Liberty, NC

I realize this isn't Lake Lure, but it sure makes me think of Dirty Dancing Spent the early afternoon at Jordan Lake  (near Cary, NC), and it's AWESOME! At only six dollar a car load, it's a killer deal to go swimming and/or have a cookout. Of course I could stop thinking about how just a few months back, Greensboro was defiant about state law and water run-off and sending pollutants in the Triangle's water supply, Jordan Lake. When I watch Greensboro politicians suggest business was more important than environment, I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle them. Business is never more important than nature. That said, it's amazing fun. We swam and swam, and when it began to rain- we stayed swimming while everyone abandoned the beach. This of course makes no sense to me, as you're already in the water. It did prove to very fun to have an entire lake to ourselves for more than a half hour. About then a storm rolled through with tornadic winds, a...

I asked about chili-cheese fries, and was advised against it. That's almost unpatriotic in Randolph County.  So the other day, I had the opportunity to visit  Everything Under The Bun  in Asheboro. It's near the Zoo (It's actually on the Zoo Parkway.) in the corner location of strip mall.  I've read the newspaper reviews, and I thought I'd give it a try. It's an interesting concept: gourmet burgers, served fast food style, in a southern cafe. They even have a Burger Challenge (see below) in which those who wish to bring glory (or dishonor) to themselves (or too poor to afford dinner) and can down a three-pound cheeseburger, fries and drink are rewarded with a free meal. Lose and you're out $22. Definitely not my dinner, but this is the burger challenge. Only a few in NC can do it.      I opted for the slightly less debilitating lunch, a bleu cheese, bacon cheeseburger. Perhaps it's just because I like saying "bleu" (blewww") wi...

No rum? What? Let's just say visitors tend to look at you weird when you take them to dinner in a cow pasture. It's absolutely astonishing that anyone can even find Captain Tom's Seafood restaurant considering it's literally in the middle of nowhere, yet, people do. Like the defunct Fran's Front Porch, Captain Tom's has managed a business strategy which should have doomed them from the beginning, but ultimately has led to their success. I suppose it proves, if the food and service are good enough, it doesn't matter where your restaurant is. Of course it's always a nice country drive if you're used to urban living, to this maritime themed eating experience.  It's an oasis of seafood and Italian food, land locked in Staley, North Carolina. A large shrimp platter, but no rum. I've been going there for years. Captain Tom's is only about five miles from my door-step, and I've never had anything bad there. While the seafood is typical of t...

Dark, dimly lit, Journey playing on the juke box. This is my kind of place. Just down the road in Asheboro, is The Flying Pig . I'm not sure what is with local restaurants and their fascination with pig decor, and themes, but it's apparent to me- it's these establishments that normally have the good food. Just do not, if you're a waitress, attempt to put a pig hat on my head and sing "Ziggy Piggy" while delivering my food. Asheboro, has been ever growing its social scene since the recent legalization of alcohol. The Flying Pig has been the most prominent poster child of this movement. Known for their pizza and beer (where does the pig come in?), there's always a wait, and the place is loud and rowdy. The music is of years gone by, and the vintage video games keep kids begging for quarters, reminiscent of my childhood from the eighties. Yes, that's it. The Flying Pig is the defacto 80's pizza place. It may have taken Asheboro 25 years to get one, bu...

Tacos, Cerveza, and some Mexican sweet bread- this is why we love Tienda La Posadita Unfortunately, there is no taco stand in Liberty. For awhile we maintained a Mexican restaurant, but the true Taqueria (taco shop) is generally less formal than the Americanized sit-down Mexican restaurant. They're becoming super popular in major cities, breaching the culture divide, as locals expand there palettes for a couple of spicy tacos at lunch. Most taquerias either sell their tacos by an order of 3 or 5, or individually. Just down the road in Siler City at Posadita Taqueria, they sell them individually for $1.79 each. Order at the window on the left as you walk in: "tres tacos asada por favor!" (Three steak tacos please.), and have a seat in their tiny dining area. They also do them to-go , as take-away. There's also a full meat market, and grocery store there if you'd like to try something at home. I love travelling around to different taquerias, mainly because each has ...

Pied du Mont = Foot of the mountain. So the other day I was sitting in class waiting for the professor to come in when a young man, a student of European origination, with his foreign accent, said the word "piedmont", pronouncing it "Pee-ed-d Moount". Considering this was college, and the conservative south, where we suggest anyone who is living here to "learn English or go home!"; I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone heckled the poor lad by saying "We pronounce it Piedmont! " Now this bothered me some, because clearly the heckler was wrong. In fact the student from Europe was more right, from my perspective, than the person who may have been hinting at the foreigner's ignorance. So I turned around and while trying to be as humble as possible, I asked the heckler what she thought the word Piedmont meant. I think she assumed I was stupid at that point, rather than grasping my attempt to lead her to enlightenment as she s...

If you love hiking, (and who doesn't?) You'll love Liberty! Remember the movie 'Back to The Future', where old man Peabody was so infatuated with pine trees that they named the mall after the twin pines on his farm? Of course by the end of the film, the mall was named Lone Pine Mall to reflect its altered past. Liberty has its own fascination with trees. From the town seal, to Eight Oaks Trail,  it's no wonder we say "It's a Nice Place to Live" just like Hill Valley. Eight Oaks Trail is located at Freedom Park and encompasses a near one mile loop, through the forest that's ever changing. It's the best hike in Liberty as far as we're concerned. Filled with wildlife, and plants of every variety; be sure to bring your hiking shoes as the varying terrain, and treacherous foot path can range from simple to extreme. Deer, and and squirrels have been known to visit hikers upon their journey through this enchanted trek which lasts about fort...