Take Me To The River. Or two (wordings intentional and see below) the nearest venue having Minnesconsin pro football games, but without the rowdiness, so it might not be within just blocks of the St. Croix.
So to the Next Door online reader with a two-fold question in that regard, here’s to you. Might want to head up the hill into a newer section of Hudson.
At Green Mill, it is a crowd that evades the 21-year-old, bucket of beer brigade, although they do have Game Day specials are just as inciting. The clientele is a little older and wiser, and more mature and well behaved, and you can even engage them in conversation as the volume of either the jukebox or sports TV channel is not prohibitive, and everyone around the big circular bar rail is within earshot, and you don’t have to yell. Granted, come the fourth quarter some of the regulars might be a bit tipsy, but they typically can handle their liquor well, so this may go unnoticed because they don’t pour it down like at some places downtown catering to the young crowd.
On Friday, a group came in sporting Green and Gold sweatshirts and were led to the dining area. A man at the bar quipped it might as well be Game Day. The response? We’re traveling, on our way over there. Green Mill is known for catering to business travelers, some of them upscale but unpretentious, staying at nearby motels, or just those passing through enroute to a bigger city.
— For three key matchups to view at GM and BWW, and make it your own, see Notes From The Beat. They start with the Pack but don’t turn back when it comes to the rest of the NFL–
Across Carmichael Road is Buffalo Wild Wings, which caters as much to families with children of all ages, spread out around the generous supply of tables in two huge rooms, as those at the front bar. It can be a haven for youth sports teams, both athletes and parents and their coaches and even trainers, and bartenders are more likely to take the time for a bit of well-honed analysis about strategy. A big flyer in the foyer stresses that patrons enjoy the game but be respectful. Forego the Bronx Cheer.
And then there are those specials.
You can load up on more than baked potato during football games. A current offer that takes on a tailgating twist provides 20 wings, amped up on chicken tater tots, and for now a secret item that likely has a secret sauce, like at an old Milwaukee Brewer game at County Stadium.
Another newer offering is a mouthful. It boasts spicy sweet chili sauce on its wings, and Doritos (the name brand not a generic) with you might have guessed, spicy-sweet-chili-sauce-flavored tortillas crumbled and piled on top.
Lastly there — and you have to keep in mind BDubs is a chain with more of a presence in Minnesota — you can get a free appetizer whenever the (up and down) Viking defense produces two snacks — OK again a Freudian slip, as I meant sacks. (You do have to produce a separate $20 purchase, but as far as getting to that point, its still cool on those hot apps because you will bring your legions of friends with you, right?) Just as long as the Viking to Packer ratio among them is not greater then 50/50. Just kidding. After all, this is not Dick’s or Ziggy’s downtown that can cater to the hoards coming over from the Cities to get their football fix.
But if you can’t wait until Sunday, on Saturday there is the marching band competition dubbed Rumble on the River, which is actually held at Hudson High School and is a joint effort with River Falls, where they do have the carefully careening creek that’s called The Kinni for commonality sake. The lingo is lots like a major concert, doors at 11 a.m. and music at noon. There is a $10 entry fee, since after all, the event is a fundraiser.
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