While we were working to put together this issue of Volume One, I peeked over the shoulder of my colleague, Listings Editor James Johonnott, as he placed the events calendar into the magazine layout on his computer.

I remarked that it looked like the latest crop of listings, which cover an 18-day period beginning April 21, fit pretty well. Our events calendar always ends on a Sunday, and I could see that the space allotted for the calendar was filled through Saturday, which meant that it would only take a bit of adjustment to make it fit perfectly. 

Anyone who has ever done page layout can attest that the process is a bit like Tetris: trying to find the optimum way of fitting a bunch of odd shapes together within the confines of a magazine’s pages while racing the clock. It’s a welcome surprise when the pieces actually fit together well.

Anyone who has ever done page layout can attest that the process is a bit like Tetris: trying to find the optimum way of fitting a bunch of odd shapes together within the confines of a magazine’s pages while racing the clock.

In this case, I had spoken too soon: James told me the Saturday I was looking at – April 30 – was actually in the middle of the calendar period, not the end of it. Which meant that there were maybe a hundred more events to try to fit into the issue. It was time to start shuffling those Tetris pieces around.

In this issue, the calendar starts on page 50 and spreads over 10 pages. In the comparable issue in 2021, events covered only four pages.

“Events are back, baby!” James declared with not-so-mock enthusiasm.

The return of the Chippewa Valley’s event scene didn’t happen all at once, of course. It’s been a two-year process of fits and starts. But seeing events return in large numbers – from open mic nights to bar band gigs to big events like Jazz Fest – is a sign that our community is continuing to recover from the pandemic. Of course, the excitement also means more work for us: More events means more time spent inputting events into our calendar and using our print and online channels to remind the Chippewa Valley about all the cool stuff that’s happening. 

Ultimately, however, that’s why we’re here. A sprawling calendar full of diverse events may take more time for us to prepare and for you to peruse, but it’s the surest sign yet that the Valley is living up to its potential of being an exciting and downright fun place to live.