Soule Restaurant: It is Easy Being Green

Being environmentally conscious is a multifaceted goal, especially with The United States’ consumption of 25% of the world’s natural resources and holds only 5% of the population; but being green doesn’t have to be difficult. The key is to incorporate an environmental awareness into your everyday lifestyle. Small modifications can have a tremendous impact.

WATER: The U.S. has one of the cleanest drinking water supplies in the world; however, it is vital that we preserve our lakes, rivers and streams so their natural ecosystems remain undisturbed.

CLIMATE: The Earth’s climate changes naturally, from ice ages to periods of warmth. We are currently experiencing a warming trend; however, this cycle is being exacerbated by the actions of man. The burning of fossil fuels and deforestation has caused a concentration of greenhouse gases to increase in our atmosphere, preventing heat from escaping into space. As a result, the polar caps are melting, causing rising sea levels and unusual rainfall patterns.

Alternative sources of energy, including solar, wind, and hydro energy can be found on www.epa.gov.

WASTE: Although it is important to dispose of waste currently polluting the environment, prevention is key. Recycling and using products with biodegradable containers helps reduce waste.

AIR: Our air quality has improved in the past 20 years largely due to government intervention. We can continue this trend by ensuring that our vehicle emissions are within an acceptable range, keeping tires inflated to maximize fuel efficiency, and planting trees.

Trees help to reduce air pollution by absorbing gaseous pollutants.

The Fulton Area Business Alliance (FAB Alliance) is doing their part to help New Yorkers go Green!

Come to the Putnam Triangle in Clinton Hill (at Grand) on Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18th from 10am-3pm and leave with a FREE TREE to plant! Local businesses will also offer coupons and discounts for those who join us in making our planet healthier.

Soule Restaurant: April's Highlights

* Ask about Soulé’s catering specials for graduates! Planning your graduation party doesn’t have to be an ordeal.

* Victor Torres is hosting his new monthly From the Mind of ILL at Soule, Monday, April 26th from 8pm!

Soule Restaurant's Spotlight on Tortola

Tortola is the largest and most populated island amongst the British Virgin Isles.

The people are of African, Caribbean and British influence, reflected in the island’s cuisine; from curry chicken roti to Johnny cakes.

Tortola natives are known to be very warm and friendly, and the relaxed atmosphere serves to provide a paradisiacal feel that is missing on some islands due to urbanization.

Mountains fraught with frangipani and ginger line Tortola’s southern coast, while the northern coast boasts beautiful white sand beaches with mango and banana groves amidst palm trees.

Sailing is a very popular pastime in Tortola, and Sage Mountain National Park is a must-see while visiting.

Picnic while overlooking its neighboring cays; explore traces of its primeval rainforest.

The classic Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have been set in Norman Isle, which lies directly across from Tortola. Once a haven for pirates, the island is now deserted, but you can row to the southernmost cave of the island where Stevenson’s Mr. Fleming stowed his precious treasure and explore.

Tortola is also home to beautiful coral reefs with spectacular tropical fish and other creatures.

Soule Restaurant: Earth Day!

Come to the Putnam Triangle in Clinton Hill (at Grand) on

Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18th from 10am-3pm

and leave with a FREE TREE to plant!

Courtesy of the FAB Alliance!

Soule Restaurant's Latest Menu Offering

Stewed Oxtail

This dish is a favorite throughout the Caribbean!!

Try with a side of peas and rice and fried plantain or mashed potatoes and broccoli for a lil’ bit of Soulé’s Caribbean- fusion!

Soule Restaurant: Bees... They're Our Friends

Early last month, New York City lifted its ban on urban beekeeping.

Huh?

Well… the city’s health code had previously placed bees in the same category as about 100 other creatures found to be too dangerous to be kept in the city.

The honeybee cause has been on the forefront lately, with the decimation of much of their numbers in recent years endangering agriculture in the United States.

In order to grow fruits, vegetables or nuts, you need soil, sun, seeds, water, and honeybees. Honeybees are vital for our agricultural well-being; one out of every three bites of food we eat depend on bees.

Beekeepers throughout the United States routinely load their beehives onto flatbed trucks and travel all over the country, renting their bees to farmers who require the pollination of their crops.

In November 2006, David Hackenberg, who has been in the beekeeping business for over 50 years, went to a bee yard in Florida where he had left 400 hives, and all 400 hives, usually containing roughly 35-40,000 bees each, stood empty. He searched the fields, getting down on his hands and knees to find the deceased bees to no avail.

It has since been found that a particularly large portion of honeybees have been losing their sense of navigation and not returning home to their colonies. Three months after Hackenberg’s discovery, a third of the bees in the country were reported to have mysteriously disappeared as well.

The peculiar thing is, bees have an inherent navigation system that guides them home, even after flying up to two miles in search of food. Upon their return to the hive, they instinctively safeguard the well-being of their colony; performing an intricate dance that informs the others of the location of the food source, and they never abandon their young. Yet, when they disappear, they routinely leave behind a hive filled with larvae and eggs, as well as their queen. Also peculiar is the fact that no other bees will invade the abandoned hives to forage for the honey; it is as if they realize that the hives are somehow contaminated and its honey unsuitable for consumption.

Bee losses are estimated at 60 percent on the west coast and Texas, and 70 percent on the east coast, when the normal winter reduction averages at 20 percent.

“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”

…Albert Einstein

This revelation is alarming; especially in light of the fact that this is quickly becoming a world-wide pandemic, currently affecting 24 states within the United States, as well as areas in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Spain.

Autopsies of bees that remain in the abandoned hives show that these bees are typically afflicted with several viruses and ailments.

It appears that something is weakening the immune systems of honeybees, making them more susceptible to parasites, fungi, and viruses, while simultaneously causing memory loss and nervous system disorders. Scientists are referring to this phenomenon as Colony Collapse Disorder (CDD), the cause of which is still undetermined.

The importance of bees to our very existence is not universally recognized. Many have accepted their disappearance as positive.

It’s not.

Our first lady recently had a beehive installed on the south lawn of the White House.

Now that the beekeeping ban has been lifted in New York City, maybe some of our bravest residents will follow in her footsteps and assume a new hobby.

Soule Restaurant's Food Facts: Honey

Bacteria doesn’t survive in honey, so it never spoils. In fact, honey was found in ancient Egyptian tombs, approximately 2000 years old, and still edible!

As it ages, the crystallization process of honey puts it in a solid form that can be warmed and liquefied, retaining all of its properties.

Ancient Egyptian doctors used honey to treat open wounds, speeding up the healing process and saving countless lives that might have been lost due to infections from injuries during the construction of the pyramids.

Scientists today have found that honey contains hydrogen peroxide which

kills germs, but also has the remarkable ability to kill the most resilient bacterium such as Staphylococcus Aureus.

Another interesting property is that when honey is applied to burns or wounds, they often heal without leaving scars. Scientists are unsure why, but they suspect that the glucose in the honey combines chemically with collagen that makes up scar tissue in a way that prevents it from forming.

Honey is a natural sugar that is sweeter than granulated sugar. Both contain glucose and fructose; however, in sugar, the fructose and glucose bind together while in honey, they remain separate. Fructose does not convert to energy as efficiently as glucose and is often converted to fat stores. It’s bound to glucose in sugar, which inhibits absorption, making honey a better nutritional option. Honey also contains antioxidants that must be obtained through diet, as well as vitamins and minerals, although the type and amount varies based on the pollen collected.

Because of its pollen base, a tablespoon of honey a day is purported to build antibodies to allergens naturally.

Any reason to doubt why it was considered the Nectar of the Gods?

Soule Restaurant: April's Fools

This month, Google announced that they were changing their name to Topeka in response to Topeka’s Mayor Bill Bunten’s announcement that he was informally changing the name of his town to “Google” for one month. I don’t know… I wasn’t fooled. I’ll give Google a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Meanwhile, YouTube announced that, in an effort to cut costs, they were converting videos to text-only mode. Okay… that one was pretty funny…

On the gourmet coffee front, Starbucks offered giant (128 fl oz) and micro (2 fl oz) sized coffee cups, aptly named Plenta™ and Micra™.

I’m going to need a Plenta Café Mocha, please. And new running shoes to run off that caffeine…

Soule Restaurant: From the Mind of ILL

You can love me or hate me, but the feeling is mutual.

How's everyone doin' this go 'round?

April.

The month where Klowns such as myself have an entire 24-hour period dedicated to our insane ways.

Y'know... April 1st? April Fool's Day?

And what fool is better than the fool that is I?

No one! That is who! For example: The song Papa Was A Rolling Stone. At the end of the chorus, the phrase "When he died all he left us was alone" is sung... Sang... Songded...

Well, ask someone if the song means all he left us was "alone" or "a loan" as in "an unpaid debt." Either way, that's messed up! Damn you, Pops!

I wanna talk about Twitter. Why? Because I can. It’s my article...

I will admit, I follow a motley crew of characters.

From some rappers who are intelligent and sarcastic (@Jeangreasy, a great emcee by any standards) to um... adult entertainers... to comics I truly admire (@affioncrockett, @kevinhart4real, the Wayans family [waaaay too many to list] to some of my musical idols --@djscratch, who I had the privilege of meeting @ SOB's and laughing about Roscoe P. Coltrane from The Dukes Of Hazzard, @GeneralSteele 1/2 of the legendary duo Smif-Wessun—the other half? @teksmokeelah, to Brand Nubian's finest @Lordjamar and @Sadat X.).

Twitter has been a fun way to talk to people and keep in contact with some people you admire, and just so you know ahead of time, people with 2 million followers …ain't gonna answer you back.

No Diddy Tweets... No Ashton replies.

Nada.

And if you follow people you actually know? It’s actually easier to pick up the phone and call. And text. Oh—follow @soulerestaurant (thanks for allowing me to spew my unorthodox opinions) and follow @ILLWayneGacey.

That's me.

But beware. You get a much tamer version of me in this newsletter. On Twitter, there are NO HOLDS BARRED! I even have my own trending topic: #DaKlownIsAJerk. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it!

On Tuesday, March 30, Soule Restaurant had its inaugural "From The Mind Of ILL" Open Mic. Comics such as Pedro Lee, Luke Thayer and Talia performed and it was a variety of comic styles but nonetheless, a success.

Hosted by Yours Truly (bows, curtsey and two steps) for a first time, it was a success.

So thankfully (or regretfully depending on how you felt about the comedy) there will be another From The Mind Of ILL Open Mic Comedy Night on Monday, April 26th!

Well, I guess I should say Happy Easter, but I will leave you with this thought: Rabbits don't lay eggs.

They give birth like all other mammals. If a bunny walks up to you offering a chocolate egg, that ain't chocolate. And if you eat it? You nasty!

Till next time.

…Victor Torres

Soule Restaurant: The Buzz...

Zombies! Author Roger Ma and graphic artist Y.N. Heller (The Zombie Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Living Dead) give a lecture on how to kick zombie ass, complete with a zombie dummy beat-down demonstration and zombie make up for those who want to join the undead, Friday, April 9th at 7:30pm at the Barnes and Noble in Park Slope… Cool… After a long winter, the Brooklyn Flea returns to Fort Greene’s Bishop Loughlin High School yard on Saturdays, remains at One Hanson Sundays for the remainder of the year… Brooklyn crime’s spiked this year, and Bloomberg blames the cuts to the police force. Only thing is, there is no clear correlation when other cities and number of law enforcement officials are studied. Could it be the economy pushing people to unscrupulous (and criminal) acts? Who knows...

Soule Restaurant: Oprah Winfrey - SUPERWOMAN

Oprah Winfrey announced last year that she’s ending her 25-season run of The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 9, 2011.

This date will mark the end of an era.

An era where an African American woman received 48 daytime Emmy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

Of course her Lifetime Achievement wasn’t primarily for her talk show; Oprah has a reputation for using her money and influence to affect change.

She freely shares the story of her childhood; her abuse and molestation that caused her to run away from home.

She initiated a campaign to establish a national database of convicted child abusers, which was signed into law by President Clinton in 1993 and entitled the "Oprah Bill," establishing the national database she sought.

She opened an all-girls school in South Africa to nurture, educate and turn gifted girls from impoverished backgrounds into leaders.

She played Sofia in The Color Purple and captured the hearts of moviegoers everywhere, which motivated her to form a production company: HARPO Productions, Inc.

She subsequently acquired all rights to The Oprah Winfrey Show before expanding to produce The Women of Brewster Place miniseries and movies There are no Children Here, and Before Women had Wings.

When Oprah began the Oprah Book Club, her selections became immediate best sellers.
Oprah was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century by Time magazine, for obvious reasons.

She is a partner in Oxygen Media, and according to Forbes Magazine, is the first African American woman to become a billionaire.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we salute Oprah; not only for her financial accomplishments.

We salute her lifetime contributions to the world.

Soule Restaurant: Spotlight on VENEZUELA

Venezuela, located in northern South America, contains miniature pieces of the entire continent; it encompasses Amazonian rain forests, fertile plains, Andes mountains, a Caribbean shoreline, and even a desert.

The people are diverse, and includes Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African and indigenous people.

Venezuela’s oil reserves are as vast as many Arab nations; in fact, engineers have reported drilling for oil in the wrong place accidentally and still finding oil.

Caracas is the capitol, and boasts gleaming skyscrapers amidst historical gems. Caracas is known for its nightlife, with ample nightclubs.

An attraction that is a must-see while in Venezuela is Angel Falls; the world’s highest waterfall.

Soule Restaurant: March's Highlights

• Soulé’s Spoken Word Open Mic one-year anniversary of our is this month! We’re celebrating with an open mic that celebrates Women’s History Month featuring artwork by Reina Miranda and Tasha Edwards!

• Soulé is introducing new menu items with a Menu Tasting event! Details to follow…

• Soulé is hosting its first Comedy Night hosted by ILL Wayne Gacey! Stay tuned for details…

Soule Restaurant

Try Soulé’s latest menu offering:

Rasta Pasta

This dish is native to Italy, but renamed and made popular in Jamaica when Bob Marley claimed it as his favorite.

Soule Restaurant's Food Facts: Brocolli

Years ago, broccoli was generally THE vegetable. The one that had to be eaten with a screw-face and pinched nose.

Why the bad rap?

Broccoli is delicious. And who was the genius who thought to pair it with cheddar cheese and top baked potatoes? I lie prostrate at your feet, great sir/ma’am.

Broccoli appears to have gained popularity among all age groups. It is now one of the best-selling vegetables in the United States.

Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, iron, calcium and folic acid, broccoli also contains as much vitamin C as an orange!

Because broccoli is nutrient- dense with low caloric cost, body builders tend to make it a necessary addition to their diets. Eaten with red meat for protein, the vitamin C from the broccoli helps to maximize the body’s absorption of iron.

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University recently discovered a compound in broccoli that prevents the development of tumors by 60% and reduces the size of developed tumors by 75%. Broccoli boosts the immune system, lowers the incidence of cataracts, supports cardiovascular health, builds bones and fights birth defects.

Whether you try it stir fried in teriyaki, or in garlic sauce, with baked potatoes and cheddar cheese, or even just raw in a salad. You won’t be disappointed and your body will thank you!

Soule Restaurant: Winter Blues

Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) or Winter Blues is a depression that correlates with the winter season. It is caused by chemical changes in the brain due to lack of sunlight, or a “phase shift” of the circadian rhythm.

Signs of S.A.D. can include excessive sleep, weight gain, irritability, an increase in conflicts with others, loss of energy, poor concentration and indecisiveness, and even thoughts of death or suicide.

Although medical treatment is available for S.A.D., there are ways to self-treat that are safe and easily implemented.

 Try to spend at least 30 minutes outside every day; particularly during the brightest part of the day

 Increase indoor lighting

 Plan activities during the winter months that you enjoy

 Take a short vacation to a sunny state

 Bright-Light therapy

Bright-light therapy, using UV-ray screened light from a special light box, has proven to be quite effective; more so when the problem stems from melatonin. The brain’s pineal gland produces melatonin in response to darkness, making us sleepy. Animals create more melatonin during the winter months, and it was recently discovered by the National Institute of Mental Health, that many who suffer from S.A.D. have an increase in melatonin production during the winter months as well.

Another activity that has proven to be very effective in reversing the signs of S.A.D. is regular attendance of Soule’s weekly Spoken Word Open Mic events. Patrons are welcomed with complimentary warm corn muffins with an irresistible pineapple-apricot sauce and sweet peppermint tea. A delicious Caribbean-Soul food dinner while listening to the creative vibe of local poets and singers has a tremendous impact on the body’s release of endorphins, effectively combating S.A.D.

Okay, the Soule-Open-Mic-Endorphin-Effect hasn’t actually been proven, but try it! It’s a warm, comforting environment that’s immune to the ravages of winter.
See you soon!

Soule Restaurant: National Poetry Recognition Month - Derek Walcott

Derek Walcott, native of St. Lucia, studied at St. Mary’s College and the University of West Indies in Jamaica before moving to Trinidad in 1953, where he worked as a theatre and art critic.

His first poem, 1944,was published when he was only 14 years old, and by age 19, he had published Epitaph for the Young: XII Cantos and 25 Poems as well.

Walcott’s talent is not limited to poetry; he has also published essays, novels and plays, and several of his plays have been produced throughout the United States.
In 1992, Walcott was the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature for Omeros, an epic poem that takes its name from the Greek poet Homer.

The poem draws parallels with both Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, with the heroes Achille and Hector in love with the same woman: Helen.

Rather than retelling Homer’s tale, Walcott tells the story of slavery and its effects on the culture of the Caribbean.

One verse that is particularly poignant described a conversation between Philoctetes’ and Ma Kilman where he voices his frustration about his leg-wound from being struck by an anchor. The wound will not heal and to he speaks of the burden it represents.

Philoctete, his trouser-legs rolled, stares out to sea
from the worn rumshop window. The itch in the sore
tingles like the tendrils of the anemone,

and the ouffed blister of Portuguese man-o’-war.
He believed the swelling came from the chained ankles
of his grandfathers. Or else why was there no cure?

That the cross he carried was not only the anchor’s
but that of his race, for a village black and poor
as the pigs that rooted in its burning garbage,

then were hooked on the anchors of the abattoir.

Derek Walcott’s Nobel Prize for Literature was well-deserved, and in honor of National Poetry Recognition Month, Soulé salutes him.

Soule Restaurant: Announcements

Soulé is proud to participate in

Dine-In Brooklyn 2010

An initiative of
Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President

2 for $20.10 for lunch and 2 for $25 for dinner
or
One 3-course dinner for $25 and one 3-course lunch for $20.10

Soule Restaurant: From the Mind of ILL

Hey yo...

What's the good word?

I am sitting here being harassed by someone from Soulé, bothering me about an article.

I swear… she’s like Citibank. I only hear from her is when the bill is due.
And so, I will spew random nonsense, as opposed to the regular nonsense I usually spew.

Facts:

1. 10 out of 10 people die.

2. At the end of the day, it’s night.

3. Olive Oyl (who loved Popeye, not the stuff you put on salads) had measurements of 18-18-18.

4. 1,111,111 x 1,111,111 = 1234567654321

5. Barbie's name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

6. Penguins are the only birds that can swim but not fly.

7. Scooby Doo's real name is Scoobert.

Just randomness…

It happens.

Especially when I don't take my meds.

Or see my doctor.

I received an email in Facebook (aka Let'sSeeHowMuchTheCoolKidsFromHighSchoolFellOff.com) inviting me somewhere on June 5th, 2010...

One day after my birthday.

(Gifts can be dropped off @ Soule addressed to ILL!)

I am invited to my *gasp* 20th High School Reunion!

I think I am more disturbed that I *gasped* rather than at the 20-year part.
Maaaaan... 20 years... 1990... The simpler days... Good music... De La Soul... EPMD...

I think I still have the shirt that I wore to my high school graduation. I think I'll wear it June 5th. Can't be that much tighter. I weigh the same I did in high school (if you add up all four years).

Word on the street is that Soulé is having a comedy night.

This month.

Hosted by a handsome fellow… I’m just sayin’…

Follow me on twitter @ILLWayneGacey

Victor Torres

Soule Restaurant: The Buzz

After years of canceled projects and false starts, the cultural district planned for the neighborhood around the Brooklyn Academy of Music is finally gaining momentum. Over the next year, construction on six cultural and public projects worth a total of well over $100 million is slated to begin in the area between Fulton and Lafayette… Jason Williams shot his limo driver and got 18 months. Plaxico Burress shot himself. And got 2 years. Classic… Men pretending to be cops “arrested” a man and picked his pocket… Two moviegoers were robbed at the UA Court Street cinemas… The women from the sex toy shop Babeland have written a “How to” book… The Fort Greene Festival is proud to present their third year in the making, June 26, 2010… Fighting in three different weight classes at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple in Clinton Hill, Daniel Torres, Vincenzo D'Angelo and Raul Nuncio all went home to Long Island with victories, while Torres also took the P.C. Richard Boxer of the Night Award… Fort Greene/Clinton Hill is simply one of New York's perfect neighborhoods - - the population is diverse, it's geographically close to Manhattan, it's got a stellar park, tons of restaurants, a farmer's market, a flea market, beautiful tree-and-brownstone-lined streets, historic buildings, subway access, a world-class performing arts complex - - the list goes on… Green in BKLYN offers a one-stop shop where people who’d like to live an eco-friendly lifestyle - and those who already do - can find information and the products they need to easily and innovatively green their home and daily lives…