Culture

On the hunt for winter tourism

December 18th, 2015

Bundle up, just in case

By John Showalter

One would think that winter is a slow time for tourism in a state like Minnesota, even those of us who consider ourselves immured to the cold by living here in the frozen north winter after winter, only to find ourselves coming up with excuses to stay inside where it’s warm and toasty.

That’s something that Explore Minnesota, the state’s tourism promotion office, realizes. But tourism is a 13 billion dollar industry in the state, so for the…

Your Holiday Shopping Cheat Sheet

December 17th, 2015

By Alicia Underlee Nelson

So you’re in a panic because you haven’t finished (or, ahem, even started) your holiday shopping yet? No worries. Here’s your holiday shopping cheat sheet, cleverly arranged by gift recipient, so you can grab your list, hit the shops (they’re all in Fargo, just to keep it simple) and get out fast.

You’re welcome.

For Foodies

A visit to Sweet Dreams Confections (4101 13th Avenue South)will satisfy a sweet tooth. Look for rich, homemade fudge, pretty…

Connected Puzzles

December 17th, 2015

How much do you know about North Dakota?

If someone stopped you on the street and asked if you knew what county the state capital of North Dakota is in, would you know?

Actually, the creators of the Connected Puzzles project did just that, and they discovered that most people did not know the answer (which is Burleigh County, by the way). Thus, a project to teach students at an early age about the state of North Dakota was launched.

“There is a sense of beauty in North Dakota that is not…

A time for giving

December 12th, 2015

Local adventurer leads fundraising effort for children’s education in Guatemala

After graduating from NDSU in 2008, Luke Armstrong decided to turn a semester’s stay in Chile into a hitchhiking journey that would take him north all the way to Alaska. However, that plan was put on the back burner when Armstrong ended up serving as the social services director of Nuestros Ahijados, a nonprofit health and education program in Guatemala. That particular adventure lasted four years.

Since…

On her own time, in her own way

December 10th, 2015

Designer Cari Ann Golden’s brand expands into fashion

by Alicia Underlee Nelson

“I’ve always made stuff, “ said Cari Ann Golden. “I didn’t realize until about three years ago that people would buy stuff.”

The Fargo jewelry designer and seamstress began selling striking, handmade jewelry under the Wuve label in 2012. And Golden has been expanding her line and growing her business ever since.

A native of Danvers, Minnesota, Golden has always been creative. A high-powered…

Storytelling event calls Drekker new home

December 9th, 2015

The next edition of the Tell starts Thursday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. and marks the first time the event’s been held at Drekker Brewing Company, following the closing of its former home at Studio 222.

The Tell is a storytelling event where audience members put their names in a hat and are randomly selected to tell a true story in six minutes or less. At the end of the night, a winner is announced and that winner moves on to the Tell Off in April, where he or she will compete against the…

A German tradition with a bit of Fargo flair

December 2nd, 2015

Folkways and Twenty Below Coffee Co. join forces for Christkindlmarkt

This year the folks behind Alley Fair and Folkways are collaborating with Twenty Below Coffee Co. to put a Fargo spin on an old German tradition. In Germany, the Christkindlmarkt is a month-long holiday event in which onlookers walk the streets and enjoy the sights and sounds of a holiday street fair.

The Christkindlmarkt has been a symbol of holiday cheer since the Middle Ages. The Christkindl herself is a…

Dempsey’s acquires space from Studio 222

November 24th, 2015

Expansion will include new stage area downstairs

As they approached their 10th anniversary in March, Dempsey’s Public House owner Bert Myers wanted to do something with that bar to keep things fresh and deal with rising competition in downtown Fargo. About the time those thoughts were arising, they were approached by the owners of Studio 222 about renting the space and using it for an expansion. To them, it seemed like a perfect match.

“We’ve always kind of thought it would be great…

Fargo SantaCon

November 24th, 2015

Six years of fun and philanthropy supporting the Gladys Ray Shelter

As one of the founders of Fargo's version of SantaCon, the jolly pub crawl with holiday costumes and a giving spirit, I found myself surprised that we are coming up on our sixth year, and wanted to talk to some of the organizers and participants about the event’s success and impact. Wasn’t it just yesterday when visions of Santas on Broadway danced in our heads?

SantaCon raises monetary donations and also collects…

Giving Thangkas this November

November 24th, 2015

By David McCoy

On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a devastating earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey deemed it a 7.8 magnitude quake that hit surrounding areas including the cities Bharatpur, Kirtipur and Kathmandu. Around 9,000 lives were lost, and even today, seven months later, thousands of refugees are still displaced and in a desperate struggle for food and shelter. With so many living in fear and uncertainty, we, who have roofs over our heads, should seize the opportunity to help…