BackroadWisconsin

Michael August 23rd, 2007

It 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.

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Michael August 2nd, 2007

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.

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Christine August 1st, 2007

Wausau 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 300^th 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.

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Christine July 27th, 2007

One of our favorite places to visit is Circus World down in Baraboo. It is an amazing step into the culture and history of the circus. Unfortunately in the past several years they have encounted financial difficulties. However , according to a recent article they are poised to reverse this trend. Of course, you can help by taking the time to run off and join the circus…and bring all your friends and neighbors. From the amazing restored circus wagons, to the history of sideshows and high flying trapeze artists, to the elephants and camels- it is an AMAZING visit into a fabulous world. The calliope is calling you…

See the article from Fox News here.

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Michael July 26th, 2007

The Wisconsin Historical Society has beeen besieged with budget cuts every year for the last several years. As the well of State funding dries up, the Society has had to keep its operation running by seeking out other funding sources. One such source is the sale of historical image copies. The Historical Society has over three million images in its archives and has generated about $100,000 last year in the sales of copies of those images. About 30,000 of these images are searchable on the Historical Society Website and roughly another 6,000 will be added this year. Check out the collection and maybe you’ll find something to decorate your empty walls with.

Originally reported by the Janesville Gazette.

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Christine May 29th, 2007

 It’s more than just theater, it is a full afternoon of fun (at least on Sunday it is the afternoon, other days it would be an evening of fun).  We attended an afternoon performance of Beau Jest this past Sunday. We were treated to a fabulous Sunday brunch, a stroll in the gardens and great comedy.

We arrived at about 12:30 for a buffet lunch and were seated immediately. Everyone who helped us were incredibly curteous and professional. We had a leisurely lunch and tried just about everything! Greta reccomends the barbecue beef (sliced) and Carl will tell you all about the Blintzes (he got the last 2- what a happy kid!) I say try it all- each entree was wonderful.

Between lunch and the performance we had time to stroll through the gardens. They have a nice variety of plants and an awesome view of the Chippewa River Valley. Benches are placed all along the path for resting and enjoying the view. The pond is filled with frogs to be at this time.

The show itself was a hoot! The theater is very intimate and you can easily see the actors’ expressions. The kids and I laughed through each scene. There were several serious moments that were well done as well- even I could feel the tension. Definately a comedy for the whole family!

The Fanny Hill is located in Eau Claire. If you are looking for a great weekend getaway, extend your visit with a stay at the Victorian Inn that is part same building. The rooms are elegant and more than a bit romantic!

Check out there schedule at www.fannyhill.com.

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Michael May 16th, 2007

Would you believe the last time the beer tax in Wisconsin was increased it was the year 1969. The tax per barrel was increased from $1.00 to $2.00. Now, some legislators want to increase it again from $2.00 to $10.00 per barrel. This works out to an increase from 3.6cents to 18 cents per six pack. The current tax brings in about 1.6 million dollars a year. The new tax could bring in $40 to $48 million. The money would be earmarked for alchohol abuse, addiction and education. Rep. Terese Berceau and Sen. Fred Risser, both Democrats from Madison are supporting the increased beer tax.

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

According to the national Beer Institute, Wisconsin ranked sixth in beer consumption in 2006, with an average of 38.2 gallons consumed for every person 21 and older.

Wisconsin’s $2-a-barrel tax is third lowest in the nation, behind the 59-cent levy in Wyoming and the $1.86 tax in Missouri.

In Madison, officials lined up to distance themselves from the beer proposal.

“I want the residents of (my) Senate district to know that I will fight this proposal with all my power,” state Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland), the former president of the Tavern League of Wisconsin, said in a statement.

It sounds like this proposal probably won’t make it very far.

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Christine May 13th, 2007

There are festivals all across Wisconsin that celebrate food. Choose your food and there is almost certainly a celebration for it in Wisconsin:

Brats- Brat Fest in Madison is billed as the world’s largest. But somehow it seems to make the most sense in Sheboygan at Bratwurst Day .

Cheese- The mother of all cheese festivals is Green County Cheese Days in Monroe. But there are a whole host of others across the state!

Chocolate- Where else but in Burlington- Chocolate City, USA- would you find Chocolate Fest?

Beer- They appear across the state, but here are a couple: Great Northern Beer Festival and Rock The Brewery.

Wine- There are great wineries all over Wisconsin, and some cool festib\vals to go with them: In Cedarburg for example is the Wine and Harvest Festival.

The list goes on. But the one that has made international headlines most recently is in the small town of Elderon here in Central Wisconsin. You can read more about The Testicle Festival even in the Austrailian press and in the International Herald Tribune.It looks like about 300 folks attended. Mark it on you calendar for next May.

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Christine May 7th, 2007

Although the Film Incentives law is not set to go into effect until 2008, Film Wisconsin has found a home at Visit Milwaukee. They have also received some funding from Visit Milwaukee to help attract more production crews to Milwaukee, such as the recent Hyundai commercial that used the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Check out this article at The Business Journal.

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Christine May 1st, 2007

Yes, Polkas are one of my favorite Wisconsin traditions and Central Wisconsin gives me many opportunities to enjoy the tradition.

There are several festivals that feature polka music through out the summer. The biggest is the Central Wisconsin Polka Festival is in Merrill, June 15 - 17th, at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds.

On Sunday it is a must to listen to polkas on the way to church… it’s the Polka Jamboree.

For those who like to watch their polka music they are beginning to tape “Polka Magic” again. The Wausau Daily Herald had a nice mention of the show in today’s paper.

Remember, it’s not just a tradition, it’s the state dance!

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