Felicity, California: The Center of the World, and the Museum of History in Granite...

Welcome back, readers!  I hope everyone had a nice Labor Day.  Since today is a holiday, I thought I'd write about somewhere a little more quirky than usual:  Felicity, California.

Here's the backstory:  I was driving from California to Arizona on the 8 East.  Just as I was about to cross into Arizona, I saw a pyramid on my left, and a sign that said, "Museum of History in Granite".  I made a mental note to see what was going on there on my way back, and sure enough, I did.

I pulled into the parking lot, and noticed there was only one other car there.  An older man wearing a suit and red sash that proclaimed "Mayor" came to greet me with a firm and formal handshake.  The Mayor is Jacques-André Istel, a French-born Korean War veteran, who also happens to be a self-made millionaire, thanks to his contributions to parachuting as recreation.

In any case, he directed me to a guest relations expert - an older Asian woman - who showed me a 7 minute video detailing the history of Felicity.  It seems Mr.  Istel bought the land some decades ago, and wanted to do something special with it.  In the mid-1980's, he wrote a children's book about a dragon sleeping in the center of the world.  Somehow, that evolved into Mr. Istel and his wife incorporating the land they purchased into Felicity. 

By the way, did I mention that the population of Felicity is 2?  The Mayor, and his wife (the guest relations expert), Felicia.  Fortunately, Mr. Istel won the election for mayor by a landslide: 2 - 0.  Interesting side note - despite the small population, Felicity has its' own functioning post office.

If you pay $2.00, you can stand in the center of the pyramid, for this is the true center of the world.  You'll also receive a certificate confirming that you've done just that:

But the real fun is the Museum of History in Granite.  Behind the pyramid is a large collection of several rows of slabs, etched by artists, and dedicated a theme.  For example, there's the History of California, the History of Arizona, History of Religion, and the History of the Ancient World.  The etchings are well done, and there's enough information to keep you reading for at least a few hours...

The shape of it all is quite unique.   There's a church on the hill behind the granite slabs.  Climbing to the top gives you a better view of what's being created here - sort of a modern-day Nazca line:

I have no doubt these stones slabs are intended to tell the story of the human race to alien visitors who might come exploring long after we're gone.  Check out this inscription at the bottom:

"May distant descendants, perhaps far from planet Earth view or collective history with understanding and affection".

Oh, before I forget, as I was leaving, I noticed something in the parking lot.  It looked like a section of a spiral staircase.  Turns out, it's an original section from the Eiffel Tower...

So, there you have it.  Just a strange, quirky stop.  The husband and wife are very friendly, polite, and hospitable.  I don't believe this is open year-round, so make sure you call before stopping.  There is a restaurant, but I didn't eat there.  Maybe next time...

Waco, Texas: The Dr. Pepper Museum, Jasper's BBQ, Whataburger, and Willie Nelson...

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to have a job that sent me to parts of the country I might not have visited otherwise.  Waco, Texas, is one of those places.

Before I write anything else, I have to add that I can't find the thumb drive with my pictures, so hopefully those will be added tonight.

Anyways, I had the good fortune to spend a significant amount of time in Waco.  I'd fly into the Dallas / Ft. Worth airport, pick up my rental car, and take 35W straight down.  Driving in Dallas always makes me nervous (and this is coming from a guy who lived in D.C. for 7 years).  Traffic is non-stop, and it seems like it's always rush hour.  1 p.m. - it's rush hour.  2:30 a.m. - still rush hour.  And there's always a semi, teetering over the lane divider, right next to you...

But then, you find 35 (E or W, it doesn't matter.  The roads eventually intersect, and get you to Waco), and it's a different world.  It's what you'd imagine driving through Texas to be - a big, open highway, flat, green plains, and a big, open sky to match.  There is nothing quite like the open sky in Texas.  The sun is shining, and it's a beautiful drive.  It's about a two hour drive to Waco.  Time to put on some Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash, and enjoy the ride...

Speaking of Willie Nelson, one of my favorite places to stop and eat was in Carl's Corner, called Willie's Place.  This was a truck stop / restaurant partially owned by Willie Nelson.  It was a big, clean restaurant with friendly waitresses, Willie Nelson memorabilia on the wall, and his music was playing.  The food was Texas-friendly (BBQ, fried, etc.), served in Texas-sized portions.  I can personally vouch for the very good chicken-fried steak, sweet tea, and one of the best peach cobblers around.  Rumor has it Willie himself would stop in from time to time.  I'm not sure if it's true, but it looks like it's no longer in business.  If this is the case, I'm sorry to see it go.

Then, you're in Waco.  Home to Baylor University, this is a quaint, little college town with a 1900's feel to it...

It's also the birthplace of (in my opinion) the greatest soda ever made:  Dr. Pepper.  The original Dr. Pepper factory has since been converted into a museum. 

It's a nice afternoon visit that tells you the history of Dr. Pepper (and other sodas).  As you walk through the exhibits, you might learn an interesting thing or two.  I'm ashamed to admit that I never knew the distinct flavor is a combination of 23 different fruit flavors.

I really enjoyed the replica of the original Dr. Pepper Soda Shoppe at the end.  The beverage is mixed by hand in front of you, as it would have been back in the day.  I thought it tasted significantly better than the canned version, but maybe I was caught up in the moment...

Based on recommendations, I've tried several barbeque places in Waco.  The one that stood out was called Jasper's Bar-B-Que.  It's been around since 1915, so they must be doing something right.  Basically a white shack, this place is fairly bare bones - tables with rolls of paper towels for napkins, and food served on paper plates.

But, when it comes to barbeque, I let the food, not the décor, do the talking.  What made this unique for me was that meat is served by the pound.  With choices of beef, sausage, bologna, chicken and ribs, you can order a combination that adds up to a pound.  I tried sausage, bologna (my first time trying bbq'd bologna) and ribs.  Meals are served with a few slices of white bread, two sides ( I tried potato salad and baked beans), and a salad of onions and pickles.

Texas BBQ is a little more mesquite and peppered than I would like, and the sauce is thinner than I prefer.  Again, I like the sweeter Memphis style; but I do recommend Jasper's.  Of the meats I had, the bologna was (surprisingly) my favorite, and the ribs hit the spot.  The sausage was a little spicier than I expected, so I don't think I'd order it again.  The sides were decent, but the meats definitely stood out.  The portions were very generous, and the prices reasonable.

Moving along, regional chains aren't as common as they used to be, but the few that are left are a welcomed break from McDonald's and Burger King.  On the West Coast, we have the infamous In-N-Out Burger, The Midwest and New England have White Castle, my hometown has Swenson's, and the South has Whataburger.  The East Coast used to have a lock on Five Guys, but the company has expanded nationwide, so I'll say they've got Roy Rogers...

Anyways, the reason I mention those regional places is this:  It's all about what you grew up with.  Whatever chain you associate with growing up - that is, most likely, the best burger (pizza, ice cream, whatever) you can think of - kind of like how nothing beats your mom's cooking.  Unfortunately, those memories don't always translate to new, older customers. 

When I heard the fanaticism for Whataburger from the locals, (which I'd seen in Florida and Texas, but never stopped to try), I couldn't wait to take a bite... 

I had the double meat Whataburger with cheese, fries and a coke.  The burger was...good, but not the mind-blowing experience I'd hoped for.  I'd describe it as a significantly better version of the Whopper, with bigger, better quality meat patties, and fresher toppings.  The fries didn't do it for me (too salty).  I understand Whataburger is known for their proprietary ketchup, and was surprised that no ketchup dispenser exists - only the packets they give you (similar to sauce packets for McNuggets).  It tasted like Heinz to me, so I wasn't too impressed with that, either.

Would I recommend it?  Well, it's definitely a few notches above the standard places, so yes.  Given the choice between McDonald's and Whataburger, Whataburger wins, hands down.  Change McDonald's to Five Guys, and I'd choose Five Guys...

Keep in mind that I would consider Swenson's (from my hometown) to be one of the Top 5 burgers in the country (Forbes magazine considered it the "Best in America" in 1999 - just saying...).  After spouting heaps of praise on it, I brought some friends from out of state to try it.  Their review:  "meh".  Like I said, it's all about what you grew up with...

We've got plenty more places to see, things to do, and places to eat!  Stick around...

St. Augustine, FL: The Fountain of Youth, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Castillo de San Marcos and the Columbia Restaurant...

When you grow up in Ohio, you take your vacations in Florida.  I think it's a law.  At least, looking back, that's how it seemed.  That's where we (my family) - and everybody I knew - went for any vacation lasting longer than 5 days.  We usually drove.  On a side note, I'll never forget my first flight ever, to Orlando, Florida in 1991...

Anyways, being the child of a history teacher, our family usually found places with some history / Americana mixed in for good measure.  One of those cities was Saint Augustine, Florida.

St. Augustine has the honor of being the oldest continuous European settlement in the U.S.   It was discovered by the Spanish in 1513.  If you know your legends, Ponce de Leon was looking for the Fountain of Youth (and gold) when he stumbled here.  The Spanish influence can be seen everywhere, and it's definitely a unique place.  It's located on the east coast of Florida, not far from Jacksonville, off the A1A, never too crowded with tourists, very walkable, and surrounded by plenty of beaches.

The Fountain of Youth Park is a nice afternoon stop that has a 1960's feel to it.  I don't think anything has been updated since the park was built, but there's plenty to do.  My favorite is the planetarium, showing how explorers navigated the seas using the stars.  Make no mistake, this is not a high-tech presentation, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention.

There are also plenty of mannequins showing the not-so-friendly relations between the Spanish and the Native Americans, and re-creations of the original settlement.  Then, finally, you hit the jackpot:

This is it.  The big one.  And, yes, you can drink from it!  But there's one problem - it is disgusting.  Disgusting in a way that makes you choke and gag.  The water is warm, and smells like rotten eggs.  Fountain of Youth?  More like Fountain of Sulfur. If this is the secret to eternal youth, I'll take my chances on the afterlife.  If you're curious and want to try it yourself, you can always order some from the gift shop...

The Spanish influence can be seen everywhere, but especially in the gigantic Castillo de San Marcos, an old fort built in 1672.  The history of this fort involves the Spanish, British, Native Americans, and the Confederacy. and it was used up until 1900.  It's now part of the National Park Service.  I'll let you read about it, but I've never seen anything else like this in the continental U.S.:

Here's a top-down view for a better perspective.  This place is huge, and very well preserved.  Note the people walking around...

Another great example of the Spanish influence is the also amazingly, well-preserved "old town". It's only a few blocks from the fort.  Walking through the city gate, you find yourself on St. George Street.  Closed to traffic, you'll find the street and some shops are made of an incredibly durable, ground-up coral, unique to Spanish architecture of that era:

It's touristy, but it works well.  The "old town" area covers quite a few blocks, and is full with souvenir shops, locally-made clothing stores, antique shops, and restaurants.  Lots of restaurants. 

Speaking of which, since you're in Florida, why not try some Cuban food?  I'd definitely recommend The Columbia.  It's a very popular place in Old Town.  There's usually a short wait, but the staff is good at turning tables over quickly.  The inside is nicely decorated - very classy, and open - exactly what you'd expect.

I ordered a 1/2 Cuban sandwich / salad combo.  The sandwich was a combination of ham, salami, pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickle grilled on fresh-baked thin, buttery bread.  The salad was their famous "1905 salad", which is made up *at your table* of a bizarre combination of items; yet somehow, they all work very well together.  The half sandwich was enormous, and filled me up for the rest of the day, and it only set me back about $10.  This picture is from Trip Advisor (not mine), but shows you basically what I got:

Last but not least, why not visit something Bizarre?  How about the original Ripley's Believe it or Not?  Museum...

Set in a beautiful mansion where Ripley himself was a guest, this is the first of the brand's several museums.  This is also where the opening to the circa 2000 television series was filmed.  There are plenty of discount coupons available around the city, so don't pay full price. 

I've been to a few of these around the country, and I've definitely noticed some of the same displays, but, overall, this one is my favorite.  It seems to have the largest amount of Ripley's personal items, and that caught my attention.  I could be wrong about that, though. 

Also, there are a few displays out front that you can't see in this picture, but they're very interesting.  I'll let you explore to lean more...

Honestly, there's too much to discuss in one blog, so maybe one day I'll follow up with more.  St. Augustine is a great vacation destination, with something for everyone.  Please share any suggestions / feedback. 

Thanks for reading!

Richmond, Virginia - Buz and Ned's: The Best BBQ Ever, and the Confederate White House.

Welcome back!  Tonight I'm talking about food that's near and dear to my heart: Barbecue (in my world, Barbecue is always capitalized - like a country, or proper noun).

I've had BBQ all over the country, but I have to say that my time in Virginia was the peak.  Before I say anything else, as you might know, there are several different types of BBQ - for example, you've got a mesquite style in Texas, Carolina style, with a mustard and vinegar-based sauce, and Memphis style, with a sweet, smoky sauce.  I prefer the Memphis-style, which is pretty much how it's made in Virginia.

My quest for the "best BBQ ever" led me to Richmond, Virginia.  Richmond is a great city to visit, especially if you're a Civil War buff.  The city feels like it's stuck halfway between 1862 and now.  I don't mean that as a negative comment.  For example, right next to a hospital is the Museum and White House of the Confederacy. This is the place where Jefferson Davis ran the show:

Whether you approve of a museum for the confederacy or not, it houses an amazing collection of Civil War artifacts, along with quite a few of Jefferson Davis' personal artifacts.  Plus, it's interesting to see the Civil War from the South's perspective...

So, while you're in Richmond and craving some BBQ, why not check out Buz and Ned's?  It's near the Diamond (AAA baseball stadium), and it looks sketchy from the outside.  Like an outdoor tent from a BBQ festival, connected to a general store:

And, you might want to eat outside.  The inside is small and crammed.  You'll find yourself getting up (to pick up your order, or get refills), and bumping into people that weren't there a second ago.

The food:  The ribs are amazing, and portions are huge (i.e., shareable).  Seriously, this is where ribs (baby back and beef) go when they die.  Here's the owner showing off his wares:

 

The beef ribs look like something from the Flintstones.  They tend to be fattier than pork, but one or two of these should fill you up.  The baby back ribs are 'juicy, smoky, lean, and meaty.  The meat is smoked, and the sauce is thick and sweet (but, not too sweet).  It's a perfect complement to the meat.

Unfortunate, the sides didn't "wow" me, but if I had to recommend anything, I'd say go with the coleslaw, hush puppies, or baked beans. 

I made the two-hour drive from Arlington, VA several times, and it was definitely worth it.  I've never had barbecue like this anywhere else.  In my opinion, this is the best barbecue in America!

Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know.  Thanks!

Cleveland, Ohio - Melt, Di Bella's Subs, Tower City, and A Christmas Story

 Last November, I was given a free night at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Cleveland, through a promotion from the Horseshoe Casino.  My hometown is about 40 minutes away, and since I hadn't been to Cleveland in a few years, and  I thought I'd check it out.

The casino and hotel are both located in Tower City Center - a building that was formerly a train station, but has since been converted into a retail experience of shops, restaurants, and hotels - right in downtown Cleveland, and within walking distance to Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena.   

So, before I say anything else, The Ritz-Carlton is a great hotel.  Offering all the amenities one could ever hope for, the Ritz lived up to it's name.  The pool and gym were just the tip of the iceberg. 

It was also nice to know that, since the hotel was connected to Tower City, I could go shopping, or over to the casino without going outside.  I'll add that this was in November, and November is a month when it should be illegal to be outside in Cleveland.

The casino has a small food court featuring local Cleveland favorites, like Corky and Lenny's, a local Jewish deli .  Celebrity chef Michael Symon has a smaller version of his local burger joint favorite, The B Spot. 

After all the hype surrounding The B spot, I was really excited to try it.  I ordered a vanilla bean apple pie bacon shake, and a burger with grilled bologna on it.  I disappointed.  Maybe it's because it's not the full-scale restaurant, but I thought the portions were way too small, considering the prices, and the food just wasn't very good.  My burger was the size of a McDonald's cheeseburger, and the shake made me feel sick.  I wouldn't recommend it.  Anyways, the next morning I got up, and drove around town.  I'd forgotten how impressive some of the architecture is - like this bridge:

Remember the movie, "A Christmas Story"?  Well, if you're ever in Cleveland, you can visit the actual home it was filmed in, complete with the leg lamp in the window:

Of course, I happened to show up the day it was closed, but I hear it's decorated exactly like it was in the movie.  Next time, Cleveland.  Next time...

There's a new local hotspot in and around Cleveland called "Melt".  Featured on "Man vs. Food", they're famous for thick, homemade bread, and variations on oversized grilled cheese sandwiches.  There are 4 locations in and around the Cleveland area.  I went to the Independence location.  The décor is a combination of "unabashed love letter to Cleveland" and "holiday decorations scattered around the attic":

 

 

Despite the long line, we were seated in a few minutes.  The staff was very friendly.  Since the combination of a burger and a grilled cheese sounded good, I ordered the breakfast burger, with an 8oz patty, fried egg, bacon and American cheese.  All dishes come with a pile of hand-cut fries and a side of slightly sweet, vinegar-based slaw:

Since the burger was so filling, I didn't even get to the fries.  But, the burger won me over.  The bread was perfectly grilled, the patty cooked just right, and the combination of egg and ham gave it a nice flavor.  After eating one of these sandwiches, you won't want to eat for the rest of the day.  I thought the prices were very reasonable (about $9.00 - $12.50 per sandwich).  I cant recommend this place enough.

One more place that opened near Independence:  Di Bella's Subs.  They have multiple locations from New York to Indiana, and they seem to be expanding quickly.  Their claim is to make the best sub sandwich ever.  To their credit, it's a very good sandwich on fresh-baked bread, at a reasonable price.

The interior looks like an Italian restaurant from the 1930's, with dark booths, and pictures of old celebrities on the walls.  It was a nice touch:

I had the "Old-fashioned" (turkey, ham, and salami) on white.  The meats were sliced in front of me, and there were plenty of toppings available.  I'd definitely order it again.  I also ordered one of their homemade chocolate chip cookies, and thought it was a nice way to end the meal.

I liked Di Bella's, and would definitely go back, but it wasn't the best sub I've had.  That honor goes to a little place in Ocean City, Maryland.  I'll get there soon enough, but first, let's head down south...

Cooperstown, NY - The Baseball Hall of Fame, The Cooperstown Diner, and the Neptune Diner

I thought this would be as good a time as any to jump across the country, so, here we are in Cooperstown, New York.  As you may know, Cooperstown is allegedly the "birthplace" of baseball.  Abner Doubleday supposedly invented the game here, back in 1839, although there's no evidence to support that claim, but, why let the truth get in the way of a good story?  If you're a baseball fan, this trip is a must! 

It's also home to the James Fenimore Cooper Art Museum, dealing with art based on his writings, and local Native American tribes.  If you're a big Cooper fan, his grave is here, too.

That being said, this is a beautiful, rustic New England town.  Unfortunately, it's in the middle of nowhere, and there's no real easy way to get here.  It defies the laws of physics.  Even if you live in Cooperstown, it's still about a 7 hour drive away.  There are only 2 hotels reasonably nearby (lots of pricey B&B's available though, but I consider this blog for the budget conscious), and they both tend to book  upmonths in advance (especially for spring and summer weekends).  We stayed at this Holiday Inn Express.  It featured clean, quiet rooms, included a made-to-order breakfast (not the usual buffet, but that may have changed), and had a nice pool, with a view of the Catskill Mountains.  The price (during the height of tourist season) was reasonable.  Booking your hotel first is a must, because there is NOTHING anywhere nearby.  Nada, zip, zilch.  If you don't have a reservation, you could easily end up driving over an hour to find a room for the night...

Since it's a small town, parking can be impossible to find, I parked my car in clearly-marked lot, and a vintage trolley bus came to pick us up.  This vintage bus will provide you with unlimited transportation all day, stopping at designated points every 15 minutes, for about $2.00. 

We were dropped off at Doubleday Field (a small baseball stadium) on Main Street, and started walking through the downtown.  It's a very small downtown - about 5 or 6 blocks - filled with mostly baseball memorabilia shops and restaurants.  Walking through it made me feel like I've stepped back in time to the 1900's - sort of like Main Street at Disneyland.  At the end of Main Street is the Mecca:  The Baseball Hall of Fame.

If you like baseball, even if it's only a little, this place will make you feel like you're 10 years old again.  Artifacts and other memorabilia from most of the heroes from baseball's golden age (Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, etc.) are on display.  There's a few films to watch, and, of course, the actual Hall of Legends:

Seriously, check out the gift shop at the end.  It sells some exclusive stuff that you can't get anywhere else.

After all that walking around, we were starving.  Fortunately, this little place caught our eyes on the way to the museum:

The Cooperstown Diner.  It's a noticeably miniature diner, with about 4 booths inside; but, don't let the small size fool you.  This place is known for their juicy, 1/2 lb., hand-formed cheeseburger.  With fries and a drink, it's around $8.00, and believe you me, you will not be hungry afterwards.  Here's a picture:

As big as it was, the burger was still cooked perfectly - it was juicy and greasy, but not too greasy.  The bun was soft, and the lettuce was crisp.  The fries were fat, fresh steak fries (my favorite).  It was perfect.  If you're a burger connoisseur, you need to try this.  I've tried burgers all over the country, and this would definitely make it on my Top 5 Burgers List.

If you've read this far, here's a bonus suggestion:  The Neptune Diner.  Right outside of Cooperstown, in Oneonta, NY, this vintage diner is a work of art that makes you feel like you've stepped back into 1958.

When you first walk in, you'll see a display cooler filled with all kinds of homemade desserts, like pies stuffed with fruit, and oversized cakes.  That's a good sign.

The servers were very friendly, the menu was extensive, and the portions were definitely shareable (I've been here twice:  the first time, I ordered the Monte Cristo, and couldn't finish it, the second time, I had an omelette).  I got a slice of chocolate cake to go (both times), and it was amazing (both times).  It's a combination of American comfort food, and Greek diner food.  Another definite recommendation!

In short, Cooperstown, NY is a great weekend trip, with something for the whole family, and some great places to eat...

Thanks for reading!  Keep checking back - there's plenty more to come...

San Diego, California - Project Pie

At work today, a co-worker asked me if I wanted to go to Project Pie.  I'd never heard of it.  If you haven't heard of it, and you like pizza, read on...

Project Pie is located in the Hillcrest neighborhood.  There are no shortage of great places to eat in Hillcrest, so if you want to stay in business, you need to stand out.  As for what makes this place unique, think pizza at Chipotle.  Well, not exactly, but take the Chipotle model of personalizing your own item, and that's Project Pie.  It's essentially a (not-too-thin) thin-crust pizza that you design yourself.  But, before I get ahead of myself, here's a look inside:

 I didn't take a picture of the entire inside, but there are plenty of tables to sit at, and the walls are decorated with humorous and inspirational quotes.  Enough about the décor, let's talk about the food.

Project Pie offers 2 options:  1) ordering a pizza off the menu, or 2) building your own.  A basic cheese pizza is $6.00, and anything else is $7.50.  The pizza is 12".

So, you order your pizza, and fresh dough is stretched out.  Then the staff starts loading up on the toppings.  Extra pepperoni?  No problem.  Just a little pineapple?  You got it.  as much - or as little - of any topping(s) as you want for $7.50.  You could get mushrooms only, or one with every topping on the menu (and there are many), and the price is still $7.50...

After you've got everything you want on it, two minutes in the brick oven, and you're good to go.  Here's mine (pepperoni, meatball, and sausage - the #2):

 

 

I thought it was excellent!  The crust wasn't cracker-thin, and it was chewy on the inside.  It was also a little black on the bottom, since this is an actual pizza oven, fire and all.  It's cut into four giant slices.  I'd say depending on how hungry you are, you could probably split one with someone, and fill up.  If you're starving, be selfish, and order one for yourself...

 

I'm also happy to say the soda machine (with free refills) offered Boylan's natural cane sodas.  I haven't had Boylan's since I lived on the east coast.  It seems to be a regional favorite in the New York / New Jersey areas.  The cola, birch beer, and grape sodas are my recommendations.  Soda and pizza set me back $9.00.

Finally, I ordered a dessert pizza ($4.50) with nutella and banana to take back to the office.  I gave most of it away to co-workers, but the half-slice I had was good.  Basically, it was a chewy crepe.  My only complaint was that I wish they'd put a little more nutella on it.  I guess I could have asked for it, and would next time.  Peanut butter was also an option, as was cinnamon and sugar...   

In conclusion, I really enjoyed it, and the prices are great!  Try this place now!