Holiday Gift Menu at Honey Bee Bakery and New Year's Eve at Ravine - is this a great town or what? Read on, read on...

Holiday Gift Menu from Honey Bee Bakery - THE Best Bakery in Oxford!

Sweets $25 (one dozen)
Iced Holiday Cookies
"Present" Petit fours
Belgian Chocolate covered Rum Balls
New Orleans style Pralines
Variety Sweet Box

Breads $12
Sweet Potato Pecan
Pumpkin Spice
Pear & Cinnamon

Tarts $25 (9 inch)
Southern Pecan
Chocolate Truffle
Pumpkin

Gift Certificates in all denominations!!!

Orders must be placed by 10am for pick-up the following day

Honey Bee Bakery
2305 W. Jackson Ave
662.236.2490
http://www.thehoneybeebakery.com/


And if that wasn't the most delicious holiday-inspiring list you've ever read ... read on, my friend, just read on...

Season's Greetings from ravine,



I hope this email finds everyone well and in the Christmas spirit! I know most of you are concentrating on the holidays, but I thought I would take a moment to talk about New Year's Eve at ravine.


Certainly, many of you will be going to Texas to watch Ole Miss pummel Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl on January 2nd. For the fortunate people who will count down 2009 in Oxford, allow me to tempt your tastebuds with the event we are putting together.


For the third year, we are putting on our Truffles and Bubbles NYE event. The menu will be structured similarly to years' past, with four full courses, and some smaller, surprise courses thrown in throughout the meal. There will be choices at each of the full courses, ranging from foie gras, to lobster, to racks of venison. The menu can be found online at our website, oxfordravine.com.  I've just copied and pasted it below:

New Year's Eve Ravine Menu


Amuse Bouche
a little something extra from the kitchen to get your palate excited


First Course
duck three ways—roasted breast, confit of leg, seared foie gras, cherry star anise gastrique
or
Coldwater langoustines butter poached and served with a corn, bacon, and celery root custard, finished with bacon and roasted garlic aioli


Second Course
jumbo lump crab and sweet potato bisque, seasoned with curry and coconut milk
or
salad of mache lettuce, with lobster, mango, cucumber, and avocado, coriander vinaigrette


[Intermezzo]
champagne and raspberry sorbet


Entree
chargrilled rack of venison with red wine braised chanterelle mushrooms, atop crispy cumin and goat cheese polenta
or
sautéed hawaiian escolar atop butternut squash risotto, finished with a meyer lemon and white truffle emulsion

Dessert
chocolate espresso cake with chocolate hazelnut ganache and dark chocolate mousse
or
tart tatin tower of apples braised in caramel jus, filled with apple pastry cream, pecan sable cookies


Truffles and Bubbles

We are even more excited about the prospect of pairing wine with our amazing food this year for the first time. Unlike some other restaurants here in town, the wine pairing will not be mandatory and is completely optional. However, we will have some fantastic vino available to be properly paired with each full course, as well as some surprises throughout.


Many of you that know us are aware that we usually do not brag or blow our own horns much. However, in this case, we feel that we will have the best gastronomic event in Oxford, if not the state, this New Year's Eve.


So, if you are going to be in town, call and make reservations soon before we fill up on our time slots. We will not be overbooking, as the night should be leisurely and relaxed.


Seating times will be 6-630 or 8-830, and you are more than welcome to ring in the New Year at ravine if that is your wish. We will have plenty of bubbly on hand for those that wish to stay. The cost will be $65 per person, and the optional wine pairing a mere $20 extra.


Thanks, and Merry Christmas to each of you.


Joel+Cori+Henry

Joel Miller
ravine
53 cr 321 oxford, ms 38655
http://www.oxfordravine.com/
662.234.4555

The YAC Holiday Party and Ornament Auction were awesome! Thanks to all the local vendors and artists who donated!

The Jingle Bell - best new drink of the season made with TY KU Asian Spirits!!! 

TY KU Liqueur

Splash of Club Soda

Squeeze of Lemon

Cranberries

Film ornament by Michelle Emmanuel of the Oxford Film Festival!

Silent Auction!

Honey Bee Bakery table!  I parked myself there for quite a while...

Shannon Adams of Honey Bee Bakery

Snowbunny ornaments by Laurie G. Fisher!

It was an awesome party!  Thanks so much to Wayne Andrews, Becky Tettleton, Alice Walker and volunteers for organizing and putting on such a great holiday bash!  Thanks to all of the vendors who donated all of the food and spirits for the party - and thanks to all of the artists who donated handmade/decorated ornaments for the silent auction!  Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

Bid on handmade ornaments by local Oxford artists at the 2009 Annual Holiday Party & Ornament Auction

Proceeds benefit the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and the Powerhouse Community Arts Center.  Party is free for YAC members and for artists who donated an ornament.

A selection of the handmade ornaments that will be for auction are on display in the windows of Neilson's on the Oxford square.

Buy Handmade at this year's Holiday Arts Market 2009 at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center!

Take the handmade pledge and try to buy handmade items for holiday gifts this year.  It's so important to support your neighbors and your community by purchasing things created or made by the people who make your community what it is.  So many of our family's Christmas lists are filled with electronic items this year.  If I feel that I have to get a particular item for someone, and that gift is not handmade, I make sure to buy something handmade in addition to that gift, for someone else or just to have a few extra options to add to last minute gifts.  There will be 21 Mississippi artists selling their handmade or handcreated merchandise at this year's Holiday Arts Market at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center, the market starts on Thursday, December 3rd.  Check out this fantastic shopping opportunity and get your handmade goods!
Don't forget the opening reception/party for the Holiday Arts Market is Thursday night, 5pm - 6:30pm, December 3rd!  Wine and Snacks!  Free and Open to the Public!

This sounds delicious...

Cook Eat Share cordially invites you to the last table this year - Trinidad Table, which will be held on Friday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m. at The Oxford Depot.

We invite you to explore Caribbean flavors as a true melting pot cuisine, with Trinidad, Tobagoblends Amerindian, European, African, Creole, Indian, Chinese, and Lebanese gastronomic influences. This twin island nation may be too far for you to travel just for dinner, but you can come lime and enjoy a home-style Trinidadian meal prepared with our own sweet hands ('lime' in Trinidad means 'hang out' and 'sweet hands' refers to good cooking).

Limited seats: first come, first served.
Email your reservation to ceshare@olemiss.edu, then purchase your tickets with your confirmation number. The cost is $22 per person.

Appetizers

Pholourie with tamarind sauce-fried dough in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Buljol-salted cod fish with peppers, onion, and tomato.

Entrees

Curried Goat-highlighting the influence of the Indo-Caribbean population,tender stewed meat in a spicy broth served over rice.
Coocoo and Callaloo-the prevalence of okra-based dishes stems from African roots. Coocoo is cornmeal cooked with okra, and is very similar to polenta. Callaloo is Trinidad's national dish, a zesty soup made from okra and leafy greens.

Plantain-a savory cousin to banana, it is prepared by frying or boiling.

Dessert and Beverages

Black Cake-a traditional holiday sweet treat.
Sorrel-a distinctive drink brewed from the flowers of the Hibiscus plant.

Cook! Eat! Share! is affiliated with the University Counseling Center and the International Program Office. For inquiries, please contact Daphne Ingene at ceshare@olemiss.edu

Start looking for all of your old cell phones now!

Ole Miss Supports Our Mississippi Soldiers

The University of Mississippi has partnered with the Cell Phones for Soldiers organization to support our efforts to recycle cell phones across campus. Each cell phone that UM collects will result in 60 minutes of pre-paid phone cards to MS soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Collection points are located throughout the university campus as well as in Oxford.

Collection Drive –November 21

Ole Miss vs. LSU football game

Help us reach our goal of collecting 5,000 cell phones--one for each Mississippi soldier serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. In addition to this ongoing campus-wide effort, we are conducting a collection drive on Saturday, November 21, with the entire extended UM community and visitors that come to campus on gameday. Everyone coming to Oxford for this game is encouraged to bring their old cell phones and as many you can collect in your hometown.

 

Three convenient stations will be set up to collect phones on gameday. A tent will be set up outside each of the three collection points: the Starnes Athletic Training Center, the Student Union, and the E.F. Yerby Conference Center. Please support this effort and bring your old cell phones to the game!

“There is no greater gift we can give to our soldiers than the gift of keeping them connected to their families and loved ones. This is a wonderful program!”

1SGT C. Williams, Senatobia, MS Delta CO., 2-198th CAB Balad, Iraq

Collection Process and Stations

Cell phones may be donated at several drop-off locations or by mail.

Gameday Collection, Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Volunteers will be collecting cell phones at three collection points. Look for our Cell Phones for Soldiers collection tent in the following locations:

Student Union Plaza

E.F. Yerby Conference Center

Starnes Athletic Center

Pre-gameday Drop-Off Locations

On Campus:

Student Union, near the food court
John D. Williams Library
Inn at Ole Miss lobby

Off Campus:

Oxford Public Library

Chamber of Commerce

Mail

Cell phones may be mailed to the following address:

Cell Phones for Soldiers Campaign

P.O. Box 1848

University, MS 38677

Supporting Organizations

Alumni Affairs, Scott Thompson, thompson@olemiss.edu

Office of the Dean of Students, Melinda Pullen Carlson, mpullen@olemiss.edu

Office of Sustainability, Anne McCauley, admccaul@olemiss.edu

Phi Beta Sigma, Triston Anderson, tkander1@gmail.com

Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Derek Horne, dhorne@olemiss.edu; Juliana Smith, jbsmith6@olemiss.edu; and Colin Moleton, cmmoleto@olemiss.edu

Please clear private data off your cell phone prior to donating.


For more information on how to clear data from your phone, visit: http://www.recellular.com/recycling/data_eraser/default.asp

For more information on this national campaign, please visit the website: http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

A green message sent to all Ole Miss students...

UM Students,


An idea has been presented to me that I¹d like to pass on to you. If you
are interested in reducing Ole Miss¹ environmental impact or in saving Ole
Miss dollars, please read on.


Over the past few years the University has been putting forth effort for
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in new
construction projects and renovations. The new Law School and the Center
for Manufacturing Excellence are great examples. Ideally, the University
will save the money it spends on these projects over a matter of years in
electricity, steam, chilled water, etc. A byproduct (and a great selling
point for UM) is lower greenhouse gas emissions.


However, the cost savings which are estimated at building times are not
necessarily evaluated during the lifetime of the project. Also, while the
potential for long-term energy savings exists due to the design itself,
actual savings can be hugely affected ­ positively or negatively ­ by how
we operate and maintain the building over its useful life.


My proposal is this:


For those of you that would like to take an active role in seeing real
savings in University dollars and lowering the GHG emissions from our
campus, and for those of you who would like hands on experience in campus
affairs, please step up now. We have the power to assist or even lead the
University in becoming more responsible. This would be welcomed by the
administration, especially the University architect, Ian Banner, who
presented this idea to me.


I have a few ideas, but I really want this to be a diverse group with
input coming from everyone, students to faculty and eventually contractors
and the physical plant.


Please contact me if this proposal appeals to you. I will be in touch
with you with a date for an interest meeting. Most likely, it will be in
the last week of the semester, and we will discuss steps forward.


We have the power to see a more responsible, prosperous Ole Miss if we
work together.


Thank you for your consideration,


Jonathan Jones
Junior, Chemical Engineering
Office of Sustainability
Jdjones12@olemiss.edu
(228) 265-3723


Ian G Banner
Facilities Planning
Director Of Facilities Planning And University Architect

Marni Kendricks
Assistant to the Dean
UM School of Engineering
120-B Carrier Hall
Phone: 662-915-5373
mckendri@olemiss.edu

The Gulf Coast is in for a blow - Tropical Storm Ida makes landfall at 6am, Tuesday, November 10

Tropical Storm Ida is on her way!

Image curtesy of FEMA

Visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency's website to download disaster supply kit checklists, Hurricane preparedness guides and games for children.

http://msema.org/preparation/hurricanes.html

Strut Your Mutt! This Sunday, November 9th, 2009 on the Oxford Square!

Strut Your Mutt
Sunday, November 8, 2009

Meet on the beautiful Oxford Square on Courthouse Lawn & stroll through the Grove on the Ole Miss Campus
Dog walk to benefit the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society pets. $25.00 to walk. Participants will receive refreshments and official tee shirts. There will be treats for the pups, too! Let's have fun, get fit and help the animals of the OLHS! Register between 1-2 pm and walk between 2-4 pm.
Want to help raise more money? Download our Entry Form here and get your family, friends, or co-workers to sponsor you during the walk! Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners who raise the most money!

For more info, call Hattie at 662-236-7631 or email Hattie.Alton@gmail.com

Green + Pizza = Students / Associated Student Body at Ole Miss to host Green Initiative Pizza Meeting

From the Associated Student Body at the University of Mississippi:

Dear Students,
The ASB will be hosting a townhall meeting on Thursday, November 5 at 12:15 in the Southern Breeze. This town hall meeting will be centered around the new Rebel Pedals bike sharing program and other green matters on campus. This will not only serve as an opportunity for students to learn more, but as a venue for the ASB to hear from the students and their concerns and opinions regarding these matters. There will also be Free Pizza, while it lasts. Please come out to hear about the ways that the campus is becoming green.

Today is the last Wednesday of the Mid-town Farmers' Market - get your last tomatoes of the season!

According to Bost Farms, today is the last Wednesday of the Mid-town Farmers' Market.  When I went on Saturday, they had red and green tomatoes.  The green ones were the best green tomatoes I've seen all season - rock hard and green apple green - perfect for frying.   Also, this past Saturday, the Jumbo Shrimp seafood truck was there.  I'm guessing she might also be there today with the Bost Farms people. 

The last Saturday market of the season is this Saturday, November 7th, 2009.

Red, Blue & Green - Ole Miss' Mike Mossing & Jim Morrison talk substantive change beyond "green marketing"

Today, Monday, November 2, 2009, Mike Mossing, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Jim Morrison, Director of Strategic Planning and Campus Sustainability Coordinator, gave an hour long lecture concerning the green initiative at the University of Mississippi. 

The green initiative at Ole Miss began in 2008 when then Chancellor Khayat signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.  With this action, Khayat actively pledged to eliminate the Ole Miss campus' greenhouse gas emissions over time. This involves:

•Completing an emissions inventory

•Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral.

•Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions.

•Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience.

•Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.

Mossing began his portion of the talk by explaining his part in the initiative: to as accurately as possible measure the carbon footprint of the University.  With many a pie chart and spreadsheet, Mossing illustrated the insane task of calculating all that is burned/emitted within the boundaries of Ole Miss, adding off-site powerplant usage and all that contributes to this equation but is not under the aegis of Ole Miss - such as waste water disposal, emissions from people travelling to and from Ole Miss and transmission losses in powerlines.  One can easily go cross-eyed imagining Mossing's daunting task!  Luckily, he had help from the Clean Air - Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator.

Mossing stressed his interest in including the commuter travel to and from Ole Miss, stating that he believes solving commuter issues will drastically decrease the amount of energy consumed by the University. 

After combining so much data, Mossing concluded that the average Ole Miss student contributes 7.1 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year.  While the average U.S. citizen contributes an estimated 20 metric tons, one might also consider that 7.1 metric tons is twice as much as the average global citizen per year.

Jim Morrison outlined many of the green initiatives that are ongoing and in line for the future of a greener Ole Miss:

1.  Energy management - all of the Ole Miss campus buildings are now on Smart Meters - and soon you will be able to log on to the school's website and see how the utilities are measuring up per building.

2.  Rebel Pedals - the bicycle sharing program of the University of Mississippi. Rebel Pedals was established to make the quality of student life better by giving students increased access to affordable bicycles, a healthy alternative to driving a car. Our mission is to promote bicycling as a desirable means of transportation in a greater effort to strengthen a culture of sustainability on campus.

3.  OUT - ride the free bus provided by grant support and the University.  A dollar a ride, free to senior citizens

4.  Coming soon (we hope) a Rebel Car Share program - much like ZipCar in Washington, DC.  University of Alabama has all ready implemented this program.

5. More recycling bins in the Grove - there is actually a major demand for recycling in the Grove.  Morrison reported that 9,000 coke bottles were recycled after the Alabama game a few weeks ago, and that 1,300 lbs of recycling was collected from the Grove, as well as 700 lbs from the stadium.

Morrison also hopes that by the end of 2010, Ole Miss will have access to a complete recycling station on campus - one that separates recyclables via machine, and this work won't have to be done by the hands of volunteers.  ****"CRUNCHTIME" is a gameday recycling program under the umbrella of the Green Grove Initiative.  Volunteers are needed for a two hour shift of education and outreach for the Tennessee football game which is on 11/14. Depending on game time, the shift would begin 3 hours before kickoff and would end one hour prior to kickoff. Also, in an effort to increase the overall excitement of this initiative, we are utilizing gameday door prizes as an outreach tool to engage and educate tailgaters on UM’s gameday recycling efforts. The primary role for each of the volunteers will be to sign up tailgaters in the weekly drawing once tailgaters agree to commit to supporting the gameday recycling efforts within their own personal tent. We’ve had great success with this initiative during our two previous home games. We were able to collect nearly 1800 pounds of aluminum cans and plastics bottles during the Southeastern Louisiana game alone. Also, we need volunteers to sort collected recyclables every Monday following home football games at the Oxford recycling center on South Lamar. This usually begins around 4:30 and ends anywhere from 5-5:15. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to know more about "CRUNCHTIME" or sorting on Mondays contact Elliot Warren, Office of Campus Sustainability, ebwarren9@gmail.com.****

He also mentioned that all of Ole Miss' lawnmowers are now running on a 30-40% mix of gasoline and oil from the various cafeterias on campus.

Morrison reminded everyone that the next big initiative coming up is the Cell Phones For Soldiers recycling opportunity that's coming up in a few weeks:

The University of Mississippi has partnered with the Cell Phones for Soldiers organization to support our efforts to recycle cell phones across campus. Each cell phone that UM collects will result in 60 minutes of pre-paid phone cards to MS soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Collection points are located throughout the university campus as well as in Oxford.

Mossing and Morrison gave a great talk about all things green at Ole Miss - I was definitely impressed by their efforts and their goals.  It's not an easy thing that they are facing, but they are both very sincere in their work to actually make Ole Miss a carbon neutral University, and they are certainly not hiding behind any trendy slogans.  The Ole Miss Green Initiative is for real, and I hope they will continue to receive grant funding and support to propel their many ideas.

Green Bag Lunch series at the University of Mississippi - Nov 2nd at Barnard Observatory

The University of Mississppi offers this lecture Monday, November 2, 2009 - free and open to the public.

Monday, November 2, 2009  Going Green: What Does It Really Mean?
Mike Mossing, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jim Morrison, Director of Strategic Planning and Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Dr. Mossing will discuss the results from the university's first greenhouse gas inventory. Dr. Mossing led the effort to complete the inventory while serving as Faculty Fellow for the Office of Campus Sustainability. Jim Morrison will share information about current and future green initiatives and ways individuals can get involved.
Join us at noon in the Barnard Observatory lecture hall.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

(Squirrel pumpkin by Laurie G. Fisher!)

SOS - Dogs seized from puppy mill in Bay Springs, Mississippi need homes!

Dogs Seized from Bay Springs Puppy Mill

Written by Gail Brown

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 18:30

FORTY-THREE DOGS SEIZED FROM BAY SPRINGS, MS

PUPPY MILL TRANSPORTED TO OLHS

October 24, 2009 Bay Springs, Miss — The Bay Springs Sheriff's Dept. in conjunction with the ASPCA seized 43 dogs from shockingly poor conditions at a Jasper County puppy mill. Conditions were found to be so deplorable that law enforcement obtained an emergency search and seizure warrant. Forty-three of the most critical dogs were seized with 60+ remaining on site. Dogs seized displayed severe neglect including eye and skin conditions, malnourishment, and parasites. Dogs seized included Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Basset Hounds, Schnauzers, Feists, Poodles, and Bichons including Shih Tzu/Papillon mix breeds. Animals were transported to the OLHS on October 25 where staff and volunteers worked to set up and supply food, water, blankets, toys, and attend to medical issues.

Volunteers worked Monday on grooming dogs, but there are still many in need. If you can help with grooming or can sponsor a dog for grooming, please contact the OLHS at 662.236.7631. All dogs are viewable under the OLHS "Adopt A Pet" link. If you are interested in adopting one of these loving babies, please complete our online application or come by the shelter.

The Mid-Town Farmers' Market rocks on ... don't miss what might be their last of the season this Saturday ...

Fresh mustard greens, tomatoes, yellow squash, cucumbers and Brown Family Dairy milk from the Mid-Town Farmers' Market - this Saturday's market might be their last of the season, don't forget to check it out, 7am-11am at the Mid-Town shopping center in Oxford, Mississippi - just past the square on North Lamar.

Yappy Halloween!

Yappy Hour at Parrish's was a big hit!

This pug was my favorite in his Pepé Le Pew ensemble.  Amazing!

Yappy Hour is a monthly event and proceeds benefit the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society of Oxford, Mississippi.

The latest from ravine restaurant in Oxford, MS...

First and foremost, thanks to all of you that have been supportive in different ways over the past month. Our pursuit of fair and equal treatment from the state of Mississippi in regards to resort status will continue. I will keep you informed as the developments unfold over the next few weeks and months.

The next wine tasting will be Wed, November 4th, at 6 pm. The theme of the wine and food pairing will be pinot noir, as we will taste terroir from all over the world. To enable our ability to have some better tier wine, the cost will be $35. We will pick a couple of wines from our list, but also order some special wines from the state just for this pairing. I hope you will join us for the exciting pairing, remember to call early if you are interested. The last pinot noir tasting we had sold out quite quickly.

Thanks as always, remember we have started a new brunch menu, as well as live music for Sunday Suppers!

Best,
Joel


Joel Miller
ravine
53 cr 321
oxford, ms 38655
www.oxfordravine.com 
662.234.4555

A special thanks to The Oxford Enterprise!

The Oxford Enterprise is the new Sunday paper in Oxford, MS.  The current issue features an article about me in the Arts & Entertainment section.  The paper is for sale around town for $1.00 (cash only at Kroger or 4 quarters only in the dispensers.)  It's a fantastic issue, it includes a powerful guest commentary submitted by Milly Moorehead West, "Oxford should make 'Going Green' a real plan of action, not a slogan."
Buy a paper today!  (And don't forget to recycle it!)

Haunted House at the Library Bar on the Square - ya'll it is really scary...

Visit the Haunted House at the Library Bar & Grill on the Square tomorrow night 5-10pm, and don't forget to check out Yappy Hour as well at Parrish's!  $5 per person!  Proceeds for both events go to the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society!

Oxford's first ever Haunted House on the Square - tonight and tomorrow night! - Get a free pass to Yappy Hour if you attend!

(This image is curtesy of  http://www.bluebison.net/ - might be my new favorite art site - the artist offers free original drawings in all sorts of formats for non-commercial use!!!  Check out the free pdfs to download as coloring pages!)

Tonight is the first ever Haunted House on the Square at the Library Bar & Grill!   5-10pm!  Proceeds go to the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society.  Admission is $3 for kids, $5 for adults, and you can get an unlimited pass for $10. It's going to be really fun! The OLHS staff worked really hard on it all day and night and it looks great!  This is a haunted house for kids, it is going to be a scary but it is going to be kid friendly!


Please help spread the word! It's tonight and tomorrow night from 5-10PM.
Library Bar and Grill

120 South 11th Street
Oxford, MS 38655
662-234-1411

From their website:  Haunted House - Oct 26th & 27th, 2009

The Library Bar and Grill is hosting a Haunted House October 26th and 27th with all proceeds going to the OLHS building fund! Join the spooky fun on Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, Oct 27 from 5 PM - 10 PM. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for the kids and $10 for an Unlimited Pass. The Library's Bar will be closed/no alcohol served. Those who visit the Haunted House will also receive a "Free Pass" to Yappy Hour at Parrish's for Tuesday, October 27th from 6 - 8 pm. Fun for the whole family!

Please support the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society in their efforts to raise funds and complete their new building project.  Click here to see photos I took of their current shelter.

The Midtown Farmers' Market continues through the end of October - get your fresh produce while you still can!

The remaining vendors that continue to sell at the Midtown Farmers' Market are Bost Farm, Brown Family Dairy and the Jumbo Gulf Shrimp vendor (pictured above).  I wanted to buy something from this seafood vendor, and I was so thrilled to be able to purchase some crabmeat!  (It was delish!)  They also sell boiled gulf shrimp, heads on shrimp and peeled shrimp, and shucked oysters.

I'm more of a Chesapeake Bay seafood kind of gal, but gulf crab is also delicious.

Brown Family Dairy eggs and gulf crabmeat -

There is nothing I love more than a fantastic crab cake...

I [heart] my Green Pans.  If you haven't gotten rid of all of your old pans to switch to these, I highly recommend doing so.  They are great pans, they cook fast with or without oil and are so easy to clean! 

GreenPan is a Belgian cookware manufacturer which is the first to launch PTFE free non-stick cookware. 

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is most well known by the DuPont brand name Teflon, and is used in many types of cookware pans, but it also has numerous other applications.  The EPA's scientific advisory board decided in 2005 that PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) — a chemical compound used to make Teflon—is a "likely carcinogen."  Currently this chemical is not regulated by the EPA but can be found in all of our old non-stick pots and pans.  Yikes!

Crab cake dinner - gulf crabmeat crab cake made with Brown Family Dairy eggs, soup made from Bost Farms yellow squash and sweet potatoes from the Farmers' Market grocery store, and asparagus from the Farmers' Market grocery store.

I used the Very Crabby Crabcakes recipe from this awesome book - I Love Crab Cakes!  This book is one of my favorites, it has 50 great crab cake recipes, from simple to complex! 

Bon appetit and thanks to the Midtown Farmers' Market for all of their lovely produce!  They have a new website that they are having trouble with, but they should have it running correctly by next season.  They also have a weekly e-mail updating customers about the vendors, produce and entertainment that will be at the market each week.  To get on their e-mailing list for next season (starting in April 2010), contact Errol Castens errol.castens@djournal.com.

Mark your calendars for the first Haunted House on the Square and for Halloween Yappy Hour!

First ever HAUNTED HOUSE on the square!!!!! The Library Bar & Grill is hosting a bone chilling Haunted House to benefit the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society October 26th and 27th from 5-10 PM. The cost is $3 for kids, $5 for adults, or buy an unlimited pass for $10. Get ready to be frightened by ghouls, ghosts, and goblins! The Library Bar & Grill will not serve alcohol and the bars will be closed, it is going to be open both nights as a Haunted House ONLY. You'll walk on paths through three rooms of the entire building. The walk is approximately 15 minutes depending on how fast you walk/run through the terrifying haunted house! (This will be a kid friendly event).
Don't forget Yappy Hour Tuesday, October 27th at Parrish's on the Square from 6-8 PM! Feel free to bring your furry friends if socialized and friendly. There will be food from Parrish's and Lenora's, beverages, Yappy-tizers for your pets, and LIVE music. The pet with the best Halloween costume wins a prize! Get a free pass to the haunted house when you come to Yappy Hour.

Ole Miss Health Fair October 28, 2009 - they've got flu shots!

Ole Miss Annual Student Health Fair
Wednesday October 28, 2009 in the Student Union from 10am-2pm.
Come by to receive free screenings such as HIV testing and counseling, bone density, hearing and eye exams, cholesterol, blood pressure, body composition, and even a free massage! Learn about what organizations and practices are available to you on campus and in the Oxford area while benefiting from free give-a-ways and coupons for these various practices and organizations.
Mississippi Blood Services will have their blood donation unit parked in front of the Union. Please consider stopping by to donate. Flu shots will also be available at the Health Fair!

The Midtown Farmer's Market to continue through the end of October...

The Midtown Farmer's Market in Oxford, MS will continue to sell produce through the end of October.  (The official city of Oxford website says it ends in September - confusing!)  A few vendors continue to sell produce on the regular market days: Saturday mornings 7am - 11am and Wednesdays 12 noon to 5pm.  Check it out if you're in town and get your hands on the freshest local produce!  I buy nearly all of my vegetables from Bost Farm.  The Bosts come from Water Valley, MS to sell their fresh garden vegetables at the Midtown Farmer's Market.  Their selection generally dictates my menu, so we eat a lot of squash, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and onions.  The market also all most always has Brown Family Dairy milk and a big truck selling fresh seafood from the Gulf.  The milk is divine, I have yet to try any of the seafood.  For more information, visit the city of Oxford website's page about the market.  If you've never seen the big sign for the Market, it is located in the parking lot of the Midtown shopping center on North Lamar Boulevard.  It is in the same parking lot that is shared by such favorite local spots at Big Bad Breakfast and Snack Bar, and the shopping center is across the street from Volta Taverna.

I [heart] Star Package Wine & Spirits Store in Oxford, Mississippi!

Star Package - the best wine & spirits store in Oxford, Mississippi - now gives away these bottle totes when you purchase 6 bottles to a case.  How nifty is that?!  We have used our 2 Star Package tote bags twice all ready - they are majorly handy when travelling to the Grove.

It is my own opinion that Star Package is the best wine & spirits store in Oxford, although I do think they were voted best by a recent poll taken by The Local Voice.  The folks that work there are so pleasant - and they are so helpful and knowledgeable about what they are selling.  I was also so pleased/shocked to discover that this small, family-owned business also has a terrific website - so many businesses in Oxford do not have websites.  Check out Star Package's website and print their 10% off coupon!

Star Package Inc

308 Jackson Ave.
Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662-234-3331
Contact: jeannezinn@ms.metrocast.net

* Note of interest - When I first moved to Mississippi, I had never heard of a "Package Store."  I was driving around Oxford and saw Star Package for the first time and noticed all the alcohol bottles and liquor signs in the windows.  I went home and told my husband about the funny store that sells boxes as well as alcohol.  He explained to me how the name "Package Store" has stuck ever since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.  Apparently a political compromise between the temperance movement leaders and the government was reached whereby containers of alcoholic beverages could not legally be carried in public without being concealed in a brown bag or "package."  Thus, stores that sold alcohol wrapped or "packaged" their bottles for their customers' convenience.