I'll be missing brewsfest/beerfest this year so here are some memories from last year's Summertime Brews Festival in Greensboro, NC:
One of the first things you must have noticed this year: the tasting glasses were MUCH smaller!
You think you'll get there early enough to avoid a line but you're almost always wrong.
You don't make the effort to say "Summertime Brews Festival". It's cut to "brewsfest" or the ever generic "beerfest". By the way, I want to watch that movie.
You get your fill of beers before the first hour's over but then last call seems to come too quickly after that!
The lines for everything aren't really as long as they seem.
The meadery meads were gross.
We saw the guys in kilts again.
For some reason I think I am impressing Chris when I can say the phone number of Bluebird Taxi from memory at lightning speed. It's not that impressive. Useful info, but not impressive.
What was that company that was selling rides home or something? They had a booth right before we got our glasses. They were...orange.
Two words: mike's Margarita. That was the end-of-the-night watering hole though we didn't get invited to any parties in Thomasville.
I got souvenirs!
I needed souvenirs because I dropped and shattered my tasting glass!
It was a shame that I broke my tasting glass. Perhaps it was even more of a shame to drop it after we already left the coliseum?
We meant to call Chris Howell, but I don't think anyone did. Now that's a shame.
Thank you to my friends that highly recommended going to the restroom. For some reasons I thought I didn't want/need to go but afterwards I felt like a new woman.
It was kind of sad that a lot of us didn't recognize any of the millions of people in line when we first got there but once inside we saw a few people we knew. I don't think anyone really decided whether only "a few" was a good thing or a bad thing.
A lot of us ended up having full-fledged conversations with people we didn't know.
I loved rinsing out my glass.
Little John's Tattoo was there. The had brochures on permanent makeup and I wanted to pick one up but I was too scared. (?)
This is beerfest, not Greene Street. No need to dress up, ladies.
Well, you can dress up if you dress up like that guy in the white suit.
Some woman kept calling the guy in the white suit Zach...as in Zach Galifianakis. That was kind of weird. (See below)
I was a shame to veganism that night. A real shame. I think I almost cried about it.
Emily dropped her bag in one of those buckets of beer under the water jugs. Now that was gross. Sorry, Emily.
We did stop by Jake's Billards afterwards.
I did try to stay out of the "Should we get free hot dogs or just get Domino's?" conversation.
Before stopping at Jake's, Laura and I stopped by The Coffee Break. I mean, I really wanted some baked goods.
Now all there is to do is wait for next August, Greensboro. Did I miss anything?
But, no! Beerfest is in July this year which sorta mussed up my plans to go. Pout. Oh, well. Maybe next year! Enjoy the memory below:
GiveWell has posted it's responses and recommendations (posts on 3/11 and 3/15) in regards to the ongoing difficulties in Japan. GiveWell articles are sometimes hard to digest for the first time, especially during heightened times of awareness due to recent news of tragedy, but their analyses offer a fresh perspective that may help us be more effective as a part of doing "good" in the world.
The posts also link to specific and general information on donating for disasters on Good Intentions Are Not Enough. In the wake of situations where it seems like time is of the essence, perhaps time is what we as observers should take before taking actions. As connected as we can be with today's continual media coverage, two of the best things we can do is stay well-informed of what is going on during a natural disaster that affects any population and to keep those people--individuals, friends, families, societies--in our thoughts.
With all that said, GiveWell understands that we emotionally donate and want to be a part of "something". With that, I recommend This Paper Ship's Thousand Paper Cranes and Cherry Blossoms prints. They are sentimental pieces and perhaps can be bought as gifts. Part of the purchase price goes to the American Red Cross. They are $20 each. This Paper Ship is a local design business in Greensboro.
Personally, I have two friends from the United States that are working in Japan and I immediately thought of when I heard the news of the earthquake and tsunami. I've met various Japanese students at UNCG during the years I was there and thought of them as well. My friends and I shared news we heard of our friends abroad and we are keeping abreast of the news from Japan and how it is affecting the people and place there and the world as a whole organism.
How have you responded to the current situation in Japan? Do you have friends or family that have been affecte, directly or indirectly? How have you personally been affected? Do you get your news on the disaster(s) from one, a few, or as many media sources as possible?
Hi, all. I copied the following event info straight out of the periodic email I get from YWCA Greensboro (I added links where I could.) Next Tuesday is the next installment in the YWCA's Brown Bag Lunch Series. Check it out!
Women's professional success and financial status are significantly overrepresented in the mainstream media, suggesting that women "have it all." Yet in real life, even as most women work, there are far too few women among the highest ranks of the professions, and millions of everyday women struggle to make ends meet and to juggle work and family. What might the repercussions of these misrepresentations be? How do they affect women's struggle for full equality at work and at home?
Yesterday, I stopped by Barnes & Noble to peruse the selection of cookbooks and other books on all things vegan. I was shocked at the selection. I wasn't even in a rush but I felt rushed--information overload! Honestly, I haven't sat down with a book-book in a while so even a cookbook took a lot out of me.
I went on an empty stomach; wrong decision. The books with full color photos made the wheels in my head turn furiously. There were books on baking, books on how to start out your vegan diet or lifestyle, books on vegan brunches, and more.
Hm. I just might make a book wishlist. I'm not used to shelling out $12-$30 at a time for reading material though I eventually would, I suppose.
I was too confused to choose a book. I honestly wanted them all. I managed not to fly out of the store and grab something to snack on. I hadn't eaten for hours at the time but I made it home and had some tacos. Since we all know that tacos go great with muffins, I finished off the day with some homemade, vegan muffins--the good, ol' blueberry standby and my new, delicious banana walnut. Yum!
Go check out the vegan book selection at Barnes & Noble at Friendly Center and make yourself some muffins! I'll share the recipes I found online for these later.
Don't take this survey in a hurry. Get yourself comfortable with the beverage of your choice and cuddle up with your laptop to do this one!
Ok, well, maybe you don't have to do all that. In this only 9-question survey, 3* of the questions ask you to think deeply and respond to how Greensboro and even the Triad can get better.
You can ponder those three questions for a bit (they're listed below) or you can go straight to the survey at Put Your Stamp on Greensboro.
-What do you think are the Triad’s/Greensboro’s best qualities and features for young professionals?
-What have you seen or heard about in other communities that you would like to have in the Greensboro/Triad region?
-Please briefly describe your idea for a project, event, initiative, or other endeavor that synerG could undertake to make a positive difference in the lives of Greensboro young professionals.
If you're living in Greensboro now and plan to stay for a while, if you plan on moving to the area or even if you visit here from time to time, take the survey!
It'd be much appreciated, I'm sure!
*I know, I know; I should have written those numbers out.
I was relatively computer-shy this weekend and it was nice. Wait, let's be real, I was "internet-shy" since just a plain old computer and software just won't do anymore, right?
With much of Friday afternoon off, I started my weekend early. Before figuring out what to do in Greensboro proper on the weekend before the official start of summer, I made a side trip to Whitsett for a tour of the Red Oak Brewery. A lot of the brewmaster's well-paced speech was almost over my head, but the beer samples and beer jelly samples at the end made us all appreciate all of the science and care that goes into beer...and Red Oak in particular.
The brewmaster starting off the tour.
I made another side trip to Salisbury to watch my friend Josh Sandman (formerly of Forest Oaks in Greensboro and now a high Point resident) play in the eGolf Professional Tour. It was the first time I was a spectator a tournament for a full 18 holes and with plenty of breaks on benches and grassy inclines, water and hummus and pita chips, I made it! Follow Josh's developing professional career on Following the Storm.
Josh in the foreground practicing before his tee time.
Sunday was a shame because I missed Summer Solstice at the Arboretum. I know that this seems to always have a hint of lame to it but I was diligent and happy to just do some life housekeeping on Sunday. I am always looking for things to do in Greensboro and part of those to-dos in the city are, I figure, a way for me to relax. Though I had waited a year for Summer Solstice to come around, I missed it, but it wasn't all for naught. In celebration of the Greensboro event, however, I wore my huge FeltmyHeart pink ruffle flower headband all day, the one I bought at The Shindig earlier this spring. Now that was pretty fun. Here comes summer!
How do you shop for groceries in Greensboro? Sometimes farmers' markets fit in my equation, but it's usually a social thing when I go with my friends to check out the goods. This post is going to revolve around a couple of groery stores that I frequent amongst others.
I have made the effort to curb a bad habit of mine...a bad habit with good intentions. I have made Earth Fare one of my usual stops for groceries but recently I had been stopping by the store several times a week. I had even been there twice in one day! You'd think that it be where everybody knows my name now, but I mostly feel like staff there are thinking, She's here again?! No worries. The staff are nice and helpful there, and I think I've seen most of the regular staff there!
Anyhow, Earth Fare caters to my food preferences but I don't live close to it and I barely work close to it. Most things are 15-30 minutes away from me in either direction whether I'm at home or at work. From work, it takes between 10-15 minutes to get to Earth Fare, a usual lunch stop. But my bad habit of going there all the time during lunch or after work or whenever else was getting out of hand. I was spending a lot on gas and with those quick trips, I was mostly buying Rice Dream vanilla pies and other one-time eats.
So, most recently I've started shopping there one a week for the motherload of groceries. You know, that big bill that covers enough meal and snack options for at least the week. It's been a good experience so far. I still mostly cook for one so there isn't too much thought that goes into the shopping. i am able to shop at a slower pace because I don't have to rush back to the office or back home so that I can get everything else done before I get to bed at a reasonable time.
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How do you shop for groceries? Is it an everyday thing where you get a little of this and a little of that? Do you shop for yourself or maybe two people or for a bigger family? Do you feel like you spend too much on groceries?
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Now, of course, the photo above is from Deep Roots Market. I loved the "Greensboro-licious" line. My mini-bad habit now is stopping by Deep Roots for snacky-type things. Also, the drive down Wendover to get there is for some reason pleasant to me. Agh, all of this driving! I used to do this frequent stop-and-shop thing at the Friendly Harris Teeter where you go to see and be seen!
I went to Deep Roots Market recently and grabbed a bunch of to-dos to make a sandwich. An unexpected lunch buy but good because I could use the groceries for more than a day though, of course, the Rice Dream mocha pie was eaten up ASAP. And I mean ASAP.I mean, can I get Rice Dreams ice cream bars and pies in packs of, oh, about 500? Thanks.Check out the grocery bag items below. All vegan, all tasty. All new to me (except the Rice Dream, of course) and pretty exciting!
White French sliced loaf
Deep Roots carries some bakery items from the local area and I was surprised to see bread loaves from our own Simple Kneads! This was a very basic loaf that I thought would go well with my "chicken' salad and cashew cheese. I would have gotten it in any case because I l-o-v-e French bread (I was raised to love it!).
The loaf simply has unbleached wheat flour, water, sourdough starter, and sea salt.
I went to Deep Roots Market recently and grabbed a bunch of to-dos to make a sandwich. An unexpected lunch buy but good because I could use the groceries for more than a day though, of course, the Rice Dream mocha pie was eaten up ASAP. And I mean ASAP.I mean, can I get Rice Dreams ice cream bars and pies in packs of, oh, about 500? Thanks.Check out the grocery bag items below. All vegan, all tasty. All new to me (except the Rice Dream, of course) and pretty exciting!
Totally Nuts Cashew Cheese
I was sort of on a let's-try-something-new roll when I ran into Deep Roots for some lunch and I grabbed this cashew cheese with a what-the-hell kind of attitude. Thank goodness for that!
I know cashews are used for...um...dairy-ish purposes? From some recipes I've skimmed, it seems to be a good ingredient for creamy, full-flavored consistencies. I heard of almond cheeses but I wasn't sure of any other nut cheeses. I never tried almond cheese (and anyways, the one I just checked at Earth Fare wasn't vegan) and there was even a Totally Nuts vegan almond "ricotta" cheese. But, I don't like ricotta cheese on the regs so I didn't want to try the vegan version. Go figure!
So! This stuff was great! I kept on saying that I didn't know what pimento cheese was like since I never had it, but that this stuff reminded me of it. Mostly because it was bright orange. I still am not sure about pimento cheese but that isn't quite the priority. The thing is...this could totally be sold as not a cheese substitute. The dairy industry was whining about using the word "milk" for non-dairy products or...gasp!...fakes! but I figure that there is some general noun-age and verb-age for works like "milk" so let's use English to it's fullest extent, mmkay? Ok, calling something "cheese" may be stretching it but again, check out this article for some great points on the name-game.
This cashew cheese could be called a dip, spread, or something to that effect and I feel like those omnivorious-licious folks wouldn't shrug it off or act like "vegan" were a dirty word. I would even think that some people would think it's exotic (and probably expensive). A cashew dip? That'd be a great addition to next week's dinner party crudites!
Aaaanyways, the flavor. Well, the "cheese" is full of flavor and kind of tastes like cheese. I was shocked by it's tastiness when I first ate it, but I am not sure if it's because I thought it tasted like cheese or because I just thought it tasted great. Obviously it doesn't have the texture of most yellow/orange cheeses that I assume most people think of. It's all about the flavor here. If I were to serve it to non-vegans, I wouldn't refer to it as a "cheese". I'd just let it be.
I am not sure how I'd sub it for regular cheese, but I did use it one on side of my sandwich with the vegan chicken salad and it tasted great!
This product is local, too. It's made in Brown(s?) Summit, near Greensboro. I haven't found any info on it online, but the producer's contact info IS on the package...well, hello there, neighbor...
I went to Deep Roots Market recently and grabbed a bunch of to-dos to make a sandwich. An unexpected lunch buy but good because I could use the groceries for more than a day though, of course, the Rice Dream mocha pie was eaten up ASAP. And I mean ASAP.
I mean, can I get Rice Dreams ice cream bars and pies in packs of, oh, about 500? Thanks.
Check out the grocery bag items below. All vegan, all tasty. All new to me (except the Rice Dream, of course) and pretty exciting!
Ok. Searching for this "chicken" salad's brand brought me t ONESTOPNATURAL, which I had never heard of. Looks hardcore. Will read about it later. The ingredients are listed there. Pretty basic stuff. We demonize "processesed foods" a lot and I will still do it (evil) but I do figure that vegans and vegetarians eat there share of processed food such as the top two ingredients in this vegan chicken salad. Well, I better not stick to that assumption; I'll learn more aout Textureized Vegetable Protein (TVO) and Isolated Soy Protein later...
I am not that into fake meats (I love this post on the topic) but when I recently tried Gardein for the first time, their frozen tenders, I realized that, damn, even the fake chicken is seemingly less-processed than "real" frozen chicken. Ugh. I hate talking about animals like that; I just watched Food, Inc. yesterday for the first time (where it was noted that industrial farms aren't raising animals, they're raising food).
Well, this vegan "chicken" salad (quotes added) tasted...great! I mean, I was never into chicken salad and the best I've had was recently (shhh!, don't tell! my bad!) from Hogan's Groovy Gourmet, but this seemed like a great substitute. It had the flavor of a chicken salad but I attribute that to the spices and mayonnaise. The TVP may not have had the texture of chicken but, let's be serious, how often does chicken have the texture of chicken?
A great grilled veggie salad with a not-too-tart balsamic dressing; warm in a frozen plate! That was kinda cool.
I wrote about going to Gnam Gnam Gelato before here. I've been there a few times since then and have loved the sorbet so far. Since Gnam Gnam is basically pretty far out of the way for me, I don't plan on going there often, but I'll know what to get if I do go there. The issue I had the first time I went there was that though I knew that it was a gelato shop, I wanted to know if there were any non-dairy items (you know, the dirty word, "vegan"). I hated asking that not because I didn't want to be a bother (like I sometimes feel) but because I felt like I was saying..."I know you sell this item and it's the name of your shop, but would you have something else that isn't that?" if you can imagine how I would feel like I was insulting someone's realized dream of opening up a gelato shop.
Sigh.
I was assured that the sorbets had no eggs or milk/dairy so I got myself a nice mix. I realized a bit later that the cute wafer that is added in your cup is probably not vegan but...too little, too late, eh?
I sat at a table and watched as a woman came in with her child and requested the same I did: a non-dairy product. But, it felt like a slightly different situation. She was asking because it was for her child, her child that had an allergy to the ingredients she was questioning. If I remember correctly, she thanked the server for using fresh scoops for the sorbets. I wouldn't have thought that they would mix the spoons between the flavors but in any case, that was nice of the server if she did it.
The journey towards veganism continues...
By the way, I just started playing rec softball and realized I needed a mitt or glove or whatever it's called. A non-leather glove? Yeah, it probably exists but apparently "leather is the best." Hmmm...time to Google and such...
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