musings on hogfarm studio

as we creep ever closer to an opening date, i feel its important to explain exactly whats going on here. as someone who has had the fortune to tour with my bands all over the country and into europe, i've come to value the venues, and venue owners of smaller communities- the folks attempting to carve out something personal, sometimes something truly weird. the folks who take risks putting themselves out there when there may or may not be an audience for what they do. the thrill is in finding an audience in those smaller communities. somehow it manages to resonate in a way that simply doesn't happen in larger cities.
when you find a venue like that, you remember it. and what gil and coco at hogfarm have been able to do is something truly beautiful and important to me in my daily life. when we heard they were going to close the annex my wife, kristin and i, saw this as an opportunity to attempt to continue on in their spirit, because honestly this is what we want to do with our lives.
our hope is that we can be a fraction of how hospitable and warm they have been to all of you who come through our door. what we can offer is a very select collection of the things we love: the music that means so much to us, the films, art, performances and food that we long to share with all of you.
we are not from maine. but we have somehow always been drawn to it, and look forward to it becoming our home.

thanks for stopping by,

greg & kristin

for lunch

Greg made amaaaazing "chiki" salad sandwiches for us today!! I would have taken a picture but I ate it!

I was busy trying to figure out which local beers we should sell (it is actually a hard job. especially when there are no tasters :(

So what I can guess of the ingredients are:
TVP (textured veg protein)
Vegenaise
Carrots
Dill
maybe miso?
dijon mustard?
soy sauce?

I feel like besides the most obvious ingredients (I definitely know what a carrot looks like), I'm way off.

Anyway, we neeeed to add this to our menu! I've been bugging him to write down the recipe before he forgets it . I'm sure you'll see it in some form of it's not-chicken self soon soon.
ooh! I forgot, we have some leftovers in the fridge! here's sort of what it used to look like...



yip!

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k

Welcome

It's not official but the ideas are still flowing!

We will open our doors to a brand new community in late September, early October.
Just in time for our favorite season of all!

So here's our story..

We being charmed by the world of Gil and Coco Corral fell in quick love with them, their little girl, their home and music venue/listening room, which was only an extension of their home so full of warmth- Hogfarm Studios Annex...

When we heard that they were going to close the doors of that adopted home, Greg and I looked at each other and didn't have to say very much. Our dream: to open a cafe/venue/community art space in a town that needs it.

We spent some time freaking out, writing endless emails to Gil and Coco, deciding to do it, deciding that would be totally crazy. Very suddenly, in all this confusion and the perpetual heat wave NYC has been going through I lost my vision in one eye. It was disorienting and was gradual like a curtain being drawn lower every day, plus it hurt!

I won't get too much into that whole thing, but with my mom having MS and optic neuritis as we found out it was being an initial symptom of the disease. Well, it just sucked. I went through the steps, to figure it all out, and when my MRI results came back negative everyone was shocked! We were planning for it, and I was prepared for the news. I saw this as such a second chance for me. Or a kick in the pants! Just what I needed. Clean air, water, and most importantly being in a place I love (Maine!). I decided immediately that we should just jump in!
I was on my break at work when we found out, and sent Greg home to tell Gil and Coco that we're in!

So here we are.
Still in New York, but gearing up and excited/scared as hell!

I hope you'll all get excited with us (no need to be scared)!
My vision hasn't totally come back yet, but I am legal to drive in NY once again!
So much more to say, more info soon and often!

We are Kristin & Greg
and this beautiful re-adopted space will be futurely known as
The Oak + The Ax

love \ kristin

p.s.
Gil and Coco have taken their name (Hogfarm Studios/HFS Annex) and gone back to the barn
with it, where it was born. Keep tabs on their upcoming shows!!!