Hudson Wisconsin Nightlife

The three-day weekend is past before becoming four, but some of its specials persist, at least four signs worth by my math, so don’t take a pass on it. Read all about it first, then trek on down to a very diverse downtown with these deals. (Even here).

May 30th, 2023

Four different and diverse ways/deals/offers/specials. Some seasonal, as we have spring/summer. Some shandies, or quite shady as from Sam Adams.
The 4 North salon, as it says on its signs, will get you as tan-ready — multiple times already — as my new, fresh-off-college, friend/twice-a-week bartender at The Agave, only nights, and doing service as a day server once a week, giving her a window of time for tanning. To mash some of the 4 North messages together and paraphrase: “Let” us spring forth and get your hair set for summer with a new do, since you needed a break after we did you up for spring break. Lest you stay too light in skin tone. To avoid this, just leave it all on the floor, veer left and go in the door. But not for lettuce. That would be up on The Hill.
When Winter turns to summer and its shandies, seasonal varieties need to be discounted, as known by this average Joe, whose last name is Winter. Leading the way is the dark Winter-named variety by Sam Adams. (Do Gomez and Morticia know about this? Wednesday is not of age, until her Thursday birthday. If it makes her 21, that will be the ultimate rager.) So hey, when I found that for a short time, you and/or I can get it in the sign-on-it-says shopping cart up-front at The Spirit Seller, for only $5.99. Dangerous bit of knowledge.
The Kwik Trip last chance Friday delivery is/was at 50 cents, and in this new summer season you could get a gallon of ice cream for under five bucks — minus said fee. Right Said Fred on a good Friday. He adds on his social media site that what goes round (like his small tush) comes around, so there will soon be a revisiting of this special, as well as a new concert tour, (just embellishing very broadly). This ice cold treat was billed as a hot deal to melt for. So much so, for need of further explanation, that the minimum was listed at $5, followed by a plus sign, followed by an asterisk, followed by a period.
Also shown on a sign. “Waiting for a sign? This sign might be that sign.” Come on in and take advantage of what the specials on their sign say — they being Bennett’s. You don’t even have to sign up. This effort was earlier announced with chalk on the sidewalk; much like had been done years earlier when this building housed something far different, the Dibbo’s rock club.

Memorial Day. So a meme. Or instead sung with poignance and (semi-softer?) power by the likes of Sabaton and Lemmy, the prominently new and older storytellers of history via music. With a new tack from a new track. Honor the soldier, if not the politician. And cry your eyes out.

May 30th, 2023

Here are two WWI-tuned tearjerkers for you too, from YouTube, that aren’t simply anti-war rants, and come from metalheads when they tone down the guitar and ramp up the emotion along the lines of what soldiers are thinking while their collective lives are on the line. And do a tribute to those who faced the unfaceable.
“Paschendale” by Iron Maiden is lyrically superb, verse after verse. They get at the guts of horrible trench warfare and spill it out in front of you. And after the ’80s, their war themes became lyrics fodder for so many other bands.
Then of course there’s “1916,” and the brand new Sabaton version (and they have so many vital historical lessons like this one that focus on the little known) is impossible to view without being touched, but I like better the far-earlier one of the late Lemmy of Motorhead, who normally is a rather raspy screamer, engagingly a bit hoarse, but still has soul. This track is just beautiful, even the strains of Lemmy’s toned-down vocals.
At first I thought that this song, like some war epics, was too romanticed with the soft lilt in their otherwise strong voices, as war is just plain ugly. But it gets into the psychology of the soldier’s mind, and what they need and invariably don’t get, then tells the tale of the horrors of war in a way that’s not really graphic, but in its simplicity still has powerful lines. And Iron Maiden’s many anti-war anthems are more palatable because of their theatric and operatic, high-energy nature, making them seem almost like advocacy. But people still say such songs just make them inexplicably joyful.
These are, first and foremost, a call to not only pay tribute to the fallen warriors, and the loved ones left behind, but make sure their stories will forever be told. And coax others, listeners and artists, to do the same. Never forget.
Not since Metallica’s masterpiece video, One, has there been such an overwhelmingly strong case made for a cause and belief (euthanasia). One that will turn you into a blubbering mess of tears. And you might not last a minute.
I recognize that chiseled-chin, slightly turned-up look. I’ve seen it when saying goodbye to friends. Trying to be stoic only moments before completely falling apart. So here is an exercise: Look at 1916 all the way through, to see if you can identify the musical reactor in a transition period, and squirming and fidgeting with things like fingers touching face and even forehead — at the moments when the singer delivers an especially poignant line.
As I wrote earlier, every generation has its own strengths, and moreso challenges, some more trying then others. But here’s been nothing like this, and its ilk.
Adding to it are the motions of the singer with his arms, and the occasional fist, closed or extended, that seem to be just pleading for a better way, honoring the dead as demonstrated by leading a filmed march through a street of one of the England towns that literally lost all its men of service age in just a day or two.
Even bad-ass metal guys, like reactor David Heretic, can have an emotional meltdown.
How’d it play out?
At the second word of the second line into the song, Heretic is tearing up already.
A few minutes later, eyes at length not dry, he noted there’s 3:41 still left, even if mostly credits. But it is cool to give length credit to those other than creditors.
This reaction became a well-chosen rant, among the three types of analysis he cites during intros.
As a fitting counterpoint, the cello as soft lead is maxed out, again, in a still minimum way.
In the depths of the evening, I looked at more reactions to 1916. The reactor was so touched that she wasn’t just misty-eyed, she was sobbing. And even a GERMAN couple was left speechless, and in the final minutes of analysis had a meltdown. I’d never seen a European with eyes so bloodshot from tears. The same for a “Viking,” even though he comes from a culture that formerly practiced cruel war and raiding methods.
I’m sorry, said some of these reactors, especially the Germans, when their eyes grew moist. Sorry for what? Being human?
It’s powerful with a cathartic subpoint that gets you revved up, but at the same time it leave you disgusted and angry and even a bit sick to your gut, not the norm of such songs which usually are oddly inspirational.
A reactor’s takeaway on why to view: Do it for me. And do it for you.
Just looked at the “1916” video and historical commentary again, multiple times. Interesting just how spot-on it is as far as historical fact. Also, although a tribute to fallen soldiers, it is tinged with sarcasm. And it turns out that part of the song is a criticism of enforced conscription — “we added two years to our ages.” When those 16-year-olds did that so they could sign-up, rules were bent and they were accepted. Regarding their race to take up arms, even though not yet men, their piss and vinegar just took them in, but not like a mother’s arms.
Until you look at history, you more fully understand the line, “we were food for the gun.” To start the battle, 10,000 untrained volunteer soldiers were marched for strategic reasons — I hate that — into a barrage of machine gun bullets. “Plunging on into certain death,” to again bring in Maiden lyrics and Up the Irons.
Noteworthy, too, is that in the cover art for Motorhead’s version, there are almost a dozen flags, the biggest a British, but also even Chinese and Russian. Also noteworthy is the absence of a U.S. flag, only one for Lemmy’s Motorhead.
Shown were a slowly marching Muslim, laid-flat black man with scarred and scared face looking skyward, helmeted Roman soldier/Centurian, four men on horses, young women bucking the trend with very short hair, and Orientals, but not a ninja. There also were shown twice, when it comes to those Japanese, and even a British fighter pilot who is a woman and looking dapper in her uniform to get a Madonna vibe as she emerges from a bombed out building. (Lemmy as such, has been accused of being a Nazi sympathizer, but in truth he just collects their attire and related items because he thinks that many military uniforms present a striking, how should I say this, professionalism. He is a complex man.) Air and ground elements brought together. And there’s a guitar guy decked out in, theme here, Revolutionary War garb.
At times a score of 11 is given by a reactor, maxing out beyond the top ten. When: Let Vin and Sori tell you: Only when the song is required listening for all human beings.
Over a million lives were lost, in total, in this battle and the 1916 video clip gives a breakdown of when and how fast. One startling figure was that more than 300,000 were killed in short order just to gain a few miles of turf. I think it was only the equivalent of five kilometers. One soldier died every 4.4 seconds.
I sent a message to a friend, about her father, and said while getting ahead of myself that he was killed in battle. But still, a set of war injuries sent him on a long and slow, downward spiral that led to death, even if not directly or immediately. Our takeaway: If he had fallen right away, she never would have been born.
What is a life worth? Apparently in this case, one-50,000th of a mile, Heretic said.
Or it might be asked, of all oppressors, what cost is a person’s soul worth?
No form of music has more power to transform than metal. Even if done in ballad form.

Tip-top radio talker Tom is back after a short break, new and even more uncensored, which is (or isn’t) unusual these days. —– Takes me back to when he interviewed for several minutes my model friend Bree, of bikini fame on many local lakes, but still perfecting a land of ice and snow with her auger. But not all were enthralled, as there might be young needers-of-a-more-(or-less)-perfect role model at the trade show.

May 27th, 2023

Like many, although more intelligently than most, Tom Barnard has never been one to be too filtered when forging forward into info. And he wanted something more into creativity (yes I know that’s an overused word even at ten letters).
So after decades with KQRS Radio as the mainstay of their top-ranked national morning show, Tommy B stepped down a few months ago, but now has revived his act with things like a podcast, flailing at family, and billing himself as (even more?) uncensored. (And what about Bob S?) What little I know of this new effort, begun in spring, was on a bathroom wall at Agave Kitchen on their rotating ad sign. But for a few weeks it has circled forward no more next to that sink, so I don’t know if his amped-up new offering caught fire.

 

— In this day, how can we honor our veterans; I was struck by the horror and subsequent baggage inflicted, when hearing the story of a local veteran, with as is unfortunately often the case multiple traumas, but not from him, as to not complain, but also by listening to songs with war as the theme. Both forms of info end up being told in brief, which is a shame. (A post on that soon, and its not all what you think). To wit: That vet I know was slated to pay off the rest of a loan, $70 as the last installment, but now has lost his apartment and may be essentially homeless. Like so many. And when you are missing most of a leg …

I had planned to do something for him right away next month, set him up with some groceries, for the second time. Food for thought, tit for tat, as it might put him in a better frame of mind to repay me sooner rather than later. That is extremely selfish to have as even a partial motive. I found there was a hitch in these plans, and naturally I took a deep breath and chin-drop for a moment.

But there can still be part of that niche, with my plan. After all, we’re only talking seven times 10 dollars. Put your money where your mouth is Joe, and follow through with the meals donation and maybe get him some comfort food too. And he deserves dessert. Cook some of it up for him in advance, if its one of those days where the remainder of that leg is very sore. Add a care package for later?

A small way to help, those who have given so much more, if only one person and one time. But enough tiny things eventually become much bigger things. Light one candle.

My advice. And plea. Keep your eyes open and recognize ways to help in a creative manner, when they present themselves. Turns out my money is short for me right now, so a whole hog donation would be difficult. But get a balloon payment on The First, so maybe I can do more, even if later? When given time, most things just work out.

But one thing we all can do right now, to support a related cause. Offer to build a new VFW facility and they will come, especially on Monday afternoon. Take in the Sailor Jerri, and yes she’s a veteran, family-friendly concert in Lakefront Park in Hudson on Memorial Day. All aft, and showcasing many music styles but not much in the form of alt, and pushing onward until 7 p.m. This concert rings of all-star status, as she’s joined by a couple of longtime luminaries of the local and regional music scene, Tim Sigler and Josh Lassi, and also Jake Nelson. Sometimes the vocals rule.

(For more on the concert, when previewed at length, check out the coverage I gave on my website last year at about this time). —
The first time I knew someone Barnard interviewed, the subject matter was much colder. He had to ask, at length with his questions, the captain of the tourism-and-winter-recreation-fueled, promotional Bikini Ice Fishing Team why she thought there should be a reconsideration of them be frozen out of a scheduled major trade show appearance. The allegation was made that such attire, in a gratuitous sense, was not good role model material for young girls. So would my deep-dark-haired and darkly complected French model friend Bree get blasted, as its unofficial spokesperson? (It could be asked why you are wearing something so skimpy to go ice fishing in the Minnesota version of the frozen tundra, when parking)? So snap just a few quick photos, then hit the warming house? There’s got to be one in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. I still have an old photo, showing Bree working an ice auger in said bikini while the ice around her was anything but melting. A counterpoint is a snapshot of all the teammates, together, in a big sweaty spa.
(Another, but then-blonde-tinged, model friend by the same name was photographed in a runway shoot, right here in downtown Hudson at the old Dibbo’s club and raised-up all the way down the dance floor, by none other than myself. But the local newspaper editor who was supposed to give me a full-page photo spread, dweedled it down to just three small photos and a copy block, so the second Ms. B lost out on her attempt at pix for her portfolio, something she teased me about. Especially as she was walking away from an open mic jam at that, again, old Twisted Grille with its proprietor, the late Jeff Johnson, turning her head back as we viewed the head-turner crossing the main street. Sorry about the lapse on my part and the fact you had to point it out before I realized, as this backup-blues-tinged event by an up-and-comer was one of the biggest extravaganzas to ever hit Hudson. If only my editor had a clue about entertainment reporting — although he usually just gave me free reign to just go for it. But this time he actually made the comparison of some of the very-amateur local ladies doing their best to preen at a fundraiser for the local hospital, although granted it’s a mega-hospital.)
Anyway, the replacement for Barnard was not a member of The Replacements, rather Dave Gorman, former drummer for The Black Crowes. I regaled a New Richmond nightclub owner with such stories the other day, and he said that for a brief while a full 30 years ago his bar cranked the Barnard-based KQ rather than the jukebox. This was good while it lasted, but then the copyright police also made their presence felt.
As we talked, one of the old Black Crowes tunes came on over the PA, its Angel song. Gorman was at his best, with his classic rock fills between vocal lines.

Friday and Saturday and Sunday will take care of themselves. All fun days and nights. But what was shown out and about on the Wednesday before? Kinda an about-face.

May 25th, 2023

It was a slow Wednesday night in advance of what will surely be a busy weekend of days and nights. We are due. I reference weather, especially.
But at Ziggy’s in Hudson, singer Kyle’s biggest fan, (longhaired country boy or older man?), who is one of those consistently there every midweek, was sitting there again, front and center, clapping on much more than one occasion. Also, Arlo Guthrie vibes. Reminded me of the River Falls venue that has a big picture of him on the wall right by the front door, along with a backstory of when he visited the area way back in the day. The clerk was more than willing to share the tale of this story-teller when I asked.
Kyle lent his rich and husky voice, with piercing notes on occasion, to his cover of Hotel California, moving into the classic guitar solo with quick plucking notes, then really rocking out, even though not electric. There was banter between him and a couple at the bar, with Kyle alluding to the idea that his version was unlike hardly any other you’d find. She pegged him for (another) request, another Eagles song, and he thought a moment then confirmed they’d negotiate. Then rip through it.
Another singer who was at the bar, who I’d not seen for years, Lori, said she as I knew was no longer a karaoke-meister, being one of the first in the area, and nevermore got behind the mic either to do that. That’s because she now fronts a relatively new group, The Luck Band, or Luck Duo, (and its 50/50 if you would be the frontman or woman for a twosome), and when there is a rare night off, they just stay in, or once in a great while take in someone else’s band. To wit: They have three shows in three days on this three-day weekend, ending late Sunday, and then have a day of rest, a day or two late.
What you (over)hear traversing the downtown on a slow Wednesday. A man said to his mates that he hadn’t been at Mancini’s, in St. Paul of course, for a while, but hey was here. Could that be Bennett’s steakhouse, as in rail and chop shop? Even though that’s been in existence for a decades shorter time.
Then there’s what she said. Only heard Kia referenced (car or furniture?) But her friends from the Cities won’t come here. At least not much. Now that is role reversal.
So I will now reverse this. For more on what’s happening over the long weekend, see the Picks Of The Week department. I will reference an event at its end that is a followup to one that created a procession from Hudson all the way to Baldwin, all at one time!)

Trekking through the downtown, I traipsed upon a tractor and trailer that was truckin’ to the other end of the country, pulling hard for the fight against Parkinson’s, but stopped to park across from Ziggy’s/Hop N Barrel for a musical hard-rock interlude

May 21st, 2023

Looking down at the low-to-the-ground powertakeoff on a seemingly out-of-place tractor, parked just down the way from Ziggy’s music club, as I walked down the street. Could this be the Farm Aid concert all over again?
Trailing behind it was a trailer that could have housed a pony such as a Shetland but not a full horse, as not even this occurrence with its need that I will show you below has such horsepower. But it was adorned with logos of dozens of sponsors, but for what cause.
The potent plague that is Parkinson’s. As it is seen not necessarily from here to eternity, but from here to a far coast, as there are victims everywhere, more and moreso.
To summarize. The tractor was being taken on a trek from a start in the lower Midwest, to the upper Midwest, then all the way westward across several states.

 

— And what, there’s even more such need afoot? You know a benefit is for a worthy cause when it gets the Dweebs to play for a full four hours. Springsteen style length. Even more than the local tribute band for The Boss.
Larry Larson is battling stage 4 brain cancer that Mayo was not able to fix, although he’s been back and forth after an initial surgery, and there will be a fundraising event to help him live out his days as best he can, on May 25 at Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse, just up the road from here. As there will still be a long road for Larry and even moreso his family.
The longtime legendary show band that like many has only gotten better and rockier with time plays from 7-11 p.m. And if you think you are worthy to be an opening act — and hey I am not worthy so will not grace you with my presence, unfortunately, only bow down to others who are killer — there is karaoke from 5-7 p.m. And plenty of BBQ dishes, five by my count, during and after. Raffles too.
These days it seems to be a truism, does it not, that as times get tougher for just about everyone, more and more the financial brunt for families hit with a sudden need comes down to such benefits, and we’re not talking just a brunch. You can see the writing on the wall by looking at the changing pace on just about any bulletin board, at places like nightclubs and what have you. And we have come to need them all.

And so many of the backstories just tug all the way back at your heartstrings. And one seems to top the previous one, as more announcements are crammed into the limited room on the spongy, squared spaces. Larson, for example, recently retired and also then married the love of his life, Erin. And now they face this. Relatedly, news of the first benefit of doubtlessly many for slain deputy Kaitie Leising, she only 29, has just trickled past this desktop.

In all cases, about these losses that speak for themselves, enuf said. —

 

Bringing back in the tractor, it isn’t that big in size, but it packs a big punch. Medically. Emotionally. Physically. Actually, both of these things do.

This bright green tractor is no partially broken-down old Farmall H. It would have to trek on until Washington, D.C. or the state on the other end of the country? (Help out in a corn field along the way?)

Hey, the Parkinson’s it strives to battle can be a real pain. (Imagine if you are a farmer?) People are only now realizing just how painful.
So says Ozzy and so many other rock stars who now have it, at an advanced age. There must be some common theme in their genetics.
But someone has to drive those things like tractors cross-country. Like over-the-road truckers. (What other kind is there?) So pay them more than a historical farmer’s wage.
The hiring wars have come and gone and evolved, and the way they were fought changing as conditions changed, although how much may be a matter of degree. But right now, hirings are on again.
At Brick’s Pizza, they need a dishwasher. Since they have their completely own take on pizza pie, this is a position requiring special skill, (or would that be the chef and/or cook). Other places have the help wanted sign placed for a whole host of other job descriptions. Some of these ads are shown on legs and on placards, some quite small, out on the sidewalk, or taking up a meager part of a glass door. But they are big enough to list in full phrases all kinds of work that needs doing. Shown in type with 72 point letters?

And concerning nearby San Pedro Cafe, they are looking quite descriptively for “passionate” line cooks who make from scratch and who are looking to hone their culinary skills. Call or email or stop in.
These days you might carry out such applications via one of those annoying (unless you are looking for work) small square boxes with black and white squiggles, and even designing such boxes might get you six figures, I would think. I first noticed the newest big but small thing a few months ago on the side of a cab.
Or you could just go the old school way, with two words melded into one to display “arbysjobs,” complete with quirky consonant use mid-word. Reminds me of the “handle,” again an old school term, of one of my favorite music commentators, kirawasareactor. Can she get a handle on Handel? Or that former and now embattled politico hopeful in the Twin Cities, by the fitting name of Warsame.
And lastly, now that we are long gone with the hirings that creeped up near the $19 an hour range when there was a change in prez administrations, WalMart now has partially reverted, and for main and non-overnight shifts where they compensate you, I think, for not being able to take in live bands, to a mere rate of $15!
Here is another matter to wrestle with. Live wrestling back in Hudson, and not out at the old JR! Its downtown baby.
And for you techno phobes like me, this is in-person, not on pay per view. The guy at the counter confirmed that for me, and then glanced over and downward and nodded to the flyer of announcement, also seen all over town. I was angling my glance also, as to anecdote that mere PPV was indeed not on the card.
It was Thursday night in the Hop N Barrel parking lot, and the bout, or series of them, was on. Customers filled the expansive concrete and blacktopped floor and were evenly spaced out across it, including food trucks and the like. The ring itself, which I saw being erected earlier in the day as roadies were actually measuring with tape and such, the overall height of the ropes, was pushed back into a far corner — beyond the great big and high UHaul truck that had them housed and strung them.
So had one thought. There was not far to fall if you were thrown from north and east side, as there literally was brick wall there. On the west and south side, there was a farther fall and — again — a cement floor to smack.

Protect our borders. Keep now, as it is now. Or revert, going back how many centuries? These are themes as old as human history. Shown by bridges and gates to Babylon? And what done to the Hebrews, and this is known and shown by Metallica. And what if YOU are the foreigner? (Or give Texas back to Mexico?) No easy answers here. Or elsewhere. (Just a tribute to known-for-her-compassion Kaitie, with a twist, in Notes To The Beat).

May 18th, 2023

What makes a song timeless? Give me some water, if I’m rocker Eddie Money, because I just shot a man on the Mexican border. Or might as well have.

If you’re Ozzy, that may be a shot in the dark.
There are refugees, (so many are children and we’ll walk you through that later), or could be called foreigners in some contexts, not only trying to cross over at Mexico, but Canada. And in all parts unknown surrounding the Ukraine. And all over Africa and its various enclave boundaries. And more. The context can even be framed by the old Statue of Liberty now crumbling with its stone-shown justice. Bring me — or at least have us tolerate — your tired, your hungry, your poor, your naked in need of clothing at least between photo shoots, your huddling masses waiting in desert areas for a possibly last cup or chalice of water and once getting past the more immediate need to be hydrated then resume their quest to be free, your most disenfranchised, your voting-rights robbed, your cell-phone-taken-back yet again as others come about by the parent company or corporation, etc. And the Title-shown need whether you call it 42, as today, or 142 or 242, is not going away.
What to make of it? Let’s go back 1,000 years, or make it 2,000 years. Or least when it thus was written and so should be done.
So OK, what did Jesus Christ have to say about — stereotypically — having over for dinner and maybe staying for breakfast the impoverished and reeking of dirt and more Mexican farmer with no teeth to eat with anyway? Be a good Christian family and live that scenario out.
Anyway, back to what Jesus said. (He was a man of complexity and you would not like him when he is righteously angry. And some things riled him more than others).
Leading the list was not to do to those little ones — of all ethnicities: And for he, or she, who would harm one of those children it would be better if a millstone were placed around their neck and they be cast into the sea. At least their boat got that far. And as has been written before on these pages, war always affects children worst. And the crux of this rant: Jesus was almost that irked when any of God’s people, especially the powerful and those with means it could be argued, hardened their heart and did not help out the foreigner in need, or being discriminated against.
OK, these days the situation with our and their borders — both sides of them — it has been wisely said by many different people the situation is messy and layered and complicated, and there are more than ten fingers to be pointed at possible culprits. To address such a situation it becomes all the more important to have words to live by, whether coming from the lips of Jesus, or Mohammad, or Buddah, or Ghandi, (OK maybe we’ll take a pass on Crowley). And not all such sages need to be religious figures, but I’ll take them over politicians. (There could be a referendum on paying more heed to the band of Baldwin brothers. But in my home state, Tammy Baldwin might have more merit, and common men and women. And from the mouths of babes).
Now my main thrust. Maybe we should Listen more to the Likes at Large of Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, and their Ironman hero-villain. There is an Easter egg here to be found in this ultimate messianic anthem, of a slain savior who rises from the dead then returns to earth to finish his work.
Biblical themes run through it, and one of them stands out as being maybe a tale of these times. I do believe that early in the song, there is a reference to the parable of the good Samaritan: “Is he live or dead, has he thoughts within his head. We’ll just pass him there, why should we even care.” This stanza seems to be linking the critically injured man in the ditch, to the lack of aid given to a messiah who is put to death. Two remaining important events in our history. OUR history, whether we be religious or not, downtrodden and downgraded Samaritan or high-falutin pharisee.
Underscoring as far as justice is a just-seen a Metallica in-concert video played out in Moscow in 1991. What were rank-and-file Russians subjected to around that time by their government, at the very least lacking freedom?
The song was Creeping Death, the deliverer, and we’ll let the first line tell the tale: “Slaves, Hebrews born to serve …” THEY were then the foreigners. There are so many parallels here, only starting with faulty pharisees and pharaohs. The crowd was getting riled up, more by each chorus, hundreds of thousands of them, some of them standing under U.S. flags, and the words were not even as aggressive and brutal as the guitar, in-your-face demanding justice (for Hebrews and Huns alike) and nothing less, screaming for vengeance. The chant grew much more bold by the syllable, “die, die, by my hand, die, die first-born man …”
As I watched this crazy scene just as if there, one thought kept creeping into my mind, as there was so much that could be gained by these ideals but ironically, there was one suddenly underclass that (also) was excluded from this parade … the lines of military police standing with hands at their sides and trying to stay stoic with their gaze. What about them? What if this mosh pit turned into a mob? These men, invariably very young, sometimes were caught in the middle of warlike politics, so was their service completely conscentual, or contentious conscription?
These policemen had to have been scared to death! What if the fans would all gather in their whipped frenzy and march on THEIR capitol. No dozen tanks could have stopped the surge.
The power of music. Especially potent metal.

It may not be chicken ala king, rather impress mom on her day with an overt app of salmon falafel and Indian Kashmir spinach with paneer cheese. You don’t even have to go Oriental!

May 13th, 2023
Again sorry, move over mom. “Mother … don’t you walk my way, listen to my words, what they mean, what they say, mother …” Sings Danzig, because even though dark and edgy, he has a mom too.
So come Sunday, best not do menu one-ups-manship and leave it as a (large but multifaceted and layered?) appetizer to bring. Mom will think you’re being thoughtful.
— Forego mom for just a moment. Three days ago, or thereabouts, was the end of The Public Health Emergency. We all know what that’s about. So in Blasts From The Past is all the good stuff I have been keeping under my hat, as as far as info, until such time. (Gave it just a bit in case their was a redo, as the gov will do that). Third time is the charm, as far as days. Three days grace? Read it now, before it expires. —
My fishy take on a creative use of food began with mom, of course, learning from the best of her recipes, and this is poignant as Mother’s Day is just around the corner, (and that part of her garden may be at risk. See the trivia question of Where Did You See It).
I spied around Easter, but held out, that when going out for brunch, salmon was the fish and overall meat of choice, and hey I have had a full can setting on the shelf.
Along with some other oddball stuff to combine, largely amped-up rice and hummus — Seder meal anyone? — and more. So what does Joe do … He creates with thoughts in mind that stem back to the April crux that was the heyday of the creator and his crucifixion. (Because mom, and this thus becomes all about her, is very religious.)
But hey, when the diatribe started forming was Good Friday and its fasting, and this post is leaning more toward Easter, so let’s move beyond the divine and dive more directly into the positive from a mainstream stance. Since I have set the stage at length.
Here’s the meal that’ll make mom proud. And still not step on her toes. We’ll leave her hallmark killer cracker crumbs mixed into the salmon as her own thing. But you might be safe adding them again, cut in four pieces, on the four corners of a square bowl.
But it starts with salmon. What wins it, I think, is what you put on the side.
I had the bright idea of putting on each edge globs of Indian Kashmir spinach (Led Zeppelin approved). It comes in a packet with paneer cheese, but you can add virtually any other kind if in need. The initial deal has sprinkled in a bunch of onion, and also tomatoes, chili pepper powder and the ginger you don’t alway see. (Save the Mary Ann and Rosemary for marinara). This is garlic tinged and I find I’m always trying to use mine up, since it usually sells in more than one bulb. I chose to mix in whole-hog, chopped mushrooms and more onion before heating (so yes I fully vetted it). And you can’t go wrong with a bit of bell pepper. Lay over the top a few small and whole hot peppers, and form an attractive pattern. Same with sliced ham? And more cheese?
Also lay on the side as a secondary, some seasoned falafel? It is based on chickpea flour and can include (or you can make it include by adding it) any of the above veggies, so we have consistency. A recommendation is to lay on top full-on sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and tzatziki. You will have a hummus vibe. Substitutions can include candied yams, but I’ll leave that for another post.
Use all of this to fill a full plate, and since it is for grazing, fill any winged extension thingees of the plate as festive with lettuce and better, melba toast crackers.
That will play the best with mom, in so many ways.

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The plethora of party patios are now in place and lead to Megan being re-desired all-around as Foxy. But flowers are present aplenty. It was not so come May Day. Some are new or at least improved, with their differing colors fully changing the tone and challenging it with their tint.

May 10th, 2023

These patios are killin’ it. Now live. But where does Megan Fox as a killer superhero reside? Temporarily and (mystically and mythically?) mixed and absent from The Agave.

“Brother will kill brother.” Tables will be stacked on tables, intertwining. And chairs across the land. Or at least the patios. “Something I don’t understand.”
Why, blood brothers and even twisted sisters, do these favorite spots of our watering holes ever have to close, although I concede the cold.
But in addition, has an era closed with the downgrading of that big Fox superhero with “S” photo, perched as my girl for well over a decade on the wings of the wound stairs of what had been the Twisted Grille? No, the tender Derek told me, it was just one of many memorabilia posters shelved for a while after a renovation that with cherry picker closed three or four parking spaces below for three or four weeks. Soon to rise as a captivating canine again, when there is space made on the walls among the many dozens of others. Someone tried to gain this image of goth, maybe, by theft and then bring it back. The server’s friend was also obsessed with the poster, so the wing man purchased another one as a gift. Collectively, there were scratches on paint and cracks on frame like those popping sounds being referenced in a music video as we speak, back in the day of vinyl not far back of when Megan reigned as a Transformer.
Though so enlightened, we take in at The Agave the White Room now there. That had black curtains — with a partial absence of chromos that also can be compelling, but remained within view (i.e. decorating dartboards and the walls they’re pushed up against) — and more tints. Its in the Bullpen. That upstairs cantina at the Agave Kitchen is now much brighter in look and tone and maybe tune, this new ivory tinge is way past Cream colored. But fellow bartender Allison said the color is so cool, except when you’re getting too chill with the lack of shadows, (as a buffer?), before accepting last call and heading into the night.
But to further de-digress, this and other patio-type places are now fully frontal functioning, but all the way to the back also, where they may be housing a dartboard or three. All but a few tiny tarps have been taken off the seating. Flowers are in bloom, and their garden boxes no longer topped by spurts of inch-high snow so you can view dirt, and even a few trees show color beyond buds in places. The most noteworthy such treatment is a wall of greenery that separates the south patio of Hop N Barrel and the north one of of Ziggy’s. These venues are among those getting it going first in 2023.
But as far as that, you can’t beat the new Bennett’s and its patio inside a patio — or better said, enclosed by four high walls going way up. Those walls of gold …
Make your tap tremendously tasty? A parked SUV-size van adds that they’ll clean up the beer both before and after you. Didn’t you think those glasses of brew came from somewhere, pouring forth after running through feet of plastic tubes and trying to avoid any forgotten filthiness. So there you have it, unfiltered.
Other patios are not ground level, which means some are enclosed, or at least partially. Not everyone knows, deep inside Mallory’s and down, not up to the very high rooftop reached with multiple sets of twin-stairs, there is a rather small Speakeasy with its fireplace in place, small bar in back and one fairly large room, dimly lit like the old way of the Agave. A commentator said that he was schooled by his son, who had worked there for months and knew well of what he spoke, having logged time up above but knew little of the Speakeasy. And I have only now noticed from a northern view, back windows could be seen surrounding a couch, and how the south end of their wall had plenty of lights on curved wires, and almost as many platforms that could be used as stop-offs, and one edged by a fire extinguishers and the like.
A likewise look at Champ’s in New Richmond makes it seem like a champ, with all the grooves and turns of boxlike machinery like turbines you can see — very like Pier 500 at its top — from ground level. But the Pier is the pinnacle of the nearby pier. With its broad umbrellas and its stones that form a long and high wall, the pieces so much bigger than you otherwise see. You can even spy the speckles from the street.
As far as the new seasonal completeness of its multi-faceted look with various amenities that include more than one set of stone, its Dick’s Bar. For sheer size, and the number of umbrellas if only down below, its the two-level Smilin Moose. For the urban-ish streetscape of an attractive three-story brick-based wall, to nod goes to San Pedro flowing into Pedro del Este.

This was the model of local Cinco de Mayo days past. A Modelo a full weekend late. One for a ‘lone ranger’ next to me with a plan and quite a few bucks on that Sunday night. So 30 minutes less of a window then the past two. (And going back, how far depends on Badger vs. Gopher, we must factor in the fishing opener).

May 8th, 2023

Here follows yet another requisite, relentlessly rambling, retro-ish Cinco de Mayo, and then Rodgers redo.

Wholly holstered as an NFL Aaron in TD mode QB metaphor.
What, none of the Modelo that a (non-native Wisconsin?) man ordered? No problemo?
Only Corona to give. Not Coors. Could he get? That’s a different field.
There was, per signage still shown at Dick’s Bar come later on that Sunday night, its max of a weekly Mex entree. Minus Tex? Riding next to me? But only on Thursday.
Cinco was on a Friday. So if you got there in time for the cook on Thursday eve … There was still 2.5 hours after midnight — hey this is a weekend you dummy so you got until 2:30 — not two minutes before. But by that time, all you could get was a frozen pizza, and that’s only if its unusually slow as it has been at times, as the kitchen has closed for the night.
But did he not speak the language, as it seemed and was said by the server, in true Yoda speak?
This solitary Mexican man had sipped, walked around back to the darts area, sipped then walked around again, then quitely quietly left. But the two bills tip was cool.
This branched off into a discussion of the AI, used for both letters and language, that the server said will kill off all writing such as this. (More of that breakdown in a later post).
So yet another one bites the dust, this time at our end of the state. Thus again, all here and there really look like Rodgers, with his deftly trimmed and tinted and Aaron’s-not-going Amish, State Farm and not-a-long-string beard. Who kinda, to back up here, looks like Jesus. Or Queen? Various members.
An all-in appeal?
Pitino was, it turns out. As another in a string, he’d accepted a college coaching gig at St. John’s University, introduced by a good father with a collar and telling the padre he was all-in with what the institution offered. I guess that will include every Sunday Mass.
But to a bit more recent draft and its asterisks. Such as the one alluding to “secondary compensation.” And the next time referenced, stretched out to a full seven words of description. Seventh inning stretch? For a futbal-to-celebrate-Cinco owner who it was read “would be out for a few weeks.” Do we even have to give that bit of info for the team’s owner too? Even if its of the St. Paul United Team that’s ranked as the 41st-highest-valued soccer squad in the world?
And to care for and nurture such fields? They are bigger in soccer. Even if its the money of US Bank and its proprietary field with their tallies … $48 million over the next year and $280 million over the next decade, Strib-stated. Too many concerts tearing up the grass? Or not enough to raise the dough for more grass seed and more? Need reunion tours?
Or even enough to just buy fluffy muffs for everyone’s ears, before their buds are aflower? That’s what was worn at Hudson Tap when there still was somewhat of cold, by a couple of women shooting pool, along with fingerless gloves. And more to the point, showing lots of bare midriff.
Fickle flaunted fluff?
But now such looks are everywhere. As at NFL in NY training camp gunslinger sightings, on the groupie-ish green-grass sidelines? Therefore, reference another almost omnipresent sports guru, productive traveling talker Scott Van Pelt as he may again hit the pop-up stadiums in virtually every state.
Then we spin off to other recent styles, still with weather permitting, but curiously only after Winter started ebbing. Set the stage with the Agave sign on May Day: Last chance for April specials.
The women at the mid-town corner qualified. They trended by wearing comfie boots that were sturdy and stout and also flashy, and one praised the other’s newfound functionality while she stepped over the street-curb on Main.
That was south of the Mason Jar shop, where it was mentioned, one woman to another, “there is no beer anymore.” Was there ever that kind of frothy stuff put into their jars?
Alas, to take this piece full-circle, but before Cinco, a salsa queen as her red sash proclaimed, sashayed this way in the very early afternoon. With killer also-brown boots-flats, but these had what looked like dozens of laces dripping down. Boot to the head for the functional.

Aaron enters the abyss that is New York City, to toss around Super Bowl chances that get greater with each new (former teammate) signing. And fans? Green Bay has about 5 percent of the people as in The Big Apple area, so applaud. Rodger that. (And not to be a smart aleck, but there is another Aaron alert in Notes From The Beat. And also Coach B coulda used another Turdy Point Buck).

May 4th, 2023

First there was Favre and now this.
The ghost of Curly Lambeau is rolling over in his grave. He never would have forsaken The Pack.
At least Aaron Rodgers did not go Purple, so on goes their plight to purge at that position.
But now past his career’s apex, the Big Apple awaits. And the former Green Bay QB is going to take as much of a bite out of it as he can. And he has been at large. Before officially donning the green of the Jets and the green it will bring his bank account. He has said he’ll be at half — a majority? — of the New York practices, at least for football, come training camp. Take that to mean a mere 51 percent. Half-staff as other adventures beckon. (Ask actress Alba, who was not fully known by a compadre while at courtside. A cornerback not the quarterback).

— The mind boggles with this latest sandwich eight-item-entry into the warm-weather market. See it in Picks of the Week.

And we are more in sync with Cinco de Mayo, sort of, even though as the Mexican population in the U.S. keeps increasing — and a buddy of mine and I just had a silly discussion on the new and milder-skinned minority — rank-and-file American foodies and drinkers more and more are steering away from this independence holiday.
But this is what you need to know if you do celebrate, then worry about the siesta later since it is a Saturday that follows. When even the most standard Mex-made-out-to-be drinks usually go for more than just $3, you can get that real good stuff on special on Cinco for that price at the Wild Badger in New Richmond, in an atmosphere that is more club than just standard pub.
But no definitive word on the local presence of mole poblana, the actually definitive max-out Mex, based on the history of the Battle of Pueblo, where Mexicans gained their freedom from a country that gets dissed again, that being France, (but not from American borders).
Turns out, forego tacos and margaritas, actually Mexicans on this holiday mash in ingredients such as sweet bread, a walnut-based cream sauce, pomegranite seeds, a chocolate blend with chilis, and even something I’d not heard of called papalo herbs.
And that mole poblano, it is baked with corn leaves and banana husks, (oops, I got those two greens transposed). —

 

As this is His indeed Coming Out Party, like we have never seen, and an Aaron party it has been. Taking The City That Never Sleeps to another level. Taking in more than one sporting event a night? And if overtime is needed, so much the better. There will still be a last call after that last period. But there would be no (early eliminated) Bucks, although he (now) has the bucks to splurge for an Adrian Peterson-style get-together with a hundred or two of his closest friends. And even in downtown Hudson, the relatively frequent sightings of Rodgers lookalikes has picked up, although some have a grayer (in takes) and longer beard if taking in, what, a ZZ Top tribute band in town? And that guy over at Hudson Tap was also in this vein, throwing out a John Wick take on it.
Back at the start of all this lengthy rearrangement, and you could say it goes back as far as grunge, (just kidding), there was the signing of a first key wideout as part of the messiah series, so you’ve got The Jets Lazard in what could be compared to The Jesus Lizard. The bard references an old alt band.
Of course that was only the start of such signings, of all considered Rodgers friendly. Linemen too. Backs of all kinds, half and full but no quarter, playing all kinds of positions. And a new QB coach? A full one-quarter of the players in the NFL were considered to be brought in, (again just kidding), as when you are in football as long as Rodgers you entail an elaborate entourage. So many having played with Rodgers and could be part of a Super Bowl run, which was not thought a possibility a few weeks, or months, ago. About the only one still holding out is The Waterboy as in Adam Sandler (just kidding a third time).
After the third day, the groundhog saw his black shadow. Oh wait, that was the much more cerebral signal-caller coming out of His First Darkness Retreat, (and give him kudos for coming out with that action in a largely non-thinking society). And Jets flew overhead. Being piloted by Rodgers himself? But no, as even Aaron cannot fly more than one at once. But he had reached a state of enlightenment after being in close consultation with … himself. Now Jet City Man. Just watch out for (hibernating) Bears in that cave. As we waited for his decision for what seemed a whole (post)season.
But methinks during his retreat, Rodgers could not have read the Jets playbook to see if playing into his future was long passes, not easy screens, because after all … he was in darkness.
Just contemplate the meaning of life. And rich football players in it. Talk about living in a cave.
But back in Titletown, the replacement QB in Love got a contract extension, show him some love as Jordan, but not as Rivers, as in Philip.
But the extension is only for one year — and the Green Bay brass has said they won’t expect Jordan Love and his style of play to be another Aaron — so maybe they think Rodgers might indeed play a Favre and come back?
However, recently, the Jets have declined their option with some players at other positions, but not as vital, although indeed bulky.
But for now, as in last night, Randall Cobb comes clinging back, too.
What goes around comes around, like a hook and go.