Tonight is New Year’s and we are facing a wintry mix, at best, ICE patrols on top of generally icy and cold and windy conditions, and the idea that some venues are backing off of a big celebration and other folks are staying at home to avoid driving after drinking a couple, or more, and having to watch out for the other guy as well. Just watch him at house parties, which have for the past few years become a bigger thing, or looking into his eyes at a small, intimate gathering, maybe just the two of you. As Mother Nature, not to suggest that your lady is that matronly, has not been that kind to us on many of the last New Year’s Eves. Tonight, just the temps not abundant wind chill, will dip right down to near zero.
— My elderly mother went to bed well before midnight on New Year’s Eve, with her slumber hopefully being the type where sugarplums dance in your head. It was interrupted, however, by someone shooting off fireworks to celebrate. In her housing community, where everyone is old? I guess there is still some kick in them, like the 100-year-old she cited who still regularly does water aerobics, as a different way to celebrate the fact you still have some youthfulness in you. Unless those rockets skyrocketed so strongly, and longely, that they had the distance and incorrect aim and arc to come from another community. —
Will we be Saved By Zero? A power couple I know in their late 30s who are regulars on the downtown Hudson nightlife scene — after being away from it, where they were both workers and patrons, for several years — were out having a drink or two on Oct. 30 at Hudson Tap around 10 p.m., but said they weren’t going out on New Year’s Eve. But veteran bartender Sarah over at Dick’s Bar and Grill, and also a frequent patron there, said that she would be working from 3-10 p.m., incorporating their usual buy one get a token-for-a-free-drink-next-time special held each Wednesday in the late afternoon, which usually attracts a good crowd, but after she gets off her shift, who knows, she might hang there for quite some time. Sometimes exotic looking, her hair was up when I talked to her on Tuesday evening, but she’ll likely be letting it down tonight. With a dress that’s hiked up. Both with darker tones.
So there are still options for your New Year’s Eve, and here are some thoughts …
Kitchens are typically closing earlier than usual these days, especially on holidays — and ICE is roaming as we speak, so cooks and such might not be readily available — moreso when these holidays are major rather than somewhat minor, and hours in general are more limited at taverns. So on New Year’s Eve, most venues will be choosing either a fairly typical 8 or 10 p.m. shutdown time for their kitchens (few opt for in the middle with 9 p.m.) Up until midnight or later for food is typical at places like the Agave Kitchen and upstairs Bullpen Cantina. They will almost certainly be very busy serving tonight, if later just drinks, as even with considerations mentioned in the lead of this post, it’s almost a guarantee that downtown Hudson will still push through patrons by the hundreds and hundreds, mostly young people coming from the Twin Cities, as many of the locals are, again, staying home. (I did get a call from a new friend from Minneapolis midday, and he was getting the itch to come over.) The Citians come dressed to kill, and tend to come late and stay late. But a good number of people, many being couples, came out earlier who were probably in their 40s, (think pearl necklaces), mostly for the fine dining such as is available.
Thereby is another new nuance. Partying all night into the next day is no more, as the very typical closing time on this eve for venues that extend it, is only 3 a.m. But one thing that has been coming back, to a degree, is the midnight ball drop complete with countdown and other such things that go beyond party favors. But there may be confetti and even karaoke, early, and places may be all decked out with all kinds of colors. (Think boatloads of balloons.) Shot specials too, although a typical price even if on special is up to $5, maybe served by a cute shot girl at the larger venues in bigger cities in the county, largely when roaming north. The toast with champagne at that ringing-in time has become less common, since places need to cut their costs as they are going up, and you don’t hear too much noise about that formerly popular offering.
There are bands playing at some venues, although again, many places were it was once automatic are cutting back, and dancing to DJ music is much more likely, especially for those places running until 3 a.m. An Ellsworth venue, and one in the Township of Hudson, that were known for their bands every New Year’s, in the first case with running traditions, have opted out this time around. The former, though, will likely offer New Year’s Day breakfast, a trend that is dying out as places that open well before noon are less and less. For standard bar and grills, 11 a.m. seems the most common on New Years Day. (And a few venues, very noteworthy the former Pudge’s, which is now Ziggy’s with their most-nights live music, prided themselves as being open 365.) But such after-partying breakfast and bloodies can still be found at some venues across St. Croix County, and not necessarily in the biggest city or cities. The popular Main Plate breakfast and lunch cafe in downtown Hudson, the only one like it within a couple of miles, which normally unlocks its doors bright and early, will not be open New Year’s Day. A better choice thereby becomes Dunn Brothers, up a couple of doors, which opens at 7 a.m.
With all the new distilleries, and makers of a whole number of other libations, that have opened in the area in recent years, hours of operation and offerings vary, especially on any major holiday. A general rule of thumb is to try the bigger ones.
With all that said, an option you might consider on New Year’s Eve is the Village of North Hudson, with a few cool places scattered over about a mile of roadway. The Village Inn is the place where you might have best luck pushing it back past 3 a.m., but no warranties expressed or implied. Your best bet for a band that is past the run-of-the-mill might be that little ol’ place a couple of miles north, (actually pretty big, and they have added on), the proverbial Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse. A patron coming out of Ziggy’s at 9 p.m. said that there was a big wedding reception in the upstairs band venue, throwing the possibility of live music for the public up there on New Year’s Eve into question. (It could be held later on that night, but unlikely.) Some places do host private RSVP parties on this eve, if the price is right. There was a smaller quite boisterous one that started early above St. Croix Provisions, and almost a dozen people toasting with wine glasses could be seen nearby on the main drag, at a photography studio with a big ambiance section that mostly sits empty. An early big party bus was parked, where it could find space, across the street, and soon shifted to three blocks away, and was certain to end — along with all the taxis that were out — across the street from The Smilin’ Moose. And a spacious spot where most people get started, Hudson Tap, was packed to the brim.
And a thought about that welcoming-in New Year’s kiss, even if with that person who was a stranger until a few minutes ago: Value her for who she is and for her soul — and get to know her over the next three hours — and not for just being a set of lips.
There were four trends, although not at maximum, that told the tale while tailing near 3 p.m. Three men outside of the Smilin’ Moose early had Three Amigos sombreros complete with lighted hats, (and it was not clear whether they were getting off a party bus parked right up front, or were manning that door as bouncers), and an early-on couple had more full Christmas lights dangling from their necks, Old School style. Glitz ruled the night, and one woman getting off said party bus had an entire sleeveless top that was all big, glittery sequins. The off-shoulder look was in, taking in or out both shoulders, and inside places one BFF could be seen hiking down to airpit level (sorry if that reference stinks) the sweater of the other. Hope she was wearing great antipersperant/deoderant. Lastly, near night’s end, a couple of guys were spotted smoking on the mostly barren upper deck (no chance for the lower to be open) in T-shirts. One of them was talking to a moderately dressed guy, and the other flanking him to two women in moderately long dresses, with a guy talking to no in particular one caught in the middle in-between.
As I approached home, midstream up the sidewalk, a young girl in shirtsleeves said, I think, Happy New Year Amigo! I wore a tight-to-the-ears hat, so the mistake was understandable. I said back, “put on a coat, it’s cold.” Right before I had left from the last Hudson haunt, two Citians, I think, started trying to mess with me, saying about the woman in front of me, who I think I knew but had not interacted with, “hey do you like her?” Her blonde-for-the-night friend, who is also a friend of mine from New Richmond, turned and saved me, giving me three high fives, two of which missed actual clapping.
On the subject of fashion, on Christmas Eve at church, really short dresses were the thing, and people had reimagined the idea of the little black dress, like on NYE too. They were meant to show off big and clunky and decidedly non-strappy shoes and boots, (very practical and functional with the wintery mix on and off that night), and one woman illustrated the style this way, with a twist: Open toes that highlighted nails that were bright red and almost glowing (like Rudolph’s nose?) and had all ankle, etc. hidden by large and thick segments of leatherish fabric.