Seen Through A Glass

Zeno's and Chumley's, State College Icons: Season 2, Episode 58

One interview, two absolutely iconic central PA bars: Zeno's, and Chumley's.
I got an interview with Ellen Braun, who is the general manager of Zeno's, the bar that brought great beer to State College; and also the general manager of Chumley's, the bar that has quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) provided a safe haven for gay folks from Penn State and the region around State College since the early 80's. We also talked with two of her lieutenants, Justin and Sofie. 
I already got the history of Zeno's from long-time manager Dave Staab way back in Episode 4, but things have changed a lot since then, so we needed an update. Chumley's, well, I've wanted to do a 'gay bars of central PA' episode for a long time, and the story is as fascinating and varied as I'd hoped, especially when you throw in the excellent cocktail program. 
This is a great interview. I enjoyed doing it, I enjoyed listening to it when I edited it, and I hope you enjoy it too.  (One small correction; Ellen contacted me to note that she misspoke when she said Chumley's new owners had purchased the building. They did not, they only purchased the business.)
It is also a long interview, and I didn't have a lot of room for much else, though I did squeeze in how we made a great blueberry cobbler out of our fresh Kiwanis Club blueberries. What I'm Drinking Today was two bourbons, the latest Larceny Barrel Proof release and the new Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 7 Year Old, both Heaven Hill whiskeys with the same wheated bourbon mash bill; I taste and compare them. The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is about the upcoming Route 45 Getaways event which will be right in front of my house. Really! 
Next episode? I've got everything ready for a Gettysburg episode, which required a marathon pub crawl with my buddy Dave Dreese. But I'm also getting an interview with...well, with a major central PA food company, and there will be giveaways, folks, prizes for you! So maybe we'll do that one next week, because who doesn't like prizes?  
See you in two weeks!
Until then?
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!
Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
"By the Lake" by Musinova at https://pixabay.com/users/musinova-47643763/
arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Huntingdon: the Standing Stone, Season 2, Episode 57

It's another OG Beer Bar interview with a real original: Paula Seguin of Boxer's Cafe in Huntingdon, serving craft beer since 1991!
I went down to Huntingdon to get the interview and have a beer at one of the most welcoming bars I know, and wound up with more than I'd planned: barbecue, fresh-roasted coffee at Standing Stone Coffee, good beer at Juniata Brewing, a couple-three cuts at Best-Way Pizza, and a look at some incredible old cars at the Swigart Auto Museum. 
It's a Huntingdon episode, about this "ancient borough" built where ridges, creeks, and the blue Juniata all come together. It's a town that's set in natural beauty, with a small liberal arts college and a high-security state prison, and a lot of people who are trying to make it all work. 
What else? I drank a big cup of Standing Stone's Blue and Gold blend coffee, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about Centre County's two historic underground attractions: Penn's Cave and Woodward Cave, which are cool all summer long. There's the PA Cider Fest this weekend, the American Philatelic Society Open House the following weekend, and I've got some news about the first event for my new book (American Whiskey Master Class, out in September, event is at Iron City Distilling on October 18, more details to come!)
Next episode? Heck, I don't know. We've got a few irons in the fire. 
See you in two weeks!
Until then?
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!
Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)
"Swallowtail Jig" by Grumpynora at https://pixabay.com/users/grumpynora-14374548/
Coffee Pouring Sound Effect by freesound community from pixabay.com
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

At Long Last: Barbecue! Season 2, Episode 56

It's "barbecue," but you know...if you spell it "barbeque," or "BBQ," or "Bar-b-que," it's gonna taste just as good!
I got an interview with my man Dave Graham of Graham's Up In Smoke in Philipsburg. Dave's got opinions about barbecue, and that's 100% cool, because he makes excellent barbecue: brisket, pork, chicken (when it's reasonable), sausage, turkey, and salmon. Yes, salmon...but you'll have to wait for Lent! Dave and I got well into the weeds, temperatures, wood, and cuts of meat, and you will be drooling by the time we're done. 
I'll give you my opinions on barbecue as well; I have been smoking/barbecueing for well over ten years, and I will challenge your thoughts on this ancient method of meat magic cookery. 
What else? I finally got my first Maibock of the year, from New Trail Brewing, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about three GREAT music venues in Centre County (all of them have a liquor license, so, you know). 
Next episode? I've got an interview on Monday that I have wanted to get for longer than we've had the podcast, an OG beer bar that I first visited over 20 years ago. That's going to be the heart of a great town profile, I guarantee.  
See you in two weeks!
Until then?
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!
Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)"Acoustic Blues" by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Interview With The Bartender; Season 2, Episode 55

When you tell me who to interview, I listen.
Who should I interview, I asked folks on Facebook. What central PA creators would you like to hear from? And one of the most asked-for names was Sc'eric Horner, the bartender at Pine Grove Hall in Pine Grove Mills, PA. He's a regular on top bartender lists in the area, he's creative, some say eccentric, but almost everyone agrees: he makes great drinks. 
I got the interview, and it's here, all 50 minutes of it. I found him to be open, honest, and a fascinating interview. I think you're going to enjoy this, whether you find cocktails intriguing or not.
To be honest, a 50 minute interview didn't give me a lot of room for much else. What I'm Drinking Today is a Liberty Pole Spirits canned Old Fashioned, made with their straight rye whiskey. Can a canned Old Fashioned be any good? We'll find out! The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is about some great cocktail bars in State College. 
I would remind you about the small contest we have going on. I'm asking you for your favorite central Pennsylvania foods, and suggestions on which one you'd like to hear about in a future episode. If your suggestion is the winner, I'll thank you by name in the episode and send you five STAG stickers; and I'll draw a random winner from all respondents to get another five-pack of STAG stickers!
Next episode? I have a barbecue interview, but I'd rather keep that for warmer weather. I have a couple interview prospects bubbling, they might work out; or I might do a town profile, seems like a good time to get on the road.  
See you in two weeks!
Until then?
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!
Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Why My Water Tastes So Good; Season 2, Episode 54

Our water tastes great in Millheim. Wanna know why? 
Trout. 
Trout fishing is a very big deal in central PA, from the Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County, to Cedar Run in Lycoming County, the Little Juniata, and Centre County's Spruce, Spring, and Penns Creeks. I talked to a pair of young fishing guides at The Feathered Hook fishing store in Coburn, and to Tom Doman, a licensed guide who's been fishing Penns Creek since 1979. 
We didn't just talk about Green Drakes and wet flies, riffles and lies. We talked about how trout fishing and anglers have brought back and preserved the quality of the waterways in central PA, and how that affects every day quality of life here. 
Then I went to a couple of Opening Day parties, which also affect the quality of life around here! Everything can be a celebration, and Opening Day is a good one. 
What I Drank Today was a bottle I'd misplaced when we moved back in 2021: Paul John Indian Single Malt Christmas Edition. The extra three years sitting in the dark hadn't hurt it at all. If you've never experienced Indian malt whisky, I hope this encourages you to try some. 
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau spot highlighted four Centre County lodging spots that are perfect for anglers. 
And I told you more about a small contest we're running: finding a central PA food to star in an upcoming episode! Tell me what you love, and why it should be the winner! (This is your chance to make me cook ham pot pie!)
What's next? I promise you, it won't be fish again!
See you in two weeks!
Until then?
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!
Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)
"Water Stream" FX by "SPANAC" on https://www.freesoundslibrary.com/
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.
 

Tasty in the Wilds: Season 2, Episode 53

I went way out in the Pennsylvania Wilds, up in elk country (not Elk County), to interview a couple who make salad dressings and ship them across the country.  
Village Eatinghouse dressings...or are they sauces? Marinades? Whatever they are, they're delicious and versatile, and they're made here in Centre County, so I went out and found Clay and Melanie Phillips in Pine Glen, PA. We talked, we tasted, we had a few laughs. You'll like it. 
Those dressings made me think of all the ways I do little hacks and additions when I'm cooking, so I talked about that, including another central PA favorite, Gazebo Room Salad Dressing. I give you a couple short recipes for shortcut family favorites, including one with a surprising secret ingredient. 
We have another small contest! I'm asking you to fill in a list of Pennsylvania foods at the end of the episode, and suggest what Pennsylvania food you'd like to hear about in a future episode. I'll draw a random winner from respondents to get a five-pack of STAG stickers!
There's an absolute bonus on What I'm Drinking Today: three different Dad's Hat rye whiskey tasting, including an as-yet-unreleased Danko rye whiskey. 
Next episode, if I can get a second short interview, will be about trout fishing in central PA. I've interviewed two fishing guides, I went to a couple opening day parties -- why didn't anyone tell me about opening day parties?! -- and I learned about fishing. 
See you in two weeks!
Until then?
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!
Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Salmon? In Central PA?! Season 2, Episode 52

No, there isn't a salmon run on the Susquehanna, but you CAN get really fresh (frozen) salmon in central PA! 
A couple episodes back, we talked about the five pound box of frozen haddock. This time, I talked to the people who actually catch sockeye salmon (and rockfish, and cod, and the big king salmon) up in Alaska, fillet and freeze them, and bring them back to us, wild-caught, and next best to fresh. I interviewed Captain Steve Kurian of Bloomsburg's Wild For Salmon and also talked to two other area fishermen, Captain Dan Brigham of Capt'n Dan's Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon, and Ron Rovansek of Bellefonte's Kodiak Rush. Bring your weather gear, this interview is like being out on the boat!
What else? With a story like this, I had to cook some salmon! And I did, on my new soapstone insert for my Kamado Joe grill. It worked like a charm, and I cooked Wild For Salmon sockeye portions and fresh asparagus on it, and baked two local potatoes on the grill. Great meal! 
'That's great,' I hear you say, 'But what about the drinks!' I sampled Elk Creek Cafe's new Valley Vista Cream Ale, and I also got in a plug for my friend John Holl's podcast This Week in Rauchbier, the world's most important podcast about smoked beer. Listen to it, I beseech you!
Next episode? Got a lot of choices for a change -- got four interviews in the can, doing another one tomorrow night! -- but I think we're going to go with a food producer who's way back in the Pennsylvania Wilds. You've probably seen their stuff. See you again in two weeks!
Until then?
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!
Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

On The Rails To Danville; S2, Episode 51

Yes, it's about Danville. No, it's not because I had to go to Geisinger! 
I've been going to Danville for years, almost always for the same reason: to go to Old Forge Brewing. And that's what I did this time, to interview owners Damien and Maria Malfara. I also went to the two coffee roasters in town, Java Momma and Bason Coffee Roasting, then to Rock God Brewing (been meaning to do that for a while now), and I'll tell you about the Shade Mountain Winery tasting room, and the J. Manley Robbins rail trail. 
I had one of Old Forge's T-Rail Pale Ales for the What I'm Drinking Today segment, and it was a beauty. The HVAB sponsorship spot was about three great fine dining spots in Centre County. 
I'll also tell you about the...pastrami? Montreal smoked meat? Well, the smoked corned beef I made for our St. Patrick's Day family dinner, and then the fun traditional music session we took part in at Elk Creek Cafe on the actual St. Patrick's Day. 
The next episode will probably be an interview with Wild For Salmon's Steve Kurian, all about fishing in Alaska, and bringing the salmon back to Pennsylvania for us to find at our local independent grocery store or restaurant. It's an excellent interview, one of the best I've done, I think. But I've got two others to choose from, so I'm not sure which one you'll get. 
I'm trying to do better with the Instagram feed; bear with me. Thinking about video, too. We'll see!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
"Swallowtail Jig" by Grumpynora at https://pixabay.com/users/grumpynora-14374548/
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
<All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.>

Bottled in Bond Day; a Shot and a Beer; S2, Episode 50

Happy Bottled in Bond Day!
Yes, it's another whiskey episode, for a variety of reasons, and there's a chunk of beer as well, so it's kind of a boilermaker episode, if you will. 
I got hold of Al Laws, the founder and owner of the Laws Whiskey House in Denver. I told you about visiting there back in October of 2023 (in Episode 25+), but I didn't get to meet Al. Last week, their publicist reached out to me about March 3rd being Bottled in Bond Day, the anniversary of the signing of the federal Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. I love bonded whiskey, so I decided to do an episode on it and share that love. 
Al and I talk about using Colorado-grown grain to make a very grain-focused whiskey, more about high-altitude whiskey making, what wheat brings to whiskey, and yes, we did talk about bottled in bond whiskey.  
Then I had a rare opportunity to sample five Baltic Porters side-by-side with two brewers (both of whom have appeared on Seen Through A Glass before). I'll tell you how that happened, and you can listen in as we discuss the similarities and differences. 
What Was I Drinking Today? Bottle in Bond whiskey, of course: New Riff Balboa Rye, and what a beauty it was. The Happy Valley Adventure Board spot was about the upcoming Maple Festival at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center on March 22-23. 
Next episode: again, not 100% sure. I've got some feelers out, but... anyone want to do an interview? Cheers!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

More Whiskey Business; Season 2, Episode 49

Back to Michigan for Part II of Whiskey Business!
I have a great interview for you with Bill Welter, the owner of Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan. I got this interview the same day (in the same room) as the one from episode 46 with Marty Duffy. Bill's got some stories about starting out craft distilling in the early years, and we talk about Three Oaks, a beautiful little spot just two miles from Lake Michigan. 
Then I get a teensy bit political, but not in the way you're maybe thinking. It involves gospel music, beer, and home-baked cookies; how bad can that be? I've also got some news about my new book, coming out this fall, and I taste a 19 year old wheat whiskey. 
Next episode: not 100% sure. Okay, I have no idea at all. I've got two weeks; anyone want to do an interview? Cheers!
 
This episode uses these sounds under the following license:Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
"By the Lake" by Musinova at https://pixabay.com/users/musinova-47643763/
"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.