Dinner For Two: February 2005

No more Mr. Snowman and Supper Clubs

I'm sure there must be Supper/Dinner Clubs in California somewhere, but not in the volume you'll find in Wisconsin. Supper Clubs seem to have been around for some time and serve as gathering places for small Wisconsin communities. They are restaurants with bars, they may have had dancing in years past. Everyone stops at the bar when arriving to have a drink or two, even if the dining room is empty. (You can smoke in bars in Wisconsin.) Justin and I eat at supper clubs with his family; usually in the area where his dad grew up which is made up of small farming communities. Every time we are at the bar, someone recognizes Justin's dad. He hasn't lived in the area since he graduated from high school, but the rest of his family stayed nearby so the Hein name is familiar.

Today, we met Justin's Grandma, Aunt, Uncle, and Parents at the Schaumburg Supper Club, near Fox Lake, WI. I had a Bloody Mary when we arrived. A group of women, who I assume were in their 70s or 80s, were also at the bar to celebrate a friend's birthday. The birthday girl was distinguished by her corsage. They eventually sat in the dining room for lunch, as did we when Justin's grandma, aunt, and uncle arrived.

The building is interesting. It's an old house that overlooks a lake and is surrounded by large trees. I imagine it would be green and lovely in the summer. Currently the lake is frozen and covered in snow and the trees have no leaves. (I did spy a couple ice fishermen on the lake.) The restaurant's owners live on the second floor of the house, with the bar and restaurant on the first. Today the owners' daughter was bartending for her father while he was playing golf on a frozen lake - I'd never heard of such a thing. The restaurant isn't particularly fancy, but is nice and they serve traditional American foods - steak, fried fish. However, I suppose the whole purpose of the place for many who meet there is to spend time with others.

On a side note, I would like to mourn the loss of our friend Mr. Snowman. He collapsed today in the 33 degree weather. He had a good run and will be missed.

Justin with his Uncle Ken, Aunt Cindy, Dad, Grandma Hein and Mom.

With Justin's Mom and Grandma Hein

Schaumburg Supper Club

When we returned home we found that gravity and 33 degree weather got the best of Mr. Snowman.

Justin kisses Mr. Snowman goodbye.

Mr. Snowman doesn't look quite as happy as he did last week.

Mr. Snowman defies gravity

Snowman snow!

We got our best "packing" snow of the season this last weekend. Justin took a break from brief writing to make Mr. Snowman in our front yard. I wasn't at home at the time and was pleasantly surprised when I was shoveling and saw him smiling back at me. Not only does packing snow make good snowmen, but it also is perfect for snowballs. On Sunday evening my friends Kathleen and Amanda picked me up and instead of knocking, Kathleen threw snowballs at the front door to let know they had arrived.

Well, it's warm by "winter in Wisconsin" standards and Mr. Snowman isn't fairing too well, but we enjoyed him and I won't have to keep thinking a strange man is standing in our front yard.

It's snowing.

It's still snowing.

It's snowing on a tree.

Justin's new friend enjoys a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Nice hats!

He's happy because his mouth is made of kisses.

I take a break from shoveling the sidewalk.

Mr. Snowman tells Justin a funny joke.

Justin tries to beat up Mr. Snowman and steal his hot cocoa.

I'm melting . . . or am I doing the limbo?

Happy Birthday Justin!

Justin turns 25! We went to dinner with the Justin's family in the quaint town of Cambridge on Saturday. Dinner and dessert were delicious.

Unfortunately Justin is right in the middle of writing a brief for a moot court competition and had to work on that most of his actual birthday. However, he took a break to enjoy rack of lamb, asparagus, and baked potato and blueberry pie and ice cream.