A reminder: Biers on Parade, today, 2 - 6 p.m. at the Farmers Market.

The details:

Biers on Parade returns to the Farmers Market on Harvest Homecoming Parade Day (Saturday, October 1).

In even greater detail (Oct. 8, 2015):

ON THE AVENUES: There’s an indie twist to this curmudgeon’s annual Harvest Homecoming column.

Biers on Parade returns to the Farmers Market on Harvest Homecoming Parade Day (Saturday, October 1).

On Saturday, October 1, 2016, NARBA Presents:

Biers on Parade

A pop-up at the New Albany Farmers Market

Local beer and food at the Farmers Market (City Square), at the corner of Market and Bank in downtown New Albany, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1.

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) once again is partnering with the New Albany’s Farmers Market and Harvest Homecoming to stage Biers on Parade, a family-friendly food and drink showcase at the Farmers Market pavilion at the corner of Market and Bank Streets on Saturday, October 1.

Biers on Parade coincides with the Harvest Homecoming Parade through downtown New Albany. The Farmers Market will operate from 8:00 a.m. to around 1:00 p.m. on October 1, then Biers on Parade will set up shop. Food, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks will be available from 2:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m.

Biers on Parade offers beer brewed by all three of our city’s breweries: New Albanian Brewing Company, Donum Dei Brewery and Floyd County Brewing Company.

There’ll also be food prepared by Taco Steve, Chef Walker BBQ, Mama’s Kitchen and Boston Joe’s Lobster Rolls, as well as wine from River City Winery.

Proceeds benefit NARBA and Harvest Homecoming’s selected charities. NARBA is applying for non-profit status as a 501(c)6 professional trade group:

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit trade organization serving the independent restaurant, bar and on-premise food and drink industry in New Albany, Indiana. NARBA serves as the unified voice of its members on government and public relations issues. It also provides programs that offer educational and operational benefits for members. NARBA represents New Albany’s best known and most vibrant local independent business segment, and is dedicated to the advancement and preservation of New Albany as an urban community.

Harvest Homecoming’s booth days in downtown New Albany begin on Thursday, October 6 and run through Sunday, October 9. For more information:
www.harvesthomecoming.com

Oct. 1: Biers on Parade at New Albany City Square
Oct. 1: Harvest Homecoming Parade
Oct. 6 – Oct. 9: Harvest Homecoming Booth Days

Long range outlook: Biers on Parade approved for Oct. 1 at the Farmers Market (City Square).

BOW approved it, so mark your calendars for October 1.

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association's second annual pop-up at the Farmers Market (now called City Square) will begin after the market ends, and is intended to coincide with the Harvest Homecoming Parade. It also will serve as a "parade after party" of sorts, for all ages, with food, drink and music.

Last year's inaugural took place on a cold and blustery day; maybe we'll get better weather this year. Thanks to Matt McMahan for representing NARBA at yesterday's meeting.  

Chris Morris' story.

ON THE AVENUES: There’s an indie twist to this curmudgeon’s annual Harvest Homecoming column.

ON THE AVENUES: There’s an indie twist to this curmudgeon’s annual Harvest Homecoming column.

A weekly web column by Roger A. Baylor.

You may have noticed that in 2015, I’ve consciously soft-pedaled blog references to Harvest Homecoming.

In completely unrelated news, there is an amazing concept called “pragmatism.” It has taken me 55 years to be introduced to it, and I thought I’d give it a whirl. Being pragmatic actually has little to do with running for mayor. It’s about reformatting for the future, and getting something important accomplished.

Those detailed annual critiques of Harvest Homecoming, as regularly offered here since 2005, remain far more applicable than not. They’re objective, factual and easily searchable. You are invited to indulge, read and learn.

Apart from impeccable reasoning of the sort I’ve offered in this space previously, I have three primary reasons for taking a break in 2015.

First, there is escalating personal exhaustion.

Numerous metaphorical 800-lb. gorillas roam the mean streets of New Albany, and without occasional exercises in triage, energy conservation and gin, wrestling with them all at once can be quite tiring. It’s better to pick selected battles and topple the behemoths each in turn – or, failing that, drink more gin.

Second, I’m experiencing mounting personal changes, many of them delightful.

My decision to uncouple from NABC has been liberating in several ways. Among them is a boomerang of sorts with regard to my terms of engagement with Harvest Homecoming.

The advent of downtown New Albany’s first wave of indies (i.e. Bistro New Albany, circa 2006), and then later Bank Street Brewhouse (2009), brought me into annual downtown contact with Harvest Homecoming for the first time in decades. BSB’s concurrent Fringe Fest was and is a direct response to the myriad challenges of happy harvesting for local independent businesses.

Dependent on my future job status, perhaps now I’ll be free to revert to that halcyon pre-2006 default condition of avoiding upcloseandpersonal contact with Harvest Homecoming, especially as it is manifested in its enduringly invasive “booth days.”

Frankly, it’s never been my kind of event, and there’s not much of substance in it for folks like me. So be it, and it takes all sorts to fill a planet.

As such, I envision a future family custom of departing for vacation on the Monday following the parade, because parade day has taken on a renewed significance for me, which brings us to Reason Number Three.

There’s a new tradition called Biers on Parade.

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This year the New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association “popped up” a beer garden at the Farmers Market, intended to coincide with the parade. The weather didn’t cooperate, but we got it done with the active help of the New Albany Farmers Market and Harvest Homecoming. Even the captive Board of Public Works and Safety gave prompt and courteous approval.

See, various entities actually can row in the same direction. Kudos to them all.

We’re eager to build on this year’s Biers on Parade experiment as the capstone to an entirely different and yet complementary concept for the week preceding Harvest Homecoming’s downtown takeover.

This is the cause of heightened economic localism, and a week-long spotlight placed directly on local independent businesses.

Let it be known that enhanced localism should be the basis for the city of New Albany’s overall economic development strategy, and if I’m elected mayor, it will be. The American Independent Business Alliance offers one reason why.

“Multiple studies show locally-owned independent restaurants return twice as much per dollar of revenue to our local economy than chain restaurants. And independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales than chain competitors.”

As we continue working toward this goal, pragmatic adjustments to the fall calendar are in order. Harvest Homecoming’s parade always takes place on the first Saturday in October. Henceforth, we’re hoping that the last Sunday in September provides a handy annual localism kickoff with Indie Fest, followed by New Albany Restaurant & Bar Week, concluding with Biers on Parade.

Taken together, it’s a ready-made Indie Week to bookend Harvest Homecoming. It extends festive times over two full weeks, not just one. It provides the opportunity to trumpet the merits of “we’re here all year” alongside those of “come to Harvest Homecoming once a year.” It can be adapted to all downtown stakeholders, not just food and drink businesses.

It restores balance, and takes a necessary step toward democratizing downtown.

What it cannot do is completely relieve the stress points created by Harvest Homecoming’s “booth days” presence in an evolving, working, beating heart of a city. In years to come, dozens of people will be living upstairs in previously vacant buildings. Festive noise and clutter are one thing, and access to living space something very different. Something’s got to give.

However, I’ve become convinced that a younger generation of Harvest Homecoming movers and doers understands the need for evolution. We worked together to stage Biers on Parade. This year’s official Harvest Homecoming program contains a centerfold map of downtown, highlighting local independent businesses. It isn’t perfect, but reformers need encouragement.

Better communication helps. If I’m elected mayor, transparency is a guarantee, and we’ll move along the process. If not, irrespective of my new life, I intend to remain involved with independent local business activities preceding Harvest Homecoming.

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A final word about my parade non-participation in 2015.

This year, I couldn’t bend the parade committee to the notion of common sense, which to me implies an acceptance of walking as the simplest, most basic form of human transportation.

There was a surreal, 1960s-era quality to the conversation (paraphrasing): “You’re the candidate of walkability, and walkability is the future of our downtown? That’s nice, but don’t you want a shiny car for that? After all, it’s Hot Rod Harvest.”

No thanks. I’d just like to walk the parade.

Yes, bureaucracies usually evolve accordingly. Rule books cease being living documents, and become immutable commandments for facilitating control. But if there is any single thing I’ve learned in the craft beer business, it’s that creativity freshens stale orthodoxy – and creativity is best inspired by letting loose, as opposed to tightening up.

I believe the parade is redeemable, and should be multi-modal – just like the streets it uses each year.

We’ll get to THAT, too.

If you venture into the weekend's Harvest Homecoming scrum, remember the buildings behind the booths. The businesses inside them -- and the people living above them -- are here all year.

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Recent columns:

October 1: ON THE AVENUES: No more fear, Jeff.

September 24: ON THE AVENUES: Almost two years later, Mr. Gahan has yet to plug in this clock, and so it's time for him to clock out.

September 17: ON THE AVENUES: Dear Neighbor: If you’re tired of the same old story, turn some pages.

September 10: ON THE AVENUES: Lanesville Heritage Weekend comes around again.

September 3: ON THE AVENUES: When even Mitt Romney can run to the left of New Albany’s Democrats, it's a very big problem.

August 27: ON THE AVENUES: Whips, chains and economic development (2010).

August 20: ON THE AVENUES: In the groove.

Parade? What parade?

Thanks, everyone. You were reading and sharing yesterday, and I think the point was amply made.

Me? I just want to walk the parade route tomorrow.

What it comes down to is this: The parade committee's word is the eleventh commandment, and to be a politician aspiring to use nothing except his own two legs to traverse the parade route is to risk arrest.

And if I'm to be arrested, I prefer it occur as an act of principled civil disobedience in support of a cause slightly more important than a parade. One picks certain battles, retains a share of dry powder, and goes to the mattresses only when necessary.

Daily life in New Albany is provocation enough, isn't it?

Today I'll be at Biers on Parade, the New Albany Restaurant and Bar Associations's pop-up beer garden at the Farmers Market. It runs from 1 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Biers on Parade at the Farmers Market tomorrow, parade day, starting at 1:00 p.m.

Biers on Parade is a go tomorrow. If you're downtown for the Harvest Homecoming parade, stop by and visit. It's a "pop-up" beer garden format and entirely casual.

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) is partnering with New Albany’s Farmers Market and Harvest Homecoming to stage Biers on Parade, a family-friendly food and drink showcase at the newly remodeled Farmers Market pavilion at the corner of Market and Bank on Saturday, October 3.

Biers on Parade coincides with the Harvest Homecoming Parade through downtown New Albany, and also will conclude New Albany Independent Restaurant Week.

NARBA member businesses will be selling food, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks from 1:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m. on October 3. The Farmers Market will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. earlier that day.

Biers on Parade will offer beers from two out of three of our city’s breweries: New Albanian Brewing Company and Donum Dei Brewery. Having only recently opened for business, Floyd County Brewing Company isn't yet equipped for kegging, so it will be unable to send beer this year.

There’ll also be food prepared by Feast BBQ, The Exchange and Taco Steve, and wine from River City Winery.

Baylor for Mayor: Consider walking with me in the Harvest Homecoming Parade.

The Baylor for Mayor campaign officially has been entered into the Harvest Homecoming Parade, which takes place on Saturday, October 3.

I have an e-mail reply to prove it.

The parade organizers have agreed to allow us to walk the parade. We also can have bicycles with us, which would be a good thing, although the parade's customarily languid pace might preclude them be mounted and propelled.

What better way to celebrate this year's "hot rod" theme than openly reject auto-centrism by walking the parade? It's so very appropriate a response.

It took patience and cajoling. There are rules governing political candidates, including the stipulation that elected officials only can ride in convertibles, and all others must occupy space on the floats entered by their political parties.

I pointed out to them that I'm neither elected nor a party member, and that a key element of my platform encourages walkability. As such, riding atop a vehicle would be useless. To their credit, they came around.

You are welcome to walk with me. I'd love to have a few cyclists along to help make the point about street safety for all users, not just their cars. Kids are welcome. Note that the parade is all-weather, and let's have fun and show that there are alternatives to the same old same old.

After we're finished, there'll be this for refueling:

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association presents Biers on Parade, at the Farmers Market on Saturday, October 3.

Note also the full schedule, beginning with Indie Fest.

Sept. 27: New Albany Indie Fest
Sept. 28 – Oct. 3: New Albany Independent Restaurant Week
Oct. 3: Biers on Parade at the New Albany Farmers Market
Oct. 3: Harvest Homecoming Parade
Oct. 8 – Oct. 11: Harvest Homecoming Booth Days

Learn about Indie Fest 2015, coming on Sunday, September 27.

Indie Fest returns on Sunday, September 27. As noted below, Indie Fest is the kickoff event for the first New Albany Independent Restaurant Week, which concludes on Saturday, October 3, with Biers on Parade -- also Harvest Homecoming Parade Day.

Here's the link to the New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association's press release. 

The point is this: If Harvest Homecoming is to be the community's focus from parade day forward, then we're trying to make New Albany's independent local business segment the focus for a week on the other side of Harvest Homecoming, beginning with Indie Fest on Sept. 27.

Below is what you need to know about sponsorships for Indie Fest. In my ideal world, Indie Fest revitalizes New Albany First, which then would include the New Albany Restaurant and Bar Association as a parallel arm. Of course, what must happen before any of this is an expansion of consciousness, and a willingness to work together toward common goals. Combined, locally-owned independent businesses possess potential clout far beyond what can be wielded individually.

We must unite to achieve it.

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Dear Business Owner,

You have poured your blood, sweat, and tears into making your business successful. You are an integral part of the movement that is making New Albany a destination and a thriving hub of commerce.

As a business owner you know how important it is to provide the community with attractions that pull people in from around the region to showcase the diversity New Albany has to offer. We are providing you the opportunity to be an essential part of a special celebration of all things local and independent. On Sunday, September 27, 2015 New Albany First will be hosting the Fourth Annual Indie Fest. This event will be held at the newly refurbished Underground Station in the 100 block of Bank Street in downtown New Albany.

Indie Fest is a wonderful display of the rich heritage of the arts in New Albany, and will showcase booths for merchants, artists, restaurants, and craftspeople. As in years past, our event will feature music from local musicians spanning all genres, playing throughout the day. Indie Fest is by no means just for adults, there has always, and will continue to be, an extensive kids area that includes a magician, a local musician with instruments for the kids to play, arts and crafts, and other kid friendly activities. This is truly a family event.

Indie Fest is New Albany’s end cap to an exciting summer music series. We are also excited to be part of the Grand Opening celebration for the Underground Station, and the kick-off event for NARBA’s independent restaurant and bar week.

A successful event like this would not happen without the help of our sponsors. We would love to showcase you and your business at Indie Fest. There are multiple sponsorship levels available to meet all budgets and all are absolutely vital to making this event possible.

Please join us as we celebrate New Albany. Help us make Indie Fest 2015 epic!


Sincerely,

Marcey Wisman-Bennett
Chairperson, New Albany Indie Fest, LLC

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Sponsorship Possibilities

Presenting Sponsor - $2,000
· First right of refusal for Presenting Sponsor for next two years at the same $2,000 rate
· Logo recognition on all promotional and advertising materials
· Logo and/or company name recognition in all Indie Fest public relations efforts
· Recognition on social networks
· hanging of a 4x6 blow through banner
· Opportunity to address the festival crowd during a specified time slot
· Opportunity to provide up to (4) additional 3’x10’ banners with company logo
· Reserved vendor booth space
· Opportunity to distribute coupons, special offers, sampling, conduct raffles and special promotions specifically for YOUR business. (Does not include signage other than the speaker banners.)
· Invitation to sit on the event planning committee!

Gold Sponsor - $1,000
· Logo recognition on all promotional and advertising materials
· Logo and/or company name recognition in all Indie Fest public relations efforts
· recognition on social networks
· Printing and hanging of a 2x6 banner in key locations near stage
· Verbally thanked on stage during the festival for your participation
· Reserved vendor booth space
· Opportunity to distribute coupons, special offers, sampling, conduct raffles and special promotions specifically for YOUR business. (Does not include signage other than the banner near stage.)

Silver Sponsor - $500
· Logo recognition on all promotional and advertising materials
· Logo and/or company name recognition in an Indie Fest public relations efforts
· Recognition on social networks
· Printing and hanging of a 2x6 banner in key locations near stage
· Verbally thanked on stage during the festival for your participation
· Reserved vendor boot space
· Opportunity to distribute coupons, special offers, sampling, conduct raffles and special promotions specifically for YOUR business. (Does not include signage other than the banner near stage.)

Bronze Sponsor - $150
· Logo recognition on all promotional and advertising materials
· Verbally thanked on stage during the festival for your participation
· Logo recognition on group 2x6 banner in front of stage

Banner Sponsor - $50
· Opportunity to provide up to 1 banner with company logo for staff to hang
· Logo recognition on all promotional and advertising materials

Make checks payable to:

New Albany Indie Fest, LLC.
1739 Houston St.
New Albany, IN 47150

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association presents Biers on Parade, at the Farmers Market on Saturday, October 3.

The press release will be going out this week. Here's an advance preview.

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NEWS FROM: The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2015

CONTACT:   Roger A. Baylor

Secretary

NARBA

(502) 468-9710

roger@newalbanian.com

On Saturday, October 3, 2015, NARBA Presents:

Biers on Parade

At the New Albany Farmers Market

Local beer, fine food and melodies at the Farmers Market (City Square), at the corner of Market and Bank in downtown New Albany, 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3.

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) is partnering with New Albany’s Farmers Market to stage Biers on Parade, a family-friendly food and drink showcase at the newly remodeled Farmers Market pavilion at the corner of Market and Bank on Saturday, October 3.

Biers on Parade coincides with the Harvest Homecoming Parade through downtown New Albany, and also will conclude New Albany Independent Restaurant Week.

The Farmers Market will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on October 3.

NARBA member businesses will be selling food, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks from 1:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m.

Biers on Parade will offer the first-ever opportunity for patrons to choose from a lineup that includes beers brewed by all three of our city’s breweries: New Albanian Brewing Company, Donum Dei Brewery and the newest, Floyd County Brewing Company.

There’ll also be food prepared by Big Four Burgers + Beer, Feast BBQ and The Exchange, and wine from River City Winery. Other participants TBA.

Proceeds benefit NARBA and Harvest Homecoming’s selected charities. NARBA is applying for non-profit status as a 501(c)6 professional trade group:

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit trade organization serving the independent restaurant, bar and on-premise food and drink industry in New Albany, Indiana. NARBA serves as the unified voice of its members on government and public relations issues. It also provides programs that offer educational and operational benefits for members. NARBA represents New Albany’s best known and most vibrant local independent business segment, and is dedicated to the advancement and preservation of New Albany as an urban community.

NARBA’s Biers on Parade is the final event during a week devoted to independent local businesses in New Albany.

New Albany Indie Fest takes place on Sunday, September 27. It’s “a local arts festival including artist booths, amazing music, food, drink, children's area & more! Located at Main & Bank Street in front of the new Underground Station.”

https://www.facebook.com/events/738734362898584/

September 28 – October 3 is the inaugural New Albany Independent Restaurant Week. New Albany is Louisville’s most flavorful borough, and our locally-owned restaurant and bar operators will be running promotions and holding special events throughout the week. Visit NARBA’s page at Facebook for more:

https://www.facebook.com/DineNewAlbany

Harvest Homecoming’s booth days in downtown New Albany begin on Thursday, October 8 and run through Sunday, October 11. For more information:

www.harvesthomecoming.com

Sept. 27: New Albany Indie Fest

Sept. 28 – Oct. 3: New Albany Independent Restaurant Week

Oct. 3: Biers on Parade at New Albany City Square

Oct. 3: Harvest Homecoming Parade

Oct. 8 – Oct. 11: Harvest Homecoming Booth Days

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