As some of you know, I recently changed jobs. The interim at the Legislature is painfully slow, especially when you work for a retiring member, and hence it left me a few spare minutes to work on the blog. With the new gig, I'm crazy-busy (thankfully) and that's the reason for the slow down in posts. It will return to its normal pace soon, I promise. Until then, have a beer and watch one of the many political debates happening these days.
Cheers.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Oh goody! Munster here I come!
When you think of Indiana, what usually comes to mind? Corn? Hoosiers? Maybe Dan Quayle? But not beer. Not at least until you visit Munster. Which brings me to the second phase of my research.
Case Study Two: Munster
A recent much-anticipated trip to Munster, Indiana (really an ex-urb of
Chicago), which the main purpose of was to visit my sister and her family, the quantity of quality beer to be had was literally mind-numbing. Granted, this was in large part because my brother-in-law shares in and rivals my love of water, hops, yeast and grains. I tried no less than a dozen new beers, many of them rarities and exclusive to Munster. I had my first introduction to New Holland Brewing, which coincidentally just arrived in Minnesota. I puckered up trying some wild beer for the first time (didn't know the stuff existed). And of course I made the pilgrimage to Three Floyds Brewing Company.
New Holland Brewing, as best I tell, doesn't make a bad beer. Of course it makes sense being from Michigan. Their stout, amber and IPA are all beers that make you stop and notice what's in the bottle. I tried a couple and brought home a 22 oz. bomber of Dragon's Milk Ale, barrel-aged and weighing in at 9% ABV, only to realize the liquor stores at home had just began carrying New Holland. Guess I'll have to drink it now.
Speaking of "big beers," (nee high ABV) they were a large part my time in northwest Indiana. If you're feeling adventurous and whimsical, find a bottle of Sanctification from Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, CA (good luck). Imagine taking controlled bacteria and putting it in your beer, but it turns out fantastically unusual. There's a whole line of "wild beers," made by adding wild yeast like Brettanomyces, Pediococcus or Lactobacillus. This particular one tasted kinda like fermented lemon mixed with a pinot grigio or similar sweet wine. Not horrible, but not something I would drink three or four bottles of, or even an entire one, by myself. A nice summer apperitif. I guess a lot of beers from Belgian strive for this effect, but add fruit like raspberries or peaches. Yummier.
One of the best breweries in the country--that's right, best--is Three Floyd's. They don't distribute to Minnesota anymore, but a short trip to Chicone's in Hudson, WI will hook you up. But screw Hudson, I went to the source.
Dinner and drinks at the brew pub enabled me to have three different pints and sample five more. From the Belgian Drunk Monk to the lovely Kolsch Calumet Queen to the solid pale ale Alpha King, Three Floyds makes every style unique and better than its competition. I took home the Rabbid Rabbit, a 9% saison brewed with chamomile and rock candy, easily one of the best beers I've ever had.
But one of the highlights of the trip to Munster (besides spending time with my nephew) was BIL and R hooking me up with another bottle of Dark Lord, the Most Sought After Bottle of Beer in the Country. A crazy maybe 13% or 15% dark creamy burnt caramel chocolate coffee stout brewed in very small batches--like it's only available in bottles at the brewery and sells out in one day. Mad mad props to BIL and R. New Years baby.
Three Floyds is undergoing some staff changes, but hopefully they can maintain the level of excellence that is looked forward to--and expected--from them.
All the outlining Chicago cities have a similar feel, but Munster--besides being in a red state--is a pretty nice town. Of course it's made better by its proximity to the city and a family named Floyd. Study results: 9.5/10. Woulda been a 10, but c'mon, what's a 10 anymore?
Case Study Two: Munster
A recent much-anticipated trip to Munster, Indiana (really an ex-urb of
Chicago), which the main purpose of was to visit my sister and her family, the quantity of quality beer to be had was literally mind-numbing. Granted, this was in large part because my brother-in-law shares in and rivals my love of water, hops, yeast and grains. I tried no less than a dozen new beers, many of them rarities and exclusive to Munster. I had my first introduction to New Holland Brewing, which coincidentally just arrived in Minnesota. I puckered up trying some wild beer for the first time (didn't know the stuff existed). And of course I made the pilgrimage to Three Floyds Brewing Company.New Holland Brewing, as best I tell, doesn't make a bad beer. Of course it makes sense being from Michigan. Their stout, amber and IPA are all beers that make you stop and notice what's in the bottle. I tried a couple and brought home a 22 oz. bomber of Dragon's Milk Ale, barrel-aged and weighing in at 9% ABV, only to realize the liquor stores at home had just began carrying New Holland. Guess I'll have to drink it now.
Speaking of "big beers," (nee high ABV) they were a large part my time in northwest Indiana. If you're feeling adventurous and whimsical, find a bottle of Sanctification from Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, CA (good luck). Imagine taking controlled bacteria and putting it in your beer, but it turns out fantastically unusual. There's a whole line of "wild beers," made by adding wild yeast like Brettanomyces, Pediococcus or Lactobacillus. This particular one tasted kinda like fermented lemon mixed with a pinot grigio or similar sweet wine. Not horrible, but not something I would drink three or four bottles of, or even an entire one, by myself. A nice summer apperitif. I guess a lot of beers from Belgian strive for this effect, but add fruit like raspberries or peaches. Yummier.
One of the best breweries in the country--that's right, best--is Three Floyd's. They don't distribute to Minnesota anymore, but a short trip to Chicone's in Hudson, WI will hook you up. But screw Hudson, I went to the source.
Dinner and drinks at the brew pub enabled me to have three different pints and sample five more. From the Belgian Drunk Monk to the lovely Kolsch Calumet Queen to the solid pale ale Alpha King, Three Floyds makes every style unique and better than its competition. I took home the Rabbid Rabbit, a 9% saison brewed with chamomile and rock candy, easily one of the best beers I've ever had.But one of the highlights of the trip to Munster (besides spending time with my nephew) was BIL and R hooking me up with another bottle of Dark Lord, the Most Sought After Bottle of Beer in the Country. A crazy maybe 13% or 15% dark creamy burnt caramel chocolate coffee stout brewed in very small batches--like it's only available in bottles at the brewery and sells out in one day. Mad mad props to BIL and R. New Years baby.
Three Floyds is undergoing some staff changes, but hopefully they can maintain the level of excellence that is looked forward to--and expected--from them.
All the outlining Chicago cities have a similar feel, but Munster--besides being in a red state--is a pretty nice town. Of course it's made better by its proximity to the city and a family named Floyd. Study results: 9.5/10. Woulda been a 10, but c'mon, what's a 10 anymore?
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Duluth or Superior? You decide.
You may have the noticed the unusually long lag time between the last couple posts. While it could be attributed to generally laziness (it wouldn't be the first time), it's actually because I was engrossed in some in-depth research for Capitol Brewhaha. While covering politics is certainly amusing, it is no where near as fulfulling as the effort it takes to find and learn about beer.
Case Study One: Norshore
My research first took me to Duluth and, more impressively,
Superior, WI. I was dragged up north by a friend of mine who is soon to be married and wanted to usher out his single days where, I'm told, many of his better ones were spent. A visit to Duluth-Superior is not complete of course without a cashew burger and a fine beer at the Anchor Bar in Superior. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for New Glarus beers, I ordered a Spotted Cow from New Glarus Brewing. As the saying goes, when in Wisconsin....The more I drink this the more I enjoy it--it's a great session beer, and perfectly accommodates just about any meal.
I was anxious to continue my studies back at our weekend accommodations, where my keg of homebrew was finally going to be tapped. But thanks to the persistence of Altronix, a stop at Twin Ports Brewing was in order. Let me take this opportunity to say that the next time you're in the Duluth-Superior area and looking for some great microbrews, please pass right on by Fitger's Brewhouse, cross the bridge and go to Superior. Both have great beers, but the commitment to service and the happiness of their customers is on a much higher level at TPB.
Case in point: TPB doesn't normally don't open for business until 4pm on weekdays, so when our party of 12 pulled up at about
3:30pm, and employee (manager?) Steve Knauss was locking up and leaving the parking lot, after apparently just checking on some of the beer, we thought we were screwed. But no, he rightly sees the potential, turns around and opens the bar early. He proceeds to gives us free samples to help us decide what to order and puts on some good tunes, ensuring us that our satisfaction is his top priority. But the cherry on top was a private tour of the brewery. Granted, it consisted of standing in their one room brew room and him explaining the brewing process to us, but it was by far the best and most complete tour I've ever had. While I wish I could give you more insight into their beer--their amber ale sticks out in my mind as amazing--but really, the amazing quality of the beer was surpassed but the top notch service we received.
Compare this to Fitgers, who despite being told on several occasions over several weeks that a group of 20 was headed their way on this particular night, and subsequently giving us assurances that they could accommodate us, in the end, they couldn't. They didn't even try. Nope, they were understaffed on this Saturday night, and I guess didn't need our money. Needless to say, we ended up somewhere else for dinner.
But I digress. Back to that homebrew. I had agonized over transporting a five gallon keg of beer 150 miles, leaving it sit in a hot car for 4 hours, all the while keeping it cold. This was accomplished by keeping it in a garbage can with--get this--ice. Amazing stuff, this frozen water. Still, 7 weeks of cleaning and waiting and bragging, and the pressure is on. Literally. We got back to the resort we were staying at--nice blinds BTW--and I hooked the keg up to the CO2 tank, adjusted the pressure, and let it flow.
My heart raced, because the last time I sampled it, it was a bit off. Tasted a little moldy and mildewy. But this time? The time that mattered? The Bitter End was perfect. The smell was full of hops with caramel undertones. Even though I wasn't really sure how much pressure to put on it, the carbonation was right on, giving it a nice head and a velvety appearance. But what really made the difference? The taste. It was thick and chewy, and that hint of wet cardboard was washed away by the hops (although even my hop-timid friend JL had two glasses, so I knew it wasn't too over-the-top). The only problem with the beer was the amount; 5 gallons doesn't last too long at a party, and it was cashed by night fall.
Many more beers were sampled over the course of the weekend, but none could match the quality (and experience) at Twin Ports Brewery or the personal touch offered by The Bitter End. And that concludes the Norshore Case Study. Results? Duluth is a fine city to drink beer in, but don't neglect Superior.
Up next: Case Study Two: Munster, IN
Case Study One: Norshore
My research first took me to Duluth and, more impressively,
Superior, WI. I was dragged up north by a friend of mine who is soon to be married and wanted to usher out his single days where, I'm told, many of his better ones were spent. A visit to Duluth-Superior is not complete of course without a cashew burger and a fine beer at the Anchor Bar in Superior. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for New Glarus beers, I ordered a Spotted Cow from New Glarus Brewing. As the saying goes, when in Wisconsin....The more I drink this the more I enjoy it--it's a great session beer, and perfectly accommodates just about any meal.I was anxious to continue my studies back at our weekend accommodations, where my keg of homebrew was finally going to be tapped. But thanks to the persistence of Altronix, a stop at Twin Ports Brewing was in order. Let me take this opportunity to say that the next time you're in the Duluth-Superior area and looking for some great microbrews, please pass right on by Fitger's Brewhouse, cross the bridge and go to Superior. Both have great beers, but the commitment to service and the happiness of their customers is on a much higher level at TPB.
Case in point: TPB doesn't normally don't open for business until 4pm on weekdays, so when our party of 12 pulled up at about
3:30pm, and employee (manager?) Steve Knauss was locking up and leaving the parking lot, after apparently just checking on some of the beer, we thought we were screwed. But no, he rightly sees the potential, turns around and opens the bar early. He proceeds to gives us free samples to help us decide what to order and puts on some good tunes, ensuring us that our satisfaction is his top priority. But the cherry on top was a private tour of the brewery. Granted, it consisted of standing in their one room brew room and him explaining the brewing process to us, but it was by far the best and most complete tour I've ever had. While I wish I could give you more insight into their beer--their amber ale sticks out in my mind as amazing--but really, the amazing quality of the beer was surpassed but the top notch service we received.Compare this to Fitgers, who despite being told on several occasions over several weeks that a group of 20 was headed their way on this particular night, and subsequently giving us assurances that they could accommodate us, in the end, they couldn't. They didn't even try. Nope, they were understaffed on this Saturday night, and I guess didn't need our money. Needless to say, we ended up somewhere else for dinner.
But I digress. Back to that homebrew. I had agonized over transporting a five gallon keg of beer 150 miles, leaving it sit in a hot car for 4 hours, all the while keeping it cold. This was accomplished by keeping it in a garbage can with--get this--ice. Amazing stuff, this frozen water. Still, 7 weeks of cleaning and waiting and bragging, and the pressure is on. Literally. We got back to the resort we were staying at--nice blinds BTW--and I hooked the keg up to the CO2 tank, adjusted the pressure, and let it flow.
My heart raced, because the last time I sampled it, it was a bit off. Tasted a little moldy and mildewy. But this time? The time that mattered? The Bitter End was perfect. The smell was full of hops with caramel undertones. Even though I wasn't really sure how much pressure to put on it, the carbonation was right on, giving it a nice head and a velvety appearance. But what really made the difference? The taste. It was thick and chewy, and that hint of wet cardboard was washed away by the hops (although even my hop-timid friend JL had two glasses, so I knew it wasn't too over-the-top). The only problem with the beer was the amount; 5 gallons doesn't last too long at a party, and it was cashed by night fall.
Many more beers were sampled over the course of the weekend, but none could match the quality (and experience) at Twin Ports Brewery or the personal touch offered by The Bitter End. And that concludes the Norshore Case Study. Results? Duluth is a fine city to drink beer in, but don't neglect Superior.
Up next: Case Study Two: Munster, IN
Monday, August 28, 2006
Moving to...Mississippi?
By now you've probably seen the new Pawlenty for Governor TV ad...it's flashy, short, positive, and generally a great ad.
It should come as no surprise that T-Paw can produce a good ad, given the fact that he has $2 million in the bank--I saw the ad and thought to myself, "Oh f**k." Not so much because Mike Hatch has a lot to compete with, but mainly because it's filled with BULLSHIT.
As Roving Reporter recently pointed out:
It should come as no surprise that T-Paw can produce a good ad, given the fact that he has $2 million in the bank--I saw the ad and thought to myself, "Oh f**k." Not so much because Mike Hatch has a lot to compete with, but mainly because it's filled with BULLSHIT.
As Roving Reporter recently pointed out:
Well said RR, well said." 'Funding schools at record levels' is technically accurate, but if he wanted it to be technically and literally accurate, he would need to add the word 'low' between the words record and levels. Tuition at the U has increased nearly $20,000 in the time T-Paw has been "funding schools at record levels." But I guess this was a stroke of campaign genius, because since we have a less educated workforce, we have a lot of new minimum wage paying jobs replacing all the high paying professional jobs this state once attracted. So, yes, we probably have more jobs than we did when he took office, but the number of jobs that pay a liveable wage has gone down dramatically under his watch.
If he wants to be governor of Misissippi, I encourage him to move there, and not bring their standards of living to this once great state."
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Awesome; I F***in' Drank That!
A recent thread on the Northern Brewer beer forum reminded me of all the clever things you can put into crappy beer to make it better. Who'd ever think to add orange juice, Fresca or tomato juice to beer? How about a shot of whiskey? Sunkist and ice are a great addition to that warm, flat keg of Miller Lite left over from a party. Or really added to any Miller products, flat or not, warm or cold.
But by far some of the oddest--and best--mixtures come by experimenting with Guinness. We're all familiar with a black and tan and the snakebite, but how about adding an egg or champagne? My good friend from Chile introduced me to the heavenly malta con huevo, which consists of an egg, 1/4 cup sugar or to your liking, and a can or bottle of Guinness, thrown into a blender and mixed until frothy. Last night I had a Black Velvet, an appropriate name for champagne mixed with Guinness.
Which brings me to the real reason for today's post: to find an excuse to somehow talk about the recently released Beastie Boy concert film, Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!, which I watched last night while drinking my Black Velvet (how do you like that transition, eh?).
I'm not one to be able to sit through a concert on the big screen, let alone a TV, but Awesome was awesome. The premise, and what made it so damn good, is that, according to the website:
The editing is excellent and more than makes up for the amateur shooting. Those with some knowledge (or not) of turntablism and DJ-ing will be in awe of the mad skills of Mix Master Mike,
clearly the best DJ the Boys have ever joined forces with. His live mixing leaves nothing to be desired, utilizing random samples from 80s hip-hop classics as well as fresh new beats.
Of course the real stars are the triple threat. Even as they approach their 40s, they don't miss a beat or a line, and keep the party going til the break of dawn, y'all. (Isn't that a great photo? They're like 17!)
So if you're looking to get your B-Boys jones on in style, mix up some Guinness and champagne and pop in Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
But by far some of the oddest--and best--mixtures come by experimenting with Guinness. We're all familiar with a black and tan and the snakebite, but how about adding an egg or champagne? My good friend from Chile introduced me to the heavenly malta con huevo, which consists of an egg, 1/4 cup sugar or to your liking, and a can or bottle of Guinness, thrown into a blender and mixed until frothy. Last night I had a Black Velvet, an appropriate name for champagne mixed with Guinness.Which brings me to the real reason for today's post: to find an excuse to somehow talk about the recently released Beastie Boy concert film, Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!, which I watched last night while drinking my Black Velvet (how do you like that transition, eh?).
I'm not one to be able to sit through a concert on the big screen, let alone a TV, but Awesome was awesome. The premise, and what made it so damn good, is that, according to the website:
Word."On Oct. 9, 2004, the Beastie Boys handed out 50 cameras to audience members at their sold-out performance in New York's famed Madison Square Garden. These 50 different passionate perspectives, shot from the point-of-view of the audience, take the viewer deep inside the world of a live Beastie Boy show, prisimatically and kinetically capturing the experience of a live musical performance like no film has ever done."
The editing is excellent and more than makes up for the amateur shooting. Those with some knowledge (or not) of turntablism and DJ-ing will be in awe of the mad skills of Mix Master Mike,
clearly the best DJ the Boys have ever joined forces with. His live mixing leaves nothing to be desired, utilizing random samples from 80s hip-hop classics as well as fresh new beats.Of course the real stars are the triple threat. Even as they approach their 40s, they don't miss a beat or a line, and keep the party going til the break of dawn, y'all. (Isn't that a great photo? They're like 17!)
So if you're looking to get your B-Boys jones on in style, mix up some Guinness and champagne and pop in Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Grandmas for Kelley
I spent some time talking with my grandmother this weekend, and inevitably our conversation turned to the dangerous realm of politics. It's always tricky engaging your 86 year-old grandma in a political conversation, urging her to cast aside her lifelong affiliations and vote for "the other guy." Nonetheless I continue to try.
I started with an easy target: Dallas Sams. He's a pro-gun, pro-life, anti-gay marriage democrat from Staples, MN, and my grandparent's state senator. I figure if I, a life long democrat, committed to liberal ideals, can support someone like Dallas Sams, then surely my conservative grandma can. I've never gotten a commitment from her, but I continue to sell Dallas as a helluva nice guy and a great state senator. It's dems like him that continue to keep the Minnesota State Senate in democratic control.
So when I read in the paper that Steve Kelley had been endorsed for Attorney General by the DFL this weekend, I thought it would make a good teaching moment.
Kelley is the opposite of Dallas Sams in terms of the issues, in terms of style, really, in terms of everything. Steve is a wonk's wonk, and is just the kind of guy I want looking out for the State's best interests. As a bonus, he's great on all the issues I care passionately about: the environment, transit, early childhood education. And he can beat Rep. Jeff Johnson, who comes across as a partisan, party-focused Republican (which is why his website talks about how "the office should not be about partisanship and political advancement.") Kelley, as chair of the Senate Education Committee, has been in front of the spotlight and has proven he can stand the heat.
But before we get to that, we have a primary to get through. Let me just say I am generally biased towards DFL-endorsed candidates. So if, by some fluke, another dem had been endorsed, I'd likely be making the case for them--well maybe not here: Kelley is the only candidate I personally know and is a pretty nice guy. But back to that primary. Solicitor General Lori Swanson and former Congressman Bill Luther will be the other deems on the ballot, so I should probably offer a word or two on them.
I don't have anything against Swanson personally or politically. My only caution with her was when I saw her on TPT's Almanac. She was representing Hatch on driver's license data privacy. Hatch was right, and I agreed with Swanson here, but Eric Lippman from the governor's office tore her apart and got her waaaaay off message. It will happen again. View the video here.
I think Bill Luther is a tough politician, and would make a strong attorney general. But he just comes across a little smarmy and, well, icky. Call me petty. Oh, and there was that shot of him drinking in a Capitol office, in the same Fox 9 "story" as ousted state representative Scott Waslik. Granted, he wasn't a voting member of congress or any other body, but the video is there, and could be damaging. And Rep. Johnson will use it. Again, petty.
No, my vote will go for Kelley, I want the class nerd, the guy who was president of the honor society--the guy who can understand and effectively explain Minnesota's complex health system--as the next state's Attorney General. He has a massive organization in place from his failed run for governor, and is ready to run a tough campaign on the issues that matter. I believe he can do it.
So there's my case for Steve Kelley for AG, Grandma. He's smart, likeable and comes off nice on the TV. What else can you ask for?
I started with an easy target: Dallas Sams. He's a pro-gun, pro-life, anti-gay marriage democrat from Staples, MN, and my grandparent's state senator. I figure if I, a life long democrat, committed to liberal ideals, can support someone like Dallas Sams, then surely my conservative grandma can. I've never gotten a commitment from her, but I continue to sell Dallas as a helluva nice guy and a great state senator. It's dems like him that continue to keep the Minnesota State Senate in democratic control.
So when I read in the paper that Steve Kelley had been endorsed for Attorney General by the DFL this weekend, I thought it would make a good teaching moment.
Kelley is the opposite of Dallas Sams in terms of the issues, in terms of style, really, in terms of everything. Steve is a wonk's wonk, and is just the kind of guy I want looking out for the State's best interests. As a bonus, he's great on all the issues I care passionately about: the environment, transit, early childhood education. And he can beat Rep. Jeff Johnson, who comes across as a partisan, party-focused Republican (which is why his website talks about how "the office should not be about partisanship and political advancement.") Kelley, as chair of the Senate Education Committee, has been in front of the spotlight and has proven he can stand the heat.
But before we get to that, we have a primary to get through. Let me just say I am generally biased towards DFL-endorsed candidates. So if, by some fluke, another dem had been endorsed, I'd likely be making the case for them--well maybe not here: Kelley is the only candidate I personally know and is a pretty nice guy. But back to that primary. Solicitor General Lori Swanson and former Congressman Bill Luther will be the other deems on the ballot, so I should probably offer a word or two on them.
I don't have anything against Swanson personally or politically. My only caution with her was when I saw her on TPT's Almanac. She was representing Hatch on driver's license data privacy. Hatch was right, and I agreed with Swanson here, but Eric Lippman from the governor's office tore her apart and got her waaaaay off message. It will happen again. View the video here.
I think Bill Luther is a tough politician, and would make a strong attorney general. But he just comes across a little smarmy and, well, icky. Call me petty. Oh, and there was that shot of him drinking in a Capitol office, in the same Fox 9 "story" as ousted state representative Scott Waslik. Granted, he wasn't a voting member of congress or any other body, but the video is there, and could be damaging. And Rep. Johnson will use it. Again, petty.
No, my vote will go for Kelley, I want the class nerd, the guy who was president of the honor society--the guy who can understand and effectively explain Minnesota's complex health system--as the next state's Attorney General. He has a massive organization in place from his failed run for governor, and is ready to run a tough campaign on the issues that matter. I believe he can do it.
So there's my case for Steve Kelley for AG, Grandma. He's smart, likeable and comes off nice on the TV. What else can you ask for?
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
Dashed Hopes: Summit Cask Update
I've never gone through so much trouble to try a beer and end up being so disappointed. Saturday I was all pumped about Town Hall Brewery having two Summit beers on cask, so my wife, the queen that she is, let me drag the family to Minneapolis for lunch and beer. I asked the server to try the Summit cask beers, and she brings me what was clearly not a Summit, but a steam beer (what is legally called a "California Common"). Friggin' amazing, but I didn't stuff the family in the car for a road trip across the river to try a regular tap.
After throwing a bit of a fit, the server, bless her heart, sent the manager over to ease my brewing worries. Apparently, all the websites failed to mention that this was in conjunction with Saturday evenings' Fringe Festival shows in the area, and that the kegs wouldn't be tapped until about 6pm for Fringe-ers to sample, and for the general public at 7pm. Fair enough, I thought. I'll just stop back later. An 8pm arrival would ensure me a sample, he said.
So me and a couple buddies show up at about 8pm, swagger up to the bar and order a round of Summit ESB on cask. "Nope sorry, just ran out." Apparently, Town Hall Pint Club meets Saturday evenings, and they, in conjunction with Fringe Fest attendees drained the keg in two hours. We weren't sure to blame Summit or Town Hall, but someone had slashed our expectations. Thankfully, the Great Northern Porter was still around, and while much better as a winter ale, its smoky coffee-maple overtones were amazing, even in August. If the ESB matched this, which I would expect it to, then Summit lovers have something to look forward to.
And what better way to enjoy beer on an August evening than outside? We proceeded to take our beers out on the patio, and were immediately approached by a server who said we need to pour our drinks into plastic glasses if we wanted to sit outside. Fine, ok, I suppose. But she hands us fresh-out-of-the-dishwasher-HOT TO THE TOUCH-glasses. C'mon, she didn't really expect us to pour our already warm beer into a 120-degree plastic glass?!
So we sat at the bar to enjoy our fine porters, watch the Twins sink the Royals, and drink more of Town Hall's finely-crafted beer. It's amazing how a good brew can solve most of the days' problems.
After throwing a bit of a fit, the server, bless her heart, sent the manager over to ease my brewing worries. Apparently, all the websites failed to mention that this was in conjunction with Saturday evenings' Fringe Festival shows in the area, and that the kegs wouldn't be tapped until about 6pm for Fringe-ers to sample, and for the general public at 7pm. Fair enough, I thought. I'll just stop back later. An 8pm arrival would ensure me a sample, he said.
So me and a couple buddies show up at about 8pm, swagger up to the bar and order a round of Summit ESB on cask. "Nope sorry, just ran out." Apparently, Town Hall Pint Club meets Saturday evenings, and they, in conjunction with Fringe Fest attendees drained the keg in two hours. We weren't sure to blame Summit or Town Hall, but someone had slashed our expectations. Thankfully, the Great Northern Porter was still around, and while much better as a winter ale, its smoky coffee-maple overtones were amazing, even in August. If the ESB matched this, which I would expect it to, then Summit lovers have something to look forward to.
And what better way to enjoy beer on an August evening than outside? We proceeded to take our beers out on the patio, and were immediately approached by a server who said we need to pour our drinks into plastic glasses if we wanted to sit outside. Fine, ok, I suppose. But she hands us fresh-out-of-the-dishwasher-HOT TO THE TOUCH-glasses. C'mon, she didn't really expect us to pour our already warm beer into a 120-degree plastic glass?!
So we sat at the bar to enjoy our fine porters, watch the Twins sink the Royals, and drink more of Town Hall's finely-crafted beer. It's amazing how a good brew can solve most of the days' problems.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Cluck cluck
Are those chickens I hear in the distance, on their way home? The 
clucking reached a feverish pitch last Wednesday as St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced his 2007 budget plan, which included at the crux of it an 8.5% property tax increase, off-set by a reorganization of libraries and rec centers staff and hours. This comes as our elected officials at Ramsey County are considering a 5% property tax increase, and voters are going to be asked to approve $30 million for our schools this fall. It takes a brave soul to have one of your first major acts in office be a tax increase on homeowners, especially given what has transpired at the state in the last few years.
But back to those chickens. I half-expected them to head over to Mayor Coleman's house. I mean, the citizens of St. Paul elected a democrat after all. Is it really a surprise he wants to raise our taxes? But no, some of them made their way to former Mayor Norm Coleman's house, realizing that under his 8 years of rule there was a price to be paid for "holding the line on taxes," while at the same time increasing city services and handing out major subsidies to a few businesses. Some of those chickens were looking to roost on the East Side, at the home of the previous mayor, Randy Kelly, who had an affinity for fees and assessments rather than an honest budget discussion.
And the bulk of the chickens ended up at 1006 Summit Avenue, pecking at the steps of the Governor's Mansion. State cuts to local government aid have crippled many cities like St. Paul, forcing leaders throughout Minnesota to enact massive cuts and property tax increases. It was perhaps one of the most clever moves by the Governor, precisely because it lacks transparency, making it even more complicated to explain to the average citizen.
That's the real challenge come November: connecting the dots and ensuring the voters know where those chickens are going. And recognizing it's going to take honesty and the ability to make difficult decisions about our future to get our state back on track. As the Mayor said in his budget address, "Politicians who stand before you and tell you that there are simple answers to complex problems are either lying to you or they don't really get it. Solving a....deficit cannot be done without making tough choices."
Indeed.
clucking reached a feverish pitch last Wednesday as St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced his 2007 budget plan, which included at the crux of it an 8.5% property tax increase, off-set by a reorganization of libraries and rec centers staff and hours. This comes as our elected officials at Ramsey County are considering a 5% property tax increase, and voters are going to be asked to approve $30 million for our schools this fall. It takes a brave soul to have one of your first major acts in office be a tax increase on homeowners, especially given what has transpired at the state in the last few years.But back to those chickens. I half-expected them to head over to Mayor Coleman's house. I mean, the citizens of St. Paul elected a democrat after all. Is it really a surprise he wants to raise our taxes? But no, some of them made their way to former Mayor Norm Coleman's house, realizing that under his 8 years of rule there was a price to be paid for "holding the line on taxes," while at the same time increasing city services and handing out major subsidies to a few businesses. Some of those chickens were looking to roost on the East Side, at the home of the previous mayor, Randy Kelly, who had an affinity for fees and assessments rather than an honest budget discussion.
And the bulk of the chickens ended up at 1006 Summit Avenue, pecking at the steps of the Governor's Mansion. State cuts to local government aid have crippled many cities like St. Paul, forcing leaders throughout Minnesota to enact massive cuts and property tax increases. It was perhaps one of the most clever moves by the Governor, precisely because it lacks transparency, making it even more complicated to explain to the average citizen.
That's the real challenge come November: connecting the dots and ensuring the voters know where those chickens are going. And recognizing it's going to take honesty and the ability to make difficult decisions about our future to get our state back on track. As the Mayor said in his budget address, "Politicians who stand before you and tell you that there are simple answers to complex problems are either lying to you or they don't really get it. Solving a....deficit cannot be done without making tough choices."
Indeed.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Summit Cask
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Enjoy Summit beer? Then head over to Town Hall Brewery in Minneapolis and sample some Great Northern Porter and ESB on cask. What the hell is cask, you say? Cask is the process of storing the beer in the container it will be served from, as the fermentation continues throughout the serving process. Also called "real ale," the resulting drink is a much fuller and often smoother beer, served at a balmy 52 degrees. Beeradvocate.com compares cask ales to "a whole food experience" while the bigger American breweries produce the Wonder Bread of beers:
I for one am pleased as punch that in the last few years Summit has really expanded their beer lines and tried some new, experimental things, like producing cask ales. But if you're going to wait to visit Town Hall in a few days, think again. Once tapped, and the beer is exposed to oxygen, it needs to be drank within a few days. It's pretty amazing--the beer you start to drink is not necessarily the beer you finish! So really, Town Hall and Summit need you to help drink their beer this weekend.
Town Hall Brewery is located at 1430 Washington Avenue (Seven Corners area) in Minneapolis.
We suggest “real ale,”
which is essentially ale that is still alive and evolving with its continuing fermentation processes. High in vitamin B (from yeast), real ale is not filtered or pasteurized. It contains no artificial additives or preservatives, and it's as close to a whole food experience as you can find in beer. We're talking some old-school beer in the raw!
I for one am pleased as punch that in the last few years Summit has really expanded their beer lines and tried some new, experimental things, like producing cask ales. But if you're going to wait to visit Town Hall in a few days, think again. Once tapped, and the beer is exposed to oxygen, it needs to be drank within a few days. It's pretty amazing--the beer you start to drink is not necessarily the beer you finish! So really, Town Hall and Summit need you to help drink their beer this weekend.
Town Hall Brewery is located at 1430 Washington Avenue (Seven Corners area) in Minneapolis.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Nobody beats the biz
Um, ok, waaaay off topic here, but didcha hear the news? Biz Markie is playing a show tonight at the Dinkytowner...FOR FREE. I suppose I could go to Drinking Liberally tonight at the 311 Club, but c'mon, connecting with fellow lefties to talk politics, or witnessing a fore father of hip-hop make a fool of himself? As intrigiuing as rehashing the sex-capades of Sen. Coleman's father is, I think I'll be at the Dinkytowner. The DJ/MC/human beatbox who brought you such hits as "Just a Friend," "Vapors," and of course who could forget "Pickin Boogers," is back from the underground. The Biz has reclaimed some fame via appearances on several Beasties Boys albums and on the acclaimed Prince Paul-Dan the Automator side project, Handsome Boy Modeling School.
Show starts at 9 p.m., but you better get there early. Did I mention IT'S FREE? (And if it does sell out, check out Keston and Westdal, a great jazz infused electronic duo, at the Kitty Cat Klub just down the street. Also free.)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
The Queen is easy
There's a little brewery in Dallas, WI trying to produce some mighty fine beer. They used to distribute their beer themselves, driving a refridgerated van around the Twin Cities. Maybe they still do, but judging by their availability, I'm guessing times have changed. You can now find them in most fine beer establishments and retailers around the metro area.
Viking Brewery mainly focuses on German-style beers, lots of lagers, but also produces Belgian and English beers, and delves into some experimental stuff, like their Hot Chocolate Stout brewed with cocoa, milk sugar and cayenne pepper. I've only worked through a few of 'em, and they're either a great hit or a slight miss. I recently tried their Weather Top Wheat as I was going through my wheat stage, and found it perfect. Nice balance of sweetness and bitterness, with a touch of honey to balance out the malts.
Tonight I picked up a four pack of Queen Victoria's Secret from 1st Grand Ave liquors. The clerk raved about it, emphasizing how much he loved bitter IPAs, so I was anxious to try it. The open was soft and easy on the nose, and I knew when I poured it that it wasn't going to wallop me over the head with an extra dose of hops. I kept expecting a nice head to form, but it never did. It seems sometimes, with small breweries. they just can't get the carbonation right. What's so hard about adding some more sugar?
The pour made me lower my expectations a little, and so I knew there wouldn't be any magic when I went to taste it. Given that, the Queen turned out to be a light, airy, English-style IPA, with some pleasant citrus undertones, making it an accessible beer, even for the bitter skeptics. The hops are definitely the highlight of the beer, and the simplicity of the elements makes it easy to distinguish the various strains.
Ok, not really, but I grew Fuggles hops for a couple seasons, and it was easy for me to pick them out. Unfortunately, they took over my garage and I had to get rid of them. Tasty fellers tho.
Queen Victoria is a good beer to introduce a friend to IPAs, but this is not really what an IPA snob would want to drink over and over again. I had a reunion with a Snake Dog this past week, which is a solid IPA. In other words, the Queen ain't no Mojo or Devil. Still, they're a small family run brewery, and are worth checking out. You just might get that perfect bottle.
Viking Brewery mainly focuses on German-style beers, lots of lagers, but also produces Belgian and English beers, and delves into some experimental stuff, like their Hot Chocolate Stout brewed with cocoa, milk sugar and cayenne pepper. I've only worked through a few of 'em, and they're either a great hit or a slight miss. I recently tried their Weather Top Wheat as I was going through my wheat stage, and found it perfect. Nice balance of sweetness and bitterness, with a touch of honey to balance out the malts.
Tonight I picked up a four pack of Queen Victoria's Secret from 1st Grand Ave liquors. The clerk raved about it, emphasizing how much he loved bitter IPAs, so I was anxious to try it. The open was soft and easy on the nose, and I knew when I poured it that it wasn't going to wallop me over the head with an extra dose of hops. I kept expecting a nice head to form, but it never did. It seems sometimes, with small breweries. they just can't get the carbonation right. What's so hard about adding some more sugar?The pour made me lower my expectations a little, and so I knew there wouldn't be any magic when I went to taste it. Given that, the Queen turned out to be a light, airy, English-style IPA, with some pleasant citrus undertones, making it an accessible beer, even for the bitter skeptics. The hops are definitely the highlight of the beer, and the simplicity of the elements makes it easy to distinguish the various strains.
Ok, not really, but I grew Fuggles hops for a couple seasons, and it was easy for me to pick them out. Unfortunately, they took over my garage and I had to get rid of them. Tasty fellers tho.
Queen Victoria is a good beer to introduce a friend to IPAs, but this is not really what an IPA snob would want to drink over and over again. I had a reunion with a Snake Dog this past week, which is a solid IPA. In other words, the Queen ain't no Mojo or Devil. Still, they're a small family run brewery, and are worth checking out. You just might get that perfect bottle.
Pawlenty to students: 'I'm sorry'
Tim Pawlenty: "Yeah, we balanced the budget on the backs of college students, and I'm sorry, and I promise I'll fix it if you re-elect me."
Ok, he didn't really say that, but close: "The tuition-level increases were too high. Keep in mind that we had a budget crisis of historic magnitude in 2003. It's now 2006, and we've gotten to the point where we are adding back to higher education, and we will again." Read the full story here.
Hoping that 18-21 year olds are forgetful and disengaged (read: stoned and irresponsible), and won't remember the double-digit tuition increases imposed on them come November, the Governor is now trying to make good and redeem himself. First he proposes free tuition for the top of the class, and now he says it's time to forgive and pay 'em back.
Ok, I say, but what about all the kids and families you booted off health insurance? What's your plan for them, Timmy? Oh right, some of them can't vote. And if they did, they wouldn't be voting for you.
Oh, that Timmy is a sly one. Let's not him get away with this. Make sure students remember who their friends are, make sure they know cute news conferences and empty promises don't pay for a four year degree.
Ok, he didn't really say that, but close: "The tuition-level increases were too high. Keep in mind that we had a budget crisis of historic magnitude in 2003. It's now 2006, and we've gotten to the point where we are adding back to higher education, and we will again." Read the full story here.
Hoping that 18-21 year olds are forgetful and disengaged (read: stoned and irresponsible), and won't remember the double-digit tuition increases imposed on them come November, the Governor is now trying to make good and redeem himself. First he proposes free tuition for the top of the class, and now he says it's time to forgive and pay 'em back.
Ok, I say, but what about all the kids and families you booted off health insurance? What's your plan for them, Timmy? Oh right, some of them can't vote. And if they did, they wouldn't be voting for you.
Oh, that Timmy is a sly one. Let's not him get away with this. Make sure students remember who their friends are, make sure they know cute news conferences and empty promises don't pay for a four year degree.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The Bitter End is coming
You might think that making a good beer depends on the correct amount of hops (boiled for the desired amount of time) or the particular strain of yeast used, but as any experienced brewer will tell you, it really comes down to the soap.
I brewed my first batch of beer in about a year a couple weeks ago (three weeks and three days ago to be exact--it was during a heat wave, when I love to do nothing more than stand over a boiling pot of wort), and I'd forgotten, as I always do, what a pain in the arse it is to clean and sanitize all the equipment. Luckily I've never experienced that legendary armpit taste or achieved the brewed-with-skunk effect I have heard stories about. I've had my close calls. Once, I had to fetch a spoon which had dropped into a fermenter full of hefeweizen (I called the brew "Eric's Arm"). It was said someone found a hair in their beer, but I believe it had more to do with the
fact that the fermenter exploded and sat in the open air for several days. Either way, hair or no hair (or maybe because of the hair), the beer turned out pretty incredible.
But you want to take no chances with cleanliness--in general, a good rule to live by. And now I am faced with a problem of my own creation: a keg which has sat uncleaned for two years. I thought about just skipping the keg and filling bottles, but it's just so much cooler to serve homebrew out of a keg. Besides I am taking the beer to a party in Duluth, and accounting for one large steel keg is a lot easier than saving (and reminding the consumers of the beer to save) their bottles.
Nope, this weekend I will have the pleasure of disassembling and scrubbing my keg system. I never knew a keg had so many parts! Valves, hoses, o-rings, couplers, regulators and of course faucets. Of course this is easier than washing and sanitizing up to 48 bottles. If you're ever in the same predicament as me, Yellowdog has a great website with step-by-step instructions.
The beer, which I am affectionately calling The Bitter End, is a dry-hopped IPA, using four different kinds of hops--two ounces of the ever-popular Cascade no-less. I sampled a bit during its transfer to the secondary fermenter, and it was delicious. Sure, it was warm and flat, but it was mine. I can't wait to share it.
I brewed my first batch of beer in about a year a couple weeks ago (three weeks and three days ago to be exact--it was during a heat wave, when I love to do nothing more than stand over a boiling pot of wort), and I'd forgotten, as I always do, what a pain in the arse it is to clean and sanitize all the equipment. Luckily I've never experienced that legendary armpit taste or achieved the brewed-with-skunk effect I have heard stories about. I've had my close calls. Once, I had to fetch a spoon which had dropped into a fermenter full of hefeweizen (I called the brew "Eric's Arm"). It was said someone found a hair in their beer, but I believe it had more to do with the
fact that the fermenter exploded and sat in the open air for several days. Either way, hair or no hair (or maybe because of the hair), the beer turned out pretty incredible.But you want to take no chances with cleanliness--in general, a good rule to live by. And now I am faced with a problem of my own creation: a keg which has sat uncleaned for two years. I thought about just skipping the keg and filling bottles, but it's just so much cooler to serve homebrew out of a keg. Besides I am taking the beer to a party in Duluth, and accounting for one large steel keg is a lot easier than saving (and reminding the consumers of the beer to save) their bottles.
Nope, this weekend I will have the pleasure of disassembling and scrubbing my keg system. I never knew a keg had so many parts! Valves, hoses, o-rings, couplers, regulators and of course faucets. Of course this is easier than washing and sanitizing up to 48 bottles. If you're ever in the same predicament as me, Yellowdog has a great website with step-by-step instructions.
The beer, which I am affectionately calling The Bitter End, is a dry-hopped IPA, using four different kinds of hops--two ounces of the ever-popular Cascade no-less. I sampled a bit during its transfer to the secondary fermenter, and it was delicious. Sure, it was warm and flat, but it was mine. I can't wait to share it.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Introducing Mantooth
Mantooth is a friend of mine who at this juncture wants to remain anonymous. Therefore I will take the credit or blame for anything great or irresponsible he does. He offered Capitol Brew-haha a nice wrap-up of yesterday's activities.
Posted by Mantooth:
Kudos to Capitol Brewhaha, who got mad props from mpr.org's " Polinaut" (ne Tom Scheck) for being one of the first to report a significant development in the race for state attorney general - a race that has been nothing but a steady stream of significant developments over the past six days: Sen. Steve Kelley will run for AG.
Kelley joins Solicitor General Lori Swanson and former-Rep. Bill Luther as serious contenders in the DFL primary. Unless, of course, you agree with Nick Coleman and think that Jennifer Mattson's experience on the "field hockey and lacrosse [teams] at Barnard " has adequately prepared her to be our next Attorney General.
Coming off a run for Governor that ended little more than one month ago at the DFL state convention, Kelley should be in the best position to quickly pull together a fully functioning campaign in the sliver of time between now and the Sep. 12 primary. However, Swanson obviously has the support of Mike Hatch which would prove valuable should he choose to divert his attention - and, more importantly, campaign personnel - to the AG race. It's not like Hatch has been spending a lot of time worrying about his own primary challenger. And, one could argue that he can afford to be even more disinterested given that the noise from the AG race is bound to drown out the Lourey campaign for at least the next several weeks.
Bill Luther likely has too much going against him to be a legitimate threat to take the primary: he can't use the left-over cash from his last Congressional bid in this race; his last campaign employed tactics that were way more questionable than those that allow his attempt at a return to public life, and; he seems to be out of step with the current make-up of the DFL - not unlike MIke Freeman, who's decision to continue a Quixotic campaign for Hennepin County Attorney apparently cleared the way for Luther to enter the AG race. While it seems unlikely that Luther will make it to the general election, he could still come out of this a winner if he is able to garner enough support to position himself as a kingmaker. If that is that shoudl come to pass, I suspect Luther would back Swanson as Hatch is more likely to be in a position to repay such a favor quite handsomely come January.
Posted by Mantooth:
Kudos to Capitol Brewhaha, who got mad props from mpr.org's " Polinaut" (ne Tom Scheck) for being one of the first to report a significant development in the race for state attorney general - a race that has been nothing but a steady stream of significant developments over the past six days: Sen. Steve Kelley will run for AG.
Kelley joins Solicitor General Lori Swanson and former-Rep. Bill Luther as serious contenders in the DFL primary. Unless, of course, you agree with Nick Coleman and think that Jennifer Mattson's experience on the "field hockey and lacrosse [teams] at Barnard " has adequately prepared her to be our next Attorney General.
Coming off a run for Governor that ended little more than one month ago at the DFL state convention, Kelley should be in the best position to quickly pull together a fully functioning campaign in the sliver of time between now and the Sep. 12 primary. However, Swanson obviously has the support of Mike Hatch which would prove valuable should he choose to divert his attention - and, more importantly, campaign personnel - to the AG race. It's not like Hatch has been spending a lot of time worrying about his own primary challenger. And, one could argue that he can afford to be even more disinterested given that the noise from the AG race is bound to drown out the Lourey campaign for at least the next several weeks.
Bill Luther likely has too much going against him to be a legitimate threat to take the primary: he can't use the left-over cash from his last Congressional bid in this race; his last campaign employed tactics that were way more questionable than those that allow his attempt at a return to public life, and; he seems to be out of step with the current make-up of the DFL - not unlike MIke Freeman, who's decision to continue a Quixotic campaign for Hennepin County Attorney apparently cleared the way for Luther to enter the AG race. While it seems unlikely that Luther will make it to the general election, he could still come out of this a winner if he is able to garner enough support to position himself as a kingmaker. If that is that shoudl come to pass, I suspect Luther would back Swanson as Hatch is more likely to be in a position to repay such a favor quite handsomely come January.
Change is a-comin'
With the increase in traffic to Capitol Brew-haha yesterday, I've been doing some things to the public image of the site which I've been meaning to do for awhile. Mainly small tweaks in things like font size, adding and deleting some code, and individualizing the site with some images, but potentially acquiring some new drinking partners to add their $0.02 on beer and politics (but hopefully not on my life).
So pour a cold one and enjoy!
So pour a cold one and enjoy!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Shake up SD 44
So Rep. Ron Latz is running for Steve Kelley's seat (source: Polinaut), and I've just heard from a reliable source that Mike Freiberg, committee administrator for Sen. Leroy Stumpf, is likely to be one of many running for the Latz seat.
Steve Kelley for AG
For once you heard it here first, or at least second*....Steve Kelley is filing for attorney general.
Update: David Lillehaug has thrown his support to Kelley (source: MN Publius), and Bill Luther is also going to file, which means Mike Freeman is out (source: Centristy).
*MN Publius posted the news a couple minutes before me, but we both had our separate sources. I posted the news before seeing Publius' post. They're good guys and work hard for their sources, and I would never take credit for their scoops.
Update: David Lillehaug has thrown his support to Kelley (source: MN Publius), and Bill Luther is also going to file, which means Mike Freeman is out (source: Centristy).
*MN Publius posted the news a couple minutes before me, but we both had our separate sources. I posted the news before seeing Publius' post. They're good guys and work hard for their sources, and I would never take credit for their scoops.
AG replacement
After Matt Entenza's sudden withdrawl from the race for Minnesota Attorney General (his best move of his campaign), the DFL will need to scramble to come up with a good crop of candidates from which to choose an endorsee. The more the merrier at this point, I say.
Just speculation, but how about Steve Kelley for Attorney General? After his classy and expectation-blowing performance at the DFL state convention, he proved he has what it takes to motivate and energize voters. Oh yeah, he's also a good attorney and one of the better thinkers in Minnesota politics.
As long as he doesn''t have any parking tickets or conflicts of interest with his wife....
Just speculation, but how about Steve Kelley for Attorney General? After his classy and expectation-blowing performance at the DFL state convention, he proved he has what it takes to motivate and energize voters. Oh yeah, he's also a good attorney and one of the better thinkers in Minnesota politics.
As long as he doesn''t have any parking tickets or conflicts of interest with his wife....
Monday, July 17, 2006
Music for Life
A little PSA here for those looking to buy some new music and contribute to a great cause.
Once a year, Clare Housing, a Twin Cities non-profit organization for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Twin Cities holds a massive CD sale at Calhoun Square to raise money for their organization. This years' "Music For Life" fundraiser is this weekend, July 21-23, 10am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 7pm on Sunday. The music is very reasonably priced, and while you sometimes have to wade though lots of crap (tribute albums to every band you've ever heard of, best of albums for bands you've never heard of), it's well worth it. Last year I spent about $30 and walked out with most of Pearl Jam's catalog, a bunch of Uncle Tupelo and the current releases from the Gorillaz and White Stripes.
If you can't go, but want to contribute something, you can donate those CDs (and DVDs, LPs, cassettes, VHS, video games, etc.) that you never use anymore. Contact Lee Haugee (my mom) at http://us.f345.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=leehaugee@clarehousing.org or 612.236.9527 for more information, for pick-up of larger donations or to volunteer.
***Update***
I forgot to mention that there will be live music at the event on Saturday.
Once a year, Clare Housing, a Twin Cities non-profit organization for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Twin Cities holds a massive CD sale at Calhoun Square to raise money for their organization. This years' "Music For Life" fundraiser is this weekend, July 21-23, 10am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 7pm on Sunday. The music is very reasonably priced, and while you sometimes have to wade though lots of crap (tribute albums to every band you've ever heard of, best of albums for bands you've never heard of), it's well worth it. Last year I spent about $30 and walked out with most of Pearl Jam's catalog, a bunch of Uncle Tupelo and the current releases from the Gorillaz and White Stripes.
If you can't go, but want to contribute something, you can donate those CDs (and DVDs, LPs, cassettes, VHS, video games, etc.) that you never use anymore. Contact Lee Haugee (my mom) at http://us.f345.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=leehaugee@clarehousing.org or 612.236.9527 for more information, for pick-up of larger donations or to volunteer.
***Update***
I forgot to mention that there will be live music at the event on Saturday.
- Dan Israel 12:30-1:30 pm
- House of Mercy Band 2:15-3:15 pm
- Ellis 4:00 - 5:00 pm
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