The Roadhouse

Explorers & adventurers Amy and Dave Freeman, who recently spent a year living in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, are back in Cook County for the summer. They stopped by the studio to chat with Dave about what readapting to civilization has been like, what they miss and what they don't, and much more. They're writing a book about their experience, due out this fall from Milkweed Editions.

It's only two months away...the start of the 2017 MN State Fair. And every summer there are fun new foods to try. Dennis Larson, license administration manager for the fair, chatted with Ann Possis about this year's new foods and how they're chosen. The 2017 fair starts Aug. 24. You can find the complete list of new foods here.

 North House instructor Lindy Lind joined CJ during Wooden Boat Show weekend to talk about bushcraft, wilderness survival, and building a bark canoe in six days during the show. You can learn more about Lindy and his work here.

David Cooper is an archaeologist with the National Park Service. When David was posted at Grand Portage National Monument, he was instrumental in building the "Paul LaPlante," a reconstructed version of the 19th-century workboat used in the Great Lakes commercial fishing industry. He's back in Grand Marais this weekend for the North House Wooden Boat Show, where the Mackinaw boat is displayed. He chatted with Dave about why the boat is important, how it came to be, and much more.

One of our favorite guests, Nashville singer-songwriter Jerry Vandiver, made his annual pilgrimage to the north country, this time accompanied by fiddler Josephine Michener. They had six gigs in three days in the county, and we were lucky to get on their busy schedule. Listen for delightful, original music and fun chat. You can learn more about Jerry and his music here.

The Minneapolis-based experimental musical ensemble Pyrrha was in Grand Marais to perform their original score for the 1928 silent film "The Fall of the House of Usher." They stopped by The Roadhouse to talk about their work and share a few of their songs composed for this and other films. The group is Jackie Beckey (viola), Jonathan Kaiser (cello) and Adam Wozniak (bass). 

Mark Neuzil and Norman Sims have written a gorgeous, illustrated history of a very special watercraft: "Canoes: A Natural History in North America." Mark joined guest host Dave Seaton to talk about putting the book together and what makes a canoe so special. They'll be presenting at North House's Wooden Boat Show the weekend of June 16.

Acclaimed Minnesota author Sarah Stonich has written a laugh-out-loud yet touching memoir about building her own cabin in the woods: "Shelter: Off the Grid in the Mostly Magnetic North." CJ chatted with Sarah about the book and her other current projects. She'll be in Cook County over Fisherman's Picnic weekend.

Local favorite Michael Monroe joined CJ and Dave recently for an all-acoustic set. You can learn more about Michael, his music, and his schedule here.

MPR's chief meteorologist Paul Huttner was in town to speak at North House, and stopped by our studios to chat with CJ. Hear what he has to say about climate change, Minnesota's shifting weather, the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accords, and more. You can read his Updraft blog here.