Breaking news:  Next Friday April 4th from 6pm to 8pm we will have 2 Guinness girls at the Nice Ash.  
Also the first 48 customers that  buy a Guinness will get to keep the glass and they can have their name or any  reasonable request engraved on the glass to take home!  Now that's a great deal!

Zombie Dust went on tap last night.   It is half gone.  So getcher Ash in here if you want a taste of sweet glory.    You've been officially notified!  Actually its the second notifi cuz I did it last night also on Face Book.

I've been told many times how lucky I am to own the Nice Ash with my wife Joette.  And I am.   I've been told that it must be nice to sit back and drink and smoke up Joette's profits!    Well it is.  :)

Most people just see me enjoying a beer and a cigar.   And I do, but there is a little more too it than that. 

Today was a typical bar owner's day.   I got up this morning after a vigorous 5 hours of sleep.  I had my coffee and headed down to the Ash.   Well first I stopped at Tomcheck Ace Hardware to pick up some filters for our air exchanger system.     The first thing I did was to change the air filters.   Then there was a toilet to fix (I know it's getting rather glamorous!).   I filled the ATM and headed into the Ash Hole to set up for our Saturday poker tournament.   I then set up another poker table upstairs.  

Before I left I filled up the ATM.    I went home to get a couple of hours of phone work in for my good friend Shawn Reilly's mayoral campaign.    Vote Shawn Reilly for mayor of Waukesha on April 1st. 

Back to the Ash to play some poker.  After I was knocked out on one of many bad beats I had today,  I moved a quarter barrel into the Ash Hole for a private party tonight.   Then back home for some work for my appraisal company. 

Joette should be home soon and we will enjoy a nice dinner before heading down to the Ash tonight.  Xeno and Joe will be playing so it will be a fun night of awesome music.   You'll see me enjoying a beer and a cigar if you come in.

That's a fairly typical day in the life of this bar owner.  If it sounds like I was complaining.  I'm not.  I wouldn't change a thing!  Well, I guess there is one thing I'd change.  I would have won that darn poker tournament!

I'm talking about the smoker we had for Cuban Stock and Chubby cigars we had last night.  Rep Paul was handing out swag like it was going out of style.  He left a few items so we have a deal for you.   It's first come first serve so don't delay.   Anyone who buys a box of Cuban Stock or Chubbys  will get an ashtray, lighter, hat or humidor thrown in.   So if you missed last night getcher Ash in here and take advantage of that great deal.  Oh yeah, did I mention 15% of the box?   

Also remember to come on in for some March Madness!  How's your bracket doing?

I stopped in the Ash to watch the Badger game after an appraisal appointment this morning.   For those who don't know I am a real estate appraiser.    The Ash is Joette's business, as I often say I am just here to drink and smoke up her profits!   Anyways I stopped at the Ash to watch the 2nd half of the Badgers game.  On the way here the Badgers were down and it wasn't looking great.  As I am writing this the Badgers just won 75-35.  Wow what a different second half! 

That is what is so great about the tourney.   Anything can happen.  Dayton just upset Ohio State and the bar erupted in celebration.  March Madness = pure fun.   So do yourself a favor and when you are looking for a place to watch the madness; think of the Nice Ash, its a great place to root for your teams or watch your bracket get crushed!   Hope to see you here!

Well if you do want a Chubby, Thursday is a great time to get one because we are having a Cuban Stock Smoker with rep Cigar Irv from 7-10pm.   He will have swag and deals on Cuban Stock and Chubby's.    Tom Cat Joe will be playing from 9-12pm so it will be a fun evening.     Now there is a real chance that Zombie Dust will be on tap by that time.    We need to cache two barrels to make that happen, I did a little moving of the barrels around this morning in the cooler and I'd suggest attacking the Harp or Torpedo IPA to make that happen.     So if ya want a Zombie do your part and get your ash in here and do some drinking! 

Well St. Patty's Day is upon us!   This should be an awesome weekend of festivities in Downtown Waukesha.  Get your Irish on and spend your time in our historic downtown and of course at the Nice Ash.     Our downtown is the best place to spend St. Patrick's Day because its so walkable.  We have over a dozen bars and restaurants in our downtown so there's lots to do, corned beef to eat, Guinness, Smithwicks, Harp and Busted Knuckle Irish Ale to drink, and live music to get your groove on.   

With St. Patrick's Day falling on a Monday I expect that a good number of people will be celebrating starting tonight.    The weather won't be great but compared to the winter we've had its not too bad.   So I hope to see you this weekend and will leave you with a traditional Irish St. Patty's Day toast:

Saint Patrick was a  gentleman,
Who through strategy and  stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his  health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and  then
Forget the good Saint  Patrick
And see all those snakes again.

Sláinte!

We created quite a stir with our Zombie Dust announcement.  

Unfortunately due to road construction, it didn't get delivered when it was supposed to. 

Fortunately, it has been delivered and is in the Nice Ash cooler. 

Unfortunately, St. Patrick's Day is coming this weekend and we feel that since that particular holiday is filled with excess that it would be a shame to have drunken revelers consume this all too rare beer.  

Fortunately, it is St. Patrick's Day weekend and that's always a fun time. 

Unfortunately, we will have to wait until after St. Patrick's Day to tap the keg of Zombie Dust so it is appreciated by all who consume it. 

Fortunately, that will happen next week.    Stay tuned!

If you've been to the Nice Ash lately you've likely noticed the Elect Shawn Reilly Mayor signs.   Yes we are endorsing and supporting Shawn's bid for Mayor of Waukesha.  I've known Shawn since grade school, he has been my attorney and friend for most of our adult lives.

Shawn is extremely qualified to be mayor.  He has 22 years of experience as a municipal attorney.  He knows what works and what doesn't in city government.   He is fair, honest and has the integrity needed to hold public office.   He has the skills and work ethic to provide the leadership that has been lacking over the past four years in the mayor's office.   

There is a debate at the County Museum at 7pm this evening.  Its a great opportunity to compare and contrast the two candidates. 

Also Shawn is holding a fundraiser at the Eagle's Club in Waukesha at 709 N Grandview Blvd, 7pm to 10pm.  Come meet Shawn and support him with a donation.

Whatever you do go out an vote on April 1st.  Waukesha needs a new mayor and Shawn is the perfect fit!   That's my public service announcement for the week!

Wow we had a great weekend at the Nice Ash.    I met some new customers and existing customers I haven’t had a chance to  talk with yet.   I am  continually amazed by how we keep finding the nicest people who come in and  enjoy what we have to offer.    We are a cigar bar and as such we know that a large segment of the population won’t come in because they don’t like or want to deal with the
smoke.  That’s ok.    In business, you can’t appeal to everyone.   
 
I like to think that our success is by design.   We offer a comfortable place to come in relax and interact with a wide  cross section of people.  You can  enjoy a fine cigar or hookah.  You  can choose from over 100 whiskeys and 16 great tap beers.   You can enjoy live music four nights a week or play poker or
Sheepshead.  We have whiskey  tastings and smokers.  We have the  best bartenders around.  I am proud
we have helped create an establishment people like and  enjoy.

 But you know what?  I was reminded this past weekend that what we have planned for the Nice Ash is just a small piece of the puzzle.  

Almost every day I am humbled that the key ingredient to our business is our customers. Our regular customers are our ambassadors to our business.  They make newcomers welcome.  They turn people into regular customers.  They are what truly make the Nice Ash successful and a joy to come into work every day.   

So this blog today is in honor of our Nice Ash family.   You are simply the best.  

Thank You!