News
Briefly
Calendar of Events
Commentary
Sports
Diversions
World News
Classifieds
Login
Letter Submission
Search
Archive
Publishing Policy
Mail Subscriptions
St. Cloud State University
College Publisher
Home
>
One time, one night
Downtown streets echo with live music
By Christine Nelson
Published:
Monday, April 26, 2004
The scene: 11 p.m. Thursday, downtown St. Cloud.
The streets and parking lots are packed with cars but few people are in sight. The cold and breezy conditions penetrate to the bone and emphasize the lack of excitement happening on the lonely streets. Several people scurry to the bar to escape the cold. Most are without jackets, apparently thinking spring has arrived.
It's a clear starry night but it seems the moon has better things to do on this night than to show its face above the lonely downtown scene. It becomes evident that we have arrived too early for the party.
The greasy smells of bar food and pizza drift down the street. Colorful neon signs are lit up in just about every window. The police are staked out on the corner of the bus station waiting for trouble to happen. A parking control vehicle zooms past, looking for its next victim.
All seems quiet except for the faint sounds of music blaring from inside The Red Carpet and The Press. Around the corner of The Press the street is even more deserted. The door of The Rox is open with the wails of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir blaring out onto the street. Superstars bar is rockin' with the sounds of a bass vibrating the bar.
McRudy's, however, seems quiet. The only sign of recent activity is the splotch of puke on the sidewalk outside. Scott Helmbrecht, an SCSU student and bartender at McRudy's, is hanging out at the back entrance of the bar. He's off duty tonight so he's on his second Morgan and Coke.
"This is the drink I normally have unless I'm with the rugby team," he said. "Then we drink Pabst Blue Ribbon because they sponsor our team."
Helmbrecht plans on watching the end of the Timberwolves game and staying around until the 2 a.m. closing.
A walk by Taco John's and Howie's Bar is also uneventful. The courthouse is lit up, showing off its gold and green dome. The rustle of leaves and garbage blowing in the gutters is the only sound in the back streets on this quiet night downtown.
By 11:30 the pace has picked up. The Red Carpet is obviously drawing the largest crowd. Partiers are flocking to the bar to listen to Ded Walleye, the featured band that night. The events taking place inside the bar are more newsworthy than anything happening out on the streets.
Cirissa Fossan is standing outside The Red Carpet waiting for her friend, Janel Hurtado, to show up.
"We go out once or twice a month," she said. "We'll probably drink beer tonight; they have $1 specials."
Fossan said Hurtado talked her friend into coming to see the band tonight.
"We'll probably dance if there's room," Fossan said.
By 11:45 p.m. excitement and anticipation is in the air. A constant stream of cars drive down the street with stereos blasting deep, rap bass. Taxis are lined up outside The Press and The Red Carpet waiting for patrons to catch a ride home. A derelict man stands ranting on the corner outside The Press, lost in a mantra he would continue till sunrise.
By midnight the town is hopping as students pour out in numbers to start their night. SCSU students are living up to their reputation.
Forum:
No comments have been posted for this story.
Post a comment
