One of the things I have been enjoying since moving downtown last fall is the weekend activities that always seem to take place. While many restaurants and local businesses still have poor hours on Saturday and nonexistent ones on Sunday, there’s usually at least one weekend activity that brings the people downtown and prevents me from thinking I am living a scene from I Am Legend two days out of the week.

This weekend was the first of what should be many weekly farmers markets in the vacant lot across from the Old Post Office downtown. At its height, the farmers market will feature 8 or so vendors selling fresh produce and plans. During opening weekend this year, there were 4 vendors, a large banner and a small, but steady stream of customers.

I like the idea of a farmers market in downtown Evansville, but I can’t help but feel that it’s lacking compared to other cities I’ve seen. Lafayette, Indiana has one of the finest markets in the country or the world with dozens of local vendors selling their goods to the public. The Lafayette market is an event and well known in the community. Given the location and time of the Evansville one, it seems like an afterthought. I’d much prefer it to be in the middle of downtown along the walkway or some other side street instead of tucked in between a nearly abandoned building and a parking garage.

Adding an element of entertainment to the market wouldn’t hurt either. Activities like face painting, live music or workshops put on by the vendors would certainly attract more people to the event each week. Having a Web site to announce these sorts of things is something that is missing as well.

I am not sure how long the Evansville farmer’s market has been in existence, but I do hope it can grow into something that is more than it is presently. With a bit more input and support from the community we could have a regularly scheduled, locally produced event that could drive more people to the downtown area: something I know the city has been trying to do for years.

photo courtesy of jchatoff

Dan “Rudy” Engler has been running ReitzFootball.com, the “unofficial” forum for discussing Reitz football since 1996. It wasn’t until April Fools Day that he caught the eye of the EVSC who was none too pleased with his April 1 joke.

Drew Bruno writing for the Courier & Press:

As a spoof, Engler, a Reitz graduate who now lives at Nashville, Tenn., had posted a story on the Web site and distributed it by e-mail that made it seem as though the company installing artificial turf at three EVSC football fields, including Reitz, was going out of business.

School officials were not amused, and on Saturday, Engler posted that his site would, therefore, “come to an end,” and its regular features, including a message board, were taken offline.

You can check out the letter he received from EVSC here. It sounds like the EVSC is overly sensitive to me. I’m fairly certain there are more pressing issues to be concerned with than one alum’s bad April Fools joke.

Update: Looks like EVSC and Engler have made peace.

My wife and I have joked about going to Ray Ray’s for years. I was raised a Proud Southern Boy©, and I have a deep affection for most aspects of the South – the culture, the people, the hospitality, the accents (despite my desperate attempts to hide my own), and especially the food. So, on a recent Friday night, trying to decide where to eat, we finally decided to check out Ray Ray’s.

Ray Ray’s is on Washington Avenue, just west of 41. It’s not the greatest neighborhood (he said, putting things mildly). The building is actually a converted gas station, which is very evident from the outside. With nerves of steel (and the car doors securely locked), we ventured into Ray Ray’s.

The first thing you will notice are several references to Jesus on the door. I don’t know if this would be off-putting to people or not. It made us smile. As we opened the door, the first thing we noticed was how clean the place was. The parts of the kitchen that were viewable from the dining “area” (more on that later) were immaculate. We were greeted immediately by a very nice younger girl who walked us through the menu. Ray Ray’s is primarily a take-out place, although there are a few (I counted 6) tables for people who don’t want to take their food home.

Feeling adventurous (and really hungry, since we hadn’t eaten in about 8 hours), we opted for 3 pieces of chicken, an order of catfish nuggets, and an order of butterfly shrimp. We discovered as we ordered that each order came with two sides and two dinner rolls. Final count – 3 pieces of chicken, 10 butterfly shrimp, around 10 catfish nuggets, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, potato salad, mixed greens, mac and cheese, fries, and 6 dinner rolls. (Don’t give me that look – we didn’t eat it all at once. And yes, I know there are starving pygmies in New Guinea.) Final total – $27 or so. Seriously.

While we waited for our food, we had a lovely conversation with Ms. Ray Ray, as she is affectionately known. She is a sweet woman, and was a great hostess as she told us the history of Ray Ray’s and of her family. Her husband (who is NOT named Ray Ray, I later learned) is also a pastor, and pastors a church in a small town in West Tennessee. It’s actually about 45 miles from where I grew up, and I know the area well. (Well enough that she was shocked I knew where Halls, Tennessee was.) The business is a family enterprise. The younger girl who greeted us and took our order is actually their daughter. (Either that, or she has a nasty habit of calling other people Mom.) It was a thoroughly pleasant experience, and as we left with our feast we knew we would return if the food was even halfway good.

Now, to the food. The chicken was good. Really good. Not quite slap your momma good, but it was some of the best I have had in a long time. The catfish was also among the best I have ever had. The mixed greens (which are not on the menu full time, sadly) were definitely the best I have ever had. (My wife, who hates greens, loved them.) The coleslaw was great – a creamy-vinegary hybrid with a refreshing peppery bite. The mashed potatoes were – well, we both hated them. We also hated the shrimp. We disagreed on the mac and cheese and the potato salad (I liked both – she liked neither). The fries were an afterthought by the time we got to them, but they would probably be really good if they had been hot and fresh. (They were served to us hot and fresh – but by the time we got home and got food plated, they were cold. Our fault, not theirs.) The dinner rolls were standard issue.

So, what did we really think? Given the way we were treated, the quality of the food, and the overall atmosphere, we will definitely be going back. (In fact, we did, a week later – and it was just as good.) The food was great (except for the mashed potatoes), the people were great, we made some new friends along the way, and – here’s the dirty little secret – the neighborhood is not that bad. I grew up in Memphis – there are no bad neighborhoods in this town. Some a bit rough, but none that are scary.

Bottom line? If you want good soul food, or comfort food, or just don’t feel like cooking, consider adding Ray Ray’s to your list of take out places. It’s a definite A-. (Hollywood was an F+, by way of comparison.)

Ray Ray’s Fish & Chicken is located at 1000 Washington Ave Evansville, IN 47714. 812-402-2101

If you don’t know, I’ve been doing a weekly radio show on WNIN-FM each Friday at 12:30PM since September of last year. I don’t make any claims that I do a good, professional radio program, but I put my all into it and think that it improves each week.

This week is one of my favorite shows I’ve done and I think it’s something many of the readers around here would be interested in listening to. I invited Mizel Stewart III, the editor of the Evansville Courier & Press to come on the show and discuss his thoughts on where journalism and the newspaper industry is heading.

It’s no secret that newspapers are having a hard time. The Courier itself has had its own round of layoffs and introduced the new mini-paper earlier this month as a way to cut costs. Mizel and I touched on that, breaking news in an online world, the role of Internet commenters and more.

If you’ve got 29 minutes and are interested in stuff like that, be sure to grab the show.

• Listen via iTunes
• Listen via MP3

Craigslist is a centralized network of online community classifieds, job postings, personals and more started by a guy named Craig. Evansville has had its own Craigslist site for a few years now and one of it’s most useful features is missed connections

Sometimes you are out at a local bar or restaurant, and catch the eye of something across the room. You might even pick up a conversation with the person and hit it off. Unfortunately, the night ends without you getting contact information: sometimes not even a name. That’s where craigslist comes in and It’s Evansville come in. To help you out, we periodically spot some of the missed connections that are posted locally, and hopefully help some poor guy or gal out in their attempts to find true love.

adult bookstore? (evansville)

i have heard of an adult bookstore in evansville where people can go and possibly hook up with others? maybe a theater? can anyone help?

Amazingly adorable girl at Tee Time driving range on 3-26-09 – m4w

This is my first time ever doing this so I hope I’m doing it right. I told my friends about my experience at the driving range and they suggested I do this. Anyway, I couldn’t stop watching you and I think I saw you looking at me at times…at least I hope so. You were with who I hope was your dad and not your boyfriend. If you can tell me what you or I was wearing, that would be your first step. The second step would be to send me a pic so I know for sure it is you. I hope you are interested, and single, because I can’t stop thinking of you. If you never reply to this, hopefully I see you there again soon; Lord knows my golf game needs it. Sorry for being such a chicken shit and not talking to you, but I didn’t want to interrupt you and whoever you were with.

RI RA – m4m (Evansville)

OK, so you caught me starring last night and looked over and smiled. I hope you see this, because you’re really cute. Tell me some details that would identify us in your email.

Ashton at Evansville Teachers – m4w – 27

The most beautiful female in the whole world!!!! I hope you are out there and see this!!!!!!11

sexy young lady in short dress – m4w (EVV)

Very hot young blond in short dress at the West Side Walmart on Tuesday April7th between 4-5 p.m. You looked fantastic! Guy with you grabbed your ass in the checkout lane, that pulled your short dress up even more. I would love to have pictures of you. Please send me some of your pictures. Thanks!

Burkhardt Starbucks Barista – m4m – 25 (Evansville)

Have seen you a few times and would love to get together if you’re at all interested. You’re average height, shaggy blonde hair, very cute. If you’d be interested in anything, and actually see this email me. If anyone sees this and knows him, send him this way.

I work out of this Starbucks a few times a week, so this is hilarious.

YOU where on Greenriver in your car – m4m (Greenriver and Washington)

You where in your car..I had a friend with me in my car and honked at you. My freind thought you where his cousin ( I wish) .you rolled your window down, and damn you are hot. Blue sports car, with rims..and you where much hotter that the car. HIt me back..? Whatt did you have on your head?

Motomart – 40 (Evansville)

Ahhh, wow ;) I asked you about a sports drink this afternoon. U had a silver sports car. I wanna hang if u see this..

airport? – m4w – 28

Saw you Tuesday night. Said you couldn’t rent a car for me and my buddy because we couldn’t bring it back to Evansville. You are gorgeous. Asked if youd drive us to KY for 50 bucks. You said no. Brown hair, black/red shirt, tan.

I am in Evansville twice a month. I want to take you out sometime?
Respond with a pic & the car rental place you work at so I know it is you.

ASIA WAITRESS AT HOOTERS – m4w (EVANSVILLE)

DOES ANYONE KNOW ASIA, BEATIFUL EBONY WAITRESS AT HOOTERS……….PLEASE CONTACT…………

Saturday at Evansville Plaza hotel/bar

you were married but u grinded my leg for a few….looking to hook up….let me know what u were wearing so I know its you

Saw you at coconuts – m4m – 31 (Evansville)

Hi, I saw you in coconuts tonight. You were by yourself and wearing a black polo and looking at the video games and animation dvds. If you see this please respond and tell me what kind of shoes you had on and color of pants

In honor of my wife’s birthday, her family decided to take her out to dinner. It was a Sunday night, which is usually a slow time in the restaurant industry. Our first choice (RiRa) was closed, so we opted for Hollywood Bar and Grill on the North side. My wife and I had been there before, and it was average. Not great, not horrible, just OK. With the clan in tow, we gave it another shot.

We sat in the bar, as we always do, for two reasons. One, four out of five people in the group are stinky smokers relegated to our smoky ghetto. Two, the bar has TV’s, and the NCAA Tournament was on. (I know, I know, wife’s birthday and I was watching basketball. So was she.)

As we entered the bar, we noticed the decor. Hollywood is a movie themed restaurant. There are a few movie posters around, as well as an Elvis head behind the bar. There is also a Charlie McCarthy behind the bar. (Go ask your parents.) The menu has a film theme as well, with items such as the Indiana Jones, The Matrix, and The Terminator. What do these have to do with the food? Nothing I can tell, since two days later I can’t connect any of the names to their respective foods. There were ample TV’s, all tuned to basketball. (Sports or news are the only acceptable destinations for restaurant televisions, unless someone has asked specifically for something else. If the server is paying attention to American Idol, they’re not paying attention to you. Trust me – I’ve done it.)

When our server brought our drinks, she also brought a pitcher of iced tea and a carafe of coffee and set them on the table. It was a nice touch – unfortunately, there was no ice included. Mmm – room temperature tea, my favorite! We ordered – I got the chicken livers, with mashed potatoes and mac-n-cheese; my wife got a chicken sandwich, no bun, with a baked potato. Grandma got a chef salad with blue cheese dressing. My wife and I also opted for the salad bar (for $4.49 extra).

When we went to the salad bar, we were a bit – well, is underwhelmed a word, because it sure describes the salad bar. Brown, old mushrooms; lettuce with browned edges; a vegetable soup-type substance that could have been used to grout tile. Dressing choices were standard – ranch, blue cheese, 1000, Italian, honey mustard. It was edible (except for the mushrooms), but not good, and not worth the price.

When our food finally arrived (30 minutes after we ordered), we were similarly underwhelmed. Grandma’s salad had the wrong dressing, but she liked it. My wife’s chicken breast was dry and bland. My chicken livers were good, but they were served on a piece of lettuce that had been baked by sitting under a heat lamp for far too long. My mashed potatoes were dry and lumpy. My mac and cheese was saucy, with an off-putting sweetness. For dessert, we ordered a chocolate cake, which I quite enjoyed.

Our server was very personable, with a dry sense of humor. Hollywood has a movie ticket perk – if you spend $12.50, you get a free pass to the North Side Showplace Cinema. We were misinformed that our beverages counted towards that total. After much consternation, we were told that we were entitled to tickets – but Grandma, whose food total was $11.60 before tax, was not unless she ordered something else. She opted to add cheese to her salad that had been eaten a half-hour before. A bit off-putting – but the manager came to our table and actually gave her the dollar back, saying that we had been misinformed. It was a very welcome gesture, and saved us from an embarrassing scene. (Don’t make Grandma angry.)

Overall, it was a pretty awful experience. I can’t say that I will ever go back, nor will I recommend it to anyone with taste buds. Unfortunately, when I ask my wife what she wants for dinner, she often replies “SALAD BAR!”, so if it is up to her, I might be forced to return.

The crowning touch to the entire evening was a sign on the wall in the view of the entire restaurant that says, “If you forget to clock in, you will not be paid. Managers are no longer allowed to fix time, per Paul.” I am not sure who Paul is, or why he thinks that labor laws do not apply to him. However, if most experiences at Hollywood are like ours, I don’t think their employees will have to worry about getting paid much longer.

Viq Thomasson lives in Evansville with his wife and beagle. He is a veteran of the restaurant industry and a Chicago cubs fan. Neither of those contributes to his surly attitude.

Okay folks, it’s time to spread a little It’s Evansville cheer!

Today, a little boy from Newburgh could use you. Andrew Brown is a 6th grader at Sharon Elementary. He is currently in Phoenix for his second AVM brain surgery. His parents have set up a Caring Bridge web site for him where you can read all about his story. Andrew is finding strength and motivation during this difficult time through the messages that people post in his guestbook. His parents are trying to get 100,000 people to send Andrew support and positive messages.

Take a few seconds out of your day to write him an encouraging message and help his parents reach their goal. If you’ve got your own blog, Facebook or other means, try to help spread the word.

Sign the guestbook

Local news outlets WFIE, and subsequently WEHT, recently set all their news anchors and reporters up to use popular micro-blogging service Twitter to interact with viewers and discuss what they are doing on location, on set and behind the scenes. For a few months outlets, including the Courier & Press, have offered Twitter accounts that syndicate new article notifications to the service, but this is the first I’ve seen locally of actual reporters and anchors embracing the technology.

I’ve been following the news crews tweets via the Nearby feature of my favorite iPhone Twitter client Tweetie. Nearby allows you to see tweets that are posted within an approximate range of your current location. Given that there are not nearly as many Twitter users in the tri-state area as in other parts of the country, an influx of a few dozen reporters in the stream is quite noticeable.

The integration of this new technology with news reporting seems natural and a smart way for traditional media to embrace new media. Much like the oft reported demise of print media, I feel that traditional television news broadcasts will be going the way of the dodo in favor of digital.

I’ve always been a fan of watching the extras on a DVD to get a glimpse of how the film was made and that’s the same feeling I get when following these local reporters online. Each day a reporter is telling a story, but it is more than just what makes it into a 3 minute segment on the 6 or 10PM news. I can now follow the reporter as they get their assignment, where they are heading to find the facts and what events happen leading up to the actual on-screen reporting.

WEHT’s Brad Byrd is also Twittering and giving a behind the scenes look at what an anchor is doing leading up to a broadcast and even during the show. From cutting promos to prepping copy, you’re able to see what goes into preparing a nightly newscast. It’s an almost perfect use of Twitter.

I’m always happy to see locals embracing these new cutting edge technologies, but I can’t help but feel that both stations are clutching to an old media paradigm and trying to shift it forward. As the newscast gets closer, many of the reporters start posting news teases to their stream much in the way they are done during television commercial breaks.

In one instance, WFIE’s Brandon Bartlett tweeted, “Find out when each EVSC project will start. 14 News is the only station with the list. See you at 10!”

While I don’t find anything wrong with promoting content from your organization, I think trying to lead someone reading your Twitter stream to a traditional media device like the 10 o’clock news is the wrong route to take. Anyone using Twitter is more likely to get their local news from the Web via news stories on the station’s Website or online video rather than making appointment viewing at 10PM.

The Twitter experiment is in its early stages and will likely evolve in the coming weeks and months. While I doubt it’s going to make me tune into the local newscasts, it is drawing me to their Web sites more. I hope other local media outlets, this paper included, continue to embrace these new media technologies.

If you want to learn more about the Twitter integration at WFIE, CJ Hoyt was the guest on my radio show on WNIN this week. Listen live Friday at 12:30 or Sundays at 6:30PM on 88.3-FM

Given that our resident food editor has moved to China for the duration of 2009, it’s up to me to review restaurants now. I hope I can live up to her extremely high standards

Being in Newburgh to visit the family, we decided it was as good of time as any to check out Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, the new Irish themed restaurant next to Showplace Newburgh. O’Bradys is a small midwest and southern centric chain with another restaurant nearby in Owensboro.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is located in the left edge of a small strip mall that was recently built in the area. The large green sign is designed using Celtic fonts giving the impression that it might be an Irish restaurant similar to Ri-Ra downtown, but that appears to be only in the branding.

Upon entering O’Brady’s, you’ll notice two things: the leprechaun green walls and over a dozen high definition televisions mounted on the walls. While I was there most of the TVs were tuned to the Nascar race with one on each side also showcasing the decor of the stars on Oscar’s Red Carpet.

The green walls are filled with local sports jerseys for Boonville and Castle to give it that somewhat local vibe.

One thing I was taken aback by was just how bright the lighting in the restaurant is. It’s possibly one of the brightest restaurants I have ever set foot in. There was no mood set by the lighting whatsoever, save for my desire to want sunglasses.

In terms of the food, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s doesn’t keep with its Irish themed name. The fair is more akin to Buffalo Wild Wings with its chicken wings, wraps and sandwiches.

My parents split the O’Bradys wing basket which came with 10 chicken wings, fries and coleslaw. The wings come in a few different flavors. There are the traditionals like mild, medium, hot, honey bbq, etc. O’Bradys also has a few sauces unique to them with their garlic parmesan, chipotle lime and sweet jalapeno. They opted to get half teriyaki and half garlic parmesan.

The wings were drenched in sauce when they arrived, similar to what you would get at Buffalo Wild Wings. They were both big fans of the garlic parmesa wings and went on about how good the sauce was. They were not that into the teriyaki feeling that there was better teriyaki wings elsewhere in town.

The wing basket also included fries and slaw. The french fries came out cold, but were promptly replaced with piping hot ones. My dad loved the cole slaw. I was waiting for him to beg for the recipe.

I am not one for fried food, so I opted for a salad. I had the Asian Mandarin Chicken Salad. The salad features teriyaki chicken (fried or grilled), almonds, rice noodles and mandarin oranges on a bed of lettuce and red cabbage. It’s served with pan-asian dressing straight from a plastic packets like you’d get at McDonalds or Ritzys.

The chicken on the salad was warm and delicious, and the salad overall was about on par with what I would expect from a place that specializes in greasy food. It wasn’t the best salad I have ever had, but I have had far worse. I would have liked the dressing packets to be replaced with little cups instead. If I am at a sit-down restaurant, I’d like a better presentation.

The service at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s was average. Our waitress was friendly and prompt to take drink orders, but disappeared until our food arrived leaving my dad with an empty beer pint. No one likes to have an empty beer pint.

Overall I’d rate the experience a C+ overall as the experience was just about average. The food was fairly good, but the atmosphere and service left a little to be desired for me. If you’re a fan of AppleBee-esque themed restaurants, it’s probably fine for you. I’d go back if my family wanted to, but I don’t think I will be adding Beef ‘O’ Brady’s to my list of frequently visited establishments.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is located at 8177 Bell Oaks Dr. Suite A. (812) 490-9464. Sunday – Thursday 11am-10pm. Friday – Saturday 11am – 11pm.

If you’re looking for something interesting and unique to do this Saturday and don’t have a date, the EVPL is hosting an anime convention at Central Library. E’Ville Con, as they are calling it, will feature a cosplay contest, anime screenings, special guest speakers, artist alley, and video game tournaments.

Registration is free and the event will run from 9AM to 5:30PM. Grab more info from the EVPL site or their MySpace page