The Black Cat Cocktail

In honor of Friday 13th, here's an interesting recipe to try.

Black Cat
Recipe from A History of Drinking blog by way of Hiram Walker. Photo from here.

1/3 part Kahlua®
1/3 part Hiram Walker® Anisette
1/3 part Tequila

Glass: Shot
Garnish: None

Layer slowly into a chilled shot glass starting with the Kahlua.

Guitar legend Larry Baeder to host Wednesday Night Blues Unplugged Concert Series at Island Dogs

Larry Baeder

KEY WEST, Fla. (June 28, 2012) -- Larry Baeder's dynamic musical career as a gifted and virtuosic guitarist, songwriter and producer reads like a who's who of American music over the past 30 years.

Chuck Jackson. Ashford & Simpson. Smokey Robinson. Carly Simon. Bonnie Raitt. Jazz legends Jay McShann, Illinois Jacquet, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and singer Diane "Mama" Rae. Legendary blues artists Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Albert King, and Dan "Elwood Blues" Akroyd. Buddy Guy and James Taylor.

Now in Key West, the legendary Baeder takes on the Wednesday Night Blues Unplugged Concert Series at Island Dogs. Every Wednesday, Baeder will host and perform alongside a different blues artist, either local or visiting.

"The Blues is America's original art form," Baeder said. "Its broad pallet means that it'll be different from week to week depending on the guest, but it'll be just as glorious."

The first show in the concert series kicks off July 11 with Key West's old man of blues, Bill Blue, with two shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

UPCOMING SHOWS:
July 18, 2012: Francois Gehin on acoustic bass tribute to blues great and Chess records writer and bass player Willie Dixon
July 25, 2012: Nashville piano great and vocalist steeped in the blye, Ericson Holt
August 1, 2012: New York Blues Siren and well-known roots DJ, Nikki Armstrong
August 8, 2012: New York piano legend Pete Levin, who has played with everyone over the last 40 years from Miles Davis and Gil Evans to Paul Simon. 
August 15, 2012: Michigan songstress Dora Gholson graces the stage with a voice from the angels and songs from the Devil.
August 22, 2012:  Ravin Cooper, Key West's favorite songbird
August 29, 2012:  The return of Richmond, Va., and Key West Bluesmen Bill Blue.

"We were incredibly fortunate to pin down Larry to work with us on this and to jam with some amazing blues artists right here on our stage," said David Thibault, co-owner of Island Dogs.

Island Dogs Featured Drink: Angry Firebomb

The guys over at Fireball Whiskey loved our Angry Firebomb so much that they're making it a signature drink in bars across Key West. And soon you'll see table tents at Island Dogs with the coveted recipe. But we're giving it to you here, so just remember: you heard it here first!

ANGRY FIREBOMB

1/2 pint Angry Orchard Cider
Shot of Fireball Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey

Pour the cider in a pint glass. Pour a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey in a separate shot glass. Drop the shot into the pint glass and pound it like a shot. Rinse and repeat as desired.

Island Dogs Featured Artist: 800 Mile Monday

Founded in 2006 in Lubbock, Texas, by Daniel Payne, 800 Mile Monday draws from a revolving door of touring and studio musicians to keep the wheels turning. In between his friendly smiles and down-home West Texas "hi you all," Payne howls and mourns his savage tales of betrayal, spurned lovers, and low down losers.

Daniel Payne. Photo Credit: 800MileMonday.com

Payne, West Texas tumbleweed that he is, spent a several years drifting from town to town, couch to storage shed, hanging out with winos, running from the law, and honing his craft every night in the bars--if he didn't pass out on the curb and blow the gig.

Sometimes it would just be him and his old Guild flat top guitar. Other times, he'd be backed by his cowpunk cohorts The Dan Family (Dan Hardick and Brett Walker) from the barnyards of Parker County.  The band's first full-length release, "In The Fertile Gardens of Freedom" debuted out of Fort Worth, Tex., in early 2010 to a positive reception among critics and fans. A U.S. tour followed and 800 Mile Monday was on the national map.

Payne spent most of 2011 touring in the U.S. and Europe with Bob Wayne and his "Outlaw Carnies" while writing his own next album "Ancient Tones" which was recorded by Andy Gibson in Nashville, Tenn., and released in January 2012. The record, captured in the traditional bluegrass style alongside Andy Gibson and Daniel Mason (both of Hank III), Chris Scruggs (BR-549), and fiddle prodigy Billy Contreras (George Jones) shocked critics with its plainspoken honesty, hard-living brutality and peerless musicianship.

Three tours into 2012 and with the growing support of loyal fans cropping up worldwide, the band continues to shine while taking its balls-to-the-wall no-let-up two hour live show to fans in the United States and Europe.

"I'm already writing the next one," Payne said with a knowing smile. "Every day when I wake up I am grateful for what I have, and for everyone I have met.  I'm living each day to the fullest because tomorrow's never sure."

800 Mile Monday performs Friday, June 8, at Island Dogs from 9 p.m.


A version of this blog post appears at 800 Mile Monday's bio by Clive O'Malley on their website.

Official Weigh-In Party for the Bone Island Fights Mixed Martial Arts event

WHAT: Official Weigh-In Party for the Bone Island Fights Mixed Martial Arts event

WHERE: Island Dogs Bar, 505 Front Street, Key West, FL

WHEN: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 from 6 p.m.

WHY: Proceeds from the May 17, 2012, Mixed Martial Arts event will go toward the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund's initiative to install a hyperbaric chamber in Key West that will prevent future tragedies of the type that claimed the life of Kevin Piper Jr. in June 2011.

Here's more info on the actual MMA event and cause...

IBIS BAY WATERFRONT RESORT TO HOST SECOND MIXED MARTIAL ARTS EVENT TO BENEFIT THE KEVIN PIPER JR. MEMORIAL FUND

KEY WEST, FLORIDA, April 25, 2012 -- Reinforcing its commitment to help meet the long-term needs of the larger Key West Community, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort today announced that it will sponsor a Mixed Martial Arts event to benefit the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund's drive to establish a hyperbaric facility in the Lower Keys, as well as fund first aid refresher courses and establish a memorial scholarship fund in the name of Kevin Piper Jr. It is hoped that the installation of a multiplace hyperbaric chamber in the community will help prevent future tragedies of the type that claimed the life of local resident Kevin Piper Jr. in June 2011.

According to IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort general manager Tony Osborn, the Mixed Martial Arts event will take place on May 17th, 2012 at the resort and will feature 8-12 individual fights in all major weight classes. The event is being produced by MMA Solutions Global, Inc. of Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

"Our first Mixed Martial Arts Event, which was held on February 16th, raised more than $7,000 for the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund while providing the community with an opportunity to come together for a worthy cause," Osborn explained. "Based on the success of this first event we have decided to sponsor a series of Mixed Martial Arts events over the course of the next year in the hope that they will generate all of the money the Fund needs to establish a hyperbaric facility in the Lower Keys, and help prevent future tragedies."

Speaking on behalf of the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund, Kevin Piper Sr. noted that the event provides the community with a very special opportunity to once again raise money for the foundation that was set up in the memory of his son, and continue working toward the goal of getting a hyperbaric chamber in Key West.

"What IBIS BAY is doing for the Fund is incredible," Piper said. "With the exceptional donation we received from the first MMA fight, and all of the excitement that surrounded the event, we are confident that the proceeds from the upcoming bouts will go a long way to helping us achieve our goals."

According to IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort owner Chris Holland, the fighters participating in the May 17th event will be the winners of a series of Mixed Martial Arts events conducted throughout the state of Florida during the previous month. "Thus, people who attend the May 17th event can expect to see some very exciting moments," Holland emphasized.

Prior to the main event, which is expected to start at 6 p.m., there will be a V.I.P dinner from 4-6, for those who purchase a V.I.P. table for the event. The dinner will include drinks, food, and music. Regular admission tickets for the event can be purchased for $25 per ticket, while V.I.P. tables will be available for $500 and can fit up to 8 people. Reserved general admission tickets, limited to 150 seats, will be on sale for $40. The doors open at 5PM for regular admission ticket holders.

For more information on purchasing a V.I.P. table or regular admission tickets, please contact Jason Wells at (305) 849-0023.

For information regarding the Kevin Piper Memorial Fund please call or write:

Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund Inc.
82 Cutthroat Drive
Cudjoe Key, FL 33042
305.304.4063