AZ’s “DIARY OF A DAMNED MAN” » 2007

December 23, 2007

NEW GLARUS WYNTER WUNDERLUND (part 1)

PART 1

For my birthday 2007 instead of doing my annual Ranalli’s Party and Alc O Holiday I opted to get away for the weekend to one of my favorite places up north, NEW GLARUS WI.

On Friday Dec 14th 2 days after my birthday we had decdied that as busy as we’ve been wheteher it be traveling or events, we’d getaway together where nobody would know us annd there weren’t a whole lot of distractions.

Last Sept on my last camping trip on 2007 which was one of many I decide if there was any place I’d like to celebrate, it’d be in New Glarus, WI.





http://www.swisstown.com/ A Swiss settlement about 3 hours northwest of us and just 11 miles south of Madison. There was no snow expected, but after our first night at the Chalet Landhaus http://www.chaletlandhaus.com/

where we had the Taste & Tour Weekend package with Whirlpool Suite and all of the luxuries and ammenities.

www.chaletlandhaus.com/rooms.shtml

As were were out having dinner a huge snowstorm swept through making it the most romantic it could be.

New Glarus is located in Green County, Wisconsin in the United States at the intersection of Wisconsin Highways 69 and 39. It has an estimated population of 2,111 according to the 2000 census. The village, as well as the town in which it lies, was named after the Canton of Glarus in eastern Switzerland[1]. Founded in 1845 by immigrants from Glarus, Switzerland and incorporated in 1901, New Glarus is a popular tourist destination best known for its Swiss heritage, old world architecture, fine dining, outdoor festivals, and many forms of recreation. New Glarus is located approximately 22 miles from Madison, Wisconsin, 47 miles from Rockford, Illinois, 105 miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 130 miles from Chicago, Illinois.

While many ethnicities in America have become one in the great melting pot, New Glarus has maintained much of its Swiss heritage and many old world traditions. More than 160 years after it was founded, Swiss-style chalets and flower boxes filled with red geraniums still grace the streets of New Glarus. Swiss flags also fly proudly next to the American flag at many businesses and homes in New Glarus. Old World meat markets, restaurants, and an authentic Swiss bakery can also be found in downtown New Glarus, along with folk art, museums, and Swiss-style shops. Many Swiss customs are still alive in New Glarus, too. Among those are the card game Yass, yodeling, and flag tossing.

In addition to the New Glarus Hotel, other restaurants in New Glarus have received critical acclaim recently, including Deininger’s and The Glarner Stube. Other fine restaurants in New Glarus include the beautiful Chalet Landhaus Inn, Flannery’s Wilhelm Tell Club, and Tofflers Bar & Grill. And while Puempel’s Old Tavern is first and foremost a tavern, it also serves food and is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.

Specialty food shops that sell many different Swiss foods also line the streets of New Glarus including Hoesly’s Meats, Ruef’s Meat Market, Maple Leaf Cheese & Chocolate Shop, The Bramble Patch, New Glarus Bakery, and New Glarus Primrose Winery.

A storm was a brewin’! Shelly outside the Chalet Landhaus Inn

The lobby inside the Inn

Looking down at the lobby from the second floor

View from the balcony of our suite

We arrived in New Glarus after a little over 3 hour drive out of busy afternoon Chicago traffic. We had taken a different route north through Kenosha and through beautiful Lake Geneva. I hope to get more time in the latter another day. We checked into the rustic yet luxurious Chalet Landhaus Inn and were greeted with warmth and friendliness. I had bypassed this place many times but never did I pay it much attention till I actually walked into it. We had the weekend package and it was the only way to go. We walked up one flight to the room and as Shelly showered I went into the car to bring out a few supplies and surprises. Once which included a box containing 2 New Glarus Champagne Flutes and 1 bottle of Raspberry Tart and a bottle of Belgium Red, award winning concoctions made exclusively in New Glarus. We’d discover later it was 2 of the most wonderful flavors to pass our palates.

Raspberry Tart Awards include:

2007 - Gold Medal - Best Beers in the United States - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
2005 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
2004 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
2004 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
2003 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
2003 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
2002 - Bronze Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
2002 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
2002 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
2001 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
2001 - Best in the Midwest - Fruit Beer - The United States Beer Tasting Championships
2001 - Grand Champion - Fruit Beer - The United States Beer Tasting Championships
2000 - Gold Medal - World Beer Cup
2000 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
1999 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
1998 - People’s Choice Award - Spring Beer Fest - Portland, OR

And

Wisconsin Belgian Red Awards include:

2007 - Gold Medal - Best Beers in the World By Style (Specialty Beer) - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
2006 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
2005 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
2003 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International - City of London
2003 - Gold Medal - Great American Brew Festival - Denver, CO
2003 - Platinum Medal - BTI World Beer Championships
2002 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festivall - Denver, CO
2002 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
2002 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International - City of London
2001 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Award - The Guildhall, City of London
2001 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
2001 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
2000 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - The Guildhall, City of London
2000 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
1999 - Brewing Industry International Award - World Champion Specialty Beer - The Guildhall, City of London
1999 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
1998 - Brewing Industry International Award - World Champion Specialty Beer - The Guildhall, City of London
1997 - World Champion Specialty Beer - Brewing Industry International - Burton Upon Trent, England
1997 - Peoples’ Choice Award Fruit Beers - Spring Beer Fest - Portland, OR
1997 - 12 Best Beers in America - Men’s Health Magazine
1997 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
1997 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
1997 - Best Beer Made in America Award - Malt Advocate Magazine
1996 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
1996 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
1996 - Silver Medal - World Beer Cup - Associations of Brewers U.S.A. - CO
1996 - 10 Best Beers - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
1996 - World Champion Specialty Beer - Brewing Industry International - Burton Upon Trent, England
1995 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine

I took a brief tour of the pool, exercise room, sauna etc and the big restaurant where we’d no doubt be enjoying breakfasts as I loaded up on ice. I spread candles throughout the room, which is typical of me, especially if you know me well, and changed into something to wear out and kicked back in the adjacent nook to have a drink and watch TV from a recliner. It had been years since I’ve relaxed in a recliner and I really enjoyed this one. Along the rooms where the dining table, chairs and TV were was a balcony that went along the length of our rooms with sliding glass doors from the bedroom area which also included a whirlpool that could easily accommodate 5 “friends”, a super king sized bed and TV, desk and dresser. There was enough at the lodge to keep us there and only there but New Glarus is a great little town and there is much to explore and as we’d discover many interesting people to befriend.

My good friend Jason had been to NG as he refers to it several times since I told him of the secluded getaway. And in fact he even proposed to his wife there. And he told me about the “red bar” in the New Glarus Hotel which is actually a restaurant, and not a Hotel so to speak. It is certainly where the mainstay of the local entertainment happens. He mentioned a drink that is forbidden to import into the USA which they will serve discreetly and the name of it slipped his mind but he said the barmaid would know and serve it to us with a scow. I was wondering if it might in fact be Absinthe, but it turned out to be a Swiss drink called Appenzeller.

Appenzeller Alpenbitter (Alpine Bitters) is a liquor made from the essences of 67 different flowers and roots.

It didn’t do much to affect me, however being that I am a seasoned verteran of consumption, it would have to pack a mighty wind to impare your writer. When I shot it like a shot of tequila you should have seen the locals. And one fellow actually purchased about 5 more shots to watch me do as they do not, which is sip the American rarity.

December 10, 2007

My December (FINAL 12/11/2007)

Dec 1, 2007: Evel Knievel died yesterday.

I rose early this cold December morning and prepared my journey to the Inn of Chicago where3 I’d be meeting Crispin Glover for an interview which I had less than 12 hours to prepare for. I was up till about 3 AM prior going over notes on his directing and producing roles and consulting Chris Curry for some additional insight to my subject. He really wanted to be here for it and had he at least 24 hours notice more than I had I’m certain nothing would have kept him away. My brother is a whole other story all together. I think he puts Glover up where or generation puts a Depp, or Nicholson or even Tarantino. And I even went as far as to email my friend Paul Baio in Hollywood who had the following to reply:

“I think he’s been on the wagon for a very long time now. He’s been on the radio out here a lot lately promoting his films and doing the weather on a morning show filling in for David Lynch. He likes to over articulate his words, it’s sometimes annoying. Other than that I don’t think you need to worry except for the fact that he’s a weird cat.

He’s very protective about his films. I heard It’s Fine is just short of porn. He’s screening it here next weekend. I hear he likes to talk a lot and it’s hard to shut him up if it is something he’s passionate about.”

Later in the evening w/ Crispin Glover

Before leaving I contacted my friend Brett at the House of Blues and she arranged for us to have lunch there on her tab in the event I could get him to go. This was even better than I had planned.

So I walked to the store picked up a paint pen, batteries for my camera and tape recorder, did a little more reading on him and took the 151 downtown. It was a slow bus and I had plenty of time. En route Brian the manager of the Music Box Theatre explained to me on the phone that he was up till 4 and needed to push the interview back to 1230 instead of noon which was fine with me. So I had left a message with Brian earlier about my lunch offer and he told me Crispin has turned down that offer to other interviews because he is uncomfortable eating in front of people, and I know how he feels and can’t imagine someone taking notes on my eating mannerisms.

As I was sitting in the hotel lobby reading “Film Alchemy” the latest book by Christopher W. Curry, I received several other calls. Finally it was Brian saying Crispin would have lunch since he was hungry and that he’d meet me in about 15 minutes. Things were going very well. I called Brett and she finalized the offer and the arrangements were made.

As I sat quietly in the lobby reading I felt a presence looming above me and he extended his arm for a handshake as though he knew who he was. I said, “Lets go eat”, and we got into a cab and through the cold and grey weather Christmas sopping early Dec 1 afternoon we were on our way to lunch. As the driver was taking us, Crispin called his next interviewer and left her a message to inquire whether she would mind coming to the HOB for her interview. She was a girl from the San Francisco Guardian.

We arrived at the House of Blues and Brett escorted to into the dining room which become crowded for whatever reason. And while we were seated and ordered our meals onlookers began to stare and the predicated snow began to hammer upon Chicago as it always seems to do when I have some place to be.

Chicago is weird like that as I’d tell him some time later. If you work in a bar, despite the night of the week, a typically busy night will be dead if the snow hits or it rains too hard. People will just stay in and drink. But in his case however the people who would attend are die-hards and I assured him that he had nothing to worry about. He would have a stellar event and I would find out later even more that I had expected.

Crispin is tall and thin, yet in very good shape, his hair is longer than what the mainstream is used to seeing. He actually looks a lot like my brother or vice versa. And their personalities are very similar. He is very polite. And his intellect is almost intimidating. In fact it seemed that he “dummed down” a lot of what he was talking about so that the average Joe might get a clue as to what he was describing, explaining or referring to. Before I could get my first question out he wanted to know about me and my work and what it was all about. I summed it up. We never saw any sense in going against what was considered mainstream, or the “in thing” or the trend of the moment and in fact when it came to film we would tend to not even mention the “Jerry Bruckheimer paint by numbers big budget action flicks.” (thanks Chris) It’s just not what anyone that has ever written for or with me has had in their heart. Hearts of Darkness, and I refer more to Francis Ford Coppolla’s Documentary on “Apocalypse Now” than I do “gothic’ or evil tainted anything. Nor would I that for that matter. BOO ! At the time of the interview “Beowulf” had been the #1 movie of the week, and it only came up when I congratulated him on its success.

So amongst the commotion of the background nose we talked about his film making and inspirations. Not once did I bring up “Back to the Future” (why should I) or “The Rivers Edge” another blockbuster as well as a great movie but that’s what people identify him with, that and “Willard” or “Charlie’s Angels” not his small role in “Wild at Heart” or “Dead Man”. Charlie’s Angels did come up as he spoke about himself and his demands of his character, and we spoke of his portrayal of Andy Warhol in “The Doors” move, mostly because of my life long fascination with Warhol, not to mention the band for which the movie was named for.

Little do people know about the films he has made and the finale which he will begin production on, “What Is It?”, “It’s Fine” and the forthcoming “It Is Mine”. Nor are they familiar with his 3 books and the slide show that accompanies them. Without the slide show the books are simply tokens to the owner.

The films will never ever be available on DVD. You will not get a bootleg of them on DVD at any trade show or convention. You MUST see them in person. Much like Warhol’s earlier bodies of work before his association with Paul Morrissey. Crispin has penned between 15-20 books, many of which are featured during his Big Slide Show presentation. Thus far, only four of his books have been published through his publishing company, Volcanic Eruptions.

We were served our meals in 3 courses and were only interrupted when we were served. At one point the manager came over and told us that Brett had originally offered to pick up the tab but they said since we were guests they would be doing it anyway. He commented to me how attentive they are to me there. I must say the House of Blues staff is some of the best in the business and they always have been, and I owe a lot to them for making a wonderful afternoon even more perfect than it was going.

The interview went on just under 2 hours. I had though that Chris Curry or my brother would have been more suited to conduct this than I, and that is true. But I pulled it off thanks mostly to his extreme attention to detail when explaining something to me.

I asked to have my things put into a box as I noticed a young lady sitting at the bar alone for some time now. She had to be his next interview which was running late so I inquired, invited her over, she sat till we finished and then I politely excused my self and sat at the bar and let them do their work.

At 230 I got a call from Brian. He had a TV interview back at the hotel at 330. I was instructed to interrupt at 315 and remind Crispin. I did, the finished and I got him to the interview on time. The snow was hitting us hard and traffic was horrendous. And the TV crew was nervous because they had flown in from LA and were worried they wouldn’t get back in time. As it turns out over 400 flights from O’Hare were cancelled that night so they may have missed their flight either way.

After dropping off Crispin I had the driver take me home. I only had a couple hours before I was due to meet him back at the Music Box Theatre. MK music critic Greg Tovar met up with me at El Palmar and we shared a pitcher of margaritas and went back to the flat. He was admiring the place and we had a beer and I showed him some trailers of what he’d be in for at the theatre. We finally got a cab and got to the theatre and the line was around the block. I don’t do lines and haven’t for years so we went right to the front. A couple stopped us and asked if I was Alex Zander? She claimed that her and some friends had driven me home from some bar back in the 90’s and that they still read the website. I felt bad for not remembering such a nice gesture but the 90’s was a different era for me. Chicago was new and I was moving up fast. In that time I got caught up with a different lifestyle and a world I had never seen. I had just begun to infiltrate the MINISTRY camp. I was DJing at several clubs, and promoting and doing my weekly radio show. It was a different world and a lot of fasces came and went. And the kind people that took me home, I forgot their names and faces, but I do remember some of their kindness. So if you are reading this, THANK YOU.

The gig wasn’t set to kick off for a bit so we went to the Blue Bayou and had a drink. He a beer, me Red Bull and Vodka. By the time we got back the slide show had begun adn we took a couple seats up near the stage.

The slideshow was in progress and Crispin was one of the finest Narrorators I’ve ever seen. This gentleman would have been a fantastic teacher. He delivery was one of the most exceptional as well as passionate I have ever witnessed. There were moments where some of the audience laughed. I myself found it a phenomenal piece of performance art and not the least bit humorous. And he was equally animated in his black suit and tie with white shirt. His speech onstage as it is in person is not difficult to dissect as he has mastered the art of speaking whether it be onstage or in person. It became more and more obvious that Crispin Glover is a highly educated individual.

The subject matter as bizarre and edgy as it is, made it’s point through the images and narration of his books context. I enjoyed it the best of the evenings offerings.

Immediately after the slide show It’s Fine had begun. From the get go it was disturbing and politically incorrect as the star Steven C. Stewart lying helplessly on the hospital floor. As he is being transported back to his bed, Stewart embarks on an inward journey in which his suave charm proves irresistible to the ladies. Though his imaginary sexual conquests allow Stewart to live out his many erotic fantasies, the unshakable frustration of being an eternal outcast soon causes his actions to take an unexpectedly dark turn. He has sexual intercourse and had oral sex graphically performed on him by many beautiful young women, and it was all unedited there onscreen. And though the star who played the part of Paul, is a severe cerebral palsy-sufferer in real life, to the point that his speech was obviously impaired to the point of the viewer not being able to understand hardly a single word, the actresses’ played their roles as though they could understand what he was saying perfectly. On screen he has sex and kills his victims till the end. And it goes right back to where it had begun. Leaving the viewer with the understanding that everything we had just witnessed was all in his mind.

As we did after his Slide Show the film received a standing ovation. We walked into the theatre entrance where a long line had formed. We jumped right to the front and I had some photos taken and a few articles signed. We must have held up the line a good 20 minutes as we were talking with Crispin. I made it a point then to mention my brother and a possibility of getting Crispin at Columbus Ohio’s Wexner Center, which he welcomed.

Greg and I had another drink went back to the theatre talked to rusty and some friends and we exhausted. He had worked a long day as I had as far as my morning preparing for and afternoon and evening in the company of Mr. Crispin Glover.

You can view the trailer for the film here: www.crispinglover.com/it_is_fine!.htm

So the first day of December started out the way the last two months had been all along and I had only more obstacle forthcoming. Al and Angie Jourgensen were meeting us for dinner of Wed Dec 5 at Pizzeria Uno and then taking us with them to the Chicago Blackhawks game. I hadn’t seen either of them since the last tour although we’ve been in regular touch. This was also Angie’s birthday and I was both honored and flattered that of all people they invited us.

So I bought Angie a few bottles of wine and had some custom wine glasses made for her with their names engraved on them along with the Thirteenth Planet logo and we all met up at 5 at the pizza place. Shelly was meeting them for the first time and the rest of us just seemed like we all only saw each other yesterday after hugs and greetings. We ate quickly and were off to the United Center where we were first escorted to the Executive Lounge where we met the Wirtz family (owners of the Blackhawks). Drinks are comp and tips are not permitted. Al and Angie spent a lot of time w/ Danny Wirtz who is the grandson of the late Dollar Bill Wirtz and other members of the family.

After a couple drinks and listening to a new MINISTRY song which I cannot disclose at this time, as I also got to hear about 4 songs from the forthcoming covers CD in the car on the way to the game. We took our seats which were amazing especially since it was my first game and we were seated center ice. We are easily noticeable in the photos of the ceremonial dropping of the puck and the quick moving game had begun. Damn hockey is fast is what I came off feeling.

the white arrow above point to Al. Shelly is in the isle w/ red hair, then, AZ, and Al J and Angie J is the blonde

At one point I walked out to the lobby to grab a couple beers for Al and I and the lady mentioned they had been showing us on the jumbo-tron several times. GO FIGURE! The four of us stood out in this crowd of average Joes. But with the suits in the executive lounge we were treated like equals and with respect.

The night had ended before mid night we returned the Jourgensen’s to their room and we off in search of gas. Shelly had been driving on an empty tank.

I was home before midnight but when I awoke for work the next day I felt as though I had been up to 3 AM. Normally I am in bed by the time or at the time the 10 PM News is on and out cold before Letterman. Sun – Thurs that is. And I had a few drinks so I was beat. It was cold and it was 8-5 time again in the city.

az, danny wirtz and al

danny wirtz and al

shelly and al converse

and angie jourgensen birthday sandwich!

The cold and snowy and icy city of Chicago.

This is how my December 2007 had begun. I have no rock n roll on my calendar, no celebrity friends coming into town or to work on, no big Ranalli’s birthday party this year, and I am retiring Satan Claus and Alc O Holiday after a long stretch of funfilled and successful shows. I’ll let the legacy rest in peace.

Instead I will escape to New Glarus and spend a quiet weekend with my girl. It’s a Swiss settlement located in the middle of Nowhere Wisconsin. At this point in my life I would have it no other way.

– az 12/11/2007