Season for Comfort!: The Beet, Weaver Street's E-Newsletter

Link to Weaver Street Market's Home Page

Sparkling Wine Tasting
SV Holiday 5K
Shop Local
Holiday Hours
Historic Hillsborough Walking Tour

Season for Comfort!
Peg's wine recommendations
by Peg Todloski, WSM Wine Merchandiser
What do the upcoming holidays and approaching winter have in common? One theme that runs through the cold weather months has to do with bundling or wrapping: wrapping packages for gift giving, and wrapping yourself in warm clothes and blankets once the thermometer starts to drop. If you've been in North Carolina long enough, you know how unpredictable our weather can be, not just during hurricane season or recording- setting summer heat, but winter as well. Comfort is what this season is all about. Sweaters, scarves, long johns, houses cozy, heated by fires. Comfort food is popular this time of year because it warms us, and makes us feel full and satisfied from the inside out. More

Board Meeting

El Futuro
Holiday Parade

Sparkling Wine Tasting
New Art Show
Holiday Hours

Weekly Produce Specials
Weekly Meat Specials

The Story of Stollen
Prosecco Tasting!



Season for Comfort! continued
What about 'comfort food' to feed your soul? How about gifts that give back to the community that nurtures and comforts you all year long? Along with lots of other great products, Weaver Street Market's annual Hope for the Holidays promotion has a full lineup of cool wines to give to your favorite people this season. What are some of the best things about this year's promotion? Three wines are produced locally, and two are sustainably farmed, reflecting some of the core reasons you love to shop at Weaver Street Market in the first place. So, do something nice for a friend or family member with a gift of hand-selected wines, AND give back to your community all at the same time. That's pretty cool, isn't it? Local, Stony Knoll Cabernet Franc - This is a light fresh red made locally in North Carolina's Yadkin Valley. 100% Cabernet Franc, it is light weight, with pretty floral and fresh berry flavors. This red is versatile and will match well with a variety of your holiday dishes. On sale $12.99, regularly $14.99 $1.00 Hope for the Holidays Donation! Sustainably Farmed, Teira Zinfandel - This is a well-balanced Sonoma county Zinfandel. Medium weight, with pure cherry and berry fruit flavors, and a long lingering finish. Nice and dry, this red will match well with barbeque and grilled meats. On sale $13.99, regularly $15.99 $1.00 Hope for the Holidays Donation! Local, Shelton Madison Lee Red - This locally produced red is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Fruity and fresh with lots of berry fruit and a hint of spice. Makes a great red for every day. On sale $7.99, regularly $9.99 $1.00 Hope for the Holidays Donation! Local, Shelton Chardonnay - This is a tasty little chardonnay made locally in North Carolina's Yadkin Valley. This white has layers of flavors: apples, pears, minerals, and a dry crisp finish. Make local wine your every day wine! On sale $8.99, regularly $11.99 $2.00 Hope for the Holidays Donation! Sustainably Farmed, Teira Sauvignon Blanc - This California Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and lively. Subtle flavors of fresh lemon, sweet peas and a nice minerality. A perfect wine with seafood. On sale $10.99, regularly $12.99 $1.00 Hope for the Holidays Donation!

Weekly Produce Specials - THESE SALES ARE EFFECTIVE Tuesday, December 9 through Monday, December 15.


	Sweet, Florida Tangerines	$2.49/dozen
	Seedless, Florida Red Grapefruit	5 lb. bags $3.99 each
	Organic, Washington Gala Apples	$1.29 lb	super low price

Weekly Meat & Seafood Specials

	Murray's Boneless, Chicken Breasts	$5.99 lb	All Natural save $1.50 lb
	USDA Choice Beef Ground Chuck	$4.79 lb	All Natural save 70¢ lb
	Alaskan, Wild-caught Sockeye Salmon Fillets	$9.99 lb $7.99 ea	save $3.00 lb

Read more about other Weaver Street Market Specials.


The Story of Stollen

The tradition of Christmas Stollen dates back to 14th century Germany. The earliest sweeteners in this period were honey and dried fruits rather than sugar. Until the 17th century sugar was an immensely scarce and precious commodity that trickled in from the Near East. Consequently, sweetness meant festivity and joy to the Europeans of old. The fruit bread "Stollen" was the most popular of the early breads in Germany and was made only at Christmas, the time of greatest rejoicing. Originally the confection was made without milk or butter because these items were forbidden in the Catholic Church. That changed in 1450 when Pope Nicholas V signed the "Butter Document", allowing bakers to use butter. It was much later when the use of milk was finally permitted. In the years that followed, Stollen was sometimes given as payment to feudal lords and a single loaf could weigh as much as 36 pounds. Often shaped into a cross, Stollen became part of the other various religious celebrations. Stollen continues to be a holiday favorite. The most famous is the patented Dresden Stollen that features candied fruits, raisins, and currants. However, like Grandma's family fruitcake, Stollen recipes vary, each one containing a secret ingredient or a special technique that makes it unique. WSM's famous Stollen is available now! For thirteen yeas WSM's Stollen has been studded with golden and Thompson raisins, apricots, and dried cherries, marinated overnight in sherry. This bread will stay fresh for several weeks - if you can keep it around that long! $7.95 includes a $1.00 Hope for the Holidays Donation! Stop in to taste our Stollen this weekend. See schedule below. We have lots of other Holiday Baked-good favorites! Buche De Noel If you love our Opera cake then we have the Buche De Noel for you! Chocolate-almond sponge cake layered with chocolate buttercream and marzipan rolled together and covered in ganache. Add some powdered sugar snow and meringue mushrooms and you have a centerpiece that looks good and tastes great! Available now through December 24. Don't miss this holiday delight! Fresh baked cookies! Linzer, Rugelach, Kupferlin! Available throughout the month of December.

Prosecco Tasting!

Stop into Weaver Street Market for a tasting of Prosecco and Counter Culture Holiday Blend with Stollen! Southern Village - Friday, December 12, 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm Carrboro - Saturday, December 13, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Hillsborough - Saturday, December 13, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Sparkling Wine & Food Tasting

Monday, December 15, 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Join us Monday, December 15, and explore the amazing world of sparkling wines. What is sparkling wine? Well, according to the Oxford Companion to Wine it is "a wine which bubbles when poured into a glass." To many people it is so much more than this simple explanation. Sparkling wine, and more specifically, Champagne, has always been associated with a certain elegance and almost always associated with the occasion of celebration.

The mystery of Sparkling wine carries on with the amazing array of styles it comes in. Just the tiniest hint of effervescence can change a simple white wine into something fun and exciting to drink. Sparkling wine can vary as much as still wine; it can be white, pink and even red. It can be made in a sweet style like Italy's Moscato d'Asti, or bone dry like most French Champagnes. Other aspects of sparkling wines can vary immensely, like the alcohol levels and the character and strength of the bubbles themselves. Join us for this exciting tasting and enjoy a vast array of sparkling wines and see just how well these wines match with elegant, delicious dishes from Panzanella Restaurant's kitchen.

The cost of this event is $45 per person; space is limited, so reserve early. Please pay in advance and pick up a ticket for this tasting at either Panzanella or the customer service desk at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro.

View more Weaver Street Market events here.

SV Holiday 5K

Sunday, December 14, 2008
2:00 pm
Market Street, Southern Village

12:00 - 1:40 pm: Late registration and packet pick-up at the Village Green, across from the Lumina Theater
2:00 pm - 5K start
3:00 pm - 1-Mile Family Fun Run/Walk start
3:30 pm - Awards ceremony

Walkers are encouraged to attend. Both races start and finish by the Weaver Street Market in Southern Village.

Shop Local

"keep the home guys going"

How many shopping days are left? As the pressure mounts to fill your list of Christmas wishes, take a moment to stop and think about the impact of the money you will spend this Holiday season. Through your spending you have the power to affect many lives. When you choose to buy from a locally-owned business, your money works for you and your community.

Locally-owned businesses support other smaller businesses such as accountants, architects, computer techs, lawyers and designers. They can offer a wider selection of independently-made items or goods made by small local producers. Chain stores frequently import building designs, graphics and advertising from other locations. Payroll, taxes, and other administrative tasks are shipped out to a headquarters far away. Not to mention the pure profit dollars that simply flow out of your community, leaving behind an absentee-owned business that does not care how its actions impact your area. A locally-owned business is more likely to stay during up times and down, and to work with the needs of the community. Large chains can hold a town hostage by threatening to leave if not given what they want by officials.

Unique items offered by specialty shops add to the flavor and distinction of a town's character. Independent businesses can afford to choose products that appeal to their locale. They are often the only outlets for those special, locally-made, or hard-to-find items that can range from soaps and candles to radical books and music. So this Christmas, and the rest of the year, resist the urge to spend your dollars at the large out-of-town chain stores. Support the local guy, your neighbor, and preserve the individuality and economic health of your town.

Pledge to shop local this holiday season!

By pledging to spend $100 of your holiday shopping dollars at locally-owned stores, you will have a potential $40 million impact on our community, an estimated $5.9 million more than if it was spent at a non-local, big box retailer.*

How to make the pledge: Email "I Pledge" and you will receive more information about this program. You will also be recognized in their Shop Local Signature Ad on December 17th. Please indicate how you would like your name to appear in the ad. Deadline to Pledge is December 11!

*Estimate based on numbers from Civic Economics that 68¢ of every dollar spent at a locally owned business stays in the community, while only 43¢ stays when spent at a chain.

Holiday Hours

All Weaver Street Market locations will close early at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and will be closed all day, Thursday, December 25. All locations will be open regular business hours on Friday, December 26.

All locations will be open regular hours on Wednesday, December 31 and will be open from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm on Thursday, January 1, 2009.

Historic Hillsborough Walking Tour

Saturday, December 13, 10:00 am

This 90 minute guided walking tour of Historic Hillsborough takes place every second Saturday. No reservations needed. Meet at the Orange County Visitors' Center, 150 E King St. Tours take place at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Cost $5.00



WSM Board Meeting

WSM Board meeting Wednesday, December 17, 6:30-9:30pm Corner Building Carrboro Owners of Weaver Street Market are always welcome to attend meetings of the Board, and are also welcome to make their thoughts known on issues in the open session at the beginning of the meeting. Weaver Street Market's Board of Directors now publishes a monthly email newsletter featuring current board news, including notification of newly posted minutes, highlights of hot topics and board discussions, forthcoming agenda items that you can share your views on, and board-related volunteer opportunities.
View last months minutes here.
Sign up for the Board e-newsletter here.



El Futuro

El Futuro is one of the groups Weaver Street Market has chosen as a beneficiary of Hope for the Holidays. Starting with a volunteer effort in 2001, El Futuro has grown into a nationally recognized organization helping Latinos in North Carolina who have mental health and addiction illnesses. Their 9 staff members provide outstanding bilingual, culturally informed care to more than 500 new individuals and their families each year who come from all over central North Carolina. Furthermore, El Futuro is a renowned training site where doctors, nurses, social workers, and other professional students come for extended practice each year. They offer care through two main clinics in Siler City and Carrboro, have collocated services at two Primary Care Community Health Centers, and work within the Chatham County Schools. Funds from Hope for the Holidays will help El Futuro provide screening evaluations, crisis assistance, and prevention, treatment, and care for both children and adults.
Learn more about El Futuro here.

Holiday Parade

Chapel Hill Carrboro Holiday Parade Saturday, December 13 Franklin Street at 10:00 am Enjoy music and dancing, marching bands, scout troops and more in this annual celebration of our community spirit.


Sparkling Wine & Food Tasting

Monday, December 15, 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Join us Monday, December 15, and explore the amazing world of sparkling wines. What is sparkling wine? Well, according to the Oxford Companion to Wine it is "a wine which bubbles when poured into a glass." To many people it is so much more than this simple explanation. Sparkling wine, and more specifically, Champagne, has always been associated with a certain elegance and almost always associated with the occasion of celebration. The mystery of Sparkling wine carries on with the amazing array of styles it comes in. Just the tiniest hint of effervescence can change a simple white wine into something fun and exciting to drink. Sparkling wine can vary as much as still wine; it can be white, pink and even red. It can be made in a sweet style like Italy's Moscato d'Asti, or bone dry like most French Champagnes. Other aspects of sparkling wines can vary immensely, like the alcohol levels and the character and strength of the bubbles themselves. Join us for this exciting tasting and enjoy a vast array of sparkling wines and see just how well these wines match with elegant, delicious dishes from Panzanella Restaurant's kitchen. The cost of this event is $45 per person; space is limited, so reserve early. Please pay in advance and pick up a ticket for this tasting at either Panzanella or the customer service desk at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. PANZANELLA WINE & FOOD TASTING EVENT INFORMATION Our wine & food tasting events are from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Please arrive at 7:00 pm. Our tastings are set up family style, meaning we have several tables set up to seat 8 to 10 people. There is no reserved seating unless you are with a party of 6 or more, and then you'll need to let us know in advance. Family-style also refers to food service; all food is brought out in large platters that are passed around, each portion is a tasting portion, or small plate size. There are six courses served, one is usually a dessert course and there is wine served at each one. Wine servings are 1 1/2 oz with each course. We have a guest speaker at every event that educates and guides the tasting from start to finish. We try to accommodate dietary restrictions, but advance notice is needed. Please inform the person you are buying the ticket from, or email Panzanella, and inform them of your restrictions or allergies. If you need to cancel, please do so with 24 hours notice.
Visit Panzanella's website to view all menus (lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch).
Sign up for Panzanella's Enewsletter here.

New Art!

Red Clay Fields and other paintings by Vieni Pawloski Vieni Pawloski has a Caribbean soul. Although she was born and raised mostly in Eastern North Carolina, she spent her first six years in Bermuda, where she started school at age four. She discovered a love for drawing in pencil when she was seven, and has been drawing and painting ever since. After earning an AA degree in Graphic Art and Design from Alamance Community College, Pawloski worked as a graphic designer for 20 years. In the early 80s, Pawloski moved to the intensely creative environment of Berkeley, California, where grants and free community colleges allowed her to feed her intellectual and artistic hunger with a remarkable range of studies. At the San Francisco Art Institute, with classmates from all over the world, Pawloski studied philosophy with Angela Davis, sculpted in clay with Richard Berger, enjoyed the Diego Rivera Gallery, and read Sontag. She studied visual ideology with emphasis on avant garde art with Raymond Mondini, and began her career as a landscape painter in 1984, painting the Berkeley Hills and the Half Moon Bay pumpkin patches. In 1992, Vieni returned to her tropical roots to work in the Florida Keys as a field marine biologist for NOAA. She was married to a kayak nature guide, with whom she co-wrote a book entitled Sea Kayaking the Florida Keys. Finally coming home to NC, Pawloski graduated from UNC in 2005 with a BFA in Studio Art. She continues to paint the fields, old houses, country ponds and roadways of Orange County, but with an exuberant palette that reveals an irrepressible Caribbean soul. Vieni Pawloski 919-240-4084 email

Holiday Hours

In December, we will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 - 25, and reopen for dinner only on Friday, December 26, with our regular Friday dinner hours: 5:30 - 10 pm. On New Year's Eve, Panzanella will be open with our regular Wednesday hours, with dinner service extended to 9:30 pm. We will be featuring dinner specials in addition to our regular menu, and are accepting reservations for parties of 6 or more. Thursday, January 1 we will be closed for lunch, and reopen for dinner from 5:30 - 9:00 pm.