Tag Archives: Finnigan’s Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen

Around the World or: 2550+7

25 Monday Oct 2021

Posted by in Food, Life as We Know It, Travel

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Salutations™!!

On Saturday, The BCPF and I made an international trip without leaving the state.

We headed to Greensboro where we visited a business I have been VERY excited for, Scottish Gourmet USA. I don’t have to explain how much I love all things Scottish. We purchased haggis, black pudding, and back bacon. We also got some clementine and malt whisky marmalade, Laphroaig Handmade Fudge, Walker’s Shortbread Scottie Dogs, and a glass thistle ornament for The BCPF. The owners were a fantastic older couple where he’s from Scotland and she’s from the US. We loved it there. We will go back.

Missing the sausages, the thistle ornament, the coffee, the mustard, but this is a lot of the booty we got on Saturday!!

Next, we went to Euro Deli Mart where we tried almost everything in the deli case, including headcheese that I have never had before. Of course, it’s not cheese at all. It’s made from various parts of the head but usually does not include the brain, eyes, or ears of the animal. Tongues, feet, or hearts can be used, though. We bought some “no junk” Polish sausage (that’s how owner Gosia described it) and dried kabanos-style sausages which remind me of fresher Slim Jims. We also got authentic German mustard, Caponata eggplant salad, gingerbread knots, and coffee. We loved talking with Gosia and loved this store. We will go back. It’s also just about three minutes from where The BCPF works so she can stop in if we need her to.

Next, we took our first trip to Super G Mart. Super Global Mart is a humongous international grocery store. This thing, that is more than just groceries – with bodega-type stores with accessories, cell phones, and such; a few international restaurants; a used appliance store – is like a Super Walmart with all this stuff. Mostly, it’s Asian, Latin food items with a live tilapia tank and live blue crabs, fresh fish market, and so on. We purchased a single-serving espresso-making pot, an 8″ bamboo steamer, Turkish Delight, falafel mix, Crystal hot sauce, and Cholula Chipotle (both of which we could get anywhere), and some chestnuts. I have to say that while it was cool seeing all of that, it was very overwhelming and a lot to take in. We are glad that we know where it is so when we get back to the Country Spinner.

We then met up with the Joneses at Finnigan’s Wake to get one more night with The BCPF and me (where we met if you read my blog post last Monday), get a picture with Opie, and relive some of our history.

So, we hit Scotland, Eastern Europe, Asia, South/Central/Latin America, and Ireland. It was a great international day. It was like traveling without really traveling. I love my time with The BCPF and when we do things like that (and traveling for real) I love my time even more. I recommend Scottish Gourmet and Euro Deli Mart for sure, Super G for an experience, and Finnigan’s Wake before this Saturday when they close forever.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Our family-owned grocery store specializes in Eastern European imports that bring the taste of home and beyond to the Triad.” – Euro Deli Mart

 He Occasionally Takes an Alcoholiday or: The Wake (2543 + 14)

18 Monday Oct 2021

Posted by in Beer, Blogging, Food, Life as We Know It, Podcasting, Spirits, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

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!

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“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

My Other Family or: Dinner Together

25 Thursday Jul 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

I just wanted to state how much I love my “other family.” By that, I mean The Best Damn Referral Group or as we’re known, TBD. A few of us got together tonight for an impromptu “family dinner” at Finnigan’s Wake.

Like I said, it was totally impromptu. I saw some rumblings about it on our private Facebook page and I played it off. I had plans to go to another event, so, whatever. Our “Fearless Leader,” Kandi sent me a message saying they had gone to Finnigan’s if I was interested in running by.

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Clockwise from bottom left: Lynda, Jeff, Margaret, Lorraine, Justin, John, Dawn, Doctor Melissa, Lori & Kandi (©Dawn)

I missed the other event because I was working in my studio. So, why not? I got to hang out with Jeff and his wife Lynda, Lorraine, Margaret, Dawn & her hubs, John and her son, Doctor Melissa, Kandi and Lori and Sha’Retha! Those names may not mean much to you, Dear Reader, but these folks are awesome! Sha’Retha and I got there later than everyone else, so we’re missing from the pic.

TBD, y’all!!!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Personal relationships are always the key to good business. You can buy networking; you can’t buy friendships.” – Lindsay Fox

The True End of an Era or: Truly Trivial

07 Tuesday May 2019

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Salutations™!!

Tonight we had the very last trivia night at Finnigan’s Wake. Attendance has been waning for the last few years and for the last 9 months or so we have had two regular teams, Daphne’s Free Kittens (ours) and Silverware Burrito (aka Cicada/Monkee Voodoo/Macaque Magic/Simian Sorcery) the team that has also been around for a long time. Finnigans_Wake_Logo_2

Trivia Night at Fins started in the spring of 2007 and Opie did it the first night, but kept getting called away to take care of stuff. The next week, a friend of mine, Stephanie H. did the questions but didn’t really want to continue to do it all the time, so I said I’d do it. I changed some rules, changed the structure, made it into three separate 10-question categories, the second always “Random Acts of Trivia.” History, music, movies, food, geography, science, religion, television, and so on. I was the quizmaster from 2007 until 2011 when I was finishing up my degree. I came back early 2012 for about 3 weeks before I had my heart scare and was out until mid-to-late 2012. We came back as players and I realized I didn’t want to do the questions regularly but did do them a few times when needed. I did probably close to 7800 trivia questions. We at Fins along with Foothills had the first pub trivia nights in WSNC.

In late 2009/early 2010, I met this beautiful woman at trivia and she and I would hang out after trivia every Tuesday and many of those would be until Fins closed. I would do what I could to keep this woman at Fins into the night. I enjoyed our time. We ended up having a “standing date” every night at 11:10pm on Facebook. That woman was The BCPF. So, yeah, we met at Finnigan’s Wake at trivia. We even got married on a Tuesday because that’s the day we met.

Opie has been doing the trivia with a few guest-quizmasters here and there (The BCPF did last week’s trivia) but has kept everything going as long as he could. However, with the waning attendance for so long, it’s just not feasible to keep it going. Opie said they’d been debating this for a while.

The truth of the matter is, Jim, The BCPF and I had only been going so we could hang out together. Add that with the other team and our funning ribbing back and forth and, of course, getting to hang with Opie a bit because he’s a cool dude. So, we have discussed and plan on still getting DFK together regularly and having a trivia Rendez-Vous or game night or dinner or bevvies once a month or so. I hope we keep this up.

So, to all our past opponents, past competitors, friends and more, thank you for lots of great memories over the years and thank you Finnigan’s Wake for having a place for us to do our fun. You will be missed.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Why is it trivia? People call it trivia because they know nothing and they are embarrassed about it.” – Robbie Coltrane

It Slipped My Mind or: Party of 30ish

12 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

I totally forgot to write a blog post about the party on Saturday. The party was the Post-Holiday/Anniversary Shindig at Finnigan’s Wake.

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Special TLD menu from Finnigan’s Wake

Last Sunday was the ninth anniversary of The Less Desirables (as I wrote about) and I believe this was the ninth party. We have always had it at Finnigan’s and this year wasn’t different in the venue sense but it was in the actual logistics sense.

We’ve always gotten the whole back-side of the dining room for the party, this time, we had only 24 seats. I worried because we had a “deposit” for the room and if we didn’t have 24 folks then the deposit could have been lost. I worried all the day before and the day of about filling that. Then about halfway through the day, I thought, hey dumbarse, you only need 12 people with +1s to meet that quota. We had 30 people “confirmed” which almost always means “jack,” as inevitably, someone would either not be able to make it, get sick or something.

That made me feel better. When I got there and the room was set up like it was, I thought, well, surely we’ll just migrate to more seats as they come. That wasn’t to be the case. So, my worry went from not enough butts in the seats to not enough seats for the butts. I did have 10 people that showed up that couldn’t sit with us. I also had three people that waited and finally were seated around us.

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One table of the motley crew…

Don’t hear any of this as complaining as I don’t feel that’s what I was doing, it was just the first year that I was concerned about the party, either too many or too little. I just wanted to mention that. The people who couldn’t stay went to the bar and came over a few times to give their congrats. It worked out fine.

So, I want to thank Finnigan’s Wake for accommodating us this year and commend them on handling our f’ed up situation with style and grace.

I want to thank Paul and Susan Jones, Mark and Janice Schmitz, Kandi Villano, Lori Noel, Melissa Curran, Paden and Stacy Verner, Amanda Hoey, Kent Allen, Beth Blair, Ray and Whitney Morgan, Flannery Holton, Josh and Cherie Schuminsky, John and Dawn McGee, Ed Dean, Dana Spector, Heather Scherer, Karli Dempski (I think I got that right), Phillip Oakley, Maura Marziano, Paul McManus, Bridey Fennell, Rory Sloane, Paul Kwiatkowski, Jim and Dana Moody, Kevin Cammer, Dale Cole, Shonna and Winter Whitley, Misty Burnette and most of all, The BCPF for being there and supporting what I’ve dreamed up over the last few years. I really appreciate it and it means soooooooooo much to me you were there.

Until next year, same podcast party…
Scorp out!

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“All these people are here for you.” – The BCPF

Sounds Like Saturday or: Igor’s Boogie

09 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in Sounds Like Saturday

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 49th anniversary of Frank Zappa’s Burnt Weeny Sandwich album. I have always (stupidly) scoffed at Zappa as just being noise but I recently watched the Classic Albums episode about Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (‘) and found a new respect for him and his work. Here are Roberto Gatto and the Quinto Rigo Band doing “Igor’s Boogie.” Enjoy.

Oh!! And, you’re all invited to Finnigan’s Wake this evening for the TLD Network Post-Holiday/Anniversary Party!!! I do so hope you can make it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.” – Frank Zappa

Showing Support or: None of Your Business 40

01 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Rant

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Salutations™!!

I just wanted to leave a quick (is that possible from me?) word about this town again. I know I went on a tear and ripped it a new one for traffic problems earlier this week. But, as I said on that post, I still love my city dearly and today, I saw more of why.

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The collective response from businesses downtown personified. (Jim Moody by ©Jack Pennington)

There was some condescending post from someone in some official capacity that was directed at businesses downtown who are struggling that says that perhaps these business owners should take some class at the local community college to learn how to start a business or how to make their existing business better as if they don’t know how to operate a business, already. The idea was that the businesses downtown are just whining about the closure of Biz 40 and whatever.

Well, to that person who wrote that garbage, screw you, pal!

These businesses were thriving before the closure. And, I don’t blame the road closure. I blame scare tactics, whether on purpose or inadvertently from media and officials about how bad it is to be downtown now that Biz 40 is out of commission.

Granted the closure of multiple bridges all at the same time has cut a few arteries into town but you can still maneuver. Come from Peters Creek or go a little further east to Cherry or even 52 to get into town.

There are people who will complain just because they already hate the town about how bad the traffic is now that there are only a few arteries into town. Suck it up, furball, this is what progress looks like. That road was built at a time when we were just past covered wagons and it needs to accommodate 100,000 cars a week. It needed to be gone. If you already don’t want to come downtown, there’s nothing that we can tell you or do that would change your mind. We’re not looking to.

Who we are talking to is the people that have just been talked into being scared of being downtown. If you let that nonsense set in, you’re going to set this town back 15 years to what it was when no one wanted to come downtown. It will go back to being a “suburb without a city” that it was in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. You can get to it. Just give yourself 20 minutes more to get there. Be patient. We all have to go on those same roads and none of us want to traverse the traffic any more than you do, but we who love downtown for the friends (personal, interpersonal and figurative) we have grown to know. To us, it’s worth the hassle. It will be over soon.

There are plenty of downtown businesses that need your support. It’s not Biz 40s fault, it’s the naysayers. Don’t listen to them.

Tuesday I was at Finnigan’s Wake. Wednesday I was at Zesto Burgers. Yesterday, I visited Coffee Park (Arts), Zesto Burgers (no, it’s not downtown but it’s independently owned in town).  Today, I went to Footnote Coffee at Foothills, West End Coffeehouse, and Mr. Barbecue. What businesses did you support this week? The ones you did visit, they appreciate it and I appreciate it because when you support them, they’re there when I want/need to go there.

I know all of that is food/beverage related and The BCPF and I going to Xcaret tonight with friends downtown, but it’s not all about food places. Retail, services and other industry downtown need your support. They support each other but they need you.

The camaraderie between the “allies” and businesses downtown has made me smile and it’s uplifting in a somewhat troubling time.

If you’ve not been downtown WSNC (or close proximity to it) lately, take a bit of time to go explore. You may find that it’s not as difficult to traverse as you’ve thought/been told. Andy, you may find some really cool things you didn’t know was there. Tomorrow is Saturday, take a drive, shop, support, enjoy!

Second time this week that my soapbox has been out from under the bed. I apologize, or really sorry (not sorry). And, I know, too, that it was not quick. Sorry (not sorry) for that, too!

Until tomorrow, where I’ll hopefully see you out and about…
Scorp out!

—
“There is not a one-size-fits-all solution.” – Jim Moody

Make It Just to Fake It or: The Pop-Up Podcast

22 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

I told you last week that I was on a podcast that wasn’t mine called The Pop-Up Podcast. That show dropped early yesterday but Mondays are one of my busiest days and I had to work. But, today, I am dropping the ep right here.

Promise Mangum is the host and does a good job. We talk about Podcasting (duh!), WSNC, food, internet radio and more. I was able to get all the podcast names in and the entire roster of TLD sponsors. Woot!

Look for Promise to be on The Less Desirables on February 20. Here, Dear Reader, I present you with the “Pop-Up Podcast.”

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I make it just to fake it…” – Me

For the First Time or: To 2019 and Beyond

26 Wednesday Dec 2018

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Salutations™!!

Today I did something that I’ve never done before. I had my son, 3B on The Less Desirables. For almost nine years I’ve been doing this show and he’s never been on it. He has been on The Beer Dads for a couple of shows, but never TLD. It was a “year-end/post-Christmas” show and relatively short, but it was still cool. We talked about Christmas, his culinary aspirations, cooking, food, his musical tastes and more. It was just cool having him there for it and talking.  You can hear that episode HERE.20181226_150340.jpg

I also wanted to take a minute to thank all the TLD Network sponsors for a great 2018. Special, very special thanks to Underdog Records, Bull’s Tavern, Finnigan’s Wake, King’s Crab Shack & Oyster Bar, Willow’s Bistro, X1 Communications, Machine Gun Graphics, SOS Investor LLC, Washington Perk & Provision Company, Industry Hill, Dilisio’s Italian Restaurant, The Humblebee Shoppe, Hoot’s Roller Bar & Beer Company, Satornino Group, Old Winston Social Club, and hopefully a few more coming soon. 2018 was awesome. 2019 is going to be even more kick-arse!

Thank you all for listening, too. And, for reading this blog.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I built a program that crawled job boards to determine which skills employers value, which helped Johnson & Wales explore ways to improve its curriculum.” – Hilary Mason

The Giving Time or: Tree of Hope

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

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Salutations™!!

Every year, Finnigan’s Wake does its giving tree. Here’s what it’s all about (from the Facebook Page of Fin’s):46496150_10156792885618029_5727483200117145600_n

It’s the time to show your community love again at Finnigan’s Wake. And get a treat for yourself in return!
What you do: 
Come by Friday, November 23- Friday, December 7, and take an ornament (or multiple) from our Giving Tree. Bring back your new, unwrapped gifts with the ornament attached to the pub on Saturday, December 8. Don’t like shopping? Pick an ornament, give us the monetary equivalent and we’ll do the shopping for you!

To thank you for your generosity, for every ornament with gift you return you’ll get a coupon for one free menu item to be enjoyed Saturday, December 8 between 11am and 6pm, because we believe it’s good to give and to receive!

The generosity of this community tree has continued to impress the charities we help, bring tears to some eyes and change the lives of total strangers you will never meet. Together we can make all the holiday wishes on our tree become a reality. Here’s who you’re helping this year:

Next Step Ministries – A Safe Haven from Domestic Violence
A domestic violence agency with a proud 20-year history of serving Kernersville and the Forsyth County community. They operate a safe house for victims of domestic violence and their families and assist those in transition with employment, housing, and legal referrals. Your gifts will be used at the safe house. 
http://nextstepdv.org/

Mental Health Association of Forsyth County
The Mental Health Association promotes mental health acceptance and support to all persons in our community through advocacy, outreach, education, and support services. Gifts will go to people in local hospitals receiving help for a mental illness as well as permanent clients of the association. Travel sized items are used to fill gift baskets, larger gifts are wrapped as special treats. 
https://www.triadmentalhealth.org/

Family in Need from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System
A family of two adults and 3 children, ages 6, 8 and 15. They were nominated by the school nurse and social worker who described them as “so deserving and grateful for anything”. You will be helping them with both basic necessities and some surprises to turn a difficult time into a happy memory.

Generally, we do something for the Mental Health Association of Forsyth County because The BCPF used to be on the board for that particular charity. Do something nice for someone in need.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County is a non-profit, non-governmental agency that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for persons affected by mental illness through advocacy, education, and support services.” – Mental Health Association of Forsyth County