Day, May 30, 1893.

The Boy in Blue, representing a Union infantry soldier stood 7 to 8 feet atop a cast iron basin, which in turn stood 6 feet above an octagonal pool. The basin or fountain portion of the monument, as well as the cornices at each corner of the pool beneath it, were decorated with images of ram heads, symbolizing war, and goat heads, symbolizing determination. From the beginning, the park was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, but his likeness was not chosen to grace the apex of the monument. Rather, it depicted an ordinary soldier — the common man — who had given his “last, full measure of devotion” to

preserving the American Union and its ideal of “all men are created equal.”

The Boy in Blue did not remain on active duty guarding his park very long. In 1894, vandals broke off the musket he was holding. This happened again in 1911, when the musket was destroyed and the soldier’s fingers were pried off the statue — making it vulnerable to damage from corrosion caused by moisture. A windstorm toppled the figure and it was not repaired. Exposure to the elements and neglect continued to take their toll. By 1922, citizens were asking for the fountain’s removal. The soldier statue was sold as scrap metal, along with the cannon that once graced Lincoln Park. In 1927, the final vestiges of the fountain pool disappeared. A granite monument (a recycled column from the demolished Mankato State Bank in the Spelbrink Building) was installed in 1935 to replace the statue/fountain. Mankato’s once-proud Civil War veterans’ memorial had passed into history, as well as the Lincoln Elm tree that shaded it (it died of Dutch Elm disease and was removed in 1980. Tree ring dating revealed it to be 315 years old).

In 2011 (the sesquicentennial of the start of the American Civil War), a dedicated citizens’ group, The Boy in Blue Civil War Veterans’ Memorial Committee, was organized for the purpose of rebuilding the monument as authentically as possible.

Extensive historical research revealed the name of the original company (Mott Ironworks of Trenton, New Jersey) that had constructed the cast-iron basin or “bottom bowl” portion of the fountain, as well as its modern successor (Robinson Iron of Alexander City, Alabama). Robinson Iron was hired to recast the pedestal, using the original blueprints.

Further investigation revealed that statues similar to the “Boy in Blue” had been erected in other American cities, including Forest City, Iowa, Lancaster, Wisc., and Cape Girardeau, MO. Local contractor Ron Goodrich was

MM p01 0416.indd 24 4/18/2016 5:13:57 PM

hired to replicate the fountain pool and oversee the entire reconstruction process. Local sculptor, Thomas Miller was hired to inscribe the names of Blue Earth County’s 682 documented Civil War veterans into slabs of black granite that would be placed around the lip of the fountain pool on each one of the rim’s eight beveled panels. An experienced artist, Alan Gibson of Dallas, (formally Cape Girardeau) was contacted, based on his work in restoring similar monuments; he was hired to re-create the soldier statue.

Ground-breaking for the memorial began on May 6, 2013, and the work continued to progress steadily, as funds were raised. A significant portion of those funds came in the form of grants from the Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation and the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council. On Sept. 17, 2012, the anniversary of the Civil War’s bloodiest day (Antietam), Robinson Iron delivered the replicated cast-iron “bottom bowl,” to Goodrich’s warehouse for storage until it would be installed in Lincoln Park in the spring of 2015.

Throughout the winter of 2014-15, Gibson worked on fabricating the soldier statue at his Dallas studio. Mr. Gibson drove to Mankato to personally deliver the statue and supervise its final installation on May 29, 2015. It arrived one day prior to the re-dedication ceremony planned for the morning of May 30.

As the statue lightly touched down on the re-created pedestal, the heavy rain that had been falling all day on the 29th stopped, and the sun suddenly broke through the thick clouds, casting down its golden beams for several minutes. Several hundred people were in attendance at the memorial’s re-dedication the next day, which featured period music, a parade of Civil War era re-enactors that marched in review, unveiling of the statue by Ron Goodrich and Tom Miller, turning over of the memorial by Boy in Blue Committee Chair, Bryce Stenzel to Mankato Mayor, Eric Anderson, and speeches from local dignitaries: First District Congressman, Tim Walz, State Representatives, Clark Johnson

and Jack Considine. The final success of the

re-created Boy in Blue Memorial Project came in the form of a generous financial donation by Mankato resident, Anne Chesley Hurlihy, whose sense of community pride and civic responsibility enabled the project to be largely completed on time.

In all, $190,000 was raised to make the dream of rebuilding the Boy in Blue a reality. Much of the money came in the form of private donations from individuals and organizations. There is still work to do. Fundraising efforts continue in the form of selling memorial pavers or “Adopting a Veteran,” which will raise the additional money needed to complete the process of inscribing the 682 Blue Earth County veterans’ names on the memorial. When finished, the Boy in Blue will stand for generations as a symbol of the heroism and sacrifice of local c i t i z e n -s o l d i e r s w h o a n s w e r e d t h e i r nation’s call in its darkest hour.

Bryce Stenzel, M.A.,is the Chair of the

Boy in Blue Civil War Veterans’ Memorial Committee


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reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MM p01 0416.indd 26 4/18/2016 5:14:13 PM


reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

It is a welcome sight to see the Earth refresh itself after a long winter. Once the snow melts

and the Sun feels warm again it is only a matter of time before the drab browns of dead leaves and sticks give way to the vibrant greens, cool blues and bright yellows of spring.

Flowers push through the soil and begin to conquer the landscape. The monochrome world we’re used to over the winter becomes a kaleidoscope of color. It is a pleasant sight. MM

MM p01 0416.indd 27 4/18/2016 5:14:16 PM

If it’s Tuesday night, it’s open mic night at Pub 500 in downtown Mankato.

Like any Tuesday, this is a night for local talent and music lovers alike to come together, have a few drinks and see the variety of live entertainment Mankato has to offer. The party starts at 9 p.m., but this early in the evening the pub is far from full. Patrons wait to see who’ll start the show. A few scattered groups lull around the high-top tables. Pool balls clack together. FM radio plays. And under the orange lights in the corner a man is tuning his guitar.

“Open mic night is about bringing people together,” says host, David O’Connell. Affectionately known as “Ocho,” he’s hosted the open mic night at Pub 500 for the past five years. “People meet each other here, I meet new people myself. It’s definitely a community-oriented event.”

As host, Ocho’s job is simple. “Entertain people,” he says, “that’s the goal.” Throughout the night Ocho

steps in between performers to introduce artists, always making sure the audience is happy and the performers are comfortable before taking the stage. Occasionally, he’ll play along with some of the bands or accompany a new performer on guitar so they can sing. Mostly, though, Ocho stays on the side and lets the night’s talent shine. For a host, Ocho says, “out of the way is the best way.”

Opening tonight is Icarus, a young man who plays fingerstyle guitar. As he starts, the music melds into a melodic tune, filling the air with a sweet and relaxed sound as the patrons filter in. With all the faces in the audience, it’s hard not to wonder -- Who is here to perform, and who is here to observe?

Next to the stage is well-known local personality Memphis Steve. Donning a cabbie’s cap and light blue sweater, he takes his place at the keyboard where he combines a stand-up comedy routine with singing and piano. His act is followed by John,

By Piper Cleaveland | Photos by Darren Gibbins

At open mic nights, average Joes become rock stars …

even if just for a few moments

Step up to the

MIC!


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MIC!


MM p02 0416.indd 29 4/18/2016 4:49:48 PM


it’s electric. Regardless of your taste in music and entertainment it’s safe to assume that sometime tonight your favorite genre will be covered.

If you’re looking for more of a mix of entertainment, Pub 500 has that covered too. The evening isn’t just limited to music. Along with bands and vocalists, their open mic sees its fair share of stand-up comedians too.

Jaclyn Giallwas, a student at Mankato State, first came to open mic night to watch her friend and comedian, Brandon Kruse, perform.

“He’s a funny guy as it is,” Giallwas says. “It’s a natural talent for him. So it was really cool when he got the entire bar laughing. He really captivated the crowd.”

This is her second week attending open mic with her friends. Giallwas is not a performer, but, she says, “it’s fun to see what people are doing.” Like Giallwas, not everyone here is meant to stand under the spotlight. Many are just music lovers happy to come out for a drink, enjoy the entertainment, and maybe discover some new local talent just waiting to be heard.

“This place has very positive

a first timer. John plays guitar and sings a series of 90s covers, ending on “People” followed by “People 2: The Reckoning.”

“My favorite thing is people who’ve never performed before,” Ocho says. When it comes to first-timers versus pros, Pub 500 gets a fair amount of both. Whether it’s the “professional” bands who play every Tuesday, or the college students who are stepping on stage for the first time, every performer is heard and encouraged. A round of applause awaits all who stand before the mic.

As John’s set comes to an end, one of the pool players breaks away from the table, pulls a marbled acoustic guitar from its case and mounts the stage. Alex Christoffersen greets the crowd and begins strumming an original song, adding his voice to the music.

Almost all of Christoffersen’s pieces are originals, one of which he wrote the day before.

“I just wait for something to come to me,” he says. “Not all the songs are good ones, but I always have my phone with me so when I think of lyrics I can jot them down.” Christoffersen has played and written music since the fourth grade but he only started

performing at open mic a week ago.

Performing in front of an audience isn’t always easy but, Christoffersen says, “You just gotta’ do it. After the first time it gets easier and it’s a cake walk after that.”

As he continues to play more musicians and instruments enter the bar. One performer hauls in a massive keyboard, which he stashes under the pool table for safe keeping until he goes on.

“I really like all the people who come out here,” Christoffersen says. “All the musicians are inclusive. There’s a couple of people who always give feedback which is really nice to receive from people musically … I love meeting new people and talking about music.”

Applause rings out and Christoffersen relinquishes the stage to the next performer, Dustin. As he starts to play, country music spills from the speakers. He’s the third performer in a row to sing and play guitar, but like all the talent tonight his sound is completely his own. All of Dustin’s songs are originals.

Open mic night is an evening of variety. Sometimes the atmosphere is chill, sometimes

alex Christofferson (left) and Ocho can be found at most Pub 500 open mic nights.

MM p02 0416.indd 30 4/18/2016 4:49:56 PM


vibes,” Giallwas says. A quick look around and it’s easy to see what she means. Good music, cheering and the occasional sing-along -- it’s hard to find an unhappy face in the room.

Pub 500 is always looking for new acts and new attendees to join their event. The bar gets pretty full on Tuesday nights, but until people are spilling out the door, there’s still room for anyone to join.

“The stage is a place for everybody,” Ocho says, “Music is for everybody. Whether it’s music, jokes, poetry -- it’s always a rewarding experience for everybody. That’s my philosophy.”

“Performing is kind of like a drug,” Christoffersen said, “It’s an adrenalin rush and it’s just a lot of fun. Don’t judge yourself too hard if you screw up. You just gotta keep getting up there. You want to push yourself to get better.”

Giallwas added that anyone should perform “if they have the balls to do it. Some of them aren’t necessarily good, but they still have confidence. I respect people who express themselves.”

“Performance,” said Ocho, “is a joyful thing. You have our support.” MM

In addition to the delicious meals and entertaining events that are already hosted by our wonderful, caring staff – now you can enjoy musical therapy too! We’re partnering with Avenues Music Therapy, LLC and excited to bring this opportunity to our community. If you are not familiar with all that Primrose of Mankato can provide for your retirement years, call Karen at (866) 447-9636 for more information!

Music to Your Ears!

PrimroseRetirement.com

1360 Adams StreetMankato, MN

20765 Foley Rd., Mankato, MN | 507.387.2434 | 507.726.2411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0416.indd 31 4/18/2016 4:50:00 PM


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It’s finally May, you guys.And while we did have what most Minnesotans and

meteorologists would call a mild, El Nino-softened winter, the cold, slap-in-the-face part of being a Minnesotan -- the

part that makes you endure winter-like temps well into spring and sometimes, on a bad year, into summer -- clung to southern Minnesota like a bad case of the crud. Like it always has.

But now it’s May, it’s great, it’s warm, it’s the kind of weather that makes you dig out the golf clubs and baseball mitts and grill brats in the backyard while sipping a cold one on the deck. Or, perhaps, several cold ones.

It’s also a great time of year for a road trip. And we’ve got just the spot for you.

Sarah Johnson’s piece this month about the Armstrong building in Waseca is a real eye opener. If you haven’t been to Waseca in a while, this place is a great excuse to head east for a day. Or a night. The Armstrong’s got a bed and breakfast on site, bookended nicely by a spirits-serving tavern and a caffeine-serving coffee shop.

Sounds like it’s worth your time, folks.Elsewhere in Food, Drink & Dine, Leigh Pomeroy breaks down

the mystery behind the price of wines, and gives you a few clues on when it is and when it isn’t a good idea to drop $50 on a bottle. Bert Mattson, meanwhile, shows he’s a little bit Rock ‘N Roll when it comes to beer.

Enjoy!— Robb Murray, Associate Editor, Mankato Magazine

food, drink & dineso

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Food

south

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Food

south

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It was a great cliffhanger with a happy ending:A historic Waseca building scheduled to be

demolished in 1999 was saved at the last minute and turned into an imaginative, multi-use hospitality center that includes two restaurants, a bar, a bed and breakfast, a conference center and an event center.

And today the lucky citizens of Waseca are enjoying a truly unique building in their midst. Talk about an all-in-one package: This place would be a great place to get snowed in, if ever you find yourself in a southern Minnesota blizzard. You could entertain yourself here endlessly until the plows came through. And you may not want to leave after they do.

W.J. Armstrong built a grocery warehouse by the railroad tracks in 1899 but, 100 years later, the plan was to tear it down. One month before demolition day, Gene and Bonnie Miller rescued it and began a grand restoration. The fruits of their labor are apparent today in the 700 beautiful beams and columns, acres of maple flooring, and a luminous red brick exterior with a Kasota stone foundation.

The layout includes the upscale (but family friendly) Starfire Restaurant; the homey Jonnie Beans Coffee Shop and Wine Bar; the rockin’ Club 57, with live music and munchies; two bed-and-breakfast suites complete with fireplaces; a conference center with choice of three room sizes and loads of equipment to rent; and an event center for weddings, reunions and the like.

Lake cabins are available for rent offsite. The

Starfire Restaurant offers catering for any type of function. It’s quite a package tucked inside this former warehouse, and exploring it is a lot of fun.

Owner Gene Miller agrees that the community seems to like the Miller-Armstrong Building: “It has been very well received,” he said. “It’s usually very busy. It’s a big social area.”

The ambience draws a lot of regulars: “It’s a very relaxed atmosphere,” Miller noted. “People like the quietness.”

He and wife Bonnie renamed the building Miller-Armstrong because “Armstrong built it and we restored it,” an homage to the past with a view to the future.

Becky Linde of Janesville and her extended family are big fans of the Starfire Restaurant. “The food is totally thumbs-up,” she says. “I’ve been to the Starfire twice and had the Chicken Christopher (lightly breaded breast finished with a white wine butter cream sauce) one time and the Shrimp Alexander (hand-breaded, baked jumbo shrimp) one time. They have hugely generous portions and a really nice atmosphere.”

Regular menu options range from walleye and salmon to frog legs, steaks, chicken and gourmet burgers. Vegetarian options include a Portobello mushroom burger and a marinated-and-grilled Portobello mushroom dish with rice pilaf and seasoned vegetables. Recipes embrace both traditional favorites and fresh inspirations.

By Sarah Johnson

OK, two of those aren’t really words, but this place is worth the trip

Re-purposed, re-bedazzled, re-amazinged

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A wide variety of appetizers are on board including old-school favorites like fried clam strips and fried green tomatoes jacked up with a parmesan-peppercorn-cucumber-wasabi sauce.

Weekly specials include a “2 for $25” menu which includes two full entrees (salmon, steak, pasta, salads) and a choice of appetizer or dessert. Kids eat free on Thursdays as well, accompanied by an adult, a great introduction to the world of fine dining.

Fridays are BBQ Rib Night with sweet corn, potato and choice of regular or chipotle lime barbecue sauce. Saturdays feature prime rib served with broccoli and a potato. Sundays are celebrated with a very reasonably priced brunch ($9.99 for adults) with broasted chicken. In fact, prices are generally reasonable and portions generous, making the short drive from Mankato or all points elsewhere a bit more attractive.

Jonnie Beans Coffee House and Wine Bar features all the hot and cold beverages necessary to face

the day, plus a full and imaginative breakfast and sandwich menu. Customers sit around shooting the breeze and drinking umpteenth cups of joe while nibbling on breakfast quesadillas and oatmeal and wild rice sausage links.

Jonnie Beans also serves as an internet café with four computers on hand and free wi-fi.

Linde’s favorite item at Jonnie Beans Coffee House and Bar? Sometimes it’s the simple touches that make the biggest impression: “They had really good homemade bread and toast,” she recalls fondly, “and a neat atmosphere. Very good service. I would go again.”

The menu at Club 57 Bar and Grill features traditional bar munchies such as burgers, wings, and sandwiches, plus crab-leg specials on Tuesday evenings. Patio dining and a wide assortment of tap beers are available. The venue regularly hosts live music May through September.

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Are expensive wines worth it?

Wine & B

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winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover.

Spending time in California substantially broadens one’s wine and food horizons. First of all, there is the availability of ocean fish. Going into the Santa Monica Seafood Market in Costa Mesa, a coastal city south of Los Angeles, one is greeted by a seemingly endless display of choices.

Yet on closer inspection, much of the fish comes from lands far away: Thailand, the Philippines, Chile, Scotland. Wine, too, is an international commodity. And although California wines are abundant in California (naturally), so is a plethora of wines from other countries.

Two of the best red wines I tasted during my visit to California were from Italy: A 2009 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore and a 2009 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. These names may sound like gobbledygook to most readers of this column, but they have very specific meaning.

The names of the two producers are Romano Dal Forno and Tommaso Bussola. The wine types are Valpolicella Superiore and Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. Both come from the Valpolicella region of northeastern Italy, not far from Verona, the storied home of Romeo and Juliet. The primary red wine grape is corvina. Other red grapes include the similarly obscure rondinella and molinara, as well as several others. One would be hard-pressed to find any of these varieties in U.S. vineyards.

While the corvina grape can make a nice, light quaffing wine on the order of Beaujolais — look for inexpensive Valpolicellas like Bolla, for example — it can, when

grown in superior vineyards with low yields, also produce an extraordinary nectar. When these grapes are picked and put out to dry on racks, the resulting wine from their pressing yields something even more ethereal.

A Valpolicella labeled Superiore must come from riper grapes than the normal wine. A Valpolicella labeled Ripasso includes some rack-dried grapes. When it is labeled Amarone, that means most of it comes from these dried grapes.

Amarone is considered to be the pinnacle of Valpolicella wines. Amarones are often high in alcohol (17 percent, give or take), have some sweetness and can last for decades.

Despite making wine for only a little over 30 years — a mere asterisk in Italian wine history — the Romano Dal Forno estate is considered by many to be the best producer in Valpolicella. And the price of his wines reflect it: His Valpolicella Superiore goes for $85 — the wine I sampled was fortunately paid for by someone else — when the average Valpolicella Superiore is more like $15 or $20.

In short, Romano Dal Forno’s Valpolicella Superiore is without a doubt one of the most memorable wines I’ve ever tasted. Why? Because it is an amalgam of power and fruit and oak and tannin and all the other components one would expect from a great red. Yet it is much more: Great wines are greater than the sum of their parts, and this bottle displayed a restrained balance — an all too rare commodity these days, particularly in California wines — leading to the promise that it will be even greater 10 to 20

years from now.That said, the 2009 Tommaso

Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico was almost as good. In fact, it was even favored by my wife, who drinks wine much more sparingly than I, yet whose taste is impeccable. The difference between the two was that the Bussola was not as dense as the Dal Forno, slightly sweeter (due to a higher percentage of dried grapes), and a bit more alcoholic (17 percent vs. 14 percent for the Dal Forno).

The price of the Bussola Amarone was “only” $45 — again, I was the beneficiary of a friend’s largesse.

But what I want to stress here is that yes, sometimes paying more for a bottle of wine is well worth it, provided you know what you’re getting.

In this case these two bottles were chosen by someone who is well educated in Italian wines. Second, they were purchased at a well-respected establishment that specializes in fine wines. Third, they weren’t bought in a restaurant, too many of which take mediocre, mass-marketed wines and mark them up into the $45 to $85 range, a form of grand larceny.

The bottom line is that yes, expensive wines are sometimes well worth the investment, and that many (perhaps most) of these are from obscure, little-known small family wineries. Ferreting them out requires some research, including knowing the right people to ask. Of course it also helps, as in my recent case, when those friends foot the bill.

In some cases, yes!

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Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St. Paul. He is the manager of the iconic Mickey’s Diner. bertsbackburner.com

Brewing rock stars

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Collaborations can be hit or miss. Some launch careers. Others are hard

on the senses. Such as the video for Dancing in the Streets that Bowie and Jagger did back in the day (though it’s still sort of entertaining if you turn the sound down).

Too soon to laugh about Bowie? On the other hand, collaboration helped Stevie Nicks launch her solo career off that single she sang with Tom Petty, which Petty penned and was the 25th video aired on MTV’s inaugural day. Reminiscing about videos is sure to kill one’s music cred these days, I suppose. Whatever, I’m not ashamed to say I hopped at the chance to dive down that YouTube rabbit hole. I learned that music collaborations have mostly come to involve hip-hop artists. I’m old and annoying enough to credit ‘Walk this Way’ for that. I should get to a point here, somewhere, which is probably that collaboration often means you’ve made it, or are about to … to rock star status, that is.

Collaborations are big on the brewing scene, too. Some, like the retired Stillwater Sensory Series and defunct Tuned series, sort of tapped into synesthesia by making beer with music as the muse. Indie bands like Rogue Valley and Lower Dens served as inspiration. Alas.

Blakkr, on the other hand, is the brainchild of like-minded metal-heads from Surly, Three Floyds, and Real Ale. Caramelized sugar, coffee and licorice come through in this Imperial Black IPA. Its Simcoe and Centennial hops are balanced with heavily roasted malts, which comes across more purring ballad than abrasive anthem. Look for it on your local

shelves. Another from Surly, too

irresistible to ignore in this context, is Brett Mikkels. It was done in collaboration with Danish brewer Mikkel Bjergso and brings Brettomyces to IPA. Brettomyces, colloquially called “Brett,” is an un-tamed yeast known to impart “funky” flavors. It has historically, to many styles, been considered a contaminant. In recent years it’s become more common to experiment with it in an effort to achieve complexity. This Surly special release has been in circulation for a spell, however, Brettomyces being an acquired taste, a bottle could yet cross your path. Best to drink it immediately. Being more apt to burn out than fade away, you probably don’t want to send Brett Mikkels to the cellar.

Boulevard Brewing Company’s Collaboration Series is always worth a look. Last season’s release, Tropical Pale Ale, was created in concert with Cigar City Brewing. The concept was popular enough to warrant a spot on their regular roster. Tropical Ale will be available year-round starting this spring. Collaboration No. 6 is due out in July.

There are other companies, without mentioning any names, that couple up at rock star rates of promiscuity. That active, I imagine, it’s much easier to have the occasional collaboration go Yoko. It tempts a petty fan to shout, “Stop dragging my heart around!” In the end, I suppose it’s all part of the process.

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If your cocktails taste fishy, it might be the water

Drinks

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In any acquisition of knowledge, there is the acquisition of dissatisfaction.

That’s what I found myself thinking at the 26th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting in February as I stared down a line of glasses, each one filled with tap water from a different municipality. As I raised each glass to my face, occasionally detecting scents or flavors of chlorine, iron, sulfur, I knew I’d never again be able to respond to a waiter’s “Sparkling? Still?” with a glib “Tap is fine.” Water is water, I once might have said, but not anymore: This is yet another arena where I’ve learned too much.

I went to West Virginia to participate in the water tasting - in which judges assess tap, purified and bottled waters from around the world - because I’d been wanting to dive into the issue of water in cocktails, in part after I’d heard that the Columbia Room, Derek Brown’s reopened cocktail haven in Washington, would be bringing in specialty waters to pair with particular spirits.

Specialty waters? It was the sort of thing that my inner proletariat might once have pooh-poohed as the height of elitist cocktail cockamamie - if not for our former refrigerator.

That malevolent appliance polluted my cocktails for months. From the day of its installation, it made everything inside it smell a little like fish. Especially my ice. Cleaning it out, scrubbing it down: Nothing helped. Though my drinks were loaded with premium spirits and fresh juices, none of that mattered: I’d get codmopolitans and tuña coladas. I took to sealing my ice trays in plastic bags before freezing, then rinsing the cubes before using them.

It made me more aware of the impact water can have on a cocktail. In my case, the fridge was at fault, but sometimes it’s a taint from a faulty pipe or from the chemical treatment the municipality has performed to make the water safe. (There’s a reason one of the most common complaints about tap water involves a hint of swimming pool.) Given that a properly diluted and chilled drink can be one-quarter or more water, if your water has issues, so will your cocktail.

If you’re in Clearbrook, B.C., or Eldorado Springs, Colo., you’re probably good with water straight from your taps; your municipal waters took top spots in our judging. But even among the waters entered in the municipal category - waters that, I assume, were submitted by cities proud of what’s coming out of their taps - we tasted distinct off-notes. They were a clear signal that even those who aren’t stuck with a

Fridge of Fishification may be having H2-Oh-nos; and they showed the dramatic differences possible in tap water, making me less inclined to scoff at the idea that some wonderful waters out there might have me floating off to bliss.

When we sat down for a tasting recently, the Columbia Room’s head bartender, JP Fetherston, acknowledged the guffaw that artisanal waters might induce. On occasion, he has perfected a cocktail spec (using the bar’s good ice) and then made it at an event later (using ice supplied by the venue), and it hasn’t turned out the same. And he is experienced with spirits tastings, where water is regularly used to bring out flavors in whiskeys and other drinks. But still, he says, when it came to specialty waters, “probably my first initial instinct was” - he blows a raspberry - “come on.”

“Even now we still feel quite ludicrous, though we do think there’s credence to it,” he said. “It seems over the top at first, but then you taste the result, and there are just massive, massive differences.”

After trying a Four Roses bourbon with a splash of Old Limestone Mixing Water, I was a convert: The spirit that, neat, had been all vanilla-caramels, spice, pepper and oak was suddenly bursting with fruit - over-the-top notes of apricot, cherry and even pineapple. Pairing a Glenlivet with a lower-mineral-content water from Speyside Glenlivet produced a subtler but still noticeable effect. (Both mixing waters can be ordered online.)

Old Limestone Water, which is drawn and bottled underground in Kentucky and has a velvety texture and a distinct flavor of calcium, was conceived after a tap water ruined company president Doug Keeney’s bourbon. “I was with a bunch of my guys at the bar, and we were having some Woodford,” he says, “and I added a splash and I looked at the bartender and I said, ‘This tastes terrible. What’s going on?’ and he said, ‘Yeah, it’s the water.’ “

According to Keeney, Kentucky’s limestone-filtered water - the qualities of which, many would argue, are why the vast majority of bourbon is made in the state - is not what’s coming out of most Kentucky taps. Much of the state’s tap water is sourced from the Ohio River and undergoes treatments similar to those of most municipal tap waters. And although water treatments usually make tap water safe, safe is not always the same as tasty.

Adding any water to any whiskey will affect the flavor; much of the effect has to do with taking off a bit

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May…A month filledwith many celebrations.

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Mankato201 Victory Dr.

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of the burn of the alcohol, letting your palate experience more of the subtleties of the spirit. Whether particular waters do particular things to particular spirits will probably depend partly on your palate but also on the water itself. Is the water low or high in mineral content? How do its flavors interact with and enhance the flavor of the spirit? The waters that the Columbia Room is bringing in, after all, came trickling out of the same geologies as the water that went into the whisk(e)ys they’re being paired with.

Even if the thought of ordering artisanal water makes you roll your eyes, you may still want to protect your drinks from water pollution. As a newly certified water taster (an advanced, prestigious certification I acquired in 30 minutes of training in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia), I offer some tasting tips I learned from moderator and “water master” Arthur von Wiesenberger, who must be the most hydrated man on the planet.

Don’t smoke, drink or eat a bunch of vindaloo before you conduct a taste test. Run your tap on cold (water heaters apparently

can affect flavors) for at least a minute to clear the pipes. Run the water into a clean, residue-free wineglass, then give it three short sniffs. Taste it, noting flavor, mouth feel and any aftereffects (a taste or residue left in your mouth). What do you think? Do you want more of it? Does it taste saline, chemical? Does it taste like fish have been spawning in it? (You think I’m kidding, but “guppy water” was among the terms that we learned might apply to bad water.)

Even if your tap water tastes like the dew on an angel’s wing, that will mean nothing if you freeze it and it picks up stale or off-notes from the food it’s sitting next to. Fetherston says he regularly advises home bartenders to fill their ice molds and then seal them in airtight containers to protect them from scent invasion.

In the wake of what has happened in Flint, Mich., I’ve found this brief hydrological education galling. I actively resist the idea of becoming a snob over the very substance that enables existence - that makes up more than half of my own body - when people in our own country can’t safely drink out of their taps

and when people in other parts of the world face deadly parasites in their water supply or long journeys to acquire the water they need for their families, crops and herds.

Nonetheless, you can’t un-know s o m e t h i n g , a s Fe t h e r s t o n understands all too well. He’s getting married soon, and the venue is a restaurant on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. And for some reason, the water they serve there is super salty. “I assume it’s because it’s coming from the Rappahannock, and it’s kind of interesting because you’re like, ‘Oh, I can kind of taste the oysters in this glass of water,’ “ he says. “But it’s very brackish. And now I’m worried: Is that the water that’ll be in our punches?”

Thankfully, Fetherston is marrying someone in the industry who knows good drinks. So if he has to be the guy who shows up at his wedding announcing that he has brought his own ice, she’ll probably understand.

MM p02 0416.indd 39 4/18/2016 4:50:23 PM


Food

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wHat’s Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Eating Whatever Bugs You

Headlines are being made about a brand-spanking-new flavor of gin, a monumental occasion if ever I heard one. Your favorite gin

cocktail can now be enjoyed graced with notes of … wait for it … delicious ants. Wood ants, to be precise,

carefully hand-foraged from pristine and sunny British woodlands, their tiny carcasses delicately boiled down to create a citrusy finish for a $310 bottle of gin. Sixty-eight ant carcasses per bottle, to be exact, and yes, they counted.

We Minnesotans aren’t slow; we’re fully aware that some folks enjoy eating insects, in fact have been happily munching on bugs

for millennia with absolutely no harm. However, most of us are slightly averse to jumping on that particular bandwagon, thank you, and we would prefer to stick with normal food like lutefisk, deep-fried candy bars and pickled eggs.

But the day may come, and not too distantly in the future, when you will be handed a menu that includes at least one buggy dish. Grasshoppers, ants and their eggs, crickets, cicadas, scorpions and all sorts of fish bait like mealworms and

waxworms could all be fair game for the chef’s special.

The gin is the brainchild of the Danish culinary think-tank Nordic Food Lab, a non-profit organization dedicated to “exploration of our edible surroundings,” according to their website. These food scientists/visionaries/lunatics have purposely limited themselves to experimenting with whatever ingredients can be found in their local region ecosystem alone, a cold one at that. They get excited about eating all sorts of foraged stuff most people on a hunt for food would walk right past, such as lichens and tree bark and nettles and dirty, stringy roots, and of course if you’re subsisting on a diet of THAT, a handful of insects might just look a bit tasty after all.

These heroic/masochistic Danes partnered with a British distillery to produce this amazing Anty Gin (real name), crafting only 99 bottles per batch. They include with each purchase a 50-milliliter bottle of “pure wood ant distillate” so you can beef up the antyness of your gin if you like, or use in one of many culinary uses I’m sure you’ll think up on the spot.

They say ants have a unique citrus taste due to the formic acid they create in their bellies to spray at attackers, a comparison to chemical warfare agents that might not immediately make your mouth water, but you’ll get used to it. Probably.

The literature implores buyers to “explore the

tasty universe of these naturally occurring molecules and chemical reactions, capturing the flavors of this fascinating species,” lending an exciting scientific twist to the whole experience. “The result is a spectacular, one-of-a-kind gin that is being very well received worldwide!”

The makers insist they “want eyebrows to be raised. The whole point of Anty Gin is to open people’s eyes to the possibility of insects being used as a viable source of food and flavor.”

If -- and that’s a big if -- I ever eat bugs, let them be covered in chocolate and/or deep-fat-fried to the point of unrecognizability. Amen.

MM p02 0416.indd 40 4/18/2016 4:50:28 PM


Sarah Johnson is a cook, freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts.

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THE CLASSIC CHOCOLATE-COVERED ANTS RECIPE STOLEN BRAZENLY OFF THE INTERNET:

1,742 ants, large size (if they are small, use 2,044)

3 cups melted chocolate Catch ants at a picnic site and

keep them in a glass jar to which you have added a teaspoon of sugar to keep them happy. (Unhappy ants are liable to go sour before processing.) At home, pick up each ant with tweezers and remove entrails with a small, very sharp knife edge. (This will take about 400 hours.) If you are in a hurry, eliminate this step; you’ll never know the difference.

Dip each ant into melted chocolate and place to drain on waxed paper. If any of them are still able to crawl off the paper, let them go. Be a good sport.

SAUTEED DRAGONFLIES

Although you might get a bit

sweaty capturing these elusive critters, it will be worth it once you bite into these delicacies reminiscent of soft-shell crabs.

1 dozen large dragonflies (can be frozen in advance if you spot a good swarm)

2 eggs beaten with ¼ cup milk

Seasoned fish fry breading

Oil for frying Heat oil until hot enough

for frying. Run the dragonflies through the egg bath and then dredge in seasoned fish fry batter. Place dragonflies in oil for about 30 seconds, then flip and cook for another 30 seconds. These are delicate insects so for be careful! Remove to paper towels and sprinkle lightly with garlic powder. Serve with Dijon mustard for dipping.

MM p02 0416.indd 41 4/18/2016 4:50:30 PM


Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato. She blogs at: nellmusolf.com

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your styLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

If you’ve ever grieved a loved one at an open-casket visitation, and if you’ve got even an ounce of vanity, the thought has crossed your mind: “I hope I’ll look good

when I’m dead.” Perhaps you’ve even worked out a plan with a friend, a

mutual understanding of what each of you absolutely wants or doesn’t want as your burial attire. Or who is absolutely allowed or not allowed to style your hair. That kind of thing.

On the occasion of Memorial Day, I invite the style-conscious among us to skip the pre-planning anxiety and lock down our legacy as fashion-forward types by declaring the Infinity Burial Suit our final attire of choice.

The suit, created by artist and MIT graduate Jae Rhim Lee, is made primarily of mushrooms which cleanse toxins as the body decomposes, resulting in burial that’s more earth-friendly than standard practices involving embalming and entombment. Lee created a prototype of the garment -- a piece of wearable art that made its debut in 2008 at a fashion show hosted by Boston’s Museum of Science

-- after realizing that fashion might help people bridge the psychological gap between death and more festive milestones, like, one’s senior prom. One’s wedding. All the occasions we regard as elegant rites of passage for which we want and need to dress just right.

If we could pull some of that same sensibility into our feelings about death, Lee imagined, perhaps we’d find it unnecessary to default to the burial practices that serve to “deny death, poison the living and further harm the environment,” as Lee states in a TED Talk that also introduces “decompiculture,” a culture in which decomposition is accepted, embraced and even deemed beautiful.

Style-wise, the Infinity Burial Suit is unlike anything you’re wearing at present. It’s probably not like anything your friends would expect to see as your final occasion-wear. It evokes the following: a beetle, a ninja, a knight. Also cracked soil, a ragdoll, a patchwork quilt. It’s not familiar. It’s not necessarily flattering. Which is what makes it exactly

Decompiculture Couture

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Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye. She blogs at annrosenquistfee.com.

right for your exit.Either you are, or at some point

you’ve longed to be, the person who can get away with unique style statements. The secret, of course, is owning it. It’s not so much about taking the initial risk, but rather that moment when you get about halfway to work, and doubt flares, and you consider that you might look ridiculous. You actually might. This might have been your worst decision ever, this do-it-yourself bleached shag, this maxi-dress which was on clearance. But you do not turn around and drive home and call in sick. You suck it up and get on with the day, walking around like you damn well believe you look amazing. Because back at home in the private sanctuary of your getting-ready area you felt amazing. So lock into that. That’s “getting away with it.” It’s staying loyal to your personal private delight despite what you imagine other people are thinking.

Nobody’s going to see you in the Infinity Burial Suit, except whomever snuggles you into the ground (and I mean “snuggles” -- Coeio’s image of a model curled up in a soft shallow dirt nest is nothing short of adorable). So in order for this to be a fashion statement you can relish, you’re going to need to own it in advance.

You might do this by adopting some of the aesthetic while you’re still alive. Maybe start incorporating black pantsuits and white stitching into your wardrobe. Or you might just allow yourself to go in all kinds of random risky directions, so your exit-wear is completely in line with your well-known edgy random ways.

Or, better yet, you could work at being the best human possible. And then when your friends and family gather to remember and celebrate your life and somebody mentions the fact that your final attire was the most harmonious, responsible, forward thinking, earth-positive toxin-free thing a body could wear, they’ll agree that the Infinity Burial Suit was a beautifully perfect, perfectly beautiful way for you to go.

4.95”x4.95” Mankato Magazine May 2016

When certain health issues arise, a medical specialist is often the best option to help manage your child’s care. That’s why Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato offers an array of pediatric and adolescent specialty services, including:

• Allergy • Infectious Diseases

• Cardiology • Orthopedics

• Clinical Nutrition • Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

• Ear, Nose and Throat • Neurology

• Gastroenterology • Urology

• General Surgery

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment.

Does your child need specialized care?

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Coming AttrACtions: May

1 Gustavus Percussion Ensemble Spring Concert1:30 p.m. — Bjorling Recital Hall — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

1 mankato Symphony Orchestra: music on the Hill IV “To my Nation”2 p.m. — Chapel at Good Counsel — 170 Good Counsel Drive — Mankato — $17, $12 — www.mankatosymphony.com

1 a musical Revue: Rock, Pop and Opera 3 p.m. — Elias J. Halling Recital Hall, Earley Center for Performing Arts — Minnesota State University — $9 general, $7 current MSU and K-12 students — 507-389-5549

5 minnesota Songwriter Showcase with Dick Kimmel, Lori Jean and Tony Rook 7 p.m. — New Ulm Public Library — 17 N. Broadway St. — New Ulm — free — 507-359-8334

6 Spring Jazz Concert with the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band and adolphus Jazz Ensemble7:30 p.m. — Bjorling Recital Hall — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

7 Gustavus Spring Choral Showcase7:30 p.m. — Christ Chapel — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

8 Woodwind Chamber Ensembles Spring Concert 3:30 p.m. — Bjorling Recital Hall — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

13 Raw Fusion Fashion Show8 p.m. — Verizon Wireless Center — 10 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — VIP $102, reserved $62, standing room $42 — www.verizonwirelesscentermn.com

13-15, 20-22 merely Players present “Leading Ladies”7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday — 2 p.m. Sunday — Lincoln Community Center — 110 Fulton St. — Mankato — $15 adult, $13 senior, $10 youth — www.merleyplayers.com — 507-388-5483

13-15 “Next Best Steps: The Gustavus Dance Company in Concert”8 p.m. Friday and Saturday — 2 p.m. Sunday — Anderson Theatre — Gustavus Adolphus College — $9 adults, $6 students and seniors — 507-933-7590

14 Gustavus Wind Orchestra and Vasa Wind Orchestra Spring Concert 1:30 p.m. — Bjorling Recital Hall — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

14 Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra Spring Concert7:30 p.m. — Bjorling Recital Hall — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

15 The 2016 Brassworks!1:30 p.m. — Bjorling Recital Hall — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

15 Symphonic Series: “Paris in the Spring” 3 p.m. — Mankato West High School — 1351 S. Riverfront Drive — Mankato — $15, $20, $25 adults, $5 children — www.mankatosymphony.com

15 Gustavus Handbell Choirs Spring Concert7:30 p.m. — Christ Chapel — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

21 maD Girls Roller Derby7 p.m. — Verizon Wireless Center — 10 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — $15 trackside, $10 risers — www.verizonwirelesscentermn.com

28 Gustavus Symphony Orchestra Season Finale featuring the Concerto/aria Competition Winners8 p.m. — Bjorling Recital Hall — Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter — free — 507-933-7013

31 James Taylor and his all-Star Band8 p.m. — Verizon Wireless Center — 10 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — $68, $92 — www.verizonwirelesscentermn.com

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ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE IN ST. PETER

1. Members of the St. Peter American Legion Post 37 present the colors to begin the parade.

2. Drew Connor hands out candy in his leprechaun outfit.3. Children eagerly await candy along the parade route.4. Derek Schulz went all out with his St. Patrick’s Day attire.5.Miss Shamrock Erin Budin (left) and Miss Leprechaun Megan Rutt wave to

the crowd.6. Jamie Connor sported a full lineup of Irish symbols including a

leprechaun, shamrocks and Irish flag sunglasses.7. Members of the John Ireland school walked in the parade as a group.

faCes & pLaCes: Photos By Sport Pix

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LUCK O’ THE IRISH RUN

1. Runners used a good portion of the St. Peter trails.2. Katie Hanson of Granada and Jessica Mosley of Fairmont wave on their

way through the tunnel.3. Charolette Michel and McKenzie Mulder wore their Irish gear for the run.4. Chair of the run Ann Johnson addresses the runners before they hit

the road.5.Participants make their way from the start line on a snowy

March morning.6. There was even a little something for the kids to participate in.7. The run, held in St. Peter, was a fundraiser for the John Ireland Catholic

School.


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GREATER MANKATO GROWTH TRIP TO THE CAPITAL


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1. GMG members make their way in to the new Orville L. Freeman state office building.

2. Patrick Baker, Director of Government and Instutional Affairs for Greater Mankato Growth, opens the discussion in St. Paul.

3. Sen. Kathy Sheran of Mankato meets with her constituents.4. Lt. Governor Tina Smith speaks to GMG members about

issues faced in the upcoming year.5. President of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Doug

Loon speaks to a full house of Greater Mankato Growth members on key issues for the upcoming session.

6. Representatives Jack Considine and Clark Johnson addressed concerns of members of Greater Mankato Growth during a meeting at the capital.

7. Jonathan Zierdt, President of Greater Mankato Growth, speaks to those who made the trip to St. Paul as well as representatives and senators in attendance.

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SYTTENDE MAI:

from tHis VaLLeyBy Pete Steiner

Could it have been the long, dark winters that made so many Norwegian immigrants feel at home here in southern Minnesota? After all, we have no

mountains to remind them of home. And no dramatically plunging fjords, just placid lakes. We DO have long, dark winters. But a more solid conjecture is, it was the opportunity for Norwegian farm folks to spread out across acres of rich, flat land, rather than eking out a living on a postage stamp plot hanging precariously above one of those steep fjords in the old country that made the new country so appealing. At any rate, Johnsons and Larsons and Olesons have proliferated here over the last century and a half, especially in towns such as Hanska.

In just a couple weekends, you could start the summer festival season early with a trip to Hanska, or to Spring Grove or Stoughton, Wisconsin, or Decorah, Iowa. They’ll all be celebrating Syttende Mai. (It’s pronounced SUH-ten-duh MY, or 17th of May.) That’s Constitution Day, or National Day in Norway, marking the date in 1814 when Norway gained independence from Denmark. Of course they’ll be waving red, white and blue ribbons in parades in Oslo and Bergen, and displaying that beautiful flag with the blue and white cross on a field of red. But the heritage of Norwegians since the Vikings has been to set out for far lands, and Norsk communities in places as diverse as Seattle and Sydney, Australia, and Brazil will all hold colorful festivals.

••••

To get a little flavor of what Norwegian Independence Day is like, my wife, who is one-quarter Norsk, and

Peter Steiner is host of “Talk of the Town” weekdays at 1:05 p.m. on KTOE.

Norwegian Independence Day in Hanska I, with nary a drop of Scandinavian blood, traveled last May to Hanska. It’s less than an hour’s drive west through pretty farm country. A large percentage of the town’s 500 residents are of Norwegian ancestry, with names such as Sletta and Bakken and Vaage. They may have traded cod for walleye, but all along their Broadway, they proudly display Norwegian flags. There’s an authentic replica of a “Stabbur,” or store house, with notched timbers, in the town park. Rosemaling is stenciled on the water tower.

Unfortunately the Troll Hus Café was closed, but you can still get a “Hanska Hot Dog” at Hill Billy’s: it’s a wiener wrapped in lefse. Speaking of Norwegian foods, some say the best lutefisk supper in southern Minnesota is in Hanska, but that’s in the fall. Maybe some year. I confess, I have never consumed lutefisk. I am German, remember, and Welsh. And last time I was in Norway, a guide told me, SHE does not like lutefisk, and it’s not a requirement that Norskes eat it. Like many Norwegian-American communities, closest to May 17. There’s a Saturday night beanbag toss and a beer garden with music and dancing. There’s a classic car show, and Sunday afternoon is the big parade. You can buy a t-shirt proclaiming “Syttende Mai.” Just don’t ask anybody to talk like they do in the movie, “Fargo.”

••••

So I admitted, I am not a lutefisk aficionado. And I don’t ski. And I’m not much of a fisherman, even for walleye, much less deepwater cod. Yet I find Norway fascinating. I have had the opportunity to go there three times. Longtime Mankato insurance salesman Lee Snilsberg had relatives in

Oslo. He told me to visit them, and they rolled out the red carpet, flying both the Norwegian and U.S. flags the day I arrived and serving up a feast.

They took me up to Holmenkollen ski jump, and we went hiking in the woods above the city, though I didn’t spot any trolls. But each time I went, it was in summer, when the light that close to the Arctic circle, is – pick your adjective, breathtaking, sublime, inspiring. Ibsen and Bergman must have done all their gloomy writing during the extended winter nights.

It’s believed the Vikings were the first whites to discover North America. Now it’s nearly time for us

to revisit our Scandinavian heritage just a few miles down the road. As they say in Norway, “Ha det godt!” “Have it good!”

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