Author: Nicole DiGiose

Rob Roy

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Chilled Magazine.

According to bartending legend, the Rob Roy was created in 1894 by a bartender at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City. The cocktail was named in honor of the premiere of Rob Roy, an operetta written by composer Reginald De Koven. The show was based off the folk hero and outlaw, Robert Roy MacGregor, or simply put, Rob Roy. Both the operetta and the drink were equally successful, but the cocktail has long outperformed De Koven’s famous show.

The recipe for the Rob Roy, which uses Scotch whisky as its primary spirit, mixed with sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters, an addition to the drink, first appeared in The Savoy Book, published by The Savoy Hotel of London in 1930. It mentions the drink’s popularity in Scotland, especially in honor of the fictional Rob Roy, also known as the Scottish version of Robin Hood.

The Rob Roy is similar to the king of cocktails, the Manhattan, but is made exclusively with Scotch whisky instead of rye or bourbon. It’s common to think the Rob Roy stole the Manhattan’s recipe (Rob Roy was a bandit, you know), and is nothing more than a Manhattan made with scotch. Sometimes it’s even referred to as a Scotch Manhattan. Basically, that’s what it is, but that one switch of rye or bourbon for scotch in the mix makes for a whole different taste, as most whiskey drinkers will be sure to point out. For most, the Rob Roy tends to be drier, with a smoky texture, and not as smooth or sweet as the Manhattan, but the Scotch really emphasizes the flavors and aromas of the vermouths. Because it’s got such a strong flavor, the Rob Roy makes for a great afternoon cocktail, on its own, or as an after dinner beverage. Read More

Carbon Monoxide Evacuation

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

An article I put together from a make believe press conference when I attended SUNY Purchase.

Fifty people evacuated their apartment building early yesterday morning, many of them barefoot and in their pajamas. Some of them were carried out, dangling over the shoulders of firefighters. Residents soon learned that carbon monoxide was detected throughout their building.

Tanya Jones, 27, was one of the 50 who lived in the apartment building on East 12th Street in the East Village. She lived on the fourth floor and was woken up around 5:15 am to the sounds of screaming and men’s voices. She went into the hallway to investigate, where she passed out in her neighbor’s doorway.

“I woke up at about 4:00 in the morning with a splitting headache,” Jones says. “I thought it was just the stress of my job and I went back to sleep. Then the next thing I knew, I heard crying and screams in the hallway, and I thought ‘Just another day in New York City,’” she says. “Then I heard screams and men’s voices. That’s when I realized something was wrong. I  looked at my alarm clock and I realized that I slept through my alarm.” She takes a breath. “I thought to myself, ‘I need to investigate.’ I got out of bed, my knees buckled beneath me and I hit the ground.” Read More

Teacher Acts Like A Chicken

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

An article I put together from a make believe press conference when I attended SUNY Purchase. Based on true events.

According to a class of eighth grade students, their teacher, Eva Brady, was behaving oddly during class time and acting like a chicken.

On March 24th, Brady, 47, was driven home from Pentucket Regional Middle School by a colleague after her history class told administrators that there was something “wrong” with their teacher.

It was 10:00 a.m. on March 24th when additional information was given from Chief Holmes and Officer Forni regarding the incident at the school. Holmes said that she had information from the Groveland Police and one of their employees that Brady asked a student in her class how he thought it would feel to have a bullet in his head. The student confirmed the question with Assistant Principal Ken Kelley.

According to Forni, students told him that Brady was in the back of the classroom flapping her arms, making chicken noises and trying to fly. These allegations were not confirmed during the school’s investigation.

“Ms. Brady has worked in the district for the last five years without incident and has denied the incident,” said Principal Debra J. Lay. “After an investigation by our school board, we are inclined to dismiss the accusation and welcome Ms. Brady back to the classroom.”

When parent Tracy Dalton picked up her son and his friends from the school, they reported the “bullet” incident and Brady’s other odd behaviors. Dalton reported information to parents of involved students and also to the school on March 24th.

On March 25th, the school was still investigating the incident and talking to students.

According to Kelley, the student involved in the “bullet” incident said that Brady had asked him to teach the class. He said that though “she was acting strangely,” he was not afraid of her or her comments to him.

On March 26th, Officer Michael Dwyer contacted the father of the student, who said he was satisfied with the handling of the issue and did not want anything to go forward as far as charges.

Liebster Blog Award!

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

I received the Liebster Blog Award from Jane Fritz. She always has something meaningful to read on her blog, which focuses on her lifetime experiences and thoughts. I’m honored that she chose me and I’m more than happy to know that there are people who enjoy my work.

The Liebster Award is for bloggers with fewer than 200 followers and is meant to encourage them to keep writing.

The rules of this award are as follows:

1. Thank and link back to the giver.

2. Answer the giver’s questions.

3. Nominate five other blogs with fewer than 200 followers.

4. Ask five questions for one’s nominees to answer.

5. Post it on your blog.

Jane’s questions:

(1) What is it that you like about blogging?

I’m able to express my thoughts and showcase my work. That’s meaningful to me because these feelings and words are mine and they come from deep within. I can write, share it with others who have similar interests, and receive feedback. It’s something I’ll always appreciate.

(2) What is your favorite time of year and why?

When summer fades into fall. The air is crisp and refreshing, it’s warm but not hot, and there’s a soft breeze. It’s the perfect weather to admire the scenery or to go out and have fun in.

(3) If the Internet didn’t exist, and hence the possibility of blogging, would you still write?  If not, what would you do instead to get the same satisfaction?

Of course! I still write with a pen in my diary at least once a week. I can’t escape putting my imagination and experiences on paper to preserve, and I don’t want to.

(4) What’s your biggest weakness/indulgence?

I see others my age who are successful and on their own and I’m nowhere near that. My weakness is being too hopeful about my future in writing. It’s what I want to do and I have to push myself to get that dream out of my head. I think I’m better off working in another field so I can fund my life. But there’s a big part of me that says to never give up.

(5) If you won the lottery next week, would you make any major changes in your life? What?

Definitely. I’d be somewhere warm, in a city where I have a better shot at my career. My college loans would be paid off and so would my brothers’ and my boyfriend’s. I’d get my parents to where they want to be, I’d adopt a bunch of dogs, and I’d certainly go traveling all over the place.

I nominate these blogs for the Liebster Award:

MsTizzle

Kirsten Lopresti

Summerization

Lesley Carter

The Secret Burrow

My five questions:

What inspired you to start blogging?

Out of all your posts, which is your favorite and why?

What stimulates your imagination?

Is where you are in life where you saw yourself five years ago?

Out of the twelve months each year, which month best represents you and why?

Green Bride Guide

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Chilled Magazine.

Green mixologist, Kate Harrison, provides eco-friendly drinks for brides.  She planned her own green wedding in 2007 and founded greenbrideguide.com two years later. Her goal is to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change, as well as support the local organic economy.

The inspiration for the guide sparked from Kate’s engagement. She and her husband Barry got engaged in 2007 when they were both in graduate school at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

“We were trying to plan a beautiful budget-friendly event that was in line with our values and beliefs and I thought it was much harder to find the resources we needed than it should have been,” said Kate. “I wrote The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-friendly Wedding on Any Budget to help other brides navigate the process.”  Kate launched greenbrideguide.com after her book became a best-seller in the wedding planning category. Read More

Ways to Express Yourself

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

Keep a journal. It’s a great way to let your emotions flow, whether you write about your day, jot down some poetry, or  just doodle in it. It’s a place you’re sure to stay true to yourself, as well as a place where you can see how you’ve grown.

Be yourself. Trying to express yourself doesn’t mean acting like a different person. Find something that is you, whether it’s gardening, drawing, or cooking and go deep within it.

Find a place that inspires you. Maybe you like a calm, peaceful place outside where you feel free to let go of the day and think. Maybe you have a colorful room that gets your creativity flowing. Or maybe you like sitting on a bench watching the happenings of a busy place. Wherever it is, lose yourself in it.

Decorate. Having your own room is the perfect place to really make it yours. Bright colors, neutral colors, posters or paintings on the walls. An open room or a room with shelves cluttered with knick-knacks. It’s even better if you have your own house or apartment to really get expressive. Go crazy. It’s yours.

Dress. Your appearance itself can have a lot to do with self expression. Be comfortable in the way you do your hair and wear your clothes. This is you.

Music. You can play it, sing it, or listen to it. There’s nothing like a good song to let out how you’re feeling. There are songs for any kind of emotion.

Art. Draw, paint, sew, mess around with clay. Create something from your mind. There’s nothing else like it.

The History of the White Russian

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Chilled Magazine.

Made with vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and served over ice in an Old-Fashioned glass, the White Russian is a sweet and simple cocktail enjoyed by people who drink often and those who rarely do.

The White Russian was originally a variation of another vodka drink that first became known in the late 1940s as the Black Russian. It became a White Russian with the addition of cream. Neither drink originated in Russia, but both are named due to vodka being the primary component. It is said that the Black Russian originated in Brussels, Belgium.

Its potency and smooth flavor was most likely the cause of the White Russian’s quick rise to popularity, along with the fact that it’s easy to make. It was a top pick for both alcoholics and beginners in the 1970s, but fizzed out with the rest of the disco fads. Years later, the cocktail regained popularity in the 1998 film, The Big Lebowski by being a favorite of the movie’s protagonist, Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, played by Jeff Bridges. America’s restored appreciation for coffee may also be bringing the White Russian back into style.

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