Culture

MLK Day : Listen, Reflect and Do Good

January 15th, 2020

by Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

Two teenagers rescued around 20 Koalas from the horrific bushfires in Australia, fitting them in their car.

An anonymous donor pays off back taxes for several mobile home residents.

Neighbors with snow blowers free their buried counterparts after the storm of the decade.

People are doing good. Good deeds, good works, good words.

It is easy to lose focus on the good, in a turbulent time of political unrest, unstable weather patterns, incalculable loss from…

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What are you doing New Year’s Eve?

December 23rd, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

New Year’s Eve celebrations usually go one of three ways – you either end up introverting at home, go out to eat at your old standby or ring in another year at your favorite local bar. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of that.

But if you want to shake it up this year, you can drink champagne in 1920s formalwear or your best 80s looks, lace up your roller skates, twirl light-up hoops or prepare your own lobster dinner from scratch with someone special. Toast the New Year…

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You’ve been pwned!

December 23rd, 2019

Pwned, in this context, simply means that your account has been the victim of a data breach.The word itself takes its name from player-to-player messaging in online computer gaming. When one player is defeated, another might type out a message to say ‘You’ve been owned’.

This was so frequently misspelt as ‘pwned’, the word itself took off. There are a lot of younger folks who don’t spell very well.

Sorry, I digressed...

I spend a fair amount of time in this column talking…

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The Hurd Round House: Nestled in a sea of prairie

December 23rd, 2019

Photo by Sabrina Hornung

photo by Sabrina Hornung

The Hurd Roundhouse is a unique site situated in the rolling hills of Wells county, the structure, as well as the nearby town of Hurdsfield, bears the name of Warren Hurd who worked as a land agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The Hurd house’s initial purpose was to serve as a land office and space to entertain potential land buyers. The house is two stories high, has a wrap-around porch and a round roof that also supported an observation deck. To this…

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Developing a new citizenship exhibit at Stutsman County Courthouse

December 23rd, 2019

by Rob Hanna

history@nd.gov

As I write this, the beautiful Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site in Jamestown is only partially furnished. But this photo, taken by my one-time colleague Guinn Hinman, caused me to see the place in a whole new light. She concentrated some of the historic paperwork, office equipment, and books in one room to stage this historic vignette. Don’t you want to step into that room? You just know you’d be immersed in another time. It makes you want to…

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2019 holiday game guide

December 18th, 2019

by Aaron Swinkels and Erica Sponsler
gamegiantfargo@gmail.com

Make your hot chocolate, gather your family, and sit around the kitchen table on a cozy night. What else could you need? A board game! Family game night is not a new tradition, but that doesn’t mean it should be stale. There are so many board games available, it is easy to keep it fresh. Check out our annual holiday board game guide below to find the right fit for your family this season.

To start things off, we recommend…

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​Christmas with the Comstocks

December 11th, 2019

By Jill Finkelson
jsfinkelson99@gmail.com

Have you ever wondered what it was like to celebrate Christmas is 1885? Discover Christmas Past at the Comstock house this Saturday. The Cass County Historical Society has decked the house for the holiday season. In addition to the tours they have been having, they are hosting Christmas with the Comstocks. The holiday party is free with regular admission to the house (and to Historical Society members) and includes food, drink, and music. The…

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Holiday Pipes: Organ Concert Series

December 11th, 2019

Photograph provided by the Red River Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society

By Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

High Plains Reader spoke to Ryan Hardy, president of the Red River Theatre Organ Society, about the 40th annual "Holiday Pipes" free concert series at the Fargo Theatre.

HPR: How long have you been involved with the Red River Theatre Organ Society? Can you tell me a bit about your partnership with the Fargo Theatre, and the organ concert series?

Ryan Hardy: I have been involved with the Red River Theatre Organ Society for about nine years. In 2015, I was…

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​Fair Hills Resort: An oasis in lakes country

December 11th, 2019

Fair Hills Resort - photograph provided by Laura McMartin

by Olivia Meline
ocmeline@gmail.com 

Located on the shores of Pelican Lake in Detroit Lakes, MN, Fair Hills Resort offers their guests a retreat that boasts modern luxury while bringing them back to simpler times. Opening their doors in 1906 and family-owned since 1926, this resort has been dedicated to creating a welcoming, comfortable and fun atmosphere to their guests, returning and new. While Fair Hills is known for its unique, week-long family season vacations, the resort also hosts…

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​Handmade Holiday

December 4th, 2019

Cover design by Raul Gomez

What do you buy the person who has everything? Nothing – you make something. From cocktail bitters to chainmaille, succulent gardens to personalized poetry, local experts can help you create something totally unique for everybody on your list. As an added bonus, you get to relax, unplug and enjoy the process of creation.

Every class and workshop on this list provides all the materials and instruction you need to get crafty. Unless otherwise indicated, they’re all appropriate for…

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