Widmer's Oktoberfest this Saturday

TDA returns to the Widmer Brothers Brewery in Portland, Ore. this Saturday.

The free, 21+ Oktoberfest event starts at 3pm and is expected to draw over 3,000 people. Food will be traditional German grub and live music throughout the day will include TDA, Debra Arlyn, Tea for Julie, Keegan Smith and The Fam, and Colin Lake and Wellbottom.

Come out, enjoy the predicted 80° day, and throw back a pint or two with TDA.

9 Things (You Think) Your Beer Says About You

Just in time for the Labor Day weekend, a wacky list of "9 Things (You Think) Your Beer Says About You" bubbles up on Cracked.com.

Pretty funny, but be warned -- there's some salty language!

P.S. Please note that Widmer Brothers' tasty beer -- which we will undoubtedly be sampling in Portland, Ore., when we play the brewery's fourth-annual Oktoberfest on Sept. 6 -- is not on the list. What does drinking a Widmer say about you? It just says you're cool (and possibly that you're listening to accordion music).

A Short History of Hangovers

Pour a tall one and enjoy a classic article on the international phenomenon known as the hangover. "A Few Too Many" is a great piece of writing from The New Yorker, complete with colorful anecdotes, science and a some suspect hangover remedies.

Submit your own morning-after miracles over at Wired magazine's culture blog, the Underwire: "What's Your Magic Hangover Cure?"

(And might I be so bold as to recommend that you listen to "Hungover in Clover" as you contemplate this subject?)

Photo: aerodesign.pl/Flickr

The Bowling King Dethroned

Say it isn't so! First the breweries left town, now it looks like the United States Bowling Congress is threatening to leave Milwaukee and move it's headquarters to Texas.
That's just not right. Of course, that doesn't mean folks will stop bowling (or drinking beer) in Milwaukee, but it is another chink in the grand history of this great midwest blue collar town. Who knows when the next pin will drop? Perhaps only The Bowling King! Whatever happens, we can rest assured that there will always be Koz's Mini Bowl to fall back on!

Beer Can Table: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Modern Mechanix is showing off a cool picture of a table made of beer cans. The frothy furniture was assembled out of 420 soldered-together beer cans by Chicagoan Bernard Dier.

The photo ran in Science and Mechanics magazine in 1936, when people apparently had a lot more fun.

(Via Boing Boing)

Robots Serve Drinks at Roboexotica

Robots? Booze? How can you not click on "Boozebots Get Their Shot at Roboexotica"?

Squeeze and Vino: I Guess It Works

I'm getting a little fascinated by the accordion/wine convergence. First it's accordions as the backdrop for a Canadian grape-stomp competition. Now comes word that accordion music fills the air at an Oktoberfest held at Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Illinois. The Daily Herald reports that the event also features barrel races and grape-spitting and -stomping contests.

Now that's news to me. I always thought Oktoberfests -- like the Columbia County Oktoberfest we're playing tonight in Oregon -- were all about the beer.

Fun's on Tap at Columbia County Oktoberfest

My heavens -- The Oregonian boasts a beer blog called The Beer Here, and blogger John Foyston taps the info keg on the Columbia County Oktoberfest we're playing next weekend.

It's a fun festival with plenty of sausage, beer and sauerkraut (not to mention some delicious barbecue, if past years are any indication). The Oktoberfest takes place at the Columbia County Event Complex in St. Helens, Oregon, about 30 miles north of Portland. If you're anywhere in the area, come on out!

Have Beer, Will Travel

An idea whose time has come: Deschutes Brewery's Neighborhood Hops, a "traveling beer festival" designed to bring excellent beer, food and music to Seattle enclaves. Reproduce, please. (Can you hear me, Speakeasy?)

TDA Bubbles With Enthusiasm About Widmer Oktoberfest

Speaking of beer, Those Darn Accordions plays the third-annual Widmer Brothers Oktoberfest in Portland, Ore., this Saturday. Other bands include Curtis Salgado, Dr. Theopolis and Widmer's own Colin Lake and Wellbottom.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the giant lemon drop (as described on the brewery's website): "Test your catching skills at the world's biggest 'Lemon Your Widmer' Event, in which lemon wedges will be dropped from the brewery roof to Oktoberfest-goers 40 feet below ... all while enjoying delicious Widmer Brothers beers!"

You'd have to be a real sourpuss not to get a kick out of that.

Man Builds 'Ultimate Beer-Brewing Machine'

Its creator calls it simply The Device, but the wondrous task it performs is anything but simple: The self-contained machine makes and serves beer.

Constructed by Popular Science staff photographer John Carnett, "the ultimate all-in-one beer brewing machine" is a pretty amazing invention. In the video clip, Carnett walks through the brewing process that transforms plain old Philadelphia water into the magical beverage that made Milwaukee famous. It's something to behold, although at $4,315 to build, it's a lot cheaper (and easier) to nab a six pack at your corner store.

Mac's Turns 21, Gets a New Birthday Suit

I'm usually conservative about beer packaging -- love the vintage look of the old-time breweries' packaging, which never fails to make me think things were better way back when. But MacTarnahan's Brewing Company has done a pretty good job updating its labeling, just in time for the brewery's 21st birthday. The old stuff was cool, but the new stuff ain't bad, either. And that's coming from a guy who once dressed up as a bottle of Mac's Amber Ale for a Halloween gig in Portland.

Maybe the brewery will bring back Uncle Otto's Rocktoberfest, one of the coolest music-and-beer fests TDA has ever played. Happy birthday, Mac's!

Beer and Squeeze in Cincinnati

Mecklenburg Gardens, a German joint in my old college stomping grounds, sounds like a blast from the past. The biergarten's menu has been upgraded, and "Cincinnati accordion legend Jack Frost" plays on Wednesday nights, according to The Enquirer. I'll have to get my people in Cincy to confirm this encouraging news.

Thirsty for a Carlton?

Strangely, I am, and I've never even had one of the Aussie beers. Maybe it's because I watched this really cool ad for Carlton Draught.

Get Guinness in Vintage-Label Cans

Now Guinness stout is not just good for you -- it's eye candy, packaged with vintage labels used by bottlers in the good old days. Get 'em while they're cool.

Beer Taster Sues Over Dream Job

Some guys have all the luck. A Brazilian guys lands the ultimate 9-to-5 -- as a beer taster -- then gets a $49,000 payout when he sues his employer. Ingrate!

Off to the Best Beer Fest in the Land

After a fun and productive day of recording, poor Paul will not -- repeat will not -- be driving north to the Boonville Beer Fest. Some other people will, though, and they'll be enjoying "The bahlest steinber hornin', chiggrul gormin', tidrick in the heelch of the Boont Region!" (That's basically Boontling for "awesome beer blast.")

Maybe those lucky people will see Barkley, the Legendary Boonville Beer.

More on Speisekammer's 'Springfest'

I already told you about this Alameda bash, at which the Mad Maggies will perform. Here's a little more from Maggie:

"Relax on the patio beer garden, drink excellent German beer, eat grilled specialties while we crazy musicians serenade you from 2 to 4:30 or so."

It all happens this Sunday, April 29, starting at 1 p.m. at Speisekammer Restaurant, 2424 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, Calif. This promises to be a good time, so if you're in the mood for quality food and drink -- along with a healthy dose of accordion music -- come on out to the East Bay's island city.

Sheryl Crow: Loo-natic or Visionary?

All she wants to do is have some fun -- and tell everybody how to wipe their bums. Sheryl Crow's loo-dicrous toilet-paper-reduction plan is pretty wacky, but her liquor-by-the-day tour rider makes quite a lot of sense.

So, which is she? Genius or dimwit? You be the judge.

Barbecue, Beer and Music

That's a great trio. You can enjoy all three (plus the music of The Mad Maggies) next Sunday, April 29, at Speisekammer Restaurant in Alameda, Calif.

Summerfest Makes Rolling Stone's List

Summerfest -- former summer home of Those Darn Accordions -- makes Rolling Stone's list of best "Spring/Summer 2007 Music Festivals." The grading methods of the grizzled chronicle of rock 'n' roll fall under heavy suspicion, however, if only because of the magazine's description of Big Gig eats: "Lots of options: Fish and chips ($6), Gyros $5.50, salads ($5), chicken wings ($3), etc. Bottled water is $2.50. Grade: B."

That's "news you can use" from the magazine that used to publish Hunter S. Thompson.

Apparently Rolling Stone's entrepid reporters couldn't find the fantastic grub that makes Summerfest so deliciously rockin' ... special stuff like Mader's grilled brats and kraut balls, Sprecher's Black Bavarian, Culver's ButterBurgers and, yes, even the bloomin' onions from that barbecue joint with the name I can't recall. For that matter, the Cousins Subs stand is better than the overpriced garbage peddled at most festivals.

This little waddle down memory lane is making me hungry. Too bad the mid-gate Piggly-Wiggly stage -- where we played the entire Summerfest run during the good old days, when TDA was treated almost like some sort of wheezing artist in residence at the festival -- is gone, and no suitable venue has popped up to harbor our whimsical accordion music.

Maybe it's time for a write-in campaign -- seems like Those Darn Accordions should play Summerfest's 40th anniversary. (But then I'm clearly biased.) Would anybody brave the Summerfest throngs to hear a little squeezebox rock? Or am I flogging a dead horse here? Hmmm ... Black Bavarian ... brats ... kraut balls ... and more people having a better time than at any beer-fueled event I've ever seen.

Al Bunde: 'Ambassador of Beer'

Our pal Al Bunde, (apparently formerly) of the (apparently defunct) Riverwest Accordion Club, makes the St. Patty's Day report in the West Bend Daily News:

"People were also smiling at Al Bunde, brewmaster at Riverside Brewery and Restaurant in West Bend, as he trudged up the hill with his accordion on his back and a hogshead of beer at his side. 'The cops wouldn’t let me in,' said Bunde, who had parked north of the parade route and had to hike uphill.

What the police couldn’t know is that Bunde was a member of the now-defunct Riverwest Accordion Club and was dubbed 'The Ambassador of Beer.' Wouldn’t he have political immunity or something?"

Al was bending our ears pretty good about his exciting work at the new brewery/restaurant in West Bend last time we played Milwaukee's fabulous Shank Hall. Riverside Brewery is on the must-visit list next time we're in Wisconsin.

Anderson Valley's Beer-Cap Laffs

In a nod to a more whimsical and amusing brewing past, Anderson Valley Brewing Company puts little sayings and rebuses on the backs of at least some of its bottle caps. I love the practice, which makes popping a top a little more magical.

The little circular print jobs are called "crown ticklers," according to a cool website that shows the answers to hundreds of bubbly puzzles that have appeared on caps for Ranier, Lucky and the like over the years.

I'm glad to see that Anderson Valley -- possibly the world's finest brewery -- is continuing the tradition, although most of AVBC's crown ticklers are goofy slogans ("Honest, Officer, that's hops you smell!") or Boontling riffs that might seem baffling if you're not hip to the weird (and almost dead) regional dialect that sprang up in Anderson Valley in the 1800s. They do throw in some rebuses, though, just to shark a kimmie for a hoot.

Finally, if you're anywhere near California in May (and you like beer), you should make your way to Anderson Valley for the 11th annual Boonville Beer Fest. Best beer fest in the land. Bahl Hornin'!

February Is Strong Beer Month in Frisco

Here's a reason to visit San Francisco in the rainy season: Strong Beer Month, a celebration of -- you guessed it -- strong beer. It's all brewed up by Magnolia Pub and Brewery in the Haight and the 21st Amendment brewpub in SOMA.

The names of the beers are enticing:

At Magnolia Pub and Brewery:

* Tweezer Tripel
* Old Thunderpussy Barleywine
* Smokestack Lightning Imperial Stout
* Promised Land Imperial IPA
* Weekapaug Monster
* Old Perplexity

At 21st Amendment:

* Golden Doom
* Double Tripel
* Blind Lust
* Diesel Imperial Smoked Porter
* Double Trouble IPA
* Lower de Boom Barleywine

Drink one of each concoction in the "Dirty Dozen" and you get a free commemorative glass. It's not Summerfest, but the whole things smacks of Wisconsin-style fun -- frankly, I can't believe I'm just hearing about it now, when the short month is almost half over.

Excuse me, I've got some glassware to earn!

P.S. Is it a coincidence that the Toronado Pub holds its Barley Wine Festival this month? I think not.