By Becky Billingsley

Friday, July 20, 2012, Myrtle Beach - Tonight's going to be feverish in Myrtle Beach, three strikes for hot dogs, an historic and final band reunion and a request to help a restaurant employee are bundled in this week's Myrtle Beach Restaurant News weekend roundup.

Not Lucky for Hot Dogs

Lucky Dog Grille at 8724 S.C. 707 has closed after being open a few months. Chuck and Dana Murphy owned the restaurant. That site was formerly Delaney’s Dog Haus, and before that Hot Dog Queen.

Night Fever Opens Tonight

Get out the bell bottoms and halter tops, because Night Fever Retro Party Club is opening tonight at 9714 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. If disco balls light up your world, this will be a night to remember with lots of opening night fun. The number is (843) 808-9542. 

For Lester’s Benefit

Joey Arakas of Joe’s Bar & Grill in North Myrtle Beach sent out this message this week:

“LESTER BARNES BENEFIT FUND has been put into play!

For those of you who do not know Lester let me briefly fill you in! He has worked in the restaurant industry around Myrtle Beach for over 30 years. One of those kinda guys that would give you the shirt of his back to help you!!!  He has worked for me at Joe's Bar & Grill for 18 years.

“Early this year Lester's body became under attack from a staph infection that settled in the nervous system of his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Several surgeries and hospital bills are crippling him financially as well!! Myself and several friends of his got together and started a Benefit Fund to help pay for the medical expenses that seem endless!

“On the docket starting today we have 50/50 raffle tickets for sale at Joe's Bar & Grill for $100 apiece. The raffle will be held at Joe's on Sunday the 12th of August at 5:30 p.m. You do not have to be present to win! We have several other fund-raising events planned and I will keep you posted. The biggest one will be this winter’s Golf tournament and after party with all kinds of raffles and giveaways and a silent auction!

“Any and all donations are accepted and appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!! They can be made here at Joe's Bar & Grill at 810 Conway St. N. Myrtle Beach, SC 29582. The fund is set up in Lester Barnes and my name at Cres Com bank!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Return of the Russell Brothers

In her weekly newsletter, Marlene Osteen at Louis’s at Sanford’s had exciting news about some fellows I bet a lot of folks would like to hear perform. Marlene is a talented writer, so I’m just going to let her tell the story:

“While Louis was cooking up his reinvented Southern classics, a couple of paces down the street, two talented brothers, Steve and Don Russell, founded a club - the Gray Man - and a music trio with Les Burnett.  They called themselves the Russell Brothers.   

“By the time they opened the doors to the Gray Man in 1980 they were already well known in the area.  They had enjoyed a magical time in the late 70s - the group had toured the SC coast, expanding its audience for its electric mix of folk, pop and classic rock, a genre oft referred to as folk-rock. 

“They had come together first in 1979 at the Anchor Inn in Myrtle Beach, and in the succeeding years they went on to share the stage with Alabama, Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell.  Playing the tunes of the Byrds, Paul Simon, the Eagles and their original material, they opened for Molly Hatchett, the Outlaws, and did a gig at the 1982 Carolina Country Jamboree. Although they disbanded in the mid 80s, they were so highly regarded that in the early 90s the Myrtle Beach Sun News named the Russell Brothers the "most popular local band" behind Alabama and the Mullets.  

“This weekend the Russell Brothers will reunite one last time to play at Louis's at Sanford's on Saturday, July 21 from 9 p.m. to midnight. We are opening up the doors to our dining room so that their music can be fully appreciated, and where every seat promises to be the best in the house.  What you can anticipate is an evening of pleasure, the vocals and instrumentation all in service of melody, and infused with clear three-part harmonies.”

“Steve Russell will be with us on Friday night as well when he joins forces with current artist associates, Bill Hamilton and Dean Black. Playing acoustic guitar, harmonica and pedal steel, their distinct and eclectic style brings together the sounds of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and the Eagles.”

This weekend Chef Louis Osteen is cooking up some extra-special dinners from recipes he made back in the Russell Brothers era, like Flounder Almandine and Derby Pie.

Louis’s at Sanford’s is at 251 Willbrook Blvd. in Pawleys Island, and the number is (843) 237-5400. 

Saturday Night Live

Café Old Vienna at 3901 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach is having live acoustic guitar music on Friday nights to accompany their Veal Wiener Schnitzel, Osso Buco, Hungarian Gulasch with Spaetzle, Trout Filet and Weiss-Wurst. Their panino are now being served on what proprietor Martina Horvath calls, “awesomely tasty new 9-grain bread.”

If you’d like to receive coupons from Café Old Vienna, visit their Web site at www.cafeoldvienna.com and sign up for their weekly newsletter. Also on the Web site, you can see their new gluten-free menu.