2015 College Football Bowl Challenge

The 2015 College Football Bowl Season is underway. In case you missed it there were 6 bowl games on 12/19/15 to get us started. Six down, 487 more to go. Actually there are 40 bowl games this season, five more than 2011 when I first attempted (and completed) the challenge.

I do not know if I will complete all games this season but so far I am on pace at this early stage. It takes more time and effort than you would think, we will see. Cheers.

Sports Bars / NFL Sunday Ticket

Who has the best sports bar in Knoxville? Must include NFL Sunday Ticket to be eligible, I mean come on.

Ever since Latitude 35 closed downtown I have been looking for a place to watch out of market NFL games, sorry Titans. Wild Wings is supposed to open another location downtown soon but until then I need a convenient place to drink and watch the games.

Mellow Mushroom? Fieldhouse Social? Please add favorites via comments, thanks.

Day of Rage IV

So this is a few months late but it's not like we are on top of things around here lately. This year went slightly better than 2014, meaning no bodily harm to any participants. There were three finalists this year, not four. Order of finishers: HL, LVL, M. Everyone agrees that this should be our last D.O.R., though months after the debacle there is talk of a 5 year anniversary edition next year with cask strength Maker's to mark the occasion. WTF? We will see. There are before and after (bottle) photos but Blogger or my laptop are not cooperating today - the first time in over a year when I decide to post here, figures.

Prick points were assigned, trinkets were awarded and a badge of valor was on display straight from Loretto, KY. Then more prick points were awarded throughout the day. Lies are being spread at this very moment that yours truly is odds on favorite for 2015 POY but I can assure you this is a highly disputed farce of shit. The new POY trophy is missing some qualified, overdue names who are more worthy of this title.

Day of Rage III

Let's see how it goes this year. Lurid details to follow...

Eve of Rage

The 2nd Annual Day of Rage is tomorrow, 4/20. Not what you would normally expect for that particular date but it works. This will be my first experience as a participant, one of only three confirmed, though others have been invited. There will be spectators too.

What is the Day of Rage, you ask. I hardly know myself. According to my written invitation it states "...three grown men will each consume a bottle of delicious Maker's Mark Whisky. What will follow is a terrifying descent into madness and debauchery". So there you have it, debauchery and madness. And drunkenness. There are also mentions of food, refreshments and yard-gaming. Not to mention poetry at halftime, whatever that means.

I like it. Looking forward to it. Hopefully we all survive and I can provide an update of events soon. Until then, cheers.

Fuck The Commies

Commie subterfuge.

These automated spam attacks have gone on long enough, proving yet again how the acts of just a few can ruin a good time for everybody. So thanks, Commies, comments have been disabled. Not that comments and reader feedback were a big part of this blog anyway. Still, it annoys me to see those shit-languages written all over my drunken posts. Fuck off losers. I've got too much work and drinking to do to keep cleaning up your shit.

Chris in the Evening

John Corbett live at Tin Roof! Tickets are only $10 and are available online. You've seen him on Sex and the City, Northern Exposure, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and now catch him live in an intimate show at the Roof performing songs off his billboard charting self-titled debut album and his new release, Leaving Nothin' Behind.  Show begins at 8 PM. More details here.

Don't Call It A Comeback

They've been here for years. Maker's Mark. 90 proof, unique and unwavering. Then they almost shit the bed and lost their customers.

Any bourbon drinking person I know heard the calamity that blew up roughly a month ago: Maker's made the huge announcement about reducing alcohol content to keep up with demand then all hell broke loose. Apparently their researchers didn't bother noticing what happened when Jack Daniels did the same thing several years back, resulting in ridicule and lots of loyal drinkers jumping ship. At least Maker's didn't gin up some false report saying their consumers demanded a more mellow, easy to drink whiskey like JD tried to foist upon us.

So after a week of public scorn, social media whipping and plenty of their previous PR efforts turned against them they came to the realization that things might be just fine the way they are. A logical choice for once. I applaud you, Maker's Mark. You made a bonehead decision and had the guts to admit it. Cheers.

Oh Boy

That's my favorite sandwich at Tomato Head, the Oh Boy. Fresh spinach, chicken, Benton's bacon, sun dried tomato, heated on fresh bread with poppy seed dressing, mayo and Monterey jack cheese. Oh shit, oh boy! It's hella good.

Yeah look, I know it's been too long since the last update. Tired excuses aside, I would like to be here more vs. my hellish job. BRB.

It's the Holiday Season, Have a Drink

Another year gone so fast, don't waste the rest of it thirsty. Knoxville.com has listed a few places to consider for NYE or sooner. Don't forget the DK listings right here, starting below the Drunkards and glass of whiskey.

Cheers

Tin Roof, Redbull Play and Destroy

Play and Destroy is a collegiate student vs. student music battle where all you need is an iPod, creativity, and a solid song list. Competitors are given categories ex. best make out song, stripper anthems, singing in the shower, etc.


RULES:

-Build a playlist with your best song for each category and battle your opponent for the grand prize.
-You'll get to play each song for 30 seconds, so cue it up to the good part.
-Winners are judged by crowd response, ties are decided by playing an additional song.
-You must create a DJ Name for yourself in order to compete.
-You can't use the same song twice.

Play and Destroy will take place November 27th at Tin Roof Knoxville on the Strip
Event begins at 10:30 pm - 21+
For more information and to register to compete visit - www.RedBullPlayAndDestroy.com

Drunken Jukebox 9

Behold the Drunken Jukebox: Music to Motivate Your Liver. A little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n roll, punk, rap, hip hop and pop crap, old or new– all musical genres and periods are open for exploitation. Quarters and crisp dollar bills not required.

Thank you MCA:



Somebody left a quarter in the jukebox, bonus song!

Whoa now, easy there

This one made me cringe more than a bit when I heard about it. The News Sentinel ran a story about an unfortunate student incident this weekend that is definitely in the WTF category. I will continue to inebriate myself the old fashion way. More on the subject via Gawker if you just have to know.

This is Not a Drinking Knoxville Post

This is a Kissing Suzy Kolber Post

via, you guys are awesome.

Gnome Improvements

Looks like the Roaming Gnome Pub on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville is undergoing some outdoor renovations (not Stefano's). I noticed some workers on their patio the other day and figured they were sprucing up the place in preparation of football season. Fairly obvious but I was going to contact them via their website to ask for details only to discover that it has lapsed and is now Blackjack En Ligne. After a search it appears they are going the Twitter/facebook route. Fine.

So if you want to know what's new you're going to have to visit in person and see what the hell is going on. Or just drink at home and play online Blackjack.

No, don't do that.

Blackjack En Ligne

Buzz Ballz

Yes! We have another novelty alcoholic beverage: Buzz Ballz. Not blue balls or anything from Dr. Evil, just 20% booze in your favorite flavors to get the party started. I just saw these in New Orleans for the first time so I'm not sure if they are available in K-town or not - I'm just not that hip or "with it". It really isn't that surprising to see, this kind of kind of newbie-marketing happens all the time. There is always a new batch of 21 year olds (or younger) getting their drink on, and tooters, jello shots, fruity wine coolers, frozen pouches and party balls have been around for decades. I doubt it will change anytime soon and I'm glad.

A few other snaps from NOLA:

Beerfest!

Lucky Dog for dinner, mmmm.

Last but not least - Yo Mama's, home of many an embarrassment for yours truly. And others, lots of others - you know who you are.

EDIT:

Here are a few more pics and notes about my visit to New Orleans - much lazier than creating a new post!



Met some cool folks from Memphis there with ties to Knawksville



Famous Door G & T - famous for overpriced drinks! Good times though.



No lights no problem

 

Erin Rose - outside lighting caused too much damn glare.

Dated sign inside Erin Rose

Yes, that is a working payphone



Keg seats kick ass at Erin Rose

EDIT II:

I forgot a few nice ones...

The Famous Sazerac Bar

New Orleans' Drink

Ascot Cup, weighing in over 1200 ounces of silver

Football is Near

The first Pre-Season NFL game is this Sunday night at 8p.m.  It's the annual Hall of Fame game featuring the Arizona Cardinals at the New Orleans Saints.  Rooster’s will be having $14 Miller Lite buckets and as always the best wings and pizza in town (their words, not mine).

The game will be aired on the NFL Network so don't look for it on ESPN or the networks. I have yet to upgrade my cable sports package therefore I will be watching a bar. There seems to be quite a few Saints fans in Knoxville but I dare you to find a single Cardinals fan - I may be the only one in town. The Bird has a lone UT Volunteer on their roster, NT Dan Williams. The Saints double that with two, Turk McBride and Jabari Greer.

We all know the preseason is crap but it is a welcome reminder that the real thing isn't too far away. Who do I tell that I'm ready for some football now that Hank Jr. is gone?

Sherlock Holmes Pub - Gatlinburg

Hey drunkards, we found a new place to get loaded in Gatlinburg – it’s Sherlock Holmes Pub, just off the main drag in a great location. Renowned drunkard Atlas discovered the spot and gets full credit in the record book: 10 points.


LVL and I ventured for lunch/early drinks and were impressed by most everything. The British décor obviously fits, it’s clean (and new), has a great patio and the service was excellent. Drink prices are modest and the food was acceptable, though a hand battered fish & chips entrée would be much nicer.

They are still getting settled in so I expect things to be even better the next time we visit. Definitely worth a try the next time you’re in G-Burg, try the beer. Cheers.

Sherlock Holmes Pub
651 Parkway #110
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

I've Been Wrong Before

Well, well. Looks like I've been made a damn fool for discounting the Tiki revival movement. First Ooga Mooga and now this Swanky fellow with his authentic love of all things Tiki. I promise to investigate and get to the bottom of this. For now check out the Metro Pulse article here...

Radio Wimbledon

Two of my favorite summer work weeks involve nothing more than sitting in my cubicle listening to internet radio coverage of the Championships via Wimbledon.com. The British announcers chat and talk about local news, the world of sports and sometimes themselves as much as the tennis going on around them. A typical day during the fortnight begins with TV coverage on ESPN2 as I eat breakfast and get ready for work. These days I can use the iPhone app and listen on my drive to work since I do not have XM Radio, or any radio for that matter. When I arrive at my desk I fire up the computer and navigate through the Wimbledon site and start listening to programming that usually lasts throughout the entire workday. In the early rounds I listen to the General feed to get a continual update of the action on all courts. Later on when the key matchups are set I will choose the Centre Court or Court 1 feed depending on the match I want to follow.