The Olympic opening night ceremony was a great success! Here are some memories.

KEFI" Greek Dancers	Over 600 guests participated and enjoyed Nabeel's® Café & Market delicacies	The OLYMPIC Rings prepared by Nabeel's® Café & Market at the Night of Champions Celebrations at Lakeshore Foundation
With the lighting of the Torch in Athens, Lakeshore Foundation had fireworks to celebrate the Opening Ceremonies of ATHENS 2004	A partial appetizer set-up at the Night of Champions with the food provided by Nabeel's® Café & Market	The "KEFI" Greek band

Greek Olympic Days in Homewood, Alabama!

Read a related article from the Over The Mountain Journal here!

John Krontiras speaking Click here to hear John's entire speech!

The Greek Flag (GALANOLEFKI) flying with the American flag

Greek and American people participating in the celebrations

Father Paul Costopoulos addressing the people

Little GIORGOS Sarris A memorable photo: The Greek, the American flag and the OLYMPIC flag in the front of the Homewood City Hall	Alexi Touloupis	Homewood police officers preparing the raising of the Greek and American flags
		Greek, American and Olympic flags adorn Nabeel's Restaurant in Homewood, as part of the Olympics festivities. Notice the old Europe fresco decorating one side of this landmark restaurant.

The Mayor of Homewood, the Honorable Barry R. McCulley issued a proclamation to recognize the Olympic Games in Greece.

He wrote:

The ATHENS 2004 Olympic flag at the Homewood City Hall. To fly the entire duration of the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

"WHEREAS, Greek Americans throughout our history have been an element of strength for our country; and

WHEREAS, the Greek American Community has forged a permanent place in the melting pot that is, the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the Greek Community's warmth, passion and industriousness has made them the envy of many other cultural groups in our country; and

WHEREAS, their positive contributions to our country and our city, in so many ways are deeply appreciated by all who have come to know their Community; and

WHEREAS, with the Olympic Games returning to Athens Greece, it is fitting and proper that we celebrate the competitive spirit that was born in Greece in 776 B.C. And it is the desire of the City of Homewood to formally recognize and pay tribute to a country and its people that have meant so much in many different ways in the formation of our world, as we know it today,

NOW THEREFORE, I, Barry R. McCulley, Mayor of the City of Homewood, Alabama, do hereby proclaim August 13th through August 29th for the Summer Games, and September 17th through September 29th, 2004 for the Paralympic Games as:

"Greek Olympic Days" in Homewood, Alabama. In Witness Thereof, I have set my Hand and caused the Great Seal of the SEAL City of Homewood to be affixed this the 5th of August, 2004.

THE BEST OLYMPICS EVER
Athens 2004
What a show, What a Spectacle

"Dear John and Nabeel's staff, we sincerely appreciate another great year of Nabeel's catering the Alabama Environmental Council's Green Tie Affair! Thank you for providing such delicious food for our annual fund raising event!
The Alabama Environmental Council (5/2004)

"I visited your restaurant Saturday. I had a wonderful Greek salad that made me feel like I was sitting at a taverna in Greece. I also enjoyed the market, where I purchased Greek yogurt, olive oil and feta cheese. The yogurt is delicious and I can't wait to try the olive oil and feta."
Frances Ruiz (03/2004)

"…thank you so much for making Anna's shower so special. I have never been to that part of Nabeel's but you better believe I'll be back and I will certainly tell all of my friends about what a great place it is to have a party. The food and service was perfect. Maria was so professional. Thanks again. "
Julie Tapscott

"Thank you so much for the wonderful dinner! All of our guests had a fabulous time. The food was great! Thanks again."
Vicki Valosik

"The dinner was a truly memorable evening of dining and socializing. The food, service and efficiency were better than one would expect from even Birmingham's finest restaurants. Your staff treated everyone (49 of us in all) at the Wedding Rehearsal dinner like we were members of their family."
Judy and Mike Phelan

The seasons:
In Greece the word for seasons is Epohe´s (thus the English Epochs), but the difference is that they convey some real sense of the weather and its character, i.e. "spring is ´Anoixsi which means to open, the opening." "Summer is Kaloke´ri which means "kalos keros" good weather." Fall is fthino´poro which means "ending of the fruit." Winter is Chimo´nas I cant find a meaning for this word either in ancient or modern Greek.

Marathon:
Way before the place outside of Athens and the race, the name belonged to a mythical person. Marathon was the son of the earth and heaven and the first person to live in the city of Corinth. After fleeing his father's regime he arrived at a grassy plain outside of Attica (Athens). The weeds that were growing there took his name "maratho = fennel" in English.

Eggs:
Greeks very rarely have breakfast. They may have a cup of coffee with toast. Never eggs! Eggs are intended for a real meal. At the Recipe section of this Newsletter see a recipe of "the Greek frying egg"

Lasagne:
A famous and a delicious Italian dish. But did you know that in Homer's time Greeks had a pan called lasana, which when they colonized Italy took with them and it became lasagna. Butter: The word for butter in Greek is voutyron which means (vous = cow, and tyron=cheese). The Romans adopted the word as bouteron. When they conquered England they left the word without the ending as bouter.