Tag Archives: Tart & Tangy Triad

Piggybackin’ or: Celebration Time

06 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Food, Life as We Know It, Podcasting

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Salutations™!!

I’m going to piggyback The Man Who Ate the Town as I always do, but I’m also going to talk about what I said I was going to talk about, yesterday. Kelly and I talk about Camino’s new co-owners, Super Bowl and our food for the big game, Wise Man, Willows and a brand new Asian place called Dynasty. You can hear about that HERE.TLD

Now, on to the other thing. This past Saturday, February 3rd, was the EIGHTH anniversary of the very first recording of The Less Desirables podcast. I tell this story every year and I know you get tired of reading about it but here goes anyway…

Brian and I sat in what is now my son’s bedroom and labored over what we were going to talk about for twenty minutes. This after we spent an hour running around getting all the right cables and such together from where the bands I was in practiced. We pulled it off and the next week we did it again. And the next. And so on. Our first outside guest was Brian’s brother Sean who played the part of the Least Desirable. I feel I can tell that, now.

Then, our first “official” guest was our buddy Jay Platt who was our Beer Guru for the first three years. That date was March 17, in which we went to Finnigan’s afterward to get some holiday time in and started really promoting the show. Jay was a quarterly regular and then moved monthly until circumstances led to him having to stop. I miss old Jay.

We started having guests regularly after a while and one of those was my buddy Eugene, whom other than The BCPF, I probably write the most about on this blog after myself. He became a fixture and co-host as the Official Third Wheel and TV Guru.

Brian eventually bettered himself and moved to Virginia leaving Eugene and me to tend the garden. We then added Caitlin to our fold and she became the Third Wheel. Eugene left and we brought Bruce in to replace him. Bruce was fun, but life took him back to Chi-town. Caitlin took the co-pilot chair and eventually another guest became a permanent fixture, that being Danielle.

With Caitlin, we always knew we were on a limited-time basis with her, because she was going to be moving once her degree was finished. We did get to milk her time for about a year longer than we thought and that was great

When Caitlin had to move, yet another past guest came in to take the Third Wheel seat, or as we call it now, the “Abuse Tim” chair. That would be Bethany and that’s where we are now. Danielle, Bethany and me, with a bevy of guests.

Tomorrow, we will record show #417. That’s more than and longer than any other podcast in this area and as far as I can tell, this state. Without that first one eight years ago, I wouldn’t produce Fan Interference, The Camel City Dispatch/Electric Camel Pod, Tart and Tangy Triad, The Beer Dads, Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking or The Man Who Ate the Town podcasts. With the exception of the CCD and T&TT podcasts, I still do the others as part of The Less Desirables Network.

There are more TLD podcasts and shows coming, whether as part of the TLD Network, a whole new podcast network or for individuals’ use. The future is bright, but I have to get busy, there’s a lot of podcasting to do, yet.

We would have never gotten where we are without our sponsors: City Beverage, Finnigan’s Wake, King’s Crab Shack, Washington Perk, Bull’s Tavern, Underdog Records, Test Pattern. Also, we thank a/perture cinema, The Garage, Bob’s Big Gas Subs and Pub, Cafe Rochè for their support early on and up until the last little bit. A few of those are no longer in existence but we do appreciate them being with us when they were.

This Saturday, we are celebrating our eight-year fun, along with the rest of the network, our guests, our listeners and our people. We are doing that where the whole thing was conceived: Finnigan’s Wake. That’s where I pitched the idea to Brian and we planned its course. I am now inviting all of you to Finnigan’s to celebrate with us. The party is from 7-10, February 10. I really hope to see a lot of you there!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Voted the best pop culture podcast within a four-block radius in downtown Winston-Salem, this is The Less Desirables.” – TLD Announcer

Listen to Me! or: International Podcast Day

30 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by in Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Do you know what today is, Dear Reader? Well, I’m sure you’ve already looked at the subject line, so I can’t hide it or make it a surprise (I’ll come out from behind the couch, now). Today is International Podcast Day! Today, that is September 30, 2016, International Podcast Day.

Now, if you’re wondering why this makes me excited, then I welcome you to my blog. You must be new here if you don’t know why this gets me going. There’s Secretary’s Day, tim-podcastingNational Librarian Day, Be Kind to Lawyers Day, National Bunion Removers’ Day (I made that one up), but none of those have anything to do with me, other than on those days, I hope the people it pertains to have a great one. But, International Podcast Day is a day that celebrates exactly what I do.

Six and a half years ago, I, along with my bud Brian started a little thing we call The Less Desirables. It was intended to be a mere 20 minutes long (the length of the local average commute) to give them a once-a-week dose of pop culture. We added Eugene a year or so into it and Caitlin after Brian moved away to take a major career step. When Eugene had to move on to other things, we added Bruce. Bruce went back to Chi-Town to be with family and we added Danielle. So, now Caitlin, Danielle, a plethora of guest hosts and I have welcomed, collectively, hundreds of guests (that sounds awesome to me) on what has grown to be a two hour show. 346 episodes of it, to be exact. Starting from a meager little bedroom on the ground floor of my house to the upstairs loft to two different studios on Fourth Street, downtown, to Test Pattern Studios on Seventh. We’ve come a long way.

But, it didn’t stop there. I wanted have a whole network of shows. Chad Nance of Camel City Dispatch wanted to do a weekly “news” program and we made that happen, once we moved downtown. That lasted almost 3 years. It wasn’t because the show wasn’t any good, it was the nature of the show and the direction Chad and Carissa (his better half) wanted to take the news organization in general. Chad and I remain good friends, now, and we still work together on various projects.

Ty Collins wanted to do a sports show. A national sports show that fell in the vein of Dan Patrick or other national sports talk shows. We made that happen. It is still going on and we record them on Mondays, generally right after all the sports happens. We call that Fan Interference.

The BCPF and I were eating at a restaurant (that is no longer there) and I posted about it on social media. Another local food blogger, Nikki, and I started a conversation about food and The BCPF said, “that’s your next podcast, right there.” We invited her to meet us a few doors down and we discussed and implemented what became Tart & Tangy Triad. That went on for almost three years. Nikki and I decided to take our food styles and wants and go in different directions, but I think we’re all proud of what we had with that.

I had become friends with Jon who truly introduced to Paul (we had met once and knew each other on FB), and grew tight and on the same page about wanting to be part of something big. The BCPF and their pilots along with us three started hanging out a good bit, together. That grew into a partnership that did two things. One, J&P are now part owners of Such-N-Such Limited, Inc., which owns Such-N-Such Media, which is the production company and owners of The Less Desirables Network and all of its shows. Two, our regular business meetings at Small Batch Beer company led to one of my favorite projects, The Beer Dads, a podcast about three guys who happen to be parents (Jon of 3, Paul of 1 and me of 1) and lovers of beer, so we sit and record our “dad” conversations whilst having a brew (or more). This part of my podcasting history, I consider the most important, other than starting The Less Desirables in the first place, which set all this roller coaster in motion.

This brings me to my (so far) last entry of my podcasting arsenal. At least what I’m directly involved with and responsible for. When Tart & Tangy Triad broke apart, I decided to focus on a food blog that I’d been working on for the last several years, The Man Who Ate the Town, and I’ll admit, sporadically. Once T&TT was done, I really turned it up. I wanted it to be the source for food news in town. Now, I know that it has a ways to go before that can even remotely be said about it and it may never get to that point, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to continue trying. Anywhat! I decided that I was going to put, in one shape or another, that concept into a brand new podcast and while it’s only me, for now, I am going to start incorporating some of the food personalities around town to be guests and have guest spots and segments. It’s growing and becoming somewhat popular, at least in the food industry around town. Check… And, coming soon, a video series (still can be used as a podcast) for The Man Who Walked the Town.

So, since 2010, I have produced 734 episodes of various podcasts and those are only the ones that I was the producer, host or owner or that has been on The Less Desirables Network. Before that, as far back as 2006/2007 I was doing podcasts for a comic book store that I was suckered into being a part of. So I’ve been podcasting for about 10 years. Longer than most, and certainly the most consistent of anyone around here that I can figure. Especially, at this volume. I’ve also produced around 15 episodes for several outside sources.

And that’s what I do, now. I produce. I produce for others.You like podcasts? You want to do a podcast but don’t know what goes into it? Well, fear not! I can help with that. I’m not going to get into the logistics of it because it’s 1000 words or more in and of itself. I’ve already run this one over 1000. But, let’s just say, I am not called the “podfather” around here for nothing. Let me help you. Contact me, we’ll talk.

So… Happy International Podcast Day to all of you. I absolutely LOVE what I do and I appreciate you all for listening to my work. I can’t thank you enough. But, I’ll try. Thank you thank you thank you thank you th… You get the gist. Listen to podcasts, it’s radio on demand! Listen to mine because I need to feed the fam. I’m not afraid to say that, either (wink).

Until tomorrow, same blog (and pod?) channel…
Scorp out!

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“Start the conversation…” – International Podcast Day website

A Special Offer or: Get Your Website Going Right

01 Thursday Sep 2016

Posted by in Blogging, Life as We Know It, Podcasting

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Salutations™!!

I don’t usually do sponsored posts. I’ve told you that I’m not above it and I’m not. This is something that could benefit you, though, if you’re not happy with your current website hosting company. I have been using SiteGround for The Less Desirables for six years. I also used them for Tart & Tangy Triad when that was going and it’s now the hosting company for The Beer Dads. They are always “up.” I believe in my six years, I’ve only had about 2 hours downtime that I’ve been aware of.

Worried about changing and migrating to a new host? Not a problem. Worried about the domain transfer? Not a problem. Just re-upped your current hosting contract and think you can’t get out of that? Not a problem. See why…

Why is This Deal Amazing?
Customers are reluctant to change hosts, even if they’re having a bad experience, for two reasons: the migration hassle and expected downtime; and the already incurred cost for prepaying the service. We have the perfect counter arguments to both: our expert team will do the migration absolutely for free, preventing any potential downtime, and we’ll compensate up to six months from their previous hosting contract. To top it off, we’ll also transfer their domain for free which will make things easier to manage, and includes a one year renewal of the domain. No migration hassle, no downtime, free compensation and free domain transfer!

See? SiteGround has you covered! You can get all the transfers and migration done hassle-free and they’ll even help you out of the contract. Plus, you save money on the cost. That’s just good business, I’d say. And you’d be helping me out. I am a sales affiliate for SiteGround and can offer you this deal, right now. But, you have to hurry, the deal is only good for this week. From Sept 1 – Sept 8. Click on the banner below or visit The Less Desirables website and click on the banner on that page. Either way, if this deal sounds good to you, then this is your “limited-time” opportunity.

Web HostingI’d appreciate the clicks and I think you’d appreciate the benefits of the offer.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Migration Season Is Here! It’s time to move your site to a better place” – SiteGround

End of an Era or: Finished on Fourth

29 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in Blogging, Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Last Friday, I gave up the ghost on the nearly-cryptic news that we had made our move of The Less Desirables Studios to the new Test Pattern Studios. I, along with Jon and Paul, The Beer Dads, moved all the big stuff and then 3B and I moved the last essentials before setting up in the new digs. We left some stuff there for a bit whilst getting everything else figured out. Today, however, 3B and I went and cleared the last of stuff that I was taking away from the old space on Fourth Street and did a little cleaning before turning out the lights one last time.

It was a bittersweet moment, really. I owe a lot to that space. When we were doing The Less Desirables out of my bedroom, I had gained a little recognition for what I do, but I wasn’t in it, doing it. I was just figuratively tiptoeing around what I was doing. No one really knew what podcasting was (and there are plenty who still do not) and it was my job to get the word out there. I did so, also, with the help of sponsors that I gained along the way of being in that space: City Beverage, a/perture cinema, Finnigan’s Wake, King’s Crab Shack, The Garage and Washington Perk for TLD; Washington Perk for The Man Who Ate the Town; Omega Sports, Mary’s Gourmet Diner, Atelier on Trade and Hoots Roller Bar & Beer Company for The Man Who Walked the Town and Hoots for TBD.

Before…
…After

Making that move put me in the heart of the downtown of the city that I love and the city that I try to do my best to promote within about. I was there and in the middle of it. Listenership of the show grew. People started to know who I was for what it is that I do. That was in the first studio outside of the house. Same building but different spot, but still, I consider them both as one, just a different room

Moving to that spot also allowed me to do a few other things that I had wanted to happen: to record audiobooks, to do vlogging and perhaps the most important part – create a network of podcasts. That’s exactly what I did, all of it. All because I was able to be where I feel I was supposed to be. Some of the shows have come and gone but some are always right there. Camel City Dispatch News Hour (then Electric Camel Pod, now on permanent hiatus), Fan Interference, Tart & Tangy Triad (now defunct), The Beer Dads and now The Man Who Ate the Town and the soon-to-be blog/vlog/podcast, The Man Who Walked the Town.

However, time passed and we outgrew the space. That and the fact that I needed cell phone service, hated having 3 different keys  to go through about six doors to get to the studio, had to have a separate key and walk halfway around the building to get to and use the restroom and it was a mite scary place to be for people not used to it, especially women. All that, though, it still served me, and its purpose well. Now, it’s time to move on and so I have. Goodbye old friend, it’s been nice.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“It’s good to wander into the studio and walk out with something that’s better than you’d imagined it to be. If everything was as you imagined it to be, it just wouldn’t be as much fun.” – Dave Grohl

Holiday Giving or: Yule Love This Short Post

25 Friday Dec 2015

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Salutations™!!

awesome_merry-_christmas-_images

(©appsforpcplanet)

Today is Christmas. I’m not going to take up your time because today isn’t about me. Really, it’s never about me. I just take up a little piece or cyberspace and am so glad you come to read what I’m rambling about, Dear Reader. This is going to be even shorter than the average Silent Sunday, my gift to you. And to you, Dear Reader, to all my family, to my friends, to my The Less Desirables family, to my The Beer Dads family, to my Fan Interference family, to my Tart & Tangy Triad family, to CCD and ECP families, to my lovely wife, The BCPF… Merry Christmas and have a great day with your family or whomever it is that you’re spending the day with. Peace to you all.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call their favorite time of the year.” – “Christmas Time is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas (Gauraldi/Mendelson)

Time Lost or: Uneven Flow

04 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by in Blogging, Podcasting, Rant

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Salutations™!!

Every Friday I come into the Such-N-Such Media studios (where The Less Desirables Network shows are recorded) and turn on the lights, set up the vid cam and record this little thing we call the “Appetizer” for Tart & Tangy Triad. Every Friday, as long as there’s not a holiday or some other event that I must tend to.

This morning I set up the lights, stood in front of the green screen, recorded and moved over to the computer to turn it into the “Appetizer.” There was an update for Adobe Premiere Pro CC so I did the update. As soon as that was done, I opened it and started importing all the usual media that I use each and every week. Well, the music, intro and backgrounds were all available, as was the footage I shot. But the titles wouldn’t import. “Titles,” for those who don’t know are the overlays that have my name, websites, anything that goes over to describe something on the screen. I was flipping out.

I contacted Adobe and was on their chat, even allowing them to take over my system to find out what was wrong. They told me that the titles didn’t work with any new updates; they had to be used with the version that made them. I told them that part was BS because I’ve been using the same titles for almost two years and I know I’ve gone through about 6-8 updates since then, including the big switch from the 2014 to 2015 conversion. They wanted me to revert then update. I said that only put it off a week. Then I’d have the same problem again next week. I said it was easier to just make new ones, even though that took about an hour of my time to do. But, I did it.

Got through the video, exported it, got it all working. Then I saved each individual title for future use. For S’s & G’s I decided to reimport one. Well, they were grayed out. Didn’t work. Wouldn’t let me. So I contacted Adobe again and said that last thing was utter BS. So after another hour and twenty minutes, they figured out (I think they had to go ask about twenty people because there was long periods of inactivity and a lot of cursor circling, indicating confusion) a work around. I don’t know if I’m the only one with this problem, I’ll ask if any of my friends that use Premiere Pro CC have had this problem. The workaround it seems is that you have to put the titles into a separate folder and import that folder into PPCC and use them from the folder. It’s actually a cleaner process to do it that way, but I can’t figure out why, now, after all these years of the program, are they making that mandatory and why didn’t they include this information in any documentation that went with the update? Adobe, I still love ya but you kind of dropped the ball on that one.

Anywhat! I got it done, working and I’m ok but that is 2-3 hours I’ll not get back that I feel that I wasted. Here’s the finished product. Enjoy.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Served hot, just the way you like it…” – Tart & Tangy Triad Intro

Talking Tuesday or: And Now For Something Completely Different

10 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Blogging, Podcasting, Talking Tuesday

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Salutations™!!

I’m trying a different approach today. I’m always talking about podcasting and the voice overs and all that jazz, so I figured, why not add a little element of that in the blog? I 21660_10151470787465490_1711193223_ntold you, Dear Reader, that I was going to try new things with this blog. Well, here it is. Have a listen.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“It’s tricky when you’re doing a recording, because the only weapon you have is your voice and the delivery of that voice. You don’t have a gesture or a facial expression, there are no costumes or set pieces. Everything needs to be present in the voice.” – Joyce DiDonato

Putting the New in New Media or: You’re but a Click Away

06 Friday Nov 2015

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Salutations™!!

You’ve known about my podcasting and about my producing the video for Tart & Tangy Triad‘s “Appetizer” each week. I’m not saying I’m a Hollywood producer or videographer, at all! But, I’ve done okay, especially when I have good content. I’m pretty sure you’ve heard me talking about it and how I want to produce for others. That’s what I’m talking about today. What can Such-N-Such Media do for you!? That’s the question. Let’s answer it.

So, you want to do a podcast? Great! What’s your podcast about? Is it pop culture? Is it cooking? Is it how to change spark plugs on your car? Is it just talking about the 13 cats you own and how you want to do more? Great! I really don’t care what the subject, we can do a podcast for you. I will say, however, that I’m allergic to cats so don’t bring them to the studio.

Whatever the subject is, though, there are a few rules that you have to follow. You have to really be dedicated to your podcast. Getting a friend or two together to talk in SNSMediafront of the microphone is great for you, but who cares about that other than you? I’m pretty sure that unless you’re two girls talking about what you have or would like to do with the local university’s football team, people aren’t going to just listen to a “shoot the breeze” session. Be focused on the subject matter, even if the subject matter changes, take it by the horns and wrangle it. If you’re doing a show about cats, each episode should be dedicated to one subject. This week, it could be what size litter box your cat prefers (I’m assuming there’s multiple sizes, again, I’m allergic to cats) and spend your 15-30 minutes talking about that. Be specific, on point, and try to keep the tangents to a minimum. If you have questions you want to field from listeners, friends or family, then put that all together. Example, open the show with: “Now, we’re going to field a few comments from the listeners that have written in.” Or do it at the end, or as a break. Just don’t spread that, around; it dilutes the continuity of the show.

Another key is scheduling consistency. If people don’t know when you’re going to have a show, they’re not going to care to listen. Yes, you may be on iTunes or Stitcher and it may show up when they check in, but if it’s been a month and a half since you produced something and it was two months before that and a few weeks prior to that, then you have no “show.” You have a sound recording that you talk about cats (or whatever). If you’re only going to do it once a month, then tell the listeners and followers that the schedule is once every month. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if you say you’re going to do it once a week, pick a day of the week and put it out on that day. Here’s a hack: in podcasting, it doesn’t matter when you record the show. It matters when you publish the show. If you are worried about consistency, start broad. Say you’re going to do it every two weeks. Then when you go to start recording it, record as many as you can at once, without wearing yourself out (it does happen) or making it uninteresting.

Sometimes, The Beer Dads will crank out up to three shows in one setting and release them one at a time; once every week. That way you have some in reserve if something comes up, you want to go on vacation, your equipment goes awry, etc. Another thing is, we record The Beer Dads on Monday evenings but they’re not published until Thursday. The other end of that, The Less Desirables, Fan Interference, Tart & Tangy Triad are all published the day/night of recording. Usually, within 20-30 minutes of finishing them. Just make sure you’re consistent.

Another hint, have not only good content but good sound quality. People aren’t going to listen and aren’t going to take you seriously if your sound quality is less than stellar. There are way too many shows out there that do what you do for them to have to listen to garbage. In my studio, I use professional grade equipment and put out a good sounding product. I can do that for you, too. The bonus of having me do your podcast is that you don’t have to worry about how it’s going to sound. You’re going to sound good. I pride myself on good production. We can record up to 5 people simultaneously or even more if you’re (collectively) willing to share mics. We can Skype people in either on video or via phone calls. I take the file, produce it, shine it up for you nicely and deliver it to you in whatever form and whichever platform you prefer.

Okay, say that you absolutely know this podcasting thing is for you and you don’t want to rely on anyone to make sure it’s done. You want to do it in your underwear sitting at your dining room table at 1:30am. OR, you have those 13 cats and want to have them with you on the podcast. Well, I can tell you, I’m probably not going to be at the studio and I’m probably not going to come to your house to record that. You want to do it all by yourself? Great! I’ll help you figure out what exactly you’re looking to do, the best equipment (just to get your feet wet, not like my setup; least cost-intrusive) to purchase, the programs you need and what to do with it after you’re done. I’ll order the parts for you and include that in the consultation fee so it’s all there. We sit you in front of your computer, get things rolling and after a few tweaks and instructions, you’ll be on your merry podcast way.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. We do promotional, instructional, educational and “just because” videos; voice overs for commercials or narration; record audiobooks; consultations (as explained); copywriting and editing and the list goes on. If it’s digital media, we’ll have a way to help you anyway that you need it. We’re competitive and affordable. We don’t have “set” rates for most of our services as we offer “personalized media solutions,” tailored to your needs. Is there something here that interests you? Then send me an email, visit our Facebook page or give me a call (the number is on the FB page). Let’s set up a meeting and talk about how we can help you get yourself heard and seen.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“New media’s not very old, hence the word new, so we don’t know a lot of things about new media and by the time you’ve taught it it’s probably out of date. I think it’s much more beneficial to have an experiential lesson versus a classroom lesson in new media.” – Ben Huh

One Year On or: Not-So Silent Sunday

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in Blogging, Honeymoon, Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

It was one year ago today. On the suggestion of Kristen Daukas, I started my journey for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) for BlogHer.com and its “everyday through November” requirement. I did that, actually scheduling the first three posts that first day. My blog posting style actually evolved a bit over that month.

Luckily, I had some “Honeymoon Chronicles” to write that took up some of the slack.I also had started the Rolling Stone Top 500 albums of all time. At the end of November, I was only up to #411 out of 500. I’m now on the south side of 200, as you’ll see tomorrow. My brother, my best friend and I all have birthdays in November and there’s Thanksgiving. I talked about the shows (The Less Desirables, Electric Camel Pod, Fan Interference, Tart & Tangy Triad and The Beer Dads) and sponsors of The Less Desirables Network. There was a start about the history of Heavens Sake, the band I played in and I maintain that we have never officially broken up (I need to get back to that). The rest of the month was scattered with my life, my thoughts and my opinions. Which is pretty Head in Handsmuch what a blog is. All that was easy. As November came to a close, I signed off the final NaBloPoMo post by stating that I thought I was going to back off the everyday posting, hoping to take it to at least 2-3 times a week. Well, I’m a man of habit, a lover of streaks, and on December 1 last year, I wrote that I couldn’t bring myself to not posting, thinking, still the 2-3 times a week but every day it was a matter of not being able to quit.

That mentality stuck with me and now, one year later, I’ve not missed a single post. There were a couple of days that I may have hit it just after midnight but the post was there. Kind of like when you miss your pills you should take them as soon as you can, even if you’re doubling up. It happens. But, I’m committed to continuing it. I do reserve the right to not post (which what does it matter, anyway?) but I have found that I really, really like writing. I like my writing style, although, as I said earlier, it changes a bit over time, always evolving. I’m going to try some other things, as I had talked about last week including posting videos, memes, etc. I’ll still do The Less Desirables Beer of the Week (brought to you by City Beverage) on Wednesdays and The Less Desirables Movie of the Week (brought to you by a/perture cinema) on Saturdays. Sundays will still be “silent” or as minimally verbose as possible. I will also continue to piggyback on my food news and views blog, The Man Who Ate the Town: a Food Blog. That’s my plan, for now. And notice, too, that the picture here is the picture I posted for the November 1, 2014 post.

As always, I appreciate you reading and commenting, either here, on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter or Tumblr. I don’t care how you respond, I just appreciate that you do and hope that you continue to do so. Don’t hold back, either. Send it on! Happy anniversary to us, dearest blog o’mine.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Commitment is an act, not a word.” – Jean-Paul Sartre

Something’s Brewing or: What’s the Buzz

16 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by in Food

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Salutations™!!

I’m once again piggy-backing from the other blog, The Man Who Ate the Town: a Food Blog because I believe the story is too good to not plaster everywhere. And, too, it’s blog post from me, right? Plus, I’m at ConvergeSouth all day so it’s hard to write a long-winded, yet substantial, post. So enjoy!

“Joey Burdette and Terry Miller, co-owners of Twin City Hive have announced that they are moving the popular coffee house to a new location. But, won’t this create a chink in the canonical armor of TCH? Absolutely not! This will make everything better.

First of all, the location, while moving, is only moving about twenty steps away. They’re moving to the back of the breezeway in the location that they’re currently occupying. So, in essence, they’re not changing locations, at all. What will change, however, is the overall scope of how the business will be operating. 11aTCH

Joey and Terry walked us through the new, larger space and gave a tour of ideas and vision. The old location, once the location of McCormick & Smith attorneys, has several separated spaces including conference rooms/meeting spaces and a kitchenette. The proposed layout will retain the front conference room that can be reserved/rented for business meetings, gatherings, etc. The next conference area will have the frosted glass and framing fixtures removed and seating and tables will provide a comfy lounge area around a proposed fireplace. The largest room, however, is in the front (or back?) and will contain more seating and tables.

Beyond this there will be a new entrance/exit that leads to South Marshall Street where there will be additional parking striped off along the street. Between the street and the building will be a patio that will provide more seating and accommodation. Currently, there is a solid door that is more of a necessary escape hatch that leads to the pine needles that serve as landscaping for the outside of the building. The ugly green awning has been removed as well.

This is, after all, a coffee shop. So, there will be, of course, coffee. New (to them) fixtures and such will be put in the barista and service area and a pass-through door to the kitchen where the plan, according to Terry, could be to eventually serve quiches, salads and the like. That’s not solid yet and there was also discussions of possible contracting of prepared goods to sell from local establishments. There was also a mention of a license to sell beer and wine.

One of the many unique qualities about Twin City Hive is the fact that they don’t use the same ordinary roasters that so many of the other coffee shops around town use; not that there’s anything wrong with those. Twin City Hive, however, use seven different roasters from across North Carolina. That in itself is remarkable. But wait! There’s more.  TCH is partnering with Sarah Chapman of Vida Pour in Greensboro on a gourmet line of teas that will be branded by TCH. Sarah will sell the teas by the glass in her shop, but the only “bulk”/retail sales of the teas will be at TCH. Drinkers will be able to buy it by the glass/cup at the Hive, as well. The blends will be themed around Winston-Salem and its history. The flagship tea will be called “Tobacco Heritage” and when we sampled it you could really taste the notes of tobacco although I don’t believe any was actually used. There will be several other blends as well, including a local take on the traditional English Breakfast tea and a minty tea. Nothing run-of-the-mill for these teas.

Terry said that one of the challenges that they face, even in the current space is that you have warring factions of sort. You have those who may be meeting friends that want to catch up and have a good time, chatting it up. On the other side you have the students, the studies, the workers that need a little less of the loud and more of the quiet ambiance. This location can promote and accommodate both of those demographics. Plus, add the patio for the warmer, dryer months, you’ve got a great place to be productive and have great coffee or tea.

A major distinction that has been bestowed on Twin City Hive is the fact that they have been chosen to participate in the Yelp! event called Coast-To-Coast: Coming Together Because We Mean Business. Only one hundred businesses across North America were selected to attend and TCH is one of those hundred. According to Yelp!’s official release: “November 4–5, Yelp is bringing together the people behind 100 top-rated businesses across North America for a historic event taking place at Yelp’s San Francisco headquarters.” This is quite the accomplishment and accolade; a recognition by their peers.

One last thing is that the partners have recently sold their Segway business to a local competitor. Revolution Gliding Tours was a main component in the initial idea of Twin City Hive. The coffee business has pretty much taken precedence and this move and revised vision is proof of that. TCH will still be a stop on the tour and possibly a facilitator of the tours themselves.

The target date of the whole change over is the first week of November. Joey will be in San Francisco right before that so it will be a challenge to make that deadline but these guys can do it. The changes all sound very exciting and needed. Everything old is new again certainly fitting here. What you knew about Twin City Hive is going to be reborn with all new attitudes, all new digs and an all new name. It will be called the Twin City Hive Coffee Lounge. It will be a lounge, for sure. It will be great for those who are fans of what Twin City Hive is now and great for those looking for a coffee lounge that they didn’t know existed. This is your place. This is our place. This is Twin City Hive Coffee Lounge.

You can find more about all the happenings at Twin City Hive by visiting their website. Twin City Hive is located at 301 Brookstown Avenue, Winston-Salem.”

So there’s a lot of “buzz” around the Twin City Hive. Thanks for reading. You can read the original article (or just give TMWATT a hit on the visit counter) here.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“The focus of the shop is “All Things Local.” In addition to NC coffees, Twin City Hive stocks a unique collection of locally made retail products. Our current assortment of gifts include raw local honey, pottery, T-shirts, mugs, stickers/postcards, bath products, and candles.”  – Twin City Hive