Chris Crooker Cancer Benefit

Last Sunday, I was invited by a friend to attend a benefit for Twin Cities musician Chris Crooker who is battling Stage 4 kidney cancer. I didn't know Chris personally, but it's for a good cause and I had a few friends who would be attending so I decided to head to Niesen's in Savage, avoiding rainstorms on a pleasant afternoon.

When I first got in the venue, I paid my entry fee and was treated to live music by a local cover band just to the right of the front door. After a while, I made my way to the back of Niesen's where there were silent auction items and more live music to be heard.

I soon ran into a friend who was selling cupcakes for the benefit. Another friend was a spokesmodel for some of the cupcakes, so I just had to buy one to sample it-just as delicious as I'd imagined! I made a point to buy a dozen more cupcakes for my coworkers before I left.

I split time between both stages for a while before partaking in the spaghetti dinner as it started raining sideways in Savage. Thankfully, there was no severe weather. I soon ran into two more friends, and we started catching up and reviewing the silent auction items before listening to local cover band Hairball play a few rock classics. Singer Chainsaw Caine, best known for his duties fronting the St. Cloud based rock band Slave Raider in the 80's, also joined them onstage for a few songs before my friends and I called it an evening.

It turned out to be a great night of music with friends, the first of more to come that week!