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Plan ahead and be safe. That’s where Mike’s Ride Share comes in, and he follows that Boy Scout motto, in his driver jobs, where he makes the fare enjoyable in many ways not often seen. To wit on the conversation end: He’ll fill you in on the greatest gigs and late-night grub, and just maybe offer some of his own treats! And he will be omnipresent during Booster Days, so see my late addition to this post below … And ask the local servers and hotel staff.

The owner of Mike’s Ride Share wants you to have a plan to get home. And don’t wait until last call. (Don’t just zig and zag when leaving Ziggy’s. But be sure to untap The Tap this weekend, so see the post below, tacked on the bottom of this one).
Then call or text Mike for reservations, beforehand if you wish, at (763) 242-5685. And to aid the process of getting to a motel, don’t be afraid to ask your bartender, as Mike knows them well. Or just call from home.
To Mike this is more than a business, it’s a widespread community need for safety. Mike was “driven” to establish his rideshare service by seeing that people have a good time –in and out of his vehicle — then arrive home safely, not endangering themselves and others. That may entail a ride to one of the several hotels in Hudson and Stillwater, Mike’s base, that consider his service their primo pick for transport, and have him set up to be people’s “personal driver,” and tell their customers so. That’s whether they are from western Wisconsin or the Twin Cities, or outstate Minnesota, or wherever. Recent groups served by Mike’s Ride Share in the Nissan Altima were all the way from Owatonna, and a wedding party from Michigan. Aiding public safety and leading by example knows no state or geographical boundaries. The essence of the job is to get referrals – from going above and beyond to build repeat business and shout-outs from the people driven, or especially the hotels — and take care of the needs of those like you and, if you choose, friends and family. Even that nice, and/or partying, couple you met and you share the lift to the hotel on the hill. This really rivals Lyft, say the repeat customers of Mike’s Ride Share.

— News break: Mike gives plenty of ladies a lift, and he also lifts the spirits of those at Hudson Tap, five lovely ladies (read about them below) behind the bar while he does networking with mutual customers in this, what he calls his second home. But for more of this theme, see Luck Be A Lady Tonight and the band on Saturday night at the Wild Badger in New Richmond. In the Picks of the Week department —

There’s fantastic flexibility here, and everybody wins. Mike is passionate about constantly networking and communicating, building rapport and relationships – gaining referrals 101 – and this is person by person, fare by fare, group by group. It’s something like this: Unlike many of those who are cabbies, and for them conversation and making the ride interesting is the industry equivalent of cartoonish engineers Wally and Dilbert, Mike can tell tales from being on the scene much longer than most, in what can be an in-and-out employment game. Safely said, any banter that a rider might engage in can go beyond the depth of Packers and Vikings, although at Mike’s Ride Share that is fair game, too, if you wish.
Without Lyft or Uber, many people are as much a fish out of water as a walleye angler in California. But wait a minute, that would be Mike. ”If you want to talk fishing, I guess that would be OK.” Or more than just OK, with apologies to Lynyrd Skynyrd . He’ll wow you with stories about 30-incher trophies on his wall, while bearing the true colors of being a uniformed driver, these days also fulltime with FedEx Express. And then he’ll pop back at you, tell me your experience of the Sky Blue Waters…
“I don’t cancel rides have reservations and keep people updated on my status. It’s a worry-free, no-hassle experience. I will give you all the insight and recommendations in the area … Leave it to Mike,” says Mike.
He loves to pump his referral base using local clubs, chiefly Hudson Tap – say longtime server Amanda sent you – and that shows how personal it can be, in a good way. And The Tales Grow Taller On Down The Line, as Mike will talk with riders about his fave ’80 bands, Def Leppard, AC/DC, and even Heart, which few people know got a start right in Wisconsin, and not the Milwaukee end. And then there is that Motley Crue connection, for a later time.
But for now, call Mike’s Ride Share, who is fast becoming a friend of HudsonWiNightlife, at (763) 242-5685.
But wait. Mike’s Ride Share is all about being thorough. So here are some added things he wants you to know.
He re-emphasizes that he’s all about communication and relationships, and making a plan before the 2 a.m. witching hour. And also know that there is no Uber or Lyft in the area, partly due to what’s been ordained by the City Fathers. “You can’t just get a ride at a moment’s notice,” he says. ”Mike is the main driver in the area and you have to call or text him at least 30 minutes in advance, at least 30 minutes notice.”
It is in the best interest of all to avoid ASAP requests. “I want to reduce the 2 a.m. people who are looking for a ride with no Uber or Lyft around,” Mike says, and cabs are way too pricy. With that said about the Johnnie Come Lately drivers, Mike is one of few who would do late-night rides to places like the St. Paul, Hastings or Cottage Grove areas. Woodbury is one of his hubs. Plan ahead for those extra rides.
And those connections … “Mike recommends the number one place to eat and drink is Hudson Tap. Go see Amanda, Liz, Casey, Sidney and Baily. The Hudson Tap staff makes the place like a family environment,” says Mike, who considers The Tap his second home.
Hours are Friday from 5 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Saturday 3 p.m. to bar close, although they may be expanding. Stay tuned …
Again, plan ahead, be safe and make reservations with Mike. At (763) 242-5685. That’s the trifecta of listing phone numbers, or should I say power trio. Or quartet. So read below …

(NEWS FLASH)! There’s a favorite band Mike of Mike’s Ride Share loves to twist and shout about, and he might need a megaphone now that Booster Days is fast upon us. The story starts with another fave of his, five bartenders over, Hudson Tap, then moves from there.
Long before The Tap was tapped, but there was still Hudson veteran Amanda serving at a bar, but across the way, there was Ellie’s, the first bar and grill at that location in the downtown. It had housed many ventures at what’s now the completely redesigned Hudson Tap, where I used to spend some of my nights with beautiful blonde Kara doing weekly killer karaoke – I also stand in on lead locals with a rock band and am actually on-stage next to that smokin’ lead guitar, not just that scribe sitting in the back. Anyway The Crue was our crew, and you don’t know how good their lyrics are until they pop up on screen. Want the real lowdown on Shout At The Devil, or other (possibly misunderstood) songs? Since the scene has long since lost track of Kara, you might – and here’s the point behind this bit of long-wind – ask Mike and he’ll surely have something to say, if a fun yet insightful way. Also as far as The Crue, have Mike give you a ride up to North Hudson and Guv’s Place to confer with the not so Motley stalwart Jess, the wife of Guv, who considers herself not only the band’s biggest fan in the area, but indeed the known world!! Unless she’s on the Night-Train to see Nikki!
But for now, its Booster Days and check out the way Ellie’s of long ago, followed by other ventures, has morphed its design into Hudson Tap; this is like comparing the Old School field of those Vikings, to the Metrodome and beyond. And of course, especially for this weekend, check out the rest of the story — of music and where to see it.

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