Kentucky Travels

Downtown Bardstown

2012-01-27T15:31:00.000-08:00

Natural Bridge at Natural Bridge State Park, Kentucky

2012-01-24T18:21:00.000-08:00

The Old Mill in the Heart of the Mountains

2012-01-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

I think this old postcard is stunning, and will likely go in a frame. postmarked 1940 from Gatlinburg.

I thought this would be a good one to post right now, as bourbon is a bit of a topic on this blog right now.

Rebecca Ruth- Frankfort, KY

2012-01-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

Rebecca Ruth Candies in Frankfort!

Bourbon Balls were first made by them!

http://www.rebeccaruth.com/

Buffalo Trace Ghost Tour

2012-01-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

Buffalo Trace was featured on the TV show Ghost Hunters! They are now giving ghost tours some nights. You do need to call for reservations, but they are free!

I really love Buffalo Trace, it is easy to get to in Frankfort, they offer several different tours, they have a great light show at Christmas, and they are excited about what they are doing!

The grounds are very attractive, and it is just a fun place to hang out.

The areas where the bourbon is stored can be a bit spooky at night (there are lots of corners cavernous areas). This is a good tour for a scare and its a good tour because Buffalo Trace gives good tours in general. Again, we had a great couple of guides.

Hidden City with Marcus Sakey

2012-01-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

I am not watching a lot of TV these days, but I did stumble across a new show that I love. It is called, "Hidden City with Marcus Sakey." The show is really well done.

As you can tell from my blog, I like the weird places and moments in history (a friend recently suggested that I change the name of this blog to "The Weirder the Better"). I am fascinated with the good moments in history, but the dark ones are sometimes more interesting.

Marcus Sakey goes to some areas (so far mostly the big, notable cities) and he examines crime and mysteries that have happened in the areas. He has interviewed former politicians, convicts and other Riffraff.

Sakey is a great host. He gets to the point quick and keeps things fact based. There are some other shows out there that try to document strange places and historical events that are WAY too pseudo scientific. Forget the haunted sites and conspiracy theories, sometimes the simple facts are strange enough.

I really like the source material on this show. Marcus talks to witnesses of crimes and events (on a recent show he talked to friends and neighbors of Sid & Nancy about the events surrounding their deaths). Unlike some other shows, I feel like Marcus goes to the source, and finds people that were there. Interviews with generically credentialed "experts" that might appear on some other shows do not appear here.

Hidden City starts out fast and it keeps it up. I watched a show the other night and felt upset when it ended. So, I guess my only complaint is that I wish this were a two hour show.

http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/hidden-city

Random Thoughts On Friday

2012-01-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday the 13th!

In general, the weather here in Kentucky has been great for this time of year! Christmas sort of went by barely noticed. I would have been OK with a little more snow. The season is off.

I left work the other day without a jacket. I wanted to go see a baseball game. It was that kind of weather.

I have made some road trips lately, more on those later. I really love getting in the car and just going. I recently bought a great collection of old postcards from Owensboro. I will try to get scans up, but I might wait until I can take some photos of the places now, and try to do a "Then and Now" kind of thing. It is really hard to find old postcards of Owensboro. Some are about 100 years old.

Natural Bridge, KY.

2012-01-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

Sent in 1942.

Creation Cafe & WTTS FM Indianapolis IN

2012-01-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

Each year for the holiday season, one of the few truly cool radio stations anywhere (WTTS FM) puts out a compilation CD with live tracks recorded in the Indianapolis area.

I find myself in Indy at some point each November or December, and I always make a point to pick the CD up. Each year, they pick a fun line up of songs from up and coming talent and established acts. Over the last few years, I was very excited to see personal favorites Cowboy Mouth, Cracker, and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. This year, there is a great l

ive version of Foster the People doing their hit song.

Go here for more info on the CD, and for more info on my favorite radio station in Indiana:

http://wttsfm.com/

I picked up the CD at Borders in previous years. Obviously, that was not an option this year, so I stopped by Creation Cafe to get it in 2011.

The place is in a gorgeous old church near downtown Indianapolis. I won't go over the menu, but we liked the selection. I had a great sandwich and some perfect chili for a cold day.

We had a great waitress with real personality. The place is colorful and fun. I would say the creation cafe is just a nice place to set and relax.

I love restaurants with character, value, and a nice soup and sandwich combo. We could tell that the Creation Cafe cares about the atmosphere and product. We will be back on future visits to Indy.

http://www.creationcafeandeuphoria.com/creationcafe/

Horse Farms in Kentucky

2012-01-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

The top postcard shows "Trotting Mares and Colts at Walnut Hall Farm, Near Lexington, KY." It was sent in 1936.

The postcard under it went though the mail 22 years later!

Random Thoughts On Friday

2012-01-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

I read a magazine recently about notable restaurants in Kentucky. I can think of hundreds that I like all over the state. Lynn's Paradise Cafe, and Ramsi's in Louisville come to mind. Lexington has Sawyer's, Joe Bologna's, and several others I like. Owensboro has a couple of very nice barbecue places and one of my all time favorite pizza shops (Pizzaroma).

I can think of a number of other places around that I love- Patti's near LBL, old Talbott Tavern in Elizabethtown, Papalino's and Boone Tavern in Berea, and others.

I would love to hear from others about their favorite independent Kentucky restaurants!

Indiana World War memorial, Indianapolis

2012-01-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

"Indiana's World War Memorial covers five Indianapolis blocks and is an open plaza, set with imposing Architectural Works. The main Shrine is of Indiana Limestone, whose sculptured walls depict World War scenes. A 100-ft. granite obelisk symbolizes the Nation's power. The American Legion's National Headquarters also stands on memorial Plaza."

This particular postcard was sent in 1945! WOW! The last time I visited here, many of the artifacts on display were from WWII and later conflicts. If you have not visited this great area in Indianapolis, please do. This is an extremely under appreciated site that will impress you.

Oh, and this card has a great message from one girl to another. She tells her friend back home that she should have been on the train with her. There were many soldiers... and she could have had her pick!

Indiana World War Memorial and Obelisk, Indianapolis

2012-01-01T16:35:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite spots in Indiana is here! This older postcard says on the back-

Indiana World War Memorial and Obelisk looking south from Plaza. The Obelisk, built of black granite, is 100 feet high, surrounded by fountains. The Shrine building is 230 feet wide and 400 feet long. It houses an auditorium seating 550, museums and Memorial Hall

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-12-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

I do hope that everyone had a good Christmas out there!

Mine was very nice.

It was odd too, in that the weather has been great here in Kentucky. On Saturday, I did some driving and wore only a light flannel shirt. I took a jacket but did not need it. I like the good weather, but it is too sunny for the season!

You may be able to tell from the blog that I have an appreciation for postal history. Complain about it if you want, but our postal service does some amazing stuff.

I made a point this Christmas season to drive to some of the little post offices that have special postmarks for the holiday. I drove to Nazareth and Bethlehem in Kentucky, and I drove to the Indiana cities of Bethlehem and Santa Claus.

I will get some photos up from those trips soon, as driving to small out of the way towns is just a fun thing to do.

Each town was very cool, we talked to some great postmasters and I must make it back to Santa Claus and Bethlehem Kentucky. We passed through Hanover (Woody's home town on Cheers!) and Madison in Indiana. We have to make it back to these two towns. Madison looked like a good place to find a B & B and just walk around the downtown streets some weekend.

I talked to some friends the other day, and we decided that this was a Christmas of coincidences. One friend got a purse from one friend, and a matching pocket book from another friend, who did not know about the first friends gift. I had a similar coincidence on Christmas.

We went to my sister's house in Owensboro. It was good seeing family and all. We exchanged presents and I opened a small box from my sister. In the box I found a Billy Bob doll from Showbiz Pizza.

Showbiz Pizza is one of my retro indulgences. I loved the franchise and remember the very first time I went to one when I was very young. The place was so over the top. Showbiz had a cheesy mouse competitor that eventually won out, but Chuck was never as cool as a keyboard playing gorilla and a banjo playing bear. By the way, if you have any photos of the old Showbiz Pizza in Owensboro or Evansville PLEASE send me scans so I can put them up on this blog!

So- back to my Christmas coincidence. I almost purchased a Billy Bob doll the week before but decided to wait a little while. I am glad I did because of my sister's gift!

Buffalo Trace- Frankfort, KY

2011-12-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

I guess I should mention up front that I don't drink. It is one of those things that I have personally never done.

I have had a few sips here and there. We once toured a historic home, and a wine tasting was part of the tour. I took a sip of whatever it was in my glass and it hurt! I was done at that moment.

I know it is very un-Kentuckian of me to say this, but I have had similar problems when trying bourbon.

Still, I think the whole Kentucky Bourbon experience is something to be proud of. The time, effort, and really the artistry that goes in to it is something very unique.

I am not one to have a small glass (or pint, or shot...... I have no idea how these things are measured) of the beverage but I do like Rebecca Ruth Bourbon Balls. Oh, and Keeneland serves a desert using Bourbon that I have to get each time I am there!

Still, even someone like me who does not consume alcohol can enjoy a tour of Buffalo Trace.

We have done several different tours of the facility in Frankfort, and we have enjoyed each one. There is a standard tour where you actually get to see bottles getting filled, capped, and packaged which is very cool.

Another tour they offer is the "Hard Hat" Tour. I know reservations are needed for this one, as they like to keep the groups small (about 6 were in our group when we took this one). This tour takes you through the production areas. We were also taken out on a balcony area over looking the main buildings!

Buffalo Trace offers a "Ghost Tour" too. I had no interest in taking that tour. JUST KIDDING! I will have a separate entry on that tour soon.

And, like the other bourbon tours in the area, all of the tours are free! They do have a gift shop, and I think it is always appropriate to patronize the gift shop after a free tour. There is no pressure too, but you will want at least a shirt or cap or something.

Buffalo Trace has some cool items in their gift shop. We bought some root beer that they offer non-drinkers at the tasting. Bourbon items exclusive to the gift shop can be found here. We picked up a bottle made with an uncirculated buffalo nickle for a friend in Michigan. It is signed, and can only be purchased at Buffalo Trace!

I have to mention each of our VERY memorable tour guides we have had at Buffalo Trace. Freddy, DW, and Shelley all seemed excited about Buffalo Trace, and gave all sorts of fun pieces of info. Their excitement about Buffalo Trace was infectious.

I really love how the product is made and aged. I learned about how early on, they would experiment with aging and barrels. Placement in the warehouses affects the product. The entire process is fascinating.

The fact that Buffalo Trace offers several different tours, AND has a Christmas light driving tour going on there this season, gives it a real edge.

Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, MI

2011-12-25T16:20:00.000-08:00

I remember seeing signs for Bronner's in southern Indiana when I was growing up. I thought it odd that a place in Michigan would be advertising so far south!

I get it now though. Even if the VERY fun tourist town of Frankenmuth wasn't around, people would still travel out of their way to visit Bronner's.

Bronner's is a store open year round that sells Christmas stuff. Santa costumes, yard ornaments, and tons of tree decorations are easily found here.

From floor to ceiling, this place has anything you might want for Christmas decorating.

If you are making a trip to the area and you really want to see Bronner's, I would suggest allowing a half day, if not a whole day. You might even want to treat your visit the way you would treat a visit to a large museum. You are going to do a lot of walking and see a lot of stuff. You also might want to save your pennies before your visit.

We picked up several cool and unique ornaments. I was very excited to see the classic bigfoot ornament, and I could not pass him up. We also found some other fun ones.

http://www.bronners.com/

Circle Center- Indianapolis Indiana at Christmas

2011-12-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

Ale-8-1 Bottling Winchester, KY

2011-12-21T16:19:00.000-08:00

Once, I attended a sporting event in Lexington where a free six pack of Ale-8 was given to each ticket purchaser. I thought it was the greatest promotion ever!

Anyway, I love Ale-8. If you are not familiar with it, it is usually compared to ginger ale.

I guess that is the best comparison, but it is still very unique.

Most people think it tastes better from the bottle than from a can (I think this theory applies to all drinks myself, but especially Ale-8).

The beverage is very popular in my neck of the woods and I am glad that many locals support this Kentucky product.

The Ale-8-1 company does have a very nice factory tour! I went there on a recent Friday morning.

There was a short video about the company, and the history of the drink.

We were taken to the bottling area. it was very cool watching them fly through. Check out the photos!

The tour is actually short, but informative. I think this would be a very nice adventure for a kid, or someone with a short attention span.

They do have a nice display of old bottles and other products.

There is a very cool gift shop selling shirts, caps, and other Ale-8-1 products. I would say that their gift shop is more reasonably priced than many.

We had a great tour guide who gave everyone on the tour an Ale-8 and a book about Kentucky facts (I will get a review of that book up soon). The good folks at Ale-8 hooked me up with a very cool 2012 calendar too!

Thanks for being such a cool Kentucky company Ale-8-1!

http://www.ale-8-one.com/

The Fashion Mall at Keystone- Indianapolis

2011-12-20T15:46:00.000-08:00

I love this mall near Indianapolis. I know, I really like malls in general, but this one is just classy. My favorite place here is the art cinema, where they show some of the major releases, and some of the not so major ones. http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/indianapolis/keystoneartcinemab.htm

In my opinion, the shops here are very nice, and there are some fun independent places. There are two levels that are spread out kind of funky (to go from one end of the first level to the other end, you have to go through the food court on the second level).

I am always here around Christmas, and I have taken a photo of Santa several years in a row now! I love that guy!

There is a cool window area here too, where you can look out at a road that goes right under the food court area.

http://www.simon.com/mall/?id=166

Indianapolis, IN Randon Photos

2011-12-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

Meridian Street- Indianapolis Indiana

2011-12-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a more recent postcard than the ones I usually post. I am guessing this one came out around the late 70s.

This area looks pretty much the same now.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument- Indianapolis IN 1910

2011-12-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know, not ANOTHER picture from downtown Indianapolis. I almost didn't put this one up, but it is postmarked 1910! OVER 100 years old! There are taller buildings in the area now.

Still, it is a century old postcard... and I bought it for a quarter!

Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Night, indianapolis

2011-12-16T17:54:00.000-08:00

Built between 1887 and 1901. This older postcard mentions that the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is 284 feet high and is the second tallest monument in the US, second only to the Washington Monument in DC.

Sure, those stats are a little dated now, but it is timelessly cool!

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-12-16T05:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know that I have lingered on the Michigan posts lately.

Over the next few weeks, I will wind that down.

I know I mentioned a while back that I would be getting some Bourbon posts up, and they are on their way. I got around to taking hundreds of photos off of my camera recently, including several tours to the various Bourbon sites in Kentucky!

Personally, I don't drink at all. I have tried some sips on these tours, and it is tough for me. I have no tolerance for alcohol at all (my aunt makes a Bourbon Ball around Christmas that, after one, makes me VERY dizzy).

I have had the milder ones made by Rebecca Ruth Candies in Frankfort. Those are VERY NICE! I can take out several of those safely.

I do like the smell of Bourbon, and I like some of the other uses for Bourbon. More on that later.

Oh, and many of the companies have other great products. Buffalo Trace sells some very nice root beer for example.

While I am on the topic of Kentucky's favorite beverage, i will take a post or two to discuss my personal favorite drink (in or out of Kentucky). that's right, Ale-8-1. What a great drink and company. They offer plant tours too!

So, over the next month and a half or so, here are my topics of focus-
Bourbon and Kentucky beverages
Christmas
Bardstown and Frankfort

Outside of Kentucky, I will finish up my Michigan posts and talk some about Indianapolis.

Night and day Indianapolis

2011-12-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

For comparison, here are two great postcards showing Soldiers' and Sailors' monument, from the same angle. The "day" one is undated and unused. The "night" one was sent in 1944!

The back reads-

located in the heart of the city is one of the finest pieces of colossal sculpture in the United States. Built 1887-1901. It is 284 feet high and is the second tallest monument in the United States, exceeded only by the Washington Monument at Washington, D.C.

Indiana State Capitol, Indianapolis

2011-12-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

Old Postcard- Ford Rotundra- Dearborn, Michigan

2011-12-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

"The Ford Rotunda consists of an imposing gear-shaped central section from which rectangular wings extend to the north and south. The circular section is 215 feet in diameter. In its center is a court 92 feet in diameter, which is open to the sky.
The Rotunda is built of Indiana limestone and steel. Its construction required 114,000 feet of cut limestone and 1,000 tons of structural steel."

Old Fashioned Christmas In Wilmore, KY

2011-12-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

Some friends have invited me to the "Old Fashioned Christmas in Wilmore" event before.

I FINALLY was able to go this year!!

This is a very cool event, and a bit unbelievable. It is excessively pleasant.

Several businesses have Christmas snacks and live music. Most weren't trying to sell anything, they were simply being nice and festive members of their community!

How many people can say that they have watched a band play in the frozen food section of the grocery store? Do you know anyone who has ever watched live music in a Chinese restaurant, while eating a free egg roll?

A movie was playing on a window of a business, and scouts were handing out cups for hot chocolate.

At the end of the evening, there was a very nice music program at the local church.

If ANYONE can contact me with the names of the bands I photographed inside of the bank or in the IGA, I would appreciate it! I would love to go check out these bands again in a more traditional setting.

The three piece band at the IGA did a GREAT Bobby McGee. The larger band in the bank just seemed to have a very nice country/folky sound going on. Usually a band that big can get a little sloppy, but this multi generational bunch really sounded right together.

There was something a bit unreal about this event. How cool is it that businesses in an area do something so pleasant?

Soldiers and Sailors- Downtown- Indianapolis IN

2011-12-12T15:02:00.000-08:00

Obviously, one of my all time favorite monuments, I think this is stunning, and it looks perfect right there in downtown Indianapolis.

I still get excited when I find an old postcard showing it.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument- Indianapolis IN

2011-12-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

I know I have several pictures of Soldiers and Sailors Monument on this blog... and here is another. I love this area of the country, and this old postcard still shows some great color.

Uccello's Grand Rapids, Michigan

2011-12-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

One last tip of the hat to a Michigan restaurant before I leave the topic of Michigan.

Easily our favorite restaurant in the Grand Rapids area is Uccello's. I took pictures of our meals but i don't think the photos really show just how big our portions were (the plates were massive). One meal and an appetizer could easily satisfy two people. You might not even need the appetizer.

The prices were more than reasonable and we just really liked this place! it was cozy cozy and the staff was great!

http://www.uccellos.com/

Ice Skating- Downtown Lexington

2011-12-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

There is a VERY cool little ice rink set up near Rupp!

Sanders Chocolates- Michigan

2011-12-08T13:02:00.000-08:00

While travelling through Michigan, we came across a couple Sanders locations and stopped by for a Sunday.

I think these are mostly located near Detroit.

Check out their web site, AND stop by for some ice cream. We had some sort of caramel and chocolate sauce type of thing that was perfect. Seriously, I can't think of a more perfect ice cream creation anywhere.

Personally, I am not a big fan of ice cream, but our group stopped here and I am glad we did. I am conservative with my personal endorsements but this place gets one.

http://www.sanderscandy.com/

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, MI

2011-12-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

Some friends in in Michigan stressed that the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park was a "must see".

I read about it a little, and I thought it looked interesting, but I wasn't sure if it would live up to the standards our friends had suggested.

Well, the place is a must see. We had a great time at the park, and we will be back next time we go through Michigan.

When I first looked up information about it, I thought it was just a lot of land with flowers surrounding the occasional statue or sculpture.

It was A LOT more than that though. The park seems to go on forever with various fountains, a greenhouse, a concert venue and areas for children to play.

Honestly, this place is amazing. The art is big and overwhelming.

We paid the $3 for a train ride around the park. Make sure you do this if you go. We had a great guide on our train. He would pull over, and talk a little about each piece. He was knowledgeable and sincerely interested in the park. It was great getting that added touch of info about the artist and how the sculpture was produced.

I did learn that the founder of the park passed away recently, but he did live busy, productive life, and he left behind some legacies that will likely live on forever, including this place.

Like many great parks and sites relating to art, it is hard for me to describe the greatness and beauty of the Meijer Gardens. I can talk about it all day and show you some pictures but I simply cannot do it justice. If you are near Grand Rapids, you MUST visit here yourself.

http://www.meijergardens.org/

Fisher Building by Illumination, Detroit, MI.

2011-12-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

Kellogg's of Battle Creek Michigan

2011-12-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

Postcard: Shelbyville Road Mall, Louisville, Kentucky

2011-12-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

I LOVE pictures of old malls, and I found this old postcard recently that I had to pick up.

"A massive enclosed Mall for your shopping convenience, Winter and Summer."

Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners- Frankenmuth, MI.

2011-12-02T17:46:00.000-08:00

This is a bit of a follow up to my "Frankenmuth Michigan" entry a week or two ago. I included some interior and exterior photos I took of Zanders in 2011.

Well, this postcard is postmarked 1940! So, I was at Zehnder's 71 YEARS later, and it looks very similar to me! I love that kind of history and continuity!

The back of this postcard mentions that they serve 100,000 dinners and use 33,500 chickens annually! I am not sure how I feel about the stat on chickens used, but I do like this place a lot! There were two huge lines to get in the day I was there! Luckily, we got there early and had a great time!

Berea College, Berea KY postcard

2011-12-01T14:37:00.000-08:00

AND another Berea College postcard. I love finding these, as I love that area. I must say, these buildings were on campus before my time!

On the Majestic Cumberland in Southeastern Ky

2011-11-30T18:37:00.000-08:00

Detroit Michigan

2011-11-29T16:55:00.000-08:00

There is really nothing that I can say about Detroit that has not been said before.

If I told you that Detroit is amazing, and that you should take your family there for a nice, relaxing vacation, well, I would be telling you a lie. And, you would know that I was not being truthful.

Still, with that being said, I find myself going there for vacations once or twice every couple of

years.

Here are some strange things that I have personally witnessed in the town over the last few years:

I have watched people (more than one) throwing up on the side walk. I saw cops with their guns drawn after pulling a car over. A ticket scalper cussed me out for ignoring him on my way to an event. I also had a person approach me to discuss the upcoming alien (from space) invasion.

I am not throwing those stories out there to knock the area, I am just stating some facts.

On the flip side of that, I have had some great experiences too, and I appreciate a lot that the area has to offer.

If you are a comic book fan, Detroit has one of the biggest and nicest comic cons around. The urban architecture is unmatched. The Henry Ford Museum alone is a must stop for any fan of cars, history, and the weird. Oh, and on this trip we discovered one of the greatest used book stores in existence (see previous blog entry). I don't

even have to mention how great this town is for a sports fan. Comerica Park is easily one of the nicest ballparks ever. I could go on and on.

Let me back up a bit, and make a comparison that has been made before.

Have you spent any time in Pittsburgh over the last decade or two? Pittsburgh is awesome! I love going there these days. It is a big city with lots going on, working class pride and just a good vibe in general.

I might not have said that about that area a decade ago. After some work, the place pulled itself up, and developed in to something better. It is cleaner and prettier. Sure, it still has its flaws, but it is improved.

Detroit had a big push a year or two ago to do the same.

I absolutely love the Chrysler commercial showing the car driving around Detroit with "Loose Yourself" playing in the background. That is a cool commercial, and a cool way to show off Detroit.

I think the locals are taking pride in their area, and are trying to sell Detroit for more than it has been sold for in the past. I hope the ticket scalpers stop cussing out visitors to the town simply for having no interest in buying their tickets. I hope the cops are careful about drawing their guns. BUT, I hope the place keeps its character too.

I think about that LCD Soundsystem song, "New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" which is about New York being better before it was cleaned up.

Detroit is like that. You go there because it is still preserved in a bit of a grungy state. If you improved it too much, it wouldn't be itself anymore.

The Spirit of Detroit, MI

2011-11-27T16:40:00.000-08:00

The Spirit of Detroit is one of the nicest monuments in any city. I would like to see so more of him, actually. i am not sure why he doesn't figure more prominently in commercials and other Detroit references.

When the Tigers, Lions, or other area teams make it to the play offs, he sports one of their jerseys! While I was in town, he had a shirt on promoting local schools.

The Detroit Shoppe had some postcards showing him, and they had a pricey, but very nice, small version of him.

Frankenmuth MI

2011-11-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

Check out these photos from Frankenmuth, Michigan! The town is pure touristy fun. Check the town out on wikipedia, there isn't much I can say that hasn't been said before. I love places like this when I travel!

Skyline of Detroit, Michigan, at Night

2011-11-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

This great postcard describes the front-

On a broad, level expanse, by the bank of a deep blue river, sits Detroit, a most modern metropolis.
Detroit presents to the world a picture that is modern- a beautiful city, beautiful in its own way and to the standards of its present generation that has made it so.

Greetings from Paw Paw Lake Michigan

2011-11-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

There is no description of the lake on the back of this postcard.

There is a fun message from probably a teenager to their parents. It sounds like they are having a good time at a camp here. The message was sent in 1950.

Detroit Shoppe, MI

2011-11-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

I have noticed that many cities have very cool stores dedicated to the city. Cleveland had a great one in Tower City last time I was there.... and Detroit has "The Detroit Shoppe"!

I almost hate to admit it at times, but I do enjoy walking through malls when I travel. If you are a mall fan and you are in the Detroit area, the Somerset Collection is a place where you have to stop. It is a very classy, layered mall. There is a skywalk with a moving sidewalk. let that sink in for a moment. This is easily one of the nicest indoor malls anywhere.

And, right in this very cool mall is a Detroit Shoppe. The place had a great selection of local inspired t-shirts, postcards, posters, etc. They also had historic artifacts from the cool town! The place is almost a cross between a museum and a museum gift shop.

They had a fun selection Tigers baseball items, including the videos about the group that tried to save old Tiger Stadium!

I was very happy to find some postcards of the Spirit of Detroit here.

The place is non profit too.

I Love This Bar and Grill, Detroit, MI

2011-11-15T17:42:00.000-08:00

We stopped by Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar and Grill"while in Michigan. It is at the Great Lakes Crossing Mall.

As you can probably tell from this blog, I am personally not a huge country music fan. I'm more of a classic rock and folk guy.

Still, I have a ton of respect for Toby Keith. A pal saw him at a very small intimate show in Afghanistan..... Oh, and he doesn't apologize for his patriotism.

I like the fact that he goes with his gut and will give an honest interview. He doesn't give middle of the road bland answers.

So, when a guy like that opens a restaurant and I am in the area, I do feel good about patronizing the place.

The food was good, and I felt like I was in Nashville, though I was a bit further north.

On the menu, there is a note about active service guys getting a free meal, not just a discount.

Take note of that every other restaurant around!

Ford Motor Plant and 3,000 Cars, Detroit, MI

2011-11-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

Sent from Detroit in 1918 (yes, read that last statement again!).... I was very excited to come across this one!

The sender encourages his friend to come to Detroit to apply for a good job.

I have been by this area recently, and it does not look as good.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum- Grand Rapids, MI

2011-11-13T08:13:00.000-08:00

I MUST take a moment to mention our trip to the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids.

First off, Grand Rapids is a very nice area. It is, without a doubt, a very under appreciated tourist stop. There is more going on than people realize. We found some great restaurants, a cozy coffee shop, and some top notch attractions in town. I know most people see it as a nice town to stop through on your way somewhere else. That is not a bad idea, but Grand Rapids justifies a full seven days of taking it all in.

Back to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Ford was before my time. Honestly, I don't know a lot about him.

Some friends assured us this was worth a stop and they were correct.

Go there yourself, but Ford had some very impressive connections to the Kennedy assassination investigation, Watergate (obviously), sports, and the Vietnam War. I could go on.

Some of the more interesting items displayed included documents relating to all of the above mentioned events, and artifacts from the events. Oh, and oddly, there is a gun on display confiscated during an assassination attempt.

I learned a lot, including that Ford experienced a name change, and that he was never elected president.

Postcard: State Capitol At Frankfort

2011-11-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

I keep finding cool old Frankfort Capitol postcards! These are 2 more, similar to others I have posted, but they are from different angles.

The top one reads:

"The Capitol Bldg. at Frankfort, Ky. is among the finest in the country, the dome being a reproduction of Napoleon's Tomb. Stairways are fashioned after the Paris Opera."

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-11-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

Busy weekend all around! Frankfort really has a lot going on!

They are getting ready for the season with the Frankfort Candle Light Tour this weekend.

Also, the big book fair is going on! I have had a good time there in previous years. It is great getting to meet authors, most having a connection to the state.

Grosse Pointe Michigan

2011-11-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

Coney Island Hot Dogs- Detroit Michigan

2011-11-08T12:56:00.000-08:00

Right next to each other in downtown Detroit are TWO similar hot dog shops!

One day we had lunch at the Lafayette Coney Island spot, and the next day we had an American Coney Island Dog!

I can't say I liked one more than the other, but I liked them both a lot! There were three of us in my party at the Lafayette, and we ate for $20 with tip!

How odd is it to have two competing hot dog

places right next to each other? Like I said, they

are both right in downtown Detroit, walking distance from all of the great sites!

John K. King Used and Rare Books- Detroit MI

2011-11-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

rarebooklink.com

Check out John K. King Used and Rare Books in Detroit!

Some book stores are perfect. I mean, I love every book store, but some are just so unique.

This place is a used book fan's dream. FOUR floors of books. Each floor has tons of books, and a staff person to help if you need it!

If I had not been on vacation, I would have spent more time than the couple of hours I had. I did find a couple of real obscure sci-fi titles for a couple bucks each, and a great old Cleveland postcard for a dollar!

When we walked in, the guy at the front asked if we had been there before. After telling him that we had not, he gave us a map of the building! The same guy did a super-human job of fielding questions from shoppers and phone calls. He seemed to enjoy sharing his endless knowledge of the store.

The building is a great old factory and on each of the floors an attendant asks if you need help finding something. I asked about books on Stargate and then had a fun chat with one of the employees about the monument in downtown Detroit that looks just like a Stargate! We both agreed that if given the opportunity, we would step through it.

There were entire sections of books I did not have time to check out. I itched to flip through boxes of old postcards but I could not.

This should be a pilgrimage for all book fans. Sometimes, on a road trip, you see something or go somewhere and feel happy. You have been there and done that. No reason to do it again.

That way of thinking does not apply at John K. King. I will need to make it back at some point soon.

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-11-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess we are heading to the Christmas Season. I am looking forward to visiting some of the nice local festivals going on around the state. I would love to hear from anyone about their towns celebrations or parades. I remember going to the Owensboro parade every year as a kid. That was great fun.

I have my own seasonal traditions too. more on those later I'm sure.

I think I am going to try to do something a bit different with my blog. I think I am going to go with a monthly Kentucky theme, and a monthly national theme. This month, I am going with Michigan at my national theme, and Bourbon as the local theme. We will see how it goes!

Halloween and Local Ghost Walks

2011-11-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

Well, another Halloween has come and gone. I hope you don't wait until February to take down your Halloween Tree.

I hope you got out and did something festive. I made it to several "Ghost Walks" this year. Some were good, some were bad.

I took one tour this year (the area and tour will not be mentioned) that was disappointing. There were four stops on the short, maybe one block tour, and the story telling was dull. The tour guide, I felt, had not done their research. There were few historical facts, and the tour involved very vague legends of ghost sitings and psychic impressions.

I like hearing good scary stories, and learning about strange moments in history that have occurred in the area.

Telling me that someone once saw a ghost in a spot is barely fascinating at best. Telling me that a crime that affected history occurred in a location on a tour- well... THAT GETS MY ATTENTION!

Let me give a HUGE endorsement to the American Legacy Tour guys up in Newport and Cincinnati who do their ghost walks and gangster tours.

http://americanlegacytours.com/

Kevin Steele also gets the same thumbs up for his Lexington tour. There are several stops, he is a great story teller, and he has been doing this for 11 years now! I took his tour again this year, and enjoyed it just as much as before. Mr. Steele gets a lot of repeat business for a reason. Oh, if you missed his tour this October, he has extended it through this Friday and Saturday!!!

http://lexingtonghostwalk.com/default.aspx

I haven't mentioned the Miamitown guys in a while, but they do a great job with their tour just a little north of Kentucky. Touring a bigger city is fun, but a ghost walk in a smaller, more rural and secluded area is VERY CREEPY. I haven't been on their tour in a couple of years, and I might have to do it again soon.

http://www.miamitownghosttours.com/

These tours all get Kentucky Travels approval.

Grand Rapids, MI

2011-11-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Moonlight on the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge, LA

2011-10-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

Sent through the mail in 1942, the back of this postcard says

The Mississippi River, "Father of Waters," 2459 miles long, and the longest river in the world, 4200 miles, when taking the Missouri as the trunk stream, 250 tributaries drain 41% of the US Width 1400 to 7000 feet. Bordered here and there by rugged bluffs of sandstone and limestone, which, in the St. Louis region, from veritable palisades. Its lower course winds between flat shores forming bayous and lakes. It pours 2,300,000 cubic feet of water per second into the Gulf of Mexico during high water.

Kentucky Explorer Magazine

2011-10-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't mentioned Kentucky Explorer Magazine in some time. This month's issue is another great one.

Some stories appropriate for this holiday include an article from 1911 about the first legal electrocution in the state, which happened in Eddyville. 18 year old Jim Buckner was executed for murder. The article talks about his crime, and his final moments.

An article by Robert Wilhelm covers the legend of Pearl Bryan- one of the more notable and most mysterious crime victims in the state.

There are articles about Jesse James robbing a bank in Adair County, Big Bone Lick State Park, and others.

I personally subscribe to Kentucky Explorer but it is only $2.50 an issue!
http://kentuckyexplorer.com/

New Orleans at Night

2011-10-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

The top postcard was sent in the 1930s. On the back, it reads-

One of the most attractive courtyards in the romantic Vieux Catre is located at 520 Royal Street. It was formerly the town home of the Brulatour family. Many artists have sketched this famous courtyard.

The bottom card reads-

Canal Street, so named because in olden days a big drainage canal ran down its center, recently rebuilt at a cost of $3,500,000, is 170 feet wide, one of the widest central business thoroughfares in the world, has sidewalks of terrazzo marble and neutral grounds. It marks the upper limits of the old city.

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-10-28T07:24:00.001-07:00

I hope you all have some plans for the Halloween weekend!

I do. Halloween is my favorite, and I am always up to something a bit mischievous. I might take a ghost walk or two.

I talked to an acquaintance the other day that I have known for a while. We were talking about all of the great state parks in Kentucky. Natural Bridge came up, and as we talked, we realized that we each asked our future significant others to marry us on Natural Bridge, AND at about the same time! Any body else out there proposing marriage at a state park, or anywhere else interesting in Kentucky? I would love to hear the story!

I know this has nothing to do with Kentucky, but I am a huge fan of Penn and Teller. They have a great new show called Penn & Teller Tell A Lie on the Discovery Channel. The show is similar to MythBusters, but it has the flat out weirdness of Penn and Teller.

Pirates Alley, New Orleans, La.

2011-10-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

"Pirate's Alley extends for one block from Royal Street to Chartres Street. Through this alleyway pirates were taken to the Cabildo Jail. It is also known as Old Orleans Alley and separates the Cabildo from Old St. Louis Cathedral."

Mokka and the Sunset Bar and Grill- Newport

2011-10-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

Newport is becoming my hang out area of choice these days! I am really enjoying the Levee and the few blocks around it!

So, we stopped at Mokka recently on a Saturday. For $12 they had a steak, crab, green beans, and potato deal! Check out the picture! This included a VERY nice salad and bread (not pictured). The restaurant was clean, and everyone in my party enjoyed what we had. Two of us had the steak deal, and two had chicken fingers and fries.

The location is convenient, the place itself is cozy, and I love the local art on the walls!

Seriously, I am conservative with my restaurant endorsements on this site, but this place deserves a plug. We thought the $12 deal was a GREAT value.

mokasunset.com

Newport Gangster Tour

2011-10-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

Recently, I took yet another tour offered by the American Legacy tours people.

I took their Gangsters tour and again had a great time! You really get your money's worth on these tours. This one clocked in at over 2 hours! There was about a 30 minute presentation in the piano bar, and then a very nice walk around town.

Unlike some ghost tours I have been on, this tour has a very authentic creepiness to it. Having sites pointed out where hits took place is much more disturbing than seeing a spot where a "psychic" felt something.

Some of the stories involved members of the Rat Pack, Gangsters, and an adult entertainment establishment that employed girls... and some girly men.

The trip included a stop at the Northern Kentucky Gambling Museum too, which was pretty cool.

Our tour guides (dressed in gangster gear and telling gangster related jokes the entire time) did their researched and shot of puns at every opportunity. They knew their facts and mentioned researching financial records, interviewing people who had been at the establishments mentioned, etc.

I know these tours are seasonal, and I think their season is coming to an end, but make sure you take this tour next year.

americanlegacytours.com

St. Roch's Cemetery, New Orleans

2011-10-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

"Entrance to St. Roch's Cemetery showing St. Roch's Chapel. One of the most visited places in the city. Erected in 1871 by Father Thevis with his own hands. Above ground burial vaults surround this ancient cemetery"

This is simply a beautiful postcard!

Lily Dale, New York

2011-10-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

Pictured on this postcard sent in 1980 is the Healing Temple Building in Lily Dale.

A community of spiritualists live in this noted town. I am not too familiar with it myself, though a book about it came out recently, and one of my all time favorite bands, 10,000 Maniacs, put a song about it on their first album.

Wild Animals in Zanesville Ohio

2011-10-19T05:05:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment to mention that my thoughts are with my friends in Zanesville Ohio today. I have driven by and stopped in this great little town several times.

NPR mentioned that exotic animals at an animal preserve in Zanesville have escaped. The owner of the facility was found dead, and the doors to several animal cages were found open.

Police in the area have already killed many of the animals on site. They are still concerned about cats and bears loose in the area.

I am glad that the great Columbus Zoo is near by, and it seems that they are trying to help with the situation.

The Tin Woodman, Lexington

2011-10-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

Some artsy person placed this fellow in the front area of one of my favorite bookstores in Lexington! I absolutely love this sort of art!

Fairyland Caverns, Rock City Gardens, Lookout Mountain

2011-10-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

And another cool old postcard from Rock City!

Vault's of Old St. Louis Cemetery on All Saints' Day- New Orleans

2011-10-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

"Vaults in St. Louis Cemetery, nearly all more than one hundred years old, decorated lavishly with flowers on All Saints' Day, November 1st, according to a colorful custom characteristic of New Orleans."

Lexington Ghost Walk

2011-10-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

I got some info on this years Ghost Walk with Kevin Steele. This is a very good one, packed with info and good story telling!

WEB SITE: lexwalk.com
KEVIN STEELE'S GHOST WALK+CREEPY CRAWL - 11th annual downtown Lexington 1 1/2 hour guided walk recalling tales of history, haunts, duels and disasters.

$10 adults. $5 12&under. No reservations needed.

Tours depart from Sawyer's Grille 325 W. Main St. 859-825-8702
Friday Oct. 14 NO TOURS - (Big Blue Madness night)
Saturday Oct. 15, 7pm & 9pm.
Thursday Oct. 20 7pm & 9pm
Friday Oct. 21 7pm & 9pm.
Saturday Oct. 22 7pm & 9pm.
Tuesday Oct. 25 7pm
Wednesday Oct. 26 7pm
Thursday Oct. 27 7pm & 9pm
Friday Oct. 28 7pm & 9pm.
Saturday Oct. 29 7pm & 9pm.
Sunday Oct. 30 8pm.
Monday Oct. 31 8pm

Rock City Gardens- Lookout Mountain Georgia

2011-10-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

Clown Act at Cypress Gardens in Florida

2011-10-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

I found these postcards recently and had to pick them up. I sort of don't know what to say about them. This blogger is NOT a clown fan.

These postcards are begging for a new life on the cover of a punk album.

Cypress Gardens in near Winter Haven Florida was around from 1936 until 2009. I am curious about how long the clown act lasted.

Hawthorne's Wayside, Concord, Mass.

2011-10-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

Postmarked 1938

Queen City Underground Tour

2011-10-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from our underground tour of Cincinnati!

I wouldn't call this one a ghost tour, or anything like that, but it was a strange tour, for sure.

We got to hear some great stories about Annie Oakley, illegal alcohol, and the first World Series!

You are "underground" for parts of the tour too.

These are the same guys doing various ghost and gangster tours in Cincy and northern Kentucky. They are developing a good reputation, and doing a great job telling about the areas, and taking you to the places where strange things have happened!

I have been on 2 of their tours, and I have tickets for another one coming up soon. I am sure I will be mentioning this group more in the future!

americanlegacytours.com

Hell, MI

2011-10-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

I know I have mentioned Hell Michigan before, but I made another stop there recently. So, I am going to mention it again!

There are just a couple of shops in town, and they both play on the town's name. Both are well stocked with postcards and other novelty items.

You can eat ice cream at the ice cream bar in Hell. I guess people in Hell want... and enjoy... ice cream.

Hell is a bit out of the way, but thats OK. it is worth the drive off the beaten path just to say that you have gone there.

Oh, and one of the cool things to do in Hell is get something postmarked. I love odd postmarks, and I have had things postmarked from Hell on both trips. The guys working at the small store/restaurant/post office are great and friendly. Also, they WILL burn your mail a little, so that your postcard from Hell looks a little more authentic.

Ohio River and Bridges connecting Kentucky and Ohio

2011-10-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-09-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

I was told that Joseph-Beth is opening up a NEW location in the northern part of the state! They are taking over the former Borders location at Crestview Hills Town Center.

This is a great shopping area that is growing on me all the time. I have stopped there on my way to Newport several times. They have a ton of great restaurants, and my wife loves some of the shops (Charming Charlie is a real stand out with her).

PLUS, they now have a Joseph-Beth Book Sellers!

I have always loved JBs attitude, and how they do business. It looks like they will be hiring several of the staff who previously worked at the Borders there.

Classy Joseph-Beth, VERY classy!

Go to Kentucky.com and read more about it.... search for Scott Sloan's article.

Trenton and Guthrie Kentucky

2011-09-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

Parkette Drive In- Lexington

2011-09-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos I took of the Parkette Drive in sign one rainy night.

I love the sign, and I love the food.

This is the perfect place to get a burger and tots.

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-09-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

There is a ton of cool stuff going on right now!

Check out the Scare Fest in downtown Lexington this weekend! I have been to this event a couple of times, and I have had a great time.

London is having their huge Chicken Festival! I have been told that this is a very nice event, but I have not been able to make it in previous years.

Lebanon is having their Ham Days Festival. I have been to this one and like it a lot.

Just a bit north of Cincinnati in Lebanon Ohio they are having their Apple Festival on Saturday. This is a great event too. I love the Golden Lamb and the other businesses in the area, and this is a great festival.

A couple of other seasonal notes.....

I asked Kevin Steele if he would be doing his downtown Lexington ghost walk again this year, and he is!!! This is a lot of fun way to spend a couple of hours. Kevin is a GREAT story teller who has dug up some of the strangest stories. This is one of my favorite ghost walks, and it is easily worth the price. Kevin says that he will start doing the walks on October 6th, going every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at least.

Thanks to Bob for emailing me about a Halloween related play! Jenny Wiley Theatre will be doing "Dracula In Tombstone"! This one looks really interesting. It looks like this one has our favorite vampire squaring off against our favorite lawman, Wyatt Earp!!! I don't know who to cheer for! Seriously, this looks like a lot of fun, but it only runs for about a seven day stretch.

Grand Stand at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky.

2011-09-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

Great old linen postcard of Churchill Downs, postmarked 1947!

Keeneland Association Running Track, Lexington. KY.

2011-09-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

I know Keenland well, and this older postcard shows a great view. I recognize it, but it still looks different.

Book: Vanished Smile by RA Scotti

2011-09-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

"Vanished Smile" came out in 2009, and I wish more of a fuss was made about it. This is a great read about an event that many are unaware of.

This is another book begging for the movie treatment.

Not to give to much away (because you should go out and read this book yourself) but someone literally walked in to the Louvre and walked of with the Mona Lisa.

I was surprised to read about how casual security was in 1911. Artist could come in and work right there, and photographers could just take a work of art off the wall to go photograph it somewhere else.

Picasso was one suspect!

Obviously, the painting was eventually found, and the thief tried to justify his actions as political.

Just as fascinating, is the plan one criminal proposed to take the painting, and then to pass off several other copies to other collectors as the real thing.

Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved

2011-09-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

I picked up the book, "Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved by Elgen and Marie Long the other day.

It was a quick and interesting read. However, to be honest, I really wasn't too familiar with Amelia before. I knew the basics but not the entire story.

This was a good account of her plans, and her colleagues at various times.

I am not sure how to view Amelia after this book. The romanticized version of her as the brave explorer is nice, but...

Amelia comes off as a bit reckless at times. Not in her flying, but in her preparation. She really doesn't take the time to learn how to use some of her radio equipment, and she removes other radio devices from the Electra to help with weight issues.

There are some other questionable decisions too.

I was talking to a buddy recently who knows a little about the history of flying. I mentioned this book to him, and my perception that Earhart made some bad mistakes. He said that a lot of aviation at that time was a bit of a "make it up as you go along" type situation. The rules were very undefined at the time.

Towards the end, the Longs offer some formulas for trying to figure out where Earhart's plane went down. In many ways, the facts do point to her being very close to her destination.

I enjoyed this book, and it makes me want to read up a bit more on Amelia Earhart!

Lincoln National Memorial, Kentucky

2011-09-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

Newport, KY

2011-09-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Newport has grown on me. I love the area near the Aquarium. Even going out a bit, there are some nice shops. I have eaten at several nice non-chain restaurants here.

Here are a couple of photos I took recently showing the vibrancy of the area. I am sure I will talk more about Newport soon!

"The Good-Bye Door" by Diana Britt Franklin

2011-09-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

You know, I have read some strange fiction in my time, and I have read some strange real life tales.

After reading Franklin's book about Anna Marie Hahn, I kept thinking about how truth is stranger than fiction.

First off, Diana Britt Franklin is a great writer. Her book is well researched, and she notes her sources. Still, "The Good-Bye Door" reads like a very well written fiction story. You will read it in a short period of time.

Anna Marie Hahn is one of the first well documented female serial killers around. She pretty much hunted down elderly men, poisoned them, and then tried to get there money.

Hahn comes up with many stories after confronted, but none of her stories add up. The entire time she tries to come across as just a nice person concerned about the health of her friends.

In 1938, she becomes the first female executed in Ohio's electric chair.

Author Diana Britt Franklin does a great job of describing Hahn and the other characters in the book. She includes a follow up section in the back telling what became of the judge, lawyers, Hahn's husband, and her son.

Oddly, Hahn's husband lived a very long life, living until 1989! According to Franklin, he does not bring up his late wife ever again after the execution.

Hahn's young son disappears from the pages of history. There are a few rumours, but nothing else.

Franklin covers Hahn's life, the trial, and towards the end of the book, she covers the execution. It is dark.

There is a strange twist at the end, as Hahn leaves a letter for her lawyer after her death!

Horseshoe Falls from Below, Niagara Falls

2011-09-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

Random Thoughts on Friday

2011-09-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite times of the year! I know that in my area, we went from summer to autumn in a matter of about 24 hours.

I am itching to drive somewhere on a Kentucky backboard (the destination isn't that important) and drink something with an apple taste.

There is a lot to do in Kentucky right now! Elizabethtown has a street painting festival going on this weekend. I am not sure about that one, but here is a link:
kyviacolori.com

There is a stamp and postcard show in Lexington. I love looking through old postcards. It will be at the Ramada on 2143 North Broadway.

I just found out that the Indoor Football team formerly known as the Northern Kentucky River Monsters has moved to Muncie Indiana. They will be playing in a different league too.
Their former league, the Ultimate Indoor Football League WILL have a team at the Bank of America Center for this upcoming season, but that team has not yet been named. The popular Eastern Kentucky Drillers out of Pikeville will again be in the league!

Anyone know of any Halloween related stage productions going on? I will go see anything! Seriously, if you know of even a mediocre middle school drama club doing Dracula, let me know.

Also, if there are any cool ghost walks or seasonal historical tours in your area, tell me about it! I know my buddy David Wolfe is doing one in Owensboro that I have been told is great! The one in Lexington is a lot of fun too.

Oh, I was chatting with a friend the other day who has been going on road trips longer than I have been around! he recently converted some old slides and he has given me copies!!!! I have several CDS full of older photos from some great tourists stops. I should be getting some posts on those up soon!

Newport Kentucky Ghost Walk

2011-09-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

Northern Kentucky has so much going on! I don't think that a lot of people realize that it is just as happening as some of the other major areas in the state. It can easily compete with Louisville.

There is a group in the area now that is doing some really cool walking tours in the Newport and downtown Cincinnati area.

We went with some friends last year on the "Newport is Haunted" tour. We had a lot of fun. Our guide was a great story teller. Check out their site:

americanlegacytours.com

I will have more on their underground Cincinnati tour soon!

Downtown Ciny

2011-09-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

Cincinnati has a very attractive downtown area. A friend took me there recently... it had been some time since I was there last.

There are some great murals, and other places. We walked through a small farmers market too!

My pal told me that the door to one of the buildings was the one used in the opening credit sequence of WKRP in Cincinnati!

We did an "Underground" tour in the Over the Rhine area close to here too... More on that in the next few days....

Hopkinsville Mall and Area

2011-09-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos taken near the Hopkinsville Mall. I have included the picture of the train because.... well, trains are cool.

I remember going to this mall once in the mid 90s and thinking it was great! Now, there is not much here. Hopefully better days are still ahead.

I love the helicopter mounted near it too.

Book: The Last Days Of Cleveland

2011-09-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

Carrying on with the theme for the season, I do want to mention that John Stark Bellamy II put out a SIXTH volume in his series of books about crime and disaster in Cleveland some time ago. These books are very strange reads for anyone from northern Ohio. As I have mentioned, I spent a decade in the area, and it is just weird reading these stories, and thinking about the areas where they happened. It is surreal reading about true crimes and disturbing events that happened in an place you have been.

I keep thinking about the quote concerning truth being stranger than fiction, and Bellamy again does a great job of finding stories that prove that. This is not a work of fiction, nor is it a book about ghosts. These are true tales that are dark.

Pick up this volume, or any of the other books by Bellamy. I can't say enough about how interesting these books are.

Bell Witch Cave- Adams TN

2011-08-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

I had heard a lot about the Bell Witch Cave before finally making it there this year.

There is something very interesting about the cave, and its connection to the Bell Witch. It is one of the last actual locations still standing associated with the story.

So, we made a trip down early on Saturday to check it out!

We pulled in to the farm where the cave is located early in the day. We drove to the main ticket area/gift shop and parked.

I had read that the guy running the place is very moody. I must admit I was a bit on guard about this.

I have visited other historic sites ran by people who are not pleasant, and their hearts aren't really in to the protection and promotion of the site (I'm talking to you famous multi-gabled house in Salem Mass.). It is very sad when this happens.

I was pleased to discover first hand that this is not the case with the Bell Witch Cave. Yes, there is a stern guy there running the place. I did see him say something to some kids driving fast down the gravel drive to the parking area, but he wasn't a jerk about it at all. It seemed to me that the cave is owned and ran by someone who takes pride in having a pleasant and very scenic tourist attraction, and he wants it to stay that way. Our group all agreed that the entire staff was pleasant.

Let me say one last thing about the staff here (and at other touristy areas). How many times have you been to a major tourist attraction in a large area, and you feel herded through a tour? I can think of several tours where I have been in a group of 50 or more people, with one or a couple of tour guides working hard to get as many people through as possible. It is very impersonal.

I felt like the family/staff at the Bell Witch Cave cared about the cave and the farm area around it. I thought they had a personal connection to the area, and simply want to keep it as perfect as possible, and they want to make your experience there as pleasant as it can be.

We arrived, bought our tickets, and our small group was taken immediately to tour the cave. There was no waiting until a certain hour, or waiting for more people. We had a very private tour which was great!

Unlike other show caves, you do get a lot of access here. Yes, it is relatively small, but you can poke around a bit more. Our guide encouraged us to touch the cave walls for support (though we were also encouraged to watch out for spiders before putting our hands in certain areas). We were also able to climb up on some rocks as needed. This cave has a more wild feel than others. Oh, and there is a stream going through the cave. You can place your feet on rocks as needed, but you are going to get wet.

The Bell Witch Cave has some very cool features, including a rock that looks like a person mooning you (see photo) and a very scary formation that looks like a skull or monster's head. I thought it looked like Leatherface. Check out the photo though. It is a very creepy formation.

Native American relics and remains have been found here too. Very old ones according to our guide.

I really like the gift shop here too. Inside, they have some articles, letters and other relics relating to the Bell Witch. I love postcards and books, and they were readily available here, along with shirts and magnets.

Again, visiting the Bell Witch Cave in Adams, along with a trip to the Old School House is a great way to spend a day. You will have fun!

Oh, and keep in mind that going to a place like this in October will be more of a chore than going during another month. If you like smaller, less crowded tours, think about going when the Halloween crowds will not be there.

Books on the Bell Witch

2011-08-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

mtskeptics.homestead.com/BellWitch1.html

Before I go on too much about the Bell Witch, let me recommend that you check out the link above. This is a great link to The Middle Tennessee Skeptics site concerning the Bell Witch. These guys have done a great job researching the facts!

Personally, I love a good, weird, scary story! I especially love the story of the Bell Witch. However, the MTS does a very thorough job with their research. Even if you are not one with skeptical leanings, check out their site, as they mention some good resources, and have a nice, easy to understand timeline of events.

The skeptic group also makes a very good point concerning books on the Bell Witch. There really isn't a lot of source material on the story. For anyone interested in the Bell Witch, copies of the old books are the ones to read. They specifically name the original, "Authenticated History of the Bell Witch."

Also, if you enjoy collecting unique books, the Bell Witch Cave gift shop offers some printings made exclusively for them. I think thats pretty cool!

After you check out the old books, there are a few more recent ones that deserve some attention. I found a 1971 Ripley's Believe It Or Not comic with an 8 page adaptation of the story. The creepy vintage art work alone makes this book worth hunting down.

"Echoes of the Bell With in the 20th Century" is an interesting read, as it gives mostly ghost stories from the former owner of the Bell Witch Cave.

Tim Henson has an interesting book on the genealogy of the Bell family. He has put a lot of research in to making the book, and trying to figure out where some of the family members fit in to the story.

Concerning the older books, the one by Charles Bailey Bell is interesting. Oddly, towards the end of the book, the ghost gets a bit preachy talking at length about religion. Most accounts of the ghost do note that she had a knowledge of the Bible. As a side note, most accounts also describe that the Bell Witch was quit the racist.

Cowboy Mouth at the Southgate House in Newport

2011-08-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Cowboy Mouth has been around for a long time. They have been doing their thing for about 2 decades, but play with more energy than any band ever.

Which makes me wonder why it took me this long to catch them live.

Let me back up a little. I used to go to a lot of concerts. I have easily been to over a couple hundred. When I lived in Cleveland, it wasn't uncommon to go to several a week.

I no longer live in an area like Cleveland, and I simply don't go to concerts like I used to. Like everyone else in the world, I am getting older. I like getting to bed at an early hour. I enjoy getting my rest.

AND, after going to so many concerts, I have come to have high expectations. If you are a concert veteran, you know what I am talking about. You want to leave every show knowing that its great to be alive. You want to feel something supernatural. You expect some magic.

I felt that after this show.

I read that Cowboy Mouth would be doing a show in Newport, which is a very convenient location for me. I really haven't made much of an effort to hit a concert anywhere lately, but I figured catching Cowboy Mouth would be worth it.

I am glad I did.

On the Cowboy Mouth website, there is a great quote from Cake Magazine about the band. It says, "on a bad night they'll tear the roof off the joint, and on a good night, they'll save your soul."

I feel a need to go out among the unconverted to tell them about Cowboy Mouth.

Fred LeBlanc is easily one of the most exciting musicians to watch anywhere. He is rocking out on the drums while simultaneously acting as the perfect singing front man. If he were only a drummer or singer, you would leave his show talking about how he was an amazing vocalist or drummer. It is literally unreal the way he plays and sings.

Cowboy Mouth took the stage at about 10, and played until midnight to a very nice and enthusiastic crown at the Southgate House.

Maybe 10 minutes into the show, Fred left the stage (while the rest of the band played) to walk to the balcony to playfully scold the two or so people not up and dancing. Everyone in the venue was up and screaming the entire time. I have never been to a show where every single person got involved like this. Even if you weren't familiar with the songs, you could feel Fred's energy, and you could appreciate what the band was giving to the audience. You were compelled to give it back to them.

The band invited a young girl (11 or 12) up on stake to play drums with them. It was very cool.

After the show, the band stuck around to sign CDs and chat with fans. The band was great, and to be honest, I was personally so blown away I did not know what to say to them.

The band talked to everyone as if they were old friends. Fred actually thanked me for coming out, and also told me that he hoped I would enjoy the new album I bought at the merch table. The bands appreciation for their fans is obvious.

Cowboy Mouth does not take advantage of their fans in any way. T-shirts were a very reasonable $15, and their new CD was a very affordable $10. Most bands around would easily ask for more. Oh, and tickets to the show were $15 in advance, $18 at the door. For about $40 you could get in, and leave with a CD and shirt. You can't buy a ticket to most shows now for that price.

Let me also say that I am so happy to have caught Cowboy Mouth at the GREAT Southgate House. This is a very cozy venue. The staff was cool and friendly and I didn't see any concert goer hassled at all. It was hot outside, but it was very cool inside (it felt like the AC was on, which is a rarity for a concert hall).

I am looking forward to seeing more shows at the Southgate House and I am looking forward to seeing more Cowboy Mouth!

One last thing. As I mentioned, there were some kids at the show which was nice! The ballroom was non-smoking, and a friendly vibe was going on. Sure, it is Cowboy Mouth (you can expect a few four letter words) but the atmosphere was family friendly. I did feel bad for the kids in one way though. They are young, and they will, at some point in their lives, go out to see other bands. I fear they are going to feel some serious disappointment whenever they see another band. Their concert going bar has been set high.

Random Thoughts On Friday

2011-08-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/blogs/x680960776#axzz1VJxgNOFn

If you have read my blog for some time (again, thanks mom!) you know that I love the town of Salem. I love the strange history, the charm, and the people. It is simply a near perfect town. Modern beauty and preserved history are right there. I have made several trips there, and I am itching to get back soon.

I love historic tourist attractions. I think it is very exciting taking a tour of a historic home, and just indulging in a place's history.

Call me smug, but I also like knowing that I have supported a place by buying a ticket, or by spending some money in a gift shop. In fact, we will not think twice about dropping a few extra bucks on an item in a historic gift shop. There is something extra special about flipping the pages of a book about Gettysburg purchased in the PA town. There is something more authentic about sending a postcard from Mammoth Cave when the postcard was actually bought at Mammoth Cave.

If you visit an area frequently, you may not have time to take a tour for the nth time, but you still might want to support a place by stopping by their gift shop to drop some coin. I think management at most tourist attractions appreciate people stopping by their gift shops to make a purchase. In fact, I can only think of one that doesn't.

I mentioned before that we had a very negative experience the last time we stopped by the House of the Seven Gables in Salem. I found this write up above from someone who also had a bad experience there. Looks like some in the Salem community felt that the House of the Seven Gables needed to work on how they handle things too.

Obviously, the owners of the property can do whatever they want to with their place, and that's fine.

Tourists and locals can choose to visit some of the many other great tourist attractions in town, and support their gift shops.

Adams, Tennessee and the Bell Witch Part 2

2011-08-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

I am still excited about my recent road trip to Adams, TN. In my last post on the town, I included some photos from about a year ago.

This year, I again stopped at the old school house, which is now an antique mall.

The place seems to be popular with locals and tourists.

If you like looking for old antiques, this is a very fun place (I found some great old postcards there myself).

Also, it is an old school building. All school buildings have a cafeteria, and in Adams, they still put the old cafeteria to good use. VERY GOOD USE.

If you are driving through this part of the country, even if you could care less about the folklore, stop by the old school and have lunch. I have had some GREAT fish, greens, and brisket here. I took a picture of the plate I was served last time there. I could not finish it all. They have nice, cozy country food that you will love.

Also, the old school has Tim Henson! Tim has been at the School House each time I have been there. The guy knows just about everything concerning local history. He has written a book on the Bell family AND he contributed to a documentary on the Bell Witch.

Tim is a gold mine of information, and an asset to local tourism.

Oh, the School House has a small but back 1 room museum about the town's history. Behind and to the side of the School House, there are several buildings and other items involved in the history of the area.

I should also mention the cemetery and monument down the road from the School House. LOTS of Bell family history to see here!

Roller Derby in Lexington

2011-08-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

rocknrollergirls.com

I did not know until recently that Lexington (and several other areas) were doing roller derby again!

The Roller Girls of Central Kentucky have their matches at the Convention Center (part of the Rupp Arena complex).

I had a great time. This is a really fun event. The atmosphere was party like and family friendly at the same time. I saw a lot of kids, and a lot of older folks. All were friendly (the guy setting next to me explained the rules as he saw the confused look on my face).

Oh, there was a fun band playing, and hoola-hoopers (not sure if that is the right term) there to entertain too!

I still don't understand all of the rules, but I get how it works.

I have to admit that I expected more violence. I think most of us have watched old clips and think of roller derby as very aggressive. I thought there would be some elbows, clotheslines, maybe a few punches.

Those things did not happen. In fact, I was a bit impressed with the sportsmanship. One participant fell and it looked like she hit her head. All action stopped as professionals came to check on her. She was OK, and play continued. Otherwise, the sport seemed fairly scientific.

Check out their web site and go to a game! Tickets were around $10, and they had a large enthusiastic crowd. Merch was unique, cool, and affordable (I bought a nice t-shirt with the team logo for $15- the logo is awesome!).

I know the area is familiar with various sports teams coming... and going. I do hope that the Lexington area gives this team the support it deserves so that they will stick around!