Big Day Reflections

Chippewa Valley locals offer insight in planning a great wedding

Thu. Jan. 24th, 2019  |  Lauren Fisher, photos by Randy Lee

Without experience in the wedding planning process, it can be overwhelming to muddle through choices from colors to cake flavors.Some details are set in stone from the beginning, but when deciding ...

Chain of Reasoning

Why do we take things that don’t belong to us?

Thu. Jan. 24th, 2019  |  Mike Paulus, design by Taylor McCumber

Back in third or maybe fourth grade, I had a chain. It was about 30 feet long. Small links, maybe one inch each. I went outside and played with it when I got bored ...

Unique Uniformity

the NBA’s foray into creative jersey design inspires ideas for prep hoop teams

Thu. Jan. 24th, 2019  |  Luc Anthony

If you have caught part of a Bucks or Timberwolves game over the past year-plus – or even just some highlights – you may have come away a bit confused. Home teams wearing colored uniforms and road teams in white ...

After Ex-Smash Mouth Singer’s Concert Got Cancelled, a Local Shrek-Themed Pub Crawl Will Happen Anyway

Thu. Jan. 24th, 2019  |  Emilee Wentland

A night of costumes, drinking and mingling among new friends and old is just on the horizon in downtown Eau Claire. The upcoming “Get Shrekked” bar crawl, which started out as a bit of a joke, is sure to be an evening of “outright, unabashed silliness,” as Clear Water Comedy member ...

Are You Ready for Best Night?

celebrating the Valley’s best for one night only

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Lauren Fisher, photos by Andrea Paulseth

The second annual Best Night celebration of all things that make the Chippewa Valley super duper cool will take place Feb. 9. Guests will enter via the red carpet or cut straight through to the vinyl stylings ...

To Market, to Market, Through Cold and Snow We Go!

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Lauren Fisher

There’s no reason for winter to slow down your investment in local farmers and makers. If you were a loyal farmers market attendee ...

The Art of Slow Cooking

Karl’s Bar-B-Q Express gives catering success a Chippewa Falls home

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Diana Peterson, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Karl Hartkemeyer isn’t just a barbecue chef; he’s a barbecue artist. While attending school for engineering, he became a restaurant cook to pay for his schooling. Hartkemeyer honed his culinary skills ...

Strength Rings True: Menomonie jeweler follows principles to finished pieces

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Lauren Fisher, photos by Timothy Mather

Robert Giede wears two rings when he isn’t at his work bench. On his right hand ring finger is a rust-red and orange fire agate nearly the size of his fingernail, mounted adjacent to a small white diamond on a yellow gold band ...

EllieMay Kay Benefit Gig

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Measha Vieth

Nashville country artist EllieMay Kay is coming back to her roots for a Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity benefit concert. Known for her true country style with a mix of 70s classic rock instruments ...

Opening Davey J’s Garage

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Emilee Wentland

Spontaneity commonly sparks quirky haircuts, weekend getaways, and – in the case of UW-Eau Claire English Professor David Jones – a creative space for original, independent music. After his lease ...

Rallying for the Valley

more than 100 Chippewa Valley residents will bend lawmakers’ ears on Jan. 30

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Tom Giffey

More than 100 Chippewa Valley residents will caravan to the state Capitol on Jan. 30 as part of the 25th annual Chippewa Valley Rally, a unique gathering that offers an opportunity to speak directly ...

Chippewa Falls Women Places Near Top in ‘Fairest’ Bid

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Tom Giffey

Chippewa Falls native Molly McIlquham was selected as second runner-up in the recent competition to become Wisconsin’s newest Fairest of the Fairs ...

Still Tangled After All These Years

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Tom Giffey

Back in 2009, Jamie Kyser and Erin Klaus opened a downtown art collective called Tangled Up in Hue, a communal space where members of the Valley’s burgeoning artistic scene – from potters to painters ...

Educational Events Mark Ager’s 150th

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Barbara Arnold

Two February presentations at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library will discuss immigrant identity as part of the 150th birthday of Waldemar Ager. A Norwegian immigrant, Ager moved from Chicago ...

Wheel of Misfortune

tripping her way into the puzzle of retirement

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Jane Linton

Thirteen below zero, with wind chills lower still, as I scrape scraps from the hearty casserole we’ve just eaten into the disposal. The recipe claims it’s just what we need to keep the cold outside ...

On the Cover | Jan. 23, 2019

learn more about this issue's cover art from Andrew Ritchie

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019

“With this piece I wanted to visit the post-apocalyptic literature and art of the 70s & 80s, but put an updated spin on it by changing out the typical characters.”

Opening Shot | Jan. 23, 2019

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  photos by Taylor Smith

EMBERS TO REMEMBER. A bonfire on a frigid day was well-received at the 133rd Silver Mine Invitational ski competition, held Friday and Saturday, January 18 and 19, just outside of Eau Claire. The Silver Mine complex celebrated its 50th anniversary of hosting the event, as locals enjoyed the ski jumpers, food, drink, and more.

A Crawl to Enthrall: 10th annual Banbury Art Crawl on the way

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Breana Good

The Banbury Art Crawl is celebrating its 10th year the weekend of Feb. 8-9 with displays from more than 60 artists. The crawl is organized by co-chairs Christina Geissler and Holly Gums. Geissler is looking forward ...

UWEC Prof Honored on State ‘Black Power’ List

Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019  |  Lauren Fisher

Local historian, community servant, and UW-Eau Claire professor Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton was recently recognized as one of Wisconsin’s most influential black leaders by Madison 365, a publication ...

Spoken Word Showcase Starting Up

Tue. Jan. 22nd, 2019  |  Tori Johnson

A new showcase for those whose talents fall into the category of spoken word is starting soon, and it’s destined for great things. Presented by Clear Water Comedy and hosted at The Plus, Loud Secrets Open Mic will begin on Feb. 4 ...

Working Together: CoLAB will be a cooperative coworking environment

Tue. Jan. 22nd, 2019  |  Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Upon stepping into the open-concept second-floor office in downtown Eau Claire, there’s little indication that this space played a critical role in the growth of one of Eau Claire’s most talked-about companies ...

For Home, for Family: Local woodworker expands with family name

Tue. Jan. 22nd, 2019  |  Haley Wright, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Nick Endle, the craftsman behind Endle Home Goods (formerly Nick’s Wood Shop), is rapidly expanding his local business. Endle, a full-time web developer, started working with wood in 2014 ...

Affordable Housing Slated for Cannery District

plan would create as many as 121 apartments

Tue. Jan. 22nd, 2019  |  Tom Giffey

One component to addressing the Chippewa Valley’s identified shortage of affordable housing may come in the form of a new apartment building in the Cannery District on Eau Claire’s near west side ...

Valley Media Works, EC’s community TV center, aims to buy old fire station

Tue. Jan. 22nd, 2019  |  Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth

The 70-year old masonry block block building on North Hastings Way still looks a lot like what is used to be: a fire station. To Valley Media Works, the organization that operates Eau Claire’s community ...