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Patios! Patios everywhere!!!

By Ron Rollins | Thursday, August 28, 2008, 02:12 PM

Hey, this press release just came in….

Stop by Pacchia for Lunch; Dine on Their New Patio 

Pacchia, an anchor restaurant in the Oregon Arts District, has been hard at work this summer developing new amenities for its customers. Pacchia is now serving lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu is a mix of their signature salads, paninis, pastas, and entrees. Another new feature is the patio located at the back of the restaurant. You can dine under the stars in this intimate outdoor dining room decorated with artwork by Mike Elsass, owner of The Color of Energy gallery right next door. Learn more, check menus and see photos at www.pacchia.com or call 341-5050.

I’ll stop by, cuz Leadbellies just love to dine al fresco… Seems patios are the hot new thing in down for eateries swanky and otherwise, all over town.

My favorite is probably still the one in back at the Trolley Stop, in terms of ambiance and whatnot. Love that table up on the porch by the railing…

Where’s your favorite patio, when it comes time to have a drink and a bite to eat? Share! Share!

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10 Ways to Make Alefest a Perfect Event

By Ron Rollins | Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 11:35 AM

OK, I admit: It’s almost perfect already…

But talking over last weekend’s gourmet-beer event at Carillon Park with some friends, I came up with a quick list of things that would make it AMAZING:

1. Bigger glasses. 6 oz would be better than 4, wouldn’t it?

2. A misting fan to cool things off. Like they have at amusement parks.

3. Free water! Maybe somebody would donate it?

4. More water whether it’s free or not.

5. Another food tent. If there was more than the one I saw way back in the far corner, I missed it. I know it’s mostly about the beer, but after two hours I needed a snack.

6. Faster entry. That line kills ya… Any way to get folks in faster? C’mon! There’s beer in there!!!

7. Line workers to make sure folks in that lonnnnnnng line know whether they’re in the right one or not.

8. Signage on the tents so you can follow the program better. And maybe list some highlights of what’s inside? I talked to a first-timer who was a bit overwhelmed and wasn’t sure what was where.

9. Make sure folks know it’s OK to bring in your own folding chairs. Or have more of ‘em provided.

10. A central mega-tent in the middle of the yard. Oh, yeah.

Hey, like I said… great event anyway. Seeya next year! Oh, almost forgot:

Number 11. Make sure I win the DVAC T-shirt raffle. Dammit!

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Give us your AleFest report!

By Ron Rollins | Friday, August 22, 2008, 06:51 PM

We’ll see you at Carillon Park on Saturday at 2, and this year it doesn’t look like we’ll get rained on…

Stop by the blog when you’re home, if you can still find the way to your computer, and give us a full report!!!

And drive safely…

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Busch boycott?

By Ron Rollins | Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 10:55 AM

This just in! I got this email from a friend. Take action now!!

Join me in boycotting Anheuser-Busch as they’ve sold out to foreigners.

We’ll teach those bastards!

I admit, they had me going there for a sec…

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WHAT?!?! THEY CLOSED MY WHITE CASTLE!!!!

By Ron Rollins | Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 10:08 PM

Oh, now COME ON. There is bad news, and there BAD DAMN NEWS.

This fall under the latter category, and then some: They’ve CLOSED MY WHITE CASTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Several notes to the corporate and city brainiacs who allowed this atrocity to occur:

— That was my White Castle. Who said you could close it?

— I don’t care that it’s going to be a Sonic. Who cares about Sonic? It’s a routine burger joint; White Castle is a unique cultural institution — a defining fast-food icon. You can’t close them. It’s not allowed.

— Why do the White Castlers think I’m going to drive to Dayton or Huber Heights or wherever they’ve “directed” me to go? I LIVE IN KETTERING. THE WHITE CASTLE IS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK.

— I’m too upset to talk about this any more.

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It’s all about the garlic

By Ron Rollins | Friday, August 8, 2008, 11:53 AM

This quote was sent along by a reader, and it seems to be just the thing for today’s Leadbelly Blog entry:

Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good. -Alice May Brock, author (b. 1941)

So true! And it keeps the vampires away.

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I need a beer

By Ron Rollins | Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 08:33 PM

… and I’m guessing you do, too.

What, pray tell, do you recommend?

Tell, tell, tell…

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