This is a good several-day stretch to watch the tube at your favorite haunt.
The next few evenings will feature once-a-year viewing opportunities that go beyond even the Wild’s playoff hockey, which may delay dance deejays from getting in the booth, and Brewers league-leading record. Such TV airings of local interest include the NFL draft and The Voice.
– Kat Perkins again was saved at the last moment on The Voice, and again won raves from the coaches and judges despite that. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 fame said she is one of the two top rock-out vocalists they’ve had on the show, and now will be carrying that torch. Kat pulled it off by belting out yet another old school Heart song, Barracuda. Her phone-in ratings over two other candidates for the save fluctuated from an impressive 38 percent and finished off in the lower 30s. And by the way, Kat, your old friend Tom says he wants to see a return to the big black boots and fishnet stockings as you close in on the finale, rather than being as local TV has dubbed you, the singing nanny from Edina. But be careful, he advises, since there were a couple of minor flubbed notes in Barracuda, but not a biggie. You can see for yourself this Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m., as Kat tries to get past the top five, with the help of her new mentor from Maroon 5.
– Catch Rhino’s longtime guitar player while you can, in the likelihood that they soon play again locally or regionally. It was announced last weekend during a Hudson show that Dave and his trademark Aussie-look cowboy hat will be leaving the band after five more gigs, and he will only will be doing his signature songs on vocals how many more times? Uhm, that would also be five.
– The PA announcer for the Bar Olympics at Woody’s in Bayport was more vocally active then that at almost an other sporting event, chiming in with instructions for the numerous teams almost every minute. The bar, bowling lanes and parking lot was filled to the brim with competitors last Saturday. Watch for a similar event in Hudson or North Hudson sometime soon.
– Attendance at Cinco De Mayo two days later was more checkered. However, at Dick’s Bar and Grill, it was steady all night with hardly a break in the full house. So hoist a Corona, or other less cliche Mexican beer.
– Bartenders at Dick’s also said they expect somewhat the same type of attendance this weekend during many of the hours of continuing NFL draft coverage, although when it comes time for the Viking or Packer picks to be deliberated, lets just say you might have to wait a few more seconds for your drink. You may want to have more than one draft beer during the draft, as the event now goes on for more than just a couple of days. See coverage resume Friday at 7 p.m. and who knows, the Vikings may select yet another journeyman QB.
– You might have to wait a bit longer than a few seconds if wanting your fish picture taken, as the pike paparazzi might take a while to get down the stairs. Such was the case in my entry-level reporting job one Saturday in rural east-central Wisconsin — go figure — as I was preparing to go out for the evening after opening day. It was then that someone on the sauce showed up with supersize sauger and rang the doorbell to my upstairs apartment. Taking in the band would have to wait. (With apologies to REO Speedwagon, indeed, You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish). However, if that lunker is large enough, you can be photographed with it, as part of a time-honored state tradition, especially since this tale originates in Clintonville, home of one of the biggest manufacturers of fire trucks anywhere — speedwagons or otherwise.
The bottom line after this digression: If you follow the flyers posted at Dick’s and decide to take part in the fishing tournament at Beanie’s Resort on Saturday morning at 7 — “People will leave here and head over toward Hudson” — make sure you stop at having your buddies photograph you with your trophy. If you refer to the flyer on the wall for further contest rules, and there are many, please don’t get funky with the fish on the dance floor.