the weekend.pt.2

Ach! Oktoberfest! Although the city-fair/festival scene in Cambridge has become somewhat monotonously the same, regardless of its purported theme, Oktoberfest this year seems to have harkened back to its roots. Namely, beer. Oktoberfest, a seasonal beers (technically, only Spaten, Löwenbräu, Augustiner, Hofbräu, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr are 'official' Oktoberfest beers) are pale lagers that have fermented sinch March (hence Marzen name) that were initially offered up to celebrate Bavarian King Ludwig I's marriage to Princess Therese in 1810. Well, our Oktoberfests here in the US are usually celebrations of German heritage, although the Mayan flute troupes, Italian sausage, Jamaican jerk sauce, Korean pot-stickers & Indian samosas might distract you from the weisswurst & sauerbraten here in Harvard Square. Music stages & street performers took up any space that wasn't some kind of food or craft table and the Square was devoid of any vehicles, although crowded completely with festival goers. There was even a showing of the world's longest couch on Church Street. The primary focus, however, was the beer-gardens erected throughout the Square by Samuel Adams, Harpoon, Z-Square, Charlie's Kitchen and others. Skye & I met up with Michaela & Jason & proceeded to get our Teut-On!

I was particularly gladdened by the fact that beer garden staff were likewise exuding true Oktoberfest spirit, by drinking away and expessing their own Gemutlichkeit! After the gardens, we naturally stumbled down to Shay's for a few, awaiting word about trivia at Charlie's later. And to Charlie's we went...joined by Will, Ellen, Haik, Pete & Beth and of course, Mike & Dawn.

And we won!