The Swamp

The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions The Swamp during football season is that dreaded orange stadium that no one ever wants to play in because it's so hard to leave a winner. Every time I heard Nic mention going to The Swamp to get something to drink and munch on while we watched my Tigers play Arkansas, I thought she meant that we were going to be going inside the stadium and because they love Auburn so much, they would be playing the game on the jumbotron. Little did I know there were two "Swamps".

The second Swamp isn't very much like the first. There aren't any lines on the ground or even grass for said lines. There are no orange walls intended to blind guests and invoke fear in the hearts of visiting teams. There weren't even any football players but I think I may have spotted a cheerleader or two. I guess there could be a third swamp with cypress trees but I didn't see any of those either so there's nothing to compare it to there.

This place is apparently a restaurant/bar about a block away from the stadium, across the street from campus. Nicole later explained to me that it was once a professor's house but for years has been the typical "greek bar" you find at most SEC schools...obviously getting it's name from the proximity to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

As we walked in, I saw people wearing Auburn shirts and I thought that this was probably my kind of place (later learning that The Swamp's logo is a Gator-ized Tiger Eyes logo). The place was filled with people wearing orange and blue with the exception of the contingent of Miss State fans gathered around the bar trying to be as loud as cowbells without actually having said cowbells.

I pushed on with Nic in tow and we made it to the bar to grab something that would make the Bulldogs a little more bearable for both of us (they were cheering for Arkansas and not for my Tigers). I ordered a Swamp Head "Wild Night" and Nic opted for one of the signature game day drinks, "Swamp Juice". We eased over and took our place next to a table with a mixed couple (she was a Miss State Fan and he was Gator) seated at it and gave them the eye until they left and we could take their place in front of the TV.

We stuck it out as long as we could before heading to the real Swamp to grab our seats for the game but as we got up the manager noticed how fixated I was on the Auburn game. He could apparently tell I was an Auburn man despite the orange 'F' on my blue hat (how did she get me to wear that hat anyway?). He sat down with us and we shared with him what "War Eagle" means and all about the Auburn traditions.

Three things I took away from The Swamp Restaurant:

1) There's a local brew most places (outside of Alabama) and I want to try more of the Swamp Head beers. The Wild Night was a great beer with a good balance of sweetness and hops. I can imagine the others are just as good.

2) Most college towns have this place. You know the one... It's close to everything, you can grab a quick draft, the game is on more than one TV and the people there feel like family. I think that The Swamp could rank near the top of that list.

3) There are good people that love what they do and those people can rub off on you making your day instantly better. The manager really stood out -- he really cared about the patrons. He went out of his way to talk to everyone in the restaurant and was genuinely interested in listening to some other schools traditions. I'm not sure he realized what he was doing and that's why he did it so well.

So often our good experiences come from that one person we encounter that brightens things up just by loving what they do. The manager obviously rubbed off on his staff because the people are what made me want to go back to The Swamp the most (except for those Mississippi State fans).

Beer Score: 6(out of 10) - There was only one craft on tap...
Atmosphere: 8(out of 10)
Food: 6(out of 10)
Local Commitment: 7(out of 10)
1642 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603

-Todd

The Cannon Brew Pub

Those of you that know me, know that I like love beer. The search for the perfect beer began when I was first introduced to craft beer by a coworker. Even if it turns out to be terrible, I'll jump at the chance to try a new brew. And whenever I can find/make up an excuse to try a local brew pub, I always do. One of the best excuses is a late dinner (10pm) because someone got into town later than anticipated.

The Cannon Brew Pub fit into our schedule perfectly. It was a short drive to downtown and there is normally plenty of parking in the deck out back. This was only the second trip that I've been able to make but just thinking about it makes me want to go back. The beer, the food, and the atmosphere are always great

They always have their signature brews on tap and normally they'll have a seasonal thrown into the mix. As soon as I have a table, my eyes automatically scan the menu for the coveted sampler and I place my order. Cannon's sampler includes beers of all hues and should have something for everyone. I lean toward wheat beers with a clean finish most of the time and as a result my two picks were the "City Mills Wheat" and the "Goldens' Ale" with the "Red Jacket" coming in at a close third. This isn't to say there was a bad brew on the menu, just that these three fit my tastes the best.

Fortunately, my weekend company reminded me that we were there to eat and after my second beer, we ordered some food. We started with fried pickles to counter the beer I was drinking (didn't work). Since I was in the mood for a non-traditional choice, I chose the Grilled Grouper Tacos for my entree and honestly don't remember what my guest was having (I blame that on the pickles). The tacos proved to be a great choice -- they were seasoned well and can with chips and salsa to give the patron the ability to spice things up a little.


The last thing worth mentioning is something that I place above the food when I rate my brew pubs, the atmosphere. It doesn't get much better than Cannon. Like many of the buildings downtown, The Cannon was built in an old store on Broadway and retained many of the original elements present when they remodeled creating the warehouse feel that makes the visible brewery fit right in. The tables and booths are positioned to give everyone just enough space without feeling cramped or too crowded but are close enough to warm things up. Historical items abound and there are random pieces of history everywhere in the restaurant (even the ceiling). There is a second portion of dining area that is a little more family oriented and they will do their best to put you in the right place to fit your needs.

I'd quickly recommend The Cannon Brew Pub to anyone looking for a local Columbus restaurant/pub. It's one of my favorites and I have a feeling that this will lead to many more trips back.

Beer Score: 7.5 (out of 10)
Atmosphere: 8 (out of 10)
Food: 7 (out of 10)
Local Commitment: 8 (out of 10)
1041 Broadway, Columbus, GA 31901-5256 (706) 653-2337
http://thecannonbrewpub.com/
http://twitter.com/cannonbrewpub

-Todd

A Florida Weekend

This weekend we took a trip over to Gainesville for the Gator game. It was a slow uneventful game but the drive over was made worth it by a quick stop at a favorite pizza place from my college days. On of the corner of 13th and University is Leonardo's Pizza By The Slice. As a matter of fact, Professor Rush would always use Leonardo's pizza as an example during his lectures! It's a small, run down place full of (and staffed with) "hipsters". Don't let the facade fool you...it's some of the best pizza you can get! You order at the counter, they put your slice through an oven to get the thin crust extra crispy and then throw it on a tray for you. It is delicious! And don't forget the garlic rolls and "sauce" (read: melted butter). (1245 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL (904) 375-2007)


We made it back to Jacksonville in time to meet up with friends for dinner at Salt Life Food Shack , a new place out at the beach. There was a really good crowd of people which offered plenty of people watching while waiting for our table. Despite the hour wait (maybe their whole "no reservations" thing goes with their laid back beach vibe?), the service was great, as were our drinks, and we all loved our meals. I had a seared ahi tuna salad which was loaded with perfectly cooked tuna, avocado, and a sesame dressing. They offer everything from typical raw bar fare and sushi to fried catch of the day. Everything seemed really fresh and simple but delicious. And as a side note, the prices are fantastic! We will definitely put this restaurant into our regular rotation. (1018 Third Street North, Jacksonville, FL 32250 (904) 372-4456)


On Sunday we paid a visit to the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) to see Narnia: The Exhibition. At just $10 for two people, it was a cheap way to spend the afternoon. Being the C.S. Lewis' fans that we are, we absolutely loved the Narnia exhibit. The were interactive displays, genuine film artifacts, and even a few of C.S. Lewis' personal belongings! We made our way through several other exhibits including the Florida Naturalist's Center with live animals and Currents of Time which took us through the history of Jacksonville. (1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL (904) 396-7062)

No weekend in Jacksonville is complete without a trip to Angie's Subs! This is a local hole-in-the-wall favorite run by surfers. It's in an old gas station (the coolers have recently been removed to accommodate more tables) right over the bridge on Beach Blvd. I'm pretty sure they got the tables and chairs from the side of the road, and you could spend hours looking at all of the random junk hanging on the walls like a sign that says "WHO'S SOCK IS THIS?" with a red sock stapled to it. I always get the regular turkey (read: blank slate to douse in their nectar-from-the-heavens Peruvian sauce) but I've heard all of their options are great! The sweet tea is kept in a giant old live well from an 80's fishing boat. There is a sign near it that says "If you find a fish scale in your sweet tea, well, it's an old fish scale." They go through 150 gallons of sweet tea a day...and they're only open for 5 hours! There is usually a line out the door so if you're in a hurry, I suggest you call ahead! (1436 Beach Blvd Jacksonville Bch, FL 32250, (904) 246-2519)

We had dinner at another favorite, Barbara Jean's. There are five locations in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida but the one in Ponte Vedra on the intercoastal is my favorite. It's on a quiet road nestled between big beautiful homes each displaying their favorite college team flag proudly. They have a deck over the water for outside dining (I've never actually eaten inside) where you can watch the boats go by. Barbara Jean's claim to fame is their crab cakes but their fried chicken is near and dear to my heart (and my arteries!). You get a warm basket of breads with your meal (the pumpkin bread is delicious!) and you'd be crazy not to finish the night with a "chocolate stuff" like we did! (15 S Roscoe Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (904) 280-7522)

Who are we?

He lives in Alabama and Georgia (yes, both) but spends most of his time traveling around the southeast attempting to build things people can enjoy. He likes beer brewed in small batches, loves to lead, gets in arguments about anything and everything just for the fun of it and dreams about making the weekends last all week long. He gained his appreciation of the seasons growing up on a farm and learning from his elders.

She has lived from tip to tip of the Sunshine State but spent most of her time somewhere in the middle. She spends her days traveling to the remote areas of North Florida and South Georgia working in the medical industry, sometimes getting trash bags of collard greens in return. She loves her big pearl earrings and even bigger hair and has an affinity for handwritten recipes (smudges and smears included).

They've known each other for a little while, and as much as they enjoy a journey...this is one. They like spending time together discussing the books they read, whose SEC team is on top, and finding things to do that they wouldn't otherwise. They love Jesus, CS Lewis, the southern states and cramming the most into a weekend.

We're both small town people who have an appreciation for the mom-and-pop's. We support all things local, a slower way of life, and are on a mission to explore the hidden gems of the South while supporting the people who helped make it.


You're welcome to come along and see where this all takes us!