This Sunday is Easter Sunday and no matter which way you celebrate, secular, religious, or both, many are going to be “out and about” this weekend attending some form of gathering that includes eating.  What is your favorite Easter food or, for those who can never decide on one thing, foods?  Is it the double-smoked ham dipped into Grandma Marg’s ham sauce, cheesy potatoes, relishes, and hard-boiled eggs?  Maybe you do the restaurant “all you can eat” brunch and feast mightily on all the goodies that are sure to put you into a food coma upon returning home?  No matter which way you go or what you do, from all of us at The Journal, we hope that you have a great Easter.  Please be safe.

                Have you ever looked at those incredibly decorated cookies at various holidays and wondered, “how cool would it be to be able to decorate a cookie like that?”  Well, if you have, then this might be something you are interested in.  On April 8^th from 10am until Noon, cookie decorator extraordinaire Melissa Freiermuth will be leading an Easter Cookie Decorating event at The Hastings Public House.  It promises to be a fun time and if you have not seen her work, it is phenomenal, like almost too good to eat phenomenal.  Registration is required at www.hastingspublichouse.com and the cost is $50 per person.  Just think about it though, you could be the envy at the family gathering the next day when Uncle Joe asks who brought the cookies and you say, “brought them… I made and decorated them.” 

                If you are a procrastinator or have had a last minute change of plans, you might want to consider the Easter Brunch at Green Mill in Hastings, but you better act fast as there are limited reservations remaining.  They are located at 909 Vermillion Street and can be reached by calling 651-438-9191.  They will have quite the spread with over twenty-four different items including prime rib, ham, several breakfast choices, salads, pasta, pizza, and more.  If you have no desire to cook, this certainly might be an option for you on Easter Sunday.

                Are you craving some live music in your life?  Music definitely has a way of making life better when things are maybe not as cool as you would want them to be, and with this latest little prank that Mother Nature decided to play on all of us, including knocking out power for quite a few folks, a little live music to look forward to just might be the ticket to turn a few frowns upside down.  We could all use a few extra smiles, don’t you agree?  Hootenany 14 is right around the corner.  The last Saturday of April (April 29, 2023), Historic Downtown Hastings is the place to be for live music, and when we say live music, we mean LOTS of live music.  Music of several genres, constantly rotating with some of the most talented musicians this side of Etter will be playing at Second Street Depot, Hastings Tavern, The Busted Nut, The Legion, Spiral Brewery, The Quarry Taphouse, Lock and Dam Eatery and El Mexican Restaurant.  If you have never attended a “hoot” you simply should.  Not only will you get more than your fill of awesome music and more fun than should be legal but it is, well… mostly, you will be supporting the Hastings Middle School Music and Hastings High School Scholarship programs.  The event is free to attend but they ask for a donation of $20.  The River City Music foundation puts on the event and it is all volunteer.  As they like to say… Hoot On!!  We will see you at the hoot when we are all “out and about.”