Behind and alongside the booths: Bills of fare at 20 indie places downtown during Harvest Homecoming booth days.

Apart from being a fine human being, Ryan Hammel works for Monarch, Indiana's largest wholesale distributor. A decisive majority of the beers I'm stocking at Pints&union come to us via Monarch, and it has been a very good working relationship with them during the pub's infancy.

Here, verbatim, is Ryan's explanation of the map you see above. It shows the restaurants and bars "behind the booths" during Harvest Homecoming's apex next week. As we have previously observed, existing bricks 'n' mortar food and drink purveyors are becoming increasingly integrated into the festivals' street party, while still remaining a distinct segment all its own.

The evolution has been interesting, to say the least. Ryan has performed a needed service by coordinating this information, and I recommend you at least offer to buy him a drink as he makes the rounds.

"He worked really hard, Grandpa..."

"...so do washing machines."

Literally months in the making...I do not know what more I can give YOU, the Harvest Homecoming Festival Goer. I certainly don't think anyone has ever attempted this.

I know you're putting the inflatable pilot from AIRPLANE! in your cubicle chair Thursday and cutting out early. I know you're *cough cough* sick on Friday and can't work. I know you're hungry on Saturday and that calories don't count during Harvest Homecoming. Most of all, I know you'll be thirsty and we are sending the perfect remedy for that and all of the places on this map (yes it's MS Paint, and yes that's all I have, and YES if you use this and there's a benefit I'll make it prettier next year) will be serving it to YOU.

Numbered 1-20 from West to East, here is all of your Live Music, all of the Specials, and anything else the lovely places in Downtown New Albany want to share with you next weekend. Print this out, tattoo it to your forearm, text it to your family group chat (please share it)...and do a great weather dance and I'll see you downtown next week and weekend.

THE BEER BEAT: The Second Annual Harvest Craft Beer Hop takes place on Friday, October 13.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2017, "booth days" take place from October 12 - 15 (Thursday through Sunday). Behind the booths are the storefronts where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Last year restaurateur Ian Hall and his crew at The Exchange pub + kitchen organized the first Harvest Craft Beer Hop. This year it's bigger and better, featuring a stellar lineup of downtown New Albany's food and drink establishments ... 13 in all.

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The Second Annual Harvest Craft Beer Hop is here!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Visit at least 5 of the participating craft beer bars on your passport. Have a beer, get a signature! Bring your passport back to The Exchange at 9 p.m. with 5 signatures and be entered in a drawing for cool prizes.

Prizes include t-shirts and gift cards from all participants, plus a grand prize offered by BRAND Hospitality group including a $50 gift card to The Exchange and a $100 gift card to Brooklyn and the Butcher! And all you have to do is DRINK BEER!

Passports will be available at The Exchange Pub + Kitchen and Brooklyn and the Butcher this Wednesday @ 3 p.m. You can also print your own!

The Harvest Craft Beer Hop was designed to showcase local bars and restaurants who focus on promoting craft beer. We thank all returning restaurants from last year and graciously acknowledge newcomers like Hull & High Water, Dragon King's Daughter, and Match: Cigar Bar.

FB event page: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/224123361455993/


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For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2017 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: Rounding up all the rest of 'em.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Throughout the week, I've been collecting information about food and drink behind the booths. Here are the indie businesses that remain in a somewhat arbitrary geographic chunk of downtown. I scrolled through social media links for a final time on Wednesday afternoon, looking for special event notifications. A few appear below.

Profuse apologies if I omitted an indie; let me know and I'll correct the omission as soon as possible. As with the previous listings this week, these are the indie businesses who are open for business year round. They're really what we're about.

MARKET STREET

Hitching Post Tavern (115 W. Market Street)

Vickie's Good Time Bar & Grill (114 E. Market Street)

The Comfy Cow (109 E. Market Street)

Bella Roma Italiana Cuisine (134 E. Market Street)

Quills Coffee (137 E. Market Street)
"In for the Harvest Homecoming? We'll be open regular hours."

Coqui's Cafe (147 E. Market Street)
"Would anyone be interested in helping us run our booth at Harvest Homecoming tomorrow and Friday? It's a paid gig."

Hugh E. Bir Cafe (324 E. Market Street)

Pastime Grill and Pub (424 E. Market)

Israel's Delicias De Mexico Gourmet (1515 E. Market Street)

MAIN STREET

Brownie's "The Shed" Grille & Bar in New Albany (826 W. Main Street)

Feast BBQ (116 W. Main Street)

Main Street Pub (147 E. Main St.)
"Harvest festivities are approaching- check us out on the beer walk- best deals on beers!! Aluminum pints 3.50 Friday & Saturday. Jell-O shooters 1.00 (until supplies last). No cover!!"

Cafe 157 (157 E. Main Street)
"Open daily plus extra hours for Harvest Homecoming!"

AND ALL AROUND

Daisy's Country Cooking (223 W. 5th Street)

Dragon King's Daughter (202 E. Elm Street)

River City Winery (321 Pearl Street)

Rookies Cookies & Cakes (310 Pearl Street)

Shawn's Southern BBQ (822 State Street)
"Look for us at Harvest Homecoming!"

Sweet Stuff Bakery (323 E. Spring Street)

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: New Autumn Festival at Pride Bar + Lounge, with Taco Steve.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Pride Bar + Lounge (504 State Street) is hosting New Autumn Fest for three days (Thursday through Saturday; still more information here).

3 days of Music, Art, Tacos, and Beer in lovely New Albany, IN during Harvest Homecoming.

Taco Steve's cart will be on site with food.

We'll have the Taco Steve taco cart at the New Autumn Festival on Friday and Saturday starting at 7:30 pm. Our taqueria at 604 East Spring Street will be operating on normal business hours. Brave the harvest crowds, or don't. Two ways to enjoy Taco Steve!

There's also a digital album with performances by the artists scheduled to play at the festival: New Autumn Festival Compilation Vol. 2

As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: Aladdin's Cafe and Brooklyn and The Butcher.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Having only recently moved into its new location at Underground Station, Aladdin's Cafe (37 Bank Street, Suite #2) is making the best of restricted access.

Dear Friends, Fiesta Rides are on and working today, and every day till the end of Harvest Homecoming. Beat the crowd and come down to this area and have some fun with the kids. Don't forget to stop by and get your Gyro & Fries, or Humus, Shawarma, Steak Sandwich, Falafel, Cold Drinks, etc....

One and a half blocks north, Brooklyn and The Butcher (148 E. Market Street) also is being adaptive, with a small menu card and drink specials.

Harvest Homecoming is a time to relax, eat some good food, and have a cold one. Join us for our first Harvest. Our patio will have a great beer garden with live music, our speakeasy will be open, and the bar will be a great spot to see and be seen.

As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: Harvest Beer Hop on Friday, a nice walk courtesy of The Exchange.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Last week I ran into restaurateur Ian Hall at Quills Coffee and Downtown Networking Central, and he said his crew was diligently working on the "passport" -- and quite a document it is.

The Harvest Beer Hop unites Bank Street Brewhouse, Habana Blues, Brooklyn and The Butcher, Gospel Bird, Big Four Burgers NA, Floyd County Brewing Company and The Exchange Pub + Kitchen, each within easy walking distance of each other, for a Friday pub crawl.

Just remember that you'll need a designated driver, pre-arranged ride or Uber.

7 beers, 7 bars, 1 awesome night in downtown New Albany!

This is a challenge to hop heads and ale drinkers everywhere-- Finish the Harvest Beer Hop!

Pick up a passport at any participating location and let the good times roll. When you drink a beer, get the bartenders signature! While there is a suggested path, there is no official order to complete your hop! You can start anywhere on the list!

Once you've drank at every establishment on the list, bring your completed passport to the Exchange by 9pm to be entered into a raffle for gift cards, swag bags, and other awesome goodies provided by your favorite restaurants.

We'll be out of town on Friday, and I may well have completed this walk previously without knowing there was an official route; next year, I'm in.

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As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink during Harvest Homecoming: Donum Dei Brewery and Wick's Pizza Parlor.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Previously we've charted the progress of renovations at the old Abe's Rental building (140 E. Main Street). The current rumor has it eventually becoming a bakery, and more strides have been made since August, when this was posted:

RENOVATION UPDATE: You know, that building where Abe's Rental used to be (140 E Main St).

In the completed patio setting shown above, Donum Dei Brewery (3211 Grant Line Road; behind El Nopal) will be staging a beer garden during Harvest Homecoming booth days.

We will be having a Harvest Homecoming Beer Garden! Come and relax and have a couple of pints.

The locations is 140 E. Main. The garden will be on the patio behind the building.

Hours will be:

Thursday October 6, 11-10
Friday October 7, 11-11
Saturday October 8, 11-11
Sunday October 9, 11-6

We will have live original music Friday and Saturday night 7-9.

Friday Bob and Erin Youell
Saturday South Upand

A block away at Wick's Pizza Parlor (225 State Street), the emphasis is on the music, but of course there'll be food and drink as well.

As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: Gospel Bird and NABC Bank Street Brewhouse.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Owner Eric Morris previews Gospel Bird's (207 E. Main) inaugural homecoming dance.

We are doing live music on the patio with three beer tubs serving the usual domestics, and the Airstream patio bar will have Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA and Breckenridge Vanilla Porter. Tables will be removed inside for standing room. There's no cover charge for the party on the patio. Music is on Friday and Saturday only, but the patio specials are Thursday through Sunday. 

In 2016, NABC Bank Street Brewhouse (415 Bank Street) is staging its ninth annual Fringe Fest. Amazingly, the first edition was in 2008, five months before the brewery opened for business. The headliner then, as was the case last month at Indie Fest, was Sativa Gumbo.

Here's the updated scoop on NABC's Fringe Fest ... beer, music, film, art and “Harvest Culture on the Skids.”

This year’s Fringe Fest theme is “Harvest Culture on the Skids”, and will feature NABC craft beer, a myriad of musical performances, a selection of films, local art, and various other attractions and frivolity.

Learn more about Fringe Fest 2016 at the Facebook event page. Beer lovers will note that the annual release of Wet Knobs Harvest Hop Ale is on schedule for Fringe Fest 2016.

As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: Adrienne & Co. and Toast on Market.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

On Market Street in the epicenter of the orange occupation, Adrienne & Co. (133 E. Market) adapts and analogizes.

With Harvest Homecoming looming around the corner (like a clown in the woods) you might wonder what we have in store for you down here at Adrienne & Co New Albany... Our Bakery & Cafe will be open during our normal hours 8a-2p serving up a full menu! We will also have a booth that will be serving up our sweet & delicious desserts and pastries for your fall eating pleasure!

Just a few doors down at 141 E. Market, Toast on Market will use festival time to take the week of for spiffing up, returning on the Tuesday the 11th.

As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: Floyd County Brewing Company and Habana Blues.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

At Floyd County Brewing Company (129 West Main Street) there'll be an Indiana craft beer focus in the Biergarten.

Very excited to announce the first annual TASTE-IN festival. Come hang out in the Biergarten and enjoy 16 Indiana Craft Beers from 11 Indiana Breweries. There will be delicious food available and fantastic live music both Fri (Robert Rolfe Fedderson) and Sat (The Pirtles).

Habana Blues (320 Pearl Street) will convert its parking places into people spaces, and bravo to that.

Harvest Homecoming 2016 is almost here! While you are enjoying the festival in Beautiful Downtown New Albany be sure to stop by Habana Blues! We will have a BEER & WINE GARDEN on our Bank Street Parking Lot ... Huge Tent, All of your favorite Beers and Wines and LIVE MUSIC starting at 1:00 PM Friday and Saturday!!

More to come on Monday.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.