Find the best street food, food trucks and food carts
SAN FRANCISCO—In light of the recent deaths in Bangladesh at clothing factories, people want to know where and how their garments are being made. Here are nine great ethical options in the Bay Area.
NAPA—The inaugural Bottle Rock Napa Valley music festival went down last weekend, and we snapped some sweet street styles from the flower crown and maxi dress loving audience.
EVERYWHERE—From our Editor’s Picks, we’ve got $6 nail polish that’s perfect to kick off you summer, a colorful dress/cover up that will lure you away from always wearing black, and a chic wallet that will keep the craziest lives somewhat organized.
UNION SQUARE—Don’t miss the big party at Uniqlo tonight. They’re celebrating the launch of their rad new limited edition rocker tees, featuring the likes of The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
Paul Melia
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It’s one way to get your bank’s attention. Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne took to Twitter this week to ask why the liquidator of the former Anglo Irish Bank refused to give him clearance to sell land to help repay his loans.
He tweeted that the Government, which owns the now renamed Irish Banking Resolution Corporation, which is being wound up, was turning down offers of “£1 in the £1″ for repayment of some of his £120m (€141m) debt, all of which is being serviced.
“Why would any sane person do that?” he wrote from his account @DuncanBannatyne.
Just two hours later, he received a letter giving him the go-ahead to sell land to help make repayments.
“Either they’re watching my Twitter or it’s quite a coincidence they responded so fast,” he said.
Despite his unusual way of conducting business, the Scottish businessman’s tweets to his 617,000 followers showed just how powerful the tool has become.
Despite being criticised as a platform of shameless self-promotion, mindless babble and pointless spam, we love the social network. We have the 10th highest users per capita, with 600,000 people sending more than one million tweets a day.
While much of that talking is largely pointless, albeit good fun, there are Twitter feeds that offer both practical advice on a range of modern conundrums, while also giving public information in a timely and accessible fashion.
It’s perhaps best illustrated by the Bus Éireann strike this week, which left 80,000 passengers a day without a service.
Not only did the company provide up-to-the-minute information through its twitter feed @buseireanndeals, it also spawned a thread (or discussion) among stranded passengers.
Using the hashtag (#) #liftfairy, passengers turned to Twitter to hook up with motorists offering lifts to towns and cities during the two-day strike.
But it’s not just in times of emergency that the tool has proven its worth.
Not only do all the public transport companies have accounts (@Irishrail, @dublinbusnews and @Luas), businesses and public bodies are increasingly taking to the service to keep their followers informed about what’s going on.
For example, Kerry County Council (@countykerry) tweeted about traffic arrangements for the funeral of teenager Donal Walsh this week.
They’re not alone – other councils including @corkcoco, @meathcoco and @galwaycityco are also tweeting away and posting updates about water supply interruptions, road closures and public meetings.
In fact, it’s almost mandatory to have a Twitter feed if you deal with the public.
The HSE (@hseLive) is online, offering advice and links to information. Looking for a job in the public sector? Follow @Publicjobs_ie for all the latest opportunities. Check out @DublinAirport for travel advice.
Most government departments are also on board but not, seemingly, Children and Youth Affairs, despite Twitter being a basic part of a teenager’s communications armoury.
But it’s not all about accessing public services. Local festivals and events are also using Twitter to communicate with the public, spreading their message at no cost.
@galwayartsfest should be followed for details on next month’s Galway Arts Festival, while @DubTheatreFest will provide updates on its September programme.
But what about tips on dealing with household problems?
@Rentokil, the self-proclaimed experts in “pest control, bugs, nasties and creepy crawlies too”, answers questions on woodworm and tells us about “insects which may be lurking in food”.
Having a problem finding somewhere to dispose of old electrical waste like kettles, tvs and computers, especially given it’s now illegal to throw them in the bin? @ERPIreland tells the public when and where they’re hosting open days where the waste can be collected and recycled.
And after sorting out all those household problems, you might fancy something tasty for dinner – but the wallet’s a bit short as you’re a week away from payday. Check out tweets from Irish site @CheapEatsDotIE, which gives information on special supermarket offers and meal deals.
On the same topic, @Bordbia also suggests good foodie events around the country, ranging from French food and wine festivals to seeking tweeters to judge the Irish cheese awards at the Bloom festival.
And there’s no reason why you can’t combine books and looks, by checking out @ByrnesBooks – the twitter account of Charlie Byrne’s bookshop in Galway – which details new stock just in, while @beautie asks the intriguing question: “Have you joined the No Poo Movement?”
It’s not, as the tweets suggest, an anti-laxative, but involves washing your hair using only conditioner.
There’s no end of news Twitter feeds, including @Independent_ie and @rtenews.
But by far the biggest Twitter sensation over recent months has been Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield).
He tweeted pictures of earth he took from the International Space Station over the last five months, including a number featuring Ireland, the first Tweet from space as Gaeilge.
He also managed to squeeze in shooting the first music video in space, a cover of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’, released the day before he left the ISS.
It’s been seen by more than 10 million people and re-tweeted countless times. That’s a lot of chirping.
Irish Independent
EASTON — People soon will be able to sample and buy local wine alongside farm-fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets across Maryland.
The new law, House Bill 978, which was passed in the 2013 Maryland General Assembly earlier this year, establishes a new off-site permit and removes previous county-by-county restrictions and limits on the number of markets, or market days, a winery may attend. It goes into effect June 1.
“If you look at … the anatomy of a farmers market, it is entirely focused on promoting locally produced, locally sourced products, and that’s wineries,” said Kevin Atticks, executive director of the Maryland Wineries Association. “Our local wineries are agriculture. They’re growing fast, they’re marketing their own wine and they’re trying to sell their wine.”
Atticks said wineries used to be able to attend only 12 off-site events a year, and a $25 dollar fee came along with each event a winery wanted to attend, as well as an application to the state to attend a specific event 20 days before it happens. So the process, along with being a lot of steps to go through, could get somewhat expensive for wineries, he said.
Plus, he said, farmers markets who hosted wineries had to go through an alcoholic awareness program, and the current permitting process places that responsibly on the wineries, which should already be certified.
“Now, the farmers market just has to be a farmers market and isn’t required to have any certification and or permits and approvals beyond their normal thing of just being a farmers market. All of the permitting is under the winery,” Atticks said. “The new law is kind of an admission that wineries should be able to market their products, wineries should be trained to do so and farmers markets, all they need to do is invite the wineries.”
Atticks said the new permit for wineries to sell their products at farmers markets will be an annual $100 fee, and wineries can attend any farmers market in Maryland, providing the market invited the winery and it is a certified farmers market with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
However, local laws on wine sales and sampling prevail over this state law, even if they are more strict than what’s allowed by the new permit.
The law also allows wineries to be at 21 other off-site events, including community fairs, home and garden shows, craft festivals and wine festivals, as long as the sponsor of the wine festival is a nonprofit.
Atticks said farmers markets are exactly the market in which wineries need to promote, as people are already buying local products.
“When they can taste the quality of the cheese, the peas, the tomatoes, they become regular customers and they go back for those products, or become aware of them, then ask for them and buy them wherever they buy their wine or groceries. After all, that is the end goal,” he said. “I don’t think most farmers and wineries have an end goal of selling their products in one market on one day. They want to have their cheese in the place that cheese is sold. To break through the marketing of bigger brands is to sample it, to offer it and be where people are already scouting for local products.”
Centreville Main Street Manager Carol D’Agostino said she tried to get similar legislation specific for Queen Anne’s County noticed in the past general assembly, and worked closely with Atticks, as he was working to move the statewide form of this legislation forward in the general assembly.
D’Agostino said she originally wanted this legislation to pass to bring more variety to Centreville’s farmers market, which is in the middle of downtown.
“The more different type of products we have, the more different shoppers we’re going to get and the more synergies between the farmers market and the down businesses that we have,” D’Agostino said.
She said wineries are becoming popular in Maryland, even when people think about the economic impact the wineries will have on the tourism industry.
“With the wineries, they’re drawing from Pennsylvania and New Jersey and Delaware, and these people stay in hotels, they eat at restaurants and then they go home. That’s the perfect guest,” she said.
D’Agostino said the Centreville market already has its first winery joining the market, Tilmon’s Island Winery of Sudlersville.
She said the winery will use up its old special events permits to begin selling at the Centreville market starting Saturday, May 18, and the market currently is recruiting additional wineries. For more information, wineries can contact D’Agostino at 410-758-1180, ext. 13, or mainstreet@townofcentreville.org.
Other farmers markets embraced the new legislation with open arms.
Ann Yonkers, co-executive director of FRESHFARM Markets, said FRESHFARM embraced bringing wineries into its farmers markets when the old permitting process was still in play, but it makes sense to her that wineries should be allowed at farmers markets when they choose.
“Wineries are agriculture enterprises and they’re an important part of the changing face of agriculture, so we welcome … giving them access to do direct local sales,” Yonkers said.
SAN FRANCISCO—In light of the recent deaths in Bangladesh at clothing factories, people want to know where and how their garments are being made. Here are nine great ethical options in the Bay Area.
NAPA—The inaugural Bottle Rock Napa Valley music festival went down last weekend, and we snapped some sweet street styles from the flower crown and maxi dress loving audience.
EVERYWHERE—From our Editor’s Picks, we’ve got $6 nail polish that’s perfect to kick off you summer, a colorful dress/cover up that will lure you away from always wearing black, and a chic wallet that will keep the craziest lives somewhat organized.
UNION SQUARE—Don’t miss the big party at Uniqlo tonight. They’re celebrating the launch of their rad new limited edition rocker tees, featuring the likes of The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
Posted: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 1:12 pm
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Updated: 10:16 pm, Wed May 15, 2013.
Work It, Richmond
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Tell us the basics: Who are you, what’s your company’s name and how long have you been at this company?
My name is Monique Pecora. My company is Monique’s Crepes LLC. I created the company in 2011 and started business in June 2012.
Food trucks are a growing business. Why did you pick crepes for your truck?
My mother is French, so I grew up enjoying crepes. I attend many outdoor events and thought it would be great to offer an interesting and delicious alternative to the typical fare that is offered.
What time of day (or what sorts of places) do you see the most sales and business?
Being new at this, I can only comment on my limited experience. But for the food truck scene, weather is a huge factor no matter what time of day. We see the most business at events where we know that there will be a lot of foot traffic or a captive audience. We have enjoyed good success at South of James Farmers Market and also at the food truck courts at the Virginia Historical Society, First Fridays and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned during the recession?
Plan carefully and do not take anything for granted.
What’s a business you admire, and why?
I admire Stone’s Throw Studios out of Montpelier. Beth Royal and Chuck Burnette were referred to me when I was searching for graphic designers to create the wrap for my trailer. When I met them, I knew right away why they came so highly recommended. They are a very cordial and energetic team and helped me tremendously. They were so easy to work with, had terrific ideas and all the work was completed within the agreed upon timeframe and proposed cost. I had some idea of the images that I wanted to incorporate, and they worked with me to design the beautiful trailer wrap that they created for Monique’s Crepes.
What’s coming up for your business in the next year?
We are planning to participate in some multi-day music festivals, as well as food and wine festivals. We will also be catering more and will continue to seek venues and locations where folks can enjoy our crepe creations.
Is there a secret to your personal success? Perhaps a piece of advice you’ve always remembered?
Throughout my working career, I have always believed that my three keys to success are preparation, integrity and diligence. Growing up, my father taught me that determination and fortitude will allow me to complete any task, no matter how difficult or insurmountable that it may seem.
What’s the part of your job you dread the most?
Having never driven a trailer or large pickup before starting this business, the part of the job that I dread most is maneuvering the trailer in or out of a difficult parking area, especially in reverse!
What’s the part of your job that excites you the most, the thing that makes you want to hurry to work?
By far, the most excitement for me comes from interacting face-to-face with customers and having someone come back to me to tell me how much they enjoyed my crepe. Prior to starting Monique’s Crepes, I worked in an office environment where I interacted with people primarily through a computer or over the telephone. I thoroughly enjoy the personal engagement with my customers that my business has provided the opportunities for.
© 2013 Work It, Richmond. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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We’ve all heard of wine festivals but Frederick, Md., has taken it up a notch with its Craft Beer Festival this Saturday.
On May 18 you can enjoy tasting more than 124 delicious, fresh and local beers from more than 25 Maryland brewing companies. Don’t worry about having to find a babysitter for the kids, this event is family friendly. Children and adults can enjoy a wide selection of Bluegrass/Folk/Americana performances, as well as mouth-watering local seafood, BBQ and soft drinks.
Adult admission tickets are $20 in advance and $30 the day of the event. Tickets include beer tasting tokens and a commemorative tasting glass. Designated drivers and youth tickets (age 12-21) are $5 in advance and $10 the day of the event. Kids under 12 are free.
The festival will be held from noon-6 p.m. at the Carroll Creek Park in downtown Frederick, with entrance on South Market Street. Address: 44 South Market St., Frederick, Md., 21701.
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Rep. Becky Nordgren, R-Gadsden
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A House of Representatives committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow Alabama winemakers to sell their products at tasting rooms at locations other than at the winery and at licensed special events.
The bill would still have to pass the House and Senate to become law. There are just four meeting days left in the legislative session, including today.
“I’m not living under any illusions that it’s going to have time to pass both houses,” said Rep. Becky Nordgren, R-Gadsden, the bill’s sponsor.
This is the third year for Nordgren to sponsor a bill intended to help the wineries expand their markets. Alabama has about 15 wineries.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board opposes the bill because it would allow wineries to operate both as manufacturers and retailers. State law sets up a three-tier system for alcoholic beverages, separating manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.
Nordgen’s bill would allow each of Alabama’s wineries to obtain licenses from the ABC Board to operate up to four tasting rooms where people could try their wines and buy bottles to take home. Nordgren said the tasting rooms are needed partly because the wineries tend to be in rural areas that don’t attract large amounts of traffic.
In addition to the tasting rooms, her bill would allow wineries or an association of wineries to obtain licenses to have special events, such as wine festivals, at which they could sell their wines.
The festivals could last no more than three days. The bill would limit wineries or winery associations to no more than 10 special events a year.
Nordgren said the festivals and tasting rooms would help wineries build their businesses. As of now, they are generally unable to generate enough sales volume to make it worthwhile for a distributor to handle their products, which means their wines aren’t available in stores and restaurants.
“My main thing is I want our wineries in the state of Alabama to be able to flourish and grow,” she said.
Lobbyists representing beer wholesalers and retail package stores spoke against the bill at a public hearing last month. They called for lawmakers to uphold the three-tier system.
Nordgren said if the bill doesn’t pass this year she plans to return with something similar next year.
Rohrersville, MD (PRWEB) May 15, 2013
Big Cork Vineyards, the second largest vineyard in Washington County, Md., is excited to announce they have been selected to share their fine, handcrafted wines at a wine tasting party during the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The party is exclusive to film festival organizers attending Cannes and will take place Tuesday, May 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. The party is sponsored by FilmFestivals.com in association with FashionTV Red Carpet Lounge, IndieFlix, MusiVision Films, Emotion Film Factory, Champagne 1er cru Croix d’Irval and Seriously Inc.
“We are thrilled to share our wines with festival organizers and represent Washington County during the Cannes Film Festival,” says Big Cork Vineyards President CEO Randy Thompson. “Big Cork Vineyards’ goal has always been to provide unforgettable wines that encourage people to unwind, grab a glass and celebrate the best things in life. We can’t think of a better opportunity for festival organizers to do just that during the hectic film festival circuit.”
Bruno Chatelin, board member of the European Film Academy, advisory member of the International Film Festival Summit and the CEO of FilmFestivals.com, invited all guests to bring their favorite wines to share — something they like or something that grows in their country. Tracie Hovey, Vice President of the Maryland International Film Festival and Business Development Director for Power Marketing, the firm responsible for Big Cork Vineyards’ advertising, is attending the festival and encouraged Big Cork Vineyards to supply their varietals during the party. Guests of the wine tasting party will sample four of Big Cork Vineyards’ signature wines: Chardonnay, Traminette, Vidal Blanc and Late Harvest Vidal Blanc.
Big Cork Vineyards currently sells and samples the four varietals at community events and wine festivals throughout Maryland. Wines will also be available this summer at local wine stores. A 9,600 sq. ft. sunlit tasting room and farm winery production facility are set to open in the spring or summer of 2014.
About Big Cork Vineyards:
Nestled on 100 rolling acres in Maryland’s Pleasant Valley, Big Cork Vineyards is a local legacy in the making. The winery is dedicated to producing 13 fine varietals and providing an unrivaled tasting experience. No expense has been spared to ensure that Big Cork’s wines capture the soul and stature of their grapes, their vineyards and their winemaker. For additional information, contact Communications Specialist Krista Scarlett at Krista(at)PowerMarketing(dot)com, or visit the winery’s Facebook page.
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Disney guests can sip and savor fresh flavors from six continents during the 18th Epcot International Food Wine Festival Sept. 27-Nov. 11, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney chefs will debut the authentic tastes of Scotland at the celebrated 46-day festival known for innovative food, wine, beer, cocktails, music and entertainment. The sizzling aromas of more than 25 ethnic and specialized marketplaces including Africa, Brazil and Florida Local will tempt guests strolling the World Showcase Promenade. Celebrity chefs like Warren Brown and Jamie Deen will bring culinary cachet to special festival events and demonstrations.
Festival planners will present a delectable menu of premium programming, plus daily wine tastings and mixology seminars. Nightly Eat to the Beat concerts will keep the party rockin’, and five bands will make their festival debut this year. In Future World, the iconic Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog will return for a third year to introduce families to the cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.
Other festival highlights include:
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MUSKEGON, MI – The business development sweepstakes to operate the beach bar property at Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Park has received a new entrant as city commissioners prepare to review three proposals next week.
The city received a third, late proposal from Harris Hospitality – operators of four Muskegon-area restaurants, including Dockers Fish House Lounge at nearby Harbour Towne. The city of Muskegon already had two proposals from Jon Rooks of Parkland Muskegon Inc. and from Michael Kordecki’s McGraft Park LLC, both meeting the city’s April 23 deadline.
City Manager Bryon Mazade said the Harris Hospitality proposal will be presented to commissioners, who will have to decide whether to waive the deadline and consider it along with the other two.
A city review committee has recommended the city commission complete a deal with Harris Hospitality for the beach bar property at the Lake Michigan park, Mazade said. The city commission will make the final decision.
The three proposals for the former CJ’s on the Beach building at 1601 Beach St. will be presented to city commissioners at their Monday, May 13, work session at 5:30 p.m. The public meeting is in the commission chambers at Muskegon City Hall, 933 Terrace St.
Harris Hospitality’s Fred Scharmer said his company’s proposal was late because the family business had another out-of-town project on the table that fell through. Harris Hospitality had an interest in the beach bar property, but only wanted to tackle one project at a time and is now able to focus on the city facility, he said.
Harris’ proposal is similar to Parkland’s and McGraft Park’s ideas for the vacant restaurant building with spectacular Lake Michigan sunset views. The building is in need of major renovation.
All three proposals look at general beach concessions in the building with restaurant and bar operations. Rooks and Parkland have a second phase, a new $4 million to $6 million boutique, extended-stay hotel adjacent to the beach bar site that could be developed in the future.
City staff has reviewed the three proposals, along with a committee that included a representative of the Beachwood-Bluffton Neighborhood Association and Commissioner Byron Turnquist, who represents the west end of the city, Mazade said.
The Harris Hospitality proposal is to begin operations with frozen yogurt shop in the building. As renovation allows, the restaurant group would then create a banquet facility and a bar and grill.
The proposal calls for beach equipment rentals being operated from the building, such as bicycles, beach chairs, water toys and small watercraft. The Harris proposal also calls for a food truck operation as part of the development.
The Harris proposal represents an investment of $425,000 to $625,000 and the operations would have 40 part-time employees during the summer months and 14 during the offseason. Harris Hospitality told the city it would like to begin some operations this summer, but a state liquor license would take three months to secure.
Harris Hospitality over the past decade has developed Pints Quarts Pub and Grill and the adjacent C.F. Prime Chophouse Wine Bar in Roosevelt Park, Dockers in the city of Muskegon and Verdoni’s/Oliva’s Market in Norton Shores, along with a catering business. Those restaurants have included major building renovations to launch the new businesses, Scharmer said.
Rooks and Parkland Development own and operate the downtown Shoreline Inn and Suites, Lake House restaurant and Terrace Point Marina. Rooks is a longtime West Michigan developer who most recently created several condominium projects in downtown Grand Rapids.
Rooks also is developing a 70-lot residential neighborhood on Muskegon Lake adjacent to the Shoreline Inn, creating a market-rate apartment building out of the old downtown Comerica Bank tower and redeveloping the city’s former Central Fire Station into his company’s offices.
At the beach bar property, Rooks proposes two-phases of redevelopment that would include creating the Beach House Waterfront Grille, a bar and restaurant with an accompanying banquet and wedding event center – up to a $300,000 investment. The boutique hotel idea is separate and would be evaluated in the next two or three years, according to his proposal.
Kordecki owns the downtown Noble Building, which is the planned home of the new Pigeon Hill Brewing Co., one of two microbreweries slated for downtown Muskegon. At Pere Marquette Park, Kordecki wants to create a beach activity and event center that would include a restaurant and lounge.
His McGraft Park LLC would have a concession business in the beach bar building that would support a variety of activities such as sand volleyball, catamaran sailing, bicycle races, wine festivals, sunset kayak tours, skateboarding competitions and youth exercise programs. The potential investment would be $210,000 over the course of three years.
What will become of the former CJs on the Beach building will begin to be decided by the city commission at the Monday work session. The city owns the beach bar property and through court action earlier this year obtained the building after the previous owners were unable to open last summer due to financial difficulties.
The building is constructed around an old beach pavilion that was converted into a restaurant in the 1970s.
Email: dalexan1@mlive.com
Facebook: Dave Alexander
