Amanda Uhle is the Executive Director of 826michigan and Official Contact Person for the Mustache-A-Thon. Since she’s kind of in charge, Stache World decided that she’d be an excellent first stop for our interview series! Reader, read on.
SW: Hi there, Amanda. Before we dive in to the Really Important questions, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?
AU: Let me start by saying that I’m happy to be your first interview. I’d love to tell you about myself, but since it’s March 1 today, my entire personal life this month has been converted to mustache-centric topics. For instance, I have a baby daughter, and I just bought her some cute mustache clothes. I’m also a big fan of Arbor Brewing Company’s Sacred Cow I.P.A. which I plan to order at next week’s Opening Hair-A-Monies. And, just speaking in general terms, I love a man with a mustache!
SW: You’re right that there is probably no better combination than mustaches, I.P.A.s, and babies dressed in novelty clothing. If there were a commercial for Stache World, those things would definitely be in it.
Amanda, many of our readers have heard of Movember, and may be wondering if the Mustache-A-Thon is also a “prostate thing.” What would you say to those people?
AU: I would say that 826michigan’s Mustache-A-Thon is strictly an above-the-collarbone event.
SW: Classy. You know, here at Stache World, we find nothing classier than a good, old-fashioned, above-the-collarbone mustache. Unfortunately, we’ve noticed a shocking trend away from facial hair in U.S. Presidents. Out of sheer curiosity, do you think a mustache could improve Barack Obama’s image?
AU: Actually, only Presidents Taft, Cleveland and T. Roosevelt had mustaches. A few others had beards (notably Lincoln), but beards don’t count for our purposes. Having not been alive during any mustachioed president’s term, I’ll have to defer to older, wiser friends on that one.
SW: I’m certain they would say that yes, President Obama would look stunning and debonair in a mustache. In fact, Amanda, YOU might look pretty debonair in a stache yourself. If you had to choose one, would you go for a Fu Manchu or a Handlebar mustache?
AU: Great question. The Fu Manchu is slightly more attractive in my opinion, but there’s much to be said for the commitment of the handlebar stache’s long growing-out period. Since the Mustache-A-Thon only lasts 5 weeks, I’d probably have to go with the more-achievable goal of the Fu Manchu, but I give major respect to anyone who can do a HB in five weeks or who maintains the stache after our little contest.
SW: And who knows? Five weeks is definitely long enough to catch stache fever.*
Last but not least, what advice do you have for someone looking to get involved in this year’s Mustache-A-Thon?
AU: It’s easy! Email me at amanda@826michigan.org. Participating mustache growers should also plan to arrive at Arbor Brewing Company at 8:26 p.m. Monday, March 8 and for the five following Mondays. We’ll give you a free beer (or root beer!) and take a lovely photo of you; your friends and family will make copious and generous contributions; and your whiskers will do the rest!
Clearly, Amanda is a delight. Stache growers, you can hang out with her EVERY Monday night during the Mustache-A-Thon and enjoy that sweet, free pint of beer.
‘Til next time!
-SW
*No, by “stache fever” we do not mean scabies. That takes considerably less than 5 weeks to catch.
