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Our resident Literature Expert, Miss Michele Todd has prepared another book review. This month Michele reviews the book "The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory. The Other Boleyn Girl is a powerful read that will astound, engross, and intrigue the reader. It is a tale of deception, love, family, and power, one that will leave us questioning human nature itself. Click the book to read the review.
On a recent trip to my favorite wine and beer retailer, Total Wine and More of Matthews I asked wine associate Chip Caldwell to recommend a wine that he liked hoping to find something new that I had not tried. Well Chip did not disappoint me, and neither did his suggestion. Click here to read a review of his choice. What could be better than having one of my all time favorite places for food and entertainment right here where I live? Well, having two of them perhaps.
NOW OPEN
Beantown Tavern
South Charlotte
8155 Aurdrey Kell Road Charlotte, NC 28277
Look for this new hot spot of food, fun, sports and entertainment opening in the next couple weeks. More details to follow.
April 1st, Gourmet coffee in downtown Monroe, NC? This must be some sort April Fools joke some might imagine. Well, it is not. The Alice Jules coffeehouse does exist and makes fantastic coffee. Click here to read more...
Our resident Literature Expert, Miss Michele Todd has prepared another book review. This month Michele reviews the book "The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory. The Other Boleyn Girl is a powerful read that will astound, engross, and intrigue the reader. It is a tale of deception, love, family, and power, one that will leave us questioning human nature itself. Click the book to read the review.
Continuing my effort to bring you wide ranging and diverse content I have added another monthly/semi-monthly column to the site. This will be a food column written by Sante owner and chef Adam Reed. Adam has worked in the food industry for many years now and has agreed to lend us a bit of his wisdom. Click here to read his first article
The Luck of the Irish will be with you too if you come join us at BEANTOWN TAVERN
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Sunday December 31st
I do love good chocolate. Especially accompanied by a good Merlot wine. Tonight I had the opportunity to taste some wonderful chocolates from Debbie's Delights, a handmade candy and confections shop in Charlotte, NC. I had planned to sit down beside my Christmas tree, in the warmth of my gas logs with a good bottle of Merlot and enjoy these fine treats. As things happened it was much too warm to cut the logs on and the chocolates were so good that I did not want to alter their taste with wine. Click here to read more.
The Silver Brush Art Society, a group of local artists and friends for
many years, has been busy painting and preparing for their upcoming Art
Show & Sale in support of the Matthews Help Center. Best
Did you miss Sante Chef Adam Reeds cooking demonstration at the Matthews Farmers Market Annual Tomato Tasting? Did you miss the encore appearance of Chef Adam Reed this past Saturday? If the answer to both of these is yes, well...don/t despair. I have taken the extra step for you, my viewers, by video taping this last event for you. Sorry, but you will not be able to taste the food as well. Click the link below or Adam's picture to bring up a real media window that will display the video for you. I hope you enjoy. Adam Reed Demo 1c.rm This file may take several moments to load.
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Saturday May 12th was exhibit day at the b brown gallery in Matthews. This month highlighted the works of Shane Somerset and Sandy Wilkinson. As always bonnie and her fine stable of artists put together a wonderful treat for the local art lovers. Click here for highlights.
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Michael Godard Gallery, Myrtle_Beach SC
NC State Representative Sue Myrick talks politics with "The Critic" |
October
22nd, 2008 This evening I returned home from a long days
work, noticing that a brisk fall chill was returning to the air as the
sun waned in the western sky. The leaves on my trees are rapidly
turning color as their green fades away, and my grass has began an
obvious slump in growth. The final indication for me however that
Fall was truly upon us was the envelope I received in the mail,
addressed to me from the Silver Brush Society.
"You are cordially invited to our Annual ART SHOW and SALE
to benefit the Matthews Help Center." This final
sign assures me that Fall is indeed here. Well, the invitation is
extended to all my readers as well. Click
September
9th, 2008 It may come as a shock to you, but I love eat and I
love to cook. My biggest problem is that I get stuck on the same
recipe. So where do I go for new recipes? Click
July
25th, 2008 Every year late in March, I get that internal
craving from the palate side of the brain that my stomach is overdue for
its annual hearty helping of Carolina “QUE”.......We all love beer with
our barbeque but what about wine? Click
It
is a beautiful summer day and your wine rack is getting empty, so what
do you do? Well if you are like me you use it as an excuse for a
Wine Tour Road Trip. Here in the greater Charlotte area we are
blessed by the proximity of several good wineries and vineyards.
Some I visit regularly, some I have yet to try. Click 
For
nearly two years now I have suggested that wine lovers visit the Vintner
Wine Market at the Arboretum in Charlotte NC. I had found it to be a nice
spot to have a glass or two of wine, have conversation and taste a variety
of different wines. As of my last visit just a few nights ago, I no
longer recommend this location to my readers. An interesting story
as to why follows. Click
I
have been to many Mexican themed restaurants over the years, now most
often referred to by the more politically correct term "Southwestern"
restaurant. Honestly, I have failed to find any real distinction
between them other than the decor of the facilities themselves and the
level of heat in the salsa. This trend has thankfully come to an
end. Friday night I had the pleasure of dining at La Paz on South
Boulevard in Charlotte. Not only did this visit satisfy my craving
for a good Mexican meal and a margarita, it also solved a nagging question
that someone had posed to me, for which I did not have an answer.
Where is Greg Guthrie the former sous chef of Blue Restaurant and Bar.
A
new treasure has come to Matthews. The Ambercrest Winery, where you
can become a winemaker for the day. A wonderful establishment where
experienced wine lovers and the novice wine drinker can not only taste and
drink wine but also take a hand in its making. View the video on our
On
Saturday, Oct 6th, from 1-5 pm, Beantown Tavern is hosting a "Picnic on
the Patio" fundraiser in support of StandUp for
Kids' new local Charlotte chapter and the Red
Sox Division Series Champs! Since 1990, StandUp for Kids is a
national, non-profit, all-volunteer organization whose mission is to feed,
support, engage and stabilize Charlotte's estimated 2,200 homeless
children. Click 
NEW
Entry September 30th. It is a beautiful day in Matthews, North
Carolina. This weekends precursor to the cooler Fall weather to come
is the perfect setting for the Matthews Art Fest. Lining the traffic
circle at the end of Matthews Station Dr. are white tents where artisans
hope to sell their wares. This years Art Fest has surpassed last
years in many ways. There are certainly more patrons out to shop and
the restaurants and business's on Matthews Station are happy for the
influx of people. Click 
Last
Saturday, July 28th at 8:30 am Chef Adam Reed of Sante gave a cooking
demonstration at the Matthews Farmers Market to enhance the already
fabulous Annual Tomato Tasting Day. It was a fabulous event that I
am glad to have attended. Click
Have
you ever dined at the "place with two sticks"? This is not a new
restaurant but a Charlotte mainstay for many years now. Each year I
am guaranteed at least one visit to this fine restaurant on July 10th, the
birthday of my youngest son. Since his very first birthday I have
been making a pilgrimage to "the place with two sticks". At the
current age of eight, he now calls it by its real name, The Melting Pot.
Now you might ask, "how can you review a restaurant where you have to cook
your own meal?" It is in truth a fair question, but one easily
answered. A fine restaurant is not just about the cooking of the
food, but also the preparation, the presentation, the ambiance, ...and for
me...the wine list. Click 
June
7, 2007 Have you ever returned home to find that things have
changed? I don't mean returning home from work or school to the
house you left that morning. I mean returning home to that now far
away place where you once lived but left for life and adventure away from
your parents. Thomas Wolfe gets credit for saying that "You can
never go home again". In truth, you can go home again...but home is
seldom the same. I arrived at "home" today in the once quiet town of
Tappahannock Virginia where I grew up to find, as I often do
after a long absence, that once again "home" had changed. More
traffic, more retail shops, and a traffic light where there had been a
simple stop sign not long ago where all signs of the change that had
happened. The change that most caught my attention however was
the appearance of something that could not exist. In the reality
that I had come to accept as that static constant for my home town the
thing I saw could not exist. No, ...I am not referring to "big foot"
or the Rappahannock River's equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster. I
am referring rather to a bona fide, and genuine art gallery. The
sign stated in plain English " 
Today
is Saturday, May 19th. A beautiful day in Charlotte today with
mostly clear skies and fabulous temperatures. The perfect
opportunity to put the top down take a leisurely drive. Last night I went
to P F Chang's China Bistro in Phillips Place. It was a splendid
evening to be sure. Click 
Have you ever stayed home on a Friday or Saturday night because you did
not want to drink and drive? Ever miss out on an event because you
did not have a designated driver? Ever been stupid and gotten behind
the steering wheel of a car after having too much to drink? Well,
one local restaurant owner has made an effort to eliminate these problems.
Donnie Gaskin, owner of Beantown Tavern in Matthews is now providing a
free ride home for his patrons on Friday and Saturday nights.
Beantown Tavern has contracted the local company "Two Guys and a
Ride", to give free rides to their patrons on Friday and Saturday nights.
In 2000 The Silver Brush Society chose to contribute a portion of its show
proceeds to this organization because of The Help Center’s worthwhile
mission, and has continued to do so on a yearly basis since that time.
This is the seventh year for the event that will be held in Matthews on
Saturday, November, 10. 
Also
last Saturday, The National Backyard Burger Hamburger Eating
Championship 2nd Qualifier was held at the Ballantyne location of Backyard
Burger. Click here to read more about the event.
Today
is Saturday, June 23rd 2007. I have not done a restaurant review in
a couple weeks due in part to some heavy time constraints and partially
due to poor performance by the last two restaurants I have visited.
As I do not give bad reviews on the boards, it is hard to go back to back
with bad service and still find something to write about. Tonight I
dined at Buca Di Beppo at Carolina Place Mall in Pineville to see if they
could break this bad streak. It was a very good experience.
Click 
This
is Memorial Day Weekend. It is a time to remember those brave men
and women who have fought and died for our freedom. It is also race
weekend in Charlotte NC as we prepare for Sunday's Coca Cola 600.
Tonight is the Thursday before the big race and that means it is Pole
Night at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Tonight I am not watching ESPN.
Tonight, I am at the track as a guest of
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