Visit Bluff Country

A guide to Historic Bluff Country

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First kayak winner of the summer

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Pamela Eddy, of La Crosse, Wis., stood next to her brand new kayak she won in a recent contest.

On June 2, 2023, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the first prize giveaway drawing of the summer, which was a brand new kayak. As the magazine celebrates 38 years as the premier tourism publication of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Area), they will be conducting prize giveaways each month from May through September. Prizes include kayaks, a Blackstone griddle, and a Green Mountain Grill.

The next drawing for a brand new kayak will be July 31, 2023. Please go to www.visitbluffcountry.com/thebest to enter this drawing.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine, the premier tourism publication of the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region, is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining and shopping.

Over the summer months, Visit Bluff Country Magazine will give away more than $4,000 in gift cards and prizes with four different contests.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine Golf Tour offers $25 gift cards that will be given away with a contest on the Visit Bluff Country Facebook Page.

The Brewery, Distillery & Winery Contest runs on the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Facebook page.  This contest will include a weekly $25 gift card giveaway for 13 consecutive weeks.

Visit Bluff Country Magazine will also giveaway $100 in gift cards with the Choose Your Adventure Contest, accessible at www.visitbluffcountry.com/adventure.

Fiddlin’ in the bluffs

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Sausage Grinder is performing at the upcoming Bluff Country Gathering.
Photo submitted

The 23rd Bluff Country Gathering will take place in Lanesboro, Minn., May 18-21. A celebration of American traditional music and dance, the event brings masters of old time music to teach two days of workshops covering such things as fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, ukulele, singing styles, square dance calling, etc. Though the workshops are only open to registered participants, the public is invited for a concert Friday, May 19 and barn dance on Saturday, May 20. These events are held in the Lanesboro Community Center and start at 8 p.m. The concert is $15 per person and the dance is $10.

Performers this year include Sausage Grinder (California), Adam Hurt & Beth Hartness (Virginia), Sheila Kay Adams (North Carolina), Whitt Mead (Ohio), Paul Bradley (Massachusetts), and Chirps Smith and Dot Kent (Wisconsin). Dot Kent will also be calling the Saturday night dance.

The music you will hear is old time country music, fiddle, banjo and stringband music, unaccompanied ballads, harmony singing, and more. For the dance, no experience is necessary, you need not bring a partner, and the caller will teach you moves before each dance.

For more information, you can check our website by going to www.boveeheil.com and clicking on the button for Bluff Country Gathering or give us a call at (507) 498-5452. There are no advance tickets sold for the concert or barn dance, only at the door, but there’s plenty of room!

Rubaiyat – Decorah’s Dining Destination

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By Jason Sethre

There are not many places where you feel like you’re in a fancy restaurant and an art gallery, all at the same time.

That’s the best way to describe Rubaiyat in downtown Decorah, Iowa.  This special place has been the vision of Andy and Kim Bonnet since 2007.

Andy and Kim met while working at a restaurant in Galena, Ill.  Andy gained experience in the food and beverage industry starting at the age of 14, working with retail wine sales along with grocery, and then as a chef and server.  Kim, who grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, graduated from Luther College in 2002, and worked in the financial world for six years.  But she has also been working in the food and beverage industry since age 14, as a server, bartender and caterer.

Building A Vision

The historic building located at 117 Water Street in downtown Decorah, has been home to many entrepreneurial experiences since the early 1890s.

“The original stores housed everything from a mail order dry goods store to a ladies ready-to-wear boutique.  In the early to mid 1900s, the buildings housed a jewelry store, a hardware store, and the original Donlon Drug.  The upstairs was also used as a speak-easy during prohibition.  In the early 1950s, Bill Brickley opened a five and dime store.  He sold out in 1960 to Ben Franklin Stores and the buildings were combined into what you see now as one storefront.  After the Ben Franklin closed in the early 1990s, the building housed an office supply store, antique store, and a dollar store,” according to the owners of Rubaiyat, Andy and Kim Bonnet, who have owned the building since 2007.

At first, they thought the building would be too big, but as they started planning, they knew it was the right one for them. When they purchased the building, it needed lots of work. The restaurant was renovated in 2007, and took about nine months. They worked on the building renovation with family and friends, and in July 2007 they turned it over to contractors. In 2016, they renovated the second floor (which had no plumbing or electrical) and moved there with their family that same year. That renovation took about seven months.

The name of the restaurant, Rubaiyat, was derived from a collection of poetry written over 1,000 years ago by a Persian gentleman named Omar Khayyam.  As it states on their restaurant website, “The poems are a testimony of living life to its fullest with the help of good food and great wine and together, the joy that they can bring to life. Andy and Kim welcome the chance to share their love of food and wine with you and invite you to experience that joy right here at our restaurant in downtown Decorah.”

The Bonnets

The Bonnets love everything Decorah has to offer. While raising their two sons, ages 13 and 10, they enjoy spending time as a family, traveling and camping whenever they have free time.

How did they pick Decorah?  What makes Decorah special?

“Decorah is a mythical place. There is something special about Decorah that exists in very few other locations,” said Kim.  With Kim’s Luther College experience, she always wanted to move back and raise a family here. “The sense of community is second to none,” she added.

Ambiance & Food

When you dine at a restaurant, authenticity is important.  What sets this place apart from others?

The right ambiance, food and service will always make you want to come back for more.  And, you’ll tell your friends about it.

That’s Rubaiyat.

While Kim leads the front-end of the restaurant, Andy creates masterpieces in the kitchen.

As indicated on their website, Chef Andy’s menu is inspired to reflect classic and diverse culinary influences.  He is consistently creating food that is distinctly contemporary.  Their seasonal American dishes combine four qualities that the Bonnets value most: integrity, style, restraint, and playfulness.

And, they always deliver as promised.

They spend a great amount of time focused on aesthetics.  “We both work on this together, and bring our ideas inspired by restaurants and spaces we have visited in California,” shared Kim.

They want their restaurant to be known for great food, great service, a place to gather and enjoy special occasions and celebrate the everyday. And, of course, friendship.

And, what they are doing is working quite well.  According to Kim, “On an average night, we draw from about a 60 to 70 mile radius, but we do have people here every week from further than that.  Major metros, Midwest cities, and both coasts.”

If you want to impress someone without breaking the bank, take them to Rubaiyat.

But, I’d suggest always making a reservation.  During the summer months, they have been known to get fully booked a week in advance.

Their website is https://www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com/ and their phone number is (563) 382-9463.

Winter blues, be gone!

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By Charlene Corson Selbee

Start your day with a freshly baked cookie and a cup of coffee at Cabin Fever Fest.
Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee

Chase away those winter blues in Lanesboro, March 10-12, at the town’s annual Cabin Fever Fest. Three days of memory making fun – solving a mystery puzzle, consuming delicious food, enjoying craft beverages, and listening to live music.

Where to start? First, book a room in the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Minnesota. Second, purchase your tickets to guaranteed-to sell out events.

If you like mysteries, you are certain to enjoy the interactive puzzle room style mysteries at the Scandinavian Inn. Plan on spending about 90 minutes solving a well-designed puzzle.

Check out a theatrical performance “A Murder Has Been Renounced” at the St. Mane Theatre. Take in “The Pillowman” at the Commonweal Theatre.

Need a breath of fresh air? Schedule a guided fishing trip with the Root River Rod Company. Catch and release winter fishing trips are available Thursday through Sunday.

Lanesboro comes alive! Listen to the acoustic sounds of Fukawe AC at Sylvan Brewing on Friday night. On Saturday evening, Ben Scruggs, a Mankato-based musician will perform at the High Court Pub.

Lanesboro is the art hub of southeast Minnesota, so make sure to include a visit to the Lanesboro Arts Gallery for the 2023 Emerging Artist Exhibition. Visitors will also find eight local artists demonstrating and selling their work on Saturday.

Did I mention food? Check out the St. Patty’s Day dinner prepared by guest chef Paul O’Little at Root River 102 or enjoy a traditional midwestern fish fry at the American Legion.

Settle in and enjoy a card game or a board game at the Burmeister game-a-thon at the Sons of Norway Lodge. Attendees are welcome to bring their own board game.

End your evening sitting around a firepit reminiscing while enjoying a hot beverage or snacks at High Court Pub, Root River Inn & Suites, Sylvan Brewing, or Stone Mill Hotel & Suites.

Upcoming Bluff County events

•MN Trout Fishing Opener, April 12-13, statewide

•Lipmasters Fishing Tournament, April 22, Rushford

•Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, April 28-30, Bluff Country area

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

It was a dark and stormy night

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It was a a dark and stormy night. Mason Keel and Taylor Fishwild, as Nick and Darla Dashell listen in to a conversation among society ladies Miss Mendacio (Bonnie Hulsing), Miss Heinspiele (Pam Butler), and Mrs. Ludos (Sandy Webb) as the stoic maid, Diedre (Val Tindall), looks on. Doruk Evcim, playing Captain Trucage, was unavailable for the photo.
Photo submitted

A Victorian vampire and a zombie nurse. Mix them together with a shifty eyed captain, a sarcastic maid named Diedre, and three society ladies who all like to play games and you have a perfect combination for a comedy murder mystery. It’s a dark and stormy night. Stranded travelers arrive at a spooky house looking for a phone after their car breaks down. Yes, many cliches, but the game is afoot. Watch out for surprises.

Join Lanesboro Community Theater for “A Murder has been Renounced.” Performances are March 3,4,10, and 11 at 7 p.m. Sunday matinees are March 5 and 12 at 2 p.m. at the St. Mane Theater in Lanesboro.

New faces, Doruk Evcim and Taylor Fishwild, join some of the LCT regulars onstage. Delia Bell and Kieran Dixon join the LCT regulars back stage, without whom none of this comedic mayhem could happen.

Kari Berg is back for a second year directing for LCT’s winter production. She has just as much fun as the family of actors on stage rehearsing their lines and figuring out how to tell this story that “turns a cliche on its head,” as playwright Lee Mueller states.

Tickets are $15 (plus 3% if paid by credit card), available at the Parkway Market in Lanesboro and online at www.universe.com. Also some tickets will be available at the door.

Let’s welcome spring with laughter.

It’s a hoot!

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By Charlene Corson Selbee

Prepare to have a hoot at the International Festival of Owls, March 3-5.

Second place winner, Yoonjeong (Gina) Yang (age 18) USA in the 2023 International Kids’ Owl Art Contest will be on exhibit during the International Owl Festival.
Photo submitted by the International Owl Center
The event originally started at a “hatch-day” party for Alice the Great Horned Owl in 2003. The celebration has grown from 300 attendees to over 2,000 visitors from all over the United States, Canada, Jamaica, England, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Nepal, Taiwan, Japan, Kenya, and South Africa.

“Expect to be immersed in owls,” explained Karla Bloem, International Owl Center executive director.

The entire town of Houston, Minn., is actively involved in the celebration. The Cross of Christ Lutheran Church will once again host the favorite owl-face pancake breakfast. Barista’s Coffee House specialty is owl-themed drinks, and SubZero Pizza & Ice Cream will feature owl shaped pizzas on Friday night.

Looking for owl-themed gifts? Visit the vendor show at Houston High School, 306 W. Elm, and the International Owl Center’s Gift Shop, located in the Owl Center, 126 E. Cedar, for a wide selection of owl-themed gifts.
Check out the self-guided Parade of Owls art tour. eleven public owl sculptures are located throughout the town. Watch for the street banners featuring kids’ owl art from around the world. Note that three of the banners feature artwork from Ukraine. Over 2,007 entries from 34 countries and 20 U.S. states were submitted this year.

First place winner, Alexander Xu (age 16) USA in the 2023 International Kids’ Owl Art Contest out of about 2,007 entries from 34 countries and 20 US states.
Photo submitted by the International Owl Center
Roar Solheim from Norway is the 2023 World Owl Hall of Fame keynote speaker on Saturday night. The presentation will focus on Solheim’s encounters with owls and owl people in North America. Owl-themed refreshments will be provided by the town’s Forget-Me-Not Garden club.

Other activities include live owl programs, owl crafts, medallion hunt, kids’ owl art contest, kids’ owl calling contest, birding and natural history bus trip, owl nest box building, owl pellet dissection, and owl prowls.
Some events require registration. The schedule and registration information are available online at festivalofowls.com.

Bloem emphasized, “Sunday programs are much less crowded than Saturday.”

The three-day celebration is the center’s largest event of the year and is a fundraiser for the center.

Upcoming Bluff County events:
• March 2-5, Oneota Film Festival, Decorah

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festivals and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining, and shopping.