Category: Outings

Karen and I will be heading to the reunion for her mother's side of the family. Karen sent out invitations to everyone to encourage a good turnout.

I think the weather is going to be great. Karen's co-worker, Larry Woellhart, smoked us a pork butt which should be super. Larry is known for his ability to smoke anything from catfish to pork butt to walnuts.

Everyone had fun and the food was great. After eating to the point of needing to pop, everyone headed over to where the Alexander homestead had been many years ago. You can see signs of where the cellar and corn crib was on the land. The old spring is still flowing, but it has gone undergrond for the most part.

We even got a group picture to boot.

Karen and I will be heading to the Knoxville Brewers' Jam for the first time. The Jam is always held on a weekend that does not conflict with a University of Tennessee football game. So this year the festival is October 15th. The festival runs from 2:00PM to 8:00PM.

We signed up for the whole package which includes hotel room and passes to the festival.

The following brewers will be present:

Tennessee

Downtown Grill & Brewery (Knoxville)

New Knoxville Brewing Company (Knoxville)

Smoky Mountain Brewery (Gatlinburg)

Blackstone Restaurant & Brewery (Nashville)

Depot Street Brewing Company (Jonesborough)

Tennessee Valley Homebrewers Club (Knoxville)

Calhoun's Microbrewery (Knoxville)

North Carolina

Highland Brewing Company (Asheville)

Carolina Beer and Beverage (Mooresville)

Olde Hickory Brewery (Asheville)

Mash House Restraurant & Brewery (Fayetteville)

Catawba Valley Brewing Company (Glen Alpine)

The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (Farmville)

French Broad Brewing Company (Asheville)

Foothills Brewery (Winston-Salem)

Weeping Radish (Manteo)

Asheville Brewing Company (Asheville)

South Carolina

Thomas Creek Brewery (Greenville)

Kentucky

Browning's Brewery at Louisville Slugger Field (Louisville)

Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company (Lexington)

Georgia

Sweet Water Brewing Company (Atlanta)

Zuma Brewery (Atlanta)

Other Regional and Craft Brewers

Stone Brewing Company (San Diego, California)

Great Divide Brewing Company ( Denver, Coloradao)

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales (Milton, Delaware)

Redhook Brewing Company (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)

Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, California)

Barrel House Brewing Company (Cincinatti, Ohio)

Flying Dog Brewery ( Denver, Colorado)

Blue Moon Brewing Company ( Denver, Colorado)

Some items are copyrighted by organizer of the festival.

Karen and I took Karen’s niece, Lea Moore, and her two boys, Aaron and Evan, to the U.S. Space and Rocker Center. We tried all of the simulators and games.

We checked out all of the missiles and rockets in the “Rocket Park” including this upright Saturn IB. The U.S. Space and Rocker Center is in the process refurbishing the actual Saturn V on display at the back of the park. When I was six years old when my father took my brother and I to see the Apollo 17 launch. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I saw Space Shuttle mission STS-98 launch and others, but it pale in comparison to a Saturn V.

Aaron, in the foreground, and Evan are busy learning how to operate the Apollo Capsule trainer.

You can see a map of the museum clicking here.

You can find more photos clicking here.

Karen and I had great time at Oktoberfest tonight. The band ended up joining us at our table after their last set. David, Jason, Michael, and Jeff wanted to go out so we suggested they meet us downtown. Terry had to get up early so he declined.

We took them to Humphreys for dinner and then we kicked back outside at the Kaffee Klatsch. We are looking forward to next year’s Oktoberfest.

Karen and I headed to the art show this weekend. This year’s show primarily featured painting and bead work. We saw Noah and Eddy House from my old neighborhood, too. Noah had some cool art. Here is a sample of our pictures:

This booth was full of beautiful stain glass which would look good outdoors in a garden.

This lady does small frame art of paper and metal with hearts as the theme.

This artist was very free spirited.

This artist had a great idea of painting cards to look like postcards that had been mailed.

You can see more of the Art Show here.

Karen and I went to Oktober last night. We had a blast. Terry Cavanagh & the Alpine Express put on a great show for all.

We will going again Sunday, but I have decided to pickup some polka’s from iTunes to make it complete on our ride there. I didn’t find Terry Cavanagh & the Alpine Express on iTunes. But, a good selection of polkas can be had on Walter Legawiec & His Polka Kings Album. Hope to see you there.

Redstone Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) organization's annual Oktoberfest is September 15th through the 18th. Terry Cavanagh & the Alpine Express will be providing all the music. Terry's band is a must have for any Oktoberfest.

Each year the MWR goes to great length to make this a great festival. They import 5 to 7 draft beers directly from Germany. The food includes carnival foods and food provided by Soldatenstube restaurant including Schnitzel, Brotchen, and a varity of German Wursts. And, free carnival rides are provided.