We’re back, in part drafting on others’ wake in the crazy boating and gridiron worlds:
— Since Green Bay had the first pick of the second round in the NFL draft, it offered a rare opportunity for pinning down the time you could be viewing at sports bars. So Kozy Korner in North Hudson advised on its sign, “Packers draft 7.” Meanwhile across the street in the first round, bar patrons were all abuzz about a draftee getting carried away in his acceptance speech and actually using the F word in invoking his grandmother’s influence. Another patron noted the green clumps of grass (or turf?) that were spread around at tables, after all it’s this kind of surface the newbies will be playing on. Lastly, it was mentioned that in the last pick of the first round, New Orleans drafted an offensive tackle, presumably to open holes for the newly signed Adrian Peterson (and keep him from getting injured?) The tackle was from the University of Wisconsin, so there’s another state connection, which could have been doubled up if Peterson would have gone to the Packers, as initially speculated. And of course, it was the Packers that held the next pick after the Saints.
— Just like when Prince died, the Sunday night music gang at Dick’s Bar and Grill was all over the circumstances behind the crash of a yacht on the St. Croix River, even when the TV news struggled to come up with virtually anything until after the weekend. It was known that the guy had been out on the water almost all day, and even was shown off in the distance in photos that just happened to be taken near the Interstate 94 bridge and its pylons and were shown around in the bar. The story goes that the guy then, at around 3 a.m., took off for shore and crashed his big boat near Bayport, taking down trees high up on their trunks in the process and getting hung up on rocks when re-entering the water. A passenger swam to shore — a life preserver was found there by investigators — but the guy tried to salvage the 52-foot yatch and being unable to do so headed for the hills, it was said. That caused authorities to conduct an extensive search for him on land and water and as of the 10 p.m. Sunday newscasts no one knew of his whereabouts. They did report that the yacht must have cost around a cool million, but as was discussed around the horseshoe at Dick’s between songs, its value as a used craft was guesstimated at not quite $600,000. And the driver may be in some “hot water.”
— Kirk Nelson was one of those winning election as North Hudson trustee, so it was really time, maybe more than usual, to party on! Love to see what the inauguration ball is going to be like. Certainly not as hoidy toidy as those often seen. Meanwhile, the sign at his own Kozy Korner in North Hudson took this voting take: “This is the most important election of your life.” Bet that egomaniac Donald Trump would not like to be pre-empted by those thusly seeking the title of “North Hudson Man of the Year,” which also has boasted signs around area yards that look like those erected for an election occurring nationwide. Shortly after the election was won, Kirk was seen at Dick’s wearing a green shirt with leprechaun on the shirt, asking people to say hello to “my little friend,” who fittingly enough was positioned at a point about three feet above the ground.
— The following was pointed out by a bartender at the Willow River Saloon, about their venue on Good Friday, and being talked about was much more than the fish fry. An aptly named band played that night in Burkhardt. As is fitting for this traditionally religious day, the group was named Church of Cash. Pointed out as well, was that Christ wasn’t big into materialism, but we can let it slide when it comes to this tribute band for the Man in Black. And if you want to see yet another tribute band of that type, check out Johnny No-Cash on Saturday night, May 13 at the Willow.
— There was perhaps record attendance at the semi-annual Unfrost Your Nuts motorcycle run on Saturday, April 8, because of very warm temperatures. One fan of the event even suggested a number of riders that reached five digits. In that vein, the Smilin’ Moose had open both levels of its outdoor patio for the first time that night — to an appreciative crowd — although down below there were some heaters goin’ on. On the following, even warmer weekends later in April, the tables and chairs were all out, the downstairs bar was open and the patios were full.
— On one of the Saturdays, April 22, Dick’s was offering a free rail or domestic drink to anyone celebrating Earth Day by wearing a green shirt and pants. It was like St. Patrick’s Day all over again, with the wearin’ of the green in the middle of a second straight month.
— There and elsewhere, there were a lot of packed houses to be found, much like in March when a (well-to-do?) limo showed up downtown with the name suffix Royal Valet. The next weekend a Lamborghini that observers estimated at a value of $150,000 showed up and parked on one side of Walnut Street and then the other — but guess what was desired at a pair of nightclub stops — cheap eats! At least the guy by all reports was humble about it. After all, some versions of that car cost a lot more.
— A friend Dan, a fan of Dick’s, late-night and otherwise, said in mid-April that he was getting his boat ready for the St. Croix, but has been in the process of painting and buffing most of the thing, and getting the low battery and some of the hoses in ship-shape. All in all, its still better than what you have to do to get such a craft ready for winter, he said.