Friday, May 10, 2013

Until Gheorghe: The Music Festival Happens, This'll Do

Sometimes it all comes together. 

Music festivals abound these days, and although not a single one seems to have popped up in my hometown yet (yet . . . business plan forthcoming), they seem to be weekly occurrences in most of the country, at least in the warmer months.  A few hometown friends recently embarked upon the Allmans' Wanee Music Festival in Florida with great success, and I'm hearing about other such rocking gatherings all the time.  So, I'm giving another music fest a little G:TB press . . . ho hum, right?

Well, this one seems to have several very Gheorghian elements to it.  Although I think pigeonholing this event as a "music festival" is likely giving the weekend's other aspects short shrift, it's several days' worth of Appalachian folk/bluegrass/rock/whatever music on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest not far from the Smoky Mountains.  Right up rootsy's alley, right?

It takes place down in the Tar Heel State on Memorial Weekend -- in Transylvania County -- not the same Transylvania where Gheorghe: The Dude hails from, but an interesting coincidence.

In Brevard, North Carolina, to be precise, and Rob knows what comes next.  Brevard is the newly opened east coast home of Dale's Pale Ale.  Oskar Blues Brewery expanded east last year, opening a post in Brevard to serve the massive mid-Atlantic demand stemming from Leesburg and Norfolk, VA. And the brewery is one of the festival's platinum sponsors, natch.

Good music and voluminously hopped mutha of a pale ales in Big Gheorghe's homeland namesake?  Need one more G:TB hook?  Okay.

What's it called?  The White Squirrel Festival, of course, celebrating certain inhabitants of Brevard trees and parks. Our very own white squirrel would be right at home.

There's a parade, 5k/10k White Squirrel races, a white squirrel photo contest, and something called the SquirrelBox Derby. (Different than the one from our undergrad days.)  They even have Pisgah Pete, a white spokesquirrel who is reputed to be able to kick Punxsutawney Phil's ass.

So, until we get off our duffs and create our own brewery-sponsored music festival, this will have to do.  Anyone looking for something rather Gheorghey to do over Memorial Day (other than hanging in DC with Abe Lincoln Whitney), head on down to western Cackalacky and take in the White Squirrel festival. 

In the meantime, here's a highly compelling video of white squirrel Rob (not to be confused with White Power Bill) and his family.  Gripping stuff.  SFW.  SFCP.  (Safe for church picnics.)
 

44 comments:

rootsminer said...

Demand for Dale's Pale Ale is pretty high in Roanoke too, though I'd pick up some Parkway Brewing Co. GET BENT IPA if you see it in your area.

zman said...

I will be working in Atlanta on Memorial Day. Recommendations for dinner and drinking much appreciated.

Squeaky said...

Well tonight is the first show in the FOG:TB concert series and honestly probably the last. ON deck tonight is Califone at Casa de Squeaky. Still time to get on the VIP list.

I'm out of Dale's. But the fridge is stocked with some Long Trail Ale. Tasty stuff and their motto is 'Take a Hike!'. Got to love the double meaning.

And the wife is throwing me under the bus at every opportunity regarding the concert.

Squeaky said...

Klaus and I believe Dendy both reside in suburbs of Atlanta. Dendy might be more fun to hang with though.

Mark said...

My family used to own property in Brevard, NC. And I live in Brevard County, FL.

Mark said...

Didn't she approve it, Squeak?

Also, I want pictures. Both on G:TB and Twitter.

zman said...

I'm not sure I'm man enough for a night out with Dendy.

Mark said...

Z- My only Atlanta based recommendation is if you have time to kill in the airport, go to a bar in Terminal E named One Flew South. Really good sushi, awesome BLTs and most importantly, they serve Pappy Van Winkle amongst other fine bourbons (good beer selection as well). My all time favorite airport bar.

rob said...

i can't believe there's no white squirrel festival merch. this needs to change.

zman said...

I can't believe RGIII registered for so much shit but didn't ask for a mortar and pestle.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/regGiftRegistry.asp?wrn=-549291893&

T.J. said...

yes, z, we did enjoy your mortar and pestle gift. it was awesome and used upon arrival.

Mark said...

That is a great gift. I didn't even know what it was until Erika put one on our registry.

Also, Richard Blaise of Top Chef fame owns a couple restaurants in Atlanta that are supposed to be quit good. One Midtown Kitchen and FLIP Burger Boutique.

And if you're hammered and want a hot dog or chili dog, there's always The Varsity.

Whitney said...

RGIII should have registered for what Z and Squeak (and their babes) gave us for a wedding gift. Picture forthcoming in a future post.

Whitney said...

Atlanta --> music: Smith's Olde Bar. Or the Star Bar.

Front Page News still good?

Atkins Park is where I portrayed Chris Chandler.

Danimal said...

T. Collichio used to have a "Craft" there....great stuff if still open , stellar really which means it probably isn't.

Nice leaderboard. Many beers had.

Whitney said...

Would like to take a stance apart from the masses in the recent criticism of baseball's umpires, but I won't. I've always said that when it comes to business, you can be relatively incompetent if you're super nice and well-liked, same goes if you're an asshole but extremely effective at what you do. Can't be both of those negative descriptions, and people who dabble in both are summarily dispatched. Umps have been one of the most curiously arrogant above-the-law d-bags for years, but the truth is that they're simply outstanding at what they do-- a thankless and difficult job in a high profile setting. When they start to suck, however, making egregious and obvious errors worsened by their palpably evident self-importance and defensive belligerence . . . the rain will fall harder on them than it will their quieter and less pompous peers in other sports. Part of me wants to remind folks how skilled you have to be just to elevate to that position . . . but the thing is, when as a general rule a group of people behave like entitled pricks (John Hirschbeck, Angel Hernandez, and the lot of you), nobody feels the need to defend them in the least. So let replay play an increased role and let the umps reap what they've sown for too many years.

rob said...

let it out, man. it's gonna be okay.

TR said...

One more comment on Sanford - he continued to ignore a court order to stay away from his wife's house over the last year, stalking around the area. Douche.

And I'm always surprised how popular super-hoppy Pale Ales are. If I want something that has a palpable taste of pot, I'll, well, you know, find something else to fit the bill.

Dave said...

any beer that is rated extremely high at beer advocate tastes like a pine tree.

rob said...

squeaky, we gonna see a guestie post on the califone show?

rob said...

also, today is the birthday of both my mother and danimal. those are two very different people.

zman said...

I drink whales tail pale ale regularly and I don't think it's as hoppy as the hoppy IPAs out there like dogfish head and lagunitas. You can taste some citrus-y hop flavor but its not like those IPAs. Which is why you should drink Samuel smith India ale.

Mark said...

College baseball and college lacrosse on the ESPN and ESPN2. We've reached that time of year. Ugh.

Dave said...

i will try samuel smith india ale, but not until i recover from this awful hangover.

Clarence said...

43 years on this planet, and you still haven't figured out that that IS how you get rid of a hangover?

Mark said...

I was sitting in the car this afternoon as the wife was picking up clams and mussels from the seafood outlet (thanks for the use of your restaurant account, father in law). The kid was getting restless and I needed to entertain her. Wasn't sure what to do. So I pulled up the Bert & Ernie MOP clip...and she loved it. We watched it about ten times. Can this kid get any better?

Danimal said...

Cunnilingmerth

Mark said...

Go on...

Danimal said...

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes. Rob.

Danimal said...

Mark....who would u bet on here?

Danimal said...

2nd half that is....assuming even Steven at half

Danimal said...

Sergio...f'ing pussy. I hope he shoots 80 tomorrow.

rob said...

gheorghies, hello, you magnificent bastards.

Mark said...

Missed your question last night Dan. Was busy drinking beer with the wife. Would've bet Indiana. They're at home and I just think they're better than the Knicks. More balanced, better defense.

Clarence said...

Happy Mother's Day, MOGTB.

zman said...

Most of y'all brothers came from your mothers.

rob said...

tiger/sergio playoff, anyone? animus!

rob said...

nevernind

rob said...

the lesser-known follow-up to nirvana's big breakthrough record.

T.J. said...

Sergio meltdown, oh my

Danimal said...

i feel somewhat badly about the ill-wishes on sergio last night. but just a little.

Clarence said...

Least popular grunge albums of the 90's:

5. Nevernind.
4. Badnotorfimger
3. NTV Umplugged
2. Superumgnome
1. Tem

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