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Holiday's
Posted by Mae Ibe on 1/5/10 |
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 Looking for a great sports bar to watch the upcoming NCAA bowl games, NFL playoffs, and basketball or hockey games? Holidays in the Town of Menasha is the perfect place!
My husband & I like to watch football and hockey together. We don’t, however, want to spend the money to buy the NFL or NHL ticket. We searched around to find a local establishment that was family friendly, served good food and drinks, and gave us the option to watch more than one game if we chose to do so. Once we found Holiday’s, we were hooked. With a full video wall and numerous TV’s in throughout the place, you have the option of watching whatever team you’re cheering for.
In addition, Holiday’s offers a private banquet room and an upstairs area for any type of gathering. We’ve held our kids’ hockey team parties, graduation parties and birthday parties there. And in the summer months, Holidays has a great outdoor seating area. Each experience has been very positive with great service and food!
They have a complete menu including salads, sandwiches, burgers, fish and more. My favorite is the chicken quesadillas!
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Best Ever Fireworks!
Posted by Lynn Peters on 12/28/09 |
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 The most amazing fireworks I've ever seen are those done by the Pyrotechnics Guild International. At their convention each summer they show off the newest and greatest in fireworks. In 2010 they'll return to the Fox Cities for the third time, with public performances at Wisconsin International Raceway on August 8, 11 and 13.
Get ready for the loudest booms you've ever heard and a sky as bright as day. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Tickets are already available from Ticketmaster, the Pit Stop in Kaukauna, Decker's Uncle Sam Fireworks in Green Bay and any Express Convenience Center in the Fox Cities, Green Bay or Oshkosh.
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Carmella's Italian Bistro
Posted by Lynn Peters on 12/22/09 |
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Although we're well known as "Wisconsin's Shopping Place," the Fox Cities is also home to lots of interesting and upscale restaurants. Several friends and I recently had dinner at Carmella's Italian Bistro, a new Italian restaurant located near the Fox River Mall. The place was buzzing with activity, even though it was a Monday night. In fact, it was actually a bit noisy. But my dinner made up for it. I ordered the gnocchi special and it was terrific. If you're not familiar with gnocchi, it's little potato dumplings used in place of pasta. It came with a deliciously spicy red sauce. The bread was chewy and delicious, and everyone raved about the soup.
Carmella's is still new and they may have a few kinks to work out, but I look forward to going back!
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Blueberry Hill Breakfast
Posted by Lynn Peters on 12/14/09 |
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I've heard people talk about Blueberry Hill, a restaurant located right across College Avenue from the Fox Cities Visitor Center, so I suggested my friend Sharon meet me there for a late breakfast.
The parking lot was jammed and the restaurant buzzing with activity, but we were seated immediately. The menu is large and dozens of items called my name, but the Greek omelet won out. Served with a delicious Greek sauce, the omelet was five (5!) eggs large, and came with hashbrowns and a choice of toast or pancakes. It was enough food for at least two people.
Blueberry Hill is a family restaurant. It's nothing fancy, but the food is good and the prices very reasonable. You'll get an excellent value for your dollar, and don't hesitate to ask for your leftovers to go . . . lots of people do!
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Get in the Spirit!
Posted by Lynn Peters on 11/30/09 |
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Need to get into the holiday spirit? I’ve got several suggestions.
1. Stop in at the Wreath Factory in downtown Menasha. It looks and smells like Christmas, and you’ll find it loaded with bright colors, beautiful fresh greenery, interesting holiday décor and a variety of gifts. Give my regards to the “Christmas Tree Lady” in the window!
2. Reserve tickets for "A Christmas Carol" at the Fox Cities PAC. Although we've all seen it a million times, it'll give you a warm holiday feeling.
3. Scour the Country Squire Gift & Christmas Shoppe for a new ornament. If they don't have the one you want, it probably doesn’t exist. Located just west of Neenah, it’s Christmas top to bottom.
4. Visit Santa at the Fox River Mall. I think he's the real deal, but even if he isn't, spending a few minutes watching him with children should put a smile on your face.
5. Check out the Enchanted Victorian Christmas at Hearthstone Historic House Museum. It'll make you want to run home and decorate your own house!
6. And if all else fails, stop in at Cleo’s Brown Beam in downtown Appleton, a local watering hole that keeps its Christmas decorations up all year long. If it doesn’t get you into the spirit, at least you’ll be able to enjoy a generously-sized beverage!
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Lucy's Closet
Posted by Pam Seidl on 11/30/09 |
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 Wisconsin's Shopping Place has several new additions in the downtowns of Neenah and Menasha. Today's feature: Lucy's Closet Pet Boutique.
Lucy's Closet opened last week. It features specialty dog and cat foods and homemade treats, as well as plenty of PINK and fun gifts for the furry friends on your list. You'll find everything from a $1 toy to a $90 jeweled collar, even a .... stroller .... don't tell my beagle, he needs his exercise.
I had a nice visit with the staff and even received a sample of some of their treats. Pets are always welcome inside Lucy's Closet. It's located at 129 West Wisconsin Avenue in Neenah. Phone: 722-LUCY
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We love a parade!
Posted by Lynn Peters on 11/23/09 |
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I don't believe there's a town in Wisconsin that's more parade-happy than Appleton. Our Flag Day parade is said to be the nation's largest, but I think the Christmas Parade is the best. It's tomorrow, November 24th at 6:30 p.m. Get ready for a big crowd; in fact they expect about 80,000 people to attend.
Appletonians (and others) will start "reserving" their favorite parade-watching spots at 5:00 tomorrow morning by putting chairs, blankets and pillows out on the sidewalks. It's a sign of our low crime rate that they assume everything will be waiting for them when they return 12 hours later!
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Tailgunner Joe
Posted by Lynn Peters on 11/19/09 |
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When I talk about famous folks from the Fox Cities, I don't usually mention the infamous Senator Joe McCarthy. Although we all know he grew up here, practiced law here and is buried here, he's not exactly what I'd call a "favorite son."
The History Museum at the Castle is, however, willing to explore his story. A small but excellent exhibit on the museum's lower level, paints an even-handed picture of McCarthy's life, and I found it quite intriguing. |
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New Visitor Center Hours
Posted by Pam Seidl on 11/17/09 |
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| We're extending our weekday Visitor Center hours. We'll now be open until 6 p.m. weekdays, as well as 10-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Hoping that you 8-5er's and visitors coming into the area later in the day will take advantage. Stop in and say hello. |
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HuHot
Posted by Lynn Peters on 11/10/09 |
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Last night some pals and I went to HuHot, a “Mongolian Barbecue” located not far from the Fox River Mall. Not at all like a Wisconsin brat-and-burger barbecue, it’s more of a wild and crazy stir-fry. You select whatever you want in your meal and plop it in a bowl (or two). Like lamb? Chicken? Beef? Fish? Crab? Tofu? They’ve got it, as well as broccoli, beans, onions, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, asparagus, pineapple, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, celery and lots of other things that I can’t even remember. Top it with a few ladles of sauce, choosing from soy sauce, Szechuan sauce, sesame oil, lemon water, sherry, coconut milk and many more.
Then comes the fun part. Hand your bowl to one of the chefs and get ready for the show. A blend of “Stomp,” a food fight and actual cooking, we saw flying bowls and broccoli ping pong. The sound of rhythmic spatulas was punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional “Whoo-hoo” from diners watching their meals cook.
You control exactly what’s in your meal, and it’ll never taste the same way twice. But for my money it’s always delicious.
Soup or salad come with the entrée, as well as rice or tortillas, and you can go back for as many bowls of stir-fry as you want and no one will say a thing. Learn more at huhot.com.
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