Its the bucket brigade when it gets to the sheer number of Halloween parties that begin this weekend, and there’s still time to cash in all in one Saturday or begin more of a week’s worth:
— Its been a new era for a storied history, as what is currently T-Buckets near Somerset on Saturday will again unveil the new side of them as it continues to unfold, with music in the form of a deejay and karaoke and also costume recognition. In former days you might have even had a runway to show off your costume. It had been a bit since the new owners had brought in bands, so better to tip your costumed hat to them this holiday, and at the same time try out the relatively new digs. Costume judging is at midnight and the karaoke experience starts early at 8 p.m. and there are snacks aplenty. So this is a full night of tunes.
— This has gotten a particularly first, we think, for all of western Wisconsin. The zombie drop-dead pub crawl incorporates all of the places in Hammond, becoming the only place to do such things in the Twin Cities area. And better yet, they all are in a few block radius, so there is less chance for giving any of those zombies a foothold to, well, eat your ankle, and hamper ways to get away from them. The day(s) where you really have to take care of that is Saturday/Sunday.
— The Wild Badger in downtown New Richmond has really jumped into the musical fray, and it will be shown by welcoming in a Halloween way the popular area band Sunday’s Regret, in an event that shows promise, despite its name, although being held prior to the holiday on a Saturday night. They are largely country, but a little bit (or more) rock ‘n roll. The reach of their popularity shows in that they traveled all the way to Ohio and recorded a YouTube video of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell, deftly pulling off the slightly twangy and somewhat plucky rock guitar intro, as well as the screaming vocal attributes. When people comment on the band, two words keep popping up “party” and “wild,” so enjoy. And they will be back again regularly to the Wild Badger, and other area gigs, so you can catch them then also. And you just might see an update on this web site about their recurring gigs.
— And you thought the Stones have been around for a long time. The decades-long house band that has a member, owner Brad, at Season’s Tavern in North Hudson, Thirsty Camel, will bring to the show their frenetic way they attack their instruments, perfect for Halloween, and still keep the sound tightly under control. (And they do cover the Rolling Stones). The band will take a set break and ask you to give it up for all those in costume, and every year there are quite a few, and have them vie for a contest with prizes.
— If you want the primo in Halloween decorating at stores, and the wide range of different types of specials front and center as you come in the store to go with it, much more than just candy although that is a part of it too, you need to check out Family Fresh in Hudson. All of the aisles as you come into the store have many multiples of scary/spooky characters, and to top it off, there are dozens and dozens of pumpkins all around from a local grower, in that case much more than what is simply being sold. So courtesy of Family Fresh, you can be your one stop spook shop.
— The spirits all come out, and joins others, in the haunted brewhouse offered by Hop Barrel on Saturday through 11 p.m. The online promotional cartoon adds to the appeal of the comedic but mostly haunting affair, with spider webs strewn all over the page and its brewing metal of pipes and pieces and pressure gauges to get the quality just right, and the silly spider who we just have to assume is a brew master or at least his assistant. And of course there are some bottles positioned at the bottom, as this indeed puts the brew end in brewhouse. And in a particular transaction, its Nick at night, as a buddy of mine says he feels honored and humbled to have his own specially made beer featured for an entire week and patterned to take advantage of the Halloween holiday.
— Not to pad, but if you want to experience the true and authentic Irish-based traditions that would eventually lead to what is today Halloween, you can check out Paddy Ryan’s in the town of Hudson during this holiday. This goes back many centuries, a lot longer than even your average vampire’s life (or death), but the traditions we’re talking about are as fascinating as they can be somewhat graphic. Perfect for this time of the season.