Owner Li Zhang also owns the A&C Supermarket on South Wilmington Street in Raleigh, but this new store will be much bigger at just under 50,000 square feet. This 34-year-old businessman was born in China and immigrated to Winston-Salem as a teenager so he knows how to combine the best of east and west!

Besides offering one of the finest selections of produce and seafood in our area, Li Ming’s Global Mart will stock products for Asian, Hispanic, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. The international food court and coffee shop sound tantalizing with choices of sushi, Chinese dishes and baked goods.

Now remember you heard it from me first: Durham is on its way to becoming a first class international city! It’s one more reason why you’ll love being at home here.

Picture courtesy of Flickr and FUNKYAH.

This week, for example, they are serving up courses (that’s two puns, in case you missed it) on Valentine’s Cookie Decorating, Three Quick Chicken Dinners, Valentine’s Aphrodisiacs, and Firehouse Cooking. The instructors vary, but one is taught by the legendary Captain Byron Greeson of the Chapel Hill Fire Department! How cool is that?

But my eye was especially drawn the Valentine’s dinner. For those of you looking for a unique Valentine’s weekend date, this one is IT! You’ll watch and learn, then eat a very romantic menu of Citrus, Avocado, and Almond Salad, Baby Scallops with Lavender Lemon Pasta, Asparagus with Chive Truffled Mousseline, Big, Bad Voodoo Brownies with Cajeta. The cost is $90 for two.

Get the schedule and prices for all the meals on the Southern Seasons website.

Photo used by permission of A Southern Seasons.

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!

Today you can take a walk in beautiful downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and enjoy all sorts of food! The Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours take place every Saturday afternoon. You get to walk from restaurant to restaurant – walk off some of the calories – and sample the delectable food.

As you walk and taste, you get to talk to owners and chefs, and hear their stories and tap into their knowledge. Sort of like getting the back story on the food you’re eating and sampling. You might find out why particular cows are chosen for cheese – and then eat said cheese. Mmmm. Sample chocolates and coffee and wine and beer and delicious sandwiches while talking to the one who has lovingly created what you’re eating.

Your walking guide (who would make a great real estate agent!) will also fill you in about the history and architecture of our area – a lot of fascinating tidbits I’ll “bet you didn’t know.” It’s really a fantastic way to get another look into the fun place we call home.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

PS There are also Durham and Raleigh Taste Carolina Walking Tours. For next Saturday, maybe?

Chapel Hill/ Carrboro Walking Tour
Saturdays 11:00-2:00
Weekdays 2:00-5:00
Meet in front of Open Eye Cafe, 101 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro, at 10:45 or 1:45.
Wear comfortable shoes; this tour is between 1.5 and 2 miles of walking.

The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance starts today! Four whole days. Four stages of a “family-friendly festival of music, dance, art, and education”. And they mean it when they say music – there are over fifty bands this year. AND there is Bela Fleck, the absolute best banjo player in the word. He’s won Grammy’s and has been on Sesame Street. (I’m not sure which one is more impressive.)

Arts and Crafts are probably the highlight of the Festival. You know how I feel about local artists. There’s a whole new dimension at the Festival – a whole section of Native American Indigenous art, pottery, painting and sculpture. There’s even body art. You can get glammed up with sparkles and henna with the variety of artists and their creativity.

Take your family. Kids can explore and learn about the farm at Shakori Hills. There are also lessons about making and using biodeisal fuel, natural medicine, composting, and how to bring the flavor of Shakori Hills into your everyday life. There’s something that will interest you!

No festival would be complete without the food. Curry, pizza, gator on a stick, crepes, Pittsboro’s Famous Burritos, the incredible and famous flybread…just delicious samples of the stuff we like to eat here in the South – and in Chapel Hill. And yes, they have ice cream! Get your frozen treat at Lil’ Coffee Barn at the Grove Stage!

See you at the Festival!

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

PS My fabulous electrician – Charlie Adams – does all the Electrical at the Shakori Hills Festival.

Shakori Hills
1439 Henderson Tanyard Road
Pittsboro, NC 27312

I don’t like to take my husband to the farmer’s market. He wants to zip in, buy what he needs and leave. By contrast, I like to go around the entire circle there – at least three times. I’ll visit with all the interesting vendors, run into – and chat with – people I know, compare all the goods and prices, and see what’s there.

To me, the Farmer’s Market is an outing, not just a shopping trip. You see everybody; once I saw the mayor. The interesting thing to me is that you see an entirely different group depending on the time of the day. From 8 – 9 there is one group of people. You meet a different group at 10 – 11.

My favorite things to buy have to be the phenomenal North Carolina peaches. (Did you know the ones from the Piedmont are totally different from those of the mountain regions? I also love to get blueberries and melons. And plants – I get my organic tomato plants there, as well as my herbs. You can also get grain fed meat and great cheeses.

Because of the Farmer’s I stopped missing the fruits I wasn’t getting from California since I can get such great fruits and veggies here. The gap was filled not with the same thing, but with something just as special. I seriously think we are one of the best small town farmer’s markets in the country.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

Chapel Hill – Carrboro Farmer’s Market, located on Carrboro Town Commons, next to Town Hall at 301 West Main Street.

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

…Sharing at Harry’s Market

Harry’s Market at White Cross from Elyssa Sharp on Vimeo.

“To Build a Community” That’s what Teresa of Harry’s Market aimed to do when she opened Harry’s Market. I’m all about supporting local businesses, and at Harry’s Market, that what you find. Lots of local businesses bonding together “to build a community”. Produce, grocery, art, wines, plants. A cup of coffee. A chat with a neighbor. Chapel Hill at its finest.

There’s a vitamin shop and a health room. There’s music and yoga. Harry’s Market has a small business center, too, where you can rent shared office space. And on the third Monday – and the 19th is the third Monday if you’ve lost count – there is Third Monday Market, where locals come together to ‘swap, sell and share knowledge”. You can get all sorts of stuff and learn all kinds of things on the third Monday. Network with friends and neighbors and other businesses. And this Monday there will be a special performance on the porch! Come and check it out.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

PS If you’d like to share your wares or your knowledge – you can rent a space for Third Monday Market for just $5. That’s a bargain!

Harry’s Market at Whitecross™
3300 Highway 54 West
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 932-7025.

Everybody knows Trader Joe’s. They’re famous for their cheese and organics – and their tastings. You can sample all sorts of great stuff, which may be why the college kids like it so much. Their private label products are very good quality. They also have some really good flavors of ice cream…and you know how I feel about that.

But Trader Joe’s isn’t the only spot where great food is for sale in Chapel Hill. I just went to Weaver Street and couldn’t believe organic meat prices! They’re less than Whole Foods. I really like the fact that I often run into people that I know. I’m a regular shopper and I like not being anonymous. I know some of the check out clerks, and I love that they greet me as someone they know.

Despite it all, though, I go to Whole Foods more because it’s closer. Isn’t it funny that in a small town there are people who won’t go to the other side of town to get the to store. I’m guilty of that one for routine trips, but I really do like going to all three of our great food stores for stocking up my kitchen!

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

PS See you in the checkout line! I’m the one in the crazy glasses

I love to get love to get gifts for people who are out of state – and out of the country – so they can get a taste of North Carolina. A Southern Season is the perfect place for that. They sell gourmet foods, kitchenware, tableware, bakery goods, cheeses, meats, coffee, tea, flowers – all with a decided North Carolina flavor. Their pecan (how do YOU pronounce pecan?) pralines are to die for.

One of the things that I love about A Southern Season is that it’s one of those places where they always treat you like somebody special. Actually, they make you feel like a queen. The staff are knowledgeable friendly, helpful, and know about the excellent selection of products.

When I first moved here from Austin, I remember going to A Southern Season and remarking that everyone there was older and well to do. Well, I’m older, but I’m not well to do, so I recommend you ask them when they’ll have their superb sales on. I adore the sales. Perfect for buying that special treat!

While you’re there, treat yourself to the lovely Weathervane Cafe. You never know what’s going to be on their menu, but chances are you’ll be able to get the ingredients for the recipe from right there in the store.

Happy April!

Crazy Viv

A Southern Season
University Mall
201 S. Estes Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514