My first memory of Zesto’s on Broadway was back in the 1960s when my family would go to the Children’s Zoo one day each summer. After a hot day of trekking around the zoo seeing so many fascinating animals, we would stop by Zesto’s on the way home and cool off. It was as much a part of our day as picnicking outside the zoo grounds midway through the day at the zoo.

Life doesn’t get much better than a vanilla ice cream cone dipped in chocolate.

Summer starts at Zesto.

Of course, it was always a challenge to beat the drips. Depending on the heat of the day – usually it was VERY hot – the drips would start slow and then accumulate. That cone felt ten miles around as we tried to keep the ice cream from pooling at our feet. We never ordered other food. To our family Zesto’s was reserved for ice cream orders.

You could say Zesto’s was one of the first handicapped accessible restaurants in the area. There are no steps other than getting out of your vehicle to walk to the tiny window to order. Because the place is so popular the small bench on the side of the building was almost always occupied by other customers. Therefore, we would hover near our car, licking our cones to our hearts content, and enjoy the day.

Thankfully we can still do that today. Zesto’s has opened for the season! You can find them at their original location at 2225 Broadway or at one of their newer locations: St Joe Center, Falls Drive or E. Washington Center.

Check out their menu online. That chocolate-dipped cone I mentioned above is only $2.22 for a small.

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Germanfest kicks off Fort Wayne’s busy summer season with a number of events for all ages held June 3-10.

On Sunday, June 3 the opening concert, Heimatabend, begins at 4:30 p.m. at Park Edelweiss (3355 Elmhurst Dr., 747.2592). Following the concert, dinner will be served from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Traditional German fare will be served: rouladen, potatoes and gravy, vegetables and desserts, German style beverages and gemutlichkeit. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10.

The next day the German Heritage Society will grill Brats on the patio at Club Soda from 5-10:00 p.m. for Kostritzer Night.

Hofbrau Night will be held at the Fort Wayne Sport Club (3102 Ardmore Ave.) on Tuesday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. For information call 260.432.6011.

On Wednesday, June 6 teams of two players will race at various times for the Ferkel Wurst Stuffin’—this funny-sounding relay has contestants battle to see who can stuff the most ‘sausages’ full of plush piglets. Location: Main Stage at Headwaters Park.

The Legs ‘n Lederhosen contest on June 7 is one of the festival’s most popular events. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on the Main stage at Headwaters Park judges will pick the best looking pair of legs. Men and women may participate. Free admission. Pre-registration required.

The Masskrugrennen (Stein Line Race) will take place on Friday, June 8 from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Main Festival Tent at Headwaters. Contestants form relay teams to run to the finish line, each with a full stein which is handed to other team members. Oh, and contestants must run with a balloon held between their knees!

Volksmarch (10k walk) on Saturday, June 9 begins at 8:00 a.m. at the festival tent, proceeding through Fort Wayne neighborhoods, downtown and River greenway. For more information call 260.925.5091.

The Germanfest Bake-Off on Saturday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. will be held in the culture tent. Contestants will bring their best German dessert and recipe to Culture Tent at Festival Plaza in Headwaters Park. A local judge will choose three entries as winners and award prizes to respective bakers. The Family Festival on Saturday, June 9 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. includes a magician, fencing, knights and ladies, food, music, water fun, face painting, carriage rides.

Germanfest is sponsored by Fort Wayne Sport Club, German Heritage Society, Fort Wayne Turners, and Fort Wayne Mannerchor / Damenchor.

For more information contact the Germanfest Committee at www.germanfest.org.

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Fort Wayne offers a festival nearly every weekend in the months of June and July. Out of all of the summer events, my favorite is GermanFest. Why? That’s simple; it’s the festival that my husband and I enjoy together (and without kids).

The celebration begins at various city locations on June 2^nd and ends Saturday, June 9^th. On Wednesday, June 6^th, the majority of the events take place at Headwaters Park in the Festival Pavilion. The week is jammed-packed with events that are sure to please everyone.

My favorite activity is the Beer Stein Relay Race, it’s always fun to watch (maybe this year I will even talk myself into participating).

My other favorite part of GermanFest is inviting a group of friends to enjoy the food (the warm potato salad is amazing) and music (oh, and of course, the beer!)

If the festival closes for the night, but you are still yearning for more, be sure to check out the nightlife that Fort Wayne has to offer!

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With the end of the school year right around the corner, it’s time to start making fun family plans your kids will love! And who doesn’t love fun plans that are FREE?

Make Wednesday nights family night this summer! Mark your calendars for Wednesdays this June 20 until August 24 when Fort Wayne’s Outdoor Foellinger Theatre will host FREE movie Wednesdays at 8:30 pm.

The Foellinger Outdoor Theatre is the perfect spot to enjoy a FREE summer movie!

Located next to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo at 3411 Sherman Blvd., this outdoor amphitheater has almost 2,500 seats. A good movie is never quite complete without some popcorn and snacks so be sure to stop by the concession stand for a reasonable price.

Make Wednesday nights a great night your family can make wonderful memories this summer!

Cars 2
Wednesday, June 20

Kung Fu Panda 2
Wednesday, June 27

Puss in Boots
Wednesday, July 5

The Adventures of Tintin
Wednesday, July 11

Happy Feet Two
Wednesday, July 18

Hugo
Wednesday, July 25

The Muppets
Wednesday, August 1

Hop
Wednesday, August 8

Zookeeper
Wednesday, August 1

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
August 24

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Without question, my favorite free summer activity is Rock the Plaza (RTP), an outdoor concert series that takes place every Saturday throughout the summer at the downtown library plaza. Kicking off its 6^th season on June 2 with Afro-Disiacs and Pink Droyd, RTP has become the quintessential summer event in Fort Wayne.

Kyle Haller, founder of RTP, simply wanted to play on the plaza stage.  “When I saw it being built, all I could think about was how I was going to convince the library to let me play there. I started bugging them and eventually they called me and wanted to talk,” he says.

Kyle and some folks from the library met, and an outdoor concert series was born. “Over 200 people came out to the first show, and we were blown away,” explains Haller. Now, the event draws over 600 people per show, creating an energetic buzz in downtown Fort Wayne on Saturday evenings.

Fueled by a successful first season, the library offered to host the event for a second season, and the rest, as they say, is history. Haller’s dream of playing on the stage came true and more. Along with his band, Phil’s Family Lizard, dozens of local bands come back year after year to play the plaza, including favorites Sunny Taylor, URB, Todd Harold Band, and Pop-n-Fresh, just to name a few.

Join us and Rock the Plaza!

So what can we expect this year? As in year’s past, the event is free and open to the public. 816 Pint & Slice will be on hand serving up tasty slices and frosty brews. Dunkin’ Donuts is also open, offering a variety of sandwiches, donuts, and beverages. All shows begin at 6pm, rain or shine.

“On opening night, Pink Droyd will play Pink Floyd’s album Animals in its entirety, and that will be pretty rad,” says Haller. “July 21 is a special night, too, as it’s the last night of the Three Rivers Fest, and bands will play with the fireworks as a backdrop. This is usually the biggest night of the season for us, drawing over 1,000 people.” This year, Phil’s Family Lizard, URB, Sunny Taylor, and Moser Woods will grace the stage that evening.

RTP is the best outdoor showcase of local talent. So, bring a blanket or a chair, and the entire family, too. Let’s rock the plaza!

Full schedule:

6/2/2012   Afro-Disiacs and Pink Droyd

6/9/2012    the Black Door, Ivory West, By All Means and Walkin Papers

6/16/2012   North River Agents, Small Town, and HeartBeat City

6/23/2012   Taylor Fredricks, Yellow Dead Bettys, Argonaut and Cougar Hunter

6/30/2012   Big Caddy Daddy, Juke Joint Jive and  Pop-n-Fresh

7/7/2012   Sum Morz, Hope Arthur, the Elky Summers and Pillars of Society

7/14/2012   SuperHunk, KT3, Tito Discovery and Unlikely Alibi

7/21/2012   Phil’s Family Lizard, URB, Sunny Taylor and Moser Woods

7/28/2012   Kill The Rabbit, Great Flood Catastrophe and Vidal Brothers

8/4/2012   Little Logan & the Instigators,  Frankly Scarlet, Plaxton & the Void and Krimsha

8/11/2012   Grateful Groove, Marnee and Orange Opera

8/18/2012   the Wailhounds, Velvet Soul and Mimi Burns Band

8/25/2012   Todd Harold Band   Black Cat Mambo   Freak Brothers

For more information, visit Rock the Plaza’s Facebook Page.

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