BEER WITH A SOCIALIST: Donum Dei's second annual chili cook-off to benefit APRON is Sunday, January 27.

The chili cook-off in 2018.

For the inaugural gathering of Donum Dei Brewstillery's chili cook-off last year the temperature outside was 55 degrees, and we were sitting on the patio. It was a blast, but this year's long range forecast shows a high of only 31 degrees on Sunday, January 27 (1 - 3 p.m.)

That's "chili-er" weather, indeed -- and fully appropriate.

Thanks to my pal Blake Montgomery for making me aware. Before we get to the gritty details, just a bit about the good cause of choice.

APRON, Inc.

“Helping you out of the weeds”

APRON, Inc. was founded in 2011 by a group of individuals with ties to the local restaurant community. Apron supporters include owners, servers, chefs and others concerned about our local independent food and beverage service workers. They realize that independent restaurant employees may be susceptible to financial distress in times of crisis.

Now for the rules of engagement. I'm planning on stopping by.

Just when you thought "Bowl Season" was finished, Donum Dei presents our second annual chili cook-off to benefit Apron, Inc. We need 10 contestants for this event and already have 9 entered, so we need one more brave soul. Entry fee is $10, with prizes for first, second and third place. Last place will receive the Dilly Dilly Award. Open to the public! Samples are just $1.00 and bowls of chili are $5.00 (all proceeds to Apron). If interested in being the final contestant (no professional chefs/cooks), PM us at our Facebook page. Prizes include a filled growler of beer, pint glasses and t-shirts, plus a trophy for 1st and last place. The only rule for the contestants is NO PASTA (we are NOT Cincinnati) Any meat, any beans, any peppers/spices are allowed. Must cook the chili prior to the event and deliver in a crockpot or any type of kitchen appliance that you can plug in (ovens and grills are excluded). Come one, come all, and don't get the Dilly Dilly Award.

THE BEER BEAT: Chili cook-off at Donum Dei Brewery on the 28th, to benefit APRON.

This sounds like fun. Thanks to my pal Blake Montgomery for making me aware. Before we get to the gritty details, just a bit about the good cause of choice.

APRON, Inc.

“Helping you out of the weeds”

APRON, Inc. was founded in 2011 by a group of individuals with ties to the local restaurant community. Apron supporters include owners, servers, chefs and others concerned about our local independent food and beverage service workers. They realize that independent restaurant employees may be susceptible to financial distress in times of crisis.

Now for the rules of engagement.

Just when you thought "Bowl Season" was finished, we present the first chili cook-off to benefit Apron, Inc. We need 10 contestants for this event. Already have 6 entered so need 4 more brave souls. Entry fee is $10, prizes for first, second, third and last place will receive the Dilly Dilly Award. Open to the public! Samples are just $1.00 and bowls of chili are $5.00 (all proceeds to Apron). If interested in being a contestant the first 4 people that PM us will be entered. (no professional chefs/cooks). Prizes include filled growler of beer, pint glasses, t-shirts, and beer candles from Wik'd. plus a trophy for 1st and last place. The only rule for the contestants is NO PASTA (we are NOT Cincinnati) Any meat, any beans, any peppers/spices are allowed. Must cook the chili prior to the event and deliver in a crockpot or any type of kitchen appliance that you can plug in. (ovens and grills are excluded) Come one come all and don't get the Dilly Dilly Award

The Vintage Fire Museum moved to Jeffersonville so that Gahan might monetize.

Fire engines aren't everyone's shtick, but it's worth remembering that the impetus for what is now a Vintage Fire Museum as situated in Jeffersonville came almost entirely from New Albanians, from the Conway collection's inception straight through to the museum's brief residency in the Coyle showroom.

As the corporate welfare housing project at the former auto dealership has unfolded behind Jeff Gahan's perennially closed doors, it has become far easier to understand the reasons for the shabby treatment accorded the fire museum's stalwarts by Gahan and his economic dishevelment chief David Duggins.

They had a two-for-one TIF/sewer waiver deal to be completed just in time for the 2015 political calendar, and so the fire museum was given the bum's rush. The museum may or may not have been a good fit at the Coyle site, but what's clear now is that it did not fit into Gahan's governance-by-monetization worldview -- after all, how on earth could a handful of geezers ever kick back campaign finance to the tune of fat cats like Flaherty Collins?

I'm happy to see the Fire Museum's ongoing progress in Jeffersonville, and even more delighted that Rick, Kim and the crew at Donum Dei stepped in to help with an event that I wasn't able to organize. Thanks, guys.

'Chili, Brats & Brew' celebrates Jeff fire museum, by Jenna Esarey (C-J)

Vintage Fire Museum’s Chili Cook-Off is Nov. 14, and city's economic development plan is ... is ...

The Vintage Fire Museum soon will be moving to Jeffersonville, but for now it remains New Albanian. In the photo, Curt Peters previews the Museum's approaching fundraiser for the Board of Works audience earlier this week.

The Vintage Fire Museum’s 5th Annual Chili Cook-Off takes place on Thursday November 14, 2013 from 5:30-8:00 pm. It will be held at the The Grand on 138 E. Market St, New Albany, Indiana.

Following are the Top Three Things we know for sure about the Chili Cookoff.

1. The museum's restored 1937 flood-time floating fire truck (above) will be unveiled.
2. The chili will be good.
3. The Grand won't bother with craft beer at the cash bar for the occasion. Does it ever?

Sighhhh ... it's probably time to send Blake to The Grand and explain localism to them (again), but in the meantime, as we wish the best to the Vintage Fire Museum in transitional days to come, it's worth a reprise of thoughts published here in August.

---

What's the plan, and if there's a plan, how are we to know?

We now know that the Vintage Fire Museum will be moving to Jeffersonville, and that Curt Peters takes the high road (as always) in explaining the museum's ongoing regional basis while barely mentioning the nifty $500 a year lease making such a move inevitable.

Understandably, museum backers are disappointed. But we also know there are two sides to every story, and we've discussed the concept and implications of the fire museum in the past. It was never a panacea for New Albany, to be sure, but could have been a nice addition under favorable circumstances. You know ... as part of an overall plan.

Just let me try to explain, very briefly, what strikes me in all of this. It's not about the fire museum, itself. Primarily, it's that as various issues like this one come and go, and decisions are made (or not made), it is maddeningly difficult to see any pattern, and if there is one, it is a plan largely undertaken without substantive public input.

Consider the following, listed randomly.

• The UEA shifts part of its bounty to Quills, but Lancaster's moves to Clarksville.
• Taming the Main Street corridor is absolutely vital, but other looming grid necessities downtown (one-way streets impeding revitalization) are placed on the seemingly permanent back burner.
• Projects already in an advanced state of planning (Slate Run) suddenly look shaky, and for financial reasons.
• Millions of dollars for two new showpiece parks are declared a priority, but neighborhood pocket parks are not, and there is no consideration as to access for these new parks apart from autos.
• The riverfront amphitheater remains mostly unused, with all attention on Bicentennial Park.
• Another Harvest Homecoming almost is here, with no action or discussion with respect to its disruption of downtown revitalization. Why?
• Nearing the halfway point of the current administration, are there any ideas for downtown housing, parking, pedestrians and bicycles? If so, they've not been revealed.
• There is no currently strategy for coping with the dislocations of the bridges project.
  

My point is simple: What's the plan, and if there's a plan, how are we to know?

In the absence of substantive and sustained transparency, how can any of this be viewed other than as piecemeal and reactive?

Say what you like about Jeffersonville, but at least there seems to be something unified about its current planning direction, something that suggests awareness of challenges and complexities ahead.

Yes, New Albany's had a nice, non-threatening, Chautauqua-style Bicentennial celebration. Unfortunately, it looks increasingly like a wasted year, one during which too much money is being thrown at too few goals, none of which has yet to involve the public.

Is it too much to ask to have a plan, and for the plan to be shared?

Coming Thursday, February 12: Jeff Main Street's annual chili and beer tasting at Kye's.

NABC will be there again this year. It's a fun event, held in a building that is an excellent local example of adaptive reuse. Note the "shop local" logo among the sponsorships. It reminds me of "Make (and only then keep) New Albany Weird."

Jeff Main Street chili & beer bash rescheduled for Tuesday, April 1.

Jeff Main Street's first try at its 3rd annual chili and beer fundraiser was postponed by bad weather in early February, but they're set to give it another shot on April Fool's Day.


This is no joke! NABC, BBC and Upland will be there to pour beer samples, and if last year's event is any indication, there'll be an abundance of fine chili. I'm hoping to see a New Albanian contingent for this one.

POSTPONEMENT tonight: Jeffersonville Main Street's "Chili and Beer Bonanza."

With Southern Indiana shutting down owing to the threat of icy road conditions, the organizers have decided to err in the favor of caution and postpone tonight's chili and beer fundraiser in Jeffersonville.

Jeffersonville Main Street's "Chili and Beer Bonanza" at Kye's, Thursday, February 21.

They're hoping to reschedule a date soon. I'll keep readers posted.