Milwaukee goes by a few different names: The Cream City, The Brew City, and during summer time, The City of Festivals. And one festival above all the others has given Milwaukee that title: Summerfest. Summerfest is an eleven-day music festival held on the shores of Lake Michigan just steps from Milwaukee’s downtown. Every year it brings in nearly one million visitors with promises of great music, cold beer, excellent food, and one of the biggest and the best parties in the nation. It never fails to deliver. This blogger and other bloggers seem to agree.  Word of mouth marketing is all this festival needs. 

In the early ‘60s, Milwaukee Mayor Henry W. Maier traveled to Munich and took in Oktoberfest – a celebration of the harvest, beer and brotherhood that needs no explanation – and he returned to Milwaukee with a vision. His plan was for a multi-ethnic festival in his city that would draw people not only from around Wisconsin, but the entire world. It took nearly a decade, but in 1968 the inaugural Summerfest was kicked off. The first festival took place in nearly 35 locations across the city, including County Stadium and the Milwaukee Amphitheater. Thanks to performers like Bob Hope who headlined the Festival, Summerfest was an unbelievable success. The next ‘Fest was not as lucky, and proved that spreading the festival further around was a mistake. The numerous venues and notoriously fickle Wisconsin weather dropped attendance and nearly killed Summerfest forever.

Finally, in 1970, under the guidance of a new executive director, the festival found a permanent location on the waterfront of Lake Michigan. The festival grounds were converted from an old Nike Missile site, and remain the permanent home for Summerfest to this day. The festival park would soon be renamed Henry W. Maier Festival Park, in honor of the visionary Mayor who brought Summerfest to Milwaukee.

Summerfest played host to some of the biggest bands in the ‘70s, like Sly and the Family Stone, The Doors, and the Jackson Five. In fact, in 1972, George Carlin was arrested after doing his infamous “Seven Words You Can’t Say on Television” bit, which he would later regard as “The Milwaukee Seven”. Though the Milwaukee Police would later drop the charges, it was one of many events that would Summerfest as part of the cultural fabric of Milwaukee.

Today, Summerfest stands as one of the finest music festivals in the United States. In 1999, the Guinness Book of World Records named it the World’s Largest Music Festival. It features 11 days of music on 11 different stages, with hundreds of bands performing each year. The Marcus Amphitheater holds over 20,000 festival goers nightly for headlining acts. The covered seats of the Amphitheater are nice, but the real party generally happens in the outdoor lawn seats at the very back. Each other stage is a unique area of the park and plays host to different genres of music and events. Unless you are seeing a headliner at the Marcus Amphitheater, every single concert put on at Summerfest is free with your admission. This makes it possible to see literally dozens of bands a night for the price of one concert ticket. The eleven day duration and open concert format makes Summerfest unique in that you almost are in a city-wide tailgate, with music, food, drinks and thousands of fellow party-goers.

But don’t think it’s all about the music. During the day the Festival is a wonderful place for both parents and children. The festival grounds feature a playground, a children’s stage, and an area dedicated to sports that feature appearances from the Milwaukee Bucks as well as extreme sports demonstrations and interactive events. And, if you’re just looking to chill out on a hot summer day, just grab a spot along the lakefront, find a bench or a shady tree, and look out on the Great Lake. There really is something for everyone to do at Summerfest, which gives you a big bang for your buck at the grounds. As a bonus, and an excellent way to save some bucks, several days of the festival include special admission or discounts for families and children during the day.

All this partying and dancing probably leaves you a little drained, and what would a tailgate be without food and drinks? Summerfest is a paradise if you’re a foodie. The grounds feature a bevy of different fare from Mexican to Chinese, Pub favorites to out-there offerings, chain restaurants and menus you will only find in Milwaukee. Absolute musts include Saz’s Sour Cream and Chive Fries, Major Goolsby’s famous burgers, and the Mexican cuisine of La Perla and Botanos. The restaurants are located throughout the park, so you’re never too far from a quick bite. Besides that, the festival goers are more than happy to partake in the ocean of drinks provided to them.

Miller is the staple beer in Summerfest – of course – but Milwaukee couldn’t call itself the Brew City if that was all they had to offer. Several craft, micro, and smaller breweries are all on hand as well to dish out some uniquely Brew City brews to quench the discerning tailgater’s palette. Water Street Brewery also features a restaurant and a place to sample their craft brews, and two local breweries are even dishing out some specialty ales made just for the Fest. Tenth and Bent Beer Company has created a brand-new India Pale Ale served only at the Summerfest grounds, and they are giving festival patrons a chance to name it during the eleven day festival. Also contributing a Summerfest-only brew is Chippewa Falls Brewery Leinenkugel’s, with a special Let’s Fest Brown Ale which pays homage to the German roots of the festival.

So if you’re looking for a place to unwind, relax and take in some tailgating next summer, save your charcoal and your grill and head to Milwaukee the last week of June. Summerfest has everything you need for a summer party, and the people of Milwaukee always have room for one more.

The event is only half the fun. When you’re hitchhiking your life is on the road and making it comfortable and fun is the name of the game. Taking the time to gather the right gear before you leave ensures your pack is party perfect. Every successful hitchhiker knows the essentials to pack on their back to make that big hike to tailgate party central.

“Always take as little as possible,” says Dwayne Miller, a hitch hiker who traveled from Chesterton, Indiana to the 2011 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, some 512 miles. “Once you get on the road whatever you have on your back just gets heavier and heavier.”

There are certain essentials that every hitch hiker needs to pack for a tailgating event of any kind. Besides you basic tent, sleeping bag and hygiene products rain gear is the most important. A good, sturdy poncho protects you from most inclement weather situations while your between rides. An umbrella can come in handy if its the retractable kind that wont take up much room.

First aid supplies are another must-have. “You’ll definitely get blisters,” says Miller. “Always bring bandages and some kind of antibiotic ointment. You’ll be glad you did after you walk those first hundred miles or so.” Other ‘just in case’ first aid items include ace bandages, aspirin, cotton swabs and liquid bandage.

Its important to know where your going and consider the route before you leave. Depending on the event and the season there are a few variables. Bug spray and bug bite ointment are big summer items but if your hitching to a football game in October bugs wont be a big factor. The same goes for sunblock and windbreakers.

Another variable, believe it or not, is a map. “Smartphones can do whatever you need these days.” explained Miller. “Program your route into a GPS system on the phone and keep it. You always know where your going and its way more convenient than trying to tug a map around.” Using this kind of GPS system also allows you to find local hot spots, campgrounds, grocery stores and hotels.

Safety is a big issue for anyone hitch hiking. Not just safety on the road but safety in the cars and trucks along the way as well. Wearing reflector tape at night and bright colors during the day keeps you in sight of drivers and less likely to be hit. Stay a safe distance from the roadside to avoid getting hit by loose gravel or debris from vehicles.

But what about the crazies, you say? “You’ve got just about as much chance of getting a hitch from a nut job as that driver has that your a nut job.” quips Miller. “Media and urban legend have us scared to death to hitch hike anymore and that’s just sad.” Knowing when to take a ride is important and Millers advice is to trust your instincts. “If it doesn’t feel right, don’t get in.”

Carry pepper spray and women should always ride with a partner. Make note of the make and model of the car when you get in and never fall asleep in the car. Do the majority of your hitch hiking during the day and get a room or camp at night.

That concept goes both ways, however. Your going to scare off ride after ride after ride if you haven’t brushed your hair or teeth in three days and you have the same clothes on from the day you left home last week. If you don’t look safe your not going to get a ride.

There is always the question of signage, too. To carry or not to carry? “I’ve went both ways and I have to say if your going to a major vent carry a sign. Other travelers going to the event are more likely to pick you up if they know your going to the same place they are. Stand under street lamps and at busy sections of the road. Truck stops are also great places to catch a ride.

Food is another issue new hitch hikers tend to overlook. Sending long hours walking down the road will work up an appetite. It can be a great weight loss exercise. Continuously sip on bottled water and carry health foods like fruits, nuts, pretzels and granola. Nibbling on this type of food all day not only keeps hunger pains down but keeps morale and energy up as well.

Theft is one of the biggest problems for today’s hitch hiker. “If you don’t keep it in your lap your liable to lose it.” says Dwayne Miller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. “Don’t put any bags in a trunk or saddle bags or compartment. Keep everything you have right on your person at all times.” Keep your identification, cash and credit cards in your pocket. After hours of travel, especially on foot, hitch hikers can get road weary and tired, the perfect combination for thieves.

There are most definitely dangers to hitch hiking but the advantages are pretty spectacular; no cost, meet new people, adventurous, see the country and so on. While you may be unpleasantly surprised by how few rides you get and how much actual walking is really involved, you will never forget the countryside, the people and conversations, the moments. “It is an experience no one can ever forget.” smiled Miller. “It has the power to change you, let it. Oh, and don’t forget a roll of toilet paper.”

Known for his non-stop work ethic when it comes to music, he’s released over two dozen studio albums, relentlessly toured around the world and provided priceless inspiration to his devoted legion of fans, affectionately known as “Parrotheads.” Meanwhile, on the non-musical side of things, he’s written three best-selling books, started his own restaurant chain and co-owned two minor league baseball teams, to name a few.

It all started at Auburn University in Alabama, where Buffett first picked up an acoustic guitar. Eventually graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a history degree, he worked as a country music writer for Billboard, piquing an interest in the music world that carries on to this day.

Ultimately deciding to make music instead of writing about those who did, Buffett released his folk-flavored debut, Down to Earth, in 1970. Over the next six years, he recorded five more albums, eventually making his way to the top 25 of Billboard’s US Country charts with Havaña Daydreamin’ in 1976.

Then came Buffett’s 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which, true to its name, changed the guitarist’s life forever. On the strength of international hit “Margaritaville,” Changes in Latitudes easily sailed to number two on the Billboard’s country charts and made it to number 12 on the magazine’s all-encompassing US charts. Famous for its laid-back guitar riff and witty lyricism, “Margaritaville” remains Buffett’s signature song 34 years later and is a mainstay on his concert setlists.

Even after his late-’70s breakthrough, Buffett continued to release new music at least once every two years. At a point where most musicians would simply sit back and rest on their laurels, Buffett kept writing, recording and touring out of a deep love for his work. Changes in Latitudes’ follow-up, 1978’s Son of a Son of a Sailor, the next year’s Volcano and 1985’s Last Mango in Paris, all cracked the top 15 of the US Country charts, cementing Buffett as one of the most popular musicians in the world.

In the 1980s, Buffett began to branch out from music while still anchoring his work in his songs. In 1985, Buffett opened the first Margaritaville restaurant in Key West, Florida. The chain now sports over a dozen locations in North America. In 1989, he penned New York Times best-seller Tales from Margaritaville and has followed it up with seven fiction and non-fiction works. Buffett is also a former co-owner of two minor league baseball teams: Florida’s Fort Myers Miracle and Wisconsin’s Madison Black Wolf.

Since a five-year hiatus from releasing albums in the early ‘90s, Buffett has been focusing his efforts on music as much as ever. Speaking to his lasting impact, Buffett’s 2004 album License to Chill and 2006’s Take the Weather with You both topped the US Country charts, his first to do so. Most recently, “Knee Deep,” his duet with the Zac Brown Band, has been enjoying a successful run on country and pop radio stations since being released as a single last month.

You would think Buffett would like a break at some point, but after more than 40 years of writing music, playing concerts, penning books and keeping an eye on countless business ventures, it doesn’t look like this guitarist will ever stop. And no one’s complaining about that.

Typically, tailgating is the prequel to a major sporting event. Most people don’t even think to link tailgating to concerts or other live events. If you haven’t tailgated at a country music concert, you don’t know what you’re missing.

The best part about tailgating at a country music concert is the feeling in the atmosphere. Sure, anticipation is high before a sporting event but sports fans feel an array of emotions on game day: nervousness about whether your team will be able to pull off the big win, bitterness toward a rival team, and the dread that if, heaven forbid, your team loses and your entire week is inevitably ruined.

At a country music event, everyone is feeling nothing but excitement about seeing an artist that they love performing their favorite hits live. There is no tension in the air, no nerves to be dealt with, no trash talk coming from your fellow tailgaters. Everyone is just downright happy to eat, drink and party until show time.

The people who tailgate country music concerts are what make it a must-do experience. Some of the most down-to-earth folks mosey on out to have a few cold ones with fellow fans in the parking lot before the show. There are no enemies among the thousands of country music fans. Everyone is there to see and hear the same artist. You will no doubt make friends outside the port-a-potty and inviting your new pal back to your tailgate for a game of corn hole, or even better some karaoke.

As far as the actual tailgating, there aren’t many differences between country concerts and sporting events.  The food and dietary choices are essentially the same.

There usually are a variety of tailgates from the mild truck bed gathering to the extreme decked out trailer or motor home. Most cars feature messages in shoe polish on their windows about the concert. The food is usually your typical tailgating food and the drinks are usually of the alcoholic variety. Some stadiums encourage tailgating while others discourage such things and even employ security guards to carry out those rules, so it’s best to check with the venue personnel well in advance.

Country concerts are a great place to don your cowboy hat and cowboy boots and let your inner hick out, even if you are a city slicker to the core, no one will judge you at country concerts. Everyone is just there to have a great time and listen to some good music.

Undoubtedly, country concert tailgaters learned all their tricks from sports fans. Tailgating still belongs to sports; there is no denying that fact. You probably won’t find many die-hard country music fans setting up tailgates in subzero temperatures to brave the elements like you would at a football game. But if you’ve never tailgated at a country music concert before, put on your cowboy hat (or buy one) and check it out. You won’t regret it!

After a few festival dates and a surprise appearance at the 2012 Grammy Awards, the group has booked a full-fledged 50 date American tour. The core of the reunited group features mostly original members including mastermind Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks. They are even releasing a new CD later this year! This is already one of the hottest tickets for this spring and summer, so you better get those tickets soon and start planning for the pre-show party Surfin Safari style.

If you are going to one of these dates, it is sure to be a night to remember. Videos of the group show them to be in terrific form and sounding a sweet as ever vocally. Why not do it up the tailgating with style and panache and really get into the spirit of the show.

It would be inexpensive and fun to put together a Beach Boys/surfer/beach themed party. Since the nice weather is right around the corner this tailgate theme is easily achieved. Start with bringing the California beach vibe to your party with gear like beach chairs, a tent or canopy for a breezy open feeling, some Tiki torches and even some creative things like a bucket of sand to make a mini-sand castle, beach balls to bat around (what is a concert without beach balls anyway?) and a boogie board for full effect! Anything that evokes a nautical, or coastal theme like soft, sunny tones. Then there is the food. Ah, California evokes so many inspiring memories for me food-wise it might be tough to narrow it down one style. Let’s call it a Cali-fusion Tailgate Food-Fest! Thinking of my time watching surfers brave the breakers in Malibu makes me pine for seafood.

Tailgate preparation for fish and seafood is ideal for a pre-show party because it is fast to cook, easy to make and fun to eat. Shrimp cocktails and and steamers (baby muscles) make great appetizers. For the main course I’d go for fish tacos made with either flounder or haddock. For guests who won’t do fish you can always serve gourmet chicken and pork sausages on artisan rolls. As you know any handheld food is great for the parking lot. Keeping the theme intact be sure and serve several kinds of sweet corn on the cob, avocado dip, fresh tomatoes and cheese and creative melons. For the drinks I’d pair the fish tacos with a white wine and an IPA beer for the sausage enthusiasts.

A well-made Sangria also is very summery and would work as well with the fruit flavors working with the food.

The complete list of tour dates can be found here. The band has already done few shows and they have pulled out some amazing set lists, spanning their entire illustrious career in an expected two-hour plus show. Don’t miss out on the experience of seeing this classic group together again, hearing those harmonies and having some good vibrations!

Almost five decades later Buffett has become a musical icon, selling out just about every venue he plays. He has eight gold records and nine platinum or multi-platinum records to date. People from California to Boston all know this southern treasure.

He even has his own wildly-devoted fan base, nicknamed, parrotheads. The term first came into use during a 1985 show at King’s Island Amusement park near Cincinnati, Ohio. During the show, Buffett commented on everyone’s attire, Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats and how the same people kept coming back to see him, like deadheads. Buffett attributes a lot of his success to the loyalty of fans in that area of the country.

Parrotheads In Paradise is by far the largest parrothead institution. It has 246 chapters, including some in Australia and Canada. It’s membership hovers just under 30,000.

“Someone once said that parrotheads are just deadheads with jobs and frequent flyer miles,” said Wayne Myers, former social director of the Atlanta chapter of Parrotheads In Paradise.

Atlanta is the birthplace of the Parrotheads In Paradise club. It’s founding was based on the principal of “partying with a purpose.” To this day all PhIP clubs are largely involved with communitiy service.

Myers has been a Buffett fan since seeing him open for The Eagles on their 1977 tour. Since than he has been to about 40 shows. He explains that it’s more than just the music that draws him to the parrothead lifestyle.

“The idea of cutting it all and going away to the island,” Myers said. “It’s like going on vacation for two hours.”

Myers doesn’t attempt to explain the parrothead lifestyle to other people. He invites them to come experience it for themselves.

“I have some co-works that don’t even like Buffett, they just come out to the tailgate because it’s so much fun,” Myers explained. “They’re repeat offenders, they don’t come for the show, they just come for the tailgate.”

The Atlanta chapter does it big.

In recent years they have struck a deal with their near-by venue. The club comes in the night before and sets up barricades for their members to have a private party place, according to Myers. Inside their section they have live music, private Port-a-Potties and tiki huts. Their last tailgate party brought about 120 people out to the venue, though not all attended the show.

“The funny thing is, this year out of the 120 or 130 people who went, only 10 came into the show,” Myers explained. “The rest just came out for the tailgate.”

Myers attributes this to the declined economy and the increase in ticket prices. He also said that the show being held on a Tuesday didn’t help much either.

Rain or shine, the party must go on. Last year, Atlanta was experience weather in the low 50′s. Three years ago they experienced torrential down pours. Through it all, the parrotheads persevered.

“The good thing about Georgia rain is that it only lasts for about an hour,” Myers said. “So everyone just crammed under the pop-ups and then it was done and we played in the mud.”

The party is not just strictly for Buffet concerts. The Atlanta chapter, like many of their breathren, hold events through out the year. They host roving happy hours, house concerts and dive-in theaters.

“We’ll find one of our members with a pool and we put up a big screen,” explains Myers. “Everyone just kind of floats around and watches movies.”

President of PhIP, Raymond O. C. Kulisch, aka Rock, echos the same sentiments when it comes to celebrating the island lifestyle.

“It’s about having a lot of fun, being laid back and enjoying life as it comes,” Rock said. “A lot of tailgating in various ways, whether it’s at a show or out on some boats. It’s one big tailgate.”

Rock says that half the fun is to walk around the lot and see what other tailgaters are doing. He’s seen everything from waterbeds in the back of pick up trucks to the usual tiki tourches and wading pools. A spectacle more recently added is that of vibrator races. Four to six vibrators are placed on a track and, as the name implies, they race.

Rock says that the collective spirit is what makes Buffett tailgates different from their contemporaries.

“Football tailgates are big parties too, but they don’t seem to have the cohesiveness,” Rock said. “They (Buffett tailgates) are festive in nature, with costumes, games and decorations of the tailgates.”

Rock’s local venue in Virgina, Jiffy Lube Live, has thrown his local chapter for a kink. Jiffy Lube Live has recently banned all tailgating from their surrounding lots. It is speculated that this is because of a few high profile drunk driving incidence that have occurred over the past few years.

“There has always been a no alcohol policy, but that you can’t stand by your car and cook out is a change,” Rock said. “It’s not a change in policy so much as a change in the level of enforcement.

“The first event of the season was local radio station’s WMZQ Fest and everything they said was true and more,” Rock explained. “Basicaly when you parked the police came through and told you to move along. Then 15 minutes later another wave of police came through and told you in no uncertain terms to move along and get inside the venue.”

If the policy up holds, PhIP plans to hold an event off-site and bus members in to the show. Rock explains that despite their wishes to tailgate outside the venue, they don’t wish to get into trouble doing it.

This understanding of how the policy betters the community is an underlying tone throughout PhIP. The Parrotheads In Paradise have raised over $19 million for various charities since 2002. Their members have also volunteered over 2.4 million hours in that same time frame. This from what many consider to be a fan club. Though members see it differently.

“We’re not really a fan club, we’re a community service club,” explain Myers. “We call ourselves a drinking club with a community service problem.”

There is something about the combination of friends, family, appetizers and beverages that excites fans like few other things can. Grilling burgers that are branded with your team’s logo, competing to see whose flag can fly the highest, and dressing children in sports paraphernalia – all are as American as the hot dogs and apple pies that are consumed while doing them. And while this time-honored tradition dates back to some of the earliest sporting events, tailgating has arguably grown more popular than the events with which they are associated.

The first tailgate party?

This still leaves the question: How did tailgating begin? Who was the first fan to toss aside his leather tunic and instead don his team’s uniform? Who came up with the idea for a portable brick oven? Who was the first to eat from the back end of a covered wagon? Whose mother was the first to be called a cheeky wench before a heated game? There are so many aspects to the tradition that is tailgating, it is hard to decipher where each one came from. And although some of these questions may forever go unanswered, many historical events can be connected back to early forms of tailgating. Through the mediocre recording skills of pioneer sports fans, we can deduce many celebratory acts and see how they are still connected today.

The original tailgate

One of the first tailgating events was first documented during the Civil War, although participants, in all likelihood, were not sharing recipes or playing a friendly game of horseshoes. The event took place in 1861 at the Battle of Bull Run. At the battle’s start, civilians from the Union side arrived with baskets of food and shouting, “Go Big Blue!” their efforts were a form of support and were to help encourage their side to win the commencing battle.

Although this event was a far cry from tailgates today, this is one of the first historical events of passersby cheering on an event. This day also is important in that it documents food being used to celebrate a specific event. Many historians believe that, despite the civilians’ enthusiasm, even for the time, cheering on a war wasn’t exactly considered kosher … or safe. But, despite the dangers that these “fans” may have endured, the rituals they displayed have a direct correlation to the tailgating that is practiced today.

Eating on the run

Another event that would help shape the history of tailgating happened just five years after the Battle of Bull Run, in 1866 when Texas rancher, Charles Goodnight, transformed a U.S. army wagon into a portable feed wagon. Goodnight saw the need for cowboys to eat regardless of location, and invented his contraption – the chuck wagon – to help mobilize hearty meals. The chuck wagon, named after a lower-priced cut of beef called “chuck,” helped transform the face of the ranching industry. Goodnight’s portable cooking design was efficient, and more importantly, on wheels. Goodnight’s chuckwagon was an early model of many tailgating setups that are still used in present times.

Tailgating meets sports

Up to this point, however, each form of early tailgating had yet to be performed at an actual sporting event. The act of pre-game celebration would not be introduced to competitive sports until 1869, when the earliest signs of tailgating at a sporting event took place at the inaugural intercollegiate football game between Princeton and Rutgers. This game was a battle similar to present-day rugby, and each team consisted of 25 players, playing a choice of three different positions. Two men from each team would hide toward the back, hoping to score, undetected as 11 men acted as defenders, and the remaining 12 (called bulldogs) were part of the ever-moving pile.

However, what arguably had the biggest effect on tailgating at this game, was a group of Rutgers fans and players, who wore scarlet-colored scarves (converted into turbans), in order to be separate from the other fans. Their school colors were a show of support, and defined them as belonging to a certain team. Ten “games” or “runs” later, Rutgers won 6-4.

Modern day

Today’s tailgate party.

Ever since that first competitive collegiate game, the traditional form of tailgating has been practiced at sporting events everywhere. Ever since opposing players have faced one another, fans have worn the colors of their teams. And from the first meeting of schools, onlookers have hollered throughout the game, both for and against it. Even before cornhole, there was tailgating.

Nowadays, food and beverages have become a staple before the big game. There are barbecues before baseball events, beers shared hours before kickoff, and cold cuts spread out at the start of a racing event. Tailgating is a large part of American culture, and is enjoyed today more than ever. Whether it’s the companionship, the love of the game, or comradeship that can only be produced hours before an intense sporting event, the act of pre-celebration has often become more important than the games themselves.

To date, tailgating has changed as much as the game of football itself. Where turbans were once worn to distinguish which team you were rooting for, caps, jerseys, themed T-shirts, and body paint now are the norm. And where food was once transported in a horse-drawn wooden wagon, grills and coolers now are transported with ease, allowing tailgaters to consume the best of foods and beverages on the road. Despite the changes in the evolution of tailgating, one thing has endured: the fans’ spirit.

What is lacking with many tailgate spreads is more sweet options. One piece of pineapple on a skewer packed with meat, onions, and pepper will not satisfy any sweet tooth especially if there are kids or adults who are children at heart and eager to complete a meal with desert from the barbecue. Skewers can provide the meal, and just as importantly, the sweets after the meal.

From mangoes to strawberries, most fruit can be skewered and grilled. To make it even more entertaining, pre-cut the pieces of fruit and let the kids and adults go at it to create their skewer treat. There are a few tips to have a flaming hot snack rather than a charred snack that is aflame. Softer fruit should be on the grill for a much shorter period than fruit that is harder to the touch. Containing much more water than harder fruit, the soft flesh can be cooked to perfection in as little as 5 minutes. Skewering pieces of fruit that have similar flesh will ensure that they are grilled at the perfect time with softer fruit skewered and grilled together. Harder fruit can be skewered together and grilled longer.

So what fruit can be grilled? Pineapple pieces, of course, as well as strawberries, apples, pears, grapes, peaches, nectarines, bananas, kiwi, mangoes, and many other favorite fruit are all possibilities for a unique sweet treat. The prospects are only limited to what the tailgate organizer provides to the party-goers.

Some helpful tips when offering fruit for barbecue skewers is to cut the pieces uniformly so that they will cook evenly on the grill. If you brush the fruit with vegetable oil first, you prevent the tasty morsels from sticking to the grill. To bring out the identity of the fruit even further, you can sprinkle cinnamon, sugar, spread apple butter, or incorporate a combination of these flavor inducing ingredients to make the fruit skewer pop.

Traditional is wonderful for those wanting to have a great barbecue. Skewers increase the fun meter and when fruit is added to the mix, the tailgate becomes a party. Everyone gets involved when they get to choose their dessert. When they then get to relish every sweet ingredient they chose, the ultimate goal of any tailgate party of being unforgettable is achieved and enshrined as a go-to tailgate party with fruit skewers.

Similarly, a good bourbon is easy to track down. Several can be spotted on the shelves or (more likely) in a locked cabinet at any liquor store. The question is, how big of a dent to you want to put in your wallet?

If your price range is low to intermediate, then Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an outstanding choice. Medium-bodied with distinct flavors, Bulleit is a quality bourbon with a great taste. The nose brings sweet flavors of honey and vanilla with a distinct spiciness, while the finish maintains that spice yet also features the oaky taste of a more traditional sour-mash bourbon whiskey.

Like all bourbons, Bulleit is made mostly from corn, but its unmistakable spice is no doubt due to its unusually large rye content. While Bulleit contains about 30 percent rye, many other bourbons either contain roughly 10 percent rye, or more commonly, rye is omitted entirely in lieu of wheat.

If you’re looking to nitpick, the sophisticated, derby-going, bluegrass-listening, been-drinking-bourbon-since-I-was-2, Kentucky gentleman will probably object to the burn that a sip of Bulleit leaves in the finish. Typically, such a burning sensation is more characteristic of a true rye whiskey rather than a bourbon whiskey.

Nevertheless, Bulleit is easily superior to many others in the same price range. Its complex flavors, unique taste, and slightly-higher-than-normal alcohol content (90 proof) are enough to make Bulleit a great asset to have on hand or to bring as a casual gift.

Routinely available at Trader Joe’s for 20 bucks, and comparably priced at other retailers, Bulleit is the smart buy, more like the Toyota Camry that you shopped around for and less like the gaudy luxury auto that’s an amazing machine that costs more than your home.

If you’re a mixer, try it with your favorite ginger ale. The combination of sweet and spicy Bulleit bourbon with the dry taste of a cold ginger ale is incredibly tasty and surprisingly refreshing. Regualr bourbon drinkers will be quite happy taking Bulleit neat, but this is the drink to offer the skeptical bourbon drinker, the one who will only take bourbon because they were out of vodka or gin.

For a winter tailgate, go with a Bulleit hot toddy. All you need is bourbon, water, and sugar (and a lemon if you want to get fancy) to make this tasty, body-warming serum. Bonus: it’s believed by many to combat the common cold and flu

Noodles and pasta have much in common, but to be classified as a noodle, the dough must contain 5.5 percent egg solids. Noodles are formed of unleavened dough, typically wheat, rice or buckwheat although oddities like acorn meal, mung beans and potato starch sometimes are used. Once the dough is rolled out it is cut, often into strings a la spaghetti, but also into a huge variety of shapes including the little alphabet letters you might remember floating in your soup when you were young, orecchitte, meaning “little ears”; fiori, flower-shaped and farfalle, shaped like a butterfly or bowtie. The word noodle derives from the German nudel.

The basic noodle is the soft variety that is cooked in water and drained. Pasta sauce can be added. Chilled noodles can be served in a salad or, as they are in Japan, served cold with a dipping sauce. Fried noodles include dishes where the noodles are stir fried with meat, seafood or vegetables as found in Chinese lo mein, Thai pad thai and others. Noodles in soup are the familiar chicken or beef noodle soup; ramen; spatzle, a German pasta made with wheat and eggs; udon which are thick Japanese noodles usually served in a broth and other variations around the globe. Noodle casseroles like lasagna are good tailgate fodder if you can figure out a way to keep the dish warm. Pastitsio, the Greek dish, and kugel are other types of noodle casseroles. Modern culture gave rise to instant noodles, the student staple. Four thousand year old noodles—said to be well- preserved– were found at an archeological site in China. The story about Marco Polo bringing pasta to Italy and thereby beginning the Italian pasta cycle is entirely apocryphal.

How nutritious noodles are depends on what type of wheat or rice was used to make them as well as how they were made. Basically, noodles are a complex carbohydrate and provide energy for a long time which is why noodles and pasta are often eaten by marathon runners the night before the race. As noodles and noodle dishes are high on the list of most peoples’ comfort foods, U.S. noodle consumption spikes in the cold weather months of January, February and March when we turn to chicken noodle soup to sooth a cold, a delicious plate of spaghetti or that childhood staple, mac and cheese, currently very in vogue.

Thomas Jefferson is credited with introducing macaroni to the United States after eating something like it in Europe while serving as the U.S. ambassador to France. He ordered crates of macaroni, along with a pasta-making machine, sent back to the United States.

In addition to their versatility in the bowl or on the plate, noodles figure heavily in arts and crafts, especially those for kids. If you have little tailgaters, suggest they color some noodles and paste them on a paper plate to help celebrate the occasion. If you want to celebrate in a more adult fashion, try this recipe for great lasagna, courtesy of the old, but terrific in its way, I Hate to Cook Book by the late Peg Bracken:

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pound ground beef, crumbled.
8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 No. 2 can tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
one-half teaspoon ground pepper
one-half teaspoon oregano
8 ounces lasagna noodles
one-half pound mozzarella, sliced thin
1 pound ricotta cheese
one-half cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions

Sauté the ground beef and garlic in the oil, then add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, salt, pepper and oregano and simmer twenty minutes. While sauce simmers, cook noodles in boiling salted water (read package for time) and drain well. (I usually run hot water over each noodle as I separate it to place into the casserole.)
Butter a 9-inch by 13-inch casserole. Place a layer of noodles, then a layer of cheese (about a third of the ricotta topped with mozzarella with Parmesan sprinkled on top of the mozzarella) and finally a layer of the meat sauce. Make two more layers in the same order, ending with a layer of sauce and Parmesan. (If you have extra mozzarella, add that on top under the Parmesan.)
Bake uncovered at 375 for 20 minutes.
To freeze, cover with foil. Be sure to defrost the dish 24 hours before you plan to serve. Reheat until lasagna is bubbling, covering the top with foil if it starts to get brown.