Happy Monday, my friends and neighbors. ☀️

Today on Good Morning, Coulee:

📲 BREAKING NEWS: We’re on Instagram.

🏡 In the community

📈 There are a lot of new readers that subscribed this weekend. Welcome to Good Morning, Coulee. ☀️

Alright—let me show you around. Here we go 👇

☀️ (Re)Introducing Good Morning, Coulee

We’ve been at this for a couple of months now, but our growth rate is higher than ever. So—might be a good idea to tell you who I am, what Good Morning, Coulee does, and what you can expect every morning at 6am.

I’m Caleb. I’m the owner and author of Good Morning, Coulee. I live in La Crescent with my family and before that, I lived in La Crosse for 7 years. I love this area—like most do. But the reason that I started this newsletter is because I see it as an extremely powerful way to engage the community.

The Coulee Region has so much to offer. I’m pleased to be able to highlight the amazing people, activities, and organizations that make this area so great to live in.

So, here’s what we’re doing with this newsletter:

• Highlight positive, relevant, and helpful news from the area

• Introduce people to new food, activities, friends, and businesses

• Recognize goodness & civic excellence

• Starting your day with good vibes

Every weekday morning, I’ll be in your inbox at 6am with the wish of a Good Morning and the day’s most important Coulee Region updates. Thank you for reading. ❤️

🎶 Song of the Day

Groovy tunes 👇

*If you want to listen along as you read, scroll to the top right of this email and click “Read Online”.

You vibin’? You can listen to the entire playlist here ➡️

💬 Today’s Thought

📰 Quick Hits

• Starbucks is giving away free coffee on Monday (News 8000)

• La Crosse school board candidate Dr. Merideth Garcia on upcoming challenges, supporting teachers, feeding students, cellphones (WIZM)

• Controlled burns on the bluffs on Sunday (WIZM)

• Central grad Johnny Davis traded from Wizards to Grizzlies (News 8000)

• La Crosse School Board candidate Sam Morris talks student safety, looking to future, old buildings (WIZM)

• LISTEN: La Crosse mayor candidate forum (WIZM)

🌤 Weather

📲 Big News…We’re On Instagram 👇

And we have lots planned for it. If you wouldn’t mind, please follow along on Instagram!

psst….Small Business Highlight is just around the corner. Want to be featured—for FREE? Click the link below.

Submit Here ➡️

💗 Galentine’s Day with a Touch of Class @ Touch of Class La Crosse // Thursday, 10am

📍 312 Main St, La Crosse

Calling all gals and pals! Please join us for Galentine's Day on Thursday, February 13th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.! Light refreshments will be served. Shop with your besties at TOC!

🥃 Traditional Old Fashioned Craft Cocktail Class @ People’s Food Co-op // Thursday, 6:00pm-7:30pm

📍 315 5th Ave S, La Crosse

The recipe used in class is pre-prohibition style, before the drink transformed into the sweet punch cocktail served in many bars today in certain parts of the country. Class will include instruction on how to make the cocktail, a brief history of the old fashioned, and a few simple variations. After class, there will be a Q&A and social time to enjoy the craft cocktail you created!

Lenard Peterson moved to La Crescent, Minnesota 2 years ago from the West Coast. He brings 25 years of experience between Las Vegas and Northern California working as a Bartender, Bar Manager, and Beverage Director developing craft cocktail programs for restaurant groups, and providing training to groups of bartenders on pre-prohibition cocktails. Tickets here.

🎭 Stand-Up Comedy @ Pearl Street Brewery // Saturday, 7:30pm-9:00pm

📍 1401 St. Andrew St, La Crosse

Come see national touring stand-up comedian, Bryan Miller who's performed on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and recently had a special on Dry Bar Comedy.

Buy your tickets at www.BigBubsComedyShow.com
Doors open at 6:00
Show begins at 7:30pm
Limited seating! Guests will be seated upon arrival and we recommend that large groups come early if you want to be seated together.
This is a 21+ event

📖☕️ Silent Book Club by Pearl Street Books @ the Root Note // Tuesday, 7pm-9pm

📍115 4th St S, La Crosse

Come read with us this Tuesday from 7-9pm at the Root Note at the first-ever Silent Book Club! Bring your book, relax, and read in peaceful company. There will be door prizes, great drinks, and a chance to unwind while connecting with fellow book lovers. 📖☕

No meetings, no pressure--just reading. All are welcome. We can’t wait to see you there!

📻 Boom Box Bingo - Geeks Who Drink @ Lost Island Wine // Tuesday, 7pm

📍 570 Theater Rd, Onalaska

BOOM - It's Tuesday, and you know what that means! 🎉 Join us for FREE Boom Box Bingo starting at 7 PM! 🕖 Don't miss out on a night of fun, prizes, and good vibes! See you there! 🙌

🍎 La Crescent Lions Frozen Apple Candlelight Hike @ La Crescent Veterans Park // Saturday, 5:30pm-8:30pm

📍 101 Timm Ln, La Crescent

Eagle Bluff Access Trail will be lit with over 450 candle luminaries. Start at Veterans Park (595 Veterans Parkway) for this out and back walk along our cozy wooded trail. Fire pits at each end of the trail will help keep you warm, along with hot chocolate and hot cider at Veterans Park. See the MAP in comments and under the discussion tab for details. Distance out and back is less than a mile. Well-behaved leashed dogs are allowed. Winter conditions are unpredictable, so please dress appropriately - ice cleats are encouraged. Note: There are no restrooms in Veterans Park. This is a Free Event, but donations are appreciated for future events.

🎭 Some Enchanted Evening: A Night of Broadway @ Onalaska Library // Wednesday, 6:00pm

📍 741 Oak Ave S, Onalaska

Enjoy an enchanted evening of Broadway at the library! Chicago-based theatre artist, Hannah Louise Fernandes, will be performing love songs of Broadway, such as Some Enchanted Evening, A Heart Full of Love, and Where is Love.

Hannah Louise Fernandes (she/her) has performed roles, ranging from “Amalia Balash” in She Loves Me, to "Jasmine" in the brand-new production of Disney’s When You Wish, to "Cinderella" in Into the Woods. Most recently, Hannah made history as the first biracial South Asian woman to play the role of “Anna Leonowens” in The King and I in Indianapolis.

All ages welcome; registration recommended but not required. FREE!

🐲 Dragons and Mythical Beasts Live @ Viterbo Fine Arts Center, Main Theatre // Thursday, 6:00pm-8:00pm

📍 929 Jackson St, La Crosse

Dragons and Mythical Beasts Live" is an award-winning live family stage show that brings legendary creatures to life using stunning puppetry and special effects.

Age recommendation: 3+ Calling all brave heroes! Enter into a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical show for the whole family. Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you'd think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don't wake the Dragon. From the creators of the international smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life, this award-winning show is back in the US by popular demand, direct from London’s West End. Don’t miss this spell-binding adventure, live on stage! Tickets here.

📖 Baby Bop Story Time @ Onalaska Public Library // Today, 12pm

📍 741 Oak Ave S, Onalaska

Join us Mondays at noon for story times designed for our friends ages 0-23 months. We offer 20 minutes of caregiver and baby fun and bonding with books, bounces, songs, and rhymes followed by 15 minutes of unstructured play and read time. No registration required.

📕 Library Learners Story Time @ Onalaska Public Library // Today, 6:30pm

📍 741 Oak Ave S, Onalaska

Join us for story times full of books, movement, songs, and fun. Story Times last approximately 25 minutes and are geared toward youth ages 3 - entering first grade, but all ages are welcome. Registration recommended. Children registered for Fall 2024 Story Times are automatically registered for Story Times in Winter/Spring 2025.

🏡 In The Community: Hiking the Driftless Trails

Readers—allow me to introduce you to Hiking the Driftless Trails, written by one of our readers, Marge Loch-Wouters.

Marge does something really incredible—she rounds up all the hiking activities and puts them in a handy-dandy blog for all of us to enjoy. And—she provides important updates in the world of hiking in the Driftless area. You can find her February post here, which provides all sorts of events, laid out in chronological order, for you to peruse.

Marge—thank you for reading! And thank you for publishing this cool resource for our benefit. 🥾

❤️🎁 Looking for a Valentine’s Gift?

🤝☀️ Help Good Morning, Coulee Grow 📈

If you get value from this newsletter, please consider sharing it with friends, family, business owners, or other community members.

The first milestone in our referral program is a birthday shoutout—pretty sweet, right? Play your cards right and there might be a bumper sticker in it for you somewhere down the line. 😉

☕️ mmm…coffee

Our friends at Bean Juice are offering 10% off a handcrafted beverage of your choice when you mention Good Morning, Coulee!

Check out their February specials 👀

🏀 Local Sports

Friday 2/7

Luther Boys Basketball vs. Arcadia // W 47-43

Logan Girls Basketball vs. Holmen // L 28-50

Logan Boys Basketball @ Holmen // L 59-73

Central Boys Basketball @ Aquinas // L 31-40

Onalaska Girls Basketball vs. Tomah // W 50-27

Onalaska Boys Basketball @ Tomah // W 63-46

La Crescent Girls Basketball vs. Cotter // L 28-60

La Crescent Boys Basketball @ Cotter // W 53-48

West Salem Boys Basketball vs. Black River Falls // W 94-50

Saturday 2/8

Central Boys Basketball vs. Elkhorn // L 41-54

Monday 2/10

Holmen Girls Basketball vs. Tomah // 7:15pm

La Crescent Boys Basketball vs. Waukon // 7:30pm

La Crescent Girls Basketball @ Waukon // 7:45pm

Tuesday 2/11

Logan Boys Basketball @ Central // 7:15pm

Logan Girls Basketball @ Central // 5:45pm

Aquinas Girls Basketball vs. Onalaska // 7:15pm

Onalaska Boys Basketball vs. West Salem // 7:15pm

Holmen Boys Basketball @ Sparta // 7:15pm

Holmen Girls Basketball vs. Sparta // 7:15pm

West Salem Girls Basketball @ Westby // 7:00pm

La Crescent Boys Hockey vs. West Salem // 7:00pm

La Crescent Boys Basketball vs. Caledonia // 7:15pm

La Crescent Girls Basketball @ Caledonia // 7:15pm

Luther Girls Basketball vs. Black River Falls // 7:00pm

Thursday 2/13

Central Boys Basketball @ Holmen // 7:15pm

Central Girls Basketball @ Holmen // 5:45pm

Aquinas Girls Basketball @ Cotter // 7:15pm

La Crescent Boys Hockey vs. Albert Lea // 7:00pm

Luther Boys Basketball vs. Hillsboro // 7:00pm

Friday 2/14

Logan Boys Basketball @ Onalaska // 7:15pm

Logan Girls Basketball @ Onalaska // 7:15pm

Onalaska Boys Basketball @ Logan // 7:15pm

West Salem Boys Basketball @ Arcadia // 7:00pm

La Crescent Boys Basketball @ Rushford // 7:15pm

La Crescent Girls Basketball vs. Rushford // 7:15pm

Luther Girls Basketball @ Viroqua // 7:00pm

Saturday 2/15

Onalaska Boys Hockey @ Baraboo // 2:00pm

La Crescent Boys Basketball @ Lake City // 2:00pm

Luther Boys Basketball vs. Melrose-Mindoro // 4:00pm

Luther Girls Basketball vs. Melrose-Mindoro // 2:00pm

🎶 Live Music

Tuesday 2/11

9:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // Open Mic

Wednesday 2/12

Thursday 2/13

Friday 2/14

5:00pm // Grounded Patio Cafe // Sam Gauthier

7:00pm // 608 Brewing Holmen // Andy Hughes (originals)

8:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // Ryan Howe & The Atmosphere ($10 cover)

Saturday 2/15

7:00pm // Alpine Inn // Hillbilly Rocketship Acoustic Trio

7:00pm // The St. Bernard Room // Tom Conrad

8:00pm // HD Tavern // Jackson Taylor

And that’s Monday, my friends.

Tomorrow on Good Morning, Coulee:

🏛 Civic updates from La Crosse County

📸 Featured image

📆 Tuesday’s What’s Happenin’

I’ll see you back here bright and early tomorrow morning. Have a fantastic morning, Coulee. ☀️

Have something to say? You know what to do.

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