retirement activity

Craft beers at Sun King Brewery in Carmel Indiana

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It was a foggy evening in Carmel, Indiana, an upscale city north of Indianapolis. Finishing our day out, we went to Sun King Brewery in the center of Carmel. They are part of the Indy Craft Pass, a group of over 50 breweries and wineries that offer a listing and directions. You check in and get points for visiting member establishments.

Outside seating, upper level balcony

Main entrance, love that face!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sher and I and our son got to Sun King about 6 o’clock, checked in on the Craft Pass app, and were seated by Chase, our server. I told Chase that when choosing a beer, I prefer one with a lower number IBU (bitterness rating). Chase checked with the bartender who recommended the Keller Haze IPA. Sher ordered a margarita.

The bar

We thoroughly enjoyed just sitting, enjoying our drinks and the company. While were were here the place began to fill up with couples and groups of folks, who like us, enjoyed the ambience of the place. Food was available from walk up windows, and what we saw looked very good, worthy of a return visit to eat sometime. We did buy a growler of Maj’s IPA to take home.

Maj’s IPA and Sher’s Margarita

Chase filling our growler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This facility is set up for both inside and outside seating. Of course the rain and fog prevented using the outside seating but the huge outdoor TV was on! There is a second level, a trivia game was underway when we were there.

“Back of house” equipment

We had a wonderful time at the Carmel version of Sun King Brewery.  (There are seven locations, including one in Sarasota Florida) We would recommend without hesitation a visit to this fine establishment. A marvelous number of beers and other drinks await you. Hats off to Chase, who took care of us while we were there. He was a part of our good time. Here is the link to Sun King Brewery.

Indiana has the most Carnegie libraries of any state

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Industrialist millionaire Andrew Carnegie gave over 40 million dollars to build over 1650 libraries in large and small towns across America. The State of Indiana received a total of over $2.6 million from the Carnegie Corporation. This led to a total of 164 library built in the Hoosier State from 1901 to 1922, more than any other state in the Union.

Front steps of the original structure, the plaque in the center of steps was a later add

Shelbyville is in the central part of the state, and its Carnegie Library was constructed early in the building program and held its grand opening on June 2, 1902. Like most all of the Carnegie structures, it included massive columns over the front entrance and an impressive large ceiling/roof dome. The columns were made with Indiana limestone.

The dome of the original structure is visible, with later additions in the foreground.

Over the years the Shelbyville Library has seen several additions and renovations. One addition more than doubled the size of the original library. Most recently an adjacent former furniture store was obtained and after remodeling it now houses the library’s Genealogy and History Departments, instruction rooms and computer labs. This library and branches have been a valuable part of Shelbyville and Shelby County’s community since 1902.

Menopause: the Musical at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

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Menopause: The Musical, the hilarious and fun celebration of women and “the change,” has returned to Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre as the first offering in the beloved Indy theater’s 51st season.

Four new friends who meet at Bloomingdales in New York City and share their struggles with menopause sing “Stayin’ Awake” to the tune of “Stayin’ Alive”

Written by Jeanie Linders, Menopause, The Musical is set in a large multi floor department store, where four women from different backgrounds meet by chance at the lingerie counter. Throughout the show the cast continues to poke fun at their collective hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges.

The Earth Mother (Melanie Souza) performs her best rock star moves during “Thank You, Doctor” sung to the tune of “Help Me Rhonda”

The Professional Woman (Enga Davis), center, does her best Tina Turner impression as she sings “What’s Love Got To Do With It”

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the production progresses the gals develop a sisterhood by means of a series of parodies from the music of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. A remarkable and hilarious use of famous, well known songs, new lyrics and marvelous choreography treat the audience to non-stop laughter and smiles.

The Iowa Housewife (Nancy Slusser), who had hoped to improve her sex life, sings “Only You” upon discovering a new pleasure

The Soap Star (Kimberly Vanbiesbrouck) sings “Please Make Me Over” to the tune of “Don’t Make Me Over”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The all female cast is making its Beef & Boards debut. It includes Enga Davis as a Professional Woman, Nancy Slusser as a Iowa Housewife,  Melanie Souza as a hippie Earth Mother, and Kimberly Vanbiesbrouck plays a tv Soap Star.

Ultimately four new friends have “A New Attitude” about their changing bodies and lives.

Menopause: The Musical is now on stage through Feb. 4 in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. To see the complete performance schedule and to purchase tickets online, visit B&B website. This production is rated PG-13 for some adult content.

 

Turning Texas trees into Texas art

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There are some impressive trees along the banks of Cypress Creek in Wimberley Texas that we saw during our trip there a few days ago. Some very talented people have turned some tree trunks into quite remarkable carvings in a popular picnic area just behind one of the buildings housing restaurants and shops.

Quite the signature…

Now that’s a stare!

Pointing skyward..

For UT Longhorn football fans

By the creek bank

It is impressive to see that a chainsaw was utilized to create such detailed works of art like these.

 

Wimberley, Texas beautiful bald cypress trees on Cypress Creek

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Wimberley, Texas is in the Hill Country outside of Austin in the central part of the state. It is a small town that is hugely popular for its many shops and restaurants and the natural beauty of the area. There are some famous swimming holes close by too!

The Preserve entrance

A worthy project

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cypress Creek runs right through the town, and the banks and surrounds have become popular recreational locations for locals and visitors alike. Sher and I went with our son and his family to see the town, the creek side trail and the huge bald cypress trees.

I was told this a favorite place for weddings

The cypress trees along the banks live for hundreds of years and are massive in size.  One nearby tree has been dated to be from at least as far back as the year 1426. You can stand inside one tree whose base was blown out decades ago by a lightning strike We had to get our picture in that one!

Note the creek in the background

Close up detail of photo to the left

 

 

 

 

 

 

The roots of these trees run shallow and nearly parallel the ground surface both above and below. These exposed roots are fascinating to observe.

Typical shape of the cypress at the waterline

Shadows and reflections on the water

The size of these trees is impressive!

One shop owner explained to me that yes, these are the same bald cypress trees you see in Florida in the swamps. He pointed out that in Texas they don’t do as well or are as prolific because there is not enough water in the Texas Hill Country to support massive groves of the trees. They are still fascinating to see. Wimberley is fortunate to have such a  lovely attraction as the Cypress Creek Nature Trail & Preserve .

 

 

 

 

 

 

No glasses but still saw the eclipse

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Nope, did not have the glasses. Every store was out. However, we did see several pin hole camera type effects. One was a light ray through the curtain onto a rug.


Ok, maybe a stretch, but still look at the center and you can make out that crescent: that’s the sun partially blocked. We were at Austin, so not full eclipse. That was down at San Antonio.

Here’s another one, this was on the front sidewalk with a bunch of “pin hole camera” effects through the leaves.

See the greenish image that looks like a pin-hole type of view.

Finally, this one with the iPhone. I was holding the phone in front of my face kind of blindly snapping a couple just to see what I’d get. The above mini-green thing showed up.

Oh well, that’s what we saw at the so-called “Peak” of the eclipse at Austin, Texas.

Chill’s on the Creek in Wimberley Texas

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Wimberley, Texas is a a small community in the Hill Country outside of Austin. Our son and his family suggested that we go to Wimberley for a day trip. While there, we found a delightful and unique restaurant known as Chill’s On The Creek.

Out side wall mural

Sign behind the stage

 

 

 

 

 

As we had a group of five, we were led to a table indoors. There was also plenty of outside seating too. Sher and I started with a frozen margarita. There seems to be something especially good about margaritas in Texas.

Fried fish and chili

Chicken fried chicken and loaded mashed

Veggie Tacos and salad

The menu at Chill’s has something for everyone. Our granddaughter had grilled cheese and fries. Our daughter-in-law ordered the chicken fried chicken and a salad. Our son had fried fish with a side of chili. Sher had veggie tacos and salad, and I went with the chicken fired chicken with a side of loaded mashed potatoes and gravy.

With Rebecca, center

Shelby, our bartender

 

 

 

 

 

Our meals were quite delicious. This place was hopping for sure, and we witnessed a lot of meals coming out of the kitchen. Our service was very good, Rebecca made sure we had everything we needed.  And like I mentioned, Shelby made a mean margarita! We both said we’d definitely come back for a return visit. I want to try the Brunch offerings! This is the Chill’s website.

One of the best Tex-Mex restaurants

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At least some critics claim the verbiage of the title of this post. We are visiting family in the Austin area and happened on this eatery while out and about and decided to give it a try.

Turns out that decision was the right one to make. The Texican Cafe proudly states it offers “El Paso Style Mexican Food”. Regardless of the title, we were most pleased with the quality of the food at this fun place. There is another one in Austin and the newest  one in Kyle, Texas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got there right at noon, were seated right way, and soon had a bowl of home made extra tasty chips and salsa and some iced tea. Our wait staff explained some of the menu items, and made some great suggestions for Sher’s desire of a vegetarian plate.

Enchiladas El Paso!

Nachos

Jalapeno Poppers

I ordered the house lunch special, El Paso beef enchiladas with cheddar cheese topped with a red chile sauce and a side of pico de gallo. Sher dined on a large appetizer plate of seven nachos of refried beans and melted cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. We shared a plate of  4 red jalapenos filled with luscious cream cheese in a crispy batter and served with sweet jalapeno jelly.

Comfortable dining room

The food was excellent, good sized portions and served hot! The decor of the restaurant was very unique with interesting wall art, color patterns and comfortable seating.  Here’s the pitch: When in the Austin area look up The Texican Cafe. It is worth a stop.  This is the company website.

Awesome best describes Beef & Boards “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

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The hilarious and heartwarming telling of the Biblical story of Joseph sent into slavery in ancient Egypt breaks out in sight and sound at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre now on stage through November 19th. The classic Andrew LLoyd Webber/Tim Rice production last played at Indy’s beloved dinner theater in 2017, and the current run features TJ Wessel repeating his starring role.

Joseph, center, and the Narrator, front, sing about his multicolored coat

Where do you begin when discussing such a marvelous, talent packed show? The set  and lighting execution is striking, and does “set” the mood for each number. Watch for very clever and not so subtle references to a nearby local landmark on the set. Costuming for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is near perfect eye candy for the audience, and covers not only “Biblical and Egyptian” attire, but also some modern looks, namely Go-Go Disco in the “Go Go Joseph” number.

The cast sings “Go, Go, Go, Joseph”

TJ Wessel does a fine job carrying the production in the lead role. You have to admire the passion that he demonstrates in his love of the role, which by the way dates back to his days as a nine year old glued to the TV watching a VHS tape of the show! With a powerful voice, TJ is an accomplished actor as well as a dynamic vocalist.

Joseph (TJ Wessel) sings “Any Dream Will Do” with the Children’s Choir

Bridgette Ludlow is the narrator, a simple term for a complex role. She not only fills in the story, this role also shows her singing and acting talent. She also interacts with the Children’s Choir, a group of talented young folks who serve several roles throughout the production.  (There are three different kids choirs, each has its own run time. Our show featured the Sheep Choir!)

Joseph’s brothers plot to sell him

Jeff as Potiphar

Beef & Boards favorite Jeff Stockberger has a couple of roles. One is that of Potiphar, an Egyptian businessman whose wife tries to seduce Joseph. The main role Jeff plays is that of Jacob, the patriarch of the family and Joseph’s father. He once again delights the audience with his marvelous character portrayals.

 

Jeff as Jacob, center

One show stopping number featured the talents of Logan Moore who played one of the brothers and the role of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Suffice it to say that for this performance the Pharaoh looked and acted surprisingly, and accurately, very much like Elvis. (Yes, Elvis) The Pharaoh’s number asking for Joseph’s interpretation  of his seven cows dream sounded and looked like a Las Vegas stage show. This was one of those numbers that brought down the house. Logan even slipped into a Vegas performer character at the end of the piece!

Pharaoh (Logan Moore), center, sings à la Elvis to Joseph about his mysterious dream

You cannot sing enough praise about the cast of this performance. Whether singing or dancing or both simultaneously all bring eye popping songs and dance to the stage. the depth of talent represented in the cast is, yes, awesome. Even at the end, the whole cast was all in white and were given the chance before curtain call to again display their prowess on stage.

Joseph feigns fury at Benjamin for “stealing” his golden cup

The cast and crew then received a well deserved standing ovation. Don’t miss this show, folks. Don’t miss it!

To purchase tickets online, visit the Beef & Boards website. Tickets are also available by calling the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays).

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” comes to Beef & Boards

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This recent press release from Beef & Boards was great news for musical theater fans everywhere: “With a crash of drums and a flash of light, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat takes the stage at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre starting Oct. 5. The Bible-based Broadway sensation was the first collaboration between composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice to be staged, and was nominated for seven Tony Awards.”

Joseph and His Brothers

This is not the first time patrons have enjoyed this production. Back in 2017 TJ Wessel had the title role of Joseph and he reprises it once again. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat features a kaleidoscope of musical styles, from rock and
country to pop and calypso. Songs include “One More Angel in Heaven,” “Close Every Door,” “Jacob and Sons” and “Any Dream Will Do.”

We’re looking forward to seeing this wonderful show this weekend! You need to plan your ticket purchases soon, as many performances are already close to sellouts.
To purchase tickets online, visit the Beef & Boards website. Tickets are also available by calling the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays).