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Other stories in "Fall"

• This weekend
  See elves, artists and Irish dancers.
• Next weekend
  Elves, artists and Irish dancers are hard at work during holidays.
• Remember the wrecks
  On Lake Superior, gales of November bring haunting memories.
• Welcome, Southwest
  Finally, low-cost air fares to Chicago have returned.
• All quiet up north
  Like the leaves, room rates have dropped.
• Big birds
  Eagles are flocking to a stretch of river best known for tundra swans.
• Join the fun
  With an outdoors club, make friends, see new places and save money.
• Homes for the holidays
  On tours, see where the rich and famous celebrated Christmas.
• Ghouls ahoy
  On Great Lakes, two haunted ships are spoiling for a fright.
• Bash on a bike trail
  Kick up your wheels at small-town fall festivals.
• Scenery in the studios
  On autumn art tours, treasure hunters strike gold (and orange and red).
• Closing the deal
  Believe it or not, it's time to reserve hot dates for 2009.
• Ely's blue over hues
  Act now to keep town's future bright.
• Eyes on the skies
  On bluffs and ridges, it's time to watch the hawk migration.
• Price check/A northwoods weekend
  Two Minnesota B&Bs offer a Boundary Waters adventure — is it a deal?
• On the ropes in Lanesboro
  Try walking a high wire on Halloween.
• In Iowa, a singular inn reopens
  Through December, snag a $99 room at the Hotel Pattee.
• Hunters on the North Shore
  A special deer season this weekend may put guns close to hikers.
• Geocaching for beginners
  Try a fall treasure hunt.
• Hot tip/A different North Shore
  Didn't reserve for fall-color season? Thunder Bay has rooms.
• On the road/A fall drive along the St. Croix
  A stretch of river valley is packed with attractions.
• 10 great trails to ride in fall
  Here's where to get your fill of flora, fauna and fall colors.
• Go on a trail-clearing trip
  If you enjoy a hike, help make it possible for others.
• In river towns, favorites debut anew
  On the Red Cedar and in Red Wing, three inns and restaurants finally reopen.
• Home of horsepower
  In Wisconsin, see where race cars, snowmobiles, outboards and motorcycles were born.
• Go swan watching
  

Culture in the bluffs

Follow musicians to four unusual venues near the Mississippi.

In a picturesque pocket of southeast Minnesota, four unusual venues provide an astonishing amount of music — for those who know about them.

In Red Wing, the jewel-box 1904 Sheldon Theatre is fairly well-known. But then there's also the Music Loft at Hobgoblin Music, in a renovated barn west of Red Wing;  the earthy Oak Center General Store, up the bluffs from Lake City; and the Crossings at Carnegie (pictured), the smallest Carnegie library in the state, in Zumbrota.

It's easy to make a weekend of it; each spot is no more than half an hour from another. On Nov. 7, hear folk singer Ellis in Zumbrota, then go to Red Wing on Sunday to hear Peter Ostroushko at the Sheldon or bluegrass musician Chris Silver at Oak Center. Tickets are cheaper than in the city; at Oak Center, people pay what they can afford.

Each venue has an interesting story. For details and schedules, see Music on the Mississippi.

Last updated on October 26, 2008