Huge thanks to everyone who has responded so far to the two questions I have posted, but now I want to mention something completely new. I have a big announcement to make concerning my plans for this summer. I've been stewing over this idea for a few weeks, I've run it past a few people, and now, after getting lots of input from various sources, I'd like to make an announcement of my intentions to the world. This summer I plan to embark upon Tavern Tour 2003. Here in Appleton, I read several months ago in our very own Post-Crescent that there are 108 Class B liquor licenses in the city of Appleton. For anyone not up on their Wisconsin trivia, a Class B liquor license is for establishments capable of selling liquor for consumption both on and off premises. This, of course, refers places like bars and restaurants. The reason the Post-Crescent mentioned this is because certain alderpersons in the city say they think we should cap the number of Class B liquor establishments in city - and especially downtown. While I think this is simply a ploy to get their names in the paper in preparation for a bid for mayor, I also see it as a disturbing concept. Our downtown, like many downtowns, survives on specialty and niche shops and its nightlife. There's no way that our downtown could compete for stores with the mall area in Grand Chute, yet some moron alderpersons are convinced that bars are taking away from the available space for retail outlets downtown. The truth of the matter is that if the bars weren't there, we'd just have empty storefronts downtown. Our mayor, Tim Hanna, with whom I have disagreed on numerous topics (including the way he was originally elected - it's a similar story as Bush-Gore 2000, yet actually criminal), has finally said something I can agree with - and tavern owners downtown agree with us. That is that we should just allow a "survival of the fittest" concept. In other words, if we really have too many bars downtown, or if the bars are less than satisfactory, then the lesser ones will go out of business leaving only worthy bars. Hell, why chase away tax dollars in favor of the temperance movement which was defeated decades ago?

Getting back to my initial point, there's nothing wrong with going out and drinking if all things are kept in moderation and nothing in excess? With that idea in mind, I intend to visit all 108 Class B liquor establishments in the city this summer. I actually plan on beginning at or around June 1st. From June 1st until the autumnal equinox on September 23rd there are 115 days. I figure I should actually then end on September 22nd - the last night of summer - which still leaves 114 days. 108 bars and restaurants in 114 days even leaves me 6 days off (in case I fall ill, have to work late, the bars aren't open, or, heaven forbid, I just don't feel like drinking). With a population of 70,000 we have 1 bar for every 648 people, which may sound rather high per capita, but I want to prove that there is nothing wrong with drinking in all of these establishments. At the same time, I want to get to know what all of them are like and establish some sort of rating system. I mean, if I'm going to visit them all, at least I'll be able to make real judgments and comparisons. I intend to establish a constant - one drink which I have at every bar - in addition to sampling things like the house specialty. There's no need to get drunk every night; I just want to see the town.

Making this declaration is the easy part - the hard part is following through. Although I have big plans, I hope I follow it all through. While my first job has to be to acquire a list of these establishments from city hall, that's only the beginning. For one, I want to get t-shirts. I want shirts that proudly proclaim what I'm doing (Tavern Tour 2003), where I'm going (an established schedule would be good), and why I'm doing it. For two, I want to document it all on a website which would follow my progress and give me assessment of each place. And for three, I might try to get another party to follow me with film or a video camera and document the whole experience visually. Others have suggested possibilities like getting exposure in the Post-Crescent or at UW-Fox Valley. Should that happen, I'll leave those possibilities upto my friends and acquaintances.

So that's my plan. That's my big announcement. If I have to spend a whole summer in Appleton, I might as well make the best of it, right? I'll keep you all updated as time approaches closer to June 1st on my progress toward actually carrying out my idea.