Snaps Around Town: St. Patrick’s Day
We will be featuring a new ongoing photo series from Bob Good! Check back periodically!
We also feature a new photo that is shared with us on Instagram. Your photo could be next! Just snap a photo and use #explorelacrosse
I have photographed national musicians- American Authors, KISS, Frankie Valli, Sevendust, In This Moment, Papa Roach, Five Finger Death Punch and regional bands – TUGG, The Remainders, and countless others. Since 2015-2017, I was humbled and thankful to be a Best of La Crosse County finalist in the Photographer and Artist categories. Visit bobgoodphotographystudios.com.
Easter FUN at the Children’s Museum
Easter EGG-Stravaganza
Don’t worry about the chilly, wet weather interfering with your Easter egg hunt: Do your hunting indoors at the Children’s Museum’s Easter EGG-Stravaganza. We offer three dates/times for you to choose from: Friday, March 30, 8:30 to 10:00 am or 5:30-7:00 pm, or Saturday, March 31 from 8:30 to 10:00 am.
Join the Easter Bunny (costumed employee) on an egg hunt; play games, make a craft and “spend” Bunny Money for treats and prizes. You can also enjoy the Museum’s three floors of interactive fun! For ages 2-7 with adult. $5 per child Museum Members / $12 per child Non-Members (+$1 per adult). Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Register at the Museum or by calling 608-784-2652 or register online at www.funmuseum.org.
Holiday Hours:
The Children’s Museum will be closed Sunday and Monday, April 1 & 2. Regular hours resume on April 3.
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The Children’s Museum of La Crosse, located at 207 5th Avenue South in historic downtown La Crosse, offers three floors of hands-on exhibits and programming for children ages 1-12 and their adult companions. Regular hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday Noon to 5 pm. Regular admission: $7 per person (infants and members free.) The Children’s Museum of La Crosse opened on February 28, 1999.
For more information contact Carolyn Peterson at 608-784-2652 or learn@funmuseum.org.
Featured Photo Friday: Get Jazzy
We will be featuring a new photo that is shared with us on Instagram.
Your photo could be next!
Just snap a photo and use #explorelacrosse
The true beauty of music is that it connects people.
Come Celebrate Leopold as a Sportsman
Come Celebrate Leopold as a Sportsman
On Saturday March 3, 2018
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge will honor the life and work of conservationist and sportsman Aldo Leopold on Saturday, March 3rd, at the visitor center on Brice Prairie. This fun and educational event is free to the public.
10:00am -12:00pm – Hey Kids! Tell your parents environmental educators from WisCorps will be leading nature journaling and crafts in the visitor center, so stop on by!
10:00am – 11:00 am – Ethics in Hunting: A discussion led by Rick Kyte from Viterbo University – (Building on Steve Rinella’s talk on Thursday) Kyte will continue the discussion on hunting ethics with commentary on Aldo Leopold’s views and practices as
a hunter.
11:00am -12:00pm – Take a Walk Through the Prairie: Students from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) environmental literature classes will be guiding a walk through the prairie and stopping along the way to share readings from “A Sand County Almanac” as well as their own writings about experiencing nature.
Buy A Leopold Bench! The Friends of the Refuge – Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8 (FOR78) will have order forms available in the Visitor Center to purchase a bench kit based on Aldo Leopold’s famous design. Each kit comes with the materials needed to build a 4ft bench. Customers may also choose to have their bench assembled for them for an additional fee.
We hope to see you on Saturday to learn more about Aldo Leopold and why he has had such an impact on conservation work today.
For more information, contact the La Crosse District Office at (608) 779-2399 or visit http://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper_mississippi_river/. Regular visitor center hours are December – January: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm and Saturdays – Closed. February – November: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Visitor Center will close at 12:00pm on the business day before the following holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Visitor Center is closed on federal holidays.
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the most visited refuge in the United States. The refuge extends 261 miles along the Upper Mississippi River from Wabasha, Minn. to Rock Island, Ill., protecting and preserving habitat for migratory birds, fish, and a variety of other wildlife.
In addition to being the most visited refuge in the country, the “Upper Miss” Refuge has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams, within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of
birds; 119 species of fish; more than 300 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.
Herons of La Crosse “Bring Back the Flock” Campaign Kicks Off
Community is being asked to bring back the Herons for a 10 year anniversary Celebration
The statues from the Pump House public art project “Herons of La Crosse” are looking to land in downtown La Crosse again but need a deep cleaning and repairs before that happens.
Originally displayed in 2008, each 6-foot-tall sculpture is an original work of art created by local, regional, and national artists.
The Pump House, in partnership with Downtown Mainstreet, Inc. and Explore La Crosse, would like to make them available again this summer with a “flock” exhibition of over 20 artistic birds opening this spring in downtown. Organizers are asking the community to chip in to bring the “Herons of La Crosse” back to the area. The Herons are currently being stored at Central States Warehouse but need paint, structural and other repairs to get them ready for summer 2018.
The heron project was first organized by the Pump House beginning in 2004. Area businesses, organizations and families sponsored individual herons, which were then decorated by regional artists in unique ways to reflect their sponsorship and the community.
“The Herons of La Crosse project was a great example of cooperation among artists, businesses and community leaders but we need the community’s support to keep it rolling” said Toni Asher, executive director of the Pump House Regional Arts Center.
The public can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/herons toward the fundraising goal of $10,000.
The Pump House is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization; donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Pledge $5 or more
Good vibes for being a public art supporter
Pledge $25 or more
Digital “Thank You” Gif sent to your email
Pledge $50 or more
Limited edition Bronze Heron poster signed by project sculpture fabricator, Dave Oswald
Pledge $100 or more
Your name printed in Official Heron Birding Brochure & Map
Pledge $250 or more
Heron print on canvas taken by La Crosse area Photographer Bob Good
Pledge $500 or more
Your sponsorship acknowledged on the heron sculpture of your choice (subject to availability)
Underwriting sponsorships are available
Toni Asher
Executive Director
Pump House Regional Arts Center
(608) 785-1434
www.thepumphouse.org
La Crosse Named a Best Affordable Place to Live
Livability editors looked at cities across the country, and La Crosse was among the 10 best affordable.
Number 5 to be exact.
Situated along the Mississippi River, La Crosse is no stranger to accolades. Case in point? It earned a spot on our list of the Best Places to Live in Wisconsin, was named one of Forbes’ Best Small Places for Business And Careers and appeared on our Top 100 Best Places to Live list.
You’d think a city with all these distinctions would come at a high price, but La Crosse has managed to stay surprisingly affordable even as it has grown. While the average resident here spends around 30% less on necessities than the average American, their healthcare and entertainment costs are even lower than that. And with home values clocking in around $70,000 lower than the national average, living here is well within reach of many budgets.
La Crosse boasts one of the higher LivScores on this list, and one need not stretch their imagination to see why. Unemployment is at a mere 3.1%; there are two major healthcare facilities (Gundersen Lutheran and Mayo Healthcare System-Franciscan Skemp) to serve the area; and La Crosse is home to three colleges and universities, including the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
In the “things to do” category, La Crosse has been hosting its own Oktoberfest since 1961, and also hosts a summertime event called Wienerfest. Residents can enjoy the outdoors with a swim at Black River Public Beach, go golfing at two local courses, hike around Hixon Forest or head to the Myrick Park Center and take a stroll through the Marsh Trails.
In the winter, La Crosse is also known for both downhill and cross-country skiing at Mt. La Crosse. Grandad Bluff — which towers 600 feet and overlooks the city — is another famous draw, and was voted “the most scenic view in the state” by Wisconsin Trails readers.
About Livability.com:
Livability.com explores what makes small to mid-sized cities great places to live, work and visit. We examine issues related to livability such as walkability, cultural amenities, transportation, urban planning, and sustainability through exclusive research and discussions on our blog. We celebrate the accomplishments of these cities through our monthly top 10 lists, our annual ranking of livable cities, our rich photography and conversations with readers in social media. Livability.com is a division of Journal Communications, Inc.
Student artwork to fill the University Art Gallery
Annual all-student juried show runs Feb. 23-March 8
A variety of artwork will be displayed during the All-Student Juried Exhibition at UW-La Crosse.
The exhibition includes: sculpture, painting, prints, photographs, metals/jewelry, ceramics, drawing, illustration, textile and mixed media work. A total of 65 students from a variety of majors submitted 145 works. The judges selected 56 pieces for the exhibition, representing 42 student artists. Fourteen works received special awards
Judges for this year’s juried exhibition were Winona State University faculty members Professor Anne Scott Plummer and Instructor Alessandra Sulpy.
The exhibition opens in the University Art Gallery with a reception from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. An awards ceremony begins at 4:30. The gallery is on the first floor of the Center for the Arts, 333 N. 16th St.
The exhibition, which runs through Thursday, March 8, is supported by the UWL Department of Art, the College of Liberal Studies, School of Arts and Communications, Student Association, along with donors through the UWL Foundation.
Regular gallery hours are noon-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, by appointment, and during events in the Toland Theater. All University Gallery exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Art Department at 608.785.8230 or visit www.uwlax.edu/art.
—UWL—
What: All-Student Juried Exhibition
Who: UWL students
When: opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m., Friday. Feb. 23. Regular gallery hours are noon-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and during events in Toland Theater. Runs through March 8.
Where: University Art Gallery, UWL Center for the Arts, 333 N. 16th St.
Admission: All exhibitions and receptions are free
Coming soon:
The All-Student Juried Exhibition will be followed by “An Artistic Discovery: Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District High School Exhibition.” Exhibition dates areMarch 22–April 8. There will be a family/community reception and awards presentation at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 8, with awards announced at 1:30. This event will be hosted by Congressman Ron Kind and Tawni Kind.
IMAGE CAPTION: Jurors for the UW-La Crosse All-Student Juried Exhibition, Winona State University faculty members Instructor Alessandra Sulpy, left, and Professor Anne Scott Plummer, review work submitted for the show that runs Feb. 23-March 8.
Brad Quarberg
Director, News & Marketing
1725 State St.
La Crosse WI 54601
608.785.8572
Learn about King Tut’s Tomb at Castlerock
On Saturday, February 24th at 2pm, Gene Pelowski will give a multimedia presentation on “The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun” at Castlerock Museum in Alma, Wisconsin.
The program will include primary sources such as the journal of Howard Carter, the photographs of Harry Burton, and music and video clips of the period. The impact of the 1977 and 2007 world tours of the treasures will also be discussed.
Recently discovered information relating to the items found in the tomb and the life and death of the young pharaoh will be presented. Two exact replicas of items from the tomb will also be on display, a solid gold dagger and the gold statue of the boy king.
Gene Pelowski taught history at Winona Senior High School for over 37 years. He has also served as Winona’s State Representative in the MN House of Representatives since 1986. He currently teaches at Winona State University.
Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students. Museum members receive a 50% discount. Castlerock Museum will be open at 1pm for visitors that would like to see the exhibits beforehand. Seating is limited. Reservations are not required but appreciated.
Contact the museum at 608-685-4231 or info@castlerockmuseum.com for more details.
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
Howard Carter examining Tutankhamun’s third coffin made from solid gold.
Places to Take Your Pup
Dog-Friendly Destinations in La Crosse County
Traveling with your four-legged friends doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many places to eat, drink and play with your dog in La Crosse County. Check out these five spots for pet-friendly fun.
Houska Dog Park
This riverfront pup park is five acres of fenced-in fun. For owners, amenities like drinking fountains, restrooms, parking and doggie bag dispensers are nice perks.
Van Riper Dog Park
This popular Onalaska park features a sandy play area and owners that are all about cleaning up. There are several obstacles for the adventurous dogs and usually a few toys lying around to share. This park is enclosed, so feel free to let your (friendly) dog run.
Huck Finn’s on the Water
According to Bringfido.com, this warm-weather patio destination welcomes well-behaved four-legged friends for outdoor dining, and even gives them a dish of water. Enjoy a steak or some seafood while your dog relaxes at your feet. Located on French Island, this is a fun summer stop to watch boat traffic and sip a cold drink.
Myrick Park
There are a couple options for pet-friendly activities at Myrick Park, located in the heart of La Crosse. If your dog could use a long walk, head off down the marsh trails for some exercise and an abundance of wildlife to pique your pup’s interest. If you want a more traditional dog park experience, try the small, fenced-in area near the trailhead.
Hixon Forest
Grab the leash and your 4-legged friend and hit the trails! Hixon Forest offers a great hiking experience, especially in the fall when the trees are changing to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. This is a popular place for people to walk with their furry friends so be sure to have them on a leash. Check out the trails here.
Disclaimer: This is just my perspective on La Crosse County events, businesses and activities. I’m only one local opinion. Explore the rest of the site to learn more on those that I’ve missed.
Sara Walters
Writer
Sara Walters is a writer, mom and marketing professional. She lives in La Crescent, MN with her husband and two daughters, Caroline and Maggie. Visit Sara’s website at creativecontentandconsulting.com.
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