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Let Me Tell You a Yarn . . .
Posted by Lynn Peters on 2/29/08 |
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 There were several days this winter when it was just too cold, too snowy or too icy to enjoy being out-of-doors. After a marathon snow shoveling session all I wanted to do was curl up under an afgahn, so I took advantage of the situation to complete several fun knitting projects.
Whether you're an experienced knitter or have always wanted to knit-one, purl-two, let me suggest my favorite Fox Cities yarns shops.
I love Yarns By Design (www.yarnsbydesign.com) in downtown Neenah. When I'm looking for a interesting pattern I always try them first. Who'd have known, for instance, that you could knit a hedgehog? And I always add a cookie stop at Great Harvest Bread Company or lunch at Zacateca's to my yarn-buying outing, making it well worth the trip.
You'll find Iris Fine Yarns (www.irisfineyarns.com), my other favorite, on Wisconsin Avenue in Appleton. Located in a cute lime green building, it has a large, well organized selection of yarns. I've also found the folks at Iris to be extremely helpful when I'm stumped by an obscure abbreviation in a knitting pattern or confused about yarn weight. |
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Bunch o' Brunch
Posted by Lynn Peters on 2/21/08 |
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I've mentioned my pals, "The Monday Night Gang," before. We recently broke our "dinner on Monday" rule and met for Sunday brunch at Remington's in downtown Neenah. Let me just start by saying that my New Year's resolution went out the window the minute I saw the lavish spread. French toast, eggs, chicken, roast beef, fish, fruit, salads, pastries, desserts, mimosas, champagne. Wow! Our service was very nice and we enjoyed a leisurely couple of hours of eating and gabbing. I recommend it!
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Snow!
Posted by Pam Seidl on 2/19/08 |
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 Yup, we've got LOTS of it this year. On our way to setting a record, in fact. The good news is that after a several-year hiatus, the cross country skis are getting a workout.
Skiers and snowshoers can hit the trail in many places around the Fox Cities. My favorites: Bubolz Nature Preserve and High Cliff State Park. Heckrodt Wetland Reserve also had a number of winter-oriented classes and activities. Bundle up and enjoy! |
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Monkey Joe's
Posted by Pam Seidl on 2/8/08 |
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Full Disclosure: I'm ghost writing this for my 9-year-old son. He's the one who experienced the Fox Cities newest family attraction Monkey Joe's. So, in my best "9-year-old voice", here goes:
Monkey Joe's is awesome. They have two moon bouncers and a bunch of obstacle courses. All inflatable. There's a side of the room for the little kids to play on their own stuff, too.
The parents have their own room to sit in where there is food and TV's to watch stuff like ESPN and CNN.
There's also about 8 or 9 arcade games that you can play and get tickets to trade in for prizes. I got a real cool whoopie cushion. And they have TV's in the kids area, too.
It was a lot of fun and a real cool place. |
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David and Goliath? The Fox Cities vs the Big Guys
Posted by Lynn Peters on 2/4/08 |
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I went to Milwaukee to see "Body Worlds" over the weekend, and on my way home I was wishing the Fox Cities could be the site of such an intriguing exhibit.
Then, in a blinding flash it came to me - that's exactly how Milwaukeeans felt when the Fox Cities PAC hosted the Wisconsin premier of Disney's "The Lion King." And when they learned that "Wicked" would come here before going there. And how do you think Chicagoans felt when they discovered that we'd see "Mama Mia" before they did?
Now I'm thinking, "poor them - they only got Body Worlds!"
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Art of the Brick
Posted by Lynn Peters on 1/21/08 |
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I've mentioned The Building for Kids, our terrific children's museum, before. But I just saw the "Art of the Brick" exhibit they have on currently and can't resist talking about them again.
Wow. Amazing. Totally unexpected. Who'd have thought you could build that out of Legos? Those were just a few of my thoughts . . .
if you like art, even if you're a grown-up, I recommend it. Admission is $6.50, but I was glad I went and think you will be too. |
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Act like a Wisconsinite
Posted by Lynn Peters on 1/8/08 |
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Visiting the Fox Cities or anywhere in Wisconsin? Want to fit in? Here's how:
1. If you're thirsty and looking for a drinking fountain, ask where the "bubbler" is. It's a long story, and you'll just have to trust me on this.
2. Put an Escape to Wisconsin bumper sticker on your car. People will think you're a long-time resident. You can pick one up at the Fox Cities Visitor Center.
3. Call Wisconsin by its nickname, "Sconnie."
4. When talking about the Green Bay Packers, feel free to call the star quarterback Brett. No last name is necessary for Wisconsinites.
5. Refer to the northern half of our state as "up north."
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Visitor Guide a Great Resource
Posted by Pam Seidl on 1/8/08 |
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The official 2008 Fox Cities Visitor Guide is hot off the press. It's a great resource whether your planning a trip to the Fox Cities or a local looking for things to do in your own back yard.
If you live in the Fox Cities, stop in at the Visitor Center (3433 W. College Ave., Appleton). Hours: M-F 8-5, Saturday 10-4.
Those outside the area can complete the form on our website (look for "Contact Us" or "Request a Visitor Guide" on the home page) and we'll mail it to you. |
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Shishkabob
Posted by Pam Seidl on 1/8/08 |
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(In the interest of full disclosure, I owe this post to Gary McGoey, a specktacular Weekend Visitor Aide for the Bureau.)
Shishkabob is Appleton's first Arabic restaurant but it also serves some American fare for those not familiar with Arabic cuisine. It's a small restaurant on South Locust Street, just off College Avenue, across from the Boys and Girls Club. The owners are from Jordan and they serve wonderful appetizers like stuffed grape leaves and hummus. Their lentil soup is hot, healthy and delicious, and they offer a few Middle Eastern salads as well as sandwiches and entrees like beef and chicken and lamb kabobs, and even a few vegetarian dishes. The food is wonderful and if Arabic music is not being played, diners can request it. Delightful! |
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Il Angolo
Posted by Lynn Peters on 12/28/07 |
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I always wanted to be a restaurant critic, didn't you? I went to Il Angolo yesterday, a fairly new restaurant in downtown Appleton, and if I were a critic I'd say good things about it.
The dining room has a simple elegance, each table featuring a crisp white table cloth and a single flower in a bud vase. The coffee comes in a small cup, and it's strong and smooth. Instead of refilling it, the waitress brought me a fresh cup - nice!
I ordered the grilled pear salad. It was excellent, although if I were to do it again I'd order soup too, since it wasn't very substantial. My lunch companion ordered a grilled chicken sandwich that came on foccaccia bread and looked positively delicious.
Il Angolo isn't the cheapest lunch in town, but you'll certainly feel as if you went somewhere special.
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