Things to Do Around Monroe

Another week, another weekend to plan for.

~ Blackhawk Technical College has some interesting community education classes starting next week.

• Inspired Art, Drawing People, or Pen and Watercolor Fundamentals,
  
• Quickbooks, Access, Skype , or Social Networking,
  
• Cake Decorating,
  
• Meditation,
  
• Organic Gardening, or Plan Your Herb Garden,
  
• Conversational Spanish,
  
• Sustainable Building: Green Design Basics with LEED principles are all starting in the next two weeks.
  

The Skype workshop is tonight, and as long as there is room, you can enroll up until the last minute.

~ Stop in at the Historic Courthouse in Monroe for a free Valentine's Day cookies anytime between the 11th and the 14th. Sponsored by Monroe Main Street.

~ The Albany Lions club are having a Pancake Day on Saturday at their building in Albany.

~ Local singer/songwriter Beth Kille (of Clear Blue Betty fame)is playing a solo show on Saturday evening at Toffler's in New Glarus starting at 9 pm. No cover charge.

~ Oakdale Nature Preserve in Freeport has a family day this Sunday from 1 until 4 pm. The theme this month is Bluebirds. There will be nature play, puppets, puzzles and activities for all ages at this free will donation event.

~ The YPs of Green County have another business showcase, this time at Studio M in Monroe. Go there on Monday, February 15 at 5:30 pm. Meghan and Molly will discuss the studio from 5:45 until 6:15, and the YPs can watch the a Tap Dance class starting at 6:15.

~ Monroe Arts Center is sponsoring another Poetry on Tap event at the Lazy Mutt Lounge (in Minhas Brewery) in Monroe. This free event is on February 18, starting at 7 pm.

~ The Friends of Browntown Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area have partnered with Brennan's Market and Monroe Sign Design to bring us the Snowshoe Walk and Wine Tasting on February 20. Snowshoe your way through the park to three different tasting stations, and you can taste 9 wines in all. Hot cocoa and hot cider will also be available at this family friendly event. Tickets are $20 per person, $30 per family, and the event starts at noon. Call Larry at 608-558-2289 for tickets and information. The proceeds will go towards new playground equipment.

~ Also next weekend in the Monroe Theatre Guild's Pirate Night. Bill Rients and his scurvy dogs will provide an evening of swashbuckling pirate music at the Stage building on Monroe. Tickets are $10, with free floor seats for kids under 12. If you want to purchase tickets, give us a call or text at 214-5796.

Things to Do Around Monroe

~ There is an opening reception for the new exhibit in Frehner Gallery at the Monroe Arts Center on Thursday evening. "Looking In, Looking Out" is an exhibit by Lake Mills artists Karen Ragus and Leslie DeMuth. The show features artists working within a contrast of styles, a contrast of inspiration, and a contrast of imagery, but with a shared passion for color, mood and personal expression. The reception is from 5 until 7 pm, with a talk by the artists starting at 5:30 pm.

~ Did you get the kids enrolled for Monroe Theatre Guild's Stage Right Youth Theatre workshops this weekend? There is still time to enroll, so call Suzanne as soon as possible. There are two workshops for kids ages 7 and up this weekend, and two for kids ages 4 through 7 next weekend.

~ UW Extension is offering a free webinar for local farmers this Friday from 8 until 10 am in the new Justice Center. The topic will be on dealing with issues in the fall harvest, weighting the pros and cons of letting the crops dry naturally in the fields at the risk of potential mold development versus harvesting earlier and dealing with the costs of mechanically drying. Pre-registration is requested; call Mike Mayer at 328-9440.

~ Famous Fossil Winery is having Wine Movies and Cheesecake on Fridays and Saturdays this November and December. Enjoy a free wine-themed movie, pick up a slice of homemade Famous Fossil Cheesecake, and enjoy an evening out. This weekend's movie will be A Good Year; next week's is The Secret of Santa Vittoria.

~ Baumgartner's has live music this Saturday evening. Glen Davis will be playing blues starting at 8 pm. It should be a great event. Stop by Baumgartner's tonight for their Wednesday night Baby Back Ribs special!

~ Get some of your holiday shopping completed this weekend at the Brodhead Jaycees Arts and Crafts fair. Browse the many vendors all day on Saturday at the high school. Food will be available on site as well.

~ You can eat pancakes all day long in Freeport on Saturday. The United Methodist Church is having a pancake breakfast, and the Silvercreek Museum is having a pancake supper.

~ Monroe Arts Center hosts the final Sunday concert for fall on Sunday. Chicago pianist Mark Valenti will perform a series of works by Schubert, Stravinsky, and Debussy starting at 2 pm. Tickets are free for MAC members, $10 for the general public and will be available at the door.

~ Edler Glass Studio in Cedarville has their annual open house on Saturday and Sunday from 10 until 4. Watch the art of glass blowing, view the exhibit pieces and browse for something special to take home.

~ Small business owners, make plans to attend a workshop on financing options at Blackhawk Technical College Monroe's campus on Tuesday evening. The subject of the workshop will be Financing Opportunities for Small Business. Learn the myths and truths about small business loans, grants, financing and more. The cost is $10 and pre-registration is required. Call 342-1038 to register.

~ The Young Professionals of Green County are hosting a socializing and networking Happy Hour at Flanagan's Shenanigans on Tuesday, November 10 starting at 5:30 pm. Free snacks, drinks specials. The YPs are doing a Toy Drive for the Monroe Women's Club in conjunction with this event, so please bring a new, unwrapped toy if you are able.

~ Register for Chef Stef Culberson's Gifts from the Kitchen workshop at Goosechaser Farm next week. This popular class will be offered three times this year, twice at the farm and once at Kookaburra's in Monroe. Each participant will take home four wrapped and packaged gifts, all ready for giving.

~ Next Wednesday, November 11, MAC is auditioning local talent for the Annual Showcase of Talent Variety Show starting at 6:30. Groups or individuals, singing, dancing, instrumental music, comedy and more are all welcome. A second day of auditions is scheduled for Saturday morning, November 11.