There is a new market, a Fresh Market, on Forsyth… or is it still Vineville. I know the split is at Napier, but it’s right on the cusp. For now, we’ll say in the Steinmart shopping center, even though that is also not the official name…

I am in love with the Fresh Market. It’s everything I ever wanted in a market, and more. I haven’t been to a Whole Foods/Trader Joe’s since I lived in California and I’m pretty impressed with the one we have here. The cheese corner alone was enough to put me in rapture. I went for the sushi but after having a quick glance around I realized that I needed to spend a leisurely Sunday in there just walking around and admiring it. Or stalking it, however you want to look at it. Fresh Market, you send me!

First Fridays always give me a little thrill. I enjoy getting out and seeing places that I love open past 6. On First Friday, there are other options, not just the bars and it’s good to see people I enjoy being around in this great, relaxed setting.

I know it can be tiring when people say we don’t support the activities in Macon, but sometimes, the activities in Macon don’t support us. First Friday is an event that supports the people and allows for the people to support them. It doesn’t take much to participate – restaurants either lose a dollar or two on drink orders or they stay open and gain a bit more income. Artists get a different viewing crowd and if they come away with one new fan, that’s a plus. First Friday is everything an activity in Macon should be for its citizens. It’s safe, it’s active and it’s full of choices. You can hear great bands, you can eat great food and you can see something interesting, even if it’s just someone walking down the street.

I know where I’m going to be tonight. Where will you be?

For its second year, the Macon Food and Culture FOODIE Awards (The Foodies) pulled out the stops. I walked in large, concentric circles around tables of food, picking up things, eating them, and finding them very good. Then I ate chocolate covered untoasted marshmallows on sticks and they were delicious. I then got so nervous, when all the festivities began, I thought I would rather be back in concentric circles being herded around tables eating the very good chicken salad in phyllo shells. I didn’t have time to check and see who made those, but whoever you are, I will be seeing you soon, I hope.

The chefs in training from Polly’s Hospitality Institute received their green scarves in front of a live audience. I was so proud of them, especially since I’ve watched them grow through their words. Watching the look in their eyes change from month to month, from started out in the kitchen feeling overwhelmed by the size of it all to expertly chopping, baking, mixing and being ready to do said chopping, baking, and mixing for the beautiful, local restaurants in the area. It was a great moment to see all of this, their hopes and dreams, coming into fruition.

I was paired with John Jones to do the Top Ten List. The list this year? Top Ten Reasons Why Coffee is Better than a Man or a Woman. John was concerned we’d be a little edgy, but another Jones, Channel 13’s Ben Jones, totally made our jokes feel like they were written by the same people that came up with Knock Knock Jokes. I mean to say, we were very tame in comparison.

I gave a Tribute to Phillip Rossini for the magazine. When I learned that he died, it was right before I had to go out of town for business. By the time I got back, the city was done mourning him. I mean, I know that they weren’t. Anyone who knew him was not done, but I didn’t have an outlet to express how much I missed him. I wrote something for my coffee column, but Gary thought it would be better to just stick to coffee. I think that’s why he asked me to do the Tribute, maybe because he understood that I needed to do that for myself to honor Phillip. It was probably the hardest speaking thing I’ve ever done. My husband told me later that people were asking for me to come back to the stage, but by then, I’d already run off. After it was all over, after I was off the stage, I could finally breathe. It didn’t make the sadness go away, but it made it lighter and for that, I’m glad.

I would like to say that I went to the Tica-Toca Room afterwards and danced the night away to the sounds of Mark Booker and the NeoCats (Mark Booker is always good), but I was fighting sickness with a couple of alka-seltzer and a few advil cold and sinus caplets and I was losing. I hope the ending was as good as the beginning and I can’t wait to see what this upcoming year brings.