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Many of you are familiar with the meet-up group Drinking Liberally - hopefully there is a chapter close to where you live, and if not: it's easy to start one. (Even a chump like myself did).
Founded in 2003, there are over 200 chapters across the nation - and even some international chapters (not all of which are run by American ex-pats). And all you need to do is have a meal and/or a drink (not necessarily alcoholic) and participate in the discussion (not necessarily political, either). This is part of an umbrella organization Living Liberally as there are other parts to the circle (film viewing, comedy, etc) - but I'll address it as D/L, as that's my frame of reference.
There is one D/L gathering, though, that is not advertised widely: and that's the annual conference intended for chapter hosts, co-hosts and alternates, held at this time each year.
By day, we conduct organizational 'bidness' (as the late Molly Ivins would say) - discussing goals, communication, partner activity, press relations, etc. But at night: whoever the host chapter is, their attendees are invited to mingle, meet others from across the country and .... well, drink liberally. Special guests, entertainers .... we had it all.
And this past weekend's national conference of was held in that liberal stronghold of ...... ummm ..... errr ..... Salt Lake City?!? - why, yes indeed! A first-time visitor I was and - while it was not always so - you can certainly drink liberally there now (or even conservatively). The state of Utah has never had a dry county: yet it was not easy to drink alcoholic beverages in the past. But by passing a 1989 referendum to build venues towards a bid for the Winter Olympic Games: Utah citizens had (at least mentally) begun the process to open up the state from its parochial past. The 2002 Winter Olympics furthered that change, and just the past few years the 'private club' hassle at bars was eliminated (which I believe existed in Oklahoma until the early 90's?). Though I didn't have my camera with me at the time: a few of us had an ad-hoc Friday arrival lunch at the Red Rocks brewpub - and with a nice list of beers-on-tap on the wall: it looked no differently than in any other major city.
Salt Lake City certainly has some diversity; it has the state government plus the flagship University of Utah, one heard some Spanish spoken and saw non-white faces and - while you're aware of what the main religion is - as a visitor it's not an issue in the city proper (or the ski towns).
As was mentioned frequently at the conference: it's not difficult to be a liberal in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and the like. And while historically being a liberal in New Hampshire (until recently, the one red state in the Northeast) was something of a struggle: today it's much, much easier, as I've seen first-hand. Now on the other hand ... liberals in Salt Lake City, Utah ..... Spartanburg, South Carolina .... Twin Falls, Idaho ...... well, these are the real heroes of Drinking Liberally. But wherever you arrive from: you're part of the family when you are at a Drinking Liberally night. Here are some photos to get across the fun this past weekend entailed:
First of all, this shelter kitteh has an important message for us all.
Friday night just happened to be the Salt Lake City chapter's regular gathering night - and it takes place at the Irish Piper Down Pub - whose owners were among those helping to end the 'private club' hassle. The chapter hosts helped provide rides to the Piper Down (maybe a mile south of where the host Little America hotel was located) - many thanks to them.
In the foreground is local chapter stalwart/blogger Misty Fowler with the San Francisco chapter host Susan Harrison in the (distant) background to the left.
Several of the attendees hanging with D/L Executive Director Justin Krebs - I still recall at the 2008 Netroots Nation in Chicago how Justin tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, "Room 1545 - be there!" - well, I sure wasn't about to tempt fate (although we did get the heave-ho from hotel security).
This evening, I got to catch up with Gary Brush - host of a chapter in Kansas City, whom I had met at this conference two years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina. And upon learning that I was a co-host of a chapter in New Hampshire: lo-and-behold, Whitney Rearick - a co-host of the Boise, Idaho chapter - informed me that she is a Nashua, New Hampshire native.
While normally a DL session has no formal proceedings, tonight there was one: with introductions (L-to-R) from SLC chapter co-host Laura Arellano as well as former host Heather Culligan - who, ironically, has taken a job in Florida a few months ago. But as it was she who launched the bid for this conference: Heather was determined to see it through (as well as her first visit back home). Many thanks for the ride from the airport, Heather!
Justin was on hand to sign copies of his book 538 Ways to Live, Work, and Play Like a Liberal - although shouldn't that be spelled 'Librul?" - and the night proceeded along with lots of laughter. I had a wonderful time speaking with some of the locals, not all of whom were native - yet it was a good learning experience about Utah politics (in particular) as well as that of the Mountain West (in general). But after some .... well, liberal drinking .... I was a bit pooped after the long flights, so we packed it in at this point.
In the words of Cat Stevens, "Morning has broken" ..... and our hosts suggested we walk from our hotel to the SLC Farmer's Market to get breakfast on-the-run Saturday morning, as well as check out the local produce. Even though doing that guaranteed that our Saturday bidness meeting would start late: it was, in the words of Gomez Addams, "a capital idea!". I love a local farmers market near me even though it's only a fraction of the size of this one.
The weather was outstanding all weekend: low 80's during the day, 50's at night.
And these folks sold organic produce - among the many fine stands set-up.
Our meeting space was in the basement of what in 2006 the Library Journal named as its "Library of the Year". And the SLC Main Library has a great view from its rooftop, where some beehives have been placed - very apropos for the Beehive State, I gotta say.
From L-R: Dan Henry from the Idaho Falls, Idaho chapter, the aforementioned Justin Krebs, then D/L National Director Katrina Baker as well as Greg Rae who co-hosts "Drinking Liberally Steps Out".
Before I introduce our keynote speaker: in the background (L-to-R) are Mark Campbell (Charlotte, NC chapter), national D/L director Matt O'Neill and Jeremiah Roth - a Salt Lake chapter co-host.
Jeremiah was a constituent of the former 2-term mayor of Salt Lake City, who often has attended D/L events before - and lemme tell ya, Ross 'Rocky' Anderson is quite a speaker, and admonished us all to proud to be called "a liberal" (which I heartily endorse). But not just preaching to the choir: hell, he once took on Bill-O in a memorable exchange a few years back:
Rocky Anderson did not seek a third term, and is currently the president of High Road for Human Rights - and I have no doubt he brings the same intensity to that admirable task, as well.
Denver has its mountains not too far away - but here, you can't avoid seeing them. If you've ever simply changed planes at Salt Lake City: you know that simply encircling the city is quite the spectacle.
Our host hotel's big brother, the Grand America is a downtown landmark, in case you're ever lost.
In a Top Comments photo-travelogue of mine from this past May: if you visit Hamburg, Germany but don't visit its seedy Reeperbahn district: then you really haven't visited Hamburg. The mirror image would be to visit Salt Lake City and not visit the downtown Mormon complex known as Temple Square - regardless of your views about religion (in general) or the LDS church (in particular) it is worth a look, and doesn't take long.
A statue of Brigham Young - 'nuff said.
Quite a few weddings taking place at the LDS Temple that day - this is merely one of the couples, posing for wedding photos.
Dang, the Mormon Tabernacle looks so much larger on TV. (But I bet the video screen on the right didn't exist all that long ago).
Built in advance of the 2002 Winter Olympics, SLC's light-rail system called TRAX is free in the downtown area (on the honor system elsewhere) and can get you around downtown, the University of Utah, planetarium, Salt Lake Central Station, etc.
Our Saturday night party was a nice time, with Laura and Misty peddling selling drink tickets, etc.
Some of the attendees; a mix of locals and out-of-towners.
Part of the evening entertainment: the local performance improv duo Toy Soup kept us laughing.
Later, Pat Bagley - the political cartoonist for the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper - spoke to us, along with a slide presentation of some of his work. Pat Bagley was the winner of the 2009 Herblock Prize for editorial cartoonists .... and his presentation showed exactly why.
We also heard two excellent stand-up comedy routines: one by Idaho native and now Utah resident Christopher Stephenson as well as Nebraska native and now Chicago resident Matthew Filipowicz - whose perch atop the Chicago chapter of Living Liberally is - apparently - solely due to the patronage of the "Accountants of Homeland Security". What-the-hey? .......... I resemble that remark, sir.
And last: our host Heather Culligan gave us out-of-towners each a Debauchery Central postcard to remember the conference by.
Alas, I was not able to stay for the concluding Sunday morning session (due to an early flight back East). But many thanks to Heather, Jeremiah, Laura, Misty - and everyone who made us out-of-towners feel welcome. And while we as visiting chapter hosts got some extra TLC - each of you who ventures to a Drinking Liberally evening in your area will find it a welcome oasis - especially if you live in a red district.
Now, on to Top Comments:
From maggiejean :
In today's Overnight News Digest - DK stalwart side pocket succinctly states the importance of the OND to the community.
From JanF
This comment from addisnana in Thursday's Morning Feature on Tea Party GOP Backlash explains the kinds of word-bridges we need to reach out to other islands of information.
From princesspat:
In a front-page story - about the hint that lowering the minimum wage might be met with approval from Connecticut GOP Senate hopeful Linda McMahon - first-time Top Comment nominator princesspat writes, "This literate thread made me smile in agreement" ....
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In a thread about the 'Last Seduction' of James O'Keefe, citylightslover believes his act to be ..... "prime Musto material".
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And lastly ... Top Mojo - (cskendrick/sardonyx-style) excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers and (alas) ... da pooties:
1) Today's Teabaggers by JekyllnHyde — 188
2) Have you gotten reactions form people? by Fiona West — 126
3) Stephen Colbert Should Testify More Often by JekyllnHyde — 120
4) When did we quit teaching our kids by sherlyle — 105
5) Would you agree to release copyright? by Rex Freedom — 103
6) scalia's ignorance is astounding by joseph rainmound — 101
7) I see no reason why not by leftinmontana — 94
8) The Post is one of the worst by abarrenfuture — 91
9) Burr provides no constituent service by FishOutofWater — 88
10) Well Said! by AaronBa — 88
11) Yeah, get ready... by Fury — 86
12) Don't even know where to begin by sherlyle — 81
13) I was more worried about my friends than by leftinmontana — 80
14) Did we ever make an attempt... by rserven — 80
15) I don't know. My parents and especially by Something the Dog Said — 77
16) Well, he and the girl who helped are facing by Something the Dog Said — 75
17) You must have skipped some paragraphs . . . by Nashville fan — 74
18) OUTSTANDING diary...and 100% correct... by APA Guy — 73
19) Of course Murdoch lied. by Nena20409 — 73
20) Impossible. by crose — 72
21) Scalia is neither ignorant nor stupid by plf515 — 72
22) comments by John Kerry — 72
23) Nice job! by MrHinkyDink — 71
24) Damn you're good at this! by Seneca Doane — 69
25) Elaine Marshall would be by TomP — 69
26) East India Co. was UK version of Too Big to fail! by antirove — 68
27) Carl Paladino doesn't appear by beltane — 68
28) What I don't understand is by christine20 — 66
29) thanks for your valuable perspective by bumblebums — 65
30) excellent editorial, leftinmontana by erratic — 64
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Top Mojo with No Exclusions, No Nothing:
1) Tip Jar by leftinmontana — 860
2) Tip Jar by Gov Howard Dean MD — 395
3) Tip jar for transcribing that. (n/t) by BruinKid — 337
4) Tip Jar by Nashville fan — 302
5) Tip Jar by devtob — 290
6) Tips for the TRUTH, which is Fox is NOT NEWS by MinistryOfTruth — 288
7) Tips? Flames? by Something the Dog Said — 286
8) Tip Jar by Clay Claiborne — 254
9) Today's Teabaggers by JekyllnHyde — 188
10) Tip Jar by gjohnsit — 172
11) Tip Jar by TomP — 168
12) Tip Jar by Jeff Merkley — 166
13) And while we're on the subject of Jerry Brown by Seneca Doane — 140
14) Somehow this got up without a tip jar by teacherken — 139
15) Add your own reasons to vote by plf515 — 138
16) Have you gotten reactions form people? by Fiona West — 126
17) Tip Jar by John Kerry — 126
18) Stephen Colbert Should Testify More Often by JekyllnHyde — 120
19) When did we quit teaching our kids by sherlyle — 105
20) Would you agree to release copyright? by Rex Freedom — 103
21) scalia's ignorance is astounding by joseph rainmound — 101
22) One Nation Working Together. by StepLeftStepForward — 98
23) I see no reason why not by leftinmontana — 94
24) The Post is one of the worst by abarrenfuture — 91
25) Well Said! by AaronBa — 88
26) Burr provides no constituent service by FishOutofWater — 88
27) Yeah, get ready... by Fury — 86
28) Don't even know where to begin by sherlyle — 81
29) I was more worried about my friends than by leftinmontana — 80
30) Did we ever make an attempt... by rserven — 80