Category Archives: Wisconsin

Bands, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

The Blisters Rock Eau Claire

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In my experience as an adventure seeker, when I am not on vacation, weekends are for two things: spending time with family and friends, or getting work done. I of course would prefer the former, which is why I went back to Eau Claire this past weekend to spend time with my family.

Saturday nights in Eau Claire are usually set aside for listening to my father’s band play, but on the rare occasion that we have a free night available, it is nice to get out and enjoy listening to other local musicians. This past Saturday happened to be one of those free evenings and I had the pleasure of enjoying the music of an Eau Claire band called, The Blisters.

The Blisters are a tight sounding, three-piece band, that plays old Rock n Roll and a little bit of country. Their humorous personalities work well together and are upstaged only by their great sound. Their harmonies are something to be commended and they have chosen a wonderful variety of music that will make you want to get up and dance.

The band consists of Peter Phippin, on bass, Dave Engedal, on guitar, and Mike “Slant” Hucek, on drums. All three band members take turns singing. They even shared the stage with a couple of other local musicians who were taking in the show.

Those of you who know me, know that I am a bit of a music snob and I can be pretty critical of local bands. I don’t hand out praise very easily, so my view on this group is sincere. If you want an enjoyable evening, filled with good company and good music, I would highly recommend going to the next Blisters gig. For more information on The Blisters, visit their Facebook page at: fb.me/theblistersrock.

Casino, Hotels, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

An Overnight Trip To Turtle Lake Casino

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We all know that casinos are out there to make money, and one of the ways they do so, is by taking ours when we go overboard and pump too much into the machines, or we spend too much time on a losing table. I’ve never lost a large sum of money at the casino, because I learned quickly that casinos are there to take money, not give it. With that said, I still love casinos.

Turtle Lake Casino is located a mere thirty minutes from my current home. I have checked it out twice now and I find certain aspects of this particular casino to be quite wonderful. First off, it’s not very big, so you won’t get lost, like you could in some of the Las Vegas Casinos. Secondly, they give you some decent perks for playing their slots. I recently received a free night stay for September and October.

Last Thursday night, my husband and I went to Turtle Lake and we upgraded our free night stay to a whirlpool suite. The room was huge. It had a beautiful carved bed frame, microwave, fridge, walk in shower, and separate areas for sleeping and lounging. The window in our room overlooked the pool area, which was kind of neat. I enjoyed the room. I slept very comfortably, but was not happy about being woken at 4am by the outright brawl going on in the room above us. We did call the front desk and it was quickly dealt with, though it didn’t stop someone from stomping around angrily at other points throughout the night.

This casino is separated from the hotel, by roughly, one block. It is definitely in walking distance, so we chose to walk instead of taking the shuttle. The actual casino has three food options. You can choose to dine at the buffet, the concession stand, or the Me-Ki-Noc Restaurant. If you are staying in the hotel, they also have Heggie’s Pizza available as well as a continental breakfast in the morning.

The only food option I have taken advantage of has been the buffet. It is by no means a large buffet; it is actually quite small. I think the best option is to go on Thursday nights for surf and turf. I have eaten the surf and turf and it is well worth it. The regular buffet however, had what appeared to be frozen Chicken Kiev and instant mashed potatoes. I did very much enjoy the desserts, but they are also hit or miss, and I believe none are actually made on premises.

Despite Turtle Lake’s buffet, I do enjoy visiting and I loved the hotel room we stayed in. The whirlpool was quiet and very relaxing. The view of the pool from our room was a fun addition. I will definitely go back and stay again sometime soon.

For more information on Turtle Lake Casino, please visit: https://turtlelake.stcroixcasino.com/

 

Music, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Music & Fun In The Sun At Jake’s Supper Club

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It’s that time of year again when the leaves begin to change and the cooler weather sets in. The biggest disappointment for me is the loss of outdoor concerts. Last weekend I spent one last afternoon dancing and having a blast in the sun, while listening to the 40 Fingers band perform one last outdoor show.

The venue I spent the day at was, Jake’s Supper Club, in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Jake’s is great because they have a tiki bar out back with several levels of seating that overlook the water. They have tables with umbrellas that overlook a dance floor which is in front of their outdoor music stage.

Jake’s hosts bands through out the summer on a regular basis. You can order food inside the restaurant or outside from the convenience of your umbrella table. The food is excellent. I love the cheese curds and the fried mushrooms. They also have Prime Bites, which I know are a favorite of certain 40 Fingers band members. Aside from their appetizers, they have many other wonderful menu options. The menu does change some seasonally.

The wait staff at Jake’s is great. They will stop by your table and check up on you and they are always quick to put in your order. The bartenders are also great, though it can take a while sometimes at the bar because Jake’s is usually pretty packed when the outdoor music season is in full swing.

Next summer if you are in the area, I highly recommend checking out Jake’s; you may just find a new favorite summer venue.

For more information on Jake’s Supper Club, please visit: http://www.jakessupperclub.com/

Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

A New Restaurant In Hammond, WI

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Lack of travel, due to moving, has had me out exploring my locale a little more than usual. While food options are limited where I live, I have found some decent restaurants to turn to when the desire to cook escapes me. The nice thing is that Groupon has come in handy for trying out a few of these new places.

Located off exit sixteen, in Hammond, WI, is a great new restaurant called Schuggy’s American Grill & Taphouse. Schuggy’s has only been around for five months, but they seem to be doing a good job of packing in the patrons on a Friday night. I have eaten at this restaurant twice, and at their sister restaurant, the Barnboard, three times. Several of the items on the menus are similar, or the same.

The first time I visited Schuggy’s, I went with my uncle. We ordered two appetizers: the quesadilla, and cheesy mac potato skins. We both very much enjoyed the quesadilla, but we both greatly disliked the potato skins. The skins were lacking in flavor and they were not served with anything on the side, such as sour cream. Upon informing our server that we did not like them, she basically said they aren’t for everyone and walked away. I found this highly disconcerting. I did take the potato skins home and surprisingly the flavor came out more upon reheating them, however, I won’t ever order them off the menu again.

Normally after a situation such as the above, I would not return to the restaurant, however, I did have a Groupon left, since we didn’t spend enough to use it on our previous visit. My husband and I decided to stop in and try their cheese curds and pizza. While I thought they were both very good, the pizza could have used just a little more sauce. This second experience was much better than the first. Our waittress was more attentive and we left feeling quite full and happy.

I would like to note that this restaurant is clean and has a family friendly feel to it. I love the American themed décor. Honestly, the décor and feel of the restaurant is what made me go back and give them a second try. They are one of the few newer restaurants in this area and comfort is a big deal to me when choosing a place to eat.

I am hoping that the kinks at Schuggy’s will work themselves out. I read several reviews on Groupon and noted that they were dealing with some unattentive waitresses when the business first opened. The owner assured one patron that he was going to look into these issues and personally address them. Despite the first exprerience I will go back and try this restaurant out again in the near future.

For more information on Schuggy’s American Grill & Taphouse, please visit: https://www.schuggys.com/

Camping, Hiking, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Camping At Willow River

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Sometimes in this crazy life it is nice to just get away from the buzz of businesses and city noise and retreat into nature. I make a habit of taking vacations that incorporate outdoor activities into my schedule, because these activities help me reset and decompress. If you like camping, there are a ton of great places to choose from. I tend to enjoy state parks more than your packed in party campgrounds, because they give you more seclusion, less noise, and more nature.

This past weekend my family took a trip to Willow River State Park, which is located in Hudson, WI. This particular park, while the campsites are closer together, gives a feeling of privacy, because of all the the great foliage surrounding each site. Our campsite was surrounded by trees, had a fire pit and picnic table, and was still near a bathroom. We heard little disruption from our neighbors and it felt almost like we were alone at times. The site was not huge, we just barely got our bean bag toss setup in the space provided. Everything worked out fine.

This particular park offers hiking trails, a beach, a nature center, a beautiful waterfall, playgrounds, and activities at certain times for the family and children. Unfortunately, while we visitied, the lake had been drawn down, so the beach was not availble for use. If the lake had been active, the park would have offered kayak and canoe rentals as well.

We took a hike to the waterfall and it was completely worth it. You can actually swim at the base of the falls, but it’s definitely at your own risk. There are lots of great photo opportunities from the bridge as you approach the falls, as well as at the base and top. If you are feeling energetic, you can hike up the stairs to the platform that overlooks the falls for another great view.

If you want to continue hiking beyond the falls, there are other interesting sites and overlooks, including old grave sites and pieces of machinery. I did check out a few of the other outlooks and sites, but I feel that the waterfall is probably the most interesting view. Some of the overlooks are a little overgrown with trees, so you cannot really see much.

Overall, this is one of my favorite campgrounds in Wisconsin. I have been visiting Willow River for many years, even just to hike the falls. I will continue to come back to this campground in the years to come.

For more information on Willow River State Park, please visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/willowriver/

Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Great Food In Hammond, Wisconsin

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As previously noted, I recently moved to New Richmond, Wisconsin. While I have done some exploring of the surrounding area, much more exploration will take place in the near future. It takes time to put a house in order, which takes away from some of my free-time for checking out my new surroundings.

While looking for food the first weekend in our new home, my husband and I found a great place in Hammond, Wisconsin. The Parkside Restaurant and Bar, which in my opinion, is highly note worthy. We have eaten at this particular restaurant about five times now. Every experience at the Parkside has been great.

What I love about this restaurant is that they offer three great things. They have Friday night all you can eat fish fry, Saturday all you can eat steak buffet, and both of these include an unlimited salad bar. The food is awesome, and you cannot beat the prices. They offer a number of potato selections, including potato salad and garlic mashed potatoes, which are both wonderful.

If you are looking for a place to view the big game, you can do that at the Parkside as well. They have limited table seating in the bar area. If you would like to sit outside and enjoy the nice summer weather, they also offer patio seating. The servers are prompt and attentive. The facility is a little older looking, but seems clean and well kept.

If you plan to visit for one of the weekend specials, be sure to arrive either early, or a little later in the evening. Prime dinner hours can be a little busy and you could find youself waiting for a table, though I have never had to wait more than five to ten minutes max.

For more information on the Parkside, please visit: http://www.parkside-hammond.com/

Bands, Uncategorized, Winery, Wisconsin

Winery Weekend In Withee, Wisconsin

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This past weekend I took a trip with family over to, Munson Bridge Winery in Withee, Wisconsin. Each summer Munson Bridge Winery holds Saturday night events with live music. The cover to get into these events is five dollars and that includes a tasting of five wines of your choice. Not a bad deal, in my opinion. They also offer cheese and crackers for free. If you want more than cheese and crackers, you may purchase pizza from, Fire Truck Pizza.

I started out the evening with a tasting. I chose to try ten of their wines for a couple more dollars. When all was said and done, my favorite wines were Virtue and Summer. While they have many great choices, these two were flavorful, semi-sweet, and I could drink more than one glass from the bottle, if I chose to. If I cannot drink more than one glass of a specific wine in a sitting, I do not buy the bottle, because it generally means the wine has too much of something or other.

After the tasting I did try out the pizza. It was good, but I was disappointed by the lack of toppings. I rejected one slice, because both were almost all crust. If I am going to eat pizza, I want it to be smothered in toppings and flavor. I enjoyed the two slices I chose, but wasn’t out of my mind about either. The pizza was mediocre and staved my hunger as I had hoped it would.

At six o-clock the band began to play. Lots of people got up to dance. There was a full crowd all night long. The band was 40 Fingers and they put on a great show, as they always do. Bands play from six until ten in the evening on event Saturdays. The bar closes at nine o-clock sharp, so you must be prepared to purchase your final beverages an hour before close.

If you are looking for a fun evening with wine, music, and some tasty treats, Munson Bridge may be the place for you. The facilities are clean and in order. They have several different fire pits that they light at dusk. There is a small pond for paddle boating, and they have yard games that you can partake in. The staff is very nice and helpful. I will definitely return to this winery again.

For more information on Munson Bridge Winery, please visit: http://www.munsonbridgewinery.com/

Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Moving To Wisconsin

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This week’s adventure is that of a new home in a new city. My husband and I close on our house this Thursday and we are very excited. So much has had to happen to get to this point. So much more will have to happen in order for us to find ourselves comfortably settled in our new town.

We aren’t just moving across the city, we are moving to an entire new state, well new to my husband anyway. I was born in Wisconsin, so moving back is exciting to me. I have been in Minnesota for eleven years now; I am happy to try something different. We are moving to the country, which is definitely a new experience on my end.

If my posts are lacking in the next two weeks, I do apologize ahead of time. Our internet is not being hooked up until the 25th, and I am going to take this time to explore the area and find new and exciting things to write about. We will call this a mini vacation for research and acclamation purposes.

In the meantime, I encourage all of my readers to go out and find something new to explore in your hometown. Much too often we tend to overlook the fun and exciting things to do right where we live. I have been in Minnesota for eleven years and I can list the number of things here that I haven’t bothered to check out, that I probably would have very much enjoyed. My new goal is to know my new town inside and out and to find even more excitement right in my home territory. I will, of course, continue to travel to other exciting destinations and write all about those experiences as well.

To find fun things to do in your area, I recommend going to Google and typing in “activities in (name of your hometown)”. I am sure a lot of things will pop up. You could also check out Groupon.com to see if they list anything new that you have been putting off trying. Until my next entry, happy adventure seeking!

Camping, Lodging, Music, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Summer Fun At Gilligan’s In Chetek, Wisconsin

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Summer is here and what’s not to love? You have your sandbars, your outdoor music, great grilled foods, cold beverages, camping, and laughing it up with family and good friends. This past weekend I went camping with family at Six Lakes Campground in Chetek, WI. We chose this particular spot because it was a mere four blocks from Gilligan’s, which is the bar my father’s band, 40 Fingers, was playing at this past Saturday.

Gilligan’s is a great time for anyone who loves being outdoors and listening to good music. The bar staff is attentive and they will check up on you to see if you would like to place an order for their wonderful food, or if you need your drink refilled. If you prefer to get your own beverages, the tiki bar is quite large and located out back by the music, for your convenience. The bar features brightly colored bar stools and on a nice day you can sit in the sun and watch the boats come and go on the lake, while taking in some live music.

The food at Gilligan’s is pretty great. This time around we ordered pork nachos and gourmet cheddar cheese curds. The cheddar curds are the size of golf balls, and they are delicious. I feel the need to indulge in them any time I visit Gilligan’s; I’m a Wisconsin girl all the way.

The drinks at Gilligan’s can be ordered in a keepsake drink mug, if you like that sort of thing, which I personally do. The mugs come in a variety of bright and fun colors. Mine is hot pink, but you can also get blue, neon green, purple, etc. I bring my mug with me to refill, each time I visit. This bar also has a variety of specialty summer drinks. I recommend trying them out if you are adventurous and open to new flavors.

Gilligan’s has music on weekends. My father’s band, 40 Fingers, will be at Gilligan’s again this coming Saturday, if anyone is wishing they hadn’t missed this past week’s performance at this particular location. This upcoming weekend features the Bear Creek Band, on June 28th, Your Mom, on June 30th, and 40 Fingers, on July 1st.

The venue has two bars, one indoor and the tiki bar, out back. The bands play outside just off the lake in the tiki hut. There is a dance floor, but the floor is all sand, so it can be difficult to dance. The majority of the sitting area is hard floor and my family and friends tend to hang out up top near the tiki bar and dance on the more solid ground.

Gilligan’s is the place to be for good food, good music, and relaxing lakeside. For more information, please visit: http://gilliganschetek.com/

 

 

Bands, Music, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Check Out The 40 Fingers Band of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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This upcoming weekend is Father’s Day, and while I love my Dad, unfortunately I have another engagement to attend, so I cannot be with him to celebrate. As a tribute to how cool my father is, I have decided to tell the world a little more about one of his favorite pass times. My Dad has been in a band since he was a boy, he is a self-taught drummer, and his ambition never ceases to amaze me. Today, my dad still remains a kick ass drummer and singer, which if you notice, is a commodity, because many drummers do not sing due to the concentration and multi-tasking required to maintain the beat.

If you are in the Eau Claire area on a Saturday night, or possibly the surrounding area, chances are you will be able to find my father’s band, 40 Fingers, playing somewhere. The band consists of four members: Dave Ambers (drummer), Laura Reali (Keys, Alto Sax.), Hal Ahlers (Bass), and Cory Miller (Guitar). All of the members of the band are wonderful singers.

If you love to dance and you enjoy a variety of music, this band would be perfect for you. They play a wide selection of music from old to new and country to rock. Laura does a great job belting out Ex’s and Oh’s, while Cory has the perfect voice for “Love Shack.” My dad, Dave, does a great job with the song “Temptation Eyes,” and Hal is awesome with “No Matter What,” and no matter what they are playing, every member of the band has a great sense of humor and they have fun all through each gig.

While I am definitely partial to 40 Fingers, I can genuinely say that very few bands meet my expectations, because of how solid my father’s band sounds. Even though they play in some smaller towns, they have a big sound and they draw in several regulars, everywhere they go. If you haven’t heard 40 Fingers, I encourage you to check them out. I love to wander around and listen to what the audience has to say about the band; it’s always positive and people always comment on how much fun they are having.

40 Fingers does have a few regular locations that they play at, which are as follows: Jake’s Tiki Bar (Menomonie), Gilligan’s Tiki Bar (Chetek), Sammy’s Pizza (Eau Claire), Big Swedes (Holcomb), VFW on Starr (Eau Claire), VFW on Folsom (Eau Claire). To find out where 40 Fingers will be playing next, please visit: http://40fingersband.com/index.html

For more information on the 40 Fingers band, please check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/40-Fingers-817262014961407/