coffee gourmet shop

1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R) offers the best of both worlds: exquisite, florist-designed arrangements individually created by some of the nation's top floral artists and hand-delivered the same day, and spectacular flowers shipped overnight "Fresh From Our Growers(sm)." Customers can "call, click or come in" to shop 1-800-FLOWERS.COM twenty four hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-356-9377 or www.1800flowers.com. Sales and Service Specialists are available 24/7, and fast and reliable delivery is offered same day, any day. As always, 100 percent satisfaction and freshness are guaranteed. The 1-800-FLOWERS.COM collection of brands also includes home decor and children's gifts from Plow & Hearth(R) (1-800-627-1712 or www.plowandhearth.com), Problem Solvers(R) (www.problemsolvers.com), Wind & Weather(R) (www.windandweather.com), Madison Place(R) (www.madisonplace.com), HearthSong(R) (www.hearthsong.com) and Magic Cabin(R) (www.magiccabin.com); gourmet gifts including popcorn and specialty treats from The Popcorn Factory(R) (1-800-541-2676 or www.thepopcornfactory.com); exceptional cookies and baked gifts from Cheryl&Co.(R) (1-800-443-8124 or www.cherylandco.com); premium chocolates and confections from Fannie May Confections Brands(R) (www.fanniemay.com and www.harrylondon.com); gourmet foods from GreatFood.com(R) (www.greatfood.com); wine gifts from Ambrosia.com (www.ambrosia.com); gift baskets from 1-800-BASKETS.COM(R) (www.1800baskets.com) and the BloomNet(R) international floral wire service which provides quality products and diverse services to a select network of florists.

Fiddler on the Roof at Toby’s: Traditional and Terrific

While some shows like Cabaret, Chicago and the like are ripe for re-imagining, other classics, like A Chorus Line and Sweet Charity are best left alone, so wonderful were they in their original state (someone really should have told the Charity folk to let it be). And leave it to Toby and her staff to recognize when to putter with a classic and when not to her Fiddler on the Roof, which opened last Saturday for a 3 month run at the Baltimore location, is Fiddler as we all know and love it. The Jerome Robbins inspired choreography yes, they do "The Bottle Dance" - is intact, those little gem moments the mop swap in "Matchmaker, Matchmaker", Tevye wiggling his tummy as he "daidel deedle dums" his way through "If I Were a Rich Man" are there. And yet, the show, guided by Toby and her ace director/choreographers Tina DeSimone and David James, is as fresh and vibrant as if it were a brand new show.

Green salad has tasty dressing

I love fresh, green salads — especially in the spring and summer months — and lately have been experimenting with new combinations of ingredients and new dressings or vinaigrettes.



I enjoy reading recipes and looking at magazine photos and imagining the taste of that plump red tomato or the leafy green lettuce leaf covered with a shiny dressing. Yum.

I've even been thinking ahead to summer salads while planning my container garden. I'm impatiently waiting for a package of grape tomato seeds and a package of Early Girl tomatoes to germinate so I can transfer them to an outdoor pot. I'm also waiting for the weather to warm so I can move six gourmet lettuce plants to an outdoor planter. It will be nice to move my emerging garden from our dining table!

And if I can figure out the best variety to buy, I'll also be planting some red bell peppers, and maybe some green ones as well.

Local happenings

"Putting Down Roots," a tree-planting and mulching demonstration, is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today in Martha Baldwin Park in Birmingham. Fourth-graders from Pierce Elementary School will join with Southeast Oakland County Water Authority Treekeeper volunteers and the Birmingham Department of Public Services to enhance and beautify trees in the park. The free event is open to the public. It will include a tree planting ceremony, brief presentations and hands-on tree mulching with help from students, parents and community volunteers. For more information about tree mulching and tree care, call the authority at (248) 546-5818.
- From staff reports

.

Tastings Gourmet Market

Whether Annapolis is your home, your destination or a pit stop on the way to your beach vacation, Tastings Gourmet Market is the place to pick up a few provisions for an al fresco meal on the waterfront.

Francetastic celebration!

THE essence of all that is French - from fashion to lifestyle, and from shopping to gourmet - will be celebrated during a week-long programme next month. The French Week 2007, to be held under the patronage of the Economic Development Board from May 2 to 8, is organised by the Bahraini-French Business Club in co-ordination with the French Embassy. The various activities and events will be held across Bahrain in shopping malls, major supermarkets, restaurants and hotels.

"Bahrain should embrace itself for the deliciously seductive French art de vivre as the festival will present a unique blend of shopping delights, fine gourmet, the best of art and culture and the latest fashion trends and designs," said organisers.