I’m regularly amazed by the people I meet I’m spending too much time on telling you who live here in Dubuque and have never to come downtown. My point is, go where been to a Dubuque ... and All That Jazz event. the party is, wherever that may be. There It’s like never seeing fireworks! What else are certainly some great parties on the West could you possibly be doing every Friday eve- End too this year, such as the Asbury Party in ning for a decade? That’s un-American, err, at the Park, Music in the Meadows, and a sum- least un-Dubuquer-erican. If that’s you, good, mer of events at the Arboretum. But most are sit down and listen up. downtown, and for West-Enders that can be a nuisance. I call them fun-haters. We’re more than a little spoiled around here. As we pointed out in a recent issue, there are A lot of very passionate people work very hard 50 festivals and events, or more, that we can to create diverse events that cater to just about participate in throughout the summer. Each every taste, from the wine, cheese and classi- weekend there are 15 or 20 live music ven- cal music crowd, to bikers looking for some ues to choose from. If you go to Cedar Rapids southern rock. You can find your niche. In fact, some weekend, you can likely count the live you’ll probably fit in a just about any event. bands playing on one hand. Dubuque is most You might want to experiment and try some definitely a unique epicenter for arts, music things you’ve never tried before. The Mud Lake and cultural activity. But so often, I see the Bluegrass concerts are definitely a unique, same faces at each and every event. It’s like laid-back way to enjoy to outdoors near the the same 5,000 have figured out how great river. The Symphony’s Independence Pops is a festivals are and everyone else stays home great mix. Classical music performed on a dirt and watches Survivor or American Idol or race track. If that’s not for everyone, what is? whatever is on TV on Fridays and Saturdays. I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of TV those nights. I’ve decided there is a short list of acceptable Hint: Re-runs are coming reasons for missing the all summer long, get out amazing Dubuque festival of the house. season this year. If you do not fit in one of these cat- I understand that for egories, I’d better see you many people who live out having some fun. 1. on Dubuque’s west side, You are orca fat and can’t and a great proportion fit out the door. 2. You are of our population does, incarcerated. 3. You are the activity that happens trapped under something primarily in downtown is very heavy. 4. You’re 9 somewhat out of sight, out of mind. But this is months pregnant (only valid for one month of your town too, even if you live out in Asbury. the summer). 5. You’re terminal AND conta- I grew up there too. I know it seems like a geous. (However, the terminal and non-con- whole other world from Dubuque. But, even- tagious should DEFINITELY come out and tually I found my way downtown. Now, I hap- have some fun.) 7. You have intense body pened to stay, but you could go back home odor (that one’s for our comfort, not yours). after the party if you like. On a Friday night it’s 8. You love Dubuque and festivals, but some only a ten- or fifteen-minute drive. genius sent you to Iraq. 9. You’ve missed your article deadlines for the next issue of 365ink. Like many communities, there are hotspots 10. You’re running out of time because you for different activities. People work downtown are Jack Bauer. or in the industrial parks to a great degree; people live, well, not in downtown and the This weekend, DubuqueFest is a great mix of Industrial parks, and people socialize where all things. High-quality art, great food and a the opportunities are. Those opportunities are truly diverse selection of live music and lots of heavily centered in downtown Dubuque. It it. If you’re going to dip your toe in the waters makes sense. This is where many of the night- of local festival entertainment, DubuqueFest is life spots are too. It’s the focus on the histori- the perfect choice to begin your journey. Seri- cal elements that make our city unique and ously, we have the best outdoor events around. it’s also where the city has invested in cultural Discover them, take friends. Become an active and tourism initiatives. So if you want to have member of your community this summer. The fun (not always mind you) you need to go more successful each and every summer event downtown. is, the more events we can have next year. The 365ink crew... faces you already know! Tim Brechlin Mike Ironside Tanya Graves Ellen Goodmann Kelli Kerrigan Ralph Kluseman Jim Heckmann Matt Booth Poppy Conlon Nick Klenske L.A. Hammer Chris Wand In This Issue of 365ink... ISSUE # 30 May 17-30 Music and More: 4 Community Events: 5 - 7 Arts & Culture DubuqueFest: 9: 8 - 11 KUNI Blues Cruise Heartland Festival: 12 Music in the Vineyards: 13 Kickoff the Summer: 14 Pearlene: 15 Live Music Listings: 16-17 Wando’s Movie Reviews: 18 Prom at the Ryan House: 19 Mayor Roy Buol: 20 Development - Part 3: 21 Mattitude: 23 Dear Trixie, Dr. Skrap’s: 25 The A Factor: 26 Crossword / 365 Books: 27 Stranger in a Strange Land: 28 Athenian Grill Returns: 29 Comedy: 30 The Inkwell Publisher: Bryce Parks ([email protected]) Editor: Tim Brechlin ([email protected]) Advertising: Kelli Kerrigan ([email protected]) 563-451-9365 Ad Design: Tanya Graves ([email protected]) Photography: Mike Ironside, Joey Wallis, Ron TIgges, Bryce Parks Writers & Content: Mike Ironside, Tim Brechlin, Ellen Goodmann, Bryce Parks, L.A. Hammer, Chris Wand, Gary Olsen, Mayor Roy Buol, Matt Booth, Robert Gelms, Angela Koppes,, Megan Gloss, Nick Klenske Graphic Design & Layout: Bryce Parks, Mike Ironside, Tim Brechlin Special thank you to: Bob & Fran Parks, Kay Kluseman, Bob Johnson, Todd Locher, Dave Blake, Everett Buckardt, Julie Steffen, Sheila Castaneda, Tom Miller, Renae Gabrielson, Christy Monk, Katy Rosko, Ron & Jennifer Tigges and all the 365 friends and advertisers for all your support. You are all 365. Dubuque365 • 210 West 1st Street, Dubuque, IA, 52001 Office Phone or Music/Events/Movie Hotline 365 @(563) 588-4365 All contents (c) 2007, Community, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Roy Buol Ron Tigges Robert Gelms Brad Parks Angela Koppes Bryce Parks We’ve hidden 365’s WANDO somewhere in this issue of Dubuque365ink. Can you find the master of movies buried within these pages? Hint: He’s tiny and could be anywhere ! Good Luck! Win ners get a free warm fuzzy felling in your belly! - YES IT’S RHODODENDRON, NOT PHILODENDRON, I KNOW! 4 MAY 17 - 30 The Love Monkeys @ Hootie & the Blowfish Kickoff to Summer helping with fundraisers and benefits,” “Everyone was saying that we were not explained Thomas of their work promot- going to be able to get popular touring ing charity events through the group of bands in Dubuque and we just wanted radio stations under the Cumulus ban- to prove them wrong.” The duo worked ner, “and we wanted to do something with agents and other promoters to find bigger.” That idea manifested itself the acts whose routing might bring them near following year with the first Summer’s Dubuque. “I always told everybody, ‘if Last Blast festival hosted at the Diamond we can put people in the seats we can Jo Casino in the Port of Dubuque. And get anybody,’” Thomas said. it was bigger. From that first Last Blast, Music and More earned enough to do- True to his word, Music and More has nate $15,000 to the America’s River Proj- filled seats for shows by popular enter- ect. To date, with proceeds from events tainers. Thomas reels a list off the top like Last Blast, Kickoff to Summer and of his head – Lonestar, Sugarland, Jo others, Music and More has donated a Dee Messina, Alice Cooper, REO Speed- total of $50,000 to area nonprofits like wagon, Trace Adkins, the Grass Roots, Camp Albrecht Acres, Dubuque Main The Turtles, The Association, Hootie and Street, Sertoma Club, and Boy Scouts the Blowfish, Puddle of Mudd, War- and Girl Scouts. rant, Firehouse, and all the Bob & Tom comedy shows. Now they don’t have to As successful and rewarding as those work quite as hard to get agents’ atten- efforts have been, fundraising for com- tion. “We’ve been booking concerts for munity nonprofits alone was not the 10 years,” Thomas said. “So we have es- only motivating force for the startup pro- tablished the relationships and now they moters. “At the time, nobody was doing are calling us.” any shows in the area,” notes Thomas. Continued on Page 24 by Mike Ironside history of Dubuque when our city was Photos by Bryce Parks not doing so well, and the efforts of our community leaders to turn things around Let me start by thanking you, our reader, – efforts without which we would not see for picking up this issue of 365ink. One the development boom we are now ex- of our main missions is to shine a light periencing.