Oak Park Brewing Company Update

Click on the pic for video.

There has been a ton of construction going on at Oak Park Brewing Company in preparation for the preview weekend, which is upon us! I can't believe it's here, already! We'll be open with a limited menu and some of our flagship beer, so if you're in the 'hood, come on down!

Next Saturday, we'll be doing an event with NPR, called, "Drink Radio." 

Join us November 15th from 5-8pm at Oak Park Brewing to taste the “CapRadio brew” in this year's Drink Radio winning design pint glass. View an art show of the top submissions, connecting the beer taste to the art. Additional selected submissions will also be on view.

Patrons will be able to purchase the 2014 pint glass on site for $10, with an optional fill of the custom beer. All proceeds will benefit Capital Public Radio.
This year’s design entries focused on key words “sustain,” “harvest,” and “zest,” which reflect the process of gathering grains and producing a beer respective of the season. Contributors were able to submit up to three pieces, each corresponding to one key word with the creative goal to connect the taste of the seasonal and regional beer to the look and feel of the artwork.

“The evening will be a time to enjoy the flavor profiles of an autumn beer, crafted by our local brewers and amplified by the consciously curated artwork submitted by our artistic community,” says local artist and Capital Public Radio Board Member, Sofia Lacin.

Join us as we celebrate our region’s bounty in agriculture and creative spirit. Go to www.capradio.org/drink for more details or RSVP on Facebook.

It's hard to believe that all of the hard work everyone has been doing is at last coming to fruition. Everyone has been working so hard to create this wonderful space, and now we're finally able to invite people to come and share it with us!

So, lots of stuff going on! Throwing a bunch of jacks, cups, bowls, etc., plus doing a little handbuilding, too, to give myself a break.

I fixed the overfiring problem with my old kiln and did another decal firing, which turned out beautifully! It was a very satisfying test run, and now I have a clearer idea of what I need to do to get some decals done properly and speed up my production a bit. I've got too little time left before Scare LA, and I need to focus and maximize it as much as I can!

I've been making some big candy bowls, too. I'm looking forward to underglazing these guys and making them super Hallowe'en-cool. Stay tuned!

Speaking of Scare LA, I'll be speechifying there. My class will be on setting up a home haunt (so very much to cover in an hour!), and I've been sending out emails to various haunters to ask permission to use their pictures and videos in my lecture. I sent one out to a YouTube user who did a great Pepper's ghost illusion in his front window. We emailed back and forth a couple of times, and it turns out "the guy" is Paul Lasaine, of Lord of the Rings visual effects fame! And? He said I could use his video! Woo-hoo! After our conversation, he got around to posting his how-to on getting the illusion up and running properly. See his Pepper's ghost how-to here. The original video is here.

The brewing tanks came in at Oak Park Brewing Company this week, as well. Step by step, things are coming along, and it looks like our opening will be somewhere around mid- to late-August! We're really excited at the progress. (If you're interested in tracking the progress of the brewery, follow them on Facebook or Twitter.) I sat down with them on Saturday to start planning for the Hallowe'en season, and man, am I tickled at some of the ideas we came up with for this year and the thoughts we have on what to do next year!

OK, that's it for now. Back out to make some more Hallowe'en fun!

Four Days Left!

Just four days left to support a small business and craft brewery getting its start! Here's the video, plus below, I'll include details of the goodies you can get at different levels of support. (I really want them to change their tag line to: "Oak Park Brewing Company: Because life's too short to drink cheap, domestic swill!" But no word back, so far...)

"We started brewing at home in Oak Park. Our commitment to the Oak Park neighborhood and its redevelopment has earned us some great press. All of our fans are excited to see us open.  We believe that our brewery will be a significant contribution to the revitalization of Oak Park, and your contribution helps make that happen."
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/10/24/oak-park-brewery-restaurant-eyes-2014.html?page=1http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/oak-parks-new-kicks-on/content?oid=12742983http://www.sacbee.com/2013/11/09/5894971/oak-park-progress-continues-but.html

Brewer Tom Karvonen meeting Sacramento Mayor
Kevin Johnson

We also have a Beer Connoisseur reward package.  You will get special Oak Park Brewing Company Connoisseur t-shirts, access to VIP events,  - including release parties for our limited-release barrel-aged ales and sours, but most important of all... you'll be served in a special Connoisseur Glass when you're at the brewery so people will know you're part of an awesome group of Oak Park Brewing Company Supporters.

We will also have a VIP Grand Opening Gala at our brewpub.  Contributing at this level gets you into the event, where you will mingle with other supporters, get the chance to taste all of Oak Park Brewing Company's initial releases AND be the first to try our gastropub specialties.
More rewards are listed under each donation level.

 Thanks for supporting these folks! It's great to see these craft brewers raising the bar!

Because, Walken

Because you really can't get enough cowbell, or Walken! Click on the pic for a dance-a-thon of epic proportions.

In other news, please remember the Oak Park Brewing Company's Kickstarter campaign still needs you! They're opening their doors in June, and they're going to share some amazing craft beer with everyone! Please throw them a few bucks if you can, as they're giving away some swag for those who donate at certain levels.
I'm really excited for them. Mr. ShellHawk and I went to see the space they've leased for the brewery, and it's such a great building! Built in 1925, brick, and it's going to have an industrial feel to it. Here are a few pics...

Brewer and awesome guy, Tom Karvonen, left, Bonnie Peterson,
brew gal, right

Lily, brew dog, far left.

Can you just see the big beautiful brew vats here?

Best thing ever: church pews from one of the Planet of the Apes movies!

  I can't wait for the place to open!