The LAntern is closed, Dr. Bob is open check him out at Dr. Bob myspace.com
for you history buffs and easy directions plus Winona booking info look below
We support independent original entertainment.
Our capacity is 27 people. If you are over 21, enjoy our great beer and wine selection. If you're under 21 (or perhaps done), enjoy a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Musicians play for tips and/or the door (we recommend being thrifty and using your own doorman who probably can convince patrons that you're worth it). You'll also receive complimentary food and beverages. We have a house P.A., keyboard, saxamaphone, trumpet, tin whistle, harmonica, washboard, accordion, concertina, an electric and acoustic guitar, lots of percussion stuff and other assorted noise makers. Keep in mind, the stage is small (a drumkit would probably put your bass player on the floor, and that's okay by us).
Support live music! We are accepting donations of rock gear as we build our in-house studio/radio show. Be a part of the fun, and donate your (working) gear. We are also willing to record your performance for you (for a nominal fee), and we are also throwing music samples up on the web for people to hear (click this for an example).
For music bookings at the Green Lantern please send a press kit to the above address including music samples (any format...vinyl wins you extra points), promo and background info, and allow 3-4 weeks for review. If you'd like to call, ask for Dr. Bob during business hours at: (currently, the hours are "by chance or appointment"--but there's at least a machine that you can talk at).
Once confirmed, we will do our best to get people to your show! Please help by sending us posters, fliers, handbills, or other giveaway shwag. Again, we will do our best to litter to town and the media as well. But, as always, a D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) approach helps a lot. Here are some helpful contacts in the Winona (and LaCrosse) area:
The Winona Daily News= news@winonadailynews.com neighbors@winonadailynews.com
The Winona Post (twice-a-week, Wed. & Sun.)= winpost@winonapost.com
Live! Arts & Entertainment Guide (Winona/LaCrosse's Thursday release)= live!@lacrossetribune.com
kknutson@winonadailynews.com
The Winonan (Winona State University's weekly Wednesday)= winonan@winona.edu wsu_etc@yahoo.com wsunewseditor@yahoo.com
KQAL 89.5 (Winona State's radio station) music director=507.457.5229 / studio-line=507.453.2222
Tapestry Arts Magazine (upper Mississippi monthly)= tapestrymag@earthlink.net
St.Mary's University in Winona also has a newspaper and radio station (KSMR 92.5 & 94.3), but neither are very reliable.
Winona Radio, radio in these parts leave lots to be desired, this company owns a ton of them. Go ahead and try it, we won't. They also have an online community calendar.
We also suggest using the "Forum/Events" pages on the following local indie-sites:
Everland Collective, BPDistro, and the Winopunx.
If for some reason, the Lantern cannot accomodate you (and you need a show in Winona...and since we love you troubadours), we recommend:
Holzinger Lodge (an indoor rental facility on the foot of the bluffs, always a good time--Everland and/or Food Not Bombs could help arrange this...otherwise, you'll need to go through City Hall. * everland_collective_voices@yahoo.com winonafoodnotbombs@riseup.net
Latsch Island stage (just a simple free stage on a beautiful island across the river from downtown--you may want to post a message on the winopunx forum to figure out how to do this one).
For a basement show at the Havana House (complete with a stage and a half-pipe) contact the winopunx forum.
Lake Park Bandshell (beautiful and aurally pleasing, right on the lake with great views--contacting Everland or FnB or City Hall for this)
the Blue Heron Coffeehouse(now at a nicer larger space at 2nd & Johnson, downtown) 507.452.7020
Rascals Bar (big room, big stage, big sound)
Theatre du Mississippi (big beautiful Masonic Theatre, folk/blues/world/plays/films)
the Winona Arts Center (old cozy church multi-purpose facility)
the Hei n Low (no website, a small fun neighborhood pub w/ steady music and good people)507.452.0502.
We don't necessarily recommend the following, but they might work for you:
Visions Event Center at Signatures. Great restaurant, big room, kind've wedding receptiony
the Acoustic Cafe (nice enough place, not enough love, no PA, bands are often "background music")
Rock Solid Youth Center (as the name says, but Christian-oriented, nice sound, stage, and sound)
Bub's Brewpub (no website, pub/restaurant, occasional music--blues, jazz--lots of chatter)507.457.3121
the Blackhorse (roadhouse vibe, big space, kind've "Kid Rock-y/Limp Bizkit-y" these days)
Zaza's and Schydes (507.452.1515)are both in-town ultra-collegiate places with occasional live music.
Swede's is a neighborhoody bar downtown that just started to do live music. 507.474.0600.
Shorty's is a diner-by-day, near-campus bar by night...they too just started doing live music, but are currently closed and remodeling. R.I.P.
Putnam Gray's is a new "Applebee-y" joint in the Winona Mall. They occasionally bring some pretty good music in. 507.454.2866 (ask for Matt). R.I.P.
Still trying???
Well, contact Winona State University (look for UPAC, ask about Kryszko Commons) or St.Mary's University.
Put in the legwork and talk to Jefferson's, or ask about using the basement at Godfathers, or ask Schyde's about using their basement (aka the Aura). The Winona Athletic Club has a cool ballroom on the 3rd floor available for rental. A quaint coffeehouse called Blooming Grounds might be interested. Four other bars that do music include: Steiny's, Charlie's, Swigger's Slough R.I.P., and "The Bar" (in Goodview).
ARTISTS of the visual persuasion: We basically hang shows for Each Month. This is not, however, set in stone. We can, and have, accomodated shows that run from a week to two months. It is best for you to stop by with a portfolio or example of your work. There is not an abundance of natural light seeping in--especially during winter months. The lighting scheme is warm and dark...amber and rose lightbulbs are the default setting. We are willing however to lighten the room to accomodate your work. This being said, it is best for you to stop by and evaluate the room yourself. Schedule an appointment by emailing Dr.Bob at goblinpony@yahoo.com
You may also wish to visit the Winona Arts Center, the Acoustic Cafe, Blooming Grounds, and Mugby Junction. There are also galleries at Winona State and St.Mary's, as well as smaller multi-purpose "venues" downtown.
Basically, you ARTISTES, follow the same procedures and recommendations listed above for musicians.
The Green Lantern is located at 571 East 3rd Street, about 6 blocks east of the downtown "zone". A short walk or bike-ride for all you bar-hoppers (please don't even think of DUI-ing it here)--and you'll be happy to know that our neighbors include Sloppy Joe's, Dan's Dugout, the Hei 'n Low, and the Handy Corner (all watering-holes). We also share the 'hood with the Penguin Zesto ice-cream barn, St.Vincent DePaul thrift-store, and the Aggressive Edge skate shop. We are located on Winona Transit's (the T-Bus)normal Red Route, and close to the Safe Ride (aka Drunk Bus) east terminus. Visit Winona Transit's site for the details.
For out-of-towners:
From MINNEAPOLIS (or points north), take Highway 61 South (a beautiful and historic highway along the Mississippi). Minnesota City and Goodview are Winona's upriver "suburbs" pass through them and 6 sets of stoplights. Take a LEFT on Huff St. between Lake Winona. Continue through set of lights, railroad tracks, and 2 more sets of lights (the streets are in descending order 11th, 10th, 9th...until 3rd Street. Take a RIGHT on THIRD, under the bridge, through the assorted stoplights and signs of downtown. The last stopsign on 3rd in Franklin. You are close...continue past the Watkins "skyscraper", the Fire Dept., and look for the green lights in the trees on the right hand side of the street. 571 E. 3rd? You did it!
FROM I-90 (EASTBOUND), take the Winona Exit (aka Hwy 43) and descend a fairly curvy road about 5 miles or so. At your first set of lights (which is a T-intersection) take a LEFT. Continue on this THROUGH the set of lights which is Highway 61. You are now on Mankato Ave. Go through some lights, cross the RRtracks, and through 2 four-way blinking stop-lights. The streets are numbered in descending order--the last blinking light is on 6th, so go 3 more blocks to Third Street. Take LEFT. About 4 blocks to go now. See a silvertopped cathedral, or a tall Stalinesque building with a flagpole on top? We are between those two things, on your left. Kind've kitty-corner from a little white and red barn, next to a corner bar (Dan's Dugout). Are there green lights in the tree? Is it 571 E. 3rd? Congrats, you made it!
FROM I-90 WESTBOUND (LACROSSE/MADISON AND POINTS SOUTHEAST), you'll want to take I-90 across the Mississippi. Continue on that for a few miles, until you see the HIGHWAY 61/WINONA exit on your right. Take it and continue about 20 miles. Once you see some lights, and the landmark Sugarloaf (rock formation on a bluff) ahead, you are in Winona. At your first stoplight (Hwy 61 & Hwy 43) take a RIGHT. You are now on Mankato Ave...follow it through a little bit of sprawl, do not stop at the new Wal-Mart, cross the RR Tracks, go through 2 blinking redlights (4-way stops). The streets are numbered in descending order, so at the last redlight (6th Street) go three more blocks to Third Street. Take a LEFT, go about 4 blocks until you pass the little white & red barn on your right (Penguin Zesto). We are kitty-corner from Zesto, next to Dan's Dugout on your left. See us? Green lights in a tree? 571 E. 3rd? You too have made it here!
FROM DIRECTLY ACROSS THE RIVER/HWY 35 WISCONSIN, take Highway 43 into Winona. You'll cross a bridge over the Mississippi. Take your first LEFT if you're prepared, it's right at the bottom of the bridge. Cross traffic stops for you, but there are no stoplights for you to look for. (if you missed it, continue to the red flashing stop sign on the next block--5th street--take a LEFT). Either way, take a LEFT and continue for 3 blocks to Main St. Take a LEFT on Main, get in the right lane, and take a RIGHT at the stoplights on 3rd/THIRD Street. Continue east through the stopsigns downtown. The last stop sign you'll stop for is on Franklin. You're almost there, pass the tall Watkins building and the Fire Dept.(on your right) and Sloppy Joe's tavern (on your left), and pull up on your right under the tree with green lights. On your right, under that tree, is where we lurk. Is it 571 E. 3rd? Great, we're in here waiting!
FROM HIGHWAY 14 EASTBOUND (ROCHESTER, OWATANNA, MANKATO, ETC...), you're coming down the windy hill into town, past St. Mary's University. Your 2nd stoplight is Highway 61...you could take a right and follow the Hwy61/Mpls directions. Better yet, go straight through the lights, a stop sign, the RR tracks, and take the River Road into downtown. The next stoplight is 2nd, the next is 3rd--Take Left. Under bridge, a stopsign, a stoplight, a couple more stop signs, until "out" of downtown. Past Watkins (tall building on right), the Fire Dept. on right, Sloppy Joe's on left, and then look for us on the right, the address is 571 E. 3rd.
