Author Archives: Sarah Bauman

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About Sarah Bauman

I'm a senior at MSUM majoring in mass communications. I love music, being creative, traveling and cooking.

First-timer’s guide to roller derby

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By Sarah Bauman
MSUM mass comm major

I went to my first roller derby bout not knowing a thing about the sport.

I hadn’t seen “Whip It,” I didn’t know what a Lead Jammer or a Pivot Blocker was and I knew nothing about Passing the Star.

But that first bout was nothing but enjoyable.

I’d been talking about going to a bout for months, ever since the first time I saw the Monkey Wenches listed on a poster.  I’m a sucker for clever names.

Click here for photos from the bout

Learning the rules

From what I’d seen and heard about roller derby, I was expecting an exciting bout and lots of violence.  The ladies of the Monkey Wenches and the Haute Dishes didn’t disappoint during the pre-bout.  The rules are a little confusing, but I caught on about halfway through the first game.  Thankfully the rules were explained between the pre-bout and main bout.

For a list of official rules, click here

The game got more interesting during the main bout between the Northern Pains and the Harbor City Roller Dames from Duluth, Minn.  It was a longer, faster-paced game, which made it easier to figure out the rules.

Click here to watch a video clip

Roller derby brings a unique crowd.  People of all ages were there, and one fan was enjoying the game while knitting.  While there was a lot of cheering and shouting, it was all in good sport.

I was pleasantly surprised with my first experience at roller derby.  It’s worth the cost, it’s a lot of fun and I can’t wait to go to another bout.

Katie Schroepfer and Jared Swanson, both students at MSUM, offered some advice to first-timers:

  • Know the rules before you go
  • Watch “Whip It”
  • Bring cash, no cards are accepted
  • Learn players’ names/numbers so you know who to look for
  • You can stand on the floor around the track to watch the bout, just follow the rules
  • Get there early for a good parking spot

The FM Derby Girls next bout is Dec. 18 at the Fargo Civic Center.  There is also a meet and greet/recruiting event Dec. 20 at Skateland in Fargo.  Click here for more information

For a full list of events and more information about the FM Derby Girls, check out their website here

Stay out late on Thursdays

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Story and photos by Sarah Bauman
MSUM mass comm major


Several downtown businesses are staying open late on Thursdays to accommodate traffic from events like Bras on Broadway and the National Muffler’s Cruisin Broadway.  The Fargo Downtowner promotes the late Thursdays and several of the Thursday events.

The events draw more people downtown at night, but several businesses have said that while they do see more traffic, most of it stays on the sidewalks and not in the stores.

Clubs use space Thursday nights

Minda Ringdahl, kitchen manager at Nichole’s Fine Pastry, said she does notice more customers on Thursday nights, and it’s worth being open later, but there’s not as much traffic as on Friday and Saturday nights.  Ringdahl said groups like book clubs, French clubs and the Red Hat Society use the space Thursdays rather than weekend evenings, and often reserve tables for their meetings.

Visit Nichole’s Fine Pastry’s website here

Regulars stay away

Tina Van Hoecke, assistant manager at Boucle Yarn Studio, said their regular customers tend to stay away on Thursdays because there is less available parking.  They do see more walk-ins, however, from people attending events.  Boucle is open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and was one of the first stores to stay open later.

Visit Boucle Yarn Studio’s website here

Teresa O’Day, whose mother Cindy owns O’Day Cache, said they notice more traffic on the streets but are generally not very busy Thursdays, but she also said it’s worth being open later.

Visit O’Day Cache’s website here

For information about the Fargo Downtowner and upcoming events, visit their website here

Moorhead celebrates cultures

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Story and photos by Sarah Bauman
MSUM mass comm major

When thinking of the Fargo-Moorhead area, diversity might not be the first thing that comes to mind.  But last Saturday, the many cultures that call this area home were showcased at Pangea, a cultural celebration that takes place every November at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead.  Music, dancing, fashions, food and art were featured at the celebration, now in its sixth year.  Pangea takes place the second Saturday of November each year.

Visit the Hjemkomst Center’s website here

Woven bowls from Africa

Ebony nativity set from Tanzania

Carvings and bronze work from Sri Lanka

Traditional clothing impresses the crowd

Standing room only at the fashion show

A fashion show featured traditional clothing from Native American, Indian and Mexican cultures.  The Native American Fancy Dance and Jingle Dress regalia were featured, among others.  The vivid colors, dancing feathers and flowing fringe of the Fancy Dance regalia seemed to beg to be shown off, and the beautiful craftsmanship and detail were stunning.  The Jingle Dress made music with every movement and its shiny fabric appeared to be lit up by stage lights.  I wanted to see these wearable works of art in action.

A dance for every occasion

The traditional Mexican dresses were full and flowing, creating beautiful arcs of fabric when the dancers twirled.  The vibrant colors and lace and embroidery details added to the richness of the material, and the shiny ribbons circling the skirts created swirls of color.

Click to watch Mexican dance

The Indian dances were exciting and exotic.  I enjoyed the way they fused traditional dance and modern music, and the colors of their dress were rich and bold.  I was impressed with the age range of the dancers, all of whom looked so happy to be dancing for the crowd.

Click to watch Indian dance

YOSAKOI, the dance team from MSUM’s Japan Club, also performed several dances.  The music was exciting, and the dances matched the energy of the songs.  The crowd really enjoyed these dances, clapping along with the music.

For information about MSUM’s Japan Club, visit their website here

Click to watch Japanese dance

Each dance told a story through movement and it was fascinating to see the different ways the cultures conveyed emotion.  The unique beauty of each culture was stunning.  I was amazed at the artistry in every garment and movement, and thrilled that the Pangea event takes place every year to let these groups shine.

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Downtown is for the dogs…and cats

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Story and photos by Sarah Bauman
MSUM mass comm major

Downtown is a destination for shoppers, with specialty boutiques and independently owned stores offing unique items.  To some, however, visiting downtown is all about seeing old friends.

But it’s not humans these shoppers come to see.  Three local businesses have attracted a following because of their resident pets.

O’Day Cache, Scan Design and Lena K all have customers regularly coming to visit the pets who come to work every day with their owners.

Chloe

Chloe sits in her favorite spot at O'Day Cache

Chloe is a nine-year-old Persian-barn cat mix who has made her home in O’Day Cache for over two years.  The family pet of the O’Days, Chloe has become a downtown favorite.  Teresa O’Day, daughter of store owner Cindy O’Day, said many people come in just to visit Chloe.

O'Day Cache is located at 317 N. Broadway, Fargo

Some of those visitors bring gifts for the cat.  Catnip toys, a cat bed and her very own portrait are just a few of the items Chloe has received over the years.  Local artist Rando was commissioned by a customer to create a painting of Chloe.  It rests proudly against the wall next to the cash register.

Visit Rando’s website here

Rando's painting of Chloe

Visit O’Day Cache’s website here

Cosmo

Cosmo is a four-year-old black lab-golden retriever mix who has been coming to Scan Design with Mary Cantrell since she was a puppy.  People are always happy to see Cosmo, said Cantrell, and are disappointed if she’s not there when they stop in.

Scan Design is located at 110 N. Broadway, Fargo

“She has the best mailman,” said Cantrell.  Cosmo gets a treat from the mailman almost every day.

Cosmo loves greeting customers but shies away from people in big hats or dark sunglasses.  She likes to see people’s faces, said Cantrell.

Cosmo patiently waits for a treat

Visit Scan Design’s website here

Oliver

Oliver is a four-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who spends his days at Lena K with owner Karissa Newby.  Shy and sleepy, Oliver approaches new people carefully but with his tail wagging.  “There’s not a mean bone in his body,” said Newby.

Lena K is located at 408 N. Broadway, Fargo

Everyone loves seeing Oliver, Newby said, and customers and the mailman bring treats for him as well.  If a different person brings the mail, Oliver gets very sad, said Newby.

Customers sometimes invite Oliver into the dressing rooms at Lena K, but he waits outside until the curtain is shut, then sneaks in.  He also loves giving customers kisses, said Newby.

Oliver quietly watches customers shopping

Visit  Lena K’s website here

Pets are always welcome

All three pet owners said customers often bring their own pets into the stores, and very few people have had anything negative to say about the animals.  You wouldn’t find these pets in mall stores, but you wouldn’t find these stores anywhere else, either.  Chloe, Cosmo and Oliver are like mascots, welcoming people to the casual, friendly atmosphere of downtown.

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Two sticks and a piece of string

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Story and photos by Sarah Bauman
MSUM mass comm major

Boucle Yarn Studio, 311 N. Broadway, Fargo

The needles click their soothing lullaby as yarn gently slips through fingers.  The song is interrupted by a sigh of frustration over a dropped stitch, an exclamation of excitement over progress, then the calming encouragement of a seasoned teacher.

Knitters of all ages and skill levels meet at Boucle Yarn Studio

Learning to knit can seem like a daunting task.  Yarn weights, needle sizes and patterns written in a strange secret code can be intimidating.  But instructors like Judith Eide make the process painless.

Painless knitting

Eide teaches knitting classes at Boucle Yarn Studio in downtown Fargo.  She’s taught more than 80 students the basics of knitting ergonomically – holding the yarn and needles in a way that won’t cause pain or injury.

Putting the finishing touches on a project

In Eide’s classes, students learn the basic techniques that all knitting is based on.  Over the three-class course, Eide teaches the knit and purl stitches, casting on and binding off, changing stitches in a row, increasing and decreasing and how to read yarn labels and choose needles.  The class ends with the students creating their own projects using the techniques learned.

Help is always nearby at Boucle Yarn Studio

Lifelong skills

Spinners meet to make their own yarn

Two first-time knitters, Erin Sparks and Traci Adamson, were mastering the knit stitch at the first class of the session.  Sparks said she usually takes classes through MSUM’s Continuing Studies program, but the knitting class caught her eye this year.  She said she wants to make unique things for herself instead of buying them at stores like Wal-Mart.

Maris and Caitlin O'Connell, mother and daughter, share a love for knitting

Adamson said she wants to make props for her photography business rather than buying them or asking her friends to make them for her.

Knitting is a skill that lasts a lifetime, said Eide.  Patterns and trends come and go, but the basics of knitting are centuries old.  Knitting can survive because it is “anti-tech…there are no hard edges,” said Eide.  It’s one of the “simple things” in life, a nice break from the high-speed, technical world we live in.

Yarns are available in many colors and textures

A class for everyone

Michelle Taylor shows students how to care for a finished piece

Once a knitter has mastered the basics, he or she can choose from several courses offered through Boucle Yarn Studio.  There are knitting classes for all skill levels as well as spinning classes, in which students can make their own yarn.  The store also has a schedule of open knitting, where anyone is welcome to come in the store and work on projects, with an instructor available to answer questions.

Laughs and advice are shared at classes

Boucle Yarn Studio also accepts donations for charity knitting and has a hat, scarf and mitten tree every year during the holidays.  There is also a weekly charity knitting session in the store.  The donated items are distributed locally.

Spinning fibers into yarn

Store hours:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • closed Sunday

For more information and a full list of classes, visit boucleyarnstudio.com or call 701-356-9276.

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Nichole’s doubles space, doubles business

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Story and photos by Sarah Bauman
Mass comm major

Nichole’s Fine Pastry, 13 S. Eighth St., Fargo.

Nichole’s Fine Pastry in downtown Fargo recently expanded, occupying two storefronts and doubling its space.  Minda Ringdahl, kitchen manager and cake decorator at Nichole’s, said the main reasons for the expansion were extra seating and extra kitchen space.  Before the expansion, employees would have to turn customers away because there wasn’t enough seating, and chefs would come in around the clock to get everything made and ready by opening.  Now, with twice the kitchen space and more than double the amount of seating, business is booming and customers can call ahead to reserve tables in the new seating area.

Customers enjoy their goodies in the new space.

A place for everything

With 15 people on staff, about half of whom do baking and food preparation, a larger kitchen was a necessity.  In the smaller kitchen, five chefs would often be working at once in close quarters, sometimes having to use the restaurant’s tables to hold pastries and baking sheets.

Chefs are hard at work in the original kitchen area.

Ringdahl said having a space in the kitchen just for cake decorating has helped tremendously. Wedding cake sales have nearly tripled, going from two per week to five or six per week.  There is also a spot now just for preparing lunch items, which have become very popular.

Soups, salads and sandwiches are part of the lunch menu at Nichole’s.

New menu items are in the works

In the next few months, Ringdahl would like to see hot sandwiches and more salads added to the lunch menu.  She’d also like to add plated desserts paired with dessert wines on weekend evenings.  Adding new menu items would also mean adding more staff.  All the new business has meant a lot of extra work for the employees at Nichole’s, and they want to make sure they have the best products and service possible before offering anything new, said Ringdahl.

The wine selection at Nichole’s has grown, too.

New look, new clientele

Ringdahl said the average customers before the expansion were women middle-aged and older; by adding new menu items and keeping up with trends and prices, Nichole’s is attracting a variety of new customers.  The preconception that menu items are expensive and only for an older crowd is being ushered away, said Ringdahl.  No matter their age, customers at Nichole’s have a high appreciation for the quality of the food and the amount of work that goes into each menu item.

Cakes, tarts and pastries await customers.

Local, quality products are best

The chefs at Nichole’s pride themselves on making everything from scratch, and using natural, local products whenever possible.  They get flour and honey from Tochi Products in downtown Fargo, said Ringdahl, and are considering adding an organic item to the menu.  Organic products require a lot more work and extra ingredients, but customers have asked for organic food in the past.

The chocolate feuilletine tower is one of the most popular items on the menu.

From soups to lunches to breakfast items to the new space, it’s been one addition after another at Nichole’s.  Ringdahl calls it an evolution from when the shop first opened with a mere fraction of the products available now.  And the selection at Nichole’s will continue to grow.

Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.

To see Nichole’s full seasonal menu, wedding cakes and prices, visit nicholesfinepastry.com.

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