Twitter Updates for 2008-06-30

Posted by Jim on Jun 30th, 2008
2008
Jun 30
  • Mowing the lawn gave me a blister. That’s never happened before. #

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Twitter Updates for 2008-06-29

Posted by Jim on Jun 29th, 2008
2008
Jun 29
  • Just completed a playlist for tomorrow’s show – all instrumentals! Tune in 4-6:30am, WMPG.org #
  • Registered for the Disney World 5K in Jan 2009. #

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Twitter Updates for 2008-06-28

Posted by Jim on Jun 28th, 2008
2008
Jun 28
  • Finally got some saddle baskets installed on my bike. Commuting to work will be much easier now. #

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Defending my New Favorite Hangout

Posted by Jim on Jun 27th, 2008
2008
Jun 27

The MaineToday site has been down all morning.  A note on the site earlier today said it would be back up at 9 AM.  I’ve been able to connect to the site occasionally since then, but the load times are terribly slow (if the page loads at all).  I was able to read this blog post by Amy Martin about Prost! and Novare Res.  I wanted to comment on it, offering my rebuttle to her complaints about Novare Res and praises of Prost!, but because of the hosting site’s uptime issues, I have been unable to leave a comment.  So, for your reading enjoyment, here’s what I had to say.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to post the comment later on today, once MaineToday gets itself fixed.

Hi Amy, glad to see you jumped right in to this blog.  I’m looking forward to your reviews.  Since you mentioned you haven’t been there yet, let me recommend that you try Novare Res soon, despite your complaint that they don’t have local micros.  Don’t let that deter you.  It’s the kind of bar you go to to not drink the same Shipyard and Geary’s selections everyone else in town has.  It’s about expanding your pallet and trying something exciting and new.  And, even if you are on a locals only kick, they have plenty of the great Allagash beers that no one else has.

Even better, you don’t have to deal with clueless waitstaff in gimmicky costumes.  Novare Res’ staff is very knowledgeable and have always been able to offer me a suggestion or recommendation.  Don’t expect them to have tried every beer availble (there are well over 200), but you can get an opinion on any style available.  I see it as a bonus that you don’t have to worry about being offered a shooter or some silly combination of flavored vodkas presented as a martini.  It’s all beer, with a few choice wines, ports and tequilas, all made for sipping and savoring, not for getting you drunk.  That should keep away the “dude-bags.”

As for alienating their loyal customers, I have seen nothing that would suggest that. [Should they expand their hours? Sure, but that’s because I can’t get enough, not because I’ve been shooed out the door.]  If anything, I think they are catering to the loyal customer, not the guy from Massachusetts who’s up for the weekend.  Like a good librarian knows what kinds of books you’ll like, the waitstaff there wants to know what kind of beers you enjoy.  They want to have your drink ready when you sit down, not because you always order the same thing, but because they know you’ll love the new Trappist that was just delivered.

I have yet to try out Prost!, so I won’t say that I won’t like it there, but everything you said about it (and what I’ve read on the other beer blogs in town) makes me want to avoid it.  A bar that wants to cater to beer connesseurs that is attached to a dance club and offers Goldschlager and Jagermeister shots makes question it’s true motives.  I guess I’m looking at it this way:  Prost! is like an Applebees or Chilis (silly, gimmicky and trying to pull in as many passerbys as possible) and Novare Res is like Street & Co. or Bresca (a restaurant/bar for people who are passionate about food/beer).  There is so much offered at Novare Res, why would I go to a competitor that offers a lesser experience?

One last note: Novare Res also had some issues with taps when they first opened.  Maybe it’s the ghost of Neal Dow haunting the new bars in town that’s causing problems with the free flow of alcohol?  I hope not!  Anyway, good luck with the blog.  One question for you: how soon until the banner with John’s goofy expression is replaced?

Twitter Updates for 2008-06-26

Posted by Jim on Jun 26th, 2008
2008
Jun 26
  • There was a bird trapped in the school overnight. I left a window open this morning; I hope it was able to escape. #

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Race Results

Posted by Jim on Jun 26th, 2008
2008
Jun 26

Just in case you are wondering, here are mine and Nissa’s results from the Smuttynose 5K we ran this past Sunday.

I ran the course in 30:36, which put me at 420th palce overall.  I was 41 out of 48 for my division, with a pace of 9:53/mile.

Nissa came in at 567 with a time of 36:42.  She was 50 out of 61 in her division and had a pace of 11:51.

Twitter Updates for 2008-06-25

Posted by Jim on Jun 25th, 2008
2008
Jun 25
  • After last night, I’m 4 bottles in to Novare Res’ Uprising. That’s 2%! #
  • @jchristie It’s all so overwhelming, it’s hard to begin. I started with a strong beer, and worked towards a drink with 4-5% ABV. #
  • @jchristie Luckily, if they have it on draught and it’s on the list, the draught version counts towards your total. Best of both worlds. #

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Twitter Updates for 2008-06-24

Posted by Jim on Jun 24th, 2008
2008
Jun 24

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Pitchforks and Pints: An Uprising

Posted by Jim on Jun 24th, 2008
2008
Jun 24

Last night I started a beer related quest that is on par with the great 16 County Trips of the past three summers.  Novare Res now offers their own version of a mug club—The Uprising, and I’m the newest member.  What the Uprising involves is drinking one bottle each from a list of 200 beers that they offer within one calendar year.  If successful, your $20 deposit is returned to you.  Even if it takes longer than 12 months, once complete, you will receive a personalized chalice to be stored on-site.  This 16oz glass will be used for all your purchases from then on, which will be priced at a discount.

Not only is this a fun game for beer lovers (every member gets a list of the 200 bottles to keep track of what you’ve tried), but it exposes you to all sorts of new beers.  As it says in the official Uprising rules, this is about exposing the drinker to new beers: beers you’ve never tried and beers you never thought you’d try.  I’m not so scared of trying something I think I may not enjoy, I’m more concerned with the prices of some of the bottles available.  I don’t know if any of the $50+ bottles are on the list or not, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few rarer (read: more expensive) beers are.  I guess that’s what they mean when you’ll be drinking beers you never though you would.  [For me, it’s more like I’ll be buying beers for prices I never thought I’d pay.  For example, Brooklyn Local 1 is about $18 at RSVP.  At Novare Res, it’s $25; and yes, it’s on the list.  Too bad I can’t check off the beers I’ve already had.]

One fun aspect of the Uprising is that any 750ml bottle can be split between two members and it still counts towards you total.  I think I’m going to have to plan some gatherings with other members so we can share some of the more expensive beers.

Lastly, in a move that would make Robert Paulson proud, the first rule of the Uprising is to talk about the Uprising.  So if you are at all interested in beer, get yourself over to Novare Res and sign up.  And get in touch with me.  We’ll split some vintage JW Lees and toast to the Uprising and the noble pursuit of new beers.

In other news, this is the 100th post made at this site.  Thanks for reading!

Twitter Updates for 2008-06-21

Posted by Jim on Jun 21st, 2008
2008
Jun 21
  • Just took a spooky walk in a foggy graveyard. No zombies sighted. #
  • Off to Heather and Matt’s going away party. #

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