A couple of weeks ago her kids decided to celebrate their mom’s birthday and their parents’ anniversary and make home-made ice cream — but wow! What homemade ice cream! Peanut butter! Chocolate! Mango! We’re making ourselves hungry, and we know there’s not ice cream like that available for miles – not since the “Inside Scoop” closed in Chapel Hill! A special cake had been ordered, and Vivian knew just where to get the perfect chocolate cake…..and more importantly, what to write on top. After much thought and gathering of advice from various friends and relatives, she chose “To my better half” to celebrate her marriage, her husband, and the fact that she’s been married half her life. We’re not giving away numbers here because we want to have a job next week – although honestly, if you ask Vivian, she’ll tell you. Or you can look at the picture and guess.

So – here’s to Crazy Viv – with all the fun, all the spontaneity, and all that outside the box zest you bring to our lives and the lives of others. Happy birthday, Vivian, and Happy Anniversary Vivian and Sim! May you have many, many more.

From your very sneaky help – K and S

Chapel Hill and Carrboro have once again demonstrated a great spirit of giving, and I thank all of you who were a part of it.

It was a lot of fun helping in our group from Keller Williams Chapel Hill, too! The Thursday before Red Day about then of us helped to prepare Table’s front yard for a beautification project. Thank goodness there were strong men there with shovels, because the earth was very hard and it took a lot of work to dig out old plants and weeds. We added topsoil, getting ready for planting on Friday. And – make sure you go by and see – it’s gorgeous!

On Friday, I skipped the planting, because I went around my neighborhood with biodegradable Red Day bags. I visited 91 houses, knocked on doors and dropped off bags to collect from my neighbors. I’m actually a permanent collection point for my area, because Table doesn’t run out of its need for food. If you would like to continue to contribute, or if you haven’t had a chance to take anything by, it’s not too late! Take your food to Keller Williams, 1516 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, or to TABLE, 205 West Weaver Street, Carrboro.

Thank you again!

The following foods are being collected:
Canned tuna and chicken | Peanut Butter and Jelly Jars
Canned Carrots, Corn, and Green Beans & Fruit Cups | Crackers (Regular, Graham, Animal, Cheese)
Non-Refrigerated Chocolate Milk Boxes (available at Sam’s and Costco) / Juice Boxes

Drop your food off on or before May 13th at
Keller Williams, 1516 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
or at TABLE, 205 West Weaver Street, Carrboro

You know that food is near and dear to my heart. And it’s distressing to me to know that children in my own neighborhood are going without food. Please join me in this effort!

Thanks for your help!

Vivian AKA Crazy Viv

PS Please provide regular sized canned items that are not yet expired. No glass please.
Items can’t be too heavy for the children to carry in their TABLE backpack. Tax deductible monetary donations and your loose change are also gladly accepted. TABLE, Inc. EIN: 26-1471735. Join us for TABLE’S OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at their office at 205 W. Weaver Street in Carrboro. Learn more about TABLE and what they do at www.TABLENC.org. Please don’t hesitate to call or email me for more information about this food drive. Thanks so much for your participation!

Earth Day isn’t until Thursday, but UNC has lots of stuff going on to celebrate this whole week. Here’s a glimpse of the fun things happening today:

One of the most exciting to me is the Used Items Swap. Sponsored by Epsilon Eta, the environmental honors fraternity at UNC, the swap is a place that you can bring something you don’t want, and swap it for something you do. One man’s trash can become your treasure – theoretically, at least! Head over to Polk Place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the swap.

Also at Polk Place, farmers from the Carrboro farmer’s market will be selling their wares on the quad. Fruits, vegetables, baked goods – all locally grown or prepared – will be for sale. Plus you’ll get to meet some people who really do know the Earth!

The Rams Head Dining Hall will be dimming the lights for lunch – and handing out free glow sticks so you can see what you’re eating. Dinner with the students is $9.35, or free if you are a student and not a real estate agent like me!

So head over to the campus and find out all the other fun things you can do to celebrate the Earth!

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

…Watching the Catwalk at the Aveda Institute in Chapel Hill

With UNC and Duke being at the forefront of the news, sometimes we forget about the other schools in Chapel Hill. Today’s a great day to showcase one of the other ones – the Aveda Institute in Chapel Hill. Each year, during Earth Month, Aveda holds Earth Jam. As a part of that, tonight they’re sponsoring a Fashion Night Benefit, displaying the styles of horst Rechelbacher, Vidal Sasson, Trevor Sorbie, Annie Humphries, and many more designers.

Proceeds from the show go to the Triangle Land Conservancy, an organization that strives to preserve open spaces – land and water – in Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Orange, and Wake counties. The particular focus is on safeguarding clean water here in the Triangle.

There’s also a silent auction. Student artwork and paintings and photographs from other local artists will be on sale, as well as items from Chapel Hill restaurants and shops. This year’s raffle basket includes six tickets to Annie in Raleigh, and a Duke basketball signed by Coach K.

The video above is from last year’s show. Just looks like a fun evening for a great cause.

Doors open at 6:30, so you can take a look at all the silent auction items. If you purchase a VIP Wristband, you’ll also have access to the runway area. Drinks and snacks are included. Call the Institute at 919-960-4769 ext. 1310 to get your tickets!

Happy April,

Crazy Viv

The Aveda Institute Chapel Hill
200 W. Franklin Street
General Admission $35 / $50 (day of show)

Back when I had the ice cream store (that’s where I earned my title of Crazy Viv) one of the best things I did was to let DSI comedy club use our store for their first performances. It was great for me – and brought lots of business – but for them it was an ordeal to put up the stage at every performance, then disassemble it until the next week.

Thankfully, DSI has their own theatre now. And tonight, they’re hosting a Regional Rival Showdown – eight comics from UNC face off against 8 comics from Duke! TBS and RooftopComedy are sponsoring what promises to be an hysterical night where you can vote and help send your favorite standup to the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival.

The hilarity starts at 8:00 pm, and students with ID only have to pay $3. For the rest of you – and real estate agents like me, it’s $10.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

PS DSI Comedy club is located at 200 N. Greensboro Street in Carrboro.

Actually, despite the title, today you don’t actually have to GO anywhere. Each year, Chapel Hill’s own Playmakers Repertory Company holds an online benefit auction. This year’s offerings are just as fun as before. Where else can you have a chance to buy a trip to London, an American Girl doll, Rusty Sieck Stoneware Pottery, or a necklace designed by North Carolina designer Laura Zimmerman – all without leaving your house!

All proceeds go to support PlayMakers artistic, outreach, and educational programs.

Today’s the last day for this April Event in Chapel Hill. Get in on the fun!

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

PS Just added …. Four Tickets to a performance by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble at Memorial Hall. Oh, my.

It’s no secret that we’ve got art in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. But did you know about the 2nd Friday Artwalk? Each month – on the second Friday if you hadn’t already guessed – galleries, stores and restaurants in Chapel Hill and Carrboro put on a wonderful display of art, live music and other art related entertainment.

2nd Friday showcases the kind of independent local places we have in our community. You run into all sorts of people you know, you meet new people. It’s a great social time, where you can visit with local artists. With this amiable glorious weather we’ve been having, Artwalk is the perfect time to amble around in the evening, stop and get something to eat.

Oh – and there’s really interesting art, too! For example, this Friday’s walk will take you to the NC Crafts Gallery, where you can see the pottery of Ron Philbeck, including his delightful clothesline designs like the one on the plate above. His art will actually be at the gallery all month, and they’re having the opening reception the night of the walk – so you can meet the artist himself!

You can also meet children’s book illustrator Bob Palmatier. Bob is a local author who has written and illustrated two books for children. You’ll have a chance to see and purchase the original illustrations from Stormy’s Return and Neddy Mittens The Polydactyl Cat. Both of these books have delighted kids at book fairs in Durham schools. Talk to Bob about setting up a visit in your school library.

2nd Friday Artwalk draws residents and visitor from all over. It’s really grown over the past ten years. It started with just a few places, and has expanded. It’s just a fun thing to do with friends for a relaxing evening.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

2nd Friday Artwalk includes
NC Arts Gallery
212 W. Main St.,
Carrboro, NC 27510-2082

Visit the 2nd Friday Artwalk website for all the locations.

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival opens today in Durham. This annual showing of non-fiction films from all over the world. It’s an extraordinary event, where filmmakers and film lovers – young and old, famous and infamous – gather to see some of the very best documentaries of the year.

Past films from Full Frame have gone on to win Oscars, like “Taxi to the Dark Side”. This year’s festival opens with a film that I would love to see – “Kings of Pastry”. It chronicles the stories of three chefs competing in the MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) competition in France. Sounds like such fun – but it’s sold out!

Fortunately, there are lots of other films to choose from. There are four different venues that will show all sorts of documentaries – starting at 10:00 in the morning and ending past midnight. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday. Prices range from $15 to $20 per show.

Some of the films are right out of today’s headlines – “Coal Miner: Frank Jackson”, “Morristown: In the Air and Sun”. Others take us back – “Surviving Hitler: A Love Story” and “Thunder Soul”. Most of the films have a question and answer session afterwards, a lively and thought provoking time of discussion.

There’s an alphabetical list of the films, and a schedule here.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

Full Frame Festival
Venues for the Festival:
Carolina Theatre 309 West Morgan Street
Durham Convention Center 201 Foster Street
Durham Arts Council 120 Morris Street
Durham Central Park 534 Foster Street

…Eating at Tres Amigos in Carrboro

I’ve lived in Texas, and I love and appreciate an authentic Mexican meal. So when I discovered Tres Amigos, I was thrilled! I really am a sucker for such food – and love that you can watch it being prepared in the open kitchen – from the famous Mexican hot dogs (rolled in bacon) to the handmade tortillas, which are a delight.

Sometimes the food cooked by Sarah Vignola herself, who owns the restaurant. She is always there, taking orders, explaining the menu, and sitting down to talk to customers like me.

So for today, head over for a quick bite to Tres Amigos Taqueria on 109 W. Main Street in Carrboro. Try the gorditas with barbacoa. Trust me, you’ll be back for more.

And it is up to us to go support our local independent eateries.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

PS You know, I could easily eat here 3-4 times a week…so sad for my hips.