Downtown Grill & Brewery - Drinks and Smokes

DGB is hosting another one of those "hey, come and sip some whiskey samples and end up buying a shit ton more" tastings today.There will be music, cigars and of course product education and discussion for those who care about the finer details. Maybe some swag & trinkets, guest distiller, Demi or Jack? The Jim Beam family of spirits will be featured among others I would guess. Light up, drink and enjoy the show.

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Knoxville Brewfest

The inaugural Knoxville Brewfest has SOLD OUT. All signs lean toward a successful event and another beer drinking festival. Or is it a tasting festival? I suppose everyone will decide for themselves. I will not be in attendance so I'll have to rely on feedback from friends to let me know how it was. Please feel free to leave comments.

Apparently not everyone in town is pleased with the addition of another Brew event, according to KnoxNews.com. And I must say that I have to side with Woodruff Brewing Company on this one, they were snubbed without cause. Not having one of our local brewers as a participant just because they're part of another, similar event doesn't make sense. But I think the organizers realize this and will make the right call next year and everything will be fine. At least I hope so.

Good luck Knoxville Brewfest! Maybe I'll see you next year...

Rumor

Rumour if you are Canadian. We are told here that a new edition will be added to an existing and well-known bourbon line. This potent newcomer will be arriving to local bars as early as today. 130 proof is whispered. Get your shit together. Hmm. Where could it be? What could it be? I'll admit to being caught completely unaware. That's not so bad though when you think about it. Blee!

Happy Birthday Downtown Grill & Brewery

Have a party DGB, you deserve it now that you’re 8 years old. That’s eight downtown years and going strong. Let’s face it, the brewery has grown into a hugely successful gathering place and watering hole that accommodates pretty much any damn thing you need: great beer and bar deals, lots of space, patios, gaming, varied menu and yes, shots.

I hear they have live music for the party this Friday and Saturday.

Friday 21st – The Pop Rox

Saturday 22nd – The Dead Ringers

Busted Flat in Knoxville

OK, we're back for another year of this mess. Things have been pretty quite for the past month as we've drank our way through the holidays. Now that we're through the bulk of them (sorry Presidents/MLK) the drudgery of work and winter return to the forefront. Shit, not cool. Though I am thankful to be employed since it helps with booze vouchers.

Here are a couple of notes tying up some loose ends from 2010 and looking ahead to a drunken, great year in 2011.

I have put myself through the wringer this bowl season, undertaking one of the greatest self-imposed challenges ever - watching every damn one of the 35 bowl games. It started back on 12/18 innocently enough when I had very little to do and watched the first 3 games. I was fired up (and impaired) and decided to make a go of this boast. Now 28 games later - including a brutal stretch of 3, 3, 4 and 6 games played on four consecutive days - I am over the hump to the other side. Watching the final seven games in 8 days will be like drinking a 6-pack of ponies on a hot day - almost too easy, yet satisfying nonetheless.

New Year's Day games were the most difficult to coordinate, forcing an early trip to a sports bar with multiple TV screens to take in the simulcast bowls. That was a rough 1-2 hour patch as we started 2011 staring at full beers after a night of heavy boozing for NYE. So rough that two hours into our day, the bar stool of our most accomplished lady-boozer just gave the fuck out and collapsed. We were surprised as QT slowly sank, then fell out of sight and landed flat on her ass for all to see. We were almost too baffled to laugh, but we did anyway. She was fine and got some free drinks out of the deal so all worked out in the end.

Our recent trip to Gatlinburg had an inside joke that is too lurid to share here, so I'll just say these three letters to annoy our drunkard reader MC: VPA. Eh, eh there? Did we ever get an answer? Please keep me posted.

Local recognition! The Metro Pulse did an article on local blogs you may not have read before and we were very surprised to be included. Call it a slow news cycle or year-end fodder, it was a nice little piece about some pretty cool sites that you can check out via the above link. Thanks MP!

That will do for now, I've got football to watch and beer to drink!

Chili!

Let's go get some. Having some beers as well, natch.

http://www.secondharvestknox.com/etnchilicookoff/

In which I review, insult, and then review some more

Well, I'll be damned...a weekend without a drenching miserable downpour means a little time about town. In our parlance that means getting out and getting intoxicated while in public. While the uptight might frown on this time-honored behavior, we drunks will use it to explore some unfamiliar surroundings and spread our profane joy. First up, we visited a neat little Mexican Joint on Emory Road: Three Amigos. To be honest, this new restaurant is similar to many such places...common but very tasty fare, and a preponderance of drinks. Some grand like my sumbitchin' 32 oz beer:
For the record, the patrons did not care that I prefer Dos Equis. I, for the nonce, did not care for this...thing:

Every so often, Atlas will go out of his head and make a bizarre drink order...which in this case resulted in something wholly unmasculine. Reported to be a Blue Motorcycle(Jesus), this monstrosity was described by the manager as containing tequila, rum, vodka, and half a dozen other liquors/liquers before his voice trailed off. Personally I think he was just looking at the bar and rattling off what he saw. Feh. In good faith, I would like to point out that the staff at Three Amigos busts its collective ass so I will be going back for more of those huge ass beers and to heckle the shit out of anyone ordering a Blue Dandy. The rest of the weekend proper was a blur...

On Sunday Mackey, Tag, and yours truly went back to Latitude 35 for some lazy beers and a quick sammich. As Mackey has alluded to before, Lat 35 maintains a diverse menu ranging from familiar dishes with a twist- to the forgotten classics, and some unique appetizers to keep the modern drunkard sated. Service was great, as it has tended to be so far...and my Dagwood was superb.

Modestly priced and on the table within minutes. It was so good that I put the tomatoes back on the damn thing...and I'm not a fan of those bastards at all.

The next visit to Latitude 35 will mostly be a large scale drinking adventure...the wine list is begging to be explored. From what I've seen so far, Shiraz and Pinot reds are equally represented along with the more traditional Cabs and Merlot that one sees in run of the mill joints in K-town. I'll let you know how that potential disaster turns out.

Weekend (Drinking) Options

Pork Knox Q Fest – Has anyone heard about this BBQ competition at World’s Fair Park this weekend? (Note - this is the worst event name I've ever heard, just saying) I just saw them setting up yesterday and was immediately interested. Their website has all the details of this first-time event, although I thought we’ve had a couple of other Knoxville BBQ competitions over the years. I guess this is first one sponsored by the Disability Resource Center so that explains it. I’m sure it’s supporting a good cause so good luck to them and hopefully it will grow into a popular event.

The thing I’ve noticed about most BBQ contests is that you don’t usually have the opportunity to taste competition BBQ unless you’re on a team. Visitors are left to purchase food items from “outside” vendors who may or may not have high quality products, so it’s kind of a crap shoot. I understand that the teams cannot provide enough food for every guest but it has always been sad to know there is much better food available only a few feet away but it’s off limits. Oh well, my 2 cents. And most importantly I looked at the fair site and the website and did NOT see beer vendors set up so I hope that changes soon. You’ve got to have cold beer with some ‘que – no one denies this!

Rossini Festival – Ah yes, drinking in the streets. Rain or shine this will be the highlight of my weekend. We’ve talked about this event for years and we think it is one of the best outdoor events in Knoxville. Always fun and subject to bizarre behavior, you can always count on something noteworthy happening. Like the year I was kicked out of KRTI’s apartment for “touching his baseball glove”, or catching a glimpse of young, male adults having a caricature drawn of themselves, or drunken hookups/breakups, or being incoherently drunk by 5 PM but staying out ‘til 11 PM with 6+ hours of stories that you have to piece together via secondhand drunken accounts and pocket forensics. Plus the street vendors will have tasty Italian sausages. Ooof, I see a Sunday hangover in my future.

Latitude 35 Grand Opening – Word is that they will open Friday, 4/23. Despite the rainy weather this is a great opening weekend for them with lots of activity downtown to draw a crowd to the newest bar & restaurant on Market Square. I’m sure it will be mayhem while they get their act together during the grand opening but we’ll have plenty of opportunities to sample and review their place soon enough so expect updates within the next few weeks.

Enjoy the weekend folks, cheers!

Sneak Peek - Latitude 35

About 1 week to go before Market Square welcomes its newest bar, Latitude 35. We're ready. This place is going to be NICE! Here are some random pictures that may give an idea of what to expect but honestly they do not do the place justice. Everything in the building is brand new with the exception of the old downstairs bar that they've refurbished. If you look closely at the menu pics you can see the prices are reasonable and the dinner menu (not pictured) is also affordable. In no particular order:

Big table at entrance:

New beer lines:

Downstairs near the old bar area:

Downstairs bench seating:

Downstairs:

Brand new kitchen:

Breakfast menu:

Late nite menu:

Old downstairs bar:

Tables & chairs:

Up bar:

Up bar black granite:

After hours beer:

Up bar taps, tv:

Upstairs bath (the ladies room downstairs is nicer!):

One of the VIP areas:

Make Room Marie

It appears these places just keep cropping up anywhere and everywhere. Not that I’m complaining because who doesn’t want more places to buy beer. Downtown and the central city in general are growing with shopping options including tasty alcohol. While biking on the outskirts of downtown just past Regas and approaching Tennessee Valley Bicycles on Magnolia I noticed a familiar sign on the building next door.

Public House Pub is on the clock. I don’t know if that applies here but I’ve been listening a lot about the upcoming NFL draft, which we here at DK have identified as a major weekend of boozing. Consider your pro team’s future with the draft then throw in Rossini Festival, KRTI’s birthday and the Orange and White game, well, there are plenty of drinking occasions piled one upon another. Try not enjoying a cold beer or glass of wine walking in the street downtown surrounded by a medieval fair of sorts including actors, musicians and the blessed food & beverage vendors providing their goods (Italian sausages). That all happens in a couple more weeks though.

Where was I going? Oh, PHP opening next to TVB on Magnolia is only a few doors down from Marie’s Olde Towne Tavern. So who knows if they’ll be going after the same customers? Might Marie’s loyal patrons venture a drink next to the bike shop? Will the new establishment bring a peloton of people who have never been this side of town, much less Marie’s? And isn't the word pub short for public house in the first place? Stay tuned.

Bar Updates: Gunthor's & Sapphire

Gunthor's Galley - Ok, I didn't even know they had closed last month but our friends at Gunthor's may be reopening their doors soon in Bearden (Short West).

From Carly Harrington at the KNS blog:

KNOXVILLE -- It closed its doors at Knoxville Center Mall last month, but the owners of Gunthor’s Galley apparently want to reopen the restaurant in Bearden.
Renaming it Gunthor’s Gulf Shore Grille, the eatery had been listed to appear before the beer board next month for a location at 4429 Kingston Pike, where Green Hills Grille was previously. More from her/KNS' blog here.

Sapphire: (from their email blast)

New Spring/Summer Menu is now available during regular dinner hours.

New Items include Gulf Shrimp Salad, Filet Mignon Caesar Salad, Spicy Trigger (fish), North Carolina Rainbow Trout, Rosemary's Pork, and much more. New side dishes. ALL new desserts, including an all-new Flourless Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream! Come check it out! We would love you to have your feedback.

Spring/Summer Wine List coming 04/01

Spring/Summer Cocktail Listcoming 04/08

Look for Lunch to start in April! Hours will be 11am - 3pm Monday through Sunday

Lofty Praise

Congrats to King Randall, who as of today finished a textbook lost weekend. Most notably, pulling off what we in the know refer to as The British Isles.

A bottle of Scotch on Friday, gin all day Saturday, and a modest sum of Irish whisky to spell the beers on Sunday. Nice variation of a Hat Trick.

Last Minute New Year's Eve

If you’re anything like the rest of us around here you already know what doing on New Year’s Eve: Drinking. That doesn’t mean you know Where you’re drinking, just that you’ll be drinking somewhere. There are many ways to drink away the last night of the year, and below is a variety of last minute ideas to get you into 2010. (Sorry north, south and east Knoxville) Who knows, maybe we can all get together for that drink we’ve been talking about? Uh, no, I’ll be staying home watching the Vols and drinking bourbon. Feel free to comment on your plans or other options. Thanks to everyone for stopping by to check us out throughout the year. Here’s to more fun in 2010, cheers!

Downtown/Market Sq.
Club Le Conte – Society Only
Downtown Grill & Brewery – The rest of us
Le Parigo - Wonder if the duck was shipped in from Alsace?
Preservation Pub – Tiki party
Valarium & Cider House – VooDoo NY10 with downtown Hilton hotel package

The Old City
Barley’s Taproom – The usual, live music and good beer selection
Patrick Sullivan’s – Live music and the bar is open
The Crown & Goose – The Old City’s fanciest gastropub!
The Melting Pot – Someone tell Tony there’s a reservation on line 2.

The Strip
BAR Knoxville – Er, maybe not?
Tin Roof – UT Basketball, UT Football. Let’s face it, there’s no way you’re sober at midnight.
Level 10 – Short West

West Knoxville
Baker Peters Jazz Club – Damn that chicken entrée sounds delicious
Northshore Brasserie – Everything looks delicious
Paul’s Oasis – WTF
Ray’s ESG – Scarlett O’Harlot, where are you?

Latitude and Attitude

A spate of new food and drink establishments have been opening around town and even more are on the way. This is nothing new as places open and close all the time. Like most people I don’t usually notice these things unless it is a personal favorite or a highly recognized name that draws attention. At least that’s how I used to be. Nowadays I’ve especially been trying to keep track of new bars and restaurants opening in or near downtown and wouldn’t you know I’ve found another one. It didn’t take long for someone to snatch up the vacated World Grotto location that recently closed. Secret, hush-hush sources have revealed to yours truly that the place will become downtown’s finest, upscale sports bar. Yes you heard me right, a sports bar. It’s going to be a few months before they open but I thought I’d put it out there for public consumption just to see what reaction it gets. I’ve been told the name will be Latitude 35, inspired by the marker right in the middle of Market Square, but don’t hold me to that since these things tend to change.

They have some work to do and I plan to visit during the remodeling process and post some updates from time to time. During my visit a couple of weeks ago the GM told me all kinds of ideas and plans they have for the place but to be honest I’d had a few beers too many to remember the details, go figure. Cheers and good luck – now get to work!!

Wine on the Water

This Friday I plan to attend my very first Wine on the Water fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis at Volunteer Landing. Drinking for charity? Sign me up. I’m looking forward to good wine, food and hopefully nice weather during this early fall season. $50 - $60 gets you access to vendors from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. and there will be live music performed by the Vibraslaps (also performing later that night at Preservation Pub). The price seems a bit steep but I believe it will be worthwhile. Obviously the money is going to charity and I think I can eat and drink enough in three hours to justify the expense. I heard they had a “gin tent” last year so I’m sure there will be a variety of adult beverages to sample besides wine. Details about tickets, parking, tasting stations, etc. can be found at the official website.

Holiday Inn Strikes Back

Recently the downtown Hilton underwent a face lift that features a new coat of paint with contrasting shades and long angles (invasion stripes?). It is an eye-catching design that I really like and other people have taken notice as well. Lord von Lord pointed out the “pilsner glass” outline from the interstate, no surprise coming from that sot. Not to be outdone the Holiday Inn has undergone some changes as well. They also have a new paint job, sans fancy design, but it is an improvement and they perfectly mismatched tones just as they had before so you still get the khaki on khaki look. Steve Irwin comes to mind.

A redesigned logo is featured on signage that is bright green and white. The most noticeable change occurs at night when you can see the lights.

The green lights remind me of Imperial Beam Weapons, just saying. It looks pretty cool passing by and it’s too bad you only get the visual effect half of the day. Hey, at least they’re trying. Still no word on the cutoff time for their turkey dinner.

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

Maker’s Mark will introduce their new head distiller Rob Samuels tonight at Downtown Grill & Brewery from 5 – 7 PM. Rob is the 8th generation of Samuels in the bourbon business and will take the reins from Bill Samuels Jr. The event is free to attend and an ongoing part of their Ambassador club which is also free to join. They treat their Ambassadors to year-round updates about their products and events including tastings, Kentucky Derby, and charity partnerships. Plus they send neat gifts during the holidays that you can actually use such as coasters, gift wrapping paper and one year they even gave a wax sealing kit. At least a couple of us drunks will be in attendance just to make sure we’re getting our fair share of bourbon (don’t want all you other lushes drinking our booze).

Rossini Time

The day has arrived, Knoxville’s finest street festival is here and it is going to be a gorgeous, hot day. An early walk through downtown revealed vendors scurrying to set up their booths and prepare for thousands of visitors. We’re in for the long haul today and will set up HQ at the urban bunker of King Randall The Insufferable - let’s hope we’re not banished from the castle mid-afternoon as we were last year. The plan today involves eating and drinking, and lots of it. I’m sure we’ll make a disaster of our group outing as usual but hopefully we can put together a recap of events by Monday, we’ll see. Salute!

Old City Saloon? - UPDATE

A little while back we posted a story from WATE.com about a new multi-use bar opening in the Old City. Recently we were contacted by someone on their management team who provided us with the correct name of the new establishment: Southbound Bar & Grill. So it appears they are still on schedule for their May 1st opening and we wish them the best of luck. Let's hope their early attention to detail is a sign of good things to come.

Charge of the light brigade

Ordinarily, I would be doing a bar review right now...unfortunately, the events of the prior weekend have left such a chilling and lethargic taint that I cannot in good conscience speak of the pros and cons of the joint. Proverbially speaking it was like a hopeless attack against overwhelming odds. It should be criminal to drink that many shots in so short a time.

The only hint I can give you; the only advice I can offer: The bar and lounge at the downtown Knoxville Holiday Inn WILL NOT serve you a complete turkey dinner at 11:30 on a Saturday night.
The bartender was not smiling either.