Category Archives: 2) Frequent Destinations

April 29, 2011 · 2:50 pm

Mount Vernon, Ia. – one of 10 cool small towns

I didn’t know until I heard a plug on Iowa Public Radio this morning that the small northeast Iowa town of Mount Vernon was named one of then “cool small towns” by Budget Travel Magazine. Turns out this was back in 2009. But I’d have to agree. It’s the home of Cornell College and the wonderful restaurant the Lincoln Cafe and is smack in the middle of some bucolic farm country and about a half hour south is the booming artsy college town of Iowa City.  One place I don’t know that was mentioned in the Mount Vernon blurb: Fuel, a coffee shop/antique store.

The 2009 cool town list also includes Jacksonville, Oregon, which my husband and I visited in 2010 during a visit to my sister-in-law’s house in nearby Medford, and Tubac, Arizona which we visited many times during visits to see my dad in Tucson. (In Tubac, the mag recommends the interior design story Pancho’s, Tubac Center of the Arts, and Tubac Country Inn. Good to know since I’m sure we’ll be back there.)

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April 28, 2011 · 2:25 pm

Royal Wedding – from afar

Alas, I won’t be as near to this Royal Wedding as I was to the last big one thirty years ago, which I helped cover as a young reporter working in the London Bureau of a Yank newspaper. My British friends emailed today that wedding fever is finally starting to take hold of the capital – and perhaps the country. In addition to a republican (i.e. anti-monarchist) party where guests will dine on red food and NOT watch the wedding on the telly, one friend has been invited to a more traditional garden party at the home of a neighbor who has planted red, white and blue pansies for the occasion. Hope the weather permits (another friend reported its supposed to be rainy.)

I just may get up early tomorrow to tune in – although I’m not sure how early I can handle. I’ve got my new wedding kitsch just in time from my sister, who brought them back from a recent trip to England. A Wills-and-Kate tea towel and Wills-and-Kate mug. Hip Hip Hooray.

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April 26, 2011 · 2:04 am

who would’ah thunk it: spotted George Hamilton at Des Moines restaurant

On a Monday night in Des Moines, hard to imagine seeing anybody out for dinner, let alone perpetually tan actor George Hamilton who was dining at a table near us at Alba in the East Village. The director of the Greater Des Moines Civic Center was his host so that was a tip off – apparently the civic center unveiled its next season today and George will be returning in October (unless he’s staying here til then, as if) in La Cage Aux Folles.)

I”m particularly excited about Billy Elliot which will be in DM in June 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines announce its new 2011-2012 season on Monday night.The schedule includes La Cage Aux Folles, which headed to Iowa direct from Broadway — and stars George Hamilton. Wicked returns to Des Moines. Billy Elliot The Musical also is coming to the Civic Center.

2011

  • Oct 11-16:  La Cage Aux Folles (Staring George Hamilton)
  • Nov. 9- Dec. 4:  Wicked

2012

  • Feb. 7-12:  West Side Story
  • Feb 28-March 4:  Bring It On: The Musical
  • April 24-29:  Memphis
  • May 15-16: Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles
  • June 6-17: Billy Elliot The Musical

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April 20, 2011 · 5:31 pm

Where to eat in Albuquerque

My dad is passing through Albuquerque and was looking for a good place to eat so I checked in with my sister-in-law, who lives there. Figured I’d share her suggestions which include: the Grove Cafe,  Standard Diner, Farina (for wood oven pizza) and  Artichoke Cafe (a fancier place).

Also for a funky New Mexican food place, there is Duran’s Pharmacy near Old Town – an  old-fashioned pharmacy with a little restaurant that serves pretty decent stuffed sopapillas and green chile stew.

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April 18, 2011 · 7:07 pm

Things to do/see in Shenandoah, Iowa

We don’t get to southeast Iowa that much but here’s more reason to: Some places to visit in Shenandoah.

– Iowa Walk of Fame downtown (123 Iowans merit their own plaque in the sidewalk (akin to the literary walk in Iowa City?)

– Everly Brothers Childhood Home, (who knew they got their start here?)

– Wabash Trace Nature Trail – 60 mile trail through the Loess Hills; a converted railroad right-of-way. Popular starting points are the trailhead in Shenandoah. It’s made of crushed limestone, which isn’t my favorite surface, alas. http://www.wabashtrace.org

– The Sanctuary Restaurant – homemade sandwiches, entrees, desserts in a former church.

– Shenandoah Inn and Suites – family-owned hotel.

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April 17, 2011 · 5:49 pm

A place to stay in Mount Vernon Iowa

The pretty eastern Iowa college town of Mount Vernon (home to Cornell College) is one of our favorites – especially with its great restaurant the low-key but ambitious Lincoln Cafe and its offspring, the Lincoln Wine Bar. Now comes word in the DM Register of a place to stay overnight when we don’t feel like making the two-hour drive back to Des Moines after dinner or from Iowa City (where I daughter will be a student at U of Iowa next fall). It’s the Blythe Cottage Inn and the rates are tres reasonable – $60 to stay in one of the guest bedrooms or $75 for an entire guest cottage. http://www.pollyanns.com/blythecottageinn.html)

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April 14, 2011 · 10:31 pm

Bright Eyes tix for Aug. 8 concert in Des Moines – on sale tomorrow

I had to alert my son (who’s at college in Illinois) that tix for the Bright Eyes concert at  Des Moines’  Val Air Ballroom on Aug.8 go on sale tomorrow through ticketmaster – so thought I’d alert all of you too. Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to seeing the unlikely duo John Doe and Jill Sobule perform here on Sunday!

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April 13, 2011 · 2:10 pm

Midwestern hotels to check out

Also from a recent issue of Midwest Living:

– Chicago – Elysian, Ritz-Carlton, Hotel Palomar (rat pack-esque doormen!)

– Columbus, Indiana, Inn at Irwin Gardens

– Novi, MI, Baronette Renaissance

– Shell Knob, Missouri, (wherever that is), Stonewater Cove

– Dubuque, Hotel Julien

– Kohler, Wisc., The American Club

– Custer, S.D., Custer State Park Reunion Cabin

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April 12, 2011 · 4:22 pm

restaurants to check out all over the Midwest

Found a copy of the  Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Midwest Living on the library’s sale rack – so scooped it up since there’s always good recommendations on things to do in this neck of the woods. Here’s some restaurant recommendations:

– In Indianapolis, Recess (soup!)

– In Chicago, Gilt Bar and Restaurant on Magnificent Mile.

–  Woodbury, Minnesota (where we have friends!), Apertif (rotisserie chicken) and in neighboring St. Paul, Heartland (clever meat and potatoes) and Clearwater, Minn., Nelson Bros. Restaurant (yes, at a restaurant on I-94; fritter french toast w/wild rice sausage)

– Omaha, Hiro 88 (sushi and more in the Old Market district)

– Madison, Wisc. L’Etoile (longstanding haute green cuisine in new location)

– Kansas City, Glace Artisan Ice Cream (peanut butter ice cream with swirl of strawberry jam…) and Succotash

–  Traverse City, MI, Soul Hole (southern food in Old Town)

– Iowa City, Blue Bird Diner (Sunday brunch)

 

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April 11, 2011 · 11:12 pm

Avant-garde artist feted in Iowa city

Lil Picard – cabaret actress, Andy Warhol Factory workerbee, avant-garde artist – is the subject of a show at the University of Iowa’s Black Box Theater through May 27. The show is organized by the U of I’s Museum of Art.

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