Cuttino's Site

Cuttino's Site http://cuttino.multiply.com/ Wed, 6 Jul 2011 20:07:53 -0000 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:36:00 -0000 Welcome! http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/59/Welcome Thanks for visiting our wedding website! We're looking forward to having all of you join us in Chapel Hill in a few short weeks. We hope that this website will be helpful, especially for those of you not from the area, Here are some quick links to the information on this site: <a href="http://jessica-cuttino.blogspot.com/2008/11/registry-information.html">Gift Registry Information</a> <a href="http://jessica-cuttino.blogspot.com/2008/11/chapel-hill-logistics.html">Getting to/from Chapel Hill</a> <a href="http://jessica-cuttino.blogspot.com/2008/11/parking-in-chapel-hill.html">Ceremony Parking</a> <a href="http://jessica-cuttino.blogspot.com/2008/11/hotel-reservations-discounts.html">Special Hotel Rates</a> <a href="http://jessica-cuttino.blogspot.com/2008/01/hotels-in-chapel-hill.html">Other Hotel Options</a> <a href="http://jessica-cuttino.blogspot.com/2008/11/things-to-do-in-triangle.html">What to Do in the Area</a> <a href="http://jessica-cuttino.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-to-eat.html">Places to Eat</a> More information may be posted as we get closer to the wedding, so check in again. THE BASICS Date: Sunday, January 18, 2009 - M.L.K. Weekend Place: Chapel Hill, NC Time: 1:00 p.m. Ceremony Location: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 E. Rosemary Street <a style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,255);TEXT-ALIGN: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;time=&amp;date=&amp;ttype=&amp;q=Holy+Trinity+Lutheran+Church,+Chapel+Hill,+NC&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;om=1&amp;cid=35916065,-79051096,960953363281930241&amp;ll=35.918389,-79.050837&amp;spn=0.006082,0.00912&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A&amp;source=embed">View Larger Map</a> http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/59/Welcome Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:36:00 -0000 Parking in Chapel Hill http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/60/Parking_in_Chapel_Hill Parking can be hastle in town. The good news is on-campus parking is free during weekends. The bad news is you're competing with thousands of students for spaces. Parking lots on or near Franklin Street are your closest options. <a href="http://www.dps.unc.edu/maps/visitor/Visitor.pdf">Download this map</a>, which shows all parking lots on campus. Additionally, <a href="http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.asp?NID=73">this website</a> contains a complete list of parking garages and lots provided by the Town of Chapel http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/60/Parking_in_Chapel_Hill Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:35:00 -0000 What to eat?? http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/61/What_to_eat Rather than give you a complete listing of restaurants in the Chapel Hill area, we thought we recommend some of our favorites... For some classic UNC atmosphere (dining hall notwithstanding), visit <a href="http://www.spankysrestaurant.com/">Spanky's Restaurant &amp; Bar</a> (101 E. Franklin) or walk across the street to <a href="http://www.topofthehillrestaurant.com/">Top of the Hill</a> (100 E. Franklin) for a great view from their rooftop bar. For cheap Italian, visit the sketchy <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&amp;friendID=91683724">Pepper's Pizza</a> (107 E. Franklin) or the slightly-less sketchy Franklin Street Pizza &amp; Pasta (163 E. Franklin). If you have a car, go to <a href="http://www.brixxpizza.com/">Brixx</a> (501 Meadowmont Village) and check out their extensive beer selection, too. For some local flavor, <a href="http://www.mamadips.com/">Mama Dip's</a> (408 W. Rosemary) offers Southern soul food. Allen &amp; Son's (6203 Millhouse Rd) is a bit of a drive, but it has some of the best North Carolina BBQ in the area. After a late-night Franklin Street crawl, visit Cosmic Cantina (128 E. Franklin) for cheap bean burritos and nachos. <a href="http://time-outrestaurants.com/">Time Out</a> (133 W. Franklin) is another local late-night favorite, ... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/61/What_to_eat Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:49:00 -0000 Getting to/from Chapel Hill http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/62/Getting_tofrom_Chapel_Hill Reaching Chapel Hill is easy as it is located on or near two major Interstates (I-40 and I-85). For those who wish to fly, you should book your tickets through Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). There is limited public transport between RDU and Chapel Hill, but we'd recommend renting a car if you can afford it. The airport is approximately 20 minutes away. Those who are driving, follow <a href="http://www.holytrinitychapelhill.org/htlc_locat.html#directions">these directions to the church</a>. Chapel Hill has a very extensive and efficient <a href="http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/index.asp?nid=792">public transport system</a>. Best of all, its http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/62/Getting_tofrom_Chapel_Hill Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:28:00 -0000 Things to do in the Triangle http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/63/Things_to_do_in_the_Triangle While our wedding is the main attraction, if you're interested in having a long weekend in the Triangle area (that is, the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area), we'd recommend the following activities... For info on movie theaters, shopping areas, etc., visit <a href="http://www.triangle.com/">triangle.com</a>. In Chapel Hill: 1. <a href="http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/unc-m-baskbl-body.html">Carolina Basketball</a>- The Tarheels will be playing Miami on Saturday, and while the game is officially sold out, you can probably get tickets on the street from any of the countless scalpers by the Dean E. Smith Center. 2. <a href="http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/">Morehead Planetarium</a>- This is a great option for families with small children. The Planetarium offers entertaining and educational shows on the weekend. 3. <a href="http://www.ackland.org/index.php">Ackland Art Museum</a>- Located at the edge of campus, the Ackland has a solid collection of European and American art. 4. <a href="http://www.unc.edu/visitors/">Tour UNC Campus</a>- Our alma mater is the oldest public university in the country and has many interesting and beautiful buildings. The UNC Visitor's Center offers historic tours in addition to tours for prospective student... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/63/Things_to_do_in_the_Triangle Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:34:00 -0000 Gift Registry Information http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/58/Gift_Registry_Information Click the links below for our registry list: <ul><li><a href="http://www.target.com/registry/wedding/J1Y1P9PJB2GN">Target</a></li><li><a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/registry/findregistry.cfm?cm_type=gnav">Williams-Sonoma</a> (search required)</li><li><a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/regGiftRegistry.asp?order_num=-1&amp;wrn=-549444886&amp;">Bed Bath &amp; Beyond</a></li><li><a href="http://www.rei.com/GiftRegistryDetails/GR1572834">REI</a></li></ul>Most registry items are available in both the store and online. Contact Cuttino or Jessica if you have any http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/58/Gift_Registry_Information Sun, 9 Nov 2008 10:26:00 -0000 Hotel Reservations & Discounts http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/57/Hotel_Reservations_amp_Discounts The following hotels are reserved for our wedding weekend with special rates. To find out more information about how to reserve rooms, contact Cuttino or Gary Clark. Franklin Hotel 311 W Franklin St. - 919-442-9000 King size or two queen suites, $198-221 Centrally located on Franklin Street and brand new, this hotel would be a great deal for groups of four (with the queen/queen suites). Residence Inn by Marriott 101 Erwin Rd‎. - 919-933-4848 Studio (king + pullout) or one bedroom (2 queens + pullout), $139-149 Hampton Inn 1740 Fordham Blvd. - 919-968-3000 All rooms $85, free breakfast See below for other hotel information. http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/57/Hotel_Reservations_amp_Discounts Sun, 9 Nov 2008 03:48:00 -0000 Hotel/Registry Updates http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/56/HotelRegistry_Updates Just a few quick updates: Hotel blocks have been reserved for the Franklin Hotel and the Hampton Inn. Prices will be discounted. For information on reservations at either of these places, contact either Cuttino or Gary Clark. We have set up wedding registries at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Williams-Sonoma and REI. The items on our list are a bit outdated (they were selected last summer), so please wait until after Thanksgiving for the final list. Only a few more months to http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/56/HotelRegistry_Updates Sun, 19 Oct 2008 09:48:00 -0000 Helping Out http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/55/Helping_Out I'm writing this from Cairo on my way through a pretty large chunk of the Muslim world, Central Asia and China. Unfortunately, due to the current problems in Georgia I'm going to have to delay my return to the country (I was supposed to go for a short visit in September). I have heard from a number of my coworkers, who have been allowed to return to Gori. Society Biliki is back up and running with minimal damage. Since they are in the thick of the relief efforts, they have their work cut out for them. Since I'll be traveling, I'm planning to organize a project to help out with this work after the holidays. Hopefully by the winter we will have a better picture of the long term needs arising from this crisis. In the meantime, a group of former Peace Corps Volunteers have started an initiative to help out with the current basic needs of displaced people. You can visit their website <a href="http://themegobariproject.blogspot.com/">here</a> http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/55/Helping_Out Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:16:00 -0000 Gori's Tragedy http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/54/Goris_Tragedy <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00788/russia-georgia-gori_788782a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px;display: block;text-align: center;cursor: pointer;width: 400px;" src="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00788/russia-georgia-gori_788782a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This has been a very difficult few days. After a few days of intense fighting in South Ossetia, Russia invaded sovereign Georgian territory, including my former site, Gori. Apparently the mandate of Russian "peacekeepers" included bombing civilian targets outside of the conflict zone. I know for a fact that one of Biliki's children was killed in Sunday's bombardment. Today, despite a "ceasefire" Russian troops have surrounded Gori and have allowed Ossetian militants to loot and burn the city. I know a few people who remained to protect their property and homes, but I don't know how they are doing. Peace Corps has completely pulled out of the country. All of the new trainees were sent home almost immediately and the remaining volunteers are safe in Armenia. I finished Peace Corps a week before the war began. The most frightening aspect of all this is how quickly the situation spiraled out of control. When I left the country two days before hostilities there was no indication tha... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/54/Goris_Tragedy Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:26:00 -0000 "Heavy Fighting" in South Ossetia http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/53/Heavy_Fighting_in_South_Ossetia I know its been a long time since I have updated this blog. I finished out my service last week and left Georgia two days ago. Work got very busy and things fell by the wayside and I apologize for that. In the near future I will post some blog entries reflecting on the positive times during my last days in Georgia. For those of you who have seen the news in the last few hours, the South Ossetian conflict, which has been boiling for years now, has become very violent. The threat of a new war is growing. I have every confidence that Peace Corps will take care of its volunteers; for me, I am safe in Turkey. We can only hope and pray that this violence does not spread further and threaten the progress for which my friends in Georgia have worked so hard. In the meantime, for those of you looking for updated news, as always, I recommend www.civil.ge and http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/53/Heavy_Fighting_in_South_Ossetia Fri, 8 Aug 2008 02:05:00 -0000 So Much for Winter http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/52/So_Much_for_Winter <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_njp_9Cq_0Zs/R_ZzQsDuPDI/AAAAAAAAAOU/t8mC3jVnNOY/s1600-h/IMG_2279.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_njp_9Cq_0Zs/R_ZzQsDuPDI/AAAAAAAAAOU/t8mC3jVnNOY/s400/IMG_2279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185458751505579058" border="0" /></a> It was generally agreed that this winter was the worst in a decade. In December and January, the temperatures were well below freezing. I heard rumors of Siberia-like weather in certain areas of the country, but this goes unverified. What I do know is winter here can be no fun. My wet clothes froze almost immediately when I put them on the line. I could literally fend off attacks with my solid underwear. Making life even more difficult was the fact that my water pipes froze in early January and did not thaw until February. Apparently insulating pipes were a little too bourgeois for Soviet planners. A single faucet in the courtyard of my building remained, thanks to the fact that it was kept running all day and night. Once a day, the residents of my block would trudge down, buckets in tow and fill up. But, life hasn't been all bad. Before I moved into the apartment last year, my landlord installed a modern gas heater. This heater can make an entire room toasty...so warm, in fact... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/52/So_Much_for_Winter Fri, 4 Apr 2008 12:51:00 -0000 Stalin's Big Day http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/50/Stalins_Big_Day Nothing starts off the holidays here in Gori quite like Stalin's birthday. Every year on the 21st of December, nostalgic pensioners gather in front of the Stalin birthplace to hold speeches, wave flags and banners, and reminisce about the "good ol' days" of the U.S.S.R. My friends and I went to see the festivities. Despite the snow, some 50 people (a few were members of the Communist Party of Georgia--yes, it still exists) were milling around in front of the museum. It was quite possible that we Volunteers were the only ones there under the age of 60. Despite the fact that for most of these people's lives our two countries were enemies, the response to our presence ranged from curiosity to benign indifference. <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_njp_9Cq_0Zs/R6rckg37l2I/AAAAAAAAAM8/kpqnmHWc1c0/s1600-h/IMG_2226.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164182442591623010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_njp_9Cq_0Zs/R6rckg37l2I/AAAAAAAAAM8/kpqnmHWc1c0/s400/IMG_2226.JPG" border="0" /></a>I'm sure it seems strange to an American that Stalin would still be held in such regard, and I realize that so far I have written very little about the "Stalin cult" here in Gori and, to a lesser degree, in all of Georgia. We all know what Stalin did while in power. Many Georgian... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/50/Stalins_Big_Day Thu, 7 Feb 2008 13:19:00 -0000 I am cold, but not dead... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/51/I_am_cold_but_not_dead... Well, I've let this blog sit and languish over the winter for far too long. What's happened over the time away? Georgia has been in the grip of the coldest winter in a decade--leaving me without water for weeks (seriously, can insulation really be that hard?). Saakashvili was reelected, but the opposition remains unimpressed. We celebrated Stalin's birthday, American Christmas, New Years, Georgian Christmas, Georgian New Years, and Epiphany. And, finally, my fiancee Jessica came to visit. I'll post more on all this meore http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/51/I_am_cold_but_not_dead... Thu, 7 Feb 2008 13:13:00 -0000 Hotels in Chapel Hill http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/48/Hotels_in_Chapel_Hill It's never too early to book a hotel! We will book a group of rooms at a couple Chapel Hill hotels within a few months; however, if you would like to do it yourself, here are some suggestions: Major Chains: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.hichapelhill.com">Holiday Inn</a> 1301 N Fordham Blvd/Hwy 15-501 (919) 929-2171 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=10275&amp;brandInfo=DI&amp;cid=%EAid%21">Days Inn</a> 1312 N. Fordham Blvd/Hwy 15-501 (919) 929-3090 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CPHEGHX">Hampton Inn</a> 1740 Fordham Blvd (919) 968-3000 Best Western 54 East Circle Drive (919) 932-3000 High-End: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.carolinainn.com">Carolina Inn</a> - Four Diamond Hotel on UNC campus; 10 minute walk to the ceremony and reception sites. 211 Pittsboro Street (919) 933-2001 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.franklinhotelnc.com">Franklin Hotel</a> - Newly-opened boutique hotel one block from campus; near many restaurants, shops and bars. 311 W. Franklin Street (919) 442-9000 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sienahotel.com">Siena Hotel</a> - Luxury hotel located approximately 2 miles from campus. 1505 E. Franklin Street (919) 929-4000 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;q=hotels&amp;near=Chapel+Hill,+NC&amp;fb=1&amp;view=text&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=local_group&amp;resnum=1&amp;ct=more-results&amp;cd=1#">Click here</a> for a more complete list of hotels in the area. We will post more hotel suggestions in the greater Triangle area http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/48/Hotels_in_Chapel_Hill Thu, 3 Jan 2008 11:28:00 -0000 The Basics http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/49/The_Basics The wedding is just over a year away, but here is the basic information that we have gathered for you so far. Date: Sunday, January 18, 2009 - M.L.K. Weekend Place: Chapel Hill, NC Time: TBA (most likely around 1 p.m.) Ceremony Location: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 E. Rosemary Street <a rel="nofollow" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;time=&amp;date=&amp;ttype=&amp;q=Holy+Trinity+Lutheran+Church,+Chapel+Hill,+NC&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;om=1&amp;cid=35916065,-79051096,960953363281930241&amp;ll=35.918389,-79.050837&amp;spn=0.006082,0.00912&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A&amp;source=embed" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a> Find driving directions and parking information by clicking <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.holytrinitychapelhill.org/htlc_locat.html">this link.</a> http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/49/The_Basics Wed, 2 Jan 2008 19:36:00 -0000 Campaign Fever http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/47/Campaign_Fever The Iowa primaries may be 16 days away, but the Georgia presidential election--two days later--promises to be way more entertaining (or is it nerve wracking?). For those of you who haven't been keeping up, a snap presidential election was called following the events of November 7. There are currently seven candidates bidding for the presidency, including Saakashvili, who was required by the constitution to step down to run. These elections seem to be an even wilder variation of the primary season. However, the only person who seems to be embracing the glitzy American-style of campaigning is Saakashvili, who has enlisted the help of pop stars, athletes and other celebrities. Last week, he came to Gori on a campaign stop. Judging from the preparations, the event was to be quite a show. A large tractor trailer truck, covered in Georgian flag decals and "5s" (the ballot number of his party), rolled into Stalin Square early in the morning. Later, it opened up to become a stage. More ... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/47/Campaign_Fever Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:37:00 -0000 St. George's Day, Year 2 http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/46/St._Georges_Day_Year_2 Life has returned to normal...we'll see how long that lasts. In the meantime, I've posted a lot of pictures from our St. George's Day celebrations--the be all and end all of Georgian holidays. As usual, the residents of Gori went up to Gori Jvari and sacrificed their lambs...and later had a supra with lamb stew. Below are some of my favorite shots...the rest are on Flickr. A warning though, some of them may not be for the weak-at-heart. <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2072832205_704e4120b1.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2072832205_704e4120b1.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>The sheep market <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2073623670_26a519f6fd.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2073623670_26a519f6fd.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>This old woman sang on the mountainside for hours. <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2073609556_2e5a1d0cb0.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2073609556_2e5a1d0cb0.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Children at the church, waiting to get the chickens blessed. <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2191/2067726683_8101495405.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2191/2067726683_8101495405.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>My apologies to PETA. http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/46/St._Georges_Day_Year_2 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:22:00 -0000 Small Improvements http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/45/Small_Improvements Little has changed in our situation since I last posted. There is still a state of emergency, the Peace Corps Volunteers are still of standfast, the opposition and authorities are negotiating back and forth. However, there are signs of improvement. It was announced that <a href="http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16339">the emergency rules will be lifted at 7 p.m. today.</a> Things are quiet here in Gori, but no doubt things will be interesting once the campaign gets into full swing. Enough time has passed now that the Western media has begun to write analysis pieces on the recent events. While some of them are fairly accurate, its frustrating to see how much of the coverage lacks context and understanding of the country. It seems that some journalists, having last looked at Georgia in 2003, are now struggling to come up with a tidy new paradigm to explain what's been happening. If you're looking for coverage, the New York Times has been particularly detailed and, as far as I can tell, is the only American newspaper to be filing its ... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/45/Small_Improvements Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:20:00 -0000 A sigh of relief? http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/44/A_sigh_of_relief Well, its been a roller coaster of a day. This time yesterday, it seemed that there would be no happy end to the crisis here. Peace Corps Volunteers were packing their emergency bags and updating their resumes. It may be too soon to say we're totally out of the woods, but there is a palpable sense of relief in Gori today. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I'm restricted from sharing my political opinions on the matter...doing so would compromise Peace Corps' status as a non-political organization. If you're looking for opinionated commentary, there are plenty of private blogs reporting on the events from a variety to different perspectives. That said, I'll try my best to report my personal experiences as the events unfold. The situation changed rather quickly yesterday. As I was leaving from work, I received word that President Saakashvili would be making a major address to the nation at 7 p.m. He announced that snap presidential elections will be called for early January 2008. Additio... http://cuttino.multiply.com/journal/item/44/A_sigh_of_relief Fri, 9 Nov 2007 11:36:00 -0000