When the bars opened and reclosed, women got their game on, and their rocks off, from being cooped up at home in their PJs, and when they went out again, they did it up big. Or small.
At the start, stir crazy thusly led to a big-time baring of skin — from mere inch or two to a full foot where the abs are — when there was an opp to open up with their style. This trend was followed by another a few months yonder, really stretchy leggings and tight fitting jeans that accomplish much the same purpose in a way maxed out with those with thin legs. And when spring came around, it was back to the bare basics of big rounded booty. More on that later.
The most recent out-playing of style was a woman out at the later end of things who held court at the newly popular for all kinds of people — read into that what you want — Hudson Tap, who had the exact same flesh-toned color on the big three: Partially bare midrift, short skirt and longer leggings. She more than appreciated that this was noticed, when she approached the bar rail, and added that she threw the outfit together in only five minutes. “That’s impressive,” I noted. Ask that your boyfriend be a man and also notice.
A followup at the also newly more-and-more popular Starr’s Bar in North Hudson. A bartender who had the same type of scaled-back fashion — with even more flesh tones, or something approximately like that, with cloth not skin — in what I also saw, with a slightly different take, on a why-we-are-the-most-wonderful-on-the-planet (or at least the metro), flyer-based update from the school district and featuring one of their older students, as they have their style statements, too: A few-only blue jean rips, carefully placed to be full-central on thigh or knee or calf, that had a lowerlying (friends in low places? Nah …) secondary layer of whitish-gray barely-threadbare fabric. That meant there was indeed not even a centimeter of skin to be seen, since it was so thusly well positioned. Gee, there have been more slightly fleshy fashions from a few actual in-school students, as in juniors-to-be seniors, so they have another year to get their fashion right, and have another shot of actually dancing at prom. But back to the bartender and the rare-these-days slits that do not show any pink or tan at all, she also had the jeans that were cut-tight to a length just above the ankle, (or on the shin?), hawking a newly popular boot-friendly style, so combining the best of all these things?
A friend notes that with her “pink versus fuchia” predaliction, such skin tones and the bare-midriff-style that it entails, in a way not seen in this millennium, forms a function of the fact that so many of All The Fine Women have been stuck indoors for way too long. They are now are out and kicking up their heels, even if not on the dance floor. Good things come to those who wait.
The differing ways sexy plays out cannot only be seen as bare-midrift, but also every slit, crook and cranny around those cuts below, As We Still See On Jeans Down (Almost) To A Person. There are many styles at play here, but one thing they have in common is slicing to meet a designed purpose and garner attention, (if only subconsciously, as is the case with so many of the motivations these days). Add to that a high rise above the navel and even what used to be called high-water pants, these days clinging tight at first height to the ankle and an inch to two above. And those inches make a difference, even moreso on the upper body. The message that is being sent depends in large part how high up the thigh slices will be made, and how this reflects on the degree to which they’re willing to go, with what is described in the following paragraph. Or maybe such micro-managing of written thought means nothing more than with All (Or Many?) Of Those People who wear big crosses hung from a necklace, if for no other reason to be read-into-it than style.
The triumph of style? Here are cool variations of the theme we have seen: Big Cuts across both knees, (and it was rare but not unseen that they differed in size, more than slightly), a range of up to six cuts across the thighs, a combination of the last two with some sides more revealing then others, ripped Gaps that rapped around to the back of the leg, Cuts that in total were more than a dozen, and those that were placed more like … ahem, toward the upper parts of the pants. But if too riske, there could be strings, like a string bikini, to cover a scant part of the skin in question. Or thicker tears in back, vs. the front, even if just calf high..
Of course there is the jogger factor, and people who were early and buff and fast, or all of those, took over the side of the street. I saw one with great abs starting later in the morning crossing the Lake Mallalieu bridge with quick stride, and my Modest Mom said she didn’t care for that at all. But it turns out she wasn’t talking about that almost foot of near bronze … but the dog who was jogging with her in tight tandem. Even though the morning frost was only recently gone, there first was the often seen shirtless harrier, or just what could’ve been seen as such via a stretchy tank top, both of these also witnessed while geese streamed toward Lake Mallalieu. But without these sparse exceptions, it would have been a fairly normal season before 2020.
But for now, we have as the taker Big Booty, as maybe a antithesis to showing skin. Its prime virtue, the way I see it, to resurrect the Kim K’s, is that the formerly dreaded hip bump is now masked in a way by the tightness that’s displayed Up and Down and Baby Right Round. That inch or two higher and lower is higher by an overall broadening appeal, spreading it out for posterity. Very sexy friendly, in a way you would not have not seen in late winter.
More of how this continues to play out, especially since the dead of winter, in coming posts.

They are so bad, they’re good. By all accounts, very good.
The six-member Bad Girlfriends band may be a bit of a misnomer, as they are half male and half female in their composition. No Matter. That’s the rub. And that’s what makes them truly special, as they share duties that even include the guitar playing, and you just don’t see that very often.
The band will blow up The GasLite bar and grill in Ellsworth on Saturday night, fresh off of a killer show at Pea Soup Days in Somerset, so check out the Three Blondes and three boys (as opposed to Four Non-Blondes).
This is the diversity brought to the table: There is Suzy on vocals and keyboards and most importantly guitar, Deb on lead vocals, Laurie on bass and fiddle-playing that’s been raved about as exceptional, Tom on bass and vocals, Tommy D on vocals and guitar and harmonica, and Pete on (again) guitar and vocals.
They take the stage at 8:30 p.m.

I was just thinking about the song Question by the Moody Blues. All is much like dad at his best and not so best. So read on from front and center in this web site for the that apt, I think, take on dad, you know the kind we all have. And oh yeah, he reminded me that I haven’t posted something recently under the heading Where Did You See It? As in which nightclub. Maybe since Mother’s Day? Ouch! He gave me until the next business day, or he’ll ride my butt. That’s Dad. The ultimate worker himself. Love ya dad!
(I did get that quintessential question in, it turned out, just a couple of days late. So if you will, Fool, fool, look for the answer, in that department of the jester and roadie).

The band Critical Mass marches through Ziggy’s on Friday, June 11, and if you miss this music and more don’t have a cow but later maybe eat one too, as there will be another shot at all things festive this next weekend and not just Sunday. And we all know what we’re talking about here, because many dads will let it be known – then insist they didn’t.
Why this early with this post? Yes, dad can have the patience of a saint with all of us, but when it comes to grilling out, he just can’t wait another week.
And does not dad on Dad’s Day truly love a group that can swing more firmly than most through country-rock bordering regularly on classic rock and more — think La Grange for starters? (Written while popping in to see him on Grange Avenue). And those at-times progressive rants just might lead him to critical mass, as can with a certain girth, all the extras he puts on his brats when he a bit slowly works into the groove, then really hits it. Then goes bowling, but only on special days these days, to wear it all off, from the “spare” ribs anyone?
So, not to challenge your expertise – know better than that — but coming soon to these pages are some tips/musings so that you won’t be grilled by your guests with the ultimate for the same-old, same-old – ugh, another hot dog? Unless it’s a Chicago style hot dog on steroids met with numerous and creative condiment additions and substitutions –slather on more than one differing but related sauce to make it the spice of life — and also met with the many kinds of meats gleaned from the Germans. How is cheddar-wurst on for size, literally, and definitely not just on the side, for such a treatment? But I am getting ahead of myself.
So, there is a cure that includes anything you can grill and dress it up further, that’s both specific and many times over, so stay tuned.

You might want to bypass Hugo good neighbor days and instead go stabbing westward, defined as trekking into western Wisconsin to Roberts, for their festival of the same name this weekend. Why? They have Boondoggle! They’ll kick things off on Friday. The decades-old band of local troubadours will bring their familiar and family-friendly favorites — as they have even rocked local church fests — that have stood the test of time with their tall-man take on light rock and country, to the stage at 9 p.m. as headliners. Opening for them is a group with their own signature style, with an at-times different end of the ying vs. yang. TFW & the Hooligans take the stage at 7 p.m.. and like all good warm-up bands, they up up tempo a little with a bit more attitude The two bands with the double flaming ohs will certainly leave you oohing and ahing.
They will be joined by an onslaught of other acts to oogle at Good Neighbor Days on Saturday and Sunday, featuring the best towns along Interstate 94 with jogs just to the north can bring.

The theme of different ends of the musical spectrum is extended when Hellkat — a fitting name since the Roberts Lions Club runs the show — roars in with their slightly bad-boy licks on Saturday at, again, 7 p.m. with more fireworks to include your other senses to follow because, well, their is a fireworks display by the people at Phantom at dusk. Then at 9, its Paisan and The Family Brass, who broke onto the regional scene a few years back by starting with a harder rockin’ sound, and then added other instrumental twists and their sound evolved.
And then that theme of musical differences again is extended, and thus is good for the varied listeners of many differing tastes who attend at the fest, with its Good News. Being a Sunday, the fact that this group is the featured act is fitting, as the name says it all: Music by By Faith. And that redundant wording isn’t a typo; as many of the people in the audience would say you can’t say it too often. Check it out and see what you think at 1 p.m. right after church.
By the way, there even is a Good Neighbor Days that plays in outstate Minnesota. But I’d guess you’ll be happy you headed this way instead.

They are South Of Heaven, (that’s a  good thing), as the heavy metal song says, so Prescott being less than a half-hour’s trip on the flip side of the Hudson-area is helping lead the way for the return of music to the St. Croix River Valley, both Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The biggies are open again, to the cheers of their faithful! The singular strains of Scottie Miller will be at the regionally famed Muddy Waters Saloon in Prescott on Sunday from 3-7 p.m. The bar is known for its music and a promise made by a manager in spring, to begin hosting it again in the early days of summer, was followed. The staff has been working so hard for you, they have been given the next day off.

The continuing music this spring/summer continues at Scabs Place in Prescott with the YaYa Boys, two guys and two guitars, at 4 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day. It shows off its view of the St. Croix River from the tunes on the deck.

Musicians say it has been hard to get many gigs during the heyday of the virus, but that it would come back if we all bide our time. The rollout of bands playing that also has been prompted by the lifting of all virus-related restrictions on Minnesota bars, has thus far been a marathon, not a sprint. There was not the sharp spike you might see on their volume meter, because booking bands once the state and county announcements were made so quickly does not happen overnight, much like grill and bars that have had trouble finding enough now-more-needed wait staff. Some of these venues, especially to the south end of our coverage area, have had waits of up to an hour to get served, or maybe even get in, during the height of the two-state differential, reps said.

As  related point, First Avenue in Minneapolis is now back with concerts about a year after its shades were shuddered, and the stage of a heavy band were not the only thing blackened. There are Hudson-area bands that also have at times played the adjoining Seventh Street Entry, now also being opened.

Lately, there has been on the bar scene the life and death of Riley, several times over.

I have noticed on the last few Wednesdays and their karaoke at The Nutty Squirrel in River Falls, this person has been eulogized like THEIR life depended on it, on a sign behind the karaoke-meister. Better then even tribute band could do to many other rockers. So much so that if I spelled the name wrong, I’m sure they’d boo me off the stage. And please take that route if you can’t find in in your heart to forgive me for being glib, rather take to heart “Remembered and not forgotten.”

Also of note in that vein, there was the talented musician who died too soon, now that social distancing rules are being eased or completely revoked. If only this orchestra type out in New York could have hung out too very much longer, as he and his wife, who I met at a class reunion for my wife (the former was the only one who could make it, as she was batching it, for a reason). They had made their relationship work, despite her being home in Minnesota, which has to be the ultimate victory despite the odds, over social distancing. “I hear you calling but I can’t come home right now. Me and the boys are playing, and we just can’t find the sound. Just a few more hours and I’ll be back home to you … what can I do?”

Sometimes not that much, unfortunately, as was  seen by a friend recently as characterizing the passing of Luther Vandrous and a bit over five years ago, Prince, not to mention Bill Withers. None them were being greatly eulogized on the radio, he said despite their differing styles while aptly cranking the car stereo and then … that song came on, you know the one … And a lullaby by Luther too.

<<And now lets get political, political>>

The afterdeath of this post just has to include the passing of a politician, since the time ago it takes to navigate the length of the river he loved, and get the St. Croix on National Wild And Scenic Rivers protection, although it only goes so far, for so long.

Sen. Walter Mondale was much more than halfway in his efforts at such conservation, although his beloved Minnesota could only claim half-frontage of the in some places wide and in some places narrow stream. (I wonder what he would think, after its salvage for future generations to use or abuse, the ongoing erosion of the Apple River tributary from tubing. Further north resort rivers have held out their pristine nature longer). So the connection of his Deeds Definitely Not Done Dirt Cheap makes his passing applicable for a nightlife post, especially since the tubing now has finally, fully opened up again, basically becoming official in this time, the agreed-upon first week of summer, where everyone is now being said to hit the outdoors again like demons, like the fans at an Ozzy concert).

So the fit with politics today is thus appropo in this statement attributed to Mondale:  We did what was right, followed the rules, and were fair. Mondale 101, or is it 470?

Last on the list of statements made, at the turn of the year, that could turn the world on its ear if taken out on context. “The year 2020 also saw the deaths of the pope and the queen …” Oh, it continued to say, “praying for those who died.”

A mainstay on the downtown scene for several years, in the Way Back Machine that goes way back to invoke this reference, was Darcy, who had a celebrity lookalike who sports the same rich auburn hair of the same wavy length, and is just a bit older and also made her mark, long before her passing on just prior to 60.
That celeb is none other than Tawny Kitaen, of the fame brought by primping on the hood of a classic car in a Whitesnake video — talked about at length by various weekend friends who like I are quasi-music critics. They were strangely unaware of the metal side to singer David Coverdale, who as most people do not know was there from the Old School start of that heavy scene, and his then girlfriend Kitaen, as she was better known at that point to frame what they had, as being a good song vs. best song for the band. The crux that defines how the three of us think differently of Whitesnake was the song “Still Of The Night.” Kitaen, again as a purring kitten, also was the only saving grace in a strangely popular movie, with that notorious nude come-on to Tom Hanks in Bachelor Party, being perhaps the only man on the planet who could turn her down, in ways that also played out a bit in Forrest Gump.
A very quick internet search of her resume, as such, showed that Tawny could be even a bit more tawdry, but at the same time artsy? Think B-side movies along the lines of Perils of Gwendoline.
But that is nothing like my favorite Tawny/Darcy moment, even though they are of the same height and indeed stature among us three critics, who had only started frequenting Hudson music at the time.
We were at Pudge’s, when it was indeed Pudge’s, me and mine in the front bar, and Darcy and a few friends way in back playing that nasty game of Truth Or Dare. One of them selected dare, and Darcy seized the moment, knowing that the recipient was bi-sexual. “Joe Winter is over there, and he’s married, but I want you to French kiss him.” The request was made to me and followed through on, maybe with even a bit of eagerness I have to say, with her intro of advice before proceeding summed up as, just flow with it. Only then did I hear the back story.
But back to Tawny. She and family members lived for many years on the other end of Cherry Circle North, so she was a shirt-tail neighbor. “There lives a girl just up the block and … she would turn all the boys heads.”
More such noteworthy passings on have occurred recently, some with a connection to HudsonWiNightlife, and some not so much so, although as you all know, I will try to make it so. More on those in future post(s), as I will let the dead rest only after they are no longer warm in the grave, and the ashes of their bodies weather, to quote another one of the just-pre-Coverdale metal bands. But until then … keep posted for such posts. One also will be the pre-Death Masks as they were, soon made into fashion, and now are no longer, at least in most cases, as I will detail the history of what we have been wearing on our faces to arrive at our eventual now removal.

Right around the time taverns in Hudson and following suit, North Hudson, curtailed their hours to a midnight closing, (now expired), Pierce County and the City of New Richmond without fanfare lifted their 25 percent capacity rules, allowing a full bar.
Furthermore in late April, as a possible paradox, St. County officially chimed in for perhaps the first and most meaningful time by enacting their own 25 percent rule, and then Minnesota took the ball right away in May with their own decree, for the first time in ages allowing full capacity at all the places people congregate. And there were times when that age thing and the IDs that could hold sway between the two states and was the main thing at issue, remember then? But the short version is that all bars in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota and beyond are now back full throttle as far as when they have to close. Furthermore, very few of the places in St. Croix County ever get above the 25-percent limit anyway, except on a very busy night on a weekend, when social distancing should have covered that base anyway. Whatever the case, the capacity rule is typically being followed just as little as the face mask decree.
At the height of these closings and reopenings, people had the option of bolting past Hudson and continuing to head dead eastward to places that often have their own specialties in music and beyond, bars in Roberts, Hammond, Baldwin/Woodville, and angling a bit northernly, Boardman/Burkhardt, or
River Falls, straddling the line to be in both counties, is its own animal, so in practice their reopening did not roll out uniformally.Virtually all the bars are on the Pierce County side. Also at play within all these matters is the circumstance that state, county and local rules may be at odds as far as which takes precedence. Ask my buddy who is almost living (and not only After Midnight) and dying for his beloved karaoke, and taking center stage is the offering of what can include open mic, which is a completely different animal, at Ziggy’s in Hudson on Tuesdays, coming and going with what is closing time for hours, and masks and distancing. And Ziggy’s has (frequently?) retooled its before-full-band players and times/days performing for almost all other nights, as they can be a one-man act that also entails Country Boy and Piano Man. But all openness seemed to focus on the idea that people from the Minneapolis area would close down the joints in their backyard, then come over here. Why the difference, in part, between Badger and Gopher, and I have to say its TLC: multiple Tavern League Considerations that make for political power almost as much as stimulus check debates, (conveyed over many a Miller and Milwaukee’s Old and Best?) A side note to the where and when of offerings, like their snack sides: Ziggy’s has places in Hudson and Stillwater.
How do we see this bi-state, or Tri-State, battle play out in real terms, especially if you are a guy, and his ride. Getting The Doors egged, allegedly more than a dozen of the orbs, while along the St. Croix in Lakefront Park? Much more a vandals paradise then on the Minnesota side, depite the I must say needed efforts at extra patrolling by local cop shops, who are veering toward and looming more toward that end of city and village — and town? — affairs, and also the affluent enclaves? Much more commentary on this soon on this site, (and I will try to follow through on this promise “more-on” past rate of success than at some previous junctures, most notably on the opening day and going forward MLB stuff prompted by local sports bar airings, to build up what another buddy of mine calls the domestic “moron-athon.”
But now back to basics.

Hut how the new rules are playing out, from town to town:
— On the Sunday before the midnight no-serve curfew was lifted, the crowd at Dick’s Bar had more Twin Citians than regulars, but the gap was closing. There was a Cities guy chatting-up Andrea, Emma was dancing up a storm with Karis, as in the wings were two men who slimply never dance, Tom and Dan, and in the aisle next to them Garret and Alice held court. A couple who had worked at Dick’s stopped in for the first time in six years, making one thinking what for weeks had been a very uptempo crowd was a draw.This was aid to have picked up the pace once more from the prevsious Sunday. That’s about it. A longtime bouncer said he was happy not needing to scan the crowd to intervene before there might be a fight.
— In River Falls, the Nutty Squirrel hosted the first of its killer, yearlong karaoke contests, that was thrown together faster than a Slayer song when the word got out. It had Cinco De Mayo nailed with its drink specials. Just up the block, most noticably, the BX Mexican place was still late-night lights out.
— A newbie came into Starr’s Bar in North Hudson in early May, around what had been their closing time several days earlier, bought a round for at least half those in the horseshoe, then in short order walked out again. The opposite end that offers various games had been seeing sparse numbers of players, on days when midnight was the final whistle. The bars appeared to be making their best hay when there were fewer patrons, but they were big spenders. Another effect going back a full year, was that when there have been bands, their venues have not wanted to advertise the fact, as they are in a Catch 22 of not really wanting to push attendence higher. But the actual-out-the-door closing push has been less urgent when the rule is dictated by their management, not the government. The same could be likely in some bergs eastward where there is no local police department, since the county sheriff’s deputies can’t be everywhere.
— Bars in west-central Pierce County have greeted the latest change back to full capacity with a new presence of bands, and the way was led by some venues celebrating their anniversaries. However, many servers were not fully aware of the reversion and how it was effecting their holding of special events, and if agents of government had made an official noticfiation to the venues. But many New Richmond sources say they will be charging ahead more quickly and fully with music.
— Across the river at Sgt. Peppers in Oakdale, karaoke will be back on during Thursday nights, but moving into position slowly, even though they again have the option of staying open to 1 a,m. More typically, is a shutdown of the bar as early as 11 p.m., depending on their often diminished customer volume. It’s a popular place for some Hudsonites, as the traffic goes both ways, as do many servers when they commute to work.
And new from Saturday Night Almost Live: Dick’s was again Strangers In A Strange Land, Hudson Tap was quite full early and included All The Young Dudes in the back pool area before traffic as their usual quickly thinned out, and Ziggy’s showed the most diversity I have seen for this area and not just Black people but a group of Asian women that’s something atypical for Hudson. I see that as a good thing, as we broaden to others than the usual Caucasian white folk. But there was heightened security at the door that at Dick’s even included a search for weapons with a wand.
But then on Sunday night, things as far as the crowd that was gathering hedged toward a sense of normalcy, if you can use that term to reference a bar.

A Hudson author and others have predicted that the next world war will be fought over availability of water, likely, and the remainder of this yarn is on what could be so true even this day.
They say you have 30 days to cancel virtually any agreement, and this is May Day, a full month after April Fools, so …
Remember the origin of all this, when Foxconn said they would build a mega-facility in Wisconsin and provided mega-employment?
Why, and they are not telling you, is the real reason the deal fell through? They went elsewhere. And the Man From Mars brokered the plan.
Any work force there might have been died of thirst as Mars long ago evaporated the last of its drinking water (due to using it all for steam production?)
That’s why, with no potable water either for workers and the high-end customers who can afford the space travel fare to the planet — for most of us this would take cashing in 1,000 stimulus checks — there could be no for flushing except for the upper brass, but they live in Flushing anyway, the whole deal crapped out so to speak. Another political-industry measure that could again be seen as here someday, and even though this is May Day, you can’t blame the communists! Even though we are talking about the Red Planet.
And Some Would Say What Is Lost Can Never Be Saved … You won’t like this if you are one of the priviliged few who can”do business” by hopping your paid-for yacht with a cute captain across Lake St. Croix down to Lake City. (And lets face it, for what’s most current as far as elections go, School Board members just don’t have the clout to get much arranged outside of a bricks and mortar schoolhouse). But so, you must be a Democrat to like this next “prudent” idea: Building infastructure lines for free Hudson public transportation (at least for some) and hey that even gets out the vote, and who champions that turnout bends along party lines. Want to use that stance to win an election — as conservatives rule in these parts, but proponents would gain fewer personal perks? At least some that don’t necessarily include the limos that often take around young people from the Cities, not just politicos? And as far as those flyers who said not to be a no-show at the ballot box and drive there in political packs in seating of up to four, social distancing aside, consider that all you’ve got is an expensive taxi. Ride Share anyone?
The election found at least a couple of candidates — much less than the number of Irish siblings in a typical family prior to the Kennedys, politicos who reportedly did their very all to up the ante of that number through all variety of “avenues,” if you know what I mean — and the two gave it the good old Irish look. That was on the heels of that Holiday of Holidays, among other holidays such as Green Day as in Earth Day, that all Irish (are required?) to celebrate, and thusly have U2 crying in their Guinness. And the Irish love their other Irish, but we are talking about one man who could have come right out of Saturday Night Live, with very red locks not dreadlocks. Another’s wavy/curly hair was also not long, but with a green and somewhat grey tint all around, making for lilt — of Talking Heads? –among the voting faithful.