More Fun In This Neck Of The Woods This Weekend

(Some content courtesy Mason City Globe Gazette)
Wind Symphony concert in Algona

The Bethel University Wind Symphony travels to Algona for a concert Friday.

The ensemble, conducted by Steven Thompson, is on its spring tour. The concert is set for 7 p.m. March 10 in the Ed and Betty Wilcox Performing Arts Center in Algona High School, 601 S. Hale. Admission is free, and the concert is open to the public.

Lighter fare offered at POPS concert

There's even more music in Algona Friday, March 10, with Bishop Garrigan's annual POPS concert at 7 p.m. in the Friedmann Auditorium.

Bishop Garrigan High School band and choir students will perform throughout the evening, along with the Concert Band, A Cappella Choir, Show Choir, and Vocal Jazz Ensemble. A variety of talent will be showcased in solos and small ensembles. Pop music and Disney productions will be represented for an evening of light music.

Admission is $7 for reserved table seating, available by calling the BGHS office at 515-295-3521 or emailing Mary McCall at mccallm@bishopgarrigan.org. Bleacher seating is $6.

Winter film series ends with "Art and Craft"

Saturday is the last chance to take in a film in the 2017 Winter Film Series, Films in February, Movies in March, at the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum, 303 Second St. S.E.

"Art and Craft" follows Mark Landis, called one of the most prolific art forgers in the United States history. The 2014 documentary will be shown at 2 p.m. March 11. Admission is free, open to the public, and popcorn will be provided.

Landis' impressive body of work spans 30 years. While his copies could fetch impressive sums on the open market, he isn't in it for money. Instead, he donates his fakes to museums across the country.

When Matthew Leininger, a tenacious registrar in Cincinnati, discovers the ruse and organizes an exhibition of the work, Landis must confront his legacy and the museum professionals clamoring for him to stop.

"Art and Craft" (89 minutes) is not rated. It is sponsored by Dr. Samuel Congello and Dr. Patricia Endress. For more information, visit www.macniderart.org.

Funk rock’s “Here Come The Mummies” heads to the Surf Ballroom

Mummies and Monsters will invade the Surf Ballroom on Saturday.

The headliner, Here Come the Mummies, is an eight-piece funk-rock band playing "terrifying funk from beyond the grave." Special guests Mickey & The Monsters will open the show.

Here Come the Mummies has opened for P-Funk, Al Green, and Cheap Trick; rocked Super Bowl Village; become a regular on The Bob and Tom Show; and played massive festivals like Summer Camp, Common Ground, Voodoo Fest, Musikfest, Summerfest, and Riverbend. Some claim they are reincarnated Grammy-winning studio musicians. Regardless, their mysterious personas, cunning song-craft, and unrelenting live show will bend your brain and melt your face.

Doors open at 8 p.m. for the March 11 show. Advance tickets are $15, available at the Surf Ballroom & Museum box office, 460 N. Shore Drive, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 641-357-6151 or on-line at www.surfballroom.com. Tickets will be $20 at the door.

Classic Car Show Tomorrow

 Tomorrow, Saturday, March 11th, is the River City Street Rods Car Show at Southbridge Mall, downtown Mason City. Stop by to see all the amazing cars, do some shopping, have some lunch. Freewill donations for the Northern Lights Homeless Shelter will also be accepted. The show starts at 10:00 am.

Sad News For North Iowa, And The Literary World

(Some content courtesy of Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)

'Bridges of Madison County' Author Dies

Bestselling “The Bridges of Madison County” author Robert James Waller, a Rockford native, and cousin of previous MusicArtLife Author Of The Month Dennis R. Waller,  has died.

Waller, 77, who resided in Fredericksburg, Texas, died Thursday at his home from complications of pneumonia and multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells, according to longtime friend Scott Cawelti of Cedar Falls.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced. 

Waller was born Aug. 1, 1939, in Rockford. He was married to Linda Bow Waller and is survived by one daughter, Rachel, from a previous marriage. 

“It’s a sad thing … but he said he’d had a helluva life — more than he ever expected to happen to chicken farmer’s son from Rockford, Iowa,” said Cawelti. “He’s sort of iconic for Iowa. He really made it big — 50 million books sold worldwide, a great movie with major stars, a Broadway show. That’s a whole new level of making it big. Robert became a touchstone for people.”

The author taught economics and decision theory at the University of Northern Iowa for 22 years and served six years as business school dean. He graduated from UNI in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree, and his master’s degree in 1968.

“Bridges” has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and is published in 40 languages. It spent more than three years on the New York Times Bestsellers list. In 2014, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical opened in New York City.

Prior to “Bridges,” Waller wrote three non-fiction books and a collection of personal essays. “Bridges” is the bittersweet story of National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid and his brief but memorable affair with an Iowa farmwife.

In 2015, Waller donated the original manuscript of “Bridges” to his alma mater. The manuscript contains his personal author notes and annotations and was originally published in 1992. It is housed in the Rod Library’s special collections and university archives at UNI.

Waller’s literary success will be the focus at the launch of a year-long Cedar Falls Authors Festival, with a program May 4 at the Hearst Center for the Arts.

Cawelti and Waller sang together for many years, and Cawelti will perform songs and readings from Waller.

The festival, which was organized months prior to Waller's death, will continue through May 2018 and recognize other famous Cedar Falls authors.
 Waller published additional bestsellers, including “Slow Waltz at Cedar Bend,” in 1993, followed by “Border Music” and “Puerto Vallarta Squeeze.” "A Thousand County Roads — An Epilogue to The Bridges of Madison County" was published in 2002, followed by “High Plains Tango.”

He returned to non-fiction writing in 2011, writing and publishing “The Summer Nights Never End ... Until They Do: Life, Liberty & the Lure of the Short-Run,” which succeeded in merging his logical and creative sides.

“It's certainly the best piece of work I've ever done, and I'm having fun with it. It's been a walloping good time. I'm good at research and documentation and obsessive to the point of being insufferable, and I fully admit to that,” Waller told The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier in an interview about the book in 2011. 

Waller also became something of a happy recluse, exploring a range of interests from fly fishing to photography, as well as teaching himself to play jazz guitar. 

“He was a man who was happy in his own skin,” noted Rosemary Beach of Cedar Falls. She and her husband, Bob, knew Waller for many years. “We grew to know Bob and Scott (Cawelti) playing their guitars. I think Bob was content with his life and doing his thing, and once he’d done it, he just wanted to disappear from view, and that’s what he did.”

 

Central Park Dentistry

Serving North Iowa since 1993, once again named Reader’s Choice Best Dentist by the Globe Gazette for the 5th straight year. 

Phone: 641-423-4225.  Office hours:

• Monday:         8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Tuesday:         8:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Wednesday:   8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Thursday:       8:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Friday:            8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Here's Your Weekend

Check Out What’s Happening

in Mason City & North Iowa!

Events occurring March 10-16, 2017

 March 10, 2017

Fantastic Fridays Roller Skating - Roller City, 600 2^nd NW (641-423-2000). Kick off the weekend with roller skating from 7pm-10pm. Check Roller City's Facebook page for weekly themes and events! www.myrollercity.com

March 10 & 11, 2017

North Iowa Bulls Hockey vs. Peoria -   North Iowa Ice Arena at North Iowa Events Center, Hwy 122 West, 3700 4th St SW (641-423-4625).  Starts: 7:30pm. Admission: $10 adults; child under 18 & seniors 65+ $6; military/college student (ID required) $8. For more information: www.northiowabulls.com 

March 11, 2017

Here Come The Mummies - Surf Ballroom, 460 N. Shore Dr. (641-357-6151). Eight-piece funk rock band of 5000-old Egyptian Mummies with a one-track mind. Their "Terrifying Funk from Beyond the Grave" is sure to get you into them! Doors open at 8pm. Tickets: $15 Adv. / $20 Door.

March 11, 2017

Roller Skating - Roller City, 600 2^nd NW (641-423-2000). Morning Skate: 10am-12pm - A slower pace geared towards younger families, $10 per family. Afternoon Skate: 1pm-4pm - The most popular session for parties and larger groups, $6 per skater. Night Skate: 7pm-10pm - Most popular skating session with Jackpot Dice Game and much more, $7 per skater. www.myrollercity.com

March 11, 2017

KIMT giving your Best Family Fun Fair - North Iowa Events Center (All Seasons Building) 3700 4^th St. SW (641-423-2540). Over 25 booths with an activity, a craft or a game for the kids to do from 10am-2pm. The event is free and open to the public. http://kimt.com/

March 11, 2017

Brad & Kate Acoustic Concert - Fat Hill Brewing, 17 N. Federal Ave., Mason City.  641-423-0737. 

Brad & Kate have been entertaining crowds across the Midwest for the past three years with their wide-ranging music, offering a variety of familiar songs ranging from The Beatles to John Mayer and Stevie Wonder to Adele. Concert time: 2pm-5pm Free admission. www.fathillbrewing.com

March 11, 2017

Movies in March - Art and Craft - Charles H. MacNider Art Museum, 303 2^nd St. S.E. (641-421-3666). Documentary film following Mark Landis, called one of the most prolific art forgers in US history. Sponsored by Dr. Samuel Congello and Dr. Patricia Endress. This film is unrated. Admission is FREE and opened to the public, popcorn will be provided. Films are shown at the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum's Salsbury Room on Saturdays at 2pm. www.macniderart.org

March 11 & 12, 2017

Knights of Columbus Bowling Tournament – Mystic Lanes,  Hwy 122 East.  Expected to bring 60 teams of bowlers competing for top honors during the month of  March. Visit www.iowakofc.org for more information.

March 11 & 12, 2017

Rex Taylor Auction - North Iowa Events Center (Olson Building) 3700 4^th St. SW. Rex Taylor consignment and household auction. Two day sale: Saturday 9:00am-5:30pm; Sunday 10am-5pm. http://northiowaeventscenter.org/events/events-calendar/

March 12, 2017

Auto Parts Swap Show - North Iowa Events Center, 3700 4^th St. SW (641-423-3811). Cars, car parts, accessories, circle track, drag street, go-carts, and more swapped or sold. Time: 9am-4pm. Admission: adults $5; ages 12 and under free. www.northiowaeventscenter.com

March 12, 2017

North Iowa Bulls Hockey vs. La Crosse-   North Iowa Ice Arena at North Iowa Events Center, Hwy 122 West, 3700 4th St SW (641-423-4625).  Starts: 7:30pm. Admission: $10 adults; child under 18 & seniors 65+ $6; military/college student (ID required) $8. For more information: www.northiowabulls.com 

March 13-17, 2017

Spring Break Art Camp (Ages 5-12) - Charles H. MacNider Art Museum, 303 2^nd St. SE (641-421-3666). Spring Break Art Camp ages 5-12 Wild Wild Animals! Creativity runs wild here for an imaginative Spring Break! A week long adventure creating wild animals from around the world.  Explore the wild side! Snacks will be provided daily. Fee: $65, members $58.

March 13, 2017

Monday Night BINGO - Burke's Bar & Grill,  631 6^th St. SW - South location only (641-423-9610). No entry fee to play & prizes for winners! For more information, call Burke's Bar & Grill. Starts at 7pm. http://bit.ly/2iAxJ1S

March 15, 2017

Spring Break - ZOOMOBILE - Lime Creek Nature Center, 3501 Lime Creek Rd, (641-423-5309). Back by popular demand – it’s the Zoomobile from the Minnesota Zoo!  Join us for their program about North Woods Wildlife, which features live animals from the zoo.  Learn all about animals native to Minnesota and how they survive. There is no charge but registration is required by calling 641-423-5309.  Space is limited so call soon! Event time: 2pm. http://bit.ly/2iTXIkR

March 15, 2017

FREE Family Fun Night - Southbridge Mall, 100 S. Federal Ave. (641-423-6688). Arts, crafts, balloon animals, a bounce house and much more! Enjoy FREE family fun while doing a little shopping! Family Fun Nights take place the 3^rd Wednesday of every month from 5-7pm. www.southbridgemall.net

Now Showing at Cinema West Theaters

(641) 421-1617 / www.cectheatres.com  / Movies starting Friday, March 10- Thursday March 16, 2017

General admission is $8.50; matinees general admission (before 6 p.m.) is $6.50; Children (3-12) and seniors (62 and over), $6.50 all times. 3D movies additional $2.25.

Now Showing	Rating	Times
Beauty And The Beast In LDX	PG	Thurs.- 7:00pm
Get Out	R	Fri-Thurs: 1:30, 4:20, 7:10, 9:55pm
Before I Fall	PG13	Fri-Thurs: 11:50, 2:10, 4:35, 7:05, 9:45pm
Kong Skull Island	PG13	Fri-Thurs: 1:20, 7:05pm
Logan	R	Fri-Thurs:  1:00,3:50, 7:30pm
Kong Skull Island 3D	PG13	Fri-Thurs: 4:15, 9:50pm
Kong Skull Island In LDX	PG13	Fri-Wed: 12:50, 4:10, 6:55, 9:40pm Thurs:  12:50, 4:10, 9:40pm
Logan In LDX	R	Fri-Thurs: 12:30, 3:40, 6:40, 9:40pm
Lego Batman	PG	Fri-Thurs:11:40, 2:00, 4:30, 7:15, 9:35pm
Fifty Shades Darker	R	Fri-Thurs: 1:10, 4:05, 7:00,  9:50pm
Rock Dog	PG	Fri-Thurs:  12:10, 2:20, 4:40pm,
The Shack	PG13	Fri-Thurs: 12:00, 4:00, 6:50, 7:20, 9:45pm

MASON CITY ATTRACTIONS

·   Charles H. MacNider Art Museum- 303 2^nd St. SE - (641) 421-3666 - Wed., Fri., Sat., 9am-5pm; Tues & Thurs. 9am-8pm.  Admission Free. www.macniderart.org

·   Frank Lloyd Wright Stockman House & Architectural Interpretive Center - 530 1st St. NE - (641) 423-1923

Stockman House Tours: May 14 – September;  Tours  on Mon, Tues, Wed 10 am, 11 am, Thurs, Fri, Sat 10am, 11am, 1 pm, 2 pm & 3 pm; Sun. 1 pm, 2 pm & 3 pm  October: Tours on  Sat. 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm & 3 pm;  Sun. 1 pm, 2 pm, & 3 pm  Admission: $10 adults, $5 Youth 12-17, $2 Children 6-11. Architectural Interpretive Center & Gift Shop Hours: Same Hours as the Stockman House PLUS every Saturday throughout the year from 10am-2pm. Admission: A donation is requested when visiting the Architectural Interpretive Center.   www.stockmanhouse.org. 

·   Historic Park Inn Hotel (Frank Lloyd Wright Designed Hotel / Bank) Tours – 7 West State Street (641) 423-0689 Thurs. & Fri. 11:30am & 1:00pm; Sun. 1:30pm & 2:30pm or by appointment for groups 10 or more.  Admission: $10 per person www.wrightonthepark.org

·   Lime Creek Nature Center- 3501 Lime Creek Rd. - (641) 423-5309 – Center open Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm; Multiple use trails open daily: 6am – 10:30pm.  Admission Free.   www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us

·   NIACC Art Gallery – 500 College Drive. Open to the public Monday – Friday 9am-4pm. Free admission. www.niacc.edu

·   Prairie School Architecture Tour/Historical Walking Tour- Prairie School Tour encompasses 14 blocks & the Historic Tour is an additional 13 blocks. Walking tour guidebook is available for $5.00 at MacNider Art Museum & Frank Lloyd Wright Stockman House.

·   The Music Man Square and Meredith Willson Boyhood Home- 308 and 314 S. Pennsylvania Ave. -  (641) 424-2852 – Open Tues.- Sun., 1pm-5pm, other times by appt., closed holidays.  Admission: $10 Adults; $5 students, children 6 & under free.  Admission includes both The Music Man Square and The Meredith Willson Boyhood Home. www.themusicmansquare.org