Where: Crossville, TN
When: Friday, October 9, 2009 11:30-9:30 pm and Saturday, October 10, 2009 11:00 am-9:30pm
German food including; Pork Schnitzel, Kasseler Rippchen(Smoked Pork Chop),
Bratwursts, Knackwursts, Weisswursts(White Sausage). Domestic and imported beverages. Enjoy music with the Just 4 Fun Band, Rheingold Band, and the Bavarian Echo.

Where: Lancaster, TX
When: October 9-10, 2009
German food, beer, wine, and root beer will be available. Entertainment includes live music, a Bavarian dance club, amusement park rides, and art. This event has free parking and free admission.

Where: Red River, NM
When: October 9-11, 2009
Event includes German “OOMPAH” polka music, food, microbreweries, a brew contest, and activities for the kids.

Where: Puyallup, WA
When: October 9-11, 2009
German “grub and grog,” will be served. Activities include Maypole dancing, a root beer garden, face painting for kids, and the Oktoberfest Northwest Running of the Wieners. That would be a race with wiener dogs. Sounds cute. This one sounds like a big event, so be sure to check the website for full details.

Image credit: Sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

Oktoberfest Coming To A Stein Near You

One issue (if you can call it that!) is that a lot of people bring bottled beverages (especially beer) to these get-togethers. The only problem is there’s usually only one bottle opener to go around, so folks are either constantly looking for it or are just get so relaxed they don’t want to even bother looking for it and will use whatever else is close by instead (ask me how I know).

In the video above, bartender Moe Harris, who competes professionally in flair bar tending competitions around the world and teaches bar tending at his own school, shares the many different ways you can get a bottle of beer opened without an opener.

First, he explains the simple science behind a bottle opener, and then shows you how to do it using everything from another bottle of beer, a ring, a counter top (which fits into the “ask me how I know” from above — the counter top at our last house was especially beat up after a barbecue), a shaker tin, a cigarette lighter, a spoon, your teeth (uh, no, I’ll pass on that one!) and amazingly, a piece of paper.

Moe also stresses safety when using anything that’s not actually meant to open a glass bottle, which you should keep in mind if you plan to try any of his methods!

Do you have any unusual ways of opening a glass bottle if there is no opener around?

Post from: Blisstree

Open a Beer Without A Bottle Opener

Don't wig out. It's non-fermented pinot noir (a.k.a. grape juice)

Four ounces? Is he kidding? If I had four ounces of wine, I’d want more. And more. And more. As someone who has a hard time stopping after just one glass of wine, did I really want to chance it?

I worked for the March of Dimes during the 12 months I was pregnant. I knew what alcohol consumption during pregnancy could do. I heard the sad stories of children born with fetal alcohol syndrome. And then there is the possibility of increased cognitive or behavior problems spurred by the mother’s alcohol use. What my doctor and other perinatal experts told me at the time is that a little wine or beer on occasion was fine, but some women might take that information as license to down bottles of booze and put their unborn child at risk. So it was just easier to say, ‘Don’t do it.’”

Years ago it was not big deal to have a sip of wine or beer while pregnant. It some cases, I’ve heard that doctors even recommended it to women who were a bit high strung. (That would be me.) But the times, they are a-changing. In countries like England where drinking during pregnancy is largely accepted, some groups are pushing to adopt America’s standard of slapping labels on bottles of alcohol warning of possible alcohol-related birth defects. And some pubs are refusing service to pregnant women who order alcohol.

It’s easy to find arguments on both sides of the issue. As for me, my body seemed to make its own choice. I tried sipping champagne or wine on a handful of occasions, but my paranoia was overwhelming. And so, for that year I was pregnant, I refrained.

But rest assured, the minute my baby was born and the drugs wore off, I celebrated with a toast!

Sources:
The Telegraph
Daily Mail

photo, Flickr, Brett L.

Post from: Blisstree

Toast to a Healthy Pregnancy?

On Straight Talk – a woman writes in with concerns over her boyfriend who wants to permit his son’s to throw an overnight party complete with alcohol. The boyfriend rationalizes his position in that he’d be providing a safe place to drink. To the contrary, the boyfriend believes if the kids don’t have a safe place they may end up driving while drunk, over-drink or participate in other harmful activities.

In this segment, teens are then allowed to sound off. Each one seems to heavily support the boyfriends position and confirm every parents worst nightmare in that teens will drink and party regardless of whether parents provide a safe place or not.

Fortunately this isn’t a concern for me just yet, but I know the time is quick approaching. With my twins turning sixteen in March, my fears are growing and my prayers that I’ve instilled good solid decision making into their thought processes.

What are your thoughts? Do you think parents should be providing a safe place for kids to drink where they can be monitored?

Image credit: stock.xchng

Post from: Blisstree

Parent Hosted Booze Parties for Teens