Inside Columbia
it’s february, and that means we’ll be hearing a lot about love. as we prepare for Valentine’s Day, we think about the ideal gifts and the right sentiments to share with the people we love most. This year, we also invite you to give yourself a valentine, and we start with one of my favorite things: chocolate. It was a tough job for our editorial and design teams to immerse themselves in the topic of chocolate, but we did it all for you, dear reader. We rounded up some local experts on the subject, put together a quiz so you can show off your chocolate chops, and, we confess, sampled some of the decadent delights from our photo shoots. We think you’ll enjoy this culinary journey into the world of chocolate, and, in case you’re concerned about the calories, we even found an expert to weigh in on the health benefits of an occasional indulgence. Passion takes many forms, and for one young Columbian, it’s all about music. Nick “NicDanger” rodriguez is turning obstacles into opportunities as he pursues his dream of a career in rap music. His focus on positivity is rare in an industry filled with messages of violence, greed and excess. Can this talented young man make a name for himself beyond this city? If passion, talent and drive are the ingredients for success, we think NicDanger is on the verge of becoming a phenomenon.
it’s february, and that means we’ll be hearing a lot about love. as we prepare for Valentine’s Day, we think about the ideal gifts and the right sentiments to share with the people we love most. This year, we also invite you to give yourself a valentine, and we start with one of my favorite things: chocolate. It was a tough job for our editorial and design teams to immerse themselves in the topic of chocolate, but we did it all for you, dear reader. We rounded up some local experts on the subject, put together a quiz so you can show off your chocolate chops, and, we confess, sampled some of the decadent delights from our photo shoots. We think you’ll enjoy this culinary journey into the world of chocolate, and, in case you’re concerned about the calories, we even found an expert to weigh in on the health benefits of an occasional indulgence.
Passion takes many forms, and for one young Columbian, it’s all about music. Nick “NicDanger” rodriguez is turning obstacles into opportunities as he pursues his dream of a career in rap music. His focus on positivity is rare in an industry filled with messages of violence, greed and excess. Can this talented young man make a name for himself beyond this city? If passion, talent and drive are the ingredients for success, we think NicDanger is on the verge of becoming a phenomenon.
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from the editor<br />
passionate<br />
pursuits<br />
It’s February, and that means we’ll be hearing a lot about love. As we prepare<br />
for Valentine’s Day, we think about the ideal gifts and the right sentiments<br />
to share with the people we love most. This year, we also invite you to give<br />
yourself a valentine, and we start with one of my favorite things: chocolate.<br />
It was a tough job for our editorial and design teams to immerse themselves<br />
in the topic of chocolate, but we did it all for you, dear reader. We rounded<br />
up some local experts on the subject, put together a quiz so you can show off<br />
your chocolate chops, and, we confess, sampled some of the decadent delights<br />
from our photo shoots. We think you’ll enjoy this culinary journey into the<br />
world of chocolate, and, in case you’re concerned about the calories, we even<br />
found an expert to weigh in on the health benefits of an occasional indulgence.<br />
Passion takes many forms, and for one young <strong>Columbia</strong>n, it’s all about<br />
music. Nick “NicDanger” Rodriguez is turning obstacles into opportunities as<br />
he pursues his dream of a career in rap music. His focus on positivity is rare in<br />
an industry filled with messages of violence, greed and excess. Can this talented<br />
young man make a name for himself beyond this city? If passion, talent and<br />
drive are the ingredients for success, we think NicDanger is on the verge of<br />
becoming a phenomenon.<br />
We know filmmakers are passionate people — just watch the acceptance<br />
speeches at any awards show and you’ll witness the emotional investment<br />
writers and directors put into their work. You’ll have an opportunity to meet<br />
some of those talented filmmakers at the upcoming True/False Film Fest here<br />
in <strong>Columbia</strong>. This month, we take an in-depth look at one facet of the festival:<br />
the True Life Fund.<br />
Many of the films at the True/False Film Fest vividly demonstrate a need —<br />
whether it’s raising awareness about bullying or teaching battlefield journalists<br />
how to manage emergency medical care. Festival organizers select one cause<br />
from each year’s featured films and encourage festivalgoers to contribute in<br />
support of that cause. We’re pleased to introduce you to some past True Life<br />
Fund recipients who share how that money has made a big difference in places<br />
across the country and around the world.<br />
What are your passions? Make this month your own personal valentine and<br />
reach for your dreams … and perhaps a box of chocolates.<br />
10 inside columbia february 2014<br />
what’s on your mind? email me at<br />
sandy@insidecolumbia.net.<br />
Sandy Selby<br />
Editor-in-Chief<br />
february’s secrets<br />
Here are a few surprising<br />
facts about this issue.<br />
The Look Of Success<br />
When he was a child, <strong>Columbia</strong><br />
rapper Nicholas “NicDanger”<br />
Rodriguez liked to wear suits —<br />
even to school. His mother, Mary<br />
Rodriguez, had to put her foot<br />
down when he tried to wear them<br />
in the middle of the summer.<br />
Learn more about Rodriguez and<br />
his music on Page 56.<br />
He’s A Dancing Machine<br />
<strong>Inside</strong> <strong>Columbia</strong> publisher Fred<br />
Parry’s dance skills are on display<br />
in NicDanger’s music video for<br />
“<strong>Columbia</strong> Stand Up.” Visit<br />
www.nicdanger-music.com to<br />
view the video, and keep your<br />
eyes peeled around the 1:36 mark.<br />
Pour One For The Boss<br />
Even though Bleu Restaurant &<br />
Wine Bar features an extensive<br />
wine list and an enviable<br />
selection of specialty cocktails,<br />
owner Travis Tucker prefers<br />
a classic Manhattan or Old<br />
Fashioned with Maker’s Mark<br />
when he orders a beverage from<br />
his bar. Get the scoop on Bleu’s<br />
new menu offerings on Page 106.<br />
They’re Not Neutral<br />
On Chocolate<br />
Last year, Leatherhead Food<br />
Research made a list of the<br />
countries whose residents eat<br />
the most chocolate per capita.<br />
Think the United States leads<br />
the way? We’re not even close<br />
to the chocolate-lovin’ Swiss<br />
who pack away a little more<br />
than 26 pounds of chocolate per<br />
person per year. Americans, by<br />
comparison, eat only about 12<br />
pounds of chocolate per person<br />
in a year, putting us way down<br />
at No. 15 on the list. Ready to<br />
get started on your portion?<br />
Our feature on Page 50 will<br />
whet your appetite.<br />
Chocolatier Versus<br />
Chocolate Maker<br />
A chocolate maker creates<br />
chocolate from cacao beans and<br />
other ingredients; a chocolatier<br />
makes confectioneries from<br />
chocolate.<br />
photos by l.g. patterson
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