Part 2 in the Bryce is getting married saga: The I went over to Frank and announced that no Empire Waist Strikes Back. matter what else we did, I wanted this meat, exactly like it is tonight, for my wedding. Frank Okay, I don’t actually think her wedding dress has said, “I’m in.” And indeed he is. So if I know an empire waist, but the title was catchy. Maybe it guys, it could rain cats and dogs and locusts should be Part 5 with prequels to come later. What could descend on the wedding and as long as the dress will have, however, is a colored ribbon Frank brings his “A” game, the only thing they’ll around the waist. This is the part where Bryce dis- go home saying will be, “How about that meat?” covers, on multiple trips to fabric and craft stores, Some may even put some in their pockets for that there is no definitive color between red and later. I, for one, am bringing Tupperware. purple. Oh, how I wish there were. I know this is OUR day. For us, we hope it is a You see, the ribbon should match the flowers, day when we share some of our favorite things should match the table runners, should match with our friends. Not a day for those friends the redness of my eyes on a Saturday night at So- and family to wait patiently for us to show up, Fro Fabric. But that may have been caused by my eat before them, or force them onto a dance allergies. What came first, the chicken or the egg floor to stick their backside out and shake it ... or the flowers or the table runners? In our case, all about. For me, a day to thank everyone it was the flowers: Not quite red, definitely not for sharing it with us. And to me, that means purple. What’s in the middle? As a red-blooded showing them a good time. man, that’s an easy answer. Burgundy! Yes? No? I give up. I’ll be hiding in the garage. Oh crap, I Strangely, the actual wedding part I have not don’t have a garage. There is cranberry, there is thought much about yet. I guess that is the giv- raspberry, there is wine (that’s a color?), but this en. Some people get all nervous about saying fabric store’s wine is not the same as that store’s “I do.” I’m just not. So, while I know we’ll get wine. And oddly, because the wedding is at a around to writing vows and saying the right public park, we’re not even supposed to have thing, so long as she says “yes,” I’m good to wine. But wine it is -- the color, that is. go. It was damn hard enough finding the one perfect person to say it to that I’m not that wor- Picking out an entire set of dishes, flatware ried about finding the words. and enough appliances to open a small bak- ery was gravy compared to finding a spool of I realize that you should probably be married for ribbon that matched the flowers which could like 20 years before you start doling out marriage also be matched to a table runner. For the first advice. At least already married. But I think I’ve time since we started planning, I have done discovered one thing for all of you single people the guy thing and said, “Whatever you want, wondering if you are ready to get married. I know sweetie.” After all, between her fabric skills I have wondered in my life, “How do you know?” and her mom, who, I will point out, could cre- I’ve asked plenty of married people and all they ate Cinderella’s gown by hand overnight in the say is “I just knew.” I felt like I was talking to Jack dark with nothing but duct tape and a bobbin Palance in City Slickers, who told Billy Crystal of orange twine, why would I pretend I had you had to find that “one thing” that makes you anything to offer here? I’ll do the meat. happy but would not tell him what it was. It drove him nuts, too. That is, until he figured out for About the meat. It was deep winter and we himself what his one thing was. Christy is not my were invited to a special holiday party by some first girlfriend and I’m a pretty smart guy, I think. friends. This was not, however, your run-of-the- I have been lucky to have had girlfriends in the mill party. There was a spread of food right out past who were all good people. Really great girls. of Christmas at Hogwarts and live music. Not I can say I still consider them all friends even if just live music, but Lou Gramm of Foreigner, in I don’t see them anymore. That’s rare. But each LIVE ENTERTAINMENT a massive heated tent in a backyard. Outside time I asked that question, how do you know? It’s ... 10 degrees and two feet of snow. Under the not that they were flawed. Decidedly not. But we Friday, June 27 tent ... 72 degrees, dry, and a cocktail in my were not perfect together. And if you can’t have The Grasshoppers, 9 PM hand. Already, a night for the books. perfect, why settle for good enough? Sunday, June 28 Jim the Mule, 9 PM But then, I tried the meat. Oh my. It was a spe- Well, now I can quite easily say, I just know. I Sunday, July 4 cial kind of joy I had not felt since a magical day have perfect and I don’t need to wait until Sep- John Nemeth Blues Band, 9 PM in Lockhart, Texas, smoked meat capital of the tember to say it. But if I don’t give my mom at world. This meat was incredible. The chef’s name least one somewhat traditional wedding in the Sunday, June 5 River & the Tributaries, 9 PM is Frank Domitrovich. You might know him as family, I think she’ll disown someone. I vote for the head of Security at the Diamond Jo Casino. my brother Brad since he only gave three weeks Friday, July 11 But he moonlights as one bad-ass meat smoker. notice. I’d say my sister Krista since she eloped, James Kinds and the All Night On this night he had made prime rib and pork but I think the fact that she gave mom the first Riders, 9 PM loin, but not like any I had before. And below grandchild gives her some kind of special dis- Saturday, July 12 the meat was a layer of baby potatoes cooking pensation. Hopefully I still qualify for the $1000 Miranda Sounds, Chrash, The on the drippings of the meat. I think we all tried bonus for giving them a grandchild someday. Surf report, 9 PM to play it cool on the first trip through the food, Sunday, July 18 trying a little bit of everything. But by the later As for you single ones out there, my advice is this, Buffalo Killers, 9 PM trips, it was pretty much just plates full of shaved if you don’t know for sure, don’t do it. And if you meat that we took turns pinching mouthfuls from don’t know if you don’t know ... then you don’t with our bare hands. Are those tears in my eyes? know and you should see the previous rule. If you Tears of joy! In the words of my new friend Lou wonder how you’ll ever know, that answer is that Gramm, singing just yards away, “It feels like the you just will. Be patient. Beyond that, the only ad- The 365ink crew... faces you already know! first time.” ... I ever tasted joy, that is. vice I have is to let her pick out the table runners. Tim Mike Tanya Jeff Kelli Ralph Gary Matt Lisa Chris Pam Joey Angela Ron Bob Roy Brad Bryce In this Issue... ISSUE # 59 Breitbach’s is Back: 4 JUNE 26 - JULY 9 Community Shorts: 5 Fireworks on the River 6-7 Isabella’s Live Music: 8 50 Years of the DSO: 9 Ham House Ice Cream Social: 10 Pam Kress-Dunn: 11 Wando’s Movies Reviews: 12-13 West Side Festivals: 14 Tri-State Entertainmant Briefs: 15 Live Music Listings: 16-17 Naughty Dog Cafe & Deli: 18 Platteville 4th of July: 19 Mayor Roy Buol: 20 Recurring Events and Concerts: 21 Bob’s Book Reviews: 22 Mattitude: 23 Life Stiles - by Jeff Stiles: 24 Eating Healthy with Hy-Vee: 25 Music in the Gardens: 26 Go Green Challenge: 26 Crossword / Sudoku: 27 Trixie / Horoscopes: 28 Comedy / Bellevue: 30 What’s Your Story: 31 The Inkwell Publisher: Bryce Parks ([email protected]) Editor: Tim Brechlin ([email protected]) Advertising: Kelli Kerrigan ([email protected]) 563-451-9365 Ad Design: Tanya Tjarks ([email protected]) Photography: Mike Ironside, Ron TIgges, Bryce Parks, Abdul Sinno Writers & Content: Mike Ironside, Tim Brechlin, Ellen Goodmann, Bryce Parks, L.A. Hammer, Chris Wand, Mayor Roy Buol, Matt Booth, Robert Gelms, Angela Koppes, Pam Kress-Dunn, and Jeff Stiles Graphic Design & Layout: Bryce Parks, Mike Ironside, Tim Brechlin Director of Operations / Accounts Avoidable: Dan Chapman Special thank you to: Bob & Fran Parks, Christy Monk, Katy Brechlin,Kay Kluseman, Todd Locher, Everett Buckardt, Julie Steffen, Sheila Castaneda, , Jim Heckmann, Gaile Schwickrath, Ron & Jennifer Tigges and all the 365 friends and advertisers for all your support.