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Upcoming ‘Sesame Street’ season stars Ariana DeBose, Brandi Carlile, ASL and an octopus chef

Lifestyle Columns

NEW YORK — The upcoming season of “Sesame Street” features an octopus as a chef, an exploration of American Sign Language and Quinta Brunson giving Cookie Monster a little bit of attitude. The 54th season of the iconic children’s show debuts Nov. 9 on MAX with a gentle satire of Brunson’s hit mockumentary “Abbott Elementary,” mimicking that show’s single-camera style and confessional cut-aways. “It was really fun to kind of zoom in on Cookie Monster making a joke about eating a cookie and Quinta Brunson giving him a little bit of side-eye,” says Executive Producer ...

Halloween reads from the children’s room

Lifestyle Columns

At the time of printing this article, it should be about a week away from Halloween. I loved the night as a child. I loved all the preparation that went into finding or making the perfect costume for trick-or-treating each year. As a young mother I think I had even more fun dressing my children for their school parties and a night of scouring the neighborhood looking for the house that gave out full size candy bars. I remember reading at least one spooky, or not so spooky, story before bed each night the week before Halloween. Here are some favorite picks for spooky, sometimes kooky, ...

Creepy things that go bump in the night

Lifestyle Feature

It is the season of spooky activities and things that go bump in the night. There are several Halloween activities scheduled in the area from haunted houses and zombie hunts to trick-or-treat gathers. With Halloween fast approaching here is a round-up of some of the spooky events ...

Puzzle mug a fitting piece for George Ohr

Lifestyle Columns

seen as traditional, even old-fashioned, but there is plenty of room for eccentricity. This puzzle mug by George E. Ohr is an unusual piece by an unconventional artist. There are holes in its sides; if you try to fill it and drink from it like an ordinary mug, the liquid spills out -- probably onto you. Puzzle mugs usually have a hollow portion, often in the handle, that works like a drinking straw. The trick is to know which holes to cover and which to drink from. A puzzle mug is a fitting piece for George Ohr, who had a flair for the unusual. Ohr, known as “the Mad Potter of ...

Buying or selling taxidermy requires care

Lifestyle Columns

If a piece of furniture is described as having paw or claw feet, it usually means they were carved or molded. For some pieces, like this table, furniture “legs” and “feet” can be taken literally. The table, made of zebra hide, complete with zebra legs and hoof feet, sold for $500 at a Hindman auction. Buying, selling and collecting pics made of animal hides or other taxidermy requires care. It’s always a good idea to check federal and state laws on selling animal parts before a sale or purchase. And once you have your piece, it takes careful cleaning and storage. Don’t keep ...

National Friends of the Library Week

Lifestyle Columns

October 15-21, 2023 is National Friends of Libraries Week. It is a chance for libraries throughout the United States to recognize the contributions of their Friends of Libraries groups to their communities. New Ulm Public Library is grateful to have an active group of library Friends who support our collections, programming, newsletters, and more through their efforts and donations of both materials and funding. The Friends of the New Ulm Public Library is a nonprofit, tax-exempt (501(c)3) community organization that believes in the importance of the library and its services for people ...