Claudia Schmidt brings her exuberant music and love of humanity back to Bayfield, Wisconsin! With her multi-octave voice, 12 string guitar and mountain dulcimer, she weaves together song, story and spoken word in a one-of-a-kind presentation that will fill your heart and refresh your soul. After more than 50 years of writing and performing, she […]
"When I die, I want to come back as Andy's steel guitar." -- Sergio. Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter from Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shore, Andy Noyes has been writing music, recording, and performing for forty years. His music is fused with influences that include fertile Delta and Piedmont Blues, Celtic dance rhythms,Caribbean and African grooves. A […]
Courtney performed here in October and I immediately booked her for another night. She is a wonderful musician, storyteller, and her voice, wow! Courtney has been an artist in residence with the Listening Point Foundation for the past year, working on a new album inspired by Sigurd Olson. I can't wait to hear what she […]
Kangaroo is an original rock group residing in Bayfield. Whether it be dancing, swaying, or simply running away, their music is guaranteed to make you move. Their unique blend of extra-terrestrial 90's influenced music is sure to get stuck in your head. Doors and bar open at 6pm. Free admission.
Three actors present Jane Austen's magnificent minor characters in all their oddities: Miss Bates, Mrs. Elton, and Mrs. Norris. The show is narrated by Mary Lynch with performances by Laura Rovi, Brie Rowland, and Lydia Caswell. $5 at the door. Half of proceeds will be donated to the Bayfield Carnegie Library.
Under Construction is a blast of an idea. Kind of a variety show (think Carol Burnett) meets open mic with invited professional writers reading works in progress. Plus live music! The evening's cast includes: Essayists Mary Mack & Liz Woodworth, Poet Tina Higgins Wussow, and Accordionista Jan Lee. Doors and bar open at 6 p.m. […]
Join us for original theater--a guided tour of Machination Cove, the fictional city built on the backs of beasts and peopled by oddballs, charlatans, and the occasional kind hearted soul. Four shows. March 5-7 at 7pm with a Sunday matinee March 8 at 5pm. Ticket price: $20Matinee ticket price $15Buy Tickets Bar & Doors open […]
Join us for original theater--a guided tour of Machination Cove, the fictional city built on the backs of beasts and peopled by oddballs, charlatans, and the occasional kind hearted soul. Four shows. March 5-7 at 7pm with a Sunday matinee March 8 at 5pm. Ticket price: $20Matinee ticket price $15Buy Tickets Bar & Doors open […]
Join us for original theater--a guided tour of Machination Cove, the fictional city built on the backs of beasts and peopled by oddballs, charlatans, and the occasional kind hearted soul. Four shows. March 5-7 at 7pm with a Sunday matinee March 8 at 5pm. Ticket price: $20Matinee ticket price $15Buy Tickets Bar & Doors open […]
Join us for original theater--a guided tour of Machination Cove, the fictional city built on the backs of beasts and peopled by oddballs, charlatans, and the occasional kind hearted soul. Four shows. March 5-7 at 7pm with a Sunday matinee March 8 at 5pm. Ticket price: $20Matinee ticket price $15Buy Tickets Bar & Doors open […]
Join us for an intimate house concert style vibe with singer, songwriter, fiddle, mandolin, guitar player Molly Otis and friends who together create a distinct sound with fresh takes on Classic Rock, Country, Bluegrass and Americana. with a twist of Celtic. Doors & Bar open at 6. Tickets $24.
Bonus! Chef Carlos Kein of Yaku Superior will have empanadas available so come a bit early to get your empanada and a drink and settle in for a talk with Fred. Stories of Life for Immigrant Farm Workers and their Families At least 90% of the labor to operate Midwestern dairy farms today is supplied […]
Absinthe is a down-to-earth, classic Jazz & Blues cover band (with some unique originals thrown in there). The trio is comprised of Mark Rossow on vocals/jazz guitar, Adam Staupe on vocals and upright bass, and Emily Robertson on vocals. From R&B to Appalachian Bluegrass to Baroque Choral, they came together from varying genre backgrounds in […]
Join us for an intimate house concert style vibe with singer, songwriter, fiddle, mandolin, guitar player Molly Otis and friends who together create a distinct sound with fresh takes on Classic Rock, Country, Bluegrass and Americana. with a twist of Celtic.
We are so so proud to present this Midwestern modern-day cult classic that critics call "a comedic gem that gives a dam." Directed by Wisconsin filmmaker Mike Cheslik, Hundreds of Beavers has enjoyed festival accolades and is still making the circuit in small theaters. In this film, nearly absent of dialogue, JEAN KAYAK finds himself […]
Come join in for an old time jam! Bring your instruments and your favorite tunes to share. All skill levels welcome. Spectators welcome. Free event. Doors and bar open at 7.
A grass-roots winter festival organized by locals. Let's appreciate winter together, get out and have some fun! All events are free and open to the public.
Come celebrate the winter with lights and friends! Join us to make a lantern, or create your own at home, or even just show up and borrow one. We also encourage bucket drums, bells, whistles, and other cold-hardy noisemakers to join the parade. Questions or to take on a volunteer role midwinterlantern@proton.me, or follow us on […]
Join Liz Woodworth at her white board as she breaks down Hamlet for the rest of us. Bar opens at 4pm.
Join Ojibwe photographer Travis Novitsky as he discusses his search for beauty and meaning in the dark skies and the making of his book "Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos. This event is part of the Bayfield Dark Sky Star Bright week being held January 17-25.
Let this team of funny people light your way to some laughs. Join us for the debut of the northwoods' newest improv group (yep, we now have three!). Look for the luminaries.
Come celebrate the winter with lights and friends! Join us to make a lantern, or create your own at home, or even just show up and borrow one. We also encourage bucket drums, bells, whistles, and other cold-hardy noisemakers to join the parade. Questions or to take on a volunteer role midwinterlantern@proton.me, or follow us on […]
The 18th Annual Big Water Film Festival is excited to bring a Thursday night block of films to Honest Dog Books Outback Theater! The night’s lineup features five films including a stunning animated film; three documentaries taking us from Chippewa Falls, Wis., to the Peruvian Andes, and on a voyage to Antarctica; and a narrative […]
Join us for an upbeat end to 2025 and hopeful start to 2026 with Minneapolis-based storyteller Kevin Kling and accordionist Jan Lee, two of the Midwest's biggest, most positive theatrical talents. Expect a heart warming evening of good friends, laughter, stories, and songs designed to take off the winter chill and ring in the new year. […]
Geology professors Bruce Goetz and Tom Fitz will be talking about the geology of the Apostle Islands as well as signing books.
Join us for an afternoon with Julianne Lepp for a talk about making it through the seasons of chronic illness. Living with chronic illness has many challenges, and the journey is not just a physical one. Tend to Your Spirit is a companion for this emotional and spiritual journey, offering tools to help readers practice […]
Join us for the most festive night of the year. Special Guest Author Trent Preszler will be signing copies of his latest release, Evergreen with a short talk at 8pm Ben Thoen from the Good Thyme will be serving appetizers.
Performers Jan Lee and Tom Mitchell are bringing their uniquely entertaining and emotionally powerful two-person rendition of Charles Dickens' holiday classic to Bayfield! Nonrefundable tickets are $20. Purchase online or call (715) 779-5223
We'll be topping off Small Business Saturday with the talents of Cellist Ed Willet and vocalist Cheryl Leah, orged by the metropolis but sustained by the wilderness.. Chance coalesced in Los Angeles California, a coming together of two musicians with wildly diverse backgrounds. One of the few voice and cello duos in the world, theirs […]
Naturalist Emily Stone will be joining us for Small Business Saturday with her latest book Natural Connection 3. Stop by to say hello and get your signed copy. She'll have activities for kids. Or pre-order your signed copy and we'll send it you! Emily M. Stone is a naturalist by birth, training, profession, and passion. […]
Duluth-based comedian Danielle Thralow won Miami's funniest competition and was named ACME's Comedy Club's 2nd funniest person in the Twin Cities. She has performed throughout North America and is a regular guest at the Los Angeles-based Dat Phan and Friends and numerous other events, including the Seattle International Comedy Competition. She has shared the stage […]
Or How a Midwesterner Got Schooled on the Arctic. Join us for our first Sip & Slides with Bayfield resident Fred Clark. Crossing the Norwegian Sea in April is never predictable. Bayfield resident Fred Clark had the chance to take that trip this spring on a 650 mile sail crossing from the Faroe Islands to […]
Brookes Moody earned a PhD in English with a concentration in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she taught literary journal production and creative writing. She is a bookseller at Charter Books in Rhode Island but has connections to Madeline Island and has frequented Honest Dog Books over the years. Her latest publication, "Astral Weeks, Etc.", is […]
From the Baraboo River to the Pacific Ocean, Lindsey Steffes and Kara Hakanson connect once again on the south shore of Lake Superior. Both Steffes and Hakanson grew up in the driftless area of Wisconsin, lived in California at the same time in their 20s, and have ties to Lake Superior. After graduating college and deciding […]
Join Heather Mishefske, a Wisconsin Master Naturalist and Bat Ambassador who provides bat education for the state of Wisconsin, for a fascinating talk about bats and their current status. Presentation starts at 7. Bat Walk at 8:30. We'll head outside to locate bats in real time after dark to see who lingers near Honest Dog […]
These two sisters from other misters are at it again. This time it's all about FAMILY. Don't miss what is sure to be a funny and poignant evening by regional talents Jan Lee & Liz Woodworth! Friday & Saturday nights. Doors and bar open at 6. Tickets $20
Beth Dooley in Conversation with Karen Babine In The Allure to Elsewhere, Karen Babine has written about her cross-country journey to explore the hold family history has on our lives, and the power of new stories to shape what lies ahead. In her mid-thirties and, happily single if also tied closely to a family that has […]
Grab a drink, have a seat or browse books to local guitarist Barry Riese, a seasoned singer-songwriter and guitarist whose career spans over 50 years. A founding member of the legendary Piper Road Spring Band, Barry brings a rich blend of folk, bluegrass, classic country, and folk rock to the stage—infused with heartfelt vocals and […]
Join us for another LIVE! Author Talk. This time, we have Frank Bures in The Outback. Frank's work has appeared in many publications including Harper’s, Outside, and The Atlantic to name a few. His stories have been included in The Best American Travel Writing anthologies and he is the author of The Geography of Madness, editor of Under Purple […]
Michael “Laughing Fox" Charette is a gifted Native American storyteller, poet, and member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. As a self-taught Native American flute player he enhances his stories with hauntingly beautiful flute music. His incredible song Butterfly Moon was nominated for Best Instrumental Recording at the Native American Music Awards in 2024. […]
Join us for our Summer Sunday event: Liz's Circus Story An autobiographical, one-actor play, Liz’s Circus Story by Liz Bussey Fentress spans twenty-three years. At 21, just out of college, Liz takes a job as ring mistress, organist, and puppet show performer with the brand-new, one-ring, Franzen Bros. Circus. While portraying herself and an array […]
Come join us for a night of celebration and reunion at Honest Dog Books on June 21st from 5:30 - 8:00 pm! All are welcome to revel in the brilliant poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction born from Northland College's creative writing program. Featured readers will include beloved professors Cynthia Belmont and Timothy Ziegenhagen alongside a […]
Duluth, MN local cartoonist, illustrator, and author Chris Monroe is joining us at Honest Dog Books for a reading and signing on Saturday, June 21st at 11:00 AM! Chris will share her newest book, String Ball, a delightful tale that follows the exciting adventures of a curious kitten who stumbles upon her owner's ball of yarn. […]
Join us for our 4th Annual Stand with the Banned Music Festival! Music, food, and talks will take place in the courtyard behind the bookstore. Screen printing will be next door at Penny Print Studio. 12 pm Documentary: Banned Together: The Fight Against Sponsorship (90 min)Visionary teenagers, public protests, threats, criminal charges, and drama-filled school […]
Join us for the premier of Kara's one-woman show: Dirty, Flirty, Thirty and Out of Work. From not getting a starring role in her kindergarten performance of The Three Little Pigs, to realizing she's been aged out of the industry at the ripe age of 30, Kara takes the audience through 20+ years of her life […]
Kicking off Bayfield in Bloom with Compost and Soil Expert Todd Rothe! Todd Rothe is the Chief Operating Officer at Big Lake Organics, LLC in Ashland. Join us for a deep dive into the magical process of composting and the thrilling environment of organic waste recycling. With over two decades of experience in the farming industry, […]
May 19 @ 7pm. Claudia Schmidt brings her exuberant music and love of humanity back to Bayfield, Wisconsin! With her multi-octave voice, 12 string guitar and mountain dulcimer, she weaves together song, story and spoken word in a one-of-a-kind presentation that will fill your heart and refresh your soul. After more than 50 years of […]
May 12 at 6 pm. In store only. A monthly club where Erin selects books she'd like to discuss. We'll include snacks and will have wine and soft drinks available for purchase. This a commitment-free book club but we'd like you to have read the book. Come once and never come again. Or drop in […]
A night of music and comedic storytelling for folks who want to learn how to become stronger allies for transgender people in a rapidly changing world. Book Bar and Doors open at 6pm. Joy Scout playing from 6:15pm - 7:00pm and for an hour after the show, 8:00pm - 9:00pm. Tickets $12 Adult themes. 18+. Not […]
Get ready to laugh out loud with Wisconsin's (probably) northernmost comedy improv group, Lost in the Woods! Founded in 2021 with a vision of bringing comedy to the Apostle Islands region. Book Bar Opens at 6:00pm serving wine, hard cider, and NA beverages. Tickets $7
When Travis Bartnick is not out enjoying the public lands of the Bayfield Peninsula, you'll find him tying flies, mountain biking, or playing music on his vast collection of guitars, open-back banjos, or his home-made gourd banjos. Travis mainly plays instrumental finger style guitar, Delta blues slide guitar, and an old-time claw-hammer banjo. some of […]
An original night of sketch comedy, poetry, music and stories for a Good Friday weekend by the queens of theater, Liz Woodworth and Jan Lee. The doors and The Book Bar open an hour before the show. Tickets must be paid for in advance to hold your spot.
An original night of sketch comedy, poetry, music and stories for a Good Friday weekend by the queens of theater, Liz Woodworth and Jan Lee. The doors and The Book Bar, serving beer, wine, cider, and shrubs, open an hour before the show. Tickets $20. Tickets must be paid for in advance to hold your spot.
Honest Dog Books and Ghost Ship Gallery are excited to present, "I Need More Boundaries! An 8 minute Art documentary and book discussion with Sarah Seidelmann". Come meet Sarah, an accomplished author, fourth-generation physician, artist, and shamanic healer as she discusses her new book, Boundaries Make Love Possible. This beautifully illustrated workbook provides insights and […]
April 14 at 6 pm. In store only. A monthly club where Erin selects books she'd like to discuss. We'll include snacks and will have wine and soft drinks available for purchase. This a commitment-free book club but we'd like you to have read the book. Come once and never come again. Or drop in […]
Bring your knitting, your journal, your friends, Scrabble - whatever a cozy Friday night in means to you. Kara will be Djing, pouring, and highlighting some books inspired by the month of April.
April 10 @7pm. An autobiographical, one-actor play, Liz’s Circus Story by Liz Bussey Fentress spans twenty-three years. At 21, just out of college, Liz takes a job as ring mistress, organist, and puppet show performer with the brand-new, one-ring, Franzen Bros. Circus. While portraying herself and an array of other circus characters and animals, Liz shares the […]
Back by popular demand!! Join us for Dani O'Brien's second solo performance at The Outback. Dani O’Brien is a professor of education at Northland College with a passion for all things comedy. She has been doing stand up for over ten years and is a member of the Lost in the Woods improv comedy troop. Doors […]
Play games, tell stories, do crafts, talk quilts with host Shea Schachameyer. You can also check out some of Shea's favorite water adventure books.
DJ JFro is back! We had so much fun in January (and February!) that we're doing it again. DJ JFro will be spinning vinyl from his personal curated collection from 5pm-8pm. Come do what you do when you listen to the radio — knit, play games, talk, drink. The Book Bar will be open serving […]
Microcosm Publishing recently declared 2025 as “The Year of the Zines,” and we want to celebrate indie presses and the zine renaissance of 2025 with a community zine-making night. We will provide scissors, paper, tape, glue, and plenty of collage material from old magazines and damaged books. If you are new to zine-making, Maggie will […]
March 10 at 6 pm. In store only. A monthly club where Erin selects books she'd like to discuss. We'll include snacks and will have wine and soft drinks available for purchase. This a commitment-free book club but we'd like you to have read the book. Come once and never come again. Or drop in […]
A Dani O'Brien Comedy Special! Join us for Dani O'Brien's debut solo performance at The Outback. Dani O’Brien is a professor of education at Northland College with a passion for all things comedy. She has been doing stand up for over ten years and is a member of the Lost in the Woods improv comedy troop. […]
March 2. Join us in The Outback for a cold reading of Oscar Wilde’s last play, The Importance of Being Earnest, in preparation for the June 2025 CTA production of the show. The director, Lawrence Lee, will be facilitating the reading, and all are welcome to read. There will be a discussion after each reading […]
JFro is back! We had so much fun in January that we're doing it again. DJ JFro will be spinning vinyl from his personal curated collection 6-8+ p.m. Come do what you do when you listen to the radio — knit, play games, talk, drink. The wine bar will be open, also serving hard cider […]
Feb 23. Join us in The Outback for a cold reading of Oscar Wilde’s last play, The Importance of Being Earnest, in preparation for the June 2025 CTA production of the show. The director, Lawrence Lee, will be facilitating the reading, and all are welcome to read. There will be a discussion after each reading […]
Feb 16. Join us in The Outback for a cold reading of Oscar Wilde’s last play, The Importance of Being Earnest, in preparation for the June 2025 CTA production of the show. The director, Lawrence Lee, will be facilitating the reading, and all are welcome to read. There will be a discussion after each reading […]
Join us for our Valentine's Happy Dog Happy Hour! From 5:00pm - 8:00pm enjoy: - Themed playlist by Kara (think love and winter and skiing!) - Table games (try out our Honest Dog playing cards!) - Wine and hard cider (and NA beverages!) - Curated highlighted book selections for the love-filled, skiing-filled, winter wonderland weekend (think all about love, Skijor […]
In store only. A monthly club where Erin selects books she'd like to discuss. We'll include snacks and will have wine and soft drinks available for purchase. This a commitment-free book club but we'd like you to have read the book. Come once and never come again. Or drop in when the book suits you. […]
February 8, 2025 at 7pm. Join us for an intimate evening with badass writers Pam Houston and Deborah Jackson Taffa as they talk about their latest books, Without Exception (Houston) and Whiskey Tender (Jackson Taffa). A member of the Quechan and Laguna Pueblo tribes, Whiskey Tender details her life, growing up with a Native American […]
Feb 7th @7pm This feel-good Icelandic sports documentary is about one man's dogged attempt to finally stage a home game on the football pitch his father created 25 years earlier. By registering the non-existent team of their small town to the Icelandic FA Cup, he gives himself a 50/50 chance to fulfill his father's dream. […]
Come make your own paper mache lantern or bucket drum for the Spirits of the Deep Winter puppet parade as part of the Shiver and Shake festival in Bayfield. All ages are welcome and all materials and guidance provided! Free, though donations kindly appreciated. Questions contact Alicia at aliciadvorak@gmail.com.
A Fundraiser for WVCB Community Radio!! DJ JFro will be spinning vinyl from his personal curated collection. Come do what you do when you listen to the radio — knit, play games, talk, drink. Sorry, no baking, cooking, or driving of vehicles permitted. The wine bar will be open, also serving hard cider and mocktails. […]
Come make your own paper mache lantern or bucket drum for the Spirits of the Deep Winter puppet parade as part of the Shiver and Shake festival in Bayfield. All ages are welcome and all materials and guidance provided! Free, though donations kindly appreciated. Questions contact Alicia at aliciadvorak@gmail.com.
January 13 at 6pm. In store only. A monthly club where Erin selects books she'd like to discuss. We'll include snacks and will have wine and soft drinks available for purchase. This a commitment-free book club. Come once and never come again. Or drop in when the book suits you. If you think of it, […]
This feel-good Icelandic sports documentary is about one man's dogged attempt to finally stage a home game on the football pitch his father created 25 years earlier. By registering the non-existent team of their small town to the Icelandic FA Cup, he gives himself a 50/50 chance to fulfill his father's dream. Language: Icelandic with […]
fifteen is a coming-of-age story filmed entirely on the South Shore by local director, writer, and actor Kara Hakanson. fifteen garnered Kara the Loren Savitsky Young Filmmaker Award at the 2017 Big Water Film Festival and Honest Dog Books, back when it was What Goes 'Round, is a filming location! "A story about the first time. Yes. That first time." fifteen follows teenager […]
Browse to live fiddle music with bookstore favorite Molly MacGregor who is home from college. As a child, Molly's favorite book character was Yoko, the violin-playing cat. Inspired, she asked to learn violin which she has been playing ever since. She is a student at St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn, where she playis with the […]
Bring your warm hearts and cold hands and join yarn spinner Kevin Kling and accordianista Jan Lee for an evening of stories and songs specially designed to take off the winter chill. The holidays are in the rear view mirror and the windshield is scraped for 2025. That time of year we decide which memories […]
We'll be welcoming back the light at Honest Dog Books (and celebrating Julie's birthday) with 21% off most everything in stock all day online and in person. The lighting of the luminaries & outdoor fire will begin at 4pm. There will be cake and cash bar 4-6.
