- Page 47 of 99 - Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

Overalls All Over Cedar Rapids through Labor Day 2016

It began with Cows on Parade, first in Zurich in 1998 and a follow-up in Chicago in 1999. Since then, cities all over the world have done a similar public art project. Moose in Toronto, Pigs in Cincinnati, the Superlambanana in London, and ponies in Santa Fe all followed suit. The projects involve local artists painting the same subject, each putting his or her own spin on it, and placing them around the city. The most fun of these exhibits, Overalls All Over, is going on right now in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, during Grant Wood’s 125^th birthday celebration. Read more

Ciao Bella: Northwest Indiana Chic Trattoria

My meal at Ciao Bella was something I’d expect from a high-end Chicago restaurant. Baby lamb chops, standing bone-end up forming a tepee atop a mound of rapini and beans, topped with delicate purple microgreens, was as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the taste buds. Read more

Like many large cities, Oklahoma City is comprised of many neighborhoods. In OKC the neighborhoods are referred to as “districts.” There are fifteen Oklahoma City districts, each with its own distinct attributes. During our 48-hour stay there, it wasn’t possible to visit all of the districts, but Skip and I did explore several of them. Read more

Last summer I was driving through the town square in Crown Point, Indiana, when I noticed two men in suits standing on a corner deep in conversation. It took me a few seconds to realize it was a sculpture. In the next few minutes I saw a man holding an umbrella and a photographer taking a picture of the courthouse. When I stopped in at Carriage Court Pizza, there was a woman sunning herself on a chaise lounge in their courtyard. These sculptures were all part of the Seward Johnson collection of sculptures on display as part of Crown Point’s public art project. Read more

8 Surprising Things I Discovered at the Oklahoma State Capitol

State capitol buildings are more than places for lawmaking and other state business. Many of them are also museums, open for the public to tour and learn about a state’s legislative process and its history. While many features of capitol buildings are similar, each is unique to its own state. The first unique thing I noticed about the Oklahoma State Capitol on my recent visit was the oil derrick standing in front of it. Read more

Gailey’s Breakfast Café: Award-Winning Breakfast, Nostalgic Atmosphere

How much more patriotic can you get with breakfast than the Freedom Waffle? That’s what I ordered the first time I dined at Gailey’s Breakfast Café in Springfield, Missouri. The thick Belgian waffle, topped with loads of sweet strawberries and blueberries and striped with whipped cream, was made to resemble the America flag. It was as delicious as it looks. Read more

Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

Overalls All Over Cedar Rapids through Labor Day 2016

Ciao Bella: Northwest Indiana Chic Trattoria

8 Oklahoma City Districts to Explore

Seward Johnson Sculptures in Crown Point Portray Real Life

8 Surprising Things I Discovered at the Oklahoma State Capitol

Gailey’s Breakfast Café: Award-Winning Breakfast, Nostalgic Atmosphere