Grand Forks, North Dakota

TA K E

ISSUE 2

BI TE

INSIDE

art / culture / food / drink

CULTURE

LIT

THEATRE

ART

10

LINEUP

UND professor and students prepare to launch

traveling cabaret | pg 5

This Grand Forks hidden gem is not to be missed |

pg 11

NOSH

Grand Forks native Michael Marcotte makes a return

to the local stage| pg 4

FA LSET TOS
FEB 4 - 6 & FEB 11 - 13
7:30 PM / Tickets: $15-$20
sponsored by

2 THE BEAT | SPRING 2016

The Beat is a publication of the

Empire Arts Center. Find out more about the Empire
by visiting www.empireartscenter.com. Have an idea
for a story? Contact us at info@empireartscenter.com.

Cover designed by Whitney Oberg: Whitney is an aspiring

world traveler and artist who cant resist laughing, even at
a dumb joke. She graduates from UND in Spring 2016
with a degree in Graphic Design and New Art Media and
a minor in Art History.

Affordable advertising opportunities are now available

for upcoming issues of The Beat. Ask about our nonprofit
rates. Email mackenzie@empireartscenter.com for more
information.

Empire Staff:
Emily Montgomery, Executive Director
Mackenzie Teepen, Development & Communications
Whitney Oberg, Graphic Design Intern

ARTS & CULTURE

CULTURE

Diva vs. Scandinavian Rapper:

A Study of Grand Forks Karaoke
By Emily Hill

ou know you are in for a good

night of karaoke when you hear
the tribal sounds of Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka coming from the speaker
and everyone in the bar is belting out the
chorus of Blue Swedes song Hooked on
a Feeling. No one would probably peg
Grand Forks, North Dakota for its hot
karaoke scene, but surprisingly there is
a following and that group of people are
passionate about the art of song. By going
to a few karaoke locations around town, I
discovered there is nothing better to warm
you up on a 35 below night then to go
drink a beer and jam out to the hits from
the past revitalized by the local citizens
who perform them.
Karaoke nights are different from your
average musical performanceanyone can
be a star and everyone is supportive of the
performer on stage. Im uncertain whether
this accepting atmosphere comes from the
beverages consumed or just the pure good
nature of the audience, but it doesnt really
matter. Everyone should have his or her
fifteen minutes of fame.
Through my research (and by the way, I
love that I get to use the terms research and
karaoke in the same article), I found
there are very specific types of karaoke
performers. One of my favorite types are
the best budsthose who are too afraid
to let their freak flag fly by themselves so
they perform together, often giggling their
way through the song as if it were one long
inside joke. There is the rap master,
which in Grand Forks, is usually a person
of Scandinavian decent who shocks their
audience with their ability to lay down
some sweet rhymes to Rappers Delight.
After you are amazed by the rap master
then the too drunk to function guy
takes the microphone and tries to tackle
Werewolves of London, but only

manages to excel at the howling-at-themoon portion. There always seems to be

the tone deaf diva who doesnt realize
they are tone deaf who sings ten songs
in one evening and basks in the glory of
the kind and polite appreciation from
their audience. From what I observed, the
sounds of Sia, Ellie Goulding, and even
some Whitney Houston are popular with
this type of performeryou know, the
songs that really provide a moment where
the register is high and a person can really
belt it out.
And lastly, there are the musical theater
actors who usually come into the karaoke
bar after their theater performance at the
Empire or Firehall with their stage makeup still on. These performers usually wow
the entire bar and sing very dramatic and
well-choreographed renditions of Phantom
of the Operas All I Ask of You or Little
Shop of Horrors Suddenly, Seymour.
After that, karaoke night becomes cabaret
night. Just kiddingbut really.
Whether you are a rapper, diva, or even
just an excellent audience member, its
worth giving karaoke nights a try in
Grand Forks. Even though there may only
be one or a couple of performers at the
microphone at a time, karaoke is truly a
community experience. Many of the tunes
people choose bring you back to yesteryear
and make you think about what you were
doing when that song was popular. There
is definitely a transformative power in
karaoke nights. In a moment, you could
be in 2016 with Adeles Hello and then
back to 1981 with Joan Jetts I Love Rock
n Roll. Even in the audience, you may
find yourself singing along to the music,
tapping your foot to the beat, or even
telling a story to your friends about what
this song brings to mind for you.
The Japanese translation of karaoke is
without orchestra. But who needs an

orchestra backing up your vocals when

you have an entire bar singing along and
dancing with you?
Emily Hill is an Instructor for the UND Honors
Program, Co-Creator and Editor of Voices of the
Valley, and a UND Educational Foundations
and Research PhD student. In her spare time, she
sings alto in Grand Forks Master Chorale, reads
voraciously,and has intellectual conversations
with her dog, Mr. Gatsby.

GET YOUR
KARAOKE ON
Brick & Barley Bar & Restaurant
Tuesdays
El Roco
Thursdays and Fridays
OReallys Irish Pub
Fridays
Rhombus Guys
Wednesdays
Shotgun Sallys Rock N Roll Saloon
Thursdays

Concerts

Artistic Director: Alejandro Drago

The Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra

2015-2016 Season
World Symphonic Soundscapes

Empire Arts Center

*unless otherwise noted

Concert III: Spring Concert

Sunday, March 6, 2016 2:30pm

Concert IV: First Exposure for Students

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 10:00am
*Red River High School

Concert V: The Music of Argentina - Season Finale

Sunday, May 8, 2016 2:30 pm

www.ggfso.org

SPRING 2016 | THE BEAT 3

ARTS & CULTURE

THEATRE

Q&A
with

Michael Marcotte
SEE YOUR
AD HERE

courtesy of michael marcotte

Michael Marcotte is a Grand Forks native

who has made a name for himself nationally
through music theatre performance. Hes
returning for a special engagement with
the Empire Theatre Company, and The
Beat got the opportunity to sit down and
talk with him.

Michael, you just performed in the

New York premiere of the exciting
new opera Dog Days. Tell us about the
experience.
Well, it was simply incredible to work on
this dystopian masterpiece with composer
David T. Little and librettist Royce Vavrek,
not to mention director Robert Woodruff,
who directed 1979s Pulitzer Prizewinning drama Buried Child. It really felt
like the best acting lesson of my life. That
the cast was flush with luminaries such as
Marnie Breckenridge, performance artist
John Kelly and Tony-nominated Lauren
Worsham made for world-class artistry.
Ive never felt more emotionally raw while
at the same time safe to trust and play
onstage, and I know that Ive never grown
more as a performer with a single project
in all my life. It is an opportunity that will
stay with me always and one for which I
will be forever grateful.

Something Old, Something New

March 12, 3 pm
Empire Arts Center
Hollywood through the Ages
$5 12 & under free

April 10, 1-4 pm
All Seasons
Music in Bloom
Fundraiser Event
$10 in advance; $15 at the door
Raffle tickets $5

www.novyo.org

4 THE BEAT | SPRING 2016

What have been some of your other

recent performance highlights?
I made my LA Philharmonic debut in
2013 with the world premiere of Strip
Mall, by Matt Marks & Royce Vavrek;
my New York Philharmonic debut with
Carousel in 2013; my New York City
Opera debut in 2011 with Sance on a Wet

Afternoon by Stephen Schwartz; and I had

the honor to appear in the City Center
Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes, with my very first cast album solo
to boot!
How has your Grand Forks
background impacted your artistic
life?
Having such amazing teachers, peers and
opportunities here in GF while growing up
gave me the most important tool I couldve
ever hoped for in this crazy business we
call show: confidence. Without that, youre
dead in the wateryou need it at all levels
from basic audition technique to working
with stellar casts to holding an audience of
3,000 in your intent and delivery of a song
or text. Confidence is fundamental, and
my excellent education in Grand Forks
and the surrounding area provided that in
loving bounty.
What do you miss most about ND
when youre in NYC? Vice versa?
This may sound obvious but I miss my
family most when Im not herenot being
able to see my grandma and play card
games & dice with her is a simple pleasure
sorely missed when Im in the Big Apple;
also my adorable nephews and cousins
who are growing up so fast and for whom I
miss crucial childhood achievements while
Im off chasing my dream. The only thing
I ever miss about NYC is the energythe
kinetic and potential energy that makes
that city hum. I thrive on that energy, and
it wholeheartedly demands and evokes the
very best of and in me.

What advice would you give to a young

person hoping to break into show
business?
Diversify! In this day and age, one needs
to be comfortable in front of the camera,
selling a song (and dancethough I never
have been much of a dancer Id highly
recommend young performers soak up
as much movement as possible), and
representing oneself as a businessperson.
From a polished resume and headshot
to agency interviews to social media,
only one person-you-can be the driver of
your professional career. Everything and
everyone else can only add to what you
bring to the table. And for survival jobs,
gain experience wherever possible, from
restaurant jobs to office jobsits all called
upon in order to make it in the city that
never sleeps!
Well, what brings you back to town?
Falsettos! February 4-6th; 11-13th at
7:30pm. Performing with Darin Kerr is an
opportunity I would never turn down
come see us starring opposite each other,
not to be missed!!
And finally, do you have any favorite
Grand Forks eateries?
It used to be Sanders, but while Im here Ill
have to check out Skys as well as the Old
Metropolitan Opera Houses new tenant:
Rhombus Guys Brewing Co. Brewpubit
looks very enticing, and Im excited to see
that historic landmark utilized in such an
exciting new way!

ARTS & CULTURE

THEATRE

Cabaret gets its start in Grand Forks

By Mackenzie Teepen

inging, dancing, burlesque something

or anotherthats cabaret, right?
To some, perhaps, but there is also
another side to cabaret: an intimate,
captivating, transformative side that is not
only entertaining but also mesmerizing.
In the words of cabaret diva Andrea
Macovicci, cabaret is an evening of
song and stories in an intimate space that
shatters the fourth wall...At its best, cabaret
can amuse, entertain, and inform...it can
dazzle you, catch you unawares and make
you weep...
Derived from the French word meaning
wine cellar, (implying the intimate
nature of the art form) cabaret has evolved
over the centuries. In America, early
cabaret was often performed at speakeasies
starring jazz-influenced performers. Most
sets were made up of pieces from the
Great American Songbook which includes
composers like George Gershwin, Cole
Porter, and Irving Berlin.
So, why are we talking about cabaret?
Well, it just so happens a hint of cabaretfever is soon to sweep the state. Dr. Suna
Gunther, in her first year as voice professor
in the UND theatre department, took a
look at the programming for her students
and decided they needed something more.
With no musical scheduled for the spring
semester, Gunther decided to coordinate a
traveling cabaret show with her students at
the center.
Performing a cabaret is a significant
part of being a musical theatre student,
said Gunther. Unlike musicals or straight
theatre, cabaret requires the performer to
be fully themselves, instead of a character.
After applying for and receiving a grant
from the university, Gunther began
contacting the students high school
and middle school alma maters. One
of her intentions with the project was to
reconnect students with their previous
musical communities, and in doing so,
encourage the next generation of students

that music is a realistic and worthy career

to pursue.

Broadway and cabaret star Chester Gregory gets intimate in his cabaret
courtesy of the cabaret at the columbia club | credit: mark sheldon

Twelve students will create three

individual cabarets, comprised of four
performers each. These three cabarets
will be presented in several cities around
the region including Bismark, Crookston,
Minneapolis and our very own Grand
Forks. The students, alongside Gunther,
will hold master classes with local students
in addition to each cabaret performance.

credit: staff photographer

You can catch these rising stars in action in

a joint cabaret on May 4 at 7:30pm at the
Empire Arts Center.
From left to right: Jeremy Lindemann, Brandon
Wetch, Tyler Folkedahl, Michelle Stahlecker,
Joe Picardi, Karter Dolan, Caleb Van Ornum,
Hannah Diers, Jacqueline DeGraff, Daniella
Lima, Ashley Restemayer, Dr. Suna Gunther,
and Bethany Springs.

SPRING 2016 | THE BEAT 5

MUSIC
1964: THE TRIBUTE

WOMEN IN SONG

Feb. 6
Chester Fritz Auditorium
701.777.4090

Mar. 4
Presented by UND Music Department
Empire Arts Center
701.777.2818

DUO CANTABILE

SPRING CONCERT

Feb. 22
Piano and cello duo
ND Museum of Art
701.777.4195 / ndmoa.com

RANDY MCALLISTER
Feb. 26
Blues musician
Empire Arts Center
randymcallister.com

courtesy of nd museum of art

SUNDAY CONCERTS IN THE

GALLERIES: CELLIST AMIT PELED

Feb. 28
ND Museum of Art
701.777.4195

WIND ENSEMBLE & VIVO

CHAMBER CHOIR
Apr. 21
Presented by UND Music Department
Chester Fritz Auditorium
701.777.4090

Mar. 6
Presented by Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra
Empire Arts Center
ggfso.org

DUELING DUO

NVYO SPRING CONCERT

MOZARTS REQUIEM MASS IN

D MINOR

Mar. 12
Presented by Northern Valley Youth Orchestras
Empire Arts Center
701.757.3009 / novyo.org

JOEL FAN

Mar. 29
Pianist
ND Museum of Art
701.777.4195 / ndmoa.com

JAZZ VIBES FT. JIM POPEJOY

Apr. 9
Archives Coffee House
701.777.3555

Apr. 22
Brick & Barley
brickandbarleygf.com

Apr. 23
Presented by Grand Forks Chorales
Chester Fritz Auditorium
701.777.4090

UNIVERSITY BAND & GRAND

CITIES CHILDRENS CHOIR
Apr. 26
UND Memorial Ballroom
Presented by UND Music Department
701.777.2818

THEATRE
FALSETTOS

THE FLICK

HAMLET

FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL

THE NORWEGIANS

CENDRILLON

Feb. 4-6 & 11-13

Presented by Empire Theatre Company
Empire Arts Center
701.746.5500 / empireartscenter.com
Feb. 28
Chester Fritz Auditorium
701.777.4090

6 THE BEAT | SPRING 2016

Mar. 24-26 & Mar. 30-Apr. 2

Presented by Empire Theatre Company
Empire Arts Center
701.746.5500 / empireartscenter.com
Mar. 31-Apr. 3 & Apr. 7-10 & Apr. 14-16
Firehall Theatre
701.746.0847 / ggfct.com

Apr. 19-23
Presented by UND Theatre Department
Burtness Theatre
701.777.2587 / theatre.und.edu
Apr. 30 & May 1
Presented by UND Music Department
Empire Arts Center

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS
OUTSIDE THE LINES

Feb. 8
Adult Coloring Class
Grand Forks Public Library
701.772.8816 / gflibrary.com

HEART TREE PAINTING

Feb. 9
Presented by Bright Brushes
The Boardwalk
brightbrushes.com

FIFTEEN SECOND FILM FESTIVAL

Feb. 11
Presented by The Guild
Daktyl Tattoo Gallery
218.779.0879

CO-LAB: LIVE PAINTING TO

ORIGINAL MUSIC
Mar. 3
Presented by The Guild
Daktyl Tattoo Gallery
218.779.0879

ARTWISE 23RD ANNUAL

ART SHOW
Apr. 5-7
Presented by ArtWise
Alerus Center
701.787.4260

OUTSIDE THE LINES

Apr. 11
Adult Coloring Class
Grand Forks Public Library
701.772.8816 / gflibrary.com

CULTURE
FEAST OF NATIONS

BIKECICLE

GIVING HEARTS DAY

GARDENING SATURDAY

Feb. 6
Presented by University of North Dakota
Alerus Center
701.777.3057 / feastofnations.und.edu
24 Hour Online Give-a-thon
Feb. 11
Presented by Impact Give Back
impactgiveback.org

ALLEY ALIVE

Feb. 13
Presented by Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals
Downtown Grand Forks

BEER + CHOCOLATE = LOVE

Feb. 13
Beer and chocolate tasting
Brick & Barley Bar & Restaurant
701.757.4012

FROSTY BOBBER
WINTER CARNIVAL

Feb. 13
Presented by Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals
Cabelas East Grand Forks

TEDXGRANDFORKS

Feb. 20
Empire Arts Center
218.230.0525 / tedxgrandforks.com

Feb. 21
Presented by Northern Star Cycling Club
Blue Moose Bar & Grill
218.791.8673
Apr. 9
Presented by Grand Forks Horticultural Society
and the NDSU Extension Service
Alerus Center
701.792.1200

DANCING FOR SPECIAL STARS

HOME DESIGN & GARDEN SHOW

Apr. 1-3
Presented by Forx Builders
Alerus Center
701.792.1200

46TH ANNUAL UNDIA

TIME-OUT WACIPI
Apr. 22-24
Presented by UND Indian Association
Hyslop Sports Center
701.777.2234

Apr. 12
Presented by Special Olympics North Dakota
Empire Arts Center
701.746.0331

CHAMBER SHARK TANK

Apr. 14
Presented by The Chamber of Grand Forks,
East Grand Forks, and Region
Empire Arts Center
701.772.7271 / gochamber.org

DOWNTOWN DAY

Apr. 19
Presented by GF Downtown Development
Association
Empire Arts Center
downtowngrandforks.org
credit: billy tibert

SPRING 2016 | THE BEAT 7

ARTS & CULTURE

LIT

2016 UND WRITERS

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The responsibility to home:

a review of Kim Stanley Robinsons Aurora
By Dave Haeselin

All readings and panels will be held in the

Memorial Union at the University of ND.
All events are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, April 6
10:00 AM - Public Readings
12:00 PM - Panel: The Two Cultures
(Brian Greene, Katharine Coles, and
Allison Leigh Holt)
2:00 PM- Community Workshop: Poetry
(Katharine Coles)
2:00 PM - Film: Semiconductor, Worlds
In Flux
4:00 PM - Presentation: Allison Leigh
Holt
6:00 PM - Film: Andy Goldsworthys
Rivers and Tides: Working with Time
8:00PM - Presentation: Brian Greene
Reception to follow at the North Dakota
Museum of Art, featuring a new art
installation by Allison Leigh Holt
Thursday, April 7
10:00 PM - Public Readings
12:00 PM - Panel: Other Worlds
(Brian Greene, Kim Stanley Robinson,
Allison Leigh Holt, and Dr. Frank Huyler)
2:00 PM - Recording of Prairie Publics
Main Street: How to communicate
science to a popular audience hosted by
Doug Hamilton with Brian Greene
4:00 PM - Reading: Katharine Coles
6:00 PM - Reading: Voices of the Valley
8:00 PM - Reading: Kim Stanley
Robinson
Friday, April 8
10:00 AM - Public Readings
12:00 PM - Panel: The Butterfly Effect
(Tania James, Katharine Coles, and Dr.
Frank Huyler)
2:00 PM - Community Workshop:
Fiction (Dr. Frank Huyler)
2:00 PM - Film: Countdown to Zero
4:00 PM - Reading: Tania James
6:00 PM - Film: Touching the Void
8:00 PM - Reading: Dr. Frank Huyler
Reception to follow at the North Dakota
Museum of Art

8 THE BEAT | SPRING 2016

itself, carrying the 200 colonists, a wide

variety of plants and animals, and a small
replica of each biome (tundra, savannah,
etc.) found on Earth in which these beings
can reside: A miniature Earth, complete
with bacteria, insects, and microflora,
nurtures the colonists on their way to their
new home.

courtesy of hachette book group

arth is our home. This observation

is universally shared, save for in the
realm of science fiction. No writer
has done more to realistically imagine
the development of human life on other
planets than Kim Stanley Robinson,
whose landmark hard science fiction
series, the Mars Trilogy (1993-1996), probes
the biological and political ramifications
of terraforming (literally earth shaping)
our red neighbor into a viable ecosystem.
Whats most interesting about Robinsons
latest novel, Aurora (2015), is how he revises
this original problem. The Mars Trilogy
concerns itself mostly with the question of
whether humans should transform barren
rock into a living, breathing world. Aurora,
on the other hand, questions whether
humans could even live anywhere but
Earth.
The plot of Aurora begins in the 26th
century, one hundred and sixty years into
a multi-generational space voyage. A small
group of pilgrims have boldly embarked
to a nearest possibly habitable planet, an
Earthlike moon they name Aurora. For
this epic journey the colonists require
more than just a starship; they require an
ark. Indeed, their vessel is a planet unto

Things fall apart when the pilgrims finally

reach Aurora, midway through the book.
Humans cannot inhabit the seemingly
lifeless moon for reasons I can divulge
without spoiling the plot. Here the colonists
start to second-guess their choices, even
though all of the living colonists were born
on the ship. A sage character reflects by
the time life gets smart enough to leave its
planet, its too smart to want to go.
Aurora is more Interstellar than Star Wars.
If you approach this book expecting laser
sword duels, warp drives, or Englishspeaking aliens, you will be sorely
disappointed. If you come to this book
looking for a broad and deep articulation of
some of the most vital conundrums facing
humanity in the future, on other hand, you
will be consistently rewarded. The hard
problems Robinson engages in this book
run the gamut: from physics to philosophy,
environmental decline to Fermis
paradox, the contradiction between the
high probability of extraterrestrial life and
the lack of hard evidence for it.
Despite its heavy themes and often
pessimistic conclusions, I would argue that
the novel still adopts a hopeful vision of
the future. Robinson insists that science
fiction fantasies of colonization and the
dream of extraterrestrial contact stem
from the shortsighted assumption that all
other things and beings must be like us.
By stressing our unbreakable and unique
connection with our homeworld, Robinson
challenges us all to take responsibility for it.

If we can live nowhere besides Earth, then

all must find a way to protect and heal it. If
theres no escape, there is also no excuse.
In all, Robinsons ambitious, heady,
and satisfying novel advocates what I
would call a responsibility to collaborate.
Fittingly, Auroras pragmatic message
mirrors the mission of the 2016 University
of North Dakota Writers Conference The
Art of Science, at which Robinson will
be a featured speaker. By transforming
interstellar space travel into a holistic
problem, one not just of the physics of
speed of light travel, but of genetics,
computation,
totalitarianism,
group
psychology and, yes, even narrative,
Robinsons novel models the kinds of
collaborative troubleshooting we all need
to start envisioning. We writers, artists,
scientists, inventors, farmers, salespersons,
readers, citizens, and Earthlings can no
longer afford to simply dream up escape
from our many problems. Robinsons
prodigious imagination offers an urgent
reminder we, like the colonists of his novel,
are all stuck on a single massive starship.
We call this starship Earth. And we can
only continue to call it home by imagining
our shared future. Together.
Kim Stanley Robinson will speak at
8:00PM on Thursday, April 7 in the
ballroom of UNDs Memorial Union. For
more information about the conference,
please visit <http://und.edu/orgs/writersconference/current-conference/index.cfm>
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Orbit Books, 2015.
pp. 480.
Dave Haeselin teaches in the English
Department of the University of North Dakota.
Contact him at david.haeselin@gmail.com.

ARTS & CULTURE

ART

Welcome new Americans, old Americans and you

credit: adam kemp

By Emily Montgomery
What happens as an immigrant?
Everyone gets to define you, except you.
Adam Kemps words give a preview of what
gallery-goers can expect from his next piece
of artwork, which will explore the themes
of immigration and more at an interactive
exhibit through the month of February at
the Third Street Gallery. Titled Welcome
New Americans, Old Americans, and
You or simply Welcome, the art will be
on display continuously through the end
of February, with a public reception on
February 18 from 7:00-9:00pm.
Welcome
New
Americans,
Old
Americans, and You is an interactive art
exhibition by award-winning artist Adam
Kemp. For one month, the exhibit will be
featured at the Third Street Gallery with
opportunities for all visitors to participate

in the creation of the artwork. There

will be two events specifically geared
towards community participation: Artparties will be held at the gallery on
February 6 and February 13 from 1:004:00pm to encourage people of all ages
and backgrounds to not only view the
artwork, but also contribute to it. All are
welcome at these gatherings, and food will
be provided.
According to Kemp, the goal is to use art
and food as social lubricants to allow
connections to be made and relationships
to develop. He cited food as a common
language of welcome that transcends social
divides. Kemp relates this concept to the
responsibility of host countries to provide
a welcome to all. The events are a key
part of the main intention of the exhibit:

to introduce those that are often isolated,

such as immigrants and senior citizens, to
other community members that might not
normally have the opportunity to interact
with them. Kemp, an immigrant who
has lived in several different countries,
hopes that all participants will check
their expectations and baggage at the
door. Theres a more abstract element
to immigration than most people think
about, he says.
Immigration isnt the only topic the
exhibit addresses. Its full title mentions
old americans, and Kemp labels that as
a reference to senior citizens. The U.S.
Census predicts the senior population in
North Dakota to dramatically increase by
2020, making it more urgent than ever to
find ways to include that group in the day-

to-day life of our community.

A nonprofit art gallery founded by
artists with the intention of increasing
opportunities for regional and local artists,
the Third Street Gallery is located in
downtown Grand Forks at 310 Kittson
Avenue. In addition to the public events
listed earlier, the gallery is open to the
public from 4:00-7:00pm on Thursdays
and Fridays and from 1:00-4:00pm on
Saturdays, or by appointment. Welcome
was funded by the Knight Fund from the
Community Foundation of Grand Forks,
East Grand Forks, and Region. Kemp also
gives a special thanks to Hanna Saagge,
whose tightly edited drawings have shown
me the way more than once how to paint
my way out of a corner.

SPRING 2016 | THE BEAT 9

FOOD & DRINK

DRINK

A classically complex cocktail

By Staff Writer

t was spring of 2006 when the Toasted

Frog opened its doors in downtown
Grand Forks. Nearly ten years, two
additional locations, and likely millions of
fried cheesy pickles later, the establishment
is still a local favorite. The Toasted Frog
has remained a consistently popular choice
among those in Grand Forks who seek an
eclectic atmosphere, a modern menu, and
broad beverage selection.
In fact, one of the things that sets the
Toasted Frog apart is their wide range of
excellent drinks. Aside from consistently
solid yet limited tap beer selections, the

restaurant has a fully-stocked bar and

decent wine list. An extensive martini
menu has always been a staple of the Frogs
drink menu, featuring dozens of options
with frog-inspired names like Tropical
Tadpole.
On a recent visit to the Toasted Frog, it
was the craft cocktail menu that drew The
Beats attention. A more recent addition
to the restaurants already-expansive drink
selections, this menu features ten classic
cocktails and was added about nine months
ago. It was from this menu that we sampled
the Egg White Sour on bartender Jessie

Thorsons recommendation. The Toasted

Frogs egg white sour features traditional
ingredients with a modern twist: Makers
Mark bourbon, angostura bitters, egg
whites, simple syrup, and lemon juice. The
drink is finished with a Bordeaux cherry.
The result is a lovely blush-colored cocktail
topped with a delicate layer of white foam.
Egg white sours have an especially unusual
frothiness from the egg white that isnt
usually found in a cocktail.
However,
some may balk at the use of raw egg. Not
to worry, though, because according to
our knowledgeable bartender, the acid
of the lemon juice effectively kills any
harmful bacteria in the egg whites when
they are shaken together. Those who
dont normally enjoy bourbon or whiskey
may also instinctively stay away from a
drink like the Frogs egg white sour, but
that would be a mistake. A surprisingly
complex drink, it starts off strong with a
bright bite; yet, its finish is smooth and
sweet. The angostura bitters provide a
subtly spicy undertone, making it a drink
with something appealing for everyone.
Through it all, the frothy texture provides
a pleasant and unusual canvas for the
egg white sours intricate flavors. Even
the rich flavor of the Bordeaux cherry
complemented the drink, as opposed to a
traditional maraschino cherry.
The Beat recommends the Toasted
Frogs egg white sour if you are craving
something classic yet complex. Thorson
recommended pairing this cocktail with
the Frogs delicious lemon cake, which
is served with raspberry infused chvre.
Whether you take our recommendation or
not, know that you will always have plenty
of options at the Toasted Frog.
EGG WHITE SOUR
Makers Mark
Angostura Bitters
Egg Whites
Simple Syrup
Lemon Juice
Bordeaux Cherry

10 THE BEAT | SPRING 2016

DRINK SPECIALS
RHOMBUS GUYS PIZZA
321 Kittson Ave
701-787-7317
THUR

$4.50 domestic draft pitchers

8p - close

FRI

Happy Hour drink specials

9p - close

SAT

$8 domestic draft pitchers

all day

SUN

$4 Ceasars & Bloody Marys,

$2 domestic bottles, $2.50
domestic pounders all day

MON

1/2 price large pizza

8p - midnight

TUE

$1.50 slice of pizza with

drink purchase
9p - 11p

WED

$3 You Call Its

10p - close, KARAOKE

HAPPY
HOUR

$2 off draft mugs, $1 off draft

pints, $1 off single shot drinks
3p-6p, M-F

We know you love a good deal. Who has

your favorite special? Let us know at
info@empireartscenter.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

FOOD & DRINK

FOOD

A hidden hometown hero

By Staff Writer

els Restaurant does not have a

website. Their Facebook page is
rarely updated, with only a few
hundred likes. Their storefront is hidden
within the dilapidated Grand Cities
Mall, and there are no billboards or TV
commercials advertising their food. Yet, on
a recent Tuesday at 2:00pm, it was difficult
to find a seat at Dels.
For more than forty years, Dels has been
a fixture on the Grand Forks dining scene.
Traditional breakfast choices, including
their signature stuffed hashbrowns, anchor
a menu that also features soup, sandwiches,
burgers, chicken or meatloaf dinners, and
much more. Some highlights are their
traditional chicken dumpling soup, the
Winnipeg Gas Station Special, and their
famous pies.
On Tuesdays for a limited time, you can
enjoy the benefit of two local restaurants in

one: Kegs Day at Dels features specials

from the Kegs Drive-In in Grand Forks,
which is currently closed for the season.
These specials include the Kegs signature
cherry, lime, or vanilla cokes and sloppy
joes.

Planning a dinner?
See us for the
perfect pairings

On a recent visit, a craving for pie was

fulfilled at Dels. Our server, Alice Nelson,
helped us choose pecan and lemon
meringue from approximately half a dozen
choices. Not offered that day but an often
popular option is their sour cream raisin
pie, a uniquely decadent Midwestern
staple.
Although this restaurant is off the beaten
path, its longevity and popularity speaks
for itself. Dels Restaurant can be found
inside the Grand Cities Mall and is open
seven days a week. For more information
and hours, you can reach them at (701)
772-3377.

GRAND FORKS
2702 Gateway Drive
2051 32nd Avenue South

FARGO
1125 19th Avenue North
1621 45th Street SW
4001 53rd Avenue South

www.happy-harrys.com
SPRING 2016 | THE BEAT 11

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12 THE BEAT | SPRING 2016