Friday the polka dancing started at 3 in the afternoon to midnight. We already knew midnight was but a dream for the younger more viral set of folks.
We stopped at Walmart for a couple of 10 dollar fold away chairs. We learned the first year that it was a requirement to have chairs. We would scope out a place on the edge of the dance floor to park the chairs and then meander back and forth between tents to watch the different bands.
But first we took a ride to stroll through Mayflower Garden Center. We had met Jon Voss a couple of years earlier. He was from Poland and brought the artistic European flare to his horticultural efforts. Last year we learned that he had died and that his green house was sold. The place still had the slash of magenta from the cascading baskets of petunias across the front of the center and abundant in vintage wagons that lined the parking lot. The corner was still lined with dead trees and massive roots turn upside down to hold massive planters of greens and flowers. They had been shortened this year, but still had that sticking appeal.
The center was filled with larger planters and beautiful flowers. Succulents still grew from picture frames and wagon wheels. Missing was the creator – Jon Voss. The place was neat and swept up. There was activity, but not the kind you see from the creative spirit at work. Jon would collect things; musical instruments, odd pieces of luggage, bright colored yellow high heeled shoes, a purse or an old piano bench then make the most unusual arrangements or fountains out of almost nothing. The quiet perennial garden was still beside the green house. Plants still grew and weeds were tended, yet not as lush and prolific as before.
I peeked into the fenced area to see the cranky specialty chickens with their arrogant top-knots of fluffy feathers. I knelt down and stuck my camera between the chain linked fence to grab a photo of this character. He fooled me by pecking my camera lens with his sharp beak. The rascal.
As we drove through town we saw that Green Bay was low on rainfall also. This whole nation is taking a beating this year. Lawns were the color of straw from the high temperatures and lack of rain. They did get 2 inches on the Thursday we arrived and a few more the week before to help the farmers make it to harvest.
We found a pretty nice dining place called Bay Motel and Family Restaurant to have lunch on Military Ave. close to the Green Bay Packer Lombard Stadium. They had the best coconut creamed pie. The brownies looked good too, but you can’t eat everything in one day. We had to save some of our sugar calories for Smurawa bakery – the best ever.
For ten dollars entry we were treated to some of the best Polish polka music in the country. The rowdy, high volume New Generation band played some Honky style polkas to the older crowd today. The dance floor was not very crowded and gave us a chance to take our time along the way. John Gora’s band was a delight. Even though we had toured Poland and Europe with him twice, we hadn’t heard his band. He is really a talented entertainer. His voice is crystal clear. He sings in Polish and English. I don’t know Polish, but it sure sounded good to me the way we pronounced the words and gave them life.
The Boys from Baltimore band was our next favorite. They sing great melodies with words you can understand and rhythm that makes your foot tap along. Stan’s favorite song is My Old Polish Town written by Mike Matusek. We he first heard that song it was like we was transformed back to his childhood town of Maspeth, NY. You would have thought that Mike and Stan grew up in the same place.
Sometimes less is more when it comes to volume. Even with earplugs, some bands are just too loud.
Saturday and another ten dollars worth of entertainment, this time from noon to 1 am. We were done by 9. The weather had gotten warmer than the past two day up into high eighty’s with humidity creeping in. This day had the best bands. More of John Gora and The Boys from Baltimore along with Stephanie, Pan Franek and Polka Family (my favorite).
There was a polka dancing contest Saturday at Zielinski’s Ballroom downtown. A hayride type shuttle took you there. The ballroom is old and ceiling is ornately decorated with an interesting geometric pattern. The heat was on in the afternoon with the place packed and but few fans moving the air around. The bands were great; Goodtime Dutchman, Squeezebox and Music Connection, I heard one tune from the Dutchman and a really long 20 minute medley from Squeezebox before we had to step outside the the back door, sit in the grass, drink our beer and enjoy the music from there.
Squeezebox features celebrity Molly B and Ted Lange. She is a real talent playing keyboard, tenor saxophone and buttonbox, accordion sometimes simultaneously, along with a strong singing voice. She is infectious with her animations as she performs. She has the Molly B polka show on RFD TV. Most polka lover’s know about this and watch it religiously. She sets up a venue, brings in bands from all over and people come by droves to watch and dance. It is all recorded and presented on TV a few times per week.
I was amazed at the long medley she played at the ballroom. On Sunday her band moved to the polka grounds and played in one of the tents. This medley style didn’t stand up so well against tried and true single songs. People really do want to hear a song played through with more depth and strength of instruments played my many instead of instruments switched out by one person along with drums and an accordion. The floors was full when the other bands played; not so much when Molly played.
It was so hot at around 90 with 100% humidity that it was hard to do anything but sit and listen. Dancing in this weather is like dancing in the shower. You could see many drenched shirts from the die hard dancers.
We saw Polka Jack; a three year old dancing sensation. He stomped his little feet to the beat of the music as he held his daddy’s hands and danced around the floor like a champ.
I would come again even if it’s hot.