Bigmista's G Town Bash/Fundraisers
 

Big Mista return to G town

Attachment 48237
The Official Houston Foodie Shot

Had this been my Church Fundraiser I would have given the BBQ Meal that was being served up a groovy name that let all know the this was the epicenter of Galveston - the G Spot if you will... but alas, stunts like that are the reason the Pope has personally specified I not walk into a Catholic Church.

Neil's Church is Episcopalian, the only denomination I hold above my own (Methodist), mostly because they stood on the proper side of the Temperance movement (we were on the wrong side) and earned their congregation the moniker, "whiskeybellions."

Attachment 48228
St Augustine of Hippo Church - the Church he grew up in

Attachment 48231
Pat Tate, Neil's Momma in Pink sitting

So, I finally got some time after recuperating from my job this week with my Special Ed Class, (I taught them to sing the Blues classic, 'Mistreated') and drove the Popdaddy FunkWagon down to see Neil for his visit to Texas and Galveston.

Attachment 48230
Sweet Loving Couple who stayed for hours listening to the Manna Band.

Galveston is a very historical city, the county is of course best noted for being the origin point for the Texas Couch dance, which we have to thank for being the precursor to the Lap Dance which broke out into the strip scene in the 1980's and early 1990's.

But back to Neil and his church fundraiser. The food was wonderful; I met Ernie Ramirez, who had a nice walk for last year's Houston Livestock and Rodeo and I heard placed well at the Jack as well. Also met a guy named Tony who was telling me about how he will be conquering Pennsylvania and we all laughed til we were asthmatic about "northern Q" and what constitutes a "trophy" and the many KCBS pageants they have. But enough about Harpoons and some of the world's worse BBQ (sans, Smoke in your eye - who is actually a Texas by way of Memphis so he doesn't count and also ICUE). :heh:

Attachment 48229
Lonnie and the Gear - a story about Lonnie. Lonnie was perhaps, hands down the hardest working volunteer (and some paid workers) I have seen in my life at any competition or event. He was always smiling, gracious, didn't bat an eye when I was pulling chix and a starving man came by and I gave him a chicken (hey, its not my chicken). But one thing had me laughing. At one point Tony and Ernie left and there was one load of chix Neil was not aware of. I had no therm so I peeked at them and they shook hands well and POURED out clear juices. So I did not want to get dirty so I volunteered to hold the pan for Lonnie while he tonged the chix out. With every pull of one single chix he would go "oh Lawd help me." I mean every pull... and there were maybe 10 a shelf. It was a slooooooow process.... I finally passed him the pan and pulled all the chix in about 4 seconds. He was amazed... LOL. I told him fire was your friend as he noticed my hands, calloused from years of pulling hot items. Maybe I have lost my nerves in my hands... anyway... Lonnie needs to work in BBQ.


Here are some pictures of the wondrous world class meal that Big Mista

Attachment 48232
Chix - speaking of Chix I missed getting a picture of a nice Polish Girl in pig tails who came to eat... she kept talkin' to the padre - in polish - which added and extra layer of sassiness, to her... and the Popdaddy Van was just feet away. :-(

Attachment 48233
The Church, right across the street from where my dad taught for many years, had significant surge in it... about 2-3 feet.

Attachment 48234
Neil and his no-grecian formula packin' self

Attachment 48235
Neil, his agent and personal assistant with the Borg in her ear and my buddy Jim Pucchetti (aka against the grain). Can you believe we both know a guy that was arrested for meeting with minors in a Dickinson motel and serving them up alcohol?

Attachment 48236
How I wanted to steal a slice of this cake and stick a dollar in the missing wedge.

Been waiting for pix. Thanks for sharing.

Of course I shot 50 times as much video so there will be a vid coming...

How much time did you get for the Minor Alcohol Gig?:heh:

Thank you for sharing these photos I look forward to the videos.

Doc

Excellent thanks!

Too far before my time, LOL. Actually, and here is what a small world it is, made broad by the Brethren. I met Jim online during IKE through the brethren when I was living in Connecticut. We have know each other since then and Jim was wonderful when I moved back home - very friendly. Anyway I mentioned an old motel in Dickinson and out pops the fact that he took electronics at Ball High from this man that got arrested there. He said the last name I said the first... my Dad got him his job! He knew the guy because he coudl fix his Collin Ham Radio like nobody's biz and the guy was down on his luck and Dad just wanted to help. In all actuality, he was doing a bit more with one particular minor than drinking but in those days the courts were a bit different so he got a alcohol charge only.

The purpose of this story is just to show that in my opinion, I was destined to join up with the brethren.... I also met shane, who lived in nebraska while I was connecticut and one day while telling an old story about my hometown he admitted he grew up there.

The brethren is such a family.

Looks like a great Event!

Thanks for the pictures looks like a good time was had. I love the woman rocking that cool hat I want one just like it. Bring on the videos. :clap2:

She dances well too.

Some great pics! Love the one of the church with the big palm tree. :thumb:

Thanks for coming out and taking pics Donnie! I was so busy that I couldn't take a lot but here are mine.

Morgan chilling with her Great Granny

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The first pit arrives. The Pitmaker Interceptor
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...Q/IMAG0026.jpg

My Mom, John the church electrician, Officer Patrick Mullins, George Shore of Pitmaker LLC and Jim Puccetti (Against the Grain).

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Only one way to thank the guy for lending us a pit.

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Some ribs and pig candy I cooked for the crew.

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Ed Rios and Junior from Drillin & Grillin BBQ Team

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...Q/IMAG0041.jpg

Seasoning some pig candy. Got too much cayenne on it so it was too spicy for some folks but not many.

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Me and Lonnie. That brother worked his butt off.

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Me and Rev. Chester Makowski

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Me being interviewed by Katherine Shilcutt of the Houston Press

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Ribs going in The Vault

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Those look right...

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Big Pits everywhere!

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The brisket meal

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Mom still telling me what to do.

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My hollywood daughter

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Officer Mullins painting the chicken

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Briskets coming out

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Even the Methodist Minister needs some BBQ

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A lively game of Freeze Tag

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We raised $5000 for the church's community garden and had a lot of fun doing it. I appreciate everyone that came out to help.

Amazing! Glad you had the brethren by your side.

I will post up some pictures later, I slept all day.

Looks like a great time! :thumb:

Cheers

Great job guys. So what did you think of the Pitmaker ?

Very well crafted. A lot of thought went into the design and I've never seen a more airtight pit. I'd like to practice on it more but it turned out some great product.

thanks for sharing, looks like a great time!

Pitmaker is a great pit, didn't take a lot of fuel to get the temp up. Like Neil said, very tight and well insulated.

Glad it went well and great pictures! Sorry I couldn't be there but it looks like you did a great job! :thumb:

Looks like everyone had a good time and some great food...!!

Thanks for sharing the pics :thumb:

This article came out on the Houston Press Website.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating...er_returns.php

Just saw the shout out by Robb Walsh about this. Congrats man! BBQ helping the world!

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating...er_returns.php

Way to right, thank ya!

This is awesome...I love it

Thank you for sharing looked like a spectacular gig congrats on the success

A'ight!!!
Thanks for the pics and info!

Great pics & write-up! Just no work i couldn't break away from work and go to this.

Good work

Nicely done,
great pics and article.

THe folks at the church are really happy with the turnout and the article. I hope it brings more people to the church.

A thing of beauty - nicely done!