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| VAMPY summer camp celebrates its 25th year Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:42:09 -0500 A three-week summer camp at Western Kentucky University is giving academically talented middle school students opportunities for advanced learning for the 25th year. |
| Pharmacy returns to historic building Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:01:22 -0500 More than two years after the only pharmacy in Smiths Grove closed, residents will again have a pharmacy in the same location. |
| Errors plague water reports Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:01:27 -0500 Nearly all the region’s drinking water systems had some violations reported in the state’s Annual Compliance Report released this month. |
| Community center plans put on hold by city cuts Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:01:36 -0500 Neighborhood groups will have to wait a few more years to have a common meeting place of their own. |
| Youngster works to fight cancer at lemonade stand Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:02:05 -0500 This Saturday, a glass of lemonade to beat the heat won’t be too far away, no matter where you are. |
| DESA to announce the addition of hundreds of jobs Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:02:06 -0500 Bowling Green’s DESA Heating Products is scheduled to announce Tuesday the addition of several hundred jobs at a news conference with Gov. Steve Beshear. |
| Cool fun Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:02:06 -0500 Ashley Moore and her friends bought a “Slip ‘n Slide” and spent the afternoon playing in water. |
| POLICE NEWS Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:02:09 -0500 A mobile methamphetamine laboratory crashed Wednesday in Allen County, closing an intersection for about five hours. |
| Saving the best for last Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:30 -0500 Teams will go hunting this weekend during the fourth Vettetastic Treasure Hunt for this year. The free hunt will be from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday. Teams are to meet at Houchens Market parking lot on Louisville Road to get the rules and location of where they are to start the hunt before 7 a.m. Teams will then go to each of the 12 mini 1957 Corvettes, which were created by various artists, scattered around Bowling Green and pick up clues. There are three age categories - ages 3-6, ages 7-12 and ages 13 and up. Each group does something different with the cars, Vettetastic project coordinator Sharon Durie said. Teams go back to Houchens at noon or when they finish finding clues. Prizes include fitness packages, amusement park tickets, gift cards and skate passes. “This is the last (treasure hunt) for this year,” she said. “The cars come off display July 16.” Proceeds from the Vettetastic events - which include an upcoming party and auction - benefit the American Red Cross. Craig Fleck of Memphis, who designed the first of the mini Corvettes and the Vettetastic logo for the public art project, said he has enjoyed helping the Red Cross in “Racing Into the Future,” which is the title of his contribution to the event. His piece - red with white racing stripes and the Vettetastic logo on it - is displayed at the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. “I thought it was a good way to help the Red Cross. It’s for a great cause,” he said. “Being a ’Vette owner myself, it was a nostalgia piece. (My wife, Cathy,) made a car cover for it. We come to Bowling Green for shows quite a bit.” The businesses where the mini-Corvettes are being displayed have also enjoyed being part of Vettetastic. Gail Kelley, deposit development representative at Integra Bank, said it made sense to be part of the event. Its car - called “Unbridled Spirit” - was designed by students at Logan County High School and has various scenes from across Kentucky, including Churchill Downs and Lost River Cave. It sits at the bank’s Campbell Lane branch. “Bowling Green is home to the Corvette,” she said. “This event helps us support the Red Cross. It’s a great cause we need to get behind.” Culver’s Restaurant owner Don Durflinger said the restaurant’s “Splitmobile” was designed by Drakes Creek Middle School art teacher Kim Soule and painted by two Culver’s employees - Kelsey Tyler and Danielle Kitchen. The car has many of the features of a banana split, including blue sides and wheels that represent the bowl and yellow frames down each side that represent the banana. Strawberries, caramel, fudge, pecans, whipped cream and a cherry are also represented on the car. “We did it in my basement. Kelsey’s mom came and helped,” he said. “Culver’s is a national partner with the American Red Cross, so it was a good fit for us.” Upcoming Vettetastic events include: |
| Bring on the Mule Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:33 -0500 WDNS-FM D93 is bringing Gov’t Mule, a splinter group made up of former members of The Allman Brothers, to Bowling Green. The band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Arts Center. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Capitol. Gov’t Mule is one of the most-requested bands on D93, WDNS program director Bryan Locke said. “Their musical heritage is evident in their sound, thus being very popular with our listeners. Their blend of blues, rock, funk, progressive, even fusion music sounds right at home alongside classic rock staples like Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd,” he said. The band is coming to Bowling Green because of an open date between performances in West Virginia and Chicago, Locke, said. When Locke learned of the open date, he talked with WDNS general manager Alan Cooper about getting in touch with the band’s personal manager, Stefani Scamardo. “I contacted their personal manager immediately in early June and said ‘Hey, if there’s anything we can do to make a date happen here for your fans in Kentucky, just give me a call,’ ” he said. “I heard nothing for three weeks and really didn’t expect anything as time was winding down. Finally, about two weeks ago, they contacted me and said ‘Sure, let’s make this thing happen.’ ” A lot of people have pulled together to make the concert happen on short notice, Locke said. “D93 is in the radio business, accustomed to promotion, but not producing and putting together the teams of people required to do a full-scale rock show,” he said. “We are particularly blessed to have so many talented people in southcentral Kentucky who have teamed with us to help pull this off.” The Gov’t Mule concert is all about D93’s listeners, Locke said. “They are truly the personality of this radio station. That’s why it is so unique,” he said. |
| Area blues scene finds a home on small screen Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:38 -0500 The Kentucky Blues Society will debut its new show, “Kentucky Blues TV,” at 6:30 p.m. tonight on Insight Cable Channel 5. “Kentucky has had tremendous people in the industry who have changed the world’s music,” Blues Society member Kenny Lee Smith said. “We’re hoping the show will help make it more accessible to people.” The 30-minute program, hosted by former professional wrestler Jim “Hillbilly Jim” Morris, will feature a segment called “Kentucky Blues History Corner,” sponsored by Bluegrass Cellular. The segment is part of the Blues Society’s Blues in the Schools, an international program created by the Blues Foundation, parent organization of the Kentucky Blues Society. The program helps provide music education, history and performances to southcentral Kentucky school groups. Louisville’s Sylvester Weaver, thought to be the first person in the world to make a blues guitar recording (in 1923), will be the subject of the first segment, Smith said. “In all, we’ll have 20 video segments on important Kentuckians in music. The host of that segment is (Blues Society member) Andy Stahl,” he said. “We try to get the children involved in the music and talk about history.” “Kentucky Blues TV” will also have live music segments, featuring artists like Lil’ Dave Thompson of Greenville, Miss., and The Beat Daddys’ lead guitarist Tommy Stillwell of Clover Port while he was performing locally at Utley’s Bar and Grill. A variety of segments will feature local Blues Society members, including the debut of 13-year-old guitarist Aaron Holder of Scottsville. “We’ve been working with Insight to get a quality program. Our mission as the Blues Society is to spread the word (about the blues),” Smith said. “This is a continuation of that.” The segments are already available online at www.kybluestv.com, Smith said - the group decided to put them on television because it will reach more people. “The segments on TV are a little shorter,” he said. “Television is the way most people get their access to anything. The Internet is going more toward video.” The group has big plans for the show, Smith said. “We will put it around the state on channels that Insight covers. We’re also working on getting it in Nashville,” he said. “We’re planning DVDs for the schools and libraries in the state so it can be an ongoing thing that people can access. We’re talking to local business about advertising. We just want enough to broadcast the program.” The show will air at 6:30 p.m. each Thursday, but it may be a few weeks before the second episode airs, Smith said. “We’re putting together things for our next several episodes. We want to let people see it and get feedback. We’ll learn more as people react to it,” he said. “We hope to have continuing episodes. Our effort is to reach more people and get them aware of and involved in Kentucky’s great musical output - past, present and future.” |
| ‘Kittredge’ simply delightful Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:48 -0500 hile films like “Hancock,” “Wanted” and “WALL-E” have exploded into theaters, a small film aimed for young girls titled “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” has managed to slip into multiplexes virtually unnoticed. “Kittredge” may lack the fanfare (and box office receipts) of its fellow films, but it proves to be an interesting experience that should please its target audience. Based on a popular doll line known as the American Girl (who knew?), the film tells the story of Kit Kittredge (Abigail Breslin from “Little Miss Sunshine”), a young girl living in Cincinnati at the start of the Great Depression who wants nothing more than to be a reporter for the local paper. But Kit’s dreams and aspirations are abruptly interrupted when her father (Chris O’Donell) loses his car dealership and heads to Chicago to try to find work. That leaves Kit and her mother (Julia Ormond) left to manage on their own - opening their home to an assortment of boarders that includes a free-spirited dancer (Jane Krakowski), a magician (Stanley Tucci) and a mobile librarian (Joan Cusack). At first, the arrangement appears to be enough to keep Kit’s family above water financially, but when Kit’s mom and the boarders become the latest victims in a series of robberies, Kit and her friends set out to track down the culprit and recover the stolen money. I’m not exactly sure what studio executive thought a kids’ movie aimed at girls set in the Depression Era would be a box office success, but that doesn’t mean “Kittredge” doesn’t succeed artistically. Breslin is a spunky young actress who is a perfect fit for the free-spirited Kit. Tucci, Cusack and Wallace Shawn, as a newspaper editor, are just a few members of a quality ensemble cast that doesn’t try to play down to its audience. Director Patricia Rozema, whose previous work includes the Jane Austen adaptation “Mansfield Park,” has a keen eye for the period and does a nice job of recreating an era that the target audience probably knows little about. I’m not sure if this is a film that will interest anyone who isn’t a girl age 13 or under, but it certainly won’t bore anyone else tagging along. With “Hannah Montana” already a hit and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” sequel about to make its way into theaters, 2008 is proving to be a year to remember for the Girl Power generation. DVD dandy of the week This week’s dandy is the 20th anniversary special edition of the cult classic “Heathers” (A), the dark comedy from the late ’80s that has become the standard for current hits like “Mean Girls.” Winona Ryder plays Veronica, a high school girl who has half-heartedly become part of the in-crowd, even though she hates everyone within the clique. When Veronica starts dating J.D. (Christian Slater), a mysterious newcomer, the couple decide the best way to get Veronica out of her social predicament is to kill her friends and make the deaths look like suicides. But the plan backfires when the dead students become more popular than ever - leaving Veronica frustrated and furious. I remember first seeing this film as a high school senior, marveling in how dark and funny it was - using an extreme to show just how cruel high school can be. Fortunately, the film has gotten funnier since its initial release. Ryder and Slater are both in peak form, while Shannen Doherty has a good role as one of the Heathers in the clique. Written by Daniel Waters, “Heathers” is full of one-liners (many of which can’t be printed in this publication) that are still quoted today. Some of the jokes are very un-PC (including a pop song titled “Teenage Suicide: Don’t Do it” that becomes the rallying cry of the community), but that is part of the charm of this wickedly funny film. “Heathers” is definitely not for everyone, but if you like your laughs dark then this is a must for your DVD collection. “Heathers” is rated R for language, violence and sexual situations and the 20th anniversary special edition is now available on DVD. — Like “Heathers,” he’s definitely not for everyone ... but if he’s for you and you’re for him, feel free to contact sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton by e-mailing mcompton@bgdailynews.com |
| Evening park concerts begin Friday Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:54 -0500 The Downtown Redevelopment Authority and BB&T are kicking off the first of their double headliner Friday night concerts at Fountain Square and Circus Square parks. The free concerts - which will have concessions and children’s activities - will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Friday through Aug. 1. Friday’s performance will feature the rhythm and blues and rock sounds of Black Velvet at Fountain Square Park and the blues and rock of Ernie Small Blues Band at Circus Square Park. Artists will also be set up at Fountain Square Park. “With the (Circus Square) in place, we thought it was a good time to expand,” DRA assistant director Heather Age said. “We wanted to take advantage of the new facility.” Concerts at Fountain Square Park typically draw between 4,000 and 7,000 people, Age said. “In Fountain Square, it gets a little bit crowded,” she said. “We wanted to give people a little more room and a little more options.” — For more information, call the DRA office at 782-0222. Concert schedule The following is a schedule of upcoming Concerts in the Park performances: July 18 Andrea Tanaro and the Optional Italian Buffet, rhythm and blues and funk, Fountain Square Park Exit 4, classic rock and favorites, Circus Square Park July 25 Interface, rock, Fountain Square Park Blue Light Special, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s rock, Circus Square Park Aug. 1 Rob McNurlin and the Beatnik Cowboys, eclectic folk, Fountain Square Park Skip Bond and the Fugitives, rock and blues, at Circus Square Park |
| BG’s Quiznos gone, but definitely not forgotten Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:55 -0500 Does anyone else miss the Quiznos Sub that used to be in Bowling Green? On a recent trip to Glasgow it was a case of you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, when my dining companion and I lunched on the patio at the Quiznos across from the movie theaters in Glasgow. Of course, this patio is like many, with just a few tables on the sidewalk outside the restaurant, but we were able to create a little inspired ambiance by turning the music on in our nearby car. Inspired, too, is the menu. In my experience that day, Quiznos was a chain-style sandwich shop with local ownership flair and abundant menu fair. To begin with, Quiznos has some new, one-of-a-kind sandwiches called flatbread sammies. This is a variety of unique meats like chicken cantina, roadhouse steak and Sonoma turkey served between a round piece of flat bread. My dining companion ordered the chicken cantina, which is chicken in a honey bourbon mustard sauce with tomatoes and onions. It was small, but even so, he finished it in record time it was so good. Also in the flatbread category are chopped salads served with flat bread. There are five types and it was hard to choose just one for me and my dining companion to share. I went with the black and bleu, which is a black angus steak with bleu cheese, tomatoes and red onions. It was acceptable, but not the ideal salad for a sandwich shop to do well. Next time, I may order the raspberry chipotle chicken and hope for the best. A cup of the chili turned out to be exceptional for a sandwich shop. Hearty red beans and chunks of beef, tomato and onion made this chili like homemade. It was a little on the spicy side, but the well-made sweet tea was a helpful balancer from time to time. Finally, I had a regular chicken sub on whole wheat bread. The chicken carbonara is a delicious blend of chicken strips, bacon and mozzarella cheese all in a creamy bacon alfredo sauce. There was an abundance of meat in each sandwich and my choice of vegetables, including a pepper and sauce bar near the soft drinks. So, as sandwich shops go, Quiznos in Glasgow has variety, abundance, value and a new, clean environment. If we closed our eyes while listening to the music, we could have been in any of the sandwiches places we’ve visited coast to coast - we wouldn’t have had to miss something that had slipped away from our hometown. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff @bgdailynews.com. |
| ‘Robin Hood’ auditions to be held July 21 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:56 -0500 The Russellville Arts Council and the Montana-based Missoula Children’s Theater will audition children ages 7 through 18 for an upcoming production of “Robin Hood.” The auditions will be at 10 a.m. July 21 at deGraffenreid Auditorium. Rehearsals will be throughout the week followed by the play at 7 p.m. July 25 and 2 p.m. July 26. — For more information, call the Russellville Arts Council at (270) 726-1303 or e-mail pizzazz onmainstreet@yahoo.com. |
| Expo Center will present horse show Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:59 -0500 The Rocky Mountain Horse Association Kentucky Heritage Championship and Show and Kentucky State Championship will be at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday at Western Kentucky University’s L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center. Entry fee is $30 for regular classes and $40 for championship. A Rocky Mountain sanctioned class “A” show, the event will feature a variety of classes, including halter and under saddle. — For more information, call the Ag Expo Center at 745-3976. |
| Around town Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:25:06 -0500 Art An artists reception will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Arts Center. Artists include Jesse Ray Sims, George Vitorvich and Heath Seymour. Green River Museum in Woodbury will be open Saturdays through September from noon until 4 p.m. The museum features exhibits from around Butler County and the Green River. VSA arts of Kentucky will feature The Final Destination through Aug. 29 at its gallery, 515 E. 10th Ave. A reception will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 8 in conjunction with the Gallery Hop. The Capitol Arts Center’s Houchens Gallery will feature the exhibit “The Current Landscape: II,” paintings and mixed media works by Jesse Ray Sims, George Vitorovich and Heath Seymour until July 22. An artists’ reception will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. The exhibit is being sponsored by Southern Recycling. The Mezzanine Gallery at the Capitol Arts will display paintings by Brandon Harrod through July 22. The Capitol Arts galleries are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The galleries and the reception are free and open to the public. Myra Renee Dwyer’s paintings will be in the classroom of the Health & Wellness Center at Greenwood Mall through September. Teresa Christmas is showing her paintings through Monday at the Cancer Center of The Medical Center. The paintings of Peg Truman will be on display there beginning Tuesday. The Presbyterian Church Art Board will exhibit “Jodi With an Eye” through July 25. The exhibit features the work of two Nashville artists, Jodi Reeves and Jodi Belinda Yandell. The exhibit may be viewed in the Fellowship Hall, 10th Avenue entrance, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Art from Angela Kuprion, Marion Parcusta and Allison Bacovillard is on display at the Capitol Arts Center. VSA arts of Kentucky will present a joint exhibition by two of its registry artists, Lexington artist Lanny Taulbee and Bowling Green artist Pamela Tingle, until Friday. VSA’s gallery is at 515 E. 10th Ave. Campus Two of Memphis Marsha’s artists, Marsha Heidbrink of Alvaton and Michaele Ann Harper of New Orleans, will be exhibiting art in Western Kentucky University’s Gallery on the second floor of Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center. The group exhibition is a result of a recent trip by Western faculty, alumni, current art students and friends to France in June. Photographs taken by various members of the group will be displayed during the exhibition. The exhibit is accessible daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If the doors are locked, go to the main art office on the fourth floor and someone will be able to open it. A closing reception will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 15. Warren County Sights and Sounds, an exhibit presenting the history and culture of Bowling Green and Warren County in photographs and film, will be in Western Kentucky University’s Kentucky Library & Museum. The exhibit is the result of a two-year joint project during which about 150 photographs and 45 feet of moving film related to Bowling Green and Warren County were collected. Sponsors of the project and exhibit are The Landmark Association, The Bowling Green/Warren County Historic Preservation Board, Insight Communications and The Kentucky Library & Museum. Sights and Sounds of Warren County will be in the Museum’s Garden Gallery and continues through Dec. 7. “Beyond Our Borders,” an exhibit of international photographs by Western Kentucky University photojournalism students, is on display at Mass Media and Technology Hall. The exhibit includes photographs taken by students in France, Spain, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and others and will be on display in the gallery through August. Exhibits at the Kentucky Building on Western Kentucky University’s campus include: “U.S. Bank Celebration of the Arts,” which opens Sunday; “VSA arts: Side by Side,” “Recommended by Duncan Hines,” “Western 100,” “Growing Up Victorian,” “Roads, Rails and Rivers,” “Hascal Haile: Guitar-maker to the Stars” and “Taking the Mystery out of Prehistory.” For more information, contact the Kentucky Building at 745-2592. Clubs The Factory at Cave City will feature The Moon Woods Band from 8 p.m. to midnight on the first Saturday of each month. The facility is on U.S. 31-W, just north of the Ky. 90 intersection across from Dollar General. Saturday Night Karaoke with Wayne Hallet will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each Saturday at Burgers On The Square in Franklin. The smoke-free facility is for the entire family, with the bar for adults only after 9 p.m. For more information, go to www.burgers on thesquare.com. Rick Dunn will have karaoke from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays at Spillway Bar and Grill, 2195 Louisville Road. Ricky Beavers has karaoke Friday nights at the Brown Jug, U.S. 31-W By-Pass in Bowling Green, beginning at 8 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays at Flealand in Bowling Green. Miss Kitty’s, 3315 Louisville Road, has live bands beginning at 9 p.m. each Friday and Saturday; Wednesdays feature karaoke and Thursdays feature acoustic music, nightly specials and pool tables. There is no cover charge. For more information, call 782-7777. Miss Kitty’s also offers a safe ride home program. Betty’s Bar has karaoke with Sheila on Wednesday and karaoke each Friday and Saturday. The Brewing Company, 423 Park Row, has live music from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday. Good Tymes 2, 1607 U.S. 31-W By-Pass, has top 40 hits from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Wednesday through Saturday. Music The Jimmy Church Band will perform at 7 p.m. Friday for Arts on Main in Scottsville. Spectators are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. There is a nearby venue in case of rain. Russellville Parks and Recreation will sponsor July Jive beginning at 7 p.m. Friday on the town’s square. Andrea Tanaro and Option Italian Buffet will perform. There will be children’s activities and food for sale. The Twilight Concert Series will be at 7 p.m. today at the amphitheater in Basil Griffin Park with the Lost River Cave Big Band. Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra Retro Series single tickets and subscriptions are on sale. Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven will be Aug. 8 and 9; Countrymadness will be Nov. 14 and 15; and One-Hit Wonders will be Feb. 6 and 7. Subscribe now and save 10 percent off single ticket prices. For tickets or subscriptions, call 846-2426 (BGCO) or go to www. BGCO.com. Sunday Jams at Whabah with the Kentucky Blues Society will begin at 6 p.m. Signed up to play so far: Ryan Stiles, Kenny Lee, Rick Mitchell, Greg Williams, Michael Gilbert, Mitchell Plumlee III, Don Bunn and Andy Stahl. A family show, all ages may attend and admission is free. Fresh Fridays will be the first Friday of each month at Bread & Bagel, 871 Broadway Ave. This month’s band will be Waterseed, playing at 9 p.m. Friday. The cost is $5 for anyone 18 and over. Calvin Ray’s Live Music & Restaurant in Leitchfield features live music with Calvin Ray and The Blue Moon Highway Band from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. each Saturday. For more information, call (502) 538-2893. Dumplin’s Diner in Adairville has a karaoke contest each Saturday night. Entry fee is $5 and first prize gets $100. For more information, call (270) 539-5413. Lucio, along with The Rose Band, performs at Main St. Music in Morgantown from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Simply Country Band performs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays at Main St. The facility is behind McDonald’s. Theater Pine Knob Theatre will present “Down in Hoodoo Holler” on Friday and “Dock Brown-Legend of an Outlaw” on Saturday. Showtime will be 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 or two for $25. For more information, go to www.pineknob.com or call (270) 879-8190. “The Drawer Boy” will be staged at Kentucky Repertory Theatre in Horse Cave. A dinner cabaret performance will be July 25, with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and performance at 7:30 p.m. Fifty tickets are being sold for $90 a couple and $50 a person. For more information, call (800) 342-2177. Fountain Square Players will present “Crazy for You,” based on the book by Ken Ludwig, music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and directed by Kathy Wise-Leonard at The Capitol Arts Theater. The show will be at 8 p.m. July 17-19 and at 3 p.m. July 20. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors or students 12 and over and $10 for children under 12 and are available at the Capitol Arts Center by calling 782-2787. Expressions Performing Arts wants to start a Creative Workshop Group for those interested in the performing arts, including traditional and improvisational storytelling, comedy, drama and Imagination Theatre as an art form. For more information, contact Robin Baldwin at 746-2988 Odds & Ends Historic Riverview at Hobson Grove is hosting a Tea with Mary Todd Lincoln at 2 p.m. July 24. She will also visit Sept. 4, Nov. 6 and Feb. 12. For more information, call Riverview at 843-5565. Tickets are $18 and reservations are required. GO bg transit will have its Friday Night Out this week to correspond with events going on downtown, including the Concerts in the Park Series. Rides are $2 a person or $1 with a GO pass. For a schedule, call 782-3162 or go to www.casoky.org. The rides will be offered from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The concerts are from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature Black Velvet at Fountain Square Park and Ernie Small Blues Band in Circus Square. Concerned Citizens Youth Chapter in Russellville will have an open house at 6 p.m. July 17 at the K.P. Hall, Fifth and Morgan streets, to generate interest in the youth program that helps coordinate community events, holds youth summits and other activities. For more information, call (270) 893-2793 or (270) 725-8721. Arby’s of Franklin will have a “Beef’d Up Car Show” for antique cars from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Entry fee is $15 with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club there. For more information, call (270) 586-7734 or (270) 651-9338. There will be door prices, face painting and other activities. On-site registration will begin at noon. Shakertown at South Union will have broom making demonstrations this weekend. Demonstrations will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (800) 811-8379. The Logan County Humane Society will have a corn roast and hot dog sale Saturday as a benefit. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. at the city-county park. Trade Days on the square in Adairville will be from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday. For more information, call Adairville-South Logan Chamber Office at (270) 539-2080 or Donna Blake at (270) 539-4341. The Allen County Fair will wrap up Saturday at the fairgrounds. A demolition derby will be Friday and Saturday. Gate fee will be $10 a person. For more information, call Dennis Harper at (270) 606-1123. Tickets are available for the Vettetastic 1950s Preview Party, sponsored by Holiday Inn University Plaza & The Sloan Convention Center with decor by Party 1 Superstore. The party will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 17 featuring Skip Bond and the Fugitives, food and a cash bar. A fundraiser for the American Red Cross, tickets are $30 a person and $50 a couple before Monday. Tickets then go to $35 a person and $60 a couple. For reservations, call 781-7377. Chaney’s Dairy Barn will have Ice Cream and a Moovie on Fridays. The schedule for the free event will be July 18, “Shrek the Third;” Aug. 1, “Daddy Day Care;” Aug. 15, “Babe The Gallant Pig;” and Aug. 29; “Field of Dreams.” All movies are free and begin at dusk. Participants are asked to bring a blanket or lawn chair and watch the outdoor movie. In case of the rain, movies will be shown in the pavilion. For more information, call 843-5567. The American Red Cross has blood drives each Friday at its office, 430 Center St., from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional drives will be from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Lewisburg City Hall, 4451 Stacker St.; from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at Best Buy, 1875 Campbell Lane; and from noon to 6 p.m. July 18 at Scottsville Church of Christ, at 1379 Smiths Grove Road. The SKY Farmers Market will be open from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays in front of the Riverside Building at The Medical Center on U.S. 31-W By-Pass. Kentucky-grown agricultural, horticultural and artisan products will be available for purchase. Karaoke is at Southern Lanes every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. There is no cover charge. A regional chess club meets at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Players of all ages and talents are welcome. For more information, call 991-0126. Friendly Hands Squares monthly dance is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the second Friday of each month at Cave Mill and Smallhouse roads in Bowling Green. For more information, call 781-6382. A veteran’s representative will be at The Salvation Army, 400 E. Main Ave., at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month. For more information, call 746-7425, Ext. 104. — To add your event, go to www.bgdailynews.com. |
| Jesse L. Birchett Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:05:23 -0500 Jesse Lee Birchett, 90, of Bowling Green went to meet his Lord at 2:52 a.m. July 10, 2008, in Bowling Green. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native was born Dec. 23, 1917. He was a retired air traffic controller at the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church, a World War II veteran, a major in the Army Air Corps/Air Force and a 50-year member of Goshen Masonic Lodge F & AM. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a son of the late Jesse Lee Birchett Sr. and Ruth Longley Birchett. He was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Gene Birchett; a brother, Jack Birchett; and two sisters, Alma Swindoll and Ruth Sanders. Funeral is at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Home, Lovers Lane chapel, with burial in Fairview Cemetery No. 2. Visitation is from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.jckirbyandson.com. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Doris Birchett; a son, John Birchett and his wife, Patti, of Rockfield; a daughter, Beth Jett and her husband, Richard, of Lynchburg, Va.; a brother, Robert Birchett and his wife, Jo, of Chattanooga; seven grandchildren, Jeff Blair and his wife, Kim, Jon Blair and his wife, Barb, Lisa Burden and her husband, JR, April Shely and her husband, Ivan, Joe Blair and his wife, LeeAnne, John Birchett Jr. and his wife, Karen, and Michael Birchett; two stepgrandchildren, Steven Jett and his wife, Cheryl, and Sandy Goodman and her husband, Kenny; 18 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. |
| Jerry R. Brown Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:05:29 -0500 GLASGOW — Jerry Rodney Brown, 42, of Glasgow died July 9, 2008, at T.J. Samson Community Hospital. The Barren County native was a Baptist. He was a son of Millard Brown of Park City and Katherine Harvey Tarry of Glasgow, who survive, and the stepson of Helen Brown of Park City, who survives. He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Brown. Cremation was chosen and the family will have a private viewing Wednesday at A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy England Brown; a brother, Phillip Brown of Glasgow; two half sisters, Pam Glover of Hart County and Evetta White and her husband, Grover, of Park City; three half brothers, Butch Brown and his wife, Tammy, and Jason Brown, all of Park City, and Steven Brown of Hart County; and four stepbrothers and stepsisters, Marvin Jones, Doyle Jones, Joleen Jones and Alice Jones, all of Park City. |
| Vertis Davis Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:05:41 -0500 BROWNSVILLE — Vertis Davis, 70, of Brownsville died July 10, 2008, in Brownsville. Funeral arrangements, which are incomplete, are under the direction of Patton Funeral Home, Brownsville chapel. |
| J.W. Gunter Jr. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:05:47 -0500 SCOTTSVILLE — J.W. Gunter Jr., 60, of Scottsville died at 2:48 p.m. July 9, 2008, at his residence. The Wilson County, Tenn., native was the founder of Gunter Construction Roofing, a member of White Plains Baptist Church, a member and past master of Graham Lodge No. 208 F & AM and a board member of Scottsville YMCA and Scottsville Allen County Chamber of Commerce. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a son of the late John Warren Gunter Sr. and Hilda Olene Johns Gunter of Scottsville, who survives. He was preceded in death by two brothers, William Gunter and Stephen Gunter. Funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Goad Funeral Home, with burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery. Visitation begins at 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Graham Lodge No. 208 F & AM will hold Masonic rites at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. All master masons are requested to meet at Graham Lodge at 6:30 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to White Plains Baptist Church Building Fund or Hospice of Southern Kentucky. Other survivors include his wife, Susan Kitchens Gunter; three sons, Gary Gunter and his wife, Hope, and Brian Gunter and his wife, Micca, all of Scottsville, and Stephen Gunter of Bowling Green; a brother, Roger Gunter of Scottsville; two sisters, Teresa Davis and Linda Hicks, both of Scottsville; five grandchildren, Jordan Gunter, Whitley Gunter, Triston Gunter, Brittany Gunter and Ashley Elmore; and a great-grandson, Logan Elmore. |
| Lillian J. Peden Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:05:51 -0500 GLASGOW — Lillian Joyce Peden, 85, of Park City died July 8, 2008, at U of L Hospital in Louisville of injuries suffered in a recent automobile accident. The Barren County native was a homemaker and enjoyed quilting in her club and at the monthly quilting sessions at South Central Kentucky Cultural Center. She was a member of Lick Branch Cumberland Presbyterian Church but regularly attended Bonayr Methodist Church. She was a daughter of the late Luther Owen Pedigo and Daisy Ethel Cawthorne Pedigo and the wife of the late Earl Wilson Peden. She was preceded in death by two brothers, McRee and Kenneth Pedigo. Funeral is at 1 p.m. Saturday at A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home, with burial in Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Survivors include a son, Larry Peden and his wife, Linda, of Louisville; a daughter, Carolyn Moran and her husband, Pat, of Horse Cave; six grandchildren, Kristen Ballew and her husband, Richard, and Shane Moran, all of Boaz, Ala., Danny Moran of Nashville, Sheena Moran of Denver and Jason Peden and his wife, LaRae, and Amy Peden, all of Louisville; two stepgrandchildren, Nicole Snyder and her husband, Josh, and Celest Wooten and her husband, Brian, all of Alabama; a great-grandchild, Skylar Peden; five great-stepgrandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Pauline Peden of Glasgow. |
| George W. Ray Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:05:58 -0500 George W. Ray, 77, of Alvaton died July 8, 2008, at a Bowling Green nursing home. The Metcalfe County native was a retired farmer and a member of Mount Hebrew Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a son of the late Richard Ray and Myrtle Ray. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Ray; two sisters, Elizabeth Dunn and Ula Rhodes; and three brothers, Willie, James and Richard Ray. Funeral is at 1 p.m. Monday at Burnam & Son Mortuary, with burial in Mount Hebrew CPC Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances Ray; four daughters, Margaret Lightfoot, Mary Barnett and her companion, Ernest Butts, Carolyn Lightfoot and her husband, David, and Pam Maxey and her husband, Glen, all of Bowling Green; four sons, Lee Ray and his wife, Lanetta, and Steve Ray and his wife, Karen, all of Bowling Green, and James and Gary Ray, both of Alvaton; 16 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. |
| Benjamin L. Slack Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:06:02 -0500 CENTRAL CITY — Benjamin Levi Slack, 4, of Central City died at 7:32 a.m. July 8, 2008, at his residence. The Evansville, Ind., native was born Sept. 22, 2003. He was a son of Jessica Slack of Central City and Darell Spencer, who survive. Funeral is at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Tucker Funeral Home, with burial in Green River Memorial Gardens in Livermore. Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Benjamin Levi Slack Memorial Fund, c/o First Kentucky Bank, P.O. Box 110, Central City, KY 42330. Other survivors include two brothers, Nickolas and Kameron Slack, both of Central City; grandparents, Brenda and Harlan Kennedy of Calhoun, John Slack of Central City and Charles and Shirley Spencer of Bowling Green; an aunt, Amy Revelett Storm of Calhoun; and three cousins, Charlissa Storm, Amanda Storm and Kyler Storm, all of Owensboro. |
| Earl Watt Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:06:07 -0500 Earl Watt, 89, of Smiths Grove died at 11:20 p.m. July 9, 2008, at Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital. The Edmonson County native was a farmer and a Baptist. He was a son of the late Lawrence Watt and Minnie Bailey Watt and the husband of the late Mildred Houchin Watt. He was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Edith Watt Jordan, Clarence “Bud” Watt, Walker Watt, Robert Watt, Howard Watt and Lawrence Morgan Watt. Private graveside service is at Smiths Grove Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Hardy & Son Funeral Home, Smiths Grove chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.hardyandsonfuneral homes.com. Survivors include three sons, Clifford Watt and his wife, Brenda, Bobby Watt and his wife, Sarah, and Gary Watt and his wife, Patricia, all of Smiths Grove; five grandchildren, Derek Watt and his wife, Amanda, Michelle Hammock, Jeana Rose and her husband, Jerry, Jennifer Moore and her husband, Jerry, and Justin Watt and his wife, Elizabeth; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. |
| Margaret E. West Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:06:11 -0500 MUNFORDVILLE — Margaret Ethel West, 87, of Munfordville died at 3:25 p.m. July 8, 2008, at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown. She was a housewife and a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late J.W. Woodward and Mollie Puckett Woodward and the wife of the late Elwood West. Funeral is at 1 p.m. Friday at Sego Funeral Home, with burial in Munfordville Municipal Cemetery. Visitation is in progress until 9 p.m. today and begins at 9 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Survivors include three sons, Gordon and Gary West, both of Munfordville, and Kenneth Priddy of Brandenton, Fla.; a daughter, Linda West of Munfordville; seven grandchildren, Ricky Priddy, Teresa Geib, Mark, Kevin and Kelli West, Kimberly Dawn Waddell and Gerri Lynn Decker; and six great-grandchildren. |
| Beulah Wingo Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:06:14 -0500 FRANKLIN — Beulah Wingo, 85, of Fairborn, Ohio, died July 8, 2008, in Fairborn. The Franklin native served in the Navy during World War II, graduated from Peabody Teachers College, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Ohio State University. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Fairborn and was a retired social worker for the Montgomery County Children’s Services. She was a daughter of the late C.R. Wingo and the late Mary Lou Blewett Wingo. She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Wingo; and two sisters, Frances Edwards and Evelyn Thompson. Funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Sulphur Spring Baptist Church, with burial in Sulphur Spring Cemetery in Simpson County. Military rites will be conducted by the Simpson County Honor Guard. Visitation begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the church. Booker-Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Sulphur Springs Cemetery Fund. Survivors include a sister, Jane Smoot of Tullahoma, Tenn.; a sister-in-law, Edna Wingo of Franklin; a special friend, Dr. Bill Friar of Fairborn; and several nieces and nephews. |
| Adult fight at ballgame sets a bad example Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:58:39 -0500 When it comes to our youth, adults and parents should lead by example - but unfortunately, some of them didn’t consider that during a fight Monday night at a youth baseball game in Bowling Green. The incident occurred at Ephram White Park at around 6:30 p.m., and it’s still unclear what exactly happened - and it is still under investigation. The Warren County Sheriff’s Department says it received a call first described as a fight in progress, then as a potential riot. By the time deputies got there, there was no fight and most of those involved had left the scene. Thankfully, no one was seriously harmed in the incident. But this type of irresponsible behavior by adults in our community is inexcusable and detrimental to our youth. These 8-year-old kids were participating in a tournament game. They were proud to be playing, and to have it disrupted over something that was probably petty is really sad. Also sad is that this was the second such incident at this park in a month. Adults should be there to enjoy watching their kids play a game, and they should let the umpires referee the game and make the tough decisions. They should be above this type of immature behavior and should realize that children learn the wrong lessons when adults behave badly. As 8-year-olds, it is more important for kids to have fun while learning the basics of the game and respect for their opponents than it is to win. We hope in the future that those involved will realize that baseball games are about the kids, not the parents. |
| Iraq troop withdrawal merits a serious hearing Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:58:45 -0500 U.S. troops should stay no longer than necessary in Iraq, and the Bush administration should show a healthy respect for concerns there about a long-term American “occupation.” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called this week for some sort of timetable for the withdrawal of American troops, echoing widespread public sentiment both in his country and in the United States. President Bush continues to resist the idea, and a U.S. State Department spokesman sounded an unfortunate note of arrogance this week in responding - or not responding, really - to al-Maliki’s statement. The spokesman declared that he did not want to publicly respond to “every single development” in the negotiations between Iraq and the United States. There are certainly hazards to strict timetables for hasty military withdrawals. For example, an adversary may simply decide to lay low for a while. But the proposed Iraqi timeline that was made public Tuesday appears to provide for an ample transition period before the last U.S. forces, perhaps well into the next decade, would leave the Arab country. If the Bush administration pushes hard for more than that, it will not come off looking very good to the international community. A lot of Americans will object as well, and with good reason. The United States has many other priorities beside Iraq - a simple fact that Bush should keep in mind as the talks continue. |
| O’Charley’s good for something new Thu, 3 Jul 2008 11:02:54 -0500 After last week’s offbeat coffee chronicles, it was back to normalcy. What’s more “normal” than a typical dinner at O’Charley’s to step back into the reality of the many chain restaurants we are fortunate to have here in Bowling Green. O’Charley’s offers a local touch as well, with a huge mural of Bowling Green and Kentucky favorites, like a red Corvette and the Corvette Museum served on a platter, as well as a beautiful woman with a derby hat at least 100 times actual size. Another pleasing part of the chain restaurant scene is that they are always offering something new and exciting. Today, my dining companion and I tried everything new, starting with drinks, but not ending with dessert because a stomach is a limited container for newness. By the end of the meal, my dining companion described our wait staff as delightful, which she was, but at the beginning of the meal we had to wait so long, the management comped our appetizer. I will say O’Charley’s restaurant staff was attentive and seemed to be aware of our every move! In the spirit of newness (and because the menu noted I’d never tasted anything like it) I ordered the pretzel crunch chicken tenders with Dijon dipping sauce. They were right. The pretzel breading offered a unique taste and a light, extra crispy texture. It was like dipping a pretzel into mustard, with the added bonus of tender chicken breast in between. Our drinks arrived after the appetizer, which never sits well with me. I’m a stickler for the “dining experience” which to me means, drinks right away, appetizers or bread to quickly follow (because liquor does have a more intense effect on an empty stomach), then salads just after the appetizer has been mostly eaten, and finally entrees just about five minutes after my salad has had time to settle. The tangerine pineapple margarita I had was delicious. What a perfect balance between the too-sweet-for-me strawberry margaritas and the tartness of a regular margarita. My dining companion was not so lucky with his mojito because O’Charley’s was out of fresh mint. He sent the drink back. This is not exclusive to O’Charley’s, but I’d like to suggest to restaurants that if you’re out of a main ingredient, please let us patrons know ahead of time. We really can think for ourselves and will probably opt to order something else, instead of feeling like you are trying to put one over on us. For dinner, I had the Key West mahi. This was a flavorful fish served with a tropical salsa on top with rice on the side. The taste overall was acceptable, but the fruit was hard to bite into. My dining companion (who normally doesn’t like fish) actually enjoyed the fruit that seemed to lift the fish taste. My dining companion ordered the pecan chicken tender salad, which is not as new as the other items we ordered, but it was new to us. This was a delicious blend of honey-roasted Georgia pecans, chicken tenders, bleu cheese, mandarin oranges and cranberries on romaine lettuce served with a balsamic vinaigrette. My sense was right and O’Charley’s was the perfect step back into the customary world of dining that I realized is anything but ordinary. Looking at the staff, from the hostess to the wait staff to the manager, there’s a lot of time, energy, sweat and maybe even some tears that go into creating meals for hundreds of people each day. How fortunate we are to live in a country like this. Happy Fourth! — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. O’CHARLEY’S RESTAURANT 2717 Scottsville Road |
| Coffee shops offer more than just caffeine Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:37:50 -0500 emember when food and a lap meant TV dinners at home with the food brought to the entertainment? Now you can bring entertainment to the food. What I’m fumbling around trying to say is that this week I toted my lap top computer with wireless Internet to visit as many local coffee shops as I could until my nerves gave out. No more than two in one day, however, because otherwise this column might sound like a Picasso painting looks! I ordered an iced medium caramel macchiato at each place, and took my lap top to write my experiences on the spot. There are two shots of espresso (shot-glass sized portions of pure caffeine), milk and caramel in a macchiato. My first stop: Spencer’s Coffeehouse on the square. It was late in the afternoon and there was a row of what looked like regular patrons sitting outside looking relaxed and full of life at the same time. The counter staff was attentive and helpful when I entered and there were a bevy of local people, even some of whom I knew. Spencer’s wireless Internet was a little choppy that day, but as far as food goes, it offers muffins, bagels, cinnamon rolls and pastries, and for lunch, a full menu of sandwiches and salads. The macchiato was also an effective blend of coffee, caramel and milk flavor. My next stop was the new Starbucks on Campbell Lane. I wasn’t going to go in unless it offered a wireless connection, which it noted on the door, so I went in. The staff was vibrant and friendly. I was now on my second medium macchiato, which translates into four shots of espresso. This macchiato was equally good. It turned out, however, that you must subscribe to a specific Internet service, so the wi-fi at Starbucks is not free. A staff member actually said that sometimes people pick up the signal from Buckhead Caf/. I ended up leaving earlier than I planned because of this. Starbucks offers a variety of cakes, muffins, cookies and other baked goods, both in regular and low calorie versions. And, I will say, it was a peaceful place to write and research - if only I could have picked up Buckhead’s signal. So, the next day, I headed to Buckhead Caf/. Buckhead has a pleasant and expansive atmosphere for Internet working and a huge menu of eclectic sandwiches, salads, pizzas, burgers, etc. It’s not as quaint as Spencer’s and during the lunch rush you can’t even hear yourself think; however, this was the best macchiato to date. It had a punch of coffee flavor, with the milk and caramel just there to take the edge off. At least, that’s the way I like it! I decided one caf/ a day was enough and I knew that Mug Shotz would be open on a Saturday, so I waited a day. Unfortunately, even though the sign said it would be open, it wasn’t, so I can’t report on the atmosphere or macchiato, because I wasn’t able to make it back there by press time. I did call and Mug Shotz does have free wireless Internet service (with purchase) and offers wraps, sandwiches, muffins and desserts. Finally, I went to another local hang out with wi-fi, Bread and Bagels. While Bread and Bagels no longer has an espresso machine for macchiatos, it does have flavored coffees. And, much to my surprise, it has added pastas to its one-of-a-kind menu of sandwiches, salads and pizza. In the morning it also has muffins, scones, pastries, etc. The walls are covered with artwork from young local artists. The wait staff was helpful, but distracted by a large phone order (which I’m sure was just an in-the-moment experience). The wi-fi worked well and the atmosphere was upbeat yet relaxed and I opted to sit outside on the enclosed patio. So that wraps up the coffee and wi-fi chronicles for the week. Although I highly recommend people watching, toting a lap top computer along is a little something different for those times when you don’t have a dining companion. I wouldn’t recommend trying to write a column, however, because looking back over this, I can spot the moments the coffee kicked in and kicked out! — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Spencer’s Coffee House: 915 College St., 393-7060 Buckhead Caf/: 760 Campbell Lane, 846-0110 Starbucks: 710 Campbell Lane, 842-6201 Mug Shotz: 116 Old Morgantown Road, 796-4143 Bread and Bagel: 871 Broadway Ave., 781-1473 |
| Mandolin perfect for a light summer meal Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:18:06 -0500 What to do on a hot summer night when you’re in the mood for fine food, but the intense heat keeps you from wanting anything but watermelon and Gatorade? How about a light meal at one of the finest eating establishments in Bowling Green, the Mandolin. My dining companion and I thought patio dining might be doable once the sun went down, but were not disappointed when air conditioning still made more sense at 8 o’clock at night. Mainly because the Mandolin is owned and operated by two wildly artistic Bowling Green residents: One creates the atmosphere, and the other works her magic creating and executing a four-star menu. Each room is donned in rich grained woods and striking rosined wood etchings, as well as a variety of international artwork. The fireplace mantle in the room in which we dined was a bit chaotic, but a quick glance out the window to the relaxing porch patio outdoors made it feel as if I were outside after all. To execute the light meal genre idea, we ordered two light appetizers then split an entr/e. We chose the crespella pockets as one appetizer, then looked to the salad menu for another light, chilled appetizer, the mozzarella and roma tomato salad. The crespella pockets, even though they were fried, were the perfect light meal choice: Crispy crepes folded into small triangular shapes, stuffed with light cheeses and meats. The mozzarella and roma tomato salad had an abundance of soft mozzarella cheese. Soft mozzarella has an appetizing texture when eaten chilled on a hot summer day, but with just a hint of flavor and when eaten alone is lacking. Add a slice of tomato drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette and a side of greens, which is exactly how the Mandolin served it, and you have a dish delicious to the eye and the palate. We opted for the fish special that evening, a lightly breaded Italian cod with wild rice. The wait staff graciously split the meal, for a small fee, which allowed each of us to have a house salad with the dressing of our choice. We both chose the house specialty, gorgonzola - a light, creamy dressing with chunks of gorgonzola cheese for an occasional kick. The cod was rolled, then breaded with seasonings bursting with flavors, some I recognized, others I didn’t, but the blendings made this otherwise light meal a rich treat. The rice, too, a blend of brown and other wild rice varieties, made for a slender summer alternative to potatoes. With all this weightless eating, we had room for dessert. Of course there were the heavier favorites, like chocolate cake or even tiramisu, but we opted for the pineapple cake and it was a delicate ending to this modest, delicious meal. Thin layers of cake soaked in pineapple juice with layers of a whipped cream frosting was served with pineapple rounds on the side. Even though, as of this moment at least, the heat has settled down a bit, I would highly recommend the Mandolin for a meal on a whim or a special night out because in my experience it is a singularly, extraordinary eating establishment in our town. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. MANDOLIN 712 Chestnut St. |
| Nothing but ‘amore’ at Mancino’s Grinders Thu, 29 May 2008 12:08:18 -0500 "Amore” and pizza go together in songs and movies, so why not in Bowling Green. What I’m referring to here is Mancino’s Grinders and Pizza’s motto, which is: “I love that place!” Which both my dining companion and I did. While I reviewed Mancino’s at Greenwood almost two years ago, since this column is mainly about experience, I thought it was time for a visit to Mancino’s in Lost River. Love is not lost here, either. To begin with, the counter staff was jovial, friendly and not the least bit nosey, even when the two of us ordered just about one item in every category (in the name of trying as much as we could), which ended up being enough food for twice as many people. Love has to be pouring from everywhere if the kitchen is as exposed as it is at Mancino’s. A clean, cutting board wood and stainless cooking station looks to be about half the size of a football field and sits in the center, surrounded by pizza ovens and other work stations. The cook staff delightfully buzzes around each other as if they were choreographed by the workers in the Wizard of Oz, who “get up at 12, start to work at one, take an hour for lunch and then at two are done!” The entire experience was like a scene from a movie as the staff assisted with a pizza that sadly slipped off the tray and onto the floor and then mopped up a water spill with ease. Oh, and did I mention they can cook with consistency as well? At the counter my dining companion and I opted for soup, salad, a grinder, lasagna, a small pizza, a brownie and two oatmeal cookies. We were given the brownie and cookies right away and ended up eating dessert first, because what’s not to love about eating dessert first? The brownie had a cake-like quality and literally crumbled before reaching my mouth. Not even the frosting stayed put, but it was a chocolate treat overall. There are two types of oatmeal cookies: moist and chewy, that bend and don’t break, and the crispy, dryer version that snap and send oatmeal flakes a-flying. My dining companion prefers the soft version, yet Mancino’s bakes the latter, but we both agreed the cookies were quite flavorful. The soup was a cheesy, bacon potato that tasted best when it was hot. Small melt-in-your-mouth pieces of potato, with cheese and bacon tastes balanced nicely in a thick, creamy base. The Greek salad was excellent, with an abundance of olives, crumbly feta cheese, red onions, tomatoes and a packaged dressing. Both the pizza and the grinder exemplified taste. The Cajun chicken grinder wasn’t too spicy hot, but was spicy tasteful with tender, Cajun-rubbed chicken, onions, cheese, lettuce and tomato. We opted for the Mancino’s pride pizza with an effective combination of meats and veggies, a lovely crisp crust and just enough sauce! That appetizing sauce was generously poured over my personal favorite of the day, the lasagna. Even if you’ve only read this column a couple of times, you know I’m big on the perfect balance of flavor combinations and this lasagna had it going on! The sauce was plentiful, as I said, the noodles present, but it was the real ricotta with spices and cheeses hidden between the layers in just the right amount that made it truly delicious. Mancio’s also has other baked pastas, calzones, nachos, five other salads and cinnamon sticks with sides of vanilla icing for dipping, so surely you’ll find something to love. Actually we were on our way to a movie after pizza, but saved the ticket price partially due to the entertainingly delicious and enchanting visit to Mancino’s Grinders and Pizza. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff @bgdailynews.com. |
| Moe’s offers color, options and vibrant food Thu, 15 May 2008 10:59:35 -0500 When I think of the Southwest, I think of places like Santa Fe, N.M., and Sedona, Ariz. And when I remember passing through from one town to the other, I remember the vibrant contrasting colors of red earth, black rock and blue sky. Moe’s Southwestern Grill cuisine reflects this topography with a colorful flair added via ingredients, ingredients, ingredients. Black beans, olives, corn, tomatoes, avocado, onion and cilantro translate into appetizing shades of yellow, red, green, white and even black. Not to mention Moe’s also offers a plethora of multi-hued sauces. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Entering Moe’s, you can’t miss the oversized menu board with item names reflective of random pop culture, that don’t seem so random once you know that MOE’s is actually an acronym for: “musicians, outlaws and entertainers.” I had to look up the “Joey bag of donuts burrito,” which apparently hails from the movie, “My Cousin Vinny.” What I did not get when I entered was the “Welcome to Moe’s!” that was present when the restaurant first arrived in town. This was reflective of my entire trip down the manned conveyor of Southwestern cuisine. I could barely get the wait staff to look at me, let alone engage in a dialogue that would help me with the many choices. After I left the restaurant, though, I realized there appeared to be no necessary managerial guidance and only three servers working - this during the lunch rush. The wait wasn’t too bad, but I felt like more of an intruder than a customer. Despite this, I was able to choose menu items and make choices with enthusiasm. I chose two limited timers not on the usual menu, the Southwestern cobb salad and a special chicken quesadilla, as well as a close talker salad (from that close talker “Seinfeld” episode). My dining companion and I ate outdoors and relished in the variety of vibrant colors and groupings of savory tastes. Everything was fresh, from the pico de gallo to the cilantro to the romaine and especially the olives - I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a black olive with so much flavor! And as I was digressing earlier, there were an abundance of appetizing sauces, salsas and dressings. Chipotle ranch, guacamole ranch and a southwestern vinaigrette dressing for the salads. A chunky guacamole with onions, peppers, tomatoes and cilantro worked for my taste. My dining companion, however, did not like the guacamole and after one bite he went back to the tomatillo salsa that he’d been originally drawn to. The key ingredient in a variety of Latin American sauces, the tomatillo, is referred to as a Mexican tomato. Deep green in color, this fruit is spherical in shape and a bit larger than a walnut. Moe’s purees the tomatillo and I detected flavors of spices and lime that added to the deliciousness. I built each menu choice with my choice of seasoned beef or chicken, pinto or black beans, bacon, cheese, olives, pico de gallo, cucumbers and mango for the cobb salad. Each dish was flavorful, but I will say the quesadilla stood out as my favorite because the heated chicken was especially moist, when compared to the cold beef and chicken on the salads. Each menu category at Moe’s (burritos, nachos, quesadillas and the like) offers at least one vegetarian option, or you can choose any menu item, skip the beef and begin with the beans. So, between the colorful music, (hits from the ’50s to the ’80s), unusual menu options and vibrant food, gaudy works to please the palate in the south bringing the hues of the Southwest to Bowling Green. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. MOE’S SOUTHWESTERN GRILL 2020 Scottsville Road |
| Cave City’s El Mazatlan a good choice Thu, 8 May 2008 11:16:22 -0500 Que pasa? Which means: What’s up? It seems clich/ to begin a Mexican restaurant review with a Spanish urban phrase, yet I do so because it truly added to the enjoyment of my recent dining experience at El Mazatlan in Cave City. It all began with a friendly waiter, who genuinely called my dining companion and me “amigo” with every visit to the table, and who also humored us when we asked for translations, including the one that opened this review. Something I do always begin a Mexican meal with is a bowl of guacamole. El Mazatlan’s guacamole looked fresh and deep green in color, which made me think the only ingredient was avocado. This is usually a good thing, because I don’t like guacamole with fillers. In this case, however, the avocado must have been bland, because the guac was bland. I found one or two pieces of cilantro in the dip, but not enough to add flavor. My dining companion and I salted it, making it acceptable with chips. The appetizer we did vehemently enjoy was the cheese dip. It was the usual melted white cheese, but there seemed to be spices that added to the flavor as well. The d/cor at El Mazatlan was charming: Bright yellow, orange, brown and red colors on adobe-looking walls in a meandering floor plan and an occasional painted mural that looked like an open window on a sunny day. We sat far from the smoking section, because when we were seated near the door dividing the two sections, we still encountered smoke. El Mazatlan in Cave City is just off Interstate 65 north of Bowling Green. The word is with graduation, prom and Mother’s Day this weekend, the restaurants in Bowling Green will be full to capacity, so a trip north, if you don’t fall into any of those categories yet want to eat out, might be in order. And ... speaking of order, I can recommend a few items my dining companion and I enjoyed. The chimichangas were simple but delicious. They can be ordered with beef or spicy chicken. Both my dining companion and I had a chicken chimichanga on our combination plates. The chicken was moist - large flavorful chunks wrapped then fried in a flour tortilla that was flaky with deliciously substantial crunch at each end. Also on my el amigo special plate was a cheese quesadilla. This is a folded, then pan-fried flour tortilla filled with the same cheese as the queso dip. Unfortunately, as the meal cooled, the cheese separated and it was not as appetizing as it had been in the dip. Rounding off my plate was something I had never heard of called an ollita. This was a small, crispy, fried flour tortilla in the shape of a small cup with chicken chunks, spices, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and grated cheese layered inside. It was a unique, flavorful dish - and you could even eat the dish when you finished its contents. The chile in the egg batter then fried chile relleno was hotter than I’ve had at other restaurants. Both the beef taco and tamale had crumbly, fine pieces of ground beef with soft or crunchy corn meal for a classic Mexican combination and effective taste. El Mazatlan in Cave City has the same (or at least a very similar menu) to its sister restaurant in Bowling Green and also locations in Glasgow and Munfordville. I usually have either appetizers or dessert, but was tempted to enjoy both because El Mazatlan offers the Mexican classic flan, as well as unique desserts like fruit-filled burritos, churros with ice cream and tres leches cake. This translates into a cake made with three kinds of milk. And for my final Spanish expression: If you’re in “buen humor,” (a good mood) visit El Mazatlan and you will “que lo pases bien” (have a good time). — New restaurants are given a six-week grace period. Comments can be sent to managing editor Mike Alexieff by telephone at 783-3235 or by e-mail at malexieff@bgdailynews.com. 105 Garbner Lane |
| Hilton’s breakfast a luxurious escape Thu, 1 May 2008 10:33:01 -0500 There are several country-style, Southern breakfast eateries in Bowling Green that are deliciously greasy when I’m in the mood. But there is less than a handful of Tiffany-style breakfast establishments which I also find pleasurable. This is not to be confused with Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which was a simple menu outside the richest, most famous jewelry store in the country, but just the opposite - a breakfast with a well-to-do menu. I discovered the Hilton Garden Inn breakfast a few months ago, and finally made it in for a taste. While the Hilton did not have eggs Benedict on the menu (my personal standard for a lavish breakfast), it did offer a variety of breakfast items to enhance any morning meal. The restaurant, which also serves dinner, is housed just inside the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn. I became enamored by the travel atmosphere, feeling as if I were actually away from home, and out of the blue began striking up conversations with the other guests about where they were from. My dining companion, on the other hand, sat at the table nostalgically noticing the upscale hotel d/cor that is a mirror image of any Hilton you might visit throughout the country. This luxury lends itself to the Tiffany-style breakfast, with thoughtful and soothing color combinations, deep grained decorative woods and opulent fixtures. The breakfast at Hilton Garden is a mix of buffet and made-to-order food. We each ordered at the made-to-order bar from a chalkboard menu. I ordered Texas-style French toast, my dining companion an omelet with potatoes. While we waited, we enjoyed a wide variety of fresh fruit housed in a bed of ice in the buffet. There were also the usual breakfast foods: bagels, doughnuts, toast, cereals - and even not so usual, soy milk. The buffet also included three kinds of juices, orange, apple and cranberry, in large ornamental carafes on the bar. I went for a cup of coffee and, by chance, discovered the Hilton Garden offers one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. I don’t usually drink coffee black, but had overfilled the cup while chatting with a fellow traveler. I drank it down a bit so that I could add some of the flavored syrups they offered and was taken aback by the smooth flavor. Even my dining companion, who is not a coffee drinker, agreed. The first sip went down easy and lacked that usual bitter bite coffee can have. Our breakfasts arrived and while the omelet was not “fluffy” as the menu described, it was a flat, flavorful blend of eggs with a variety of chunky, abundant ingredients of your choice, like bacon, sausage, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheese and the like. It did not list mushrooms, but they were inadvertently included - so if you’re not a mushroom lover, take note and make sure to exclude them. The fried potatoes were tastefully unique and flavorful. The potatoes were uniformly cut into perfect half inch squares that were flawlessly fried in every direction - thick on the outside with a hint of soft potato on the inside. My Texas French toast was two pieces of thick bread, slightly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It needed just a small amount of butter and syrup because the sweetness of the egg batter was adequately enjoyable on its own. Breakfast at the Hilton Garden also offers patio dinning and was a splendid way to start the rest of our day, as we ended up engulfed in the true richness of taking in the wilderness while traveling down the Green River in a canoe. How lucky we are to have the best of both worlds in Bowling Green. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. |
| Red Lobster all about the extras Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:13:11 -0500 I was fortunate recently to enjoy a celebratory Sunday night at Red Lobster. Many local fine dining establishments are closed on Sundays, and since this was the only day we could all meet for a birthday, I was grateful Red Lobster was so accommodating. Accommodating, too, was the atmosphere. It was a festive evening, yet we had the good fortune of getting into one of those huge booths in the back, which felt as if we were a party unto ourselves. This was a treat since I haven’t seen those booths making their way into restaurants lately. Red Lobster, of course, is a seafood haven, yet it also offers a variety of steaks, pastas and some appetizers that are either cleverly disguised or lack the taste of seafood. We ordered a combination platter of southwestern lobster egg rolls and lobster, crab and seafood stuffed mushrooms. Even though they were smothered in cheese, the mushrooms definitely had the texture and flavor combinations that seafood lovers would be drawn to. The southwestern lobster stuffed egg rolls, however, were just the opposite with black beans, corn, tomatoes and a hint of seafood taste all wrapped in an egg roll shell and fried lightly crispy. Our server was fun and jovial and the rest of the wait staff worked well together - tag-teaming our order and other needs as the night went on. This made for a very pleasant dining experience, especially since I was with a lively group that didn’t need a lot of attention, just service. We each had our own special drinks for the evening and were impressed with what Red Lobster had to offer and what we were served. From an apple-tini for the birthday girl to imported beer on tap to a stellar Long Island ice tea and a bottle of Pino Grigio, we were treated as if we were dining royalty. I guess it’s about high time (or should I say high “tide”) to get to the food, which was good, but not as impressive as some of our locally owned fine dining establishments. This would be fine, if the prices were also lower, but they were not. I had a fine New York steak and was fortunate enough to be able to substitute the lobster tail for tilapia in a bag, which was a Bowling Green special. It was served with my choice of side item and a vegetable. My particular meal was acceptable. The steak cut was tender and grilled well, the fish seasoned well for the moist benefits when cooked in a bag. The vegetables were a little over-cooked for my taste. Also ordered at the table were combinations that included plates of chicken, salmon and seafood. The literally dozens of choice combinations are a big part of the dining options at Red Lobster and those who ordered them felt the meal was enhanced by a spicy dipping sauce they ordered separately on the side. Others at the table did not enjoy their meals as much. The fried shrimp, calamari and scallops were average in size, preparation and flavor - nothing to write home about. The “jumbo” shrimp scampi platter looked similar to the regular shrimp combination, so I didn’t see the advantage in going big. The comment was, “without all extras like the salad, sides and the Cheddar Bay biscuits, I might have been disappointed.” Maybe that’s the point - it’s all the extras that Red Lobster has to offer that make the difference. The staff warned us about their singing abilities, but we all engaged in a lively round of “Happy Birthday,” accompanied by at least one professional level singer at the table - so all ended well. And if that wasn’t enough, any off-key voices were long forgotten once we were served the New York cheesecake covered with strawberries that was a perfectly thick, rich, yet not-too-sweet dessert we all could share. So if you’re looking for a day or evening, especially on Sunday, of fun and fish, I would recommend Red Lobster for the extras and the variety of options that make dining an individual treat. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdaily news.com. RED LOBSTER 2525 Scottsville Road |
| Country Mill’s buffet offering wide variety Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:33:36 -0500 I was invited by a couple of colleagues to dine at The Country Mill Restaurant this week. I didn’t know what to expect, but heard it had changed for the good since I’d last visited years ago. Upon entering, we discovered right away that there isn’t a menu, it is strictly buffet; however, that didn’t stop us from getting made-to-order food and a variety that rivals any menu in town. The conversation quickly turned to quality, standards, expectations and how all of us might effect change. We weren’t talking about the restaurant, but in the work place and academic worlds. As I listened and ate, I realized my experience at Country Mill was mirroring that very conversation. To begin with, Country Mill has a long-standing foundation of buffet-style country food. This included, but was not limited to, the collard greens with a hint of spice, the highlighted flavor of the pinto beans and the pulled pork that was lean, tender and seasoned to Southern perfection. Even with the catfish, which a fisherman at the table commented was the best he’s had in all surrounding counties, Country Mill was consistent while offering a large variety, all made from scratch - maybe not at any one’s “home,” but certainly homemade. Even the d/cor offered a big country welcome with a faux barn roof in the back, Southern paintings, era inspired music, and a sign that read: “Come on in and sit a spell.” Also, Country Mill now offers a saut/ bar, salad bar and an oasis of desserts. The saut/ bar offers made-to-order entrees that include appetizers, five made-to-order burgers, pasta dishes, wraps and even a chicken cordon bleu sandwich, which I gleefully ordered. While my sandwich was cooking, I headed off to the salad bar and created a monster of a salad with mixed greens, first of the season beefsteak tomatoes, green peppers, olives and a Caesar dressing. I returned to the table to find my sweet tea waiting for me, and this is where I experienced some disappointment. The sweet tea was barely sweet, which surprised me at a “country” restaurant. I certainly had the opportunity to add sugar, but it’s just not the same. Then, while the waitress was friendly and informative when I met her at the dessert counter later, she wasn’t very personable at the table. Again, nothing major, just some things my dining companions and I noticed when we visited. One area for improvement would be the consistency of the saut/ bar. We each noticed the dishes we ordered, the cordon bleu, a spicy ranch chicken wrap and a fettuccini alfredo with shrimp and broccoli, were all acceptable and appreciated, but also lacked the punch of flavor these dishes usually have. As the conversation meandered through academics, it was inevitable, with the huge selection of desserts, the subject of “pie-ology” brought us to the end of the week. I had a coconut cream pie that was clearly homemade - and the best I’ve ever had. Fresh, thick whipped cream; flavorful filling; flaky crust and baked crispy coconut on top. There was something like a derby pie that others at the table had, and reported the chocolate chips, nuts and abundant filling were delectable - as was much of the meal. It was a wonderful dining experience and an incredible value. And again, since we’re talking academics, I’ll use a spelling metaphor. To remember the difference in spelling desert (dry land) and dessert, I learned with dessert you always want a second helping, so it has a second “s.” If that’s the case, at County Mill everything should be spelled like this: dessssssssssssert! — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. COUNTRY MILL RESTAURANT 600 U.S. 31-W By-Pass |
| Dining at Ichiban consistently good Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:54:22 -0500 t was a sunny Sunday afternoon and my dining companion and I were in the mood for Japanese food. Ichiban came to mind, because, as far as my memory serves me, it’s the only Japanese food in town with patio dining. We arrived to find we weren’t the only ones with this idea and a group of very verbal Sunday travelers on the patio prompted us to eat indoors. Ichiban has been in Bowling Green for close to two years now and the cuisine, variety, service, value and just down-right fun remain consistent after all this time. The long strip of dining area inside the patio window means you can still enjoy the great outdoors if the blinds are open, yet also means the acoustics get chaotic and noisy with even just a dozen or so tables occupied. Not to worry though, if you can handle a little noise, the food is definitely worth it. My dining companion and I ordered the gamut after our complimentary clear broth soup with mushrooms and onions arrived. This included an egg roll for each of us, a crunchy shrimp roll for me and a veggie roll with a soy paper wrap for him, and a salad, tempura combo, chicken bowl and chicken lo mein to share. I didn’t see much of the chicken bowl (one of his favorite values at only $3.80), which is chicken on top of fried rice and carrots in a bowl served with a creamy light ginger sauce. All entrees are served with this signature sauce, as well as fried rice and carrots that are steamed just to the point of flavor enhancement. Later in the meal we discovered, by observing a nearby table, that you can order these delicious carrots by the bowl as well. The eggrolls, filled with a veggie and meat combination, were appetizing and generous in time. The chicken lo mein was enhanced by the perfectly grilled chicken and noodles tossed with vegetables and a light oil for flavor. The tempura combo was my least favorite, partially because it was served with onions as the only vegetable, but mainly because the tempura overwhelmed the meat or vegetables and was on the greasy side for my taste. I like a light tempura, not heavy tempura. My dining companion, however, favored the amount of tempura batter Ichiban had prepared. Our final fare was the sushi. We learned that those of you, like my dining companion, who strongly prefer sushi without the fish taste can order only veggies in the middle of a sushi roll, and substitute soy paper for the seaweed. This all but eliminates any fish flavor. I will say, over the years, my dining companion has been quite a trouper, trying eel, octopus and trying over and over the sushi seaweed despite his dislike for fish. So here’s a new culinary avenue for those who would like to try sushi, but have shied away due to the fish. Make sure to try the pickled ginger and wasabi that sushi is always served with, but beware of a little something I like to call wasabi wars. Wasabi, as I’ve reported in this column before, is served with sushi and has a horseradish quality. You can mix the amount, to your liking, with soy sauce in the Japanese bowl, stir with chopsticks, then dip a slice of roll into the mixture. The sauce mixture is not hot, as spicy food is, but a punch of intensity rolls through your mouth and sinuses, depending on the amount of wasabi you choose. My dining companion and I had a grand time, with each other, the staff and those around us, challenging each other to more and more wasabi, not just mixed in the soy sauce, but spread on each roll. It was a wild ride that led to some intense moments of deliciously cross cultural entertainment. So Ichiban turned out to be a lot of fun, out of the sun, on a Sunday afternoon, thanks to an informed, expedient staff (the sushi arrived faster than any I’ve ever had) and a variety of flavors at an excellent value. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Hours: 11 a.m to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday Cuisine: Japanese Price range: $3.00 to $11.99 Specialties: Steak, seafood, sushi Libation situation: Beer, wine Smoking: Yes |
| Embrace Brickyard’s mystery Thu, 3 Apr 2008 11:13:33 -0500 As a well-known eating establishment in Bowling Green, The Brickyard Caf/ may need little to no introduction, except that a friend of mine told me a few weeks ago, in her mind, The Brickyard was best for lunch. This puzzled me. I meandered in on a Saturday night to discover a pleasingly mysterious, yet charismatic, dinner dining experience. The staff dressed entirely in black against the dark salmon-colored walls is striking. Each room has soothing artwork and the quaintness of divided rooms offers a wonderfully private setting for each table. You can see those you know on the way in and out, yet not feel you’re having dinner at a large, impersonal restaurant. And then there’s the food. While the restaurant may need no introduction, the menu specials translate into a relationship with this restaurant that will not soon tire, and where living in the mystery is appetizing. My dining companion and I had two specials and two regular menu items. Our appetizers, artichoke fritters, were on the regular menu. The sight of them started the evening with an air of fun. What looked like large spindly, spiky round creatures on the plate were actually battered-dipped fried artichoke hearts. The artichoke fritters themselves had an adequate flavor, and were served with a remoulade sauce. The sauce was awkwardly sweet for our taste, but an enjoyable treat overall. From the specials menu, I had sesame encrusted ahi tuna with a beurre blanc (an emulsified butter sauce) with capers. Wow. Even though the amount of sesame seeds I expected with “encrusted” in the description was not what I thought it would be, the tuna was delectably raw in the middle and the delicious dipping sauce caused a pleased raised eyebrow right away. It was served with mashed potatoes and a combination of winter vegetables that were steamed and seasoned to perfection. From the regular menu, we also ordered the portabella stacker. This was angel hair pasta tossed with truffle oil, light pesto and tomatoes with a stack of eggplant, cheese, zucchini and roasted red peppers in the center of the pasta, topped with a portabella mushroom. It looked like a flying saucer in the middle of a wheat field on the plate, and yes, it was out of this world. The underlying theme of each meal seemed to be mystery in the balance. By that I mean, one part of each dish tended to lack flavor (not to a fault thought), the fritters, the pasta, the tuna, coupled with ingredients with an incredible burst of flavor, the remoulade sauce, the beurre blanc and the stack of veggies and cheese. That, when put together, created taste sensations to the liking of most palates - if not, one could eat just a part and be satisfied. This was even true when we ordered a salad. When asked if we wanted anchovies on the Caesar salad, there was a resounding “definitely” from me and an emphatic “no thanks” from my companion. Our professional and astute waiter offered to put them on the side and we were both taken care of. The Brickyard menu has steaks, seafood, pastas and pizzas, depending what you’re in the mood for, and still is European cuisine with an inclination toward Italian foods and seasonings. But before I sign off here, I’ll say the chocolate Grenache tort from the special desserts menu was poetry in motion and a mystery I won’t soon forget. The Grenache was a thin layer of breakable, dark chocolate on the top, with melt-in-your-mouth whipped chocolate on a bed of chocolate cookie crumbs. It’s as if the chocolate became a mist in your mouth. No chewing required and not even “melting” adequately describes the chemical reaction that took place in each bite. It was like cotton candy that becomes a liquid as you eat it, but just before that is this mist. Imagine chocolate mist. So then, don’t conceal your need for a little night time fun - live in the mystery and savor all the Brickyard has to take in because living in the mystery can be delightful. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. THE BRICKYARD CAFE 1026 Chesnut St. |
| Sugar Maple eatery all about pizza Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:55:18 -0500 I’ve been gladly writing reviews each week for a while now and each week my visits in, around and just outside of town, also bring a bit of inspiration when I sit down to write. An angle, if you will, because not only does Bowling Green have a high number of restaurants per capita, it also has some very creative minds with unique food offering ideas. This week I ate at You and Me Sports Bar and Pizza. Much as I tried to find an angle, some inspiration, I was blank. Now, don’t get me wrong, the experience was one of a kind with a staff that was both attentive and fun. The calzone was delicious. I went to report on a new restaurant in the Sugar Maple side of town and since I’m not sure what to tell you, I’ll just go with the facts, just the facts. The restaurant and structure of the bar are artistically beautiful, which, when I did a pre-visit a few weeks ago made me think this was an outside-town version of the You and Me Restaurant on Chestnut Street. The sports bar also has Mediterranean archways, deep rich wood and solid high-back bar stools. When my dining companion and I entered the other night and took a closer look at the tables, we experienced a casual setting, with pizza, pool and music - which was my first shot at an angle. When we sat at the bar, however, the height was awkward for eating comfortably. The wait staff gave us a menu right away and I could see it was limited to appetizers, pizza and calzone. I asked about salads and our server said they had none. I asked about pizza delivery and she said not yet. I asked how late they were open, and she said 2 a.m. - unless it was slow. She was very personable, talkative, informative, fun and apologetic if they didn’t have something we wanted. We decided to try a few items that sounded unique, so we ordered the “French fried 4 oz. baget” (verbatim from the menu), the tequila lime wings and a pizza calzone, which is pizza dough folded over salami, onion, garlic, tomato, ricotta cheese and parsley. There was a little confusion with the order, but sitting at the bar we had direct access to the kitchen staff through a portal, so we chatted and worked things out. What didn’t work out so well was the “baget.” It turned out to be a plate of French fries served with marinara sauce. I thought we were getting slices of sourdough-type baguette bread battered and fried with marinara sauce. The fries were thick and well made, but apparently the idea of serving the fries with the marinara sauce is why it’s called a baget instead of fries. The tequila lime wings were deep fried, lightly crispy. I was hoping for a punch of lime flavor, but the punch came from the hot sauce served with it. My dining companion had the brilliant idea of mixing the hot sauce with the ranch dressing we were also served. This created a fine combination of light hot wings with a punch. The calzone was the highlight of the evening, as I’m sure most of the pizzas at You and Me are. Is it the sauce, the dough, the unique combinations of toppings? I think it is that they take such care in all of the above, that it really does make for one of the best pizza experiences in town. After our dining experience I imagined that You and Me Sports Bar and Pizza puts more time into the live entertainment they offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, so I called a fun-loving friend, who I knew had been to You and Me the previous Friday night. She said it was fun, and the band was good, but since there weren’t many people she thought the focus was more on the restaurant aspect. Well that puzzled me, until I realized, maybe this little gem just hasn’t been discovered by any Bowling Green pizza or entertainment patrons just yet. Looking over the article I just wrote, “without an angle” I realized - it’s the pizza, stupid! So I do recommend you stop in and pick up a pizza. You might call ahead of you’re in a hurry and encourage them to start delivering as soon as they can. And finally, if you’re in the mood for more, there’s always the well established sister restaurant, You and Me Restaurant, right here in town. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. You and Me Sports Bar and Pizza 1347 Hwy. 185, Sugar Maple Square |
| Micki’s on Main reinvents menu Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:19:53 -0500 The luck of the Irish was with me this week - I visited Micki’s on Main the week they were serving green beer and introducing a new menu! I was too late for green beer, so I delighted in the new menu, reflective of the power of change. I say the power of change because I visited Micki’s a few months ago and my experience that day was a disappointment. I imagine though, when you’ve been restaurateurs as long as the owners of 440 Main Restaurant and Bar have, reinvention is part of the cycle, and my last visit must have hit the lull before renewal. And I’m happy to report on the renewal. Micki’s on Main restaurant, formerly known as the bar attached to 440, has patio and sidewalk seating overlooking Fountain Square. The staff at Micki’s endearingly refers to it as “the grill” serving lunch as the companion restaurant to 440 that serves only dinner. As is the case with 440, Micki’s menu leans toward Cajun recipes and techniques, but this new menu expands into some light salads, a stir fry entr/e and even a veggie lasagna for an international reach. My dining companion and I came in for a late lunch and were greeted by a jovial, informed and attentive waitress. We had the opportunity to witness the shift change from lunch to dinner, and the waitress treated the situation professionally with style and compassion. The rest of the wait staff could have used a lesson about teamwork from the fighting Irish this week - my experience that day was that their focus was reserved for their tables alone and after our waitress left, we had long waits for everything. We actually lucked out with the waitress, because we had planned to sit outside. Mardi Gras collided with St. Patty’s day, so the beads and clovers (not to mention the weather) drew us inside. Indoor dining at Micki’s is a one-of-a-kind, low light atmosphere enhanced by the charm of cookbooks, novels and lanterns that line the shelves above the wall of booths. Appetizers were not an option until the evening, so we ordered a side of Cajun fries and a cup of gumbo to happily fill the void. The gumbo was a rich roux of a strong, stew-like stock with okra, sausage, green peppers, rice and a variety of other spices and veggies. It was rich with chunks of each ingredient (although the menu description included chicken and shrimp, which must have missed) and just spicy enough to enjoy. I don’t know how the chef did it, but each bite was spicy in and of itself, but the heat did not escalate as I ate on, which often happens when I eat spicy food. The fries were fun and unique, with blackened seasoning sprinkled on perfectly crisp, thick-cut fried potatoes. My dining companion enjoyed a new salad called the Athena Greek tuna salad - a goddess-light, yet flavorful dream of lettuce greens, seared sashimi tuna, feta cheese, red onion, kalamata olives, tomato and cucumber with a house vinaigrette served with a peppered crispy flat bread. It was a challenge, but getting one serving of each ingredient in each bite made for a subtly flavorful experience. I had a hard time deciding between the veggie lasagna, the blackened grouper, the muffaleta or a hot brown (only because the waitress said it was the best hot brown within 100 miles), but I opted for a Bayou Chicken salad instead. This was a grilled Cajun chicken breast (same spices as the French fries), baby spinach leaves, candied pecans and bleu cheese crumbles with a balsamic vinaigrette. The menu noted the pecans were both spicy and sweet, but I didn’t get that flavor combination. The balsamic in the vinaigrette was pleasingly subdued, allowing for the natural goodness of the spinach, bleu cheese and crunchy pecans to shine through. Micki’s has taken a few things off the menu, like the cheese steak that was problematic when I visited months ago, and replaced them with an inventive mix of blackened and Cajun delights, a few southern staples and some unique new eats that will surely become your favorites before the new summer restaurant season has even begun. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. |
| A Taste of Europe offers tasty gyros Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:03:29 -0500 I have been attempting to visit The Taste of Europe for more than a month now and I finally made it in last week. This week was unique because not only was I anonymous to the restaurant, my dining companion was also not aware I was writing a review. As luck would have it, she had been to Greece a few years ago, and had a unique take on our dining experience. To begin with, she knew from her Greek island hopping days that you do not pronounce the Greek food gyro, which are predominate on The Taste of Europe menu, like “j-ai-roh,” which is how I was saying it. Gyro is pronounced, our waiter confirmed, “j-yeer-oh.” Or close enough. The “g” is not silent, but spoken with the “j” sound, just softly. This may be subjective, however, because an online search noted the word is often mispronounced and suggested the “g” is actually silent. I have to say it doesn’t matter how you pronounce it, they’ll know what you’re talking about, but the greatest challenge is in finding The Taste of Europe. It is so tucked away, that even though I was the one who suggested the restaurant, I almost couldn’t find it. It’s gently squeezed between two windows of furniture on State Street, one block from the square. It is definitely worth a little detective work, and, as my dining companion revealed to me, reminiscent of a petite, tucked away, unassuming European caf/ you might find in Greece. What you’ll also find at The Taste of Europe is a Greek specialty sandwich prepared in many different ways with different ingredients. Gyros is well-season beef shaved into fine slices from a large piece of meat on a cylinder. The meat is cut from a slowly rotating vertical spit, just like the spinning motion of a gyroscope. The Taste of Europe offers this in plate form and in sandwiches made with beef, chicken or a combination of the two. My dining companion had the “authentic” gyro sandwich with the choice of a side item, French fries, rice or small Greek salad. French fries by “default,” as the menu noted, which I thought was an adorable way of suggesting: Choose or it will be chosen for you. In sandwich form the gyro is put into a round piece of double layered flat, pita bread with tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and onions (or as you like it) and folded in half. For me the tzatziki sauce made the meal. It’s a fresh, cool, cucumber yogurt sauce with a hint of mint. It was also served with the chicken gyro plate I ordered. Instead of coming in sandwich form, my well-seasoned shaved chicken was served on a bed of seasoned rice with vegetables. The pita bread, tzatziki and a small Greek salad with feta cheese and olives was served on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor of everything. The pita bread had substance and tasteful essence, but was not heavy or chewy. The rice was tenderly seasoned with light oils, herbs and vegetables. The gyro meat and chicken, odd looking at first glance, was a unique and delicious way to eat meat. Just as it was hard to find the restaurant, I didn’t see the appetizers on the front of the menu, or I certainly would have tried the hummus. Hummus is a dip made with chickpeas, oil and seasonings and is delicious on pita bread. The Taste of Europe also serves a variety of salads (yes, including a gyro salad), pizzas for dinner, other Greek specialties and even a fajita plate. The atmosphere is laid back, just like Europe. It took me a while to pay the check, waiting for an elongated conversation to finish while I waited in line, but hey, it’s like being in another country, which is similar to being country. All life enhancing experiences, no matter how you pronounce it. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. A Taste of Europe 1006 State St. |
| Bagels and Bites has great homemade breads Thu, 6 Mar 2008 11:16:53 -0600 I usually find myself gallivanting to opposite ends of Warren and its surrounding counties, but this week I found myself back in the heart of Bowling Green at Hartland. Vincent’s Bagels and Bites drew me in, and, like a scene from a Seinfeld episode, seemed to be drawing a lot of customers in. I entered the practically empty restaurant alone, looking to place a to-go order and after a couple of minutes, found myself at the front of a long lunch crowd line that was gently and willingly herded to the right with a retaining wall for excellent organization. A wall-sized mirror on the far right wall created a large space illusion and surely made the crowd seem much larger than it was. Or not. The d/cor was simple, light, clean and cheery with several four-top tables scattered throughout the restaurant. As I ordered, I kept looking back at the growing crowd and finally apologized to the women behind me for taking so much time. When I took a closer look at the reflections in the mirror, however, the customers seemed just happy to be there. The woman behind me only needed a New York accent and it really could have been a scene from Seinfeld - she said, “There’s no right time. We’re all used to this place being busy all the time. It’s worth it.” And it was! Vincent’s has a huge variety of homemade bagels for breakfast or anytime, as well as breads, muffins, pastries, cookies and even a breakfast sandwich if you stop by for breakfast. And for dinner or lunch, there is no limit to this homemade sky! I enjoyed the Hilltopper sandwich piled high with ham, salami and pepperoni and equally generous portions of provolone cheese, onion, green pepper, lettuce, tomato and a light drizzle of Italian dressing on thick slices of homemade bread. I was impressed with the long, lean, yet large slices of green pepper, which meant I got a taste in every bite, and the fact that the sandwich was perfectly moist without any other condiments meant the flavor of the meats and vegetables shined through. Not even the thick slices of wheat bread overwhelmed, but all ingredients worked together to form a delicious symphony of flavors. The pasta salad was also moist, light and appetizing with chunks of pepperoni, green pepper and onion. Both homemade soups were equally appetizing that day. The cheesy tomato was like having spaghetti in soup form. The blend of ground meat, pipe rigate pasta (large macaroni type) and a cheesy tomato base tasted like my favorite plate of spaghetti piled high with parmesan. The base of the ham and bean soup was where most of the flavor came from, slightly salty with the bean flavor cooked right in, then little bits of ham and a generous portion of white beans to round off this savory lunch treat. The green salad too was fresh and full of vegetables. A nice touch was that they waited to put the grated cheddar cheese on until just before they gave me the salad. The staff did forget to ask about or include salad dressing, but then so did I and I wasn’t under any pressure. The three women taking and making orders worked well together, had a system and stayed pleasant no matter how many sandwiches they were making all at once. The Californian sandwich was a unique and palatable delicacy. A slice of homemade bread was spread with a spinach/artichoke cream cheese, then piled with turkey breast, onion and tomato, and finally grilled on the panini grill - a lovely indulgence no matter if it’s cold or hot outside. One glitch - I arrived home to discover I had not been given a honey-go-round sandwich I’d ordered but chicken salad. This would have been fine, if I had liked the chicken salad, but it wasn’t as flavorful as the other two sandwiches and just listen to the description of the honey-go-round: “ham covered with melted Swiss cheese, onion and honey mustard, served on our toasted onion bagel.” You can bet I’ll be back in the Seinfeld line before long to try out the honey-go-round, the hartland, the country bumpkin sandwiches and to have another one of those deep, moist chocolate brownies while I try not to hold up the line. Luckily it’s not New York or there would have been no soup for me! No, it’s Bowling Green so I got a “bless her heart” pat on the hand to take my time, and a smile! — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Vincent’s Bagels and Bites 1660A Scottsville Road |
| Awards shows are nothing without Oscar-worthy food Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:08:50 -0600 What would the Academy Awards be without delicious food to mark the occasion? In this week’s review, appetizers from previous reviews will walk the red carpet as I revisit outstanding performances in the hors d’oeuvre category. Additionally, I will introduce four appetizers my dining companions and I consumed as we viewed the Oscars, honoring that writers are again writing in Hollywood. The first two appetizers from a former review hail from Anna’s Greek Restaurant and Bar. The croquettes santorini are a delicious mixture of tomato with peppers, onion, oregano and mint, breaded and lightly fried - no dipping sauce needed. Months ago, when my dining companions and I visited Anna̵ |