I zig and you zag, and we both get to see bands, as they can be found on both the upper and lower levels of Ziggy’s on NYE, on either end of the ornate staircase:
— The new Ziggy’s in Hudson promises to take Hudson by storm as the primo music club and has not one but two bands playing on New Year’s Eve — simultaneously. Heartless takes the stage upstairs and a second act downstairs at the downtown’s newest venue, which until recently was Pudge’s Bar. On Saturday night it was another tribute band, Tumbling Dice, and the six-man-band looks the part of looking like the Stones. On Friday, the band was FiveMinuteMajor, and you could say the same of the looks of their locks, although a bit younger in appearance with some Springsteen mixed in. Both Bruce and this area version of Mick are backed by a sax player. On Thursday it was longtime country stalwart Tim Sigler.
— Besides music, Dick’s Bar and Grill adds in wild-harvested snow crab legs and filet mignon as its dinner featured offering, with the option of a reload for only a Perfect Ten Dollars. Reservations are required for dinner. In the next room, music will be supplied by Joel Kachel from 6-9 p.m., followed by deejay tunes until what would normally be bar time and passed. Then consider catching some sleep and being back the next morning for the annual pajama party, with first, second and couples prizes offered in the early afternoon for the best duds. A free drink for the duded up and of course, only $2.25 for Bloody Mary’s and minosas. The advertising flyer shows two women who are beautiful in a nostalgic way despite having lots of big rollers in their hair.
— At Season’s Tavern in North Hudson, the draw may feature drawn butter. They again have their time-honored, and honed over time, specials with your choice of two dinners that are two-fold, steak and lobster, and steak and their ongoing specialty of succulent walleye that has become well revered over years of building a reputation. And that walleye can come prepared in a number of different and creative ways. There of course are multiple side dishes that go with this set of entrees, fitting in all the main food groups and more, with more than one choice for dessert. And the house band Thirsty Camel is taking a rare holiday-party break, since after two sets of four-days-straight holiday observance, that camel indeed is thirsty and is electing to just be at the bar, or at work to serve you in a different way other than guitar solos. All this opens the door for what you want to play on the jukebox. This is better than Jack FM. Reservations are recommended for the dinner.
— Unlike most such things, this Ponzi Scheme promises to be worth the price — which is zero! The band by that name that plays the Village Inn in North Hudson with no cover on New Year’s Eve, known from their area appearances to offer a wide range of older classic rock, via around a hundred covers that can even include a full set by Chicago.
— At the Bungalow Inn in Lakeland, there is the tried and true crooning ideal for New Year’s Eve of Gary LaRue, backed by a host of featured wines for the evening — Allure Bubbly, Pink Moscato, Little Black Dress Moscato (perfect motif for New Year’s Eve), and a trio of Kendall Jackson juices, Vintage Reserve Chardonnay, Cabernet and Sanvignon. And there are scores of seasonal drinks, boasting as many as six primary ingredients, as more is better. Another place to catch LaRue is every other Thursday at the Postmark Inn, in the former Hudson Post Office, with regular recurring gigs.
— Not all parties are for New Year’s Eve. At Cheap Andy’s Saloon in Hammond they are giving you a holiday alternative, stuck smack dab between Christmas and New Years, and offering a length of partying hours that rivals both those holidays. On Dec. 29, it is their Christmas and customer appreciation party, with food and drink specials that are not limited to a happy hour, but go on all day, and add to that games, prizes and giveaways that have similar longevity of hours. This is their second annual such observance, with a sponsor in Miller Lite — On Wisconsin! — as their 16 ounce taps are one of the drink specials, for only $2.50. And then on New Year’s Eve, its the interesting twist of lasagna rolls, to accompany what promises to be an extended happy hour for “New Year’s drinks,” a staffer said.
— Some area venues are offering great dining specials on New Year’s Eve, for the especially delectable, by steering away from the usual fare they would offer, but not too far. Meister’s in Boardman has several steak themed dinner entrees, with a newer-than-the-norm take on steak, one of them being Steak ala Oscar. Mallard’s resort on the St. Croix, in Bayport, is having some great stuffed stuff for additional meaty entrees, with a thick sauce based on bleu cheese stuck right in the middle. And Paddy Ryan’s in the town of Hudson, which all year takes traditional Irish fare and gives it their own modern-leaning twist, they’ll tweak it a little further for meaty effect (think prime rib, as is noteworthy for being not just the usual corned beef, although Paddy’s does go way beyond that for the Irish delicacies).
— Indeed, some now opt for other options than music on New Years, and may be focusing on The Day rather than The Eve. A full buffet is offered on New Year’s Day at Pier 500, with its schedule falling a bit on the later side to accommodate people who were up all night.
— Also accommodating partiers is the West Wind Supper Club in River Falls, but in a different way as far as timing, as their varied and hearty buffet is early, from 4:30-9:30 p.m., on Dec. 31. This is billed as their biggest buffet of the year, and that’s saying something for this place that offers various such eating options throughout the course of every week, not just holidays, although its then that they do it biggest. The NYE buffet features seafood (various kinds) and prime rib (the one and only), and thus reservations are encouraged. So start your holiday with a bang of a brunch, before checking out the rest of the town and its revelry and music (we recommend Johnnie’s and the band Blue Moon Drive). This West Wind event comes on the heels of a Christmas buffet where the staff donate their time and make possible a primo charitable event to benefit the Pierce-St. Croix Free Clinic.
— Mallory’s is closed for annual maintenance from Jan. 1-4, so their niche is NYE, but you have to get there early because about the time that the bands at other places start in, Mallory’s shuts down so their employees can do some of their own celebrating, whether it be those music acts and/or God Knows What.
— Guv’s Place in North Hudson has a large-scale dart tournament on New Year’s Day, starting in the morning. Ouch. And it was unclear whether Kyle Kohila would be playing as usual, though he’s been a virtually lock for the place at such times over the last few years. People, it was said by one of the bartenders, come for a different kind of place over New Year’s, to just have a few drinks, hang out, and just be there, in a way you will understand if you’re there.
— Billed at Buffalo Wild Wings as the perfect holiday drink is Stella Ambrose premium, which you can get for a Five on the Head, (that being the head of Old Abe, and of that ol’ beer froth).
— Now I segue into the one last set of stuff that simply sizzles all night long, and its at the Smilin’ Moose, which has so much going on that it’s beyond description, you just have to smile about it.