For the past four years I have been going to the downtown concerts in Dickinson, North Dakota on Thursday afternoons in the summer.  The concerts used to be called “Alive At 5”, but last year they changed the name to “First On First”.  The Odd Fellows Lodge organizes, runs, and comes up with the funding for the events.

Because I started a new job in the beginning of June, and I had to work out of town, this is the first downtown summer concert that I was able to go to this year, besides the July 3rd concert at the Paragon Bowling Alley.

At the First On First concerts, the streets are closed at 4:00 p.m. from the Rock Bar down to Bernie’s Esquire Club.  A stage is set up, various food vendors set up, a kid’s bounce house is inflated, and several outdoor bars are set up.  There is no charge for admission, it is open to all ages of people, pets are allowed, and neighborhood animals come.

I would like to first list the local celebrities that were in attendance.  “Wild Bill” Palanuk, local radio show host, and radio, television, and video narrator.  Kevin Holten, director of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall Of Fame and host of the television show “Cowboy Moments”.  Brock White, DJ and Master of Ceremonies.  Bernie Marsh, owner of Bernie’s Esquire Club and father of Marinna Marsh who is known world wide for her beauty.  Tracy Tooz, owner of Tooz Construction and organizer/sponsor of First On First.  Beni Paulson, Board of Directors High Plains Culture Center and member of Outlaw Sippin band.  Emil “The Edge” Anheluk, North Dakota Ukrainian Dance Association president and lead accordion player with Outlaw Sippin band.

Kristi Schwartz, president of Downtown Dickinson Association and owner of Allstate Insurance.  Kathy Fisher, owner of the Rock Bar.  Marchell Kubas, “List Of Attractive Women In Dickinson”.

The second aspect of this past Thursday’s First On First concert that I want to point out, is that this is one of the very few times and places in Dickinson where you will see attractive women.  Attractive women come to this event like birds to a bird bath or bird feeder.

There was quite a range of attractive women.  There were dignified housewives and professional women that wore nice light weight summer dresses or business slacks.  There were nice housewives and single women that wore jeans or walking shorts.  There were women that were seeking attention that wore shorter dresses, shorter shorts, and tops that could be revealing if they “weren’t paying attention”, accidentally on purpose.

There were Skank women that came to this event, women of dis-repute, and young women that would soon be women of dis-repute.  As far as I was concerned, there were three regionally infamous women of dis-repute at this event, which were entertaining to watch, from a distance.  You have to be out of range of how far they could spill a drink, which is how far they could throw a drink.  They wear revealing clothing, such as short shorts, small tank tops, and cut off sleeveless shirts.  They have to be out in front where every one can see them, and be the center of attention, and they become a spectacle when they get drunk.

On Wednesday I had observed a tall thin woman about 30 years old walking across a parking lot.  I was so attracted to her that I wanted to go right up to her and talk to her, but I was stuck talking to my former room mate who drove up and was telling me about his health problems.  She walked about as fast as a Bigfoot, with very long, quick strides, and I knew that I would have a hard time catching up to her, as my former room mate babbled on.

I felt that no one could tell it but me, that this girl was about as attractive as a model.  She was wearing eye glasses, had her hair tied back, was wearing baggy jeans, and a T-shirt, but I could tell that she was tall, thin, well proportioned, had a pretty face, nice complexion, pretty hair, that she was healthy, and I could tell what her personality was like, from having met women like her before.  Out of nervousness and not thinking, she waved at me.  But she got out of range, I didn’t want to head her off with my vehicle.

Serendipitously, I saw this tall, thin, model like girl at the First On First concert on Thursday.  I didn’t want to run right up to her, and scare her, and embarrass myself.  She bought a ticket to go in the VIP corral, and though I would be allowed in if I asked Brock White or Tracey Tooz, I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of everyone in the VIP and scare her off.  I waited for a better chance to talk to her.

Finally, I stopped her as she was coming out of the Rock Bar.  I explained that I had seen her yesterday, and that I wanted to talk to her because I thought that she was attractive, but that I was stuck talking to my former room mate.  She made me explain where this was, and why I thought that this was her, and I explained everything in detail enough that she was flattered that I had remembered her in such detail, and that I must have in fact wanted to meet her.  She was from Washington State, and she had been here in Dickinson for two months.  I talked to her for about ten minutes, and I let her go, saying that I hoped to see her again.

I interjected this personal story, to explain that the First On First concerts are a chance for people to meet and talk to people that they see or deal with in Dickinson during the day, but don’t have the opportunity to have a conversation with otherwise.  Also, it is an opportunity to make an ass of yourself, like I have almost done.  On more than one occasion, I had picked out a girl that I liked, and I wanted to approach, convinced in my mind that this was a good idea, and it turned out that everyone there knew that she was married but me, or that she was a drunk and everyone knew it but me, or that she was a low Skank, not even a fancy Skank, and everyone there knew it but me.

This First On First, I would characterize it as “very balanced” in every way.  The music was not too loud, the people were spread out evenly across the whole downtown area, there were equal and moderate lines at every food vendor and alcohol bar.  There were young and old people, a variety of dog breeds, professional people, blue collar people, retirees, disabled, hippies, high school kids, college students, out of state people, local people, yuppies, farmers, ranchers, and red necks.  Since every one was spread out across the downtown event area, there were no conflicts or fights, even though a great deal of alcohol was sold.

Three bands performed from 5:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.  I would estimate that the number of people at the Rock Bar, Bernie’s Esquire Club, The Odd Fellows VIP lounge and corral, and the event area between 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. stayed at approximately 700 people.  Even though I do not like the Dickinson Police following me around when I am driving, they are very helpful at the concerts and events in Dickinson.  At events like the Hairball concert, the Paragon Bowling Alley concert, and the First On First concerts, the events go so much smoother when the Dickinson Police are there, because the drunk people actually make the decision that they are not going to fight, grab a hold of people, damage property, and have a tirade, because they don’t want to be tasered, handcuffed, and taken to jail.