I need your help ....
I am doing everything I can to keep from raising my prices ... It isn't easy ... The cost of all inventory has soared, fuel surcharges on all deliveries (even the dog-gone dumpster service) have mounted to $100 a month ... The one thing that you can do to help is by paying for your food with cash instead of plastic ~ the cost of accepting plastic was well over $100 last month alone ~  If I didn't have that extra cost, it would help keep prices down ... Many thanks for your help in this matter ...
Susie

Everyone that has ever ventured into the Fryer knows that there are a lot of unique items hanging on the walls, in the cabinet, behind the bar, etc.

These "things" might not be worth a lot of money, but they are things that I have collected over my lifetime, so they are worth something to me.

The specific "things" that have been stolen from the Fryer were relics from Chung Wah. When I was going through the endless amounts of stuff left behind from the previous owners, I came across these liitle plastic things that looked like kaleidoscopes ... much to my chagrin, they were little "nudie peep shows" from the 40's or early 50's ... there were 5 of them, all different. They were acually very modest compared to what we see everyday on tv and in magazines. But, I imagine at the time they were produced, they were very, very naughty. Perhaps, that is why they are so charming.

These items were taken from the hanging cabinet on the back wall by the kitchen. I am sure that whoever thought that they needed to take what did not belong to them has shown them to their friends ... I WANT THEM BACK.  If you know who took these things from me, please tell them to return them. I will ask no questions - I just want them back. Until then, I reckon I'll just have to put all the things that I cherish under lock and key.

This is really sad for me. I have been here for a long time now, and over the years, thousands of people have walked through these doors ... never, never have I had anyone steal something from me like this. Shame on you if you're the thief. If you know who did take them and enjoy our establishment, then do the right thing and make sure these items get back to me

Susie

Originally written and posted by Laura Taxel - Cleveland Magazine Blog 4/10/08

I was at the Town Fryer (30th and Superior) on a Saturday night not too long ago to sip some Shiners, listen to the local roots-rock band The Jack Fords and bask in the glow of owner Susie Porter's warm, southern-inflected hospitality. She has a way of making everyone who comes to her bar and restaurant feel special and welcome. You can't help but like her and her place, and so it makes sense that Fryer fans are legion and loyal. Just how loyal became obvious around 10 p.m.

The room was packed, the bass was blasting and people were happily tipping back beers when, all of a sudden, the power went out, leaving the crowd in darkness and the musicians silenced. There was some giggling, a few exclamations of what the f…, but not much more reaction. In fact, the buzz of conversation got a little buzzier — there was nothing to do BUT talk.

Susie, laid back and unflappable, got candles out fast and lots of them so there was a nice little glow happening, and then she worked the room taking drink orders and trading jokes with her customers and friends. A few folks checked things out in the neighborhood, reporting back that lights were on in other buildings. I overheard someone on a phone saying, "Hey dude, you know anything about electricity?"

Nobody went into a panic, there was no stampede for the door, no slow drift of customers to other nightspots and watering holes. In fact just the opposite happened. Most everyone seemed to adopt a we're in this together attitude and a party mood prevailed. The party picked up steam when Brent Kirby, lead vocalist for the band, whipped out an acoustic guitar, jumped up on a chair and started belting out songs.

Then a couple of guys hauled in an old miniature upright piano from the other room. Keyboardist Chris Hanna pounded the keys, coaxing astonishing sounds out of the tinny thing. Kirby leapt onto the piano, wailing and strumming, and tapping out rhythms with his foot. Then the drummer got in on the act.  Who needed power — we had real powerhouse music, unplanned and unplugged.

The lights finally came back on as midnight approached and the guys got miked and amped again. I joined in the cheering and clapping, but my applause was also for Porter, for the kind of people that come to the Town Fryer, and for the spirited, spontaneous little community we made together.

http://www.clevelandmagazine.com/ME2/Sites/dirmod.asp?sid=B3B90253299E4AF49658158AF8363345&nm=feastblog&type=Blog&mod=View+Topic&mid=203EFA5A75E443AABFE666D96C300490&tier=7&id=1D8CC7F24D774D09AB60150EA3B3F428

Just when I thought that I was adapting to Cleveland's winter, good ol'  Mother Nature throws us a curve ball. I gotta tell you that I didn't mind too much at all - seeing that J.B. Beverley and the Wayward Drifters' van was about under 2 feet of snow, they weren't going anywhere, so we made the best of it.  By Sunday we were getting a bit restless & seeing that there was plenty of adult beverages inhouse & plenty of food, we decided to have us a cabin fever party.

Rich Ellis, G.S. Harper & other fine musicians dug their way out of their driveways and drove on down to the Fryer. Lo & behold, we had us a fine time - music all day and into the night. Brgitte London showed up from Nashville at some point during the party and did a few songs w/the fellas. The whole day was magical.  Hmmm ... maybe Waylon's old band, The Waylors" will get snowed in with us this coming weekend!!!

Whitey Morgan called me early last spring and asked if his friend, Brigitte London, could stop by here on her way to Detroit to play for us here at the Fryer. I figured any friend of Whitey's was a friend of ours. Thus began my walk down the primrose path w/Brigitte and The Spirit Of The Outlaws.

Brigitte, Waylors - Richie Allbright,  Fred Newell, Jerry "Jiggers" Bridges, and Bakersfield guitar legend Eugene Moles, make up the extraordianary All Star Band that back the known and unknown musicians that travel to nashville's Douglas Corners every month for a show that you would not believe. Soon, this showcase of musicians will be hitting the road to play at venues around the world.  When they come to a town near you, check them out.

Not only will the Spirit of The Outlaws be touring, "Music on The Row Radio" features them every Sunday night (6-10pm central time) & a television show featuring the Spirit of The Outlaws shows will begin filming soon.

Check out my friends myspace pages and add them as friends ... you'll be glad to know these folks ... Susie

Please check out the latest installment of Armadillo Highway, NE Ohio's only webcast devoted to roots music.

This episode features tunes by:

The Whiskey Daredevils
The Tarbox Ramblers
Southern Culture on the Skids
Hayshaker Jones
Whitey Morgan and the Waycross Georgia Farmboys

Usead a different mic this week and I don't like the way the voiceovers sound...but other than that, please enjoy the music.

I have finally finished a 3rd installment of the Armadillo Highway.

This episode is chocked full of rootsy goodness including songs by:

David Childers
West Virginia Chrome
Hamell on Trial
Waylon Jennings
The Barn Burners
Bobby Lanphier

AND

A very special tribute to Townes Van Zandt sung by GS Harper live in the Armadillo Highway Home Studios.

Check the show out at

http://www.myspace.com/slingo71

Scroll down and press play on the little media player embedded on the page.

Enjoy
Clint
Hayshaker Jones
http://www.hayshakerjones.com

CONTACT:

Clint Holley

216.401.0877

clint@hayshakerjones.com

Town Fryer Festival Finer Than Frogs Hair

Celebrate Kentucky Derby Day Cleveland Style . . .

Mint Juleps, Live Music and a Frog Jumping Contest

WHAT:             Town Fryer 3rd Annual Frog Jumping Contest

Churchill Downs has the run for the rosesthat thrilling high stakes race of thoroughbred horses cheered on by socialites in lavish hats, but when the two minutes of fun is over, what is a mint julep junkie to do? The Town Fryer keeps the party going with its 3^rd Annual Frog Jumping Contest.

The fun begins at 4pm with mouthwatering Southern food specials and mint juleps. Then, when the Kentucky Derby winner has been draped in floral garland, the competition really heats up. You can shake your moneymaker to the rockin sounds of Robert Cornelius Band and the New Lou Reeds. Then, at 11pm, take a chance on the jumping of the frogs. For a small fee, you can jockey into position to race your own amphibian.

WHERE:           The Town Fryer, 3859 Superior, Cleveland, Ohio
216.426.9235

                        (www.myspace.com/townfryer)

WHEN:             Saturday, May 6, 2006 (Kentucky Derby Day), 4pm-midnight

         Food and mint juleps start at 4pm

         Live music begins at 10pm

          Frog Jumping Contest gets underway at 11pm 

# # #

Great night of music...Greg Harper showed up out of the blue.  Les returned from the dead and we all played our asses off.  Thanks to Elmer for holding down the keys this week.  Sounded good although we had no leslie cabinet.

Every week I will offer people free downloads of last weeks performances and also copies of the great Armadillo Highway roots comp that we put out last year.

Please bring you ipod. mp3 player, laptop or whatever...I will download the stuff right there for you from my computer. 

If you want burns of any of the stuff please bring your own cdrs....

The Town Fryer will be closed on Easter...go see your mom or something.

Kentucky Derby day is right around the corner...our 3rd annual Frog Jumping contest is right around the corner!  Stay tuned for details.