In Stillwater, Mankato author Nicole Helget has created an enchanting tale
of fraternal twins, separated at birth but linked by a mystical bond. Their
fraught relationship and fight for survival spin out against the backdrop of
1860s Minnesota, when logging was king and the Civil War raged. Set along the
banks of the St. Croix River, this gritty story of abandonment and loss involves
a rag-tag cast of characters—nuns, loggers, runaway slaves, Native Americans,
prostitutes and pioneers. —Phyllis Alsdurf
Excelsior Bay Books
36 Water St. Excelsior
952.401.0932
A long-time Minnetonka resident, Phyllis Alsdurf is a journalism professor at
Bethel University in St. Paul. She is the author of the children’s book It’s
Milking Time (Random House, 2012).
Picpoul de Pinet has long been one of my favorite varietals for summer. It
hails from the Languedoc region of southern France and when translated means
“lip smacker.” The Le Jade Picpoul de Pinet is a crisp aromatic white that
displays vibrant flavors of pear and apple. This selection shows a rich
mouth-feel that is nicely balanced by lemon-flavored acidity on the finish. Any
pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc drinker will find this selection the perfect
addition to their summer picnic basket. Enjoy it by itself or let it shine by
pairing it with salads or shellfish. $9.99 —Tyler Melton
The Wine Shop
17521 Minnetonka Blvd.
Minnetonka
952.988.9463
Tyler Melton is the manager of the Wine Shop. Sign up for their weekly
recommendations by emailing wineshopmtka@gmail.com and read their best seasonal
drink pick on this page each month.
Right from the instrument-layering crescendo of the opening title track of
Brave and Alive, the latest effort from the Sudden Lovelys (Nordeast Minneapolis
husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Paige Ferraro) travels a peak-and-valley
trajectory between undeniably catchy folk jams and softer, introspective tunes.
Tracks such as “Fool for Song” and “Back Into the Wild” smolder with subdued
melody and the often ghostly serenade of Paige, but there’s no mistaking this
for a gloomy folk act. Throughout the course of the record, heads will bob as
much as they rest in thought. There’s a balance here—a sense of fun without
excess, a heartfelt core without desperate earnestness. —Alex Skjong
Find the album at:
Barnes & Noble
13131 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka
952.546.2006
Alex Skjong has written for a number of publications in the Twin Cities,
Chicago and Atlanta. He is a music lover first and an unreasonably tall human
being second.
