City of Blue Ridge Passes Beer/Wine Pouring in Restaurants

Tonight the Blue Ridge City Council, with new council member Michael Eaton, followed Fannin County’s lead and passed a new city ordinance that allows beer and wine pouring in city restaurants . 2009 has been a bad year for the local prohibitionists. Hallelujah!!!

Cucina Rustica pours the first glass in Fannin County

Wouldn’t you know I would miss the first night of dining freedom in Fannin County (on a Friday the 13th at that). I heard this afternoon via the ngaforum (thanks - Amos & Andy) that tonight would be Cucina Rustica’s/Fannin County’s first night pouring; it would have been nice to auction-off that first glass for charity but who knows what protests that may have conjured?

So with camera in-hand, I called the owner at my typical 6PM for an 8PM weekend reservation: booked solid tonight & tomorrow night. I pleaded with my frazzled friend over the cacophony of a full restaurant: we’ll settle for a pizza & beer in kitchen—no go. I’ve always been able to get a reservation there on the weekends calling a few hours ahead of time. Not anymore I reckon.

Now you think I would have hung up the phone a little miffed at the diss after all of my hard work on the keyboard trying to make this happen. But I was somewhat surprised to find a stupid grin on my face, then, at hearing myself do a Napoleon Dynamite, “YYYESS”.

It seemed like this day would be quite some time in coming. The stimulus package for the county has indeed arrived. I think a new day has dawned on Fannin County’s economy: a true trickle-down, or in this instance perhaps better desrcibed as trickle-around.

Bon appetit, cheers, live-long…& prosper,
Kip

Fannin County Commissioners approve beer/wine pouring in restaurants

Passed in the county by a 2-0 vote, failed in the city 3-2, more to come…

current discussion:
PASSED: http://www.ngaforum.com/blue-ridge/162-music-auditorium-hotel-development.html

FAILED: http://www.ngaforum.com/blue-ridge/137-blue-ridge-city-council-vote-beer-wine-pouring-3.html

*UPDATE: draft of pouring license regulations are here: http://www.fannincountyga.org/beerandwine.htm

*UPDATE 1/7: reportedly 17 of 25 available licenses have been applied for.

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