Categories
Dig it, Write It.

1,000 Miles of Theatre

It is the end of a multi-month run of a show at Sight & Sound Theatres. The “install and logistics team” loads a convoy of tractor-trailers to make a 1,000-mile trek to Branson, Missouri, where the show will live on at the theatre’s second location. More than 60 truckloads of sets, equipment and costumes will make their way from Lancaster to a new home in the Ozarks over the next six months. 

Categories
Visit It, Write It.

48 Hours in Akureyri

Fleeing the powerful political forces of Norwegian King Harald Fairhair, a young Helgi the Lean (Eyvindarson) set out for Iceland, a place of fertile land, bountiful seas, and freedom. Around 890 AD, Helgi the Lean took possession of the land around Eyjafjörður and made a home in Kristnes, south of modern day Akureyri, which is the largest town outside the island’s more populated southwest corner.

Categories
Dig it, Write It.

A Path to Genealogy

I never expected to “get into” genealogy. I had a pretty good grasp on my heritage … I thought. Then a genealogy librarian at the Allen County Public Library in Indiana handed me a large three-ring binder, my full name emblazoned across the front. I cracked it open, took a quick overview, and landed on some names I did not recognize. And my jaw dropped, literally.

Categories
Eat It. Write It.

Reviewing Kalaya: Award-winning Thai food by Chef Suntaranon in Philadelphia.

Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon has been a familiar face on Philly’s food scene for years. She has now become globally recognized since the James Beard Foundation named her Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic. Her restaurant, Kalaya, moved from the Bella Vista neighborhood to the edge of Fishtown, and I have wanted to check out the new digs since 2022. With the news of her James Beard honor, I knew I had to get in the door, so I made a lunch reservation for a Sunday afternoon.

Categories
Drink It, Write It.

Here’s to Your Health: Dry January … and Beyond!

The first “dry January” was an act against aggression, not alcohol. Today’s version of teetotalling to start the new year has blossomed into a year-round trademarked movement, as well as a way of life for those leading sober lifestyles. The restaurant industry is fully embracing it, as well.

Categories
Visit It, Write It.

10 Unique Things to Do in and around Fort Wayne

Built in 1794 by American Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne, the original fort—and thus the foundation of the city—bordered the indigenous lands of the Miami tribe. Over the years, Fort Wayne experienced a series of ups and downs and beginning in the 1990s launched an upswing as city leaders spurred efforts to reduce crime, diversify its economy, and redevelop downtown. Prime examples of these efforts are flourishing. The Electric Works, an excellent example of adaptive reuse turned a scuttled 39-acre General Electric plant into a thriving, mixed-use campus with businesses, learning centers, recreational facilities, and a multi-vendor food hall and market.

Categories
Visit It, Write It.

The Best Campgrounds and RV Parks near Richmond

Visit Richmond promotes an eclectic culture spawned by craft beer, more than 900 restaurants, and an underground music scene, but those looking to bring an RV or pitch a tent need to look outside the city. The surrounding countryside offers access to the city, plus proximity to amusement parks, nature activities, and historic spots from the founding of the nation and the US Civil War. Here are our picks for 5 of the best places to spend time in an RV, tent, or cabin near Richmond.

Categories
Eat It. Write It.

Reviewing a.kitchen: an Ellen Yin dining experience in Philadelphia.

A James Beard Award is nothing new to Ellen Yin. The 2023 recipient of Outstanding Restaurateur operates a handful of unique restaurants in Philly, including the city staple a.kitchen, which opened in 2011. I have walked past the restaurant and its bustling next door boite a.bar in Rittenhouse for years, so on the tails of Yin’s latest Beard achievement I made a reservation for a Sunday evening. 

Categories
Dig it, Write It.

Holiday Trains are Fun for All Ages

Trains became synonymous with Christmas as a means of travel during the Golden Age of railroading.

Categories
Visit It, Write It.

Sensational Stays: Freyja Guesthouse

It is easy to walk right past Freyja Guesthouse. Unassumingly situated in a quiet neighborhood around the corner from Hallgrimskirkja, the iconic cathedral inspired by the basalt formations along Iceland’s coast, Freyja Guesthouse can be recognized by a lone metal plaque with the church’s relief serving as a logo. There’s also a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Award designation along the wall.