| |
|
|
Home Things!
Posted by Pam Seidl on 7/24/09 |
 |
 There's a few shopping destinations in the Fox Cities that are kind of best-kept secrets. The Shoppes at Trasino is one of them. Located on Casaloma Drive, just north of the Fox River Mall, Trasino is home to a number of home decor and specialty shops: Donald's, Fava Tea, No Worries, Scatterjoy and Jonathan's Cupboard to name a few.
I stopped at Home Things! this weekend and found they carried soaps a lotions from one of my favorite local providers: Good Earth Farms. They also have a nice mix of fun home decor items and jewelry. I found a great pair of earrings and some sassy cocktail napkins. Check it out at 1879 N. Casaloma Dr. or on the web: homethings.biz. |
|
PACs 2009/2010 Season
Posted by Pam Seidl on 7/21/09 |
|
Perhaps it's the unseasonably cool weather we've been having, or the fact that I'm being barraged with "back-to-school" stuff, but I've been thinking about Fall lately.
Some of my favorite Fall things are: Quarry Quest (Sept. 19), Octoberfest (Sept. 26), the fall colors at any of our nature centers and the new season at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Here's a link to a video with highlights of their upcoming season. Definitely something for everyone. vimeo.com/4259556.
|
|
Events Calendar
Posted by Lynn Peters on 7/20/09 |
|
 I don’t mean to brag, but I think we have the best calendar of events in town, right here on our website. Searchable by date or event name, it’s also set up to allow you to find “kid-friendly” activities. I use it regularly.
I looked at it last week and was reminded that yesterday was the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum’s Arts Festival. It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon of colors, textures and music. If you weren’t there, and even if you were, allow me to suggest you check out the Appleton Art Center’s Art in the Park this coming Sunday, July 26th. Held at City Park near Lawrence University, it’ll have more than 200 exhibitors. For more info call 920-733-4089.
|
|
Holy Bratzooka, Batman!
Posted by Lynn Peters on 7/13/09 |
|
| I went to a Timber Rattlers game last week. The weather was great and it was a fun evening. Perhaps it says something about me, but my favorite part of any T-Rats game is the "bratzooka." Never heard of it? It's a big gun that shoots wrapped bratwursts high over the audience. Yup, buns and all. Each time the bratzooka blasts its tasty ammo, there's a mad scramble of fans trying to catch the flying brat. Crazy. Fun. A Fox Cities original! |
|
My Favorite Coffee Shop
Posted by Pam Seidl on 7/8/09 |
|
Ok, if you know me, you're probably thinking 'what the...' Because I don't drink coffee. Can't stand it. Prefer to get my daily caffine fix via Diet Coke. But we have so many cool 'coffee houses' in the Fox Cities, I sometimes like to go and take in the coffee culture.
My non-drinker status is really not a problem considering Brewed Awakenings has some of the best gelato and Harmony Cafe serves scotcheroos and cookies as big as plates. Aspen Coffee and Tea is one of my favorite lunch places. Great "from scratch" food includes soups, salads, sandwiches and quiche. Another Aspen Original is its "cereal bar." Yup all your favorites from Kashi to Froot Loops in boxes with plenty of "toppings." Grab a bowl and go. You can even come in your PJs if you want.
Aspen has grown into a small local chain with stores in Menasha, Neenah and on the east side of Appleton (where they do business as Bela Cafe and Bakery). Check them out here: aspencoffee-tea.com.
|
|
Abe Lincoln Cheese Sculpture
Posted by Lynn Peters on 7/6/09 |
|
| Troy Landwehr, internationally known cheeser carver, resides here in the Fox Cities. Over the 4th of July weekend he carved a 7-foot tall Abe Lincoln from a 1,000 pound block of cheddar in Washington DC. Want to see it? It's at Kerrigan Brothers Winery (N2269 County Rd. N in Freedom) today, tomorrow and Wednesday (July 6-7-8). You'll get to see Lincoln, and if you're lucky you might meet Troy and taste a little of his wine too. Need directions? Call the Winery at 920-788-1423. |
|
A Treat for the Senses and the Season
Posted by Kim Tisler on 6/25/09 |
|
 The Downtown Appleton Farmer’s Market has begun its 2009 outdoor season on College Avenue! Locals and visitors alike cannot help but be drawn to the many wonderful sights, sounds and smells one experiences when immersing themselves in one of the Fox Cities most popular events.
Second in size only to Madison’s market, the Downtown Appleton Farmer’s Market features more than 100 vendors selling vegetables, organic meats and cheeses, baked goods, fresh flowers and bedding plants, specialty foods and handcrafted items. Live music brings an added touch of summer fun and relaxation. In addition to the many vendors, there are plenty of unique retail stores, restaurants and cafes to explore. There’s plenty of parking, making it easy for anyone to run down for a few minutes, or a few hours.
One of my favorite aspects of the market, besides the fresh vegetables, and the Amish banana bread, is the smell of fresh roasting corn on the cob. The smell of fresh egg rolls is pretty tempting too! The outdoor market runs every Saturday from June 20 until October 31, at which time it moves indoors for the winter. The hours are 8am to 12:30pm. For more information on the Downtown Appleton Farmer’s Market, plus the Art Market and Inside/Outside Retail Sale events, check the Appleton Downtown Inc’s. website: appletondowntown.org .
|
|
Bogart's
Posted by Pam Seidl on 6/22/09 |
|
Anyone who know's me, knows that I appreciate good chocolate. The only thing better than good chocolate is a nice place in which to enjoy it (perhaps with a good glass of wine). Found it!
Bogart's wine bar is a relatively new addition to Downtown Neenah. It's a great place to enjoy an after-dinner drink and light dessert (read: chocolate). I loved the intimate, classy decor and the relaxed atmosphere. The best part: we spent a relaxing hour without having to scream over loud "bar" music.
Bogart's features locally-made Wilmar's Chocolate truffles. They also serve a selection of cognac, champagne, imported beer, single malt scotch whiskey, and artisan cheese.
Bogart's is located in the Neenah Marketplace at 124 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Neenah and on the web at bogartswisconsin.com. |
|
Christmas in July (and every month!)
Posted by Lynn Peters on 6/22/09 |
|
I can’t believe I’ve been blogging about the Fox Cities for all this time and have failed to mention Cleo’s. Formally known as Cleo’s Brown Beam, this quirky downtown Appleton tavern is famous for its decorations. Not décor. Decorations. Christmas, Easter, Halloween—you name it—the decorations are up . . . all year long.
Cleo’s is a Fox Cities icon. A much talked about, gotta-go-there, diamond in the rough. Generous drinks and a big crowd make it fun, but most people go in for the first time because they’ve heard about the Christmas decorations. If you were born after this date in 1988, check it out!
|
|
Ick - gross!
Posted by Lynn Peters on 6/15/09 |
|
I’m not a kid by any stretch of the imagination, but I can hardly wait for “Grossology” to come to The Building for Kids in September. Grossology addresses the “impolite science of the human body” and gives kids answers to their oozy, crusty, stinky, slimy questions about the body. They’ll get to:
• visit “the vomit center”
• climb a human skin wall complete with warts, hairs and wounds
• match body odors with the correct body part.
What kid wouldn’t like all that? Grossology, which comes to Appleton straight from the Lied Children’s Museum in Las Vegas, begins September 19.
Learn more about other exhibits at thebuildingforkids.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
