Brews & Tunes draws crowds despite chill

MOSES LAKE — The weather wasn’t altogether friendly, but that didn’t stop people from enjoying a drink and a shopping trip at Brews & Tunes in downtown Moses Lake on Saturday. 

“It was cold, for sure, and the wind made it feel about 10 degrees colder,” said Mallory Miller, executive director of the Downtown Moses Lake Association, which puts on the event every March. “But when the sun was out, it was a beautiful day downtown. There were still lots of people on the street, walking from place to place. We even had some people show up in checkered overall (shorts) for St. Paddy’s Day.” 

Brews & Tunes combined local and regional breweries, cideries and distilleries with 16 downtown businesses setting up tasting tables in the shops. Each ticketed attendee received seven samples, plus a tote bag and a souvenir tasting glass. Non-alcoholic drinks were available as well, which Miller said was very well received. Besides the samples, there were games and a beer garden at Sinkiuse Square and a car show on Third Avenue. 

“It was a cool vibe,” Miller said. “People braved the weather and sat in the picnic tables that we had in the street to listen to the band.” 

This year, the event didn’t sell out weeks ahead of time as in years past, Miller said.  

“We were able to sell tickets as people were arriving downtown,” Miller said. It wasn’t clear whether the event had sold out completely, she added, but the DMLA didn’t have many tote bags left over. 

In past years, each business also hosted a musician, but this year the DMLA brought three bands to play at separate locations and left it up to individual businesses whether to bring in a musician of their own, and the move seemed to pay off. 

“Most every time I was walking around, all the businesses were full of people,” Miller said. “Our DMLA office was full of people.”  

This was the first Brews & Tunes for Lynn Nesmith, owner of The Boutique, and she saw some increased traffic from the event.  

“We had a lot of people in, a lot of new faces,” Nesmith said. “A lot of people were excited to explore some of the newer shops … Lots of memorable experiences focusing on the activities that the DMLA had set up: the music, the street games, the food truck vendors.” 

Moore Brewing Co. was open for the event, with singer-songwriter LJ Palmateer performing, and had a tasting station set up at The Boutique. 

“(Brewmaster Zachary Moore) went through both of the beers he brought out,” said brewery owner Lorie Moore. “He got a lot of good feedback.” 

Moore Brewing was a popular spot for lunch, Moore said, and hosted an after-party when the event was finished. 

“We got to a point where it was standing room only,” Moore said. “It was really busy.” 

Other food vendors were set up in the closed-off streets, and some sold out before the event was finished, Miller said. 

“It ended up being a really wonderful gathering for locals,” Nesmith said. “It really helped create and foster our community spirit.” 

    Shoppers check out the offerings at Miller’s Fine Jewelers in downtown Moses Lake during Brews & Tunes on Saturday.
  

    A couple of attendees get in a game of bean bag toss at Brews & Tunes on Saturday.