Letter from the Editor The Lazy Hazy Days of Summer are upon us.
It is time to make those final plans for summer vacations. Suitcase? Check. Swimsuit? Check Camera? Check. Weekender Extended Magazine Summer Issue? Check Whether it is an extended weekend getaway or a fullblown, once-in-a-lifetime, all-out no-limits excursion, there is sure to be a fair or festival scheduled nearby. That is why we have dedicated so much space to so many different festival events. Festivals go back as far as Biblical days. Once the wheat harvests were over, people would celebrate by taking the finest of their crop to the Temple. They had a ceremony to thank God for His goodness. Then they danced in the streets and prepared great feasts. The merrymaking would last for several days. Because food is such a big part
of our celebrations, the top ten tastiest towns of the South are listed in our Top Ten column. There are several places to go, things to do and people to see in each of the state sections covered in this issue. We invite you to share your vacation photos and favorite memories with us by emailing them to editor@weekenderextended.com We will feature them on facebook or our website under the state you featured. Each entry will also be entered into a drawing for a weekend getaway. Meanwhile enjoy the following sections we wish to share with you. Which ones were the best? The most fun? I can’t decide. I may just have to go and visit them all over again. Until next time...
WeekenderE x t e n d e d
is published quarterly with periodic updates online by Barnett PRO, 71 Plymouth St., Plymouth, OH 44865. PHONE/FAX: 419-687-0002 email: info@weekenderextended.com
Publisher: Michael Barnett Sr. email: mike@barnettpro.com
Editor in Chief Kathy Barnett email: Kathy@barnettpro.com
Assistant Editor: Sheerer Oney Contributing Editors: Rebecca Embry; Kandy Derden; Michael Arnold, Chris Offenburger Photojournalists: Norman Reed; Robert Oney; Kaitlynne & Lee Offenburger
Visit our Website between regular issues www.weekenderextended.com
Subscriptions are FREE! Submit your name and email address & we’ll also enter it in our quarterly drawing for a FREE getaway! Copyright ©2012 by Barnett Productions. All rights reserved. Reproductions of any material from this issue expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Advertisements in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the publishing company.
Kathy Barnett , Editor In Chief
TABLE OF CONTENTS Top Ten 6 Tastiest Towns in the South By State: 7 Kentucky 10 Louisiana 14 Indiana Page 4
17 21 26 29 32 36 45
New York New England Illinois North Carolina Texas Ohio Pennsylvania
Several Fairs and Festivals are featured in this issue. Above, daughters of assistant editor Sheeree Oney enjoy a carnival ride at Waldameer Water World in Erie, Pennsylvania. See Back cover for more information.
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Summer, 2012
Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South To celebrate the many distinct hometown flavors that define today’s Southern cuisine, Southern Living named the “10 Tastiest Towns in the South” and let consumers decide the winner. Over a half-million votes were cast in this recent competition. While Lafayette, Lousiana took home the top award took home the top award, Raleigh was honored for its “fertile local food scene,” according to Senior Editor Paula Disbrowe. The magazine looks at the tastemakers, chefs, artisans and restaurants that give each food destination its distinct local flavor. It also outlines “the perfect eating day” and features recipes created by the Southern Living Test Kitchen that highlight the iconic ingredients of each city. “Southern Living veered way off the hot sauce and barbecue trail to get at the deeper story of who and what is shaping the South’s incredibly rich, diverse and delicious culinary landscape,” said editor Lindsay Bierman. The folliwng towns were chosen for the listed quisine:
Southern Living editors chose the Top 10 “Tastiest Towns in the South” based on the following criteria: • Food as a cultural identity: The unique food or ethnicity that defines a particular Southern region • Growth of a culinary-minded community: The influence that the culinary industry has on the local community and tourism • Diverse cuisine at a variety of price points: Accessibility to hearty, flavorful meals at any budget • Local, sustainable food practices: The focus on sourcing products from local purveyors to geographically define where each meal comes from • Hot chefs on the rise: The influence of the area’s culinary talent in the media and pop culture. • Abundance of buzz-worthy food events: The number of festivals in the area that celebrate all things food and drink
Lafayette, LA: Cayenne-spiked Acadiana Baltimore, MD: Harboring Chesapeake flavor Birmingham, AL: Refined Southern comfort Charleston, SC: A homegrown heirloom revival Charlottesville, VA: Toasting Jefferson’s Legacy Decatur, GA: A suburb made from scratch Houston, TX: A distinct ethnic twang Louisville, KY: A bourbon-soaked renaissance New Orleans, LA: A gumbo of beloved excess Raleigh, NC: Where farm fresh never expires Page 6
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Kentucky
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Things to Do: Agritourism
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Summer, 2012
Louisianna
Places to Go
NEW ORLEANS - Want to be pampered? Ready to party? Just want to get away from it all? Whatever it is you’re looking for, you’ll find it at FestiGals, New Orleans’ original ultimate women’s getaway weekend celebration that’s ALL ABOUT YOU! Grab your gal pals and head on down to New Orleans for the 2nd annual event taking place June 22-24, 2012, at the historic Hotel Monteleone. Enjoy customized experiences and activities that range from decadent to elegant to educational. The fashionable philanthropists of the bunch will gather in style at the Bodacious Bras for a Cause Luncheon and Auction featuring keynote speaker, Hoda Kotb. Art and antique enthusiasts will surround themselves in sophisticated splendor at an exclusive cocktail party at one of Royal Street’s most renowned galleries. For the foodies, what could be more mouth-watering than lunch and a heart-warming culinary presentation by celebrity Chef John Folse? Bid on spectacularly decorated bras, personally designed by selected artists and celebrities. One hundred percent (100%) of proceeds from auctioned bras, as well as net luncheon proceeds, will go directly to CAGNO. For more information, visit online at www.festigals.org
the moment he takes the stage at this FestiGals exclusive event. Enjoy a threecourse lunch, inspired by Folse’s highly anticipated new culinary venture with Chef Rick Tramonto, Restaurant R’evolution. This event is not to be missed!
F
estiGals is pleased to welcome Hoda Kotb as our Keynote Speaker at the Bodacious elebrity Chef John Bras for a Cause Luncheon on Folse will have you eating out of his hand Friday, June 22.
C
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Louisianna
Things to Do: Dining at Emeril’s Delmonico Delmonico is a century-old tradition recreated by Chef Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans. Now located on the famed St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, Delmonico is an icon in the restaurant industry and has been a cornerstone of traditional Creole dining since 1895. Reopened by Emeril in 1998 after an extensive historic renovation, it continues today serving a modern style of Louisiana's Creole cuisine with Emeril's warm style of service in a grand setting. Everywhere you look, you can feel Emeril’s warmth and southern charm. It’s as if he was peeking over the shoulder of every staff waiter in the elegant dining room. And each table is served by a team of waiters rather than a single person. Great for groups! It is the steaks that take center stage on the
Summer, 2012
menu as Delmonico takes charge of their own aging process and cutting. Then they are grilled to order. Delmonico is listed in the top 10 restaurants for their steaks and tasting that first bit easily explains why. From appetizer to soup or salad, then entree’ to dessert, every detail is paid attention to perfection. The atmosphere, service, taste and grand finale table-side dessert preparation is second to none. For special summer events, a view of the regular menue or more information, visit online at www.emerils.com
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Louisianna
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: o D o t s Thing
D
Louisianna
Be a Stomper for a Day
D
ANCE. DRINK. DONATE… AND A LITTLE LAGNIAPPE.
Are you feeling the doldrums of summer? No parades to watch. No music to dance to on the streets. No walking around uptown with a drink in your hand. You better PERK UP because the 610 Stompers are presenting their second ball to the masses (we have two you know, one in the winter and one in the summer). DIG IN THE BACK OF YOUR DRAWERS…pull it out…and dust 1-10 p.m. off that old 80s work out gear. Then come learn how to SHAKE WHAT YOUR MAMA REGISTER NOW. GAVE YOU from the New Orleans own 610 Stompers. We • You must be over 21, sign a waiver, will teach you our signature dance routines! and be registered to participate. Don’t worry, you won’t get thirsty. WITH YOUR CUP • Register online and purchase tickets IN YOUR HAND, you will dance with the 610 Stompers to for $30 by June 8. the best, Stomper-approved bars in Uptown New Orleans. • Or register and purchase tickets for Before you get too WORKED UP, save some energy for $35 the day of the event from 1-3 p.m. contests at every bar, such as Best Mustache, Mustache Limbo, Best 80s Work Out Gear, and a Dance Off. With YOUR SUPPORT, we also will help raise money to send The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders to the Rose Bowl parade. www.therootsofmusic.com DON’T BLOW IT, get your tickets now to enjoy dancing, beer, contests, prizes, food trucks, and the epic after party complete with a dance off! SEEING IS BELIEVING… check out our gallery of videos from ball crawl pasts www.610stompers.com/610-productions
Summer, 2012
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Indiana
Places to Go:
C
utler is an unincorporated town in Democrat Township of Carroll County and was laid out by John A. Cook during the construction of the Logansport Crawfordsville & Southwestern Railroad around 1871. With a population of around 1400, it is best known for its post office museum and Adams Mill. The Grist mill was built in 1845 by John Adams and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It now houses an impressive exhibit of related farm and mill equipment from the period. This Americana style museum is open to the public 1-5 p.m. on weekends through October. Come and enjoy for a Halloween event as the mill is transformed into the “Haunted Adams Mill” on Oct. 22-23 and 28-29. Times are 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. each evening. Just a short walk away is a covered bridge that is still used
Summer, 2012
today. Originally built in 1872, it was closed to vehicular traffic in 1974 due to its deteriated condition. Because these bridges were constructed with timber, they were covered to protect them from the elements. An added advantage was that nervous animals could more easily focus on the far bank when they didn’t see the water below. Bridges were often the largest covered area in a community and were sometimes used for church meetings, weddings, and political rallies. Bridges were wide enough to accommodate passage of a load of hay. In the mid-1990s, the bridge was also closed to foot and bicycle traffic due to cracks in the load-bearing timbers. But dedicated volunteers continued working toward renovation. It was finally listed on the N a t i o n a l Register of Historic Places in 1996 and in 1999. Primitive tent camping sites are available along the picwww.weekenderextended.com
turesque Wildcat Creek for $10 per tent per night. Bathrooms and shower are available, and firewood may be purchased separately. Adams Mill also offers three rustic cabins that will sleep up to four in bunks. Cabins have electricity and a ceiling fan, and visitors have access to the bathrooms and shower. The price is $35 per night. Firewood is available separately.
Other events nearby in Carroll County • Canal Boat Rides Wabash and Erie Canal Park. Final day - Oct. 16. wabashanderiecanal.org • Murder Mystery - Oct. 23 Delphi Public Library annual event. www.carrollnet.org Page 15
Indiana
Places to Go: Evansville with the kids
Evansville offers a plethora of activities to keep kids on their toes. Every member of the family will find something to their liking, whether it be visiting a favorite animal at the zoo or exploring a new exhibit at the Children's Museum of Evansville. Start your trip in Evansville with a visit to Mesker Park Zoo and Botanical Garden , home to more than 700 animals. The zoo's newest exhibit, AMAZONIA, transports visitors to a lush South American rainforest full of tropical plants, colorful bird, monkeys and even a pair of jaguars. Visit the Koch Family Children's Museum of Evansville , known as cMoe, for a learning experience. The museum features 18,000 square feet of fun, hands-on exhibits for children of all ages. Step into cMoe's Kindergarten Classroom Exhibit and experience a "real"classroom! Build with blocks, visit learning stations, listen to storytime and more. On Aug. 4, Meet The Cat in the Hat, our furry teacher for the day and see what shinanigans he is up to in our Kindergarten Classroom! Cross the street with a crossing guard, ride a real school bus and talk with Kindergarten teachers
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about what to expect on that first day of school. A variety of community partners will attend to share information helpful to parents of new students. The first 50 Kindergarteners receive a free Class of 2025 t-shirt! For more information, visit online at www.cmoekids.org. The Countdown to Kindergarten Classroom Exhibit is open daily from 10 am - 2 p.m. and on Sundays from noon - 4:00 p.m. the entire month of July! Journey to Santa Claus Holiday World & Splashin' Safari , in the town of Santa Claus, has a water park, children's rides and some of the world's top wooden roller coasters. This family owned and operwww.weekenderextended.com
ated park has been voted the cleanest, friendliest park on the planet and makes for the perfect family adventure. Voyage to Marengo Cave Travel about an hour to the east and visit Marengo Cave . Friendly and knowledgeable guides take you through immense underground passageways and interpret delicate rock formations. Marengo Cave also offers gemstone mining, canoeing and camping. French Lick French Lick offers family fun all year round with Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park & Resort . The 40,000 square foot indoor water park is full of kidfriendly features. While in French Lick, take the family on a train ride on the French Lick Scenic Railway . Check the schedule for fun weekend and holiday rides such as staged train robberies and The Polar Express renditions. For more information, visit www.in.gov/visitindiana.com Summer, 2012
Places To Go: Rochester NY –This event will present more than 1000 artists performing at 18 venues and outdoor stages, in 300 concerts, including almost 70 free concerts. Last year's festival drew more than 182,000 fans. With one of the nation's most extensive international lineups, artists will travel from 14 countries including Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Scotland, Ireland, England, Norway, Sierra Leone, Hungary, Cuba, France, Italy and Russia. Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers, Esperanza Spalding, Zappa Plays Zappa, and Daryl Hall "Live From Daryl's House" with special guest Keb' Mo', will headline. Concerts for Krall, Jones and Martin (two shows) are sold out. Tickets for Esperanza Spalding, Daryl Hall and Zappa Plays Zappa are on sale now at rochesterjazz.com. The Club Pass series - which includes three international Summer, 2012
New York
series, Made in the UK, Nordic Jazz Now and Viva Italia – will be held in 12 venues and feature more than 200 shows including Christian McBride, Tom Harrell, Ninety Miles, Terrence Blanchard Quintet, Benny Green Trio, Eliane Elias Trio, Colin Stetson, Roy Haynes, Raul Midon, Catherine Russell, Eldar, Nicholas Payton, Eivor Palsdottir, Liane Carroll, Tessa Souter and Get The Blessing, Brandi Disterheft, Chic Gamine and Gypsophila, international rising stars IPA, Goran Kfajes, Mederic and Mathias Eick. Free outdoor stage concerts will feature Trombone Shorty, Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-aWhirl Band, Gov't Mule with Warren Haynes and the southern rockers Outlaws. "In assembling more than 300 performances for our annual nine-day celebration of creative www.WeekenderExtended.com
improvised music, my goal is to harness the power of human expression through music in a calculated fashion, " says John Nugent, Producer and Artistic Director. "The super wave of talent coming will bring our audience to new heights of aural ecstasy not yet experienced! It's going to be our best festival yet!" Marc Iacona, Producer and Executive Director, says, "Rochester will once again be an international focal point of one of America's true art forms. Jazz was developed around the turn of the 20th century, and it is reborn every June in Rochester, NY!" For more information and a complete concert schedule, visit www.rochesterjazz.com Page 17
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Summer, 2012
Things To Do: Take a Food Walking Tour CHESTERTOWN - Saratoga Springs Food Tours offers delicious 2.5 hour walking tours of the Spa City which includes “tastings” at some of Saratoga’s most interesting food shops, restaurants and Farmer’s Market artisans. This cultural walking tour pairs delicious food with tales of Saratoga Springs history, suitable for all age groups and fitness levels, The tours start every Saturday at 12:30 at the Saratoga Springs Farmer’s Market. There, participants sample cheeses, yogurt, jams and tapenades made by local farmers. At each stop participants learn the unique care that goes In 1853 George Crum invented the Saratoga into making Chip, a thin French fry, now known as the the locally potato chip. produced food speThe tour continues to cialty. Then it’s on to the Old Broadway St. where there are Bryan Inn where the group not tastings of olive oils and balonly tastes but also learns the samic vinegars, salsas and history of this first Saratoga cupcakes at several of inn that was an important Saratoga’s unique specialty player in the Revolutionary food shops. War. Joanne Stenersen, visiting Summer, 2012
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New York
from North Carolina, said afterward “I’m glad we had the exercise to walk off all that great food.” The tour is full of stories about the characters that created the city such as John Morrissey who built the first gambling casino, John Bryan the tavern owner and spy, John Clark, who made Saratoga water an international brand and Lucy Skidmore who started a college for young women in the city. Tickets for the tour are $40 which includes all tastings. They can be purchased on line through the website at www. saratogaspringsfoodtours.com or call 518-803-418 for more information. Page 19
New York
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Things to Do:
August 9-12 Photo by Edith Blake
Summer, 2012
from the filming, including items from private collections and other never-before-seen items; Shark In The Park is an afternoon of baseball, family activities, the opportunity to meet with VIPs, and more. Sharks, Arts & Conservation will be an “event within an event” presented in collaboration with Featherstone Center for the Arts allowing the opportunity to meet globally recognized shark experts such as Dr. Greg Skomal and members of Shark Savers. Enjoy a Trivia Hunt, random re-enactments and Jaws On The Big Screen at beautiful Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs. “As JAWS© continues to entertain new generations of audiences around the world, we’re thrilled to give fans a unique event experience in Martha’s Vineyard that they will never forget,” said Susan Sigel www.WeekenderExtended.com
Goldsmith, event codirector from 2005 and producer of the 2012 event. The event coincides with Universal Studios’ 100th Anniversary celebration and the August 14th release of JAWS on Blu-ray, featuring a fully restored and digitally remastered picture. JawsFest also coincides with the 25th anniversary of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Experts from Shark Week and Shark Savers are helping the JawsFest team turn 2012 into the Summer for the Sharks on Martha's Vineyard-a season-long initiative to raise funds and awareness to help with shark conservation.“ As JAWS© continues to entertain new generations of audiences around the world, fans visiting Martha’s Vineyard will not soon forget this festival.” www.jawstribute.com
New England
Fans of the movie JAWS© across the world are gearing up for JawsFest: The Tribute, taking place on Martha’s Vineyard, aka, “Amity Island.” The event will explore how the making of "Jaws"© has impacted the lives of those who came to Amity in 1974 and how the blockbuster film they created continues to impact lives today. The tribute will concentrate on the men and women of "Jaws" who have passed, with special focus on Peter Benchley, Roy Scheider, and Robert Shaw. Experience Living Jaws, a series of lively and engaging discussions with event VIPs on the making of "Jaws" and how the film impacted their lives and families in the 1970s to the present. Behind The Screams, is a museum-quality display of private collections of "Jaws" photographs and memorabilia
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People to See Norman Rockwell Through his art Submitted by Paul McKenzie New England Travel Report
New England
RUTLAND, VT - The Norman Rockwell Museum houses a nationally recognized collection of Norman Rockwell's art and commemorates the artist's Vermont years and the entire span and diversity of his career (1911-1978). This chronological display of more than 2,500 Norman Rockwell magazine covers, advertisements, calendars, and other published works shows Rockwell's development as an illustrator and links his work to the political, economic, and cultural history of the United States. Americans first knew and loved Norman Rockwell’s art as it appeared on and between the covers of America’s most popu-
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lar magazines. These magazine covers, advertisements, and illustrations are at the heart of the Rutland museum collection.
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The Saturday Evening Post covers, which most people are familiar with, represent a fraction of Rockwell’s art. He also painted covers for such forgotten magazines as Judge, Leslie’s, The Literary Digest, The Country Gentleman, and a host of others. Though Rockwell loved doing these covers, his breadand-butter was his advertising. He received twice as much for an ad as he did for a cover, and his art sold products as diverse as socks and steel. Illustrators of Rockwell's day were respected for their knowledge of public taste. For the most part, the companies left it to Rockwell's discretion as to how to sell their goods or services.
New England
"The Baby Carriage," May 20, 1916 Rockwell's first Saturday Evening Post cover. Norman Rockwell's first Saturday Evening Post cover, "The Baby Carriage," was different from that of other Post artists. For example, Rockwell used real people as models; he did not just concoct a "situation." Rockwell took much of what he learned from his beloved teacher George Bridgman from the Art Students League. Bridgman wrote a book titled "The Human Machine" which was an illustrated treatise on the musles and motions of the body. Norman Rockwell poured over this book in order to understand the the motor cause and effect. You can notice in this cover that the figures move naturally. The baby-sitter pushes against the carriage with proper displacement. All the boys "fit" into the composition without appearing to be "squeezed" in, and Rockwell is pictorially aware of the post requirements of its logo, parallel bars and bottom cover lines.
photographs that he conceived and meticulously directed, working with various photographers and using friends and neighbors as his models. The Norman Rockwell Museum of Rutland, Vermont, was established in 1976. It is located in Rutland at the crosswords of Vermont on Route 4, 2 miles East of Route 7. Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Museum's Gift Shop has a wide selection of Norman Rockwell art for purchase: prints, figurines, plates, Boy Scout prints, Saturday Evening Post covers, and more. www.normanrockwell vt.com Phone: 802-773-6095
Norman Rockwell’s rosy illustrations of small town American life looked so photographic because his method was to copy Summer, 2012
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Places to Go: Birds of Vermont Museum
New England
Huntington, Vt. - Featuring more than 500 lifesize carved birds, this museum celebrates its 25th anniversary with a display of life-size, biologically accurate, one of a kind carvings. While learning about the traditional art of wood carving, visitors can experience, explore, appreciate, and enjoy the birds. In 2009, Yankee Magazine rated it New England's "Best Specialty Museum." Since opening, the building has doubled in size, exhibits have expanded, programming for children and adults has increased, and the number of completed carvings has more than doubled. Most of the carvings have been completed by Bob Spear, master w o o d c a r v e r, founder and Director of the Birds of Vermont Museum. Over the last 25 years, the Museum worked, and still works, to fulfill its mission to provide education, to nurture an appreciation of the environment, and to study birds and their habitats using wood carvings and other museum resources. Bob Spear, 92, has spent over 24,000 hours working toward his goal of creating life-size, bioPage 24
logically accurate, wooden representations of all the varied and fascinating birds that make Vermont their home during some or all of the year. His passion has inspired fellow bird lovers and woodcarvers to share in the process. Lucky visitors may enjoy quiet time watching Bob working in his workshop or observing birds at the feeders through the viewing window. To celebrate their 25th anniversary the Museum has packed their schedule this summer with slide shows, bird walks, carving demonstrations and classes, children’s programs, and bird related festivals. Details can be found on the Museum's website www.birdsofvermont.org. or call 802434-2167. In addition to these events visitors will find a wealth of information on the Museum’s history, contributing carvers, Museum webcam, events calendar, and volunteer opportunities. The museum is on Sherman Hollow Road in Huntington, about 5 miles southeast of Richmond.The Museum is open 7 days a week thru Oct 31 and open by appointment other times. Admission: $6 adults, $3 ages 3-17. Enjoy walking trails, picnic areas, and a gift shop.
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New England
Illinois
People to See: Rodney Atkins BELVIDERE-The Boone County Fair Board has announced tickets for its 2012 grandstand lineup will go on sale daily starting July 7 from 8 a.m. to noon at the fairgrounds box office at Main Gate #1. The 2012 lineup of the August 7 – 12 fair will feature Country Star Rodney Atkins on a new night, Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. for only $15 reserved grandstand or track seats. He is known for such hits as “Watching You” and “If you’re Going Through Hell.” Traditionally the country stars have performed on Friday evening but the board felt having the feature act on Saturday fairgoers wouldn’t have to rush and could relax and enjoy an entire day at the fair. However, Friday night will be featuring the always exciting Next Level Pro Bull Riding at 7 p.m. which will also include mutton busting and barrel racing all for a $10 reserved seat. Also on Friday and new for 2012 in front of the grandstand will be ATV RACING at 11am for only $5. You’re welcome to race your own ATV, go to: www.kickabuda.com. As always there are many free daily attractions in the Entertainment Building and throughout the grounds all day long. Gates open at 8am during the fair. Come early and stay late. Visit online at www. boonecountyfair.com.
Places to Go
Summer, 2012
Oregon uses masks to create wild fantastical works. Grim and Fischer is described as a death comedy in fullface mask and is a fantastical theater piece that will delight audiences. On June 9 don’t miss exciting performances of several original short works by Theater 310b and others in X-hibitions from 3:30 - 5 p.m. Spawned from the first Xfest master class in 2009, Theater 310b is a rotating group of faculty and students whose mission and love is to explore a multitude of theater styles. The evening concludes with a 7:30 p.m. Keynote Speech, “The Artist as Creator” by Mark Valdez which is immediately followed by a performance of Will You Still Be You by the Luis Tentindo’s Puppet Theater. Stay for a Talk Back Session after the performance with Luis Tentindo and cast. The Italian born puppeteer, now living in New York City, is creating a new work to premiere at Xfest 3.0 that melds puppets, movement and multimedia into a visually impactful piece of theater. SIUE is located a short 20 minutes from downtown St Louis on the Illinois side of the river just off Illinois Route 157. Lodging, dining and other Edwardsville amenities are conveniently located next to the campus. Ticket prices vary from individual performances to package fees, $12-60. Call 618-650-2774 or toll free at 888-328-5168, extension 2774. Visit www.siue.edu/xfest, www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/theater.
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Illinois
EDWARDSVILLE - From puppets to dance and drama to comedy, this festival is filled with something for everyone. Xfest invites artists and theater companies from around the nation to the SIUE campus with four days of performances and workshops in order to share the world of non-traditional theater styles with fans of the performing arts in the Midwest. Xfest 3.0 is expected to be more diverse than ever with opportunities for area colleges and new theater companies to premiere their own 15 minute alternative theater pieces debuting in the festival’s Saturday afternoon slot. On June 6, SIUE’s Arts & Issues, in conjunction with Xfest 3.0, offers a world premiere from Squonk Opera at 7:30 p.m. Creators of a unique brand of avant garde theater, Squonk Opera, gives birth to Edwardsville: The Opera created especially for the 2012 festival. In its celebration of Edwardsville, Squonk Opera explores the broader issues of shared humanity and the need for self-definition. On June 7, the festival officially begins at 7:30 p.m. with a performance of Violators will be Violated (mature audiences only). Smith’s Violators will be Violated is the winner of the 2009 Loa Angeles Weekly Award for Best Solo Performance and Top Ten Shows of 2009! June 8 begins with the production, Grim and Fischer by the Wonderheads followed around 9 p.m. with a Talk Back Session with the cast. This physical theatre ensemble from Portland,
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Illinois
South Carolina
Summer, 2012
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South Carolina
Places to Go: Red Horse Inn
By Kathy Barnett / Managing Editor When the daily grind and busyness of work gets you down and you need a break from a hectic lifestyle, Red Horse Inn should be your choice for getting away from it all. A drive to the country about a half hour from Greenville reveals an ultimate view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from your room. Pamper yourself in the luxurious surroundings of rose petals on the bed, a glass of wine, a movie or just enjoy the beautiful view. To add to your privacy, you don’t even have to leave your room for breakfast.. Enjoy a quiet, intimate breakfast in bed. Ever get hungry in the middle of the night? It’s all right there in a foodstyle closet containing a compact refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave. Owners and hosts, Mary and Roger Wolters, have definately paid attention to every detail for comfort and relaxation. “Your comfort, care and well-being are paramount to us,” says Mary. “We hope this magical property reveals itself to you as it has to us.” As perfect inn keepers should be, Mary and Roger are just a phone call away to answer questions or serve your needs at a moment’s notice. But when you want to be alone, you are. Once settled in, I didn’t want to leave. I just wanted to sit and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. However, there is a wide variety of things to do and people to see the short distance away in Greenville. Take a ride on the free trolley up and down Main Street for a great choice in shopping opportunities or enjoy a leisurely stroll through Falls Park that is in the center of Downtown Greenville. Whatever your choice, it’s a great getaway for anyone!
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Attractions near Greenville Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum 864-235-6280 Zoo: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 864-467-4300 Museum and Gallery at Bob Jones bjumg.org 864-770-1331 Falls Park/Downtown Greenville www.fallspark.com 864-467-4355 Main Street Fridays/Live Music downtowngreenville.org 937-548-4998 "At the Chef's Table" Tour www.shoptable301.com 800-979-3370 For more information you can also visit www.greenvillecvb.com
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Summer, 2012
South Carolina
T
he name tells it all:
CityRange...Where there’s a Range of Flavors, a Range of Choices, a Range of Prices...A’Range a visit soon!
GREENVILLE - Steakhouses are not all the same. City Range Steakhouse Grill is conveniently located in front of a strip mall shopping center and, at first, looks like a typical chain restaurant. I wish it was because I’d certainly travel to a nearby city to enjoy. Alas, this one is unique to South Carolina and only features two locations: the original one in Greenville and the other in Spartanburg. When in South Carolina, be sure to go. It is worth the trip. Each item on the chef inspired menu is made fresh daily, utilizing the best ingredients, with a wide variety of choices and prices. This steak house specializes in juicy, tender, sizzling Black Angus steaks; comfort food with flair; fresh salads and sandwiches; craveable appetizers and tasty desserts. The wine list is by far the longest I’ve seen in any upscale restaurant along with signature creations like the “Sneaky Peach” or “Linnoncell Martini.” All the appetizers sounded so yummy, we chose the Signature Trio, a shareable sampler of crab cakes, shrimp cocktail and tuna wontons. All CitySpecialty steaks are aged a minimum of 21 days for an enhanced flavor and extra tenderness. Aging allows natural enzymes to breakdown the hard connective tissue in meats and for water to evaporate away concentrating the flavor. We were not dissappointed. Great flavor! Be sure to save room for dessert if you can. The Volcano Cake was an explosion of chocolate flavor - a chocolate lover’s dream. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.cityrange.com. Summer, 2012
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Texas
By Kandy Derden Managing Editor / Mo. Weekender For years, our family reunions were little more than a potluck dinner and a very brief photo shoot. It didn't take long for all the group shots to look alike. Yes, the children grew taller and the adults aged, but over the years our memories faded. When looking through our old photos we can't distinguish one year from another. Even the backgrounds are the same: a semi-blank wall in a church basement, the porch of a cousin's house or a large shelterhouse in a park. But which park? Which year? Which side of the family? Then last year, things changed. Our family decided to meet in a central location and rent a guesthouse for an entire week-
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end. The photography is different. The shots from that weekend are mostly candid shots to remind us of fun events. Even if none of the pictures get documented, I'm confident that whenever we browse through the photographs, we will instantly recall, "Oh yeah, that was the time we all . . ." And the trip down memory lane will begin. We have all agreed that it was more fun than previous reunions and we definitely want to do it again. Now all we need is a date when everyone can participate and a location.
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quality linens and towels. The original Sayles house is the most recent addition to this enterprise. This home is listed on the national historic register and is currently being renovated. This landmark will be a "Boutique Hotel Alternative" expected to open next year. I look forward to a return visit to Abilene and the opportunity to stay in this home so rich with history and symbolic of gracious living. To make reservations or for more information go to www.sayles ranch.com or call 325-669-6856. He'll help you select the most suitable residence for your weekend getaway, business event, retreat, wedding, party or as in our case, family reunion.
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Texas
If I am allowed any input on that subject, I definitely have a suggestion. From a one bedroom hideaway to a large home complete with separate bunkhouse, the Sayles Ranch in Abilene has guesthouses suitable for any size gathering. These homes away from home are each private and yet conveniently located close to each other for quick access when desired. Unlike cookie cutter hotel rooms, each house has items displayed from the personal collection of the owner, Terry Browder. With an eye for all the little details which make a house into a home, Terry has creatively decorated each to follow a specific Texan theme. Antique quilts, toys, trunks, vintage fixtures and utensils, needlepoint pillows, animal skins, antlers, books, boots and hats, unique sculpture and a blend of modern and rustic artwork items have been incorporated into each room. Several light fixtures feature antlers, but this one was different in that Terry used old skeleton keys instead of crystals like a chandelier. Some bedrooms use old doors as headboards but the one really different one used car doors. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. One of the houses has a screened in porch with wicker furniture which would interest the outdoorsy types. At the same time, the comfort of the guests is foremost in the selection of modern conveniences such as flat screen televisions, access to electronic games, wireless internet, and no expense has been spared in the selection of high
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“I want you to feel like you have experienced a piece of our history and the spirit of our frontier heritage. Grab your toy rifle and Terry Browder, Founder let the adventure begin!”
Texas
“I believe that almost everyone has an “inner cowboy” in them. I grew up loving to play “Cowboy and Indians”, and I idolized The Lone Ranger and Tonto! I know this is not unique to my experience because when we were removing the ceiling from the 85 year old Carriage House we call Cabin Fever, a vintage toy rifle fell from the rafters! Sometime in the long ago past, a kid was playing up in that attic and lost his toy gun. To me, that rifle is symbolic of what I have tried to achieve with The Sayles Ranch. It is a rediscovered link to a past ‘frontier adventure’. By staying at the Sayles Ranch, you are on that adventure and my goal is to release that inner cowboy in you. As you have figured out by now, the Sayles Ranch is not really a ranch at all, but it is a concept—a virtual reality. Oh yes, it is an enclave of beautiful houses–a place to stay while Page 34
you are in Abilene; but hopefully, it is more. It is a special place that was born of my love of West Texas, my love of Abilene and my desire to share so much of the beauty, aesthetics and history of this great part of Texas with people like you! Well over a hundred years ago, my great grandmother brought her children in a covered wagon to a patch of prairie land about 150 miles north of here. She was a widow, permanently lame from a horseback riding accident and financially destitute. She came out West to drive her stake in some of the last free land available for homesteading in America. From our family folklore I know that she endured great hardship and must have been one gutsy dreamer! The Sayles Ranch is a tribute to my ancestors, and to yours and to all those people who braved unthinkable trials to pursue their dreams! With the Texas heritage décor I have attempted to evoke that pioneer spirit and create a place that will enhance your stay as our guest. The handmade Mesquite furniture, the antiques and all the hides, horns and hats evoke the romanticism of our ranching history. The good Lord has blessed my efforts, and I hope that in some small way, you are able to experience the “soul” of The Sayles Ranch concept when you stay here.
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Summer, 2012
Texas
Ohio
WAPAKANETA – The Armstrong Air & Space Museum is active all night long during overnight visits. The museum shares the story of Neil Armstrong, all Ohioans who have attempted to defy gravity, the Space Race, and current space exploration. The museum itself is designed to resemble a futuristic moon base. It is most beautiful when viewed at dusk. The museum features many one-of-a-kind artifacts including the Gemini VIII spacecraft, Neil Armstrong’s Gemini and Apollo spacesuits, and an Apollo 11 moon rock. The museum is also home to two fullsize aircraft, both of which were flown by Mr. Armstrong. A 15year-old Armstrong learned to fly at Port Koneta, a long-gone Wapakoneta airfield. He flew a yellow Aeronca Champion now on exhibit at the museum. Scout programs allow troops to come from across Ohio and participate in activities designed to meet merit badge requirements. Groups can build lunar rover racers using foam and balloons, design paper airplanes using Bernoulli’s principle, make star charts, use a telescope and can create their own mission patches like each of NASA’s mission crews. Take a personal tour and watch a film on the first Page 36
lunar landing or racee to complete a scavenger hunt. Snack on pizza before free time and lights out. Some groups may even build and launch their own model rockets. Eventually, everyone settles in to their (lunar) camps and sleeping bags to catch a few hours of sleep before physical training each morning. Just as astronauts start their day with exercise and breakfast, so do the museum campers. Overnight programs are available to any group. In fact, the museum is planning public overnight events this summer. The scout programs are available throughout the year, but book quickest in the spring. Many of the programs used for the scout overnights are also available to school tour groups and during special events like the Summer Moon Festival in July. The museum is open during the day as well, 9:30-5:00 Monday through Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday. It is a wonderful family vacation destination. There are many fun and interesting sites to visit while you are in the area. To learn more about the Armstrong Air & Space Museum be sure to check out their website, www.armstrongmuseum.org and for interesting space related fun facts become a fan on Facebook.
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Summer, 2012
Ohio
Places to Go:
The sixth annual Blueberry Bash is a popular event during this festival. Located at the Main stage Saturday from 2-4 p.m., this event begins with a family oriented Richland Bank Treasure Hunt. Various competitions and a few craft tables will be featured. The following “Bash� schedule may be adjusted if certain events take more or less time than anticipated. Other competitions may be added if time allows as well. 2:00PM Richland Bank Treasure Hunt 2:15PM Pie Eating Contest. Pies are generously donated by the Lexington Senior Center 2:30PM Blueberry spitting contest 2:45PM Bubble gum blowing contest 3:00PM Water races 3:15-4:00 Blueberry Stomp! Teams of 2 compete to stomp their blueberries the fastest! (This event may cause contestants to get blueberry juice on their clothes.) During the entire event, tables will be available for children to get their nails painted or to make bracelets/necklaces. For more information, contact: Katie Getz at 419-544-2700. Live musical entertainment will also be abundant throughout the festival with a Showcase of the Bands. Summer, 2012
Current bands performing at the Main stage between 6-11 p.m. are: Infinity Ball, The Rolling Hams, Jessie Brown, Pett-Crow, Anthony Gomes, Brent Kirby, The Ark Band, Soul Satyr, and Christian Band. Come out and show your talents on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. during the Blueberry Idol contest. Cash prizes will be awarded for the judges pick in three categories: Ages 12 and below, 13-17, and 18 and older! The audience will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite performers in the same three categories for $.50 a vote. The audience choice winners will receive trophies! There is a $10 entry fee for those competing. Other events includ a 5k Run and 5k Walk, auction, parade, pageants, Big Wheel Race, a car/bike show, sports activities and fireworks on Saturday evening. Various vendors will offer festival foods while others offer crafts. Many organizations will perform deomonstrations while family activities are highlighted. A carnival and live pony rides will be offered evenings between 5-9 p.m, provided by Happy H Amusements and Gottfried Ponyrides. A complete schedule, details, and comunity map is available at www.lexblueberryfest.com.
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Ohio
Ohio
Summer, 2012
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Ohio
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Ohio
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Ohio
Ohio
Summer, 2012
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Weekender Extended 71 Plymouth Street Plymouth OH 44865
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