Opening Shots

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Opening Shot | July 23, 2009

THIS MUD’S FOR YOU.

Reader Letters

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Reader Letters | July 23, 2009

Exposing the blue front ...

Music

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Put Da Duke Wit Da Coconut

quirky songsmiths record album four states apart

The duo cites eclectic mock-rockers Ween as an influence on their refusal to be just one band.

words by Ted Waldbillig

Music

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Wide Plans of a Palindrome

Eau Claire teens release debut album, have really long band name

Adler, Markgraf, and Kuehn are some of the first kids to grow up in the current Eau Claire indie scene.

words by Ian Jacoby

Music

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Blues on the Chippewa

Durand’s blues festival returns with strong local lineup

Do you like the blues? Do you like free activities? Then you will definitely be into the Blues on the Chippewa Music Festival coming to Memorial Park in Durand.

words by Megan Ault

Music

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Ryan Cabrera

Skate America rolls out national-local music combo

Teen heartthrob Ryan Cabrera to be rolling into Skate America.

words by Ted Waldbillig

Features

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Rural Fox | July 23, 2009

words by Leah Rule

Opening Letters

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

All’s Fair in State Fairs

exhibiting for those surly judges at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair

I entered a pillow. It took a year to stitch. It was the only entry in its category. It got a Red Ribbon – second place. The note said, “would look better as a framed picture.”

words by Brenda Brant

Local Look

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

En Garde!

Eau Claire group, Amtgard, relives Medieval battles

On both sides of the clash, all are parrying strikes, making the killing blow, casting spells, or sailing arrows at each other smack dab in the middle of Eau Claire’s Owen Park on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon.

words by Tyler Griggs

Local Look

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Thanks for Asking | July 23, 2009

Adin Randall. What was he like – and how do you pronounce his first name?

Although he was one of our city’s first promoters – and involved in many ventures – Adin never got rich.

words by Frank Smoot

Local Look

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Seeing the Signs

clothing boutique shows downtown a sign of what’s to come

Isabelle & Co. not only leads the way in high-end women’s retail, but now in outdoor signage as well.

words by Heather Mawhiney

Local Look

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Shortcuts | July 23, 2009

College education does not come cheaply, and rumblings about the growing cost of higher learning are not unfounded.

words by V1 Staff

Local Look

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Police Reports | July 23, 2009

Do not assume your neighbor took his kindergarten curriculum about sharing seriously and help yourself to some chicken off his grill.

words by Eric Rasmussen

Local Look

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Locally Produced iPhone App Gives You an Out

David Brier of DBD International in Menomonie developed IsoBusy, a new iPhone application.

Whether you get a call from your daughter making poor decisions on spring break or an awkward call from a restaurant owner upset about your inappropriate behavior last night, each call is a definite excuse to excuse yourself.

words by Gillian Ekern

Stage

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Mary Mack Attack

Last Comic Standing semifinalist coming to town

Mary Mack is coming to town! No, not the one from the rhyme, silly – the Last Comic Standing semifinalist.

words by Bailey Berg

Words

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Parents Pen Book: Ready or Not … They’re Gay

a local couple writes a book about their sons coming out

“We spent eight years seeing people suffer ... because they shielded that piece of them. ... The more involvement we had in that community, the more we saw a need for something like this.”

words by Emily Kuhn

Thinkpieces

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Are We Ready for change?

conservation and efficiency have a place in our energy policy, too

To propose that we as a nation should strive for energy independence, but to tell us we don’t have to change the status quo of how we think about and interact with energy is a disservice ... lip service.

words by Kathy Duffy

Visual Art

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

ARTIST PROFILE: Another Man's Treasure

Roger Adams uses trash for art materials

“It’s my life. And if by doing this I can make people smile, chuckle, get angry, then I’ve done something right.” – Roger Adams

words by Brittany Landorf

Food / Drink

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

School Garden Teaches Sustainability, Eating Local

Designed by Mike Goettl of Sustainable Landscaping, the student garden at Eau Claire’s DeLong Middle School demonstrates the integration of current green culture and education.

words by Brittany Landorf

Food / Drink

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Wine Tasting Helps Fund Community Table Relocation

The Community Table, an organization that serves over 100 hot meals every day to Chippewa Valley residents in need, will host a wine tasting event.

words by Emily Kuhn

Food / Drink

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

The Bar Out Back

Moke’s Bar and Grill in Hallie offers outdoor fun

“It’s not a college bar; not an old person bar; it’s an everyone bar. It’s a place everyone can feel welcome.” – Nate Moquin

words by Bailey Berg

The Rear End

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Twitter Is Not Dumb

most people talking about Twitter don’t seem to get it

The internet has been making masturbatory self-aggrandizing as easy 1-2-3 for over a decade now.

words by Mike Paulus

Recreation

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

It's a Kubb-olution!

US Midwest Kubb Championship tossed into Boyd Park

Over 40 teams, from five different states, will be swarming Boyd Park on August 8 to compete in the 2009 U.S Midwest Kubb Championship.

words by Bailey Berg

Other Stuff

Issue #131 July 23, 2009

Note from the Editor | July 23, 2009

words by Nick Meyer