Eric Church Announces Free Show For Ticket Holders Impacted By March Madness Cancelation

Diehard UNC basketball fan Eric Church is making good with fans after he canceled a San Antonio concert to watch the Tar Heels take on Duke in the NCAA Men’s Final Four with his family Saturday night. The country star offered unhappy fans a raincheck in the form of a “one of a kind free show” in nearby New Braunfels in September. “Thank you, San Antonio, for letting me take my family to this game,” Church wrote on Twitter Friday....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 288 words · Darlene Ross

Famous Florida Bald Eagle Couple Welcomes Rare Third Hatchling

And then there were three! Bald eagle couple Rita and Don, the subjects of the popular live eagle cam streaming out of Florida’s Miami-Dade County, are now the proud parents to three adorable little eaglets. According to Zoo Miami, which operates the livestream alongside Wildlife Rescue of Dade County, Rita and Don hatched their third egg of on January 6—six days after welcoming their firstborn. While exciting, experts warn that things could get a little dicey for the rare eagle triplets....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 302 words · David Celis

History Of Yellowtail Snapper In Southern Cooking

The yellowtail snapper, or Ocyurus chrysurus, is a fish commonly found in Atlantic waters. It lives as far north as Massachusetts, though that is rare, and as far south as Brazil, but is concentrated around Florida and the Bahamas. Fished commercially, the yellowtail snapper has been part of the Southern diet for decades, if not centuries. Because of where the fish is most common, around Florida and the Caribbean, it has been adopted into many different cuisines....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 324 words · Peter Henderson

How To Make Food Less Spicy

Southerners love spicy food, but that doesn’t mean tears streaming down our faces and mouths on fire—Unless you’re eating hot chicken. In every other case, spicy ingredients should enhance the overall flavors of a dish, not send you running for water. But if you put too much hot sauce in the seafood gumbo or add too many chiles to the chili pot, fear not. All of your hard work (and precious ingredients) may not have to go to waste....

June 8, 2022 · 3 min · 459 words · Jason Lee

How To Make More Than Just Toast In Your Toaster Oven

Since toaster ovens have the word “toast” in their name, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that browning bread is its main purpose in life. If you’re just using your toaster oven to make toast, though, you have been missing out and giving up some prime kitchen counter real estate to a glorified toaster. Toaster ovens are, in fact, little ovens but with some big benefits over conventional ovens. Thanks to their diminutive size, they heat up more quickly, use less energy, and on hot summer days are the perfect way to bake something without heating up the entire house....

June 8, 2022 · 4 min · 651 words · Ted Puckett

Kentucky Basketball Player Driven By Faith

University of Kentucky fans worship the game of basketball like few others schools in the South. It’s a faith that has served Big Blue Nation very well over the past century, as their beloved Wildcats have won eight NCAA Championships and been to 17 Final Fours, including four out of five years from 2011-15. They won’t be cutting down the nets on a ninth title this year though, as Kentucky suffered a shocking first-round defeat to St....

June 8, 2022 · 3 min · 613 words · Jerry Bookwalter

Making Kebabs Follow Alton Brown S Genius Grilling Advice For Kebabs

If you’re into assembling kabobs as a regular course of your grilling life, we’ve got some input. With the help of Alton Brown, we have the perfect hack for bamboo kabob sticks. But the question remains: should you kabob with metal or wood? The Perils of Bamboo Ruining a bamboo skewer, or every bamboo skewer in the house, by igniting them into full flame on the grill is easy to do....

June 8, 2022 · 3 min · 564 words · Harold Ahlers

Mayfield Kentucky Couple Weds By Candlelight Day After Deadly Tornado

On Saturday, December 11, just hours after a tornado tore through their hometown, high school sweethearts Micah and Madison Haley said, “I do” by the light of a generator. “We had candlelit aisles, and nothing looked the way I imagined it, but I still wouldn’t want it any other way,” Micah, 19, told WLKY. The couple arrived home from their rehearsal dinner just in time to take shelter from the deadly EF4 tornado that struck Mayfield, Kentucky, Friday evening....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 320 words · Heather Wesley

Meet Children S Healthcare Of Atlanta S Newest Four Legged Essential Worker

Please help us in congratulating a very good boy on a successful first day at his new job. This week, the Canines For Kids program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) welcomed a golden retriever named Aries to its facility dog team. The handsome, three-year-old pup will spend his days supporting patients at the hospital’s Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Aries’ job is to make kids feel more at home while undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplants....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 329 words · David Pickle

Passover Etiquette Advice From Sharon Schweitzer

Every spring, Jewish people celebrate their ancestors liberating themselves from slavery in Egypt by observing a holiday called Passover. Over a special meal known as the Passover Seder, loved ones gather around the table to honor the occasion. It’s the one Jewish holiday where the service actually takes place around the family table and not in the formal setting of a temple or a synagogue. Whether you’re Jewish and looking for a refresher or not of the faith but attending a Seder, here are five tips for being a great guest from Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette and modern manners expert, who is founder of the firm Access to Culture,...

June 8, 2022 · 3 min · 579 words · Julie Fleming

Reese Witherspoon S Go To Veja Sneakers Are On Sale At Nordstrom

Reese Witherspoon is known for many things: her acting career, her production company, her book club, her activism for equality in Hollywood, and her love of comfortable white tennis shoes. Recently, we’ve spotted the multi-hyphenate in multiple pairs of relatively affordable sneakers from brands like Tretorn, Hoka One One, and Veja. To our delight, we discovered one of her beloved pairs—the V-10 Sneakers from French footwear brand Veja—at Nordstrom for 25 percent off....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 256 words · Althea Noble

San Marcos Texas The Beautiful Hill Country Retirement Town

The number one selling point for San Marcos is its location. A gateway to the Hill Country, this Central Texas college town is sandwiched between two of the most desirable cities in the U.S.—Austin and San Antonio. Thousands of years ago, prehistoric people came here, no doubt for the blue-green, spring-fed river and the mild climate, which combined to sustain a plenitude of life. The pristine San Marcos River runs through more than 130 acres of town parkland, providing many sites for swimming, snorkeling, and paddling....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 282 words · Susan Rowe

Shoppers Say This 9 Maybelline Mascara Looks Like Falsies

If you’ve ever tried lash extensions, then you know first-hand how they can instantly elevate any look. The only thing is, getting them professionally done can be expensive, and drugstore falsies can feel like a total hassle to apply at home. BUY IT: $8.53; amazon.com Infused with bamboo extract and fibers, the best-selling mascara creates long, full lashes without smudging or flaking. The specially-designed flex tower brush bends during application to help you coat and lengthen each individual lash all the way from root to tip....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 266 words · Juan Jackson

Smithey S Sells Limited Edition Carbon Steel Farmhouse Skillets

The only thing better than a first-rate carbon steel skillet is buying one that was handcrafted right in the South. So when we heard about Smithey Ironware, a cookware brand based in Charleston, South Carolina, that makes vintage-inspired steel skillets (among other cookware essentials), we were more than a little excited. Smithey’s Carbon Steel Farmhouse Skillet is inspired by American blacksmith work from the 18th and 19th centuries. Each piece is entirely unique and so beautifully made, you’ll want to leave it on display for all to see....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 282 words · Jim Perry

Stephen Colbert Features North Carolina Bookstore On The Late Show

Last night, despite the challenges the pandemic has presented, most of us were able to collectively gather (on our own sofas) in front of our televisions to watch the Super Bowl. From the safety of our own homes, we indulged in our favorite football snacks and took part in many of the rituals of Super Bowl Sunday—even if we couldn’t have the usual party with friends. There was still a game, there was still a half time show, and arguably what most tune in for, there were still some pretty stellar commercials....

June 8, 2022 · 4 min · 722 words · Doris Robert

The History Of Southern Fried Pickles

Fried pickles may be the quintessential bar snack nationwide, but the origins began in the South. Of course, like any good food history story, the actual origin is always in debate. In this case, it seems like fried pickles were popularized by the Duchess Drive-In in Arkansas. In 1960, owner Bernell Austin experimented his way into the popular snack by dipping pickles into catfish batter. The story doesn’t come as a surprise as the restaurant was located across from the Atkins Pickle company plant....

June 8, 2022 · 3 min · 429 words · Clifford Horn

The Real Meaning Behind The Mardi Gras King Cake

Where there’s a party, there’s cake. And for the biggest party held every year in the French Quarter, it’s only fitting to have the most stately cake of them all: king cake—a sweet roll that’s equal parts delicious and festive. As the name implies, the origin of this colorful, oval-shaped dessert is rooted in royalty and rich in tradition. With Fat Tuesday just around the corner, discover the real meaning behind the signature baked good of Carnival season in New Orleans....

June 8, 2022 · 3 min · 584 words · Christopher Moir

The Thermacell E55 Mosquito Repellent Is Effective According To Shoppers

Summer’s chart-breaking heat makes many people want to stay cool inside during the daytime until temperatures are “more bearable” in the evening. But another problem arises as the sun sets: mosquitoes come alive! In order to make your deck, backyard, or porch hangouts enjoyable, a mosquito repeller that keeps the bugs away is a must—and this one is a shopper-favorite for under $40. The Thermacell E55 Mosquito Repellent is a rechargeable way to fight back against mosquitoes....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 316 words · Christine Isaac

This Epic Junior League Spinach Dip Is Going To Be Your Go To Party Appetizer

The spring and summer months are all about effortless gatherings that pull together in a flash a few of our favorite things: good conversation, good food, and plenty of good friends. The one drawback is being caught off guard when a moment of impromptu entertaining arises. In order to avoid that unnerving thought, what should I bring (or serve, for that matter!), we’re going to let you in on our little secret: the Junior League of Tampa’s Hot and Spicy Spinach Dip....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 296 words · Alma Swearengin

This Is The Age When Kids Are The Cutest According To Science

If you find newborns ugly, you’re not alone. Wrinkly, red, and oftentimes furry, babies aren’t much to look at right off the bat. In fact, the results of a recent survey published in Evolution and Human Behavior found that we don’t find babies cute until three, or even six months of age. From there, babies remain at peak cuteness until around age four-and-a-half. Understandable right? That’s when they’re at their most chubby and dimpled....

June 8, 2022 · 2 min · 356 words · Judith Anderson