The Giant Black Board

When we had our new menus printed, we erased the drink menu off the blackboard:

That was probably a bad idea.

Most people walk through the door looking up at the board and it's all changed!

We will post most of the drink menu back up there.

Soon.

[Disclaimer: If you've been reading this blog, you know soon is a term relative to busy-ness. Please be patient with us as we are getting busier by the day! Thanks for all your support! :) ]

Catering

We can cater your event in style.

From appetizers to desserts, we'll create a menu that fits your taste, work with you for special dietary considerations, and give you a fair price.



The freshest ingredients (as always) combined with our professional presentation will impress your guests and assist in making your event an occasion to remember.

Overheard

I was walking back across the street from the bank today and 2 gentleman were leaving The 123. They both had drinks in hand and smiles on their faces.
One said to the other, "Wow. That's a really nice little place. It's a lot better than what I expected."

I was close enough to be able to say, "Thank you."
And I meant it.

I'm glad they liked it; I hope they come back and I hope they tell their friends what a nice little place it is.

Thanks, guys! You made my day.
:)

Football Cake

This was the Super Bowl special:


(Yes, I'm late posting again.)

Meghan King Johnson

Meghan King Johnson has a beautiful voice.
It's taken me quite some time to post these pictures, but only because we've been busy (yay!).

If you didn't see Meghan last week, I'm sorry you missed it.
However, you're in luck:
We liked it so much, we wanted to do it again.

March 7 beginning at 7pm, Meghan has agreed to play for us again.
Don't miss it this time; it'll be worth it.

My favorite parts were the sing-along songs ;)

Caboose View: Snow!

This is what I'm talking about:

Construction Pictures, etc.

These pictures are about 2 weeks old (I told you in the last post that I was running behind. Again.); you can tell because the ground is not covered in snow and ice and the sun is shining.

Until today, there has been nothing but snow, more snow, ice, gloom, and more snow.
Today, while not sunny, the temperature is above freezing for the first time in at least a couple of weeks.

During this prior brief, sunny, but barely above freezing period, a few rows of block were laid.

Here's the site during preparation, before mixing mud:

Fortunately, this mess in the parking lot (Yes, PC, it is a mess. An understandable mess, and a temporary mess, but it is a mess.) doesn't effect the path to the front door:

Block laying:

This is what it looks like now, even two weeks later. There has been some other digging going on for plumbing, but that's been hard fought: the ground is frozen.

If this current run of above freezing weather holds for a few days, the ground can thaw enough to pour the concrete floor. After that, there will be more block and then the wood framing. At that point it will begin to look like something pretty quickly.

Let's hope the weather holds.

...late.

Yep, I'm late posting the latest updates.
Nothing new there, though, huh?

Meghan King Johnson played a unique -and entertaining- couple of sets for us on Saturday night. I have pictures, but I'll have to post them later.

Our new menu has been a huge hit and we've been busier than ever!

We're looking forward to the fore casted warmer weather. (I can't help but mumble, 'finally!' It's been below freezing for quite some time and this week long thaw-out should be just what we need to get going on the addition again. And, yes, I'm late posting updates on that, too. Soon. Soon. Really.)

Railroad Night Report: The Past & Future

We had a double turn out.
An early crowd:

And a later crowd:

A woman engineer/designer for the B&O when women in jobs of such import was unheard of, jewelry/watch shops in downtown Grafton, cinders covering the town...

Our railroad history is a fascinating and valuable part of our past; it can be a part of our future, too.

While the railroad memorabilia (The Wonder Drink Company!) and memories were worthwhile & fascinating....

...the greatest part of the evening, for me, was what can best be described as 'generativity.'

To use Erik Erikson's word, 'Generativity' is the need to do something productive and worthwhile with one's life in order that there be something to give to the next generation.

The past: Grafton was a railroad boom town that burgeoned with industry & ideas.

The future: Grafton's rich history is the foundation for building a solid tourism-based economy that will allow us to share our memories and keep them alive.

We can look over our shoulder at where we've been, but we have to look toward the future to give something worthwhile to our children and grandchildren.

Grafton was, is, and will be a good place to call home (or if you're not so lucky, just stop in for a visit when you can).

Thank you, Ray, for sharing with us.

I hope that you'll consider doing it again.

Tonight is Railroad Night

Remember:

7:00pm
Railroad Enthusiasts

See you here.

Need more details? Here's the link to the original post.

Taking Applications

We will be taking applications for employment.
Please call MaryKay at 304-672-6490 for more information.

Live Music: Meghan King Johnson

Meghan King Johnson will be playing for us on Saturday January 31 starting at 7pm.

You can take a listen over at her My Space page (http://www.myspace.com/meghankingjohnson).

A perfect winter evening thing to do: relax and listen to Meghan's clear voice and unique musical view in the cozy comfort of The 123.

See you soon!

Railroading Night

It was 62 years ago this month that the Grafton Railroad Shops & Yards became the home of streamlined locomotives that powered the Baltimore to Cincinnati daylight luxury train, "The Cincinnatian."
Several lavishly illustrated books describing the make-up, appearance, and route of this train that passed through Grafton between January 1947 and July 1950 have been published. Included photographs show the train in various scenes all along the Baltimore to Cincinnati route. Because it was the location of changes of locomotives and crews, Grafton is featured in many of these photographs.
On Friday January 30 beginning at 7:00pm Ray Shaw, a Grafton native and B&O Railroad enthusiast will be present at The 123 to share insights and photographs from these books and lead discussion about this train that made a significant contribution to Grafton life and economy in the immediate post World War II period.
All are invited to join Ray Shaw in remember a "DE-LUXE ALL COACH STREAMLINER" passing through Grafton.

Thank you, Ray!

*to be cross-posted at the Taylor County Blog Project

Making a Mess (Again)

After the asphalt came up, the diggers came in:

And then then comes the concrete:

Final grade on the footing:

Thanks to CJ Landscaping for their site preparation for the concrete pour.

I'll be posting about CJ Landscaping over at the Taylor County Blog Project in the next few days;

I'll come back and update links to their information, too.

*update:

Here's the link to the Taylor County Blog Project's Small Business Highlight of CJ Landscaping.

Pulling Up Asphalt

PC & PR pulled up the asphalt where the first floor of the new addition will sit:

As usual, I'm behind on blogging. The footings have already been dug and poured and the parking lot is a huge mess. A huge construction mess.