Sometimes odd things catch my eye, and then I can’t get them out of my mind — no matter how hard I try. That’s sort of been the case with the Giant Baked Potato at the Idaho Potato Museum (formerly known as the Idaho Potato Expo) in Blackfoot, Idaho. While I like a spud as much as the next person, in Blackfoot it’s elevated to the status of royalty. Not surprising for the Potato Capital of The World. The expo claims to enlighten you with information about the agricultural, historical, social, scientific, educational, artistic and economic aspects of the world-famous Idaho potato. Here are just a few of the “spud-tacular” exhibits full of information and fun, if a little corny as well: Equipment displays The World’s Largest Styrofoam Potato – a popular photo site A tribute to Mr. Potato Head […]
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Hawaiian Eye's Shell Bar
“Hawaiian Eye” was a television series that ran from 1959 – 1963, and starred Robert Conrad and Anthony Eisley as crime fighting detectives in Honolulu, Hawaii. The detectives hung out at the Shell Bar, where at least once an episode that ran into “Cricket,” a singer and photographer at the bar played by Connie Stevens. The bar was located at the Hawaiian Village Hotel, where the guys were house detectives and also had an office. Some viewers would swear that the guys spent more time with the sassy Cricket than they did with any crooks. While most of the television show was shot on the Warner Brothers lot in Los Angeles, the Shell Bar was a real place — then, and now. The Hilton Hawaiian Village, on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, is home to the real Shell Bar, and provided […]
Read MoreView the Night Sky at Kitt Peak Observatory
Boasting over 300 clear nights a year, Kitt Peak National Observatory, located about an hour outside of Tucson (Arizona), offers stunning view of the night sky. Kitt Peak has the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes, 21 in all, and offers a number of viewing programs sure to get you hooked on Astronomy. Daily observatory tours begin at 10 am, 11:30 am, and 1:30 pm, and last approximately one hour. You’ll get to see the telescopes from a gallery, and tour guides will provide you with information about the work going on at the observatory. It’s an informative tour, and the only downside is that there is no telescope observation during daylight hours. Although there is no official charge to visit the observatory, a recommended donation is $2 for adults and $1 for children. It’s worth it! The Nightly Observing […]
Read MoreThe Beat Goes On
Fans of Kerouac, Burroughs, and Ginsberg, probably already know about The Beat Museum, and it’s certainly no surprise that the home of The Beats is now the home of The Beat Museum. Having moved to San Francisco’s North Beach area from a prior location on the coast, The Beat Museum continues to celebrate the beatnik generation of art, music, and way of life. The lure of The Beat is probably as strong as it’s ever been. It’s been 50 years since Jack Kerouac published On the Road, and it is arguably more popular today than it was when originally published. The Beat Museum is located at 540 Broadway (at Columbus) in San Francisco’s North Beat area (map it). It is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 10 pm. Closed on Monday. Depending on your interest in the topic, and your […]
Read MoreStringing You Along with The World's Largest Ball of It
I wasn’t sure if it was true, or an urban legend, but there really is a large ball of string, claiming to be the World’s largest. I don’t know if it really is the largest in the world, but this hulking ball of string is located in Weston, Missouri (500 Welt Street) at America Bowman Restaurant. The site was the location of the former West Museum, located in a barn on the property. One of the artifacts proudly on display in the museum, was a huge ball of string, measuring 19 feet in circumference and weighing in at a cool 3, 713 pounds. This is pure string, which means that no materials of a thicker composition (like yarn or twine) are in the ball. No one has been able to answer the questions as to the origination of the ball, or the owner […]
Read MoreThe Puka Dog: Hot Dogs Hawaiian-Style
Every geographical area seems to do its own special version of a hot dog, and for a tasty dog Hawaiian-style, Puka Dog is the place to go. What is a Puka Dog? It’s a special bun-sized loaf of bread with a hole at one end, pierced through the length of the bun, forming a hole throughout. Secret-sauces, relishes, or just the usual mustard and catsup, are then poured into this hollowed out bun creating a soft nestling area for a Polish-type sausage. Take a look a the photo to get an idea of what it looks like. To order a Puka Dog you specify sausage or veggie, followed by your choice of garlic lemon sauce (mild original, spicy jalapeno, hot chili pepper, or hot hot habanero), followed by your choice of relish (mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, starfruit, or catsup, […]
Read MoreSee the Whites of Their Eyes at the Bunker Hill Monument
Most of the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill, the first major British-Colonial battle of the Revolutionary War, didn’t take place on Bunker Hill at all — most of the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill. But the geographical error continues to this day, and the 221 foot tall Bunker Hill Monument stands proudly on Breed’s Hill. Construction of the monument was an on again, off again process, building furiously when funds were available, then halted when funds were gone. Eventually, battlefield grounds had to be sold off to help complete the monument, leaving only the summit where the monument stands. The monument was dedicated in 1843, with remarks from noted orator, Daniel Webster. The Monument is an obelisk, that is, its tall, narrow, granite sides taper into a pyramid at the top. In front, is a statue of William Prescott, memorable for […]
Read MoreAstoria Column Depicts Pacific Northwest History
The Astoria Column overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River from its vantage point on Coxcomb Hill, Oregon’s highest hill, in Astoria, Oregon. The 125 foot high tower was built in 1926, at a cost of a little over twenty seven thousand dollars, with funding from Vincent Astor (great grandson of John Jacob Astor for whom the city was named) and the Great Northern Railroad. The monument has 14 pictorial scenes reflecting, in chronological order, the history of the Pacific Northwest Coast: the arrival of the European settlers, the westward expansion, and the development of a continental nation. The earliest scenes are at the base of the column and progress upward. The location on Coxcomb Hill is the site of the first permanent American Settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. Although the site itself boasts spectacular views, even more spectacular are the views […]
Read MoreThe Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is one of the oldest science museums in the country. Founded in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the Institute consists of three centers, The Science Center, The Franklin Center, and The Center for Innovation in Science Learning, with a mission to create an understanding of, and passion for, science and technology. I visited The Franklin Institute Science Museum earlier this year when I visited Philadelphia to see the King Tut Exhibit. The Science Center is hosting the traveling exhibit Tutankhamen And The Golden Age of The Pharaohs, which will run through September 30th. There are lots of things to see at the Science Museum, and while we were waiting to get into the Tut exhibit, we wandered around looking at the other exhibits. The exhibits are simply presented, and designed for young minds to learn about and develop […]
Read MoreThursday Night Villagefest Along Palm Canyon Drive
The weekly Thursday night Villagefest is one of my favorite events in Palm Springs. The event was originated by former mayor Sonny Bono, and for over 16 years has been the home for local vendors of food, fresh produce (straight from the farms), music, art, handicrafts, and entertainment. Villagefest operates year round, from 6 – 10 pm, October – May, and 7 – 10 pm, June – September, along Palm Canyon Drive between Baristo and Amado. This weekly event has become as popular with local area residents as it is with tourists and visitors. Many of the shops and galleries along Palm Canyon Drive stay open late on Thursday nights, and the Palm Springs Art Museum offers free admission. Over the many years that I’ve been going to Villagefest, I’ve purchased tasty local produce, a couple of pieces of art (including one large, stunning, […]
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