Categories
The Eater

This week’s Market recipe

Creamy Spinach and Smoked Gouda Gratin
from Sheri Castle of Creative Cooking

3 pounds baby spinach, or your green of choice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
Smoked Gouda Béchamel (recipe below)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup toasted fresh breadcrumbs
1/4 cup (2 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda

1. Wilt the spinach in a large pot of boiling, salted water until completely tender, about 3 minutes for spinach. Drain in a colander and press out as much water as possible.
2. Preheat the broiler. Arrange an oven rack about 10 inches below the heat.
3. Heat the olive oil in a medium, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
5. Stir in the wilted spinach and the Smoked Gouda Béchamel. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until bubbling, about 1 minute.
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Sprinkle the top with the breadcrumbs and cheese.
8. Place the skillet in the oven and broil until the top of the gratin is
golden and bubbling, about 2 minutes.
9. Serve hot.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Smoked Gouda Béchamel
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons instant or all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup (4 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda
1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for one minute.
3. Add the milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly.
4. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
5. Add the cheese, paprika and nutmeg and stir just until the cheese melts.
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Use at once or transfer to a bowl and press plastic wrap directly down on the top (to prevent a skin forming) and refrigerate.

Categories
Arts & Music

Two for One ArtsCenter memberships!

Dear ArtsCenter Fans,

March Fever has hit the ArtsCenter, and we are giving away a free membership with a new (or renewal) membership. What that means is….your individual membership (valued at $75) will be upgraded to a dual membership (a $125 value). Likewise, if you join as a dual membership, you will be upgraded to a family membership (a $150 value).

And… you’ll also receive 20% off of your first ArtSchool class registration.

And…if you’ve read this far, you will be entered into our raffle to receive two tickets to our Tom Paxton concert (May 2nd). And…receive either two free tickets to our Cherish the Ladies concert (this coming Thursday, March 12th), or The Bobs with Bob Malone (April 30th).

To take advantage of this great offer, contact our box office at 919-929-2787 x201. And, if you’re interested in signing up for a class and want to get the 20% discount, please contact Phaedra Kelly (our ArtSchool Director) directly at 919-929-2787 ex. 207.

You’re already a fan. Now become a member!
Jillian Holmquist
Director, Annual Giving
(919) 929-2787 ex. 213

Categories
Sports

See off the men’s bball team Thursday

Send the number-one-seeded men’s basketball team off to the ACC Tournament at 2:45pm on Thursday, March 12. Fans will gather outside the Smith Center’s D Entrance. Do yourself a favor and take the bus (routes and schedules here), though parking is available in the Manning Lot on Skipper Bowles Drive. For more information, visit alumni.unc.edu/marchmadness. Go Heels!

Categories
The Eater

Q Shack open in Carrboro

At 11 a.m. today (Monday) the QShack opened on East Main in Carrboro. Folks were wandering in, but the line was short and we got our to go order within a few minutes. Generous portions.
Try the mac and cheese. Actual side meat in the collards.
I’m a fan of their brisket, but then I was raised a brisketarian.
Special today is a pound of wings for about $8.

Categories
Community

Habitat Store Too, Grand Opening Today!

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http://www.chathamhabitat.org/homestoreInv.php?s=1

Categories
Community

Cycle 9, Grand Opening, March 7th

BIKE-BLENDED SMOOTHIES, FREE COFFEE AND BAGELS FROM JOHNNYS, RAFFLE FOR FULL SUSPENSION MOUNTAIN BIKE, PROCEEDS TO ReCYCLEry
from the Cycle 9 blog:

GRAND OPENING March 7th

Well, we’ve been in our new store for over 2 months, but now that spring is just around the corner, we’re having a Grand Opening Party on Saturday March 7, 10am-5pm! As part of the party, we’ll be doing a benefit for The ReCYCLEry, a very cool local non-profit that teaches people how to work on their bikes and runs a bicycle sharing program around town. You can check out their work at http://recyclery.info/ . A portion of all sales and proceeds from a bike raffle will go to the ReCYCLEry.

So, why should you come? First off – FOOD! We’ll have Free coffee and bagels in the morning to get you going. The coffee will be supplied by Johnny’s, a Carrboro favorite. In the afternoon, we’ll whip out the Xtracycle Blender for some Bike-Blended Smoothies! Pedal your way from frozen berries and ice to a smooth and delicious treat – it’s amazingly easy. Come an’ get ’em while their HOT (or COLD as the case may be).

We’ll be raffling off a Full Suspension Mountain Bike. Complete with disc brakes, this will take the trails or the streets in style. Tickets are only $2 or 3 for $5 and all proceeds will go to the ReCYCLEry. You don’t need to be present to win, but you DO need to buy a ticket! (anytime between now and Saturday the 7th at 5PM)
http://www.cycle9.com/blog/c9blog.php

Categories
Miscellany

Anoop Makes It To The Top 13

Anoop Desai sang “My Prerogative” last night. “Very strange night,” says Simon; you’re like an enthusiastic dog, not the best singer but people like you, which is important. “We’ve got to cast this next stage, not just put the boring singers through, but the personalities as well.”

Randy says, “another repeat but better, you slayed it.” Kara says the best you ever did, I wanted to get up and dance. He says hey, if I can make a Duke girl like you dance…. Paula says you’re the showman, moves are a little nasty there. Everyone loved that performance.

At the end Anoop talks to his fellow UNC students, says he “knows we’re having a tough day, all thinking of Eve, we’re thinking of you.” It’s a reference to the shooting death of the University of North Carolina’s student body president a year ago today, Eve Carson.

http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/music/idol/blog/2009/03/tatiana_nicole_del_toros_off_o.html

http://www.chapelhillnews.com/front/story/44096.html

Categories
Miscellany

PTA Restock Event/New Regulations

New Toy/Baby Item Regulations
Because of the new regulations regarding resale of toys and baby items, the PTA Thrift Shop is no longer accepting or selling toys and baby items. For further information, please visit http://www.cpsc.gov
EFFECTIVE February 10, 2009.

Spring Restock Event, $3 a bag.
Carrboro: Bag Day, March 7 8:30-5pm
(New Spring/Summer merchandise available on Monday, March 9)
Village Plaza: Bag Day, March 14 8:30-5pm
(New Spring/Summer merchandise available on Monday, March 16)

http://ptathriftshop.com/

Categories
Arts & Music The Eater

Vietri Artisan Event, Sunday, March 8th

Sunday, March 8th, Noon-3pm, at A Southern Season
VIETRI, America’s largest importer of handcrafted Italian products for the tabletop, home, and garden, is honored to bring Paolo Crisante to A Southern Season for this exceptional artisan event. Watch Paolo work and see his newest products. VIETRI’s co-owner Susan Gravely will also be on hand to discuss the work and sign pieces along with the artists.
http://www.gourmetnews.com/article/gn200902UHKQ0s/Vietri%20decoupage%20artisan%20heads%20to%20A%20Southern%20Season%20for%20in-store%20event

Categories
Miscellany

Connie Walker Named General Manager WUNC

Connie Walker has served as interim program director since July. Before that she was WUNC news director for three years. Walker moved to WUNC from Wisconsin Public Radio, where she was news director for 10 years.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than doing a national search and finding the perfect candidate right here at home,” said UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp. “We are confident that Connie will make an already strong station even stronger.”

http://wunc.org/about/inside-wunc/news-releases/connie-walker-named-general-manager-of-wunc-radio

Categories
Arts & Music

Anoop Has One Last Chance, Tonight.

American Idol airs tonight at 8p.m on Fox. Anoop “Dawg” has been brought back for the “wild card round”. There will be no voting tonight by the public, the decision will be made by the judges.

Judge Simon Cowell says, “cleanup, and Anoop Desai is the last one in; calls him original, talented, one of the easiest picks. That’s awesome, he’s one of my favorites.”
http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/music/idol/blog/2009/03/tatiana_del_toro_matt_giraud_j.html

http://blogs.dailytarheel.com/?p=2723

Anoop Desai is a member of the UNC a cappella group, Clef Hangers. The Clef Hangers will perform today at 4p.m. in the Pit, on UNC campus, as part of a Memorial for the Anniversary of Eve Carson’s death.