Mr. G’s
Posted on 1/26/2012
 Eighteen separate cities, towns and villages make up the Fox Cities and it can be extremely difficult to tell whether you’re in Neenah or Menasha, Kimberly or Buchanan. So I can’t actually tell you whether my pals and I were in Appleton or Grand Chute the other night when we had dinner at Mr. G’s & Co. on Northland Avenue. I can say with great certainty, however, that the food and service were great.
Mr. G’s looks like a typical sports bar, but it has a large and varied menu. Every in my group opted for burgers and sandwiches, but we could have chosen steaks, ribs, wraps or pasta. The reasonable prices got rave reviews and so did the burgers, particularly the one with the crispy fried onions on it. Our waiter enthusiastically recommended the potato skins instead of fries and he was absolutely right. Thick and crisp, with a crust of parmesan cheese on them and a side of sour cream, the skins were a hit all around.
Our waiter was funny and attentive, without being a pain in the neck, and it was one of those occasions that I was happy to give a generous tip!
You can learn more about Mr. G’s at www.mrgsbarandgrill.com.
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One Visitor’s Perspective of Appleton
Posted on 1/10/2012
 Enjoyed Audrey Kletscher Helbling’s blog about her recent visit to Downtown Appleton. Come back soon!
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ScatterJoy!
Posted on 1/5/2012
I had to dash out and get a last-minute gift during the holidays. I was looking for some “sweater mittens” — those nice cozy gloves made from recycled wool sweaters. I found just what I was looking for at ScatterJoy! on Casaloma Drive just north of the Fox River Mall. It had been a while since I went into the store and I had forgotten all the cute gifts they carry.
Plenty of options when you need something out of the ordinary or special. They also have a great line of sassy greeting cards and cocktail napkins and gifts for pets and babies. Lots of fun stuff and they wrapped by gift in a great Christmas box. Bonus!
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Mary’s Place Chicken Chili
Posted on 12/27/2011
The Fox Cities area is well known for its restaurants. We’ve got many of the national chains and dozens of great locally owned restaurants, including plenty with an ethnic flavor. But sometimes all you want is a family restaurant, and when that happens I head to Mary’s Place in Appleton.
Last Tuesday was one of those times. I worked late and needed a quick supper before my 7 PM meeting. I’ve written before about their yummy chicken dumpling soup, which is what I had in mind when I arrived, but chicken chili was the evening special so I chose that. For less than $6 I got a generous portion of delicious white chicken chili with crispy tortilla triangles and my choice of side dishes. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
There are two Mary’s Place Restaurants, one on N. Richmond Street and another one on S. Oneida Street.
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Little Chute Windmill
Posted on 12/15/2011
 If there are Wisconsin communities with a stronger Dutch heritage than Little Chute, it’s hard to imagine. It’s a village where names like Vandenboom, Vanderheyden and Vandenwymelenberg are common, and where the most common lawn ornament is a tiny windmill.
A number of dedicated Dutch or “honorary Dutch” volunteers have spent the last few years raising money and acquiring land on which to build a real windmill in downtown Little Chute, and their vision is about to become a reality. In fact, the base of the new windmill is under construction and the windmill parts – built in the Netherlands – are in storage across town. Although it doesn’t look all that huge in this picture, the windmill will stand 10 stories tall when its “sail” is in the upright position.
It’s scheduled to be operational in fall of 2012. You’ll not only be able to go right into the windmill and see it grinding grain. Sounds like great fun for kids and grown-ups!
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Great Gift Idea from the Fox Cities PAC
Posted on 12/15/2011
Whether your loved one is a fan of musicals or dramas, comedy, dance or the Fox Valley Symphony, a Fox Cities PAC gift certificate will provide a a lasting memory and an inspiration in the new year. Plus, a gift certificate allows your giftee to pick the show that’s just right for their tastes and their schedule.
Order online by December 16, and you’ll get a present too – a free iTunes Broadway show tune sampler!
Order your Fox Cities P.A.C. gift certificate by 4:00 p.m. on December 16 to ensure your loved one receives their Fox Cities P.A.C. gift certificate by Christmas Day. www.foxcitiespac.com.
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Get in the Holiday Spirit with a Visit to Downtown Menasha
Posted on 12/6/2011
 If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping crowds, look no further than Downtown Menasha. Whether you have an hour to spare, or time to just stroll and enjoy holiday scents and sounds, you’ll leave feeling relaxed and refreshed, not to mention you will have found something special for those hard to buy for people on your shopping list.
One place you’ll have to stop, for a wonderful breakfast, lunch, or just coffee, is the Weathervane. What a terrific little café this is! You’ll be greeted by the friendliest of staff, and their extensive menu offers a great variety of choices. I had the Veggie Eggs Benedict, which comes with fresh fruit and a potato choice, and let me just say, it was wonderful! The food is fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced, and the Weathervane will now be our favorite ‘go-to’ spot for breakfasts!
Next we stopped at the Wild Apple Gallery. This is a small but amazing shop, filled with countless treasures; everything from jewelry, ornaments and fine art pieces, to hand-knit items and home décor. What a fun place, with so many unique gift ideas. The glass angels are so beautiful too!
And of course no trip to downtown Menasha is complete without a trip to The Wreath Factory. Inside you find an unbelievable array of holiday décor, fresh greenery, every imaginable decoration for your holiday tree and home, and many one-of-a-kind gift items. Do something special for yourself, or with family this holiday season, by making time to visit these, and many other unique shops in downtown Menasha.
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Unwrap a Present Early with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra featuring Rockapella
Posted on 11/22/2011
 This holiday season, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in downtown Appleton has a special present you can enjoy early with a visit from the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra featuring Rockapella on November 28 & 29. Known as “America’s Orchestra,” the Boston Pops are probably best known for their annual Fourth of July concert, but they also present a phenomenal holiday show under the direction of conductor Keith Lockhart with exciting new arrangements of the classic carols and special guests Rockapella.
Rockapella brings their own signature sound to the performances with an a cappella tradition that spans 20 years. You might remember them as the vocal act from the PBS show “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” Rockapella has become world-travelers in their own right earning rave review in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Switzerland and Germany.
If you’re spending Black Friday in Wisconsin’s most popular shopping destination, stay an extra day and kick off the holidays in style at the Fox Cities P.A.C. It’s their only tour stop in Wisconsin, so make your plans today at foxcitiespac.com.
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The History Museum at the Castle
Posted on 11/15/2011
 If you are looking for a fun and educational activity for both kids and adults, stop in at the History Museum At the Castle. The museum is located on the east edge of downtown Appleton across the street from Lawrence University.
My family spent an afternoon at the museum last week and there really is something for everyone. My brother, an engineer, didn’t want to leave the Tools of Change exhibit until he figured out how all of those old tools and machines worked. And my wife and four-month old daughter got a kick out of watching my niece and seven-year old nephew perform all of Houdini’s stunts in the AKA Houdini exhibit.
The History Museum’s new exhibit “Progressive Appleton: Through the Lens of W.D. Schlafer” opens today. Here’s a link to more about that exhibit: http://www.myhistorymuseum.org/progressiveappleton.html.
I highly recommend a visit to the History Museum At the Castle if you are looking for something to do while in Appleton. For information, go to: www.myhistorymuseum.org.
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Fox Cities PAC 2011/12 Line Up
Posted on 11/15/2011
I had the opportunity to see a sneak preview of the Fox Cities PAC’s 2011/12 line up … and I was blown away. We were treated to music by the cast of the “Million Dollar Quartet” the hit musical inspired by the true story of a recording session that brought together Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. The music was, obviously, phenomenal, but the actors were just as great. Each bringing to life their character…right down to the way the actor playing Johnny Cash held is guitar.
I learned the story behind “Billy Elliot”, with Elton John’s amazing score. Imagine trying to cast the lead role: a young boy with ballet skills good enough to make it to the Royal Ballet who also has tap and modern dance AND gymnastics abilities.
I saw some of the high-flying scenes of “Mary Poppins” and the power of Les Miserables. I also didn’t realize that the classic “West Side Story” was first produced on Broadway in the late ’50′s and aside from some travelling show has basically been vaulted until now.
The Broadway series will be joined by such favorites as Garrison Keillor and Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops with Rockapella.
It’s going to be an amazing season…and it’s going to be all right here in the Fox Cities. Season tickets are on sale now. <a target=”_blank”href=”http://www.foxcitiespac.com“> Here’s a link to more information on all the shows.
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