Interesting stuff for the car nut.

Frankie Yankovic (1915-1998) "Americas Polka King"

In previous posts I talked about the popularity of polka music up here in north central Wisconsin. The King of American polka was Frankie Yankovic. He played what was called Slovenian Style. He
released over 200 recordings including ones with Chet Atkins and the Everly Brothers but his calling was as a traveling, performing musician. He worked over 320 nights almost every year playing festivals, ball rooms, tap houses and taverns. In the 1940's and 1950's he played a dance hall called Schlief's Little City.

Schliefs was described by Ivan Kahle in an oral history of polka music in Minnesota as "going big, in the late 1940's on the south side of St. Paul".

Concertina player Elmer Scheids obituary also mentions Schliefs: The Elmer Scheid Band kept the dancing shoes on for hundreds of people at George's, the Gibbon Ballroom, Schlief's Little City, south of South St. Paul, The Prom in St. Paul, the Marigold in Minneapolis; and the Medina Ballroom in Hamel.

Here is a really cool, old letter-press style poster we have in stock. It has a few creases but the graphics are strong. It is available for purchase here

Here are some additional images of Frankie courtesy Wiki

"Old Wausau" by Lisa Downing Lanier 2015. Commission for Thrive Foodery, Wausau.

"Old Wausau" 2015, 48 x 36, mixed-media, collage, encaustic painting.

Thrive Foodery is a new restaurant in Wausau. Housed in an old industrial building it offers a great selection of craft beers and an ever changing Nouvelle Americana menu. Their mission statement is simple: "Chef Owned-Community Driven"

We were delighted when they ask us to supply the artwork. We placed these paintings and sculpture for the Grand Opening on New Years Eve 2014. Think of us when you visit Thrive.

Bay Area figurative painting ca 1960's.

"Brooklyn Train Yard" by Emily Strong

"Blues for Malcolm" by Harold Smith

"Keith Haring Cow" by Rick Hall