CHAPEL HILL -- The Sports Junkies, a local sports talk show heard on 1360 WCHL, now broadcasts from two local restaurants--Town Hall Grill in Southern Village and Franklin Street's Four Corners.
The show is hosted by Gerald Ramoin and Dean Linke from Performance Subaru in Chapel Hill and can be heard every Thursday evening at 6:15. The Sports Junkies interact with listeners at the two host restaurants, broadcasting from each restaurant every other week. The first on-location was held March 4 at Town Hall Grill.
"We're really excited about taking the show on the road," Ramoin said. "Ozzie Godoy at Town Hall Grill and Steve Woodham at Four Corners are both great guys, and they're going to be terrific hosts."
Since the show's debut on Feb. 4, Linke and Ramoin have already shown a propensity for booking compelling guests.
"We recently had Tyler Hansbrough on the show to tell us about NBA life and how much he misses Chapel Hill," Linke says. "It was great to hear from him, and we're looking forward to hearing from other celebrities of a similar stature on future shows."
Fans of the show may join Ramoin and Linke in person, or continue listening on 1360 WCHL or online at www.1360wchl.com.
Hotels name Rowe, Orlando
CHAPEL HILL -- Sean Rowe is the new general manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott Chapel Hill Hotel.
Stephanie Orlando is director of sales for the new Aloft Chapel Hill Hotel which is scheduled to open next month.
Magazine features Zinn Design Build
CHAPEL HILL -- Zinn Design Build, now designing and building homes in the Claremont and Montclair subdivisions in Chapel Hill, was a featured builder in the February issue of Builder Magazine, a national publication for the construction industry.
The article focuses on several U.S. builders for whom semi-custom has become a viable niche product. Zinn is known not only for its custom homes, but also for its semi-custom homes, which allows buyers to personalize within a successful Zinn format.
Carol Ann Zinn has been a designer and builder of homes in Chapel Hill and Durham since 1978. In 1995, she partnered with sons Adam and Omar to create Zinn Design Build, an award-winning family business. The company is known for master designed homes with open floor plans, custom-detailed interiors and environmentally friendly features.
Hotel guests get free breakfast
CHAPEL HILL -- Windows at The Franklin Hotel at 311 W. Franklin Street now offers hotel guests a complimentary buffet breakfast with a wide assortment of favorites, from an omelet stand to pancakes, grits and bacon and sausage.
For those who are not hotel guests, the cost is $12.95 for adults; $9.95 for children ages 6 through 12; and free for children 6 and under. The hotel can be reached at (919) 442-9000. Parking is available behind the hotel.
Cup A Joe turns 16 Saturday
CHAPEL HILL -- Cup A Joe Coffeehouse is celebrating sixteen years in the Timberlyne Shopping Center off Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill.
On Saturday, to commemorate the past sixteen years, everything in the coffeehouse will be 16% off; all drinks, pastries, t-shirts, mugs, coffee brewing items, and more.
Owner Robbie Roberts will be in the store, brewing coffee for his customers, just like he did when the shop first opened. He'll be demonstrating new coffee brewing methods from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., along with giving away products and offering pastry and coffee samples. Cup A Joe will also hold its weekly trivia night at 6 p.m.
El Rodeo now Cinco De Mayo
CHAPEL HILL -- El Rodeo is now Cinco De Mayo Mexican Restaurant and Cantina at 1502 E. Franklin Street.
Local eateries, chefs are finalists
CHAPEL HILL -- Several Triangle chefs and restaurants are among the semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation's annual awards, considered the Oscars of the food world.
Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill is one of the Triangle restaurants nominated in the nation's outstanding restaurant category. A handful of Triangle chefs have been nominated in the Best Chef of the Southeast category: Ashley Christensen of Poole's in Raleigh; Scott Howell of Nana's in Durham; Andrea Reusing of Lantern in Chapel Hill; and Bill Smith of Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill. Smith was a finalist last year in the same category.
"I'm really happy," said Gene Hamer, owner of Crook's Corner. "It's wonderful that Bill Smith is getting the recognition he deserves. ... I've been very fortunate to have two great chefs -- Bill Neal and Bill Smith."
The finalists will be named March 22 at an invitation-only event in New Orleans. The winners will be announced May 3 at Lincoln Center in New York. The James Beard Foundation is named after a chef and cookbook author who was an early champion for American cuisine. The foundation, created after Beard's death, supports and recognizes culinary and food writing talent.
Show to feature Sugarland
CHAPEL HILL --The Food Network will be featuring Sugarland at 140 E. Franklin Street in a new show the network is doing about great places to have dessert.
The show will star Adam Gertler, host of the Food Network series "Will Work for Food." Sugarland's gelato will be featured, showing how they make it, as well as their gelato martinis. Filming will take place by mid-April. Also, look for a coming Sugarland mention in Southern Living and Southern Wedding magazines.
Recovery Room receives permits
CHAPEL HILL -- The following Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission permits were issued on Feb. 24:
File Number: 00140516AJ-998
Permit Number Description
00166211AJ Malt Beverage On Premise
00166211AN Fortified Wine On Premise
00166211AL Unfortified Wine On Premise
00166211MB Mixed Beverages Private Club
ISSUED TO: Five Wats LLC
TRADING AS: Recovery Room
BUSINESS ADDRESS: 108 Henderson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
MANAGER: Watring, Michael
OWNERSHIP TYPE: LLC Manager Managed
COUNTY: Orange
DISTRICT: 004 Raleigh
St. Patrick's Day breads planned
CHAPEL HILL -- Great Harvest Bread Co. is baking up something special for St. Patrick's Day -- fresh, warm, made-from-scratch Irish Soda Bread, Hot Cross Buns, and Gouda and Stout Bread. These breads have an enthusiastic following among Irish-Americans and anyone who appreciates the taste and legacy of these traditional recipes.
"We love the amount of excitement generated from recipes that date back to the 1800s ," says bakery owner Martin McCorkle. "It's truly astounding how beloved these breads have become over the years with customers familiar and new to them. We love knowing our breads will grace tables this month, especially for special Lent observances and Saint Patrick's Day celebrations."
Irish Soda Bread originated in the Irish Isles around 1840 and features a cross sliced in the top, which some believe wards off evil. The majority consensus, however, seems to be that it aided in baking and cutting equal quarters or slices. This delightful bread soon became a staple of the Irish diet, served warm or toasted with a dab of butter and preserves. Hot Cross Buns can be dated back to pagan celebrations and are also marked with a cross. Gouda and Stout bread is made by blending dark stout beer and tasty Gouda cheese into a hearty whole grain dough.
Customers are encouraged to come in the bakery this month for a free slice of this month's speciality breads and treats. The bakery is located at 229 S. Elliott Road in the Village Plaza.
Jennings names Foley to position
CHAPEL HILL -- Jennings, a Chapel Hill marketing and branding company, announces the appointment of Shay Foley to the position of interactive art director. Foley joins Jennings' advertising practice, which supports clients including Volvo Trucks North America, Truliant Federal Credit Union and University Health Care Systems of Eastern North Carolina.
Foley is expected to strengthen Jennings' in-house creative team, particularly in the interactive arena.
Prior to joining Jennings, Foley worked as the associate creative director at Cross + Associates and as the art director at Strategic Insights. She began her career in advertising as a production artist at Jennings in 2005.
"We're extremely happy to have Shay back because she's one of those rare creative people with multiple talents: interactive design and programming skills, an eye for attention-getting art direction, and the ability to be strategically conceptual," said Bob Kochuk, Jennings creative director. "Shay has tremendous amounts of energy, so she'll be a good fit in the department."
Foley's work as an art director has been recognized with a number of awards including Addys, BMAs, Asters and Wallie Awards.
Foley is a graduate of VA Western Community College and Wake Tech Community College where she studied Communication Arts and Advertising and Design respectively.
Jennings, founded in 1979, specializes in advertising, public relations and brand development for businesses in the arts, health care, transportation, financial, travel and tourism and real estate. Using both consumer anthropology and healthy skepticism, Jennings finds the relevant, relatable connection between a person and a product. For more, see www.jenningsco.com.
Cackalacky has new product
CHAPEL HILL -- Cackalacky, Inc., Chapel Hill maker of the original Cackalacky Spice Sauce, is launching a new culinary product, The Cackalacky Cookout Kit.
The cookout kit includes a 5 oz. bottle Cackalacky Spice Sauce; a packet of Cackalacky Spice Seasoning; a Cackalacky bumper sticker; and, several easy-to-follow cookout recipe ideas.
According to the company's president, H. Page Skelton, Sr., "The Cackalacky Cookout Kit is everything you need to grill, bake, or roast wings, shrimp, veggies, fish, ribs and more. It's the ultimate 'Cackalacky cookout experience' in a bag!"
For more information about Cackalacky, visit www.cackalacky.com
