First there was the night before Thanksgiving, but few were nestled all snug in their beds, but partied larger than life on this big night for such goings-on. The next day, Turkey Day almost got missed by most, except for the pre-feast turkey trots held all over, but then there was Native American Heritage Day, and Small Business Saturday and of course Cyber Monday.
Locally, the flannel karaoke night at Ziggy’s Hudson that Wednesday before football, was not grungy but a big hit with attendance, led by DJ AO, who was not AWOL, but using AI. This was followed up by such success, at least early, come the following Wednesday at Ziggy’s.
Small business Saturday also created a big buzz, as shoppers were treated in Hudson’s downtown to a bunch of stores all in a row that were so decked out with Christmas decorations and lights that entire front windows were crammed full, even going high up, so jam-packed that they are like the current toy shop run by Santa’s elves. There also downtown is a nutcracker soldier who is almost my height keeping guard.
— It is that time of year again in our neck of the woods and indeed all of Wisconsin, for that tried and true, until your skin turns blue, pastime known as … snowmobiling. What better way to get set for it than to visit The GasLite just outside of Ellsworth, so snowmo trail friendly, for the signing for the semi-official use of such sleds in Pierce/St. Croix counties. So what does the signing consist of? To find out, bring your face-the-blustery-blast-of-winter-buddies and check it out bright and early on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 8 a.m. And begin with their killer breakfast too! Happy trails.
And there may be snow. My mom in Milwaukee said it is expected down there on the cusp of what this will be, so one can only imagine what there’ll be in the Great Northwest up here.
What else is new at The GasLite, on a related (cold) front? We will quote them, verbatem of course, on this: “WE ….. Are ….. Open! New cooler door changeout is complete and the beer is happily chilling.” —
But when it came to That Other Big Feast, cooks were advised to serve That Which Everyone Wants, and that does not include any green vegetables, especially God forbid brussels sprouts, so just stick to M&Ms or those cool striped mints if you need that fix over Thanksgiving, even if the Christmas stockings are not yet hung. And chefs and all their helpers, Santa’s or otherwise, were coached to wear comfy and loose-fitting clothes, as their waistbands would soon be expanding. A columist from the Milwaukee newspaper, which I viewed when I was down there for what ended up being a most unusual holiday, (more on that in a coming post), voiced his view that no one today really dresses up on this day, as what the Pilgrims wore is now passe.
Topping the shopping list of what people bought online, for themselves and others, to start off That Cyber Week were apparel, jewelry and restaurant categories, such as in gift cards. So are we talking virtual shoes? Can you try on such things to see if like Cinderella they fit? That’s almost as bad an idea as virtual beer; so get it not online but onsite, even if offsale, in Wisconsin. And (also) for your lady friend? Get her, as this is on the heels of such a holiday, some PJs as this is/was a pajama dress affair, a pendant, and then celebrate by taking her out for pasta — so you have all three ends covered.
In our data minefield that is the internet, starting back at Black Friday, another figure — and full-figured is fine — that was thrown out is that 40 percent of the sales were online. So if you are looking for sensationalist news, the only place you are going to find a report about people being crushed by a big push from behind them is likely not at the checkout line of a department store, but in line to get on an even more crowded place, as in an airplane, as the travel traffic this season was expected to set records.
Getting back to her — as isn’t that what’s it’s always about as diamonds are forever? — you could take her to a concert, as well, maybe even in a foreign land such as say, Kashmir, and hit both of those bases. The Rolling Stones have just embarked on their gazillionth globe-trot, the Hackney Diamonds tour, and I’d wager that if they come anywhere near Milwaukee, there will be some kind of sponsorship from that area’s Haack Diamonds store.
The authorities at Avira, the anti-virus people, were wishing you a safe Cyber Monday, as it is the season for protection. Although if Santa can’t do tracking on your devices, he might not know what you want. But you might not want him, as in naughty or nice, to know where you have been browsing. And not as in feeding his reindeer.
Elsewhere as this holiday season gets rolling …
On Saturday, it’s The Cookie Problem, a holiday show by the River Falls community theater, put on at the River Falls public library in its lower level gallery. This is so Hallmark-movie-style-sweet, like Cookie Monster and his conflicts, it merits two shows, one in the late morning and the other in the early afternoon. That’s at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. if going by the ones, all three of them.
On Thursday night, to wrap up the month, it’s a new band locally with an old theme. Waking Wilderness plays at Ziggy’s Hudson. With that name, are we getting into lyrics on social issues such as the environment? Or still regular rock or country?