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Going way back, and it is a long ways, I never knew Emma, but she must have been a Hottie, as the tavern that’s named after her is making the cold winter warmer with its longtime chili cookoff (and another new, chili story to follow, with Lent, cornbread and cole slaw))

The storied long-time River Falls tavern, Emma’s, is again hosting its storied chili cookoff, and with the experience that comes with being one of the longest running events of its kind in the area, it knows how to bring the diverse tastes people have come to expect — and in some cases bring the heat, although their are milder varieties also for the weaker of palate and the kiddies. No problem here if they may like more subtle tastes.
The ingredients in the Saturday event, that runs all afternoon and more, include all different kinds of not only vegies, and not just many types of peppers, but meats that in some cases even include seafood. The variety can be fantastic, and mom’s style will be available, although with the diversity you will find, it is not necessarily your mother’s Wisconsin chili. So check them out in the south end of the downtown, since they have been around for decades and also have a lot of history behind them. And the prices for things such as drinks to wash down that chili, especially if its hot, are among the lowest in River Falls, and definitely the drop-dead lowest in the entire region.
— The Snow Daze festival in Somerset held for most of the day Saturday offers what might best be described as alt country; think what kind of music you will hear when the headliner, Enticer, is the model for fans to emulate in a best mullet contest. There are also other music acts, bar stool races, of course, good grub, and the chance to meet the latest babe from radio station 93X and their Half-Assed morning show. We assume she has a full butt.

— But back to chili. Read to the end for the spicy “rub.”Hey its Fat Tuesday, also known in Catholic circles and they are big on this, as Schrove Tuesday. Its a bit late and far afield, but go gotta love this tidbit from Rice Lake — that being Twin Cities way east, and not the local truck stop by that name. Their chili feed with various varieties also features the cooler and different offering of either cole slaw or corn bread, and a grilled cheese sandwich. And other Catholic churches that are closer by I’m sure have something similar, as they love to pig out before fasting, even if its not on a poke. So, all you readers of HudsonWiNightlife who may have quasi-questionable morals, its not too late to redeem yourself before Lent. Go save your soul by contributing to the local parish coffers and buying something tasty but largely meatless, still tonight. But wait, midnight has passed and its too late. I guess we, me too for being tardy and I understand this is one of the seven deadly sins, will see you in Hell, along with Michael Jackson, who a wayward women said spent 23 hours there and spotted him. Hey this was a long way round and about to go for a music reference, but hey HudsonWiNightlife never rests. Well sometimes. And of course this dry rub, referenced right off the bat of this item, is meatless. Because, you know, Ash Wednesday is a fasting day, usually defined as one full meal and two small ones, for everyone under 60. Two things: You can forget late night happy hour appetizers, and two, if you are a senior just go for it. And one last thing, I assume I got the whole Ash Wednesday timing thing right. Because I was born a Lutheran, and most of them simply don’t care as much about things like fasting, and even church attendance, so I often tend to think gee, is Ash Wednesday at the other end of Lent, right before Holy Thursday, which we called Maundy Thursday. With a name like that, I think that’s when you should fast.

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