SMOKING AT BARNACLE'S

The curtain goes up again this Saturday at Barnacle's on the north end of Mille Lacs Lake and some of the customers will light up because they're part of the show. Owner Sheila Kromer decided recently to take advantage of the loophole in Minnesota's smoking ban, one that allows actors in a theatrical performance to smoke during a show. Kromer auditioned customers and gave smokers a button to wear. Others who weren't cast were told not to smoke. Kromer said county law enforcement sent an officer to investigate a complaint and he said everything was in order. Kromer said there's another smoking performance scheduled for this Saturday. She said last Saturday was the first night since the smoking ban took effect last October that she had customers in the bar at closing time. Barnacle's is between Garrison and Malmo.