AntSaint

Egg Roll Lasagna

Jodie and I recently had an egg roll party, and in the aftermath, we now have about 50 wrappers in our freezer. In addition to just sounding like a neat variation on lasagna, this Egg Roll Lasagna should help us knock out a few of those wrappers:

Link: Freeze Egg Roll Lasagna for a quick, healthful : The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

Italian-style lasagnas are the classic choice, but this Egg Roll Lasagna is a delightful variation that isn’t deep fried like its namesake and can satisfy an itch for greasy Chinese take-out

Eugene cafe that serves only non-alcoholic beverages?

Reader question - Mary asks:

do you remember reading in the paper in the last couple of weeks an advertisement for a local cafe/pub that ONLY served non-alcoholic beverages?

I can't think of a place, or of an ad that was talking one up. Do you remember it? If so, please leave a comment below.

Maple Chile Chicken

Cinammon, chile, maple syrup and chicken? Now that's what I call simple and good.

Link: Recipe: Maple Chile Chicken | Hot Sauce Blog.

this was an amazingly simple recipe with surprising results. The chicken has a pleasant sweetness to it that is enhanced by the chile powder. The hint of spice opens up your tastebuds and allows the maple flavor to shine

KLCC moves to downtown Eugene

I can't really explain it, but there's something about KLCC moving downtown that excites me. Maybe it's something to do with a big local station being in the heart of town. Maybe it's the open-door, walk in and have a tour policy. But I dig it. Could KLCC's move downtown be another sign of life returning to Eugene's core?

Link: Public radio station moving up and moving on: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

The station began broadcasting from the new studio, on Eighth Avenue near Charnelton Street, on Jan. 4. The new building is just blocks from the Hult Center and the WOW Hall, in the heart of Eugene’s entertainment district

Virtual Book Tours

The book tour is a traditional, yet often dreaded, part of any book release and marketing campaign. But the payoff is debatable, at best. You, the author, get to spend huge amounts of time on the road, away from home, sitting in bookstores, doing the occasional reading, meeting interesting people, and hoping for the best to sell a few books.

With websites, blogs, message boards and social media, it doesn't have to be that way. This interesting Writers Weekly article gives the details on virtual book tours, and how they can pay off for promotions and sales of your book.

Link: Crank Up That Computer - Virtual Book Tours Are Here to Stay By C. Hope Clark.

Book tours have gone virtual, and authors spread their messages online to capture the most sales. A writer who does not have an online presence is no different from a writer who writes the book, sets it on a bookstore shelf and expects people to stumble upon it. You won't make enough to pay for dinner

Great titles & Moleskine notebooks at J. Michaels Books, Eugene, Oregon

Ah, J. Michaels Books. I don't shop for books as often as I could. It keeps me sane (plus our shelves are already full). But in Eugene, if there's one shop I would browse, and do occasionally purchase from, it's the J. Michaels Books on Broadway between Oak and Pearl. From taoist philosophy to whenever I need a new Moleskine, this is where I stop:

Link: J. Michaels Books remains a best-seller: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

Owned by Jeremy Nissel and his wife, Linda Ellis, it’s best known as a used book store specializing in tracking down rare and out-of-print titles. It keeps a healthy selection of art and architecture books in stock

Newman’s Fish opens Coburg Road location

Don't live near Willamette Street? You no longer have to go there to get your Newman's fish fix. Fish n' chips, fresh fish and prepared meals are now available from their new Coburg Road location:

Link: Newman’s Fish opens second storefront: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

Newman’s Fish Co. — which dates to 1890 and has operated since 1962 from its main location at 1545 Willamette St. — has opened a second storefront on Coburg Road, just northeast of the Oakway Center

My new Ural motorcycle blog - Ride Three

My new motorcycle is not here yet... but you have do something with all that pent-up anticipation. Starting another blog seemed a good idea as any. Here it is: Anthony's Ural Sidecar Motorcycle Blog - RideThree.com

A little history may help. In 2005 I really, really started jonesing for a motorcycle. I ogled, I researched, I took a training course and got my motorcycle endorsement — pretty much did everything but actually get the bike. Then life changed; Jodie and I met, we bought a house (for the garage, of course) all that good stuff. The bike could wait; there were other things that were more important.

Then, in October 2006, my buddy Jon tells me about these sidecar motorcycles he's heard about, called Urals — and I was hooked. I spent the next year learning about them, and also took a sidecar training course. Jodie and I talked it over, and decided that now was the time. In November 2007, I put down a deposit on a 2007 Ural Patrol. Now I'm just waiting for it to get here from Russia.

So, naturally, I started a new Ural blog. RideThree.com (can't believe that domain name was available) is all about Ural motorcycles and my experiences owning one (or, so far, waiting for the feckin' thing to get here). Check it out, have some fun — and yes, rides in "the hack" will be available, though Jodie has first dibs.

Soon, my pretty, pretty Patrol will be here — and at long, long last, I'll have my motorcycle! And a website to prove it.

RideThree.com - Anthony's Ural Blog

Old Farrell's will be a certified, bonafide Italian pizzeria

It's official — the old Farrell's ice cream place on 13th and Pearl is going to become not just an Italian pizzeria, but one of only 250 "certified true Italian pizzerias" in the entire world. As one astute pizza-loving Eugene gourmet put it, "I'm going to #$%&@ live there." Amen.

Link: We all scream for pizza!: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

For those who mourn the passing of decades’ worth of ice cream sundaes at the corner of 13th and Pearl in downtown Eugene, cheer up. The next food offering at 1313 Pearl St. — utterly authentic Italian pizza — is on the way and should be open by summer. It’s called La Perla

Adult violin lessons in Eugene ... or, Jodie in the newspaper

Interesting article in Eugene's Register-Guard today, on opportunities for adults to take violin, guitar and other music lessons here in Eugene, and about some of the challenges and opportunities adult music students face and have. It's also interesting for me, I must admit, because Jodie Danenberg (a Eugene violin teacher and my fiancee) is quoted:

Link: Not too old to play: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

there are also advantages to learning later in life. Adults tend to be more self-aware than kids. And, Danenberg says, they can often learn simply by watching their peers, as opposed to children, who require more direct instruction

Go Jodie!

And for all you adults wishing you had learned to play such and such, well, here's your chance! Lessons available from Jodie and many other fine teachers at The Shedd Institute for the Arts, and various other places around town.