Inside Tailgating | Summer 2013

grill s & gear - food & drink - fans & thrills

www.insidetailgating.com

Summer 2013

P.5

Pong Explosion!

Tailgate32:

P.26

Bengal Bomb Squad

A Tailgater’s Dream Trip US $4.99 Canada $5.99

Summer 2013

Recipes: Island Food from Margaritaville

Kentucky Speedway: The Hidden Gem of the NASCAR Tailgating Scene

P.16

Sizzlin’ Summer Bacon Recipes

Summer’s Hottest: Drink Gadgets and Fan Gear

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Grills and Gear

Welcome!

The Spring / Summer season offers a wide variety of tailgating opportunities and experiences beyond football. Hitting a NASCAR race, baseball game, outdoor concert or a good ole fashioned backyard BBQ with friends and family are opportunities for me to try new recipes, games and gadgets. I always put the tailgate first, and I know I’m not the only one! We have put together this digest of new and intriguing tailgating gear, games, food, and drinks in hopes that it will enhance your tailgating experience no matter where you are tailgating.

We want to provide you with fresh ideas and inspirations to not only show your spirit but to enjoy the camaraderie and friendship that makes up the culture of the tailgate.

I’m honored to be a part of putting this edition together and hope it finds you in good health and spirits. We want to thank you for subscribing to our magazine and helping us show the world what tailgating is all about.

Now get the drinks cold, crank up the music, and fire up the grill because this is Inside Tailgating!

5 11 13 14

Pong Explosion!

Big Green Egg Summer Fan Gear Birdee Golf

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Food and Drink

16 Sizzlin’ Hot Summer Bacon Recipes

19 Recipes: Island Food from Margaritaville

20 Summer’s Hottest Drink Gadgets

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Fans and Thrills

23 Tailgate32:

A Tailgater’s Dream Trip

26 Tailgate Crew

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Feature: Bengal Bomb Squad

28 Buffett Concert Tailgating: Q&A with Two Parrotheads.

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30 Carolinas

Cornhole Tour

32 Kentucky

Speedway: The Hidden Gem of the NASCAR Tailgating Scene

Let’s Talk:

34 What are Tailgaters Saying in Social Media?

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Enjoy the issue, Steve Long Editor-in-Chief

@TheGamedaySteve

Editorial Content created By Tailgating Ventures, Charlotte, NC

Steve Long: Editor-in-Chief steve@insidetailgating.com

Ta i l g at i n g v e n t u r e s c o r p o r at e :

704-332-8750

W. Stacey Moore III: Managing Director smoore@insidetailgating.com

Larry Preslar: Creative Director

Steve Long: Business Developement

larry@SPARKpublications.com

SPARK Publications: Design & Production

For Marketing and advertising I n q u i r i e s , c o n ta c t :

Shelley Thornton:

Sales and Business Development shelley@insidetailgating.com

steve@insidetailgating.com

info@SPARKpublications.com

For information about distribution, newsstand sales or investment and franchise opportunities, please contact Stacey Moore at smoore@tailgatingventures.com.

Inside Tailgating Volume 3, Issue 1, Summer 2013, Copyright© 2013 by Tailgating Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. Inside Tailgating™ is the trademark of Tailgating Ventures, LLC. Printed in the United States of America.

Check out more at: www.insidetailgating.com

3

All Things PONG > Competition > Fun and Friends

Grills&Gear

PONG EXPLOSION

By Stacey Moore InsideTailgating.com

T

en years ago, if you were asked to explain the game of Pong or Beer Pong, your answer would most likely be based on when and where you went to college. Those answers would vary greatly…Did you play with paddles? Did you use one cup? More Cups? How did you configure them? What type of table did you use? Today, if asked, most 40 and 50 year olds will answer the same as those in their 20s. The general game principle is that you throw a ping pong ball into your opponent’s cup to

remove it from the area of play. Eliminate all of your opponent cups before your cups are eliminated and you win. The game is easy to understand, easy for all ages to play, yet difficult to master.

The consistency of accepted rules and portability of equipment have allowed the game to grow into a top tailgating game and sport that is being played by thousands of people all over the country.

BPong.com deserves much of the credit for the growth of the game and transitioning Beer Pong from a drinking game into a sport, like golf, where you can drink and play with friends but it is not a

requirement to drink. The company has established a set of rules, standardized equipment and created the first national tournament. The initial World Series of Beer Pong (WSOBP I) took place in 2008 with 83 teams and a $10,000 payout to the winning team. In January 2013, WSOBP VIII concluded with 380 teams at the finals plus a slew of satellite entry tournaments held all over the country prior to the final event. The winning team received $50,000. When asked what makes Beer Pong a legitimate sport, Billy Gaines, President and Founder of BPong stated, “Beer Pong is a legitimate sport

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5

grills&gear because of the love and competitive enthusiasm of its players, and there is a true skill that allows players to repeatedly excel at the game.”

When asked about the sponsorship opportunities for the sport, Gaines went on to comment, “Unsurprisingly, because of the game’s origination as a past-time drinking game on college campuses across the US, there is sometimes a hesitation to align with the sport. However, anyone who has attended our tournaments can attest to the fact that it has evolved to far more than a drinking game and is often played with water in the cups, even on college campuses.

This is serious competition with a large payout on the line and these players take it seriously – they don’t just play, they train to compete and excel.” Inside Tailgating participated and filmed at WSOBP VI. We knew the game was popular but we didn’t fully understand the passion and competitiveness until we experienced it firsthand. You can check out the past footage in the Tailgate Crashers WSOBP clips in the Video Section on InsideTailgating.com.

The popularity of the game continues to grow year after year.

Given the passion that people have for it and the historical variations of the game, entrepreneurs are highly active in developing new games based on the core game that BPong has turned into a sport. Gaines provided a BPong perspective on the derivatives being created, “We generally support new variations of the game and believe coming up with different versions of the game is important…fundamentally, the game is about having fun with friends, socializing and meeting new people, and providing friendly competition. Incorporating derivatives of the game, either with rule/tournament-based concepts or product concepts, can facilitate these fundamentals of the game.”

That perspective and support screams TAILGATING to us! Let’s do a Back to the Future trip into the Pong Universe and check out the innovations that can be found today.

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MegaPongo

If you look at MegaPongo you would swear that the founder that was just trying to evolve the game of Pong-O already. “Not so” says, Brad Max, one of MegaPongo’s creators. He knew nothing about Pong-O until after he had already designed, developed and launched the MegaPongo game that has recently become the latest addition to the Pong Universe.

The story goes something like this – Father sends son to college… Father visits son in college and starts playing Beer Pong with son and friends…Father and son start to kick everyone’s A** so father is ready to tackle the World Series of Beer Pong VII with son… Father wants to create a one cup device to practice and ends up with a 38-cup phenomenon (19 cup holders for each stand) with backboards, a collection system and more. That is the story of the flexible pong game that we now know as MegaPongo.

Play traditional beer pong, one of the other suggested games or create your own game.

The MegaPongo system allows you to easily play some version of Pong anywhere at any time. Brad says, “This is open source Beer Pong”…wait…is there software involved. No, just the finely constructed island like hardware and your imagination to take this game to the “next level” at least in your mind….Check out www.MegaPongo.com for more details.

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grills&gear

BearPong

Just what the Pong Universe needs…right? A Pong Game made for bears. More humans play it than bears, but if you do not have a bear present at the time, then you must act like one when you play. OK...that part of the game is not in the rules but it is a strongly suggested addition from the Inside Tailgating staff. Our mascot, Thrilla the Gorilla plays regularly with the Bear Pong mascots, Brutus and Pauly – if you have never seen a Gorilla mix it up with a Bear before, stay tuned to our YouTube channel for all the action.

On a more serious note, the oversized pong game comes with 12 red buckets that look like solo cups and two large white balls that look like ping pong balls.

This highly portable Pong game is a fun alternative and great for kids. In addition to tailgates, it works well at the beach and in the snow. Eric Dankewicz first brought the oversized Beer Pong to the people of Maryland and has been rapidly expanding it through the internet and social media. Meet the bears and buy the game at www. BearPong.com.

Pong-O

Imagine yourself at the beginning of a profanity-drenched beer pong match-up. You went first and it was nothing but Solo. Now, your opponent shakes the foam from the ball and prepares to retaliate. But wait, you better put your Ozzie Smith jersey on because you’re about to play short stop. Welcome to intensity, welcome to strategy, welcome to defensive scoring…welcome to Pong-O. According to creator Mark Pryor, the game is “different from beer pong because Pong-O does not need to involve alcohol and has no reference to alcohol in its game name. Points are scored rather than drinking. In this way it is also similar to the popular bag toss game a.k.a. cornhole.”

How You Play: If you are the shooter, you can score 2 points by making a shot in one of the outer cups and you can score 4 points by sinking a ball into the center cup. But here’s where it gets interesting, your opponent will be crouched behind the Pong-O stand like a Russian dead-lifting champion waiting to catch your errant toss. Every snag deletes a point from your score. Oh snap!

We really like the affordable game set and rules for Pong-O. It is guaranteed to challenge your agility and accuracy.

Heck, you might even need a sweatband.

Check out their promo video and see Pong-O in action or head to www.

Pong-O.com for more info!

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Plan your tailgates.

Connect with friends.

Take gameday to the

nexT level!

DOWNLOAD IT TODAY! Use Tailgater mobile or our iPhone or Android app to set your location, find your friends, and navigate venues on gameday. Find more info at www.tgater.com!

Pong Islands

BPong

Pong Islands is basically Beer Pong without the tables. As the name suggests, you can play the game by setting up one or two islands and not have to worry about having a table.

The founder, Ian Snow, began working on the design in college back in 2005. While light and portable beer pong tables have been created and widely available on the market, it is always good to have lighter weight, space saving options for a fun game.

Dare we use the word “traditional” when describing BPong rules and equipment. The bottom line is that the company sets and sells the standard equipment for the sport. The BIG NEWS for 2013 is the creation of the Masters of Beer Pong. The $100,000 minimum guaranteed prize pool event will be held July 1 – 3, 2013 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The prize pool has a chance to grow as large as $250,000 depending on support.

There are several satellite events all over the country that will provide entries into this event. The creation of this event grows the number of tournaments available around the country and significantly increases the prize money to the serious players that would like to play the sport year round for cash. When asked about the Masters of Pong Event, Gaines said, “Our goal has always been to continue to grow the sport of Beer Pong on a mainstream level and the unique structure of this event can help us do just that.” For more information on equipment or the Masters of Beer Pong visit www. BPong.com.

grills&gear On average, a decent beer pong table will run around $100 or more.

For just $59 you can get a set of Pong Islands. In addition to being highly affordable, the set is extremely light weight and easy to set up and take down. You can play just to one island or use both islands 8 feet apart for the traditional game. What we like best about it is the see through rack that stabilizes the cups and the ability to customize the graphics on the stand where the cups rest.

It is easy to take this game set and play anywhere. Check it out at www. PongIslands.com.

BasketPong

The game called Basket-Pong takes the spirit and excitement of Beer Pong and combines it with the skill and precision shooting of basketball. We keep waiting for Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith to settle an argument between each other by playing this game. The game was created by West Virginia based company XPS (Xtreme Pong Sports) and was designed to add a little flavor to the tailgating scene. XPS founder and CEO Paul Cappuccio sheds some light on how they came up with this new take on an old favorite: “At XPS, we strive to create innovative and exciting games for recreation, fun, tailgating, and college life, and Basket-Pong is a result of that effort. We also drew inspiration from games like basketball, darts and bag toss/cornhole.”

The game is not hard to pick up as the goal of the game is quite simple: Eliminate each basket by shooting the Basket-Pong balls into the cups at a distance of eight feet from the backboard. Traditional basketball-related games such as Horse or 21 can also be played with the Basket-Pong set. There is no limit to how many people can play the game at once, whether participants are playing individually or as a team, the game can be enjoyed by all! To learn more head to www. BasketPong.com.

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facebook.com/americantailgatingleague // Twitter: @TailgateLeague

grills&gear

Grill Highlight!

Big Green Egg

idely acclaimed as the original Americandesigned ceramic cooker, the Big Green Egg was derived from an ancient clay cooking device known as a “kamado.”

Originally a clay vessel with a lid, today’s EGG is a modern ceramic marvel known for producing amazing culinary results for the novice and expert alike for over thirty years!

The Big Green Egg stands alone as the most versatile barbecue or outdoor cooking product on the market, with more capabilities than all other conventional cookers combined. From

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pizza to ribs, or Thanksgiving dinner to desserts, the Big Green Egg will exceed all your expectations for culinary perfection … and with five convenient sizes to choose from, there is a Big Green Egg to fit every lifestyle.

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grills&gear

Beat the Heat and be a Fan!

Tailgater Fan Essentials for Spring and Summer!

By Stephanie O’Neal, TailgateQueen.com

There is no doubt that summer is around the corner.

Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and (more importantly) baseball is in full swing! As we say good bye to March Madness, we say hello to beach weather and all the fun that comes with it. What better way to get into the sun spirit than a look at the trend forecast for the summer season. Below is some of the best up and coming fan gear that will help you beat the high temps ahead!

Collegiate Yeti Coolers

Murses Beware! Throw those Man Purses away, and invest in an officially licensed collegiate Yeti this summer! Aside from being strong enough to ward off a Grizzly Bear attack, these coolers have quite the cult following. After doing some research of my own, I quickly realized that Yeti is the ultimate man accessory. According to the feedback I’ve received, if you own a Yeti and have a Green Egg Grill, it could be said that you are a man that has it all. You can join the Yeti craze by checking them out at www.yeticoolers.com.

Tailgate Queen’s 2¢: Imagine my surprise when I found out (ahem...my husband found out) that Yeti recently introduced a collegiate line of coolers. Needless to say, we now are the proud owners of a Roadie Carrying Cooler. Yeti also launched this product in 2 larger sizes for the tailgater that needs a little extra room.

Toegoz Flip Flops

Flip Flops are an essential part of every summer wardrobe. Therefore, a thank you goes out to Toegoz for bringing team spirit and flip flops together. All Toegoz products are made with high density bottoms and arch support to provide comfort and durability. Each team is represented with a number of different strap styles and color options. You can put together the perfect pair at www.toegoz.com.

Tailgate Queen’s 2¢: I love the polka dot straps! Not to mention, these flops are my new (and stylish) reason to never walk on hot sand again!

MissFanatic Swimwear

You can now swim with school spirit, thanks to Miss Fanatic Swimwear. The collegiate line includes quite the selection of women’s bikinis and cover ups. Miss Fanatic’s introduction of a men’s board short will splash on the scene this summer.

These suits are sure to leave any fan pool side with school pride. Visit www.

MissFanatic.com to shop Miss Fanatic’s complete collection of collegiate gear.

Tailgate Queen’s 2¢: Be sure to check out the “I only kiss” tanks. Not only are they adorable, but they’re a perfect addition to your pool ensemble!

Society43 Collegiate Glasses

These collegiate inspired glasses are sure to make any fan cheer on the heat. The Society43 line covers an impressive variety of schools, making sure all tailgaters can “wear their sunglasses at night”... and during the day! Each college represented has their choice of multiple color combinations, frames, and lens styles. At a $20 price point, this is a summer must have! Check Society43 out at www.society43.com, and take a look for yourself.

Tailgate Queen’s 2¢: All of the Society43 glasses have 100% UVA/UVB Protection. With that said, I love the extra reflection of the colored mirror lenses.

Check out more Grills & Gear at: www.insidetailgating.com

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grills&gear

Tee it up in the lot!

By: Steve Long InsideTailgating.com That’s right! Its time to come out of hibernation and get back in the swing of things…literally. The warm months of the year bring on tons of different opportunities and activities that you can participate in outside. GOLF is one of them and a very popular one at that. But if you are like me, you are terrible at golf and have no time or money to practice. We’ve found a solution to all of that AND you can even use this at the tailgate!

We want to introduce to you…drumroll…

BirdeeGolf! BirdeeGolf is an excellent way to practice your chipshot in the backyard...or to play at the tailgate! We’ve tried this out and we’ve gotta say, we’ve gotten our swing back into rhythm while having a blast AND we’ve broken less windows at the same time!

There are 4 different types of BirdeeGolf sets that you can purchase from their site at BirdeeGolf.com.

The Bocce Birdee ($34.95), Birdee Tailgate ($59.99), the Birdee 3-in-1 ($69.95), and the Birdee Golf Pro ($89.95) are all perfect additions to your golfing and tailgating game repertoire. They set up and tear down in seconds and can be played with ease just like horseshoes or cornhole. Most importantly, all of the different variations come with Swing Mats so you won’t scuff your clubs (which is something that all of us at Inside Tailgating needs).

If you want to check out more on BirdeeGolf, head to www.BirdeeGolf.com for more product info, specs, and videos!

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Check out more Grills & Gear at: www.insidetailgating.com

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The body of a tailgater requires special nourishment

Food&Drink

Shrimp… Bacon...

Enough Said!

by Rodney “Rock Cod Rod” Roden www.Seafoods.com

e look to our friendly pig when tailgating is near. It is a time honored semblance of “Let’s Eat” where sports are concerned and we’ve seen everything including the squeal grilled, smoked, charred, and beer braised.

“But shrimp is good too,” you may say.

How do we give the pig its due and still enjoy fresh seafood? Clearly, it’s that wonderful catalyst and cure for vegetarianism…

BACON! Not the tedious Bacon Wrapped shrimp, though it beats the hell out of Spinach Wrapped Shrimp. No! Put that Hawg in the sauce. Let’s look at a couple of ways to get Shrimp to your next Tailgate feast and still give the pig its glory.

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Smoked Ham Hock Shrimp Cocktail Ingredients: 2 lbs Raw Medium Shrimp 1 Smoked Ham Hock 2 gal Water 2 Lemons (Sliced) 2 Cloves Fresh Garlic (Smashed) 1 tbs Apple Cider Vinegar

1 White Onion (Peeled & Quartered) 2 tbs Worcestershire 1 tsp Hot Sauce 2 tbs Creole/ Cajun Seasoning 1 tbs Chili Powder 1 tbs Dried Oregano

Preparation: In a large heavy bottom pot, sweat the ham hock, garlic, onion and lemons over medium heat until the onions are translucent. Add the dry ingredients and stir to incorporate then add the wet ingredients (minus the water). Allow the mixture to cook for about 2 minutes and then add the water. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Allow the water to boil for about 8-10 minutes, covered, to extract the smoky pork goodness. Add the shrimp and cook just until they curl. Strain off the liquid and spread shrimp flat out on a pan and place in the fridge to cool. Pack up and serve at the stadium chilled.

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Bacon BBQ Shrimp

Ingredients: 2 lbs Raw Medium Shrimp (Peeled) 4 Slices Smoked Bacon 2 cups Ketchup 2 tbs Apple Cider Vinegar 2 tbs Black Strap Molasses 1 tsp Fresh Ginger (Minced) 1 tbs Prepared Horseradish ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper Powder Sauce Preparation: Cook Bacon until just crispy. Reserve the Bacon Grease. Combine Bacon and all other ingredients into a sturdy blender. Blend on medium while you drizzle the bacon grease into the mixture. Blend until Bacon is pulverized.

Shrimp Preparation: Marinate the shrimp in ½ of the sauce for 1-2 hours. Skewer Shrimp head to tail (about 4 Shrimp per skewer). Grill Shrimp over Medium High Heat, basting the remainder of the sauce continually. Cook until Shrimp is just done through.

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Food&drink

Now we’re

cookin’ T

he weather is getting warm and tailgating season is once again cranking up! When the weather gets warm, we like to put on our Hawaiian shirts, flip flops and sunglasses to get us ready for the beach. When it comes to cooking out in the lots and in our backyard during the spring and summer, we like cook up some unique mouthwatering recipes to keep us in that laid back beach going mood! No matter where you are, whether it’s wings, salads, or burgers, you can add a little care-free beach flavor to your food. If you share the same mindset as we do, to get you headed in the right direction, here are a few recipes that we’ve found from Margaritaville Foods that will turn your tailgate or backyard party into a BEACH PARTY!

Ingredients: 1/2 cup Margaritaville Pineapple Chili-Lime Marinade 2 Chicken breasts 1 Mango, peeled and cubed 1 Avocado, peeled and cubed 1 Head romaine lettuce, chopped or 1 package mixed greens 1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped 2 tbsp. Scallions, chopped 1 Jalapeno, diced (optional) Margaritaville Lemon Herb Vinaigrette Directions: Place chicken breasts in a bowl and top with Margaritaville Pineapple Chili Lime Marinade.

Cover and refrigerate at least 2-8 hours.

Preheat outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.

Remove chicken breasts from bowl and discard remaining marinade.

Grill breasts 4-5 minutes per side, until chicken is tender and juices run clear. Use an instantread thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165 degrees.

Chicken is cooked when it

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Ingredients: NY Strip Steak, at least 1 ½” thick Cooking oil Margaritaville Mesquite BBQ or Calypso Rub to taste

Tropical Grilled Chicken & Mango Salad Serves 2-4

reaches 165°F, using an instantread thermometer. Set aside.

Combine mango, avocado, romaine, cilantro, scallions, and jalapeno in large bowl and toss with Margaritaville Lemon Herb Vinaigrette. Plate out evenly.

Slice chicken breasts and place on top of each salad.

Directions: 1 hour prior to cooking, remove steak from refrigerator and let sit to warm to room temperature.

Rub steak with cooking oil, then with Margaritaville Mesquite BBQ or Calypso Rub. Pre-heat grill to high for at least 15 minutes.

Place steak on grill, wait 5 minutes, and flip. If you have a lid, you can close it and shorten the cooking time to 4 minutes per side.

Once both sides are seared (dark in color but not charred), move steak to the upper rack of a grill, where the temperature is lower. Continue to grill for another couple of minutes.

Use an instant-read

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Ultimate BBQ’d Strip Steak

thermometer to determine when steak has reached your desired temperature (120-125°F for rare, 130-135°F for medium rare, 140-145°F for medium and 160°F for well-done).

Food&drink Ingredients: 1 lb. ground turkey 1 Tbsp. Margaritaville Calypso Rub 1 egg ¼ cup breadcrumbs Margaritaville Original BBQ Sauce

Ingredients: 2 ½ cups Margaritaville Jerk Marinade 1 ½ lbs. chicken wings, separated at joints, tips discarded ¼ cup Margaritaville Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce

Jerk BBQ’d Chicken Wings

Directions: Place chicken wings in a large bowl, top with Margaritaville Jerk Marinade, and refrigerate 8 hours.

Preheat grill for low heat.

Lightly oil the grill grate.

Arrange chicken on grill and discard marinade.

Grill chicken wings on one side for 20 minutes and then turn and brush with Margaritaville Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce. Continue grilling for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.

Serves 4

Calypso BBQ Turkey Burgers Serves 4

Ingredients: 2, 1lb. pork tenderloins, trimmed 3 Tbsp. Margaritaville Calypso Rub 2 ½ cups Margaritaville Original BBQ Sauce Directions: Place tenderloins in a bowl and season with rub. Cover and refrigerate for 2-8 hours.

Preheat grill for medium-high heat.

Grill tenderloins for 1520 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.

With approximately 4 minutes of cooking time remaining, brush tenderloins with half the Margaritaville Original BBQ sauce and cook for remaining 4 minutes.

Remove pork from grill and let set for 5 minutes before slicing.

Serve with remaining BBQ sauce.

Directions: Preheat outdoor grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.

Combine turkey, Margaritaville Calypso Rub, egg, and breadcrumbs, kneading until well blended.

Divide turkey mixture into four equal portions and form into patties.

Cook on preheated grill for about 5 minutes.

Flip burger and then brush on Margaritaville Original BBQ Sauce.

Cook for another 5 minutes or until burgers are done. Burgers are done when the center reads 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

Ingredients: 4, ¾” thick pork chops ¾ cup Margaritaville Pineapple Chili Lime Marinade

CalypsoRubbed Pork Tenderloin with BBQ Sauce

Pineapple Chili Lime Pork Chops Serves 4

Serves 8

Directions: Place pork chops in a bag and top with Margaritaville Pineapple Chili Lime Marinade.

Seal the bag and refrigerate at least 20 minutes-8 hours.

Preheat outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.

Remove pork chops from bag and discard remaining marinade.

Grill chops 8-9 minutes, turning once, until they reach 145°F using an instant-read thermometer.

Let set 3 minutes before serving.

Serve with your favorite vegetables and seasoned rice.

You don’t have to be in the islands to enjoy that island flavor.

Margaritaville rubs, sauces, and marinades will bring that island flavor to your backyard or tailgate party. You can find them at your local grocery store or online at www.margaritavillefoods.com Check out more Food & Drink at: www.insidetailgating.com

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Food&drink

Awesome Drink Gadgets That

info and video of The Flying Coozie in action, head to www.flyingcoozie.com.

BBBarfly

Hey! Put down that….bottle opener?

This unique bottle opener appears to be something out of a back alley gang fight. The BBBarfly is a very cool addition to your bar, whether your bar is located at a parking lot tailgate or your house. This product is built with high quality stainless steel and is engineered for high impact showing off and having fun. The bottle opener comes in over 100 different colors and design configurations, and you can design yours right on the BBbarfly website. The price on this item starts at $20 (for a solid color) and increases depending on your design. You can also customize these with your logo! (Now that would be impressive to show off to your tailgating buds!)

Not only does the BBbarfly fully function as a bottle opener, there is a lot of Billed as “The Drink Coozie that cool trickeration that flies,” this contraption is the you can do with perfect companion to your this to completely tailgate. Not only does it wow your guests. keep your beverage Head to www. ice-cold, but it also BBBarfly.com for doubles as a perfect more information to football to throw around see this tool in action!. the parking lot. You don’t Do yourself a favor and need to be a master of buy one of these today. aerodynamics (like Revenge The Flying Coozie of the Nerds javelin contest

you MUST HAVE for Spring/ Summer 2013 The Flying Coozie

heroes Harold Wormser and Lamar Latrell) to throw this coozie as far as Jets QB Mark Sanchez can toss a real football.

And just like a bona-fide pigskin, it has an area for laces that lets you line up your fingers to throw a perfect spiral. So even though you’ll never have three Super Bowl rings and a supermodel wife like Tom Brady, you’ll still be able to throw spirals like the Patriots legend. For more

The Chillin’ Brew

You always have 7 days worth of ice in your cooler left over from your tailgate party, and it always seems to sit there getting moldy, skunky, with at least 4 or 5 empty beer cans floating around in it.

Well this might just be the solution to that. Check out the Chillin’ Brew. This isn’t your average freezer pack. This

BBBarfly is one industrial strength freezer pack with a lot of science and engineering behind it to make sure your beverages stay frosty a lot longer. And when it’s finished doing its job, you won’t have to deal with water sloshing around in your cooler nor will you have to worry about carrying it with cooler legs (that’s when

Brewsees

Sunglasses + Bottle Opener = Complete Awesomeness! One of our favorite “must haves” of the season are these Bottle Opening Sunglasses called Brewsees. The polarized lenses offer excellent protection from harsh sunlight and glare while the opener on either end protects you from the harsh effects of not having an open beer in your hands. These bad boys only retail for $24.99 and they are worth a lot more than that. Customers have said that the quality rivals that of a pair of $100 sunglasses. They are put together with solid construction and won’t fall off your face *which is perfect for the more active beer lovers. Find more at www.brewsees.com

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Check out more Food & Drink at: www.insidetailgating.com

Food&drink The Chillin’ Brew you pick up your cooler after a few brews and the water on the inside sloshes back and forth keeping you from being able to carry it, then you fall over…into bushes).

Look them up on the internets at www.chillinbrew.com and try it out!

BeerShorts

You can drink beer all year round and if it was socially acceptable, you’d probably wear shorts all year around. Not happening. But when the warmer months come around, wearing shorts and drinking beer (or a soda) collides into a necessary explosion of sensational perfection. We’ve found the perfect thing! BEERSHORTS! Beershorts allows YOU and YOUR BEER to stay cool during the summer. In a nutshell, they are shorts with koozies attached! Not only can you stay cooler

but you can easily locate a cold beer in seconds. You can’t beat the convenience of having the next cold round literally within centimeters of you. These shorts are equipped with a dual-action, built-in, neoprene can koozie technology and a self-adjusting waist that automatically sizes to your beer storage area, keeping you comfortable.

NOTE: You may run into an issue wearing a fully loaded pair of these shorts into the concert venue or baseball game this spring and summer, but you will definitely not have a problem showing these bad boys off at the next backyard party or tailgate.

Beershorts retail at $36.95, and in our opinion, these shorts are worth it and in all reality, ALL KINDS OF AWESOME! Find out more about BeerShorts online at www.BeerShorts.com.

BeerShorts

Drink Recipes

What’s SIP L

ooking for a little adult refreshment during the spring and summer? Check out these delicious recipes we found from Chicken Cock Whiskey!

Recipes

1.

Southern Spiked Tea

Chicken Cock Southern Spiced Whiskey & Sweet Tea. Fill a mason jar (or any glass) with ice, pour in a shot of Southern Spiced and fill to the top with sweet tea. Simple and delicious.

●

2.

3.

The Angry Cock

Add a shot of Chicken Cock Cinnamon Whiskey to a glass of Cider (Angry Orchard the inspiration for this one)

Cinnamon Shot

4.

Nothing simpler that a chilled straight shot. 30% more alcohol than Fireball and 40% less sugar – “More Heat, Less Sweet”

Root Beer Mint Julep

A delicious twist on the Derby Classic. – Fresh mint leaves ● 1 teaspoon powdered sugar ● 2 ½ oz Chicken Cock Root Beer Flavored Whiskey ●

Check out more Food & Drink at: www.insidetailgating.com

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Insanely cool! 32 stadiums in 1 season? Let’s Rock!

Fans&Thrills

Tailgate32:

Tailgating

ALL 32 NFL Stadiums in 1 Season!

E

very dedicated NFL fan dreams of tailgating and seeing a game in every NFL stadium in their lifetime. Rarely do we see anyone actually complete

By “Gameday” Steve Long

a goal like this. But this dream has become a reality for a crew currently headquartered in Austin, TX. There is a twist though. These guys did it in 1 season. That’s right…1 season!

Inside Tailgating initially ran into brothers John and Mike Trupiano at the Giants

vs. Panthers game in a lot near our own headquarters in Charlotte, NC. We kept our eyes on them as they traveled across the country in their 42 foot RV, hosting FREE tailgate parties at every stop in conjunction with local food and beverage sponsors. After speaking with them for just a few minutes at the tailgate in Charlotte (Episode #7 in their documentary), we knew they were on a mission to do something big, something that most could only ever dream of. When the season was over, we scheduled a time to chat with them to get the rundown of a few things they saw and experienced over their cross-country tailgate party.

About John and Mike (from www.tailgate32.com): John, 29, is a lifelong football fan and entrepreneur and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a passion for adventure and feats of football derring-do.

He once attended two NFL games on the

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fans&thrills

“I’m pretty sure that girl killed the bear with her own hands.” - John same day (Bears-Redskins and Colts-Ravens in Week 1 2005) and, channeling his inner Jack Kerouac, once drove 2,700 miles from Baltimore to Los Angeles in 2.5 days - only to find that L.A. no longer had an NFL team. John is also a culinary athlete and has completed the McDonald’s Triple Crown consuming Mickey D’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner. John’s magnificent plumage should be declared a national treasure. The Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens are his favorite NFL teams.

Mike, 35, is a graduate of MIT, a hardcore football fan, an avid road tripper, and a thrill seeker. His motorcycle trips include the Florida Keys and the various parts of the great Midwest. He has logged 200,000 miles on his old 1994 Ford Explorer, much of it on annual sports-stadium road trips.

Mike and his Explorer once spent four hours stuck in a ditch off an Ontario highway, and he knew it was time to dump the trusty old steed when it began to consume more steering fluid than gas. The Detroit Lions and New England Patriots are his favorite NFL teams.

The thoughts and strategy for a tour this big developed over the course of a year and turned into a rather impressive 32-part production. The tour was originally scheduled to launch for the 2011 season, but it takes time to plan a feat that could go into the Hall of Fame of tailgating! As most brilliant ideas start, planning the

tour fittingly started over a few brews at a tailgate. (We’ve all been there before). But while most brilliant ideas fizzle the morning after the tailgate, these guys kept the thoughts and ideas coming with more and more development forming, and suddenly there was just no turning around… IT WAS ON! From the first turn of the key in the ignition of the RV (that neither them nor their crew had ever driven before), John, Mike, and their crew embarked on a tour to tailgate at all 32 NFL Stadiums in one season.

Making connections and arrangements in 32 cities across the U.S. was no easy task.

The two feverishly connected with others in each city along their tour via social media and were able to find places to park, eat, and sometimes even sleep. John and Mike were welcomed in every city and became guests on local radio and morning shows.

When word spread about the trip, they were greeted by not only tailgaters out in the

rolling backpack filled with bear meat. Jon recalls that exact moment. “She was rolling through the lots handing out bear meat to put on grills. I met the girl and I believe that she really did kill that bear herself.”

They go on to tell us that the folks in Denver had some excellent Mexican Hamburgers. In Cincinnatti, the Goetta rocks!. Buffalo and New England were also up there on the list, largely in part due to Pinto Ron in Buffalo and The

“There are definitely some high quality tailgates out there.” – Mike

lots, but NFL team Presidents and players as well. Some of the connections they made along the way spawned some other unique experiences, such as cooking with well-known chefs, lifting weights with NFL players, touring some historical locations, drinking beer in a church, and eating some unique local fare!

Speaking of unique local fare, we all know that different regions of the country have their own flavor of food. John and Mike’s experiences took them to nearly every region of the U.S., but when it comes to food, a few areas stand out in particular.

During a Bears vs. Packers game in Green Bay, they spotted a girl carting around a

Lobstermen in New England. “It was right around Thanksgiving and Pinto Ron had an entire Thanksgiving feast cooking on top of the Pinto.” Surprisingly enough, on top of the fresh lobster and scallops that The Lobstermen in New England were cooking up, they also had some really good homemade ice cream, and what they both recall as, “the best fried chicken I think I’ve ever had.” At the final stop in New Orleans (Episode 32), Mike and John figured it might be about time to actually learn how to cook, so they sought the help of the New Orleans School of Cooking to learn how to prepare some of the local cuisine.

But as great as a 25,000 mile, 4.5 month tailgating tour like this sounds, the Tailgate32 guys didn’t have a completely hassle-free trip around the U.S. While working to develop relationships in the local NY media and building content for their production adventure, John and Mike

“If I could step away from this [my job] and do anything, it would be what you guys are doing.” - Dave Rothenberg, ESPN NY 24

Check out more Fans & Thrills at: www.insidetailgating.com

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“A pigskin-powered Jack Kerouac-style adventure in search for the country’s best fans, food, and football.” - Chris Hrapsky, 12 News, NBC-Phoenix decided to hit up Craigslist to find some tickets to the Giants vs. Cowboys game at MetLife Stadium in NY. The very first tickets they purchased for their first stop on the tour ended up being FAKE! Buying fake tickets is a complete bummer for anyone, but in this instance, it ended up being a small snag and a big lesson learned. The two found other tickets and were able to cross the first NY stop off their list.

Driving an RV around the country with a crew can have its challenges as well. During our interview, laughingly the two say, “It’s unfortunate that we can’t share smells over Skype. It was basically a locker room.” For a group of guys that have never driven an RV, aside from the close proximity to the crew, using the RV in itself was a huge responsibility. Not fully understanding how to empty the tanks, showers and restrooms weren’t an option, and there were several times that the RV got stuck. In Episode 9: Houston, during a brief “mini-vacation,” as

“The guys at Tailgate32 are taking it to another level.” Mike Sando, NFC West Blogger for ESPN

if tailgating all season makes you want a vacation, in Luckenbach Texas, the RV got stuck in the mud. Getting out of the mud in Texas is as big a task as the state itself!

In Atlanta, Episode 6, parking the RV became an issue. While trying to make a quick turnaround from Jacksonville to Atlanta, the guys had to think quickly to

establish some connections and determine the best place to park a 42-foot vehicle.

After meeting up with a fellow tailgater on Twitter, the guys found a perfect spot right across from the Georgia Dome. Although fellow tailgaters were showing off some of their southern hospitality, the parking attendant wasn’t being so hospitable and had to be talked into letting the guys stay in the lot. Local tailgaters came to the rescue by talking the attendant into letting the guys park and set up shop. You might notice some slight frustration on the brothers’ faces in the Atlanta episode, but everything worked out and the two were able to cross Atlanta off the list!

In each episode posted on the Tailgate32 site, you will find unique personalities and traditions. They even found groups we’ve run into along the way, such as the Bengal Bomb Squad, which we also feature in the pages of this issue of IT. While recalling the BBS’s traditional rendition of Dropkick Murphy’s, “Kiss Me, I’m Sh#tF%ced,” John and Mark noted that “the Bengal Bomb Squad demonstrates one of the funnier (and more crass!) tailgate traditions we’ve seen all year.” But when you get a chance to talk with a couple of guys that have tailgated every NFL city in the U.S., it is only natural to want to ask… “Which city and fans had the best tailgating scene?” Although everyone John and Mike met along the tour was very friendly and hospitable, the answer to the question was quickly spoken. “Buffalo. We were blown away by the tailgating scene in Buffalo.” There was less costuming and the corporate presence wasn’t as prominent as much as it was in other cities, but the scene overall consisted of straight up fans that schedule their entire week around the game. John and Mike could tell that Buffalo was about the football, the team, and the camaraderie. They went on to note that the Thursday night tailgate in Buffalo “beats all of the other Thursday night tailgating scenes we saw along the way.”

With other highlights like finding places to sleep, eating the hottest wings in Buffalo, and lifting weights with NFL players, this story is simply amazing. The trip, the story,

Tour Stops: Can you keep up with this schedule?!

1 2 # 3 # 4 # 5 # 6 # 7 # 8 # 9 # 10 # 11 # 12 # 13 # 14 # 15 # 16 # 17 # 18 # 19 # 20 # 21 # 22 # 23 # 24 # 25 # 26 # 27 # 28 # 29 # 30 # 31 # 32 #

#

Sep 5 Sep 9 Sep 10 Sep 13 Sep 16 Sep 17 Sep 20 Sep 23 Sep 30 Oct 1 Oct 4 Oct 7 Oct 11 Oct 14 Oct 15 Oct 18 Oct 21 Oct 25 Oct 28 Nov 4 Nov 12 Nov 15 Nov 18 Nov 22 Nov 25 Nov 26 Dec 2 Dec 3 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 23 Dec 30

Dallas Philadelphia Cincinnati Chicago Houston Denver New York New York Tennessee Chicago Arizona Baltimore Pittsburgh Buffalo Denver Seattle Jacksonville Tampa Bay New Orleans Minnesota Kansas City Miami Indianapolis Houston Oakland Carolina Arizona New York Tennessee Green Bay St. Louis Carolina

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

New York Cleveland Baltimore Green Bay Jacksonville Atlanta Carolina Miami Houston Dallas St. Louis Kansas City Tennessee Arizona San Diego San Francisco Oakland Minnesota Denver Seattle Pittsburgh Buffalo New England Detroit Cincinnati Philadelphia New York Washington Indianapolis Chicago Tampa Bay New Orleans

and the footage they gathered is definitely something any dedicated tailgater should check out. If you want to see more of Tailgate32’s adventures across the country as they meet fellow tailgaters in every NFL city, as well as the crew taking in some of the sights, sounds, and food of each place, check them out on their website www. tailgate32.com. You can also follow the two on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ tailgate32 and on Twitter @Tailgate32.

Head on over to InsideTailgating.com to see our interview with John and Mike, as well as the Inside Tailgating YouTube page at YouTube.com/InsideTailgating.

Check out more Fans & Thrills at: www.insidetailgating.com

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fans&thrills

Inside Tailgating

Spotlight:

The Bengal Bomb Squad

By Steve Urena

T

ailgating can lead to a multitude of experiences.

Experiences with new food, new drinks, new friends, and in some cases even a new family. The Bengal Bomb Squad has adapted this philosophy when tailgating, and have added many new additions to their tailgating group from all over the world. They all share the beloved interest of tailgating and a supreme love for the Cincinnati Bengals. Originally, this group started as separate tailgating groups and then combined with each other to form the super tailgating group you have today. The group has overwhelmingly grown in size since forming and christening their name in 2008. TBBS is run by cofounders John “Big John” Robinson, Mike “The Bengal Thing” Johnson & his wife Tracy, Shawn “WhoDeyBaby” Moore & his wife Karen along with the Ballenger family (Joe & Judy and their daughter, Melissa) and Melissa’s husband Stuart Burton. Whew! With that many people heading up the group, you know this tailgate can get big on gamedays!

Like every exclusive group, the Bengal Bombsquad has a few traditions that they adhere to: they proudly display their Bengal Bombsquad logo, they drink out of their Bomber Cups, and make sure to sing along to the Dropkick Murphy’s “Kiss me I’m Shitfaced” before

26

Team: Cincinnatti Bengals Parking Spot: Lot 1 at Paul Brown Stadium Go-To Food: Texas Raisins Gameday Tradition: sing along to the Dropkick Murphys they head into the game. They even ride around in their very own official Bengal Bomb Squad “Who Dey Heroes” bus.

The Bombsquad prepare for their tailgates by getting to the stadium four hours before kickoff. They are the first bus in line and want to start the party off early. All Bengals fans are welcome to join them and they have been a commodity in the Cincinnati tailgating scene. They have been featured on the Sports Illustrated website, ESPN Radio, and several media outlets in the Cincinnati area. When it comes to the Bengals, they are the talk of the tailgating circle and they keep on growing more and more every year.

From what we’ve found, each unique tailgating group has a go-to food or recipe that they rely on every game. One

Tailgating go to meal that the Bengal Bombsquad loves to eat while tailgating in lot 1 of Paul Brown Stadium is their famous Texas Raisins! Here is how it’s done by Big John himself: Bengal Bombsquad’s Texas Raisins Prep — In advance, wrap a pitted & dried date w/half a strip of uncooked bacon.

Hold together w/ wooden toothpick. (normally, we’ll go through two bags of dates for 3 packages of bacon) Cook — Gameday, we grill the bacon/dates until the bacon is cooked & warm/hot.

Serve immediately!!

The Bengal Bomb Squad is always open and looking for more members and becoming a member of the Bengal Bomb Squad is incredibly easy! If you are interested in hanging out with this rambunctious crew, head to to www.bengalbombsquad.com and email Big John to be a part of it. The next class of Bomb Squad members are preparing for the season so hurry up and join so you can be part of the fun!

Check out more Fans & Thrills at: www.insidetailgating.com

fans&thrills

Buffett Tailgating: Q & A With Two Big Time Parrotheads.

S

pring and Summer are prime seasons for outdoor concerts, and there are no better concert tailgate parties than the Parrothead parties! Buffett fans across the country come out in droves to set up beach parties in the parking lots of concert venues in every part of the country, even if there is no island or beach nearby.

These fans are party animals that come prepared. They plan their food, beverages, sleeping arrangements, and outfits at least a year in advance (or at least the day that the tour stops are announced). Whether you are in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, or Las Vegas, you will see that these guys party like they are on vacation in the Bahamas, all while donning colorful leis, Hawaiian shirts, and sunglasses. The Parrotheads make you want to drink from a coconut shell, put on your flip flops, and jump straight into a conga line.

We spoke with Connie Gray and Joe Lombardi, who are a couple of keyholders to the city of Margaritaville, to talk about the parties they coordinate in their respective cities.

Connie organizes the Parrothead Tailgate Party at the Frisco, TX (Dallas area) concert every year, which is deemed the biggest Buffett tailgate party. The festivities can last OVER 48 hours some years! She is also the Regional Communicator Chair for the International Organization of Parrothead Clubs. Joe coordinates the Parrothead party at the Jones Beach venue on Long Island, and from what we’ve seen, they really know how to put on a party out there. Both of these citizens of Margaritaville are well versed in the lyrics and the culture that makes up Parrothead nation.

Tell us a little background about yourself and how you got involved with the Parrothead Phlock.

CG: I have attended multiple concerts in Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas and Atlanta. I enjoy what a celebration it is for everyone!

I love the sense of family and community!

I love the ideas we get for future parties. I came on board when the PHiP South Region was in need of another Regional Communicator. One of the previous Regional Communicators, Pege Wright, put my name into the hat. I was given the role and truly loved doing it. Some years later, I became the Regional Communicator Chair.

JL: I had been a Parrothead for several years when I ran into Marty McAteer, the founder of the New York Parrothead Club, which was one of the first five Parrothead clubs, in the parking lot at Jones Beach passing out flyers with information about the club. The next morning I found one wadded in my pocket. I unwadded it and joined. When Marty started a monthly newsletter to keep us informed, I started contributing stories and trivia questions. Eventually I served as co-editor. I also spent three years as president of the METRO Parrothead Club.

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Jimmy has been writing and playing songs for decades! Tell us which one is your favorite!

CG: “Life is Like a Tire Swing.” It takes me back to that carefree time of childhood.

JL: “No Plane on Sunday” from the Floridays album. Although I had been a fan of Jimmy’s music for a couple of years, the first concert I ever attended was at Jones Beach in 1986. He was promoting his album Floridays that summer. Floridays is still my favorite album, and “No Plane on Sunday” is my favorite track.

What are some of the items on your Buffet Party Menu?

CG: Sorry to disappoint, but I am a rum and diet coke gal. However, I have enjoyed chocolate wine and chocolate pudding shots! For food, I generally enjoy what the clubs are selling - burgers, BBQ, sausage wraps or whatever is available!

JL: For the longest time, the Park Police were very strict at Jones Beach. They wouldn’t allow concert-goers to reserve parking spaces for should be grills, tables, coolers, etc. The story goes that Jimmy threatened to stop performing at the venue unless the tailgating restrictions

were relaxed. I don’t know if it’s true, but the Park Police have turned a blind eye towards tailgating. Now that grills are allowed, it’s developed into just a throwback Jones Beach party, mostly rum and cooked animals.

As drinks go, there is plenty of Joe Jungle Juice (J-cubed) and Jet-Ski Killers. The recipe for the former is a closely guarded secret. The recipe for the latter can be found in Lulu Buffett’s cookbook “Crazy Sista Cooking.”

Jimmy has been looking for the seemingly mythical shaker of salt...where do you think it is?

CG: Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

JL: At one of Jimmy’s concerts at Southampton College, a local catering company took out a full page ad in the concert program stating that the company had found his lost shaker of salt. I believe that they still have it.

Can you tell us a little bit about the atmosphere at your Buffett Party?

CG: FUN! Everywhere you turn something fun and hysterical is going on! Some years ago, I was a PHiP South Regional Communicator. During the first concert I went to in Frisco, Texas, I walked all over the massive parking lot (one of the very largest I have ever seen) trying to find the compounds of each South Region Parrothead Club. That year, an idea was born, and during a region leaders meeting, I suggested that all clubs in the South Region should form one giant tailgate all together! Sure enough, after one of the members of the Lone Star club talked with the facility management, we were able to make arrangements to do that! This year, our region will enjoy 121 conjoined parking lot spaces. The fun of it all is that we all know and enjoy each other and can support the various endeavors that are made during the tailgates to raise funds to benefit our favorite charities.

The other clubs also participate in fundraising activities, and it is always a lot of fun

Check out more Fans & Thrills at: www.insidetailgating.com

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to see the different ideas that these crazies come up with! The Lone Star Parrothead Club always has a giant block of ice that they carve into a “shot luge.” Their club members contribute various bottles of alcohol and, for a donation to their charity, you can enjoy a shot that is channeled down that ice into your eager mouth! (Yes, they are very careful that every participant is at least the legal age). They also bring an 18 wheeler flat-bed trailer, which has around 10 porta-potties. For another donation to the club’s charities, you can purchase a potty pass for the day and also a burger!

There is always a dunking booth as well.

Our tailgates are like a great big family reunion we have enjoyed for a good number or years.

Another fun fact is that the city of Frisco LOVES us! Each year that Jimmy Buffett has played there, Parrotheads have brought a giant boost to the local economy. So they really cater to us! I’ve stayed at one hotel that had decorated their front desk with Parrothead-type flair, and they played Buffett music on the intercom all during our stay! Ar-

rangements were even made for a pizza delivery guy to be at the front door with $5 hot pizzas when we returned from the concert! The local cab companies bring vans to each of the hotel, and for a mere $20.00, you can arrange for a shuttle to and from the concert venue! Nice and convenient!

JL: The main parking lot opens at 8 in the morning. People start lining up at the entrance to the parking lot about 6:30 AM. The early Parrothead gets the worm, or in this case a choice parking spot. Like every other venue, there are plenty of costumes and inflatables, Hawaiian shirts, leis, and lots of pirates and wenches.

One thing that stands out at the tailgate for the concert at the Wantagh (Jones Beach) is that the parking lot is just steps away from the beach on Zach’s Bay. At many other venues, Parrotheads are known to truck in sand to create their own beach. While that seems to happen to a lesser degree at Jones Beach, if you really want to put your toes in the sand, it’s just a short walk away.

Not having to cart in sand frees Parrotheads attending the concert at Jones Beach to concentrate on more important things like constructing tiki bars and adultstyle carnival games of chance, setting up barbecues, and finding new ways to distribute alcohol. Elaborately carved ice luges are very popular.

For those interested in adding something different to their tailgate or possibly attempting to pace themselves during the day, Jones Beach offers a par three

golf course. The set-up is perfect for a round of Cajun Martinis and afternoon golf. OK, so maybe pacing oneself isn’t really the prime objective.

It’s fun watching people have a good time, but the craziest thing I’ve seen at our Parrothead Party is The Buffett Bus, hands down. Check out their website, buffettbus.com. The pictures are great, but it’s much more impressive in real life.

Can the readers join you guys at the tailgate? Where can they find your party?

CG: CERTAINLY! The more the merrier!

We will be in the Gold lot at FC Dallas Stadium. The lot is near the area where the Buffett team sets up Margaritaville Foods samples and sells concert shirts.

JL: People are more than welcome to stop by and join in the fun. We’ll even have application forms on hand so they can officially become members of the METRO Parrothead Club. As the concert dates grow closer, your readers can check the METRO Parrothead Club page on Facebook.

It’s never too late to hop on the Buffett bus! If you think you are interested in checking out one of this year’s JB concerts, head over to margaritaville.com/ tourdates and plan to see a show! If you are interested in becoming a member of your local Parrotheads in Paradise club, head over to PHip.com to find the chapter nearest you. Also, make sure you find out more info on Connie’s Parrothead tailgate in Frisco and Joe’s at Jones Beach! They’d love to have you join the party!

Check out more Fans & Thrills at: www.insidetailgating.com

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Carolinas Cornhole Tour

S

pring is here and Summer is right around the corner.

It’s time to knock the dust off of the cornhole boards and bags and start practicing for heavy competition! One of the most involved cornhole tournaments in the nation is on tour and taking North and South Carolina by storm.

The Carolinas Cornhole Tour is touring in 7 cities in North and South Carolina with 16 tournaments divided amongst those cities. The tour is sponsored by Corona Light and is sure to create a buzz in the cornhole world. If you enjoy Cornhole, you will want to be involved with this Tour from March to September, 2013.

The Tour kicked off during the first week of March Madness in Charlotte, NC (March 23) and ends at the Epicentre in Charlotte on August 16 &

30

17. The Finals have a guaranteed cash prize purse of $5,000 ($1,000 for Singles and $4,000 for Doubles). The only way to participate in the Finals is by participating in the Tour. The structure of this tour encourages social competition at all skill levels.

If you enjoy playing cornhole, there is still time to participate and you CAN’T miss out! Check out CarolinasCornholeTour.com for more information and the schedule!

#CCT2013

Also, check out the action on Twitter with #CCT2013!

We’ll have coverage from the tour as well as the winners listing in the next issue of Inside Tailgating Magazine!

Check out more Fans & Thrills at: www.insidetailgating.com

Bank of America 500 Weekend Package

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KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

A HIDDEN JEWEL FOR TAILGATING IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE

By Tim Bray Director of Communications Kentucky Speedway

Sparta, Ky – Like a last lap pass, tailgating and camping are exhilarating experiences at Kentucky Speedway. The 1.5 mile tri-oval, which hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 June 29, is a hidden jewel for the avid motorsports fan and tailgater!

O

n race day, the main parking area, which is within a short walking distance to the speedway gates, is a sea of pop up tents. Walking from row to row, you can smell the aroma of BBQ and bratwurst. Oversize coolers line the sides of SUV’s. Music fills the air. Friendly bag-toss games pass the time until the green flag waves. Tailgating is certainly as much of a part of the the culture as racing at Kentucky Speedway.

The Speedway also hosts pre-race concerts and shows, which are an excellent part of the festivities. Last year, Chris Young presented a pre-race concert. This year, it’s Billy Currington. The display area adjacent to the gates alone can occupy your time almost all day. There is literally something for everyone across the midway, which seems like its five football fields long! In addition, souvenir row sells the most authentic merchandise for every NASCAR driver and for every NASCAR driver and team in the sport. You can’t pass up a t-shirt of your favorite driver!

It’s all about the racing, right? Kentucky Speedway is one of the best venues to

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watch a NASCAR race in the country.

The site lines allow fans to see just about every corner of the track from almost every seat. The winners of the first two Cup races, Kyle Busch in 2011 and Brad Keselowski in 2012, are two of the most successful young drivers in the sport.

Even though in 2013 the track will host only its third Cup race, fans are beginning to bond and form communities within their parking and camping areas. Tailgaters are represented on the inaugural Fan Council which formed in late 2012 and picked for a year term.

The members meet bi-monthly and on race weekend. The Fan Council’s mission is to serve as a voice for the fans by communicating with track management.

In every sense of the word, the speedway’s June NASCAR tripleheader is “The Can’t Miss Event of the Summer.”

Tailgaters, a major part of the energy associated with the event, are saying positive things about their experiences at Kentucky Speedway!

You can get more information on the Speedway, as well as the Quaker State 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, at www.kentuckyspeedway.com. You can also check out ticket and camping availability through Kentucky Speedway’s

Walking from row to row, you can smell the aroma of BBQ and bratwurst.

Oversize coolers line the sides of SUV’s. Music fills the air. new and FREE mobile app! If you are looking for a unique and interesting place to add to your “Places I’ve Tailgated Map,” you definitely need to check out Kentucky Speedway!

Check out more Fans & Thrills at: www.insidetailgating.com

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Twitter Convo:

SUNGLASSES THAT PRY

Twitter PIC

What’s your favorite thing about tailgating?

Tweet your tailgating pics to @TailgateWithUs and you could see them printed herE!

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