Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon (AUDIO PODCAST)

You don’t judge a book by its cover. This is what I learned at this tiny little beer joint in Austin. Join me as we talk to Ginny Taylor, owner of the Little Longhorn Saloon. We’re going to listen to a rockin' truck-driver-song singin', Alt-Country legend, Dale Watson. Oh yeah, and play a little game with a chicken on a bingo board.

To listen, click HERE, or to download, right click and "save target as..."

Hot Toddy (AUDIO PODCAST)

It’s holiday time, time for classic drinks like the Tom and Jerry and the Hot Buttered Rum and other wintertime warmers. We’ll look at the history of hot toddies, and introduce you to, arguably, the Greatest Bartender of All Time on this week’s "very special" AA Hour.

Here's hoping you have half as much fun as these revelers (with half the hangovers!)

To listen, click HERE. To download, right click and "save target as..."

For a .pdf doc of all the recipes from this episode, right click HERE and "save target as..."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Staff at

The Attitude Adjustment Hour! 

(Okay...it's just me...D.C.)

Mr. Bing's and the Barbary Coast (AUDIO PODCAST)

San Francisco’s early history included one of the most notorious red-light districts in the World. In this episode of the AA Hour, we’ll head to the Barbary Coast. I’ll tell you about some of the bars and nightclubs that catered to the prospectors and sailors along this infamous stretch of Pacific Avenue. Then I’ll introduce you a great bartender at a tiny bar, a one-time strip club, on Columbus Avenue, called Mr. Bing's.

You can listen by clicking HERE. To download, right click and "save target as..."

Liar’s Dice and a Vote for Pedro (AUDIO PODCAST)

San Francisco has had gambling in its history since the Gold Rush days. In this episode, I'll take you to some of the Bay Area’s racetracks, past and present. We’ll talk to some native San Franciscans about their memories of bar dice, bookies, Chinatown Lotteries, poker games in barbershop back rooms, and a card game called Pedro (pronounced “PEE-dro”).





You can listen by clicking HERE,  To download, right click and "save target as..."

La Carafe, Houston (AUDIO PODCAST)

In this episode of the AA Hour, we head to a revitalized downtown Houston, Texas. I’ll take you to the oldest bar in town, in a building that looks like it could topple over at any second. And you’ll meet the character that runs the joint. Great old bar, great bartender, great times in Old Houston!

To listen, click HERE.  And to download, right click and "save target as...."

24-Hour Vegas Turnaround (AUDIO PODCAST)

Remember the days when you'd drop everything and take off for a last-minute road trip? On this episode of the AA Hour, I'll tell you about a recent unplanned trip to Las Vegas- complete with dinner and gambling and even cocktails at 9:30 AM. In, out, and home again in a total of 24 hours.

You can listen to the show by clicking HERE.  You can also download the .mp3 podcast by right clicking HERE and "save target as..."

The Oldest Dancehall in Texas (AUDIO PODCAST)

On this episode of the AA Hour, I'm taking you to the oldest dancehall in Texas. We're going to Gruene Hall (It's not "Grooney" Hall, it's pronounced GREEN) where we’ll learn about the historic old building and about some of the classic music that has, and still is, played there. Plus I'll introduce you to a young that Texas Blues guitarist that considers the Hall his home.



You can listen on the player below:

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Lefty O'Doul's and The Gold Dust Lounge (AUDIO PODCAST)

In this celebrity-filled episode of the AA Hour, we visit two classic San Francisco bars, in Union Square, just around the corner from each other...and at one time connected by a secret passageway! We'll hear about Joe Di Maggio, Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, Janis Joplin, and even the great Fred Mertz!  They all have a connection to these two saloons. Join me as I take you behind the scenes at Lefty O'Doul's and the Gold Dust Lounge.




You can listen on the player below:

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The Little Brewery in Shiner, Texas (AUDIO PODCAST)

If you love beer (like I do), you're gonna love this episode!  I'm taking you to a small town in South Central Texas (population: just a hair over 2000) where they brew some of the best Czech-style beer around.  We're headed for the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas- home of Shiner Beer!



You can listen on the player below:

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Haunted New Orleans (AUDIO PODCAST)

No city in the U.S, has more haunted history than New Orleans, Louisiana. I'm gonna tell you a bit about the eerie history of NOLA's famed above-ground tombs. I'll also give you a little insight on the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau. And, of course, we're gonna booze a bit...I'll tell you about two of my favorite (and possibly haunted) bars on Bourbon Street.



You can listen on the player below:

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Tony's Pizza Napoletana (AUDIO PODCAST)

If you love pizza, then you're gonna love this episode of the AA Hour! I'm taking you to San Francisco's North Beach and introducing you to Tony Gemignani, 8 Time World Pizza Champion, and we'll talk about his new restaurant dedicated to the delicious art of the pizzeria.



You can listen on the player below:

To download .mp3 audio, right click HERE and "save target as..."

Polka Time! (AUDIO PODCAST)

In this episode of the AA Hour, we journey to Schulenburg, Texas, smack dab in the middle of Texas Polka Country. And what do certain types of Mexican music have in common with German Polkas and Waltzes? I'll tell you, and I'll take you to Sengelmann Hall, a dancehall, bier garten, and restaurant, recently re-opened after 60 years.



You can listen on the player below:

To download .mp3 audio, right click HERE and "save target as..."

Three Bars on Columbus Ave (AUDIO PODCAST)

Join me for a bar crawl at three of San Francisco's most memorable pubs, and we don't have to walk more than 85 feet! Get ready to hear about "The Golden Triangle" of pub perfection, all on the same block of Columbus Ave: Vesuvio, Spec's 12 Adler Museum Cafe, and Tosca.  Hope you enjoy the photo slideshow as much as we enjoyed drinking...um, I mean, snapping the pics.

You can listen on the player below:

To download .mp3 audio, right click HERE and "save target as..."

Road Soldiers (AUDIO PODCAST)

Did you ever hear the term "road soldier"? Well, down here in Texas, that would be one of the nicknames for a can of beer, "hidden" in a brown paper sack, available ice cold and ready...for the highway?!

If you walk into almost any gas station convenience store in Texas, you'll be greeted by an assortment of iced-down Tall Boys, ready for the road.

Here is the "Baptist Bag" on a 24 ounce beer.  As you can see, the bag makes that brew virtually invisible.

These old cowboys probably won't end the party after they leave the bar.  Down in Texas, the pick-up truck was (and, to some, still is) a rolling extension of the saloon.

Anyone for a Daquiri to go?  Then head for Louisiana!

You can listen to the show on the player below:



To download, right click HERE and "save target as..."

Beers lookin' at you, kid... (AUDIO PODCAST)

Who's ready for a cold one? In this episode, I babble on (and on and on...) about all things beer. We're going to discuss old ad campaigns for some classic brews, make a case for watery Lager-style beers, and make a plea to keep fruit out of my bottle of suds.

Was the Hamm's Bear targeted towards the kiddies? Do you remember the jingle? "From the land of sky blue waters...." 

If she wasn't a Dodgers fan, I'd love her even more!  "When you're having more than one..."

A big caguama ("sea turtle") of Corona, and a fridge full of Coronitas. They don't sell the Familiar here in the States, only the Extra

You can listen on the player below:

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Smitty's Market (AUDIO PODCAST)

I love me some BBQ!  In this episode, join me on a road trip to Lockhart, the "Barbeque Capitol of Texas".  I had lunch at Smitty's Market, delicious Texas-style 'Q, and I hope the slideshow makes you drool!




You can listen to this episode on the player below:




To download .mp3 audio, right click HERE and "save target as..."

The 6 AM Bar (AUDIO PODCAST)

In this episode of the AA Hour, we discuss a phenomenon of the past...the bar or tavern that opens at 6 AM. I'll tell you about working in San Francisco's Chinatown with a delivery driver who (to say the least) likes a morning bracer or two (or eight). And in the early '70's, there we're plenty of spots open in the wee hours.

Now, imagine navigating this:

Through streets like this:

How do you cope?  Well, SOME would stop at a place like THIS:

You can listen on the player below:


To listen, click HERE (or to download, right click and "save target as...")

Welcome to the Attitude Adjustment Hour! (AUDIO PODCAST)

Smitty's Market, Lockhart, Texas- BBQ Capital of the World

Hey, everybody!  Welcome to the Attitude Adjustment Hour- a (hopefully) Happy Hour for your ears.  What I really want to accomplish with the AA Hour is to share my podcasts with you.  My thoughts might seem a bit scattershot, I start off with a basic topic about things I love: booze, food, roadtrips, and the like. But I'll go off the road and take you down a side alley with something barely releated to the main theme. 

In future episodes I’ll take you to places like Smitty’s Market- see that picture up there? That is one of Texas’ best BBQ joints (arguably one of the best in the entire U.S.). We’re going to journey all over Central Texas, down to New Orleans, back home to San Francisco, hit the Big Apple, and all points in between, hitting bars, beer joints, dancehalls, BBQ joints, steak houses, just drinking and eating and enjoying life along the way. Hope you take that ride with me.

Hopefully, I’m not writin’ checks with my podcast that my ass can’t cash. (a lil’ Texas-ism fer y’all there…)

This blog page will be a constant work-in-progress. I’ll work on making future shows downloadable so you can listen on the run. I’ll be buggin’ the hell out of my Tech Guru, C-Net.com’s Brian Cooley, until I get this thing right…hopefully, he can keep me off the soft shoulder...

So, as them Cajuns say “Bon Ton Roulez”….Let the good times roll!

You can listen on the player below:




To listen, click HERE (or to download, right click and "save target as...")