One of the goals I unofficially set for myself upon completing my schooling and dietetic internship and moving to the rich cultural nucleus of Charlottesville was to participate more in the arts.
I have dreams of joining a dance troupe and performing in a musical; however, those might be a bit advanced for now with the bakery and all. But I most definitely can participate by being an enthusiastic audience member!
Last week Faith and I went to see a dance performance. On Saturday we went to a free music show. Tonight we went to see a youth performance of one of my favorite books: The Giver.
I worked on the website until 5:00 on the dot and then Matt and I gathered our things and hopped back on our bikes to head downtown to meet Faith + Tate.
It was beer tasting night at Market Street Wine Shop! Love that place. [I am also madly in love with my $48 Lands End winter coat that never lets me down (heh heh) in cold weather! I haven’t been cold wearing it yet – and that includes 2 weeks in Montana!]
We tasted through a flight of Samuel Smith.
I generally like a wide range of beer – I’m evening starting to like the hoppy, bitter beers that I’ve passed on to Matt in the past. But really rich, high alcohol, malty, slightly sweet beers are true to my heart. None of the Samuel Smith’s tonight really hit the spot.
The Organic Ale tasted like cardboard. The India Ale was the Organic plus hops. The Nut Brown Ale tasted good in contrast to the other two, but was very flat and boring on the finish. The Porter caught my attention, but also was pretty boring. And the Cider was good, but not thing I’d choose to drink. So sorry Samuel, you’re not my cup of tea!
Jefferson represent!
I had been excited about dinner at Mono Loco ALL DAY LONG!!
SPICE-A-RITA!!!! I don’t really like margaritas, but this drink is FABULOUS!! Three kinds of jalapeño and a slight kick on the rocks. Love!
We went to Mono Loco with the rumor of a $10 special – a margarita and a burrito. Awesome deal! Too bad we heard wrong. The deal was actually a beer and a burrito – and there were only three to choose from 
My palate decided to order off the regular menu to get my favorite dish – the Day At The Beach burrito bowl.
See this post for a better photo! It has pan-seared cod, yuca fries, rice, beans, greens and a few special sauces. A bowl full of delicious!
[As an aside, I almost got a dish with oyster and pork, but I asked Portlandia-style where the pork came from and was told it came in on a truck from the West – it wasn’t local – so I opted for fish instead.]
We actually didn’t think we were going to be able to make the show tonight – a ticket miscommunication! But thankfully there was space for four more in the tiny theater.
The show was great! I love any story that stretches your mind, and The Giver definitely does.
What was your favorite book from your youth?
Nite!
{ 107 comments… read them below or add one }
I loved Anne of Green Gables! Loved everything about those books!
I loved far too many books to narrow it down to just one! Anne of Green Gables (the whole Anne series actually). Ramona Quinby, anything by Judy Blume, and Kit Pearson. Also loved stuff by Tamora Pierce. And of course Harry potter.
I wish I had my journal here so I could remember all the rest.
The boxcar children. I loved how they made do with using the pond as their icebox and utensils they got second hand. I loved their spirit.
I also loved all 2,000 Sweet Valley High Books as I got into junior high. I loved Lila Fowler’s name so much I named my daughter Lila.
totally! i loved the boxcar children and bridge to teribithia–the movie was horrible. i also loved the Encyclopedia Brown books.
The Giver is wonderful. My favorite series from my youth was definitely Little House on the Prairie. And, I loved Little Women.
I’ve tried a pepperoncini martini before – love spicy drinks!
I loved the Little House on the Prairie series. I can still remember my mom reading them to me when I was still to young to read them myself. I also loved Nancy Drew once I could read “chapter books” on my own.
My favorites include “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Little Prince,” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
I was a huge Anne of Green Gables fan growing up. Sounds like you had a fun night
That is the biggest margarita I have ever seen! I have the Giver, but I have yet to actually read it…I should get on that!:)
It wasn’t that big
Just a regular pint glass!
I’ve read The Giver a million times since elementary school. But I hear it’s being taken off a lot of curriculums for being “too controversial.” Boo that!
All 8th graders in my district read it-I can’t believe people are so narrow minded sometimes. Daaaa let kids explore, discuss and think about issues!
East of Eden! If HS counts as youth. It’s my favorite book of all time actually. Come to think of it, I should reread it!
I read The Giver once and I really liked it–except for the ending and the weird part about killing babies! Like, really?! Haha. I was very disappointed. Looks like you guys had fun.
OMG The Giver!!! I haven’t read that book in years, it was definately a favorite of mine and Bridge To Terabithia : )
I LOVE The Giver! I also loved Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie, and Babysitters’ Club!
i act professionally with a theatre targeted towards youth and a few years ago we performed the giver as a part of our season…..such a good story! that burrito sounds fabulous and i am so jealous of you guys being able to bike everywhere lol! it’s so dang cold up here in Buffalo!
I’d have to say James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Chronicles of Narnia — all of which my teachers read to us in class. They’re still amongst my favorites!
That burrito bowl sounds delicious. I love busy bowls!!
I just reread The Giver! I loved it when I was younger, just found it again and had to read it right away
The Face on the Milk Carton! Haha, I know it’s really random, but I loved that series!
Charlotte’s Web- the first chapter book I ever read
I was totally hooked on the whole reading thing from that day on.
Totally didn’t to reply to yours… darn internet freeze. I actually did the Face on the Milk Carton too. My friends and I checked the ones at lunch for a week or so after we read it.
I had totally forgotten about this book until you mentioned it!
I loved to read as a kid, there are way too many to pick a favorite, but I remember really loving Shel Silverstein’s off the wall poetry books a lot, like “Where the Sidewalk Ends”
What a fun evening with friends.
That spice-a-rita sounds great!
Great post, Kath! I love that you want to be more involved in the arts!
And I love that you love tasting flights…of beer or wine. And that you also ordered off the menu for your burrito so you could get exactly what you want.
Fave books when I was growing up…after the age of Dr Suess, I guess books by the author Judy Blume. Dear God are you there, it’s me Margaret…I think I read that one about 17 times
Hi Kath!
I have been an avid healthy living blog reader for a while now but I somehow just came across your blog and I LOVE IT. What makes it 10,000x better (if that is even possible) is that I am a student at UVA here in Charlottesville so everything you blog about is right here in my backyard! Take for example, Mono Loco, Beer Run, etc….I was just there last week and they are some of my favorite restaurants!
I can’t wait to hit up some of the nature trails, wineries and other places you have referenced. Cant wait for you to open up “Great Harvest”. It sounds perfect for C-ville (and of course for me as a happy hungry customer :] ). I hope to be there to support you on opening day!
Consider me your newest KERF fan!
Kaitlyn
So fun! Maybe I’ll run into you someday soon
Hey, I just discovered your blog and I am so happy to find a healthy eating blogger that shares my love for yummy ales! No matter how healthy I try to eat, I’m not giving up my IPAs and porters!
I love The Giver! So many memories from my childhood… and am I just imagining this or did she write a second one, too?
She wrote two companion novels: Gathering Blue and The Messenger. They aren’t the same characters though. I read Gathering Blue a few months back and it was really interesting, although not nearly as thought provoking as The Giver.
kind of off topic, but I know how much you love not having a packed fridge- however, I always understood that it was much more energy efficient to have a fuller fridge than an emptier one. A quick internet search (not to say that’s the best research ever) confirms it. Do you have any thoughts on that?
I dont’ think the difference is so drastic that it warrants a major life change
The Giver is my all time absolute favorite book ever. I am totally jealous of your live Giver experience!
i’ve never heard of that book before! my favorite books from childhood i still read…beverly cleary and judy blume. all of them.
“A Wrinkle in Time,” by Madeleine L’Engle!
oh, I love a visit down memory lane!
I loved There’s a Rainbow in My Closet by Patti Stren.
I also loved The Babysitter’s Club series, Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High (and Twins!), anything by Judy Blume, and the Ramona books.
Favorite book : The COunt of Monte Cristo (see post here, just about that!!!! : http://www.enjoyyourhealthylife.com/2011/02/22/healthy-mind-head-stuck-in-a-book/
Glad you had fun, Kath
I’ve read The Giver and think its a great book too.
My favorite book from my childhood is probably Harry Potter. I read a ton so its hard to pick a favorite, I also really liked The Great Good Thing and The Cat in the Hat
I always hear about the giver! Sounds really moving~isn’t it supposed to be? I’m curious about it now
One of my goals for this year is to go to more theatre and musical performances, even though there isn’t a lot offered in my city! Alas, I know I’ll never be able to eat yucca fries afterwards. I’ve never even seen yucca in Australia!
I love The Giver! I actually didn’t read it until last year, when I was doing my student teaching. Back in the day I was a huge Sweet Valley High/Twins, Babysitters Club and The Face on the Milk Carton fan
My favorite young adult novel now is Hunger Games.
We’re going on a Bear Hunt… we’re going to catch a big one!
Yes, I LOVED The GIver. One of my all-time favorites. I read an Ayn Rand book when I was older, not The Fountainhead but a book that was much shorter, and it was like an unpolished version of The Giver. I think Lois Lowry polished that up and made it for kids. Thus, The Giver!
Kath,
Love your blog.
I am sure you know this, but just have to note that even if the meat is local and organic, it still may live in poor conditions and even if it lives in good conditions (which is rare), the slaughter is pretty horrible and cruel. The reality is really terrible….I have tried and I cannot think of a way to eat meat without being the cause of suffering for an animal.
Sorry to be a bummer!
I am completely 100% for the ethical treatment of animals, but still think they are put on earth as part of the circle of life. Survival of the fittest and all that stuff…
I’m not sure where you are getting your information on Kath’s meat, but many local and organic farms do raise and kill their animals in a humane manner. I know killing and humane are two words that don’t really go together, but it really is the best we can do.
This is just my opinion, obviously not Kath’s, but I think it takes all kinds and we shouldn’t judge
I couldn’t have said it better myself Monica.
Not judging as much as pointing out something about which a lot of people are unaware. Even the most humane farms don’t slaughter their own meat. It just makes sense that if we are eating it, we should know how it gets to be on our plate.
It is a difficult reality and easy to gloss over. For example, chickens that produce organic free-range eggs that you might buy at Whole Foods live in no better conditions than those that produce traditional eggs, and the conditions are pretty shockingly heart-breaking. Most people do not realize this. Whole Foods does not carry eggs from humanely treated chickens. I have looked into it.
Checking into how your food is produced and killed just makes sense in order to ensure that actions are in line with intentions. I am not saying don’t eat it, I am saying know what you are eating.
I’m not glossing over anything. I’m well aware that “free range” doesn’t have to mean much at all. My Whole Foods sells eggs from local organic farms.
Just remember that Organic refers to feed, not treatment. Pastured is the key for eggs from humanely treated chickens. If you really want to look into it, ask the farmers what the chickens eat. They should be foraging if they are pastured.
I’ve done research on a lot of the local farms around here, so in Cville I can make pretty good choices. It’s harder when traveling, which I why I usually order fish/salads/veggie/pasta/soups when I’m in an unknown area – unless it’s a restaurant that is mindful of local farms and advertises grass-fed, etc.
Again, great job on the blog and the new business!
When I said gloss over, I really meant marketing. Micahael Pollan talks about it and he has a really good term for it, can’t remember what it is. But it refers to presenting idyllic-looking farms on packaging and implying it in marketing when the reality is very different.
My area has really great ranches and farms where animals are treated as well as they can be given the circumstances. But I find even they will whitewash some issues. Like there is a great dairy farm where the cows graze on green hillsides overlooking the ocean. But they state that they take calves away from their mothers at birth or shortly thereafter so that they can control their food intake and ensure the highest quality diet. But isn’t the milk of the cow the best diet for a calf? Also, what happens to the male calves? Um…you don’t want to know.
I am quickly becoming obsessed with having to try a spice-a-rita. Never heard of them before but I loooove jalapenos!
Oh, and digging the down joke
haha – I loved your Portlandia reference! That show kind of makes me want to move to Portland…
*sigh* it makes me want to move BACK to Portland
. It’s an amazing city.
Also, my favorite book as a child was Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. It’s a fun trip down memory lane to read everyone else’s favorites!
I remember reading the Giver! What a great book.
I loved the American Girl books. So many fond memories!
I loved Where the Red Fern Grows. I had to pull out the Kleenex box when I read it though. Lol!
Woah — cool! My old roommate up in DC lives in Charlottesville now and works at Mono Loco. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard it’s a fun place. I’m told the “loco ladies” are kinda a big deal around town… something about how they bring the party whenever they go out bar-hopping together!
Oh cool! Maybe she was there!
The Giver is also a favorite of mine!
This is kinda nerdy (ok, really nerdy) but in middle school I was on the forensics team (competetive dramatic performances). In 8th grade, I competed in extemperaneous reading – dramatic storytelling from different passages of the book – and went all the way to the state finals and WON first place! For the entire state! I’ve always loved re-reading the book on occasion, it’s nostalgic.
I actually hated reading for most of my life until High School when I had a wonderful English teacher. My first favourite book was Water for Chocolate and The Good Earth.
i loved the little house on the prairie books when i was younger. also, little women will always be one of my favorites!
HA, portlandia
oh man, i was such the bookworm as a kid. LOVED the babysitter’s club. glad to hear you made the show!
I remember being a little girl and reading Charlotte’s Web at least twice a year (sometimes just my favorite parts). I was also OBSESSED with the Babysitter’s Club series. I had quite the collection! I definitely read those books over and over again.
Harriet the Spy – definitely. I read it 11 times in a row one summer, sitting by the pool at the JCC. I fancy myself a bit of a Harriet the Spy – that’s my boyfriend’s nickname for me:)
I really want to experience the arts in our city as well. We have so many great theaters and museums but we never think to check them out.
Your burrito bowl looks amazing. I think that will be dinner tonight!
The arts are so important! I love hearing of people being so supportive. My husband is an illustrator, so I love it when people think outside the box and appreciate artists. Also, I spent an hour and a half last night at an elementary school talent show practice…it was amazing seeing these kids get up there and do there thing.
I adored a series of book called The All of a Kind Family. Does anyone else know of these?
I’m going to check it out! I’ve never heard of these before
I loved all the American Girl books! They’re so fun!
I think we would be great beer friends! I like my beers with a little oomph too! No shortage of great craft brews here in Vermont!
My favorite books were definitely the Babysitters’ Club series. I have such great memories of devouring each new book in a day!
Taking in more of the arts is such a great goal! I’ve been to afew plays locally but not nearly as many as I should and I have never regretted it. Also, the Portlandia reference was hilarious
Too bad about the beer
I would love to join a musical – preferable Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat since I know all of the song lyrics
When I was a kid, my favorite book was The Pigman — have you heard of it?
It’s so great that not only do you support local food but also local arts. Music to my ears as a farmer and artist. The Giver is great I remember re-reading it after reading it as a seven year old. Man had I created some strange interpretations as a child.
“The organic ale tasted like cardboard.” HAHA I love it!!!! I’m not a big beer person and I love your description!
My favorites were the Beverly Cleary books, especially Ellen Tebbits.
My favorites, too! Hope you have seen the movie Ramona and Beezus! The filmmakers did a good job of pulling together elements of several of the books and bringing the story up to the 21st century.
The Secret Garden….I read it over and over and over again. I also loved the Giver though. WOuld’ve loved to see that show!
Ok Im going to have to look into that coat, because I have spent lots of money on coats and they dont keep me warm! Def going to check that one out, and its so cute!
I used to read the babysitters club series growing up ; )
I was always a reader as a child. I loved Beverly Cleary the most, and I also loved The Little Prince and They Cage the Animals at Night (so sad but so good).
Since you love seeing dance performances you should take a look at the Richmond Ballet. The school is having a show this weekend joined with the Royal Ballet School of London. It’s definitely worth checking out!
I started but never finished The Giver because it creeped me out as a kid! My favourite books were anything by Kit Pearson.
That burrito bowl looks awesome! I would love to try to recreate it.
Mouse and the Motorcycle! Am I dating myself? ahhhh…funny that should still stick out in my brain!
Love the “Portlandia” reference! A few nights ago, I found myself using a wine stopper shaped like a dove just so I could “put a bird on it.”
The Giver was one of my favorite books growing up! I read it in school several times for different classes – never gets boring.
Just ate at Mono Loco last weekend! My burrito bowl had a sweet potato salsa on it–it was delish!
Oh, wow…I could never pick just one favorite book. I’ve been a mega-reader since I was three, but these are some favorites from elementary: Where the Red Fern Grows, anything Beverly Cleary (especially Ramona Quimby, Age 8), the Little House series (especially Farmer Boy), Number the Stars, anything Judy Blume (especially Just as Long as We’re Together/Here’s to You Rachel Robinson), Sweet Valley High, the Babysitters Club…probably more
when i was a little girl Heidi, Secret Garden and The Little Princess were my favorite books.. I also love Laura Ingalls Wilder books… and Judy Blume..
The Outsiders!
As well as the Babysitters Club series, and when I was even younger yet, The Berenstein Bears <3
The Giver is my favorite book! That and Brave New World
I love The Giver. I actually didn’t read it until college, but I read all three books (did you know there are 2 that follow it?!) and loved them.
Yes! It clears up that whole “did Jonas die?” controversy pretty well. I actually didn’t like either of them, though. I think nothing can add up to the impact of reading The Giver for the first time though.
Have you read the Hunger Games? New YA series about a post-apocalyptic world in which the government makes children battle to the death in a reality-series-esque survival quest. Amazing! Brutal but insightful.
My favorite book was definitely Where The Red Fern Grows! Just thinking about it makes me wanna read it again
Your GH site looks great! I even googled directions from my home in Genoa City Wisconsin to your GH and since it is only 803 miles away whenever we are in the neighboorhood we will be sure and stop in! Good luck with your business and thanks for sharing the journey.
Forgot! Favorite book, Mr. Poppers Penguins. I heard recently that Jim Carrey will be staring in the movie version.
I love “The Giver” I read it again a few years ago as an adult…it is such a special book!
My favorite book? Hm, either A Separate Peace or To Kill A Mockingbird. Can’t choose between the two.
Also, that spicearita drink sounds AMAZING! I looove jalapeños!
LOVED the Giver! I thought I was the only one!! Everyone in the English class (years ago) hated the ending..but i loved loved loved it!
Awesome, I loooved The Giver as a kid and actually still do! I used to love James and the Giant Peach, Little House on the Praire, etc etc. I was a huge reader as a kid and still am as you can tell be how excited I am talking about it, lol.
The Thief of Always by Clive Barker… definitely my favorite book as a youth!
The Giver was also my favorite book… it always created a huge debate at my house. I personally think (maybe its what i WANNA believe) that the boy at the end falls asleepin the snow actually hearing music and seeing christmas lights. Most of my family believes he actually dies and hallucinates those things on his death bed. I hate that that would actually be the ending….How did they portrait it in the show?
I adore The Giver! I recently came across Lois Lowry’s Newberry Award acceptance speech, and it’s wonderful! It gives another level of insight into the book. You should check it out!*