The nightlife and entertainment starts this Wednesday night, then waddles into Thanksgiving Thursday, followed by the more energetic Black Friday, and then there are still scores of consistent musical options waiting in the wings for the entire weekend:
— Start early with deep $2 discounts on drinks and apps from 3-6 p.m. at Dick’s Bar and Grill. Soon after is something you rarely see, a relatively new second DJ to Dick’s — you need more than one for variety — Nasty Nate, who from 9-close provides his own type of sound influenced by life experience. His most prominent rough-edged look and (often worn) big red beard add to the appeal, and set him apart as style from the more frequent and long-term Dick’s DJ, Ben Michaels, master of mixes. You can also get more of that on Saturday night at the Smilin’ Moose.
— Many kitchens close for the Thursday holiday, but their bars remain mostly on their respective schedules, with just sometimes a late start. There are exceptions, and offerings that meet you halfway, such as Kozy Korner’s free sloppy Joes that will keep you from getting sloppy drunk, because you know there will be active police enforcement.
— There will be a strong holiday food and drink presence, even if it gets into swing earlier on Wednesday, at the Agave Kitchen/Bullpen Cantina. You could tell by the hashtag on their sign, TurkeyEve. The turkey in chalk drawn-up next to the door is as big as a full-size emu. Do they even consume that type of bird in its native land, like the pilgrims went nuts here over the turkey centuries ago?
— This Saturday evening band at Urban Olive and Vine has a name, likewise, that on one hand lets you know what they play, and on the other hand keeps you wondering. Take the stage Fiddlefarkenfoe! If you also are curious about them, check it out, “because there’s got to be a fiddle in the band.” But we’re guessing there is no such instrument to be found that night when the harder-edged band Overload hits the Beach Bar in Lakeland. Reminds me of the old Led Zeppelin tune, the Immigrant Song, and its lyric, “We are are your Overlords.” I’ve sung that song many times in open mic on both sides of the St. Croix, and invariably forget the words to that third and final verse.
— Also, the Packers play the Vikings not on the traditional Thanksgiving Day game, but at night on Sunday, with laid on the line between the two states, the long-fought-over ax, (involving the Gophers, no doubt, but the pro game determines the state of the states), which could help prepare the late-side turkey. And what better way to weigh the continuing holiday offerings than take a peak inside the various sports bars, and see if they are running their usual specials or really special specials, such as several that serve great food before the players crunch each other. You also can hang out with all those deer-hunter widows munching on the food draws that bring them in, sometimes constituting full-fledged buffets on the holiday itself. A chef at Season’s Tavern in North Hudson views it this way: We give great homage to being true to every last dish you could want in a Thanksgiving brunch, and doing these well, but nothing in addition, as that isn’t needed. (A side note for the lonely wives, the further you trek to clubs to the north, on average, even around the St. Croix-Polk County line, the more the deer hunt specials are in force).
— Black Friday can actually bring you some green, as especially early-on, Green Mill offers a “double-dipping” incentive that’s even more handsome then a turkey born without a waddle. You get a certificate for yourself, not $25 but $50, whenever you spend $100 on gift cards. Word has it that many regulars plan to dig deep into their wallets and load up on the offer many times over, even if they are the main recipients for whom they are buying, for purposes of this particular shopping list to Santa.