Hudson Wisconsin Nightlife

September, 2018Archive for

Very recently, the vaunted Vikings were vanquished not victorious. The response from many of us was a big blah

Thursday, September 27th, 2018

Despite being at home last weekend against the Bills, some sports fans describe as humdrum the 27-6 final as a more-embarrassing-than-most, Minnesota Vikings loss. And hey, for both teams which is unusual, weather was not a factor:
— Around halftime I wandered from the sports bars in the village to the Freedom Value Center nextdoor to get a couple of things. Said to the clerk, the score was 27-0. She didn’t appear too surprised, and didn’t even ask who at that time actually had the 27!
— Then someone outside of Dick’s Bar and Grill commented on my Packer sweatshirt. Hers was all green and she said I really needed to bring that color more strongly into my wardrobe. It seemed what was being suggested was that I remove any hint of what could be a Viking color (namely gold). Now that indeed is an idea worth its weight in gold, while keeping the greenback money on me for a beer. Interestingly, that same color sceme came up around the time of the season opener with ties worn by myself and others, when my friend Dorothy said purple with gold stripes was the way to go. She’s 95, so I guess I could blame it on her age
— Once inside Dick’s, I asked another friend, who I also have known for years and has been around long enough to see all the pro football comings and goings, what she thought of the latest loss: Didn’t watch and didn’t really care, its boring, she said.
— Lastly, when leaving Dick’s, there was yet another comment about my Green and Gold sweatshirt. A guy from The Cities actually liked it and although a little tipsy, wished me and my team well in the coming week when playing Atlanta. Sorry bud, (as in weiser?), the Pack doesn’t play them until December.

— But Bobblehead-type creates are more current at stores, even though they seem to be holding (swaddling?) a brown baby in their arms rather than a brown football. And at The Village Inn, very nearby, a jokester drew beards and the like on a couple of bathroom advertisement pitchmen. Just like was seen a couple of years ago at The Smilin’ Moose, defacing with spots the fresh faces of the two Irish Ginger sisters hawking a whiskey. All in good fun I say, but one question: What’s with the great big bushy, caterpillar-like eye brows on one of those guys. Go back to art school?

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It could be that Conda made a Stona, Steve Martin sang about, but this time it also could have old Dibbo’s stona

Thursday, September 27th, 2018

In the beginning there was Dibbo’s. Following suit has been Stone Tap, and also Swing Bridge and Cracked Barrel.
— Originally Dibbo’s rocked, then came Stone Tap, and now there may be condos. The public is invited, as an introduction, to get in touch with the condominium project being proposed for that whole building, through the age-old tour of a happy hour to be held there Thursday late afternoon and evening, Sept. 27. It could be mentioned that the developers who put in Stone Tap made a point of including century-old stone from the original building in their design, As another old Dibbo’s aside, I recently met a St. Paul cabbie and also a Lyft driver who were VERY familiar with the old rock club — perhaps TOO familiar. One was even in a rock band that played there decades ago.
— Beer and wine makers combine. Local Swinging Bridge beer products are featured at sampling benefit for a veteran’s care group.at the Cracked Barrel winery between Hudson and River Falls from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.
— The Wild are not the only game in town. The Hudson Havoc semi-pro hockey team plays its home games here, at the hockey center in the south part of town. That fact was just seen popping up all over flyers and schedules, newly posted on various bulletin boards at bars in downtown Hudson. The forerunner to The Havoc were the Hudson Crusaders, who were a fixture at the arena for several years in the early 2000s. One thing that made these squads different is they are in a league that allows and tolerates fighting between players. So why not take in a potential on-ice fight, then go to Buffalo Wild Wings for UFC fights to wrap up your night?

— Speaking of BWW, you know all those full-page flyers, front and back, and not just a half-page, that go in the free Saturday circulars? They typically are for buy one and get half-price on another, or get $5 off when spending $25. Usually they are for fast food or convenience stores. But BWW has jumped into the fray by stuffing its flyer with bountiful wings offers, etc., so you maybe want to take the whole family after one of their local games, or round up all those guys who you said who’d call …

— My sister-in-law Anni from the North Metro often visits Hudson area venues and their festivals and stopped by the house last Saturday — only scant minutes after she had given a get-down-here phone call — and said there was cool music to be found  at the local bandshell that was more intriguing than the norm and we should hightail it there. All were bands that had over years built a following and thusly a crowd. It was the Spirit of St. Croix and music festival, and the music acts playing were acoustic guitarist and singer Nikki Peper, the acclaimed bluegrass of Barley Johns with Brian Wicklund, For All Brazil, Good Time Willy, the hard picking country of Mark Stary, and Living Statue, which will also be putting on a display. Try to catch one or more of them in- concert next time around.

 

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The NEW Vulcans, and right to bear arms, allow intelligent and candid views to unfold across the driveway, across the bar and across various political spectrums

Saturday, September 22nd, 2018

(Who has become more kind and gentle, the newly defenseless Vikes or the Vulcan Royalty?) Read below and then whats in the Notes From The Beat Department, and you could make a call? Not unnecessary roughing).

You never want to talk at length to the guy at the bar whose had a couple too many, correct? But sometimes, someone a little less tipsy there can really have something to say, including about the politics of the day. So www.HudsonWiNightlife makes one of its rare trips into actual social commentary:
This information was given to me across the threshhold in my driveway just prior to the PepperFest beer-drinking itself. A man who was a mainstay with the festival parade, and staying with friends who are very big into the PepperFest royalty and related activities, was looking for a way to round out the time the night before it all started. He expressed interest in an old Cadillac that I had agreed to house in my driveway for an acquaintance, to take advantage of all the foot traffic from potential buyers.
What evolved from that was a primer given to me on the NEW kinder, gentler Vulcans, taking a far different approach to the longtime, traditional smudging of womens’ cheeks with their painted faces — even if some of those many chosen ones are reluctant — across the various summer festivals to which they are typically invited, and their parades. These days, he said, the Vulcans have needed to ask first if such marking could be made to women taking in the parades at the curb, and even then, they have limited it to placing stickers on the cheeks of the willing. That’s far different than the approach taken in some St. Paul bars where servers wearing shorts were expected to let a Vulcan do the “garter” dance on their legs and raise the ringed cloth dangerously close to their crotches. You could tell they were uneasy with how far up is too far, and a friend of mine became at the center of the controversy when she alleged she was sexually assaulted during such an escapade.
And on a different side of the spectrum, there was the guy I met before last call who describes himself as a lower-case-R republican and a capital L Libertarian. (Oddly enough, that’s the same characterization given by a longtime friend of mine and downtown patron). The former man was all about the right to bear arms, and to protect his property from looters under the so-called “Castle” law, but said actually firing such a weapon should always be only a last resort. He cited a recent shooting that made national news that could have been avoided if the man firing the gun had simply brandished it, as a method of deterrence, and said to the alleged perpetrator to back off from the disagreement they had, which involved a shove. My new bud, with me being mostly liberal, also said that sometimes simply seeing that a firearm exists on a person’s hip — when talking about conceal and carry — can lead to an altercation by a do-gooder who raises an issue after seeing it, subjecting the carrier to unnecessary harassment that could be avoided. But back to the guy telling the tale: Contrary to what you might think, he is all for universal health care available to everyone, no matter that there might be sacrifices needed by some of the well-to-do for that to be accomplished, and other causes that you wouldn’t necessarily equate to conservatism. But I agreed with everything this man said.

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Triple your musical pleasure, as there are three, count ’em three, different bands back at one venue, The Village, to start off the weekend

Friday, September 21st, 2018

It’s on a Saturday, and the regular crowd (and more) shuffle in to hear a variety of music:

— Although its officially been around since 1952, the Village Inn in North Hudson is celebrating 13 years under the current ownership with a party of three different types of music, food and drink on Saturday afternoon and evening, Sept. 22. The musicians playing are Jillian Gurnoe, Kyle Kohila and a full band in the form of Rock Hard. Two other stalwart Hudson venues, Kozy Korner in the village and The Agave Kitchen/Bullpen Cantina in the downtown, marked similar anniversaries earlier in the summer.
— Maverick’s Corner Saloon in River Falls continues with the offerings for back-to-school students with local deejay Robbie Flom on Sept. 23, but like all good things, you have to wait. He does not take the booth until 11 p.m.
— This might be a novel way for adventure seekers to enjoy what’s left of the summer. As far as rock climbing and taking in sights over and above what’s at the area nightclubs, the falls at Willow River State Park have been tabbed in the top 10 by a prominent publication. It notes that there even is an opportunity to be inverted, like a kid on the monkey bars. And you thought that the only prominent “Monkey” to be found was in a hip-hop band.

Posted in Picks of the Week | Comments Off on Triple your musical pleasure, as there are three, count ’em three, different bands back at one venue, The Village, to start off the weekend

Hear the ‘flamenco master’ featured just up the street at Pedro Del Este, to ease those midweek blues

Tuesday, September 18th, 2018

Spice up your Wednesday night, and jump start it early, with live music at Pedro’s del Este, by the flamenco master himself of the area, Mateo Davis, playing with another musician friend to bolster the sound from 7-10 p.m. They’ve already had a successful run of several straight Wednesdays at Pedro del Este to build on, during the course of the summer.

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Where to see the Big Game? And if Aaron Rodgers appears beyond the sidelines? We have it covered, venue by venue, so you can be covered

Sunday, September 16th, 2018

As the drama in pro football unfolds, and the shift of power in the conference North Division unfolds, we have a primer on where to see the Big Game on Sunday.
Of course a lot of that drama goes from whether Aaron Rodgers will start and/or play, and you can see it for yourself at the following venues.
But first things first, we have an Aaron Rodgers siting locally, even though we’re far from Lambeau Field, the host of the applicable Viking/Packer matchup and whether he will show on the field, or just the sidelines, or just in a State Farm commercial. (OK, here in Hudson its just his occasionally seen look-alike, who was seen at Dick’s Bar and Grill last weekend taking in the revelry after NFL Season One was mostly done).
With that said, here’s where to watch the Purple go against the Green at noon on Sunday.
— We’ve got to start with the Village Inn in North Hudson, where there are 20-plus screens to show singularly, this one game. It is sure to be full, even though this is not a blackout game, but owner Leigh lays it thusly on the line: “We are a Packer Bar, not a sports bar.” And there are rumors of jello shots, were guessing green, to be offered.
Across the street at Kozy Korner, which is heavier on the Badgers not the pros, they say they will offer a free drink to everyone who shows up by kickoff. And for purposes of that special, they consider every team your home team, (within reason), regardless of your personal preference.
Shifting to the downtown, there are bars that are very Viking friendly, the closer you move to Exit One or Exit Two coming into Hudson, to go to The Hill or to Hudson proper. Think Buffalo Wild Wings, Pudge’s and the aforementioned Dicks.
On the north end of the downtown, at the Smilin’ Moose they really do Sunday Funday with the Pack being Back. The specials are valid during “all Wisconsin home games,” $3 shots when the Packers score, quarterfly drawings, and HDTVs on which to view the game from every angle, including on the patio.
Last to note, Green Mill on The Hill now offers expanded delivery of its noted pizza and flatbread, in case your football party is at your house. They spell out in detail online about where the cutoff is, and — make note of this college students — the range of delivery now includes River Falls. But the time is ticking to get that delivery, as it closes at 2 p.m. So when it starts getting closer to the third quarter …

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There’s more than just pastry chefs at the Bacon Bash this weekend, as the bands deliver the dough in the form of blues, folk and other musical styles

Sunday, September 16th, 2018

Bands at the annual Bacon Bash in River Falls are bringing home both the bacon, in ways that are heavy on the pastry end, and the tunes. Still to come on Sunday Funday are the longtime favorite rockers the Tommy Bentz Band and the folksy Hunyuks, as well as Woodshed to close out the night. On the day prior to that, there was new blood in the form of the Black Channel Blues Band, as well as a longtime stalwart, the Everett Smith Band.

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With a series of bands, St. Paul’s shows that rock and country, blues and folk, know no bounds

Wednesday, September 5th, 2018

It’s hometown, as far as fests go, but still has local acts delivering rock ‘n roll:
— It’s sponsored by a church and is family friendly, but it still can rock out. The Hudson Hometown Music Festival features local bands including the return of Boondoggle, The Buck Tucker Band, Laura & the Lagerheads, Trandy Blue, Dog of Roq Denny Cooper and Truth & Rumors. The music schedule goes all day Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and includes country, blues, folk, Christian Rock, classic and current rock ‘n roll. In addition to the free music shows, the fest will offer food and beer and wine for sale.
— As the summer scene unofficially comes to a close, the Smilin’ Moose has a featured entertainer — one of three this weekend — offering live music on the patio, in the form of Roger Huerta. His one-man-show will be on from 2-6 p.m. Sunday.
— Its called a southern gentleman burger, and its ingredients are just as novel as its name. A monthly feature, this being September, at Season’s Tavern in North Hudson, is just that burger, complete with housemade pimento cheese and green fried tomato and their Blackstrap BBQ sauce. Nothing gentile about it.

— With THAT season here, there will be a Vikings Kickoff Party at Buffalo Wild Wings, where you can enter for a chance to win a free jersey valued at, get this, $150. That could seem to put you in the Kirk Cousins category. The prize period is already underway, and there will be a random draw on Sept. 9. There is a proviso: You must correctly answer a skill-testing question without assistance. What might that be about, say making a comparison of who is more the elite among wideouts, Randy Moss or the current era of Thielen and Diggs.

— Nobody out-pizzas The Hut. Or out-salads Pizza Hut. A late night visit revealed that the place, in something you don’t normally see, had a separate well in their buffet for both iceberg and romaine salad. Just right to calm your stomach, if you call it an early night, after an evening out. To continue referencing something other than the usual procedure, there are toothpicks in the tip jar.

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Where do you have Hairball, which has been around almost since the birth of 24-year-old twins (nonbearded), plus 57th and 30th B-Days (with beards), and even throw in a nine-week-old puppy (with much more than a beard)? I call it a party!

Tuesday, September 4th, 2018

As PepperFest and its rapid-fire-pepper swallowing contests unfolded, there was even Hairball broached, courtesy of a young pet who was all decked out early for the holidays, and not just his birthday. Plus, two twins at 24, and me celebrating my 57th B-Day,  added to such a celebration by a young-looking, just-turned (and decidedly non-grey-beard) 30-year-old, as well as that nine-week-old puppy with (ugly before Xmas) sweater … hey shower us all with birthday drinks:

— Word traveled locally that the popular band rock Hairball was playing the Minnesota State Fair for the first time, as a headliner. That claim could have been made many times over at the former local rock club Dibbo’s, with the needed costume changes being spread out all over both ends of the stage.

— But back to my 57th birthday, which was brightened by meeting two women less than half my age at Dick’s, a pair of 24-year-old twins, Heather and Hailey. The main difference, one with purple hair and the other blonde. And then there was that 30-year-old celebrating his birthday, but only looking about the twins’ age, although his bushy red big beard was in part a giveaway. Had he heard the you-look-no-younger-than-legal-drinking-age before? “Yeah, yeah, yeah, ” he responded, adding that when he occasionally got in a bit of hot water in high school, some questioned whether he really should be junior-high-aged. But when he got as far as the principal’s office, he was met with “yeah we know you.”
— As the garage sale season comes to a close, I had a neighbor buy her new nine-week-old puppy a doggy sweater — but he would have to wait, as this was to be a Christmas gift. Two thoughts on that: (1), as Christians will tell you, Advent prior to the holiday season is a time of waiting, although this would be a long time, and (2) this gift might truly be appropriate later for an ugly sweater contest! That evening, one of my favorite bartenders and I joked that I could have sold my whole estate for a dollar, but only received 99 cents.
— This was a creative approach by a member of a bachlorette party. Rather than the over-the-top stuff as far as an attention getter, she chose something more subtle, a pretty purple flower placed in the drink of people like me. She likely was part of a limo ride that later took patrons into the Freedom Valu Center lot by going in the back way, after a jog down Sommers Street North, or the one that for some reason was seen heading down that very street through a residential area. Now that would be a house party!
— While we are on flowers, here is proof that fertilizer works, at least for a short time, but then craps out. Out for a late night walk to The Village Inn, I noticed that about 20 tiger lilies shown brightly under a street light. They were only about 20 yards down from a “no dog pooping” sign, which was only another 20 yards further away from another such sign. Apparently, there had been some poo that helped the lilies to grow all-of-a-sudden, even though it would require such fertilizer to run uphill! Alas it didn’t last, as the lilies died out — but were replaced in a growth spurt shortly thereafter with a string of yellow flowers, which also died out shortly.
— I didn’t think my Minion shorts were that skimpy. Even a bit more coverage than a basic swimsuit, so I thought. But the clerks at the Freedom Value Center in North Hudson, who can flow with almost anything, teased me with a bit of a bite that I had shown up to buy something wearing only my undies down there. I wonder, would it be viewed differently after midnight if I could blame it on one to many stops at The Village/Kozy Korner/Guv’s Place?
— Speaking of Freedom, it was the last stop, after being downtown, that I saw of a car with what looked like bug-eyed headlights. It turns out there instead were two big ones on each side, complete with what looked like squinty eye corners. This shortly after other eye-catching moments, of a server who sported Frampton Comes Alive-ish, long frizzy orange hair, a patron with a like colored big beard, and a bar manager with bright orange leather pants!
— A guy at one of the last local summer festivals was wearing a boot cast and bandage as he hobbled around. Was his problem something like gout, created in part by be eating too many cheese curds and cotton candy?

Posted in Notes from the Beat | Comments Off on Where do you have Hairball, which has been around almost since the birth of 24-year-old twins (nonbearded), plus 57th and 30th B-Days (with beards), and even throw in a nine-week-old puppy (with much more than a beard)? I call it a party!