School starts and Pepper Fest in North Hudson starts, take your pick, or both:
— Its hit the books early this year in the Hudson district, Aug. 17, in part because of ongoing construction considerations, and Dick’s Bar and Grill is stepping up to the plate by offering a group of four brunch-based specials to come to the aid of stressed out parents. Most noteworthy are the “Sophiemosas” for $5. That’s just got to be named after some downtown stalwart, and one or two possibilities immediately come to mind, one of them who last year ditched the serving gig and entered the ranks of the teaching establishment.
— The Pepper Fest band lineup started as being typically steady and predictable, then branched out with its plans. The Dweebs close out the fest on Sunday night, like seemingly always, but only take the stage until 10 p.m. The night before, Paisan is out and the Roger Allen band is in. Also new, at least to the Pepper Fest but not to North Hudson, is Jawsy from 4-6:30 p.m. providing “beer garden entertainment.” And maybe the biggest difference would be, of course, the addition of one-man-bander Jeff Loven to open the fest’s music on Friday night. This is a gig he said he’s eyed for a while, but now its finally coming to fruition.