Note from the Editor | June 6, 2013

I love trees. A lot. Even though I knew it was inevitable, it was devastating to see all the mature ash trees along South Barstow Street come down on the first day of construction. It just looks super weird down there now, and startlingly so. All the buildings fully ...

Hot Times in Cinder City

kick off summer right with Altoona’s annual fun fest

The Seven Years’ War

epic amount of time went into WWII battle game

Note from the Editor | May 23, 2013

Note from the Editor | May 9, 2013

World Belly Dance Day

come down and shimmy it up at this annual celebration

A Blast in The Past

Chippewa Falls event revives fur trade, lumbering eras

Steps Toward Reading

walk from UW-Stout to St. Paul aids Books For Africa

Questioning the Locals | Mike Rindo

get to know your neighbors

Note from the Editor | Mar 28, 2013

Nobody cares about somebody else’s vacation. Well, sorry, because I can’t seem to stop myself from talking about my vacation. My real vacation. I say “real” because I haven’t been anywhere outside ...

About the Pillow Fight...

Our stewardship of the annual April Fools’ Day celebration draws to a close, but can the ‘will of the people’ keep the five minutes of feathery fury alive?

Excuse My French

SNL and 30 Rock star rolls into the State Theatre

Note from the Editor | Feb. 28, 2013

At V1, this past year has been one where everything needed to get figured out all over again. It’s like when you move into a new house or apartment – you have to determine which closets and drawers will hold what and how it all flows, etc. Or when...

Happy 141st, Eau Claire!

you’re invited to a birthday bash for our fair city featuring music, improv, poetry, film, bingo, and cake

Note from the Editor | Feb. 14, 2013

Last week Volume One held it’s first Contributor Hangout/Meeting in quite sometime. About 25 writers, photographers, and V1 staff of all ages gathered in the Volume One Gallery to chow some pizza and imbibe some beer, all the while talking about ...

Isabelle Goes Online

Isabelle & Co. has moved out of their spot in the mall that they have occupied since 2011 and will be operating in a bit of different space for the near future: online and in the form of a pop-up shop. An announcement on the Isabelle & Co. ...

Status Updates

Go Social Experts offers social media management

Note from the Editor | Jan. 17, 2013

We recently started a new thing at the Volume One office for 2013. It’s called TED Talk Tuesdays. The first Tuesday of the month, late in the day, our staff gathers in the V1 Gallery to have a beer and watch a “TED Talk” or a similarly interesting...

Thanks for Asking | Dec. 27, 2012

our local Jack-of-all-Facts tells you how it is

Note from the Editor | Dec. 27, 2012

Now that our first holiday season in the new Local Store is nearly complete, we want to thank everyone who came to shop or to one of the many events we held throughout November and December. We had some really great days and nights filled with ...

Shops Are Popping

downtown EC pop-up shop Pilar Fashions of California

Note from the Editor | Dec. 13, 2012

You’ll notice in the opening letter for this issue that we’ve added a new voice to the staff of Volume One. As of this week, we’re excited to welcome Tom Giffey to our staff of editors. While he’s new to our pages, there are a number of ways ...

Note from the Editor | Nov. 29, 2012

The staff at Volume One and The Local Store wanted to give a huge thanks to the hundreds of you who came out to support the store not only on Small Business Saturday (November 24th) but the whole “Black Friday” weekend in general. We were busy all...

Note from the Editor | Nov. 15, 2012

Whether you’re ready for it or not, it’s with this issue we officially declare it the Holiday Season in the Chippewa Valley. Tucked inside the latest issue you should have found our annual Holiday Handbook packed with info on ways ...

Note from the Editor | Nov. 1, 2012

It’s cool to watch little sub-scenes of the local cultural landscape develop. Not all of them last – like the most recent (and short) rise and fall of cut-n-paste zines in the early 2000s (certainly caving to the ease of blogging), or the poetry ...

Finding Happiness

world renowned Buddhist teacher coming to Dunn County

Note from the Editor | Oct. 18, 2012

It is with a heavy (fake-blood-covered) heart that I report Volume One will not be hosting our famed “Tunnel of Terror” during this year’s downtown trick or treating event (Wednesday, Oct 31 from 3-5pm). The obvious reason for this is that we’re ...

Attack of the Zombie Crawl

undead come shambling back for year two of ghoulish fun

Note from the Editor | Oct. 4, 2012

Every year this thing seems to get bigger – more categories, more votes, and more fun. It’s the results of the Volume One Best of the Valley Reader Poll! You’ll notice this issue looks a little different than usual. That’s because we’ve ditched ...

Lederhosen Ahoy!

annual Oktoberfest mania returns to Chippewa Falls

Flexing Our Mussels

one of the region’s rarest, most fascinating residents

Catherine Emmanuelle Named Newest City Council Woman

A seat lay open in the Eau Claire City Council that needed to be filled. Catherine Emmanuelle, an activist hailing from Oakland, California, will fill that space. She graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Women’s ...

Thanks for Asking | Sept. 20, 2012

our local Jack-of-all-Facts tells you how it is

Rethinking or Rivers: River Stats!

a numeric look at our local rivers, waterways, and beyond

Field of Honor

flag-filled event to honor fallen soldiers

Downtown's Fall Festivities

downtown EC’s biggest festival returns with new traditions

Note from the Editor | Sept. 6, 2012

We just set up a pretty swank little coffee/tea station in our kitchen at the V1 office. I’ve never been a coffee drinker myself. I think I tried it once when I was twelve and never had the desire to try it again. But now that we’ve put in this ...

Note from the Editor | Aug. 23, 2012

This past weekend must have been an eight-year-old boy’s dream. With both Big Rigs and Barnstormers making their way around Eau Claire at the same time, the excitement of flashy paint jobs and big engines was a little contagious to even an ...

Year Five for Farm City Day

Elk Mound's festival celebrating farming community

Thirty Years in the Pines

local community festival celebrates big anniversary

Coming in for a Landing

aviation show makes pit stop at Chippewa Valley airport

Note from the Editor | Aug. 9, 2012

So as it is in many places across the country, it’s construction season in Eau Claire. I likely don’t have to tell you this – there’s a significant chance one of your routes to and from home has some sort of detour going on right now. It’s as much...

Note from the Editor | July 12, 2012

OK, here it is. My final mention of Volume One’s big move, new gallery, store re-opening, and all that. You’ve been patient while following our progress, and this issue can officially mark the end of me going on and on about where we’re at on it ...

Party at the Pio

party and frolf tournament to benefit local disc golf scene

Country or Rock?

dueling mega concerts span Def Leppard to Trace Adkins

Community Conversation

Trains, Trains and Automobiles

an outdoor train festival to steam up Phoenix Park

Note from the Editor | June 28, 2012

I’d like to recommend to you an often over-looked entertainment option as you plan your evenings and weekends going forward: The Art Reception. Even if you’re not “into art,” stick with me for a minute. Let me start with this: free food. Yes, art ...

Where in Eau Claire?

scavenger hunt to benefit the Family Resource Center

Grass on the Chippewa

Durand Bluegrass Festival returns for year three

Note from the Editor | June 14, 2012

Settling into a new space – whether it’s your apartment, home, or office – can be both an exciting and exhausting task. And both are true in the case of the V1 staff moving into our new spot at 205 N. Dewey. We’re all moved in now, but ...

Mysterious Menomonie

local paranormal investigator takes on Menomonie

A Symphony of Flowers

Chippewa Valley Symphony takes you back to the gardens

Harvest Some Farm Fun

Farm Artisan and Fiber Festival comes to Whitehall

Parade of Homes

Now let me say up front so it doesn’t get your hopes up: A parade of homes doesn’t mean the homes are coming to you. But, don’t worry, it’s still really cool.

Note from the Editor | May 31, 2012

Saying Goodbye. And hello.

Wisconsin Museum Week

Between May 13 and May 20, a great holiday comes to Wisconsin: Wisconsin Museums Week. Our own Chippewa Valley Museum will be celebrating with buy one, get one free admission on May 19 and 20 and scavenger hunts all through the week. And, as just ...

The Really Free Market

no money, no bartering at a local free market event

Note from the Editor | May 17, 2012

"I just wanted to make a couple of announcements related to Volume One’s many summer events. You’ll see in this issue we’re announcing the sizable line-up for the 7th season of the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. With the weather so nice for ... "

Playing Through

exhibit showcases history of African American baseball

Pollinators Assemble!

Partnerships for Pollinators is a new community organization comprised of organizations such as UWEC, Eau Claire Area Master Gardeners, Beaver Creek Reserve and Citizen Science Center, and the Girl Scouts. Their goal is to build a ...

Note from the Editor | May 3, 2012

"I love the springtime burst of energy this town seems to have each year – downtown in particular. It seems if you get even a mildly nice day, people pour onto the sidewalks and trails – whether they’re on bikes, boards, blades, or simply on ... "

Bee Artists & Thorny Singers

activist art groups create as they educate on major issues

The Great Wis. Geek-Together

NoBrandCon bring new levels of anime awesomeness

Note from the Editor | April 19, 2012

"Well we had a great couple of weeks, and we want to thank the many people and organizations that reached out to congratulate us on our 10-year anniversary, special issue, and upcoming move. The warm fuzzies were abundant for our staff as we ... "

How Sports Affects Politics and Vice-Versa

To this point I think the bridge between sports and politics existed somewhere in Minnesota when Jesse Ventura became governor. But sportswriter Dave Zirin will be bringing the next chapter in a talk at UW-Eau Claire’s Forum Series ...

Folk Studies

new UW-Eau Claire course explores roots of folk rock

Note from the Editor | Mar. 22, 2012

"If this keeps up it will be 85 degrees and sunny for our annual April Fools’ Day Pillow Fight on Sunday, April 1. The first day of April is an iffy time to hold an outdoor event – even if it only lasts all of about 15 minutes. We’ve seen snow ..."

Note from the Editor | Mar. 8, 2012

We were excited last week to hear the name of The Local Store announced at the annual Downtown Eau Claire Awards Banquet as the 2011 Retailer of the Year. Organized by Downtown Eau Claire, Inc (DECI) and held each year at Houligans, the event ...

Buying into Organic

Chippewa group has been doing it since before it was cool

Note from the Editor | Feb. 23, 2012

There’s a lot going on at the Volume One office these days, so I’m gonna talk shop a little bit here. The most immediate things are some positive changes to our team. After working our way through nearly 110 applications, we just finished up the ...

Rural Fox | Feb. 9, 2012

Winter Sustainability

festival offers green vendors, dinner, and ... square dancing

Note from the Editor | Jan. 26, 2012

We don’t have TV at our house. But before you groan and roll your eyes like I’m pretending I’m better than you for not watching television or something, let me explain. We don’t have a TV – the actual traditional box that shows you the pictures...

Rural Fox | Jan. 12, 2012

Eau Claire Remembers Martin Luther King Jr.

Just in time for the holiday of its namesake is the community-wide Martin Luther King Remembrance, a one night only celebration hosted by community organizations and businesses. The event will include both youth and adult community members ...

Note from the Editor | Jan. 12, 2012

Well I think it’s safe to say this has been kind of a lame winter so far. While I enjoy NOT shoveling and slipping and scraping as much as the next guy, I’m of the general opinion that if we’re going to have winter we might as well have snow and ...

Local Conservation Group Raising Awareness

Let’s face it: Eau Claire is beautiful. And there’s one non-profit group working to keep it that way and help it live up to it’s Clear Water name – River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D). The group was previously ...

Note from the Editor | Dec. 22, 2011

OK so I guess I’ll spill the beans for all you baby fans out there. On December 3rd my wife and I had our first child, Edwin Einar Meyer, and as you might imagine we’re big fans of the little guy. His middle name, pronounced “Eye-ner” was my ...

Note from the Editor | Dec. 8, 2011

I got the snow blower out of storage this week. Tonight (Nov. 30) I’ll see if I can get it started – then I’ll feel “ready.” Hopefully our season won’t kick off the way it did last year, but either way, it’s coming.

Targeting Cancer

event to explore treating cancer through nutrition

Note from the Editor | Nov. 24, 2011

Even if you didn’t know Kris personally, you very well might have known his work. Kris was one of the creators of what I still consider to be one of the coolest art projects in Eau Claire in recent years – Bringing Art to Light.

Rural Fox | Nov. 10, 2011

Note from the Editor | Nov. 10, 2011

There are a couple of things you may notice about this issue of Volume One. One you can’t miss: it’s a big ol’ holiday catalog for the Local Store (Volume One’s retail shop that just turned one year old!).

Acclaimed Mover & Shaker to Speak on Social Change

One of the 25 inaugural members of the White House Council for Community Solutions, social architect and visionary, Bill Strickland, is scheduled to speak as part of the UWEC Forum Series in November.

Note from the Editor | Oct. 27, 2011

Right now the Volume One staff is trying to decide if we can pull off another “Tunnel of Terror” outside our office during this year’s Downtown Trick or Treating event on Friday, October 28. This is where our entire staff spends most of the day...

Rural Fox | Oct. 13, 2011

Note from the Editor | Oct. 13, 2011

For some reason this fall in particular I’ve been especially struck by the beauty of my neighborhood. I live on the Eastside Hill with my wife and dog.

Note from the Editor | Sept. 29, 2011

So here it is: the results of the Volume One Best of the Valley Reader Poll! You’ll notice this issue looks a little different than usual. That’s because we’ve ditched much of the usual content in favor of immortalizing the top three vote getters...

Note from the Editor | Sept. 15, 2011

Is it possible to experience a place in its entirety? Every park, event, restaurant, store, church, and street? Of course that depends on how much time you have and how big of a circle you draw.

Rural Fox | Sept. 1, 2011

EC Comics Hobby Expo - Sept. 17

debut event to focus on comics, models, gaming, and more

Note from the Editor | Sep. 1, 2011

I just hung a plant right in my field of vision from where I sit at my desk. It was previously hanging in the front window of our office, but the word was that it was getting too MUCH sun there.

Rural Fox | Aug. 18, 2011

Note from the Editor | Aug 18, 2011

It rained at Chalkfest. For the third year in a row, right at the climax of the entire event – an event where the only known nemesis is excessive moisture

Rural Fox | Aug. 4, 2011

Eau Claire Big Rig Truck Show

annual big rig fest brings back famous Ice Road Trucker

Learning in Retirement

local organization offers classes on all manner of subjects

Local Company Makes Educational Video Games

Did you know Eau Claire has a game developer helping people to solve real-life problems? Timm Boettcher, president of Realityworks, describes the company as an “experiential learning company.”

The Business of Boudoir

Eau Claire studio captures the local sensuality on film