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Good family fun for all at River Town Fall Fest
The inaugural River Town Fall Fest on St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien featured plenty of entertainment and fun for everyone. Thirteen musical acts, playing in several genres, were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience on both Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend. The diverse styles of music included folk, rock, country, blues, jazz, acappella, old time string music, Irish, acoustic and Ukrainian, Jewish and Eastern European music. Along with the variety of music, the audience, which on Sunday included several seniors from an area nursing home, enjoyed an Irish clogging performance by dancers in 1800s period clothing. In striving to have something for everyone, the family entertainment of the Fall Fest also included a variety of childrens activities. Many a smiling face was seen at the fishing pond, bounce house, face and arm painting booth, petting zoo and ice cream booth. Also, Nathan Allen, a juggler and magician from Decorah, roamed the grounds entertaining children and adults alike. The beer, brat and hamburger stand was also a popular spot for Fall Fest patrons. Two vendors were on hand, one featured a variety of pottery and sculptures, while the other had an array of jewelry and other arts and crafts." We're glad that everyone had a good time and we truly appreciate the support," said Denise Brown, who along with Teek Landvogt, organized the nonprofit, charitable event. Landvogt and Brown said that they look forward to seeing everyone again next year. The two organizers also praised everyone who helped out and who had a hand in making the first River Town Fall Fest a success.

Annual Carriage Classic to be held this weekend

The Villa Louis Carriage Classic, held on the grounds of the historic Villa Louis country estate in Prairie du Chien, will bring out the Midwest's best horses and finest restored carriages for the 25th annual running of the popular sport-driving event on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10-11. The event will also recall the estate's own heyday as a farm for the breeding of horses for harness racing. The Villa Louis - with its interior rooms recently restored to their 1890s British Arts and Crafts splendor - never looks better than during the late-summer equine classic. Perched atop a mound overlooking the Mississippi River, the cream-brick mansion and grounds provide an elegant setting for the largest and most stylish horse-and-carriage event in the region. More than 80 drivers, their stable hands and groomsmen will compete in a variety of classes, including obstacle courses and a cross-country event featuring simulated hazards ranging from open water to corkscrew turns. At the end of the event, the top drivers and teams take home honors for best reinsman (driver), best working horse (animal;s ability to perform), and best turnout (overall appearance of the horse, driver and carriage). Another event, the Victorian Picnic Class, judges entrants on the overall elegance of a country picnic outing, including the appearance of teams and their rigs, the picnic lunch presentation, and the smartly dressed picnickers period costuming. The picnic class, reminiscent of Victorian leisure-class pursuits, takes place at noon Saturday. Cross-country events take place Saturday and Sunday afternoon, with the concluding Concours d'Eligance - a parade of all the competitors - beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Arena competition continues throughout both days. The Carriage Classic recalls a brief chapter in the history of Villa Louis, which estate founder H. Louis Dousman established in 1884 as the Artesian Stock Farm. Dousman, in characteristic Victorian form, embraced the life-style of a country gentleman and began raising fine-blooded Standard bred trotting horses on the farm, developing one of the finest stables in the Midwest. Admission for the full weekend, including tours of Villa Louis is $11 for adults and $6 for children (5-12). A family ticket that admits two adults and two or more dependent children 5-17 is available for $25.Daily grounds-only passes for the Carriage Classic are $6 for adults, $3.50 for children. For more information contact the Villa Louis, P.O. Box 65, Prairie du Chien, Wis. 53821, 608-326-2721 or visit the Villa Louis Web site at www.wisconsinhistory.org/villalouis/ .

McGregor strong with many new downtown businesses
Downtown McGregor has been busy this summer, and not just with tourists. The sounds of hammers and saws were heard nearly as often as passing cars. At least seven new business have popped up in town over the season, and many were open for the big Labor Day holiday weekend. And the building season is not over. "This area is growing, but it has small-town values," said Mary Gilkes, co-owner with her husband of the new cheese shop, the Mouse House. The Mouse House is located in the building that formerly was the home of John's Barbershop. Gilkes, a former social worker, once owned a tavern in eastern Wisconsin. She missed having her own business, and the contact with people. So she talked with her husband about starting something for themselves. Mike Gilkes is a cheesemaker by trade who's family once owned a cheese and ice cream shop. So the type of business they should open seemed obvious to them. When the Mouse House opens, they will offer a wide selection of regionally produced cheese and ice cream. The shop will be aimed at the tourist trade, but they plan to sell gift baskets as well to help fill the winter season. Mary is not concerned that there are suddenly several new places that sell ice cream in town. "I think competition is good. It makes you more aware of who you are and what you offer," she said. Just west of the Mouse House, at 258 Main Street, is McGregor Coffee Roasters. The colorfully painted shop is owned by Dianna and Todd Berry and opened about a month ago. Dianna also works as a massage therapist and operates Mind Your Body, a wellness center, out of the same building. McGregor Coffee Roasters is not just a coffee shop. Yes, customers can get a cappuccino there and other coffee drinks, but what makes the shop different is that they actually roast all of their own coffee. The Berrys had been experimenting with roasting their own coffee beans at home. As they got better at it and bought more sophisticated equipment, they began roasting more than they could use at home and give away to friends. The idea of opening a coffee shop materialized. "This is a hobby gone wild," Dianna admits. The five-pound micro-roaster in the shop allows the Berrys to custom roast and wholesale small quantities of coffee to other area businesses and to individual customers. Already McGregor Coffee Roasters is custom roasting for Ahrens Coffee Farm in Prairie du Chien. "We encourage people to have the freshest coffee," Dianna said. McGregor Coffee Roasters also offers sandwiches, desserts and pastry, as well as other drinks and tea. Sadie's Sweet Shop is an natural extension of the Little Switzerland Inn Bed and Breakfast at 126 Main Street. Innkeepers Becky and Randy Johnson adapted the street level storefront of their historic 1862 building for guest dining Ñ the breakfast part of B&B. In fact, she will serve breakfast to anyone who drops by on weekend mornings when she is cooking, as long as there is room. There is no set menu, breakfast customers simply enjoy the same meal that is served to the guests. Becky opened the sweet shop last spring. She decided that she might as well keep the dining room open in the afternoons and serve homemade pie and coffee. She also offers some old-fashioned candies and ice cream. "Pie has been the big seller. There's not much other pie available in town," Becky explained. The pie is baked fresh most Wednesdays and Fridays. McGregor Lodging is the newest bed and bath option for visitors to McGregor. The former Stoehr Studio building at 214 "A" Street, now hosts two kitchenette units called the Courtyard Studio and Loft and Found. The property is owned by Zip and Beth Regan. The Regans were married in March and bought the property in June and decided to live in McGregor. The Labor Day weekend was their first big holiday, and it was successful. It was the first weekend the Courtyard Studio, which was just remodeled, was open for business. "We had a great weekend, we were all filled," said Beth Regan. The couple also operates the Suite in Main, above Central State Bank, and Summit Loft, on Summit Road on the bluff above McGregor. Just weeks after the closing of John's Barbershop, McGregor has two new barbers. Bob Smock is operating a barbershop at 413 Main Street, out of his home. Bob and his wife Reba formerly lived in the area. Bob worked at his father's barbershop in Marquette in the early 1960Õs. Then the couple moved to Decorah where Bob continued in his trade. Now the couple is semi-retired. Bob's home shop is a sunroom that overlooks his patio garden. He just opened the Tuesday following Labor Day. I'm what you call an old time barber," Bob said. Just about a block east of Bob Smock, Johnny Carl opened his new barbershop at 326 Main Street on the same day. A bright neon sign announces his trade to potential customers. Carl, a native of Ottumwa, Iowa, and his wife Marlene, moved to Farmersburg from central Arizona, where he worked as a barber for 20 years. The people need a barber," Johnny simply said. He cuts both men's and women's hair. Feel like watching a movie? McGregor Video is open in the Diamond Jo building at 123 "A" Street, next to River Gypsy. Janet and Richard Sweet decided to open a video rental when family visitors could not get a movie they wanted in town. They now stock 500 titles and offer both DVD and VHS. "Lots of people don't know I'm here yet," Janet said. But she noted that people are finding her shop now when they come home from work. Visitors staying at the inns in town also rent from her. In Marquette, new businesses such as the North Street Market primitive antiques and the Main House Bed and Breakfast are popping up as well. A Marquette business open house will be held this weekend, September 10 and 11.