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Fox Cities on the Big Screen
Posted by Lynn Peters on 8/31/10 |
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 Get ready to see the Fox Cities on the big screen. Much of an independent movie called "Waterwalk" is being filmed on the Fox River right here! The film is based on the true story of a father and son who decided to canoe the 1,000-mile river route of explorers Marquette and Joliet. Inexperienced paddlers who were ill-prepared for the dams and fast-moving water in Appleton, they dumped their canoe here and lost much of their gear.
The movie is scheduled to be released in spring of 2011 and you can find more info about it at www.waterwalkthemovie.com. |
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Cleverly hidden near Fox Cities Stadium
Posted by Lynn Peters on 8/23/10 |
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Johnathan’s Bistro changed hands recently and I hadn’t heard much about it, so I headed off to lunch there on Thursday with a bit of trepidation.
My experience was good, however, and I can cheerfully give it two thumbs up. The lunch menu offers several delicious sounding Italian dishes, as well as sandwiches and pizza. There’s a large price range, but the “lunch specials” are pretty much between $10 and $12. I ordered penne pasta with sausage and peppers and . . . . let’s just say I didn’t leave enough in my bowl for a hungry mouse to dine on. It was positively wonderful and had just the right amount of zip for my taste.
The décor is subdued and contemporary, and my group experienced nice service. In fact I’d go back in a flash! Johnathan's is cleverly hidden near Fox Cities Stadium, but you can find out more about it at johnathansbistro.com.
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Hearthstone Historic House: A World-Class Historical Site
Posted by Alexandra Rathbone on 8/16/10 |
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 Many people may not be aware, but Appleton is home to a world-class historic landmark! The Hearthstone Historic House, located at 625 W. Prospect Avenue, was built in 1882 and functions as a restoration project and museum that is open to the public. The house became the first home in the world lit by a hydroelectric central station using the Thomas Edison system. Tours of the house allow you to view original light fixtures and switches, stained glass windows, and beautiful woodworking while a knowledgeable tour guide gives you insight into the history of the building itself and the ways its original occupants lived. The un-restored basement serves as a space for educational exhibits regarding Appleton, the science behind hydroelectric-powered buildings, and the Hearthstone itself. Tours are run on the hour and half-hour. Visit www.hearthstonemuseum.org for more information! Note: The museum is still open despite nearby construction on Memorial Drive. They recommend parking on State Street and walking down Prospect Avenue to get to the museum. |
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ASA Northern Nationals Softball This Week
Posted by Matt Ten Haken on 8/2/10 |
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 Some of the best youth softball players in the Midwest will converge on the Fox Cities this week with aspirations of bringing home the ASA Northern Nationals 12 and Under title. 43 teams from 10 different states will take to the fields at Sunset Park in Kimberly, Memorial Park in Combined Locks, and Doyle Park in Little Chute. Nine teams in the tournament have players from Northeastern Wisconsin.
Pool play begins on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Double-elimination bracket play will start on Thursday morning and will conclude with championships on Saturday afternoon. The opening ceremonies and introductions of all 43 teams will take place on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Sunset Park. Come out and support your favorite team at this family-friendly event. For more information on the ASA Northern Nationals, visit www.1kra.com.
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Brewed Awakenings: More than just coffee
Posted by Alexandra Rathbone on 7/30/10 |
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| Don’t be fooled by Brewed Awakenings name; they are more than just a coffee shop. Brewed Awakenings is a local, family-owned restaurant/café that serves home-made bakery, sandwiches, wraps, panini, breakfast, their very own gelato, a variety of specialty drinks, and, yes, delicious coffee. I stopped into this funky café to take a look at the new local art on the walls and have a bite to eat earlier this week and, let me tell you, they have whipped up some pretty good bakery, including an Omega-3 Blueberry Banana muffin and a Cranberry Chocolate Chunk muffin (both of which go well with their Chai tea). Brewed Awakenings seems to have something for everyone and is very vegetarian friendly! Stop in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights for live music too! Brewed Awakenings is located at 107 East College Avenue, right in the heart of Downtown Appleton. Visit their website www.brewedawake.com for more details! |
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We all scream for ice cream!
Posted by Lynn Peters on 7/27/10 |
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| Vande Walle’s Candies near the Fox River Mall is ready to help you tolerate the heat and humidity. They’re currently offering ice cream cones for 95 cents. I’m not kidding – real ice cream for less than a dollar! |
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Midwest Stars coming to WIR
Posted by Matt Ten Haken on 7/21/10 |
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| The paved half-mile D-shaped oval at Wisconsin International Raceway in the Kaukauna regularly hosts exciting Fox River Racing Club action each Thursday night. But on Tuesday, August 3, the track will host a special event, the Dixieland 150, with the touring stars of the American Speed Association (ASA) Midwest Tour. NASCAR drivers Johnny Sauter and Scott Wimmer will be making special appearances in the race. Racing fans in the Fox Cities know that some of today’s top NASCAR drivers have made stops at WIR and at the Dixieland 150 over the years. Notable names include: Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Mark Martin to name a few. Kenseth’s 17-year old son Ross is actually a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year honors on the ASA Midwest Tour and will look to take home the Dixieland title along with a host of up and coming drivers. Fans will also get to see an ASA Midwest Truck Tour race prior to the main event. General Admission tickets for all ages will be $15. Qualifying starts at 4 p.m. and races start at 7 p.m. For more info on the race go to: www.asamidwesttour.com or www.frrcracing.com. This will be an event that race fans will not want to miss! |
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Tools In Motion
Posted by Lynn Peters on 7/14/10 |
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The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum recently opened a fun and rather quirky new exhibit called Tools in Motion. I ran over there at noon today for the weekly "hard hat tour" with Jan Smith, the museum's executive director. I would have enjoyed the exhibit under any circumstances, but getting some insights from Jan made it even more interesting.
The show includes sculptures, paintings and prints originally owned by hardware industry pioneer John Hechinger. Many of the pieces are made from those everyday things you'd buy at a hardware store, things like drawer pulls, hammers and shovels. Lots are humorous and some are quite beautiful.
Hard hat tours are free and available at 12 noon every Wednesday. Learn more at www.paperweightmuseum.com . |
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A Little Night Music
Posted by Kim Tisler on 7/9/10 |
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 One of my favorite things about summer is having the chance to spend a beautiful, warm evening attending an outdoor concert. The sights, sounds, smells… you just can’t beat it! Fortunately for those living in or visiting the Fox Cities, there are a wealth of opportunities to grab a blanket and cooler, and head out for an evening of relaxation and rejuvenation, listening to a vast array of area musicians playing everything from jazz and country, to good ‘ole rock and roll. The Village of Kimberly hosts Sunday at the Amphitheater every Sunday evening. You’ll find the Appleton City Band playing at Pierce Park every Tuesday. On Wednesday, check out concerts in the Village of Little Chute, and the City of Neenah. The Downtown Heid Music Summer Concert Series plays Thursday evenings in Appleton’s Houdini Plaza. If you happen to find yourself in downtown Neenah on a Thursday during the lunch hour, check out the Out to Lunch Concert Series in Shattuck Park. And new this year in Appleton is Riverbeat Music Along the Fox, which is hosted at area locations along the Fox River in Appleton on Saturday afternoons. All of the concerts are free of charge, and wonderful for all ages. Many of the concert venues are located near area restaurants, giving you the opportunity to splurge on a variety of local fare before settling in to enjoy the music. (If you’re in downtown Appleton, you’ve got to stop in and see Josef at Gyros Kabob. They are back in the original location in Soldier Square, and the gyros are simply fantastic!) Check out our website for exact times and locations, and plan to take in a summer concert with friends, family or your special someone. The memories will get you through our cold Wisconsin winters! |
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Cheese Please!
Posted by Tami Hoff on 7/8/10 |
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 Our son attends college in sunny California. California may have “Happy Cows”, but our son is not happy because they apparently do not have cheese curds! To keep him alive and well, I routinely send him a delicious care package from Simon’s Specialty Cheese in Little Chute.
To place my son’s order, I love to visit the store in person. I then get to indulge in their free samples, pick up a fresh pizza to bake at home and get a hand dipped ice cream cone! The staff at Simon’s is very helpful in placing orders for shipment directly from their store. They have many beautiful gift box/baskets to choose from or you can create your own package of assorted items. I always add several bags of squeaky cheese curds to my orders!
Ordering from their website is very easy too. Simply go to simonscheese.com and choose from many varieties of Wisconsin cheeses, homemade fudge, gourmet gifts, and more. And, don’t forget the cheese curds!
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