"Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Legendary drunk and all-around "really happy guy," Dylan Thomas, wrote that line about the end of summer, most unqualified scholars agree. And friends, Dylan's right: don't let summer go gentle into that good night. Instead, resolve right now to squeeze every last drop of juice out of that sucker, like a cost-conscious bartender squeezing the last drop out of each one of his 79 cent limes. At the Independent, we've got great opportunities the next three weekends for you to suck the marrow out of the summer of 2015.
This Weekend: Summer Beers, BBQ Ribs, Summer Cocktails:
Tonight, drink wheat one way or the other with a "Smoked Wheat Everyday," a smoked wheat beer from our (clearly anti-marijuana) friends at Hitchhiker, or a "Wheat Hop," a hoppy wheat beer from our (I'm sure equally anti-marijuana) friends at East End. Both are wheat beers with fresh, clean flavors (smokey and hoppy respectively) that are perfect for a summer evening. Similarly, Mo's BBQ Baby Back Ribs do summer BBQ justice with local ribs, a house-made BBQ sauce, and a refreshing black bean salad. Tomorrow, drink Greek with Carrie Clayton (returning after last week's Saturday success) who is again previewing and honing her drink list for Poros, a great new Greek restaurant slated to open downtown soon. Think you hate Ouzo? Think again.
Next Saturday, August 29th: Zombie Party with Maggie's Farm Rum and House of the Dead, 5-10 p.m. (Underneath the 31st Street Bridge)
At the Independent, we're always thinking ahead, and a good deal of that forward thinking revolves around our plans to keep you drunk and happy during a prospective zombie apocalypse. Now you may think that we'd have better things to do (or more probable contingencies for which to plan), but I assure you that when you're on a lounge chair enjoying a high-gravity West Coast Stout ("Night of the Living Stout") from Full Pint Brewing Company while carnage of the undead ensues around you, you'll get it. Next Saturday, from 5 to 10 p.m. we join similarly forward-thinking distillery, Maggie's Farm, in throwing a Zombie party to put our plans into action. Maggie's has secured a safe zone on 31st Street, underneath the 31st Street Bridge. We're bringing beer and making cocktails (you guessed it, Zombies) with some of our good friends around town, to celebrate the release of Maggie's Double-Barrel Queen Share Rum. Don't miss this outdoor party, which is a perfect way to get weird before the end of summer. DJ Zombo (DJ Zombie?) will be there with two bands to keep you moving among the rush of the undead. Tickets are $25 and include three (3) drink tickets. They are available for purchase here. Buy your tickets now, as this event is sure to sell out.
Saturday: September 5, 2015: Corn Hole Tournament with Wigle Whiskey and Grist House 3-7 p.m. (Millvale Waterfront Park).
The following Saturday, we join more of our distilling and brewing friends to keep your summer going, when we play the Gentlemen/womenly spectators to a corn hole tournament between Wigle and Grist's best contestants. Now look, if you're the type of competitor who wants a crack at playing in that type of high-level, grueling battle, there's still time for you to try your hand. The Wigle round has been played, but the Grist House battle will take place on the 27th at Grist House (tickets and more info here) . But, if you're the type of person (like us) who prefers to get your outdoor day drinking on without having to sully your shoes in the mud of "exertion" or "effort" (to the extent that Corn Hole can ever be accused of being either of those two things), you won't be alone. The Independent proudly introduces its role as the Day-Drinking Spectators. We're not here to compete; we're here to make bold assertions and claims regarding how well we COULD compete, without having the arduous requirement of actually having to back those claims up. Sun, cocktails, and cold beer are our pursuit, all while hanging out in Millvale's riverside park in the sunshine. What type of shoes does one wear to a cornhole tournament? We cares? We only own boat shoes anyway. Come join us for this ultimate labor-day weekend hang out. Tickets are $20, and include a drink ticket for one cocktail and one beer.
See you at the Independent!
Pete K.
