Still a work in progress. I’m going to be solo traveling internationally for the first time later this summer, but how does it look? It’s definitely a lot, but I think as a solo traveler, it should be feasible. Still need to research Florence and maybe more sites. Plan is to really soak up the culture and experience. I’ll be mainly using transit, except for the handful of days where I’ll need to rent a car.
Day 1: Naples Sites: - Castel Nuovo - Piazza del Plebiscito Food: - Pizzeria Brandi (For OG margarita pizza) - All’antico Vinao - Mary’s Sfogliatella
Day 2-7: Amalfi Sites: - Path of the Gods - Lemon farm tour - Salerno (to visit WWII sites) - Sunset cruise - Morning cruise and snorkeling - Sorrento (half-day) - Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius and Herculaneum Food: - Just going to wing it. I assume I can’t go wrong with seafood in Amalfi. - Cafe shops to snack
Day 8-9: Florence - TBD Food: - Florentine Steak
Day 10: Venice Sites: - Gondola ride (are there group gondola rides?) - Rialto bridge - St. Mark’s Basilica Food: - TBD (Any recommendations?)
Day 11: Milan Sites: - Milan Cathedral - Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II - Sforzesco Castle? Food: - Spontini Pizza - Starbucks Reserve
Day 12: Il Borro (resort in Tuscany) Sites: - Wine tour - Horseback riding Food: - Resort restaurant - Gelato in a flatbed truck
Day 13-15: Rome Sites: - Colosseum - Roman Forum - Vatican - Spanish Steps - Trevi Fountain - Ardeatine Caves - Plazo Venezia - Liberation Memorial - Pantheon - Site where Julius Caesar was killed Food: - Crazy Pizza - Ristorante Alfredo Alla Scroffa - Find some Supli and Arancini

Hi Neighbors!
I’m back again with another Greensboro food guide. In this episode we dive into what I know/do best:

Brunch.

Greensboro has lots of options for brunch and I’ve made it my duty to visit several of them again. Below you can find sage advice on where you should be spending your hard earned brunch bucks. I’ll restate some of my credentials for those who missed my riveting editorial on the Cookouts in town (LINK).
I have been a local kitchen laborer for almost twenty years. I was the head chef at the Iron Hen for 5 years and have managed several other restaurants in the Triad. I have spent thousands of hours flipping eggs and pancakes for the fine folks of my favorite town. I know good brunch eats. Pinky promise I do.
Just a warning, this is a lot longer than my Cookout rundown, It's called reading! Top to bottom, left to right... a group of words together is called a sentence. Take Tylenol for any headaches...Midol for any cramps.
There’s so much I love about brunch therefore there’s so much I have to say. I took this more seriously than my quick takes on Cookouts, because well, I felt like it and you guys deserve the best dammit!
It’s going to take a bit to read all this, but you will finish more well-equipped for brunch life here in Gate City. If you don’t want to read it all, check the comments for my ranked list, but c'mon, what else do you have to do? Work? Yeah right.

Metrics

These things are what makes or breaks a brunch for me. They might not be for you, but hey, I’m the one writing this.

• Coffee- you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy coffee and that’s pretty close.
• Cocktails -I don’t drink much anymore, but booze and brunch go together like…bacon and eggs. I’ll check out the selection/ if they have bottomless mimosas for you and the gals.
• Bacon- Straight up, If you run a brunch spot and don’t serve up good bacon, prepare to be on the receiving end of my wrath.
• Eggs- So simple, yet so easy to ruin. As someone who’s scrambled more eggs than most I think it only fair for me to be critical of them.
• Avocado toast - It’s trendy for a reason. When done well, it’s freaking tasty and I want you to know where to get the best one in town (spoiler alert: Chez Genese)
• A potato product- The great debate. Hash browns vs home fries. I don’t care which one ya like more, but a brunch spot better be doing these right.
• Ambiance- Brunch isn’t just a meal, it's an idea. And that idea starts with how your guests feel from the moment they walk into the door.
• Speed/Accuracy-I’ve made it a point to visit all these spots during busy brunch hours. Nobody cares if you can make a good omelet when the restaurant is half empty. This is a pressure test. You are only as good as your worst plate so if they can’t hang when the tickets are stacked up and the servers are slammed, then they can’t hang in my book.

Best of luck to all these unknowing participants and may God have mercy on their egg pans.

Green Valley Grille

Our journey begins with the oldest relic in the Quaintance-Weaver pyramid. I have to be honest. This was one of the worst brunch meals I've eaten in town as well as one of the most expensive. I cannot recommend it less. I usually enjoy their dinner aside from it being a bit stodgy and outdated. It looked really cool in here 22 years ago. This is definitely your rich great aunt’s favorite spot in town.
The service is always solid here. They definitely train their waitstaff well but it seems like they discourage their staff to have much personality. It’s giving butler vibes which is fine I guess if you’re into that sorta thing. They have a full bar and the coffee was decent. That being said, their brunch is garbo. My poached eggs were cold and I had like 1 oz of ham on my benny and the hollandaise was super bland. It was a really really botched benedict. The scrambies were overcooked on their breakfast plate and my home fries were cooked 15 minutes ago– cold, super mushy and real plain. We had their vanilla scores with lemon curd which was the highlight of the meal, specifically the curd; bright and tangy. We tried their coffee cakes as well which were decent too, but very sweet. Nobody in my party of five was pleased with their meal and I won’t make the mistake of going to GVG before sundown again.
Score - 3.4/10 Never go eat here for brunch. Like seriously, go anywhere else. Go to Waffle house.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $14.22+2.84 = $17.06 

Lucky 32

Lucky’s brings a slightly more contemporary vibe to the Quaintance-Weaver “family.” I’ve never been really keen on the organization. I dunno why, I have a sneaky suspicion it's actually a front for an affluent brood of vampires. Blood money, but like…literally? I find it less stuffy than GVG and the brunch was more enjoyable. It’s still a little behind the times but we’ve stepped from 1989 to 2001. An instrumental version of The Backstreet Boys’ hit album, "Millenium” played as we dined (not really.) They take reservations which is a plus and they had us seated immediately. Shout out to the service staff. Attentive and friendly and not overly robotic.
They have a full bar available, but no mention of mimosa specials. The coffee is Counter Culture, which I usually like, but not the batch they served today – Bleghh.
We tried their green tomato benedict. The poached eggs were on point and the tomatoes were nice, however somebody toasted my English muffin twice…yesterday. Literally uncuttable with a knife. I gnawed on it like a hamster but gave up on it quickly. An okay dish overall, but it lacked salt and was really acidic. Next we went for their avocado toast with scrambled eggs. It was mediocre. The avocado was definitely from a pouch and there wasn’t much of it. The pickled onions set it off, but the eggs were way overcooked. The rest of it was sorta forgettable.
We also had the banana french toast which was my favorite dish of the meal. Cooked nicely, sweet but not sickeningly so. I’d get it again for sure.
We also had a side of bacon which was on point. Their biscuits were buttery and Cracker-Barrel-esque, but honestly I think I like CB’s better. I did not like their home fries. They were crispy enough but just doused in seasoned salt. They really reminded me of one’s from the freezer section.
Last note-worthy item was their side of fruit…How dare they. Sad chunks of cantaloupe and honeydew, which they know everyone hates…like seriously can we just stop growing these awful balls of chemical water already? They tossed a bit of pineapple in there but that was it. They could have saved labor costs by just dumping the fruit straight off the truck into the trash, cuz that’s where it’s all gonna end up anyways. Yuck.
Score: 6.3/10 - Your mom and her sisters would probably love going here for a birthday brunch and the rest of you will leave full and relatively pleased…unless you get a side of fruit or yesterday’s English muffin.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $14.88+2.98=$17.86 

Print Works Bistro

In full transparency I was sorta hoping this one missed the mark so I could lop off the final head of Quaintance Weaver’s Hell-hound and by doing so free all of the tortured souls trapped for eternity in a depression dungeon of sorrow beneath the QW hotels. “You can check-out anytime you like, but you can never leave...” I charged through their doors, fork in one hand, sense of disdain for the ruling class in the other only to be begrudgingly disarmed by an overall excellent brunch.
Print Works cultivates a picturesque southern brunch ambiance. A neutral color palette with tall ceilings, decorated tastefully. Natural light pours through all of the windows as delicate music sets an uplifting mood. You’ve stepped off of Green Valley Road and into an expansive Savannah solarium…I do declare. They boast a dining area seating nearly 200 with a charming patio for fair weather dining. The room is alive with the clinking of silver on flatware and the ambient buzz of happy conversation. Yet is spacious enough to allow for a sense of intimacy at each table.
We were seated immediately with our reservation. The service manager wasn’t the friendliest. A cross-looking woman; she sharply peppered orders at a nearby server, prompting him to hustle over and lead us to our seats. QW couldn’t help but remind us all that we live in a social hierarchy and that while all animals are equal; some animals are more equal than others…the servers are dressed as penguins and trained to hop-to when the boss blows her whistle. Oppressive social constructs aside, our server was well versed in the menu and was always around when needed, but never hovering.
They offer a full-bar and have a large cocktail and wine list. The coffee was bold and tasty from Revolution coffee out of Raleigh.
Today, we started with an order of their warm beignets; choux pastry filled with pastry cream, fried to order and then dusted with powdered sugar; served with honey or chocolate sauce. We opted for honey. They were quite tasty and the portion was large. I did feel that they were a bit too sweet and would have gone from good to amazing with some lemon zest or curd to balance it out.
For our entrees; the avocado toast. Overall a yummy dish. The thickly sliced sourdough was flavorful and soft, but I felt it needed a bit more toasting. It left the dish feeling a bit squishy. The toast was topped with a lemony avocado spread, bits of bacon, and poached egg. It was served with a side of yogurt and fruit, which was simple but tasty. We also had their eggs benedict; well executed. I felt the hollandaise needed a bit more lemon, but now I'm nit-picking; we cleaned the plate. We also had a side of bacon, which was spot-on and their home fries were neatly diced, crisped perfectly and had some yummy caramelized onions mixed in.
Score - 9.0/10 - This was a really good brunch. Refined, yet inviting ambiance, tasty food and a chance for the bourgeoisie to get a taste of aristocracy without breaking the bank. Well-played, QW Illuminati. You win this round.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $15.38+$3.07 = $18.45 

The Sage Mule

I sorta like The Sage Mule. It kinda reminds me of The Iron Hen in its glory days, before its evil owner sucked the soul out of it and ran it into the ground. I’ve been a handful of times. Often it's yummy, sometimes they miss the mark, but overall a solid, local brunch place that matches the Greensboro vibe well.
They have good coffee and lattes made with Counter Culture beans out of Durham. They give you a lil biscotti with them which is a nice nibble while you wait for your mains(and sometimes you’re gonna be waiting a min.) They’re drink menu looks decent too and they have a full liquor license if you’re trying to get wavy on a Sunday morning.
Most recently we had their biscuits and gravy which my wife is a big fan of. It’s not a pretty pile of food, but it makes up for it in flavor. The biscuits are on point and the gravy is dang good too. Nice and peppery and not too thin. Good gravy should stick to your spoon. There’s crumbled Neese’s sausage and some yummy pimento cheese in there too. Good stuff. I like their “Midnight Train” which is a Nashville-style chicken sammy with home-made pickles on a yummy soft roll. I get this pretty much every time I’ve been to be honest. “Zac likes spicy chicken!” We also got their dutch baby and I’ve just gotta keep it real. It was real bad. Bordering on gross. I don’t be wasting food and I didn’t finish it. It was super dense and way too strong tasting of egg and not sweet at all. Maybe someone didn’t follow the recipe? I know another spot in town that makes one that is way better…ehem. Anyways. They’ve got classic diner-style hash browns that came out nice and crispy today. The kitchen gets backed up bad sometimes though. I’ve waited close to an hour for entrees before and then the servers get squirrely. The whole energy in there is sometimes chaotic which isn’t what I’m usually craving on a Sunday morning. Too much adderall? Not enough?
They’ve got a nice patio with ample seating which is great for fair-weather days, but I straight up hate how they’ve got the inside set up. The whole back left side of the building is weirdly empty and underutilized and the rest is a total clusterfuck. You walk in the door and surprise! You’ve just entered a mosh pit of hungry, hungover humans waiting for a table. Keep your head down, watch out for spin-kicks, and try to make it to the host station where you can put your name in. The wait gets long on the weekend so don’t come hungry or you wont make it out alive. You also can’t really get out of the chaos because they just shout your name out when you’ve been chosen. Now some of you may like having a panic attack in public first thing in the morning, but I prefer to have them alone in my bathroom in the evenings like a respectable adult. They do have some outdoor space to wait, just tuck and cover as you squeeze your way back outside. The ambiance when you sit outside is nice, but I really rather not eat inside at all.
Score-7.2/10 - It’s a solid place to grab brunch for sure. One I’d recommend everyone to try at least once. It's pretty hip and most everything I've had tastes pretty good. They definitely have good days and bad days so If you go, i hope you catch them on their A-game. If you are the type to wanna rip your shirt off and run screaming into the woods when surrounded by loud strangers like I am, maybe come through on a weekday.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip:$13.33+2.67=$16.00 

Chez Genese

Now obviously I can’t help but have the teeniest drop of bias since I work here, but I promise my goal in all of this wasn’t to convince you to come and eat (you should though.) I went and ate here in the middle of the brunch rush just like everywhere else and I’m holding us to the same standards. Also at the risk of sounding full of myself, I wouldn’t waste my time working at a place that I didn’t think was awesome.
The cafe is so welcoming. There are plants and pictures everywhere. There’s always nice music on, but not too loudly. The owner, whomever she is, knows how to create such an inviting space. It’s a smaller spot so waiting for a table can get a little crowded and loud. Thankfully you can just leave your phone number and they’ll text when your table is ready! Go walk around downtown while you wait! (seriously please don’t just stand in the doorway.)
Chez Genese gets their java from the local roaster, Fortuna which I love love love. Bold and nutty but not too bitter. The baristas make an amazing latte and all of the flavored syrups are made in-house and you can tell. Please get a lavender and honey latte next time you go. It’s gonna change your life I swear. They offer a curated mimosa menu which we saw were very popular and have recently gotten their liquor license for cocktails. They also have a great selection of hot teas from the local Vida pour tea. Try the “Chez Blend.” My wife buys it by the pound. I think she’s headed toward tea trafficking at this point.
Today we went for avocado toast, which is divine. Crispy, buttery multigrain toast topped with tons of fresh, sweet avocado and balanced by lots of tart feta cheese. You can get your eggs on top anyway you want. We got ‘em scrambled and they were so perfect and plentiful. Jacques Pepin would have wept tears of joy. Soft and creamy and seasoned just right. They finish it off with a healthy drizzle of honey and it's just so so good. We also got the cinnamon french toast with a side of bacon and fresh fruit. The french toast is killer. Three big pieces of brioche cooked just right with lovely notes of cinnamon and vanilla. It’s served with house-made spice butter and pure maple syrup. I made myself hungry writing about it just now. The bacon was cooked perfectly. They have the absolute best side of fruit in the city. It’s got all the good stuff: grapefruit, oranges, apples, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, blackberries, bananas…no mealy melons anywhere! They also offer amazing homemade rosemary biscuits that taste heavenly and rival Smith Street’s(RIP) in size.
Orders come out at a decent clip typically. Occasionally you’ll wait a bit longer for some entrees like the pizzas or the cocottes(a unique and decadent egg dish), but considering the size of the kitchen line, it’s never too bad. Plus it gives you an excuse to have an extra cup of coffee. I love that it’s an open kitchen model so you can see the chef’s working their magic back there. I swear the chef/owner is hiding an extra pair of arms by the way she stays on top of all her tickets…truly impressive.
Take all this yummy food and combine it with the amazing atmosphere and you’ve got the best brunch in town. I didn’t even mention their mission statement, which you can read on the back of the menu when you go next weekend, or the fact that they are totally non-tipping and the owner properly pays her staff well instead of making you do it for her.
Score: 9.4/10 - CG’s brunch game is on such a different level. The food is super fresh, tasty, and well-presented. The ambiance is amongst my favorite places in town. Just surround me with plants, pleasant music, and pancakes and I’m a happy guy.
I took points off for 1) the wait can sometimes be over an hour and you can’t make reservations 2) I don’t personally care for the vanilla creme fraiche as I find it makes my crepe soggy and 3) because I pricked my finger on one of the dried thistle in the beautiful flower arrangements on each table. I didn’t bleed or anything, but it did hurt a little…see, I told you I'm not biased.

Median Entree Price; non-tipping : $15.03 

Gia

This is your rich cousin’s favorite brunch place and for good reason. The girl’s got good taste. Gia presents an upscale but not stuffy experience; refined and elegant but unpretentious and welcoming. If you enjoy a nice cocktail this is your spot. Their bartender was in his element and we enjoyed watching him whip up one attractive drink after another. They boast a large, expertly crafted cocktail menu and as non-drinkers, were pleased by their selection of their “zero proof” cocktails as well. However I didn’t care for my americano at all. It was very bitter and bland. I asked where the beans were from and recently found out they are fortuna. They offer a pour-over that I’ll try instead next time.
Our server was friendly and polite as she took our orders and the kitchen had our entrees out in good time. We had the croque madame. Thin prosciutto and cheese in between sourdough topped with creamy bechamel and a sunny side egg. This dish tasted delicious. It needed an acidic element like a dijon…or maybe like a horseradish smear or something… yeah that sounds pretty tasty… anyways! They could've given me a bit more prosciutto for the price. Regardless, we enjoyed it thoroughly. We also had their spinach, marinara, and goat’s cheese Schiacciata…It’s a flatbread pizza, but Schiacciata looks much cooler on the menu. This dish was pretty tasty too. It needed salt and I wanted a spicy element as well. Still really yummy and the flatbread itself is really nice in flavor and texture.
We also had their scones and, for me, they were a miss. Gia also has biscuits on the menu. The main difference between a biscuit and a scone is that a scone usually has egg in the recipe. I’m pretty positive the only difference between them at Gia is that the scones are cut into triangles and the biscuits are circles. I would have liked to see some dried fruit or a glaze or something added to their scone recipe. They were very simple albeit baked well. They came with whipped butter, but it was unsalted and didn’t do much for the scones. We asked for some jam to liven them up a bit. The homemade jam they served was tasty, but it cost us $2 for a little ramiken of it. I already gave ya 6 bucks for two lil scones! Ya can’t hook me up with a little jelly? We were tempted to try their cinnamon rolls, but at the price point of $12 for two pretty small rolls I couldn’t justify it. Their fruit side was a nice mix of berries and garnished with a bit of basil. The basil was very complimentary and I'll be adding that little flavor combination to my mental recipe book. A neighboring table’s pesto potatoes looked awesome, but I skipped them today.
Score: 8.8/10 Overall we really enjoyed Gia. A great date spot or a place to bring your well-off out of town in laws that you want to impress. Lighter sized portions with elevated flavors and presentation. Random, but they could really use some houseplants in there. So much natural light but no plant babies to drink it in!

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $17.83+3.57 = $21.40← this is a bit deceiving, they have two steak entrees priced at ($34 & $44) which skew the curve a bit. Those thrown out the median is closer to $17 

Rascal’s Tavern

Ya’ll, this one hurts to write. I really wanted it to be a good one. It’s local and it's female chef-owned. I've been for dinner a handful of times and always enjoyed the food…but this brunch was real bad. Everything missed the mark and I’m struggling to find nice things to write. I gotta keep it real though.
They do accept reservations and we were seated quickly. I do not like the decor here at all. It's a kinda clunky mashup of a speakeasy and a teen’s bedroom. The vibe’s just not right for me. We were met with a blackboard informing us that they used to have bottomless mimosas, but they are currently not offering them. The server let us know they were out of avocado toast and goat cheese. Okay. They’ve got a full bar and a mimosa menu. We placed our orders, but we found out they were also out of biscuits due to an oven fire. So we scrapped the biscuits and gravy.
We got our coffees (Folger’s, our server told us). It was made well though and tasted decent. Entrees rolled out and, y'all it was rough. The pancakes were burnt badly and very bland. Their bread pudding french toast special was really hideous and had several large eggshells in it. And both of these items were missing the berry compote the menu had said they came with. We also got their eggs florentine, which was the only decent dish today. The eggs were cooked well and the hollandaise was decent but it needed more of it. We also got the hot honey chicken and waffles…man it was bad too. The waffles at a continental breakfast are tastier and the chicken was super bland. There was also no “hot” in this hot chicken. I dunno if it was supposed to be Nashville influenced or be dipped in a hot sauce? It was just a real plain fried chicken thigh and it didn’t taste good. The bacon was also cooked in the deep fryer. It came out clumped in a hard crunchy ball. Cardinal sin. How dare you bastardize bacon like this… A pig died and you’re gonna disrespect its legacy by deep frying its bacon? Shameful, honestly.
It wasn’t super busy but the servers seemed frazzled
I know there was an oven fire that morning, but if that’s going to ruin your whole menu then you should just close for the day and regroup. A fire doesn’t burn pancakes that are being cooked on the flattop. A fire doesn’t drop egg shell into a bread pudding and leave them. A fire doesn’t send out the ugliest pile of “french toast” I’ve ever seen. A fire doesn’t make you forget half of the components that are supposed to be on an item, and a fire definitely doesn’t give you the right to do that to bacon. Ever.
Nobody in my party enjoyed much of anything. I really hoped that they had a new person cooking or something, but I saw the chef/owner was on the line…which bummed me out even more. As a career chef, what came out was totally unacceptable and shouldn’t have been sent at all. Very sloppy presentation, lots of missing components and legit nothing tasted good. I swear I’m not trying to be a jerk or overly critical. It was F-ing bad.
Score 2.2/10
I’m sorry, Rascal’s Tavern. Y'all fumbled this brunch so hard. I know you had an oven fire, but it doesn’t give you a pass on 95% of the issues we had today, especially with the chef/owner in the building. I ran the Iron Hen for 5 years..that entire place was on oven fire owned by quite possibly an actual demon. Ya gotta hold your standards; no matter what shitstorm of a day it is. If you burn the shit out of an order of pancakes, you don’t sell it anyways cuz you’re in the weeds. If the special comes out looking like it’d been…in an oven fire, you scrap the special for the day. Or come up with a quick one on the fly.
If you can’t do any of that, you have to shut it down for the day. What if some random dude comes in who is doing a rundown of all the best brunches in town? :/ Made me feel bummed that I knew I was gonna have to hit ya with a bad one like this. It’d be really hard for me to come back. I just gotta be honest.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $13+$2.60 = $15.60 

McCoul’s Irish Pub

A Greensboro institution. Mccouls has been in business over 20 years. A step inside transports you to a cozy pub in the heart of Kilkenny. You can nearly hear the boats outside puttering down the river Nore. The smell of bacon and Irish coffee wafts through the pub and has me drooling as we are led to our table upstairs. No reservations taken here. You’ll get a table when you get one and ye better like it. In nice weather there’s a ton of patio seating, but this place is no hidden gem. Everybody and their nan has been to Mccoul’s so expect a wait during peak hours.
Service was fairly attentive albeit not super friendly. Seemed fitting for the environment. To be honest the whole pub is pretty dingy and could use some TLC. I’d never been here when the sun was out and as with most things in bars, they look prettier in the dark. The coffee was tasty. “Mccoul’s Nutty Irishmen” was the blend. Our server knew it was local but not for where. Darn good wherever it came from.
They offer a limited brunch menu, but everything we had was pretty spot on. We got the “Cinnamon Toast Crunch.” A fried chicken breast and egg sandwich in between french toast. We got the biscuits and gravy. Great gravy. Rich and peppery. The biscuits were a miss for me. I’m pretty positive they came in frozen and were pretty bland, but they had a nice color to them. I got the traditional breakfast. The fried eggs were on-the-money over medium, the bacon was just crispy enough. I didn’t really like the banger but it has a nice pop to the casing. The potatoes O’Brien were great; crispy and well-seasoned home fries with caramelized peppers and onions. Yum. The gouda grits were awesome as well, especially if you are a cheese head like my wife. I will note that my whole plate came out a little too cold. I figured they were waiting on our chicken sandwich to be done and got my plate in the window a little too soon. Not a huge deal though because it all tasted awesome.
I will add that there’s a bit of a greasy spoon feel to all the brunch items. It’s all super heavy and most of my stuff was a little oily. This isn’t a “hey let's go get brunch and then go out on the town" type of place.” This is a “I drank too much Guinness last night and need some fat and carbs to cure what’s ailing ya joint” Nothing wrong with that at all. It's dang good eats. It’s just not usually what I'm looking for.
My biggest drawback was the price. Not cheap. Not even sorta. We spent $81 after the tip. 3 entrees and 2 coffees. Yikes. It's good pub food for sure , but it's still pub food. Everything’s got a lil grease on it and the flattop they were cooking on wasn’t clean. This menu needs to come down 2 or 3 dollars an item for sure.
Score: 8.1/10 - They make a helluva brunch spread. Dad’s gonna love it and you and the boys can pound boilermakers at 10 am, having the hair of the dog what bit ya. You’re sure to leave fed and full and everybody’s happy besides your wallet and your cardiologist.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $16.18+3.24 = $19.42 

Scrambled

Scrambled has been a super popular brunch spot for some years now and for good reason. They are cranking out solid brunch food. I want to preface by stating that Scrambled is a self-proclaimed diner, so I tried to adjust my expectations by a smidge when comparing them to some other places around town.
You can jump on the waitlist online through yelp which I love. You can see your spot in line and roll in ten minutes before you’re expected to be seated. It cut out on me standing in a crowd for half an hour getting over-stimmed first thing in the morning which is great for my sanity.
I gotta be honest. I think the inside is straight up ugly. The light fixtures are old baskets and the walls desperately need painting. There's silver air duct running all over the ceiling and they’ve got hokey decor on the walls. Welcome to your country grandparent’s basement. I was half expecting my late Grandma Bonnie to be smoking Virginia Slims and playing solitaire at a table in the corner.
Their coffee was good like my grandma’s too. I can still remember the smell of it brewing when I’d wake up at her house 25 years ago. It comes from Carolina Coffee Roasters. Good coffee.
People always talk about their giant pancakes. They are huge for sure. But real talk, I don’t like them. They’re definitely more of a griddle cake. They’re thin and a lil greasy. I’m on team light and fluffy. I’ve had them here before but today I passed on them.
Entrees. We had their fried green tomato benedict which was decent. It didn’t knock my socks off. It needed salt pretty badly, but the eggs were good and the hollandaise was decent too. I got a french toast platter. The french toast was decent. It needed a little longer of a soak in the batter though. My eggs were spot on over-medium and the bacon was good. Good grits too. Buttery and creamy. The fruit was bad. More sad melons…just…don’t. We had a biscuit and gravy as well. The sausage gravy was tasty and seasoned well. The biscuits were ok. They didn’t seem homemade, rather frozen. Regardless, they tasted pretty good.
Score: 6.9/10 - Scrambled claims to be a diner and honestly, they are. The food is all pretty decent. Nothing blew me away, but I left full and with no complaints aside from the bad decor and need for new paint.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $13.25+$2.65 = $15.90 

Melt

We arrived at Melt this Sunday at peak brunch hours and the place was hoppin’. The inside was packed and there were lots of people hanging outside waiting for a table–A good sign to me! People like this place and are down to wait. No reservations here; we waited for about 35 minutes for our table which isn’t bad considering that they were slammed.
As an anxious human, the dining area was really stressful to me. They’ve got the seating maxed out and it is very loud in there. I was really having to focus on holding it together. The decor is nice and I would have enjoyed being in the space much more if it was less crowded and less noisy and I wasn’t triggered into outer space... I made sure to sit facing the wall so I could focus on my wife which helps me a lot when I'm in an overstimulating space. But honestly, all of that’s more of a me thing than a Melt thing so …let’s recalibrate our focus.
Melt is the only place out of all of Greensboro that I’ve found to have bottomless mimosas. I repeat. Melt has bottomless Mimosas. For twenty bucks you can drink endless orange juice and cheap champagne until you spew it all over the parking lot! Woohoo!! They also had a great cocktail and mocktail menu. My wife got a strawberry lemonade that was very yummy. I had their coffee which was bold and pretty tasty, but our server didn’t know where it was from.
Entrees took a hot minute to reach our table. The kitchen must have been hanging on for dear life. However once they arrived we were super pleased. They make a very good benedict. Plenty of ham, very nice hollandaise, and served on a flaky croissant. Yum. We also had “Melts Big Nasty Fried Chicken Biscuit.” Visually, the name fits. It was a hideous pile of food, but holy moly..welcome to flavortown. It’s tasty fried chicken with an awesome hot sauce, lots of pimento cheese and bacon on a very good homemade biscuit and the whole thing is just drowned in zesty cajun gravy. Damn y'all this was good. You’re probably gonna need a nap after, but sheesh! Killer flavor and very satisfying. I thought this was much better than Mccouls’ brunch chicken sandwich and Melt’s is $7.50 cheaper…We also had their french toast. It was cooked nicely and had a great flavor and texture.
I did feel like their side items were lacking a bit. The fruit side was a melon fest and I did not like their grits. They were watery and had a very strong smoked flavor, I'm assuming from a gouda or something, but they weren’t my style. I’m also pretty positive their home fries came frozen. Bright orange and cut just like Ore-Ida’s. Bleh.
Score: 9.1/10 - Let’s freaking go Melt. Y’all are putting out some of the best brunch in the city. The price is right. It’s nice inside, but not so nice that you feel the need to dress up, and the food is straight up delicious. Tighten up those sides and maybe put up some noise-dampening foam and you're the cream of the crop. If you haven’t been for brunch, you’re missing out. I’ll be back for sure.

Median Entree Price + 20% tip: $14.79 + $2.95 = $17.75 

There it is, Greensbohemians. Brunch has been brunched.
Three, arduous months of spiking my blood sugar at 11 am every weekend; rendering my afternoons lackadaisical and unproductive. My wallet isn't thrilled with all these lavish weekend splurges, but I can rest easy knowing my brunch service to the community has come to an end.
I had Lindley Park Filling Station on my list too, but they’re closed for renovations. I could have done Dame’s Chicken and Waffles too now that I think of it…dammit. Fine. Here’s a drive-by review:

Dame’s Chicken and Waffles

I love Dame’s. I’ve been there a bunch. Dank chicken, dank waffles, dank schmears. Amazing collards and mac n cheese . The service is usually pretty spotty and sometimes the food comes out slow. You should definitely go.
Score: 8.4/10 Really good food, but sometimes I worry the server might kick my ass for asking for some syrup.
​
I’m sure I missed a few other spots too…Honestly, I have eaten enough benedicts for a lifetime and I’m over brunch food for a while. Y’all go check out the rest of them, come back and let us know. I’m tapping out. I had such a great time writing this up. I hope you had a great time reading it. I really appreciate you taking the time.
So what’s next?
Coffee shops. I’m about to bite down on that bean baby. I’ll be hitting up all the shops in town and be back with a much more brief and lighthearted rundown of who’s got the best in the ‘boro. I’m gonna catch the vibe, catch a buzz, and be back hyper and excited to tell y'all where’s hot and where’s not.
Until then, your neighbor,
Zac

Uploads vom Montag, dem 19. Februar 2024
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18:00 [U] Speedrundale - DIE SCHLÜMPFE (Any%) Speedrun in 24:47 von ZockerStu
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18:00 [U] Game Talk - QUADRUPLE A: Archäologie, Anomalie, Absaufen, Abschied
Programm vom Mittwoch, dem 21. Februar 2024
15:45 [L] Game Talk Spezial - Elden Ring DLC Reaction (35 Minuten)
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14:19 [U] Bohndesliga Extra - REACTION! Tuchel raus! Kommt jetzt Alonso zu den BAYERN? BOHNDESLIGA
17:00 [U] Game Talk Spezial - ELDEN RING: Der DLC-Termin steht!
18:00 [U] Game Two Mittwochsvideos - FILME & SERIEN zu Videospielen, die mal NICHT SCHEI*E sind! 30 Sekunden über
Programm vom Donnerstag, dem 22. Februar 2024
18:00 [L] Let’s Play - Die Sortierchallenge (60 Minuten)
19:00 [L] Let’s Play - Sortierspiele-Spaß mit der Sortiercrew (60 Minuten)
20:00 [L] Jugendzimmer - 90s PC Hits (185 Minuten)
Uploads vom Donnerstag, dem 22. Februar 2024
16:00 [U] Knallhart Durchgenommen - Da RASTET ER AUS! METAL GEAR SOLID 2 #3
17:30 [U] Almost Daily - Die helle Seite der MACHT Almost Daily mit Colin, Eddy & Nils
18:00 [U] Retro Klub - Welche LARA ist die Beste? TOMB RAIDER 1-3 REMASTERED vs. PSOne vs. Remake vs. Fan-Mod
18:30 [U] Kino+ #470 Teil 2 unseres großen Q&A mit Schröck, Antje & Andi und die Kinostarts - Großes Q&A Part 2 und die Kinostarts
Programm vom Freitag, dem 23. Februar 2024
18:00 [L] Let’s Play - Sons of the Forest Final Release (120 Minuten)
20:00 [L] Chat In #1 - XXL mit Johanna, Micha, Colin (90 Minuten)
Uploads vom Freitag, dem 23. Februar 2024
15:00 [U] Bohndesliga Extra - Welcher Bohndesliga-Host ist der größte Fan seines Vereins? Fan-Quiz Folge 1
16:00 [U] Let’s Play - Drehen, Kombinieren & Co. - WER sortiert sein INVENTAR am besten? Challenge
Uploads vom Samstag, dem 24. Februar 2024
12:00 [U] Game Two - Helldivers 2, Skull and Bones, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden GAME TWO #323
15:00 [U] Chat In - Erstes Update 2024 CHAT IN XXL mit Johanna, Colin & Micha
16:00 [U] Let’s Play - Auf dieses SURVIVAL-GAME waren wir nicht vorbereitet! SONS OF THE FOREST
18:00 [U] Jugendzimmer - Die absoluten PC-PERLEN aus den 90s
Uploads vom Sonntag, dem 25. Februar 2024
12:00 [U] One-Shots, Turniere & Piloten - Die WAHRHEIT über MEDIEN-FRUST Endstation Internet
16:00 [U] Knallhart Durchgenommen - Es ist BOSSZEIT! METAL GEAR SOLID 2 #4
17:00 [U] Tease Me - BORDERLANDS, Planet der Affe, Sasquatch Sunset & Twisters Trailer gucken mit Antje & Andi
Livestreams vom Montag, dem 19. Februar 2024
11:30 [L] Krogmann streamt - ???? Moin ???? !greenforce (Open End)
14:30 [L] Simon streamt - Heute wieder Tomb Raider 1 (Open End)
19:20 [L] Etienne streamt - Warhammer 40k: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters !chaosgate sponsored by Frontier Partner: !löwenanteil (Open End)
19:40 [L] Nils streamt - Quatschen !cyberghostVPN (Open End)
Livestreams vom Dienstag, dem 20. Februar 2024
10:35 [L] Krogmann streamt - ???? Moin ???? !greenforce (Open End)
12:00 [L] Janina streamt - Nix checken im Internet Cafe !Reoat !Holy !Löwenanteil (185 Minuten)
14:40 [L] Simon streamt - RAINBOW 6 SIEGE Training mit Fabian Siegismund für das große Match morgen gegen Team Sterzik, danach eventuell etwas HUNT SHOWDOWN (Open End)
19:20 [L] Nils streamt - Just Chatting Dann Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance! #Werbung !terminator !cyberghostVPN (Open End)
20:00 [L] Nils streamt - Eine Reise ums Überleben – Wir schnuppern rein in Nightingale !cyberghostVPN (290 Minuten)
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11:10 [L] Viet streamt - IRL bei Manga-Mafia, !MangaMania Live !Reishunger [Werbung] (Open End)
13:55 [L] Simon streamt - Ab ins Grab mit TOMB RAIDER II (Open End)
14:50 [L] Viet streamt - Elden Ring DLC Trailer Reaction !Reishunger [Werbung] (Open End)
15:25 [L] Etienne streamt - Aftertalk mit JackFromsoft auf den ELDEN RING DLC REVEAL TRAILER Partner: !löwenanteil (125 Minuten)
19:50 [L] Krogmann streamt - ???? PARTY???? !greenforce (Open End)
Livestreams vom Donnerstag, dem 22. Februar 2024
11:40 [L] Nils streamt - Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor !cyberghostVPN (Open End)
Livestreams vom Freitag, dem 23. Februar 2024
14:55 [L] Janina streamt - Geburtstags-Stream! WIr öffnen Paldeas Schicksale! !Reoat !Holy !Löwenanteil (120 Minuten)
15:00 [L] Florentin streamt - Erster Blick in THRONEFALL (175 Minuten)
17:20 [L] Nils streamt - Just Chatting Dann MP-Event Solium Infernum! #Werbung !solium !cyberghostVPN (Open End)
17:20 [L] Krogmann streamt - ???? SOLIUM INFERNUM mit Nils, Writing Bull & Suun????!solium !greenforce #werbung Ab 21 Uhr Dosenbeatz mit Schröck (Open End)
18:00 [L] Nils streamt - Wir kämpfen um den Höllenthron in Solium Infernum mit @writing_bull, @suun & @krogmann #Werbung !solium !cyberghostVPN (Open End)
20:00 [L] Krogmann streamt - ????Dosenbeatz mit Schröck ????!support für BEIDE !greenforce #leidergeil #party #fettesause #rocketbeans (455 Minuten)
Livestreams vom Samstag, dem 24. Februar 2024
16:00 [L] Florentin streamt - Fischcoaching mit @hovitey !roshpit - !löwenanteil !holy !tchibo !discord (Open End)
18:50 [L] Florentin streamt - Moment, ist da nicht was Glitschiges.... !roshpit - !löwenanteil !holy !tchibo !discord (Open End)
Livestreams vom Sonntag, dem 25. Februar 2024
17:00 [L] Florentin streamt - Ich bin der König - Thronefall (135 Minuten)
18:55 [L] Etienne streamt - Sonntag ausklingen lassen... Partner: !löwenanteil (Open End)
19:25 [L] Nils streamt - Willbald ist zurück! Rustalot 3 !rust !meta !cyberghostVPN (Open End)
VOD-Uploads der letzten 7 Tage
19.02.2024 16:00 Let’s Play - Guinness Record: DÜMMSTER Protagonist 2024 THE INQUISITOR #2
19.02.2024 17:30 Bohndesliga - Bayern-Krise! Nagelsmann lacht sich kaputt! Bohndesliga 22. Spieltag 2023/24
19.02.2024 18:00 Speedrundale - DIE SCHLÜMPFE (Any%) Speedrun in 24:47 von ZockerStu
20.02.2024 16:00 Knallhart Durchgenommen - Das schockierende Schicksal von SOLID SNAKE?! METAL GEAR SOLID 2 #2
20.02.2024 17:30 Du bist! - Absolute Chaos-Parade bei SCHARADE mit Etienne, Johanna, Bianca und Vitus Du Bist
20.02.2024 18:00 Game Talk - QUADRUPLE A: Archäologie, Anomalie, Absaufen, Abschied
21.02.2024 14:19 Bohndesliga Extra - REACTION! Tuchel raus! Kommt jetzt Alonso zu den BAYERN? BOHNDESLIGA
21.02.2024 17:00 Game Talk Spezial - ELDEN RING: Der DLC-Termin steht!
21.02.2024 18:00 Game Two Mittwochsvideos - FILME & SERIEN zu Videospielen, die mal NICHT SCHEI*E sind! 30 Sekunden über
22.02.2024 16:00 Knallhart Durchgenommen - Da RASTET ER AUS! METAL GEAR SOLID 2 #3
22.02.2024 17:30 Almost Daily - Die helle Seite der MACHT Almost Daily mit Colin, Eddy & Nils
22.02.2024 18:00 Retro Klub - Welche LARA ist die Beste? TOMB RAIDER 1-3 REMASTERED vs. PSOne vs. Remake vs. Fan-Mod
22.02.2024 18:30 Kino+ #470 Teil 2 unseres großen Q&A mit Schröck, Antje & Andi und die Kinostarts
23.02.2024 15:00 Bohndesliga Extra - Welcher Bohndesliga-Host ist der größte Fan seines Vereins? Fan-Quiz Folge 1
23.02.2024 16:00 Let’s Play - Drehen, Kombinieren & Co. - WER sortiert sein INVENTAR am besten? Challenge
24.02.2024 12:00 Game Two - Helldivers 2, Skull and Bones, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden GAME TWO #323
24.02.2024 15:00 Chat In - Erstes Update 2024 CHAT IN XXL mit Johanna, Colin & Micha
24.02.2024 16:00 Let’s Play - Auf dieses SURVIVAL-GAME waren wir nicht vorbereitet! SONS OF THE FOREST
24.02.2024 18:00 Jugendzimmer - Die absoluten PC-PERLEN aus den 90s
25.02.2024 12:00 One-Shots, Turniere & Piloten - Die WAHRHEIT über MEDIEN-FRUST Endstation Internet
25.02.2024 16:00 Knallhart Durchgenommen - Es ist BOSSZEIT! METAL GEAR SOLID 2 #4
25.02.2024 17:00 Tease Me - BORDERLANDS, Planet der Affe, Sasquatch Sunset & Twisters Trailer gucken mit Antje & Andi
Weiterführende Links
Die vollständige Liste aller Livestreams von RBTV ist unter https://rocketbeans.tv/livestreams zu finden.
Der Uploadplan mit allen Uploads dieser Woche ist hier https://rocketbeans.tv/mediathek/uploadplan.
Kurzfristige YouTube-Upload-Änderungen werden im Forum in diesem Thread kommuniziert https://forum.rocketbeans.tv/t/rbtv-youtube-uploads-channel-managment-ticke91004/9999.
Unter https://redd.it/if366o wird eine Liste von gerade streamenden Bohnen bzw. VoDs ihrer letzten Livestream-Sessions gepflegt.
Alle Folgen von MoinMoin schaut Maskedminds in diesem Thread https://redd.it/y4ih4j

Antipolo peels help a commuter girlie out 🥹 Baka you have guide on how to get to these places via commute, from Cloud 9 Antipolo - Wok It Out Sakura - then Antipolo Cathedral - and last stop is Cafe Florentine.
what to ride, the signage, how much, commute time(?) . Anything helpful HEHE THANKS SO MUCH 🫶🏻
first post got deleted 🥲

After receiving lots of input and advice on my trip (here and here) I thought it might be helpful to follow up with what I actually ended up doing!
Also wanted to say thanks to everyone who gave advice, all of your input was super helpful and made for an excellent trip
​
TL;DR
Activities highlights: Perfect Gentlemen second line, WW2 museum, Kermit Ruffins at Blue Nile , Cultural Backstreets Museum, Doreen Ketchens
Food highlights: Dakar NOLA, Paladar 511, Liuzza's by the Track, Mamou, Lil Dizzy's
Hot take: Ayu bakehouse's King Cake was better than Dong Phuong's?
​
Detailed rundown of things we did, feel free to ask questions:
Friday
Landed early evening (Stayed in Hotel Peter and Paul which was really nice, perfectly located for our needs, but perhaps lacking in lots of fancy hotel amenities, which is fine for me but YMMV. Overall would recommend
Had a little wander to the FQ ate at Coops as it was late and not many places were open and we were tired and just needed something to eat, got a taster plate it was all pretty nice but nothing special
Had a drink at Lafitte's blacksmith bar then back to the hotel to collapse. Had hope we'd be able to stay awake for Kermit Ruffins at the Blue Nile but that was massively optimistic
Sat
Morning: Ayu Bakehouse, FQ walking, Killer Poboys/Dong Phuong, Erin Rose for a Frozen Irish coffee (excellent)
Tootie Montana day blessing at Congo Square, was really cool to hear the different Chiefs tell their stories and the tambourine blessing/singing was awesome.
Went on a bit of a bar crawl which included Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29 (not a tiki fan but these were great), Fritzel's for some music then had a Hurricane (which we later regretted) this was pretty much the extent of our Bourbon St-ing
Saw the start of the Joan of Arc Parade but it was super delayed and we had a reservation for 8:30 at Saint John so unfortunately had to miss most of it, we were also WAY too drunk to fully enjoy our meal, lessons were learnt, the oyster appetiser was great though.
​
Sun
Started with a walk along the river then went to the second Second line, it was so good - a second line was something I'd wanted to experience for a long time so this was always likely to be a highlight but I had such a great time and ended up doing the whole thing. Got some yakamein and some wings from Keys food mart and a Daquari from Jazz Daiquiri And Lounge on the route
Chilled a bit in the afternoon then had dinner at Toups - we were still pretty jetlagged so were flagging by this point so didn't fully enjoy, but lots of stuff was great (especially the cracklins). The entre we shared (pork chop with dirty rice) was MASSIVE and a bit overly sweet and fatty for me (and I am not squeamish when it comes to fatty food).
Late night was Hot 8 Brass Band at the Howling Wolf which was lots of fun.
Mon
Nice breakfast at Who Dat, then got to the WW2 museum just before midday - lots of people had said it was good but I was still surprised by the detail and the quality and the production values. I especially liked how they weaved both the factual with the personal. Unfortunately due to the storms brewing they closed early (3pm instead of 5pm) which meant we had to prioritise seeing just a couple of exhibitions, If i were to go back i'd definitely carve out a whole day for it, and i'm by no means a war or history buff.
Taxi back to the hotel to hide from the storm for a bit and make some inroads in the Whole Dong Phoung king cake we impulsively bought on Saturday
Had vague plans to go to Magazine street and have dinner in Saba or Hungry Eyes that evening the weather forecast had us shook and lots of places were closed/closing early so decided to stay walking distance for fear of getting stranded. Saw Paladar was open, so went with that which was a huge case of serendipity - had no real plans to go as I have free and easy access to both good Italian food and Actual Italy but it was incredible, I've been dreaming about the Agnolotti with Broccoli.
Tue
Street car ride, Guys Poboys (got the shrimp, delicious), wandered down Magazine st to Abudon park, went to New Orleans Original Daquaris (I don't think daquaris are for me)
Did the Sazerac House tour (I enjoyed it, especially as it was free), dinner at GW Fins really good but sad they didn't have any of the dry aged stuff on the menu, Carousel Bar (nice place only okay drinks for the price?) then Rabbit Lounge for Rebirth Brass Band, they're a favourite of mine so I loved seeing them in a small local place where you could actually dance (last time I saw them in London was in Ronnie Scotts Jazz club and it was all seated!)
Weds
St Louis #1 Cemetery Tour (really interesting and enjoyable, but a lot of it will come down to your guide I feel),
Cultural Backstreets museum: another highlight, it's small and expensive (now $25) but was jam packed with stuff, a really good place to learn more about Mardi Gras indians and to see the huge collection of suits they had
Lil Dizzy's for lunch (excellent)
Natchez boat tour (it was kinda lame but we enjoyed it. Definitely skip the food though, we didn't have any but it looked baaad, and people eating didn't look like they were having the best time)
Had cocktails at Napoleon House (fine) and Jewel of the South (really good) dinner at Mamou (the Poisson a la Florentine was one of the best things we ate on the trip) then Spotted Cat (was super busy with people chatting loudly and ignoring the music so didn't stay long
Thurs
Started with a climb at Nola Boulder Lounge, Lunch at Liuzza's by the Track (loved the gumbo and the bbq shrimp po-boy), Then Spent the afternoon in City Park loved the Sculpture Garden and Had Beignets from Cafe Du Monde were way nicer than I thought they would be.
Had a cocktail at the Elysian Bar in our hotel then dinner at Dakar. This was definitely the best meal of our trip, and the black eyed beans the best thing I ate all week. Everything was incredible. Was a little bit apprehensive about the communal tables but it was a really enjoyable experience, some of the food goes in the middle of the table for sharing ( everyone behaved on our table) though the vast majority is individually plated/served.
Fri
Caught Doreen Ketchens on Royal St (bucket list for me - blows my mind you can see someone of that quality busking), Commanders Palace for lunch (super fun experience, food was really good but we had better on this trip).
We then went on a bit of a last day run through of the things on our to-do list we hadn't hit: Bacchanal (looooved it there), Charbroiled Oysters at Felix's (I wish I had more oysters in general on this trip), French 75 bar (unfortunately they don't serve the soufle potatoes at the bar), Gus' fried chicken (excellent), Then Kermit Ruffins at the Blue Nile (LOVED IT - side note, his pianist was INCREDIBLE)
Sat
Loretta's Pralines (also got the crab beignet which was so good), saw Doreen Ketchens again, Went to The Presbytère on the recommendation of our Cemetery tour guide, hadn't seen it recommended much here but I thought it was really good, spent most of our time in the Katrina exhibition and it was really powerful and informative.
Finished up with Turkey and the Wolf (really enjoyed it, especially the collard greens reuben)
​

First, welcome back! If you're looking for something to do this weekend in Blacksburg and across the New River Valley, here's 22 local events you can enjoy:
Rundown of Weekend Fun: 1. Collegiate Track & Field: 2024 Virginia Tech Invitational Rector Field House, Virginia Tech Friday, January 12, 2024, 2:30 - 9:30 PM and Saturday, January 13, 2024, 11:00 AM - 3:45 PM Admission: Free The Virginia Tech track and field squads kick off their 2024 home meet schedule and will welcome multiple schools to compete in the Virginia Tech Invitational. Admission is free for all spectators and parking is available in the lots surrounding Rector Field House. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772487
2. Free Blue Mountain & South Street Tasting Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg Friday, January 12, 2024, 4:00 - 7:00 PM Admission: Free Join Vintage Cellar for an exciting joint tasting featuring Blue Mountain and South Street breweries. Taylor Smack, co-founder of Blue Mountain, served as the head brewer at South Street for five years before founding Blue Mountain. Must be 21 or older to participate. IDs required. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772363
3. Furious Jones in Concert Rising Silo Farm Brewery, Blacksburg Friday, January 12, 2024, 5:30 - 8:30 PM Admission: Free Singer and songwriter Furious Jones currently resides in Blacksburg, VA though originally from Houston, TX. Enjoy a live acoustic solo show featuring Americana, Blues, Folk, and Rock with both originals and extensive covers. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772190
4. Freeze Your Glass Off Fridays with Music from The Untrained Professionals and Land N' Sea Buffet Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke Friday, January 12, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Buffet: Adults: $39.95, Children 12 & Under: $19.98, Draft Beer: $3.00 Mountain Lake Lodge continues their Freeze Your Glass Off Fridays with Music from The Untrained Professionals and featuring a Land N' Sea Buffet. The Land N' Sea Buffet Entrees include Roasted New York Strip, Grilled Shrimp and Andouille Sausage, Grilled Chicken Florentine, Herb Seared Salmon with Butter Sauce, Roasted Pork Loin with Maple Honey Glaze and Braised Short Ribs. Reservations are required. The Untrained Professionals (UP) are a talented musical duo hailing from Dublin, VA. Clinton Scott and Chris Huddle, both seasoned music veterans, have captivated audiences with their mesmerizing harmonies and instrumental prowess. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=771682
5. Singles Night Chateau Morrisette, Floyd Friday, January 12, 2024, 6:00 - 10:00 PM Admission: Free Enjoy meeting up with other singles in Chateau Morrisette's first ever Singles Night. Musician Matt Johnson kicks off the party with all your favorite songs then take a photo at our photo wall, enjoy a wine tasting and tour and tap into your competitive side with a scavenger hunt. You can dance the night away or enjoy a quiet night with wine around the bonfire. The winery has specifically designed this event to be a fun and comfortable evening for everyone. All ages are welcome. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772438
6. Collegiate Wrestling: Appalachian State vs. Virginia Tech Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Tech Friday, January 12, 2024, 7:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: Free The Virginia Tech Wrestling hosts non-conference opponent Appalachian State as they return home for their first 2024 home match. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772359
7. Benefit Breakfast to Support Firefighter Jeremy Compton's Fight Against Cancer Radford Fire Department, Radford Saturday, January 13, 2024, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM $7.00 per plate The Radford City Fire Department presents a Benefit Breakfast to Support Firefighter Jeremy Compton's Fight Against Cancer. Enjoy pancakes, sausage, bacon, juice and coffee. Proceeds will support firefighter and EMT Jeremy Compton's fight against cancer. In June of 2021, local firefighter / EMT Jeremy Compton began his battle against cancer. Jeremy is currently a career firefighter / EMT for Radford Fire and EMS and a volunteer with the Christiansburg Fire Department. With devoting over 15 years of his life to public service, please consider supporting Jeremy's fight. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772376
8. Mount Tabor Ruritan Biscuit & Gravy Breakfast Slusser's Chapel Church of God, Blacksburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 8:00 - 10:00 AM By Donation The Mount Tabor Ruritan Club will be serving up hot biscuits topped with delicious sausage gravy or apple butter. They will also have scrambled eggs, as well as juice, milk and coffee. Breakfast will be served in the Fellowship Hall of Slusser's Chapel, which is below the sanctuary, on the lower church parking lot level. Breakfast is by donation. This is a fundraiser for the club to help them serve our communitty. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=771839
9. 2024 New Year's Open House Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness, Blacksburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 12:00 - 3:00 PM Admission: Free Enjoy free pizza, free raffle prizes such as Hokie Basketball tickets, tour the facility, meet the owners and trainers plus learn how you win $1,000 for losing weight in 2024. All are welcome. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=771840
10. Collegiate Swimming & Diving: UVA vs. Virginia Tech Christiansburg Aquatic Center, Christiansburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 12:00 PM - TBD Admission: Free The Virginia Tech Swimming and Diving team hosts a swimming meet with in-state and ACC rival the University of Virginia. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772486
11. Program: So, You Want to Be a Beekeeper? Blacksburg Library, Blacksburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 1:00 - 3:00 PM Admission: Free The New River Valley Beekeepers' Association presents the program "So, You Want to Be a Beekeeper?". Are you interested in beekeeping, but not sure where to start? This is the time to get all the answers to your questions including the cost, time, amount of honey, bees and more in this beginner's class, discussion and free presentation. Open to all in the community. No sign-up required. The New River Valley Beekeepers Association was founded in 1998 to aid local beekeepers in managing their hives through outreach, education and networking. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772373
12. 2024 Free Family Film Festival Kickoff: Inkheart Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 2:00 - 3:50 PM Admission: Free Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. presents the 2024 Free Family Film Festival Kickoff featuring the film "Inkheart". "Inkheart" is a 2008 adventure, family fantasy starring Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis and Eliza Bennet and is rated PG. Movie Synopsis: A teenage girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books and must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook's hero. Following the film take your ticket stub to Blacksburg Books for 10% off your next favorite read. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772342
13. Sappy Saturday Claytor Lake State Park, Dublin Saturday, January 13, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 PM Admission: Free Have you ever thought about making maple syrup at home? Are you simply curious about how maple syrup is made? Claytor Lake State Park will simplify the process from tree to treat and show you what you need to make and enjoy Virginia maple syrup. Please meet by the maple trees in the field in front of the Howe House / Park Office and dress for the weather. The event is free, but the $7.00 per vehicle state park parking fee does apply. All ages are welcome. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772490
14. Sadie's Diaries: a Local History Program Christiansburg Library, Christiansburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 3:00 - 4:00 PM Admission: Free Join local historian and transcriber, Kathy Calvert, as she introduces us to Sarah Eliza VanPelt Summers through her own words. "Sadie's Diaries" is an autobiographical collection recorded her daily life in Snowville, Christiansburg, and other parts of the New River Valley in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This book is based on 40 years of Sarah Eliza VanPelt Summers' transcribed diaries and letters which outline her life from the late nineteenth century to the 1930's. Sadie (as she was know to most) was a woman living in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwestern Virginia. Brought up by childless relatives, Sadie matures from a teen at Plumer Memorial Female College into a remarkable woman exhibiting both resourcefulness and resilience. It questions the typical idea of Appalachian lifestyle in the early twentieth century, and challenges the generally accepted concepts of what women of that time period could accomplish. ACopies of the book will be for sale for $20.00, cash only. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772372
15. Free Music Concert with Jaelyn Taylor & 21 South and The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters New River Community College, Dublin Saturday, January 13, 2024, 6:00 - 8:30 PM Admission: Free New River Community College's Concert Series presents their Free January Music Concert with Jaelyn Taylor & 21 South and The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters. Jaelyn Taylor and 21 South are a high energy bluegrass band from the heart of Appalachia in Southwest Virginia. The band’s lead vocalist is 15-year-old Jaelyn Taylor, and she is accompanied by her bandmates and family members. The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, based in Galax, VA, took their name, in part from the original Bogtrotters of the 1930s. They won the very first fiddlers Convention in Galax setting a precedence for all that follow in their footsteps. The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters continue to play in the traditional Appalachian string-band style often playing for square dances around the region. Admission is free though donations will be accepted to help with travel expenses for the musicians. Doors open at 5:00 PM and the music starts at 6:00 PM. The Concert Series events are held the second Saturday of each month, October through April at New River Community College, a Crooked Road affiliated venue. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772345
16. Lonesome Heart in Concert The Blue Hen - Family Style Restaurant, Christiansburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: $20.00 Enjoy food, fun and music with Lonesome Heart. Lonesome Heart is a bluegrass band based out of Southwest Virginia playing original and new traditional music. Only 60 tickets available. The dance floor will be available with tables removed along with food and appetizers for purchase. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the music starts at 7:00 PM. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772377
17. Addie Levy Trio in Concert Long Way Brewing, Radford Saturday, January 13, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: Free Addie Levy is a multi-instrumental singer and songwriter from Southwest Virginia and has been playing in the bluegrass world since the age of 10. Addie has fronted two bluegrass bands, and is now booking under own name as a solo, duo, and full band. As an award winning mandolin player, her instrumental work is front and center of her performance. She now plays, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass. Crafting her original music from her Appalachian roots and progressive innovation, she has recorded and shared her songs at renowned venues like the Bluebird Cafe, The Listening Room, and Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival. For eight years, she has worked seasonal contracts with Dollywood Theme Park as a musician and emcee. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772172
18. Mist on the Mountain in Concert Rising Silo Farm Brewery, Blacksburg Saturday, January 13, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: Free Mist on the Mountain is an Irish Traditional Music group based in the New River Valley. From lively jigs and reels to heartbreaking laments and rollicking ballads, Mist on the Mountain provides great Irish music for any occasion. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772191
19. Men's Basketball: Miami vs. Virginia Tech Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Tech Saturday, January 13, 2024, 7:00 PM Admission: $35.00, StubHub: ~$25.00 (as of Friday morning on January 12, 2024) The Virginia Tech Men's Basketball team hosts ACC conference opponent the University of Miami. It's the Shoes 4 Hope Night. The Hokies and Carilion Clinic's pediatric oncology unit teamed up to paint custom shoes to be worn by Virginia Tech coaches and staff during the game. Fans may bid on the custom shoes with all proceeds benefiting Carilion Clinic. Apex Skip-Its kids jump rope team will perform during halftime. The game is sold out however tickets are available on the secondary market. As of Friday morning, StubHub is offering tickets starting at $24.00 with fees included. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772196
20. Rubik's Cube Club for All Ages Blacksburg Library, Blacksburg Sunday, January 14, 2024, 2:00 - 3:15 PM Admission: Free Learn how to solve Rubik's Cubes. The event will feature instructional sessions for both beginners and enthusiasts, led by experienced Cubers. There will also be Speedcubing which are friendly competitions to foster skill improvement. And help to solve your unsolved cubes to anyone struggling with unsolved cubes. All ages are welcome. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772452
21. Tony Trischka's Earl Scruggs Tribute: Earl Jam Floyd Country Store, Floyd Sunday, January 14, 2024, 7:30 - 9:30 PM General Admission: $45.00, Reserved Seating: $50.00 Tony Trischka's "Earl Jam: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs" will also feature Michael Daves, Casey Driessen and Jared Engel. Tony Trischka is one of the most influential banjo players in the roots music world. In his 45 years as a professional musician, his stylings have inspired generations of bluegrass and acoustic players. He’s been nominated twice for a Grammy award, at both the 40th and 50th annual Grammy ceremonies. He won three awards at the 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association gathering, including Recorded Event of the Year and Banjo Player of the Year. In 2009, his album "Territory" was named Best Americana Album at the Independent Music Awards. Tony produced Steve Martin’s 2011, Grammy nominated "Rare Bird Alert", featuring performances by Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772445
22. Doubles Day Blue Ridge AXEcade - Blacksburg, Blacksburg Monday, January 15, 2024, 12:00 - 10:00 PM 2 for 1 Axe Throwing: • Walk-Ins: $28.00 per hour for two people • Advance Reservation Online: $23.00 per hour for two people Double Value Game Cards: $20.00 & Up Schools are closed, but Blue Ridge AXEcade Blacksburg is open with special hours from noon until 10:00 PM with three Double Deals for your family to enjoy. Enjoy 2 for 1 Axe Throwing, Double Value Game Cards and Double Tickets for Prizes. Spend $20.00 or more on a game card and get $40.00 on your card. Two can enjoy axe throwing for the price of one. Any tickets you redeem during the event will be doubled. For example, if you win 500 tickets, you can get prizes valued up to 1,000 tickets. Fun for all ages with games designed for the little ones up to the kids at heart. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=772250
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Thanks for reading and have a great first weekend back!

Introduction: Florence, Italy, is a city renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and artistic heritage. It is a must-visit destination for art lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty of Italian culture. With countless attractions and places of interest, it can be overwhelming to decide what to visit during your trip. In this article, we will guide you through the best things to visit in Florence, ensuring you make the most of your time in this enchanting city.
Presentation: 1. The Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore): Start your exploration of Florence with a visit to its most iconic landmark, the Duomo. Marvel at its magnificent dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, and climb to the top for breathtaking panoramic views of the city.

1. Uffizi Gallery: Delve into the world of Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery, home to masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and many other renowned artists. Be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid long queues.
   
2. Ponte Vecchio: Stroll across the famous Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge lined with jewelry shops. Admire the beautiful views of the Arno River and capture some memorable photos of this unique landmark.
   
3. Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens: Explore the opulent Pitti Palace, once the residence of the influential Medici family. Discover its impressive art collections and then wander through the picturesque Boboli Gardens, a sprawling park filled with sculptures, fountains, and hidden pathways.
   
4. Accademia Gallery: Get up close with one of the world's most famous sculptures, Michelangelo's David, at the Accademia Gallery. This iconic masterpiece is truly a sight to behold and is a must-see for any art enthusiast.
   
5. Piazza della Signoria: Immerse yourself in Florentine life at Piazza della Signoria, the city's main square. Admire the remarkable Palazzo Vecchio, the Fountain of Neptune, and the replica of Michelangelo's David. Take a seat at one of the outdoor cafes and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.
   
6. Santa Croce Basilica: Visit the final resting place of some of Italy's most famous figures, including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, at the Santa Croce Basilica. Explore its stunning Gothic architecture and intricate frescoes.
   
7. San Lorenzo Market: Dive into the local food culture at the bustling San Lorenzo Market. Sample traditional Tuscan delicacies, browse the stalls selling fresh produce, leather goods, and souvenirs, and immerse yourself in the vibrant ambiance of this vibrant market.
   

Conclusion: Florence is a city that captivates visitors with its history, art, and architecture. From the magnificent Duomo to the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery, there is no shortage of incredible sights to explore. Make the most of your visit by planning ahead, booking tickets in advance, and allowing yourself ample time to soak in the beauty and charm of this Italian gem.
Don't forget to read a comprehensive review about Expedia travels, hotels, and activities for your Florence trip planning. Follow the link to discover more: https://medium.website/expedia-travel-review-2024-a-detailed-expedia-review-for-2024-travel-planning/

pls poo punta lang sana me sa overlooking 🥹 ty agad

Any tips or recommendations for visiting Florence in early January? If anyone knows where to get the best florentine steak, cafes or any experiences, cooking classes, Vespa rentals I would appreciate it. It's going to be me and my sister and we will be there for one week.