Last Updated: Thursday, August 7, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
Redikulus Dae brings crowds to Brown Street
By Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff
The morning broke absurd and cool. The humidity was a little crazy but the chance of rain was preposterous. All in all, it was Redikulus Dae in Rhinelander.
Dale Plansky brought Mary Matte and his Kettle Korn kettle, the big copper one, to Rhinelander for Redikulus Dae, and it wasn’t the first time. Plansky has been a fixture at this event for more than 10 years. He sells Kettle Korn and lemonade from Phillips to Milwaukee during the season and credits his big copper kettle for the great popcorn.
Peggy’s Emporium had a variety of merchandise outside the store. Among the items were dolls made by Carla Fletcher.
“I saw them in Florida and decided I could make them on my own,” Fletcher said.
The dolls are lifelike and stand by themselves. They were lined up in a row, arms resting on chairs. You wanted to tap them on the shoulder and ask them what they were thinking.
The stacks of shoes in front of the Athlete’s Foot store were crowded with shoppers by 8:30 a.m. Lori Scarcelli and her daughters Sierra and Sydni were intent on finding a bargain.
Further up Brown Street, Richard Yacelga and his son Justin were manning their booth, selling jewelry and T-shirts. Yacelga is originally from Utah but now lives in Madison. This is his second year at Redikulus Dae. He likes Wisconsin and was looking forward to a fun and profitable day. Justin looked happy to be with his Dad.
The State Theater always looks good, there’s never a burned out bulb in the marquee. And George Rouman was in front of the theater early, overseeing the sales of movie posters to a young and enthusiastic crowd. All over Rhinelander there’ll be a new poster in a teenager’s bedroom by this evening.
There was a nice crowd early in front of Latitudes. Michelle Smith-Grage has owned Latitudes in downtown Rhinelander for eight years.
“This Redikulus Dae looks good,” Smith-Grage said. “We’ve gotten a lot of calls from vendors this year, a lot of buzz. Many of them heard about it at the St. Germain Flea Market. We had calls this morning. The weather’s good and the customers are pretty excited.”
At the Alzheimer’s booth the Three Lakes group was selling raffle tickets to raise money for the Memory Walk. The drawing will be held at Octoberfest, Oct. 3 in Three Lakes. First prize was an autographed Brett Favre jersey. Second prize was a handmade quilt and third prize a Potlicker Chainsaw sculpture. Sharon Anderson, Barbara Bauknecht and Dorothy Harding looked relaxed in the early morning sun.
“I would recommend Redikulus Dae to other vendors,” said Ron Radeka, who had a booth in front of Travel World. “It’s great for tourists. I like to think of this as a retirement hobby.”
Radeka works the markets in Lake Tomahawk and the Rhinelander Ice Arena as well. He’s been coming to Redikulus Dae for the past seven or eight years.
And what’s Redikulus Dae without a Hodag. In this case it was the Fun Factory booth selling a new version of the historic creature. Employee Nicole Everson said the new Hodag is made in Florida. Florida?
Brittni Danner was carrying on the family tradition in front of the store on Davenport Street.
“People are always looking for shoes,” said Danner. “The downtown revival is bringing them back.”
Joan Belongia summed up the event, “Busy, busy. Thank goodness we were ready at 8 a.m. Since DRI (Downtown Rhinelander Incorporated) took over we see more downtown businesses on the street.”
If the morning was any indication, Redikulus Dae has a future as a late summer event in downtown Rhinelander. And when the weather cooperates, as it did Wednesday, the old black and white pictures of a crowded Brown Street could just as easily have been taken yesterday. It’s just Redikulus.
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