Hey I know, all this is overwhelming, whether vanquishing the virus or other types of related content, so if you are getting overtaken with data, may I suggest skipping over the next three long paragraphs telling you how you can best use my tips and observations to beat the Super Bug, and hunt around the various departments of his web site that take the data farther. Give this wordsmith an inch and he will take a mile as far as a license to tell it all, even if its pages worth, and that might be fine for right now, as I’m learning fast that that every detail will be found useful by at least someone or two. If it trips your trigger, return to this site later., if its too much volume for the moment, as I’ll bet you have learned as a music lover, and I’m sure you are or you wouldn’t be reading these pages; playing your speakers at full throttle at 11 while cranking The Who at concert-decibel-level on your stereo, hey I know as a child of the ’70s, can be fantastic but at some juncture you and your ears and mind have to take a set break — and if you make it all the way to an encore, these times might offer an opportunity for you while holed up in your room. (Along those lines, later during what I am afraid will be weeks of such coverage, of all musical measures of everything including Copperdale, crooning and keyboard, by HudsonWiNightlife coverage, “all will be revealed.” To wit: I think this extra detail, its various forms, adds to the fullness of understanding, and I have what seems to be a very literate audience that will gather it all in. Do you agree? Chime in …
Thus, the following is only a brief summary of what you can expect to see, broken into catagories by exact content, from HudsonWiNightlife in the next few days and weeks. We at this website will bring to you the updates on the many virus related subjects locally, as they compare to around the two-state area and country, which are changing by the hour and having a major impact on what’s being done and what is left to do, but are working double shifts, seven days to do provide needed information and still can’t quite keep up. But we will give it our best, because every bit of info we can give you may make or break not just staying in your comfort zone, but indeed your ability to stay alive as this crisis plays out. Each day brings additional facets of life affected, and I’ll get those things to you as soon as I become aware of them, that are make or break for people on the margin As we have noted before to the point of repetition, you’ll only find it here, tips by the dozens and dozens that only come about through scouting out the details, and maybe I’m the only one with that curiousity, but it makes for an fantastic job. In J school that was called a “plum.”
We thought this background was important to readers because many of them have found themselves fascinated by this journalistic process that has needed to be tweaked on the fly more today then ever before. It first now is rolling out data that’s getting more and more out there each day, but hey, I get my info by sometimes odd-ball sources, which I will convey to you when at all possible, and sometimes just the process used can make for the best of comic fodder, and at the least a very good read. It makes a difference in getting that data only I seem to be able to ferret out — and to which people in the trenches can relate, as if they are actually part of the editorial process, not just sources, and this means that via them, more data comes my way, and the process builds on itself. Isn’t that what journalism is all about? Hey, we are throrough about unearthing new topics to the point of being OCD and at the same time being loving and passionate in serving our readers, (don’t read to much into that statement), although it means for reams of story column inches, (yet another old school J term). What’s coming now by reading down, is that promised breakdown by topic, going roughly from most important to least important so you know when to look for the topic that resonates most with you, and if you don’t see it right anyway, chime in and I’ll see if it can be moved up the pecking order a bit, or I can at least address your topic with a concise blog message under a new heading, because we know you might need data fast, and I can followup with “the rest of the story soon.”
The interesting takes I have uncovered may mean that routine coverage, such as that of holiday happenings, even though timely, will just have to wait a bit with a second day angle as I (hopefully) can indulge on your patience and more things green continue to surface — unless a particular day’s specially festive nature means they have a tie-in with all things virus, and boy I am good at finding these things, to something like St. Patrick’s Day. I have waiting in the vault plenty of cool stuff with detail going way beyond who has the best corned beef and cabbage, although we have advice that is on-going through the time, soon, for Easter to take over and that will provide yet another layer of fodder. Yet the offerings may be much alike, as everyone is competing for a smaller and still shrinking dollar.

— Two other reasons to hang in there: (1) All the details about my immediate home base of Hudson and many of its readers, and how it becoming Bigfoot Central, with multiple sightings that include intimate interactions that go way beyond a blurry picture … Why here? (2) Then the wrap-up of that signature killer karaoke contest at the Bungalow Inn, one that was the last man standing among those that died off, earlier this year, and will as soon as the virus is tamed be resurrected as a musical offering for better or worse, but obviously not before Easter, although rock never dies.

But for right now, I’ll ferret out the consummate consumer tips for you to stretch your pocketbook but not your palate. This is killer coverage that although virtually done, has not yet found a home because of space (even HudsonWiNightife has its limits) and simply time factors … Gotta go now, election results that I need to get to AP, and that has become yet another part of the story(s). Upon returning, I’ll wrap up this post with its summation that breaks it down to about 15 distinct categories, followed by some of the really meaty stuff I have been promising and setting the stage for all week, and I should be able to get you a bunch by first thing tomorrow, and thus reward you for your patience. A memo to the other such sites, “you can’t can’t touch this.” Hammertime, as for you and he, time waits for no man, and if you dally it marches on:

<It goes on and on and on and on, its Heaven or Hell, oh well, or so says Sabbath. Already traumatized people are starting to think that way, as their thoughts go go round and round. More on how this vamp of a virus can seep into our brains and effect our thinking and actions in a subconscious way, in a post that will run after the newsy stuff has been done away with, but placed in a different department of this web page. More and more, in each edition, updates will appear in any of the department headings that scroll across the top of this page>

Ok, there is a lot to cover here, as my long buildup of music portion of the music, and by the time I’m finished, it will literally take up dozens and dozens of computer screens such as mine. If nothing else, it can give the faithful a look inside the brain and see how us journalists think, in my quasi-gonzo case maybe too much, and God knows it is not a model of conciseness. But I dare say that’s not what you want, even though the time is short, as underscored by the worsening situation of the past few days, as shortenings have made their mark and slammed it home with an exclamation point that’s burst as big as a bomb, and will continue to crawl forward for at least a few weeks here and across the St. Croix, but the damage may be already done, draining the economy of my home base that’s the city of Hudson and almost shutting down its economy overnight, in what’s no doubt the quickest such crippling seen from the virus to date. These pieces of observation, specific examples of how it plays out with scores of different entities and individuals, and even more finely crafted and detailed analysis, followed by pages of key consumer and business tips. These nuggets supply practical advice and are spelled out with more instructions and contingencies than in many user manuals. These take on tons of totally different topics that steer far from the usual subject matter — on facets that rarely are even touched upon by other media. And oh yeah, the topic we’re talking about is that versatile and very invincible — I know that is substandard usage, but it also enables alliteration, and is even present when I explain its use — villian that is the ultimate vile virus. (See I can even use some of my trademark carefully placed humor, although I have to be more careful with each passing day so not to offend, but I will make every attempt to insert it whenever applicable — while it still can be done, although even in these days we are Hungry for Heaven). Not to toot my own horn any more than necessary, but after some study, I conservatively estimate that a good half of my content sources — small groups of heroes just hanging around their houses are unique to this website, and that number is pushed to this level by a treatment and style that many readers and advertisers say is one-of-a -kind. It calls for plenty of detail and with a topic this complex is necessary, even though some people find it mentally taxing to read in one sitting, so go chill for a bit with a brew, while you still can do it, then get back to the business at hand, and since you presumably are doing the activity at home — good luck if any luck at all to find an open library — its one of few that still can be lawfully conducted, as is indicated by executive orders. (However, this is much more than a long primer on what you’d expect to find in this facet of the writing business, which may be seen as having similarities to gonzo journalism practiced by the revered Hunter Thompson, a household name for even any first year J student — but now since schools are shut down, you’d have to explore his unique style at home on your iPad, a method that surely would make Thompson cringe. So you might have to get some vicarious tutorting through this website, although to this day nobody does it better than Hunter. I just hope that I, and this just is the vision that comes to my mind and I am only one man, can untie his tattered hemp shoelaces). IN all these things I am not out to please the government, rather my readers, and above all — thus the extreme caution with any words that could hurt as even a gutbuster for one person is not worth even slight harm to another, as gallows humor can provide great catharsis but also a poisonous pen — rather concentrate more on serving the unique and critical needs of the many the victims, their family and friends — and that takes in virtually all of us and even various other creatures, minus of course the virus). But there is an exception to my err-on-the-side-of-caution civility, as even though in these days of being much more accommodating then ever before and being selfless and helping whomever and however, and trying to be compassionate to virtually everyone. Who gets treatment from HudsonWiNightlife that is a tad bit harsher than others? That segment of bureaucrats and others in power who dropped the ball and let this thing get far worse than it had to. Sometimes biting satire, with well chosen words, is the best teacher, but it also is vital for the writer to be not just a critic, that is easy, but suggest alternatives. Whew, got all that analysis of my methodology behind us.

I will follow soon with a quite detailed listing of the 15 or more main how-we-deal-with-the-virus, important categories that I will hit on, at length, in the following weeks. The metro dailies can dwell on only about half of those and miss almost all of the flavor that can be the result of hanging out here and its bars and-know-it-all bartenders who invariably can be the best sources to be your ears on the street, especially if you don’t have the No Doze, time or ability and describe and analyze how they take different views on which stories to choose among the dozen or more local possibilities each day, and you might be surprised about what I found and how it can be framed as part of the explanation if you trek like this intrepid reporter and make the trip (through bleary eyes but it never gets old, and like the next produce stays fresh, after some Joe) to Kwik Trip every day at 3 a.m., just like Motley Crue, and gain the insight to make comparisons by having worked as a colleague with both of them. These primers likely will be tacked on the bottom of this post, if not elsewhere in the first three departments listed across the top of screen, along with tips on how to use and quickly locate them and become a dictionary on more than music for the reader, take that Jeff Loven and your loud guitar since I won’t see you for a while to tell you in person or via the microphone when I grab it so your hands are freed up to focus on its frets. But hey, hey, hey, viewer might be the proper term to use now that were in a new millennium and a this PC age, and not my old PC I’m banging on, aided and abetted by a virus that could lay waste to our race and its lingo and its yes its very soul, to paraphrase Mick Jagger and his very wisdom that I’ll now co-opt decades from the summer of love, as time is not on our side and marches on and waits for no man, and unfortunately that includes the best of rock icons, before we die and/or fade away or possibly see or hear an end to our civilization in a new millennium and time, as both may soon be gone. Lord could we use Mick and his lyrics and lessons for life right now. Wanna bolt London — is it safer to carry on as a wayward son and forego the now rotting Big Apple, like people do the Warehouse District and head east for the border to Hudson, and keep truckin’ here to hit the the studio? Time will tell, we hope. Until later. Joe and his blog.

This long, long post, expanded on by the hour, of all the great things to do still today right here and now, and only right now, and I originally thought we had much more of a window than that and it shut hard on St. Patrick’s Day afternoon, just when we thought we were besting even The Cities in most things Irish, and revelry events were just getting going and making fodder for the start of several pages of posts that would ASAP in detail virtually everything to do, see, eat, drink and hear, and all the different  forms of greenery and quirky doings that decorate the unique holiday. When done just a wee bit from now, it will be by far the most comprehensive report and events guide in the guise of all things Irish in any way, anywhere, anyhow, in the whole region, even Irish enclaves itself, I gloated on Monday. There also will be, shortly,  a detailed account of the many closings and the varied effects they are having right away, on parades all over the area and otherwise, with a by-the-hour, play-by-play rundown of how the decisions played out and were finalized within hours of each other as each waited to see what the other was doing, for the three city parades that are all within 20 miles of Hudson, which oddly enough even though is bigger than the rest by thousands of people has nothing of this type, but hey as I’ve said, quirky in a charming way is the nature of most things Irish. But this slamming of a door on Erin’s Irish and many others was only the start, There was much more woe to come and quickly. I wrote shortly beforehand that you get the picture, and if I listed it all you’d see that this is the only place you find such varied and detailed content in my manner and writing style that advertisers say is all my own. I guess it was I was the one who didn’t have the picture soon to be even more right in front of me in focus, — SO I HAD TO SPEND HOURS LATE ON MY HOLIDAY AND REDACT AND REVISE AND REPLACE AND MOVE SENTENCES AND PUT IN A BOATLOAD OF TENSE CLARIFICATIONS, BUT THAT’S OK AND MAYBE EVEN MADE THE WHOLE THING BETTER. — Was I focusing too much on all the gold I would get from all the ad support, which shortly down the road to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow would morph into even more readership than already gained by this package, and they surely would keep piggy-backing with luctativeness, (is that a word or even that used in banker-speak?), enough to please even a hog farmer (and that’s a tough sell, especially when it come to farmers, considering these types of concerns they have faced for a long time). After all, why do you think they take out ads, which they value enough to pay for them rather then expecting freebies, enough not only to tell what about what they doing and what makes them different then the other guy,  but log on once in a while to read just for their own entertainment and you can be sure they’ll be online today. That’s readership. And it and the ad money from it is still pretty darn good, as a fairy princess.

One last thing, and this is vital to complete your holiday. which has crucial and significant changes cropping up almost by the minute, especially from the realm of politicians rather than royalty as you might find in the parades, so I ask you — in fact plead with you for both our purposes — to tune in once in a while quite late to get updates and any more cancellations, done on a dime, for a bit of cool flavor from earlier in the day, I wrote at midday. Also readers will get a report of the changes or endings of events along with their rationale and how they will invariably effect people’s plans, and if any are made last minute, I added, as hey, you’ll read it first here — and if after diving too deep into the copy, you find my writing style gets too cumbersome, and I understand that view, take a break. Get out a green beer to gulp, or sip, as here I go again, then come back and log in again, as I will not stop plugging in new happenings, as sometimes the late things are better, and put the final of many updates to bed until after the witching hour, which after all is kinda an Irish thing. Enough. Enjoy both these posts and the parties they tell about, and most of all thanks much for reading, even if it takes some fighting through. Blogger Joe Winter).    .

<Shoop, here it finally is on the events, needed to be done before the cows come home, even in Irish time zones>

Johnnies Bar in River Falls is truly Irish, maybe more than most any, as we presume is everyone there, both staff and patrons, and it will show all day today, or most. The inexpensive beer not only on this holiday but every day is priced far beyond the green variety, and can beat almost everything in River Falls and indeed everything elsewhere around in any cities of size in the region. Things get underway shortly before noon with a veritable Irish band, and there was to be more music that evening with a country group, music of different styles but often similar tone and instruments played, but originating in two different continents, and even with that both seem to sound somewhat like folk, as the orientation of all these musical orchestrations have roots that started in earlier years. Ask your grandma, and speaking of early, you might want to get to Johnnie’s before the big rush might hit even more than usual (see why in the next sentence or two) and get a late or extended noon-hour meal, all the food of this day is available later too, of great grub in the style of small pubs that can still crank out exceptional often down-home food at lower prices then any fancy restaurant in any area.
But like so many of the events all through the day they start early and go late, or in some cases or so we thought, especially in hard-hit RF, so yourself hit as many as you can when you get your Irish up, and don’t dally. Get on over. As is more the case now, the sooner you start the more you can squeeze in, but you can’t wait until much into the evening, although in many bars the off-sale hours have been extended up to a few hours. The other options that may prove to be ongoing, and dominate at least for a while, such as pick and delivery, are detailed in another post that will be current not long from now when published on these pages. With it, as will be justified, is this sage advice: There is always tomorrow to indulge in your Irish-ish entrees of interest. And especially for food, it might be best to put off your celebration dinner until Wednesday, when all the late-arriving, virus-wrought ruckus seen yesterday that brought Rock crashing down locally before bands could get off their tour buses — as this was the day the music died — fully settles in. To shift to other ways to get the food to consumer’s plates, and some don’t really have much of it they can find a use for unless donating it to charitable groups such as those that run food pantries everyone thought would deplete fast, bar and grill staff and management and patrons need to adjust to the major changes that caught them off-guard and without a backup plan, as the virus slammed Minnesota first and still foremost, so some eateries quickly started prepping for this, but a few others eastward didn’t quite find themselves ready to pivot on a dime to a large scale, whole-hog system based on only delivery taking over, they just had to shut even that down until Wednesday. But don’t expect most of them to get going early, and also those who don’t open until near noon might push that back and hour or two, logic would dictate, to buy more time to put in place newer and heavily tweaked dinner distribution plans. To conclude, there are still some places where you can eat something tasty and may have many menu choices — and we give a partial list of their names, hey these are not small towns if serving things with more “proof” than food, most all are more grill than bar, and new conditions created concerning consumption of food items, and condiments are a key cause of concern — so we at HudsonWiNightlife will spill the beans on whatever we know, including the few spots where you can get drinks too, likely to be largely on the light side, such as beer that you can bet your hops on will not be poured from taps, and mixed drinks in glasses you touch to your lips, and put back for rinse, are a definite no-no.  But people have been asked to in their stay home long before, and those is certain risk groups are especially advised to do this, and there are not many places to go anyway, so why not try your hand at cooking up some of the quality grub of the holiday yourself on Wednesday, and try to get some of the inexpensive Erin-ish eats sold to make Irish recipes that come in all the forms and colors of the rainbow, so to speak, at all grocery stores around Hudson and virtually all in River Falls as they are expected to stay open for obvious reasons to provide food and supplement eateries — although you’d surmise patrons are expected to only go when they need to, get as much as is practical in one trip, and even then not stay long — but the Super Savior Stores might not be legislatively able to chip in and help fill the need. There are two that are part of a regional chain that are now rolling out an elaborate, thorough, all-encompassing delivery program by truck in both their cities, something you might only expect to see in The Cities per se.  There are also some time-honored recipes with prior-century art adorning the walls at a few grill and bars, such as the upscale Mallory’s restaurant with rooftop patio, ready for your reference. If these are open.

ALL THE IRISH FOOD, for the most part, is still being sold at those big immediate- area grocery stores and an unknown number of the smaller mom and pop shops to varying degrees of size, more fit to be eaten than some in the Old Country, and is available to be purchased, taken home, prepared and eaten, and the supermarkets that have it discounted, and they are detailed under their own sub-heading further down in this post.

Lord knows the St. Paulites know most of this as it concerns their end, and with every bar and grill in that town, and indeed the rest of Minnesota and beyond, ordered to be shut down because of virus concerns at 5 p.m. pronto, you can bet that all those hoards of people will stream on over to this and other places that surround it, but they will have to look around and do their research to find the relatively few that remain open, and especially when you head back south that’s practically nothing, as that gives mud ducks plenty of time to get here on a wide but crowded freeway. But don’t drink too much as is the typical style of St. Paul on St. Pat’s Day — stick to only a wee, wee bit — as the cops will be out in force on places like I-94 in light of the weekend announcement of closures, which put a damper on Sunday and maybe prompted having an extra beer or two (green in advance?) to drown their sorrows, but hopefully only briefly, or go to church if they are not shutting down services due to dispensations, but don’t stay long. They’ll feel much better toasting St. Patrick’s Day on its arrival, even if the time limit tainted like water that’s gone a wee bit stale (pre-virus). So they’ll get on going well before Bloody Mary time to guzzle as much as they can, as best they can, and as fast as they can. That could keep people away in Minnesota bars come the mid-afternoon, if in a slightly paradoxical way quaff a few beers bring them a sense of clarity and they are no longer green about the dangers and might bolt early, and if they can avoid that very real fear and lead in the way to the bar door and cause more crowding that could increase yet again and spill even bigger onto the sidewalks — have you ever seen even spacious bars like Alary’s packed so tight shoulder-to-shoulder virtually all day that you can’t squeeze in their hallowed doors? — but I don’t know how you cure this dichotomy in this day of social distancing in bars, and even moreo there then is typical. But the cops know all this too, and as people rush to the border in possibly even bigger numbers then usual, whether it be late or even later, (I guess I’ll redact or even retract that original forecast), St. Paulites and other nearby Minnesotans can be thankful for an eastern option and move on the Wisconsin. Hey take the crowding late to the Badger State, we appreciate your money and will accept anyone’s and even their occasional upped Irish, but please do remember to put on extra deodorant early in the day, and yes cologne might help as this is big day and, hey, its OK if you need to borrow a bit of the spray from your wife, girlfriend, mistress or sister — because you know how well people remember what they forgot in the morning and try to make up for it later after pounding a few beers, and then might even digress, like I just did here, to the person on the next bar stool. But don’t do that, travel to places likes Johnnie’s, in River Falls, and also such spots in Hudson, Somerset, New Richmond, Roberts and even extend the road trip a bit more to Hammond, to see what you can find. But back in the Gopher State, you see what can happen when potent Irish whiskey gets involved, not just Wisconsin beer, but crossing the St. Croix River, at the Stillwater Crossing or Hudson, which is far enough south to get murkier, can also yield a much similar consistency than the water that still flows, if just a bit more slowly, in brewing their weaker 3/2 for the odd more weak stomached of Erin? Here’s the proof …

I knew the closing of all restaurants and bars such other places in Minnesota was on, announced by its governor just two days ago amidst a flurry of political attempts to contain virus by executive order, but when combing through the details it was clear it would already take effect on St. Patrick’s Day itself, the busiest bar day of all. But in addition, I just caught wind of the potent proviso the ban would begin at 5 p.m. with the strictness seen at bar time. But it is 5 O’Clock somewhere for Happy Hour, like in certain night spots over here in Wisconsin. By contrast, when we’re travelling the other direction and heading due west like many of us had planned, to get our corned beef and cabbage or cool but tart Irish drinks, and read this right away, you have to rush over there will all the haste of a Twin Citian going the other direction to get our Sunday off-sale. and choose a place on this end of that foreign land. And on the way back make continued haste and head to New Richmond and take in the end of the Irish performance by Hare’s Ear at Mc Cabe’s Shamrock Club, on the near east side, and also get your St. Pat’s button for cheap entry to all the events still standing. The band at that point boards a very intimate stage as it concerns the crowd of lovers of Irish, folk and covers, as even the virus can’t keep this kind of music in a small setting down, starting late afternoon. After all, they are much more entertaining then a reverse name of Ear Hairs would be, and furthermore those hair pieces make it harder to hear, and some in the crowd are old folk and the tunes they are listening to are not that loud anyway — so I guess gotta be a hair band. Just seeing fax on button light up, so rest assured this reviewer will review the bio just coming in quickly, then add some additional info on the band’s direct connection to the McCabe family.

We a bit ago invoked the timeline marker Its Got To Be 5 O’Clock Somewhere, and that’s when people start gathering to get a beer or two before those who crawl in a bit later to the Kozy Korner Pizzeria and Pub, (I tweaked the name a bit just for today), in North Hudson to trek a full mile or two on the notorious and long-running St. Patrick’s Day North Hudson Pub Crawl, a name that when made to crawl off the tongue is almost as exhausting as walking when tipsy. The march will take them to six different bars up and down across the village, at each stop doing what comes naturally to people here in this enclave almost as old as the Old Country, OK that’s an exaggeration worthy of being part of an Irish tale. In that vein, you could also say this from the bartenders, that this event is has as  little of a chance off being cancelled as a leprechaun is tall, unlike all those such crawls in St. Paul, and even the band at McCabe’s Shamrock Club, although you know as they say, Ear Hairs last forever, or maybe they don’t  as I got that name backwards again. You don’t say. Well now I do, as the elf has grown rapidly toward the wee hours of the day. to prove those Kozy bartenders were way wrong around suppertime, sending them home quite early, as well as the crawl’s drinkers all.

Hudson Tap in downtown Hudson is fairly new, but its format has been honed to a tee by those in the industry who have set it up and run it, because they have experience that goes back years. Uhm, just one thing — they have all kinds of great and varied stuff, volumes of it, and the St. Pat’s Day specials add to that, and they have been running since the weekend, but wait, they took down the sign that listed all the things a day or two ago. Can these bar people see ahead into time? To fill that gap now that it is or was needed, they offer things you don’t often find that include $5 cards yielding credits to play their games that you can win if you’re lucky and get there early and I guess it turned out that was needed, and also holiday drinks that you don’t always find. Some bar comfort food, too, if you lose at gaming, or from just getting the virus and fade fast to find your grip on the console’s gun handle and even on reality loosening, and even worse if Your Favorite Bar is closing hours early. Best to leave faster then the Pinball Wizard’s fingers so you don’t infect anyone since you arrived — but the zombies roaming the screen you just shot.

Paddy Ryan’s in the town of North Hudson is more recent but has always allowed itself to remain traditional Irish though open to the new, thus their signature corned beef and cabbage, thin-sliced but still with body, more tender and almost melting in your mouth then the vast majority, is prized by many. So what can you expect on St. Patrick’s Day for that type of entree that makes it go beyond the holiday and still be available, but in a tweaked manner of the offering on Tuesday, which makes for ad campaign material many a PR man would appreciate, but the format of the food plate is basic enough so you can nod your head knowing the idea is carried out so creatively, and not so fancy to require a bunch suits several meetings to come up with. So it could be the ultimate Irish food form of a combo, or trio? Anyway, the CBC teams up with a succulent full fillet of fish that’s a local favorite, and a side dish befitting the Irish. That’s a creative mix of food that’s  all- entree-oriented, and the Big Three Bonanza is something you just don’t see, so we will have to see if Paddy Ryan’s menu brings it back, or tweaks it to yet another format. But to be sure, all three  delicacies listed are certainly available separately every day, and this way can be ordered with a yet different side dish of even more Irish fare, of which there are many that vary, to make it possible to use the term Four Horseman, if I can say so, and I do. Even they would be satisfied by the the cool and also hot mixture of a dish that has many different shapes, colors and sizes among its ingredients, as shown on one of their ads.

<You can still have all you can eat of great Irish dishes, but now its best to buy it at stores such as these, then bake it yourself, and later scout harder for some liquor too, but it  will>

First, what we found quite late when compiling the listings gleaned while making the rounds to skim signs that enable inclusiveness and as much detailed as possible, and this will be updated almost each hour, scoured quickly to add more data as businesses with different niches within the food and beverage industry open up shop at times that range throughout the morning or more, as there is a need to supplement what could not be found out on short notice late last night, and I will try to get it up as soon as I can, as fast as some of the applicable delivery services of stores who do bought food, my Local Heroes, (more on that running joke some other time, invented by one of the main managers at San Pedro on Main Street, not the Caribbean, which also shuttered quite early on Tuesday night, who I have known since he was an eighth grader when he began bunking at our house for a several-year period and I must say that under partially Irish upbringing he blossomed, although he would probably use a more manly term. So couldn’t get rid of him, and now he’s showing me up —  bloggers don’t get any respect, maybe because of long rants like this and since I still such trivia to the boot now, such tricks are for kids).  I will try to view of the markets that have the best prices for you and your wallet on the best post-St. Patrick’s Day-food, mostly in Hudson and also touching on River Falls mostly, and New Richmond:

— Family Fresh Market in both RF and NR is unveiling an extensive grocery delivery program at just the time most needed, with a block of substantial membership time to be low-priced for each period (annually that is) of usage and billed at just under $50. A reasonable separate fee is charged for each delivery/miles, and the truck will only take the goods so far, that being the case in New Richmond too. Much bigger Hudson has lost out, way too far away from both cities, sitting in the middle between them and also sliding a wee way westward, and has no comparable in-house service from a grocer — except maybe its very own Jimmy Johns and a few other such fast-food-ish faves that followed their lead in mastering the business of delivering more than pronto — but to call them real grocers is quite a stretch. Their Hudson store is somewhat centrally located in this much bigger and also a quite sprawling city, but has hours far too short to appease any Night Owl — as such a trek would take too much time to get there anyway in order to meet stringent delivery timetables, especially for the actual grocers that are the only other option. To wit: The service they provide gets food you order to the front door fast, almost in real time and fully freaky fast? But this is not Jimmy Johns, as in the fantasy realm its drivers go knocking on the front door before the delivery-request call is even made, but might as well have been. The Jimmy Johns in River Falls is just across the main drag from Family Fresh, and there could quickly become a healthy and spirited battle for your burger buck, and all the other favorite foods for which you are willing to pay, Irish thus included and other greenish options are whole bins of dozens of odd-looking and exotic fruits, most but not all from the tropics, and of all colors, shapes and sizes, just for a change of pace in taste, which I found to be different and delicious based on the few I tried to not only eat but pronounce. A point: Hey, they have to them to your fridge quickly to remain fresh, using delivery that needs to fast and not far and nearly furious as they are you know mostly tropical in nature, but not too fast that pieces of the at times narly fruit that can be almost charming misshapen, and flip out of the back when there’s hole in the road or speed bump that needs to be traveled to get to places like Buffalo Wild Wings, its loading dock or even just the parking lot, and cause the cops to raise up an eyebrow or two, and just as important the food is trashed and we cannot waste it like we have almost always done. Sound like a few far-fetched scenarios from a sci- fi  studio that places more value that’s over-bloated as a fish dead from the virus, truly as health risk, in studiousness over packing action– did I say that about my prose? — but a failure to change practices just might mean too few Classic Buffalo Wings available to fashion many of their two-fers each Tuesday, and on the one just past, that was offered up again, this time as a spicy alternative to mild corned beef, and same game plan was used to pull of another Taco Tuesday, and in the latter case they got the bulk of their time actually put in, but not at BWW, which normally goes to midnight, but in this case again it was indeed the witching hour, a term that again has partial Irish Old Country origin, at least in part due the various forms of pagan presence that were there in the past. Got the keep the law even in a Virus World, and maybe be even more adamant about it then.

But back to business on the fate of these few stores, this competition could bring you even more bang for your buck and in the long run benefit, too, the very-similar markets that used to just bag them for you can now simply haul them all your way by placing the load in their back seat or such area. Again the point of this shoot from the hip analysis and that’s all it is, being for likely much more than a year or so this New Normal will stretch out the systems and methods used by all grocers not just the ones named above, as an example of how we get our food, all of it, from the shelf to our home appliances so they can take over the job of managing freshness, all in the steps calculated to effectively and efficiently keep the virus at bay, while keeping the crispness that we semi-spoiled clan of Americans demand and have come accustomed to over time, in indeed virtually everything perishable from fresh fruit and vegetables to fresh ground beef and look like they could have been ravaged by the killer virus like can be done by one of those well noted Midwest tornados, no mulligans. Cannibal sandwiches may, literally fly in Wisconsin, hey the beef was raised here and in most cases “local” is a key to intelligently using things like proximity to win the freshness war, and smart distribution that does not involve trekking food that could be at risk over multiple state lines or God Forbid, and not the now aptly-named-it-would-seem death metal group, a foreign border. This is far more important then your golf score and what’s on that green.

Winning the Battle of the Bug when it comes to keeping it from tainting our food will require all the creativity we are known for here in this country, and around these parts more than most other places, much like the mental acuity that will be needed to develop a vaccine, and both will need money thrown at them, one more than than other. Closer to the start of the food chain on the farm fields will be just as crucial a key, and with Wisconsin and Minnesota’s farmers, researchers, ag agents and experts, even the young farmhands learning ropes concerning all different forms of the trade at UW-River Falls, yes the Falcons, as they’ve even rivaled the Badgers in that kind of thing and competition can breed much success in many more worlds then sports, and maybe having a minor there in how to more quickly and efficiently develop and produce all the virus test kits that are needed. Got milk, you might not without farmers in our two states, and now their responsibilities double down, as you can imagine the microbe-related mess the could result today from a really dirty barn, and if it was drunken by people who got it from America’s Dairyland? That could shut down a village the size of Somerset or Roberts, and conversely, all the farms in St. Croix County, big and even small, fully rural or bordering on bigger Hudson where I’m guessing almost half of the population base in the county is found,  and that’s people in big houses, not cows in barns that are getting better and more sanitary, are all keys to feeding the state, county and even the world that now even more is becoming as one, as every bit of food even if its just a few pounds that would be lost now its made vital by the virus, and every scrap and crumb is valuable.

Way to the east, in Hudson, north on the I-94 frontage road, is a store that methinks considering its focus on all things related to health and fitness and wellness and indeed the environment, maybe should float a storefront a mile further east onto the St. Croix River, when it was in its cleaner days due to the backing at a Major League-level, befitting-Twins-not-Brewers, hard-to-get and therefore prized declaration of National Wild and Scenic River, on the support of a lawmaker from the Gopher State, not the Badger State. Now I will now stop rambling like a stir-crazy Mountain Man, and define my point. That clean water grows great produce and on both ends of this huge planet and having largely taken care of its environment much better than us are the Irish, who seem to be Lucky about at least that facet of their life, to a degree by any means and maybe it is a God-given gift to these very religious to people and their quite matriarchal society to be nurturing of all things including the land and the waters that flow through it. Or what do I know? I do know, or again at least strongly suspect, that this a shared value shared with the stewards of the Old Country and its nature, and the people who manage and staff Fresh at Fresh and Natural Foods, again in Plaza 94, who appear to be using all these facts, and/or opinions, to include in their inventory four or five quite exotic Irish food varieties, the exact number depending on how you define exotic, that cut across many of the major food groups.

The free medical clinic of Pierce and St. Croix Counties might best be known for serving people of quite limited financial means in western Wisconsin — pardon me but you might think about the Irish in the potato famine of older days that afflicted people — but once a year the camaraderie of its laid back staff, which has busy streaks but not always, extends to one of their patrons who is truly Irish to the core.
Jean Conant dons her green garb, clothing, elongated pointy and thin shoes, bright hat and scores of beads and shamrock jewelry and has a tradition with them of singing the best of Irish tunes, much to the pleasure behind the oval front counter of the dozen or more staff, who enjoy service every Tuesday evening run at the Vibrant Health Clinic at River Falls Hospital, but in this case song even more — aided by the fact that St. Patrick’s Day is on a Tuesday; you knew that already.”We would just love it when she would sing for us each year,” several of them said as one. That is why she has been asked to get on all of her nearly single-purpose whole closet full of green, not just the parts most convenient for driving from North Hudson to River Falls like in past years, and regaling them completedly this year. For past costume contests where almost always kicks butt like any good Irishman (or Irish women in this case) would do in a spirited fight like this. And in much the same costume with even more contest although tweaked to become a Halloween witch, she made it a cardinal rule from which she would not budge not to stay in costume that includes gobs of makeup, or put them on for more than one night for each day of what can be an extended holiday weekend, plus one more time around if Halloween falls during the week. Be she will make an exception for the annual RF revelry and stay much longer in costume and in character which includes being in near-constant conversation, which can take fairly exhausting mental effort. Add to the hours the fact that the clinic opens right on the tick of the clock right after 4 p.m. and a lot of the other cool stuff on this particular day goes on until bartime. That will be more than 10 hours, not counting all the hours to get dressed, when all that green paint goes on and can cake and be a wee bit uncomfortable long before she jumps in our old Ford Focus. In another form of focus on what’s truly important and mirthful and only comes once a year and make it count — the workday can most every day and maybe, just maybe, it can wait just a bit — Conant’s clan at the front desk do not get their to be on deck until a bit later, although on this day they might go sooner and meet her at the door when it opens. And the intake staff in that far back door that’s the only one used that early, would certaintly find they getup a hoot also, and that might prompt the ditties to kick in. Not the Celtic women, but quite good, all said.
One of the most favorite of the fans is a nursing volunteer who also is a longtime teacher, who had to retire, so to speak, because of a family situation. She always would do her imitation of a jig, by dancing and shifting back and forth, as the songs played out, and added that she misses these times greatly now that she is not there every Tuesday, but mostly on the one closest to St. Patrick’s Day. Others of the group say that the lively and upbeat style of these classic ditties, by contrast to the somber tones you might expect, is what they enjoy the most, and why she has been extended a chance to do the full performance, in the fullest of garb, this year.
It might be a be a wee bit hard in 2020, though, because her big green pointed shoes, a foot long and much more in girth than her normal size eights, have been broken while in storage the other 364 days — or should we say a full, sort of, 365 this time around due to leap year. That was the full costume that captured a win in a contest a couple of years ago, when she crossed the St. Croix River into Minnesota to hit the American Legion hall in Bayport. The band, it should be noted, was was a full six-some ensemble of all women that included some songs from those Celtic women that have been favorites.
Conant also applied some green face paint a couple of times in Hudson to gain wins in costumes there that were tweaked to show her as an old hag witch, this time for Halloween, at both Dick’s Bar and the Smilin’ Moose, on different years and only a leprachauns sprint away, or one might say two blocks. These got her a total of $200, and that will supply a few rounds of Jameson. People said they liked her as this character in large part because her missing tooth that gleemed in its absense, making for a wry smile none the less.
The tunes lean more to the American-Irish. One of the group’s favorites might not be among the most well known, except to Irish through the through.
Here goes, to the style the truly Irish name, Eileen Augg. “Oh fiddle de diddle dee, eats and pain me quick or I be gone, fiddle de diddle dee, cats and mini me, I’m a leprechaun. When I was a wee lad, about 17, people need to say, and they would always sing …”
The crew got a warmup on a night right before press time for an Irish magazine, for which I write articles that are much like this, as they were not at their stations yet, so for Conant and I though a bit early despite the time I pushed it to meet deadline and could have backed things up quite a bit, it was over to the receptionists, who greeted her with broad smiles. Then it was back to the counter, and the first one their was Lee, who is probably the most over-the-top in her liking of the interaction. “Gee there were 16 people who signed up,” Conant said, to which her friend said “how did you know that befofe I did?” And so it goes between them. And if the shoes cannot be seen, she said, there is always a counter between them anyway. It had been 11 years since the severe electric shock that she had that put her in the situation of coming here, Conant noted, to which Lee said, “has it been that long? We’re all still here.”
Conant added that she to the nextdoor Allina Clinic, for a separate matter, a frostbitten finger, which she might have been playing up a bit like an Irishman telling a tale. Or did see get this on a frosty Irish night? Anyway, it was agreed, adding to the tale that you’ve got to be an MVP to need two clinics on the same wee night.
But it was the performance at the Smilin’ Moose last Halloween, again, like a tweaked leprachaun, that really stole the show, which gives away a total of almost $1,000. Conant, who gave out allegedly poison apples to all comers, was attracting a gentlemen crowd even though she is is disabled and uses a walker, on which she was seated when coyly giving out the fruit. Then, when she was selected as a finalist, to get on stage that was three feet high, a problem presented itself.
With the help of as couple of not so wee lads, Conant was able to take her place on the stage, much to the applause given that was by far the most of the night for any contestant.

After a bit, she upstaged even the best of the beauties. Much like the proverbial Eve, another of the contest winners, reprising an earlier victory, a Medusa all clad in gold like the pot at the end of the rainbow, clapped even moreso for the one in green.
But to the point of the coming St. Patrick’s Day, will all was aware in on a Tuesday, Conant although prized was told not to show until after the busy first half-hour the clinic is open, a tough task for an eager Irishman. So maybe first a Guinness…? All the better to free up time for songs of Erin, so maybe come and listen?

(A timeout that’s the full one and not the shorter 30 second version, then you can read a big bonus of a read we think worthy of all these bonus babies and franchise player tags. Even though we until now, as people such as blue-color, beer guzzling Brewer fans — some of them ones that Google says read this website even though its far afield, as opposed to Twins fans locally, and may be stepping aside from that Brewer game on the tube as there simply is no such thing right now — though loving their sports didn’t like the rich diva idea. The UW Madison marching band music of instruments made of metal and maple aside, as sports seasons are being cancelled faster than the famously printed in the past the Nolan Ryan fastball, there are some things that have stood the test of time and are more permanent and possibly eternal than even the worst viruses, which will eventually fall by the wayside like the rink ice melts do come spring and the cleansing of renewal. That’s coming soon. Like Led Zeppelin and the equally famous Stairway to Heaven song that is a virtual hymn promises, “If there’s a Bustle in Your Hedgerow, Don’t be Alarmed Now. It’s Just a Springclean For the May Queen.” Springsteen would like all this, minus the partial plagerism that he would consider another form of plague and maybe pagan, although I think the latter is just fine, and given beliefs that they hold as Earth Day has almost arrived, and because as the numbers of death mount we need more than ever, evermore, all of us, to come together as one to . But there is not eternity to wrap up this transition. However, extra innings often are in the offing when interpreting of truth, as America’s Game, taken to The Continent, the rest of Europe and the other continents, is more vital even as it and its lasting hopefulness are shared with the rest of the world.  The above are things we gave to take solace in and contemplate, and indeed keep constant focus on, like a batter with unyielding eyes always of the baseball. In time more sports seasons will come and be played, as even a virus is not forever. There will not be an overtime to this battle, much less two, as the Wild across the Deep and Wide St. Croix River that will not stop flowing, often wrestle with. Break On Through To The Other Side. And as a man who is spiritual merging with religious, it quite obviously is ticking time to look to God, if even just a bit more, and even ask him to intervene.  Given the nature and tone and tome of this post, and this is something I seldom do but not never, note the lack of capitalization, a choice not easily made, when I invoke the deity. Devine and even more human than our theology might hold. And even if not a spiritual or ecumenical believer, or none at all, please join me and ALL others, as the virus does not hold anyone sacred only scared — when the next games inevitably come — in prayer/and/or/meditation/and/or even basic and simple thought as theology.

There is a compelling reason to recite this treatise, which even though having its main thought behind the philosiphising, to again board the Zeppelin and its songs of hope, “All will be revealed.” And sooner rather than later, as it concerns the following article branching off into the realm of competition (American Idols) that find the Badger Band taking stage as one that provides both styles including music, Swoop Here It Is:  I have given it somewhat of a redaction, now a more and more used political term as disaster waits for no editor, now tossing in a lot of quips and puns in order to entertain, certainly not offend, but does humor know no boundaries? In the final analysis, while laughter may give mirth to the soul that is ill and distressed, that soul can also be harmed in a bad way no virus can accomplish. So I promise be careful and more than usual, take a bit more time to edit, revise if the tone would provide more evil than good, and maybe even a few times delete after further review. Avoiding bringing further pain to those already ready suffering, even though a gut-buster can again both help them or bring a queasy stomach or sometimes both, is The Prime Directive. With that said, in coming weeks you are sure to see reams of quasi-medical coverage in this style on these pages as it pertains to nightlife and what businesses such bars and their owners, staff and patrons face while still striving to be able to pour drinks to roughly the same number of people, and maybe also able to provide entertainment like that here — nobody can tell a joke or story like a bartender. And I’m sure we say as one, as this is what’s in the front page of the playbook, let’s try please not to offend.

Lets all hope such journalism remains active long after the virus is a distant memory. Although and here’s the rub, better to laugh than cry. So after having to fight all the way through, here is your reward, sometimes light in nature and possibly edging toward gallows humor considering the subject matter can be much darker in spurts. Hope you enjoy this read and let’s play hockey. But sorry, not quite yet.

Once you are done, double back and at least skim these  basic (really, though I may drop the ball) journalistic ground rules I have set for myself, and I hope you can chuckle at not only this post, but also the many that follow on sports and other topics, such as music, as they really tease the Irish by using expounding on their stereotypes, as I go in part secular, but I hope we ALL laugh, and not get up our collected Irish. And yet again, it hope it is seen in that spirit. And with that said, I hope you can tolerate all my bad puns and long stream-of-thought sentences and milking of references that also include music, and constant alliteration and other wordplay that I hope is worth a laugh and a respect toward my atypical style everyday that readers say is mostly mine alone and brings them as often as they have time, which can be quite a bit shorter these days with the many and varied forms of virus prep. Hope hat lengthy rationalization is worthy of, say, the singular and stellar solo in the song, as I again copy it as both a singer and writer, Stairway to Heaven in the extended version(s), as here I go again, as you will see it a lot in the future, if their is as future, and lets be hopeful rather than frantic.

I like this post I have made, and I have seen more and more like it, and I like that attention to what matters. So you may see the message again on these pages in a shortened version that’s edited down form, and I’ll do my best to be concise even though as you can see that could be even more of a wee woe for me and soon worsening than even further on the finding now-hoarded necessities. But we need to be reminded often and at length as the complex medical details of this malady unfold, moreso sooner rather than later, or until the virus poses no more threat than the flu. I had a good downtown-scene friend who was longtime, back in the day that it really kicking in again, Kari McDaniel, you would always say things like, “I like talking to you,” rather than the other L word. A last thought, I promise, and that consideration is more vital than ever these days and that goes double for our politicians and how the handle this whole multi-faceted mess: Like Kari, we are all these days are hedging our bets as then we can take the time to think things through and be more cautious then ever in most cases and compulsively collecting TP is an exception. Kari has not only beauty but brains, although she would likely not even allude to it, much less state those words directly as do our more and more brazen political hacks, and we can learn from her and take the lead minding from that and those previously stated attributes.

Whew. Lets play hockey. UW style.

<And now here it is, the rest of the ‘long’ story, now sport>

This big Badger marching band will again bring their swing music our way and march into Kozy Korner on Saturday morning, the March Seventh of March Madness, as they have done for well over a decade, and make their almost always annual trip to the Twin Cities and beyond for the postseason play that includes both the men’s and women’s teams of hockey and basketball from UW. They have more members than the politicians now confirmed to have the MegaBug, and the band is so popular that even the virus and its possibly music-hating zombies  are not likely to decrease the number of musicians playing a like number of instruments. The this instance intimate indoor experience, there’s no social distancing here, that benefits the women’s hockey squad will transpire in the north part of North Hudson at the pizzeria and bar around 10 a.m. That’s before zombies rise, and time in transit before boarding the big Badger band bus, then dodging any that exist and try to cross the freeway and get to the other side, depends on whether it snows and brings a you-never-know-its-spring-in-Wisconsin March Madness event now bye-bye sheet of ice to Interstate 94 that’s beyond the thickness of the frozen water found on a rink, all of which was thought might freeze the zombies and kill the zombies even further, thus saving the day (and even the night) and the season. But unlike rock star divas, these musicians will never cancel a trip or performance, unless the frigid Frozen Four flurry of flakes builds to the point it freezes over the freeway. But these players and their band are masters of strategy, and they still might find a way to get to this place where even the occasional open stretches of water on the St. Croix River would then ice over.

At one point a few years ago, before the local Badger base built even more, and newbies to the community were exposed to the Frozen Four frenzy to Fargo, where was a second chance in three days to see the Badger band kozying up to Kozy, as they and their pumping horns swung through all the way up to the eastern edge of North Dakota. There’s got to be some value in that trek, and build even more of a fan base, as it makes the Hudson-Twin Cities trek seem almost like going around the block. Not that they don’t prize the Kozy experience, although it still is somewhat of a hike, as they plan their travel time around it and deviate — did I use that word about the Madison and State Street crowd, although over decades the partying has ebbed — their schedules to make sure they get there. And about the reference earlier in the sentence, they know how to party as pertains to some of the brothers in their Nelson ownership more than others as that makes the family-run place at Kozy even more of a homey hockey draw, and make Kozy truly social and special, as befits the name, as they sometimes kozy up to places even around town into Hudson. But they always stay in control enough to not only be the life of the party, but make time with the ladies, even the really nice ones, who can be quite friendly in a good way on the North Hudson into Hudson scene anyway, as Wisconsin has been know to best even Minnesota nice. But stop in Kozy to have the band of brothers regale you with tales of yore with their “research, both here and yonder. It all brings a new sense of ambiance to the casual, or a bit raucous, conversion that combine to define the Kozy experience — and like supermodels, and also those rock god version of musician, have come to be known locally by a one-word name.
And I really do digress, or maybe regress, but boy do those horns swing. They once again they’ve been the definition of demonstrative, swaying sideways or up and down with every passing second. Despite that speed, there was still time for them to flash a waving hand or thumbs up sign between notes. It was right around 5 p.m. — as it has to be 5 O’Clock somewhere, why not here? — in days back, typically making the time, that the two dozen or so members marched into Kozy, and quickly rounded a couple of corners in the establishment, with some of them flipping on through to the back area without missing a beat.
After a quick first number, instructions made their way to the end of the band’s line via both words and non-verbal cues have always been a consistent staple, adding to the quality of this performance, even though live. Soon they would be circling up and around past the kitchen area — or have one of their members with the biggest instrument stand up high inside a booth to toot his horn — taking time on occasion for chant lines such as “when you say Wisconsin …”
The patrons love it, as again back in the day that was even more the prime of Badger glory years they have built on over many years with Kozy’s help, a woman just an arm’s length away from one of the players led them in swaying with the band. A pair of young girls stood on their chairs to applaud, and closer-by, two young boys next to the tuba player covered their ears. Between the reactions of the four of them, it appeared the volume was at just the right level.
One of the patrons, a recent transplant from Ohio, said she was heartened by the family friendly atmosphere, and the politeness and attentiveness to the children’s needs even as the music poured out — something you wouldn’t necessarily find in her home state. When she had come in with a relative, they were asking the best place to see the soon-coming show, and the locals said, again politely, that any of the booths were fine, as the band by the nature of their performance would be cycling through the entire area.
The newfound fan from Ohio — where her favorite being Ohio State that is well-known as was told to me by a patron at a downtown Hudson bar, and she never misses a game mostly at only the cool local Buffalo Wild Wings and is befitting this entire bar area its also cool staff, and is a college and not so much a bonafide university known at a football factory over other sports and studies — whew — as had even for her night out at Kozy had gone out to buy a black Badger sweater, with slightly edgy lettering that was partially in a neon green, kinda like those Packers also big at Kozy and Vikings and other grid teams too. (They will all get you a free drink it you arrive before kickoff on game day). She thought this more appropriate than her Buckeye shirt.To wrap up that earlier weekend, there was a Badger men’s basketball against Ohio State, at 3:30 p.m. around happy hour time, and hockey that night. You just might see someone in Buckeye garb. With that said, Amy, can we kiss and make up, so to speak, even though you stiffed us on the rent, and we can party down with the Badger band, as I know you like to do this once in a great while on a special occasion, and we both are certain this qualifies.
Co-owner father of Ryan Nelson, who appears to be the mainstay of many mainstays that include some of the longtime staff that are even known across the street to workers at an enemy sports bar, just kidding as they are all kozy — again, whew –has known the longtime Badger band director, Mike Leckrone, for years, going back beyond the days along time back when his charges started building their North Hudson experience, by playing at that bar across the street, which has even more room, although even back then was still full, although remaining kozy. It was at this place that the pizzeria that is now Kozy began, and is still running after years of experience that mean both places are still serving some of the best pizza in the area. Ryan, who got started there by putting years under his belt, said the band leader is a “Hall of Fame type,” known for his ability to remember names, presumably quite a few people locally.
While it has become “second nature” to hear the swing play, the music still gets people pumped. The band is fun and loud, in a good way, and their trademark songs, such as On Wisconsin and Varsity, never get old, Ryan said. They may also throw in a variation from their usual song list, such as Swingtown, the favorite of Ryan’s dad.
There were from that earlier HudsonWiNightlife report, about 23 musicians performing at the pizzaria, and they will likely make it an even two-dozen tomorrow, which is a common traveling size and a good enough number to make the rocking joint truly cozy but again, not too jam packed. You have to consider that the band is used to playing at really packed bars of all sizes back in Madison.
The Badgers on the court not the ice, also a hallmark at Kozy, in that earlier excursion forced also prized viewing at a No. 7 Oregon and Wisconsin contest by beating American by 40 points, their biggest postseason win ever, which also was shown dunking their way through at Kozy.
And hey, if you can’t show to see the show on Saturday if its too early from the night before — shame on you, the Nelsons and Leckrone say — the Badger band presumably with new soloists will be back many times again, and look for the announcements here — maybe even still this sports season(s). Any questions, call Kozy, as the staff will field your call, possibly with a listing of their many prominent food and drink specials, and don’t forget the pizza, thick or thin, which can also be delivered if you are visiting from a place like Madison, or other Cheesehead country from elsewhere in the state and even the very rural parts unknown where there is any appreciation for the favorite sports team of the (many) seasons, and cheese and beer and other spirits. After all the staff has tales to tell of many sorts, of both magical music and in that vein maybe even all the spirits that are said to abound locally.

(Did we say hockey? Tune in Friday for puck primer preview report, as the big Badger band that plays for them and their basketball teams makes yet another a stop at Kozy Korner in North Hudson, kinda the ice capital of Wisconsin at many levels, with horns blowing and fill the place up. Don’t miss the advance coverage!)

What’s your favorite political hack, and pizza snack, and hockey puck-slapping honey? And can they carry a swooning tune that can keep up with the Joneses? Read, and listen, on for the rest of this rambling rant of a roundup …
— The bartender at Green Mill had her birthday (Sweet 16?) on Valentine’s Day, and when she told me this it was National Pizza Day, to boot, their specialty. The trifecta? And have this reference become the Frozen Four — the Kozy Korner kind now that its high school and college hockey playoff time with the local girls team going — and the server noted that she would still be wearing her flip flops to further force spring and its holidays, but they broke, in part because of the cold they were exposed to. And across the freeway at Jonesy’s The Local, its been a while since I’ve given the gift of macho gab and his place a plug, there was a big placard about an extended V-Day special, with dozens of red hearts decorating it. It was an off hour, and there still were more people in the place then hearts. A truly popular place, even in the winter doldrums …
— Across from Guv’s Place and its many outdoor volleyball courts tucked in the back, on the right side is (or was) a big excavation machine, even bigger than some of the popcorn machine honkers at certain area bars. These are sand volleyball courts, of course, and the big digger might do some heavy lifting and supply more sand not only for the courts, but for some of the icy roads, such as the ones revamped out front — more lanes to get to Guv’s. But now the big rig has been moved, probably because spring is (relatively) near and the need for sand on streets is less. And when what’s left of the snow melts, the grit under players feet takes care of itself.
— The vote is in and its maybe a bit like American Idol, singers vs. politicians. In the St. Croix County primary election, and I was there at the courthouse taking notes, Tom Tiffany took it, emulating the success that the bubble gum pop singer Tiffany had years back (similarity about substance, no not those kind of substances?) He beat out guy by the name of Church, a politician that likely was milking, in of all places Wisconsin, the dairy capital of the world if you rule out California, the Religion factor as he is a Republican, and this Church seemingly didn’t have the same success as country singer of much the same philosophical ilk Eric Church. And on the way home, his campaign signs seemed buried in snowbanks, in groups, and hard to see. (So was this all a snow job?) And also on the way home, well after polls closed and just in time for last call, I saw a bunch of painted-on kites (flying?) on an electrical box. Gee, Ben Franklin and his famous shocking experience … Maybe he should rise again, now that its Lent, and run for office again. We could use him! Especially with the enemy state’s Amy K. now gone. (We were debating how to spell that one, maybe for the last time).
— You gotta love these signs. At Kozy Korner, there was the current message: Justin Beiber’s song Baby was written about a breakfast pizza. A little baby or a babe love interest? In the latter case the pizza, if its high on pepperori and she indulges here too frequently, and they get celebs, might lead to complection problems that look the same way on a face, it would seem. (I’m sorry if that was mean, but to keep up the goods with Justin, you have to be upper crust.) So Kozy might consider offering some free ointment along with the extra cheese (Just kidding. These guys and gals at Kozy are just great, and they can party a bit too. Just ask forever weeknight bartender Sue across the street at the Village Inn, and Sue knows). And to invoke one more Kozy sign, If at first you don’t succeed, go ask mom. As in the old Italian matriarchs that really populate the village, hey their families are big.
— And then across the way at The Nova, with summer coming and outdoor music, there was this great tidbit of a topical message. Yes, HudsonWiNightlife can be current with the news once in a while: We would have a better sign, but the Astros stole it. And for even more topical, if not tropical punch, which we hesitate to mention because there has now been a United States death, (but as a bar buddy of mine so often says, better to laugh then cry). But consider this sign: Our Corona 7 is virus free … yet. (Dots added). To that point, a friend has been put in a two week quaranteen because a co-worker had been to China recently. Sucks, because he still owes me bar money, and hey, I can’t collect if his cash is tainted, even when he gets out. And one more, another friend was waiting to get her driver’s license renewed … is she young enough to get carded and need ID? … because wanted to get new glasses to make sure she would pass the vision test, and the glasses were held up in shipping from China, where everything is made these days starting with eyeware (they are a bit behind in porn, the regime squelches stuff like that), and it will be another month before it gets here via (visa) Chinese Pony Express — otherwise known as Panda? Her mom stepped in, another mom reference, and saved the day by mailing her — Express mail this time — the shapes of all the signs so even if you can’t read the letters, you can still find a way to skirt the system. And not to joke any more about the land that is bad tariff territory, and the awful thing that may be soon befall many of us, not just them, I’ve often wondered this, long before the current virus outbreak, about the shirts worn at Dick’s Bar and Grill by the staff — but the bouncers and not the bartenders — that says simply “Staff” on the back: Gee, is that a statement about employment status or some kind of infection? And do the bartenders who do not wear these shirts know something that their co-workers don’t. With that said, I met a worker I know at Freedom in the bathroom — don’t read anything into that — and suggested he wash his hands the proverbial, or did I just make it proverbial, six-and-a-half minutes, “or the virus police will get you.” He scoffed a bit at that, but then did wash at least the prescribed minute. I on the other hand bolted without doing the same, hey the sink was occupied? What, you’re telling me there was more than one faucet? Crap, also an operative word. Around the house I would not get away with that. And now we here Corona is present in every continent but Antarctica. Apparently penguins are immune to the virus, maybe because they don’t indulge in Corona-type booze, yet another advantage of sobriety.
— You can buy into the future of the former Season’s Tavern building, but it will cost you more than one of their famous Bloodies. The sign now says — on one side only, hmm. — not something about food and that noted Thursday Camel house band, but this: Buy or lease: (651) 233-7339. (Free plug for a great former customer of HudsonWiNightlife). If you take away the area code, you just might have the asking price? Or, there is an option, and it involves their most noted entree and its many varieties. The monthly payment could be the equivalent (in kind?) of 50 walleye dinners (discounted for fast sale?) And the closing costs are covered with those many sides of tartar! (Just kidding and Brad know this from me). Good luck to him and we will miss him and his frenetic drumming with Thirsty Camel. Not Keith Moon, but hey …
— The Lord’s Chair, not just the Lord’s Prayer via again Iron Maiden, has been constructed of snow in North Hudson, and can be seen on your way back from Starr’s Bar, with a snowman watching over like an angel. The sofa of snow says in front where an ottoman would be, its hard to tell, but they kind of read the same, either Lord or God. This is the same place that had a Halloween style Nativity a few months back. I guess this family is in good stead without further Lenten penance, as they beat it to the punch.
–When the weather got even a few degrees warmer, but still below freezing, the people in shorts started coming out. And I, being the one who braves the late night temps well into November wearing such to bring you these news tidbits, was leading the way. But then the day when the warmth finally creeped up to get to the freezing mark and a bit above, you could easily tell that the joggers shorts were REALLY short. But there was still that one running person wearing a hat … And on a day that was back to cool temps, there still were those cross country team runners, two of the three, who were shirtless. This as almost as macho as football players and wrestlers. And the next day, when colder again, the CC people in River Falls were out and about with hooded sweatshirts. And again, the next day, or was it two days later, it was back to warmth, but even so, some were back to sporting parkas, some even with sweatshirt sleeves under. (The commonality: Lots of spandex pants, cut off at the calf). What a difference a day, or more, make.

And now that its sunk in, you think that you have a Super Bowl story, while you were having a beer and munching popcorn? One this lucrative no matter which team advances to that contest?
For starters, going back to the playoffs that led up to the Big Game, and this could be a looking back Glory Days reference, a local bartender at Dick’s Bar and Grill had an on the side bet — in the amount of get this, $100 — that the 49ers would beat the Packers in the NFC title game. That way, if he’d win the bet, of course he’s money ahead. And if Green Bay won, he’d get that much difference in tips, as this place close to the border crossing caters both Packer and Vikings fans. San Francisco took that game, but no idea if the worker had another field day and retained his big money at the Big Game.
Two older church ladies I know shook loose their husbands and got them to go out — as far as the living room. None are good football fans, but for the Super Bowl … wouldn’t miss that one, even though, again, these families when they cater to Dick’s are more the afternoon businessman crowd. Something here with the special teams involved, and not those on kickoffs and punts. Don’t know whether they gave the live on-air announcers any heart attacks to report from them. And the grub they cut short to watch from the first kick? Something to do with slabs (plural) for Kansas City style BBQ ribs, and were not talking about the Big Guys Roadhouse BBQ or Southern Smokehouse variety. (Memories of tailgating in warmer temps?) Not that San Fran does not have its own great grid grub, but you know these old school guys the their food faves, especially when it comes to football. And they love the local chili cookoffs when they are available.
All this banter is a regular occurrence at Mickelsen Drug downtown, as people come in asking directions to the nearest sports bar, usually The Smilin’ Moose, and their garb gives their tastes away, or indeed does it really? One fan might be showing off the colors of their favorite squad, or be in conflict with the fave based on another, say cap vs. sweatshirt. Or they might have an all-together different take on what comes up; I seem to remember the 49ers holding sway, much for the better. And then there was that person from Fargo, who said the Packers are big-time there, being geographically challenged at the Vikings expense. One other patron had on all purple, gold and green, and was not aware of any conflicting symbolism. She appeared to be much younger than 40, so much so that I think she wouldn’t remember the years of all those Black and Blue Division glory.
Some of that was lost on a Kwik Trip clerk way over in Eau Claire more than an hour into western Wisconsin from the Twin Cities, as far as her allegiance — and not the Packers. That ran counter to her boyfriend, who also works at, get this, a neighboring and competing convenience store, so for two reasons they have to watch what they say at holiday gatherings — and even her stints on the job on game day, which made all her colors fade, or so he would like.
Lastly, the Kansas City Chiefs made their biggest splash on our scene over a decade ago, where for many years they held training camp at UW-River Falls, and yes those were the days of Joe Montana, and he still is in the memory of locals. At Bo’s and Mine, a manager still recalls that Montana would come and hang out, and talk it up with the patrons, as long as the topic wasn’t yet again football. He just wanted for a change to be just your regular Joe. Like Lynyrd Skynyrd so famously sung, “Don’t ask me about my business … If you want to talk fishing, I guess that would be OK.” But talk about that and he just might push curfew, which was in bunks well before midnight. And of course no prominent QB is without his backup, and in that case that man, and he was indeed in this case 40, would get in the golf cart to take him across town to the practice field, and his work ethic being that age showed, as he would say, Gee, I could just walk over there.

There’s lots of music Up Nort’ and there’s more than a fiddle and a drum in the band (s) this weekend, the first one in February. Yah Sure You Betcha! And at that point, that two phrase theme for the annual ballooning event his year strikes a chord.

That (Lucky) 13 of the Hudson Hot Air Affair features a bakers dozen different music shows, up quite a bit from most years, that run the gamut as far as styles.
— The Flannel Brothers mix rootsy Americana standards with other popular genres as they deliver foot-stomping passion, true to the Flannel, shown in photos online with a look by the band of old school (older guy) badass, and even a combo of old and new buildings such as seen at any dairy farm in the land, on their home page, full scale. This sets them apart when they play Madison Avenue Wine and Spirits on Saturday all evening long, as part of their Backwoods Bash gala. The fan favorite Flannel have a long set list that has one song by one artist — and steering way away from the rock cliches — with the only exception being Tom Petty, God rest his soul, being the only duplication. Powerful vocals with blended harmonies are key to the Flannels’ performance. Up-tempo songs will keep your toes tapping and dancing the entire show. So these are not your mother’s Nort’ standbys.
Giving the Flannel as fan favorite another fierce force are indoor axe throwing and hammer schlagen (careful, don’t hit one of the distillery vats!), Blue Ox spirits, theme cocktails, and making it Nort’ hotdish and hot beef sandwiches all for free admission and a cash food and bar.
— Roberts-based Boondoggle, with players of various ages, is known for their imposing stage-presence and own take on largely traditional country but also much more, with that kind of riffs, driven by the sheer height of some of the band members, which is even more impressive on a raised stage. Even the bass player is six-and-a-half-feet-tall and has the mojo usually seen in vocalists. “We play music by Elvis, the Beatles, the Stones, Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam, and anything and everything around and in-between,” they say, covering an impressive five decades, as drawing from the youth vs. wisdom that is a heyday of the band.
Boondoggle provides the music, and might even tone it down a bit to allow for chit-chat during the gourmet Taste of the Hot Air Affair about Badger-based appetizers, chocolates, cheeses and sweets at the Hudson House Grand Hotel on Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m. Make sure to fly on over.
– Wicked Garden gets more specific with its sound, down and dirty and gritty, at Ziggy’s on Friday night, covering the grunge power groups that filled the top 100 charts in the 1990s, such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots (hence the cover band name) and Alice in Chains. They also cover several grunge-influenced bands from today, that started strong almost two decades ago and since has kept a strong following, such as Tool, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age.
— Good for Gary, which plays the Smilin’ Moose on Friday, does quite well when it lays it out there, as they specialize in current and past dance hits, but in a twist that’s different than most, focus on the newest Top 40 songs. With a seven-piece line-up, (also unusual), there’s no hip-hop, pop or dance song they can’t cover, they say, adding it is likely that you will hear some Lady Gaga, Eminem, Usher and Rihanna at every show.
– Everything goes better with live music, but it doesn’t need to be making-your-ears-bleed volume. So noted by Jazz Savvy, a trio rather than duo, that provides, among other things, classical jazz when they again hit Urban Music and Vine all Friday evening: “Never intrusive or sonically aggressive, Jazz Savvy gives you and your guests a memorable listening experience that will make them smile (and allow conversation),” they say. Its great patio music and that’s largely how they started into the mainstream in Hudson, with a whole summer of jazz at Pudge’s, before it was Ziggy’s music bar.
— Alan Busby makes a return, again, to Hudson, where he’s played quite a bit in recent months, spicing up the mix at Urban Olive and Vine on Saturday evening, part of an acoustic trio.
— Other music is at: Smilin’ Moose on Saturday until close ( DJ that steers to more to a younger hip-hop, dance and country crowd, Dick’s Bar and Grill on Friday and Saturday night until close (variety of danceable songs and a bit more rock); Karaoke both nights at Hudson Bowling Center; and Sunday until close, Jeff Loven’s one-man-band, which is in the process of unfolding his revised set list, for those who haven’t seen the guitar (and yes vocal) virtuoso for a while.
Contact www.hudsonhotairaffair.con for more information.

(For more on the continuing NFL playoffs — that will likely be chronicled on this website — led off this week by the pursuit of purple pride, and the next day by Packer pigskin perfection, check out the Village Inn. See the Picks of the Week department).

This is not a one-trick pony, at the Village Inn for New Years Eve. There is one, a performance by the much sought after act the Jorgensons, two, a DJ after that until well into the morning, and three, way over the top food and drink specials that everybody loves, like New York Strip steak, shrimp cocktail, both tacos and enchiladas, and even more special $5 top shelf margaritas … OK, you get the point.