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Ben Wang

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FEATURES:

5 Wendt Sisters

Elysian’s Wendt Sisters have been singing together since the ‘80s.

7 Sean Benz

A one-man show out of Montgomery plays all around Southern Minn.

10 Ben Wang

The new ‘Karate Kid’ hails from Northfield.

12 Humbird

Siri Undlin A.K.A. Humbird is set to release her third album this April.

15 Molly Brandt

Minnesota musician Molly Brandt is ready for her moment.

18 Craig Kotasek

Tin Can Valley Printing operator talks old-school craft.

COLUMNS:

9 What to WATCH ‘Dune: Part Two’ is just the latest triumph from Denis Villeneuve

30 SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ - 50 Oscar Nights - Four Thousand Paws - Cloistered - Women’s History Books for Adults

TANK TRIPS”

MAY ISSUE

DEADLINE IS APRIL 12

GOLF

PAGE 14

An interview with the Wendt Sisters

By ASHLEY HANLEY Guest Contributor

PYou names?

erforming all around southern Minnesota, the Wendt sisters are a staple from everything from a relaxing afternoon sipping wine on the patio, to a gathering with friends and family.

Let’s meet them and learn a little more about their story.

Brenda Kopischke and Lynda Kiesler

Where are you from?

We grew up on a dairy and crop farm north of Elysian.

Are you biological sisters?

We are definitely biological sisters. We were born about three and a half years apart. Many people have let us know that they could tell right away that we are biological sisters from our blending harmonies.

What year did you start performing together?

We have been singing together since we were very young in the 1980’s. We always enjoyed music as a family which included going to dances with our parents, singing in church, and singing in the barn while milking cows. As sisters, we loved singing together with one taking the lead part and the other singing harmony.

Where did you first start?

Our first performances were in church and Sunday School as young children. We both started playing instruments in elementary school (saxophone & trumpet) and would play in our school bands all the way through high school.

We also sang in choir and show choir in school as well as performed for some talent shows along the way. In our high school years, we taught ourselves guitar.

In 1992, we joined with four other guys to create our first band when Lynda was 17 and just out of high school, and Brenda was 21. We called our band “Incoming” and we would have a busy and fun three-year stint performing shows around Southern Minnesota.

CONTINUED from page 5

How did you know this was your calling?

Music has always been a big part of our lives from church, to school, to home and has brought us so much joy over the years. The effect of music on a person’s soul is undeniable. It makes people smile and be happy. When you can be the cause of that happiness in others, it makes you want to keep performing.

What kind of music do you perform?

ways. Sometimes it is by word of mouth and who you know, delivering your information to the venue and speaking to the owners, social media, and by advertising.

What does a typical schedule look like?

January is usually a month that is slow and a good time to relax and rejuvenate. Shows will generally pick up as we go through February. When spring, summer, and fall roll around, we are usually busy playing shows numerous times per week.

As the Wendt Sisters, we play a variety of music. We perform gospel, 50s & 60s music, 70s to modern day pop music as well as country.

During the past 10 years, we have devoted much of our October and November to being part of the Mankato Opry Jamboree and helping to create that production. Then in December we’ll have a few more shows to finish the year.

In our larger band Powerhouse we play many of the same genres, but also get to play R&B and songs that involve horns like the music of Chicago and even Disco. In our band Goldstar, we play a lot of classic rock and country. When we perform for the Mankato Opry Jamboree, we sing primarily classic country.

Where do you perform?

We mainly perform in local clubs, bars, churches, wineries, and breweries in Southern Minnesota. When the Minnesota weather is warmer, we also enjoy performing at town festivals and county fairs. We have even played at a few assisted living facilities.

Why do you perform?

We perform, because not only does it make us happy (the deep down in your soul kind-of happy), but it brings joy to others as well. We love to share music with others and music can also be a form of self-expression and outlet for emotions.

Even after a full day of work at our regular jobs, music and performing can bring out a new energy you never knew you had. Sharing that with your band-mates and others can be uplifting as well.

Best part of the job?

The best part of the job is getting to do what we love, making people happy, and meeting and making new friends everywhere we play. As sisters, we feel blessed for the time we get to spend together and enjoy harmonizing with one-another.

Most challenging?

The most challenging part of performing is setting up equipment and getting the right sound for the room or venue that you are playing. Finding time to practice can be challenging also.

How did you make it to getting booked at places?

Getting booked at places can occur in many

Where are your next few performances?

March 30 (Saturday): 9 Mile Corner Winery, Eagle Lake, 3-6 p.m.

April 5 (Friday): Indian Island Winery, Janesville, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

April 7 (Sunday): Toy Box Saloon, Kilkenny, 2-5 p.m.

What is your target audience?

We love to play for people of all ages. With the wide variety of music that we do, we try to adapt to our audience.

What kind of songs do you sing?

We sing a variety of music like Gospel, 50’s & 60’s, 70’s to today, and Country.

Instruments you use?

In the Wendt Sisters, Brenda plays guitar and we also use percussion.

Who is your favorite band/musician?

Our biggest influences growing up were The Beatles and the Everly Brothers to name a couple. Music from the 50’s & 60’s taught us a lot about vocals and harmonizing.

Anything else you want to add?

We are happy and grateful to be able to perform for others and enjoy it when people come up and speak to us. We feel blessed to be doing something that we love as sisters. We love to make beautiful harmonies and connect with our audience, whether it’s through song or through a story we share. We love getting to know our audience and including them in our shows. 

Ashley Hanley is a wife and mom of three kids under the age of five in North Mankato. When she’s not handing out snacks or kissing boo-boos, you can find her cheering on her favorite Minnesota sports teams and is a firm believer they will win a championship in her lifetime!

Sean Benz resurrects the oldies, one voice and guitar at a time

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

To catch up with Sean Benz, plan to rise early and keep moving all day long — and sometimes, all evening, too.

That’s because Benz, though centered in Montgomery for the past five years, circulates among many sites around Southern Minnesota as a performer, teacher and volunteer firefighter.

Now 31, Benz has been a solo entertainer, delivering classic country/rock/folk from the ‘50s on up since his mid-teens. Benz’s smooth tenor voice and skilled guitar licks can be heard at a variety of venues from New Prague to Madison Lake to North Mankato and beyond.

Please share a little about yourself.

My hometown is Windom. I graduated from South Dakota State University, Brookings, in 2015 as a music education major. I’ve been a K-12 music

teacher since 2016, currently teaching K-12 vocal music at Nicollet Public School. My wife MacKenzie and I were married in 2020.

How many different instruments do you play — and own?

I play keyboards, ukulele, guitar — electric, acoustic and bass — mandolin, harmonica and some drums. At home I have four acoustic guitars, three electric guitars, two pianos, two mandolins and one ukulele.

Anything else?

Well, I played the baritone/euphonium in band beginning in fifth grade, and I sang in school choirs from seventh grade on.

Do you remember when music first entered your life?

Starting when I was very small, I watched my mom sing in the church choir that my grandpa, Mike Foley, directed, and I saw my grandpa sing with and direct the Windom Area Chordhustlers. Music was always a big part of my childhood.

CONTINUED from page 5

When did you start refining the type of music you liked?

I gravitated to what my mom and grandparents listened to—classic rock from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, and country music. I joke that I was raised on the “piano greats,” not Beethoven and Mozart but Elton John and Billy Joel.

Those two artists really inspired me — especially Billy Joel, because he seemed to have a song that matched whatever feeling I could possibly have. And he sings and plays simultaneously — doing that on any instrument is really difficult.

Were you an immediately confident performer?

No, I was quite a shy boy growing up. And I didn’t really like being the center of attention; I’ve become more comfortable with time and experience. But I did a lot of playing and singing on my own, whether on car rides or playing piano at home, and my dad heard me sing every day when we delivered newspapers. After my first solo performance, my friends were shocked because I’d kept it kind of quiet. When I started playing guitar myself, I wasn’t sure if it would be a fail or a “go,” but once I was able to sing and play piano or guitar at the same time, it seemed to really click for me.

How did you make the leap to being a soloist?

Mom bought me a guitar when I was really young but it just sat in the corner for a long time. After I watched “Walk the Line” [the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic], I picked it up and learned how to tune it. Then I decided to enter a talent

show that was part of Windom’s Riverfest. I’d only been playing guitar seriously for about two to three weeks then, but I jumped on that stage and got second place—and I was hooked.

How old were you?

That was the summer of 2007, and I was a 14-year-old heading to my freshman year of high school. I think I won $25 to $50.

When did you start developing a show and really begin gigging?

I started out doing Johnny Cash; I learned as many of his songs as I possibly could, and I eventually had over two hours of his music. I had such a passion for his voice and style.

But … you’re a tenor?

I developed my lower range doing his work— some I had to take a couple steps up. Basically, I did the talent show circuit across southwest Minnesota until I was about 17, and I went to the State Fair Talent Show once. The gigging really got going when I’d been singing at church one Sunday morning and afterwards someone came up to me and said, “Hey, I know this famous country singer [Sherwin Linton] from South Dakota who wants to give younger artists a chance to perform.”

So Sherwin Linton, known as “The Cotton King,” gave me a chance to do two Johnny Cash songs on his show, and after that I sang a lot in churches, nursing homes and smaller venues.

And you said you kept making more connections, like with Dennis Charnecki of Denny and the DC Drifters (they’re in the Iowa Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame) and John Senn, founder of the Iowa Rock ’n Roll Music Association.

Yes, those guys gave me the chance to

perform on stage, with bands, in front of people, and that gave me the confidence to start playing at more wineries and festivals. I did have to back off a little when I was in college because I needed to focus on my studies. But once I graduated I did more at at bars and fairs and ventured into other performance venues.

Are there other artists’ music you like?

I was really inspired by Elvis Presley, but I never wanted to shake my hips like him in public until….later. I started doing “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Love Me Tender,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “All Shook Up,” all those songs a lot of people know.

And my mom gave me a CD of Buck Owens and The Buckaroos — songs like “Act Naturally” and “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail,” and I’ve learned a medley of Roger Miller tunes that gets everyone laughing. I do “King of the Road” at almost every show — that makes everybody smile.

Also, Hank Williams’

“I Saw the Light,” Eddy Arnold’s “Make the World Go Away” and “What is Life without Love.”

And it took me a few years, but I’ve developed a show with about an hour of country songs, plus an hour of rock and roll tunes.

And things like John Denver’s “Sunshine on My Shoulders” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” and Glen Campbell’s songs.

That’s a lengthy list.

everybody, but figuring out if they want country or rock and roll is the thing, so sometimes I have to switch gears. And when you’re playing in bars and people are being loud and seem to not be listening at all, that can be annoying.

One thing others might not know about you is you serve with the Montgomery Fire/Rescue Service.

My dad, Dan Benz, is the reason I joined; he was a firefighter for over 15 years in Jeffers and other places. I’ve always had a drive and passion to help others, and joining was one of the greatest decisions of my life.

Where have you been performing lately, and where can people catch you this summer?

Every year I’m at the Roof Garden Ballroom at Arnolds Park, Iowa, and for the last two years I’ve been at Kato Ballroom for their Opry Jamboree. Coming up, I’ve got a few dates at the Circle Inn in North Mankato, a few at Waterville Corner Bar, Westwood Marina, the Landing on Madison Lake — and a few nursing homes in St. Peter.

I know over five hours’ worth of music, and the longest I’ve performed without a break is four hours—and I felt like I could keep going.

What’s the most challenging part of gigs?

It’s always gauging what the crowd enjoys. I strive to put on a show that’s great for

That’s a lot of work.

I’m just excited to have the opportunity to sing. If only one person listens, or comes up to tell me, “I remember the Glen Campbell Good Time Tour,” that makes it worth it for me. That’s why I do what I do; to share my love of music, sing these classic tunes and hopefully bring back some really good memories.

Find Sean Benz via Facebook at Sean Benz Music. 

Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504.wordpress. com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail.com.

What to WATCH

‘Dune: Part Two’ is just the latest triumph from Denis Villeneuve

Full disclosure: I am not a fan of space operas.

I have seen the original 1980s trilogy of Star Wars movies and appreciate their pop culture centrality while remaining apathetic to the series as a whole. I have seen the Chris Pine-led Star Trek from 2009, and it’s fine. I have seen Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and it’s firmly situated in the “not for me” category. And I have seen the first two installments of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and … love them?

Dune: Part One (streaming on Max) and Dune: Part Two (currently in theaters) are based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Timothee Chalamet plays “Paul,” a messiah-like hero fighting an interplanetary battle for control of the desert planet Arrakis— the sole source of the most valuable commodity in the universe, “the spice.” In the same way that a movie like The Dark Knight (one of my favorite films, streaming on Max and Peacock) is a Scorsese-style crime saga masquerading as a superhero movie (another genre I generally dislike), Dune is a rich allegory about human suffering, warfare, exploitation, colonialism, faith, and bravery packaged as a science fiction spectacle.

And while Dune contains space opera hallmarks like fantastical creatures and gadgets (e.g. Star Wars), campy thrills (e.g. Star Trek), and complex science (e.g. Interstellar), it’s also

grittier and more grounded than most of its genre relatives. At times, it plays more like a classic Western or an Old Hollywood epic (e.g. Ben-Hur) than a space odyssey. But what truly sets the Dune films apart is the auteur behind the camera: Denis Villeneuve.

After directing four small and little-seen (though widely-acclaimed) films, Villeneuve had his mainstream breakthrough in 2013 with two high-profile releases: Enemy, a creepy and tightly-wound Hitchcockian thriller; and Prisoners (available to rent on Amazon Prime or AppleTV), the crushingly bleak crime saga starring Hugh Jackson (giving the most unhinged performance of his career), Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, and Melissa Leo.

Prisoners, Villeneuve’s first true box office hit, is a tough watch. Jackman plays a bluecollar, everyman father who is forced to take matters into his own hands after facing every parent’s worst nightmare – the abduction of his 6-year-old daughter and a dead-end police investigation (led by a tormented detective played by Gyllenhaal). The incessantly dreary, rain-soaked cinematography by the legendary Roger Deakins sets the scene for a punishing examination of grief, vengeance, and morality. A pulse-pounding and twisty tale, this film deliberately ratchets up the tension and dread as we watch two ordinary families pushed to extraordinary limits, innocence shattered by evil, and a father fighting darkness with more darkness.

Arrival

Villeneuve examined the extra-judicial pursuit of justice again in his next project, Sicario (streaming on Amazon Prime and MGM+) – his most perfect film. Expertly-scripted by Taylor Sheridan and viscerally-shot (again) by Deakins, it stars Emily Blunt as a morally-conflicted FBI agent who is paired with a swaggering CIA officer (Josh Brolin) and a secretive ex-prosecutor (Benicio Del Toro) to hunt down the head of a vicious Mexican drug cartel. Del Toro’s character succinctly outlines the stakes of eradicating this dangerous drug lord: “Every day, across that border, people are kidnapped or killed by his hand or with his blessing. To find him would be like discovering a vaccine.” From there, we watch wellmeaning people deploying by-any-meansnecessary, morally-murky tactics to serve the greater good. But, once again, does the end justify the means?

Peacock and Paramount+) and Blade Runner 2049 (streaming on Hulu), Villeneuve turned to a new genre – science fiction – to continue his dissection of human nature.

Prisoners

While, on its sur face, Arrival (starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker) appears to be an epic about extraterrestrials landing on Earth, it is actually a quiet and personal story about the power of communication and empathy, the meaning of life, and the inevitability of sorrow. And while Blade Runner 2049 may be a glossy, Ryan Gosling-led sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 cult classic, it is also a profound (if sometimes convoluted) meditation on memory, identity, destiny, and environmentalism.

Plumbing the depths of genre to wrestle with deeply philosophical quandaries is a Villeneuve hallmark. With Prisoners and Sicario, he utilized the familiar crime thriller framework to explore the pervasiveness of everyday evil and to question the righteousness of a Book of Exodus, eye-for-an-eye brand of justice. And with his next two films, Arrival (streaming on

Sicario

In many ways, the Dune films are the apotheosis of Villeneuve’s directorial career. All of the themes and technical innovations found in Enemy, Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049 are also present in this latest science fiction fantasia. Dune: Part Two is a breathtaking, overwhelming, visually-poetic, need-to-see-on-the-big-screen piece of work that made me (possibly) rethink my science fiction skepticism; and it’s just the latest triumph in Denis Villeneuve’s already-staggering filmography. I will be watching his next move closely. 

By PHILIP WEYHE editor@apgsomn.com

Ben Wang never believed he’d be a movie start. But he better get used to it. The Beijing-born American immigrant, who moved to Northfield as a child, headed out to New York after high school, and after graduating from New York University, he has started landing major acting gigs left and right.

Wang, 24, was recently named the new “Karate Kid” for a reboot movie that will include the original kid, Ralph Macchio, along with the 2010 reboot’s Mr. Han, Jackie Chan. Before this, he already worked alongside Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan in the Disney+ show, “American Born Chinese.”

He’s also played small roles in some well known projects, like HBO series “Search Party” and 2024 theater release “Mean Girls.” Beside

the yet untitled “Karate Kid” movie, he also has three new movies currently in the works, including “Sight,” where he acted alongside Greg Kinnear and under the direction of Andrew Hyatt.

Although he’s based out of New York, Wang is now firmly cemented in Hollywood. He doesn’t intend to ever lose sight, though, of his Chinese and Southern Minnesota roots. He talked to us about his past, his present and his future.

You moved to Northfield when you were 6 years old. Do you remember your life before that? Can you describe it at all? What was your family’s reason for making its way to Southern Minnesota?

Yes I remember it pretty well. I was born in Beijing and moved with my mom, first to a city called Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, and then to Shanghai before coming to the states. This was in the early 2000s.

In my earliest memories of Beijing, the streets were still occupied almost entirely by bicycles,

Northfield’s Ben Wang, the next Karate Kid, gets accustomed

to star status

with only the occasional bus, motorcycle, or taxi cab. Almost nobody owned cars back then. In Hohhot there were still donkey pulled carts where you could buy freshly roasted chestnuts from a very old man. Extremely tasty.

My grandpa taught at St. Olaf. That’s why we came to Northfield.

Do you remember feeling culture shock in this new world you entered? Any examples?

My grandparents owned two cars and zero bicycles, which was so weird. They also told me, in America, if people did own bikes, it was for fun. As in, you would strap it to your car, drive it to a park, and ride it in a circle to nowhere just to pass some time on a weekend. What?

Do you think your young age at the time of the move helped you adjust more quickly?

For sure. I learned English over two months by watching Cartoon Network for, I’m not kidding, nine, sometimes 10 hours a day, every day, weekends included. You only have that kind of time when you’re six and a half.

Did you notice any cultural differences while growing up in Northfield between your home life and those of your friends? Or was there really not much difference?

life, correct? What do you think today when you look back on what your mom was doing then?

It must’ve been the hardest thing in the world. I love you mom.

What are your general memories of growing up in Northfield? Anything you specifically liked about it? Disliked?

General memories: Parks, TV, school, video games, tests, loitering in target, family drama, sleepovers, teenage angst, the school play, my first job, my first car, more tests, more plays, prom, graduation.

Likes: El Triunfo, Tokyo Grill, Hogan Bros, China Buffet, Coco’s Place, Echo’s Dvd’s and Games (RIP), Chapati (RIP), Target when it was beige (RIP), St. Olaf, Carleton, the Public Library, the people.

Yes. Most of my friends’ parents were not Chinese and not divorced. You grew up with a single mom, who herself was adjusting to a new way of

Dislikes: Crossing Highway 3 on foot. Food options after 8pm. February. I love Northfield very much. For all its ups and downs, I’m so glad I grew up there.

When did acting start for you? Was it an instant love or just something to do at first?

Both! I think I did my first school play when I was 11. It was a loose adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Very loose. As in, there were multiple original musical numbers, loose. I don’t remember why I wanted to do it, just that I really really wanted to do it. So glad I did.

Please share about your time in Northfield High School theater. How seriously did you take it at the time?

TOP PHOTO: Northfield’s Ben Wang, pictured here at the Hideaway Coffeehouse and Wine Bar in Northfield, has been cast at the new “Karate Kid,” set to star in a 2024 film with Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan. (File photo/southernminn.com)

ABOVE: Ben Wang on the set of “American Born Chinese.”

What productions did you enjoy the most and why? What stands out in your memory?

I mean, at that point high school theater was basically the best part of my entire life hahaha. For real. Not much else to do in Northfield when you’re 16 and bad at throwing a ball. It was just so much fun. And I loved the people I was doing it with. I did pretty much every single play, musical, Rock and Roll Revival, choir, you name it.

How did your acting career progress after high school? When did you know you wanted it to be a profession?

The truth is I never thought it could be a profession. Not when I was in high school, not when I was accepted to a professional training conservatory, not when I booked my first paying job, or my second or my third. I never thought the stability it would take to call something a profession would ever be possible for me personally to achieve in entertainment.

The industry always seemed too uncertain, especially, to be frank, for an Asian kid starting from scratch. But somehow I kept getting lucky, and one day (recently) I just kind of woke up and went, “huh, I think I’m a professional actor now. How’d that happen?”

How did the American Born Chinese role come about? Do you remember your reaction to getting the part?

My agent sent me the audition and then I taped myself reading the lines in a hotel bathroom against a recording of myself reading the opposite lines and then I sent it to Disney and they liked it! Getting that news was probably one of the most exciting things that’s ever happened in my life up to that point. It was bananas.

Were Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan inspirations for you before landing the role? And either way, what was it like working with those two?

Everything, Everywhere, all at Once hadn’t come out yet when we started shooting but they were already so iconic to me- Michelle for her work in Chinese cinema and Ke for his in Temple of Doom, which I loved as a kid. They were amazing. Amazing professionals and amazing human beings. Whoever said “don’t meet your heroes” has never met Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan.

Disney announced that American Born Chinese would not get a second season. Was that a bitter pill to swallow? Do you feel you can be happy with the project even if you might have hoped for more? Yes. That.

So after that prominent role, more projects must start opening up, right?

How do you choose what you’re going to take? Do you like a smaller part in a bigger budget movie, like “Mean Girls,” for instance? Or have you more been searching for lead parts?

Not really. I still audition for everything. The process is still the same, the rejections are still the same, and I don’t really have much room to make choices. That’s the nature of the industry and where I’m at. I still feel lucky to land any job at all, big or small.

Now for the big one. Can you take us through the process of landing the Karate Kid role?

I auditioned for it! There was an open call and I sent in a tape- just like, according to the news, 10,000 other guys. Then I got a callback, and then another callback, and then another callback, and then a screen test, and then a few agonizing weeks of waiting, and then a contract. The whole process took about two months.

What was your reaction to this gargantuan casting?

Vomiting.

Did the original Karate Kid and/or the remake hold any special importance in your life growing up?

I love both of those movies so much. My Aunt showed the original when I was in middle school- it was one of her favorite movies and it quickly became one of mine too. But, I have to say, the remake holds a very special place in my heart. It came out in theaters when I was 11- I was the target audience, and it got me GOOD. I was taking my jacket off and putting it back on for weeks.

I read in your casting announcements that you have martial arts skills. Where did those come from? Was it a goal of yours to land roles where you could utilize them?

Most of it came from Northfield! I did afterschool Taekwon-Do and Gumdo for years growing up (shoutout to Master Ello!). I dabbled in some more in college.

What are your thoughts on working with Jackie Chan, perhaps the most popular martial arts actor alive?

I can’t wait!

What are your greatest hopes for this film?

Pulitzer. Library of Congress. Etched on a gold plate and shot into deep space.

Now that you’re becoming a big movie star, is there room left for Northfield in your mind and soul?

Northfield will always be home. 

Philip Weyhe is your Southern Minn Scene editor, which means he can write about what he wants (within reason). He lives in St. Peter with his husband Ian, and they enjoy all things A&E, especially movies. If you have any comments on this article or the entire Scene publications, email him at editor@southernminnscene.

Ben Wang attempts to hold back Hannah Mahr during a rehearsal of the Northfield High School’s production of “Les Femmes Savantes” in 2016. (File photo/ southernminn.com)

Northfield’s Ben Wang, fourth from left, with co-stars Chin Han, left, Yeo Yann Yann, Sydney Taylor, Michelle Yeoh, Jimmy Liu, Ke Huy Quan and Daniel Wu at the premiere of the Disney+ original series “American Born Chinese” at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, May 7, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Humbird talks new album ‘Right On,’ plus tour mishaps and fairytales

By SARAH OSTERBAUER sosterbauer@gmail.com

Minnesota’s Siri Undlin, who performs under the moniker Humbird, will release her third album, “Right On” in April. Clear voiced and often reflective, Humbird makes music rooted in whispers from the forest floor and contemplative observations that can turn still life into social commentary.

She is deeply grounded in community and finds joy in the simple communion of voices joined in song. As a middle schooler she performed in an Irish band and was always interested in folklore — traditions that seep into her current musical style.

Tell me how you got started in music. Your mom was a Lutheran preacher?

She’s retired now, but she was a preacher my whole life. I spent a lot of time at church, in choirs and around hymns which is a pretty epic place to learn how to harmonize. That’s kind of the beginning. In middle school, I made friends with some fellow hockey playing girls who were into Irish music so that became a big part of my life. I think those two traditions were the really formative ones, along with Avril Lavigne on the radio.

When did you write the songs for “Right On”? I know you’re historically very affected by what’s going on in the world and your environment. Curious if that came into play?

I wrote the “Right On” songs in 2020 and 2021, actually. So this album has been sitting in my Google Drive folder for a long time. There was just so much going on the last couple years, and I cared a lot about this music, so I was like, I’m just gonna pause until I have some clarity.

I’m glad it’s coming out now. The songs still feel relevant. I wrote them in a very different season of life that was very much still steeped in the reverberations of the uprisings in the Twin Cities in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and all the major societal questioning that was going on.

The “Still Life” album was very much reflective and this album is way more outwardly focused. It has teeth in a way where other Humbird records maybe were softer.

Do you feel like you approach songwriting differently now versus in the beginning?

In some ways, yeah. It’s funny, because songwriting is like this invisible craft. When you think about woodworkers or quilters, all these folks who are crafts people are so talented. I think of songs as sort of similar, but they’re invisible and they just float in the air. The longer I do it the more I feel aware of the craft and I feel more confident in my skills.

Ultimately, a great song hits you like a bolt of lightning and you just need to be ready and hope a pen is nearby. The ideas just hit, especially with co-writing with other people or forcing myself to write. I used to never do that. But sometimes I’ll be like, today I’m going to write a song. It might be bad, but I’m going to do it. I can feel myself flexing the craft muscles.

When you were doing your backyard tour and you added in the fairytales to your performances, how did you come up with that, and were you nervous that it wouldn’t land?

You never know. Fairytales are a huge part of my framework and my life.I studied folklore as an undergrad and I did some grant research in Tanzania and also in the Arctic Circle.

This was when I was on more of an academic path. It was through that research and through shadowing artists, storytellers and musicians talking about folk tradition that I started to understand why these stories are important. Just being in pubs and basements and parks witnessing people do the craft instead of talking about it in a classroom is actually a huge part of why I do it now.

I don’t think I actually wanted to be in academia pulling things apart and analyzing them. In other parts of the world, there are such rich lineages of storytelling that I think most people in western dominant culture don’t have exposure to.

But by going to backyards in the Twin Cities and telling old stories, people who have never been in that situation were like, this feels oddly familiar. It’s like, yeah, it’s evolution! We’ve been doing this for awhile!

When you were in college did you have a career in mind that wasn’t music?

I wanted to be an archaeologist.I just didn’t know that music was a job. I don’t know that I had met any professional musicians as a young kid. My parents were really encouraging and I always loved archeology, human evolution and

folklore so I kinda thought that was my path. I did some archeology digs. It wasn’t a good fit for a lot of reasons, but the stories you’re trying to tell through archeology, I was drawn to that. When I got one research grant in particular — the Watson Fellowship, which is a year-long research fellowship, I was looking at folklore in music and how they interact, and I was like, “Oh, I want this to be my life’s work. I don’t know how you get paid to do this, but this makes me feel alive.”

This connects me to so many people and landscapes. It felt like the whole world was opening up and it would be silly to do anything else.

(Tom Smouse photo)

(Dahli Durley photo)

CONTINUED from page 13

You talk about DIY touring and how there was a big learning curve there. Do you have any tour mishaps or funny stories you’d want to share?

That’s what touring is: every day something different. On a recent tour, my bandmate Pat and I had a few hours so we decided to go for a hike in the mountains of California.

I never answer my phone on hikes but then someone from the tour called my phone. Pat was like, “I’ll go ahead. I don’t wanna hear your conversation”. I was like, “Cool. I’ll see you at the end of the trail.” I get off the call, and I am hopelessly lost, and we need to be at the venue in 50 minutes.

I ended up bushwacking down a mountain, which was such a bad idea. I get to a highway, and I send Pat a pin, who luckily had the car keys and drove around and found me on the side of this mountain cliff road. We barely make it to soundcheck on time.

Every day, some scenario happens where you’re like, that’s never happened before and was probably avoidable but it’s too late now. It’s surrender to chaos.

Did you have any funny anecdotes from recording the album?

We laughed a lot making this record. We didn’t really know what was going to happen when we started the process, we just said “Right on” to each other as a joke, and then at the end

of the process, we were like, “This should be the name of the record.” It’s like a goofy nod to the process but fits the ethos of the record. It’s a super different mentality than I’ve had on any other record.

“Right On” will be released April 12 and will be available anywhere you can purchase, download or stream music. 

Sarah Osterbauer is a die-hard music lover. When she does her budget each month, food comes after concert tickets. Find her on twitter @SarahOwrites.

Humbird’s “Still Life” album was released in 2021.

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By SARAH OSTERBAUER sosterbauer@gmail.com

MThe tenacious Molly Brandt is ready for her moment

‘‘

In terms of creator age, I’m a toddler, I’m just getting my wings.

‘‘

olly Brandt’s album “Surrender to the Night” has been making a splash since its release last July. Nine of the 10 tracks were written by the Minnesotan within the last few years, the first nine songs she’s ever written.

Though you wouldn’t know it by listening.

Her expert level storytelling capitalizes on familiar chord progressions and song formatting. She has managed to capture the magic of making something old, new again.

Elements of 90s country song structure glitter the album, while Molly’s soulful voice emotes a perfect slight of sadness, a key component of every good classic country artist. She did not achieve this talent by accident. It seems, everything Molly has been through until now has prepared her for this moment.

An Iowa native, Molly Brandt grew up with music as a

- Molly Brandt

given. Starting piano lessons at the age of five and continuing through college, her mother — a piano player and singer herself, along with her grandmother. Music is in her bloodline and played a big role in her education.

She attended high school in Marion, a suburb of Cedar Rapids where she participated in a highly competitive show choir. By competing all over the midwest and becoming a nationally ranked group, it was with the choir that she discovered her love of performing.

While attending Drake University, Molly sought out more academic pursuits, focusing on politics and economics. Like many idealistic college freshmen, a desire to solve the world’s problems was only one of her many interests.

After a stint as an intern at a 9 to 5 gig with an insurance company, she realized that life was not for her. Switching her major to Music and she decided music would be her career in some form or another. At the time, a clear way into a music career was via the business side.

She took on various roles at nonprofits and theaters, throwing all she had into what she hoped would become a thriving arts community in Des Moines. Eventually the opportunities she imagined did not arrive and it was time for a change. She packed up and moved (without a

Molly Brandt’s “Surrender to the Night” album was releaed in 2023.

place to live or a job) to Minneapolis.

In Minneapolis, during the pandemic, like many people, Molly found herself with a lot of extra time on her hands, ripe for reflecting on what she really wanted for herself as a musician and artist.

After many years of playing in jazz combos (solo, duo, trio or full band outfits) doing R&B and jazz standards but never finding her own voice in that genre, Molly wanted to try her hand at writing her own songs.

After experimenting with different styles, it was returning to her country roots that best suited her. Delving into what was familiar, she would learn the songs she loved listening to, and compose songs borrowing those similar frameworks. All of her classical training, no doubt coming into play as well.

As a songwriter, Molly has various methods to her madness, a both organic and disciplined approach. She will latch on to words or phrases that sound like they should be songs or would make a great song title, i.e rhinestone teardrops.

the last few years. She is disciplined in that, she’ll set aside time for writing and has certain practices she leans on to keep the ideas flowing. Whether that’s setting a timer for five minutes and writing down everything she can think of surrounding a particular word or a vision she has, or concentrating on learning songs from artists she admires.

Oftentimes it’s “throwing a lot of stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks.” She has no ego or preciousness for her process and is willing to be open to any method that may come her way.

“In terms of creator age, I’m a toddler, I’m just getting my wings.”

That may be true in terms of songwriting, but as a classically trained pianist, seasoned singer/ performer and band member she comes to the table with a lot on her plate. It could be that experience which lends to her tenacity and gumption.

When a word or phrase presents itself, she’ll put it in her back pocket for safekeeping until she’s ready to build a song around it. She loves creating characters and narratives around the visualizations she gets from a word or phrase.

For the song “Surrender to the Night” she said on Grant Glad’s podcast that she envisioned a woman in a wedding dress, driving away from a life she wasn’t ready for. Even though her songs are not typically autobiographical, the feelings she conveys via these fictional characters are honest and relatable. A feat for a woman who only started writing songs in

Molly is persistent in playing as much as she can, getting her music in front of as many folks as possible. She enjoys setting goals and manifesting their completion. One of them was opening for the Cactus Blossoms and she approached them at a show to let them know as much.

Fast forward and she has opened for them not once but twice. It’s that kind of fearless approach that has contributed to her rising local profile. Molly’s partner and bandmate, Eric Carranza isn’t shy about getting Molly’s music in front of people either, and will message artists coming through town to tell them to listen to Molly’s album.

“You never know if and when someone

might listen and next time they come through needing an opener, you could get that call.” she says. In the midst of all these shows and networking and building her business as an artist, she’s already written a new album. When asked what she can share about it, she said, “First of all, it’s gonna be dope, I wrote 10 new original songs. They’re part of a concept album. There’s going to be lots of characters and place-based narratives. I’m going to be exploring lots of topics: patriarchy, capitalism, climate change, abuse, joy, addiction … I would say vignettes about life

in America really.”

She plans to have new singles out this spring, with the full album available sometime in the fall. Stylistically, it’ll be more rock’n’roll (than country), with more experimentation. Given what we know about her song construction ability and knack for vivid storytelling, it’s sure to be one worth waiting for. You can find Molly’s album anywhere you purchase/stream music or mollybrandt.com. 

Sarah Osterbauer is a die-hard music lover. When she does her budget each month, food comes after concert tickets. Find her on twitter @SarahOwrites.

JOIN OUR TEAM

By AUDREY KLETSCHER HELBLING Minnesota Prairie Roots

When I discovered the print art of Craig Kotasek two years ago at the Arts & Heritage Center of Montgomery, I was delighted. Not only do I love letterpress art, but I also hold a personal connection to this Le Sueur artist. We both worked at The Gaylord Hub, a small-town weekly newspaper in Sibley County. I worked as a print journalist and photographer there in the late 1970s. Some 20 years after I left, Kotasek was hired as an apprentice printer.

Upon viewing Kotasek’s Letterpress Print Show in Montgomery, memories of The Hub print shop rushed back. Lead type pieced together in trays. The smell of ink. The clackclack-clack of noisy printing presses. Printers Bucky and Dale laboring in stained printers’

aprons. Me pounding out news stories on an aged manual typewriter against the backdrop of all that noise.

Kotasek wanted that, all of that. To learn the trade, the craft, the art of old-school hands-on printing. And he’s mastered it, growing his experience at The Hub into his own business, Tin Can Valley Printing. Even the name hearkens to yesteryear.

To view his printed gig posters, his original art prints, is to see the work of someone who is as much artist as craftsman. His is clearly a labor of love. A passion.

In a time when life scrolls by in an instant on a screen, Kotasek reminds us to slow down. His work can’t be rushed. It’s timeless. Simplistic. Often rooted in rural, rooted in the past.

When you reflect on your early life, what and/or who influenced you to follow a creative path? I’m curious to hear your backstory. At what point did you decide, hey, art is really what I want to do with my life?

My mother, while raising us, was a working artist. She painted flowers, butterflies and barns on rocks, silverware and old barn tools, as well as doing some sign painting. As a child, I would try to copy her painting styles. My father

Letterpress print artist Craig Kotasek talks about his old-school craft

was a surveyor and draftsman for the highway department. He taught me mechanical drawing, blueprint reading and map making at an early age. So my art became this mix of engineering and decorative design.

I hated school and, if I was at school, I was filling ruled notebooks with pictures or drawing on the back of my assignments.

When I graduated, I was free to do what I wanted. But I didn’t draw anything for about six years.

In 1999 you were hired as a press operator in the print shop of a small-town southern Minnesota weekly newspaper. Tell me how your 15 years at The Gaylord Hub proved pivotal in your arts career, specifically in focusing on letterpress and eventually opening your own print shop in 2016.

during this rare time when we were still using 100-year-old letterpress equipment with type and engravings, 30-year-old offset equipment using darkroom and photochemical platemaking, all while transitioning into completely digital printing.

TOP: Craig used hard-carved blocks and wood type to create these seasonal works of art.

When I started drawing again, I was getting requests for prints of my illustrations. When I couldn’t afford the upfront costs of having prints made, I improvised and decided to try getting a job as a printer to have access to the equipment. It was better than I expected. The Hub still had all of the old letterpress equipment. I even got to use it on the job, printing raffle tickets and anything that needed a sequential number.

ABOVE: This sequence shows the steps in creating a multi-hued music

poster.

I had the experience of working at The Hub

Explain letterpress printing at its very basic. Why did you fall in love with this old-school, hands-on printing method?

I’ve now had my try at just about every form of image transfer we have developed. Letterpress, which is a systematic approach to relief printing, just makes the most sense to me. I have a very mechanical, spatial-based mind and letterpress printing is all space. Each piece of type and block occupies a physical space and the transfer of the image is entirely based on thickness and pressure. It’s all about putting the pieces together, how they fit the best, and adjusting the thickness to get a good impression. It’s very technical, but also simple. No chemicals. No computers.

Let’s focus on what you create—greeting cards, gig posters, art prints, wedding invitations…, which sometimes feature your original art carved into linoleum blocks and inked onto paper. What inspires your art?

Craig Kotasek in his print shop. (Photo courtesy of Craig Kotasek)

“Eight-Pointed Star,” framed prints crafted with hard-carved blocks and assorted inks.

gig

I grew up on a farm in the Minnesota River Valley and that’s where most of my ideas come from. Either from my experiences in nature or the antiques and tools that once belonged to my grandparents. Between the farm and the valley, I’ll never run out of things to draw.

I see simplicity and Minnesota themes in your work. If you were to choose one word or several to describe your style, what would that be?

“Nostalgia” for sure. I didn’t set out to take an easy path, trying to appeal to sentimentality for an older time. I don’t believe that just because something is old, it’s better. But sometimes things get old because they are made well. Because my grandparents were thrifty, I grew up around old things and they have just genuinely appealed to me.

At one time, nearly every small-town newspaper had a print shop. Today there seems to be a renewed interest in letterpress art with artists reclaiming old presses and type. Where did you source your equipment?

Almost all of my equipment came from newspaper offices that were closing down, merging or being bought out. I picked up my first press in

FindYour NextTreasure!

2001, rescued from a cow pasture just north of St. Louis, Missouri. It was a 2,500-pound platen press with a foot treadle. After that, word got around that there was a guy in Gaylord who had a trailer and would save these presses from the scrapper. I never had to leave the state again to pick up a press. My most-used press is a Chandler & Price platen press manufactured in 1923. (Just turned 100!) I acquired it in 2011 from The Silver Lake Leader and I use it because it is newer than

all the rest in my collection. As worn out as it looks, it’s still a precision piece of equipment.

Your print shop, Tin Can Valley Printing Company, is housed in a converted granary on your family farm overlooking the Minnesota River Valley outside Le Sueur, “Home of the Jolly Green Giant.” In short, what’s the story behind the vintage vibe name?

I came up with the name while my personal shop was still part of The Gaylord Hub, a whole 10 years before I would eventually move to the

granary. I’m an amateur musician (a banjo player) and all of the commercial clients I have are in the music business: pickers, players, luthiers,

CONTINUED page 20

Craig created this promo poster for his business, Tin Can Valley Printing Co.

A promo poster designed and printed for a past Minneapolis Fringe Festival.

Type and art assembled in a tray for printing.

Cans of ink used in the printing process were displayed during Craig’s 2022 art exhibit in Montgomery.

Tools of the craft, including a roller and carved blocks, displayed in Montgomery.

Hand-carved block art for printing.

CONTINUED from page 19

venues and music stores. Hearing stories from my dad about my grandfather’s work for Green Giant, and my love of music, I somehow made the connection to Tin Pan Alley, the long-time songwriting district in New York. The portmanteau just kind of stuck.

I assume people can simply pop into your shop to buy your greeting cards and other art or to discuss custom projects. What other locations sell your letterpress art? Are you out and about

circulating your work?

My shop isn’t big enough to hold all of my equipment, so I don’t have much of a storefront. But I’m always open to visitors by appointment. I started my online store (tincanvalley.com) in 2020. And, of course, that’s been popular. I love attending art and music fairs and meeting people in person. But I am expanding my retail locations in southern Minnesota. I currently have cards at Arts & Heritage Center of Montgomery, St. Peter Arts Center, St. Peter

Food Co-op, Sidetracked in Mankato and, of course, The Gaylord Hub.

Anything else you’d like to add about yourself as a creative, your creative work or even living and working as an artist in southern Minnesota?

I feel fortunate that I’ve been able to turn my art into a sustainable business. I got into printing so that I could sell copies of my art, but keep the original work. I learned a great deal about business and marketing by working at a small-town newspaper. I got to see firsthand

how small business owners get creative to earn a living in a tiny market. 

Faribault writer Audrey Kletscher Helbling is an enthusiastic appreciator of old-school printing. At the Village of Yesteryear in Owatonna, she is drawn to the print shop. In Fergus Falls, she snagged an impromptu tour of Victor Lundeen & Company’s 110-year-old print shop complete with vintage type, art and presses. And in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, she lingered at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum while her family crossed the street to Berners’ Ice Cream Parlor. You can reach her at audrey@ mnprairieroots.com

Examples of Craig Kotasek’s print art plaster the walls of The Arts & Heritage Center of Montgomery during a 2022 exhibit of his art.

Craig is expanding his popular line of original greeting cards.

Gig posters showcased below photos of Kolacky Days royalty inside The Montgomery Arts & Heritage Center, which exhibited Craig’s art in 2022.

Samples of Craig’s art showcased in Montgomery’s arts center in 2022.

Promos for Craig’s Letterpress Print Show in Montgomery in 2022.

Craig honors The Jolly Green Giant and Le Sueur with this pair of prints made from hand-carved blocks and wood type.

Craig’s assorted art covers a wall at The Arts & Heritage Center of Montgomery.

An explanation of Craig’s “Niblets Corn Sign” art.

Maple Syruping - Faribault-- 1:30-2:30 p.m., River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Road, Faribault. Maple syruping is a tradition that dates back to the first nations that lived in this area. Learn about the history of maple syruping, what makes the sap flow, and the process of turning sap into syrup through hands-on syruping experience. Free for members, $5 for individuals, $15 for family. Tickets online.

Mary Cutrufello - Northfield-- 4 p.m., Reunion, 501 Division St. S., Northfield. St. Paul roots-rock singer-songwriter Mary Cutrufello has been a mainstay in the Americana scene here and in Texas for 30 years. Hailed by USA Today as “a fierce guitarist with with a blistered-throat voice,” Cutrufello mixes original songs and classics of American music into a captivating, heartland-proud musical stew at once timeless and immediate.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@southernminnscene.com.

Easter Egg Hunt - Owatonna-- 4 p.m., Benedictine Living Community, 2255 30th St NW, Owatonna. Eggs hidden around the facility. Ages 3 and under at 4 p.m., then ages 4-6 at 4:10 p.m. and ages 7 and up at 4:20 p.m.

Pete Klug - St. Peter-5-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Enjoy some live music with your food and drinks.

Lynette Reini-Grandell Author TalkNorthfield-- 7 p.m., A cisgender woman and her trans spouse learn, change, and grow together, navigating the transition, the communities they found, and the hostility they faced in Reini-Grandell’s memoir, “Wild Things.”

FRIDAY, MAR 29

Teen Cloud Light - Waseca-- 1 p.m., Waseca Public Library, 408 N. State ST. Teens will craft a unique cloud light fixture that will make a statement in their rooms. For ages 13-18.

SATURDAY, MAR 30

Egg Splash - Owatonna-- 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., West Hills Social Commons, 500 Dunnell Dr, Owatonna. This event combines the excitement of traditional Easter egg hunts with the added challenge of searching for eggs in a swimming pool at the West Hills Pool.

Did we miss something?

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

Pollinator GardeningFaribault-- 10 a.m., Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division St. E, Faribault. U of M Master Gardener Lisa Reuvers will be presenting the class all about pollinator gardens ahead of the spring.

Easter Egg Hunt on the Farm - Northfield-- 10 a.m., Join Windy Willow for their free Easter Egg Hunt on the farm With over 5000+ eggs there is sure to be plenty for everyone. Come find the golden eggs for kids to win the chance to be part of the exclusive foam egg hunt.

Geocaching for

Bunny BasketsHenderson-- 10 a.m.12 p.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson. Themed bunny baskets hidden throughout the park for families to discover and enjoy. At the beginning of the session, staff will send GPS coordinates to participants to show where

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- Wanamingo-- 10:30 a.m., Riverside Park, Wanamingo. All are welcome to join in the hunt.

Community Egg Hunt - Faribault-- 10:3011:30 a.m., Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Faribault. The community is invited to bring the kids ages 1-11, to search the grounds for eggs.

Easter Egg HuntKenyon-- 11 a.m., Depot Park, 416 1st St., Kenyon. Hunt will be split up between ages 1-5 and ages 6 and up. Donations for the Kenyon Food Shelf will be accepted.

Easter Egg Hunt - Le Center-- 12-2 p.m., Le Center West Park. Vehicle Fair starts at noon, followed by the egg hunt at 1 p.m. The hunt will be split into three groups: pre-schoolers, K-1 and grades 2-3.

GTX - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Performing old and new hits.

Rattlesnake Justice - Montgomery-- 6-10 p.m., Montgomery American Legion, 102 Elm Ave. SW, Montgomery. A fun night of music and dancing.

Todd Michael Jameson - Owatonna-- 6:308:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Wal-

nut Ave, Owatonna. Todd Michael Jameson is a seasoned musician, and Rock Steady Records recording artist, with many years of experience. Along with performing originals and covers as a solo artist, Todd also plays bass in Hawt Beir (Original Rock and Roll).

Did we miss something?

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

Dan Israel - Owatonna-- 7 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Dan Israel is a multiple Minnesota Music Academy (MMA) Award winner. American Songwriter magazine in Nashville calls Israel a “hometown hero who can pack a local venue to the gills,” describing his sound as “combining pop hooks with the rootsy orchestration of Neil Young’s slower material.”

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@southernminnscene.com.

Comedy Under the Bridge - Faribault-7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. A comedy showcase. Tickets online.

Nate Abshire Comedy Show - Northfield-7 p.m., Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. Nate Abshire started performing comedy in 2009 to spite a girl who wouldn’t return his calls. The following year, he finished runner-up in the “Funniest Person in the Twin Cities” contest. Audiences love his sardonic wit, keen writing, and playful stage presence. He’ll be joined by opener Toni Shammu and host Dan Hinnenkamp. Tickets $20-$25 online or at the door.

Did we miss something?

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

Adult Easter Egg Hunt - Kasota-- 11 a.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Eggs will be hidden around the property with special discounts and prizes inside that can be redeemed at the Tasting Room. One egg per person.

Easter Egg Hunt and Baby Animals - Dundas-- 12-4 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. An egg hunt starting at 2 p.m., along with baby animals to cuddle with throughout.

MONDAY, APR 01

Bounce Party - St. Peter-- 3-5 p.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. Three bounce houses in the gym. Facepainting and cookie decorating in the lobby. Parent/ guardian must be present.

Fools in the Alley Celebration - Le Center-- 3-11:30 p.m., Le Center. Food, games and live music to celebrate the silliest day of the year.

WEDNESDAY, APR 03

- Faribault-- 12-5 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Last chance to see the gallery, featuring the 2024 art educators of Minnesota in the Carlander Gallery, Linda Snouffer in the Vranesh Gallery, Melissa Kugler and Rhonda Norgaard in the K&M Gallery, and students from Bethlehem Academy in the Creger Gallery. The show runs until April 6.

THURSDAY, APR 04

Bill Litzau - Le Sueur-- 6-9 p.m., The Bar & Grill, 130 S. Main St., Le Sueur. An acoustic duo offering live music.

Patty Wetterling Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. With stunning detail, Patty Wetterling shares the untold story of the 27-year search for her son Jacob — and its astonishing conclusion. The book is titled “Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope.”

FRIDAY, APR 05

Convocation with Francoise

Baylis - Northfield-- 10:5011:50 a.m., Skinner Memorial

Chapel, 405 1st St. E. Baylis is a philosopher whose innovative work in bioethics, at the intersection of policy and practice, has stretched the boundaries of the field. Her work challenges us to think broadly and deeply about the direction of health, science and biotechnology. It aims to move the limits of mainstream bioethics and develop more effective ways to understand and tackle public policy challenges.

Dakota Culture & History Bus TourFaribault-- 12-5 p.m., Join RCHS for a fun day and learn about the history and culture of the Mdewakanton Dakota. The group will be visiting Hocokata Ti in Shakopee and will get a guided tour of the cultural center and museum there. Bus loads at noon and leaves by 12:15 p.m. Tickets are $25 perp person. Contact RCHS to register.

Changing Minds IV - St. Peter-- 5 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. The fourth biennial exhibition of work by patients at St. Peter Regional Treatment Center, Changing Minds IV is a showcase of visual, literary, and musical work produced independently and in the course of year-round workshops

hosted by the Arts Center. The opening reception is April 5. The show is open during regular ACSP hours through May 25.

100 Year of Pickin’ - St. Peter-6-9 p.m., Flame Bar and Grill, 225 Nassau St., St. Peter. Guitar pickin and playin.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@southernminnscene.com.

Did we miss something?

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

CONTINUED page 24

Paradise Gallery

Gary Van Whalen - Owatonna-- 6-8 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Some high quality music with your drinks.

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Community Market Fair - Dundas-- 9 a.m.3 p.m., Dundas Dome, 2033-2198 Cannon Road, Northfield. More than just a home and garden show, the Community Market Fair features local exhibitors for all your home, garden, lifestyle, health and leisure needs. There will be something for everyone.

Retail & Business Expo - Le Sueur-- 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Le Sueur-Henderson High School. Explore local businesses

Viking Chorus Concert - Northfield-- 3:305 p.m., Boe Memorial Chapel, 1500 St Olaf Ave., Northfield. The Viking Chorus, conducted by Adam Reinwald, will perform a concert. The choir is comprised of first-year tenors and basses, featuring a broad repertoire with an emphasis in sacred music, the low voices of Viking

sing motets, cantata movements, and anthems, as well as contemporary choral pieces, spirituals, and folksongs.

New

Learn three to four dances from awardwinning choreographer Kerry Maus. Songs will be a mix of pop and country. Tickets $7 per person in advance or $12 per person at the door. Register online.

Pinnacle Pro Wrestling - Waseca-- 6-10 p.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW,

Waseca. Royal Flavuh, Petey Brown, Zay-K47, Sage Hale, Blair Hale, Ethan Everheart and more. Tickets are $10-$20. Available soon through The Mill.

UccellinoOwatonna-- 7-9 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. A Mankato band serving up jazz standards packed with vocal harmonies. They’ll be joined by special guest Ryan Rader

FTB Trio - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Fred the Bear is a classic rock/alternative band known for their rich harmonies, emotive dynamics and original songs. FTB’s music reflects on life’s promises and disappointments through personal crafted lyrics and driving rhythms. Mixed within their originals is a blend of music from other Midwest artists, currently touring groups and classic bands.

Reaching Orpheus - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. An original drama from Paradise

Community Theatre about a young woman who moves to Colorado to restart her life after a tragic loss. She rediscovers herself and her inner strength through rock climbing and unlikely friendships. Tickets $12-$18 online or at the box office. Shows April 5-6 and 12-13 at 7:30 p.m., plus April 7 and 14 at 2 p.m.

Red Dirt Road - Owatonna-- 8:30 p.m., Reggie’s Brewhouse, 220 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. If you’ve been to a Red Dirt Road show you know that they are a sound and light experience that you won’t want to miss. They combine great musicianship, killer harmonies, and an arena style light show that will keep you coming back every time.

Comedian Kevin Craft - Kasota-- 9-11 p.m., Blue Moon, Kasota. Kevin has over 75,000

Line Dancing - Le Sueur County-- 6 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St.,

Prague.

YouTube fans, has been seen on CNN, TMZ and was also a semi-finalist on the 2006 season of ‘Last Comic Standing’.

Kevin has also appeared as a guest on the Tyra Banks show and Shaq’s Comedy All-Stars. Seating is limited, first come first serve. This is an adult only show. No cover.

Wendt Sisters - Kilkenny-- 2-5 p.m., Toy Box Saloon, 216 Kilkenny Rd., Kilkenny. The Wendt Sisters play a wide variety of music from the 50s to the 90s, country and gospel.

Artist Talk with Erica Spitzer

SUNDAY, APR 07

Bridal Show - Waseca-- 11 a.m.-1 p.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. Vendors from all around the southern Minnesota area. Swag bags will be given to the first 25 brides through the door.

OAC Gallery Openings - Owatonna-- 1-4 p.m., Owatonna Art Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. “Traversing the Landscape” paintings by Mary Pat Opatz Herges and “Pioneer Power” photos by Ann Judkins.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar? Send details

Thursday Musical - Owatonna-- 2 p.m., Owatonna Art Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. The Thursday Musical is sharing with guests the “FluteSpiration Quartet.” The concert is open to the public. The quartet uses the members of the flute family - piccolo, soprano, alto, and bass flutes. “The Sleeping Beauty Waltz” by Tchaikovsky will be one of the pieces in the program.

WEDNESDAY, APR

10

Area Student Show - Faribault-12-5 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Last chance to see the gallery, featuring the artwork of students from around Faribault. Open during regular gallery hours. Show ends April 13.

Helen Forsythe & Alissa Jacobsen - Northfield-- 5-7 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. A chill evening of beautiful tunes by this talented duo.

THURSDAY, APR 11

Carleton & St. Olaf Emerging ArtistsNorthfield-- 12-5 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division St. S., Northfield. Last chance to view this open house gallery experience. The show is open during regular The Guild hours through April 13.

Cindy Wilson Author Talk - St. Peter-- 2 p.m., Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Ave, St. Peter. Wilson will introduce us to the amazing family of railroad surveyor Charles Wood Irish, along with stories from her new book with an area connection. Her talk will then talk about the Hard Winter of 1880-81, centered on Nicollet County. The cost is $7 per adult and $5 per member.

Rasmussen - Northfield-4:30-5:30 p.m., Carleton College, 1 N College St., Northfield. Erica Spitzer Rasmussen takes pleasure in challenging the idea of what constitutes a book. An artist and educator who specializes in sculptural objects, her work often explores family stories and issues around personal identity. The talk is in Bolou Room 161. Spitzer Rasmussen’s exhibit will be on view in the Gould Library through April 30.

Minnesota’s Hooded History - Owatonna-6:30 p.m., Owatonna Public Library, 105 N. Elm St, Owatonna. Local historian and librarian Nancy Vaillancourt has spent years researching the presence of the Ku Klux Klan in Southeast Minnesota. Join to learn about this forgotten history and the organized traditions of prejudice and nativism in our region.

Trung Le Nguyen Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. In this gorgeous debut graphic novel, “The Magic Fish,” fairytales are the only way one boy can communicate with his Vietnamese immigrant parents. But how will he find the words to tell them that he’s gay? A powerful read about family, identity and the enduring magic of stories.

CONTINUED page 26

CONTINUED from page 25

FRIDAY, APR 12

Paradise Gallery Opening Reception - Faribault-5-7 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Curt Lund and Doug Clement in the Carlander Gallery, Dan Crombie in the Vranesh Gallery, Made at the PCA in the K&M Gallery, and Shattuck St. Mary’s in the Creger Gallery. Opening reception is April 12. Show open during regular PAC hours from April 8-June 1.

Jared Graff - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Flame Bar and Grill, 225 Nassau St., St. Peter. Country covers and originals.

Another Time Around - Janesville-- 6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Performing classic rock.

Adult Prom - Le Sueur County-- 7 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Featuring DJ Will, guests will be rocking it on the barrel room dance floor “All Night Long!” “Let’s Dance” to “Purple Rain” and other hits from the 80s. Tickets are $10 online and $15 at the door. Light snacks provided.

Bryce Leppert - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Alt rock and hot country.

Soulfire - Blooming Prairie-- 7-11 p.m., Blooming Prairie Cue Company, 302 Main St E, Blooming Prairie. Dynamic musical duo that will set your soul on fire. Mike Little guitar, harmonica and vocals. Josi Christy vocals.

Family Tradition - Waseca-- 7:30-10:30 p.m., Waseca American Legion, 700 S. State St. Performing old and new hit country music.

Emanate

Dance

ConcertSt. Peter-8-10 p.m., Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College

Ave, St. Peter. The Gustavus

Dance

Company returns to the Anderson Theatre thrust stage, offering a unique vantage point for experiencing dance. They invite you to immerse yourselves by connecting to dancers who emanate and embody expressive and vital energy.

SATURDAY, APR 13

Maple Syrup: Tree to Bottle - Henderson-10-11 a.m., Are you curious about how we turn sap into syrup? Join for this fun, hands-on class and walk through the steps, tap a tree together, and discuss the science of syrup. All ages are welcome; dress for the weather and a short walk. Tickets online.

Jeff Christ - Le Sueur-6-9 p.m., The Bar & Grill, 130 S. Main St., Le Sueur. Acoustic guitar tunes.

Fred the Bear - Northfield-- 6-9 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519

South Unit 2. Fred the Bear is an alt-rock band known for their rich harmonies, emotive dynamics and original songs. FTB’s music reflects on life’s promises and disappointments through personal crafted lyrics and driving rhythms. Mixed within their originals is a blend of music from other Midwest artists, currently touring groups and classic bands.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@southernminnscene.com.

and Ukulele playing an eclectic variety of music including rock, country, folk and bluegrass.

Dancing with the Steele County StarsOwatonna-- 6 p.m., Owatonna High School, 1455 SE 18th Street, Owatonna. Watch some familiar Steele County faces battle it out in this Dancing with the Stars competition.

Did we miss something?

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

Division Street

Crista Bohlman - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Crista Bohlmann, performing in bands for over 20 years, is now playing solo, accompanying herself on guitar, fiddle,

Miller Denn - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Muriah Miller & Mark Denn are this Minnesota-based acoustic duo coming from family bands Miller Sisters & Country Denns. Based out of Waseca.

Everett Smithson Band - Kasota-- 8 p.m.-12 a.m., Blue Moon, Kasota. Always a local favorite bringing their hot movin’ music from up and down the Mississippi River. Zydeco (swamp rock), blues and funky roots of all kinds. This band has soulful creole flavor that will bring a party atmosphere to any show they play.

Wicked Garden - Owatonna-- 8:30 p.m., Reggie’s Brewhouse, 220 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna. Playing your favorite alternative rock/ grunge/pop hits from the 90s, from bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Tool, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Alanis Morissette, No Doubt, The Cranberries and many more.

SUNDAY, APR 14

Bridal Fair - Faribault-- 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Faribo West Mall, 200 Western Ave. NW. All kinds of vendors to help plan the big day.

THURSDAY, APR 18

WAC Gallery - Waseca-- 12-5 p.m., Waseca Art Center, 200 N. State St. Last chance to see

the gallery, featuring the 34th annual high school show and workshop, plus photographer Lars Samuelson. The show is open during regular gallery hours through April 19.

Senior Expo - St. Peter-- 1-4 p.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. Multiple vendors, prizes, live musicians, treats and a wealth of information. This is a free event.

Songwriters in the Round - Northfield-7-9 p.m., Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. Come enjoy a variety of local artists showcasing their original work, and sharing stories of how those songs came to be.

History of Czech Immigration - Faribault-7-8 p.m., Rice County Historical Society, 1814 NW 2nd Ave., Faribault. Montgomery, Veseli, and New Prague often form three points of what is called the Czech Triangle. A region between Le Sueur, Scott, and Rice County where many Czech immigrants came to and settled.

We invite to come out for a history of Czech Immigration given by Fred Simon.

FRIDAY, APR 19

Convocation with Fiona Hill - Northfield-- 10:50-11:50 a.m., Hill has researched and published extensively on issues related to Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, regional conflicts, energy, and strategic issues. Her first book with Clifford Gaddy, “The Siberian Curse: How Communist Planners Left Russia Out in the Cold,” was published by Brookings Institution Press in December 2003, and her monograph, “Energy Empire: Oil, Gas and Russia’s Revival,” was published by the London Foreign Policy Centre in 2004.

Just Crista - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Flame Bar and Grill, 225 Nassau St., St. Peter. A girl, a guitar, a fiddle, a ukulele and a song. Enjoy

an evening listening to the incredibly talented Crista.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@southernminnscene.com.

Father’s Daughters - Janesville-- 6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. The Father’s Daughters is an acoustic vocal trio from Waterville.

SinFest - Kasota-- 8 p.m., Blue Moon, Kasota. YuWish presents: Crowfather, Psychedelic Sidekick, Christian Buttshaw, Matt Fischer, 00Hytes, and DJ YuWish. 21+.

Did we miss something?

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

CONTINUED page 28

Nominate your favorites then come back to vote them to the top!

CONTINUED from page 25

Earth Day Celebration - Faribault-- 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Road, Faribault. Invasive species removal, how to make a DIY compost bin demonstration, upcycling plastic bags into jump ropes. Each activity will run for an hour and will be offered three different times.

Barnyard Babies Animal Weekend - Waseca-- 11 a.m.-3p.m., Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca. The 1930s barnyard is going to be full of life this summer. Come meet and interact with the animals that are going to call Farmamerica home. Featured animals include chicks, lambs, pigles,

iature ponies and more. Trams will be giving rides. Children and adults $5. Free for members.

This tree-themed

feature live children’s

and more.

Bruce Burniece - Kilkenny-- 2-5 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. With a set list of 900 hit songs

spanning more than 70 years, Bruce encourages song requests as well as singing along and dancing. He is best known for his showmanship and it has earned him a reputation as a very memorable performer.

Adam Moe - Owatonna-- 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Adam Moe is a fiddler and singer/

is a multiple Minnesota Music Academy (MMA) Award winner. American Songwriter magazine in Nashville calls Israel a “hometown hero who can pack a local venue to the gills,” describing his sound as “combining pop hooks with the rootsy orchestration of Neil Young’s slower material.”

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

calves, baby goats, min-

Tree Jamboree Earth Day Celebration - Henderson-- 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson.

celebration will

music, crafts, food for purchase, guests like Zero Waste Mankato, tree plantings,

songwriter based in Duluth. His unique original songs backed by his tenor guitar and delivered with his clear, bluesy tenor make for a great show.

Dan Israel - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Dan Israel

Martin Devaney - Northfield-- 6-9 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. Dubbed “the ubiquitous barroom bard” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a “charming,

bushy-haired songsmith” by No Depression, Devaney writes from the heart of a working class troubadour.

Celebrate Water - Northfield-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Farmstead Bike Shop, 422 Division St. S., Northfield. An evening of music, poetry, and other performances about water. This free event (donations are appreciated) is for all ages.

Did we miss something?

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

Drew Peterson - Faribault-- 7 p.m., Corks & Pints, 22 4th St. NE, Faribault. Original Americana.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@southernminnscene.com.

B2Wins - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Fun loving Twin brothers present “Top 40 From

the Last 40.” Four decades of the music you know and love with a unique twist. This unforgettable, engaging show is all ages and features one of a kind renditions of everything from Sinatra to Ed Sheeran, Louis Armstrong to Dua Lipa, Michael Jackson to Daft Punk, Leonard Cohen to Nirvana. Tickets $15-$25 online or at the box office.

The Man Who Came to Dinner - Owatonna-- 7:30 p.m., Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna. Little Theatre of Owatonna presents its spring comedy, directed by Jeffrey Jackson. Sheridan Whiteside — critic, lecturer, wit, radio orator, intimate friend of the great and near great — having dined at the home of the Stanleys, slips on their doorstep and breaks his hip. The result is a tumultuous six weeks of confinement. Shows 7:30 p.m. April 19-20 and 26-27, plus April 21 and 28. Tickets online.

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

The Matchmaker - Northfield-- 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Before the world fell in love with “Hello

Dolly!”, there was The Matchmaker. Cunning, crafty and thoroughly modern, Dolly Gallagher Levi knows a good catch when she sees one. The Matchmaker is an uproarious romp that reminds us to embrace the unexpected in our lives. Shows 7:30 p.m. April 19-20 and 26-27, plus 2 p.m. April 21 and 28. Tickets online.

SUNDAY, APR 21

Whiskey

TUESDAY, APR 23

Jess Lourey Author Talk - Le Sueur-- 6 p.m., Le Sueur Public Library, 118 Ferry St. Calling all mystery and thriller

lovers. Join us for a conversation with Minnesota author Jess Lourey, the author of the thrillers “The Taken Ones” and “The Quarry Girls,” along with the new YA fantasy “A Whisper of Poison.”

WEDNESDAY, APR 24

I.

This month’s SCENE calendar runs through April 24th. See more events at southernminnscene.com.

Whiskers - Kilkenny-- 2-5 p.m., Toy Box Saloon, 216 Kilkenny Rd., Kilkenny. Southern Minnesota band playing music you love.

Alice Winn Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Winn will share about “In Memoriam,” a haunting, virtuosic debut novel about two young men who fall in love during World War

BOOKWORM

‘Oscar Nights’, ‘Four Thousand Paws’ and women’s history books

50 Oscar Nights:

Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins

by Dave Karger

c.2024,

Running Press $30.00 264 pages

Studies say that the average person prefers a taller man.

Height matters in many opinions and if a man’s a nice dresser, that’s even better. A pleasing comportment catches the eye, too. But if he’s stoic, just over thirteen inches tall, and clad head-to-toe in gold, well, most women – and men – would do anything for him. Those who’ve met that guy never forget him, as you’ll see in “50

Oscar Nights” by Dave Karger.

Imagine it: the lights are bright, you’re sitting in the midst of glitter and glitterati, and suddenly, everyone’s congratulating you and pushing you toward a stage and a golden statue. We cheer when our favorite stars live that dream, but what’s it really like to receive an Oscar?

As an eleven-year-old boy, Dave Karger thought about that, and other Oscar-y things. His young “obsession with the Oscars” led to questions, some of which were never answered but some were: he grew up to meet and interview Oscar winners to talk about their big honors.

This book is the result.

Karger begins with Nicole Kidman, who first won the Award for her role in “The Hours” in 2003. She had just gotten divorced from Tom Cruise then; after the ceremony, she told Karger, she “went to bed alone; I was in bed before midnight.”

As a child, Jennifer Hudson wanted Grammys and never dreamed of an Oscar. Jane Fonda struggled with how to leave activism out of an acceptance speech. Halle Berry gave a nod to Black women before her. Rita Moreno was so shocked to win, that she gave the briefest speech. Dustin Hoffman kept his Award in the closet for years. Lee Grant wore “somebody’s old wedding dress” to accept her Oscar. Hilary Swank remembers how much her feet hurt. Michael Douglas wrote his name down, in case he forgot it. Larry Hagman left neighbor Joel Grey a special Award. And Octavia Spencer prayed not to fall down on her way to the stage.

Jaded fan, serious critic, or Two-Buck-Tuesday connoisseur, the facts remain that movies are special things and the Awards ceremony always promises to be watercooler-fodder. Reading “50 Oscar Nights” will make you feel extra-smart on the morning after.

Yes, if you’re a movie fan, you’ve got shelves full of books like this one, but author Dave Karger adds an aura of intimacy to what you’ll read here. Of course, there’s a sense of breathlessness to each of the interviews, and some self-depreciation, but readers will also see a surprising wistfulness from some of the stars, as if the otherwise exciting presentation was eclipsed by heartache or regret. This lends a whole new aspect of the Awards show that you’ll have to watch for now. New bets to lose. New gossip to collect.

Lush with color photos, delicious insight, and quality paper, “50 Oscar Nights” may make you binge-watch all the movies mentioned in here soon. Before you grab the popcorn and dim the lights, before the ceremony starts, get this book now. Don’t leave yourself short.

Four Thousand Paws: Caring for the Dogs of the Iditarod, a Veterinarian’s Story

by Lee Morgan

c.2024, Liveright $27.99 304 pages

There aren’t many things worse than unintentionally sliding on the ice.

You know it’s going to happen before it does, and that makes it worse. You slip, recombobulate, whirl your arms and adjust, them boom, down you go anyhow.

Slipping on ice is not fun, never mind driving on it –unless, of course your ride doesn’t glide on gasoline. Unless, as in the new book “Four Thousand Paws” by Lee Morgan, it runs on salmon and dog chow.

We take travel for granted. It’s easy to jump in a car and go, forgetting that for centuries, Alaska’s Indigenous people used sleds to travel across what would become our 49th state’s terrain. We rarely consider that until 1973, their trail was just a trail.

That was when the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially began.

Basically following ancient trade routes, and said to be longer than a thousand miles (but actually shorter), the first Iditarod race itself was rough, making explorers out of the inaugural thirty-four teams. The man who won the first Iditarod completed it in twenty days; today’s mushers finish the race in roughly half that, days of physical and mental endurance, brutal weather, and beautiful terrain.

Knowing that, how could a long-time veterinarian who loved dogs possibly skip a chance to care for the musher’s teams? In 2012, Morgan applied for the gig because it was a natural match: he was an outdoorsman and adventurer, and volunteering in the remote Alaskan outback seemed like a good time. Plus... dogs.

Hundreds of dogs, huskies at forty-five pounds each or less, goofy dogs that Morgan swears were smiling at him, patients that knew the drill and were impatient with him when he dared to do a required, regularstop examination out of order. Dogs, he says, that should be considered as elite as any other high-level athletes that undertake a challenge that seems like fun. The dogs are eager to run, Morgan says, and up to fourteen of them do their jobs well. It’s exciting and hard. And sometimes, it’s dangerous...

Before you start reading “Four Thousand Paws,” compare and consider this: your vehicle is pretty great, but when did your car ever give you a wet, sloppy kiss?

Likely never but since you also probably won’t ever get to the grocer’s by dogsled, you can be glad that someone will tell you about it. Author Lee Morgan shares a journey that is, like many, from the back of a sled, from a freezing tent, and neck-deep in snow, but it’s also about a ten-year love affair with the land, the Iditarod, the mushers that run it, and the dogs that make it happen. His front-of-the-line perspective is different, and the race-to-dog balance of the tale is just right.

Don’t expect to see much “MUSH!” in this book; Morgan says mushers don’t say that. They yell, “GO!” and they’re off – just as you should be, too. If you’re the adventurous type or you love dogs, “Four Thousand Paws” is a book that’s easy to slide into.

Cloistered: My Years as a Nun

by Catherine Coldstream

c.2024, St. Martin’s Press $30.00 352 pages

Something’s missing.

Everything’s where it needs to be but something’s wrong. It’s complicated, isn’t it? It makes no sense, you can’t put your finger on it, but something’s missing deep inside you. And in the new memoir “Cloistered” by Catherine Coldstream, finding what’s absent may give you peace – for awhile.

Catherine Coldstream was just twenty-four when her father died.

He had been her rock, her compass. With the help of his elderly sister, he’d raised her, and his gentle, forgiving presence soothed her. But then Coldstream’s aunt died of cancer, and her father died shortly afterward, leaving her “adrift.” She could find little comfort for either loss, until she met a Dominican nun on her travels late one summer.

“Was the pale radiance from her calling out to me?” Coldstream wondered.

Hoping life as a nun might take her closer to Heaven, she began to explore the idea by visiting

“monasteries of contemplatives” and a “more active outgoing” place in London before settling on the “radical and ancient Carmelite order...” Still, nothing quite fit what her soul needed or wanted. She needed order. She wanted more spartan, more strict.

When someone mentioned Akenside Priority, she knew she’d been called.

And so Coldstream embraced life as a “Bride of Christ,” life in a cold cell of silence, comfort, and secrets that whispered to her every time she entered. She learned where it was permissible to talk, her place in line as she enter a room with others, and how to eat “Little Jug,” a meal of bread and tea in the morning. She learned how to pray, kneeling on a small stool; how to dress in yards and yards of fabric; and how to have visitors through “the grille,” a set of bars that allowed conversation but no physical contact.

And Sister Catherine was happy, until two sisters from another community moved in and were allowed to take over. She was happy –until she began to wonder if she could endure her vocation any longer.

Looking for something deliciously gossipy, even scandalous? You’ve got the wrong book, then, absolutely. Yes, there’s a bit of drama toward the end of “Cloistered,” but the lion’s share of this book is serenely meditative.

Or you could also call it slow, if you wish, because there is no rushing in “The Life.” Author Catherine Coldstream writes of days that begin before dawn and that include very regimented hours, chores, lean meals, worship, silence, and more worship – the latter three parts of which should tell readers most of what they need to know about Coldstream’s story. She describes the desolation and, at times, loneliness despite living with nineteen other woman. It’s a life of joy, but also one of deprivation; of belonging, but also of desperately needing to escape.

Readers who are looking for a flashy memoir will be deeply disappointed in “Cloistered” because it’s about as far from flash as you can get. Conversely, readers who can love the reflective aspect of this book will not want to miss it.

Women’s History Books for Adults

c.2024, various publishers $24.99 - $30.00 various page counts

George Washington was the father of our country.

Bill Gates co-established Microsoft. Thomas Edison improved the light bulb. Stephen King created Cujo. Walt Whitman wrote poetry, Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, and Bass Reeves brought bandits to justice.

Notice one thing there? Those are all men, so why not flip the coin? Read these great books about women in American history... A generation of us grew up with television doctors who were all men, but in “The Doctor Was a Woman” by Chris Enss (Two Dot, $26.95), you’ll see how Hollywood missed the mark and that women wore white coats, too. Read about a women physician who worked for the railroad, one who left her home in South Dakota to tend to farmers and their families on the prairie, a ground-breaking plastic surgeon, a female dentist in the late 1800s, and several woman doctors who worked during times of pandemic. You’ll love these hidden stories that aren’t hidden anymore. Study any “woman’s” magazine from the 1950s, and you’ll see plenty of ads targeted expressly to homemakers. In “Housewife: Why Women Still Do It All and What to Do Instead” (Legacy Lit, $30.00), author Lisa Selin Davis looks at why “homemaking” is still mostly women’s work today, even if the woman of the house is the breadwinner in a two-adult household. This is a wide and widely interesting look that, most importantly, doesn’t denigrate homemakers. Instead, this book leaves women – and men – with ways to find their own comfortable (and equal) choices.

No women’s history book would be complete without considering our First Ladies, and in “American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden (Crown, $30.00), author Katie Rogers writes about how our most modern First Ladies have molded the role from one of quiet helpmate to one of activism and personal platforms. Though its focus is more contemporary, the book is overall a sweeping look at Presidential wives: Rogers reaches back into history for comparison and reality-check, making this a book that will delight historians and political animals alike.

And finally, if you like a little salt with your history, look for “Unbecoming a Lady” by Therese Oneill (Simon Element, $24.99). Despite what you might think, yesterday’s women didn’t always behave. Many of them were not quiet or demure or shy at all, and their place was definitely not always in the home. In this book, you’ll meet some of history’s loudest, most audacious women, the bravest, the and the ones who saw something they didn’t like and fixed it: inventor Lilian Gilbreth, Civil War doctor Mary Edwards Walker, wrongly hospitalized Elizabeth Packard, visionary Ellen G. White, Alaska millionaire Reindeer Mary Antisarlook, sideshow “fat lady” Celesta Geyer, miser Hetty Green, and others who did what they needed, or simply wanted to do!

If these books aren’t enough – because you know you’ll want more – check with your favorite librarian or bookseller. They’ve got all kinds of books to help you see that history is just as often HERstory.

Acting FunforLittleOnes:

4/20,4/27,5/4,5/11,5/18 10:00am-11:30am.

ForAges4-7,Tuition$75. Thisclassisdesignedtointroduce kidsages4-7totheworldoftheater. We’llplayavarietyofactinggames toexploreimaginationandcharacter. Mostimportantlywe’llhavelotsoffun! Classcanberepeated.Scholarshipsare available.Instructor:LauraVelishek. *Thisactivityismadepossiblebythe votersofMinnesotathroughagrantfrom theSoutheasternMinnesotaArtsCouncil thankstoalegislativeappropriationfrom theartsandculturalheritagefund.*

B2Wins

Galleries

ExhibitiondatesApril8-June1,2024. OpeningreceptionApril12th,5pm-7pm. Carlandergallery – CurtLund,DougClement Vraneshgallery – DanCrombie K&Mgallery – MadeatthePCA Cregergallery – ShattuckSt.Mary’s

ReachingOrpheusWORLDPREMIERE

PresentedbytheParadiseCommunityTheatre

WrittenandDirectedbyDanRathbun

Performances:

April5,6,12,13at7:30PM

April7,14at2PM

Tickets:Member:$16, Non-Member:$18,Student:$12

Anoriginaldramaaboutayoungwomanwho movestoColoradotorestartherlifeaftera tragicloss.Sherediscoversherselfandher innerstrengththroughrockclimbingand unlikelyfriendships.

FunlovingTwinbrotherspresent “Top 40FromtheLast40.” Fourdecades ofthemusicyouknowandlovewith auniquetwist.Thisunforgettable, engagingshowisallagesandfeatures oneofakindrenditionsofeverything fromSinatratoEdSheeran,Louis ArmstrongtoDuaLipa,MichaelJackson toDaftPunk,LeonardCohentoNirvana. Getreadytosing,dance,laughandtake yoursoulonafeelgoodridethroughthe charttoppinghitsofAmericanMusic.

Saturday,April20at7:30pm

Member:$20/Non-Member: $25/Student:$15(18&under)

AnEveningof SomaliSongs

SaturdayApril 27th5pmpre-show activities,performance at7pm.Harbi MohamedKahiyeand theSt.OlafSomali MusicEnsemble.