Greensboro "Good" Burger=BEEF BURGER

    

Located at 1040 West Lee Street in Greensboro is a hole in the wall restaurant that has become a staple for the landscape of the city as well as to college students and native Greensborians alike. Beef Burger IS that joint and it is as loved to those that have taken one savory bite, as cheese and Brats are to the people of Green Bay. 

Owned and operated by Mr. Ralph Havis and his Wife the restaurant has enjoyed it's place in the same lot for more than 50 years. Ralph and his Wife are the sole Owners and Operators and do it all with a touch of love that makes you want to come back just to chat with them, let to mention for the food. Ralph told me that he is in the restaurant typically to run the night shift, 10am-11pm every day as he has been for the last 49 years. Starting in the restaurant Ralph began the job as an 18 year old for a very Christian man who told him that if he would stay with him he would have the first chance to buy the restaurant when he was ready to retire from the business. Said Havis, "I really didn't want to be in the restaurant or cooking business because at that time I felt like it was "sissy" work! But as I got more involved in it and met the customers and learned the financial aspects of the business I got more into it and I liked it!" Ten years later Havis found himself Owner of the restaurant!

Havis said that his intention when he and his wife took over the restaurant was to focus more on the burger and that point of distinction hasn't changed. Ground beef patties are made by hand and placed on an original antique broiler that sends the patties around over a flame that cooks the burger fully all the while dripping the oil into the bottom of the broiler. Once cooked the burgers are pulled and then the magic happens!! Based on a secret recipe that Havis and his wife constructed, there is a full pot of tangy-sweet bar-b-que sauce that the burger is dipped in and then placed onto the steamed bun, along with whatever fixings such as onions, cheese, pickles, and the likes to complete what is THE BEEF BURGER!

After suffering a much heartfelt loss of their one and only daughter, Tammy Havis to Lupus 14 years ago, the Havis-Husband-Wife team threw themselves into their restaurant and haven't looked back. "The restaurant allows us to salvage some of the pain of losing Tammy!" stated Ralph. Working closely with a staff of three, Amber, Gracie and Derrick, the Beef Burger staff is a close knit one and are extremely respectful of Mr. & Mrs. Havis. When I asked Amber how she liked working for and how she felt about Ralph, she pushed her glasses up on her nose a bit, looked at me and said "He's allright!! NO..NO, seriously he is such a sweet man that I couldn't imagine working anywhere else! He is a GREAT guy!" Showing the proof is in the pudding of that statement is the fact that Amber has been working for Havis since she was 15 years old as a summer job, much like Havis, and decided to stay! Maybe she is already planting the seeds for the 3rd generation of owner for the Beef Burger Family.

I asked Ralph what he does when he isn't serving UNCG students, Greensboro businessmen/women, truck drivers and children eager for their first taste of The Beef Burger goodness and he said "I sleep when I am not here! Running around and serving all my customers kinda makes this 68 year old battery run down and I need to recharge!". Go in and see him and you will go back every time you crave a burger and fries. And do not forget that Mr. Havis has added such new staples as Mac-n-Cheese Bites and the scrumptious Crab Cake Burger (so moist and tender you better buy two). Standing behind the counter, hands resting on the register as he takes order after order and in front of a sharply pressed Greensboro Police Department uniform is the presence of the man in the blue apron, Mr. Ralph Havis. You cant mistake the smile for anyone else so you will feel like you know him the minute you step in the front door.

BEEF BURGER1040 West Lee Street
Greensboro, NC 27403
(336) 272-7505

Guilford College 64 ---- VA. Wesleyan 61

Recently I decided to take in the sights at the Ragan-brown Field house on the campus of my college, Guilford College, on the afternoon that Division III #2Virginia Wesleyan came to town to take on the Quakers. Leading up to the game  hype was that this would be one of the best match-ups of the season and both teams made sure that the game held up to that standards.

The intensity inside the Field house could be cut with a knife from the tip-off as players came to the center circle, smacked hands "good luck" and then got down to business. Guilford asserted the inside game early as PF Tobi Akinsola made clear that the paint was and would be his all day. With that assertion the Quakers were able to build their largest lead of 7 points over the Marlins that stood for only a short time as Wesleyan battled back to close the lead to 3 points, 33-30 right before the half ended. Both teams finished the 1st half shooting a stout 44% (VW) and 45.5% (GC) respectively. the 3 point shot was the weapon of choice for the Marlins as they were able to go 5-10 from beyond the ark while on the other end of the court the Quakers could only manage 2-7. The largest disparity of the first half clearly were the amount of fouls that were committed by Wesleyan as they sent the Quakers to the line 12 times. Guilford showed strong discipline by making 11-12 of those free throws to secure their lead and have some breathing room when play resumed in the 2nd half.

Much like the beginning of the 1st half, the second began the same as Guilford came out sluggish and allowed the Marlins to run the ball up and down the court without much defensive resistance.  At the 17:11 mark, Wesleyan had regained the lead at 38-37 after popping in a long three that rattled home and quieted the mostly partisan Guilford crowd of 800 in attendance.  Wesleyan was able to construct their largest lead of the game in this half of 5 points and seemed to really have their minds right, their defense on point and team defense back together as a team.  Watching the teams go back and forth, the score tied 6 times and the lead change 10 times kept the crowd interested and the benches up and down as the pace of the game tired out the starters. With equally strong benches bench points were almost even as Wesleyan only outscored Guilford's bench 16-15.  Guilford saw to it that the last lead change would occur at the 2:33 mark of the second half as they too the lead, 59-58,  and refused to give it back.  Akinsola and SF Brad Monroe sealed the deal as they combined 3-4 at the line in the final minute to ensure the win and appease the crowd that stood for the final 2 minutes of the game. With 6.7 seconds remaining and the Quakers leading 64-61, Wesleyan jacked up one final three point attempt but missed badly as the shot feel a good three feet short of the rim, pinning down the upset-win for Guilford. 

A great game by both teams but on the day PF Toby Akinsola would not be denied as he finished with a game high of 26 points and 5 rebounds, 4 of them game changing offensive boards.  Wesleyan was led by D.J. Woodmore's 15 points and 8 rebounds,  and other balanced scoring from Tre' Roberts and Ed Roberts who finished with 11 points each. Guilford (12-6) takes on Randolph (12-5), both teams winners of their last two games, on 1-26-11 at home. Someones win streak will come to a screeching halt and with sleet and snow in the forecast for the Greensboro area it will be hot on the inside on Ragan-Brown and very chilly on the outside!

Box score provided courtesy of Guilford College Statisticians staff

Winter Pictures

Decided to go out this winter and snap some pictures of whats outside. Everyday scenes excite me so much I cant help but get the camera out and go walking.

Burger King Offers Stuffed Burger

With all the new cool palate-satisfying super sized meals that are being popped out by the likes of McDonalds, Wendys and Jared and the boys it looks like Burger King and their kooky staff of cooks have come up with a brand new item that is sure to have many lining up in excess like the lines at the new local Popeyes that has opened on Pisgah Church.

Intro majestic king like pageantry music...da dada da da daaaaaa....Here ye....Here ye....Introducing the new Jalapeno and Cheddar BK Stuffed Steakhouse Burger....BEHOLD! Yes, BK  has introduced the first stuffed burger in the fast food market and are very hopeful that it will jump right to the front of the new foods line ahead the sea-salt flavored skin fries, the egg white biscuit, the McRib and all the multi-flavored vacationland-inspired chicken subs introduced weekly by Subway. The burger consists of ground beef mixed with bits of  jalapenos and cheddar all cooked together and served piping hot on a sesame seed bun and topped with poblano sauce. Sounds so good it makes you want to go out and get a couple of them right now doesn't it?

This burger is said to be the beginning of the "stuffed-burger" revolution and we will see a myriad of flavors and fast food joints rolling out their own style and names real soon. If you cant wait,  head on down to your local BK and get in line for the burger in the next couple of weeks. Don't blame me when it tastes so good that it makes you want to slap your Momma!!

Polish Woman Gives Birth to Twins With Different Fathers

Looking around the net today I ran across an interesting little ditty! It seems in Poland there has been an occurrence that has only happened 6 other times in history. No...BigFoot wasn't spotted and it wasn't Kanye West apologizing for being an asshole. It was a woman giving birth to twins....with different fathers.


The woman, whose name has not been released for personal reasons by the attending hospital that delivered the babies, gave birth to fraternal twins who both were healthy. In an attempt to prove to her husband that he WAS NOT the father of the twins the woman requested paternity tests.  DNA tests revealed at that time that the twins were fathered by two different men with the husband fathering the son and a man that the woman was having an affair with fathering the daughter. The births are medically referred to as heteropaternal superfecundation (when a woman ovulates and releases two fertilized eggs after having sex with two different men) and although it occurs more often in animals it is known to also occur in humans, albeit very rarely.


The married couple is rumored to be divorcing although it's impossible to check because the names haven't been made public. The woman and the twins now reside with the man she was having the affair with. I guess I'll wait until she is booked on OWN and sits down with Oprah or Gail and explains her position.  The births really show that karma is a bitch!