Now, I have to say that a Wisconsin tavern is an art form. I turned 21 while I was working at a boys' camp on Friess Lake in Hubertus, Wisconsin. This was a real small-town place. Heck, Mrs. Friess was the cook at our camp.

So, anyhow, I celebrated my birthday by going next door and buying a beer next door at Wally & Bee's Last Stop, a classic Wisconsin tavern where I had quaffed many soda pops before I turned legal. There was a dog lying on the floor behind the bar, of course. If Wally or Bee had to leave, one of the neighbors would take over and tend bar. There was a jar of quail eggs on the counter. I never saw what you were supposed to do with them - I think you broke the egg into your beer. I never tried that.

There were three shelves of liquor behind the bar. The bottom shelf was well-used, mostly brandy. The top shelf was dust-covered high-priced stuff. Hanging on the wall between the shelves were two shotguns. A single-barrel gun was marked "for weddings"; and the double-barrel gun was marked "for formal weddings."

Oh, and there was a room with a pool table that had a lake view. That was the social center of the neighborhood.

I went back a few years later and found that Wally and Bee had both died, and the tavern had been taken over by their children. I wonder if Wally & Bee's grandchildren are running it now - people don't move very far in Wisconsin.

-Joe-