Friday, June 29, 2007

Chocolate Fondue at Dantes

Last week, it was celebration time for my wife and co-workers of hers. Many of them got new jobs, which meant that we were all moving out of state to different colleges.

We decided that the celebration should be at Dante's Down the Hatch. This is no normal dining/fondue experience. Being the second oldest fondue restaurant in the US, the venue is athe result of collecting architectural elements, niches and whole rooms. A nautical theme pervades the whole place, with sitting areas being either on the wharf and or the sailing. Inside the ship is the jazz band, outside it is quieter and in the moat live crocodiles that are Dante's pets.

Since the chocolate fondue is only done once a night, Dante himself joined us to hold court for about an hour while the preparations continued. Conversation with Dante are both a catalog of his knowledge and experiences, as well as a barrage of questions aimed at all at the table. He learned about our jobs and college educations, and we learned that his mother was the last Montessori teacher to be taught by founder Maria Montessori. We also learned he has visited Siberia and Tibet. After the geography and education lessons, he went on to detail the involved process of fixing the chocolate for the fondue.

It's 8-hours of folding the chocolate and honey mixture. And we were eager to get our hands on it. Soon enough, small vats of chocolate and a huge fruit plate arrived. And with that Dante left us to eat.



We were sitting in a savaged catholic bishop's room. The fondue itself was not a single bubbling vat of chocolate, but collection of smaller pots withing easy reach of the 7 of us.


And this last picture was taken after 2 hours of eating.


All in all, a very good night.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Exposed on Flickr: My Pix

Two companies have asked to use my online pictures for site-related purposes. Its interesting for two reasons:

1) Being on Flickr means being on a site that people are using for business purposes.
2) The companies involved are looking to the internet community for free images that they would otherwise have to pay for.

Food for thought. For me at least.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

The New Sound: The Noise in My Head

One of my big regrets having lived in Atlanta all this time is never hitting the Decatur Social Club. The glitchy electro and French dance the kids have been playing always got me interested. But I am old and wasted my young energy decades ago and don't have any to spare now a days.

But it doesn't keep me from filling the iPod with all sorts of hellacious electronic noise. My newest purchase, Teenage Bad Girl's Cocotte off of iTunes. I'm a big fan of the huge, jagged -wave synth sound that's coming out of France. Justice are DJs/band that has that sort of sound. July 10th has them dropping their latest noise attack on the states.

Does It Offend You, Yeah is an unsigned DJ who put out a great DJ mix (downloadable MP3) on London's XFM. Also on my radar is Kissy Sell Out.

But the ones who do it most for me and the ones who I think are going to be around the most are Soulwax. After putting out a perfectly good album (Any Minute Now) that was better than 80% of the stuff released, the boy who are both a band and DJ's remixed the whole album and created a monster that always pleases (Nite Versions).

So I'm older than I ever was and now I'm getting older. But it don't mean I have the "oldies, but moldies" playing on the stereo. I'm hoping the neighbor's complaints will keep me young.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Atlanta Planet Pride Heyyy 2007

The hood is hopping. Pride weekend is in full force this weekend. The danger of living in a neighborhood this close to the parade route is wanting to say "Happy Pride weekend" but not knowing the persuasion of the people walking by.

We saw three guys walking around and I said, "Which one is Cadillac and which one is Tom Cruise?" Don't understand the reference? Spend 3 minutes with this genius bit of animation and you will.



Happy Pride Weekend!

Friday, June 22, 2007

They Write the Songs: Working with Musicians

My jobs always have me meeting interesting people and one of the last jobs I've worked was no different. 3 of the four guys I working with are in bands. Jason is the drummer for Dead Confederate. Their myspace page has them describing themselves as "Rock / Psychedelic / Other". What's really cool is that they just got signed to a label and are doing a bunch of touring.

While talking about his band schedule, I met another new guy (to me) who was also in a band. Jason was talking about hitting some cities in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. Mo mentioned that his band was flown in a military cargo plane to perform for the soldiers at Guantanmo Bay. His band, Mother's Finest.

Mo's got a sweet ride that he built himself. The doors come from VW Beetle, he salvaged wood from a shipping pallet for the roof and steering wheel and the trunk has been cut down to fit his Frankensteinian monster of a hot-rod. If I had only seen it in a picture I wouldn't have looked twice, but I feel in love with this thing when I saw it. I love the carpeted doors.



Moe's Truck, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.




Moe's Truck, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.




Moe's Truck, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

More Mapping: Google Maps Addiction

I continue to add place to my Roadside Attractions, Museums, Etc. google map. As I cruised the net amassing more weird and unique places to visit, my wife looked over my shoulder and said something to the effect, "This used to overwhelm me, I thought we were going to have to visit every one of these places last summer." While in a dream-world, cruising the U.S. (before tackling the rest of the world) would be a wonderful way to spend time, I like being married more.

Back to my latest find. Margaret's Grocery and Market is an almost perfect intersection of my interest in folk art and masonic tourism.

This fantastic place was built by Reverend H.D. Dennis and named for his wife.

From Lucky Mojo's entry on Margaret's Grocery and Market

"...what will be apparent to any Freemason viewing this illustration, is that the Double Headed Eagle atop the signage is not just any eagle: it is that of the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite. Furthermore, the two pillars flanking the door of the store are marked with the golden letters B and J, initials familiar to all Masons."

This place look fantastic, and so worth a visit. Must drive more!

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Roadside Art Online: Margaret's Grocery environment
Flickr: Search for "Margaret's Grocery"

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Cabinet Magazine: Amassing the Complete Collection

I started collecting Cabinet Magazine. An odd, satisfying magazine of arcane information, theory and facts. From low-brow and mundane to esoteric and obscure. The need to get the complete collection has taken hold. I've got 12 of the 25 published issues (green), leads on 5 issues (yellow) and no info on the remaining 8 (red).

Anyone with suggestions, leads and actual issues for sale feel free to leave a comment.

Issue 1 - Invented Languages
Issue 2 - Mapping Conversations
Issue 3 - Weather

Issue 4 - Animals

Issue 5 - Evil

Issue 6 - Horticulture

Issue 7 - Failure

Issue 8 - Pharmacopia

Issue 9 - Childhood

Issue 10 - Property
Issue 11 - Flight

Issue 12 - The Enemy
Issue 13 - Futures

Issue 14 - Doubles
Issue 15 - The Average
Issue 16 - The Sea
Issue 17 - Laughter
Issue 18 - Fictional States
Issue 19 - Chance
Issue 20 - Ruins
Issue 21 - Electricity

Issue 22 - Insecurity
Issue 23 - Fruits
Issue 24 - Shadows
Issue 25 - Insects

Friday, June 15, 2007

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Searching for Culture in Houston

Our move to Texas is still months away but I am cruising the web for places of interest in Houston. I feel like by the time we get there I'll be pretty well schooled in the city's attractions.

One source for unique Houston locations is Hot Town, Cool City. Included is a map ( I *heart* maps), links to the locations, and a trailer to a movie of the same name as the site.




"Houston’s people are not just friendly —they are intimate —the City and its people are intimate, passionate, and diverse. It is the power of these qualities which makes Houston a COOL CITY. The passions of artists, chefs, philanthropists, business owners, and individuals have built a city of hidden gems that are right out in the open. When we read between the lines defined by the freeways we find a treasure map, with those gems waiting to be discovered."

The Aurora Picture Show looks like a great arts movie venue. The preview got me intrigued, and isn't that what the movie is for! Its seems like a big ra-ra-cheerleader lovefest, but that's okay. It's nice to see people enthused about their city and for good reasons.

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Also found, this great picture of Houston at night.


Foggy Lady, originally uploaded by Erci.



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My Houston Google Map
Houston - a photoset on Flickr
Flickr: Photos tagged with nationalmuseumoffuneralhistory

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

New Orleans-Style Snowballs, On Ponce

After this Atlanta Exxon Mobile gas station refused to help a stabbing victim, no one should support the business. But that being said, do stop by for the snowballs by Orleagian Snowballs. The business started by former New Orleans residents is run independently of the Exxon Mobile.

Today, I spotted the bright green cart in the gas station's lot (on Ponce and Moreland) and hoped to visit it soon. Having seen the cart on Piedmont and Monroe, I was pleased to find them closer to home. 'Soon' turned into this afternoon and I was getting a sugar fix with the missus. Joining us was a friend that never had one before (New Orleans style that is).

Owner Kenneth Woodfin describes the snowball (on Atlanta Cuisine Restaurant Talk) this way, "An Orleagian Snowball is an addictive frozen dessert that consists of tightly packed snow drenched with choices or combinations of up to 30 handmade flavored syrups. In addition, its lactose and fat free."

While not officially open, someone (possibly Kenneth) was there prepping the new stand. This is apparently the second one the displaced New Orleaneans have opened. Despite him planning on opening tomorrow, he was happy to give us what we came for, 2 small Dreamcicles and one 1 small cherry. Seriously nice guy!

So, go already.

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For more Oreagian related links see:

Orleagian Snowballs Cart - Atlanta Photos - IgoUgo
The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State

A Couple of Pictures from Derby Night

My camera can't capture the action of the Atlanta Rollergirls. Which by the way, was a great night of derby. So a couple of outside shots will have to do.

Park Here, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Sunday Smackdown: ATL RLLR GRLZ

It's Sunday, you know what that means. No, not a day spend in reverent reflection of all that god has given us.

It means rollerderby!

Apocalypstix vs. Denim Demons.

Yeah, I'll be there!