Here are a couple of local election stories that the local press missed

Wonkette: Barack Obama Plays Pool in West Virginia!

AP: Clinton's rise and shine surprise

A visit to Hillbilly Hotdogs

We visited Hillbilly Hotdogs today at their original Lesage location.







Thanks to the recent visit by the Food Network, the lines are long.



Oncee was here.



People risk life and limb and park across Rt. 2.



Parking was a mess. The place has a very small parking lot.

According to the website, you can know own your own franchise.

The hotdogs were ok. The sauce was a little spicy, and the slaw was a little too creamy for my taste. The whole dog had a salty taste to it.

Bill Clinton loves mothers and Blenko Glass

Former President Bill Clinton arrived 90 minutes late for an appearance in St. Albans yesterday because he insisted on shopping at Blenko Glass in Milton for Mother's Day gifts.

The former president spoke to about 400 people in a hot gymnasium, starting about 90 minutes late. A spokeswoman said Clinton was late because he insisted on shopping at the Blenko glass factory in Milton for Mother's Day gifts.

Clinton reportedly found plenty of gifts, and he also found an enthusiastic crowd, not yet ready to hand the Democratic nomination over to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Fine dining in Craigsville

The Charleston Gazette - Food & Dining - There's fine dining in the pastures of Nicholas County. I hope to try this place soon.

(Bloody Butcher corn has been grown by the Meadows family for seven generations, ever since an ancestor brought some home when she escaped from Indian captivity. The Meadowses grew it every year, made corn bread or slopped it to the hogs. Then several West Virginia chefs suggested that the cornmeal be ground finer, for polenta. Now The Greenbrier and other fine restaurants offer it on their menus.)

Lunches include rosemary foccacia topped by a mix of portabellas and goat cheese with drizzles of honey and balsamic vinegar. Salads come with a variety of dressings, including their own strawberry vinaigrette.

And there's that famous Bloody Butcher polenta - with a twist: Riffle mixes it with goat cheese, then sautés it in garlic butter. There are sandwiches, wraps and burgers, including one with a half-pound of buffalo meat.

Lunch desserts include sister Susie's double-layer double chocolate cake, and family patriarch Edgar Meadows' favorite, the banana creme tort, with flaky pastry and strawberry sauce.

But we came at sundown, when the Greek salad caught the eye of our friend, who shared it with me. Red onion, kalamatas, feta and romaine all made a pleasant start for her raspberry creme lamb chops.

Schwabe-May to close May 17

After nearly 130 years in business, Charleston clothing store Schwabe-May to close May 17.

After nearly 130 years in business, Schwabe-May is closing on May 17, owner Lynne Schwabe said.

"I'm very sad," she said Wednesday. "The business has been with some part of the Schwabe family since the 1880s. I'm very sad for our employees and very sad for our loyal customers."

The changing retail habits of customers and Schwabe's personal issues have made the closure necessary, she said.

Richwood Hospital Set to Close its Doors

The hospital where I was born is deep in dept and set to close: Hospital Set to Close its Doors.

The Charleston Gazette has a follow-up.

WSAZ rolls out a Charleston News page

WSAZ - Charleston Local News

More Tricky Fish pics

Sushi

A sushi primer

Inside looking out

Taken from the cafe inside Taylor Books.

The Purple Moon is moving

Broiled Salmon with Ramps

Chris James cooks up yet another concoction with ramps: Salmon with Ramps.

Weston State Hospital episode of 'Ghost Hunters' airs tonight on the Sci Fi Channel

Here's a video preview.

Haunted Asylum: "Weston State Hospital"


Update: TV show says Weston hospital is haunted

It's nearly noisy Cicadas time again

The Charleston Daily Mail reports: After 17 years, cicadas set to reappear for a few noisy weeks.

"Recession-proof" areas

JobBait.com says Morgantown, WV is "recession-proof".

Where do all the hip people hang out?

Jeff James blogs about the what some say is the hippest place in West Virgina: the Cathedral Cafe. And wonders what other hip places there are to hang out in West Virginia: Create West Virginia: The Power of Third Places for Attracting Young People

The term 'third place' refers to community building separate from the two usual social environments: home and work.

Hillbilly Hot Dogs on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives"

Hillbilly Hot Dogs on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives": The West Virginia Hot Dog Blog has the video via YouTube.

Ramp Spaghetti

Chris James shows us another use for ramps: Spaghetti Bolognese with Ramps

How to use Twitter to get out of jail

Student 'Twitters' his way out of Egyptian jail - CNN.com

Ah the power of micro-blogging.

The Charleston Gazette quietly rolls out blogs

The Gazette's sister publication, the GAZZ, has been putting out blogs for a couple of years. The newspaper across the hall, the Charleston Daily Mail, has Don Surber's blog. I just noticed today that the Charleston Gazette has stealth launched three blogs:

Gazette reporter Rusty Marks blogs from a war zone

Gazette reporter Rusty Marks is en route to Iraq, where he will be based with the West Virginia National Guard's 111th Engineer Brigade. Trace his travels, as he makes his way from Martinsburg to Tikrit, documenting West Virginians' contributions along.

Inside Marshall Sports

Expanded coverage of Marshall University sports from Gazette staff writer and columnist Doug Smock.

Woods and Water Online

News, views and musings about West Virginia's outdoors from the Charleston Gazette's veteran outdoors writer John McCoy.

Picture West Virginia

An interesting project: Picture West Virginia. Check out the about section to see how it works.

Tricky Fish Reviews

Here's the Blog in My Soup review Tricky Fish.

I have a few snaps from when we visited a couple of weeks ago. I had a catfish po'boy. I though the food was good, but not really my thing. I think I might go back soon and try the hot dogs.

The West Virginia Hot Dog Blog has there own Tricky Fish hot dog review.

The blog, Fork You, gives them a pretty bad review.

The Charleston Daily Mail ran story last week on Tricky Fish, but no review.

Upcoming Events Around the State

Jason Keeling reminds us that both International Films and World Highland Games in W.Va. begin soon.

Hillary Homburg points out that The Appalachian Film Festival is this weekend in Huntington.

West Virginia’s Business Potential in a Web 2.0 World

Skip Lineberg of Maple Creative and Jason Keeling of the aBetterWestVirginia.com will present West Virginia’s Business Potential in a Web 2.0 World this Friday at the Whitewater Grille in the Charleston Marriott.

209 Capitol Street Development Blog

209 Capitol Street Development is a very interesting blog about developing new space for a law office, in an old, historic building on Capitol Street.

Today is Earth Day

Bob Coffield reminds us that it's Happy Earth

Art teacher and her brother arrested in bank robberies

Charleston Daily Mail - News - Art teacher and her brother arrested in bank robberies

Police say she was the getaway driver.

The Film Geek provides follow-up and insight.

MMMMM Rampburger <---Homer Simpson voice

Chris James has a post on how to make your own BBQ Bacon Rampburger.

I always wondered why the cars on the Duquene incline in Pittsburgh always reminded me of something. Then I realized that they were the model for the trolley on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.

Slashdot: Marshall University Challenges RIAA

Marshall University and the Attorney General of the State of West Virginia Challenges RIAA

It's good to see my iPhone photos live on over on another blog: http://tinyurl.com/36vcte.

Charleston Knitting Graffiti Artist, Part 4

WASZ-TV: The Mysterious Knitter (with video).

Charleston Knitting Graffiti Artist, Part 3

The GAZZ blogs: A yarn worth noting.

What is going on at the old Vandalia Lounge space?

Rick Lee beat me to the question: What is going on at the old Vandalia Lounge space?

Charleston Knitting Graffiti Artist, Part 2

Here are a few more pictures of the work of the Charleston Knitting Graffiti Artist I took last week.

Charleston Knitting Graffiti Artist

MinniPurl strikes on Capitol Street. There are a few of these around from what I've been told. And the Charleston Daily Mail has a story on this artist and her art today.


Sent from my iPhone

Best Simpsons collectible ever...

I had to put the clock in demo mode. Hearing Homer shout "woooohoooo, woooohooo, woooohooo" ever hour on the hour was too much in an office environment.

The Writing is on the Door at Cazon

CAB Photos

Sent from my iPhone


Left to right: Rebecca Burch of Carpe You Some Diem!, and Bob Coffield of Health Care Law Blog.


Sent from my iPhone

Left to right: Rebecca Burch Carpe You Some Diem!, Bob Coffield of Health Care Law Blog, and David Epp of The West Virginia Optimist.

Hale Street, Charleston, WV

CAB

I floated the idea to Skip of getting together at lunch next Wednesday at noon at Taylor Books. Does that work for everyone?

Spread the word.

I've started a CAB group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7749607093&ref=mf

I've added the event to Facebook events: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=7579955815

Aqualung still missing

There is a long, interesting article on the still missing Bill Dunn, AKA Auqalung, in today's Charleston Daily-Mail.

Anyone have any advice on scratch repair

Some pea-brain decided it would be a good idea to key our car on Saturday night. (It's the one night I can't park in the city garage, since they close it at 6 pm and don't reopen it until 6 am on Monday morning.)









Click the photo for a larger view.

South Hills Market and Cafe

Sent from my iPhone

iPhone Pictures

I'm no Rick Lee, but I've been busy taking a few pictures with my new iPhone. Here are a few:











Sent from my iPhone

Calling all Charleston Area Bloggers

It's been quite a while since we have had a Charleston Area Bloggers meetup. I touched base with Bob Coffield this morning and he says he is up for one too.

In the past we have gotten together for coffee at Taylor Books in the morning. This works for some people but not everyone, and I would like to see more people who have never gotten to attend at the meeting.

If morning at Taylor Books works for you let me know. If you have an alternate time or place you would like to meet, put it in the comments and lets all talk about it.

Local business blogging

Interesting story about local business blogging in today's Sunday Gazette-Mail.