Back to Philly for a Three Game Sweep?

Whew.

Now that we've gotten that Yankee win out of our system, and let those Bronx Bombers win one in front of the home crowd, the aging owner and all those glitterati, it's time for fun at the Bank where Utley, Werth and Howard rule. I've so far predicted the Phillies in 7, revised it to Phillies in 6, but now I'm seriously thinkin' Phillies in 5......

High hopes!

Our Annual "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!"

I am so glad to be back blogging.

And at such an opportune time, too. It's time for an annual event in our weekly beer chat, The No Bull Inn, on starchat.net (every Friday night at approximately 11PM EST). This Friday on Halloween Eve (Mischief Night no less!), we'll be gathering up pumpkin beers and sampling them all night, from east coast to west. Pumpkin beers are a great diversion this time of year, and if you follow the advice of yours truly (ahem) and make a plate of cheesy, salsa-laden nachos to accompany them, you will experience one of the great beer-food pairings of all time. I promise.

So this week, head to your local beer store, or wherever you shop for GOOD beer, and grab up a few pumpkin ales: Buffalo Bill's, Brooklyn, Otter Creek, Weyerbacher, Dogfish Head, Saranac and Harpoon are just a few labels you might find. But grab a few (or more, for side-by-side comparison), and join us THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, for some great pumpkins!

Simply sign on to www.starchat.net after 11PM on Friday night. Register a nickname for chat room use and then seach the "channels" for the "No Bull Inn", our virtual taproom. And prepare to a have a good time with beer and jokes and good chat. See you there!

A World Series Worth the Hype!

Finally.

The teams are set and what may be the best World Series in 30 years starts on Wednesday, with the Phillies and the Yankees carnking up their bats and best pitchers for duels in two homer-friendly bandbox stadiums (or is it stadia? yeah, I know, who cares...). The early likely pitching matchups are definitely worth the hype: Cliff Lee vs. C.C. Sabathia in Game One, and the likely appearance of Pedro Martinez (in Yankee Stadium, no less! Who's Yer Daddy?) vs. A.J. Burnett in Game Two might even overshadow the feast of sluggers facing each other every night of the Series. And by the way, do you think we could get a couple of DAY GAMES????

Yeah, I know, wishful thinking.

Phils is 7, maybe even 6!

Nothing is Sacred Anymore

Today's New York Times reports that Conde Nast, the parent company of scores of magazines, is shutting down the venerable, 68-year old Gourmet magazine. A truly sad day for foodies and Gourmet fans everywhere.