The Post SD » The Old Posts

Hip hop artist, Astronautalis, to play Sioux Falls

Lucinda Albers — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:17:22 +0000

Seattle based hip hop artist, Astronautalis, will be at Nutty’s North on Monday, March 22.

Born Andy Bothwell, Astronautalis released his debut album, You and Yer Good Ideas, in 2003. He re-released it two years later after inking a deal with Fighting Records. In 2006, he released The Mighty Ocean and Nine Dark Theaters. His third and latest album, Pomegranate, was released in September 2008.

Within the last year, Andy has toured overseas, performed with a 7-piece band, and initiated a new project with Minneapolis native P.O.S. Just finishing his short stint with P.O.S. and Dessa, Andy will be playing several shows throughout the U.S. before heading to Australia with Tegan & Sara.

Andy’s Sioux Falls stop includes a 21+ show with local openers Robo and Radical Burns, Poyzinus Blud (K.A.$.H. and Jahosaphat) and Grayline. Doors for the show open at 9 pm.

The Post contributor, Erica Sunde, recently chatted with Andy about his tour preparations, future projects, and playing dodgeball in salmon suits.

Erica: What do you do to prepare for tour?
Andy: Just really mundane things: Making sure t-shirt designs are ready, shows are lined up, packing – I pretty much have packing down to a science.

What do you do when you are at home?
I listen to NPR and drink coffee.

Do you make standard set lists ahead of time, or is it something that is planned on the road or at the venue that night?
I try and prepare one before I leave but I will make it up based on the crowd and show. If the crowd is into it, I will play rowdy rap songs.

You are on tour a lot do you work on music while on the road?
I try to but I don’t force it.

What are the major differences in doing a tour like this one, with good friends and rappers, versus going on the road with a group like Tegan and Sara?
I have become good friends with Tegan and Sara. They like introducing their fans to new things. I think their fans were confused, but they seemed to listen and pay attention. I have known Stef (from P.O.S.) for years. I love going on tour with other people because there are friends to hang out with. I’m close with my manager, too. We’re really good friends but we run out of things to say to each other.

How does touring the US compare to touring in Europe?
People in Europe treat you so well. A lot of venues have apartments you can stay in. They make you breakfast, ask you to come back – even if you played a show to 20 people. Traveling in the US is fun because I get to visit friends. Europe is like a vacation; I can sight see. I’m excited to go to Australia with Tegan and Sara this year.

Tell me about the project you are working on with Stef.
It started about two years ago but hit the back burner because of tours and solo albums. The album should be done this year, but I’m unsure of the release. Three tracks have been laid down currently, and I was just in Minneapolis recording in Stef’s studio. P.O.S.’s “Hand Made Handgun” and my “Story of my Life” were meant to be on the project we’re doing together, but they just ended up on our solo records.

What record are you listening to right now?
Ganster rap. [Laughs.] Ghostface Kilah, and stuff like that.

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
I have a degree in theatre. I love directing theatre and I miss it. It is something you have to work up the ladder doing. I could work for years doing “A Christmas Carole” in Kansas or something shitty like that and never go anywhere from there. I don’t mind doing that with my music, though, because I can work alone in my bedroom.

You posted a video the other day of a guy in a salmon suit playing dodge ball to your song. Where do you get that kind of stuff?
[Laughs.] People send me these things. I have a friend who is on the “yo-yo circuit” and he puts my songs and our friends’ songs on his yo-yo videos. I can say that I have signed a yo-yo in my career.

I’m on a Dodgeball team and I haven’t sent you a video. That dude beat me to it.
Get on it. And he was in a salmon suit.

Well I have a banana suit …
Why haven’t you made one then? I bought a costume for a Halloween show. It looks like a shark attacked me. It was like 40 bucks. One of the best investments I have made.

Sometimes you remind me of the lead singer of They Might Be Giants.
I’ve never gotten that before, but I admire them. I used to listen to them on the radio as a kid. Their songs are so nerdy and weird, and now they put out children’s albums.

Have you ever been to South Dakota before?
No. But I love small cities.

It’s a cute, clean city.
I can’t wait to see it.

Minneapolis band, Touch Me! Touch You!, in it for the long haul

Lucinda Albers — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:19:27 +0000

On Friday, March 19, several local bands and businesses will be sponsoring a Rock for Haiti benefit show at Nutty’s North. Tennessee Murder Club will be headlining the show with In Search of Atlantis, Riders of Mearas, Damn Your Eyes and Touch Me! Touch You! opening.

Although Touch Me! Touch You! is the only band on the lineup that doesn’t call Sioux Falls home, they still have connections to the city. Austin Day (drums) is originally from Sioux Falls, Dan Amsden (vocals/guitar) from the Chicago area, Tane Graves (bassist) from Pierre, SD, and Kyle Severtson (guitar/vocals) from Blooming Prairie, MN. The four musicians came from their corners of the Midwest and met in Minneapolis while attending the Institute of Production and Recording.

While each member brings a different musical taste and technique to the table, TM!TY! provides a solid dose of pop-punk rock. With upbeat guitar parts and catchy choruses, they also throw harder riffs and screaming vocals in to the mix to cross genres.

The band claims to listen to everything from All Time Low to Underoath to The Backstreet Boys, but their main goal is to create music they love. With such a variety of influences, the members think it helps them create music that appeals to a wider audience.

Minneapolis can be seen as a sort of music mecca for the Midwest, but the members of TM!TY! think they have an extra kick that sets them apart.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” says Amsden. “I think a lot of bands sound the same but I also think a lot of bands just want to be in one for the sake of being in one. I love writing and I love making music and we have such a passion for this.”

TM!TY! writes and records all of their music themselves, and already have a solid catalog of music beneath them. Although the creativity is completely open, they say one downside to doing everything themselves is that they become much more selective. Though they have numerous songs written, they are constantly writing more and better songs to release.

With a summer tour hopefully in the works, the band also plans to release a full-length album before the end of the year. Although signing to a label is something every band may aspire to do, for right now, the musicians are happy doing everything on their own. Being a very proactive group, it’s clear that the members are all in this for the long haul.

You can catch TM!TY! on Friday at Nutty’s North. All proceeds from the show will go to the Red Cross. Doors are at 8 pm and tickets are $4.

Ethiopian Restaurant offers flavorful cuisine, sans untensils

Roxy Hammond — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:30:30 +0000

The idea of eating an entire meal without utensils maybe enticing to some, while disgusting to others. If you happen to fall into the first category, Shalom’s Ethiopian Restaurant and Coffee House is your place to be.

The owner, Ethiopian native Firew Hordofa, acquired the business about a year ago. After living in the US for 14 years and acquiring an education in business and management, Hordofa added a few tweaks of his own to the menu in hopes of drawing more Sioux Falls residents to try the exotic finger food.With a small dirt parking lot situated behind a dark, looming house, the coffee house is easy to pass as you zoom down east 10^thstreet. Serving food eaten with your hands and a thin flatbread called injera, the cuisine doesn’t exactly draw mainstream crowds, either. But for the local Kenyan, Sudanese, and Ethiopian residents, it’s a taste of home. A taste unlike anything Americans are used to.

Ethiopian food, much like Indian food, relies heavily on several different spices like ginger, garlic, and chili powder; and is served most frequently in stew form. It’s generally served in spoonfuls on injera, a type of sourdough flat bread that serves as the utensils as well as an important part of the meal. The bread is thin, spongy, sticky and easy to tear. To the untrained, it may seem more difficult than worthwhile, but it certainly cuts down on the amount of dirty dishes.

According to Hordofa, two of the most popular dishes at his restaurant are tibs and kitfo. Tibs refers a type of preparation, where meat and vegetables are sautéed instead of prepared as stew. The meat and veggies can be sautéed with spices and oil, and can be made normally or ‘special’, to show higher respect to someone. Kitfo (or ketfo) refers to a dish made with rare or raw ground beef, cooked in a spicy chili powder. Kitfo offers a complex combination of flavors, while packing a slow-burning punch. It was one of my favorites.

I stopped at the quiet restaurant for a supper date with my friend Andy, who had recently returned from a year in Rwanda. Andy traveled to Ethiopia during his time in Africa, and was excited to revisit food he enjoyed. We decided on a combination platter for two, which had about seven different types of Ethiopian cuisine, served atop a very large piece of injera; and cost us about $18.

I would be lying if I said I knew the names of everything we ate. There was tibs, kitfo, something with cabbage, something with potatoes and carrots, and something with diced peppers and onions. Only two of the dishes contained meat. All of the foods offered very different and distinct flavor, along with a spiciness you won’t find in everyday cuisine. Since everything was consumed with a piece of injera, the spices combined with a slight bitterness to create a very rich and intense flavor. That bitterness was my least favorite part of the meal– the intensity of the flavor got overwhelming after about ten bites. Andy enjoyed it, and said it was nearly as good as the food he had eaten in Ethiopia.

Hordofa says he tries to make the food at the restaurant as close to traditional Ethiopian cuisine as possible, using spices and grains purchased at East African grocery stores around Sioux Falls and sometimes Minneapolis. Each dish usually takes 10-15 minutes to prepare fresh.

Shalom also offers several types of coffee, espresso, and exotic types of beer. Natives of numerous African countries pass through the restaurant, ordering food or just stopping to chat with Hordofa; giving the restaurant a very casual feel. The building itself is a maze of sorts, and the appearance can be a bit off-putting (like the dirty mop bucket tucked into the shabby bathroom), but for those looking for an atypical dining experience, this is right up your alley. Just remember to wash your hands. You’ll be using them.

Huge burritos, amazing cheese define Sioux Falls Latin gem
The art of the siesta, a mid-afternoon nap, is an admirable practice in Latin culture. After indulging in a large lunch, it is completely acceptable to laze around or nap for a few hours before being productive again. If...
Sub shop delivers quick, delicious lunch
Casual self-sufficiency is the name of the game at The Pickle Barrel, a sandwich shop at 1612 S. Western Ave. With simple chalkboard menus, a self-serve soda machine, soup counter and chip stand, it offers an incredibly ...
Review: New Sioux Falls restaurant focuses on environment, lacks in taste
If you have a particularly strong environmental conscience, Sioux Falls’ newest restaurant Mixed is the place for you. Based on using environmentally-friendly dinnerware and preparation methods, the restaurant touts a l...
Weekend Happenings
Happy Fourth of July weekend from The Post!...
Weekend Happenings
The weekend is finally here and it's time to appreciate the entertainment your community has to offer. We've compiled a list of a few things going on in your neck o' the woods this weekend so you don't have to spend t...

Stand for Peace

Amy Dunkle — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:31:05 +0000

As the day’s light faded into darkness Wednesday, a group of 27 people gathered on a downtown Brookings sidewalk in a silent candlelight vigil for peace.

The 15-minute event was one of many held across the country in response to the Tuesday night unveiling of President Barack Obama’s plan to send 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

“After listening to his speech last night,” said Rev. Carl Kline, 68, a vigil participant, “my comment was that some of the sayings of the (Obama) campaign, I think, are just going begging. Just the whole idea of hope — many of us hoped for something better, particularly from someone who says that Ghandi is one of his role models; someone who’s been given the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Regarding the Nobel Prize, Kline, of Brookings, found the timing of Obama’s announcement ironic. The president, who was chosen “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” will be awarded the prize Dec. 10 in Oslo, little more than a week after announcing the troop buildup.

Michael Feikema, 57, of Brookings, said the idea for the candlelight vigil came from an email sent out by the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center. The email listed locations of other vigils taking place in response to the Tuesday night Obama speech.

“It was a long list, big cities and small towns,” Feikema said. “That kind of inspired me to think that we ought to do something.”

He sent out an email Tuesday afternoon, asking if anyone was interested in doing a vigil in Brookings. By the time he returned to his computer that evening, plans were in place.

Feikema and his wife, Carol Snell-Feikema, are part of a group that has been carrying out a Stand for Peace effort at 1 p.m. every Sunday in Brookings for nearly three years. Whether it is 20 below zero in January, 100 above in July or any kind of weather pattern in between, the group can be found standing on the sidewalk near the intersection of Sixth Street and Main Avenue.

“Stand for Peace started with a Mother’s Day Stand for Peace, which was being done across the world,” Feikema explained. “The original Mother’s Day was a strong anti-war statement.”

Kline, who is the coordinator for the group Nonviolent Alternatives, was leading a study group on Ghandian non-violence and many of the Stand for Peace participants came from there, Feikema said.

The effort is both simple and empowering, Feikema said. “It’s basically something that’s very doable. It’s pretty easy for everyone to come down and spend 15 minutes. It isn’t a large commitment, but it is a public statement. It is a public presence for peace.”

The stand also offers a chance for participants to network and share thoughts. Feikema laughed and said, “We have 15 minutes of silence and then about 45 minutes or an hour of talking after.”

And, Feikema said, Stand for Peace has a strong spiritual dimension without being sectarian.

The opportunity is valuable in a small community such as Brookings, according to Feikema. “You really need something like this that kind of legitimizes it’s OK to take a stand, especially on issues as crucial as peace and war.”

On a personal level, Feikema added, “I don’t always completely revel in the silence, but tonight, I was enjoying it so much. I thought about the particular moment that we’re in, what’s happening here.

“For me, it invokes the 1960s. Lyndon Johnson really tried to do things in terms of civil rights, poverty. He was a New Deal social liberal and he got caught in the Vietnam War.”

Liz Sanderson, 57, of Aurora, has been attending the weekly Stand for Peace sessions since last spring. Through reading and attending lectures, she said Eisenhower’s caution about the build-up of the “military-industrial congressional complex” in the U.S. resonated with her.

The connection was so strong, she said, that she felt others in the community might like to be aware of what was happening. Consequently, she writes letters to the editor regularly to disseminate information.

“Democracy is a verb,” Sanderson said. “Voicing and writing opinions, joining the dots, telling our representatives in Congress, who do work for us.

“Also what fuels me is a distrust of our corporate media, which avoids the truth. For example, gee, the president’s announcement of our troop build-up has almost overshadowed Tiger Woods’ fender bender.”

Sanderson reflected on what the vigil meant to her: “As we stood with our lit candles, I sent out our lights to the innocent civilians of Afghanistan and Pakistan who are threatened by our bombs, drones and warfare.”

She said she also stood Wednesday night as well as every Sunday at 1 p.m. in hopes of bringing awareness to others and promoting the end to the cycle of perpetual warfare. The latter, she said, was a Feb. 2008 campaign promise of Obama.

Usually, people who take notice of the group wave or honk in support of the signs that proclaim, “Stand for Peace.” Occasionally, the sentiment draws a more negative response.

Still, in these times, when individuals may feel powerless to help steer the course of history or that we are too far removed from the strife to get involved, the vigils offer participants hope and a sense of making a difference.

Sanderson said, “This is something we can do.”

To read more about non-violence and peaceful efforts, visit the LivingNonviolence blog.

Top Photo: Bundled up in a hooded coat, Liz Sanderson of Aurora holds a lighted candle during a vigil for peace Wednesday night in downtown Brookings. (Amy Dunkle/The Post)

Bottom Photo and Banner: Holding a candlelight vigil in Brookings Wednesday evening are, from right, Carl Kline, Carol Snell-Feikema, Tom Dobbs and Connie Irwin. (Amy Dunkle/The Post)

Donate to charity and grab a drink

Kerrie Roozen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:22:42 +0000

When typically pondering bars and clothing, minds tend to wander into lack of clothing.

However, this is not the case this Friday.

On one of the unluckiest days of the year, Brittani Button, Jacki Larson, some close friends and Dr. Lucky’s Bar & Grill in Mitchell decided to break that trend by making others who are less fortunate feel, well, lucky. How? A clothing drive called Closet Cause.

Donations of coats, gloves, hates, work clothes, shoes, baby clothes, toys, household items and sheets and blankets will be accepted at the 2nd and Main Street establishment from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday. You don’t have to be 21 to donate, just to drink.

There’s also rewards for donations: $2.25 Domestic Bottles and $2.00 off any burger and French fries. Oh, and the feeling a sense of satisfaction knowing you have helped someone in need, right where you live.

Wait, a bar as a venue for a charity event? Definitely an out of the ordinary idea, and perhaps even a little risky; but the girls believe it is a creative way to involve the community in helping itself.

Unitl Friday, Dr. Lucky’s will be a virgin charity event holder. They have previously donated to causes, but never physically held one inside their walls. Button and Larson are ready to pop that cherry, and head manager, Patrick Koster, is prepared.

“I think this is for a good cause,” stated Koster, as he scampered about refilling beers in between questions. “Our society is so fast-paced that it’s time for people to slow down and get involved, especially businesses.”

So, exactly how many businesses were previously involved in charities?

After some research, it seemed that many bars in Mitchell missed the mark for philanthropy. Excluding monetary donations, out of the some five or six bars, it was evident that only one, The Moonlight Bar & Lounge, has been previously active. Each year an event is held to support cystic fibrosis and Lucky’s is preparing to join them in their endeavors, only with the Closet Cause.

Closet Cause is the baby of Button and Larson, and they drew inspiration for this event from the Share What You Wear program, a volunteer and student-run community service project whose beginnings rooted at Dakota Wesleyan University. It helps clothe and supply local Mitchell area community members in need with jackets, gloves, shoes and household items. Unlike Salvation Army, it comes without a charge.

Both women believed they could do more than simply drop off their own clothes.

“When I first saw the flier for Share What You Wear, I immediately thought about the three boxes I have at my house waiting to be dropped off at Good Will,” said Button, “then I thought, this can be so much bigger than just relying on individuals.”

Button made the suggestion to her friends about holding an event to support the project, which is spearheaded by the Dakota Wesleyan softball team. Their reactions were immediately evident.

Larson was completely supportive, stating “Brittani made this bigger than just our own closets. I have been a girl scout since I was five years old and was part of an Army family, which moved consistently. We would give our old clothes to people in need when moves occurred. Now that I’m a young adult, I still feel I can give back in some way, and what better place than Lucky’s?”

Sure, plenty of people attend bars on a Friday night, but will it be enough to bring in the goods?

“It will be a success with the individual effort of everyone coming together in the community,” Button confidently stated. “They can do it. And Dr. Lucky’s is so much more than a bar. It also has food and a nice atmosphere, so I think we are capable of getting real intergenerational appeal.”

“Yeah,” inserted Larson, with a chuckle, “I mean, no matter what your age, who really wants to risk cooking on their own?”

Because having a charity event in a bar isn’t just about the beer. It’s also about, in the words of Koster, “That bar love that everyone gets.”

“Share What You Wear”

Community Service Project

In October, Dakota Wesleyan students and volunteers began collecting clean clothing, jackets, gloves, shoes, toys and household items at a drop-off point on the DWU campus. The volunteers will be located at the Puetz Construction semi trailer in the DWU parking lot on Duff Street, just north of the football practice field. Collection times are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 – 8 p.m.

On Friday, Nov. 20, volunteers are needed to unload the semi trailer and sort the items in the Christen Family Wellness Center on the DWU campus.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, the Wellness center will open at eight a.m. for anyone in need of clothing, coats, household items and toys for the holiday season.

For more information, please contact Marie McCarthy-Foster, Dakota Wesleyan Head Softball Coach, at 605-995-2178 or mamccart@dwu.edu.

Collection Time: Until Nov 20^th Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6 – 8 p.m.

Where: Puetz Semi – Trailer in the DWU parking lot off Duff St. and just north of the practice football field.

What: Clean clothing, jackets, gloves, shoes, toys and household items.

Set up: Nov. 20 8 a.m. – Finish (Volunteers needed)

Event: Nov. 21 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Introducing An Arts & Culture Shock blog

Heather Mangan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:05:36 +0000

Be shocked.

Acquaint yourself with the region’s arts and culture scene with Daniel Hodgen’s An Arts & Culture Shock blog. The blog, special to The Post, will provide insight and reviews to music, theatre and arts in the Sioux Empire.

You can find the blog at http://danieldeshon.wordpress.com or in the upper-right hand menu on The Post.

SooStyle: Winners of The Post’s Halloween Costume Contest

Heather Mangan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:07:09 +0000

Behold, the winners of The Post’s Halloween contest.

First Place

Lego Men submitted by Sam Norberg.

Second Place

The Sesame Street Gang by Jeff Gabhart (Super Grover), Carl Ware (Cookie Monster), Lori Schmidt (Bert), Travis Lawson (Ernie), Dan Overby (Kermit) and Justin Jung (Count). Submitted by Justin Jung.

Third Place

Walter Sobchak, Donny (post mortem) and The Dude by Patrick Weber and Chris Daugaard. Submitted by Chris Daugaard.

Thanks to all those that submitted photos to the contest. Check out other submissions at our Flickr page.

Local roaster brings flavors of the world to your home coffee pot

Ty Omoth — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:57:54 +0000

Some teenage boys are into sports. Others get excited over cars or maybe books. But when Reed Friese discovered the joys of coffee, he found a passion that would last him a lifetime.

When he opened his Christmas gift as a 16-year-old boy in Parker, S.D., he was thrilled to unwrap his first espresso maker. That teenager, now grown and still living in Parker, currently roasts and sells his own brand of coffee, Cherrybean Coffee.

Cherrybean Coffee is locally roasted in Parker in small batches and sold throughout Southeast South Dakota. Made from only fair-trade, organic coffee beans, Friese brews the coffees so the average person can enjoy high-quality coffee at home without paying exorbitant gourmet coffee prices. The signature bright red packaging is a tribute to the natural color of coffee beans on the tree, which are frequently referred to as “cherries.”

Friese didn’t really plan to end up in the coffee business, but his passion for the subject never went away. After going to school, he went out to the Seattle area to work with his brother’s commercial aircraft painting company. There, as Nirvana, The Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam were igniting the grunge music movement, he was falling in love with the culture and learning even more about his favorite drink in a place where good coffee was a staple of life.

Perhaps Friese would still be out in the Pacific Northwest if fate hadn’t intervened. Coffee and his job were not the only things in his life. He also started a family with his new wife, Hope. But when their son, Elijah, was diagnosed with autism, the Frieses needed to make some important life choices. As much as they enjoyed the Seattle scene, they knew that the best thing they could do for their son would be to let him grow up in a world that is a little bit “smaller.” After talking it over, they decided to move back to Parker, where they’d have the support of family.

Being back in Parker meant that Friese needed to find a way to make a living and he couldn’t help but wonder if this was his chance to follow his dream. For some coffee lovers, that means opening the quaint coffee shop and dealing out espressos and expensive lattes. And while he does manage a small coffee café in Parker, Friese’s passion is for roasting beans and allowing people to enjoy coffee-shop quality coffee in their homes.

“I actually researched micro-roasting and found that the equipment, while not cheap, was not unreasonable” he said. “I can stay closest to my ideals by being a roaster.”

Cherrybean Coffee is roasted in very small batches. Only six or seven pounds of beans go into the machine at a time as Friese or his father, Ivan, monitor the roasting process and carefully pick out any beans that show off colors or characteristics that could harm the flavor of the coffee.

If Friese is the heart of Cherrybean Coffee, the beans are the soul. The company’s slogan “Coffee that’s good for everyone” is something that he takes very seriously. He only buys organic, fair-trade coffee beans because it helps him get the best, sustainable product while ensuring that his company is helping out the people and countries that grow the beans. “I feel good about buying Mexican coffees. It does the country good and it’s good coffee.”

Cherrybean Coffee carries eight to 10 varieties of coffee roasts. Friese’s favorite roast, the house Cherrybean Blend, is a mixture of Ethiopian beans and Sumatran, medium roasted to create a smooth, low-acid cup that also brings a few lighter, fruit flavors to the palate.

Though his roots are in Parker, Friese has found a welcoming market in both Sioux Falls and Brookings. He has a been very active in the Sioux Falls Farmer’s Market and you can also find Cherrybean Coffees at The Co-op Natural Foods and at the Hy-Vee on Minnesota Avenue. For those who would like to try a cup before buying, you can find Cherrybean at the Mission Coffee House in Brookings or at the Whisk and Chop in downtown Sioux Falls.

For Larry Yeoh, owner of the Whisk and Chop, choosing Cherrybean Coffee meant keeping his menu as local as possible while providing a great tasting coffee for his customers. “We buy as much as we can locally. Even our fruit is local. I tasted his coffee at the farmers market and we actually feel that it’s better than the big chains. We like to support our own” he said.

From small-town Parker to the Pacific Northwest and back again, Friese’s dream of roasting fine coffee and helping people enjoy it affordably in their homes has taken an unorthodox route. His family is happier in their smaller world and Friese, and his coffee, have been embraced by the area. And his passion for coffee was never left behind.

Top Photo: Reed Friese, of Parker, developed a love for coffee at a young age and fused it into his own roasting business. (Ty Omoth/The Post)
Middle Photo: Cherrybean Coffee uses organic, fair-trade coffee beans and is sold throughout Southeast South Dakota. (Ty Omoth/The Post)
Bottom Photo: Reed Friese roasts beans from some of the most prestigious coffee countries in the world in Parker. (Ty Omoth/The Post)

A different kind of car, a new kind of love

Heather Mangan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:14:05 +0000

To the average driver, whose biggest concern is a vehicle’s ability to get from A to B, there is nothing unusual about the cars Hugh Weber or Tanya Wetzle drive.

To auto lovers, especially of the Ford make, they are unlike anything else.

Both Sioux Falls residents were chosen to participate in Ford’s Fiesta Movement, a social media campaign prefacing the American launch of the Fiesta, which is currently distributed in Europe. For six months, 100 drivers across the country tool around in the international vehicle, posting their experiences on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

“Since the Fiestas we were given are the European version, they wanted our opinions on it before the Fiesta came here so they could make any beneficial changes,” Wetzle said. “It isn’t like a real campaign where people are pushing you to go and buy the product. It is just real people doing random things involving the Fiesta. These people can say whatever they want about the Fiesta; they can give their honest opinion.”

There are not many regulations for the Ford Fiesta drivers. They must follow highway laws, be willing to talk to dealerships and interested parties about the Fiesta, and complete a monthly mission. The main objective, Weber said, is to incorporate the Fiesta into their everyday life.

“It’s become so common that you forget it’s different,” Weber said. “Your responsibility is to keep living your life.”

More than 4,000 people applied for the gig. Weber — who has built an online persona through his blog, Dude to Dad, and founded a Sioux Falls social media company, Deep Bench — was contacted by Ford and encouraged to apply. Wetzle heard about the opportunity from her coworkers.

“I applied because I really need a new car and why not try to win one for six months first?” Wetzle said.

Of the 100 drivers selected, only three live in the belt from Chicago to Denver: Weber, Wetzle, and one other from Sioux City. In April, all the drivers met in Denver for training and to get their temporary vehicles.

“It was an interesting ride back since it was a long drive and my first stick shift car,” Wetzle said.

While the drivers don’t get paid, Ford covers all gas and repair costs. The drivers are responsible for taking full advantage of the vehicle and reporting back to Ford on suggested improvements or changes. Weber said some drivers have taken the car all over the country, but as a husband and a father he offers a more practical, day-to-day perspective. Still, there were 38 miles when he picked the car up, and it now has more than 10,000.

One of the drivers’ requirements is to complete a monthly mission. Each month, the drivers select a mission centered on a specific theme: travel, technology, style/design, social activism, adventure and entertainment. They vary in uniqueness from Weber’s mission to host a mobile lie detector in the Fiesta, or Wetzle’s mission to turn her car into an ice cream truck.

“I don’t mind letting everyone see the Fiesta or where the Fiesta takes us. However, it is really awkward having to make a video of yourself do everyday things,” Wetzle said. “It’s much easier having the video being made if you are doing something strange or out of the ordinary, like the mission for September, skydiving. That was a ton of fun.”

Winners are chosen each month for most popular and the quality of content. In August, Weber won in the content category for his social activism mission. He brought the Fiesta to the Sioux Empire Fair to support his breast cancer awareness project, Mrs. Dude’s Boob Fund. Weber started the campaign in honor of his mother-in-law who lost her life to breast cancer. The Fiesta has allowed Weber to attract a great audience for the Mrs. Dude’s fund, using the Ford name. Ford believes in the driver’s side projects and encourages them to take full advantage of the company’s global visibility, Weber said. Ford even donated $1,000 to the fund.

“It’s been awesome to see the way different people utilize (the car),” he said.

The Fiesta’s compact structure reflects its European origin, but Weber, who calls himself a heftier guy, says he fits comfortably in the vehicle. Although the Fiesta is a great car for his family, it also has a bit of sports-car flash.

“The number of times 17, 18-year-old boys see me in it and tell me I look tight in it is pretty cool,” he said.

Wetzle likes the vehicle’s modern design.

“Every car I get into now seems to have such a boring dashboard that I feel like I’m back in the 80s,” she said. “I can’t even count how many times people have just stopped me to tell me how cute the car is and where I got it.”

Strangers who are curious about the Fiesta have stopped both Weber and Wetzle to find out more information about the strange looking car. They’ve been asked to pop open the hood, even though neither of them really knows that much about cars.

Besides the British accent of the voice command and traffic button used to let European drivers know when streets are blocked, nothing is too foreign about the Fiesta. In fact, without the exception of cruise control, the Fiesta offers many things an entry-level car does not. Voice activation for phone, radio and climate control allows drivers to keep both hands on the wheel. The Fiesta also offers automatic windshield wipers and keyless entry.

With about 38 miles per gallon, Weber said the Fiesta has many of the same amenities as more upscale vehicles. Weber said upgrades, such as leather seats, will be available.

“They clearly see it as a game changer,” Weber said.

Fieasta’s marketing campaign is also gutsy and innovative, Weber said. Ford had no real idea what people were going to think of the Fiesta, but they asked 100 of the most influential and heard people in social media to give them feedback, he added. If they hated it, the whole campaign could have backfired.

The number of unique perspectives is also different from other social media campaigns.

“It isn’t like some businesses where they try to do a campaign and you get bombarded by the same retweets all the time,” Wetzle said. “With the Fiesta Movement you see different things from 100 different people, which keeps a bit of variety into the campaign.”

Ford plans to release the Fiesta in 2010 and the drivers will have to give the vehicles back in November. Both Weber and Wetzle said they enjoy driving the vehicle more than they thought they would, and would even considering purchasing a Fiesta.

“So far I don’t think I have heard anybody say they don’t like it,” Wetzle said. “Actually I don’t even know if I have heard people say they just ‘like’ it. I have only seen people say they ‘love’ it and don’t want to give it back.”

But more than the car itself, they have an appreciation for the company and its bold introduction of the Fiesta.

“I had no loyalty to the Ford brand before now,” Weber said. “I love this car but what I love more is Ford.”

Top photo: Tanya Wetzle said she didn’t except to like the Fiesta as much as she did and is sad to give it back next month. (Heather Mangan)

Middle photo: As a father and husband, Hugh Weber said he offers a practical perspective in the Fiesta Movement. (Heather Mangan)

Bottom photo: The Ford Fiesta has voice activated phone, radio and climate control. (Heather Mangan)

South Dakota awarded ‘McFarthest Spot’

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:44:36 +0000

Shane Penfield recently moved back to Perkins County, in South Dakota’s far northwest. And while both he and his wife were born in the West River ranching country, the location of the county — which has more square miles than people — made them pause and ask a few tough questions.

“My wife and I, that was one of our big concerns: If you have a Mac Attack, where do you go?” he said.

He means the Big Mac, the iconic sandwich cranked out by the millions by the McDonald’s fast food chain. While it might seem like McDonalds are everywhere, Perkins County is home to the McFarthest Spot —142 road miles away from a McDonald’s restaurant.

The McFarthest Spot map

The map, and the dubious distinction awarded to Perkins County, is courtesy of blogger Stephen Von Worley, who decided to map out all of McDonald’s more than 13,000 locations in the continental United States.

“To gauge the creep of cookie-cutter commercialism, there’s no better barometer than McDonald’s — ubiquitous fast food chain and inaugural megacorporate colonizer of small towns nationwide,” he wrote in a Sept. 22 post on his blog, www.weathersealed.com.

The map quickly went viral, pinballing its way around the Internet.

Von Worley, who didn’t respond to an interview request by The Post, didn’t build the map to help McDonald’s restaurant, but to find areas where one could get away from McDonald’s Angus burgers and McCafe drinks.

While some desert and mountain locales came close, he found that spot in Perkins County, tucked between the townships of Meadow and Glad Valley, east of county seat Bison.

Sorry Perkins County. Love, McDonald’s

McDonald’s sees the gap in their map, as well. But the corporation has no plans to fill it in.

“At this time, this particular area doesn’t meet the criteria needed in order for us to build a McDonald’s
restaurant,” said Tim Vogel, Midwest region real estate manager for McDonald’s, in a written statement. “While there are no immediate development plans for this particular area, we continue to evaluate nearby locations for future opportunities.”

That criteria includes factors such as residential population, retail environment, traffic patterns and area visibility, Vogel added.

That’s not all bad news for Holly Waddell and her husband Lynn, who run a small ranch a few miles northeast of Bison, very close to the McFarthest Spot.

Waddell, who admits to hitting up McDonald’s now and then for coffee and lighter fare, said she doesn’t eat burgers from the fast-food chain – she’s got her own beef. And her own table.

“When you have the family dining table, McDonald’s doesn’t lend itself to that atmosphere, of people sitting around the table and sharing what they’re doing,” she said.

McDonald’s also doesn’t pay very well, she said, and, in her opinion, a Perkins County McDonald’s wouldn’t do much to boost the standard of living in the county.

Still, McDonald’s does seek to buy as much beef as possible from producers in the U.S., said. Waddell. The issue is close to her heart both as a rancher and as the 2010 board chair of Dakota Rural Action, a group that seeks to protect family farmers and ranchers.

“I really do feel that McDonald’s has been one of the fast food chains that has made a conscious effort to include the most domestic product in their beef line,” she said.

Local options still king

McDonald’s a good treat during a trip to the big city, says Penfield, the county’s state’s attorney, who also sells real estate and runs his own law firm.

He and his family live in the bustling 1,200-person town of Lemmon, in northern Perkins County. That means he’s only a 100 mile drive to Dickinson, N.D. or Mobridge, S.D, home of the nearest stop light, Wal-Mart, and of course, McDonalds.

“Honestly, we’ve survived,” Penfield says. “We’ve got two little boys. They probably don’t get the Happy Meal consumption, but that’s alright.”

That doesn’t mean the good folks of Perkins County have nowhere to eat. Both Penfield and Waddell can reel off the dining options, including steak, Chinese and pizza.

“You know who owns the restaurants, “Waddell said. “You try to go to the hometown folks to keep the money circulating in the community.”

Penfield, a member of his town’s economic development effort, is quick to point out Perkins County is worth a visit or a lifetime, regardless of its distance to a Big Mac.

Perhaps that could even be a sales pitch.

“People need to explore the great northwest of South Dakota, we have a lot to offer,” Penfield said. “Part of it is the wide open spaces . . . and that you won’t see the Golden Arches.”

But what if McDonald’s was eying Perkins County? Where should they go?

“Tell them Lemmon is the big town,” Penfield said.

The Post SD » The Old Posts

Hip hop artist, Astronautalis, to play Sioux Falls

Other Interesting Posts

Minneapolis band, Touch Me! Touch You!, in it for the long haul

Other Interesting Posts

Ethiopian Restaurant offers flavorful cuisine, sans untensils

Related Posts

Stand for Peace

Other Interesting Posts

Donate to charity and grab a drink

Other Interesting Posts

Introducing An Arts & Culture Shock blog

Other Interesting Posts

SooStyle: Winners of The Post’s Halloween Costume Contest

Other Interesting Posts

Local roaster brings flavors of the world to your home coffee pot

Other Interesting Posts

A different kind of car, a new kind of love

Other Interesting Posts

South Dakota awarded ‘McFarthest Spot’

Other Interesting Posts