JH Underground – news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Back in April, a News&Guide report that Starbucks planned to open a store on the Town Square brewed up a venti-sized dose of dismay.

Java junkies were jittery at the prospect of the megachain draining business from local coffee shops. Critics appealed to the town government for help. One friend wrote on Facebook:

“WTF? Jackson Town Planners?!?! Seriously. Walgreens and now Starbucks. B/c we really need those chains right… They just fit right in with the LOCAL folks who already serve up great coffee.”

The town government has little regulatory authority to keep out chain businesses, other than issuing building permits to ensure codes are met. In this case, the building inspector rejected Starbucks’ initial application because the store would have exceeded capacity (49 people) and had entrance problems (being inside another business, Lee’s Tees). As of last week, the company had resolved those issues, and the town was set to issue a building permit.

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Posted under Business, Food, Politics, Town Government

Tags: coffee, tourists

Teton Dems are gathering tonight at Betty Rock to watch the election results and congratulate candidates on a race well run.

There will be food and drink specials, and Betty Rock will stay open late on what could be a late night for the presidential decision. The party will start soon after polls close at 7 p.m.

I expect we’ll have local results around 9. Betty Rock has a TV for national coverage and wifi for the latest updates.

Come by for a burger and beer. I plan to be there at some point. On such a momentous night, the pull of home is strong.

Let’s hope we have a lot to celebrate, locally and nationally.

Posted under County Government, Democratic Party, Food, Politics, Town Government, Wyoming Legislature

Tags: campaign 2012, restaurants

As widely reported last week, Thai Me Up won a surprising two gold medals and one silver to lead Wyoming breweries at the Great American Beer Festival on Oct. 10-12 in Denver. Snake River Brewing Co. added to its hardware collection with one silver and one bronze.

The Casper Star-Tribune sent a correspondent to cover the festival (tough gig, eh?) who has written a nice feature about the evolution of craft beers in Wyoming, starting with the opening of the Brew Pub in 1994. (Otto Brothers in Wilson actually started first; the company now is Grand Teton Brewing in Victor, Idaho.)

For Thai Me Up, a self-described “nanobrewery” (for producing small quantities of beer), the achievement is particularly sweet. Owner Jeremy Tofte is a third-generation brewer, the Star-Tribune reports. The restaurant garnered gold for its Melvin IPA and 2×4 Double IPA and silver for its Cherry Freak fruit beer.

Fret not, cheap drinkers: The preferred mead of Jackson skids, PBR, also won gold in the American-style lager competition.

Posted under Business, Food

Tags: beer, restaurants

Hey, now. In New Orleans, even a queen dressed in red must be able to suck a crawfish head, as Art Neville sometimes sings. Jackson’s summer hatch will get its chance Saturday, when 307 Live presents its seventh annual Crawfish Boil.

Organizers Harper Hollis, Billy Cormier, Trey Davis and friends have ordered 1,000 pounds of the freshwater crustacean for the occasion. The crawfish will be seasoned, boiled and served with red beans and rice, boudin and more.

Stooges Brass Band will close out the festivities, capping a day of eating and music under the sun. The party starts at 1 p.m. on the Cutty’s lawn and runs till dark or thereabouts; Stooges is slated to take the stage at 7.

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Posted under Food, Music

Tags: funk, jazz fest, new orleans

From Fish Creek to the Hudson, folks know a good breakfast.

Nora’s, the rustic eatery in Wilson, received a James Beard Foundation award Monday night at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, New York. The restaurant was one of five chosen as “America’s Classics” for “timeless appeal, beloved in its region for quality food that reflects the character of its community.”

The Empire State Building was lit in orange for the occasion. Restaurant founder Nora Tygum did not attend, but her daughter, co-owner Kathryn Tygum Taylor, accepted the award on behalf of the family.

A crew filmed this video for the Beard Foundation in March. A starring role goes to Nora’s huevos rancheros, after a hot plate of which I always go home, as Kathryn says, fulfilled.

Posted under Food

Tags: restaurants