While the staff at Seasons are as “Italian” as anyone in backing the traditions of Pepper Fest, they offer North Hudson alternatives as far as food, drink and fun.
Granted, there is Italian fare aplenty at Pepper Fest, and also at Seasons, but man does not live by that alone. On Saturday, Season’s puts on its Wicked (Buffalo) Wings Challenge, where you can test your where-with-all to consume a variety of the wings — and have a bit more time to complete the task then during spaghetti and hot pepper eating contests across the street, which although largely similar have their own appeal.
You also might try the noteworthy walleye entrees at Seasons, when combined with sauce give a food variation to cool your palette.
While the music at Pepper Fest doesn’t start until evenings, a versatile band begins at Seasons at 3 p.m. Saturday. This means patrons can listen to some live tunes while enjoying appetizers, as an alternative to eating contests next-door that just might leave you queasy.
Two of the three majorly-striped pedestrian walkways on the main Hwy. 35 intersection that needs to be negotiated, lead directly to the curb-cutout that’s the entry point to the large parking lot at Seasons. It’s probably easier to get to the restaurant and bar — as a patron — than the festival itself.
There’s ample vehicle parking for Seasons patrons, including a big overflow lot, on this weekend where some people walk for blocks to get to the Village Hall park and places nearby. They also can set-up their remaining parade seating after indulging in breakfast or Bloody Mary’s.
To that end, Seasons and some other venues have Pepper Fest buttons on sale for only $2, a savings of a buck over the price at the gate.
And especially if you’re a first-timer from out-of-town, Seasons bartenders and wait staff can tell you about the history, heavily loaded with community Italian lore, of the building in which you are a patron. From the varieties of past decor, which also include the newer log-cabin-style motif, to the past owners, this is something to be regaled in.