Some people will do anything for charity – even if that means growing a mustache. When Buffalo Whiskerino co-founder Geoff Schutte first contacted me wondering whether I was interested in participating this year, I didn’t even hesitate to jump onboard. Hey, it’s not that often that you can get away with growing a mustache for… well… the sake of growing a mustache. Honestly. So far the experience has been a blast, especially since I know that there are 30+ other Whiskerinos out there feeling my pain. A few of those sorry souls got together yesterday for the second weigh-in at Gordon’s Bar on Delaware (near Hertel).
The get-together was pretty cool. We stood around drinking beer while discussing our four+ week journey (March 14 – April 18). Of course there are some iconic growths that some of us are trying to emulate – characters like Freddy Mercury, Serpico, Magnum PI, Hulk Hogan, Jeff Baxter, Rollie Fingers, Jim Croce, Gene Shalit, Ted Nugent, Rick Smith (famous in Buffalo), Geraldo Rivera, Lanny McDonald, Captain Crunch, Joe Namath, Salvador Dali, John Oats, Cheech Marin, Frank Zappa, Mark Spitz, Mark Twain, Lemmy Kilmister, Sam Elliott, Avery Schreiber, Wilford Brimley, Chuck Norris, Nick Cave, Burt Reynolds, The Lorax, Derek Smalls, … did I miss anyone?
Unfortunately not everyone can pull off a famous-looking stache. And some of the more exotic looks are actually illegal when it comes to the contest. For example, I found out the hard way that growing retro handlebars is a form of cheating. Anything that grows below the lower lip is grounds for elimination. So much for my lame Hulk Hogan attempt. At the end of the day, the money raised goes towards Compass House, and from what I understand, the group did quite well last year (its first year). Next week is the final weigh-in. Stache growers will reconvene one last time (next Saturday) in order to participate in a stache pageant. Ultimately Mr. Mustache 2010 will be announced and the tallies for the event will be added. Of course a massive party, known as the Stache Bash, ensues.
If you would like to check out the Whiskerino contestants online, click on the group’s website. There you will find all of the profiles and ways to support your favorite Whiskerino. The guys have one last week to raise funds… hint, hint. Click here to sponsor a stache.
Buffalo, NY