Year-end music

By popular demand, we introduced music to the patio in September and moved indoors in the "parlor" once the weather cooled. We'll host our final 2011 performance on Friday, Dec. 30 with Miss Sally Rose joining us from Nelson County. Should be a great show and look for our 2012 winter music schedule soon! As always, our FaceBook page is your one-stop for all happenings.

Don't forget, we still host "Eclectic Fiddle" w/ David McCaskey on Tuesdays and "Speakeasy" w/ Danny Dolinger on Wednesdays.

Keeping the faith

On a parting note, most of you know Staunton Grocery closed its doors last week. The good people at Harvest Tyhme Herbs wrote a fine piece of SG's passing...and sum things up nicely. We speak for a lot of folks when saying we can't wait to see what Chef Boden cooks up next! We first met Ian Boden when he worked in our former neighborhood in NYC...talk about a small world. Ask us for the cosmic details...


Have a prosperous new year!
Katie & Brian

GROCERS' NOTE - I NEED THAT RECORD!

Wondered about the stacks of records at our shop? We talk about them and why we think they are important on the website IndependentWeStand.org this week.  

MORE MUSIC - NOW ON SATURDAYS, TOO

Music here is getting hotter as the days get cooler!

Here's how it works: we remove several of the food fixtures to reveal our "Parlor", a cozy and casual spot to enjoy music, food, and drink. We're already booked several weeks out - check Facebook for the latest.

This Saturday we debut with "Out Cold with Miss Lucy" featuring our friends Danny Dolinger and Christina Wulf.

Don't forget our other weekly music sets, too:

Tuesdays: "Eclectic Fiddle", featuring David McCaskey 
Wednesdays: "Speak Easy", featuring Danny Dolinger and guest(s).

Shows start at 6pm. No cover. Seats limited, beer plentiful.

POLYFACE TURKEYS SOLD OUT

Early bird gets the—

Make that: better luck next year. Happy Thanksgiving if we don't see you before for last minute goodies!

GROCERS' NOTE

We thought it would be fun to do a "Sound of Music" graphic to announce our music line-up. (See music line-up below.)

Then we realized we needed to remind you that we'll be offering Polyface Farm turkeys.

(In case you wondered...)

LOCAL MUSIC SCHEDULE

Our parlor will soon feature:

• Sat. Nov. 12 - Melissa Mesko w/ Toby Thomas
• Sat. Nov. 19 - Out Cold w/ Ms. Lucy
• Sat. Nov. 26 - After a Thousand
• Fri. Dec. 2 - Lola Mullen
• Sat. Dec. 3 - Melissa Mesko w/ Toby Thomas
• Fri. Dec. 9 - Franklin County Band
• Sat. Dec. 10 - Mother's Shillelagh
• Fri. Dec. 16 - After a Thousand (holiday performance)
• Sat. Dec. 17 - Steve & Karen Gallagher
• Fri. Dec. 23 - Three Guys w/ Notes
• Sat. Dec. 24 - closed
• Fri. Dec. 30 - TBD
• Sat. Dec. 31 - private party

Don't forget Wednesdays! Musician Danny Dolinger hosts "Speak Easy" a weekly eclectic mix of music featuring local and visiting musicians. It happens every Wednesday starting at 6pm...

POLYFACE FARM TURKEYS

Drop by the shop to order a Polyface Farm turkey for Thanksgiving! There are a limited number available. We are offering FREE DELIVERY within the city limits again this year. 

(No, we will not be wearing clothes made of old curtains when we deliver your turkey...)

PROBLEM SOLVED

A stop at George Bowers would've solved this:

Captain von Trapp: Fraulein, is it to be at every meal, or merely at dinnertime, that you intend on leading us all through this rare and wonderful new world of... indigestion?

Surprise! We haven't forgotten you there in your email in-box. We've been busy planning winter activities, among other things.

Last week I attended CityWorks (X)po, the first-ever conference celebrating small cities, held in Roanoke. Described as, "a supernova of change agents, place makers, capital, arts and design, live music, worthwhile ideas, action plans, new colleagues, connectivity, technology, spirits and food".... it lived up to its hype!

The event made me proud to live in Staunton because I see our city moving forward as a leader. I like how Stauntonians decide to go ahead and do or create what they think is "missing" here. A great example is the Staunton Music Guild. It's brave, and it's cool. 

- Katie

APP FOR THAT!

Last year we launched an app for Android smart phone users... now iPhone users can download the George Bowers app (for f-r-e-e)!

The app is meant to feature Staunton business and food news... We invite you to post to VisitStaunton.com or SavorStaunton.com if you'd like your news to be featured on our app. It also has VisitVirginia news and our latest Facebook updates.

To download it, go to this address on your smart phone: http://apps3.genwi.com/web/shareme.aspx?auri=georgebowersgrocery

Or, enter your email on this page and you'll be sent a link to click directly from your phone. Just click and install! 

MUSIC SCHEDULE

We will be announcing our Fall music schedule soon. In the meantime, remember to join us on Wednesday evenings for "Speak Easy". Musician Danny Dolinger brings his own creative energy and jams with selected local musicians... it's a great way to experience your favorite musician in a new light.

Every Wednesday, 6pm-9pm. This Wednesday's guest: Willow van den Hoek, visiting from the San Francisco Bay Area.

P.S. 

We don't like to mix politics here, but, "Occupy Staunton" asked to occupy our patio this Thursday starting at 6pm. You're welcome to come if you're so inclined...

GROCERS' NOTE

Whether you love flowers or just think they make nice scenery when enjoying a cold beverage, you're in luck: we're starting "RE-PLANT". Flower lovers, you get free or cheap plants. Patio lovers: beer garden!!

It works like this: if you bring a perennial you can take a perennial for free. Alternatively, you can pick 'em up cheap: $3.50 each or 2/$5. We started the week with heirloom 'Kwanso' daylilies and now have a few more... come, bring your extras, and browse what's here for you.

25 BEERS ON THE WALL...

By July 4th weekend we'll have 25 amazing cold craft beers by the bottle. Come and find a new favorite to go along with fireworks and grilling.

By the way: we have Polyface hotdogs here, too. (Just say'n!)

45's SPINNING

If you haven't seen it yet, come check out the crazy good deal we got on a 1950's turntable. Ben generously lent us his childhood record collection. We'll spin it for you on request! Here's a photo.

Or, bring your own! GUEST DJ, ANYONE?

See you soon,

Katie & Brian

GROCERS' NOTE

Attention, oddballs: We love and respect you. Come party with us this Thursday night starting at 6pm.

Ever wonder what's odd, fun, and inventive about Staunton, Virginia? Come find out at our first Odd Thursdays event, THIS Thursday at George Bowers Grocery. Meet fellow creative types, dine on the patio, and enjoy an evening outdoors -- we'd love to see you there! — Staunton Creative Community Fund.

CHEESE TO YOU: SCHEDULE CHANGE

Meg Hall is the Valley's premier (yet snob-free) cheesemonger. You know her as the friendly and expert owner of Cheese to You. Meg's been a weekly fixture at George Bowers for over a year.

Meg will no longer be able to join us on Saturdays. - BUT! - We are HAPPY to report we're planning some  über-special events with Meg and her artisan cheese just for you. Stay tuned.

BREAD BOX?

The humble bread box evolved somewhere in the swamps. Specifically, between the "baking your own bread" inlet and the "buying bread in plastic bags" lagoon of consumer evolution. Did you grow up with one?

This one belonged to Katie's grandmother. We don't keep bread in it. We keep reciepts. That's because it takes a different kind of "bread" to operate an independent retailer.

Thank you for supporting us. Keep fighting the good fight against Generica's faux-mosphere!

GROCERS' NOTE

Pepé Le Pew! Monday we discovered an abandoned pack of baby skunks near our house. We confiscated a female baby from a neighborhood kid who foolishly picked her up and briefly took her home (!). This little one, nicknamed "Penelope", probably has the best chances for survival thanks to the efforts of the Virginia Wildlife Center.

If you find yourself in this situation, remember: even if mama skunk is nowhere to be found, these babies can spray at just 3 weeks old! Luckily, Penelope was well behaved.

Also, if you've got unwanted towels, blankets, or cleaning supplies, the Virginia Wildlife Center is a great place to donate them...

NEW FOOD & CRAFT BEER

We now offer a Vegetarian/Vegan-on-request sandwich: Fresh-made olive hummus on multi-grain bread, topped with chopped olives, roasted red peppers, and marinated feta.

New craft beers this week include:

Abita Restoration
Longtrail Belgian White
Terrapin Rye Pale
Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat

...plus some other craft favorites, just $4-$6 dollars a bottle. Treat yourself to one on our patio.

NOW SERVING YOU

Yes, your serving tray has a story, too. The smaller one used for drinks was made in the early 1950s by Joy Houff (Katie's grandmother). Apparently, back then the Dupont plant in Waynesboro had a lot of lightweight aluminum leftover from WWII which was donated for use in local craft classes. She etched a lotus flower on her tray, probably to coincide with the Hawaiian decor trend of the time.

The larger tray came by way of a Waynesboro thrift store earlier this year. It seems to be similarly curved and might have been made at the same time. The masking tape on the back dates it "1952".

GROCERS' NOTE

The first "Window Office Wednesday" kicked off this week. Remember, this casual meet-up happens every Wednesday, 2-4pm, for freelancers, telecommuters, and solopreneurs.

Shopping at George Bowers is gift enough, but we've also enjoyed some other generous gifts from people in the neighborhood:

James and Betsy delivered an antique fish scale
Joey and Marc brought us a large ficus tree for the patio
Irene and Dean gave us a potted herb garden (seen in photo above)
Liz gave us her mother's antique coffee mill
Sara and Josh offered this "monster plant" (seen here next to the coffee mill....)

Thank you, folks!

Remember, you don't need to come bearing gifts. But, if you'd like, we are accepting clean plastic shopping bags to recycle.

NOW, FEEL LIKE A GROWN-UP!

"Grown Up Soda", aka, GUS Soda is a dry, lightly sweetened sparkling soda. Add a ginger ale, valencia orange, or dry lemonade to any sandwich meal. They're non-alcoholic, kosher, and well, simply a delicious treat. Just ask and we'll serve it up indulgence-style in a wine glass.

(Of course, feeling "grown up" is not required or even encouraged at George Bowers. Come here to relax!)

WHEN I GROW UP...

Speaking of "growing up", did you know Brian had this barrel in his childhood bedroom? Flipped over, he used it to store his non-Star Wars toys.

Also in this photo: the red sash is from our first ever place together, our apartment. (Aww...) The plant was found discarded on Fayette Street last year when someone moved. Those people are missing out, right?

See you soon,

Brian & Katie