Three stories from last week worth more consideration
Our view
Poring over beverage board
The Abilene City Council voted Thursday to create a board to study the feasibility of off-premise consumption of alcohol in specific downtown areas.
This would apply to the downtown area on the north side and the emerging South of Downtown Abilene (SoDA) District.
The idea is to allow people to purchase a beverage, then be allowed to take it with them but within a certain area.
The seven-person board is tasked with making a recommendation to the council, which has final say. Concern has been raised about excessive consumption and littering.
Downtown entertainment district board returns to Abilene council agenda
The Abilene City Council is scheduled again to take on approval and appointment of a downtown entertainment district advisory board.
The public portion of Thursday s regular meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Abilene City Hall, 555 Walnut St.
Tabled at the council smeeting April 8, the item would create a board to study a downtown entertainment area thatwould allow people to buy an alcoholic drink and then travel from location to location in a specified area, carrying the beverage.
City Manager Robert Hanna said after the previous meeting, at which the item was tabled, the council wanted to reflect further on the charges for the task force.
It sounds like Sockdolager Brewing Company is the place to B on Saturday.
A big day on the south side of downtown is planned, when Sockdolager celebrates its fourth anniversary and its first celebration at its new location. Socks in 2020 moved from China Street, where its third anniversary was held in before the pandemic arrived, to the renovated former Matera Paper Company site at 833 South First St.
The Matera building burned to the ground in February 2012.
Sock it to me
Once hidden away, Sockdolager now is a visible component of the growing South of Downtown Abilene district.
Plans include a beer run and beer drinking, and a band from the Austin-San Marcos area.