Culturology Calendar 2-9-12

by Travis Ryder

Thursday, Feb. 9

The Edge Center in Bigfork presents the latest in their Classic Movie Series. It’s the 1976 retelling of the Robin Hood saga, “Robin and Marian,” starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn.  It’s a free show at 6:30.

Larry Yazzie and the Native Pride Dancers perform a free show at the Hobson Union Ballroom at Bemidji State University at 7 p.m. Thursday.  There’s also an interactive workshop on campus with the troupe starting at 9 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Steve Kaul and The Brass Kings perform as part of the Grassroots Concerts series at the Live Well Nightclub in Nisswa.  The show starts at 6:30.

Jazz-fusion guitarist Todd Clouser and his outfit A Love Electric perform shows at the Blue Ox Bar in Brainerd Friday at 8, and Brewed Awakenings coffeehouse in Grand Rapids Saturday at 6.

Weizenegger image courtesy: Crossing Arts Alliance

Saturday, Feb. 11

There’s a reception Saturday for the Peter Weizenegger retrospective at the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd.  It’s from 4 to 7 PM for the exhibition which runs through the end of the month.  Peter died in 2007, and worked primarily as a sculptor with precision, detail and humor as his trademarks. Peter also worked in preparation for the Tweed Museum at UMD.

Northwoods Friends of the Arts have a fundraiser at the Comet Theater in Cook starting at 5:30.  The movie “War Horse” will be shown as part of the fundraiser.

The Mesabi Community Orchestra presents two concerts this weekend featuring pianist Alexander Sandor.  Performances are Saturday at 7 at Virginia High School’s Goodman Auditorium, and Sunday at 2:30 at Washington Auditorium in Ely.  Works from Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff are on the program.

Central Lakes College presents its production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” starting this weekend.  Performances are Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2, then next Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30, and another Sunday matinee at 2.  The show will be presented in-the-round at CLC’s Dryden Theatre in Brainerd.

Jason Petty performs a tribute to Hank Williams and other honky-tonk heroes at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids, starting at 7:30 Saturday.

Sunday, Feb. 12

Bemidji Symphony Orchestra presents the concert “History Meets Music.”  Historical re-enactor Clay Jenkinson portrays American physicist Robert Oppenheimer.  The Symphony plays chamber music connected to Oppenheimer’s times.  The show begins in the Bemidji High School auditorium at 3.  Jenkinson will be on hand at Book World for a signing at 2:00 Saturday, and a free lecture Saturday night at 7 in the Thompson Recital Hall on the BSU campus.

Monday, Feb. 13

A faculty and staff show at Bemidji State’s Ramsey Gallery opens Monday.  It’s called Midwinter Interlude, and the open house reception runs from 2 to 6.  The show is up until March 9.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Author David Treuer appears at the Bemidji Public Library to talk about his new book “Rez Life.”  The chat starts at noon Tuesday.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

Your antique or collectible item can get a free verbal appraisal Wednesday at the Duluth Depot heritage and arts center.  The St. Louis County Historical Society has arranged for appraisers Dan Sershon and Denny Mager to be available from noon until 3 in the rotunda.

MN HISTORY DATEBOOK

February 10, 1763 Minnesota east of the Mississippi becomes British territory as France transfers the land.  It was part of the treaty ending the French and Indian War.

February 7, 1867 Laura Ingalls (Wilder) is born near Pepin, Wisconsin. Her family would settle in Walnut Grove, Redwood County, from 1874 to 1880 (living briefly in Iowa for the year 1876–77). She is remembered for writing the Little House on the Prairie books, which chronicle her family's experiences as pioneers.

February 9, 1895 The University of Minnesota's School of Agriculture defeats Hamline University 9 to 3 in the world's first intercollegiate basketball game, played on the Hamline campus by nine-man teams, who shot the ball into peach baskets without backboards.

February, 1996 Extreme wind chills on the 6^th cause Governor Arne Carlson to order all schools closed.  The kids go outside and play anyway.  On the 10^th, a blizzard occurs over the entire state. 15 inches of snow fall on Duluth.  Governor Arne Carlson again closes all schools. 

Culturology Calendar 2-2-12

by Travis Ryder

Thursday through Monday

Crosslake Winterfest offers a big list of activities through Saturday.

Ruby Lips Above The Water is an original play showing at the Wild Rose Theater in downtown Bemidji, 7:30 Thursday through Saturday and Monday, and 2:00 Sunday.

Friday, Feb. 3

First Friday art and performance events run rampant in Grand Rapids and Bemidji.

The percussive dance and theater company Joe Chvala & the Flying Foot Forum will perform at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids Friday night.

Vocal trio Bluebird will perform starting at 7 at the Cabin Coffeehouse in Bemidji.

Saturday, Feb. 4

The Laskiainen sledding and Finnish heritage celebration happens at the Loon Lake Community Center south of Aurora.

Logging day at the Buena Vista ski area, in Bemidji. Starting at 8:30, it’s horse-drawn sleigh rides, live music, all-you-can-eat flapjack meals, lumberjack history & horse-assisted logging demonstrations.

Scorpion Snowmobile homecoming event in Crosby, starting at noon on the ice.  These machines were built on the Cuyuna Range in the '60s and '70s.

The One-Lunger 100 vintage snowmobile race is happening at Craguns Resort in Brainerd.

The art work of nine Hibbing Community College students who are completing the Fine Arts Program will be presented at the First Stage Gallery in Virginia.  The show will open with an Artist's Reception on Saturday, February 4th from noon until 2:30.  The show will run throughout the month of February.  Participants are: Becca Arnold-Sauer, Kelle Nenadich, Kourtney Kruger, Russel James, Lynn Johnson, Kathleen Rumler, Sandra Koch, Brianna Shober, and Gina Wheatman.  Students have completed studio art classes in painting, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, art history and design and the show will be representative of works created in these classes.  

Classic Cuban music from the Nachito Herrera Trio will flow at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids starting at 7:30.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

A national touring company will present Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at CLC-Brainerd, 7:30 p..m.

Minnesota History Datebook

Feb. 4, 1803 The Reverend William Boutwell is born in New Hampshire. In 1832 he went with Henry Schoolcraft on the trip that confirmed Lake Itasca as the source of the Mississippi River. Boutwell supplied the Latin words from which Schoolcraft named the lake (veritas, true, and caput, head).

Jan. 30, 1867 Ralph Waldo Emerson lectures in Winona at the courthouse. Sponsored by local library associations, Emerson's tour of the Midwest also includes stops in Faribault, St. Paul, and Minneapolis.

Feb. 2, 1996 Minnesota's coldest temperature is recorded at Tower, a minimum extreme of 60 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) that bests by one degree the previous scientifically measured low established in 1899.

Culturology Calendar 1-13

by Travis Ryder

Friday, Jan. 13

A tasting and investment solicitation event for an upstart brewery is on the slate for Friday night.  Bemidji Brewing is gathering momentum to build a microbrewery in that city.  New Year, New Beer is the title for the event, held from 6 to 10 at the Keg n' Cork downtown.

Saturday, Jan. 14

First Stage Gallery in downtown Virginia welcomes pointillism artist Rob Christensen.  His work is on display there now, and he’s in town for an artist’s reception Saturday from noon to 2:30.  He’ll will demonstrate the pen and ink process of creating detailed images comprised of single dots of ink.

Sunday, Jan. 15

Winter Under Ice is the event at Lake Bemidji State Park that exposes the effects and activity under the ice covered world of Lake Bemidji. A vehicle permit is required to enter the park, otherwise free from 2 to 3:30.

At 2:30, cellist Josh Aerie and Pianist Samuel Black will be at The Edge Center in Bigfork for a special concert. They are active in the Arrowhead area music activities including chamber music performances tailored to take the chill out of a January Sunday afternoon.

Monday, Jan. 16

The Great Decisions Discussion Group will kick off its spring schedule with a free session open to the public on Monday at 1, at the Heartwood Senior Living Center in Crosby.  Thomas Hanson returns for the 4th year to present a well-informed analysis of  Middle East uprisings known as the “Arab Spring”.  He will discuss U.S. foreign policy and global implications and share his perceptions of current challenges.   Hanson, now retired and a consultant, has had many assignments with the U.S. State Department in countries such as East Germany, France, Norway, Soviet Union, Sweden, Mongolia and Estonia.  Hanson also appears in Baxter at the Lord of Life Church on Tuesday.

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Bluegrass duo Dailey and Vincent appear at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids Tuesday night.  They lit up the bluegrass scene in 2008, taking their debut, self-titled album to #1 on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass chart. They collected seven awards at the International Bluegrass Music Awards, including Entertainer and Emerging Artist of the year – an unprecedented feat. Together they make breathtaking music, seamlessly connecting country music's roots to its future in exhilarating, full-throttle bluegrass.  The show starts at 7:30.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

The Enough for All campaign comes to Itasca County next week.  On Wednesday at 6,  the Reif Center hosts a performance illustrating Members of Circles of Support and their experience of living in poverty.    After the performance, at 7:15, there’s a reception at the MacRostie Art Center  for the “Enough for All” art exhibit.

Minnesota History Datebook

Jan. 10, 1925 "The Arrowhead" is selected as the official moniker for northeastern Minnesota, the result of a nationwide contest sponsored by the Northeastern Minnesota Civic and Commerce Association of Duluth.

Jan. 8, 1934 During the Great Depression, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a Minnesota mortgage moratorium law, a decision that state Attorney General Harry H. Peterson applauds as a "victory for the people of Minnesota that will enable many farmers and city dwellers to hold onto their homes until good times return."

Jan. 13, 1944 The cruiser Duluth is launched in Newport News, Virginia, christened by Ella T. Hatch, wife of Duluth mayor Edward H. Hatch. In May 1945 the ship becomes part of the U.S. fleet in World War II.

Jan. 8, 1971 President Richard Nixon signs a law creating Voyageurs National Park. The measure was supported by former governor Elmer Andersen as well as famed aviator and politician Charles Lindbergh.

Jan. 13, 1982 Nature writer and environmentalist Sigurd Olson dies in Ely. Born in Chicago in 1899, Olson served as a canoe guide in the boundary waters region and was active in environmental issues beginning in the 1920s, playing a prominent role in the battle for federal protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and serving as president of the Wilderness Society.

4 New Ways to Eat Frozen Green Beans

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by Maggie Montgomery
Eating locally—even about 75% locally, as we do now—means that in winter we eat a lot of frozen garden veggies. This week, my husband Dennis came upstairs after a trip to the basement freezer and said, “You know, there are a LOT of beans down there.”

I felt a little guilty. Growing green beans is mostly a “snap,” even in northern Minnesota. I plant several kinds every summer—Italian beans, Tendergreen, Contender, Jade, Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder and more. There are big, flat beans, yellow wax beans, bush beans and pole beans. Different varieties mature at different times, and I plant rows of the same variety weeks apart to assure an unending supply until frost. Dennis thinks it’s overkill, but I insist, saying “They are all different.”

It’s a pleasure to eat fresh beans in the summer. I also pickle some of the choice, young ones as dilly beans, and some years I put up a couple loads in the pressure canner. But we most often freeze the surplus because it’s easy.

When it’s time to eat the frozen beans, I cook them one way: steam them in salted water and serve them with butter on top. “There you go, Dennis,” I say, “Beans.”

On this Wednesday’s Morning Show on KAXE, I asked for some help with our frozen bean supply, and listeners sympathetically responded with some suggestions. I’m posting the recipes here in case you have plenty of beans too!

RECIPE 1:
Ken and Pam from Brainerd suggested a green bean shepherd’s pie: “We are just finishing up a really nice bean dish that Pam prepared recently. It is basically a Sheppard’s Pie with adzuki beans used instead of meat and a layer of green beans between the adzuki beans and the mashed potatoes. We thought it would be a very nice veggie start to the New Year. And a great way to use green beans!”

RECIPE 2:
Robert from Bemidji said: “Stir fry some beans in about 2 tablespoons of any type of oil that can hold up to high heat, and mix that with about 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, until they are as tender as you like. Drizzle with Tamari soy sauce, then put the lid on for a few minutes. It’s simple and delicious!”

RECIPE 3:
Julie from Cook suggested a cold or lukewarm green bean salad: Steam some beans. Cool them in water. Add crumbled feta, chopped red onion, chopped fresh (or frozen) dill, and your favorite Italian dressing.

RECIPE 4:
Ross emailed an Indian recipe: Bihari Green Beans Marsala, from Julie Sahni:

2 T oil
2 T sliced almonds
½ c. finely chopped onion
3 large  cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 t ground cumin
1 t ground coriander
1 t sweet paprika
½ t red chili pepper flakes
¾ t kosher salt
¾ cup coconut milk
¾ # green beans in 1” pieces
1 t lime juice
2 T chopped cilantro

1. Heat oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Cook almonds, stirring, until golden. Remove the almonds from the oil and set aside.
2. Add onion, garlic and spices to the saute pan and return to heat. Saute until the onion is tender and begins to fry, about 4 minutes
3. Add coconut milk and beans. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook, covered, until the beans are tender, about 6 minutes
4. Sprinkle beans with lime juice and toss lightly. Transfer to a warmed serving dish and garnish with almonds and cilantro. Can be serve with rice or roti flatbread if desired.

Culturology Calendar 1-9

by Travis Ryder

Ongoing exhibitions:

Wildlife and architectural landmark artist Rob Christensen's pointillism (stipple) art is on display at the Lyric Center for the Arts First Stage Gallery in downtown Virginia.  The Artist's Reception is coming Saturday, January 14th from noon to 2:30.  Christensen will demonstrate the pen and ink process of creating detailed images comprised of single dots of ink.  

At the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin: the Head & Tails Exhibit is showing through February 18.  This juried exhibition showcases multi-media interpretations of art that contains a head or a tail in the composition.

MacRostie Art Center's January exhibitions are In Search of Enough, a traveling exhibition of Minnesota artists’ response to the issues of poverty and Seven by Seven, paintings of landscapes by Lisa Stauffer.  These are on display at the center in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

Tuesday, January 10

“Tango, Anyone?” at the Heartwood Senior Living Center, Crosby. 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Tango is a unique dance originating in Argentina and Uruguay in late 19th century.  Enthusiasts now circle the globe from South America to North America, Europe and Finland where unique local adaptations continue to shape this complex dance.  Unlimited Learning presents two talented dance instructors, who will lead a lively discussion of the dance, the music and the poetry of the Tango. They will conclude with a demonstration and an opportunity to experience the dance.  Workshop leaders are Peter Truran, Ph.D., dancer and visiting scholar at the University of Minnesota, and Sylvia Horwitz, MSW, photographer, and human rights activist.  This class is part of Unlimited Learning’s schedule and the cost is included for members, the cost is $6.00 for non-members.  

Minnesota author and outdoor enthusiast Mary Shideler, better known as “Mary, The Kayak Lady,” make a presentation January 10 at the Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.  This is the first in a series of presentations, seminars and programming from The Center For Lifelong Learning at CLC and is designed for Lakes Area residents aged 50 and better. A book signing will follow Mary's presentation. Cost to attend is $10.

Wednesday, January 11

Monty Python's "Spamalot," a musical adapted from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, is at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids this Wednesday night starting at 7:30.