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.
