What we’re reading, listening to and thinking about this month.

Todd R.: Just started “The Undoing” on HBO with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, and I am pleasantly surprised that networks still have a pretty strong bench of first run programs available. Of course, I downloaded Springsteen’s “Letter to You” and watched the Apple TV documentary on the recording sessions, but the real music find of the month was the Rolling Stone’s report on the recently surfaced 1971 interviews and letters between Tony Glover and Bob Dylan. Hockey and baseball have ended and the election is over in a few days, so it is probably time to get back to our long-term project of watching every Academy Award winning picture (our last one was The Shape of Water, and I think it is time to get back to the 30’s and 40’s for awhile).

Alyssa: I’ve been into watching fine arts lectures on YouTube – the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the National Gallery London have a ton of content online. I also liked Mariah Carey’s new autobiography and Jerry Seinfeld’s book “Is This Anything” — both fun reads. The only thing I’m watching on TV is Fargo, which is awesome with Chris Rock as a mob boss. 

Rich: October has been a transition month. Fall was cut short early, the weather turned cold, the golf courses closed and winter seemed to be lurking just behind the door. A chaotic election got even crazier and the COVID pandemic got considerably worse.

It has been a month for appreciating wonderful people in our lives; family, friends and colleagues. It is these people who support our journey through difficult times and help us get to a better place. So, as we wrap up October, let’s take the time to reach out to these people in our lives and prepare for the better times to come. That’s what I’ve been doing.

Todd S.: At the Stone Manor, it is all about Halloween during the month of October. Sure, we dress up in our favorite costumes, but our favorite part is decorating the house.

Sarah: I spent this month cozied in while harvest hit full stride. Lots of “Great British Bake Off” and “Get Organized with the Home Edit.” With the cold weather came my desire for soup – Joanna Gaines’ White Cheddar Bisque (from “Magnolia Table” will be a staple in the Knutson household for years to come. John and I took a trip to Virginia for my friend’s micro-wedding. Since it was also his birthday, we took a road trip through Shenandoah National Park. We mostly got fog that blocked the views, but it was a fun trip through Virginia – local wineries, charcuterie, cute boutique hotels and great food. We tried the park a second day and got to see a few impressive vistas before getting on the plane home.

Anna: The best part of my month was getting engaged while up north with both of our families. My fiancé and I enjoyed a scrumptious dinner at Red Rabbit – I highly recommend the fettucine alfredo with sparkling rosé. I also tried my own rotisserie-style chicken in the crockpot. When I’m not planning the wedding, I’ve been reading The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner, a captivating story of the aftermath of the attack of Pearl Harbor for two young American girls (one German and one Japanese) who meet in an internment camp in Texas.

Quentin: The highlight of my month was my hiking in Tettegouche State Park and Jay Cooke State Park. Even though I had visited Tettegouche for the first time earlier in the summer, it looked entirely different with its burnt orange, bright yellow and maple red leaf canopy. The North Shore feels like a completely different ecosystem from the Twin Cities and I’ve quickly realized why it’s a state treasure.

While I definitely wasn’t ready for the early snow arrival, I did manage to sneak in some warm patio experiences. The brainchild of Young Joni and Dangerous Man Brewing Company, a new Northeast alleyway patio set-up was my favorite. There’s no better pairing than pizza and beer and I hope the set-up stays permanent in a post-COVID world. 

Finally, I’ve got to give a shoutout to Minnesota’s voting ecosystem. Voting absentee by mail was quick and easy and I loved being able to track my ballot by the date it was received and processed.