So far I have been pretty impressed with the restaurants that I have visited while in Fort Wayne. But between the appearance, excellent food, and friendly, quick staff, J.K. O’Donnell’s, an Irish pub, is at the top of my list.

Parking downtown for J.K. O’Donnell’s was simple. Lots of nearby spaces that are free after 5 and on weekends.

Located downtown, there was plenty of parking and it was easy to find.  The best word I made up to describe it is “antiquey” where the wood and comfortable patterns and flourishes really sold the old Irish feel I think they were going for.  Not to mention the whiskey barrel that was my table.

When I went for dinner I ordered the grilled Irish cheddar cheese sandwich. It is a grilled cheese sandwich on toasted potato loaf bread with tomatoes and onions in the middle. Beware: it is not a small sandwich. it comes with JK chips, which are delicious wedge style french fries, and a thick garlic aioli sauce for dipping.

I absolutely recommend trying J.K. O’Donnell’s if you are looking for a delicious meal. Especially the grilled cheese lovers out there.

See you on day six

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Ever wondered what Mars is like? Find out for yourself at Science Central!

Mars in 3-D is Science Central’s newest traveling exhibit. So, what can visitors expect? The European Space Agency’s Mars Express Probe is Europe’s first mission to another planet. Since 2004, a stereo camera designed and built by Germany’s space agency, the German Aerospace Center, has been mapping the entire Red Planet and producing colorful, high resolution images. Six natural forces that have significantly formed Mars over billions of years – volcanism, water, ice, erosion, wind, and tectonics – are the focus of the exhibition.

Suspended throughout the exhibition are enormous photographs, and with the help of red-blue glasses, visitors will see Mars like they have never been able to before – in 3-D! These images are supplemented with bilingual interpretive signs in English and German with a vast amount of information about the Red Planet, its moons and exploration efforts. The Mars exhibition was developed by the German Aerospace Center, (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR).

Through 120+ exhibits, school tours, distance learning programs and weekend public events, the museum brings the excitement of science and technology to nearly 130,000 children and adults annually. While there, be sure to check out their permanent exhibits. Insider’s Note: Some exhibits have a 50″ minimum height requirement and 225lb maximum weight limitation to ensure safety.

For more information on Science Central, visit their website, or call 260-424-2400 x 441. Science Central is open Tuesday – Friday 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday Noon to 5 pm. Admission ranges from free (under age 2) to $8.00.

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“Early morning. Late evening. Springtime or winter…. I travel country roads. My hope is that the work is a reflection of a more quiet land. Perhaps a land that never was. Sometimes I find it.” – Dayne Bonte

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, located in Downtown Fort Wayne, welcomed its two newest exhibits on June 30.

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art has two new exhibits that just arrived on Saturday, June 30. The first is a photography exhibit by Dayne Bonte called The Quiet Light. The photographs are so beautiful. It is amazing to see his talent and the beauty that can be captured in Indiana. Many of his pictures are from different counties in Indiana. There are many photos in black and white, while some are full of color. This is definitely not an exhibit that you will want to miss!

The second new exhibit, by Ida Lorentzen, is called Interior Light and Spaces. Lorentzen uses pastels to paint some fantastic paintings. The imaged in the paintings are very simple, like a single night stand in the corner or two off-white chairs in a corner of a white room. What Lorentzen does with the lighting and shadowing within the painting gives these otherwise simple images complexity and life. It is a great exhibit for everyone to enjoy. You will not want to miss it!

Both exhibits run through August 5, 2012.

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is located in Downtown Fort Wayne at 311 E. Main St. Fort Wayne, 46802. It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11am-6pm, Thursday from 11am-8pm, and Sunday from 12-5pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students (k – college), and $10 for families. Admission is free to members, all military personal and their families, and on Sundays and Thursdays.

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Being from Toledo, I’m no stranger to minor league baseball. The Toledo Mud Hens have been a local tradition for generations, and I am well aware of the fun to be had.

So, to my delight, when I walked into Parkview Field, the first thing I noticed was how nice the stadium was, immediately followed by the large crowd. It was obvious that people have a great time here.

The crowd at the TinCaps game was having a blast!

At the TinCaps game there was high energy in the crowd and so many people were smiling, laughing, and having a good time. There was one point in the game when the field sweepers came out, stopped sweeping, and started dancing all together, calling themselves the “Bad Apple Dancers,” that was funny to watch.

And, there are plenty of options at the stadium for when you get hungry. On the day that I went, concession stands were selling hotdogs, small pops, and popcorn for one dollar. On the other hand, my favorite part was the birthday cake flavored ice cream. You are given more than enough and it certainly satisfies your sweet tooth!

A couple other neat things I saw at the game were a rock climbing wall to entertain younger kids and a grassy area that overlooks the field where you can sit and watch a nice game of baseball.

Overall I have to admit that while I’m no newbie to the minor league baseball seen, I was very impressed by the stadium and atmosphere in Fort Wayne. I look forward to my next TinCaps game!

See you on Day Four!

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Summer is passing us by just as quickly as it came. So what is a better way to start the wrap up of the summer than with a day full of friends, food, fun, and country music? Country Fest ’12 is just around the corner and it is sure to be a day you do not want to miss!

Join Country Fest downtown at Headwaters Park!

Country Fest ’12 is Saturday, August 4 at Headwaters Park in Downtown Fort Wayne! Gates open at 1pm and the show begins at 3 pm. All tickets are general admission and priced at just $17.50 ($18.50 for credit card purchases). If there are any tickets left on the day of the show, they will be $25. Children 3 and under get in for free (one free child per adult). There are even opportunities to win tickets and four Meet & Greet passes to me ALL of the Artists for this year’s show! No coolers, blankets, or lawn chairs will be allowed.

This year’s Country Fest will have performances by Due West, Kana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Colt Ford, Lee Brice, and Montgomery Gentry! It is sure to be a great day with great performances.

Tickets are on sale now! Last year’s show sold out, so hurry to get your tickets now! To order tickets, find out how you can win free tickets, or answer any questions you still have, visit K105’s Country Fest website.

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