GRAND RAPIDS – In a shocking event, Fatty favorite Graydon’s Crossing has reportedly suffered a fire early this morning, according to news sources. Long time fans will remember this was also the former Scoreboard Lounge, long time Pigs’ sponsor. Several Fatties have worked in the building and nearly all have patronized its businesses.
Tragically, we also note that Graydon’s is owned by Fat Bastard Hall of Famer Larry “Legend” Zeiser.
Details HERE and HERE.
All our best to Larry and please let any of the local Fatties know if there’s anything we can do.

“Four hours at the bar is all about decision-making.”
- Larry “Legend” Zeiser

EAST GRAND RAPIDS – Congratulations to Fatty Larry “Legend” Zeiser on another pub opening! The following is from the Grand Rapids Press:

Graydon’s Crossing pub opens in Gaslight Village
Monday, June 30, 2008
By Cami Reister
The Grand Rapids Press

EAST GRAND RAPIDS — Gaslight Village apparently was ready for an English-style pub.

Graydon’s Crossing — The Derby Station opened this month in Jade Pig’s development to crowds ready to fill the tables. It seats 200, including the bar and patio.

“It’s a lot more volume than we’re used to,” said Larry Zeiser, who owns the restaurant at 2237 Wealthy St. SE with business partner Brian Giampapa. “The people from East Grand Rapids have been amazing.”

Graydon’s Crossing — The Derby Station is the second Graydon’s Crossing location for the pair. The first opened two years ago at 1223 Plainfield Ave. NE.

They also operate Logan’s Alley on Michigan Street NE; Cambridge House on Monroe Avenue NW; and JD Reardon’s, also on Monroe NW.

Plans also are in the works for another bar, Beerstone Draft House, slated to open this fall in the former Waddell Manufacturing building on the north end of downtown.

While the duo’s other establishments focus on being a neighborhood pub or tout their extensive wine and liquor offerings, Graydon’s is the model they chose to replicate.

Areas in Rockford or Cascade Township were under consideration, but Jade Pig approached them last fall and a deal was struck, he said.

“Logan’s is a neighborhood pub; they are a niche,” Zeiser said. “And we couldn’t really put another Cambridge House in Grand Rapids with the wine list, 45 Scotches and 30 tequilas.”

Zeiser said Graydon’s has a broader appeal. While it offers an extensive beer menu, including cask ales, it also puts much effort into the food menu

“As you get older, you get more into the food,” said Zeiser, 37.

Graydon’s offers classic English fare and Indian colonial dishes.

“We’re a true gastropub,” he said. “We want people to try new things.”

ORIGINAL LINK

GRAND RAPIDS – Rapid-fire preparations for the Fatty continue today as news has reached the front offices of a happy addition to our collection of “bad athletes,” as Hans “The Queen” Heikkinen has teamed up with the Zeiser Brothers, Patrick and Larry, to complete their threesome as T. Wille was called away on family duties.
“He will be playing the role of Wille, except that Hans holds his liquor a little bit better,” stated Larry Legend upon informing the front office of the change. Negotiations were concluded quickly as Larry asked him to join their squad, to be answered with a quick, “Hell, yes!”
This will mark Hansel’s first actual tournament, as he has previously graced Harvard Yards for some “open” wiffle days only.
Speculation now centers on whether Hansel spends more time on the field, in the kitchen, or just chatting up the ladies.
“I can’t wait to see what he wears,” said EZ-E.

“You can’t drink all day, if you don’t start first thing in the morning.”
- Larry “Legend” Zeiser

LOGAN’S ALLEY – Larry “Legend” Zeiser, of the Logan’s Alley Empire, has reportedly contracted a series of television commercials, featuring the Legend himself as spokesperson.
The spots are reportedly to begin airing late this summer and will feature Larry as “the man about town” – hardly a stretch for his thespian skills – with many of favorite refreshments and, reportedly, a number of his entourage.
No confirmation, as of yet, as to whether that entourage will include any other Fat Bastards, but T-Willie, EZ-E and “Riser” Zeiser are considered likely candidates to accompany the Legend.
Also, if all goes well during the commercial series, according to insiders, Zeiser may be in the front-running to be cast in the lead for the made-for-t.v.-movie The Justin Verlander Story, which is scheduled to begin production in 2007.
In the meantime, keep an eye out during those late night M*A*S*H reruns for one of these new ads and let us know your favorite spot!

Move Expected to Save Tequila for the Rest of Us
MILWAUKEE – “Crazy” Larry Zeiser has been forced to recruit a new teammate as brother Pat has announced a scheduling conflict for this year’s Fatty, due to a wedding in Milwaukee. (Our advice: just go to their next wedding and skip this one!)
Rumors have bartender extraordinaire and newlywed T-Willey joining the fray. No word yet on his beverage of choice.

Ebony and Ivory Claims Championship; Discharge Repeats to Win Baxter Bowl
HARVARD YARDS – the 2004 Fat Bastard Wiffle Ball Extravaganza, the fifth annual display of athletic ineptitude, is in the books, presented before 200 wiffle fans at Harvard Yards, near Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 14th.
We’ve seen the Good, the Fat and the Ugly…and a finals game without a Galvan. Chicago’s Ebony and Ivory, consisting of 2004 MVP Lonnie “The Professor” Rucker and Dave “Psycho” Kale, power-pitched and power-hit their way to the title, finishing under the lights and besting Michigan’s The Motherload brother team of Patrick and Kevin Hillary by a score of 3-0 on the strength of a fourth inning tater by the Professor.
Full details of the 2004 Fatty will soon be posted as the Committee sorts through the result to compile our final rankings.
Special thanks goes out to our sponsors: Logan’s Alley and the Cambridge House in Grand Rapids, Captian Jack’s in Muskegon on the Pere Marquette Beach, Zain’s Party Store on M-57 in Harvard, The Winter Inn in Greenville.
Also a huge thank you to our volunteers: Karen “Kiss the Cook” Ringler, Beverly “First Class” Fisher, Hal “Pops” Ringler, Corbin “The Moop” Owens, Ron “Don’t Call Me” Francis, Tonia Miller “Time”, Marci “Three” Dickensheets “in the Wind”, Amy “Chris” Shelton, Jason “The Barrister” Schnelker, Scott “Bubba” Leuchtman, and Christina “Winky” Binkley.

The Fatty has been voted “best tournament” by many other wiffle organizations and is unlike any other. Since the 2003 event, the Fat Bastard has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, The Times Northeast (IN), The Grand Rapids Press, Fast Plastic Magazine (online) and ESPN The Magazine. On the air, we’ve been on The Score (670 AM Chicago), The Locker Room Show (640 AM Grand Rapids) and the nationally sindicated Bob & Tom.
In the past, Harvard Yards has welcomed competitors from seven states and two countries to the friendly grounds.
This year’s activities will benefit the Family Readiness Group, out of Grand Ledge, which supports 90 of our U.S. Troops currently stationed in Iraq, and their families, including our own SGT. Trey Sumner.

Fat Bastard newbie and Logan’s Alley proprietor “Crazy” Larry Zeiser showed off his inspiration with the rest of the kilted crew in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
“I swear, I never knew he was packing such heat,” exclaimed impressed bystander, Bock. “This will be great for his resume!”