Hob-nobbed Friday night at the Madison Club with Madison Magazine's Best of Madison 2009. Your Blaska Blogger won the silver, which is to say, second place.
Much like when his village in Italy watched Roberto Benigni win the Academy Award, all throughout Orchard Ridge the cheer went up: "Blaska is second best! Blaska is second best!"
The main thing is, I beat Paul Soglin's Waxing America. I came in second to Shayna Miller's But they do put on a swell shindig. The awards party took over the first two floors of the Madison Club, where I always enjoy slumming. One thing I've noticed is that you don't have to wear a jacket or tie to get in any more, although I did wear a nice jacket. There was no awards ceremony per se, which left more time for the consumption of alcohol. You just go and pick up your scroll, suitable for framing, when you're good and ready. Me, I needed both hands free. I was entranced by the "ice luge featuring Stolichnaya." An ice luge? Oh yes: three four-foot ice sculptures through which your made-to-order vodka martini is poured through a hole at the top, through the ice sculpture and to the stemmed martini glass awaiting the chilled concoction at the bottom. I tell ya, them Roo-skies ain't all bad. The lovely Lisa and I began the evening dining at the club's Churchill Room on the third floor, with a splendiferous view to the south over Frank's Place (Monona Terrace) and out into the lake and John Nolen Drive, which is its own work of art from that elevation. I ascertained that the room is named after Winston, not any of the Randolphs on either side of him. Always the inquisitive reporter! Just missed seeing old friend Doug Moe, who won best columnist. He was darting up to the third floor when I caught a glimpse of him. Perhaps he had seen me first. Did gab with Curt Brink of Brink's Lounge, who won silver for live music venue, and John Kavanaugh of the Esquire Club, who won the gold for supper club and bronze for fish fry. Bo Ryan was there as the local celebrity gold winner. I was too shy to walk up and go one on one with him. Also talked to Ralph Middlecamp of St. Vincent DePaul, who runs Port St. Vincent and other worthy enterprises for Dane County's ample social service network. He is a good man who emphasizes responsibility and encourages people to better their lives rather than enabling people to stew in their own juices. TheDailyPage.com, which hosts this blog, also got the silver to MadisonVerve.com's gold and Madison.com's bronze. Charlie Shortino of NBC-15 is the gold TV personality. Seems like he's always a winner. Don't know what's up with that. All the radio personality winners were from the FM side so (outside of WERN and WORT) I would not know them. Most of the categories were things like dry cleaner, fitness center, florist, and masseuse. No nametags and I did not feel like looking for who had the best-pressed suit, the most fabulous abs, the gayest boutonnière, or looked the most relaxed. (Although I might have qualified for the latter after the second visit to the Stoli luge.) Left early (Lisa was designated to drive) but appreciate the experience. Thanks to Isthmus Madison's Favorites poll, where your Blaska Blogger took second last year ... to my nemesis, a certain former mayor. While you vote Blaska's Blog, I've directed Ruben Mamoulian to acquire a new case for the trophy room in Stately Blaska Manor. We may have our own party, complete with beer luge.
