Sister Snackhands

Date: Thursday, August 13th, 2009.

Event: Waterfest.

Main Attraction: Night Ranger.

(Also, bratwurst with ketchup.)

Review: Awesome. Bought the t-shirt.

One annual ritual during my summer travels to Wisconsin is attending at least one concert at Oshkosh's relatively new outdoor concert pavilion, built a few years ago to host concerts that became too much of an event to keep happening in the parking lot behind the library. In years past I've seen bands like The Tubes, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and... well, I can't remember who else. The bands, though the main attraction, are really not the point. The point is enjoying summertime in Wisconsin and getting my first brat of the season.

Mmmm, brats. (Rhymes with hot, not hat.) If you've never had one, well, I can't really help you. This delicious smokey sausage, best cooked in a pool of beer, outdoes any Italian sausage you could ever envision.

Now, Waterfest's brats are not the best on the planet. Or, probably, in the city of Oshkosh. Mostly, they've got minor brat flavor and a wimpy bun. You'd be much better off buying your brats from a troop of boy scouts selling them in any number of grocery store parking lots scattered across the state of Wisconsin. But when you are also getting a huge beer for six bucks and are surrounded by people who just don't care about what anyone thinks, truly relishing the music they loved in high school and that is still played on area radio stations, you'll take a sub-par brat and enjoy it like it is filet mignon stuffed with caviar. Especially when Night Ranger is playing "When You Close Your Eyes" and "Sister Christian." Go ahead, swallow that last bite of brat, take a swig of beer and sing along. Don't fight it.

Oh, Oshkosh. You hotbed of summertime entertainment. Of cheap beer and brats. Of steamy Thursday nights by the water. You perfect venue for bands whose prime was 20 years ago but who still rock out. You great collection of men in jean shorts and Harley-Davidson t-shirts. Of women with frosted lipstick and high alcohol tolerance. Snackhands loves you. See you next summer.