Newsletter Archive (2016 – 2011)

December 2016

Hard to believe it is the Holidays once again.  Seems like we just cleaned up and stocked those decorations yesterday!  Well with double decades of practice, I can truly say we are ready for some Cheer here at Sarah Street.  The first being a very special tribute night to our good friend and missed super talent GEORGE WESLEY.  On Friday December 2nd we will have George’s back line, Chris and Lion, perform George’s music with Jamie Zaleski, from South Side Bandits doing the vocals.  These three met in Jamaica when Jamie filled in for George at my Five O b-day party.  Johnny Rydell and Steve McDaniel will also be stepping up to perform some of George’s fantastic reggae originals.  Besides that, Sarah Street Grill will be debuting SIX new George Wesley videos from our 20th Anniversary celebration.  Two are already out and available to see at SSG’s YouTube channel, but six more will be seen Dec 2 for the first time.  Johnny Rydell, on the sound, and Corey Barth, on video, worked endless hours to get these ready for this commemorative tribute day.  George often raised money for Wounded Warriors, so in  his name, we will be doing the same on Friday the 2nd with a portion of our door money, raffles, and 50/50’s.  The very next night, Dec 3, THE SHIFT returns! They also played in Jamaica this past Summer, at the half way to a century party, right before touring in South America where their upbeat rock fusion is very popular.  Come out and see why!  COYOTE LOVE is back on Dec 9.  Have you seen these guys (and gal) yet?  You should.  THE VIBEZ and JOE FERRY  play the two weekend dates before our ANNUAL HAMELL ON TRIAL and JOHNNY RYDELL CHRISTMAS BASH on Dec 17.  I know Johnny’s name has come up a lot in this letter, and it should, because he is a BIG part of the whole music scene here at SSG.  He does the live sound here, the sound mixes on on our  live videos, the editing of our house video files, the maintenance of our sound system and lights AND performs!  When he and Hamell get together it is always special – great comedy, great music, and great to watch their very different styles merge.  KEITH KENNEY returns on December 23rd, another don’t miss unique performer.  I would love to someday have him and Hamell On Trial share a night on stage, because although very different, they both put on a full band show solo.  On Christmas Eve we have all the NFL games on, kitchen and sushi open taking orders until 8 PM.  The bar will stay open as long as there are people here – or 2 AM, whichever comes first.  We probably are closed Christmas day, but I may come in to bartend myself if I can find a few others to help me do it.  If so, we would open at 4 and have both the NFL games on.  Check back as it gets closer to find out if that is happening.  Speaking of the NFL, the games are getting pretty intense. Only here are all the games always on, always all in HI DEF, and sound on the night/solo/playoff games with music over the commercials.  Oh, and always .40 Wings, great prizes given away, and a chance to win the $500 Super Bowl party.  As we gear up to finish the year strong we have a special SERENE GREEN show here on Dec 29, the night PINK TALKIN PHISH are at the Sherman.  Come to the after party or come for a whole night of Serene Greeen.  What a great pre NYE party which will be followed by another with the POCONO TRIO DUO on Dec 30th.  Then the BIG ONE! The AWSOME party band 2ND STREET PLAYERS is here on NYE.  8 piece R&B and Dance Music band, a Champagne toast at Midnight included, and a Dance DJ/VJ starting at 9 and during all the band breaks for $20 ticket charge in advance, or $25 night of, if they are still availabe? Yes, for real.  At a hotel or club in the city it would cost 20x more and give you less.  It is a great house party vibe with someone else doing all the work.  You can also come here for dinner before you go to one of those house parties too, but make a reservation in advance. Chef Rob always has fantastic NYE dinner specials as well as our Sushi bar and regular menu.   All downstairs reservations after 8 PM do need a show ticket, but I guarantee there will be no regrets for those that make their whole last part of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 here at Sarah Street.

Once again, thanks to all that have been part of another year of Sarah Street, as well as those that are no longer with us, like George Wesley.  He and many other loved and missed people that have been a big part of who we are, and will always be remembered within these walls – and in George’s case through our speakers.  Happy Holidays to all of you and your family, friends, and of course, your pets, from my staff, myself, and Howie, Bella and June – my pets.

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

November 2016

As we get close to finishing another year, what a fun month we have planned.  Lets start at the beginning, the first weekend.  On November 4th, The Vine Brothers return to the Sarah Street stage.  These guys are simply fantastic, and if you have seen them you know, and if you haven’t you should!  Watch their videos on the web or here at Sarah Street.  The next night, the 5th,  is the 2ND STREET PLAYERS, who are also back the night before Thanksgiving, the 23rd.  These guys are a fantastic R&B dance band who I am bringing back for New Years Eve.  Come out to both these shows and see why.  There will be a good chance you will want to get pre tickets for Dec 31st!   I do think Sarah Street will be good place to be on Election Night.  We will have Regina Sayles on stage and the election results on many a monitor.  Certainly a night we are all going to be wanting to watch, as this Presidential Election has been in all our faces like non other, and the results will be very interesting. KEITH KENNY is the only one I book solo on a weekend, besides Hamell on Trial, because he is simply a whole show packed into one.  No one has complained about his taking the stage without a band because he is so high energy, and unique.  Come see him on the 11th.  The next night is THE FERMENTORS return and are another don’t miss band.   No need to plug the POCONO DUO TRIO on the 18th, as they are a SSG main stay for a very long time, but the next night, the 19th, has a first timer here.  They are DUSTIN DOUGLAS and the ELECTRIC GENTLEMAN, and it is often fun to be here for a new bands debut, and to able to say you were when they become another favorite on our stage.  Then it is RAILROAD EARTH weekend at the SHERMAN THEATRE.  We are always involved with that great weekend  by having pre and post shows.  Friday it is THE TOMMY ROBERTS BAND playing here before and after (and during) the FGH show.  Saturday we have SERENE GREEN playing from 3 pm to 6 pm, and the DAMON CALCAGNI BAND playing the before, after and during shows.   What a fun weekend to work off the too much food we all eat on T-Giving.  We are closed on that day so my staff can gather with their family and friends to be thankful.

Speaking of THANKFUL, I want to express some.  First I am thankful to my staff, for without them, all the ideas in the word could not happen.  Many of them have fully committed to this place as their life careers, and that has and aways will be as big a part of my incentive to grow Sarah Street as any other.  Next is to the many customers/friends who make this place their home away from home.  The loyalty they have to this place gives us the energy we need to keep it what it is.  I also want to thank the thousands of loyal customers we have that are not from around here, but always make it a point to be here whenever in the area.  When they express to me, and my staff, that they really wish there was a place like ours closer to them, it really puts wind in our sails.  Thanks to the performers who also make Sarah Street part of their lives.  They don’t get rich playing this room, but they are very appreciative of the respect and overall quality of how we do things, because they don’t get it as often elsewhere as they deserve.  They have worked with me for 21+ years to bring great music from all over the World, and of course, locally, to out stage.  Of course a very special Thanks to my Family and Friends, both who are capitalized  intentionally! Last, a very sincere THANKS TO ALL for putting up with me being me.  Sometimes its me forgetting to say hello because I am trying to not forget the zillion things on my mind as I march through the restaurant, or sharing politics when we all want a break from it, or making all the things I love like music,  sports, and great food of various types all in one place that many others would put separate. Lastly, thanks for knowing that I do know that I have many other reasons to express thanks to all of you, but running out of space!  Have a great November and hopefully we will see you at the Street.

Ocot0ber 2016

So  a couple of nights ago 80 million plus of us watched the first Presidential debate of the up coming election.  Most of us saw two things that made us unhappy, one being a career politician acting like one, and the other looking to be a complete  embarrassment to be anywhere close to leading our country.  For the record, a long time ago when the male candidate was running in the primaries, I stated that the only logical explanation was that he was really working for the other side.  There was no way he could win a popular or electorate vote, which would guarantee the very unpopular lady fully in the political machine to be the next President.  Well turns out he is closer then seemed possible to winning, and our state, Pennsylvania is as powerful as any other state, and actually way more powerful then most, in deciding.  If he wins our state, he has a strong chance of being the leader of the Free World.  It has also become clear to me that there is no “act” and a secret support of the other side from the Republican nominee.  He is as crazy and as unqualified as he seems – and very scary to have the title he pursues.  Many of my friends are on all sides of this.  Some think it makes no difference, some that think he his outside of the machine and supporting him is statement that has to be made, others think he is the Quarterback of their team and they wear red no matter what. Others  think a protest vote to a third party is the best option.  The friends I agree with think that she is the best, by far, option that we have. To put it as simple as I can: If I was given the title of hiring the next President, I would first look at their resume’s.  Hers is long and almost perfectly scripted to the path of leading the Country.  Certainly many issues of controversy at some of her earlier positions, and definitely changes in stances on issues of National importance,  and some political decisions that seem at least dumb if not dishonest – something very common in most career politicians, but an experience  list that almost seems impossible.  His, well, not much to be impressed by.  Wealthy, or at least living very wealthy, by exploiting as many things as he can.  Living a life of a character in a video game, or a reality TV show, or someone that regardless of lifestyle, I personally have no jealousy over.  Okay, thats the resume part,  lets get to the interview.  She scripts out a plan, far from perfect in a world of so many complex, and extremely dangerous issues, but a plan.  One that has been adjusted to factor in things her primary opponent showed were very important to this country.  Not hard to see that her plan also has a lot to keep the existing machine intact, as it is the one she has been a big part of, but the thinking participants in that machine can see that it needs some serious oiling and maintenance in a hurry to keep running and (hopefully) evolving.  He says not much about anything specific except to point out all the things that are in terrible shape.  When I ask how he will fix these things, he says something that means nothing, and repeats it three times, every time.  He points out that many issues have been around a long while and something different has to be tried, but other then pointing out the fear most of us have, and suggesting isolationism in a shrinking World, he has very  little to say.  Rebuild the infrastructure, raise the military spending, and  reducing taxes for the rich are ideas from someone who already doesn’t pay federal taxes and brags about it? Look, I know our Government has many faults.  I know the two party system needs to be changed. I know it is struggle to grow a business, and increase the money and lifestyle of those that work it because we have done it here at Sarah Street for 21+ years.  It sure would be sooner and easier if health care was not so ridiculous, and the huge amount of taxes and penalties such a burden.  That said we have found a way to grow, and paid a lot of taxes to help keep things running around us.  I want better lives for all that work here, and everywhere.  I want positive change in the economy, both in our Country and the World.  I want a global environment that has a chance to improve before our kind is wiped out.  I want less war, not more.  I want American pride to prosper and spread to other countries.  I want our Country to continue to be multi ethnic as that is our backbone, as well as safe.  He is not the path to any of those things, and hopefully she can and will be.  If not, hopefully the other side gives us a less embarrassing option in four years then the one they have this time, as well as trying to help fix things right away instead of campaigning the day after this election ends.

Lots of great things going on at the Grill.  Just look at our calendar, our Facebook, and the website.  Sorry to mix politics and the world we like to get away from that stuff together, but this is a time to talk and think like few others.

September 2016

As Summer comes to an end, and Fall a soon start, we, as always, start with two big SSG Traditions.  The first is being in charge of the Main Stage in the Court House Square for STROUDFEST and having our food booth there as well, and the second is being the best place to watch the NFL Season in our area.  Here  is some details on the first one: COYOTE LOVE will be playing here September 2, Friday, and then opening Stroudfest at NOON the next day.  What a unique and fun band! Then it is The 2ND ST PLAYERS keeping the Court House Square groovin around 2 30.  This R&B-Dance-Jam mostly local band  is a regular on the Sarah Street  Grill stage,  and if you come see them outdoors at Stroudfest you will find out why we have them here so often.  They will also be back the night of September 24th, and after you see them you will want to plan to be at the Grill every time they play, including New Years Eve! I describe them as a  great wedding band that is feeling it for real, not the fake, reading off of charts, board looking music professionals you see at most weddings! If you are looking for such a band on such an occasion, I highly recommend  them. Then the closer of Stroudfest and the evening band here that night, Sept 3rd, is THE VINE BROTHERS.  Not blood brothers, but music brothers that play a rocking style of Bluegrass eclectic jam like no other.  All three of these acts are don’t miss, just like almost all the Sarah Street Grill music.

Before I talk about all the other great music to come in September, let me get back to the second SSG September tradition, NFL Football! All the games, all pre labeled on the Hi Def video screens, and multiple sound options.  Lots of bars now have the NFL Ticket, mostly because of the success we have had doing it for 21 years, but none do it as well as us.  We still have our Soundogs, at least until they all break, for sound, but  there is also a new phone App called Tunity. It is another great way to listen to the games  from your smartphone to a headphone.  Figure the game playing in one ear, and the ability to have a conversation because the other ear is free.  Or bring a powered speaker to plug your phone into – just turn down those commercials!   Of course besides the NFL, and lots of drink specials and prizes being given away along with it, we will have College Football – not all the games, but  very many.  September is always full of   important MLB games as that season winds down. Can the YANKEES or METS squeak in to a Wild Card game? IDK, but come watch and find out here!

So did you notice that we went 7 days a week of having live music this Summer? Well that does stop during the NFL season, but it will return  in 2017.  For now we have the MONDAY NIGHT, THURSDAY NIGHT, and SUNDAY NIGHT NFL games on with sound and music over the commercials on the first floor, and on with music playing the whole time on the second floor.  In years past THE POCONO DUO would play following the game Sunday nights, but not this year. Come out and support their last Sunday of  2016 on the 4th.  Don’t despair too much! There will often be the POCONO SOLO , Toby Costas, playing Sunday late night, as he is on the 25th, and many other Sunday nights during the NFL Season.

CHRISTIAN PORTER BAND on the 9th and QUINCY MUMFORD and THE REASONS WHY are back on the 10th! What a fun weekend that will be.  Then on a Tuesday night, the 13th, we have two VERY unique projects sharing a weeknight: SIT KITTY SIT and BIRDS EAT BABY.  Look these guys (and all our bands) up on the NET.  You can often do so just by clicking on our calendar at SARAHSTREETGRILL.COM, or just search the names.  What else you ask? Well THE POCONO DUO TRIO , of course! They are, and have been in our house rotation for a very long time, and will be again on the 16th.  We also have one of Scranton/Wilkes Barre biggest draws returning on the 17th, SOUTHSIDE BANDITS.  What another fun party weekend that will be too!  Who wasn’t mentioned yet? Well three bands are back for their second time, SERENE GREEN on the 23rd, and DISPLACED PEOPLES on the 30th and THE MOONDOGS on October 1.  Did I start talking about Oct 1, and NYE in this letter?! Where the heck does the time go!

August 2016

A very sad reminder of how precious life and music is, hit us all when we lost George Wesley, just a few weeks after we had planned to listen to him perform in the Cliffs of Negril.  I have known George since 1992, longer then the 21+ years I have been here.  I was just 26 years old, running a big night club in Wilkes-Barre PA.  His band played every Sunday night, and after a long weekend, every weekend, of working a very stressful job, I would get thin skinned when his band would pack up slow.  When he would respond to me with a Jamaican Rasta vibe in his tone, I could lose my head, and once said “your from NE PA, not the Caribbean, stop faking it!”.  Boy was I wrong.  George was always George and his music was in many ways more authentic Reggae then many Jamaican versions.  I was so excited to be bringing him to where Bob Marley made the Reggae capital of the World, Jamaica.  I could show the locals, I have come to know in my many trips to Negril, how real Reggae can be coming from Pennsylvania.  Unfortunately a quick and vicious sickness made other plans.  As I said in lasts months letter, Chris and Lion from his band  did attend with others, and we did hear a whole lot of great music, but if only George had made it, the already great memories would have been even better! We were very lucky that George had made a home here at Sarah Street the last few years, and that we recorded his show at our 20th Anniversary.  Two of those videos are finished and can be seen at sarahstreetgrill.com  or the Sarah St youtube channel.  We will finish the rest and debut them all together in a commemorative night that we are in the stages of planning now, perhaps December 2, and with many more details to be coming.

Well as we speak of great music, and how it needs to be appreciated while you can, there is another crazy great month coming at you this August.  HAMELL ON TRIAL will be doing both 3 of 5 Mondays (the 1st, 22nd, and 29th) as well as an Art show.  He will be setting up the exhibit on the first Monday, doing the Opening two weeks later at 7 pm on the 22nd.  Have you seen his work? It is really cool.  Two pieces hang already in my office, and he has been selling them quicker then he can get them done.  As we, speak – or as I write this – he is painting like mad to get the work ready.  Then to have him performing 3x in one month is a real treat.  That is kind of the theme this August – multiple shows for multiple artists:  The POCONO DUO does three of four Sunday nights as well as Friday the 12th;  2ND ST PLAYERS  doing the first Saturday and then two more Thursdays as they gear up for STROUDFEST; KEITH KENNEY doing the second Monday and Saturday the 20th; and the VIBEZ doing one Thursday and Friday the 26th.  I can say for sure there has never in 21 years been a month with this type of booking.  We also have some great touring bands with MOCHESTER, MOODOG, and CHRIS ROTH AND THE NORTH.  If in at SSG, ask for a video of Chris Roth’s band to be played (or watch them on the net), and you can see why he, as well as all our musical acts, should not be missed.

As we say goodbye to George, and hello to a great cast of musicians taking our stage, I once again want to make a claim.  This is one, if not the very best small room stages in the entire country, if not the world.  The sound is almost always perfect – yes loud at times –  as certain types of music need volume, the artists some of the best anywhere, and the vibe in the room of sharing  sports and live music unique.  The only thing missing, and only sometimes, is the crowd that is not full enough.  This month is another opportunity to use live music to get away from the stresses we all feel, and see some of the best of many different styles of music  in a room like ours.  Show up and support the Art of Live Music.  Pay the door charge if there is one, throw some more in the tip jar if you can, and encourage what we would all miss very much if it ever stops – like  how I and many others feel about George Wesley.

George Wesley 1954 – 2016

July 2016

Greetings from Sarah Street Negril, Jamaica! We, some of Sarah Street’s staff and friends, are finishing a month of bringing a lot of the SSG vibe to the Cliffs of Negril.  While you were there enjoying our garden, the end of the NBA and NHL seasons and MLB hitting its prime time, and a long list of great musicians, we have been doing the same in paradise.  Lion and Chris from George Wesley’s band jammed with Jamie Z, from Southside Bandits, the first week.  They were joined by a long list of local Reggae rappers, including Sexy Rexy (Google him!) and Fernando – two Negril legends.  As we finish up an unbelievable celebration of life, The Shift has flown in to play the remaining days here. Last night was their  first jammin evening of what will be four straight, and they killed it with the assistance of Riosamaya, a fantastic Argentine couple touring from South America.  Got a feeling we will someday see them on the Stroudsburg SSG Stage.  While this has been an extremely wonderful overall time, life’s other side does follow us all, and we are all wishing George could have made the trip here and given Jamaica the special treat of his music.  Lets all bond our spirits to make him fully recover and we celebrate by planning a duplication of this trip sooner then later!  Hopefully more of you will also join us, because all the photos and videos we have been shooting can’t even come close to actually being here.  Also I, and all that knew him, lost a friend when AJ – Arageon JR – decided to visit his name mentor in Dog Heaven.  Being the stand up Gentledog he was his entire life, he waited until we were down here to leave us.  No place is perfect to deal with losing family, a friend, or a pet that gave you the joy of their love, but having great music and friends around you, in a place of off the charts beauty, certainly helps.  This whole trip actually started for me at our 3rd Annual Wing Festival in the SSG Parking Lot on June 12.  What an event of positive feelings! We raised a lot of money for  the Blue Ridge Fire Department,  Teddy’s Tavern defended it’s Title with another Best Overall  as well as Best Decorated Booth.  Really great feelings all around in the group of local Bars and Tavern’s that were there.  I really want to thank them for including Sarah Street in a the list of legendary places like Rudy’s, Teddy’s , Floods, Goal Line, Cinder Inn, and the rookie in the crew, Warrior.  It made me flush to be treated as one of them, even though SSG is 21 years old, it still seems new to me in comparison to most of them.  Lots happening in July at The Grill to help those of us South get used to being back in the Poconos!  Many new bands, a bunch of our best regular bands, and even a JONAH SMITH show in Blairstown on the 9th. That’s right, SSG Legend, Jonah Smith is in from LA and doing a show 15 miles into NJ.  We will be having an after party with DISPLACED PEOPLE’S and maybe, just maybe, Jonah takes visit to his long time home away from home, the SSG Stage late night.  How about a early dinner at Sarah St, a 20 minute ride to the Jonah show, and then an after party back in the Burg? I am in!  Please excuse my upcoming extreme over use of the Yoh Mon words – just can’t be helped.

June 2016

Before I start talking about June, let me first give love and thanks to some key employees whose life has taken them to new destinations.  Sara Marie, who has worked at Sarah Street for over six years, and Nazreen who has been here for almost three, have moved on to hopefully wonderful new lives.  If not, they will always have a home here, and we will miss them very much while they are gone.  On that note, rarely are we aggressively hiring, as usually there is a waiting list to get aboard the Sarah Street team, but with the two of them gone, and others graduating college or transferring, we are right now. If you, or someone you know wants to come be a part of our family, and has some good experience in the service industry, come see us!  Part time and full time positions are available. Remember that you have to learn a lot of things: the main menu, the sushi menu, the wine list, the beer list, whats growing fresh in the garden, who is performing on the stage, what teams are playing on our HI DEF monitors, and most importantly, what mood is Dave in.  Ha ha, (well all good jokes have a little reality to them, and even most bad ones).  A note to all of our thousands of regulars, we are very busy – in fact that busiest we have ever been in a place that has been high volume for double decades – and many of our staff is new and soon more will be.  They already have learned a lot, and soon will know even more, but know we are working a hard to replace some key folks, like Sara and Naz.  No excuses, just a reality.  We still have our core in place, and those people will soon have all of our new ones be part of that core.  Those of us who have made this place our life careers promise that to you! Not only will we maintain what we have become, but will continue to improve it as we have done for 21 years.  Speaking of improving, I had one of the best meals here ever just last night, and requested it to made again today.  It was a  Grilled Sea Bass over top of our fresh  Sarah Street garden salad with capers, black olives, tomatoes, crumbled blu cheese, and onions with a lemon vinegar dressing.  OMG it was like ice cream – I didn’t want it to be finished! The SSG Garden, in its second year, is giving us some wonderful seasonal options for you (and me) to enjoy.  Okay, now lets talk about June.  We have moved Open Mic back to its original home, Wednesday nights.  Sachin Rodriguez and Friends will be doing the featured artist Thursdays, and every single Friday and Saturday has a don’t miss show on the stage.  It has been unbelievable to me how many nights of great music are happening on our stage.  I don’t even have any openings until Oct/Nov because so many wonderful music acts are in our rotation.  The only thing that ever bums me out is when a great band is playing to not enough people, and a combination of luck (me who books the shows) and skill (the artists that take our stage) is making that happen less, and I  hope someday it will happen never.   Hey, if you have a passport and want to join a party for me turning half a century, a bunch of us are getting crazy in Jamaica in the cliffs of Negril.  Be there from June 13 to the 30th at the Villas Sur Mer. If they have any rooms there left, you get a 20% discount by using my name, and there are many other places nearby to stay.  Already close to 100 people going, at different times, as well as two Sarah Street bands, The George Wesley Band and The Shift.  Going to be fun and you can see photos on the Sarah Street Facebook and my Facebook (David Lapoint – the one with the Bulldog head resting on mine) of things going on – well some things!  Be writing July’s letter from there too, so if you can’t make it in person, I will try to get you to feel some of the experience.

Have a great Summer all and I will see you at the Street – except from June 13 to the 30th!

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

May 2016

So doing something different for this Letter.  Instead of talking about all the great music this month – and it, as always, is really worth checking out.  In fact, as I type this, I realize that I at least have to give a plug to a very special show happening on Mother’s Day night when THE HIGGS come back into town from California.  They did this once before when touring the East Coast, and it was a major concert in a small room.  Come out after making your Mom happy, or bring her like I plan to do, and really enjoy a great night.   Take a look at the calendar and see all the great acts happening in May, you can usually go right from our calendar to their website and Facebook pages.  Okay back to my “different” form of the Monthly What I Have to Say Letter:

DOG’S IN PUBLIC PLACES

So if you have a long history with Sarah Street, you probably remember Arageon.  He was my Boxer, and traveled with me wherever I went.  Actually I didn’t have much of a choice, because unless I left him with a beautiful woman, like my roommate, one of my best friends, and one of Sarah Street’s original staff members, Janine Kashimba – you know the one the Pasta Kashimba is named after – he would get pretty destructive at home.  For example, he once tore up my leather couch cushions, and then (no BS) tried to re-stuff  the foam into them himself.  I knew that because they were upside down and on a weird angle, and most of the foam was in them instead of all over the place.  As long as he was with me, or in my car, he was content anywhere I went.  Well it is often too cold or hot to leave a dog in a car, so he would often be in my office at Sarah Street. When the kitchen closed, or I knew or asked the customers that were there if it was okay, he would come out into the bar.  He would give most everyone a hello, then often go lie on the stage while the band performed.  In the 10 years that  he was often part of the SSG scene there was only one complaint from a customer to our awesome, and long time, Health Inspector, Jeff Wilkins.  Jeff did give me a call along the lines of “You know it is not okay for a dog to be in a public dining place… don’t you?” and I said that I did and was even more cautious to make sure no one was offended for Arageon to be in the bar or dining rooms before I let him.  More often then not, people would actually be requesting his presence, and I would tell them they would have to wait until the kitchen closed. This was not actually something that made it legal, but kept things low profile enough to get away with it.  I have three really great dogs to replace that one, and they visit once in a great while, but two of them wander too much looking for food and kids, and the other is a big scardy away from home and has to be no further then two feet from me.  Why am I telling this story? Because people have been asking if they can bring their dogs with them to Sarah Street, mostly on the outside deck, and we have had to come up with a policy.  One of the issues was that with the tables out on Main St, some of the other local Bars and Restaurants were actually encouraging people to have their dogs with them.  If they could bring their dogs out on Main Street, why not the SSG deck,  a place with a history of being at least owner dog friendly?  At the very same time we got a review on our Facebook page that loved everything, but was very upset about a dog being in the  dining room during diner time, and deducted 3 of 5 stars because of it.  I replied to that letter and let them know that the people with that dog had paper work making it legal to bring their guardian dog wherever they went.   Someone with a guardian dog paperwork can bring a dog on a plane, a mall, or any public place.  Of course one would expect a guardian dog to behave like Arageon did over 10 years ago, and this one was being fed on the floor, and quite active while the table who gave the review was right next to them. The fact that the dog was not a good public dog, and we could do little about it, is a little upsetting.   We, the management team, discussed if there was a way for us to allow all dogs on the deck, and permitted guardian dogs in the building.  Just a few days before were dealing with making an official policy, I had told several people that it would be okay to bring dogs on the deck.  After all, if I would allow my dog to roam wherever ten years ago, why not let folks bring theirs on the deck now? Well, the management team came up with lots of scenarios that could present big problems – like two dogs not getting along, or children being in danger, or how they would get to the deck without coming through the restaurant, and quite a few more.  After a long discussion, it was basically decided that we are too high volume to be dealing with people bringing pets with them unless they had guardian dog paperwork.  As a business owner I understood our decision, as a dog lover, I hated it.  So here it is: If you see a dog at Sarah Street, it is either a legal guardian dog, or one of mine – and since Bella, Howard and AJ are not Arageon, that won’t be often.  I promise Jeff!

Remember Sarah Street is great place to watch the NBA and NHL playoffs as well as the METS, PHILLIES , and YANKEES, in HI DEF, while also watching either the  Music Videos in our huge collection or some awesome live music from some of the best performers anywhere.  I really think of that as more of a fact then an opinion… well in my opinion anyway.

April 2016

So 21 it is, as in years we have been about.  Still feel like we just started celebrating the 20th, and yet we are already on to the next.  As we always do on our birthday, we have picked a charity/local organization to raise money for, with your help of course.  We are giving 21% of our sales to the local Green/Park commission, and all  you need to do is be here on Monday April 11th and spend some money while enjoying great music from Christian Porter, Public Displays of Rejection, The Vibez, Bill Rooth is on Fire, and more.  There will also be our annual pool and dart tournaments, raffles, 50/50’s, and all the things we traditionally do every year to both say thank you to our patrons and support local great causes.  Yes Sarah Street can now legally drink in her own house, you know, being the big two one, so come on down and have one with her!

So speaking of music, which I sometimes do in these letters – and maybe just a little repetitive in some of the wording – I just saw Bruce Springsteen at MSG in the make up show that was canceled in the one big storm we had this Winter.  Was center stage in the pit watching timeless rock and roll and basking in glory at how close I was from Bruce and the E Street band all night.  I would turn around and look at 20,000 people, who were both having a blast and probably wishing they had my spot! Well in my mind, and I say this with 100% honesty, I was not only loving the show, but thinking how lucky I was the Saturday before with the same 10 ft. distance from THE VINE BROTHERS, or the Thursday before watching 2ND ST PLAYERS, or almost all the shows here, as  I was watching Bruce at the Garden.  They were just as special to me as a true rock and roll legend.  Now I am sure a few eyes are rolling at these statements, but not by many that were here for the shows I have referenced recently, or the shows that have happened in our 21 years that so many of were  musically special.  Remember KINGS IN DISGUISE?  CHRIS BERRY? How about RICK DANKO? The TONAL EVANGELISTS and FLUTOPHONE JACKSON? Do you remember that RAILROAD EARTH formed out of four different SSG bands and had one of their first shows anywhere here? If I tried to list them all it would be a chapter in a book, not a monthly news letter.  My point, made simple, is that watching Bruce with 20k others was awesome, but really not too different then so many nights right here in a much smaller room.  I know if Bruce ever stopped here and witnessed so many of the acts we have, there is a real good chance he would jump up on the stage and it would seem just like it does so often, awesome!  Thank you to Bruce and ALL the great musicians in the World, and a real special thanks to those that make a home here at the Sarah St Grill.

Happy 21st Sarah St!

March 2016

Before I get to March, it is time to do a little community service complaining here in Stroudsburg.  MetEd has once again proven beyond a doubt that they do NOT deserve the small grid of power supply they have here in Stroudsburg.  PPL has the majority of the town, and MetEd a small partial, and unfortunately Sarah Street Grill is part of it.  For the 4th time in about as many years, the rest of the town overcame a power outage, or never experienced one at all, while those of us with Met Ed waited for days – once even more then a week.  I understand that a small grid is not as important as a big one, but is it not time to let that small grid go?  Please partition our local politicians to tell Met Ed to give this grid to PPL, so you when you pull up to Sarah Street in a town full of power, you don’t wonder if I paid the bill.

Okay, now lets talk up March.  Who knows if it will be in like a King of the Jungle and out like a source of stew (Lion/Lamb) with all the crazy weather we have had, but we do know that it will be fun.  Open Mic Mondays are off to a great start, and will continue.  Tuesdays singer songwriter night has a great rotation – some classics like Regina Sayles and Christian Porter, and some newbies like Sachi Rodriguez.  Wednesdays is GEORGE WESLEY and his  Jamaican bass player, LION. The second Wednesday actually has GREG KLYMA and friends, but George and Lion are here for most.  Featured Artist Thursdays has 2ND ST PLAYERS BAND jamming it up with a large and funky groovin’ group of many local R&B folks. They will be here on St Patties Day, the 17th, as well as the other three Thursdays.  The weekends are full of great bands, as always. TIM HARAKIL returns on the 4th, and what a fun show he and his band bring here.  A few more covers then some of our other bands, but all done very well! Boy have I missed QUINCY MUMFORD and the REASONS WHY, and they are back on the 5th.  Please, please, please spread the word and show up for these guys! They are so much fun and drive a long way to play here. The following weekend brings in 55 FLOOD,  which is Steve McDaniel’s and Bill Rooth’s is on Fire band, and then the next day, Saturday the 12, is THE CHRISTIAN PORTER BAND.  Both these bands are reasons our area keeps growing as a great musician filled region.  Speaking of local, the POCONO DUO TRIO is here on Friday the 18th – as well as every Sunday in the DUO format.  STEEL CITY SUNRISE  is here for the first time on the Saturday the 19th. Come and show a new band some local fan love.  The next day, Sunday the 20th, is the St Patties Day Parade, and we will once again have our Float in the mix.  The Pocono Duo get another newsletter plug, as they will continue the tradition of being one of the highlights for the people who pack the streets. They will also be doing the Sunday night show earlier then usual Sundays.  Last, but not least, we finish the month’s weekends  with two great bands, first being MOCHESTER – who rocked this place a few weeks ago, and then the VINE BROTHERS.  The Vine Brothers are a very unique, blue grassy with a whole lot more, unrelated by blood trio – I guess they are united by fermented grapes!

I often fill these “Letters” with talk about the bands and musicians that perform here.  It has been quite a history of special performances on that stage of ours, but it has never been better. Our music  is very varied in styles, but almost always consistent in high quality.  I think there is few other places anywhere that compare to our stage, sound quality, and uniqueness. I am happy to say that it seems more people are feeling the same way, and showing up for the music.  Still room for some more though, so pick a few, if not many, and come support the arts.  While your at it, enjoy, what many tell me, is the best Sushi in the area.  Come and enjoy our varied menu of steaks, pastas, bar food and more.  Be ready for our Garden to begin it’s third year, and Sarah St to celebrate turning 21 next month – yes the Grill is  soon drinking age!  More about the 21st in next months Letter, but reserve Monday April 11th now.

Thank you all for a great Winter of business.  We pledge to keep working on being even better at all things we do, not because we are not good already, but because we respect our customers and always want to be tweaking the details and being open to change that leads to improvement.  Much love and respect to all of you – and my staff too.

                         questions/comments dave@sarahstreetgrill

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February 2016

What a month full of big things! We have the Super Bowl on the 7th with great prizes given out every commercial, and sound on the commercial’s as well as the game – something we usually play music over.  The SB commercials are often the most talked about thing after the game, so despite how much better great music is then advertisement, we give them the spotlight to warrant the MILLIONS that have been spent on them!  Congratulations to our $500 Bud Light Super Bowl Party winner, Leman.  He, and a bunch of his friends will be here for the big game paid for by Bud Light and The Sarah Street Grill.  How did he win, you ask?  Well he entered into the raffle when he was here for Monday, Thursday, and Sunday night football, and those who didn’t win the evening prize went into the big  raffle bin we use during the AFC/NFC Championship Games.  We draw every commercial break until someone present wins, and during just the third attempt Leman’s name came up – and wisely he was here.  Hopefully, if you don’t already, next year you will follow his lead.  Feel free to practice by making us your home for watching  the NBA and NHL games, since we have them all, and the nationally and locally broadcasted NCAA b ball games on our HI DEF everywhere 20 TV’s.

Another big thing is that OPEN MIC is back.  After taking a few months off after celebrating 20 Years of Open Mic, it now resumes on Monday’s with new hosts, Rick and Shane.  These hosts got their music start at Sarah Street’s Open Mic many years ago, and now they are very excited to be hosting the new one.  They also have the band Public Displays of Rejection, and play on every first Tuesday of the month.  What about the former home of Open Mic, Wednesdays? Well that will be GEORGE WESLEY and LION, his Jamaican bass player, every Wednesday in February! Have you seen these guys play together? If not, check them out on the SSG You Tube Channel. They will blow you away, and then, hopefully, you will sign up as a member of our channel so we let you know when new videos are posted.

Throw in Valentines Day, Presidents Weekend, KEITH KENNEY being here every Thursday as the February Featured Artist, some new bands mixed with SSG classic bands on the weekends, and enjoy the heart of Winter here at the Grill. Okay? Got it?  LOL people, and much love!

Dave

January 2016

Welcome to another New Year here at Sarah Street.  We are OPEN New Years Day with all the College Bowl Games on.  For those of you that need to get over the celebrations from the night before, we will be featuring our brunch menu from 11 30 – 3 pm, as well as our full regular and sushi menus. Come in for some Bloody Mary’s, break the fast, and enjoy some football. The TOMMY ROBERTS band is here for the first time New Years Day night to help start things off right.  Then on Saturday GEORGE WESLEY is back! One of the best REGGAE trios to exist on the planet will be spreading great vibes here all night.  Have you seen George’s video JUNKY MAN, available on YouTube? How about the newest SSG recorded SOLUTION AD video, Fearless? Well you can, of course, see them here, but if you are a member of the Sarah Street YouTube channel, you would be notified every time Johnny, Corey and I finish a new one, and be one of the first to see them on your phone or computer.  Not only does that channel have our new videos, but access to all of the in house videos that have been released over the years.  You can see Christian Porter at 15, and you can see him 10 years later in a new video.  To see “dated” video productions – all good, we have just gotten better over the years-  is another example of how long we have been around.  At some point we will even go back to the 90’s and find some archived one angle, one mix, videos we have stashed away, and post them on the page too.  Please take the 30 seconds to join our YouTube channel, and be in that loop.  The more followers we get, the more likely we will eventually be doing live video and audio internet broadcasts – so every SSG music fan and performer should feel very motivated to jump aboard.  Wouldn’t be great to be on a beach vacation somewhere and be watching your favorite Sarah Street band live?Well back to January: No one does the NFL Football games like we do, and the playoffs  start off on the 9th and 10th with the Wild Card Weekend, and the 16th and 17th  they continue.  January 24th is the NFC/AFC finals, and that is when we give away a $500 Super Bowl Party for February 7.  The more games you made in the regular season and make in the playoffs, the more chances you have to win.  Someone here on the 24th will walk out with quite a prize! Where else has that kind of offer and plays music over the commercials (except the Super Bowl), and follows the games with great live music? Well I say it only happens here.   We will also do the NCAA College Football final on the 11th with the same enthusiasm.

So I have been asked by many what the plans are for Open Mic.  Well we are taking off January  to continue to consider all options, but I am leaning towards moving it to Mondays and then booking Wednesday nights with either a featured artist concept like Thursdays, different people/duos like Tuesdays, or a regular performer like we do with THE POCONO DUO on Sundays.  Look for something definitive in next months Newsletter – I almost promise!

Come on out and enjoy some sushi, some steaks, the best music videos ever  (some made right here!), all the NBA and NHL games on in HI DEF, live music, a varied and always being worked on menu and believe it or not…MORE.  I hope I see you at the Grill.

December 2015

It is the end of another year, and it does seem that I start every one of these “Newsletters” the same way: time is  going too damn fast! Well let me finish a few topics of last months letter.  We had a fantastic celebration of 20 Years/1000 Open Mic Nights, with over 30 terrific performances, starting at 7 pm and going all the way to 2 am.  Many deserved compliments went to the 20 year hosts, Willie and Diane.  Somewhat by surprise, it also became a retirement celebration as well, with the two of them deciding to finish with a bang, and they no longer host Open Mic Wednesdays here at Sarah Street.  Out of respect for the long history they have had here, we have decided to take December off of having an Open Mic night, and make our decision of if, what, and how we will handle the Open Mic concept in the beginning of 2016.  Another sad point, for me anyway,  is the way the World Series went.  The Mets did not do much, getting knocked out in five games.  There is no “new” Mr October.  Maybe they can copy the KC Royals and make a more experienced trip to WS next year, but   there is no doubt that a serious opportunity was missed.  It  is way more common to not get second chances at titles, then it is to do what KC did. Well, as we often  do at Sarah Street, lets jump from Music, to Sports, and back  to Music!  What another great month December will be as we prep for the Holidays and the Winter.  Two special bands start off the month with the first being the HOOCHIE COOCHIE MEN on Friday the 4th. These guys get better every time I hear them.  Various lead vocals and styles of music, mixed with top notch skills make for a very fun night.  The next night features  a 2015 tradition of having QUINCY MUMFORD and THE REASONS WHY on the first Saturday of the Month.  In 2016 we will have them not quite as much, more like every other month, but they will finish this year’s game plan with a great night, and I really request that we show them some love and turn out in big numbers to dance and jam.  More of the same the next weekend as THE WALLACE BROTHERS  return on Friday and THE CURRENT on Saturday.  I say, with confidence. that these are two more unique and high skilled bands, which  is  typical of almost all the bands that take our stage on the weekends.  December 18th is the one and only 2015 HAMELL ON TRIAL show as he continues a Sarah Street tradition of his HOLIDAY HARDCORE ACOUSTIC PARTY.  Hamell is a big part of the SSG music history story.  His coming to play this room almost 20 years ago really helped us become the room we are now.  If you know HAMELL, come out and show him some love, and if you have never heard him, you should. He is one of a kind, mixing comedy, politics, poetry, punk- eclectic-acoustic tunes in a true rock and roll vibe.  Just don’t sit in front of the stage and talk, unless responding to him. To fully get what he is doing you will want to focus on the show.  It also hurts the others around you from getting the full experience of  a Hamell performance. Hopefully JOHNNY RYDELL will continue the Hamell Holiday Tradition and join him on stage, as he has done many times in the past   The 19th features a combination of Sports and Music, as the NFL and Bobby Syvarth share the stage.  Bobby will be going on right after the JETS vs COWBOYS game, as we are also doing the  26th when KEITH KENNEY follows  WASHINGTON vs THE EAGLES.  Christmas Eve we are open full kitchen and sushi until 8 pm, and then the bar stays open as long as people are enjoying the CHARGERS vs RAIDERS game, our Music Videos, and some Christmas music – the only day we play them here (plenty of it everywhere else starting way too soon!).  We are closed the Friday of Christmas so my staff can spend the day with there families.  Then the BIG finish of the year with the CHRISTIAN PORTER BAND on New Years Eve. Christian’s band  features, as always,  the very specially talented REGINA SAYLES as one of it’s members.  Tickets for NYE are available now for $15 until Dec 24th, which includes a champagne toast at midnight.   Then, unless sold out, they will be $20.  If you are coming for dinner only, and leaving by 10, there is no cover – but don’t be taking our party favors off to other parties! Those party favors, and the DJ/VJ that keeps everyone dancing on the set breaks, and the midnight champagne toast, are part of what those that buy a ticket, or pay the cover, get.  After the midnight toast the price of admission drops to $10.   As 2016 kicks in, we are open on New Years Day Friday with TOMMY ROBERTS performing, and GEORGE WESLEY taking the stage on Saturday the 2nd.  What a great start to hopefully a great new year.

One last point: As we deal with what has happened in Paris, and are all justifiably scared of what may come next, it is time for all Americans, of all races, and all religions or non- religions, to unite together, and  have each others backs in many ways.  Without prejudging, watch all who you don’t know.  Share what you see with others.  It is true that our values are more important then our lives, but that does not mean our lives aren’t very important.  We can’t let anyone of evil intent, and who use the excuse of religious context, alter what makes our country great.  That is there intention. We can be careful though, and careful we shall be.

Love you all and thank you so much for being a part of another Sarah Street year.  Still can’t believe it was a 20th.

questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

November 2015

As I sit to write this months letter to you, I am dealing with the second Met’s loss in the World Series from last night.  When you actually read this, it may already be over, as games 3 and 4 are this upcoming Halloween weekend.  Hopefully not, and November begins with game 5 on Sunday the 1st – on at the same time as the Packers vs Broncos, who are both 6 – 0.  We plan on showing both all over the restaurant, with sound in the Pool Room of the Football game, and sound of the baseball everywhere else.  If there is a game 6 on Tuesday, Public Displays of Rejection will start after the game, and a game 7 on Wednesday, Open Mic will be upstairs.  For what it is worth, the Mets also lost the first two in 1986, the last time they won the WS. I know thanks to Sarah Marie, one of Sarah Street’s bartenders, who just texted me that “have hope” message! I really want to talk/write some sports smack talk about Daniel Murphy being the NEW Mr. October (Reggie who?), and I guess we will know soon if I will get the chance.  Before I get off the sports topic, just one more reminder that we have all the NFL games, access to all the NHL and NBA games, and many of the College Football games.  We are one of very few places that are as committed to music as we are sports.  These two things often don’t fly that well together, but they do here.  November is always a big music month, and this is certainly no exception.  Two great bands start if off on the first weekend with the CHRISTIAN PORTER BAND on Friday, and QUINCY MUMFORD AND THE REASONS WHY on Saturday.  Christian’s band is also playing here on NYE, so come and check them out on the 6th.  Quincy’s band has been playing here for over three years, and it really is past due for them to get a strong local following, just as they do down in the Asbury Park Jersey shore area.  THE POCONO DUO TRIO is here on the 13th to celebrate the birthday of one of their drummer’s, Richie Boom Boom.  The next night features another reggae stye band, InDAZE, who will be here for the first time on the 14th.  SUZE is back from the Scranton area on the 20th, and 55FLOOD, Bill Rooth’s and Steve McDaniel’s current band, on the 21st.  The last weekend is one of Stroudsburg’s best music weekends every year.  It starts off with GEORGE WESLEY playing here the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, one of the best party nights of the year.  Before you head home on Thursday to eat lots, watch football, and fight sleep, be here the night before – you will be “Thankfull” you did!  Thanksgiving is one of the few days we close entirely every year, but it also gives you a day to prep for the big TG Weekend.  As RAILROAD EARTH does it’s East Coast Pocono Weekend at the Sherman Theatre, we have  pre and post parties here at Sarah Street.  Friday has two bands sharing that duty with THE HAWK OWLS and MILKWEED, and Saturday features THE VINE BROTHERS.  Music here starts at 6 pm to 8 pm, and continues after 10 pm.  There is no Music Charge for the pre show, and if you have a Weekend pass for the Sherman, no charge for the after party either.  Come out and support Eclectic Bluegrass, and one of the biggest bands on the West Coast and Colorado, who are  mostly from, and live, in our back yard, RAILROAD EARTH!  They sell out Red Rock and many other large venues, and to see them here at the Sherman with only 1400 other people, and enjoy great pre and post parties here at Sarah Street, and some other local stages, should not be missed.  Besides hopefully watching game 6 of the Word Series on the 3rd, and then enjoying PDR on the stage after, don’t forget to VOTE.  It is a privelege and a responsibility that no one should take for granted.  Sure, politics is frustrating, but being uninvolved is more so.  Okay, off my soap box and down stairs to do sound on the Patriots vs Dolphins game for Thursday Night Football. Hope I see you at the Street!

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

October 2015

What a month we have coming here at Sarah Street! Our stage, which in my not so humble opinion, is one of the best anywhere, once again is full of great shows.  Our all HI DEF monitors  will feature all the NFL games, the MLB playoffs, the beginning of the NHL and NBA seasons with all the games available, a ton of the College Football games, and one of the best  music video collections in the world.  A lot of local places have tried to follow our lead in how to maximize their video use, but we still are clearly in first place.  That said, we made a pretty big, yet understandable mistake, yesterday, September 26th.  With a ridiculous amount of big College games on, and the METS cinching the National League Eastern Conference, we told some customers that #1 Ohio State was not available and if we didn’t have it on, no one would.  Well they were the featured National Game on ABC, so we were completely wrong.  We were thrown a bit of a curve ball as ESPN 2 listed they would have either that game or the Virginia game, and when they showed Virginia game we assumed (assume: ASS OUT OF YOU AND ME) the Ohio game was not on.  We did get it in on, but the people who left to watch it elsewhere shouldn’t have had to.  Why do I share this story? Because I want you to know how much such a thing bothers us, and how hard we work to not let it happen, so when it does, we both apologize and work even harder to not repeat the error.  Now back to those METS! When they have their playoff games, as well as YANKEE playoff games (if they make it), we will feature them with sound on the game and music over the commercials, just as we do for Monday, Thursday, and Sunday Night Football.  Maybe, just maybe, we get a Subway Series again! Now back to the Sarah Street Stage: Were you here for Christian Porter’s Birthday Show on Friday, September  25th? If you were you saw a very responsive and crowded room celebrate his 24th Birthday, and enjoy a terrific full band show.  Because it was his 24th, it was also celebration of him playing on the SSG Stage for 10 years.  Yes, with the help of Open Mic and the band FIVE PERCENT, Christian first played here at the age of 14.  Now he plays here with his own, and  one of the best, local bands. He is lucky to partner with Regina Sayles, who  also started here a long time ago at our Open Mic Night. Regina has also become one of the best musicians in our area: vocally, with whatever instrument she chooses to play, solo, duo with Christian, or with the full band.  Christian and Regina’s  full band is back two more times this year, November 6 and New Years Eve, and you should mark your calendars now.  Speaking of Open Mic, it will be celebrating it’s own 20th Anniversary   on November 11.  Many of the performers that got their start playing on Open Mic Night will be showing up to honor Willie and Diane for hosting close to 1000 Wednesday nights.  I will share more info in next months letter, but it is another night to plan to attend long in advance.  This month brings in some new shows, starting on October 3 with the FERMENTERS. KAT WRIGHT and THE INDOMITABLE SOUL BAND will be opening for QUINCY MUMFORD AND THE REASONS WHY on October 10.  TIM HARAKAL BAND  and MYSTERY FYRE both return from too long an absence on the 9th and 16th. THE WALACE BROTHERS BAND plays ESU HOMECOMING WEEKEND  on the 17th.  MOCHESTER and THE VINE BROTHERS are very different, but both extremely worth checking out on the weekend of the 23 and 24th.  The first is a high energy real rock pop band, and the second a Blue Grass Trio with some unique  funk sound. Want to hear a Blue Grass Funk Dance Instrumental version of the Mario Brothers theme song, followed by an original strong vocal ballid? Well that would be The Vine Brothers. Then it is Halloween with two costume parties, one Friday the 30th, with the GEORGE WESLEY BAND, and the second the next night, Saturday the 31st with two bands.  The first band will be THE FUSTICS, who travel East Coast once a year, and the second THE HOOTENANNY OFFICIAL AFTER CABINET PARTY BAND.  Cabinet is performing at the Sherman Theatre for their Annual Halloween show, and then having an After Party here starting at mid night.  Going to be a fun costume filled Halloween here at Sarah Street with our Annual Awards given out two nights in a row.  Have you signed up as a Sarah Street/You tube channel follower? You should because we keep adding more professional mastered videos from our 20 Anniversary Weekend in the beginning of April.  A new Tom Graham and Five Flutophone video are just getting posted now.  I am very proud to produce these high quality videos, so they are  around forever, and  show accurate examples of how good the music is so often on our stage.  Please check them out and tell me what you think, via email at dave@sarahstreetgrill.com, or here in person.  Enjoy the Fall with some great music, lots of fun games to watch, and our very varied menu here at  The Sarah Street Grill.

                    September 2015

Well as finish up a great Summer and prepare for an awesome Fall we start out big with STROUDFEST on September 5.  This on is going to be even more special then it always is with Stroudsburg celebrating it’s 200 Anniversary and Sarah Street Grill continuing to celebrate it’s 20th.  On the STROUDFEST stage, starting at  noon, we will have four great Sarah Street regular bands performing.   The first is the Wallace Brothers, who are also performing the night before at the Grill, and are a great rock/country/eclectic fun band.  Then we have the Bobby Syvarth Combo who has a been a huge part of the music here almost from  the beginning.  Bobby was actually involved with running the original  stage when STROUDFEST  was Garlic Fest taking place in the Courthouse Square, and it is great to have him and his band here for this historical  day.  The following week he is also closing out the Deleware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts Festival Sunday night.  The next band is SUZE, a great jam rock band from the Scranton area.  Then we close out with Quincy Mumford and the Reasons Why, one of the strongest semi new (three years) SSG stage takers we have.  Fireworks start right next to the restaurant  after the show ends, and then Quincy and his band retake the stage here at the Grill as they do almost every first Saturday of the month (second Saturday in October).  Thats right! Fireworks in Stroudsburg and I am pretty sure the deck will be filled as soon, or sooner then the Courthouse Square Stage ends, because that will be the best seat in a town full of great places to watch the light show go on.  What a party that day will be: arts and crafts booths all up and down Main St, great food booth options by the Sarah Street and Sherman Theatre Main Stage in the Courthouse Square, a beer tent run by the Sherman right by the stage, and all the great bars and restaurants in our town to enjoy. Happy 200th Stroudsburg! Locals and travelers enjoy, because it will be FUN!

Of course the NFL Season is upon us too, and we have been running the NFL ticket all 20 years we have been around.  All NFL games – Monday night, Thursday night, Sunday and Sunday night feature our famous Wings for .40 and lots of great bar and beer promos.  Thursday night the 10th is the opening game with the Steelers and Patriots, Monday the 14th has two Monday night games, the first being the Eagles and Falcons, followed by the Vikings and 49ers.  All the other games will be on in HI DEF and sound available on Sunday the 13th.  When there is night games we also play the sound through the PA system with music over the commercials. Make Sarah Street your home away from home to support your teams, and we will make you feel you picked the right place.  Also looking pretty exciting for both NY baseball teams this Fall – maybe, just maybe, they meet in the WS!

There is a lot of new projects taking the stage here this month too – Pure Kane Sugar (opening for JMAC and Junior), Neversink, and Keith Kenny.  Come out and be a part of evaluating if they should be in our loop repeatedly.

Things have gotten a little nasty between me and few reviews on the Web.  It is common knowledge that you should not react angry when someone is negative about your business in a review – and actually a negative review can be helpful to find things you need to address.  However, when you have been somewhere for 20 Years and someone seems to  personally attack you or your people in an unfair way, it sure is hard not to bite back.  It is calming to know that the vast majority of reviewers are very positive, and the few I have squared off with are carry overs from months ago – and even already referred to in July’s letter – but it is our goal to make everyone happy and failing by your own fault or someone else’s still hurts.  The day I don’t care about that kind of stuff will be my last in this business – and  I don’t think that is ever happening!

questions/comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

August 2015

Hard to believe, again, that a year is moving so fast:  is it really August?! This past month had so many great things happen at Sarah Street, and August will be the same.  As I write this, it is the last week of the Traveling Birds, here from California as a special Monday featured Artist of the Month, and also Christian Porter as the Thursday featured artist of the Month, both in July.  What a great success they both were musically, and sometimes attendance wise for  these artists. August  features Sarah  Street legend, BOBBY SYVARTH, as the featured Thursday artist . Bobby had his new band here on Saturday, July 25th, and the show was terrific.  Why there weren’t more folks here is the topic that aches me for the past 20 years, but you can make amends by showing up for some of his Thursdays.  He is blessed with the honor of closing out the Celebration of the Arts festival Sept 13 in Delaware Water Gap, and we are blessed that he is using his historical home of  Sarah Street to get extra ready for a big event.  As I have talked about so many times, the only thing we do here that isn’t right where I feel it should be, is getting the incredible artists that take our stage the respect they deserve of a good audience – not just sometimes, but all the time.  Really, we are at all time highs in the overall business we do, and that is because we work hard at improving something that is pretty darn good to begin with.  Before I get accused of self titling, I say that because of the increased business and growth of content customers. Here is an example of what I feel should be well attended.  August 1st features not one, but two full bands.  For only a $6 music charge you will get  Quincy Mumford and the Reasons Why, who play here almost every first Saturday, and whose videos are often on in our room, and who have played here for over three years AND  The Matt Mackelcan Band, who I predict will be awesome. What I won’t know until that night is will there be the right crowd here for them? Well there should be, and always should be.  I am not saying that every band and artist will be a new favorite, but many of them will be.  I know it sounds like a lecture, but I also know if there ever was a day where we didn’t have all this great music on our stage,  my ears would hear many a complaint. This month, like all months, is just full of don’t miss shows.  Check out the bands websites, watch their videos on line, and come and support the arts right where you already support the food and drink .  Where else do you get sushi, steaks, fresh grown produce from an on site garden, the game you want to watch, play pool, darts, or our Miss Pac Man and Galaga  via 1981, and listen to great music videos and live and often original performances? Here at Sarah Street, that’s where! I, despite my complaining that  the live music needs some icing provided by you on their well baked  cake, thank you  sincerely for supporting us for 20 Years. Without you there is no us!

Questions/comments: dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

July 2015

Were you here for our second annual Wing Contest on June 14th, Flag Day? What a success! We raised, with help from all the cool bars in our area (Floods, Teddy’s, The Warrior, Goaline, Rudy’s, and The Minisink) The Sherman Theatre, Banko Beverage, and the Marines,  $2000 for the Marshall’s Creek Fire Dept., and had a lot of fun doing so.  George Wesley Band was on the outdoor stage as well as Regina Sayles and Christian Porter.  What a great duo the last two have become and George is a good as it gets, in my opinion.  His bass player, LION, who George met here at Sarah Street,  has added a new rejuvenation to one of the best reggae artists around.  If you have not seen them yet, they are here on July 11, and check out their video on You Tube, JUNKY MAN, performed here at Sarah Street during our 20th Anniversary Celebration.  Christian is here as the featured artist this July on Thursdays, and  I am pretty sure Regina will be joining him on some of them. Well back to  The SSG Wingfest: Next year will be the Blue Ridge Fire Company, and we are already planning to have an even better one then this year! Not easy  to do, but we will find ways.  A special thanks to my management team, and kitchen staff for making this happen. I honestly felt overwhelmed and was NOT the leader in this project, but they were, and now I am excited about it happening every year!

We are closed  July 6th for our staff Summer party, but we are having live music EVERY other  evening in July because we have the Traveling Birds playing every Monday (and our party, and the first Friday), our rotation of singer song writers on Tuesdays, Open Mic on Wednesdays, Christian Porter and Friends every Thursday, Great Bands every Friday and Saturday, and the The Pocono Duo every Sunday.  We are OPEN on July 4th and have the great band Quincy Mumford and the Reasons Why, as we do almost every first weekend.  When you are done with Fireworks, outdoor parties, or dinner here, plan on celebrating the Red White and Blue and listen and dance  to some great tunes at the Sarah Street Grill!  Steve McDaniels and Billy Rooth’s band, 55 Flood returns July 17.  The next night, the 18th is  THIS WAY TO THE EGGRESS, with a pretty radical stand up crazy thing between sets that we wont let happen until the kitchen closes. You have to be here to find out why.  VINE BROTHERS are here for the first time on the 10th and another brother band, WALLACE BROTHERS BAND finish the month on the 31st.   POCONO DUO TRIO returns on  the 24th and BOBBY SYVARTH COMBO is here on the  25th.  Bobby Syvarth is prepping to close out the CODA JAZZFEST concert weekend on Sunday, September 13th.  Pretty big billing for the first artist I produced a record for!  Another month of great live music here at Sarah Street! Please join it as much as you can, as these artists deserve it, and you won’t regret it! Promise! Can’t argue with this many explanation points, can you? (!)

We get mostly really great reviews on all the internet opinion sites.  Every now and then someone who is just passing through, and or tends to write very critical reviews of almost every place they go, write what I feel is unfair and untrue about us.  If you are someone who truly knows us, and wants to respond to these reviews with one of your own, please do.  GOOGLE, Trip Advisor, YELP are the ones we tend to follow ourselves and all usually fill us with pride, or even some good ideas on what we can do better.  We get 20 to 1 positive over negative, but those 5% that bash what they don’t know need a response from someone other then me.  You can also always talk directly to me at dave@sarahstreetgrill.com and share any and all that cross your mind about this restaurant, music room, and escape from life’s pressure place we work hard to be. I always say we made it 20 years by constantly looking for ways to be even better, and the minute we don’t would have to be a minute I am no longer involved.

June 2015

June already? Wasn’t I just talking about a New Year? Well it may be moving fast, but it is far from uneventful.  May was the busiest month in our 20 year existence and included the busiest day and week.  We are very proud that we did it, but we also learned that we are not done growing and not done learning how to handle that growth.  During ESU Graduation and Mother’s Day weekend, over 1500 people came here for lunch and dinner and hundreds more to enjoy the music on our stage and sports on our HI DEF screens.  We knew it would be busy – even pretty sure we would break records – but not by as much as we did.  To all of you that were here to help make that happen, thank you so much.  To any that had anything less then an A+ experience, our sincerest apologies.  Many more compliments came our way than complaints, but we knew we were struggling to maintain the level we set for ourselves. The bonus, other then setting new records, was that although it stayed very busy the following two weeks, it felt like a walk in the park to us!

Have you tried one of our Beer Dinners yet? Our next one is Thursday June 11, featuring well paired beer and cuisine.  I believe there are some tickets still available, just call Sarah Street at 570 424 9120 to get yours.

We have our Second Annual Wing Off on June 14, which benefits local fire companies, and this year is Marshall’s Creek.  Come try and vote for your favorite wings from all the cool local bars, enjoy live music on our outdoor stage, and know you can enjoy beverages outside, and cool off from spices and heat inside.

You know I try and give special Live Music Events an extra plug in these Newsletters, but it’s hard to mention one or some and not the others, because they are all great.  I still will when I think a band needs extra attention, like a traveling band, or a once or twice a year event, or a band I know deserves a bigger crowd then they have been drawing, but right now they are all great and are all mostly drawing well – not as well as they deserve, but well.  Just look at the calendar, check out the artists websites and music videos, and come out and support one of the very few real music rooms left.  Oh, and I do have to mention that TOM GRAHAM AND FRIENDS are the featured artists of the month on Thursdays.  Tom is coming with someone, or someones (I know that’s not a word), different each week.

Speaking of Tom Graham, he was one of many artists that came out  to support the 20th Anniversary weekend in April.  We are making video and audio edited videos of almost all of the performances from that weekend, and like everything we try to do, these will be better then any others we have done in the past. Tom’s is one of the first finished, along with a Pocono Duo with MJ Law and George Wesley. Check them out on the bands’ Facebook pages and websites, our  website, and here at Sarah Street. Cory Barth is providing the  video recording management and editing, Johnny Rydell  is on the sound recording and editing, and yours truly is the Producer.  We are very proud and you will see why. Maybe someday we will make them available to purchase also.

Hey I know I make typos and grammar mistakes in these letters, and May was no exception (and probably not June), but throw some grief to Brandi as well as me. She is my overseer before print and post, along with about 500 other job titles and responsibilities! If she gets teased along with me, maybe as a team we will get it right. Or rightererist.

questions or comments Dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

May 2015

The Anniversary Weekend went very well. We raises $4000. for our charity THE POCONO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION CENTER. All who were here seemed to have a great time, and we have video saved all the performances so we can relive the music forever.  The actual SSG b day may over, but the celebration of making it to 20 will continue all year.  Here are some examples: May 1st JOHNNY RYDELL AND HAMELL ON TRIAL team up to SPRING INTO ACTION.  Then the next night, Saturday the 2nd,  brings back QUINCY MUMFORD and THE REASONS WHY.  I really believe in this band, and that is why they are playing almost every Month of 2015, mostly on the first Saturday. Then its a crazy event-

*MONDAY MAY 4, THE HIGGS*

Yes on a Monday night, with no cover charge, we have a full band that is touring the country from California.  They are really good and worth an extension of the weekend. Come out and welcome this band to our town and the Sarah St Stage.  The fun continues with Buffalo Stack taking a turn as featured Artists of the Month on every Thursday, and finishing with a Friday show as well on the 29th. Really, every music night is worth being here! Check out the all the website of the bands on the calendar, and many of them can be accessed by just clicking on that calendar at our website.  We have some new bands, like the very popular North of here group, SOUTHSIDE BANDITS,  as well as MOCHESTER, and NO VACANCY.  We have lots of SSG Classic bands like 55 FLOOD (Steve McDaniel’s and Bill Rooth’s project), Pocono Duo Trio, and the legend himself – GEORGE WESLEY!  CHRISTINE HAVRILLA and GYPSY FUZZ also return to finish out the month.  As always: WHAT A MONTH!  Throw in the NBA and NHL playoffs, and the PHILLIES, YANKEES, and first place METS and why ever be home! I do concede that Teddy’s is the best RANGER FAN home for the games, but if you want to watch NYR play and watch the METS (yes I am one of the annoying METS fans that have been waiting for some trash talk ability for too long!) and hear some great live music all at the same time, then Sarah Street is for you. Or just come over after the RANGER game is done down at the historic, and classic, and good friends bar, Teddy’s.

Remember to get involved in the NAN Foundation, run by our long time multi SSG job title holder, Christy Connolly.  Check out what NAN is about, and if you Golf, get into her Annual NAN Golf and Party hard day on Monday the 11th at Shawnee.  If you don’t golf their are many other things that are NAN Foundation functions  that  raise funds for a great cause, and are a blast to be a part of.

peace love and thanks to all for helping us reach 20

Dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

–

April 2015

Well it is here.  The weekend I have been thinking about for a long time, our 20th Anniversary Weekend, starting on my Mom’s birthday April 10th.  That night we have three great acts sharing the stage, TOM GRAHAM and WILL ORNER, THE POCONO DUO/TRIO, and SOLUTION AD.  Then it is on to Saturday the 11th.  That night brings back the first musician that wanted to bring a full band to our stage, BOBBY SYVARTH.  Bobby  started bringing William Patterson Music majors to our stage, and those people, led by CHRIS CUZME, have been a huge part of so many great projects and fun nights here at Sarah Street. CUZME will be here that night along with EDDIE SANABRIA, who is coming from LA, TIM CARBONE, who is world famous and deserves more local acclaim where he lives – here, DAVE CINQUEGRANA, one of the best guitar players I know, and YONI HALEVY on drums. Probably a few surprises that night too!  Then we have Sunday, which will be the POCONO DUO and GUESTS.  Hopefully some of Saturday’s crew will resurface that evening, along with even more surprises.  Then it is on to Monday the 13th.  As we have done for many years, we will be donating the percentage of existence, 20, to a local charity.  This time it is the POCONO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION CENTER.  20% of all food and liquor sold that day will be donated to the PWREC, along with the funds from the raffles, dart and pool tournaments (contact Dan Janda at dejbville@yahoo.com to get in these tournaments) , and 50/50’s.  So many great musicians will be taking the stage that day, probably starting at 3 pm and going until close, including: CHRISTIAN PORTER, STEVE MCDANIELS and BILL ROOTH, REGINA SAYLES, SACHI RODRIGUEZ (who will also be featured artist of the month on Thursdays in April), GEORGE WESLEY,  many of the artists from the weekend shows and MORE!  I truly think if you come to all four nights in a row you won’t regret it.  If you are not in this area, get a hotel room and make it a mini vacation.  It may be the best four day party you ever go to!

As always, the rest of the month is stacked with great music.  Come and see why QUINCY MUMFORD and THE REASONS WHY are here every first Saturday in 2015.  Enjoy great Reggae Music with both GEORGE WESLEY and the TROUBLE CITY ALL STARS.  HOOCHIE COOCHIE MEN are back, CHRISTIAN PORTERS band continues to impress, and FISH HOUSE ROAD is this months new SSG band, so heck, just put a tent in our parking lot and stay all of April.  Okay, don’t really pitch a tent on the pavement, put it up in Christy and Dan’s yard and leave it there until the Summer Solstice.

It is also the beginning of year 2 of the Sarah Street Garden, and even more of our produce will be grown right here.  As it said on our St Patties day float, 20 Years And Still Growing – now there is a Garden! We are not, and never will be, done trying to be better at what we do.  That philosophy allowed us to turn 20, and we will continue to use it.

Baseball is here, and all the METS, YANKEES , and PHILLIES games will be on.  The NHL and NBA playoffs start soon, and you won’t have to ask for them to be ready to view in HI DEF.

Congratulations to our friends Todd, who took over the Warrior bar, and Wes, who is now the man at the Goaline.  May they someday celebrate a 20th too.

Last, and most importantly, thanks to you! Without you we could not be talking about being here double decades.  I know a lot of these comments are repeated ones in these letters and out my mouth, but I truly am appreciative of all the support this town, all current and past employees, all the great musicians that have and do take the stage, my family and friends, and both the luck and skill that contributed to me being able to make it happen- THANKS TO ALL OF THAT AND MORE!

Dave

March 2015

We should be in the last lap of the coldest Winter I remember in the 20 Years Sarah Street has been around.  I certainly hope so! As we approach the actual 20th Anniversary Weekend, April 10 – 13th (the next news letter will be all about that weekend, but plan to be here for ALL OF IT, and get a hotel room booked now if you are from out of town) we have lots of fun things planned to make March go fast and fun.  Some new bands, like JMAC and JUNIOR,  JOHN CAVE BAND, and EVY ZEE BAND will take our stage for the first time. Evy Zee will be the featured artist of the month on Thursdays.  LA CUCHINA will be here on the 13th and starting a little earlier then usual, 9 30.  Many of you have encouraged earlier start times and this is a chance to show its a good idea.  If you haven’t seen QUINCY MUMFORD AND THE REASONS WHY and or THE WALLACE BROTHERS yet, you should!  THE CURRENT, SUZE, and SSG house regulars THE POCONO DUO/TRIO round out the weekend shows.  I say over and over to come out and support the live music, and many of you are.  Thanks to those, and to those that have not… COME ON! Your missing some great stuff!

Speaking of great stuff, why not come out and watch the Sarah Street Hockey team take on ESU’s Hockey Club at the Penguins Arena in Wilkes Bare on March 14 at 1 pm.  Sarah Street is six consecutive Men’s A league champions, and ESU had their well played season be cut short for some unlucky and untimely decisions.  Lots of friendly trash talk happening about  this game and it should be fun to watch.  Tickets are not needed for our game, but we will also have tickets available for the Pens game after ours, if your are interested in attending both.

I also have to plug two days before that is my last living Grandparent, my Grandmother Peggy, 90th Birthday.  She has always been a strong supporter of my goals in life, and helped, along with other family members, to make Sarah Street happen.  She turns 90, Stroudsburg 200, Sarah Street 20 all this year!

Speaking of Stroudsburg, the St Patrick’s  parade day is March 22.  The Pocono Duo will once again be on our float and they will play the after party here.  March is going to be fun, and then it is the actual 20th Anniversary Month! We are really doing our best to put smiles on all your faces, because without you, there is no us.

We are also your home for all the NBA and NHL games and of course, March Madness.  Only here can you watch the game, get sushi or American food, watch live or  video music ALL THE TIME.  Maybe that is why we made it to 20.

Questions/comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

February 2015

Well I hope you were not one of the 70 or so people whose name was drawn as the $500 Bud Light Super Bowl Party Winner, but then joined the Packers and Colts as Close But No Cigar because you were not here for the AFC/NFC Finals.  The person who did win, Nate Horn, had earned it because he had a lot of raffle tickets in the bin from being here for many regular season and playoff games.  Other people names came up multiple times, but whether it was the so-so weather and road conditions, or preference  to be on the couch for these games, they won’t be figuring what friends to invite to spend $500 here on Super Bowl Sunday like Nate will.  The good news for those folks, and all others, is we are still giving away a ridiculous amount of great prizes every commercial break during the game.  Snow boards, ski passes, sweatshirts, t shirts, dart boards, and so much more.  Be here early to get a good seat, enjoy some great food and drink, potentially (and probably) win some great prizes, enjoy what we hope are great commercials (yes, we are letting the sound play on them), and hope even more for – A GREAT GAME.

Featured Artists of the Month is Public Displays of Rejection, a really talented duo playing a mixture of original and unique cover music.  They have a long history here at Sarah Street, having played open mic night many years ago, and here once a month on Tuesdays.  They really are worth checking out.  Their first Thursday, the 5th, is also one of our Beer Dinners featuring beer from Victory and courses to match from Chef Rob. I think that is sold out, or very close to it.  Whether you are here for that, or dining off the menu and sushi bar,  you should plan to stay for the music.  Lots of other great music happening on our stage.  HOOCHIE COOCHIE MEN is here on the 6th and a real good time.  QUINCY MUMFORD BAND is back here on the 7th, and doing every first Saturday for the entire year.  They are truly one of my favorites, and if you are looking for a new band to be a big fan off, these guys deserve a try you won’t regret.   Big night on the 13th as TOM GRAHAM and WILL ORNER bring a CD Release Party to the Burg.   The local legend CHRISTIAN PORTER brings a full band on the 14th, and combining that with our Valentines Weekend Specials will get you big plus points with the other half of your love relationship.  The next weekend has MARIELLA AND HER BROOKLYN BOYS BAND both Friday and Saturday.  Some of you know this band as BABY CAVE, but since the CAVE part of that band is here next month with his new project and no longer part of this one, I figured to go with MAHBBB.  Maybe MAHBB sounds like mob, and Mariella will can my title and come up with a better one, but lets have a mob show up for them!  The weekend shows finish with BUFFALO STACK on the 27th, and CLARENCE SPADY on the 28th.  These are both don’t miss shows.  Buffalo Stack is playing here this weekend as I write this (January 31st), and I know people are traveling from far away and getting hotel rooms to see them.  Clarence Spady is a musician of near fame.  We are so lucky and blessed to have so many great music moments in this room.  The only thing missing is you!  I also want to give a quick plug to two other music events, the first being on Tuesday the 10th, when Sachi Rodriguez makes her debut as the artist musician for an entire night, and Sunday the 15th of Presidents weekend, when Christy’s cousin RYAN ZIMMERMAN fills in for the Pocono Duo.

Come out and join us for Sports like all the NBA and NHL games and of course the Super Bowl, the most varied menu choices in the area, and one of the best music rooms in the World.  Maybe that is a self title, but since SSG is celebrating 20 years of doing what we do, we have some decent qualifications to brag a bit!

January 2015

It is now official. Our 20th year has begun! First I want to once again thank everyone who helped make the last 19 years a big success full of many terrific things. 2014 was our best year ever.  Not just in sales, which is the title you have given us, but in quality. The music, the food, the service have never been better, and that is probably the main reason you have been here more often and been spending more money.  That was your thank you to us, and our response to you will be to continue to work on all that we do to be even better in 2015.

Here is one example: We will be open on New Years Day, a day we have closed in the past for our staff Holiday party, so you can be here for the NCAA Final Football 4.  We will put our Sunday brunch menu into effect, along with our Sushi and regular menu.  We will also have our .40 Wings, music over the game commercials, which will also be happening at all the NFL Playoff games and the College Final on Jan 12th.  We will be closed on January 5th for that staff party that is not on NYD. While  we are talking football, all of you that have been getting in the game raffles on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights HERE COMES THE BIG ONE! On Sunday January 18th, during the AFC/NFC Championships, we will be drawing on those raffle tickets you have been filling out until one of you who is here has their name drawn.  That person, and a bunch of friends, will win a $500 Super Bowl Party here on February 1st! We will be adding to those raffles tickets each of the playoff games and pro bowl too, so you can still increase your odds of winning.

Lots of great, don’t miss music happening, including some new and second time here  stuff. Christine Havrilla will be the featured artist of the month playing every Thursday except NYD. We have one of our famous, and almost always sold out Wine tastings on the 6th. 2015 is here and we are ready!

Mark your social calendars to reserve the dates of April 10 – 13th when we have the Actual 20th Year celebration.  Details will be public soon, but I know you don’t want to miss any of that weekend and Monday. I do have some insider info on what is coming! The whole year will be filled with lots of 20 year hoopla, but we have an actual SSG 20th B day that has to stand on its own too, and I promise it will.

Questions/ Comments: dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

December 2014

How about there was not one, but two marriage proposals here at Sarah Street in the past month! First Michael and Jennifer came in for the Jonah Smith show, and Michael arranged to fill the deck up with LED candles and a waiting engagement ring.  At the break of the first set, and with help from me with a made up story, Jennifer was escorted to the deck where she was met with a pleasant surprise.  Jonah, whose show was a big success and will be run in a similar way if we are lucky to have it again, knew.  The staff here at Sarah Street knew.  Jennifer’s Mom knew.  Jennifer was kept out of pre-knowledge and shared tears of joy when she accepted Michael’s ring.  Then just last night, Thursday November 20th, Scott and Liana did us the honor of having a similar historical moment here.  With the ploy of only a birthday gathering for Liana, Scot arranged to have Christian Porter follow the Thursday night football game.  He then joined Christian on stage to perform a special song for Liana, and at the conclusion, dropped to his knee in front of her and presented the ring and the big question and got the answer he hoped for.  Congratulations to both couples, and a sincere thank you for feeling that Sarah Street was a place good enough for such a big moment.  As we approach our 20th year, it is a great feeling to know how many important things have happened in these rooms.  Relationship began and led to children, artists have met to make great music, friendships have began to make life better, and quite a few people were inspired to get a Boxer as a pet, just to point on a few! There is a real fraternity of sorts between the Sarah Street staff and its patrons, and things like these engagements are a great reminder of that.

So as I have pointed out in recent news letters, we have not raised the door music charge in the past 15 years. It has generally been $5 on Friday and Saturday nights, with slightly higher ones for special shows.  Well we are moving it up to $6 to help these musicians make a little more money when they play here.  I know it is not easy for people to be paying a door charge for any band they don’t know, so I have some concern that raising it even 1$ is risky, but hopefully the 20 year history of great music will be stronger then that.  I truly feel that the overall music happening on our stage has never been better, and that people will feel not only fine with a $6 music charge, but will also throw a few more in the band tip jar.

So speaking of music, here is some highlights of this month….. well as I look at the calendar they are ALL highlights.  If I give them all the plug they deserve in this letter you will need a microscope to read it!  George Wesley on the 5th, Quincy Mumford on the 6th and almost every first Saturday of every month, The Shift playing an after party for Rusted Root on the 11th, Christian Porter Band on the 12th, The Wallace Brothers Band – a Country style with a lot of rock and blues featuring crazy twin brothers band that I hope become a long time part of our music family on the 13th, THE HAMELL AND JOHNNY RYDELL CHRISTMAS SHOW on the 19th – a SSG tradition, Ila Cantor here from California on the 20th, the Pocono Duo Trio on the 26th, and 55 Flood on the 27th are all DON’T  MISS EVENTS! Really!  Then we finish our 19th year and begin our 20th on December 31st with a great NYE party.  Troubled City All stars, and Video DJ Dave, and a midnight champagne toast all for a pre ticket of$10, and a night of price of $15. That really is a bargain price to begin the new year in a fun way.   Oh, and this year and probably upcoming years, we will be open on New Years Day (and night), as it is now the College Football final four playoff day.  Hopefully I will see you at all these events, because I personally plan on missing none.  That is also why I will not be opening the bar Christmas night – a sometimes tradition that reminds me how hard bartending actually is! Sorry to those that look forward to that, but with this many don’t miss events here, you should get your SSG desires filled!

Thank you for 19 years!

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

November 2014

So do you plan on VOTING?  If you do, and you should, we here at Sarah Street will give you 10% off on all your food – including sushi – here on Election Night, November 4th.  We will have results on some of the TV’s, and NBA, NHL and great music videos, as well as GREG KLYMA on stage.  Do you find it odd that Congress has a 10% approval rating, and yet 90% of incumbents will be reelected? I do.  All you have to do to get that 10% discount on your food is have the I VOTED sticker on your chest.  Hopefully our promotion is not the reason you VOTE, but our way of saying thank you for being a responsible patriot.

As always, it is a really crazy month of music and sports happening here at Sarah Street.  The NFL season has been full of crazy twists and turns – and as I am sure you know, we have all the games on in HI DEF and sound either through the main system, or available at your table.  Throw in the NBA and NHL seasons, and all teams giving their fans a chance at a title – at least for the first few weeks. Oh, unless you are 76ers Fan. They look pretty bad already. Before you Philly fans get mad at me, know that I have lifted my 20 year Lapoint Curse on the Eagles.  I had such a terrible experience back at the Vet during a Rams VS Eagles game, that I put a whammy on the franchise that they could not break.  Well I went back this year, and it was totally different.  Lots of mostly fun trash talk, which belongs at any and all sporting events, but very little “I fear for my life as a visitor fan” going on.  So Eagles, you now have a chance – unless of course my many Eagle fan friends make me put that curse back on…. and they probably will!

Music this month is solid all the way through, and ends in great way on Thanksgiving Weekend. The night before TG, the 26th, brings in 55 FLOOD for the second time in one month.  55 FLOOD is the new Bill Rooth and Steve McDaniel project, and I think it is the best.  After closing for Turkey Day – yes there is one day to watch football elsewhere, The Railroad Earth Blue Grass weekend returns to Stroudsburg.  If you have the Sherman Theatre’s Weekend Pass, it includes the shows here – if you don’t then you just pay our very little for what you get door charge – and this year it starts with DAMON CACAGNE BAND on Friday.  It continues with the Open Mic Blugrass Competition at Noon on Saturday, followed by a pre show party at 5 PM featuring the BOVINE SOCIAL CLUB – both with no door charge for anyone, and then FISH HOUSE ROAD as the head liner of our room, and closer to the weekend.  This has been better and better every year, and I want to personally thank RAILROAD EARTH and The Sherman Theatre for making it happen.

Well VOTE, route for your teams, and listen to great music, and eat a lot of food and enjoy some drink here at Sarah Street… okay? Got it ? Any questions?  Good, you get an A then.  Hopefully we do too when you grade us, and we promise to try as hard as we can, because without you, there is no us!  I am Thanksgiving Thankful of  that every day.

questions/comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

October 2014

Summer is officially over, but the heat is still high here at Sarah Street! We have a strong possibility of a JONAH SMITH show here on Wednesday,  October 29th, with his full band from Americas Got Talent.  Well none of the shows backup singers, but the true band. We are going to sell 50 premium seats for $20 each, as these guys are coming from all over the country.  Jonah from LA, Ben from Chicago, and the others form NYC.  If the show does not happen, and it may not, each of those tickets that are pre-bought, will be worth $30 in Sarah Street money – or the ticket  money back.  It’s your choice, I just want to show some appreciation to those of you that help make this music thing happen.  I also know that if we have a good amount of tickets presold, the show has a much stronger chance of happening.  Hopefully his next local show will be a sell out at the Sherman Theatre! He and his band mates did make it to the final 24, out of thousands, and got to play 5 times on national TV, and twice live at Radio City Music Hall.  Of course I think he deserved to win the whole thing, but it was still a major accomplishment. If this show happens, be here and show him the love and appreciation we had to be watching and routing for him, and most importantly, for  his music.

Just two nights after this possible JONAH show, we have a Halloween Party that can not be beat! Besides our costume contest, in which the funniest, scariest, and best overall, each win a $50 SSG Gift Card, we have not ONE but TWO great bands playing here.  The first is THE KILLER PINES, and the second is THE BOGYARD CHUG BAND.  Tom Graham and Will Orner are both in the TBCB, and they will be here as part of the After Party of CABINET, who is playing  at the Sherman that night.  What a fun night it will be, I promise! If you are here for The Killer Pines or come over after Cabinet for TBCB, it will a Halloween to remember.

Well I started at the end of the month, but the earlier part of the month is packed with great stuff too.  If give each band a plug that is deserved, this letter will be nothing but.  Just anytime you are wondering what to do, know there is great music happening in Stroudsburg here at Sarah Street.

Those of you that are looking forward to the Wine Tasting we usually do the last Tuesday of every other month, take note, it will actually be the first Tuesday in November, election night.  The next one will be January 6th, the first Tuesday of 2015. Ouch, 2015!  We may continue that theme for the entire year – which by the way is our 20th Anniversary, and Stroudsburg’s 200th.  I may be mentioning that a lot over the next 15 months… mostly because I can’t believe it to be true.  Ah, those fun times when people would say I was too young to be the owner.  Sure do miss them!

When I talk about Jonah maybe playing on the 29th, I also must take note that that night is usually our Open Mic night.  Open Mic has been going on for almost as long as this restaurant has existed, and it hosts Willie and Diane have always done a great job.  Christian Porter had been a big part lately too, and may also be doing some guest hosting as well.  I have been very impressed with the varied, and mostly high quality, types of performers that have taken the stage.  If ever there is no Open Mic Wednesdays, it will be a very sad day in Sarah Street history.

Enjoy the Fall my friends, and hopefully I will see you at the Street.

Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

September 2014

JONAH SMITH has made it even further on AGT, and will be playing Live at Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday night, Sept 2.  We will be showing the whole show that night, and any other nights Jonah is playing live on AGT.  Music over the commercials of course, and probably Jonah’s!  He is one of 20 left in the contest, so that is a pretty good chance for him to win big money, but more importantly, his music should be getting the recognition it deserved a long time ago!  Besides Jonah on AGT, and Christian Porter on THE VOICE, I just found out that QUINCY MUMFORD is getting time on THE VOICE stage too! That’s right, Quincy Mumford, who is playing Stroudfest Aug 30, and then that night here on our stage, is the next SSG Musician to be getting national attention.  Pretty crazy, don’t you agree? Well not really, because I think we have some of the best talent in the USA playing on our stage, and history is proving that true.  All we need now is some more people to be coming out and seeing these future stars when they take the stage here.

Well there is a little less live music happening here, because the NFL season is upon us.  There is not Featured Artist of the Month on Thursdays, and the Pocono Duo goes on a little later on Sundays.  We will be showing EVERY GAME Sunday afternoons and giving out great prizes at half time of the Monday, Thursday, and Sunday night games.  We run our .40 Wing Special whenever the NFL is on.  Other places have followed our success and have tried, and are trying, to host the season as we do. However in my opinion, no one does as good as SSG.  Sound at your table of the game of your choice, lots of specials, all the games in HI DEF, plus prizes at half time of night games? Come on, that’s only here!

Thanks to everyone for helping to making 2014, so far, a year of growth.  As I finish writing this, we just finished a 65 person wine tasting.  Everyone was smiling and enjoying great food and drink, and many of us, customers and staff, are now going down from the upstairs dining room to listen to Steve McDaniel , watch the end of the evenings baseball games, and enjoy some great bartending from Sarah and Melissa.  19 years and still a fun place to work – and I and the SSG Team are grateful to you, our customers and so often great friends, that make it possible!

 I hope your Summer went well and the Fall is even better.

And Vote for Jonah! AGT Tuesday Sept 2, live on NBC at Radio City Music Hall, and on at the Sarah Street Grill.

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

August 2014

Generally speaking I have not been a fan of the TV Contest Market.  The thought of religiously watching  talent shows, like American Idol, seemed to be examples of how our society often picks cheesy things to be successful.  This happening  while “real” artists were on the road playing wherever they could and getting whatever recognition possible.  Well a couple of things changed that for me, the first being when one of our own, CHRISTIAN PORTER, had success on THE VOICE.  The second was Howard Stern being made a judge on America’s Got Talent (AGT).  I started watching that show – or at least recording it, when he jumped aboard.  I have been a Howard fan since he was on WNBC, and I was a teenager.  Then, as in right now “then”, JONAH SMITH became a contestant on AGT.  He made it through the first round with little exposure on the show, but the judges loved him.  Then in his next appearance his drummer didn’t show.  Not sure why he didn’t already have Gintas , the drummer he usually has here, scheduled for AGT, but instead he had to call him to “fill in” last minute.  Actually worked out really well, as the show had fun showing the situation on air, and Jonah had a lot more exposure then he would have.  Gintas shows up, and the judges can’t believe he isn’t the “real” drummer.   Yes I was screaming at the TV “Call Gintas” and when he walks on stage I felt very involved, even though the event was not anywhere close to live.  The bottom line is JONAH has been part of the Sarah Street Music scene for more then a decade.  His first show here was a full band with back up singers, and he basically played just for me.  I always promoted his shows as “see him in a small room while you can, because he is going to be huge”, and now, five great recorded albums later, and many almost there moments, this may come true.  Watch the show, vote and support Jonah to advance, and realize how lucky we are to have so many great artists play in our town on the Sarah Street Stage.  Too often to small crowds, often underpaid with our very small cover/music charge,  but very often some of the best music you can hear anywhere.  Now the whole county is hearing what we have been treated to for a very long time. This month, August is no exception. It is full of great live shows, whether our featured artist of the month on Thursdays, JAY MICKENS, or the three headliners for STROUDFEST.   The Court House Square Main Stage, the afternoon of August 30, features QUINCY MUMFORD BAND, CLARENCE SPADY, and THE TROUBLED CITY ALL STARS.  All three of these bands also have a night at Sarah Street this month, and I feel they are all terrific, or Jonah like in quality.  That really goes to almost every night of music this month.  I look at the list to see who deserves an extra plug, and it becomes a more who does not? All four shows on Tuesdays are great, just look on the calendar.  We have three new bands, some touring through like OFF ORBIT and some looking to get in our rotation like RUNNAWAY DOROTHY and BRIAN BRAZIL BLUES BAND.  CHRISTINE HAVRILLA and GYPSY FUZZ return for the second time, and it is always a great night when the BOVINE SOCIAL CLUB hits our stage. It is a pretty similar letter every month, me telling you how great the music is here, and how it needs more support.  Seeing one of own get huge promotion and national recognition certainly helps back up that claim.  The cover/door charge, which is only on weekends, and rarely over $5 – a price that has not grown with inflation in over 15 years, and usually doesn’t start until 9pm.  It should be more, and the bands should have bigger crowds on a regular basis, but in the meantime, take advantage of this small room with great music as much as you can.  Maybe, or actually likely, you will see stars of the future and get to say “I saw then when”.   Oh, and if you, like me, think that $5 music charge is not enough for the show you are getting, throw a few more in the stage tip jar – which is also available when there is no music charge. That door music charge is never meant as disrespect to our great and loyal customers, but as respect to the musicians on our stage and our attempt to have many more years of Jonah type performers on our stage.  As long as great artists are willing to play here, I will keep pounding the drums to encourage support.  Don’t worry, not real drums.

If you want to get a ticket to the Wine Tasting August 26th, don’t wait.  This months great guest Chef is Nicole from Mementoes Pizza and Restaurant, one of my favorite other local eateries, and this will be sold out early.  They are $30 in advance and $35 the day of, but the day of won’t matter anyway because there will be none available.

Special congratulations to Matt and Jessica, who have been great regulars and music supporters – wine night supporters – and everything Sarah Street supporters for a long time, for getting engaged here July 25.  Matt brought a live guitarist and many friends to propose out on our deck during dinner.  We are honored that they picked here, also the place of their first date, to decide to take that step of becoming family.  Here is to them!

Those of you who want to be a part of the NAN Foundation Annual Motorcycle Poker bike run on August 10th, contact Christy Connoly/Janda at cmcbville@yahoo.com.   Always a fun time.

July 2014

Did you see the press coverage on the idiots that have been spray painting their lame self named nick names on the buildings here in Stroudsburg?  Well if you haven’t, there is a $500 Reward for the names that lead to responsibility for the two that hit our building.  We have already cleaned it up, but we have it on video. Can’t see the faces but I expect we will have the names soon.  We: the businesses, the residents, and the visitors of Stroudsburg, are all working hard to make this a cool town –  pretty successfully, in my opinion – and will not let some bored morons  mess that up.  If you have information on these clowns (yes I have called them “idiots”, “morons”, and “clowns”, which are all more applicable names then the ones they give themselves), e mail me at dave@sarahstreetgrill.com .  I will keep your name secret and if what you tell me leads to the IMC’s being held accountable – probably through lots of community service, I will personally give you the reward in a check or house trade account.

So anyone who knows me as a NHL hockey fan can attest, I never route for the Rangers or Flyers.  It is all Devils for me! But I do have to say this: Despite the Rangers getting knocked out in only five games in the SCF, it was a much better series then many that ended in 6.  All but one game that LA won ended in overtime, and the teams looked pretty damn even and qualified to be in the Final.  When the Devils made the Cup  finals two years ago, also against the LA Kings, they went a game further then the  NYR did, but never played it as hard and close.  Hockey is a funny sport though. If the Rangers would have been swept,  those routing against them would have had trash talk for ever.  But because they won just one, and lost three in OT, their fans are saved much abuse from fans like me. Maybe that deserves it’s own title.  Hey, hats off to the Spurs too.  They put a real beating on the Heat and did it with real team play.  As always, all these games were on here at Sarah Street, in HI DEF and sound available.  Thanks to all that made this their NBA and NHL playoff home.

On June 14, HOT TUNA and LEON RUSSEL  played the Sherman Theatre right next door to us.  After the show a crew came in for some of GEORGE WESLEY to finish out the night of music they started at the concert.  Well “young” is not a description that comes in play in a age range, but certainly does in how much  good energy and steady dancing skills they had! Only my Mom and Dad usually embarrass the “younger” folks  in out dancing us.  I say “us” loosely, as I am talking really young people and not so young people like me.  This night many learned a lesson in proper aging: Dance to as much great music as much and as long as you can.  When I watched this happening, I made a mental note to include this in the next SSG Newsletter.  Hopefully I will also apply it to dancing more myself – or at least head shaking, to all the great music that happens here.

Speaking of great music, here is some of such that is going on here this July.  Featured Artist of the Month is TOM GRAHAM and WILL ORNER.  I promise that this two piece brings a lot more then many “duos” do. Absolutely not a dig on the Pocono Duo!   Tom and Will have a real band sound with little special effects or looping.  Tom has a history here at Sarah Street that goes back further then he or I want to admit – you know like the back in the 90’s, and Will is a great drummer who would be here a lot more often, except that he is the band manager for CABINET – who I also wish were here more often!  Well Cabinet may be too large to take our small stage more then once in a while, but we do have Tom and Will here every Thursday this month.  McCLAIN and HER BROOKLYN BAND are back for an entire weekend on the 11th and 12th.  I really wish this band could be here more too, so don’t miss these shows if you trust my advice.  Hey don’t miss them even if you don’t!  Christian Porter and his full band are here on the 19th, and the last weekend features two of the bands that will be on the Stroudfest Stage this year, CLARENCE SPADY and the TROUBLED CITY ALL STARS.  I just realized I didn’t mention only two weekend night bands, and I always say they all deserve a great crowd for the great music that almost always goes on here at SSG, so VINEGAR CREEK CONSTITUNECY BAND is here on the 5th for the first time, and two bands, FREE RANGE FOLK and THE BOILED OWLS share the stage on July 18th.  They are all on the calendar, almost all have direct links to their web sites from that calendar at our web site, and are all worth checking out!

I hope your Summer is going great and we can be a positive part of that here at Sarah Street!

June 2014

Before I start talking, or writing would be more accurate, about June, I want to bring up a few great things that happened in May.  On the very first day of the month a band we never heard here live before took the stage.  They were Br’er Rabbit from Washington State, on tour through the USA.  They impressed me with their demo when they reached out to playing here, but I had no weekend dates available.  I decided to put them on a first Thursday with no cover charge, and hold off one week with the Featured Artist of the Month event we do January through August.  Then I sort of forgot about them, other then remembering I wanted to be at the show.  As they were warming up and doing sound check I wondered if I had made a mistake.  They were lined up in a row, checking the vocals and all kinds of stage instruments.  It was clear they would be doing a Blue Grass/Country style show, and I can only handle so much of either.  I also wasn’t too sure they had the skill level I had thought I had booked.  Well my doubt was completely without merit!  With the very first song until the last they put on a show that was immediately part of the History of Music Highlights at Sarah Street.  History like Jonah Smith, The Original Bobby Syvarth Band, Rick Danko, Panjea, Flutophone Jackson, Hamell on Trial, and  the great shows I can’t list all of, or this Newsletter would go on forever.   Those that were lucky enough to be here that night became glued to their seats, except when dancing.  Staff that had been working stayed when they were done.  Out of no where, with little pre expectation, a wonderful night happened.  And you know what?  The rest of the month continued with the same vibe.  The crowds were a little light at times, but the music was awesome.  All the first timers were impressive, well actually as I write this, there is one more May first timer coming in this Saturday the 31st, John Scarpulla and his Band. If he can live up what has already taken place this month, it will be special too.    Next month, June, has four more first time projects taking the stage: HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN on the 7th, GREG KLYMA TRIO on the 13th, and BUFFALO STACK on the 21st.  Come out and see the new acts and have your reaction be part of decision to have them back.  You don’t want to miss a show like the Br’er Rabbit night.  When that band is famous, and I really think they will be, many more people than were actually here will claim they were!  I do hope to have them back next year, and when ever they are on the East coast, but if that is the only time I get to see them live, I am grateful for the experience.  When the day comes that I am no longer part of Sarah Street, the live music that has taken place  on this stage will be the strongest and most positive memories I have of my time here.  Hopefully you too have those memories, and if not, will start making them.  This upcoming month would be a great time to start – or continue, I know May was.

Speaking of great Sarah Street events, this month has one of our 6 Wine Tastings 0f 2014, on June 24 (some lame dudes B Day).  It sounds stuffy, doesn’t it?  Wine Tasting.  Well not ours!  The host, Jay, is truly a great and funny guy.  Each one features a different featured Chef, or team of Chefs, and as they get better and better (they were never bad!) it gets more and more competitive.  The last two have been unbelievable, with the well thought out courses the guest Chef(s) put together, and the delicious wines they were matched with.  This night has been selling out, so get your tickets early.  The are five dollars cheaper in advance, $30, and may not be available the night of.

Sunday, June 29th, is the Stroudsburg Bar Wing Off .  Live music and a Wing Off for the best Wings in Town 2014, will take place that afternoon in our parking lot.  Live music on a big stage and lots of Wings and Beer to enjoy and vote on. This will be going on to raise money for the Stroudsburg Fire Department, a good cause to say the least.

The beginning of June features the NBA and NHL Finals, and then it is Mets, Yankees, and Phillies until Football starts up in the Fall.  Bad news to have less sports, good news to have more monitors available for the music Videos.

See you at the Street, home of some of the best live music you will see anywhere in your life. That is coming from someone who has seen a lot of music at a lot of places, and also admits he is self promoting his own venue, but it is still true.  Swear on my Mom! No higher vow than that one.

May 2014

Thank you to all that helped us raise $4,000 for the Wounded Warriors on our 19th Anniversary: our suppliers, other local businesses, all the people that came to support, those that ran our dart and pool tournaments, those that played in those tournaments, the musicians that performed all night long, those that ran the raffles, and those that entered the raffles.  A very special thank you to my staff whose energy and loyalty to this restaurant make such events even possible!  We are already thinking about the 20th and how to make that something we all can look forward to, but for a few minutes we can, and should be, proud of this one.  Congratulations to this years Sarah Street Dart Champion, Brian Schmidt, and Sarah Streets Pool Champion, Todd Matthews.  Brian beat repeat Champ, Dan Janda in the final – who was going for a third title, and Todd is someone that needs to be beat next year, as this is his third title since we started these tournaments.  Got to root against the favorites, right?

Speaking of proud, our new menu is finally in play.  Well it will be no later then May 5th, sooner if I get my way.  Not only does it have some new items, but it is pretty damn cool to look at! Hey, if something you loved is no longer on the new menu, don’t be afraid to ask for it.  As this new menu goes public the Deck is officially open too. Lots of work went into making it look sharp out there (once again, thanks to the great SSG staff ) and we are as anxious as you are to have it available whenever the weather permits.

As if that isn’t enough, my staff has also taken it upon themselves to start up our own on site garden.  We buy from the best food suppliers we can find, but nothing tastes better then freshly harvested and home grown produce.  When “Jersey Tomatoes” are in season, and we can say the BLT we are serving as a lunch special is 2/3 on site created, nothing will be better! When our dinner specials feature fresh zucchini just picked an hour before, well it makes me hungry to just think about it.  When you come and support The Sarah Street Grill, you can know that you are supporting a place that now grows some fresh produce, recycles ALL the glass, plastic, cans, and cardboard we create, and even most of the office paper, has solar panels and a natural gas furnace to reduce the energy and pollution it adds to a World that needs all the help it can get.  Can we do more? We sure can, and we plan to.  Why most of our competition makes very little effort to at least recycle is something I don’t understand at all.  Maybe if as customers people insisted … well that is up to you, unless of course you only come here!

I am really happy with the live music that has been going on here lately.  Lots of great new bands mixing in with our long time regulars.  This month is no exception! As I look at the calendar to tell you which ones really should not be missed, there is just too many to list.  Look on our calendar, go to the bands web sites and watch their videos, and help spread the word of the ones you like.  There are very few live music rooms left, and even fewer that encourage original music, and even fewer then that where you can also watch the NBA and NHL playoffs, and METS, YANKEES, and PHILLIES at the same time you are head bopping to some great tunes.

Don’t forget the NAN Foundation Golf Tournament on May 12.  That follows the weekend of ESU’s Graduation, congratulations class of 2014, and Mother’s Day.  Bring Mom to Sarah Street and enjoy the new menu and hopefully the Deck and once again  THANK YOU for helping us be here for a long  (19 years!)  time.  Without your support all of our ideas would be nothing.

Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

April 2014

It is  here, the month Sarah Street Grill turns 19.  Hard to believe we have been here that long, and I can’t lie, it makes me think we are so close to 20!  Several theme songs come to mind: 19 Forever, Hey 19, and as a restaurant owner in  that turbulent service industry world, 19th Nervous Breakdown!  We plan a huge celebration in which we will be giving away 19% of our sales, about 4x the profit, on April 7, to help Wounded Warriors give some recreational activities to some of our wounded Veterans.  Specifically a Fly Fishing tournament, where wounded Vets from all over the country get together and spend some well deserved therapeutic  time together.  We will also be having raffles, where so many local businesses have provided some great prizes, dart and pool tournaments (contact Dan dejbville@yahoo.com to get in) , and 50/50’s to help raise money for this cause.  Live music starts at 6 pm and goes all night.  Christian Porter, Regina Sayles, Ansel Matthews, George Wesley, Tom Graham, Brian Schmidt, The Current, Bill Rooth, and Steve McDaniels are some of the artists performing. It is a terrible thing that so many of our brave Men and Women have been wounded and worse over the past 14 years of War, and anything we can do to show that we care is so important.  Come on out and help celebrate a 19th Birthday and a great cause on April 7.

Well there are other things happening here then a birthday! We have our featured artist(s) of the month, the Strawberry Jam Duo here on the Thursdays, except for April 17th, when JONAH SMITH is here form LA to have a special concert with his band.  There  will be an $8 Music Charge that Thursday and those that get their ticket early will get a preferred seat.  We only get Jonah once or twice a year and he is big part of our music history, so please make a point to show if you are a big SSG Music Fan.  If you don’t know Jonah, listen to his music and videos on the Net with The Jonah Smith Band, and his other project, the Statesmen.  You will see and hear why it is a big deal when he is here.  Another don’t miss band is here on the Saturday before our Anniversary, the 5th, when QUINCY MUMFORD BAND takes the stage.  Quincy comes in from Asbury Park NJ, and is one of my favorite new bands to play here.  CLARENCE SPADY is back on the 11th also.  Man can this guy play some awesome guitar!  A first time bands arrive with THE WEATHERED ROAD on the 26th.  The rest of the month has great stuff too – like the SOUL SHADOWS with their brand of R & B and soul, on the 4th, THE CURRENT doing the 12th – and for those of you who don’t know, used to be Dream of Fire. STILL HAND STRING BAND and I AM BUFFALO are coming back for a second shows on the 18th and 19th, and last but never least THE POCONO DUO with MJ LAW on the 25th.

A special thanks the Chef Doug Petruzzi for his excellent food preparation in February’s Wine Tasting!  I was so sad to have missed it, but I look forward to April’s Wine Tasting on the 29th. Get your tickets early and save $5 on the $30 ticket.  I promise that you will be glad you come to one (or all) of these.  They are a great deal and a lot of fun!

The Deck will be open as soon as weather permits, and we are getting ready to plant our first crop in the Sarah Street Garden.  These are some great signs that this damn Winter is about over!

Thanks to everyone for helping us reach a 19th Birthday and hopefully I will see you at the Street.

Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

March 2014

Other then being a skier, or perhaps someone who makes it their business to clear snow, I am pretty sure the rest of us are glad that this Winter is coming to an end.  The cost of dealing with the mountains of white and the lost business has been rough, but it is close to over!  Those of you that made it out to support the music, food, sports, and service we provide here at Sarah Street through these past few stormy months – THANK YOU SO MUCH!

What does March have lined up? Well besides all the NBA and NHL action, there is also March Madness.  We will have all the games on in HI DEF and sound dogs available, and then the final 4  and final games on with sound with music over the commercials. We have some new bands taking the Grill Stage with I AM BUFFALO, CHRIS RATTE and the BRUSH VALLEY RUMBLERS, and MASON PORTER all here for the first time.  GEORGE WESLEY SOLO will be the featured artist of the month on Thursdays.   MCCLAIN AND HER BROOKLYN BAND return for an entire weekend the 14 and 15th.  Her band and the TROUBLED CITY ALL STARS are two of my favorites, and they are both here this month.  Throw in SUZE, HUNTER MONROE, and THE POCONO DUO TRIO and you might as well just live here so you don’t miss any great music!

Now here is a reminder to mark your social calendar for Sarah Street’s 19th Anniversary on April 7th.  We will be giving 19% of every dollar spent here that day to help finance social events for Wounded Warriors.  There will be raffles, pool and dart tournaments, live music all night and more! Contact Dan, dejbville@yahoo.com to get on the tournament player lists. Be here to help us celebrate 19 years of existence and show some love to the people who suffered injury while protecting us.  Whether we agree or disagree with the decisions that send our troops overseas, we all agree that we owe  our veterans a huge THANK YOU and should do anything and everything to make their post war lives and injuries as positive as possible.  More details will be out in April’s news letter.

So our new addition to our Sushi Team, Rey, is working out great!  If you knew Rey from his many years running the sushi side of The Bamboo House, you can get most of  his specials here now.  Having his skills teamed up with our already excellent staff makes our Sushi Bar one of the best anywhere.  Check out the great reviews we have been getting on Trip Advisor and come and enjoy our sushi and all of other very varied menu choices.  Our new menu should be in action March 1st, and it has all your favorites with a few new additions.

Have you stopped down on our Monday Game and Wing Night?  Where can you play old school Atari games like Asteroids  and chow down 40 cent Wings? Sarah Street every Monday night, that’s where.  Oh, and there is a lot more games then just Atari, but that is our “new” addition.

All hale Springs arrival and I hope to see you at the Grill!

Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

February 2014

We at Sarah Street want to welcome Ray to our Sushi bar.  Ray has been the head Sushi Chef at the Japanese side of the Bamboo House for the past 11 years.  I have often heard from others that it was a competition between Sarah Street and The Bamboo House as being the best in our area, and now we are united as one.  Pretty exciting! Also, the Sushi bar is now open at 1 pm both Saturday and Sunday.  If that goes well we will consider having it open for lunch during the week.

Well this is the month where we not only added a top grade Sushi Chef to our team, but are bringing in another as a guest Chef for our Wine Tastings on February 25.  The rightfully famous Doug Petruzzi will be making the food to pair up with the featured wines.  I am pretty upset that I will be out of town for this, as I really think it is a DON’T MISS EVENT! Tickets are available in advance for $25, and $30 the night of.  Steve McDaniel will be the musical  artist that night, so be here at 7 for the wine tasting and then make a fun night out on a Tuesday, and stay for Steve.

We have revamped all of our after work Happy Hours promotions.  Each day of the week features different food and bar specials from 4 30 until 6 30.  The details on these Happy Hours are available on the home page at  www.sarahstreetgrill.com .On Monday night, after Happy Hours (it is more then one hour!), at 7 pm until 10 we have our Sarah Street Wing Night.  Our Wings are BIG, CRISPY, and are covered in lots of homemade wing sauces.  We have added some new ones to our already famous list of sauce choices.

When wings get mentioned, it makes me think of NFL Football and we have, and are, the best place to watch the SUPER BOWL! Yes, I gave myself and my team here at SSG a title, and a very much deserved one!  As we do for every Super Bowl, will be raffling off tons of great prizes.  Beer fridges, coolers, a Spider Ski Jacket, snow boards, sweatshirts, lift tickets and a whole lot more. Each commercial one of these items will go to one of the people in attendance. Speaking of commercials, the Super Bowl is the one game we let them play.  And, of course, we will have our .40 Wing Special during the game.

What else, you ask? Well that is easy, because, as always, we have lots of great music on our stage. Just look on our calendar, where at our web site you can click on the date and get lots of info on the performer, and see who is playing when.  We do have the band who rocked this house NYE, THE TROUBLED CITY ALL STARS back on the 22nd and HAMELL ON TRIAL with JOHNNY RYDELL  here on the 28th.  Featured artist of the Month will be the group SOUL SHADOWS, and that means they are here every Thursday with no door charge.  Come check them out!  Also, when you get this, or are reading it on the web, it may still be January and you can catch the last night of CHELSEA CARLSON as 2014’s first featured artist on Thursday Jan 30.  After that she returns to her once a month show every third Tuesday.  Although she has been playing here for over a year, is very talented, and very pretty, people still don’t really know her.  Help us change that around!

We have moved our 19th Anniversary to April 7.  We will be raising money for wounded veterans. 19% of all sales and our Annual Dart and Pool Championship, along with hours and hours of live music, will all be a part of raising money for a great cause. More details are coming in the next two News Letters.

Bare with these very cold and extreme temperature changes, hit those slopes and our bar and restaurant and finish this Winter with as much fun as possible!

                      Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

January 2014

First let me apologize to anyone who came Christmas Night to see me behind the bar.  Well me and Sarah, as I am way too rusty of a bartender to fly that gig solo!  I came down with a nasty flu and had to be bed ridden the whole holiday. Wahh. I will do my best to be back there Christmas of 2014.  2014! Can you believe it?  This is the beginning of SSG’s 19th year – we started in 1995.  I will talk more about our upcoming anniversary in April as is gets closer but reserve April 14 on your schedule for a day in which 19% of all our sales will go to a charity.  We are still looking into different options, so feel free to let us know what you think would be a good one by e mailing me at dave@sarahstreetgrill.com . We prefer something local, but are open minded.

So this month is full of NFL Playoffs and College Bowl games.  All will be on in HI DEF and many with sound and music over the commercials.  We are also building up momentum to the Super Bowl on Feb 2nd.  Every time anyone came to a regular season game and the upcoming playoff games they got, or will get, their name in a raffle bin and had, and will have, a chance to win a good prize that night.  Now the big one is coming! On the 19th is the NFC and AFC Championship games.  Someone here that day will win a $500 Super Bowl party for 10 here at Sarah Street.  If you were here a lot during the regular season and the next few playoff weeks your chances are stronger but everyone here that day can win. We draw a name every commercial until we have a winner.  Two years ago it took all day and last year someone won almost right away.

You know it was brought to my attention that another place in this town was billing itself as the only “true” sports bar in Stroudsburg.  I guess if you say that adding great food and music to a room with only sports and music videos on 27 Hi Def monitors  makes you “un true” we are guilty.  Of course taking something serious from another place that has no un stolen identity, including its name(s), is a waste of time – and maybe I am now guilty of that.

Lots of great live music here again this month.  Featured Artist of the Month is back now that the NFL season is done on Thursdays.  January is CHELSEA CARLSON and Guests.  Chelsea is very talented (and pretty!) and performs here the third Tuesday of each month, but this month she is here the last four Thursday nights.  CLARENCE SPADY, who has a history somewhat legendary in the music community is back Friday the 3rd.   This town gets spoiled with a lot of THE POCONO DUO, who are here every Sunday and many other places throughout the week, but it’s only once every five weeks you can see them with their drummer from the  Solution AD days, MJ LAW.  That’s happening here on the 10th.  SUZE is a great rock band from Scranton and have been playing here for over a year and half.  It is time for them to get more of a local following, so come check them out on the 17th.  A new band is here on the 18th, THE JAUNTEE.  Check them out on the web and if you like what you hear, be here!  Then the following weekend, the one with no NFL unless you count the Pro Bowl, it is BABY CAVE with CUZME weekend.  They had me dancing with their last show here (and a few drinks helped too).  They are simply a lot of fun and having them here for both a Friday and a Saturday is a blast.  The month finishes with THE CURRENT, formerly known as Dream of Fire,  on the Lunar New Year and then BROOK SHIVE and the 45’s on Feb 1st.

Whether your are here for music, sushi and our varied menu, sports, or just to shoot a game of pool or darts I hope to see you at the Grill.

questions comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

December 2013

Well let me start off with a little bragging.  Sarah Street Grill won 7 Pocono Record First Place Awards: Best Restaurant, Best Sports Bar, Best First Date, Best Night Life, Best Happy Hour, Best Outdoor Dining, Best Place For A Cocktail.  We do not regularly advertise  in the Record, although we do subscribe and have it on our bar everyday, nor did we do any heavy promo in “Vote For Us”, so winning this many First Place’s was really complimentary and we are both proud and thankful! Personally I was just a little disappointed we did not get first place in Sushi, because I think we are, but you can’t win everything.  Perhaps we take that one next year!

Another great month of music.  Both of our often whole weekend bands from NYC are doing solo night shows this month.  The first is McClain and Her Brooklyn Band on the Sat the 7th, and Baby Cave on the Friday the 20th.  Another big show to note is THE HAMELL ON TRIAL CHRISTMAS SHOW with THE KILLER PINES on Saturday the 21st.  Hamell has been doing a holiday show here for the past 15 years – wow, time really does fly.  Come out and experience a show like no other.  The year ends with the TROUBLED CITY ALL STARS and DJ/VJ DAVEL on NYE.  Be here to eat well, drink merry, and dance a whole lot to finish out the year.  A whole lot more great music happening on our stage, just look at the calendar and click on that date to get more details.

What an interesting NFL Season! So many teams still in it – even the Giants!  It will all come together this month who will actually make the playoffs and there is no better place to watch these games then THE BEST SPORTS BAR IN THE POCONOS!  The NHL and NBA seasons are heating up too.  Well the NETS and KNICKS are far from heating, but the SIXERS are a real early season surprise.  How embarrassing both NYC basketball teams are is a real joke, and I really can’t see them turning it around.  Hockey on the other hand has been a lot more fun for DEVILS fans! They started terrible but are now playing like one of the best.  Just ask RANGERS fans who have had to do public pushups and FLYER fans who are hurting their necks looking up! It may not last, but it sure is fun now.

Christmas Eve the kitchen closes at 8 pm and the bar at least till 11 and until it is slow.  Christmas night we reopen at 6 with no kitchen.  Chinese food delivery will be set up for hungry people.

Thank you everyone for a great year of support, and please have a happy and safe Holiday season.

questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

November 2013

I had the lucky opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in Hong Kong in the beginning of October.  Picture NYC on a tropical island, and a real 50/50 on Western and Eastern cultures.  If you ever get the chance take it, it gives a real piece of what Asia is in a very easy to mix in way.  That said, the reason I start this letter off referring to it is: I planned that trip in a way to make sure I was back here for the TROUBLE CITY ALL STARS, and I was very glad I did! That’s right, I flew half way around the World to be at that show! Well I had to be the sound guy too, as the famous Johnny Rydell, our house sound tech , was away on vacation, but I also really did not want to miss that show.  They are really, really good and they are back this month on the 16th.  We are also talking about bringing them in for a NYE show, and If I were you, I would mark the calendar on both those dates right now!  Official word on NYE will be made as soon as we know it.  What else is going on this month?  I guess I will just start at the beginning with ESU Homecoming Weekend featuring THE POCONO DUO with MJ LAW on Friday and BROOKE SHIVE AND THE 45s on Saturday.  Both great bands for a great party weekend.   We have another promising first time band here on the 22nd, QUINCY MUMFORD, not to be confused with the Quimby Mountain Band! Then the following night brings a very special CHRISTIAN PORTER and BRANDON ROUST and FRIENDS show on the 23.  Both Christian and Brandon were stars on THE VOICE and now they share the SSG Stage.  On one of the biggest party nights of the year, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, GEORGE WESLEY returns to the Grill.  If you want to have a ton of fun, be here for that.  Then that weekend continues with the combined Sherman Theatre and Sarah Street Grill Blue Grass weekend.  If you have the weekend pass for the RAILROAD EARTH shows at the Sherman it includes your entrance to both Fridays MIKE MIZ and Saturdays CABINET show here at Sarah Street and the BOVINE SOCIAL CLUB pre party earlier Saturday evening.  You can still come here for those shows without the weekend pass and pay the music charge here at the door.  The Wine Tasting got moved to the first Tuesday of the month with Brandi Merritt in charge of the menu.  If you have never done one of these, you should. They are a lot of fun and not stuffy in any way.  GREG KLYMA is back for the stage that night.  So there are more things happening on the stage then I gave a written plug for, probably because those acts have been here many times and info on them is available in past Newsletters, and by clicking on their date on the calendar.  Lots of NFL  NHL and NBA on our HI DEF monitors – like all of it, and you hardly ever have to ask for it to be on! We are filling up with Christmas/Holiday parties, but their are a few dates open, so call or e mail us from the web site with any questions  you may have.  Happy Thanksgiving to all and I hope to see you at the Street for another month of great happenings!

Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

October 2013

The DECK is officially on borrowed time as Indian Summer turns to Fall.  We will keep it open as long as possible and since I saw loyal customers coming in last night in hats and scarfs to sit up there, I know that is what you want.  One of the things I, and I think almost everyone as they mature, experience is that every year goes faster then the last.  I was talking to a couple of our new regulars the other night and they laughed when I guessed them to be 21 and 22.  They said: we wish, we are 23 and 24, like that was a big aging bummer! They did think I was a lot younger than my drivers license says, but the point is how much longer a year seems when you’re young than when your not.  Maybe it is a percentage thing.  A year is a lot to a one year old!  Sadly it goes by faster and faster as that percentage gets smaller, and that is why it is important to do as many fun things as you can.  We here at Sarah Street want to help!  Whether you are coming for an NFL game and one of our 3 Wing Nights (and day and night on Sunday), great live music, Sushi, steaks, a last 2013 seating on the deck or any of the other cool things going on here, it is all designed to slow down time a little bit!

Speaking of music, this is truly a great month coming. I can honestly say that every Tuesday singer/song writer night has someone great on the stage.  PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF REJECTION, a duo, really impressed me with their first show here last month and they start it off.  Then it is  REGINA SAYLES who does every second Tuesday, CHELSEA CARLSON who is VERY PRETTY and VERY TALENTED on the third, MARC VON EM who is a star that needs more local fans on the fourth Tuesday, and STEVE MCDANIEL on the last.  Speaking of the last Tuesday, the 29th, we have moved the Wine Tasting Dinner to the first Tuesday in November because Greg Allman is at the Sherman and we need the space for pre show dinners.  We are still having our annual PUMPKIN CARVING NIGHT/CONTEST at 9 pm so come watch Steve and carve a pumpkin.  The weekends are super strong too.  The first is MCCLAIN and HER BROOKLYN BAND.  They are my new band favorite and they are here for a whole weekend on the 4th and 5th.  I will not be here that weekend myself so I am requesting that ALL the local music lovers show up for these guys and make sure they feel welcome even without the host being present.  Then on the 11th the FUSTICS are in from Colorado for their once a year show.  The 12th brings in the TROUBLED CITY ALL STARS from Bethlehem PA for the first time.  I saw these guys at MUSIC FEST and they really impressed me.  A really, really, good REGGAE band.  I hope it is the beginning of many great shows with them on our stage.  The third weekend is big too, with JUGGLING SUNS and CLARENCE SPADY BAND.  These are too big acts on our small stage!  The month finishes with another one band/two shows weekend with BABY CAVE on the 25th and 26th.  Mary Ella, the lead singer of that project is simply a blast and a guarantee of a fun night of music.

So to be blunt, if this month of music does not impress you, we don’t have the ability to do that for you.  It is about as good as it gets here at SSG.  If you believe in live music that is not a top 40 cover band or a wedding band this is your place.  If you are searching for something new and entertaining, this is your place.  If the crap that gets played on a juke box annoys you , this is your place.  If you can’t believe you are out in a restaurant and bar and there is no music playing at all then you should know that is never the case here.  Come out and support REAL TALENT on a REAL STAGE.  If you think I have overbilled any of these shows that you came to see, I will happily return the cover charge, that is often the price of a gallon of gas or milk,  Fridays and Saturdays.   Oh, not all music played on a juke box is crap….. just a lot of it!

NHL and NBA fans, we will once again be showing more of those games than any one else around these parts.  All the DEVILS, RANGERS, FLYERS, ISLANDERS, NETS, KNICKS, 76ers and much more on in HI DEF without you having to ask.

A special thanks to those that came and supported the JONAH SMITH show September 18th, and those that did not, you missed a special show.

peace and love

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

September 2013

Well let me start off with some unexpected and great news – JONAH SMITH is back from LA for some more East Coast shows, and we will have him here again on September 18th.  We are offering saved preferred seating tickets for $10, and the night of will be $8 at the door.  I know I had promoted the last show in July as being a rare opportunity and I did not think we would get him back until sometime in 2014.  Hey there is no such thing as too much Jonah, at least for my ears, and I wish we could have him here once a month.  Who knows, this one may be the last chance for a long while – I just can’t make that a promotional claim so soon after it turned out not to be the case!  I would like to give a special “Thanks!” to Willie and Dianne for giving up an Open Mic night so we could have the show.  We have a lot of other really cool music nights coming this month also, so please read the  e mails, Tweets, and Facebook postings we will be sending out.  I know we all get too much “junk” mail, but it is pretty cool to be able to connect to so many of the bands sites and see live video performances of the bands you are considering seeing on our stage. You can also do that by clicking on the date in our calendar at our web site www.sarahstreetgrill.com .

I do have to give a special mention to the CHRISTIAN PORTER full band show on Saturday the 7th.  Christian brought this band to the Sherman for an awesome concert I was proud to attend in July.  He is showing faith to a place of his routes to come and play this comparatively small room after the huge success he had there.  He could have asked me to up the door charge to whatever he wanted to, but he insisted to keep it at only $5.  Word is that we are the only “bar” style venue he will continue to be a part of, and we are VERY honored to have that title.

Just as so many other American style restaurants in our area tried to duplicate our success  having Sushi be a big part of what we do, many are trying to do the same with the NFL.  Well I can say, with confidence, that we will once again be the best at it,  just as we are with Sushi.  Your game will be on in HI DEF and posted days in advance of where  we will show it.  We have upgraded our system to have even better picture quality.  We have Sound Dogs so you can listen to the game of your choice (well actually we have 8 sound options so when there is 9 or 10 games on we will be missing sound on one or two), always offer .40 Buffalo Wings,  and  on Sundays we will have Miller Lite and Yuengling pitchers for only $6.50.  Thursdays and Mondays will have other great special as well.  Every time you are here for  an NFL game you will get  a ticket for a tri-weekly  prize, and I promise there will be some really cool ones this year.  Every raffle ticket in the bin, besides three weekly prizes, will also give you a chance to win the $500 Super Bowl Party for you and 9 of your friends.  You do have to be present when your name is drawn to win any of the prizes, or it goes back in the bin.  The Super Bowl Party will be drawn at the AFC and NFC Championship games.  The weekly prizes will be drawn at half time of the night games, Sunday, Monday, and Thursday.  The more tickets you have in, the better your chance to win!

Our next Art Show, which takes place in the upstairs private dining room, will be one coming from the Sherman Theater Living Room.  We are very proud to be part of many of the great things that the Sherman has brought to Stroudsburg, and to be helping artists of all kinds expose their crafts.

A little “shout out” to the Summer League A Level Sarah Street Hockey Team who went undefeated to win the Championship.  Sarah Street has had many hockey teams (and Softball, Flag Football, Baseball, Dart, Pool and a few I am forgetting) but none have gone undefeated for an entire season, at least that I can remember.

Whether your here for Sushi, a Steak, a beer of so many kinds, a fine glass of affordable wine, a unique Martini and cocktail selection, to watch your team play in HI DEF, or to listen to live music and watch our music videos, I hope to see you at the Street!

questions or comments dave@sarahatreetgrill.com

August 2013

Well let me start by saying what a success JONAH SMITH’s show was here on July 11th.  We did something a little different with pre-sold tickets and it went very well.  The artist was happy the room was full of people here primarily for the show, and the crowd was thrilled with the performance.  The night put some wind back in the music theme sails here, and it was needed.  Most all of the live music to take this stage is special, and too often, a little underappreciated (sometimes a lot).  Now and then I threaten to change the concept, get rid of the door charge on weekends and go more solo and duo performances, but when a show like Jonah hits the grill stage it reminds me of all the great things of the past, present, and hopefully future that take place on our stage.  Will you love it all? No, everyone likes different things, but I do promise that it will vary, have originality – most of the time, and if it gets rebooked and is in our rotation, deserves to have a local following.* So what is up this month? Well CHELSEA CARLSON is the featured artist of the month, and will be performing with different guests each Thursday.  She is very talented, and very pretty.  Her style is sort of female Christian Porter – same age and similar potential of huge success.   Friday August 2 we are doing something a little different with a DOORS tribute band called J-DOORS.  Okay, not original music, but from what I have heard they should be a lot of fun and do have an original way to do tribute music.  QUIMBY MOUNTAIN BAND has been having some great exposure lately and they too should be a lot of fun on the 3rd.  Are you a DREAM OF FIRE fan? Well the core of that band has formed a new band called THE CURRENT and Johnny Rydell is doing an opening performance on the 9th.  THE BOILED OWLS bring some blue grass back on the 10th.  I don’t give the POCONO DUO, a trio when they play a Friday like on the 16th, as much plugging as some of the other bands mostly because they are here so often.  When they are not here, they are almost always somewhere else local.  That does not mean they aren’t awesome, because they are.  In fact I have never heard of one duo getting so much exposure in one town of our size anywhere in the USA.  It is because they are so talented and play so much music, both original and covers, in a unique way that they never get boring.  Yes I wish they were just on the Sarah Street Stage and no where else, but since I can’t have that, I promise that they will sound the best here on our system with our sound guy, SUPER JOHNNY, every Sunday and every fifth or sixth Friday! NY FUNK EXCHANGE returns, after a few years absence, on the 17th.  Lots of band and lots of sound come from NFE and I look forward to hearing them again.  Come and see NANCY AND SPENCER READ QUARTET on the 24th.  That is a gig that shows we are in touch with the JAZZ community around here, and the Reeds throw a fair share of soul, funk, and rock in with their Jazz style.  The month finishes with STROUDFEST/LABOR DAY weekend.  Both Fridays, OLD MAN BROWN, and Saturdays bands, MCCLAIN AND HER BROOKLYN BAND are playing Saturday day on the main stage in the court house square along with THE GEORGE WESLEY BAND.  All these bands are in our rotation and they are all special. Come see them here, come see them at the Main Stage during Stroudfest and keep on supporting LIVE music! * Well there were other things going on here then live music, but with the motivation of the Jonah Show still in my ears, I guess that is all this page has room for.  A quick reminder that the private dining room is a great place for fantasy drafts, and to get it and use of our monitor for an entire evening your league needs only to spend $200 – although we won’t complain if you spend more! Call and reserve while there are openings.

 Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill

July 2013

What a beautiful Summer this is becoming! Maybe a little too much rain, but the trees don’t seem to mind.  The outside deck has been a popular gathering point and the Sarah Street Staff has been on it’s A game.  Because of that, we are closing July 4th for a Staff Appreciation Summer Party.  Those of you who wanted to spend that National B Day here at the Grill, I humbly apologize, but it pays  to have a happy team and hopefully our loyal cliental get the carry over benefits.  That weekend we are trying a NO MUSIC CHARGE WEEKEND, July 5th and 6th.  There won’t be a six piece band, but there will be great live music, as there is always. To show how many different hats we wear here at the Grill, the following Thursday, July 11th, is the opposite.  We are bringing JONAH SMITH here from LA, where he now lives, for a once a year show.  We are preselling the best seats by the stage for a mere $10.  There are still some available so stop by and pick up your preferred seating.  If you don’t get a ticket you can still come the night of, but you may be jealous of those people up front!  If you are a fan of LIVE AND OFTEN ORIGINAL MUSIC here at Sarah Street, PLEASE come to this show.

So how about the New York City 2013 Baseball Champion Mets!? Yes they stink, but they did SWEEP those Yankees in the only sub way series they have any chance of being in.  Of course, they then got swept themselves by the worse team in the league the following series…. but who cares!  They are the NYC Champs!  How sad that that, and a couple of rookie pitchers, are all Met fans have to be happy about.  Well now that the NHL and NBA are over with, and the NFL is a few months off, baseball is all there really is.  Here at Sarah Street, the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies are always on – and any other MLB game we can get.

July is full of great LIVE music, just check the calendar and our web site and the bands that are playing here’s web site.  I can’t wait for Chelsea Carlson on the NO COVER SATURDAY on the 6th, Old Man Brown (nothing “old” about them) on the 20th, and George Wesley on the 27th.  Of course JONAH SMITH on the 11th is the marquee event of the month – but there is so much great music on this stage that you should just plan to live here every night of July – except the 4th, cause we are closed!

We here at Sarah Street wish you are all having a great Summer, and hope and aim to help make that happen.   See you at the Grill!

Questions/comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

June 2013

A couple of weeks ago a musician named DAVE BROWN came by the Grill in the afternoon to give a live demonstration in an attempt to get some time on our stage. Well he ended up playing a full hour, and he really impressed me.  I found him to be a seriously authentic folk singer and writer at a very young age.  His songs were about his life experiences, the environment, the comedy of the world we live in, relationships – the things singer song writers often write and sing about.  Yet somehow I found him unique.  Probably due to how authentic he came across, while being so young.  He, along with the guests he brings, is the June  featured artist on Thursdays.  I truly think those that come and pay attention to his music will be glad they did.  If you see him and respond like I did, you will feel like you are experiencing what it was like to see a young Bob Dylan, Pete Segar or Arlo Guthrie playing in the Village in the  60’s – except a 2013 version.  Please come by and let me know if you agree.

What else is on the stage this June, you ask?  Well TOM GRAHAM and WILL ORNER start the month off on the 1st.  Tom has a huge Stroudsburg History after performing in this area for over 15 years, but now resides North of here and does not perform anywhere local except here.  He deserves that the people who know him and his music, realize he is no longer “a see whenever you want performer”, and that they show up in numbers.  The same for THE GEORGE WESLEY BAND on the 7th, who also come down from  Scranton.  What a great and one of kind reggae band!   The 15th brings the blue grass style band, THE BOILED OWLS.  The 21st has the most recent Chris Cuzme infused project, McCLAIN.  Any band that Mr. Cuzme brings out from the NYC/Brooklyn area is sure to give you a night worth attending.  The following night, the 22nd, is another first timer STILLETO’S – N – STEEL.  The month then finishes with a whole weekend of BABY CAVE PLUS.  Research all these bands on our web site www.sarahstreetgrill.com or on their own web sites.

Now one last big time music plug:  JULY 11th, a Thursday night, JONAH SMITH is back for one show.  Jonah now lives in LA, and we don’t get the special treat of having him four or five times a year anymore.  We are doing something a little different in selling preferred seating in advance.  For a $10 prepaid ticket you will have a great seat for a great show in a small room.  The night of will be general admission for whatever room is left, but I highly recommend getting that pre-ticket(s). You will be glad you did.  Sarah Street is always a great place for a date night, but this show is even better then a usual day/night at Sarah Street for a great date!  Grab your other, or good friend, or someone you wish was your other and/or  good friend  and attend.

We are the ONLY regularly scheduled live band venue left in the area.  Only in this room can you see rock, blues, singer songwriter, blue grass, some spoken word, and reggae AND strong encouragement for original music on the same stage every month.  If you are a fan of this, I really suggest you show support for it.  Come and see the new bands, and make sure you spread the word for those you enjoy.  The bands often travel far and often play for little  after expenses.  Come and support the art of live music by paying the door if there is one, as ALL that money goes to the performer, and if there is no door charge, throw a few bucks in the tip jar.  Or do both! These people deserve it, and someday the current format may be the missed past.  Hint.

The NBA and NHL finals will soon be on, and the Yankees, Phillies, and Mets (for those Met fans that still care) are always on here at Sarah Street.

We are doing the $10 Gift card for those that Tweet or Facebook a photo of our monthly calendar on their fridge for the month of June, as we did in April and May.  Being a Tweet person with the grill also keeps you in the loop for last minute promos like the on Sebring put out Wednesday night: “Come in for the overtime Rangers vs Bruins game and get any appetizer half price”.  Technology baby! Easier to go with it then to resist it!

Get your JONAH SMITH tickets!

See and feel my emotion with all these explanation points? I hope so.

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

May 2013

First  of all let me thank everyone who helped make our 18th Anniversary a big success. We raised, with lots of help from our suppliers, other local businesses, SSG Musicians, and our awesome staff $3,500 for JDRF.  They also raised additional charitable contributions through their raffle – so it was a good night!  Hard to believe this place has been around for so long and I remain so young.  Congrats to 2013 Dart Champion Dan Janda, and 2013 Pool Champion Brian Schmidt.

This month, like all months has a lot going on.  Whether you come here for Mother’s Day, ESU Graduation, the After Party of the NAN Tournament, a great live music show, the NHL an NBA playoffs, the Mets – Phillies – Yankees, Sushi, Burgers, a Steak, a salad, a rehearsal, birthday party, baby or wedding shower, or just to have a good beer with a great friend, we promise to work hard to make it right!

Although we spent good money on a temporary Cappuccino/Espresso machine, we got our top of the line machine back in house and are now buying some of the best Coffee and Espresso beans you can find anywhere.  Enjoy it, I certainly do!

May 2 brings back Brook Shive and the 45’s, after what I believed was having a baby break.  May 24th has the return of Baby Cave Plus Cuzme, one of my favorite bands. Then May 25th has the shared headliners HAMELL ON TRIAL and JOHNNY RYDELL.  If you made one of their featured Thursdays in March, you saw some great and unique entertainment.  These are two artists that have been a big part of so much music on our stage, and to have them working to put a show together is another SSG Historical Music Event.  They will perform  solo and as a duo, mixing each others songs, covers, and comedy.  How long this “duo” will last, and what it leads to is yet unknown.  What is known:  those of us who witness it will think about and talk about it for the rest of our lives.  Most in a positive way!  That show also has Kira Krakovesky opening, and she is playing the next Sunday (the 26th) to fill in for the Pocono Duo.  Tuesday the 28th brings Chelsea Carlson to the stage here for the first time too.  Both Kira and Chelsea are really pretty, and very talented, so help welcome them here to Stroudsburg.  The month finishes with OLD MAN BROWN out of Philadelphia/Baltimore.  This is another really good band who is already booked for Stroudfest at the end of the Summer.  These travel long distances and great bands need even more local support so we can get them to keep our stage in their loop.  In my opinion, all the live music here needs and deserves your back, and if you already give it, more of it!  When there is a music charge it all goes to the performer, and when there is not, please throw some gas money in the tip jar on stage.  These people perform more out of love of music then income, but they have bills to pay too.  Will you love every band you see here? Doubt it, as they are so different.  But come and find out for yourself who you do enjoy and support the Arts.  Not many live music venues left out there, and even fewer like ours.  Steve McDaniels and Friends is the featured Artist of the Month and here every Thursday with no music charge. Steve is awesome! So are all the people that are performing and did not get a specific mention. Just look at the calendar and go directly to their sites from ours to find out more about them.

Well certainly is a bummer for me to have the Devils not make the playoffs after going to the Stanley Cup finals last year, but we do have the Islanders and maybe the Rangers to represent our region (ouch).  The NBA has the Knicks and the Nets – I guess it is a good year to be NY connected.  Whether you come out to support these teams, or root against them, this is your place.  You won’t have to ask for them to be on, we have Soundogs available to listen with (turn down the commercials!), and any game 7’s come with our .40 Wings.

We are getting a lot more aggressive with our Tweet promos.  Are you on that list? If not you are missing great offers like: “for the next 3 hours all burgers half price with this Tweet” or “send us a photo of our calendar on your fridge and have a $10 gift card waiting for you”.   They are great for reminding you who is performing here that night and other things going on here.  If you are not receiving our Tweets on your text….. well fix that!

Live Music, Sports, Sushi, Steaks and so much more in one location.  Hip hip hooray!

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

APRIL 2013

Hello?  Anyone reading this?  If there is, why have you not taken or printed a copy of the calendar, posted it on your fridge (or anywhere in your house), taken a photo and  e mail, Facebook, or Tweet it to us?  If you do, there is $10 towards your tab waiting for you here at Sarah Street!  That is like printing your own money without risking jail time.

Now, that said, Monday April 8th would NOT be a good time to redeem coupons, promos, or even drink chips piling up on you dresser, because that is the day we are giving 18% of our sales to JDRF, a charity that fights the cause and helps with treatment of Diabetes.  We all know, and some of us are, people fighting that tough disease and we hope to raise close to $5,000 on our 18th Birthday to help.  Sign up for the pool and dart tournament, buy raffle tickets, or just eat and drink to be a part of a good cause and great party.

April has lots of great music.  Thursdays featured artist is Erin McCllenland and Friends.   Local legend Kevin Brennan and the Longhunters are here on the 5th.  Quimby Mountain Band is back after a year plus on the 6th, as are  The Fustics – who are in all the way from Colorado, on the 19th.  George Wesley needs a much bigger following then they got in March because they play too good and work too hard on stage to not have a huge dancing crowd.  Please show up and bring friends on the 20th – Reggae music on 4/20, hmmm.   Suze is back from Scranton on the 26th and Nancy and Spencer Reed are back with a Blues Quintet on the 27th.  Throw in Tom Graham and Will Orner  on the 12th and first time band Cherokee Red on the 13th and you have a whole month of great music.  Many of these acts have a long history in this room – only Cherokee Red is a first timer – so come and support.  There is only a music charge – which goes 100% to the band – on Fridays and Saturdays.

Tuesdays, the singer song writer night, has TWO Regina Sayles nights, the second, on the 23rd, will be her new recording release night.  Then the 30th has the return of the Wine Tasting Dinner, and that we do every other month.  It really is always a fun time.  Nothing stuffy about our Wine nights!  In fact it is designed more of a customer appreciation event then a money maker.  You get much more then your $25 ticket if you buy before, or $30 if you buy the day of, then most would expect.  After the Wine Tasting is over, head downstairs and enjoy Steve McDaniels.

As soon as we get some 70 degree days, the deck will reopen.  See you at the Street – not on a corner and way more then a café!

questions comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

March 2013

Spring? Really? Didn’t Winter just start like five minutes ago?  Well I probably just set a curse for a huge blizzard – something the North East does NOT need – but that does not change that time travels way too darn fast.  As I write this letter I have not yet skied even once – but I plan to tomorrow!

 Speaking of fast time travel: Sarah Street Grill turns 18 next month! As we do every year, we will be donating the percentage of sales of years we have been around to a worthy charity.  This year it will be for JDRF, whose mission is “Improving Lives and Curing Type 1 Diabetes”.  On Monday April 8th our goal is to raise close to $5,000 with the 18% of sales, raffles involving great prizes, 50/50’s, dart and pool tournaments, and more.  Many great musicians will be donating their time on our stage, and it really is always a fun day and night to be a part of.  Now that Sarah Street is 18 it can do almost anything except drink here!

Well lets get back to talking about March.  Besides showing every NBA and NHL game, we have a great month of live music ready to take our stage.  The first to give some extra promotion for is: Ed Hamell and Johnny Rydell sharing the stage for THURSDAY’S ON TRIAL.  Yes Hamell on Trial will be teaming up with Mr. Rydell in a tight, yet loose format, of singer songwriter back and forth.  Each week will have its own flow, and the final Thursday on the 28th, will be the show the previous three have created.  To be honest, this show is being put forth with the hope that Hamell gets a boost in his local following.  When he first played here, oh about 15 years ago, his show of rough politics and outrageous humor created both fans and those that got ruffled feathers.  Some of those that did not love it at first, came to with time, and others never quite grasped it.  Well interesting to me is that the music itself has done nothing but get better and better, and his popularity around the world has gone up, yet here in Stroudsburg we don’t show in the numbers he deserves when he takes the stage.  Part of that is that his goal of pointing out the faults in our society with rough humor seems to get under the skin of some even more, as he focuses on that part of the show even less.  Another part of that is that many of the fan base that took years to develop have moved away via graduation, job change, or aging to coach potatoes (or parents).  We need to rebuild that crowd, and hopefully having him here for four straight Thursdays, and teaming up with a great artist of his own right,Johnny Rydell, will do just that.  Come out and enjoy something different, with no cover for an artist that often gets a $20 door at other shows, at least one, if not all of the Thursdays in March.

Really every band and artist on the calendar deserves a paragraph, but you will have to take the time and check them out via the internet at our web site www.sarahstreetgrill.com , or the bands.  I do have to give an extra mention to BABY CAVE PLUS, because it is an entire weekend (8th and 9th), and the last show here for the lead singer Mary Ella for a while, as she is having a baby.  They did a whole weekend in January, and it was awesome.  Also, GEORGE WESLEY BAND is now in our band rotation, something I should have done a long time ago!  Man can that guy rock the reggae!

Hey do you know that every month you print and post our calendar on your fridge (or elsewhere in your living space), we will have a reward waiting for you here?  Take a photo and e mail, Facebook, or Tweet it to us, and this month we will have $10 waiting for you to redeem any Sunday through Thursday.  Pretty cool, no?

You can always check the Newsletter at our web site, as it often has additions, points that I missed, or changes to dumb typos that no matter how many times I re read, seem to surface.  Of course, some are not really mistakes, but me sending messages in my own language, Davelish.

peace and love

questions, comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

February 2013

Did you win the $500 Super Bowl Party? Not unless you were here for the NFC/AFC Championships, had your name in the raffle been for every game you had attended, and your name is Fred! It was pretty cool that Fred won, as he and his friends made Sarah St their home for the NFL season more then anyone else.  Hey, even though most of you do not get a $500 party, you do get a chance to win tons a great prizes that are given away at every commercial break – and yes we let the commercials play with volume as we only do for the Super Bowl.  We usually play music over the commercials, and I won’t lie, last year I think we should have – but as much promo goes into these commercials as the game itself.  We will be raffling off a bike, grill, cooler, sweatshirts, t shirts, snowboard, lift tickets, and so much more.  Come make Sarah Street the home for your Super Bowl Party, and let us do all the set up and clean up!

 While on the subject of sports: the NHL is back, and along with the NBA; we have every game.  DEVILS, RANGERS, FLYERS, PENGUINS, or whatever team you root for in this short season, they will be on – or on in a minute when you ask.

Another month of great live music. They are all worth seeing – special points for Tom Graham returning with the Willam Orner Show, The Boris Garcia Band, and Old Man Brown.  We are also having a video shoot happening here on the 16th at 3 pm for Brandon Maddox, so if you want to see yourself in a video on TV and the Internet show up – then stick around for Old Man Brown out of Philly.

If you print the monthly calendar off our website or the other side of this news letter, post it on your fridge (or elsewhere in your home), e mail or Tweet, or Facebook us a photo of you next to it, we will have a $10 Gift card, which can be redeemed any Sunday – Thursday, waiting for you here.  This may go on forever in some form, so make the act of printing, posting, and taking a photo of it a regular part of your start of month things to do.  We are also starting  Sarah Street Around the World, where if you wear your Sarah St t-shirt, sweatshirt, or jacket in any place 100 miles or more away from here we will post it on our web site and in a collage here at the Grill.  I think we will  also do a raffle prize to a winner of such photos once a month.

Mark on your calendars now that April 8th we will be celebrating that Sarah Street turns 18.  We will be raising money to fight Diabetes by donating 18% of our sales, having our Annual House Pool and Dart Champ Tournament, and raffles and 50/50’s.  We will be promoting this more and announcing all the musicians that will donate their talent to that event as it gets closer.

For whatever it is worth, I am notorious for getting the Flu at least once a year.  This is the first time ever that I got a Flu shot, and so far, so good.  I am knocking on wood right now!

Hey, stay healthy, happy and come down to  Sarah Street where the music is great, the food yummy, the game already on, and the staff happy to see you.

Did I mention the Sarah Street Grill Boxers won the  Fall/Winter Season Hockey League? No, well we did.  Thank you, that was a nice compliment you just thought, I am a great team Captain.

 questions, compliments, payback sarcasm

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

oh, print the calendar and send that photo to the above email for the $10!

or Facebook or Tweet

peace

January 2013

Before I dive into all the fun things happening here this month, let me get one last plug in for NYE.  We will have Chef Rob’s dinner specials, which are posted at the web site.  THE WHO KNOWS BAND and SSG’s veteran house DJ VJ will be  keeping dancers on the floor, a champagne toast at midnight, and party favors all for a $15 Door Charge from 8:30 till Midnight, and $5 after midnight for those that want to finish here after toasting elsewhere.  If you are only here for dinner and seat before 9, there is no door charge.

The New Year starts with us being closed for our house party on Tuesday the 1st.  Sorry to those that would want to watch the Bowl games here that day, maybe make it a couch day.  Speaking of the College Bowl games, we will have all those ( that are not on the 1st) in HI DEF and featuring our Wing Special finishing with the BCS National Championship on Monday the 7th.   NFL Playoffs begin on Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th with the Wild Card Weekend.  We will have no band and no cover on the 5th or the 12th with playoff games being on a Saturday night.  The house DJ VJ will take over after the games.  All NFL playoff games, before the AFC and NFC Championships on the 20th, will be last chances to get your name in the raffle bin for the $500 Super Bowl party for 10.  We will be drawing a name every commercial during the AFC/NFC Championship games until the name of someone present is drawn, and they will be the Grand Prize Winner of the $500 Super Bowl Bash.  If you don’t have your name already in that bin many times, you should have made more of the Monday, Thursday, Sunday night games!

Marc Von Em is the featured artist every Thursday this month. Marc is really special and having him as the featured artist five times in one month will hopefully get him the exposure he deserves in our area.  Try and make it for at least one of those nights, you will not regret it.  Now that Monday Night Football has come to an end, GAME NIGHT is back.  Chess, Backgammon, Yahtzee, Pool, Darts, and many more games await you and your friends to play here every Monday.

On the 18th and 19th we are having BABY CAVE PLUS WEEKEND.  Baby Cave is Sarah St Legend Mary Ella’s new project and PLUS is CUZME , the coolest saxophone/bass player cat on Earth, joining the band.  They will play both Friday and Saturday night and it should be a great party weekend!

Speaking of CUZME, he and I just returned from a trip literally around the World.  We went to Istanbul, Hong Kong, and Macau.  We enjoyed many different kinds of food and all kinds of different beverages.  Toured many ancient buildings and felt history all around us.  What we did not feel was a Sarah Street Grill! Not one place in any of those three famous places compared to us in our beer selection, our live music, our sports viewing options, even our Sushi!  Maybe some places matched us, or even beet us in a thing or two, but no one matched us completely.  Few do here either, as we are quite unique and wear many hats, but to search  three famous cities and find not one place with a beer selection like ours shocked me.  It made me realize that in our small town, we have really raised the bar in what a bar is to supply to it’s clients.  Here you can argue who has the best beer options in a 5 mile radius.  In those three cities we would, without argument, be number one!  Interesting trivia, at least to me.  Also, you had better become a soccer fan, call it football, and accept no other sport counts. Go Lisbon!

Another thing I learned, the whole world pays attention to what goes on here. The tragedy in Connecticut was just as big news there as it was and is here.  I have already, in past news letters, expressed my feelings on guns designed and loaded as assault weapons  being so easily acquired,  and I found that issue concerns the  whole World.  It is one of our “freedoms” they are not jealous of.  Sorry to end on a somber note, but if we don’t address these issues it is horrible disrespect for those young children.  Tell your politicians that the right to bear arms is not the right to be able to kill multiple people in a short amount of time.  Surely we can all agree on that.

peace and love and happy new year

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

DECEMBER 2012

HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!  Lets start off the end of 2012 the right way by attending the JONAH SMITH LAST SHOW BEFORE CALIFORNIA CONCERT here on December 1st!  It is so important that Jonah’s last scheduled show has the crowd he deserves after being one of our best for the past 10+ years.  I have been promoting this show for the past three months, so if you are fan of Sarah Street music, a fan of Jonah, a friend of mine, or just someone who wants to see a great show PLEASE BE HERE.  I won’t lie, I really want Jonah to plan on keeping Sarah Street on the list of places he will perform at when he tours the East Coast, and a strong showing for the 1st would certainly help – but this could truly be the last one.

All the shows this month are big ones, as every band will be giving a little extra for their Holiday performances.  BORIS GARCIA is here on the 7th, and we will be giving away EAGLE FLIGHT TICKETS – no they are not plane tickets for Andy Reid’s next job interview, but special party seats for an Eagle game this season.  Back to BORIS: it is a band with a great reputation performing here for the first time. Check them out on the Internet, I have and can’t wait for the show.  On the 8th we have KAREN MEEKS AND THE SOUL with an opening performance from SOUTH OF THE PEAK who is also here on the 27th, and has a direct connection to the Grill as one of our own sings in the band.  The 14th brings another first timer with the SMALL TOWN SHIEKS, and the KEVIN BRENNAN returns with a new back line, the LONGHUNTERS, on the 15th.  That is five NEW Sarah Street bands in one month, come and put your review of them on record and support your favorites to be back!

Then comes the ANNUAL HAMELL ON TRIAL CHRISTMAS show.  Hamell is finally hitting it big and it looks like 2013 will be a great year for him.  Sure he has been signed to major labels, had support from famous people, signed to big independent labels, and put out one great recording after another, but word is he could hit a success peak real soon. I really hope so, and look forward to the show he and JOHNNY RYDELL, who is opening, will put on the stage December 21st.  He and Johnny are also planning on doing a good part of the show together  – the ED & JOHNNY DUET.  Hopefully this will be the beginning of something that adds to the already terrific performances by both artists.  I know it will be fun to watch! ERIN MCCLELLAND, CHRISTIAN PORTER, MOJOMO all have their Holiday shows and DREAM OF FIRE, who lost their Halloween Party due to SANDY, is here on the 29th.  Sounds like DOF  will be taking off the beginning of 2013, so this could be the last chance to see them for a while.

Speaking of SANDY, my apologies to those that tried to come to Sarah Street that entire week.  While most of the town that was PPL had power after one day, those of us with MET ED went seven.  That makes eight days this year (we lost a Friday in June too) that MET ED has shut us down.  Obviously many had it much worse then losing a week of power, and are still struggling to deal with the after math of such a serious storm – but that does not excuse the ineptitude of MET ED.  I am sure many quality people work for MET ED, but as a whole business, they have little to be impressed with.

Okay, back to the live music topic.  NEW YEARS EVE we will continue with the theme of the past three years with the band WHO KNOWS and DJ/VJ DAVE (me).  For a $15 door charge, starting at 9 pm, you get party favors, champagne toast at midnight, and to dance dance dance.  After midnight it drops to $5, so you can still finish the night dancing here if you have other plans for the count down.  For those planning on dining here, Chef Rob and his kitchen team will have terrific dinner specials, as they do every year.

The kitchen is closing at 9 Christmas Eve and is closed all day Christmas.  The bar stays open until we are empty on the Eve, and opens at 6 pm Christmas night.

The Sarah Street Family wants you to Have a Happy Holiday – Christmas,Hanukah, New Years, and or whatever is meaningful to you, and thank you for another years strong support!  May 2013 bring good times to you and yours.

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

                                                                     NOVEMBER 2012

As the NFL season heats up, we have added some more to our in house raffle.  We now are raffling off each Thursday and Sunday night a case of Bud Light, in addition to our weekly prize each Monday night.  You can get a raffle ticket in the bin every time you are here for an NFL game, and if you are present at the drawing you can win that nights prize.  If not, you still are in for the BIG PRIZE of a $500 Super Bowl Party here at Sarah Street, which will be drawn at the NFC and AFC Championship games.  It is possible to have 50 tickets in that bin, so plan as much of your NFL watching as you can here at the Grill!  Besides all the prizes, we have 40 cent Buffalo wings, $6.50 Miller Lite pitchers and $2.50 Bud and Bud Lights during all the games.

What a month of music! On the 2nd, The Fustics are in from Colorado.  From Good Home’s fans should know this band, as Jamie Coan often jams with them.  That night will also feature Eagles vs Cowboys tickets being given away to a lucky patron.  The next night, Saturday the 3rd is the second of our two costume parties (see Oct Newsletter for details) and the great local band Dream of Fire.  One of the costume themes is to dress like someone from all the music videos that play here at the Grill.  November 6th has Fred Gillen Jr doing his Annual SSG performance on Election night.  VOTE and then come in for dinner, drinks, and great music while you wait for the results.  November 17th is the return of MIAMI CAKE AND DONUTS and CUZME, who have a great chance to become the new favorite on our stage.  It is a DON’T MISS SHOW, I promise.  Then it is THE GEORGE WESLEY BAND the night before Thanksgiving – need I say more?  Thanksgiving weekend itself is the Annual Blue Grass Jam in which the Sherman Theatre and Sarah Street team up to bring the best Blue Grass/Eclectic Rock music into Stroudsburg.  Get your weekend ticket for Railroad Earth at the Sherman and you will also get MiZ Band here on Friday, and Damian Calcagne here on Saturday, with members of Railroad joining them here on stage after the shows at the Sherman.  If you have the weekend ticket, there is no cover at the door here.  We will also have the Blue Grass Open Mic here Saturday at 1:30 and the Quimby Mountain Band starts off the Blue Grass parade here at 6 pm.    There is a lot more happening on the stage then written in this letter – but none of it will be RAVE,or METAL, or GRUNGE or POLKA.  At least not in the annoying repetitive way those genres tend to thrill the redundant.  Music here is ECLECTIC, bits of all kinds – the good and time lasting parts of many styles: ROCK, REGGAE, FOLK/COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS, JAM, SOUL, SPOKEN WORD, HIP HOP, JAZZ.  If the second group sounds more you then the first group, we are here for you.  If you want to RAVE, to POLKA, maybe not.

Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, and thanks to all of you for being a part of the Sarah Street Family.  The management and staff wish you and yours a really wonderful time to be thankful – something we all (ME!) tend to forget.

questions/comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

October 2012

We start off the month strong with another Chris Gavalas run BEER DINNER.  This one features a five course dinner and beer pairing with the wonderful and locally created Shawnee Craft Brewery.  Five delicious beers and five course meal for $50 a person, tax but not gratuity included – what a fun way to start a fun month! You will start off with the American Blonde Ale with a Porcini & Truffle Cappelacci with Roasted Tomato and Asiago.  The second course is a Biere Blanche with a Spicy Shrimp Bisque.  That will be followed by Double Pale Ale with Mixed Greens topped with Duck Apple Sausage, Candied Pecans and a homemade Bleu Cheese dressing.  Fourth will bring forth (ha ha) the Octoberfest Lager with Roast Pork Loin and a Whole Grain Mustard Sauce.  Then we finish with a Session Porter and Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries – yum.  This all starts at 7 pm, so we will all be ready for kick off for the Bears Cowboys game, which  follows  the dinner, and enjoy some more beer!

Speaking of Monday night football, you remember that we raffle off a cool prize every Monday night at half time of the game, don’t you?  For those who don’t remember, you get a raffle ticket in our raffle bin every time you are here for a NFL game – Thursday, Sunday, Monday – and if one of your tickets is drawn at half time on Monday night, you win!  Besides the great weekly prizes, during the NFC and AFC finals we will be drawing a winner for a $500 Super Bowl Party for 10 in our private dining room – so get as many tickets in that bin as you can.  Sign up for our Twitter and Facebook and get yet another ticket – boy we make it easy to have a great chance to win!

For the first time ever THE GEORGE WESELY BAND takes the stage at Sarah Street on October 6th.  George and I go way back to rooms I managed before here at the Grill, and I am glad and excited that he is finally performing here.  If you enjoy real reggae like I do, please show up to his debut.

The next day, Sunday the 7th, besides every NFL game in HI DEF with sound, the Annual NAN Foundation Bike Run is happening.  Details are available at the NAN Foundation Web Site or here at the Grill.  As you probably know, the NAN Foundation raises money for families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one to unexpected illnesses.  Christy Connolly, now actually known as Christy Janda since she and Dan were just married, has been a major part of running the NAN for many years, and this is one of many very fun annual events she puts together every year, so get out your motorcycles, take the NAN Bike Run which finishes here for food and beverages, and then watch some football!

October 20th features another well known musician coming here for the first time, CLARENCE SPADY.  His blues rock style guitar is World famous, and this is a night not to miss.  Then the following Monday, the 22nd, has Trey Anastasio, from PHISH, performing at the Sherman with a pre and post party going on here with THE HAPPY DOG.

I can’t believe Halloween is here already, hopefully with no huge and only snow storm of the year this time! We will have our yearly pumpkin carving contest the same night as our every other month wine tasting on the 30th, both of which are always fun and worth not missing.  The next night, actual Halloween and OPEN MIC NIGHT, will be the first of TWO costume parties with awards for FUNNIEST, SCARIEST, and OVERALL BEST COSTUMES.  The second will be the following Saturday with DREAM OF FIRE leading the way in costumes and performance on our stage.

I just had todays soup.  It was New England Clam Chowder, and it was fantastic like most of CJ’s (Clarence Jackson) soups.  He really is a real life version of Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi – except acting much nicer – most of the time.  I have had Chowder in Nantucket that was not any better then what I just enjoyed.  Boy are we lucky to have had him part of our Sarah Street family for the past 15 years!

For those who struggled with the Sarah Street wireless connections, celebrate because we have dumped Verizon and gone to Blue Ridge.  We too were sick and tired of constantly losing connection, and we made the switch.  You will need to put  in the new code in your lap top/phone/pad, which you can get from your bartender or server.

If you got the printed version of last months News letter and calendar, you may have Jonah’s last show as November 17 – but it will be December 1st.  If you missed Hamell’s show, you missed he and Johnny taking the stage together.  Well they have plans to do much more of that at the Christmas show December 21st.

Plenty of events and great music I did not get to, but you can check our calendar, web site, Facebook, and Twitter for more info.

Thanks for supporting a place that does not change it’s theme weekly to get the biggest crowd it can, but sticks with real live music, great food, terrific service, and always has your game on – The Sarah Street Grill.

peace and love dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

September 2012

STROUDFEST is here!  Saturday September 1st Sarah Street Grill teams up with the Sherman Theatre and puts together a great live music line up on the Main Stage in the Court House Square.  In order of appearance: JAZZ JUICE, CHRISTIAN PORTER BAND, TOCKS ISLAND, MIAMI CAKES AND DONUTS, LOS DIBLOS, and FUNKTIONAL FLOW.   All of these bands can be looked at and listened to on the Sherman Website, www.sarahstreetgrill.com, and on their own Facebook and Web sites.  Sarah Street will also have, as always, our own food booth next to the stage, and there will be a bunch of other food booths around the Square.  Main Street will have hundreds of stands of many kinds as well as other entertainment stages.  You can stop over at the Grill and enjoy our outdoor deck, or the beginning of the College Football Saturdays and watch many of the big games on our 25 HI DEF monitors with Soundogs available at the table.

Speaking of FOOTBALL!!!!! Yes the NFL is back, and no one does it as well as we do here at the Grill.  Every game is always on, the TV’s posted days in advance, our huge delicious  Sarah Street Hot Wings available at .40 each, lots of great beer promos, and when there is only one game, sound throughout the building with music played over the commercials.  We also have our in house raffle where we give away a great prize each Monday night.  To get in the raffle all you need is to be here for any NFL Game.  The more times you come, the more chances you have to win.  We will draw a winner at half time of every Monday night game.  Signed jerseys, helmets, TV’s, fancy coolers, bikes, and much more are some of what goes home with someone each week.  If you don’t win, your ticket stays in for the following drawings, but you do have to be here when your name is called, or back in  the bin it goes.  Those that sign up for our Twitter, Facebook, or e mail lists get an additional raffle in the bin too.

Speaking of Sarah Street Facebook and Twitter, I plan on getting more active in the posts and Tweets.  Maybe follow ups or additions to these News Letters, comments on shows here or elsewhere, sporting events, a limited amount of politics, a little Lapoint sarcasm – stuff like that.  I planned to start that this August, but the best laid plans often get put on the back burner, do they not? I really wanted to put out a review of JONAH SMITH’S new recording as my first Facebook Post, but I guess I will go old school and do it here.  I went to NYC and saw Jonah at the Highland Ballroom do his pre release, as they are not, or were not available on  the net yet.  It is simply fantastic, well written in both verse and arrangement, and emotionally moving, even more so if someone recently broke or captured your heart.   Even more then that if the someone who captured your broken heart may not be in position to keep it.  Okay, you get it, it is emotional music.  I really think it is best to buy the whole album/CD and listen to the order it is put in as opposed to buying specific songs, but I am happily stuck in the buy the Disc and then put it in the iTunes approach.   Remember JONAH’S last Sarah Street show in the near future is now December 1st, as he is moving out to Cali.  Bring that person you love, or want have love you, or your best friend, or just yourself and see a real Rock Star play a small venue.  You can also get a copy of the new recording and have him sign it. Mark it on your calendar right now.  I am waiting.  Still waiting.  Do do de de do.  Have you done it? Okay, good job, see you Dec 1st, and Stroudfest Sept 1, and at tons of football games, and lots of other great live music nights here at the Grill.  To what ever I forgot to mention, look for it on Sarah Street’s Facebook, as well as to give your own comments.

Hamell fans, please remember to spread the word and to show for his performance on September 15th.  Go back and re read July’s Newsletter at www.sarahstreetgrill.com, or if you are already there, just scroll down.

peace and love to almost all – okay all

Questions or comments dave@sarahstreetgrill.com or Sarah Street Facebook

August 2012

We lost a good friend when Erin Galligan was taken from us early in July by a hit and run driver while she was biking home from work.  Erin was once part of the Sarah St family, which meant she always will be in our hearts.  She also had so many friends, was long part of the Siamsa family, and of course, her real family – and we all grieved to have her taken away from us so young.  Erin, very understandably, had no plans in moving on, and this town really stepped up to make sure someone as cool has her was treated with respect and tribute as she was laid to rest.  The Sarah Staff, led by Kristen Sebring, really did a wonderful thing by giving her many local friends a place to gather and raise funds to help Erin’s family deal with this tragedy.  My sincere compliments to all who gathered to honor Erin, and to the reminder that in terrible times the best in people often comes forth.

I had no plans to add this part to this letter, but as I sit here thinking about Erin, I can’t help but also think about the terrible event that just happened in Colorado.  I really believe that we need to have both of the men running for President come forth and tell us what we are going to do to stop assault weapons and ammunition  from being so easily obtained, and how the general population needs to stand up to the NRA talking points.  For some punk to be able to shoot 50 people in 90 seconds from legally purchased assault style weapons is not a constitution right.  Those were muskets, not machine guns, our For Fathers were referring to.  I understand that there are counter arguments, but how about we start where most of us can agree: you have to a least pass some serious screening before you can obtain things that can make a whole country feel scared, sad, and angry.  Are we all going to have to walk through metal detectors to go to any public place, and have the whole world act like one giant airport?  Hate to say it, but it is not about the Right to Bare Arms, it is about the Right to Make a Lot of Money the NRA stands for – at least from my perspective.  They should be ashamed of the way they have successfully fought the ban on public assault weapons, and the way they have made politicians on both sides of the aisle quiver in fear of ANY stand against ANY guns ANYWHERE.  Am I saying that wacko would not have done something equally horrible if he did not have those weapons – no I am not, but I am saying that he should not have gotten them so easily.

Well it feels odd to talk about this months events after such an emotional beginning of this  letter, but I will make a couple of points.  JONAH SMITHS LAST SHOW AT SARAH STREET had been moved to November 17, so if you marked your calendar October 20th, change it.  I will get Septembers calendar out early for all the Stroudsfest details.  Google the names on the calendar to find out more of August’s shows, there is lots of good ones.  LEN MOONEY BAND is the featured artist on Thursdays, and it was Len who started the whole Thursday music thing here so many years ago, and he has played a major role in the evolution of Sarah Street as a music room.  He deserves some recognition of this and his new band is full of energy, so come out and support it.  This past month of JAI DILLON  on Thursdays was really cool, and I think August will be the same.

This is to all who have been robbed of their time on Earth in an unjust way

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

July 2012

First let me apologize for anyone who came to Sarah Street for dinner, or the bar, or the band on Friday the 15th.  Through no fault or control of our own, we lost power for thirteen hours.  I received quite a few panicky messages from our loyal patrons who pulled into the parking lot to find everything dark.  So why do I apologize if it is not anything I, or my staff, could have done? Because we never want to disappoint, even if someone else (Met Ed) is to blame.

Guess who is back in town from Austin Texas?  JAI DILLON thats who! Jai and friends, like Jesse Green, Chad Repsher, Bobby Syvarth, LoyaL, and a few more will be jammin every Thursday in July.  Just think: JAI in JULY.  No cover – but you can, and should throw a few bucks in that tip jar!

Along with our usual list of great performers on the weekends, we have FREE RANGE FOLK on the 20th, BROOK SHIVE AND THE 45’s on the 21st, and FUNKTIONAL FLOW here on the 27th – all new or here for the 2nd time.  The rest of the month is all great local projects like LOS DIABLOS, DREAM OF FIRE, THE POCONO TRIO (DUO+ONE), and MOJO MO.  For an area that does not have many venues to see live performances in, we sure have a lot of awesome bands!

Now on that same subject: where were the original music fans for HAMELL ON TRIAL’s show on June 16th?  We had maybe 20 people who knew what they were in for, and another 20 that had no clue who Hamell is – not the way one of his shows should be.  I know there are a lot of fans for HAMELL, and they will complain when he is a thing of the past, so please show up for his next show Sept 15 and please spread the word.   I had that request out in the last two “Newsletters” and I took it personally when it did not produce the crowd he deserved.  Maybe no one reads this thing and I should take the time off it takes to prepare it.  Wah.

Speaking of shows to put on the calendar way ahead of time: JONAH SMITH is planning a farewell show here on October 20th.  He is moving to the West Coast, where some would say there is a warmer response to the Artist Community.  Jonah has been one of the best and most popular musicians in the history of Sarah Street and I hope and pray that we send him off in the way he deserves – with a huge and responsive crowd.  He is great, the band is great, and this may be our last chance to show him that we know it.  If you are patrons or staff that have moved away, plan on making Stroudsburg a destination that weekend.  I am trying to get a STATESMEN show as well, his other band, but there is no guarantee that will happen.

Sorry about the “lecture” on appreciating live performances, but it is very tough to run a live music friendly room, which is why so few bars and clubs do it anymore.  Those that do feature live music often have tribute bands and cover or wedding style bands – which we have a couple of here and there,  like WHO KNOWS and JIM ROBERTI.  Here, with those rare exceptions, our main focus has always been and always will be, bands of unique style and some, if not all, original music.  One of the many great things about the internet includes that you can check these bands yourself before hand, and then know if there music appeals to you – so give that a try and come out and support the artists that deserve it.

questions or comments, or just to say stop lecturing

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

June 2012

For whatever it is worth in the Global scheme of things, Sarah Street is off to a great first half of 2012.  The crowds have  been great, the music fantastic, and, as we always try to do, we have made some noteworthy improvements.  For example, we now have a new fresh fruit press behind the bar.  This makes our already impressive drink list even better.  My personal favorite is the Grapefruit Martini.  The difference between grapefruit juice just pressed and bottled or canned grapefruit juice is HUGE.  They should not share a name!  We are also trying to have more of our desserts made locally or in house.  Our desserts are already really good, but any time you stop trying to make improvements things tend to go the other way.  We have great service, we want it better.  We have a great atmosphere, we want it better.  We have great food choices, many of which are healthy options, we want better and healthier! I promise that the Sarah Street Staff will always have this attitude as long as I and my management staff are a part of it.

So by the time this letter goes to print, and only a little after it gets posted on our web site, we will know what has happened in the Devils /Rangers Eastern Conference finals.  At this moment the Devils have two games to win one, and if they get that win it is the Stanley Cup Championship against the LA Kings.  Whether or not it is the Devils or the Rangers vs the Kings, we will have every game on with sound options.  Some bars care less about the NHL, but not this one.  Same goes with the NBA Playoffs – where at this time the Sixers get ready for a game 7 against the Celtics.  All game 7’s feature the same .35 Buffalo Wing Special we do for the NFL games.  It is one thing to call yourself a “sports bar” like so many do, but another to actually make the attempt at making sure the game is on, seats are available, and service is ready to please.  We are way more than a “sports bar”, but we definitely take pride in our handling of that part of Sarah Street

This months featured artists on Thursdays is the Regina Sayles, Matt Abell, and Side Show Skip Trio.  They are always a good time. There is no cover charge and beverage and other promos going on all night.  BOBBY SYVARTH  and his COMBO are here on the 2nd, and I believe there will be a big Pocono Record write up the day before.   Race weekend has MO JO MO on Friday, and The Billy Bauer Band – who play a whole lot of Dave Matthews – on Saturday.  The next Saturday is HAMELL ON TRIAL, and as you probably read in last months letter, mark this date on your social calendar and please attend.  If you are anywhere near the stage, please give the show your complete attention.  It is NOT background music – the words are full of humor and politics, and bar chatter does not work well with it.  If you don’t like the show, and you have given  a respectful attempt at following it, I will happily give you your cover back.

June is a Wine Night Month, and this months guess Chef is Nate.  Nate is one of our Sushi Chefs as well as a Line Chef in the SSG Kitchen, and he has paired up some great food to go with the featured wines of the month.  June 26 is the date and the singer songwriter that night is Bryan Lepri.  Tickets are only $25, and get them early in case it sells out.  Wine night is really a fun casual night where new friends and old friends gather for a great time!

Welcome back Seebs (Kristen Sebring)! She had her beautiful baby girl – well I guess Richie had something to do with it too – and she is back part time.  We are VERY HAPPY to be saying that, as she is such a big part of who we are, were, and will be!

On another note, it is sad to have Kevin Salamone leaving us.  Kevin spent many years here at Sarah Street, in multiple functions and times, and has given so much to our customers and business.  May he have the best of luck and success at wherever life takes him.

peace and love dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

May 2012

Let me start off by saying thank you to all who helped make our 17th Anniversary such a big success in raising money to fight CF (Cystic Fibrosis).  On a Monday we raised $4,000, with 17% of our sales, in house pool tournament – 2012 Champ Brian Kennedy, in house dart tournament – 2012 Champ Dan Janda, 50/50’s and raffles.  Special thanks to my staff, some who came on their day off and worked to help the cause, the musicians that volunteered their time, and to all the people who helped make it another great celebration of the years we have been around.

This month, like all months, has lots of great things happening on our stage.  Every Friday and Saturday has a great band performing ALL DESERVING OF A GOOD CROWD.  Really it seems like a Sarah Street ALL STAR MONTH.  The Bobby Syvarth Combo starts off the month and DOS DIABLOS finishes it.  If I write about every band in between there would be no reason to look at the calendar, but the 19th is The Bill Rooth Band’s CD Release, so give that a little extra thought.  Our featured artist of the Month is MIKE PAPILE AND FRIENDS who are playing every Thursday with no door charge.  Mike often changes the show week to week with different guests.

The NHL and NBA playoffs are in full swing, and you will never have to struggle to get your game on here at Sarah Street.  We have Sounddogs available to pick what you want to listen to at the table you sit at, and whenever there is a game 7, we feature our awesome Buffalo Wings at .35.  To be honest, it blows my mind how often it is hard to get your game on in so many other bars.  We, my Chef, GM, and I were just in Atlantic City for a food show, having to search for a place to watch the NHL Playoffs.  REVEL, the new billion dollar casino, could not keep up with the Sarah Street Grill!  Actually that casino was pretty nice, but I guess no one told them that sports is often big to those that like to play games.   Then we are at McFaddens’ at CITI Field, after the Mets finished sweeping Reyes’s new team, and we can’t get game 7 of  Boston vs Washington on – in a sports bar!  Speaking of baseball, MLB fans, we have all the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies games too – or a least 95% of them – sometimes the game is on some wacky channel no one gets unless you live in that wacky town, luckily not often.  If it is on DIRECTV or Blue Ridge, we have it.

Hey, do me a favor? Please mark down June 16th as a HAMELL ON TRIAL show on your calendar, or smart phone, or lap top, or wherever you put reminders for yourself.  Hamell is back to performing at his best – his voice and guitar have never been better.  His new songs are truly already some of my favorites.  He used to be one of our biggest draws, and although he still brings a good crowd, he deserves a packed room every time.  Yes, he expects people to shut up when he is performing, and yes, he throws out some graphic language in the show, and yes he is a one of a kind political and humorous solo performer like no other.  We are lucky he has been coming here for the past 15 years, and I beg that we start showing it while we can.  Thanks.

dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

April 2012

Never in the 17 years Sarah Street has been around, yes we turn 17 this month, has the deck been fully open before April even begins.  Sure, it is a little scary to have had no Winter to speak of, but to be able to enjoy the outside almost every day of March has been a really awesome silver lining to the Global Warming Cloud.   Hopefully it will continue through April, the Summer won’t be 120 and dry, and next Winter we talk about the odd one we had this year, as we head for the ski slopes.

As we turn 17, I just want to thank all of you who have made our restaurant such a success.  I say “our” because there is so many in the Grill family that have done so much to make this restaurant what it is.  Some have moved on to other careers, and others have stayed and made Sarah Street their long term occupation, but they have ALL contributed and given their best at making this unique place an important part of many lives – both the lives of employees and the customers that have made  it a second home.  No other place I have ever been to, and or been a part of, has such a similarity to the classic series Cheers.  Not because that was the plan, because the friendships are real, the characters funny, and the love genuine.  Now, of course, you could say I am biased as the owner to give such praise to my own business, but that is the point – it is more then “mine”, it is ours.  Ours being the staff, the people who honor it by eating, drinking, and socializing here, and you, the person reading this.

As we do every year on the Monday closest to the actual anniversary, we choose a worthy charity and donate the percentage of years we have existed in the sales of that day.  On April 9th, 17% will go to help fight Cystic Fibrosis .  We will have live music featuring Tom Graham, Christian Porter, Regina Sayles, Crystal Martinez (who is battling CF herself), and Johnny Rydell with Vince Del Sol.  There will be a dart tournament, a pool tournament, raffles, 50/50’s, all helping the cause.  It is always a fun time, so if you have not already, mark it on your calendar.

THE HAPPY DOG plays the Grill for the first time on Friday the 6th.  They are a very popular jam band who should draw a fun GDish crowd.  JOHNNY RYDELL and VINCE DEL SOL are this months featured artists every Thursday.  On April 11th, Open Mic takes a day off as we have a JAZZ JAM featuring many of the areas great Jazz musicians and hosted by Chuck Cooper and Erin McClelland.  The POCONO DUO’s monthly weekend show will be WEEN NIGHT on the 20th.  Another first time band, BARELY COVERED will be here on the 28th.  Wine Tasting night is back on 24th with guest Assistant Chef  of the Evening, Brandi Merritt, helping the usual crew prepare great food to go with great wine.  Get your tickets early, one, because they are $5 cheaper, and two, they will likely sell out.  We now have Wine Tasting Night every other month, and everyone who goes truly enjoys it. It is another example of where new friendships often begin here at the Grill.  Brian Lepri will perform after the tasting is over, and may come upstairs at the end of the Wine event to play a couple of pre-stage songs.   Is that all that is happening? No, there is much I did not mention like the WHO KNOWS BAND, THUNDER MOUNTAIN, MO JO MO, ERIN MC CLELLAND BAND, singer song writer Tuesdays, Game Night on Mondays, Open Mic on Wednesdays, KEVIN BRENNAN BAND, all NBA and NHL games, all Mets – Yankees – and Phillies games, Buzztime Trivia and Card games, a pool and dart room, and now I am out of writing breath.  I guess I should just say there is a lot to do here at the Grill, but without you coming and being a part of it, did it really happen?  If a tree falls in the woods…..ugh oh, I think my brain went South.

Peace and Love all and I hope we meet at the Street as we celebrate 17 years.

Question, Comments, or just to say Hi – dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

March 2012

There simply has to be a blizzard this month.  We can’t have the only heavy, and pretty scary  (if you were dumb enough like myself and my great friend,  Mike Reilly to spend it in NJ at a Rutgers Football game) snowstorm be in October.  Who knows – not the band – there here in  April, but “who knows”,  it may be May when we get the next big storm.  Bad year to be a tree I guess.

Good news is that it’s off to great year of music at Sarah Street, and this month is no exception.  Featured artist of the month is Bobby Syvarth and friends every Thursday with no cover and great specials.   The first Friday, March 2nd, features MINNIE DEE and her large band.  She will be warming up for a show at Penns Peak here at Sarah Street.  Check out her videos on the web and mark it on your calendar as something new and different to check out.  The next night is LOS DIABLOS, the Johnny Rydell band back again for a great show.  How do you follow that, you ask? Well DIRK QUINN BAND on Friday the 9th and HAMELL ON TRIAL on the 10th, that’s how!  Both of these shows are unique in so many ways.  HAMELL probably won’t be back until August, so be here or be …. you know.  Are you a Matchbox 20 fan? If so, MARC VON EM , who works with Rob Thomas will be here with his own project on March 17th – St Patties Day.  Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, Guiness battered shrimp and great live music here in Stroudsburg, thats a party holiday!   We also have the POCONO DUO and SIDE SHOW SKIP on the 16th, CHRISTIAN PORTER BAND on the 23rd, FUNCTIONAL FLOW on the 24th, and SUZE on the 30th – ALL GREAT! The month closes out with the return of DREAM OF FIRE on the 31st.  It has been too long since they have played, and it is damn good they are back out live at the Grill!   Also, besides all of our usual great Tuesday acoustic shows, on the 6th we have Herbert Weigand’s Art Show Opening and on the 27th we have the TRIBES DUO, who all my staff are saying great things about.  The Tribes also have a full band version that will hopefully be booked soon too.

One thing I want you to know is that when I give these compliments to the performers, it is more then “advertising” and “promotions” of events.  It is that these artists deserve attention for their skills, and I am honored that they perform on the SSG stage.  If you don’t already agree with this statement check out our own video YOU TUBE site at www.sarahstreetgrill.com.  All of the professionally done videos at SSG are posted there, or soon will be.  You can also find them on YOU TUBE under Sarah Streets name, along with some more casual ones done by fans on there own video cameras.  If you watch these videos and disagree with the compliments I put forth feel free to let me know.  Then watch out for the nasty response I will have! No, just kidding, there is lots of music that is popular that I can’t stand, so it is common sense to think that not all that I love will appeal to everyone.  There is so many different kinds of music on our stage, but it is almost always something I think is great, and hopefully you will too.

In respect and honor for those who risk there lives on behalf of our county, all enlisted active military personal receive a 10% discount on their food at Sarah Street.  Just bring your military ID and you and  a partner or friend are eligible

We have picked our charity for Sarah Street’s 17th Anniversary, CYSTIC FIBROSIS.  17% of our sales and a whole lot more will go to a well needed great cause on April 9th.  More info will be in next months letter, but please mark your calendars now.

Happy birthday to both my Grandmother, Peggy and my girlfriend Christie, who’s birthdays are one day apart (and quite a few decades).  I am a chronic b day forgetter, but not these two!  Thank you both for being so important in my life!

questions or comments/ dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

February 2012

What a start to the month! On the first Friday we have the JIM ROBERTI BAND back on our stage.  If you are a big Roberti fan, and you want more of him locally, I really suggest you make it out that night.  Jim is deciding if he wants to make Sarah Street a regular stage for his band in 2012, and who shows up for this one will have lots to do with that.  This town needs more Jim, and now there is only one real music stage left in Stroudsburg, so help make it be here!

The next night, February 4th, needs it’s own paragraph in the SSG News Letter.  CHRIS CUZME is celebrating his 35th Birthday, which means he has been performing here for over 15 years! He has been a HUGE part in so many awesome music projects and bands I can’t list them all, but here is a few:  The Bobby Syvarth Combo, Flutophone Jackson, The Five Flutophones, Panjea, Spoken Movement, Maryella, Eddie Sanabria and Changes, and many more.  These performances really helped Sarah Street get it’s reputation as a real music room and if I had to pick one artist to be the most influential in that, it is the incredible saxophone and terrific bass playing of Mr Cuzme!  For his 35th he is performing as an opener with Bobby Syvarth and then with THE STATESMEN.  The Statesmen is a side project of  JONAH SMITH, a Sarah Street Legend. Jonah teams up with Josh Dion, Ben Ruben and Mr Metzger to be the Statesman, and on this night they will be joined by CHRISTOPHER RAFEAL CUZME for his 35th celebration.  There is no reason to be anywhere else, and I ask all my friends, all that love music here at SSG, and those that want to see what the best music we have to offer here is like, mark Saturday February 4th on your calendar and enjoy the show!  If you can’t make it, boo, but Jonah will be back with the JSB on the 18th – something that deserves all the same credit and compliments, but won’t have Cuzme on the Sax!

Then comes the SUPER BOWL, on Sunday the 5th.  Only here is there sound of the game throughout, and great prizes given away at every commercial break – skis, golf bags, shirts, hats, DVD players, basketballs, a football signed by the QB of the Eagles, and much more.  Yes, this is the only championship game, or any playoff game that WE DON’T PLAY MUSIC OVER THE COMMERCIALS.  Sometimes I wonder if this is better or not, but we all want to hear what someone spends millions to create and have played during the most watched TV event of the year, and I need time to give away these great prizes!  No one does this game better then we do, it is like a great house party with someone else doing all the set up and clean up!

How about this month is also the 10th Aniversary of Sushi At Sarah Street!  Boy oh boy, time does fly.  Not only has is been 10 years, but 10 years of always getting better and more creative.  Come and wish Jo, Christie, Jimmy, Dan, and Nate a happy decade of slicing fish to perfection.

Hey, did you miss the Wine Tasting Night in January, since we didn’t have one?  I did, but we are going to have the event now every other month in 2012, and this month is a go.  Get your ticket a head of time, because when you put as much work as Christy does in preparing these events, with help from CJ, Christie, and Jimmy with the food, and the hosts our wine suppliers send to talk about the wine, you need to be here!

How about home sales are up, unemployment is down, GM is now back to being the #1 Auto maker in the world, Osama is sunk deep in the ocean, and our troops are out of Iraq (sort of).  In these days of constant negative news, I call this positive with a long, long, long way to go.  Peace all.

January 2012

Before I start talking about 2012, one last plug for NYE 2011.  We have a great party band with THE WHO KNOWS BAND – the actual name of the band, not a way of saying I have not made up my mind yet, and a house DJ VJ keeping the dancing going all night long.  There is a Champagne Toast at Midnight, party favors for all, and tickets are a mere $15.  Chef Rob has his NYE Dinner Specials all planned out, and they will be terrific. NYE at Sarah Street is always fun!   We are open New Years Day, as we have the last day of NFL regular season games, followed by the Pocono Duo.  BIG SUNDAY NIGHT GAME: COWBOYS vs GIANTS, winner goes on, loser stays home.  The next day, Jan 2, we are closed for our end of the year staff party.  This staff works hard and I am happy I am able to show them a night of thanks.  Thursdays have the ERIN McCLLELAND BAND with NO COVER.  The Weekends are full of great live bands and Playoff NFL Football.  Make a note that the last weekend is a BLUES FEATURED WEEKEND with the VESTAPOLITANS on Friday the 27th and BROOK SHIVE AND THE 45’s on Saturday the 28th.  I get lots of requests from those that want more Blues on the SSG stage, so here is their chance to show support to two great Blues bands.

A much more aggressive after work HAPPY HOUR starts here on January 3, with $1 off of all beverages and 10% off all Sushi and House Appetizers from 4:30 – 6:30 PM, Monday – Friday.  When you want to shake off the day of work, or just gather with friends and workmates, come right over here to Sarah Street where the best bartenders and servers in the Poconos are employed, the best music plays, and now is the home of the best HAPPY HOUR.  You may ask, “is this guy some kind of self crowning title giver?”, and I say, “come and find out!”

Well here is title I don’t have to self appoint:  The Sarah Street Hockey Team won the Pittston Rink A League Championship for the first time.  We have made the finals many times over the years, but this time we won in a best of 3 final,  losing 1 – 2, winning 4- 3 in overtime, and then capturing the tie breaker 4 – 2.  Really close series with our arch rival, the Bulldogs.  Season tickets are still available for the next league, but please, no autographs!

The NBA is back and here at Sarah Street we have all the games as well as all the NHL games.  If your game is not on, just ask and it soon will be.  On Monday the 9th, we have the BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, with our famous SSG Buffalo Wings put out at half time for FREE!

After the BCS, Monday Night Game Night returns.  Backgammon, Chess, Pinocle, Playstation, WII, Trivia, Video Poker and more are all available to help us get through having no Football for the next 8+ months!  We have a house Chess Champ, Todd (The Red Headed Miami Fish Fan), and if you can beat me, you get a shot at him.  That pain in my butt is really good a Backgammon too!

We are researching what local charity will benefit from our 17Th Anniversary  on April 9, when 17% of sales that day go to a worthy cause.  Any ideas and suggestions, email them to me at dave@sarahstreetgrill.com.

Welcome to the New Year, and may it bring you positive memories and good times!

December 2011

Blizzards, Heavy Rain and Sunshine mixed up the end of October and all of November – one can only guess what the beginning of Winter will bring! Well you don’t have to guess what Sarah Street will bring, because I am about to tell you.  No one, in at least a wide radius of here, does NFL Football like we do.  Every game is in HI DEF, unless there is more then eight on at once. When there is more then eight, we have those too, but sadly they are on the “old school” visual which many of our competition makes your only option for all the games.  At this time, unless you are a Rams fan like me, there are a lot of great games coming this month.  Thursday nights, Sunday and Sunday nights, Every game on Christmas Eve day, Monday nights, and Christmas night are all Football Nights at Sarah Street.  Wings specials, beer specials, sound on your game, and Sarah St service – why watch anywhere else! * Another great month of music is hitting our stage, and if I wrote about them all, these letters would get repetitive.  Therefore, let me point out the ones that are different then usual like our 10th Annual HAMELL ON TRIAL CHRISTMAS SHOW with guests JOHNNY RYDELL and VINCE DEL SOL, THE DOS DIABLOS. HAMELL won’t be back until April or May 2012, Mr Rydell is on the top of his music game, and this show is one for the SSG History books as  it is the 10th one – so don’t miss it!  The next day we are once again doing a joint venture with the Sherman Theater and having a Christmas Jam on December 17th.  On Thursday, the 29th, local legend band THUNDER MOUNTAIN is having a reunion and CD release party here at the Grill.  New Years Eve Eve, the 30th, brings back in our own SSG legend BOBBY SYVARTH COMBO.  Then we have the end of the year bash of bashes on NYE with the WHO KNOWS BAND and house DJ/VJ DAVE.  I promise you will dance the night away and enjoy your midnight toast that comes included with the door charge. Chef Rob will have terrific NYE dinner specials, so where else can you have so much at one location? * Starting in 2012 we will be redoing our Happy Hour concept.  The new one will be $1 off all drinks, and 10% off of all appetizers and sushi, Mon – Fri 4:30 until 6:30.  This will all start Jan 3, 2012, and I will have more specifics in January’s News Letter. *  One local/political point to make:  route 80 is ridiculously dangerous.  When there is any kind of rain the visual on that already scary two lane truck filled highway becomes a nightmare.  Where are the reflectors? Where are the lane lines that can be seen?  Who makes these decisions? Well whoever did will be responsible for many injuries and worse.  Why redo something and make it more dangerous, not less?  We sit in crazy traffic while road work is done (well in theory, as you often see no one doing anything), only to have a lessor product upon completion.  I know you can’t get away with that in the restaurant business. * Okay, enough of that and back to happy Holiday thoughts: May you and your family and friends have a terrific Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years Eve, and a 2012 full of joy and positive experiences.  Or the simple way to put it – Peace and Love all.

November 2011

This is the end of hope for some Indian Summer days and playing golf, getting some last sit downs on our outdoor deck, and hoping those with Solar panels and swimming pools will get  great return on their investments of the Sun for 2011.  To put it simple: it rained too damn much!  Well maybe that will mean a fun Winter with lots of snow and skiing.    This month, as always, is filled with great things here at Sarah Street.  NFL Football continues with every game  in HI DEF on Sunday afternoons, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and now Thursday Night Football.   All the games feature our areas best Buffalo Wings for .35 a piece, and 23 oz Miller Lite for $3.50.  The first Thursday Night Game, the Raiders @ the Chargers, features PHLITE DECK TICKETS, where two tickets for the EAGLES vs PATS  game on Nov. 27th will be given away.  These tickets for the game include food and drink, so mark on your calendar: November 10th be at SARAH STREET GRILL.  While marking your calendar, or just printing ours off our new web site and posting it on your fridge,  make these notes too: on the 12th Johnny Rydell’s full band LOS DIABLOS, truly on of the best things going on our stage these days, will be rockin the house.  Not much better than watching something that has always been great become awesome, like Mr Rydell and his band.  The following weekend brings the BOBBY SYVARTH BAND back from playing every day in the Caribbean for the past 6 weeks.  They should be sharp, and tan, as can be!  Then THE STEVE MCDANIEL BAND takes the stage November 23, the night before Thanksgiving.  This is one of the biggest party nights of the year and there are not many opportunities to see the full SMB in our area  anymore.  Come out and have a pre turkey day blast, and let us cook for you as their will be plenty of home kitchen time the next day!  We are closed Thanksgiving so we can all spend time with family and friends and give thanks,  then the Thanksgiving weekend is stacked with more unique and fun things to do here at the Grill.  Not only is RAILROAD EARTH continuing a Stroudsburg Thanksgiving Weekend tradition of playing back to back shows at the Sherman Theater Friday and Saturday, but some of the best Blue Grass Eclectic Jam bands around are playing all over the town.  Here at Sarah Street, on Friday the 25th, we have a pre show featuring SHOCKENAW, which is three of the five members of Railroad Earth.  Then during and after the RE show, we have CABINET returning to the Sarah Street stage.   On Saturday we have a pre RE show event called the SLAVIC SOUL PARTY and afterwords, another well known band in the Blue Grass scene, YARN, takes our stage.  If you have the weekend ticket for the Sherman, it also covers your entrance here at Sarah Street for both pre and post parties.  Pre parties start at 6, and post parties start at 10 30, with Railroad Earth finishing at the Sherman around 11 30.  As I often seem to be doing, I will give a plug to the Wine Tasting Night that happens the last Tuesday of every month.  The food is always great, the wine delicious, and a great way to make new friends and hang with old ones.  This past one, October’s, featured a potato and fresh Shitake mushroom pasta, salmon with two great sauces, and a sheet pumpkin pie/cake with fresh whip cream that many people freaked out over, including me!  I didn’t even taste the wine, as I had a hockey league game to play in, and I still had a great time.  The beer dinner the night before was really good too, and in a few months we have another of those.  Okay, that is enough for now.. see you at the Street!

October 2011

There is so much to talk about this month, I hardly know where to start.  The NFL is in full swing, and other then a DIRECTV HI DEF issue in week one, during the first half of the 1:00 games, it has gone only the way Sarah Street can do it.  All of our HI DEF TV’s are posted days in advance, and sound is available at your table for whichever game you want to listen to when multiple games are on at the same time.  When there is only one game on, Sunday, Monday, and Thursday (starting in November) night, we have our house DJ playing music over the commercials.  We will do the same in the MLB playoffs for all the Phillies and Yankees games.  Other MLB playoff games will have the option of table listening through our house SOUNDOGS.  Not everyone likes to hear sounds of sporting events in a classy dining establishment like Sarah Street, but there are many things about this place that are unique and not the “norm”, like authentic Sushi in an American themed restaurant, or being an original encouraging music venue that also promotes and features out and in market sporting events, or being the first to go non smoking and also being the only place to build a place for smokers to satisfy their cravings – although I really think you should all QUIT!  It is a collection of all the things I like, and luckily, many of you do too!  Of course we always do our best to make everyone happy, and if you want a quieter place to dine when others are yelling at the TV, we will try to find you one.  We do have six different areas for your pleasure!  The month starts off with the TRIATHLON, and the town of Stroudsburg will be quite fun.  Saturday the 1st, has MIKE FRANK AND FRIENDS, and if you haven’t checked them out yet, you should – they are lots of fun.  Then comes Columbus Day weekend, and after a weekend of great music, food, and sports intermingled, Monday the 10th features the NAN POKER BIKE RUN, an annual motorcycle run for a great charity.  For more info, go to www.nanfoundation.org .  FRED GILLEN JR returns to the Grill for singer songwriter Tuesdays, on the 11th.  Fred is a very cool musician that has played our stage for many years, but does not come often.  I highly recommend making a point to attend this one.  FREIGHT TRAIN takes the stage for the first time on the 14th, and I always point out that a first show is the show when everyone attending can give their input on if this new band should come into the SSG rotation.  SUZE plays the next night, and coming out of the Scranton, they have already established a great vibe in our town. Then comes ESU Homecoming weekend, and JIM ROBERTI returns to the roots of where he and his band became one of the most popular local bands of all time – The Sarah Street Grill!  Yes, on October 21st, Jim and the boys finally are back on the only real bar stage in the Poconos.  You, the general population, have been on me to make this happen for years, so show up and have a blast!  The next night brings THE DIRK QUINN BAND  back, and they also are a don’t miss show.  They rocked the Court House Square at Stroudfest, and really deserve a strong local following.  Chris Gavalas’s feature of the month (he is always woking hard on something special) is the third  CG Beer Diner, on Monday the 24th.  It will feature five different versions of Sam Adams, served with five courses of finely prepared culinary wonders! The Beer Dinner full menu will be available at are newly redesigned WWW.SARAHSTREETGRILL.COM  website.  Thursday’s featured band of the month is  THE KEVIN BRENNAN BAND, and Thursdays have no cover charge and $2 Yeungling pints from 9 till Midnight.  This band begins the Halloween five day party on the 27th. Then we have the ERIN MCCLLELAND BAND on the 28th, WHO KNOWS on the 29th, the POCONO DUO on the 30th, and our House  DJ and MNF on the 31st.   All of these Halloween nights will feature prizes for the best overall costume, and maybe the return of The Blues Brothers, Jake and Elwood.   Every last Tuesday of the month ends with Christy’s Wine Tasting Night.  I have had a great time at every one of those I have attended, and Christie and Assistant Head Chef CJ, with help from  Sushi Jimmy, really give this their all.  May the Fall bring a good time to all, and we promise to do our best to assist in that goal.

!Questions or Comments: dave@sarahstreetgrill.com

September 2011

Well I sit and write this as the first, of hopefully many, MADY’S SNOW DAY goes on. This outdoor charity concert is of to a great start, and the vibe here is really awesome. So many Sarah Street employees, almost every other local bar, friends, artists, staff from the Sherman Theater, Strausers Landscaping, Fernwood Resort, and Mady’s family have donated a ton of time and energy to make this possible. The whole parking lot has been turned into a concert setting, and so far, the weather has cooperated. Since there are major storms North and South of us, maybe Mady has something to do with that. A very special thanks to my GM, Chris Gavalas, who has really put an amazing effort into this project. Thanks as well to anyone I forgot to mention. As we finish MADY’S DAY, we get ready for STROUDFEST taking place on September 3, in the Courthouse Square. There is a whole web site set up for Stroudfest which will give you all the info of who is performing and at what times (just GOOGLE Stroudfest). I want to give an extra plug on the band going on at Noon, and who is also playing here the night before, Friday the 2nd. They are the DIRK QUINN BAND, and are one of very few instrumental rock/jazz/jam bands that really gets me musically excited. Usually I can only handle about 40 minutes of music without vocals, but not with these guys. Each one is better then the other, and they never get boring – maybe a little loud – but never boring. The closer of STROUDFEST, THE STATESMAN, also deserves an extra mention, as this is house favorite JONAH SMITH’S other project. It includes JOSH DION on drums and vocals, who has his own history as a SSG star, BEN RUBEN on bass, and ERIC METZGER on guitar. They will also be playing here at the Grill the night after Stroudfest is complete, with Chris Cuzme’s saxophone replacing Eric’s guitar. Thursdays featured artist this month is the ZAC LAWLESS BAND, and they can be enjoyed with NO COVER and $2 Yeungling Lager pints every Thursday except the 8th BECAUSE NFL FOOTBALL IS BACK! Every game is on here at Sarah Street in HI DEF and sound, the areas best Buffalo Wings at .35 each, and on Thursday the 8th it kicks off with the SAINTS at the PACKERS. I guess week one is like a playoff game for me, as Rams fan, as I will either talk to or be talked at by all my Eagles fan friends for the entire season. Then those funny horned helmet fellas with play another house favorite, the Giants in week two on Monday Night. Throw in their games against the house favorite number three, the Cowboys, and the Kennedy boys Redskin team later in the season, and oh how the trash talk will fly. Hopefully not towards me! * We have a first time band here on the 23rd, WOODEN SPOON. Come out and give your feedback, because there is only one first time! First Love, first touchdown, first homer, first job, first walk, first you know what (hint: 1st and 3rd in list), first tooth, and first gig at a new room. * Hey cranberry drinkers, or in my case vodka and cranberry drinkers, have you tried the white cranberry? I think it is a fantastically better tasting juice and mixer, and we now have it, as well as traditional cranberry, here at Sarah Street. All of our juices are not from concentrate, and never, never from the soda gun. Why would anyone mix a good drink with a bad juice? * Well enjoy what remains of beach and pool weather, and we here at Sarah Street thank you for making us possible.