It's A Holiday Miracle!

Okay, maybe "MIRACLE" is too strong a word. Call it a happy coincidence that just at the time you're beginning to stress out about the nightmarish economy, the traffic at the mall and the fact that all of the really good old Christmas specials have been on since Halloween, you have a chance to relax and enjoy the sounds of the season* at Rico's Lounge with your best friends.

I'll be playing all the old favorites, some exciting new stuff and even some holiday songs to help get you in the spirit of the season. Dress up like your favorite elf and there's no cover charge.

Come on out on Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 from 8:00 p.m. - ?? to recharge your batteries and have a few laughs with your friends.

Where: Rico's Sports Bar and Lounge
1332 Tallmadge Rd. (Rt. 43 and 18)
Brimfield, OH 44240
When: 8:00-?
Why: Why not?

*Season not specified

If You Weren't There, You Missed A Great Night!

The 7th Annual Hastings Heinzerling Hilltop Happening was held on October 11th, and if you weren't there, you missed a great night! Not just because I was playing, but because of the food and the games and the silent auction baskets and the 50/50 drawing and the friends and the music...

Kids seemed to have a good time, old people seemed to have a good time, a little tiny dog was having a great time -- heck, even the cops seemed to have a good time when they showed up!

Rick and Kathy Hastings tell me it was a great night for the Heinzerling Foundation too, and contributions made ahead of time were outstanding! Thanks for your advance donations to this worthwhile cause.

If you would still like to make a donation, feel free to send a check in any amount to Rick & Kathy Hastings, 3256 Northdale St., Uniontown, OH 44685. Put "Heinzerling Foundation" in the memo line and your donation will go toward any number of "quality of life" elements for Melissa Gmerek and the other residents at their home in Columbus.

Thanks again for your help.

Good Times, Great Cause

I wanted to invite you all to a charity event on October 11 at Clearwater Swim Park in Uniontown. I'll be playing and singing from 5-10 p.m., and you're all invited! Check out the flyer (left) for details, but since it is an event for the whole family it's going to be a blast!

Eric Hastings and his wife hold this annual event to help raise money in support of their niece, who lives at the Heinzerling Foundation in Columbus. The state provides some of the funding for this great place, but the things that make this a home rather than just an institution come as the result of fundraisers like this.

Eric tells me the money they raise goes to buy prom dresses and wheelchair parts..." Wow...

How can you help? Come out to the party on the 11th! It's only $20 PER FAMILY (what a deal!) and includes food, non-alcoholic beverages (the other kind is BYOB), games for the kids, the chance to bid on a number of great auction items, and all the songs you sort of think you know some of the words to, sung by me!

If you can't make it but you would like to make a donation, feel free to let me know. If you can make it, please RSVP before October 3. Either email me (kaufman.doug@sbcglobal.net) or call me at 330-714-7714.

I hope to see you on the 11th!

Thanks For The Memories

What a summer it was! The patio at Rico's was rocking all summer long (thanks, Kid Rock!) and I hope everyone had almost as much fun listening and singing along as i did playing. Some of the most memorable highlights:
* My lighting guy running every combination of lights at the same time and blowing a fuse right in the middle of the set...he is only 8 years old, so I'll forgive him.
* Some drunk chick coming up during my FIRST SONG and deciding I needed help singing and playing. At least listen for 6 or 8 songs before deciding that!
* The dude who kept asking all night if he could back me up on guitar. Thanks anyway, bro, but my job is to play. Your job is to listen. If you want to be a legend in your own mind, get your guitar and come on up ... on a night I'm not there.
* The final night under the stars when there wasn't a seat to be had! You guys were awesome as always, and I just wanted to say thanks for coming out and supporting me by eating and drinking.

The bad news (for me, anyway) is that I won't be able to play on Friday nights any more. High school football season starts in just a couple of weeks (Go Blue Devils) and not only would I rather watch the boys play than listen to myself sing, I'm going to be announcing the home games this year. So I guess it's a win-win for me...I get to watch football AND talk all at the same time. I don't think I'll be able to slip in any of those old favorite songs during the game, but you never know!

Even if you don't live in Tallmadge, I encourage you to go to your local high school football games as often as possible. Show your support for the team and your school. And don't stop there! Attend the track meets. Go watch the soccer team. Support the debate team. Drop in on a study hall and show your daughter some love. Okay, that might be a little weird, but still...

Again, you guys are the best! Drop me an email at kaufman.doug@sbcglobal.net if you're not on the distribution list to receive my schedule updates.

Until next year (or the first free weekend!) keep singing those songs like you almost know the words!

More Fun Than A Box of Plutonium!

Nothing says fun like a do-it-yourself Atmomic Energy Kit! Nothing but "Party on the Patio," that is!

If you haven't been able to catch one of my shows so far this summer, you're in luck! There are at least 2 more public concerts and any number of private parties on the agenda. Check the list to the right for the schedule, and if you want to have me play at a party of your own, just let me know!

See you soon!

Thank God The TIki Bar Is Open

That's right, culture freaks, the Tiki Bar on the Patio at Maplecrest will be open once again, and on Friday June 27, we'll be partying like we did last summer! I'll be playing and singing all your old favorites and maybe a few new songs too. Come join your friends under the stars for the best island experience north of Margaritaville!


What: Cold beer, hot* chicks, songs you know the words too
Where: Maplecrest Golf Course and Tiki Bar
219 Tallmadge Rd. (across from Wal-Mart)
When: Friday, June 27 @ 7:30 p.m.

Tell your friends!

Other upcoming summer appearances:

June 27 @ 7:30 Maplecrest
July 11 @ 8 Rico's
August 8 @ 8 Rico's


*Official Disclaimer:
"Hotness" expectations may vary and participants are cautioned that relative hotness tends to increase with alcohol consumption. In no case is any guarantee made that any attending “chicks,” “babes,” “studs” and/or “dudes” will be hot, with the exception of external body temperature, dependent solely on the ambient temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. There can be no assurances that the songs you hear will be familiar nor enjoyable to you nor will any investments in beer, liquor or musician's tips be returned to you. Performance quality changes frequently and often without warning and is not guaranteed. Your past experiences may not be repeated. Mileage may vary. Don’t drink and drive.

Kick Off Memorial Day Weekend In Style!

Rico's in Brimfield is a great place to visit with friends, have a couple of cold beverages and listen to some great songs you kind of think you sort of know almost all the words to. The food is fantastic and the huge pavilion will keep you dry just in case the weather isn't.

Tell your friends. Bring your kids. Bring your kids' friends.  Or find a babysitter and leave 'em at home and have some REAL fun!

I'll be outside again on Friday, May 23, at 8:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. C'mon out and see what all the excitement is about.

Last month we had a great turnout. The night's biggest hits included the garlic butter chicken wings, the steak dinner, Stella Artois on tap, and the new light show. Misses included the fact that we overwhelmed the bartender and the waitresses, making it one of the restaurant's busiest nights since last Mother's Day. So that's actually a good thing!

Thanks go out to everyone who made a donation to the Tallmadge Relay For Life in my tip jar. We raised $120 that will go to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer  Check out our team page here.

Remember, no cover charge at Rico's! Come out and kick off Memorial Day Weekend in style!

Hey, Culture Freaks!

Just a quick note to let you all know I'll be kicking off Summer at Rico's Restaurant and Sports Bar in Brimfield on Friday, April 18th.

If you're not familiar with Rico's, you should be. It's the old Rudy's Beer Garden at the corner of 43 and 18, across the street from the gas station. Once the weather warms up, the patio will be open, but for now we'll be inside in the bar.

Come early for dinner and stay all night for the fun. As always, I'll be playing songs you love until everyone gets tired and goes home.

The food and appetizers are great at this place and the selection of beer and drinks is outstanding. Frankly, I'm not sure they know what to expect when this crowd shows up, though, so I hope you'll come out and kick off the party season in fine fashion!

Remember:

Rico's Restaurant and Sports Bar
Friday, April 18
8:00 pm

1332 Tallmadge Rd.
Brimfield

330-676-1004

Tell your friends! Hope to see you there!

Doug Kaufman