The Roadhouse

Michael Fedo has just written a new book, "Zenith City," a collection of essays about his growing up in Duluth. Ann Possis spoke with him April 25 and learned all about it. He reads a brief passage from one very funny essay, as well. You can read more in his blog, here.

Dave TerSteeg & Buck welcomed local musician & songwriter Michael Monroe and his guest, Twin Cities musician Prudence Johnson, to Studio A Apr. 18. Prudence was in town to appear at Michael's Log Cabin Concert the following evening. Listen for fun conversation and some gorgeous sound.

Patrick Kohlin, kayak instructor and web specialist for UMD's Recreational Sports Outdoor Program, chatted with Dave Ter Steeg Apr. 18 about the program, what they do, and why it's important for many reasons to connect people to the big lake. This conversation is part of our effort to gather ideas and stories about environmental sustainability along the North Shore.

Legendary musician and activist Peter Yarrow joined Buck Apr. 18 for a conversation about his work and music, and the legacy he's working to create. Peter will perform and speak at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais Sat., April 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Matthew Brown and Deb Benedict get a live in-studio performance from Eric Lugosch of Chicago and Phil Heywood of Minneapolis. Both of them are virtuosos of a type of guitar playing called fingerstyle, and performed at Bluefin Bay in Tofte during Gordon Thorne's fourth Annual Fingerstyle Masters concert. The musicians play covers and originals both solo and together, and discuss their technique, the fingerstyle music scene, and encounters with other famous musicians throughout their careers.

Deb Benedict and Matthew Brown speak with author James Norton and photographer Becca Dilley, who have just published a new book "Lake Superior Flavors: A Field Guide to Food and Drink Along the North Shore."  The book tells the stories of food and beverage artisans along the circle tour of Lake Superior, including some in Grand Marais, all with stunning color photos. They share their experiences meeting with monks, fishermen, cheesemakers, and many more interesting characters they met along the way.

Deb Benedict and Matthew Brown are joined by George Wilkes, Grand Marais co-chair of MN Greenstep Cities, to talk about the program and what it means for changing Grand Marais toward sustainability. Wilkes goes in depth on how sustainability deals with social and economic concerns as well as environmental ones, and how to get involved with Greenstep.

Ginny Sims, a potter, is the new artist in residence at the Art Colony in Grand Marais. She will be working and living at the colony for the next two weeks. On Friday she stopped by the Roadhouse to talk to Buck and Dave Seaton about her residency, including the inspiration and functionality of her work, as well as her travels and working in pottery studios abroad.

Lissa Radke, U.S. Coordinator for the Lake Superior Bi-National Forum, calls in to the Roadhouse from Ashland, Wisconsin to talk with Buck about the Forum, which brings people together from all over the Great Lakes region to discuss environmental issues. She also talks about continuing the environmental stewardship legacy left by Sigurd Olson.

Versatile New York-based freelance writer Sarah Laskow stops by the Roadhouse to talk to Dave Seaton about her latest article "In Search for the Ur-Quiz" for the Columbia Journalism Review, where she delves into why online quizzes on sites like Facebook and Buzzfeed are so popular.