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

Welcome back after the winter holiday break! Now that the festivities are over, are you looking for something to do this weekend?

~ The Young Professionals of Green County are having a Business Showcase this Thursday evening. Join them at Beast Buffet from 5:30 to 6:15 where 2009 YP of the Year Nominee, Eric Jerdee, will talk about the services his company has to offer for pets and farms. The YPs are doing a semi-formal event next week at The Dining Room at 209 Main in Monticello. Join them on Thursday evening for appetizers, drinks and conversation. $20 includes a drink and appetizers; RSVP via email, Facebook or LinkedIn by January 7.

~ Goetz Theater in Monroe is showing "Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel", "Avatar", and "Sherlock Holmes" this weekend. Matinees are $6, evening shows $7.50, kids are always $5.

~ There is a gallery reception at Frehner Gallery at the Monroe Arts Center on Thursday evening from 5 until 7 pm. The new exhibit, Positive Matter, features both two and three dimensional pieces in oil, acrylic, painted steel and bronze.

~ Tofflers in New Glarus has live music this Saturday evening starting at 9 pm.

~ There is a Family Day at Oakdale Nature Center in Freeport this Sunday afternoon from 1 until 4 pm. There will be plenty of opportunities for creative nature play for the kids. Warm up with cookies and cocoa.

~ The kids get started on Saturday for the SCWA Youth League. The nine week South Central Wisconsin Archers league is a popular winter activity. Is this the first you have heard of it? There might still be a little time to enroll. Contact Al at 439-1819.

~ Saturday's weather looks to be chilly, but the mercury should top 20 on Sunday, perfect for getting out and enjoying some winter sports. The Green County cross country ski trails are open and ready for fun!

Things to Do Around Monroe

~ The Monroe Clinic Volunteers have their annual Christmas Festival on Friday in Founder's Hall. On December 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., stop in for a bake sale, lunch stand, Clare’s Closet gift shop items, a silent auction as well as coffee and sweets. All proceeds benefit the scholarship fund.

~ If you are in Shopko this Friday or Saturday, stop by to listen to music provided by students of the Green County Piano Teachers Association. 155 students and 8 teachers are participating in a Piano Play-A-Thon.

~ Did you register for Kookaburra's annual Cookie Contest? If not, there is still time. If you are not a baker, stop in to taste the cookies and fudge entrants between 10am-3pm, and be sure to check out the fun new inventory of culinary goods and gifts while you are there.

~ New Glarus will host the first Tour of the Arts, showcasingworks by emerging and established artists, each one hosted by a different business or retail store. Maps of the artist locations will be available at the New Glarus Chamber (Depot Building on Railroad Street) starting at 10 a.m. There will also be traditional Swiss holiday treats and other sweets at the Swiss Church Cookie Sale, Santa at the Anderson Mall and horse-drawn wagon rides downtown.

~ Tthe Monroe City Band Christmas will have a concert on Sunday, December 6, 3:00 p.m. at the Methodist Church. Admission is free, and there will be cookies after.

~ Juda Fire Departments holds their annual Big Gun Show this Sunday from 8 am until 3:30 pm. Buy, sell or trade at 100 tables of guns and gun related times. $4 admission at the door, will all proceeds helping the Juda Fire Department to purchase life saving equipment.

~ St John's UCC Church hosts Deutscher Weihnachtsgottesdienst this Sunday at 2 pm. This German-language sermon is believed to be one of the few of its kind still conducted in the US. There will be a retelling of the Christmas story using lessons and carols with several native speakers taking part in the reading.
~ The Monroe Theatre Guild’s Youth Choirs have their fall session concert on Sunday, December 6th at 7:00 PM at Monroe Arts Center. Both the Junior and Senior Choirs will be performing traditional and non-traditional Christmas songs. The kids are sure to entertain music lovers of all ages. Doors open at 6:30 and admission is by donation. Come fill the house with supporters of these young singers.

~ Are you ready for TubaChristmas!? Come to Lincoln Mall on W. Galena Avenue in Freeport at 11 am on Saturday for an hour-long concert of your favorite Christmas carols played by local and regional tuba and baritone players.

~ Also in Freeport this Saturday is the annual Luminary Walk at Okadale Nature Preserve. From 6 pm to 9:30 pm, the woods will glow with the light from hundres of luminaries. Enjoy an guided hike through the paths where special guests along the way will share their stories with you. Treats and music await in the Lodge, and the Children's Holiday Giving Store will be open. Admission is $6 for adult, $4 for kids 4 through 11 years for this enchanting event.

~ The Green County Area Entreprenuers and Inventors Club meets this Monday evening from 6:30 until 8:30 at Barb's Kitchen (710 16th Street, Monroe). Barb Newcomer and other Food Entrepreneurs will talk about their businesses and sharing a commercial kitchen. Tours and samples available. Event is open to the public and free.

Things to Do Around Monroe

Are you looking ahead to the weekend plans? Here is a snapshot of area events in the upcoming days:

~ Behring Senior Center in Monroe has a Brat Fest every fall, and it is here again. On Thursday from 10 am until 6 pm, you can stop in for single brats at $3 each or a meal for $6 (brat, chips, soda/water, and a cookie).

~ The Young Professionals of Green County are playing wiffleball and kickball with the YP of Freeport on Saturday at Little Cubs Field at 2 pm. Bring the whole family for a day of fun. Afterwards, some of the YPs are planning to head over to Cannova's in Freeport for dinner.

~ Bag Ladies in Monroe has an open house event this week from Thursday through Saturday. New fall purses are in, so come and browse.

~ Get your registration in for the collaborative class between Stef at Goose Chaser Farm and Laura at Kookaburra's in Monroe. The October 5 class will feature Oktoberfest foods. Who better to teach it than a native German? Brats, kraut recipes and much more including the beer. Also sign up for the Fall Foods class on October 11 where Stef will be cooking soups and stews.

~ Artisan Gallery in Paoli has a new exhibit opening on Friday evening. The opening reception of the 6th Annual Ceramics Invitaional Art Show is on September 25 from 5 until 9. The show will be on display through November 1

~ It is Oktoberfest weekend in New Glarus! Festivities kick off with a brew master from New Glarus Brewing Company tapping into a keg of their Oktoberfest Staghorn beer. There will be classic cheese fondue, a tractor pull, chainsaw wood carving demonstrations, and plenty of food and live music all weekend long.

~ Monroe Arts Center has Big Top Chautauqua’s “Wild Woods & Waters" coming to the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm on Saturday. The Blue Canvas Orchestra and singers travel to Monroe with an original musical theatre production highlighting the natural beauty and history of Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. The multi-media performance features live music and songs by talented musicians, dramatic storytelling, and hundreds of breathtaking large screen, historical images.

~ Dance to beat of your own drummer. Oakdale Nature Preserve in Freeport will be the site of a Community Drumming Circle on Friday evening from 7 until 9. All ages are welcome and a variety of percussion instruments will be available or bring your own. Reservations are preferred by the day of the event; call 815-235-6114. $4.

~ Argyle has a Homecoming celebration this Sunday with a parade and high school football game. Come support the youth athletes! The parade starts at noon and kickoff for the football game versus Benton/Scales Mound is at 2 pm.