Sunday, January 22, 2012

Attention all foodies!
 WOO-HOO! Annual Charlotte Restaurant Week  runs January 20-January 29, 2012 with over 100 of the best restaurants offering 3 courses (sometimes more!), for $30.00 per person! Tips and tax not included. Check it out and you must make reservations to participate!
rida January 20 - S
You've heard (over and over), that southern belle Paula Deen has been diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. AND if you follow my personal fav food yankee, Anthony Bordain-he often admits on his new TV show, The Layover, to doubling up on Lipitor to control his cholesterol level.  Do ya think their health issues are food induced? If you know of them, you know what their top food choices are: butter+fatty meats. What's yours?


 Personally, I will eat anywhere Bordain has eaten. That doesn't mean I will eat all the things he eats! When I visit a new city worldwide, I google No Reservations to get the best places to dine. Don't think they have to be expensive: street food is included often. That's how I found out (years ago), about Mac's Speedshop on South Blvd, Charlotte. You might have been too timid to drive into a parking lot littered with motorcycles. But stick around to see the over 50 generation coming out to hop on those bikes. Nowadays, many weekday suited professionals own those expensive Harleys. Inside, there are visible tats, and a sprinkle of leather but don't let that dissuade you from eating some good, down home BBQ. Lunchtimes are packed solid. Food comes out fast and heaping. DO try the smokey and spicy collard greens and for starters tabasco fried pickles! Pulled pork and the brisket are my favs. Paula D. would approve and check out what
Tony said right here!


www.macspeedshop.com/

Another great choice for fast food without the greasy burgers and enough spice to take the chill out of winter is Thai Taste on East Boulevard, Charlotte. Anytime I can slurp on coconut milk-coated noodles flavored with lemon grass, I smile. True comfort food for any ethnic persuasion, the curry sauces are not typical of the Indian curries. See the DIY recipe. Start with dumplings or a savory soup and finish with noodles of any kind and you will leave full and happy. Don't be intimidated by selections that are hard to pronounce: "poh peah tod" or "gaeng panang", just order by number or point to what the person next to you is enjoying!







WALK THIS WAY!  I am not embarrassed to admit I watch American Idol. Ever since Steven big mouth Tyler joined the crew (and that jerk left), I tune in or tape it and am  amazed by the rap and sappy-ness of S.T.
Oh such sweet emotions come out of those huge lips, rhyming, miming and such great timing, the man has it all and just got engaged! Read his book, "Does the noise in my head bother you?" Check out the review from the Hollywood Reporter for more.
I hope you caught him with Joe Perry this past Friday on the Tonight show with Jay Leno. When it comes to Steven, "I don't want to miss a thing!" A new album is in the works due to be released later this year. The toxic twins are definitely back in the saddle.
And what about Steven's version of the National Anthem for the AFC Championship game Jan. 22? Did ya catch it! You know he's from Boston, dude!


smART: Hey, who knew! Mummies are in right now WOO-HOO! literally- at the Discovery Place Museum in uptown Charlotte. I wasn't sure this was a traveling exhibit I had to see. But I had seen and thoroughly enjoyed the Body Worlds exhibit in 2007 (did you?), so I gave this a look. WOW, it is more than I thought, very tastefully done and a limited engagement, so don't miss it. I would preface it with the the movie Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs at IMAX Dome Theatre at Discovery Place.



How 'bout sm' art from Charlotteans? Send me your photos of our queen city, the dwellers, eateries, beer joints, etc. and I will post them! (After review, of course!). 


FaFaFaFashion: I didn't want to spill the beans this early on but the Today show already did, so, WOO-HOO, mark your calendars ladies. Jason Wu, who designed Michelle Obama's stunning inaugural ball gown, is coming out with apparel and accessories, all under $60, at Target. The debut date is Feb. 5 through March 6, 2012 or until supplies last. Don't say I didn't warn you. They already predicted lines in NYC and other big cities. Send me a photo of you in a J.W. fashion and I will post it!

COMING TO A Theater Near Vous: 
Die laughing and why not I ask?


 With all the s__t on TV and the news, we need a break and we NEED IT NOW!  WOO-HOO! Ovens Auditorium is hosting some hilarious shows starting with Jim Gaffigan, Tyler Perry's show, The Have and the Have Nots and then one of Nu-Yawk's favorite sons, hold on now-Lewis Niles Black! Get your tickets now-these shows are hot hot hot.

   

Note: WOO-HOO's are events that come and go in the blink of an eye! In other words, they have an expiration date, so act fast. Click on the Woo-hoo's to open up links to details and info. 




Have you dined at this exquisite spot in Charlotte? Perfect for a Valentine's dinner date! 


Monday, January 9, 2012

Happy Old Year's Highs

Happy OLD Year by Karen Cohen 

Eight Miles Highlights of 2011                  



Live Shows: Anthony Bordain and Eric Ripart: Good vs. Evil tour



So who was the evil one? Eric is patient and calm. When he talks, I can hardly understand a word he says due to his French accent. Mon dieu!
 Is that considered good?
Tony, completely the opposite, fidgets with his fingers, reads off note cards, and paces back and forth. Profanity is his trademark.
Is that considered bad?
Both are amusing and entertaining but I paid the extra bucks to meet and greet the two gents post show.

I narrowed down one "Tony" question as I waited on line at the restaurant where the two hosted book signings and photo opts.
"Who is your favorite Ramone?" 
When I asked, Tony answered, "Well Marky, I guess, cause the rest of them are dead. " No joke, really.
"But I'd say Johnny was my favorite." Ah, just 
the answer I wanted to hear. Why? In 2007 I visited the gravesite of John William Cummings, aka Johnny Ramone, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in LA. 
I took an awesome photo of the bronze life-size statue of Johnny with his guitar and I will now mail it to Tony.  Who was my favorite? Johnny packed 
the most action on stage. Joey hardly moved. Dee Dee stared blankly into space most of the time and the various drummers, well, drummed.
I'd have to say Johnny, also, though I 
read he was a bit of a snot. 

The Good vs Evil tour continues into Feb. 2012 in Indiana and Michigan, check ticketmaster for more information.


Live Concerts: Ray Davies

Did I know I would be singing out loud all the words to all the songs that Ray Davies sang? No. I don't normally sing in public!  But I had listened to the Kinks since their inception in 1964 (when I was just a tadpole!), yes, I knew and loved their music. "You really got me", of course, was a radio sensation and nothing like it had been heard before. Maybe "Love that dirty water" by the Standells or "Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen but come on, what a rocking beat!
In concert, 65 + year old Ray was perky, jubillant, and animated. He was genuinely happy to have the audience sing along to all the old time favs, "L-O-L-A-lola"! "Well respected man"," Superman". I bet some of you know the words too!
Scraps:
You all know Ray fathered a child with Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, right, RIGHT? Well, did you know the song, "Stop your Sobbing", was penned and sung by Davies and the Kinks on their 1965 album? Holy Sh__! Yeah, the Pretenders put that song on the map. What I didn't know was that last year, Chrissie and her X-amore, Ray, recorded a song and shot a video called "Postcards from London".
Ray Davies says his new duet with former lover Chrissie Hynde, 'Postcards From London,' was the work of their 26-year-old daughter, Natalie Ray Hynde.
The Kinks frontman says his relationship with the Pretenders singer is still estranged -- they recorded their studio parts and evidently shot their
appearances for the song's video separately. Hey, whatever works!
http://youtu.be/oqa_jiSW7tA

QUICKIE (Charlotte): For pre-concert quick bites try Growlers Pourhouse in NODA-great oysters and Draft Magazine voted this place as  America's 100 Best
 Beer Bars in 2011. Wow.
Cool dark atmosphere inside, check it out. AND if you love raw oysters like I do, go to this site to order yours fresh from the oyster farm/waters of Cape Cod:
www.DennisOysters.com

If you are in uptown Charlotte for lunch, check out this WOO-HOO $18.00 winter three course lunch special at the Capital Grille; you can go online
to reserve your spot.
I dined there the other day and the food is MAH-ve-las! Yum. Try the crab/lobster salad sandwich or the three course special: roasted pepper soup,
Wagyu cheeseburger (Kobe beef), with a fried egg and crisp onions on top with a side of truffle fries. Heaven=truffle oil!

The Capital Grille Lunch | TheCapitalGrille.com



www.thecapitalgrille.com/Lunch


A Salad, Sandwich & Side For $18 At The Capital Grille in Charlotte.


Rea-tail HIGH: Missoni comes to Target Sept. 13, 2011
I had this slated on my desk calendar as a MUST DO event. I got there the day after and found some picked over goods but came out with Missoni rubber striped boots, zig zag
slip on flats, sweater and socks for my man and a very cool, Missoni-lined trenchy type of coat for moi! Gotta love it.
When I entered the store, women were already exiting with large packed bags in hand, smiling. I quickly dashed up to the first salesperson and asked where the Missoni was!
He said in a slow drawl, "Miss who?" I don't know where that lady is." Nevermind! I have a nose for tracking so I just hit all the end isles and found the Missoni displays
and threw whatever was left in my size in the shopping cart. Paying for my booty, the check-out woman said, "What is this Missas-sony stuff? I heard it's real big."
Ummmm...has been since before she was born but that's okay! The less people down in my neck of the woods know about Missoni, the better my chances are of scoring.
When I got home, I laid out my stash on the floor and took a picture of it. On TV that morning the Today show featured all the sold out stores in NYC where people had
waited overnight in line to buy the designer line. Hey folks, these things only come around once and no, they don't restock or reorder. When the headlines read:
 Retailer's largest limited time designer collection spans more than 400 items, you better get your butt in gear friend.
Checking online today, many Missoni items are sold out completely and a few left, mostly in little girls' sizes.

Do you have your sneakers on right now? Good, remember how I advised you a few sentences ago that you better get your butt in gear? WOO-HOO: Run down to Target
and get some cool p.j.'s or bras before they sell out. Ok, if you live around me, you don't really have to run but your size could sell out, especially the smaller sizes though
 I do find that TARGET runs small, very small (go up a size or TWO!). The newest designer collection is by Josie Natori. She's an Asian designer from the Phillipines
who creates loungewear and innerwear (fancy word for underwear!). On the Target website she says, "I am honored to be the first limited edition lingerie and loungewear
 designer at Taget." Her collection came out last year in December and now again until Feb. 23, 2012. Go on Target and see her stuff. Very feminine without the frills.
 LOVE IT! Especially the Captivate ME robe!


ON THE ROAD AGAIN: New Orleans
 I practically live in my car ( pronounced in the this neck of the woods "VEE-HEE-COAL"). Digging exploration and a smooth ride,  I tootle around. My niece and I shared our first road trip together in 2011.  She picked the destination: NAWLINS. Oh yeah, how cool is that? Been there, done that but a redux is absolutely on order for many years to come. If I could have a vacation condo share, it would be there.
 If you haven't been to New Orleans, GO! It is relaxed yet high energy! There's the jazz fest coming up and wouldn't that be the place to be!

Jazz & Heritage Festival runs April 27-May 6, for info and band lineups:Jazz& Heritage Festival // April 27 - May 6, 2012

www.nojazzfest.com


Po'boys, Cafe du Monde, street performers, tattoo parlors,
Tipitinas, fresh oysters, House of Blues, Jackson Square, French Quarters,
 Meyers Hat Company (get a very cool hat there!), Antoines for
Sunday brunch, Commander's Palace for dinner. OMG.
What else is needed in life? I could live and die here.    








Meyers Hat Company, New Orleans




smART: Ending soon-Jan. 22 at the Knight Gallery sponsored by the Light Factory of Charlotte, NC is the last day to see this stunning black and white photography 
exhibit that features the true master photographers of the 60's: Diane Arbus, Robert Frank, Bruce Davidson and others. Understand more about that time in history 
and go see
 this exhibit at the Light Factory.
"Streetwise: Masters of 60's Photography", organized by the Museum of Photographic Arts, Sand Diego, CA.
www.lightfactory.org/streetwise.

MORE *WOO-HOO's coming next time...now get out and sample your world!


*Woo-Hoo's are events that come and go in the blink of an eye!


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