This post is a few days late because Bonnie and I were out of town for a family gathering in the Chicago area, and decided to add a bit of vacation to that trip. I have several family members (and their families) left in the Chicago suburbs (where we both grew up), so it was fun to see folks we don’t see very often and have a chance to visit old haunts. Among our favorite “haunts” which we got a chance to get to on this trip was the greatest hamburger place in the world: Hackney’s on Harms Rd. in Glenview. Note sign (logo) of a “hackney coach” below:
Not only does Hackney’s make the best burger in the world, their onion rings are also the finest ever cooked. The rings come in a sort of loaf and have the greatest light batter coating I’ve ever tasted. If I could, I’d make the trip every few months just for a burger and rings. They have a couple of other stores around the northern suburbs, but the original restaurant on Harms has a special place in our hearts. If you are ever in the Chicago area, you are missing a treat if you don’t try this place out.
After an all-too-brief visit in Chicagoland, we dashed down to Asheville, NC, to spend a couple of days visiting the Biltmore House and friends in that area. We remained “Passholders” for Biltmore after we moved and while we were trying to sell our house, since we still had a place we could “camp out,” and we have remained so. Currently, there is an exhibit of glass installation works by Dale Chihuly around the grounds which we wanted to see. There are “Chihulys” on permanent display in the atrium of the Joslyn Museum here in Omaha, which we find interesting, and, since this was the first major art exhibition at Biltmore and it brought together pieces from a variety of locations to be displayed on the estate grounds, it seemed especially interesting. The piece shown below is called “Sole d’Oro.” I found it unusually enjoyable. Although this IS a picture from the Biltmore web site, I do wish that I had taken it, but I do have others, just not as nice as this one.
After an all-too-brief visit in Chicagoland, we dashed down to Asheville, NC, to spend a couple of days visiting the Biltmore House and friends in that area. We remained “Passholders” for Biltmore after we moved and while we were trying to sell our house, since we still had a place we could “camp out,” and we have remained so. Currently, there is an exhibit of glass installation works by Dale Chihuly around the grounds which we wanted to see. There are “Chihulys” on permanent display in the atrium of the Joslyn Museum here in Omaha, which we find interesting, and, since this was the first major art exhibition at Biltmore and it brought together pieces from a variety of locations to be displayed on the estate grounds, it seemed especially interesting. The piece shown below is called “Sole d’Oro.” I found it unusually enjoyable. Although this IS a picture from the Biltmore web site, I do wish that I had taken it, but I do have others, just not as nice as this one.
This exhibit only runs until early October of 2018, but I would recommend it (and I’d suggest that a trip to Biltmore is always worthwhile; I’ve enjoyed it many times).
In the hotel we were at in Asheville, I found a bottle of Strawberry Rhubarb soda made by the
In the hotel we were at in Asheville, I found a bottle of Strawberry Rhubarb soda made by the
which I found intriguing. So, I did a little research and discovered that this is a small, handcrafted beverage startup which currently makes and sells Lavender Lemon, Concord Grape, Apple Rosemary, Peach, Strawberry Rhubarb, Blueberry Basil, Blackberry Serrano (*Spicy!), and Raspberry Cream sodas by the bottle. Somehow, I like the idea of “craft brewed soda,” so we went by their retail store on the drive from Asheville to Sylva and I bought a few bottles. I haven’t tried all the flavors yet, but I’m looking forward to it and am getting a kick out of supporting a small, local business.
We were only in Sylva for a few hours, but Bonnie did get a chance to catch up with some old friends for a few minutes. I didn’t get to campus figuring that there are very few folks I know left there and time was short. We did have dinner with Bonnie’s friend, Emily, and her family in Dillsboro at
We were only in Sylva for a few hours, but Bonnie did get a chance to catch up with some old friends for a few minutes. I didn’t get to campus figuring that there are very few folks I know left there and time was short. We did have dinner with Bonnie’s friend, Emily, and her family in Dillsboro at
at Emily’s suggestion because they had Prime Rib on the “special” menu on Thursday and Friday night. Who’d a guessed? I won’t say it was the greatest prime rib I’ve ever eaten, but it was pretty darn good and a lot less expensive than I’ve paid for not as good.
On the way home, we drove by the sign for
On the way home, we drove by the sign for
which is a Celtic specialty shop in Weston, MO. It’s really weird to find such a store in this little farm/ranch community in northwest Missouri, but there it is and it’s really fun. They may have the biggest collection of whiskeys for sale in the country. It’s huge! They’ve got more brands (especially of Irish and Scotch whiskeys) than I knew existed. They also have some great celtic jewelry, clothing and other stuff. We didn’t go in to the store on this trip, but we have done so, and found it to be fun.
I’ve strayed far from my original intention, however. This started out to discuss interesting and/or unusual signs which I’ve seen recently (not all on this trip).
For example, there was the huge three-dimensional ear of corn (12-15 ft. long and 3-5 ft, across (guesses) which was advertising Fair Oaks Farms in northern Indiana with the statement “Visit ear often” written on its side.
Or, there was the sign for the “Purple Toad Winery,” which suggested to me that their motto should be the “Home of the Drunken Gecko,” even though I do know that a gecko is not a toad.
Sign on the back of a truck: “Inedible Animal Food.” This does not make me believe that I’d want to feed whatever the truck was carrying to any creature, esp. not my cat, Fred.
The sign for a billboard company on a billboard: “Looking for a sign? This is it!”
The sign for the “First Samoan Assembly of God” made me wonder if there was a special deity for Samoans, but the Armenian Evangelical Church made me wonder how one could be evangelized into becoming Armenian?
The sign for “Minsky’s Pizza” got me curious as to whether making pizzas was had become of one of the great families of American Burlesque. (I’m probably too much of the theatre historian for my own good!).
The sign for the “Renovation Church” made me wonder if it was sponsored by HGTV?
There’s a stretch of less than fifty miles across Missouri where one can see signs for both “Yahweh’s Assembly in Yahshua” and “Yahweh’s Assembly in Messiah.” The similarities suggest to me a schismatic splintering of a local/regional (?) church, but I just find the signs interesting.
The “Vineyard Life Church” seems like a great place for wine drinkers and makes me wonder if their motto is “Where we worship the grape”?
The sign on that back of a truck for Bimbo Bakeries is just too suggestive to let pass, although this is a real company which actually makes Sara Lee, Thomas, Entenmann’s, Orowheat, Ball Park, and other brands of baked goods.
The sign quoting Ronald Reagan as having said “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born” struck me as a bit non-profound since anyone who is against abortion has also been born.
This isn’t exactly a sign, but when I saw it I just couldn’t let it pass… (apologies to those with light colored hair – this IS stereotypical, but it IS funny!)
I’ve strayed far from my original intention, however. This started out to discuss interesting and/or unusual signs which I’ve seen recently (not all on this trip).
For example, there was the huge three-dimensional ear of corn (12-15 ft. long and 3-5 ft, across (guesses) which was advertising Fair Oaks Farms in northern Indiana with the statement “Visit ear often” written on its side.
Or, there was the sign for the “Purple Toad Winery,” which suggested to me that their motto should be the “Home of the Drunken Gecko,” even though I do know that a gecko is not a toad.
Sign on the back of a truck: “Inedible Animal Food.” This does not make me believe that I’d want to feed whatever the truck was carrying to any creature, esp. not my cat, Fred.
The sign for a billboard company on a billboard: “Looking for a sign? This is it!”
The sign for the “First Samoan Assembly of God” made me wonder if there was a special deity for Samoans, but the Armenian Evangelical Church made me wonder how one could be evangelized into becoming Armenian?
The sign for “Minsky’s Pizza” got me curious as to whether making pizzas was had become of one of the great families of American Burlesque. (I’m probably too much of the theatre historian for my own good!).
The sign for the “Renovation Church” made me wonder if it was sponsored by HGTV?
There’s a stretch of less than fifty miles across Missouri where one can see signs for both “Yahweh’s Assembly in Yahshua” and “Yahweh’s Assembly in Messiah.” The similarities suggest to me a schismatic splintering of a local/regional (?) church, but I just find the signs interesting.
The “Vineyard Life Church” seems like a great place for wine drinkers and makes me wonder if their motto is “Where we worship the grape”?
The sign on that back of a truck for Bimbo Bakeries is just too suggestive to let pass, although this is a real company which actually makes Sara Lee, Thomas, Entenmann’s, Orowheat, Ball Park, and other brands of baked goods.
The sign quoting Ronald Reagan as having said “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born” struck me as a bit non-profound since anyone who is against abortion has also been born.
This isn’t exactly a sign, but when I saw it I just couldn’t let it pass… (apologies to those with light colored hair – this IS stereotypical, but it IS funny!)
Yes, the picture IS correct side up!
LLAP
LLAP
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