The Fat Tuesday crowd was massive, then slim, but the fish fry crowd was quite a catch:
— The crowd on Fat Tuesday was large at first, but then dwindled off toward closing time. That’s probably the main time that tales of favorite flashings, long ago and not-so-long-ago, and involving some women who have at times been a fixture, flourished downtown. And maybe a reason for the sign at Season’s Tavern, two miles north, that said simply You Look Marvelous. Meanwhile, the first Friday in Lent at one downtown establishment brought no more flashings, but a full 80 pounds of fish served, which was followed with a similar showing the next weekend. That’s a veritable “school” of fish, even if its old school. Enough to conceivably deplete the St. Croix River population.
— That’s around the time Joe Miller passed away from a heart attack while out in California. He was an occasional presence downtown and known for his work as a psychic locally. When hearing of the way-to-early demise, a bartender at a favorite haunt said jokingly, but then ceased to smile, “what and he didn’t leave us lottery numbers?!?” Joe would have laughed at that one.
— Hudsonites were fleeing western Wisconsin on a recent weekend, to go east and west. The Raider boys hockey team was a favorite at the state tournament down in Madison, and as usual, lots of local fans made the trek, and then on Sunday a busload was scheduled to leave Kozy Korner for a Badger hockey game in the Twin Cities, sitting right next to the marching band. There also was word of a UW-River Falls basketball team making the trek to Mad City. And it can be cold during March Madness, but that hasn’t kept some guys from tossing on their flip-flops even when temps are near freezing. Ladies, take that to heart with your strappy, open toed party shoes.
— The band Johnny No Cash, which just played the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt, has a promo photo of the members positioned inside a crystal ball. That’s just too fitting, as lately at the Village Inn in North Hudson I’ve heard that classic song by Styx pulled out of the vault at least twice. And it also seems fitting that Johnny No rolls off the tongue a lot like J-Lo.
— My bartender friend Terry at Dick’s Bar and Grill is my favorite Pundit with Perfect Perspectives (triple P) at a local sports pub. So I asked him: With the free agency market starting ASAP, here does he think AP will land? For once, Terry was without words, in other words, at least for this moment, AWOL?
— A sign at Kozy Korner pizzaria: “T-Rex with white sauce. It will change your life.” Or at least be the best thing since sliced bread.” (White of course).