Last Time YOU had a Hot Weiner?

Naturally, the challenge for any foodie upon arrival in a (relatively) new city is to ‘get real.’ I’m happy to report that my first foray away from the convention hotel in downtown Raleigh, NC yielded a bullseye.

Apparently The Roast Grill, on S. West Street between W. Morgan and Hillsborough Streets, has been there since the 1930s serving hot dogs and Coke. That’s it. Your choice of toppings are mustard, chili, onions, and/or slaw. Their motto is ‘We burn them for you.’

The interior is tiny, with three two-seaters on one side and a tight bar along the grille that seats maybe 10 people, and has been decorated by the accumulation of Coca-Cola memorabilia. This is a local spot with the folks behind the counter holding conversations with almost every customer, lots of greetings when the door opens from both sides of the counters. What a find!

Midtown Reno

I took my morning walk in Midtown this morning… Started around 7:30, so stuff wasn’t open. I read somewhere — maybe in the Sunday RGJ [Reno Gazette Journal] — that stuff was happenin’ in Midtown… indeed, we ate at Midtown Eatery with Brian a while back BB (Before Buying), shopped at Ace Hardware last week and CRAFT Wines and Spirits just yesterday — all without knowing of a thing called “Midtown.”

 

I had reason to be in the area this morning, so hey… I’ll take my walk there. What you’ll see is what I saw. I parked on California and walked from California Street south on South Virginia, to Mary Street and back north to Liberty Street. From the git-go I was I was taken by the quality of graphic art, so I whipped out my iPhone (the only ‘camera’ I had with me) to record the events.
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To Rome With Love

To Rome With Love

Monday July 23
Century Riverside 12, Reno
USA, 2012, 112 min
CREDITS
Comedy
Directed by Woody Allen
Written by Woody Allen

Movie Info

To Rome with Love is a kaleidoscopic comedy movie set in one of the world’s most enchanting cities. The film brings us into contact with a well-known American architect reliving his youth; an average middle-class Roman who suddenly finds himself Rome’s biggest celebrity; a young provincial couple drawn into separate romantic encounters; and an American opera director endeavoring to put a singing mortician on stage. — (C) Sony Pictures Classics

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First Crop Garlic

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Harvested last week, our Red Russian hardneck garlic is ready for action…

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Spent Red Russian garlic cloves, mashed with THE BEST garlic press in the world, the Zyliss Susi, which is big enough to handle the large hardneck cloves (most commercial garlic is softneck), and built to press garlic WITHOUT peeling the cloves!

Jocks and Rain

Edgewood Tahoe American Century Celebrity Championship

Carol and I went off to South Lake Tahoe for the Celebrity-Amateur part of this golf event. As we crossed over the mountaintop to the west side of the mountain, leading down to Tahoe, it started to rain. Bummer. First rain we’ve seen since moving here. (Geography NOTE: Reno is at 4.500 feet elevation on the east side of the Sierras, Lake Tahoe is at 6,200 feet on the west side.)

C is not into walking a lot, so we selected a spot in the bleachers at the first tee. We arrived just in time to see Rodney Harrison tee off. Each Celebrity was teamed with 3 or 4 amateurs (who allegedly paid $5K each to participate). (Never mind, there is a waiting list.)

Carol then watched Charles Barkley tee-off while I slipped over to the adjacent 10th tee to check out Alex Smith. (guys all look taller and thinner up close than on the TV)
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Knot Hard

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I’ve been practicing my maritime knots this week. Here’s a Monkey Fist that comes in handy when you need to throw a rope end.