Nothing Special About This Pizza Joint

Originally written for and published at TheColumbiaCool.com

I like to consider myself a pretty adventurous eater. I'll try just about anything once, and I like a variety of foods. But there are three foods that I love. Make that, love with a capital L-O-V-E. If you broke down my dietary habits into a pie chart, three items would each claim about 30 percent of the pie: pizza, buffalo wings and chicken sandwiches. There's 90 percent of my diet right there. Everything else is about 10 percent. To illustrate, last night for dinner I had chicken wings. The night prior...pizza. The night before that...oh god, it was chicken wings. I think I have a problem. And today for lunch...pizza. I do eat other things, I promise. Not very often, but it does happen. In my defense, however, I had pizza for lunch today for you, reader. You see, I needed to try this new pizza place that just opened in Columbia so I could tell you all about it.

I am sorry to say, however, that the news is not good. The Pizza Joint, newly opened on Forest Drive, does not meet the expectations that I had built for it. You see, The Pizza Joint was originally established in 1996 in August, Georgia where it developed some popularity and eventually branched out to Evans, Georgia and Aiken, South Carolina. I used to notice their wrapped Scion driving around town and wondered "What is The Pizza Joint and when can I try it?" Today was the day, and I was considerably disappointed.

The food isn't bad. It's just not...great. I described it to my friend Katie as kind of a nostalgic throwback to middle school pizza. No, it isn't square shaped, but it has that same flavor. That same generic, no spice, nothing-special-about-it, it's-just-another-slice-of-pizza flavor. That's not necessarily a bad flavor, but it isn't enough to bring me back. I want my pizza to have some personality to it, something special that makes it stand out from other pizzas. I also had some garlic knots that didn't quite meet my expectations. And I don't even have high expectations of garlic knots, short of that they should taste like garlic...which these did not. I was hoping to have better news to report on their salads, but when I asked Katie if her salad was good she responded, "Yeah, it was ok."

But it isn't all bad news. The atmosphere was really great and they had a variety of beers on draft. Also, their prices are really great so if you're not a pizza snob like me, it might be worth checking out. But if you expect great things from your pie, then my advice to you is to pass on The Pizza Joint and go enjoy a slice from Village Idiot or Mellow Mushroom instead.

The Pause Button

So I think it's been like two months since my last genuine blog post. I guess I just haven't had that much to say. Or much time to say it for that matter. Lately all I've been doing is working, studying and sleeping. I am completing my graduate practicum at WACH FOX 57 in Columbia. It's ironic since that is the one place I was trying to leave. Although I don't live there, but I don't know if that makes it more or less ironic. I'm still living with the parentals in Greenville, which actually has turned out a lot better than I expected. I haven't spent longer than a week or two staying with them since 2004, so it's been really nice hanging out with them (and not having to pay any rent). On top of all that I've been studying for my comprehensive exams. So, in summation, I don't have a lot of free time.

I was talking to my friend Patrick today and he reminded me that I hadn't written anything in here in a while. I actually kind of forgot about it for a while, which doesn't make me a very effective blogger. I doubt any of you have been chomping at the bit for new scoop anyways. But, like I said, I really just don't have that much to say. It's funny. When I moved back in with my parents, it kind of feels like someone hit the pause button on my life. It's like I've gone backwards a little, but I'm still moving forward. But I feel somewhat stagnate because I live in the room I grew up in. My life changed so much after I moved out of this house, and being back here just makes me realize how grown up I am. Is there a place for that new me in this house? I won't lie, I was worried this arrangement would be a disaster. But it's brought me and my folks closer together (not that we weren't close before). But it is difficult to dwell on that bright side when I have friends in Germany, DC, Paraguay or any number of places. And I'm sleeping in the same bed I did when I was four. The world moves on around me.

I certainly will be glad to become a part of it again. That's the point of all this, isn't it? The problem is (was, and continues to be) that there is no certain moment in my future when I hit the play button again. I know what the moment will be: when I get a job. But not knowing that when is what bogs the whole thing down. Will I still be living with my parents in two months? I certainly hope not, but there is no way for me to know that right now. All I can do is hope, and I'm doing plenty of that. I apply for jobs every chance I get (none of which are in the Southeast...so far). So I may not have a lot to update you on at the moment, but hopefully I'll be regaling you with tales of my new life very soon.

Revente and Sid Nancy Redefine Shopping in Columbia

Originally written for and published at TheColumbiaCool.com

I've lived in Columbia for six years, and I am ashamed to admit that there is a lengthy list of Columbia landmarks that I've never visited. Can you believe that I've never been to a play at Trustus Theater or eaten one of Sandy's hot dogs? Today, however, my list was shortened by two when I walked into Revente and Sid Nancy in Five Points for the first time. I never really considered going to Revente because, being a man, I'm not exactly their ideal customer. I've walked by Sid Nancy many times in the past and considered walking in, but something always held me back. That something, ladies and gentlemen, was fear. Fear of consignment shopping. I can proudly say that this fear has been erased after meeting the woman behind Revente and Sid Nancy, Debbie McDaniel.

Debbie is no stranger to Columbia retail, having worked at many Columbia boutiques in the past. Back in the early '90s, she noticed the tide turning in retail and decided to branch out on her own with something new...selling something old. She opened Revente in 1992 with very little knowledge of running a consignment shop and even less money in her pocket. "I opened the store on $5,000 and a lot of sweat," she told me, chuckling. A Google search today produces thousands of results to help those getting into the consignment business. But back in '92, Debbie was all on her own.

And her hard work paid off. Today, Revente is a Five Points staple and it has been awarded the title of Number One Consignment Shop in Columbia since 1995 by The State newspaper, Columbia Metropolitan Magazine and the Free Times. Revente is a consignment store specializing in higher end fashions and designer merchandise. As their Web site says, "If you love luxury labels in clothing, shoes & bags such as Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Kate Spade, Jimmy Choo and St. John," then Revente is the place to shop. Browsing the racks, I could see that this was definitely a few steps above Plato's Closet, with high quality, designer clothes, shoes and handbags. And, with a few exceptions, all of the merchandise comes from sellers in South Carolina. Some of Debbie's oldest consignors have moved away, but still sell to Revente because of the superior service they receive there.

And Debbie's success is growing. Just two doors down from Revente, Debbie opened Sid Nancy, an alternative "Buy-Trade-Sell" consignment shop that she describes as "Urban Outfitters meets Hot Topic." Sid Nancy opened it's doors three years ago and has found success with a variety of demographics, ranging from high school and college students to bands, tattoo artists and musicians that pass through Columbia.

One of my favorite things that I noticed at Sid Nancy was a book exchange. Anyone can walk right into the store and take a book from the shelf, as long as they replace it with one of their own. And the bookshelf offers a gamut of selections wide enough to please any literary mind. The book exchange is mostly left to its own, but sometimes the staff will have to veto a book left behind. Sid Nancy manager Ashley told me that once a person left several wiccan books, which they appreciated by decided to donate to a book collector in the area.

So if you're in the market for a Louis Vuitton handbag or a pair of vintage Western boots, stop by Revente or Sid Nancy (respectively) and browse their racks. You'll easily find what you're looking for, and probably some things you didn't even know you wanted.

Give Me a Break

Yesterday evening, my mom and I were flipping through the channels and came across The Sound of Music, a mutual favorite of ours. As gay as it makes me, I never get tired of watching that movie, or any movie with Julie Andrews for that matter. Even her later work. I absolutely LOVE The Princess Diaries. That probably makes me more gay…But maybe it’s that whole making out with dudes thing that makes me more gay. Or it could be a toss-up. The Princess Diaries is pretty gay. But I digress.

We tuned into the movie about an hour into and watched for another hour and a half or so. While watching it, I realized that movies have lost something that I think we should bring back. About halfway through the film, the Baroness Schrader tricks Frauline Maria into leaving the Von Traps and returning to her abbey. As she leaves, the camera pans out and an orchestra plays a climaxing tour de force. A young man such as myself watching The Sound of Music in a theater back in 1965 would begin to stretch his legs and shift in his seat, readying himself for the coming intermission.

It must have been nice to not have to sit through a two-and-a-half to three hour film without a break. Why were intermissions taken out of movies? Who decided that they should be limited to the stage? I say that we bring the intermission back to the multiplex. I mean, who really wanted to sit through Peter Jackson’s King Kong (running time 3 hours and 7 minutes) without a bathroom break? But who really wanted to sit through King Kong in the first place?

With movies getting longer and longer, how about studios offer us a chance to get some air, use the bathroom and refill our popcorn? It’s really in the theaters’ best interest to do so. Think of the concession sales they’d make during intermissions. Here’s how an intermission exchange during ET: Extra-Terrestrial might have gone if the movie had had one:

Bob: Wow this movie is really good.

Martha: Yes, that alien is very lifelike.

Tiny Tim: It gave me a craving for Reese’s Pieces.

Martha: Yes, me as well.

Bob: Well, since we have ten minutes of intermission, why don’t we go get some from the concession stand?

It’s a travesty that theaters and studios are not realizing the potential revenue they’re missing out on.

So here are my parting words for the movie studios: bring back intermission. James Cameron’s Avatar is set to open on December 18. It’s a safe bet that it will run at least three hours. How about building a ten-minute bathroom break into that for us, James? I’m sure our bladders would appreciate such consideration.

Experience Columbia's newest cuisine at Cupcake!

Originally written for and published at TheColumbiaCool.com

Cupcakes. In my opinion, they are probably the best and most practical dessert (or snack) option on the planet. They're the perfect size. They give everyone a chance to have something different. And, as Kristin Kuhlke, the founder of Columbia's newest cupcake bakery explains, "they have the perfect icing to cake ratio." I couldn't agree more. And Cupcake, newly opened in the Vista across from The Blue Marlin, is the perfect place to get your cupcake fix. I tried it out for the first time this morning, and I'm honestly considering going back by this afternoon after work. That Red Velvet cupcake is seductively calling my name.

Kristin founded Cupcake in Charleston, SC in March 2006. She was inspired to do so after living in New York City, where she frequented the famed Magnolia Bakery with friends. When she relocated to Charleston, she realized that there was nothing like a cupcake bakery in the Lowcountry, and decided to introduce us all to it. Her flagship bakery was so popular that she soon opened another location in nearby Mount Pleasant before setting her sights on Columbia. And now here is she is, and if what I tasted today is any indication, we are all in for quite a treat.

"A lot of flavor ideas come from just walking down the ice cream aisle in the grocery store," Kristin told me about the wide variety of flavors Cupcake offers. Other cupcakes are Kristin's own family recipes. Kristin's personal all-time favorite is her Aunt Barbara's pumpkin cupcake, which will be offered in the fall. Other flavor options include vanilla, key lime pie, chocolate almond, cinnamon swirl, white chocolate raspberry...the list goes on and on. And a friendly FYI for the health-conscious out there: all of the chocolate cupcakes are Vegan-friendly...with the exception of the icing, of course.

Kristin is just as excited to have expanded her business to Columbia as I'm sure the city will be to have Cupcake set its roots in town. She chose Columbia as her first out-of-Lowcountry location because of its centrality n the state and because she liked the atmosphere of the Vista as well as the city itself. She told me that getting started here as been a really pleasant experience and all of her neighbors have been very welcoming. When asked what the next step is, Kristin laughed and told me that she's pretty set right now. "Maybe Greenville at some point," she confessed. I think I see a national cupcake empire on the horizon...

Cupcake is located at 1213 Lincoln Street in the Vista

(803) 212-4949

My Three Weeks as a Deadbeat

Sometimes, when I have a lot going on and I'm feeling really stressed, I will say to myself, "How nice it would be to have nothing to do and just be able to relax." Well I am eating those words now. For the past three weeks, I have been living a purposeless life at my parents' house. It has confirmed for me what I have always suspected: that I need purpose and structure to my days in order to remain mentally stable. This coming Monday, I will be re-endowed with such a purpose as I begin an internship with a television station in Columbia (yes, you heard me right. Columbia). I'll continue to live at my parents' house and commute to Columbia for the job, which will last until I graduate in December (assuming I pass my comprehensive exams, of course). Monday cannot come soon enough, though, and I have one more weekday of aimless existence. I wish I could say that I have been productive organizing all of my belongings that I moved up here and establishing some order in my newly re-established residence here in Greenville. But that is far from the truth.

My typical day as a deadbeat usually goes like this:

8:30 - 9:00 am: Wake up, put in contacts, eat breakfast, brush teeth
9:00 - 11:00 am: Watch three episodes of Charmed on TNT (this is Loser Point Number 1)
11:00 - 12:00 pm: Watch an episode of Mad Men on demand
12:00 - 12:30 pm: Eat lunch and watch a movie on demand (Loser Point Number 2)
2:00 - 5:00 pm: Amble around the house for a while, run any errands or go see a movie (Loser Point Number 3)
5:00 - 7:00 pm: Watch Bones on TNT (Loser Point Number 3)
7:00 - 8:00 pm: Eat dinner with the parents
8:00 - 11:00 pm: Watch tv with the parents and drink a glass of wine
11:00 - 12:30 am: Get ready for bed and read
12:30 - 8:30/9:00 am: Sleep

I have seen a total of six movies in the past three weeks, which is beyond sad. I'll rate them all using one word for each film. Don't judge me:

Julie and Julia - Cute
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - Watchable
(500) Days of Summer - Poignant
The Time Traveler's Wife - Moving
Ponyo - Enchanting
District 9 - Riveting

Please, don't judge me.

But, happily, all of this (or most of it) will come to an end as I must complete 450 hours of in-field practicum work in order to complete my graduate work. And thus, my three weeks as a deadbeat end, and my four months as a lowly intern begin.

It's Been a While

Good evening, my long lost, oh-so-devoted blog readers. I deeply apologize for my prolonged absence in your lives. I hope that you all found some way to cope without me, but never fear, for I have returned. It is drawing close to one month since you last heard from me, an inexcusable lag time in the blogosphere. While there is no forgivable excuse for this, I will attempt to explain why I have been gone so long. First of all, and please excuse my language, summer classes kicked my ass. July was a rough month for me. Between my management class and my campaigns class, I had almost no time for anything else. Throw in searching for fall internships and I was simply overwhelmed.

But now all that is over and I have left Columbia, my home for six years, and have temporarily moved back in with my parents in Greenville, SC (if you'll remember from my last post, there is a strong emphasis on the 'temporarily'). So that's where I am now, waiting to discover my next stop on the road of life. Until I get an internship, there is not much else for me to all day but watch TV, go running, ride my bike and miss Columbia. And there's a lot I'm going to miss. Stay tuned for my reflections on the last six years...