retirement activity

Brewdog started in Scotland, now in Ohio

/ Roadtirementvintage / 18 Comments

We had a really fun time this past weekend when we visited our son’s family to celebrate our granddaughter’s High School graduation. Friday night we found our way to a large establishment called Brewdog. This place was a full sized brewery, restaurant-bar, games, merchandise and the Doghouse Columbus Hotel, rooms of which have beer taps in each room. The original home is in Aberdeen, Scotland. Now there are several in Ohio.

Sher heading into the Brewery

Looking towards the outdoor seating area

The beer barrel wall, restaurant beyond

Bar and indoor seating, outdoor seating patio beyond

This is a trailer, note the girl just released her axe…

The facility has a huge building that houses not only the restaurant/bar/game rooms but the actual brewery with its large vats. Once you pass the merchandise area and go through the beer barrel wall, you’re in the restaurant bar seating area. The menu was filled with great bar food.

Smothered wings & fries, nachos and corn dip

Custom made pizza

You have to try a flight!

With our son and daughter-in-law

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The firepits were nice, heck, the whole place was nice. We’ll go back on another trip to visit our Columbus Ohio family.

Roosters in Ohio

/ Roadtirementvintage / 18 Comments

Main entrance, lots waiting for a table

No, we’re not talking about the Ohio National Poultry Show. We’re talking about one of a delightful chain of chain of restaurants that carry the self given label of “A Fun, Casual Joint”. On our way to family in Columbus, Ohio, we found a Rooster’s just off of I-71 south of the beltway. We were seated immediately, even though the place was very full. This place was full of life, covered with TV screens and interesting wall décor.

Yet another clever way to ID restroom occupants

A rather punny saying

A bit of editorial content here

 

 

 

 

 

The menu was very impressive and had appetizers for everyone’s tastes, plenty of wings and a full list of burgers and sandwiches. We decided on three items and they were very delicious and filling.

Dumpster Fries “It’s a hot mess!” Curly fries, topped with melted cheeses, bacon bits, tomatoes, green onions and jalapeños with Dumpster Dressing.

Quesadilla: Mozzarella, Provolone and cheddar. garnished with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and jalapeños.

Big Bob’s Burger: You had to grab this half-pounder with both hands!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This turned into a most enjoyable break on the way to our son’s family. The food was very good, reasonably priced and served in a comfortable establishment. There are several of these Rooster’s places all over Ohio and Kentucky. They get very busy, get there mid afternoon for immediate seating.

So where did the white lily come from?

/ Roadtirementvintage / 18 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve been blessed with lovely Asiatic lilies blooming recently. Today a white bloom showed up. We’ve never seen one before on our plants, and can’t figure where it came from. A quick search found a reference to heat affecting coloration, however all of the blooms have been exposed to the same environment.

Any botanists or horticulturists  out there have an idea why we have this pure white bloom? This is the third year of blooms for these Asiatic lilies.

Impressive Civil War Memorial includes an anachronism

/ Roadtirementvintage / 13 Comments

Sitting on the north side of the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin, Indiana is a striking memorial/fountain commemorating the valor of Union Soldiers from Johnson County during the Civil War. John Vawter was a businessman and banker from Franklin. He donated the memorial in 1905. It includes a bronze statue by artist Rudolph Schwarz.

This is a wonderful memorial to the men who served in the Civil War. The anachronism? As a history nerd who has been interested in, and studied military history, I need to point out that the arms and accoutrements on the cavalry trooper looking out over the battlefield are of a kind that did not even exist in 1861 to 1865.

Detail of the Model 1873 Trapdoor Springfield

The carbine is a Springfield “Trapdoor” that fired a 45/50 cartridge. This firearm was not invented until 1873, and was issued in both rifle and carbine lengths. The cartridge box on the trooper’s belt appears to also be from the 1870’s and designed for brass cartridges. The statue is a very good portrayal of a trooper from the mid 1870’s on.

This is an impressive memorial, complete with all branches of the services represented under the lion heads fountains. It is interesting that the statue artist picked the wrong model for his rendition of the trooper. It doesn’t take away from the honor given to the Civil War soldiers from Johnson County.

A relaxing Sunday luncheon date

/ Roadtirementvintage / 8 Comments

It’s been really hot and dry for the past week, high’s in the upper 80’s and low 90’s with pollen alerts and air quality warnings. Welcome to Indiana in June. Sher and I decided that a nice leisurely Sunday lunch date was in order for today. We enjoyed our last trip to the Blue Agave so off we went for a second visit.

We started with margaritas, chips and salsa!

The Burrito Boom is huge

Beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, onions, beans and rice! Whew!

Veggie Chimichanga filled with grilled onions, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and served soft or deep-fried. Topped with cheese sauce and red sauce. Includes rice, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole

Blue Agave Mexican Grill and Bar is on the north side of Shelbyville, Indiana. Good food, great drinks, lots of TV screens and great service make this a good place to grab a meal.

 

Highway 40 sale was hot but successful

/ Roadtirementvintage / 2 Comments

The US Highway 40 cross country yard sale concluded today after 5 days of very hot, sunny weather. Overall it was a successful sale, though crowds were slightly smaller than in past years.

Wide angle view of the interior of our booth.

The pictures show our booth and some of the other vendors who took advantage of this great site which used to house a church. There were close to 30 different vendors, restrooms and plenty of parking. The first time we set up here several years ago there were at most 7 or 8 vendors.

When it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…

/ Roadtirementvintage / 9 Comments

Riley statue at the courthouse

You have no doubt heard the saying “When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.” That quote is from James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier Poet. He is from Greenfield, Indiana, a small town east of Indianapolis.

Riley was noted for his down home use of dialect that epitomized rural Indiana. He is famous for his remarkable volume of poems. He wrote and published over 1000 verses. His most popular are “Little Orphant Annie”, “The Raggedy Man,” “Our Hired Girl,” “A Barefoot Boy,” “The Bumblebee,” “Granny,” and “When the Frost Is on the Punkin.”

Mural with verses from his “Wet Weather Talk” poem

Displays at Ford’s Garage

/ Roadtirementvintage / 13 Comments

Ford’s Garage in Noblesville, Indiana is one of a chain of 24 restaurants. The lion’s share, 18, are located in Florida with others in Texas, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. The first one opened in 2012 in Ft. Meyers, Florida. It was a mere mile away from the winter residence of Henry Ford himself.

The outside, patio seating is behind the 4 openings

The overall ambiance and décor of the Noblesville establishment, like all of the locations, is based around a 1920’s service station. You have to have cars at a service station, thus you are immediately seeing vintage Ford Model A cars on the outside of the facility.

The entrance

Front door handles

Shop rag and hose clamp for tableware!

Ford Garage branded on the bun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you’re seated, and even on the way to your table, your eyes are filled with all kinds of Ford and automotive items. The more you look, the more you’ll see! Ford memorabilia and 1920’s pictures and car items are everywhere.

The way to the restrooms

Unique RR sink

The quote on the back wall is Ford’s “any color as long as it’s black”

Nice old race car

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a wonderful and fun place. The food and drinks are great. The whole Ford theme is most interesting. If you want a unique dining experience Ford’s Garage is the place for you.

 

Antique cars and gourmet burgers

/ Roadtirementvintage / 7 Comments

Ford’s Garage in Noblesville, Indiana is not a place to have your car repaired or serviced. No, it is one of a nationwide chain of restaurants that features vintage Ford cars and an overall historic automotive theme giving the feel of a 1920’s service station.

Touted as a gourmet burger and craft beer establishment, our table was in the open air portion of the seating areas. We had already looked at the menu online, and had a good idea what specialty drinks we were interested in trying. Sher ordered the Lincoln Punch and Maj had the Model Tea. (Note the Ford auto name connections!)

” Lincoln Punch” made with Mount Gay Rum, Blackberry Puree, Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice, and Lemon Juice

“Model Tea” made with Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Lemon Juice, and Sweet Tea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking at the menu for the large number of gourmet burgers available was kind of a wow, what to order moment. All of the burgers are made with a 1/2 pound of Black Angus beef. A bison burger is also on the menu. When Maj mentioned to our server that he was looking at the burgers, she immediately recommended “The Estate Burger”.  That was a good choice as it turned out.

Smoked Gouda Cheese, Sweet Red Onion Marmalade, Arugula, Tomato, Fried Onion Straws, and White Truffle Bacon Aioli on a Brioche Bun

Sher and our son shared a couple of appetizers. As is true with most menu items, the Ford auto theme is utilized again. The “Giant Funnel Tower of Jumbo Piston Onion Rings” and “Edsel’s Hot Pretzels” were complimented with “Ford’s Fries”. As the photo shows, the onion rings were served on a tall funnel!

Salted Soft Pretzels, Served with Ford’s Beer Cheese and Honey Mustard Dipping Sauces

Jumbo Piston Rings Served with Homemade Chipotle Ketchup and Hidden Valley Ranch®

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a most enjoyable time at Ford’s Garage in Noblesville. The service was good and the food was delicious and filling, too. The ambiance of the place is very unique and provides a fun dining event for you and your family or group. There is such a wide variety of good stuff on the menu, both the food and drink. Ford’s Garage should be on your dining agenda. Be on the lookout for other Ford’s Garage franchises around the country.