Merlins Rest Pub

Tonight: Open Mic with Harrison Matthews
Time: 8:00/8:30 pm

First, for those searching the web for information on the death of our friend Tim Dickson, you can read our announcement of his passing in yesterday’s entry. (We’ve noticed a significant spike in traffic to the site today from people searching for news about Tim.) He was (and is) greatly loved.

When we hear of more information, such as funeral arrangements, we’ll announce those details. We hope to have something for you Tuesday morning.

TONIGHT:
THE OPEN MIC

It’s Cinco de Mayo! I know many of you feel compelled to imbibe a Corona or something like that today, but I hope you’ll give thought to other enlightening tinctures, such as an imperial pint of Fuller’s ESB. Hey: the weather is grand and we could all use a little joy today.

Pop up and get yourself a drink and a bite to eat and sit out front in the sunshine. We open at 4:00 pm today.

And if you’re up here tonight, at about 8:00/8:30 pm, we’ll kick start the week’s events with the Merlins Rest Open Mic featuring our host Harrison Matthews. He’s a great man, that Harrison, and we have so many fine singers and poets and such in the pub. The Open Mic is a fantastic way to share some creativity and get the week moving in the right direction.

Sing it, say it, share it, friends. Lend your talent or an ear. Hey: it’s your mic! We appreciate you.

Today: Brunch
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Tonight: Sunday Pub Quiz
Time: 8:00 pm
Music: Jazz from Sam Fiske (an hour before and 30 minutes following the quiz)

It was with sadness yesterday that we learned of the sudden passing of our good friend Tim Dickson, pictured here in this post. Tim was a grand spirit and a great friend to the Twin Cities’ Celtic community. A good number gathered in the pub yesterday evening to toast his memory. Single-malts were poured, pints were raised and tears were shed.

He will be dearly missed.

Thank you to all who came out on a moment’s notice and shared with us your memories and photographs.

SUNDAY PUB QUIZ

Tonight, join us for the Sunday Pub Quiz. Our Welsh publican John Dingley hosts this 25-question general interest quiz for teams of up to four participants. And there are prizes beyond the dreams of avarice, of course.

Details: you get one point for participation; your participation points accrue; and week by week your participation points are added to your final quiz score. Perhaps you score 42 (of a possible 50) and this is your third quiz. You then have a 45 on the aggregate.

Why is this important? Because when someone scores 50, they win the pot. John puts up to $40 in the kitty each week. When someone wins the pot, everyone’s attendance points reset, so you are never far from the field.

And yer man Sam Fiske provides some excellent jazz an hour before and 30 minutes after the quiz. It’s a fantastic way to spend a Sunday eve. Casual, loads of laughs, and a bit of smarts. Get yourself a pie and a pint and enjoy.

Cheers!

Today: Brunch
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Tonight: The Hot Club of East Lake (jazz)
Time: 9:00 pm

Happy days, indeed! The most exciting two minutes in sports has returned: the Kentucky Derby! Big Brown is the favorite, but a goodly number of people are pulling for Colonel John and Eight Belles, the latter of which is a filly. Only three have won the race before, but this Belle is a beauty. Can she do it? It would be some fantastic stuff if she did. (And lucrative for her backers.)

Right! Warm up for the Derby with a spot of brunch here at Merlins Rest (served 12:00 - 2:00 pm) and maybe a nip of bourban. Later, pop back for a celebratory drink and some jazz.

We’ve got the Hot Club of East Lake in the pub tonight, and they are dynamite. Brilliant stuff. Catch them and Papa John at 9:00 pm.

Alright! Enjoy your Saturday! That’s an order!

Tonight: Kilt Night with Live Celtic Music
Time: 8:30 pm -

Friday! Splendid. Thanks to all for popping out for the “Whiskeys from around the World” tasting. Good times, fantastic spirits.

Tonight let’s keep the good times rolling. We’ve got our weekly Kilt Night with Bill Watkins and live Celtic music played session-style, as it’s meant to be played. Stop in, raise a pint, and enjoy your weekend, friends.

And while you’re at it, why not have a couple Welsh Lollipops? They are on our late-night menu, so be sure to give a look at them. Right tasty.

NEWS FROM THE ISLES

* The graffiti artist Banksy has established an exhibit with other street artists in a disused tunnel in South London. The BBC also has a photo series of some of Banksy’s eye-catching work.

* Chucklevision is ending

* The Welsh economy has much going for itself, and Cardiff has become a jewel of a city, but the old mining legacy still strains economic prospects.

* And for you political junkies: the local election results are in and it’s been a real shellacking for the Labour Party. The Conservatives took 44% of the vote, and even the Liberal Democrats, at 25%, topped Labour. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is looking even more dour today than usual.

Tonight: Whisky Tasting with the Whisky Wench
Theme: Whiskeys from Around the World
Time: 8:30 pm

Fiona, aka the Whisky Wench, will lead the next Whisky Tasting tonight at 8:30 pm. This is a later start time than our previous tastings, so please be aware of that.

This time around the Scotchness of Scotch is being scotched in favor of “Whiskeys from Around the World.” Maybe that means Wales and Ireland; maybe that means Japan. You’ll have to pop through and see what she’s lined up for us.

The details: $25 flat fee to participate, 4 - 5 grand pours from our extensive stock. Give this community event a try, friends. It’s great fun and really really great whisky. Cheers to the Wench!

PUB QUIZ ANSWERS

The answers (and questions) to John Dingley’s April 27 pub quiz follow:

1. Who wrote A Modest Proposal and A Tale of a Tub among other works?
Jonathan Swift

2. What is the name of the tallest mountain in the British Isles?
Ben Nevis

3. James Karl Buck helped free himself from an Egyptian jail with a one-word blog post from his cell phone. What kind of blog was it?
Twitter

4. Who signed the bill into law that created Yellowstone National Park?
US Grant

5. On this day in 1746 - King George II won the battle of Culloden. What was the name of the man he defeated?
Bonnie Prince Charlie

6. Name the only family of birds that uses its tail as a prop?
Woodpeckers

7. Where would you expect to find the Grampian Mountains?
Scotland

8. Sturnus vulgaris is the scientific name of what common bird?
Starling

9. The Anglo-American accord that survives to this day came about when two British and two American diplomats sat down to thrash it out. They were chaired by a Canadian. Who was the US President that proposed this meeting?
US Grant

10. Robert Klein and his friend Craig Harrell made a bet that the one who lost the bet by not losing enough weight would do something for the other. What was it?
Mow lawn in dress

11. This bird is the fastest flying bird in level flight reaching speeds of well over a 100mph. It belongs to the family Apodidae. It breeds in central Asia and a few other places in the north and migrates as far south as Australia. What is it?
Needle Tailed Swift

12. When two species find themselves in the same ecological niche one will diverge or become this. What will it become?
Extinct

13. Troon famous for golf is in what part of Scotland?
Ayrshire

14. Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while it fights terrorism. He has filed a lawsuit alleging he’s been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates. What is different about him?
Atheist

15. Carpodacus mexicanus is a bird native to Mexico, California and the Western US. In the 1940’s some of these birds were released in New York and have expanded their population to where it joins up with the western birds. Its habits are similar to the common House Sparrow and is often seen where House Sparrows are seen. What is the common name of this bird?
House Finch

16. What is the capital of the Canadian Province, Nova Scotia?
Halifax

17. Yellow-fronted, White, Gray-breasted, Golden-naped and Black-cheeked are all common names of birds in what family?
Woodpeckers

18. The Ayrshire dairy cow comes from what country?
Scotland

19. Human beings may have had a brush with what 70,000 years ago?
Extinction

20. A common member of this family has the scientific name of Apus apus which means footless, footless. What is the common name of this bird?
Swift

21. Poa pratensis and Lolium perenne are species that are non native to the US, however, they are of great economic importance. Most of you will come into contact with one or other of them regularly throughout the non winter months. What are they?
Grasses/bluegrass/ ryegrass

22. “No one provokes me with impunity” is the motto of what country?
Scotland

23. There are only three birds in the US and Canada not protected by law. Name them?
H. Sparrow, R. Pigeon, Starling

24. Who was the US president born on this day?
US Grant

25. Walter Lantz was born on this day in 1900 he created a famous cartoon character. What is the characters name?
Woody Woodpecker