Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale, Wednesday & Thursday
[Brenda and BAT are road warriors, through a hub somewhere in the Great American Southwest. They travel hither and yon to bring joy, music, and entertainment to the teeming masses (and sometimes just to audiences). Alexandria is the only place in Minnesota where they have performed, this being their 3rd or 4th year (but who’s counting?). The Super has yet to miss a performance. This is Thursday night, where every chair in the place was reserved. I ‘missed’ Wednesday night (my only BAT miss) because it was a Ladies Night Out. I figured Ruthie and Jami and friends wanted a night out to do whatever ladies do when they aren’t chaperoned?]
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Arrowwood, Friday
[On the deck, the most beautiful day in the merry, merry month of May. We were happy to see “Baby Bruiser” had returned to work the summer here, and I had my first deckburger of the season!]
[People were boating over . . . standing in line waiting for open tables.]
[The Super says, “G’night, see you at the winery over the weekend!”]
[And as the sun sinks slowly to the left, we make our exit.]
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Carlos Creek Winery, Saturday & Sunday
[We suspected the Saturday afternoon performance would be ‘weathered’ to inside. It was a gray day, but the rain held off.]
[Self-admitted avid BAT fans who, to this day, do not appear to have suffered any visible mental or physical side effects as a result of such.]
[Whatta guy!]
The first of four BAT live videos featured here, Malaguena:
[BAT: Whew! That was pretty fast! Me: Adrenaline rush!]
[Closing with the avid fans . . . and the Super’s dream car.]
Sunday . . .
[On Sunday, the first annual! I think it succeeded beyond the winery’s wildest expectations for yet another rainy day. Great crowds.]
[As usual, the Super wins again . . . the first drawing for a door prize!]
[We’re inside today, so BAT has downsized from stocking feet to bare feet . . . the Super captures the action for Facebook.]
[Brenda visits our table . . . well, actually it was his table first. The guy in the right background appears to employ my “camera grin.”]
[Let’s rock ‘n roll!]
[It’s a PAR-TAY!]
Video, Piano Man:
[Apologies for the cinematography, I was reaching into my pocket so the Super could “put bread in his jar!” And to show this attracted an audience far beyond the immediate Alexandria metropolitan area, the Super’s late dance partner in the video is from Sartell.]
[Something about a winery that produces great dancing . . . well, enthusiastic dancing!]
[Conga line!! The Super brings up the rear.]
[Well, OK, let’s go around again!]
[Local DJ Michael Wright and, I believe, Michelle of the winery do another on the half hour drawing. I never won, but then that’s appropriate for someone who’s trying to provide fair and balance reporting.]
[I win! No, I win!]
[Over the years we have introduced hockey moms, basketball moms, baseball moms, all rightfully so, and now we bring you track dad! Doug Hasz, of course, has twin daughters, juniors this year, who are Top 10 in the country in cross-country. His kettle corn is pretty good too!]
[That keg, containing beer and wine (?), was auctioned off to the gentleman in the gray shirt, who is photo posing with the Schell’s beer guy and the winemaker.]
[Brenda wonders, “Should I have made a bid?”]
[The Super and I wandered out for the slow dances and rocked back and forth trying not to tip over.]
Video, More Than A Feeling:
[Get down, get funky!!]
Video, Don’t Stop Believing:
What a way to rock out! BAT does it all from Willie Nelson to Steve Perry . . . Did I mention the guy never takes a break during a 3 – 4 hour show?
[Thanks to our table hosts, and . . .]
[Say good night, Christine!]
Wives are people who feel they don’t dance enough. ~ Groucho Marx
Up next: I think today’s softball game will be rained out, so likely cruising the Danube.
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