Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Yappy Hour at Taylor's Pub tonight!!


Come enjoy Yappy Hour! Proceeds benefit the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society!

Tuesday, September 29th at Taylor's Pub from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Feel free to bring your furry friends with you and let them enjoy the company of other animals and yappy appetizers! Please bring only well socialized and friendly pets! The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. All proceeds will go into the building fund for our new shelter. We will serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and have plenty of delicious treats for you and your pets!
I am so thrilled that they used my photographs on their website - check it out!

Show your support for Ravine on Monday, October 5th, 9am on the second floor of the Chancery Court

I was so spoiled this past weekend and got to have Sunday brunch at Ravine, one of my favorite restaurants in Oxford. Everyone loves to visit Oxford and eat on "the square", which is the historic center of downtown. But when you live in Oxford, you can get really tired of the square. It's too packed on football weekends, and there are all these cute places and restaurants that are elsewhere - it's so refreshing to "meander away from the square..."

french crepes with orange zest, strawberries, coconut, and whipped cream (and a side of fried potatoes)
benediction- two poached eggs on muffins with country ham, hollandaise

I feel so bad for the owner of Ravine, up against these crazy liquor laws of Lafayette county. I don't understand why, in the face of this sad economy, Oxford doesn't change their old laws at least to aid potential profits from tourism! Haven't these lawmakers heard of having a mimosa with Sunday brunch?

The latest from Joel at Ravine...

I was hoping to update each of you on our pursuit of a Sunday sales exemption from the state of Mississippi. As well, I am attempting to galvanize more public support for our cause.

I have attempted to work the State tax commission behind the scenes, and to no avail. Apparently, the new chair of the commission, Ed Morgan, has made a political decision to not issue any more Sunday exemptions in Lafayette County. My next option is quite the long shot-- getting the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors to send off a petition to the MSTC, asking for my hours to be amended on Sunday.

I have had two supervisors tell me that there is a lot of opposition against my selling alcohol for six hours on Sunday. I keep asking where all of this anti-alcohol sentiment is coming from, since I have had no one email, write, or call in opposition. No picket lines in front of the restaurant, no sit-ins, etc. I am thus asking those of you who believe in what we're trying to accomplish to come out to the next Supervisor's meeting and support our petition.

My goal in asking this is to demonstrate to the board that there is a significant population, a silent majority, of citizens who have no problem with our having limited Sunday alcohol sales. We are a respectable, responsible, contributing member of the community, and are being unfairly targeted because of others' abuses in the past.

The meeting is Monday, October 5th, at 9 a.m., on the second floor of the Chancery building. I know many of you will be hard at work that day, but if you can take half an hour of your time and be present on our behalf, Cori, myself, and the entire ravine staff would be most grateful.

In any event, I sincerely appreciate all of the encouragement and patience you all have shown throughout this process. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Thanks,

Joel

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

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Ravine restaurant in Oxford to have live music on Sunday nights!

The latest from Joel, at Ravine:

We had a great success with the tomato dinner this week, and many people got a sneak peak at our new wine list. I had many more people show interest in attending than we had room for, so we are planning a second tasting this month to accommodate demand.

There will be another wine pairing on September 23, at 6 pm, and the cost will still be $25. I am trying to work out a tomato supply from my farmer in Taylor, and I should be able to put on the same tasting. If not, we will most likely prepare a food menu, and then build the wines from our new list around the food.

Also, we will have a guest wine guru for the 23rd-- his name is Joseph Thompson, a recent addition to the team here at ravine. He has a great amount of experience with wine, including a lengthy stint as a wine steward in California. Have no fear, Dr Juergens is still with us, just thought an occasional change would be interesting.

If you have not already signed up, please call me at your earliest convenience to secure a spot!

Finally, we are going to begin a series of live music performances here at ravine on Sundays. This will go along with our Sunday Supper theme of a casual, relaxed atmosphere with a great prix fixe menu. The price will remain the same, there will be no cover charge, and we will have some delicious sangria available to anyone who might like to come and try a glass! This week, it will be the blues and folk duo of Jake Fussell and Jamison Hollister. Come and check it out.

Thanks as always,

Joel

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

Friday, September 11, 2009

Gee, that's sweLL! Laurie Fisher and Lizzie Oglesby sell art at the B.B. King Museum's one year anniversary!

Oxford artists Laurie Fisher and Lizzie Oglesby will sell original paintings, photography, note cards and handmade jewelry at the one year anniversary celebration of the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi, Saturday, September 12, 10am - 2pm. Come celebrate with us!
B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
400 Second Street
Indianola, MS 38751

Thursday, September 10, 2009

So much goodness! Don't forget to take advantage of the Midtown Farmer's Market before the season ends!

First, I've been meaning to give a shout out to BP gas stations. On the long drive from Virginia to Mississippi, I picked up a few snacks after getting gas at a BP station in Alabama - and the man working the register put all of my snacks in this cute paper bag! The bag was made of recycled paper and the bottow of the bag asked users to please recycle the bag as well. Way to go, BP, your branding and choice of bag made me love to buy gas from you even more! (Read this to find out why I try to always buy gas from BP.)


The Midtown Farmer's market in Oxford, Mississippi is winding down. The official end date of the market will be the last Wednesday in September, the 30th. The market is located on the north side of the Mid-town Shopping Center parking lot on North Lamar Boulevard (click for map).

One thing worth trying is the Brown Family Dairy's milk. You can buy it at the Midtown Farmer's Market - or the Farmer's Market store is also selling it. You get a discount on your next bottle if you bring your used bottle back.

Sunflowers are $1.00 each at the Midtown Farmer's market.