Unofficial; Fear Mongering is Big Business

The bars open at 11, are you ready?

Of course, you are probably already drinking at a house party.

From WICD ABC 15

Day of Drinking

url may not last long.

Final preparations are underway for todays unofficial Saint Patrick's Day celebration on the University of Illinois campus. Today marks 14 years since the tradition began. Its an event that is drawing thousands of visitors. And police know that -- which is why they'll have extra patrols out. They say they'll put more of a focus, this year, on private parties -- though there will still be bar checks.

From News-Gazette

'Unofficial' Facebook author surprised at invitation's spread

By the numbers with 'Unofficial'

Unofficial St. Patrick's Day under way

*note bars are now open*


From Daily Illini

Dorms prepare for unofficial visitors

Landlords warn tenants about Unofficial

Liquor sales increase for week of Unofficial

Alex Pastor, senior in LAS, said he will make a trip to a liquor store on Friday to stock up.

Pastor said he typically purchases Natural Light because it is more economical, but he will most likely splurge on Friday.

“I might increase what I buy to Bud Light because it is a holiday,” Pastor said.

Stupid students...

Urbana's Unofficial 'like every other weekend'

Not celebrating Unofficial? A look at alternative events for Friday

The 'UnOFficIal' aftermath; armageddon came and went

News-Gazette

'Subdued' not the adjective for annual drinking festival, but final numbers show 'safe' gaining steam

CHAMPAIGN – Fewer arrests, fewer tickets, fewer medical calls and no major injuries during Friday's Unofficial St. Patrick's Day have Champaign public-safety officials feeling somewhat relieved about the annual bacchanal.

Wow, not only is that one of the world's largest headlines, but they used the word "bacchanal". Bacchanal means a drunken or riotous celebration. It relates to the word Bacchus.

A final tally of activity for Friday and early Saturday put the number of criminal arrests at seven, down from 15 last year; notices to appear in court for less-serious offenses at 265, compared with 351 in 2009; and medical calls at 28, compared with 33 last year.

7 arrests
265 citations
28 medical calls

With the tab for city ordinance violations ranging from $165 to $310, Champaign stands to gain more than $43,000 in revenue from fines, assuming all those ticketed plead guilty or are found guilty. Last year's police overtime cost taxpayers just over $10,600.

Wow, they actually put that this is a profitable event for the city.

WCIA, CBS 3

Unofficial Aftermath

WAND, NBC 17

Unofficial St. Patrick's Day end with fines, towed vehicles

Towing companies say the drinking event might just be their busiest day. They mostly pick up vehicles from city lots. Tatman's Towing hauled off about 70 vehicles, while Reynold's towed 256.

WICD, ABC 15

The Unofficial Hangover

"It's a little more tame this year, not going to lie it's not as fun," said Jordan Missner.

Students credit that to a 21 and over bar rule as well as a ban on pitchers and shots, as police put forth their best effort to crack down on binge drinking.

Daily Illini

Police increase patrols, regulations for Unofficial

contains a nice ticket breakdown

Post-Unofficial bar scene: 'Busier than a regular Saturday night'

On Saturday, the entry age for C-U bars returned to 19 years old.

Some students who were turned away on Unofficial could once again get into the bars.

Dan Kadlec, sophomore in Business, said he stayed away from the bars on Friday but not Saturday.

“I’m not 21, and I knew cops would be everywhere on Friday,” Kadlec said. “I didn’t want to risk it.”

No news from Fox.

No news from the Buzz.

CU Liquor News; Emergency rules announced for "Unofficial" in Champaign

From the News-Gazette.

Emergency rules announced for "Unofficial" in Champaign

The nanny state is at it again! (This time, it's the nanny city)

Selected highlights in the article:

Bars in the campus area must raise their minimum entry age from 19 to 21 during Unofficial, and they must also have a doorman aged 21 or older checking identification at the entrance.

That's not necessarily a bad thing anyway.

Bars and liquor stores in the campus area will not be allowed to serve alcohol before 11 a.m. on March 5. Bars also may not serve pitchers or shots of undiluted alcohol, and all drinks must be served in a plastic or paper cup.

What is a shot of undiluted alcohol? Does everything have to be a mixed drink? No pitchers? Plastic or paper cup?

The mayor’s office will not issue any keg permits for private parties, making it illegal to possess more than one keg per residence.

Attention homebrewers, during unofficial if you own more than one keg, you are a criminal. Thank you for that Champaign.

Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day is a daylong drinking event in which some University of Illinois students participate. Last year, Champaign police issued 351 citations on Unofficial, and spent more than $13,000 on police overtime, Champaign police Lt. Brad Yohnka said Friday.

That's an example of throwing around numbers that seem big. But they left off the biggest number. Paying $13,000 seems like a lot. Giving out 351 citations seems like a lot. In order to recoup the $13,000 and not make a profit off of those citations, the city would have to charge $37.04 per citation. The fine is more than $300, so the city took in $57,198.96 that day (300-37.04=162.96*351=57198.96).

I can throw around numbers that make it seem small. According to wiki, there are 31,173 undergraduate students at the school. If they don't turn 21 until the middle of their junior year, that's roughly 16,000 students who are under 21. That means that only 351 of roughly 16000 people got ticketed. 1 percent of 16000 is 160, 2 percent is 320, so only 2% of students got cited last year. How is that a problem?

If Champaign took the money, they would only have to bitch about $2,000 that they would have paid.

CU Bars in the News, Daily Illini Unofficial stories

From the Daily Illini

Mayor Schweighart and Champaign Police set regulations for Unofficial

has a good list of fines.

Police add new restrictions for Unofficial

again, the emphasis on throwing things off balconies, with the added twist that the resident will be charged for his guests throwing things.

Unofficial brings official rules to C-U campus

a nice little editorial

Alcohol in the news; Musicians play on despite liquor license suspension in Urbana

From the News-Gazette

Musicians play on despite liquor license suspension in Urbana

It seems a lot of people are interested in the Iron Post. There have been a lot of visitors to the blog searching for Iron Post Liquor License. Finally, this story in the News-Gazette provides the answer.

URBANA – It was a long, slow weekend at the Iron Post, a bar in downtown Urbana that lost its liquor license for five days after an undercover investigation earlier this year by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

The Iron Post had a five day suspension of it's license.

"We were scheduled for that night," said Morgan Powell, trombonist for the Boneyard Jazz Quintet. "Some bands opted out because there was no liquor served. We decided to go ahead and do it anyway to support Paul.

"It went well. It was a packed house. Unbelievable. I've never seen so many sober people before," Powell joked.

...

Wirth estimated he lost $3,000 during the five-day period last week while his liquor license was suspended.

The Iron Post lost its license for selling alcohol to underage customers during the "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day" weekend in Champaign-Urbana in March.

So, there's the answer, the Iron Post lost it's license for selling alcohol to underage customers during "Unofficial".

"They order the beers and when the beers go on the bar, they turn around and walk out," Wirth said of the undercover agents. "Next thing there are three very large police officers/liquor control commission guys standing behind the bar and writing me and my server a citation."

The two underage customers were a young man and woman, Wirth said.

So, the moral for bar owners is, on days like "unofficial" you should have a person on staff to stand at the door and check ID's. The pay for one person to stand at the door, is a whole lot less than the $3,000 that you'd lose for having your license suspended.

CU Bars in the News; University, cities getting set for annual 'Unofficial' event

University, cities getting set for annual 'Unofficial' event

From the News-Gazette

Highlights/what to expect in the community:

Campus bars also will not be allowed to open before 11 a.m. on Friday. The orders will be in effect only for Unofficial, Schweighart said. Bars also may not serve pitchers or shots of undiluted alcohol, and all drinks must be served in a plastic or paper cup.

Schweighart is Mayor Jerry Schweighart of Champaign, he is also the city liquor commissioner.

Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing on Wednesday announced "emergency order plans" for an area between Oregon Street on the north, Nevada Street on the south, Goodwin Avenue on the west and Lincoln Avenue on the east.

The two liquor licenses in that area – Canopy Club, 708 S. Goodwin Ave., U, and Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza, 701 S. Gregory St., U – are not allowed to open before 11 a.m. March 5.

The Urbana rules also prohibit serving shots or undiluted drinks from 11 a.m. March 5 until 2:30 a.m. March 6. Pitchers are not allowed to be served in that area of Urbana from 1 to 2:30 a.m. March 6.

So, if you want to get drunk, go to downtown Urbana. Bunny's, Rose Bowl, Legion, Iron Post, (or my favorite) Crane Alley.

The UI will have security staff stationed in large lecture halls, Kaler said, and will be checking students upon entrance to ensure they are not drunk and not carrying alcohol into class.

At least they aren't on furlough that day.

CU Bars in the News, Officially preparing for unofficial

From WICD15.

Officially Preparing for Unofficial (not sure how long link will take you to the story)

We are officially a couple of days out from unofficial Saint Patrick’s Day on the University of Illinois campus. It's the day known for its raucous parties and binge drinking, and the city of Champaign is already outlining what they'll be looking for and who'll they'll be targeting at this year's event. Champaign police want to remind you to act responsibly if you are planning on going, and you should know they're making public safety a priority. That means you cannot drink in public nor have alcohol in public. Also keep in mind those caught throwing things off balconies could get a fine of up to two hundred and fifteen dollars. If a party charges for cups or admission, it is operating as an illegal establishment and that could mean multiple fines. They'll also be looking for those with fake id's and those who are drinking underage. If you notice something you think is out of line, please call 351-4545.

So, don't have a party where you charge admission. Don't drink if you are under 21. Don't carry open alcohol. Don't throw things off balconies (regardless of how fun it is). Don't drink and drive.

If you really want to mess with the system, you can screw the city over best by not allowing them to issue any tickets. All the money they are spending on cops overtime will be wasted. Please, don't break the law.

If you do break the law, you will not get a warning ticket, you will be fined.

CU Bars in the News, "unofficial" is this weekend; new rules to follow

From WAND NBC 17

"Unofficial" is this weekend; new rules to follow

Same scare tactics as all the other news reports on underage drinking, along with the same warnings for revelers.

Summary:

Throwing things: $215
Private Parties that charge admission: all kinds of fines
Illegal ID: $300

Dumbest Unofficial partier

From the News-Gazette

Worst charges out of Unofficial: magic mushrooms, hitting a cop

URBANA — A Champaign man who admitted to police he was cultivating hallucinogenic mushrooms is due back in court next week with an attorney.

Did that just say he "admitted" to police.

When officers accompanied Cullinan to his room, they also found two jars that Cullinan said he had injected with psilocybin spores. He told the officers he was planning on cultivating the psilocybin mushrooms when they grew.

Exactly how high was this guy when the cops showed up?

CU Bars in the News, 3 stories from the 217

Unofficial is officially here

GREENMAN!!!

Alternative things to do in CU on Unofficial

Although there's a list of bar and liquor store openings, so it that really alternative?

Unofficially designing threads

hmmm, if you can't charge entrance and you can't charge for cups, can you charge for a tshirt?

CU Bars in the News, Unofficial St. Patrick's Day Starts March 5th in Champaign

Unofficial St. Patrick's Day starts March 5th in Champaign

From WAND NBC 17

Nice of the news crew to take video of empty cans on the street, instead of actually cleaning it up.

No Greenman in this one.

CU Bars in the News, New Rules for 'Unofficial'

New Rules for 'Unofficial'

From WAND NBC 17

GREENMAN!!!

CU Bars in the News, One-on-One with Rebecca Vann, manager of the Blind Pig Co.

From the 217/buzz.

One-on-One with Rebecca Vann, manager of The Blind Pig Co.

The Blind Pig Co. is a bar serving a different side of CU. Since it opened the mircrobrewry addition in November, it gives beer drinkers the option to go local. buzz sat down with manager Rebecca Vann about beers, brewing them and the real history behind the sightless swine.

That's the first paragraph. From it, we should expect to cover all those topics. "mircrobrewry" was misspelled by them, not me.

The story covers the beers on tap, a horrible bio of the brewer, questions about undergrad patronage, questions about unofficial, bar history, and craft beers.

There is no mention of what a "blind pig" is. Even though it's mentioned in the lead.

If you want to know, there are two common definitions of "blind pig". The first is for a speakeasy. During prohibition, places that sold alcohol illegally were known as speakeasy's. A blind pig was a form of a speakeasy, although not as "classy" as a speakeasy. The owner would charge customers to see an attraction, then provide them with a complimentary beverage. The attraction would be the blind pig.

The other definition also dealt with prohibition. Here the blind pig referred to the serving vessel for the alcoholic beverage. A mason jar was known as a pig. A pig without any markings would be a blind pig.

The truth to the name is probably a combination of the two.

alcohol in the news; the world's game brings bars business

From WICD 15 ABC

The World's Game Brings Bars Business

SAVOY -- Bars across Champaign-Urbana were packed by 9:00 Friday morning. It's neither "Unofficial" nor an Illini pigskin Saturday. Instead, it was the world's version of football that brought big bucks to local businesses.

The Buffalo Wild Wings in Savoy opened at 9. Some places on campus started serving at 8:30. Normally, summer is a slow time for these businesses because so many students are gone. But Friday, patriotism kept many bars packed.

Some people call soccer an equalizer, a sport the world has in common. But for local bars and restaurants it's a money-maker.

"Last Saturday when USA and England played, it was like an Illini game in here," said Joseph Evans, G.M. of the Buffalo Wild Wings, "Looking over the crowd, I was like 'oh the Illini's playing today?"

And just like an Illini tailgate, some fans went right for the beer.

"We're doing good alcohol sales," said Evans, "But at 9:00 in the morning, they get one beer and sit with that one beer for a couple hours and that's fine."

Most of the fans we saw stayed away from the booze altogether.

"No, I just had breakfast and a Diet Coke," said Jach Hutchens, who watched the game at Firehaus, "It's a little too early for me to drink."

And the fans who are having a drink or two have yet to cause any problems for police.

"To my knowledge and I've talked to the district commander as well, we've not had any calls or problems related to gatherings at the bars, even with the early opens," said Sgt. Scott Friedlein of the Champaign Police.

With a 10 -15% sales boos and no arrests, Evans says he would change only one thing.

"If they had the games at night, I think it'd be a little bit better," he said, "But it's night in South Africa and daytime here so it all works out."

The World Cup continues what's been a great month for local bars. Even though the students left, big crowds gathered to watch the Blackhawks march to a Stanley Cup championship. Now, bar owners are hoping the U.S. soccer team can make a run of its own.

The U.S. next plays on Wednesday. All the bar owners we talked to plan on opening early for that match.

Reported by A.J. Bayatpour
Posted: June 18, 2010

Alcohol in the news: Officials meet to fight alcohol on campuses

From Fox 55/ newschannel 20

Officials Meet to Fight Alcohol on Campuses

Representatives from communities, universities and law enforcement have come together to try and combat alcohol abuse and its impact on college students.

Stock footage from "Unofficial" was used.

CU Beer Weekend, March 5

Seven Saints

Rotating Taps:

Southern Tier Gemini
Dark Horse Tres blueberry stout

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, half off Bourbon + Rye
Thursday: Beer Class, 7pm, exBEERiment #2, best bar in downtown to get a Guinness

Radio Maria

tap list as of 3/4

1. Schlafly APA $4
2. Schneider Weisse $6
3. Two Brothers Northwind Stout $5
4. Dark Horse Beat Your Wheat $5
5. Dark Horse Scotty Karate $4
6. New Holland Cabin Fever $4
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Zywiec Pilsner $6
9. Kwak Belgian Ale $6
10.Kulmbacher Eisbock $5
11.Ballast Pointe "Big Eye" IPA $4.5
12.Ballast Pointe Calico Amber Ale $5
13.St Bernardus Prior 8 $6
14.Eugene City 200 Meter Ale $5
15.Victory Golden Monkey $5
16.Moylan Dragoon's Dry Irish Stout $4.5
17.Left Hand Milk Stout $4
18.Two Brothers Moaten $7
19.Lost Abbey Angel's Share $7
20.Southern Tier Old Man Winter $4
21.Southern Tier Choklat $6
22.Bell's HopSlam $5
23.Pyramid Apricot $4
24.Victory Moonglow $4.5
25.Capital Eisphyre $5
26.Weihenstepnaner Weissbier $6
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour 4:30 - 5:30, Dark Horse Beat Your Wheat $4 .
Saturday: $3 Bacardi and $6 Bacardi Mojitos, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Trivia Night; 11pm with MC Juice
Thursday: $1 off house specialty cocktails

Starting Sunday, Sunday Supper returns. Four course menu is $50. Wine pairing adds $15.

March 28: 6pm; Pinot Noir Dinner, $85.
April 1: 7pm, Downtown Champaign Classical Music Fest, free
April 11: 6pm, Kids Art4Kids to benefit Crisis Nursery

Blind Pig

Port Brewing Midnight Sessions; San Marcos, Califonria, Schwazbier, 5% abv
Port Brewing Hop-15; San Marcos, California, Imperial IPA, 9.7% abv
Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale; San Marcos, California, Saison, 6.7 % abv
Lost Abbey Serpent’s Stout; San Marcos, California, Imperial Stout, 11% abv
Green Flash Le Freak; Vista, California, Abbey Tripel, 9.2% abv
Ballast Point Sea Monster; San Diego, California, Imperial Stout, 10%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute; Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Atomium Grand Cru; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Fullers London Pride; England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon; Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12° Bohemian; Pilsener, Czech Republic, 5% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Double Mocha Porter; Newport, Oregon, Baltic Porter
He’Brew Lenny’s RIPA; San Francisco, California, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
Duchesse De Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bells Amber Ale; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amber Ale, 6% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3% abv
Lindemans Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Petrus Oud Bruin; Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5% abv
Old Speckled Hen; England, Premium Bitter, 5.2%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

CASK:
Summit Horizon Red Ale

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Imperial IPA
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Katie's Belgian Stout
Dark Horse Perkulator; Marshall, Michigan, Doppelbock, 7.5% abv
Schneider Aventinus; Germany, Weizen Bock, 8.2% abv
Founders Reds Rye; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Specialty Grain, 6.6% abv
North Coast Red Seal; Fort Bragg, California, American Pale Ale, 5.5% abv
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout; Chicago, Illinois, Imperial Stout, 13% abv
Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout; Marshall, Michigan, Dry Stout, 4.5% abv
Heilemans Old Style; Woodridge, Illinois, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Bells Hopslam; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
La Caracole Saxo; Belgium, Belgian Ale, 8% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: 7-9 Trivia
Monday (March 15): $1 off all bottles; Blind Pig Brewery Beer Club

Drink through a list of 150 beers, at 75 receive a Blind Pig Brewery Beer Club shirt, at 150 name on the Club Hall of Fame Plaque.

Crane Alley

Konig Pilsener 4.8%
Arcadia Big Dicks Old Ale 8.2%
Brew Dog/Stone Bashah 8.6%
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout 5.3%
Three Floyds Robert The Bruce 7.0%
Left Hand Widdershins Oak Aged Barleywine 8.8%
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 13.0%
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weizen 5.4%
Guinness 4.2%
Pauwel Kwak 8.0%
Rogue Brutal Bitter 6.2%
Bells Porter 5.6%
Pabst Blue Ribbon 4.7%
Mendocino Red Tail Ale 6.0%
Dark Horse Raspberry Ale 5.0%
Ska Modus Hoperandi IPA 7.0%

Coming Soon

Dark Horse Too Cream Stout 7,0%
Mikkeller Nugget IPA
Founders Imperial Stout 10.5%
Green Flash Imperial IPA 9.2%
Bells Two Hearted Ale 7.0%
Port Brewing Midnight Sessions
Lost Abbey Serpent Stout 10.7%
Bells Java Stout 7.5%
Dupont Avec Bon Les Vous 9.5%
Dogfish Head Old School Barleywine 15.0%
Avery New World Porter 6.7%
Green Flash Le Freak 9.2%
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
Avery Mephistopheles 16.8%
Unibroue Ephemere Apple 5.5%
Great Divide Hercules IPA 9.1%

March 15, Monday: Bells Beer Dinner, $65 tix available at the bar, Bells batch 9000 tapped after the dinner.

Specials for the weekend of March 5

FETTUCCINI ALFREDO - Grilled blackened flank steak over fettuccini alfredo with broccoli, carrots, and peas

SHRIMP CAKE SANDWICH - Pan seared panko crusted smokey shrimp cake on split top bun with mixed greens and sweet chili glaze served with a side of quinoa

Mike n' Mollys

Lost Abbey Angel's Share
Bells Hopslam
Miller High Life
Avery the Czar
Strongbow
North Coast Old Stock Ale
Southern Tier Chokolat
Harp
Ename Triple
Guinness

(Old Stock will be the first to go, it will be replaced by either Acme IPA or Hebrew Lenny's RIPA)

Friday:The Daredevil Cristopher Wright, 10pm
Sunday: $1 High Life, $2 Tullamore Dew and John Powers and rails, $3 Guinness
Monday: Abe Froman Project, 9-10pm, free/ Rockstar Karaoke, 10-2, free; $1 PBR
Tuesday: $1.25 High Life; $.50 off all taps
Wednesday: Bingo, 9:30-midnight, free; $2 Mickey's Big Mouth; $2.50 rails
Thursday: $2.50 Stella Artois bottles

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Southern Tier Gemini
Schlafly Dry Hopped APA
Capital Blonde Dopplebock
Moylans Kilt Lifter Scotch (about to blow)
Oscar's Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout
CASK: Schlafly Brown

Cowboy Monkey

Friday: Unofficial (free)
Saturday: 90's Daughter, 10pm, $5
Monday: closed for private party
Tuesday: Open Mic Night, 10pm, free; $2.50 Magic Hat, $2.50 Leinie Sunset Wheat, $2.50 Bacardi drinks
Wednesday: Salsa, free, 10pm; Tango at 8pm

Highdive

Friday: DJ Delayney, $5, 10pm
Saturday: Bellies For Life, 7pm, $10 in Advance $15 at the door; DJ and Dancing, 10pm, $5 at the door; $5 Long Island, $5 Vegas Bombs, $4 Captain Morgan drinks, $4 Jose Cuervo drinks
Monday: 80's Night, 10pm, free
Tuesday: Open Mic Sessions, 9pm, $5
March 13: Feudin Hillbillys, 8pm, $7
March 16: The Tossers, 9pm, $12 in advance

Canopy Club

Friday: Perpetual Groove, 9pm, $8 in advance; Victory over Tyranny, 6pm, $7
Saturday: Girls Next Door: University of Illinois A Capella, 6pm, $7; DJ Dance Party, 10pm
Sunday: Tea Leaf Green, 7pm, $12 in Advance
Monday: One Dollar Wild Mondays with Jobu, $1 beer and well
Tuesday: Trivia Diner: Live Game Show/The Piano Man
Wednesday:Rave to the Grave
Thursday: Barefoot Truth: CD release, $7