Have you heard of Pub Cruisers? Lots of cities have them. A fun 2-3 hour tour of the city, accommodates 16 people. Drink beer, get exercise and stop at bars/restaurants along the way.
I happened to see this group going by in Michigan. They were having a great time.
What are you/we waiting for?
Founded right here in Chicago in 2010, Revolution Brewing. I walked in a store and at the entry were these boxes of German-Style Lager. Love the advertisement. I also like lager style beers. While I’m not a regular beer drinker, during Oktoberfest, it’s fun to have one.
We are at the tail end of Oktoberfest.
If you haven’t been to Munich for Oktoberfest, here’s a great YouTube video discussing the different beer tents you can visit. Lots to choose from.
Here’s to next year! If the dollar stays strong a trip to Munich will be lots of fun!
Cheers!
I just read an article in the February issue of Travel-Leisure, “No Hangovers Here.” Music to my ears! It talks about how more and more people want alcohol free drinks on the menu. I’m one of those people. I don’t drink on a regular basis. Why? I’ve never had a taste for it.
Wine, beer, a cocktail — nothing excites me. As we get older, who wants the dreaded hangover. Well, I do like a slushy margarita. I admit if a friend brought that to the table, I’d gladly accept.
Apparently, Hyatt Hotels Corp launched the Zero Proof, Zero Judgement Initiative in August 2021. They noticed a market for this as more consumers are focusing on health and wellness. So, Hyatt had their restaurant and bar teams come up with creative non-alcoholic drinks they have added to the menu. Great idea!
Around the world, alcohol free drinks are being offered. The Ritz Paris says one in five guests orders non-alcoholic. In Ireland, The Merrion Hotel is distilling its own nonalcoholic gin. Cruise ships have added alcohol free drinks to their menus too.
So, YES, when I say, “FANCY drinks, FINALLY!” I mean its great to see a drink I can order off the menu that’s alcohol free versus whispering to the waiter to bring a club soda with a lime on the side.
Health and wellness are a priority these days. I’m curious to give these NEW drinks a try. I hope there is a big plant close by in case I have to spit it out. Not sure how it will taste!
Here’s to ZERO PROOF, ZERO JUDGEMENT — I look forward to that toast!
Hopefully, as a joke, my friends don’t seat me at the grandkids table! THAT would be FUNNY!
You know something is up, when ALL you want is schnitzel.
Lately, I kept thinking of ⏤ NO, I was craving ⏤ SCHNITZEL. I haven’t had it for a long time. I wondered where the sudden desire came from.
Then the other day, I got a message from TimeOut – Chicago. Do you follow TimeOut for your city? It’s really good. If you sign up, you receive weekly updates with events going on in your area.
THAT is how I found out WHY I was craving schnitzel. Of course, it’s almost the end of September, time for Oktoberfest! I was reading that Oktoberfest was cancelled in Munich. I’m sure they will have smaller celebrations around the city. COVID can’t cancel everything this year, RIGHT!
Turns out, Chicago has a lot of Oktoberfest events, it’s not cancelled here. Even something at our Zoo with a band. LOVE the German lederhosen, dirndls and Bavarian music. I have a dirndl, need to dust it off, see if it fits.
YES, we need to be careful with COVID and big crowds, but at the same time, can’t cancel Oktoberfest!
I’m off to find some schnitzel, pretzel, beer and gotta have a brat! Is it asking too much to have red cabbage and Dampfnudel (steamed dumpling, see photo) with vanilla sauce (my favorite)?!
Laughing – I’ll put on “THE- COVID 10 lbs” just celebrating Oktoberfest!
PROST! (Cheers!)
Who says birthdays are boring?
My daughter surprised her boyfriend with a Brews n “Baahhs” birthday celebration. For an hour they visited with the goats, then they were rewarded with craft beer.
She enjoyed the goats, he enjoyed the beer.
Life is about finding new adventures!
In the old days, we used to go to the outdoor drive in movie theatre. Who can forget the Grease Lightening song?! Grease was a great one to see on the big screen.
Basically, a green grassy field for cars to park and a big screen to watch a movie. There was a small restaurant to buy some food and go to the restroom. If we were bored with the movie or trying to get away from our “hands on date,” we’d head to the restaurant. Back then, no cell phones, so you couldn’t text your friend to “meet you” somewhere or find out where they parked.
Then… suddenly… drive in movie theaters went away. Not sure why that happened.
BUT NOW, they are making a comeback.
Colorado — I just read an article in The Gazette about a Colorado Springs Brewery (FH Beerwork East) that got creative during COVID. To stay in business, they opened their parking lot to drive in shows calling it CAR SEAT CINEMA. Sounds like they are doing this once a week, it’s been going well. Now, they are back open to customers, social distancing, of course. Sounds like a fun place.
July 4th Fireworks Cancelled — I say we go to an outdoor movie!
HAPPY 4TH of JULY!
I almost forgot it was Oktoberfest! I was at Cost Plus / World Market the other day and they had a German section of food for Oktoberfest celebrations. The usual variety of sausages, mustards, beers, spaetzle, pretzels, chocolates and more.
Have you ever been to Munich for Oktoberfest? It’s really beautiful to see the men in their lederhosen and the women in their dirndles. I think this is the only place in the world where you will see grown men wearing leather shorts with bright colored shirts and as you see in the photo, you have to have the right shoes and socks too!
They really celebrate with fabulous music, singing and good food. Who can resist some schnitzel?! It’s a special tradition they have. My in/laws are German, so we always celebrated with their German friends, it was fun! They would sing all the German songs together, locking arms together swinging back and forth. Singing from their hearts.
My favorite is the Chicken Dance, here is a Youtube video (Wurstfest – How to Chicken Dance) that explains the steps for the chicken dance. In Germany, (EVERYONE) old and young get up to dance this dance. Enjoy this German tradition!
Did you know that it is a tradition in Chicago to turn the river GREEN for St. Patrick’s Day? There are two Irish families, the Butler and Rowan clans, that have had this honor since 1962. They sprinkle their special “Leprechaun Dust” and PRESTO the river becomes this spectacular green color.
My daughter lives in Ireland, so she will be drinking green beer I am sure. She hasn’t found a Leprechaun or his pot of gold yet! She has seen some beautiful rainbows and sweet sheep like the one below!
Wishing you ALL a “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!”
To my SMC and ND friends: GO IRISH!
I love Munich. Many years ago, when my ex-husband was working for Siemens, he was given the opportunity to go on a one month assignment to Munich. We jumped at the chance. At that time our older daughter was 2 years old and I was working as a contractor, so we were mobile. What a great experience.
I don’t speak German, but that didn’t matter. Most people speak “some” English, so asking questions and getting around was not an issue. I remember going to Oktoberfest and being really surprised AND not in a good way. I thought Oktoberfest was like the inside of the Hofbräuhaus, instead it was a big outside Fair and the drinking 
was done in tents and the weather was cold!
That’s Ok, it just wasn’t what I had visualized. There was a ferris wheel, different outdoor games, etc. I felt like I was at an American Fair. However, riding the train to Oktoberfest was fun, because people were dressed in their lederhosen and dirndles with the green hats and feathers. I took a photo today of this street singer dressed in tradtional Bavarian outfit.
It happens that my hotel has a view of the Hofbräuhaus. As I heard the singing, I remembered being in Munich for the World Cup in 2006. All of the soccer players were coming in town from different countries, they had their jersey’s on and they were excited, the fans were too, so there was a lot of drinking and singing going on.
For those of you who don’t know much about the Bavarian dress, I took a picture of 
this retail shop’s window, so you could see how the ladies would dress and what the men wear. I highly recommend a trip to Munich. It is so much fun and who knows, like me, ladies you might just go home with a dirndle. I’ve worn my dirndle to holiday cocktail parties many times. The guys would say I looked like a cute “Swedish girl.” So ladies, if you are single, dirndles are a good way to make conversation.
And men, “in Munich,” ALL guys wear ledershosen with bright colored shirts. You can do it too! Make sure you wear the red knee high socks with tassels. Am I scaring you yet? You gotta dress the part AND don’t go on the ferris wheel if you’ve been drinking!
Brilliant Viewpoint 