Hot off the presses! Here is the 2009 -2010 schedule of performances for The Grand Theater on ArtsBlock in Wausau (with links where possible)!

• Grand Derangement- September 17 (saw them last time- still listening to their CD!)
• 100 Years of Broadway- September 23
• Brian Regan- October 8
• Barter Theater: Of Mice & Men- October 9
• Virsky: Ukranian Folk Ensemble - October 13
• An Evening with Judy Collins- October 18
• An American Salute: Jeffrey Siegel – October 22
• Mama Mia – October 27, 28 & 29
• The Shaolin Warriors- November 9
• The Brian Setzer Orchestra- November 23
• A Cape Breton Christmas (Natalie McMaster & Friends)- December 9
• Annie- December 17
• A Gospel Christmas (Robert Robinson & TCC) - December 22
• Moscow Festival Ballet: Coppelia- January 13
• Jungle Jack Hanna - January 17
• The Second City – January 30
• Camelot - February 3
• An Evening With Kenny Rogers – February 12
• Irish Guards/Royal Scots Guards- February 17
• Moscow State Radio Symphony - February 28
• The Aluminum Show – March 3
• Munnelly - March 17
• Blue Winds Dancing (Native American Dancing) - March 21
• An Evening With Gladys Knight – March 25
• Avenue Q – March 30
• Vince: The Life & Times Of Vince Lombardi – April 15
• Chopin For Lovers: Jeffery Siegel – April 22
• A Perferct Balance – May 5
• 5 By Design - May 6
• CATS - May 10 & 11
• Mike Super Magic & Illusion – May 20

Call now (888) 239-0421 to get the very best seats for your group (discounts available!) Ask for Joel- tell them Christine sent you.

Old world charm in the heart of the beautiful St. Croix River Valley. Chateau St. Croix Winery & Vineyard invites your group to explore their winery with a 1/2 hour tour that shows the whole wine making process. Each guest is then invited to experience their fine wines in the tasting room and receive a special glass to commemorate the visit.

Their website explains how this European style estate came to the St. Croix RiverValley:

A true appreciation for wine can be uncovered in the lush wine valleys of Europe, where history and tradition are as rich as the wine itself. It was within the Rhine Valley of Germany where Troy and Laura Chamberlin developed a love for all things wine.

The Chamberlins lived in Egelsbach, Germany for several years while Troy served in the United States Air Force. The couple frequented wineries throughout Europe. Upon returning to Minnesota, Troy and Laura decided to bring the romance of the European wineries to the Midwest.

With a zealous vision and a passionate determination, the Chamberlin’s set forth to create their dream: bringing a European-style winery to the rolling hills of the St. Croix Valley.

We are proud to introduce to you Chateau St. Croix, a winery created in the image of a European estate, complete with vineyards, a carriage house, stables, formal gardens and a fishing pond.

Annette has just introduced me to a whole new attraction in the Wausau area.  The Wisconsin Black Bear Education Center.

Meet Vince, Sonny and Moon… 

This black bear sanctuary allows visitors to watch from safety behind a fence, while Jeff Traska gets close up and friendly with the bears. It also allows observation of black bears in a natural environment to better understand their behavior out in the wild.

Pictures are the best way to describe this new attraction:

Check out Fanny Hill’s full 2009 Season… and plan now for their 2010 season!

The  Eau Claire Holiday Inn Campus Area is big on service and comfort. Well appointed rooms are complimented by great services such as:

• Pre-registration
• Welcome Reception
• One complimentary room for 15 actualized
• Complimentary continental breakfast
• Available baggage handling
• On-site Restaurant (Green Mill)

Located in the heart of Eau Claire, it is just minutes away from top attractions like:

• Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre (check out their 2009 & 2010 schedule)
• Mabel Tainter Theater
• A ballgame with the Eau Claire Express
• Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum
• Chippewa Valley Museum

Want to see more? Check out these videos:

http://www.visiteauclaire.com/index.cfm/event/pressroomvideolibrary

Continuing education is a good idea for everyone! I was always told that a person should never stop learning and that continuing education does not necessarily mean within a classroom. In this case “class” takes place in northern Wisconsin on Eagle River’s famous chain of 28 lakes.  Wisconsin’s beautiful outdoors is the best “classroom” ever created.

At the Wild Eagle Lodge your group can attend Fishing School with “Muskie Matt!” (The name says it all I think…) Fishing school will be designed specifically to meet the needs of your group.

Learn more about “Muskie Matt” and the Wild Eagle Lodge here.

When you catch the biggest fish in the group be sure to send a picture to me so I can post it here on the blog: cmartens@visitwausau.com.  If all you catch is a really good fish tale, I’ll post that, too!

As I was coming into work today I saw the first carnival of the year in Wausau all packed up and ready to head on to the next town festival. Seeing the brightly colored pieces of a carnival always bring a smile- even when they are leaving town. The brilliant designs are as sure a sign of summer as the brightly colored leaves indicate fall has arrived.  It is true…  “Fair Weather” has arrived in Northern Wisconsin!

Here are some of our many County Fairs (don’t forget to visit the 4H and FFA displays.. oh, and the Open Class Entries):

• Northern Wisconsin State Fair- July 8 – 12, 2009 (Chippewa Falls)
• Head of The Lakes – July 22 – 26, 2009 (Superior)
• St. Croix County-July 22 -26, 2009 (Glenwood City)
• Eau Claire County- July 29 – August 2, 2009 (Eau Claire)
• Polk County-July 30 – August 2, 2009  (St. Croix Falls)
• Iron County – July 31 – August 2, 2009 (Saxon)
• Wisconsin Valley Fair- August  4 – 9, 2009 (Wausau)
• Dunn County- August 5 – 9, 2009 (Menomonie)
• Vilas County – August 13 – 16, 2009 (Eagle River)
• Athens Fair- August 20 – 23, 2009 (Near Wausau)
• Sawyer County- August 20 – 23, 2009 (Hayward)
•  Bayfield County - August 27 – 30, 2009 (Iron River)
• Florence County - August 28 – 30, 2009 (Florence)
• Ashland County- September 3 – 7, 2009 (Marengo)
• Forest County – September 10 – 13, 2009 (Crandon)

For a full list of County Fairs, dates and entertainment listings just click here!

Grab your walking shoes, sunglasses and camera- it’s time for some fun at the fair!

Your challenge is to drop me a note with a list of how many foods on a stick you ate while at one of our fairs…

I am helping to put together the upcoming exhibit at the Marathon County (i.e.Wausau Area) Historical Society. I love the thrill of the research and discovering the answers to mysteries of my community’s past- the people and their stories. What can I say, old files and artifacts excite me.

Our upcoming exhibit has been particularly fun to help put together- items that were once a familiar part of our everyday life that are now fading from memory. It is a question that I have asked lots of friends while readying the exhibit, “What do you not see any more?”  With just a little bit of thought folks start listing off all sorts of things:

• The milkman
• Floppy discs
• Beta tape players
• Outhouses
• Bridge parties
• Boom boxes
• Things that are repaired, not thrown out
• AM radios (just AM- no FM)
• Shorthand and the secretary pool
• Cassette tapes, 8-Tracks, 78’s, 45’s and 33’s
• Flashbulbs (flashcubes)

The list gets longer all the time! What would you add to this list? What will your kids add to this list now- or in 10 years?

The exhibit will be open in mid-June 2009 through May 2010 at the Woodson History Center. It will be  a great addition to your tour of the Cyrus Yawkey Home (located just across the street) and historical tour of the Andrew Warren Historic District.

Better head over there now before it’s… “Going… Going… Gone!”

Conatct Christine at the Wausau/Central WI CVB for more information- 888.948.4748 or cmartens@visitwausau.com. I suppose you could send a letter… do people still use the US Mail?

Woodruff Ace Hardware Presents…

The Big Mouth Bash!

Join us at the Minocqua Country Clubon May 9th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to celebrate the arrival of Spring with Big Food, Big Drinks, Big Art and Big Fun! Come and enjoy the finest wine, beer, music and Northwoods cuisine at the exclusive Minocqua Country Club.

The event also includes discussion with local fishing guides, a fine art auction, live music and more. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Space is limited, so guarantee your spot by stopping by the Chamber to purchase your tickets today, or call (715) 356-5266 to order by phone.

Northern Wisconsin’s history is filled with tales of lumberjacks and lumber barons. Fortunes were made as the logging began, and fortunes lost as the lumbering indutry faded. Cities were built as the lumber mills were built, thankfully many of the cities remain today even though the mills were shuttered long ago.

Our lumbering heritage can still be seen across Northern Wisconsin:

Scheer’s Lumberjack Show  in  Minocqua

Cyrus Yawkey Home and Lodge at Cedar Creek in Wausau

Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum in Eau Claire (once known as Saw Dust City!)

Cook-Rutledge Home in Chippewa Falls