I’ll admit it. I was out of my element. Lost in the NoChi hinterlands while on a hunt for something new to engulf. I wanted a little strange. The SoChi “Been There, Done That” seemed like sloppy seconds today for some reason. I’m shooting blanks so I decided to pull out my technology and tweet. “Trolling for food! #starving”
Within a matter of secs Priscilla Esser replied. Her tweet simply read: “Ron & Cheng’s Kitchen. You’ll dig it.” I trust her taste. I pulled up to the strip mall’ish location & read the banner hanging out front, “Chinese Food & Home Cook’N” – WHAT? I’m not sure that I’m up for this Funky Food Fusion. Could Priscilla actually “Linda Lovelace” this? Christie Brinkley’s famous line in National Lampoon’s Vacation comes to mind. “Well, are you gonna Go For It?” So, I do. Ron & Chengs Kitchen on Tom Hill Blvd is actually worth the try. A quirky Chinese/Southern Home cooking combo but indeed it is funky enough that I really dug it. 2 meats & 2 Vegetables: Fried Porkchop, General Tso’s Chicken, butter beans, egg roll & cornbread. East met West all on one divided Syrofoam plate. I even “liked” it on UrbanSpoon. Y’all go check it out, 行吗？(OK?) I promise, there is a Happy Ending in store for you. 
“Bring It On!” I say when recently challenged to a blind vodka taste test by National Distributing rep Kim Reynolds. Kim, knowing I’m a die-hard Grey Goose fan said she had a brand I was sure to favor over the Goose. Not Likely, I say. It was a Friday afternoon and work was slow so why not have a little fun and prove the little lassy wrong. I know my vodka and I like a sure thing. Kim enters The SoChi Gallery with a stockpile of vodka. She might as well have been wearing a Santa suit because it sure felt like Christmas. She preps for the taste test in the kitchen – out of my sight – then re-enters the scene with 6 numbered cups of vodka. Placing them before me she throws down the gauntlet. “Drink Up! she commands. I oblige. I am instructed to place the ones i like in one area and the ones I dislike in another area. I like vodka. In fact, vodka makes a great chaser for a Starbucks Latte as that was all that was on my stomach. 
As the tasting continues I ask myself, “Spit or Swallow?” Hell, we aren’t at a fancy Sonoma winery so “Swallow” it is. However the whole BLIND part of the taste test starts to take on a new meaning…will I be able to see once it’s all over? Taking my research seriously, I taste and re-taste them all. At the conclusion I have chosen a winner. In all fairness I must report my findings. Here is how I ranked them. In order of most liked to least liked: #1. Van Gogh Blue #2. Absolut #3. Grey Goose #4. Smirnoff #5. Ketel One #6. Stoli. At the conclusion of the test, she claimed victory stating the the Van Gogh was indeed her brand. Kudos to the girl who took this Out of the Box and into The SoChi Gallery! And the sobering result was that I did choose her hooch over my Goose. She Blinded Me With Science.
Want to be in pictures? Three short films will be filming around Macon during the summer months of July, August and September and they all require extras. The winners of Gateway Macon’s “Macon Shorts” film competition will be here filming. One of these filmmakers is James Kicklighter of Savannah whose last film FOLLOWED was filmed in Macon back in December. He will be here this summer filming “Final Acts” about aging movie star returning to her roots. The second film is entitled “Superhero” which will be directed by Kristin Wright of Atlanta. As you may have guessed ….it involves a costume. The third film is the story of a con artist entitled “The Razzle” by director Joseph Guay of Atlanta. Beware, if some Wise Guy approaches you and asks if you feel lucky – run! He just may be trying to seduce you into playing a board game that you are sure to loose your shirt over. The three films will premiere in November at a red carpet affair in Downtown Macon. For more info on the Macon Shorts film competition or if you’d like to be an extra in one of the films, contact Gateway Macon.
The Macon Film Festival is now accepting entries for the 7th annual festival which takes place February 16-19, 2012. Commonly referred to as a “filmmakers film fest” but perhaps more accurately called the “friendliest little effin’ film festival in the country” by filmmakers from all over the globe. Perhaps the MAGAtini (the festival’s signature cocktail) has a little something to do with that. To submit: Log onto the website and click on “Withoutabox submit your film here” tab.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE BAND
July 23. Heroes Music Festival’s Battle of the Bands. Macon City Auditorium – winner will perform on stage at Heroes MF in Sept at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
July 27. Big Screen Movie Night: School of Rock @ Tattnall Park. 8pm. Free Event.
July 30. Bragg Jam. 36 bands. Multiple venues. $20.
Singer/Songwriters & Bands: Gateway Macon‘s MACON MUSIC PROJECT. One winner receives a $25,000+ music production package.
Deadline for entry: August 15th.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE AMUSING & WELCOME!
So-Chi-lize [soh-chee-lies] verb, -ized, -izing. –verb (used with object)
1. The art of mixing and mingling in The SoChi District.