Digi Picks 5/15/08

Well I survived Taste of the Nation NYC last night!  It was at the Roseland Ballroom and it was PACKED!  It was so hot in there at one point I had to get out of the crowd. Overall the food was excellent but the liquor left a little something to be desired.  I did discover one new wine from Sicily called Rocca something-or-other.  I'l have to look it up on Wine Library. My faves of the night were the two cheese tables.  Artisanal Cheese Center is on W. 37th but they also have a website!!!  I'm so excited!!!  Awesome aged sheeps milk cheeses and a very mild soft goat that I liked even though I like my goat a little funkier ;-)  The other cheese table wins hands-down for practicality and presentation. Vermont Butter and Cheese  had a little cardboard plate that held a slice of crusty bread with a bit of fresh butter, a communion cup with a creamy soft mild goat w/honey, an aged goat with raspberry chutney on a water cracker and a solitary mound of their aged goat.  A little cardboard plate of Melissa Heaven!!!!  I had 5 of them....not even remotely kidding.  With that wine from Sicily....YEAH BABY!!!

Element of the Day
Okay, I know you didn't come here to read about my love of stinky cheese.  So, here's a link to a very cool alpha in both png and abr format from Lisa Sisneros.  Her  Cracked Rub On Alpha  is a great realistic looking alpha that will mimic the effect you get when you use rub-ons that either don't quite go on all the way or have been in your scrap bag for way too long!  I'm one of those strange people who loves it when her rub ons look a little rough, LOL.

Need some NSBR Inspiration?
Don't forget about my new blog.  I hope it will bring you hope, inspiration and at the very least laughs.  For now I don't have a fancy name so you can find it at Melissa Thinks Out Loud.