nick's restaurant and house of art

our friend dave (of smoothdavehamm.com blog fame) had a birthday this weekend, and we celebrated with dinner and drinks at nick's restaurant. dave was awarded with a piece of pie and a candle for another year of life well lived.

nick's has long been one of our favorite hot spots on state street. they serve a good dinner, and the menu features wisconsin supper club favorites (friday fish fry! prime rib sandwich!), excellent greek offerings (gyro! greek soups and potatoes!), and fresh pie (displayed in a counter-top glass case, obviously). they also make a tasty cocktail, including the ice cream variety. but, menu aside, there are other reasons to love nick's. namely, the decor.

this mural is a repeating pattern featuring an antebellum river tableau, complete with spanish-moss draped willows, a huge paddle boat, and working people standing about on docks.


i think this ship is painted on a canvas of black velvet, hung on 50 year old wood paneling. maybe this one is on actual canvas, but there are most definitely paintings on black velvet in the restaurant.