Oktoberfest with Fritz & Franz

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Prost! Oktoberfest in Germany came to a close this past weekend but here in Miami we've the holiday. The beer keeps flowing at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus right through next weekend in the restaurant and adjacent plaza. This Austrian-run beerhouse located in the heart of Coral Gables continues the tradition started 16 years ago at Mozart Stube, another local restaurant that closed. S.

Fritz & Franz owner Harald Neuweg and his general manager, Peter Lerperger, are both larger than life personalities with booming voices and charisma that screams "come join my party."  Any doubt of their love of life and beer promotion is dispelled by the pictures of Harald mingling and laughing with guests. Indeed this year they expect to draw 8000 of them over the week that ends Sunday.

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Preparation for the event starts in the spring when Harald heads to Austria to audition bands. Each year he flies in two bands, one for each weekend. This event is clearly not for wallflowers. There are yodeling contests, group song, dancing and the much dreaded-unless-you're drunk-"chicken dance." If eating and drinking is more your thing, there's a bratwurst-eating contest and plenty of beer served by busty German and Austrian frauleins. Yes, these ladies can drink you under the table. And they serve a mean stein filled with Warsteiner Oktoberfest, a beer that is only available a few weeks a year, so go to it!

Fritz & Franz, originally slated to be called Hans & Franz until SNL's attorneys got involved, celebrates its 7year anniversary this Thursday. So if you are looking for something to "pump you up" head on over, have a beer (or four) and do the chicken dance to the tunes of Alpenland Gaudi.

Coral Gables 16th Annual Oktoberfest runs through Sunday, October 10, every day 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; admission is free.