Downtown Fargo has a new mural. And it depicts a moment of music history that most locals have never heard of -- myself included. You can find it on the alley side of the Rhombus Guys building at 606 Main Avenue. That's just steps away from the site of the Crystal Ballroom, which once stood at the corner of 6th Street and 1st Avenue South. The municipal auditorium’s dance hall was a big deal back in the day. In fact, I owe my very existence to this place -- my paternal grandp

Today is National Ice Cream Day. July is National Ice Cream Month. So now is the perfect time to tell you about my ice cream summer. I can't take credit for this idea. A few years ago, prompted by how fast the long summer days seem to fly by, I wrote a post called "What Will You Do With Your Wild And Precious Summer?" In it, reminded myself that we don't need to wait for the weekend or a vacation to enjoy the season; picking a few things you really love can bring you little p

The best things happen when you get off the interstate and start cruising the backroads. The Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway, which runs parallel to I-94 in the central part of North Dakota, is no exception. I have nothing against the interstate system. It's efficient, I'll give it that. And sometimes you really do just need to get somewhere fast. But the scenic route is just more fun. And it's usually much less stressful too. You can slow down, unclench your shoulders, relax a

“The is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” Scandinavian Proverb On this, the 200 millionth day of social distancing, I’m restless. So I’m doing what I always do when this mood hits. I’m getting outside, even in winter. I know it seems counterintuitive to be active in the cold when you’re worn out and run down. It’s hard to get motivated when you need a sweater just to sit in the house. Hibernating is necessary sometimes. I get it. But when that weird, jittery k

I had one of those weeks this week. Between computer problems, impossible to find sources, rescheduled meetings and odd editorial requests, everything was taking about ten times as long as she it should have. It was apparent by Thursday morning that, while I was fully caffeinated and more than ready to work, nobody else was. So I said “screw it” and built snow art instead. It was awesome. Let me back up for a second. My high school friend Katie runs a marketing agency in Mahn