I got a message last week from Bennett Harris, the owner of Steam Junction, downtown Burlington's maker space. He was letting me know that Shawna Gentert, our colleague on the Burlington Downtown Corporation Board of Directors and owner with her husband Herb of Persnickety Books, would be leaving the area soon. The family is returning … Continue reading Keeping a successful used bookstore in downtown Burlington
Beer
Unlucky seven: The demise of Company Shops Co-op
I saw the headline on Twitter this afternoon and had two immediate thoughts. First. "It's a damn shame." And second, "I knew it." The headline? "Company Shops Market shutting down Sunday." It's a damn shame. Here's how the story on the Burlington Times-News website reads so far. It's a breaking news item and I expect … Continue reading Unlucky seven: The demise of Company Shops Co-op
Stuff is brewing in Graham
The best news I read over the past two weeks arrived in this story via The Times-News. The headline reads: Saxapahaw businesses branch out into Graham. The businesses in question were what caught my eye. One is Haw River Farmhouse Ales. The other is a restaurant to be operated by the owners of The Eddy … Continue reading Stuff is brewing in Graham
Wicked sad news: Why I like to support the little guys
My grandfather owned a hardware store in a little town somewhere between Winston-Salem and the Virginia state line. For years his store carried just about anything people in Walnut Cove, North Carolina might want. Yes, “Mr. Boley,” as he was known to townsfolk, sold basic hardware stuff -– nails, hammers, nuts, bolts, washtubs and paint. … Continue reading Wicked sad news: Why I like to support the little guys
The Sazerac special: ‘This whiskey-beer is very good’
While there is some dispute about whether the Sazerac is America's oldest cocktail, it can be generally agreed upon that it's very much a New Orleans tradition. After all, the drink isn't in high rotation on cocktail lists at many North Carolina restaurants. What I find is most people haven't heard of it at all, … Continue reading The Sazerac special: ‘This whiskey-beer is very good’
Not exactly my cup of beer, yet
The science of brewing is something I never thought much about nearly 40 years ago when I first started drinking beer. Cheap and available was about all I cared about. So at that time, I drank a lot of crappy beer because it cost less than $2 a six pack. In college, for example, we … Continue reading Not exactly my cup of beer, yet
Snow Hands: Toasting the last days of winter
The time to spring forward an hour and create Daylight Saving Time loomed. Winter was about to squeeze its final drops of snow on Piedmont North Carolina. Only a few days ago people were wearing shorts in temperatures around 80 degrees. Yes, the extremes of a southern winter were on full display. What better time … Continue reading Snow Hands: Toasting the last days of winter
A night out on Valentine’s Day Weekend
Saturday night we had drinks and dinner on the patio of Glass Hall Full, a Carrboro restaurant that's become one of our favorite places in the immediate area. Yes, outside on Feb. 11. And no jacket was required. Yes, North Carolina weather is historically quirky but over the past few years it's hard to argue … Continue reading A night out on Valentine’s Day Weekend
Madison's Avenue 