La Crosse Local

Today we chatted with Cole Bawek of Ashley for the Arts, Cole shares with us his involvement in the music and arts festival, from filling the 4,000 volunteer shifts to planning the annual festival that attracts 50,000 visitors to the Arcadia, WI a town of barely 3,000 people. Cole lets us know what else Wisconsin’s largest charity events offers including an artist market, family entertainment, and...

We’re chatting with Derek Ramnarace. Derek is a well known musician in the area from fronting the college band Hooch in the early 2000’s, to The Soap Box Project, to the newest iteration of his band Old Soul Society. Derek shares his experience of being a musician during COVID, with the increase of his creative output and even LIVE Streaming on top of Devil’s Lake in Baraboo, WI. https://www.faceb...

Eddy and Dan of The Deathless Dogs were both born and raised in La Crosse. Together since 2011, The Deathless Dogs are unique for the local music scene, with influences ranging from Queens of the Stone Age, Andrew WK, and Clutch. We chat about influences, whiskey, and listen to a new song titled “Broken Years” off their forthcoming album which explores a rough patch for Eddy in response to his tim...

Ryan Johnson is an entrepreneur and restaurateur, owning a number of restaurants in La Crosse including Howies, Big Al’s, and The Crow. Ryan shares his passions for classic food brands, the ins and outs of historic buildings, community support, creating new ideas and becoming a resource for future business owners. https://www.bigalspizzalacrosse.com/ You can find more conversations on our website:...

Steve Doll is the Pilgrimage Outreach Director at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe nestled in the hills of La Crosse, WI. Steve shares the “sacred art” that covers the grounds of the Shrine, from walking the pathways, visiting the pilgrim center, and reaching the top where the Shrine Church sits. Visitors are exposed to a variety of sculptures, paintings, and the “Sacred Architecture” that enca...

Pat Morse Gund is an artist and a teacher, her work is abstract in nature, and her most recent work uses figures inspired from her students. Her show recently hung in the Pumphouse Regional Arts Center, entitled “It Might Be You” and was inspired by her students, Pat took a photo of each student, cut it out and placed each student inside the work and then asked them to tell her and describe what t...

Alexander Platt is the Conductor of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, we got to talk with him about the importance of the symphony, his love for the Driftless Region and what is next for his craft. From producing live webcasts including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to the longevity of the Maverick Festival in New York and what’s on the horizon for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. https://www.la...

Today on La Crosse Local, we chatted with poet William Stobb, a La Crosse based poet, William has multiple series of poetry available including his newest “You Are Still Alive” published at 42 Miles Press, his work draws from daily life, love, death, politics and more. He even shares a poem written a few years ago that may be even more relevant today. https://williamstobb.net/ You can find more co...

The Arts Board works behind the scenes to advocate for art in La Crosse. Lewis Kuhlman is the Environmental Planner & Arts Board Secretary for the City of La Crosse, Lewis fills us in on how the Board is involved in adding public art to the downtown, including the 3 story Helping Hands mural finished in 2018, the Confluence mural completed in 2014 and they helped formulate the inaugural Artspire a...

At the La Crosse Local Podcast we like to talk about food and art, today want to touch on the scarcity issues of food in the area. We chatted with Erin Waldhart, Executive Director of the WAFER Food Pantry, Erin talks about the challenges and successes of WAFER. From their dedicated staff, volunteers, and helpers to their continued outreach to those in need. https://waferlacrosse.org/ You can find...

Burger Fusion Company is an award winning fast casual food restaurant owned and operated by Philip Wanke. Philip jumped into the hospitality and tourism industry at an early age and found a natural fit, we chatted with Phillip about quality ingredients, smash burgers, and a new food truck endeavor that includes stuffed grilled cheese. Find Burger Fusion in downtown La Crosse and his new food truck...

On most Friday nights and Saturday mornings during the warmer months of the year, crowds gather downtown to shop in the open air of Hanifl Market in Cameron Park. Linda Vale, the Market Manager at Cameron Park Farmers Market talks with us and shares her experience navigating the new normal of public gatherings during COVID times and sharing the value of fresh food and its accessibility in La Cross...

The Driftless Urban Orchestra is the La Crosse region’s newest professional chamber orchestra which was formed to be “an advocate of underrepresented composers and new music alike.” Conductor Dr. Cullan Lucas chatted with us about the chamber and about the entertaining informational podcasts available on their social channels and Youtube page, check them out for future La Crosse area show dates. h...

Located on 15th and Market, artPOP and Twinkle and Twine is a unique art and shopping experience. Offering handmade goods, curated gifts, and a selection of art classes. Classes and curated items are becoming the focus of this shop nestled in this residential neighborhood, offering a cozy, intimate, approachable experience for the beginner to the advanced. Tracy Endrizzi and Nicole Uecker share th...

Graham is the head brewer at the La Crosse Distilling Co., Graham was in on the early Fort Collins, Colorado beer scene, honing his skills and education in brewing. Eventually, he was hired at Odell Brewing Co and spent his early years with some masters in the industry. Graham talks with us about the day to day of brewing, pairing the La Crosse Distilling Co. food & cocktails, his aspiration as a...

Karen Bresi has been a staple in downtown La Crosse for 11 years, she was born into an artistic family and introduced to art at a young age. She spent a career as a nurse, but has been throwing pottery for over 30 years. After leaving her nursing career, she decided to open Generous Earth Pottery, followed quickly by Creative Canvas and Board as an avenue to get more people to explore creativity i...

We’re talking to La Crosse born Landon Sheely, who defines himself as “Classically untrained & foolishly optimistic”. In 2018, Landon was offered to paint a three story mural on a downtown parking ramp, entitled “Helping Hands.” His work is fitting in this day in age and his work usually explores political and societal concerns as undertones. We chatted with Landon about art, his optimism, and mos...

Gisela Pett is the Chef and Manager of the Culina Mariana Cafe located at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, nestled in the bluffs of La Crosse, WI. Gisela was born in Germany and relocated to the US twenty years ago, while growing up in Germany she travelled throughout Europe and was taught to cook by her mother, she found her passion in food from travel, and started a new career in culinary ar...

We’re talking to musician Gregg Hall of The White Iron Band and Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Ball. Gregg grew up in Medary, Wisconsin outside of La Crosse, his family is composed of musicians, singers, artists, and actors. Performing since he was 8 years old, Gregg has released 12 albums and EP’s and has shared the stage with Little Feet, Dr. John, Bill Miller, Jackson Brown, and more. We caught up...

A well known La Crosse Local, Terry Bauer of Moon Tunes, has a long history of community service and most recently found a passion for live music, raising funds for a new bandshell, and giving the public a great LIVE show along the Mississippi River. We chatted with Terry about what it takes to raise funds and build a one of a kind marvel located on the banks of the Mississippi. https://www.moontu...

Roald Gundersen is an area architect who grew up in La Crosse and spent much of his time as a kid at his grandparents in Ebner Coulee with the bluffs as his backyard, the outdoors was a major influence for his sustainable building practices, some of most notable work is the Hanifl Market in Cameron Park and the new bandshell covering the historic bandstand in Riverside Park, listen to Roald as he...

Dylan Overhouse is a documenter of places and events and can often be found at festivals and concerts grabbing candid crowd shots or being invited to shoot major music acts like Shinedown, Atmosphere, and Cold War Kids. https://www.dylanoverhouseproductions.com/ You can find more conversations on our website: https://lacrosselocal.com/ .

Gold Heart Tattoo is unique in the area as it is also an alternative art gallery where artists are welcome to paint or draw directly on the walls, it’s not just a hanging space. Hoch explained, “Gold Heart gives us the opportunity to show whatever we want, and do whatever we want, in the space. Huge walls, gallery lighting, (artists can) do whatever they want and nobody is telling them not to. htt...

The Orchestra will be celebrating its 80th anniversary next year and it is strongly invested in the community that has enjoyed and supported it for so long. The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra is especially focused on the youth of La Crosse with nearly as many educational programs as concerts in their yearly series. https://www.lacrossesymphony.org/ You can find more conversations on our website: htt...

Ashton is a La Crosse area local, whose oil pastel art you may have seen in the La Crosse County building, or hanging at the Heider Center, or you might have taken a stroll down the Alley of Murals downtown and spied one of her creations. She has played an active role in the local art community and decided to take it one step further, opening her private studio into a public art gallery. https://a...