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Your Fort Wayne experience doesn’t have to end when you leave town. Several local businesses have online ordering, so you can take a little bit of the flavor with you! Here are a few to start:

DeBrands Fine Chocolates:  Their safe and secure website offers an easy and efficient online shopping experience.  Whether you’re sending gifts, or treating yourself to some of the world’s best chocolates, it’s like having your own chocolate shop right inside your home. The best part is you can take advantage of their flat rate shipping – only $9.95 per recipient on all retail orders under $1,000 in the continental USA. Delivery is within 1-2 business days from ship date.

Phil’s Hobby Shop:  From arts & crafts, to trains, there is something for everyone hobbyist. In addition to their two Fort Wayne locations, Phil’s offers e-commerce. Customers can take advantage of free shipping for all order over $100.

Vera Bradley: Vera Bradley is known for its bags with charming patterns to suit all tastes.   These popular and colorful products seem to pop up everywhere you look — on college campuses, in airports, walking down the street.

OFabz: OFabz has made a name for itself with gorgeous swimsuit designed for the functional needs of active guys and gals. The styles vary, but are totally retro. Fine one that speaks to you via their online store!

TinCaps: Show your support for Fort Wayne’s home team through purchasing some apparel from the TinCaps team store. From T-shirts, to caps, to jerseys, they have it all!

Visit Fort Wayne – The ultimate place for Fort Wayne souvenirs – you can find t-shirts, mugs, books and more!

What are some other Fort Wayne favorites that you love?

Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair…

Although those lyrics are from a song in the 1960s, our obsession with hair has not faded with the ages. One hairstyle in particular–the afro–has gained much attention for its social and cultural association.

Locally, Fort Wayne Museum of Art’s exhibit Afros: A Celebration of Natural Hair chronicles this trend in American culture.  The story behind the exhibit is perhaps as interesting as the art itself. Over five years, photographer Michael July approached a variety of individuals and asked them to participate as subject models for a volume he was creating to chronicle the evolution of the Afro in America. He was able to capture the “creme de la creme” of Afros as worn by people of virtually every shade, ethnicity, country and age group. This exhibition shows pictorially the power, beauty and glorious nature of the ‘Fro and tells the deeper “hairstory” of each of its models. This exhibition, inspired by the original book, captures the spirit and essence of the Afro today and pays homage to the historic significance of natural hair iconic voyagers.

Michael July’s book AFROS: A Celebration of Natural Hair is  for sale in the FWMoA’s Paradigm Gallery  for $44.95.

You can catch this exhibit at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art until June 9th. Gallery hours are: Sunday, 12 – 5 pm; Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6pm, and Thursday 10am – 8 pm. The galleries are closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students, and $12 for families. Insider’s Tip: Enjoy free admission every Thursday from 5-8pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm.

One of my favorite things about Fort Wayne is that regardless of where you live, there is likely a trail nearby, and accessible. I recently moved to southwest Fort Wayne. Having lived in downtown for several years, I was unsure how that might affect my biking habit. To my surprise, there is a lovely (and scenic) route that takes you right into downtown!

Here’s how you can discover it for yourself. Start at the Engle Rd. Trailhead (1 block south of the intersection of Engle and Jefferson). Along the way, you will encounter some beautiful sights, so have your camera on hand! Eagle Marsh, home of the Little River Wetlands project, is a 716-acre wetland preserve located on the southwest border of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Eight miles of trails allow hikers to access the preserve’s varied habitats of shallow-water wetland, sedge meadow, prairie, mature forest and young trees. Be prepared to see some critters! My favorite part is crossing the bridge over the wetlands.

Get close to nature on the Towpath Trail.

Not far from the preserve is a drinking fountain and bench, ideal for taking a breather. From here, follow the trail northeast to Rockhill Park.

Insider’s Note: This is a very flat bicycle ride with only a few but very slight elevation gains.

There are restrooms and a drinking fountain available at Rockhill Park. Rockhill Park is also equipped with a basketball court, baseball field, small playground and picnic tables.

Insider’s Note:  There are several sections of the trail currently closed, largely between Engle Rd and Covington Rd.  Please be aware, during rainy times portions of the trail may be muddy and/or slippery. Please slow down and use caution especially on boardwalks.

If you’re looking to appreciate the trails with other enthusiasts, you’ll enjoy the Trek the Trails series. Join other bikers on May 21st for a group ride on the Towpath Trail. Meet at the trailhead in Rockhill Park near 1400 Catalpa St., east of the intersection. or W. Jefferson Blvd and Freeman St. All rides start at 6 pm.

For updated information about closures, visit the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation website.

And, you can find more rides like these on our Trail Ride Itineraries page!

Hooray! Fort Wayne has caught the food truck bug! There are several options for foodies to get their fix in the Summit City. Here are a few of some of the most popular, along with their offerings:

• JumBy’s JoiNt: They are a one-of-a-kind mobile culinary experience that made its debut in early 2012!  Owner Jim sets up shop most often in the downtown area, but also does private events. The menu changes daily, but there are a few all-American staples, like grilled cheese, cheeseburger, and and fries.
  

  JuMby’s JoiNt has satisfied hungry bellies since 2012.

• Brava’s Food: It doesn’t get more American than this! Brava’s serves up hot dogs from a mobile unit. The locally-owned business is now in its third year, and is gaining notoriety for its street-vendor fare. So, what is the “fare?” Brava’s features all-beef hot dogs, with toppings like fresh chopped veggies (tomato, cucumber, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc), as well as homemade chili. Be sure to try their specialty: a super-secret Brava Sauce. Thick cut Ossian bacon also comes on some of the hot dogs. Also, look for them on the streets of downtown Fort Wayne.

• Affine Food Truck: Affine is the brainchild of two local chefs specializing in a wide range of sandwich preparations using free-range, locally sourced pork, chicken, and duck. Try their tacos, soups, and fries. They set up shop at local businesses, as well as bars.

• Big John’s Ragin Cajun: Big John Maxwell delivers the cuisine of New Orleans and the Louisiana Bayou to northeastern Indiana. Think Po’ Boys and Jambalaya!

• The Getaway Grill: Jerry Perez, owner of Getaway Grill Food Truck says his mission is to bring great food to the streets of Fort Wayne- he is accomplishing that goal and much more! The best part: everything he buys is produced locally, from his food cart to the farmers markets. We hear the chicken and black bean quesadilla is to die for!

You can’t go wrong with any of these vendors. It’s all a matter of preference, really. Learn more on the Fort Wayne Foodtruck Association Facebook page or follow any of these vendors individually for updated menus and locations.

In the mood for a bargain? Check out these options for Fort Wayne garage sales:

• May 10-11: Cherry Hill Neighborhood Sales
• May 17-18: Neighborhood Sales at Arlington Park & Seven Oaks
• April 11: Trinity Lutheran Church Spring Rummage And Bake Sale
• April 13: FPC Giant Garage Sale

Be sure to follow these tips for garage success.  First, make a map. Finding the garage sales ahead of time is the easiest way to maximize your early morning shopping hours. You can find listings in the newspaper and online for the weekend’s sales. Another insider’s tip is to seek out neighborhood sales. This is like striking gold. Since the neighborhood handles the advertising and organizing, sellers are more likely to participate, and you can find either one big sale or tons of smaller sales in one compact area. Last, be sure to have small bills and change ready. While most sellers are prepared with ones and fives to make change, some forget. And if you’re one of their first customers, they may not have enough change to sell you, say, a 25-cent book and make change for a $20.

Know of any other sales we should add? Let us know. And, happy hunting!