Events

Join the League of Women Voters Northfield-Cannon Falls on Monday evening, March 15th, from 7 to 9 pm at the Hideaway (421 Division) to find out what's up in local and state politics, and to schmooze with League members and other politically-inclined types, all while enjoying a latte, a glass of wine, or your treat of choice.

At this, our first event in the What's Up series of get-togethers,  President Jessica Peterson White will update us on recent legislative interviews with Rep. David Bly, Rep. Pat Garofolo, and Sen. Kevin Dahle. Find out what priorities they named for the legislative session, and where they stand on League issues such as education funding, health care, and more.

HOPE Rides!

I attended The Vagina Monologues at Carleton College and was inspired to do something. I became aware of the HOPE Center through a student at Carleton. I wanted to act on my inspiration to do something, so I thought helping to raise money for the HOPE Center would be a good thing to do. I had already scheduled an art show at Faribault Harley-Davidson, and so had a platform to work from.

The opening night/artist reception will be a fundraiser for the HOPE Center. I am donating two original works, proceeds from those to go to HOPE. I will also donate half of my sales made that night and half of all sales on my website (orders over $20).

 The Main Street Moravian Church is offering a marriage workshop on Sunday Evenings, 6:30-8 pm at the church beginning Sunday, March 14.    The class will be taught my John and Karen Hiscox, who have attended and taught marriage workshops for the past seven years.  John and Karen will be using the workshop of Matthew Gungor’s “Laughing Your Way to a Better Marriage.”  The workshop is free and will run 6 weeks.  Please call the church to register or for more information (645-7566).  There is no limit to enrollment.  

Everyone, young and old, is invited to attend a special benefit concert honoring Northfielder Sarah Henson on Friday, March 12 at the Grand Event Center in downtown Northfield.

Featuring a line-up of three fantastic local bands, the evening kicks-off at 7 pm with Mark & Alec, followed by Sweet North at 8 pm and Chance Meetings performing at 9 pm. Expect everything from rock, folk, pop, country, bluegrass,  and gospel -- along with some "home-grown originals"!

The mother of four teens -- Zoe, Abe, Max and Sam -- Sarah was diagnosed with an aggressive grade four glialblastoma brain tumor in 2008. Proceeds from this benefit concert will help raise funds for her ongoing medical and living expenses.

Community members are invited to stop by Just Food Co-op at 516 S Water Street on Saturday, March 6 from 11-2 for CSA Day.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms are a unique way for people to receive fresh, locally grown food at a reasonable price every week during the warm months. Ten local CSA farms will be at CSA Day to talk with: you can learn about their farming practices and products available, and have the chance to purchase a farm share for the season.

CSA farmers sell “shares” in their upcoming harvest during the spring, giving them the capital to prepare for the growing season. Then, usually from about June to October, the folks who have purchased shares (usually referred to as CSA members) head to the farm each week to pick up an often bountiful basket of whatever is in season. By purchasing a share, CSA members share in the risks, and the rewards, of the season.

On Friday Lonesome Dan Kase is playing the Tavern Lounge from 7-11 p.m. The Goodsell Observatory at Carleton is having an open house from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Northfield Arts Guild Theater is hosting Meredith Fierke at 8 p.m. The Pause at St. Olaf is holding a 10th Anniversary Improv Show at 9 p.m. Marty Anderson and the Goods are playing the Cow and Froggy Bottoms is hosting Mark Mraz.

The March issue of the Northfield Entertainment Guide is on the street! Pick up a copy at local hotspots or check it out online to stay up to date on what's happening at the local galleries, this month's theater productions, an entire month of happenings, and more. Plus, this issue features articles on locals Meredith Fierke and Charlie Black and includes a schedule and information about Northfield's 2010 St. Patrick's Day Celebration!

Cary J. Griffith's book, Opening Goliath: Danger and Discovery in Caving, is a true story that reads like a novel.

Griffith will talk about his book and the dangers and controversies around people who explore caves (sometimes legally, sometimes not) at the Friends of the Library annual meeting, beginning at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 9 at the library. The event is open to the public.

Griffith’s book has been nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. It describes the fervor with which cavers are driven to explore the subterranean world and the ways in which caving clashes with politics, conservation, and sometimes safety.

"Music of Hungary" is highlighted in the upcoming concert of the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra.  The first concert is set for Sat., March 6, 7 p. m. at the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing while a repeat of this concert will be held at the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault on Sunday, March 7 at 4 p. m.

Under the direction of Dr. Paul Niemisto since 1979, the orchesetra will present a program that includes the Hungarian March by Berlioz, a Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra by Popper featuring St. Olaf cellist Hilary James, the Brahms Hungarian Dances, and Kodaly's Hary Janos Suite.  This is the 30th anniversary year for the orchestra.

For the last year or so, a number of people interested in strengthening our local food system have been meeting to discuss ways to raise awareness of food issues and develop projects to make more local food available. The group, the Northfield Local Food Action Network, maintains an email list for posting food-related information and meets bi-monthly to share ideas and make plans.  Members are farmers, eaters, and people who work with a variety of Northfield organizations and have an interest in food and sustainability.  Meetings are open to everyone and we would love to have lots more people involved!

Theater performances this weekend include: The Deportee's Wife, which is being performed in the Lion's Pause at St. Olaf on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Chicago at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater on Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 and on Sunday at 2, and Angels in America, which is being done in the Arena Theater at Carleton at 8 on Friday and Saturday night.

Also on Friday, Marty Anderson and the Goods are playing The Tavern Lounge from 7-11, and Dime-Store Watch is playing the Cow. Musical Migrations is happening in the Urness Recital Hall at St. Olaf at 7 p.m.

On Saturday the Kidszing Choral Festival is taking place at Bridgewater School at 2:30 p.m. February Frolic is happening at the Northfield Senior Center from 7-10 p.m. The Beguine Brothers are playing the Cow.

Shepherd’s Way Farms is opening its cheesemaking facilities for another cheesemaking class on Sunday, March 14, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Designed for beginners, cheese enthusiasts, or those who just want a peek inside, the Inside Look at Farmstead Cheesemaking class offers an introduction to cheesemaking basics and techniques, some hands-on steps.

February 25.  2/25.  Two 25s equals 50.  Oh, I get it now!  February 25 is a perfect day to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Northfield Arts Guild with a reading of new work by Northfield writers.  Come to the Northfield Arts Guild at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 25 to hear local writers Azna Amira, Olivia Frey, Paula Granquist, Rob Hardy, Amy Haslett-Marroquin, Leslie Schultz, Mary Steil, and Tim Taggart read poetry and prose on the theme of 50.  We’ll be downstairs in the dance studio.

Roses and lilies are all very nice, but sometimes a regular old border garden just doesn't seem interesting enough.  Or it's not quite right for the space.  Or you really want to go do something environmentally sound.  How about returning your yard to a natural prairie setting or creating a rainwater garden that captures and filters storm water before it enters our lakes, rivers and wetlands?

If these ideas capture your imagination and raise some questions in your mind then we have just the thing.  John Pauley of Prairie Restoration, Inc. will present a free lecture on the basics of creating these gardens. John has managed the Northfield area farm for Prairie Restorations, Inc for 13 years and has consulted on hundreds of garden landscapes for people in the Midwest.

Chicago is being performed all weekend at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2. A production of Brother Wolf is being put in on Kelsey Theater at St. Olaf on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Angels in America – Part One: Millennium Approaches is being performed in the Arena Theater at Carleton at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday.