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Joe Eats World

Eating and drinking my way through life

Travel

We’re off to see the Wizard – KWIR

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Oz Museum Ruby Slippers 50th AnniversaryIf you go through Kansas, make sure you take the 10 mile detour north to Wamego. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it because neither have I.

They are famous for a couple of things. First of which is the Oz Museum. The museum is a collection of both original and replicas from The Wizard of Oz as well as the work from L. Frank Baum. You’ll be able to find 1st Edition books on the Oz storyline, an actual Munchkin uniform, and several replicas of Dorothy’s dress and the famed ruby slippers. We had a great time walking through the museum (which is larger than it appears to be). There are plenty of things to see and buy in the gift shop too. We spent a good amount of time perusing the Wizard of Oz themed novelties. I may or may not have purchased a stuffed animal of Toto..Ok. So I did.

The 2nd (almost) famous thing is the Columbia Theatre. This theatre has been home to several businesses over the years but it is a permanent home to some murals. These murals were originally housed at Chicago World’s Fair (World’s Columbian Exposition) in 1893. There were (if I remember correctly,) 20 murals in all but only 6 were restored and are on full display upstairs in the theatre room. The remaining murals are rolled up in the theatre’s basement. They don’t know what to do with them and they don’t have the funds to have them restored…seems a shame for such wonderful pieces of history.

Check out the full article below.

Actually, that wasn’t our intent when DJ and I were on a recent road trip to Denver from Indianapolis for Thanksgiving. Just off Interstate 70 is the Oz Museum located in Wamego, Kansas (there just so happens to be another in Liberal, Kansas in the southern part of the state)…

Source: We’re off to see the Wizard – KWIR

Colorado Style Mountain Pie Pizza – KWIR

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We went on a quick road trip to Denver and our friend suggested we head out to dinner (after we visited the casino that is).

I mentioned I was having a craving for pizza and salad bar. That’s when Jerry mentioned mountain pie pizza. I laughed and asked what that was. He told us it was their Colorado style pizza and it was amazing. He threw out a few other places to eat but at this point I was intrigued and needed to cure my pizza fix.

We drove to Idaho Springs which is just outside Denver and pulled into a seemingly empty parking lot and walked into the “pizza parlor.” When we walked in, I realized how HUGE this place was. It was 2-stories, all country-fied, and smelled of food. OMG was I starving!

We found a table, the waiter took our order and now, it was time to hit that claw footed salad bar. I piled my plate with salad and figured I was going to make another trip. Half way through my salad the pizza arrived. You should have seen the look on my face when that pizza arrived! Jesus, it was huge. Yeah, not going for round to at the salad bar. This definitely was taking care of my pizza and salad bar craving.

If you want to check out the original article, the link is below. I wrote this for Gaycation Magazine and KWIR

When they say Colorado style pizza and call it a Mountain Pie, you really have no idea until they bring that said pie out to your table. It is GIGANTIC and so delicious. I wish all pizzas were like this. I know Mountain Pie doesn’t have a thing on NY style or even Chicago, but they are in a class of their own.

Source: Colorado Style Mountain Pie Pizza – KWIR

Indiana State Fair | The Midwest Eagle

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cow shampooSo, I went to the fair

I’m not a real fair-goer but on occasion, I’ll go. Like this year for instance. It so happened to be my company picnic. They gave us a parking pass, admission to the fairgrounds, fair bucks, and midway tickets.

When I do go to the fair, I go for the food and the animals. What else does one go to the fair for anyway? I will occasionally stroll through the vendors and the arts and crafts booths to see what nifty gadgets they have. Although, I will admit, I missed a few this time.

I love cows, as an animal and food. Same goes for pigs and chickens. After a quick bite to eat courtesy of my employer, I made my way over to see the animals but first stop was to pet the goats and other assorted (smaller) animals.

When I did finally make it over to the livestock buildings, it must have been show time because most of the cows were being groomed (which is hilarious to watch). Some seem to enjoy it, others, not so much.

The pigs were doing pig things. Some were feeding piglets (bacon seeds anyone?) and the others were too large to do anything but just lay there.

pineapple whipFood and Drink

I ran into a stand that sells Pineapple Whip. It’s a like an ice cream but not. I can’t even explain it. The gal said it is only sold on the islands (Hawaii) and by them. Probably not true but I had a sample and it was delicious. I bought a small one. It was good but it was still too much pineapple. I couldn’t even finish it. I’m pretty sure they used artificial sweetener because it had a funky after taste.

Still, I could find a way to remake that as an ice cream or gelato…challenge accepted.

It’s a quick read over at The Eagle (link below).

Check out all of the things to do during the Indiana State Fair. From tons of local food purveyors, the livestock, the entertainment, and of

Source: Indiana State Fair | The Midwest Eagle

Mexican Food

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I talk about a recent trip to Puerto Vallarta and how food always leads the way for me. I found a real, honest to goodness Mexican restaurant in Indy. If you closed your eyes, you would swear you were standing in a restaurant IN Mexico. The food was authentic, made by a family of Mexicans, and of course delicious!

Mexican Food

I recently spent some time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was part business, part pleasure. It always amazes me how I let my stomach lead the way. I have an insatiable appetite. I’m always talking, thinking, and dreaming about food and what I can drink with it.

I have my favorite haunts in Puerto Vallarta so I naturally had to drag DJ and the rest of the gang along. They never seem to disappoint (the restaurants that is). We tried a new place seated on the Malecon. We were enticed by the $1.00 Margaritas naturally. All we wanted was a cool drink and escape the sun as it beat down on us.

Wouldn’t you know it, the moment we sat at the table we all became hungry so we ordered food. Deliciously homemade Mexican food. We were a bit leery about the $1.00 marg but it certainly didn’t fail in the booze department. After 1 regular sized margarita, our heads were swimming…Just the way I like ‘em!

The article appeared in The Word for the July 2015 issue.

Disneyland, the Safest Place on Earth?

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Here I discuss what it’s like to be an adult at Disneyland…well, for me at least. It was a family vacation full of crazy fun and Disney characters. It is part of the What Wash I Thinking serious found in Gaycation Magazine.

Disneyland, the Safest Place on Earth?

I have no idea how many times I have been to Disneyland. It has to be around 10 or more for sure. It has always held a special place in my heart. I think my mother and I love Disneyland the most and talk about it often. It’s a place to let go and have a chance to really be a fun-loving kid again.

Sometimes it’s sensory overload and you have no other choice but to just let go. If I close my eyes, I can trace my steps through the park and recount certain memories of pure happiness and sadness. I know, there shouldn’t be anything sad about Disneyland but there was this one time…

I can’t remember the year, but I do recall DJ and I taking our daughter and her school friend on an extended family vacation. The clan consisted of the four of us, my parents, and my brother and his wife and their two children. We arrived at the Howard Johnson hotel and got settled in. This is the difficult part. You’re literally several hundred feet from the Disney entrance and here you are sitting in a hotel exhausted because your travel day started before the sun came up. Basically it was a time for relaxing before those long hot all-day park events. With 4 kids and a couple of adults just itching to get inside the park, relaxing was going to be tough.

The article appeared in Gaycation Magazine for Issue 9 September 2014.

The Grand Mayan

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A piece I did for Gaycation Magazine where I discuss driving a motorhome cross-country and a couple of the missteps we took along the way.

The Grand Mayan – Inspired by Ancient History

The entrance of the hotel is a little unassuming as you arrive in your sitio (taxi). The concierge and bellhops are readily available to assist you with luggage, direct you to the front desk or give you advice on the best activities around. As you make your way into the resort, you turn the corner into an almost pitch black room. It seems as if the world melts away. You hear the faint sounds of a waterfall, Mayan music, the smell of incense and you are greeted by the great Mayans themselves. It only takes you a moment for your eyes to adjust before you see the wonders of the ancient world coming to life.

Each visitor is required to wear a Grand Mayan Bracelet, which is given to you upon check-in. This bracelet is for security purposes and gets you access to various amenities at the resort. There are 2 choices in room views, both equally stunning. The first view is the 18-hole Golf Course of Nicklaus Design that is surrounded by lush jungle vegetation, several natural lakes and the Sierra Madre Mountains. The second view is of palm trees, swimming pools, and the most wonderful sweeping views of Banderas Bay. The first thing you do after arriving to your room is open the glass double doors and walk out onto the balcony and soak up the warmth and the amazing views.

The article appeared in Gaycation Magazine for Issue 9 September 2014 Edition.