Don't Cry Out Loud.

I had no idea that Grandpa Jones of the long-running series Hee Haw was from Henderson County, Kentucky -- same as my mother, although he was born 19 years before her.

Jones liked to say that truth is stranger than fact. It isn't known whether he ever visited New Albany, which puts this thoughtful axiom to the test on a daily basis.

In fact, I'd go so far as to argue that Hee Haw provides more sound a basis for marketing Nawbany than other suggestions made over the years, up to (and including) the immortal "Come To City," which came close to causing a riot back in 2011, the final year of Doug England's third term.

If you're new to the (ob)scene, "Come To City" is a saga worth revisiting.

From 2011 and 2015: Regaining consciousness in a city “coming” to? Or, the infamous Come to City marketing fiasco of 2011.

"Top-down is superfluous when the grassroots are mobilized, and now, more than ever, small business has the means to come together and take a seat at the table."

Of course, these disasters were pre-COVID, now a line of demarcation between past and present, although curiously the Sherman Minton Bridge has a way of circling back to take pounds of flesh from the general vicinity of our posteriors (as in 2021).

Truth? It's still stranger than fact. In other recent news, there is this.

New Albany comes up with fun idea to get people to explore city, by Andrew Chernoff (WLKY)

Scavenger hunt created based on the game "Monopoly"

It's important for people to support businesses during this COVID-19 pandemic, especially local businesses.

Develop New Albany came up with a fun way to get people to do so. The idea that "Develop New Albany" came up with is a scavenger hunt based on the game "Monopoly" ... 

PINTS & UNION PORTFOLIO: Beer Tuesday Talk & Taste, and Tabletop Tuesday; beer and board gaming starting Tuesday, August 14.

To be perfectly honest, I've yet to make the acquaintance of The Settlers of Catan, yet I'm undeterred. If I were asked to select a beer to match the above image, it would be Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier.

Our golden-yellow wheat beer, with its fine-poured white foam, smells of cloves and impresses consumers with its refreshing banana flavor. It is full bodied with a smooth yeast taste. To be enjoyed at any time, this beer goes excellently with fish, seafood, spicy cheeses and pairs especially well with the traditional Bavarian veal sausage. Hefeweissbier brewed according to our centuries-old brewing tradition on the Weihenstephan hill.

If you're wondering where I'm headed with this, be aware of two events taking place at Pints&union (114 E. Market) on Tuesday evening.

Tabletop Tuesday
The first board game slated for Tabletop Tuesday is The Settlers of Catan. Play the game upstairs in the room we've yet to name.

Beer Tuesday Talk & Taste
The plan all along has been for me to keep regular "office hours" at Pints&union, although I'm not calling them Office Hours as such, since this title refers to my former Monday tasting gig at the Public House.

As often as humanly possible, I'll be upstairs at  between 5:00 p.m. and at least 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings, starting Tuesday, August 14.

This weekly event is strictly informal, and you need not be present at any precise time, just at any point within the window. It's not exactly a class, and there'll be no tests. However, there'll be a beer of the week; purchase one downstairs, bring the beer upstairs, and we'll talk it over.

The conversation might lead somewhere, or not much of anywhere at all. However, it's your chance to learn about beer styles and ask me questions.

As you may have guessed already, this week's featured beer is Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier. Currently it's a rotating draft selection, and will remain on tap for at least another month.

Want to know more? Come see me on Tuesday night.