For a mayor scared of debating his challengers and terrified of fulfilling information requests, CHICKEN is an apt analogy.

Slick Jeffie has enough money to buy Frightened Chicken Dinners for everyone.

Team Gahan's failure to fulfill open records requests? That's Gahan's political conspiracy against transparency, and it's HIS problem, not anyone else's.

Jeff "No Debates" Gahan ecstatic as League of Women Voters ditches the candidate debate format.

But it's escargot and filet mignon for Gahan's fat cat special interest donors.

Election 2019: The buying and selling of a city, or our updated master list of 73 Gahan wheel-greasers, a veritable pornographic potpourri of pay-to-play.

These 30 free-spending special interest donors top Jeff Gahan's 2019 pay-to-play campaign finance windfall of $150,000 (so far).

CFA-4 Follies: OMG, just look at Gahan's huge pile of special interest donor cash flowing to out-of-towners.

My friend Barry reminds me there used to be a Labor Day horse show and chicken dinner at the Optimist Club in Georgetown.

Somewhere in the dozens of photo albums archived downstairs, which inherited me as their keeper when my mother sold the house, there is photographic evidence of the Labor Day horse show and chicken dinner at the Optimist Club in Georgetown.

Earlier today my old pal Barry Sears devoted a social media post to the topic, and it inspired memories.

Growing up in Georgetown, next to Christmas, Labor Day was the biggest day of the year. The Georgetown Optimist Club held its annual Horse Show and Chicken Dinner that always drew large crowds. It always meant days of preparation to set up booths and the large tents used for dining. Watching those men raise the huge tents was always amazing to me.

It also meant that my best friend, Roger A. Baylor and I got to run a Coca Cola booth and pour soft drinks all day. That was major stuff! Great fried chicken and homemade desserts we're a treat. Our mothers worked serving food, my dad was a cashier in the food tent and Roger's dad ran the bingo tables.

There was a lot of stuff to buy, but the best was snow cones and the cotton candy from Fuzzy.

I sure do miss those days and it's sad that event is now history.

And with this recollection, a massive and disorderly jumble of sights, sounds and smells washed over me, like a glimpse into a lost world. Like most worlds, it probably already had passed when I first experienced it. Beginning in the mid-1970s, Georgetown commenced the process of becoming something completely different.

Accordingly, I spent time over coffee this morning trying to imagine what the (then) 58-year-olds at the Labor Day celebration during the Bicentennial year of 1976 were reminiscing about over their fried chicken, pie and iced tea. Back then, I probably was wondering if there was any way to score a beer or two.

Memory is bizarre and selective in the best of times -- then you get old and have no choice in the matter. Barry's is better than mine. He reminded me of the time when the aforementioned Fuzzy told us about the ballyhooed appearance of country music great Hank Snow at the Washington County Fair.

Apparently the musician Snow was a bad gig for snow cones.

"He couldn't draw flies," snorted Fuzzy, and we though this was both hilarious and original.*

I've no clear idea how long the horse show and chicken dinner persisted into the modern age. The last time I can recall attending was 1979 or 1980. By this time the founding generation was in its 50s, and both the Labor Day event and the Optimist Club itself gradually transitioned in the decades to follow.

Those big tents were made redundant by a steel-beamed shelter house, which later was transformed into the all-weather building there today. The grand old house was torn down. The horse show grounds at the top of the hill became a baseball diamond.

Meanwhile, college had freed my inner urbanite, and I became whatever I am today -- primarily, a serial self-exile and a European trapped in New Albania, one who'll probably never come to grips with my past. They were the best of times ... and you know the rest.

But Barry's words made me smile, and this morning, that's something I needed.

---

* No sooner than I finished writing this, Barry revised it; seems he was at the Washington County Fair with another friend, saw Fuzzy there, and heard the story. Nonetheless, it still seems that I heard it from Fuzzy at Labor Day. At this point, I'm not sure it matters. 

Diet plans tossed from area windows as Gospel Bird's all-you-can-eat Sunday fried chicken starts THIS SUNDAY, February 28.

Courtesy Gospel Bird's Fb page. 

The Green Mouse has learned that Gospel Bird's all day, all-you-can-eat Sunday fried chicken nirvana begins this Sunday, February 28.

Owner Eric Morris explains:

All you can eat fried chicken will be $14. We will sell buckets of beer with them as well if desired. Purchase includes all the chicken you can eat and sauces. Does not include sides. Sunday hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

As a wise man once sang: "Put me in, coach. I'm ready to play."

Previously:

Take a look at these Gospel Bird soft opening photos. Opening night is Tuesday, February 23.

Take a look at these Gospel Bird soft opening photos. Opening night is Tuesday, February 23.

Sunday evening was the second of two "soft" opening nights for Gospel Bird, and although surely there were details to be addressed (there always are), I've seldom seen staff in such a groove at a place yet to officially open (Tuesday at 5 p.m. is it).

Gospel Bird stands to be a vibe unlike any New Albany has witnessed during the first decade (Bistro New Albany opened in 2006) of its downtown food and drink renaissance. Brooklyn and The Butcher, and now Gospel Bird. My personal challenge is to avoid regaining the weight I've lost.

Below is a reprise of the menu. The first photo above shows the Thunder Thighs (fried chicken) entree, with chorizo baked bean, biscuit and Alabama ranch sauce; Gospel frites (fries with a side of fire sauce); and the Brutus salad. The missus is also seen with the appetizer called Fever Dog (hush puppies). I had Founders All Day IPA, reasonably priced at $4.50 for a shaker pint. Our plates were cleaned of food; service was dialed in.

Dietbusters Unite: "All you can eat" fried chicken slated for Sundays at Gospel Bird.

Not quite yet, because Gospel Bird hasn't opened (February is the target) ...

"There's a restaurant in that truck. Delivery day!"

 ... but when it does, this is ominous news from the standpoint of my waistline. I may have to ration myself to once monthly.

Who's kidding who?

Aside from our regular Sunday brunch menu, every Sunday is ALL YOU CAN EAT FRIED CHICKEN ALL DAY LONG. We'll have all of the games on in our bar area and when the weather breaks we will have a gorgeous patio. Look for our grand opening late February and follow us here and Instagram for all of the exciting updates!

Previously at NAC:

Gospel Bird update: Mid to late February opening date as pieces fall into place.

Gospel Bird lowdown at Insider Louisville and Facebook.

The ReSurfaced season closes with a Fried Chicken Throwdown.

The ReSurfaced project is concluding for the year. It has proven to be a creative way to insert something temporary (or pop-up) amid permanence.

And there's nothing wrong at all about fried chicken, is there?

RESURFACED CLOSES WITH GALA FRIED CHICKEN THROWDOWN, by Ron Mikulak (Food & Dining Magazine)

Saturday, Oct. 25 from 3-6 p.m. the pop-up event space ReSurfaced, behind the facades at 615-621 W. Main St., will bring its popular mini-season to a close with a Fried Chicken Throwdown, a culinary competition for the best fried chicken and the best side dishes. Prizes of $500 in each category will be selected by votes of the attendees. Admission to the event is free, and tastes will be sold for $3 for chicken and $2 for sides. All proceeds will benefit Slow Food Bluegrass.

Restaurants vying for this new culinary title (the first of an annual event, the organizers hope) include Loop 22, Wiltshire on Market, Silver Dollar, The Monkey Wrench, Eiderdown, Roux, and possibly other late entries. Chefs who fry up a mean drumstick but are just hearing about this, can send a message of interest to Slowfood Bluegrass via Facebook

.

The NABC Weekend: Music, fried chicken and a long, cool one.

Cask-conditioned Beak's Best Bitter has returned to Bank Street Brewhouse just in time for the weekend, and we'll be pouring Progressive Pints elsewhere in town and on the road, too.

FRIDAY the 15th

Tonight (Friday, August 15), New Albany’s Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series continues with Same As It Ever Was, a Talking Heads tribute band. Gates open around 5:00 p.m., and music starts at 6:00 p.m. Production Simple provides the overview:

Love The Talking Heads? Same As It Ever Was does it right. This 7-piece outfit of Knoxville musicians came together out of their mutual love and respect for the music of the Talking Heads in the summer of 2004 and have not looked back since. Over the years the band has performed extensively, and now nearly have the entire Talking Heads catalog at their fingertips; They bring the excitement and energy of everything from '77 to Naked, and all the B-sides in between. Same As It Ever Was strives to maintain the integrity of the Talking Heads' groundbreaking music, while bringing their own panache to the game. Whatever you're your level of familiarity with Talking Heads, you can expect to have an unforgettable time with Same As It Ever Was!

Note that following the cancellation of last week's concert owing to the threat of inclement weather, there will be an expanded season finale next week (August 22), with Bookshelf being joined by Humming House and Nick Dittmeier. This show should last until 10:30 - 11:00 p.m., and provide another hour and a half for beer sales. Providentially, NABC will be there to offer accompaniment to the music. Our recently updated selection is Naughty Girl, Action! Pale Ale, Community Dark and Frankensteiner. The latter is our newly released Hefeweizen, or Bavarian-style, wheat ale.

Also remember that when patronizing Bank Street Brewhouse before or after the show, or any other time, Wick's Pizza will deliver anything on its food menu to BSB, and give you a generous 20% discount on the order. We're appreciative to Wick's for this generous standing offer, which might well be the finest deal in town.

SATURDAY the 16th

We're excited to host the second in a (hopefully) ongoing series of pop-up restaurants at Bank Street Brewhouse: Danny Joe’s “Nashville Style” Hot Fried Chicken pop-up kitchen comes to Bank Street Brewhouse on Saturday, August 16.

It's for one night only; no reservations, and first come, first served. Better yet, as can be attested following a brief pre-sampling session yesterday, Chef Dan Thomas's spicy fried chicken pairs quite well with Progressive Pints. Food sales begin at 5:00 p.m., and will continue until 10:30 p.m. or depletion.

Also on the 16th, there'll be music at Bank Street Brewhouse, from 8:00 p.m., outside at Lloyd’s Landing. This week's band is Ragged But Right. Coming next week on August 23 is the ever-popular Five Foot Fish. Also slated to appear on the 23rd is mobile wood-fired pizza ...  but more on that later.

SUNDAY the 17th 

On the road: Dig IN is held at White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis, and may be the best food/beer pairing event you haven’t heard about.

“Dig IN invites local farmers, chefs, brewers, vintners, and food enthusiasts around the table to indulge in the tastes of Indiana. If there is a heart in the Heartland, Indiana is it, and Dig IN brings our state’s rich agricultural heritage into focus with a celebration of the farm to fork experience.”

NABC’s Blake Montgomery will be on hand, serving Black & Blue Grass. Meanwhile, back in New Albany, Bank Street Brewhouse opens at 12:00 noon on Sunday.

Bring a picnic basket, pack in carry-outs or order delivery, and pair our Beers of Proven Merit with the very best food from local eateries ... well, at least those open on Sunday. Always remember that Indiana does have carry-out beer sales on Sunday: At Hoosier craft breweries. For carry-out wine on Sunday, visit our friends at River City Winery or Indiana's many other artisanal wine makers.

To be reminded of why Indiana's alcohol laws governing beer temperature and daily availability came to be, visit the Indy Star: Will Indiana ever expand Sunday alcohol and cold beer sales?

Danny Joe’s “Nashville Style” Hot Fried Chicken at BSB on Saturday, August 16.

Our next Bank Street Brewhouse pop-up meal is August 16, when Chef Dan Thomas will be preparing Nashville-Style Hot Fried Chicken. There'll be beer and music, too.

Complete details are here.