German dancing. Photo courtesy of Das Haus.
Bier ist Gut: Celebrating Oktoberfest 2015
In Munich, over 7.7 million liters (roughly 16.3 million pints) of Oktoberfest Beer are served during the world’s largest Volkfest. In Birmingham, Thurs. Sept. 10 to Sat. Sept. 12, the Freunde Deutscher Sprache und Kultur (Friends of the German Speaking and Culture) will deliver at least a portion of the Munich Oktoberfest experience with the 39th Original Birmingham Oktoberfest.
Lunch and dinner will be served each day from Das Haus’ authentic German menu. Wurst and schnitzel plates offer spiced beef, veal and pork sausage and breaded and fried pork tenderloin respectively. Sandwich options come with a choice of weisswurst, bratwurst, knackwurst or schnitzel on a brötchen, or bread roll. Side items include traditional dishes like bratkartoffel (German fried potatoes with onion), apfelrotkohl (red cabbage with apple) and sauerkraut. Das Haus offers more than 65 different brews (“Ein Bier, bitte”).
On Friday evening Mayor William Bell will make a special appearance, in honor of the mayor of Munich whose duty is to tap the keg (“O’zapft is!”). Saturday, Das Haus will air the Auburn/Jacksonville State and Alabama/Middle Tennessee games before hosting the Oktoberfest beer tasting and annual dachshund parade. Europa and Wolfgang Moritz will perform live in the Beer Garden on Friday and Saturday night from 6 p.m. to midnight. Prost!
Das Haus is located at 2318 Second Ave. N. $10. (Free admission for those dressed in dirndle or ledderhosen!) For more information, visit dashausbham.com.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
College Football Opening Day — The Grill at Iron City. 2208 Sixth Ave. S. The Grill at Iron City presents College Football Opening Day, a celebration of the return of the South’s favorite season. Watch the games on the Grill’s video wall and enjoy dinner and drink specials. North Carolina vs. South Carolina 5:00 p.m., Western Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt 7:00 p.m. Free. For more information, visit ironcitybham.com.
Meet the Herbalist — Golden Temple Natural Grocery and Café. 1901 11th Ave. S. Cameron Strouss of Deep Roots Apotheke and Clinic will lead this workshop on implementing natural herbs in remedies and daily living. 5:30–6:30 p.m. $5. For more information, visit deeprootsapothekeandclinic.com.
Avondale Samaritan Fundraiser — Avondale Brewing Company. 201 41st St. S. The Samaritan Place “Thank You” Fundraiser will benefit the efforts of Canterbury United Methodist Church and Avondale United Methodist Church to serve low-income families with a brown bag and senior social work programs. Food, wine and beer will be served. 6–8 p.m. $50. For more information, visit asamaritanplace.org.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Party on the Porch — Alabama Outdoors. 3054 Independence Dr. Alabama Outdoors’ fifth Party on the Porch of the summer will feature food from Cantina on Wheels, draft beer from Good People Brewing Company and live music by Jason Bailey and Joe Breckenridge. 5:30–7:30. Free. For more information, visit alabamaoutdoors.com.
Bards and Brews: Open Mic — Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. 1214 81st St. S. Bards and Brews returns for its monthly slam poetry and beer sampling event. September’s event will take place at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve’s Back Porch with beer provided by Back 40 Beer Company. Bob Marston will play live while poets sign up. 6:30–9 p.m. For more information, call (205) 226-3670.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Shelby Iron Works Pancake Breakfast — Shelby Iron Works. 10268 Hwy 42, Shelby. The Shelby Iron Works Museum and Country Store open early to host this all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Iron Works blacksmiths will be demonstrating their craft. Coffee and tea are included. 7–10 a.m. $5. For more information, visit shelbyironworks.com.
Game Day with Good People — Good People Brewing Company. 114 14th St. S. Food. Beer. Football. The three words sum up the staples of fall in the South, and Good People and Piggly Wiggly are bringing a tailgate of epic proportions to kick off the season. Bring a side item and your game face. 1 p.m.–12 a.m. $10. For more information, visit goodpeoplebrewing.com.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Oscar’s Sunday Brunch — Birmingham Museum of Art. 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. Oscar’s seasonal brunch menu features locally grown and crafted dishes. Located in the Birmingham Museum of Art, patrons can tour the galleries after their meal. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Menu prices vary. For more information, visit artsbma.org.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Have a Blast on Rosh Hashanah — Levite Jewish Community Center. 3960 Montclair Rd. Celebrate the Jewish New Year with a kosher lunch provided by Bo’s Kosher Café. 12 p.m. $8.50. For more information, call (205) 510-9024.
Moon Pie Eating Contest — Tannehill State Park. 12632 Confederate Pkwy, Bessemer. Alabama’s largest Moon Pie eating contest takes place Labor Day weekend at Tannehill Ironworks. Cash prizes will be awarded in adult and child divisions. Barbecue and live music will also be on site. 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. $4. For more information, visit tannehill.org.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
T.A.S.T.E. — Trussville Civic Center. 5381 Trussville Clay Rd. Trussville’s Art Show and Tasting Event (T.A.S.T.E.) is the city’s annual celebration of area restaurants, groceries and artists. Ticketholders will be able to sample from a wide variety of dishes and beverages, including a cash wine bar. 5:30–8:30 p.m. $25. For more information, visit trussvillechamber.com.
Hellenic Heartbeat in the Deep South — Homewood Public Library. 1721 Oxmoor Rd. Author Nick Sepsas (Hellenic Heartbeat in the Deep South: A History of the Greek Community in Birmingham, Alabama) leads this discussion on the history of Greek immigrants in Birmingham and the culinary culture they brought with them. 6:30 p.m. Free. For more information, visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org.
