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petitprincess1 · 4 years

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Good Evening Ch4 (Help)

AO3 Link Summary: Alastor gives his reason for the sudden visit, Angelo learns a bit more about Al than he wanted, and an employee recognizes the radio host. Words: 1,449 God, this is all so much fun! I gotta slow down though before burnout comes to claim me. Husk’s human design is created by @akyokanta! Also, sorry if Charlie seems a bit OOC. She did meet Al under different circumstances and is currently stressed. Anyway, hope you enjoy! ~~~ Charlie was the first to approach the well-dressed man and asked, “Al...uh...what are you doing here? I-I mean, I heard the, uh, radio, b-but not all of it.”

Before Alastor could speak, Niffty ran up to him and cheered, “Oh my god! Thank you for coming to the hotel! Can I be on your broadcast? Can I hold your staff? What room are you staying in? How long are you staying? What’s your favorite color or show!? Oh, I bet it’s Hazbin!”

Alastor gave a delighted chuckle to Niffty and grinned, “Slow down there, small one, I’m simply here because I wish to have a room and to help!”

Everyone stared at him in bewilderment, excluding Angelo, who just walked away from it all to go sit on a dusty chair nearby. Charlie blinked up at him and asked eloquently, “Say what now?”

“Help! With this reformative hotel, I would like to help you run it,” Al clarified as he walked over to a wall, peeling off a bit of the old wallpaper that just barely stuck to it. Charlie watched him walk around the lobby and hum to him himself, wondering if he was joking or not. Vaggie just raised an eyebrow at him, clearly not trusting the man that was out in the forest for some odd reason. The pale blonde questioned further, “But...why?”

Al swiftly turned to her and smiled, “Why does anyone do anything? Sheer, absolute boredom!”

Charlie’s confusion then turned into an all out frown as she scoffed, “Well, why would we want your help in the first place? Also, this isn’t just a normal hotel. It’s for bringing ex-cons, criminals, addicts, and any other seeming victims of the law to slowly reintroduce them back into society!”

The man just hummed, looking behind her, “Oh, yes, that seems to be working just fine!”

She raised an eyebrow and looked over her shoulder, watching as a guest had apparently snuck behind the front desk and grabbing some alcohol that was stashed away. Charlie yelled at them, “Hey! Where did tha-” Before she could finish, the guest quickly hopped over the desk and ran into an elevator nearby. Vaggie mumbled under her breath as she went over to the stairs, “I knew that we should have gotten his bottles taken away. I got this, don’t worry!”

She shouted as she gave a concerned look to Charlie before running into the stairwell. Alastor gave the little entrepreneur a sly grin, making her turn her head away from him. She huffed, “That doesn’t mean a thing. A lot rarer than what it seems to be.”

Alastor said snarkily, “Ah, yes because if I wish to send any loved one to a rehab facility, I would love to send them to a place that allows their employees to drink.”

Charlie stuttered over her words and tried to figure out an excuse, while Niffty continued to ask him a random assortment of questions. After just a full 10 seconds of this insanity, Angelo let out a loud, drawn out yawn and immediately quieted the two. He then asked Al, “So, uh, didja bring that food that you were makin’ or whatever?”

Niffty asked in excitement, “Oh! You were gonna cook for us!?” She then quickly hid the bowl of pancake batter behind her back. Charlie’s eye slightly twitched as she questioned, “What!? You’re gonna cook for us!?”

Alastor lightly stroked her golden hair, giving a small chuckle, “Ohoho! Don’t worry, my dear, I shan’t charge you for my services. Besides, it’s the least I can do when you allow me to rest in this hotel and become your right hand man!”

Charlie rolled her eyes and mumbled, “Yeah because that’s going to happen.”

He then leaned down to her eye level and gave her another laugh. She then asked Angelo in confusion, “Wait, have you talked to him before now to know that he was bringing food?”

Angelo nodded, “Yeah….should I have mentioned that?”

Before she could answer his question and further risk her sanity, Al spoke, walking towards the entrance, “Don’t worry, it won’t take long to make. The gumbo just needs to be reheated, while cooking some rice at the same time.”

Niffty squeaked, “Oh! I got the rice! I’m on it!” She then zoomed into the kitchen, dropping the bowl of pancake batter on the floor and it somehow landed perfectly straight up, barely wobbling. Alastor simply grabbed the bowl and handed it to Charlie, informing, “It would be such a shame for this to go to waste. Please, can you place place some wrap on this and put it into the fridge, doll? Young ethel, can you come help me?”

Charlie tried to tell Al that she should really go and check on Vaggie, the man had already walked away, while Angelo went walking with him out the door. She gave a long sigh and used her free hand to text Vaggie about needing to chat about Al. ~~~ As the two were walking outside towards Alastor’s car, Angelo looked around and waited for anyone to possibly jump out to ambush him. He was sure that Al wouldn’t be the kind of person to create an ambush like that, but he still didn’t trust him. Angelo suddenly got stopped by a cane blocking his path and Alastor raised an eyebrow at him, “We’re here, mon pion.”

He then unlocked his car to get into the back and Angelo questioned as the radio host went to crawl into the vehicle, “So, uh, were ya makin’ this gummy-”

“Gumbo.”

“Whateva. Were you makin’ that thing when ya texted me or…?” The taller man finished as he got a large pot full of some savory, seafood smelling soup placed into his arms. Alastor climbed out from the back and grinned, “Oh, no, no! I started cooking the moment you said you needed to be filled. Don’t get me wrong, I knew what you meant, but the timing was too good, my friend.”

Angelo corrected, “Yeah, no, we ain’t friends. So, I guess those 3 hours that we spent talkin’ was also when ya were cookin’, è giusto?”

Al nodded as he grabbed a few more ingredients that were in a brown bag, closing the car door with his foot, and replied, “Correctamundo! Gumbo does taste the best when you give it time for the flavors to intensify. The longer it takes, the better. Of course, the ingredients also help as well.”

“What's in it?”

“Oh the usual? Andouille, shrimp, bell peppers, celery, onions, hot sauce, tomatoes, and a little family secret to give it that special flavor,” He concluded, pinching the mob child’s cheek and starting to walk back to the hotel. Angelo had wondered what it was that had to be kept a secret. Although, he felt like he had a feeling after he saw what looked to be a cut up eyeball floating around in the broth…even if he did convince himself that it was just a fish eyeball. ~~~ The two walked into the kitchen and were immediately shocked, at least Angelo was, to see a much older man in the kitchen with Niffty, instead of Charlie. He was lifting Niffty up to reach the cabinets. The man was wearing a light brown waistcoat, grey pants, and had on a red bowtie that should have clashed but just seemed to work. After he placed the lady on the floor and ran his hand through his greying slicked back hair, the man grumbled about having a headache and turned to leave, just to stop when he faced Alastor and Angelo.

Alastor gave a large shit-eating grin to the man, while Angelo just blinked at his slowly enraging expression. He practically snarled at Al, “You! What are you gonna fucking follow me everywhere, you goddamn piece of shit!”

Angelo blinked again and started, “So...ya two know ea-”

He got cut off by Alastor cheerfully calling out, “Ah! Husker! Always such a pleasure to see you! Had a few rounds with the giggle water, I see? Tsk, tsk. Need to kick that nasy habit, my friend.”

Husk just muttered insults under his breath, while clenching his fists and grinding his teeth together. Alastor just hummed happily as he placed the pot on the countertop, ignoring the increasing confusion with Angelo and Niffty. Al asked Husk, “By the way, can you hand me some plates, good man?”

A plate went flying past Alastor’s face and smashed against the wall behind him, making the Niffty scold Husk about wasting plates and Angelo just lightly flinch, despite looking terrified and spaced out. Al just chuckled, “You missed! Dare to try again~”

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coordinatesofher · 5 years

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EVERYTHING FOR A WEEKEND IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

NOLA (New Orleans Louisiana) is such a quirky, fun, beautiful place filled with friendly people and AHHHHmazing food. Walking around the French Quarter and popping in and out of places you will find tons of food and drinks and loads of fun! If you are in need of some local references for food, drinks, or entertainment, then you have come to the right place! Here is everything you need to know to visit NOLA and have the time of your life!

FOODS YOU SHOULD TOTALY TRY IN NOLA:

Boiled Crawfish - Technically, you can find crawfish year round. But, many local will tell you, only eat boiled crawfish during crawfish season! The rest of the year it is either frozen local crawfish or it is sourced from elsewhere.

Beignets - Cafe Du Monde - This is a must! They have been serving Beignets since the Civil War! The line is often long so if you need a back up spot, Cafe Beignet is a great option as well.

Pecan Pralines - Try pralines or fudge at any of the little shops. Super sweet, but yummy. Loretta’s in the French Market is really good.

King Cake - If you find it, eat it! King Cake is seasonal and typically found during Mardi Gras and it is SO yummy! It is basically a mix between a donut and cake stuffed with cream. You will love it!

Hot Sauce - Spice is a HUGE thing in Louisiana! Every place in the Quarter has dozens of them to try. Some are so hot you have to sign a waiver eating!

Chicory - OK. This is not my thing, but it is very much a NOLA thing. Chicory in Coffee is huge. Personally it isn’t for me, but by all means try it.

Po-Boys - It is a sandwich stuffed with various meats usually fried shrimp or seafood. In the Quarter you can go to Cafe Masperos or Johnny’s Po-Boys or Erin Rose, but the best one in the city and where you will find me every day is Parkview Bakery! It is worth the uber ride, and it is such a great, local, backyard vibe.

Muffalettas - Central Grocery Co. is a super famous spot for this. I don’t eat meat so I have never had it, but everyone raves about it!

Oysters - Full disclosure, I have never eaten or even tried an oyster, but I have heard that Antoine’s Restaurant or Felix’s is the way to go for that.

Hurricane Alcoholic Drink - Pat Obrien’s is famous for this, but they have them everywhere.

Hand Grenades - These are a huge thing on Bourbon. Be warned, the sugar masks the liquor and you will be beyond drunk afterward.

Absinthe - Pirate’s Alley is the place for it. 55% alcohol makes it a doozy. Their version is the legal limit.

SnowBalls - I lived for these as a kid, and Hansens is the place in the city to get it.

World Famous Fried Chicken - Willie Maes has been on every food network show and is SUPER famous. It is supposed to be life changing chicken. Now they have created a bit of a chain, but make sure to visit the original location.

Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Étouffée - These will be served lots of places and worth trying. Best spots: Jambayala - Coop’s Place / Gumbo - Stanley's

BEST COFFEE AND BREAKFAST NEW ORLEANS:

My favorite breakfast spot in the whole city is in the Lower Garden District at Hivolt Coffee. It is the best coffee in the city including pour overs and the pastries and breakfast are all great!

If you are in the Warehouse District there is a Stumptown Coffee in the Ace Hotel which is a great option as well!

Brennans is super famous for breakfast. I have never been. But, worth pointing out. Make sure to get a reservation.

When in town, I usually eat at Sasuma Cafe. Cheap, simple, and healthy, something hard to find in Louisiana some times ;)

Another favorite of mine is Surrey’s. To be fair, I have never tried anything other than their pancakes, but I don’t need to! Their pancakes are the best!

Elizabeth’s in Bywater is a super traditional southern breakfast with smothered everything and great biscuits. It is really good and a great way to try southern food!

Ruby Slipper is also a fun spot with cajun/creole breakfast influences. It is probably the best breakfast spot to please everyone and still get to try some unique things.

BEST BARS IN THE FRENCH QUARTER:

Pat O’Briens dueling pianos is a must! It usually has a line, but once you get in it is such a blast. They basically pack people into a room with two dueling pianos that play any song request and everyone in the room sings as loud as possible to classics and shares drinks. It can really be a blast!

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is the oldest structure in the city to have a bar so it is a great spot to grab a drink.

Carousel Bar - This bar is inside of a hotel. There is a carousel inside it that moves and is it’s claim to fame. It doesn’t sprinkle my donuts, but people seem to love it!

Pirate’s Alley - if you dare try the absinthe. This is a famous spot and the only place in the city to sell legal absinthe. Fair warning the alcohol content level is HIGH.

Saints and Sinners - Nothing crazy about this other than Channing Tatum owns it so the girls tend to love it. And, for that reason, it is worth pointing out.

Ace Hotel’s rooftop is a really beautiful space! One of my favorite spots. My girlfriend from Los Angels and I always laugh going there cause its definitely like the other Ace Hotels in terms of lack of friendliness and run by New Yorkers. But, still the rooftop bar is super nice!

Frenchmen Street - SUPER famous for Jazz music. Places like the Spotted Cat are where all the greats played back in the day. It is the locals version of Bourbon Street, or at least it used to be. Typically, you can find lots of live music and fun spots.

Tchoup Yard is a super fun spot and great for a day hang out. There are loads of backyard games and outdoor vibes and usually lots of locals just playing corn hole and drinking beers. It is also located right where lots of brewers have popped up which is new to the city, so it is a great day drinking spot.

Musical Legends Park is such a cute romantic spot (maybe the only one) on Bourbon. I think it is only Friday nights, but a live jazz band plays outside and for a moment you feel like you are in a European city. Swoon.

Bourbon Street is filled with dozens and dozens of bars and intoxicated people. It is not where locals tend to hang out, but if you are looking to experience this side of NOLA and have a blast doing it, just pop in and out of all the bars along the street. No destination is needed here.

GOOD EATS NEW ORLEANS:

Cochon Butcher and Cochon Restaurant are both really good spots in the warehouse district with great vibes and food with a local twist. (Cochon means “pig” so that says a lot about what is on the menu).

Peche is a nice restaurant as well. Peche means “fish” so there is a lot of seafood dishes here. Nice vibes. Good food.

Pizza Domenica - Great pizzas and pastas and garlic bread knots, and a nice break from fried food.

Josephine Estelle in the Ace Hotel is a great little spot. More Los Angeles type foods like anything with a vegetable (lol) than the other places listed. Plus, you can pop up to the rooftop bar afterward.

NOLA in the French Quarter is really good. Typical cajun and creole dishes that are really well done. More pricey.

Emeril’s is super famous and fancy pants. I have never been. Heard great things! More pricey.

Commander’s Palace is SUPER famous and supposedly really amazing. Never been. Hard to get a resi. Heard amazing things! Most pricey.

St. Roch is a great stop and my personal favorite place to get biscuits. There are several vendors in this space like a small market and it is a great way to try different foods in the city!

BEST TOURIST STOPS NEW OREANS:

Napoleon’s House (yep, he had a house there that is now a restaurant) The food is not life changing, but it is cool to see. And, full disclosure, Napoleon died before getting to visit this house, so he never lived here, but it was built for him.

There are lots of huge plantation style homes in the Garden District one of which is where Mark Twain used to throw parties. These old southern homes are to die for.

Near there is St. Charles Ave. where 300-400 year old oak trees line the street. You gotta take a trolley ride down this street and see it. It is beautiful.

Jackson Square in front of the St. Louis Cathedral which is the most popular photo spot and dates back hundreds of years.

Cemeteries - Due to being below sea level, graves are all above ground in NOLA. And, many of them date back centuries and are well worth a visit. You can even visit Marie Laveaus (the famous Voodoo Queen’s) tomb. Across from Commander’s Palace is Lafayette Cemetery which is free to visit. My recommendation for a more historical tour would be to visit St. Louis Cemetery where notables have been buried. You have to do a tour, but it’s great. OH, and you can see the period tomb Nicholas Cage had built for when he dies. Kinda wild.

Swamp Tours - This isn’t necessarily “historic” perse other than people having been boating here for centuries and the cypress trees are hundreds of years old. The tours are a whole lot of fun and you get to see alligators out in the wild! I highly recommend doing one to see a completely different type of landscape and life on the bayou.

Museums - There are lots of great museums all within walking distance of each other. So, if you are looking for a break from Bourbon street this is your spot. The WW II museum is one of the best tin the country and a great way to spend the afternoon. There are also wonderful art museums like the Ogden and the Contemporary.

WHERE TO SHOP NEW ORLEANS:

The French Market in the French Quarter is the best place to shop for souvenirs and fun little things. Most of the goods are on the cheaper side so it is fun to walk about. As a kid, this was always my favorite spot!

If vintage clothing is your thing, then Royale Street is a great place for all things vintage. There are several vintage boutiques specializing in unique period clothing.

There are loads of Local shops selling New Orleans designers like Krewe Sunglasses which are great and well worth the stop in.

Magazine Street is my favorite street in the city and it is filled with loads of shops, antiques, and great eateries. It is a great way to spend an afternoon outside of bourbon. Just take the trolley car from the French Quarter.

WHAT TO PACK FOR A WEEKEND IN NEW ORLEANS:

Casual is a way of life there. While a few trendy spots have come to town and people dress more trendy/urban in those spots, for the most part, it is casual. The city is so laid-back and truly no one will care what you are wearing.

Comfy Shoes - The streets and sidewalks are uneven and often cobblestone. Tourism causes a lot of trash. And, rain doesn’t help. So, I recommend comfy shoes like tennis shoes that you are ok to get scuffed up and wet and maybe even just toss after the trip.

Sunscreen - The heat is no joke here!

Hat for sun - A hat or even an umbrella to protect against the sun is a must in the summer and maybe even year round!

Sunglasses - As mentioned above, sun protection is a must!

Backpack - I am a backpacker type of tourist because with all the heat and alcohol you will want water and a place to store your raincoat and sunscreen, etc. Plus, like in any tourist spot, keeping your things safe and protected is the way to go!

Toilet Paper/Kleenex packets - The French Quarter is old and packed with people. The bathrooms aren’t guaranteed to have TP in them so make sure to bring some! Oh and a few baby wipes wouldn’t hurt either!

Rain Coat/Jacket - If it rains, umbrellas are quite difficult on the narrow sidewalks, so a rain coat is the way to go.

Bug Spray - When it is too cold there aren’t mosquitoes, but GURL mosquitoes are a very real thang there, especially if you are going on a swap tour in the summer!

Cash - A lot of the city will accept credit card, but there are still quite a few places that are cash only. Quite literally some spots have been cash only for centuries. So, I recommend keeping some handy.

STAY SAFE AND LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

While the city is without a doubt one of my favorite places, it does have a darker side not all that different than parts of Los Angeles. So, I recommend being vigilant. As a tourist, you can be a target, so while I have never had anything happen, it is a high possibility. Put simply, I would just do your best to keep your wits about you and not flash money. Stay safe!

IN IT TO PIN IT:

Make sure to save this pin graphic to your Pinterest board when planning your trip to New Orleans, Louisiana!

MORE FROM LOUISIANA:

#NEW ORLEANS #LOUISIANA #FRENCH QUARTER

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lookbluesoup · 5 years

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OC Meme

AWW YIS thank u for tagging me @wastelandwandererstuff >:D I tag @shadow-mockingbird @rogue-lavellan @not-a-courser @thewookieruns @robobrainmurdermysterytheatre (if you’ve already done this and I missed it I’m sorry please don’t feel obligated even though I am UNSPEAKABLY CURIOUS :’D ) and of course anyone else who wants to go for it :0

» NAME: Nathaniel Christian Ronan. Answers to Nate or Nathan but NEVER Naynay.

» AGE: 26 when the Boom™ happened (a few days short of 27 (Oct. 27th), his military career showed promise, but his contract ran out shortly after learning Nora was pregnant and he chose not to renew it).

» SPECIES: Human (Primarily Irish x Cherokee heritage, possibly some German in there)

» GENDER: Male

» ORIENTATION: Pan-Demisexual

» TITLE: Army Sergeant before the big boom. General of the Minutemen; "Wanderer”/Agent; Silver Shroud; “Mr. Wright.”

PHYSICAL ASPECTS

» HAIR: Dark black, kept relatively short but with some floppiness to it, usually a bit of a mess

» EYES: “Old World Blue” Grey-blue with pale brown around the pupil

» SKIN: Medium leaning toward tan, darkens considerably in summer and rarely gets sunburn

» HEIGHT: 5′7″ // 170.3cm

» WEIGHT: 133lbs // 60.3kg (dropped to 117lbs // 53kg during his lost drunkard phase)

FAMILY

» SIBLINGS: One older brother, a Marine who was KIA during the invasion of the Chinese mainland. Nate doesn’t talk about him.

» PARENTS: Father - Cato Ronan (military chaplain, full of religious conviction when sober, but often drunk and could be both neglectful and violent when courting these other spirits.) Mother - Adlevia Ronan (housewife, put up with a lot more shit than she should have, Nate absolutely adored her)

» GRANDPARENTS: Paternal grandfather was a fire-and-brimstone preacher, convinced the end of the world was coming, died before Nate was born. Paternal grandmother was incredibly sweet but favored highly traditional roles, never quite approved of Nora or the lack of clear role delineation in Nate’s marriage. Maternal grandfather was a traveling showman, taught Nate ventriloquism and Nate often attributes his sense of humor to this grandparent. Maternal grandmother was unknown/never talked about, was not married to Nate’s grandfather and presumably abandoned both him and their little girl.

» OTHER RELATIVES: His in-laws were very invested in having a relationship with Nate. Nora’s mother was a retired Army General (Nate actually met Nora when her family paid a visit to the base he was stationed at). Her father was a doctor of medicine and veritable king of high class social circles. (Nora married “down” by their standards, but they did come to respect Nate.) He probably also had several cousins and a handful of aunts/uncles! His army unit was considered an extended family.

» ANY PETS?: He is the pet. Piper definitely picked him out of a cardboard box on the street and he’s been following her around like a lost puppy every since. JOKES ASIDE He definitely had dogs growing up but Nora did not like dogs, and especially after Shaun was conceived his attempts to change her mind were met with counter-arguments worthy of the courtroom. He considers Dogmeat a friend rather than a pet. There is, of course, Legs Washington B)

SKILLS

» PHYSICAL BUILD: Exceptionally fit by necessity, but definitely needs to eat more. Used to crossing rough terrain carrying heavy gear for hours and hours. Healthy heart beats very slowly compared to average.

» ABILITIES:

Ventriloquism/throwing voice (you better BELIEVE he uses this to prank companions when they’re exploring dark creepy places)

Silver tongue and an excellent negotiator, good at promoting collaboration and inspires a peculiar kind of loyalty

An excellent singing voice and can play the harmonica (Stops singing after losing Nora for a long time, picking it back up again is one of the first signs he is finally recovering from his loss)

Good at cooking and makes a mean martini (caught Nora’s interest with his martinis, won her hand with his serenading)

Mother taught him to sew, hem, wash, and iron clothes (yes this is an important skill!!! D:< )

Learned lock-picking and some additional first-aid from his army buddies

Computer programming degree earned while serving in the military - good for hacking

Sniper training - marksmanship, field craft, tactics, IPB

Exceptionally calm in most combat situations, often enters a trance-like state when making a long sniper shot; mostly thanks to battlefield experience

O-negative blood makes him a universal donor which has enabled him to save several lives (but unfortunately is unable to receive blood himself in most cases)

Puppy-eyes. Puppy-eyes always win.

» HOBBIES:

Collects flip lighters. He has so many. So many. They are stashed everywhere. Drawers. Cabinets. Tables. Under the bed. In your soup. You cannot escape them. You’ve tried. He tends to pull one out his pocket and do tricks with it when underlying anxieties bubble up.

Baseball. Everything baseball.

“Being sad is not a hobby”

Knows all the lyrics to a ridiculous number of songs

Can quote every Silver Shroud episode word-for-word

A good snowfall should not, and never will be, wasted or ignored.

TRAITS

—— POSITIVE ——

Exceptionally patient

Generous with his time, caps, and possessions

Empathetic and eager to help others

Unshakably loyal to friends and family

Open-minded and willing to consider new ideas

Collaborative in his approach to problem-solving

Cool under pressure, keeps his head in a crisis

Good with kids, a family man at heart

—— NEGATIVE ——

Poorly-managed PTSD

Resulting in:

Alcoholism

Repressing emotions/memories (and resulting night terrors)

Risk-taking behavior

General Anxiety

Depression

(though this definitely improves over time!)

Workaholic

Blind or dismissive toward the faults of friends/family

Prone to emotional detachment/distance in response to stress in relationships

He has a whole post about his dark side here actually //quiet gasp

» FAVORITE COLORS: Moss Green, Honey Orange, Tyrian Purple

» FAVORITE SMELLS: Ink and paper fresh off the press (I wonder.... why??) Bubblegum. Roasted peanuts. Nate also loves the campfire smell. He misses the clean scent of un-irradiated spring.

» FAVORITE FOOD: His grandmother’s chocolate cake, gumbo, a good steak. Mirelurk egg omelettes are a post-war favorite, and he’s also partial to stew... as long as he knows what’s in it.

» FAVORITE DRINKS: Nuka-cherry or bust. Coffee when he finds some preserved in Vault 88 - but rations it carefully. And purified water. Piper’s also gotten him into that tarberry stuff.

» FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Pre-war he was a Gwinnett fan but had a fondness for fruity drinks too. After “Dangerous Minds” Nate had a complete breakdown and spent several months in a drunk and defeated slump where he mostly drank moonshine and chrome polish. Nowadays, he strictly abstains from alcohol, even as a painkiller.

#nate ronan #tag #meme #oc meme #sole survivor #art #my art #fun facts are fun #fallout #fallout 4

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guapo-t-w · 5 years

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Local Tidewater VA Beer Festivals

UPCOMING BEER FESTS AND FESTIVAL FORECAST: Fri-Sun, Jun 28-30 - 2019 Bayou Boogaloo Music & Cajun Food Festival, Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront. The Bayou Boogaloo Music & Cajun Food Festival is Norfolk’s annual love-fest with New Orleans’ vibrant spirit and captures the melting pot of Bayou culture. From New Orleans to the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront, two stages featuring national recording artists providing diverse cultural musical entertainment. The Arts Market of New Orleans returns and brings with it talent, unique artistry and the culture of Louisiana! The Arts Council of New Orleans and Norfolk Festevents hand-pick the most unique and one-of-a-kind artists from Louisiana to share their stories, culture and craft. This year, numerous artists in various mediums including art, jewelry and sculpture will be on site displaying their works. No Bayou celebration would be complete without the mouthwatering Cajun delicacies prepared by authentic Louisiana inspired chefs. Festival guests are in for a real treat as they feast on fresh crawfish straight from Louisiana, jambalaya, gumbo, etouffee, alligator, muffuletta, andouille, and beignets. Guests will also find festival favorites like sno balls (discovered in New Orleans, by the way!), root beer floats, smoothies, Italian water ice, glazed nuts, kettle korn and funnel cake. Wash it all down with a variety of cold beverages including a fine selection of beers straight from New Orleans' own Abita Brewing Company as well as New Orleans Jack Daniel's Hurricanes. https://festevents.org/events/2019-season-events/bayouboogaloo/ Sat, Jun 29 - Coastal Virginia Brewery Alliance Local Brew Fest, 2 – 7:00 pm, Hermitage Museum and Gardens, 7637 North Shore Road, Norfolk. The Coastal Virginia Brewery Alliance (CVBA) presents -1st annual Local Brew Fest. The CVBA is a group of 29 local Hampton Roads Breweries. Come on out to the Coastal Virginia Brewery Alliance (CVBA) 1st annual Local Brew Fest to try some amazing local Craft Brews! Food Trucks and live music will be on site. Event is rain or shine. The CVBA is a non-profit organization of 29 local breweries committed to promoting and support craft beer in the Coastal Virginia/Hampton Roads area. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coastal-virginia-brewery-alliance-local-brew-fest-tickets Sun, Jul 7 - Barks & Brews 2019, 12 – 6:00 pm, sponsored by O’Connor’s Brewery, Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk. Bring your dog to the Garden and have a beer for a fun day with live music! Guests are welcome to explore the Garden with their furry canine companion. Explore 175 spectacular acres with your dog and enjoy a cold beer with food and music. Regular garden admission applies. Not-Yet-Members: Dogs: $5 (human admission applies) – become a member today and save! Your dog must remain on a leash at all times. Stop by our Visitor Center for extra doggie waste bags. Other Barks & Brew dates: Sundays – Aug 4, Sep 8, Oct 13. https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/events/barks-and-brews-2019-1/ Sat, Jul 13 - Red, White and Brew Lagerfest, 4 - 8:00 pm, Hosted by Back Bay Brewing, 614 Norfolk Ave, Virginia Beach. Your favorite Virginia Beach beer festival is back! Get ready for our 4th annual Red, White and Brew Lagerfest. This year we will be offering early bird ticket pricing from now until June 13th (details below) so be sure to get your tickets before prices increases! DETAILS: Over 15 brewery participants, Live music, Food trucks, Specialty Back Bay Brewing merchandise for sale, Best lager will be voted on by YOU, and Back Bay Brewing will donate $500 to the winning brewery's pre-selected charity of choice! TICKET INCLUDES: Entry into the event, Special Lagerfest tasting/sampling glass, Unlimited tastings of all craft lagers, 1 full size beer ticket (good for a full size beer from our back bay beer truck!). TICKETS: $20 - Early Bird Special (now until June 13th); $30 - General Admission (June 14th until July 12th); $40 - Door Ticket (day of purchase). VISIT HERE FOR TICKETS: backbaybrewingco.com/lagerfest Fri, Jul 19 - Taste of VA on the Bay, 6 - 9:30 pm, Ocean View Beach Park, 100 W. Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Taste of VA on the Bay will be taking the place of previous year's Brews on the Bay Beer Festival. Live music by Jesse Chong.There will be craft beers, wine, spirits with plenty of food vendors. Craft Beer sampling tickets: Sampling Package - $15 for wristband, 4 oz sampling cup and 5 tickets redeemable for samples; 16 oz Pint - $8 for wristband and 4 tickets redeemable for a pint cup; Additional tickets - $2 (must have a cup and wristband to sample); Tickets will be sold until 9:15 pm, Sampling tickets can be redeemed until 9:30 pm; No refunds.You must be at least 21 years old to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. Breweries have the right to limit samples. Breweries will appear only until supplies last. www.oceanviewbeachpark.org Sat, Aug 3 - Whistle Belly 2019: A Virginia Beer & More Festival, 7 - 11:00 pm, Merchants Square, 401 W Duke of Gloucester St., Williamsburg. Whistle Belly is back and bigger, bolder and better than ever! Mark your calendars for Saturday August 3rd for the ultimate beer party on Duke of Gloucester Street. Crafted by the DoG Street Pub & presented by the Junior Woman's Club of Williamsburg. Over 40 breweries, and more than 70 beers and delicious eats! Live Music to be Announced! Drinks & all you can eat for only $55! Save up to $10 by purchasing in advance. General Admission Tickets get access to the festival from 7 to 11 pm. Get Early Access tickets to enjoy exclusive beers. With an Early Access ticket your festival begins at 6pm with access to food & beer including 10 beers only available to Early Access guests! http://www.whistlebelly.com/ Sat, Aug 10 - Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival, 2 - 6:00 pm, Hunt Club Farm, 2388 London Bridge Road, Virginia Beach. Hampton Road’s Favorite Smoked Meat Onslaught is back – with TEETH! Come and see what over 225,000 people nationwide have enjoyed! This is our 4th Annual PORK-OUT in Virginia Beach. COME AND JOIN US! For a down-home, Southern-fried, good time... to support your inner Redneck! Get ready to enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by - Beer, Bourbon, Barbeque, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass and Smoked Beasts! It's two great days of beer sippin', bourbon tastin', music listenin', cigar smokin', and barbeque eatin'. Your admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARE –TO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon. http://www.beerandbourbon.com/virginia-beach-va/show Sat, Aug 17 - Tap! Tap! Beer Festival 2019, 5 - 9:00 pm, Greenbrier Farms, 225 Sign Pine Rd., Chesapeake. Chesapeake Virginia’s First Beer Festival, Now 5 Years Old! Unlimited samples of beers and food from your popular regional food trucks. More details to come! Brought to you by Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Virginia and Kwasans Foundation. Sat, Aug 24 - 5th Annual Neptune's Coastal Craft Beer Festival, 1 - 6:00 pm, Hosted by the Neptune Festival, Neptune's Park, 31st Street and Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Neptune’s Park will be transformed into a craft beer lover’s haven on Saturday, August 24th, featuring local Virginia beers and cask ales, as well national and regional craft beers. Enjoy over 65 beers from 30 breweries, live music, food trucks, and more! Tickets will go on sale May 1, 2019. Each ticket includes a commemorative beer-tasting glass and tastings throughout the day. Early Bird Tickets: $30 Until July 1 or until allotment has been reached; Advance Tickets: $35 Through August 18; Week of Event Tickets: $40. https://www.neptunefestival.com/events/neptunes-coastal-craft-beer-festival Sat, Sep 7 - 4th Annual VA Cork & Craft Festival, 12 - 5:00 pm, Chincoteague Island KOA, 6742 Maddox Blvd., Chincoteague Island. Join us and the Special Olympics of Virginia for the 4th Annual Cork & Craft beer and wine festival. Sip on a variety of beer & wine while listening to the Island Boy Band and enjoying the breathtaking views of Chincoteague Bay and the lighthouse on Assateague Island. Shop for local artisan wares & crafts and indulge in great food provided by local food trucks. Buy your tickets online now for $30 (includes unlimited tastings and a commemorative tasting glass). Price goes up to $40 at the gate the day of the event. Designated Driver option available beginning January 2019 for $10, which includes soda/water. Children 15 years old or younger enter free. Need a place to stay? Check out our recommended accommodations and special packages available at Chincoteague Island KOA and Fairfield Inn & Suites. For all the details, visit www.VACorkCraft.com Fri, Sep 13 - Barrels, Brew & BBQ, 6 - 10:00 pm, Hunt Club Farm, 2388 London Bridge Rd., Virginia Beach. Come out on September 13th and help support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Norfolk! All you can eat BBQ, drink Craft Beer, Wine and Champagne. Silent Auction, Raffles, Games, Music and much more! https://barrelsbrewbbqfest18.thundertix.com/ Sat, Sep 21 - Virginia Beach Oktoberfest 2019, 12 - 6:00 pm, Hunt Club Farm, Virginia Beach. Wasserhund Brewery and the Nobleman are presenting the Annual Oktoberfest Event for all of Coastal Virginia and beyond on September 21st from noon till 6 pm at Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach. This event will serve as the quintessential Oktoberfest for our area featuring over 30 breweries, traditional German food and fair, festival atmosphere, and so much more: The opportunity to enjoy multiple styles of beers including, of course, a wide variety of German beers; live music; petting zoo and bounce houses for family friendly kid fun. Portion of proceeds will be donated to The Noblemen to support local charities. Sat, Sep 28 - Craft Beer Festival, 12 - 5:00 pm, Hosted by Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA, 32246 Lankford Highway, Cape Charles. Calling all Craft Beer Lovers! We have more than 30 brews just waiting for you to sample. Once you've quenched your thirst check out the live entertainment or do some shopping with the vendors onsite. *This is a ticketed event https://koa.com/campgrounds/chesapeake-bay/ Sat, Oct 12 - 7th Annual 757 Battle of the Beers 2019, Hosted by Beach Ambassadors, 1 = 6:30 pm, Camp Pendleton, Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach. This is the only festival in Hampton Roads that exclusively features local 757 Craft Breweries as they battle it out to win in different beer categories – with 100% of the proceeds go to local Hampton Roads charities including St. Mary's Home and Hope House Foundation! This award-winning and unique event pits Hampton Roads-based breweries against each other to determine who has the best beer in Hampton Roads. Each year, local breweries put their best brews on tap and are rated by an official brewer tasting panel and by attendees of the event to see which beer is the best in the 7-5-7. Drink Happy - Be Safe Follow the blogs at: www.brew-n-rock-tidewater.blogspot.com or www.guapo-t-w.tumblr.com and follow the latest listings of local brew events on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/hamptonroadsbeerforum/

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sandy-s-d · 6 years

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New Orleans Places in My Fanfic (and a few extras)

People are always asking me where to go in New Orleans, and while I am not a native, I grew up going there for vacation a lot with my family and did get to live there for a year and a hand full of months before Hurricane Katrina hit. Since then, my husband and I have been back. The first time, he took me all the places I missed, including swinging by my old apartment. Super important for healing purposes, you know? Anyway, I’ve loved incorporating New Orleans places into my fanfics, and when @iamoffyourbird asked for a list of places to go, I decided to create a list I can give my RL friends and add in little notes from the fanfics, too. Putting it here for fun.

New Orleans Locations (Some in My Fanfic)

Food: Some people say the better beignets are elsewhere, but I love the ones at Cafe du Monde, and you have to go for the location, the history, and the experience. Buffy and Willow have beignets and frozen café au laits here in A Small Boat in the Ocean. Buffy and Spike have beignets and frozen café au laits here in Hello Goodbye and allude to having them here in A Small Boat in the Ocean. Love chicory coffee! http://www.cafedumonde.com

For the gumbo experience, you have to go to the Gumbo Shop (it's different than the other place with the similar name). I’ve gone here since I was a kid. Buffy and Willow talk about going here in a Small Boat in the Ocean. Fresh French bread is perfect for dipping in the gumbo, and they have their own hot sauce which is yummy. I always buy a couple of bottles to take home. http://www.gumboshop.com

For an out of the Quarter treat, Jacques Imo's is a great place to go. You have to get there right when it's open to get a seat, and when I lived in New Orleans, the owner was known to show up wearing his chef’s coat and boxers. The alligator cheesecake is unique and delicious. Buffy and Spike have a date here in A Small Boat on the Ocean. http://jacques-imos.com

Mr. B's Bistro has delicious pecan pie (and other food). Dawn texts Emily’s Watcher to bring food from here before she gets kidnapped by Illyria in a Small Boat on the Ocean. http://www.mrbsbistro.com

Acme Oyster House has delicious oysters! I don’t like raw oysters, but I adore their baked ones with cheese and other spices. SO good! This is one of Dawn’s favorite places in Hello Goodbye. http://www.acmeoyster.com

Other places I love that aren’t mentioned…yet…

Brennans is excellent for brunch. Funny story: during my intern year, a lady whom my brother and I stood next to during Mardi Gras gave us $100 to go have a nice meal in New Orleans. She knew I was a poor intern, and her husband owned shopping malls. He was grateful we’d kept his wife company while he was gambling at the casino and got stuck there because of the parade. We went to Brennans for brunch. The interesting story is that there is a feud between family members and the one in NOLA and the Brennans in Houston are owned by the feuding family members. lol So they're a bit different but both excellent. https://www.brennansneworleans.com

For jazz brunch, I've heard the one at the Court of Two Sisters is fantastic but have never gotten to go: http://www.courtoftwosisters.com

For breakfast or lunch, you have to at least swing by Mother's...a famous little place outside the Quarter and near the casino. Lots of celebs and presidents have gone here. If you're so inclined, get the roast beef with debris. SO yummy. I wanted to include this place in A Small Boat on the Ocean, but I could never get the location to work in the story. https://www.mothersrestaurant.net

For the muffuletta experience, you have to get one at Central Grocery. There's usually a line out the door and when they run out of sandwich stuff for the day, it's done. Plus, if you like olives, you can buy a jar of their muffuletta spread to take home. https://centralgrocery.com

I'm so bummed but my favorite pralines are no longer in the Jackson Brewery like when I was a kid. They are a bit of a drive, but it's totally worth it to check out their new bigger store. These are hands down my favorite pralines in all of the Quarter (I've tried most of them). I really really wanted to include this place in A Small Boat on the Ocean, but the new location made it difficult, so I made the moveable hellmouth at a praline shop that had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. https://www.bayoucountry.com

https://neworleansschoolofcooking.com You can take a cooking class here. I've always wanted to! They also have delicious pralines – not as good as Bayou Country and also much smaller.

In a Small Boat on the Ocean, Buffy works at this particular CC’s Coffee. It's actually down the street from that haunted condo that we stayed at. While my husband slept, I snuck over here for a latte one morning. The Quarter off of Bourbon St. is really quiet and pretty to walk around in the morning before people are up and going. (CC's is the local coffee company that has tried for years to keep out Starbucks.) http://www.ccscoffee.com/locations/royal-st/

Bars: The Old Absinthe House https://www.ruebourbon.com/oldabsinthehouse/ They have some sort of egg drink here that my husband really wanted to try. Definitely worth a visit but not necessarily for that drink. Lol

Lafitte's http://www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com/Homepage.html I believe it's one of the oldest bars in New Orleans.

The bar at the Bourbon Orleans has good drinks with fresh ingredients. We got a couple of free drink tickets a piece when we stayed there. I was pregnant and they made me the most delicious fresh juice drink (alcohol free of course).

The other bar that's an absolute must in the Quarter is Pat O'Brien's because duh, you have to get a hurricane! This bar is mentioned in Adventures in Vamp-Sitting because Spike and Clem are standing outside it. http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens/default.asp

Head to Frenchman Street for late night stuffs...it's away from the Bourbon crowd which is a must experience but can get old. Spike works at the Spotted Cat in A Small Boat on the Ocean and Adventures in Vamp-Sitting. Spike and Clem sing a song here in Adventures in Vamp-Sitting. Buffy and Spike go on a date to hear Kermit Ruffins play at the Blue Nile in Hello Goodbye. It’s also mentioned in A Small Boat on the Ocean and Adventures in Vamp-Sitting. Snug Harbor is supposed to be amazing, but I’ve never been. http://frenchmenstreetlive.com http://bluenilelive.com

I highly highly recommend going to see Kermit Ruffins play wherever he's playing. It was on our MUST DO list from my training director when we lived there. He was playing at the Blue Nile for the longest but he seems to be all over the place now. https://www.songkick.com/artists/115899-kermit-ruffins About him: https://www.basinstreetrecords.com/artists/kermit-ruffins/

Places to Stay: 734 B Royal St., New Orleans, LA I’m not sure if this place is still for rent, but my husband and I stayed there in 2013. The ghost tour stopped at the door every evening. It’s supposedly haunted by the Octoroon, a young girl who is supposed to be very friendly. Her cat can be heard on the third floor. This place is the second floor. Buffy stays here in Hello Goodbye, and later Buffy and Spike stay here, too, in the same fic. It’s right next to the blue dog museum and the cathedral, and it’s really magical to wake up to the cathedral bells ringing.

We also stayed at the Bourbon Orleans. It’s supposedly haunted on the uppermost floors, but I was too scared to stay up there. http://www.bourbonorleans.com

Also, if you want to stay where I stayed when I was a kid and want the full people watching Bourbon Street experience, stay here. It used to be a Best Western. https://www.neworleans.com/listing/four-points-by-sheraton-french-quarter/672/

Touristy Things

Steamboat Natchez – this is the steamboat I went on with my family as a kid. It’s nice to take a ride up and down the Mississippi River. https://www.steamboatnatchez.com

The French Market is a really great place for shopping, food, and drinks. Buffy goes here at night when it’s closed in Hello Goodbye. https://www.frenchmarket.org

At St. Louis Cathedral, you can go inside and at night, there are all the fortune tellers and musicians outside. Artists are outside during the day, and there is a lovely garden in front of the cathedral. I attended Mass once here during my internship year. Buffy notices the fortune tellers in Hello Goodbye and actually talks Spike into taking her to see one in A Small Boat on the Ocean. http://www.stlouiscathedral.org

You can also take a tour around the Quarter in a horse and buggy...they're stationed near the cathedral and Café du Monde.

The ghost tours are supposed to be really cool.

And cemetery tours are unique because the graves are all above ground. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 would be a good place to tour, and Buffy goes here looking for an easy slay in A Small Boat on the Ocean. This is where Marie Laveau is buried. http://discoverhistoricamericatours.com/new-orleans/historical-locations/st-louis-cemetery-no-1/

If you want, you can take a streetcar, which is kind of fun. I think we used to ride one to the zoo when I was a kid. https://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/transportation/gettingaround/streetcars.html?

Audubon park is gorgeous for the large oaks and is in that beautiful section with the fancy old houses. You could probably pair this with the Columns hotel or Jacques Imo's or the Audubon zoo, which is a lovely zoo. https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/audubon-park

If you go to the park, check out the Columns hotel for happy hour...this is where Willow and Oz get engaged in A Small Boat on the Ocean. They have a jazz brunch, but I’ve never been. https://thecolumns.com

The WWII museum is supposed to be wonderful. https://www.nationalww2museum.org

Hurricane Katrina exhibition appears in Adventures in Vamp-Sitting. I dragged my poor husband here. https://louisianastatemuseum.org/presbytere/exhibit/living-hurricanes-katrina-beyond

And Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo is a must see shop. I’ve gone there every time I’m in New Orleans and it’s always so interesting to visit. https://voodooneworleans.com/

There are plantation home tours and swamp tours. I’ve always wanted to do a swamp tour!

When Anne Rice lived in New Orleans (not sure if she still does...I know she moved back and forth at one point), she had a Halloween party at her house every year. Now, it sounds like the fans have a vampire ball. http://annerice.com/Lestat-TheVampireBall.html

#new orleans #new orleans in fanfic #buffy the vampire slayer #spuffy #a small boat on the ocean #hello goodbye #adventures in vamp-sitting

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lovecharlottedupont · 3 years

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DRESS belted blue midi dress (wearing size XS) // WEDGES white espadrille wedges (higher heel linked here) // EARRINGS white bridesmaid earrings // BAG straw crossbody bag (old Forever21, similar linked)

Dinner parties are one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. I love everything about them, including the planning, and I pay attention when I go to great parties so that I can improve my own. Once I was at a party with indoor and outdoor seating, and everywhere were these huge trays of minimeals—noodles and vegetables, salads, steak cut super thin. Everything was delicious. And it all felt informal and easy. Everyone was relaxed and happy, flitting around trying all these delicious foods and then lounging, chatting happily with their new friends. I took notes!

Of course, the first step to having your own party is to figure out who to invite. It’s key to get a nice, enlivening mix of folks. I always have to fight the temptation to reinvite the same gang who made for the last fun party. I’ll think, ‘That mix worked great, and it was a Friday night . . . I know, I’ll have the same people over again on another Friday!’

But you can’t have the same party twice. It’s never the same. Plus, unexpected surprises are part of the fun of hosting. You can’t rehash the same party theme or compare this year’s Christmas party to those of years past. You have to think of each new party as an opportunity to make new memories.

I tend to invite people who have something in common or know some of the same people, and I try to have a good mix of single friends and couples. Always invite at least one single friend! It makes conversation more lively. You also need a ringer or two, people who really know how to make things fun. I have a couple of friends who are my go-to guests, great people to keep the party hopping, like my friend Howell. Howell is from Nashville and can talk to anybody about anything for at least three hours—and have the best time doing it. I call him my all-purpose guest. He can chat just as delightfully with a five-year-old as an eighty-five-year-old.

When it comes to invites, I check people’s availability at least two weeks in advance, because people are really busy nowadays. When I get a time when everybody can come—and I usually go for a Saturday night, because people tend to be too tired on Friday after working all week—then I try to get everyone to confirm.

Now, this is my little public service announcement: If you get invited to something, it’s incumbent upon you to RSVP as soon as possible. A quick “no” is better than a long “maybe.” People go to a lot of trouble to plan a party, and it’s a big deal to open your home. What’s more, it’s essential to show up if you say you will. I have a busy life, but I still don’t cancel unless it’s a superduper emergency—I’m talking a hospital-visit, in-the-newspapers-the-next-day emergency. Being tired just isn’t a good enough excuse. C’mon! Make an effort!

One trick I use to determine whether or not to say yes to an invite is: Would I want to go right then and there? If the party were that second, would I get dressed and rush out of the house to go to the party? If the answer is yes, I probably do want to go, but if the answer is no, I don’t accept the invitation.

Once I know who’s coming to dinner, I start to think about food on the Wednesday before a Saturday party. I do shopping and prepping on Friday. I’ll get fresh produce, some good bread, almonds, and olives, and I’ll prep as much as I can. In my experience, it’s particularly nice to prepare a special meal in honor of someone—such as gumbo for a person from New Orleans or catfish for a friend from South Carolina.

A lot of people have moral or religious or health-based dietary restrictions, and a lot of people are just plain picky. That’s why I always include at least two dishes that are vegetarian, so no one feels left out and we don’t have to make a big deal out of it. They can just skip the meat and have the salad and vegetables, and no one even notices. In addition, I usually send out an email the night before, asking about allergies. That way, when I’m cooking I can keep the nuts or shellfish or whatever it is separate from everything else if need be.

Early on the day of the party, I’ll set the table, with the glasses and everything, because I hate stressing at the last minute about things I can do anytime.

Cooking a big meal is all about the timing. I will look at everything I’m cooking and figure it out like a math problem, what needs to go in the oven when. If you’re cooking or roasting chickens or potatoes, you know it will take a while. Start that bird first!

I often buy dessert, because making a cake in addition to a whole dinner is pretty intense, and I feel it doesn’t usually add so much. I’ll buy a cake, or I’ll just make something really simple, with store-bought ingredients.

When people arrive, the first thing I do is make sure they have a drink. You have to be mindful if someone doesn’t drink alcohol and have soda or seltzer for him or her. I usually have a nonalcoholic option like club soda with fresh-squeezed juice and a fun garnish such as lavender sprigs or fresh mint. A fake cocktail can be delicious and festive, and it’s more cheerful than a glass of water or a can of Coke.

For the drinkers, I always have red and white wine available, and a full bar. These days, it seems that the most popular liquors are vodka and tequila, so I make sure I’m stocked with those at the very least.

I make sure there’s something for people to snack on as soon as they arrive, because I’ve found most people show up really hungry at the 7 p.m. start time. You don’t want them all twitchy waiting for dinner to be served. I always set out cheese and bread, olives, hummus and crudités, or rice crackers - I love rice crackers.

At eight, once everyone’s had some drinks and snacks and settled in, I announce dinner, and we go sit at the table. I’m very proud of my dinner bell. It’s a pretty brass one I found at a thrift store ages ago.

Dorothea’s Seven Hostess Tips

My grandmother loved throwing dinner parties, and she was amazing at it. When I throw parties, I try to emulate her style. Here are some of the things she did that I try to do, too.

1. Invite people of different ages and backgrounds to make conversation more interesting.

2. Send invites (or save-the-dates) at least two weeks in advance.

3. Do as much in advance as possible (setting the table, prepping the food).

4. Decorate with fresh flowers and unscented candles.

5. Have a fully stocked bar, as well as lots of ice and sweet tea, and both red and white wine for cocktail hour and dinner. Keep everyone’s glasses full.

6. Serve dinner about one hour after the start time on the invitation.

7. Put on Louis Prima or Ella Fitzgerald and let the party begin!

Dinner parties usually follow a predictable arc. As everyone eats and talks and drinks, they get more enthusiastic and louder. Then people start getting tired, and usually the whole thing is wrapped up by 11:30 p.m. or midnight.

Ideally, that is. I’ve found that sometimes it’s hard, especially when it’s a fun party, to get people to know when to call it a night. Once I invited a couple I didn’t know very well over for a brunch party with eight or so people. We had a lovely time. At around 2 p.m., everyone had gone except that one couple. They wanted to swim. Why not? Sure! So they stayed and swam. Then it was late afternoon, and they asked, “Do you have anything we can eat?”

Bold move, but not problem. I put out snacks. Snacks turned into dinner. Dinner turned into after-dinner drinks. I began to think ‘What do I do?’ They were very nice. But I started to think, These people are never going to leave. Maybe they just live with me now.’

It had been a really fun day. But I hadn’t planned on those last several hours. I had to make dinner out of nothing. Fortunately, I found some chicken and sausages and vegetables in the fridge and roasted all that together the way a girlfriend taught me. You end up with a lot of food, and you can just serve a salad with it.

Dorothea’s Seven Guest Tips

1. RSVP promptly. Everyone’s time is valuable, and it’s no joke to organize a party.

2. When in doubt about how fancy it is, dress up. Better overdressed than underdressed!

3. Bring something. You can’t go wrong with a bottle of wine.

4. Introduce yourself to everyone you meet—first and last name, please—even if you think they should know you already. And try to talk to everyone, especially anyone who seems a little lost or left out.

5. Offer to help the hosts carry trays, set out water, clear, or whatever else needs doing. Even if she says no, it’s nice to offer.

6. Leave at a reasonable hour. Never be the last person to leave a party. This is hard for southern ladies, because we’re taught to shake everyone’s hand and wish them a warm goodbye and thank them for the delicious meal and say how fun it was to see them and so on and so forth . . . It’s like the opposite of what they call an Irish goodbye or French exit. A proper southern goodbye can take hours.

7. To show you appreciate the hospitality, send a quick, genuine thank-you the next day—by phone, email, or, even better, handwritten note—and offer to reciprocate!

Happy Dining! Love, Charlotte

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sheetaltravelblog · 3 years

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Places To Visit in Chandigarh To Try The Best Foods.

Chandigarh. As you drive into Chandigarh, you can't resist agreeing on the fact Chandigarh is the best city in India. Chandigarh has wide streets covered by a cover of trees. The city has many yards as well as parks, and lovely homes on every edge, each special in design. It is without a doubt a refreshing modification. No crowded roadways packed with all sorts of noisy lorries as well as people. Chandigarh is a new-age city and that is very apparent because the style defends it. Swiss-French architects who developed the city themed it around a living organism in which the federal government building stands for the mind of the city. Sector-17 as the heart for it is the bustling hub with shopping malls, resorts, restaurants, and also bars; the various gardens are the lungs; so on, etc. Each sector in Chandigarh is well-planned and also fully equipped, catering to the needs of individuals. Make sure you take a while to tour to see the Open Hand Monolith, symbolic of the city. It is the representation of peace consistency and unity amongst the human race. Places To Hangout in Chandigarh for foddie persons. When it comes to the cooking scene, there are some sensational restaurants and also coffee shops serving fascinating. Well, Chandigarh has the best places. Basic yet so elegant, the beauty of Chandigarh city is sure to leave a deep impact on you. If you have an eye for art as well as aesthetics the city will surprise you. Having said so, there are also numerous little restaurants serving rustic yet definitely delicious regional food in Chandigarh. It has places where you would not mind sitting at a roadside table to explore butter leaking paranthas as well as hot tikkas. Right here's a roundup of our preferred areas to take pleasure in a meal while checking out the union region. Here's the list of some best bakeries and restaurants in Chandigarh. 1. Nik Baker's. With a comprehensive series of pastries and cakes for those who love baked deals. This is a must-visit place in Chandigarh. You can drop by for a fast nibble or have a hearty meal of burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and also pasta. They serve all-day breakfast and their waffles, pancakes as well as croissants are delicious. The Mutton Cheese Burger here is extremely recommended. Besides, you must try brownies, cheese straws as well as tequila-loaded handcrafted chocolates. 2. Whistling Duck. If you love huge spaces, adequate sunshine, and also area tables. Well, then Whistling Duck in Chandigarh is the best alternative, specifically for Sunday breakfast. The menu includes gyozas, gnocchi, pork chops, and also hamburgers to malai tikkas as well as keema pav. The Rendang Curry and also Burgers deserve an attempt as well. 3. Hops n Grains. The internal brews the very first microbrewery in Chandigarh city. The place from the outside may appear normal but as you step in the stylish interior. And not to mention the ambiance of the place will drop down your jaw. The menu uses a variety of finger foods varying from global standards to desi favorites. It has Beer Batter Prawns, Buffalo Poultry Wings, Amritsari Fish, Tandoori Bharwan Aloo, Seekh Kebabs, Nachos, Mezze Platters, etc. 3.Virgin Courtyard. The quirky design at Virgin Yard, Chandigarh; is the best place if you wanna experience the Mediterranean style. The eccentric layout components and also artifacts are the charm of the area. Some recipes that are worth trying here. Try Merlot Hen Risotto, Stove Roasted Pork Loin, Mustard Cheddar Crusted Sole, Pasta Aglio Olio, and also the pizzas. Yet what you absolutely can not miss is the tiramisu. It is outstanding with the perfect blend of coffee, cream, and sugar. 4.Backpacker's COFFEE SHOP. This little café in Chandigarh is the place to head to for a hearty breakfast. It is mainly thronged by immigrants. You can start your day with Bangers and also Mash, or Accelerators. It is a stack of cinnamon as well as raisin pancakes doused in syrup. The omelets here are scrumptious and also they come with a variety of dental fillings. The food selection likewise includes Quiche Lorraine, Cheesy Lamb Burgers, Club Sandwiches as well as barbequed dishes. 5.Monica's. This enchanting bakeshop in Chandigarh might fool you with its dimension, yet it provides some incredible cakes and pastries. It is just one of the earliest in the area, and also has a faithful following. The dual chocolate, apple walnut, dark cherry, as well as opera cakes are favorites. Yet it is the Mud Cake (a delicious chocolate enthusiast's reward) that you have to attempt. The dark delicious chocolate cake layered with abundant delicious chocolate ganache is difficult to withstand. Inquire to heat the piece before offering it to you for liquified decadence. 6.Pal Dhaba. Among one of the most preferred neighborhood restaurants; the Pal Dhaba stands for simple Friend Dhaba in Chandigarh city. In the very same location, they have three various dining sections, the roadside sit-outs being most sought after. We attempted the Aloo Paratha and also Butter Roti, which came trickling in desi Makhan. And also combined them with Kadai Paneer, Dal Makhani, Rogan Josh, and also Keema Kaleji. The recipes right here are aromatic and lip-smacking good; not surprising that they are so famous! 7.The Willow COFFEE SHOP. The Willow Coffee Shop in Chandigarh is the best choice for a wacky eatery. It is a prominent option to order a fast lunch or satisfy some close friends over coffee. The place's interior is a joyful color combination. The menu offers an intriguing choice of recipes, from all-day morning meals to pasta and also grills. The food here is home-style and also tasty. 8.Brooklyn Central. The NYC-style resto-bar lies in the yard at Elante Shopping center, Chandigarh. This American-style resto-bar is popular with the locals. It has a cozy area to spend time with buddies for a beverage or an enjoyable lunch. The open cooking area is beautiful. What deserves an attempt? Cinnamon French Toast, Brooklyn's Pancakes as well as Waffles, All American Corn Chowder Soup, Hearty Gumbo Soup, hotdogs, and grills. The menu includes varieties of meals from across the globe in case your mind cannot decide. The alcoholic drinks right here are worth attempting. The bartenders enjoy shocking something special for you. 10.Swagat Dining Establishment and Bar. Swagat Dining Establishment and Bar in Chandigarh. It is a sophisticated dining establishment that serves North Indian, South Indian, and also Chinese. Although they are widely understood for their Coastal Mangalorean fare. A few of the must-tries include Koliwada Prawns, Poultry 65, Mangalorean Gassi, Malabari Fish Curry, Hen Ghee Roast, Mutton Sukka, Chettinad Biryani, appam as well as Ceylon Parottas. Read the full article

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easyfoodnetwork · 4 years

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11 Useful Items to Keep Hidden Away in Your Freezer

Frozen mixed berries | CLICKMANIS/Shutterstock

From cooking fat to freezer cake, these are the items that make cooking easier for Eater editors

For active home cooks or even those who generally dread the task, the freezer deserves credit for helping get dinner (or dessert) on the table. It’s a place that offers a wealth of shortcut meals and snacks, from exceptional frozen dumplings to nostalgic treats like tater tots. Frozen ingredients like chicken stock or marinara sauce can get a home cook most of the way to a finished meal. As long as people know the best way to store and defrost their freezer items, whether they’re cuts of meat or bagels, a freezer is undeniably an indispensable tool, during a pandemic and otherwise.

Here’s a roundup of the useful items Eater editors are most likely to keep hidden away in their freezers.

Cooking fat: Meat isn’t an everyday item in our house, so when we do cook with it, my partner and I like to save every last bit. That means saving the fat. Grease is one of those pesky residuals of cooking that’s harder to dispose of. It really shouldn’t go directly down the drain. Some people wait for it to cool in a container and then pour it in the garbage. However, I recommend saving that flavor. When you cook chicken, duck, bacon, or anything else particularly precious and tasty, save the drippings in a glass container and stick it in the freezer. Then use it in place of butter or oil in your cooking to impart more flavor. Duck fat is particularly tasty for cooking fried eggs at breakfast time. —Brenna Houck, Eater Detroit editor

Ice cube tray and ice cubes: The most important items in my freezer are my two ice cube trays and the ice they hold. Since shelter-in-place has coincided with my pregnancy, I’m drinking a lot of non-alcoholic beverages, each of which is greatly improved by being even colder. I make cheater iced almond milk lattes by stirring drip coffee with ice and then adding more ice and almond milk. I cool down cups of herbal tea I discover I’ve left on the counter and enjoy iced tea. I drink so much more tap water when I remember to put ice cubes in it. The trick: Refill your tray with water every time you take cubes from it. Just make it part of your routine and it’s never empty. —Hillary Dixler Canavan, restaurant editor

Frozen fruit: My biggest freezer staple is frozen fruit, mostly because I love a good smoothie. Great for breakfast or anytime you feel like you need a Vitamin C boost, the secret to a thick, filling smoothie is to use a fresh banana and frozen fruit without adding ice. I just buy the bags frozen from my local grocery store (even tropical fruits like pitaya are now pretty easy to find), but this is also a great way to store those final few strawberries before they go bad. Other uses of fruit in your freezer: cocktail ingredients, drink garnishes, a snack (especially frozen mango). —Erin Russell, Eater Austin associate editor

Dino nuggets: Why eat boring chicken nuggets when you can eat chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs? It may be childish, but I will never stop getting a kick out of dino nuggets. It’s an easy lunch on a hectic day; just toss them in the toaster oven. Flip once. I guess you could make a side salad if you’re feeling fancy. But the only required side, as far as I’m concerned, is a dipping sauce — ideally barbecue sauce from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que because (a) it’s good and (b) obviously dino nuggets go best with Dino sauce. —Rachel Leah Blumenthal, Eater Boston editor

Homemade gumbo: Gumbo is one of my favorite meals to make at home, but let’s be real; it’s a project, a cooking task that’s going to clock in at a couple hours before it’s done. Luckily, since there are only two of us at home, making gumbo always means gumbo leftovers, and I don’t think there’s a more satisfying freezer meal for me than a bowl of gumbo that I simply pulled out of the freezer (stored in a quart container) to defrost the night before in the fridge, and reheated for dinner that evening. Gumbo doesn’t really deteriorate significantly in the freezer; all you have to do is throw some rice in the rice cooker, and you have an easy weeknight dinner that totally makes up for all the effort you initially put into making a roux, simmering your ingredients, and just having patience for the gumbo to finish the first time around. —Missy Frederick, cities director

Frozen dinners from mom: Being far away from my family is hard, especially now that I don’t really know when I can safely go back home to New York. Thankfully, I usually have deep-frozen containers of my mother’s home-cooking in my freezer, from my last visit home. Whenever I fly home, my mother usually asks me what foods I want to bring back (my favorites: shrimp and potol, a Bengali pointed gourd; chicken with squash), along with biryani. My mom batch-cooks everything and my dad portions out the food into 16-ounce deli containers, labels each one, and carefully packs everything into a disposable cooler with ice packs, ready to be placed in my overstuffed suitcase. This way, I can hold onto tastes of home even though it’s 1,700+ miles away. —Nadia Chaudhury, Eater Austin editor

Banana ice cream: Forget cookies and cream or chocolate chip cookie dough. Banana is the best ice cream flavor, and I make sure to keep a half-gallon in my freezer at all times. Living in Newark, I’m lucky to be within walking distance of the scoop shop that makes it best: Nasto’s. I have three scoops after dinner every night, always with a drizzle of chocolate syrup, and it’s pure bliss. I understand that ice cream isn’t the most exciting thing in a freezer compared to frozen dumplings or mochi, but the flavor takes me back to sitting on my late grandmother’s balcony in Ankara, where we would split a bowl of fruit — mostly bananas — together. —Esra Erol, senior social media manager

Freezer cake: I don’t remember what life was like before I discovered Freezer Cake. I don’t care to look back on that era. There’s something special about knowing a slice of banana upside-down cake or a thick slab of banana bread is waiting there, whispering my name gently from the back corner of the freezer. In these not-very-sweet times, being able to eat a slice of cake without ever cracking an egg or dirtying a bowl feels like a victory. All you need to do is let whatever cake you’ve so wisely frozen defrost slowly on the counter. Because sometimes turning on the oven is just too much work. —Elazar Sontag, staff writer

Stock: The one thing I always try to have in my freezer is stock. Usually it’s chicken stock, either made from the carcass of a roast chicken or from a big pile of chicken wings I dumped in my Instant Pot, because so many recipes call for it, whether a little bit to help finish a sauce or several cups to make a soup or stew. Homemade stock tastes noticeably better, and since it’s easy to keep in the freezer, making up a big batch doesn’t risk any going to waste. To freeze stock, I measure it out into plastic baggies in rough one or two cup amounts, using a ladle with a half-cup measure on it, and then lie them flat in the freezer one on top of the other, so when they harden, they’re easy to stack. When I need to defrost, I zap a frozen bag for 30 seconds or a minute in the microwave and break off roughly as much as I need, or drop the whole cup or two into the pot. I have endured the shame of throwing out all sorts of things from my freezer, but I have never, ever wasted stock. —Meghan McCarron, special correspondent

Homemade pesto: My frozen secret weapon is an ice cube tray full of homemade pesto. Pesto sauce, to me, is a special thing. Basil is a precious, flavorful commodity that seems expensive if you don’t have a farmers market nearby, and it doesn’t stay for very long either. Pine nuts are also quite pricey, so when I do make a big batch from scratch, I make sure to make it last. Pesto is so flavorful that you don’t need to use a lot for any single dish. That’s where the ice cube tray comes in. Filling a tray with pesto and freezing it into cubes is a trick I learned long ago when Pinterest was new on the scene and basically church for those interested in recipe ideas and hacks. Popping out one or two cubes of pesto as needed is a great way to make use of the sauce you may have made months ago when basil was in season, without having to defrost an entire Tupperware. It’s such an easy and fast way to add flavor to a quick pasta dish, some beans, a sandwich of any kind, and even to make into a vinaigrette for a salad on the fly. —Terri Ciccone, audience development manager

Salted caramel ice cream: If it’s freezer junk food you seek, I present Lotus Biscoff Salted Caramel Ice Cream, something I started hoarding during the pandemic. I swear it’s the softest ice cream I’ve ever found. The instructions even recommend leaving it out for five minutes to soften before you dig in. There is a straight Biscoff cookie version, but I like the salted caramel mixed in. I buy it at Target, and do a search before I venture out to make sure it’s in stock. —Susan Stapleton, Eater Vegas editor

Honorable mentions: Fresh herbs frozen in ice cube trays, bags of pre-peeled garlic, brownies, Eggo waffles, tortellini, peas, pierogis, homemade marinara sauce, cooked beans, rice cakes for stir fries, cookie dough.

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Frozen mixed berries | CLICKMANIS/Shutterstock

From cooking fat to freezer cake, these are the items that make cooking easier for Eater editors

Here’s a roundup of the useful items Eater editors are most likely to keep hidden away in their freezers.

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snaphappyshoots · 4 years

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I left you tantalisingly in A Musical Journey (Part 2) as I was venturing to my first “Rock Festival” – aged 17 years and 6 months of age!

Into The Music..

We set off for Bath in the College bus on the Friday afternoon. The bus was full and not the most comfortable. It was packed with a mix of mainly older “heads” (long hair, denim, scraggly beards, hip and aware of the benefits of marijuana) and us three….the straightest and most naive people there…apart from our driver, who I think was called Bill. The poor sod had to do the full journey on his own. He was very old – about 40!! – and definitely NOT a “head”. But credit to him for putting up with us. The journey took forever and all I can really remember is a guy in the seat opposite having one of those early Philips Cassette players and one tape “Gris-Gris” by Dr John The Night Tripper which he played over and over again until his batteries started to die out and the music became slower and slower…and what (to me) was already pretty scary stuff about zombies, voodoo and the like became even more nightmareish as darkness fell. I love the album now…but whenever I hear the opening track it takes me right back to that bus 50 years ago!

Dr John – Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya Listen for yourself (Imagine you are in a dark bus at 2am!)

The only other points of note were buying a bottle of non-alcoholic beer at a service station and being stuck in the longest traffic jam when we hit the outskirts of Shepton Mallet where the festival was being held. We also picked up a few hippy hitchhikers who squatted in the aisle as we threaded our way towards the campsite parking.

Buses Coming In (Photo Jeff Culpit)

There were around 100,000 people at the Festival (this was the year after Woodstock and the Isle Of Wight Festivals) There were terrible traffic jams and artists couldn’t get in to perform. The organisers had provided tents free of charge…which were needed. Being a music Festival..it rained on and off!

The three of us jumped off the bus and headed with the throngs towards the stage area. We got a good spot….but I think it started to rain…so we headed towards the tents.

Tents (Photo Jeff Culpit)

We set out our sleeping bags…and got out a deck of cards to play whist or some such. All at once two guys dived into the tent and asked if they “could crash here?”. In the spirit of hippyness and peace and love we of course said “Yeah Man..cool”.

Then another hippy stuck his head in the tent and asked the (to us bizzare) question ” has anyone got any shit?”. Now Eric was a right sarkie bugger and said “not yet but will have one later!” But to our astonishment one of our new tent mates said yes, pulled a foil wrapped bag out of his pocket and started to cut the green lump into sections with a knife….ON MY SLEEPING BAG! At this point our hippy vocabulary increased 100 fold and we realised we were in the middle of a drug deal!! The horrors!! We looked at each other and in the vernacular of the time, we grabbed our stuff and split!

We went back to the bus…(which is where my Pass Out ticket came from) and left our sleeping bags etc and headed back to the main stage area to await the start of the music.

Now I will be honest some of the next bit is very hazy….it was 50 years ago for God’s sake…and I can mix things up. I did write down my thoughts next to that “pass out” ticket 2/3 years afterwards in my Ticket Book. There is also a terrific website with a ton of information and photographs (where I sourced many on here from) about the 1970 Bath Festival here The Bath festival Of Blues and Progressive Music well worth a look for anyone interested.

This is the page from my “diary”

The first few paragraphs relay most of what I have typed above. But on the music This is what I had written:-

Fairport Convention – Good

Flock – Good

Maynard Ferguson – Ugh! (Sorry Maynard…I just was not into Jazz in 1970)

It’s A Beautiful Day – Good

Colleseum – Great – Except for J Hiseman’s 40 min drum solo (I’ve never been a fan of them..who is??)

Johnny Winter – Good but fell asleep. (me not Johnny Winter.). Edgar Winter O.D. on the drums ( now this is just not true! I heard it from someone at the time on the bus journey back..and to be seen as “cool” I repeated it. But it’s a bit problematic..Edgar Winter didn’t play drums and wasn’t in the band at that point!!)

Steppenwolf – Good but again fell asleep (all the bands were running very late!) Hell Of a version of Born to Be Wild. (Actually the only song I would recognise!

Pink Floyd – Lights Were Fantastic – fell asleep (Says a lot about the music!)

Canned Heat – Played for three and a half hours but I didnt hear them. At this point I gave in and headed for the bus where I could get some proper sleep away from the noise. I then realised our bus driver spent most of the weekend asleep in the luggage Bay of the bus!

Sunday am “Diary” continues

Now’t happening cos’ none of the acts can get in because of traffic jams. Surprise! Donovan however turns up (not supposed to) and played all his favourite raves – drags a bit after 3 hours!! Eventually Frank Zappa & Mothers Of Invention get on stage. We hear two songs then we have to go, bus driver has to be back for Monday!

We didn’t miss much..just Led Zeppelin, Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane, Dr John, Country Joe McDonald. The Moody Blues were due to play…but it rained really heavily after Led Zeppelin so they couldn’t go on. We were virtually home by this point.

I’m not sure if I saw The Byrds or not? I think I did..but my memory could be playing tricks.

I arrived home at about 7 am.but had to be back at college for an exam on the afternoon. I made it and actually passed!

Eric, Paul & I “dined out” on being at Bath for weeks afterwards. Anyone who knows me will say I STILL dine out on it! I tend to lie and say I saw all of the bands!! But what the experience gave me was a never ending love affair with Blues & Progressive Music which perseveres to this day. From this point on I was a “head” as Danny Baker calls us. I bought albums to carry tucked under my arm to show off how “cool” I was…I started to go to gigs as often as I could. I had found a spiritual home.