Houby Days Insert

Friday, May 15
5-10 p.m.
Saturday, May 16 (Czech Day)
8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, May 17 (Kids’ Day)
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Czech Village looks forward
to Houby Days celebration
CEDAR RAPIDS - Old world
traditions and modern day fun blend
together during the annual Houby
Days festival, set for May 15-17 in
Czech Village.
Visitors can listen to live
music, enjoy a midway full of
carnival rides, taste the beloved
Czech pastries called kolaches, eat an
egg and mushroom breakfast, watch
dancers in kroje (the Czech word for
folk costumes) and more.
"We have something for
all ages," said Mary Santana,
chairwoman of Houby Days, vice
president of the Czech Village
Association and co-owner of
MugShots Custom Printing, 72 16th
Ave. SW. The shop is one of dozens
of retail stores, restaurants, pubs
and cultural venues in Czech Village,
situated along 16th Avenue SW, next
to the Cedar River.
Santana noted that the festival,
which celebrates morel mushrooms
(houby is the Czech word for
mushroom) is in its 38th year. Even
after floodwaters in 2008 inundated
Czech Village, the area rebounded
in time for the next Houby Days
festival.
Keeping such traditions alive is
key to the history of Czech Village.
The original Bohemian settlers
came to Cedar Rapids in the mid1800s, first settling on the east side
of the river. An Irishman is credited
for the city's large Czech population.
Thomas Sinclair opened the T.M.
Sinclair & Co. meatpacking plant in
1871 in southeast Cedar Rapids. He
found the Bohemians' work ethic
second to none and encouraged his
industrious employees to contact
family and friends back home to let
them know they had a job in Cedar
Rapids. Many villages in Bohemia
saw family after family leave “the old
country” for the new world.
At the end of the 19th Century,
Bohemians began migrating to the
west side of Cedar Rapids, first
in residential areas, and later,
forming a business district that
would become what is now known
as Czech Village. Not only Czechs,
but other nationalities contributed
to the vibrant setting that included
bakeries, meat markets, blacksmiths,
hardware stores and other businesses
to meet the daily needs of the
growing population.
The National Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library began in modest
quarters in a Czech Village house
in the 1970s, and around that same
In this photo from
1910, horses and
horseless carriages
share a road divided
by trolley tracks in
the Cedar Rapids
business district that
would later be called
Czech Village.
The old 16th Avenue
Bridge is in the
background, and
today’s Czech Cottage
is the building on
the far left, in the
foreground.
time, the notion for an annual
festival took root, with the first
Houby Days celebrated 38 years ago.
The museum – which moved a short
distance and expanded after the
flood – is now one of the top tourist
attractions in Iowa, drawing an
average of more than 40,000 visitors
annually, while the festival has
evolved into a three-day event, with
parades, artisan and food vendors,
a car show, children's activities and
more.
This year, Houby Days kicks off
on Friday, May 15, with a carnival,
bingo, vendors lining the street
and music by FunkDaddies at the
Kosek Bandstand. Read more about
Houby Days highlights and find the
full schedule of events inside, and
be sure to visit Czech Village and
take part in what has become one
of the area's most popular spring
celebrations.
This Paper Created for:
Czech Vil age Association
For more information on Schedule,
Recipes, Parade Entry Forms, and
Houby Days Vendors, visit:
czechvillagecedarrapids.com
Vítáme vás!
Your Houby
Breakfast
Head
Quarters!
Welcome from the Czech Village Association!
We are so happy to have you join us for
our 38th annual Houby Days.
Houby
Weekend
special:
Handmade Bloody Marys
$3.50
and Domestic Draft Beer
$3.00
Stop in for
free area
Activities
Guides,
maps, and
tourism
information.
Cedar Rapids Area Convention &
Visitors Bureau 87 16th Ave SW
Vitejte na
cerv
en
Red Frog
has been a
mainstay of
the Czech
Village for 35
years. Lots of
history!
ou zabu
Red Frog
will be
serving brats
and kraut and
hotdogs outside
for Houby
days and other
specials inside.
The beers
we brew are
catalysts to
conversation
& community.
As we celebrate our heritage during the
single biggest festival of the year, we stop to
remember why we gather together. We have a
lot to be thankful for: the Czech and Slovak
immigrants who built this area of our great
city, the progress that has been made since the
devastating flood in 2008, and a community
of diverse local businesses and non-profits
operating in the Village.
That diversity increases every time a new
business opens its doors, and we are excited to
note that Czech Village is currently at its highest
percentage of commercial property utilization
since the flood. We have something for everyone:
bars, restaurants, a brewery, art, repurposing
retail stores, antiques, vintage, screen printing
and embroidery, a bakery, bank, hair salon,
cosmetics store, Czech glass and collectibles.
huge.
Michelle Bell
President, Czech Village Association
Owner, White Lion Treasures, 76 16th Ave. SW
The Village Meat
Market & Cafe'
in the Heart of Czech Village
Enjoy smoked
meats and
sausages, all
made in house.
Tradional
Czech dishes
as well. Look
for us for DEEP
FRIED MOREL
MUSHROOMS
on Houby days.
(While they last!)
Financing available
303 8th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
319-363-5010
LionBridgeBrewing.c
omBRIDGE BREWING COMPANY
LION
LION
BRIDGE
BREWING LIONBRIDGEBREW
COMPANY
LION
BRIDGE
BREWING COMPANY
LIONBRIDGEBREW
Our prices are
excellent and
our selection is
from around the world.
Our price are excellent
and our selection is
huge. Our staff will
be dressed in Czech
Costume and gree­t in
Czech during Houby
Days.
Have fun visiting our shops, grab a bite to
eat, enjoy your time at Houby Days and return
often to see what’s new throughout the year. We
are thrilled to welcome you to our Village!
Family Owned and Operated for 43 Years
Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm
319.200.4460 • 59 16th Ave SWLIONBRIDGEBREW
Cedar Rapids
A Multi-Dealer Mall in the NEW shipment from
the Czech and Slovak
Heart of Czech Village
Republics coming in for
82 16th Ave. SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 Houby Days, as well as
a variety of Antiques,
1-319-866-9801
Collectables and Gifts
Mon-Sat.10:00-5:00
Each and every store in the Village
is locally owned and operated. These small
businesses are the life blood of a community.
Recent studies say they return, on average, 3 ½
times more money into the local economy.
Proud Supporters Of
Houby Days.
V isit our brewery and tasting room
located in the historic Main Street District
of Cedar Rapids.
Czech Village Antiques
www.billsbros.com
“Playing Bingo the Old
Fashion way”
6-9PM
St. Jude Church Parish
Center
50 Edgewood Rd NW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
Held the 2nd and 4th Saturday of
the month
25 cents per card-50% PAYOUT
Blackout at 9pm-100% PAYOUT
No Admittance Fee
Kid Friendly!!
Food Available for Purchase
Knights of Columbus Council 5544
For more Information visit www.kofc5544.org
KATHY’S PIES, INC
616 5TH AVENUE SE
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
Celebrate Houbie Days in
the Czech Village and then
come visit us!
Appetizers - Sandwiches - Salads - Wraps - Pizzas
Breakfast - Saturday & Sunday 8-11
Daily Drink Specials • Live Music
PHONE : 319-362-5216
AWESOME COUPON !
2 DAYS ONLY !!! MAY 15th & 16th, 2015
$5.00 OFF ANY PURCHASE OVER $20.00
ALL BAKERY ITEMS INCLUDED!
CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER,
PROMOTION OR USED ON FUTURE ORDERS.
www.parlorcitypub.com • 1125 3rd St. SE • 319-247-0000
Mon-Fri: 11am-2am • Sat & Sun 8am-2am • Minors allowed until 9:00pm
mushroom, are sold for
$2 each at businesses
in Czech Village in
the weeks leading up
to Houby Days and
during the festival.
One in every 10
buttons is the winner
of a prize that can
be picked up at the
information booth
during Houby Days on
May 16 or May 17.
Nejdl has been
immersed in Czech
culture since her
childhood, when she
learned egg decorating
Master Czech Folk Artist, Marj Nejdl,
techniques from her
provides instruction during a workshop.
mother and uncle, and
(photo/National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library)
continues to remain
Master Czech Folk Artist is behind
active in several Czech
groups, including the Sokol gymnastics
every Houby Days button
organization.
She studied at the Chicago Art
Visitors to Czech Village can
Institute and Ray Vogue Commercial
bring home their own piece of Czech
Art in Chicago, and was designated a
folk art at a bargain price.
Master Czech Folk Artist by the Iowa
Master Czech Folk Artist, Marj
Arts Council in 1982.
Nejdl, has been designing the buttons
Nejdl was the first designer for
for Houby Days since the early days
the artwork once Houby Days began
of the festival, now in its 38th year.
featuring buttons, and now wishes she
The buttons, this year featuring a
had saved her full slate of art over the
girl in ethnic dress sitting on a morel
years.
“I don’t think the buttons started
that first year, but I did quite a few,”
Nejdl said, adding that the designs
“just come to me.”
She provides the Houby Days
organizers with several sketches
from which to choose and paints
with acrylics once the final design is
selected. While her artwork is highly
prized and egg-decorating classes that
she teaches are typically sold-out, Nejdl
has never profited from the Houby Days
buttons. “I don’t charge anything,” she
said. “This is my donation to Czech
Village.”
2
0
1
5
Past
buttons
designed
by:
Marj Nejdl
Morels are central ingredient
in Egg & Houby Breakfast
Houby Days celebrates all things
mushroom and what better way to
experience the seasonal delicacies
than having a bite.
Even former Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright professed her
fondness for morel mushrooms in a
visit two years ago to Cedar Rapids
during Houby Days.
While morels were given to
Albright during her trip, not
everyone is lucky enough to find the
sponge-like mushrooms, which are
only in-season for a brief time each
spring.
Al Zindrick has the answer for
festival-goers with a craving for
morels: the Egg & Houby Breakfast.
Zindrick, owner of
Smuggler’s Wharf, 87 16th Ave.
SW, said the breakfast features
These morel mushrooms,
provided by the Cedar Rapids
Czech School, were given
to former Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright during her
visit to Cedar Rapids. Morels
are featured in the Egg & Houby
Breakfast at Smuggler's Wharf
during Houby Days.
(photo/Cindy Hadish)
real morel mushrooms, along with
eggs, fresh pancakes, sausage,
potatoes, rye bread, juice and coffee.
The
breakfast is
served at
Smuggler’s
Wharf from
8-11 a.m. on
Saturday, May
16, and Sunday,
May 17, during
Houby Days.
Both mornings,
diners will be serenaded with live
accordion music by Ron Johnson.
Zindrick noted that Smuggler’s
Wharf has hosted the Egg & Houby
Breakfast for three years.
Guests at the restaurant enjoy
the Floridian atmosphere and
beyond the festival’s breakfast, the
fresh seafood, daily specials and fullservice bar.
5pm-7pm
5pm-7pm
5pm-7pm
5pm-8pm
5pm-8pm
5pm-8pm
5pm-9pm
5pm-10pm
5pm-10pm
6pm-10pm
Friday May 15th
Taste of Czech
Kids Make & Take
Lizzy's Face Painting
Artisan & Food Vendors
Houby Days T-shirt & Buttons sales, Raffle
Julie & Kyle Acoustic Duo
Bingo sponsored by
Knights of Columbus 5554
Lion Bridge Beer Tent
Carnival
Funkdaddies
Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
Artisan Sanctuary
16th Avenue
16th Avenue
Information - 16th Avenue
Small Stage
Inspiration Place
Lion Bridge Brewery
Inspiration Place
Kosek Bandstand
Saturday May 16th
Saturday
May 16th
Czech Day
8am-11am
8am-11am
9am
9am-11am
9am-8pm
9am-8pm
9am-8pm
9am-8pm
10am-11am
10am-5pm
After parade
10am-5pm
10am-10pm
11am-11:30am
11am-1pm
11am-1pm
11am-2pm
11am-3pm
11am-8pm
Noon-3pm
Noon-3pm
Noon-10pm
Noon-9pm
1pm-1:30pm
1pm-5pm
1:30-2:45
2pm-3pm
3pm-3:30pm
3pm-5pm
3:30pm
3:30pm
3:30-4:30
3:45-6
A plant sale was a new feature during Houby Days 2014, and will again be 4:pm
featured at this year's festival.
(photo/Cindy Hadish, HomegrownIowan.com) 5pm-8pm
6pm-10pm
Sunday May 17th
Sunday
KidsMay
Day 17th
8am-11am
8am-11am
9am-11am
9am-4pm
9am-4pm
9am-4pm
10am-4pm
10am-3pm
10am-4pm
11am-Noon
11:30am-1:30pm
11:30am-1:30pm
11:30am-3:30pm
Noon-3pm
Noon-4pm
Noon-1pm
Noon-4pm
Noon-4pm
1pm-1:30pm
1:30-4pm
2pm-3pm
3pm
3:30pm
Czech Day
Egg & Houby Breakfast
Accordianist Ron Johnson
Flag Raising ceremony
Post 679 Palo American Legion
Czech Plus Band and
Czech Heritage Singers
Artisan & Food Vendors
One Day Artisans in the Park
Breast Cancer Awareness Race Car
Houby Days T-shirt & Buttons sales, Raffle
Houby Day Parade
Kids Make & Take
Cruisin Mt. Trashmore Car Show
Sponsored by Solid Waste Agency
Plant & Mushroom Sale
Lion Bridge Beer Tent
United Moravian Societies Folk Dancers
presented by NCSML
Z102.9
The AcoustaKitties
Sparkles/Sprinkles the Clown
Ride to Mt. Trashmore (every half hour)
Glitz & Glam Face Painters
Houby Contest Registration
Awards for Biggest, Smallest,
Most Unusual, & Best Display
Brass Transit Authority
Carnival
Bingo sponsored by
Knights of Columbus 5554
United Moravian Society Folk Dancers
presented by NCSML
Mark Brown/Busker
Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Pageant
Kroje Modeling, Oratory, & Talent
Accordian Club
Maypole
Busker
Introduction of Royalty
Mushroom Contest Winners
Mushroom Entries Display
Busker
Parade of Kroje
Mockingbirds
Royal Liar
Kids Day
Egg & Houby Breakfast
Accordianist Ron Johnson
Czech Heritage Band
Artisan & Food Vendors
Houby Days T-shirt & Buttons sales, Raffle
Glitz & Glam Face Painters
Plant Sale
Cruisin Mt. Trashmore Tractor Show
Kids Make & Take
Cabbage Roll by Sykora Bakery
Childrens Games sponcered by US Bank
Dan Johnson and Kevin Burt
Wooden Nickel Lottery
Sparkles/Sprinkles the Clown
Bingo sponsored by
Knights of Columbus 5554
Svetlusky Youth Ensemble
Carnival
Houby Photo Boards
Crown Prince and Princess
Craig Erickson
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
Costume Walk
Raffle drawing
Smugglers Wharf
Smugglers Wharf and Patio
Kosek Bandstand
16th Avenue
Information - 16th Avenue
16th Avenue
16th Avenue
16th Ave Bridge
Artisan Sanctuary
16th Avenue
16th Avenue
16th Avenue
Small Stage
16th Avenue
Inspiration Place
16th Avenue
Inspiration Place
Kosek Bandstand Area
Kosek Bandstand
Kosek Bandstand
16th Avenue
16th Avenue
Kosek Bandstand
Smugglers Wharf
Smugglers Wharf
Kosek Bandstand
Kosek Bandstand
16th Avenue
Sokol Park
16th Avenue
Information - 16th
16th Avenue
Artisan Sanctuary
16th Avenue Bridg
16th Avenue
Lion Bridge Brewe
Kosek Bandstand A
A Street/16th Aven
Small Stage
16th Avenue
A Street
16th Avenue
Information - 16th
Kosek Bandstand
Inspiration Place
Inspiration Place
16th Avenue
Sykol Park
Czech & Slovak Mu
Small Stage
Kosek Park
Small Stage
Kosek Park
Village Meat Marke
Village Meat Marke
Kosek Bandstand A
16th Avenue start
Small Stage
Kosek Bandstand
Newbo District
and Patio
h Avenue
ge
ery
Area
nue
h Avenue
useum & Library
et
et
Area
at Museum
Czech Village
Enjoy Czech Day and
Kids Day during Houby Days
This year, Houby Days will
feature two theme days during the
three-day festival. Saturday, May
16, is designated as “Czech Day,”
and Sunday, May 17, is “Kids’ Day.”
In addition to Czech music,
houby contest and breakfast,
highlights on Saturday include:
• Artisans in Sokol Park, from 9
a.m. to 8 p.m. A wide range of
artisan crafts will be for sale
in the park named for Sokol, a
Czech gymnastics organization
that still operates in Cedar
Rapids.
• Houby Days Parade, at 10 a.m.
After a short hiatus, the parade
returns to Houby Days, featuring
plenty of Czech-themed entries
for both children and adults to
enjoy.
• Cruisin’ Mount Trashmore
Car, Motorcycle and Tractor
Show, sponsored by the Cedar
Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste
Agency, immediately following
the parade on the 16th Avenue
Bridge of Lions. The stone lions
featured on the bridge are the
symbol of Bohemia.
• Plant sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
with hanging baskets and
bedding plants from a local
nursery. Czechs are known for
their gardening skills.
• Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa pageant,
1:30 p.m. at the National Czech
& Slovak Museum & Library.
• Maypole dance, a Czech
tradition, at 3 p.m. in the Kosek
Bandstand area, followed by
introduction of Czech royalty,
including Miss Czech-Slovak
Iowa, and the Czech Prince,
Princess and Little Sister,
sponsored by the Czech Heritage
Foundation.
• Parade of Kroje, 4 p.m., through
16th Avenue. Kroje are Czech
folk costumes that will be worn
by participants in this walking
parade.
• In addition to Czech-themed
events, Saturday includes a
flag-raising ceremony at 9 a.m.,
Sparkles the clown from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m., bingo, from noon
to 9 p.m. at Inspiration Place,
sponsored by the Knights of
Columbus; and a raffle, T-shirt
and button sales from 9 a.m. to
8 p.m. at the information booth.
Lipa Slovak Folk Dancers perform outside the Kosek
Bandstand along 16th Avenue SW during Houby
Days 2014. (photo/Cindy Hadish, HomegrownIowan.com)
Kids’ Day highlights
on Sunday include:
• Sparkles the clown from noon to
3 p.m.
• Childrens games, sponsored by
US Bank from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30
p.m. at the small stage.
• Kids Make & Take, 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. (also 5-7 p.m. Friday and
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday) at
the Artisan’s Sanctuary, 45 16th
Ave. SW. Choose from a variety
of fun, easy-to-do Czech-themed
projects.
• Cabbage Roll Race, 1 p.m. near
Sykora Bakery (see description.)
• Crowning of the new Czech
Prince and Princess and Little
Sisters, sponsored by the Czech
Heritage Foundation, 1 p.m. at
the Kosek Bandstand.
• Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre,
2 p.m. at the small stage. (See
description.)
• Costume Parade, 3 p.m. Join the
Czech Prince, Princess and Little
Sisters, and wear a costume
of your choosing during this
walking parade through Czech
Village.
Winners also get bragging rights!
Join us at 1 pm Sunday and have
some fun! To reserve your spot,
fill out a registration form at
Sykora Bakery, 73 16th Ave. SW, or
register the morning of the race.
National Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library sponsors
events
Taste of Czech & Slovak is
5-7 p.m. Friday, May 15. Cost is
$15 per person, with ages 10 and
under free. Tickets are available
at the door. The NCSML Museum
Guild’s Taste of Czech & Slovak
once again kicks off the annual
Houby Days weekend in Czech
Village. Attendees will be able
to sample more than a dozen
entrees, salads, soups, and desserts,
including homemade kolaches.
Lemonade, water, and coffee will
be served. The evening will also
include a performance by Czech
Plus Band in the NCSML’s outdoor
amphitheater from 7- 8:30 p.m.
The United Moravian Societies has a long history of
promoting Moravian, Czech, and Slovak folklore by
demonstrating the ethnic customs of folk dancing,
singing, storytelling and crafting.
Teams of three can register to participate in the
Annual Czech Village Cabbage Roll Relay Race.
Cabbage Roll Race is a
Czech Village tradition
The 14th Annual Czech
Village Cabbage Roll Relay Race,
sponsored by Sykora Bakery,
has paid tribute since the race’s
inception in 2002 to the “Zelnik”
(cooked cabbage, onion and
caraway seed wrapped around
a sweet bun) by giving teams
of three a chance to publicly
humiliate themselves in the
“Village.” With straw broom in
hand, participants expertly and
gracefully guide their cabbage
through an obstacle course
complete with munching bunny
rabbit, mile-high ramp and coleslaw
hazards.
Teams are encouraged to
dress in like-colors. Three family
members, friends or coworkers
make fine teams. More than 75
different teams have competed
these past thirteen years and 225
individuals have shown they have
the right stuff. Many team members
have been known to make repeat
performances. It costs nothing
to enter, except your pride, and
everyone gets a commemorative
T-shirt. Trophies will be awarded
for the Best Dressed Team,
Fastest, Most Graceful, Finest
Sportsmanship and Best Form.
On Saturday, May 16, the
National Czech & Slovak Museum
& Library will present folk dancers
from United Moravian Societies,
a heritage organization from the
Chicago area. Founded in 1939,
the United Moravian Societies
has a long history of promoting
Moravian, Czech, and Slovak
folklore by demonstrating the
ethnic customs of folk dancing,
singing, storytelling and crafting.
The NCSML will also present
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
Company on Sunday, May 17 at 2
p.m. Eulenspiegel will perform In
the Mirror: Three Tales from Asia.
The play is a set of three tales
from Japan and Turkey, one of
which includes some sneaky trolls!
It features a variety of puppets,
and is fun for all ages.
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company will
perform In the Mirror: Three Talesfrom Asia.
Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa to be
crowned during Houby Days
The 14th Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Pageant
will be held May 16, in conjunction with Houby
Days. The Czech Heritage Foundation began
sending Iowa contestants to the national pageant
in Wilber, Neb., in 2002. Last year, 14 states were
represented at the national competition, with
more than $10,000 in cash and prizes awarded.
Young women between the ages of 18
and 25, who are unwed, have a Czech or Slovak
lineage and have completed the application
Vitame Vas
Join the Czech Celebration!
2015 Czech Dinner/Banquet
Pork Loin, Dumplings, Cerna Kuba,
Sauerdraut, Green Beans, Saled,
Rohlicky, Kolaches, Dessert & Beverage
Crowning of Miss Czech Slovak Iowa
Avacentre
2121 Bowling St. SW Cedar Rapids, 52404
Social with music: Cash Bar 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 2015 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20.00 319-329-2534 for Reservations
Sponsored by Czech Heritage foundation
Forget Me Not
Ashley Pudil
Hannah Van Deusen
2:15 p.m. – Talent. The contestants also have a
private interview with the judges. They are judged
on their dignity, poise, charm, good manners,
talent and personality.
Other activities Czech Royalty will
participate in that day include the Maypole
Dance at 3 p.m., royalty introductions at 3:30
p.m. and Kroje Parade at 4 p.m.
process compete in Iowa’s pageant. The winner
of the state pageant receives a jeweled crown,
sash, $1,000 cash award, gifts, flowers and
sponsorship to Miss Czech-Slovak US in August.
She represents her heritage by attending a variety
of community events during her reign.
Ashley Pudil and Hannah Van Deusen
are this year’s contestants. The public is invited to
attend these events on May 16 in the Mitvalsky
Room of the National Czech & Slovak Museum
& Library: 1:30 p.m. – Kroj (traditional Czech or
Slovak folk dress) Modeling; 1:45 p.m. – Oratory;
Antiques
And Gifts
We have a wide
variety of antiques
including primitives.
We also carry many
gift items including
rugs, candles, and
handmade pillows
and stuffed animals
from NY and PA.
77 16th Ave SW
Cedar Rapids
Houby Days
special: 20% off
Depression Glass
319-826-2310
Catering Service
2015 A-List Winner for 8 consecutive years,
Dostal Catering celebrates 91 years in business.
Call today for your catering needs
319-366-0701
*******************************
Dostal Catering manages
IBEW MILLER HALL
1211 Wiley Blvd S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA
with 400 person capacity
call to book your event today
319-366-0702
Polka to rock; funk to folk: live music featured throughout Houby Days
Two stages will provide the
setting for continuous live music during
Houby Days, featuring a variety of
musical styles.
The FunkDaddies headline Houby Days
at the Kosek Bandstand from 6-10 p.m.
Friday, May 15, with Julie and Kyle
Acoustic Duo from 5-8 p.m. on the small
stage. FunkDaddies are known for their
horn-driven soul and R & B music,
while Julie and Kyle play acoustic rock,
rockabilly, folk and old school country.
Festival-goers will be treated
to the Czech Plus Band and Czech
Heritage Singers from 9-11 a.m.
Saturday, May 16, on the Kosek
Bandstand. The groups feature polka
and other traditional Czech songs.
Accordionist Ron Johnson will play
from 8-11 a.m. at the Egg & Houby
Breakfast, both Saturday and Sunday.
The AcoustaKitties, playing classic
rock, blues, country, folk and sing-along, perform on the small stage from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by
the Accordion Club, playing polka music
from 2-3 p.m.; well-known local busker/
guitarist Mark
Brown from 3-5
p.m. and the
Mockingbirds,
featuring classic
rock & roll,
rhythm & blues,
honkey tonk and
rockabilly music,
from 5-8 p.m.
From noon to 3 p.m. Saturday,
the Brass Transit Authority will
perform music of Chicago, Blood Sweat
& Tears and more on the Kosek
Bandstand. Royal Liar takes the
Kosek Bandstand stage from 6-10 p.m.
Saturday. The high-energy band covers
a wide range of rock, country and pop
standards.
On Sunday, the Czech Heritage
Band performs polka and more
from 9-11 a.m. on the Kosek
Bandstand. Blues musicians Dan
Johnson and Kevin Burt play
on 16th Avenue from 11:30 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m. Svetlušky, a youth
ensemble that performs Czech,
Moravian and Slovak instrumental
folk music, also will be on 16th
Avenue, from noon to 1 p.m.
Sunday. Blues/rock band Wooden Nickel
Lottery will be on the small stage from
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and blues
guitarist Craig Erickson will perform on
the Kosek Bandstand from 1:30-4 p.m.
Sunday.
Why Celebrate Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are commonly used in meals
in the Czech and Slovak Republics.
Care and Cooking of Morels
All mushrooms contain a lot of
moisture, so use a basket to gather
them. False morels are poisonous and
will make you sick, so make sure you
know what you are picking.
Once you have gathered the morels,
DO NOT wash them until you are ready
to eat them. Put them in paper bags
and store them in the refrigerator for
several days. If they are getting dry,
transfer them to a plastic bag, but leave
it open. Mushrooms stored in a sealed
plastic bag will mold and spoil quickly.
Morels do not dry well. If you
cannot eat them right away, clean them
and blanch in boiling water for about a
minute, drop into ice water and place
in bags to freeze. Morels can be pan
fried in butter or bacon drippings. Add
a little cut up onion and cut up green
pepper and it makes an excellent side
with steak (beef, chicken or pork.)
Traditionally, morels are lightly fried,
with eggs scrambled over them.
Spring festivals have existed for
thousands of years. Here in Czech
Village, honoring this small part of
Czech and Slovak culture is an excellent
way to celebrate the end of winter and
the coming of spring.
Forest Mushroom Tarts
By Pam Lewis
Crust
1 cup of flour
1/3 cup of lard (or unsalted butter)
4-5 Tbs. of ice-cold water
Prepare as you would for a pie crust.
Cut the lard into the flour with a
fork or pasty blender. Use only the
minimum amount of water to hold the
dough together.
Filling
½ lb of fresh mushrooms (a variety is
good and try to use something that
has a good flavor)(you can also use 2
By Pam Lewis
Owning a business in Czech Village,
we often get asked this question. The
simple answer is that nearly 40 years
ago, the merchants decided to have a
spring celebration and “Houby Days”
was the logical choice. The bigger
question is: what is the Czech/Slovak
connection to this fungus that doesn’t
always cooperate enough to even be
available for the party? The answer is
that mushrooms are an essential part of
life in the former Czechoslovakia.
There are stories of people
surviving the terrible years of WWII and
afterwards by living off of mushrooms
and forest berries. Today, they are still
an important part of the diet, eaten
fresh, frozen, canned and dried. The
morels we eat in Iowa are rare in the
Czech and Slovak Republics. Many
people living there have never seen
or tasted one, but they do have about
1,500 types of edible mushrooms. An
estimated 7 out of every 10 citizens
actively hunted them last year, together
gathering over 55 million pounds
of mushrooms. Mushrooming starts
the first of May and goes until late
September or October.
With that long growing season,
mushroom gathering is a daily event.
Along the country roads, cars are pulled
off and the woods are full of families,
carrying baskets and searching. By the
time most children are 10, they can
identify many varieties of good and
bad mushrooms. Each family has their
favorite spot, good luck shoes or special
knife.
After gathering the mushrooms, the
family prepares them. Some are cleaned
and immediately put into a skillet with
a little butter or lard and gently fried.
Served over boiled potatoes, it’s supper.
Others have the dirt brushed off, are
thinly sliced and spread on towels to
dry. After a week of drying, they are
stored for winter. Some are cleaned
immediately and canned in a pickled
brine. Today with bigger freezers,
mushrooms are also prepared and
frozen.
All of this has allowed the
mushroom to become part of Czech/
Slovak culture. Weather reports
indicate if it is good mushrooming
weather. People shout to each other in
the woods as to the success they are
having. Every gardening event includes
displays of mushrooms. Mushroom
images show up in paintings and folk
art.
ounces of dried mushrooms)
¼ Cup of Olive oil
2 Tbs of butter
½ finely chopped red onion
15 sprigs of parsley, only leaves and
finely chopped
1 cup of beef broth (you can also use
vegetarian broth)
Salt and pepper
Heat oil and butter. Then add
onion, parsley and fresh mushrooms.
Sauté for 10 min. Add broth and
simmer about 35 min until most of
the liquid is gone and the filling is
thick.
Remove from heat and cool
completely.
Houby Spotlight
In the early years of Houby Days,
locals would bring morel mushrooms
to sell from street corners during the
festival. Since then, state regulations have
prohibited that practice, but the Czech
Village Association will offer inspected
morels for sale at the information booth,
near the former Novak's Heating building,
56 16th Ave. SW. The mushrooms will be
sold as long as supplies last on Saturday,
May 16, and, if available, on Sunday,
May 17.
This mushroom, found by Tom
Brislawn, was winner of the Largest
Morel during the 2014 Houby Days
contest.
Mushroom hunters who find
special morels can enter them in the
Houby Contest on Saturday, May 16.
Register at the information booth from
noon to 3 p.m. Trophies are awarded for
the largest, smallest, most unusual and
best display. Winners will be displayed at
the Village Meat Market & Cafe, 92 16th
Ave. SW, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. that day.
After it is cool add
3 slightly beaten eggs
½ Cup of freshly grated Parmesan
cheese, or similar strong dry cheese
To Assemble
Roll out the dough and press
into a tart pan. Use a pie pan if you
don’t have a tart pan. Using a fork,
poke holes in the crust all over. Bake
the empty crust at 375 for about 50
min.
When the crust has cooled
about 10 min, put the mushroom
mixture in the crust and return it to
the oven for another 20 min. Cool at
least 15 min before serving.