Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 2 - A Little Flamboyant Heart and Soul)

I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day. I view it as a very fake and forced holiday, even when I have a significant other to share the time with.

Luckily, a good friend of mine had invited me to see the play "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" at the Duke Energy Theatre.  A mutual friend of ours is the stage manager for the show and asked us both to attend.

We decided to try a soul food restaurant near the theatre before the show, Mert's Heart and Soul Food. It was one of the best impromptu food choices ever made in the history of mankind.

The decor was eclectic and inspiring, the walls adorned with personal photographs of the owner and famous African-American figures of the South.

A chalkboard hangs above the open view kitchen featuring the original menu from the restaurant opening 13 years ago and random sculptures made from discarded items were stations around the cozy space, keeping a mix of old with the new in theme.

Our waitress was fabulous, a true southern lady calling us honey while she offered sweet tea as the first and foremost option for liquid refreshment.  No matter how long I've lived in the South, the odd obsession with tea sweet enough to make your cheeks pucker will forever amuse me.

 With the chill outside, I opted for some homemade chicken noodle soup and a piece of buttermilk fried chicken.  My friend, a born and bred Southerner, went for a more traditional collections of sides of macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and sweet yams.

Each order comes with a small loaf of cornbread, possibly the most delicious cornbread in the world.  I felt like my mouth was going to die from happiness, the moist and semi-sweet nugget of baked magic.  I'd honestly never been a fan of the stuff, but this restaurant introduced me to the perfect version that alone will bring me back with drool on my chin in anticipation. Yes, it was so good I am devoting an entire paragraph to its majesty.

To round off our meal celebrating old fashioned home cooking of the South, after asking the waitress for her personal suggestions, we ordered some banana pudding for dessert.

This was another one of the best life decisions we've made as a collective throughout our friendship.  Two in one night, we were obviously on a roll.

Enough whipped cream to last the entire dish.  Freshly made, I'd only ever experienced the kind that's been loitering in a pan at some cheap buffet before.

And, I don't know, I'm just a big fan of both bananas and pudding.  So, maybe I was a tad biased.  Which ever you wish to accredit my praises to, I definitely recommend this treat.

We were reluctant to leave, but we had to rush off to catch our show.  I plan on repeating my attendance, not only for the tantalising cornbread, but also to dive deep into some of the local food culture I've never had the chance to become acquainted with despite my years of residing below the Mason-Dixie line.

Valentine's Day Cakes

I baked up a storm for my Public Speaking class tomorrow. I'm doing a demonstrative speech on how to ice a cake. Lazytown references are the bulk of my intro, but I really wanted to make a cake dedicated to the cute rally point style some faux Canadian kid made up. 

It's pretty poorly executed, but I was in a rush to vacate the kitchen before dinner after baking 4 cakes and 24 cupcakes all day. >_<;;

Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 1 - Snug Harbor, 1.28)

 We must write a blog for my journalism class. This is my first post.

I've always been rather lazy when it comes to exploring the city, no matter which city I am in.  Once I am home, I want to just cuddle up in front of my computer and whittle away at the hours until my body demands I rest for another day.  For this blog, I am going to attempt to push myself outside my comfort zone to experience a little more of what life has to offer at nominal cost.

Charlotte nightlife can be a very interesting animal to encounter.  One of my first meanderings brought me to the Snug Harbour, a local alternative bar in Charlotte's "hipster" area off Central Avenue near Midwood Plaza.  I had been there once before, wanting to force myself to socialise a bit on a demure Sunday night.

This evening was a Thursday.  Shiprocked Thursday, to be specific.  On this night, they have a special show for the alternative community which is a mash-up of Drag Queens and Burlesque.  I had an inkling of the presentation from the onset, some friends recommended the novelty and requested my humble presence.  It was definitely an experience which left an impression.

The small bar was packed, one of those standing room only situations where you appreciate the added body warmth but would rather not be in close proximity with the bulk of your available compatriots.  It's a popular night, for along with the show there are drink specials to tempt the wicked to attend.

My friends were getting crunk, as the kids would call it, while I claimed the role of designated driver with gusto.  As the night progressed, I crept around with my camera to entertain myself.  To avoid getting a fist implant, I kept my reticule primarily on inanimate objects.  The night progressed smoothly, saw old friends and made new ones.  Good times were had, along with giggles and some wriggles on the dance floor.

Midnight hit, and the real ball began.  The music was throbbing, people were gathering close to the dinky wooden stage in one corner of the room.  The closeness brought an emphasis on the beat as dollar bills began to fly on stage for the gogo dancers gyrating to the sound.  Soon the DJ brought down the music as the girls shuffled off-stage to announce the treat for the night.  A local Drag queen, Bethann Phetamine, was soon to mount the stage.

Her entrance was dramatic.  

Her make up, elaborate.  

Her clothes ... Not so existent. 

The show was definitely entertaining, to say the least.  The crowd ate up everything she had to offer, and were voracious for more.  It was hard to tear your eyes away, even if it were merely from morbid curiosity.

She mouthed along with the lyrics while fluttering about the stage with an erratic fluidity which is difficult to capture on film or in words.  The show ended with a dramatic flourish of her arm as the mass of bodies pushed forward in excited reception.


To say it was a one of a kind experience would be overtly poetic, but for my first experience of that lifestyle, it will definitely be one difficult to forget.

Psychology, 150 (Sigmund Freud)

Basic "answer these questions" boring short essay thing.

Sigmund Freud was a revolutionary in the evolution of psychoanalysis and psychology. He began as a neurologist, then transitioned into theories about the unconscious mind. Freud theorised that individuals would repress unwanted or inappropriate desires, often sexual or pleasure related. He believed it was a defense mechanism of the subconscious to protect the individual's sanity. Another of his theories was that girls had to accept early in life their initial failure to be born as a male. Freud was known for his male preferential and was often criticised for it.

Many of Freud's theories were directly based on his own experiences and surroundings. Later in life, as the first World War and antisemitism took hold of Europe, “death and violence became more prominent in his theories, and he emphasized the ways participation in mass society released deep-seated aggressive impulses. (LOC)”

Outside of criticism for his misogynistic theories, Freud's emphasis on sexual tendencies and causality for mental issues was also often under fire. Over time, many of his supporters would come to disagree with him and move on to create their own organisations as “diversity of opinion was something Freud himself seems to have had but little tolerance for. (NNDB)“ Although his theories are often discounted, his drive to understand the subconscious and mental process set the foundation for modern psychology.

Jou, 216 (Media Release)

MEDIA RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Kaila Burtch, communications specialist
Central Piedmont Community College

January 19, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CPCC PRESENTS ARTS AND CULTURE FESTIVAL SENSORIA

Central Piedmont Community College‘s Sensoria, April 13 to 21, is a feast of local arts and culture fit for the Queen City featuring Author Sandra Guiterrez demonstrating from cookbook “New Southern-Latino Table.”

Culinary students will recreate her recipes for the public to sample in “Grazing with the Student Chefs” after the workshop.

North Carolina Dance Theatre will choreograph a tribute to Charlotte born artist Romare Bearden to perform alongside CPCC dance students according to CPCC’s Sensoria website.  A collection of his art will be on display.

“Being able to bring the arts here to CPCC is just an amazing event,” said Dawn Cloutier, director of operations for Performance Facilities. “People learning through the arts, having exposure to things they wouldn’t normally be exposed to.”

Russell Goings, well respected poet and philanthropic, is this year’s Irene Blair Honeycutt Distinguished Lecturer in honour of CPCC’s Spring Literary Festival founding director. Goings is best known for his epic griotsong “The Children of the Children Keep Coming.”