LIVING HERE
13th anniversary of the Geneva Shore Report comes with this issue.
Thirteen years ago, the GSR started publishing by distributing a two-page photocopied flyer at Venetian Fest. That flyer covered things like pier lengths, boot and personal watercraft rental charges, lake water temperature and some other rather interesting but small stuff. Needless to say, the GSR ‘has come a long way, baby.’
The very first Dragon Days Festival of Fantasy.
This event will take place October 13th through the 15th, and be located in Library Park, with attractions at Horticultural Hall, TSR Museum, and the Lake Geneva Library. This event will highlight the creation of the very popular role play game Dungeons and Dragon. Gary Gygax, the creator, and lifelong resident of Lake Geneva created the game in his home right here in Lake Geneva and eventually grew into a full-time business opening an office and employing over four hundred people. Since the games creation and the death of Gary Gygax the game continued to grow and so does the number of participants all over the world. Lake Geneva has recently started highlighting the significance of Gary Gygax and what he accomplished.
The TSR Museum which shares the history of Gary, and the game has been opened on Williams Street, Library Park now has a bench dedicated to Gygax and will eventually have a replica of Gary at a gaming table that fans can visit. July 17th has been declared Gary Gygax Day in Lake Geneva. The Dragon Days Festival is a very appropriate event for Lake Geneva and there’s hope the event will grow every year. Businesses downtown are encouraged to participate with merchandise and specialty menu items and drinks. Renaissance dressed characters will stroll through Lake Geneva along with many participants. Not everyone is a big fan of Dungeons and Dragons, but most people will enjoy a weekend of fun and fantasy.
Featuring the Downtown Lake Geneva’s Interview with Neal Aspinall
Neal:
“As a child, I made these giant, elaborate cards for everyone’s birthday and other special occasions. On the back of each card, I wrote ‘NealMark’ instead of Hallmark. I dreamed of starting my own greeting card company. My dad was a draftsman at Wisconsin Southern Gas Company so I was always surrounded by drawing materials and art equipment. As the youngest of four artistic kids, I thought everybody was an artist… I never thought about doing anything else.
I attended college at the Art Institute of Colorado. I wanted to head for the mountains and do that whole ‘Grizzly Adams’ thing. Once I got
there, I realized I wasn’t a city person. I missed the lakes, the people, my family, and the Lake Geneva area. After I graduated, I returned home to Wisconsin. I love Lake Geneva. My family has been here since the mid-1800s. This town is great when it gets crazy busy in the summer and wonderful when it slows down in the fall.
In 1986, I entered a contest with the Lake Geneva Chamber of Commerce to design a piece celebrating our town’s 100th anniversary and won. That was a launching point in my career as an illustrator in the area. Throughout the years, I’ve created many commissioned pieces for big name companies, local businesses, and private clients. There are many that stand out, but I can’t pick a favorite. I just enjoy making people happy through my art. In addition to my commissioned art, I like to create for myself. I’ve always wanted to design a vintage-inspired Lake Geneva postcard. I’ve been putting it off for several years, but I had a big event in 2022 at the Geneva Room and I wanted to unveil a new piece during the VIP night. It was the perfect time to design this retro classic.
I hope to create several other series for personal enjoyment in the coming years. I like my art to be as bold and as simple as possible. My pieces should be a quick read and have an impact on you right away. I’m looking forward to one of my latest designs making a bold impact as a Downtown Lake Geneva mural in 2024.”
