Zac Brown Band in Raleigh this Weekend!

If you've been around since October 2008, you've probably seen one or two of my posts about ZBB - including the original.

While I'm bummed that it wasn't my handiwork that brought them to my beloved Raleighwood (not without effort - I tried, but other forces who don't know any better stood in the way), the Lincoln Theatre has (LOVE them though, so I'm glad it's them) for a block party this Sunday.

Johnny Orr & the South Station Band and Coastline Band (both are great NC groups!) will also be parts of this cool event. Tickets are only $20 in advance, $25 day of.

Here are the full details:

http://lincolntheatre.com/schedule.htm

Zac Brown Band w/ Sonia Leigh / Levi Lowery / Nic Cowan

Inside Stage
Johnny Orr & the South Station Band
Playing between the Outside Bands

Jim Quick & Coastline
After Party Following Zac Brown Band

5:00PM Doors
5:15PM Show

This show is outside on the Lincoln Theatre Street StageSee y'all there!


{Image: RoughStock.com}

A New Venture & BBQ Tonight!

Brandon and I are no culinary experts, but we know our BBQ... so we've started a blog about it!

Join us TONIGHT at The Pit in Downtown Raleigh for a fan viewing of their Throwdown with Bobby Flay from the Food Network!

http://www.ncbbqtour.com/2009/05/our-first-event.html

Two BDL Performances in One Month

Raleigh is a lucky, lucky city!

Not only did we get ONE Brian Davis Live performance on May 2nd at Boots, Bands, and Bulls... but Brian will also be here on May 29th. Hot damn!



I just may have to save heading for the beach for Saturday morning!

I Think We All...

...have a bit of rockstar in us.

This video was sent to me by my sister Mandy:




And this video, features the other Mandy's adorable nephew:





Adorable.

Justin Moore's "Small Town USA" Free on iTunes This Week!

I've blogged here about Justin Moore before and how much I love that southern twang in this voice, so naturally I was really excited to see this morning in my email that his "Small Town, USA" video is free this week on iTunes!

Hop on over and download your free video and enjoy!

The ZBB and Little Big Town Beergarita

I think this is going to be a new classic for me and my tailgating friends!

The Zac Brown Band / Little Big Town Margarita

• 2 frozen concentrate limeades
• 2 empty concentrate cans of tequila ("stuff that makes you take your clothes off")
• 2 bottles of Blue Moon beer
• 2 cans of Fresca

Mix together. Serve (on the rocks or frozen). Enjoy!

As my twitter status read, "Some people listen to NPR at work... I listen to the boys from @ZacBrownBand".

Listen for yourself: http://www.imeem.com/zacbrownband/music/0N87UnqX/john-hopkins-under-the-influence-wyatt-durrette/

I'm thinking it would've made a hilarious video.

Links: Zac Brown Band, Little Big Town

For My Green Thumb Readers...

I've noticed many of you (with blogs that I read... drop me a comment if you've been lurking and we haven't connected yet) have mentioned starting up your own backyard produce farms and/or gardens, so I thought I'd pass along some great tips from yesterday's Toxic Free NC Spring 2009 email newsletter.

Organic Gardening from Scratch

Here are a few tips for starting a new garden from Toxic Free NC and Tom Mekus, owner of Native Elements Landscaping in Raleigh.

Plan for too little (and too much) water
Keeping your garden within a hose’s length of an outdoor tap is always a good idea, but it’s also wise to consider installing a rain barrel. Just one-quarter inch of rain onto a 300-square-foot section of roof can yield nearly 50 gallons of water!

Resources for gardeners
Free soil testing by the NC Dept. of Agriculture
Call your County Extension office for more info, or visit http://www.agr.state.nc.us

All about composting from the NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources www.p2pays.org/compost/
919-715-6500I thought I'd just pass along some tips that were maintenance related, since many of you have already started (and posted) some of your great results. Be sure to read the full post for some even better all-around tips.

Want to make your own rain barrel? That's definitely something I'm going to be tackling this summer... especially after previous summer droughts here in central NC.

Here are some links with how-to guides:From the EPA - Build Your Own Rain Barrel (pdf)
YouTube - How to Build a Rain Barrel (video)
YouTube - How to (On the Cheap) (video)Get creative! Add a screen to keep out leaves, etc., add a monogram (for the particularly preppy garden), whatever floats your boat... knock yourself out. (As pictured above, I'm not above putting a monogram or some cute embellishments on a rain barrel!)



{Images: Clockwise from Top Left - Zedomax, River Falls Rain Barrel Program, This Old House, Arlington Village Green Team. Embellishments by yours truly.}

The Good Stuff

Because my posts about booze, tailgating, and the like always get the most attention, I know you all will enjoy this budget-saving tidbit.

Courtesy of local retail queen - Sue Stock - this is a mail-in rebate that basically hooks you up with... you guessed it... free vodka! And not just any vodka, but good for the earth vodka (billed as "the world's first eco luxury vodka")!

It's distilled by a company called "Earth Friendly Distilling Vodka, Co." out of Missouri (yes, I had to Google it to make sure MO was in fact Missouri - don't laugh).

Read Sue's whole post here and print off your mail-in rebate!

As Sue mentioned, the fine print doesn't include NC in the ineligible states, but the biggest obstacle is whether or not it has been approved by the state and county boards for distribution here... guess we'll find out (or at least I will find out)!


{Image: Vodka360.com}

A Throwdown of Epic Proportions

How crazy is it that it's been almost a year since sweet tea vodka was making its first introductions into the lives of Southerners everywhere? (Albeit, it took quite a bit longer to make it to every county in the closed states.)

Well it just wouldn't be summertime without tailgates, cookouts, and days on the water with sweet tea vodka now and it looks as if it's going to get quite interesting this year. I can't wait to try some of this myself and see if it lives up to the hype!

Anyone else had the opportunity to try Firefly's newest competitor in the sweet tea vodka arena?



Many thanks to my good friend Tyler for the scoop!

PS - Maybe I should've titled this post "The Sweet Tea Smackdown"?