It's OK to grill at The JoeParking lot cooking permitted, but leave beer at home By Prentiss Findlay (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Dave Matthews band Additional storyThe 15,000 people expected for the Dave Matthews Band concert at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park on Friday can grill in the parking lot after all, but they still won't be able to have a tailgate beer before the show. In a reversal of a previous decision, officials decided it's OK to have open flame for cooking in the city parking lots before the show, said Dave Echols, Charleston RiverDogs general manager. "That has been re-thought," Echols said. In another last-minute change, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin will be filling-in for saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who is recovering from an ATV accident, the Associated Press reported. According to the band's Web site, Moore was taken to the University of Virginia Health System for treatment after the Monday wreck in Charlottesville. He was upgraded from serious to fair condition on Tuesday. Tail-gating is a tradition among the band's followers, many of whom will be here from out-of-town. It won't be an all-day affair though because the city parking lots for the show open at 3 p.m. The sold-out concert is at 7 p.m. And just in case you decide to risk a beer while flame-broiling burgers, keep in mind that the penalty can be 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both. Police Chief Greg Mullen has said he won't send in teams to bust people and issue summonses but that there will be officers at the concert to let people know the law. In the past year, police have cracked down on drinking in public. You can't take your beer on the sidewalk in front of a bar when you need a smoke, or stand on the corner with a cold one on a Saturday night. And the days when you could walk the Battery on a warm summer evening with a chilled glass of wine are gone with the wind. Mullen has said that it's all about risk management — the police department's responsibility to keep people safe and abiding the law. Last year, police curtailed tailgating at Citadel football games. Since then, they have turned the annual downtown art walk into a staggered event — you can't carry your wine from one gallery to the next. He said last month that the city simply is trying to maintain a safe environment, not ruin anybody's good time. The stadium management strongly encourages carpooling to the show. Police officials said they believe enough parking will be available. A map of the 12 city parking lots available for the show can be found at www.riverdogs.com. It costs $5 to park in the city lots. Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 33 comment(s)
Posted by 8theistic on July 3, 2008 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whew! Y'all are making it hard for Tracy Jones and the rest of us at D.L.O. to figure out what to bring and what not to bring!
Posted by letstakeawalk on July 3, 2008 at 2:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just remember, clear liquors (like vodak) work great in water bottles. Also, try the Firefly Sweet Tea infusion. The cops can't check every beverage, so they're just going to go after the idiots who bring alcohol in clearly marked containers. If you're going to drink beer, use translucent cups.
Posted by CedarPosts on July 3, 2008 at 3:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Beer Wrappers a time honored necessity at Myrtle Beach for years:
http://www.drinkingstuff.com/drinkingstu...
More about the effects of probation at the "Joe" and flag confusion at: http://cedarposts.blogspot.com
Posted by Slick50 on July 3, 2008 at 4:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Charleston...Putting "fun" in Dysfunctional.
Posted by ColdBeer on July 3, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world that thinks the Dave Matthews Band isn't worth a crap.
I never "tailgated" at any of the numerous concerts I've been too. Back when I was going a lot, tailgating wasn't the "in thing" for concerts. Races yes, football games yes, but concerts? You just didn't see that back then. I guess tailgating would keep some people from partying too hard before they go to the concert, thus reducing the number of drunk (or otherwise impaired) drivers on the road. Of course, the prices they charge for beer at the Poor Mayor Stadium would make anyone look for alternatives.
Posted by bertdogg5454 on July 3, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Coldbeer, there's actually at least 2 people that think they suck! Sadly I am still going because of the wife and friends.
So they (CPD) want to curtail the crime by stopping curbside/tailgating drinking. I guess that's a more important task versus getting drugs and violent criminals off the street. The Eastside I am assuming is now a safe place to drive through thanks to the no longer needed services of the CPD since they are putting all of their efforts into stopping all of the drunks in Charleston.
This will all change when Citadel football season rolls around, you just watch.
Posted by singleroni on July 3, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i'm confused. if they want to stop drinking and driving. why dont they park outside the bars and arrest everybody that comes out. chances are they been drinking. then patrol the bus stops where others are sitting drinking 40's from brown bags. are we being selective ?
Posted by eric2112 on July 3, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The best solution for this problem:
http://www.coolerfun.com/Beer_Belly.html...
Posted by icbmman on July 3, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ColdBeer, you can add me to the list of people who thinks that Dave Matthews isn't worth crap. I never have understood his appeal; I can't stand his voice and the music they play is rather simplistic.
I've agreed with many other posters here about the city's priorities when it comes to public drinking. They should be yanking the vagrants and beggars who roam the East Side with their paper bags in hand instead of going after...wine drinkers from art galleries, for crying out loud!
Posted by theronce on July 3, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's so easy to concentrate on keeping basically law-abiding common folks in line than it is to challenge the bad guys. We can be so like sheep sometimes...and they know it.
Posted by wjhamilton3 on July 3, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I find all these ways to hid alcohol referred to on this page interesting, but has no one here considered the fact that the Police chief probably checks this website to see the comments made to articles he's mentioned in? I'm not sure can wrappers and "the wine rack" are going to be as effective stealth devices as their web pages might suggest now that he has probably emailed all of his officers with a PDF of those web pages.
After all, if you could smuggle things past the police that easily, getting drugs moved around town wouldn't be as risky or as hard as it is. Alcoholic beverages take up a lot more space than cocaine and the police catch people with a few grams of that all the time.
Experienced officers aren't looking at your belly, can wrapper or your fake sports bra, they're looking for evasive movements, lack of eye contact, nerviousness and all the other give aways that people are afraid. If you're driving the speed limit on the interstate when everyone else is going 80, the cops are going to pop open your trunk to see why you're being so careful. Unless you are a psycopath with delusions of superiority, you'll give yourself away.
On the bright side the Obama Campaign will be doing voter registration at the concert, so get yourself registered if you can.
Posted by desspec on July 3, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just how drunk and rowdy have the "art-walkers" been in the past?
Posted by drp7773 on July 3, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This band has a following??????? CB I agree this band sucks.But it's nice that they decided to allow tailgaiting and dare you to drink in the parking lot, I mean wait till you get inside so you can pay 5.00 a beer, ya know better to drink and drive when the city is making money huh...
Posted by bertdogg5454 on July 3, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just get wasted at home and drive to the concert, makes perfect sense!
and as for the police chief looking at this website, who cares he's a moron anyways. just don't break the law and your fine.
it's funny that about 80% of the people that leave a bar d-town on any given night can be given a DUI. another comical point is they won't be pulling people over after the concert either, wake up people, this is a poor effort to fool the public into thinking they are doing something good, something positive. please.....
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 3, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
River Dogs games or Stingrays games .. public gathering .. public event ... beer sold ... public drinking. What's the difference? N-O-T-H-I-N-G.
Mullen's should stalk the bars and arrest people leaving as soon as they get in their cars. But they won't touch it. And why?
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 3, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am getting the notion that Mullens will not be around as our Chief of Police for more than 2 more years.
Posted by RTC on July 3, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't they do something about the selling of beer to underage kids at the Riverdogs' games?
Posted by scnative4ever on July 3, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't like dave mathews band's music. I think they stink. There are a lot better bands they could have booked for the july 4th concert.
Posted by letstakeawalk on July 3, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My opinion of the DMB is that their best release was from their bus while they crossed that bridge in Chicago.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment...
Pure frat boy/sorority chick pablum. Of course, that's precisely the demographic that needs all the advice they can get on how to act responsibly in public, hence my earlier suggestions.
Posted by yeayea on July 3, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you can only fine people that have money. remember that the next time the police bother you for having a cup of brew, when there's a homeless guy drinking a pint of aristocrat in the eastside planning his next break-in.
Posted by imoc82 on July 3, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure I how I feel about the whole no drinking before the event situation. As a young adult that does attend the art walks from time to time I can tell you that not being able to carry out your cup of CHEAP wine is no big deal. If you have ever walked down through the so called "art district" the morning after, the streats are filled with plastic cups. I think making people throw it all away before moving on is a wonderful idea. All it means is that you have to hurry to the next studio for another cup. And honestly, the people that are drinking at the art walks would never actually consider buying the art. They/we are just there for the free booze, i'm sad to say.
But as someone posted earlier, just wait for the Citadel games to start. Can you imagine the city handing out tickets to everyone drinking the the parking lot. And what about the Old Charleston folk that will continue to walk downtown in the afternoon with a solo cup filled with Gin or Vodka. Try handing them a fine and see how long that officer has a job. Just a thought, but how many officers plan on actually issuing citations???
I'll be at the concert tomorrow but truthfully it never would occur to me to sit in the parking lot and drink. I can drink at home and then just show up to the concert just before the show.
Posted by Rggr on July 3, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What ever happened to law and order? They're going to let up and allow people to cook food in public?
Posted by alexdog58 on July 3, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CB said "Of course, the prices they charge for beer at the Poor Mayor Stadium would make anyone look for alternatives."
Is $1.50 too much to pay for a 12 oz can of beer? I think it's one of the best deals going. Granted it's not Newcastle, but the mystery beer at the Joe is a great deal. They've also got $1.00 Busch Light drafts at the "Doghouse" concession stand. Granted a beer snob would turn up their nose at this, but on a Monday night at 8:00 pm after a hard days work it's nice to know that I can walk down to the Joe and get a cheap beer and watch the baseball game.
Posted by pelicanwoman on July 3, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I realize drinking before, during, and after any event is considered "normal" and right up there with the right to breath the air on most people's lists, but I honestly don't get the appeal of it. People say they have one drink to "unwind" but why do you need 6 large cups of beer at the Riverdogs game (like I saw last Friday night)? Is anyone really "wound" that tight? And how "loose" was this guy when he got in his car and on the road about half an hour later? If an event someone is attending is so boring or stressful that they need alcohol to enable them to enjoy it, then maybe they just shouldn't attend.
Posted by KidYendor on July 3, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh benevolent ones, grace and joyousness should be laden upon you for allowing us to tailgate with soda pop and our water. Oh Hosannah we are not worthy! We are not worthy! We now hit our heads with our fists in semi-painful delirious sacrifice thanking you for allowing us to cook our meat and break bread with our brothers and sisters.
Posted by ColdBeer on July 3, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
alexdog58, I'm no beer snob by any strech. I drink Bud Light. Usually in the can (don't like bottles on my boat). I doubt, however, that you'll find $1.50 beer at the concert. Probably closer to $6.00. They won't treat it like a minor league baseball game.
Posted by norv on July 3, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can't bring beer, cause Joe wants to sell you the beer... for a PROFIT!
Posted by iloveohiointhesummer on July 3, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pelicanwoman, please try to focus on living your life and not the life of others.
Carry on.
Posted by JohnS on July 3, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard about the new devices to detect beverage contents from 10 feet away.
Posted by Tulane75 on July 3, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pelicanwoman said "I realize drinking before, during, and after any event is considered "normal" ..., but I honestly don't get the appeal of it."
I heard that having a drink or so enhances one's enjoyment of good music. I also read somewhere that in the 70's, there was no need to tailgate. At the concert, Jethro Tull, for example, when they turned the lights off, people started lighting matches. Why would anyone want to smoke cigarettes at a concert? I think it may have been something else. I don't know for sure. I was doing some research and I think those kids may have been doing one of the following:
* Aunt Mary
* Boom
* Blond
* Blunt
* Bud
* Cheeba
* Chunky
* Columbian Pot
* Dew
* Don Juan
* Doobie
* Dope
* Fu
* Gangster
* Ganja
* Grass
* Green Goddess
* Hay
* Herb
* Jay
* Kif
* Leaf
* Magic Dragon
* Mary Jane
* Rasta
* Reefer
* Sen
* Skunk
* Tea
* Weed
* Chronic
* Kona Gold
* Maui Wowie
* Texas Tea
Is that stuff still around? Those crazy college kids from the 70's, what will they think of next?
I am not a big DMB fan, but I like Ants Marching!
Posted by KidYendor on July 3, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know much about DMB. I am more into AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Doobie Bros and Firehose with Mike, Ed and George. Don't give me any soft rock crap it makes me barf. I heard that stupid "Seventeen" song on Saturday Night Live last week and it took me 4 days to get it out of my head. Have fun cooking and tailgating but don't get burned.
Posted by pelicanwoman on July 4, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ohio in the summer- you missed my point. Its a free observation. I said I don't get the appeal of drinking- of having to alter ones mood and brain chemistry to "enjoy" an event. If those others didn't cross over with their problems and their altered state, into my life, or into my lane of traffic, then your statement makes sense.
Posted by wonderdog on July 4, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charleston is not the only place that does not allow alcohol at tailgate parties(ever been out of Charleston?). Many colleges, like Chapel Hill, ban alcohol. I was not aware of the law, and fortunately for me, I was given a warning by the bicycle cop instead of a $425 ticket. I don't blame the cop; he was doing his job. Police officers do not make laws (ever heard of the legislature?). I wonder how many people on this board have employers who let them choose which job duties they want to do and which ones they can choose not to do.