At this close of September, we in Ramsey Library have gathered a few neat things to share with you as you start opening your annual time capsules of cold weather clothing, discovering long-loved snuggly hoodies you forgot you owned, and exploring the inundation of advertisements for new pumpkin-flavored spiced culinary creations to evaluate what might be worth splurging the cash and calories on. This month we have a surprisingly book-free edition of R.S.S. but it’s still a set likely to give you some heady feels to accompany the crisply cooler weather. Enjoy!
What: Old Gods of Appalachia Podcast
Why: I’ve discovered Podcasts. I dove right in and am listening to “Old Gods of Appalachia,” which is a horror fiction podcast set in an alternate Appalachia (with many startling similarities of people and historical events), but it’s legitimately scary and not for the faint of heart. If you make it through the first episode (on the edge of your seat), you’ll be hooked. I listen to it on my drive to Clemson.
By: Special Collections Librarian Ashley Whittle
What: A short video of an artist (Devon Rodriguez) surreptitiously drawing people on the subway.
Why: It’s a feel good video for tough dog days & weeks of September.
By: Collection Management Librarian Barb Svenson
What: Cold-brewed Matcha Mugicha
Why: Fragrant, brain-tingling, nostalgic deliciousness! Taking two things I like and combining them, I’ve been really enjoying making this everyday recently. It’s just a heaping teaspoon of matcha and two (large-quart version) mugicha tea bags per half-gallon tea pitcher, or thereabouts. The mugi-cha (Japanese barley tea) is fragrantly refreshing and sweet -without sugar- and the smell takes you instantly to Japan in middle summer on a humid day, riding a basketted mama-chari (everyday, non-fancy) bike along a quiet coast. Then you blink and you’re drinking tea, but it’s a nice moment. It is one of the smells that connects me most to working in a countryside high school there, teaching English after college. The matcha, cold brewed together with the mugi-cha overnight, adds a nice substantionality to the mix with a good amount of caffeine also to percolate your senses. I like the Japanese tea maker Ito-en’s mugi-cha and Maeda-en’s matcha if you need a recommendation. Cold brewed matcha also isn’t bitter as the tea doesn’t release nearly as many tannins (or any as far as I can tell) in cold water. Give it a try!
By: Public Services Librarian Jon Morris
Ramsey Staff Sidebar Selection: NYTimes.com Full Site and Archive Access is available to all UNCA Students, Staff, and Faculty! It is one of our subscribed databases that you have full access to. Simply access the database from the link above, or from our homepage >> Online Resources >> NYTimes.com. Once in the database, search ‘Asheville’ and you will see UNCA come up for you to create your own new account. To search in The New York Times full 150+ year archive, click on the magnifying glass or the hamburger bar in the top left of the page and you will see a search box appear. If you have any trouble or questions, why we have plenty helpful librarians all about helping you right here: libanswers.unca.edu
