The Beard Team USA Blog

BTUSA pre-NYCBMC pig-outs

2009-03-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

BTUSA members and fans in town for the New York City Beard and Moustache Championshps on March 14 will want to attend these pre-event events:
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Dinner on Friday will be at the Fette Sau (German for fat pig) BBQ at 6 pm sharp.

This is a full-on carnivores' pig-out where we'll buy giant pieces of dead pigs, cows, and chickens by the pound, eat at picnic tables, and drink beer out of glass jars. Vegetarians are welcome but they should bring their own vegetables.

The address is 354 Metropolitan Avenue (between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211. Phone: 718-963-3404.
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Afterwards (7-ish) we'll head to the Lazy Catfish, a local hangout of the Gotham City Beardsman Alliance where Southern Comfort Food & drink (or is that Southern Comfort, food, and drink?) are available.

The Catfish is at 593 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211. Phone: 718.599.9055.

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As soon as we leave the Lazy Catfish we are moving on to the Third Ward, 195 Morgan Ave. (corner of Stagg St) where photographer Lisa Dillin needs us for a photo shoot. We may have to rush because Lisa needs us there by 1 pm on Saturday. This is the first time there has ever been a dress code for a BTUSA event. Lisa wants us to wear drab, monotonous, dull, and mundane-looking suits and ties. Don't get a haircut between now and then. If you are coming please let Lisa know and ask her for more details on the dress code. lisadillin@yahoo.com. Oh yeah, Lisa is offering whiskey and beer.

General becomes King!

2009-03-07T06:22:00.000-08:00

Fresh off his success in organizing the first ever St. Croix Beard Team USA contest, which drew a good crowd of locals and tourists during the Mardi Croix celebration in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, the General was chosen to be king of the Mardi Croix Parade for 2009.
As is always the case with royalty, the General was chosen for the honor purely by chance, in this case by having his name picked out of a hat. As is frequently the case with royalty, the General/King's primary responsibilities were to waive to the crowd and be drunk. Well done, your majesty!

Word from the prof

2009-03-04T06:28:00.000-08:00

Sociology professor, head of the Holy City Beard and Moustache Society (Charleston, SC), and WBMC first-timer, Dr. Paul Roof, shares his views here:

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A65130

Intra-squad rivalry

2009-02-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

Austin (Texas) Facial Hair Club MVP and Beard Team USA member Bryan Nelson, who sports a bright red Texas-sized beard, is on a mission to dethrone full-beard-natural world champ and BTUSA teammate Jack Passion in Anchorage this May. It seems Jack (known to his fans as "the Pash") had the audacity to suggest that his own beard might be better than that of Texas' patron saint Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. The AFHC and Bryan consider the honor of the Lone Star State at stake. Meanwhile 2003 FBN world champ and BTUSA member David Traver, who is a founder of the South Central Alaska Beard Club, host of the WBMC 09, reminds everyone that in Alaska "Texas-sized" means "small." Game on!

Misprint rap-up

2009-02-27T14:14:00.000-08:00

Last week's Third Annual Misprint Beard and Moustache Competition in Austin, Texas which was a huge success. There were 87 competitors, 900 screaming fans, and a line around the block to get in. Pictured here is Allen Demling of the Austin Facial Hair Club, a local chapter of Beard Team USA, who took first in the "gnarliest beard" category. Meanwhile AFHC member Alex LaRoche won for the "best groomed beard." Past Misprint winner Bryan Nelson, AFHC's President and MVP, sat on the bench (in the judicial sense), serving as a judge so as to give others a chance. Besides, since the judges were allowed to accept bribes, judging was better than winning. The AFHC will be in Anchorage helping establish America as the premier power in world bearding. Misprint Magazine organized the competition and knows how to throw a party.

Here's an excellent gallery of photos from the Mispritn.

Don't mis the Misprint in Austin

2009-02-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

Date: February 20, 2009
Time: 9 pm
Place: Mohawk Patio, 912 Red River St., Austin, Texas

Go Steelers!

2009-01-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

BTUSA does not normally take positions on matters such as the Super Bowl, presidential elections, evolution vs. creation, etc. But this year our own Justin Hartwig will be on the field as the starting center for the Steelers. Good luck, Justin!

March Madness

2009-01-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

The month of March 2009 brings three -- count 'em, three -- major beard contests on the East Coast.

March 6 -- Virginia Beard and Moustache Championships, The Waterfront Gourmet, Alexandria, Virginia. Wear green. It's St. Patrick's month. Contact the General.

March 14 -- New York City Beard and Moustache Championships, 8 pm, Public Assembly, 70 North 6th St., Brooklyn, New York. Info.

March 28 -- Dunedin Beard and Moustache Championships, 1-5 pm, Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas, Ave., Dunedin, Florida. Info.

Eagles, Mantooth Fly

2009-01-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

The Philadelphia Eagles and many of their fans are currently growing beards for the WBMC in Alaska. Unfortunately, the press keeps getting the story wrong, reporting that the beards are for the Superbowl instead. Oh well.

Click here to watch our own Brian Mantooth talk beards with CBS3 reporter Anne Marie Green.

James on TV

2008-12-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Baton Rouge TV recently covered James de Breuys and his plans to compete in the WBMC in Alaska. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIE4UFk-F80&feature=related

Oil City

2008-11-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

All reports from the first ever Western Pennsylvania Beard and Moustache Championships in Oil City confirm that organizer Dave Grams and the Western PA Beard Alliance knocked it out of the park!

Special thanks also to the Pumpkin Bumpkin Festival and Billy's Bar.

Results:

Partial Beard- Andy Macelwee
Goatee- Andy Beech
Freestyle- Ty Baker
Mustache- Mr. Lolo
Fake Beard Children- Cooper Allen Grams
Fake Beard Women- Rosebud
Full Beard- Sir Roger Walters

See you next year!

Kris L from the OC

2008-10-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

Our own Kris Luettchau's effort to raise money for his planned trip to Anchorage recently got a boost with this story appearing in the Orange County Register. (Photo by Steve Zylius, Orange County Register.)

Video Report from Petaluma

2008-10-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

The town of Petaluma, California, held its annual Bill Soberanes’ Memorial Petaluma Whiskerino Contest on Saturday October 11, 2008. BTUSA was there.

Oil City publicity

2008-09-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent article appearing in the Derrick (thederrick.com)about the upcoming Pennsylvania championships organized by BTUSA's own Dave Grams and the Western Pennsylvania Beard Alliance.
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Oil City can claim a new distinction next month when the Pennsylvania State Championship Beard and Mustache competition is held during the community's Halloween celebration.

The contest is set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, during the annual Pumkin Bumkin festival in Justus Park.

"They have these contests elsewhere in the U.S. and I thought Pennsylvania needed one. And since I'm in charge, as president and founder of the Western Pennsylvania Beard and Moustache Alliance, I said, 'let's have it here'," said Dave Grams of Oil City.

Grams, 21, attends Clarion University where he is majoring in elementary education and special education.

He sports a 16-inch curly, auburn-colored beard, a facial quirk that he intends to keep uncut until he and his brother, Nathan, and a few buddies trek up to Alaska next May for the world beard championship judging.

Grams' foray into the facial hair world began in an unlikely scenario.

"I went to Venango Christian (high school) and we weren't allowed to have beards. I have a heavy beard so sometimes I had to shave twice a day. Once I graduated, I said 'enough' and quit shaving. It's been a year and a half so far," Grams said.

There is a misconception that beard-wearers are "lazy" because people think they simply don't want to shave, Grams said.

"I spend so much time every morning shampooing, conditioning, brushing and combing my beard. It takes me 10 times the amount of time it took me to shave so it's a lot harder," he said.

The state beard and mustache championship in Oil City is open to anyone, said the organizer. There will be categories for full beard, mustache, goatee and partial beard. Judges will be local beauticians and barbers. There's one more category, too, Grams said, and it is designed as a "fun event."

"It's a fake category. We want women and kids to enter, too, by making their own beards or mustaches. They can't buy them - they have to be home-made," Grams said.

No trophies or cash prizes will be featured in the state championship, one that has drawn interest from beard aficionados representing "Beard" magazine, a beard-related Web site and chapters in other states.

"Basically, it's just a matter of honor - the winner will have 'the best' in either beard or mustache in the entire state. That's a neat thing in itself," Grams said.

More information on the contest is available by contacting Grams at 1-814-678-0011 or on his website at www.myspace.com/wpbma.

Planets align Oct 25

2008-09-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

Wow! There are two different beard/moustache events set for the same day -- October 25, 2008. Those with the ability to be in two places at once will want to attend both:

-- Pennsylvania Beard and Moustache Championships, Oil City, Pennsylvania, organized by the Western Pennsylvania Beard Alliance. Contact Dave Grams, gunth79@yahoo.com.

-- Stache Bash '08, St. Louis, Missouri, organized by the American Moustache Institute. See http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/StacheBash.aspx. Nominations for the Robert Goulet Memorial Moustached American of the Year Award are due October 3. http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/MustacheAmericanOfYear.aspx.

Tony: "Anyone can run and jump."

2008-08-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer featuring the Tri-State Beard and Moustache Club, a local chapter of BTUSA located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and its preparations for the WBMC in Anchorage. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/26902224.html.

Joyce Daze '08

2008-07-16T14:03:00.001-07:00

The Joyce Daze Wild Blackberry Festival Beard, Moustache, and Goatee Contest is set for Saturday, August 2, 2008, in Joyce, Washington, located on the Olympic Peninsula just west of Port Angeles. Pictured here are last year's competitors in the full beard division.

Registration is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and costs $5. The contest judging will be at 11:30 a.m. This year's judges include Jeff Well and Guy Thompson, both of whom placed at the 2007 World Beard and Moustache Championships in England.

In addition to the beard contest, the festival features a parade, a salmon bake, a wild blackberry pie contest, antique cars, and lots fun all day long. For more information see http://www.joycewa.com/joycedaze.htm or contact Jane Childers (jchildj@gmail.com).

Josh's beard-itorial

2008-06-10T18:45:00.000-07:00

Josh Mason, friend and supporter of Beard Team USA, who will be making his WBMC debut in Anchorage, has published an essay on bearding in Folio Weekly, Northeast Florida's News and Opinion Magazine.

Read it here: http://joshmason.info/?p=11.

Josh is the best friend of Micah Vandegrift, a veteran of the 2005 WBMC in Berlin and the founder of the Florida State University Beard Club.

Burke on TV

2008-05-24T15:44:00.001-07:00

Check out this clip of world champion (full beard, styled moustache) Burke Kenny on the Evening Magazine in Seattle.

http://www.king5.com/video/eveningmagazine-index.html?nvid=247640

Pash: "Losers shave"

2008-04-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

ESPN recently asked BTUSA's own world champion in the full beard natural category Jack Passion for some commentary on the NHL playoff beard situation. Here is Jack's article in ESPN Magazine. See http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3337746&type=story.

Albany Chapter Weighs in on Spitzer Scandal

2008-03-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Jason Smith, spokesperson for the Albany Beard and Moustache Federation, a local chapter of Beard Team USA, reports as of March 11, 2008:

"It has been and exciting twenty-four hours here in the Empire State, and it looks as though there is a good chance that Lieutenant Governor David A. Patterson might be taking up residence at 138 Eagle Street.

"It is not the place of the Albany BMF to make comments, or pass judgment on the actions of Governor Elliot Spitzer, but we will say that we are excited at the prospect of having a beard in charge."

Portrait of a Man with Portrait of a Man

2007-11-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

This is a portrait of a man with Portrait of a Man painted about 1544-1548 by Francesco Salviati. The man is BTUSA's Daniel Dobrick. The identity of man in the portrait in the portrait is a mystery but he is "almost certainly Florentine gentleman of high standing." Undoubtedly he is one of Daniel's ancestors and an early member of Beard Team USA.

You can see the portrait in the portrait at the Getty Musuem (see http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=906) but you can only see the portrait with the portrait here.

Zach's NY Photo Exhibit

2007-11-19T16:53:00.000-08:00

BTUSA photographer extraordinaire Zach Ramey's exhibit of photos from the WBMC in Brighton will run from Nov 29 to Jan 3 at Lottgal . . . Wait a minute, you can read.

There or square.

Calling all Aussies

2007-11-17T07:41:00.001-08:00

The Beards, Adelaide's all-bearded band that only sings songs about beards, is recruiting Australia's best beards to join Team Australia which will compete for the land down under (or up over depending on your perspective) at the WBMC 2009 in Alaska.

Unbearded but patriotic Aussies should stop shaving now and plan to join the team in Anchorage.

For more info email Michael at thebeardsclub@hotmail.com. For more on the Beards, see www.myspace.com/thebeardsclub.

Royal advice

2007-11-07T07:54:00.001-08:00

"A neatly cut beard is of enormous importance in life, believe me. It produces an extraordinary effect. Look at me. I have my beard cut regularly twice a week and I am certain that a great deal of my popularity is due to it."

According to the New York Times (May 17, 1903), King Edward VII (Queen Victoria's son -- Queen Elizabeth's great grandfather) gave this advice to Sir Edmond Monson. Monson took the king's advice and then rose to the "top of his profession" becoming Ambassador to Paris.

I don't necessarily agree with the king, since I think there is more to grooming than cutting. I would substitute the word "groomed" for "cut" in the above quote.