Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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If whiskey is perfect, there is no reason for flavored versions. Yet distilleries persist… Black Velvet is a leftover from the days when languid women splashed across slick magazine advertising pages to lure Sports Illustrated readers into the vice-ridden world of blended whiskey—if they could tear themselves from the Borkum Riff or smokeless tobacco adds on the facing page. Black Velvet’s Toasted Caramel delves into the same novice market. Regional whiskeys carry hints of grain, barrel, age and the very climate in which they were born. Flavo...
What can one say about a story so awkward, yet at the same time so human and emotionally engaging? Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones play a devoted couple drifting into marital complacency. Kay—Streep’s character—looks to reconnect with her husband through the device of a small town therapist. Of course, Jones’ more stubborn, routine-driven part resists. The result is sad, predictable, cringe-worthy, funny and at times rings with absolute clarity. Yes, the predictable, cringe-worthy aspect may frustrate some. On the other hand, Streep and Jon...
January 3 Denver, Colo.: Comedian Keith Alberstadt, Comedy Works Downtown (8 p.m.) $ January 4 Kimball: Open Mic Night, Java Blend (5 p.m.-8 p.m.) January 9 Fort Collins, Colo.: “Rock of Ages”, Lincoln Center (7:30 p.m.) $ January 10 Greenwood Village, Colo.: Comedian Jon Reep, Comedy Works South (7:30 p.m.) $ Fort Collins, Colo.: “Rock of Ages”, Lincoln Center (7:30 p.m.) $ Englewood, Colo.: Reel Big Fish in concert, Gothic Theatre (8 p.m.) $ January 11 Greenwood Village, Colo.: Comedian Jon Reep, Comedy Works South (7:15 and 9:45 p.m.) $...
Kimball Public Schools, Potter-Dix and more than 200 Nebraska schools are being recognized by Secretary of State John Gale for hosting Veterans Day events this year. Teachers say these events continue to be well received by students, their communities and more importantly, local veterans. Many schools invite servicemen and women to share their experiences during those programs. “They can be quite moving for those in attendance,” said Gale. “It’s really something for those veterans to see how young people respond to their stories. It’s a...
By the time you read this Christmas Celebration of 2012 will be past. And we look forward to New Year 2013, hoping it will be more peaceful. The library staff wishes everyone joy, peace, goodness in life and prosperity. I hope you all are more prepared than I am. My letter is typed and the cards and addresses are sitting there, so will get them in the mail right after Christmas As the New Year arrives, plans are being made to schedule computer classes, Kindle classes, painting classes, potentially ‘Gun Safety for Women’, a crafting class or two...
Sashimi in Cheyenne, good Southern-style fried catfish in the heart of downtown Fort Collins, even an all-American burger in a joint once praised by Buffalo Bill Cody--it has been another interesting year dining across the region. Over the course of 2012, I visited everything from Thai restaurants to everyday mom and pops. Here is what stood out during my culinary travels over the past 12 months: Best Dining Destination: Bridgeport The little community--it is smaller than Kimball--supports...
Some people really, truly want to splurge on New Year’s Eve. Whether they’ve won a chunk of change in some 50-50 fundraiser or cashed out their bank account in anticipation of a Mayan apocalypse, they have money to burn and vintage French Champagne on their party menu. Of course, the greatness of vintage Champagne often eludes novices. The wines are natural and intricate, capturing the essence of terrain, weather and even the hand responsible for fermentation. Armand de Brignac’s Brut Gold is a whisper of wind on the nose, carrying with it fa...
Critics now refer to the Bourne series as a “franchise”--the Hollywood equivalent of McDonald’s or Walmart, with a few more plot twists. In The Bourne Legacy, they’ve introduced a new hero, forced to deal with events triggered by the original trilogy. Jeremy Renner’s work in the lead role will make even the staunchest Damon fans marvel, but the script looks for involvement and tension for the mere sake of involvement and tension. It’s a fun and often thrilling film, if you revel in the heroic and don’t ponder too much the narrative det...
December 28 Denver, Colo.: Trombone Shorty in concert, Ogden Theatre (9 p.m.) $ December 29 Broomfield, Colo.: String Cheese Incident in concert, 1stBank Center (7:30 p.m.)$ December 30 Broomfield, Colo.: String Cheese Incident in concert, 1stBank Center (7:30 p.m.)$ December 31 Broomfield, Colo.: String Cheese Incident in concert, 1stBank Center (7:30 p.m.)$ January 2 Denver, Colo.: Comedian Keith Alberstadt, Comedy Works Downtown (8 p.m.) $ January 3 Denver, Colo.: Comedian Keith Alberstadt, Comedy Works Downtown (8 p.m.) $ January 4...
Students at Kimball Junior-Senior High School perform a colorful song and dance routine during the school’s Christmas Concert Monday night at McNees Auditorium. On Tuesday Kimball elementary students performed....
The Sentimental Production DVD’s are on the shelf and waiting for your enjoyment. These special DVD’s take you back in time by visiting venues and activities of the past such as Vintage Base Ball, Old-Piano Contests and Early TV Commercials. The DVD’s also take you around the country visiting sites you may not be able to see in your travels. Please consider checking these out. You can set in your favorite chair and laugh at the past. The Scanner and printer set up at the library will allow you to make your last minute Christmas cards. They...
(Reviews Resume In January 3 Issue) Every year as Christmas approaches, vendors set up at busy street corners across Prague. They sell live carp to families eager to follow the Czech Christmas tradition of boney fish and potato salad. Some city residents even sacrifice showers to keep their holiday carp alive in the bathtub for several days before Christmas—or so I’ve been told. I never stooped to pry into neighbors’ tubs, or to try the country’s most typical celebratory meal. For some reason an...
Champagne and other sparkling wines are synonymous with celebration. Of course, that means many people sort through the catalogue of regions and vaguely understood words--”brut,” “sec,” “blanc de blancs,” “cuvee”--only during the holidays, turning the selection process into a kind of coin toss. High end labels from France, such as Dom Perignon, carry with them a certain mystique, as well as a hefty price tag. It’s possible, however, to find sparklers from other regions, such as Spain, New Mexico and Italy that add life to a celebration without...
Once upon a time the release of film starring Clint Eastwood would cause guys to recite one liners from the epic endlessly. This one, however, is different. The weathered actor plays one of the best scouts in baseball whose age is starting to catch up with him. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment. Through in the daughter risking her career to save his and you have a predictable, uninspired, cliche-ridden script that still manages to keep viewers engaged. Without a “make my day” moment, Eastwood still cat...
December 21 Fort Collins, Colo.: A Musical Christmas Carol, Lincoln Center (7:30 p.m.) $ Denver, Colo.: Colorado Symphony’s “To Hot to Handel”, Boettcher Concert Hall (7:30 p.m.) $ Denver, Colo.: Comedian Josh Blue, Comedy Works Downtown (7 p.m.) $ December 22 Fort Collins, Colo.: A Musical Christmas Carol, Lincoln Center ( 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) $ Denver, Colo.: Comedian Josh Blue, Comedy Works Downtown (6 p.m.) $ December 23 Fort Collins, Colo.: A Musical Christmas Carol, Lincoln Center (2 p.m.) $ December 28 Denver, Colo.: Trombone Short...
The Kimball Business Boosters Club will be putting on a hayride downtown December 19, at 5:30 p.m., according to member Carol Brown. “We’ll start in front of the Chamber of Commerce building. The hayride will go around town and end up back at the Chamber. It’s open to the public, and there’s no charge,” Brown said. “It’s a holiday thing. We’re just trying to recreate some of the events of past years,” Brown added. There is no set time for the end of the event in order to accommodate more...
The movie at the library on Saturday afternoon was a success. We enjoyed having about 30 children attend and the movie was very good. Vacuuming up the popcorn...well it got done. The Sentimental Production DVDs are on the shelf and waiting for your enjoyment. These special DVDs take you back in time by visiting venues and activities of the past such as Vintage Base Ball, Old-Piano Contests and Early TV Commercials. The DVDs also take you around the country visiting sites you may not be able to see in your travels. Please consider checking...
I find it a tad bit disconcerting to open a menu and see “onion rings” on the first page, when its cover promised fine Mexican cooking—like buying a ticket to see Killer Mike in concert and discovering Justin Bieber is the opening act. Other anomalies dot El Torito’s glossy list, as well. But the spot on Scottsbluff’s 27th Street strip is something of an anomaly in itself. The Panhandle’s “metro area” hosts a number of mom and pop Mexican joints serving as authentic street style tacos, menudo or...
It occurs to me that, for the approaching holidays, a specific regional wine might be in order. That’s right, something from near the Sea of Galilee, where (if a certain Good Book is consulted) water runs like sweet red vintage stuff. Yes, wine has been native to that part of the world since before Biblical times. For much of the modern era, though, varietals from France, Italy and Germany dominated even the table wine category. But ever since the emergence of New World labels in the 1990s, aficionados have been willing to branch out. And y...
The premise—a toy coming to life—isn’t revolutionary. But Ted breaks from the family movie norm. As a child, John Bennett wished his favorite teddy bear would be his friend forever. Now an adult, he’s stuck with an emotionally disturbed, politically incorrect, prostitute-fancying, smack-talking toy. It’s the brainchild of “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, first time movie writer-director. And like the small screen series, you can easily bypass Ted without regrets. But (also like the series), there are moments that will simply cause you to...
The Potter Dix one act play team took home fourth place at state competitions Thursday, December 6, at the Merryman Performing Arts Center in Kearney for their play, “MacBeth: A Tale of Darkness”. “We were in a new theater which was a lot bigger and more impressive. The kids thought it was great, and they really rose to the challenge,” director Beth Bogert said. According to Bogert, it was somewhat of a bittersweet experience. “I was proud of them. They did a great job. They gave a nice performa...
December 20 is the deadline to register your home in the Residential Lighting Contest. There are many beautifully decorated homes around and the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce appreciates all who enter the contest or even just share their spirit with the community. On December 16 at the Fraternal Hall, (corner of 2nd and Chestnut) the chamber will host the final “Winner’s Wrap-Up” Celebration. There will be local entertainment as well as All the winners of Christmas contests will be named and prizes awarded. They will also draw...
Why do we love steak so much? The flavor is rather basic, when you think about it—just a husky, meaty and familiar heft. Yet douse it with sauce and you obliterate its very essence. Order one from a lean cut and that vaunted savor likewise disappears. Steaks are also temperamental things. They wither into shoe leather under too much heat. Still, there’s something about a thick, glistening, cushy filet. At Buffalo Point in Sidney, they sometimes play loose with rare orders. At least mine was all...
Empyrean’s Burning Skye claims to mimic Scottish copper ales. But it pours far too pale for such a comparison. And the ales I’ve tried from the UK’s northern reaches tend to be more robust. Of course, that’s the beauty of any American brewing company’s play with language. The caveat “style” excuses any such alleged flaw. The eastern Nebraska artisans are merely sampling (to use music industry parlance) as best they can with the ingredients available. And what Empyrean created is an easy, highly drinkable beer. It gives off aromas of caramel, t...