Book Talks 2024 -- J. Ryan Stradal

 The 2024 Fox Cities Book Festival was only a handful of days including the events centered around the Fox Cities Read book. Two authors were going to be at Gibson Hall for the main event. I decided that no matter what I was going to go see J. Ryan Stradel as I've read a couple of his books.

Gibson Hall is downtown Appleton. I've never been there as we are not really the live music type of people or bar people. They usually hold live music events. I was excited to cross Gibson Hall off my Fox Cities Experiences list. It was actually a nice intimate location for an author talk. There were tables for groups of people plus a few chairs for single people like me.

J. Ryan Stradal is from Minnesota and has written several books set in the Midwest including his latest Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club. He's also worked on several hit TV shows including The Bachelor/Bachelorette and Ice Road Truckers.

He talked about growing up in Minnesota but working at a supper club across the river in Wisconsin. He talked about how he got from the Midwest to California along with his break into reality TV. 

It was a very fun hour. He was very enjoyable to listen to. I could have listen to talk about his books and life for hours. He has such charisma. 

After he was done talking, he did sign books. Luckily, I was able to snag the last copy of Great Kitchens of the Midwest, his debut novel. I still haven't figured out how to talk to authors yet so I just had him sign my book.

Because I had other plans later, I was not able to stay for  Brendan Slocumb. I have not read him but I do have one of his book on my audio book hold list on Libby. 

Even though it was a much smaller book festival, I was glad to have such big names. Usually I have to live voraciously through friends and book Facebook groups with all their author visits. Hopefully I will have a chance to see a few more authors this year. 

4985. Make music on the musical dance chimes in Neenah

 One of the Fox Cities Experiences check in was the Musical Dance Chimes in Neenah. Neenah has several Fox Cities Experiences check ins including the Helen Stuart Trail and Hiram Smith Octagon House I visited earlier this year. Since Danielle wanted to go to Neenah Farmer's Market, I suggested we knock off the remaining downtown Neenah Fox Cities Experiences as well which included the Clock Tower and I thought the painted electric boxes and the George and Abe statues. 

The Musical Dance Chimes are located just outside Neenah Plaza behind where the Christmas tree is during the holidays. It is also where you pick up the Loop the Lake trail from downtown Neenah. I was looking for vertical chimes. When I could find the chimes, we pulled up the app and realized we need to look down. It is built into the ground. Danielle found it first.

There are several songs with the foot steps to follow to make music including Hot Cross Buns and Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

I stuck with the simple one of Hot Cross Buns. It does require a certain amount of coordination which was difficult. 

It was actually kind of fun though stomping on the ground trying to make music. It is definitely worth checking out if you have kids that like to bang on things or just want to be a kid yourself. I really do love public music stations. 

Note: The painted electrical boxes are the ones in downtown Appleton even though Neenah has them too. The George and Abe statues are the ones by the mall not the ones in Neenah. We walk by the Clock Tower on the way to the car. I know only have 2 left in Neenah (Bergstrom Mahler Museum and Doty Cabin) both of which I have been to before and waiting for the right opportunity to go back and check in. 

Walking the Helen Kimberly Stuart Trail

Through Facebook, I discovered the Fox Cities had an app or website that allowed you to check into various cultural spots across the Fox Valley to earn points. It's called Fox Cities Experience Pass. There are 48 different locations across the Fox Valley. 

One of the locations is the Helen Kimberly Stuart Trail in Neenah. I've been wanting to check this out ever since they completed the path along Lake Winnebago. The trail starts at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Lakeshore Ave and really ends at the lighthouse. It is also known as the Lake Winnebago Lakeshore Path. When they redid Lakeshore Ave, they added a walking path to make it safer for walkers, bikers, and cars alike. It is about a 1/2 mile from start to finish. You can keep going and do the whole loop back around along N. Park Ave.

Along the trail are signs that explain the history and impact of Lake Winnebago and the Indigenous People. This area was a marshland before their dammed the river. The natives to used these waterways for trade and food. The history lessons made it an enjoyable walk.

It was a nice night for a walk before the fireworks. It was only a little buggy but if you go in late May or early June watch out for lake flies. I try to avoid the lake when there is a lake fly hatch otherwise it's just a buggy mess. 

The Helen Kimberly Stuart Trail is definitely worth checking out. Maybe even sign up for the Fox Cities Experience Pass and check out all the other historic and creative spots through the Fox Valley. After my walk tonight, I have 7 done.. 41 more to go.