When 45 Parallel Distillery teams with its partners for a new-product release party, its such a big party that it also requires an after party, meaning the fun goes virtually all day on Saturday, Oct. 1.
The focus is on the “W” wheat whiskey release. The New Richmond-based company is offering its seventh annual open house on the theme “barrels and bluegrass” from noon to 6 p.m., which as you might guess from the name is music that’s heavy on the string band format.
This is a free event held rain or shine, which is important because at this time of year, weather can be a factor to be reckoned with.
A Barley John’s after party (next door) starts at 6 p.m. with the release of the Wheat Wine aged in 45 Parallel whiskey barrels.
In addition to the tasting room and tours, featured during the afternoon will be local food and art vendors and three bands: No Man’s String Band, The May North and High Strung String Band.
The latest CD from the No Man’s String Band hits on an old theme. “All is Fair in Love and Bluegrass,” is the result of three years of growth, lineup changes and a band that celebrates tradition but isn’t constrained by it. “We wanted to record music that was undoubtedly bluegrass, entirely us, and completely approachable for lovers of traditional and original music,” said mandolinist Nic Hentges in their online bio. Formed in 2011, the No Man’s String Band has been hitting the road hard to bring on the bluegrass tradition and its future, breaking new ground. At the time of their debut album, “Let The Truth Be Told,” they began a hosting role on the bluegrass series “Cuttin’ Grass,” as well as being featured on a compilation by Old Hand Record Company. In 2015, they were awarded champions of the Race For a Place contest of the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association.
Members of the No Man’s String Band include Justin Rosckes on guitar, Melissa Hentges on accordion, Nic Hentges on mandolin, Lindsey Bordner on fiddle and Pat Loftus on bass.
The May North is an original band from Minneapolis-St. Paul, with a style steeped in Americana, folk, bluegrass and the blues. Like the group from which they take the stage, The May North has a couple of CD releases on its resume, but unlike the other, has one female singer, not two.
Likewise, the High Strung String Band breathes new life into an old tradition. In some ways, the band pays homage to straight-ahead, traditional bluegrass, as they flat-pick the guitar and also play three-finger-style. But in delivering the foot-stomping, high-and-lonesome, storytelling songs you’d expect from a bluegrass band, they add a spirit and style all their own.
But, as I’m sure the band members will concur, back to the distilling. “When people visit, they are just blown away by the operation,” one of the 45th Parallel marketing people said, as what they offer is not just a keg or two in what often is basically a glorified bar. At 45th Parallel there is a 25-foot ceiling, and the distilling equipment needs to reach right up to the top of it. A real hit with visitors, as far as showing the overall scope of the facility, has been their own brand of whiskey being aged in 600 50-gallon barrels.
Speaking of that whiskey, it is one of the relatively new products that 45th Parallel keeps rolling out, after starting off with its multiple-award winning, signature vodka. That was released well before the current craft beer craze hit the streets.
Growth has been so strong that there are plans to construct another building near New Richmond in the next year or two, which might be the cause for another grand opening and tasting. The people at 45th Parallel have been making the rounds to build the usage of their brands to much more than just the Midwest, and they just got back from a festival in Milwaukee where the goods were touted.
45 Parallel is located at 1570 Madison Avenue in New Richmond. For more information, visit 45thparalleldistillery.com.

Now that L&M’s in Roberts has become Bobtown Brewhouse, you might not notice a lot of changes, but ones that stand out are the offerings of a variety of new house beers, a lot more live music and a revamped food menu.
All this and more will be the focus of a grand reopening on Saturday, Sept. 24, as the new version known as Bobtown as a brewery and grill, and regular and new patrons, will celebrate a year in business.
There are nine specialty brews made especially by Bobtown that come into play, about half of them ones that have been enjoyed by patrons for months in a small batch release, and another half that are getting fully introduced on Saturday as “limited release seasonal house beers.” So this is your first shot at these locally-based drinks, which cover all bases of beer and boast multiple and creative ingredients.
Music at Bobtown will be offered, on average, on a couple of Saturdays a month, and this Saturday featured acts are The Hun Yuks from 1-3 p.m. and after a gap in time for socializing, Nick Hensley and Love Songs For Angry Men from 8-11 p.m. The Hun Yuks are a veteran duo from River Falls who are strongly country in a folksy way, and Nick Hensley and crew throw in alt-country, Americana and even Celtic music, with a lineup that can feature a varied number of players. The event in its entirety runs noon to close.
This first anniversary party also includes horseshoe and beanbag toss competitions, as to fit the theme, old again meets new as far as games. There will be a pulled pork dinner, with proceeds to benefit the Boy Scout Troop 161 Philmont Crew, for the community minded.
A lot of the same patrons from prior years still come back to the newer version of their old haunt, with its trademark being a big “B” logo inside a circle with curved edges, the place’s bartenders say. They add there are not a lot of big changes from the years it was known as L&M’s, just a few tweaks and some of the aforementioned additional offerings to round out its appeal.
Last Sunday in preparation for the big evening Packer and Viking game, a prelude found a packed house watching other NFL games and listening to music by a fully female acoustic duo, which you don’t often see. One patron stood out in his way to Back the Pack, wearing a Green and Gold hat that was infused with beer cans, tied together by yarn. As far as the new as-of-one-year-owner, Mike, he was mingling with customers between the bar and large dance area/gathering space complete with lots of tables, sporting a throwback Packer jersey with the number of 52, depicting star lineback Clay Matthews. Mike is a hands-on guy and unlike many proprietors can often be found at his place of business to answer any questions or say hello, staffers said.
Bobtown is near the west end of the main drag, a perfect positioning for people who might visit from Hudson or the Twin Cities, with its official address being 220 W. Main St. You can find out more by visiting bobtownbrewhouse.com.

Its time again for that two-day festival that celebrates all things bacon like only River Falls can, with pig-themed activities for the entire family, live music, merchandise from local artists, vendors that find all kinds of ways to use this favorite meat, micro-brews that wash down that meat, and more to put you in hog heaven. (For more on the Bacon Bash festival’s music, see the Notes From the Beat department of this web site).

Come to this year’s Bash and sample bacon-inspired dishes that are dished out by local restaurants and food vendors. Then cast your vote for the People’s Choice Winner, and possibly help send a local entry to a world bacon-inspired food championship.
The third annual Bacon Bash was held last year in September and was called a “porktacular” success with more than 16,000 attendees, much bigger than the entire town. The sponsors invite you to join them again this weekend, Sept. 17-18, 2016, for the fourth year, as they continue to celebrate America’s fried meat of choice.
A new highlight is courtesy of the Belle Vinez Winery, called Comedy & Corks, with music by the Chris Silver Band and comedy by Todd Andrews. Advance tickets for $25 are available at Belle Vinez Winery, Riverwalk Square and the Chamber of Commerce office. The fee includes wine and entertainment, and a complimentary wine glass, too. The event is held at 5 p.m. Friday.
Andrews began his comedy career by establishing roots in the Boston comedy arena. Eventually moving to his wife’s hometown in Wisconsin, Todd took the Midwest comedy scene by storm. With his East Coast attitude and sharp wit, he says, the crowds are overwhelmed.
Come see Todd’s observations of a “Boston Boy Lost in Wisconsin.” The stories focus on his “fish out of water” experiences, his married life, and his odd life experiences. “Let Todd’s witty charm and likeable personality wrap you into his funny adventures of living in the Midwest,” says his online bio.
Todd holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Todd’s education and professional career experiences is coupled with his high energy and solid, clean material, giving him plenty of fodder for his act.
As far as the music to accompany the comedy, after delving into various styles of music and types of lineups over the years, which were strong on things such as Americana and its percussion, Silver says he now prizes going back to the traditional roots of musical forms such as the bluegrass of the late ’70s and early ’80s, which strive to be polished and true to the craft, rather than just long jams. Like many artists playing events such as this one, he plans to tone down the volume so people can converse as they partake in the many food and drink samples provided.
OTHER PIG “STUFF”
This year the Bacon Bash will get a kick-off by conducting a drop off rooftops — dubbed “When Pigs Fly” and featuring stuffed plush pigs flung from a couple of stories up to the street below. That activity will reoccur throughout the weekend, but has its first episode at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Ongoing throughout the event can be found local craft beer and wine offerings and a Kids Activity Area. For all of the weekend activities at Bacon Bash, there is free admission to the public.
Also, young and old are invited to partake in pig-themed activities — many of them new this year — such as pig races, pig wing eating contests, pig pardoning, pig calling and impersonations, Gimme Some Bacon Dance-off, Hot Squeals Veggie Racing, Bacon Bod Aerobics, and bacon trivia and Haiku, not to mention going hog wild (but in moderation) over local micro-brewed beer. On Sunday only there is a fest-related Car and “Hog” Cruze-In.
The festival, with activities held in most cases near City Hall, is back by popular demand and is billed as the biggest free bacon fest in the country. There are numerous new vendors, events and food options, according to Judy Berg, the head director of Bacon Bash from the River Falls Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s Bacon Bash will again feature eats that include many bacon-wrapped delights. Some 40 merchandise vendors will be showcasing their products including specialty sauces, arts, crafts and novelty items that put a “twist” on marketplace shopping, Berg said.
Lots of new food items will be featured this year, an important part of Bacon Bash, since the aformentioned bacon is an ingredient in each. The array of options smacks of another Minnesota State Fair, Berg said, and includes cheese curds, brownies, feta cheese french fries, mini donuts, funnel cake, cheesecake, apple pie, pork chop on a stick and even ice cream. There are also more standard usages of bacon in recipes for the less adventuresome. Plenty of vendors are on a backup list, as the current slate is full.
“This year we will be giving away free bacon samples,” Berg said, “and we also will have the Great American Cookout here.”
The 2016 version of the Bacon Bash also will offer more activities for children, such as educational exhibits, prize giveaways and competitions, and a vegetable racing event where kids make veggies into cars. (See, the appeal of the eats at this extravaganza doesn’t end with simply bacon). The latter event is held three times early Saturday afternoon.
The Bacon Bash has gotten bigger in scale since the concept to start the festival was first hatched in a whirlwind of activity, between a group of friends. Their mission: An affordable “foodie” event centered around bacon that lets people pig-out on a Wisconsin experience and invites visitors to come here, time and again, Berg said.
Mission accomplished. The event since has been featured on places such as Twin Cities Live, and even the London BBC. And the culinary competitions can indeed go worldwide.
GOING FOR THE GLOBE
Bacon Bash very notably serves as an initial step in getting recipe-makers recognized around the world for their creations. The World Food Championship first reached out to Bacon Bash to host a trial contest in 2013, and since then its status has been elevated to super qualifier elite competition, making Bacon Bash an automatic competition place. That local-and-becoming-worldwide contest is another big bonus of Bacon Bash, taking place on Saturday evening.
Twelve Winners of the four cooking categories, steak, sandwich, chili and dessert, will head to Orange Beach, Ala., for the final competition, and fight for a $100,000 prize. And again, it all could start in River Falls.
The cook-off will pit culinary enthusiasts against each other in a unique format that could send them to the world’s largest food stage, as they will gather in front of thousands of fans to face off in a nine-category showdown to find the best. Contestants will be forced to compete against nature, a clock and a field of talented cooks from all walks of life. Do you have the chops to bring home the bacon?
These are the times of selected Bacon Bash activities: Saturday at 11 a.m., pig pardon, at 2 p.m., pig calling and impersonation contest, at 3 p.m., bacon trivia and Haiku contest, at 4 p.m., bacon bod aerobics, at 5 p.m., bacon and pig themed costume contest, and at 6 p.m., when pigs float activity; Sunday, at noon, pig wing eating contest, at 1 p.m., pet costume contest and Great American Cookoff demonstration, at 2 p.m., pig calling and impersonation contest, and at 3 p.m., gimme some bacon dance-off. There also are several cooking contests throughout the weekend. Main sponsors, in the first two tiers, include Security Finance Bank, Belle Vinez Winery, Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Thunder Country 95.7, River Falls Journal, Patrick Cudahy, and Dick’s Fresh Market.
Details for all these activities can be found at www.riverfallsbaconbash.com.

With the NFL football season finally here, you might have a man crush on a quarterback, not just on your man cave, (although you’re not likely to watch from there as its a blackout Sunday, with the Packers big favorites to win and the Vikings a bit less so). But when it comes to sports, HudsonWiNightlife does not get blacked out, so here are some NFL tidbits:
– What, a man crush on Marino? Now that he’s dropped some weight? A guy at the Smilin’ Moose said that he got invited to a party that also had a lower rung on the food chain, “an NFL possession receiver,” who noted, “I hear you’ve got a man crush.” The local guy then was shown around, and ended up in a whirlpool with the curly haired QB, who hung out and was cool, to the point of even shooting some hoops. So who would the bartender pick to share such a social outing? Steve Young, but a patron added the guy being a Mormon might make such a night less exciting.
– Lots of people from River Falls have noted that when the Kansas City Chiefs had training camp there, star quarterback Joe Montana would make the most of curfew and hob-nob at local watering holes, as long as the recipients would let him also be a regular guy and not talk about football. Friends Paul and Joe ran into Montana, after all those earlier years, during a recent excursion to Minneapolis and found him to be not as forthright these days.
– A patron up at one of The Hill haunts, who is a Denver Broncos fan, said he was tired of hearing how great the francise is, based on its record in recent years. In a related matter, 97 percent of those surveyed in Colorado said they weren’t even aware that they had a pro football team, most likely because many were too high to realize that there is a Mile High Stadium (OK just kidding). In another related matter, a moose was seen aimlessly wandering the streets of Golden, just outside of Denver, most likely also because it had smoked too much of the wrong thing. For a blogger, such stuff is just Golden. You’d never find a Minnesota moose doing the same thing, and if it did would apologize all over the place.
– An NFL-themed sign at The Village Inn in North Hudson needed some explanation, or did it? It read: “Finally a beer that won’t leave rings on your table.” Why that last phrase? It was explained to me, in this Packer bar, that the arch-rival Vikings hadn’t won the titles to get such rings. Even though they have had the opportunity for a whole handful, such is already possessed by certain Packers.
– No preview can be written without looking back to the past year. A chief blunder — along the famously bad lines of when a Viking kicker missed that key postseason field goal to wreck a chance of going 17-0, one of several train wrecks involving kickers for the purple — came last year when one of the main sports networks revealed that the Packers were NFC North champions. It actually, of course, was Minnesota (as the Vikes got that opportunity right). Notice that I had a brain blip and couldn’t remember the kicker’s name or the exact network? Sometimes its best to say just a little and not risk being wrong …
– Here’s another time that the entertainment-related pundits did get it wrong. A headline about Garrison Keillor stepping back from his Prairie Home Companion show, “for greener pastures” read, “There once was a man from Wisconsin …” Granted, Keillor did have a house on the St. Croix River bluffs, but his show and all it entailed were more a Minnesota thing. So I would suggest this replacement headline: “There once was a man from Minnesconsin …”
– Now shifting gears to another sport where the guys are big. A very tall basketball player had to duck his head to get into the bathroom at Dick’s, then danced with a women who was much shorter, and tried to jump to High Five him but didn’t come very close. His shirt said UW-Oshkosh, like the university that back in my day was jokingly called “UW-Zero.” Would that be like Seven-Foot-Zero? And, the next night, there were two more people almost as big who were a full head taller than anyone else on the dance floor. Why, over time, do all these super-stature guys show up only at Dick’s?