Tag Archives: The Man Who Ate the Town

The Now Normal Continued or: Imminent Lockdown

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

We are now into day whatever of “The Now Normal.” All the work on the WSNC Hospitality List has left me unsure of what day it is and what’s going on. The only saving grace is for what I either record or release as far as podcasts go. It did throw me off to record TLD on a different day of the week (two weeks in a row), but somehow I remembered to post it. I did record Fan Interference today.

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Staring at lists got me like…

The mayor of WSNC, Allen Joines announced today a “Stay-at-Home” alert and that freaked people out. It starts on Friday but people are, of course, going to panic and continue to buy up everything, hoard stuff and put others in further need. People are going to worry about having enough to eat. I can assure you, you will. Even with the “lockdown” in place, you can still go to the store. You can still go to “essential” stores and yes, absolutely, you can still get food from restaurants. You can’t eat in, that’s true. You can have it delivered. You can get it to go. You can even just get curbside that you don’t have to get out of your vehicle for.

Yes, it is a disruption to “everyday life.” It is an adjustment. We will survive it. We will see the other side. It will take a bit. It will be uncomfortable for a bit. But, there is no reason to freak out. That does no one any good. To give you the rundown and updated food service list, visit this link.

Keep calm. Listen to some podcasts. Spend time with your family. And, yes, wash your damn hands!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Y’all made it happen.” – Katie Murawski

The Now Normal or: The List Goes On

24 Tuesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

Dear Reader, I’m apologizing to you upfront for the fact that I’m going to continue to inundate you with links to “the list.”

The list is the work of Lea Metz and myself, searching for what food and beverage businesses are doing in WSNC. Lea (pronounced Lee-ah, like my sister except hers if spelled with an “h”) joined Ray and me for The Man Who Ate the Town podcast yesterday. We all practiced social distancing and were each on a Zoom chat, Lea in WSNC and Ray in Mt. Airy and I was in the studio. You can hear that episode here.

I produce the Forsyth Mags podcast and was actually a guest on it this morning and talked about the list, as well. You can hear that episode here.

Technically, there are two different lists but that’s only for style and web usage. The data collected therein is shared between Lea and me. Nothing goes on that list unless we have discussed it with the other of us. We have had a great response and are still having people contact us to make sure their business (or a favorite of theirs) is on the list.

It has been shared and/or used by WXII, The Winston-Salem Journal, Yes! Weekly, and multiple Facebook and social media groups. I actually had someone text me today that said the executives at RJ Reynolds was using our list and had used/added it to their “teams” list. I am proud of this list and I know that Lea is, too. We talk about it all day every day, now. Someone is working on it now to make it more dynamic for cell phones and we will turn it into an app as soon as we can. We’re working on that, too. So, to update you on the list, you can find it here.

Thanks again for reading it and listening and for spending money at the local F&B businesses.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Hope this is over soon and we get to see you here.” – Nui Nui

Day Three Quarantine or: More Food News

19 Thursday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!man who ate the town Stallone

Today was another day of working from home but like the last two days, I’ve been working on the food list. It’s been hard work but I published it. There’s the blog post that I started and then there’s the services list that I put on my The Man Who Ate the Town website. It’s the most comprehensive list for WSNC that I’ve seen. Lea Metz, a friend who has ties to the food industry and I have (and will continue to) worked our butts off on this.

You can see the update here.

I’m going to bed, now.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Great info and very helpful” – Alice Dodson

Day Two or: More Food Stuffs

18 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

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Over the last two days, I have written more blog posts at TMWATT and definitely have edited one more than any other post that I’ve ever done. And, we are still hanging out working here at home, The BCPF and I. Working from home for both of us have been really busy. She’s been dealing with canceling functions through her work because of the “illness-that-shall-not-be-named” and I have been doing all the updates for the food and beverage industry.

We’re hanging in, though. If you want to catch up on that list, you can do so here.

I also posted a TLD episode today. You can hear that here.

Until tomorrow, wash your damn hands!
Scorp out!

—
“Thank you for doing what you do!” – Chelsea Tart

Eating The Town, Still or: A Whole New List

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

Whew! I have spent the entire day compiling a list of restaurants in WSNC and what they’re doing during the gathering lockdown. I’m not going to mention that pesky bug going around because Facebook poo-poos on that. Anywhat! Over at The Man Who Ate the Town, I posted (and will continue to post and update) this post. Support your local businesses.

man who ate the town Stallone

Until tomorrow, wash your damn hands…
Scorp out!

—
“You are the man…” – Kinsey Anne

The Buzz Around the Return or: More Closings

16 Monday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

Beeswax and More Logo Large

First, I am happy to announce that Clay and I recorded the first new episode of Beeswax Vinyl & More podcast since August of last year today. It was a bit rough but a few things factored into that. One, Clay and I were practicing “Social Distancing” and he was on Zoom with me. Two, we kind of just stumbled through things because we had an opportunity to do it and where we have not done it in seven months, we had to “reacquaint ourselves with our styles” to (somewhat) quote Paul Stanley. Just a lot of stuff going on in the world and we touched on it and some other things. We’ll be back to recording regularly, I hope. Listen to that episode here.

Also, today, Ray and I practiced “Social Distancing” with him at home in Mt. Airy and me in the studio. We do that every week so it was “business as usual.” Well, at least in the recording department. These last few weeks have been anything but “business as usual.” The COVID-19 thing is some serious business and the world is shutting down right now. Anywhat! Listen to TMWATT here.

Last week I provided an update from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. Today I am offering their latest update:

To join with the broader community in responding appropriately to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County will temporarily close, to public access, the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (“Rhodes Center”) and the Hanesbrands Theatre, beginning Tuesday, March 17, until further notice. All previously scheduled performances, exhibitions and other events at these venues have been cancelled or postponed.

The Rhodes Center includes the Sawtooth School for Visual Arts and Coffee Park, as well as The Arts Council’s own Reynolds Place Theatre, Mountcastle Forum/Theatre, Arboreal Gallery, Community Arts Gift Shop and
Every Corner Gallery.

The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are disruptive and challenging, and the entire community must make sacrifices in order to be safe and protect each other. We must comply with the safety protocols established by public authorities, and we should be proactive otherwise to help ensure the well-being of family, friends and the community at large.

At the same time, we must all strive to maintain, as much as possible, the elements of the social infrastructure of our community that have made it a great place to live, work, learn and place. There will be an aftermath of the current crisis, despite its near-term adversities, and we want our community to emerge with vibrancy and optimism comparable to before the crisis.

Accordingly, The Arts Council’s staff will continue to work during the temporary public-access closure of our venues – although we will do so remotely to the extent possible – in sustained pursuit of our mission to support and serve this community’s constellation of amazing arts organizations and artists. Even in the current crisis, the arts remain sources of comfort, inspiration and even physical well-being. Our arts constellation remains a valuable asset of this community, and we want it to shine brightly when the crisis has passed.

Please continue to reach out to us about matters of interest, as you would have done in the past, except do so via phone, email or online for the time being, rather than dropping by the Rhodes Center for a visit. Our mission to help extend the beneficial impacts of the arts to “touch every corner” of our community is unaffected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Until tomorrow, stay safe and wash your damn hands…
Scorp out!

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“Our mission to help extend the beneficial impacts of the arts to ‘touch every corner’ of our community is unaffected by the COVID-19 crisis.” – Arts Council WS/FC

It’s Monday or: The Ensuing Crash

09 Monday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

It’s Monday, which means that there are podcasts to promote. The latest The Man Who Ate the Town is out as is the latest The Beer Dads Podcast. I would, as would the co-hosts of them, appreciate a listen. Click the name to go to the latest episodes.

Good hygiene - a great habit

Wash your hands!!

Now, I know we have heard this ad nauseam over the last few weeks and we will continue to hear it over the next few. But, I am going to reiterate the importance of proper self-care and hygiene. While we hear more and more folks, talking heads and government going on and on about the COVID-19 coronavirus, just wash your hands. 

I get it, you’re (mostly) adults and don’t need people telling you how to wash your hands, sneeze into your elbow, be mindful about how much you touch your face and so on. Well, here’s the thing. You’re not just keeping yourself safe, you’re keeping me safe. You’re keeping your loved ones, your children, your significant others, your friends and people you may never officially meet, safe. It’s not about you. It’s about all of us!!

Our mothers taught us how to wash our hands, at least they should have. Imagine you’re going into surgery and you have to wash your hands. Imagine you’re going to fix a sandwich and wash your hands. Even yet, imagine someone is making you a sandwich. Wouldn’t you want them to wash their hands like they were going into surgery before making it, touching your food? Yes.

So, when you’re washing, the old cliche is that wash until you’ve sung happy birthday. Well, you get tired of singing happy birthday. I do. So, switch it up. Anything that is around 20-30 seconds long will work. Sing the verse through the chorus of “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” from Pink Floyd. Sing the chorus of “Africa” from Toto. Recite the intro monologue of Star Trek: “Space: the final frontier…” part. Sing the verse through the chorus of “Rock N Roll All Nite” from KISS. Whatever, I don’t care what you sing, just wash your danged hands! Do it for all of us!

Until tomorrow, stay safe…
Scorp out!

—
“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before!” – Captain James T. Kirk

New Eps or: The Network

02 Monday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday The Less Desirables Network released three episodes of the latest podcasts from The Man Who Ate the Town, The Beer Dads and Wheeler’s Dog. tldn screen 3320

I think they were all good spots but then again, I’m pretty biased.

You can listen to each of those if you visit the TLD Network page here. And, it isn’t just the three latest eps from the shows, but nearly all of the past shows in the order they were submitted.

It’s good stuff!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“We do have rum but she’s been abusing the hell out of it…” – Wheeler’s Dog Podcast Episode 4

Non-Silent Sunday or: The Day After

01 Sunday Mar 2020

Posted by in Beer, Food, Life as We Know It, Podcasting, Spirits, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I did go to Underdog Records yesterday but we were out of our house from 10a until 10p and didn’t get to listen to any records. I just put them in my Discogs and that will be tomorrow’s post. Today, however, I have to recap an awesome Saturday.

 

Huevos Rancheros
Young Cardinal Breakfast

We started with breakfast at the brand-new Young Cardinal Cafe on Fourth Street, downtown. I had eaten there the day before for their first day and knew that I had to take The BCPF so she could try it. Great food, great quantity and great price. All a plus! I had the Huevos Rancheros and she had the Young Cardinal Breakfast.

We then went to Underdog Records and scored a huge haul but we didn’t get to come home to listen to any of it, as I stated earlier. Collage 2020-03-01 10_10_54

It was time to go judge The Big Sip’s Mac-n-Cheese festival. We had a lot of mac-n-chz and a lot of beer and spirits. A lot of both!! We met up with some good friends, we met some new friends and we just had a grand ol’ time. I got to sing on stage a little with Doug Davis (yes that Doug Davis), which is never a bad thing. But, eating a big breakfast and then all that mac-n-cheese? What was I thinking?

Then it was on to the annual TLD Post-Holiday/Anniversary Party at Finnigan’s Wake. We had a gracious host in Opie and our server Rachael, whom I called Rachael-By-The-Way (inside joke), took amazing care of us. We ended up with about 22 people, which is where I was hoping to have it. Only Bethany and Tracy were there from any of the Network shows but I’ll admit that I really didn’t put a lot of backing behind promoting it.

First, I had forgotten to even schedule it and then I forgot to promote it outside of the invitations on the first day. It wasn’t a lack of want or interest, I have just been slammed and that’s how it goes. That’s also what we’d call “careful what you wish for.” But, I’ve no complaints.

I want to thank Bethany, her daughter Bri; West End Poke/Burke Street Pizza/Quiet Pint/Uncle Buzzy’s (RIP) owner Dave Hillman and his lady friend Susie (or Suzy); The TLD Beer Guru C. Jay Platt and the Barley Babe Dory; Tracy and her date, Sean; Jordan Googe; Teleporter Extraordinaire Jeff Davids and his wife, Lynda’ my dear friend Elizabeth Nance; Maria and Rich Holbein; Brad and Faith Ward; Dale Cole; Kevin Heath; Angela and Hector Ruiz for coming to celebrate with me.

Danielle planned to come but one of the perils of owning a business is that you have to be there for it first and foremost. She was caught up at work. The Beer Dads both had prior commitments, Ray from TMWATT had a pastor’s retreat, Ty from Fan Interference had a WF softball game to call, and Apartment 5B’s Jeff Evans and Rory… well, I’m not really sure where they were, but I’m sure they were doing something important.

I am so proud of my “little podcast that could” and am very proud of what it has become. I look forward to another 10 years.

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One of the coolest things (of the many cool things) that happened yesterday was being introduced to someone who realized that I was from the podcast that she had just listened to. She pulled up her phone to show me that she was subscribed to TLD and since I had on my shirt, we had to take a pic of it. I can’t remember her name and I hate that, but it’s cool that I got to meet her.

 

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Building relationships is what it is all about. I enjoyed The Less Desirables Annual Post-Holiday/Anniversary Party!” – Angela Ruiz

A Decade of Decadence or: The Most Desirables?

03 Monday Feb 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 10th anniversary of The Less Desirables’ first-ever episode, both recording and airing. February 3, 2010, was a Wednesday and I went to the area between Reynolda Road, Silas Creek Parkway and Wake Forest Road and picked up Brian from work as his car was in the shop.

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10 Years Old Today (the podcast, not the logo)

I took him to my house only to realize that I didn’t have the right mic or mic cable in my house for more than one person to talk. So, we had to run over to where the bands that I had been in had practiced and grabbed the right mic and cable and headed back to my house.

We sat in the “media room” (what is now 3B’s room) and looked at each other. “What are we going to talk about?” I asked. “I don’t know,” he said. I replied, “I tell you what… I’ll hit the record button and we’ll just see what happens. If we don’t like it, we can try again.”

The point was to have a 20-minute podcast, this newfangled kind of “radio-on-demand” or recorded audio thingy because 20 minutes is about the length of an average commute here in the Triad. Some are longer, some are shorter, but it’s about average at 20. How we were going to come up with something to talk about for 20 minutes was wracking our brains.

I hit the button. 38 minutes later, the first one was recorded. An hour later it was on a web server and I had half-arsed written an RSS feed, the best I could figure, and was ready for people to listen to. I don’t know that anyone did. I still don’t know if they hear them now. I just know that there are plenty of downloads. That first one was a bit rough and I think neither Brian nor myself would argue that.

It wasn’t fascinating stuff. But, you know what? Few people were doing it. We essentially had our own radio program, a morning-type show, and we were proud of that. And, here we are 10 years later and I am still proud of what we did that first day and all 520 episodes since. I am pretty sure Brian would agree with that.

This Wednesday will be the 10th-anniversary recording, number 521. I know that Eugene, Caitlin, Beer Guru Jay Platt, Danielle and Bethany will be there. There is a slim chance that Brian and Bruce will come but I’m not really sure. I’d love to have all of us in a room at once. Heck, it would be great if Superfan Damien could be here, too. But, he’s all the way out in Super Bowl Champion World (that’s Kansas City). It would be great, though. That first show even predates The BCPF by a few months.

Without that first show, there probably wouldn’t be any Fan Interference, any Camel City Dispatch News Hour, Tart & Tangy Triad, The Beer Dads, The Man Who Ate the Town, Apartment 5B, Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking, or Beeswax Vinyl & More. No The Less Desirables Network. No, Rule 1 Podcast, Owner’s Manual, No Mask No Cape Podcast, Forsyth Mags Podcast, Open the Blue Door Podcast, Wine About Real Estate Podcast, Margaret’s SpeakEasy Podcast, Transformative Conversations Podcast, Lunch Link Podcast, Thrive with Dara and Garth, or any of the ones that I should be starting in the next few weeks.

I’m not saying that none of these last group of podcasts wouldn’t be there, I’m just saying that I wouldn’t be the one making them happen if it weren’t for the first-ever recording of The Less Desirables 10 years ago today. I wouldn’t be called “the Podfather.”

When I started this journey in 2010, no one knew what a podcast was. I had to explain around seven times a day what it was. Now, I only have to explain it once every seven days. Now, almost literally everyone has a podcast and when people around here want to start one, they at least come to me first. That makes me feel good. It makes me feel important. It makes me feel like I truly am the “father” of the podcast culture around this area.

All this because Brian and I sat in a room in my house and made stuff up for about 40 minutes. Since that first day, there is only one thing that has stayed constant since the very first show. Not me, I haven’t been on every show. Not Brian, he left in 2014. Most would think it is the theme song (which I wrote, by the way). Nope to all of that. The only thing constant since the first-ever show (which was recorded on that day) is the disclaimer at the very end. It still has Brian’s voice on it, here, five and a half years since his leaving. So, even though he’s not here, he’s here every week.

If you’d like to hear this (very rough) first episode, you can do so here. Listen to that one and then listen to the one this week and hear the difference.

Well, here’s to another 10 years (at least) of The Less Desirables and The Less Desirables Podcast Network. Thank you for listening and reading…

Until tomorrow, same pod channel at some pod time (your choice)…
Scorp out!

—
“The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the contributors and not necessarily those of our distributors or hosting company. This podcast is copyrighted and any use of this product cannot be reproduced without the expressed written consent of Such-N-Such Limited, Inc. So don’t do it…” – The Less Desirables