Future of Brick Style

Future of Brick Style --- We will see. I need to find someone to take over the blog.

Reminiscing about Elon

Often I would complain about the food selection in the Burlington, NC area. Although a meal at Applebee's, Chili's, Ruby Tuesdays, Outback Steakhouse, and anywhere else on Huffman Mill Rd. (which I refer to as the Fast Food Freeway), it is never figure or wallet friendly. I often enjoyed going home and having all of the DC area places available. Now that I am officially home for good, I find myself missing my staples places. For those you have the fortune of returning to Burlington, I want to impart some of my food wisdom on you.

#1 - South Bound Sandwich Works (otherwise known as SBSW) is in the Correct Time Plaza and is a hidden gem of a sandwich shop. With an authentic railroad theme, most of the sandwiches are named according to the theme. An insider there once told me that the best sandwich is "the Conductor". It is important to make the key ingredient swaps. First, swap the bread it comes on for the toasted sourdough. Secondly, swap the ham for turkey. This sandwich will definitely fill you up and be delicious.

#2 - Village Grill's Key West Chicken Salad was a staple during women's recruitment period. Village Grill was always packed with quick to-go orders. The salad comes with grilled chicken prepared "Key West" style that offered a different take on an average grilled chicken sandwich. It is also served with tortilla chips that adds a little guilt to the salad, but not enough to regret it. Add a little low-fat ranch to this salad and your mouth will melt.

#3 - Brixx Pizza is located in Alamance Crossing and is phoenix card friendly! Since Mellow Mushroom overshadowed Brixx pizza, it has been a quiet addition to the new shopping center. The sandwiches, salads, and pizzas are all divine. A margherita pizza always seems easy in nature and almost impossible to mess it up. However, as simple as it is, often places can mess it up if fresh ingredients are not used. Brixx Pizza uses fresh mozzarella and basil on a thin crust that makes this pizza delectable.

Shakori Hills Music Festival April 22-25

The Shakori Hills music festival is on April 22-25th in Pittsboro, NC (about 45 mins south of Elon). Its an amazing 4-day grassroots event featuring lots of local and regional bands. The festival has a lot of dancing, local food, art and crafts. http://www.shakorihills.org/

Its a giant camping event, so you can pitch your tent, or park your car and sleep in that too.

A 4-day pass is $90, and daily passes to the festival range from $22-37 depending on the day you choose.

Or you can go for free by volunteering your time to help promote their solar cell project in the crowd while the bands are playing.

http://www.shakorihills.org/solarize-shakori-project/

Frightened Rabbit

It's the beginning of spring break and that means some more great music is coming your way. This time I'll introduce you to Frightened Rabbit. They're from Scotland and they just might be my favorite band in the world. Their new album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, has amazing lyrics, with catchy hooks and and a big sound. Don't take my word for it. Go to Youtube and listen to their new single, "Nothing Like You," and tell me how awesome they are.

Frightened Rabbit- Nothing Like You

The Morning Benders

For my first post on this glorious blog I thought I'd write about one of my favorite bands, one I saw in concert last Friday. As the title suggests, I'm talking about The Morning Benders. This band from Berkeley, CA has come a long way since their debut album, "Talking Through Tin Cans,"
came out 2 years ago. That album was indie pop with an emphasis on 'pop.' Don't get me wrong, it was a very good album, but it seems almost empty compared with their new album, "Big Echo." The latter is produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor, a man with a great skill for guitar flourishes, feedback and small details. All of that comes through on Big Echo. Lead singer Chris Chu is, to put it bluntly, phenomenal. He has an incredible voice that sounds like someone from the 60's and his musical vision is incredible. Don't take it from me, click on this link and enjoy Excuses, the opening song from Big Echo. It uses a Phil Spector wall of sound aesthetic to accomplish something that is both visually and auditorily stunning.

The Morning Benders- Excuses (youtube video)

Aimee Bender at Elon

Aimee Bender, one of my favorite writers in the world, is coming to Elon. She will be reading at 7:00 on March 17th. Details on the location soon. I imagine the reading wil be in either Whitley or McCrary.

5 Reasons why you should come see Aimee Bender in action

1. She writes fairytales for grown ups - Her stories all have this amazing fantastical element to them that makes them unrealistic but they are written so well, they become realistic. I am sure she is going to read a story that is both bizzare and heartbreaking.

2. She is really cool. Check out this interview.

3.She has named Oscar Wilde, Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Anne Sexton as influences on her writing. Who is influenced by The Brothers Grimm? Aimee Bender.

4. If your mind was blown by visiting writer Kevin Wilson, watch out. He says that she is HIS hero. She is mine too.

5. She does all the things were are told not to do in our writing. You know the warnings we get? She writes what she wants to write and she is kicking butt at it.

Local Businesses Bring Bikes to Burlington

A new used bike shop has popped up on University Dr. right next to University Grill. Its called Elon Bike Shop Buy, Sell and Trade and they have a wide assortment of all types and sizes of bikes, including mountain bikes, nice road bikes, some vintage fixed gear bikes, and kids' bikes (training wheels included).

The shop seems to hold irregular hours (and likes to simultaneously hang open and closed signs in the window), so I wasn't able to go inside, but I just looked through the windows to see what they had. There was also a used, black drum set in the window.

All the bikes are very reasonably priced (all the price tags are dangling off the handle bars quite visibly) and probably in good working condition.

Have you thought of joining the cycling club at Elon but don't own a bike? Have you considered how fun it would be riding to school on a bike instead of driving this spring? There are probably a lot of reasons that's a really good idea, including being able to enjoy the weather on nice days, getting in a little bit of exercise, and saving gas and carbon emissions by keeping your car off the road a couple days each week.

If you're looking for high-end, new bikes, check out J&L Bicycle Co. in downtown Burlington, located at 216 Front St next to the future location of the Company Shops Market Co-op.

They offer a wide line of new bicycles of all kinds, as well as all the clothing, equipment and accessories you may want to go with your bike. They also have a couple weekly group rides that would be great to get involved in.

I noticed this sticker placed in the windows of a lot of stores downtown in solidarity, to help Company Shops Market raise funds and awareness for the local food co-op in Burlington's future. Keep it up CSM! Learn how to support them and the local food cause here.

If you have any desire or need for any kind of bike, Burlington's got you covered. Go snag one now so that you're ready to take an impromptu bike ride whenever our warm, spring days finally arrive.