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But is it art?
Posted by Lynn Peters on 5/5/08 |
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 If you're an art enthusiast, you'll find a list of public sculptures elsewhere on this website. You won't find the sculptures at 730 S. State Street in Appleton on our list. Why? They're not exactly public, although anyone can see them and enjoy them. They're in the yard, on the deck and even right on the home at that address. You'll see Emmett Kelly, Elvis and John Wayne and many other famous folks immortalized in funky sculptures all around this house.
What kind of person sculpts faces right onto his/her house? I don't really know, but if you're in downtown Appleton, or on your way to the Fratello's or the Paper Discovery Center I recommend you jog a few blocks out of your way to see it! |
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Wisconsin's Shopping Place News
Posted by Lynn Peters on 4/23/08 |
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Our beloved Fox River Mall is the second largest shopping mall in Wisconsin, with annual visitor traffic of about 16 million. But with a softening economy and retail businesses closing around the nation, I’ve been wondering if we'd see changes at the mall.
My friend Maureen Wallenfang at Post-Crescent, goddess of Fox Cities business info, says the mall has mostly been exempt from the closings that have happened elsewhere. In fact, the Wilson’s Leather Goods store in the mall is getting a makeover and will become one of the company’s new “studio concept” stores. Equally exciting, the mall is getting several fun new additions — Coach, RideMakerz, where you can make your own model cars and Club Libby Lu, which caters to the not-quite-teenager market.
So if you're looking for a place to spend your tax return, think about the Fox Cities. We'll have some great new shopping opportunities for you. |
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Raindrops on Roses
Posted by Lynn Peters on 4/18/08 |
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. . . and whiskers on kittens. You know what comes next and, if you’re like me, that song is now running through your head and will be all day long. Still, it’s an appropriate lead-in to sharing a few my favorite things to do in the Fox Cities.
1. Go to Appleton’s Saturday morning farm market. People, colors, music and great food beginning June 21.
2. Ooh and aah while strolling past the houses (okay, mansions) on Kimberly Point in Neenah.
3. Shop. After all, the Fox Cities are well known as “Wisconsin’s Shopping Place.”
4. Try a new restaurant. Have we got a lot of great ones or what? I’ve currently got Dong Po in Appleton, Solea in Menasha and Plum Hill in Kaukauna on my “check it out” list.
5. Watch the eagles soaring over the river at 1000 Islands Nature Center in Kaukauna.
6. Drink a fancy martini at Deja Vu in downtown Appleton.
7. Go to a Broadway show at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. I’ve got tickets to “Spamalot” in May and can hardly wait.
8. Walk across Little Lake Buttes des Morts using the Fox Cities Trestle Bridge. What a view!
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Appleton Best Walking City
Posted by Lynn Peters on 4/14/08 |
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When the CVB staff is bidding on conventions, we often mention the walkability of the Fox Cities as a selling point. Prevention Magazine confirmed our assessment in a recent evaluation of Wisconsin cities. Appleton tied Madison as the best "walking city" in the state, and came up number 11 in the nation out of 500 studied. Wow.
You can get the details of this study at www.prevention.com/bestcities or, better yet, you can check to see if Prevention is right by lacing up your Keds and putting on a few miles!
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Octoberfest - Plan Ahead!
Posted by Lynn Peters on 4/2/08 |
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If you haven't ever attended Appleton's Octoberfest, you've missed a whale of a good party with food, beer, music, kid's activities, arts and crafts and more. This year's Octoberfest will be September 25, 26 and 27 on College Avenue in downtown Appleton.
You'll find me . . .
1. At License to Cruise on September 26. I love gawking at the collectible cars parked wall-to-wall throughout the downtown. The 2008 "featured car" will be the Model T.
2. Eating my favorite Octoberfest foods on Saturday, September 27, the biggest day of Octoberfest. I'll have to have a shredded pork sandwich at the Pork Producer's booth, but I might also have a bowl of the ever-popular clam chowder or firehouse chili as well. I might even break down and eat a tiger paw. Yum!
3. Drinking a beer, of course. There will be food booths and bars arrayed up and down the Avenue on Saturday from 9am to 6pm.
4. Enjoying the hoppin' Vic Ferrari Band, a perennial favorite.
You can find lots of info about Octoberfest 2008 at www.octoberfestonline.org even the band line-up. See you then! |
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Lemongrass
Posted by Lynn Peters on 3/24/08 |
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When I walked into Lemon Grass, an oriental restaurant located not far from the Fox River Mall, I was totally impressed by the decor. Warm chocolate colored walls, the soothing sound of water tumbling in a fountain and shiny green plants - it's a lovely place. The food impressed me as well. I ordered the Thai beef salad, which was unlike any salad I've ever had, with sauteed beef and mushrooms. Delicious! My luncheon companions both had a cashew chicken salad, which they described as wonderful.
Our service was excellent but not intrusive. All in all it was a great experience and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
PS Although I wasn't there for dinner, I bet it'd be a great place for a romantic dinner for two! |
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Spring Break Fever
Posted by Pam Seidl on 3/19/08 |
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 Not heading south for some sun and sand this Spring Break? There's plenty to do right here in the Fox Cities. Check out the Kid's Fun page on our website for great attractions. If you really want to make it seem like a vacation, book a room at one of our hotels (many are featuring Easter or Family packages) and make like your thousands of miles away!
Link to Kid's Fun Page
Link to Hotel Specials |
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Regular or Decaf?
Posted by Lynn Peters on 3/18/08 |
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| Looking for a great place to plunk down with a fancy coffee while visiting the Fox Cities? I had coffee this morning at the Copper Rock Coffee Company in downtown Appleton and highly recommend it - nice decor, fresh scones and a cafe-au-lait filled to the very brim. It's a popular meeting spot for local business people, moms with strollers, conventioneers and students. I love their oriental chicken salad at lunch time too. |
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Friday Fish
Posted by Kim Tisler on 3/3/08 |
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 We get many phones calls here at the Bureau, from people asking for our advice as to what we consider to be the 'best places in town for Friday Night Fish Frys'. The answer is that there are many terrific establishments in town that offer delicious fish frys; Mark's East Side, American Legion, Naut's Landing, and George's, just to name a few.
But when I was asked to plan an evening out with some friends last Friday, I took to checking out the Bureau's "Where to Eat" section on the website for some additional ideas and suggestions.
I'd been hearing positive comments here and there about the recently reopened Germania Hall in Menasha, so we decided to give it a try. Wow! We were not expecting the banquet hall to be so wonderfully renovated. It has a terrific, large bar area (where they serve those yummy, seasoned pretzels while you wait) and a huge banquet room that was packed with people who had long-since discovered the excellent food that is served. You can order off of the menu or choose the all-you-can-eat fish buffet. There are several potato selections available, but the german potato salad, and potato pancakes served with warm syrup were definite favorites. The wait-time was minimal and the food was top-notch. So, if you're looking for a truly great fish fry, you'll want to plan a Friday evening out at Germania Hall. |
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Cabin Fever
Posted by Kim Tisler on 3/3/08 |
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It's getting to be that time of year when we long for the days of spring that will bring us out of hibernation and rejuvinate us once again. We ran into friends recently, who told us that the best cure for cabin fever and the winter blues was a stop at Waverly Beach for their weekly Wednesday band gigs.
Were they ever right! We found the String Benders band playing there this past week. They are a favorite of ours, since they play a great mix of classic rock, with a few 'oldies' thrown in. Waverly Beach, which sits on the north shore of Lake Winnegago, has great food and great views.
We were joined by lots of locals who, like us, were simply looking for a place to relax and hang out, while enjoying some of the best local band talent that this area has to offer. Did I mention there isn't a cover charge?? No matter what your taste in music, a stop at Waverly Beach is a definite cure for the long days of winter. |
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