This morning I had the pleasure of attending another fun and slightly "weird" Austin event involving local restaurant, Mangia Pizza's attempt to break the Guinness Book of Records, "Longest line of pizzas in the world". Along with my wife, Margaret and daughter Mattie we headed to Zilker Park to hopefully be a part of history. The event was held in conjunction with Meals on Wheels and More to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mangia Pizza opening for business here in Austin, Texas. If successful, the company would break a world record and after the event, Meals on Wheels would deliver the pizzas to The Salvation Army to feed the homeless!
On Wednesday of this week, I received an email from one of my best pals in the world who is kind of a Big-Shot with the Mangia Pizza Organization, Rell Rice, yes, it'sRell as in well or bell.
He tells me that day is "Guinness Book of Records Day" and all over the world different groups and individuals are vying to break any number of Guinness records but Mangia is looking at in in particular. A group in Italy and another in London are planning to break the record of longest uninterrupted line of pizzas.
In typical "Texas Hold-Em Poker" style, Mangia scheduled their event three days later to take place on Saturday and possibly upset the recent winners! Later that day, word is out that Chicago Town Pizzas in Camden Lock, London, UK set the new record of 936 feet 7 inches so Mangia has a big challenge ahead!
Mangia Pizza coordinated this event with Meals on Wheels and More of Austin so that as soon as the contest was concluded, all of the surviving pizza's (those not dropped or blown away by the windy morning) were immediately re-boxed and delivered by the Meals on Wheels volunteers who are also on hand to help with the event and hopefully break the record! Everything went well in spite of all sorts of odd circumstances . Try and imagine setting up a chain of tables in the shape of a large abstract "M" covering them with over a thousand feet of paper, having all of the volunteers wash hands and put on plastic gloves for sanitation and distributing hundreds of boxes of cheese and pepperoni pizzas down the line of tables to prepare for the start?!? 
At a signal from Rell Rice and our friend Leslye Denton-Garcia along with owners Mark Negro and Jeff Sayers, the volunteers distributed the pizzas down the row of table, opened and lined them up edge to edge and did their best to keep everything on order despite gusting winds that sent a few of the pies flying. Reserves were brought in to fill holes and the line slowly extended.
Danny Girton Jr., the Official Adjudicator for the Guinness Book of World Records carefully documented the measuring by an independent official using a single wheel device to measure the length of the pizza chain from beginning to end. Mr. Gurtin was the same official who was on hand to document the pizza line efforts in Italy and London earlier in the week, so you understand that although fun, Guinness World Records takes its business very seriously!
As the officials slowly made their way down the tables carefully following the measurement team and confirming that each pizza was actually touching, the man would shout out, 700 feet, 750 feet, 800 feet... volunteers are hustling to fill in the gaps of pizzas blown off the line by gusting winds and steadily adding more to the line at the end. The man shouts, 800 feet, 850 feet...900 feet! A group comes running down the hill with another 30 pizzas to add to the line but will it be enough?? 950 feet, he shouts and a roar goes up from the volunteers as the record is broken but he moves on...1,000 feet and the crowd goes wild and sill he moves on until we finally hear 1,023 FEET! Everyone breaks in to applause and cheering up and down the long line of pizzas again proving that we do things big here in Texas.
The crowd begins breaking down the tables, gathering up and re-boxing the pizzas and meets at the start for a group picture and a ceremony. More hot pizzas are delivered and slices are handed out to the crowd as we join a large group photo taken to commemorate the event! (My daughter tells us to stand near the Mangia Dinosaur so we can find ourselves in the crowd). City Councilman, Lee Leffingwell is on hand to read a proclamation from Mayor Will Wynn of Austin, declaring that, in honor of breaking the world record and to celebrate 20 years of being a truly Austin original, November 15th will now be recognized as "Mangia Pizza Day" in Austin Texas!
By the way, I also want to give a shout out to my very good friend Rell Rice! We have had more fun together over the years than we could ever expect...and live to tell about it! Thanks Rell! And Happy 20th Anniversary Mangia Pizza! Here's to twenty more great years from an Austin Texas Original! I have to tell you that we are all truly living the good life in Austin, Texas!
UPDATE: Mangia Pizza has a great article about the Record breaking event and were kind enough to add a link to my blog on the website: Mangia Pizza Website Announcement
Only on Austin! That's pretty funny that they let the other competitors go first but that is still a pretty awesome record. And for the record, I love the Mangia "carnivore"!
Russell - Damn, it is becoming like clockwork. I visit your post; I become hungry. And I just have to meet Double R, Rell Rice. If nothing else, that's just a pretty cool name. Kudos to Mangia Pizza!!!
Russell - I'm sure the atmosphere was electric and fun, and congrats to Mangia for breaking the record! Fun post -
Russell, this is yet another one of those "Austin Weird" events that make s life in our city so interesting and Tasty too!
You should also mention that this weekend, any large pizza is regular price and the next is only 20 Cents in honor of the 20th anniversary! Pretty good deal!
Hi Russell, Did you find your blog banner? Congratulations to Mangia Pizza. A pizza sounds pretty good right now.
Russell: What a quirky and fun thing to do! I'm glad you were there to bring us the photos and the first hand account of a record broken. Austin seems like a wonderful place to live.
Scott Well that was quick, you were the first to comment and Thanks! It was fun and I know you like the pizza too, go by for a special this weekend!
Jason That's pretty funny and my wife mentioned the same thing. I just like to eat and talk about all the place and things available here in Austin! Of course that is why I have to keep running or else I would swell up and look like Jaba-The-Hut!
Hey Jason WOW comments from BOTH Jason's back to back! I am flattered, And did you happen top notice that I was wearing my Cowboys sweat shirt?
Anne You are so right, it's just another part of Austin that make this city so much fun! And yes I already stopped by for a couple of the pizzas at the great special price...20 cents for a second pie is awesome!
ShirleyNope it never showed up but I am sure it will soon. And on to better things...A Mangia pizza is god anytime! Thanks for dropping by!
Chris Ann Quirky is putting it mildly. Austin is just an incredibly interesting place that encourages fun and a little bit of weird! I had a blast and thanks for dropping by!
Well this is another of your wonderful posts about Austin! Mangia Pizza is a true Austin original and it looks like everyone had fun setting a new world record!
Hi Russell-All I got time for at the moment to say is That's a lot of PIZZA. I think that it is a awesome thing that they do with the pizza's afterwards. Gotta run, but will finish reading this when I return. It's too good not to. :-)
Woo-Hoo Mangia Pizza rocks! Russell, you always post the coolest stuff about Austin! I think I will drop by there today and take some pizzas home to the family!
Jeannette, I think I likw writing about all the fun things to do here more than anything! hanks for dropping by to comment!
Pat It was a lot of pizza, enough to stretch 1,023 feet and though a fw were lost in the wind gusts, most were delivered to the hungry and homeless at the Salvation Army!
Allysoun You are so funny, we did the same thing and had pizza again today! It's about as good as it gets and thanks again for dropping by!!
Hi Russell this one sounds like a fun event. I bet not too many left hungry:) I am a pizza fan myself.
Russell, what a wonderful way to break a record and feed the hungry; it doesn't get much better than that!!
Meals on Wheels volunteers may be the best in Austin... over 100 of them on hand... It starts at the top with that group... Dan Pruett.
Oh...oh... I like the "big shot" reference so much... you can keep the J. Jameson dvds. Who loves ya?
Bill We are so lucky here in Austin to have as many great places that are unique as well as tasty! And it's a lot o great folks imaginations that help keep it interesting!
Marchel You are so right, it is something of a hallmark of many local Austin businesses and the many volunteers that show up to help and have fun at the same time!
Rell I thank you and you can keep that...gosh, there are so many funny things I could say here but it would incriminate me as much as you! I am laughing as I type this because you are such a good friend and we have way to much history!! Thanks for all the great things you do. You are certainly a great asset to Mangia Pizza and any project that has the benefit of your efforts. You are truly a "BIG SHOT" (but without all th baggage or ego!)
Wow! That's a lot of pizzas and what a fun way to break a record and help others at the same time!
Russell,
This sounds like a fun way to make history and have some fun! To think I was sitting in an open house and missed the party! Boo Hoo! Did you save me a slice?!?
Betina
did that longest line of pizzas become the worlds fastest 'shortest line' of pizzas after the record was reached ?? because those pizzas look too good to let sit there for long
That is a funny story, that also helped a great cause. I sure would have helped eat the pizza!
Good story, Russ! Sounds like a good way to break a record. Though I must wonder, being from Chicago, how good is the pizza in Texas?
Another Austin original. I absolutely LOVE Mangia. I'll never forget the first time I had dinner there (last year)... Ended up eating lunch there the next day!
Russell - What a momentus day for Mangia Pizza and everyone who participated in setting a new Guinness World Record. Loved your post and the photos...you're making me crave a nice large pizza right about now!
I'm sorry I missed this awesome event! HOw do you find out about this stuff?
Probably a good thing I missed, I'm on a diet before the holidays and pizza just won't do... especially 1023 feet of it!
Another great community effort to help others.. Articles as such really are starting to help folks pull their heads out of the sand and realize that we are all in this together..
See you at the Cowboys/Giants game at Bob's house..
Pizza is like Mexican food and BBQ.. you can eat it two or three days in a row and not get tired of it..! Oh!! and Chile too..!
Russell... that is so cool. Growing up as a kid, when we had that book mobile that would come around, like when you were in 3rd grade to 5th grade, I would buy the Guinness Book of World Records book... but not only did that look like fun, that is very cool that they gave many of the pizza's away to the Salvation Army to feed the homeless.
On another note, I want that guys job, who got to go to London and Italy, just to roll a wheel around to measure pizzas... ;o)
PS>. was Jason Crouch there with you?
Nice post Russell!
I'm new to the blogosphere, but learned about you in Jason Crouch's post about how you and he met, and how highly he spoke of you despite the fact that you are technically competitors.
Your post is yet another great example of how a Realtor's blog doesn't always have to be about market statistics and reasons that "now is a good time to buy". Thanks for sharing this great community event & inspiring us to be more creative in how we interact with our readers (and potential clients.)
I flagged this post as a featured article.
what mangia needs on their menu is a "rusty special": habanero peach salsa pizza! conrats, mangia.
Yum! What a fun event for a good cause and yes, only in Austin.
HI RUSSELL!
Looks like it was a fun time! I've been to Austin, a long time ago. Went to the dog races, had a blast there!! I was foot loose & fancy free!
Thanks for the memory!
Wow -- pizzas for everyone --- the whole town it would seem. All the best.
Michelle It was a blast and my wife and daughter had fun volunteering too!
Betina Sorry you had to work on Saturday...wait a minute we all work on Saturday AND Sunday too and I guess we just ate it all (except for what was delivered to the Salvation Army and others!
James Actually they were all re-boxed and delivered to the salvation army for re-heating and delivery to many homeless people (The nice thing is that a truck full of hot ones was delivered as we cleaned up the site!)
Jason Austin is a town that generates fun and good will at the same time. It's a kind of unofficial slogan! Keep Austin Texas Weird -What's that all about? (LOCALISM FEATURED) Thanks for dropping by!
Kris Mangia was founded by people with roots in Chicago and their Deep-dish pizza is awesome and actually approved by many Chicago transplants (and we native Texans are happy they are here!
Jess Thanks for stopping by. It's funny that you tell that story, we ate a bunch of pizza that day and then I had some moiré on SUNDAY!!! It's just that good!
Donna Thanks for the compliments! It was a lot of fun and to tell the truth, as I write this reply, I am starting to crave a slice or two myself!
Elsa Stop it! And stop the "D" word... you are cracking me up. It's better to be fed and happy than hungry and grumpy!
Buster I do appreciate you dropping by and thanks for your comments. We are definitely cut from the same cloth and I completely agree with you about Mexican food, BBQ and a lot of other stuff to! And yes, let's watch the game at Bob's!
Jeff It was a blast and I remember reading the Guinness book too! Austin is really the kind of place that lives up the reputation "Keep Austin Weird" in a good way. We can have some zany fun and find a way to help out the community at the same time! And JEFF - I asked the guy what a person has to do to become an OFFICIAL ADJUDIATOR for Guinness and he said go to the website and apply! You and I think exactly alike! Here is the link again so you can check it out! Guinness World Records
Unfortunately Jason was not around but he would have loved it (I guess he was busy selling real estate which is what I need to be doing!)
Joel Thanks very much for flagging this, it's funny you mention it but my assistant and all the people at Rebar camp told me to start adding some real estate related stuff which I am s l o w l y starting to do! Jason and I have become good friends and really we work in different parts of Austin so that why I trust him and happily send business to him that I could not handle in terms of geographic location or types of homes, etc.
Carey hey you thanks for dropping by and thanks for mentioning the salsa, I am going to add the link here that I blogged about awhile back: "Pain is NOT a flavor!" - A Taste of Life in Austin TX (LOCALISM FEATURED)
Shari Only in Austin is so right! Thank you for stopping by!
Yvette The great thing about Austin is that you don't really ever have to grow up and it's a fun place to live for everyone!
Bob & Carolyn Mangia actually handed out plenty of pizza to the volunteers and the rest went to some folks who really need the food. Meals on Wheels in Austin are an awesome group!
Russell WOOOO-HOOOOOO! Congrats on your most recent feature! You rock and thanks for such fun posts about our town!!!
That is Classic Austin! So did they donate the pizza's to Meals on Wheels? What a grreat idea...
Wow! so they did break the record! Congratulations!
Russell, you know all of the fun "keep Austin weird" things going on around town. I had some friends in town this past weekend and that would've been a very neat thing to go see.....I should read your profile more often just for hints on things to do around here!!!!
Wind driven pies and meals on wheels, talk about food on the fly. I am glad all had a good time for a great cause.
Hey there! I am so glad this is a featured post!!! Your stuff is fun and Iknow we keep trying to get you to do more real estate related articles but as long as you kep writing about so many fun Austin things you can always add the market reports and client info anytime!
Allysoun Thank you again, I appreciate the kudos and you know I always have fun writing about the great things about living in Austin!
Kerry You are so right and yes, the meals on wheels volunteers delivered mast of the pizzas to The Salvation Army and others to be distributed to the homeless people in our community!
Edward Indeed they did and it was lots of fun in the making (and eating!)
Jennifer Thanks so much for dropping by and commenting and y'all can call me any time, I have a particular interest in all things that "Keep Austin Weird"!
Sabrina You have an excellent way of turning a phrase and your description is perfect! Thanks for contributing to the conversation!
Mattie Thank you, I have been very lucky and fortunate in landing some gold stars and it is always flattering! AND yes!! I will post some more market data, listings and open house info...THIS WEEK! (but it will have my own particular look and style!
Russell, I don't care what the Dos Equis people say, YOU are the most interesting man in the world! We are lucky to have your energy at AvenueOne!
Hi there Russell - You can't possibly be having all this fun and selling real estate too!!!....unless you only sleep 5 hours a night...and eat 6 (large) meals a day to keep you going...you're amazing and a whole lotta fun :-)
How is this a record? Looks like several pizzas...not one pizza. The fact that guinness even considers this one pie is a joke. Glad to see the pizza went to a good cause though.
I love the Meals On Wheels organization! I think they serve their purpose and more. Good for you for becoming involved with such a great cause!
Howdy Russell
The you wrote this here post I sure felt as if, I were right there with Y'all.
Congrats Mangia Pizza, being the winners of the record. And worken with the Meals on Wheels folk's.
Russell - I'll be marken the 15 of Nov. down to remember what Mangia Pizza did.
Hi Russell! WHAT a GREAT Localism post! I love it--congrats to Mangia Pizza too!
Hey, congrats on that little gold star! Well-deserved!
1,023 FEET! Everyone breaks in to applause and cheering up and down the long line of pizzas again proving that we do things big here in Texas.
Hmm. Almost a fifth of a mile - of pizza! Yep. That sure sounds like Russell in TX. :)
By the way, what's the definition of Mangia? I know it's Italian, but my youngest son isn't here for me to ask.
What a cool event! I'm so happy that they used the pizzas to feed the homeless. That makes a fun event a GREAT EVENT! Thanks for sharing. GBU~
Lewis, you are having way to much fun in Austin. thanks for sharing!!!
Russell,
I love the fact that the pizza were donated to Meals on Wheels, a wonderful program. What a fun way to be a part of history!
Terri Thanks so much for the compliment, it's funny because I like to do a lot of different things and I just need to decide what I want to be when I finally grow up!
Gail UH-OH...you are right , I should be a lot busier selling real estate but truth be told it's a little slower here now and that does allow me more time to "network" for business. Luckily I do have a lot of energy and one other thing...if I did not run; I would balloon up like Jaba-the-Hut! Thanks for dropping by!
Jeremy You must have mis-read the post. The record was for the longest "CHAIN" of pizzas?!?!? Can you imagine the size of over it would take to bake a world record pie? You are right though that it was great to have the pizzas delivered to a good cause!
Barbara Meals on Wheels IS a good group and I love Mangia Pizza too so it was a great combination!
Dale Thanks so much for the comment, the fun part is being able to actually participate in these events so it's a lot more interesting writing about them! Have a great week my friend!
Debe Thank you and thanks for the KUDOS, we both seem to be having something of a lucky streak and I have to tell you that I feel very honored because there are so many good writers here!
Not Yet Licensed You nailed me here for sure; it's my favorite type of post! And the word Mangia means EAT! And yes we did eat a lot of pizza that day (actually, devoured is probably a better word!)
Elizabeth You are absolutely right. It is always a great time when we mix fun with charity! Austin is just that kind of place!
Hi Cynthia Yes it is and as I have said before Austin is a place where we have so much to do for fun and at the same time a large community of people who like to volunteer and help out those in need!
Hi Russell-Just wanted to stop in as I saw you had a feature on this. Congrats! Way to go. I got my own catching up to do as well and will after this project for school is finished. Just can't seem to not take a look as I'm working on the other project. Darn addiction! lol Thank you for your comment and congrats on my unexpected feature. I've thanked a few folks on their blogs and will get to the rest after later. See ya again. I enjoy chatting with you. You are a great guy and one i look forward to chatting with more.
What a great event to be witness to and share wiht all! Thanks for sharing and Congrats!
I have had the awesome luck of staying in touch with Rell and his long time group of friends since the old Toulouse days. It's fun to work for a truly authentic "Keep Austin Weird" company, especially when you get to participate in breaking world records!
Russell, our very own "Special Events Reporter"
Who needs video when you have Russell with his "play-by-play commentary" to recount the whole event in his blogs. I hate to miss the special events here in Austin, but when I do I can always count on Russel to bring me up to speed.
This is another fantastic reason to live in Austin, Texas and the bonus of this event was that fater the world record and all of the fun, the food was delivered to people in need! What a great town!
This is another fantastic reason to live in Austin, Texas and the bonus of this event was that fater the world record and all of the fun, the food was delivered to people in need! What a great town!
This is another fantastic reason to live in Austin, Texas and the bonus of this event was that fater the world record and all of the fun, the food was delivered to people in need! What a great town!
Russell, Congratulations on this post being a feature! I thought you might enjoy knowing that Mangia posteda link to your blog on their website!
Event Blog by Russell Lewis - Active Rain
http://www.mangiapizza.com/news/78/MANGIA-SHATTERS-GUINNESS-WORLD-RECORD.html
Only in Austin. We'll file this right next to the folks trying to do the world's biggest 'Thriller' dance re-creation!
Hello Russell, I just found your blog by clicking on the link at the Mangia Pizza website! I was there that day and it was a fun event. Thanks for getting the word out!
Russell, Another great post! You live an exciting life. Exactly how much pizza did you eat?
Pat Keep up the good work for your school, we will always have time to visit! I am glad your post was featured, it was well deserved!
Jim It was fun and like many events in Austin, a bit weird, but we like it that way!
Rick You are cracking me up (but you are right as always) We do live in a town that gives us an unending supply of things to do!
Erin I guarantee that the longer you are in Austin, the more fun you will have and you will probably begin to find time to just take it easy too. Sometimes it's a tough choice though!
Scott Thanks for sending the link. I was flattered that Mangia Pizza posted the blog link on their website!
Tom Wait...did I miss that...The Thriller thing? Hmmm...and I had my costume already picked out at "Lucy In Disguise"...Thanks for dropping by!
Tony I am glad you got here from the Mangia Pizza site and thanks for leaving a comment!
Hey there, congrats on the feature and thanks for taking us along because it was so much fun!!! I also checked out the Mangia site and it's really cool that they linked to you blog!
You sure do get involved in your community - hooray for you, Karen
Russell, me again, I just wanted to let you know that your blog was posted on the Mangia site! I see that you already added it to this post and that others commented on this too. I have to tell you that is so cool and you did another great job!!!
Yoo-Hoo Russell....hmmmm...where can he be???
a) working
b) playing
c) working at playing
I need your Twitter and Facebook user names to add you...
Hello Russell, this is a very good article about the world record performance ny Mangia Pizza and it looks like everyone had a lot of fun! I hope you are doing well and selling lots of real estate, you the best in my book!
Thanks,
Mike C.
Mattie I like to have fun and eat pizza just like you and we did have a great time! They finally posted the big group shot on the site and we can get a copy! And its fun that it was featured and was on at Mangia too! We are very fortunate!
Hi Karen Good to hear from you my friend and yes I like to get bout and about every once in awhile!
Allysoun I appreciate that and yes it was a bonus to be featured at Active Rain and Mangia pizza!
Gail hello my friend I have been running around visiting my SOI and trying to generate business but enjoying it so I guess I am "playing at work"! I will email you when I figure out what my FaceBook and Twitter names are. I have to tell you I am a little confused by Twitter...STILL! Great to hear from you!
Mike Hi there and thanks, I am going to give you a call next week!
Great post .... and KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be there for the big game on Thanksgiving!
pippa
This is so wonderful and wacky at the same time. Keep on keeping Austin Weird!
Pippa It's good to hear from you again and have fun when you are here in Austin next week!
Lynne This town is something else and it's always great to hear from you! Thanks!
I could never have participated in that one because I would have been eating the pizzas instead of putting them in line.
Back in 1980 I was involved in a Guinness World Record event at Texas A&M University. My fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, built the world's longest banana split on the football field. We raised about $13,000 for the local Boys and Girls Clubs. We made a mess on the Astroturf and they had to replace it. Fortunately, they didn't send us the bill, claiming that they were going to replace it anyway.
Russel Good point but they figured that many of the volunteers would think the same way as you and I and made extras to hand out to anyone tempted to take a slice out of the chain!
I love that story of the Giant Banana split as Ice Cream is my favorite food and you all did dodge the bullet about the turf because i know how radical all schools in Texas are about Football!