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Maybe It's Time To Head Indoors
by Bob
Lowe
October 8, 2004
Normally
in this space, I would encourage area residents to take advantage
of outdoor events and activities. That’s because nice,
warm and sunny days tend to be a precious commodity in northeast
Wisconsin – even during the summer, as occurred this
year.
With schools, libraries and educational institutions back
to their normal operating hours and with the distinct chill
of fall in the air, it might be a good time to start exploring
a number of attractions and expositions taking place in a
variety of indoor venues
There is no better place to start this indoor excursion than
the Outagamie County Museum 330 E. College Ave., in downtown
Appleton. The museum is perhaps best known for its collection
of historical artifacts and displays of native son illusionist
and magician Houdini.
But
the museum’s collection, augmented from contributions
owned by the Outagamie County Historical Society, is a lot
more extensive. Among the topics are “Call To Duty:
Outagamie County in World War II,” which goes on display
from Nov. 12-Jan. 2; “The Work, Workers and Tools of
the Lower Fox River 1840-1950,” which includes an 1896
wire weaving loom and a Model-T tractor; “Edna Ferber:
In Her Own Words,” which features a collection of books
written by this Pulitzer Prize winning author who was born
in Appleton.
The
museum is open from Tuesday-Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Since
the holidays are right around the corner, you might also want
to check out “Parade of Ornaments: A Victorian Christmas,”
an exploration of Victorian style Christmas with ornaments
made by local students decorating Fox Valley area businesses.
This display will run from Nov. 23-Jan. 16 at the Hearthstone
Historic Museum on Prospect Avenue in Appleton.
Neville
Public Museum in Green Bay also is hosting a couple of interesting
exhibitions. Explore the world of raptor-eagles, owls, hawks,
falcons and vultures in a display called “Hunters in
the Sky.” The exhibition features hands-on activities,
models, audio visuals, natural history dioramas and specimens
and the myths and lores surrounding them. Cost is $4 for adults
and $2 for children 6-15. Kids 5 or younger admitted free.
For more information, call (920) 448-4460 or log onto www.nevillepublicmuseum.org.
Neville
also will feature “Beyond the Cleavers: Life in the
1950s.” It showcases a display of dioramas, fashions
and other items from that decade.(Tupperware, for example).
Film clips from that era also will enhance the display.
COFFEE HOUSES – Sticking with the indoor
theme, Café Tazza, is the latest coffee house ventures
that’s been percolating in the Fox Cities for the past
several months. It is situated in the south side portion of
YouthFutures Valley Fair Mall on Appleton’s southside.
Valley
Fair, the nation’s first indoor shopping center, was
recently sold for $2 million to the YouthFutures group, which
is converting it into a youth-oriented activity center. In
addition to the coffee house, it has an indoor skateboarding
center, a hip hop clothing store, , a hair styling salon that
specializes in ethnic hair cuts and a number of other restaurants
and retail shops catering to a younger demographic.
Starbucks Coffee Co. newest location in the Fox Valley is
at State 441 and Calumet Street, in the outlot of the Target
store on Appleton’s far east side. The shop has a drive-thru
if you are in a hurry. The Seattle-based Starbuciks also recently
opened its third Fox Cities location at 4339 W. Wisconsin
Ave. in the Town of Grand Chute, near the Sears store at the
Fox River Mall. It has the same amenities as the eastside
coffee shop, including outdoor seating and a drive-thru.
Another
coffee shop, House of Beans, recently opened in Little Chute
and Dunn Bros. Coffee set up shop on Appleton’s north
side in the past two weeks.
FRIAR
TUCK’S CLOSED – Friar Tuck’s, a
popular sandwich restaurant at 2120 W. College Ave. in Appleton,
was closed abruptly a week ago after its owner, David Noe
decided to sell the business. It was purchased by Dean Stock,
who plans to convert it to June Box Johnny’s next month.
The new restaurant will have a retro theme with music from
the 50s through the 70s. A dance floor also will be installed.
“We
want to make it a fun place to be,” said Stock, who
also owns The Pub, Corleone’s and 714 Subs in Kaukauna
and plans to spend $800,000 renovating it. “We want
it to be a fun place to be. We are getting away from the monastery
look. But it will have a similar menu and pricing to Friar
Tuck’s. We’ll still serve some sandwiches at noon
hours and supper hour. Noe said his other Friar Tuck’s
eateries in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and Manitowoc will remain
open.
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