Paperhand Puppet Intervention

This evening I went to see Paperhand Puppet Intervention's performance of "I Am An Insect", which was held at the North Carolina Musuem of Art's 2700 seat open-air theatre. It's a nice venue that I'd never been to before. For most of the wheelchair accessible seating, if the person in a wheelchair brings others along, they need to bring their own chairs. There's one almost pier-like area, where I sat, that has chairs and even a few tables, but also had a thick wire mesh to keep people from leaping off. I kind of liked the notion of having a cage like thing protecting me from the rest of the crowd (or them from me), but it wasn't a clear view.

I really enjoyed it. While some parts were more exciting than others, over all, it was beautifully done. I liked the fact that it could be appreciated on various levels in that I'm sure that the many kids there enjoyed most of it, but the political and environmental commentary provided adults with some thought provoking material as well. For example,there was a solemn, yet elegant, reminder of the concerns of colony collapse disorder. I also found myself wondering how the creationists in the audience were enjoying the show.

Note that I'll have to remember that the flip camera did a much better job of capturing a highlight of the performance, given the action and the dim lighting. Other than the crowd shot, my blurry still photos aren't worth sharing.

New Raleigh has an extremely good review of the this year's performance. I will definitely be looking forward to seeing more exhibits of creativtiy from Paperhand Puppet Intervention during next year's season.

Guest Blogging at North Hills Buzz

Before you go to North Hills, in Raleigh, you need to take a look at North Hills Buzz, which does an excellent job of covering virtually everything there is to see and do there. Jason Peck asked me to be a guest blogger for North Hills Buzz and I am very thankful for the opportunity. You can check out my post about Hot Point Cafe and see everything that the site has to offer while you're there.

Neomonde Bakery and Deli

I've effectively been quarantined since Wednesday night, so I haven't exactly ventured out into the world to have interesting experiences, much been less able to actually taste any of the food that I've been injesting. Fortunately, there are some things that I've been meaning to write about for a while.

Warning: The following information is not about Durham, quaint Hillsborough or Carrboro. It's about Raleigh. Please avert your children's eyes as necessary.
A few weeks ago, before going to the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show, I went to Neomonde Bakery and Deli, which is just down Beryl Road from the J.C. Raulston Arboretum. It's a cafe serving wonderful Lebanese food. They have another location in Morrisville, but I first started going to this original location many years ago. I didn't see the owners this time, but the gregarious brothers used to cheerfully chat with us each time we came in. They expanded this location since the last time I was there and I marveled at how much it had grown.

I came in eager to have a falafel sandwich and it definitely hit the spot.

We also split a spinach fatayer, which is a spinach, tomato, onion and olive oil filled pastry. It used to be one of my favorite meals when I was a teenager.
They have a wide array of desserts. This is where once I infamously said I would have "one bite" of a cream puff and I left just one bite for my Most Faithful Reader to eat. Fortunately, they don't sell cream puffs anymore or I would be likely to demonstrate my generosity once again. AE bought some halva, which is a dessert made from sesame seed paste and strangely reminds me of malted milk balls.
They've also always had a market area where they sell nuts, dried fruit, spices and all kinds of other cooking ingredients in large quanitities, for low prices.

Favorites from CDC

As I'm sure many of you guessed, I did go to the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show on Saturday and I had a great time, as always. I spent too much money, but it's something for which I mentally have an annual budget. Actually, as far as earrings go, I only bought four pairs, which may be an all-time low. New work by Nell Chandler, Janet Harriman and Sandra McEwen was amazing, though.


I didn't take too many pictures, but here are a few displays that I thought looked particularly nice from a distance. Marti Mocahbee, from Staunton, VA, throws gorgeous and vibrantly colored pottery that looks almost as if it is made of glass.

Larry Favorite's work has literally been a favorite of mine for many years. He inlays ironwood with turquoise, which results in a striking combination. His workshop is in Mebane, NC and I've been meaning to go see it for ages. As part of the guild's new Masterworks program, he's recently started working in a large-scale, more two-dimensional form, which is very impressive.

Thanksgiving Weekend: CDC

Every Thanksgiving weekend, the Carolina Designer Craftsmen guild has a show at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. It's not to be missed. In fact, the only time I've missed it in the last fifteen years or so was when I had a bad case of the flu.

If you are looking for gifts or just love jewelry, turned wood, quilts, pottery, dyed silk and other fine crafts, then you need to go. The artwork is lovely and I always enjoy talking to the artists and artisans that sell their work there. In fact, I always plan to spend at least four hours there every year.

Carolina Designer Craftsmen
38th Fine Craft and Design Show
EXPOSITION CENTER
North Carolina State Fairgrounds
1025 Blue Ridge Road
Raleigh, North Carolina

Friday, Nov. 23, 6pm-9pm
Saturday, Nov. 24, 10am-6pm
Sunday, Nov. 25, 11am-5pm

$6 Daily Admission
$8 Weekend Pass
Children under 12 Free