The consistency for when people were out for Cinco, and in Somerset, wasn’t completely in sync, and likewise the Wild and sightings of their “coach” — yup that’s a Yeo — were streaky.
— Participation in Cinco De Mayo was streaky throughout town, with some places having a few more people in than usual, but not all night. It looks like that notice on local juke boxes about playing “Cinco De Mayo songs” went largely unheeded. It should be noted that at Dick’s Bar and Grill, there still was an advertising sign for Dos Equis beer up on Wednesday night; some of the monthly beer specials you’ll find in Hudson, at this point in the year largely featuring Mexican brews, will go on for the rest of May.
Customer traffic on the weekend of Mother’s Day also was mostly light, in part because of the Minnesota fishing opener, but mostly due to the Northern Invasion metal mega-concert in Somerset. However, around midnight on Saturday, the crowd at the Smilin’ Moose picked up considerably, as the concert patrons worked their way south to go back to Minnesota, where many of the Moose faithful come from. The increase in customers was not universal, however, along the route to Interstate 94. Wonder if they went back the next morning for mom’s day Bloody Mary’s, (the other main competition for such fare is Dick’s, which is quite a bit cheaper). And you could wash it down with a make-your-own omelette bar at Seasons Tavern in North Hudson. More over the top, back when hockey and the Big Fight were king for spectating, was a sign at Buffalo Wild Wings advertising the Great Large Order Takeout Menu, also known as GLOTM.
— Now that the Minnesota Wild have had some playoff success, it’s time to note that a man who is a dead ringer for Coach Mike Yeo has been seen at Dick’s Bar and Grill. (He was wearing a Frozen Four T-shirt, which is college rather than pro hockey). Yet another guy who fit the bill, but was a bit older, was there after the Wild celebrated their big Game Three win over St. Louis in the opening round.
Consider this next bit a tale of Three Wild Women. During playoff time, bartender Michele found herself coming in early to get her shift done so she could go Get Wild, but also needed to switch and have a fill-in for part of the night so she’d get to the Xcel Energy Center before the puck dropped. Likewise, Bobbie at Green Mill has been told she’s a good luck charm, as goals have come frequently for the Wild when she was on duty. An exception appeared to be the elimination game, when that possibility was pointed out to her, but at that juncture the luck started coming back when the local skaters put on a flurry of activity. Lastly among the hot hockey hostesses, bartender Shavon was wearing not Wild colors but something that was more like a leftover from St. Patrick’s Day, that being lime green, but did not have the same good luck factor as her coworker Bobbie. That made Shavon rethink wearing that color next year come the hockey playoffs. At least she wasn’t sporting blue, as that would back the opposing St. Louis Blues, who in the long run ended singing the blues thanks to the Wild.
— A liquor store in western Wisconsin had its annual “tax evasion” week where it picked up the state sales tax for customers. That’s perhaps the most refreshing beverage offer, to spite the Taxman, since the Boston Tea Party. Then that night, Buffalo Wild Wings listed its top players and one went by the moniker, you guessed it, “Taxman.” Except, that playing date was on the 14th, not the 15th.
— Stonetap was closed for at least part of last weekend, from what a sign said were issues “with the city water main.” In fact, what looked like tinted water could be seen around the two big flower pots on the sidewalk. Oh wait, those were just shadows.