MUSIC IN OUR DAILY LIFE. Chicago Mag has featured the city of Eau Claire in its “Destination Wisconsin” series, promoting it as a leading location for a weekend getaway. We locals know it to be true: here in Eau Claire, you really can find “great food, gorgeous trails, and — no surprise — a thriving live music scene.” (Eaux Claires Music Festival in 2018, pictured above; Photo by Branden Nall)

Our hometown of Eau Claire has once again received attention from fellow Midwest news and culture outlets – just across state lines. Chicago Mag has featured the city in its new “Destination Wisconsin” series, recommending it as a prime location for a weekend getaway.

Locals already know it to be true: here in town, you really can find “great food, gorgeous trails, and — no surprise — a thriving live music scene,” Kelly Aiglon of Chicago Mag writes.

As Eau Claire continues to evolve and grow, Aiglon made sure to highlight longtime staples throughout the Valley in this write up: outdoor rec adventures along the Chippewa River State Trail – with the help of Eau Claire Outdoors rentals – or an overnight stay at The Oxbow Hotel (516 Galloway St., Eau Claire), bites to eat with a view at The Informalist (205 S Barstow St., Eau Claire) or Together Farms (W93 Norden Rd, Mondovi) and much more.

For a drink, whether for a cup of coffee or a late night pitcher of beer, visitors are encouraged to stop by SHIFT (615 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) and, of course, The Joynt (322 Water St., Eau Claire).

The Oxbow Hotel in downtown Eau Claire, pictured above.

Big Falls County Park, pictured above.

It wouldn’t be a spotlight on Eau Claire without mention of its music scene. Chicago Mag notes the anticipated return of the Eaux Claires Music Festival – along with the annual Americana and bluegrass Blue Ox Music Festival – as locals prepare for a summer filled with rock-and-roll, bluegrass, jazz, ambient and pop music.

Take it from Staš Hable, the area drummer of Them Coulee Boys, a true Chippewa Valley staple in the music scene. He offers Chicagoans and other readers an intimate glimpse into the daily experience of a tried and true Eau Claire resident.

"My Perfect Day" Staš Hable,
drummer of Them Coulee Boys

Stas Hable, pictured above. (Photo by Measha Vieth)

“For me, the perfect day in Eau Clair is spent around food, music, and nature. It starts at SHIFT, which uses two of the best coffee roasters in Wisconsin: Wonderstate and Ruby. Or maybe I’ll stop by The Nucleus for some breakfast. For lunch, I’m getting a De Niro at the sandwich shop Jay Ray’s. I’m also swinging by the Menomonie Market Food Co-op and our two excellent record stores, Revival Records and Abraxas. If it’s spring, I’m running or biking the extensive trail system, like Putnam or Chippewa River State Trail; if it’s summer, I’m having a beach day at Altoona Lake or Big Falls County Park or floating down the Chippewa River.

“For dinner, I don’t think there’s any restaurant in Eau Claire more innovative than The Good Wives. And you gotta get a drink at The Joynt, a bar that gets rediscovered by every generation of artists and feels like it hasn’t changed its aesthetic or prices since the ’70s. Finally, I’m going to see some music, maybe at a small venue like 2 Roots Art & Wine Gallery, where you’ll hear people experimenting with new sounds.”

Read the complete Chicago Mag article online to learn more.