Brenda K. Bredahl

St. Croix Confidential - History Column

2011-02-02T08:58:00.001-08:00

Presentation on Wisconsin Supper Clubs

2010-10-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

After being commissioned in 2008-09 to write a 12-page article on the history and culture of Wisconsin Supper Clubs for Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, "Supper Club State: A Brief Cultural History of the Wisconsin Institution," I was invited by the Wisconsin Historical Society to create a presentation for its fall 2010 Taste Traditions of Wisconsin Series.

A sold-out crowd learned about the history of supper clubs in the state and viewed my PowerPoint show and memorabilia from supper clubs then and now in the St. Croix Valley of Wisconsin.

Crandall's Catering of Madison (When it was a supper club, Crandall's was located in the very cool Tornado Club off State Street in the Mad City) served a supper-club-style menu complete with fish fry. 45th Parallel Spirits of New Richmond provided samples of its grain-to-glass vodka, and Capital Brewery of Madison offered its Supper Club Ale for the guests.

After the presentation, I moderated a panel of old-school and newly minted supper club owners. A big thanks goes out to the panelists: Tom Adamany from Wally's Spot in Green Bay, Tom Schmock from Smoky's Club in Madison, Mary Radigan from Ray Radigan's in Kenosha, Rob Swearingen from Al-Gen Dinner Club in Rhinelander and president of the Wisconsin Tavern League, Jennifer DeBolt from the Old Fashioned in Madison, and Paul Werni from 45th Parallel Spirits.

Lest I forget the pie, oh the pie, from Elegant Foods of Madison. I had coconut creme; my traveling compatriot had cherry and said it quite possibly the best she'd had. I had just a couple of bites before I took the stage. When I finally got back to the table after the presentation and talking to the folk, someone had taken it away! Some of my pain from the missing pie was assuaged after the event at the Tornado, where I had a fantastic key lime gimlet, complete with graham crackers on the rim.

What a great time we had and I want to thank the Wisconsin Historical Society for the opportunity to be a part of such great programming. Documentary filmmaker Holly De Ruyter also attended and captured the event for her upcoming film on the state's supper clubs.

Travel Writing

2010-04-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

Five Top Antiquing Destinations in Wisconsin TraveWisconsin.com

Five Scenic Winter Drives, TraveWisconsin.com

The Lure of the Outdoors, Chicago Tribune

The State of the Supper Club Scene, Chicago Tribune

Savoring the Past: Supper Clubs, TravelWisconsin.com

Five Great Trout Fishing Spots, TravelWisconsin.com

The Wright Place: A Trip To Taliesin, TravelWisconsin.com

In Praise of Fish Fries, TravelWisconsin.com

Master's Thesis

2010-03-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

Environmental Advertising: A Comparative Analysis of Typologies, Images & Rhetoric, University of Minnesota

National Business Media NBM.com

2009-09-15T05:45:00.001-07:00

Remembering Norm, A & E Magazine, National Business Media

Awards vs. Promotional Products: A Game of Pac Man? A & E Magazine, National Business Media

Expand Your Capabilities With No Major Investment, Custom Gift Retailer Magazine, National Business Media

Tis the Season for Political Promotional Products, A & E Magazine, National Business Media

Historical Article

2009-07-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Supper Club State: A Brief Cultural History of the Wisconsin Institution, Originally appeared in Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, Summer 2009, Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, linked here through PortalWisconsin.org

Misc. Writing and PR/Contract Work

2007-09-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Book Review: North Woods River, The St. Croix River in Upper Midwest History, Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences Arts and Letters

Ghost Writer: Spooky Storyteller Michael Norman Still Doesn't Know If He Believes, Feature story, Minnesota Monthly magazine

St. Croix Valley Visitor's Guide, St. Croix Valley Regional Tourism Alliance

Copy editor, 1996-2000, International Wolf magazine, International Wolf Center

Copy editor, 1995-1999, Wisconsin West magazine

New York Times Reporter Visits UWRF Class, News release, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

UWRF Launches Sustainable Community Development Institute, News release, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Photography for "Blueprint for Green" show on the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development University of Wisconsin-River Falls

"Blueprint for Green" PR on the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development University of Wisconsin-River Falls

A historic $1.07 million gift to UWRF recalls Willis Miller’s past, passions and patronage, Falcon Features magazine, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Say Cheese! UWRF Students, Staff Infuse Wine In New Artisan Cheese, Feature story, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, distributed by UW Business News Wire

Mary Ella Jerome: Melodies in the Key of Life, Falcon Features magazine, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Reviews

2007-09-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Book Review: Northwoods River: The St. Croix River in Upper Midwest History, by Eileen M. McMahon and Theodore J. Karamanski Wisconsin People & Ideas Magazine, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters

A Year With Frog and Toad, HowWasTheShow.com

Wayne The Train Hancock, HowWasTheShow.com

Rat Pack: Live at the Sands, HowWasTheShow.com

The Smithereens, HowWasTheShow.com

Editing

2007-09-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

Max & Rose Sadoff Symposium on Pharmacy, Law & Ethics, Selected Lectures 1992-2007, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota

Online curriculum for paraprofessionals, ParaElink, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

Publications product line and special topics, National Center on Secondary Education and Transition, University of Minnesota

Web Site Content

2007-09-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

Writing and content management, SOS Manufacturing, Roberts, Wis.

News release writing and news page management, OEM Fabricators, Woodville & Neillsville, Wis. (pdfs)

News release writing and news page management, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Business Writing

2007-09-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

List of select articles, Corporate Report Wisconsin

Green Products & Practices Put Air Motion Systems in the Black, Corporate Report Wisconsin

Bringing Up Baby: Realityworks in Eau Claire, Wis., Corporate Report Wisconsin

Business Profiles, The Business News (Westcentral Wisconsin edition), Various

Insurance Industry Report, Corporate Report Wisconsin, September 2007 (pdf)

Building on the Lake, Lakeshoredreams.com

Business profiles, p. 4-5, The Chronicle newsletter, St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (pdfs)

Business profile, K-Sun Corp., The Chronicle newsletter, St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (pdf)