Northfield Downtown Development Corporation » Art Town

Big Wu, Big Weekend…in Downtown Northfield

Ross Currier — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:39:17 +0000

The Big Wu is celebrating 20 years of making music…in downtown Northfield. The Big Wu was founded in 1992 by St. Olaf College students and played their first gig on 2/14/1992 in the Lion’s Pause in the basement of the old Ytterboe hall. The Big Wu continued to play every three weeks or so at the Upstairs Reub. They return to the Rueb this Saturday night. There’s even more return of local talent on Saturday night, Meredith Fierke and the McKinstrys at at the NAG and The Last Known Whereabouts are at the Cow.

Friday, February 10th: Robin Hood, 7 p.m., Northfield Middle School Auditorium; Art Apprentice Exhibit Reception, 7:00 p.m., Dittmann Center on the St. Olaf College campus; Joel Cooper & Friends, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Marv Gohman, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Meredith Fierke and the McKinstrys with Chris Koza, 8:00 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild; Chiara Piano Quarter, 8:00 p.m., Concert hall on the Carleton College campus; Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein; and Mark Mraz at Froggy Bottoms.

Saturday, February 11th: Le Tour du Chocolat, 10:00 a.m., Downtown Northfield; Robin Hood, 1:00 p.m., Northfield Middle School Auditorium; Occasional Jazz, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; The Last Known Whereabouts, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Joe Meyer, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; and The Big Wu, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Sunday, February 12th: Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Contented Cow; and A Special VALENTINE’S Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., Contented Cow.

’50s Dance Party…in Downtown Northfield

Ross Currier — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:17:42 +0000

Winter may be on its way out…but we’ve still got a number of weeks of days with late sunrises and early sunsets. Shake off the gloom…and shake your tailfeathers…to the music of such American greats as Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “the Big Bopper” Richardson, provided by local greats Terry Van DeWalker, Scott Skaja, Allison Rae, Jacob Hendrickson, C. J. Alt, Ross Willits, and Ray Barnard…Friday night at the Cow.

Friday, February 3rd: New Moon Trio, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; One Act Plays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Northfield High School Auditorium; Winter (’50s) Dance Party, 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Ben Aaron, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; and Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Saturday, February 4th: One Act Plays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Northfield High School Auditorium; Jon Larson’s Neil Diamond Tribute, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Contented Cow; Lonesome Dan Kase, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; and D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Sunday, February 5th: Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., Contented Cow; and Super Bowl Sunday at the Frog, kick-off 6:30 p.m. ET, Froggy Bottoms.

Kinda Kinky…this Weekend in Downtown Northfield

Ross Currier — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:56:33 +0000

Given my interest in Country Rock, Outlaw Country, and Alt-Country Music, I was thinking this might be a ’70s Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys tribute band. But no, think ’60s British Invasion, The Tornadoes, The Beatles, The Troggs…and The Kinks, tribute band. They’re “flying in” from the Twin Cities to play at the Contented Cow on Friday night.

Thursday, January 26th: Midnight Collision, 8:00 to 11:00, Contented Cow; Lyric Theater: Transformations, 8:00 p.m., Urness Recital Hall on the St. Olaf College campus; Marv Gohman, 8:30 to 11:00 p.m., Tavern Lounge; and Prom Queef, 11:59 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Contented Cow.

Friday, January 27th: Max Nygren, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; One Act Plays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Northfield High School Auditorium; Lyric Theater: Transformations, 8:00 p.m., Urness Recital Hall on the St. Olaf College campus; Kinda Kinky, 8:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m., Contented Cow; Mike Pattinson, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein, and Whiskey Trick, 9:30 p.m., Froggy Bottoms.

Saturday, January 28th: Dime Store Watch, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; One Act Plays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Northfield High School Auditorium, The River, 7:00 p.m., Weitz Center Cinema on the Carleton College downtown campus; The RCAs, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Jeff Ray, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein; and Fristad Jazz Combo, 11:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Contented Cow.

Sunday, January 29th: Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., both at the Cow.

Dirty Petrov and the Gentillionaires (and/or Ice Cream in the Snow) this weekend in Downtown Northfield

Ross Currier — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:30:48 +0000

Dirty Petrov and the Gentillionaires, Northfield’s premier Gypsy Rock band, will be making music for premium dance this weekend in Downtown Northfield. It’s downtown Saturday night at the Cow. Not into Gypsy Rock? Then Eat Ice Cream in the Snow, Saturday afternoon in Bridge Square.

Friday, January 13th: Occasional Jazz, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Arts for Martin, 7:00 p.m., ARTech; Exhibit Opening Reception: Surfacing and One Stroke at a Time, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild; The Melvilles, 7:00 p.m., Hogan Brothers; The Beguine Brothers, 8:00 to 11:00, Contented Cow; Matthew Griswold, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; The 8th Street Band, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein; and Mark Mraz, 9:00 p.m., Froggy Bottoms.

Saturday, January 14th: Winter Scream, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Bridge Square; New Moon Trio, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., Contented Cow; Harlow’s Edge, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Hogan Brothers; Relativity, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Spruce Top Review, 8:00 to 10:30 p.m., Contented Cow; D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein, Whiskey Trick, 9:30 p.m., Froggy Bottoms; and Dirty Petrov and the Gentillionaires, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Contented Cow.

Sunday, January 15th: Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Northern Roots Session, 7:00 p.m., and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., all at the Contented Cow.

Clodhoppers Downtown…Michael Perry and the Long Beds this Weekend

Ross Currier — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:45:55 +0000

Michael Perry and the Long Beds, featuring Andy Dee, will bring their humor and music to downtown Northfield. Join in the fun, this Friday night at the Grand.

Thursday, January 5th: Matt Arthur & the Bratlanders, 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Contented Cow; and Mark Mraz, 8:30 to 11:00 p.m., Tavern Lounge.

Friday, January 6th: Fred the Bear, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Gabe Keller, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Hogan Brothers; Michael Perry and the Long Beds featuring Andy Dee, 7:30 p.m., Grand Event Center; Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater Co., 7:30 p.m., Weitz Center on the Carleton College downtown campus; Ben Aaron, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein; and Midnight Collision, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Contented Cow.

Saturday, January 7th: Megan & Lady Anne, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Hogan Brothers; Paula Mann and Penelope French, 7:30 p.m., Weitz Center on Carleton College downtown campus; Top Shelf, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Steve Howard, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein, and Alluvion, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Contented Cow.

Sunday, January 8th: Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Northern Roots Session, 7:00 p.m., and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., all at the Contented Cow.

Weekend Starts with A Trashy LIttle Xmas

Ross Currier — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:58:48 +0000

’tis the season…to be Trashy? Well, heck yeah, if we’re talkin’ ’bout Minnesota’s favorite Honky Tonk band, Trailer Trash…especially if they’re playin’ in Northfield, down here where the oak savannah meets the hardwood forest, doin’ their ever-popular holiday show, with an opening set by Northfield’s own Bratlanders. Would Ann North be shocked? Nah, she’d be bangin’ out the boogie-woogie on that piano she had John drag across the iced-over Cannon River.

Thursday, December 15th: A Trashy Little Xmas, 6:00 p.m., Grand Event Center; High School and Middle School Orchestra Concert, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Middle School Auditorium; Celtic Cat and Prairie Dog, 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Mark Mraz, 8:30 to 11:00 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Rice County Roosters, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Contented Cow; and D J Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Froggy Bottoms.

Friday, December 16th: Carey Langer, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Opening Reception: Here and Then, 7:00 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild; Beatle Juice, 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Opera: Amahl and the Night Visitors, 8:00 p.m., First United Church of Christ; Matthew Griswold, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; and Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Saturday, December 17th: Fine Craft Collective Open House, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 310 Division Street South; High School Choir Concert, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., Skinner Memorial Chapel on the Carleton College campus; Rosewood, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; South on Natchez, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Opera: Amahl and the Night Visitors, 8:00 p.m., First United Church of Christ; Lonesome Dan Kase, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Fred the Bear, 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Contented Cow; and D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Sunday, December 18th: Opera: Amahl and the Night Visitors, 10:00 a.m., First United Church of Christ; Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Northern Roots Session, 7:00 p.m., and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., all at the Contented Cow.

This Weekend…Celebrate 100 Years of Great Music

Ross Currier — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:05:21 +0000

St. Olaf College’s Christmas Festival is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States. Started in 1912 by St. Olaf Music Department founder F. Melius Christiansen, the Festival is celebrating 100 years of incredible music by student artists. The shows are all sold out, but you can enjoy the tribute to the Christmas Festival at the Nortfield Historical Society, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

…and, as always, there’s a lot of other great live music available in Downtown Northfield, MN.

Friday, December 2nd: Norseman Band, 5:00 p.m., Boe Memorial Chapel on the St. Olaf College campus; Occasional Jazz, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Jack in the Beanstalk, 7:00 p.m., Northfield Middle School Auditorium; Top Shelf, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Ben Aaron, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein; and Mark Mraz at Froggy Bottoms.

Saturday, December 3rd: Jack and the Beanstalk, 1:00 p.m., Middle School Auditorium; Tuba Christmas, 3:00 p.m., Buntrock Commons on the St. Olaf College campus; Matt Arthur and the Bratlanders, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; The Rice County Roosters, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Contented Cow; and D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Sunday, December 3rd: Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Northern Roots Session, 7:00 p.m., and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., all at the Contented Cow.

Little Women at the Arts Guild (Weekend Update)

Ross Currier — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:12:10 +0000

It seems more than a little Northfield-esque. Little Women, set in a New England town, shaped in part by the political and economic forces of the Civil War, filled with abolitionists and transcendentalists, and peopled by educated women and heroic men. Opening Friday night at the Arts Guild Theater.

Friday, November 4th: Occasional Jazz and Fang Tango, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Ben Aaron, 7:00 p.m. Hogan Brothers Cafe; West Side Story, 7:30 p.m., Northfield High School Auditorium; Little Women, 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater; Agnes A Cappella, 7:30 p.m., Lion’s Pause on the St. Olaf College campus; Semaphore Fall Dance Concert, 7:30 p.m., Weitz Center on the Carleton College campus; Marty Anderson and the Goods, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Stone Soup, 8:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Contented Cow; Fox & Coyote, 9:00 to 11:00 p.m., 620 Grill; Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein; and Giraffes Love Dinosaurs, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., 620 Grill.

Saturday, November 5th: Fresh Space, 2:00 p.m., Dittman Dance Studio on the St. Olaf College campus; Peter Diggins and Friends, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Lars Skjervheim Spelemannslag, 7:00 p.m., Northfield Carnegie Library; Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra, 7:00 p.m., Northfield United Methodist Church; Charlie, Timo, & Ryan, 7:00 p.m., Hogan Brothers; “F” is for Fake, 7:00 p.m., Weitz Center on the Carleton College campus; West Side Story, 7:30 p.m., Northfield High School Auditorium; Little Women, 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater; Carleton Singers and Carleton Choir: Renaissance Music, 8:00 p.m. Concert Hall on the Carleton College campus; Optimum Trajectory, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Relativity, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; and D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Sunday, November 6th: Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra, 3:00 p.m., St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church; Choral Day Concert, 4:00p.m., Skoglund Center on the St. Olaf College campus; and Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Northern Roots Session, 7:00 p.m., and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., all at the Contented Cow.

Photo courtesy of Tania Legvold.

This Weekend: Bach Jam at Boe

Ross Currier — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:13:24 +0000

Okeh, I admit it, I wanted to illustrate this post with a picture of J. S. Bach. The Bach Society of Minnesota performs at Boe Memorial Chapel on the St. Olaf College campus this Sunday afternoon. But you gotta admit, in this illustration, J. S. be jammin’…

Friday, October 28th: Opening Reception: Earth, Water, Fire, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Flatten Museum on the St. Olaf College campus; Talun, 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild; The Tempest, 7:30 p.m., Weitz Center Theater on the Carleton College campus; High School Choir and Orchestra Concert, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., Middle School Auditorium, Carleton Symphony Band Concert, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., Concert Hall on the Carleton College campus; Midnight Collision, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; 3 AM, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; and Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Saturday, October 29th: Max Nygren, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Earrings of Madame de..., 7:00 p.m., Weitz Center Cinema; Pipes, Pumpkins, and Pferg, 7:30 p.m., Boe Memorial Chapel; The Tempest, 7:30 p.m., Weitz Center Theater on the Carleton College campus; Jeff Ray, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Marty Anderson and the Goods, 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Contented Cow; and D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Sunday, October 30th: The Tempest, 2:00 p.m., Weitz Theater on the Carleton College campus; Carleton Jazz Ensemble, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Concert Hall on the Carleton College campus; Bach Society of Minnesota, 3:30 p.m., Boe Memorial Chapel on the St. Olaf College campus; and Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Northern Roots Session, 7:00 p.m., and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., all at the Contented Cow.

Start Your Weekend with Some Mind Games…and/or Math Puzzles (Weekend Update)

Ross Currier — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:49:14 +0000

There were several events competing for the top spot on my “Weekend Update” and Dean Kjerland won. The Art of Mathematics in Wood – a special evening of mathematical puzzles, games, and art at ArtOnWater Gallery, this Friday evening. This Northfield event is part of the international Celebration of Mind in honor of Martin Gardner, the renowned mathematical expositor and longtime author of the Mathematical Games column for Scientific American.

Loren Larson, professor emeritus of mathematics at St. Olaf College, constructed many of these pieces while working with award-winning mathematics writer Barry Cipra. Come play with the puzzles and join Loren and Barry for an evening of entertaining mathematics. It’s free. Light refreshments will be served.

Friday, October 21st: The Art of Mathematics in Wood, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., ArtOnWater Gallery; Dance-First Glimpse, 4:00 p.m., Dittmann Center on the St. Olaf College campus; Occasional Jazz, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow: 6th Annual Northfield Harvest Stomp, 7:00 to 10:30 p.m., Northfield Armory; The Coronation of Poppea, 8:00 p.m., Urness Recital Hall on the St. Olaf College campus; Big Tuna, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; Chance Meeting, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 8:00 p.m., Weitz Center on the Carleton College campus; and Karaoke, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Saturday, October, 22nd: Peter Diggins and Friends, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Cries and Whispers, 7:00 p.m., Weitz Center for Creativity on the Carleton College campus; The Coronation of Poppea, 8:00 p.m., Urness Recital Hall on the St. Olaf College campus; Top Shelf, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Fred the Bear, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., Tavern Lounge; D J Music, 9:00 p.m., Rueb’N'Stein.

Sunday, October 23rd: Wake-Robin, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., Bittersweet; Arboretum Walking Tour, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Recreation Center on the Carleton College campus; Soprano Patricia Kent and Pianist Edward Truley, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., Concert Hall on the Carleton College campus; Politics and a Pint, 6:00 p.m., Contented Cow; Songs of Harvest and Thanksgiving, 7:00 p.m., Emmaus Baptist Church; St. Olaf Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m., Skoglund Center on the St. Olaf College campus; Northern Roots Session, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Contented Cow; and Quiz Night, 8:00 p.m., Contented Cow.