The Mudcat Report Episode 28: Community Events from 9 TOES Brewing Company

The Mudcat Report Episode 28:  Community Events from 9 TOES Brewing Company

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the Award-Winning Newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, SuperTalk Mississippi News contributor, former Congressional Staffer, former Public Relations for the Attorney General's Office

PRODUCER:  Jeff Clark - Award-Winning Journalist, Multimedia/Podcast Host, Director for the Harrison County Senior Services

GUESTS:

• Tai Miskimen - Manager, 9 TOES Brewing Company
• Ezabelle Janssen - Senior Staff Writer, The Gazebo Gazette

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

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SPEAKER_00 0:23

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SPEAKER_06 1:01

Welcome to the Mudcat Report, community news, politics, and culture with a local twist. Here's your host, owner and publisher of the Gazebo Gazette, Hunter Dawkins.

SPEAKER_11 1:18

Good afternoon. My name is Hunter Dawkins, the host of the Mudcat Report. This is the 28th episode of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community News Podcast, sponsored by the Gazebo Gazette, Harrison County's independent newspaper, the Beau Revise Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Nine Toes Brewing Company in Pasquestion, which they're hosting us, O'Duire Realty Agent Stephanie Mankowitz, Joseph Kelly's attorney at law, Coast Casual in Pasquestion, the insurance barn in Gulfport, and a new one for us, Jeff, Hook'em for Heroes Block Party on Saturday, September the 12th, right here at Nine Toes Brewing Company. And we're always in the U.S. Marine Inc. Studio. I'm here with my wonderful producer of the show and my good friend Jeff Clark. Jeff is a well-accomplished award-winning journalist and the director of Harrison County Senior Services. Jeff, how are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_10 2:23

Hunter, I'm well, man. Always happy to be here at Nine Toes Brewing Company. It's my neighborhood hangout. They're probably sick of me. They probably wish I wouldn't come down here. My son and I are trivia team. We've been banned because we won so many times. No, well, the guy the guy did tell us. Well, you know, the guy, the trivia guy was like, Oh, you guys can't win again. I was like, get us some better competition, right? Like, it's not my fault. No, man. Uh, always always glad to be here. Love uh love Tyler and Caitlin and Ty and all my friends here, and just happy, just love when we get to do the podcast from here.

SPEAKER_11 2:59

Jeff, our theme for the day is community events right here at Nine Toes Brewing Company in Pass Christian. As you well know, Jeff, they have had quite a number of community events the last few weeks. One that you covered last week, too, the hot dog eating contest. Phenomenal.

SPEAKER_10 3:18

It's uh you know, nine toes communities events. This this is my community, man. This is where uh my family, where my son and I hang out, my wife comes down with us, and you know, um, my friends are here. Like, you know, they there have been so many community events at Nine Toes, um, big and small. So, like the Fourth of July event was massive, the hot dog eating contest. But then just like in the Mungalows district, there's always a lot of things going on. They're not always killer. Um, you know, I know Ty's gonna be on today, and I would encourage you to ask him about the block putties they're gonna start doing every month. I mean, this is uh it's gonna be banging. Like nine toes hasn't even been in past for Christmas in the past. This will be the first year to do that. So there's uh there's a lot of community events. I will tell anyone this all day, every day. I love living in Pass Christian, I love the bungalows area. It's so close to my house, but I just I love living downtown. I love the community spirit. It's like I don't want to live anywhere else, you know.

SPEAKER_11 4:20

That's right. That's right. We certainly have, like you mentioned, some great guests that will discuss the events, talk about what they entail, and write about them in the local newspapers.

SPEAKER_10 4:31

Yeah, we we'll hear from Isabel, who's uh, you know, does a great job, award-winning, doing her coverage for the Gazebo Gazette. And, you know, and it's like it's it's people like her that keep communities alive by reporting about the events in the communities, and um, and it's just so important. It's so important what you do with your independent newspaper. And uh, you know, we're just all we're all grateful for that. But uh let's get to it. Let's get our first guest on, and we'll be right back after our first commercial.

SPEAKER_08 4:58

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 12th, and head to Nine Toes Brewing Company and pass Christianne for the Hook Um for Heroes block party. It's a free event from 1 to 10 p.m. featuring live performances by J.J. Gray and Mofro, Mark Roussart, Cedric Burnside, Honey Island Swamp Band, and more. Best of all, the event supports local veterans and first responders. So come enjoy great music while giving back to those who have served our communities.

SPEAKER_05 5:27

Looking for trusted legal guidance on the Mississippi Gulf Coast? Joseph Kelly, attorney at law, has been serving the coast since 1993, helping families protect what matters most. From estate planning to securing your legacy, Joseph Kelly provides experienced, personalized legal services designed around your unique needs. With decades of knowledge in estate law, you can plan with confidence, knowing your wishes will be honored and your family protected. Call Joseph Kelly, Attorney at Law Today at 228-467-3400, or visit the office at 114 Main Street, Suite 102 in Bay St. Louis. Joseph Kelly, Attorney at Law, here for you, serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1993.

SPEAKER_11 6:16

Would love to introduce the first guest, Nantoes Brewing Company Manager, Ty Miskamen. Am I close for that? You're killing it both times.

SPEAKER_09 6:26

Thanks for coming back and having us back on, man. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_11 6:29

We gratefully appreciate y'all at least having us. How many events do y'all have going on per week? I know it's it's a lot, so but keep me up with what's what's happening.

SPEAKER_09 6:38

So it staggered out uh quite a bit. So we uh we we try to do something every day. So Mondays we haven't quite filled something in yet, but Tuesdays we host a day off. You know, every now and again it doesn't hurt, but uh so Tuesdays we've been uh hosting a mahjong night, you know, open it up to the community. Uh there's a big mahjong community here. Yeah, we've been learning a lot lately. Uh so they come in on Tuesday nights, we provide the taps and they provide the tiles, and we have a good time there.

SPEAKER_11 7:02

By the way, with that, do you exactly know how to play mahjong too? I couldn't be honest. Yeah, I've had people on. I'm like, well, I know we're host of these events, but you know, I hey, but that's what I've heard. I heard there's a lot of money on that.

SPEAKER_09 7:16

No, no, they're they they get they get crazy in there, they they get they take it serious. But uh Amy teaches the classes, and I've I've I've messed around with her. I'm like, hey, if it gets serious, I'm gonna have to chop in one of these classes, learn how to play, so I can come show them how it's done.

SPEAKER_11 7:28

There you go. How often has the change of not only the brews but the drinks that you guys have had here too as well?

SPEAKER_09 7:34

It's uh it's been consistent. Uh Jimmy's constantly coming up with fresh new ideas. We just released a new IPA actually this on Friday. Nice. Uh it's a cold IPA. Uh gonna be the closest thing I have a modern day West Coast style. Um, what's really unique about it is uh opposed to most IPAs, you can kind of get that hazy color. This one's gonna be very light, it's gonna be clear, almost looks like a light beer, drinks like a light beer. So it can drink responsibly, but it can it does its purpose, you know, it serves its job.

SPEAKER_11 8:00

Exactly. I've noticed that you've been modeling to promote things not only for this, but for Coast Casual for Caitlin too. Uh for for the business here, just around here in the the uh the uh the the bungalows. I'm just gonna say I'm trying to remember the word correctly, but talk to me about the importance of the promotion for these large events that not only y'all have here, but at Coast Casual too.

SPEAKER_09 8:27

Well, promotion is everything. I mean, you can we can sit here and talk on Facebook and just post a flyer here and there and be like, hey, we're doing this. But if you're not getting out and making fun videos and engaging with people and spreading the word, I mean, it's it's gonna be a disaster. I mean, you you can do all the Facebook posts we want, but if we're not engaging with the people that matter, getting the community involved, it's well then what are we doing it for?

SPEAKER_11 8:51

Absolutely. Can you provide me a little feedback that you received from the hot dog eating contest? That was huge. I yeah, the pictures Jeff took was amazing, and I love to you know put it in the paper, at least front page. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_09 9:05

It was uh it was a blast. Um, so I gotta give a quick shout out to one of my cooks in Wiggins. Uh, he came down and helped us out. He uh he cooked all the hot dogs, did it for us. Uh, we signed him up for the contest. I'm bonosed to him.

SPEAKER_11 9:16

I mean, Joey Chester's kind of hearing about this.

SPEAKER_09 9:20

He's got someone to worry about. This is my my friend jumped in about two and a half minutes in, and while he didn't win, he still in half the time finished second place. But uh big shout out to Brandon, the hot dog champion, putting down a we still don't know his last name. It's a mystery, right? Just like the 10 toe, you know. So it kind of plays it works with what we do here. So place is full of mystery. So why not the hot dog champion be one too? Nice uh, but it was a great time. We had fantastic feedback. Um, people are really excited for next year, and similar to the hook'em for heroes tournament that we'll discuss earlier in a sponsor for you, it's just gonna get bigger and better.

SPEAKER_11 9:52

Well, then I'll get that off for you, too, as well. Talk to me. I know Tyler had mentioned to me a little bit about that the hook'em for heroes, and and I'm not sure how much you know about that event yet. I only remember it really from you know helping out with Tyler and then when they moved into town a few years ago. But uh, what's the specific areas or who are the people y'all are trying to target?

SPEAKER_09 10:15

So, I mean, really, we want to so first and foremost, it benefits our local first responders, veterans, everything like that. So just clear they are on that. So we want it's really the entire community. If you love your country, you love fishing, you love live music, this is the perfect event. We're looking for volunteers still, uh, we're looking for sponsorships. All that information is gonna be on our Instagram, our Facebooks, on our website, hookingforheroes.com. Um, but it's a fantastic event. Um awesome, and it'd be great for the whole community to come out and support.

SPEAKER_11 10:42

What's in store for non toes before school starts back in August?

SPEAKER_09 10:46

So we got uh we got a lot of fun stuff coming up. Um, may not be right before August, but we have our next block party. Um I'm mistaken, actually. We have one on the 18th. Okay. Um getting ahead of myself.

SPEAKER_11 10:57

And I'm hearing about these block parties. If you want to go into more of that, yeah, we can we can touch more on that.

SPEAKER_09 11:01

So specifically upcoming this Saturday, we have one on the 18th. It's uh kick back in the past. Well nice. Um, Coast Casual is gonna be the main sponsor there, but we're obviously gonna be a part of it. We got uh we got a great band.

SPEAKER_11 11:13

I don't think there's a problem between Coast Casual and Nuts.

SPEAKER_09 11:15

No, I think I think we I think we get you know a little collection there, but we uh we had a great band coming out. Drew Fulton and the the Showtime Strangers, they're uh great local band. They do fantastic. Yeah, we'll be down by Coast Casual and they'll have a stage, it'll be the whole the whole shebang. And uh luckily again, same thing. We're uh we're raising money, supporting local veterans, local law enforcement, helping them with uh whatever they may need. Um whether it be shoot, like if they're going through some sort of medical treatment or unable to work, it's just so we can help it. Exactly. It's a great cause, and you know, we're honored to be a part of it and help with it. But it's gonna be a great time, tequila tastings down at Coast Casual. Great beer here at Nine Toes.

SPEAKER_11 11:55

So the back to the final thing, too, as well, just to kind of read or do y'all have anything planned specifically for school when it starts back, or is it just like okay, we're just going week by week by week?

SPEAKER_09 12:08

It's so we have a lot of like as far as our weekly rotation goes, it's all pretty much pre-booked. But um, I'll be honest, we haven't talked about a back-to-school bash yet, but I think that would be a very good time. We have the play area, I think we could throw we could do put something together for the kids.

SPEAKER_11 12:23

That's good. Well, Ty, we very much appreciate it. We always look forward to coming here.

SPEAKER_10 12:28

Hey Ty, I I I have a question. So you guys have DJ Doug here now, too, right?

SPEAKER_09 12:32

We do have D DJ Doug funny. So he did his uh his first gig last Thursday, and it was and it was a hoot. I'll be honest with you. I was um and at first, and I told Doug this too. I was like, I wasn't sure what this was gonna look like coming into it, and he comes out with the old records, the vinyl, and it is such a cool sight to see. He's playing great tunes, some funky tunes. So uh, I really encourage you guys to come check him out and support. He's down at Good Earth Records, so local business, local DJ. So it's it's a good thing.

SPEAKER_10 12:57

Good earth is uh one of my favorite spots. I want to make sure we gave Doug a shout out. He does a great job.

SPEAKER_09 13:02

Mr.

SPEAKER_11 13:02

Doug there, absolutely, absolutely. Well, Ty, we gratefully appreciate you guys. And anything y'all can do, we can do for y'all, you let us know, okay?

SPEAKER_09 13:10

It's always a pleasure, gentlemen. Thanks for coming back. Jeff, I'm gonna get you unbanned from trivia. We're gonna make that happen.

SPEAKER_11 13:16

The Gazebo Gazette is Harrison County's only independent newspaper publishing news from Gulfport to debate St. Louis every Friday. Hi, this is Hunter Dawkins, owner of the Gazebo Gazette. If you're looking for local news without the hack on sorting through story after digital story, log on to thegazeboGazette.com. Add your name to a digital audience of 250,000 plus coast residents who already know where to find the stories that matter to them.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

Nine Toes Brewing Company is a Gulf Coast destination for craft beer, great food, and interactive entertainment. Enjoy a rotating selection of small batch brews, a menu of comfort food favorites, and state-of-the-art golf simulators featuring world-famous courses. Whether you're meeting friends or just unwinding after work, Nine Toes delivers a laid-back atmosphere with something for everyone. Located at 110 West Scenic Drive in the Pass, Nine Toes is your spot for bold brews, big swings, and better nights. For more information, please go to 9oesbrewery.com.

SPEAKER_11 14:23

I would love to introduce my final guest, the award-winning senior staff reporter from the Gazebo Gazette, and someone that I'm really close with, Isabel Jansen. The real Jansen. And you know, you can you can tell your dad that I definitely included that. But anyway, Isabel, talk to me about the great events you have covered in the summer so far, and any of those that are upcoming.

SPEAKER_03 14:51

Okay, well, I brought my planner so I can remember. Well, actually, just yesterday was the 11th annual Frida Fest in St. Louis, and that's always fun. Actually, the person who won the costume contest, which I would say is the biggest portion of the day. Um her name, I believe, let me see, was Carla Marie. And she this was her first time attending, and she's from New Orleans. And she actually is the founder of a Frida crew with 60 other Fritas.

SPEAKER_11 15:22

Really?

SPEAKER_03 15:23

So that was really cool to meet her. Let's see. The fourth had a ton of events across the coast. I know I attended Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. Yes, that was one. And then the Past Christian Historical Society had an open house where they debuted their new um, I guess, television, three of them, which enhances they got grant money for that, didn't they?

SPEAKER_11 15:46

Yes, they did. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 15:47

And they also made a presentation spanning the past 250 years of Past Christian, so that also is still in play when you go to enhance your tour of the historical society. And then I know right up front here where we are at the nine toes, there was the what was it, Frank's the hot dog eating thing. And yeah, I've heard all about the hot dog eating contest.

SPEAKER_11 16:15

Oh yeah, oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:16

Um, and then there was tons of block parties, and at the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, people were saying that the firework display on the fourth, they said it was better than Disney World. Wow, wow, which is saying a lot.

SPEAKER_11 16:30

That's great. Yeah, absolutely. Did you see some sharks coming out biting things like that?

SPEAKER_03 16:36

Uh well, I don't know about, but there was in the fishing realm, there was a 312-pound bull shark that was brought in by an excavator. I remember and it had a bite mark on it from another predator.

SPEAKER_11 16:52

You didn't get too close, did you? No.

SPEAKER_03 16:55

So that would probably be the biggest catch, I would say, from the fishing road.

SPEAKER_11 16:59

Of the of the iconic stories, and you've done quite a bit of good stories for me. Talk to me about what this meant to you, the Rosie the River. This was a such a special uh story just for me to read, and I knew you had a great time with this.

SPEAKER_03 17:14

Okay, yes. So to celebrate America 250 at the Boer Vodge on um July 8th, Wednesday, they had a original Rosie the River come speak. Her she was she was like 102, yeah, she was 102 years old, and yeah, they actually on the press release they said they said she was 101. Well, she had just celebrated a birthday. They told us she was 102 now, which was crazy. And she actually it was great to speak with her because she and her husband were actually stationed in Mississippi, Chisla, right? Yes, and then they went over to um Greenville. So they were actually in Mississippi for a portion of their time. So this was her returning, and she was blown away about how casinos. Yeah, she remembered it was just like a couple houses. She said, like just houses and a couple railroads, like she said there wasn't much. She said it was beautiful and she loved coming back, and she just kept repeating when anyone asked her for advice because she's really humble. She just said just follow your heart.

SPEAKER_11 18:17

So exactly. You are a car show girl. I know you are. And anything happening for the car shows before cruising in October.

SPEAKER_03 18:27

There actually is. I personally have never gone to this before, but which day is maybe you're introducing yourselves. Um, from July 17th to 18th at the Coliseum, there's a Gulf Coast big truck show. Wow, they'll have vendors. Um, they even said like M Dot people will be there, and then they'll have a Chrome competition, and then I guess some really big trucks.

SPEAKER_11 18:54

Well, I better call Sam next week and tell him, hey, you're coming down.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

That's actually this month. And then apparently, just in Biloxi, I'm not sure where. Um, right before cruising the coast, they're having a creep in the coast where it's gonna be hearses. Wow. I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_11 19:10

I know, I was gonna say we better be careful. I know Bubble Lang with Bradford O'Keefe. Yeah, I'll have to make sure that uh that you stay away from those too as well. That's great, that's great. Um, yeah. Give me the top, I know I've asked you this before, but you know, because of the last time we had a little bit of uh concern with that, but give me the top three events that you have covered for the gazebo gazette last year and a half that you've been here with the company.

SPEAKER_03 19:39

Okay, I gotta think. Let's see.

SPEAKER_11 19:40

I know, I know. There's a lot because you've done quite a bunch. And so I mean, of your favorite above anything else.

SPEAKER_03 19:48

Okay. Well, of course, we said on the car girl, so cruising the coast and scraping the coast, I'll put those together. You do a great job with scrape and are probably my top carbons. I do love Jeepin', I don't want anyone to think that, but uh cruising and scraping are kind of the OG, so those would be probably my favorite. And then let's see.

SPEAKER_11 20:07

What should you have a favorite art event?

SPEAKER_03 20:10

Um there's so many.

SPEAKER_11 20:12

I just there's art in the past, there's yeah, actually, R in the past.

SPEAKER_03 20:16

I love going to R in the Pass. Every time I go, I end up spending money too.

SPEAKER_11 20:22

So that is so I gotta make sure I pay before this, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:26

Um one of my favorite, I forget his name, but he uh he does eclectic sculptures. He takes like what we would call trash and turns into sculptures, and one of my favorite things he had, not this year but last year, was what he called horse fly, and it was like a little horse statue, and then he made wings out of like bits from tools and stuff, and I loved that. Wow. Um, and then this past year I actually bought my little sister some a uh handmade ring with like a salt, freshwater pearl, she likes art jewelry, right there. And the woman actually adjusted it for me in front of me for because of course they were made a little bigger. Sure, sure. So yes, I absolutely love that. I always bring the family, even though I'm covering it, and then I I end up spending money as well because there's so much to find at R in the Pass.

SPEAKER_11 21:18

After being with the with the paper for 18 months, because I've I've counted 18 months. What event do you think uh do you not only look forward, what event do you think is the most important on the Gulf Coast? And it may be more than one, but you know, the most important on the coast. It could be cruising, it could be uh this, that, or the other. But what you feel like's important to you and what I mean, you just came from Rosie the Riveter, so that would obviously be something big, but something that you feel like's important that you think all the coast uh people need to go to.

SPEAKER_03 21:55

I actually have an answer real quick to this one. So I would have like If you asked me before working for you, I wouldn't have been able to answer this the same. But since attending Blessing of the Fleets and talking with Ryan Bradley and um Kurt Kimball. Yes, and Mr. Legacy with the Coast Conservation Association, all those people at Blessing the Fleet, the inaugural Diablo Fishing Rodeo, the Mississippi D fishing rodeo, all those people and interviewing captains and all that. I learned how the fishing industry down here was huge and is struggling right now.

SPEAKER_02 22:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:34

And so they all talk about how important those events are. Because one, yes, they're tradition, but two, um, Mr. Obassi, he talks of his favorite thing are the children's events. Exactly. Children's rodeos because he's like getting these kids out here so they can be part of the tradition.

SPEAKER_11 22:51

That was a big thing that you had, the picture because it was huge with all the different names on there.

SPEAKER_03 22:56

Yes, it was amazing. They said they handed out 200 fishing rods at the deep sea fishing rodeo, and I think close to that at the D Iverville fishing rodeo. But he's all about the children and about getting them part of the tradition to keep the commercial fishing industry alive. So I've learned that's not only a big tradition down here, but it's something people need to attend if they want to keep eating fresh locally caught seafood.

SPEAKER_11 23:20

Awesome, awesome. Hey, I definitely think you're doing a great job. And I know Jeff thinks the same thing, and we're gonna keep trying to make sure you're getting more awards too, with all that anything we can do for you or anything we need to know about upcoming something that's coming up here in the when school starts back. Do you think there's anything?

SPEAKER_03 23:39

Yes, actually, September 4th at Long Beach High School will be having a centennial celebration for their football at the stadium.

SPEAKER_11 23:48

Yeah. So that's supposed to be very, very, very, of course. You have a great I'll see you. You take care of yourself.

SPEAKER_07 23:59

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SPEAKER_11 24:31

We gratefully appreciate you listening to this podcast. We thank you again, Jeff. We want to thank all of our sponsors, including the BeauRivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Nine Toes Brewing Company in Paskristian. We always thank them for hosting us. Odoire Realty Agent Stephanie Mankowitz, Joseph Kelly's attorney at law, Coast Casual in Paskristian, the insurance barn in Gulfport, the Hookem for Heroes block party coming up Saturday, September the 12th, right here at Nine Toes Brewing Company in the U.S. Marine Inc. Make sure you check us out on YouTube under the Gazebo Gazette Productions or follow us on the award-winning website, thegazeboGazette.com, where the podcast will be posted later on this week, as well as on Facebook.com backslash the real gazebo Gazette, or on X at Gazebo Gazette as the handle, the Mudcat Report is available on all podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, iHeart, and Amazon Music under the Mudcat Report tag. Signing out, this is Hunter Dawkins, the host of the Mud Cat Report. Now you know the rest of the local news story.