The cook at the Eagles aerie was very proud of the quality corn and brats served on Saturday for this annual event.
The early birds line up for their corn and brats.
It is always sad to say goodbye to summer, the season of blazing suns, blooming gardens, flip-flops, bikes and hikes, and street festivals. To mark the end of the 2012 summer, two local service clubs held events at their Albert Lea locations.
The Eagles Aerie 2258 held its Annual Sweet Corn Feed starting at noon on Saturday, August 25. The sweet corn was free, brats $1.50, and for $3 you could take home a bag of that same sweet corn (14 ears). I can testify that the corn arrived about an hour before it was served (in a covered pickup truck), and I can further testify that the corn was indeed a very sweet variety. The cook told me that the brats had been cooked the night before in beer and onions, then roasted for the luncheon. And I can testify that the brats were very, very good. Don't forget to lick your fingers before you leave.
Delivery of the corn was about an hour before serving time! Sweet corn was delivered in a covered (long) pickup truck, and these are the husks and a few runty ears that were tossed into the back of this second pickup.
That evening, beginning at 5 pm, the local Moose Lodge 1703 hosted an outdoor BBQ. A plate of roast pork loin, potato salad and beans was $8. At 7 pm the karaoke show began, with karaoke being a big draw in Minnesota as it probably is everywhere. When I inquired if they decided not to hold the barbecue outside, I was told, “We're cooking it outdoors.” Well, OK, at least it's better than BBQ flavor from a bottle.
Corn on the cob and karaoke – is this a happenin' town or what? I give the Eagles corn feed five stars for flavor, and the Moose three stars for trying, and the weather two stars for no sunshine.
Do you think the BBQ guy can handle the massive crowd?
An Ice Cream Sundae thank-you event is also planned by the Fountain Lake gazebo, but alas that is not until Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. You may wish to mark your calendars for the second annual Car Show on Sept. 8, 1 to 3 pm, at the Eagles aerie. Bring your cars, bikes, trucks, hot rods or other wheeled whatchamacallit.
In a small town like this, events put on by the local lodge, aerie, and legion form a large part of the social scene. BTW the local American Legion was also going to join in on the fun with an end of summer bash but canceled, possibly due to conflict with the other two clubs. Let's hope they can squeeze something in before autumn frost arrives.
