Breaking News
Local News

Downtown Throwdown: Evening of food, beverages and festivities highlights local businesses

By Brett Dunlap 4 min read

PARKERSBURG -- It was an evening of food, beer and community Saturday at Bicentennial Park for the annual Downtown Throwdown highlighting locally owned eateries.

The park was full of people as the community came to eat, enjoy drinks and listen to live music.

"We have got a good crowd, had some great entertainment and the weather has cooperated," said Jennifer Strickler, events and marketing manager for Downtown PKB on Saturday night. "We got good food from the vendors and a great variety of beer."

The participating establishments included the Blennerhassett Restaurant & Lounge, the Cocktail Bar, D'Paulo's Pizzeria, Hangry's Food Truck & Catering, Jimmy Avocado's, Pappy's Lip Smackin BBQ, the Little Stirr and the WV Polo Club.

Gene Butler, owner of the WV Polo Club, said he thought things went smoothly throughout the evening as the crowd started to build up after the gates opened, especially as there were other things going on around the area.

"It was a good time," he said.

The Polo Club has been a regular participant in the Downtown Throwdown.

"I have been (at the WV Polo Club) for 32 years,'' he said. "We try to participate in the community as much as we can."

His biggest take away from the evening was how well everyone was reacting to the food they prepared, including a whole pork belly they brine for 10 days and smoked it with hickory wood and cut them up and put a skewer on them then the meat is caramelize them with a blueberry barbecue sauce which they refer to as a "lollipop."

“People are loving the food,'' he said. "The sight of it sells itself.

"These are some good looking lollipops. Bacon and hickory go good together. It has really turned out to be a good night."

This was the first time Mike and Melanie Arthur of Parkersburg attended the Downtown Throwdown.

"We came out to have a good time and to try out the different food,'' Mike said.

"This is our first year here and we wanted to see what it was all about," Melanie added. "We are enjoying it so far."

Events like the Taste of Parkersburg and the Downtown Throwdown are good community events for the downtown area, said Erin Branham of Parkersburg who attended with her husband, Dave.

"We didn't always get to come to this because of the time for the start of football season for (West Virginia University)," she said

The Throwdown is different from the Taste of Parkersburg in its more relaxed, Dave said.

"It is a different vibe," he said. "It is a nice crowd. It is a more laid back atmosphere."

Cleo Spader and Kionte Peacock of Vienna said they heard there was going to be good food at the event and decided to check it out for themselves.

They welcomed the chance to get out for an evening in downtown with others from around the community.

"It brings a lot of people out," Spader said. "I think it is really important for the community to come together, eat good food, have drinks and it is really nice.

"You get to see the people you know."

Stricker commended the sponsors and the around 80 volunteers they had to help put it together as well as the beer trucks who came to be a part of the event.

“We have had a great group of volunteers that come out and help us in every aspect of this event," she said. "If it wasn't for these community members, helping our organization, we would not be able to put on an event like this."

Strickler said the event is about bringing the community together.

"It is seeing people that you haven't seen in awhile and making new friends," she said. "A big part of it is having many people in the community seeing what these small family owned businesses have to offer.

"By seeing them here, maybe more people here will frequent their businesses another time."

Starting at /week.