Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen

Meeting Tonight!

2009-04-08T09:37:00.001-05:00

Gentlemen!

For your pleasure, we will be meeting tonight at The Globe Pub (1934 Irving Park Road) at 7pm.

If you have not attended a meeting before it generally consists of us bearded fellows (and sometimes non-bearded ladies) conversing about the majesty of facial hair while imbibing ourselves on The Globe Pub's wonderful beer selection and bar food.

Please join us!

tom

CLBG Now on Facebook!

2009-03-12T10:44:00.002-05:00

We're keeping up with the times, my friends. If you're on Facebook, come join our group. Perhaps you want to express to the virtual world your love for beards or perhaps you haven't been able to join in at our monthly meetings but still want to celebrate your beard or moustache in a digital manner. Show your support by joining the Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen Facebook group.

Next Meeting -- Wednesday, March 11

2009-03-10T08:45:00.002-05:00

Gentlemen!

Our next meeting will be held tomorrow at 7pm at The Globe Pub on Irving Park Road. Come share a brew and chat about beards and moustaches and how wonderful it is to own one!

UPDATE: World Beard & Moustache Championship

2009-03-04T16:35:00.003-06:00

Gentlemen!

Here are some updates from Phil Olson (Beard Team USA Pres.) regarding travel and accommodations for the WBMC as well as some upcoming local competitions leading up to the big bout. Also, we've got a bit of pre-WBMC smack talk going on between our bearded brethren in Austin, Texas and Anchorage, Alaska.

With less than three months to go until the next World Beard and Moustache Championships, 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! If you would like to comment, you can do so here: http://usabeard.blogspot.com.

TRAVEL:
If you are dying to make it to the WBMC but feel you don't have enough time or the money, here is what you need to do. Hitchhike, ride your bike, or teleport yourself to Minneapolis on May 22. Take Northwest Airline's non-stop flight to Anchorage. Spend three nights in Anchorage at the Spendard Hostel (www.alaskahostel.org). Return to Minneapolis on Northwest on Monday, May 26, which is Memorial Day so you don't have to work or go to school anyway. Airfare: $368 round-trip, including tax. Lodging: $25 per night at the hostel. Entry into the WBMC on Saturday: $40. Friday night party and Alaska Grizzly Beard Contest: $15. Sunday's excursion to Portage Lake and Crow Creek Mine: $60. You can register online for the WBMC events athttp://www.akbeardclub.com/registrationopti.html.

WARM-UP CONTESTS:

March 6 -- Alexandria (see http://novabeard.blogspot.com/)

March 7 -- South Central Alaska Beard Club -- Anchorage. This is the Alaska State Beard and Moustache Competition that is part of the annual Miners' and Trappers Ball. See http://www.akbeardclub.com/index.html.

March 14 -- New York City Beard and Moustache Championships on (see www.nycbmc.com)

March 28 -- Beardsman.com Beard Contest, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin, FL

May 8 -- First ever Beard-zoo and Competition, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Check out the blog at www.myspace.com/kzoobeards.

Beard-second

2009-02-20T11:50:00.000-06:00

From Wikipedia:

The beard-second is a unit of length inspired by the light year, but used for extremely short distances such as those in nuclear physics. The beard-second is defined as the length an average beard grows in a second, or about 5 nanometers^[1].

One beard-second equals 50 Ångströms (10^-10 m).

Optional Accessory

2009-01-08T12:56:00.000-06:00

Here's a video I found on YouTube by ukulelezo.

Next Meeting -- Wednesday, December 11

2008-12-09T16:02:00.004-06:00

Gentlemen!

We shall convene once again at The Globe Pub at 7pm on Wednesday, December 11 for our monthly gathering of bearded and moustachioed gentlemen! Anyone arriving with Flapwings will receive a free drink courtesy of me!

World Beard & Moustache Championships 2009

2008-11-12T16:38:00.003-06:00

Gentlemen!

Here is a message I received from our friends and organizers of the next World Beard & Moustache Championships at the South Central Alaska Beard and Moustache Club.

Hello Friends,

It is with great pride and excitement that we announce the opening of Contestant Registration and Spectator Ticket Sales for the 9th World Beard and Moustache Championships! We have a great week of events planned and look forward to a very competitive Championship event on May 23, 2009. There promises to be a large field of European contestants who will be making the trip over to Alaska and we look forward to having many folks from several other countries as well as the lower 48 States vie for the various Titles.

I have included the main link to the Championship page on the SCAKBMC website. You will have the option to register and buy tickets on-line or off-line here. If you do have any questions please email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you have general questions about Anchorage or activities that are available outside of the contest, please visit the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

If you are unfamiliar with the history of the World Beard and Moustache Championships, you can visit the WBMC website for a good overview of the Championships and some great contestant photographs.

All three websites will have links to the Registration and Ticket sales page.
SCAKBMC website for Registration and Ticket Sales: http://www.akbeardclub.com/2009worldbeardan.html
Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau web page: http://www.anchorage.net/worldbeard
World Beard and Moustache Championships web page: http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

All of us involved with this great event look forward to showing each of you a good time and sharing our beautiful State with you. We have tried to include all of the contact email addresses that we have, but please pass the information around to all who might be interested. Thank you and see you soon!

Sincerely,

Bob Gengler
President - SCAKBMC
bob@akbeardclub.com

David Traver
Vice President - SCAKBMC
scakbmc@yahoo.com

South Central AK Beard & Moustache Club
Anchorage, Alaska
www.akbeardclub.com

Next Meeting -- Wednesday, November 12

2008-10-30T18:01:00.003-05:00

Gentlemen!

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12 at 7pm at The Globe Pub. And remember -- moustachioed men are welcome as well:

image courtesy of Karen Kurycki

10 Very Good Reasons Why You Should Grow A Giant Beard

2008-10-21T13:14:00.003-05:00

I just found this site and wanted to share it with everyone:

Meeting Tonight!!!

2008-10-08T11:04:00.002-05:00

Gentlemen!

Our next meeting is set to take place in fewer than 8 hours! Come on by to The Globe Pub at 7pm (in the back room) to meet up with your fellow bearded Chicagoans and discuss the wonders of possessing awesome facial hair!

I will not be able to join you tonight, but when you see another bearded or moustachioed fellow offer him a hearty handshake in the spirit of bearded brotherhood.

Stamp of Approval

2008-10-01T11:55:00.003-05:00

Gentlemen!

For those of you with full moustaches and beards, feel free to use this logo on your personal website, myspace or facebook page. It is the official stamp of approval from the CLBG.

A Message From Beard Team USA

2008-09-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

With less than nine months to go until the next World Beard and Moustache Championships, 224 members of Beard Team USA have already announced their plans to make the trip to Alaska. We are also expecting most of the European beard clubs as well as new groups from new countries to come too. This is going to be huge!

At the end of this message, I have reproduced my earlier message containing the details on the planned group trip, with a few changes. Here is some additional information you should have at this time:

Deadline for cruise ship reservations -- Carnival Cruise Lines has given us until September 27 to reserve space on the cruise ship at current prices ($799 per person for an inside cabin, $999 per person for an "oceanview" cabin). After that date, you can still reserve space as long as the cruise is not sold out, but the prices may go up. To reserve space you need to call Carnival at 1-866-721-3225 and make a deposit of $350 per person. Tell them you want to book a cabin under group reservation no. 3ZB109, which is for Beard Team USA. The deposit is fully refundable if you cancel by Feb 26. The balance is due the cruise line by Feb 26.

Changes to program -- There are two changes to the program planned for our stay in Anchorage. 1) The local Lions Clubs are concerned that they will not have enough volunteers to host all of us for various Alaskan adventures on Thursday. However, there is a huge variety of activities and excursions available from various companies in Anchorage which vary considerably in cost. The organizers will help you find the right activity to suit your taste and budget. 2) Instead of the 26-Glacier cruise on Sunday, the Anchorage Visitors and Conventions Bureau is organizing an excursion to the Portage Glacier which will be followed by "Beer and Brats" at the Cold Creek Mine.

Airfare -- Airfares to and from Alaska next May are probably cheaper than you think, given all of the publicity about the struggling airlines. I suggest you consider booking your flights soon, as the fares could easily go up.

Here are some fares I found today at www.kayak.com for round-trip travel to Anchorage in May (dep May 19, return May 26) including all taxes: from San Francisco $531, from NY $574, from Chicago $517, from Baltimore $512, from Denver $490, from Seattle $417, from LA $557.

For those going on the cruise, here is what I found for airfare to Vancouver on May 13, returning from Anchorage on May 26: SF $448, NY $643, Chicago $580, Baltimore $660, Denver $530, LA $495. (If you are going on the cruise, note that you must check in for the cruise by 4 pm on May 13, so be sure you flight gets to Vancouver by 2 pm on May 13 at the latest. It would be much safer to fly in on May 12 and spend the night in Vancouver. You also might save a little money by flying to Seattle on May 12 and then taking the bus to Vancouver.)

If you are already in Seattle you can take the bus to Vancouver for $55 and then fly one-way from Anchorage to Seattle on May 26 for only $208.

RV rentals in Anchorage -- Some people in our group are considering exploring Alaska by rental RV following the championships. If you are thinking of doing this, you should know that ABC Motorhomes is offering a 50% discount for rentals next May if you book and pay in full by October 31. A 30-foot motorhome rents for $100 per day. See http://www.abcmotorhome.com/specials.html

Raising money for the trip -- Several of our members are seeking sponsors in their local areas to help them pay for their trip to Alaska. One of our members, Atom Shock, has started a blog for this purpose. Check it out: http://shocksalaskanbeardquest.blogspot.com/

Please keep me posted on your plans and let me know if there is any additional information you would like. This is going to be a blast. Keep those beards and moustaches growing. Go USA!

Cheers,

Phil Olsen

Founder and self-appointed Captain

Beard Team USA

Next Meeting -- Wednesday, September 10

2008-09-02T11:49:00.001-05:00

Gentlemen!

Come all ye and gather 'round The Globe Pub for another rousing adventure in beard-dom! As always, we will be meeting in the back room of The Globe Pub at 7pm.

And remember, we hold our meetings every 2nd Wednesday of the month. That being said, here are the dates for the meetings for the rest of 2008:

October 8
November 12
December 10

Next Meeting -- Wednesday, August 13

2008-08-12T12:35:00.002-05:00

Next Meeting -- Wednesday, July 16

2008-07-12T12:42:00.001-05:00

Gentlemen!

Our next meeting is fast approaching -- this Wednesday, July 16. This meeting we will return to our usual location and time at The Globe Pub at 7pm.

This meeting is very important as we will be nominating officers to serve for the upcoming year. The elections will be held next month.
Here are the rules for nomination:

Any member can nominate any other member or themselves for an office.If nominated for multiple offices you can only accept nomination in one office.Must be bearded and present to vote for officers at the next meeting.
You do not need to be present to be nominated but must accept or decline nomination by the next meeting.
Elections will be held on August 13.

Here is a review of the Officer positions and responsibilities:

The President
Oversees and manages all operations of The Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen
Stands in as The Judge should The Judge be absent
The VP
Assists The President in operation of The Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen
Stands in as The President should The President be absent
The Judge
Determines respectability of facial hair, which in turn determines one's membership status and voting privileges
Stands in as The VP should The VP be absent

Start thinking of who you would like to nominate and we'll see you this Wednesday, July 16 at The Globe Pub at 7pm.

A Message From Bob Gengler -- President of SCAKBMC

2008-07-08T10:47:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

With a little less that one year left until the 9th World Beard and Moustache Championships, all of us in Anchorage wish to extend our warmest greetings and our sincere hope that each of you will join us here on May 23, 2009. Plans are well underway to make this incarnation of the contest one that will be remembered and a trip of a lifetime. We at the South Central Alaska Beard and Moustache Club, in conjunction with the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Lions Clubs of Anchorage, and the Miners and Trappers Ball are in the last stages of finalizing the itinerary for the days surrounding the main event.

The end of May is a time of great energy in Alaska as the long winter finally sheds its iron grip on the North and the sunlight lasts for many hours of the day warming the ground and the heart. Many animals are giving birth to their young and it is not uncommon at all to see a cow moose with twin calfs roaming the streets and trails of Anchorage. Flowers are starting to bloom in town while the majestic mountains that surround the city are still covered with glistening snow.

It is a great honor to host the Championships and we hope to share the long history of our own beard competition- The Mr. Fur Face competition, with the world, as we are very proud of it. Please find attached to this email a copy of the invitation to the event with a tentative schedule of events. If you are not able to open the attachment, please go to --- http://www.akbeardclub.com/wbmcinvitation.html --- for an online version. Please also visit our club website for additional information as well as the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau's website at: http://www.anchorage.net/2150.cfm.

Our club is planning on hosting a informal barbecue in addition to the other scheduled events, and we look forward to sharing our Alaskan hospitality. As more details are set, we will send out additional emails. If you would like to be removed from our email list and wish to not receive further emails, simply email us your request. Please do not hesitate to contact either me or David if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Bob Gengler
President - SCAKBMC
bob@akbeardclub.com
David Traver
Vice President - SCAKBMC
scakbmc@yahoo.com

Well Met, Gentlemen!

2008-06-26T12:16:00.002-05:00

Many thanks to Sohail from Beard Care Products for attending our meeting on Tuesday. His historical and informative beard-centric game show was a huge success and there have been rave reviews for the products that were handed out in the gift bags!

For those of you who were not in attendance, but are still interested in some beard care products of your own, head over to the Beard Care Products website and start shopping! You will not only be supporting a local business, but every item on the website (except for one) is made right here in America by people who have a passion for facial hair and making it look and smell fancy!

Next Meeting -- Tuesday, June 24

2008-06-06T12:11:00.002-05:00

Oh, boy do we have a treat for you! This month the Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen is very excited to bring in our friend Sohail from beardcareproducts.com! Sohail will be demonstrating some of the products they sell and will samples available to all who attend!

Here is a little tidbit about Beard Care Products from their website:

We are an online shop selling a wide range of distinct and specialty beard products. We search far and wide for top quality products and bring them within a "click" of our customers. Our selected range of products include shampoos, lotions, conditioners, oils and trimming accessories.

I know a few members already use products that are sold at Beard Care Products and the satisfaction level is high! Some products include Beardsley Shampoo & Conditioner, Professor Fuzzworthy's Organic Beard Care Gloss, Bluebeard's Original Beard Wash & Saver, and a wide variety of beard soaps.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this meeting will be held at the Apollo Theater located at 2540 North Lincoln Avenue. There is off-street parking available and it is a quick walk from the Fullerton Brown/Red/Purple line stop. Same time as always -- 7pm. All future meetings will be held at our usual meeting place, The Globe Pub.

KICKBALL!!!

2008-05-30T08:59:00.005-05:00

The Bearded Masses have spoken!

For those interested in joining a rec sports league, we have decided on Kickball. Here's the skinny:

There are two different leagues we can choose from.

Both start on Wednesday, June 25 with games taking place every Wednesday between 6-10pm for 7 weeks.

A minimum of 10 people are needed.

It is a co-ed league so we need at least 4 (fake) bearded ladies, preferably more.

The league will cost anywhere between $55-88, but the more people who join the cheaper it gets!

What I need in order to make this happen is a firm commitment from everyone who is interested in playing. The application deadline is fast approaching. Reply here or send me an email to chicagobeards@gmail.com.

And for those of you hesitating, you don't need to have any skill whatsoever. This is not a competitive league. We're simply playing to have some fun and spread the word of the Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen.

Come join your fellow bearded Chicagoans in some grand outdoor activities!

(photo courtesy of Menace II Sobriety)

2008-05-28T16:35:00.004-05:00

Gentlemen!

If any of you are need of a haircut I hereby give my stamp of approval to The Belmont Barbershop. I started getting haircuts there shortly after they first opened and I haven't been to another barbershop since. The barbers (Josh, Billy, and Andrew) are all very good and quite friendly. Josh even has a wicked handlebar moustache!

And because it's a place for guys they've equipped the shop with a pool table, a mini-fridge full of beer, and a bookcase of full of male-centric literature. Hell, their barber supplies are kept in giant Craftsman tool boxes.

Cuts are pretty cheap at $15 and they'll even give you an old-fashioned straight razor shave for another $15, although we here at the Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen don't recommend the shaving part.

Outdoor Activities Anyone?

2008-05-15T10:48:00.003-05:00

Gentlemen!

As discussed in previous meetings, I am researching a rec sports league for us to play in. Time is of the essence as many leagues are already sold out. In order for this to happen I need to know two things from all of you:

What sport would you like to play?

Softball -- 10 players, $890-1,129/team ($89-110/person)

Volleyball -- 6 players, $425-475/team ($70-80/person)

Kickball -- 10 players, $575-889/team ($57-89/person)

Dodgeball -- 16 players, $995/team ($62/person)

What day of the week works for you? Generally Monday through Friday games begin anywhere between 6pm - 9pm. Saturday & Sunday games start anywhere between 9am - 7pm.

Please leave a comment indicating as such or send an email to chicagobeards@gmail.com to let me know. And if we want to do a co-ed team we will need to recruit about 4 or so ladies (with fake beards or moustaches).

Long beards. Short shorts.

World Beard & Moustache Championship Update

2008-05-13T13:36:00.003-05:00

Gentlemen!

Here is an update from Phil Olson (Founder, Beard Team USA) about the World Beard & Moustache Championships in Anchorage Alaska next year. If anyone is interested in attending please let me know so I can inform Phil.

Here is the tentative shedule of events the organizers in Anchorage are working on:

Wed, May 20, 2009 -- City orientation tours and visit to Native Cultural Center

Thurs, May 21 -- Activities, including fishing, hunting, sightseeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, flightseeing, etc.

Fri, May 22 -- Downtown parade and WBMC kick-off event

Sat, May 23 -- World Beard and Moustache Championships

Sun, May 24 -- 26-Glacier cruise on Prince William Sound hosted by the Anchorage Visitors and Convention Center

Getting to Alaska will be easier than some of you might think. There are non-stop flights from Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake and San Francisco. This year for the equivalent time period, I found round-trip fares from anywhere in the US for under $600 and for under $400 from many cities including New York and LA.

Another option for getting to Alaska is to take a cruise ship. There are some surprisingly affordable options available. For example, Carnival Cruises is operating a cruise that would work well with our schedule. The cruise departs from Vancouver, Canada on May 13 and arrives in Whittier, Alaska (a 90-minute bus ride from Anchorage) on the morning of May 20. The total cost in an interior cabin (double occupancy) is $799 per person, which includes all taxes, fees, etc. (If you want a window or more luxury the price goes up considerably.) This is really reasonable, considering that you get to see a very beautiful part of Alaska and also that the price includes transporation to Alaska, seven nights' accommodations, all meals, and lots of activities on board the ship. The ship travels through the Inside Passage and makes stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. It also cruises through Glacier Bay National Park. Princess Cruises offers a similar trip two days earlier that costs about $100 less.

For the more adventurous, I have also found a company offering one-way RV rentals from either Seattle or Elkhart, Indiana to Anchorage. The RV's, which sleep four, rent for $160 per day and you have to pay for 10 days. Of course, you have to pay for gas too. It's 2436 miles from Seattle to Anchorage by road. See http://www.abcmotorhome.com/one_way.html.

There are countless options for touring within Alaska. Check out http://alaskatours.com/ or http://www.euroalaska-tours.com/ to see what is available. If there is enough interest, perhaps we can arrange our own private tour to take place before or after the WBMC.

For our stay in Anchorage, I am working on getting group hotel rate at one or more Anchorage hotels for our group

Next Meeting -- Movie Night!

2008-05-06T16:29:00.002-05:00

Gentlemen!

Our next meeting will be held on Monday, May 12 at 7pm in the back room of The Globe Pub.

And should the fates side with us we will be having Movie Night! One of our esteemed members -- Jordan Dauby -- will be bringing a beard documentary for us to watch! Hoo-ray!

Please spread the word and bring your friends -- non-bearded folk are welcome as well.

Also, our next several meetings have been scheduled so mark your calendars and come on by because we have a lot of special events coming up!

June 24
July 16
August 13
September 10
October 8
November 12
December 10

See you soon!

Pledge

2008-04-29T09:44:00.001-05:00

We pledge to be upright and respectable bearded and moustachioed citizens of Chicago.

We pledge to abide by the rules of this great organization.

We pledge our support and facial hair growth to organize and participate in this The Chicago League of Bearded Gentlemen to the best of our abilities.