First Summer Serenade at 1884 On The Bluff
- Jo Dee Krotz
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
Dream Night
On June 28th, the first Summer Serenade of the season unfolded at 1884 On The Bluff in Montrose, Iowa, under an amber-hued sky, leaving guests with full hearts and that quiet, lingering feeling of having experienced something rare and beautiful.
Hosted by Doug and me in The Meadow near our historic stone house above the Mississippi River, the evening welcomed 60 guests to an intimate gathering of live music, handcrafted cocktails, and a catered dinner and dessert.
The Music
The night’s soundtrack came from singer-songwriter Deion Wykowski, whose soulful vocals, acoustic guitar, and smooth, melodic harmonica transformed The Meadow into an open-air listening room. His presence felt like meeting an old friend for the first time, and his encore of Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down became a rousing sing-along that united the crowd under the stars.
The Dinner & Dessert
Guests dined on Fork Catering’s summer menu, featuring mini buttermilk biscuits with pimento cheese and maple bacon jam, with a summer peach cobbler shooter dessert described as “a symphony of flavors.” Blue Umbrella’s decorated cookies featuring the 1884 logo sent everyone home with a sweet, artful gift.
The Cocktails
HanCocktails elevated the evening with garden-inspired drinks garnished with fresh mint and bachelor buttons foraged from Emily’s own hillside. One tender highlight came when she surprised a pregnant birthday guest with a special mocktail topped with a birthday hat and candle – a quiet celebration brimming with kindness.
The Guests
The event was also attended by Iowa travel writer Sara Broers of Travel With Sara, who described the venue as special and the evening as INCREDIBLE. Having Sara and her husband, Todd, join us was such an honor. Her words captured exactly what we hope to create here – gatherings that feel authentic, soulful, and deeply human.
The Golden Retriever
Louie, our golden retriever, made his post-dinner rounds, tail wagging as he visited each table, soaking up scratches and smiles until the last lantern dimmed.
The Feeling of Home
One guest remarked that the stage, framed with old doors across the back, felt like a front porch – a place where the world slows down and neighbors gather under the same sky. That simple reflection captured the heart of Summer Serenades: creating a space where people come together, like front porches once did, to share music, stories, and the quiet magic of being side by side.
A Note About Doug
None of this would have been possible without Doug. Since spring, he has built nearly everything you see for Summer Serenades – the huts, the stage, the furnishings, and more – everything except the chairs and four farm tables. He strung lights across the meadow, dug post holes to hang them, ran generators with sound barrier boxes to keep the night peaceful, checked the weather with tireless devotion, and hauled every piece out to the field himself in tractor buckets.
He not only built the structures – he carried the vision in his heart, ensuring every detail whispered welcome to each guest. Doug is built with a stamina and drive that words can’t fully capture. It’s something you simply have to witness to understand – a quiet, steadfast force that turns dreams into places you can stand inside of. Watching him bring this place to life is nothing short of extraordinary.
Looking Ahead
Summer Serenades continues through September, featuring musicians, handcrafted cocktails by HanCocktails, and rotating menus by Fork Catering, Fat Jimmy's, Bentley’s Burgers, Coal Haus 337, with desserts by regional favorites including Blue Umbrella, Baked by Bryant, Java River, Sara’s Sweet & Savory, and Hinterland Dairy.
Each evening blends music, nature, and rural artistry into an unforgettable Iowa experience.
Our next event is July 19th. For tickets and more upcoming dates, visit the Events tab of
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