TOOTS in NOLA

Cool New Event in Town

2012-01-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

Please make every effort to attend this event on February 2, 2012. HandsOn New Orleans transforms communities through volunteer service and leadership development, and all the proceeds from this competitive wine tasting event benefit this organization. I'll be there, hope you are too! Buy your tickets here.

Bacchanalia

Competitive Wine Tasting

Featured Wine:

Cabernet

The Rules:

Form a team of 1 to 3 people. Each team brings 3 bottles of the same Cabernet to the event. 2 of the 3 bottles will be entered into the tasting. We’ll place them in a brown paper bag and attach a tag to help us ID your bottles. Guests enjoy the party while tasting and ranking their favorite wine.

Teams that bring the 5 highest ranked wines divvy up each team’s 3rd unopened bottle, except for the lowest ranked wine which will be returned to the team that brought it.
Must be present to win!

Cost: $45 per team (1 to 3 people) + 3 bottles for tasting
Register online for $45, or $60 at the door. Space is limited so register today!

**Must enter promotional code to receive discount**

Thursday, February 2, 2012
6PM - 9PM

Cafe Istanbul
The Healing Center
2372 St. Claude Avenue

Country First

2012-01-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

This is an effective ad by Jon Huntsman. Click here to view.

Speak to Me Drew

2012-01-06T18:57:00.000-08:00

Happiness is a choice. You have to choose it -- and you have to fight for it.

Miracle on Chartres Street

2011-12-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 17th, my mom, sister and I were lunching at Sylvain with a bunch of old friends. Sylvain is our favorite restaurant, the ambiance, the menu, the wine, the procesco, the historic building, and the American flag on the wall to boot, but it really became our favorite restaurant when Dylan McDermott walked in and sat at the bar to have lunch. My sister's favorite movie is Miracle on 34th, and Dylan played the role of the sweet and handsome Mr. Bedford, who basically saved Christmas for precious little Susan Walker. Well, he did the same for Ashley Morgan on that beautiful December afternoon on Chartres Street in New Orleans.

So as not to make a scene in true Morgan fashion...I discreetly handed the manager of Sylvain this note to pass along to Mr. McDermott....

and look what we got out of it! Merry Christmas Ashley! Thanks to Dylan for cooperating with us rowdy girls in the restaurants. We have always been fans, and we will remain fans forever more!

An En Vogue Christmas

2011-12-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

After a successful trip to Barcelona this fall, the Morgan family decided to celebrate Christmas Catalan style. Chef Alma prepared this delicious paella, Dad cooked lobsters, and we drank copious amounts of cava. We decided to do this long before we saw this article in the New York Times...the only thing missing was a Morgan jumping in the swimming pool dressed as Santa Claus!

It is my opinion that the Morgan family should maintain this Christmas tradition. If we decide to deviate, it should only be to celebrate other Christmas traditions from around the world, or celebrate Christmas in another part of the world.

Saints Fan at the Nativity Scene

2011-12-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, I gave my co-worker in Shreveport black and gold Flamingo Fans. I thought she would get a kick out of having them in her front yard. Little did I know she already had a plastic nativity scene in her front yard...apparently saints fans and JC go waaay back!

My Other Home

2011-11-27T07:28:00.001-08:00

Last week I returned to my "other hometown" for a long visit for a surprisingly new and different experience. What a great reminder that everything in life can be reinvented on any given day.

When I lived in Washington, D.C. from the fall of 2005 until the winter of 2009, I lived in the post-college village of Glover Park, where your friend's friends from college were your neighbors and everyone met on any given night of the week at Town Hall. I worked on Pennsylvania Avenue and drove my car the short route down Wisconsin, left on M to Pennsylvania. We would occasionally venture out of our neighborhood to try a new restaurant, but we often did not do it as frequently because of the high cab fares and the inaccessibility of the Metro.

Fast forward to this trip when I knew I was in for a new experience when my best friend from college traded her row house in GP for a posh apt on T and 11th Street at the U Street metro stop on the hipster side of town. I met the Metro and discovered on foot all the different quirky neighborhoods of our nation's capitol.

The first thing I saw when I exited the metro at U Street was Ben's Chili Bowl. I thought, "Oh now that's where this place is?!" During the three and a half years I lived in D.C., I always wanted to eat at this famed establishment, but I could never seem to justify a trip half way across town for a greasy, fatty dog covered in chili with a side order of fries. Given that I was trying to keep on a budget and this certainly had to be a cheap affordable eat, I stopped in, asked for a recommendation from the guy standing next to me, and ordered a chili half smoke and fries. I went into this meal with an open mind, but in summary its just another thing President Obama and I disagree on.

Thankfully, I did more walking on this trip then I did the entire time I lived in DC, so Ben's didn't stay with me for too long. After dropping my bags at the apartment and jumping on a quick conference call, I headed to the metro (switching lines twice, so proud of my navigation skills), to meet a friend for coffee in Foggy Bottom. On a foggy day indeed, we chatted about our life goals. After an invigorating yet pensive conversation, I decided to perk up the day with some shopping in Georgetown, just a short walk across the M Street bridge, to begin my hunt for the classic black dress.

One would think that finding a classic black dress would be an easy task because every girl has to have that little black dress, but to find a dress to stand the test of time is definitely no simple feat. I went to Cusp by Neiman Marcus, a store that I never allowed myself to buy from when I lived in DC, but a couple years later and not too much richer, I seem to be able to justify purchases of this variety a bit more easy. After two hours, I ended up leaving with a DVF dress, one that I will likely return before the 30 day expiration period. I did, however, fall in love with this Rebecca Taylor sweater that costs 400 dollars. I would not let myself buy this sweater, but I would let myself buy the dress....I paused to ask why girls do that to themselves. Why do we buy a $400 dollar dress that we'll only wear a handful of times when the sweater for the same price will be worn so much that it will unravel before our eyes? And as I write this, I remember that sweater, so I google it, and here it is on sale. As my mother says, good things come to those who wait.

From Cusp, I headed back to U Street to meet up with fellow Sewanee grads, good friends, and house mates for the weekend Cameron Land, Bess Caughran and Nancy Tujague, at El Centro D.F. We chatted about Sewanee, New Orleans, family, people, politics, the district and much much more, and then Cameron, Bess and I headed to this great little wine bar only a block away from their house, Vinoteca. I ordered a glass of Tempranillo, a shout out to my friend Ali Santoro and our visit in New York City a week before. I hadn't heard of the variety but she ordered a glass and I was intrigued. Its a good thing I don't have a cute little wine bar a block away from my house....It was at this bar and the one with Ali in NYC that the same thought continues to surface...Traveling is such a great, great little thing. I imagine, in fact, I know, there are many people sharing a glass of wine in many cute bars in New Orleans on any given night, but when you are in your routine and trying to live a healthy lifestyle you just don't get out and do it. There is nothing better than a night cap with great friends at a wonderful little bar on a sleepy little week night.

Now, for the real reason I am ventured to the District...the Women Working for Change Conference. Suzie Terrell, my best friend's mother and a great mentor to me, organized the ProjectGoPink initiative as a response to the 2008 elections when she noticed fewer women were voting Republican. This initiative intends to motivate, mentor and mobilize women to run for elected office or obtain positions of influence in administrations, and raise the profile of the Republican party amongst women voters. (More about the conference in another post)

The conference was held at the Gaylord National Convention Center, new to the area since I left, which I found to be the strangest, yet nicely done facility. It is like Disney World and a Casino but yet it is neither one of these and rather just a bunch of convention halls. The location is rather obscure, on an empty plot of land in Maryland across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. It was a metro and a cab ride away, and the only redeeming factor of the hike across town is the view, the view from the bar at happy hour.

Two days were spent at the conference, and the last day, I headed back on the metro with a stop at the King Street metro to meet an old friend, Ryan Evans, in my birthplace, Old Town Alexandria, for a drink at Vermilion. This was another locale that was on my list of places to go to when I lived in 20007, so I was glad to finally check it off my list. We had these ridiculous "hot pockets" pretzel dough with ham and cheese with a glass of wine and ice cold beer over more great conversation about life, careers, politics, living in DC/VA, and good ole New Orleans.

After happy hour with Ryan, I headed to meet Bess for our "heart to heart" dinner. Bess and I are best friends and due to her dislike of the phone, we always have these long, "rehash the past six months of our life" conversations instead of daily catch up calls. So, needless to say, a lot has happened in the last six months, so we needed a one on one dinner to recount all of the details and plan for the future. I won't share all the details with you, but it is also a reminder that life can reinvent itself on any given day.

Bess left on Saturday for a quick trip to Brussels. But before she departed for the land of chocolate and crepes, we had a sweet and savory breakfast at the 14th Street creperie before I began another marathon day of shopping in the tried and true Georgetown. I started at Paper Source and then moved to Kate Spade followed by J. Crew and then Sisley and up to Urban Chic and back down to Zara. The only dismay was Proper Topper and the sweet little Parisian store I frequented had both closed. After I about collapsed on an old friend in J.Crew, I headed to Sea Catch, the best happy hour in town for 1/2 price oysters and a glass of chardonnay, to reinvigorate myself before what I knew would be a long night.

For dinner, I met two old D.C. friends, Lauren Griffin now Hamel and Amanda Buchanan now Hand. We arrived at Cork for a bottle of Cava at the bar and a two bottle of wine dinner, one compliments of Lauren's coworker who happened to be dining with his wife at the same restaurant. When the dinner was over, we bid adieu to Lauren, and Amanda and I went to Gibson, a speakeasy. In true prohibition form, we knocked on the door, placed our name on the list, and waited for a seat to not overcrowd the bar. To pass the time before our name was called, we hit the club scene next door to work off some of the calories in order to consume a few more once seated at Gibson.

Sunday morning I did not want to get up after a late night on the town with Mrs. Hand, but a great friend summoned me for brunch so I hopped over to Logan Circle to hear all about his sister's move to India to teach architecture, his planned trip to New Zealand and his 30th birthday party where people dressed as things that symbolized the honoree, including a guest dressed as the 1 percent. After a long brunch, Cameron and I did a big loop around Northwest DC, U Street to Logan Circle to Dupont to K Street and back to U Street. Barely enough to shake off all the cobwebs but better than nothing!

On this trip, I discovered so many new and different haunts in the District that made me realize you can get lost in any town as long as you are willing to have an open mind and venture new places, and just when you think you know someone or something so well, it never ceases to amaze you. Love you D.C., but love you better when you are beaming red and not bleeding blue.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

2011-06-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

Kathryn Smallpage and Lida Kostmayer have recently launched Linfield Designs, and they are the local represenatives for Annie Sloan chalk paint. Annie Sloan started a revolution in painted furniture by foregoing the tedious steps of priming and prep work. Thus, you'll have a jazzy new piece of furniture in your house in no time! They are offering a workshop on August 10th in Slidell.

Couch Surfing

2011-06-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Two Sundays ago, I learned of the phenomenon called couch surfing. My cousin's cousin is bike riding across Europe and sleeping on couches. Its all very fascinating to me because I don't think that after a long bike ride, I would want to sleep on someone else's couch. But, I admire his adventurous nature, and it is these types of differences in people which makes the world all the more interesting.

Check out the couch surfing website; there is a whole community devoted to housing people on their couches as they travel. You don't just get anyone; there is a vetting process. The concept is cool because most seasoned travelers like to take the road less traveled and experience what locals do in their community.

And, follow Mark on his blog as he travels thru Europe one bike and one couch at a time. His mother said that navigating is the most frustrating part. Could you imagine biking down a road for miles and miles to then somehow (and not sure how) realize you've been traveling down the wrong road for an extended period of time? No, thank you. Bravo Mark, for your patience and your sense of adventure!

my little nola list

2011-05-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

an old colleague asked me for some suggestions related to restaurants and things to do in New Orleans...while not comprehensive in the slightest, I thought I would share it with the blog world...feel free to comment and build upon this list.

Do you want Uptown (pretty old houses and quaint bars)?

Do you want French Quarter (touristy yet fun)?
Do you want the Warehouse District (clubs)?
Do you want the Marigny (a different genre of live music in every bar)?

Breakfast/Brunch
Elizabeth's (Marigny) - hole in the wall with yummy praline bacon and a bottle of cheap champagne
Stanley's (French Quarter) - yummy food by renowned chef yet cheaper version of his fine cuisine on Jackson Square
Camellia Grill (Uptown or French Quarter) - diner food, uptown is original
Surrey's (Lower Garden District and Uptown) - doesn't serve alcohol but you can bring your own. delicious breakfast.
Coulis (Upper Garden District)
Cafe du Monde (French Quarter) - Beignets

Lunch
Red Fish Grill (French Quarter) - fun and cool oyster bar for raw oysters or order the yummy bbq oysters off the menu
Port of Call (French Quarter) - the best hamburger and baked potato, top it off with a monsoon
Butcher (Central Business District) - sandwich shop of awesome restaurant Cochon, lots of yummy meats, sausages, and pimento cheese sandwiches to go with a local beer
Lilette (Lower Garden District) - Bistroish place to have a fun long lunch with wine and your girlfriends
St. James Cheese Company - yummy cheese selection and great sandwiches to sit out side and enjoy
Central Grocery (French Quarter) - Mufaletta
Parkway Bakery (Mid City) - Divine Po Boys
Sylvanian (French Quarter) - New Yorkish type restaurant with good hamburgers/sandwiches
Drago's (In the Hilton Downtown) - the original is out in metairie otherwise i'd send you there but this is the home of the woodfire grilled oysters doused in butter in parmesean cheese and butter and to die for!

Bars
Cooter Browns (Uptown) great bar to watch sports and drink lots and lots of different beers
Oak (Uptown) trendy wine bar
F&M's (Upton) dance on the pool table until the wee hours of the morning
Absinthe House (French Quarter) about the quaintest place to grab a beer on bourbon, most new orleanians go there after celebrating something
The Beach on Bourbon (French Quarter) fun place to dance and ride the whale
The Cats Meow (French Quarter) karaoke
Preservation Hall (French Quarter) jazz
Pat O's (French Quarter) great patio bar and piano bar
The Gold Mine (French Quarter) late night dancing and flaming dr. peppers!

Dinner
Galatoire's (French Quarter) - if you want one over the top fun dinner. Classic creole cuisine. Make sure to sit downstairs...they don't take reservations and the wait can be long and worth it because its the place to celebrate life and make a scene in the classiest of ways
Cochon (Central Business District) - really cool southern dishes mostly with meats but the best whole fish in town
Jacque-Imo's (Uptown)- so eccletic and fun. you have to walk thru the kitchen to get to the crazy back porch but EVERYONE loves a trip to Jacque Imo's. Right near the Maple Leaf and Oak Bar so you can grab a drink there if there is a wait.
Eat (French Quarter) - BYOB
Rock N Sake (Central Business District) - Salmon Zest roll and amazing other special sushi. Rock out to jams while throwing back sushi and sake bombs
Ralph's on the Park (Mid City) - Beautiful scenery and delicious cuisine
Crepe Nanou (Uptown) - Every locals favorite restaurant/french cuisine
Adolfo's (Marigny) - hole in the wall italian
Three Muses (Marigny) - tapas and live music

Dessert
Snowballs at Plum Street Snowballs or Hansen's (Uptown)
Sucre (Lower Garden District) - literally every type of dessert (and champagne!)
Creole Creamery (Uptown) - homemade ice creams in the most unique flavors

To Do
Swamp Tour
Shopping on Magazine Street - miles and miles of all sorts of shopping
Historic Homes in the French Quarter - Hermann Grima House and Beauregard Keyes Hosue
Carriage Ride around the French Quarter - oh the stories you will hear!
Katrina Exhibit at the Cabildo
Ogden Museum of Southern Art - great place to sip wine and look at awesome art on a Thursday evening with live music, or you can go any other night, too.
WWII Museum -- 4D Tom Hanks Movie
Streetcar Ride
Walk around Audubon Park
Take the Ferry across the Mississippi River to Algiers Point to look at pretty old house and grab a beer -- Ferry picks up on the skirts of downtown/French Quarter

Interested In...

2011-04-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

Donald Trump's potential run for President. Not endorsing the candidate, but certainly there is something intriguing about this man running for the highest office in the land.

For a Girl who doesn't watch TV...

2011-04-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

I am particularly stoked about the wedding of William and Kate and the final shows of Oprah. Celebratory viewing shows are in order, so be sure to check back for photos from these very exclusive events.

Another YSR

2011-04-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

This is the blog of my favorite professor from Sewanee. If you have ever wondered why people like me escaped to a mountain to attend a school with no bars, a little over one thousand students, no cell phone service, no cable, no national sororities...the list goes on and on....then happy reading! http://www.smithclass.net/blog/

Yea Sewanee's Right!

2011-04-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Leadership at its best. http://news.sewanee.edu/academics/2011/02/16/tuition-reduction. Now I just need to make my contribution...

Blogs I Follow

2011-04-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

So last year when I started this blog, I selected a few blogs to officially follow. One of them was a blog by India Hicks. I found her on Tory Burch's blog. I figured she was cool since Tory Burch followed her, but I had no idea she was the goddaughter of Prince Charles. I sure do know how to pick them! A bridesmaid in Diana and Charles's wedding, she now sits in my blog inventory with the likes of Will Erickson and the Useless Information Blog.

The Pharmacy

2011-04-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

I use to dread going to the pharmacy, the CVS on Prytania. They never failed to have something wrong with your order...the line was too long, they didn't have your prescription filled even though you are on automatic refill, they couldn't find it, etc. It was always something. So, I switched to the drive thru at Walgreens on Claiborne and Carrollton. Given that the one thing I have sworn away from is fast food, I haven't driven thru a drive thru in so long. Really, it is one of America's best inventions. You tell them your name, they pull your order, your on automatic pay, and viola, you have what you need in your hands without having to miss your favorite song on the radio!

Quarter Jam

2011-02-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

HBD Bops!

2011-02-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

Weather 101 with Uncle Mike

2011-02-02T21:29:00.000-08:00

Mike Morgan loves weather, trains, his family and really good sushi. Tonight, while the country is freezing, Mike is hard at work to ensure everyone remains safe and updated on the latest weather. Its a tough job that he does well. Weather is his passion, something he takes very seriously, and he relishes every moment of doing his job. While he specializes in tornadoes (and had a cameo in Twister), he can tackle any type of weather. It was Uncle Michael who convinced my Dad to leave before you know who made landfall in 2K5, and it was Uncle Michael who lost his sweet baby Jaguar to a hail storm that tore apart the plains. Oh the irony. Everyone knows you have to do what you love in order to be good at what you do. This is Mike Morgan in essence. Check him out on the job here.

Weather is small talk, a conversation starter. Get this, did you know that on January 12, the only state in the union not covered in snow was Florida? Heard briefly in passing on the Today Show, I confirmed with Uncle Mike later in the evening. I said, "What about Hawaii?" His response was, "A lot of people mistake Hawaii for ridiculously warm climate, but Hawaii's volcanoes are often covered in snow." Whodathunkit? See article here.

Uncle Mike also gave me a debrief of tornadoes, a violent, quick burst of air in contact with a cumulus cloud and the ground, which tend to last a few short minutes. Apparently, tornado rituals are no different than hurricane rituals. I was mainly intrigued by the practice of survival in the bunkers. While Oklahomans go underground for protection from crazy weather, in New Orleans we're already underground, so we just hold our breath and hope we don't wash away. (Now, if that's not food for thought for Congress than I don't know what is.)

According to Uncle Mike and statistics, if meteorology is of interest, the place to go is Oklahoma University, the number one school for the study of weather. Again, I was curious to know why......because Oklahoma is the heartbeat of America. The state experiences just about any type of weather in the plains, so it is a great place for young Carl Arredondo's to get their hands dirty and study mother nature's wildest behaviors.

So About That Fire

2011-02-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

The fireplace at Adams Street has been inactive since my parents lived here in 1983. But, tonight, thanks to the Brothers Laan, we have a fire brewing on a sleeting night. Brothers Laan, a.k.a CC and Jason and the brothers of Nicole, have been developing computer software since 2009 and were one of the first application developers for Apple’s iPhone platform. Our sweet new fire place, iFirePlace, can be played on any Mac computer.

While bringing back to life an inactive fireplace is tres cool, what is of greater note is Brothers Laan, more formerly known as Laan Labs, recently released a smart phone application, Tap DJ, which has quickly become the top selling app in Japan and Australia, and among the top five in the US, UK and Germany.

Tap DJ enables users to mix songs from their iTunes libraries, add special effects and blend multiple tracks; turning their mobile phone in to a sophisticated turntable. The application, available for $1.99 via Apple’s iTunes, utilizes technology previously found only with costly computer-based DJ programs.

Laan Labs’ self-described business plan “making cool stuff for all of your favorite toys.” They have created numerous top 100 apps for smartphones and Apple’s iPhone/iPad/iPod and Mac line, including iVideoCamera, Lightwriter, Sonar Ruler, Remote Sound Box.

iVideoCamera has been their biggest hit yet and was the top selling app in the US & UK for over 3 weeks. Initially developed to enable video recording on 2G/3G iPhones, a feature which Apple did not include until the release of the 3GS model, it now also allows any phone to record videos with real-time special effects.

And since we all know my love of history, here's a little history on the mobile phone app market:

As smart phone applications grow in popularity, established shops with long development cycles and large marketing budgets are slowly beginning to dominate the industry. Despite the competition, a few small agencies such as Laan Labs continue to churn out fresh ideas and popular apps.

When asked what most technologically challenged folks would be surprised to know, Jason Laan responds “How much work goes into an app. There are all these stories about people building a little iFart app and making a millions dollars - yeah that does happen but it’s very rare. Most of the apps out there have a great deal of work behind them. Making a hit app is about getting all the ingredients right: idea, name, aesthetics, usefulness and then marketing it properly.”

Following an often lengthy approval process by Apple, apps are marketed and sold through itunes and creators take home roughly 70% of the listed price (the rest goes to Apple).

Making a popular app is always the challenge. Jason compares the app market to that of the music business saying, “Just as people have a constant desire for new music, customers are always wanting the newest app. It may be difficult to predict a hit, but the desire continues to exist.”

When the brothers are not making apps for themselves they also do client work for such notables as NBC Universal, TweetDeck, and SCVNGR (recent Google investment).

Dear Dad, You Made My Day

2011-02-02T19:21:00.000-08:00

Started the morning much earlier than I normally do. I hopped in the shower and headed to Starbucks before I made my way downtown for my breakfast event at Second Line Stages. I was standing in line at Starbucks, and a man comes up behind me and puts his arms around me. Startled, I turned my head to see my Dad. There was such a warm feeling to run into your dad, at a coffee shop, on a cold morning before a big event. He bought my coffee and oatmeal, gave me a hug, wished me luck and sent me on my way. The moment felt like a Folger's commercial, but with Starbucks feeling the love.

After a successful event, a day at the office, and hourblast class, I arrive home to two roommates with a fire burning in the inactive fire [more about that next] and Dad's delicious "Jewish Father's Chicken Noodle Soup" which he sent me home with last night. Perfect day, Perfect Dad.

Tonight's Energy

2010-12-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

Tonight's energy comes from Hour Blast! The hottest new work out in town conveniently located a block away from Mi Casa. A combination of treadmill and floor exercises, this class kicks your butt! Hoping to beat the holiday gain by working my way through it and in to the new year at Hour Blast. Check out their website and sign up for their classes with the #1 trainers, Karen Bendall and Courtney Montgomery.

And, now, I must go to bed because I must rise for the 6:15 am class. Wish me luck!!

Christmas with Mariah Carey!!!!

2010-12-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

For every Mariah @ Christmas fan out there, she has a new CD, Merry Christmas II You!! Mariah had the top act for the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, and she sang "Oh Santa." Definitely a new number one hit!

Girls, I am ready for the Good Life and a little karaoke! And, Katie, Charlotte, Ashley, Rebecca, Pam, Danielle, Deborah, Mary Stewart, Kathryn, Mom, and Sarah Gibbs, I am ready for Christmas Eve and a little bubbly to go along!

Check out the music vidoe here.

Total Fascination

2010-12-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

I am totally fascinated with the pomegranate. I have never really eaten a whole one, one that has been turned into juice or used in a recipe. My roommates eat them all of the time, so they have sparked a recent interest.

As a result, I decided to buy two to display on a cheese board that I am making for my cousin's baby shower tomorrow. I thought it would be pretty and festive for the holidays. I arrived home from Whole Foods to disect my first pomegrante, and luckily my roommates were there to support me through this process. Read proclaimed I picked two good ones, and Nicole demonstrated how to get the seeds out of the fruit. Slice the whole fruit in to quarters.

Fill a bowl with water, and then immerse the fruit in the water while you rip the seads out. The white border will float to the top while the seeds float to the bottom. (Science can be so cool, but someone please elaborate on the lesson learned...is it that the seeds are more dense and that's why they float to the bottom? I think so, but science is clearly not my forte. Although, I did win the science award in eighth grade. I digress....)

I kind of felt like I had been hiding under a rock for not having had this experience until now, but my roomies reassured me by proclaiming the pomegrante is an exotic fruit. And because I enjoy history so much, here's a brief synopsis from Wikipedia on the history of the pomegrante.

A pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall. The pomegranate is mostly native to the Iranian Plateau and the Himalayas in Northern India. It has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times, and today, is widely cultivated throughout Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Egypt, China, Burma, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the drier parts of southeast Asia, the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe, and tropical Africa. Introduced into Latin America and California by Spanish settlers in 1769, pomegranate is now cultivated in parts of California and Arizona for juice production.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to February. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is in season from March to May.

An ancient fruit, pomegranate is mentioned in Europe as early as the Iron-Age Greek Mythology in the Homeric hymns. Yet, it has still to reach mainstream prominence as a consumer fruit in commercial markets of North America and the Western Hemisphere.

Nicole, you weren't wrong about it dating back to Greek mythology! You can read more about the history of the pomegranate as well as the health benefits it provides here.

Real Southern Football in Sewanee, Tennessee

2010-11-18T21:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Sewanee's Stadium.

Tiger Land has no stadium dogs and no dome foam, school colors are limited, but school pride is strong. Kids frolick at the fence for Katie Kodak to snap photos to place on display at the SPO.

Students seldom know the final score of the game because they tend to retreat across the street to the Theta Kappa Phi House to enjoy adult libations while chanting softly, "Down with the heathens, up with the church, Yea Sewanee's Right!"

This is Southern football at its finest.

In a game marked as a thriller, the final score: Sewanee Tigers 16, Rhodes Lynx 20. See article here.