I had such a good time at the Commonweal Theatre and the town of Lanesboro, MN that I had to write two posts about it.

The Town of Lanesboro

A while ago I wrote about Lanesboro being named one 0f the Top Twelve Artplaces in the U.S., Yahoo naming it one of America’s prettiest towns and it’s distinction of being the Bed and Breakfast Capital on Minnesota. After a weekend there I can tell you it’s true.

First off, everyone is so damn nice. “Minnesota Nice” they call it. A walk through town is like living in Friendlyville. I was in one store and the owner said if I needed a bike for the weekend I could use his. A waitress in a restaurant looked at me and said, “I know you. You’re Mark Brown. And a little boy walked by me then turned around and yelled out, “You look awesome!”

So why do people come from all over to this little overly friendly hamlet with a population of 754 people? Well, the Commonweal Theatre for one. Not only is it an impressive physical structure but the theatre produces wonderful solid shows (And they show exceptionally good taste by doing one of my shows…ahem) . The other reason is the Root River Bike Trail. Sixty miles of breathtaking beauty. It runs along an abandoned railroad bed through towering 300-foot limestone bluffs, forestlands, river and rolling fields. It’s quite stunning – you know –  if you like that kind of thing. In the winter it makes for an amazing cross-country ski trail. I didn’t have time to take the shopkeep up on his offer on his bike but I did have some time to walk part of the trail.

Root River Bike Path

The namesake of the Root River Bike Path

World Cup Dilemma

My big dilemma that weekend was the Salon Series was at the same time as the World Cup final. I had been coaching Germany on to victory the entire competition and there was no way I could miss the final match. As fate would have it, I ended up watching the first half of the game on a turkey farm with a lovely German family. What!?

At the show on Saturday night I sat next to a woman and her mother. Turns out they were German. I got talking to them after the show and the mother, who spoke very little English, and I bonded over the German National Team.

Me: I like Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The German mom: Ooo, und Podolski.

Me: Und Kloser.

The German mom: Und Mueller.

The German woman: Come up to our farm tomorrow to watch the game. Here’s my card.

So that’s how Jeremy van Meter and I found ourselves on the Miehlisch Turkey Farm, cheering on Germany with a German family.

Wunderbar.

Not the actual Germany family

Three Hots and a Cot

My first night I had dinner at Intermission. Not only was the food yummy in the old tummy, but the music in the restaurant was a Bruce Springsteen mix. A little bit of Jersey in Minnesota. I also had lunch at Pedal Pushers Cafe (see the bike theme?). When you eat there, get the homemade root beer. It’s fantastic.

I stayed at a lovely little bed and breakfast called Casa Verde. Built in 1893, this little Victorian house is run by Catherine Glynn (also a theatre company member) and the afore mentioned Jeremy van Meter. You will not meet two nicer people. Seriously. Not unless you meet Santa and Tom Hanks. Catherine and Jeremy rent out one bedroom and you feel like part of their family. Both the bed and the breakfast parts were wonderful. Walk out the front door and you’re on the Root River Bike Trail. And it’s about a 45 second walk to the theatre.

Lanesboro is a fantastic little town, I fell in love with it and I hope to come back again soon.