This is a Work in Progress. Lots of Photos and Text to Come.
A major award of a birthday weekend like no other. Everything went pretty much as planned and I think that’s due to me choosing the “right” 3 guys to take the trip with me. This will take me a few days to completely sum up that looonnnngggg weekend Thursday – Monday, especially now that I feel 100% and have so much going on it’s going to be hard to keep up. But if you want to hear all four of us, Myself, Detroit Jason, Magic Max Bravo and Josh the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Dick talk about the entire adventure for an hour check out the podcast:
The show ended up being a success especially for being a Thursday night. We started by filming a mini doc at Casa Diablo with Cassie and Scotty filming.
My brother Erik sent this to me from OHIO not knowing I had 2. It’s awesome and appreciated and this one stays in the box. It total EBM fashion no card included so it took a day or so to figure out who sent it.
Greg Drunken Duncan gifted me upon my return my NG at El Palmar brunch as we bid farewell to Detroit Jason
Wheelchair JSIN found me this hard to find gem and a DEVO figure and my brother Blue also sent me a DEVO figure. Photos forthcoming. I’ve been wanting this for a very long time.
Detroit Jason brought this book to me and he said when he bought it he went right to the index and I’m quoted in Chapter 6. Pretty fucking cool that my writing and interviewing is becoming more relevant than ever. It feels really good. Oh, and I am far from done….
As always had Detroit Jason something to wet his whistle with and BOY HOWDY did he ever. I never ever saw Jason that drunk before and he got a head start on all of us.
Went to Chicago and Wisconsin for Alex’s birthday, and IT WAS A BLAST!!!! Flew in Michigan for it, and it was a weekend of non-stopped laughter from the time I landed until the time I left. From doing his podcast with Dave McAnally and the guys in 616, to his birthday bash at Live Wire in Chicago(featuring Dave and his band Derision Cult and the previous mentioned 616) , to the drive to New Glarus, WI(which included Alex getting scratched by a homeless guy in a red clown nose. when we stopped at a redlight), and heard a KISS song entitled “Shout It Out, Lou”, according to Josh’s satellite radio.
Not only was New Glarus, WI fun, but the Blanc Chalet, where we stayed, was AWESOME. Roomy, cozy and within walking distance of the bars/restaurants in downtown New Glarus. And it wasn’t too far from the New Glarus Brewery, which was great. Went to a few bars/pubs while there and enjoyed them all. Had a great dinner at Toffler’s, had some drinks at Ott Haus Pub and Grill(where Max Bravo did his magic tricks), Kleeman’s(where I commandeered the jukebox), The Dirty Dog Taphaus and Eatery, and Sportsman’s Unloaded, where we met an old good friend of Alex’s(Mike) and his wife, and John aka J.R. aka Junebug, who was a fun guy. We even found time to hit the hot tub/pool at the Chalet Landhaus Inn, which I think we ALL needed.
Once, we got back to Chicago, they ended up taking me to a wing place called Output Wrigleyville, where they have the most BEAUTIFUL AND EXOTIC women. And before I left, we ended up at El Palmar, where I met Greg Duncan. Overall, it was an awesome trip, with awesome people(friends and new people I met), with A LOT OF AWESOME memories made. – Detroit Jason Kenski
The Cleopatra Records band 616 fronted by Matthew Lidwin (lil Elvis) on their way to Chicago from Milwaukee
Cassie Balazic, Detroit Jason Kenski, yours truly and Dave McAnally waiting to start filing and the arrival of 616.
The gang’s all here and filming commences. You can hear audio of the podcast portion on the MKULTRASOUND PodCast
Sobering up Detroit Jason where I sobered up Kyztoff of BILE years ago near Live Wire Lounge
After I have Detroit Jason eat and attempt to sober up which he did and bought a LOT of merch from LIVE WIRE and the bands I’m with my entourage that included Amy, Jackie and Timmy, Gloria, Lisa Lighting and Rich Xperience, Josh, Max, Jason and others I notice a very attractive woman sitting at the bar alone watching us. Curious I walk over and it’s Marquette a former co worker and good friend. Someone I miss working with a lot because she’s from the Ohio Valley as well and its nice to meet and have someone from home here in Chicago. She had also come out to see Jeff Givens play last April 14th at Carols. This was the first time I’ve seen her in person since.,
Marquette a former co worker and good friend handmade the card and bracelet for me. Much more to come on this.
The Three Amigos, Matthew, AZ and Dave
My old friend and cat lover Jackie was kind enough to come by with Timmy
With Jackie and Timmy. I really like this shot.
Elvis aka Matthew Lidwin with Jackie at Live Wire Lounge
Then came Gloria in all of her splendor. Hard to believe I worked with her at IRI back in 2001
WE’RE JUST FRIENDS!
Dave McAnally and Derision Cult photos by Amy Amarite
At this point I can safely say that I am a seasoned roadtrip warrior and I’ve had the opportunity to travel with some amazing company and some that I’d rather forget. This trip I discovered I chose the perfect mix of personalities. Josh who bought a truck for the trip only days prior drove to Chicago from Indianapolis. Detroit Jason flew in from Detroit and Max met us via Uber the morning after the Live Wire show. We collected and cleaned ourselves and were on the road at 9 AM. Apparently my experience as a tour manager does pay off from time to time.
My first road trip as an adult was July 4th weekend from Wheeling WV to Washington DC taking Steve Vass back home and Deena Duffy was my roadmate for that trip. it was 1986 and my car was a 1978 Plymouth Fury former Highway Patrol Car with a 440 under the hood. We were poor but gas wasn’t expensive.
Since then I’ve driven across the country with rock bands and for leisure several like all the way to Mexico, or to Las Vegas, or just Arizona. Since 1999 when I first began to visit Wisconsin I’ve had many really good drives and some really terrible and dramatic.
This team I had assembled to celebrate my 59th birthday was by far the best I’ve ever put together. There was a lot of laughter.
Very early into our journey we weren’t even on the highway when the fun began. It was around Irving Park Road and Western Ave when a beggar was in the intersection and he was wearing a clown nose. Now, if you know me, you know I couldn’t resist. I said someone please give me some money to give this guy and get a photo. Jason handed me a $5 bill and I was in the backseat behind Josh who was driving. As the man reached for the $5 with my arm extended thru the back window the light turned green and we pulled away the $5 bill still in my fingers and the guy scratched me as we drove away. This would be the start of a joke that lasted for longer than our mini vacation. According to the others in my party I would be changing into a WereBum much like a Werewolf from my scratch.
In Beloit, where Robin Zander went to High School, our first stop just a little more than half way into our trip. I wanted to sit and be served and it proved to be a good decision. Max was dropped off across the street at Wal Mart to buy swim gear. I ordered a Classic Combo to share and a Perfect Margarita made with 1800 Reposado Tequila, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, and lime. It came with a shaker which I was very happy about.
3/4 of the unUsual Suspects at Applebee’s in Beloit WI
As we exited the establishment at 1145AM Renee called to inquire into our ETA. All was going as planned, I had every intention of being done with lunch and back on the road by noon, which we were. I’ve done this trip so many times I know what to expect. What I didn’t expect was that we didn’t deal with any traffic issues at all. It was all smooth sailing .
Jason who is a loyal reader of anything MK ULTRA or AZ related and he knew the story from 2017 when Greg Duncan who is a far left Liberal and I went camping in Wisconsin and the display on the satellite radio spelled out Whitesnake, Still of the Nig. Its been a joke for as long and Greg was not amused in the least which is what made it funny. So when KISS came on with KISS Shout it out Lou……Jason says “ALEX LOOK!” I told him you have to get a photo of this.
December 2023
May 2017
The unUsual Suspects arrive at the New Glarus Brewery:
The New Glarus Brewing Company is an American brewery founded in 1993. Located in New Glarus, Wisconsin, it is an independently owned craft brewery, whose products can only be found in Wisconsin. New Glarus Brewing Company is the 15th largest craft brewer and 25th largest overall brewing company in the United States, by sales volume.
New Glarus Brewing Company has been one of the most award-winning brewers of its size. It won two bronze medals at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Spotted Cow has won a variety of awards over the years, including Best Drink in Wisconsin in 2009 by Bon Appetit magazine.
In 2009, a New York City bar was raided and fined for illegally selling Spotted Cow. In 2015, a bar in Maple Grove, Minnesota, also was caught illegally selling Spotted Cow after the establishment’s owner allegedly purchased kegs in Wisconsin and took them back to Minnesota for retail sale.
In May 2006, New Glarus Brewing Company broke ground on a new $21 million facility on a hilltop on the south edge of the village of New Glarus. The facility was designed to look like a Bavarian village and has become a destination for tourists who visit New Glarus. The original facility drew an estimated 25,000 visitors annually, but the expanded facility likely will draw up to 150,000 people a year. Production at the company’s old facility had topped-out at over 65,000 barrels a year. The new 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m2) facility was expected to increase production, and in 2014, New Glarus Brewing was on track to brew 165,000 barrels. A new cellar could give the facility the storage space to brew 300,000 barrels in a year. The expansion will enable the company to increase production of its “Thumbprint”, fruit, barrel-aged, and R&D beers. Construction was completed on schedule, and the Hilltop brewery opened in 2008. In 2014, the brewery released its first beers from its wild fruit cave, a specialized addition to its original facility (commonly referred to as the Riverside Brewery) that incorporates wild yeasts and other microorganism used in brewing
So there we were around 130 PM and Renee was waiting on the four of us. The next chapter of the adventure was about to begin. But first we had to take our own private brewery tour, with Miss Renee as our guide.
We of course did the self guided tour. The self guided tour is interesting, but go to the tasting room first and bring some of the delicious beer with you. The setting is gorgeous even on a dreary day. If you can do the hard hat tour, it will cost $30, but you must plan accordingly, and I do mean plan! If you just want to go hang out at a brewery and look at some tanks, you can’t beat a free tour. You won’t learn anything unless you have a friend in the business, but that is what you get for the free pricetag. There are a couple of options for actually tasting the beer. You can pay $8 and get 3 samples and a commemorative NG glass. The samples are decent size and will allow you to taste the various beer options. The other option is to pay $8 (for year round and seasonal beers OR $9.50 for fruit beers) and just get a pint of beer, but you get to keep the glass.
In May 2006, New Glarus Brewing Company broke ground on a new $21 million facility on a hilltop on the south edge of the village of New Glarus. The facility was designed to look like a Bavarian village and has become a destination for tourists who visit New Glarus. The original facility drew an estimated 25,000 visitors annually, but the expanded facility likely will draw up to 150,000 people a year. Production at the company’s old facility had topped-out at over 65,000 barrels a year. The new 75,000 sq ft facility was expected to increase production, and in 2014, New Glarus Brewing was on track to brew 165,000 barrels. A new cellar could give the facility the storage space to brew 300,000 barrels in a year. The expansion will enable the company to increase production of its “Thumbprint”, fruit, barrel-aged, and R&D beers. Construction was completed on schedule, and the Hilltop brewery opened in 2008. In 2014, the brewery released its first beers from its wild fruit cave, a specialized addition to its original facility (commonly referred to as the Riverside Brewery) that incorporates wild yeasts and other microorganism used in brewing.
The Mountain Dew is kicking in
Testing out some of the finer ale’s in the tasting room
Myself I’ve always been a sucker for the fruit beers in New Glarus
One of my favorites is the Two Women Beer, but that’s not my hand in the shot
There’s my dear friend Miss Renee with Max, Josh and myself
After the Brewery fun it was time to check into our accommodations. I booked a room at the new Blanc Chalet months ago. It was formerly an old roadside motel that didn’t get a lot of good reviews. But newly rehabbed into an Air BnB it was perfect for the four of us.
Formerly the Swiss-Aire Motel, a family purchased the lovely roadside motel as a mother/daughter team with the support of their family, in early 2023 and breathed new life into the rooms, brand, and guest experience. Fully renovating many of the rooms and refreshing a few others to ensure that they offer a wide variety of pricing and value options for all sorts of travelers.
You’ll quickly find that they’ve aimed to create a modern, effortless, and easy guest experience. Whether it be contactless check-in or simple check-out, you’ll find that theyput in a lot of time thinking through the details so the travelers don’t have to.
The owners chose the name “Blanc Chalet” because the tallest and most visited mountain in the French/Swiss Alps is Mont Blanc. Towering above the rest, much like Mont Blanc, the experience here is like nothing you’ve experienced in the New Glarus area.
I’ve been visiting New Glarus from Chicago since 1999 and staying in town for 16 years. Usually at the beautiful Chalet Landhaus Inn which has always been wonderful and has great amenities. Last autumn at the suggestion of some local friends I decided to try out the family owned Blanc Chalet and booked the family suite for myself and 3 friends who would be travelling from as far away as Detroit, Indianapolis and they met me in Chicago and we all drove together on a brisk mid December weekend. This would be my first real Air BnB experience aside from the Barnaby Guest house a decade ago.
We left the New Glarus Brewery in time for our 3 PM check in and parked at the door and walked into a large room with comfy sectional and dining area that will lead you to a fully equipped kitchen. A bath and a half and two pull out couches and a comfy King bed. It sleeps 6 but we only needed 4 so we brought along an air mattress. The room was newly furnished and cleaner than any hotel I’ve ever stayed in. The only downside was the “coffee for 1” amenity which was quickly resolved by there being a local gourmet coffee truck parked out in the lot. Fat Cat coffee is also a 10 minute walk down the trail. Everything bars, restaurants and shopping are walking distance at no more than 15 minutes and its safe at night. The value is unbelievable at $309 for the entire weekend. And for $7 you can get access to the pool, jacuzzi and sauna at the Chalet Landhaus, which we used.
The owners are good about keeping you updated on your reservation and even check in after you are on your way home. It was the perfect experience for visiting New Glarus and I look forward to returning. Other rooms are available as well depending on what your needs are and value as far as pricing.
My room which also included a large roll out sofa and adjacent bathroom
And we certainly mader use of our accommodations, especially me who seemed to enjoy a big cozy bed. And the space was just impeccable. Lots of room and for guests who would visit us as well. I took several naps as the fellas would go out to the bars and entertain without me only to catch up later. There is an adult party aspect to New Glarus that ytou wouldn’t normally expect and it’s just our kind of village
Just one angle of the large front room in the suite
I’m sure this was a Were Bum joke Saturday morning
Josh’s sleep boner Sunday morning
Stephanie Ganshert
Michael Ganshert, not gay, I just love him like a brother
It’s the bourbon talking
After presenting Mike G with a case of Sechler’s Pickle’s
At my fave hangout Sportman’s Reloaded
It’s a DOUBLE JAMO FOR AZ
Max Bravo wastes no time making fun of me
The boys saw this when they went out as I was napping. I’d meet them later
The photo above is from the first night Friday 12/15/2023 and it pretty much sums up our weekend. It was really like this. This is us at Kleeman’s and is not a posed photo:
LTR: Renee, Josh, AZ, Max, Bryan, Mike, Stephanie and Detroit Jason
I went to bed not long after the Kleeman’s shot. The boys closed the village down, both nights.
3 Amigos Saturday night out as AZ is napping
Mr. Mike Ganshert
On the way home Max and I stop into Applebee’s in Beloit for a drink. Josh was still sleeping the truck as Max drove all the way from New Glarus to Chicago, Josh would have to drive 3 more hours from Chicago to Indianapolis. He really went hardcore Saturday night before and after I arrived and went back to the Blanc Chalet
Applebee’s in Beloit WI
Saturday night I walked from the Blanc Chalet to Tofflers where I had a Chicago Style Hot Dog better than in Chicago (at least Byron’s as of late)
On the way home the next morning we stopped at Tofflers where I picked up a case of beer I bought the night before and we had breakfast. I got to see the Barnaby family and Kyna Ganshert came by to say Happy Birthday.
We stepped into the wind, he had a gun, I had a grin
You think this story’s over, but it’s ready to begin
The trip may have been over but the weekend was not. I had Monday off so I took Jason to Output Wrigleyville famous for their award winning wings but we went for drinks and atmosphere. Jason and I were at the bar which had Melita a bartender working. She’s from Georgia the country, not the state. Max joined us and we hung for a couple of hours .
Detroit Jason and I hung out for a bit back at my home with the cats who were starved for attention. When we woke the next morning it was time for brunch at El Palmar with Max and Greg Drunken
Farwell brunch at El Palmar with Greg, Max and Jason 12/18/2024 big ass margaritas
Shrimp Cocktail a personal fave
Christmas Day Dinner at El Palmar with Mike and Max Bravo
Jason on 12/18/2023 “This isn’t;’t all for me.”
preparing for the pre New Years Eve night out.
Hors d’Oeuvres and New Glarus Ale
Luckily Dispensary 33 had a sale on 100 mg bags of Edile. I took one last night and slept extremely well, and could have slept longer if I didn’t have so much to do
And my cats being CATHOLES
