Brew City: Comet Café!

Artsy guy here, once again dropping a line from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I meant to post this on Sunday night, but I thought it was apropos to sit a bit with the intense news that came from President Obama.  Then I was all about the travel day and some technical difficuties and, well, here 'tis...

The Comet Café on Farwell Avenue has been in the neighborhood for eons, but somewhat recently it's been reinvented on many fronts, and is currently recognized nationally as a destination for slow (local and lovingly hand-prepared) food and craft beer.

This craft beer fanatic was pleased with the great selection on their relatively limited tap rack (Three Floyds, Bell's, Lagunitas, etc.) and the Sunday night special that offered a free basket of bacon (yes, BACON!!) with a bar purchase.  Their bottle selection is out of this world. AND the first Tuesday of each month, they offer Beer School where, for $20, those new to craft beer can learn a thing or twelve.

Guy Fieri brought his show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives to feature the café based on its amazing comfort food. Highlights include AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner (fried balls of turkey, taters, and stuffing served with brussels sprouts), bacon-wrapped meatloaf, a killer brunch, and (he says over a basket of bacon) some truly amazing vegetarian options. Visit their website to learn about all the delectability (and more).

This is at once a brilliant neighborhood haunt and destination for the discerning hungry and thirsty traveling through the MKE. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods, get thee hither! That's what's HOPpenin'!! Cheers y'all!

Brew City: Sugar Maple!

Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer incorporated! We're gonna do it! Okay, many of you have seen the opener of Laverne and Shirley as the glove goes down the assembly line of Schotz Brewery. Milwaukee, Wisconsin has long been associated with the behemoth side of the American brewing industry because it gave birth to Miller, Pabst, Schlitz, and Blatz. But the world of craft brewing is also alive and thriving in Brew City!

Howdy! Artsy guy here. I'm here in the MKE to see my artsy goods exhibited at Ten Chimneys (estate of the late, great Lunts of Broadway) and decided to take advantage of the weekend to catch up with friends and visit old haunts from my recent days at Milwaukee Rep. One of these is Sugar Maple in the Bayview neighborhood.

This place is a craft beer lover's dream. They feature 60 rotating taps (SIXTY!!!) that rely heavily on local and regional craft suds (i.e. New Glarus, Bell's, Three Floyds, Founders, etc.) and those from across the country (i.e. Lagunitas, Moylans, Rogue, North Coast, Oskar Blues, Southern Tier, Ommegang, and more). And they have hard booze too although I was, as usual, hop-focused.

(Interesting fact #1: Sugar Maple occupies the former home of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin that relocated in 2007.)

I ordered a taster tray of amazing mostly local stuff to which my bartender added another wee taste of something she thought I might like (and she was right). The only food they serve is a rotating menu of soups made by local restaurant Triskele's. The simple menu works very well. My bowl of sweet corn and potato chowder was incredible. The place also features the work of local artists and musicians.

If you find yourself in Milwaukee, get thee to Sugar Maple! That's what's HOPpenin'! (The catch phrase is a groaner, I know, but one day I'll just embrace it without qualification.) Cheers, y'all!

(Interesting fact #2: Sugar Maple was named for the state tree of Wisconsin.)

Astoria, NY

Mark, the history guy here. My neighborhood, Astoria, NY, has seen a drastic change in drinking options in recent times. Once the home of a few working class bars (which I love) and the odd Irish or Mexican spot (which I also love), I've seen choices, great choices, pop up on many street corners.

I write this while siting in Hell's Gate Social, an almost unmarked neighborhood spot with a speakeasy feel and a killer bourbon list. And nightly specials, including $3 drafts on Mondays. Yesterday I tried new beers at MexiQ, a Latin fusion restaurant with 48 tap lines of craft beer.

One of my favorites, Vesta Trattoria, features amazing food and local wine on tap. Sunswick, 5 Napkin Burger, The Astor Room, Pachanga Patterson, Club 21, and more have all joined the local lineup and feature craft beverages and culturally specific cuisine.

All this is to say, we live in exciting times. There have never been so many choices and such quality do adventurous drinkers. A a happy Hour Guy it's awfully exciting. Man, we have some work to do! Go explore!

Harvest Moon Brewery!

So just down the street from the George Street Playhouse, where I'm rehearsing these days, BING!  There's a brewpub!  (I knew I loved New Brunswick.)  Yup, the Harvest Moon Brewery, at 392 George Street, literally just down the street from the train station in New Brunswick has been in this space (in quite an old building) since 1994, and under the present ownership since 2003.

We didn't have time to ask a ton of questions, but there was time to speak to a bartender, have a meal and sample some beers after a long day in the rehearsal studio.

We tasted our way through several of their beers, and very much enjoyed the Porter, a nice Double IPA and an especially fine Barleywine.  The menu is quite nice and well priced.  (My burrito was pretty fantastic.)  We'll be in the neighborhood for a while, so perhaps we'll get back there for some video.  Stay tuned!  Meanwhile, whenever and wherever you can, DRINK LOCAL!  Cheers!