Okay, chalk it up to poor planning on my part, but I am getting a little sick and tired of having to perform logistical acrobatics every time I make last-minute plans to go to a friend’s house to watch a Sunday football game or whatever. The time comes every now and then, when I actually have to buy beer, and I need it when I need it! I don’t understand (playing coy here…) how we got ourselves into this stupidity of having to wait till 1 p.m. on Sundays to buy beer. When you think about it, it really does seem silly. We have all seen the padlocks and chains on the beer coolers at the local grocers, or the “lights out approach” taken by many store owners. What a freakin hassle!

The “self righteous contingent” must believe that I am going to wake up on Sunday morning and say to myself: ‘Hmmm what should I do today? Either I go to church or heck, I’ll just run down to Kroger and buy me a 12-pack and get wasted before noon!’ They don’t realize that I am Catholic and could just as easily have gone to mass on Saturday evening or Sunday at 5 p.m. after I’d brewed a big batch of beer (which I have done before and, yes, I worshiped sober).

Sometimes I think I should organize a Sunday morning protest. All of us beer drinkers can form a human chain around all of the Cracker Barrels, Shoney’s and Bob Evans restaurants, not allowing the post-church going crowds to enter until 1 p.m.. “Get your butts back to church, you belly-slaves!” “No one eats until I get a beer!”

Who’s in?

Last year my boss gave me a bottle of ale which he brought back from his native country of England. It was called “Summer Lightning”. He told me that it was all the rage and that many young folks were drinking it instead of lagers. I tasted the beer and could definitely see why it could develop such a following, especially with ever growing market of lager drinkers in Britain. The beer was clean, crisp like a lager, but it finished with very floral, hoppy aroma and bite, which is typical of English “Real Ale”. I enjoyed every sip…

Turn the clock ahead about one year and I find myself standing in London at the Great British Beer Festival. Over five hundred cask conditioned real ales are being served in peak condition. Sure, I could recognize the old standbys like London Pride, Spitfire, Old Speckled Hen, and the list goes on and on. But hey! What’s that I see? Crouch-Vale Golden Ale? Hmmm… (more…)

For any of you that have stopped in to Okay’s Pub recently, you may be aware of the absolute run of bad luck that owner Kay Dillon has experienced in the last six months, from her son’s tragic accident in Thailand (leaving him paralyzed from the waist down) to Kay’s own health issues. Kay is doing much better. Her son is adjusting to his new challenges and her younger son Dylan has been a real trooper, helping his mother and brother through these tough times. All of this has left the “cash drawer” in bad shape. Kay almost threw in the towel this week, but many of her supporters and confidants inspired her to give it one more try to get over the hump this weekend.

Starting Friday evening and throughout this weekend, Kay needs your support. I am not talking about a pity party either. Kay just needs patrons to do what they normally do; stop by and have a beer or a glass of wine, order up a grilled pizza and maybe listen to tunes from Charleston’s own “Honky-Tonk Power Trio” Buckstone.

Why should we care if Okay’s lives or dies? It’s simple… Okay’s is a unique, maybe even quirky pub that prides itself on serving great beer and great wine. Kay has been an ardent supporter of the arts and music scene in Charleston as well as just a dear friend to all of her patrons. Be sure to tell all of your friends!

Okay’s Pub is Located at 222 Leon Sullivan Way in downtown Charleston.

With the Government’s constant attempt to over-reach with the hand of power, it’s good for some of us to bite that hand every once in a while…

Recently, more than 50 owners of local bars and lounges took to the streets of Charleston to voice their disapproval of the recent sweeping smoking ban which includes bars. Although I am a non-smoker and prefer non-smoking establishments, I am first and foremost a person who believes in freedom and the free markets. I also believe in the existence of the potential for a “Nanny State” becoming the norm, and nobody really wants that to happen.

These businesses have banded together to let government know that the ban which was put in place by the non-elected “ministers” of health, has hurt their business.These smoking bans are wrong and an unnecessary encroachment on business owner’s private property rights.

Let me give you my thoughts. Here are 10 logical points that go toward solving this issue that are based on the principles of a free society and a free market. (more…)