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.

Ooga Mooga Tiki Bar

Well shit, here we go again with the old Hawkeye's building. Will no one ever learn? Niceley's had the best shot of anyone in years making something work there and he barely lasted a year. What were some of the other failed concepts over the past 5 years? A hotdog joint. A gay bar. And there was some kind of Caribbean place that never opened. Oh - it must be noted that those 3 failed bars all tried to move in at the end of Spring semester while students were leaving town fast as possible.

The marquee should read: NOT A DAMN CHANCE just to save us all the trouble.

P.S. I will not see you there opening night, whenever that may be...

NOT A DAMN CHANCE WE'LL SUCCEED