JULY 8–JULY 21, 2021 ISSUE #386 THE INKWELL Bryce Parks Publisher & Everything Else [email protected] Kristina Nesteby Design & Layout [email protected] Mike Ironside Nightlife [email protected] Lisa Stevenson Advertising [email protected] 563-580-1691 Lori Menke Advertising COVER [email protected] 18 Dubuque Partners Take 319-450-5151 Tri-State Camping Into the Future CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Coconut Cove Resort, Dubuque Marina and Yardarm, Off Shore Resort, and Gwen Beatty Whitetail Bluff Resort have everything you Good Advice need for the perfect weekend getaway [email protected] Matt Booth FEATURES Mattitude 11 Music on Main Street [email protected] 16 Tri-State County Fairs Sara Carpenter 31 Picture Yourself in the Tri-States DIY Advice [email protected] 32 Dining with The Rec Group Danny Fairchild SECTIONS Dining & Horoscopes [email protected] 4 Events 12 Arts Bob Gelms Bob’s Book Reviews 24 Nightlife [email protected] 32 Columnists Pam Kress-Dunn Columnist WHERE’S WANDO? [email protected] We’ve hidden Wando somewhere in this issue of Sunil Malapati 365ink. Can you fi nd him? Dining [email protected] 365ink Magazine Sara Eliot Steuer 432 Bluff St, Dubuque, IA 52001 Feature Writer 563-588-4365 [email protected] [email protected] Dubuque365.com SPECIAL THANKS Facebook: @dubuque365 Instagram: @365ink Christy Monk, Gina Siegert, Julien’s Journal, Fran Parks, Tim Brechlin, Gen. Bob Felderman, Ron & All contents © 2006–2021, Jennifer Tigges, Dave Haas, Rich Belmont & Community Incorporated. All rights Margie Blair, Mike Damaso, Paul Gilligan, reserved. All bacon served semi-crispy. Paul & Sandy Meyer, Coco the offi ce dog, Wesley Cat, Copper Kettle’s Seared Sesame Tuna Bowls, all of our 365ink friends and advertisers… and you for reading. 2 365INK MAGAZINE JULY 8–JULY 21, 2021 ISSUE #386 DUBUQUE365.COM A couple of weeks ago as I was wrap- While he was here, they had met with ping up the last issue of 365ink, I got a a number of people. I think it’s okay for call from a friend seeing if I’d be free on me to say that, yes, he did meet with Tuesday night to come down and interview Clarke University while he visited and George Martin. I immediately thought, talked about his time there and more. You um… George Martin died years ago. You can imagine the complex web of busi- know, he’s like the fifth Beatle. But, no, he ness deals, licensing agreements, and wasn’t talking about THAT George Martin. other legal mumbo-jumbo that bombards He was talking about George R.R. Martin, his life each day. And meetings take the guy who wrote the ridiculously famous up a lot of his time. His people have to Game of Thrones series (or at least 5 of protect access to him; because he’s so GEORGE R.R. MARTIN WITH BRYCE PARKS the 7 so far). While Tuesday was dead- nice, people would be constantly pulling line night for 365ink... um, yeah, I think I him in a million directions. Most of the can make time for George R.R. Martin. time, he lets his lawyers and managers We did not spend much time together, real diner-style breakfast before they went The interview was only necessary if worry about the details after he decides and I have to say, when assistant Sid to the airport in the morning, and Bob and there was something to talk about publicly whether he likes an idea or not. I think came back down after George went off I answered in tandem, “Sunshine.” Know following Mr. Martin’s three-day visit to I need lawyers and managers too! to bed was maybe the most interesting your city, know your audience, I say! Dubuque. It turns out that, while the three They also had a number of adven- part of my experience. She gave us the Thanks to John and Bob for the invite days were immensely successful and tures, from a trip to Paul’s Big Game Tap third-person perspective on the life of and for tenaciously working to get George productive, there would not be a need for to dinner at Marco’s Italian Restaurant, this former Dubuquer, as someone who R.R. Martin back to his one-time home. an interview. But it’s good to know people one of George’s favorite places from knows him well and clearly loves the Once people of note are ever part of because I got invited down to have drinks back during his time here. And when guy like another dad. She is one of his Dubuque, we seem to hang onto them with George in the courtyard at Gary Dol- he took a private ride on the Riverboat “minions,” as he calls his assistants, and like they were always our own. Ask Tony phin’s Iron Bar anyway. So after 10 p.m. on Twilight, he himself lit up. I guess it was she called him Georgie. Among many Danza, Greg Gumbel and, of course, Kate Tuesday, I walked outside into the amazing a true highlight of the visit. A huge fan of stories, she confirmed that his trip back Mulgrew. Make room on the mantel for new space created at the Novelty Iron paddle wheelers and river stories, Martin to his past here was completely positive George. Hopefully his shadow over our Works building, and there was the man beamed as he toured the boat with boat and enjoyable, and he had a great time. little corner of the Mid-Westeros con- himself, unmistakable in his gray beard, owner and massive GoT fan, Carrie Stier Before she turned in for the night, she tinues and becomes a more permanent suspenders and, most iconically, the black (whose cosplay of Olenna Tyrell is killer). asked where she could take George for a part of his, and our, joined legacies. n fisherman’s cap, sipping on a mixed drink Oh, and, yeah, in case you’re thinking on the couch. That hat gets him swarmed I suck because I got to meet him and you by fans when he’s out, but his assistant, didn’t, just know that I’ve read the books. Sid, said if he takes it off, he can often All of them. Even Fire & Blood and A Knight get by in public. How Superman is that? of the Seven Kingdoms. So I’m a legit fan No, I’m sorry I can’t tell you precisely getting to meet a favorite. I also always why he was in Dubuque. If I told you, I’d hate when people get a chance to meet have to kill you, Ramsay Bolton-style. But my heroes and they don’t really appreci- hopefully, it will all come to fruition and ate the opportunity they’re getting or just we can talk about it again before too long. don’t care. But I played it cool, I swear. He had been at his alma mater, North- I feel kind of bad for the guy. When we western University outside of Chicago, took a pic together, he mused that as soon to get an honorary doctorate that week as I put it online, all that people would say and made the swing over to Dubuque to was, “Why is he drinking with Bryce and visit for a few days. This is all due to the not writing?” ... and he was not wrong. His original contacts and ongoing conversa- assistant confirmed that the three ques- tions with John Finn, who now manages tions he gets constantly are: “How did you Dolph’s Iron Bar, and subsequently Bob feel about the end of the show,” “When Johnson, the Dubuque-based developer is the next book coming,” and “How is who owns the Novelty Iron Works building. your health?” as if he’s on a death watch. Somehow, they got the legendary writer to So, yeah, I’m definitely glad I did not ask come back to town when so many others those questions. Therefore, don’t expect who have been trying to do so for years spoilers here, other than I know he did a lot have not been able to make it happen. of writing during COVID. In fact, the truth Many know by now that Martin once is, he does not leave his Sante Fe home taught at Clarke College (now Univer- very often at all. Sid said they went out sity) for three years back in the late ‘70s maybe three times in a year. And it seems and lived down on Jackson Street. He he doesn’t really understand his own fame wrote his first big hit novel,Fevre Dream, very well. He knows he’s famous, and while in Dubuque, and while he did not admits he’s rich, but doesn’t get why peo- write Game of Thrones here, Dubuque is ple think he or his life are anything people where many of the ideas and plans for would care about. It would seem that the book series came to him. The bluffs, achieving fame later in life also gave him the harsh winters, and more would play the clarity of mind to deal with it like an into the world of Westeros one day. adult rather than blow it out of proportion. DUBUQUE365.COM ISSUE #386 JULY 8–JULY 21, 2021 365INK MAGAZINE 3 EVENTS Millwork Night Market THURSDAYS: JULY 8, AUGUST 12, SEPTEMBER 9, AND OCTOBER 14 @ 5–8 PM 7TH–9TH AND JACKSON ST Millwork Night Market provides a fun, fam- ily-friendly entertainment option for peo- ple who want to support regional farmers, artists, and original musicians in a vibrant outdoor atmosphere on the second Thurs- day from 5 to 8 p.m., May through October.