July 4, 2006—Happy Birthday America!
 

Marc and I decide to wander around and find a tavern lunch stop today and see what may be shaking in the small town of Steven’s Point—the town we now call home. The town celebrated in a big way over the holiday weekend with a fest called Riverfront Rendezvous (when we were gone) but seems fairly tame today. Stevens Point is an eclectic blend of mostly old brick commercial buildings and those fabulous homes from the 30s, 40s, and 50s which are made of brick or stone with large overhanging front porches and English Ivy growing up their sides towards steeply peaked roofs. It is summer and the university is out of session so the streets seem quiet, plus it’s an easy town to find your way around. Many businesses seem small scale and many are also closed down, like the fabulous old Fox Theater which started life as an Opera House according to the faintly seen lettering at its top.

Main Street is bustling with the 4^th of July parade so we sit ourselves inside a sports bar with a huge front window and watch while we order lunch and a beer. Once the parade is done, a crush of people joins us, including several small children who sit right at the main bar with the adults. This tavern has a large eating area as well and we find it surprising that children are allowed at the bar but no one seems to notice as smoking drinkers sit right next to babies. Wisconsin still allows smoking in all establishments—a habit we find offensive after living smoke free in the west for so long. I might have also mentioned that Wisconsin has more bars per capita than any other state but contrary to popular belief comes in second place when it comes to alcohol consumed—that honor goes to Nevada. Little wonder.

Stevens Point is gifted with several wonderful downtown parks, the main one sitting square on the waterfront of the Wisconsin River and affording a grand entrance across the bridge into town. Ducks and geese call it home and with its small marina it offers convenient fishing and pleasure boating. Another claim to fame is the Point Brewery, still independently owned and producing libation since it provided the Union soldiers with beer during the Civil War. It sits on appropriately named Water Street, looking dowdy and down at the heels for how highly touted the beer, but it does offer daily tours and a gift shop where you can buy their beer direct but not cheaper.