Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
under the boardwalk
I'm a virtual packrat.
I save various e-mails and electronic press releases, because you really never know when you might need them - although the volume is enough to bog down my e-mail account on most days.
But, like I said, sometimes ideas crop up and I'll think, "hey, didn't I get a press release or e-mail about that?"
Case in point: I didn't even recall saving an e-mail from July 9, but when I was searching through my Outlook archive folders by subject last week, I came across it and felt compelled to respond to the sender some three months later. The subject: "USAOPOLY RELEASES MONOPOLY: TRANSFORMERS COLLECTOR'S EDITION."
In sum, the company was touting its Optimus Prime-infused version of the U.S.'s most popular board game to coincide with the release of the summer blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."
So I responded to that e-mail last week, asking what other specialty Monopoly-based games the company produced.
Someone named Maggie responded: "A whole slew!!!
A few include: Seinfeld; The Nightmare Before Christmas; Las Vegas; The Beatles; G.I. Joe; Peanuts; National Parks."
Peanuts, really? Land on Snoopy's doghouse and collect $200?
Anyhow, the one that immediately grabbed my attention was the Sin City edition.
Folks like to call our tourist town Myrtle Vegas, so I just had to know...
And I sent Maggie this query: "So you've got Las Vegas - what about Myrtle-opoly?"
Her reply: "No; sorry!" Well, guess what Maggie - and faithful Surge readers?
If the actual game makers won't devise a Grand Strand-inspired version of Monopoly, then that leaves us with no choice. We must do it ourselves.
And we did.
Surely you've played Monopoly, in some form or fashion, even if it's the recurring version hawked at McDonald's? You played it at your grandmother's beach house, always getting ticked off at that cousin who snapped up all of the railroads and seemed to luck into owning high-rent properties Park Place and Boardwalk.
Sometimes a single game could last your entire summer vacation or spring break - or so it seemed.
The properties on the version of Monopoly most of us grew up with are actual locations in or near Atlantic City, N.J. - a seaside town famous for gambling and its four-mile boardwalk lined with shops, eateries and various sundries.
With Myrtle Beach - also a seaside town - now building its own boardwalk which city planners, developers and real estate mogul types hope will spur another oceanfront/downtown/Ocean Boulevard boom; we figured the time was ripe to unveil Myrtle-opoly.
Turn to page 15 to read all about this Myrtle-centric creation from the fertile mind of longtime local journalist/columnist Terry Massey as he guides you through the ins and outs of becoming a pretend Grand Strand real estate baron.
We've also provided a customized board that you can actually play on, presented on pages 16-17.
If you don't?
Do not pass Go, do not collect $200 salary and go straight to J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
CHILYMPIC SPIRIT
Hopefully by press time, the fire in my gut lit by Quigley's Pint and Plate's Ghost Chili served up at the 10th annual Lip-Rippin' Chilympics in Murrells Inlet on Sunday will have died down.
Serving as a volunteer judge for the cook-off that benefits the Grand Strand Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, I took one bite of Quigley's Ghost Chili and immediately knew it was the type of heat that takes your breath away - it altered my day, as I told a couple of friends I encountered at the event, which was held once again in the parking lot of Spud's Waterfront Dining/Crazy Sister Marina.
My fellow judges must have agreed, because it captured the first place award for Hottest Chili at the cook-off, with Jolly Roger's Effin' Hot Melting Pot placing second.
The latter, I did not taste. The judging was split up so that we only had to sample a dozen chilis apiece, opposed to having to scarf down all 30-plus varieties vying for the prizes.
Other winners include:
• Most Original - 1. Spud's Waterfront Dining's Wild Game Chili (it was good, I tasted it) 2. Pawleys Island Tavern's S.C. Bonafide (also tasty);
• Best Theme - 1. The New Health Care Chili 2. Bistro 217, CHILI;
• Best Vegetarian - 1. Mr. Fish's Wahoo Seafood Chili 2. Divine Fish House's Veggie Out;
• People's Choice - 1, Dog's Way Inn's Soggy Bottom Chili 2. Creek Ratz's Shrimp and Black Eyed Peas;
• Best Restaurant - 1. Dagwood's Mother Clucker's White Chicken Chili (got a sample of this tasty dish even though they had to shut it down because some kid threw a corn hole beanbag in the pot) 2. Dog's Way Inn's Soggy Bottom Chili;
• Best Overall - 1. Aubin Hooker's Hokie Heat 2. New South Brewery's Bravotoberfest.
Organizers have already asked me back next year, and I've already agreed.
Hopefully, the Ghost Chili won't still be haunting me.