Riverfest

As we moved down the boardwalk, we were met by contrasting images. A vendor was selling confederate flag paraphernalia while Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" was blasting from a tent a few feet away. We eventually made it to the VIP tent where we ate BBQ to the sounds of the Marshall Tucker Band.

I have written on several occasions that a music festival--City Stages--drew me back to Alabama. Well, Riverfest in Gadsden, AL also made me feel proud to be southern and to live in Alabama.

If you check out the official Alabama Tourism site, Gadsden is located in the river region. I have made several trips to Gadsden over the years. When I was driving back home from Charlottesville, it marked the last hour of my trip. It is home to Top of the River--only THE best catfish in the country.

A friend mentioned the band lineup didn't seem to fit my musical taste. There was a local band at the beginning that we missed that played RnB. The Marshall Tucker Band was amazing to listen to live. Anyone who includes woodwinds in their lineup is alright with me. The guitar and bass solos were outstanding. I am not sure who was on electric guitar, but I might put him in the same league as Carlos Santana.

We took a walk along the Coosa River. Many Alabama landmarks retained Native American names. It was beautiful. Despite intermittent rainfall, the river was decorated with pontoons, speed boats and other water vehicles. There was even a one year old in his Pac n Play on one of the boats.

We made our way back to the tent that was blasting Beyonce earlier that night. You know the one near the confederate flag vendor? Walk It Out...A Two Step...Do the Stanky Leg...These young teens were workin' it out to the latest hip hop music. BTW-Most of the dancers were white.

Charlottesville music scene captured in Live from the Hook

Did you know the Charlottesville music scene was an intersection of cultures and musical genres? It was a blend of rock, blues,and Reggae at a time when it was taboo for kids to listen to black music. Read about Live from the Hook from the perspective of an 80's alumna.

Fiesta de la Aventura

Join Alabama Adventure and HOLA Latino
for Fiesta de la Aventura. Sunday, June 21 at 11:00am - 8:00pm at Alabama Adventure Park, 4599 Visionland Pkwy, Birmingham, AL. Call 951-0255 for more information.

Pho Que Huong Vietnamese Restaurant in Birmingham, AL

I had a great meal at Pho Que Huong today on Green Springs Highway. According to PhoQueHong.com, "PHO, a uniquely Vietnamese creation, dates back to the 10th century and means "Noodle Soup". QUE HUONG means 'Native Village'".

Pho is located in a section of Birmingham that has really changed over the years. Green Springs showed early signs of globalization. You can get Korean, Mexican, and Vietnamese food all within a few steps. Mediterranean, Italian, authentic Chinese and traditional southern food are within a few miles. There is even a Peruvian restaurant posing as a Mexican restaurant three traffic lights away.

My first visit to Pho several years ago was with someone who spoke Vietnamese. He selected my dishes. It isn't a prerequisite, though. Neither the waitress nor I could speak Vietnamese. Today I took the safe route and ordered a chicken dish with lemongrass and mushrooms. One of my friends ordered a noodle dish.

FYI: Pho is actually in the Homewood section of Greensprings. Homewood is a suburb of Birmingham.

Julian Bond and the intersection of RnB and Rock

Music history buff or just wondering about the origins of Rock N Roll? Check out UVA professor Julian Bond's podcast, "Crossing the Color Line" Rhythm and Blues to Rock N Roll. The lecture was given during the UVA 2009 summer reunion.

Diverse Airport Food

Does anyone else consider food options when selecting domestic flights? Of course I would never fly out of my way to get to an airport based upon the food. However, if the layover is long and all other factors are equal, I like to go to a place that has the best food options. I think that the International concourse at the Detroit airport is my favorite. For some reason, Mediterranean food sticks in my mind. While I was in the Atlanta airport, I found a fusion dish at TGI Fridays that was pretty good. So, to avoid the long search that I had last night, I need suggestions for future travels.

On a side note, just to help you understand where I am coming from, my friends think that I am kinda weird. Why? When I travel to D.C., I like to eat on the bottom floor of Union Station for lunch at least once while in the City. I like to go to three or four different restaurants representing different regions of the world. It is like being at an international food festival!

Tell me where to eat Fly People.

White Corn in a Suitcase

I LOVE white corn. I used to think it arrived in a suitcase. When we lived in Boston, Kansas and California, my relatives always brought white corn, Alaga syrup and Red Diamond Coffee with them in a suitcase. I was amazed that everyone had the same exact same suitcase. Now that I am an adult I think perhaps my mother sent a suitcase home (Alabama) with each relative and the next visiting relative was responsible for filling the suitcase.

At the Alabama farmers market yesterday, I almost bought corn, but I had flashbacks of sitting in the kitchen with my grandmother shucking corn. I LOVE fried or sauteed corn as some would call it, but I wasn't willing to give up my social life to work for it.

I also LOVE roasted corn. It doesn't have to be white, but the chance of a piece of yellow corn coming across the table at a family event is pretty slim. When I was in Malawi, we would pull over to the side of the road and buy roasted corn on the cob. I can't remember what kind it was.

My Uncle Gene is the corn roaster of the family. Every other July, I would wait for him to fire up the grill and roast the corn. I think he put it in the coals or something. My cousin B took on the role of the grill master. He is a great corn roaster too.

Someone who must not know me well, sent a bag of uncooked corn still in the husks home to me via my husband. Wait, an oven roasted corn recipe. "Stick corn in shucks on oven rack for 30 minutes. Peel back husks. Eat."

Until I can find the grill master, the oven is going to have to do.