New Bern Foreigner

Jazzy aficionados

2014-08-23T10:27:00.000-04:00

New Bern has a secret hangout and its the Issac Taylor garden. A amazing brick garden adjacent to a relic of history. A building that once held confederate stronghold, Phoebe, Catherine, and Frances Taylor. These spinsters refused any assistance from them Damn Yankees, after the siege of New Bern. They remained in hiding on the 3rd floor of the mansion, and had used a pulley mechanism as a dumbwaiter for supplies. Now it's a mecca for the young, old, foreign, local and just about anyone who enjoys art, culture and life.

Tonight, I had the pleasure of enjoying a true southern summer night. The Beach Street Band rocked the house with their smooth jazz. Reminisce of that old 50's lounge music. The Crowd is fairly quaint, however the roaring laughter would beg differ. It is a vacationers and locals' melting pot. Everyone greets each other as if they were long lost friends. The garden is paved with rustic brick covered with history; black iron patio furniture with ample room to lounge in comfortably, along side the cigar aficionados, and wine enthusiast. So I grab my cup of an ice cold Corona and proceeded to enjoy, for this was a precursor to the Friday Art Crawl.

The Beach Street Band

The Beach City Band was back on for Friday's Art Crawl. These group of young, cute, polite and talented Marines will not only defend America, but also muse your with their entertaining sound. You think I'd catch their names, but I was buzzing on life and it was a little challenging to interview in-between sets. However, I do plan on catching them for a solo article for this blog. If you are interested in following their performances or supporting real hot Marines! Please like them on their page facebook.com/BeachStreetBand. Do your part in supporting our troops. Plus girls, I do believe quite a few of them are single.

Spring Time in Bear City

2014-03-20T08:56:00.001-04:00

The air is brisk, the sun is warm, the skies appeared in a azure hue. The birds chirp in delight because the cold, brute winter has gone away. Mornings like these deserve a stroll down my fave spot in New Bern, old downtown. It is a common spot for locals and tourists to hang out alike, get a bite to eat, check out local art and scored some neat stuff. Whenever I started missing the shores of Los Angeles, I come to the waterfront to compensate for the longing.

This downtown resonates with history, sub culture, and amazing architecture. Oh did I mention, middle street is also the birthplace of Pepsi? Incredibly this area is not bombarded with Pepsi memorabilia or icons. A once sad, homely relic of the past has since been update to resemble it's former glory. So if you want to experience a little history, grab a bag of popcorn and a ice cold Pepsi, this is the place to go. Sorry I don't have any pics of the place, but there is a link below if you want to learn more. http://www.pepsistore.com/

I have replaced my beach morning walks, (when I can get off my lazy butt now) with strolls down the back trail along the Trent River. Here you will find the locals walking their dogs, tourist chattering about taking the Sparks boat tour, and the patter of little feet chasing after the ducks. The air is filled with the symphony that exist along the Trent. The music is filled with the creaking sounds of the swaying boats, the lingering notes of the buoys, and followed by the chatter of the feathered sun bathers. The glistening Trent hosts the gavotte of the sailboats along the marina. These little symphonies are the many resons why I've grown to love New Bern. So do yourself a favor and take a stroll down to old town.

New Bern Tree Lighting Tradition

2012-12-06T16:04:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

The New Bern Tree Lighting tradition has been going strong for the past seven years, and the word from the locals is it gets better every year. The crowd waits anxiously for the festive celebration to begin while munching on Christmas Cookies and sipping on hot coco or apple cider provided by the Double Tree. The event provided warm buzzing feeling through the air. Washing away the concerns of economical hard ship and the other things that plague us.

The spirit of the community heighten with every hello and Merry Christmas. The children dance in glee with coco mustaches and Santa Claus Hats, seniors couples reminisce of their younger days and the children they raised, doggies dressed up in their Christmas sweaters, and friends giving each other praise. The event was filled with music from the New Bern Community, a senior group sang their heart out for the crowd, St. Paul's Catholic Children Choir sang delightful Christmas Carols, and the dance troops frolicked around on their toes.

Anna Bulszewicz (anchor for channel 12) and Jon Erickson (anchor fro channel 12) host the festive event.

The Christmas season would never be the same without erecting and celebrating the ornate tree. Every community in the United States knows the significance of the tree lighting. It bring hope, joy, happiness, and heart felt memories; even for those that do not believe in the birth of savior Jesus Christ. Inadvertently his message of peace, loving one another, and helping those in need is executed every year. What individual does not like receiving the gift of love or gratitude? It swells up our heart and replenishes our soul with love.

God Bless America and Merry Christmas to All

The Crew sharing some love for the New Bern Bear

St. Paul's Precious Choir

Mr. Rogers playing his heart out.

Charmisa is a Must

2012-08-14T00:24:00.000-04:00

Taking a stroll down Middle Street is a must while in New Bern. It is a delightful, charming place to find all your fashion needs and wants. On my daily trump down the historic part of town, I stumble upon a quaint boutique that invokes California nostalgia. It has a keen likeness to the stores of Melrose Street(Los Angeles), Ventura Blvd (Sherman Oaks), Catalina Street (Redondo Beach) and Highland (Hermosa Beach), this store is my new retail therapy hot spot.

Charisma houses a number of things other then just fashion. Inside the store there is a table adorned with exquisite nautical theme plates and other little novelty nick-nacks. However, it was the cowgirl boots that demand my immediate attention. These boots were definitely made for walking. What I love the most about them is the vintage ambiance that it invokes; the feel of distress, without being second hand. I know I will have to get a pair as soon as my budget allows it.

My other favs were definitely the orange sac, that also served as a backpack. The adorable lace racer back tank can be use in the dog days of summer and layered for the fall. The burnt orange skinny jeans that would look great with those boots or flats. So if you are in search of being soigne, please stop by and get some Charisma.

To get the look on a Poor Broke fashionista, try these alternatives to achieve the look.

Not loving the Orange then try Red Skinny Jeans instead

Don't enjoy lace then try this white racerback

Leather alternative to the suede backpack

Oh, I almost forgot say hi to Lola for me and try not to mention about her alcohol problem.

What Cooking at The White's?

2012-08-11T01:18:00.000-04:00

In the south, it's the norm to get dressed in your Sunday's best and have a delightful brunch or lunch after church. It is also the norm to wait at least an hour to be seated for it. So when we found the parking lot at White's Family Restaurant almost bare, (in comparison to the other hot spots in New Bern) we settle there in hopes of good home-style southern cooking.

As you walk into the establishment, it is filled with all the country fix-ins' one is use to in a country kitchen. The smell of fried chicken, the bottles of chilli pepper vinegar, the hunting insignia, dark wood, and country smiles. We had choice of seating, and of course I had to sit in cozy booth.

We were greeted by a sweet lady and asked what we would like to drink. However, it was a tab bit annoying to find out that we had to share one menu and break our neck to look at the menu board;That disappear the minute we turned our head. Other than that it seem to be okay.

I ordered the fried chicken with a side of collards and potato salad. Which seem safe enough in an unknown territory. The chicken was fried to perfection with a little kick of spice, light and crispy. The potato salad was tart, filled with red potatoes, red pimentos, and hints of oregano. What I enjoyed the most about the salad was the lack of sweetness, for I despise sugar filled potato salad. It's not a dessert, for god sake.

I truly believed that I was filled to my gizzards, but then the waitress walk by with a fabulous meringue top banana pudding pie. Of course, my stomach made the proper accommodation for the pie. I was sweet banana pudding with a base of vanilla wafers and light meringue.

After the delightful lunch, I asked a few questions about the establishments, and to my surprise they sent the owner by to answer me. However, she did the complete opposite, she filled the conversion with Bubba Jokes that I guessing is a Cove City thing. Now I love a country joke here and there, but when I trying to blog about your establishment I will keep it to a minimum. However, if you enjoy that nonstop humor, go ahead and ask for the owner.

Overall the experience was good, the menu price is just right for any income level, the bathrooms are clean, and the food is fantastic. So if you are every on the Neuse, stop by The White's and enjoy real southern cooking.

Also please feel free to comment on my blog about your experience.

Seeing Spot in Moo Bern

2012-07-21T13:52:00.002-04:00

Seeing Spots in Moo Bern

There rumor has it that the cows have escaped from the dairy farm and formed a cafe. Sick of the hard and excruciating life on the farm, Mama Cow Mildred convinced her steer Jim to settle on middle street in 1994. Now they are bringing smiles, giggles, and bliss in the historic district of New Bern.

The cafe is run by the cows for the cows. The menu is filled with wonderful cow lingo; for instance when ordering a chicken quesadilla, one must called it a chicken cowsadilla. Otherwise, the beautiful young calves at the register would be rather confused about your order. The cows take deep pride in their famous hot dogs, homemade style ice cream, and whimsical cow memorabilia. There is a children’s pen in the back of the shop filled with laughter and joy. A great place for a photo opt and a raging birthday party.

My son with my latest bribe for helping me with taking photos for my blog.

Where all the magic and calories happen.

A funny MooPopper, the perfect toy for your grand-kids, to get back at your kids.

Another Moo Cafe original , caramel popcorn made from scratch.

Some random kid

It is definitely one of my beloved hot spots on middle street. It serves as an escaped from the muggy and humid weather with the reward of ICE CREAM. If you happen to be tromping through New Bern, stop by grab a dog and finish it off with some Moo cream. I know I did.

An Afternoon in the Middle of Baker's Kitchen

2012-07-17T20:26:00.002-04:00

Traveling across country has been more of hassle then an adventure for me. So when my mother and I decided to stop for a comfortable and casual meal, we hit our favorite spot in New Bern Middle Street. I have visited this street many times before but never had the chance to dine at Baker’s Kitchen; A trendy little place with a home-style ambiance, loaded with delicious pies in spinning display along with local digital art hanging on the walls. I felt as if I was dining at home with family instead of strangers.

A place once run by an Amish Family who seem to be out of sync with the locals, is now reborn with warmth, trend, nostalgia, and New Bern culture with the Bengals family; a handsome group of folks I might add. Faith our waitress, a bubbly and sweet local greeted us with the southern manners we Californias yearn for in the days of rude and obnoxious behavior. My mother ordered a House Favorite Chef Salad and I order a cup of Loaded Potato Soup. The ticket was up in a matter of a few minutes after we had order, a must if you want to run a place during the lunch hour. I can’t tell you how many times I have sat in a restaurant and wasted my entire lunch hour waiting for my food.

The food was delicious, however there are a few things I would like to point out. The House Favorite Large Chef Salad should omitted the Large part out of it name, for it is too long of a title. It was a delightful salad with baby mixed greens, hand sliced ham, perfect boiled eggs, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, croutons, onions and cucumbers, but it lacked the bacon bits that were mentioned in its description. Also, fresh ground pepper would have add that extra touch goodness, if the Bengals would invest in one. Overall, it was fantastic. The Loaded Potato Soup had a good sweet creamy base with red waxed potatoes and rosemary, again fresh black pepper would have been a nice addition; however, fresh rosemary would have really brought out the flavor along with adding some vibrant color in the color palette of the soup. The bread that was served on our table reminded me of a Carson favorite King’s Hawaiian Bread, a sweet, moist, soft bread version of a Portuguese Keeper Bread.

I would highly recommend this place for anyone interested in the arts, comfort style food, or someone who is just a plain foodie addict. The prices are fairly reasonable for a trendy hot spot, and you can also buy an art piece from the local artist. So if you do decided to trump down Middle Street in New Bern, North Carolina, tell them Claudina sent you with an ambition for good southern cooking, with a twist of course.