‘Tis the season for holiday parties, right? I’ve mentioned a few over at EatDrinkTalk, but it’s only scratching the surface. As Caroline Knop mentioned when she was guest c0-hosting the Rusty Satellite Show this week, this weekend provides a rare opportunity to get discounted tickets to the Feb. 18 Tailspin Ale Fest, arguably the most popular of the city’s beer-inspired gatherings. You can get the tix Friday and Saturday at Liquor Barns in Middletown and Elizabethown.
In my world, Paula has already completed her Christmas shopping, she says, while I’ve yet to buy the first present. But yesterday I took a big step toward getting in the spirit of things — I watched The Family Man, the 2000 Nicholas Cage-Tea Leoni movie that’s a twist on the “It’s A Wonderful Life” concept of imagining a world if you hadn’t been in it.
Before you go shopping for your bourbon-enthusiast friends, read this piece from Steve Coomes over at EDT on the best, and most cost-efficient, way to impress by purchasing store picks of single barrel bourbons.
This episode of the Rusty Satellite Show is special — in that I got to sit down with Bobby Benjamin, the chef/operator behind the Butchertown Grocery. Benjamin’s hotspot is celebrating its one-year anniversary by opening up the upstairs space as Lola’s Lounge. I went there Thursday with Paula, enjoyed a special cocktail “The Future Starts Slow” and listened to Rusty favorite Danny Flanigan entertain. Not an empty seat in the house, thanks to a reception hosted by YPAL.
Also, I got to meet Caroline Knop’s brother Otto, a Cardinal letterman from the Vince Gibson era when all the excitement was over the slogan “Red Rage.” Hear about Otto’s successful business career and about the disappointment of losing to Kentucky on the show:
Also last night, I enjoyed a wonderful dining experience at Harvest Restaurant, and met Chef Patrick Roney, who was Steve’s guest on this week’s EatDrinkTalk podcast. It was a nice crowd for a Thursday, and Paula and I enjoyed the special menu with three items for $30. Also on the show, I stopped in to see the Miracle Pop-Up Bar at Rye and talked with Doug Petry, the beverage director, who is busy serving up Santa-Quilas and Christmopolitans in special glassware this month. Stop in and check it out.
Steve and I, of course, have some inside info to share about local restaurants as well. Listen here.
And here are a few great shots from Bill Brymer to remind you of that awful football game from a week ago. They are good shots, though.
FINALLY, HERE’S a great road trip idea. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, coached by Cardinal great Jeff Brohm, host the Conference USA championship game down in Bowling Green Saturday at Noon Eastern. We should have some football weather and Brohm’s explosive offense will provide the entertainment. Come on down.
