*Keeping your glass filled and spirits high one Thursday at a time! We introduce The Squeaky Curd readers to Welcome to Thursdays, a local social group determined to make your Thursdays more fun. Each Wednesday we feature a hilariously fictitious history of a Milwaukee County bar that we gather at on Thursday evening – join us weekly!*

Greetings and Salutations my most noble Thursdians,

Here we are again on the precipice of Thursday night: as the sun goes down we get out! I very much look forward to sharing in good tales and honorable libations with all of you. In addition, we get to cheer on the Green Bay Packers as they take on their bitter rivals “Da Bears”. We are lucky to be watching the game at Karma Sport Bar and Grill (600 E. Ogden Ave)- Karma has generously given us some booths. I would love to see Welcome to Thursdays show up in green and gold and cheer our Packers to victory! Great drinks, great food, and good times await you this Thursday!

Karma is clearly defined as “the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.” This always reminds me of the classic tale of the famous Milwaukee shoe Cobbler Smitty Crunklstein. It was the winter of 1925 and Smitty was working under the reign of Baron Ludwig Von Thornstien. Working conditions were tough to say the least: 14 hour days, 5 minute lunch breaks all for a measly 22 cents an hour – but that wasn’t the worst of it.

Smitty Crunklstein hard at work.

Smitty Crunklstein hard at work.

Smitty had saved up all of his earnings with the hopes of enjoying an ice cold Old Milwaukee on the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. The day finally came and Smitty brought his golden can of dreams to work with him. The Baron caught eye of this and snatched the beer up right in front of Smitty stating: “Only the finest enjoy the pleasures of the world. You on the other hand are a working man, therefore you shall work!” He cracked the Old Milwaukee and drank it down right in front of Smitty. For many, this would drive a man insane but Smitty believed in Karma; so he took a deep breath, smiled and wished the baron a Happy New Year.

Just an example of the working conditions for the Baron

Just an example of the working conditions for the Baron

Later that night Smitty laid down to bed and stared up at the moon through the hole in his roof. Suddenly a gust of wind blew through the room and without warning, a gnome riding a goat appeared in the corner of his room. The gnome was smoking his pipe and staring at Smitty. He took a whistle out of his pocket and said, “To find one’s inner peace in times of utmost humility and disgrace takes a noble heart, for this we acknowledge you” he placed the whistle on the end of his bed. “When the time is right, use this.” Then, a gust of cold wind flew through Smitty’s room and the gnome was gone.

The next night at work while the Baron was making his usual rounds, Smitty took the whistle out and gave it a blow. Suddenly a massive pack of gnomes riding goats came bursting through the wall, roped down the Baron, and dragged him off into the dark. The same gnome from the night before handed Smitty an ice cold Old Milwaukee and said, “The Royal Gnomes of Old Milwaukee will always have your back.” He then jumped on his goat and disappeared. Smitty took one sip of that golden beauty and knew that the future was to be a bright one and that in the end, Karma always wins.

The night that everything changed.

The night that everything changed.

The Royal Order of Old Milwaukee .

The Royal Gnomes of Old Milwaukee .

Cheers my friends!

Your Founder and Friend,

Jeremy Blandin

Join us at Karma Bar & Grill, located at 600 E. Ogden Ave. Milwaukee, 53202 at 7pm on Thursday, October 20th to cheer on the Green & Gold. 

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