On Tuesday, March 15th, the Stoughton High School Band Department invites you its spring concert.

Both bands will perform, as well as several chamber ensembles and solos.

It is at 7pm in the high school performing arts center, this concert is free and open to the public.

Featured composers are Clifton Williams, Richard Saucedo, Wisconsin composer Pierre La Plante, and others.

These kids are great, you’ll enjoy them.

Think about visiting Stoughton WI and experience all the history of this Norwegian founded city.  Architecture to art are all around.  Shop Main Street then grab a pizza and a movie.  Classes are another option. All this is only walking distance from Naeset-Roe Inn, the Victorian bed and breakfast in Stoughton, WI.  A show, dinner, a great bed and a fabulous breakfast.  What could be better?

Looking for something to do after the summer?  Think about an Overnight Staycation to Stoughton WI and Naeset-Roe Inn.  Pair it with a concert at The Stoughton Opera House and dinner at Laz Bistro.

You’ll be staying in a quiet Victorian B&B and you can walk to the theater and bistro.  You don’t have to worry about having a second glass of wine or a nightcap before you come back to the inn.

The Stoughton Opera House has released a sneak peek of the up coming season and here it is.

 Stoughton Opera House
2009-2010 Sneak Peek!  

Sept 12                 Dr Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mtn Boys
Sept 19                 Monday Morning Dixie Band
Sept 25                 Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Oct 1                      Huun Huur Tu
Oct 2                      Leo Kottke
Oct 8                      The Duke Ellington Orchestra
Oct 10                   Yahara River Chorus
Oct 16                   The Dan Tyminski Band
Oct 18                   Opera for theYoung – Elixir of Love
Oct 24                   Kaki King
Oct 25                   UW Children’s Theater – Winnie the Pooh
Oct 30,31            StageWorks – Dracula
Nov 7                    AncoraString Quartet
Nov 13                 Tony RiceUnit
Nov 15                 Surprisespecial guests TBA!
Dec 11                 Tom Wopat
Dec 12                 John Sebastian & David Grisman
Dec 13                 Stoughton Festival Choir & City Band
Dec 18                 Riders in the Sky
Jan 30                All that Jazz Big Band
Feb 12                   Cherish the Ladies
Feb 26                   Lou & Peter Berryman
Mar 5,6,7              The Actors Factory
Mar 13                  Pieta Brown
Mar 19,20            The Del McCoury Band
Mar 26                 Harry Manx
Apr 1                     Red Skelton: tribute by Tom Mullica
Apr 10                   Greg Brown
Apr15                    Branson on the Road – with Maggie Mae
Apr 22                   TheAnoushka Shankar project
May 1                   The Crickets
May 23                MidwestVocal Express

Tickets Available August 3^rd for Members
Aug 17^th General Public
www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Imagine seeing The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Tom Wopat, and Branson on the Road – with Maggie Maeall in the historic Stoughton Opera House.  So choose your shows and call for tickets and also make your reservations online at Naeset-Roe Inn.  Mention in the comment section that you are going to the opera house for which show and receive a discount.  I’m sure that you’ll have a great Overnight Staycation in Stoughton WI.

As promised last week I am posting two maps here that can help you navigate around the Fine Artsy Fair being held in Stoughton, WI on June 19th and 20th.  Friday night there is going to be a Gallery Walk and 17 art galleries, studios, and shops will be open for you to view and buy art in different media.  I’m told that you will also be able to get a glass of wine and maybe some snacks at most of them.  So wouldn’t it be nice to be staying at Naeset Roe Inn, because then you can walk everywhere.  No driving after a couple of glasses of wine.
View Stoughton Art Gallery Walk in a larger map

And then on Saturday there are all kinds of things to do.  You can take a class and learn a new art technique or view the demo’s going on.  Then there will be a lot of street art going on also, including music, face painting and balloon sculpting.  Have your portrait done or munch on ethnic food.  The music reminds me that you can say that you were dancing in the streets of Stoughton WI.
View Classes and Demos in a larger map

And don’t forget that Phantom of the Opera, the 1924 version, will be shown one time only at the Historic Stoughton Opera House and there will be someone on stage playing the piano accompaniment.  That’s 7 pm on Saturday June 20th at the Stoughton Opera House.

The Stoughton Opera House just announced their Sneak Preview of shows coming for the 2009-2010 season.   When you attend a show at the Stoughton Opera House you get a 10% discount on your stay at Naeset Roe Inn.  So buy your tickets and book your room today.  I have it on good athority that one of the TBA shows is the Smothers Brothers.  That takes me back a long way.  I waited on them back in the early 70′s.

Now you know a little bit about my history and a little about what is going on in Historic Stoughton.  So check out the maps and the Stoughton Opera House website and book your rooms now at Naeset Roe Inn.

Talk to you soon.

If you like the outdoors Lake Kegonsa State Park is a wonderful place to spend the day.  It has a nice hiking trail and a great beach to laze on.  If you want to spend some time on the water I would be glad to arrange the rental of a pontoon boat for you.

If you like your hiking trails paved then Historic Downtown Stoughton is the place for you. You can duck into a shelter every 30 feet and get out of the sun.  One of the main events of the summer is the Fine Artsy Fair. This year being held June 19th and 20th.  You’ll enjoy art of all kinds, from painting to photography, performance to plaster.
You can start your Fair off with the Gallery Walk on Friday evening.  17 galleries and studios will be open for you to tour.  Enjoy a summer evening of wine, snacks and Art.  This all takes place 5-9pm.  If you see something you really love it isn’t far to Naeset Roe Inn to bring it back before you continue your tour.
Saturday brings Classes and Demos to the area as well as music and performances on the street.  You won’t want to miss The original 1924, Lon Chaney version of Phantom Of the Opera with the music score played by a live pianist.

There will be classes held at the following shops if you want to learn a different kind of art technique:

All Through The House cooking
Midnight Moon Bead Shop beading jewelry and Presious Metal Clay
Diakonos Designs bead making and jewelry
Peeling Ceiling ceramic tile making
Saving Thyme quilting
Woodland Studios photography and knitting

There will also be demos of different art techniques in studios and shops.  Subscribe to this Blog and next week I’ll be posting maps for the Gallery Walk and classes.

While you are out and about there will be many things to distract your attention, food vendors will be lining Main Street offering everything from fried cheese curds and lefse wraps to tacos and brats.  Acoustic musicians featuring a wonderful mix of local and regional acts including Sharp & Hawkins Band, Blue Collar Joe, Brett Petterson and Badfish Creek will be performing along Main Street.  Expect and eclectic variety of musical styles such as acoustic flok, blues, jazz, and rock.  Activities for children include tile painting and other art demos, face painting, a balloon artist, and other fun things to do and see.

So don’t wait to book your room at Naeset Roe Inn and be a part of the fun of the second annual Fine Artsy Fair in Historic Downtown Stoughton Wisconsin.

Of course if you miss the Fair there is always something to see or do in Stoughton.  Most shops offer classes all year around and the art is always changing in the galleries.

All of this is taking place just a block or three from Naeset Roe Inn.  Don’t wait, check out the rooms and book it online.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the feed to keep up to date on what is happening in Stoughton and southern Wisconsin.  I’ll be talking to you soon.