Gene Butler, owner of the WV Polo Club, prepares food at the Downtown Throwdown in Bicentennial Park on Saturday night, where folks enjoyed an evening of food, beer and fellowship. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
PARKERSBURG – It was an evening of food, beer and fellowship at Bicentennial Park at the annual Downtown Throwdown, highlighting locally owned restaurants.
The park was full of people who had come to eat, drink and listen to live music.
“We had a lot of people, great entertainment and the weather was great,” said Jennifer Strickler, event and marketing manager for Downtown PKB, Saturday evening. “We got good food from the vendors and a great selection of beer.”
Participating establishments included Blennerhassett Restaurant & Lounge, Cocktail Bar, D’Paulo’s Pizzeria, Hangry’s Food Truck & Catering, Jimmy Avocado’s, Pappy’s Lip Smackin BBQ, Little Stirr and WV Polo Club.
Gene Butler, owner of the WV Polo Club, said he thought everything went smoothly throughout the evening, even though more people began to gather after the gates opened, especially because there was other activity going on in the area.
Gavin Haught of Hangry’s Food Truck & Catering presents a sandwich to Hunter Deem of Pennsboro at the Downtown Throwdown in Bicentennial Park on Saturday night. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
“It was a nice time,” he said.
The Polo Club regularly participates in the Downtown Throwdown.
“I have been (at the WV Polo Club) for 32 years,” he said. “We try to participate in social life as much as possible.”
His biggest impression of the evening was how well everyone responded to the food they had prepared, including a whole pork belly that they brined for 10 days and smoked over hickory wood, cut up and put on a skewer. The meat was then caramelized with a blueberry barbecue sauce that they called “Lollipop.”
“People love the food,” he said. “The sight sells itself.”
Cleo Spader and Kionte Peacock of Vienna enjoy food at the Downtown Throwdown event in Bicentennial Park on Saturday. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
“These are some tasty lollipops. Bacon and hickory go well together. It really was a great evening.”
This was the first time that Mike and Melanie Arthur of Parkersburg participated in the Downtown Throwdown.
“We came to have a good time and try the different dishes,” Said Mike.
“We are here for the first time and wanted to see what it is all about,” added Melanie. “So far we like it.”
Events like Taste of Parkersburg and Downtown Throwdown are good community events for downtown, said Erin Branham of Parkersburg, who attended with her husband, Dave.
The Downtown Throwdown took place Saturday at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg. Area residents sampled various offerings from local restaurants and enjoyed a variety of domestic and craft beers. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
“We couldn’t always come here because West Virginia University’s football season was just starting,” she said
“The Throwdown differs from the Taste of Parkersburg in that it is more relaxed,” Dave said.
“It’s a different atmosphere,” he said. “It’s a nice crowd. The atmosphere is rather relaxed.”
Cleo Spader and Kionte Peacock of Vienna said they heard there would be good food at the event and decided to check it out for themselves.
They welcomed the opportunity to spend an evening downtown with others from the community.
Jimmy Carrano, owner of Jimmy Avocado’s, prepares food for attendees at Downtown Throwdown Saturday in Bicentennial Park. The event was an opportunity to showcase local restaurants and merchants. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
“It brings a lot of people outside,” Spader said, “I think it’s really important for the community to come together, enjoy good food, have a drink, and it’s really nice.”
“You see the people you know.”
Stricker praised the sponsors and the approximately 80 volunteers who helped with the organization, as well as the beer trucks that participated in the event.
“We had a great group of volunteers who came and helped us with every aspect of this event,” she said. “Without the help of these community members to our organization, we could not organize an event like this.”
Strickler said the event is about bringing the community together.
Evie Schaffer performed at the Downtown Throwdown in Bicentennial Park on Saturday night. She was followed by the Taylor Sams Band. Live music was part of the festivities during the annual event in downtown Parkersburg. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
“You meet people you haven’t seen in a long time and make new friends.” She said, “A big part of it is that a lot of people in the community see what these small family businesses have to offer.”
“If they see them here, maybe more people will visit their stores again.”
Brett Dunlap can be reached at [email protected].
