There’s A New Dog in Town
As some of you may know, my favorite puppy in the whole world passed away about two months ago. Willow Bee was a great dog and had so much fun running all over Raleigh and meeting all kinds of new people and fuzzy friends at the Flea Market, the Dog Park, Pet Smart, the Farmers Market and anywhere else he could weasel his way into… like Harris Teeter in Cameron Village… oops… I still apologize to the manager there for that but he really wanted to go in.
A few weeks ago, I received a very nice email from the lady at Tarheel Old English Sheepdog Rescue. She told me that they had two dogs ready for rescue and wanted to know if I wanted to meet them. At first, I thought that it may be too soon but then I felt that I really would enjoy having another dog around and it would be great if I opened up my home to a dog that was in need of a home himself.
And then… yesterday I met Earl. A very young Old English Sheepdog with massive paws, a sweet puppy face, and weighing in at 95 pounds. We were instant friends! I had driven down to Greenville, SC to meet Earl and I really had no idea that I would be able to bring him home yesterday! But here he is! I’m hoping he’s not eating my house while I’m at work but if he is… well… he’s too cute to get mad at.
Earl has had a pretty funny past… for some reason… both of my OES have had interesting histories. Willow Bee lived on a farm in Garner and was turned into Wake County Animal Shelter after defending his best friend, a potbelly pig, from an evil terrier. Earl lost his home when his previous dad decided to do something illegal, got caught and ended up behind bars. Dogs are funny… and I think they could tell some really funny stories if they could only talk.
I got Willow Bee on November 16th, 2003 and I guess it was fate that Earl moved in on November 15, 2009 to help me celebrate Willow Bee’s Birthday.
Fried Green Tomato Napoleon
I love homegrown tomatoes! This is the perfect time of year to start plucking those last few green tomatoes off you plants and bring them in to fry them up! They are probably not going to ripen out there in the cold.
This past weekend, we hit up Bistro 1866 in downtown Asheville because The Lobster Trap had an hour wait. We have had brunch there once before and it was pretty incredible. Saturday night, they were serving up Fried Green Tomato Napoleon. I had never heard of such a concoction but I had to give it a whirl and I’m so happy I did!
Their Fried Green Tomato Napoleon had shrimp, a creamy sauce, capers, french jambon, peppers, and goat cheese. I meant to ask for the recipe because that dish was incredible… unfortunately, I forgot and after several attempts at trying to find the restaurant’s web-site to no avail, I found myself dreaming of this delicious treat and decided I would figure it out myself.
Just a warning: my dad does not like anything “new” that he hasn’t tasted before and he fell head over heals in love with this recipe… so if you don’t want to be asked to make it over and over… make it for yourself and share with nobody else! 
This serves 4 people
My Fried Green Tomato Napoleon Concoction:
The Groceries You Will Need:
1 red pepper
1 onion
1 clove of fresh garlic
butter
olive oil
1 little container of heavy cream
capers
12 cooked and peeled shrimp
3 strips of bacon
small can of tomato sauce
4 green tomatoes
bread crumbs
all-purpose flour
1 egg
To Sauce It Up:
To get your sauce ingredients prepped: Take 3 strips of bacon and cut them up into little pieces, mince your clove of garlic, chop 1/2 of your red pepper and 1/4 of your onion up into very small pieces (smaller than pimentos) and drain your capers. Cook the bits of bacon quickly in a sauce pan but not quite all the way. Remove, drain grease and add a little bit of butter to coat the pan. Toss in your onions and peppers. Once they are almost translucent, toss in the the garlic. Throw in your shrimp and allow them to brown a little bit. Dump the bacon back in the mix and pour about half of your heavy cream into the pan and add two spoon fulls of tomato sauce and add 1/2 jar of capers. Allow this to cook and bubble while it thickens over low-medium heat and be sure to stir the sauce so that you do not burn it.
Fry ‘Em Tomatoes:
Frying tomatoes is an art form that not a lot of people will share with you. Some people like them heavly battered some don’t but I like mine somewhere in between. Slice your tomatoes very thin. Mix a cup of bread crumbs and a cup of flour in a bowl and in a separate bowl lightly whisk and egg. Salt and pepper your tomato slices and dredge them through the egg and toss them in the flour/bread crumb mixture. You’ll want to fry them in a very thin layer of EVOO that you have pre-heated in a pan. Be sure there is only enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan in a very thin layer. Fry your tomatoes until you see the sides turning brown and then flip them. Do not flip them before they start to brown. Have a plate ready with a paper towel on it and as you pull them out of the pan place them on the towel to help drain some of the oil.
Stack and Smother Them:
Putting your dish together is very simple. Stack your fried green tomatoes and drizzle sauce over the stack and around the plate for dipping. Put three shrimp on top and a little goat cheese on the side to garnish. You can also slice up the rest of your pepper for garnish.
This dish is pretty incredible. I’m going to have to make it again and take pictures. Maybe Sunday night.
“More Than A Game” Premieres Friday, October 23rd
Over the past year, I have been bouncing across the country with my good friend, Matt Perniciaro, checking out all of the parties and events for his latest movie More Than a Game. The movie is a documentary about Lebron James that depicts his childhood love of basketball and documents the game that put him on the map.
Starting out, I traveled to New Orleans for the trailer release party at the All Star Shoot Out last year. That was a whirlwind of a trip! I flew down Saturday morning, ate lunch, watched some basketball, got dressed (realized I forgot dress shoes so I had to go buy some across the street), went to JayZ and Lebron James’ party, mistook Beonce for someone I went to college with, barely slept, woke up and jumped on another plane home.
This past spring, I ran up to a little town just north of Washington D.C. for the Discovery Channel’s SilverDoc Film Festival. More Than a Game had come in second to Slumdog Millionaire in Toronto. As a result, Discovery had chosen the movie to open their film festival. Once again, a whirlwind of a trip. I woke up, had the car washed, drove to Maryland, ate Wendy’s on the way, walked into the hotel room, read a ridiculously funny comment thread on New Raleigh until I fell asleep, woke up late, got dressed, went to a pre-party, went to the movie, then went to the after party, went back to sleep, woke up, had lunch with a friend from Maryland, and drove home with a quick stop at Ikea.
I think the best party was the latest one in Los Angeles. I had 10 days off of work in September so i scooted out to Cali for the CD Release party for More Than a Game. It was at the Hotel Roosevelt in the main ballroom and stretched all the way down to the pool. After swinging by the red carpet you were ushered up a walkway where cheerleaders were cheering for you as you walked up to the party. Needless to say, it was pretty insane.
So, I’ve seen the movie three times. Twice in a movie theater and once at a private screening and I have to say it’s a great film. I’m not really down for watching a movie that many times but it tells a great story about Lebron and his teammates including how they grew up, the difficulties they had, why they started playing basketball, and everything in between. It makes you laugh, I’ve seen people cry, and when you walk out of the theater it makes you feel like you know Lebron James personally.
Matt Perniciaro was born in New York. His family moved to Raleigh when he was in 5th Grade where he lived before a brief visit back to NYC and then moved to Los Angeles to be a writer and producer. His movies include 50 Pills, Standing Still, Ground Control, What We Do is Secret, FanBoys, and More Than a Game. His incredibly awesome mom was my 6th grade teacher who taught me almost everything I know and didn’t let me get away with anything.
The movie premieres tomorrow night at the Raleigh Grande and Cary Crossroads.
If you can’t see the YouTube Video below you can click on the HERE to be taken to trailer. Or you can go to www.MoreThanaGameMovie.com
State Fair
Even on a Wednesday night, the night before can food night, the State Fair was pretty packed. Lines for the rides weren’t that long but lines for the Wisconsin Cheese were at least 40 deep. Seemed like everyone had the same idea to head out to the fair and eat dinner.
Typically, I’m not one for rides that aren’t permanent and can be moved around from place to place but I usually take a shot at the new ride at the fair. This year, however, I was not feeling well and thought twice before devouring a bunch of food and jumping on a ride that leaves your stomach in knots. I’m not quite as young as I use to be.
I did notice a lot more people with hand sanitizer but I don’t think that H1N1 kept the crowd from showing up.
Jigu’s Thunder Drums of China at Stewart Theater at NCSU
I always forget about the Stewart Theater on NC State’s campus but they do a great job bringing in some pretty incredible shows. We use to go all the time when I was a student, many many moons ago, but I have not been in a really long time. Definitely a loss for me. This year, I missed Tucker Max, the Turkish Festival, the Raleigh Civic Symphony, the Shanghai Huia Orchestra and much more. Now comes Jigu’s Thunder Drums of China. I won’t be missing this one.
*** the producers of THE PEKING ACROBATS, comes an awesome and spectacular, all-new show… ***
JIGU! THUNDER DRUMS OF CHINA!
Embarking on their Third US Theatre Tour, this electrifying ensemble of drummers, percussionists and musicians have raised their ancient art of Chinese drumming to an all-new and exciting level. Since their North American debut in Spring 2007, JIGU! THUNDER DRUMS OF CHINA has thrilled audiences across the United States and in Canada. The South China Post describes their thunderous performances thusly:
“The thunder dragon roared in the Cultural Grand Theatre…it roared, then it began tapping its toes to the insistent rhythms of Jigu! Thunder Drums of China!”
Jigu…In Chinese means to ‘beat or touch the drum’ and audiences will clamor for more as they thrill to the awesome power of this spectacular attraction, JIGU! THUNDER DRUMS OF CHINA! Hailing from the Shanxi Province in China, this world-renown company of drummers, percussionists and musicians will astound audiences in an ultra-sensory entertainment experience. The fine art of drumming and percussive performance is indicative of the rich and historic culture of the Shanxi Province, and performances by JIGU! THUNDER DRUMS OF CHINA are deeply rooted in these folk origins. An exciting and intricate blending of traditional and modern musical and visual elements, this fascinating and innovative show, conceived by the producers of THE PEKING ACROBATS®, offers intense, high-tech lighting and superlative special effects adding to the drama of this spectacular and awe-inspiring cultural event that patrons won’t want to miss. Not only are audiences immersed in a wonderland of sight and sound, they are swept away by the incredible power found in the intense drumming, percussive styling and astounding musicianship displayed by these talented performers!
Jigu! will perform on Wednesday, November 18 in Raleigh, NC at the Stewart Theatre at North Carolina State University. Press kits are available to you from our website www.iaipresentations.com, via e-mail, or in CD-Rom format (PC and Mac Compatible). Please contact our National Publicity Department for further information:
Ms. Katie Bates or Mr. Graham Haworth
katie@iaipresentations.com OR graham@iaipresentations.com
IAI PRESENTATIONS, INC.
1-800-424-3454, Ext. 20 or Ext. 10
Weekdays 9AM – 5PM ~ PACIFIC TIME
Third Eye Blind After Party Tonight
And here is your invitation!
Join me, the folks at TriangleBlvd.tv, and Third Eye Blind tonight for the official after party at Solas.
Gettin’ Ready for Halloween?
Are you gettin’ ready for Halloween?
We want to see your pictures and videos of all your fall decorations, pumpkins, costumes and everything else Halloween!
Upload your pictures, videos and scary stories to Halloween.MyNC.com
Atomic Completes Renovation, Redefines Salon Experience
from Atomic Salon:
New venture fuses two ambitious Retro and Modern motifs, creatively integrating style, substance, and bold imagination.
Raleigh, NC – Sept 4, 2009 – Marking the culmination of 9 months of hard work and determination, Atomic Salon is proud to announce its Grand Re-Opening as of September 11, 2009. True to the roots of this independent salon, the two owners themselves carried out all labor with the much-appreciated help of their staff. The salon now encases both halves of the 905 W. Morgan St. building, one half having previously been occupied by Creative Consignments, which quietly closed it’s doors in November of 2008.
Atomic has been a downtown staple every since 2004, when Goldwell Artist and Educator Shannon Lamm conceived a business model evoking kitsch as the new “cool”. Atomic’s stylists provided a quirky blend of personality and creative proficiency with heartfelt attention to provide clients with a genuine, beautifying experience; because of that, Atomic quickly became downtown’s solid destination for everything hip and hot in hair.
In 2009 Lamm brought on a co-owner, Goldwell Educator Joey Humphrey, and the two decided to expand. The idea: “split the atom“ and divide the salon into two unique halves. The plan: retain the 50’s rockabilly nostalgia of the original salon and pair it with a more contemporary, urban contrast.
The owners took over the space next door, the one previously held by Creative Consignments, knocked down a few walls and transformed what was a modest thrift shop into a sleek, sophisticated companion to Atomic’s established swank.
New features included in this cosmopolitan portion of Atomic: a large, inviting reception area stocked full of Goldwell, Aquage, ABBA, American Crew, and Moroccan Oil hair products; an expanded esthetician room for private waxing; a Color Forging Bar that allows stylists to easily and openly access color formulas, charts and inventory; and a massive loft positioned above the Color Bar built just for stylists (a place where they can get away, relax, or have a quiet lunch).
“The expansion has really resounded with clients,” notes stylist Holley Closser. “They love the new reception area, especially the comfy window seat!” Products in the reception area are now more prominently featured, with each shelf dedicated to a particular styling line or type. “Before, clients barely knew we carried products.” Holley says. “Now they can’t seem to get enough!””
Atomic Salon continues to challenge mainstream trends in the world of beauty, often breaking more rules than we bend. Specializing primarily in cuts and color, Atomic’s styles run the entire gamut, from classic to conservative to ultra-mod. The 2009 expansion is just the beginning for Atomic’s role in downtown Raleigh’s dynamic future.
For more information:
Johnny Pilkington, Salon Manager
Atomic Salon, LLC
919.828.0064
This Weekend! Fun For the Whole Family
Raleigh Dance Theatre presents Storybook Tales featuring Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly and Alice in Wonderland on Saturday, October 10, at 11:00am, 3:00pm, and 7:00pm. The Storybook Tales performance will be held in Fletcher Opera Theater at Raleigh’s Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Children are invited to meet costumed dancers in the lobby for photos and autographs after the performance. General admission tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Group rates are also available.
For information please contact (919) 834-1058, or visit the website at www.raleighdance.org.
ELECTION DAY!
Don’t forget to vote today for School Board, Mayoral and City Council!
If you don’t know where to vote go to http://www.wakegov.com/elections/polling/default.htm to find out where your polling station is located.
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