Entertainment Briefs — Nov. 2

BRAINERD — The Brown Bag Lunch Summer Author Series will meet at noon Monday, Nov. 7, in the large meeting room of the Brainerd Public Library at 416 S. Fifth St.

Peter Geye will discuss his latest novel, “The Ski Jumpers.” A writer and former ski jumper facing a terminal diagnosis takes one more leap — into a past of soaring flights and broken family bonds, according to a news release.

The Minneapolis native is the author of the award-winning novels “Safe from the Sea,” “The Lighthouse Road,” “Wintering,” winner of the Minnesota Book Award, and “Northernmost.”

This presentation is sponsored by the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library through their volunteer and fundraising efforts.

For more information, call 218-829-5574 or visit the Friends of the Library’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Friendsofthebrainerdpubliclibrary .

BRAINERD — The community is invited to learn about the sacred cultural forests of the world at Central Lakes College’s next Cultural Thursday event at noon Thursday, Nov. 3, in the Chalberg Theatre, Brainerd campus.

Dr. Samantha Jones has traveled the world helping communities preserve and manage sacred forests and trees. She will share her stories of ancient sentinels, sacred trees and forests, and why to revere them.

Jones will talk about the forests of Tanzania and Bhutan, to Japan and beyond. She will also connect that global perspective with the trees, such as champion trees and old-growth forests and why they should be afforded special attention and management.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendance via Zoom is also an option. Register for the Zoom link here: www.tinyurl.com/jhad9n85 .

For more information on the Cultural Thursday series, email Jason Edens at Jason.edens@clcmn.edu .

BRAINERD — Heartland Poets, an area chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Brainerd Public Library at 416 S. Fifth St.

Bring your most beloved poems by your favorite poets to read at the podium commemorating other poets or your own poems.

Included in the meeting is time to discuss poems in progress; bring copies so others can review your work and best appreciate your efforts The meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

BRAINERD — Reporter and best-selling author Joe Kimball has covered the infamous Congdon murders since the day the bodies were discovered in 1977. He will be at the Brainerd Public Library at 416 S. Fifth St. from noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2.

“Secrets of the Congdon Mansion” is a first-hand account of Minnesota’s most infamous murder case where one of the state’s richest women was smothered to death in her 39-room Duluth mansion, and her night nurse was bludgeoned to death on the stairway.

An adopted daughter was accused of planning the crime as a way to speed up her inheritance. In addition to two murder trials, the aftermath includes bigamy, arson and more murders. The mansion, known as Glensheen, has become a popular tour site on the shores of Lake Superior.

Even 40 years later, Minnesotans are fascinated by the story of the mansion, money and murders. Kimball’s account was an inspiration for the popular play “Glensheen: The Musical.”

In his library speeches, Kimball talks about covering the story from start to finish as a reporter for the Star Tribune and gives inside details of the victims, investigators and perpetrators to bring the tale to life.

This free Legacy Program is funded in part or in whole with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota in 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage.

NEW YORK MILLS — The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center's Fall 2022 Concert Series continues with Curtis & Loretta AT 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, in the Cultural Center’s gallery listening room space.

Curtis & Loretta are a folk singer-songwriter duo, guided by their love of good songs and inspired by the stories of people they have met in their over 40 years of touring.

Weaving together soaring harmonies with a wild menagerie of instruments that includes guitars, harp, mandocello, banjo, ukulele, kazoo, harmonica and percussion, the duo performs traditionally-inspired originals with humor and heart, according to a news release.

Curtis & Loretta have been named “Best Acoustic Performers of the Twin Cities” (City Pages), landed on Folk Radio Chart’s “Top Albums of the Year” and performed with such folk luminaries as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Vassar Clements, Claudia Schmidt and Holly Near.

Contributed / New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

This concert celebrates the release of their new album “Lift the World,” their 10th recording, which is already being called “a generous cornucopia of beautifully crafted songs that speak from the heart of the struggles and joys of life, performed with honesty, grace and uncommon musicianship” (Chris Vallillo, Gin Ridge Music).

Guest artists Tom Schaefer (fiddle), Sandy Njoes (bass fiddle) and Sera Smolen (bowed cello)..

“Keeping the folk tradition alive, Curtis & Loretta are doing what troubadours have done for centuries — documenting our times and telling the stories in song so that generations from now people can sing these songs and feel what our lives were like,” according to the news release.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door ($2 member discount); students $5. Light refreshments will be available. Tickets can purchased online at https://bit.ly/3FzxFvP , stop by or call the Cultural Center, or pay at the door the night of the concert.

For more about Curtis & Loretta, visit www.curtisandloretta.com . Visit www.kulcher.org or call the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339 with any questions.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.