AFTER5

ENTERTAINMENT NEWSPAPER
UPPER RED RIVER VALLEY
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DECEMBER 2013
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The Art of Coffee
By Suzanne Irwin
For many, coffee is a traditional way to start the day. The Art of
Coffee Event hosted by The Ember, showcased David Sandquist,
barista and coffee connoisseur, teaching different ways to make a
Cup of Joe. Attendees learned about different brewing methods
and the secret behind latte art.
First, here are a few coffee basics.
The coffee: A great pot of coffee starts with freshly ground beans.
Whole beans stay fresher longer in comparison to grounds because
grounds have more area exposed to air, which make them taste
stale. Grinding coffee prior to brewing allows for the freshest cup,
no matter your brewing preference.
The grind: Not all coffee methods use the same grind. Make sure
you check what grind would fit your preferred method. In general,
brewing coffee in a drip coffee pot would have a finder grind than
using an alternative method.
The water: Water quality is important when looking to make a
consistent cup. Water should be filtered.
Amount: A general rule of thumb is 2 tablespoons of grounds to
6oz. water.
The taste: Coffee taste is impacted by a few variables including
where the coffee was grown and how it was processed. For exam-
ple, a coffee from Ethiopia tends to have citrus undertones. This
coffee is complimented by something lemony like a lemon coffee
cake or lemon muffin. Flavor undertones can be brought out with
an appropriate food pairing. Some flavors include: floral, nutty,
earthy, smoky, fruity and citrus. Most coffees have a brief descrip-
tion on what to expect when sipping.
Beans: Whole beans are best to buy. There are many different
kinds of roasts including light, medium and dark. A lighter roast
will have a slightly more acidic flavor and slightly higher caffeine
content than darker roasts. Darker roasts have a fuller or bold fla-
vor. In general, lighter roasts pair well with tart foods such as an
orange scone or berry coffee cake, while a darker roast would pair
well with chocolate.
Building the Best Brew
Below are a few different brewing methods outlined by Sandquist.
These different approaches to brewing coffee can help enthusiast
break-up a normal morning routine.
Method: Standard Coffee Pot
Filter: Paper
Flavor profile: This method can yield a more watery brew than
other techniques.
Pros: Drip coffee pots are popular because of their convenience
and quick brewing time. Most coffee pots use a paper filter, this
makes cleanup quick. People often describe this as a clean tast-
ing cup.
Cons: While that paper filter allows for easy care, coffee beans
have some oil. When using a paper filter, that oil it filtered out by
the paper. This can adjust the flavor. Also, brewing through a
standard drip coffee pot can lead to a watery brew because the cof-
fee only steeps for a short time as it runs through the filter.
Method: French Press or Press Pot
Filter: Metal
Flavor profile: Coffee will be rich and thick. Oils from the coffee
beans are allowed through the metal filter, which adds to the flavor
of your coffee.
Pros: Using a French Press is a way to add more dimension into
your coffee. The coffee will be richer because the grounds sit in
the water for about 4-5 minutes. Each press makes about 3-4 fla-
vorful cups.
Cons: The French Press can be messy and it takes at least 5 min-
utes to brew. If youre trying to make coffee for a crowd, this
might not be the way to go. Also if you overfill the pot with water
when brewing, it can be easy to get some grounds into the coffee.
Also there is more sediment with this method.
Method: Vacuum Pot
Filter: Cloth
Flavor profile: Coffee will be rich and bold. Since the brewing
time takes longer this makes the coffee stronger. The cloth takes
out some of the oils in the coffee beans but not all.
Pros: This is a very traditional way of brewing coffee. Some say it
is the best way to get a flavorful cup. This method is for tinkers
who want to take time in perfecting their favorite brew.
Cons: The Vacuum Pot takes time and the process must be moni-
tored. A pot makes about 6 cups and the process can take up to 10
minutes.
Method: Clever Drip or Full Immersion Coffee Brewing
Filter: Paper
Flavor profile: The clever drip offers sippers a smooth taste without
much acidity.
Pros: This method offers a similar taste as the French Press without
the sediment. The coffee brews for about 4 minutes in the filter be-
fore reaching your mug and has an easy clean up.
Cons: This method again takes longer than a few minutes to brew
and its usually brewed one-cup at a time.
Lets Talk Lattes
Also at the event, Sandquist demonstrated latte art. There are a
few fundamentals when making this decorative drink.
Milk: The barista must steam the milk slowly and not create big
bubbles with the steam wand. The foam should be smooth and vel-
vety. The ideal bubbles are referred to as microfoam.
Espresso: The espresso must be high quality as well. The ideal
shot of espresso is pulled in about 21-24 seconds and should have
some crema on top of the shot. The espresso shot has layers.
The top layer is the sweetest part of the shot and looks like a thin,
chestnut brown foam.
Sandquist demonstrated a few different latte art designs. Here is an
example of the heart pattern. He first put the shot into the bottom
of the glass, then slowly poured the milk to create the pattern.
When brewing your own coffee at home, or stopping by a shop to
get a shot, remember there are many variables in creating a perfect
cup. The Ember plans to offer more Art of Coffee events in the fu-
ture. This experience is one way for coffee lovers to learn about
java and some news ways to brew. Upcoming events are posted at
facebook.com/TheEmber.
december
AFTER5
UPPER RED RIVER VALLEY
ENTERTAINMENT NEWSPAPER
TAYLOR BROST
MIKE PETERSON
DEENA DAVIS
LISA CASAREZ
SUZANNE IRWIN
GF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
STACEY DIMMLER
JAIMIE MIESEL
AMAZING GRAINS
ALLISON PETERSON
KATHY COUDLE-KING
WHITNEY DELANEY
F
O
O
D
contributors
Off to See the Wizard
We're off to see the wizard!
The Red River Performance Hall will be transformed this December into the wonderful world of
Oz. This beloved story has entertained people for generations, and the iconic movie is celebrating
its 75th anniversary this year.
Over 60 students will be involved in this children's play, and it will be the first play in the new Per-
formance Hall, which has already been host to several musical productions, concerts and other
musical events. In 1967, the same version of "The Wizard of Oz" was directed by Doug Fosse in
the then newly-built Red River High School Theatre, so it is fitting that the Performance Hall's
first play is a throwback to the school's beginnings. According to newspaper clippings chronicling
the events that led up to the production, the stage was still being built during the rehearsals, and
many of the set pieces were built in the director's garage.
In an article from November 1967, Mr. Fosse stated that "Doing the Wizard of Oz in the form of a
Children's Theatre is quite a challenge because kids are the most demanding type of audience to
perform for. Besides this, the Wizard of Oz is really a 'fun-type' of play to do."
Current director Allison Peterson agrees.
"The story of The Wizard of Oz is timeless. It's characters are loveable and relatable - especially
for children. One of the main challenges we face at rehearsal is bringing the characters to life, and
asking the actors to step outside of themselves to become something different. They need to be-
come those characters, and not just portray them."
The performance will run Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, at 7:00 pm and Sun-
day, December 15, at 2:00 pm. Reservations are recommended, and can be reserved by calling
746-2411. Otherwise, tickets can be purchased at the door. The box office opens 1 hour prior to
show time for all performances.
The cast of Wizard of Oz:
Dorothy - Michelle Manthei
Scarecrow - Adam Giebner
Tin Woodman - Tyler Gerszewski
Cowardly Lion - Seth Cline
Wizard of Oz - Lizzy Syverson
Belinda, the Wicked Witch of the West - Lena Brakel
Glinda, the Good Witch of the South - Hannah Opp
Melinda, the Good Witch of the North - Taylor Robinson
Kirsten Aafedt, Pierce Barbot, Abby Beczkalo, Mackenzie Bucklin, Matt Dunham, Jorian Guard,
Emily Hendry, Hannah Holt, Shealyn Klave, Jenna Laurin, Caleb Marcellais, Kirsten Masselink,
Bri Molmen, Breah Nelson, Ali Patry, Kandis Pender, Mackenzie Phillips, Nic Rolph, Sydney
Skaro, Blake Slama, Tiffany Sorenson, Taylor Stauss, Alex Stroth, Hannah Syverson, Morgan
Young
Stage Hands/Student Directors:
Bree Barta, Ryann Barta, Jayda Belker, Anisa Holwerda, Jordan Holwerda, Max Pickett
PHOTOS (C)ALLISON PETERSON
F
E
A
T
U
R
E
YOUR NEW WORLD SPORTS PUB
Located in the Canad Inns Destination Center, Tavern United is a new world sports pub for
all ages where friends gather for frothy fun, fabulous food and guaranteed good times!
Tavern United presents a full menu of your favourite pub meals each with a special twist that
youre sure to love. Check out our complete menu below.
Tavern United offers over a dozen premium beers on tap from dark, rich stouts, tasty pale
ales, to light and frothy lagers. Tavern United also offers a variety of sophisticated and fun
martinis. For wine lovers, we will delight you with our selection of reds and whites from
around the globe including new world reds from Australia and sunny whites from South
Africa and the USA. You can also enjoy a selection of fine wines from Canadas wine grow-
ing regions in Southern Ontario and British Columbia.
Its all served up in a friendly sports bar atmosphere where you can play a game of darts or
pool with the gang from the office, your curling, baseball, or hockey team, or just relax with
friends and catch up. There are always sports on the many LCD flat screen TVs around the
pub, so it's a great place to watch UND Hockey, the Grey Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the
Superbowl, a Bowl Game, NBA, World Soccer, the Olympics, the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg
Goldeyes, or Winnipeg Blue Bombers and cheer on your heroes with your many new friends.
For more information or for reservations, contact Trisha Kinney at 701-787-2511 or
tkinney@canadinns.com.
Canad Inns Destination Center Grand Forks reserves the right to modify or change specials
with little or no advance warning. Visit www.canadinns.com for updated information.
SUNDAY
$2.50 Select Drinks
MONDAY
1.50 Captain Morgans and
Karaoke (7pm-close)
TUESDAY
$2.50 Select Drinks (7pm-
close)
WEDNESDAY
$3 Domestics and 25 cent
wings (7pm-close)
THURSDAY
$3 Domestics and 25 cent
wings (7pm-close)
FRIDAY
$2.50 Domestic (7pm-close)
This Months Feature at Canad Inns
DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 3 | /After5GF @After5GF
BY ALLISON PETERSON
$3 YOU-CALL-ITS
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701-77b-971
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701-772-1ACO [B22J
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Christmas!
DECEMBER 31ST, ALERUS CENTER
Celebrate the Night will be the areas biggest and most diverse
entertainment event on December 31st. There will be a full night
of live music from local artists, magicians, storytelling, crafts,
and best of all, a whole lot of food. And to add to that, you also
have of course the Canad Inns and their waterpark.
It is non-alchoholic and last year had around 2,500 people show
up. If youre looking for some fun this new years eve that you
can feel safe with bringing your children, this is the prime event
to check this month. Happy Holidays!
Celebrate the Night
DECEMBER 24TH, 25TH
You know, were a full year past the Mayan Calendar end-of-cycle, but a
small part of me still thought we were going to celebrate Christmas 2013
in a cave, and the best present very well might have been... a can opener.
But no, here we are! We at After5 Entertainment Newspaper wish you
the very best Christmas possible, celebrate with your family and most es-
pecially, celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
H
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december
DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 4 | /After5GF @After5GF
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
MOVIE BEGINNING DECEMBER 20TH-
The legend of Ron Burgandy continues as the News Team find
hemselves in the 80s starting up the very first 24/7 news network in
New York City.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
MOVIE BEGINNING DECEMBER 12TH -
Bilbo Baggins and gang is at it again as they work together and attempt
to reclaim the dwarve homeland from the ridiculously rich dragon who
cant spend his own gold on anything, Smaug. The Hobbit series con-
trast much from their Lord of the Rings precedors, but on a personal
note I enjoy the lighthearted humor and different style a bit more.
USA Womens Hockey vs Canada
DECEMBER 20TH, RALPH ENGELSTAD ARENA
Grand Forks own Olympic Gold Medalists Jocelyne Lamoureux and
Monique Lamoureux are back in this one-game preview of the 2014
Olympic Games. The game is one out of many in the Bring on the
World tour. Grand Forks could not be prouder of the Lamoureux
family for representing the community on a world stage.
8 N 3RD STREET
DOWNTOWN GRAND FORKS
EVENTS CALENDAR DECEMBER
LIST EVENTS FOR FREE! E-mail to AFTER5GF@gmail.com
After 5 is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the
Events Calendar.
1
2
3
4
5
STORY TIME- 10 AM, EGF-
Campbell Library, EGF.
KARAOKE- 9 PM TO 1 AM,Long
Haul Saloon, GrandForks
KARAOKE- 9 to 1, The Ho
Bar,Grand Forks
OPEN MIC NIGHT- 9 TO 1 AM
,The Hub, Grand Forks.
STORY TIME- 10 AM, EGF-
Campbell Library, EGF.
EXTREME POKER-El Roco,
Grand Forks
STORY TIME- 7 PM, EGFCamp-
bell Library, EGF.
DAKOTA POKER LEAGUE
NIGHT- Down UNDer Pub,Grand
Forks.
SANTA AT THE LIBRARY- 5 TO
7 PM, EGF Campbell Library.
KARAOKE- 10 PM, Rhombus
Guys, Downtown Grand Forks.
COMEDY NIGHT- 8 PM,
Dreamers Lounge in the Ra-
mada, Grand Forks.
CROCKPOT COOKING- 12:30
PM, UND Wellness Center,
Grand Forks.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLI-
DAY OPEN HOUSE- 1 TO 5
PM, Myra Museum and Campbell
House, Grand Forks.
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
JAZZ NIGHT AT L BISTRO -
7PM, L BISTRO, CanadInn,
Grand Forks.
FOOSBALL TOURNAMENT-
8PM, Rhombus Guys, Downtown
Grand Forks.
6
7
VENDORSONMAINCRAFT
SALE- 9AM-3PM, Canad Inns,
Grand Forks.
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
WINTER WUNDERLAND- 7 PM.
CHRISTMAS AT THE EMPIRE- 4
PM, Empire Arts Center, Grand
Forks.
GRAND FORKS HOLIDAY
HOME TOUR & GF REPUBLI-
CAN WOMEN FUNDRAISER- 9
AM TO 5 PM, Various Homes in
Grand Forks and East Grand
Forks.
THURSDAY MUSIC CLUBS
90TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
MUSICALE- 4 PM, United
Lutheran Church, Grand Forks.
AN OLD FASHIONED CHRIST-
MAS PARTY- Heritage Village,
Grand Forks.
GRAND FORKS HOLIDAY
HOME TOUR & GF REPUBLI-
CAN WOMEN FUNDRAISER- 12
TO 5 PM, Various Homes in
Grand Forks and East Grand
Forks.
8
9
10
STORY TIME- 10 AM, EGF-
Campbell Library, EGF.
KARAOKE- 9 PM TO 1 AM,Long
Haul Saloon, GrandForks.
KARAOKE- 9 to 1, The Ho
Bar,Grand Forks.
OPEN MIC NIGHT- 9 TO 1 AM
,The Hub, Grand Forks.
11
STORY TIME- 10 AM, EGFCamp-
bell Library, EGF.
EXTREME POKER-El Roco,
Grand Forks
KARAOKE- 10 PM, Rhombus
Guys, Downtown Grand Forks.
COMEDY NIGHT- 8 PM,
Dreamers Lounge in the Ra-
mada, Grand Forks.
12
STORY TIME- 7 PM, EGFCamp-
bell Library, EGF.
DAKOTA POKER LEAGUE
NIGHT- Down UNDer Pub,Grand
Forks.
JAZZ NIGHT AT L BISTRO -
7PM, L BISTRO, CanadInn,
Grand Forks.
FOOSBALL TOURNAMENT-
8PM, Rhombus Guys, Downtown
Grand Forks.
SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
13
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
.SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
CORKS & CANVAS- 6 TO 8 PM,
Empire Arts Center, Grand Forks.
THE WIZARD OF OZ- 7 PM,
Red River High School, Grand
Forks.
2013 SERTOMA WRESTLING
TOURNAMENT- Central High
School, Grand Forks.
UND MENS HOCKEY VS.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN- 7:37
PM, Ralph Engelstad Arena,
Grand Forks.
14
VENDORSONMAINCRAFT
SALE- 9AM-3PM, Canad Inns,
Grand Forks.
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
EVENTS CALENDAR DECEMBER
15
16
17
18
19
20
STORY TIME- 10 AM, EGF-
Campbell Library, EGF.
KARAOKE- 9 PM TO 1 AM,Long
Haul Saloon, GrandForks.
KARAOKE- 9 to 1, The Ho
Bar,Grand Forks.
OPEN MIC NIGHT- 9 TO 1 AM
,The Hub, Grand Forks.
23
25
21
22
STORY TIME- 7 PM, EGFCamp-
bell Library, EGF.
DAKOTA POKER LEAGUE
NIGHT- Down UNDer Pub,Grand
Forks.
JAZZ NIGHT AT L BISTRO -
7PM, L BISTRO, CanadInn,
Grand Forks.
.SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
FOOSBALL TOURNAMENT-
8PM, Rhombus Guys, Downtown
Grand Forks.
EXTREME POKER-El Roco,
Grand Forks
KARAOKE- 10 PM, Rhombus
Guys, Downtown Grand Forks.
COMEDY NIGHT- 8 PM,
Dreamers Lounge in the Ra-
mada, Grand Forks.
KARAOKE- 9 PM TO 1 AM,Long
Haul Saloon, GrandForks.
KARAOKE- 9 to 1, The Ho
Bar,Grand Forks.
OPEN MIC NIGHT- 9 TO 1 AM,
The Hub, Grand Forks.
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
.SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
BRING ON THE WORLD TOUR
WOMENS HOCKEY:USA VS
CANADA-7 PM, Ralph Engelstad
Arena, Grand Forks.
SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
UND MENS HOCKEY VS.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN- 7:07
PM, Ralph Engelstad Arena,
Grand
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLI-
DAY OPEN HOUSE- 1 TO 5 PM,
Myra Museum and Campbell
House, Grand Forks.
UND WOMENS BASKETBALL
VS. ND STATE- 2 PM, Betty En-
gelstad Sioux Center, Grand
Forks.
2013 SERTOMA WRESTLING
TOURNAMENT- Central High
School, Grand Forks.
THE WIZARD OF OZ- 7 PM,
Red River High School, Grand
Forks.
.VENDORSONMAINCRAFT
SALE- 9AM-3PM, Canad Inns,
Grand Forks.
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
LORIE LINE AND HER FAB 5- 3
PM, Chester Fritz Auditoirum,
Grand Forks.
UND MENS BASKETBALL VS.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE- 4 PM,
Betty Engelstad Sioux Center,
Grand Forks.
.SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
26
STORY TIME- 7 PM, EGFCamp-
bell Library, EGF.
DAKOTA POKER LEAGUE
NIGHT- Down UNDer Pub,Grand
Forks.
JASON STADSTAD HOCKEY
CLASSIC- Purpur and Gambucci
Arena, Grand Forks.
JAZZ NIGHT AT L BISTRO -
7PM, L BISTRO, CanadInn,
Grand Forks.
KARAOKE- 10 PM, Rhombus
Guys, Downtown Grand Forks.
COMEDY NIGHT- 8 PM,
Dreamers Lounge in the Ra-
mada, Grand Forks.
SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
UND MENS BASKETBALL VS.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE- 4
PM, Betty Engelstad Sioux Cen-
ter, Grand Forks.
GREATER GRAND FORKS
SYMPOHNY ORCHESTRA :
BEST OF THE NUTCRACKER
AND ND BALLET- 3PM, Empire
Arts Center, Grand Forks.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLI-
DAY OPEN HOUSE- 1 TO 5 PM,
Myra Museum and Campbell
House, Grand Forks.
THE WIZARD OF OZ- 2 PM,
Red River High School, Grand
Forks.
.SANTA VILLAGE 2013-Lincoln
Park Golf Course, Grand Forks.
STORY TIME- 10 AM, EGF-
Campbell Library, EGF.
EXTREME POKER-El Roco,
Grand Forks
UND WOMENS BASKETBALL
VS. MAYVILLE STATE- 7 PM,
Betty Engelstad Sioux Center,
Grand Forks.
27
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
JASON STADSTAD HOCKEY
CLASSIC- Purpur and Gambucci
Arena, Grand Forks.
28
JASON STADSTAD HOCKEY
CLASSIC- Purpur and Gambucci
Arena, Grand Forks.
.VENDORSONMAINCRAFT
SALE- 9AM-3PM, Canad Inns,
Grand Forks.
LIVE MUSIC- 9 PM, Sanders,
Grand Forks.
29
30
31
CELEBRATE THE NIGHT- 6
PM TO MIDNIGHT- Alerus Cen-
ter, Grand Forks
FOOSBALL TOURNAMENT-
8PM, Rhombus Guys, Downtown
Grand Forks.
24
STORY TIME- 10 AM, EGF-
Campbell Library, EGF.
14
RHOMBUS
GUYS:
$1 DOLLAR
SLICES
BEGIN. 9PM
AND TRIVIA
AT 10PM
EVERY
TUESDAY PM
312 KITTSON AVE
(701) 787-7317
AFTER5 WISHES YOU A
VERY MERRY
CHRISTMAS AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
River Cinema 15
$5.00 Matinee/Child
$7.00 Evening Shows
$3.50 Senior Matinee T, W, TH
(218) 399-9000
www.RiverCinema15.com
211 Demers Ave East Grand Forks 218-399-9000
Great deals
on combos!
All Stadium Seating
COMING SOON TO
RIVER CINEMA 15
DECEMBER
December 13
Madea gets coaxed into
helping a friend pay her daugh-
ter a surprise visit in the country
for Christmas, but the biggest
surprise is what they'll find
when they arrive. As the small,
rural town prepares for its an-
nual Christmas Carnival, new
secrets are revealed and old re-
lationships are tested while
Madea dishes her own brand of
Christmas Spirit to all.
A Madea
Christmas
Rated PG-13
Starring: Tyler Perry, Larry
the Cable Guy, Chad
Michael Murray
December 13
The Hobbit: The Desola-
tion of Smaug continues the
adventure of the title charac-
ter Bilbo Baggins (Martin
Freeman) as he journeys with
the Wizard Gandalf (Ian
McKellan) and thirteen
Dwarves, led by Thorin Oak-
enshield (Richard Armitage)
on an epic quest to reclaim
the lost Dwarf Kingdom of
Erebor.
The Hobbit:
The Desolation of Smog
Rated PG-13
Starring: Ian McKellan,
Martin Freeman, Hugo
Weaving, Andy Serkis
December 4
Two brothers live in the
economi cal l y-depressed
Rust Belt, when a cruel twist
of fate lands one in prison.
His brother is then lured into
one of the most violent
crime rings in the Northeast.
Out of the
Furnace
Rated R
Starring: Christian Bale,
Casey Affleck, Woody Har-
relson, Wilem Dafoe, Zoe
Saldena, Sam Shepard
December 20
An account of Walt
Disney's twenty-year pur-
suit of the film rights to
P.L. Travers' popular
novel, Mary Poppins, and
the testy partnership the
upbeat filmmaker devel-
ops with the uptight au-
thor during the project's
pre-production in 1961.
Saving
Mr. Banks
Rated PG-13
Starring: Tom Hanks,
Emma Thompson, Colin
Farrell, Ruth Wilson
December 20
With the 70s behind him,
San Diegos top rated news-
man, Ron Burgundy, returns
to the news desk. Also back
for more are Rons co-anchor
and wife, Veronica Corning-
stone, weather man Brick
Tamland, man on the street
Brian Fantana and sports guy
Champ Kind all of whom
wont make it easy to stay
classy while taking New
Yorks first 24-hour news
channel by storm.
Anchorman 2:
The Legend Continues
Rated PG-13
Starring: Will Ferrell,
Steve Carell, Paul Rudd
December 18
Set in the Los Angeles of
the slight future, Her follows
Theodore Twombly, who makes
his living writing touching, per-
sonal letters for other people.
Heartbroken after the end of a
long relationship, he becomes
intrigued with a new, advanced
operating system, which prom-
ises to be an intuitive entity in
its own right, individual to each
user. Upon initiating it, he is de-
lighted to meet Samantha. As
her needs and desires grow, in
tandem with his own, their
friendship deepens into an
eventual love for each other.
Her
Rated R
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
December 25
Follows a day-dreamer who
escapes his anonymous life by
disappearing into a world of
fantasies filled with heroism, ro-
mance and action. When his
job along with that of his co-
worker are threatened, Walter
takes action in the real world
embarking on a global journey
that turns into an adventure
more extraordinary than any-
thing he could have ever imag-
ined.
The Secret Life
of Walter Mitty
Rated PG
Starring: Ben Stiller, Kris-
ten Wiig, Adam Scott
December 25
American Hustle tells the
story of brilliant con man Irving
Rosenfeld who, along with his
seductive partner Sydney
Prosser, is forced to work for a
wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso.
DiMaso pushes them into a
world of Jersey powerbrokers
and mafia thats as dangerous
as it is enchanting. Irvings un-
predictable wife Rosalyn could
be the one to pull the thread
that brings the entire world
crashing down.
American Hustle
Rating Unknown
Starring: Christian Bale,
Jennifer Lawrence, Amy
Adams, Bradley Cooper
December 20
Recent discoveries and
a breakthrough in technol-
ogy will introduce new and
unique dinosaurs that are
more real than ever before
and put moviegoers in the
middle of a thrilling prehis-
toric adventure, where an
underdog dinosaur triumphs
against all odds to become
a hero for the ages.
Walking with
Dinosaurs
Rated PG
December 25
De Niro and Stallone play
two Pittsburgh fighters whose
fierce rivalry put them in the na-
tional spotlight. Each had
scored a victory against the
other during their heyday, but
on the eve of their decisive third
match, Razor suddenly an-
nounced his retirement, refus-
ing to explain why. Thirty years
later, theyre made an offer they
cant refuse: to re-enter the ring
and settle the score once and
for all.
Grudge Match
Rated PG-13
Starring: Robert De Niro,
Sylvester Stallone
December 25
Jordan Belfort, a Long Is-
land penny stockbroker,
served 20 months in prison
for refusing to cooperate in a
massive 1990s securities
fraud case that involved wide-
spread corruption on Wall
Street and in the corporate
banking world, including mob
infiltration.
The Wolf of
Wall street
Rating Unknown
Starring: Leonardo Di-
Caprio, Jonah Hill, Kyle
Chandler, Jean Dujardin
December 25
The outcast Kai joins a
group of Ronin, led by Kura-
nosuke Oishi, who seeks
vengeance on Lord Kira for
killing their master and ban-
ishing the group. The Ronin
embark on a journey whose
challenges would defeat
most warriors.
47 Ronin
Rated PG-13
Starring: Keanu Reeves,
Tadanobu Asano
12 YEARS A SLAVE
By Deena Davis
Steve McQueen adaption from the 1853 memoir 12 Years a Slave
from Solomon Northup offers a glimpse into the everyday life and
horrors of slavery. The protagonist Northup was born a free man
living in New York. Hes an accomplished violist and makes his
wages performing. Its only when two men lure Northup into per-
forming with them on a journey does he wake up in chains being
sent to the south to work as a slave.
The film chronicles the next years he spends as a slave in
Louisiana. McQueens directing style has always been low-key.
From Shame to Hunger, his films never overwhelm the senses
with an underlying score, dialogue or camera movement. He uses
this silence to make the audience uncomfortable. Chiwetal Ejiofor
plays Solomon Northup with the strength of a man whose only
mission in life is to survive long enough to return to his family.
Northup tries to detach himself from the life of slavery and his
will is nearly broken while serving for a cruel man played by
Michael Fassbender.
Many filmmakers today feel the need to beat their audience over
the head with the films message or agenda. Fortunately this isnt
one of those films. McQueen allows the audience to come to their
own opinions about the characters and themes.
HUNGER GAMES:
CATCHING FIRE
By Christy Lemire of christylemire.com
Steve McQueen adaption from the 1853 memoir 12 Years a Slave
from Solomon Northup offers a glimpse into the everyday life and
Heres how effective The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is: I
read the book its based on, I knew what was going to happen, yet
still found myself getting caught up in the action, the suspense, the
twists. And I still found myself sighing a longing awww at the
flims cliffhanger ending, even though I knew it was coming. Di-
rector Francis Lawrences film runs nearly two-and-a-half hours
but it concludes so abruptly and tantalizingly, it leaves you want-
ing more.
As the second film adaptation of Suzanne Collins best-selling
Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire is in the potentially
awkward position of simultaneously serving as a placeholder and
moving the action and characters along, of providing audiences
with a substantive and satisfying ride while still teasing the cli-
mactic finale to come. And it achieves all this with both style and
emotional heft, and only a tad bit of lagging or padding.
Taking over for Gary Ross, who directed last years original
Hunger Games, Lawrence keeps the action buzzing briskly
while also provid-
ing a clearer and
more daunting
sense of the totali-
tarian regime that
has kept the citi-
zens of dystopian,
futuristic Panem
cowering in poverty and fear. Images
from the individual districts are gritty, bleak and sometimes grue-
somely bloody, while the towering, Art Deco Capitol appears
more awesomely over the top than ever thanks to improved special
effects.
But as the title suggests, a spark has ignited among the people, and
Katniss Everdeen is the one who lit it.
Once again, Jennifer Lawrence serves as the formidable force at
the center of this strange and dangerous world. Her Katniss is
fierce but vulnerable, mature beyond her years but accessible in
her youthful vitality. By now, we know that Lawrence can do
pretty much anything, from comedy and romance to drama and ac-
tion. Fresh off her showy, Oscar-winning turn in Silver Linings
Playbook, here she must function as a reluctant savior and sym-
bol of hope, a responsibility her character initially is reluctant to
accept.
At the end of The Hunger Games, Katniss and fellow District 12
tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, vaguely more assertive
this time) have cheated the system and both emerged as champi-
ons. Now theyre forced to travel the ravaged country on a victory
tour, an uncomfortable mix of propaganda-filled celebration and
sorrowful remembrance of the fallen. At each stop, Katniss must
pretend to be in love with Peeta to please the suspicious President
Snow (a chilling Donald Sutherland), although her heart belongs
back home with her hunky childhood best friend, Gale (Liam
Hemsworth, little-used aside from one powerful scene).
Along for the ride, as always, is the duos unflappably upbeat es-
cort, Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), who strains to keep them on
message even as revolution rears its head wherever they go. Banks
once again gets to wear a colorful array of truly inspired and gar-
ish costumes, but she also gets to show some humanity and com-
plex emotions, as her true loyalties to Katniss and Peeta begin to
shine through. Also accompanying them is the last Hunger Games
winner from District 12, the perpetually inebriated but resourceful
Haymitch (Woody Harrelson, whos also afforded more shadings
this time in the script from Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt).
But just when they thought they were out, President Snow pulls
Katniss and Peeta back in. For
the 75th Hunger Games the
third Quarter Quell, as its
known he announces hes
assembling previous winners to
fight each other to the death in
the arena. His new games-
maker, Plutarch Heavensbee
(Philip Seymour Hoffman),
promises to make the competi-
tion more difficult than ever be-
fore since hes dealing with
more skilled players. Hoffman
delivers a deadpan monologue
in that deep, rich voice of his in
which he lays out his strategy
for the president; its simultane-
ously hilarious and frightening,
and a great example of how ex-
cellent supporting casting helps
elevate a film like this beyond
the young-adult genre.
Along those lines, Stanley
Tucci dazzles once more as the
purple-pompadoured game show host who schmoozes the contest-
ants and pumps up the audience. Hes wonderfully flamboyant
(and a much-needed source of humor) but, again, hes only a notch
above the typical television personality in terms of perkiness. And
Lenny Kravitz brings warmth and earthiness once more to the role
of Cinna, Katniss stylist and confidant. (Real-life costume de-
signer Trish Summerville truly outdoes herself this time, espe-
cially with Katniss glittering, transforming wedding dress. Its a
stunner of a moment on live TV for all the world to see.)
The prelude is so fraught, the games themselves almost feel like a
relief by comparison, even though so many lives are at stake.
Among the clever challenges that await these Hunger Games all-
stars: poisonous fog, rampaging baboons and thick, bloody rain.
The competitors realization as to how to outsmart the system is a
great a-ha moment. But what all these alliances and schemes are in
service of is the real zinger, and the promise of more dark thrills to
come.
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DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 8 | /After5GF @After5GF
Megan Ashley Pierce is a Grand Forks native and personal trainer whose life and story would make
our community proud.Her brother, some of you may know as well, is Austin Pierce, who took 2nd
place at River Cinema Speedway for Sprint Cars. Her life is testament to just how far anybody can go
if they set their mind to it. Her mindset has taken her to get to know and befriend some of the top
trainers and athletes in the country, and also helping a good many of people in the local community
achieve their own dream. In this piece, youll also learn how to seek and achieve your own goals. I
thought it would be great every onceinawhile to share with you notable people who are a part of our
community that truly make a difference in peoples lives.
Megans first-ever client, Mistie Berg, now a resident in Fargo said, I went from a size 12 to a size 4
and truly enjoyed the unique style of her boot camps outdoors. She gave the regular workout a twist
and made it so much more enjoyable and interesting. Always coming up with new ideas. She said
her attitude was key, and encoruaged people to continue writing out their goals in fitiness and in life,
and to keep moving foward.
Another former client, Lauren McAllister, who now lives in Oregon, went on to say When she says
believe', she means it. Megan believed in me long before I believed in myself. She makes fitness
easy, approachable and fun. Her passion is infectious and she made me want to be in the gym not just
for myself but to make her proud. I've never seen someone chase a dream as hard as she does, and
she's my role model for what it means to be strong in all aspects of life. It's a huge honor to call her
my trainer and my friend. Megan doesn't do it for the money or the fame. She does it for the love of it
and she wants to share that joy and excitement of fitness with people. That's why she opened her own
gym. She just can't not workout and change lives; it's who she is.
By doing this interview, I wanted to remind people that, indeed there are truly many, many special
people in this community. Im honored to know quite a few myself. Its just a matter of finding them,
and to also know you can surround yourself with truly positive people. People who believe in you,
people who can lift you up and help you achieve your dreams. Thats what Megans about. By the
way, I also got to chuckle a little bit, it is enjoyable talking about fitness in the middle of
holiday/Christmas season. Anyways, heres the interview.
After5 (A5): Your upbringing - who's in your family?
Megan Ashley Pierce (MAP): Parents Mike & Linda Pierce. I come from a business family. Our
family owns many businesses in the area. Dakota Peat & Equipment/Hawkes Company. Maple Lake
Resort. Pierce Investments. And now MAP Fitness. My mom is also a Realtor at Crary Real Estate. I
have a younger brother named Austin. He works for my dad building houses, condos, apartments and
on the side he races sprint cars. Hes been doing great, he took 2nd place for most points this year in
Grand Forks.
A5:When did you start discovering the fitness and exercise fields as your true passion?
MAP: When I was 22 years old I joined Center Courts first Biggest Loser Contest. When you
joined that you got to work with a personal trainer for 8 weeks. Within those 8 weeks they showed
me what fitness was all about. I saw the fastest results working with a trainer. After those 8 weeks I
knew there was something within me that wanted to help people reach the same goals I did. I went
online right away started to research certifications, picked one down in South Dakota, drove down
and within 4 days I was certified. I came back talked with Center Court and they hired me with no
hesitation. Fitness Manager Chris Langei knew I had something special to share with everyone at
that club.
A5: Describe your career path.
MAP: Growing up I was way overweight. The most I weighed back in High School was 220lbs. My
senior year my mom asked me if I wanted to try Jenny Craig. I said sure, within 8 months I dropped
68lbs without exercise. I loved the feeling. I continued to eat healthy through college and kept the
weight off. When I was 22 is when I decided to start working out, I wanted different results. I wanted
to be toner, fitter & stronger. Did the Biggest Loser Challenge, gained amazing results, went off to
South Dakota took my certification test. Got hired at Center Court Fitness Club in 2010. Fitness
Manager Chris Langei took me under her wing and trained me three times a week to show me every-
thing she knows. Till this day I still workout with her. In 2012 we became Choice Health & Fitness.
I found that group classes were my true passions. At Choice I taught more group classes than one on
one personal training. I trained bootcamps, taught Krank & Row, Les Mills RPM, TRX & circuit
classes. I had a great run at that gym but knew I wanted more. I wanted to run my own gym, set my
rules, travel the country to do my
own personal training and coaching.
I spend a lot of time down in Califor-
nia learning from other gyms and
trainers. I want to be able to bring
the LA experience to North Dakota.
A5:The networks you built as a per-
sonal trainer are phenomenal. Who
are the people in your life that helped
you along the way?
MAP:The number one person who
helped me along the way was my
boss at Choice, Chris Langei. The
day after I got certified as a personal
trainer she taught me everything she
knows. Ive had a lot of help from
other top trainers around the country.
Ive worked with Insanity Creator
Shaun T, Jillian Michaels of the
Biggest Loser, Brian Peeler from the
Reality TV Show Workout, Jason
Charchan the top Athlete trainer in
LA, Lacey Stone from NYC/LA and Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser . When I get certified in
new programs ive met some really great inspirational master trainers as well. Terry Keller and Maria
Long from Les Mills have been a huge support for me in that family. My clients have made a huge
impact on my life. Everyday they have nice things to post about me on facebook and share with peo-
ple what I do and love. The clients I have will never let me down, they are the first ones I can count
on to be by my side.
A5: Who's your role model and
person you look up to the most
and did you meet him/her? What
was that like?
MAP: There are 2 people I look
up to. My friend Chris Langei
and Jillian Michaels. Chris has
been the biggest part of my per-
sonal training career. She has
been a trainer for 25 years and
has shown me absolutely every-
thing she knows about health &
fitness. Shes the one that wants
me to reach the top and she is
willing to help me get there. The
most important lessons she ever
taught me was how to BELIEVE
in myself. We had a long conver-
sation three years ago. I struggled
with not thinking I was good
enough to be a personal trainer.
She taught me the Law of Attrac-
tion, Positive Energy and Posi-
tive Affirmations. That lesson changed my entire life and has gotten me to where I am now.
I love Jillian Michaels more than anyone. Ive seen every Biggest Loser season she has been on. Her
style of training is what gets the best results. Her personality pushes people to their max and gets
them out of their comfort zone. Many people need that to push through the fitness pain just a little bit
more to reap the benefits. Growing up my dad always told me to pick the top to people in your ca-
reer industry, do exactly what they do but with your own unique twist. Thats exactly what I did.
Now people call me Grand Forks Toughest Trainer or Jillian Michaels of Grand Forks. I love being
the toughest. I worked out with Jillian Michaels and she trained me in California on the beach. She
taught me so much about being a trainer and an inspirational coach to myself and to others.
A5: What advice would you give to people in general who haven't made fitness a part of their lives?
MAP: MAP out a plan on how your going to achieve your health & fitness goals. If your really not
sure how to do that, The first thing I recommend is hiring a personal trainer. They will direct you on
where to start. Your not going to figure it out right away. You need to test things out, see what you
like and what you dont like. Fitness will easily become apart of your lifestyle if you find something
active that you really enjoy. And dont ever give up or doubt yourself. What you think and feel is
just the mind confusing you. You can do anything you set your positive mind towards. Start by Be-
lieving!!
A5: What's a typical workout routine for you?
MAP:I like to switch up my workouts a lot. I get bored very easy and need my mind running fast for
me to see results. My favorite types of training are strength training and high intense interval training.
Right now im focused on heavy lifting in the weight room 3x/week and Insanity workouts 5x/week.
Putting those two types of training together has put me in the best shape of my life. I was able to
complete a 12mile Tough Mudder run in the Middle of San Diego up the mountains without running a
mile in my training. We came in as one of the top finishers in that race.
A5: Your life exemplifies a classic dreamer. What advice do you have for aspiring dreamers? And
how important is it for people to not just have goals, but to plan and... map them out?
MAP: Always start with Believing you can do something. Changing your mindset is step one. Stay
focused on one thing at a time. MAP out your goals. I keep mine on a white board and on excel
spreadsheets. Look over them everyday. Your going to have good days and your going to have bad
days. Dont give up!
A5: You're opening a new gym in town. What is that going to be like, how will it be separate from
competition? How can people sign up?
MAP: My new gym is going to be a specialty gym. Itll be ran like a gym you will find in Los Ange-
les. My goal is to bring the LA experience to North Dakota. It will be strictly personal training with
one on one training and the hottest group training classes. Some of the group classes will be Intense
Bootcamps, TRX, Insanity, Kettlebells, Train with the trainers, and Training classes to prepare people
for obstacle course races like the Tough Mudder. In the process of hiring a few other trainers to work
at the gym.
Megans new gym is at 5700 Gateway Drive in town, across the road from the new
Wal-Mart. Website is www.map-fitness.com, and you can find her MAP Fitness face-
book page at www.facebook.com/pages/MAP-Fitness/192944390731607
C
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BELIEVE: INTRODUCING MEGAN
ASHLEY PIERCE, PERSONAL TRAINER
BY MIKE PETERSON
DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 9 | /After5GF @After5GF
Megan with Jillian Michaels of Biggest Loser
Megan with Shaun T of Insanity Workout
Megan withBelieve
THE WARMTH OF COMMUNITY AS THE
WEATHER BEGINS TO CHILLBy Kathy Coudle-King
It began a few weeks ago when two actors rehearsing Parallel Lives at the Fire Hall Theater sent me
an email saying that the theatre was freezing. I joked that, yes, it was November and they needed to
put the temperature up. Two days later I walked into the theatre to discover it was, indeed, chilly: 47
degrees. It was discovered that a breaker was thrown. A simple fix, right?
Then, the theatres building manager, Jeff Kinney, suggested we have the furnace tuned up for the
winter. A good idea, an expensive discovery. The repairmen found a crack and the furnace was not
repairable. Ticket price for a new furnace? Almost $4200. We were running on just one furnace,
hoping the mercury wouldnt dip below freezing, and wringing our hands about where wed get the
money to replace the broken furnace. You see, for the last two years the theatre has been trying to
raise funds to get the tuck pointing on the 108-year old building done. (The bricks are actually falling
off the crown of the building.) That ticket? $100,000. Weve jokingly referred to the fundraising
campaign as the Brick by Brick fund because we know that raising that kind of money is going to
take a long time. Then in October we discovered that the fire exit door was not repairable but needed
to be replaced, so we started asking our patrons to help us take care of that cost.
But when your furnace goes out in November in North Dakota, bricks and doors have to wait. Thats
when things began to really heat up at the Fire Hall.
I shared our situation on Facebook okay, I whined about it. People were prepared to host all sorts
of fundraising events, then came longtime Fire Hall supporter Kathy Ficks post. If everyone sends
in $20, we can have the furnace paid off by the end of the week. Donations to our Paypal account
began flowing in and checks started showing up in the mailbox. We heard from people across the
country who have not lived in Grand Forks for twenty years, and people who grew up on the Fire
Hall stage and now have children of their own. Some sent $20, one parent even sent $200, telling me
she felt it was an investment in her six-year olds future because he loves being on our stage.
I began sleeping through the night again.
It appeared we would be able to raise at least half the cost of the furnace, but then the temperature
got kicked up even higher. Economy Plumbing and the McGurran family donated a brand new fur-
nace. Not only would the donations just about cover the installation, but the furnace itself would be
taken care of without draining what few extra dollars the Community Theatre has in reserve. It was a
bitter, cold wind that blew through Grand Forks the day we learned of the McGurrans generosity, but
it could not have been warmer in the Fire Hall Theatre.
There is much to be thankful for at the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre as we celebrate our
66th season. Beyond the opportunity to provide an outlet for local theatre lovers and practitioners, be-
yond being able to foster a joy for the stage in children and teens, beyond being able to work with
veterans groups, create stage pieces based on the lives of our elderly we are grateful for the com-
munitys support. To some, community theatre simply means amateur theatre productions. But
clearly, supporters of the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre take the word community to
mean just that. The Fire Hall Theatre is a place where everyone who wishes to can come together to
create and witness living stories that make us laugh and, yes, sometimes cry. It is a place one feels a
human connection to others.
Everyone who has been to see a show at the Fire Hall Theatre knows it can get a bit hot during a pro-
duction. All this time we attributed that heat to the stage lights and poor ventilation. Well, the truth is
revealed: its the warm hearts of our patrons that fill the little theatre that are the true source of the
heat. Its those same warm hearts who have replaced the furnace and will keep your community the-
atre warm through the long winters to come. With the communitys support, there will be at least 66
more seasons to come.
Tbe Creater Crand Forks Community Tbeatre brings you December
Song:
Live music in tbe intimacy of tbe Fire Hall Tbeatre.
December 12
tb
, Tbursday, 7 p.m.: Maury and Misti and Tbeir "Axes"
Maury llnney and MlsLl koop have generously offered Lo perform for Lhls fundralser for Lhe llre Pall 1heaLre,
whlch [usL had Lo replace lLs furnace. 8oLh Maury and MlsLl are professlonal slngers/muslclans, couslns, and
lovers of Lhe saxophone. ?ou wlll noL be dlsappolnLed by Lhls evenlng of muslc.
SuggesLed donaLlon aL Lhe door ls $13. 8ox offlce opens aL 6 p.m., Llme enough Lo browse Lhe wonderful
assorLmenL of sllenL aucLlon lLems, such as ?oga classes wlLh kay Wllllams, slnglng lessons wlLh Marla Wllllams,
massage servlces aL 8adlance Massage, carpeL cleanlng (!oe lorLe), CompuLer vlrus 8x, 1aroL readlngs (Llsa
Poward), salon servlces aL 1he Palr MovemenL (8achel PorLon), and many unlque handmade lLems and locally
wrlLLen books.
And, Dec. 15
tb
, 4 p.m. - )essie Veeder - Winter Songs
Slnger/SongwrlLer and largo lorum columnlsL !essle veeder reLurns Lo Crand lorks from her ranch ln WesLern norLh uakoLa Lo
celebraLe Lhe hollday season wlLh a collecLlon of ChrlsLmas songs and oLher muslc for sweaLer weaLher Sunday, uecember 13 aL
4:00 M aL Lhe llre Pall 1heaLer.
1lckeLs are $10 and can be purchased aL Lhe door.
!essle wlll have her orlglnal phoLography, Cus and merchandlse avallable for purchase aL Lhe evenL.
1he Crand lorks performance ls parL of !essle's "WlnLer Songs" concerL serles LhaL brlngs her Lo Carrlson, largo and Mandan.
More lnformaLlon on !essle veeder, her muslc and her llfe on Lhe ranch ln WesLern norLh uakoLa can be found aL
www.[essleveedermuslc.com and www.veederranch.com
1he llre Pall 1heaLre ls cleverly Lucked behlnd ClLy Pall and norLh of CenLral P.S.: 412 n 2
nd
Avenue.
701-746-0847 and www.ggfcL.com
DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 10 | /After5GF @After5GF
F
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JINGLE ALL THE WAY
TO CHRISTMAS DAY
By Whitney Delaney
Christmas is my favorite time of year, but by December 25th, the music has driven me nuts. The
first few days after Thanksgiving I love the holiday tunes, but by the second week of December, I
am envisioning Bing Crosby in a fistfight with the little drummer boy to distract me from the con-
stant drone of Jingle Bells. There has to be a way to enjoy holiday music instead of loathe it right?
Growing up, I loved listening to my grandmas A Rosie Christmas CD. After 14 years of playtime;
however, Rosie ODonnell and Elmo singing a duet of Do You Hear What I Hear is anti-Christ-
mas spirit for me. Despite the fact that my grandma needs to update her music collection, she had
the right idea buying a unique holiday album. Loads of entertainers release Christmas albums. Each
artist puts their own flair into music, so buying a Christmas album from a band or singer you like is
a way to break the monotony of the generic songs overplayed on the radio.
I was at Target with my mom hunting for a new Christmas CD. We were listening to the sample
music and there was a nice jazz Christmas CD that I commented on. My mom chose a different
one, but when I opened my presents for Christmas, I was confused to see Smooth Jazz Christmas
beneath the torn wrapping paper. She looked at me excitedly and said its the one you wanted! I
didnt want it. I never play Christmas music intentionally because I hear it everywhere I go; how-
ever, I actually enjoy Smooth Jazz Christmas. Jazz, smooth or not, isnt normally a genre I listen to.
Because of this, it was refreshing; I have yet to grow tired of the saxophone infused versions of
classics.
Spotify is a good place to look for unique holiday music. You can find an album you like or a previ-
ously made playlist. I enjoy music from lesser-known artists and A Very Indie Christmas is my
favorite holiday playlist on Spotify. It has holiday music from The Civil Wars, She & Him, and
Kishi Bashi. You can find a playlist on Spotify, regardless of the music you enjoy. Pandoras unique
radio stream also has pre-made stations with holiday music. Both music providers offer a diverse
selection
of music for the most wonderful time of the year.
Since I have a variety of music for the most wonderful time of the year, I try not to overplay my fa-
vorites. Every year when I bake cookies with my mom and grandma we pull out an old vinyl album
with Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts, but outside this scenario, the song would lose its
luster.
Christmastime is a joyous season that should be enjoyed by all. Christmas music should enhance
that enjoyment, not make you hit the nog. A variety of unique Christmas songs grounded by beau-
tiful instrumental versions of classics and scattered with a few treasured melodies is my formula for
just the right amount of Christmas spirit. What will be yours?
M
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DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 11 | /After5GF @After5GF
Ask the
Fitness
Gal
BY JAIMIE MIESEL
Question: With the weather getting colder (in cer-
tain areas) and flu season almost upon us, can
you provide a little refresher on working out
when youre sick?
Answer: Everyone seems to have a different opinion on this, but
heres the scoop. You often hear people say that working out is
fine if its just a head coldstuffy nose, coughing, and other stuff
that you dont like, but can deal with. This is generally true, but if
you have a fever, body aches, or other more serious symptoms,
you should leave the exercising to the rest of us. Consider these
issues as well. When Im working out, I dont really want people
that are sneezing and coughing around meand I would guess
you dont either. Plus, I like to workout with intensity, and I put a
priority on the quality of my exercise. Therefore, I would rather
rest up for a day or two, even if I just have a head cold. Then,
when I get back to exercising, I can pick-up right where I left off.
Ultimately, the decision is in your hands, so do whats best for
you!
Question: I have several friends that follow some
of the popular workouts that you often see touted
in infomercials and on the internet. Is there any-
thing special about these workouts? Do you
think its worth the money to invest in one?
Answer: Thats a good question. I have a few friends that have
followed P90X and some other popular programs as well. Here
are my thoughts. Many of these programs are just practical adap-
tations of some of the latest and greatest fitness research, often
coupled with some traditional exercise equipment. Add an expert
with a vibrant personality, and youve got a recipe for a successful
program. Do these types of programs work? Sure, if you follow
the program, stay committed, and push yourself (though the ex-
pert is usually pretty good at that, too). Many (but not all) are
simply spin-offs of Body Pump, with some high-intensity interval
training thrown in for good measure. This type of training works
well regardless of whether you follow a structured program or
not. My only concern with online or home DVD programs is the
risk of doing an exercise continuously with the wrong form since
no one is there to watch you. This could eventually lead to an in-
jury down the road or affect your ability to increase your weight
resistance if you dont have correct form. Plus, I would argue that
a certified personal trainer at your local health club could design a
better workout for you, simply because its personalized. Theyll
take into account your personal health statistics, fitness level, time
constraints, and many other variables. And theyll be there with
you through it allin person! Another benefit is the wide variety
of equipment a fitness center has to offer rather than buying ex-
pensive equipment for you and then finding places to store every-
thing! So, is it worth the money to purchase one of these
programs? It might be, but your success really depends much
more on you, and how dedicated you are to reaching your goals.
About the author: Jaimie Miesel is the Club manager & Certified
Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness in East Grand Forks, MN. To
submit a question for future articles, please contact the author at
Jaimie.miesel@gmail.com.
THE YEAR THE MONARCH DIDNT
DISSAPPEAR
NEW YORK TIMES SUNDAY REVIEW BY JIM ROBBINS
ON the first of November, when Mexicans celebrate a holiday
called the Day of the Dead, some also celebrate the millions of
monarch butterflies that, without fail, fly to the mountainous fir
forests of central Mexico on that day. They are believed to be
souls of the dead, returned.
This year, for or the first time in memory, the monarch butterflies
didnt come, at least not on the Day of the Dead. They began to
straggle in a week later than usual, in record-low numbers. Last
years low of 60 million now seems great compared with the
fewer than three million that have shown up so far this year. Some
experts fear that the spectacular migration could be near collapse.
It does not look good, said Lincoln P. Brower, a monarch expert
at Sweet Briar College.
It is only the latest bad news about the dramatic decline of insect
populations.
Another insect in serious trouble is the wild bee, which has thou-
sands of species.Nicotine-based pesticides called neonicotinoids
are implicated in their decline, but even if they were no longer
used, experts say, bees, monarchs and many other species of in-
sect would still be in serious trouble.
Thats because of another major factor that has not been widely
recognized: the precipitous loss of native vegetation across the
United States.
Theres no question that the loss of habitat is huge, said Dou-
glas Tallamy, a professor of entomology at the University of
Delaware, who has long warned of the perils of disappearing in-
sects. We notice the monarch and bees because they are iconic
insects, he said. But what do you think is happening to every-
thing else?
A big part of it is the way the United States farms. As the price of
corn has soared in recent years, driven by federal subsidies for
biofuels, farmers have expanded their fields. That has meant
plowing every scrap of earth that can grow a corn plant, including
millions of acres of land once reserved in a federal program for
conservation purposes.
Another major cause is farming with Roundup, a herbicide that
kills virtually all plants except crops that are genetically modified
to survive it.
As a result, millions of acres of native plants, especially milk-
weed, an important source of nectar for many species, and vital
for monarch butterfly larvae, have been wiped out. One study
showed that Iowa has lost almost 60 percent of its milkweed, and
another found 90 percent was gone. The agricultural landscape
has been sterilized, said Dr. Brower.
The loss of bugs is no small matter. Insects help stitch together
the web of life with essential services, breaking plants down into
organic matter, for example, and dispersing seeds. They are a
prime source of food for birds. Critically, some 80 percent of our
food crops are pollinated by insects, primarily the 4,000 or so
species of the flying dust mops called bees. All of them are in
trouble, said Marla Spivak, a professor of apiculture at the Uni-
versity of Minnesota.
Farm fields are not the only problem. Around the world people
have replaced diverse natural habitat with the biological deserts
that are roads, parking lots and bluegrass lawns. Meanwhile, the
plants people choose for their yards are appealing for showy col-
ors or shapes, not for their ecological role. Studies show that na-
tive oak trees in the mid-Atlantic states host as many as 537
species of caterpillars, which are important food for birds and
other insects. Willows come in second with 456 species. Ginkgo,
on the other hand, which is not native, supports three species, and
zelkova, an exotic plant used to replace elm trees that died from
disease, supports none. So the shelves are nearly bare for bugs
and birds.
Native trees are not only grocery stores, but insect pharmacies as
well. Trees and other plants have beneficial chemicals essential to
the health of bugs. Some monarchs, when afflicted with parasites,
seek out more toxic types of milkweed because they kill the para-
sites. Bees use medicinal resins from aspen and willow trees that
are antifungal, antimicrobial and antiviral, to line their nests and
to fight infection and diseases. Bees scrape off the resins from
the leaves, which is kind of awesome, stick them on their back
legs and take them home, said Dr. Spivak.
Besides pesticides and lack of habitat, the other big problem bees
face is disease. But these problems are not separate. Say you
have a bee with viruses, and they are run-down, Dr. Spivak said.
And they are in a food desert and have to fly a long distance, and
when you find food it has complicated neurotoxins and the im-
mune system just goes uh-uh. Or they become disoriented and
cant find their way home. Its too many stressors all at once.
There are numerous organizations and individuals dedicated to re-
building native plant communities one sterile lawn and farm field
at a time. Dr. Tallamy, a longtime evangelizer for native plants,
and the author of one of the movements manuals, Bringing Na-
ture Home, says its a cause everyone with a garden or yard can
serve. And he says it needs to happen quickly to slow down the
worsening crisis in biodiversity.
When the Florida Department of Transportation last year mowed
down roadside wildflowers where monarch butterflies fed on their
epic migratory journey, there was a huge outcry, said Eleanor
Dietrich, a wildflower activist in Florida. So much so, transporta-
tion officials created a new policy that left critical insect habitat
un-mowed.
That means reversing the hegemony of chemically green lawns.
If youve got just lawn grass, youve got nothing, said Mace
Vaughan of the Xerces Society, a leading organization in insect
conservation. But as soon as you create a front yard wildflower
meadow you go from an occasional honeybee to a lawn that
might be full of 20 or 30 species of bees and butterflies and mon-
archs.
First and foremost, said Dr. Tallamy, a home for bugs is a matter
of food security. If the bees were to truly disappear, we would
lose 80 percent of the plants, he said. That is not an option.
Thats a huge problem for mankind.
Jim Robbins is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and
the author of The Man Who Planted Trees.
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DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 12 | /After5GF @After5GF
ALL THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF GREATER
GRAND FORKS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
by Stacey Dimmler
This is normally the week in my monthly rotation where I introduce you to a Greater Grand Forks
Young Professionals member, but Im feeling rather reflective in the spirit of the holidays so Ive de-
cided to mix things up a bit. The origination of my position was only made possible thanks to some
generous people who believed in what we set out to do. Two and a half years later, we are stronger
and more active than ever and continue to make our mark in the community thanks to continued sup-
port.
A few of the ways that your dollars and efforts have been put to use by the organization include:
-a new professional development opportunity brought to the area called Leadercast, enjoyed by a
sold-out crowd of more than 150 attendees last year
-over $6,000 raised for the Global Friends Coalition and CVIC
-a more formalized and recognized Internship Initiative with the University of North Dakota
-better utilization of downtown green spaces and local artists through Connect the Parks
-introduction and emphasis of regional artists at ArtSee
-a more informed and active voting audience through our websites GFVote.com, EGFVote.com and a
mayoral debate
-mentoring for young professionals from established professionals through our Executive Briefings
and monthly Lunch and Learns
-Warm Up to Grand Forks, a program designed to help employers introduce new or potential employ-
ees to our great city without all of the work and pressure
-a crazy embrace of winter we like to call the Iceman Triathlon
-an Affordable Care Act Forum to educate the public about changes in insurance
While this isnt all, its an exciting taste of the work were doing to create a more young-profes-
sional-friendly Grand Cities area. We couldnt do much without the help of our sponsors, though!
We are especially thankful to the Otto Bremer Foundation, The City of Grand Forks, Altru Health
System, the University of North Dakota, Xcel Energy, AE2S, Alerus Financial, Clear Channel Com-
munications, Choice Financial Group, Happy Harrys Bottle Shops, JLG Architects, Northland Com-
munity and Technical College, BeMobile Verizon, the Alerus Center, Bremer Bank, the Center for
Innovation, The Chamber-GF/EGF, the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation,
Dakota Harvest Bakers, Icon Architectural Group, After5, the Grand Forks Herald, the Exponent, Pio-
neer 90.1FM, Your QFM, the Grand Forks Park District, KLJ, Rhombus Guys, Brady Martz & Asso-
ciates, the UND Bookstore, Scheels, US Bank, Construction Engineers, Job Service of North Dakota,
Sterling Optical, True Colors, Thompson-Schaefer Insurance Agency, and the North Dakota Museum
of Art. We have several others who have generously given to our organization in other ways through-
out the year as well. Thank you for being a community the embraces and encourages the young pro-
fessional demographic!
SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE GROW
GRAND AWARD By Stacey Dimmler
Did you know that in some companies there are up to 5 generations in the workplace? Thats an in-
credible span of knowledge, experience, energy, ideas, and possibility!
So, what does it take to keep a young adult in the workplace?
While its impossible to give you a checklist of 20 things for guaranteed success, there are often
commonalities that increase the likelihood of attracting and retaining young professionals.
Benefits like flexibility in scheduling and office space are becoming more important as Millennials
enter and advance in their careers. There is also a stronger desire from young adults to be included in
projects and decision making from planning to implementation regardless of experience; a chance to
bring fresh ideas and energy as well as learn first hand from more experienced colleagues. (I would
argue that this desire for collaboration and inclusion is not entitlement, as its often labeled, rather
its a desire to contribute and learn. Ultimately we all strive for the success of the company as a goal,
right?)
For the past 2 years, the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals has awarded an area business with
the Grow Grand Award, a YP Best Place to Work Award. Our first recipient was Choice Financial,
and last year AE2S took home the honor. It is encouraging to see all of the applications we receive
each year, and more importantly how competitive it becomes. This is evidence of a larger city-wide
workforce culture more attractive to young adults looking to move into, or stay in the area.
Its time for us to find our next recipient of the award, and ANY business may apply for the honor.
You can check it out on our website: www.ggfyp.com. Applications are due at the end of December,
but any applications we receive before December 8th will be forwarded for con sideration in the
North Dakota Young Professionals statewide version of this award, Best Place to Work and Best
Place to Intern. More information is available at http://ndyp.net.
I choose to live and work in the Grand Cities because I see all of the opportunities for young people,
both for my career and in the community. Heres your chance to share what your business is doing!
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DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 13 | /After5GF @After5GF
When I was little my sister and I used to go out into the backyard
with our Christmas lists, and our dad would light them on fire.
Then the ashes would inexplicably be carried through the wind
miles upon miles away to the great North Pole, where Santa would
receive them and try to put them together again, probably cursing
our names all the while. Maybe thats why I never got that bow
and arrow I asked for, but if the dude would just get a real address
then this wouldnt have been an issue and I wouldnt have to rely
on Mother Nature for Santa to get my list. Im not bitter about it or
anything, but the doors of opportunity that would have opened up
to me with that bow and arrow are endless. This year Im trying
something different. Because like many of you in the Red River
region, Santa is no doubt a reader of After 5, and Im getting what
I want this yearno matter what.
Dear Santa,
Since you obviously keep track of these things anyway there is no
point in lying, so Im giving it to you straight. I havent been all
that great. But on a scale of Rob Ford to Santa Claus, Im proba-
bly at a Brittney Spears, and I really feel Im turning things
around. So here goes nothin.
1. Please stop playing A Christmas Story so
much. I loved it the first 100 times, I really did. But now Ive
forgotten if there is even a powerful message attached and all I
know is I wouldnt have shot my eye out with that bow and arrow.
Its a Wonderful Life gets quite a bit of playing time but at least it
still gives me chills and makes me weep like a baby at the beauti-
ful story.
2. Please let The Secret Life of Walter Mitty be
every bit as epic as its trailer. I would have paid $7 to see
the trailer to this movie and Im scared to death the full-length fea-
ture is going to disappoint. Maybe its the fact I dont believe in
Ben Stiller or maybe its the premise of this guy changing who he
is as a person by going on extravagant adventures that are real/fic-
tional/Im not sure honestly, but I just dont believe it will live up
to the expectations. Im not ready to go into a dark theater for two
hours and exit the same person as I went in. Change my life Wal-
ter Mitty. Do it.
3. PLEASE please pleaaaaaaaase give Leo an
Oscar. Im not even his biggest fan, but its getting hard to
watch Leo pour his heart and soul into every acting gig he
gets and seeing no return. This is probably so hard to believe
that I bet half of you are going to look it up just to make sure
Im not lying to you when I say hes never won one, but I would
never lie to Santa. Does nobody remember that this guy sank to
the bottom of the ocean in freezing cold water, saving the love of
his life instead of himself?! Titanic, people. Still didnt get an
Oscar. Its going to be tough for anyone to beat Chiwetel Ejiofor
in 12 Years a Slave, but look for Leo to give another Oscar-worthy
performance in The Wolf on Wall Street this Christmas.
4. Please let everybody view Mr. Nobody. If you
want to make sure you dont get anything done for the remainder
of the day, watch this trailer, it hasnt been off my mind since
viewing. This movie actually received limited release on Novem-
ber 1st of this year and has been relatively undiscussed as far as I
can tell, but Im intrigued. It takes a familiar subject about divorce
and having to choose between to parents, and then throws you into
a black hole of unfamiliarity with a science fiction twist.
5. Please let Her be the Rom-Dram of the year.
Every time I see Joaquin Phoenix on the screen I prepare myself
for something crazy. If you never saw Im Still Here, dont. Im
still not sure if it was real or not, but without a doubt it was mind-
blowing and I dont believe Joaquin has been the same person
since he made that film. In Her he appears to be a pretty normal
guy, oh until he falls in love with nothing more than a robot voice
in his home played by actress Scarlett Johansson. Though who can
blame him, when her voice sounds like the sweet flow of a choco-
late fountain at Golden Corral. HOW DO YOU DO IT SCAR-
LETT?!
6. Please let the Coen brothers live forever. I dont
know if you can control this Santa, but these guys spit out cine-
matic gold on a regular basis. Forget about The Hudsucker Proxy
and The Ladykillers, and Ive never seen a Coen brothers film I
didnt like. Enter Inside Llewyn Davis. Oscar Isaac and Carey
Mulligan from Drive team up again for this story about a young
folk singers troubles, and Justin Timberlake is thrown in just to
sweeten the deal. Ill take two tickets please, and you can be my
date Santa.
*Please refrain from burning any copies of this paper in an effort
to get my message to the North Pole, as stated before, Santa is a
monthly subscriber and will inevitably receive my message.
Thanks again.
Happy Holidays,
Taylor
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CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
by Taylor Brost
DEC 2013 YEAR FIVE NUMBER TWELVE | AFTER5GF.COM PAGE 14 | /After5GF @After5GF
$5.00 Burger & Pint
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