NOVEMBER 5–NOVEMBER 18, 2015 ISSUE #251 PHOTO: GENERAL BOB FELDERMAN 12 VETERANS FREEDOM CENTER We sit down with Al Rowell to learn about the Veterans Freedom Center. 20 TOYS FOR TOTS WINTER 22 BUDDY’s CLUBHOUSE CONCERT TOUR EVENTS ARTS NIGHTLIFE COLUMNISTS 4 11 16 22 365INK PRODUCTION STAFF Bryce Parks Publisher, Everything Else Kristina Nesteby Layout Ninja, Designer [email protected] [email protected] Mike Ironside Feature Writer, Photographer [email protected] 365INK ADVERTISING STAFF Kelli Kerrigan Lisa Stevenson [email protected] • 563-581-7014 [email protected] • 563-580-1691 365INK CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rich Belmont Argosy’s Food For Thought Bob Gelms Bob’s Book Reviews [email protected] [email protected] Matt Booth Mattitude Pam Kress-Dunn Feature Writer [email protected] [email protected] Sara Carpenter Do It Yourself Advice [email protected] SPECIAL THANKS Christy Monk, Gina Siegert, Ryan Decker, Neil Stockel, Kay Kluseman, Ken Kline, Margie Blair, Fran Parks, Julie Steffen, Ron & Jennifer Tigges, Julie Griffin, Mark Dierker, bacon, Steven Schleuning, Tim Brechlin, Roy & Deb Buol, Jeff Lenhart, Gen. Bob Felderman, Dave Haas, Ivonne Simmonds Fals, Christopher Adams, all of our 365 friends and advertisers... and you for reading. Dubuque365/365ink Magazine WHERE’S WANDO 432 Bluff St., Dubuque, IA 52001 •Dubuque365.com • 563-588-4365 We’ve hidden Wando somewhere in this issue of 365ink. Can you find him? All contents © 2015, Community, Incorporated. All rights reserved. All bacon served semi-crispy. 2 TOC & INKWELl 365INK MAGAZINE NoVEMBER 5–NoVEMBER 18, 2015 ISSUE #251 DUBUQUE365.COM I don’t really start-up Toys For Tots Cedar Rapids this year instead of Davenport. season each year so much as it starts itself. And when we got there, we met Libbie, Ken Then it’s just up to me to hang on for the and their son Evan at the toy store. I thought ride. This year has certainly followed that it would be cool to let them, especially Evan, model as something has clicked in people’s see the impact of $5,000 on our program heads across the Tri-States, and my phone and also get to pick some of the toys. I think and e-mail have lit up pretty good in the last he picked out a lot of Legos. Smart kid! We couple of weeks. got it all barely packed in a sweet van that I’m happy to say that, so far (knock on Mike Finnin Ford loaned us for the weekend wood and cross fingers) the season has and brought it home. Not a bad way to spend gotten off to an amazing start, even before a Sunday afternoon. My sincere thanks again the toys and snow start flying. I’ve already to Libbie, her family and, of course, Larry received a few small grants and gifts from Weber, one more cool dad lost too soon. business and individuals, and it looks like we Now I could just take my windfall and don’t have to move warehouses last minute ride the wave through the season, but I’m after all, which I am so grateful for I cannot an idiot, glutton-for-punishment masochist even express in words. who clearly does not understand when he’s Speaking of not having the words... It bitten off more than he can chew. So I had was about two weeks ago that I had agreed to go and add two big projects to this year’s to perform at a benefit at The Smokestack, Toys For Tots drive. First is a Silent Toys a cool new bar next to the courthouse in For Tots Auction that we’re running on the downtown Dubuque. When I’m not making Dubuque365 Facebook page. While collecting newspapers, giving kids toys and fighting the over 50 auction packages just about crime. I’m also a part-time rock star. While made my head spin, it has been so worth the benefit was legit, part of the pretense for it. People’s generosity in just the first two getting me there early was nefarious. Okay, days of the auction is astounding. We’re over it wasn’t wicked at all. It was just sneaky. $5,000 already, and new auction donations Wonderfully, wonderfully sneaky. continue to come in. I told you, Jim Lincoln, My friend Libbie Weber-Bettis was at the that people need a good snow shovel! benefit, which should have seemed odd to The second big project I can’t tell you me because she lives in Cedar Rapids now, about quite yet (but I’m very excited about but I’m thick headed and didn’t think twice it!) except to say that it’s an event, and I hope about why she was there. I didn’t even think it can became a new Toys For Tots Dubuque it odd when my wife showed up early from tradition. I will say this. People in this town work. Again… I’m a numbskull. A couple of can be very generous souls, and I appreciate months ago, Larry Weber (Libbie’s father) everyone who doesn’t hesitate to step up and passed away. When apparently everyone help simply because they can. I promise to had arrived, Libbie came over and handed spill the beans in the next issue of 365ink. me an envelope. As I opened it, with a Meanwhile, toy donation boxes have cracked voice she said, “This is from my been going out this week. Look for them dad.” It was a check for $5,000 for Toys For in many retail stores across Dubuque Tots. I was more than a bit stunned. It seems including Theisen’s, Steve’s Ace, Menards, each of the kids took money Larry left them and many others. Find something you’d and did something wonderfully selfless with loved to have received as a child, buy it it. I can’t tell you how honored I was to be and put it in the box this year. It’ll make the beneficiary of that selflessness. I run you feel good, and it’ll make me and some Toys For Tots to honor my own father who great kids somewhere in the Dubuque area ran it before me, so there was instantly an feel great. Our box supply is limited, but extra level of connection to her gesture that if you would like to conduct a toy drive in maybe even she realized. your workplace, please send me an email But there’s more. Libbie is married to at [email protected] or call me at a cool guy named Ken Bettis. Apparently 563-590-3840. But I’d prefer an e-mail so Ken’s workplace, Alliant Energy, has this then I can’t forget anything and have a paper little matching grant program where they trail. This time of year my brain is pretty full will match personal donations to charity. So of random stuff and I generally neglect my what I was given that night was not $5,000, real job. So as far as that goes, I’d really love but $10,000… yeah, I know, right?!! It’s the if youse guys bought some ads in 365ink biggest gift I’ve even received on behalf of for Christmas, too, so I can not worry about the charity I run. So the year just got a whole paying the bills while I’m off doing my Santa lot better really fast. thing! Poor Kristina’s gotta pull extra-duty I also happened to get a $5,000 grant because Bryce has to go play with his toys. this year from Toys R Us. The only stipulation Find Toys For Tots online at is that I have to go spend the money at Toys ToysForTots.org and follow us locally at R Us. Fair enough. So I decided to head to Facebook.com/DBQToysForTots. n DUBUQUE365.COM ISSUE #251 NoVEMBER 5–NoVEMBER 18, 2015 365INK MAGAZINE Inkubator 3 EVENTS DUBUQUE VAN’S LIQUOR FOOD & WINE STORE ON THE RIVER ANNUAL FALL NOVEMBER 6–8 PORT OF DUBUQUE WINE TASTING Presented by the Hotel Julien WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 @ Dubuque, Dubuque Food & Wine is a 5:30–8 PM weekend-long showcase of gourmet TIMMERMAN’S SUPPER CLUB (7777 food from Dubuque’s finest restaurants TIMMERMAN DR, EAST DUBUQUE, IL) and wine from co-organizers Van’s restaurants from Friday’s event along The anticipated annual evening will Hospice of Dubuque and the July 3 Liquor Store and Stone Cliff Winery. with entries from Brazen, Cremer’s, the includes a complimentary wine glass, Fireworks and Air Show by the Jaycees Proceeds from the weekend events will Dubuque Food Co-Op, East Mill Bakeshop, Tommerman’s famous hors’d oeuvres and Radio Dubuque. For an extra $10 you benefit the Dubuque Museum of Art. and Galena Main Street Cheesecakes. buffet, and an opportunity to sample can sample over 30 premium wines as The weekend gets started Friday, Guests can also try samples of specialty over 80 wines, and 25+ single malt part of the Reserve Tasting. Tickets are November 6 with a Grand Gourmet Food & foods from several area restaurants. scotches and whiskeys. Many vendors available at Van’s Liquor Store, Hospice of Reserve Wine Tasting from 6 to 9 PM in the The weekend wraps up on Sunday, will be available to describe the history Dubuque and Timmerman’s Supper Club. Mississippi Moon Bar. The event features November 8 with the Sunday Morning Send and style of the wines. Tickets are just For more information, call Van’s Liquor a selection of special reserve wines along Off at Van’s Liquor Store in East Dubuque $20 in advance and $25 at the door, Store at 815-747-3631 or email Jeff at with gourmet small plates from Caroline’s from 10 AM to 1 PM.