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11 Jan 04 - 03:51 PM (#1090506) Subject: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Arriving May 27, Chicago. Only itinery so far is a few days in St Louis with relatives. Hoping to travel a bit before turning around and heading back to the windy city to fly out June 14. Mrs Gnome and I will be with my cousin and his wife so not much time to folk about but anyone got any suggestions that might fit into the as yet undefined itinery? Out of interest, just to show how odd air fares have got. We have booked with Aer Lingus who seem to be best priced at the moment. To fly from Manchester to Chicago via Dublin was £100 cheaper than flying from Dublin to Chicago. And we would have had to buy a flight to Dublin on top of that. Go figure! Cheers DtG |
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11 Jan 04 - 04:00 PM (#1090512) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Ed. Go figure! You've obviously got a good understanding of the language spoken in those parts, Dave! Not sure that they say 'cheers' though... |
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11 Jan 04 - 04:02 PM (#1090515) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Ed. Having just written that, I remember that one of the most popular US sitcoms was called 'Cheers'... I'll shut up. |
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12 Jan 04 - 03:43 PM (#1091345) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Cluin "Cheers" as a toast, but not as a general aloha or thank-you like in Britain though. |
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13 Jan 04 - 10:47 AM (#1091792) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: SueB America has very little beer worth hiding, Gnome, it's mostly snake piss. Better bring your own. |
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13 Jan 04 - 11:14 AM (#1091827) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Kim C Lemme know if you get near Nashville. Only 4-5 hours from St. Louis. Mister has been brewing his own beer, and it's quite good. Plus, he likes to share it. |
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13 Jan 04 - 11:29 AM (#1091846) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Amos SueB, As it happens the US hasd a thriving small-brewery industry which turns out a range of fine stouts, ales, beers, and malseys to rival anything produced in England. But you have to find them. A |
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13 Jan 04 - 11:51 AM (#1091876) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: SueB YOu're right, of course, Amos, but it sure is interesting to note the expression on the face of someone recently arrived from Europe politely sipping on a Miller Lite and inwardly downwardly revising his estimate of America and all things American... Amos is correct, Gnome - there is some good beer here, but's it's already fairly well hidden - you have to find it. Expect to pay more. |
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13 Jan 04 - 03:15 PM (#1092079) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome We went to a brew-pub and restaurant (O'Gradys?) in St Charles that was very good indeed. And we get lots of Micro brewery offerings over here so I do know there is lots of good stuff to be had;-) Dog Fish Head brews are very popular in our local Safeways. Of the bigger ones Samuel Adams seems to make some good beers as well. Cheers :D |
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13 Jan 04 - 06:49 PM (#1092239) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Burke Somewhere in Chicago, the 19th Annual Midwest Sacred Harp Singing Convention will be held the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in May 2004 (29-30 May 2004). Try to go at least one day. Participants usually come from all parts of the US & sometimes the UK, this is one of the best outside of the south. It is without doubt one of the biggest. Details should eventually be Here, or send me a PM & I'll give you some additional people to try. |
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24 May 04 - 06:37 AM (#1192580) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Very close now:-) Setting off on Thursday! Only confirmed places are Chicago, St Louis, Branson (Missouri) and the Amana Settlemnets (Iowa???) Someone PM'd me with a few details of their new photo studio in Bloomington but I have lost the PM:-( If you are reading this can you PM me again with details of your shop? Setting off back on June 14 so lots of scope to visit other places. Any suggestions or invites;-) Cheers DtG |
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24 May 04 - 08:24 AM (#1192625) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Ahhhh - found the mail:-) It was homeless - PM on the way... |
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24 May 04 - 12:53 PM (#1192878) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Mark Clark Dave, I guess you know that, beerwise, St. Louis is the armpit of the US… it's the home of Anheuser-Busch, I sent you a PM with other stuff. - Mark |
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24 May 04 - 01:04 PM (#1192885) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: GUEST,MMario I thought the maufacturers were the horses? |
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24 May 04 - 01:36 PM (#1192907) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Mark Clark Yes, to use brewing terminology, I think the Clydesdales are used as filters for the liquor before it's added to the wort. - Mark |
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25 May 04 - 04:04 AM (#1193431) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Thanks guys:-) PM's received and printed out. Hope to act on them. Cheers Dave |
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25 May 04 - 09:46 AM (#1193619) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Bill D Unfortunately, 'most' of the good microbrewers in the US are on the coasts, but with a little looking you can find perfectly fine brews almost everywhere, with the bigger cities at LEAST having stores where an assortment is available. Iowa is not known as brewing heaven. |
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25 May 04 - 01:36 PM (#1193831) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Mark Clark There used to be a great microbrewery here in Iowa called Stone City Brewing but it's become another casualty of the Bush economy. In spite of my best efforts, I wasn't able to keep them in business all by myself. There is a small brewery (Millstream) in the Amana Colonies where Dave is going and, while it's a cut above the mass market stuff, it wouldn't rate well among knowledgable beer drinkers. Fortunately for Dave, the Amana restaurants also serve imported beers. I'm actually convinced that Americans must not like beer very much. They buy products with no flavor or body and drink them so cold that any flavor that accidently got through the manufacturing process isn't really noticeable. - Mark |
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25 May 04 - 09:30 PM (#1194006) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Joe_F In a pub that takes its beer seriously, British & Irish beers etc. will themselves be available, at proper temperatures. Some years ago, the new owner of an old & well-known but somewhat seedy bar in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston wished to drive the riffraff away & attract a tonier clientele. He accomplished this with dispatch by ceasing to serve Budweiser. N.B. This statement is not some libelous rumor; it was spread upon the minutes in an interview given to the Boston _Globe_ -- which appears framed & on the wall across from the ladies' room. On my last visit I was startled to see that the management has compromised a bit -- it now serves Bud *Lite*. |
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27 May 04 - 03:34 AM (#1194669) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Well, all packed and ready to go - just waiting for our lift to the airport. USA here we come! :D |
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27 May 04 - 03:49 AM (#1194677) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: John MacKenzie Have a good time Dave, and avoid Milwaukee if you like beer. Drinks that are served too cool lose their flavour, let your beer de frost a bit before quaffing. John |
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27 May 04 - 03:17 PM (#1195301) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Mark Clark Dave, I don't know when you plan to be in the Amana Colonies but in case the dates work out, you might want to know about this. There is a big Cajun & Zydeco Festival going on in the Colonies this weekend (Saturday through Monday) with lots of good food and entertainment. If you like this music, it should be a nice enhancement to your visit. - Mark |
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06 Jun 04 - 06:56 PM (#1201521) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Phew - Made it onto a 'puter:-) Been here 10 days now and enjoyed every minute. From the white knuckle cab ride into Chicago to sitting listening to the grinnin' an' a pickin' at Mountain View;-) Back in Illinois now for a 24 hour rest before seeing my Aunty in St Louis. Went past Bloomington last Monday, Homeless, but it was about 6pm and we couldn't realy stop. May try again on the way back. Dunno realy. We have only got back from Arkansas at 8pm last night so no time for the Armanas yet. Again, maybe next week? Branson Missouri was everything you said, Mark but I wouldn't have missed it for the world! We went on the Branson Belle showboat and say Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede - All very well done indeed even if it is a bit over the top and 'God bless America'-ish. I wish we could show just a bit of that national pride back in the UK. Only a bit of course...;-) One thing I would ask though. How can Mountain View justify it's 'Folk Centre of the World' title? It was good but c'mon. They don't even sell beer! ;-) It's in a dry county for those that don't know btw. Anyroads - Can't stop. Mrs G is on a mini tractor mowing the grass at the moment and I have go to go and drink beer and laugh at her:D May yet see some US catters and see the UK ones I know when I get back. Ta-ta for now. Or is it see y'all... Cheers DtG |
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07 Jun 04 - 09:36 AM (#1201940) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: John MacKenzie Col. Henry Blake was from Bloomington Illinois. Giok |
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08 Jun 04 - 05:48 PM (#1202988) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome In St Louis the last couple of days. No outside music but me and Aunt Irene had a whale of time trying to figure out how to play 'Waltz of the bells', which my Dad taught us both, on guitar. Dad used to play a seven string back in Poland. From what I can gather the 7th string was in between the 3rd and 4th of a 6 string so literaly in the middle. It is tuned to an open chard but not fugured out what yet. He always called it 'Gypsy' tuning. Anyone any ideas? Got some fun ideas for concertina while cruisin' around as well. (Why do them Arkansas ol' boys cruise up and down in pickups shooting at road signs btw? Must try it one day...;-) )Anyone ever heard 'Amore' (Yes I DO mean as in Dean Martin) played on an anglo? I am going to give it a try anyway. Going picking up an old freezer from Aunties in a pick-up tommory. Perhaps I can try the 'Here, hold my beer and watch this' trick. Does it work in Illinos and Missouri? Of to some Amish place on Thursday. Not the Amanas I'm afraid but looking forward to it all the same. Be back soon :D |
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11 Jun 04 - 09:43 AM (#1205102) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Rain stopped play on the freezer. If it keeps off today we will sort it out later. Going to the tap room in St Louis for lunch. Schafly brewery I think. Found that is a good beer as is Boulevard. One or two others of note as well. Forgot to say before we went to Eureka Springs for the start of the Blues festival - That was good but we had to leave before it really got underway because it was getting just too busy. Got a flight from St Louis to Chicago on Monday so won't be going via Bloomington, Homeless. Another time eh? :) Cheers DtG |
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11 Jun 04 - 11:07 AM (#1205178) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Homeless I guess so. Although if the weather holds like it's been, it might be quicker to make the drive than wait for the rain delays. |
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15 Jun 04 - 11:14 AM (#1207784) Subject: RE: BS: Gnome visiting US. Hide the beer... From: Dave the Gnome Ahhhh - back home at long last! Set off from Cousins house yesterday at 4pm GMT and got back into Manchester at 12 noon today. Long trek but only because we had a long(ish) wait in Chicago and an hours delay at Dublin. Trouble is when we got off the plane from St Louis in Chicago our luggage carried on to Baltimore and Virginia. Southwest Airlines. Cheap but the customer relations clerks at Chicago leave a lot to be desired:-( I told the young woman there exactly what had happened but she would not believe me and insisted that we wait for the next flight from St.L to see if our luggage was on that! Anyhow it has made it's way back to Chicago now and is is fedexing it's way here as we speak:-) Highlights? Well, most of it realy. Mountain View was good, but Folk Music capitol of the world? I don't think so... Eureka Springs was cool. More live music around Southern Illinois than I remember from 5 years ago - Seems to be in all the bars at some time and saw a good trio at the Farmers market in Edwardsville on Saturday. Micro Brewerys have certainly improved the beer quality a lot but some bars need telling that not all beer should be sold so cold! Especialy the dark ones. Schlafly and Boulevard are the ones I tried most varieties of and they were all good. There was a Chicago brew I tried in the basement of Marshall Fields department store that was excellent. Can't remember what it was called but a department store that has a Sports bar with real ale in 24oz glasses while the ladies go shopping! Sheer bliss:-) Except when I get the Visa bill I guess... Anyhow. Good all round trip. I will tell anyone who will listen that the American 'heartland' is a good place to visit for both the music and beer. Except in those danged dry counties of course. But there are ways around them:-) Cheers and thanks for the offers again. Sorry I couldn't take any up. Two or three years time is the next visit. Theory so far? Land in Vegas to have all our money taken and then go to California for therapy... Cheers DtG |