I saw a post about new Spring menu items on their Facebook Group (they’re still struggling with a Facebook Page strategy) yesterday, and we immediately made plans to go sample them.

Tommy’s has two Lucy’s — the Tommy’s Lucy stuffed with American Cheese, fried onions and pickles, and the Smoky Lucy stuffed with jalapenos and pepper jack cheese, topped with fried onions and chipotle mayo. Both are served in baskets with frieds, and the Tommy’s Lucy is only $2 more than a normal burger.

All of Tommy’s burger buns are buttered and grilled, just like an old fashion diner. Their fries are always crisp (just be sure to ask for the sweet potato fries not to be too crisp – they sometimes overcook them a bit), and we’ve never had a bad meal there.

After being warned by both the kitchen manager and our waitress to be careful with our molten cheese-filled burgers, my wife and I dove into the oral orgasm that is the experience of eating two beef patties crimped around a puddle of piping hot cheese.

They were amazing. I’m not a food critic so lack the adjectives to share with you. Let’s just say, they were amazing.

Matt’s Jucy Lucy will always be the best. But I don’t live across the street from Matt’s, so this is more than sufficient!

(note to Brett and Emily, I would love to sit with you for an hour and volunteer some help in setting up your Facebook strategy and profiles. You’re missing out on great word of mouth and organic social media opportunities by not having your channels properly set up. Let me know! We love Tommy’s and are big advocates!)

Games for the kids…

Crafts for the adults…

Food…

A polka band playing, “In heaven there is no beer, that’s why we drink it here…”

Someone please explain this game to me…

Water balloon fight in the street…

And a tour of the historic Guardian Angels church, including an exclusive look at the 1902 pipe organ…

And some videos:
Playing the 1903 pipe organ at Guardian Angels Cathedral
The one where the AngelFest music is shaking all the windows in our house, and Grant is concerned
Backyard fire + James Brown = awesome

Full article.

This dad brought his laptop, logged onto the community center wi-fi and was surfing GunsAmerica.com to purchase a new weapon — while at the pool…

More after the jump!

An entire year of e-mail — 8 gigs worth — was archived on one DVD…

I took Grant to Kindermusik…

And I spotted this giant painting of a rooster for sale – $799…

I distributed about 200 flyers for National Night Out and re-discovered this gem in someone’s front yard…

Grandma Kay sent Grayson a new cot for camping…

Annabelle was still cute…

LEGO Gothic…

Historic Downtown Chaska put up its Historic Downtown Chaska banners…

River City Days 2011…

My church again had a booth with Pork Chops on a Stick and Roasted Corn (full set here)…

My parents from Florida came into town. Grant stayed with them in the camper. We all went swimming. A sword fight occurred …

And Grant found a frog…

What a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors even better!

I’m helping to organize NNO for our neighborhood in downtown Chaska again this year (west of 41).

Hope to see you there!

You’re invited to National Night Out
Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: Hickory Park, downtown Chaska
Event Specifics:
Come to Hickory Park, meet your neighbors, let the kids play, and meet Chaska Police, Firefighters and McGruff the Crime Dog.

Want to help with the event? Contact: Greg Swan, gregoryswan@gmail.com, 304-449-GREG

Photos from our 2010 NNO event:

Here he is with his best friend, Michael.

Me and my boys.

Saturday was the Elm Street Block Party in my historic downtown Chaska neighborhood. Yet another special thing about Chaska is they have a Block Party trailer complete with tables, chairs and games your neighborhood can borrow for these events. So great.

Sunday my church, Oasis Church, met in Schimelpfenig Park for a service and family activities.

Fireman’s Lake was gorgeous.

Oh, and at least one stop at Tommy’s Malt Shop.

Here are some photos from today:

For comparison, here’s today:

And here’s last September (just a pinch higher):

And here’s last March (lower):

And of course, I let the boys have some playtime with the remnants of the blizzard (snow still here three months later).

See previous Chaska flood posts here.

On Thursday, March 10, Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight will meet with President Obama, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services at the White House for a conference on bullying prevention.

The invitation came about, in part, because of the Feb. 5 Town Hall Meeting, “Examining Bullying in the Community,” developed by the Chaska Police Department’s Public Safety Focus Group, according to a press release from Libby Fairchild, chair of the city’s Human Rights Commission.

The White House Conference will bring together communities that have been affected by bullying, as well as those that are taking action to address it.

“Chief Knight will have the opportunity to talk with President Obama and representatives from the highest levels of his administration about how all communities can work together to prevent bullying,” states the press release.

This is definitely fodder for Chaska’s claim as “The Best Small Town in America.” We designed an anti-bullying initiative that was recognized by the White House!

Major kudos to all involved!

More photos here.

In the upper part of the photo, you can see the Minnesota River completely covering State Highway 41. Below that is the closed bridge, of which I have more shots below. And the red circle is my house.

(Photo from Scott County Sheriff’s Office via Chaska Herald)

And here are some photos I took on Thursday evening:

The river last flooded in March of this year. Here are my 5 Lessons From the Chaska Flood from that one.