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Where Humans Wore Price TagsBy QB History Buff QuailBellMagazine.com Today in QB's hometown, Richmond, Virginia, everybody's embracing their inner Irish by partying at a former slave market. The location of the modern-day 17th Street Farmer's Market has been a center for commerce since 1737. Back in the day, this square saw the exchange of all sorts of goods, from shellfish to human beings. Not far from the square lie a slave jail (Lumpkin's) and cemetery (Burial Ground for Negroes). Shamrock the Block, a free festival that saw 25,000 folks last year alone, begins today at noon, in honor of a different historically oppressed people: Irish-Americans. (Sigh). Only in Richmond! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Find Your Inner Fashion LeprechaunBy Tykeya O'Neil QuailBellMagazine.com Next time you feel like rocking the leprechaun look, do it the Quail Bell(e) way: Emerald Green Earrings @ Rachelle's Jewelry Box Love Rocks Lace Dolman Top @ Bealls Florida Too Fast Green Leopard Dress @ Hot Topic BDG Cigarette Mid-rise Jeans @ Urban Outfitters The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
How to Make a LeprechaunBy Starling Root QuailBellMagazine.com Find a pot o' gold (though a cauldron will also do.)
Remove the gold from the pot. Melt it and turn it into a potato sculpture. Set the sculpture exactly one foot away from the pot. Pluck a pube from a fire crotch as its master sleeps. Place the pube in the pot. Then get an Irish grandmother to spit in the pot. Close your eyes and count to 1,000 in Gaelic. Be sure to slur your speech the way you would if you'd just spent five hours at the pub on a Saturday night. Fifteen seconds later, enjoy your newfound, orange-haired terror. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Spread this on your fashion bagel.By Belle Byrd QuailBellMagazine.com Wedged between Royalty Bar and Braude & Margulies, P.C. Law Offices on M Street lies a rare find in Washington, D.C.'s preppy Georgetown: Annie Cream Cheese, a vintage boutique whose free-spirited ambiance is more reminiscent of Adams Morgan or Takoma Park than any other Washington neighborhood. Yet Annie Cream Cheese's unlikely presence is refreshing in a district where Burberry coats, Vera Bradley bags and Ralph Lauren khakis run amuck. If you want a good deal on luxury secondhand fashion with a bohemian twist, you can't do better than Annie Cream Cheese. First, time for some clarification: understand that Annie Cream Cheese is not one of those "trash culture" vintage hole in the walls. No clunky Doc Marten's, D.I.Y. bottle cap belts, crudely cut-off granny dresses, or glittery Elton John sunglasses here. (The tackiest items in there are the shag rugs in the dressing rooms but you'll quickly forget them when you start fawning over the regal purple, velvet curtains that give you privacy.) Their nostalgic look may serve as a quirky contrast to the typical Georgetown get-up but that doesn't make it any less sophisticated. When I checked out the store on the weekend before Christmas, Audrey Hepburn posters and LBDs a la "Breakfast at Tiffany's" graced one display window while elegant combinations of black, silver, and gold graced the other. Annie Cream Cheese is about class from days gone by.
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Tiny Bubbles: Hand-made Soaps in the Ol' DominionBy Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com Making soap by hand is a natural, organic and even sensual experience—and often a multi-generational craft. It can also be fun and even serve as a narrative device, as we learned from one soap maker in Virginia.
Courtney Cascante, the Gloucester-based owner of Milk and Honey Naturals, says the public’s perception of organic soap as these “big, brown, chunky pieces” is slowly fading. Her colorful and uniquely scented soaps reflect what she describes as a “modern, trendy twist on organic.” And, she adds, each of her soaps tells a story. One example is her Secret Midnight Path, a mix of jasmine, magnolia and mandarin that evokes the smell of a meadow by an old boyfriend’s house. Cascante also cites the sights and sounds—and flora, of course—of Costa Rica and New Orleans, where she was raised, as major inspirations. Asked why shoppers should opt for her soap over commercial soap, Cascante says, “It leaves no residue; it makes my skin creamy. I don’t have to use lotion and I can pronounce all of my soaps’ ingredients”—meaning, of course, that they are natural. Michael Walsh, owner of Row House Soaps in Richmond, makes scores of kooky-sounding but entirely useful, natural soaps as well. A small sampling of these includes Doggie soap (to ward off fleas and ticks), Naked soap (for sensitive skin), and Buzz Off (to shoo away flies and mosquitoes). An especially unusual one, however, is Fisherman soap. The star anise flower in the soap attracts fish, masks the human scent and rids your skin of fish stench. “Fisherpeople—that’s the politically correct term—swear by it,” says Walsh, who opened his Main Street shop four years ago. One of his most popular soaps, believe it or not, is a little more elegant: Lavender Oatmeal. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Tomorrow's St. Patrick's DaySpend the night reading your favorite Irish fairy tales aloud with a group of close friends. You (probably) won't regret going to your favorite pub, either--as long as you wear plenty of green. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Green Butt-pincherBy Luna Lark QuailBellMagazine.com “If that leprechaun come inside my house, I gonna punch him,” C. pouted, eyes reddened by the prospect of tears. I dropped the construction paper fish in my hand. The other three children crowded around the table glued their gaze on me. Even the antsiest of them had put down her crayon just to stare at my guilty expression. I had upset a 6-year-old with a fairy tale. “Oh, C., it's just a story,” I cooed. I hopped out of my chair to give him a swift hug, accompanied by a nervous laugh.
C. crossed his arms and turned around in his chair, facing a wall full of ABC and spelling posters. I thought I detected the faintest whimper. That broad, chubby back told me that I was not forgiven. When I was growing up, folklore was commonplace, even the ugly tales. My parents encouraged me to learn about myths and monsters, always reminding me that, though untrue, these stories reflected the demons present in real life. So I had no qualms about warning the children I tutored to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. They had to be prepared, lest the leprechaun come and pinch them. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Bell(e) of the Week: March 12thBy Tykeya O'Neil & Lindsey Story QuailBellMagazine.com Editor's Note: We "quailed"! We were supposed to post our first Bell(e) of the Week yesterday. Well, we're posting it today and welcome you to vote. Click on the images below and nominate your Bell(e) by Saturday, March 17 at 12 a.m. EST. Thanks! (And sorry!) The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Crayons and CrystallomancyBy Paisley Hibou QuailBellMagazine.com It can be disheartening to walk down the aisles of your local toy or bookstore in search of the perfect coloring book, only to walk out of the shop empty-handed. Your child, whether your own or the one you baby-sit, deserves something a little less generic, right? After all, you want him (or her) to have the best food, clothes, education, and playthings, even if that means being a little old-fashioned or going to lengths other parents and nannies don't always understand. You take the same stance when it comes to what you give your kid at coloring time--only the best, even if "best" means being a little...eccentric. Well, Rupert's Tales: The Wheel of the Year Activity Book by Kyra and Tonia Bennington Osborn completes your hunt for an awesome coloring book (at least until your child fills every page). Throughout the book, a chunky rabbit, fairies, and other woodland creatures help introduce your child to the world of pagan holidays. Full-page illustrations, puzzles, and games make learning about everything from yule logs to the spring equinox a charming and unique experience. Here's to raising one open-minded kid! SchifferBooks.com
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The Panda PhotographerBy The Picture Pharmacist QuailBellMagazine.com Dear fledglings, There's nothing wrong with this picture--except that all panda photographers are hot pink, tutu-wearing glitter balls. Download this image and pop it into Photoshop to give it some sense of reality. Your fellow Quail Bell(e)s will appreciate it, and history will thank you. Yours truly, The Picture Pharmacist
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Petersburg, the Land of AntiquesBy Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com With early English settlements, presidential mansions, and battlefields all bundled into one state, why wouldn't Virginia feel like antiquers' paradise? The little city of Petersburg embodies Virginia's long history in miniature, both its victories and humiliations, making it an enticingly honest portal to the past. Of course, it's also just plain fun and adorable, too. As you approach Petersburg from U.S. I-95, the ghosts of yesteryear prickle your skin. You sense the city sighing for the glory that bathed it a century ago. Petersburg's multitude of empty brick warehouses and factory spaces point to an economically depressed place—a status that likely would've surprised our ancestors. Once, Petersburg was prosperous. Founded in 1748, Petersburg was an industrial city and became a major transportation hub in the 1830s. Today Petersburg is a city of 32,500 spread out over 23 square-miles. Its 12% unemployment rate is one of the highest in Virginia.
Petersburg mainly attracts tourists for the Petersburg National Battlefield, the site of the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War. Families of high school-aged children may also come to Petersburg to tour nearby Virginia State University and Richard Bland College. However, Petersburg warrants a visit not just for its educational gifts. Come to Petersburg for its sheer entertainment value. Albeit modest, Petersburg has its own share of beauty, art, shopping, and dining perfect for a weekend get-away. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Springtime in America's Capital By QB Social Butterfly QuailBellMagazine.com Spring is around the corner and the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. is one of the best ways to celebrate it. The festival is made up of fantastic springtime events that stretch from March 20 to April 27. Each year, it is planned to coincide with the flowering of the famous trees, and many events are free. (Give it up for Japanese folklore!) Listed below are some of the best ones to attend. March 24, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Symposium: The Japanese Influence on American Craft Smithsonian American Art Museum, McEvoy Auditorium. Admission is free. March 31, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Blossom Kite Festival Washington Monument grounds. Admission is free. Registration required to participate in kite flying contests. March 31, 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m. Samurai Cinema Grosvenor Auditorium at National Geographic. $5 per film. April 6, times vary Film Series: Japanese Divas East Building Auditorium. Admission is free. *this event will occur every Friday and Saturday through May 5 April 11, 12:30 – 2 p.m. Japanese Way of Tea Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan. Admission is free. April 13, 6 – 11 p.m. Spy at Night International Spy Museum. Admission pertains to exhibit entry costs. April 21, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Bonsai Demonstration Green Spring Gardens. Admission is $15. There are many more events during the festival, all of which you can explore here. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Hogwarts in Orlando, FloridaBy Jade Miller QuailBellMagazine.com For a glimpse of Harry Potter theme park magic, QB Associate Editor Jade Miller hit the streets Muggles aren't supposed to see. P.S. Said streets are in Orlando, Florida, also home to Disney World, Universal Studios, and Seaworld. Go figure. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
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Underappreciated: Franz Xaver von SchönwerthBy Julie DiNisio QuailBellMagazine.com Fairy tales have their place in the past. Most children grow up hearing the same cultural stories and lore, many of which have been immortalized by Disney. But the concept of a previously unheard fairy tale is a foreign one, until now. Recently, a set of 500 fairy tales – most of them completely new – was discovered in Regensburg, Germany, a city in Bavaria. The stories were collected and written by Franz Xaver von Schönwerth, a local historian and folklorist and contemporary of and Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, arguably the most famous fairy tale icons. He lived from 1810 to 1886 and spent much of his life amongst the Bavarian locals in a place called Oberpfalz, learning about customs, traditions, and, most importantly, folklore. Von Schönwerth published these stories in three volumes called Aus der Oberpfalz, which failed to gain popularity. German cultural curator Erika Eichenseer published many of Von Schönwerth’s stories. She argues that his stories could not compete with the Brother Grimm’s because they were written with a less literary tone. The stories are presented in a very-straightforward manner, an unfamiliar style for those accustomed to fairy tales today with the less savory details sugarcoated after years of retelling. Due to her growing interest in the author and his life work, Eichenseer founded the Franz Xaver von Schönwerth Society which is committed to publishing his stories. Though they are not yet available in English, a translator is working on them. Thus far, “The Turnip Princess” is one of the translated stories and can be read here. And in the meantime, fairy tale fans can relish the fact that there are more to be discovered and Von Schönwerth is finally getting the credit he deserves. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
A Spooky Sitcom Situation By Jade Miller QuailBellMagazine.com I love a good sitcom. A half hour period that starts you off with a conflict with everything working out perfectly in the end, unless you’re stuck in a ‘to be continued’ plotline. Smiling faces, theme music, credits. If only real life worked that way! As good as Leave It To Beaver, I Love Lucy and The Brady Bunch were, a true Quail Bell(e) had got to be more interested in the sitcoms that were a little bit ‘out there.’ Let’s talk The Munsters, The Addams Family and Bewitched.
The Munsters was probably my favorite show as a kid. That family was just so likable – even if they were a little weird. Plus, their familial relationships rang more true to me than Leave It To Beaver ever did, despite the fact that The Munsters were just as sweet and unreal to true life as the Cleavers. Interestingly, The Munsters was produced by the same people who produced Leave It To Beaver, so that explains the similar tones between the shows. Though The Addams Family and The Munsters were both capitalizing on monster films come to sitcoms, The Addams were more wealthy gothic eccentrics who never left the house, while The Munsters were more blue collar and their humorous situations arose from interacting with the real world, the squares. Sadly, this show only lasted two seasons, but you can catch them on Netflix Instant Streaming. Monster families cannot seem to catch a break! The Addams Family, airing in the mid-60s, only lasted two seasons as well. Despite The Munsters performing better in the ratings, The Addams Family had a bit more staying power, with the TV show spinning off into animated series, a musical and more recently, two movies starring Anjelica Huston. The best part when watching this sitcom isn’t how oblivious the family is to how strange they are, but what a great family the Addams are. Morticia is a good mother and Gomez is head over heels in love with his wife, while the children listen and play well together, even if the games are a little morbid. Though other sitcoms practice this as well, I feel like none quite get it as right and as believable as The Addams Family. Lastly on our trip down memory lane, we stop by Bewitched. Unlike our other two shows, this series was on for eight seasons and was the longest running supernatural themed sitcom of the 60s and 70s! I guess the American consumer responded more to a pert blonde wife helping out her bumbling husband than a good-natured family who happened to be made up of monsters. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy this show, but it just doesn’t hold the same place in my heart as the Addams or the Munsters. Bewitched ’s silly comedy with Darrin forever the victim of a spell that Samantha must fix is actually a nice change of pace from the time, showing the female in the more powerful role even if she is a suburban housewife. Samantha’s mother, Engora, provides a pretty constant antagonist and every girl can sympathize with the situation of having a mother who dislikes who she’s with! The Addams Family and Bewitched are only available through Netflix’s disc program, but you can get your fix by watching The Munsters tonight on Instant Streaming! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Middle Eastern and Dutch-influenced MedleyBy Luna Lark QuailBellMagazine.com Whatever you do, never compare D.C. to New York in front of a Washingtonian. Adams Morgan is not a mini version of the Village, even if hip joints like Amsterdam Falafel seem to capture the same worldly vibe as a Manhattan hole in the wall. Apparently while the owners were visiting friends in Amsterdam, they encountered many unusual fast food options. Hailing from a country where the likes of Starbucks and McDonald's are most common, the owners realized how much D.C. needed a fast food restaurant with comestibles beyond hamburgers and coffee. Their restaurant accomplishes that mission precisely. If you want a combination of delicious food and controversial art accompanied by a rocking soundtrack open at what most people consider mind-bogglingly flexible hours, then Amsterdam Falafelshop is for you. And even if you don't necessarily seek such a unique melange of characteristics in your fast food joint, you should try Amsterdam Falafelshop, anyway. Their fried, spiced chickpea patties are just that mouth-watering. The menu is simple, straightforward, and, while not cheap, reasonably priced considering the food's high quality (about $10 per person). Your options include a fresh falafel sandwich, fries, a brownie, and a soft drink. They prepare the falafel right in front of you so you have no doubts about how long it's been sitting in the depths of the kitchen, as you might at certain other restaurants. In two to five minutes, that Middle Eastern pea baby is yours, hot and flavorful.
The true highlight of eating at Amsterdam Falafelshop, however, comes with perusing their delectable garnish bar. If you can sanely imagine topping off your falafel with something delicious, they have it-at no extra cost to you. Think you might want pickles? Check. Salad goodies? Check. Middle Eastern sauces? Check. Dutch sauces? Check. In fact, there are twenty-one yummy and sophisticated choices total. Heck, if they let you, you could make a meal out of what's available at their garnish bar alone. Whether you want traditional Dutch mayo, homemade peanut 'saus,' ketchup, malt vinegar, or Old Bay seasoning, your fries are covered, too. At Amsterdam Falafelshop, you never have to worry about eating bland anything. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
On the MarketBy Starling Root QuailBellMagazine.com If you've got about a million dollars, a love for fixer-uppers, and a desire to live in Richmond, Virginia's entertainment district, the Craig House may be your dream home. This 1784 beauty lies on 1/10 of an acre in historic Shockoe Bottom, not far from the Poe Museum, the Virginia Holocaust Museum, and St. John's Church of "Give me liberty or give me death!" fame. Estimated to be the second oldest standing house in Richmond, Craig House has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in 4,220 square feet of space. Check out the haunted building's real estate stats on Zillow for a good time. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Way Cooler than Google MapsBy Belle Byrd QuailBellMagazine.com Libraries are lovely, but sometimes you just want to research from home, jammies, hot coffee, bad hair, and all. Next time you have a craving for old-timey geography and no will to leave the house, check out Old Maps Online. This unique portal gives you free access to thousands of antique maps from across the world, though most images come from Great Britain. Gotta know how Scotland looked in the early 19th century? Boo hoo, there are only (ahem) 43,000. Those will definitely keep you busy for a lifetime of lonely Friday nights! More at OldMapsOnline.org
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Baby FaceDear fledglings, The QB Crew wants to see your faces...from a decade or two ago. Send photos of your little self to submissions@quailbellmagazine.com by 5 p.m. on April 15, 2012. We'd love to create a collage of what our readers looked like not too long ago. It'll be an international nostalgia fest for us all! Feathery hugs, The QB Crew The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Got ghost stories?By QB Curator QuailBellMagazine.com Calling all writers of the weird, horrific and nightmarish-- Iron Cauldron Books recently announced their call for submissions for Volume II of Richmond Macabre, an anthology full of freaky stories about Richmond, Virginia. The original volume gained fame and notoriety thanks to attention from local media like WRIR 97.3's weekly show, "Wordy Birds," and RVA Mag, the town's alternative arts & culture rag. Topics ranged from Poe to zombies. Check out this volume's submission guidelines at RichmondMacabre.com. • QB's late Managing Editor, Josephine Stone, wrote about Vol. 1 of Richmond Macabre in this article.
• Today QB Executive Editor, Christine Stoddard, and QB Multimedia Consultant, David Fuchs, interviewed one of Richmond Macabre's editors, Phil Ford, about the book's relationship with Edgar Allan Poe. The interview will appear in "The Persistence of Poe," QB's first documentary, which will be screened at The Poe Museum in Richmond, VA this September. More at PoeRichmond.com. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Art and Wine but Mostly JosieDear fledglings, Thanks to everyone who joined us in honoring the life and writing of our late Managing Editor, Josephine Stone, on Friday, March 9th at C'est le Vin in Richmond, Virginia. We're so grateful that the talented artist, Helene Ruiz, invited us to the reception of her latest show, "Sabor Feminina," where we had the chance to read a couple of Josie's poems. Helene had been kind enough to do a portrait of Josie, which she displayed at the show. Once again, we express our full-fledged gratitude. Feathery hugs, The QB Crew The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Going Gaga for Godfrey's |
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