AAA Home & AwayMarch/April issue More Than a Bike Trail |
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| Minnesota’s Root River Valley is all-seasons territory for enthusiasts of all kinds. | |
| By Sher Jasperse
When I first visited southeastern Minnesota’s Root River Valley in the early 1990s with a group of bicycling friends, I was surprised to discover a place of such striking natural beauty fewer than three hours from home. That was before I had even set my skinny tires on the miles of paved bike trail hugging the river along the valley floor—a place blessed with the recreational biker’s twin delights: a picturesque route, broken up every few miles by towns rich in character and amenities. In the years since, the appeal of the Root River Valley has only grown—for me and countless others—as the towns and the trail have developed a symbiotic relationship that keeps them both pulsing with life. Today, bikers and hikers share the valley with visitors who enjoy a lively arts scene, river activities ranging from trout fishing to tubing and road trips on the scenic highway that straddles Minnesota’s majestic bluff country. Read more |
Archive for the ‘Commonweal Theatre’ Category
Lanesboro, Minnesota is More Than a Bike Trail
Friday, March 11th, 2011Maple Syrup Time – Come Lend a Hand
Friday, March 11th, 2011March 11,2011
Tired of being cooped up inside? In Lanesboro, Minnesota, the first sign of spring is upon us – Maple Syrup season. Join us and discover how that Maple in the corner of your yard can give you the tastiest pancakes in town. Participants will experience all aspects of syrup making from tree identification, tapping trees, collecting sap, and boiling down to syrup!
Join us at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro on:
March 19, 2011
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
$10 per person
Call 888-800-9558 to save your place!
Blog entry written my Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B Innkeeper, Marv Eggert. Make it a weekend with a stay at Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B in Lanesboro. We would be glad to serve maple syrup on our breakfast entree to make your weekend complete. My favorite is Blueberry Cornbread with maple syrup.
In the evening you can enjoy Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman at the Commonweal Theatre presented by the Commonweal apprentices.
Smithsonian names Lanesboro, Minnesota: Your Kind of Town
Friday, February 11th, 2011ONCE CHANGE STARTED, OUR TOWN HAS JUST KEPT ON
By Dr. Jan Meyer
From Lanesboro
Smithsonian.com
Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play Our Town opens with the line “Change comes slowly to Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire.” That might also be said about Lanesboro, Minnesota, but then again, maybe not so slowly anymore. A very small town of just over 700 people, it did have a heyday in its past when the population swelled to more than 1500. However, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, it was slowly dying, and the main drag was mostly a lot of boarded-up, deteriorating, but once-beautiful old buildings.
Something happened.
In 1989, an asphalt bike trail was completed on the path of the old railroad tracks. Development followed, and the pace of change rapidly picked up. Now, there is a bevy of successful B&B’s, several campgrounds, restaurants, and an established art gallery and art center, part of which is housed in the old movie theatre and offers music, comedy, and film year-round. There are small shops, both professional and community theatres, an annual bluegrass get-together, a twice-weekly farmers’ market, horse-drawn carriage, Amish, and Molly the Trolley excursions, and annual celebrations like Holiday Fest, Buffalo Bill Days and the Rhubarb Festival.
There’s even been a song named after Lanesboro, composed and performed by Anat Fort, a New York City pianist who once did a concert in our town. The population in the summer can swell to 5000 and more on a weekend. Different seasons bring people with different interests. Biking the 60-mile trail is a three-season sport.
Fishing and turkey and deer hunting bring enthusiasts in the spring and fall. Canoeing, kayaking, and tubing is popular in warm weather. Turning leaves on the surrounding hardwood forests bring the “leaf peepers” in the fall.
The annual Drag Queen Show, cross-country skiing, and snow-mobiling bring winter crowds. And the theatres and art gallery attract folks who come for shopping, dinner and a show all year long.
There are so many happenings I cannot list them all!
The very active local Chamber of Commerce touts Lanesboro and the surrounding Bluff Country as “A short trip that will be long remembered.” That must be true: Among many other accolades, Lanesboro was included in Yahoo! Travel’s list “One of America’s Prettiest Towns,” and a choice for Mother Earth News’ “Great Places You’ve (Maybe) Never Heard Of.”
Change didn’t come so slowly to Our Town of Lanesboro, Minnesota. And maybe the best part is that it just keeps on changing.
New Life for Lanesboro’s Over the Back Fence
Monday, January 17th, 2011By marvineggert
Over the Back Fence Live Radio Show in Lanesboro, MN
Many who have visited Lanesboro, Minnesota on summer weekends have enjoyed the “Over the Back Fence” Radio Show hosted in the Commonweal Theatre on Sunday evenings. Over the Back Fence Radio Show For the past 15 years “Over the Back Fence” has entertained us with local humor, outstanding music and just a good time. We locals like to refer to it as the “poor man’s Prairie Home Companion”. On September 5th, 1010 Over the Back Fence took its’ curtain call as a live radio show. Over the winter, a dedicated group of volunteers has been planning for the next generation of “Over the Back Fence”. “Over the Back Fence” is moving next door to the St. Mane Theatre and play on the 2nd Friday of the month from February through November. Plans include retaining much of the original character of the show and surely introducing new features for all to enjoy. Plan a winter weekend getaway and join us for the inaugural version of the new and improved “Over the Back Fence” on February 11th. Make it a complete Valentines weekend getaway by staying at one of Lanesboro’s lovely Bed and Breakfasts, enjoying fine dining at the Old Village Hall, cross country skiing on the Root River State Trail, or dashing through the winter wonderland on a horse drawn sleigh ride.
Slant Avenue Mercantile in Lanesboro, Minnesota
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Patrick Danz, Owner of Slant Avenue Mercantile
In 2008 after several years of visiting and falling in love with Lanesboro, Minnesota and surrounding nature Patrick Danz turned the Doc Westrup building into a home and store front. Built in 1895, on Slant Avenue, 105 Elmwood St. E as its now named is the perfect historical location for a unique and intelligent retail store that offers great priced gifts and treats for all occasions it’s the place to find products from all over the world including local artist’s ware like jewelry and home décor. Toys for kids of all ages, collectable tin wind-ups for the collector to the cutest stuffed animals and hats for infants. All the games we loved when we were kids to the best coffee, teas and accessories we crave as adults. Fun books and reading along with sketchbooks and journals that are great in companion with the quality pens and pencils Slant Ave sells. Patrick has a huge sweet tooth and is always searching for the best treats from all over including the newest addition B.T. McElrath chocolate bars from Mpls. The store is an eclectic array of products just to numerous to mention which is part of the fun shopping here, you never know what you’ll find each time you visit.
Expansion Plans for Slant Avenue Mercantile
Future plans for Slant Avenue Mercantile and Patrick include the addition of a new studio at the rear of his store so new products and designs can be created to sell in the store. The original building will continue to be restored to its original glory along with Patrick’s home upstairs. This spring a new color will be tested on the front of the building and comments are welcomed. Patrick invites everyone to come and view the new studio designs that will help improve the rear alley and longevity of the original 1895 structure. One of the hardest parts of running a retail store and renovating a building is not having the time to be more active in the arts that attracted him here like the Cornucopia Arts center now known as the Lanesboro Arts Center and also the Commonweal Theater. Attending the shows, biking and skiing on the great trails and fishing on the Root river are other passions along with all his support to all the awesome B&B’s and camp grounds so every guest tends to get an additional 10% at Slant Avenue Mercantile when they lodge in Fillmore County.
Two Roads Converge: Havana, Cuba, and Lanesboro, Minnesota
Thursday, February 4th, 2010By Teresa Eyring
Executive Director of Theatre Communications Group (tcg)
From the February 2010 issue of American Theatre magazine
As the last decade was winding down, my travels ramped up and took me to a couple of artistically inspiring and gutsy locales. The first was a town of 2.1 million, the capital of a socialist Caribbean nation with crumbling, majestic mansions, food rations, late-night hangouts by the seawall, private homes with nightly room rentals, hundreds of theatres—and winter temperatures in the eighties. The second was a midwestern hamlet with a population of around 700, rocky bluffs, stately bed-and-breakfasts, a winding river, miles of bike trails, a top-notch theatre—and occasional below-zero temperatures.
Commonweal Theatre Company's Man of LaMancha
My destinations, you may have discerned by now, were Havana, Cuba, and Lanesboro, Minnesota. When I embarked on these two journeys, I wasn’t specifically searching for common threads. But in traveling from one place to the next, important similarities of artistic passion and purpose emerged. In conversations with Lanesboro leaders Hal Cropp and Eric Bunge at Commonweal Theatre Company, I heard echoes of conversations I had weeks earlier with members of the Havana arts community, including Flora Lauten, founder and longtime artistic director of Teatro Buendía; Raúl Martin of Teatro de la Luna; the documentary filmmaker Estela Bravo; and Helmo Hernandez, president of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba. The upshot: While both these communities have important natural resources and social attributes, the artistry of each place—and how that artistry connects with people—is what expresses the true soul and character of both locales. Artistry and its dynamic connection to community is what helps distinguish Havana and Lanesboro from any other places in the world.
Romantic Getaway Ideas
Friday, December 4th, 2009 
We discovered Lanesboro, Minnesota, a historic village nestled in the Bluffs of the Root River Valley. Our romance & relaxation package for two began with a horse-drawn carriage ride around the quaint town site with no stoplights or franchises. Lanesboro is beautifully adorned for the holidays. The town has installed new Snowflake lights downtown.
Snowflake Decorations in Downtown Lanesboro
We loved the scenic beauty of the bluffs trimmed with the recent snow. The massage for two was relaxing and we took in the 1940’s Radio Hour holiday show at the Commonweal Theatre. We later enjoyed dinner out and locally produced wine during our stay at the Bed & Breakfast. We plan to return soon and give Lanesboro Lodging Gift Certificates to our family and friends back home!
The 1940’s Radio Hour at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
1940’s Radio Hour at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro
It’s a snowy December evening in 1942 and the colorful cast and crew of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade is trying to broadcast their weekly radio show. In spite of a flurry of mishaps, the show does go on in an evening of music, nostalgia and Christmas cheer for the whole family. This is a production you won’t want to miss.
The quaint townsite of Lanesboro is adourned for the holidays. Experience the small town hospitality at a B&B, shop, dine and take in the arts!
Call (800) 657-7025 or go to Commonweal Theatre Tickets
Curtain times
Evenings at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees at 1:30 p.m.
No performances Tuesday or Wednesday
Over the Back Fence Live Radio Show in Lanesboro, Minnesota
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
- Over the Back Fence Live Radio Show in Lanesboro, Minnesota
Featuring the Over The Back Fence Live Radio Show at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota.
Lanesboro Minnesota Commonweal Theatre
Friday, July 31st, 2009July 31, 2009
Commonweal Theatre production Odd Couple
We love visiting Lanesboro, Minnesota because in addition to offering invigorating outdoor activities, unique shopping, fine dining and B & Bs, we enjoy the rich artistic experiences and live professional theater at the Commonweal! Since 1989, the professional artists of the Commonweal Theatre have brought to life soulful stories told with honesty and creativity.
You must see both of these productions at the Commonweal!
May 15 through Oct 23, the Odd Couple is on stage in the theatre. Felix Ungar, neurotic fusspot news writer, and Oscar Madison, slovenly sports journalist, attempt to adapt to each other’s idiosyncrasies while trying to rekindle their social lives. In this classic comedy, Neil Simon gives us the story of a friendship that defies all odds.
June 19 through Oct 24, the Rainmaker by Richard Nash is on the theatre stage. Living on a farm stifled by drought, Lizzie has resigned herself to a solitary life —until a charismatic con-man named Starbuck comes promising rain. This 1950s American fable teaches us how love can overcome cynicism in the most tired of souls, and can bloom in the most barren of landscapes.