weekender extended
DESCRIPTION
Places to go, things to do, and people to see in the United States, Summer 2012TRANSCRIPT
The Lazy HazyDays of Summer areupon us.
It is time to make those finalplans for summer vacations.
Suitcase? Check. Swimsuit?Check Camera? Check.Weekender Extended MagazineSummer Issue? Check
Whether it is an extendedweekend getaway or a full-blown, once-in-a-lifetime, all-outno-limits excursion, there is sureto be a fair or festival schedulednearby.
That is why we have dedicatedso much space to so many differ-ent festival events. Festivals goback as far as Biblical days. Oncethe wheat harvests were over,people would celebrate by takingthe finest of their crop to theTemple. They had a ceremony tothank God for His goodness.Then they danced in the streetsand prepared great feasts. Themerrymaking would last for sev-eral days.
Because food is such a big part
of our cele-brations, thetop ten tasti-est towns ofthe South arelisted in ourTop Ten col-umn. Thereare several places to go, things todo and people to see in each ofthe state sections covered in thisissue.
We invite you to share yourvacation photos and favoritememories with us by emailingthem to [email protected] We will featurethem on facebook or our websiteunder the state you featured.Each entry will also be enteredinto a drawing for a weekendgetaway.
Meanwhile enjoy the followingsections we wish to share withyou. Which ones were the best?The most fun? I can’t decide. Imay just have to go and visitthem all over again.
Until next time...
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Weekenderis published quarterly with
periodic updates online byBarnett PRO, 71 Plymouth St.,Plymouth, OH 44865.
PHONE/FAX: 419-687-0002 email: [email protected]
Publisher:Michael Barnett Sr.
email: [email protected] in ChiefKathy Barnett
email: [email protected] Editor:
Sheerer OneyContributing Editors:
Rebecca Embry; Kandy Derden;Michael Arnold, Chris
Offenburger
Photojournalists: Norman Reed; Robert Oney;Kaitlynne & Lee Offenburger
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Subscriptions are FREE!Submit your name and emailaddress & we’ll also enter it inour quarterly drawing for aFREE getaway!Copyright ©2012 by Barnett Produc-tions. All rights reserved. Reproductionsof any material from this issue expresslyforbidden without permission of the pub-lisher. Advertisements in this publicationdo not necessarily carry the endorse-ment of the publishing company.
Top Ten6 Tastiest Towns
in the SouthBy State:
7 Kentucky10 Louisiana14 Indiana
17 New York21 New England26 Illinois 29 North Carolina 32 Texas36 Ohio45 Pennsylvania
Extended
Kathy Barnett ,Editor In Chief
Letter from the Editor
Several Fairs and Festivals are featured inthis issue. Above, daughters of assistant edi-tor Sheeree Oney enjoy a carnival ride atWaldameer Water World in Erie, Pennsylvania.See Back cover for more information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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To celebrate the many distinct hometown fla-vors that define today’s Southern cuisine,Southern Living named the “10 Tastiest Townsin the South” and let consumers decide the win-ner. Over a half-million votes were cast in thisrecent competition.
While Lafayette, Lousiana took home the topaward took home the top award, Raleigh washonored 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 fooddestination its distinct local flavor. It also out-lines “the perfect eating day” and featuresrecipes created by the Southern Living TestKitchen that highlight the iconic ingredients ofeach city.
“Southern Living veered way off the hotsauce and barbecue trail to get at the deeperstory of who and what is shaping the South’sincredibly rich, diverse and delicious culinarylandscape,” said editor Lindsay Bierman.
The folliwng towns were chosen for the listedquisine:
Lafayette, LA: Cayenne-spiked AcadianaBaltimore, MD: Harboring Chesapeake flavorBirmingham, AL: Refined Southern comfortCharleston, SC: A homegrown heirloom
revivalCharlottesville, VA: Toasting Jefferson’s
LegacyDecatur, GA: A suburb made from scratchHouston, TX: A distinct ethnic twangLouisville, KY: A bourbon-soaked renaissanceNew Orleans, LA: A gumbo of beloved excessRaleigh, NC: Where farm fresh never expires
Southern Living editors chose the Top 10“Tastiest Towns in the South” based on the fol-lowing criteria:
• Food as a cultural identity: The unique foodor ethnicity that defines a particular Southern
region• Growth of a culinary-minded community:
The influence that the culinary industry has onthe local community and tourism
• Diverse cuisine at a variety of price points:Accessibility to hearty, flavorful meals at anybudget
• Local, sustainable food practices: The focuson sourcing products from local purveyors to
geographically define where each meal comesfrom
• Hot chefs on the rise: The influence of thearea’s culinary talent in the media and pop cul-ture.
• Abundance of buzz-worthy food events:The number of festivals in the area that cele-brate all things food and drink
TTastiest Tastiest Townsownsin the Southin the South
Top 10Top 10
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NEW ORLEANS - Want to be pampered?Ready to party? Just want to get away from itall? Whatever it is you’re looking for, you’llfind it at FestiGals, New Orleans’ original ulti-mate women’s getaway weekend celebrationthat’s ALL ABOUT YOU!
Grab your gal pals and head on down to NewOrleans for the 2nd annual event taking placeJune 22-24, 2012, at the historic HotelMonteleone. Enjoy customized experiences andactivities that range from decadent to elegant toeducational. The fashionable philanthropists ofthe bunch will gather in style at the BodaciousBras for a Cause Luncheon and Auction featur-ing keynote speaker, Hoda Kotb. Art andantique enthusiasts will surround themselves insophisticated splendor at an exclusive cocktailparty at one of Royal Street’s most renownedgalleries. For the foodies, what could be moremouth-watering than lunch and a heart-warm-ing culinary presentation by celebrity Chef JohnFolse?
Bid on spectacularly decorated bras, personal-ly designed by selected artists and celebrities.One hundred percent (100%) of proceeds fromauctioned bras, as well as net luncheon pro-ceeds, will go directly to CAGNO.
For more information, visit online atwww.festigals.org
Celebrity Chef JohnFolse will have youeating out of his hand
the moment hetakes the stage atthis FestiGalsexclusive event.Enjoy a three-course lunch, inspired byFolse’s highly anticipated newculinary venture with ChefRick Tramonto, RestaurantR’evolution. This event is notto be missed!
FestiGals ispleased towelcome
Hoda Kotb as ourKeynote Speakerat the BodaciousBras for a Cause Luncheon onFriday, June 22.
Places to GoLouisianna
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Delmonico is a century-old tradition recreatedby Chef Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans. Nowlocated on the famed St. Charles Avenue street-car line, Delmonico is an icon in the restaurantindustry and has been a cornerstone of tradition-al Creole dining since 1895. Reopened by Emerilin 1998 after an extensive historic renovation, itcontinues today serving a modern style ofLouisiana's Creole cuisine with Emeril's warmstyle of service in a grand setting.
Everywhere you look, you can feel Emeril’swarmth and southern charm. It’s as if he waspeeking over the shoulder of every staff waiter inthe elegant dining room. And each table isserved by a team of waiters rather than a singleperson. Great for groups!
It is the steaks that take center stage on the
menu asDelmonico takescharge of theirown aging processand cutting. Thenthey are grilled toorder. Delmonico
is listed in the top 10 restaurants for their steaksand tasting that first bit easily explains why.
From appetizer to soup or salad, then entree’ todessert, every detail is paid attention to perfec-tion. The atmosphere, service, taste and grandfinale table-side dessert preparation is second tonone.
For special summer events, a view of the regu-lar menue or more information, visit online atwww.emerils.com
LouisiannaThings to Do: Diningat Emeril’s Delmonico
Louisianna
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D
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DANCE. DRINK. DONATE…AND A LITTLELAGNIAPPE.
Are you feeling the doldrums of summer? No paradesto watch. No music to dance to on the streets. No walk-ing around uptown with a drink in your hand.
You better PERK UP because the 610 Stompers are pre-senting their second ball to the masses (we have two youknow, one in the winter and one in the summer). DIG INTHE BACK OF YOUR DRAWERS…pull it out…and dustoff that old 80s work out gear.
Then come learn how to SHAKE WHAT YOUR MAMAGAVE YOU from the New Orleans own 610 Stompers. Wewill teach you our signature dance routines!
Don’t worry, you won’t get thirsty. WITH YOUR CUPIN YOUR HAND, you will dance with the 610 Stompers tothe best, Stomper-approved bars in Uptown New Orleans.
Before you get too WORKED UP, save some energy forcontests at every bar, such as BestMustache, Mustache Limbo, Best80s Work Out Gear, and a DanceOff.
With YOUR SUPPORT, we alsowill help raise money to send TheRoots of Music MarchingCrusaders to the Rose Bowlparade.
www.therootsofmusic.comDON’T BLOW IT, get your tick-
ets now to enjoy dancing, beer,contests, prizes, food trucks, andthe epic after party complete witha dance off! SEEING IS BELIEV-ING… check out our gallery ofvideos from ball crawl pastswww.610stompers.com/610-pro-ductions
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1-10 p.m.REGISTER NOW.• You must be over 21, sign a waiver,
and be registered to participate.• Register online and purchase tickets
for $30 by June 8. • Or register and purchase tickets for
$35 the day of the event from 1-3 p.m.
Louisianna
BBee aa SSttoommppeerr ffoorr aa DDaayy
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Cutler is an unincorpo-rated town inDemocrat Townshipof Carroll County
and was laid out by John A.Cook during the construction ofthe Logansport Crawfordsville& Southwestern Railroad around1871. With a population ofaround 1400, it is best known forits post office museum andAdams Mill. The Grist mill wasbuilt in 1845 by John Adams andis now listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places. Itnow houses an impressive exhib-it of related farm and mill equip-ment from the period. ThisAmericana style museum isopen to the public 1-5 p.m. onweekends through October.Come and enjoy for a Halloweenevent as the mill is transformedinto the “Haunted Adams Mill”on Oct. 22-23 and 28-29. Timesare 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. eachevening.
Just a short walk away is a cov-ered bridge that is still used
today. Originally builtin 1872, it was closedto vehicular traffic in1974 due to its deteri-ated condition.Because these bridgeswere constructed withtimber, they were cov-ered to protect themfrom the elements. Anadded advantage wasthat nervous animalscould more easilyfocus on the far bankwhen they didn’t seethe water below. Bridges wereoften the largest covered area ina community and were some-times used for church meetings,weddings, and political rallies.Bridges were wide enough toaccommodate passage of a loadof hay.
In the mid-1990s, the bridgewas also closed to foot and bicy-cle traffic due to cracks in theload-bearing timbers. But dedi-cated volunteers continuedworking toward renovation. It
was finally list-ed on theN a t i o n a lRegister ofHistoric Placesin 1996 and in1999.
Primitive tentcamping sitesare availablealong the pic-
t u r e s q u eWildcat Creekfor $10 pertent per night.B a t h r o o m sand showerare available,and firewoodmay be pur-chased sepa-rately. AdamsMill alsooffers threerustic cabinsthat will sleep
up to four in bunks. Cabins haveelectricity and a ceiling fan, andvisitors have access to the bath-rooms and shower. The price is$35 per night. Firewood is avail-able separately.
Other events nearbyin Carroll County
• Canal Boat Rides -Wabash and Erie CanalPark. Final day - Oct. 16.
wabashanderiecanal.org• Murder Mystery - Oct. 23Delphi Public Library annualevent. www.carrollnet.org
Places to Go: Indiana
Evansville offers a plethora ofactivities to keep kids on theirtoes. Every member of thefamily will find something totheir liking, whether it be vis-iting a favorite animal at thezoo or exploring a new exhibitat the Children's Museum ofEvansville.
Start your trip in Evansvillewith a visit to Mesker Park Zooand Botanical Garden , home tomore than 700 animals. The zoo'snewest exhibit, AMAZONIA,transports visitors to a lush SouthAmerican rainforest full of tropi-cal plants, colorful bird, monkeysand even a pair of jaguars.
Visit the Koch Family Children'sMuseum of Evansville , known ascMoe, for a learning experience.The museum features 18,000square feet of fun, hands-onexhibits for children of all ages.Step into cMoe's KindergartenClassroom Exhibit and experiencea "real"classroom! Build withblocks, visit learning stations, lis-ten to storytime and more.
On Aug. 4, Meet The Cat in theHat, our furry teacher for the dayand see what shinanigans he is upto in our Kindergarten Classroom!Cross the street with a crossingguard, ride a real school bus andtalk with Kindergarten teachers
aboutwhat to expect on that first
day of school. A variety of com-munity partners will attend toshare information helpful to par-ents of new students. The first 50Kindergarteners receive a freeClass of 2025 t-shirt!
For more information, visitonline at www.cmoekids.org.
The Countdown to Kinder-garten Classroom Exhibit is opendaily from 10 am - 2 p.m. and onSundays from noon - 4:00 p.m.the entire month of July!
Journey to Santa ClausHoliday World & Splashin'
Safari , in the town of SantaClaus, has a water park, chil-dren's rides and some of theworld's top wooden roller coast-ers. This family owned and oper-
ated park has been voted thecleanest, friendliest park on theplanet and makes for the perfectfamily adventure.
Voyage to Marengo CaveTravel about an hour to the east
and visit Marengo Cave . Friendlyand knowledgeable guides takeyou through immense under-ground passageways and inter-pret delicate rock formations.Marengo Cave also offers gem-stone mining, canoeing andcamping.
French LickFrench Lick offers family fun all
year round with Big SplashAdventure Indoor Water Park &Resort . The 40,000 square footindoor water park is full of kid-friendly features.
While in French Lick, take thefamily on a train ride on theFrench Lick Scenic Railway .Check the schedule for fun week-end and holiday rides such asstaged train robberies and ThePolar Express renditions.
For more information, visitwww.in.gov/visitindiana.com
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Indiana
Places to Go:Evansvillewith the kids
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Rochester NY –This eventwill present more than 1000artists performing at 18 venuesand outdoor stages, in 300 con-certs, including almost 70 freeconcerts. Last year's festivaldrew more than 182,000 fans.
With one of the nation's mostextensive international lineups,artists will travel from 14 coun-tries including Canada,Sweden, Denmark, FaroeIslands, Scotland, Ireland,England, Norway, Sierra Leone,Hungary, Cuba, France, Italyand Russia.
Norah Jones, Diana Krall,Steve Martin & The SteepCanyon Rangers, EsperanzaSpalding, Zappa Plays Zappa,and Daryl Hall "Live FromDaryl's House" with specialguest Keb' Mo', will headline.Concerts for Krall, Jones andMartin (two shows) are soldout. Tickets for EsperanzaSpalding, Daryl Hall andZappa Plays Zappa are on salenow at rochesterjazz.com.
The Club Pass series - whichincludes three international
series, Made inthe UK, NordicJazz Now andViva Italia – willbe held in 12venues and fea-ture more than200 showsincludingChristian McBride, TomHarrell, Ninety Miles, TerrenceBlanchard Quintet, BennyGreen Trio, Eliane Elias Trio,Colin Stetson, Roy Haynes,Raul Midon, Catherine Russell,Eldar, Nicholas Payton, EivorPalsdottir, Liane Carroll, TessaSouter and Get The Blessing,Brandi Disterheft, Chic Gamineand Gypsophila, internationalrising stars IPA, Goran Kfajes,Mederic and Mathias Eick.
Free outdoor stage concertswill feature Trombone Shorty,Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-a-Whirl Band, Gov't Mule withWarren Haynes and the south-ern rockers Outlaws.
"In assembling more than 300performances for our annualnine-day celebration of creative
improvised music, my goal isto harness the power of humanexpression through music in acalculated fashion, " says JohnNugent, Producer and ArtisticDirector. "The super wave oftalent coming will bring ouraudience to new heights ofaural ecstasy not yet experi-enced! It's going to be our bestfestival yet!"
Marc Iacona, Producer andExecutive Director, says,"Rochester will once again bean international focal point ofone of America's true art forms.Jazz was developed around theturn of the 20th century, and itis reborn every June inRochester, NY!"
For more information and acomplete concert schedule, visitwww.rochesterjazz.com
PlacesTo Go:
New York
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CHESTERTOWN - SaratogaSprings Food Tours offers deli-cious 2.5 hour walking tours ofthe Spa City which includes“tastings” at some ofSaratoga’s most interestingfood shops, restaurants andFarmer’s Market artisans.
This cultural walking tourpairs delicious food with talesof Saratoga Springs history,suitable for all age groups andfitness levels, The tours startevery Saturday at 12:30 at theSaratoga Springs Farmer’sMarket.There, par-ticipantssamplecheeses,yogurt, jamsand tape-nades madeby localfarmers. Ateach stopparticipantslearn theunique carethat goesinto makingthe locallyproducedfood spe-cialty. Then it’s on to the OldBryan Inn where the group notonly tastes but also learns thehistory of this first Saratogainn that was an importantplayer in the RevolutionaryWar.
The tour continues toBroadway St. where there aretastings of olive oils and bal-samic vinegars, salsas andcupcakes at several ofSaratoga’s unique specialtyfood shops.
Joanne Stenersen, visiting
from North Carolina, saidafterward “I’m glad we hadthe exercise to walk off all thatgreat food.”
The tour is full of storiesabout the characters that creat-ed the city such as JohnMorrissey who built the firstgambling casino, John Bryanthe tavern owner and spy, JohnClark, who made Saratogawater an international brandand Lucy Skidmore who start-ed a college for young womenin the city.
Tickets for the tour are $40which includes all tastings.They can be purchased on linethrough the website at www.saratogaspringsfoodtours.comor call 518-803-418 for moreinformation.
New YorkThings To Do:Take a Food Walking Tour
In 1853 George Crum invented the SaratogaChip, a thin French fry, now known as thepotato chip.
New York
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Fans of the movieJAWS© across the worldare gearing up forJawsFest : The Tribute,taking place on Martha’sVineyard, aka, “AmityIsland.” The event wil lexplore how the makingof "Jaws"© has impactedthe l ives of those whocame to Amity in 1974and how the blockbusterfi lm they created contin-ues to impact l ives today.The tr ibute wil l concen-trate on the men andwomen of "Jaws" whohave passed, with specialfocus on Peter Benchley,Roy Scheider, and RobertShaw.
Experience Living Jaws,a series of l ively andengaging discussionswith event VIPs on themaking of "Jaws" andhow the f i lm impactedtheir l ives and familiesin the 1970s to the pres-ent. Behind The Screams,is a museum-quality dis-play of private collec-t ions of "Jaws" photo-graphs and memorabil ia
from the f i lming, includ-ing i tems from privatecollections and othernever-before-seen i tems;Shark In The Park is anafternoon of baseball ,family activit ies , theopportunity to meet withVIPs, and more. Sharks,Arts & Conservation wil lbe an “event within anevent” presented in col-laboration withFeatherstone Center forthe Arts al lowing theopportunity to meetglobally recognizedshark experts such as Dr.Greg Skomal and mem-bers of Shark Savers.
Enjoy a Trivia Hunt,random re-enactmentsand Jaws On The BigScreen at beautiful OceanPark, Oak Bluffs .
“As JAWS© continuesto entertain new genera-t ions of audiencesaround the world, we’rethri l led to give fans aunique event experiencein Martha’s Vineyardthat they wil l never for-get ,” said Susan Sigel
Goldsmith, event co-director from 2005 andproducer of the 2012event.
The event coincideswith Universal Studios’100th Anniversary cele-bration and the August14th release of JAWS onBlu-ray, featuring afully restored and dig-ital ly remastered pic-ture. JawsFest also co-incides with the 25thanniversary of Dis-covery Channel’sShark Week. Expertsfrom Shark Week andShark Savers are help-ing the JawsFest teamturn 2012 into the Sum-mer for the Sharks onMartha's Vineyard-a sea-son-long init iat ive toraise funds and aware-ness to help with sharkconservation.“ As JAWS©continues to entertainnew generations of audi-ences around the world,fans visit ing Martha’sVineyard wil l not soonforget this fest ival .”
www.jawstribute.com
Photo by Edith Blake
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New England
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Submitted by Paul McKenzieNew England Travel Report
RUTLAND, VT - The Norman RockwellMuseum houses a nationally recognizedcollection of Norman Rockwell's art andcommemorates the artist's Vermont yearsand the entire span and diversity of hiscareer (1911-1978).
This chronological display of more than2,500 Norman Rockwell magazine covers,advertisements, calendars, and other pub-lished works shows Rockwell's develop-ment as an illustrator and links his work to
the political, economic, and cultural his-tory of the United States.
Americans first knew and loved NormanRockwell’s art as it appeared on andbetween the covers of America’s most popu-
lar magazines. These magazine covers, adver-tisements, and illustrations are at the heart ofthe Rutland museum collection.
People to SeeNorman RockwellThrough his art
New
Eng
land
Summer, 2012 www.WeekenderExtended.com Page 23
The Saturday Evening Postcovers, which most people arefamiliar with, represent a frac-tion of Rockwell’s art. He alsopainted covers for such forgot-ten magazines as Judge,Leslie’s, The Literary Digest,The Country Gentleman, anda host of others.
Though Rockwell loveddoing these covers, his bread-and-butter was his advertis-ing. He received twice as much for an ad as hedid for a cover, and his art sold products asdiverse as socks and steel. Illustrators ofRockwell's day were respected for their knowl-edge of public taste. For the most part, thecompanies left it to Rockwell's discretion as tohow to sell their goods or services.
"The Baby Carriage," May 20, 1916 -Rockwell's first Saturday Evening Post cover.
Norman Rockwell's first Saturday EveningPost cover, "The Baby Carriage," was differentfrom that of other Post artists. For example,Rockwell used real people as models; he didnot just concoct a "situation." Rockwelltook much of what he learned from hisbeloved teacher George Bridgman from theArt Students League. Bridgman wrote abook titled "The Human Machine" whichwas an illustrated treatise on the muslesand motions of the body. Norman Rockwellpoured over this book in order to under-stand the the motor cause and effect. Youcan notice in this cover that the figuresmove naturally. The baby-sitter pushesagainst the carriage with proper displace-ment. All the boys "fit" into the composi-tion without appearing to be "squeezed" in,and Rockwell is pictorially aware of thepost requirements of its logo, parallel barsand bottom cover lines.
Norman Rockwell’s rosy illustrations ofsmall town American life looked so photo-graphic because his method was to copy
photographs that he conceived and meticu-lously directed, working with various photog-raphers and using friends and neighbors as hismodels.
The Norman Rockwell Museum of Rutland,Vermont, was established in 1976. It is locatedin Rutland at the crosswords of Vermont onRoute 4, 2 miles East of Route 7. Open daily, 9a.m. - 5 p.m. The Museum's Gift Shop has awide selection of Norman Rockwell art forpurchase: prints, figurines, plates, BoyScout prints, Saturday Evening Post covers,and more. www.normanrockwell vt.comPhone: 802-773-6095
New England
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Huntington, Vt. - Featuring more than 500 life-size carved birds, this museum celebrates its 25thanniversary with a display of life-size, biological-ly accurate, one of a kind carvings.
While learning about the traditional art ofwood carving, visitors can experience, explore,appreciate, and enjoythe birds.
In 2009, YankeeMagazine rated itNew England's "BestSpecialty Museum."
Since opening, thebuilding has doubledin size, exhibits haveexpanded, program-ming for children andadults has increased,and the number of
completed carv-ings has more thandoubled. Most ofthe carvings havebeen completed byBob Spear, masterw o o d c a r v e r ,founder andDirector of theBirds of VermontMuseum.
Over the last 25years, the Museumworked, and stillworks, to fulfill itsmission to provideeducation, to nurturean appreciation of theenvironment, and tostudy birds and theirhabitats using wood carvings and other museumresources.
Bob Spear, 92, has spent over 24,000 hoursworking toward his goal of creating life-size, bio-
logically accurate, wooden representations of allthe varied and fascinating birds that makeVermont their home during some or all of theyear. His passion has inspired fellow bird loversand woodcarvers to share in the process.
Lucky visitors may enjoy quiet time watchingBob working in hisworkshop or observ-ing birds at the feedersthrough the viewingwindow. To celebratetheir 25th anniversarythe Museum haspacked their schedulethis summer with slideshows, bird walks,carving demonstra-tions and classes, chil-dren’s programs, andbird related festivals.Details can be foundon the Museum's web-site www.birdsofver-mont.org. or call 802-434-2167.
In addition to theseevents visitors willfind a wealth of infor-mation on theMuseum’s history,contributing carvers,Museum webcam,events calendar, andvolunteer opportuni-ties. The museum ison Sherman HollowRoad in Huntington,about 5 miles south-east of Richmond.The
Museum is open 7 days a week thru Oct 31 andopen by appointment other times. Admission: $6adults, $3 ages 3-17. Enjoy walking trails, picnicareas, and a gift shop.
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People to See:Rodney Atkins
BELVIDERE-The BooneCounty Fair Board hasannounced tickets for its 2012grandstand lineup will go onsale daily starting July 7 from 8a.m. to noon at the fairgroundsbox office at Main Gate #1.
The 2012 lineup of theAugust 7 – 12 fair will featureCountry Star Rodney Atkins ona new night, Saturday, at 7:30p.m. for only $15 reservedgrandstand or track seats. Heis known for such hits as“Watching You”and “If you’reGoing ThroughHell.”Traditionally thecountry stars haveperformed onFriday evening but the boardfelt having the feature act onSaturday fairgoers wouldn’thave to rush and could relaxand enjoy an entire day at thefair.
However, Friday night willbe featuring the always excitingNext Level Pro Bull Riding at 7p.m. which will also includemutton busting and barrel rac-ing all for a $10 reserved seat.Also on Friday and new for2012 in front of the grandstandwill be ATV RACING at 11amfor only $5. You’re welcome torace your own ATV, go to:www.kickabuda.com.
As always there are manyfree daily attractions in theEntertainment Building andthroughout the grounds all daylong. Gates open at 8am dur-ing the fair. Come early andstay late. Visit online at www.boonecountyfair.com.
Illin
ois
Summer, 2012 www.WeekenderExtended.com Page 27
EDWARDSVILLE - From pup-pets to dance and drama to com-edy, this festival is filled withsomething for everyone.
Xfest invites artists and theatercompanies from around thenation to the SIUE campuswith four days of performanc-es and workshops in order toshare the world of non-tradi-tional theater styles with fansof the performing arts in theMidwest.
Xfest 3.0 is expected to bemore diverse than ever withopportunities for area collegesand new theater companies topremiere their own 15 minutealternative theater piecesdebuting in the festival’sSaturday afternoon slot.
On June 6, SIUE’s Arts &Issues, in conjunction withXfest 3.0, offers a world pre-miere from Squonk Opera at 7:30 p.m. Creatorsof a unique brand of avant garde theater, SquonkOpera, gives birth to Edwardsville: The Operacreated especially for the 2012 festival. In its cel-ebration of Edwardsville, Squonk Operaexplores the broader issues of shared humanityand the need for self-definition.
On June 7, the festival officially begins at 7:30p.m. with a performance of Violators will beViolated (mature audiences only). Smith’sViolators will be Violated is the winner of the2009 Loa Angeles Weekly Award for Best SoloPerformance and Top Ten Shows of 2009!
June 8 begins with the production, Grim andFischer by the Wonderheads followed around 9p.m. with a Talk Back Session with the cast. Thisphysical theatre ensemble from Portland,
Oregon uses masks to create wild fan-tastical works. Grim and Fischer isdescribed as a death comedy in full-face mask and is a fantastical theaterpiece that will delight audiences.
On June 9 don’t miss exciting per-formances of severaloriginal short worksby Theater 310b andothers in X-hibitionsfrom 3:30 - 5 p.m.Spawned from the firstXfest master class in 2009,Theater 310b is a rotatinggroup of faculty and stu-dents whose mission andlove is to explore a multi-tude of theater styles. Theevening concludes with a7:30 p.m. Keynote Speech,“The Artist as Creator” byMark Valdez which isimmediately followed bya performance of Will You
Still Be You by the Luis Tentindo’s PuppetTheater. Stay for a Talk Back Session after theperformance with Luis Tentindo and cast. TheItalian born puppeteer, now living in New YorkCity, is creating a new work to premiere at Xfest3.0 that melds puppets, movement and multime-dia into a visually impactful piece of theater.
SIUE is located a short 20 minutes from down-town St Louis on the Illinois side of the river justoff Illinois Route 157. Lodging, dining and otherEdwardsville amenities are conveniently locatednext to the campus.
Ticket prices vary from individual performanc-es to package fees, $12-60. Call 618-650-2774 ortoll free at 888-328-5168, extension 2774. Visitwww.siue.edu/xfest, www.siue.edu/artsand-sciences/theater.
Places to GoIllinois
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South Carolina
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By Kathy Barnett / Managing EditorWhen the daily grind and busyness of work
gets you down and you need a break from ahectic lifestyle, Red Horse Inn should be yourchoice for getting away from it all.
A drive to the country about a half hourfrom Greenville reveals an ultimate view of
the Blue Ridge Mountains from your room.Pamper yourself in the luxurious surroundingsof rose petals on the bed, a glass of wine, amovie or just enjoy the beautiful view.
To add to your privacy, you don’t even haveto leave your room for breakfast.. Enjoy aquiet, intimate breakfast in bed. Everget hungry in the middle of thenight? It’s all right there in a food-style closet containing a compactrefrigerator, coffee maker andmicrowave. Owners and hosts, Maryand Roger Wolters, have definatelypaid attention to every detail for com-fort and relaxation.
“Your comfort, care and well-being are para-mount to us,” says Mary. “We hope this magi-cal property reveals itself to you as it has tous.” As perfect inn keepers should be, Maryand Roger are just a phone call away to answerquestions or serve your needs at a moment’snotice. But when you want to be alone, youare.
Once settled in, I didn’t want to leave. I justwanted to sit and soak up the peaceful atmos-phere. However, there is a wide variety ofthings to do and people to see the short dis-tance away in Greenville. Take a ride on thefree trolley up and down Main Street for agreat choice in shopping opportunities or enjoya leisurely stroll through Falls Park that is inthe center of Downtown Greenville. Whateveryour choice, it’s a great getaway for anyone!
Places to Go:Red Horse Inn
Attractions near GreenvilleShoeless Joe Jackson Museum 864-235-6280Zoo: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 864-467-4300 Museum and Gallery at Bob Jones
bjumg.org 864-770-1331Falls Park/Downtown Greenville
www.fallspark.com 864-467-4355Main Street Fridays/Live Musicdowntowngreenville.org 937-548-4998"At the Chef's Table" Tour
www.shoptable301.com 800-979-3370
For more information you can also visitwww.greenvillecvb.com
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GREENVILLE - Steakhouses are not all the same. CityRange Steakhouse Grill is conveniently located in front of astrip mall shopping center and, at first, looks like a typicalchain restaurant. I wish it was because I’d certainly travel toa nearby city to enjoy. Alas, this one is unique to SouthCarolina and only features two locations: the original one inGreenville and the other in Spartanburg.
When in South Carolina, be sure to go. It is worth thetrip. Each item on the chef inspired menu is made freshdaily, utilizing the best ingredients, with a wide variety of choices and prices. This steak housespecializes in juicy, tender, sizzling Black Angus steaks; comfort food with flair; fresh salads andsandwiches; craveable appetizers and tasty desserts. The wine list is by far the longest I’ve seenin any upscale restaurant along with signature creations like the “Sneaky Peach” or “LinnoncellMartini.” All the appetizers sounded so yummy, we chose the Signature Trio, a shareable sam-pler of crab cakes, shrimp cocktail and tuna wontons.
All CitySpecialty steaks are aged aminimum of 21 days for anenhanced flavor and extra tender-ness. Aging allows natural enzymesto breakdown the hard connectivetissue in meats and for water toevaporate away concentrating theflavor. We were not dissappointed.Great flavor!
Be sure to save room for dessert if you can. TheVolcano Cake was an explosion of chocolate flavor - achocolate lover’s dream. For more information or to
make reservations, visit www.cityrange.com.
South Carolina
The name tells it all:CityRange...Where there’s a Range ofFlavors, a Range of Choices, a Rangeof Prices...A’Range a visit soon!
Page 32 www.WeekenderExtended.com Summer, 2012
By Kandy DerdenManaging Editor / Mo. WeekenderFor years, our family reunions were little
more than a potluck dinner and a very briefphoto shoot. It didn't take long for all thegroup shots to look alike. Yes, the childrengrew taller and the adults aged, but over theyears our memories faded. When lookingthrough our old photos we can't distinguish oneyear from another. Even the backgrounds arethe same: a semi-blank wall in a church base-ment, 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 fam-ily decided to meet in a central locationand rent a guesthouse for an entire week-
end. Thephotogra-phy is dif-ferent. Theshots fromthat weekendare mostly candidshots to remind us of fun events. Even if noneof the pictures get documented, I'm confidentthat whenever we browse through the photo-graphs, we will instantly recall, "Oh yeah, thatwas the time we all . . ." And the trip downmemory lane will begin.
We have all agreed that it was more fun thanprevious reunions and we definitely want to doit again. Now all we need is a date wheneveryone can participate and a location.
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If I am allowed anyinput on that subject, I definitely have a
suggestion. From a one bedroom hideaway to alarge home complete with separate bunkhouse,the Sayles Ranch in Abilene has guesthousessuitable for any size gathering. These homesaway from home are each private and yet conve-niently located close to each other for quickaccess when desired.
Unlike cookie cutter hotel rooms, each househas items displayed from the personal collectionof the owner, Terry Browder. With an eye for allthe little details which make a house into ahome, Terry has creatively decorated each to fol-low a specific Texan theme. Antique quilts, toys,trunks, vintage fixtures and utensils, needlepointpillows, animal skins, antlers, books, boots andhats, unique sculpture and a blend of modernand rustic artwork items have been incorporatedinto each room.
Several light fixtures feature antlers, but thisone was different in that Terry used old skeletonkeys instead of crystals like a chandelier. Somebedrooms use old doors as headboards but theone really different one used car doors. I would-n't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. One of thehouses has a screened in porch with wicker fur-niture which would interest the outdoorsy types.
At the same time, the comfort of the guests isforemost in the selection of modern conven-iences such as flat screen televisions, access toelectronic games, wireless internet, and noexpense has been spared in the selection of high
qual-ity linens andtowels.
The original Sayles house is the mostrecent addition to this enterprise. This homeis listed on the national historic register andis currently being renovated. This landmarkwill be a "Boutique Hotel Alternative"expected to open next year. I look forwardto a return visit to Abilene and the opportu-nity to stay in this home so rich with historyand symbolic of gracious living.
To make reservations or for more informa-tion go towww.saylesranch.com or call325-669-6856.He'll help youselect the mostsuitable resi-dence for yourweekend get-away, businessevent, retreat,wedding, partyor as in our case,family reunion.
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“Ibelievethatalmosteveryonehas an“innercowboy”in them. Igrew up
loving to play “Cowboy and Indians”, andI idolized The Lone Ranger and Tonto! Iknow this is not unique to my experiencebecause when we were removing the ceil-ing from the 85 year old Carriage Housewe 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 toygun. To me, that rifle is symbolic of what I havetried to achieve with The Sayles Ranch. It is arediscovered link to a past ‘frontier adventure’.By staying at the Sayles Ranch, you are on thatadventure and my goal is to release that innercowboy in you. As you have figured out by now,the Sayles Ranch is not really a ranch at all, butit is a concept—a virtual reality. Oh yes, it is anenclave of beautiful houses–a place to stay while
you are in Abilene; but hopefully, it is more. It isa special place that was born of my love of WestTexas, my love of Abilene and my desire to shareso much of the beauty, aesthetics and history ofthis great part of Texas with people like you!Well over a hundred years ago, my great grand-mother brought her children in a covered wagonto a patch of prairie land about 150 miles northof here. She was a widow, permanently lamefrom a horseback riding accident and financiallydestitute. She came out West to drive her stakein some of the last free land available for home-steading in America. From our family folklore Iknow that she endured great hardship and musthave been one gutsy dreamer!
The Sayles Ranch is a tribute to my ancestors,and to yours and to all those people who bravedunthinkable trials to pursue their dreams! Withthe Texas heritage décor I have attempted toevoke that pioneer spirit and create a place thatwill enhance your stay as our guest. The hand-made Mesquite furniture, the antiques and allthe hides, horns and hats evoke the romanticismof our ranching history. The good Lord hasblessed my efforts, and I hope that in some smallway, you are able to experience the “soul” of TheSayles Ranch concept when you stay here.
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Terry Browder, Founder
“I want you to feel like youhave experienced a piece of our his-tory and the spirit of our frontierheritage. Grab your toy rifle andlet the adventure begin!”
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WAPAKANETA – The Armstrong Air & SpaceMuseum is active all night long during overnight vis-its. The museum shares the story of Neil Armstrong,all Ohioans who have attempted to defy gravity, theSpace Race, and current space exploration. The muse-um itself is designed to resemble a futuristic moonbase. It is most beautiful when viewed at dusk.
The museum features many one-of-a-kind artifactsincluding the Gemini VIII spacecraft, NeilArmstrong’s Geminiand Apollo spacesuits,and an Apollo 11 moonrock. The museum isalso home to two full-size aircraft, both ofwhich were flown byMr. Armstrong. A 15-year-old Armstronglearned to fly at PortKoneta, a long-goneWapakoneta airfield. Heflew a yellow AeroncaChampion now onexhibit at the museum.
Scout programs allowtroops to come fromacross Ohio and participate in activities designed tomeet merit badge requirements. Groups can buildlunar rover racers using foam and balloons, designpaper airplanes using Bernoulli’s principle, make starcharts, use a telescope and can create their own mis-sion patches like each of NASA’s mission crews.
Take a personal tour and watch a film on the first
lunar landing or racee to complete a scavenger hunt.Snack on pizza before free time and lights out. Somegroups may even build and launch their own modelrockets. Eventually, everyone settles in to their(lunar) camps and sleeping bags to catch a few hoursof sleep before physical training each morning. Justas astronauts start their day with exercise and break-fast, so do the museum campers.
Overnight programs are available to any group. Infact, the museum is plan-ning public overnightevents this summer. Thescout programs are avail-able throughout the year,but book quickest in thespring. Many of the pro-grams used for the scoutovernights are also avail-able to school tourgroups and during spe-cial events like theSummer Moon Festivalin July.
The museum is openduring the day as well,9:30-5:00 Monday
through Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday. It is a won-derful family vacation destination. There are manyfun and interesting sites to visit while you are in thearea. To learn more about the Armstrong Air & SpaceMuseum be sure to check out their website,www.armstrongmuseum.org and for interestingspace related fun facts become a fan on Facebook.
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Ohio
The sixth annual BlueberryBash is a popular event duringthis festival. Located at the Mainstage Saturday from 2-4 p.m.,this event begins with a familyoriented Richland Bank TreasureHunt. Various competitions anda few craft tables will be fea-tured.
The following “Bash”schedule may be adjustedif certain events take moreor less time than anticipat-ed. Other competitionsmay be added if timeallows as well.
2:00PM Richland BankTreasure Hunt
2:15PM Pie Eating Contest.Pies are generously donatedby the Lexington SeniorCenter
2:30PM Blueberry spittingcontest
2:45PM Bubble gum blowing contest3:00PM Water races3:15-4:00 Blueberry Stomp! Teams of 2 compete
to stomp their blueberries the fastest! (This eventmay cause contestants to getblueberry juice on theirclothes.)
During the entire event,tables will be available forchildren to get their nailspainted or to makebracelets/necklaces. Formore information, contact:Katie Getz at 419-544-2700.
Live musical entertain-ment will also be abun-dant throughout the festi-val with a Showcase of the Bands.
Current bands performing atthe Main stage between 6-11p.m. are: Infinity Ball, TheRolling Hams, Jessie Brown,Pett-Crow, Anthony Gomes,Brent Kirby, The Ark Band, SoulSatyr, and Christian Band.
Come out and show your tal-ents on Sunday from 2-4 p.m.
during the Blueberry Idol contest. Cash prizes willbe 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 votefor their favorite performers in the same threecategories for $.50 a vote. The audience choicewinners will receive trophies! There is a $10
entry fee for those compet-ing.
Other events includ a5k Run and 5k Walk,auction, parade, pag-eants, Big Wheel Race, acar/bike show, sportsactivities and fireworkson Saturday evening.Various vendors will offerfestival foods while othersoffer crafts. Many organi-zations will performdeomonstrations whilefamily activities are high-lighted.
A carnival and live ponyrides will be offeredevenings between 5-9 p.m,provided by Happy HAmusements and GottfriedPonyrides.
A complete schedule,details, and comunity map isavailable at www.lexblueber-ryfest.com.
Ohio
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Places to Go:
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Ohio
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Ohio
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Ohio
Ohio
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Ohio
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