I never expect Sundays to be big days for reporting the news. My Sunday updates tend to be recaps of what I did Saturday. A typical Sunday post might contain photos of what I had to eat the day before, maybe one or two photos of the troll (I got asked “where’s your gremlin?” yesterday), commentary on President Trump’s latest tweets, and maybe one or two news items that I stumbled upon or forgot to put in Saturday’s post. That is not the case this week! Nearly every conversation I had, nearly every time I opened a social media app, produced a nugget of news that I threw into Evernote for reporting this morning.
The biggest news of the weekend is that The Front Porch is open! A couple of years ago, the people who ran Beale Street Landing went through the motions of opening a restaurant. It was not bad but it was nothing spectacular, and I was only convinced to walk a quarter mile out of my way to go there one time when Charvey Mac was playing. Due to lack of interest, the restaurant shut down in the fall of 2016. The re-opening this weekend, however, is something special. This time they brought in the experts; they brought in people who know a thing or two about running a very successful restaurant. Specifically, they brought in Patrick and Deni Reilly, whose restaurant The Majestic Grille has been wildly successful since day one. Patrick and Deni will be consulting on the operation of The The Front Porch through the fall. Can’t wait to see what they have done with the place!
By the way, Deni, happy birthday yesterday!
The Dirty Crow Inn on E.H. Crump Boulevard is hiring kitchen staff. Apply in person and ask to see Paul (not me, different Paul).
On a macro diet but tired of eating the same 5 meals over and over because you don’t know what else to cook? Bedrock Eats & Sweets has a class for you on Thursday, June 29 from 5 to 7 PM. You’ll get several tricks for balanced macro meals that are quick to make, and you’ll get recipes that will add variety to your diet. Class is limited to 15 and the cost is $50 per person. Email brandi@bedrockeatsandsweets.com to reserve your place.
Good editorial from the Daily News on the Tom Lee memorial in Tom Lee Park. I did not realize it but the memorial uses some language which is highly inappropriate in this day and age.
Ghost River will begin hosting tours of the brewery every Saturday at 11 AM beginning next Saturday, June 17. The first tour will be led by the always hilarious Tyler Nelson. Tours are $20 and include three beer samples as you tour, a Ghost River pint glass to take home, and a pint of Ghost River beer at the end of the tour. Email emma@ghostriverbrewing.com to reserve your place.
Puerto Rico is holding a referendum on becoming the 51st state this week. Other options include remaining a U.S. Commonwealth, entering “free association,” or becoming an independent nation.
The Great American Beer Festival did the right thing in a recent announcement that Big Beer will no longer be able to be a sponsor of the festival. From now on, only breweries that meet the craft brewer standards are eligible to be Featured Brewery sponsors. Large breweries can still compete at the festival, however. In fact, last year the greatest beer ever brewed, Pabst Blue Ribbon, took home a gold medal.
The Redbirds play today at 2:05 with the usual Sunday promotions: Kids under 12 get an ice cream treat and get to run the bases after the game. Prior to the game, select Redbirds players will sign autographs in the concourse.
That’s it for now. Time for Sunday brunch at the Blind Bear. Back tomorrow with more news.