Uncle Mike’s is badder, but not necessarily bigger, and if you want big, maybe orchestra is your thing:
— I haven’t pumped Uncle Mike’s Em Pour E Yum for a while — the owner and I had a minor disagreement that was both our faults — but I was up there the other evening to pick up a friend, and I noticed the interior has been revamped quite a bit. Its maybe not quite as roomy, especially on the east wing where there are various pinball and gaming machines, but there now is a back bar that’s completely on the interior. (Less of a pool table presence). And the primo concert area does not have its usual flights that go up by a step at about ten foot intervals, but even more tables all around so you can listen, not just dance, if that is your preference. After that eve of observation, the next act that will play in that hall is going back to the Old School, if not just Old Hudson music options, namely Jason Barts, on Thursday night. And a few days later it is a group that is a coup to have, Chain Lightning, with an opening act that has one of those cool names that because of various ascenders and descenders to the letters is hard to read, much less pronounce, but still interesting. That’s what weekends are for …
— Also on Thursday night is the St. Croix Valley Symphony in the Lakefront Park band shell, as part of River Fest, the second of three offerings in the summer community music series that are either orchestra or big band also thrown into the mix.
— And you thought it was cool that Service Industry Night locally is offered at least twice each week; now you can make that seven days and nights. Between the Cajun Club in Houlton on Sundays, and Dick’s Bar and Grill and others on Monday nights, its definitely a party that finds workers at various clubs intermingling with their peers within the same block or two when their own place of employment shuts down for the evening, if before bar time. At Hudson Tap, the newest entry into the fray, the special night goes on practically all the time when open and is offered every day, and includes a free drink with the purchase of one, and $2 off entrees.
— Woody’s In Bayport boasts a bountiful bequeath, where when buying a brick-based brew as far as their theme, there is a donation to the local fire department and EMS. Namely $5 sent to their coffers when a keg is ordered, and a smaller discount when purchased by the glass.
— Schuler’s Music is offering a free lesson when a purchase of more than $50 of an instrument is made. The teachers, largely on guitar, are the decades-long mainstay of mainstays, Kyle Kohila, on everything from acoustic to classical, and also a man offering his tips who has been around there, but not that terribly long, and a newbie who just has been added, as well. Could this be a power trio?