Wow, we’re in the year 2017! Seems like just the other day that we were in 2016.(I know, we were, I just think it is funny to say. I’m like my dad in that way.) So looking back over the year, I realize there were things we did but never wrote about, that I want to get off my whiteboard.
Let me explain. Last year I bought a small white board (the kind that can go in a school locker) so my husband, Bobby, and I would be able to keep track of the posts we needed to write. We erase them from the board when they are completed. Some things have been on there quite awhile. If you are wondering why, it probably boils down to others things becoming more relevant based on the time of year. Either that or I didn’t have enough information to make them their own posts.
Here is a smattering of my long lost visits and whatnots. (They aren’t in any particular order.)
- Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial — This memorial is part of the National Parks system and is located on Put-In-Bay Island. Our dog Owney wrote about his time there, but didn’t spend a lot of time on this site. The memorial commemorates those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The “peace” part of it is for the long standing peace between Britain, Canada and the United States.
- Downtown Wooster Restaurants — Bobby and I have visited many of the restaurants in Downtown Wooster, but we have been thinking about doing a post specifically on them, sort of a compilation. I suspect we will still do this, but we have a few more eateries to visit before we can write it.
- Shisler’s Cheese House — Bobby and I visited Shisler’s during the Cupcake Tour last spring. We visited five total business establishments during the tour. The reason we haven’t written about Shisler’s yet is due to the fact we haven’t made it back there when the owner, Rita Shisler is there. Bobby and I both enjoy talking to her and wouldn’t feel right to write a post without some comments or background from her. However, in the meantime, the store offers bulk food items, bakery items, meats and, of course, cheese. (Swiss cheese is the most popular.)
- The Milkshake Factory — We stumbled upon this ice cream and candy shop when we were in Pittsburgh during our Jack Reacher tour. You have to know that if milkshake is in the title, I am going. I ordered a chocolate shake (of course) and I honestly don’t remember if Bobby got one or if we shared. We ate a lot that trip, because we visited some restaurants that had been featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I do remember that the shake was thick and chocolatey. Delicious!
- Charlottesville, NC, Monticello and Red Hub BBQ — During our whirlwind visit to Richmond, VA last year to get on the set of Mercy Street, we took a detour on our way home to Charlottesville. It was a little out of the way, but we thought we were so close to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, we should visit it. Turns out we didn’t actually do much more than drive to the welcome center and use their facilities. We didn’t do more because we had to get home for work the next day, so we didn’t really have time to watch their 25 minute video or ride the bus to the mansion for a 90 minute tour. (Not to mention that I would not have been happy to pay the admission fee and not get my money’s worth.) We did stop for BBQ at Red Hub Food Co. while in Charlottesville. It was good North Carolina BBQ. Just a small little building, which was mostly kitchen. It was probably meant for take out and not eating in, but the staff was really friendly.
- Swenson’s — Owney wrote about our visit to Swenson’s that we took on his birthday. We had always meant to write a bit more about it, but never found the time. I think I would have to try it again to give it a fair shake. Right now all I can remember is that Bobby had me order a bigger burger than him and Owney went crazy with barking. You can read about Owney’s adventures there by clicking here.
- Shake Shack — Believe it or not I wasn’t the one who suggested we stop here. We were in Manhattan and had gotten off at the wrong subway stop. It turned out that the Shake Shack was right by that subway entrance. Bobby had heard about it years ago, so he wanted to try it. It was definitely an experience. The food was good, although I wouldn’t get their lemonade again. However, we didn’t get to enjoy it hot. Why, you might wonder. Well, just about the time our order was coming up (you have to wait for awhile in line to order, it is that popular) it began to rain. The park cleared out pretty fast because of it. We decided to walk to our hotel, in the rain, carrying our food in a paper bag. By the time we got to eat it, everything was cold. Still it tasted pretty good, even the fries. If we go again, I hope we’ll get to really enjoy it. When we were there, before the rain, there was a guy singing Frank Sinatra songs. He had this whole set up with a mike and sound tracks. He was pretty good, too. I don’t know if it was a paid gig or if he was a street performer, but he also added to the experience, until the rain.
- Manhattan Architecture — I really don’t have a lot to say about architecture, as I am pretty ignorant about it. (Which is probably why I had a question mark by it on the whiteboard.) However, one funny thing that happened when we were in Manhattan. I had wanted to see the Empire State Building. When we were out walking one day we thought we saw it. We figured we were close enough, so we walked to it. At ground level many of the buildings look a like. We decided we would get back to it later in our visit. So later that week we were walking to go get dinner, when a few people in front of us stopped to take their picture by a historical marker on a building. We chatted with them a bit. They said they love Manhattan architecture. We asked if they knew how to get to the Empire State Building. They told us how, but then one of them said, “I like the Chrysler Building better.” I asked where it was. He told me that we could see it from where we were. We stepped a little out into the street and looked up. Ironically, the building I thought was the Empire State Building on our early excursion actually was the Chrysler Building! Don’t ask me how I got the two confused.
Phew! I guess there was a lot we didn’t tell you about in 2016. Knowing all we did share, I can hardly wait to see what 2017 has in store. If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments below!