There’s nothing like opening your email and hearing excellent news. Harpoon Beer, a local microbrew from Boston, is now being sold in Chicago. As a “Friend of Harpoon” from my days of living in the Boston area, I was informed of this the other day. Rather than attaching a photo or video of my reaction to this news, I decided to post this photo of a pint of Harpoon IPA I took on a recent visit to the Bukowski Tavern in Boston’s Back Bay, one of my favorite stops when I return to the Hub.

To launch the arrival in the Windy City, Harpoon is having an event on Monday, August 11 at Sheffield's Beer and Wine Garden in Chicago. Read more information on the event and pre-register. I’ll be there, and I know it will be a wicked pissa!

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Diversions • (3) Comments • Permalink

As I was off the grid yesterday, July 4, I would like to wish everybody a belated yet no less Happy Independence Day!

After a relatively quiet day, I got home and caught up on the local news. During the newscast, the anchor said they were conducting a survey asking viewers if they felt they were patriotic. Where this query did not diminish my reflections on the freedoms we have in the US, it was sad this question keeps coming up in the media.

One thought on patriotism that came to me yesterday was what I did on my 18th birthday, many years ago. After having a great breakfast at home from my Mom, I hopped in the car and made 2 stops. First I went to my hometown’s town hall and registered to vote. From there, I went to the post office and registered for the draft. Where both of these actions are vital to being an American, I felt doing these in this order important, especially if I had any feelings or reservations over the draft. Through my active participation in the democracy that is the US, I could help make a difference.

Happy 232nd birthday to the United States of America, and here’s to many, many more.

Announcements • Diversions • (1) Comments • Permalink

June 14 is Flag Day in the US. It celebrates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, and later became a nationally recognized day. More information about the day’s history can be found in this Wikipedia article on Flag Day.

Today I will be joining members of the Chicago chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, or DAR, in handing out flags to people along Michigan Avenue. The DAR is a historic organization of women who can trace their ancestry to the Mayflower or the American Revolution. My lovely wife is a member, and thus that makes me a Husband of a Daughter of the American Revolution, or HODAR. With a title like that, how could I not participate?

Happy Flag Day, a day in honor of not only a great national symbol, but also one of the best known brands in the world.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink