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We need great stories about what you remember about modern technology.

Here are the details about contributing to our remember series:

What do you remember about the first time you used a new gadget? Over the years, inventors have given us dozens of doodads, including the color TV, microwave, cell phone and computer.

To share your stories, call 771-2008 and follow the instructions.

We had one reader call in and share a great story about the first Walkman he had and how fascinated the stewardess and pilot where with the item when he was on a flight in the 1980s.

The rest of the clan was out playing football on Thanksgiving when my sister-in-law Hannah and I decided to play a game. We couldn't find playing cards so we decided to open Mad Gab. You would probably recognize the game best by its commercial where the person reads a card (it probably says ima luv mush een). What he is really trying to say is "I'm a Love Machine."

Hannah and I just took turns reading the cards to see who get the most right before the timer ran out. Little did we know how freakin' hilarious this game would turn out to be. I was laughing so hard, I was crying. My cheeks hurt and my stomach ached. It's great because when you know the answer and you can hear the person saying it and they have no idea what they are saying, it's ridiculous.

*Warning, this is a pretty long rant on a restaurant experience. This is only told from two people's experiences on a recent Friday night.

Almost a year ago, visited Bogey Macaws at Springwood Golf Course for a Cheap Eats outing. It was out of this world. Read here if you missed it.

It took a while to find time to go, but Nate, my husband, and I decided to go back on Friday. What a mistake. I should have known when I called earlier that morning and asked for the chef that it was bad. They told me Chef Jackie Pestka wasn't there anymore.

Still, we loved it the last time and hoped for a similar experience. We arrived a little before 7 p.m. We were there on a Monday on our last visit, so it was a bit different atmosphere, more of a bar than that of an intimate restaurant. We waited at the hostess podium and there seemed to be a little misunderstanding about where to put us. I guess they got it all figured out and sent us down to a booth near the window. And there we sat for at least (and I am being generous) 15 minutes.

Yeah, it sounds a little odd to have a church be a brew works, but it's true. I was there Friday.
Nate, my husband, and I were visiting friends in Pittsburgh for the weekend. We camped all week, so we were ready for a nice dinner. They took us to The Church Brew Works above the strip in Pittsburgh at 3525 Liberty Ave. Check here to learn more.

We arrived at about 7 p.m. and there was an hour wait on the dining side (the right side of the photo). We took a little pager and were told that if we could find a seat on the left side of the aisle (the bar area), we could eat there. Fortunately for us, we only had to stand at the crowded bar for a bit. A table opened up for six and we quickly grabbed it.

From 5:30 to 9 p.m. today at the Yorktowne Hotel Ballroom, 22 area chefs converged to raise money for the local food bank. I enlisted one of my favorite dining companions Erin Marsicano to accompany me to the event.

Hear about our amazing evening....and read after the jump for more!

You have to see this! Food is always good, but when it looks cool, it's even better. Check out these recipes and how-to-videos as you start planning your holiday menus.

If you like what you see, click here for more recipes.

"It was so good."

That could be my whole blog, but I guess you need a little more detail.

My friend Kelly and I are both avid runners and exercisers who have slightly fell off the wagon lately and are trying to get back on the healthy eating and exercising track. We decided that for one night we would just be carefree and not worry about what we ate. She has a 10-mile race coming up and I, well, I just want my pants to fit.

Back to the subject of good food.

My beloved friends are scattered all over Central PA and beyond. Many of them are close enough that we can meet in the middle for dinner, which I do often.

In fact, tonight I am meeting my best friend Kelly who lives in Palmyra. Even though it's not quite in the middle (it's closer to her but who cares), we decided on the Lancaster Brewing Co. on Eisenhower Drive in Harrisburg (yes, it's in Harrisburg).

I met my other Palmyra-based friend there earlier this year and it was TASTY!

Check back tomorrow to see how the meal goes. It's her treat. She made me promise I wouldn't order a chicken sandwich or turkey sub. That shouldn't be too hard. Look at the menu.

I don't write about chains in my biweekly column because there are just too many local gems to waste time writing about large cookie-cutter establishments.

But it's hard to ignore Sheetz as a cheap eat.

Apparently, I have something in common with President James Buchanan.

We both love(d) sauerkraut. I'm not sure if he would approve that I eat it cold out of a can, but he might. Who knows?

Anyway, to celebrate the former president's love of the rotten cabbage, Wheatland in Lancaster County is holding President Buchanan's Second Annual Arts & Sauerkraut Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27 and noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 on the Grounds at Wheatland, 1120 Marietta Ave., Lancaster.

You can eat sauerkraut, listen to music or watch the sauerkraut cook-off which is sure to feature some crazy recipes like the chocolate sauerkraut cake from last year. The competing chefs have to cook on site over a charcoal grill. Sounds like fun. The cook-off begins at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Festival admission is $5; children ages 8 to 11 are $3; children under 8 are free. For details, call 392-8721 or visit www.wheatland.org