NA Event Watch: Block Party on Market, Wednesday, September 30.

This one is evolving, but here’s the outline at present.

Dave Himmel of Connor’s Place on East Market Street, New Albany, is getting the requisite approvals to hold an outdoor block party on Wednesday, September 30, starting at around 5:00 p.m.

Market Street will be blocked off between Pearl and Bank, and the block party will take place there. There’ll be a band performing and an NABC beer garden, with food from Connor’s, NABC Bank Street Brewhouse, Windsor Restaurant & Garden, and perhaps others yet to surface.

I’ll update this posting as more information comes to me.

Upcoming events at Connor's Place.

Straight from Dave Himmel's command center, here are a few of the upcoming events at Connor’s Place in downtown New Albany, where two of NABC's beers customarily are on tap. The pub is located at 134 East Market in downtown New Albany. If you haven't seen Dave's remodeled new digs, take a look.

Wednesday, December 10
World Class Beverages Holiday Beer Tasting
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday, December 12
Live music: Da Mudcats
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Friday, December 19
Rib Tip Dinner, featuring Rib Tip Tony
Starts at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 20
Live music: Da Mudcats
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Friday, December 26
Live music: Louisville Blues
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

NABC Fringe Fest underway ... prime time today and tomorrow.

NABC's first ever Fringe Fest got underway Thursday afternoon, and we're quite happy with the turnout on opening night. Given the perfect weather, all of New Albany's annual Harvest Homecoming celebration seemed to be thriving on what normally would be a slower day.

Local readers should note that Dave Himmel's bar, Connor's Place, has reopened on Market Street opposite his Fish House. I'll try to swing by and snap a few digitals later today. The Windsor also has a nice set-up both inside the courtyard and outside in a tent. I wasn't able to make it past Studio's yesterday, but I'm sure Trish has something special happening during Harvest Homecoming. And, on State Street, the Speakeasy is open during the fest, too.





Thanks to everyone who came out last evening. We're back in action today at 1:00 p.m.

See this posting at NAC for the topic of the day: A year later ...

Upcoming Events at Connors Place in New Albany.

Straight from Dave Himmel's command center, here are a few of the upcoming events at Connor's Place in downtown New Albany, where NABC's Elector and Community Dark are on tap.

Dec 21st 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 Midnight
The River City Blues Band returns!

Dec 28th 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 Midnight
The Premier of "The Funky Suedes."

Dec 31st
The New Years Eve Bash (reservation only; phone 812.944.0207), featuring the music of the Travelin Mo Jo's. Tickets are on sale now. The doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the band starts at 9:00 p.m. The party goes until 1:30 a.m. Tickets are going fast, so call soon.

Connor's Place in Velocity.

Velocity's Bar Hopper visits Connor's Place and finds good things to say about the beer, food and ambience.

Congrats to Dave Himmel for good press!

A hat trick of Halloween events in and near New Albany.

Am I going to have to leave the country to catch a break in the schedule? Here are three more worthwhile beer events to begin the coming week. What you choose to do for the weekend's up to you.

Monday, October 29
Culinary Costume of American Artisan Ales: A Beer & Food Pairing

Young Turks Joshua Lehman and Andrew McCabe (respectively, Sous Chef and Pastry Chef Louisville's Le Relais Restaurant) will be catering an innovative dinner paired with artisanal microbrews from NABC and around the country. NABC's Prost is the place, and as of today, tickets are still available (all-includive; $70 per person). Follow the link above for details.

Tuesday, October 30
Halloween Beer Tasting at Keg Liquors in Clarksville

From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It's the Keg’s second annual Halloween themed tasting, offering a list of beers with either spooky names, or scary labels, but all remain great beers. Here is the lineup assembled by owner Todd Antz:

Belhaven Wee Heavy
Wychwood Hobgoblin
Hobgoblin
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Young's Old Nick English Barleywine
New Holland Dragon's Milk
Avery Samaels
BBC Hell for Certain (if available)

All beers in the tasting will be $1 off the day of the tasting, and the event is open to the public provided the public is 21 years of age.

Wednesday, October 31
Halloween bash at Connor’s Place

NABC beers are on tap, bar owner Dave Himmel is encouraging costumes, and NABC's own Jared Williamson and his longtime collaborator Tommy Potts will be performing. It's all taking place downtown at 207 East Main. Wear a Groucho mask and a Hawaiian shirt, and come as "Dave Himmel."

Random beer-related Harvest Homecoming views.

The first three photos were taken at Connor's Place.

Congressman Baron Hill visited the Bistro New Albany patio Friday and was greeted by his fan club.

Where to find good beer during Harvest Homecoming.

Speaking personally, it has been a cherished goal to live long enough that I might be able to enjoy a craft beer downtown during New Albany’s annual Harvest Homecoming celebration, and by doing so, to strike a small blow against the hegemony of the swill merchants.

In 2005, the old House of Bread put two kegs of NABC beer on tap during Harvest Homecoming, and last year, its successor, Bistro New Albany expanded the NABC selection while adding craft beers from Upland (a Bloomington, Indiana microbrewery) and others from America and around the world.

BNA will do it again this year, and there’ll be NABC and Upland beers on tap once again. Unlike last year, BNA will conduct food and drink business during booth days both outside on the patio and inside in the dining room, which means that one need not be restricted to elephant ears and rolled oysters (the latter remaining a favorite of mine) from the street side vendors.

Another marvelous option is added for 2007: Connor’s Place, run by former BNA partner Dave Himmel, and located on Main Street adjacent to the Parthenon. CP will feature NABC drafts during Harvest Homecoming: Community Dark, Elector, Flat Tyre, Hoptimus (limited quantities) and Mt. Lee (also limited quantities).

Flat Tyre will be available in cask-conditioned form from the hand pump, which has been borrowed from NABC for the occasion, giving Connor’s the distinction of being the first New Albany establishment during the modern era to offer hand-pumped “real” ale. When the cask version is depleted, there’ll be a regular keg as back-up. Connor’s Place will also have Oktoberfest beers from Upland, Browning’s (Louisville micro) and Spaten (Germany).

I believe that Elector will be on tap at Speakeasy Jazz, NABC’s remaining downtown account.

Yes, swill reigns supreme at Harvest Homecoming, and it probably always will. However, all we ever wanted was a choice. Now more than ever, we have it. If you like good beer and you’re downtown the next three days, visit one of these fine establishments and buy one. In NABC isn’t your taste, my feelings aren’t hurt; have another microbrew or an import instead, and let them know that you appreciate having options. Rest assured that if it were up to Anheuser-Busch, you wouldn’t have any.

Jared Williamson to perform Saturday evening, October 6 at Connor's Place.

NABC's hard working associate brewer, Jared Williamson, will be doing a solo gig at Connor's Place tomorrow night (Saturday, October 6; 8:00 p.m.)

His day job is brewing, but he's been playing music for longer than he's been making beer.

Jared's performance will take place in the lovely confines of the pub's outdoor patio. There usually are two NABC beers on tap at Connor's Place, as well as another three import or craft beers.

I'll be at the homestead all day for our annual NA Confidential Harvest Homecoming Parade party, to which readers are invited, stop by for a beer before heading down to Connor's Place to catch Jared's music.

New Speakeasy about to lift off in downtown New Albany.

(Updated 8:42 a.m. on Thursday, 14 June)

I'm told that Speakeasy, downtown New Albany's newest restaurant (also a jazz venue), will be doing "soft" lunches this week from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, as preparation for the big grand opening show on Saturday, June 16th. I'm assuming that regular hours will commence beginning next week, and will inform readers when the information is known.

The Speakeasy is located at 225 State Street (between Main and Market, just adjacent to the retro Firestone auto service center. The phone is 812-981-0981. Owners are Brad and Lori Tharp, and the chef is Kevin Crum.

The Saturday grand opening event, featuring the Glenn Miller Orchestra, is sold out. Develop New Albany is the primary sponsor of the event along with Holiday Inn Express (Dee Cunningham; the hotel provided all the Miller band's rooms); Tumblebus (Larry and Brenda Scharlow); Lopp Real Estate (Mike & Terri Kopp); New Albany mayoral candidate Doug England and wife Michelle England; Sturgis Carpet Cleaning (John and Amy Sturgis); and Community Bank in New Albany.

Three draft New Albanian Brewing Company beers will be served (Mt. Lee, Elector and Community Dark, at least to start) along with two from Bluegrass Brewing (Main & Clay). A short list of craft beers and imports from World Class Beverages also will be offered. The food menu is Cajun-influenced, and the physical setting is compelling and likely to become an immediate classic.

With four taps at Bistro New Albany and two at Connor’s Place, the Speakeasy's three NABC taps bring the downtown total to nine -- one more than at the pub and pizzeria. If that isn't progress, I'm not sure what is.

Thanks to Mike Kopp for fleshing out this posting.

Downtown NA pub crawl Wednesday night.

In honor of the honorable Don Barry, world traveler, scholar and the author’s cousin, who is in town for a brief stay before jetting to New York and Europe for the usual round of summer frolics, those of us forced to remain here are going to do something previously thought impossible: A pub crawl of ... yes ... downtown New Albany, with Don in tow.

That’d be a pub crawl with good beer, and not the area standard of swill. It ain't Bamberg ... but it's better than before.

This largely unplanned event will take place on Wednesday evening (May 30). We will be meeting at the Baylor residence (1117 E. Spring) at 5:30 p.m., and then decamping by foot to the nearby La Rosita for culinary succulence. Stated simply, there is no better Mexican cuisine in the Louisville metropolitan area than that prepared and served by Israel Landin and his family.

After various morsels, we’ll walk down Market Street and examine the Bistro New Albany’s expanded libations list, which now includes top shelf liquors. Founded in April, 2006, the Bistro New Albany offers fine dining in the historic New Albany Inn hotel building at 148 E. Market. It has an excellent, atmospheric patio, and four or five NABC beers always on draft.

Later, we’ll stroll around the corner to the brand new Connor's Place for nightcaps and cigars on the patio. Connor’s Place, with relaxed sports bar ambience and casual dining in a historic building at 207 E. Main Street, is former BNA partner Dave Himmel’s labor of love. It has another knockout outdoor seating area and two NABC beers always on tap.

Afterwards we’ll walk back to the starting point via Main Street and 11th. Readers and friends are invited to join us at one or all of the stops.

NABC's Jared Williamson performing at Bistro New Albany this weekend.

Our associate brewer, Jared Williamson, will be doing a solo gig at Bistro New Albany tonight and tomorrow (May 25 & 26). He'll be performing at the outdoor patio from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Jared's day job is brewing, but he's been playing music for longer than he's been making beer. Anyone up for catching the tunes on Saturday evening?

In other downtown New Albany news, the soon-to-open Speakeasy jazz club has announced that its first big Saturday show -- the Glenn Miller Orchestra on June 16th -- already is sold out. Pretty good for an establishment that's yet to open, as well as a fair amount of pressure to open.

Famous big band booked for New Albany Speakeasy; Glenn Miller Orchestra playing State Street jazz club’s opening (from the New Albany Tribune).

Don't forget Connor's Place at 207 E. Main. Dave Himmel has embarked upon his dream, and it's a comfy, atmospheric setting for beer and food ... and even more inviting since his dad bought him an outdoor grill for the attractive rear patio.

Tribune visits Connor's Place during last night's grand opening gala.

Connor's Place now open; party Monday night.

Connor’s Place, former Bistro New Albany co-proprietor Dave Himmel’s new establishment, will have a grand opening party and ribbon cutting on Monday evening, May 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

As a board member of Develop New Albany, and co-owner of NABC (two beers on tap), I’m very happy to represent my organizations at the ribbon cutting.

With relaxed sports bar ambience and casual dining in a historic building at 207/209 E Main (next to the Parthenon), Connor’s Place is the newest downtown New Albany drinking and dining entry. Dave plans on opening tomorrow (Friday, May 11) and Saturday for lunch and dinner. So far as I know, he’ll be closed Sundays.

There’s another knockout downtown outdoor seating area to go along with the Bistro New Albany patio, and a fine draft lineup: NABC Community Dark and Elector, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Spaten Premium Lager, Franziskaner Hefe, and a sixth choice to be named. There’s also a full bar.

Readers are invited to come down and see us on Monday.

Photo credits: Mike Kopp

Stop by Connor's Place on Saturday and check out NA's newest downtown business.

(Crossposted at NA Confidential)

Exhausted proprietor Dave Himmel tells NAC that his Connor’s Place bar and eatery (207 E. Main Street, New Albany) has cleared all regulatory hurdles and will be open for “soft” business Saturday beginning around 11:00 a.m. Call for details at 812-944-0207.

It is located in the former Maytag Laundry building next to the Parthenon.

Please note that owing to the last minute delays and legalese, only a small selection of Dave’s anticipated food and drink choices will be available during the “soft” Saturday hours. NABC’s Elector and Community Dark are on tap, and will be joined by four as yet undetermined drafts (Franziskaner, et al) next week. For the time being, there’ll be pizza, appetizers beer and Dave’s gregarious personality.

See this previous posting for more details: Another new downtown New Albany beginning: Connor’s Place.

Another new downtown New Albany beginning: Connor’s Place.

I had intended to cross-post this piece when it first appeared at my NA Confidential blog on March 3, but it somehow slipped through the cracks. Interior remodeling is well along the way, and soon I'll have photos. There'll be at least two NABC beers on tap out of a total of six.
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Former Bistro New Albany partner Dave Himmel tells NA Confidential that his new downtown eatery and watering hole, to be called Connor’s Place – named in honor of his infant son – has a projected opening date of May 1.

Connor’s Place will occupy ground floor space in the historic building that most readers know as the old Maytag Laundry, located adjacent to the Parthenon at 207 E. Main Street. Both buildings are owned by Third Century Services.

Interior remodeling has begun, and part of the lease package is an atmospheric back bar once housed around the corner at the New Albany Inn – now the Bistro New Albany.

Precise details are of course uncertain at this early date, but Dave tells us that he will be acquiring a three-way alcohol sales permit under the auspices of the riverfront development district, and the barroom itself will be on the right side (looking from the front) and separate from a dining area on the left. There is a roomy and shady patio to the rear, which will be accessible from the dining area.

Tentatively, Dave plans a full and varied lunch menu with pub grub in the evenings, and six beers on tap in addition to wine and liquor. He views the warm and historic ambience of the interior as appealing both to non-drinking diners and sports viewers seeking refreshment during prime events.

Connor’s Place stands to occupy another important niche in the growing portfolio of downtown New Albany’s expanding dining, drinking and entertainment options, which include the recently opened Treet’s Bakery Café and the forthcoming Speakeasy on State Street.

These are precisely the sort of developments that attract precisely the sort of people who are needed to fuel and sustain a renaissance, itself something that no longer can be doubted. NA Confidential will continue to chart these trends, and as we do, lift a Progressive Pint to Dave Himmel and these other pioneers downtown, and please support them with your patronage.

Photo credit: Building view courtesy of Third Century Services.