I remember drinking a 6 pack over Christmas this year when I was down in Sarasota. I guess the positive trial markets indicated that they could make a go of it. With the revitalization of Pabst Blue Ribbon I don't see why they wouldn't parlay that success into another emotionally nostalgic brand. Plus as I remember it was actually pretty good. I did buy some of the "new" formula over the spring when I went down to Virginia and although it's great to complement a picnic, it just wasn't as good as the original stuff I had in Sarasota.




It's not entirely about the beer. For older people it's about nostalgia, for people like me or younger it's about communion with older long passed on relatives or better simpler times. Then again it could just be that people won't be able to afford beer brewed by microbreweries with no bargaining power for key ingredients due to their diminished economies of scale or beer imported from a country with a stronger currency. I think that's why the foreign brewers bought out the domestic macro breweries, so we can be the "cheap foreign labor" for their brands as we do for our children's toys and clothes from southeast Asia.

I ended up stopping by the only bar in Youngstown tonight for the festivities of the Saturday night party of the 2008 version of this big yacht race that has been going strong for 30+ years. For me growing up it was really just something to see. What stood out was the crazy drunken Canadians that would come down and just go nuts. As that article in the Buffalo News said; At one point it was one of the top 10 parties in North America.

Now the energy just isn't there as it was in years past. But for some odd reason I decided to go to the "Jug" instead of the Transmission Dance Party tonight. Mainly it was just to run into people I knew that haven't been around here for a while. For that purpose it did hit it's mark, but for a night out it really was kind of sad. Since I'm not a yachtsman this will most likely be the last time I stop by. Yea, it was interesting to see some strange people in town driving their BMW's and Infiniti's but really it is just a shadow of it's former self and I know it's by design.

It's just sad that 3 years ago that one particular age group of people I knew kind of f'd it all up. The funny part is my buddy that now lives in the ATL was a part of it. As we were working together @ the time it was funny to have him tell me, "You better take it easy & leave early, because I called in!" Yea, looking back I think I should have done the same to, but there's this guilt association with work that I have for some reason.

With all that was going on this weekend I have to say that in the comparison the the two major street festivles that were going on this weekend, Canal fest took first place. I only stopped by the Italian Fest just to grab something to eat during the rain soaked portion today. All I can say is that for the most part it was kind of an immediate sequel of the Taste of Buffalo. I looked at a couple of tents and said to myself, "I had their ____ last week!" Other than my usual stops I didn't see too much reason in staying, since the main stage entertainment just didn't appeal to me. Plus in comparison to Canal Fest, they were a bit over priced. An Italian sausage @ Canal Fest was $3.50 while @ the Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage Festival , it was $5+ at some locations. Seriously I know the name of the game is to make a profit, but there was one tent that wanted $7 for an Italian Sausage! I could go down the street the Louie's at the corner of Delaware & Hertel and get a meal for that much.

Here are a few pics of some of the food staples.

(e:metalpeter) 's Baked Ziti with Pesto. There wasn't a restaurant associated with the place, but it was really good and worth the $4 I paid for it.


My annual stop @ Lobster Hut, pretty much I though this would be food porn for (e:paul)


What is an Italian Heritage Festivle in Buffalo without a Cannoli?


Later on I stopped by the Canal Fest once again. I know (e:mrmike) posted some pics, but here are a few more.

The midway food on Thursday


Some of the Arts & Craft vendors they had on this weekend. Nothing really too exciting, as it was more "Margaritaville this way & I'ts 5 o'clock somewhere signs.


These were taken behind the "local politcal campaigns, church and club fund raiser" food tents. The star of the 2 festivals' for food value was the Our Lady of Czestochowa parish's tent @ the Canal Fest. They had this thing called the "Polish Platter" in which you received a Polish Sausage, 2 pierogies, a cabbage roll and a slice of rye bread for $10. I only had a bit or two from it as my friend had it. But it was really great food if you're into the above mentioned ethnic food and the value was outstanding. Too bad I didn't snap a pic.

I have hit Canal Fest a couple of times so far. But this really gets me every year. It's a midway game in which you are betting on which hole a mouse is going to go into. Once the barker lifts the blue tupperware lid, the mouse then finds a hole to crawl into. The thing about this is that it happened so fast.

This is way too funny if it wasn't the truth.

Yea, we'll give you a check but no one will cash it.

The thing that gets me is the person that is trying to go from Indymac to Washington Mutual. Talk about going from one abusive boyfriend to another.