It's SHOWTIME! MY FAVORITE PHOTOS...SO FAR!

Photos By GENN WHEELER

EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT

down at HOGFATHER'S "Almost Famous" Theater

the Doors Open at 6:00 pm

and the Crowds pour in for the evenings Adventure.

THIS is my favorite photo and the one I would like to put on our WEBSITE

www.hogfatherspeaks.com

Wendy looks beautiful, our logo could fit on the tray

and the wall behind Wendy shows the signatures

of our now "Almost Famous" Guests.

The following FOUR BLOGS are going to explain more about the

whys and hows...but EVERY night at

HOGFATHER'S "Almost Famous" DINNER THEATER

is totally new and totally unique.

From the Decor, Menu Selection, and Musical Entertainment.

THIS EVENING found Mama Hog leading a parade, but

YOU NEVER KNOW what will happen

ON THE STAGE AND OFF

at HOGFATHER'S.

All you know is "It's going to Be a Lot of Fun."

PAPA got in on the Conga line too...

the Crew got in on it too...

and soon, half the restaurant guests

joined in as well.

REAL MUSICAL HEADLINERS, locally and from all over the State

are booked to appear at HOGFATHERS. All kinds of music

all sorts of venues, from Belly Dancers to Blues

It's all 'coming down' at Hogfathers.

THE MAIN THING we hand out during the evening

IS LOVE....and FUN

Of course the Menu always has that Home Made Goodness

like Grandma used to make,

and the Musical Entertainment is

Experienced and Professional.

YOU GOTTA LOVE IT!

AND...YOU GOTTA LAUGH...GUARANTEED!

IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, JUST BEFORE "SHOW TIME"

the Hog Mama and her sweet little JORDY

pose for the GENN LENSE, and with another FULL HOUSE

IT'S ALL GOOD.

HOGFATHER'S "Almost Famous" DINNER THEATER

As many of you know, life for us is pretty much a feast or famine enterprise...and with the downward market turn in Real Estate, we had to do 'creative thinking' to come up with a way to start getting something 'coming in' the door after a time of so much 'going out'...AND it had to be something we could actually DO...AND it had to be DIFFERENT than what we've been doing for the past 25 years or more.

So, the IDEA of HOGFATHER'S "Almost Famous" DINNER THEATER was born of desperation and the limitations we have to go with it. That being our age and diminished energy levels because of it, Aunt Faye living with us and needing more care all the time, and having lot's of help from Wendy and Will...without totally shutting down their day jobs (for now hee hee)...soooo...

EVERY Friday and Saturday Night we throw a PARTY for all of those who want to come slum in Toledo, enjoy an authenic home made Dinner venue...and a Musical Show...all in a smoke free, fun environment. So far, we've been 'SOLD OUT" of our 50 - 60 Seats for every performance...except one...and even then, there was a decent showing.

Teaching OLD DOGS new TRICKS is a little slow and deliberate I fear, but we're getting the hang of it pretty Quickly...and we are the talk of the Central Coast right now. Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going...but we are always biting our lips around Wednesday worrying that no one will come...but so far, so good...so we're encouraged to keep on...trucking on...and it has been a hell of a lot of FUN for two old GEEZERS and the CREW!

Obviously, we're so emersed in getting this off the ground and flying...(remember that desperation thang...) there hasn't been time for leisurly BLOGS or emails or much of anything else. There's a LOT MORE to it than it seems...TRUST ME!

Each week, we learn something new...things we need...things we don't need...things we need to track...things we need to tighten up on...things we need to do more of...it never ends....but the GOOD NEWS IS....we are NEVER BORED...and when the Weekend rolls around, we get to share in some of the best fun we've had in our lives...with our musicians...with the crowd...and with each other.

Without the amazing 'energy' of Wendy 'the wait staff queen' and Will 'the chef', we would have went BUST from DAY ONE...but add to that the help from Smokin' Pig John...the guy with ALL THE EXPERIENCE who we bought the business from....who comes down at least one night a week to help in "the Back of the House", give sage advice, and teach us those "new tricks"...and this might just be the most HAPPENING THING AROUND THESE PARTS...yep, we're "ALMOST FAMOUS".

So, pictures are worth a thousand words...and I love to write the words but it is time to get down to the Restaurant for 'balls to the walls' for the next three days..so just a cutline will have to do.

The smiling face belongs to Toledo's Mayor, Sharon...who brought in a Party of 16 last weekend...billing themselves the 'wild bunch' and The Class of 1961. I can dig it since I am from the Class of 1964...and probably just a 'tad' more wild than these long term Toledo-ites.




Now, that little lady sitting next to the handsome guy (my Grandson Tom) was having a very 'special evening' since the whole thing was billed as "Aunt Faye's Birthday Party" in honor of her turning "96" on the 20th of January. The Musical venue was "007 Barbershop Ensemble"
from the "Sweet Adeline's" National organization of BARBERSHOP...so we knew Aunt Faye would know EVERY SONG they had to sing.

I warned them that they might hear a very 'high pitched' but strong new voice coming out of the audience...but though Aunt Faye sang along...she doesn't have that power in her anymore, so it was pretty soft and sweet...and she LOVED IT. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to her...led by the Group...and they even gave her a special 'Shamrock' they made for her with "96" on it.

Faye only weighs about 123 pounds now, so has become that 'little old lady' finally...but she still has a pretty good appetite. I'm calling all the sources Aunt Opal gave me to get help in for Faye now as we don't dare leave her even for an hour now...so things are getting pretty dicey when we have to all be at the restaurant. The Logistics of Who Can Be here remind me of a military operation at times...and it is just getting to much for us to handle with everything else going on.

007 BARBERSHOP ENSEMBLE wowed the crowd and were 'angels to Faye'...



Grandson Tom, for the first time was able to come to the Theater...and enjoy a moment or two. His Grandfather who lives near Portland has had a couple of heart attacks recently, and then a stroke so he has been at his side as much as possible...and aside from that, he's been working at Fred Meyers and going to School, and doing lot's of Homework...so not much fun in this kid's life for a few months now...we need to change that pretty soon.

The sun has come out..and we had to take BOTH of the QUADS to Pat to repair for various reasons...but mostly due to abuse and neglect by various guests we've allowed to ride them. NEW RULE...only the family CAN RIDE THEM NOW...as WE KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE.

Tom and I are anxious to take the QUADS out on the trails and see what the 130 MPH winds and storms have done to the Back Country Trees on the Property. We've had hellacious storms this winter...records even...but inside this house...you can't hear or feel a thing. Hell, you can almost picture a cow flying by the window along with the bowing of the branches on the Big Trees...but within the house, there's not even the sound of a 'breeze' penetrating this place. Amazing!

Of course, the water tank froze at one point, and the Satellite's were laden with 'frozen snow' and wouldn't work...for a spell...but we've gotten better at this 'wilderness' thing over the past couple of winter seasons...and since Aunt Faye was over at Opals for a MONTH while we went to California, and got the Restaurant up and operational, and weathered the 'record storms'...it was not bad because Allen, I and Tom can be more flexible than when we have Faye...and we don't need a constant going 'fire' either...so everyone managed, including Aunt Faye who was in the valley a lot longer than she planned, and Aunt Opal who cared for Faye while she was in the valley for a lot longer than SHE PLANNED.

Strangers have to 'sit together' with other strangers at Hogfather's...and by the end of the evening, a lot of people who didn't know each other become friends...and linger on...often trading phone numbers and promises to return soon. We're trying to restore a feeling of communityto our community...and for now, it's been a big hit.



Here's the Birthday Girl getting her new 'necklas' from Paula Dahl, who owns one of the local Beauty Shops here and was a Toledo High School Graduate herself...a later class than '61 I might add. I had just shared a long story about Fayes history with the audience...which you can see at www.hogfatherspeaks.com in the Menu Archives for Sat. Jan. 27 and when you consider she was born two years before the Titantic sank...there's a lot of history she experienced first hand. I talked about how great of an influence this "Greater Generation" had on me growing up and even now...and glanced over to see a lot of tears falling from those old eyes. She was very 'touched' with the tribute...and Aunt Faye doesn't get 'touched' that easy as many of you know.

HOGFATHER'S "Almost Famous" DINNER THEATER

It was our GRAND OPENING WEEKEND...and we had Dr. LOZELLE, Bluesman on Friday Night for a Great performance and a packed house...and all of us were nuttier than fruitcakes in the back of the house trying to figure out what we were doing. SOME FOOL forgot the Camera for that Important Engagement...but on the Second Night...when Portland's HANNAH'S FIELD wowed the crowd...we had our camera...and our wild child GENN showed up with hers.

GENN has an "Artist's" eye and we're trying to get her down to Hogfather's on Friday and Saturday nights to take some more pictures...but she's been an a FUNK like I was several months back "because nothing in her life is going her way" right now...but sooner or later, she needs to share her ART with others. Sooner, than LATER we hope...but enjoy.

Photo by GENN

Wendy put up the black vinyl for the stage background which added a lot to the Stage...once we clear a month or two and this 'Adventure' looks like a REAL GO...we'll replace it with the velvet theater curtains...but for now, it looks pretty cool.

Photo by GENN

HANNAH'S FIELD was awesome and everyone had a wonderful time...they played the Bongos along with Guitar and other instruments, but this wild song had the Hog Mama out there Dancing like a GYPSY...and soon a CONGA LINE FORMED and it kept getting longer and longer with laughing and smiling galore.

Smokin' John said it best when he compared this little smidget with a "Hummingbird" as she is so tiny...but from this little "Hummingbird" came the soul of Janis Joplin and a stange presence that totally WOWED everyone. "ANDY", her partner for the acoustical venue...is a really tall guy with Dreds hanging to his butt...but get them on those 'dueling' Bongo Drums and the audience, and US went WILD!


Photo By GENN

Here GeNN captures Will's eyes 'gleaming' while he is 'mugging' at someone. We were all HIGH that night because it was such an unexpected SUCCESS ALL AROUND...and so much FUN for us as well. We still didn't know what we were doing hardly, but it was Mama's Lasagne night with all the trimmings...and awesome musical fare...so we DIDN'T CARE AND JUST HAD A BLAST WITH THE HEADLINERS, THE AUDIENCE AND EACH OTHER. An unforgetabble evening I can tell you that.

Photo By GENN

Now here is the thoughtful creative part GENN put together on her own in the Back of the House...don't those garbonzos look like they are jumping off the plate? These were destined for Mama Hogs signature Gargonzola Salad that everyone raves over and begs for the recipe...but for a moment in time, GENN captured them getting ready for their debut. Very cool methinks.

Photo By GENN

Here Papa takes a moment to give his 'main squeeze' Jordan a hug...and GENN captured the moment when Jordan had no 'reserve' or self consciousness...priceless!


ANDY, the other half of HANNAH'S FIELD...took a turn on the little bike...he's very long!



Of course, 'Hummingbird" Hannah did the same.

HOGFATHER'S "Almost Famous" DINNER THEATER

This beautiful 'guest' of sophistacted means is none other than our Grand Daughter Jordan.


This was "CRAB & SEAFOOD CHIPPINO" night...AND ANOTHER BIG HIT AMONG THE FANS.


SMOKIN' JOHN shows us how to present the Chippino on a bed of rice, with a crab leg framing the dish...and every so lightly sprinkle on the 'color' from the chopped green onions better known as 'chives' when prepared in this manner. He chefs for the Embacadero Restaurant for a Day job...but comes to help us at least one night a week...THANK GOD!



TUCKER, 15, keeps the dishes rolling through for us, helps in prep...but is scared to death of the "Front of the House". We're buying a new dishwasher soon since it makes financial sense to do so...so we'll be able to cut back on the Labor significantly...which means rotating our crew to Different Nights to provide coverage.

BRYCE (aka JORDAN'S Boyfriend) is learning the Front of the House under Wendys wing...He and Misty are the Main Serving help...and each week we have a THEME we try to add to the Front Crew for our Guests enjoyment. He looks pretty cute in the Sailor Hat on Chippino night.


WILL is a great cook, and Smokin' John is amazed at what a 'quick study' Will has become...here he is preparing the next plate "on the line" which will then go to John for the Seafood Presentation and then to Wendy and Crew for Delivery to the front. It's a screaming fast process as we are trying to serve 50 - 60 people all at one time...so everything captured here is REALLY ON THE FLY in real time.





WENDY was the featured Headliner for THE "BLIND PIG" SPEAKEASY NIGHT...and she was a HUGE HIT belting out those old "torch songs like Rain or Shine...Stormy Weather and many more. This was a standing ovation she received from the audience...and she deserved it. We had so many problems getting the 'sound system' set up just minutes before the Guests arrived, and with a lot of behind the scenes panic and misery...we pulled it off and no one suspected a thing. That's SHOW BIZ.





VALERIE just drove home the day before, but because Wendy was performing and I didn't have my main "Service Manager" and whiz around the room Waitress that night...I begged VAL to come in an help us cause I knew that SHE KNEW what to do in the FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

She's bussing dishes here just like a pro...and this Mama Hog was grateful she could come help, although I'll try not to draft her too much as she often brings friends to enjoy the show.

I do appreciate the support of our friends!
MORE THAN THEY WILL EVER KNOW.

HOGFATHER'S "Almost Famous" DINNER THEATER

Photo by GENN

Here's Allen's latest 'adopted child' ANDY mixing it up on the Guitar with HANNAH'S FIELD.



HANNAH is a little Girl with a big voice and sings with a "Bluesman's soul, a bad girl's heart, and a Buddah's enlightenment.' In fact, following her visit to the Central Coast with us, she wrote a new song that encorporated some of the Love we hand out to our audience and our artists. It doesn't cost anything to freely love who ever God plants in front of us, and the returns on that investment have been amazing. We're stoked...and they'll be back at the end of March to shake us up some more. Yahoo.


The Denison family, as always, have been wonderful supporters for us and there is usually one or more of them at almost every performance. CARSON, firmly planted in our hearts now as our own 'piglet'...get's a big hug and fake kiss from Hog Mama on night which broke up the audience..and Carson too...

< MISTY, our main Front of the House Crew is loading up on the Tiramisu Cheescake WILL cooked up for our appreciative audience that night. Papa and Will share some "Back of the House" laughter in the background...as there is always something fun happening in the Back of the House just as in the Front of the House.


Photo By GENN

Now, doesn't this photo of WILLIAMS 'Tiramisu Cheesecake" with WENDY'S 'soft biscotti' on the side just make you want to reach through the screen and grab a piece? Me too.


PAPA AND ANDY cuddle up a little while waiting in the Back of the House for the audience to file in and fill the seats....ANDY had to bend down pretty far to get an arm around Superman.


Here's Mama Hog with the little Hummingbird HANNAH...I wish we had more photos to share of other awesome venues we've already had with some amazingly talented musicians...but, we didn't have GENN for any of those, or forgot the camera at home, or forgot to charge it, or, forgot to take pictures...and, some of the best pictures I can't get to post to this Blog...so what you see is what you get. BON APETITE!