August 2021 – Mom's Guide to the Galaxy

The Paramount Theatre restarts their Broadway Series with Kinky Boots

More than a year after it was originally scheduled, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora has restarted their Broadway Series with Kinky Boots, an amusing musical about a floundering shoe company whose new owner decides to produce a line of high-heeled boots for drag queens. In a typical Broadway style, the story is both funny and moving, with lessons about accepting yourself and people around you.

But hey, isn’t there still a pandemic going on? Why yes, there is. The Paramount Theatre implemented a strict COVID policy, requiring proof of full vaccination and photo ID for people who are eligible for the vaccine, a negative COVID test for people unable (or ineligible, for children under 12) to get the vaccine, and masks for everybody in attendance. (Noting that this particular show is recommended for ages 12 and up due to sexual content and adult language.)

It makes for a different sort of look at the theatre. I’m sure some people color coordinate their masks and attire. Clearly, I’m not one of them. The only people I saw unmasked inside were the cast, the occasional group taking a quick photo with the backdrop, and people quickly sipping drinks and replacing their masks.

I was delighted to return to a live show, and particularly this one, which garnered a standing ovation during the final song. I’m look forward to the other shows this season, hoping that as more people get vaccinated and this pandemic fades into memory, the performers will be able to see the smiling faces in the audience once again.

The Quest calendar (continues)… part 12

Another disaster awaits Faris upon her return to Ironfell.

As I approached Ironfell, the river was clearly dirtier than upstream, and I realized smoke was rising from the town. I docked and rushed to clear people from burning buildings. One gnomish child was too scared to move, so I grabbed her and leapt out the window just as the building collapsed behind us. She ran off and I spotted the culprits behind the fires: a trio of fire sprites! In a flash, I hit them each with an arrow, knocking them into the water.

Then I was all over the place, helping extinguish fires at the boathouse, Misty’s, the blacksmith’s, a bridge, and rescuing some children from another burning bridge before it collapsed. I spotted more fire sprites and rushed to vanquish them before they could cause more damage. One hopped on my head, burning me; I shot the other two before they could get close.

Once the fires were out, I stumbled through the town in an exhausted state. I found a rag doll in the remnants of one home, and luckily encountered a young half-orc who claimed it. I stumbled into an inn that survived the flames and was gifted a meal and a room.

Driftless Glen Distillery

Recently, I drove to Minneapolis for a weekend. Without traffic or pit stops, it would be around a six hour drive. But what fun is a road trip without some interesting stops along the way? The first stop was to revisit Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet to purchase some bratwurst for that evening’s grill. It was a little early for lunch at that point, so we ignored the variety of restaurants at that exit and rejoined the highway.

Almost immediately, I noticed a billboard for Driftless Glen Distillery – and restaurant – in Baraboo, twenty miles down the road. Between cities in Wisconsin, that’s only three or four highway exits. This is not dissimilar to how I discovered Journeyman Distillery a few years ago, though the signage for finding Driftless Glen once we left the highway wasn’t as good as Journeyman’s. Fortunately, technology was able to determine the correct path, leading us past Circus World, which I may have to return for on a separate occasion.

As the weather was near perfect (and, let’s be honest, there’s still a pandemic going on), we opted to dine outside. This provided a lovely view of the river, including the occasional kayakers drifting by. I rarely drink soda, but on a whim, ordered a Shirley Temple. I was a bit puzzled by the color when it arrived, it’s darker than usual… it’s made with real cherry juice instead of the usual grenadine.

Driftless Glen Distillery in Baraboo, Wisconsin. A Shirley Temple made with real cherries. Pasta salad. Driftless Glen sampler pack: brandy, bourbon, rye, 51 rye; Mammoth Distillery Cherry Bounce; Driftless Glen New American Gin.

The food was as tasty as the drinks, and we followed up our lunch with a stop in their retail shop. Torn between multiple bourbons and ryes, I found a sampler pack that settled the choice for me. When I queued up to pay, the couple in front of me asked where the samplers were so they could purchase one as well. They had a couple different gins as well; I opted for their New American. (The Mammoth Distilling Cherry Bounce was waiting for me in Minneapolis; I haven’t been to their distillery… yet.)

I can’t speak to the brandy… it’s tasty, but I don’t recall the last time I drank brandy, so have little room for comparison. Their bourbon, rye, and gin are also nice. The 51 Rye, however… well, that’s something worth taking a detour for. I would absolutely go out of my way to buy that again. Not that I have to – now that I know about Driftless Glen, I know to look for it at my local Binny’s. Though I suppose I’ll have to visit again for their Shirley Temple.

The Quest calendar (continues)… part 11

Faris, in retrieving the wizard Edvarius, is roped into helping resolve Ironfell’s problems before he can travel to West Haven.

I purchased a row boat for my mule, Aldar, to pull up river, along with more rations. I searched for tassleroot while Aldar pulled the boat. I found one bushel to sell later, and paused to eat some rations. I continued upriver until a flaming arrow flew at me – a gang of gnolls was attacking! One actually managed to hit me, but I took out his friends easily. A couple fled, so I anchored the boat and snuck after them. Thwap, thwap, whoosh, thwap! Three of the four dead by my arrows before they could get off a shot. The fourth one got lucky though.

After they fell, I noticed more gnolls emerging from their tents, all women, children, and elderly. As I turned away to return to my boat, one of the pups ran over and handed me a tribal mask embedded with gold and gems.

I continued north, up the river, and reached a fork. The left looked turbulent, the right calm. Ideally, I would have gone right, but the boulders to the left reminded me that Edvarius mentioned the giants had been throwing rocks in the river. It was hard steering through the turbulence, I narrowly avoided hitting rocks several times. Just when I thought I was clear, a boulder tumbled down the mountain, thrusting the boat out of the water, then slamming back down. Ouch!

Another boulder crashed down the mountain and rolled past me. I glanced up the hill and saw a laughing giant lifting another boulder. I clambered out of my boat, quaffed an elixir to boost my physical skills, and snuck through the trees towards it. I snuck in fairly close, then tried to calm him down by talking gently. He looked puzzled for a moment and briefly stopped hurling rocks. The peace was momentary, he then ripped a dead tree from the ground and swung it at me. Thank goodness for my animal friends, with their help I evaded every swing and eventually killed the giant.

I rummaged through the giant’s camp, finding some food and a few coins. I assumed the coins were stolen from less fortunate travelers. Then I noticed the giant had a belt, worn on his wrist. I put it on and immediately felt stronger. I returned to my boat and headed south, a far easier trip than coming up river. I harvested more tassleroot en route, and paused briefly to eat.