Since I was doing my tribute to Finnigan’s Wake yesterday, I didn’t do the “piggyback”. The Man Who Ate the Town was recorded before I knew about Finnigan’s closing. Michael was working on that story so he wasn’t with me. I talk about: Farm 2 Fourth happened and raised over $90k for helping feed children and other folks. Tim talks about the menu and flavor profiles of the event. DiLisio’s changes hours again. Bar Nola. City Bev has a tent sale. Small Batch Halloween Party. Tim and Stephanie had dinner at Davie Tavern. The Country Spinner and Burger Tour ’21 updates. “The List” is discussed as well as other food news. Listen to that episode here.
This morning, I did a special “supplement” podcast to talk about the same things I wrote on this blog yesterday. The difference is, you can actually hear my inflection, emotion and more. You can hear that here.
While I’m here, and it is Tuesday, then here’s your reminder to listen to the music history goodness that is Beeswax Vinyl Daily podcast. Listen to thathere.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Somewhere, somehow, somebody must have kicked you around some. Tell me why you wanna lay there and revel in your abandon. Honey, it don’t make no difference to me, baby. Everybody’s had to fight to be free. You see, you don’t have to live like a refugee.” – “Refugee” (Petty/Campbell)
Today, I learned some very sad news. Finnigan’s Wake will be closing its doors permanently on October 30. Finnigan’s Wake is THE reason the Arts District in Downtown Winston-Salem exploded in to ’00s. Yes, there were other now-staples such as Sweet Potatoes and 6th & Vine, but none had the impact that Fins did. But, for me, the impact was even more than reinvigorating an area of town.
Practically nothing in my life right now would be like it is if it weren’t for Fins. How, you ask?
Me and My Best Girl
I was able to realize what others may say is ridiculous but something I’m very proud of. I was the second-ever person to join the 90-Day Club. Not only did I do 90 days, I did 1099 days. That got me some recognition and status.
I was “Trivia Tim.” I didn’t start the pub trivia at Fins but I took it over after the first three weeks and I did it for six years after. Again, people got to know me, spend time with me, and my network was greatly and largely expanded because of that.
The Less Desirables was conceived, hatched, and born sitting at the high-top table right next to the hallway. Without that, I probably wouldn’t have started other podcasts after it. No Fan Interference. No Camel City Dispatch/Electric Camel Pod. No Tart & Tangy Triad. No The Beer Dads. No The Man Who Ate the Town. No Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking. No Apartment 5B. No Beeswax Vinyl. No Beeswax Vinyl Daily. No Asylum – Tales from the Devereaux Diaries. No Wheelers Dog. No The Less Desirables Network. No podcast clients. Heck without Fins, there may not be a podcasting community here in WSNC to speak of, at least as it is. I know two or three podcasts in town that are thriving because they were inspired by me doing The Less Desirables (or one of the others) and they’ve told me that. No podcasting would mean no “Podfather.” All that I am and do wouldn’t be if there was no Finnigan’s Wake. In fact, the first place I ever met Brian Attridge who started The Less Desirables with me, was at Finnigan’s Wake.
The revitalization of downtown, in general, may still have happened but it wouldn’t be what it is if Philip “Opie” Kirby and John Cahoon hadn’t opened THE Irish pub in October of 2006.
Me, Brian and Eug, TLD…
The first place I met Jon Lowder, one of the Beer Dads and a partner/friend that I have come to thank for many of my accomplishments was at Fins.
Several of my friends who are in relationships met at Finnigan’s Wake. Which brings me to the BIGGEST link that Fins has for me: I met my wife, The BCPF, Stephanie, at Finnigan’s Wake. If she hadn’t come with her friends to play trivia and get away from her toxic, dead-end marriage, and we hadn’t started having small talk conversations, I would never have had the opportunity to ask her, “Are you married, Steph?” That conversation and the fact that she had a birthday soon around that time and I did a special trivia category for her, led to us having our 11:10p nightly computer conversations, which led to us being great friends, which led to us being more than friends, which led to us being affianced, which led to us being life partners and husband and wife.
Me and My Eug
Finnigan’s Wake is the portal to my survival, to my life, to my being, to my loves. I so appreciate that Opie has kept the pub going for so long. The pandemic was hard for everyone. It led to changes within the business. But, he says it’s not about the pandemic. He said the restaurant was kept alive by the community and patrons. He says this is about him and wanting to start something new. Move in a new direction. Pursue new ideas and thoughts. He has been all over the world. As far as I know, he’s touched every continent. If he’s missing one, I think it’s Australia. He’s bought houses. He’s raised money for charities. He’s made himself better. He’s made the community better. I am glad for my friend that he’s okay and just starting a new chapter.
When I read that this was happening, it felt as if I had lost a friend, or at the very least, been kicked in the teeth or the crotch. The memories and recollections of the last 14 years of my life (with the exception of the last one) have relied heavily on my time in the wooden doors under the green sign with the huge Claddagh, the hallowed halls of Finnigan’s Wake. Slàinte mhath, Finnigan’s Wake. Slàinte mhath.
Until tomorrow, Erin go Bragh… Scorp out!
— “The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you.” – Brendan Behan
Your weekly reminder, especially if you’re a music lover, a history lover, or best yet, a music history lover! I got you! Head over to hear today’s episode. And, if you go to Spotify, Stitcher, or Apple Podcasts (or ANY podcatcher platform), subscribe, rate, like, endorse, whatever. Help out the cause! Listen here.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E” – “Method of Modern Love” (Hall/Oates)
Fridays are networking days for me as I am part of The Best Damn Referral Group, or TBD as we call it. But, that’s not the network I’m talking about this week. I am always talking about all the TLD Network shows, but not about the network itself. Let’s run them down:
So, there I listed all the current shows on the network. You can visit them each individually, or you can access all the shows, as they are released, in one place: The Less Desirables Podcast Network website.
You’ll find all you need to know there. Of course, you can always subscribe to all the network shows on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon, Audible, and anywhere you get your podcasts. I appreciate that subscribe. I also appreciate any likes, reviews, ratings, or whatever else you can do on your preferred platform.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Beeswax Vinyl Daily are short podcast episodes where Tim Beeman details the day in music history.” – TLD Network
It’s your weekly reminder to get your chunk of today’s music history by listening to Beeswax Vinyl Daily. Music happenings on this day in history, albums that were released, musical peeps that were born on this day and people who left us. There’s some snark and comedy in there, but mostly it’s neutral and matter-of-fact. I’d appreciate it if you gave it a listen, subscribe, a review, rating, whatever you can. Tell your friends. I want to get this syndicated and I need people to listen. I really do thank you in advance. Here’s today’s episode.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Words are few I have spoken. I could waste a thousand years. Wrapped in sorrow, words are token. Come inside and catch my tears. You’ve been talking but believe me, if it’s true you do not know. This boy loves without a reason, I’m prepared to let you go.” – “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?”
Your Tuesday reminder to listen to the Beeswax Vinyl Daily podcast. If you love music and want to know about what happened today in music history, this podcast is where you need to be. Plus, it’s only 6-12 minutes long, so it doesn’t take up a lot of your time. You can listen whilst you take the trash out, or walk the dog, or drive up to the corner store to get your cigs, condoms, beer, snacks, or whatever. It’s not WSNC specific so it can be enjoyed by anyone anywhere. Tell your friends about it. Especially if you have friends in other parts of the state, country, or world that are music lovers. There is just a smidge of personal opinion and snark that goes into it, but mostly, it’s just stating the facts, ma’am. I would really appreciate a like, a rating, a review and if you’d hit the subscribe button either on the blog site, or on your preferred podcatcher platform. I want this thing to be big! You can hear today’s episode, here.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “There’ll be times when my crimes will seem almost unforgivable. I give in to sin because you have to make this life livable. But when you think I’ve had enough from your sea of love, I’ll take more than another river full. Yes, and I’ll make it all worthwhile. I’ll make your heart smile.” – “Strangelove” (Gore)
Yep, here’s your reminder that if you like music history, then you really should be listening to the Beeswax Vinyl Daily podcast. Every single day, I bring you the musical things and events that happened on that day. You can listen to today’s episode here.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “You didn’t know what you were looking for, Till you heard the voices in your ear.” – “Voices” (Nielsen)
I’m vacationing, or more specifically, it’s a mental health day. But, you should still listen to the Beeswax Vinyl Daily Podcast. You can listen to today’s episode here.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Don’t you know it turns your blood to wine when you’re moving so fine? It’s the boys night out. You can run those lights. You can leave them on bright. It’s the boys night out.” – “Boys Night Out” (Gaitsch/Schmit/Jennings)
It’s time for your weekly reminder about Beeswax Vinyl Daily. You like music? Does it matter what kind of music? Have a favorite kind? Well, no worries, I cover it all. Classic rock, R&B, Doo Wop, Be Bop, Classical, Pop, Metal, Disco, Rockabilly, and the list goes on. I don’t think there’s anything that I haven’t at least touched on in the almost two months of doing this podcast. Here is the link for today’s episode.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “She had a dream and boy it was a good one. So she chased after her dream with much desire. But, when she get too close to her expectations, well the dream burned up like paper in fire.” – “Paper in Fire” (Mellencamp)
Here’s your reminder to check out Beeswax Vinyl Daily podcast, listen, and subscribe. It’s getting good numbers, so it’s exciting. I’m glad to bring it to you and I put a lot into it, so I am proud that so many of you have started listening. Listen here to today’s episode.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “‘So What’ or ‘Kind of Blue,’ they were done in that era, the right hour, the right day, and it happened. It’s over …. What I used to play with Bill Evans, all those different modes, and substitute chords, we had the energy then and we liked it. But I have no feel for it anymore—it’s more like warmed-over turkey.” – Miles Davis
