Tom
Terwilliger’s
Spring Shows
Tavern
Talk
Spring seems to be the time when the trade show season
really gets into high gear here in the Midwest. Last year
was our first time attending the Cornhusker Show in
Omaha, NE. We took the kids along last year so we spent
Saturday shopping, getting nails done and other things that
10 and 11 year old girls like to do, then Judy took them
swimming in the pool while I did the hospitality room. The
show on Sunday was good with lots of tables and old
friends, but I didn’t really find anything I needed. So this
year while contemplating what shows to attend, Judy informs me that we’re going to Omaha to party with the
Miners and Bullocks. She was ready for a weekend away with no kids. Omaha it is then I said! Saturday
morning we awoke to some not so pleasant weather as there was snow and the wind blew all
night. The drive from our house to Fort Dodge was pretty sketchy with lots of snow drifts on the
highways. Once we got past Dodge it was smooth sailing all the way to Omaha. We rolled into
town around 11 a.m. and hit Sam’s Club to stock up on things for
the house. Next Upstream Brewing for lunch and beer. We have
really come to like the food and beer at this place along with the
atmosphere. By the time we finished eating the Minnesota
entourage had arrived at the Crescent Moon and had their lunch
and some brews. We had a quick glass of Metz, then we were off on
an afternoon bar hop. Bill took us to see his new location for an
Infusion Brewing Tap Room in a really cool historic old building.
Then he lead us down some goat paths that you practically needed
a Range Rover drive on to get to a dive bar. We Hammed it up there
for a while. Then it was time to head to the Holiday Inn Express in
Ralston. We had a light supper and got ready for the pub crawl. Bill
hired a school bus and driver to take us on a dive bar tour of
Omaha. Lots of fun was had on this tour. Some heads were even a
little fat Sunday morning. Judy and I got up early Sunday and went to 11-Worth
Café. This place is a must stop joint for breakfast if you ever find yourself in Omaha.
One of the best omelets I’ve ever had. Then it was back to the Ralston Arena for
the show. I told Judy we’d make a quick trip through and head home as there
probably wouldn’t be anything of interest to
us (Schell’s, Grain Belt, etc.) in Omaha.
This show is similar in size to Springfest in
Bloomington. I started down the row of
tables and spot a 125th Anniversary Deer Brand bottle not a big deal,
but I didn’t have one. Next I run across one of those Hauenstein
stickers that look like wood. Okay there’s two things from up our way.
Then as I round the corner and start heading back towards the front of
the room, all SCHELLS BROKE LOOSE! There it was a grail piece.
One of those large stag rolled trays (for lack of a better term) wall
hangers laying on a table.
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