Photos

Austin’s Lady Bird Lake from the water after dark

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The Colorado River runs through Austin’s vibrant downtown. Flanked by parks, bike and hiking trails and entertainment venues, the river also widens and slows, prompting the name Lady Bird Lake after LBJ’s First Lady.

Striking view at dusk

Groupon led us to Lone Star Riverboat cruises, offering a chance to enjoy a sunset cruise and beautiful views of the remarkable and interesting architecture of Austin’s skyline. Lone Star has both a double deck “paddle wheeler” style boat and large open air pontoon style boats. Sher and I and our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter chose  the pontoon boat for our sunset cruise.

Center building is either an owl or a nose hair clipper: locals laugh about it

Curved building is the new Google Headquarters, far right is one that looks like a thumb drive

We thoroughly enjoyed our slow paced tour up and down the waters. Our Captain of the craft gave a most interesting running commentary of the sights seen from the vantage point of the water. One interesting anecdote concerned the heights of the buildings. Formerly no Austin building could be taller than the State Capitol. However, one rich Texan donated a building that would be taller. Money talked, and the impressive skyline continues to grow in height.

Our cruise was slightly over and hour, and was reasonably priced with special kid’s rates and a nice Senior discount as well.

Indianapolis Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre famous buffet

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One of the many enjoyable aspects of an evening out at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is partaking of their famed buffet! Each show has its own buffet menu, thus you have a new culinary experience at each different show. Once you arrive at the theater and are seated at your table a staff member will get your drinks and direct you to the buffet lines.

View of the two serving lines set up in front of the stage.

The Buffet lines open at 5:30. As a true buffet, you are invited to get seconds. Often there will be an item on the menu that I will consider worthy of more of that particular delicacy. Each different menu also has a variety of items marked Gluten-Free, Vegetarian and vegan to meet most dietary desires. Executive Chef Larry Stoops orchestrates feeding over 400 people each show.

Baked Tilapia, Famous Roast Beef , Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Peas and Wild Rice

Salad plate , melons, Cottage Cheese, Potato salad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will be very pleased with the quality of the B&B waiter staff. They keep your drinks filled, including the very tasty coffee. Dessert is available but extra. We always order our dessert during the intermission but you can of course get it right after you eat. The dessert menu has many items from which to choose. All in all, the Beef and Boards Dinner Buffet is a most enjoyable and a large part of your evening at the theater. This is the Beef and Boards Website.

 

Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum

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When three Greek brothers opened Zaharakos as a candy store in Columbus, Indiana in 1900 they opened what has become one of the finest historic ice cream parlors in America. Located in the heart of downtown Columbus this shop has become a marvelous place to get ice cream treats, excellent dining and exposure to hundreds of original artifacts from the heydays of 1900 era soda fountains. In addition there are multiple original and replica mechanical music instruments.

The 50′ marble topped mahogany backed soda bar. This is where all those ice cream delicacies are created for your pleasure

Sher and I have enjoyed several trips to Zaharakos over the years including introducing family members to the wonderful treats with ice cream made on site. The restaurant menu is filled with classic Hoosier comfort food. Walking around the facility feels like being in a museum with all of the beautiful items from the history of soda fountains through the years.

Sher behind the counter of a second full soda fountain, with a Welte Machine on the left.

There are several mechanical musical instruments including the 1908 Welte orchestrion that play occasionally in the shop. The Welte machine is one of the few remaining that are still in their original location. The Banjo-Orchestra machine  arrived at Zaharakos June 26, 2013. This replica was built by the D.C. Ramey Piano Company in Marysville, Ohio.

I caught all but the first few bars of the banjo pickin’ classic.

Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor is without a doubt worthy of a visit when you are in or near Columbus. Always a delight to see, this unique store always goes overboard during holidays with beautiful seasonal decorations.  This is the Zaharakos website.

Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary from the Indiana Audubon Society

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The Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary is located south of Connersville in Fayette County, Indiana.  Alice Green Gray gave the initial 264 acre property to the Indiana Audubon Society in 1943 as a living memorial to her daughter Mary, who preceded her in death. Another Gray relative and Society members have made possible the acquisition of more property so that the Sanctuary now has 723 acres.

Clearly marked entrance

Storage building appropriately decorated

Page from MGBS brochure

 

 

 

 

 

The entrance to the sanctuary is well marked with a dramatic and large stone sign. Once you are in the initial parking area, you realize that you are in a delightful part of Nature’s birding paradise. This is an off the beaten path sanctuary worthy of your exploration. Take you camera and binoculars.

There are many features within this sanctuary. There is a bird watching blind where you can observe the many stocked feeders and not be seen. Ponds and native trees provide a perfect chance to immerse yourself in communing with Earth and the natural history of Indiana. Interesting programs and meetings take place at the amphitheater. Self-guided hiking tours covering many topics are an extra bonus to visitors of the MGBS. Click here for the MGBS website.

 

Quinault National Recreation Trail System

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Traveling in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State provides an awesome chance to view up close and personal the famed scenery of the Pacific Northwest. The huge Olympic National Forest is home to millions of acres of Natures’ wonders.

Trail map

Typical vegetation of the rain forest

The Quinault National Recreation Trail System on the shore of Lake Quinault is an opportunity to easily explore the magnificent rain forests. We stopped at one of the parking lots for the trail, and were easily able to walk several hundred yards into the forest on a well defined and clear trail.

Nature’s delicate beauty

Easy walking trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Massive tree base

Being in the actual rain forest was an eye opening adventure that brought us close to, and for a short time, part of this slice of the Pacific Northwest. The plants covering the forest floor were a deep green and covered in delicate leaves. Moss covered previously fallen branches added to the degree of total vegetation that filled the scene. This was a chance to really engage with the rain forest.

Bali Makasih Bali Island Imports in Nashville Indiana

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Nashville, Indiana is known for restaurants, wineries, breweries and of course shopping. One of the popular shops is the Bali imports shop. This business is American-Bali owned and features original hand crafted items imported from Bali, Indonesia.

Shop entrance, handicap accessible

Wonderful variety of inventory

 

 

 

 

 

First meditating frog I have ever seen

Literally all kinds of inventory, any size any price

 

 

 

 

 

There are thousands of items in the shop. Here is a quote from the Bali website that explains the inventory: “Bali Makasih features over 45,000 beautiful pieces of wood carvings, silver jewelery, clothing, wall decorations, statues, mosaic arts, incenses, essential oil, traditional instruments, Tiki and Totem, Sign, Decorative surfboard, Blowing glass, Mask and many more. Everything originally handmade, one of a kind, unique and straight from Bali, Indonesia.”

Pouch with ground coffee, take a sniff between samples of incense

Shopping Nashville is a true never the same adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This shop is one that we always visit whenever we are in town. Restocking our incense supply is always on our shopping list at Bali. The incense inventory is quite large and has, it seems, any type of incense you can think of. We are taken care of by one of the owners. She is very helpful while we decide what incense to get on this trip. She showed me the coffee pouch trick to clear your nose between samples.

Hand carved Indiana limestone monument for young apprentice carver

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Indiana is famous for the quantity and quality of quarried limestone that has been used for edifices around the country and the world. Lawrence County, Indiana was home for many quarries but also many incredibly talented stone carvers. One example of this craftsmanship is a stone monument made for the grave of a young apprentice carver in Green Hill Cemetery in Bedford.

Yes, that is limestone lettering

The workbench as Baker left it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louis Jackson Baker (1894 – 1917) was an apprentice stone carver. He fell to typhoid fever at the age of 23 years. Stone companies of the day gave employees stone for cemetery markers. Baker’s fellow stone workers created a stunning monument that made a limestone recreation of his work bench, complete with all the tools as he left them when he went home for the last time.

Incredible details of the tools

Side view of the work bench

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Green Hill Cemetery has scores of beautifully carved monuments. If you enjoy walking cemeteries, this one is one of the best in Southern Indiana.
Baker’s work bench monument is well known and worth an up close and personal visit.

Twin Peaks Restaurant near Greenwood Mall

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Sher and I try to stay as active as we can . One of our exercise routines is to walk in the Greenwood Mall, a large retail mall south of Indianapolis. After one of our walks it was time for a bite to eat. On the edge of the large mall parking lot we saw a sign for Twin Peaks, an establishment we had yet to patronize.

The Main Bar

Twin Peaks is a national chain. The decor is similar to a  mountain hunting lodge combined with a huge digital screens filled sports bar. Oh, and don’t forget those cute outfits the waitress staff wears. It is known for the menu of scratch-made food, tall mugs of 29° draft beer and sports on large tv’s from any angle.

Near perfect fried fish

Loaded Baked Potato

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now there’s a pretzel

Actual temperature of beer on tap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The service was, as advertised, fun and friendly. Our waitress recommended to me the fried fish sandwich. Sher ordered the baked potato and our son wanted to try the (huge) pretzel and fries. If you have a Twin Peaks near you go ahead and try it. You will be glad you did.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Tootsie” now on stage through Nov. 23

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What an awesome  show we saw last night! Tootsie the Musical is now on stage at Indy’s beloved Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and wow what a show it is. Based on the famous Dustin Hoffman1982 film, the musical Tootsie brings several new modern twists to a tale of the lengths one pursues for success.

Attempting to start a legitimate relationship with her, Michael Dorsey (Jonathan Cobrda) talks with a relutant Julie Nichols (Renée Jackson)

The chaotic story of  a male actor who hides his identity as a women to get work provides an exciting, funny, talent filled musical with a marvelous cast, great choreography, music, sets and costumes. You’ll laugh, smile and tap your feet throughout the show.

Michael Dorsey (Jonathan Cobrda) doesn’t understand why he can’t get an acting job and wonders “Whatddya Do” in this situation

Backed into a corner by his own actions, Michael Dorsey (Jonathan Cobrda), dressed as Dorothy Michaels, appeals to her to help him by singing “Talk to Me Dorothy”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Cobrda makes his Beef & Boards debut in the starring role of Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels. His skill on stage is emphasized as he effortlessly moves from the two distinct characters of Michael and Dorothy. Opposite Cobrda is Renee Jackson, in the role of Michael’s love interest, Julie Nichols. Oh the twists that come from this relationship!

Ron Carlisle (Don Farrell) demonstrates the choreography to the cast of “Juliet’s Curse”

Payton Reilly is cast as Michael’s ex-girlfriend Sandy Lester, and Don Farrell fills the role of the show’s director, Ron Carlisle. B&B veteran Jeff Stockberger plays Michaels’ agent. Tyler Belo is Michael’s roommate Jeff Slater, and Matthew Rella as the self-centered actor Max Van Horn. Rella had the same role previously in the 1st National Broadway Tour of Tootsie.

Dorothy Michaels (Jonathan Cobrda), center, is overwhelmed by the number “I’m Alive” in the musical “Juliet’s Curse”

Tootsie is on stage through Nov. 23 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Tickets include Chef Larry Stoops’ dinner buffet and select beverages. Tickets to Beef & Boards productions are available exclusively through Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, either online at beefandboards.com, or by contacting the box office at 317.872.9664. Tootsie is rated R for adult themes, strong profane language, and mature content.

ALL PHOTOS BY INDY GHOST LIGHT