TFB rebuild kickoff party May 10th 5-7pm

Join us! Free food

Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago, I sent out an email announcing that finally at long last, the reconstruction of our home base at the corner of 29th and Rio Grande St was underway. The long fallow period (that had somehow turned from months into years) while we worked to open the trailer and the commissary and tried on various and sundry strategies for rebuilding none of which seemed quite right, seemed finally to be drawing to a close. Construction was set to begin.

Everything was now in order. We had raised what felt like an absurdly large amount of money by bringing on a small, intrepid group of investors - only to realize that we actually needed a good bit more than we had raised. Undeterred, we made arrangements to borrow the additional funds we would need.

We struggled mightily throughout 2024 to find a general contractor who seemed right for our project. But now we had an agreement in place with Sean O'Brien, our ideal GC - only to learn that President Trump planned to levy tariffs at crazy levels on many of the very materials that would be required for our project. But - in for a penny, in for a pound as the saying goes.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve found myself more than once thinking of that epic scene in the movie Spinal Tap when the band, dressed in full concert attire, ready to hit the stage, guitars slung around their necks, leaves their dressing room and somehow becomes lost in the mechanical hallways in the lower levels of the auditorium - “let’s go!” they yell, pumping each other up. “Rock And ROLL” mutters David St Hubbins (extra credit if you know who yells “HELLO CLEVELAND” without googling). Alas the stage is nowhere to be found. Adding insult to injury, they soon realize they’ve circled back to where they started.

Ok - nothing quite that ridiculous has taken place. But we encountered a stupefying number of delays. Shortly after announcing that construction was imminent, we encountered yet another challenge. You may have noticed that not much has actually transpired in the days since our initial announcement a few weeks back. This is because right around this time last month Sean went to the city to pick up our permits and was informed of an entirely new set of additional (and rather substantial fees) that had been on no one's radar. It did indeed feel like that moment when the band realizes that although they can hear the crowd chanting “Spinal Tap!” away in the distance, they are unfortunately lost with no idea where the stage might be.

Well, I won't bore you with the details except to say while these last minute fees took several weeks to resolve, this too is now behind us. We have FINALLY cleared all current obstacles to progress. Construction is now set to begin in earnest.

I have no doubt that there will be additional challenges in our future. And I’m honestly trying to avoid the news a much as possible. The general outlook these days seems to be that we should abandon all hope and start building bunkers and stockpiling MREs. But TFB has overcome so much to get where it is today. There is something about this project that seems to want to happen. I guess I just have faith that whatever challenges emerge, we will find a way.

So in that spirit, and to mark the true beginning of the construction at 29th St., we thought this would be a good moment to invite everyone over to see what we've gotten up to lately - and also to get a last look at the the grand old building before its coming makeover.

Next Saturday afternoon, May 10th, from 5pm to 7pm, we invite all of you to join us for happy hour in the garden and to celebrate finally getting construction underway. We'll be supplying a variety of snacks and appetizers on the house (meaning free). Beer and wine will be available by the glass ($6).

TFB REBUILD KICK OFF HAPPY HOUR

We've been talking about doing this for some time, but we've held off for a couple of reasons - the main one being that the garden is outdoors. (Carissa jokingly refers to it as “TFB goes camping.”) Weather and the insect population can be a bit unpredictable. But with construction starting - and we now at least have a porta-potty on site - we thought it would be fun to get together and hopefully see some of you who have not been by in some time.

Here's a shot of the last garden party we held back in 2015. I hope to see you in the garden to celebrate. I’m hoping for that kind of turnout. Please join us if you can.

bon appétit,
murph