Issue 0059 // Poker, BigBadLaunchPad, APT

Just A Peck

Welcome to the latest issue of Just A Peck. I’m glad you’re here!

JOURNAL

After wrapping up my final two Mothership sessions last Sunday, I got together with my poker group in my friend Robert’s garage. We had so many people show up that we filled the entire poker table (and couldn’t play any seven-card variations). I suspect the fact that Robert was smoking chicken might have influenced the turnout. I broke even for the night.

Seven players around the octagonal poker table in Robert's garage, cards and cans and chips spread across the felt

On Tuesday, after many months of effort, I launched a new project at work called BigBadLaunchPad — a platform for collectors to engage with creators, including crowdfunding mechanics. Along with the new platform we launched a new line of collectibles called NPC, which was more successful than we had anticipated, blowing through all of its Unlocks within 24 hours. Now I can hopefully catch up on some sleep.

The BigBadToyStore homepage featuring the BigBadLaunchPad banner and the NPC (Non-Playable Characters) action figure line

Kaylee finished up her summer semester of teaching and is ready to start her third year at the Zoo School!

Kaylee in a Lake Superior Zoo t-shirt and ballcap, smiling in front of the Lake Superior Zoo School banner

On Wednesday, we picked up a passenger van; loaded it full of coolers, luggage, and friends; and started our annual pilgrimage to American Players Theatre. We spent five lovely days watching incredible theater, visiting bookstores, and eating and laughing together.

A van full of friends grinning for a selfie at the start of the drive to American Players Theatre
The group posed for a selfie in the seats of the Hill Theatre before a show
The group crowded together for a selfie inside the Touchstone Theatre, the draped set behind them
Another group selfie in the Hill Theatre with the amphitheater filling up behind them
The group smiling in the Hill Theatre seats at dusk, the wooden set glowing on stage
The group outside in the sunshine on the APT grounds between shows
We saw Carolyn!

We even got to see their Tony!

American Players Theatre's 2026 Regional Theatre Tony Award in a lighted display case

We took a day trip to Madison where we met some friends on the Terrace and visited the Children’s Museum, and we took the backstage tour and got an exceptional guide — a prop and scenic designer who has been with APT for over 25 years.

We’ll be heading home tonight after seeing our sixth and final show. This year we saw The Two “Gentlemen” of Verona (adapted and directed by Aaron Posner), The Chairs (my favorite show of the season), Uncle Vanya (a new adaptation by APT Company Member Nate Berger), Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea, The Matchmaker, and As You Like It.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona title projected above the red bandstand set in the Hill Theatre, an APT program held up in the foreground
The cast of The Two Gentlemen of Verona on the string-lit porch set, one actor at the microphone
The draped set of The Chairs in the Touchstone Theatre with a couple of empty chairs, an APT program held up in the foreground
The interior room set for Uncle Vanya on the Hill Theatre stage as the audience fills in
The blue-lit scaffold and skyline set for Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea in the Touchstone Theatre
The golden arched storefront set for The Matchmaker on the Hill Theatre stage

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK

In Progress:

BOOKS I PURCHASED

MEMORIES

Five Years Ago:

After taking a gap year during Covid, Kaylee returned to the Twin Cities to resume her degree. She left her job at the Zoo School, not knowing that once she finished her degree she’d be able to return as a full time teacher. We did a Duluth Day where we visited as many ice cream places as we could think of, we packed a U-Haul, and we headed to her college rental. After a bonus year with our kids during the pandemic, returning to our “empty nester” status was especially hard.

Kaylee on the deck above Lake Superior, thumbs pointed back at the ZOO STAFF lettering on her shirt
Jody, Kaylee, and Justin with cones and malts outside the Portland Malt Shoppe, Justin in a mask
Kaylee, Justin, and Jody making faces in front of the loaded U-Haul

Ten Years Ago:

Our first Duluth Tall Ships Festival. When we woke up on the first morning of the festival, the ship our friend Janet was sailing on was anchored right off our deck!

A tall ship anchored offshore at sunrise, seen past the deck railing
A tall ship under sail passing the Aerial Lift Bridge in the Duluth harbor under storm clouds

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

My talented friends Matthew and Luke used to own an escape room company, and before they closed it they produced some of my all-time favorite experiences. Next weekend, they’re running a new escape room at the zoo — It’s Suppertime for Sasquatch. We can’t wait to play it!

The It's Suppertime for Sasquatch escape room banner, with a grinning Sasquatch in red lipstick

My friend Eric is starting a new theater company in Two Harbors called Shakespeare on the Shore. Their inaugural production of Twelfth Night is this weekend at the Castle Danger Brewery, and I love pub Shakespeare, so I’m really looking forward to it.

The Shakespeare on the Shore poster for Twelfth Night at Castle Danger Brewery, August 29 and 30, with a tugboat and lighthouse illustration

MY FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity … we cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access reassurance."

— A. Edward Newton

That’s it for this week. Stay safe, friends. Thanks for reading!

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