Archive for August, 2007

Thursday is cheese curd day

Michael August 23rd, 2007

Eat CurdsIt used to be that you could only get cheese curds one day a week. For the little store in our neighborhood, that day was Thursday. The curds would come in the early afternoon and by 5:00, they where usually gone. Lovers of the curds squeaky goodness would quickly grab them up. When cheese factories where smaller and more prevelant, you could only get the curds when they where actually making cheese.

Nowadays you can find cheese curds just about everywhere. Almost all the small factories have closed and the large cheese factories are making cheese every day of the week. The local mega grocery store has a table near the entrance just about continuously. Or I can drive to the local cheese factory and get a bag whenever they’re open.

Now its even easier to find cheese curds with the new Chese Curd Crawl map from www.eatcurds.com. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board put together a very nice site with the history of curds, how to find them, and cheese curd recipes.

Download the map and get ready to take a trip; there’s nothing better than biting into a hot squeaky one fresh from the vat.

A nice story about curds can be found on the Milwaukee Journal site.

Department of Tourism releases two new guides

Christine August 13th, 2007

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has unveiled two new travel planning guides, the 2007 Fall and Winter Calendar of Events Guide and the 2007 Fall Sampler. Both are available for free by visiting TravelWisconsin.com, calling the Department of Tourism toll free number (800) 432-TRIP/8747 or stopping at one of the 10 Wisconsin welcome centers.

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UW organic field day slated for Aug. 30 at Arlington Station

Michael August 9th, 2007

From the University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Arlington Agricultural Research Station will hold its first field day devoted to organic agricultural production on Aug. 30 from 3 - 7 p.m.

Field crops, processing vegetables and market vegetables will all get some attention at the event, which will include information on organic weed management, cover and companion crops, soil quality, variety selection, vegetable crop trials, and no-till organic production.

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European style racing in Wisconsin

Michael August 8th, 2007

Elkhart Lake, the quaint resort town on the north end of the Kettle Moraine State Forest hosts one of the largest Le Mans circuit races in America. Road America is a four mile permament track with fourteen turns spread over 626 acres of land. They host a variety of events featuring Le Mans cars, Karts, Motorcycles, and vintage vehicles. The weekend of August 9-12 features Wisconsin’s largest road race event: American Le Mans on Saturday and Champ Car World Series on Sunday.

According to Roger Dornboos: #14 Minardi Team USACosworth/DP01/Bridgestone:

“Road America is a high speed track, more what I’m used to in Europe. You sort of have to shift your mindset, just as you’d change the setup on your car after racing on a street course. For one thing, there is so much more speed around the turns compared with the street circuits that you have to be much more delicate and precise with the car.

The history of Road America goes back to the early 1950’s when Elkhart Lake hosted road races on the streets around the town. The Wisconsin State Historical Society has a great article available online about early road racing in Elkhart lake.

Hanging Out With Monkeys and More

The Kids August 5th, 2007

Henry Vials Zoo Polar BearThe Henry Vilas Zoo is great fun! They have every thing from monkeys to lions. The zoo is free. They also have a gaint play area with a slide. They have goats that you can feed (you can buy a cone filled with food!) You can measure your hands and campare them to a monkey! They have a great gift shop, too.

Henry Vilas Zoo LizardIt rates 4 out of 5 stars on the Greta Greatness Scale.

A Note From Mom:  The zoo is an essential part of any visit to Madison- and you can’t beat the admission! You can learn more about the Zoo at www.vilaszoo.org. Be sure to take a miniute to read the extraordinary history of the park and it’s donors.

Head on over to the fair

Michael August 2nd, 2007

Ferris Wheel

Ferris Wheel,
originally uploaded by backroadwisconsin.

August in Wisconsin means fair time. The Wisconsin State Fair starts today and locally, the Wisconsin Valley Fair in Wausau is in full swing. The animals arrived on Wednesday and livestock judging is underway through the rest of the week, culminating with the Market Animal Sale on Saturday.

The county fairs in Wisconsin have been running since late June, but there are still plenty of fairs around the state to catch in August. The Wisconsin Association of Fairs has a calendar of fair dates, so head on over and pick one closest to you. With over 70 county fairs in the state, I’m sure you can find one that isn’t too far to drive. If you go, have some cheese curds and a funnel cake for me.

Where’s your favorite county fair, click on the comment link and share it with us.

Pipe Dreams In Wausau

Christine August 1st, 2007

Salem Lutheran Church OrganWausau is home to an amazing pipe organ with 2500+ pipes- and no electricity (except to th ebellows- which can be pumped by footpower as well). Located in Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church on 6th Street, it has been featured on National Public Radio, as well as several recordings. It is truley a hidden gem of Wausau… but here is your chance to hear a concert… I even have a sneak peek of the program celebrating the music of Buxtehude.

An Organ Recital Celebrating the 300th Anniversary Of the Life and Work of Dieterich Buxtehude (1636-1707)

Dr. John A. Behnke, organist Concordia University Wisconsin

Praeludium in C Major, BuxWV 137

Two Chorale Preludes            

Let All Together Praise Our God, BuxWV 202  (Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich)

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright, BuxWV 223  (Wie schön leuchtet)                                

Two variations Passacaglia in D Minor, BuxWV 161

Chorale Variations on Our Father, Who from Heaven Above (Vater unser in Himmelreich)   BuxWV 219 

Three VariationsPraeludium in g, BuxWV 149

Canzonetta, BuxWV 167Fuga, BuxWV 174

Two Chorale Preludes

To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray (Nun bitten wir)  BuxWV 208

A Mighty Fortress is our God (Ein feste Burg), BuxWV 184

Ciaccona in e, BuxWV160

Praeludium in D Major, BuxWV 139

Here are a few more details that I received:

John Behnke, Professor of Music at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, will be presenting a Dieterich Buxtehude organ recital at Salem Ev. Lutheran Church, 2822 N. 6th Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 54403 at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday 22 September 2007.  A copy of the program is enclosed.  Dr. Behnke is planning to comment on some Buxtehude-related slides as part of the program.

The church’s Jaeckel organ is well suited for the performance of Buxtehude’s music.  Its North German construction style is based on the work of Buxtehude’s contemporary, famed organbuilder Arp Schnitger.

There is no admission charge, however a free-will offering will be received to help offest the cost of the recital.  It is being sponsored by the Wisconsin River Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.