You might call this the first annual mega Mayo, something you definitely want to be in sync with.
Though they’ve only been open a few weeks now in downtown Hudson, the Rio Loco tequila bar is featuring — among various other ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo — their Rio Negra Cerveza, brewed by the State Fair Cooperative of (the Minnesota version, not from Wisconsin) of course Minneapolis and St. Paul. There will be free samples of it, and 16 ounce Tikis for $3.50. At 5.5 percent ABV, it is a dark beer brewed with a small amount of roasted malts for color and flavor, as sometimes less is more. It is toasty, slightly sweet, full bodied and crisp.
Other truly Mexican drinks include at that same price Tiki drafts and bottles, $2 off house Margaritas, and $5 Double Trouble Tropical Tequila shots and select tequila shots of Corralejo Silver, Hornitos Reposado and El Jimador Anejo. All these favorites are available on Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5.

The entertainment options this week are neither sleepy or Grimm, and for more choices, see players who are known by one name, at least in ads:
— Since they are now off siesta, let the folks at Green Mill explain it: “Happy Cinco de Mayo! It’s “fiesta” time at participating Green Mill restaurants on May 5, 2018 (like every year). Enjoy great specials like our incredible classic margarita for only $4. Our Taco Pizza, and drink specials ($3) are available all day, (even early afternoon, once reserved for napping). We look forward to celebrating with you!” At B-Dubs there is a remarkably similar drink schedule, involving select domestic beers and sharables, and also Modelo beer. How is this similar, you say? They all are priced in much the same way as their foes across the highway, at between $3 and $4.
— The future does not look Grimm, as far at Hudson-based musician Reed Grimm is concerned. He now is out with a new CD, after stints as a prominent singer on the likes of American Idol. He was featured on Twin Cities, morning show television in what was part interview, part performance and that single-song display was strong on guitar that was both bluesy, jangly and dreamy, all at the same time, and drew comparisons to Michael Jackson and Steely Dan. But to see his act in the near future, you might have to make it a road trip, as except for a Twin Cities gig, (check their web site), the nearest western Wisconsin concert is later this month in La Crosse.
— You are no doubt familiar with musicians and the like who go by one name. Such are the featured acts at Maverick’s Corner Saloon on Thursdays, starting early at 8 p.m. Prominent among them this month are “Austin” and “Rob.” To see more of what they have to offer, check in about the time the sun starts going down.

Want more than just a cup of Joe? I must say you are in for that, and other schtick, this weekend:
— One of the heralded Johnny Cash tribute bands that play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt is there again this coming Friday night, April 27. “Johnny No Cash”is one of the pair that in photos show the Man in Black sporting a long dark overcoat and sticking up for the rights of the every day grunts like Joe — hey that’s me and any entourage!
— And, at various times throughout this and other weekends, singer Garret will play Hastings venues, as he has pretty much taken his way-out-there-vocals to the south and given up on the Hudson scene and its lack of “live” music; he can only be seen in these parts working behind the scenes at Mallory’s. So for singing that pushes the envelope and careens at times almost out of control, check out places on the deep south banks of the St. Croix River. (And yes for full disclosure, I was the one who took the shot of him pointing at the camera in his PR photos, taken from a prime position in back of the stage that in many cases ran afoul of Dick’s manager Rochelle, who thought that I was treading behind the bar where I should not be without proper clearance, as in a bartender ID — in 0ne of Garret’s last appearances there).
— You want to see the rock band Smokescreen? They this weekend will be trekking from their old stomping grounds of Lakeville and Apple Valley in the SW metro to lay it down in Hudson and the Smilin’ Moose on Friday night, with no blowing smoke about it.

All the authentic Irish food and drink you can indulge in, and even jello shots (and read down in this list for even more St. Patrick’s Day options):

— Lots of places do Irish food. But few, except for Paddy Ryan’s in the town of Hudson, feature it also for breakfast, as they are doing on St. Patrick’s Day.
From 8-10 a.m., they offer a specialty often known only to the Irish, corned beef hash and breakfast boxtys (two potato cakes with egg, sausage, bacon between them, covered with their own cream gravy and served in a bowl). You also might consider a boxty made of two Bailey’s Irish Creme pancakes, Irish sausage, bacon, egg and cheese, and again, all in that wonderful gravy.
On St. Pat’s Day, Paddy Ryan’s will also be doing traditional corned beef and cabbage dinners with the added flavor of beer braised cabbage, and carrots, boiled potatoes, and thick slices of corned beef.
— The St. Patrick’s celebration at the Green Mill lasts a full week, from March 12-18. Their list of Irish drinks includes leprechaun jello shots, phrased as vodka + jello = yum! And that’s not the only equation at The Mill.
There is also the Irish Flag, made of Green Crème De Menthe, Baileys Irish Creme and Grand Marnier. Erin Go Bragh, they note. Add the Irish Gold, concocted from Jameson Irish Whiskey, Ginger Ale, Peach Schnapps and a splash of orange juice, the new twist of the Shamrock-Tini, served in a chocolate rimmed martini glass, and Jameson Shooter shots.
As far as food, there are all the traditional choices, plus Mulligan Stew, and corned beef with the novel base of flatbread, which includes two kinds of cheese.
— This one is just right for all ages of lads and lasses, leprechaun on up. The West Wind Supper Club in River Falls is having not only inexpensive-per-ounce beer specials of all items green, (Guinness, green beer and girl scout-cookie-themed shots), as is befitting St. Patrick’s Day, but free kids cookie decorating from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Going on for quadruple that time frame, and lasting until there’s the chance to tip a few of those beers as well, is the all-day corned beef and cabbage special. And unlike the vast majority of places, it is served buffet style, so again, you get your money’s worth.

— What sets the Village Inn in North Hudson apart from the rest of the venues, other than their Irish food — which their servers say has been conveyed by patrons as the best they’ve had — for St. Patrick’s Day, is the addition of a rockin’ band. They start a wee bit early, at 9 p.m,, but offer all your favorite classic hits in a manner as, is befitting of their name, goes “atomic.” As the name game goes, the group’s title is the Atomic Playboys, and not the ones by that name from other than the Midwest, in case you go online to find them. But the local variety does offer all the classics from several decades, as they are veteran, seasoned musicians who are sure to entertain.
— Many places about now have the standard Irish fare, but few are this brash, like an Irishman, to make this claim seen on a sign at Not Justa Cafe in Bayport: “Best corned beef in The Valley.”
— At the Winzer Stube GERMAN restaurant, they weren’t sure yet if there would be anything special, as far as being Irish, going on for St. Patrick’s Day, but added that it wasn’t that likely, since they are in the midst of their Schnitzel Fest and it would be hard to incorporate the two into one. Odd bedfellows anyway. But both like beer.

They will be wearing rock T-shirts, and sipping tea and tequila:
— They are a little bit country and a lot rock ‘n roll, with an emphasis on the ’80s. So, will their regular costume changes include emulating Dolly Parton? That’s unlikely, but you will hear and see a heavy dose of Old School hair bands, as well as music from other decades, when Rock Brigade plays The Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Saturday night, March 10.
— “Did you know we have over 50 kinds of tea?” This question is posed on the web site of Urban Olive and Vine. Not to be outdone, just down the block downtown at the Agave Kitchen, they have over 75 brands of tequila.
— The guys from Junk FM say they play a wide array of styles all slammed into one night, and sometimes, slammed into one song. They also describe their shows as a “genre-bending mashup.” See for yourself when they play the Smilin Moose on Friday night.

— There indeed is a Pot Of Gold at the end of the rainbow. Just like there is a cool offering related to St. Patrick’s Day at the other end of Carmichael Road, opposite the often seen on this site, grill and bar venues on the south side. At Hudson Bagel and Coffee Co. there is 17 percent off your entire purchase — patterned on the date this March the Irish celebrate — just ask the leprechaun in the ad! The offer runs through April 4.

We’d love to see Lady Luck’s lauded Leisha in bling at The Willow, would we not, and also bring in the creative seafood choices at nearby Paddy Ryan’s:
— Start off the weekend with Lady Luck, a band that again, was listed prominently in what’s become my music bible of sorts, a ranking of dozens of bands in an online survey of the best and most popular. They will be at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday night, March 2.
Than on Saturday evening there, its Blind Dog, which I accidentally typed in as Bling Dog, than had to correct my typo. Figuring that we recently had Fat Tuesday, consider it a Freudian slip.
— Lent is here, but don’t lament, since you’ve been waiting for your best seafood dinner at length through a long winter. Lent can mean money well spent (and not too much of it either). So why not change it up and have something different from that flourish of fish fries on Fridays? Enter Paddy Ryan’s, not far from The Willow in the town of Hudson so you can do both, for entrees you’ll have trouble finding elsewhere in western Wisconsin. Namely these three creations: Clarenbridge calamari, breaded with the local touch of house seafood sauce; Belfast seafood chowder in a rich cream stock with fresh herbs and a splash of sherry; and finally, glazed salmon fillet topped with a maple, Dijon and bacon glaze (OK, even though its Lent we can cut you some slack with that last ingredient).

This week’s entertainment picks will give you all kinds of different things to pick from, even after you get in the door:
— The Chubs, a band that will play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday evening, Feb. 23, are diverse in more ways then one. They have what is called an incredibly varied offering of classic rock, blues, funk and classic country. The Chubs have been stalwarts on the Rochester scene for more than 25 years, and they on occasion diversify by hitting northern Iowa and, here’s the rub, making the trek to The Willow.
— Whether you choose to call it ping pong or table tennis, put your game on the table and show us that you’ve got game by playing in these tournaments on Wednesday evenings during the foreseeable future at Dick’s Bar and Grill. For details, see the fave Dick’s bartender of your choice, (yes, more choices to make).
— This way to build a six-pack is just more fun than working on your abs. At Village Liquor in North Hudson, you can pick from a whole host of single bottle and can beers, and mix and match to create a six-pack of your choosing, all for the price of, well, a regular six-pack. The choices are enough to fill several shelves just to the left when you first come in the door.

The firepower you can invoke for this festive holiday involves both fireworks and firing a rifle, all for fun:
— Pop goes the fireworks? Also, pop goes the rockin’ tunes. To that end, the band PopROCKS plays the Smilin’ Moose this Friday night, and they definitely come recommended, since they were prominently listed in the online ranking that is Music Mates musicians megabase. Two the point that among the dozens of bands that got at least one vote, this dance music crew garnered the most among perhaps any group that regularly plays the Hudson area.

And with that said, the rest of this previously existing community calendar department lists V-Day offerings that in most cases go beyond Wednesday itself:

— What says Valentine’s Day more than guns? Such as the AR-15 Oracle ($399) and the Sniper 370 compound crossbow package ($199) on special this week at Gregerson Ace Hardware in Baldwin. Be aware that they only take cash and paper checks, not debit or credit cards. And while you are at it, you can try the gonzo target shooting experience at the Bill’s Gun Shop range up on The Hill in Hudson.
— And if things go really sour, you can check out the following ad in the rest room at Next Stop Bar in Houlton, (yes, I’m in the business of getting you in the door of such businesses, hence the tease). Its for a fireworks display company, and says among the many occasions you might want to use their services, to set some major stuff off, is having a divorce party. And along the lines of teasing, without giving away my secrets, such as they are, you might consider (among the many venues that are offering the ultimate V-Day experience as far as food and more amenities), the completely over the top lovers special at The Postmark Grille. It even includes the possibility of an hour or two having dinner in the old postal vault, complete with chocolates and flowers, courtesy of the staff.

— But V-Day can become V-week and more. The steak and seafood special dinners for the holiday, or holi-week, such as it is, are served weekend to weekend, Feb. 9-18, at the Bungalow Inn in Lakeland. That’s a full ten days of great food.

— So Lent is just around the corner, and since you’ve been waiting for your best seafood dinner for all these months, why not change it up and have something different from that flourish of fish fries on Fridays? (And, if you can’t wait, why not celebrate more creatively the bounty of the sea, while still conforming with the season(s), on Ash Wednesday/Valentine’s Day?)
Enter Paddy Ryan’s, in the town of Hudson, for entrees you’ll have trouble finding elsewhere in western Wisconsin. Namely these: Clarenbridge calamari, breaded with the local touch of house seafood sauce; Belfast seafood chowder in a rich cream stock with fresh herbs and a splash of sherry; and finally, glazed salmon fillet topped with a maple, Dijon and bacon glaze (OK, we can cut you some slack with that last ingredient).

— I normally don’t include Stillwater in my mix, but this is just totally out there, to the point of being tropically oriented. On Wednesday, the Tilted Tiki across the river there has a dozen or more of their own takes on old standards, and the creativity just might impress your significant other. And, a few blocks away, the Gasthaus, with Bavarian style, is offering Valentinstag, (I’m 100 percent German, ouch, and I still don’t know what that means, but it sounds cool as it rolls off the tongue, and there is always their strolling accordian player on the weekends to make it even more authentic). And as for any of these last-minute salvations, make reservations guys. And don’t wait any longer!

Their role of rockin’ for decades are the specialties of this weekend’s highlighted bands:
— The reigning Super Bowl kings may be new to that role, but these bands have been at the top of the hill for some time: The Zebra Mussels play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday night, Feb. 9, and The Strangers on Saturday night.
— Want a strong dose of crossover-country, among other musical styles? You can get it at the Smilin’ Moose on Friday night, as the band Hitfaced hits Hudson. Spanning more than four decades of music and covering material from the most recent pop to classic rock, Hitfaced also covers more than a dozen crossover-country artists as well as dance/funk and even some disco.
— Does your teen or pre-teen listen only to hip-hop? If you want to broaden their horizons, take them to Bayport BBQ, which also specializes in being a deep juke joint for blues. To the point that they offer this special for dinner: Charge a dollar for every year of their age. This obviously does not have the component of a senior discount.

Creative food choices that go way beyond the standard Philly steak and cheese sandwich, sorry Eagles fans, are only the start of what will make this a super weekend that will bowl over the competition. And if you spent all your dough on tickets to the Super Bowl, there are real deals to be found throughout the Hudson area:
— The Hudson Green Mill menu is just the ticket for visitors just a couple of blocks away at the many motels in the frontage road area. Just take it from a bartender there who is originally from the East Coast, so she knows seafood, and also Italian cuisine, especially for Patriot fans. Recommended as being different from what you will get almost anywhere else in the area is the seafood linguine and lobster macaroni and cheese, as well as a multi-tiered lasagna dish that has highlighted ingredients compartmentalized on your plate. Add to that their limited-time, supper club menu that includes two different forms of chicken with sriracha sauce, and of course the Green Mill signature pizza. What some of the dishes have in common is not one but two or more meaty ingredients such as seafood on your plate.
The chefs who make such food elaborate on-line: “We strive to create dishes that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Yes, we have the classics, but we also feature dishes that are exclusive to Green Mill. But even the best recipes in the world don’t cut it without the best ingredients available. Nearly all of Green Mill dishes are made from scratch everyday with the freshest ingredients available – many provided from local suppliers.” And being Wisconsin, there are Big Beers on special, as well as half-priced appetizers during happy hours and on Sundays such as the Big Game.
— On Sundays, including the next one, the West Wind on the north end of River Falls has happy hour all day, which will keep a smile on your face regardless of how your favorite team does. There is $1 off all taps and rails, as well as appetizer specials, not to mention buckets of beers at five bottles for $10. Many offer such bucket specials, but no one can beat that price. The same can be said of their pizzas with any toppings, plus a beer, for that same $10 price. Add $3 margaritas and you have a parrrty!
— Hey Patriot fans, do you want to taste seafood that is different than your local New England clam chowder? Try on for size the Season’s Tavern take on walleye, in about a dozen different ways that are both totally Wisconsin and otherwise, prepared in various styles and with creative use of other ingredients that include a total of nine different vegetables. All you have to do is travel a couple of miles north of the I-94 freeway to North Hudson’s main drag — which is a no-brainer if you’ve trekked all this way to the Midwest to start with.
— At the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt, there is the fantastic, usual Sunday special of $2 beers and rails that typically ends at 6 p.m., but still could make for a super pregame activity when taking in the commentary. Add to that the all-day, all-Sunday, all-you-can-eat chicken dinner of only $10. And at The Willow, you don’t have to wait for halftime to get quality music, there is live music on the nights before. The bands are Inside Out on Friday night and Blue Moon Drive on Saturday night. Inside Out, quite new to The Willow, performs rock, classic and current country, Motown, R&B, classic favorites that have stood the test of time, and the latest hits and dance tunes, so you can see why they say they have something for everyone.
— The Bungalow Inn in Lakeland plans to take an often-seen bar special and make it something super. For $5, its an all-you-care-to-eat taco bar that as per the Bungalow’s reputation, provides a nicer than Minnesota Nice offering that’s well beyond the standard — its Mexican comfort food to the max, promising to be tastier than the usual stuff such as beans with a bit of meat mixed in. There also are happy hour specials during the game and $15 buckets filled with domestic bottles of beer. The Bungalow was planning to have an even bigger fest if the Vikes would have made it onward, but this gig will also serve to punch your party ticket.
— And here is another Bungalow gig that’s an option in the days before the Big Game, if you can’t wait that long and don’t want to venture into Minneapolis. The finals of Bungalow Idol will be Friday starting at around 9 p.m., with a dozen-or-so qualifiers, coming from each weekend in January, going after the first three prizes. And the (celebrity?) judges might be another draw. There were plans to bring in members of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, think the likes of Klondike Kate, but did these come to fruition? The staff at the Bungalow were not saying as of Thursday, rather hoping to keep it a secret until the curtain rises.

— Make a rush to, rather than take a pass on, the Hudson Family Fresh Market, which is your Super Bowl party headquarters, whether you’re needing super-size snacks, a people-pleasing deli tray, or the frosting on the cake, specialty dessert items with a football theme.

“We do have party-size items. The deli department has many different sizes of food trays. We have a great deli brochure that shows all the types of trays and what we have to offer,” said store director Mark Hein. “The bakery has a lot of fun stuff for the Super Bowl.” Cakes, cupcakes, buns, whatever people need. All at competitive prices, which offer even greater savings if you choose party size, because of the volume.
“Yes, we have all the main brands that people want for their Super Bowl party,” Hein said. Frito Lay and Pepsi, for example, are a big part of the promotional effort to make your Super Bowl party experience, well, super.
“All these items are easy to find. Produce, bakery and deli are your first departments you see when you come in. Our front lobby is filled with chips and soda and other snack items for a Super Bowl party,” Hein said, and this is where you get a true appreciation of the difference party size makes, in both value and variety.

— Since we’ve worked long and hard on this theme, and after all the Super Bowl is all about excess, we have to point out these locally dreamt up variations of the Philly steak and cheese sandwich and New England seafood, courtesy of the regular menu of Paddy Ryan’s Irish Pub in the town of Hudson.
In order to not get their Irish up, we’ll let them tell it to you themselves, pointing out how these out-of-state-standards can have a new twist in this area, and if you are one of the thousands of visitors from east of here, come eat:
Clarenbridge calamari, breaded with the local touch of house seafood sauce.
Belfast seafood chowder in a rich cream stock with fresh herbs and a splash of sherry.
Prime rib sandwich with Irish cheddar, fried onions and sour cream horseradish sauce.
The Big Paddy of beef, pulled pork, bacon and don’t forget the cheese.
Irish cheese steak sandwich, with sautéed bell pepper, red onion, mushrooms and Irish cheese.
Braised beef sandwich with cheese, various sauces and topped with battered onion straws.
Finally, glazed salmon fillet topped with a maple, Dijon and bacon glaze.