Fresh Loaf

Sigh. Until last night I was totally planning to drive to Chapel Hill today to be part of the madness for tonight’s game. Then the cold, hard reality of 12 hours of driving, a small child, and this stupid thing I have called a job hit, and I realized I’d be watching the game from Atlanta. So we did some research into which venues will be hosting viewing parties and came up with this list. Not sure which party I’ll be hitting yet, but if you see a crazed UNC fan with a bored and sleepy looking little boy at her side, it might be me.

Cheyenne Grill, Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, 2391 Peachtree Road, 404-842-1010, www.cheyennegrill.com. Open until 2 a.m. tonight. UNC-centric crowd expected.

Dantanna’s, 340 Around Lenox Dr., Suite 304, 404-760-8873. www.dantannas.com. Open until 2:30 a.m. tonight.

Engine 11 Firehouse Tavern, 30 North Ave. 404-873-3473. www.engine11atl.com. Open until 3 a.m. tonight.

STATS, 300 Marietta St., 404-885-1472, www.statsatl.com. Open until midnight tonight. 790 the Zone’s Mike Bell and David Pollack will be there from 4-7 p.m. Just FYI, I called STATS last night to see what the chances were of getting a table, and they said it was out of the question. The place is going to be a madhouse, and is where a lot of the UNC alum are planning on going. But if you’re just looking for a sea of baby blue solidarity, this might be the spot.

Taco Mac:
Decatur: 240 Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-378-4140, www.taco-mac.com, open until 2 a.m.
Lindberg City Center: 573 Main St., 404-574-5813, www.taco-mac.com open until 2 a.m.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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As I sit here at my desk inadvertently watching the UNC/Radford game on my cell phone (nice job on that ACC record Hansbrough! Wish I’d seen it last week though), I came across this article on Slate discussing loss of workplace productivity during the NCAA tournament.

For the record, my editor did try to take my phone away from me when she realized I had the ability to watch games on it. “I’m gonna blog about it!” I protested.

“Whatever,” she said.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Last year, watching Duke play during the regular season, I became so annoyed with their propensity for three pointers I started yelling “ONE TRICK PONY!!!” at the television with every play. “It’s so lame!” I said to my husband. “They’re such a one trick pony.”

“Yeah,” he responded, “but that’s a pretty good trick.”

I’d like to say that three pointers was the only thing that won the ACC title for Duke today, but it was that along with everything else (although the 21 points from beyond the perimeter in the first half alone certainly helped). FSU looked shaky from the start, and Duke was playing fast and hard. (more…)

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OK, that’s a mean headline, but this is a true story: as the reporters filed into the press conference room after UNC fell to Florida State this afternoon, you could feel the disappointment in the air. UNC have a reputation for being media darlings, and I’m here to tell you it’s true. When FSU coach Leonard Hamilton stepped up to the stage to answer questions about his win, one reporter beside me lent in to his friend and said under his breath, “Hey coach, do you think you ruined the tournament?” (more…)

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WHEN I WAS A LAD, WE PLAYED…WAIT…WHERE AM I?: Wake Forest's Demon Deacon

I think I’ve figured out Wake Forest’s problem. The reason why they tend to lose steam as the season goes on. Why they never end up as good as they promise to be. It’s their mascot. Who wants an old man for a mascot? When he gets up and kind of half-heartedly flails his arms around, trying to rile up the crowd, he just looks like some cheerleader’s demented grandpa who’s wandered onto the court by accident. If I played for a team with that mascot I’d lose my drive as well.

Poor Wake. They really kind of sucked tonight. It was never even close.

The Duke/Boston College game was much more exciting, not least of which because half the crowd were Tar Heels fans who had to be scorned by the announcer (the first time I’ve heard it mentioned this tournament) to behave and cheer “in a positive manner” after the Dome filled with boos when Duke arrived, and also as their starting line up was announced. Duke fans tried to cheer the team louder, but UNC + BC fans had the numbers and lung power.

But also, this game was intense from start to finish. What an end to the first half with Rice’s three pointer! After that BC was on fire for a while. When Singler got a steal for Duke 8 minutes into the second half and ran the court alone to dunk, it kind of knocked the wind out of BC though. They did end up getting it back, but a little too late. I was hoping the last play, with 5 seconds left, would go BC’s way, but no such luck. Rice is such an amazing player, he carried that entire team, and I would have liked to see him get that win. The second very close, very exciting game of the day.

I’m kind of hoping for a UNC Duke final, but I’m also scared of that if Lawson is still out with an injury and Duke is still playing the way they were tonight.

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

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IT GOES IN THAT THERE HOOPY THING: Georgia Tech coach paul Hewitt

Georgia Tech was up by one point with 9.9 seconds left, but after Florida State came back with a 2 and drew the foul, Tech just couldn’t get back and get the shot in time to pull off the upset against FSU this afternoon.

Until the last 10 minutes or so, this game looked like FSU’s all along. Tech’s second half effort was huge. I really thought for a second in there that they were going to win. Alas…

The Florida State band is quite…ugh…funky? They have a bass player who kind of leads the band. I thought it was a little cheeky of them , in the midst of the game, to play T.I.’s “Whatever You Like,” seeing as if anyone can claim that song it should be the Atlanta team. It was pretty cool though, and totally outdid the G-Tech band’s so-six-years ago rendition of Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love.”

Speaking of bands…
From my seat on the press desks, I’m directly in front of one of the school bands. Which meant I spent the first part of today watching Virginia Tech’s piccolo player scream and pull his hair over the referee decisions that ultimately secured UNC’s win over Virginia Tech. In the neck and neck game, UNC was ahead by one point with 7 seconds left when what looked very much like Tyler Hansbrough fouling A.D. Vassallo was called as a held ball and the possession went to UNC, pretty much guaranteeing them the win. (more…)

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Man, that was an upset I would have liked to see. In the first half of the NC State/Maryland game, it looked as though State might win by double digits. But no such luck.

(more…)

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Underdogs Georgia Tech, who have had a miserable season thus far, have beat Clemson 86-81. They will go on to play Florida State tomorrow at 2 p.m.

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HEY TIGER!: Your girl's outfits are hurting my head

Journalism is a good gig. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. I’m sitting here 20 feet from the court at end of the first game of the ACC Tournament, and wondering how I got so lucky. As if reviewing restaurants for a living wasn’t cool enough.

Virginia Tech has just beat Miami by almost 20 points. Georgia Tech is about to take on Clemson. I hope Tech can defy expectations. I doubt it. So far, Miami and Clemson win the award for ugliest cheerleading outfits.

When I found out the tournament was happening in Atlanta this year, I thought about getting tickets. My husband was thrilled with the idea. “Only $400 each for the whole tournament!” he said. Ugh … right. Journalism is great, but it doesn’t pay well enough to make $800 fun possible.

Then, during discussions about the launch of our new website, it was decided we’d have a new section on the homepage devoted to sports, something we’ve done a fairly awful job of covering in the past (in my opinion). Hmm … I began plotting. When my media credentials were approved, my husband began pouting. He hasn’t stopped yet.

Yesterday I stopped by to check out Georgia Tech practice and was giddy at being so close to the action, at getting my own spot so near these large boys. I sometimes don’t know how I became so attached to this sweaty boy spectacle. No, that’s a lie. I do know. I lived in North Carolina. (more…)

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Courtside seats for blogging ease

For the first time in eight years the ACC Tournament is in Atlanta, and for the first time since 1966, tickets were available to the public. In a departure from my usual gig as restaurant critic, I decided to join the action and morph into a sports reporter for a few days. I’ll be blogging live, courtside throughout the tournament.
As of this minute, the GA Dome is sparsely sat, I’m surrounded by a sea of old-school sports writer types who are eying me suspiciously, and Virginia Tech is kicking Miami’s ass.

Check out updates on Fresh Loaf, or go to clatl.com/sports.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Today we launch our new Food & Drink “portal” — a one-stop shop for all things food and drink. The page, which replaces the old Food & Drink section online, allows us to have all of our content and reviews, the blog, food content from around the web, restaurant listings and search capabilities, food and drink events, and links to archives, all in one place.

Where the Food & Drink section used to be produced once weekly, much like the paper, this new format puts the power in my hands (Mwahahahah), so I can publish what I want when I want. This means that I’ll be putting new content up throughout the week — features like Grazing, Cheap Eats and the restaurant review will be available on the website before they come out in the paper. New content will go up daily.

In other great website news, our events listings now have a functional food and drink component — all the food events are searchable. You can look at them from our homepage (at the very top) or by clicking on the “view more Atlanta food events” link at the bottom of the events box on the new food page. If you have cooking classes, wine tastings, special dinners or any other food events you’d like to see listed, you can submit the details via this page, or send a press release to happenings@creativeloafing.com.

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Our fabulous Moodswing columnist Hollis Gillespie is celebrating the launch of her latest book, Trailer Trashed: My Dubious Efforts Towards Upward Mobility, tonight at Paris on Ponce from 7-10 p.m. The party and book signing is open to the public, and will feature entertainment by Kingsized, as well as nibbles and spiked punch. Paris on Ponce is located at 716 Ponce de Leon Place. You can read a review of Hollis’ new book here.

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We all know that St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for understanding and appreciating the rich cultural heritage of the Irish. It’s also an opportunity to drink green beer until you turn green. Either way, here are some of the St. Patrick’s Day events going on around the city.

Stone Mountain Village – Although little drunken leprechauns don’t normally haunt the Historic Stone Mountain Village, Art Station will welcome them for the annual “Raising of the Green” on Sat., March 17. Guzzle all the green beer your Irish blood can handle from 6-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. 5384 Manor Drive. 770-469-1105. www.artstation.org.

Underground Atlanta – Start strolling down Kenny’s Alley with green beer in hand on Thurs., March 15, and don’t stop until Sun., March 18. Irish dancing, live music, adult drunkenness and children’s activities continue long after the 126th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade makes its way down Peachtree Street. Festivities, including U2 tribute band Desire, are free. Some won’t stop partying until they are dancing in the green fountains with the frontman of Desire, who they think is actually Bono – although this sounds like fun, we don’t recommend it. Alabama Street. 404-523-2311. www.underground-atlanta.com.
(more…)

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Nicolas Bour is best-known as the former chef/owner of Iris, a much-loved East Atlanta restaurant that closed in 2005. Since March, he’s been the chef at the Blue Eyed Daisy in the Serenbe community in Palmetto. The Daisy serves baked goods, as well as lunches and a bistro menu on Friday and Saturday nights.

Shortly after Iris’ opening, a customer was shot outside the restaurant in the course of a robbery and later died. “The feeling of the wrongness of that situation never went away,” Bour says. “Do I miss Iris? Yeah, I miss it. But am I bitter about it? No, I remember it fondly.”

After Iris’ closing, Bour worked briefly as chef at Mid City Cuisine. Then he looked into taking a job in Washington. “I found myself literally after two days missing Atlanta.”

“I don’t take myself too seriously. Unless I have a saute pan in my hand.”

The once-notorious party animal says he’s calmed down considerably. “I get some kind of peace down at Serenbe. I’m cooking all day every day. I’m extremely happy. I’m a chef, not an accountant.”

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This Saturday, April 7, you can get drunk for the doggies at the fourth annual Spring Virginia Highlands Bar Tour, which benefits two Atlanta animal charities, Pick of the Litter and Atlanta Dog Squad. You can register between 1-8 p.m. at Atkins Park or Moe’s & Joe’s, or online at AtlantaBarTours.com. The cost is $5 in advance or $10 at the door, which will get you $2 drafts, $5 glasses of wine and food discounts at the following establishments:
Atkins Park, George’s Bar, Limerick Junction, Dark Horse Tavern, Moe’s & Joe’s, Cavern, Blind Willie’s, Hand in Hand and Noche.

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We all know that St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for understanding and appreciating the rich cultural heritage of the Irish. It’s also an opportunity to drink green beer until you turn green. Either way, here are some of the St. Patrick’s Day events going on around the city.

Stone Mountain Village – Although little drunken leprechauns don’t normally haunt the Historic Stone Mountain Village, Art Station will welcome them for the annual “Raising of the Green” on Sat., March 17. Guzzle all the green beer your Irish blood can handle from 6-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. 5384 Manor Drive. 770-469-1105. www.artstation.org.

Underground Atlanta – Start strolling down Kenny’s Alley with green beer in hand on Thurs., March 15, and don’t stop until Sun., March 18. Irish dancing, live music, adult drunkenness and children’s activities continue long after the 126th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade makes its way down Peachtree Street. Festivities, including U2 tribute band Desire, are free. Some won’t stop partying until they are dancing in the green fountains with the frontman of Desire, who they think is actually Bono – although this sounds like fun, we don’t recommend it. Alabama Street. 404-523-2311. www.underground-atlanta.com.
(more…)

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The Wall Street Journal’s food writer Raymond Sokolov has just declared that Atlanta has the best burgers in the country. After a burger eating tour of the nation, Sokolov declares in his March 10th article:

“I think the best burgers in America are three time zones away [from L.A.] … in Atlanta.” He cites the Vortex and the Earl, but the golden prize for best burger in the country goes to…drum roll…Ann’s Snack Bar.

Well, of course, we could have told him that. All he had to do is read our latest Best Of issue to figure it out. But hey, I think it’s awesome that Miss Ann is getting the national recognition she deserves, and I also think it’s awesome that the best burger in the country is the Ghetto Burger, so named because of the desolate strip of Memorial Drive where Ann’s Snack Bar is located. It just goes to show that sometimes the best things in life aren’t reserved for the well-to-do. In fact, Solokov contends that the fancy-shmancy burgers, such as Daniel Boulud’s $32 DB burger, which is stuffed with foie gras, just don’t live up to a cheap burger done right.

Congrats, Miss Ann!

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Daylight-saving time begins three weeks earlier than usual this year, making Sunday and Monday hard days for those of us who are morning-intolerant. It’s a small consolation, but Caribou Coffee is offering a free extra shot of espresso for anyone who asks on Sunday and Monday. You have to buy a drink to get the extra shot, but hopefully the extra caffeine will give you a much-needed boost.

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