a bit late for north america, but are you a “black friday” person, or a “buy nothing” type?
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we’re supporting and participating in the latter.
Buy Nothing Day is your special day to unshop, unspend and unwind. Relax and do nothing for the economy and for yourself – at least for a single day.
the coolest “buy nothing day” experience i ever had was in eugene, oregon. we were wandering around the 5th street market, trying to buy something. we went into this little cafe called “out of the fog“, near the train tracks. we were hungry. we tried to buy some soup. they would not let us. instead, they gave us, and everyone else, free soup and bread so we wouldn’t have to buy anything. it was pretty amazing.
instead of shopping, consider watching this:
sushi jako (or cafe jako, depending on who you ask), we really want to love you. really, we do.
but we paid $19.76 for this:
that’s the chef’s special, entitled, “winter in the shenandoah” – with a puzzling, but delicious, filling of mango & spicy tuna, topped with krab and strawberry cream cheese sauce. beside it is a basic avocado roll. behind, are two tiny portions of miso soup – without the usual tofu or seaweed.
we thought it tasted great, but was tiny, tiny! and expensive! and i missed slurping up the tofu cubes and seaweed that usually sits at the bottom of miso until the last sips.
what did we do wrong? i feel convinced that this was a case of “me, not you.”
the chef and staff were lovely.
the decor was cozy. well done enough to fool you into believing you were not eating in a strip mall.
we have eaten a lot of sushi before. really. we used to go to koibito sushi in olympia at least once a week. it was across the street. and it doesn’t even get as good of reviews as cafe jako. but we always got a lot more (like four rolls, two big portions of miso, and tea) for our money.
anyone have suggestions about what we should order for 1.) taste and 2.) value next time we head to this place? we love sushi. we love that there is actually a sushi place in harrisonburg. we want to do better next time.
help!
greenwood gourmet grocery (of whose praises we have already sung), has a new website.
we love this place!
here’s their blub:
Local garden, meat and dairy products persist as the core of the business. The bounty from area farmers is available throughout the summer, and in autumn the spacious front porch is an apple lover and pumpkin fancier’s dream. Wines from two dozen of Albemarle County’s finest vineyards are on offer, and David and Nina have built a far-ranging collection of west coast and international wines along with a beer section so ambitious and exotic (400 brands) as to be unrivaled across the state.
The store boasts a full-service espresso bar and stocks a gaudy array of cheeses, cured meats, fish and poultry, and an assortment of cooked foods and sandwiches prepared fresh daily in its kitchen. A spot of gourmet heaven in an otherwise rural and scantly served run of country, Greenwood Gourmet Grocery is the fruit stand re-imagined. Stop in and see for yourself. We’re hardly a minute west of Interstate 64 at exit 107, Greenwood.
and, best of all – you can now order some things online. so, if the jaunt over to crozet from the ‘burg seems too daunting, just check out the website:
For those who can’t make it out to Greenwood, we’ve created this new website. We’re starting off small with this first incarnation of our virtual store. For now, you can buy Virginia wine, gift baskets and some of our favorite goodies. When we’ve made sure we can provide the same level of customer service through our website as we do in our store, we’ll begin to expand the items we sell online.
although, we still suggest that you head to downtown wine and gourmet for your virginia wine needs…
the folks at greenwood have gone all out. from not having any website or online presence at all, to a website, virtual market, and a cute blog.
check em’ out, y’all.
i’m seriously trying to figure out a way to take advantage of the dire state of iceland’s economy.
check out iceland air’s site.
they are featuring such cheap excellence as…
Unity Fares: As a way of saying “Thank You” and acknowledging the unity with Scandinavia, we’re now offering visitors to the countries of Scandinavia a special offer across the board with our Unity Fares!
we’re talking $399 round trip, people. to iceland, sweden, norway, & denmark. from jfk or boston.
they are practically begging us to come enjoy their geothermal pools:
No one country has felt the effects of the current global economic environment more than Iceland. The difficult situation has been a noticeable benefit for visitors, but a struggle for the neighboring Scandinavian nation in search of financial relief.
in fact. you and a buddy can enjoy a “winter wellness getaway to iceland”:
It’s time to slow down and get back into balance. Revive yourself with a visit to Reykjavik, with its clean and crisp air, geothermal pools and dynamic people. Relax and recharge your body and soul and at the same time allow yourself to enjoy the spectacular nature Iceland has to offer. Stay at the Hotel Loftleidir, which offers access to an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and Sauna. The Loftleidir is also the only hotel in Iceland offering traditional Chinese foot massages. Guests of the hotel receive 10% discount off of the treatments.
for $699…! wtf?
or, if the above is a little steep, try a “winter budget getaway” for $479:
That’s right! The Iceland Budget Getaway is now on sale for travel through March 2009! This great package includes round trip airfare from either Boston or New York-JFK, 2 nights hotel at either the FossHotel Lind or FossHotel Baron and Scandinavian breakfast each morning after arrival day.
so. i’m sold.
i want to stay here:
unfortunately, but not really important:
Winter months feature endless days and nights of darkness. Some days see only three or four hours of sunlight in December and January.
hey. whatever. i have actually been to Reykjavik for about 6 hours on a layover to europe. i always wanted to go back.
my desire is only encouraged by two things:
1.) i like sigur ros a lot. their documentary, featuring a series of non-traditional concerts in the far-reaches of iceland, was unbelievable.
2.) Opposite of most of the world, Iceland lists its residents’ phone numbers by their first name. In addition to the name and phone number it also lists address and occupation.
my post about guatemala got me thinking north. to mexico.
this nov. 13 article from rolling stone was startling. as were the images.
"I'm a cop-cowboy!" the note reads. "Ahoo-ya! There are going to be more soon!"
and this seems to be the typical story:
Mexico: Seven Bodies Found in Juárez
Seven bodies were dumped before dawn Tuesday at a school soccer field in the Mexican border city of Juárez. Neighbors found them along a fence, with three banners allegedly signed by a Mexican drug gang. Officials did not provide details about the messages. The local prosecutor’s office said they had no suspects and were still trying to identify the victims.
i had some serious ethical questions regarding the intent and tactics of rolling stone reporter guy lawson, but that didn’t negate the intense impact of his story. in short, he writes about unsuccessfully trying to meet and interview a top mexican narco. this guy:
he sums up the whole mexico/united states/drug situation like this:
In the United States, the War on Drugs is a political slogan for a policy disaster that has cost taxpayers at least $500 billion over the past 35 years. In Mexico, it is a brutal and bewildering conflict — a multisided civil war that has taken 3,000 lives this year alone and brought the federal government to a state of near-collapse. Narcotics are now one of the largest sectors of the Mexican economy, twice the size of tourism. Most of the country’s drug trade involves transporting contraband from other sources — especially cocaine from Colombia — to satisfy the nearly insatiable demand in the U.S. But Mexico’s narcotraficante cartels have also gotten into the production side of the industry, manufacturing 80 percent of the crystal meth sold in America, 14 percent of the heroin and most of the marijuana. What Mexico offers the global narcotics industry is proximity to the largest market on earth.
it’s a mess.
i don’t know what else to say.
do you?
our friend, matt, has this blog. it’s mainly about art and revolution and ideas. the images are great. here’s one (from here) that i found particularly excellent:
“A revolution without art, is like trying to change the system with money, power, violence and greed.”
it’s from the university of san carlos of guatemala in guatemala city. there are generations of protest art on the walls and sidewalks and buildings of this campus. the one above is new. apparently, it showed up during last month’s americas social forum guatemala.
this place has always been a hotbed of art and revolution in a city always in need of some protest or demonstration. here’s an older, worker’s rights mural on it’s walls:
there is a book with more street art you all should look at:
and check in on guatemala every once and awhile. it struggles. and usually, nobody pays much attention. you may have to look hard. maybe matt can tell us how exactly to keep up to date on this country. updates are few and far between in these parts.
all of the state’s energy has been used, coping with large amounts of lovely relatives, noise, and butter. we’ll get creative sometime soon. promise.
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we at the state appreciated a treat of a show at rolston house last night…
¿the rolston house?
though by the time we arrived it looked more like:
ok, the sad truth of it is, the state didn’t leave w/ a good photo. there was a cozy interior:
mood lighting and an outdoor fire:
but seriously, there were great sets by the wolf gang, mild winter, josh yoder’s old band, and nathan-of-shapiro’s side project.
now, i admit this is a pretty scattered “review,” but i wanted to mention a fun event (lots of people supporting local music, no grumpy neighbors or cops…)–
i also wanted to point out just how little up-to-date info is being disseminated online about local musical goings-on. a ton of folks turned out for last night’s show, but an inclusive, sustainable scene needs avenues of commucation beyond word of mouth (a slippery slope to cliques and other annoying social dynamics).
anyway, we’ll try to do our part, and you can check out the real, local, approachable rolsten house here.
and, word of the mouth is that johnny cash is playing tonight w/ a ranchero band at some kind of immigrant solidarity event. wish i was up for another show… maybe someone else can tell us how it went.
this saturday, we’re hoping to see wolfgang, mild winter, and a shapiro side-project at josh’s place (rolston house). our favorite harrisonburg musicians never fail to please, and i’ve heard mild winter may soon have some fancy new vinyl to peddle.
looks like a nice place for a show, ¿eh?
too bad it’ll be frigidly cold.
go to mild winter’s myspace, evidently, for the info.
Filed under: -of localism
is moving.
here’s the D.L.:
As of Dec. 1 ‘08 we plan to be operating at our new location at 130 LERAY CIRCLE. We look forward to serving you there. Questions? Call (540)434-0836
here’s the map:
so, until we can figure out why harrisonburg city keeps leaving our paper recycling curbside, we’ll be trecking off to dave’s.
i noticed yesterday, as i turned off route 42 to bi-pass court square’s “poorly” timed traffic lights, that i didn’t get stuck in the usual dead end on elizabeth street. that’s right, after god-knows how many years of “hard” work, the elizabeth street bridge between high and liberty streets ¡is open!
so happy driving, and for those negative-minded types who may point out elizabeth street’s continued closure to pedestrians, we know you’re used to getting around the rest of this town’s “patchy” network of sidewalks.
we just love cousin mary. we have to flaunt the art of mary temple every so often:
from "light seeking light" at the western bridge, seattle; on now
now that we own a completely white house, we see her art everywhere. except it never stays.
here is the review from the seattle p-i. it says,
How tender Temple is with this world, in which living things are always moving toward an exit. In her painting’s embrace, there is time to stop and wonder at the beauty of fleeting shadows that are fixed in place.
western bridge sounds lovely. we were lucky enough to meet the gallery owners a few months ago, and they were brilliantly casual. we wish we could go check out mary’s show at this place.
i totally stole that post heading from the slog. i can’t help it, i love them.
but here’s a great little statement from the prez-elect to the Bi-partisan Governor’s Global Climate Summit: (the slog calls him “dreamy”)
Filed under: -of art, -of bios, -of eats, -of localism, -of townie-to-townie
i was at the little grill the other night.
our server was amy umbel. she was nice and brought our good food out to us. we talked a little. she mentioned two things in passing that got my attention:
1.) she recently quit her job at a bank to come work at the grill. she makes less money now. she is happier now.
2.) she is an artist. some of her art was hanging in the corner. we should check it out.
so we did:
image from amy's website/portfolio
i asked amy as i was leaving if she would be willing to do one of our townie-to-townie interviews. we agreed on an email format as less intimidating, and so it was. here are excerpts from our exchange.
{she tried to tell me that “my language is based in pictures not words” and that her writing isn’t the best, but, whatever, amy….}
of what harrisonburg needs: community leadership
I waffled back and forth trying to think of some innovative idea that would make Harrisonburg awesome. But, to tell the truth, what I want more than anything is a good leader to follow. I’m not speaking about politics, but rather a community leader or someone on the grassroots level. Having said that, I can think of a great example in Ron Copeland. If we had four or five Ron’s running around, Harrisonburg would be exponentially better, especially for people who are sidelined by our government and its policies. What we need are people who care enough to spend time trying to make a difference.
ron copeland talks...
of what harrisonburg needs: downtown support and funding
As an artist, I would love to see Downtown Harrisonburg continue to receive support and funding. Since I starting living here, the downtown scene has GREATLY improved, but it would be nice to see a large space dedicated to hosting bigger bands/musicians and artists of all kinds. But, it seems much easier to get people to support musical arts than fine arts. It all starts with baby steps. If you’ve got one area of the arts thriving it will become easier to find interest and resources for the rest, so I believe it would be wise to start with musicians.
local band mild winter; photo by amy
of being an artist in harrisonburg: i belong where i am.
As far as being an artist in a small town goes- I don’t have anything to compare it with. I’ve always been an artist in a small town. In fact, moving to Harrisonburg was moving to the big city for me (3 years ago). Often I hear, “What are you doing here?” as if I should be in some prestigious graduate school or New York City, like that would make me a better artist or I’d some how have more to say there. Often I feel to go to an epicenter of art would mold me into a preset form of an artist. Who’s to say one place or another is where an artist belongs? I belong where I am, and if I choose to go somewhere else, then I’ll belong there.
of the little grill collective: magnetism
Artistically speaking, working at the Little Grill has been a blessing. The Grill seems to be a magnet for interesting people of all social settings. That magnetism is certainly not something you see at a financial institution (my previous employer), in fact they’re almost polar opposites. While I certainly made enough money at my last job, I was quite literally artistically stagnate for 2 years. Finally, I decided to take a step into the unknown- away from 401K’s and health insurance and into the uncertainty of a worker owned business. I couldn’t have made a better decision.
we like amy’s art. it is difficult & complex at times.
check out her beautiful website for more art and thoughts.
thanks amy!
after having a lovely, out-of-hospital birth in 2006, i owed exactly $99 dollars to my midwife. everything else was covered by my washington state-based insurance company.
i was reading a recent NYTimes article and was struck by this final paragraph:
In contrast, health authorities in Britain view home births as a safe option for women at low risk of complications. In April 2007 the United Kingdom Department of Health rolled out plans for a “national choice guarantee,” to be put in place by the end of 2009, ensuring that all women can choose among giving birth at home, or at a hospital or another facility, and still have access to midwifery care.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives issued a joint statement in support, agreeing that for most women, home births “may confer considerable benefits for them and their families.”
the preceeding statement was this:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has had an official policy against home births since 1975, and this year it asked the American Medical Association to adopt a similar statement. The A.M.A. agreed, and in June also condemned home births.
perhaps because of policies from organizations such as ACOG & AMA, virginia moms often have to work hard to have their homebirths covered by insurance companies. however, after appealing (sometimes multiple times), many have had success getting full or majority reimbursement of costs. from the Northern Virginia Homebirth Community website:
We also had BC/BS [editor's note: Blue Cross/Blue Shield] Carefirst when we had our son’s homebirth. You should call and call and call until you get the right person who will tell you it is indeed covered and that you can send your papers to them directly – ask for someone in appeals. I was told prenatally that we would be covered, then when I submitted after the birth all of the birth related items were denied, the prenatals were all covered. I called and somehow landed at the appeals desk and the guy kept going away and checking things and then coming back and asking more questions. Eventually he told me that birth happens with a provider (Tammi) not a company (natural beginnings) and so I needed Natural Beginnings to send me a letter that said Tammi is a provider with them (of course, this was all just coming from Tammi!). Anyway, we sent that in and I resent all the forms directly to this person and they covered us! Of course, they covered 70% of the contract rate only because Tammi isn’t in the network. In the end they paid about 75% of our total birth expenses. They didn’t cover the birth tub, but I wouldn’t have given that up for the world.
Here’s the guy’s name and address who helped me, not sure if you’re dealing with the same plan, but maybe it will be helpful:
Craig Turner
BC/BS Carefirst
840 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20065
this is all really weird, considering that a homebirth is a HUGE costsaver from an insurance company standpoint.
but…it does make sense when you consider the potential losses to the revenue-driven medical system if the 80% of women who have normal, uncomplicated pregnancies & births take their deliveries (and money) out of the hospital. sigh.
it’s distressing that the british medical system allows professional organizations to make research-based suggestions while our medical profession is left looking foolish.
here’s what i mean about research: (thanks to cara muhlhahn midwifery)
image by liz rubicam; from cara muhlhahn midwifery website
A recent study of 5,418 women across North America giving birth at home with certified professional midwives found maternal and infant mortality rates matching those of low-risk women giving birth in the hospital, with a significant decrease in medical interventions: 12.1% of women planning to deliver at home were transferred to a hospital, and only 3.7% of the homebirth group were delivered via C-section.
- Johnson & Daviss, 2005
To read more about the results of this study, click here.
or this:
A study of 1836 women giving birth at home or in the hospital in the Netherlands found no difference between the groups in perinatal outcomes including fetal distress, newborn 5-minute apgar scores, perinatal death, operative or C-section deliveries. Multiparous** mothers giving birth at the hospital were more likely to have blood loss greater than 1000L and to require blood transfusions. In addition, babies from both primiparous* and multiparous mothers giving birth at the hospital were more likely to have problems within the first 24 hours after birth. Overall, multiparous mothers showed slightly better outcomes at home as compared to the hospital.
again. i’m just sayin’…
i’ve been a busy night-shift worker this weekend, so it’s been light on the posts.
fear not.
this is what we have cooking:
-a review of the new play down at the courthouse theater, almost maine. jpremmus was there this afternoon. remember, we were really excited.
- a review of the cinnamon band show from a couple of days ago. djressler was there, and the word on the street is that she was taking notes for the blog.
- a new series: “we love you, but…” or “loving bitch slaps from the state.” or ” we want to love you, but you’ve got to get yourself together.” there are several local establishments or organizations or businesses that are, in theory, absolutely excellent, but, in practice, unbelievably frustrating.
we will be posting our gentle suggestions for improvement.
- a continuation of our “what does harrisonburg need?” townie-to-townie series. we’ve zero’d in on employees and management of both the blue nile and the little grill.
it’s in the works, folks.
you know the state loves a good protest. well, thanks to the slog, you can check out what was happening yesterday all over the country:
washington d.c.
philadelphia
st. paul
seattle
you all know prasert.
photo from eightyone magazine
you’ve seen him before. probably even talked to him as he led you to your seat or put a steaming plate of pad thai tofu in front of your face.
prasert saesow is manager of taste of thai and he has big ideas for this town. lots of them.
he dreams of bakeries. (remember when i was dreaming too?).
kathleen temple sat down with her friend prasert on monday. to catch up, but also to interview this local for the state. we wanted to know what prasert thought harrisonburg needs. this is what she wrote about their conversation:
Bakery- the point of our conversation when he REALLy lit up. As if he isn’t charming and animated all the time. He would love Harrisonburg to have a European-style bakery. Cappucinos being made, filling the bakery with that aroma….. 20 to 30 luscious desserts in the display— a huge wedding cake displayed in the front window. Pastries not too sweet but melt-in-your mouth delicious and tender.
prasert said:
“I LOVE baking” and “it’s the JOY of baking”
YES! says the state. great idea!
a bakery, however, isn’t first on prasert’s to-do list. he’s busy working on this:
photo from dnr
that’s the old spanky’s. (and aren’t well all glad it’s gone, after hearing the stories…)
soon to be a new harrisonburg restaurant. and prasert will be the executive chef. you can read more about this project in the above DNR article. here’s what prasert had to say to kathleen about the new restaurant:
Several new restaurants will be opening in or near the downtown area next year. But does Prasert feel nervous about the competition? “No, not at all! Not at all. Each will be very different,” says Prasert. He sees great promise in the fact that there are quite a number of good restaurants in the central area of Harrisonburg- they combine to attract not only Harrisonburg residents but others from other parts of the Shenandoah Valley as well. He feels optimistic that Harrisonburg is becoming an ever more compelling magnet, drawing people who enjoy the comfort and ease of a small city spiced with an impressive variety of cultural influences.
the new restaurant will feature new everything. it’s not just a “new taste of thai.” it will have new food, new decor, and a new atmosphere – all geared toward the young professional crowd. (can you say, “rosetta stone”?)
apparently, the name of the new restaurant will be revealed soon…maybe the state will be privy sooner rather than later?
we are as excited as the next person about a new prasert-run eatery. (and will be lining up out front asap) but we were most interested in what prasert though was needed here in our fair town.
his focus is on building quality commerce. he sees the need and potential for high-end shopping in the area. being partial, he is particularly interested in some fancy cooking supply shops. he told kathleen:
It is regrettable that H’burg folk should have drive distances, to face the traffic and hassles of D.C. or Richmond to shop for some of the things we most enjoy. Prasert is glad that Harrisonburg is small, but would like to see more variety and diversity in our commercial and cultural life here.
we are so happy to be friends with prasert. and to get to know him a bit better. especially if he plans on opening that bakery…
it is the ideas of those often-seen, but often-unheard, people that provide the best chance for a little town like ours to thrive. so the state is determined to hear them out…prasert is just the first in a series of interviews between townies. we like the idea of valley people sitting down to talk together about their ideas for this place.
so, thanks prasert! and thanks, kathleen!
photo by kathleen temple
here are some of kathleen’s final thoughts on our own, wonderfully talented, prasert saesow:
Prasert knows the beauty of good food and the experience of community it can create.
He has been serving luscious food to delighted diners for decades. Imagine Prasert, barely a few years old, helping to serve savory treats to guests in the family home in Thailand: he is carrying small trays, inviting guests to partake of the delicious food his mother prepared. His enthusiasm for wonderful, fresh food is infectious; his passion for food and for presentation of beautiful, flavorful meals to guests has been growing for all these years .
i haven’t even watched it yet. but you should:
and here is how the daily show website advertises the segment:
Papa Bear is going to be on the show where he’ll talk about his new recipe book on cannibalism.
how can you resist?
find details about virginia plans for tomorrow here.
particularly in light of this recent act of hate violence by a police officer. read what dan savage of the stranger had to say about the story of duanna johnson.
