Hello Sourcers!

What's on our minds this week?

🏫 Back to School!

🍺 Beer Debuts!

🎸 Binghamton Porchfest!

I’m in an odd spot this week in that the things I intended to tell you about are being covered by my colleagues! Binghamton Porchfest is this weekend. And tonight we’ll be at Crooked Mouth in Endicott cracking open the first cans of Public Media Pils. If you’re stopping by, say hi; we’ll have cool stuff for you if you do. 

And also beer.

This weekend is Labor Day, showing up early for work this year. And an early Labor Day means early back to school for the kiddos. I include college students under the term “kiddos.” For some of us, this weekend will be a balance of relaxed cookouts with friends and realizing that our kid’s toes have been poking out of their shoes since July.

I can’t catalog all the “back to school” resources available in our region in the coming days, but I wanted to share a couple that you can take advantage of or share with folks who might find them useful.

On Sunday, there’s free haircuts for kids at the Younique Hair Salon in Watkins Glen from 9am-3pm. From 10am-2pm, there will be school supply giveaways and free haircuts at the Arnot Mall Barber Shop in Horseheads. From 4-7pm, Two Rivers Church in Johnson City is throwing a Back to School Block Party with school supply giveaways and free haircuts (although they ask that folks pre-register), and on Tuesday September 2nd, Take Risk and ICAN host a school supply giveaway with free haircuts and hot dogs in Binghamton from 3-6pm.

It warms my little Daniel Tiger-lovin’ heart to see communities come together to provide for kiddos. What’s your favorite part of the back to school and back to campus season?

More to come,

Bob Proehl

Locally Sourced editor

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CHRISTINE DEMPSEY: The origin story of Crooked Mouth Brewing is similar to other craft breweries - two friends start as homebrewers, and then decide to open their own brewery. Sean Campbell and Josh Olson opened Crooked Mouth in Endicott in December of 2022, taking their homebrewed recipes and offering them as flagship blends. Since that launch, they’ve added four rotating seasonal offerings..

New on tap this week is Public Media Pils, a collaboration brew with WSKG’s Locally Sourced. Peter Zayac worked closely with Sean and Josh to come up with a beer that embodies both a craft style and the local focus of WSKG and this newsletter.

Crooked Mouth (the English translation of Sean’s Scottish last name) loves hosting community events:- open mic nights for comedians and musicians, trivia every Wednesday, where you might find some WSKG staffers testing their wits. And this Thursday, August 28th, from 4 to 7pm, they’re teaming up with WSKG to host a release party for Public Media Pils. When you order a pint of the Public Media Pils,or grab some cans to go, a portion of the proceeds support WSKG! Peter and I will be behind the bar passing you your libation, and keeping count of the donations going to WSKG.

[Editor’s Note: other, less fun members of the WSKG staff will be there as well]

Now, to whet your appetite for the Public Media Pils, Peter will describe this delicious concoction:

PETER ZAYAC: When I first met to talk to Sean and Josh about this beer, we had a ton of ideas: do we want to do something nerdy and cool, or do we want something interesting and experimental? We went back and forth for a while but what kept coming up is that Public Media is for everyone. So what’s a beer for everyone? 

Pilsner!

Starting with a standard Czech-Style Pilsner, we added a bit more hops than usual, giving a balance of flavors with some bitterness to even the malty sweetness. The beer pours cloudy, medium straw in color and muted in aroma. From across the bar, it’s as plain as a beer can look, but once it hits your lips, that great taste comes through, crisp and bright, perfect on a hot August day, sitting outside, watching some live music. Much like its name sake, it’s a beer for everyone. Enjoy!

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Every summer, Binghamton’s West Side neighborhood opens their porches to local musicians for Porchfest, a free festival that transforms front porches into stages. Since its launch in 2015, the event has grown into one of the city’s most anticipated musical gatherings, drawing thousands of visitors and showcasing the creative spirit of the region.

Porchfest is the biggest mixed bill show in our area. If you aren’t familiar with mixed bill shows, they include musical acts from multiple genres. Walking down one block, you might see a grunge band like Stuck in Place, a hip hop artist like The Supreme Soup, an Emo band like Magenta, a singer songwriter like Jules Quinn, an indie band like If Madrid, or a folk band like Milkweed. Unlike any other music festival in Broome County, Porchfest breaks down walls around what genres are invited to play and what genres aren’t. Musicians of every style sign up to perform, while homeowners volunteer their porches as venues. The result is a walkable, family-friendly day of discovery where audiences can stroll from block to block, enjoying dozens of acts in an informal and welcoming setting.

Porchfest has become a celebration of community. Neighbors meet, local businesses get a boost, and artists gain exposure in a relaxed atmosphere. The event highlights the diversity of Binghamton’s music scene and reinforces the city’s reputation as a hub for creativity in New York’s Southern Tier. 

Who are you hoping to catch for Porchfest?

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